HELPS TO STUDY

As an expression of what an English poet, English to the core in his character, thought of the Revolution, this poem should be interesting to American boys and girls. Written in 1832, just fifty years after the Revolution, it expresses the same opinion of the Colonists and their rights as Burke expressed in his famous speech on Conciliation.

The thou "addressed in the poem is England. The "deep chord which Hampden smote" refers to the refusal by Hampden to pay an unjust ship tax, assessed by Charles I. This was about 1640, nearly two hundred years before the time in which Tennyson is writing. It was shortly after the Puritans had come to New England in order that they might be free to live their own lives in their own way; and fifty years before the Englishmen themselves drove out their king, James II, for interfering with their liberties as English subjects. The Englishman's fight for fuller and broader rights within his own country has gone steadily on from that day to this, until England has become one of the most democratic nations of the world. And the changes towards greater freedom and more liberal justice are still going on in the British Empire. In this respect the spirit of England and America are the same. It is the spirit of English speaking peoples everywhere;—in Canada, in Australia, in New Zealand.

For Study with the Glossary: Wrenched, noble heat, liberal joy, harmonies of law.

For Oral and Written Composition: 1. The connection between taxes and liberty. 2. The great mistake of George III. 3. How the English people are governed to-day. 4. How we protect ourselves from tyranny in our governments.

TO LAFAYETTE AT BUNKER HILL

In 1824-1825, Lafayette, then an old man, made a tour of the United States, and was a guest of honor at the laying of the corner stone of the Bunker Hill Monument. These words were addressed directly to him by Webster, in the course of his famous oration.

Sir, we are assembled to commemorate the establishment of great public principles of liberty, and to do honor to the distinguished dead. The occasion is too severe for eulogy of the living. But, sir, your interesting relation to this 5 country, the peculiar circumstances which surround you and surround us, call on me to express the happiness which we derive from your presence and aid in this solemn commemoration.

Fortunate, fortunate man!-with what measure of devo10 tion will you not thank God for the circumstances of your extraordinary life! You are connected with both hemispheres and with two generations. Heaven saw fit to ordain that the electric spark of liberty should be conducted, through you, from the New World to the Old; and we who 15 are now here to perform this duty of patriotism have all of us long ago received it in charge from our fathers to cherish your name and your virtues. You will account it an instance of your good fortune, sir, that you crossed the seas to visit us at a time which enables you to be present at this 20 solemnity. You now behold the field the renown of which reached you in the heart of France, and caused a thrill in

your ardent bosom. You see the lines of the little redoubt thrown up by the incredible diligence of Prescott, defended to the last extremity by his lion-hearted valor, and within which the corner stone of our monument has now taken its position. You see where Warren fell, and where Parker, 5 Gardner, McCleary, Moore, and other early patriots fell with him. Those who survived that day, and whose lives have been prolonged to the present hour, are now around you. Some of them you have known in the trying scenes of the war. Behold! they now stretch forth their feeble 10 arms to embrace you. Behold! they raise their trembling voices to invoke the blessing of God on you and yours for

ever.

Sir, you have assisted us in laying the foundation of this structure. You have heard us rehearse, with our feeble 15 commendation, the names of departed patriots. Monuments and eulogy belong to the dead. We give them this day to Warren and his associates. On other occasions they have been given to your more immediate companions in arms, to Washington, to Greene, to Gates, to Sullivan, and 20 to Lincoln. We have become reluctant to grant these, our highest and last honors, further. We would gladly hold them yet back from the little remnant of that immortal band. Serus in cœlum redeas. Illustrious as are your merits, yet far, oh, very far distant be the day when any 25 inscription shall bear your name, or any tongue pronounce its eulogy!

From DANIEL WEBSTER's First Bunker Hill Oration.

HELPS TO STUDY

This personal tribute to Lafayette has a special interest for us to-day since France and America are again allies in defense of the right.

1. What does Webster say is the purpose of the gathering where he is speaking? 2. "The electric spark of liberty" "from the New World to the Old." The French people were inspired to fight for their own liberty partly through the success of our Revolution. 3. To Washington, to Greene, etc." These are American generals of the Revolution. The Lincoln of this list is, of course, not the great Lincoln of a later time. 4. Serus in coelum redeas": Late may you return to heaven; that is, May your life be long.

For Study with the Glossary: Eulogy, solemnity, invoke.

TO A SOLDIER FROM FRANCE

On she passed to a Frenchman, his arm carried off by a ball : Kneeling: "O more than my brother! how shall I thank thee for all?

Each of the heroes around us has fought for his land and

line;

But thou hast fought for a stranger, in hate of a wrong not thine.

Happy are all free peoples, too strong to be dispossessed; But blessed are those among nations who dare to be strong for the rest."

From A Court Lady by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING