PREFACE.

The author[1] of the present Volume, in tendering his sincere thanks to the gentlemen of Her Majesty’s Customs,[2] and to his other numerous and kind patrons, who so liberally subscribed towards the publication of his little work, assures them that he is deeply sensible of his obligations to them for the almost uniform courtesy with which his solicitations were met; because (being perfectly conscious at the onset of his undertaking how necessary it was to prepare to subject himself to censure as well as approbation, and to arm himself with those indispensable virtues—patience, perseverance, endurance, and thankfulness, without which the attempt would have been futile, and being also aware that nothing but a favourable response to his appeal could possibly lead to the accomplishment of his object) the success which has attended his efforts is certainly far beyond what might have been expected by one in so humble and so obscure a position in life.

There is, however, one gentleman[3] in particular[vi] to whom it is the Author’s duty to be—if ’twere possible—more than grateful, for his generous condescension in permitting the manuscripts to be placed in his hands for perusal, and who—after surveying a portion of them—not only recommended the method of publication which was adopted, but gave effect to his advice by kindly becoming the first subscriber to the work—for the Author never would have presumed to publish these poems on his own personal estimation of whatever merit they may possess, so that unless such an impetus had been given to the project it is more than probable he never would have had the gratification of seeing them produced in their present form.

This the Author hopes will afford to his numerous subscribers, and to those in whose hands it may perchance happen to fall, a not unreasonable excuse for his having intruded himself into the unmerciful arena of poetical literature, and, perhaps, be the means of saving his little work—the product of his leisure hours—from being thrust into the gloomy recesses of oblivion.

E. E. FOOT.

London, December, 1867.

[1] A native of Ashburton, Devonshire.

[2] To which he belongs.

[3] Sir F. H. Doyle, Bart., Receiver-General of Her Majesty’s Customs, &c.

[vii]

The Poems of Edward Edwin Foot.

PUBLISHED 1867.

CONTENTS OF VOLUME.

[9]

THE POEMS OF EDWARD EDWIN FOOT.

A Voice from the People.

[Composed on the occasion of the inauguration of the memorial statue of His late Royal Highness the Prince Consort, at Aberdeen, 13th October, 1863.]

[4] The author having sent a copy of this poem to Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales (then at Sandringham), had the pleasure of receiving the following letter:—

“Sandringham, November 4, 1863.

“Sir,—I am desired to inform you that, by the direction of the Princess of Wales, I have to-day forwarded to Sir Charles Phipps, for presentation to Her Majesty the Queen, your poem, written on the occasion of the inauguration of the memorial statue of the Prince Consort, at Aberdeen. Her Royal Highness also desires me to say that she read the lines with great gratification.

“I am, sir,

“Your most obedient servant,

(Signed) “Herbert Fisher.

“Mr. E. E. Foot,

“105, Ebury St., Pimlico.”

[11]

O! Gather in the Old Yule Log.

[13]

Evening.

[5] The dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral, London.

[6] Dew.

[7] The setting sun.

The Homeward-bound Passenger Ship.

[8] The Author had the gratification of receiving a present from the late Viscount Palmerston (January, 1864), in acknowledgment of a manuscript copy of this poem.

[9] The west wind.

[10] Perchance a party of lucky adventurers; such, for instance, as three or four fortunate diggers, who probably had worked as a company on some gold field in Australia, and were returning to their native country.

[11] A figurative expression, intended by the author to signify the horizon.

[12] Port-bow.

[13] Prayer.

[14] Imagine.

[28]

“Raven Rock.”[15]

A Word for my Native Place.—Should any of my readers ever be making a tour to the west of England, I venture to say they will be highly gratified with the grandeur of the prospect afforded them on “Raven Rock,” and other commanding points in that locality; and there are several high Tors, besides other places of attraction, in the neighbourhood of Ashburton, which will well repay the visitor.—E. E. Foot, London, 1867.

[15] “Raven Rock” is about 500 feet above, and near the banks of, the river Dart; is distant about two and a-half miles from Ashburton, Devonshire, and bounded on the north side by Aswell Woods, from which it is easily accessible.

[16] The Dart river, whose source is in the forest of Dartmoor, is most appropriately called the “English Rhine.” The scenery in the locality of “Raven Rock” is very beautiful.

[17] The author of the poem.

[18] Sir Bouchier Wrey, Bart., the lord of the manor; great in stature, and a most amiable gentleman.

[19] The rock.

[20] Thousands of rare oaks which embellished this beautiful locality, belonging to Sir Bouchier, were hewn down ‘some few years since’, to the great regret of the people of the neighbourhood.

[21] Sir Henry Seale, Bart., of Dartmouth, Devon.

[22] Buckland-beacon, a very high point, commanding an immense tract of magnificent scenery, and where there is a strong refuge for the hard-hunted animal.

[23] For instance.

[24] A slight reference to the author’s short sojourn in Australia, 1855-56.

[36]

“Lovers’ Leap.”[25]

[25] “Lovers’ Leap,” which is situated in a very picturesque spot on the banks of the river Dart, is a perpendicular rugged precipice, immediately contiguous to a carriage-road. Its summit is about seventy feet above the river, and where, at the foot of the rock, the stilly waters flow: distance from Ashburton about three miles, and about half a mile from the foot of “Raven Rock,” which is seen on “Lovers’ Leap” with great advantage.

[26] The late lamented Prince Consort, accompanied by the late Colonel Phipps, and two other gentlemen in attendance on His Royal Highness, made a tour from Dartmouth, viâ Totnes, to Ashburton, and thence to Tavistock (en route for Plymouth by this circuit), proceeding by way of the river Dart, in the carriage-drive which passes over “Lovers’ Leap,” on the 20th of July, 1852; Her Majesty Queen Victoria proceeding, in the meanwhile, in her yacht to Plymouth.

[27] “Raven Rock”—aspect south from “Lovers’ Leap.”

[28] This is stated on the authority of Mr. G. Sparkes, of Ashburton, who had the honour of conducting His Royal Highness and suite through this part of the journey.

[29] Gathered to his fathers, December 14, 1861, in his forty-second year.

[41]

A Welcome to Alexandra.

[Composed on the occasion of the arrival of Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra, 7th March, 1863.]

[30] Their Royal Highnesses, and the ladies and gentlemen in attendance, travelled by railway to London, where, at the Bricklayers’ Arms Station, they were received by the Corporation of the City with great joy and magnificence.

[31] The route taken was over London Bridge, King William Street, Cheapside, by St. Paul’s, Ludgate Hill, Fleet Street, Strand, Pall Mall, St. James’s Street, Piccadilly, Hyde Park, Edgware Road, thence to Paddington.

[32] The morning was only partially fine. About half-past four o’clock it began to rain. The evening was very wet.

[33] Windsor Castle.

[34] The Round Tower.

[45]