MEMORIALS OF A TOUR ON THE CONTINENT
XXXIV
ON BEING STRANDED NEAR THE HARBOUR OF BOULOGNE
WHY cast ye back upon the Gallic shore,
Ye furious waves! a patriotic Son
Of England--who in hope her coast had won,
His project crowned, his pleasant travel o'er?
Well--let him pace this noted beach once more,
That gave the Roman his triumphal shells;
That saw the Corsican his cap and bells
Haughtily shake, a dreaming Conqueror!--
Enough: my Country's cliffs I can behold,
And proudly think, beside the chafing sea,
Of checked ambition, tyranny controlled,
And folly cursed with endless memory:
These local recollections ne'er can cloy;
Such ground I from my very heart enjoy!
NOTE
Title: Near the town of Boulogne, and over-hanging the beach, are the
remains of a tower which bears the name of Caligula, who here
terminated his western expedition, of which these sea-shells were
the boasted spoils. And at no great distance from these ruins,
Buonaparte, standing upon a mound of earth, harangued his "Army of
England," reminding them of the exploits of Caesar, and pointing
towards the white cliffs, upon which their standards 'were to
float'. He recommended also a subscription to be raised among the
Soldiery to erect on that ground, in memory of the foundation of
the "Legion of Honour," a Column--which was not completed at the
time we were there.
