202 OLD BOOT. 



magic words " Buonaparte's coming" convey to the English ears, 

 some five-and-twenty years ago ! How electric was the effect pro- 

 duced by this awful announcement on all his Britannic Majesty's liege 

 subjects ! In an instant, every horrible association was connected with 

 the imaginary arrival of that great military genius. The tremulous 

 accents of prophetic old-ladyism declared, that no sooner would he 

 plant his foot on Albion's lovely isle than the work of immediate 

 destruction would ensue, by all falling sacrifice to general conflagration, 

 general ravishment, general annihilation, and various other demo- 

 niacal agents ! For years did this gloomy phantom of a distempered 

 imagination haunt the waking as well as sleeping hours of John 

 Bull's numerous family, a great portion of which, animated with feel- 

 ings of noble patriotism, organized themselves into a band of volunteers 

 — or, as some would have it, " wolunteers" — for the purpose of resist- 

 ing the visit of the emperor. They doubtless thought, to adopt the 

 words of Lord Hastings, that — 



" On this foundation would they build their fame, 

 And emulate the Greek and Roman name !" 



But the great dispenser of human events mercifully interposed, and 

 prevented that dread collision which sickens humanity to behold, and 

 left those who were disposed to 



" Think England's peace bought cheaply with their blood, 

 And die with pleasure for their country's good," 



in the full enjoyment of their heroic aspirations, without permitting their 

 heroism to be put to an awkward and inconvenient test. Thus were 

 the prospective services of these embryo heroes thrown aside by the 

 decree of fate. They were not destined to repel, at the point of the 

 bayonet, a Buonapartean invasion ; and though this was made appa- 

 rent by the subsequent reverses which the great military chieftain expe- 

 rienced, yet it was impossible for the English people to abandon the 

 notion of his awful visitation among them, so long as he belonged to the 

 ranks of the living. Therefore, notwithstanding his ultimate capture 

 and - confinement, together with the well-ascertained security which the 

 island of St. <■ Helena affo'rded against his escape, they tended but in a 

 trifling degree to diminish the dread which had been so long enter- 

 tained of his voyage across the Channel ; nor was it till the " grim 

 monster laid his cold hand upon him," and his mighty spirit fled from 



