;
For, the world's peace--in England's and France's--
Sprung of that sowing on Surrey Blackheath!"

_March 5, 1864._

Lord Lovelace will remember how much he opposed our rifle-club,--as in
those days illegal, and so the Lord-Lieutenant of Surrey might not
sanction it: but now his Lordship is our leading volunteer. Besides the
three ballads above, I wrote seven others which rang round the land, and
some of them, as "Hurrah for the Rifle," and "In days long ago when old
England was young," have been sung at Wimbledon and other gatherings.

It may be worth while, seeing the ballads are hopelessly out of print,
if I here transcribe a few stanzas from divers other staves I penned in
the early days of Rifledom. First, from "Rise, Britannia," before
mentioned, which was "written and printed in 1846, and then headed, by a
strange anticipation, a stirring song for patriots in the year 1860:"
reproduced in my now extinct "Cithara," in 1863: I wrote it to be sung
to the tune of "Wha wouldna fecht for Charlie:" even as afterwards I
adapted my "In days long ago when old England was young" to "The
roast-beef of old England," published with my own illustration by Cocks
& Co.:--

"Rise! ye gallant youth of Britain,
Gather to your country's call,
On your hearts her name is written,
Rise to help her, one and all!
Cast away each feud and faction,
Brood not over wrong nor ill,
Rouse your virtues into action,
For we love our country still,
Hail, Britannia! hail, Britannia!
Raise that thrilling shout once more,
Rise, Britannia! rule, Britannia!
Conqueror over sea and shore!"

After three stanzas which I will omit, the last is

"Rise then, patriots I name endearing,--
Flock from Scotland's moors and dales,
From the green glad fields of Erin,
From the mountain homes of Wales,--
Rise! for sister England calls you,
Rise! our commonweal to serve,
Rise! while now the song enthrals you
Thrilling every vein and nerve,--
Hail, Britannia! hail, Britannia!
Conquer, as thou didst of yore;
Rise, Britannia! rule, Britannia!
Over every sea and shore!"

Another noted alarum, sounded in January 1852, commences thus:--

"Englishmen, up! make ready your rifles!
Who can tell now what a day may bring forth?
Patch up all quarrels, and stick at no trifles,--
Let the world see what your loyalty