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Wreck of the "Kapunda" also involving the British Barque "Ada Melmore" and the French Barque "Ulysse" |
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Bamborough Castle
When in contrast to the humanity exercised by Mr and Miss Abbot,
the eager desire of plunder, so general on the Western coast, is recollected,
and one cannot help wishing that on this fatal part of it some such establishment
was possible, as that which has been founded at Bamborough Castle, in Northumberland,
by Lord Crewe, Bishop of Durham : the account of this place is given by
Mr Bowles, in a note to the admirable Sonnet written on the spot, which
I cannot resist copying.
SONNET, 'WRITTEN AT BAMBOROUGH CASTLE
YE holy towers that shade the 'wave-worn steep,
Long may you rear your aged brows sublime;
Though, hurrying silent by, relentless Time
Assail you, and the wintry whirlwind's sweep!
For, far from blazing grandeur's crowded halls,
Here Charity, hath fix'd her chosen feat,
Many Readers may be ignorant that this very ancient Castle,
with its extensive domains, heretofore the property of the family of Forsters,
whose heiress married Lord Crewe, Bishop of Durham, is appropriated by
the will of that pious prelate to many benevolent purposes, particularly
of ministering instant relief to such shipwrecked Mariners as may happen
to be cast on this dangerous coast; for whose preservation and that of
their vessels, every possible assistance is contrived, and is at all times
ready. The whole estate is vested in the hands of Trustees; one of whom,
Dr. Sharp, Archdeacon of Northumberland, with an active zeal well suited
to the nature of the humane institution, makes this Castle his chief residence,
attending with unwearied diligence to the proper application of the Charity."
Oft listening tearful, when the wild winds beat
With hollow bodings round your ancient walls!
And Pity, at the dark and stormy hour
Of midnight, when the moon is hid on high,
Keeps her lone watch upon the topmast tower,
And turns her ear to each expiring cry;
Blest, if her aid some fainting wretch might save,
And snatch him cold and speechless from the wave.
It cannot fail of being consolatory to the humane and reflecting
mind to be enabled by this note to turn to such an example as that of the
worthy and respectable Clergyman, who is thus the Minister of Mercy at
Bamborough Castle. In the course of collecting the materials for this little
narrative, I have been compelled to remark a character altogether different.
One who seems to watch the Chisell Bank in the time of tempest, with views
very unlike those of the venerable Dr. Sharp; and far from teaching like
a good shepherd, humanity to his flock, he seems to encourage, by his example,
their Cruel rapacity, and to repeat with them in listening to the rising
tempest:
Blaw wind, rize zay,
Zhip azhore afore day.
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