YettherewereotherworksforBritishdukestodo。GeorgeLoudon,Quintinye,Evelyn,hadtaughtthemtomakegardens。ArthurYoung,Bakewell,andMechi,havemadethemagricultural。ScotlandwasacampuntilthedayofCulloden。TheDukesofAthol,Sutherland,Buccleugh,andtheMarquisofBreadalbanehaveintroducedtherape—culture,thesheep—farm,wheat,drainage,theplantationofforests,theartificialreplenishmentoflakesandpondswithfish,therentingofgame—preserves。Againstthecryoftheoldtenantry,andthesympatheticcryoftheEnglishpress,theyhaverootedoutandplantedanew,andnowsixmillionsofpeoplelive,andlivebetteronthesamelandthatfedthreemillions。
TheEnglishbarons,ineveryperiod,havebeenbraveandgreat,aftertheestimateandopinionoftheirtimes。ThegrandoldhallsscatteredupanddowninEngland,aredumbvoucherstothestateandbroadhospitalityoftheirancientlords。Shakspeare’sportraitsofgooddukeHumphrey,ofWarwick,ofNorthumberland,ofTalbot,weredrawninstrictconsonancewiththetraditions。AsketchoftheEarlofShrewsbury,fromthepenofQueenElizabeth’sarchbishopParker;
(*3)LordHerbertofCherbury’sautobiography;thelettersandessaysofSirPhilipSidney;theanecdotespreservedbytheantiquariesFullerandCollins;someglimpsesattheinteriorsofnoblehouses,whichweowetoPepysandEvelyn;thedetailswhichBenJonson’smasques(performedatKenilworth,Althorpe,Belvoir,andothernoblehouses,)recordorsuggest;downtoAubrey’spassagesofthelifeofHobbesinthehouseoftheEarlofDevon,arefavorablepicturesofaromanticstyleofmanners。Penshurststillshinesforus,anditsChristmasrevels,"wherelogsnotburn,butmen。"AtWiltonHouse,the"Arcadia"waswritten,amidstconversationswithFulkeGreville,LordBrooke,amanofnovulgarmind,ashisownpoemsdeclarehim。ImustholdLudlowCastleanhonesthouse,forwhichMilton’s"Comus"waswritten,andthecompanynoblybredwhichperformeditwithknowledgeandsympathy。Intherollofnobles,arefoundpoets,philosophers,chemists,astronomers,alsomenofsolidvirtuesandofloftysentiments;oftentheyhavebeenthefriendsandpatronsofgeniusandlearning,andespeciallyofthefinearts;andatthismoment,almosteverygreathousehasitssumptuouspicture—gallery。
(*3)Dibdin’sLiteraryReminiscences,vol。1,xii。
Ofcourse,thereisanothersidetothisgorgeousshow。Everyvictorywasthedefectofapartyonlylessworthy。Castlesareproudthings,but’tissafesttobeoutsideofthem。Warisafoulgame,andyetwarisnottheworstpartofaristocratichistory。Inlatertimes,whenthebaron,educatedonlyforwar,withhisbrainsparalyzedbyhisstomach,foundhimselfidleathome,hegrewfatandwanton,andasorrybrute。Grammont,Pepys,andEvelyn,showthekennelstowhichthekingandcourtwentinquestofpleasure。
Prostitutestakenfromthetheatres,weremadeduchesses,theirbastardsdukesandearls。"Theyoungmensatuppermost,theoldseriouslordswereoutoffavor。"Thediscoursethattheking’scompanionshadwithhimwas"poorandfrothy。"Nomanwhovaluedhisheadmightdowhatthesepot—companionsfamiliarlydidwiththeking。
Inlogicalsequenceofthesedignifiedrevels,Pepyscantellthebeggarlyshiftstowhichthekingwasreduced,whocouldnotfindpaperathiscounciltable,and"nohandkerchers"inhiswardrobe,"andbutthreebandstohisneck,"andthelinen—draperandthestationerwereoutofpocket,andrefusingtotrusthim,andthebakerwillnotbringbreadanylonger。Meantime,theEnglishChannelwasswept,andLondonthreatenedbytheDutchfleet,mannedtoobyEnglishsailors,who,havingbeencheatedoftheirpayforyearsbytheking,enlistedwiththeenemy。
TheSelwyncorrespondenceinthereignofGeorgeIII。,disclosesarottennessinthearistocracy,whichthreatenedtodecomposethestate。Thesycophancyandsaleofvotesandhonor,forplaceandtitle;lewdness,gaming,smuggling,bribery,andcheating;
thesneeratthechildishindiscretionofquarrellingwithtenthousandayear;thewantofideas;thesplendorofthetitles,andtheapathyofthenation,areinstructive,andmakethereaderpauseandexplorethefirmboundswhichconfinedthesevicestoahandfulofrichmen。InthereignoftheFourthGeorge,thingsdonotseemtohavemended,andtherottendebaucheeletdownfromawindowbyaninclinedplaneintohiscoachtotaketheair,wasascandaltoEuropewhichtheillfameofhisqueenandofhisfamilydidnothingtoretrieve。
Underthepresentreign,theperfectdecorumoftheCourtisthoughttohaveputacheckonthegrossvicesofthearistocracyyetgaming,racing,drinking,andmistresses,bringthemdown,andthedemocratcanstillgatherscandals,ifhewill。Dismalanecdotesabound,verifyingthegossipofthelastgenerationofdukesservedbybailiffs,withalltheirplateinpawn;ofgreatlordslivingbytheshowingoftheirhouses;andofanoldmanwheeledinhischairfromroomtoroom,whilsthischambersareexhibitedtothevisitorformoney;ofruineddukesandearlslivinginexilefordebt。ThehistoricnamesoftheBuckinghams,Beauforts,Marlboroughs,andHertfords,havegainednonewlustre,andnowandthendarkerscandalsbreakout,ominousasthenewchaptersaddedundertheOrleansdynastytothe_"CausesCelebres"_inFrance。Evenpeers,whoaremenofworthandpublicspirit,areover—takenandembarrassedbytheirvastexpense。TherespectableDukeofDevonshire,willingtobetheMecaenasandLucullusofhisisland,isreportedtohavesaid,thathecannotliveatChatsworthbutonemonthintheyear。Theirmanyhouseseatthemup。Theycannotsellthem,becausetheyareentailed。Theywillnotletthem,forpride’ssake,butkeepthemempty,aired,andthegroundsmownanddressed,atacostoffourorfivethousandpoundsayear。Thespendingisforagreatpartinservants,inmanyhousesexceedingahundred。
Mostofthemareonlychargeablewithidleness,which,becauseitsquanderssuchvastpowerofbenefit,hasthemischiefofcrime。
"TheymightbelittleProvidencesonearth,"saidmyfriend,"andtheyare,forthemostpart,jockeysandfops。"Campbellsays,"acquaintancewiththenobility,Icouldneverkeepup。Itrequiresalifeofidleness,dressing,andattendanceontheirparties。"I
suppose,too,thatafeelingofself—respectisdrivingcultivatedmenoutofthissociety,asifthenoblewereslowtoreceivethelessonsofthetimes,andhadnotlearnedtodisguisehisprideofplace。Amanofwit,whoisalsooneofthecelebritiesofwealthandfashion,confessedtohisfriend,thathecouldnotentertheirhouseswithoutbeingmadetofeelthattheyweregreatlords,andhealowplebeian。Withthetribeof_artistes_,includingthemusicaltribe,thepatricianmorguekeepsnoterms,butexcludesthem。WhenJuliaGrisiandMariosangatthehousesoftheDukeofWellingtonandothergrandees,acordwasstretchedbetweenthesingerandthecompany。
Wheneverynoblewasasoldier,theywerecarefullybredtogreatpersonalprowess。Theeducationofasoldierisasimpleraffairthanthatofanearlinthenineteenthcentury。Andthiswasveryseriouslypursued;theywereexpertineveryspeciesofequitation,tothemostdangerouspractices,andthisdowntotheaccessionofWilliamofOrange。Butgravermenappeartohavetrainedtheirsonsforcivilaffairs。Elizabethextendedherthoughttothefuture;andSirPhilipSidneyinhislettertohisbrother,andMiltonandEvelyn,gaveplainandheartycounsel。Alreadytoo,theEnglishnobleandsquirewerepreparingforthecareerofthecountry—gentleman,andhispeaceableexpense。Theywentfromcitytocity,learningreceiptstomakeperfumes,sweetpowders,pomanders,antidotes,gatheringseeds,gems,coins,anddiverscuriosities,preparingforaprivatelifethereafter,inwhichtheyshouldtakepleasureintheserecreations。
Alladvantagesgiventoabsolvetheyoungpatricianfromintellectuallaborareofcoursemistaken。"Intheuniversity,noblemenareexemptedfromthepublicexercisesforthedegree,&c。,bywhichtheyattainadegreecalled_honorary_。Atthesametime,thefeestheyhavetopayformatriculation,andonallotheroccasions,aremuchhigher。"(*4)Fullerrecords"theobservationofforeigners,thatEnglishmen,bymakingtheirchildrengentlemen,beforetheyaremen,causetheyaresoseldomwisemen。"ThiscockeringjustifiesDr。Johnson’sbitterapologyforprimogeniture,"thatitmakesbutonefoolinafamily。"
(*4)Huber。HistoryofEnglishUniversities。
Therevolutioninsocietyhasreachedthisclass。Thegreatpowersofindustrialarthavenoexclusionofnameorblood。Thetoolsofourtime,namely,steam,ships,printing,money,andpopulareducation,belongtothosewhocanhandlethem:andtheireffecthasbeen,thatadvantagesonceconfinedtomenoffamily,arenowopentothewholemiddleclass。Theroadthatgrandeurlevelsforhiscoach,toilcantravelinhiscart。
Thisismoremanifesteveryday,butIthinkitistruethroughoutEnglishhistory。Englishhistory,wiselyread,isthevindicationofthebrainofthatpeople。Here,atlast,wereclimateandconditionfriendlytotheworkingfaculty。Whonowwillworkanddare,shallrule。Thisisthecharter,orthechartism,whichfogs,andseas,andrainsproclaimed,——thatintellectandpersonalforceshouldmakethelaw;thatindustryandadministrativetalentshouldadminister;thatworkshouldwearthecrown。Iknowthatnotthis,butsomethingelseispretended。Thefictionwithwhichthenobleandthebystanderequallypleasethemselvesis,thattheformerisofunbrokendescentfromtheNorman,andsohasneverworkedforeighthundredyears。Allthefamiliesarenew,butthenameisold,andtheyhavemadeacovenantwiththeirmemoriesnottodisturbit。Buttheanalysisofthepeerageandgentryshowstherapiddecayandextinctionofoldfamilies,thecontinualrecruitingofthesefromnewblood。Thedoors,thoughostentatiouslyguarded,arereallyopen,andhencethepowerofthebribe。Allthebarrierstorankonlywhetthethirst,andenhancetheprize。"Now,"saidNelson,whenclearingforbattle,"apeerage,orWestminsterAbbey!""Ihavenoillusionleft,"saidSydneySmith,"buttheArchbishopofCanterbury。""Thelawyers,"saidBurke,"areonlybirdsofpassageinthisHouseofCommons,"andthenadded,withanewfigure,"theyhavetheirbestboweranchorintheHouseofLords。"
Anotherstridethathasbeentaken,appearsintheperishingofheraldry。Whilsttheprivilegesofnobilityarepassingtothemiddleclass,thebadgeisdiscredited,andthetitlesoflordshiparegettingmustyandcumbersome。Iwonderthatsensiblemenhavenotbeenalreadyimpatientofthem。Theybelong,withwigs,powder,andscarletcoats,toanearlierage,andmaybeadvantageouslyconsigned,withpaintandtattoo,tothedignitariesofAustraliaandPolynesia。
AmultitudeofEnglish,educatedattheuniversities,bredintotheirsocietywithmanners,ability,andthegiftsoffortune,areeverydayconfrontingthepeersonafootingofequality,andoutstrippingthem,asoften,intheraceofhonorandinfluence。
Thatcultivatedclassislargeandeverenlarging。Itiscomputedthat,withtitlesandwithout,thereareseventythousandofthesepeoplecomingandgoinginLondon,whomakeupwhatiscalledhighsociety。Theycannotshuttheireyestothefactthatanuntitlednobilitypossessallthepowerwithouttheinconveniencesthatbelongtorank,andtherichEnglishmangoesovertheworldatthepresentday,drawingmorethanalltheadvantageswhichthestrongestofhiskingscouldcommand。
ChapterXII_Universities_
OfBritishuniversities,Cambridgehasthemostillustriousnamesonitslist。Atthepresentday,too,ithastheadvantageofOxford,countinginits_alumni_agreaternumberofdistinguishedscholars。IregretthatIhadbutasingledaywhereintoseeKing’sCollegeChapel,thebeautifullawnsandgardensofthecolleges,andafewofitsgownsmen。
ButIavailedmyselfofsomerepeatedinvitationstoOxford,whereIhadintroductionstoDr。Daubeny,ProfessorofBotany,andtotheRegiusProfessorofDivinity,aswellastoavaluedfriend,aFellowofOriel,andwentthitheronthelastdayofMarch,1848。I
wastheguestofmyfriendinOriel,washousedcloseuponthatcollege,andIlivedoncollegehospitalities。
Mynewfriendsshowedmetheircloisters,theBodleianLibrary,theRandolphGallery,MertonHall,andtherest。Isawseveralfaithful,high—mindedyoungmen,someoftheminthemoodofmakingsacrificesforpeaceofmind,——atopic,ofcourse,onwhichIhadnocounseltooffer。Theiraffectionateandgregariouswaysremindedmeatonceofthehabitsof_our_Cambridgemen,thoughIimputedtotheseEnglishanadvantageintheirsecureandpolishedmanners。Thehallsarerichwithoakenwainscotingandceiling。Thepicturesofthefoundershangfromthewalls;thetablesglitterwithplate。A
youthcameforwardtotheuppertable,andpronouncedtheancientformofgracebeforemeals,which,Isuppose,hasbeeninusehereforages,_Benedictusbenedicat;__benedicitur,__benedicatur_。
ItisacuriousproofoftheEnglishuseandwont,oroftheirgoodnature,thattheseyoungmenarelockedupeverynightatnineo’clock,andtheporterateachhallisrequiredtogivethenameofanybelatedstudentwhoisadmittedafterthathour。Stillmoredescriptiveisthefact,thatoutoftwelvehundredyoungmen,comprisingthemostspiritedofthearistocracy,aduelhasneveroccurred。
Oxfordisold,eveninEngland,andconservative。ItsfoundationsdatefromAlfred,andevenfromArthur,if,asisalleged,thePherylltoftheDruidshadaseminaryhere。InthereignofEdwardI。,itispretended,herewerethirtythousandstudents;andnineteenmostnoblefoundationswerethenestablished。
Chaucerfounditasfirmasifithadalwaysstood;anditis,inBritishstory,richwithgreatnames,theschooloftheisland,andthelinkofEnglandtothelearnedofEurope。HithercameErasmus,withdelight,in1497。AlbericusGentilis,in1580,wasrelievedandmaintainedbytheuniversity。AlbertAlaskie,anoblePolonian,PrinceofSirad,whovisitedEnglandtoadmirethewisdomofQueenElizabeth,wasentertainedwithstage—playsintheRefectoryofChristchurch,in1583。IsaacCasaubon,comingfromHenriQuatreofFrance,byinvitationofJamesI。,wasadmittedtoChrist’sCollege,inJuly,1613。IsawtheAshmoleanMuseum,whitherEliasAshmole,in1682,senttwelvecart—loadsofrarities。HereindeedwastheOlympiaofallAntonyWood’sandAubrey’sgamesandheroes,andeveryinchofgroundhasitslustre。ForWood’s_AthenaeOxonienses_,orcalendarofthewritersofOxfordfortwohundredyears,isalivelyrecordofEnglishmannersandmerits,andasmuchanationalmonumentasPurchas’sPilgrimsorHansard’sRegister。Oneveryside,Oxfordisredolentofageandauthority。Itsgatesshutofthemselvesagainstmoderninnovation。ItisstillgovernedbythestatutesofArchbishopLaud。ThebooksinMertonLibraryarestillchainedtothewall。Here,onAugust27,1660,JohnMilton’s_ProPopuloAnglicanoDefensio_,and_Iconoclastes_werecommittedtotheflames。
Isawtheschool—courtorquadrangle,where,in1683,theConvocationcausedtheLeviathanofThomasHobbestobepubliclyburnt。IdonotknowwhetherthislearnedbodyhaveyetheardoftheDeclarationofAmericanIndependence,orwhetherthePtolemaicastronomydoesnotstillholditsgroundagainstthenoveltiesofCopernicus。
Asmanysons,almostsomanybenefactors。Itisusualforanobleman,orindeedforalmosteverywealthystudent,onquittingcollege,toleavebehindhimsomearticleofplate;andgiftsofallvalues,fromahall,orafellowship,oralibrary,downtoapictureoraspoon,arecontinuallyaccruing,inthecourseofacentury。MyfriendDoctorJ。,gavemethefollowinganecdote。InSirThomasLawrence’scollectionatLondon,werethecartoonsofRaphaelandMichelAngelo。ThisinestimableprizewasofferedtoOxfordUniversityforseventhousandpounds。Theofferwasaccepted,andthecommitteechargedwiththeaffairhadcollectedthreethousandpounds,whenamongotherfriends,theycalledonLordEldon。Insteadofahundredpounds,hesurprisedthembyputtingdownhisnameforthreethousandpounds。Theytoldhim,theyshouldnowveryeasilyraisetheremainder。"No,"hesaid,"yourmenhaveprobablyalreadycontributedalltheycanspare;Icanaswellgivetherest":andhewithdrewhischequeforthreethousand,andwrotefourthousandpounds。IsawthewholecollectioninApril,1848。
IntheBodleianLibrary,Dr。BandinelshowedmethemanuscriptPlato,ofthedateofA。D。896,broughtbyDr。ClarkefromEgypt;amanuscriptVirgil,ofthesamecentury;thefirstBibleprintedatMentz,(Ibelievein1450);andaduplicateofthesame,whichhadbeendeficientinabouttwentyleavesattheend。But,oneday,beinginVenice,heboughtaroomfullofbooksandmanuscripts,——
everyscrapandfragment,——forfourthousandlouisd’ors,andhadthedoorslockedandsealedbytheconsul。Onproceeding,afterwards,toexaminehispurchase,hefoundthetwentydeficientpagesofhisMentzBible,inperfectorder;broughtthemtoOxford,withtherestofhispurchase,andplacedtheminthevolume;buthastoomuchawefortheProvidencethatappearsinbibliographyalso,tosufferthereunitedpartstobere—bound。TheoldestbuildinghereistwohundredyearsyoungerthanthefrailmanuscriptbroughtbyDr。
ClarkefromEgypt。NocandleorfireiseverlightedintheBodleian。ItscatalogueisthestandardcatalogueonthedeskofeverylibraryinOxford。Ineachseveralcollege,theyunderscoreinredinkonthiscataloguethetitlesofbookscontainedinthelibraryofthatcollege,——thetheorybeingthattheBodleianhasallbooks。Thisrichlibraryspentduringthelastyear(1847)forthepurchaseofbooks1668pounds。
ThelogicalEnglishtrainascholarastheytrainanengineer。
OxfordisaGreekfactory,asWiltonmillsweavecarpet,andSheffieldgrindssteel。Theyknowtheuseofatutor,astheyknowtheuseofahorse;andtheydrawthegreatestamountofbenefitoutofboth。Thereadingmenarekeptbyhardwalking,hardriding,andmeasuredeatinganddrinking,atthetopoftheircondition,andtwodaysbeforetheexamination,donotwork,butlounge,ride,orrun,tobefreshonthecollegedoomsday。Sevenyears’residenceisthetheoreticperiodforamaster’sdegree。Inpointoffact,ithaslongbeenthreeyears’residence,andfouryearsmoreofstanding。
This"threeyears"isabouttwenty—onemonthsinall。(*1)
(*1)Huber,ii。p。304。
"Thewholeexpense,"saysProfessorSewel,"ofordinarycollegetuitionatOxford,isaboutsixteenguineasayear。"Butthisplausiblestatementmaydeceiveareaderunacquaintedwiththefact,thattheprincipalteachingreliedonisprivatetuition。Andtheexpensesofprivatetuitionarereckonedatfrom50to70poundsayear,or,$1000forthewholecourseofthreeyearsandahalf。AtCambridge$750ayeariseconomical,and$1500
notextravagant。(*2)
(*2)Bristed。FiveYearsatanEnglishUniversity。
Thenumberofstudentsandofresidents,thedignityoftheauthorities,thevalueofthefoundations,thehistoryandthearchitecture,theknownsympathyofentireBritaininwhatisdonethere,justifyadedicationtostudyintheundergraduate,suchascannoteasilybeinAmerica,wherehiscollegeishalfsuspectedbytheFreshmantobeinsignificantinthescalebesidetradeandpolitics。Oxfordisalittlearistocracyinitself,numerousanddignifiedenoughtorankwithotherestatesintherealm;andwherefameandsecularpromotionaretobehadforstudy,andinadirectionwhichhastheunanimousrespectofallcultivatednations。
Thisaristocracy,ofcourse,repairsitsownlosses;fillsplaces,astheyfallvacant,fromthebodyofstudents。ThenumberoffellowshipsatOxfordis540,averaging200poundsayear,withlodginganddietatthecollege。IfayoungAmerican,lovinglearning,andhinderedbypoverty,wereofferedahome,atable,thewalks,andthelibrary,inoneoftheseacademicalpalaces,andathousanddollarsayearaslongashechosetoremainabachelor,hewoulddanceforjoy。Yettheseyoungmenthushappilyplaced,andpaidtoread,areimpatientoftheirfewchecks,andmanyofthempreparingtoresigntheirfellowships。TheyshudderedattheprospectofdyingaFellow,andtheypointedouttomeaparalyticoldman,whowasassistedintothehall。AsthenumberofundergraduatesatOxfordisonlyabout1200or1300,andmanyofthesearenevercompetitors,thechanceofafellowshipisverygreat。Theincomeofthenineteencollegesisconjecturedat150,000poundsayear。
TheeffectofthisdrillistheradicalknowledgeofGreekandLatin,andofmathematics,andthesolidityandtasteofEnglishcriticism。Whateverlucktheremaybeinthisorthataward,anEtoncaptaincanwriteLatinlongsandshorts,canturntheCourt—Guideintohexameters,anditiscertainthataSeniorClassiccanquotecorrectlyfromthe_CorpusPoetarum_,andiscriticallylearnedinallthehumanities。GreekeruditionexistsontheIsisandCam,whethertheMaudmanortheBrazenNosemanbeproperlyrankedornot;theatmosphereisloadedwithGreeklearning;thewholeriverhasreachedacertainheight,andkillsallthatgrowthofweeds,whichthisCastalianwaterkills。TheEnglishnaturetakesculturekindly。SoMiltonthought。ItrefinestheNorseman。AccesstotheGreekmindliftshisstandardoftaste。Hehasenoughtothinkof,and,unlessofanimpulsivenature,isindisposedfromwritingorspeaking,bythefulnessofhismind,andthenewseverityofhistaste。Thegreatsilentcrowdofthorough—bredGreciansalwaysknowntobearoundhim,theEnglishwritercannotignore。Theyprunehisorations,andpointhispen。Hence,thestyleandtoneofEnglishjournalism。Themenhavelearnedaccuracyandcomprehension,logic,andpace,orspeedofworking。Theyhavebottom,endurance,wind。
Whenbornwithgoodconstitutions,theymakethoseeupepticstudying—mills,thecast—ironmen,the_durailia_,whosepowersofperformancecomparewithours,asthesteam—hammerwiththemusic—box;——Cokes,Mansfields,Seldens,andBentleys,andwhenithappensthatasuperiorbrainputsarideronthisadmirablehorse,weobtainthosemastersoftheworldwhocombinethehighestenergyinaffairs,withasupremeculture。
ItiscontendedbythosewhohavebeenbredatEton,Harrow,Rugby,andWestminster,thatthepublicsentimentwithineachofthoseschoolsishigh—tonedandmanly;that,intheirplaygrounds,courageisuniversallyadmired,meannessdespised,manlyfeelingsandgenerousconductareencouraged:thatanunwrittencodeofhonordealstothespoiledchildofrank,andtothechildofupstartwealthaneven—handedjustice,purgestheirnonsenseoutofboth,anddoesallthatcanbedonetomakethemgentlemen。
Again,attheuniversities,itisurged,thatallgoestoformwhatEnglandvaluesastheflowerofitsnationallife,——awell—educatedgentleman。TheGermanHuber,indescribingtohiscountrymentheattributesofanEnglishgentleman,franklyadmits,that,"inGermany,wehavenothingofthekind。Agentlemanmustpossessapoliticalcharacter,anindependentandpublicposition,or,atleast,therightofassumingit。Hemusthaveaverageopulence,eitherofhisown,orinhisfamily。Heshouldalsohavebodilyactivityandstrength,unattainablebyoursedentarylifeinpublicoffices。TheraceofEnglishgentlemenpresentsanappearanceofmanlyvigorandform,notelsewheretobefoundamonganequalnumberofpersons。Noothernationproducesthestock。And,inEngland,ithasdeteriorated。Theuniversityisadecidedpresumptioninanyman’sfavor。AndsoeminentarethemembersthataglanceatthecalendarswillshowthatinalltheworldonecannotbeinbettercompanythanonthebooksofoneofthelargerOxfordorCambridgecolleges。"(*3)
(*3)Huber:HistoryoftheEnglishUniversities。Newman’sTranslation。
Theseseminariesarefinishingschoolsfortheupperclasses,andnotforthepoor。Theusefulisexploded。Thedefinitionofapublicschoolis"aschoolwhichexcludesallthatcouldfitamanforstandingbehindacounter。"(*4)
(*4)SeeBristed。FiveYearsinanEnglishUniversity。NewYork。1852。
Nodoubt,thefoundationshavebeenperverted。Oxford,whichequalsinwealthseveralofthesmallerEuropeanstates,shutsupthelectureshipswhichweremade"publicforallmenthereuntotohaveconcourse;"mis—spendstherevenuesbestowedforsuchyouths"asshouldbemostmeetfortowardness,poverty,andpainfulness;"thereisgrossfavoritism;manychairsandmanyfellowshipsaremadebedsofease;and’tislikelythattheuniversitywillknowhowtoresistandmakeinoperativetheterrorsofparliamentaryinquiry;nodoubt,theirlearningisgrownobsolete;——butOxfordalsohasitsmerits,andIfoundherealsoproofofthenationalfidelityandthoroughness。Suchknowledgeastheyprizetheypossessandimpart。
Whetherincourseorbyindirection,whetherbyacrammingtutororbyexaminerswithprizesandfoundationscholarships,educationaccordingtotheEnglishnotionofitisarrivedat。IlookedovertheExaminationPapersoftheyear1848,forthevariousscholarshipsandfellowships,theLusby,theHertford,theDean—Ireland,andtheUniversity,(copiesofwhichwerekindlygivenmebyaGreekprofessor,)containingthetaskswhichmanycompetitorshadvictoriouslyperformed,andIbelievedtheywouldprovetooseveretestsforthecandidatesforaBachelor’sdegreeinYaleorHarvard。
And,ingeneral,herewasproofofamoresearchingstudyintheappointeddirections,andtheknowledgepretendedtobeconveyedwasconveyed。Oxfordsendsoutyearlytwentyorthirtyveryablemen,andthreeorfourhundredwell—educatedmen。
ThedietandroughexercisesecureacertainamountofoldNorsepower。Afopwillfight,and,inexigentcircumstances,willplaythemanlypart。Inseeingtheseyouths,IbelievedIsawalreadyanadvantageinvigorandcolorandgeneralhabit,overtheircontemporariesintheAmericancolleges。Nodoubtmuchofthepowerandbrilliancyofthereading—menismerelyconstitutionalorhygienic。Withahardierhabitandresolutegymnastics,withfivemilesmorewalking,orfiveounceslesseating,orwithasaddleandgallopoftwentymilesaday,withskatingandrowing—matches,theAmericanwouldarriveatasrobustexegesis,andcheeryandhilarioustone。Ishouldreadilyconcedetheseadvantages,whichitwouldbeeasytoacquire,ifIdidnotfindalsothattheyreadbetterthanwe,andwritebetter。
Englishwealthfallingontheirschoolanduniversitytraining,makesasystematicreadingofthebestauthors,andtotheendofaknowledgehowthethingswhereoftheytreatreallystand:whilstpamphleteerorjournalistreadingforanargumentforaparty,orreadingtowrite,or,atallevents,forsomeby—endimposedonthem,mustreadmeanlyandfragmentarily。CharlesI。said,thatheunderstoodEnglishlawaswellasagentlemanoughttounderstandit。
Thentheyhaveaccesstobooks;therichlibrariescollectedateveryoneofmanythousandsofhouses,giveanadvantagenottobeattainedbyayouthinthiscountry,whenonethinkshowmuchmoreandbettermaybelearnedbyascholar,who,immediatelyonhearingofabook,canconsultit,thanbyonewhoisonthequest,foryears,andreadsinferiorbooks,becausehecannotfindthebest。
Again,thegreatnumberofcultivatedmenkeepeachotheruptoahighstandard。Thehabitofmeetingwell—readandknowingmenteachestheartofomissionandselection。
Universitiesare,ofcourse,hostiletogeniuses,whichseeingandusingwaysoftheirown,discredittheroutine:aschurchesandmonasteriespersecuteyouthfulsaints。Yetweallsendoursonstocollege,and,thoughhebeagenius,hemusttakehischance。Theuniversitymustberetrospective。Thegalethatgivesdirectiontothevanesonallitstowersblowsoutofantiquity。Oxfordisalibrary,andtheprofessorsmustbelibrarians。AndIshouldassoonthinkofquarrellingwiththejanitorfornotmagnifyinghisofficebyhostilesalliesintothestreet,liketheGovernorofKertchorKinburn,asofquarrellingwiththeprofessorsfornotadmiringtheyoungneologistswhopluckthebeardsofEuclidandAristotle,orfornotattemptingthemselvestofilltheirvacantshelvesasoriginalwriters。
Itiseasytocarpatcolleges,andthecollege,ifwewillwaitforit,willhaveitsownturn。Geniusexiststherealso,butwillnotansweracallofacommitteeoftheHouseofCommons。Itisrare,precarious,eccentric,anddarkling。Englandisthelandofmixtureandsurprise,andwhenyouhavesettleditthattheuniversitiesaremoribund,outcomesapoeticinfluencefromtheheartofOxford,tomouldtheopinionsofcities,tobuildtheirhousesassimplyasbirdstheirnests,togiveveracitytoart,andcharmmankind,asanappealtomoralorderalwaysmust。Butbesidesthisrestorativegenius,thebestpoetryofEnglandofthisage,intheoldforms,comesfromtwograduatesofCambridge。
ChapterXIII_Religion_
Nopeople,atthepresentday,canbeexplainedbytheirnationalreligion。Theydonotfeelresponsibleforit;itliesfaroutsideofthem。Theirloyaltytotruth,andtheirlaborandexpenditurerestonrealfoundations,andnotonanationalchurch。
AndEnglishlife,itisevident,doesnotgrowoutoftheAthanasiancreed,ortheArticles,ortheEucharist。Itiswithreligionaswithmarriage。Ayouthmarriesinhaste;afterwards,whenhismindisopenedtothereasonoftheconductoflife,heisasked,whathethinksoftheinstitutionofmarriage,andoftherightrelationsofthesexes?`Ishouldhavemuchtosay,’hemightreply,`ifthequestionwereopen,butIhaveawifeandchildren,andallquestionisclosedforme。’Inthebarbarousdaysofanation,some_cultus_
isformedorimported;altarsarebuilt,tithesarepaid,priestsordained。Theeducationandexpenditureofthecountrytakethatdirection,andwhenwealth,refinement,greatmen,andtiestotheworld,supervene,itsprudentmensay,whyfightagainstFate,orlifttheseabsurditieswhicharenowmountainous?Betterfindsomenicheorcreviceinthismountainofstonewhichreligiousageshavequarriedandcarved,whereintobestowyourself,thanattemptanythingridiculouslyanddangerouslyaboveyourstrength,likeremovingit。
Inseeingoldcastlesandcathedrals,Isometimessay,asto—day,infrontofDundeeChurchtower,whichiseighthundredyearsold,`thiswasbuiltbyanotherandabetterracethananythatnowlookonit。’And,plainly,therehasbeengreatpowerofsentimentatworkinthisisland,ofwhichthesebuildingsaretheproofs:asvolcanicbasaltsshowtheworkoffirewhichhasbeenextinguishedforages。EnglandfeltthefullheatoftheChristianitywhichfermentedEurope,anddrew,likethechemistryoffire,afirmlinebetweenbarbarismandculture。Thepowerofthereligioussentimentputanendtohumansacrifices,checkedappetite,inspiredthecrusades,inspiredresistancetotyrants,inspiredself—respect,setboundstoserfdomandslavery,foundedliberty,createdthereligiousarchitecture,——York,Newstead,Westminster,FountainsAbbey,Ripon,Beverley,andDundee,——workstowhichthekeyislost,withthesentimentwhichcreatedthem;inspiredtheEnglishBible,theliturgy,themonkishhistories,thechronicleofRichardofDevizes。
ThepriesttranslatedtheVulgate,andtranslatedthesanctitiesofoldhagiologyintoEnglishvirtuesonEnglishground。ItwasacertainaffirmativeoraggressivestateoftheCaucasianraces。Manawokerefreshedbythesleepofages。TheviolenceofthenorthernsavagesexasperatedChristianityintopower。Itlivedbytheloveofthepeople。BishopWilfridmanumittedtwohundredandfiftyserfs,whomhefoundattachedtothesoil。TheclergyobtainedrespitefromlaborfortheboorontheSabbath,andonchurchfestivals。"ThelordwhocompelledhisboortolaborbetweensunsetonSaturdayandsunsetonSunday,forfeitedhimaltogether。"Thepriestcameoutofthepeople,andsympathizedwithhisclass。Thechurchwasthemediator,check,anddemocraticprinciple,inEurope。Latimer,Wicliffe,Arundel,Cobham,AntonyParsons,SirHarryVane,GeorgeFox,Penn,Bunyanarethedemocrats,aswellasthesaintsoftheirtimes。TheCatholicchurch,thrownonthistoiling,seriouspeople,hasmadeinfourteencenturiesamassivesystem,closefittedtothemannersandgeniusofthecountry,atoncedomesticalandstately。
Inthelongtime,ithasblendedwitheverythinginheavenaboveandtheearthbeneath。Itmovesthroughazodiacoffeastsandfasts,nameseverydayoftheyear,everytownandmarketandheadlandandmonument,andhascoupleditselfwiththealmanac,thatnocourtcanbeheld,nofieldploughed,nohorseshod,withoutsomeleavefromthechurch。Allmaximsofprudenceorshoporfarmarefixedanddatedbythechurch。Hence,itsstrengthintheagriculturaldistricts。Thedistributionoflandintoparishesenforcesachurchsanctiontoeverycivilprivilege;andthegradationoftheclergy,——prelatesfortherich,andcuratesforthepoor,——withthefactthataclassicaleducationhasbeensecuredtotheclergyman,makesthem"thelinkwhichunitesthesequesteredpeasantrywiththeintellectualadvancementoftheage。"(*1)
(*1)Wordsworth。
TheEnglishchurchhasmanycertificatestoshow,ofhumbleeffectiveserviceinhumanizingthepeople,incheeringandrefiningmen,feeding,healing,andeducating。Ithasthesealofmartyrsandconfessors;thenoblestbooks;asublimearchitecture;aritualmarkedbythesamesecularmerits,nothingcheaporpurchasable。
Fromthisslow—grownchurchimportantreactionsproceed;muchforculture,muchforgivingadirectiontothenation’saffectionandwillto—day。Thecarvedandpicturedchapel,——itsentiresurfaceanimatedwithimageandemblem,——madetheparish—churchasortofbookandBibletothepeople’seye。
Then,whentheSaxoninstincthadsecuredaserviceinthevernaculartongue,itwasthetutoranduniversityofthepeople。InYorkminster,onthedayoftheenthronizationofthenewarchbishop,Iheardtheserviceofeveningprayerreadandchantedinthechoir。
ItwasstrangetoheartheprettypastoralofthebetrothalofRebeccaandIsaac,inthemorningoftheworld,readwithcircumstantialityinYorkminster,onthe13thJanuary,1848,tothedecorousEnglishaudience,justfreshfromtheTimesnewspaperandtheirwine;andlisteningwithallthedevotionofnationalpride。
Thatwasbindingoldandnewtosomepurpose。ThereverencefortheScripturesisanelementofcivilization,forthushasthehistoryoftheworldbeenpreserved,andispreserved。HereinEnglandeverydayachapterofGenesis,andaleaderintheTimes。
Anotherpartofthesameserviceonthisoccasionwasnotinsignificant。Handel’scoronationanthem,_GodsavetheKing_,wasplayedbyDr。Camidgeontheorgan,withsublimeeffect。Theminsterandthemusicweremadeforeachother。Itwasahintofthepartthechurchplaysasapoliticalengine。Fromhisinfancy,everyEnglishmanisaccustomedtoheardailyprayersforthequeen,fortheroyalfamilyandtheParliament,byname;andthislifelongconsecrationofthesepersonagescannotbewithoutinfluenceonhisopinions。
Theuniversities,also,areparceloftheecclesiasticalsystem,andtheirfirstdesignistoformtheclergy。Thustheclergyforathousandyearshavebeenthescholarsofthenation。
Thenationaltemperamentdeeplyenjoystheunbrokenorderandtraditionofitschurch;theliturgy,ceremony,architecturethesobergrace,thegoodcompany,theconnectionwiththethrone,andwithhistory,whichadornit。Andwhilstitendearsitselfthustomenofmoretastethanactivity,thestabilityoftheEnglishnationispassionatelyenlistedtoitssupport,fromitsinextricableconnectionwiththecauseofpublicorder,withpoliticsandwiththefunds。
Goodchurchesarenotbuiltbybadmen;atleast,theremustbeprobityandenthusiasmsomewhereinthesociety。Theseminsterswereneitherbuiltnorfilledbyatheists。Nochurchhashadmorelearned,industriousordevotedmen;plentyof"clerksandbishops,who,outoftheirgowns,wouldturntheirbacksonnoman。"(*2)
Theirarchitecturestillglowswithfaithinimmortality。Heatsandgenialperiodsarriveinhistory,or,shallwesay,plentitudesofDivinePresence,bywhichhightidesarecausedinthehumanspirit,andgreatvirtuesandtalentsappear,asintheeleventh,twelfth,thirteenth,andagaininthesixteenthandseventeenthcenturies,whenthenationwasfullofgeniusandpiety。
(*2)Fuller。
ButtheageoftheWicliffes,Cobhams,Arundels,Beckets;oftheLatimers,Mores,Cranmers;oftheTaylors,Leightons,Herberts;
oftheSherlocks,andButlers,isgone。Silentrevolutionsinopinionhavemadeitimpossiblethatmenliketheseshouldreturn,orfindaplaceintheironcesacredstalls。Thespiritthatdweltinthischurchhasglidedawaytoanimateotheractivities;andtheywhocometotheoldshrinesfindapesandplayersrustlingtheoldgarments。
ThereligionofEnglandispartofgood—breeding。Whenyouseeonthecontinentthewell—dressedEnglishmancomeintohisambassador’schapel,andputhisfaceforsilentprayerintohissmooth—brushedhat,onecannothelpfeelinghowmuchnationalprideprayswithhim,andthereligionofagentleman。Sofarishefromattachinganymeaningtothewords,thathebelieveshimselftohavedonealmostthegenerousthing,andthatitisverycondescendinginhimtopraytoGod。Agreatdukesaid,ontheoccasionofavictory,intheHouseofLords,thathethoughttheAlmightyGodhadnotbeenwellusedbythem,andthatitwouldbecometheirmagnanimity,aftersogreatsuccesses,totakeorderthataproperacknowledgmentbemade。Itisthechurchofthegentry;butitisnotthechurchofthepoor。Theoperativesdonotownit,andgentlemenlatelytestifiedintheHouseofCommonsthatintheirlivestheyneversawapoormaninaraggedcoatinsideachurch。
ThetorpidityonthesideofreligionofthevigorousEnglishunderstanding,showshowmuchwitandfollycanagreeinonebrain。
Theirreligionisaquotation;theirchurchisadoll;andanyexaminationisinterdictedwithscreamsofterror。Ingoodcompany,youexpectthemtolaughatthefanaticismofthevulgar;buttheydonot:theyarethevulgar。
TheEnglish,incommonperhapswithChristendominthenineteenthcentury,donotrespectpower,butonlyperformance;valueideasonlyforaneconomicresult。Wellingtonesteemsasaintonlyasfarashecanbeanarmychaplain:——"Mr。Briscoll,byhisadmirableconductandgoodsense,gotthebetterofMethodism,whichhadappearedamongthesoldiers,andonceamongtheofficers。"Theyvalueaphilosopherastheyvalueanapothecarywhobringsbarkoradrench;andinspirationisonlysomeblowpipe,orafinermechanicalaid。
IsuspectthatthereisinanEnglishman’sbrainavalvethatcanbeclosedatpleasure,asanengineershutsoffsteam。Themostsensibleandwell—informedmenpossessthepowerofthinkingjustsofarasthebishopinreligiousmatters,andasthechancelloroftheexchequerinpolitics。Theytalkwithcourageandlogic,andshowyoumagnificentresults,butthesamemenwhohavebroughtfreetradeorgeologytotheirpresentstanding,lookgraveandlofty,andshutdowntheirvalve,assoonastheconversationapproachestheEnglishchurch。Afterthat,youtalkwithabox—turtle。
Theactionoftheuniversity,bothinwhatistaught,andinthespiritoftheplace,isdirectedmoreonproducinganEnglishgentleman,thanasaintorapsychologist。Itripensabishop,andextrudesaphilosopher。IdonotknowthatthereismorecabalismintheAnglican,thaninotherchurches,buttheAnglicanclergyareidentifiedwiththearistocracy。Theysay,here,that,ifyoutalkwithaclergyman,youaresuretofindhimwell—bred,informed,andcandid。Heentertainsyourthoughtoryourprojectwithsympathyandpraise。Butifasecondclergymancomein,thesympathyisatanend:twotogetherareinaccessibletoyourthought,and,wheneveritcomestoaction,theclergymaninvariablysideswithhischurch。
TheAnglicanchurchismarkedbythegraceandgoodsenseofitsforms,bythemanlygraceofitsclergy。Thegospelitpreaches,is,`Bytasteareyesaved。’Itkeepstheoldstructuresinrepair,spendsaworldofmoneyinmusicandbuilding;andinbuyingPugin,andarchitecturalliterature。Ithasageneralgoodnameforamenityandmildness。Itisnotinordinaryapersecutingchurch;itisnotinquisitorial,noteveninquisitive,isperfectlywell—bred,andcanshutitseyesonallproperoccasions。Ifyouletitalone,itwillletyoualone。Butitsinstinctishostiletoallchangeinpolitics,literature,orsocialarts。ThechurchhasnotbeenthefounderoftheLondonUniversity,oftheMechanics’Institutes,oftheFreeSchool,orwhateveraimsatdiffusionofknowledge。ThePlatonistsofOxfordareasbitteragainstthisheresy,asThomasTaylor。
ThedoctrineoftheOldTestamentisthereligionofEngland。
ThefirstleafoftheNewTestamentitdoesnotopen。ItbelievesinaProvidencewhichdoesnottreatwithlevityapoundsterling。Theyareneithertranscendentalistsnorchristians。TheyputupnoSocraticprayer,muchlessanysaintlyprayerforthequeen’smind;
askneitherforlightnorright,butsaybluntly,"grantherinhealthandwealthlongtolive。"AndonetracesthisJewishprayerinallEnglishprivatehistory,fromtheprayersofKingRichard,inRichardofDevizes’Chronicle,tothoseinthediariesofSirSamuelRomilly,andofHaydonthepainter。"Abroadwithmywife,"writesPepyspiously,"thefirsttimethateverIrodeinmyowncoach;
whichdomakemyheartrejoiceandpraiseGod,andprayhimtoblessittome,andcontinueit。"ThebillforthenaturalizationoftheJews(in1753)wasresistedbypetitionsfromallpartsofthekingdom,andbypetitionfromthecityofLondon,reprobatingthisbill,as"tendingextremelytothedishonoroftheChristianreligion,andextremelyinjurioustotheinterestsandcommerceofthekingdomingeneral,andofthecityofLondoninparticular。"
ButtheyhavenotbeenabletocongealhumanitybyactofParliament。"Theheavensjourneystillandsojournnot,"andarts,wars,discoveries,andopinion,goonwardattheirownpace。Thenewagehasnewdesires,newenemies,newtrades,newcharities,andreadstheScriptureswithneweyes。ThechatterofFrenchpolitics,thesteam—whistle,thehumofthemill,andthenoiseofembarkingemigrants,hadquiteputmostoftheoldlegendsoutofmind;sothatwhenyoucametoreadtheliturgytoamoderncongregation,itwasalmostabsurdinitsunfitness,andsuggestedamasqueradeofoldcostumes。
Nochemisthasprosperedintheattempttocrystallizeareligion。Itisendogenous,liketheskin,andothervitalorgans。
Anewstatementeveryday。Theprophetandapostleknewthis,andthenonconformistconfutestheconformists,byquotingthetextstheymustallow。Itistheconditionofareligion,torequirereligionforitsexpositor。Prophetandapostlecanonlyberightlyunderstoodbyprophetandapostle。Thestatesmanknowsthatthereligiouselementwillnotfail,anymorethanthesupplyoffibrineandchyle;butitisinitsnatureconstructive,andwillorganizesuchachurchasitwants。Thewiselegislatorwillspendontemples,schools,libraries,colleges,butwillshuntheenrichingofpriests。If,inanymanner,hecanleavetheelectionandpayingofthepriesttothepeople,hewilldowell。LiketheQuakers,hemayresisttheseparationofaclassofpriests,andcreateopportunityandexpectationinthesociety,toruntomeetnaturalendowment,inthiskind。But,whenwealthaccruestoachaplaincy,abishopric,orrectorship,itrequiresmoneyedmenforitsstewards,whowillgiveitanotherdirectionthantothemysticsoftheirday。Ofcourse,moneywilldoafteritskind,andwillsteadilyworktounspiritualizeandunchurchthepeopletowhomitwasbequeathed。
Theclasscertaintobeexcludedfromallprefermentarethereligious,——anddriventootherchurches;——whichisnature’s_vismedicatrix_。
Thecuratesareillpaid,andtheprelatesareoverpaid。Thisabusedrawsintothechurchthechildrenofthenobility,andotherunfitpersons,whohaveatasteforexpense。Thusabishopisonlyasurplicedmerchant。
Throughhislawn,Icanseethebrightbuttonsoftheshopman’scoatglitter。
AwealthlikethatofDurhammakesalmostapremiumonfelony。Brougham,inaspeechintheHouseofCommonsontheIrishelectivefranchise,said,"Howwillthereverendbishopsoftheotherhousebeabletoexpresstheirdueabhorrenceofthecrimeofperjury,whosolemnlydeclareinthepresenceofGod,thatwhentheyarecalledupontoacceptaliving,perhapsof4000
poundsayear,atthatveryinstant,theyaremovedbytheHolyGhosttoaccepttheofficeandadministrationthereof,andfornootherreasonwhatever?"Themodesofinitiationaremoredamagingthancustom—houseoaths。
TheBishopiselectedbytheDeanandPrebendsofthecathedral。TheQueensendsthesegentlemena_conged’elire_,orleavetoelect;butalsosendsthemthenameofthepersonwhomtheyaretoelect。Theygointothecathedral,chantandpray,andbeseechtheHolyGhosttoassistthemintheirchoice;and,aftertheseinvocations,invariablyfindthatthedictatesoftheHolyGhostagreewiththerecommendationsoftheQueen。
Butyoumustpayforconformity。Allgoeswellaslongasyourunwithconformists。Butyou,whoarehonestmeninotherparticulars,know,thatthereisalivesomewhereamanwhosehonestyreachestothispointalso,thatheshallnotkneeltofalsegods,and,onthedaywhenyoumeethim,yousinkintotheclassofcounterfeits。Besides,thissuccumbinghasgravepenalties。Ifyoutakeinalie,youmusttakeinallthatbelongstoit。Englandacceptsthisornamentednationalchurch,anditglazestheeyes,bloatstheflesh,givesthevoiceastertorousclang,andcloudstheunderstandingofthereceivers。
TheEnglishchurch,underminedbyGermancriticism,hadnothingleftbuttradition,andwasledlogicallybacktoRomanism。Butthatwasanelementwhichonlyhotheadscouldbreathe:inviewoftheeducatedclass,generally,itwasnotafacttofrontthesun;andthealienationofsuchmenfromthechurchbecamecomplete。
Nature,tobesure,hadherremedy。ReligiouspersonsaredrivenoutoftheEstablishedChurchintosects,whichinstantlyrisetocredit,andholdtheEstablishmentincheck。Naturehassharperremedies,also。TheEnglish,abhorringchangeinallthings,abhorringitmostinmattersofreligion,clingtothelastragofform,andaredreadfullygiventocant。TheEnglish,(andIwishitwereconfinedtothem,but’tisataintintheAnglo—Saxonbloodinbothhemispheres,)theEnglishandtheAmericanscantbeyondallothernations。TheFrenchrelinquishallthatindustrytothem。
WhatissoodiousasthepolitebowstoGod,inourbooksandnewspapers?Thepopularpressisflagitiousintheexactmeasureofitssanctimony,andthereligionofthedayisatheatricalSinai,wherethethundersaresuppliedbytheproperty—man。Thefanaticismandhypocrisycreatesatire。Punchfindsaninexhaustiblematerial。
DickenswritesnovelsonExeter—Hallhumanity。Thackerayexposestheheartlesshighlife。Naturerevengesherselfmoresummarilybytheheathenismofthelowerclasses。LordShaftesburycallsthepoorthievestogether,andreadssermonstothem,andtheycallit`gas。’
GeorgeBorrowsummonstheGypsiestohearhisdiscourseontheHebrewsinEgypt,andreadstothemtheApostles’CreedinRommany。
"WhenIhadconcluded,"hesays,"Ilookedaroundme。Thefeaturesoftheassemblyweretwisted,andtheeyesofallturneduponmewithafrightfulsquint:notanindividualpresentbutsquinted;thegenteelPepa,thegood—humoredChicharona,theCosdami,allsquinted:
theGypsyjockeysquintedworstofall。"
Thechurchatthismomentismuchtobepitied。Shehasnothingleftbutpossession。Ifabishopmeetsanintelligentgentleman,andreadsfatalinterrogationsinhiseyes,hehasnoresourcebuttotakewinewithhim。Falsepositionintroducescant,perjury,simony,andeveralowerclassofmindandcharacterintotheclergy:and,whenthehierarchyisafraidofscienceandeducation,afraidofpiety,afraidoftradition,andafraidoftheology,thereisnothingleftbuttoquitachurchwhichisnolongerone。
ButthereligionofEngland,——isittheEstablishedChurch?
no;isitthesects?no;theyareonlyperpetuationsofsomeprivateman’sdissent,andaretotheEstablishedChurchascabsaretoacoach,cheaperandmoreconvenient,butreallythesamething。Wheredwellsthereligion?Tellmefirstwheredwellselectricity,ormotion,orthoughtorgesture。Theydonotdwellorstayatall。
Electricitycannotbemadefast,mortaredupandended,likeLondonMonument,ortheTower,sothatyoushallknowwheretofindit,andkeepitfixed,astheEnglishdowiththeirthings,forevermore;itispassing,glancing,gesticular;itisatraveller,anewness,asurprise,asecret,whichperplexesthem,andputsthemout。Yet,ifreligionbethedoingofallgood,andforitssakethesufferingofallevil,_souffrirdetoutlemondeetnefairesouffrirpersonne_,thatdivinesecrethasexistedinEnglandfromthedaysofAlfredtothoseofRomilly,ofClarkson,andofFlorenceNightingale,andinthousandswhohavenofame。
ChapterXIV_Literature_
Astrongcommonsense,whichitisnoteasytounseatordisturb,markstheEnglishmindforathousandyears:arudestrengthnewlyappliedtothought,asofsailorsandsoldierswhohadlatelylearnedtoread。Theyhavenofancy,andneveraresurprisedintoacovertorwittyword,suchaspleasedtheAtheniansandItalians,andwasconvertibleintoafablenotlongafter;buttheydelightinstrongearthyexpression,notmistakable,coarselytruetothehumanbody,and,thoughspokenamongprinces,equallyfitandwelcometothemob。Thishomeliness,veracity,andplainstyle,appearintheearliestextantworks,andinthelatest。Itimportsintosongsandballadsthesmelloftheearth,thebreathofcattle,and,likeaDutchpainter,seeksahouseholdcharm,thoughbypailsandpans。
Theyasktheirconstitutionalutilityinverse。Thekailandherringsareneveroutofsight。Thepoetnimblyrecovershimselffromeverysallyoftheimagination。TheEnglishmuselovesthefarmyard,thelane,andmarket。Shesays,withDeStael,"Itrampinthemirewithwoodenshoes,whenevertheywouldforcemeintotheclouds。"For,theEnglishmanhasaccurateperceptions;takesholdofthingsbytherightend,andthereisnoslipperinessinhisgrasp。
Helovestheaxe,thespade,theoar,thegun,thesteampipe:hehasbuilttheengineheuses。Heismaterialist,economical,mercantile。
Hemustbetreatedwithsincerityandreality,withmuffins,andnotthepromiseofmuffins;andprefershishotchop,withperfectsecurityandconvenienceintheeatingofit,tothechancesoftheamplestandFrenchiestbilloffare,engravedonembossedpaper。
Whenheisintellectual,andapoetoraphilosopher,hecarriesthesamehardtruthandthesamekeenmachineryintothementalsphere。
Hismindmuststandonafact。Hewillnotbebaffled,orcatchatclouds,butthemindmusthaveasymbolpalpableandresisting。WhatherelishesinDante,isthevice—liketenacitywithwhichheholdsamentalimagebeforetheeyes,asifitwereascutcheonpaintedonashield。Byron"likedsomethingcraggytobreakhismindupon。"A
tasteforplainstrongspeech,whatiscalledabiblicalstyle,markstheEnglish。ItisinAlfred,andtheSaxonChronicle,andintheSagasoftheNorthmen。Latimerwashomely。Hobbeswasperfectinthe"noblevulgarspeech。"Donne,Bunyan,Milton,Taylor,Evelyn,Pepys,Hooker,Cotton,andthetranslators,wroteit。Howrealisticormaterialisticintreatmentofhissubject,isSwift。Hedescribeshisfictitiouspersons,asifforthepolice。Defoehasnoinsecurityorchoice。Hudibrashasthesamehardmentality,——
keepingthetruthatoncetothesenses,andtotheintellect。
Itisnotlessseeninpoetry。Chaucer’shardpaintingofhisCanterburypilgrimssatisfiesthesenses。Shakspeare,Spenser,andMilton,intheirloftiestascents,havethisnationalgripandexactitudeofmind。ThismentalmaterialismmakesthevalueofEnglishtranscendentalgenius;inthesewriters,andinHerbert,HenryMore,Donne,andSirThomasBrowne。TheSaxonmaterialismandnarrowness,exaltedintothesphereofintellect,makestheverygeniusofShakspeareandMilton。Whenitreachesthepureelement,ittreadsthecloudsassecurelyastheadamant。Eveninitselevations,materialistic,itspoetryiscommonsenseinspired;orironraisedtowhiteheat。
Themarriageofthetwoqualitiesisintheirspeech。Itisatacitruleofthelanguagetomaketheframeorskeleton,ofSaxonwords,and,whenelevationorornamentissought,tointerweaveRoman;butsparingly;norisasentencemadeofRomanwordsalone,withoutlossofstrength。ThechildrenandlaborersusetheSaxonunmixed。TheLatinunmixedisabandonedtothecollegesandParliament。MixtureisasecretoftheEnglishisland;and,intheirdialect,themaleprincipleistheSaxon;thefemale,theLatin;andtheyarecombinedineverydiscourse。Agoodwriter,ifhehasindulgedinaRomanroundness,makeshastetochastenandnervehisperiodbyEnglishmonosyllables。