[847] See Horace, _Odes_, book iv. ode viii. l. 28.--ED. [848] Baron Menno van Cohorn (or Coehoorn) was a Dutch military engineer of genius (1641-1704). His fame rests on discoveries connected with the effect of projectiles on fortifications. His practical successes against the French, under Vauban, were great; and the fortifications he designed and constructed, of which that of Bergen-op-Zoom was the chief, give him a place in the history of military science, greater than that derived from his writings. He devised a kind of small mortar or howitzer, for use in siege operations, which is named after him a Cohorn.--ED. [849] 1845. A Tower of refuge to the else forlorn. 1835. A Tower of refuge built for the forlorn. C. [850] The TOWER OF REFUGE, an ornament to Douglas Bay, was erected chiefly through the humanity and zeal of Sir William Hillary; and he also was the founder of the lifeboat establishment, at that place; by which, under his superintendence, and often by his exertions at the imminent hazard of his own life, many seamen and passengers have been saved.--W. W. 1835. In Dorothy Wordsworth's Journal of a visit to the Isle of Man in 1826, the following occurs:--"Monday, 3rd July.--Sir William Hillary saved a boy's life to-day in harbour. He raised a regiment for government, and chose his own reward, viz., a Baronetcy! and now lives here on £300 per annum, etc. etc."--ED. XVI BY THE SEA-SHORE, ISLE OF MAN Why stand we gazing on the sparkling Brine, With wonder smit by its transparency, And all-enraptured with its purity?-- Because the unstained, the clear, the crystalline, Have ever in them something of benign; 5 Whether in gem, in water, or in sky, A sleeping infant's brow, or wakeful eye Of a young maiden, only not divine. Scarcely the hand forbears to dip its palm For beverage drawn as from a mountain-well. 10 Temptation centres in the liquid Calm; Our daily raiment seems no obstacle To instantaneous plunging in, deep Sea! And revelling[851] in long embrace with thee.[852] FOOTNOTES: [851] 1835. And wantoning ... MS. [852] The sea-water on the coast of the Isle of Man is singularly pure and beautiful.--W. W. 1837. XVII ISLE OF MAN [My son William[853] is here the person alluded to as saving the life of the youth, and the circumstances were as mentioned in the Sonnet.--I. F.]