TheindifferenceexhibitedbyLavengroforwhatismerelygenteel,comparedwithhissolicitudenevertoinfringethestrictlawsofhonour,shouldreadasalutarylesson。Thegeneralityofhiscountrymenarefarmorecarefulnottotransgressthecustomsofwhattheycallgentility,thantoviolatethelawsofhonourormorality。Theywillshrinkfromcarryingtheirowncarpet—bag,andfromspeakingtoapersoninseedyraiment,whilsttomattersofmuchhigherimportancetheyareshamelesslyindifferent。NotsoLavengro;hewilldoanythingthathedeemsconvenient,orwhichstrikeshisfancy,provideditdoesnotoutragedecency,orisunalliedtoprofligacy;isnotashamedtospeaktoabeggarinrags,andwillassociatewithanybody,providedhecangratifyalaudablecuriosity。Hehasnoabstractloveforwhatislow,orwhattheworldcallslow。
Heseesthatmanythingswhichtheworldlooksdownuponarevaluable,soheprizesmuchwhichtheworldcondemns;heseesthatmanythingswhichtheworldadmiresarecontemptible,sohedespisesmuchwhichtheworlddoesnot;butwhentheworldprizeswhatisreallyexcellent,hedoesnotcontemnit,becausetheworldregardsit。IfhelearnsIrish,whichalltheworldscoffsat,helikewiselearnsItalian,whichalltheworldmeltsat。IfhelearnsGypsy,thelanguageofthetatteredtent,helikewiselearnsGreek,thelanguageofthecollege—hall。Ifhelearnssmithery,healsolearns—ah!
whatdoeshelearntosetagainstsmithery?—thelaw?No;
hedoesnotlearnthelaw,which,bytheway,isnotverygenteel。Swimming?Yes,helearnstoswim。Swimming,however,isnotgenteel;andtheworld—atleastthegenteelpartofit—actsverywiselyinsettingitsfaceagainstit;
fortoswimyoumustbenaked,andhowwouldmanyagenteelpersonlookwithouthisclothes?Come,helearnshorsemanship;averygenteelaccomplishment,whicheverygenteelpersonwouldgladlypossess,thoughnotallgenteelpeopledo。
Againastoassociates:ifheholdscommunionwhenaboywithMurtagh,thescarecrowofanIrishacademy,heassociatesinafterlifewithFrancisArdry,arichandtalentedyoungIrishgentlemanabouttown。IfheacceptsaninvitationfromMr。Petulengrotohistent,hehasnoobjectiontogohomewitharichgeniustodinner;whothenwillsaythatheprizesathingorapersonbecausetheyareungenteel?Thatheisnotreadytotakeupwitheverythingthatisungenteelhegivesaproof,whenherefuses,thoughonthebrinkofstarvation,tobecomebonnettothethimble—man,anoffice,which,thoughprofitable,ispositivelyungenteel。Ah!butsomesticker—upforgentilitywillexclaim,"Theherodidnotrefusethisofficefromaninsurmountabledisliketoitsungentility,butmerelyfromafeelingofprinciple。"Well!
thewriterisnotfondofargument,andhewilladmitthatsuchwasthecase;headmitsthatitwasaloveofprinciple,ratherthananover—regardforgentility,whichpreventedtheherofromaccepting,whenonthebrinkofstarvation,anungenteelthoughlucrativeoffice,anofficewhich,thewriterbegsleavetoobserve,manyapersonwithagreatregardforgentility,andnoparticularregardforprinciple,wouldinasimilarstraithaveaccepted;forwhendidamereloveforgentilitykeepapersonfrombeingadirtyscoundrel,whenthealternativeswere"eitherbeadirtyscoundrelorstarve?"Onething,however,iscertain,whichis,thatLavengrodidnotaccepttheoffice,whichifaloveforwhatislowhadbeenhisrulingpassionhecertainlywouldhavedone;consequently,herefusestodoonethingwhichnogenteelpersonwouldwillinglydo,evenashedoesmanythingswhicheverygenteelpersonwouldgladlydo,forexample,speaksItalian,ridesonhorseback,associateswithafashionableyoungman,dineswitharichgenius,etcetera。
Yet—anditcannotbeminced—heandgentilitywithregardtomanythingsareatstrangedivergency;heshrinksfrommanythingsatwhichgentilityplacidlyhumsatune,orapprovinglysimpers,anddoessomethingsatwhichgentilitypositivelyshrinks。Hewillnotrunintodebtforclothesorlodgings,whichhemightdowithoutanyscandaltogentility;
hewillnotreceivemoneyfromFrancisArdry,andgotoBrightonwiththesisterofAnnetteLeNoir,thoughthereisnothingungenteelinborrowingmoneyfromafriend,evenwhenyouneverintendtorepayhim,andsomethingpoignantlygenteelingoingtoawatering—placewithagayyoungFrenchwoman;buthehasnoobjection,afterraisingtwentypoundsbythesaleofthatextraordinarywork"JosephSell,"
tosetoffintothecountry,mendkettlesunderhedge—rows,andmakeponyanddonkeyshoesinadingle。Here,perhaps,someplain,well—meaningpersonwillcry—andwithmuchapparentjustice—howcanthewriterjustifyhiminthisact?Whatmotive,savealoveforwhatislow,couldinducehimtodosuchathing?Wouldthewriterhaveeverybodywhoisinneedofrecreationgointothecountry,mendkettlesunderhedges,andmakeponyshoesindingles?Tosuchanobservationthewriterwouldanswer,thatLavengrohadanexcellentmotiveindoingwhathedid,butthatthewriterisnotsounreasonableastowisheverybodytodothesame。Itisnoteverybodywhocanmendkettles。ItisnoteverybodywhoisinsimilarcircumstancestothoseinwhichLavengrowas。LavengrofliesfromLondonandhackauthorship,andtakestotheroadsfromfearofconsumption;itisexpensivetoputupatinns,andevenatpublic—houses,andLavengrohasnotmuchmoney;sohebuysatinker’scartandapparatus,andsetsupastinker,andsubsequentlyasblacksmith;apersonlivinginatent,orinanythingelse,mustdosomethingorgomad;Lavengrohadamind,ashehimselfwellknew,withsomeslighttendencytomadness,andhadhenotemployedhimself,hemusthavegonewild;sotoemployhimselfhedrewupononeofhisresources,theonlyoneavailableatthetime。Authorshiphadnearlykilledhim,hewassickofreading,andhadbesidesnobooks;buthepossessedtherudimentsofanartakintotinkering;heknewsomethingofsmithery,havingservedakindofapprenticeshipinIrelandtoafairysmith;sohedrawsuponhissmitherytoenablehimtoacquiretinkering,hespeedilyacquiresthatcraft,evenashehadspeedilyacquiredWelsh,owingtoitsconnectionwithIrish,whichlanguagehepossessed;andwithtinkeringheamuseshimselfuntilhelaysitasidetoresumesmithery。Amanwhohasaninnocentresource,hasquiteasmuchrighttodrawuponitinneed,ashehasuponabankerinwhosehandshehasplacedasum;Lavengroturnstoadvantage,underparticularcircumstances,acertainresourcewhichhehas,butpeoplewhoarenotsoforlornasLavengro,andhavenotservedthesameapprenticeshipwhichhehad,arenotadvisedtofollowhisexample。Surelyhewasbetteremployedinplyingthetradesoftinkerandsmiththaninhavingrecoursetovice,inrunningaftermilk—maids,forexample。Runningaftermilk—maidsisbynomeansanungenteelruraldiversion;butletanyoneasksomerespectablecasuist(theBishopofLondonforexample),whetherLavengrowasnotfarbetteremployed,wheninthecountry,attinkeringandsmitherythanhewouldhavebeeninrunningafterallthemilk—maidsinCheshire,thoughtinkeringisingeneralconsideredaveryungenteelemployment,andsmitherylittlebetter,notwithstandingthatanOrcadianpoet,whowroteinNorseabouteighthundredyearsago,reckonsthelatteramongninenobleartswhichhepossessed,namingitalongwithplayingatchess,ontheharp,andravellingrunes,orastheoriginalhasit,"treadingrunes"—thatis,compressingthemintoasmallcompassbyminglingoneletterwithanother,evenastheTurkishcaligraphistsraveltheArabicletters,moreespeciallythosewhowritetalismans。
"NineartshaveI,allnoble;
Iplayatchesssofree,AtravellingrunesI’mready,Atbooksandsmithery;
I’mskilledo’ericeatskimmingOnskates,Ishootandrow,Andfewatharpingmatchme,Orminstrelsy,Itrow。"
ButthoughLavengrotakesupsmithery,which,thoughtheOrcadianranksitwithchess—playingandharping,iscertainlysomewhatofagrimyart,therecanbenodoubtthat,hadhebeenwealthyandnotsoforlornashewas,hewouldhaveturnedtomanythings,honourable,ofcourse,inpreference。Hehasnoobjectiontorideafinehorsewhenhehastheopportunity:hehashisday—dreamofmakingafortuneoftwohundredthousandpoundsbybecomingamerchantanddoingbusinessaftertheArmenianfashion;andtherecanbenodoubtthathewouldhavebeengladtowearfineclothes,providedhehadhadsufficientfundstoauthorizehiminwearingthem。Forthesakeofwanderingthecountryandplyingthehammerandtongs,hewouldnothaverefusedacommissionintheserviceofthatillustriousmonarchGeorgetheFourth,providedhehadthoughtthathecouldliveonhispay,andnotbeforcedtorunindebttotradesmen,withoutanyhopeofpayingthem,forclothesandluxuries,asmanyhighlygenteelofficersinthathonourableservicewereinthehabitofdoing。Forthesakeoftinkering,hewouldcertainlynothaverefusedasecretaryshipofanembassytoPersia,inwhichhemighthaveturnedhisacquaintancewithPersian,Arabic,andtheLordonlyknowswhatotherlanguages,toaccount。Hetooktotinkeringandsmithery,becausenobetteremploymentswereathiscommand。Nowariswagedinthebookagainstrank,wealth,fineclothes,ordignifiedemployments;itisshown,however,thatapersonmaybeagentlemanandascholarwithoutthem。Rank,wealth,fineclothes,anddignifiedemployments,arenodoubtveryfinethings,buttheyaremerelyexternals,theydonotmakeagentleman,theyaddexternalgraceanddignitytothegentlemanandscholar,buttheymakeneither;andisitnotbettertobeagentlemanwithoutthemthannotagentlemanwiththem?IsnotLavengro,whenheleavesLondononfootwithtwentypoundsinhispocket,entitledtomorerespectthanMr。Flamsonflaminginhiscoachwithamillion?AndisnoteventhehonestjockeyatHorncastle,whooffersafairpricetoLavengroforhishorse,entitledtomorethanthescoundrellord,whoattemptstocheathimofone—fourthofitsvalue?
Millions,however,seemtothinkotherwise,bytheirservileadorationofpeoplewhomwithoutrank,wealth,andfineclothestheywouldconsiderinfamous,butwhompossessedofrank,wealth,andglitteringhabilimentstheyseemtoadmireallthemorefortheirprofligacyandcrimes。Doesnotablood—spot,oralust—spot,ontheclothesofabloomingemperor,giveakindofzesttothegenteelyounggod?Donotthepride,superciliousness,andselfishnessofacertainaristocracymakeitallthemoreregardedbyitsworshippers?
anddonottheclownishandgutter—bloodadmirersofMr。
Flamsonlikehimallthemorebecausetheyareconsciousthatheisaknave?Ifsuchisthecase—and,alas!isitnotthecase?—theycannotbetoofrequentlytoldthatfineclothes,wealth,andtitlesadornapersoninproportionasheadornsthem;thatifwornbythemagnanimousandgoodtheyareornamentsindeed,butifbythevileandprofligatetheyaremerelysanbenitos,andonlyservetomaketheirinfamydoublyapparent;andthatapersoninseedyraimentandtatteredhat,possessedofcourage,kindness,andvirtue,isentitledtomorerespectfromthosetowhomhisvirtuesaremanifestedthananycruelprofligateemperor,selfisharistocrat,orknavishmillionaireintheworld。
ThewriterhasnointentionofsayingthatallinEnglandareaffectedwiththeabsurdmaniaforgentility;norissuchastatementmadeinthebook;itisshownthereinthatindividualsofcertainclassescanprizeagentleman,notwithstandingseedyraiment,dustyshoesortatteredhat,—
forexample,theyoungIrishman,therichgenius,thepostillion,andhisemployer。Again,whenthelifeoftheheroisgiventotheworld,amidstthehowlaboutitslownessandvulgarity,raisedbytheservilecrewwhomitsindependenceofsentimenthasstung,morethanonepowerfulvoicehasbeenheardtestifyingapprobationofitslearningandthepurityofitsmorality。ThatthereissomesaltinEngland,mindsnotswayedbymereexternals,heisfullyconvinced;ifhewerenot,hewouldsparehimselfthetroubleofwriting;buttothefactthatthegeneralityofhiscountrymenarebaselygrovellingbeforetheshrineofwhattheyarepleasedtocallgentility,hecannotshuthiseyes。
Oh!whatacleverpersonthatCockneywas,who,travellingintheAberdeenrailroadcarriage,afteredifyingthecompanywithhisremarksonvarioussubjects,gaveitashisopinionthatLieutenantP—would,infuture,beshunnedbyallrespectablesociety!Andwhatasimplepersonthatelderlygentlemanwas,who,abruptlystarting,askedinratheranauthoritativevoice,"andwhyshouldLieutenantP—beshunnedbyrespectablesociety?"andwho,afterenteringintowhatwassaidtobeamasterlyanalysisoftheentireevidenceofthecase,concludedbystating,"thathavingbeenaccustomedtoallkindsofevidenceallhislife,hehadneverknownacaseinwhichtheaccusedhadobtainedamorecompleteandtriumphantjustificationthanLieutenantP—haddoneinthelatetrial。"
NowtheCockney,whoissaidtohavebeenaveryfoppishCockney,wasperfectlyrightinwhathesaid,andthereinmanifestedaknowledgeoftheEnglishmindandcharacter,andlikewiseofthemodernEnglishlanguage,towhichhiscatechist,who,itseems,wasadistinguishedmemberoftheScottishbar,couldlaynopretensions。TheCockneyknewwhattheLordofSessionknewnot,thattheBritishpublicisgentilitycrazy,andheknew,moreover,thatgentilityandrespectabilityaresynonymous。NooneinEnglandisgenteelorrespectablethatis"lookedat,"whoisthevictimofoppression;hemaybepitiedforatime,butwhendidnotpityterminateincontempt?Apoor,harmlessyoungofficer—
butwhyenterintothedetailsoftheinfamouscase?theyarebuttoowellknown,andifevercruelty,pride,andcowardice,andthingsmuchworsethanevencruelty,cowardice,andpridewerebroughttolight,and,atthesametime,countenanced,theywereinthatcase。Whatavailedthetriumphantjustificationofthepoorvictim?Therewasatfirstaroarofindignationagainsthisoppressors,buthowlongdiditlast?Hehadbeenturnedoutoftheservice,theyremainedinitwiththeirredcoatsandepaulets;hewasmerelythesonofamanwhohadrenderedgoodservicetohiscountry,theywere,forthemostpart,highlyconnected—
theywereintheextremestdegreegenteel,hequitethereverse;sothenationwavered,considered,thoughtthegenteelsidewasthesafestafterall,andthenwiththecryof,"Oh!thereisnothinglikegentility,"rattedbodily。
Newspaperandpublicturnedagainstthevictim,scoutedhim,apologizedforthe—whatshouldtheybecalled?—whowerenotonlyadmittedintothemostrespectablesociety,butcourtedtocome,thespotsnotmerelyofwineontheirmilitaryclothes,givingthemakindofpoignancy。ButthereisaGodinheaven;theBritishgloriesaretarnished—
ProvidencehasneversmiledonBritisharmssincethatcase—
oh!Balaklava!thynameinterpretedisnetoffishes,andwelldostthoudeservethatname。Howmanyascarletgoldenfishhasoflateperishedinthemudamidstthee,cursingthegenteelservice,andthegenteelleaderwhichbroughthimtosuchadoom。
Whethertherageforgentilityismostprevalentamongsttheupper,middle,orlowerclassesitisdifficulttosay;thepriestinthetextseemstothinkthatitisexhibitedinthemostdecidedmannerinthemiddleclass;itisthewriter’sopinion,however,thatinnoclassisitmorestronglydevelopedthaninthelower:whattheycallbeingwell—borngoesagreatwayamongstthem,butthepossessionofmoneymuchfarther,whenceMr。Flamson’sinfluenceoverthem。
Theirrageagainst,andscornfor,anypersonwhobyhiscourageandtalentshasadvancedhimselfinlife,andstillremainspoor,areindescribable;"heisnobetterthanourselves,"theysay,"whyshouldhebeaboveus?"—fortheyhavenoconceptionthatanybodyhasarighttoascendencyoverthemselvesexceptbybirthormoney。Thisfeelingamongstthevulgarhasbeen,toacertainextent,thebaneoftwoservices,navalandmilitary。Thewriterdoesnotmakethisassertionrashly;heobservedthisfeelingatworkinthearmywhenachild,andhehasgoodreasonforbelievingthatitwasasstronglyatworkinthenavyatthesametime,andisstillasprevalentinboth。Whyarenotbravemenraisedfromtheranks?isfrequentlythecry;whyarenotbravesailorspromoted?TheLordhelpbravesoldiersandsailorswhoarepromoted;theyhavelesstoundergofromthehighairsoftheirbrotherofficers,andthosearehardenoughtoendure,thanfromtheinsolenceofthemen。
Soldiersandsailorspromotedtocommandaresaidtobeingeneraltyrants;inninecasesoutoften,whentheyaretyrants,theyhavebeenobligedtohaverecoursetoextremeseverityinordertoprotectthemselvesfromtheinsolenceandmutinousspiritofthemen,—"Heisnobetterthanourselves:shoothim,bayonethim,orflinghimoverboard!"
theysayofsomeobnoxiousindividualraisedabovethembyhismerit。Soldiersandsailors,ingeneral,willbearanyamountoftyrannyfromalordlysot,orthesonofamanwhohas"plentyofbrass"—theirownterm—butwillmutinyagainstthejustordersofaskilfulandbraveofficerwho"isnobetterthanthemselves。"Therewastheaffairofthe"Bounty,"forexample:Blighwasoneofthebestseamenthatevertroddeck,andoneofthebravestofmen;proofsofhisseamanshiphegavebysteering,amidstdreadfulweather,adeeply—ladenboatfornearlyfourthousandmilesoveranalmostunknownocean—ofhisbravery,atthefightofCopenhagen,oneofthemostdesperateeverfought,ofwhichafterNelsonhewasthehero:hewas,moreover,notanunkindman;butthecrewofthe"Bounty"mutiniedagainsthim,andsethimhalfnakedinanopenboat,withcertainofhismenwhoremainedfaithfultohim,andranawaywiththeship。
Theirprincipalmotivefordoingsowasanidea,whethertrueorgroundlessthewritercannotsay,thatBlighwas"nobetterthanthemselves;"hewascertainlyneitheralord’sillegitimate,norpossessedoftwentythousandpounds。Thewriterknowswhatheiswritingabout,havingbeenacquaintedinhisearlyyearswithanindividualwhowasturnedadriftwithBligh,andwhodiedabouttheyear’22,alieutenantinthenavy,inaprovincialtowninwhichthewriterwasbroughtup。Theringleadersinthemutinyweretwoscoundrels,ChristianandYoung,whohadgreatinfluencewiththecrew,becausetheyweregenteellyconnected。Bligh,afterleavingthe"Bounty,"hadconsiderabledifficultyinmanagingthemenwhohadsharedhisfate,becausetheyconsideredthemselves"asgoodmenashe,"notwithstanding,thattohisconductandseamanshiptheyhadalonetolook,underHeaven,forsalvationfromtheghastlyperilsthatsurroundedthem。Blighhimself,inhisjournal,alludestothisfeeling。Once,whenheandhiscompanionslandedonadesertisland,oneofthemsaid,withamutinouslook,thatheconsideredhimself"asgoodamanashe;"Bligh,seizingacutlass,calleduponhimtotakeanotheranddefendhimself,whereuponthemansaidthatBlighwasgoingtokillhim,andmadeallmannerofconcessions;nowwhydidthisfellowconsiderhimselfasgoodamanasBligh?Washeasgoodaseaman?no,noratenthpartasgood。Asbraveaman?no,noratenthpartasbrave;andofthesefactshewasperfectlywellaware,butbraveryandseamanshipstoodfornothingwithhim,astheystillstandwiththousandsofhisclass;Blighwasnotgenteelbybirthormoney,thereforeBlighwasnobetterthanhimself。HadBligh,beforehesailed,gotatwenty—thousandpoundprizeinthelottery,hewouldhaveexperiencednoinsolencefromthisfellow,fortherewouldhavebeennomutinyinthe"Bounty。""Heisourbetters,"thecrewwouldhavesaid,"anditisourdutytoobeyhim。"
ThewonderfulpowerofgentilityinEnglandisexemplifiedinnothingmorethaninwhatitisproducingamongstJews,Gypsies,andQuakers。Itisbreakinguptheirvenerablecommunities。Allthebetter,someonewillsay。Alas!alas!
ItismakingthewealthyJewsforsakethesynagoguefortheopera—house,orthegentilitychapel,inwhichadiscipleofMr。Platitude,inawhitesurplice,preachesasermonatnoon—dayfromadesk,oneachsideofwhichisaflamingtaper。Itismakingthemabandontheirancientliterature,their"Mischna,"their"Gemara,"their"Zohar,"forgentilitynovels,"TheYoungDuke,"themostunexceptionablygenteelbookeverwritten,beingtheprincipalfavourite。ItmakestheyoungJewashamedoftheyoungJewess,itmakesherashamedoftheyoungJew。TheyoungJewmarriesanopera—
dancer,orifthedancerwillnothavehim,asisfrequentlythecase,thecast—offMissoftheHonourableSpencerSo—and—
so。ItmakestheyoungJewessacceptthehonourableofferofacashieredlieutenantoftheBengalNativeInfantry;or,ifsuchapersondoesnotcomeforward,thedishonourableofferofacornetofaregimentofcrackhussars。ItmakespoorJews,maleandfemale,forsakethesynagogueforthesixpennytheatreorpennyhop;theJewtotakeupwithanIrishfemaleofloosecharacter,andtheJewesswithamusicianoftheGuards,ortheTipperaryservantofCaptainMulligan。Withrespecttothegypsies,itismakingthewomenwhattheyneverwerebefore—harlots;andthemenwhattheyneverwerebefore—carelessfathersandhusbands。IthasmadethedaughterofUrsulathechastetakeupwiththebasedrummerofawild—beastshow。ItmakesGorgikoBrown,thegypsyman,leavehistentandhisoldwife,ofanevening,andthrusthimselfintosocietywhichcouldwelldispensewithhim。
"Brother,"saidMr。PetulengrototheRomanyRye,aftertellinghimmanythingsconnectedwiththedecadenceofgypsyism,"thereisoneGorgikoBrown,who,withafaceasblackasatea—kettle,wishestobemistakenforaChristiantradesman;hegoesintotheparlourofathird—rateinnofanevening,callsforrumandwater,andattemptstoenterintoconversationwiththecompanyaboutpoliticsandbusiness;
thecompanyflouthimandgivehimthecoldshoulder,orperhapscomplaintothelandlord,whocomesandaskshimwhatbusinesshehasintheparlour,tellinghimifhewantstodrinktogointothetap—room,andperhapscollarshimandkickshimout,providedherefusestomove。"WithrespecttotheQuakers,itmakestheyoungpeopleliketheyoungJews,crazyaftergentilitydiversions,worship,marriages,orconnections,andmakesoldPeasedowhatitmakesGorgikoBrowndo,thrusthimselfintosocietywhichcouldwelldispensewithhim,andoutofwhichheisnotkicked,becauseunlikethegypsyheisnotpoor。Thewriterwouldsaymuchmoreonthesepoints,butwantofroompreventshim;hemustthereforerequestthereadertohavepatienceuntilhecanlaybeforetheworldapamphlet,whichhehasbeenlongmeditating,tobeentitled"RemarksonthestrikinglysimilarEffectswhichaLoveforGentilityhasproduced,andisproducing,amongstJews,Gypsies,andQuakers。"
ThePriestinthebookhasmuchtosayonthesubjectofthisgentility—nonsense;nopersoncanpossiblydespiseitmorethoroughlythanthatveryremarkableindividualseemstodo,yethehailsitsprevalencewithpleasure,knowingthebenefitswhichwillresultfromittothechurchofwhichheisthesneeringslave。"TheEnglisharemadaftergentility,"sayshe;"well,allthebetterforus;theirreligionforalongtimepasthasbeenaplainandsimpleone,andconsequentlybynomeansgenteel;they’llquititforours,whichistheperfectionofwhattheyadmire;withwhichTemplars,Hospitalers,mitredabbots,Gothicabbeys,long—drawnaisles,goldencensers,incense,etcetera,areconnected;nothing,ornexttonothing,ofChrist,itistrue,butweighedinthebalanceagainstgentility,wherewillChristianitybe?why,kickingagainstthebeam—ho!
ho!"Andinconnectionwiththegentility—nonsense,heexpatiateslargely,andwithmuchcontempt,onaspeciesofliteraturebywhichtheinterestsofhischurchinEnglandhavebeenverymuchadvanced—allgenuinepriestshaveathoroughcontemptforeverythingwhichtendstoadvancetheinterestsoftheirchurch—thisliteratureismadeupofpseudoJacobitism,Charlieo’erthewaterism,ornonsenseaboutCharlieo’erthewater。Andthewriterwillnowtakethelibertyofsayingafewwordsaboutitonhisownaccount。
CHAPTERVI
OnScotchGentility—Nonsense—Charlieo’ertheWaterism。
OFtheliteraturejustalludedtoScottwastheinventor。ItisfoundedonthefortunesandmisfortunesoftheStuartfamily,ofwhichScottwasthezealousdefenderandapologist,doingallthatinhispowerlaytorepresentthemembersofitasnoble,chivalrous,high—minded,unfortunateprinces;though,perhaps,ofalltheroyalfamiliesthateverexistedupontheearth,thisfamilywastheworst。Itwasunfortunateenough,itistrue;butitoweditsmisfortunesentirelytoitscrimes,viciousness,badfaith,andcowardice。NothingwillbesaidofithereuntilitmadeitsappearanceinEnglandtooccupytheEnglishthrone。
Thefirstofthefamilywhichwehavetodowith,James,wasadirty,cowardlymiscreant,ofwhomthelesssaidthebetter。Hisson,CharlestheFirst,wasatyrant—
exceedinglycruelandrevengeful,butweakanddastardly;hecausedapoorfellowtobehangedinLondon,whowasnothissubject,becausehehadheardthattheunfortunatecreaturehadoncebittenhisowngloveatCadiz,inSpain,atthementionofhisname;andhepermittedhisownbull—dog,Strafford,tobeexecutedbyhisownenemies,thoughtheonlycrimeofStraffordwas,thathehadbarkedfuriouslyatthoseenemies,andhadworriedtwoorthreeofthem,whenCharlesshouted,"Fetch’em。"Hewasabitter,butyetadespicableenemy,andthecoldestandmostworthlessoffriends;forthoughhealwayshopedtobeable,sometimeorother,tohanghisenemies,hewasalwaysreadytocurryfavourwiththem,moreespeciallyifhecoulddosoattheexpenseofhisfriends。Hewasthehaughtiest,yetmeanestofmankind。Heoncecanedayoungnoblemanforappearingbeforehiminthedrawing—roomnotdressedexactlyaccordingtothecourtetiquette;yethecondescendedtoflatterandcomplimenthimwho,fromprinciple,washisbitterestenemy,namely,Harrison,whentherepublicancolonelwasconductinghimasaprisonertoLondon。Hisbadfaithwasnotorious;itwasfromabhorrenceofthefirstpublicinstancewhichhegaveofhisbadfaith,hisbreakinghiswordtotheInfantaofSpain,thatthepoorHiberno—SpaniardbithisgloveatCadiz;anditwashisnotoriousbadfaithwhicheventuallycosthimhishead;fortheRepublicanswouldgladlyhavesparedhim,providedtheycouldputtheslightestconfidenceinanypromise,howeversolemn,whichhemighthavemadetothem。