of the hall of his ancestors and was conducted a prisoner to the Tower, which he was destined to leave only for the block.* The only object of interest in the village is the church, which contains thirteen monumental brasses of the Cobham family, which are generally esteemed the finest things of the kind in England. Some of them are five centuries old. Leaving the church we returned to Rochester, arriving there at an opportune moment for witnessing some of the performances of that most remarkable of all the beasts in the European menagerie, the British lion. The British lion is not one of those unfortunate, mangy creatures of African descent, kept at Zoological Gardens, or carried about the country in a wooden box to amuse the people, but a living, two legged animal of indigenous growth. He may be a literary lion, or a political lion-- a Conservative or a Reforming lion, or belong to some other species too numerous to particuralize. To whatever species he belongs he creates a great sensation whenever he goes to a public meeting, as on this occasion, or a public dinner---the people always go to hear the lion roar, or to see the lion feed. Though very unlike the African lion in appearance, his supremacy among beasts is acknowledged.Whether he roars from the pulpit, the platform, or the printing office, his voice is law. His mouth is as large and his lungs as strong as those of the African lion, and hence the British lion has long been regarded as the mouth-piece of the people, the exponent of popular opinion. The specimen I saw on this occasion was the Reforming lion, in the person of Mr. Edmond Beales, M. A., who was here to roar to a meeting of the Reform League, to denounce the injustice to which the British were subjected under their constition and laws, and the necessity for radical change. Mr. Bright is the great reforming lion of the land, who stands before the people in awful majesty as the peculiar champion of their rights and redresser of their wrongs, but much of his work is done by young cubs who beat the bushes and scour the plains, starting up the game, eventually to be brought down and secured by the King beast. Mr. Beales, M. A., most decidedly belongs to the breed of cub lions. After listening some time to the music of his voice, we were reluctantly brought to the conclusion that the British lion is not always a remarkably wise beast-wise beasts are less obtrusive and make considerable less noise. We cannot afford space to report the roar of the lion of the species of Mr. Beales, M. A. It is enough to say that he has been *Lord Cobham was hung in chains and burnt in London in 1407. Warpole speaks of him as a man whose virtues made him a reformer, whose valor made him a martyr, whose martyrdom made him an enthusiast. His ready wit and brave spirit appeared to great advantage on his trial. classified as one of the promising lions, not promising much in himself, but to his friends. No rational human being would ever suppose Mr. Beales capable of carrying out his benevolent purposes towards mankind in general or the British people in particular. A politician who, like Mr. Beales, promises everything to everybody is not in the way of becoming as distinguished for deeds as words. The amicable role played by this demagogue, has, however, given him an unbounded personal popularity, and he exercises an immense influence. His power is confined to those however, who have no influence, namely: the ignorant classes, whom he easily deludes, and really, therefore, amounts to nothing, at least in so far as the public is concerned. He makes it of some value to himself, for Beales is a selfish lion in the way of securing fees in the petty courts where he practices and expounds what he calls the law, and in obtaining small offices, for which he has a great inclination and of which he has held many, in which he has acquired notoriety-not good fame. Such lions as Mr. Beales, do not present a fair type of the British animal. John Bright, M. P., is of the genuine British genius; it is such as he whose whisper is as loud as a thunder clap and who argue with strong teeth and sharp talons. It is this type which has been chosen as one of the supporters of the Royal arms. As such he is intended to represent the popular opinion of the country, and when he roars and lashes his tail, kings and statesmen know he must not be trifled with. He is, as we have said, not a particularly wise beast. He does not always discriminate rightly between the false and the true. When Sampson was sent of God to be the deliverer of his brethren, a lion came roaring against him at the first setting out. So when, in the present day, a man gets a special mission to deliver mankind from some chain of superstition or ignorance, popular opinion is sure to come roaring against him at first; but, as Sampson rent the lion as if he were a kid, so the power and majesty of truth, in the end, overcomes popular opinion, and effectually stops his roaring. Truth is stronger than a lion, and the triumph of truth is sweeter than honey For as Sampson, on his return, found a honey-comb in the jaws of the lion, so the herald of truth. having overcome the opposition of popular opinion, derives bread from the eater and sweetness from his strength, and the jaws and tongue of the people henceforward flow with honey in his praise. Nothing is truer than that in the long run truth will overcome error. To time, therefore, may be safely left the solution of those grave problems in government with which Mr. Beales so rashly tampers. We heard with pain the leveling principles of this demagogue, having always believed that the greater the rewards you give to virtue the better men you will get to contend for them. Mr. Beales has given conclusive evidence of his character, or rather want of character. Having made himself troublesome, if not a dangerous man, in order to quiet him he was appointed to a judgeship in 1870, and ever since has been as silent as the grave. Enjoying the honors and emoluments of the judicial station, this reforining lion no longer roars. Keen as are his optics he no longer sees any defects in the British Constitution; he only sees a stupid and ignorant people crying out about their wrongs, a people whom he complacently declares have only rights. This is .his "official opinion." No longer a reformer, the learned judge rivals. the late Earl of Ellenborough in his admiration of English institutions, as at once the pride, the strength and the glory of the Fatherland. SEVENOAKS CHAPTER XXII.. MONTREAL THE AMHERSTS-KNOLE CASTLE SHOWMEN-TONBRIDGE WELLS-BATTLE ABBEY-RETURN TO LONDON. A short trip brought us to the old county town of Sevenoaks, situated in one of the loveliest parts of Kent. Like many English › towns, Sevenoaks is remarkable for the clean and tidy air which pervades every part of it. In other respects it is in itself not particularly noteworthy, yet as one of these old places recalling our forefathers it possesses many charms. There are few of us who do not love to linger among the dwelling places of our ancestors, which, although now knowing them no more, appear still to retain a portion of their spirit and exhibit traces of their true and kindly nature. The country surrounding Sevenoaks is unsurpassed for beauty and variety of scenery, and has long been a favorite retreat for city people. During some brief interlude in the monotonous round of their busy lives, it is not only pleasant to steal from the 'mad'ning crowds' ignoble strife' to refresh their minds and bodies by a visit to the country, but the pleasant and holy memories of the good old days, doubtless renovates their jaded spirits. Some of the finest mansions in England are situated in what may be called the Sevenoaks neighborhood. One of these, which possessed special interest to us, is the old baronial residence of the ancient family of the Amhersts, called "Montreal." A pleasant walk through cornfields, corpses, and shady lanes conducted our pedestrian party to Montreal. It was built by Sir Jeffrey Am herst,* in commemoration of his glorious successes in America, upon the site of an old manor house, originally erected during the Saxon era. When approached, its venerable stone front is seen from amidst a grove of splendid old trees. The grounds and gardens attached to Montreal are not extensive, but the house is a handsome structure. In the park there is an obelisk to commemorate, as the inscription says "the providential and happy meeting of three brothers, on the 25th of January, 1704, after six years of glorious war, in which the three were successfully engaged. On the other side it runs as follows; "Dedicated to that most noble statesman. during whose administration Cape Breton and Canada were conquered, and from whose influence the British Arms derived a degree of lustre unparalleled in the past ages." The following record of the victories achieved in the far West, is also inscribed upon it : "Louisburg surrendered, and six French battalions prisoners of war, 26th July, 1758. Niagara surrendered, 25th July, 1758. Ticonderago taken possession of 26th July, 1759. Fort Levi surrendered 25th August, 1760. Isle au Noix abandoned 28th August, 1760. Montreal surrendered, and with it all Canada, and ten French battalions layed down their arms, 6th of September, 1760. St. Johns, Newfoundland, retaken 18th September, 1760." The most interesting objects, however, in the vicinity of Sevenoaks, are Knole Castle and Park, now the property and residence of Earl Amherst-Lord Delaware. It was originally the property of the Sackvilles, Lords Buckhurst, then of the Earls and Dukes of Dorset and continued in the latter family till 1825, when it was *Jeffrey, Lord Amherst, was born in 1717, entered the army 1731, served under the Duke of Cumberland 1741, Colonel in 1756, Major General in 1758, served in America against France 1758, Commander-in-Chief in Canada 175860, Governor of Virginia 1763 and Governor of Guernsey 1770, Lieut-General 1772, created Lord Amherst of Montreal 1788, died 1797. inherited by the present, which is a collateral branch of the family of Thomas Sackville, first Earl of Dorset. The Castle stands in a park of 1,000 acres, dotted over with fine elms and large oaks. Everything about this old domain is so venerable, and at the same time so poetical, that in pacing its grassy glades, one almost expects to encounter the nymphs and satyrs once believed to inhabit its groves. What this splendid park was two centuries ago, it is to day. No modern innovations or improvements have impaired its sylvan beauty and it stands pre-eminent amid the romantic nooks of Kent. Occupying an eminence, as its name implies, the building covers 3 acres of ground, the principal portion of which is of the 15th and 16th. centuries, though parts are much older. It is considered by archæologists among the most interesting, as it is certainly one of the most famous of English baronial mansions. Grey, stern and majestic, it is suggestive of those times when night made right, and looks as if any deed of violence might have been committed under the shelter of its stout walls. It was once surrounded by a deep fosse and lofty vellum, but these have long since disappeared, and a well laid out garden occupies their places, The spot which once echoed to the imperious tread of the mailed Baron and his half savage retainers, is now covered with innocent flowers, which send up their offerings of sweet incense. Long occupied by different families as a residence, no part of the buildings, interior or exterior, has been modernized, but are preserved in the quaint old style in which they were originally built. It is remarkable for numerous and extensive subterraneous cavities and vaults, which undermine the gardens and are said to extend in some directions two miles. The furniture with which it was supplied, with the additions of subsequent periods, is also retained. Among this is the Chair of State which was occupied by James I, when on his visit to Knole in 1610. Passing into the "Stone Court," we enter the "Great Hall" where is preserved the massive oak table at which in accordance with ancient custom, the domestics were wont to dine in the presence of their Lord. The fire place in the Hall is of the requisite capacity for roasting a whole bullock, the hospitable form in which the roast beef of old England was served up on grand occasions by the great Barons. The hall is hung with paintings and old armor, weapons of war and the chase. etc. From the great hall we were shown successively into the Brown gallery, Lady Betty Germain's rooms, the billiard room, the ball room, the chapel, the cartoon room, the King's bed room, the dining room, &c., in all of which there are many fine paintings, curious pieces of antique furniture, tapestry, and other objects of art. |