Waverley; or, 'Tis sixty years since — Volume 1Scott, Walter
History
Waverley; or, 'Tis sixty years since — Volume 1
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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