I TOLD the Christian reader in the beginning of the chapter which
preceded my uncle _Toby_’s apologetical oration,—though in a different
trope from what I should make use of now, That the peace of _Utrecht_
was within an ace of creating the same shyness betwixt my uncle _Toby_
and his hobby-horse, as it did betwixt the queen and the rest of the
confederating powers.
There is an indignant way in which a man sometimes dismounts his horse,
which, as good as says to him, “I’ll go afoot, Sir, all the days of my
life before I would ride a single mile upon your back again.” Now my
uncle _Toby_ could not be said to dismount his horse in this manner;
for in strictness of language, he could not be said to dismount his
horse at all——his horse rather flung him——and somewhat _viciously_,
which made my uncle _Toby_ take it ten times more unkindly. Let this
matter be settled by state-jockies as they like.——It created, I say, a
sort of shyness betwixt my uncle _Toby_ and his hobby-horse.——He had no
occasion for him from the month of _March_ to _November_, which was the
summer after the articles were signed, except it was now and then to
take a short ride out, just to see that the fortifications and harbour
of _Dunkirk_ were demolished, according to stipulation.
The _French_ were so backwards all that summer in setting about that
affair, and Monsieur _Tugghe_, the deputy from the magistrates of
_Dunkirk_, presented so many affecting petitions to the
queen,—beseeching her majesty to cause only her thunderbolts to fall
upon the martial works, which might have incurred her displeasure,—but
to spare—to spare the mole, for the mole’s sake; which, in its naked
situation, could be no more than an object of pity——and the queen (who
was but a woman) being of a pitiful disposition,—and her ministers
also, they not wishing in their hearts to have the town dismantled, for
these private reasons, * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *——
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ; so that the whole
went heavily on with my uncle _Toby;_ insomuch, that it was not within
three full months, after he and the corporal had constructed the town,
and put it in a condition to be destroyed, that the several
commandants, commissaries, deputies, negociators, and intendants, would
permit him to set about it.——Fatal interval of inactivity!
The corporal was for beginning the demolition, by making a breach in
the ramparts, or main fortifications of the town——No,—that will never
do, corporal, said my uncle _Toby_, for in going that way to work with
the town, the _English_ garrison will not be safe in it an hour;
because if the French are treacherous——They are as treacherous as
devils, an’ please your honour, said the corporal——It gives me concern
always when I hear it, _Trim_, said my uncle _Toby;_—for they don’t
want personal bravery; and if a breach is made in the ramparts, they
may enter it, and make themselves masters of the place when they
please:—Let them enter it, said the corporal, lifting up his pioneer’s
spade in both his hands, as if he was going to lay about him with
it,—let them enter, an’ please your honour, if they dare.——In cases
like this, corporal, said my uncle _Toby_, slipping his right hand down
to the middle of his cane, and holding it afterwards truncheon-wise
with his fore-finger extended,——’tis no part of the consideration of a
commandant, what the enemy dare,—or what they dare not do; he must act
with prudence. We will begin with the outworks both towards the sea and
the land, and particularly with fort _Louis_, the most distant of them
all, and demolish it first,—and the rest, one by one, both on our right
and left, as we retreat towards the town;——then we’ll demolish the
mole,—next fill up the harbour,—then retire into the citadel, and blow
it up into the air: and having done that, corporal, we’ll embark for
_England._——We are there, quoth the corporal, recollecting
himself——Very true, said my uncle _Toby_—looking at the church.