Waverley; or, 'Tis sixty years since — CompleteScott, Walter
History
Waverley; or, 'Tis sixty years since — Complete
Scott, Walter
Historical fiction; Jacobite Rebellion, 1745-1746 -- Fiction; Scotland -- History -- 18th century -- Fiction
related to the Nithsdale family) was placed a small table and a couple
of lights, by the assistance of which he read as follows:--
'Journal of Jan Van Eulen
'On the 6th November 1645, I, Jan Van Eulen, merchant in Rotterdam,
embarked with my only daughter on board of the good vessel Vryheid of
Amsterdam, in order to pass into the unhappy and disturbed kingdom of
England. 7th November--a brisk gale--daughter sea-sick--myself unable
to complete the calculation which I have begun of the inheritance left
by Jane Lansache of Carlisle, my late dear wife's sister, the
collection of which is the object of my voyage. 8th November--wind
still stormy and adverse--a horrid disaster nearly happened--my dear
child washed overboard as the vessel lurched to leeward. Memorandum--to
reward the young sailor who saved her out of the first moneys which I
can recover from the inheritance of her aunt Lansache. 9th
November--calm--P.M. light breezes from N. N. W. I talked with the
captain about the inheritance of my sister-in-law, Jane Lansache. He
says he knows the principal subject, which will not exceed L1000 in
value. N. B. He is a cousin to a family of Petersons, which was the
name of the husband of my sister-in-law; so there is room to hope it
may be worth more than he reports. 10th November, 10 A.M. May God
pardon all our sins!--An English frigate, bearing the Parliament flag,
has appeared in the offing, and gives chase.--11 A.M. She nears us
every moment, and the captain of our vessel prepares to clear for
action.--May God again have mercy upon us!'
'Here,' said Maxwell, 'the journal with which I have opened the
narration ends somewhat abruptly.'
'I am glad of it,' said Lady Ratcliff.
'But, Mr. Maxwell,' said young Frank, Sir Henry's grandchild, 'shall we
not hear how the battle ended?'
I do not know, cousin, whether I have not formerly made you acquainted
with the abilities of Frank Ratcliff. There is not a battle fought
between the troops of the Prince and of the Government during the years
1745-46, of which he is not able to give an account. It is true, I have
taken particular pains to fix the events of this important period upon
his memory by frequent repetition.
'No, my dear,' said Maxwell, in answer to young Frank Ratcliff--'No, my
dear, I cannot tell you the exact particulars of the engagement, but
its consequences appear from the following letter, despatched by
Garbonete Von Eulen, daughter of our journalist, to a relation in
England, from whom she implored assistance. After some general account
of the purpose of the voyage and of the engagement her narrative
proceeds thus:--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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