The Westcotes

Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, New Age, History, Fiction & Literature
Cover of the book The Westcotes by Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch, Library of Alexandria
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch ISBN: 9781465594266
Publisher: Library of Alexandria Publication: March 8, 2015
Imprint: Language: English
Author: Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch
ISBN: 9781465594266
Publisher: Library of Alexandria
Publication: March 8, 2015
Imprint:
Language: English
Endymion, the elder, (who took the lead of Narcissus in all, things), was the fine flower of the Westcote stocks, and, out of question, the most influential man in Axcester and for many a mile round justice of the Peace for the county of Somerset and Major of its Yeomanry, he served "our town," (so he called it) as Overseer of the Poor, Governor of the Grammar School, Chairman of Feoffees, Churchwarden, everything in short but Mayor—an office which he left to the tradesmen, while taking care to speak of it always with respect, and indeed to see it properly filled. The part of County Magistrate—to which he had been born—he played to perfection, and with a full sense of its dignified amenity. (It was whispered that the Lord Lieutenant himself stood in some awe of him.) His favourite character, however, was that of plain citizen of his native town. "I'm an Axcester man," he would declare in his public speeches, and in his own way he loved and served the little borough. For its good he held its Parliamentary representation in the hollow of his hand; and, as Overseer of the Poor, had dared public displeasure by revising the Voters' List and defying a mandamus of the Court of King's Bench rather than allow Axcester to fail in its duty of returning two members to support Mr. Percevall's Ministry. In 1800, when the price of wheat rose to 184s a quarter, a poor woman dropped dead in the market place of starvation. At once a mob collected, hoisted a quartern-loaf on a pole with the label—"We will have Bread or Blood," and started to pillage the shop's in High Street. It was Endymion Westcote who rode up single-handed, (they, were carrying the only constable on their shoulders) and faced and dispersed the rioters. It was he who headed the subscription list, prevailed on the purchase a wagon-load of potatoes and persuaded the people to plant them—for even the seed potatoes had been eaten, and the gardens lay undigged. It was he who met the immediate famine by importing large quantities of rice. Finally, it was he, through his influence with the county, who brought back prosperity by getting the French prisoners sent to Axcester. We shall talk of these French prisoners by and by. To conclude this portrait of Endymion Westcote. He was a handsome, fresh-complexioned man, over six feet in height, and past his forty-fifth year; a bachelor and a Protestant. In his youth he had been noted for gallantry, and preserved some traces of it in his address. His grandfather had married a French lady, and although this union had not sensibly diluted the Westcote blood, Endymion would refer to it to palliate a youthful taste for playing the fiddle. He spoke French fluently, with a British accent which, when appointed Commissary, he took pains to improve by conversation with the prisoners, and was fond of discussing heredity with the two most distinguished of them—the Vicomte de Tocqueville and General Rochambeau.
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Endymion, the elder, (who took the lead of Narcissus in all, things), was the fine flower of the Westcote stocks, and, out of question, the most influential man in Axcester and for many a mile round justice of the Peace for the county of Somerset and Major of its Yeomanry, he served "our town," (so he called it) as Overseer of the Poor, Governor of the Grammar School, Chairman of Feoffees, Churchwarden, everything in short but Mayor—an office which he left to the tradesmen, while taking care to speak of it always with respect, and indeed to see it properly filled. The part of County Magistrate—to which he had been born—he played to perfection, and with a full sense of its dignified amenity. (It was whispered that the Lord Lieutenant himself stood in some awe of him.) His favourite character, however, was that of plain citizen of his native town. "I'm an Axcester man," he would declare in his public speeches, and in his own way he loved and served the little borough. For its good he held its Parliamentary representation in the hollow of his hand; and, as Overseer of the Poor, had dared public displeasure by revising the Voters' List and defying a mandamus of the Court of King's Bench rather than allow Axcester to fail in its duty of returning two members to support Mr. Percevall's Ministry. In 1800, when the price of wheat rose to 184s a quarter, a poor woman dropped dead in the market place of starvation. At once a mob collected, hoisted a quartern-loaf on a pole with the label—"We will have Bread or Blood," and started to pillage the shop's in High Street. It was Endymion Westcote who rode up single-handed, (they, were carrying the only constable on their shoulders) and faced and dispersed the rioters. It was he who headed the subscription list, prevailed on the purchase a wagon-load of potatoes and persuaded the people to plant them—for even the seed potatoes had been eaten, and the gardens lay undigged. It was he who met the immediate famine by importing large quantities of rice. Finally, it was he, through his influence with the county, who brought back prosperity by getting the French prisoners sent to Axcester. We shall talk of these French prisoners by and by. To conclude this portrait of Endymion Westcote. He was a handsome, fresh-complexioned man, over six feet in height, and past his forty-fifth year; a bachelor and a Protestant. In his youth he had been noted for gallantry, and preserved some traces of it in his address. His grandfather had married a French lady, and although this union had not sensibly diluted the Westcote blood, Endymion would refer to it to palliate a youthful taste for playing the fiddle. He spoke French fluently, with a British accent which, when appointed Commissary, he took pains to improve by conversation with the prisoners, and was fond of discussing heredity with the two most distinguished of them—the Vicomte de Tocqueville and General Rochambeau.

More books from Library of Alexandria

Cover of the book Poesias by Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch
Cover of the book A Journal of the Swedish Embassy in the Years 1653 and 1654 by Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch
Cover of the book Sir John Constantine: Memoirs of His Adventures At Home and Abroad and Particularly in the Island of Corsica Beginning with the Year 1756 by Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch
Cover of the book Confessions of Con Cregan: An Irish Gil Blas by Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch
Cover of the book The Story of the Glittering Plain by Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch
Cover of the book The Watchers of the Plains: A Tale of the Western Prairies by Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch
Cover of the book Paz by Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch
Cover of the book The Bad Boy At Home by Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch
Cover of the book A Hind Let Loose Or, an Historical Representation of The Testimonies of The Church of Scotland for The interest of Christ With The True State Thereof in All Its Periods by Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch
Cover of the book Early Renaissance Architecture in England: A Historical & Descriptive Account of the Tudor, Elizabethan, & Jacobean Periods, 1500-1625 by Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch
Cover of the book Ziska by Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch
Cover of the book Hurricane Hurry by Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch
Cover of the book Caesar Borgia: A Study of the Renaissance by Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch
Cover of the book Archibald Hughson: An Arctic Story by Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch
Cover of the book Sherlock Holmes: The Veiled Lodger by Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy