Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 71, No. 436, February 1852Various
History
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 71, No. 436, February 1852
Various
England -- Periodicals; Scotland -- Periodicals
Mr Coke started from St Louis with two companions: one an old
college friend, whom he designates as Fred; the other "a British
parson, whose strength and dimensions most justly entitled him
to be called a pillar of the church." What the parson did in the
prairies of the Far West does not clearly appear. He certainly did
not go as a missionary, so far as we can ascertain from his friend's
book, and indeed his habits and tendencies were evidently sporting
and jovial rather than clerical, although we do catch him reading
Sunday prayers to Mr Coke, when the latter had the chills, and lay
wrapped up in wet blankets on the banks of Green River, with a
boxful of Brandreth's pills in his stomach. We regret to believe
that instances _have_ been known of parsons employing their time far
worse than in an adventurous ramble across the American continent.
Mr Coke, nevertheless, thinks proper to veil his chaplain's
identity under the heroic cognomen of Julius Cæsar, against which
distinguished Roman, could he be recalled to life, we would
unhesitatingly back the reverend gentleman to box a round, wrestle
a fall, or handle a rifle, for any number of ponies the ancient's
backers might be disposed to post. A stalwart priest and a powerful
was Parson Julius, and is still, we trust, if nothing has happened
to him since Mr Coke left him at the court of his majesty Tamehameha
III., at Honolulu, on the eve of setting sail for the island of
Owyhee. No better companion could be desired on a rough and perilous
expedition; and although his careless friend manages to let his true
name slip out before ending his volume, we will not allow that the
slip affords grounds for regret, or that there is anything in his
journey of which, as a clergyman, he need be ashamed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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