The Project Gutenberg EBook of Under the Mendips, by Emma Marshall
This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
Title: Under the Mendips
A Tale
Author: Emma Marshall
Release Date: July 25, 2010 [EBook #33257]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK UNDER THE MENDIPS ***
Produced by Delphine Lettau and the Online Distributed
Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
UNDER THE MENDIPS.
Under the Mendips
_A TALE_
_By_ EMMA MARSHALL
_Author of_ IN COLSTON'S DAYS, LIFE'S AFTERMATH,
IN THE EAST COUNTRY, &c.
SIXTH THOUSAND
[Illustration: Bristol Harbour.]
LONDON
SEELEY AND CO., LIMITED, ESSEX STREET, STRAND
1892
PREFACE
I am greatly indebted to that very interesting book, "Bristol Past and
Present," for the details of the Bristol Riots, in the autumn of 1831,
which are introduced into this story. It closes with the birth of the
new year, 1832; and therefore the special commission appointed to try
the prisoners does not come within its limits.
But anyone who may be interested in the fate of Colonel Brereton, may,
by referring to "Bristol Past and Present," and other contemporary
records, learn his sad and most lamentable end.
Feeling the evidence of the Court Martial was entirely against him, he
forestalled his sentence with his own hand, and shot himself through the
heart, on Thursday night, January the 14th, 1832.
With all the many complications of Colonel Brereton's position it is not
for us to deal, nor judge him harshly for apparent failure in duty at a
time when the hearts of many brave men sank within them, for looking on
these things which were coming on their ancient city. But this, his
last act, must ever awaken one of the saddest memories of those sad
times, casting a shadow over the name of an English officer, and
presenting the most painful and pathetic picture of what a man may do,
who, in a moment of despair and helplessness, cannot cry to the strong
for strength.
WOODSIDE, LEIGH WOODS,
CLIFTON, BRISTOL
_Nov. 1, 1885._
CONTENTS.
PART I.
CHAP. PAGE
I. FAIR A
|