CHAPTER XVI. 



The "Annus Mirabilis " of Dryden — 1870 a more wonderful Year in its way than i6£6— 

 Winter — Number of Killed and Wounded in the Franco-Prussian War — Battles of 

 Langside, Tippermuir, Cappel — Carrier Pigeons — The Velocity with which Birds fly. 



One of Dryden's best poems, and in many respects one of the most 

 curious poems in the language, is the Annus Mirahilin, an effusion 

 of historical panegyric, which, after the lapse of two ceaturies, no 

 one can read unmoved or undelighted, so beautifully is it written, 

 so masterly is the versification, and so vividly are its events por- 

 trayed. The year commemorated is 1666, and the "wonders" 

 that entitled it to such pre-emiuence were the naval war with the 

 Dutch and Danes and the great fire in London. If 1666, however, 

 was an annus mirabilis, surely 1870 is an annus mirdbilior, a more 

 wonderful year stUl, nay, an annus niirabilissimus, if you like, for 

 you shall go hack in our annals very far indeed — much farther, if 

 you try it, than at the outset you might think at aU necessary — 

 before you meet its match. Just consider, first of all, the great 

 Pranco -Prussian war, with its countless hosts of slain ; with its 

 sieges of Strasbourg, Metz, and Paris, not to mention strongholds 

 of less importance ; its capitulation of Sedan and captive Emperor ; 

 the Empire ruined, and a Eepublic in its place, with all that may 

 yet happen ere peace is proclaimed and the Germans have recrossed 

 the Ebine. Think, again, of the promulgation of the doctrine of 

 Papal Infallibility, so speedily, and let us say unexpectedl}', followed 

 by the capture of Eome and the dethronement of this very infallible 

 Pope as a temporal Prince, by the Catholic (proJi inidor !) King 

 of Italy. At home, a daughter of the Queen, with the royal 

 consent and concurrence, marries one of that (,)ueeu's subjects, for 



