my certain knowledge, and still to be evidenced
by their extant letters, bitterly opposed to the whole movement,--and I
cannot conclude these remarks better or more appositely than by adding
here, with real dates, the three following ballads, which tell their own
tale briefly and suggestively." I print them here, as they are now to be
found nowhere else.

The first, published in newspapers during June 1859 (following several
others of a like character, with my name or without it), was the origin
of the Volunteers' motto--being headed

_Defence not Defiance._

"Nearer the muttering thunders roll,
Blacker and heavier frowns the sky,--
Yet our dauntless English soul
Faces the storm with a steady eye;
Hands are strong where hearts are stout;
Our rifles are ready--look out!

"No one wishes the storm to roll here--
No one cares such a devil to raise,--
And in brotherhood, not in fear,
Only for peace an Englishman prays,--
Yet he may shout in the midst of the rout,
Our rifles are ready--look out!

"Keep to your own, like an honest man,
And here's our hand, and here's our heart,
Let the world see how wisely you can
Play to the end a right neighbourly part,--
But if mischief is creeping about,
Our rifles are ready--look out!

"No defiance is on our lips,
Nothing but kindliness greets you here;
Still, in the storm our dolphin ships
Round the Eddystone dart and steer,--
And on shore--no doubt, no doubt--
Our rifles are ready--look out!

"Not Defiance, but only Defence,
Hold we forth for humanity's sake,--
And, with the help of Omnipotence,
We shall stand when the mountains quake:
Only in Him our hearts are stout;
Our rifles are ready--look out!"

_A Rhyme for Albury Club._

"A rhyme for the Club, for the brave little Club
That stoutly went forward when others held back,
And, reckless of many a sneer and a snub,
Steer'd manfully straight upon Duty's own tack,--
Though quarrelsome peacemongers did their small worst,
In spite of their tongues and in spite of their teeth,
We stood up for England among the few first,
With rifles and targets on Surrey Blackheath!

"Time was when Tom Wydeawake, ten years agone,
Toil'd to arouse dull old Britain betimes,
By example--he shouldered his rifle alone,
By precept-