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diff --git a/old/13306.txt b/old/13306.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..10b0e04 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/13306.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9813 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. +CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV., by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV. + +Author: Various + +Release Date: August 27, 2004 [EBook #13306] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BLACKWOOD'S EDINBURGH *** + + + + +Produced by Jon Ingram, Victoria Woosley and PG Distributed +Proofreaders. Produced from page images provided by The Internet +Library of Early Journals. + + + + + + + BLACKWOOD'S + + Edinburgh + + MAGAZINE. + + + + VOL. LV. + + JANUARY-JUNE, 1844. + + [Illustration] + + + 1844. + + + * * * * * + + + BLACKWOOD'S + + EDINBURGH MAGAZINE. + + + * * * * * + + No. CCCXXXIX. JANUARY, 1844. VOL. LV. + + * * * * * + + + + CONTENTS. + + + STATE PROSECUTIONS, 1 + ADVENTURES IN TEXAS. NO. III. THE STRUGGLE, 18 + CLITOPHON AND LEUCIPPE, 33 + THE NEW ART OF PRINTING. BY A DESIGNING DEVIL, 45 + THE BANKING-HOUSE. PART THE LAST, 50 + KIEFF, FROM THE RUSSIAN OF KOZLOFF, 80 + MARSTON; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A STATESMAN. PART VII. 81 + LETTER FROM LEMUEL GULLIVER, 98 + THE PROCLAMATION, 100 + THE FIREMAN'S SONG, 101 + POSITION AND PROSPECTS OF THE GOVERNMENT, 103 + + + * * * * * + + EDINBURGH: + + WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS, 45, GEORGE STREET; + AND 22, PALL-MALL, LONDON. + + To whom all Communications (post paid) must be addressed. + + SOLD BY ALL THE BOOKSELLERS THE UNITED KINGDOM. + + * * * * * + + PRINTED BY BALLANTYNE AND HUGHES, EDINBURGH. + + + * * * * * + + + +STATE PROSECUTIONS. + + +The Englishman who, however well inclined to defer to the wisdom "of +former ages," should throw a glance at the stern realities of the +past, as connected with the history of his country, will be little +disposed to yield an implicit assent to the opinions or assertions of +those, who maintain the superiority of the past, to the disparagement +and depreciation of the present times. Maxims and sayings of this +tendency have undoubtedly prevailed from periods of remote antiquity. +The wise monarch of the Jewish nation even forbade his people to ask +"the cause that the former days were better than these;" "for," he +adds, "thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this." Far different +would be the modern precept of a British monarch. Rather let the +English subject "enquire _diligently_ concerning this," for he cannot +fail to enquire wisely. Let him enquire, and he will find that "the +former days" of England were days of discord, tyranny, and oppression; +days when an Empson and a Dudley could harass the honest and +well-disposed, through the medium of the process of the odious +star-chamber; when the crown was possessed of almost arbitrary power, +and when the liberty and personal independence of individuals were in +no way considered or regarded; days when the severity of our criminal +laws drew down from a French philosopher the sneer, that a history of +England was a history of the executioner; when the doomed were sent +out of the world in bands of twenty, and even thirty, at a time, at +Tyburn or at "Execution dock;" and when, in the then unhealthy tone of +public morals, criminals famous for their deeds of violence and +rapine, were regarded rather as the heroes of romance, than as the +pests and scourges of society. Let him enquire, and he will find that +all these things have now long since passed away; that the rigours of +the criminal law have been entirely mitigated, and that the great +charters of our liberties, the fruits of accumulated wisdom and +experience, have now been long confirmed. These facts, if universally +known and duly pondered over, would go far to banish discontent and +disaffection, and would tend to produce a well-founded confidence in +the inherent power of adaptation to the necessities of the people, +possessed by the constitution of our country. Thus, the social wants +of the outer man having been in a great measure supplied, the +philanthropy of modern times has been chiefly employed on the mental +and moral improvement of the species; the wants of the inner man are +now the objects of universal attention, and education has become the +great necessity of the age. Hitherto, the municipal laws and +institutions of this country have been defective; inasmuch as they +have made little or no provision for the adequate instruction of the +people. Much, no doubt, has been already done, and education, even +now, diffuses her benignant light over a large portion of the +population; among whom, the children of the ignorant are able to +instruct their parents, and impart, to those who gave them being, a +share in the new-found blessing of modern times. Much, however, +remains still to be done, and the splendid examples of princely +munificence which a great minister of the crown has recently shown the +wealthier classes of this wealthy nation, may, in the absence of a +state provision, have the effect of stimulating private exertion and +generosity. In spite, however, of the moral and intellectual +advancement of the present age, the passions and evil designs of the +vicious and discontented are still able to influence vast masses of +the people. The experience of the last few years unfortunately teaches +us, that increased knowledge has not yet banished disaffection, and +that though, during the last quarter of a century, the general +standard of the nation's morality may have been elevated above its +former resting-place, that education, in its present state of +advancement, has not as yet effectually disarmed discontent or +disaffection, by showing the greater evil which ever attends the +endeavour to effect the lesser good, by violent, factious, or +seditious means. + +Within the last thirteen years, the government has been compelled, on +several occasions, to curb the violence and to repress the outbreaks +of men who had yet to learn the folly of such attempts; and the powers +of the executive have been frequently evoked by those who, of late +years, have wielded the destinies of this country. Several state +prosecutions have taken place during this period. They never occur +without exciting a lively interest; the public eye is critically +intent upon the minutest detail of these proceedings; and the public +attention is concentrated upon those to whom is confided the +vindication of the public rights and the redressing of the public +wrongs. It has been often asked by some of these critical observers, +How is it that, when great crimes or misdemeanours are to be punished, +when the bold and daring offender is to be brought to justice, when +the body politic is the offended party, when the minister honours a +supposed offender with his notice in the shape of criminal +proceedings, and the government condescends to prosecute--how is it, +it has been asked on such occasions, when the first talent, science, +and practical skill, are all arranged against the unfortunate object +of a nation's vengeance, that the course of justice should be ever +broken or impeded? Is the machinery then set in motion in truth +defective--is there some inherent vice in the construction of the +state engine? Is the law weak when it should be strong? Is its boasted +majesty, after all, nothing but the creation of a fond imagination, or +a delusion of the past? Are the wheels of the state-machine no longer +bright, polished, and fit for use as they once were? or are they +choked and clogged with the rust and dust of accumulated ages? Or, if +not in the machine, does the fault, ask others of these bold critics, +rest with the workmen who guide and superintend its action? Are the +principles of its construction now no longer known or understood? Are +they, like those of the engines of the Syracusan philosopher, lost in +the lapse of time? Is the crown less efficiently served than private +individuals? and can it be possible, it has even been demanded, that +those who are actively employed on these occasions have been so long +removed on the practice of what is often deemed the simpler portion of +the law, and so long employed in the higher and more abstruse branches +of the science, that they have forgotten the practice of their youth, +and have lost the knowledge acquired in the commencement of their +professional career? Lesser criminals, it is said, are every day +convicted with ease and expedition--how is it, therefore, that the +cobweb of the law holds fast the small ephemerae which chance to stray +across its filmy mesh, but that the gaudy insect of larger form and +greater strength so often breaks through, his flight perhaps arrested +for a moment, as he feels the insidious toil fold close about him? It +is, however, only for a moment; one mighty effort breaks his bonds--he +is free--and flies off in triumph and derision, trumpeting forth his +victory, and proclaiming his escape from the snare, in which it was +hoped to encompass him. The astute and practised gentlemen thus +suspected, strong in the consciousness of deep legal knowledge, and +ready practical skill and science, may justly despise the petty +attacks of those who affect to doubt their professional ability and +attainments. Some in high places have not hesitated to hint, on one +occasion, at collusion, and to assert, that a certain prosecution +failed, because there was no real desire to punish. + +Such is the substance of the various questions and speculations to +which the legal events of the last thirteen years have given rise. We +have now collected and enumerated them in a condensed form, for the +purpose of tracing their rise and progress, and in order that we may +demonstrate that, though there may possibly exist some reasons for +these opinions, founded often on a misapprehension of the real +circumstances of the cases quoted in their support, that they have, in +fact, little or no substantial foundation. With this view, therefore, +we shall briefly notice those trials, within the period of which we +speak, which form the groundwork of these charges against the +executive, before we proceed to state the real obstacles which do, in +fact, occasionally oppose the smooth and _rapid_ progress of a "State +Prosecution." + +The first of these proceedings, which occurred during the period of +the last thirteen years, was the trial of Messrs O'Connell, Lawless, +Steel, and others. This case perhaps originated the opinions which +have partially prevailed, and was, in truth, not unlikely to make a +permanent impression on the public mind. In the month of January 1831, +true bills were found against these parties by the Grand Jury of +Dublin, for assembling and meeting together for purposes prohibited by +a proclamation of the Lord Lieutenant; and for conspiring to do an act +forbidden by the law. By every possible device, by demurrers and +inconsistent pleas, delays were interposed; and though Mr O'Connell +withdrew a former plea of not guilty, and pleaded guilty to the counts +to which he had at first demurred--though Mr Stanley, in the House of +Commons, in reply to a question put by the Marquis of Chandos, +emphatically declared, that it was impossible for the Irish +government, consistently with their dignity as a government, to enter +into any negotiation implying the remotest compromise with the +defendants--and that it was the unalterable determination of the +law-officers of Ireland to let the law take its course against Mr +O'Connell--and that, let him act as he pleased, judgment would be +passed against him--still, in spite of this determination of the +government, so emphatically announced by the Irish Secretary, the +statute on which the proceedings were founded was actually suffered to +expire, without any previous steps having been taken against the state +delinquents. There has ever been that degree of mystery about this +event, which invariably rouses attention and excites curiosity; the +escape of those parties was a great triumph over the powers, or the +expressed inclinations of the government, which was well calculated to +set the public mind at work to discover the latent causes which +produced such strange and unexpected results. After an interval of +seven years, another case occurred, which was not calculated +materially to lessen the impression already made upon the public; for +although, in the following instance, the prosecution was conducted to +a successful termination, yet questions of such grave importance were +raised, and fought with such ability, vigour, and determination, that +the accomplishment of the ends of justice, if not prevented, was +certainly long delayed. + +On the 17th December 1838, twelve prisoners were brought to Liverpool, +charged in execution of a sentence of transportation to Van Diemen's +Land for having been concerned in the Canadian revolt. Here the +offenders had been tried, convicted, sentenced, and actually +transported. The prosecutors, therefore, might naturally be supposed +to have got fairly _into_ port, when they saw the objects of their +tender solicitude fairly _out_ of port, on their way to the distant +land to which the offended laws of their country had consigned them. + +If justice might not account her work as done, at a time when her +victims had already traversed a thousand leagues of the wide +Atlantic, when could it be expected that the law might take its course +without further let or hindrance? On the 17th of December, as has been +observed, the prisoners arrived at Liverpool, and were straightway +consigned to the care and custody of Mr Batcheldor, the governor of +the borough jail of Liverpool; by whom they were duly immured in the +stronghold of the borough, and safely placed under lock and key. +Things, however, did not long continue in this state. In a few days +twelve writs of _habeas corpus_ made their sudden and unexpected +appearance, by which Mr Batcheldor was commanded forthwith to bring +the bodies of his charges, together with the causes of detention, +before the Lord Chief Justice of England. Mr Batcheldor obeyed the +command in both particulars; the judges of the Court of Queen's Bench +met; counsel argued and re-argued the matter before them, but in +vain--the prisoners were left in the governor's care, in which they +remained, as if no effort had been made to remove then from his +custody. All, however, was not yet over; for, as though labouring +under a strange delusion, four of the prisoners actually made oath +that they had never been arraigned, tried, convicted, or sentenced at +all, either in Canada or elsewhere! Upon this four more writs of +_habeas corpus_ issued, commanding the unhappy Mr Batcheldor to bring +the four deluded convicts before the Barons of the Exchequer. This was +done; arguments, both old and new, were heard with exemplary patience +and attention; the play was played over again; but the Barons were +equally inexorable with the Court of Queen's Bench, and the four +prisoners, after much consideration, were again remanded to the +custody of the governor of the jail, and, together with their eight +fellow-prisoners, were, in course of time, duly conveyed to the place +of their original destination. + +The next of these cases, in chronological order, is that of the +Monmouthshire riots in 1839. This case, also, might tend to +corroborate the opinion, that the service of the state, in legal +matters, is attended with much difficulty and embarrassment. It will, +however, be seen upon examination of the facts of the case, that the +difficulty which then arose, proceeded solely from the lenity and +indulgence shown to the prisoners by the crown. On New-Year's day +1840, John Frost and others, were brought to trial, on a charge of +high treason, before a special commission at Monmouth. The proceedings +were interrupted by an objection taken by the prisoners' counsel, that +the terms of a statute, which requires that a list of witnesses should +be delivered to the prisoners _at the same time_ with a copy of the +indictment, had not been complied with. The indictment had, in fact, +been delivered five days before the list of witnesses. This had been +done in merciful consideration to the prisoners, in order that they +might be put in possession of the charge, to be brought against them, +as early as it was in the power of the crown to give them the +information, and probably before it was _possible_ that the list of +witnesses could have been made out. The trial, however, proceeded, +subject to the decision of the fifteen judges upon the question, thus +raised upon the supposed informality, which nothing but the _anxious +mercy_ of the crown had introduced into the proceedings; and the +parties were found guilty of the offence laid to their charge. In the +ensuing term, all other business was, for a time, suspended; and the +fifteen judges of the land, with all the stately majesty of the +judicial office, were gathered together in solemn conclave in +Westminster Hall. A goodly array, tier above tier they sat--the heavy +artillery of a vast legal battery about to open the fire of their +learning, with that imposing dignity which becomes the avengers of the +country's and the sovereign's wrongs. Day after day they met, heard, +and deliberated upon arguments, which were conspicuous from their +consummate learning and ability. At length these learned persons +delivered their judgments, and, amid much diversity of opinion, the +majority thought, upon the whole, that the conviction was right, and +that the terms of the statute had been virtually complied with. The +criminals, however, probably in consequence of the doubts and +difficulty of the case, were absolved on the most highly penal +consequences of their crime, and were, by a sort of compromise, +transported for life to one of the penal settlements. + +The doubt which some have entertained of the real insanity of Oxford, +and others who have recently attempted the same crime which he so nearly +committed, has caused these cases also to be brought forward in +confirmation of the opinions, which we contend rest upon no real +foundation. The insanity of a prisoner is, however, a fact, upon which +it is the province of the jury to decide, under the direction of the +presiding judge. In each case the law was luminously laid down by the +judge for the guidance of the jury, who were fully instructed as to what +the law required to establish the insanity of its prisoner, and to prove +that "lesion of the will" which would render a human being irresponsible +for his acts. These verdicts, undoubtedly, gave rise to a grave +discussion, whether the law, as it now stands, was sufficiently +stringent to have reached these cases; and though this question was +decided in the affirmative, the mere entertaining of the doubt afforded +another specious confirmation of the impression, that a singular +fatality was attendant upon a state prosecution. This idea received +another support from the case of Lord Cardigan, who, about this period, +was unexpectedly acquitted, on technical grounds, from a grave and +serious charge. This, however, was no state prosecution, and we do but +notice it, _en passant_, in corroboration of our general argument. + +We now come to the case of the Chartists in 1842. For some time +previous to the summer of 1842, great distress, it will be remembered, +prevailed among the manufacturing population of the northern and +midland counties. The misery of the preceding winter had been dreadful +in the extreme; emaciated, haggard beings might be daily seen +wandering about the country half naked, in the coldest weather; +sufferings, almost without a parallel, were borne with patience and +resignation. Despair there might be in the hearts of thousands, but +those thousands were mute and passive in their misery; all was dark, +all was hopeless; the wintry wind of penury blew untempered, keen upon +them, but still they cried not; hunger preyed upon their very vitals, +but they uttered no complaint. Let us not, even now, refuse a passing +tribute of honour and respect to the passive heroism which in many an +instance marked the endurance of the hopeless misery of those dreadful +times. At length, however, evil and designing men came among the +sufferers--remedies for the pressing evil, and means of escape from +the wretchedness of their condition, were darkly hinted at; redress +was whispered to be near, and they, the hungry fathers of famished +children, lent a greedy ear to the fair promises of men whom they +deemed wiser than themselves. The tempter's seedtime had arrived, the +ground was ready, and the seed was sown. Day by day, nay, hour by +hour, was the bud of disaffection fostered with the greatest care; +and, day by day, its strength and vitality increased. When, at length, +the people were deemed ripe for action, the mask was thrown off, +treasonable schemes and projects were openly proclaimed by the leaders +of the coming movement, and echoed, from a hundred hills, by vast +multitudes of their deluded followers. Large meetings were daily held +on the neighbouring moors, where bodies of men were openly trained and +armed for active and offensive operations. At length the insurrection, +for such in truth it was, broke forth. Then living torrents of excited +and exasperated men poured down those hillsides; the peaceful and +well-affected were compelled to join the insurgent ranks, busy in the +work of destruction and intimidation; when each evening brought the +work of havoc to a temporary close, they laid them down to rest where +the darkness overtook them. The roads were thus continually blockaded, +and those who, under cover of the night, sought to obtain aid and +assistance from less disturbed districts, were often interrupted and +turned back by bodies of these men. Authority was at an end, and a +large extensive district was completely at the mercy of reckless +multitudes, burning to avenge the sufferings of the past, and bent on +preventing, as they thought, a recurrence of them in future. The very +towns were in their hands; "in an evil hour" a vast body of insurgents +was "admitted" into one of the largest mercantile towns of the +kingdom, where they pillaged and laid waste in every direction. In +another town of the district a fearful riot was put down by force, +some of the leaders of the mob being shot dead while heading a charge +upon the military. The ascendancy of the law was at length asserted; +many arrests took place; the jails were crowded with prisoners; and +the multitudes without, deserted by those to whom they had looked up +for advice, their friends in prison, with the unknown terrors of the +law suspended over them, probably then felt that, miserable and lost +as they had been before, they had now fallen even lower in the scale +of human misery. Criminal proceedings were quickly instituted. Several +commissions were sent down to the districts in which these +disturbances had take place, in order that the offenders might meet +with _speedy_ punishment. The law officers of the crown, with many and +able assistants, in person conducted the proceedings. Temperate, mild, +dignified, and forbearing was their demeanour; in no case was the +individual the object of prosecution; it was the _crime_, through the +person of the criminal, against which the government proceeded. No +feelings of a personal nature were there exhibited; and a mild, but +firm, as it were, a parental correction of erring and misguided +children, seemed to be the sole object of those who then represented +the government. Conviction was heaped upon conviction--sentence +followed sentence--the miserable tool was distinguished from the man +who made him what he was--the active emissary, the secret conspirator, +also received each their proportionate amount of punishment. True, a +few of the more cautious and crafty, all included in one indictment, +eventually escaped the penalty due to their crimes; but, among the +multitude of cases which were then tried, this was, we believe, the +only instance even of partial failure. In spite of this single +miscarriage of the government, the great object of these proceedings +was completely answered; the end of all punishment was attained; the +vengeance which the law then took had all the effect which the most +condign punishment of these few men could have accomplished; the +constitutional maxim of "_poena ad paucos, metus ad omnes_," has been +amply illustrated by these proceedings; Chartism has been suppressed, +by the temperate application of the constitutional means which were +then resorted to for the correction of its violence, and the +prevention of its seditious schemes. + +We must not omit to mention the instances of signal and complete +success which have been, from time to time, exhibited in other +prosecutions against Feargus O'Connor and different members of the +Chartist body, within the period of which we speak. On none of these +occasions has the course of justice been hindered, or even turned +aside; but the defendants have, we believe, without exception, paid +the penalty of their crimes by enduring the punishments awarded by the +court. + +The recent trials of the Rebecca rioters were also signally successful +and effective; and the prejudices of a Welsh jury, which some feared +would prove a fatal stumblingblock, were overcome by the dispassionate +appeal to their better judgment then made by the officers of the +crown. + +From a review of the cases, it therefore appears, that the failures of +a state prosecution have been comparatively few; and that the crown +has met with even more than the average success which the "glorious +uncertainty of the law" in general permits to those who tempt its +waywardness, and risk the perils of defeat. The welfare and interest +of the nation, however, lie in the _general_ results of these +proceedings, rather than the _particular event_ of an individual +trial. Therefore, though we should assume that a part only of what was +intended has been accomplished, still if that portion produces the +same general results as were hoped for from the successful +accomplishment of the whole, the object of the government has been +attained. Now, it may be observed, that, with perhaps the single +exception of the case of Mr O'Connell in 1831, the end and object of +all state prosecution has been uniformly and completely accomplished, +by the suppression of the evil which the crown in each instance was +anxious to put down. When this has taken place, there can have been no +failure. Beyond what is necessary for the welfare of the state, and +the general safety and security of the persons and property of +individuals, the crown has no interest in inflicting punishment; it +never asks for more than is required to effect _these objects_, and it +can scarcely be content with less. + +There are, however, difficulties almost peculiar to the more serious +offences against the state, but which are entirely different, in their +nature, from those imaginary difficulties which have formed the +subject of so much declamation. A passing glance at the proceedings +now pending in Ireland, will give the most casual observer some idea +of what is sometimes to be encountered by those to whom is entrusted +the arduous duty of conducting a state prosecution. Look back on the +"tempest of provocation," which recently assailed the Irish +Attorney-General, on the vexatious delays and frivolous objections +which sprang up at every move of the crown lawyers, called forth by +one who, though "_not valiant_," was well known to the government to +be "most cunning offence" ere they challenged him, but who, "despite +his cunning fence and active practice," may perhaps find, that this +time the law has clutched him with a grasp of iron. In ordinary cases, +criminals may, no doubt, be easily convicted; and in the great +majority of the more common crimes and misdemeanours, the utmost legal +ingenuity and acumen might be unable to detect a single error in the +proceedings, from first to last. Still it must be remembered, that +even among the more common of ordinary cases, in which the forms are +simple, the practice certain, and in which the law may be supposed to +be already defined beyond the possibility of doubt, error, or +misconception--even in such cases, questions occasionally arise which +scarcely admit of any satisfactory solution--questions in which the +fifteen judges, to whom they may be referred, often find it impossible +to agree, and which may therefore be reasonably supposed to be +sufficiently perplexing to the rest of the world. State offences, such +as treason and sedition, which are of comparatively rare occurrence, +present many questions of greater intricacy than any other class of +crimes. In treason especially, a well-founded jealousy of the power +and prerogatives of the crown has intrenched the subject behind a line +of outposts, in the shape of forms and preliminary proceedings; the +accused, for his greater security against a power which, if unwatched, +might become arbitrary and oppressive, has been invested with rights +which must be respected and complied with, and by the neglect of which +the whole proceedings are rendered null and void. At this moment, in +all treasons, except attempts upon the person of the sovereign, "the +prisoner," in the language of Lord Erskine, "is covered all over with +the armour of the law;" and there must be twice the amount of evidence +which would be legally competent to establish his guilt in a criminal +prosecution for any other offence, even by the meanest and most +helpless of mankind. Sedition is a head of crime of a somewhat vague +and indeterminate character, and, in many cases, it may he extremely +difficult, even for an acute and practised lawyer, to decide whether +the circumstances amount to sedition. Mr East, in his pleas of the +crown, says, that "sedition is understood in a more general sense than +treason, and extends to other offences, not capital, of a like +tendency, but without any actual design against the king in +contemplation, such as contempts of the king and his government, +riotous assemblings for political purposes, and the like; and in +general all contemptuous, indecent, or malicious observations upon his +person and government, whether by writing or speaking, or by tokens, +calculated to lessen him in the esteem of his subjects, or weaken his +government, or raise jealousies of him amongst the people, will fall +under the notion of seditious acts." An offence which admits of so +little precision in the terms in which it is defined, depending often +upon the meaning to be attached to words, the real import of which is +varied by the tone or gesture of the speaker, by the words which +precede, and by those which follow, depending also upon the different +ideas which men attach to the same words, evidently rests on very +different grounds from those cases, where actual crimes have been +perpetrated and deeds committed, which leave numerous traces behind, +and which may be proved by the permanent results of which they have +been the cause. Technical difficulties without number also exist: the +most literal accuracy, which is indispensable--the artful inuendoes, +the artistical averments, which are necessary, correctly to shape the +charge ere it is submitted to the grand jury, may be well conceived to +involve many niceties and refinements, on which the case may easily be +wrecked. It must also be remembered that the utmost legal ingenuity is +called into action, and the highest professional talent is engaged in +the defence of the accused. The enormous pressure upon the accused +himself, who, probably from the higher or middle classes, with ample +means at his command, an ignominious death perhaps impending, or, at +the least, imprisonment probably for years in threatening prospect +close before him; his friends active, moving heaven and earth in his +behalf, no scheme left untried, no plan or suggestion rejected, by +which it may, even in the remotest degree be possible to avert the +impending doom; the additional rancour which politics sometimes infuse +into the proceedings, the partisanship which has occasioned scenes +such as should never be exhibited in the sacred arena of the halls of +justice, animosities which give the defence the character of a party +conflict, and which cause a conviction to be looked upon as a +political defeat, and an acquittal to be regarded as a party +triumph--all these circumstances, in their combined and concentrated +force, must also be take into consideration. In such a case every step +is fought with stern and dogged resolution; even mere delay is +valuable, for when all other hope is gone, the chapter of accidents +_may_ befriend the accused; it is one chance more; and even one +chance, however slight, is not to be thrown away. Such is a faint +picture of the defensive operations on such occasions: how is this +untiring, bitter energy met by those who represent the crown? + + "Look on this picture and on that." + +Here all is calm, dignified, generous, and forbearing; every +consideration is shown, every indulgence is granted, to the +unfortunate being who is in jeopardy. The crown has no interest to +serve beyond that which the state possesses in the vindication of the +law, and in that cool, deliberate, and impartial administration of +justice which has so long distinguished this country. Nothing is +unduly pressed against the prisoner, but every extenuating fact is +fairly laid before the jury by the crown; it is, in short, generosity, +candor, and forbearance, on the one side, matched against craft, +cunning and the resolution _by any means_ to win, upon the other. Such +are the real difficulties which may be often felt by those who conduct +a state prosecution. Surely it is better far that these difficulties +should, in some instances, be even wholly insuperable, and that the +prosecution should be defeated, than that any change should come over +the spirit in which these trials are now conducted; or that the crown +should ever even attempt to make the criminal process of the law an +instrument of tyranny and oppression, as it was in the days of Scroggs +and Jefferies, and when juries, through intimidation, returned such +verdicts as the crown desired. Our very tenacity of our liberties may +tend to render these proceedings occasionally abortive; and the twelve +men composing a jury of the country, though possibly all their +sympathies would be at once enlisted in behalf of a wronged and +injured subject, may, unconsciously to themselves, demand more +stringent proof, in cases where the sovereign power appears before +then as the party; and more especially, when the offence is of an +impersonal nature, and where the theory of the constitution, rather +than the person or property of individuals, is the object of +aggression. In the olden time such was the power of the crown, that, +whenever the arm of the state was uplifted, the blow fell with +unerring accuracy and precision; but now, when each object of a state +prosecution is a sort of modern Briareus, the blow must be dealt with +consummate skill, or it will fail to strike where it was meant to +fall. On this account, perhaps, in addition to then own intrinsic +paramount importance, the proceedings now pending in Ireland, have +become the object of universal and absorbing interest throughout the +whole of the United Kingdom. Under these circumstances it has occurred +to us, that a popular and accurate review of the several stages of a +criminal prosecution, by which the general reader will be able, in +some degree, to understand the several steps of that proceeding which +is now pending, might not be unacceptable or uninstructive at the +present moment. It must, however, be observed, that it is scarcely +possible to divest a subject so technical in it very nature from those +terms of art which, however familiar they may be to many of our +readers, cannot be understood by all without some explanation, which +we shall endeavour to supply as we proceed. + +The general importance of information of this nature has been well +summed up by a great master of criminal law. "The learning touching +these subjects," says Sir Michael Foster, "is a matter of great and +universal concernment. For no rank, no elevation in life, and, let me +add, no conduct, how circumspect soever, ought to tempt a reasonable +man to conclude that these enquiries do not, nor possibly can, concern +him. A moment's cool reflection on the utter instability of human +affairs, and the numberless unforeseen events which a day may bring +forth, will be sufficient to guard any man, conscious of his own +infirmities, against a delusion of this kind." + +Let us suppose the minister of the day, having before been made aware +that, in a portion of the kingdom, a state of things existed that +demanded his utmost vigilance and attention, to have ascertained the +reality of the apparent danger, and to have procured accurate +information as to the real character of the proceedings, and to find +that acts apparently treasonable or seditious, as the case may be, had +been committed. Suppose him, charged with the safety of the state, and +responsible for the peace, order, and well-being of the community, to +set the constitutional process of the law in motion against the +offending individuals; his first step, under such circumstances, must +be to procure full and satisfactory evidence of the facts as they +really exist. For this purpose agents must he employed, necessarily in +secret, or the very end and object of their mission would be +frustrated, to collect and gather information from every authentic +source, and to watch, with their own eyes the proceedings which have +attracted attention. This is a work of time, perhaps; but suppose that +it is complete, and that the minister having before him in evidence, +true and unmistakable, a complete case of crime to lay before a jury, +what, under these circumstances, is the first step to be taken by the +crown? Either of two distinct modes of procedure may be chosen; the +one mode is by an _ex officio_ information, the other is by +indictment. An indictment is the mode by which all treasons and +felonies must be proceeded against, and by which ordinary +misdemeanours are usually brought to punishment. An _ex officio_ +information is an information at the suit of the sovereign, filed by +the Attorney-General, as by virtue of his office, without applying to +the court where filed for leave, and without giving the defendant any +opportunity of showing cause why it should not be filed. The principal +difference between this form of procedure and that by indictment, +consists in the manner in which the proceedings are commenced; in the +latter case, the law requires that the accusation should be warranted +by the oath of twelve men, before he be put to answer it--or in other +words that the grand jury must give that information to the court, +which, in the former case, is furnished by the law officer of the +crown. The cases which are prosecuted by _ex officio_ information, are +properly such enormous misdemeanours as peculiarly tend to disturb and +endanger the government or to molest or affront the sovereign in the +discharge of the functions of the royal office. The necessity for the +existence of a power of this nature in the state, is thus set forth by +that learned and illustrious judge, Sir William Blackstone. "For +offences so highly dangerous, in the punishment or prevention of which +a moment's delay would be fatal, the law has given to the crown the +power of an immediate prosecution, without waiting for any previous +application to any other tribunal: which power, thus necessary, not +only to the ease and safety, but even to the very existence of the +executive magistrate, was originally reserved in the great plan of the +English constitution, wherein provision is wisely made for the +preservation of all its parts." + +The crown, therefore, in a case such as we have imagined, must first +make choice between these two modes of procedure. The leniency of +modern governments has of late usually resorted to the process by +indictment; and the crown, waiving all the privileges which appertain +to the kingly office, appears before the constituted tribunals of the +land, as the redresser of the public wrongs, invested with no powers, +and clothed with no authority beyond the simple rights possessed by +the meanest of its subjects. We shall, for this reason, take no +further notice of the _ex officio_ information; and as treasons form a +class of offences governed by laws and rules peculiar to itself, we +shall also exclude this head of crime from our consideration, and +confine ourselves solely to the ordinary criminal process by which +offenders are brought to justice. + +In, general, the first step in a criminal prosecution, is to obtain a +warrant for the apprehension of the accused party. In ordinary cases, +a warrant is granted by any justice of the peace upon information, on +the oath of some credible witness, of facts from which it appears that +a crime has been committed, and that the person against whom the +warrant is sought to be obtained, is probably the guilty party, and is +a document under the hand and seal of the justice, directed generally +to the constable or other peace-officer, requiring him to bring the +accused, either generally before _any_ justice of the county, or only +before the justice who granted it. This is the practice in ordinary +cases; but in extraordinary cases, the warrant may issue from the Lord +Chief Justice, or the Privy Council, the Secretaries of State, or from +any justice of the Court of Queen's Bench. These latter warrants are, +we believe, all tested, or dated England, and extend over the whole +kingdom. So far the proceedings have been all _ex parte_, one side +only has been heard, one party only has appeared, and all that has +been done, is to procure or compel the appearance of the other. The +warrant is delivered to the officer, who is bound to obey the command +which it contains. It would seem, however, that, as was done in a +recent case in Ireland, it is sufficient if the appearance of the +accused be virtually secured, even without the intervention of an +actual arrest. + +When the delinquent appears, in consequence of this process, before +the authorities, they are bound immediately to examine into the +circumstances of the alleged crime; and they are to take down in +writing the examinations of the witnesses offered in support of the +charge. If the evidence is defective, and grave suspicion should +attach to the prisoner, he may be remanded, in order that fresh +evidence may be procured; or the magistrate, if the case be surrounded +with doubt and difficulty, may adjourn it for a reasonable time, in +order to consider his final decision. The accused must also be +examined, but not upon oath; and his examination also must be taken +down in writing, and may be given in evidence against him at the +trial; for although the maxim of the common law is "_nemo tenebitur +prodere seipsum_," the legislature, as long ago as the year 1555, +directed that, in cases of felony, the examination of the prisoner +should be taken; which provision has recently been extended to +misdemeanours also. Care must be taken that his examination should not +even _appear_ to have been taken on oath; for in a very recent case, +in which _all_ the examinations were contained upon one sheet of +paper, and under one general heading--from which they all purported to +have been taken upon oath, the prisoner's admission of his guilt +contained in that examination, was excluded on the trial, and the rest +of the evidence being slight, he was accordingly acquitted. Now, if +upon the enquiry thus instituted, and thus conducted, it appears, +either that no such crime was committed, or that the suspicion +entertained against the accused is wholly groundless, or that, however +positively accused, if the balance of testimony be strongly in favour +of his innocence, it is the duty of the magistrate to discharge him. +But if, on the other hand, the case seems to have been entirely made +out, or even if it should appear probable, that the alleged crime has +in fact been perpetrated by the defendant, he must either be committed +to prison, there to be kept, in safe custody, until the sitting of the +court before which the trial is to be heard; or, he may be allowed to +give bail--that is, to put in securities for his appearance to answer +the charge against him. In either of these alternatives, whether the +accused be committed or held to bail, it is the duty of the magistrate +to subscribe the examinations, and cause them to be delivered to the +proper officer, at, or before, the opening of the court. Bail may be +taken by two justices in cases of felony, and by one in cases of +misdemeanour. In this stage of the proceedings, as the commitment is +only for safe custody, whenever bail will answer the same intention, +it ought to be taken, as in inferior crimes and misdemeanours; but in +offences of a capital nature, such as the heinous crimes of treason, +murder, and the like, no bail can be a security equivalent to the +actual custody of the person. The nature of bail has been explained, +by Mr Justice Blackstone, to be "a delivery or bailment of a person to +his sureties, upon their giving, together with himself, sufficient +security for his appearance: he being supposed to continue in their +friendly custody, instead of going to gaol." To refuse, or even to +delay bail to any person bailable, is an offence against the liberty +of the subject, in any magistrate, by the common law. And the Court of +Queen's Bench will grant a criminal information against the magistrate +who improperly refuses bail in a case in which it ought to have been +received. It is obviously of great importance, in order to ensure the +appearance of the accused at the time and place of trial, that the +sureties should be men of substance; reasonable notice of bail, in +general twenty-four or forty-eight hours, may be ordered to be given +to the prosecutor, in order that he may have time to examine into +their sufficiency and responsibility. When the bail appear, evidence +may be heard on oath, and they may themselves be examined on oath upon +this point; if they do not appear to possess property to the amount +required by the magistrates, they may be rejected, and others must be +procured, or the defender must go to prison. Excessive bail must not +be required; and, on the other hand, the magistrate, if he take +insufficient bail, is liable to be fined, if the criminal do not +appear to take his trial. When the securities are found, the bail +enter into a recognizance, together with the accused, by which they +acknowledge themselves bound to the Queen in the required sums, if the +accused does not appear to take his trial, at the appointed time and +place. This recognizance must be subscribed by the magistrates, and +delivered with the examinations to the officer of the court in which +the trial is to take place. With this, the preliminary proceedings +close: the accused has had one opportunity of refuting the charge, or +of clearing himself from the suspicion which has gathered round him; +but as yet, there is no written accusation, no written statement of +the offence which it is alleged he has committed. True, he has heard +evidence--he has heard a charge made orally against him--but the law +requires greater particularity than this before a man shall be put in +peril upon a criminal accusation. The facts disclosed in the evidence +before the magistrates must be put in a legal form; the offence must +be clearly and accurately defined in writing, by which the accused may +be informed what specific charge he is to answer, and from which he +may be able to learn what liability he incurs; whether his life is put +in peril, or whether he is in danger of transportation or of +imprisonment, or merely of a pecuniary fine. This is done by means of +the indictment. The indictment is a written accusation of one or more +several persons, preferred to and presented upon oath by a grand jury. +This written accusation, before being presented to the grand jury, is +properly termed a "bill;" and, in ordinary cases, it is generally +prepared by the clerk of the arraigns at the assizes, and by the clerk +of the peace at the quarter sessions; but, in cases of difficulty, it +is drawn by counsel. It consists of a formal technical statement of +the offence, which is engrossed upon parchment, upon the back of which +the names of the witnesses for the prosecution are indorsed. In +England it is delivered to the crier of the court, by whom the +witnesses are sworn to the truth of the evidence they are about to +give before the grand jury. In the trial now pending in the Court of +Queen's Bench in Ireland, a great question was raised as to whether a +recent statute, which, on the ground of convenience, enabled grand +juries in Ireland themselves to swear the witnesses, extended to +trials before the Queen's Bench. This question was decided in the +affirmative; therefore, in that country, the oath, in every case, must +be administered by the grand jury themselves; whereas, in this +country, the witnesses are sworn _in court_, and by the crier, as we +have already mentioned. The grand jury, ever since the days of King +Ethelred, must consist of twelve at least, and not more than +twenty-three. In the superior courts they are generally drawn from the +magistracy or superior classes of the community, being, as Mr Justice +Blackstone expresses it, "usually gentlemen of the best figure in the +county." They are duly sworn and instructed in the articles of their +enquiry by the judge who presides upon the bench. They then withdraw, +to sit and receive all bills which may be presented to them. When a +bill is thus presented, the witnesses are generally called in the +order in which their names appear upon the back of the bill. The grand +jury is, at most, to hear evidence only on behalf of the prosecution; +"for," says the learned commentator already quoted, "the finding of an +indictment is only in the nature of an enquiry or accusation, which is +afterwards to be tried and determined; and the grand jury are only to +enquire upon their oaths, whether there be sufficient cause to call +upon a party to answer it." They ought, however, to be fully persuaded +of the truth of an indictment as far as the evidence goes, and not to +rest satisfied with remote probabilities; for the form of the +indictment is, that they, "_upon their oath_, present" the party to +have committed the crime. This form, Mr Justice Coleridge observes, is +perhaps stronger than may be wished, and we believe that the criminal +law commissioners are now seriously considering the propriety of +abolishing it. + +After hearing the evidence, the grand jury endorse upon the bill their +judgment of the truth or falsehood of the charge. If they think the +accusation groundless, they write upon it, "not found," or "not a true +bill;" in which case the bill is said to be ignored: but, on the other +hand, if twelve at least are satisfied of the truth of the accusation, +the words "true bill" are placed upon it. The bill is then said to be +found. It then becomes an indictment, and is brought into court by the +grand jury, and publicly delivered by the foreman to the clerk of +arraigns, or clerk of the peace, as the case may be, who states to the +court the substance of the indictment and of the indorsement upon it. +If the bill is ignored, and no other bill is preferred against the +party, he is discharged, without further answer, when the grand jury +have finished their labours, and have been themselves discharged. To +find a bill, twelve at least of the jury must agree; for no man, under +this form of proceeding at least, can be convicted even of a +misdemeanour, unless by the unanimous voice of twenty-four of his +equals; that is, by twelve at least of the grand jury assenting to the +accusation, and afterwards by the whole petit jury of twelve more +finding him guilty upon the trial. + +This proceeding is wholly _ex parte_. As the informal statement of the +crime brought the supposed criminal to answer before the inferior +tribunal, so does the formal accusation call upon him to answer before +the superior court. The preliminary proceedings being now complete, +and every step having been taken which is necessary to put the accused +upon his trial, the _ex parte_ character of the proceedings is at an +end. The time approaches when the accused must again be brought face +to face with his accusers; and when, if he has been admitted to bail, +his sureties must deliver him up to the proper authorities, or their +bond is forfeited; in which case, a bench warrant for the apprehension +of the delinquent may issue; and if he cannot still be found, he may +be pursued to outlawry. It may be here mentioned, that the +proceedings may be, at any period, removed from any inferior court +into the Queen's Bench, by what is called a writ of _certiorari_. When +the offender appears voluntarily to an indictment, or was before in +custody, or is brought in upon criminal process to answer it in the +proper court, he is to be immediately arraigned. The arraignment is +simply the calling upon the accused, at the bar of the court, to +answer the matter charged upon him in the indictment, the substantial +parts, at least, of which are then read over to him. This is +indispensable, in order that he may fully understand the charge. So +voluminous are the counts of the indictment recently found against Mr +O'Connell and others, that the reading of the charges they contained +was the work of many hours. The accused is not always compelled +immediately to answer the indictment; for if he appear in term-time to +an indictment for a misdemeanour in the Queen's Bench, it is +sufficient if he plead or demur within four days; the court has a +discretionary power to enlarge the time; but if he neither pleads nor +demurs within the time prescribed, judgment may be entered against him +as for want of a plea. It he appear to such an indictment, having been +committed or held to bail within twenty days before the assizes or +sessions at which he is called upon to answer, he has the option of +_traversing_, as it is termed, or of postponing his trial to the next +assizes or sessions. He is also always entitled, before the trial, on +payment of a trifling charge, to have copies of the examinations of +the witnesses on whose evidence he was committed or held to bail; and +at the trial he has a right to inspect the originals gratuitously. In +prosecutions for misdemeanours at the suit of the Attorney-General, a +copy of indictment must be delivered, free of expense, if demanded by +the accused. These seem to be all the privileges except that of +challenge, which we shall explain hereafter, which the accused +possesses, or to which the law gives him an absolute indefeasible +claim as a matter of right. The _practice_ of different courts may +possibly vary in some degree on points such as those which have been +recently mooted in Ireland; for instance, as to whether the names of +the witnesses should be furnished to the accused, and whether their +address and description should also be supplied. In such matters the +practice might vary, in a considerable degree, in the superior courts +of England and Ireland; and yet each course would be strictly legal, +in the respective courts in which it was adopted; for, as it was +clearly put by one of the Irish judges on a recent occasion, the +practice of the court is the law of the court, and the law of the +court is the law of the land. + +When the time has arrived at which the accused must put in his answer +to the indictment, if he do not confess the charge, or stand mute of +malice, he may either plead, 1st, to the jurisdiction, which is a good +plea when the court before whom the indictment is taken has no +cognizance of the offence, as when a case of treason is prosecuted at +the quarter sessions; or, 2dly, he may demur, by which he says, that, +assuming that he has done every thing which the indictment lays to his +charge, he has, nevertheless, been guilty of no crime, and is in +nowise liable to punishment for the act there charged. A demurrer has +been termed an issue in law--the question to be determined being, what +construction the law puts upon admitted facts. If the question of law +be adjudged _in favour_ of the accused, it is attended with the same +results as an acquittal in fact, except that he may be indicted afresh +for the same offence; but if the question be determined _against_ the +prisoner, the law, in its tenderness, _will not_ allow him, at least +in cases of felony, to be punished for his misapprehension of the law, +or for his mistake in the conduct of his pleadings, but will, in such +case, permit him to plead over to the indictment--that is, to plead +not guilty; the consequences of which plea we will consider hereafter. + +A third alternative is a plea of abatement, which is a plea praying +that the indictment may be quashed, for some defect which the plea +points out. This plea, though it was recently, made use of by the +defendants in the case now pending in Ireland, is of very rare +occurrence in ordinary practice--a recent statute having entirely +superseded every advantage formerly to be derived from this plea, in +cases of a misnomer, or a wrong name, and of a false addition or a +wrong description of the defendant's rank and condition, which were +the principal occasions on which it was resorted to. + +The next alternative which the prisoners may adopt, is a special plea +in bar. These pleas are of four kinds: 1. a former acquittal; 2. a +former conviction; 3. a former attainder; 4. a former pardon, for the +same offence. The first two of these pleas are founded on the maxim of +the law of England, that no man is to be twice put in jeopardy for the +same offence. A man is attainted of felony, only by judgment of death, +or by outlawry; for by such judgment, the prisoner being already dead +in law, and having forfeited all his property, there remains no +further punishment to be awarded; and, therefore, any further +proceeding would be superfluous. This plea has, however, been +practically put an end to by a recent statute. A plea of pardon, is +the converse of a plea of attainder; for a pardon at once destroys the +end and purpose of the indictment, by remitting that punishment which +the prosecution was calculated to inflict. + +All these pleas may be answered by the crown in two ways--issue may be +joined on the facts they respectively set forth; or they may be +demurred to; by which step, the facts, alleged in the plea, are denied +to constitute a good and valid defence in law. In _felony_, if any of +these pleas are, either in fact or in law, determined against the +prisoner, he cannot be convicted or concluded by the adverse judgment; +and for this reason. Formerly all felonies were punishable with death, +and, in the words of Mr Justice Blackstone, "the law allows many pleas +by which a prisoner may escape death; but only one plea in consequence +whereof it can be inflicted, viz., the general issue, after an +impartial examination and decision of the facts, by the unanimous +verdict of a jury." The prisoner, therefore, although few felonies +remain still capital, is nevertheless still allowed to plead over as +before. In misdemeanours, however, which are never capital, and in +which, therefore, no such principle could ever have applied, the +judgment on these pleas appears to follow the analogy of a civil +action. Thus, if, upon issue joined, a plea of abatement be found +against the accused, the judgment, on that indictment, is final; +though a second indictment may be preferred against him; but if, upon +demurrer, the question of law is held to be against him, the judgment +is, that he do answer the indictment. If a plea in bar, either on +issue joined, or on demurrer, be determined against the defendant, the +judgment is in such case final, and he stands convicted of the +misdemeanour. + +The general issue, or the plea of "not guilty," is the last and most +usual of those answers to the indictment which we have enumerated, the +others being all of extremely rare occurrence in the modern practice +of the criminal law. By this plea, the accused puts himself upon his +county, which county the jury are. The sheriff of the county must then +return a panel of jurors. In England the jurors are taken from the +"jurors' book" of the current year. It must be observed, that a new +jurors' book comes into operation on the first of January in each +year, having previously been copied from the lists of those liable to +serve on juries, made out in the first instance, between the months of +July and October, both inclusive, by the churchwardens and overseers +of each parish, then reviewed and confirmed by the justices of the +peace in petty sessions, and, through the high constable of the +district, delivered to the next quarter sessions. If the proceedings +are before the Queen's Bench, an interval is allowed by the court, in +fixing the time of trial, for the impanneling of the jury, upon a writ +issued to the sheriff for that purpose. The trial in a case of +misdemeanour in the Queen's Bench is had at _nisi prius_, unless it be +of such consequence as to merit a trial at bar, which is invariably +had when the prisoner is tried for any capital offence in that court. +But before the ordinary courts of assize, the sheriff, by virtue of a +general precept directed to him beforehand, returns to the court a +panel of not less than forty-eight nor more than seventy-two persons, +unless the judges of assize direct a greater or smaller number to be +summoned. When the time for the trial has arrived, and the case is +called on, jurors, to the number of twelve, are sworn, unless +challenged as they appear; their names being generally taken +promiscuously, one by one, out of a box containing a number of +tickets, on each of which a juror's name is inserted. Challenges may +be made, either on the part of the crown or on that of the accused, +and either to the whole array or to the separate polls. The challenge +to the array, which must be made in writing, is an exception to the +whole panel, on account of some partiality or default in the sheriff, +or his officer, who arrayed the panel, the ground of which is examined +into before the court. Challenges to the polls--_in capita_--are +exceptions to particular persons, and must be made in each instance, +as the person comes to the box to be sworn, and before he is sworn; +for when the oath is once taken the challenge is too late. + +Sir Edward Coke reduces the heads of challenge to four. 1st, _propter +honoris respectum_; as if a lord of Parliament be impannelled. 2d, +_propter defectum_; as if a juryman be an alien born, or be in other +respects generally objectionable. 3d, _propter affectum_; for +suspicion of bias or partiality: and 4th, _propter delictum_; or, for +some crime that affects the juror's credit, and renders him infamous; +In treason and felony, the prisoner is allowed the privilege of a +limited number of _peremptory_ challenges; after which, as in +misdemeanours, there is no limit to the number of challenges, if the +party shows some cause for each challenge to the court. This cause is +tried by persons appointed for that purpose by the court, when no +jurymen have been sworn; but when two jurymen have been sworn, they +are the parties who must adjudicate upon the qualifications of those +who are afterwards challenged, who, except when the challenge is +_propter delictum_, may be themselves examined upon oath. The crown, +also, we have seen, can exercise this privilege, but with this +difference, that no cause for challenge need be shown by the crown, +either in felonies or misdemeanours, till the panel is exhausted, and +unless there cannot be a full jury without the persons so challenged. + +When twelve men have been found, they are sworn to give a true verdict +"according to the evidence," and the jury are then ready to hear the +merits of the case. To fix their attention the closer to the facts +which they are impannelled and sworn to try, the indictment, in cases +of importance, is usually opened by the junior counsel for the +crown--a proceeding, by which they are briefly informed of the charge +which is brought against the accused. The leading counsel for the +crown then lays the _facts_ of the case before the jury, in a plain +unvarnished statement; no appeal is made to the passions or prejudices +of the twelve men, who are to pronounce upon the guilt or innocence of +the accused; but every topic, every observation, which might warp +their judgment, or direct their attention from the simple facts which +are about to be proved before them, is anxiously deprecated and +avoided by the counsel for the prosecution. The witnesses for the +crown are called one by one, sworn, examined, and cross-examined by +the accused, or his counsel. When the case for the crown has been +brought to a close, the defence commences, and the counsel for the +defendant addresses the jury. It is the duty of the advocate, on such +an occasion, to put forth all his powers in behalf of his client; to +obtain acquittal is his object: he must sift the hostile evidence, he +must apply every possible test to the accuracy of the testimony, and +to the credibility of the witnesses; he may address himself to the +reason, to the prejudices, to the sympathies, nay, even to the worst +passions of the twelve men whose opinions he seeks to influence in +favour of his client. He may proceed to call witnesses to disprove the +facts adduced on the other side, or to show that the character of the +accused stands too high for even a suspicion of the alleged clime; he +has the utmost liberty of speech and action He may indefinitely +protract the proceedings, and there seems to be scarcely any limit, in +point of law, beyond which the ultimate event of the trial may not be, +by these means, deferred. Whenever the defence closes, in those cases +in which the government is the real prosecutor, the representative of +the crown has the general reply; at the close of which the presiding +judge sums up the evidence to the jury, and informs them of the legal +bearing of the facts, on the effect and existence of which the jury +has to decide. This having been accomplished, it becomes the duty of +the jury to deliberate, decide, and pronounce their verdict. If the +verdict be "Not guilty," the accused is for ever quit and discharged +of the accusation; but if the jury pronounce him guilty, he stands +convicted of the crime which has been thus charged and proved against +him, and awaits the judgment of the court. In felonies and ordinary +misdemeanours, judgment is generally pronounced immediately upon, or +soon after, the delivery of the verdict; in other cases, when the +trial has been had before the Queen's Bench, the judgment may, in +England, be pronounced either immediately or during the ensuing term. +But whenever this event occurs, the prisoner has still one chance more +for escape: he can move an arrest of judgment, on the grounds either +that the indictment is substantially defective, or that he has already +been pardoned or punished for the same offense. These objections, if +successful, will, even at this late stage of the proceedings, save the +defendant from the consequences of his crime. But if these last +resources fail, the court must give the judgment, or pronounce the +measure of that punishment, which the law annexes to the crime of +which the prisoner has been convicted. + +By the law of this country, the _species_ of punishment for every +offence is always ascertained; but, between certain defined limits, +the measure and degree of that punishment is, with very few +exceptions, left to the discretion of the presiding judge. Treasons +and some felonies are, indeed, capital: but, in the mercy of modern +times, the great majority of felonies, and all misdemeanours, are +visited, some with various terms of transportation or imprisonment, +which, in most cases, may be with or without hard labour, at the +discretion of the court. In these cases, the punishment is prescribed +by the statute law; but there are some misdemeanours the punishment of +which has not been interfered with by any statute, and to which, +therefore, the common law punishments are still attached. The case of +Mr O'Connell, which is now in abeyance, seems to range itself under +this head of misdemeanours. Such cases are punishable by fine or +imprisonment, or by both; but the amount of the one, or the duration +of the other, is each left at large to be estimated by the court, +according to the more or less aggravated nature of the offence, and, +as it is said, also according to the quality and condition of the +parties. That a fine should, in all cases, be reasonable, has been +declared by Magna Charta; and the Bill of Rights has also provided, +that excessive fine, or cruel and unusual punishments, should not be +inflicted; but what may or may not be unreasonable or excessive, cruel +or unusual, is left entirely to the judgment of the executive. + +For crimes of a dark political hue, which, by their tendency to +subvert the government or destroy the institutions of the country, +necessarily assume a character highly dangerous to the safety and +well-being of the state, it might be difficult to say what degree of +punishment would be excessive or unusual. It seems probable, that in +cases of this nature, which include crimes, so varied in their +circumstances that there appears no limit to the degree of guilt +incurred--crimes, the nature and character of which could not possibly +be foreseen or provided for, in all their infinite multiplicity of +detail; it seems probable that, in such cases, a large discretion may +have been purposely left by the framers of our constitution, in order +that the degree of guilt, on each occasion, should be measured by an +expansive self-adjusting scale of punishment, applied, indeed, and +administered by the judges of the land, but regulated and adjusted, in +each succeeding age, by the influence of public opinion, and by the +spirit and temper of the times. + +Even at this latest stage of criminal prosecution, in the interval +which must necessarily elapse between the pronouncing and the +infliction of the sentence, the convicted delinquent is not without a +remedy for any wrong he may sustain in the act which terminates the +proceedings. If any judgement not warranted by law be given by the +court, it may be reversed upon a _writ of error_, which lies from all +inferior criminal jurisdictions to the Queen's Bench, and from the +Queen's Bench to the House of Peers. These writs, however, in cases of +misdemeanour, are not allowed, of course, but on probable cause shown +to the Attorney General; and then they are understood to be grantable +of common right, and _ex debito justitiae_. The crown, if every other +resource has failed the prisoner, has always the power of exercising +the most amiable of its prerogatives. Though the sovereign herself +condemns no man, "the great operation of her sceptre is mercy," and +the chief magistrate, in the words of Sir William Blackstone, "holding +a court of equity in his own breast, to soften the rigour of the +general law, in such criminal cases as merit an exemption from +punishment," is ever at liberty to grant a free, unconditional, and +gracious pardon to the injured or repentant convict. + +We have now rapidly traced the progress of a criminal prosecution from +its commencement to its close, and we have given a summary of the +_ordinary_ proceedings on such occasions. Although it may be possible +that the practice of the courts in Ireland on minor points, should +occasionally differ in some degree from the practice of the English +Courts, we may, nevertheless, have rendered the proceedings now +pending in the sister isle, more intelligible to the general reader, +who may now, perhaps, be enabled to see the bearing, and understand +the importance of many struggles, which, to the unlearned, might +probably appear to be wholly beside the real question now at issue +between the crown and Mr O'Connell. Whatever be the result of that +prosecution, whether those indicted be found guilty, or acquitted, of +the misdemeanours laid to their charge; we feel assured, on the one +hand, however long and grievous may have been the "provocation," that +while there will be "nothing extenuate," neither will there be "set +down aught in malice;" but that the measure of the retribution now +demanded by the state, will be so temperately and equitably adjusted, +that while the very semblance of oppression is carefully avoided, the +majesty of the law, and the powers of the executive, will be amply and +entirely vindicated. On the other hand, if Mr O'Connell, and his +companions, in guilt or misfortune, should break through the cobwebs +of the law, and hurl a _retrospective_ defiance at the Government; we +feel the utmost confidence, that the learning, foresight, and ability, +of the eminent lawyers who represent the crown, together with the +firmness and integrity of the Irish bench, "_sans peur et sans +reproche_," will demonstrate to the millions who look on, that the +constitutional powers of the state still remain uninjured and +unimpaired in all their pristine and legitimate energy and vigour; and +that neither in the machinery now set in motion, nor with those who +conduct or superintend its action, but with others on whom, in the +course of these proceedings, will be thrown the execution of a grave +and all-important duty, must rest the real blame, if blame there be, +of the failure of _this_ "State Prosecution." + + * * * * * + + + + +ADVENTURES IN TEXAS. + +No. III. + +THE STRUGGLE. + + +I had been but three or four months in Texas, when, in consequence of +the oppressive conduct of the Mexican military authorities, symptoms +of discontent showed themselves, and several skirmishes occurred +between the American settlers and the soldiery. The two small forts of +Velasco and Nacogdoches were taken by the former, and their garrisons +and a couple of field-officers made prisoners; soon after which, +however, the quarrel was made up by the intervention of Colonel Austin +on the part of Texas, and Colonel Mejia on the part of the Mexican +authorities. + +But in the year '33 occurred Santa Anna's defection from the liberal +party, and the imprisonment of Stephen F. Austin, the Texian +representative in the Mexican congress, by the vice-president, Gomez +Farias. This was followed by Texas adopting the constitution of 1824, +and declaring itself an independent state of the Mexican republic. +Finally, towards the close of 1835 Texas threw off the Mexican yoke +altogether, voted itself a free and sovereign republic, and prepared +to defend by arms its newly asserted liberty. + +The first step to be taken was, to secure our communications with the +United States by getting possession of the sea-ports. General Cos had +occupied Galveston harbour, and built and garrisoned a block-fort, +nominally for the purpose of enforcing the customs laws, but in +reality with a view to cut off our communications with New Orleans and +the States. This fort it was necessary to get possession of, and my +friend Fanning and myself were appointed to that duty by the Alcalde, +who had taken a prominent part in all that had occurred. + +Our whole force and equipment wherewith to accomplish this enterprise, +consisted in a sealed despatch, to be opened at the town of Columbia, +and a half-breed, named Agostino, who acted as our guide. On reaching +Columbia, we called together the principal inhabitants of the place, +and of the neighbouring towns of Bolivar and Marion, unsealed the +letter in their presence, and six hours afterwards the forces therein +specified were assembled, and we were on our march towards Galveston. +The next day the fort was taken, and the garrison made prisoners, +without our losing a single man. + + +We sent off our guide to the government at San Felipe with news of our +success. In nine days he returned, bringing us the thanks of congress, +and fresh orders. We were to leave a garrison in the fort, and then +ascend Trinity river, and march towards San Antonio de Bexar. This +route was all the more agreeable to Fanning and myself, as it would +bring us into the immediate vicinity of the _haciendas_, or estates, +of which we had some time previously obtained a grant from the Texian +government; and we did not doubt that we were indebted to our friend +the Alcalde for the orders which thus conciliated our private +convenience with our public duty. + +As we marched along we found the whole country in commotion, the +settlers all arming, and hastening to the distant place of rendezvous. +We arrived at Trinity river one afternoon, and immediately sent +messengers for forty miles in all directions to summon the +inhabitants. At the period in question, the plantations in that part +of the country were very few and far between, but nevertheless by the +afternoon of the next day we had got together four-and-thirty men, +mounted on mustangs, each equipped with rifle and bowie-knife, +powder-horn and bullet-bag, and furnished with provisions for several +days. With these we started for San Antonio de Bexar, a march of two +hundred and fifty miles, through trackless prairies intersected with +rivers and streams, which, although not quite so big as the +Mississippi or Potomac, were yet deep and wide enough to have offered +serious impediment to regular armies. But to Texian farmers and +backwoodsmen, they were trifling obstacles. Those we could not wade +through we swam over; and in due time, and without any incident worthy +of note, reached the appointed place of rendezvous, which was on the +river Salado, about fifteen miles from San Antonio, the principal city +of the province. This latter place it was intended to attack--an +enterprise of some boldness and risk, considering that the town was +protected by a strong fort, amply provided with heavy artillery, and +had a garrison of nearly three thousand men, commanded by officers who +had, for the most part, distinguished themselves in the revolutionary +wars against the Spaniards. Our whole army, which we found encamped on +the Salado, under the command of General Austin, did not exceed eight +hundred men. + +The day after that on which Fanning and myself, with our four and +thirty recruits, reached headquarters, a council of war was held, and +it was resolved to advance as far as the mission of Santa Espada. The +advanced guard was to push forward immediately; the main body would +follow the next day. Fanning and myself were appointed to the command +of the vanguard, in conjunction with Mr Wharton, a wealthy planter, +who had brought a strong party of volunteers with him, and whose +mature age and cool judgment, it was thought, would counterbalance any +excess of youthful heat and impetuosity on our part. Selecting +ninety-two men out of the eight hundred, who, to a man, volunteered to +accompany us, we set out for the mission. + +These missions are a sort of picket-houses or outposts of the Catholic +church, and are found in great numbers in all the frontier provinces +of Spanish America, especially in Texas, Santa Fe, and Cohahuila. They +are usually of sufficient strength to afford their inmates security +against any predatory party of Indians or other marauders, and are +occupied by priests, who, while using their endeavours to spread the +doctrines of the Church of Rome, act also as spies and agents of the +Mexican government. + +On reaching San Espada we held a discussion as to the propriety of +remaining there until the general came up, or of advancing at once +towards the river. Wharton inclined to the former plan, and it was +certainly the most prudent, for the mission was a strong building, +surrounded by a high wall, and might have been held against very +superior numbers. Fanning and I, however, did not like the idea of +being cooped up in a house, and at last Wharton yielded. We left our +horses and mustangs in charge of eight men, and with the remainder set +out in the direction of the Salado, which flows from north to south, a +third of a mile to the westward of the mission. About half-way between +the latter and the river, was a small group, or island, of muskeet +trees, the only object that broke the uniformity of the prairie. The +bank of the river on our side was tolerably steep, about eight or ten +feet high, hollowed out here and there, and covered with a thick +network of wild vines. The Salado at this spot describes a sort of +bow-shaped curve, with a ford at either end, by which alone the river +can be passed, for although not very broad, it is rapid and deep. We +resolved to take up a position within this bow, calculating that we +might manage to defend the two fords, which were not above a quarter +of a mile apart. + +At the same time we did not lose sight of the dangers of such a +position, and of the almost certainty that if the enemy managed to +cross the river, we should be surrounded and cut off. But our success +on the few occasions on which we had hitherto come to blows with the +Mexicans, at Velasco, Nacogdoches, and Galveston, had inspired us with +so much confidence, that we considered ourselves a match for thousands +of such foes, and actually began to wish the enemy would attack us +before our main body came up. We reconnoitred the ground, stationed a +picket of twelve men at each ford, and an equal number in the island +of muskeet trees; and established ourselves with the remainder amongst +the vines and in the hollows on the river bank. + +The commissariat department of the Texian army was, as may be +supposed, not yet placed upon any very regular footing. In fact, +every man was, for the present, his own commissary-general. Finding +our stock of provisions to be very small, we sent out a party of +foragers, who soon returned with three sheep, which they had taken +from a _rancho_, within a mile of San Antonio. An old priest, whom +they found there, had threatened them with the anger of Heaven and of +General Cos; but they paid little attention to his denunciations, and, +throwing down three dollars, walked off with the sheep. The priest +became furious, got upon his mule, and trotted away in the direction +of the City to complain to General Cos of the misconduct of the +heretics. + +After this we made no doubt that we should soon have a visit from the +worthy Dons. Nevertheless the evening and the night passed away +without incident. Day broke--still no signs of the Mexicans. This +treacherous sort of calm, we thought, might forbode a storm, and we +did not allow it to lull us into security. We let the men get their +breakfast, which they had hardly finished when the picket from the +upper ford came in with news that a strong body of cavalry was +approaching the river, and that their vanguard was already in the +hollow way leading to the ford. We had scarcely received this +intelligence when we heard the blare of the trumpets, and the next +moment we saw the officers push their horses up the declivitous bank, +closely followed by their men, whom they formed up in the prairie. We +counted six small squadrons, about three hundred men in all. They were +the Durango dragoons--smart troops enough to all appearance, capitally +mounted and equipped, and armed with carbines and sabres. + +Although the enemy had doubtless reconnoitred us from the opposite +shore, and ascertained our position, he could not form any accurate +idea of our numbers, for with a view to deceive him, we kept the men +in constant motion, sometimes showing a part of them on the prairie, +then causing them to disappear again behind the vines and bushes. This +was all very knowing for young soldiers such as we were; but, on the +other hand, we had committed a grievous error, and sinned against all +established military rules, by not placing a picket on the further +side of the river, to warn us of the approach of the enemy, and the +direction in which he was coming. There can be little doubt that if we +had earlier notice of their approach, thirty or forty good +marksmen--and all our people were that--might not only have delayed +the advance of the Mexicans, but perhaps even totally disgusted them +of their attempt to cross the Salado. The hollow way on the other side +of the river, leading to the ford, was narrow and tolerably steep, and +the bank was at least six times as high as on our side. Nothing would +have been easier than to have stationed a party, so as to pick off the +cavalry as they wound through this kind of pass, and emerged two by +two upon the shore. Our error, however, did not strike us till it was +too late to repair it; so we were fain to console ourselves with the +reflection that the Mexicans would be much more likely to attribute +our negligence to an excess of confidence in our resources, than to +the inexperience in military matters, which was its real cause. We +resolved to do our best to merit the good opinion which we thus +supposed them to entertain of us. + +When the whole of the dragoons had crossed the water, they marched on +for a short distance in an easterly direction: then, wheeling to the +right, proceeded southward, until within some five hundred paces of +us, where they halted. In this position, the line of cavalry formed +the chord of the arc described by the river, and occupied by us. + +As soon as they halted, they opened their fire, although the could not +see one of us, for we were completely sheltered by the bank. Our +Mexican heroes, however, apparently did not think it necessary to be +within sight or range of their opponents before firing, for they gave +us a rattling volley at a distance which no carbine would carry. This +done, others galloped on for about a hundred yards, halted again, +loaded, fired another volley, and then giving another gallop, fired +again. They continued this sort of _manege_ till they found themselves +within two hundred and fifty paces of us, and then appeared inclined +to take a little time for reflection. + +We kept ourselves perfectly still. The dragoons evidently did not +like the aspect of matters. Our remaining concealed, and not replying +to their fire, seemed to bother them. We saw the officers taking a +deal of pains to encourage their men, and at last two squadrons +advanced, the others following more slowly, a short distance in rear. +This was the moment we had waited for. No sooner had the dragoons got +into a canter, than six of our men who had received orders to that +effect, sprang up the bank, took steady aim at the officers, fired, +and then jumped down again. + +As we had expected, the small numbers that had shown themselves, +encouraged the Mexicans to advance. They seemed at first taken rather +aback by the fall of four of their officers; but nevertheless, after a +moment's hesitation, they came thundering along full speed. They were +within sixty or seventy yards of us, when Fanning and thirty of our +riflemen ascended the bank, and with a coolness and precision that +would have done credit to the most veteran troops, poured a steady +fire into the ranks of the dragoons. + +It requires some nerve and courage for men who have never gone through +any regular military training, to stand their ground singly and +unprotected, within fifty yards of an advancing line of cavalry. Our +fellows did it, however, and fired, not all at once, or in a hurry, +but slowly and deliberately; a running fire, every shot of which told. +Saddle after saddle was emptied; the men, as they had been ordered, +always picking out the foremost horsemen, and as soon as they had +fired, jumping down the bank to reload. When the whole of the thirty +men had discharged their rifles, Wharton and myself, with the reserve +of six and thirty more, took their places; but the dragoons had almost +had enough already, and we had scarcely fired ten shots when they +executed a right-about turn, with an uniformity and rapidity which did +infinite credit to their drill, and went off at a pace that soon +carried them out of reach of our bullets. They had probably not +expected so warm a reception. We saw their officers doing every thing +they could to check their flight, imploring, threatening, even cutting +at them with their sabres, but it was no use; if they were to be +killed, it must be in their own way, and they preferred being cut down +by their officers to encountering the deadly precision of rifles, in +the hands of men who, being sure of hitting a squirrel at a hundred +yards, were not likely to miss a Durango dragoon at any point within +range. + +Our object in ordering the men to fire slowly was, always to have +thirty or forty rifles loaded, wherewith to receive the enemy should +he attempt a charge _en masse_. But our first greeting had been a +sickener, and it appeared almost doubtful whether he would venture to +attack us again, although the officers did every thing in their power +to induce their men to advance. For a long time, neither threats, +entreaties, nor reproaches produced any effect. We saw the officers +gesticulating furiously, pointing to us with their sabres, and +impatiently spurring their horses, till the fiery animals plunged and +reared, and sprang with all four feet from the ground. It is only just +to say, that the officers exhibited a degree of courage far beyond any +thing we had expected from them. Of the two squadrons that charged us, +two-thirds of the officers had fallen; but those who remained, instead +of appearing intimidated by their comrades' fate, redoubled their +efforts to bring their men forward. + +At last there appeared some probability of their accomplishing this, +after a most curious and truly Mexican fashion. Posting themselves in +front of their squadrons, they rode on alone for a hundred yards or +so, halted, looked round, as much as to say--"You see there is no +danger as far as this," and then galloping back, led their men on. +Each time that they executed this manoeuvre, the dragoons would +advance slowly some thirty or forty paces, and then halt as +simultaneously as if the word of command had been given. Off went the +officers again, some distance to the front, and then back again to +their men, and got them on a little further. In this manner these +heroes were inveigled once more to within a hundred and fifty yards of +our position. + +Of course, at each of the numerous halts which they made during their +advance, they favoured us with a general, but most innocuous discharge +of their carbines; and at last, gaining confidence, I suppose, from +our passiveness, and from the noise and smoke they themselves had been +making, three squadrons which had not yet been under fire, formed open +column and advanced at a trot. Without giving them time to halt or +reflect--"Forward! Charge!" shouted the officers, urging their own +horses to their utmost speed; and following the impulse thus given, +the three squadrons came charging furiously along. + +Up sprang thirty of our men to receive them. Their orders were to fire +slowly, and not throw away a shot, but the gleaming sabres and rapid +approach of the dragoons flurried some of them, and firing a hasty +volley, they jumped down the bank again. This precipitation had nearly +been fatal to us. Several of the dragoons fell, and there was some +confusion and a momentary faltering amongst the others; but they still +came on. At this critical moment, Wharton and myself, with the +reserves, showed ourselves on the bank. "Slow and sure-mark your men!" +shouted we both. Wharton on the right and I on the left. The command +was obeyed: rifle after rifle cracked off, always aimed at the +foremost of the dragoons, and at every report a saddle was emptied. +Before we had all fired, Fanning and a dozen of his sharpest men had +again loaded, and were by our side. For nearly a minute the Mexicans +remained, as if stupefied by our murderous fire, and uncertain whether +to advance or retire; but as those who attempted the former, were +invariably shot down, they at last began a retreat, which was soon +converted into a rout. We gave them a farewell volley, which eased a +few more horses of their riders, and then got under cover again, to +await what might next occur. + +But the Mexican caballeros had no notion of coming up to the scratch a +third time. They kept patrolling about, some three or four hundred +yards off, and firing volleys at us, which they were able to do with +perfect impunity, as at that distance we did not think proper to +return a shot. + +The skirmish had lasted nearly three quarters of an hour. Strange to +say, we had not had a single man wounded, although at times the +bullets had fallen about us as thick as hail. We could not account for +this. Many of us had been hit by the balls, but a bruise or a graze of +the skin was the worst consequence that had ensued. We were in a fair +way to deem ourselves invulnerable. + +We were beginning to think that the fight was over for the day, when +our videttes at the lower ford brought us the somewhat unpleasant +intelligence that large masses of infantry were approaching the river, +and would soon be in sight. The words were hardly uttered, when the +roll of the drums, and shrill squeak of the fifes became audible, and +in a few minutes the head of the column of infantry, having crossed +the ford, ascended the sloping bank, and defiled in the prairie +opposite the island of muskeet trees. As company after company +appeared, we were able to form a pretty exact estimate of their +numbers. There were two battalions, together about a thousand men; and +they brought a field-piece with them. + +These were certainly rather long odds to be opposed to seventy-two men +and three officers' for it must be remembered that we had left twenty +of our people at the mission, and in the island of trees. Two +battalions of infantry, and six squadrons of dragoons--the latter, to +be sure, disheartened and diminished by the loss of some fifty men, +but nevertheless formidable opponents, now they were supported by the +foot soldiers. About twenty Mexicans to each of us. It was getting +past a joke. We were all capital shots, and most of us, besides our +rifles, had a brace of pistols in our belts; but what were +seventy-five rifles, and five or six score of pistols against a +thousand muskets and bayonets, two hundred and fifty dragoons, and a +field-piece loaded with canister? If the Mexicans had a spark of +courage or soldiership about them, our fate was sealed. But it was +exactly this courage and soldiership, which we made sure would be +wanting. + +Nevertheless we, the officers, could not repress a feeling of anxiety +and self-reproach, when we reflected that we had brought our comrades +into such a hazardous predicament. But on looking around us, our +apprehensions vanished. Nothing could exceed the perfect coolness and +confidence with which the men were cleaning and preparing their rifles +for the approaching conflict; no bravado--no boasting, talking, or +laughing, but a calm decision of manner, which at once told us, that +if it were possible to overcome such odds as were brought against us, +those were the men to do it. + +Our arrangements for the approaching struggle were soon completed. +Fanning and Wharton were to make head against the infantry and +cavalry. I was to capture the field-piece--an eight-pounder. + +This gun was placed by the Mexicans upon their extreme left, close to +the river, the shores of which it commanded for a considerable +distance. The bank on which we were posted was, as before mentioned, +indented by caves and hollows, and covered with a thick tapestry of +vines and other plants, which was now very useful in concealing us +from the artillerymen. The latter made a pretty good guess at our +position however, and at the first discharge, the canister whizzed +past us at a very short distance. There was not a moment to lose, for +one well-directed shot might exterminate half of us. Followed by a +dozen men, I worked my way as well as I could through the labyrinth of +vines and bushes, and was not more than fifty yards from the gun, when +it was again fired. No one was hurt, although the shot was evidently +intended for my party. The enemy could not see us; but the notion of +the vines, as we passed through them, had betrayed our whereabout: so, +perceiving that we were discovered, I sprang up the bank into the +prairie followed by my men, to whom I shouted, above all to aim at the +artillerymen. + +I had raised my own rifle to my shoulder, when I let it fall again in +astonishment at an apparition that presented itself to my view. This +was a tall, lean, wild figure, with a face overgrown by long beard +that hung down upon his breast, and dressed in a leather cap, jacket, +and mocassins. Where this man had sprung from was a perfect riddle. He +was unknown to any of us, although I had some vague recollection of +having seen him before, but where or when, I could not call to mind. +He had a long rifle in his hands, which he must have fired once +already, for one of the artillerymen lay dead by the gun. At the +moment I first caught sight of him, he shot down another, and then +began reloading with a rapid dexterity, that proved him to be well +used to the thing. My men were as much astonished as I was by this +strange apparition, which appeared to have started out of the earth; +and for a few seconds they forgot to fire, and stood gazing at the +stranger. The latter did not seem to approve of their inaction. + +"D---- yer eyes, ye starin' fools," shouted he in a rough hoarse +voice, "don't ye see them art'lerymen? Why don't ye knock 'em on the +head?" + +It certainly was not the moment to remain idle. We fired; but our +astonishment had thrown us off our balance, and we nearly all missed. +We sprang down the bank again to load, just as the men serving the gun +were slewing it around, so as to bring it to bear upon us. Before this +was accomplished, we were under cover, and the stranger had the +benefit of the discharge, of which he took no more notice than if he +had borne a charmed life. Again we heard the crack of his rifle, and +when, having reloaded, we once more ascended the bank, he was taking +aim at the last artilleryman, who fell, as his companions had done. + +"D---- ye, for laggin' fellers!" growled the stranger. "Why don't ye +take that 'ere big gun?" + +Our small numbers, the bad direction of our first volley, but, above +all, the precipitation with which we had jumped down the bank after +firing it, had so encouraged the enemy, that a company of infantry, +drawn up some distance in rear of the field-piece, fired a volley, and +advanced at double-quick time, part of them making a small _detour_ +with the intention of cutting us off from our friends. At this +moment, we saw Fanning and thirty men coming along the river bank to +our assistance; so without minding the Mexicans who were getting +behind us, we rushed forward to within twenty paces of those in our +front, and taking steady aim, brought down every man his bird. The +sort of desperate coolness with which this was done, produced the +greater effect on our opponents, as being something quite out of their +way. They would, perhaps, have stood firm against a volley from five +times our number, at a rather greater distance; but they did not like +having their mustaches singed by our powder; and after a moment's +wavering and hesitation, they shouted out "Diabolos! Diabolos!" and +throwing away their muskets, broke into precipitate flight. + +Fanning and Wharton now came up with all the men. Under cover of the +infantry's advance, the gun had been re-manned, but, luckily for us, +only by infantry soldiers; for had there been artillerymen to seize +the moment when we were all standing exposed on the prairie, they +might have diminished our numbers not a little. The fuse was already +burning, and we had just time to get under the bank when the gun went +off. Up we jumped again, and looked about us to see what was next to +be done. + +Although hitherto all the advantages had been on our side, our +situation was still a very perilous one. The company we had put to +flight had rejoined its battalion, which was now beginning to advance +by _echelon_ of companies. The second battalion, which was rather +further from us, was moving forward in like manner, and in a parallel +direction. We should probably, therefore, have to resist the attack of +a dozen companies, one after the other; and it was to be feared that +the Mexicans would finish by getting over their panic terror of our +rifles, and exchange their distant and ineffectual platoon-firing for +a charge with the bayonet, in which their superior numbers would tell. +We observed, also, that the cavalry, which had been keeping itself at +a safe distance, was now put in motion, and formed up close to the +island of muskeet trees, to which the right flank of the infantry was +also extending itself. Thence they had clear ground for a charge down +upon us. + +Meanwhile, what had become of the twelve men whom we had left in the +island? Were they still there, or had they fallen back upon the +mission in dismay at the overwhelming force of the Mexicans? If the +latter, it was a bad business for us, for they were all capital shots, +and well armed with rifles and pistols. We heartily wished we had +brought them with us, as well as the eight men at the mission. Cut off +from us as they were, what could they do against the whole of the +cavalry and two companies of infantry which were now approaching the +island? To add to our difficulties, our ammunition was beginning to +run short. Many of us had only had enough powder and ball for fifteen +or sixteen charges, which were now reduced to six or seven. It was no +use desponding, however; and, after a hurried consultation, it was +agreed that Fanning and Wharton should open a fire upon the enemy's +centre, while I made a dash at the field-piece before any more +infantry had time to come up for its protection. + +The infantry-men who had re-manned the gun were by this time shot +down, and, as none had come to replace them, it was served by an +officer alone. Just as I gave the order to advance to the twenty men +who were to follow me, this officer fell. Simultaneously with his +fall, I heard a sort of yell behind me, and, turning round, saw that +it proceeded from the wild spectre-looking stranger, whom I had lost +sight of during the last few minutes. A ball had struck him, and he +fell heavily to the ground, his rifle, which had just been discharged, +and was still smoking from muzzle and touchhole, clutched convulsively +in both hands; his features distorted, his eyes rolling frightfully. +There was something in the expression of his face at that moment which +brought back to me, in vivid colouring, one of the earliest and most +striking incidents of my residence in Texas. Had I not myself seen him +hung, I could have sworn that _Bob Rock, the murderer_, now lay before +me. + +A second look at the man gave additional force to this idea. + +"Bob!" I exclaimed. + +"Bob!" repeated the wounded man, in a broken voice, and with a look +of astonishment, almost of dismay. "Who calls Bob?" + +A wild gleam shot from his eyes, which the next instant closed. He had +become insensible. + +It was neither the time nor the place to indulge in speculations on +this singular resurrection of a man whose execution I had myself +witnessed. With twelve hundred foes around us, we had plenty to occupy +all our thoughts and attention. My people were already masters of the +gun, and some of them drew it forwards and pointed it against the +enemy, while the others spread out right and left to protect it with +their rifles. I was busy loading the piece when an exclamation of +surprise from one of the men made me look up. + +There seemed to be something extraordinary happening amongst the +Mexicans, to judge from the degree of confusion which suddenly showed +itself in their ranks, and which, beginning with the cavalry and right +flank of the infantry, soon became general throughout their whole +force. It was a sort of wavering and unsteadiness which, to us, was +quite unaccountable, for Fanning and Wharton had not yet fired twenty +shots, and, indeed, had only just come within range of the enemy. Not +knowing what it could portend, I called in my men, and stationed them +round the gun, which I had double-shotted, and stood ready to fire. + +The confusion in the Mexican ranks increased. For about a minute they +waved and reeled to and fro, as if uncertain which way to go; and, at +last, the cavalry and right of the line fairly broke, and ran for it. +This example was followed by the centre, and presently the whole of +the two battalions and three hundred cavalry were scattered over the +prairie, in the wildest and most disorderly flight. I gave them a +parting salute from the eight-pounder, which would doubtless have +accelerated their movements had it been possible to run faster than +they were already doing. + +We stood staring after the fugitives in perfect bewilderment, totally +unable to explain their apparently causeless panic. At last the report +of several rifles from the island of trees gave us a clue to the +mystery. + +The infantry, whose left flank extended to the Salado, had pushed +their right into the prairie as far as the island of muskeet trees, in +order to connect their line with the dragoons, and then by making a +general advance, to attack us on all sides at once, and get the full +advantage of their superior numbers. The plan was not a bad one. +Infantry and cavalry approached the island, quite unsuspicious of its +being occupied. The twelve riflemen whom we had stationed there +remained perfectly quiet, concealed behind the trees; allowed +squadrons and companies to come within twenty paces of them, and then +opened their fire, first from their pistols, then from their rifles. + +Some six and thirty shots, every one of which told, fired suddenly +from a cover close to their rear, were enough to startle even the best +troops, much more so our Mexican dons, who, already sufficiently +inclined to a panic, now believed themselves fallen into an ambuscade, +and surrounded on all sides by the incarnate _diabolos_, as they +called us. The cavalry, who had not yet recovered the thrashing we had +given them, were ready enough for a run, and the infantry were not +slow to follow them. + +Our first impulse was naturally to pursue the flying enemy, but a +discovery made by some of the men, induced us to abandon that idea. +They had opened the pouches of the dead Mexicans in order to supply +themselves with ammunition, ours being nearly expended; but the powder +of the cartridges turned out so bad as to be useless. It was little +better than coal dust, and would not carry a ball fifty paces to kill +or wound. This accounted for our apparent invulnerability to the fire +of the Mexicans. The muskets also were of a very inferior description. +Both they and the cartridges were of English make; the former being +stamped Birmingham, and the latter having the name of an English +powder manufactory, with the significant addition, "for exportation." + +Under these circumstances, we had nothing to do but let the Mexicans +run. We sent a detachment to the muskeet island, to unite itself with +the twelve men who had done such good service there, and thence +advance towards the ford. We ourselves proceeded slowly in the latter +direction. This demonstration brought the fugitives back again, for +they had, most of them, in the wild precipitation of their flight, +passed the only place where they could cross the river. They began +crowding over in the greatest confusion, foot and horse all mixed up +together; and by the time we got within a hundred paces of the ford, +the prairie was nearly clear of them. There were still a couple of +hundred men on our side of the water, completely at our mercy, and +Wharton, who was a little in front with thirty men, gave the word to +fire upon them. No one obeyed. He repeated the command. Not a rifle +was raised. He stared at his men, astonished and impatient at this +strange disobedience. An old weather-beaten bear-hunter stepped +forward, squirting out his tobacco juice with all imaginable +deliberation. + +"I tell ye what, capting!" said he, passing his quid over from his +right cheek to his left; "I calkilate, capting," he continued, "we'd +better leave the poor devils of dons alone." + +"The poor devils of dons alone!" repeated Wharton in a rage. "Are you +mad, man?" + +Fanning and I had just come up with our detachment, and were not less +surprised and angry than Wharton was, at this breach of discipline. +The man, however, did not allow himself to be disconcerted. + +"There's a proverb, gentlemen," said he, turning to us, "which says, +that one should build a golden bridge for a beaten enemy; and a good +proverb it is, I calkilate--a considerable good one." + +"What do you mean, man, with your golden bridge?" cried Fanning. "This +is no time for proverbs." + +"Do you know that you are liable to be punished for insubordination?" +said I. "It's your duty to fire, and do the enemy all the harm you +can; not to be quoting proverbs." + +"Calkilate it is," replied the man very coolly. "Calkilate I could +shoot 'em without either danger or trouble; but I reckon that would be +like Spaniards or Mexicans; not like Americans--not prudent." + +"Not like Americans? Would you let the enemy escape, then, when we +have him in our power?" + +"Calkilate I would. Calkilate we should do ourselves more harm than +him by shooting down his people. That was a considerable sensible +commandment of yourn, always to shoot the foremost of the Mexicans +when they attacked. It discouraged the bold ones, and was a sort of +premium on cowardice. Them as lagged behind escaped, them as came +bravely on were shot. It was a good calkilation. If we had shot 'em +without discrimination, the cowards would have got bold, seein' that +they weren't safer in rear than in front. The cowards are our best +friends. Now them runaways," continued he, pointing to the Mexicans, +who were crowding over the river, "are jest the most cowardly of 'em +all, for in their fright they quite forgot the ford, and it's because +they ran so far beyond it, that they are last to cross the water. And +if you fire at 'em now, they'll find that they get nothin' by bein' +cowards, and next time, I reckon, they'll sell their hides as dear as +they can." + +Untimely as this palaver, to use a popular word, undoubtedly was, we +could scarcely forbear smiling at the simple _naive_ manner in which +the old Yankee spoke his mind. + +"Calkilate, captings," he concluded, "you'd better let the poor devils +run. We shall get more profit by it than if we shot five hundred of +'em. Next time they'll run away directly to show their gratitude for +our ginerosity." + +The man stepped back into the ranks, and his comrades nodded +approvingly, and calculated and reckoned that Zebediah had spoke a +true word; and meanwhile the enemy had crossed the river, and was out +of our reach. We were forced to content ourselves with sending a party +across the water to follow up the Mexicans, and observe the direction +they took. We then returned to our old position. + +My first thought on arriving there was to search for the body of Bob +Rock--for he it undoubtedly was, who had so mysteriously appeared +amongst us. I repaired to the spot where I had seen him fall; but +could discover no signs of him, either dead or alive. I went over the +whole scene of the fight, searched amongst the vines and along the +bank of the river; there were plenty of dead Mexicans--cavalry, +infantry, and artillery, but no Bob was to be found, nor could any one +inform me what had become of him, although several had seen him fall. + +I was continuing my search, when I met Wharton, who asked me what I +was seeking, and on learning, shook his head gravely. He had seen the +wild prairieman, he said, but whence he came, or whither he was gone, +was more than he could tell. It was a long time since any thing had +startled and astonished him so much as this man's appearance and +proceedings. He (Wharton,) had been stationed with his party amongst +the vines, about fifty paces in rear of Fanning's people, when just as +the Mexican infantry had crossed the ford, and were forming up, he saw +a man approaching at a brisk trot from the north side of the prairie. +He halted about a couple of hundred yards from Wharton, tied his +mustang to a bush, and with his rifle on his arm, strode along the +edge of the prairie in the direction of the Mexicans. When he passed +near Wharton, the latter called out to him to halt, and say who he +was, whence he came, and whither going. + +"Who I am is no business of yourn," replied the man: "nor where I come +from neither. You'll soon see where I'm goin'. I'm goin' agin' the +enemy." + +"Then you must come and join us," cried Wharton. + +This the stranger testily refused to do. He'd fight on his own hook, +he said. + +Wharton told him he must not do that. + +He should like to see who'd hinder him, he said, and walked on. The +next moment he shot the first artilleryman. After that they let him +take his own way. + +Neither Wharton, nor any of his men, knew what had become of him; but +at last I met with a bear-hunter, who gave me the following +information. + +"Calkilatin'," said he, "that the wild prairieman's rifle was a +capital good one, as good a one as ever killed a bear, he tho't it a +pity that it should fall into bad hands, so went to secure it himself, +although the frontispiece of its dead owner warn't very invitin'. But +when he stooped to take the gun, he got such a shove as knocked him +backwards, and on getting up, he saw the prairieman openin' his jacket +and examinin' a wound on his breast, which was neither deep nor +dangerous, although it had taken away the man's senses for a while. +The ball had struck the breast bone, and was quite near the skin, so +that the wounded man pushed it out with his fingers; and then +supporting himself on his rifle, got up from the ground, and without +either a thankye, or a d---nye, walked to where his mustang was tied +up, got on its back, and rode slowly away in a northerly direction." + +This was all the information I could obtain on the subject, and +shortly afterwards the main body of our army came up, and I had other +matters to occupy my attention. General Austin expressed his gratitude +and approbation to our brave fellows, after a truly republican and +democratic fashion. He shook hands with all the rough bear and buffalo +hunters, and drank with them. Fanning and myself he promoted, on the +spot, to the rank of colonel. + +We were giving the general a detailed account of the morning's events, +when a Mexican priest appeared with a flag of truce and several +waggons, and craved permission to take away the dead. This was of +course granted, and we had some talk with the padre, who, however, was +too wily a customer to allow himself to be pumped. What little we did +get out of him, determined us to advance the same afternoon against +San Antonio. We thought there was some chance, that in the present +panic-struck state of the Mexicans, we might obtain possession of the +place by a bold and sudden assault. + +In this, however, we were mistaken. We found the gates closed, and the +enemy on his guard, but too dispirited to oppose our taking up a +position at about cannon-shot from the great redoubt. We had soon +invested all the outlets from the city. + +San Antonio de Bexar lies in a fertile and well-irrigated valley, +stretching westward from the river Salado. In the centre of the town +rises the fort of the Alamo, which at that time was armed with +forty-eight pieces of artillery of various calibre. The garrison of +the town and fortress was nearly three thousand strong. + +Our artillery consisted of two batteries of four six, and five +eight-pounders; our army of eleven hundred men, with which we had not +only to carry on the siege, but also to make head against the forces +that would be sent against us from Cohahuila, on the frontier of which +province General Cos was stationed, with a strong body of troops. + +We were not discouraged, however, and opened our fire upon the city. +During the first week, not a day passed without smart skirmishes. +General Cos's dragoons were swarming about us like so many Bedouins. +But although well-mounted, and capital horsemen, they were no match +for our backwoodsmen. Those from the western states especially, +accustomed to Indian warfare and cunning, laid traps and ambuscades +for the Mexicans, and were constantly destroying their detachments. As +for the besieged, if one of them showed his head for ten seconds above +the city wall, he was sure of getting a rifle bullet through it. I +cannot say that our besieging army was a perfect model of military +discipline; but any deficiencies in that respect were made good by the +intelligence of the men, and the zeal and unanimity with which they +pursued the accomplishment of one great object--the capture of the +city--the liberty and independence of Texas. + +The badness of the gunpowder used by the Mexicans, was again of great +service to us. Many of their cannon balls that fell far short of us, +were collected and returned to them with powerful effect. We kept a +sharp look-out for convoys, and captured no less than three--one of +horses, another of provisions, and twenty thousand dollars in money. + +After an eight weeks' siege, a breach having been made, the city +surrendered, and a month later the fort followed the example. With a +powerful park of artillery, we then advanced upon Goliad, the +strongest fortress in Texas, which likewise capitulated in about four +weeks' time. We were now masters of the whole country, and the war was +apparently at an end. + +But the Mexicans were not the people to give up their best province so +easily. They have too much of the old Spanish character about +them--that determined obstinacy which sustained the Spaniards during +their protracted struggle against the Moors. The honour of their +republic was compromised, and that must be redeemed. Thundering +proclamations were issued, denouncing the Texians as rebels, who +should be swept off the face of the earth, and threatening the United +States for having aided us with money and volunteers. Ten thousand of +the best troops in Mexico entered Texas and were shortly to be +followed by ten thousand more. The President, General Santa Anna, +himself came to take the command, attended by a numerous and brilliant +staff. + +The Texians laughed at the fanfarronades of the dons, and did not +attach sufficient importance to these formidable preparations. Their +good opinion of themselves, and contempt of their foes, had been +increased to an unreasonable degree by their recent and rapid +successes. They forgot that the troops to which they had hitherto been +opposed were for the most part militia, and that those now advancing +against them were of a far better description, and had probably better +powder. The call to arms made by our president, Burnet, was +disregarded by many, and we could only get together about two thousand +men, of whom nearly two-thirds had to be left to garrison the forts of +Goliad and Alamo. In the first named place we left seven hundred and +sixty men, under the command of Fanning; in the latter, something more +than five hundred. With the remaining seven or eight hundred, we took +the field. The Mexicans advanced so rapidly, that they were upon us +before we were aware of it, and we were compelled to retreat, leaving +the garrisons of the two forts to their fate, and a right melancholy +one it proved to be. + +One morning news was brought to Goliad, that a number of country +people, principally women and children, were on their way to the fort, +closely pursued by the Mexicans. Fanning, losing sight of prudence in +his compassion for these poor people, immediately ordered a battalion +of five hundred men, under the command of Major Ward, to go and meet +the fugitives and escort them in. The major, and several officers of +the garrison, doubted as to the propriety of this measure; but +Fanning, full of sympathy for his unprotected country-women, insisted, +and the battalion moved out. They soon came in sight of the fugitives, +as they thought, but on drawing nearer, the latter turned out to be +Mexican dragoons, who sprang upon their horses, which were concealed +in the neighbouring islands of trees, and a desperate fight began. The +Mexicans, far superior in numbers, received every moment accessions to +their strength. The Louis-Potosi and Santa Fe cavalry, fellows who +seem born on horseback, were there. Our unfortunate countrymen were +hemmed in on all sides. The fight lasted two days, and only two men +out of the five hundred escaped with their lives. + +Before the news of this misfortune reached us, orders had been sent to +Fanning to evacuate the fort and join us with six pieces of artillery. +He received the order, and proceeded to execute it. But what might +have been very practicable for eight hundred and sixty men, was +impossible for three hundred and sixty. Nevertheless, Fanning began +his march through the prairie. His little band was almost immediately +surrounded by the enemy. After a gallant defence, which lasted twelve +hours, they succeeded in reaching an island, but scarcely had they +established themselves there, when they found that their ammunition +was expended. There was nothing left for them, but to accept the terms +offered by the Mexicans, who pledged themselves, that if they laid +down their arms, they should be permitted to return to their homes. +But the rifles were no sooner piled, than the Texians found themselves +charged by their treacherous foes, who butchered them without mercy. +Only an advanced post of three men succeeded in escaping. + +The five hundred men whom we had left in San Antonio de Bexar, fared +no better. Not being sufficiently numerous to hold out the town as +well as the Alamo, they retreated into the latter. The Mexican +artillery soon laid a part of the fort in ruins. Still its defenders +held out. After eight days' fighting, during which the loss of the +besiegers was tremendously severe, the Alamo was taken, and not a +single Texian left alive. + +We thus, by these two cruel blows, lost two-thirds of our army, and +little more than seven hundred men remained to resist the numerous +legions of our victorious foe. The prospect before us, was one well +calculated to daunt the stoutest heart. + +The Mexican general, Santa Anna, moved his army forward in two +divisions, one stretching along the coast towards Velasco, the other +advancing towards San Felipe de Austin. He himself, with a small +force, marched in the centre. At Fort Bend, twenty miles below San +Felipe, he crossed the Brazos, and shortly afterwards established +himself with about fifteen hundred men in an entrenched camp. Our +army, under the command of General Houston, was in front of +Harrisburg, to which place the congress had retreated. + +It was on the night of the twentieth of April, and our whole +disposable force, some seven hundred men, was bivouacking in and about +an island of sycamores. It was a cloudy, stormy evening: high wind was +blowing, and the branches of the trees groaned and creaked above our +heads. The weather harmonized well enough with our feelings, which +were sad and desponding when we thought of the desperate state of our +cause. We (the officers) were sitting in a circle round the general +and Alcalde, both of whom appeared uneasy and anxious. More than once +they got up, and walked backwards and forwards, seemingly impatient, +and as if they were waiting for or expecting something. There was a +deep silence throughout the whole bivouac; some were sleeping, and +those who watched were in no humour for idle chat. + +"Who goes there?" suddenly shouted one of the sentries. The answer we +did not hear, but it was apparently satisfactory, for there was no +further challenge, and a few seconds afterwards an orderly came up, +and whispered something in the ear of the Alcalde. The latter hurried +away, and, presently returning, spoke a few words in a low tone to the +general, and then to us officers. In an instant we were all upon our +feet. In less than ten minutes, the bivouac was broken up, and our +little army on the march. + +All our people were well mounted, and armed with rifles, pistols, and +bowie-knives. We had six field-pieces, but we only took four, +harnessed wit twice the usual number of horses. We marched at a rapid +trot the whole night, led by a tall, gaunt figure of a man who acted +as our guide, and kept some distance in front. I more than once asked +the Alcalde who this was. "You will know by and by," was his answer. + +Before daybreak we had ridden five and twenty miles, but had been +compelled to abandon two more guns. As yet, no one knew the object of +this forced march. The general commanded a halt, and ordered the men +to refresh and strengthen themselves by food and drink. While they +were doing this, he assembled the officers around him, and the meaning +of our night march was explained to us. The camp in which the Mexican +president and general-in-chief had entrenched himself was within a +mile of us; General Parza, with two thousand men, was twenty miles +further to the rear; General Filasola, with one thousand, eighteen +miles lower down on the Brazos; Viesca, with fifteen hundred, +twenty-five miles higher up. One bold and decided blow, and Texas +might yet be free. There was not a moment to lose, nor was one lost. +The general addressed the men. + +"Friends! Brothers! Citizens! General Santa Anna is within a mile of +us with fifteen hundred men. The hour that is to decide the question +of Texian liberty is now arrived. What say you? Do we attack?" + +"We do!" exclaimed the men with one voice, cheerfully and decidedly. + +In the most perfect stillness, we arrived within two hundred paces of +the enemy's camp. The _reveillee_ of the sleeping Mexicans was the +discharge of our two field-pieces loaded with canister. Rushing on to +within twenty-five paces of the entrenchment, we gave them a deadly +volley from our rifles, and then, throwing away the latter, bounded up +the breastworks, a pistol in each hand. The Mexicans, scared and +stupefied by this sudden attack, were running about in the wildest +confusion, seeking their arms, and not knowing which way to turn. +After firing our pistols, we threw them away as we had done our +rifles, and, drawing our bowie-knives, fell, with a shout, upon the +masses of the terrified foe. It was more like the boarding of a ship +than any land fight I had ever seen or imagined. + +My station was on the right of the line, where the breastwork, ending +in a redoubt, was steep and high. I made two attempts to climb up, but +both times slipped back. On the third trial I nearly gained the +summit; but was again slipping down, when a hand seized me by the +collar, and pulled me up on the bank. In the darkness and confusion I +did not distinguish the face of the man who rendered me this +assistance. I only saw the glitter of a bayonet which a Mexican thrust +into his shoulder, at the very moment he was helping me up. He neither +flinched nor let go his hold of me till I was fairly on my feet; then, +turning slowly round, he levelled a pistol at the soldier, who, at +that very moment, was struck down by the Alcalde. + +"No thanks to ye, squire!" exclaimed the man, in a voice which made me +start, even at that moment of excitement and bustle. I looked at the +speaker, but could only see his back, for he had already plunged into +the thick of the fight, and was engaged with a party of Mexicans, who +defended themselves desperately. He fought like a man more anxious to +be killed than to kill, striking furiously right and left, but never +guarding a blow, though the Alcalde, who was by his side, warded off +several which were aimed at him. + +By this time my men had scrambled up after me. I looked round to see +where our help was most wanted, and was about to lead them forward, +when I heard the voice of the Alcalde. + +"Are you badly hurt, Bob?" said he in an anxious tone. + +I glanced at the spot whence the voice came. There lay Bob Rock, +covered with blood, and apparently insensible. The Alcalde was +supporting his head on his arm. Before I had time to give a second +look I was hurried forward with the rest towards the centre of the +camp, where the fight was at the hottest. + +About five hundred men, the pick of the Mexican army, had collected +round a knot of staff-officers, and were making a most gallant +defence. General Houston had attacked them with three hundred of our +people, but had not been able to break their ranks. His charge, +however, had shaken them a little, and, before they had time to +recover from it, I came up. Giving a wild hurrah, my men fired their +pistols, hurled them at their enemies' heads, and then springing over +the carcasses of the fallen, dashed like a thunderbolt into the broken +ranks of the Mexicans. + +A frightful butchery ensued. Our men, who were for the most part, and +at most times, peaceable and humane in disposition, seemed converted +into perfect fiends. Whole ranks of the enemy fell under their knives. +Some idea may be formed of the horrible slaughter from the fact, that +the fight, from beginning to end, did not last above ten minutes, and +in that time nearly eight hundred Mexicans were shot or cut down. "No +quarter!" was the cry of the infuriated assailants: "Remember Alamo! +Remember Goliad! Think of Fanning, Ward!" The Mexicans threw +themselves on their knees, imploring mercy. "_Misericordia! Cuartel, +por el amor de Dios!_" shrieked they in heart-rending tones but their +supplications were not listened to, and every man of them would +inevitably have been butchered, had not General Houston and the +officers dashed in between the victors and the vanquished, and with +the greatest difficulty, and by threats of cutting down our own men if +they did not desist, put an end to this scene of bloodshed, and saved +the Texian character from the stain of unmanly cruelty. + +When all was over, I hurried back to the place where I had left the +Alcalde with Bob--the latter lay, bleeding from six wounds, only a few +paces from the spot where he had helped me up the breastwork. The +bodies of two dead Mexicans served him for a pillow. The Alcalde was +kneeling by his side, gazing sadly and earnestly into the face of the +dying man. + +For Bob was dying; but it was no longer the death of the despairing +murderer. The expression of his features was calm and composed, and +his eyes were raised to heaven with a look of hope and supplication. + +I stooped down and asked him how he felt himself, but he made no +answer, and evidently did not recollect me. After a minute or two, + +"How goes it with the fight?" he asked in a broken voice. + +"We have conquered, Bob. The enemy killed or taken. Not a man +escaped." + +He paused a little, and then spoke again. + +"Have I done my duty? May I hope to be forgiven?" + +The Alcalde answered him in an agitated voice. + +"He who forgave the sinner on the cross, will doubtless be merciful to +you, Bob. His holy book says: There is more joy over one sinner that +repenteth than over ninety and nine just men. Be of good hope, Bob! +the Almighty will surely be merciful to you!" + +"Thank ye, squire," gasped Bob "you're a true friend, a friend in life +and in death. Well, it's come at last," said he, while a resigned and +happy smile stole over his features. "I've prayed for it long enough. +Thank God, it's come at last!" + +He gazed up at the Alcalde with a kindly expression of countenance. +There was a slight shuddering movement of his whole frame--Bob was +dead. + +The Alcalde remained kneeling for a short time by the side of the +corpse, his lips moving in prayer. At last he rose to his feet. + +"God desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he may turn +from his wickedness and live," said he, in a low and solemn tone. "I +had those words in my thoughts four years ago, when I cut him down +from the branch of the Patriarch." + +"Four years ago!" cried I. "Then you cut him down, and were in time to +save him! Was it he who yesterday brought us the news of the vicinity +of the foe?" + +"It was, and much more than that has he done," replied the Alcalde, no +longer striving to conceal the tears that fell from his eyes. "For +four years has he dragged on his wretched existence, weary of the +world, and despised of all men. For four years has he served us, +lived, fought, and spied for us, without honour, reward, hope, or +consolation--without a single hour of tranquillity, or a wish for +aught except death. All this to serve Texas and his countrymen. Who +shall say this man was not a true patriot? God will surely be merciful +to his soul," said the Alcalde after a pause. + +"I trust he will," answered I, deeply affected. + +We were interrupted at this moment by a message from General Houston, +to whom we immediately hastened. All was uproar and confusion. Santa +Anna could not be found amongst the prisoners. + +This was a terrible disappointment, for the capture of the Mexican +president had been our principal object, and the victory we had gained +was comparatively unimportant if he escaped. Indeed, the hope of +putting an end to the war by his capture, had more than any thing +encouraged and stimulated us to the unequal conflict. + +The moment was a very critical one. Amongst our men were some thirty +or forty most desperate characters, who began handling their knives, +and casting looks upon the prisoners, the meaning of which it was +impossible to mistake. Selecting some of our trustiest men, we +stationed them as a guard over the captives, and, having thus assured +the safety of the latter, began questioning them as to what had become +of their general. + +They had none of them seen Santa Anna since the commencement of the +fight, and it was clear that he must have made his escape while we +were getting over the breastworks. He could not be very far off, and +we at once took measures to find him. A hundred men were sent off with +the prisoners to Harrisburg, and a hundred others, capitally mounted +on horses found in the Mexican camp, started to scour the country in +search of the fugitive chief. I accompanied the latter detachment. + +We had been twelve hours in the saddle, and had ridden over nearly a +hundred miles of ground. We began to despair of finding the game we +were in quest of, and were thinking of abandoning the chase, when at a +distance of about seven miles from the camp, one of our most +experienced hunters discovered the print of a small and delicate boot +upon some soft ground leading to a marsh. Following this trail, it at +last led us to a man sunk up to his waist in the swamp, and so covered +with mud and filth, as to be quite unrecognizable. We drew him from his +hiding-place, half dead with cold and terror, and, having washed the +dirt from his face, we found him to be a man of about forty years of +age, with blue eyes, of a mild, but crafty expression; a narrow, high +forehead; long, thin nose, rather fleshy at the tip; projecting upper +lip, and long chin. These features tallied too exactly with the +description we had had of the Mexican president, for us to doubt that +our prisoner was Santa Anna himself. + +The only thing that at all tended to shake this conviction, was the +extraordinary poltroonery of our new captive. He threw himself on his +knees, begging us, in the name of God and all the saints, to spare his +life. Our reiterated assurances and promises were insufficient to +convince him of his being in perfect safety, or to induce him to adopt +a demeanour more consistent with his dignity and high station. + +The events which succeeded this fortunate capture are too well known +to require more than a very brief recapitulation. The same evening a +truce was agreed upon between Houston and Santa Anna, the latter +sending orders to his different generals to retire upon San Antonio de +Bexar, and other places in the direction of the Mexican frontier. +These orders, valueless as emanating from a prisoner, most of the +generals were weak or cowardly enough to obey, an obedience for which +they were afterwards brought to trial by the Mexican congress. In a +few days, two-thirds of Texas were in our possession. + +The news of these successes brought crowds of volunteers to our +standard. In three weeks, we had an army of several thousand men, with +which we advanced against the Mexicans. There was no more fighting, +however, for our antagonists had had enough, and allowed themselves to +be driven from one position to another, till, in a month's time, there +was not one of them left in the country. + +The Struggle was over, and Texas was Free! + + * * * * * + + + + +CLITOPHON AND LEUCIPPE. + + +When enumerating (in our number for July, last year) the principal +Greek romances which succeeded the _Ethiopics_ of Heliodorus, we +placed next to the celebrated production of the Bishop of Trica in +point of merit (as it is generally held to have been also in order of +time) the "Adventures of Clitophon and Leucippe," by Achilles Tatius. +Though far inferior, both in the delineation of the characters and the +contrivance of the story, to the _Ethiopics_, (from which, indeed, +many of the incidents are obviously borrowed,) and not altogether free +from passages offensive to delicacy, "Clitophon and Leucippe" is well +entitled to a separate notice, not only from the grace of its style +and diction, and the curious matter with which the narrative is +interspersed, but from its presenting one of the few pictures, which +have come down to these times, of the social and domestic life of the +Greeks. In the _Ethiopics_, which may be considered as an _heroic_ +romance, the scene lies throughout in palaces, camps, and temples; +kings, high-priests, and satraps, figure in every page; the hero +himself is a prince of his own people; and the heroine, who at first +appears of no lower rank than a high-priestess of Delphi, proves, in +the sequel, the heiress of a mighty kingdom. In the work of Achilles +Tatius, on the contrary, (the plot of which is laid at a later period +of time than that of its predecessor,) the characters are taken, +without exception, from the class of Grecian citizens, who are +represented in the ordinary routine of polished social existence, +amidst their gardens of villas, and occupied by their banquets and +processions, and the business of their courts of law. There are no +unexpected revelations, no talismanic rings, no mysterious secret +affecting the fortunes of any of the personages, who are all presented +to us at the commencement in their proper names and characters. The +interest of the story, as in the _Ethiopics_, turns chiefly on an +elopement, and the consequent misadventures of the hero and heroine +among various sets of robbers and treacherous friends; but the lovers, +after being thus duly punished for their undutiful escapade, are +restored, at the finale, to their original position, and settle +quietly in their native home, under their own vines and fig-trees. + +Of the author himself little appears to be certainly known. Fabricius +and other writers have placed him in the "third or fourth" century of +our era; but this date will by no means agree with his constant +imitations of Heliodorus, who is known to have lived at the end of the +fourth and beginning of the fifth century; and Tatius, if not his +contemporary, probably lived not long after him. Suidas (who calls him +_Statius_) informs us that he was a native of Alexandria; and +attributes to his pen several other works on various subjects besides +the romance now in question, a fragment only of which--a treatise on +the sphere--has been preserved. He adds, that he was a pagan when he +wrote "Clitophon and Leucippe," but late in life embraced +Christianity, and even became a bishop. This latter statement, +however, is unsupported by any other authority, and would seem to be +opposed by the negative testimony of the patriarch Photius, who (in +his famous _Bibliotheca_, 118, 130) passes a severe censure on the +immorality of certain passages in the works of Tatius, and would +scarcely have omitted to inveigh against the further scandal of their +having proceeded from the pen of an ecclesiastic. "In style and +composition this work is of high excellence; the periods are generally +well rounded and perspicuous, and gratify the ear by their harmony ... +but, except in the names of the personages, and the unpardonable +breaches of decorum of which he is guilty, the author appears to have +closely copied Heliodorus both in the plan and execution of his +narrative." In another passage, when treating of the _Babylonica_[1] +of Iamblichus, he repeats this condemnation:--"Of these three +principal writers of amorous tales. Heliodorus has treated the subject +with due gravity and decorum. Iamblichus is not so unexceptionable on +these points; and Achilles Tatius is still worse, in his eight books +of _Clitophon and Leucippe_, the very diction of which is soft and +effeminate, as if intended to relax the vigour of the reader's mind." +This last denunciation of the patriarch, however, is somewhat too +sweeping and indiscriminate, since, though some passages are certainly +indefensible, they appear rather as interpolations, and are in no +manner connected with the main thread of the story, the general +tendency of which is throughout innocent and moral; and whatever may +be said of these blemishes, it must be allowed that the pages of +Achilles Tatius are purity itself when compared with the depravity of +Longus, and some of his followers and imitators among the Greek +romancists. + + [1] This work is now lost, and we know it only by the abstract + given by Photius in the passage quoted. + +The period of time at which the adventures of _Clitophon and Leucippe_ +are supposed to take place, appears to be in the later ages of Grecian +independence, when the successors of Alexander reigned in Syria and +Egypt, and the colonized cities in Thrace and Asia Minor still +preserved their municipal liberties. The story is related in the first +person by the hero himself; a mode of narration which, though the best +adapted for affording scope to the expression of the feelings of the +principal personages, is, in this instance, very awkwardly introduced. +A stranger, while contemplating a famous picture of the Rape of Europa +in the Temple of Astarte at Sidon, is accosted by a young man, who, +after a few incidental remarks, proceeds, without further preface, to +recount his adventures at length to this casual acquaintance. This +communicative gentleman is, of course, Clitophon; but before we +proceed to the narrative of his loves and woes, we shall give a +specimen of the author's powers in the line which appears to be his +forte, by quoting his description of the painting above referred +to:--"On entering the temple, my attention was attracted by a picture +representing the story of Europa, in which sea and land were +blended--the Phoenician Sea and the coasts of Sidon. On the land was +seen a band of maidens in a meadow, while in the sea a bull was +swimming, who bore on his shoulders a beautiful virgin, and was making +his way in the direction of Crete. The meadow was decked with a +profusion of bright flowers, to which a grateful shelter was afforded +by the dense overhanging foliage of the shrubs and clumps of trees, +which were interspersed at intervals throughout its extent; while so +skilfully had the artist represented the appearance of light and +shade, that the rays of the sun were seen to pass here and there +through the interstices of the leaves, and cast a softened radiance on +the ground underneath. A spring was seen bubbling up in the midst, and +refreshing the flowers and plants with its cool waters; while a +labourer with a spade was at work opening a fresh channel for the +stream. At the extremity of the meadow, where it bordered on the sea, +the maidens stood grouped together, in attitudes expressive of mingled +joy and terror; their brows were bound with chaplets, and their hair +floated in loose locks over their shoulders; but their features were +pale, and their cheeks contracted, and they gazed with lips apart and +opened eyes on the sea, as if on the point of uttering a cry +half-suppressed by fear. They were standing on tiptoe on the very +verge of the shore, with their tunics girt up to the knee, and +extending their arms towards the bull, as if meditating to rush into +the sea in pursuit of him, and yet shrinking from the contact of the +waves. The sea was represented of a reddish tint inshore, but further +out the colour changed to deep azure; while in another part the waves +were seen running in with a swell upon the rocks, and breaking against +them into clouds of foam and white spray. In the midst of the sea the +bull was depicted, breasting the lofty billows which surged against +his sides, with the damsel seated on his back, not astride, but with +both her feet disposed on his right side, while with her left hand she +grasped his horn, by which she guided his motions as a charioteer +guides a horse by the rein. She was arrayed in a white tunic, which +did not extend much below her waist, and an under-garment of purple, +reaching to her feet; but the outline of her form, and the swell of +her bosom, were distinctly defined through her garments. Her right +hand rested on the back of the bull, with the left she retained her +hold of his horn, while with both she grasped her veil, which was +blown out by the wind, and expanded in an arch over her head and +shoulders, so that the bull might be compared to a ship, of which the +damsel's veil was the sail. Around them dolphins were sporting in the +water, and winged loves fluttering in the air, so admirably depicted, +that the spectator might fancy he saw them in motion. One Cupid guided +the bull, while others hovered round bearing bows and quivers, and +brandishing nuptial torches, regarding Jupiter with arch and sidelong +glances, as if conscious that it was by their influence that the god +had assumed the form of an animal." + +To return to Clitophon and his tale. He begins by informing his +hearer, that he is the son of Hippias, a noble and wealthy denizen of +Tyre, and that he had been betrothed from his childhood, as was not +unusual in those times,[2] to his own half-sister Calligone:--but +Leucippe, the daughter of Sostratus, a brother of Hippias, resident at +Byzantium, having arrived with her mother Panthia, to claim the +hospitality of their Tyrian relatives during a war impending between +their native city and the Thracian tribes, Clitophon at once becomes +enamoured of his cousin, whose charms are described in terms of +glowing panegyric:--"She seemed to me like the representation of +Europa, which I see in the picture before me--her eye beaming with joy +and happiness--her locks fair,[3] and flowing in natural ringlets, but +her eyebrows and eyelashes jetty black--her complexion fair, but with +a blush in her cheeks like that faint crimson with which the Lydian +women stain ivory, and her lips like the hue of a fresh-opened rose." +Love is not, however, in this case, as in that of Theagenes and +Chariclea, instantaneous on both sides; and the expedient adopted by +Clitophon, with the aid of his servant Satyrus, (a valet of the +_Scapin_ school,) to win the good graces of the lady, are detailed at +length, evincing much knowledge of the human heart in the author, and +affording considerable insight into the domestic arrangements of a +Grecian family.[4] An understanding is at last effected between them, +and Clitophon is in sad perplexity how to defer or evade his +approaching nuptials with his sister-bride, when Calligone is most +opportunely carried off by a band of pirates employed by Callisthenes, +a young Byzantine, who, having fallen in love with Leucippe from the +mere report of her beauty, and having been refused her hand by her +father, has followed her to Tyre, and seeing Calligone in a public +procession chaperoned by Panthia, has mistaken her for Leucippe! The +lovers are thus left in the unrestrained enjoyment of each other's +society; but Clitophon is erelong detected by Panthia in an attempt to +penetrate by night into her daughter's chamber; and though the +darkness prevents the person of the intruder from being recognised, +the confusion which this untoward occurrence occasions in the family +is such, that Clitophon and Leucippe, feeling their secret no longer +safe, determine on an elopement. Accompanied by the faithful Satyrus, +and by Clinias, a kinsman and confident of Clitophon, who generously +volunteers to share their adventures, they accordingly set sail for +Egypt; and the two gentlemen, having struck up an acquaintance with a +fellow passenger, a young Alexandrian named Menelaus, beguile the +voyage by discussing with their new friend the all-engrossing subject +of love, the remarks on which at last take so antiplatonic a tone, +that we can only hope Leucippe was out of hearing. These disquisitions +are interrupted, on the third day of the voyage, by a violent tempest; +and the sailors, finding the ship on the point of coming to pieces, +betake themselves to the boat, leaving the passengers to their fate. +But Clitophon and Leucippe, clinging to the forecastle, are +comfortably wafted by the winds and waves to the coast of Egypt, and +landed near Pelusium, where they hire a vessel to carry them to +Alexandria; but their voyage through the tortuous branches of the Nile +is intercepted by marauders of the same class, _Bucoli_ or buccaniers, +as those who figure so conspicuously in the adventures of _Chariclea_ +and _Theagenes_. The robbers are at this juncture in expectation of an +attack from the royal troops; and, having been ordered by their +priests to propitiate the gods by the sacrifice of a virgin, are +greatly at a loss for a victim, when chance throws Leucippe in their +way. She is forthwith torn from her lover, and sent off to the +headquarters of the banditti; and Clitophon is on his way to another +of their retreats, when his captors are attacked and cut to pieces by +a detachment of troops, whose commander, Charmides, commiserates the +misfortunes of our hero, and hospitably entertains him in his tent. + + [2] The laws of Athens permitted the marriage of a brother + with his sister by the father's side only--thus Cimon married + his half sister Elpinice; and several marriages of the same + nature occur in the history of the Egyptian Ptolemies. + + [3] Fair hair, probably from its rarity in southern climates, + seems to have been at all times much prized by the ancients; + witness the [Greek: Xanthos Menelaos] of Homer, and the "Cui + _flavam_ religas comam?" of Horace. The style of Leucippe's + beauty seems to have resembled that of Haidee-- + + "Her hair, I said, was auburn; but her eyes + Were black as night, their lashes the same hue." + + [4] One incident, where Clitophon pretends to have been stung + on the lip by a bee, and to be cured by a kiss from Leucippe, + has been borrowed by Tasso in the Aminta, (Act I. Scene 2.) + "Che fingendo ch'un ape avesse morso il mio labbro di sotto," + &c., whence the idea has been again copied by a host of later + poetasters. This is not Tasso's only obligation to the Greek + romances, as we have already seen that he was indebted to + Heliodorus for the hint of his story of Clorinda. + + + +A general attack on the buccanier force is projected for the next day, +but the advance of the troops is found to be barred by a trench so +wide and deep as to be impassable; and while preparations are made for +filling it up, Leucippe is brought to the opposite brink by two +officiating priests, sheathed in armor; and there, to the horror of +Clitophon, apparently ripped up alive before the altar. After +completing the sacrifice, and depositing the body in a sarcophagus, +the robbers disperse; the passage of the trench is at length effected; +and Clitophon is preparing to fall on his sword at the tomb of his +murdered love, when his hand is stayed by the appearance of his +faithful friends, Menelaus and Satyrus, whom he had supposed lost in +the ship. The mystery is now explained. They had reached the shore, +like Clitophon, on pieces of the wreck and having also fallen into the +power of the robbers, (as appears to have been the inevitable fate of +every one landing in Egypt at the time of this narrative,) were +surprised by finding Leucippe among their fellow captives, and +learning from her the dreadful fate which awaited her. Menelaus, +however, having recognized some former acquaintances among the +buccaniers, was released from his bonds; and having gained their +confidence by proposing to enrol himself in their band, offered his +services as sacrificer, which were accepted. He now contrived to equip +Leucippe with an artfully constructed _false stomach_, and being +further assisted in his humane stratagem by the discovery of a knife +with a sliding blade, among some theatrical _properties_ which the +robbers had acquired in the course of casual plunder, succeeded in +appearing to perform the sacrifice without any real injury to the +victim, who at his call rises from the sarcophagus, and throws herself +into her lover's arms. + +It might be supposed, that after so portentously marvellous an escape +as the one just related, the unlucky couple might be allowed a short +respite at least from the persecutions of adverse fortune. But perils +in love succeed without an interval to perils in war. It is the +invariable rule of all Greek romances, as we have remarked in a +previous number, that the attractions both of the hero and heroine, +should be perfectly irresistible by those of the other sex; and +accordingly, the Egyptian officer Charmides no sooner beholds +Leucippe, than he falls in love with her, and endeavours to gain over +Menelaus to further his views. Menelaus feigns compliance, but +privately gives information of the designs of Charmides to Clitophon, +who is thrown into a dreadful state of consternation by his +apprehensions of this powerful rival. At this juncture, however, +Leucippe is suddenly seized with a fit of extravagant frenzy, which +defies all the skill of the Egyptian camp; and under the influence of +which she violently assaults her friends, and is guilty of sundry +vagaries not altogether seemly in a well-bred young lady. Both her +admirers, Charmides and Clitophon, are in despair, and equally in +ignorance of the cause of her malady; but before any symptoms of +amendment are perceptible, Charmides receives orders[5] to march with +his whole force against the buccaniers, by whom he is inveigled into +an ambuscade, and with most of his men either slain or drowned by the +breaking of the dykes of the Nile. The madness of Leucippe is still +incurable, till a stranger named Choereas makes his appearance, and +introducing himself to Clitophon, informs him that he has discovered +from the confession of a domestic, that Gorgias, an officer who fell +in the late action with the _Bucoli_, captivated, like every one else, +by the resistless charms of the heroine, had administered to her a +philtre, the undue strength of which had excited frenzy instead of +love. By the administration of proper remedies, the fair patient is +now restored to her senses: and the total destruction of the +robber-colony by a stronger force sent against them having rendered +the navigation of the Nile again secure, the lovers once more embark +for Alexandria, accompanied by Menelaus and Choereas, and at length +arrive in safety at the city, which they find illuminated for the +great feast of Serapis. The first sight of the glories of Alexandria, +at the supposed period of the narrative the largest and most +magnificent city in the world, and many ages subsequently second only +to Imperial Rome herself, excites the astonishment and admiration of +the newcomers:--and the author takes the opportunity to dilate, with +pardonable complacency, on the magnitude and grandeur of the place of +his birth. "When I entered the city," (says Clitophon,) "by the gates +called those of the sun, its wonderful beauty flashed at once upon my +sight, almost dazzling my eyes with the excess of gratification. A +lofty colonnade of pillars, on each side of the street,[6] runs right +from the gates of the sun on one side, to those of the moon, (for +these are its guardian deities,) on the other; and the distance is +such, that a walk through the city is in itself a journey. When we had +proceeded several stadia, we arrived at the square named after +Alexander, whence other colonnades, like those I saw extending in a +right line before me, branched off right and left at right angles; and +my eyes, never weary of wandering from one street to another, were +unable to contemplate separately the various objects of attraction +which presented themselves. Some I had before my eyes, some I was +hastening to gaze upon, when I found myself unable to pass by others, +while a fresh series of marvels still awaited me, so that my powers of +vision were at last fairly exhausted, and obliged to confess +themselves beaten. The vast extent of the city, and the innumerable +multitude of the population, produced on the mind the effect of a +double paradox; for regarding the one, the stranger wondered where +such a city, which seemed as large as a continent, could find +inhabitants; but when his attention was drawn to the other, he was +again perplexed how so many people, more numerous than a nation, could +find room in any single city. Thus the two conflicting feelings of +amazement remained in equilibrio." + + [5] These orders are said to have come from the "_satrap_," + the Persian title having been retained under the Ptolemies, + for the governors of the _nomes_ or provinces. The description + of the stronghold of the buccaniers, in the deep recesses of a + marsh, and approachable only by a single hidden path, (like + the stockades of the North-American Indians in the swamps, as + described by Cotton Mather,) if not copied, like most of the + other Egyptian scenes, from the _Ethiopics_, presents a + curious picture of a class of men of whom few details are in + authentic history. + + [6] The main street, according to Diodorus, was "forty stadia + in length, and a _plethrum_ (100 feet) in breadth; adorned + through its whole extent by a succession of palaces and + temples of the most costly magnificence. Alexander also + erected a royal palace, which was an edifice wonderful both + for its magnitude and the solidity of its architecture, and + all the kings who have succeeded him, even up to our times, + have spent great sums in further adorning and making additions + to it. On the whole, the city may be fairly reckoned as the + first in the world, whether for magnitude and beauty, for + traffic, or for the greatness of its revenues."--"It + comprehended," says Gibbon, speaking of it under the Roman + Emperors, "a circumference of fifteen miles, and was peopled + by 300,000 free inhabitants, besides, at least, an equal + number of slaves." + +Choereas, himself a native of the city, who had been called upon to +take service in the late expedition against the buccaniers, does the +honours of the locale to his new friends:--but he is not proof against +the fatal charms of Leucippe, and resorts to the old expedient of +procuring her abduction by a crew of pirates while on an excursion to +the Pharos. The vessel of the captors is, however, chased by a +guard-boat, and on the point of being taken, when Leucippe is brought +on deck and decapitated by the pirates, who throw the headless body +into the sea, and make their escape; while Clitophon stays the +pursuit, to recover the remains of his mistress for sepulture. +Clitophon now returns to Alexandria to mourn for his lost love, and is +still inconsolable at the end of six months, when he is surprised by +the appearance of Clinias, whom he had supposed to have perished when +the vessel foundered at sea. Clinias relates that having, like the +others, floated on a piece of the wreck, he had been picked up by a +ship, which brought him back to Sidon; and as his absence from home +had been so short as not to have been generally noticed, he had +thought it best not to mention it, especially as he had no good +account to give of his fellow-fugitives. In the mean time, as +Calligone is given up for lost, Sostratus, who has heard of his +daughter's attachment to Clitophon, but not of the elopement, writes +from Byzantium to give his consent to their union; and diligent +enquiries are made in every direction for the runaway couple, till +information is at length obtained that Clitophon has been seen in +Egypt. His father, Hippias, is therefore preparing to set sail for +Alexandria to bring back the truant, when Clinias, thinking it would +be as well to forewarn Clitophon of what had occurred in his absence, +starts without delay, unknown to Hippias, and reaches Alexandria +before him. + +The intelligence thus received throws Clitophon into fresh agonies of +grief and remorse: he curses his own impatience in carrying off +Leucippe, when a short delay would have crowned his happiness; accuses +himself anew as the cause of her death; and declares his determination +not to remain in Egypt and encounter his father. His friends, Menelaus +and Clinias, in vain endeavour to combat this resolve; till the +over-ready Satyrus finds an expedient for evading the difficulty. A +young "Ephesian widow," named Melissa, fair and susceptible, who has +lately lost her husband at sea, and become the heiress of his immense +wealth, has recently (in obedience to the above-mentioned invariable +law of Greek romance) fixed an eye of ardent affection on Clitophon; +and it is suggested by his friends that, by marrying this new +inamorata, and sailing with her forthwith on her return to Ephesus, +his departure would at once be satisfactorily explained to his father +on his arrival, and he might return to his friends at Tyre after their +emotions at the tragical catastrophe of Leucippe had in some measure +subsided. After much persuasion, Clitophon accedes to this +arrangement, with the sole proviso that nothing but the _fiancailles_, +or betrothal, shall take place in Egypt, and that the completion of +the marriage shall be deferred till their arrival in Ephesus--on the +plea that he cannot pledge his faith to another in the land where his +beloved Leucippe met with her fate. This proposal, after vehement +opposition on the part of the amorous Ephesian, is at last agreed to; +and Clitophon, with his half-married bride, sets sail for Ephesus, +accompanied by Clinias; while Menelaus, who remains in Egypt, +undertakes the task of explaining matters to Hippias. The voyage is +prosperously accomplished; and Melissa becomes urgent for the formal +solemnization of the nuptials; while Clitophon continues to oppose +frivolous delays which might have roused the anger of a lady even of a +less ardent temperament. Her affection, however, continues +undiminished; but Clitophon, while visiting, in her company, her +country residence in the neighbourhood of the city, is thunderstruck +by fancying that he recognizes, in the disfigured lineaments of a +female slave, said to be a Thessalian of the name of Lacoena, who +approaches Melissa to complain of the ill-treatment she has received +from the steward, Sosthenes, the features of his lost Leucippe. His +suspicions are confirmed by a billet which Leucippe conveys to him +through Satyrus; and his situation becomes doubly perplexing, as +Melissa, more than ever at a loss to comprehend the cause of his +indifference, applies to Leucippe, (whom she supposes to possess the +skill of the Thessalians in magic,) for a love-charm to compel his +affections, promising her liberty as a reward. Leucippe is delighted +by the proof which this request affords of the constancy of her lover; +but the preparations for his marriage with Melissa still proceed, and +evasion appears impossible; when at the preliminary banquet, the +return of her husband, Thersander, is announced, who had been falsely +reported to have perished by shipwreck. A terrible scene of confusion +ensues, in which Thersander, + + --"proceeding at a very high rate, + Shows the imperial penchant of a pirate." + +Clitophon gets a violent beating, to which he submits with the utmost +tameness, and is thrown into fetters by the enraged husband; and +though Melissa, on certain conditions, furnishes him with the means of +escape from the house in the disguise of a female, he again unluckily +encounters Thersander, and is lodged in the prison of Ephesus. +Leucippe, meanwhile, of whose unrivalled charms Thersander has been +informed by Sosthenes, is still detained in bondage, and suffers cruel +persecution from her brutal master; who, at last, having learned from +an overheard soliloquy her true parentage and history, as well as her +attachment for Clitophon, (of her relations with whom he was not +previously aware,) forms a scheme of ridding himself of this twofold +rival, by sending one of his emissaries into the prison, who gives out +that he has been arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the +murder of Leucippe, who has been dispatched by assassins employed by +the jealous Melissa. Clitophon at once gives full credence to this +awkwardly devised tale, and determines not to survive his mistress, in +spite of the remonstrances of Clinias, who argues with much reason, +that one who had so often been miraculously preserved from death, +might have escaped also on the present occasion. But Clitophon refuses +to be comforted; and when brought before the assembly in the forum to +stand his trial, on the charge, (apparently, for it is not very +clearly specified,) of having married another man's wife, he openly +declares himself guilty of Leucippe's murder, which he affirms to have +been concerted between Melissa and himself, in order to remove the +obstacle to their amours, and now revealed by him from remorse. He is, +of course, condemned to death forthwith, and Thersander is triumphing +in the unexpected success of his schemes, when the judicial +proceedings are interrupted by the appearance of a religious +procession, at the head of which Clitophon is astonished by +recognizing his uncle Sostratus, the father of Leucippe, who had been +deputed by the Byzantines to offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, at the +Temple of Diana, for their victory over the Thracians. On hearing the +state of affairs, he furiously denounces the murderer of his daughter; +but at this moment it is announced that Leucippe, whom Thersander had +believed to be in safe custody, has escaped, and taken refuge in the +Temple of Diana! + +The interest of the story is now at an end; but much yet remains +before the conclusion. Thersander, maddened at the prospect of being +thus doubly baulked of his prey, throws gross aspersions on the purity +of Leucippe, and even demands that Clitophon, in spite of his now +manifest innocence, shall be executed in pursuance of the previous +sentence! but the high-priest of Diana takes the lovers under his +protection, and the cause is adjourned to the morrow. Leucippe now +relates the circumstances of her captivity:--the Alexandrian pirates, +having deceived their pursuers by beheading another captive dressed in +her garments, had next fallen out with and murdered their base +employer Choereas, and finally sold her for two thousand drachmas to +Sosthenes: while from Sostratus, on the other hand, Clitophon receives +tidings that his long-lost sister Calligone is on the point of +marriage to Callisthenes, who, it will be remembered, had carried her +off from Tyre by mistake for Leucippe, (having become enamoured of the +latter without ever having seen her,) and on the discovery of his +error, had made her all the amends in his power by an instant transfer +of his affections. Thus everything is on the point of ending happily; +but the sentence passed against Clitophon still remains unreversed, +and Thersander, in the assembly of the following day, vehemently calls +for its ratification. But the cause of the defendant is espoused by +the high-priest, who lavishes on the character and motives of +Thersander a torrent of abuse, couched in language little fitting his +sacred character; while Thersander shows himself in this respect fully +a match for his reverend antagonist, and, moreover, reiterates with +fresh violence his previous charge against Leucippe. The debates are +protracted to an insufferably tedious length; but the character of +Leucippe is at last vindicated by her descent into a cavern, whence +sounds of more than human melody are heard on the entrance of a damsel +of untainted fame. The result of this ordeal is, of course, +triumphant; and Thersander, overwhelmed with confusion makes his +escape from the popular indignation, and is condemned to exile by +acclamation as a suborner of false evidence; while the lovers, freed +at length from all their troubles, sail for Byzantium in company with +Sostratus; and after there solemnizing their own nuptials, return to +Tyre to assist at those of Callisthenes and Calligone. + +The leading defects observable in this romance are obviously the +glaring improbability of many of the incidents, and the want of +connexion and necessary dependence between the several parts of the +story. Of the former--the device of the false stomach and theatrical +dagger, by means of which Menelaus and Satyrus (after gaining, +moreover, in a moment the full confidence of the buccaniers,) save the +life of Leucippe when doomed to sacrifice, is the most flagrant +instance; though her second escape from supposed death, when Clitophon +imagines that he sees her head struck off by the Alexandrian pirates, +is almost equally liable to the same objection; while in either case +the deliverance of the heroine might as well have been managed, +without prejudice either to the advancement or interest of the +narrative, by more rational and probable methods. The too frequent +introduction of incidents and personages not in any way connected +with, or conducive to the progress of the main plot, is also +objectionable, and might almost induce the belief that the original +plan was in some measure altered or departed from in the course of +composition. It is difficult to conceive for what purpose the +character of Calligone, the sister and fiancee of Clitophon, is +introduced among the dramatic personae. She appears at the beginning +only to be carried off by Callisthenes as soon as Clitophon's passion +for Leucippe makes her presence inconvenient, and we incidentally hear +of her as on the point of becoming his bride at the conclusion; but +she is seen only for a moment, and never permitted to speak, like a +walking gentlewoman on the stage, and exercises not the smallest +influence on the fortunes of the others. Gorgias is still worse used: +he is a mere _nominis umbra_, of whose bodily presence nothing is made +visible; nor is so much as his name mentioned, except for the purpose +of informing us that it was through his agency that the love-potion +was administered to Leucippe, and that he has since been killed in the +action against the buccaniers. The whole incident of the philtre, +indeed, and the consequent madness of the heroine, is unnatural and +revolting, and serves no end but to introduce Choereas to effect a +cure. But even had it been indispensable to the plot, it might have +been far more probably ascribed to the Egyptian commander Charmides, +with whose passion for Leucippe we were already acquainted, and who +had, moreover, learned from Menelaus that he had little chance of +success by ordinary methods, from the pre-engagement of the lady to +Clitophon. + +Nor are these defects compensated by any high degree of merit in the +delineation of the characters. With the exception of Leucippe herself, +they are all almost wholly devoid of individual or distinguishing +traits, and insipid and uninteresting to the last degree. Menelaus and +Clinias, the confidants and trusted friends of the hero, are the +dullest of all dull mortals--a qualification which perhaps fits them +in some measure for the part they are to bear in the story, as +affording some security against their falling in love with Leucippe, a +fate which they, of all the masculine personages, alone escape. Their +active intervention is confined to the preservation of Leucippe from +the _bucoli_ by Menelaus, and a great deal of useless declamation in +behalf of Clitophon before the assembly of Ephesus from Clinias. +Satyrus, also, from whose knavish ingenuity in the early part of the +tale something better was to be expected, soon subsides into a +well-behaved domestic, and hands his master the letter in which poor +Leucippe makes herself known to him at Ephesus, when she imagines him +married to Melissa, with all the nonchalance of a modern footman. +Clitophon himself is hardly a shade superior to his companions. He is +throughout a mere passive instrument, leaving to chance, or the +exertions of others, his extrication from the various troubles in +which he becomes involved: even of the qualities usually regarded as +inseparable from a hero of romance, spirit and personal courage, he is +so utterly destitute as to suffer himself to be beaten and ill +treated, both by Thersander and Sostratus, without an attempt to +defend himself; and his lamentations, whenever he finds himself in +difficulties, or separated from his ladye-love, are absolutely +puerile. As to the other characters, Thersander is a mere vulgar +ruffian--"a rude and boisterous captain of the sea,"--whose brutal +violence on his first appearance, and subsequent unprincipled +machinations, deprive him of the sympathy which might otherwise have +been excited in behalf of one who finds his wife and his property +unceremoniously taken possession of during his absence; while, on the +other hand, the language used by the high-priest of Diana, in his +invectives against Thersander and his accomplices, gives but a low +idea of the dignity or refinement of the Ephesian hierarchy. But the +female characters, as is almost always the case in the Greek romances, +are far better drawn, and infinitely more interesting, than the men. +Even Melissa, though apparently intended only as a foil to the +perfections of Leucippe, wins upon us by her amorous weakness, and the +invincible kindness of heart which impels her, even when acquainted +with the real state of affairs, to protect the lovers against her +husband's malpractices. Leucippe herself goes far to make amends for +the general insipidity of the other characters. Though not a heroine +of so lofty a stamp as Chariclea, in whom the spirit of her royal +birth is all along apparent, she is endowed with a mingled gentleness +and firmness, which is strongly contrasted with the weakness and +pusillanimity of her lover:--her uncomplaining tenderness, when she +finds Clitophon at Ephesus (as she imagines) the husband of another, +and the calm dignity with which she vindicates herself from the +injurious aspersions of Thersander, are represented with great truth +and feeling, and attach a degree of interest to her, which the other +personages of the narrative are very far from inspiring. + +In the early part of the story, during the scenes in Tyre and Egypt, +the action is carried on with considerable spirit and briskness; the +author having apparently thus far kept before him, as a model, the +narrative of Heliodorus. But towards the conclusion, and, indeed from +the time of the arrival of Clitophon and Melissa at Ephesus, the +interest flags wofully. The _denouement_ is inevitably foreseen from +the moment Clitophon is made aware that Leucippe is still alive and in +his neighbourhood, and the arrival of Thersander, almost immediately +afterwards, disposes of the obstacle of his engagement to Melissa; but +the reader is acquainted with all these circumstances before the end +of the fifth book; the three remaining books being entirely occupied +by the proceedings in the judicial assembly, the recriminations of the +high-priest, and the absurd ordeal to which Leucippe is subjected--all +apparently introduced for no other purpose than to show the author's +skill in declamation. The display of his own acquirements in various +branches of art and science, and of his rhetorical powers of language +in describing them, is indeed an object of which Achilles Tatius never +loses sight; and continual digressions from the thread of the story +for this purpose occur, often extremely _mal-a-propos_, and sometimes +entirely without reference to the preceding narrative. Thus, when +Clitophon is relating the terms of an oracle addressed to the +Byzantines, previous to their war with the Thracians, he breaks off at +once into a dissertation on the wonderful qualities of the element of +water, the inflammable springs of Sicily, the gold extracted from the +lakes of Africa, &c.--all which is supposed to be introduced into a +conversation on the oracle between Sostratus and his colleague in +command, and could only have come to the knowledge of Clitophon by +being repeated to him _verbatim_, after a considerable interval of +time, by Sostratus. Again, in the midst of the hero's perplexities at +his threatened marriage with Calligone, we are favoured with a minute +enumeration of the gems set in an ornament which his father purchased +as part of the trousseau; and this again leads to an account of the +discovery and application of the purple dye. The description of +objects of natural history is at all times a favourite topic; and the +sojourn of the lovers in Egypt affords the author an opportunity of +indulging in details relative to the habits and appearances of the +various strange animals found in that country--the crocodile, the +hippopotamus, and the elephant, are described with considerable spirit +and fidelity; and even the form and colours of the fabulous phoenix, +are delineated with all the confidence of an eyewitness. + +Many of these episodical sketches, though out of place when thus +awkwardly inserted in the midst of the narrative, are in themselves +curious and well written; but the most valuable and interesting among +them are the frequent descriptions of paintings, a specimen of which +has already been given. On this subject especially, the author dwells +_con amore_, and his remarks are generally characterised by a degree +of good taste and correct feeling, which indicates a higher degree of +appreciation of the pictorial art than is generally ascribed to the +age in which Achilles Tatius wrote. Even in the latter part of the +first century of our era, Pliny, when enumerating the glorious names +of the ancient Greek painters, laments over the total decline, in his +own days, of what he terms (_Nat. Hist_. xxxv. 11) "an aspiring art;" +but the monarchs of the Macedonian dynasties in Asia, and, above all, +the Egyptian Ptolemies, were both munificent patrons of the fine arts +among their own subjects, and diligent collectors of the great works +of past ages; and many of the _chefs-d'oeuvres_ of the Grecian masters +were thus transferred from their native country to adorn, the temples +and palaces of Egypt and Syria. We find, from Plutarch, that when +Aratus was exerting himself to gain for the Achaean league the powerful +alliance of Ptolemy Euergetes, he found no means so effectual in +conciliating the good-will of the monarch, as the procuring for him +some of the master-pieces of Pamphilus[7] and Melanthius, the most +renowned of the famous school of Sicyon; and the knowledge of the high +estimation in which the arts were held, under the Egyptian kings, +gives an additional value to the accounts given by Tatius of these +treasures of a past age, his notices of which are the latest, in +point of time, which have come down to us from an eyewitness. We have +already quoted the author's vivid description of the painting of +Europa at Sidon--we shall now subjoin, as a pendant to the former +notice, his remarks on a pair of pictures at Pelusium:-- + + [7] Pamphilus was a Macedonian by birth, and a pupil of + Eupompus, the founder of the school of Sicyon; to the + presidency of which he succeeded. His pupils paid each a + talent a year for instruction; and Melanthius, and even + Apelles himself, for a time, were among the number.--Pliny, + _Hist. Nat_. xxxv. 36. The great talent of Melanthius, like + that of his master Pamphilus, lay in composition and grouping; + and so highly were his pictures esteemed, that Pliny, in + another passage, says, that the wealth of a city would hardly + purchase one. + + + "In this temple (of Jupiter Casius) were two famous works of + Evanthes, illustrative of the legends of Andromeda and + Prometheus, which the painter had probably selected as a pair, + from the similarity of the Subjects--the principal figure in + each being bound to a rock and exposed to the attack of a + terrific animal; in one case a denizen of the air, in the + other a monster of the sea; and the deliverers of both being + Argives, and of kindred blood to each other, Hercules and + Perseus--the former of whom encountered, on foot, the savage + bird sent by Jove, while the latter mounted on borrowed wings + into the air, to assail the monster which issued from the sea + at the command of Neptune. In the picture of Andromeda, the + virgin was laid in a hollow of the rock, not fashioned by art, + but rough like a natural cavity; and which, if viewed only + with regard to the beauty of that which it contained, looked + like a niche holding an exquisite fresh from the chisel; but + the sight of her bonds, and of the monster approaching to + devour her, gave it rather the aspect of a sepulchre. On her + features extreme loveliness was blended with deadly terror, + which was seated on her pallid cheeks, while beauty beamed + forth from her eyes; but, as even amid the pallor of her + cheeks a faint tinge of colour was yet perceptible, so was the + brightness of her eyes, on the other hand, in some measure + dimmed, like the bloom of lately blighted violets. Her white + arms were extended, and lashed to the rock; but their + whiteness partook of a livid hue, and her fingers were like + those of a corpse. Thus lay she, expecting death, but arrayed + like a bride, in a long white robe, which seemed not as if + woven from the fleece of the sheep, but from the web of the + spider, or of those winged insects, the long threads spun by + which are gathered by the Indian women from the trees of their + own country. The monster was just rising out of the sea + opposite to the damsel, his head alone being distinctly + visible, while the unwieldy length of his body was still in a + great measure concealed by the waves, yet so as partially to + discover his formidable array of spines and scales, his + swollen neck, and his long flexible tail, while the gape of + his horrible jaws extended to his shoulder, and disclosed the + abyss of his stomach. But between the monster and the damsel, + Perseus was depicted descending to the encounter from the + upper regions of the air--his body bare, except a mantle + floating round his shoulders, and winged sandals on his + feet--a cap resembling the helmet of Pluto was on his head, + and in his left hand he held before him, like a buckler, the + head of the Gorgon, which even in the pictured representation + was terrible to look at, shaking its snaky hair, which seemed + to erect itself and menace the beholder. His right hand + grasped a weapon, in shape partaking of both a sickle and a + sword; for it had a single hilt, and to the middle of the + blade resembled a sword; but there it separated into two + parts, one continuing straight and pointed, like a sword, + while the other was curved backwards, so that with a single + stroke, it might both inflict a wound, and fix itself in the + part struck. Such was the picture of Andromeda; the design of + the other was thus:-- + + "Prometheus was represented bound down to a rock, with fetters + of iron, while Hercules, armed with a bow and arrow, was seen + approaching. The vulture, supporting himself by fixing his + talons in the thigh of Prometheus, was tearing open the + stomach of his victim, and apparently searching with his beak + for the liver, which it was his destiny daily to devour, and + which the painter had shown through the aperture of the wound. + The whole frame of the sufferer was convulsed, and his limbs + contracted with torture, so that, by raising his thigh, he + involuntarily presented his side to the bird--while the other + limb was visibly quivering in its whole length, with + agony--his teeth were clenched, his lips parted, and his brows + wrinkled. Hercules had already fitted the arrow to the bow, and + aimed it against his tormentor: his left arm was thrown + forward grasping the stock, while the elbow of the right was + bent in the attitude of drawing the arrow to his breast; while + Prometheus, full of mingled hope and fear, was endeavouring to + fix his undivided gaze on his deliverer, though his eyes, in + spite of himself, were partially diverted by the anguish of + his wound." + +The work of Achilles Tatius, with all its blemishes and defects, +appears to have been highly popular among the Greeks of the lower +empire. An epigram is still extant, attributed to the Emperor Leo, the +philosopher,[8] in which it is landed as an example of chaste and +faithful love: and it was esteemed as a model of romantic composition +from the elegance of its style and diction, in which Heretius ranks +the author above Heliodorus, though he at the same time severely +criticizes him for want of originality, accusing him of having +borrowed all the interesting passages in his work from the +_Ethiopics_. In common with Heliodorus, Tatius has found a host of +followers among the later Greeks, some of whom (as the learned critic +just quoted, observes) have transcribed, rather than imitated him. In +the "Hysminias and Hysmine" of Eumathius, a wretched production of the +twelfth century, not only many of the incidents, but even of the +names, as Sostratus, Sosthenes, and Anthia, are taken from Clitophon +and Leucippe: and to so servile an extent is this plagiarism carried, +that two books out of the nine, of which the romance consists, are +filled with descriptions of paintings; while the plot, not very +intelligible at the best, is still further perplexed by the +extraordinary affectation of making nearly all the names alike; thus, +the hero and heroine are Hysminias and Hysmine, the towns are +Aulycomis, Eurycomis, Artycomis, &c. In all these works, the outline +is the same; the lovers undergo endless buffetings by sea and land, +imaginary deaths, and escapes from marauders; but not a spark of +genius or fancy enlivens these dull productions, which, sometimes +maudlin and bombastic, often indecent, would defy the patience of the +most determined novel reader. One of these writers, Xenophon of +Ephesus, the author of the "Ephesiacs, or Habrocomas and Anthia," is +commended by Politian for the classical purity of his language, in +which he considers him scarcely inferior to his namesake the +historian: but the work has little else to recommend it. The two +principal personages are represented as miracles of personal beauty; +and the women fall in love with Habrocomas, as well as the men with +Anthia, literally by dozens at a time: the plot, however differs from +that of the others in marrying them at the commencement, and sending +them through the ordinary routine of dangers afterwards. The +_Ephesiacs_ are, however, noticeable from its having been supposed by +Mr Douce, (_Illustrations of Shakspeare_, ii. 198,) that the +catastrophe in Romeo and Juliet was originally borrowed from one of +the adventures of Anthia, who, when separated from her husband, is +rescued from banditti by Perilaus, governor of Cilicia, and by him +destined for his bride. Unable to evade his solicitations, she +procures from the "poverty, not the will" of an aged physician named +Eudoxus, what she supposes to be a draught of poison, but which is +really an opiate. She is laid with great pomp, loaded with gems and +costly ornaments, in a vault; and on awakening, finds herself in the +hands of a crew of pirates, who have broken open her sepulchre in +order to rifle the treasures which they knew to have been deposited +there. "This work," (observes Mr Douce,) "was certainly not published +nor translated in the time of Luigi da Porto, the original narrator of +the story of Romeo and Juliet: but there is no reason why he might not +have seen a copy of the original in MS. We might enumerate several +more of these later productions of the same school; but a separate +analysis of each would be both tedious and needless, as none present +any marked features of distinction from those already noticed. They +are all, more or less, indifferent copies either from Heliodorus or +Achilles Tatius; the outline of the story being generally borrowed +from one or the other of these sources, while in point of style, +nearly all appear to have taken as their model the florid rhetorical +display and artificial polish of language which characterize the +latter. Their redeeming point is the high position uniformly assigned +to the female characters, who are neither immured in the Oriental +seclusion of the harem, nor degraded to household drudges, like the +Athenian ladies in the polished age of Pericles:[9] but mingle without +restraint in society as the friends and companions of the other sex, +and are addressed in the language of admiration and respect. But these +pleasing traits are not sufficient to atone for the improbability of +the incidents, relieved neither by the brilliant fancy of the East, +nor the lofty deeds of the romances of chivalry: and the reader, +wearied by the repetition of similar scenes and characters, thinly +disguised by change of name and place, finds little reason to regret +that "the children of the marriage of Theagenes and Chariclea," as +these romances are termed by a writer quoted by d'Israeli in the +"Curiosities of Literature"--have not continued to increase and +multiply up to our own times. + + [8] Some bibliographers have assigned it to Photius; but the + opinion of Achilles Tatius expressed by the patriarch, and + quoted at the commencement of this article, precludes the + possibility of its being from his pen. + + [9] See Mitford's _History of Greece_, ch. xiii, sect. 1. + + * * * * * + + + + +THE NEW ART OF PRINTING. + +BY A DESIGNING DEVIL. + + "Aliter non fit, avite, liber."--MARTIAL. + + +It is more than probable that, at the first discovery of that +mightiest of arts, which has so tended to facilitate every other--the +art of printing--many old-fashioned people looked with a jealous eye +on the innovation. Accustomed to a written character, their eyes +became wearied by the crabbedness and formality of type. It was like +travelling on the paved and rectilinear roads of France, after winding +among the blooming hedgerows of England; and how dingy and graceless +must have appeared the first printed copy of the Holy Bible, to those +accustomed to luxuriate in emblazoned missals, amid all the pride, +pomp, and vellum of glorious MS.! + +Dangerous and democratic, too, must have appeared the new art, which, +by plebeianizing knowledge and enlightening the mass, deprived the law +and the prophets of half their terrors, and disrobed priestcraft and +kingcraft of their mystery. We can imagine that, as soon as a printed +book ceased to be a great rarity, it became an object of great +abhorrence. + +There were many, no doubt, to prophesy, as on occasion of every new +invention, that it was all very well for a novelty; but that the thing +would not, and could not last! How were the poor copyists to get their +living if their occupation was taken from them? How were so many +monasteries to be maintained which had subsisted on _manuscriptum_? +And, then, what prince in his right senses would allow a +printing-press to be set up in his dominions--a source of sedition and +heresy--an implement of disaffection and schism? The free towns, +perhaps, might foster this pernicious art, and certain evilly-disposed +potentates wink at the establishment of type-founderies in their +states. But the great powers of Europe knew better! They would never +connive at this second sowing of the dragon's teeth of Cadmus. + +Thus, probably, they argued; becoming reconciled, in process of time, +to the terrible novelty. Print-books became almost as easy to read as +manuscript; soon as cheap, and at length of a quarter the price, or +even less; till, two centuries later, benefit of clergy ceased to be +a benefit, books were plenty as blackberries, and learning a thing for +the multitude. According to Dean Swift's account, the chaplain's time +hung heavy on his hands, for my lady had sermon books of her own, and +could read; nay, my lady's woman had jest books of her own, and wanted +none of his nonsense! The learned professions, or black arts, lost at +least ninety-five per cent in importance; and so rapid as been the +increase of the evil, that, at this time of day, it is a hard matter +to impose on any clodpole in Europe! Instead of signing with their +marks, the kings of modern times have turned ushers; instead of +reading with difficulty, we have a mob of noblemen who write with +ease; and, now-a-days, it is every duke, ay, and every duchess her own +book-maker! + +A year or two hence, however, and all this will have become +obsolete.--_Nous avons change tout cela!_--No more letter-press! +Books, the _small_ as well as the great, will have been voted a great +evil. There will be no gentlemen of the press. The press itself will +have ceased to exist. + +For several years past it has been frankly avowed by the trade that +books have ceased to sell; that the best works are a drug in the +market; that their shelves groan, until themselves are forced to +follow the example. + +Descend to what shifts they may in order to lower their prices, by +piracy from other booksellers, or clipping and coining of authors--no +purchasers! Still, the hope prevailed for a time among the lovers of +letters, that a great glut having occurred, the world was chewing the +cud of its repletion; that the learned were shut up in the Bodleian, +and the ignorant battening upon the circulating libraries; that hungry +times would come again! + +But this fond delusion has vanished. People have not only ceased to +purchase those old-fashioned things called books, but even to read +them! Instead of cutting new works, page by page, people cut them +altogether! To far-sighted philosophers, indeed, this was a state of +things long foreshown. It could not be otherwise. The reading world +was a sedentary world. The literary public was a public lying at +anchor. When France delighted in the twelve-volume novels of +Mademoiselle de Scuderi, it drove in coaches and six, at the rate of +four miles an hour; when England luxuriated in those of Richardson, in +eight, it drove in coaches and four, at the rate of five. A journey +was then esteemed a family calamity; and people abided all the year +round in their cedar parlours, thankful to be diverted by the arrival +of the _Spectator_, or a few pages of the _Pilgrim's Progress_, or a +new sermon. To their unincidental lives, a book was an event. + +Those were the days worth writing for! The fate of Richardson's +heroines was made a national affair; and people interceded with him by +letter to "spare Clarissa," as they would not now intercede with her +Majesty to spare a new Effie Deans. The successive volumes of _Pope's +Iliad_ were looked for with what is called "breathless" interest, +while such political sheets as the _Drapier's Letters_, or _Junius_, +set the whole kingdom in an uproar! And now, if Pope, or Swift, or +Fielding, or Johnson, or Sterne, were to rise from the grave, MS. in +hand, the most adventurous publisher would pass a sleepless night +before he undertook the risk of paper and print; would advise a small +edition, and exact a sum down in ready money, to be laid out in puffs +and advertisements! "Even then, though we may get rid of a few copies +to the circulating libraries," he would observe, "do not expect, sir, +to obtain readers. A few old maids in the county towns, and a few +gouty old gentlemen at the clubs; are the only persons of the present +day who ever open a book!" + +And who can wonder? _Who_ has leisure to read? _Who_ cares to sit down +and spell out accounts of travels which he can make at less cost than +the cost of the narrative? _Who_ wants to peruse fictitious +adventures, when railroads and steamboats woo him to adventures of his +own? Egypt was once a land of mystery; now, every lad, on leaving +Eton, yachts it to the pyramids. India was once a country to dream of +over a book. Even quartoes, if tolerably well-seasoned with suttees +and sandalwood, went down; now, every genteel family has its "own +correspondent," per favour of the Red Sea; and the best printed +account of Cabul would fall stillborn from the press. As to Van +Dieman's Land, it is vulgar as the Isle of Dogs; and since people have +steamed it backwards and forwards across the Atlantic more easily than +formerly across the Channel, every woman chooses to be her own +Trollope--every man his own Boz! + +For some time after books had ceased to find a market, the periodicals +retained their vogue; and even till very lately, newspapers found +readers. But the period at length arrived, when even the leisure +requisite for the perusal of these lighter pages, is no longer +forthcoming. People are busy ballooning or driving; shooting like +stars along railroads; or migrating like swallows or wild-geese. It +has been found, within the current year, impossible to read even a +newspaper! + +The march of intellect, however, luckily keeps pace with the +necessities of the times; and no sooner was it ascertained, that +reading-made-easy was difficult to accomplish, than a new art was +invented for the more ready transmission of ideas. The fallacy of the +proverb, that "those who run may read," being established, modern +science set about the adoption of a medium, available to those sons of +the century who are always on the run. Hence, the grand secret of +ILLUSTRATION.--Hence the new art of printing! + +The pictorial printing-press is now your only wear! Every thing is +communicated by delineation. We are not _told_, but _shown_ how the +world is wagging. The magazines sketch us a lively article, the +newspapers vignette us, step by step, a royal tour. The beauties of +Shakspeare are imprinted on the minds of the rising generation, in +woodcuts; and the poetry of Byron engraver in their hearts, by means +of the graver. Not a boy in his teens has read a line of Don Quixote +or Gil Blas, though all have their adventures by heart; while +Goldsmith's "Deserted Village" has been committed to memory by our +daughters and wives, in a series of exquisite illustrations. Every +body has La Fontaine by heart, thanks to the pencil of Granville, +which requires neither grammar nor dictionary to aid its +interpretations; and even Defoe--even the unparalleled Robinson +Crusoe--is devoured by our ingenuous youth in cuts and come again. + +At present, indeed, the new art of printing is in its infancy, but it +is progressing so rapidly, that the devils of the old will soon have a +cold birth of it! Views of the Holy Land are superseding even the Holy +Scriptures; and a pictorial Blackstone is teaching the ideas of the +sucking lawyers how to shoot. Nay, Buchan's "Domestic Medicine" has +(proh pudor!) its illustrated edition. + +The time saved to an active public by all this, is beyond computation. +All the world is now instructed by symbols, as formerly the deaf and +dumb; and instead of having to peruse a tedious penny-a-line account +of the postilion of the King of the French misdriving his Majesty, and +his Majesty's august family, over a draw-bridge into a moat at +Treport, a single glance at a single woodcut places the whole disaster +graphically before us; leaving us nine minutes and a half of the time +we must otherwise have devoted to the study of the case, to dispose of +at our own will and pleasure; to start, for instance, for Chelsea, and +be back again by the steam-boat, before our mother knows we are out. + +The application of the new art is of daily and hourly extension. The +scandalous Sunday newspapers have announced an intention of evading +Lord Campbell's act, by veiling their libels in caricature. Instead of +_writing_ slander and flat blasphemy, they propose to _draw_ it, and +not draw it mild. The daily prints will doubtless follow their +example. No more Jenkinsisms in the _Morning Post_, concerning +fashionable parties. A view of the duchess's ball-room, or of the +dining-table of the earl, will supersede all occasion for lengthy +fiddle-faddle. The opera of the night before will be described in a +vignette--the ballet in a tail-piece; and we shall know at a glance +whether Cerito and Elssler performed their _pas_ meritoriously, by the +number of bouquets depicted at their feet. + +On the other hand, instead of column after column of dry debates, we +shall know sufficiently who were the speakers of the preceding night, +by a series of portraits--each having an annexed trophy, indicative +of the leading points of his oration. Members of both Houses will be, +of course, daguerreotyped for the use of the morning papers; and +photographic likenesses of the leaders of _ton_ be supplied gratis to +the leaders of the press. + +How far more interesting a striking sketch of a banquet, containing +portraits of undoubted authenticity, to the matter-of-fact +announcements of the exploded letter-press--that "yesterday his Grace +the Duke of Wellington entertained at dinner, at Apsley House, the +Earls of Aberdeen and Liverpool, the Dukes of Richmond and Buccleuch, +the Master of the Horse, the Lord Chancellor, Sir Robert Peel, Sir +James Graham, Sir Frederick Trench, Colonel Gurwood, and M. Algernon +Greville!" Who has patience for the recapitulation of a string of +names, when a group of faces may be placed simultaneously before him? + +And then, accounts of races! How admirably will they be concentrated +into a delineation of the winner passing the post--the losers +distances; and what disgusting particulars of boxing matches shall we +avoid by a spirited etching. Think of despatches from India, (one of +Lord Ellenborough's XXXX,) published in a series of groupings worthy +the frescoes of the tomb of Psammis. As to the affairs of China, we +shall henceforward derive as much pleasure from the projects of Sir +Henry Pottinger, cut in wood by the _Morning Herald_, as in surveying +the Mandarins sailing on buffaloes through the air, or driving in +junks over meadows, in one of Wedgewood's soup plates! + +It has long been the custom for advertisers in the continental +journals to typify their wares. The George Robinses of Brussels, for +instance, embody their account of some exquisite villa in a charming +perspective of the same, or of a capital town mansion in a grim +likeness; while the _carossiers_, who have town chariots or family +coaches to dispose of, make it known in the most designing manner. The +consequence is, that the columns of certain foreign papers bear a +striking likeness to a child's alphabet, such as "A was an archer, and +shot at a frog." Among ourselves, this practice is at present only +partially adopted. We are all familiar with the shape of Mr Cox +Savory's tea-pots, and Messrs Dondney's _point-device_ men in buckram; +while Mordan acquaints us, with much point, how many varieties he has +invented of pencil-cases and toothpicks. As to the London Wine +Company, the new art has long imprinted upon our minds a mysterious +notion of a series of vaults in the style of the Thames tunnel, +frequented by figures armed with spigots and dark lanterns, that +remind us of Guy Fawkes, and make us tremble for ourselves and Father +Mathew! Loose notions of the stay-making trade have been circulated by +the same medium; and we have noticed wood-blocks of wig-blocks, +deservedly immortalizing the pernquier. + +But consider what it will be when the system is adopted on a more +comprehensive scale. The daily papers will present a series of +designs, remarkable as those of the Glyptothek and Pinacothek at +Munich; and in all probability, the artists of the prize cartoons will +be engaged in behalf of the leading journals of Europe. Who cannot +foresee her Majesty's drawing-room illustrated by Parris! Who cannot +conceive the invasion of Britain outdone in an allegorical leading +article: "Louis Philippe (in a Snooks-like attitude) inviting Queen +Victoria to St Cloud; and the British lion lashing out its tail at the +Coq Gaulois!" + +As to the affairs of Spain, they will be a mine of wealth to the new +press--_L'Espagne Pittoresque_ will sell thousands more copies than +Spain Constitutionalized; and let us trust that Sir George Hayter will +instantly "walk his chalks," and secure us the Cortes in black and +white. + +The Greek character will now become easy to decipher; and the evening +papers may take King Otho both off the throne and on. The designs of +Russia have long been proverbial; but the exercise of the new art of +printing may assign them new features. The representations of +impartial periodicals will cut out, or out-cut De Custine; and while +contemplating the well-favoured presentment of Nicholas I., we shall +exclaim--"Is this a tyrant that I see before me?" Nothing will be +easier then to throw the Poles into the shade of the picture, or to +occupy the foreground with a brilliant review. + +As to Germany, to embody her in the hieroglyphics of the new press, +might be a study for Retsch; and who will care for the lumbering pages +of Von Raumer, or the wishy-washy details of Kohl, when able, in an +_augenblick_, to bring Berlin and Vienna before him; to study the +Zollverein in the copy of the King of Prussia's cogitative +countenance, and ascertain the views of Metternich concerning the +elder branch of the Bourbons, by a _cul de lampe_ in the _Morning +Chronicle_! + +We have little doubt of shortly seeing announcements--standing like +tombstones in those literary cemeteries, the Saturday papers--of "A +new work upon America, from the graver of George Cruickshank;" or "A +new fashionable novel, (diamond edition,) from the accomplished pencil +of H.B." Kenny Meadows will become the Byron of the day, Leech the +Scott, Forrester the Marryatt, Phiz the Trollope; Stanfield and Turner +will be epic poets, Landseer preside over the belles-lettres, and +Webster and Stone become the epigrammatists and madrigalists of the +press. + +All this will, doubtless, throw a number of deserving persons out of +employ. The writers, whose stock in trade consists of words rather +than ideas, will find their way to Basinghall Street, prose will be at +a discount, and long-windedness be accounted a distemper. A great +variety of small Sapphos must turn seamstresses*, at three-halfpence +a shirt instead of a penny a line; while the minor poets will have to +earn a livelihood by writing invoice, instead of in verse. But this +transposition of talent, and transition of gain, is no more than arose +from the substitution of railroads for turnpike roads. By that +innovation thousands of hard-working post-horses were left without +rack or manger; and by the present arrangement, Clowes, Spottiswoode, +and the authors who have served to afford matter for their types, will +be driven from the field. + + *Transcriber's Note: Original "semstresses" + +But the world (no longer to be called of letters, but of emblems) will +be the gainer. It will be no longer a form of speech to talk of having +"_glanced_ at the morning papers," whose city article will, of course, +be composed by artists skilled in drawing figures. The biographies of +contemporary or deceased statesmen will be limned, not by Lord +Brougham or Macaulay, but by the impartial hand of the Royal Academy; +and the catacombs at Kensal Green, like those discovered by Belzoni on +the banks of the Nile, exhibit their eulogistic inscriptions in +hieroglyphics. By this new species of shorthand we might have embodied +this very article in half a dozen sprightly etchings! But as the +hapless inventor of the first great art of printing incurred, among +his astounded contemporaries, the opprobrium of being in compact with +the evil one, (whence, probably, the familiar appellation of printers' +devils,) it behoves the early practitioners of the new art to look to +their reputations! By economizing the time of the public, they may +squander their own good repute. It is not every printer who can +afford, like Benjamin Franklin, to be a reformer; and pending the +momentum when (the schoolmasters being all abroad) the grand causeway +of the metropolis shall become, as it were, a moving diorama, +inflicting knowledge upon the million whether it will or no--let us +content ourselves with birds'-eye views of passing events, by way of +exhibiting the first rudiments of THE NEW ART OF PRINTING! + + * * * * * + + + + +THE BANKING HOUSE + +A HISTORY IN THREE PARTS. PART III. + + +CHAPTER I. + +SYMPTOMS OF ROTTENNESS. + + +Michael Allcroft returned to his duties, tuned for labour, full of +courage, and the spirit of enterprise and action. Discharged from the +thrall which had hitherto borne hard upon his energies, and kept them +down, he felt the blessed influence of perfect Liberty, and the +youthful elasticity of mind and body that liberty and conscious +strength engender. Devoted to the task that he had inflicted upon +himself, he grudged every hour that kept him from the field of +operations. Firm in his determination to realize, by his exertions, a +sum of money equal to his parent's debts, and to redeem the estate +from its insolvency, he was uneasy and impatient until he could resume +his yoke, and press resolutely forward. Rich and independent as he +was, in virtue of the fortune of his wife, he still spurned the idea +of relying upon her for his release--for the means of rescuing his +fathers name and house from infamy. No; he saw--he fancied that he saw +a brighter way marked out before him. Industry, perseverance, and +extreme attention would steer his bark steadily through the difficult +ocean, and bring her safely into harbour: these he could command, for +they depended upon himself whom he might trust. He had looked +diligently into the transactions of the house for many years past, and +the investigation was most satisfactory. Year after year, the business +had increased--the profits had improved. The accumulations of his +father must have been considerable when he entered upon his ruinous +speculations. What was the fair inference to draw from this result? +Why--that with the additional capital of his partners--the influx and +extension of good business, and the application of his own resolute +mind, a sum would be raised within a very few years, sufficient to +reinstate the firm, to render it once more stable and secure. And +then--this desirable object once effected, and the secret of the +unfortunate position of the house never divulged--the income which +would afterwards follow for his partners and himself, must be immense. +It was this view of the subject that justified, to his mind, the means +which he had used--that silenced self-reproof, when it accused him of +artifice, and called him to account for the deception he had practised +upon his colleagues. It must be acknowledged, that the plan which he +proposed held out fair promise of ultimate success and that, reckoning +upon the united will and assistance of his partners, he had good +reason to look for an eventual release from all his difficulties and +cares. Yet it was not to be. "_We still have judgment here._" +Punishment still comes to us from those whom we would circumvent. It +was in vain that Michael set foot in the Bank with an indomitable and +eager spirit; in vain that he longed to grapple with his +fate--resolute to overcome it. The world was against him. The battle +was already decided. His first hard struggle for deliverance was +coincident with his last hour of earthly peace. + +Before one year had passed over the respectable heads of our notable +Banking-House, Allcraft was involved in a net of perplexity, from +which it required all the acuteness of his apprehending mind to work +out a mode of extrication. Augustus Brammel continued abroad, spending +his money, and drawing upon the house, with the impudent recklessness +which we have already seen to be a prime ingredient in his character. +He did not condescend to communicate with his partners, or to give +them any information touching his whereabouts, except such as might be +gathered from his cheques, which came, week after week, with alarming +punctuality, for sums as startling. From this one source of misery, +where was a promise or a chance of a final rescue? Michael saw none. +What if he refused to cash his partner's drafts? What if he permitted +them to find their way back, as best they might, through the +various channels by which they had travelled on their previous +journey--dishonoured and disgraced? Who but himself would be the loser +by the game? Such a refusal would lead to quick enquiry--enquiry to +information--information to want of confidence and speedy ruin. What +reliance could repose upon a house, divided against itself--not safe +from the extravagance and pillage of its own members? The public eye, +ever watchful and timid, waits scarcely for the show of danger to take +alarm and withdraw its favour. Michael shrunk from the bare conception +of an act of violence. It was more agreeable, in an hour of +self-collectedness, to devise a remedy, which, if it did not cure the +disease, helped at least to cicatrize the immediate wounds. He looked +from Brammel to Brammel's father for indemnification. And the old man +was in truth a rare temptation. Fond, pitiable father of a false and +bloodless child! doting, when others would have hated, loving his +prodigal with a more anxious fondness as his ingratitude grew +baser--as the claims upon a parent's heart dwindled more and more +away. The grey-haired man was a girl in tenderness and sensibility. He +remembered the mother of the wayward child, and the pains she had +taken to misuse and spoil her only boy; his own conduct returned to +him in the shape of heavy reproaches, and he could not forget, or call +to mind without remorse, the smiles of encouragement he had given, the +flattering approbation he had bestowed when true love, justice, duty, +mercy, all called loudly for rebuke, restraint, wholesome correction, +solemn chastisement. Could he be conscious of all this, and not excuse +the unsteady youth--accuse himself? It was he who deserved +punishment--not the sufferer with his calamities _imposed_ upon him by +his erring sire. He was ready to receive his punishment. Oh, would +that at any cost--at any expense of bodily and mental suffering, he +could secure his child from further sorrow and from deeper +degradation! To such a heart and mind, Michael might well carry his +complaints with some expectation of sympathy and reimbursement. +Aggrieved as he was, he did not fail to paint his disappointment and +sense of injury in the strongest colours; but blacker than all--and he +was capable of such a task, he pictured the gross deception of which +he had so cruelly been made the subject. + +"I could," he said to the poor father, in whose aged eyes, turned to +the earth, tears of shame were gushing, "I could have forgiven any +thing but that. You deceived me meanly and deliberately. The character +you gave with him was false. You knew it to be so, and you were well +aware that nothing but mischief and ruin could result from a connexion +with him." + +"Indeed, Mr Allcraft," replied the unhappy man, "I had great hopes of +his reformation. He had improved of late years a little, and he gave +me his word that he would be steady. If I had not thought so, I should +certainly not have permitted you to receive him. What can we do, sir?" + +"Ah! what, Mr Brammel. It is that I wish to know. The present state of +things cannot continue. Where is he now?" + +"Indeed, I do not know. He is a bad boy to hide himself from his +father. I do not deserve it of him. I cannot guess." + +"Are you aware, sir, that he is married?" + +"They have told me something of it. I am, in truth, glad to hear it. +It will be to his wife's interest to lead him back to duty." + +"You have not seen her, then?" + +The old man shook his head. + +"Well, well, sir," continued Allcraft, "this is not to the purpose. We +must protect ourselves. His profligacy must be checked; at all events, +we must have no connexion with it. Hitherto we have honoured his +drafts, and kept your name and his free from disgrace. I can do so no +longer. We have paid his last cheque this very day. To-morrow I shall +advertise publicly our determination, to honour his demands no more." + +"No--no, no, Mr Allcraft," interposed old Brammel anxiously, taking +every word for granted, "that must not be done--I cannot allow it; for +the poor boy's sake, that determination must not be made at present. I +am sure he will reform at last. I should not be surprised if he +returned to business in a day or two, and settled steadily to work for +the remainder of his life. It is likely enough, now that he is +married. I have much to answer for on account of that youth, Mr +Allcraft, and I should never forgive myself if I suffered any thing to +be done that is likely to render him desperate, just when a glimmering +of hope is stealing upon us. You shake your head, sir, but I am +confident he will yet make up for all his folly." + +"Heaven grant it, sir, for your sake!" + +"Yes, and for his own, poor child--for what will become of him if he +does not! Now, as to these cheques, Mr Allcraft, let me have them all. +I will restore every farthing that you have paid on his account; and +should any more be presented, let them be duly honoured. I hold myself +responsible for their discharge. I am sure this is the wisest course +to pursue. It is quite reasonable for you to demur, and to object to +these demands. I like you the better, Mr Allcraft, for your scruples: +you are an honourable man, sir. I would lose my last drop of blood to +make my poor boy like you. It is wise and praiseworthy in you to look +so carefully to the good credit of your house; and it is fair and +right that I should take this matter upon myself. I do it, persuaded +of the propriety of the step, and satisfied that all will go well with +him yet. Be lenient with the unhappy boy, sir, and have yet a little +patience." + +"I am afraid, sir, that he will but presume on your generosity and +good nature." + +"Ah, but he is never to know it, Mr Allcraft; I would not for the +world have him hear of what I have done. Should you discover his +abode, write to him, I pray--tell him that I am enraged at his +proceedings--that I do not think that I can ever be reconciled to him +again. Say that my anger has no bounds--that my heart is +breaking--will break and kill me, if he persists in his ingratitude +and cruelty. Implore him to come home and save me." + +The old man stopped and wept. Michael was not yet a father and could +not understand the tears: it appears that he understood business much +better; for, taking leave of Brammel as soon as he could after the +latter had expressed a wish to cash the cheques, he went immediately +to the bank and procured the documents. He presented them with his own +hand to the astounded father, from whom, also with his own hand, he +received one good substantial draft in fair exchange. + +So far, so good; but, in another quarter, Allcraft suddenly discovered +that he had committed an egregious blunder. He had entrusted Planner +with the secret of his critical position--had made him acquainted with +the dishonest transactions of his father, and the consequent +bankruptcy of the firm. Not that this disclosure had been made in any +violent ebullition of unguarded feeling--from any particular love to +Planner--from an inability on the part of the divulger to keep his own +good counsel. Michael, when he raised Planner from poverty to +comparative affluence, was fully sensible of the value of his man--the +dire necessity for him. It was indispensable that the tragic underplot +of the play should never be known to either Bellamy or Brammel, and +the only safe way of concealing it from them, was to communicate it +unreservedly to their common partner, and his peculiar _protege_. He +did so with much solemnity, and with many references to the +extraordinary liberality he had himself displayed in admitting him to +his confidence, and to a share of his wealth. "Maintain my secret," he +said to Planner, "and your fortune shall be made; betray me, and you +are thrown again into a garret. You cannot hurt me; nothing shall save +you." He repeated these words over and over again, and he received +from his confidant assurance upon assurance of secrecy and unlimited +devotion. And up to the period of Allcraft's return from France, the +gentleman had every reason to rely upon the probity and good faith of +his associate; nor in fact had he less reason _after_ his return. Were +it not that "the thief doth fear each bush an officer," he had no +cause whatever to suspect or tremble: his mind, for any actual danger, +might have been at rest. But what did he behold? Why, Planner and +Bellamy, whom he had left as distant as stage-coach acquaintances, as +intimate and loving, as united and inseparable, as the tawny twins of +Siam. Not a week passed which did not find the former, once, twice, or +three times a guest at the proud man's table. The visits paid to the +bank were rather to Mr Planner than for any other object. Mr Planner +only could give advice as to the alteration of the south wing of the +hall: Mr Planner's taste must decide upon the internal embellishments: +then there were private and mysterious conversations in the small back +room--the parlour; nods and significant looks when they met and +separated; and once, Michael called to see Planner after the hours of +business, and whom should he discover in his room but Mr Bellamy +himself, sitting in conclave with the schemer, and manifestly intent +upon some serious matter. What was the meaning of all this? Oh, it was +too plain! The rebel Planner had fallen from his allegiance, and was +making his terms with the enemy. Allcraft cursed himself a thousand +times for his folly in placing himself at the mercy of so unstable a +character, and immediately became aware that there had never been any +cogent reason for such a step, and that his danger would have been +infinitely smaller had he never spoken to a human being on the +subject. But it was useless to call himself, by turns, madman and +fool, for his pains. What could be done now to repair the error? +Absolutely nothing; and, at the best, he had only to prepare himself, +for the remainder of his days, to live in doubt, fear, anxiety, and +torture. + +In the meanwhile, Planner grew actually enamoured of the +_Pantamorphica_ Association. The more he examined it, the more +striking appeared its capabilities, the fairer seemed the prospect of +triumphant unequivocal success. In pursuance of his generous +resolution, he communicated his designs to Allcraft. They were +received with looks of unaffected fright. Without an instant's +hesitation, Michael implored his partner to desist--to give up at +once, and for ever, all thoughts of the delusion--to be faithful to +his duty, and to think well of his serious engagement. "Your +Association, sir," he exclaimed in the anger of the moment, "is like +every other precious scheme you have embarked in--impracticable, +ridiculous, absurd!" Planner, in these three words, could only +read--_ingratitude_--the basest it had ever been his lot to meet. Here +was a return for his frankness--his straightforward conduct--his +unequalled liberality. Here was the affectionate expression of thanks +which he had so proudly looked forward to--the acknowledgment of +superior genius which he had a right to expect from the man who was to +profit so largely by the labour of his brains. Very well. Then let it +be so. He would prosecute the glorious work alone--he would himself +supply the funds needful for the undertaking, and alone he would +receive the great reward that most assuredly awaited him. Very +delicately did Michael hint to his partner, that his--Planner's--funds +existed, with his castles and associations, in the unsubstantial air, +and no where else; but not so delicately as to avoid heaping fuel on +the fire which he had already kindled in the breast of the offended +schemer. The latter bristled at the words, lost for an instant his +self-possession, said in his anger more than he intended--more than he +might easily unsay--enough to bruise the already smarting soul of +Allcraft. A threat escaped his lips--a reproach--a taunt. He spoke of +his _power_, and touched cuttingly upon the deep schemes of _other_ +men, more feasible than his own perhaps, and certainly more honest. +Allcraft winced, as every syllable made known the speaker's actual +strength--his own dependence and utter weakness. He made no reply to +the attack of the man whom he had drawn from beggary; but he looked +him in the face steadily and reproachfully, and shamed him into +vexation and regret. + +"I did not mean to speak unkindly, Michael," he stammered with a view +to apologize. "I am sorry that I lost my temper. You need not fear me. +Don't remember what I have said." + +"You have threatened me, Planner," answered Allcraft, trembling with +irritation. "You have attempted to frighten me into compliance with +your demands. I say, sir, you have threatened me. It is the first +time--it shall be the last." + +"It shall, Michael--I promise you it shall." + +"I ask no promise from you," continued the excited and suspicious man, +writhing under a sense of his helplessness. "You have betrayed the +cloven foot. I thank you for it. I am aware of what is to follow--I +expect it--I shall hold myself prepared!" + +"Do nothing of the kind, Allcraft. You know me better. You are safe +with me. I am ashamed of myself for what I have spoken. Forgive me"-- + +"But never mind," proceeded the unhappy Michael. "I defy you: do your +worst. Let this be your acknowledgment of past favours--the fulfilment +of your sacred promise. Betray me to Bellamy, and be at ease." + +"Michael, you do not use me well. I spoke angrily, and without +consideration. I am sorry that I did so, and I have asked your +forgiveness. What can I do more? You should allow for wounded +feelings. It was hard to hear you ridiculing an affair that occupies +my serious thoughts. I was irritated--think no more about it." + +"Answer me this, How much does Mr Bellamy already know?" + +"From me--nothing. Make your mind happy on that score. It is not to +the interest of any one of us that secrets should be known. You need +not fear. Shake hands." + +Michael took his hand. + +"And as to this Association," continued Planner, "let me have my way +for once--the thing is clear, and cannot fail. The elements of success +are there, and a splendid fortune must be realized. I am not greedy. I +don't want to grasp every thing for myself. I told you just now that +we would share and share alike. You are not up to projects of this +nature. I am. Trust to me. I will engage to enter upon no new affair +if I am disappointed in this. The truth is, I cannot quietly let a +fortune slide through my fingers, when a little skill and energy only +are necessary to secure it. Come, Michael, this once you must not say +_no_." + +The hope, however faint, of making money by this speculation, and the +fear of offending the depositary of his great secret, compelled at +length from Allcraft a reluctant acquiescence. He consented to the +trial, receiving Planner's solemn promise that, in the event of +failure, it should be the last. Planner himself, overjoyed at his +victory, prepared himself for action, and contemplated the magnificent +resources of the bank with a resolute and daring spirit that would +have gratified exceedingly the customers of the house, could they have +but known it. Planner conscientiously believed that he had hitherto +failed in all his schemes, because he had never commanded cash +sufficient to carry out his views. This great obstacle being removed, +he wisely determined to make the most of his good fortune. And in +truth he was without the shadow of an excuse for timidity and +forbearance. The anxiety which might have accompanied his ventures, +had the money been his own, was mercifully spared him; the thought of +personal danger and ruin could never come to cloud his intellect, or +oppress his energy. As for the ruin of any other party, the idea, by a +very happy dispensation, never once occurred to him. It took a very +few months to make Mr Planner the largest shareholder--the principal +director--the president and first man in the famous "_Joint-Stock +Pantamorphica Association._" + +And whilst he was busy in the purchase of lands required for the +extensive undertaking, his dear friend Mr Bellamy was agreeably +occupied in paying off, by degrees, the heavy mortgages which, for +many years, had been weighing on his beautiful estate. In addition to +the ten thousand pounds which he had abstracted during the absence of +Mr Allcraft, he had not hesitated to draw large sums under the very +nose of his too easy and unsuspecting partner. The manner of Mr +Bellamy threw Michael off his guard. He walked so erect--looked upon +every body so superciliously--spoke even to Allcraft in so high a +tone, and with so patronizing an air, that it was quite impossible to +suspect him of being any thing but real coin, a sound man, and worthy +of all trust. It is certainly true that Mr Bellamy had not brought +into the concern as he had engaged, some twenty, or forty thousand +pounds--it does not matter which--but the reasons which he +condescended to give for this failure were perfectly satisfactory, and +accounted for the delay--so well accounted for it that Michael +entreated Mr Bellamy not to think about it, but to take his time. And +how very natural it was for a man of Mr Bellamy's consideration and +enormous wealth to secure the little property that adjoined his own, +and to borrow from the bank any sum of money that he might want to +complete so desirable a purchase! And how very natural, likewise, on +the part of Allcraft, ever fearful of discovery, ever desirous to keep +upon the best terms with Mr Bellamy (the great man of the country, the +observed of all observers)--to be at all times anxious to oblige his +friend, to render him sensible of his desire to please him, and of the +obligation under which, by these repeated acts of kindness and +indulgence, he was insensibly brought. + +And so they reached the close of the first year of partnership; and +who shall say that the situation of Michael was an enviable one, or +that the persevering man had not good cause for despondency and dread? +He was already deeply indebted to his wife; not one of his three +partners had proved to be such as he expected and required. Danger +threatened from two of them: Mr Bellamy had not afforded the support +which he had promised. A stronger heart than Michael's might have +quailed in his position; yet the pressure from without animated and +invigorated _him_. In the midst of his gloom, he was not without a +gleam of hope and consolation. As he had foreseen, the business of the +house rapidly increased: its returns were great. Day and night he +laboured to improve them, and to raise the reputation of the tottering +concern; for tottering it was, though looking most secure. For +himself, he did not draw one farthing from the bank; he resided with +his wife in a small cottage, lived economically, and sacrificed to his +engrossing occupation every joy of the domestic hearth. The public +acknowledged with favour the exertions of the labouring man; +pronounced him worthy of his sire; vouchsafed him their respect and +confidence. Bravely the youth proceeded on his way--looking ever to +the future--straining to his object--prepared to sacrifice his life +rather than yield or not attain it. Noble ambition--worthy of a less +ignoble cause--a better fate! + +The second year passed on, and then the third: at the close of this, +Michael looked again at his condition. During the last year the +business of the house had doubled. Had not the profits, and more than +the profits, been dragged away by Bellamy and Planner--his ardent mind +would have been satisfied, his ceaseless toil well-paid. But the +continual drafts had kept ever in advance of the receipts, draining +the exchequer--crippling its faculties. Even at this melancholy +exhibition, his sanguine spirit refused to be cast down, and to resign +the hope of ultimate recovery and success. He built upon the promise +of Mr Bellamy, who at length had engaged to refund his loans upon a +certain day, and to add, at the same time, his long-expected and +long-promised quota of floating capital: he built upon the illusions +of Planner's strong imagination--Planner, who suddenly becoming sick +of his speculation, alarmed at his responsibility, and doubtful of +success, had been for some time vigorously looking out for a +gentleman, willing to purchase his share and interest in the unrivaled +_Pantamorphica_, and to relieve him of his liabilities; and had at +last persuaded himself into the belief that he had found one. _He_ +likewise fixed a period for the restoration of a fearful sum of money, +which Michael, madman that he was, had suffered him to expend--to +fling away like dirt. Upon such expectation, Allcraft stood--upon such +props suffered his aching soul to rest. There wanted but a month to +the acceptable season when claims upon the house poured in which +could not be put off. Michael borrowed money once more from his wife +to meet them. He did it without remorse or hesitation. Why should he +have compunction--why think about it, when the hour of repayment was +so near at hand? It was a proper question for a man who could slumber +on a mine that was ready to burst, and shatter him to atoms. + + +CHAPTER II. + +A MEETING. + + +It was a constant saying of old Mr Brammel, that if his time were to +come over again, he would adopt a very different plan from that which +he had pursued in the education of his son. Now, a different plan it +might have been; but one leading to a more satisfactory result, I must +take the liberty to deny. Of what use is experience to one who, with +sixty years of life in him, still feels and thinks, reasons and acts, +like a child? Who but a child would have thought of paying the +wholesale demands of that dissolute, incorrigible youth, with the +notion of effecting by such subtle means his lasting reformation: who +but a child would have made the concealment of his name a condition of +the act? As may be guessed, the success of this scheme was equal to +its wisdom. Augustus Theodore, too grateful for the facilities +afforded him, showed no disposition to abridge his pleasures, or to +hasten his return. In the regular and faithful discharge of his +drafts, his vulgar soul rejoiced to detect a fear of offending, and an +eagerness to conciliate, on the part of his partner, Michael Allcraft. +He would see and acknowledge nothing else. And the idea once fixed in +his mind, he was not likely to rest contented with half the glory of +his victory. "No.--He would punish the fellow.--He would make him +smart; he would teach him to come all the way to France on purpose to +bully him. He hadn't done with the gentleman yet. Master Allcraft +should cry loud enough before he had. He'd sicken him." Still the +hopeful youth pursued his travels--still he transmitted his _orders at +sight_--still they were honoured punctually--still Augustus Theodore +chuckled with stupid delight over what he considered the pitiful +submission of his partner, who had not courage to reject his drafts, +and dared not utter now one brief expostulatory word. Mr Brammel, +junior, like the rest of the firm, lived in his own delusions. The +fourth year dawned, and Mr Brammel suddenly appeared amongst his +friends. He and his lady had travelled over Europe; they had seen the +world--the world had seen them; they were sick of wandering--they +desired to settle. A noble villa, with parks and paddocks, was +quickly taken and sumptuously furnished; hunters were got from +Tattersall's--nursery-maids from France--an establishment worthy of +the name rose like magic, almost within sight of Michael's humble +dwelling, taking the neighbourhood by surprise, startling and +affrighting Allcraft. Again the latter visited the fond old +man--remonstrated, complained; and once more the father entreated on +behalf of his son, begged for time and patience, and undertook to +satisfy the prodigal's extravagance. He gave his money as before, +willingly and eagerly, and stipulated only, with unmeaning +earnestness, for secrecy and silence. And the fourth year closed as +drearily as it had opened. The promises of Bellamy and Planner were as +far from fulfilment as ever; their performance as vigorous and +disastrous as at first. The landed proprietor still redeemed, day +after day, portions of his involved estate. The schemer, disappointed +in his expectations of a purchaser, returned to his speculation with +redoubled ardour, and with fresh supplies of gold. His only chance of +ultimate recovery was to push boldly forward, and to betray no fear of +failure. One retrograde or timid step would open the eyes of men, and +bring down ruin on the _Pantamorphica_. Planner became conscious of +all this to his dismay, and he had nothing to do in the very extremity +of his distress, but to proceed in his venture with the best spirits +he could command, and to trust himself fairly to the swelling +tide.--Allcraft looked on and trembled. + +It is wonderful how long a withered leaf will sometimes cling to its +branch. It will hold tenaciously there, the last of its race, days +after the decay of its greener and more healthy-looking mates. "A +creaking door," the proverb has it, "hangs long upon its hinges;" and +many a wheezing, parchment-looking gentleman, as we all know, who +ought to have died every year of his life since he was born, draws his +difficult breath through threescore years and ten; whilst the young, +the hardy, and the sound are smitten in their pride, and fall in heaps +about him. It is no less strange that a house of business like that of +our friend Mr Allcraft, should assert its existence for years, rotten +as it was, during the whole of the time, at its very heart's core. And +yet such is the case. Eight years elapsed, and found it still in the +land of the living: yes, and to the eye external, as proper and as +good a house of business as any you shall name. Its vitals were +going--were gone, before the smallest indications of mischief appeared +upon the surface. Life must have been well nourished to maintain +itself so long. And was it not? Answer, thou kind physician, gentle +Margaret! Answer, thou balm and life's elixir--Margaret's _gold_! + +Eight weary years have passed, and we have reached a miserable day in +the month of November. The wind is howling, and the rain is pelting +against the parlour windows of the Banking-house, whose blinds are +drawn close down. The partners are all assembled. Michael, whose hair +is as grey as his father's on the day of his death, and whom care and +misery have made haggard and old, sits at a table, with a heap of +papers before him, and a pen in his hand--engaged, as it appears, in +casting up accounts. Mr Bellamy, who looks remarkably well--very +glossy and very fat--sits at the table likewise, perusing leisurely +the county newspapers through golden eyeglasses. He holds them with +the air of a gentleman, comfortable and at ease in all respects, +mentally and bodily. Augustus Theodore swings on a chair before the +fire, which he keeps at work for his own especial consolation. His +feet stretch along the fender--his amusement is the poker. He has +grown insufferably vain, is dressed many degrees above the highest +fashionable point, and looks a dissipated, hopeless blackguard. +Planner, very subdued, very pale, and therefore very unlike himself, +stands behind the chair of Allcraft; and ever and anon he casts a +rueful glance over the shoulder of his friend, upon the papers which +his friend is busy with. No one speaks. At intervals Mr Bellamy coughs +extensively and loudly, just to show his dignity and independence, and +to assure the company that _his_ conscience is very tranquil on the +occasion--that his firm "withers are unwrung;" and Mr Brammel +struggles like an ill-taught bullfinch, to produce a whistle, and +fails in the attempt. With these exceptions, we have a silent room. A +quarter of an hour passes. Michael finishes his work. He spends one +moment in reflection, and then he speaks:-- + +"Now, gentlemen," he begins with a deep sigh, that seems to carry from +his heart a load of care--"Now, if you please"-- + +The paper and the poker are abandoned, chairs are drawn towards the +baize-covered table. The partners sit and look at one another, face to +face. + +"Gentlemen," said Michael, at first slowly and seriously, and in a +tone which none might hear beyond their walls--"you do not, I am sure, +require me to advert to _all_ the causes which have rendered this +meeting necessary. I have no desire to use reproaches, and I shall +refer as little as I may to the past. I ask you all to do me justice. +Have I not laboured like a slave for the common good? Have I not +toiled in order to avoid the evil hour that has come upon us? Have I +not given every thing--have I not robbed another in order to prop up +our house and keep its name from infamy?" + +"Be calm, be calm," interposed Mr Bellamy gently, remarking that +Allcraft slightly raised his voice at the concluding words. + +"Calm! calm, Mr Bellamy!" exclaimed the unhappy speaker, renouncing +without hesitation all attempts at the _suaviter in modo_, and yet +fearful of showing his indignation and of being overheard--"Calm! It +is well for you to talk so. Had I been less calm, less easy; had I +done my duty--had I been determined seven years ago, this cruel day +would never have arrived. You are my witness that it never would." + +Mr Bellamy rose with much formality from his seat. + +"Gentlemen," he said, "I cannot submit to dark and plebeian +innuendoes. I have come here to-day, at great personal inconvenience, +and I am prepared to listen respectfully to any thing which Mr +Allcraft thinks it his duty to bring before us. But I must have you +remember that a gentleman and a man of honour cannot brook an insult." + +"I ask your pardon, sir," added Allcraft, in a tone of bitterness--"I +meant no insult. Pray be seated. I have the honour to present you with +a statement of our affairs. We have claims upon us, amounting to +several thousand pounds, which must be met within a week. A third of +the sum required will not be at our command. How is it to be obtained? +and, if obtained, how is it to repair the inroads which, year after +year, have been made upon the house, and how secure it from further +spoliation? It is useless and absurd to hide from ourselves any longer +the glaring fact that we are on the actual verge of bankruptcy." + +"Well! I have had nothing to do with that. You can't say it's me," +ejaculated Mr Brammel. "You have had the management in your own hands, +and so you have nobody but yourself to thank for it. I thought from +the beginning how the concern would turn out!" + +"_Your_ share, sir, in furthering the interests of the bank we will +speak of shortly," said Michael, turning to the speaker with contempt. +"We have little time for recrimination now." + +"As for recrimination, Mr Allcraft," interposed Mr Bellamy, "I must be +allowed to say, that you betray a very improper spirit in this +business--very--very. You are far from being temperate." + +"Temperate!" + +"Yes; I said so." + +"Mr Bellamy," said Allcraft, bursting with rage, "I have been your +partner for eight years. I have not for a moment deserted my post, or +slackened in my duty. I have given my strength, my health, my peace of +mind, to the house. I have drawn less than your clerk from its +resources; but I have added to them, wrongfully, cruelly, and +unpardonably, from means not my own, which, in common honesty, I ought +never to have touched--which"-- + +"Really, really, Mr Allcraft," said Bellamy, interrupting him, "you +have told us every word of this before." + +"Wait, sir," continued the other. "I am _intemperate_, and you shall +have my excuse for being so. _You_, Mr Bellamy, have never devoted one +moment of your life to the interests of the house; no, not a moment. +You have, year after year, without the slightest hesitation or +remorse, sucked its life-blood from it. You have borrowed, as these +accounts will show, thousands of pounds, and paid them back with +promises and words. You engaged to produce your fair proportion of +capital; you have given nothing. You made grand professions of adding +strength and stability to the firm; you have been its stumblingblock +and hinderance." + +"Mr Allcraft," said Bellamy coolly, "you are still a very young man." + +"Have I told the truth?" + +"Pshaw, man! Speak to the point. Speak to the point, sir. We have +heavy payments due next week. Are we prepared to meet them?" + +"No--nor shall we be." + +"That's unfortunate," added Mr Bellamy, very quietly. "You are sure of +that? You cannot help us--with another loan, for instance?" + +Michael answered, with determination--"No." + +"Very well. No violence, Mr Allcraft, pray. Such being the case, I +shall decline, at present, giving any answer to the unjust, inhuman +observations which you have made upon my conduct. Painful as it is to +pass this barbarous treatment over for the present, still my own +private affairs shall be as nothing in comparison with the general +good. This provided for, I will protect myself from future insult, +depend upon it. You are wrong, Mr Allcraft--very wrong. You shall +acknowledge it. You will be sorry for the expressions which you have +cast upon a gentleman, your senior in years, and [here a very loud +cough] let me add--in social station. Now, sir, let me beg a word or +two in private." + +It was very unfortunate that the whole establishment stood in +unaffected awe of the redoubted Mr Bellamy. Allcraft, notwithstanding +his knowledge of the man, and his previous attack upon his character, +was not, at this moment, free from the fascination; and at the +eleventh hour he found it difficult to withdraw entirely his +confidence in Mr Bellamy's ultimate desire and capability to deal +honorably and justly by him. Much of the Mogul's power was +unquestionably derived from his massive _physique_; but his +chief excellence lay in that peculiar off-hand, patronizing, +take-it-for-granted air, which he made it a point to assume towards +every individual with whom he came in contact. He had scarcely +requested a few minutes' private conversation with Allcraft, before +Planner and Brammel jumped involuntarily from their seats, as if in +obedience to a word of command, and edged towards the door. + +"If you please," continued Mr Bellamy, nodding to them very +graciously; and they departed. In the course of ten minutes they were +recalled by the autocrat himself. The gentlemen resumed their seats, +and this time, Mr Bellamy addressed them. + +"You see, my dear sirs," he began with, for him, peculiar gentleness, +"it is absolutely necessary to provide against the immediate exigency, +and to postpone all discussion on the past, until this is met, and +satisfactorily disposed of." + +"Certainly!" said Augustus Brammel, who, for his part, never wished to +talk or think about the past again. "Certainly. Hear, hear! I agree to +that"-- + +"I knew you would, dear Mr Brammel--a gentleman of your discretion +would not fail to do so." + +Augustus looked up at Mr Bellamy to find if he were jeering him; but +he saw no reason to believe it. + +"Such being the case," continued the worthy speaker; "it behoves us +now to look about for some assistance. Our friend, Mr Allcraft, I am +sorry to say, does not feel disposed to help us once more through the +pressure. I am very sorry to say so. Perhaps he will think better of +it, (Allcraft shook his head.) Ah; just so. He desponds a little now. +He takes the dark side of things. For my own part, I prefer the +bright. He believes, as you have heard, that we are on the verge of +bankruptcy. Upon my honour as a gentleman, I really can believe in no +such thing. There is a general gloom over the mercantile world; it +will break off in time; and we, with the rest of mankind, shall pass +into the sunshine." + +"Hear, hear!" exclaimed Augustus Brammel; "that's the way to look at +things!" + +"Taking it for granted, then--which, positively, I an not inclined to +do; for really, Mr Allcraft, it is against your interest not to help +us in this emergency--but, however, taking it, I say, for granted, +that our friend here will not succour us--it appears to me, that only +one legitimate course is open to us. If we are refused at home, let us +apply for aid as near our home as possible. There are our London +friends"-- + +"Ah, yes, to be sure--so there are," cried Theodore Augustus. + +"We surely cannot hesitate to apply to them. Our name stands--and +deservedly so--very high. They will be glad to accommodate us with a +temporary loan. We will avail ourselves of it--say for three months. +That will give us time to turn about us, and to prepare ourselves +against similar unpleasant casualties. See what we want, Mr Allcraft: +let the sum be raised in London without delay, and let us look forward +with the hearts of men." + +"Capital, capital," continued Brammel; "I second that motion." + +"Thank you, sir," said Mr Bellamy, with a gracious smile. "There +remains then to consider only who shall be the favoured individual +deputed to this important business. One of us must certainly go to +London, and I do think it due to our youngest member, Brammel, to +concede to him the honour of representing us in the metropolis. No +offence will, I trust, be taken by our other friends, and I hope that +in my zeal for Mr Brammel, I shall not be suspected of betraying an +undue preference." + +Mr Bellamy turned towards Augustus Theodore with an almost +affectionate expression of countenance, as he spoke these words; but +perceived, to his mortification, that the latter, instead of being +pleasantly affected by his address, wriggled in his chair most +impatiently, and assumed the complexion and aspect of a man with whom +something has suddenly and violently disagreed. + +"No--no--no!" he bellowed out, as soon as he could; "none of that +soft-soap, Mr Bellamy; make up your mind at once--I sha'n't go. I +can't borrow money. I do not know how to do it. I don't want the +honour, thank you. It's very good of you, and I am much obliged to +you--that's a fact. But you'll look out for some body else, if you +please. I beg to say I decline--pos"-- + +Mr Bellamy cast upon Theodore one of his natural and annihilating +glances, and said deliberately, + +"Mr Brammel, for the first time in your life you are honoured by being +made a useful individual. You are to go to London.--Go you shall"-- + +"Go, I sha'n't," answered Brammel, in his accustomed easy style and +manner. + +"Very well. You are aware, Mr Brammel, that your respected parent has +yet to be made acquainted with sundry lively doings of your own, which +you would rather, I believe, keep from his ears at present; you +likewise are aware that if any thing happens to the serious injury of +the bank through your imprudence--your inheritance from that respected +parent would be dearly purchased for a shilling. I shall be sorry to +hurt your feelings, or your pocket. I have no wish to do it; but +depend upon me, sir, your father shall be a wiser man to-night, if you +are obstinate and disobedient." + +"I can't borrow money--I can't--I don't know how to do it," said +Brammel peevishly. + +"And who reproaches you for your inability, my dear sir," said Bellamy +coaxingly. "No one, I am sure. You shall be taught. Every thing shall +be made easy and agreeable. You will carry your credentials from the +house, and your simple task shall be beforehand well explained to +you." + +"I am not used to it." + +"And you never will be, Mr Brammel, if you don't begin to practise. +Come, I am sure you don't wish me to see your father to-day. I am +certain you are not anxious to part with your patrimony. You are too +sensible a man. Pray let us have no delay, Mr Allcraft. See what we +want. Mr Brammel will go to London to-morrow. We must take time by the +forelock. Let us meet these heavy payments, and then we can think, and +breathe, and talk. Till then it is idle to wrangle, and to lose one's +temper. Very well: then there's little more, I imagine, to be done at +present." + +Augustus Theodore still opposed his nomination, like an irritable +child; but a fly kicking against a stone wall, was as likely to move +it, as Brammel to break down the resolution of such a personage as Mr +Bellamy. After an hour's insane remonstrance, he gave in to his own +alarm, rather than to the persuasion of his partner. He was fearfully +in debt; his only hope of getting out of it rested in the speedy +decease of his unfortunate parent, whom he had not seen for months, +and who, he had reason to believe, had vowed to make him pay with his +whole fortune for any calamity that might happen to the bank through +his misconduct or extravagance. It was not from the lips of Mr Bellamy +that he heard this threat for the first time. What he should do, if it +were carried out, heaven only knows. He consented to go to London on +this disgusting mission, and he could have bitten his tongue out for +speaking his acquiescence, so enraged was he with himself, and all the +world, at his defeat. He did not affect to conceal his anger; and yet, +strange to say, it was not visible to Mr Bellamy. On the contrary, he +thanked Mr Brammel for the cheerful and excellent spirit in which he +had met his partners' wishes, and expressed himself delighted at the +opportunity which now presented itself for introducing their young +friend to life. Then, turning to Michael Allcraft, he begged him to +prepare their deputation for his work immediately, and to place no +obstacle in the way of his departure. Then he moved the adjournment of +the meeting until the return of Mr Brammel; and then he finished by +inviting all his partners to dine with him at the hall that day, and +to join him in drinking success and happiness to their young +adventurer. The invitation was accepted; and Mr. Bellamy's grand +carriage drew up immediately with splash and clatter to the door. + + +CHAPTER III. + +A CHAPTER OF LOANS. + + +Augustus Brammel hated his partners with all his heart and soul. He +had never been very fond of them, but the result of this interview +gave an activity and a form to feelings which it required only +sufficient occasion to bring into play. Notwithstanding the polite +tone which Mr Bellamy had cunningly adopted in placing his mission +before him, even he, the ignorant and obtuse Brammel, could not fail +to see that he had been made the tool, the cat's-paw in a business +from which his partners shrank. Now, had the young man been as full of +courage as he was of vulgar conceit, he might, I verily believe, have +turned his hatred, and his knowledge of affairs, to very good account. +Lacking the spirit of the smallest animal that crawls, he was content +to eject his odious malice in oaths and execrations, and to submit to +his beating after all. No sooner was the meeting at an end, than he +left the Banking-house, and turned his steps towards home. He had +become--as it was very natural he should--a brute of a husband, and +the terror of his helpless household. He remembered, all at once, that +he had been deeply aggrieved in the morning by Mrs Brammel; that as +many as two of his shirt buttons had given way whilst he was in the +act of dressing, and unable to contain himself after the treatment of +Mr Bellamy, he resolved forthwith to have his vengeance out upon his +wife. But he had not walked a hundred yards, before his rancour and +fury increased to such a height, that he was compelled to pull up +short in the street, and to vow, with a horrible oath, that he would +see all his partners roasting in the warmest place that he could think +of, before he'd move one inch to save their souls from rotting. So, +instead of proceeding homeward, he turned back again, with a view to +make this statement; but before he could reach the Banking-house, a +wiser thought entered his head, and induced him to retrace his steps. +"He would go," he said, "to his father; and lay his complaint there. +He would impeach all his partners, acknowledge his errors, and promise +once more to reform. His father, easy old fool, would believe him, +forgive him, and do any thing else, in his joy." It was certainly a +bright idea--but, alas! his debts were so very extensive. Bellamy's +threatening look rose before him, and made them appear even larger and +more terrible than they were. What if his father insisted upon his +going to London, and doing any other dirty work which these fellows +chose to put upon him? Bellamy, he was sure, could make the old man do +any thing. No, it wouldn't do. He stamped his foot to the ground in +vexation, and recurred to his original determination. It was all he +could do. He must go to London, and take what indemnification he might +in the domestic circle previously to starting. And the miserable man +did have his revenge, and did go to London. He was empowered to borrow +twenty thousand pounds from the London house, and he was furnished by +Michael Allcraft with particulars explanatory of his commission. And +he walked into Lombard Street with the feelings of a culprit walking +up the scaffold to his execution. His pitiful heart deserted him at +the very instant when he most needed its support. He passed and +repassed the large door of the establishment, which he saw opened and +shut a hundred tines in a minute, by individuals, whose +self-collectedness and independence, he would have given half his +fortune to possess. He tried, time after time, to summon courage for +his entry, and, as he afterwards expressed it, a ball rose in his +throat--just as he got one foot upon the step--large enough to choke +him. Impudent and reckless us he had been all his life, he was now +more timid and nervous than an hysterical girl. Oh, what should he do! +First, he thought of going to a neighbouring hotel, and writing at +once to Allcraft; swearing that he was very ill, that he couldn't +move, and was utterly unable to perform his duties. If he went to bed, +and sent for a doctor, surely Allcraft would believe him; and in pity +would come up and do the business. He dwelt upon this contrivance, +until it seemed too complicated for success. Would it not be more +advisable to write to the London house itself, and explain the object +of his coming up? But if he could write, why couldn't he _call_? They +would certainly ask that question, and perhaps refuse the loan. Oh, +what was he to do! He could hit upon no plan, and he couldn't muster +confidence to turn in. The porter of the firm mercifully interposed to +rescue Mr Brammel from his dilemma. That functionary had watched the +stranger shuffling to and fro in great anxiety and doubt, and at +length he deemed it proper to enquire whether the gentleman was +looking for the doorway of the house of Messrs ---- and ----, or not. +Augustus, frightened, answered _yes_ at random, and in another instant +found himself in what he called "THE SWEATING ROOM of the awfullest +house of business he had ever seen in all his life." It was a large +square apartment, very lofty and very naked-looking. There was an iron +chest, and two shelves filled with giant books; and there was nothing +else in the room but a stillness, and a mouldiness of smell, that hung +upon his spirits like pounds of lead, dragging them down, and freezing +them. Yet, cold as were his spirits, the perspiration that oozed from +the pores of his skin was profuse and steady during the quarter of an +hour that elapsed whilst he waited for the arrival of the worthy +principal. During those memorable fifteen minutes--the most unpleasant +of his life--Augustus, for two seconds together, could neither sit, +stand nor walk with comfort. He knew nothing of the affairs of his +house; he was not in a condition to answer the most trivial business +question; he had heard that his firm was on the eve of bankruptcy, +(and, judging from the part he had taken in its affairs, he could +easily believe it;) he felt that his partners had thrown the odium of +the present application upon him, not having courage to take it upon +themselves; and he had an indistinct apprehension that this very act +of borrowing money would lead to transportation or the gallows, should +the business go to rack and ruin, as he could see it shortly would. +All these considerations went far to stultify the otherwise weak and +feeble Mr Brammel; when, in addition, he endeavoured to arrange in his +mind the terms on which he would request the favour of a temporary +loan of only (!) twenty thousand pounds, a sensation of nausea +completely overpowered him, and the table, the chairs, the iron chest, +swam round him like so many ships at sea. To recover from his +sickness, and to curse the banking-house, every member of the same, +and his own respectable parent for linking him to it, was one and the +same exertion. To the infinite astonishment of Augustus Theodore, the +acquisition of these twenty thousand pounds proved the most amusing +and easiest transaction of his life. Mr Cutbill, the managing partner +of the London house, received him with profound respect and pleasure. +He listened most attentively to the stammering request, and put the +deputation at his ease at once, by expressing his readiness to comply +with Mr Allcraft's wishes, provided a note of hand, signed by all the +partners, and payable in three months, was given as security for the +sum required. Augustus wrote word home to that effect; the note of +hand arrived--the twenty thousand pounds were paid--the dreaded +business was transacted with half the trouble that it generally cost +Augustus Theodore to effect the purchase of a pair of gloves. + +Mr Bellamy remained at the hall just one week after the receipt of the +cash, and then was carried to the north by pressing business. Before +he started he complimented Allcraft upon their success, trusted that +they should now go smoothly on, promised to return at the very +earliest moment, and gave directions on his route by which all +letters of importance might safely reach him. And Allcraft, relieved +for a brief season, indefatigable as ever, strained every nerve and +muscle to sustain his credit and increase his gains. As heretofore, he +denied himself all diversion and amusement. The first at the bank, the +last to leave it, he had his eye for ever on its doings. Visible at +all times to the world, and most conspicuous there where the world was +pleased to find him, he maintained his reputation as a thorough man of +business, and held, with hooks of steel, a confidence as necessary to +existence as the vital air around him. To lose a breath of the public +approbation in his present state, were to give up fatally the only +stay on which he rested. Wonderful that, as the prospects of the man +grew darker, his courage strengthened, his spirit roused, his industry +increased! And a bitter reflection was it, that reward still came to +him--still a fair return for time and strength expended. He could not +complain of the neglect of mankind, or of the ingratitude of those he +served. In the legitimate transactions of the house, he was a +prosperous and a prospering man. Such, to the outer world, did he +appear in all respects, and such he would have been but for the hidden +and internal sores already past cure or reparation. Who had brought +them there? Michael did not ask the question--yet. Never did three +months pass away so rapidly as those which came between the day of +borrowing and the day of paying back those twenty thousand pounds. The +moment the money had arrived, Michael's previous anxieties fled from +his bosom, and left him as happy as a boy without a care. It came like +a respite from death. Sanguine to the last, he congratulated himself +upon the overthrow of his temporary difficulties, and relied upon the +upturning of some means of payment, on the arrival of the distant day. +But distant as it looked at first, it crept nearer and nearer, until +at the end of two months, when--as he saw no possibility of relieving +himself from the engagement--it appeared close upon him, haunting him +morning, noon, and night, wheresoever he might be, and sickening him +with its terrible and desperate aspect. When there wanted only a week +to the fatal day, Michael's hope of meeting the note of hand was +slighter than ever. He became irritable, distressed, and +anxious--struggled hard to get the needful sum together, struggled and +strove; but failed. Hours and minutes were now of vital consequence; +and, in a rash and unprotected moment, he permitted himself to write a +letter to the London house, begging them, as a particular favour, just +for one week to retire the bill they held against him. The London +house civilly complied with the request, and five days of that last +and dreary week swept by, leaving poor Allcraft as ill prepared for +payment as they had found him. What could he do? At length the gulf +had opened--was yawning--to receive him. How should he escape it? + +Heaven, in its infinite mercy, has vouchsafed to men _angels_ to guide +and cheer them on their difficult and thorny paths. Could Michael +suffer, and Margaret not sympathize? Could he have a sorrow which she +might chase away, and, having the power, lack the heart to do it? +Impossible! Oh! hear her in her impassioned supplications; hear her at +midnight, in their disturbed and sleepless bedchamber, whilst the +doomed man sits at her side in agony, clasps his face, and buries it +within his hand for shame and disappointment. + +"Michael, do not break my heart. Take, dearest, all that I possess; +but, I entreat you, let me see you cheerful. Do not take this thing to +heart. Whatever may be your trouble, confide it, love, to me. I will +try to kill it!" + +"No, no, no," answered Allcraft wildly; "it must not be--it shall not +be, dear Margaret. You shall be imposed upon no longer. You shall not +be robbed. I am a villain!" + +"Do not say so, Michael. You are kind and good; but this cruel +business has worn you out. Leave it, I implore you, if you can, and +let us live in peace." + +"Margaret, it is impossible. Do not flatter yourself or me with the +vain hope of extrication. Release will never come. I am bound to it +for my life; it will take longer than a life to effect deliverance. +You know not my calamities." + +"But I _will_ know them, Michael, and share them with you, if they +must be borne. I am your wife, and have a right to this. Trust me, +Michael, and do not kill me with suspense. What is this new +affliction? Whatsoever it may be, it is fitting that I should know +it--yes, will know it, dearest, or I am not worthy to lie beside you +there. Tell me, love, how is it that for these many days you have +looked so sad, and sighed, and frowned upon me. I am conscious of no +fault. Have I done amiss? Say so, and I will speedily repair the +fault?" + +Michael pressed his Margaret to his heart, and kissed her fondly. + +"Why, oh why, my Margaret, did you link your fate with mine?" + +"Why, having done so, Michael, do you not love and trust me?" + +"Love?" + +"Yes--_love_! Say what you will, you do not love me, if you hide your +griefs from me. We are one. Let us be truly so. One in our joys and in +our sufferings." + +"Dearest Margaret, why should I distress you? Why should I call upon +you for assistance? Why drag your substance from you?--why prey upon +you until you have parted with your all? I have taken too much +already." + +"Answer me one simple question, Michael. Can money buy away this +present sorrow? Can it bring to you contentment and repose? Can it +restore to me the smile which is my own? Oh, if it can, be merciful +and kind; take freely what is needful, and let me purchase back my +blessings!" + +"Margaret, you deserve a better fate!" + +"Name the sum, dear. Is it my fortune? Not more? Then never were peace +of mind and woman's happiness so cheaply bought. Take it, Michael, and +let us thank Heaven that it is enough. My fortune never gave me so +much joy as now. I do not remember, Michael, that you have ever +refused my smallest wish. It is not in your nature to be unkind. Come, +dearest, smile a little. We have made the bargain--be generous, and +pay me in advance." + +He smiled and wept in gratitude. + +Now Michael retired to rest, determined not to take advantage of the +generous impulses of his confiding wife; yet, although he did so, it +could not but be very satisfactory to his marital feelings to +discover, and to be assured of the existence of, such devotedness and +disregard of self and fortune as she displayed. Indeed, he was very +much tranquillized and comforted; so much so, in fact, that he was +enabled, towards morning, to wake up in a condition to review his +affairs with great serenity of mind, and (notwithstanding his +determination) to contrive some mode of turning the virtuous +magnanimity of his wife to good account, without inflicting any injury +upon herself. Surely if he could do this, he was bound to act. To save +himself by her help, and, at the same time, without injuring her at +all, was a very defensible step, to say the least of it. Who should +say it wasn't his absolute duty to adopt it? Whatever repugnance he +might have felt in asking a further loan from one who had already +helped him beyond his expectations, it was certainly very much +diminished since she had offered to yield to him, without reserve, +every farthing that she possessed. Not that he would ever suffer her +to do any thing so wild and inexcusable; still, after such an +expression of her wishes, he was at liberty to ask her aid, provided +always that he could secure her from any loss or risk. When Michael +got thus far in his proposition, it was not very difficult to work it +to the end. Once satisfied that it was just and honourable, and it was +comparatively child's work to arrange the _modus operandi_. A common +trick occurred to him. In former transactions with his wife, he had +pledged his word of honour to repay her. It had become a stale pledge, +and very worthless, as Michael felt. What if he put his _life_ in +pawn! Ah, capital idea! This would secure to her every farthing of her +debt. Dear me, how very easy! He had but to insure his life for the +amount he wanted, and let what would happen, she was safe. His spirit +rejoiced. Oh, it was joy to think that she could save him from +perdition, and yet not suffer a farthing's loss. Loss! So far from +this, his ready mind already calculated how she might be a gainer by +the arrangement. He was yet young. Let him insure his life at present +for twenty thousand pounds, and how much more would it be worth--say +that he lived for twenty years to come? He explained it to his +lady--to his own perfect satisfaction. The willing Margaret required +no more. He could not ask as freely as the woman's boundless love +could grant. He, with all his reasoning, could not persuade his +conscience to pronounce the dealing just. She, with her beating heart +for her sole argument and guide, looked for no motive save her strong +affection--no end but her beloved's happiness and peace. Woe is me, +the twenty thousand pounds were griped--the precious life of Mr +Allcraft was insured--the London house was satisfied. A very few weeks +flew over the head of the needy man, before he was reduced to the same +pitiable straits. Money was again required to carry the reeling firm +through unexpected difficulties. Brammel was again dispatched to +London. The commissioner, grown bolder by his first success, was ill +prepared for hesitation and reproof, and awkward references to "that +last affair." Ten thousand pounds were the most they could advance, +and all transactions of the kind must close with this, if there should +be any deviation from the strictest punctuality. Brammel attempted to +apologise, and failed in the attempt, of course. He came home +disgusted, shortening his journey by swearing over half the distance, +and promising his partners his cordial forgiveness, if ever they +persuaded him again to go to London on a begging expedition! + +Oh, Margaret! Margaret! Oh, spirit of the mild and gentle Mildred! +Must I add, that your good money paid this second loan--and yet a +third--a fourth--a fifth? When shall fond woman cease to give--when +shall mean and sordid man be satisfied with something less than all +she has to grant? + + +CHAPTER IV. + +A DISSOLUTION OF PARTNERSHIP. + + +The most remarkable circumstance in that meeting of the partners, +which ended in Brammel's first visit to London, was the behaviour of +our very dear friend and ally--the volatile Planner--volatile, alas! +no longer. His best friend would not have recognized him on that +deeply interesting occasion. He was a subdued, a shaken man. Every +drop of his brave spirit had been squeezed out of him, and he stood +the mere pulp and rind of his former self. He who, for years, had been +accustomed to look at men, not only in the face, but very +impertinently over their heads, could not drag his shambling vision +now higher than men's shoe-strings. His eye, his heart, his soul was +on the ground. He was disappointed, crushed. Not a syllable did he +utter; not a single word of remonstrance and advice did he presume to +offer in the presence of his associates. He had a sense of guilt, and +men so situated are sometimes tongue-tied. He had, in truth, a great +deal to answer for, and enough to make a livelier man than he +dissatisfied and wretched. Every farthing which had passed from the +bank to the _Pantamorphica_ Association was irrecoverably gone. The +Association itself was in the same condition--gone irrecoverably +likewise. Nothing remained of that once beautiful and promising +vision, but some hundred acres of valueless land, a half-finished and +straggling brick wall, falling rapidly to decay, the foundations of a +theatre, and the rudiments of a temple dedicated to Apollo. Planner +had gazed upon the scene once, when dismal rain was pouring down upon +the ruins, and he burst into bitter tears, and sobbed like a child at +the annihilation of his hopes. He had not courage to look a second +time upon that desolation, and yet he found courage to turn away from +it, and to do a thing more desperate. Ashamed to be beaten, afraid to +meet the just rebuke of Allcraft, he flung himself recklessly into the +hands of a small band of needy speculators, and secretly engaged in +schemes that promised restitution of the wealth he had expended, or +make his ruin perfect and complete. One adventure after another +failed, cutting the thread of his career shorter every instant, and +rendering him more hot-brained and impatient. He doubled and trebled +his risks, and did the like, as may be guessed, to his anxieties and +failures. He lived in a perpetual fear and danger of discovery; and +discovery now was but another name, for poison--prison--death. Here +was enough, and more than enough, to extinguish every spark of joy in +the bosom of Mr Planner, and to account for his despondency and +settled gloom. And yet Planner, in this, his darkest hour, was nearer +to deliverance and perfect peace, than at any previous period of his +history. Planner was essentially "a lucky dog." Had he fallen from a +house-top, he would have reached _terra firma_ on his feet. Had he +been conducted to the gallows, according to his desserts, the noose +would have slipped, and his life would certainly have been spared. + +It happened, that whilst Michael was immersed in the management of his +loans, a hint was forwarded to him of the pranks of his partner; a +letter, written by an anonymous hand, revealed his losses in one +transaction, amounting to many hundred pounds. The news came like a +thunderbolt to Allcraft. It was a death-blow. Iniquitous, unpardonable +as were the acts of his colleague--serious as was the actual sum of +money gone; yet these were as nothing compared with the distressing +fact, that intelligence of the evil work had already gone abroad, was +in circulation, and might at any moment put a violent end to his own +unsteady course. He carried the note to Planner--he thrust it into his +face, and called him to account for his baseness and ingratitude. He +could have struck his friend and partner to the earth, and trod him +there to death, as he confronted and upbraided him. + +"Now, sir," roared Allcraft in his fury--"What excuse--what lie have +you at your tongue's end to palliate this? What can justify this? Will +you never be satisfied until you have rendered me the same hopeless, +helpless creature that I found you, when I dragged you from your [Sec.] +beggaring. Answer me!"-- + +There is nothing like a plaintive retort when your case is utterly +indefensible. Planner looked at the letter, read it--then turned his +eyes mildly and reproachfully upon his accuser. + +"Michael Allcraft," he said affectingly, "you treat me cruelly." + +"I!" answered the other astounded. "I treat _you_! Planner, I +intrusted you years ago with a secret. I paid you well for keeping it. +Could I dream that nothing would satisfy your rapacity but my +destruction? Could I suppose it? I have fed your ravenous desires. I +have submitted to your encroachments. Do you ask my soul as well as +body? Let me know what it is you ask--what I have to pay--let me hear +the worst, and--prepare for all my punishment." + +"I have listened to all you have said," continued Planner, "and I +consider myself an ill-used man." + +Michael stared. + +"Yes--I mean it. I have worked like a negro for you Allcraft, and this +is the return you make me. I get your drift; do not attempt to +disguise it--it is cruel--most, most cruel! + +"What do you mean?" + +"Have I not always promised to share my gains with you?" + +"Pshaw--_your_ gains--where are they?" + +"That's nothing to the point. Did I not promise?" + +"Well--well." + +"And now, after all my labour and struggling, because I have _failed_, +you wish to turn me off, and throw me to the world. Now, speak the +truth, man--is it not so?" + +Oh! Planner was a cunning creature, and so was Michael Allcraft. Mark +them both! This idea, which Planner deemed too good to be seriously +entertained by his colleague, had never once occurred to Michael; but +it seemed so promising, and so likely, if followed up, to relieve him +effectually of his greatest plague, and of any floating ill report, +that he found no hesitation in adopting it at once. He did not answer, +but he tried to look as if his partner had exactly guessed his actual +intention. Such [Sec.]* gentlemen both! + + *Transcriber's Note: Original cut off between [Sec.]s--Section + completed with best guess of correct wording. + +"I thought so," continued the injured Planner. "Michael, you do not +know me. You do not understand my character. I am a child to persuade, +but a rock if you attempt to force me. I shall _not_ desert the bank, +whilst there is a chance of paying back all that we have drawn." + +"_We_, sir?" + +"Yes--we. You and I together for our schemes, and you alone for +private purposes. You recollect your father's debts"-- + +"Planner, do not think to threaten me into further compromise. You can +frighten me no longer--be sure of that. Your transactions are the +common talk of the city--the bank is stigmatized by its connexion with +you." + +"Curse the bank!" said Planner fretfully. "Would to Heaven I had never +heard of it!" + +"Leave it then, and rid yourself of the annoyance. You are free to do +it!" + +"What! and leave behind me every chance of realizing a competency for +my old age! Oh, Michael, Michael--shame, shame!" + +"Competency! Are you serious? Are you sane? Competency! Why, the +labour of your life will not make good a tithe of what you have +squandered." + +"Come, come, Michael, you know better. You know well enough that one +lucky turn would set us up at last. Speak like a man. Say that you +want to grasp all--that you are tired of me--that you are sick of the +old face, and wish to see my back. Put the thing in its proper light, +and you shall not find me hard to deal with." + +"Planner, you are deceived. Your mind is full of fancy and delusion, +and that has been your curse and mine." + +"Very well. Have your way; but look you, Michael, you are anxious to +get rid of me--there's no denying that. There is no reason why we +should quarrel on that account. I would sacrifice my prospects, were +they double what they are, rather than beg you to retain me. I did not +ask for a share in your bank. You sought me, and I came at your +request. Blot out the past. Release me from the debt that stands +against my name, and I am gone. As I came at your bidding, so, at your +bidding, I am ready to depart." + +"Agreed," said Allcraft, almost before the wily Planner finished. "It +is done. I consent to your proposal. A dissolution shall be drawn up +without delay, and shall be published in the next gazette." + +"And publish with it," said Planner, like a martyr as he was, "the +fate of him who gave up all to his own high sense of honour, and his +friend's ingratitude." + +So Planner spake, scarcely crediting his good fortune, and almost mad +with joy at his deliverance. He had no rest until the seals were fixed +to parchment, and the warrant of his release appeared in public print. +Within a week, the fettered man was free. Within another week, his +bounding spirits came like a spring-tide back to him, and in less than +eight-and-twenty days of freedom and repose, he recovered quite as +many years of sweet and precious life. He made quick use of his wings. +At first, like a wild and liberated bird, he sported and tumbled in +the air, and fixed upon no particular aim; a thousand captivating +objects soon caught his eagle eye, and then he mounted, dazzled by +them all, and soon eluded mortal sight and reach. But, glad as was the +schemer, his delight and sense of freedom were much inferior to those +of his misguided and unlucky partner. Michael breathed as a man +relieved from nightmare. The encumbrance which had for years prevented +him from rising, that had so lately threatened his existence, was +gone, could no longer hang upon him, haunt and oppress him. What a +deliverance!--Yet, what a price had he paid for it! True, but was not +the money already sacrificed? Would it have been restored, had the +luckless speculator himself remained? Never! Well, fearful then as was +the sum, let it go, taking the incubus along with it. Allcraft took +care to obtain the consent of Bellamy to his arrangement. He wrote to +him, explaining the reasons for parting with their partner; and an +answer came from the landed proprietor, acquiescing in the plan, but +slightly doubting the propriety of the movement. As for Brammel, he +consented, as he was ready to agree to any thing but a personal visit +to the great metropolis. And then, what was Michael's next step? A +proper one--to put out effectually the few sparks of scandal which +might, possibly, be still flying about after the discovery of +Planner's scheme. He worked fiercer than ever--harder than the +day-labourer--at his place of business. It was wise in him to do so, +and thus to draw men's thoughts from Planner's faults to his own +unquestioned merits. And here he might have stopped with safety; but +his roused, suspicious, sensitive nature, would not suffer him. He +began to read, then to doubt and fear men's looks; to draw conclusions +from their innocent words; to find grounds of uneasiness and torture +in their silence. A vulgar fellow treated him with rudeness, and for +days he treasured up the man's words, and repeated them to himself. +What could they mean? Did people smell a rat? Were they on the watch? +Did they suspect that he was poor? Ah, that was it! He saw it--he +believed he did--that was equivalent to sight, and enough for him. Men +did not understand him. He would not die so easily--they must be +undeceived. Miserable Allcraft! He speedily removed from his small +cottage--took a mansion, furnished it magnificently, and made it a +palace in costliness and hospitality. Ah! _was_ he poor? The trick +answered. The world was not surprised, but satisfied. There was but +one opinion. He deserved it all, and more. The only wonder was, that +he had hitherto lived so quietly, rich as he was, in virtue of his +wife's inheritance, and from his own hard-earned gains. His increasing +business still enlarged. Customers brought guests, and, in their turn, +the guests became good customers. It was a splendid mansion, +with its countless rooms and gorgeous appointments. What +pleasure-grounds--gardens--parks--preserves! Noble establishment, with +its butler, under-butler, upper-servant, and my lady's (so the working +people called poor Margaret) footman! In truth, a palace; but, alas! +although it took a prince's revenue to maintain it, and although the +lady's purse was draining fast to keep it and the bank upon its legs, +yet was there not a corner, a nook, a hole in the building, in which +master or mistress could find an hour's comfort, or a night's +unmingled sleep. As for the devoted woman, it made very little +difference to her whether she dwelt in a castle or a hovel, provided +she could see her husband cheerful, and know that he was happy. This +was all she looked for--cared for--lived for. _He_ was her life. What +was her money--the dross which mankind yearned after--but for its use +to him, but for the power it might exercise amongst men to elevate and +ennoble _him_? What was her palace but a dungeon if it rendered her +beloved more miserable than ever, if it added daily to the troubles he +had brought there--to the cares which had accumulated on his head from +the very hour she had become his mate? Michael Allcraft! you never +deserved this woman for your wife; you told her so many times, and +perhaps you meant what was wrung from your heart in its anguish. It +was the truth. Why, if not in rank cowardice and pitiful ambition, +entangle yourself in the perplexities of such a household with all +that heap of woe already on your soul? Why, when your London agents +refused, in consequence of your irregularity and neglect, to advance +your further loans--why take a base advantage of that heroic +generosity that placed its all, unquestioning, at your command? Why, +when you pretended with so much ceremony and regard, to effect an +insurance on your worthless life, did you fail to pay up the policy +even for a second year, and so resign all claim and right to such +assurance, making it null and void? Let it stand here recorded to your +disgrace, that, in the prosecution of your views, in the working out +of your insane ambition, no one single thought of her, who gave her +wealth as freely as ever fount poured forth its liberal stream, +deterred you in your progress for an instant; that no one glow or gush +of feeling towards the fond and faithful wife interposed to save her +from the consequences of your selfishness, and to humble you with +shame for inhumanity as vile as it was undeserved. It is not +surprising, that after the taking of the great house the demands upon +the property of Margaret were made without apology or explanation. He +asked, and he obtained. The refusal of aid, on the part of the London +house, terrified him when it came, and caused him to rush, with a +natural instinct, to the quarter whence he had no fear of denial and +complaint. He drew largely from her resources. The money was sucked +into the whirlpool; there was a speedy cry for more; and more was got +and sacrificed. It would have been a miracle had Allcraft, in the +midst of his crushing cares, retained his early vigour of mind and +body, and passed through ten years of such an existence without +suffering the penalties usually inflicted upon the man prodigal of the +blessings and good gifts of Providence. In his appearance, and in his +temperament, he had undergone a woful change. His hair--all that +remained of it, for the greater part had fallen away--was grey; +and, thin, weak, and straggling, dropped upon his wrinkled +forehead--wrinkled with a frown that had taken root there. His face +was sickly, and never free from the traces of acute anxiety that was +eating at his heart. His body was emaciated, and, at times, his hand +shook like a drunkard's. It was even worse with the spiritual man. He +had become irritable, peevish, and ill-natured; he had lost, by +degrees, every generous sentiment. As a young man he had been +remarkable for his liberality in pecuniary matters. He had been wont +to part freely with his money. Inconsistent as it may seem, +notwithstanding his heavy losses through his partners, and his fearful +expenditure, he was as greedy of gain as though he were stinting +himself of every farthing, and secretly hoarding up his chests of +gold. He would haggle in a bargain for a shilling, and economize in +things beneath a wise man's notice or consideration. For a few years, +as it has been seen, Allcraft had denied himself the customary +recreations of a man of business, and had devoted himself entirely to +his occupation. It was by no means a favourable indication of his +state of mind, that he derived no satisfaction at the grand mansion, +either alone or in the mere society of his wife. He quitted the bank +daily at a late hour, and reached his home just in time for dinner. +That over, he could not sit or rest--he must be moving. He could not +live in quiet. "Quietness"--it was his own expression--"stunned him." +He rushed to the theatre, to balls, concerts, wherever there was +noise, talk, excitement, crowds of people; wherever there was release +from his own pricking conscience and miserable thoughts. And then to +parties; of course there was no lack of them, for their society was in +great request, and every one was eager for an invitation in return to +_Eden_--such being the strange misnomer of their magnificent +prison-house. And, oh, rare entertainments were they which the +suffering pair provided for the cold-hearted crew that flocked to +partake of their substance! How the poor creature smiled upon her +guests as they arrived, whilst her wounded heart bled on! How she +sang--exquisitely always--for their amusement and nauseous +approbation, until her sweet voice almost failed to crush the rising +tears! How gracefully she led off the merry dance whilst clogs were on +her spirits, weighing upon every movement. Extravagant joyousness! +Dearly purchased pleasure! Yes, dearly purchased, if only with that +half hour of dreadful silence and remorse that intervened between the +banquet and the chamber--not of sweet slumber and benevolent repose +but of restlessness and horrid dreams! + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE CRISIS. + + +Michael was half mad in the midst of his troubles; and, in truth, they +gathered so thickly and rapidly about him, that he is to be admired +for the little check which he contrived to keep over his reason, +saving him from absolute insanity and a lunatic asylum. Mr Bellamy, +although away, made free with the capital of the bank, and applied it +to his own private uses. Mr Brammel, senior, after having, for many +years, made good to Allcraft the losses the latter had sustained +through his son's extravagance, at length grew tired of the work, and +left the neighbourhood, in disgust, as Michael thought, but, in sad +truth, with a bruised and broken heart. At last he had dismissed the +long-cherished hope of the prodigal's reformation, and with his latest +hope departed every wish to look upon his hastening decay and fall. He +crawled from the scene--the country; no one knew his course; not a +soul was cognizant of his intentions, or could guess his +resting-place. Augustus Theodore did not, in consequence of his +father's absence, draw less furiously upon the bank! He had never +heard of that father's generosity--how should he know of it now? And, +if he knew it, was he very likely to profit by the information? +Michael honoured his drafts for many reasons; two may be mentioned, +founded on hope and fear--the hope of frightening the unfortunate +Brammel senior into payment when he met with him again, the fear of +making Brammel junior desperate by his refusal, and of his divulging +all he knew. Could a man, not crazy, carry more care upon his brain? +Yes, for demands on account of Planner poured in, the very instant +that fortunate speculator had taken his lucky leave of the +establishment--demands for which Michael had rendered himself liable +in law, by the undertaking which he had drawn up and signed in his +alarm and haste. Oh, why had he overwhelmed himself with partners--why +had he married--why had he taken upon himself the responsibility of +his parent's debts--why had he not explained every thing when he might +have done it with honour and advantage--why had he not relied upon his +own integrity--and why had he attempted, with cunning and duplicity, +to overreach his neighbours? Why, oh why, had he done all this? When +Michael was fairly hemmed in by his difficulties, and, as it is +vulgarly said, had not a leg to stand upon, or a hole to creep +through, then, and not till then, did he put these various questions +to himself; and since it is somewhat singular that so shrewd a man +should have waited until the last moment to put queries of such vast +importance to himself, I shall dwell here for one brief moment on the +fact, be it only to remind and to warn others, equally shrewd and +equally clever, of the mischief they are doing when they postpone the +consideration of their motives and acts until motives and acts both +have brought them into a distress, out of which all their +consideration will not move them an inch. "Why have I _done_?" was, +is, and ever will be, the whining interrogative of stricken +_inability_; "Why am I about _to do_?" the provident question of +thoughtful, far-seeing _success_. Remember that. + +I am really afraid to say how much of poor Margaret's fortune was +dragged from her--how little of it still remained. It must have been a +trifle, indeed, when Michael, with a solemn oath, swore that he would +not touch one farthing more, let the consequences be what they might. +Could it be possible that the whole of her splendid inheritance had +shrunk to so paltry a sum, that the grasping man had ceased to think +it worth his while to touch it? or did the dread of beholding the +confiding woman, beggar'd at last, induce him to leave at her disposal +enough to purchase for her--necessary bread? Whatever was his motive, +he persisted in his resolution, and to the end was faithful to his +oath. Not another sixpence did he take from her. And how much the +better was he for all that he had taken already? Poor Michael had not +time to enquire and answer the question. He could not employ his +precious moments in retrospection. He lived from hand to mouth; +struggled every hour to meet the exigencies of the hour that followed. +He was absorbed in the agitated present, and dared not look an inch +away from it. Now, thanks to the efforts of her people, England is a +Christian country; and whenever fortune goes very hard with a man who +has received all the assistance that his immediate connexions can +afford him, there is a benevolent brotherhood at hand, eager to +relieve the sufferer's wants, and to put an end to his anxiety. This +charitable band is known by the name of _Money-lenders--Jewish_ +money-lenders; so called, no doubt, in profound humility and +self-denial, displayed in the Christian's wish to give the _honour_ +of the work elsewhere, reserving to himself the labour and--the +profit. When Michael needed fresh supplies, he was not long in +gathering a gang of harpies about him. They kept their victim for a +while well afloat. They permitted their principal to accumulate in his +hands, whilst they received full half of their advances back in the +form of interest. So he went on; and how long this game would have +lasted, it is impossible to say, because it was cut short in its +heighth by a circumstance that brought the toppling house down, as it +were, with a blow and a run. + +When Allcraft, one morning at his usual hour, presented himself at the +bank, his confidential clerk approached him with a very serious face, +and placed a newspaper in his hand. Michael had grown very timid and +excitable; and when the clerk put his finger on the particular spot to +which he desired to call his superior's attention, the heart of the +nervous man leapt into his throat, and the blood rushed from his +cheek, as if it were its duty to go and look after it. He literally +wanted the courage to read the words. He attempted to smile +indifferently, and to thank his servant as courteously as if he had +given him a pleasant pinch of snuff; but at the same time, he pressed +his thumb upon the paragraph, and made his way straight to his snug +and private room. He was ready to drop when he reached it, and his +heart beat like a hammer against his ribs. He placed the paper on the +table, and, ere he read a syllable, he laboured to compose himself. +What could it be? Was the thing exploded? Was he already the common +talk and laugh of men? Was he ruined and disgraced? He read at +length--_The property and estates of Walter Bellamy, Esq., were +announced for sale by auction._ His first sensation on perusing the +advertisement was one of overpowering sickness. Here, then, was his +destruction sealed! Here was the declaration of poverty trumpeted to +the world. Here was the alarum sounded--here was his doom proclaimed. +Let there be a run upon the bank--and who could stop it now?--let it +last for four-and-twenty hours, and he is himself a bankrupt, an +outcast, and a beggar. The tale was told--the disastrous history was +closed. He had spun his web--had been his own destiny. God help and +pardon him for his transgressions! There he sat, unhappy creature, +weeping, and weeping like a heart-broken boy, sobbing aloud from the +very depths of his soul, frantic with distress. For a full half hour +he sat there, now clenching his fists in silent agony, now accusing +himself of crime, now permitting horrible visions to take possession +of his brain, and to madden it with their terrible and truth-like +glare. He saw himself--whilst his closed eyes were pressed upon his +paralysed hands--saw himself as palpably as though he stood _before_ +himself, crawling through the public streets, an object for men's +pity, scorn, and curses. Now men laughed at him, pointed to him with +their fingers, and made their children mock and hoot the penniless +insolvent. Labouring men, with whose small savings he had played the +thief, prayed for maledictions on his head; and mothers taught their +little ones to hate the very name he bore, and frightened them by +making use of it. Miserable pictures, one upon the other, rose before +him--dark judgments, which he had never dreamed of or anticipated; and +he stood like a stricken coward, and he yearned for the silence and +concealment of the _grave_. Ay--the grave! Delightful haven to +pigeon-hearted malefactors--inconsistent criminals, who fear the puny +look of mortal man, and, unabashed, stalk beneath the eternal and the +killing frown of God. Michael fixed upon his remedy, and the delusive +opiate gave him temporary ease; but, in an another instant, he derived +even hope and consolation from another and altogether opposite view of +things. A thought suddenly occurred to him, as thoughts will occur to +the tossed and working mind--how, why, or whence we know not; and the +drowning man, catching sight of the straw, did not fail to clutch it. +What if, after all, Mr. Bellamy proposed to sell his property _in +favour of the bank_!! Very likely, certainly; and yet Allcraft, +sinking, could believe it possible--yes possible, and (by a course of +happy reasoning and self-persuasion) not only so--but _true_. And if +this were Mr. Bellamy's motive and design, how cruel had been his own +suspicions--how vain and wicked his previous disturbance and +complaints! And why should it not be? Had he not engaged to restore +the money which he had borrowed; and had he not given his word of +honour to pay in a large amount of capital? At the memorable meeting, +had he not promised to satisfy Allcraft of the justice of his own +proceedings, and the impropriety of Michael's attack upon his +character? And had not the time arrived for the redemption of his +word, and the payment of every farthing that was due from him? Yes; it +had arrived--it had come--it was here. Mr Bellamy was about to assert +his integrity, and the banking-house was saved. Michael rose from his +chair--wiped the heavy sweat-drops from his brow--dried his tears, and +gave one long and grateful sigh for his deliverance from that state of +horror, by which, for one sad, sickening moment, he had been +bewildered and betrayed. But, satisfied as he was, and rejoiced as he +pretended to be, it could hardly be expected that a gentleman +possessed of so lively a temperament as that enjoyed by Mr. Allcraft +would rest quietly upon his convictions, and take no steps to +strengthen and establish them. Michael for many days past had had no +direct communication with his absent partner, and, at the present +moment, he was ignorant of his movements. He resolved to make his way +at once to the Hall, and to get what intelligence he could of its lord +and master, from the servants left in charge of that most noble and +encumbered property. Accordingly he quitted his apartment, threw a +ghastly smile into his countenance, and then came quickly upon his +clerks, humming a few cheerful notes, with about as much spirit and +energy as a man might have if forced to sing a comic song just before +his execution. Thoroughly persuaded that the officials had not +obtained an inkling of what had transpired in his _sanctum_, and that +he left them without a suspicion of evil upon their minds, he started +upon his errand, and waited not for breath until he reached his +destination. He arrived at the lodge--he arrived at the Hall. He rang +the loud bell, and a minute afterwards he learned that Mr Bellamy was +within--had made his appearance at home late on the evening before, +and, at the present moment, was enjoying his breakfast. Michael, for +sudden joy and excitement, was wellnigh thrown from his equilibrium. +Here was confirmation stronger than ever! Would he have returned to +the estate upon the very eve of disposing of it, if he had not +intended to deal well and honestly in the transaction? Would he not +have been ashamed to do it? Would he have subjected himself to the +just reproaches and upbraidings of his partner, when, by his absence, +he might so easily have avoided them? Certainly not. Michael Allcraft, +for a few brief seconds, was a happier man than he had been for years. +His eyes were hardly free of the tears which he had shed in the +extremity of his distress, and he was now ready to weep again in the +very exuberance and wildness of his delight. He presented his card to +the corpulent and powdered footman; he was announced; he was ushered +in. Walter Bellamy, Esquire, sitting in state, received his friend and +partner with many smiles and much urbanity. He was still at breakfast, +and advancing slowly in the meal, like a gentleman whose breakfast was +his greatest care in life. Nothing could be more striking than the air +of stately repose visible in the proprietor himself, and in the +specious and solemn serving-man, who stood behind him--less a +_serving_-man than a sublime dumb waiter. Michael was affected by it, +and he approached his colleague with a rising sentiment of +awe--partly, perhaps, the effect of the scene--partly the result of +natural apprehension. + +"Most glad to see you, my very good friend," began the master--"most +glad--most happy--pray, be seated. A lovely morning this! A plate for +Mr. Allcraft." + +"Thank you--I have breakfasted," said Michael, declining the kind +offer. "I had no thought of finding you at home." + +"Ay--a mutual and unexpected pleasure. Just so. I had no thought of +coming home until I started, and I arrived here only late last night. +Business seldom suites itself to one's convenience." + +"Seldom, indeed--very seldom," answered Michael, with a friendly +smile, and a look of meaning, which showed that he had taken hope from +Mr Bellamy's expression--"and," he continued, "having returned, I +presume you spend some time amongst us." + +"Not a day, my friend. To-morrow I am on the wing again. I have left a +dozen men behind me, who'll hunt me over the country, if I don't +rejoin them without delay. No. I am off again to-morrow." (Michael +moved uneasily in his chair.) "But, how are you, Mr Allcraft? How are +all our friends? Nothing new, I'll venture to say. This world is a +stale affair at the best. Life is seen and known at twenty. Live to +sixty, and it is like reading a dull book three times over. You had +better take a cup of coffee, Mr Allcraft!" + +"Thank you--no. You surprise me by your determination." + +"Don't be surprised at any thing, Mr Allcraft. Take things as they +come, if you wish to be happy." + +Michael, very uneasy indeed, wished to make a remark, but he looked at +the man in crimson plush, and held his tongue. Mr Bellamy observed +him. + +"You have something to say? Can I give you any advice, my friend? +Pray, command me, and speak without reserve. As much as you please, +and as quickly as you please, for I assure you time is precious. In +half an hour I have twenty men to see, and twice as many things to +do." + +Again Michael glanced at the stout footman, who was pretending to +throw his mind into the coming week, and to appear oblivious of every +thing about him. + +"I have a question to ask," proceeded Michael hesitatingly; "but it +can be answered in a moment, and at another opportunity--in a little +while, when you are _quite_ at leisure." + +"As you please; only remember I have no end of engagements, and if I +am called away I cannot return to you." + +Poor Michael! His expectations were again at a fearful discount. The +language and demeanor of Mr Bellamy seemed decisive of his intentions. +What could he do? What--but fasten on his man, and not suffer him to +leave his sight without an explanation, which he dreaded to receive. +Mr Bellamy continued to be very polite and very talkative, and to +prosecute his repast with unyielding equanimity. At the close of the +meal the servant removed the cloth, and departed. At the same instant +the landed proprietor rose from his chair, and was about to depart +likewise. Michael, alarmed at the movement, touched Mr Bellamy gently +on the sleeve, and then, less gently, detained him by the wrist. + +"What do you mean, sir?" asked Bellamy, turning sharply upon his +partner: "What do you mean? What is your object?" + +"Mr Bellamy," said Allcraft, pale as death, and much excited; "you +must not go until you have satisfied me on a point of life and death +to both of us. Your conduct is a mystery. I cannot explain it. I know +not what are the motives which actuate you. These are known to +yourself. Let them be so. But I have a question to ask, and you must +and shall answer it." + +"_Must_ and _shall_, Mr Allcraft! Take care--pray, take care of your +expressions. You will commit yourself. When will you cease to be a +very young man? I will answer voluntarily any questions put to me by +any gentleman. _Must_ and _shall_ never forced a syllable from my lips +yet. Now, sir--ask what you please." + +"Mr Bellamy," continued Allcraft, "your property is announced for +public sale." + +"It is," said Bellamy. + +"And the announcement has your sanction?" + +"It has." + +"And with the sum realized by that sale, you propose to"-- + +Michael stopped, as though he wished his partner to fill up the +sentence. + +"Go on, sir," said the proprietor. + +"With the sum thus realized, I say, you propose to make good the +losses which the bank has suffered by your improvidence?" + +"Not exactly. Is there any thing else?" + +"Oh, Mr Bellamy, you cannot mean what you say? I am sure you cannot. +You are aware of our condition. You know that there needs only a +breath to destroy us in one moment for ever. At this very time your +purpose is known to the world; and, before we can prevent it, the bank +may be run upon and annihilated. What will be said of your +proceedings? How can you reconcile the answer which you have just now +given to me, with your vaunted high sense of honour, or even with your +own most worldly interests?" + +"Have you finished, sir?" said Bellamy, in a quiet voice. + +"No!" exclaimed Michael, in as angry a tone of indignation: "no! I +have not finished. I call upon you, Mr Bellamy, to mark my words; to +mark and heed them--for, so Heaven help me, I bid you listen to the +truth. Quiet and easy as you profess to be, I will be cozened by you +no longer. If you carry out your work, your doings shall be told to +every human soul within a hundred miles of where you stand. You shall +be exhibited as you are. If every farthing got from the sale of this +estate be not given up to defray your past extravagance, you shall be +branded as you deserve. Mr Bellamy, you have deceived me for many +years. Do not deceive yourself now." + +"Have you finished, sir?" repeated Mr Bellamy. + +"Yes--with a sentence. If you are mad--I will be resolute. Persist in +your determination, and the bank shall stop this very night." + +"And let it stop," said Bellamy; "by all means let it stop. If it be a +necessary, inevitable arrangement, I would not interfere with it for +the world. Act, Mr Allcraft, precisely as you think proper. It is all +I ask on my own account. I have unfortunately private debts to a very +large amount. What is still more unfortunate, they must be paid. I +have no means of paying them except by selling my estate, and +therefore it must go. I hope you are satisfied?" + +Michael threw himself into a chair, and moved about in it, groaning. +Mr Bellamy closed the door, and approached him. + +"This is a very unnecessary display of feeling, Mr Allcraft," said the +imperturbable Bellamy; "very--and can answer no good end. The thing, +as I have told you, is inevitable." + +"No--no--no," cried Allcraft, imploringly; "Not so, Mr Bellamy. Think +again--ponder well our dreadful situation. Reflect that, before +another day is gone, we may be ruined, beggared, and that this very +property may be wrested from you by our angry creditors. What will +become of us? For Heaven's sake, my dear, good sir, do not rush +blindly upon destruction. Do not suffer us to be hooted, trampled +upon, despised, cursed by every man that meets us. You can save us if +you will--do it then--be generous--be just." + +"As for being _just_, Mr Allcraft," replied Bellamy composedly, "the +less we speak about that matter the better. Had _justice_ been ever +taken into account, you and I would, in all probability, not have met +on the present business. I cannot help saying, that, when you are +ready to justify to me your conduct in respect of your late father's +liabilities, I shall be more disposed to listen to any thing you may +have to urge in reason touching the produce of this estate. Until that +time, I am an unmoved man. You conceive me?" + +"Yes," said Michael, changing colour, "I see--I perceive your drift--I +am aware--Mr Bellamy," continued the unhappy speaker, stammering until +he almost burst with rage. "You are a villain! You have heard of my +misfortunes, and you take a mean advantage of your knowledge to crush +and kill me. You are a villain and I defy you!" + +Mr Bellamy moved leisurely to the fire-place, and rang the bell. The +stout gentleman in plush walked in, and the landed proprietor pointed +to the door. + +"For Mr Allcraft, William," said the squire. + +"Very well!" said Michael, white with agitation; "Very well! As sure +as you are a living man, your ruin shall be coincident with mine. Not +a step shall I fall, down which you shall not follow and be dragged +yourself. You shall not be spared one pang. I warn you of your fate, +and it shall come sooner than you look for it." + +"Pooh, pooh; you have been drinking, Mr. Allcraft." + +"You lie, sir, as you have lied for months and years--lived upon lies, +and"-- + +"You need not say another word. You shall finish your sentence, sir, +elsewhere. Begone! William, show Mr. Allcraft to the door." + +William pretended to look very absent again, and bowed. Michael stared +at him for a second or two, as if confounded, and then, like a madman, +rushed from the room and house. + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE CRASH. + + +The plans and objects of Mr Walter Bellamy were best known to himself. +Whatever they might be, he diverged from them for a few hours in order +to give his miserable partner the opportunity he had promised him, of +completing that very inauspicious sentence--the last which he had +uttered in Mr. Bellamy's house previously to his abrupt departure. +Michael had not been in the banking-house an hour after his return +from the Hall before he was visited by a business-like gentleman, who +introduced himself as the particular friend of Mr. Bellamy, on whose +particular business he professed to come. Allcraft, with his brain on +fire, received the visit of this man with secret glee. All the way +home he had prayed that Bellamy might prove as good as his word, and +not fail to demand immediate satisfaction. He longed for death with a +full and yearning desire, and he could kiss the hand that would be +merciful and give the fatal blow. A suicide at heart, it was something +to escape the guilt and punishment of self-murder. Bellamy was reputed +a first-rate shot. Michael was aware of the fact, and hugged the +consciousness to his soul. He would not detract from his reputation; +the duellist should add another laurel to his chaplet of _honour_, and +purchase it with his blood. He had resolved to fight and fall. It was +very evident that the friend of Mr Bellamy expected rather to frighten +Michael into a humble and contrite apology, than to find him ready and +eager for the battle; for he commenced his mission by a very long and +high-flown address, and assured Mr Allcraft, time after time, that +nothing but the most ample and the most public _amende_ could be +received by his friend after what had taken place. Michael listened +impatiently, and interrupted the speaker in the midst of his oration. + +"You are quite right, sir," said he. "If an apology is to be made, it +should be an ample one. But I decline to make any whatever. I am +prepared to give Mr Bellamy all the satisfaction that he asks. I will +refer you at once to my friend, and the sooner the affair is settled +the better." + +"Well, but surely, Mr Allcraft, you must regret the strong +expression"-- + +"Which I uttered to your friend? By no means. I told him that he lied. +I repeat the word to you. I would say it in his teeth again if he +stood here. What more is necessary?" + +"Nothing," said the gentleman, certainly unprepared for Michael's +resolution. "Nothing; name your friend, sir." + +Michael had already fixed upon a second, and he told his name. His +visitor went to seek him, and the poor bewildered man rubbed his hands +gleefully, as though he had just saved his life, instead of having +placed it in such fearful jeopardy. + +That day passed like a dream. The meeting was quickly arranged. Six +o'clock on the following morning was the hour fixed. The place was a +field, the first beyond the turnpike gate, and within a mile of the +city. As soon as Michael made sure of the duel, he saw his +confidential clerk. His name was Burrage. He had been a servant in the +banking-house for forty years, and had known Michael since his birth. +It was he who gave the newspaper into Allcraft's hands, on the first +arrival of the latter at the bank that morning. He was a quiet old man +of sixty, an affectionate creature, and as much a part of the +banking-house as the iron chest, the desk, the counter, or any other +solid fixture. He stepped softly into his master's room after he had +been summoned there, and he gazed at his unhappy principal as a father +might at his own child in misfortune--a beloved and favourite child. + +"You are not well this morning, sir," said Burrage most respectfully. +"You look very pale and anxious." + +"My looks belie me, Burrage. I am very well. I have not been so well +for years. I am composed and happy. I have been ill, but the time is +past. How old are you, Burrage?" + +"Turned threescore, sir; old enough to die." + +"Die--die! death is a sweet thing, old man, when it comes to the +care-worn. I have had my share of trouble." + +"Too much, sir--too much!" said Burrage, his eyes filling with water. +"You have half killed yourself here. I am sure your poor father never +expected this. Nobody could have expected it in his time, when you +were a little, fat, rosy-cheeked boy, running about without a thought, +except a thought of kindness for other people." + +Michael Allcraft burst into a flood of tears--they gushed faster and +faster into his eyes, and he sobbed as only men sob who have reached +the climax of earthly suffering and trial. + +"Do not take on so, my dear sir," said Burrage, running to him. "Pray, +be calm. I am sure you are unwell. You have been ill for some time. +You should see a doctor--although I am very much afraid that your +disease is beyond their cure--in truth I am." + +"Burrage," said Michael in a whisper, and still sighing +convulsively--"It is all over. It is finished. Prepare for the +crash--look to your own safety. Hide yourself from the gaze of men. It +will strike us all dead." + +"You frighten me, Mr Allcraft.--You are really very ill. Your brain is +overworked--you want a little repose and recreation." + +"Yes, you are right Burrage--the recreation of a jail--the repose of a +tomb. We will have one, at least--yes, one--and I have made the +selection." + +"Have you heard any bad news to-day, sir?" + +"None--excellent news to-day. No more hopes and fears--no alarms--no +lying and knavery--eternal peace now, and not eternal wretchedness." + +"Had you not better leave the bank, Mr Allcraft, and go home? Your +hands are burning hot. You are in a high fever." + +"Put up the shutters--put up the shutters," muttered Michael, more to +himself than to his clerk. "Write _bankrupt_ on the door--write it in +large letters--in staring capitals--that the children may read the +word, and know why they are taught to curse me. You hear me, Burrage?" + +"I hear what you say, sir, but I do not understand you. You want +rest--you are excited." + +"I tell you, Burrage, I am quiet--I never was so quiet--never sounder +in body and mind. Will you refuse to listen to the truth? Man," he +continued, raising his voice and looking the clerk steadily in the +face. "I am ruined--a beggar. The bank is at its last gasp. The doors +are closed to-night--never to be re-opened." + +"God forbid, sir!" + +"Why so?--Would you drive me mad? Am I to have no peace--no rest? Am I +to be devoured, eaten away by anxiety and trouble? Have you no human +blood--no pity for me? Are you as selfish as the rest?" + +"Is it possible, sir?" + +"It is the truth. But speak not of it. I will have your life if you +betray me until the event tells its own tale. We close the door +to-night, to open it no more. You hear the words. They are very simple +words. Why do you stare so, as if you couldn't guess their meaning?" + +"Oh--I have dreaded this--I have suspected it!" said Burrage, wringing +his hands; "but it has always seemed impossible. Poor Mr Allcraft!" + +"_Poor!_" exclaimed Michael. "Do you begin already? Do you throw it in +my teeth so soon? You are in the right, man--go with the stream--taunt +me--spit in my face--trample me in the dust!" + +"Do not speak unkindly to me, master," said the old clerk. "You will +break my heart at once if you do. What you have told me is hard enough +to bear in one day." + +Michael took the good fellow's hand, and answered, whilst his lips +quivered with grief, "It is--it is enough, old friend. Go your ways. +Leave me to myself. I have told you a secret--keep it whilst it +remains one. Oh, what a havoc! What devastation! Go, Burrage--go--seal +your lips--do not breathe a syllable--go to your work." + +The clerk went as he was bid, but stupified and stunned by the +information he had received. He took his accustomed seat at the desk, +and placed a large ledger before him. He was occupied with one trifling +account for half the day, and did not finish it at last. A simple sum of +compound addition puzzled the man who, an hour before, could have gone +through the whole of the arithmetic in his sleep. Oh, boasted intellect +of man! How little is it thou canst do when the delicate and feeling +heart is out of tune! How impotent thou art! How like a rudderless ship +upon a stormy sea! Poor Burrage was helpless and adrift! And Michael sat +for hours together alone, in his little room. He was literally afraid to +creep out of it. He struggled to keep his mind steadily and composedly +fixed upon the fate that awaited him--a fate which he had marked out for +himself, and resolved not to escape. He forced himself to regard the +great Enemy of Man as _his_ best friend--his only comforter and refuge. +But just when he deemed himself well armed, least vulnerable, +and most secure, the awful _reality_ of death--its horrible +accompaniments--dissolution, corruption, rottenness, decay, and its +still more awful and obscure _uncertainties_, started suddenly before +him, and sent a sickening chill through every pore of his unnerved +flesh. Then he retreated from his position--fled, as it were, for life, +and dared not look behind, so terrible was the sight of his grim +adversary. He leaped from his chair, as if unable to sit there; and, +whilst he paced the room, he drew his breath, as though he needed air +for respiration--his heart throbbed, and his brain grew tight and hot +within his skull. The fit passing away, Michael hastened to review the +last few years of his existence, and to bribe himself to quietness and +resignation, by contrasting the hateful life which he had spent with the +desirable repose offered to him in the grave; and by degrees the +agitation ceased--the alarm subsided, and the deluded man was once more +cozened into hardened and unnatural tranquillity. In this way flew the +hours--one train of feeling succeeding to another, until the worn-out +spirit of the man gave in, and would be moved no longer. At last, the +unhappy banker grew sullen and silent. He ceased to sigh, and groan, and +weep. His brain refused to think. He drew his seat to the window of the +room, which permitted him, unperceived, to observe the movements in the +bank--and, folding his arms, he looked doggedly on, and clenched his +teeth, and frowned. He saw the fortunate few who came for money and +received it--and the unfortunate many, who brought their money--left, +and lost it. He was indifferent to all. He beheld--as the spirits fair +may be supposed to look upon the earth a moment before the sweeping +pestilence that comes to thin it--life, vigorous and active, in that +house of business, whose latest hour had come--whose knell was already +sounding; but it moved him not. He heard men speak his name in tones of +kindness, whose lips on the morrow would deal out curses. He saw others, +hat in hand, begging for an audience, who would avoid him with a sneer +and a scorning when he passed them in the street. He looked upon his own +servants, who could not flatter their master too highly to-day, and +would be the first to-morrow to cry him down, and rail against his +unpardonable extravagance and recklessness; but he heeded nothing. His +mind had suspended its operations, whilst his physical eye stared upon +vacancy. + +It was very strange. He continued in this fashion for a long time, and +suddenly sensibility seemed restored to him; for an ashy paleness came +over him--his eyelid trembled, and his lips were drawn down +convulsively, as if through strong and heavy grief. He rose instantly, +rushed to the bell, and rang it violently. + +Burrage came to answer it. + +"Monster!" exclaimed his master, gazing at him spitefully, "have you +no heart--no feeling left within you? How could you do it?" + +"Do what, sir?" + +"Rob that poor old man. Plunder and kill that hoary unoffending +creature. Why did you take his miserable earnings? Why did you rob his +little ones? Why clutch the bread from his starving grandchildren? He +will die of a broken heart, and will plead against me at the +judgment-seat. Why was that old man's money taken?" + +"We must take all, or nothing, sir. You forbade me to speak a +syllable." + +"Speak--speak! Yes, but could you not have given him a look, one +merciful look, to save his life, and my soul from everlasting ruin? +You might, you could have done it, but you conspire to overthrow me. +Go--but mark me--breathe not a word, if you hope to live." + +The poor clerk held up his hands, shook them piteously, sighed, and +went his way again. + +It was six o'clock in the evening, and every soul connected with the +bank, except Michael and Burrage, had left it. They were both in the +private room, which the former had not quitted during the day. Michael +was writing a letter; the clerk was standing mournfully at his side. +When the note was finished, directed, and sealed, Allcraft turned to +his old friend and spoke-- + +"I shall not sleep at home to-night, Burrage. I have business which +must be seen to." + +"Indeed, sir, you had better go home. You are very unwell." + +"Silence, once more. I tell you, Burrage, it cannot be. This business +must not be neglected. I have written to Mrs Allcraft, explaining the +reason of my absence. You will yourself deliver the letter to her, +with your own hands, Burrage. You hear me?" + +"Yes, sir," faltered Burrage, wishing himself deaf. + +"Very well. I have no more to say. Good-by--good-night." + +"Good-night, sir," said the man, walking slowly off. + +"Stay, Burrage. You are a true old friend--my oldest. Give me your +hand. I have spoken unkindly--very harshly and cruelly to-day. Do not +think ill of me. My temper has been soured by the troubles of life. +You forgive me for my anger--do you not?" + +The old man did not answer. He could not. He held the hand of his +master tightly in his own. He drew it to his lips and kissed it; and +then, ashamed not of the act, but of his unmanly tears, he walked +slowly to the door, and quitted the room--his head bending to the +earth, whence it never again was raised. + +Two hours later Michael was many miles away. He had followed to his +humble home the aged man who had that morning paid his substance into +the bank. Much as he had to answer for, Michael could not bear to +carry about with him the knowledge that he had ruined and destroyed +the grey-haired labourer. Why and how it was that he felt so acutely +for the stranger, and selected him from the hundreds who were beggared +by his failure, it is impossible to guess. It is certain that he +restored every sixpence that had been deposited in the morning, and +could not die until he had done so. Where Allcraft passed the night +was never known. He was punctual to his appointment on the following +morning; and so was Mr Bellamy. It is due to the latter to state, +that, at the latest moment, he was willing, as far as in him lay, to +settle the difference without proceeding to extreme measures. All that +a man could offer, who did not wish to be suspected of rank cowardice, +he offered without reservation. But Allcraft was inexorable. He +repeated his insult on the field; and there was nothing to be done but +to make him accountable for his words at the point of the pistol--to +receive and give THE SATISFACTION OF A GENTLEMAN. Whatever +satisfaction the mangled corpse of a man whom he had deeply injured, +could afford the high-born Mr Bellamy, that gentleman enjoyed in a +very few minutes after his arrival; for he shot his antagonist in the +mouth, saw him spinning in the air, and afterwards lying at his +feet--an object that he could not recognize--a spectacle for devils to +rejoice in. Happy the low-born man who may not have or feel such +exquisite and noble SATISFACTION! + +Allcraft was not cold before Mr Bellamy was at sea, sailing for +France. The latter had not put his feet upon foreign soil, before his +property was seized by hungry creditors. The bank was closed. Burrage +himself pasted on the shutters the paper that notified its failure. +Augustus Theodore Brammel heard of the stoppage whilst he was at +breakfast, sipping chocolate; and greatly he rejoiced thereat. His +delight was sensibly diminished in the course of the morning, when he +received a letter informing him of his father's death, and an +intimation from a lawyer, that every farthing which he inherited would +be taken from him, as goods and chattels, for the discharge of claims +which the creditors of the bank might have against him. Later in the +day, he heard of Allcraft's death and Bellamy's escape, and then he +rushed into a chemist's shop and bought an ounce of arsenic; but after +he had purchased it, he had not heart enough to swallow it. Enraged +beyond expression--knowing not what to do, nor upon whom to vent his +rage--it suddenly occurred to him to visit Mrs Allcraft, and to worry +her with his complaints. He hurried to her house, and forced himself +into her presence. We will not follow him, for grief is sacred; and +who that had the heart of man, would desecrate the hearth hallowed by +affliction, deep and terrible as that of our poor Margaret? + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE VICARAGE. + + +Our history began at the Vicarage; there let it end. It is a cheerful +summer's morning, and Margaret sits in the study of her friend Mr. +Middleton, who has learned to look upon his charge as upon a daughter. +She is still attired in widow's weeds, but looks more composed and +happy than when we saw her many months ago there. + +"You will not leave us, then," said the good vicar; "we have not tired +you yet?" + +"No," answered Margaret, with a sweet contented smile, "here must I +live and die. My duties will not suffer me to depart, even were I so +inclined. What would my children do?" + +"Ah, what indeed? The school would certainly go to rack and ruin." + +"And my old friends, the Harpers and the Wakefields?" + +"Why, the old ladies would very soon die of a broken heart, no doubt +of it; and then, there's our dispensary and little hospital. Why, +where should we look for a new apothecary?" + +"These are but the worst days of my life, Mr. Middleton, which I +dedicate to usefulness. How am I to make good the deficiency of +earlier years?" + +"By relying, my dear madam, upon the grace and love of Heaven, who in +mercy regards not what we have been, but what we are." + +"And is there pardon for so great a sinner?" + +"Doubt it not, dear lady. Had you not been loved, you never would have +been chastised--you would never have become an obedient and willing +child. Be sure, dear Mrs Allcraft, that having repented, you are +pardoned and reconciled to your Father. Pray, hold fast to this +conviction. You have reason to believe it; for truly _you have not +despised the chastening of the Lord, nor fainted when you were rebuked +of him_." + + * * * * * + + + + +KIEFF. + +TRANSLATED FROM THE RUSSIAN OF IVAN KOZLOFF. BY T.B. SHAW. + + + O Kieff! where religion ever seemeth + To light existence in our native land; + Where o'er Petcherskoi's dome the bright cross gleameth, + Like some fair star, that still in heaven doth stand; + Where, like a golden sheet, around thee streameth + Thy plain, and meads that far away expand; + And by thy hoary wall, with ceaseless motion, + Old Dnieper's foaming swell sweeps on to ocean. + + How oft to thee in spirit have I panted, + O holy city, country of my heart! + How oft, in vision, have I gazed enchanted + On thy fair towers--a sainted thing thou art!-- + By Lavra's walls or Dnieper's wave, nor wanted + A spell to draw me from this life apart; + In thee my country I behold, victorious, + Holy and beautiful, and great and glorious. + + The moon her soft ray on Petcherskoi poureth, + Its domes are shining in the river's wave; + The soul the spirit of the past adoreth, + Where sleeps beneath thee many a holy grave: + Vladimir's shade above thee calmly soareth, + Thy towers speak of the sainted and the brave; + Afar I gaze, and all in dreamy splendour + Breathes of the past--a spell sublime and tender. + + There fought the warriors in the field of glory, + Strong in the faith, against their country's foe; + And many a royal flower yon palace hoary, + In virgin loveliness, hath seen to blow. + And Bayan sang to them the noble story, + And secret rapture in their breast did glow; + Hark! midnight sounds--that brazen voice is dying-- + A day to meet the vanish'd days is flying. + + Where are the valiant?--the resistless lances-- + The brands that were as lightning when they waved? + Where are the beautiful--whose sunny glances + Our fathers, with such potency, enslaved? + Where is the bard, whose song no more entrances? + Ah! that deep bell hath answer'd what I craved: + And thou alone, by these grey walls, O river! + Murmurest, Dnieper, still, and flow'st for ever. + + * * * * * + + + + +MARSTON; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A STATESMAN. + +PART VII. + + + "Have I not in my time heard lions roar? + Have I not heard the sea, puft up with wind, + Rage like an angry boar chafed with sweat? + Have I not heard great ordnance in the field, + And heaven's artillery thunder in the skies? + Have I not in the pitched battle heard + Loud 'larums, neighing steeds, and trumpets clang?" + + SHAKSPEARE. + +At daybreak, the bustle of the camp awoke me. I rose hastily, mounted +my horse, and spurred to the rendezvous of the general staff. Nothing +could be more animated than the scene before me, and which spread to +the utmost reach of view. The advance of the combined forces had moved +at early dawn, and the columns were seen far away, ascending the sides +of a hilly range by different routes, sometimes penetrating through +the forest, and catching the lights of a brilliant rising sun on their +plumes and arms. The sound of their trumpets and bands was heard from +time to time, enriched by the distance, and coming on the fresh +morning breeze, with something of its freshness, to the ear and the +mind. The troops now passing under the knoll on which the +commander-in-chief and his staff had taken their stand, were the main +body, and were Austrian, fine-looking battalions, superbly uniformed, +and covered with military decorations, the fruits of the late Turkish +campaigns, and the picked troops of an empire of thirty millions of +men. Nothing could be more brilliant, novel, or picturesque, than the +display of this admirable force, as it moved in front of the rising +ground on which our _cortege_ stood. + +"You will now see," said Varnhorst, who sat curbing, with no slight +difficulty, his fiery Ukraine charger at my side, "the troops of +countries of which Europe, in general, knows no more than of the +tribes of the new world. The Austrian sceptre brings into the field +all the barbaric arms and costumes of the border land of Christendom +and the Turk." + +Varnhorst, familiar with every service of the continent, was a capital +cicerone, and I listened with strong interest as he pronounced the +names, and gave little characteristic anecdotes, of the gallant +regiments that successively wheeled at the foot of the slope--the +Archducal grenadiers--the Eugene battalion, which had won their +horse-tails at the passage of the Danube--the Lichtensteins, who had +stormed Belgrade--the Imperial Guard, a magnificent corps, who had led +the last assault on the Grand Vizier's lines, and finished the war. +The light infantry of Maria Theresa, and the Hungarian grenadiers and +cuirassiers, a mass of steel and gold, closed the march of the main +body. Nothing could be more splendid. And all this was done under the +perpetual peal of trumpets, and the thunder of drums and gongs, that +seemed absolutely to shake the air. It was completely the Miltonic +march and harmony-- + + "Sonorous metal blowing martial sounds." + +But I was now to witness a still more spirit-stirring scene. + +The trampling of a multitude of horse, and the tossing of lances and +banners in the distance, suddenly turned all eyes in their direction. + +"Now, prepare," said the Count, "for a sight, perhaps not altogether +so soldierlike, but fully as much to my taste, as the buff-belt and +grenadiers'-cap formality of the line. You shall see the Austrian +flankers--every corps equipped after its native fashion. And whatever +our martinets may say, there is nothing that gives such spirits to the +soldier, as dressing according to the style of his own country. My +early service was in Transylvania; and if I were to choose troops for +a desperate service, I say--give me either the man of the hill, or the +man of the forest, exactly in the coat of the chamois-shooter, or the +wolf-hunter." + +He had scarcely pointed my attention to the movement, when the whole +body of the rearguard was in full and rapid advance. The plain was +literally covered with those irregulars, who swept on like a surge, or +rather, from the diversity of their colours, and the vast half-circle +which they formed on the ground, a living rainbow. Part were infantry +and part cavalry, but they were so intermingled, and the motion of all +was so rapid, that it was difficult to mark the distinction. From my +recollection of the history of the Seven Years' War, I felt a double +interest in the sight of the different castes and classes of the +service, which I had hitherto known only by name. Thus passed before +me the famous Croatian companies--the Pandours, together forming the +finest outpost troops of the army--the free companies of the Tyrol, +the first marksmen of the empire, a fine athletic race, with the +eagle's feather in their broad hats, and the sinewy step of the +mountaineer--the lancers of the Bannat, first-rate videttes, an +Albanian division, which had taken service with Austria on the close +of the war; and, independently of all name and order, a cloud of wild +cavalry, Turk, Christian, and barbarian, who followed the campaign for +its chances, and galloped, sported, and charged each other like the +Arabs of the desert. + +The late triumphs of the Imperial arms in Turkey had even enhanced the +customary display, and the standards of the cavalry and colours of the +battalions, were stiff with the embroidered titles of captured +fortresses and conquered fields. Turkish instruments of music figured +among the troops, and the captive horse-tails were conspicuous in more +than one corps, which had plucked down the pride of the Moslem. The +richness and variety of this extraordinary spectacle struck me as so +perfectly Oriental, that I might have imagined myself suddenly +transferred to Asia, and looked for the pasha and his spahis; or even +for the rajah, his elephants, and his turbaned spearmen. But all this +gay splendour has long since been changed. The Croats are now +regulars, and all the rest have followed their example. + +My admiration was so loud, that it caught the ear of the duke. He +turned his quick countenance on me, and said--"Tell our friends at +home, M. Marston, what you have seen to-day. I presume you know that +Maria Theresa was a first-rate soldier; or, at least, she had the +happy art of finding them. You may see Laudohn's hand in her +battalions. As for the light troops, Europe can show nothing superior +in their kind. Trenk's Pandours, and Nadasti's hussars were worth an +army to Austria, from the first Silesian war down to the last shot +fired in Germany. But follow me, and you shall see the work of another +great master." + +We spurred across the plain to the mouth of a deep, wooded defile, +through which the Prussian grand _corps d'armee_ were advancing. The +brigades which now met our view were evidently of a different +character from the Austrian; their uniforms of the utmost simplicity; +their march utterly silent; the heads of the columns observing their +distances with such accuracy, that, on a signal, they could have been +instantly formed in order of battle; every movement of the main body +simply directed by a flag carried from hill to hill, and even the +battalion movements marked by the mere waving of a sword. Even their +military music was of a peculiarly soft and subdued character. On my +observing this to Varnhorst, his reply was--"That this was one of the +favourite points of the Great Frederick. 'I hate drums in the march,' +said the king, 'they do nothing but confuse the step. Every one knows +that the beat at the head of the column takes time to reach the rear. +Besides, the drum deafens the ear. Keep it, therefore, for the battle, +when the more noise the better.' He also placed the band in the centre +of the column. 'If they are fond of music,' said he, 'why should not +every man have his share?'" + +The steady advance, the solid force, and the sweet harmony, almost +realized the noble poetic conception-- + + "Anon they move + In perfect phalanx, to the Dorian mood + Of flutes and soft recorders, such as raised + To heights of noblest temper heroes old + Arming to battle; and instead of rage, + Deliberate valour breathed, firm and unmoved + With dread of death to flight or foul retreat." + +It is true that they wanted the picturesque splendour of ancient +warfare. The ten thousand banners, with orient colours waving, the +"forest huge of spears," the "thronging helms," and "serried shields, +in thick array of depth immeasurable." But if the bayonet, the lance, +and even the cannon offered less to the eye, the true source of the +grandeur of war was there--the power, the tremendous impulse, the +_materiel_ of those shocks which convulse nations--the marshalled +strength, fierce science, and stern will, before which the works of +man perish like chaff before the wind, and the glory of nations +vanishes like a shade. + +While the last of the troops were defiling before the duke and his +staff, a courier brought up despatches. + +"Gentlemen," said the duke, after glancing at one of the papers, "the +army of the Prince de Conde is in march to join us. They have already +reached the neighbourhood. We must now lose no time. M. Marston, you +will report to your Government what you have seen to-day. We _are_ in +march for Paris." + +Varnhorst and Guiscard were now summoned to the side of the duke; a +spot was found where we might shelter ourselves from the overpowering +blaze of the sun; the successive despatches were opened; a large map +of the routes from Champagne to the capital was laid on the ground; +and we dismounted, and, sitting together, like old comrades, we held +our little council of war. + +"I can make nothing of my French correspondents in general," said the +duke, after perusing a long letter, "but M. le Comte writes like +Cagliostro. He has evidently some prodigious secret, which he is +determined to envelope in still deeper secrecy. He tells me that La +Fayette has fled; but when, where, or for what purpose, is all equally +an enigma. In one sentence of his letter he would persuade me that all +France is disorganized, and in the next, that it is more resolved to +resist than ever. Paris is prepared to rise at the first sight of the +white flag, and Paris is sending out six thousand men every three +hours to join the republican force in the field. Paris is in despair. +Paris is in furious exultation. How am I to understand all this? Even +in his postscript he tells me, in one breath, that the whole of the +strong places in our front are filled with national guards, and that +no less than seven corps of troops of the line are prepared to fight +us in the plains of Champagne; and that we have only to push on to +take the towns--charge the troops of the line to see them +disperse--and advance within ten leagues of Paris to extinguish the +rebellion, set the royal family free, and restore the monarchy." + +The mysterious letter was handed round our circle in succession, and +seemed equally beyond comprehension to us all. We had yet to learn the +temperament of a capital, where every half-hour produced a total +change of the popular mind. The letter, fantastically expressed as it +was, conveyed the true condition of the hour. The picture was true, +but the countenance changed every moment. He might as well have given +the colours of cloud. + +I had now entered on a course of adventure the most exciting of all +others, and at the most exciting time of life. But all the world round +me was in a state of excitement. Every nation of Europe was throwing +open its armoury, and preparing its weapons for the field. The troops +invading France were palpably no more than the advanced guards of +Prussia and Austria. Even with all my inexperience, I foresaw that the +war would differ from all the past; that it would be, not a war of +tactics, but a war of opinion; that not armies, but the people +marshalled into hosts, would be ultimately the deciders of the +victory; and that on whichever side the popular feeling was more +serious, persevering, and intense, there the triumph would be gained. +I must still confess, however, in disparagement to my military +sagacity, that I was totally unprepared for the gallant resistance of +the French recruits. What can they do without officers?--ten thousand +of whom had been noblesse, and were now emigrants? What can they do +without a commissariat, what can they do without pay, and who is to +pay them in a bankrupt nation? Those were the constant topics at +headquarters. We were marching to an assured victory. France was at an +end. We should remodel the Government, and teach the _sans culottes_ +the hazard of trying the trade of politicians. + +There was but one man in the camp who did not coincide in those +glittering visions. Let me once more do justice to a prince whose +character has been affected by the caprices of fortune. The Duke of +Brunswick's language to me, as we saw the Tricolor waving on the walls +of Longwy, the first fortress which lay in our road, was--"Sir, your +court must not be deceived. We shall probably take the town, and +defeat its wavering army; but up to this moment, we have not been +joined by a single peasant. The population are against us. This is not +a German war; it is more like yours in America. I have but one hundred +and twenty thousand men against twenty-five millions." To my remark, +"that there might be large body of concealed loyalty in France, which +only waited the advance of the Allies to declare itself," his calm and +grave reply was: "That I must not suffer my Government to suppose him +capable of abandoning the royal cause, while there was hope in +military means. That it was his determination to hazard all things +rather than chill the coalition. But this let me impress upon your +Ministry," said he, with his powerful eye turned full on me; "that if +intrigue in the German cabinets, or tardiness on the part of yours, +shall be suffered to impede my progress, all is at an end. I know the +French; if we pause, they will pour on. If we do not reach Paris, we +must prepare to defend Berlin and Vienna. If the war is not ended +within a month, it may last for those twenty years." + +The commander-in-chief was true to his word. He lost no time. Before +night our batteries were in full play upon the bastions of Longwy, and +as our tents had not yet overtaken us, I lay down under a vineyard +shed in a circle of the staff, with our cloaks for our pillows, +listening to the roar of our artillery; until it mingled with my +dreams. + +We were on horse an hour before daybreak, and the cannonade still +continued heavy. It was actively returned, and the ramparts were a +circuit of fire. As a spectacle, nothing could be more vivid, +striking, and full of interest. To wait for the slow approaches of a +formal siege was out of the question. Intelligence had reached us that +the scattered French armies, having now ascertained the point at which +the burst over the frontier was to be made, had been suddenly +combined, and had taken a strong position directly in our way to the +capital. A protracted siege would raise the country in our rear, and, +thus placed between two fires, the grand army might find itself +paralysed at the first step of the campaign. The place must be +battered until a breach was made, and stormed _a la Turque_. Our +anxiety during the day was indescribable. With our telescopes +constantly in our hands, we watched the effect of every new discharge; +we galloped from hill to hill with the impatience of men in actual +combat, and every eye and tongue was busy in calculating the +distances, the power of guns, and the time which the crumbling works +would take to fill up the ditch. The reports of the engineers, towards +evening, announced that a practicable breach was made, and three +battalions of Austrian grenadiers, and as many of Prussians, were +ordered under arms for the assault. To make this gallant enterprize +more conspicuous, the whole army was formed in columns, and marched to +the heights, which commanded a view of the fortress. The fire from the +batteries now became a continued roar, and the guns of Longwy, whose +fire had slackened during the day, answered them with an equal +thunder; the space between was soon covered with smoke, and when the +battalions of grenadiers moved down the hillside, and plunged into the +valley, they looked like masses of men disappearing into the depths of +ocean. The anxiety now grew intense. I hardly breathed; and yet I had +a mingled sensation of delight, eagerness, and yet of uncertainty, to +which nothing that I had ever felt before was comparable. I longed to +follow those brave men to the assault, and probably would have made +some such extravagant blunder, but for seeing Varnhorst's broad +visage turned on me with a look of that quiet humour which, of all +things on earth, soonest brings a man to his senses. "My good friend," +said he, "however fine this affair may be, live in hope of seeing +something finer. Never be shot at Longwy, when you may have a chance +of scaling the walls of Paris. I have made a vow never to be hanged in +the beginning of a revolution, nor to be shot in the beginning of a +war. But come, the duke is beckoning to us. Let us follow him." + +We saw the general and his staff galloping from the ground where he +had remained from the beginning of the assault, to a height still more +exposed, and where the guns from the fortress were tearing up the +soil. From this spot a large body of troops were seen rushing from the +gate of the fortress, and plunging into the valley. The result of this +powerful sortie was soon heard, for every thing was invisible under +the thick cloud, which grew thicker every moment, in the volleys of +musketry, and the shouts of the troops on both sides. Varnhorst now +received an order from the chief of the staff, which produced its +effect, in the rush of a squadron of Prussian cavalry on the flank of +the enemy's column. In a few minutes it was broken, and we saw its +wrecks swept along the side of the hill. An universal shout was sent +up from the army, and our next sight was the ascent of the Austrian +and Prussian standards, gradually rising through the smoke, and making +their way towards the glacis. They had reached the foot of the breach, +when the fire of the town suddenly ceased. A white flag waved on the +rampart, and the drums of the garrison beat the _chamade_. Longwy had +surrendered! All now was triumph and congratulation. We flocked round +the duke, and hailed his first conquest as a promise of perpetual +success. He was in high spirits at an achievement which was so +important to the national impression of his talents and resources. The +sortie of the garrison had given the capture an _eclat_ which could +not have been obtained by the mere surrender of a strong place. But +the most important point of all was, the surrender before the assault. +"The sight of our troops is enough," was the universal conclusion. If +the fortified barrier of France cannot resist, what will be done by +troops as raw as peasants, and officers as raw as their troops? The +capitulation was a matter of half an hour, and by nightfall I followed +the duke and his escort into the town. It was illuminated by order of +the conquerors, and, whether _bongre_ or _malgre_, it looked showy; we +had gazers in abundance, as the dashing staff caracoled their way +through the streets. I observed, however, that we had no acclamations. +To have hissed us, might be a hazardous experiment, while so many +Hulans were galloping through the Grande Rue; but we got no smiles. In +the midst of the crowd, I met Varnhorst steering his charger with no +small difficulty, and carrying a packet of notes in his hand. "Go to +your quarters, and dress," said my good-humoured friend. "You will +have a busy night of it. The duke has invited the French commandant +and his officers to dine with him, and we are to have a ball and +supper afterwards for the ladies. Lose no time." He left me wondering +at the new world into which I had fallen, and strongly doubting, that +he would be able to fill up his ball-room. But I was mistaken. The +dinner was handsomely attended, and the ball more handsomely still. +"Fortune de la guerre," reconciled the gallant captains of the +garrison to the change; and they fully enjoyed the contrast between a +night on the ramparts, and the hours spent at the Prussian +generalissimo's splendidly furnished table. The ball which followed +exhibited a crowd of the _belles_ of Longwy, all as happy as dress and +dancing could make them. It was a charming episode in the sullen +history of campaigning, and before I flung myself on the embroidered +sofa of the mayor's drawing-room, where my billet had been given for +the night, I was on terms of eternal "friendship" with a whole group +of classic beauties--Aspasias, Psyches and Cleopatras. + +But neither love nor luxury, neither the smiles of that fair +_Champagnaises_, nor the delight of treading on the tesselated floors, +and feasting on the richness of municipal tables, could now detain us. +We were in our saddles by daybreak, and with horses that outstripped +the wind, with hearts light as air, and with prospects of endless +victory and orders and honours innumerable before us, we galloped +along, preceded, surrounded, and followed by the most showy squadrons +that ever wore lace and feathers. The delight of this period was +indescribable. It was to me a new birth of faculties that resembled a +new sense of being, a buoyant and elastic lightness of feelings and +frame. The pure air; the perpetual change of scene; the novelty of the +landscape; the restless and vivid variety of events, and those too of +the most powerful and comprehensive nature; the superb display of the +finest army that the Continent had sent to war for the last hundred +years; and all this excitement and enjoyment, with an unrivaled vista +of matchless conquest in the horizon, a triumphal march through the +provinces, to be consummated by the peace of Europe in Paris, filled +even my vexed and wearied spirit with new life. If I am right in my +theory, that the mind reaches stages of its growth with as much +distinctness as the frame, this was one of them. I was conscious from +this time of a more matured view of human being, of a clearer +knowledge of its impulses, of a more vigorous, firm, and enlarged +capacity for dealing with the real concerns of life. I still loved; +and, strange, hopeless, and bewildering as that passion was in the +breast of one who seemed destined to all the diversities of +fortune--it remained without relief, or relaxation through all. It was +the vein of gold, or perhaps the stream of fire, beneath the soil, +inaccessible to the power of change on the surface, but that surface +undergoing every impulse and influence of art and nature. + +The army now advanced unopposed. Still we received neither cheers nor +reinforcements from the population. Yet we had now begun to be +careless on the topic. The intelligence from Paris was favourable in +all the leading points. The king was resuming his popularity, though +still a prisoner. The Jacobins were exhibiting signs of terror, though +still masters of every thing. The recruits were running away, though +the decree for the general rising of the country was arming the +people. In short, the news was exactly of that checkered order which +was calculated to put us all in the highest spirits. The submission of +Paris, at least until we were its conquerors, would have deprived us +of a triumph on the spot, and the proclamation of a general peace +would have been received as the command for a general mourning. + +The duke was in the highest animation, and he talked to every one +round him, as we marched along, with more than condescension. He was +easy, familiar, and flushed with approaching victory. "We have now," +said he, "broken through the 'iron barrier,' the pride of Vauban, and +the boast of France for these hundred years. To-morrow Verdun will +fall. The commandant of Thionville, in desperation at the certainty of +our taking the town by assault, has shot himself, and the keys are on +their way to me. Nothing but villages now lie in our road, and once +past those heights," and he pointed to a range of woody hills on the +far horizon, "and we shall send our light troops _en promenade_ to +Paris." We all responded in our various ways of congratulation. + +"Apropos," said the duke, applying to me, "M. Marston, you have been +later on the spot than any of us. What can you tell of this M. +Dumourier, who, I see from my letters, is appointed to the forlorn +hope of France--the command of the broken armies of Lafayette and +Luckner?" + +My answer was briefly a hope that the new general would be as much +overmatched by the duke's fortunes in the field, as he had been by +party in the capital. "Still, he seemed to me a clever, and even a +remarkable man, however inexperienced as a soldier." + +"If he is the officer of that name who served in the last French war, +he is an old acquaintance of mine," observed the duke. "I remember him +perfectly. He was a mere boy, who, in a rash skirmish with some of our +hussars, was wounded severely and taken prisoner. But as I learned +that he was the son of a French _literateur_ of some eminence whom I +had met in Paris, and as I had conceived a favourable opinion of the +young soldier's gallantry, I gave him his parole and sent him back to +his family, who, I think, were Provencals. He was unquestionably +spirited and intelligent, and with experience might make either +minister or general; but as he has begun by failure in the one +capacity, it will be our business to show him that he may find success +equally difficult in another. At all events, we have nothing but this +minister-general between us and Notre-Dame. He has taken up a position +on the Argonne ridge in our front. To force it will be but an affair +of three hours. Adieu, gentlemen." He put spurs to his horse, and +galloped to one of the columns which approached with trumpets +sounding, bearing the captured banner of the church tower of Longwy. + +The world was now before us, and we enjoyed it to the full. Varnhorst +and I were inseparable, and feasted on the scene, the gaiety, the +oddity of the various characters, which campaigning developes more +than any mode of existence. The simple meal, the noon-rest under a +tree, the songs of our troopers, the dance in the villages, as soon as +the peasantry had discovered that we did not eat women and +children--even the consciousness of a life wholly without care, formed +a delicious state of being. "If this is the life of the Arab," I often +was ready to exclaim, "what folly would it be in him to leave the +wilderness! If the Esquimaux can sleep through one half of the year +and revel through the other, is he not the true philosopher in the +midst of his frost and snow?" Guiscard, who sometimes joined our +party, was now and then moved to smile at our unripe conceptions of +the nature of things. But we laughed at his gravity, and he returned +to pore over the mysteries of that diplomacy which evidently thickened +on him hour by hour. I recollect, however, one of his expressions--"My +friend, you think that all the battle is to be fought in front: I can +assure you that a much more severe battle is to be fought in the rear. +Argonne will be much more easily mastered than the King's closet and +the Aulic Council." We had good reason to remember the oracle. + +One morning as, with half a dozen hussars, I was ranging the thickets +on the flank of the advance, with the spirit of an English fox-hunter, +on reaching the summit of a rising ground, I saw, some miles off, a +party of horsemen making their way at full speed across the country. +The perfect level of the plains, particularly in Champagne, makes the +ground as open as a race-course. I called my hussars, and we galloped +forward to intercept. On seeing us, they slackened their speed, and +were evidently in consultation. At length the sight of our uniforms +reassured then, and one of their number came forward to meet us. To +our enquiry, the answer was, that "General Lafayette desired to be led +to the headquarters." I now saw this memorable man for the first time, +and was busy, in my usual style, in looking for the hero or the +revolutionist in his physiognomy. I was disappointed in both. I saw a +quiet visage, and a figure of moderate size, rather _embonpoint_, and +altogether the reverse of that fire-eyed and lean-countenanced +"Cassius" which I had pictured in my imagination. But his manners +perplexed me as much as his features. They were calm, easy, and almost +frank. It was impossible to recognize in him the Frenchman, except by +his language; and he was the last man in whom I could ever have +detected that pride of the theatre, the "French _marquis_." His +manners were English, and I had a fellow-feeling for him even in our +short ride to the camp, and congratulated myself on being thrown into +the intercourse of one who had played so conspicuous a part in the +most conspicuous scene of our day. + +But on his introduction to the duke, my ardour received a sudden +chill. I saw instantly, by the utter absence of all cordiality in his +reception, that the French fugitive had taken a dangerous step, and +that his Parisian ill fortune had deprived his retreat of all merit in +the sight of the commander-in-chief. My doubts were soon confirmed by +a message from his tent. I obeyed; and as I passed the lines, saw +Lafayette surrounded by a troop of Hulans of the Guard. I found the +duke pacing uneasily in front of the tent. + +"M. Marston," said he, with a vexed manner, "your capture of this +morning has added to our perplexities. You acted zealously, and with +the spirit that distinguishes your nation; but I heartily wish that +M. La Fayette had taken any other direction than towards us. His fall +has been contemplated for some time, and even the possibility of his +being arrested by some of our parties. I have received a communication +from the Allied cabinets on the contingency; and the question now is, +how to execute my order without public weakness or personal severity." + +I proposed to accompany him, while we were on the march, and to pledge +myself for his honour when we arrived at quarters. + +"Generously offered," was the reply. "But my duty, in the first +instance, prohibits his remaining in the camp; and in the next, my +feelings for himself would spare a man who has commanded the enemy's +troops, the sight of that actual collision which must immediately take +place. We attack the defiles of the Argonne to-morrow." + +He entered the tent, wrote a few lines, and returned to me. + +"M. Lafayette must consider himself as a prisoner; but as my wish is +to treat him with honour, I must beg of you, M. Marston, to take +charge of him for the time. Your offer has relieved me from an +embarrassment; and I shall take care to make honourable mention of +your conduct in this instance, as in all others, to both the courts of +Berlin and St James's. The marquis must be sent to Berlin, and I must +request that you will be ready to set out with him this evening." + +The sound was a thunder-stoke. "This evening!" when the decisive +action of the war was to be fought next morning. "To Berlin!" when all +my gallant friends were to be on the march to Paris. Impossible! I +retracted my offer at once. But the prince, not accustomed to be +resisted, held his purpose firmly; representing that, as the French +general was actually _my_ prisoner, and as _my_ court was equally +interested with those of the Allied powers, in preventing his return +to embroil France, "it was my duty, as her commissioner, to see that +the measure was effectively performed." But the appearance of leaving +the army, on the very eve of important service, was not to be argued, +or even commanded, away. The duke was equally inflexible, though his +sentences were perhaps shorter than mine; and I finally left his +presence, declaring, that if the request were persisted in, I should +throw up my commission at once, volunteer as a common trooper into the +first squadron which would admit me, and then, his highness, might, of +course, order me wherever he pleased." + +A stately smile was the answer to this tirade. I bowed, and retired. + +Within a hundred yards I met my two friends, Varnhorst and Guiscard, +and poured out my whole catalogue of wrongs at once. Varnhorst shared +my indignation, fiercely pulled his thick mustaches, and muttered some +phrases about oppression, martinetism, and other dangerous topics, +which fortunately were scattered on the air. Guiscard neither raged +nor smiled, but walked into the ducal tent. After a few minutes he +returned, and then his sallow countenance wore a smile. "You have +offended the duke desperately," said he. "And as a sovereign prince, I +dare say that banishment from his territories for life would be the +least reparation; but as a general, we think that we cannot have too +many good troops, and your proposal to take a Hulan's lance and pistol +in your hand, is irresistible. In short, he receives you as a +volunteer into his own hussars, and as you are henceforth at his +disposal, he orders."--My tormentor here made a malicious pause, which +threw me into a fever. I gazed on his countenance, to anticipate his +mission. It wore the same deep and moveless expression. "His highness +orders, that you shall escort, with a squadron, General Lafayette, to +the Chateau, our former headquarters, and where we first met; there +deliver over the Frenchman to an officer of the staff, who will be in +readiness to escort him further; and, in the mean time, if the very +fiery and independent M. Marston should have no objection to travel at +night, he may return, and be in time for whatever is to be done here +to-morrow." + +"Bravo, bravo!" exclaimed good-natured Varnhorst. "Guiscard, you are +the first of negotiators!" + +"No," was the quiet reply. "I pretend to nothing more than the art of +being a good listener. I merely waited until the duke had spoken his +will, and then interposed my suggestion. It was adopted at once; and +now our young friend has only to ride hard to-night, and come to shade +his brow with a share of any laurels which we may pluck in the forest +of Argonne, in the next twenty-four hours." + +I was enraptured--the communication was made in the most courteous +manner to the marquis. He had at once perceived the difficulties of +his position, and was glad to leave them behind as far as possible. +Our escort was mounted within a few minutes, and we were in full +gallop over the fruitful levels of Champagne. + +To speed of this order, time and space were of little importance; and +with the rapidity of a flock of falcons, we reached the foot of the +noble hill, on which, embosomed in the most famous vineyards of the +vine country, stood the Chateau. It was blazing with lights, and had +evidently lost nothing of its population by the change of +headquarters. We were soon brought to a stand by a challenge in +French, and found that we were no longer among the jovial Jaegers of +Deutchland. We had fallen in with the advanced corps of the Emigrant +army under the command of the Prince of Conde. + +Here was a new dilemma. Our prisoner's was perhaps the most startling +name which could have been pronounced among those high-blooded and +headlong men. The army was composed almost wholly of the _noblesse_; +and Lafayette, under all his circumstances of birth, sentiments, and +services, had been the constant theme of noble indignation. The +champion of the American Republic, the leader of the Parisian +movement, the commandant of the National Guard, the chief of the rebel +army in the field--all was terribly against him. Even the knowledge of +his fall could not have appeased their resentment; and the additional +knowledge that he was within their hands, might have only produced +some unfortunate display of what the philosopher calls "wild justice." +In this difficulty, while the officer of the patrol was on his way to +the Chateau to announce our coming, I consulted the captain of my +escort. But, though a capital _sabreur_, he was evidently not made to +solve questions in diplomacy. After various grimaces of thinking, and +even taking the meersham from his mouth, I was thrown on my own +resources. My application to the captive general was equally +fruitless: it was answered with the composure of one prepared for all +consequences, but it amounted simply to--"Do just as you please." + +But no time was to be lost, and leaving the escort to wait till my +return, I rode up the hill alone, and desired an interview with the +officer in command of the division. Fortunately I found him to be one +of my gayest Parisian companions, now transformed into a fierce +chevalier, colonel des chasseurs, bronzed like an Arab, and mustached +like a tiger. But his inner man was the same as ever. I communicated +my purpose to him as briefly as possible. His open brow lowered, and +his fingers instinctively began playing with the hilt of his sabre. +And if the rencontre could have been arranged on the old terms of man +to man, my gallant friend would have undoubtedly made me the bearer of +a message on the spot. But I had come for other objects, and gradually +brought him round; he allowed that "a prisoner was something entitled +to respect." The "request of his distinguished and valued friend, M. +Marston, dear to him by so many charming recollections of Paris, &c., +was much more;" and we finally arranged that the general should be +conveyed unseen to an apartment in the Chateau, while I did him and +his "_braves camarades_" the honour of sharing their supper. I gave +the most willing consent; a ride of thirty miles had given me the +appetite of a hunter. + +I was now introduced to a new scene. The room was filled with muskets +and knapsacks piled against the walls, and three-fourths of those who +sat down were private soldiers; yet there was scarcely a man who did +not wear some knightly decoration, and I heard the noblest names of +France everywhere round me. Thus extremes meet: the Faubourg St +Germains had taken the equality of the new order of things, and the +very first attempt to retain an exclusive rank had brought all to the +same level. But it was a generous, a graceful, and a gallant level. +All was good-humour under their privations, and the fearful chances +which awaited them were evidently regarded with a feeling which had +all the force of physical courage without its roughness. I was much +struck, too, with the remarkable appearance of the military figures +round me. Contrary to our general notions of the foreign noblesse +those exhibited some of the finest-looking men whom I had ever seen. +This was perhaps, in a considerable degree, owing to the military +life. In countries where the nobility are destitute of public +employment, they naturally degenerate--become the victims of the +diseases of indolence and profligacy, transmit their decrepitude to +their descendants, and bequeath dwarfishness and deformity to their +name. But in France, the young noble was destined for soldiership from +his cradle. His education partook of the manly preparations for the +soldier's career. The discipline of the service, even in peace, taught +him some superiority to the effeminate habits of opulence; and a sense +of the actual claims of talents, integrity, and determination, gave +them all an importance which, whatever might be the follies of an +individual, from time to time, powerfully shaped the general character +of the nobles. In England, the efforts for political power, and the +distinctions of political fame, preserve our nobility from relaxing +into the slavery of indulgence. The continual ascent of accomplished +minds from the humbler ranks, at once reinforces their ability and +excites their emulation; and if England may proudly boast of men of +intellectual vigour, worthy of rising to the highest rank from the +humblest condition, she may, with not less justice, boast of her +favourites of fortune fitted to cope with her favourites of nature. + +Among these showy and high-bred soldiers, the hours passed +delightfully. Anecdotes of every court of Europe, where most of them +had been, either as tourists or envoys; the piquant tales of the court +of their unfortunate sovereign; narratives--sufficiently contemptuous +of the present possessors of power; and _chansons_--some gay, and some +touching--made us all forget the flight of time. Among their military +choruses was one which drew tears from many a bold eye. It was a +species of brief elegy to the memory of Turenne, whom the French +soldier still regarded as his tutelar genius. It was said to have been +written on the spot where that great leader fell:-- + + "Recois, O Turenne, ou tu perdis lavie, + Les transports d'un soldat, qui te plaint et t'envie. + Dans l'Elysee assis, pres du cef des Cesars, + Ou dans le ciel, peutetre entre Bellone et Mars. + Fais-moi te suivre en tout, exauce ma priere; + Puis se-je ainsi remplir, et finir ma carriere." + +The application to the immediate circumstances of those brave +gentlemen was painfully direct. What to-morrow might bring was +unknown, further than that they would probably soon be engaged with +their countrymen; and whether successful or not, they must be embarked +in war against France. But my intelligence that an action was expected +on the next day awoke the soldier within them again; the wrongs of +their order, the plunders of the ruling faction, their hopeless +expatriation, if some daring effort was not made, and the triumphant +change from exiles to possessors and conquerors, stirred them all into +enthusiasm. The army of the Allies, the enemy's position, the public +feeling of Paris, and the hope of sharing in the honours of an +engagement which was to sweep the revolutionary "canaille" before the +"gentlemen of France," were the rapid and animating topics. All were +ardent, all eloquent; fortune was at their feet, the only crime was to +doubt--the only difficulty was to choose in what shape of splendid +vengeance, of matchless retribution, and of permanent glory, they +should restore the tarnished lustre of the diadem, and raise the +insulted name of France to its ancient rank among the monarchies of +the world. I never heard among men so many brilliancies of speech--so +many expressions of feeling full of the heart--so glowing a display of +what the heart of man may unconsciously retain for the time when some +great emotion rouses all its depths, and opens them to the light of +day. It was to me a new chapter in the history of man. + +The news which I had brought of the positions of the armies rendered +me an object of marked interest. I was questioned on every point; +first, and especially, of the intention of the commander-in-chief, +with the most anxious yet most polished minuteness. But, as on this +subject my lips were comparatively sealed, the state of the troops +with whom they were so soon to be brought into contact became the more +manageable topic. On mentioning that Dumourier was placed in command, +I received free and full communications on the subject of his +qualities for being the last hope of revolutionary France. One had +known him in his early career in the engineers, another had served +along with him in Corsica, a third had met him at the court of +Portugal; the concurring report being, that he was a coxcomb of the +first water, showy but superficial, and though personally brave, sure +to be bewildered when he found himself for the first time working the +wheels and springs of that puzzling machine, an army in the field. A +caustic old Provencal marquis, with his breast glittering with the +stars of a whole constellation of knighthood, yet who sat with the +cross-belts and cartouche-box of the rank and file upon him, agreeing +with all the premises, stoutly denied the conclusions. "He is a +coxcomb," said the old Marquis. "Well, he is only the fitter to +command an army of upstarts. He has seen nothing but Corsican service; +well, he is the fitter to command an army of banditti. And he has been +an _espion_ of the Government in Portugal; what better training could +he have for heading an army of traitors? Rely upon it, gentlemen, that +you have mistaken his character; if you think that he is not the very +man whom the mob of Paris ought to have chosen for their general, I +merely recommend, that when you go into action you should leave your +watches in camp, and, if you charge any of their battalions, look well +to your purses." + +The old soldier's sally restored our gaiety; but the man best +acquainted with the French commander-in-chief was my friend the +chevalier, at the head of the table. "It has singularly enough +happened to me to have met M. Dumourier in almost every scene of his +life, since his return from his first service in Germany. Our first +meeting was in the military hospital in Toulouse, where he had been +sent, like myself, to recover, in his native air, from the wounds of +our last German campaign. He was then a coxcomb, but a clever one, +full of animal spirits, and intoxicated with the honour of having +survived the German bullets, of being appointed to a company, and +wearing a _croix_. Our next meeting was in Portugal. Our Minister had +adopted some romantic idea of shaking the English influence, and +Dumourier had been sent as an engineer to reconnoitre the defences of +the country. The word _espion_ was not wholly applicable to his +mission, yet there can be no doubt that the memoir published on his +return, was _not_ a volume of travels. His services had now +recommended him to the Government, and he was sent to Corsica. There +again I met him, as my regiment formed part of the force in the +island. He was high on the staff, our intercourse was renewed, and he +was regarded as a very expert diplomatist. A few years after, I found +him in a still higher situation, a favourite of De Choiseul, and +managing the affairs of the Polish confederation. On his return to +Paris, such was the credit in which he stood, that he was placed by +the minister of war at the head of a commission to reform the military +code; thus he has been always distinguished; and has at least had +experience." + +Even this slight approach to praise was evidently not popular among +the circle, and I could hear murmurs. + +"Distinguished!--yes, more with the pen than the sword." + +"Diplomacy!--the business of a clerk. Command is another affair." + +"Mon cher Chevalier," said the old Marquis, with a laugh, "pray, after +being in so many places with him, were you with him in the Bastile?" +This was followed with a roar. + +I saw my friend's swarthy cheek burn. He started up, and was about to +make some fierce retort, when a fine old man, a general, with as many +orders as the marquis, and a still whiter head, averted the storm, by +saying, "Whether the chevalier was with M. Dumourier in that +predicament, I know not; but I can say that I was. I was sent there +for the high offence of kicking a page of the court down the grande +escalier at Versailles for impertinence, at the time when M. Dumourier +was sent there by the Duc d'Acquillon, for knowing more than the +minister. I assure you that I found him a most agreeable +personage--very gay, very witty, and very much determined to pass his +time in the pleasantest manner imaginable. But our companionship was +too brief for a perfect union of souls," said he laughing; "for I was +liberated within a week, while he was left behind for, I think, the +better part of a year." + +"But his talents?" was the question down the table. + +"Gentlemen," said the old man, "my experience in life has always made +me judge of talents by circumstances. If, for example, I find that a +man has the talent exactly fitted for his position, I give him credit +for all--he had the talent for making the Bastile endurable, and I +required no other. But there were times when graver topics varied our +pleasantry, and he exhibited very various intelligence, a practical +experience of the chief European courts, and, I am sorry to say, a +very striking contempt for their politics and their politicians alike. +He was especially indignant at the selfish perfidy with which the late +king had given him up to the ignorant jealousy of the minister, and +looked forward to the new reign with a resolute, and sometimes a +gloomy determination to be revenged. If that man is a republican, it +is the Bastile that has made him one; and if he ever shall have a fair +opportunity of displaying his genius, unless a cannonball stops his +career I should conceive him capable of producing a powerful +impression on Europe." + +The conversation might again have become stormy but for the entrance +of a patrol, for whom a vacant space at the table had been left. Forty +or fifty fine tall fellows now came rushing into the room, flinging +down shakos, knapsacks, and sabres, and fully prepared to enjoy the +good cheer provided for them. I heard the names of the first families +of France among those privates--the Montmorencies, the Lamaignons, the +Nivernois, the Rochefoucaults, the De Noailles, "familiar as household +words." All was good-humour again. They had a little adventure in +scaring away a corps of the rustic national guards who, to expedite +their escape, had flung away their arms, which were brought in as good +prize. The festivity and frolic of youth, engaged in a cause which +conferred a certain dignity even on their _tours de page_, renewed the +pleasantry of the night. We again had the _chansons_; and I recollect +one, sung with delicious taste by a handsome Italian-faced youth, a +nephew of the writer, the Duc de Nivernois. + +The duke had requested a ringlet from a beautiful woman. She answered, +that she had just found a grey hair among her locks, and could now +give then away no more. The gallant reply was-- + + "Quoi! vous parlez de cheveux blancs! + Laissez, laissez courir le temps; + Que vous importe son ravage? + Les tendres coeurs en sont exempts; + _Les Amours sont toujours enfants, + Et les Graces sont de tout age._ + Pour moi, Themire, je le sens. + Je suis toujours dans mon printemps, + Quand je vous offre mon hommage. + Si je n'avais que dixhuit ans, + Je pourrais aimer plus longtemps, + Mais, non pas aimer davantage."[10] + + [10] + + Lovely and loved! shall one slight hair + Touch thy delicious lip with care? + A heart like thine may laugh at Time-- + The Soul is ever in its prime. + All Loves, you know, have infant faces, + A thousand years can't chill the Graces! + While thou art in my soul enshrined, + I give all sorrows to the wind. + Were I this hour but gay eighteen, + Thou couldst be but my bosom's queen; + I might for longer years adore, + But could not, could not love thee more. + +On returning to look for my distinguished prisoner, I found a packet +lying on the table of my apartment; it had arrived in my absence with +the troops in advance; and I must acknowledge that I opened it with a +trembling hand, when I saw that it came from London and Mordecai. + +It was written in evident anxiety, and the chief subject was the +illness of his daughter. She had some secret on her mind, which +utterly baffled even the Jew's paternal sagacity. No letters had +reached either of them from France, and he almost implored me to +return, or, if that were impossible, to write without delay. Mariamne +had grown more fantastic, and capricious, and wayward than ever. Her +eyes had lost their brightness, and her cheek its colour. Yet she +complained of nothing, beyond a general distaste to existence. She had +seen the Comtesse de Tourville, and they had many a long conference +together, from which, however, Mariamne always returned more +melancholy than ever. She had refused the match which he had provided +for her, and declared her determination to live, like the daughter of +Jephthah, single to her grave. + +The letter then turned to my own circumstances, and entered into them +with the singular mixture of ardour and sneering which formed this +extraordinary character. + + "I am doing your business here as indefatigably as if I were + robbing nabobs in India, or setting up republics at home. The + tardiness of the Horse-Guards is to be moved by nothing but an + invasion; and it would be almost as rational to wait the + growth of an oak, as to wait the signing of your commission; + but it shall be done in my own way. I have means which can + make the tardy quick, and open the eyes of the blind. You + _shall_ be a subaltern in the Guards, unless you are in too + much haste to be a general, and get yourself shot by some + Parisian cobbler in the purloined uniform of a rifleman. But, + let me tell you one fact, and I might indorse this piece of + intelligence, 'Secret and Confidential,' to the English + cabinet, for even our great minister has yet to learn it--_the + Allies will never reach Paris_. Rely, and _act_ upon this. + They might now enter the capital, if, instead of bayonets, + they carried only trusses of straw. The road is open before + them, but they will look only behind. The war was almost a + feint from the beginning. The invasion was the second act of + the farce--the retreat will be the third. Poland has been the + _true object_; and, to cover the substantial seizures there, + has been the trick of the French invasion. I predict that, in + one month from the date of this letter, there will not be an + Austrian or Prussian cartridge found in France. Potsdam and + Schoenbrunn know more on the subject at this moment than the + duke. I write to you as a friend, and by Mariamne's especial + order, to take care of yourself. I have seen the retreats of + continental armies in my time; they are always a scene of + horrors. Follow the army so long as it advances; then all is + well, and even the experience of service may be of use to you. + But, in this instance, the moment that you find it come to a + stop, turn your horse's head to any point of the compass but + the front, and ride to the nearest seaport. The duke is a + brave man, and his army is a brave army; but both will be + instantly covered with all the obloquy of all the libelers on + earth. If you have met him as man with man, you have doubtless + been captivated with his manners, his wit, his animation, and + his accomplishments. I have known him long and well. But + Europe, within a month, will decry him, as a fugitive, a fool, + and a dastard. Such is popular wisdom, justice, and knowledge. + A pupil of the first warrior of Prussia and of modern ages, + and wanting only experience to do honour to the lessons of + Frederick, he will be laughed at by the loose loungers of the + Palais Royal, as ignorant of the art of war, and branded by + the graver loungers of courts and councils, as ignorant of the + art of government. Once more, I say, take care of yourself. + The first step in retreat will raise all France against the + Allies. Ten victories would not cost as much as the first + week's march towards the frontier. Every thicket will have its + troop; every finger, for a hundred leagues round, will be on + the trigger. Robbery and murder, famine and fatigue; disease + and death, will be upon the troops; the retreat will become a + flight, and happy is the man who will ever see the Rhine + again. Be wise in time." + +Enclosed within this long epistle was a brief note from Mariamne. + + "You must not think me dying, because I importune you no + longer. But, _can_ you give me any tidings of Lafontaine? I + know that he is rash, and even enthusiastic; but I equally + know that he is faithful and true. _Yet_, if he _has_ + forgotten me, or is married, or is any thing that, as a preux + chevalier, he ought not to be, tell me at once, and you shall + see how grateful I can be, before I cease to be any thing. But + if he has fallen--if, in the dreadful scenes now acting in + Paris, Lafontaine is no more--_tell me not_. Write some + deluding thing to me--conceal your terrible knowledge. I + should not wish to drop down dead before my father's face. He + is looking at me while I write this, and I am trying to laugh, + with a heart as heavy as lead, and eyes that can scarcely see + the paper. No--for mercy's sake, do not tell me _that he is + dead_. Give me gentle words, give me hope, deceive me--as they + give laudanum, not to prolong life, but to lull agony. Do + this, and with my last pulse I shall be grateful--with my last + breath I shall bless you." + +Poor Mariamne! I had, at least, better hopes than those for her. But +within this billet was a third. It was but a few lines; yet at the +foot of those lines was the signature--"Clotilde de Tourville." The +light almost forsook my eyes; my head swam; if the paper had been a +talisman, and every letter written with the pen of magic, it could not +have produced a more powerful effect upon me. My hands trembled, and +my ears thrilled; and yet it contained but a few unimportant words--an +enquiry addressed to Mariamne, whether she could forward a letter to +the Chateau Montauban in Champagne, or whether her father had any +correspondent in the vicinity who could send her the picture of a +beloved relative, which, in the haste of their flight to England, they +had most reluctantly left behind. + +The note at once threw every thing else into the background. What were +invasions and armies--what were kings and kingdoms--to the slightest +wish of the being who had written this billet? All this I admit to be +the fever of the mind--a waking dream--an illusion to which mesmerism +or magic is but a frivolity. Like all fevers, it is destined to pass +away, or to kill the patient; yet for the time, what on earth is so +strange, or so powerful--so dangerous to the reason--so delicious to +the soul! + +But, after the long reverie into which I sank, with the writing of +Clotilde in my hand, I recollected that fortune had for once given me +the power of meeting the wishes of this noble and beautiful creature. +The resemblance of the picture that had so much perplexed and +attracted me, was now explained. I _was_ in the Chateau de Montauban, +and I now blessed the chance which had sent me to its honoured walls. + +To hasten to the chamber where I was again to look upon the exquisite +resemblance of features which, till then, I had thought without a +similar in the world, was a matter of instinct; and, winding my way +through the intricacies of galleries and corridors, loaded with the +baggage of the emigrant army, and strewed with many a gallant noble +who had exchanged the down bed of his ancestral mansion for the bare +floor, or the open bivouac, I at length reached the apartment to which +the captive general had been consigned. To my utter astonishment, +instead of the silence which I expected under the circumstances, I +heard the jingling of glasses and roars of laughter. Was this the +abode of solitude and misfortune? I entered, and found M. Lafayette, +indeed, conducting himself with the composure of a personage of his +rank; but the other performers exhibiting a totally different +temperament. A group of Polish officers, who had formerly borne +commissions in the royal service, and now followed the Emigrant +troops, had recognized Lafayette, and insisted on paying due honours +to the "noble comrade" with whom they had served beyond the Atlantic. +Hamlet's menace to his friend, that he would "teach him to drink deep +ere he depart," had been adopted in the amplest sense by those jovial +sons of the north, and "healths bottle-deep" were sent round the board +with rapid circulation. + +My entrance but slightly deranged the symposium, and I was soon +furnished with all the freemasonry of the feast, by being called on to +do honour to the toast of "His Majesty the King of Great Britain." My +duty was now done, my initiation was complete, and while my eyes were +fixed on the portrait which, still in its unharmed beauty, looked +beaming on the wild revel below, I heard, in the broken queries, and +interjectional panegyrics of these hyperborean heroes, more of the +history of Lafayette than I had ever expected to reach my ears. + +His life had been the strangest contrast to the calm countenance which +I saw so tranquilly listen to its own tale. It was Quixotic, and two +hundred years ago could scarcely have escaped the pen of some French +Cervantes. He had begun life as an officer in the French household +troops in absolute boyhood. At sixteen he had married! at eighteen he +had formed his political principles, and begun his military career by +crossing the Atlantic, and offering his sword to the Republic. To meet +the thousand wonderings at his conduct, he exchanged the ancient motto +of the Lafayettes for a new one of his own. The words, "Why not?" were +his answer to all, and they were sufficient. On reaching America, he +asked but two favours, to be suffered to serve, and to serve without +pay. + +In America he was more republican than the Republicans. He toiled, +traveled, and bled, with an indefatigable zeal for the independence of +the colonists; his zeal was a passion, his love of liberty a romance, +his hostility to the dominion of England an universal scorn of +established power. But if fantastic, he was bold; and if too hot for +the frigidity of America, he was but preparing to touch France with +kindred fire. He refused rank in the French army coupled with the +condition of leaving the service of the Republic; and it was only on +the French alliance in 1788 that he returned to Paris, to be received +with feigned displeasure by the King, and even put under arrest by the +minister, but to be welcomed by the praises of the true sovereign, the +Queen, feted by the court, the sovereign of that sovereign, and +huzzaed by the mob of Paris, already the sovereign of them all; from +his military prison he emerged, colonel of the King's regiment of +dragoons. + +While this narrative was going on, mingled with bumpers, and bursts of +Slavonic good-fellowship, I could not help asking myself whether +Lavater was not quack and physiognomy a folly? Could this be the +dashing Revolutionist? No plodder over the desk ever wore a more +broadcloth countenance; an occasional smile was the only indication of +his interest in what was passing around him. He evidently avoided +taking a share in the discussion of his Transatlantic career, probably +from delicacy to his English auditor. But when the conversation turned +upon France, the man came forth, and he vindicated his conduct with a +spirit and fulness that told me what he might have been when the blood +of youth was added to the glow of the imagination. He was now +evidently exhausted by toil, and dispirited by disappointment. No man +could be more thoroughly ruined; baffled in theory, undone in +practice--an exile from his country, a fugitive from his +troops--overwhelmed by the hopelessness of giving a constitution to +France, and with nothing but the dungeon before him, and the crash of +the guillotine behind. + +"What was to be done?" said Lafayette. "France was bankrupt--the +treasury was empty--the profligate reign of Louis XV. had at once +wasted the wealth, dried up the revenues, and corrupted the energies +of France. Ministers wrung their hands, the king sent for his +confessor, the queen wept--but the nation groaned. There was but one +expedient, to call on the people. In 1787 the Assembly of the Notables +was summoned. It was the first time since the reign of Henry IV. +France had been a direct and formal despotism for almost two hundred +years. She had seen England spread from an island into an empire; she +had seen America spread from a colony into an empire. What had been +the worker of the miracle?--Liberty. While all the despotisms remained +within the boundaries fixed centuries ago, like vast dungeons, never +extending, and never opening to the light and air, except through the +dilapidations of time, I saw England and America expanding like +fertile fields, open to every breath of heaven and every beam of day, +expanding from year to year by the cheerful labour of man, and every +year covered with new productiveness for the use of universal mankind. +I own that there may have been rashness in urging the great +experiment--there may have been a dangerous disregard of the actual +circumstances of the people, the time, and the world--the daring hand +of the philosopher may have drawn down the lightning too suddenly to +be safe; the patriot may have flashed the blaze of his torch too +strongly on eyes so long trained to the twilight of the dungeon. The +leader of this enterprise himself, like the first discoverer of fire, +may have brought wrath upon his own head, and be condemned to have his +vitals gnawed in loneliness and chains; but nothing shall convince +Lafayette that a great work has not been begun for the living race, +for all nations, and for all posterity." + +I could not suppress the question--"But when will the experiment be +complete? When will the tree, planted thus in storms, take hold of the +soil? When will the tremendous tillage which begins by clearing with +the conflagration, and ploughing with the earthquake, bring forth the +harvest of peace to the people?" + +"These must be the legacy to our children," was the reply, in a grave +and almost contrite tone. "The works of man are rapid only when they +are meant for decay. The American savage builds his wigwam in a week, +to last for a year. The Parthenon took half an age and the treasures +of a people, to last for ever." + +We parted for the night--and for thirty years. My impression of this +remarkable man was, that he had more heart than head; that a single +idea had engrossed his faculties, to the exclusion of all others; that +he was following a phantom, with the belief that it was a substantial +form, and that, like the idolaters of old, who offered their children +to their frowning deity, he imagined that the costlier the sacrifice, +the surer it was of propitiation. Few men have been more misunderstood +in his own day or in ours. Lifted to the skies for an hour by popular +adulation, he has been sunk into obscurity ever since by historic +contempt. Both were mistaken. He was the man made for the +time--precisely the middle term between the reign of the nobility and +the reign of the populace. Certainly not the man to "ride on the +whirlwind and direct the storm;" but as certainly altogether superior +to the indolent luxury of the class among whom he was born. Glory and +liberty, the two highest impulses of our common nature, sent him at +two and twenty from the most splendid court of Europe, to the swamps +and snows, the desperate service and dubious battles of America. Eight +years of voyages, negotiations, travels, and exposure to the chances +of the field, proved his energy, and at the age of thirty he had drawn +upon himself the eyes of the world. Here he ought to have rested, or +have died. But the Revolution swept him off his feet. It was an +untried region--a conflict of elements unknown to the calculation of +man; he was whirled along by a force which whirled the monarchy, the +church, and the nation with him, and sank only when France plunged +after him. + +I have no honour for a similar career, and no homage for a similar +memory; but it is from those mingled characters that history derives +her deepest lesson, her warnings for the weak, her cautions for the +ambitious, and her wisdom for the wise. + +On the retiring of the party for the night, my first act was to summon +the old Swiss and his wife who had been left in charge of the mansion, +and collect from them all their feeble memories could tell Clotilde. +But Madame la Marechale was a much more important personage in their +old eyes, than the "charmante enfant" whom they had dandled on their +knees, and who was likely to remain a "charmante enfant" to them +during their lives. The chateau had been the retreat of the Marechale +after the death of her husband; and it was in its stately solitudes, +and in the woods and wilds which surrounded it for many a league, that +Clotilde had acquired those accomplished tastes, and that +characteristic dignity and force of mind, which distinguished her from +the frivolity of her country-women, however elegant and attractive, +who had been trained in the _salons_ of the court. The green glades +and fresh air of the forest had given beauty to her cheek and grace +to her form; and scarcely conceiving how the rouged and jewelled +Marechale could have endured such an absence from the circles of the +young queen, and the "_beaux restes_" of the wits and beauties of the +court of Louis the 15th, I thanked in soul the fortunate necessity +which had driven her from the atmosphere of the Du Barris to the +shades thus sacred to innocence and knowledge. + +But the grand business of the thing was still to be done. The picture +was taken down at last, to the great sorrow of the old servants, who +seemed to regard it as a patron saint, and who declared that its +presence, and its presence alone, could have saved the mansion, in the +first instance, from being burned by the "patriots," who generally +began their reforms of the nobility by laying their chateaux in ashes, +and in the next, from being plundered by the multitudes of whiskered +savages speaking unknown tongues, and came to leave France without +"_ni pain ni vin_" for her legitimate sons. But the will of Madame la +Marechale was to them as the laws of the Medes and Persians, +irresistible and unchangeable; and with heavy hearts they dismounted +the portrait, and assisted in enfolding and encasing it, with much the +same feeling that might have been shown in paying the last honours to +a rightful branch of the beloved line. + +But, in the wall which the picture had covered, I found a small +recess, closed by an iron door, and evidently unknown to the Swiss and +his old wife. I might have hesitated about extending my enquiry +further, but Time, the great discoverer of all things, saved my +conscience: with a slight pressure against the lock it gave way; the +door flew open, and dropped off the hinges, a mass of rust and decay. +Within was a casket of a larger size than that generally used for +jewels; but my curiosity durst not go beyond the superscription, which +was a consignment of the casket, in the name of the Marechale, to her +banker in London. Whatever might be the contents, it was clear that, +like the picture, it had been left behind in the hurry of flight, and +that to transmit it to England was fairly within my commission. Before +our busy work was done, day was glancing in through the coloured panes +of the fine old chamber. I hurried off the Swiss, with my precious +possessions, to the next town, in one of the baggage carts, with a +trooper in front to prevent his search by hands still more hazardous +than those of a custom-house officer; and then, mounting my horse, and +bidding a brief farewell to the brave and noble fellows who were +already mustering for the march, and envying me with all their souls, +I set off at full speed to rejoin the army. + +With all my speed, the action had begun for some hours before I came +in sight of the field. With what pangs of heart I heard the roar of +the cannon, for league on league, while I was threading my bewildered +way, and spurring my tired horse through the miry paths of a country +alternately marsh and forest; with what pantings I looked from every +successive height, to see even to what quarter the smoke of the firing +might direct me; with what eager vexation I questioned every hurrying +peasant, who either shook his moody head and refused to answer, or who +answered with the fright of one who expected to have his head swept +off his shoulders by some of my fierce-looking troop, I shall not now +venture to tell; but it was as genuine a torture as could be felt by +man. At length, exhausted by mortal fatigue, and ready to lie down and +die, I made a last effort, would listen no more to the remonstrances +of the troop, whose horses were sinking under them. I ordered them to +halt where they were, pushed on alone, and, winding my way through a +forest covering the side of a low but abrupt hill, or rather +succession of hills, I suddenly burst out into the light, and saw the +whole battle beneath, around, and before me. It was magnificent. + + * * * * * + + + + +LETTER FROM LEMUEL GULLIVER. + +TO THE EDITOR. + + +Sir--At the request of my four-footed friends, I forward to you a free +translation of the proceedings of a meeting of Houynhyms, recently +held for the protection of their interests in corn. As the language +appears more temperate, and the propositions quite as rational, as +those which are ordinarily brought forward in the other Corn-law +meetings which still continue to agitate the county, I have no +difficulty in complying with their wishes; and if you can afford space +for the insertion of the report in your valuable Magazine, you will +greatly oblige the Houynhym race, and confer a favour upon, sir, your +obedient servant, + +LEMUEL GULLIVER. + +_Stable-Yard, Nov. 10th, 1843._ + + * * * * * + + +ADVERTISEMENT. + +A meeting of delegates from the different classes of consumers of oats +was held on Friday last, at the Nag's Head in the Borough, pursuant to +public advertisement in the _Hors-Lham Gazette_. The object of the +meeting was to take into consideration the present consumption of the +article, and to devise means for its increase. The celebrated horse +Comrade, of Drury-Lane Theatre, presided on the occasion. + +The business of the meeting was opened by a young Racer of great +promise, who said it was his anxious desire to protect the interests +of the horse community, and to promote any measure which might +contribute to the increase of the consumption of oats, and improve the +condition of his fellow-quadrupeds. He was not versed in political +economy, nor, indeed, economy of any kind. He had heard much of demand +and supply, and the difficulty of regulating them properly; but, for +his own part, he found the latter always equalled the former, though +he understood such was not the case with his less fortunate brethren. +He warmly advocated the practice of sowing wild oats, and considered +that much of the decrease of consumption complained of arose from the +undue encouragement given to the growth of other grain; and that the +horse interest would be best promoted by imposing a maximum as to the +growth of wheat and barley, according to the acreage of each +particular farm. + +A HACKNEY-COACH HORSE declared himself in favour of the sliding-scale, +which he understood from Sir Peter Lawrie to mean the wooden pavement. +He admitted it was not well adapted for rainy seasons, but it was +impossible to doubt that things went much more smoothly wherever it +was established; and that he, and the working classes whom he +represented, found in it a considerable relief from the heavy duties +daily imposed upon them. He wished that some measure could be devised +for superseding the use of nosebags, which he designated as an +intolerable nuisance, especially during the summer months; but he +principally relied for an improvement in condition on the prohibition +of the mixture of chaff with oats; which latter article, he contended, +was unfit for the use of able-bodied horses, who earned their daily +food, and ought to be limited to those cattle who spent an idle +existence in straw-yards. + +A BRIGHT CHESTNUT HORSE, of great power, and well-known in the parks, +warmly replied to the last neigher. He denounced the sliding-scale as +a slippery measure, unworthy of a horse of spirit, and adding greatly +to the burdens with which horses like himself were saddled. He daily +saw steeds of the noblest blood and most undaunted action humbled to +the dust by its operation; and if Sir Peter Lawrie was to be believed, +it was more dreaded by the household troops than Napoleon's army on +the field of Waterloo. He yielded to no horse in an anxious desire to +promote the true interests of the horse community; but he could not +give his support to measures so unsafe, merely because they enabled a +small and inferior section of their community to move more smoothly. +He reprobated, in strong terms, the unfeeling allusion of the last +neigher to the unfortunate inmates of union straw-yards, whom, for his +own part, he looked upon as nowise inferior to the hackney-coach +horse himself, of whose right to be present at a meeting of consumers +of oats he entertained serious doubts. (Loud neighs of "Order! +Order!") + +A SCOTCH HORSE feared that, strictly speaking, he was included in the +same category with the hackney-coach horse, and had no right to be +heard, having no personal interest in the question; but he trusted he +might be permitted to speak as the delegate of the horses of Scotland, +who were ignorant of the Houynhym language, and not entitled to +attend. Permission being granted, to the surprise of the assembly he +descanted with much asperity upon the gross oppression to which horses +in Scotland were subject, as their rough coats and ragged appearance +plainly manifested; and stated, in conclusion, that no hope or +expectation of bettering the condition of the Scotch horse could be +entertained until their lawful food was restored to them, and +Scotchmen were compelled, by act of Parliament, to abstain from the +use of oatmeal, and live like the rest of the civilized world. + +Several worn-out horses belonging to members of the Whig +administration then endeavoured to address the meeting, with an +evident intention of converting the proceedings into a party question; +but they were informed by the president, in the midst of loud snorting +and neighing, that they had not the slightest right to be present, as +they were all undoubtedly turned out for life. This decision appeared +to give universal satisfaction. + +AN IRISH HORSE was of opinion that the great cause of the present +difficulties arose from deficiency in the quality and not the quantity +of the article, and strongly recommended the growth of Irish oats in +England. To the surprise of the English delegates, he warmly eulogized +the superiority of the Irish oat; but it afterwards appeared, upon the +production of a sample, that he had mistaken the potatoe oat for the +Irish oat. + +AN OLD ENGLISH HUNTER next addressed the meeting, and was listened to +with deep attention. He impressed upon the young delegates the good +old adage of "Look before you leap," and cautioned them against the +delusive hope that their condition would be improved by change of +measures. In the course of his long life he had experienced measures +of every description, and had invariably found that his supplies +depended, not on the measure itself; but on the hand that filled it. +He had ever given his willing support to his employers, and served +them faithfully; and if they were as well acquainted as quadrupeds +with the secrets of the stable, they would learn the fallacy of their +favourite maxim of "Measures, not men," and trust the administration +of their affairs to upright and steady grooms, rather than those +fanciful half-educated gentlemen who were perpetually changing the +rules of the stables, and altering the form of the measures, whereby +they embarrassed the regular feeding and training of the inmates, +without producing any practical good. + +A STAGE-COACH HORSE imputed their want of condition to the misconduct +of their leaders, who, he said, could never be kept in the right path, +or made to do one-half of the work which properly belonged to them. By +a strange fatality, they were generally purblind, and always shyed +most fearfully when an Opposition coach approached them. Indeed, it +was well known that the horses selected for these duties were, +generally speaking, vicious and unsound, and not taken from the most +able and powerful, but from the most showy classes. He then proceeded +to descant upon the general wrongs of horses. He congratulated the +community upon the abolition of bearing reins, those grievous burdens +upon the necks of all free-going horses; and he trusted the time would +soon arrive when the blinkers would also be taken off, every corn-binn +thrown open, and every horse his own leader. + +Several other delegates addressed the meeting, and various plans were +discussed; but it invariably turned out, upon investigation, that the +change would only benefit the class of animals by whom it was +proposed. A post-horse was of opinion, that the true remedy lay in +decreasing the amount of speed, and shortening the spaces between +milestones. A Welsh pony was for the abolition of tolls, which, he +said, exhausted the money intended for repairs; whilst some +plough-horses from Lincolnshire proposed the encouragement of pasture +land, the abolition of tillage, and the disuse of oats altogether. The +harmony of the meeting was, at one period, interrupted, by the +unfortunate use of the word "_blackguard_" by a delegate from the +collieries, which caused a magnificent charger from the Royal Horse +Guards, Blue, to rear up, and, with great indignation, demand if the +allusion was personal; but who was satisfied with the explanation of +the president, that it was applicable only in a warlike sense. A long, +lean, bay horse, with a sour head, demanded a similar explanation of +the word "_job_," and was told it was used in a _working_ sense. +Several resolutions, drawn by two dray-horses, embodying the supposed +grievances of the community, were finally agreed upon, and a petition, +under the hoof of the president, founded upon them, having been +prepared, and ordered to be presented to the House of Commons by the +members for Horsham, the meeting separated, and the delegates returned +to their respective stables. + + * * * * * + + + + +THE PROCLAMATION. + + + Bold warriors of Erin, I hereby _proclaim_, + That the world never witness'd your rivals in fame; + Bold sons of Macmurraugh, Macarthy, O'Neill, + The armies of earth at your sight would turn pale. + A flash from your eyes would light England's last pile, + And a touch give her sceptre to Erin's green isle. + + Hurrah for the vengeance of old Mullaghmast, + On the blood-bolter'd ground where your gauntlet was cast; + Hurrah for the vengeance of Tara's proud hill, + Where the bones of our monarchs are blood-sprinkled still. + Hurrah for Clontarf, though the Saxon may smile, + The last, greatest triumph of Erin's green isle! + + Let the scoffer scoff on, while I hereby _proclaim_, + That flight may be courage, and fear but a name; + That boasting is good, when 'tis good for the cause, + But, in sight of cold steel, _we should honour the laws_; + That powder and shot make men swallow their bile-- + So, hurrah for the glory of Erin's green isle! + + If they ask for your leader, the land's sword and shield, + At least none can say that _he fled from the field_. + _He_ kept a whole skin--for the service of Rome; + So he fix'd his headquarters in quiet at home. + They might just as well hunt for the head of the Nile, + While he reckon'd his beads for St Patrick's green isle. + + If beggars on horseback will ride--to Clontarf; + If tailors will caper with truncheon and scarf, + At Sunday carousels, all know, I'm in flower, + My taste for the grape don't extend to the shower. + Besides, those blue pills disagree with my chyle, + So, hurrah!--pence and peace for the grand Emerald Isle! + + If the scoffer should ask, what the deuce brought you there? + Of course, it was only to taste the fresh air; + To pick cowslips and daisies; and brush off the dew, + Or drink gin o'er the tombstone of Brian Boru. + As to flags, and all that; 'twas but doing in style, + The honours of Freedom to Erin's green isle. + + + Then, as to your "Squadrons," your "Mount for Repeal," + 'Twas merely to teach them the "Right about wheel," + By the word of command from the Saxon to run, + As your leader would fly from a bailiff or dun; + In short, since a miss is as good as a mile, + Swear the whole was a humbug for Erin's green isle. + + Besides, these are delicate moments to croak, + Since the Saxon's new plan of a word and a stroke. + My mind is made up, like a poodle or pug, + No longer to stir from my berth on the rug; + Though the bold may revile me, so let them revile-- + I'm determined to _live_ for old Erin's green isle. + + I _proclaim_--that the Saxon will tremble to meet + The heroes of Erin; but, boys, life is sweet. + I _proclaim_--that your shout frightens Europe's base thrones; + But remember, my boys, there is luck in whole bones; + So, take the advice of a friend--wait a while, + In a century or two you'll revenge the Green Isle. + + I know in my soul, at the very first shot + + That your whole monster meeting would fly at full trot; + What horrid melee, then, of popping and flashing! + At least I'LL not share in your holiday thrashing; + Brawl at Sugden and Smith, but beware "rank and file"-- + They're too rough for the lambkins of Erin's green isle. + + Observe, my dear boys, if you once get me hang'd, + 'Tis fifty to one if you'll e'er be harangued. + Farewell to the pleasure of paying the "Rint"-- + Farewell to all earth's vilest nonsense in print-- + Farewell to the feast of your gall and your guile-- + All's over at once with the grand Emerald Isle. + + * * * * * + + + + +THE FIREMAN'S SONG. + + + "Ho, comrade, up! awake, arise! look forth into the night: + Say, is yon gleam the morning-beam, yon broad and bloody light? + Say, does it tell--yon clanging bell--of mass or matin song? + Yon drum-roll--calls it to parade the soldier's armed throng?" + + "No, brother, no! no morning-beam is yonder crimson glare! + Yon deep bell tolls no matin--'tis the tocsin's hurried blare! + Yon sullen drum-roll mutters out no summons to parade: + To fight the flame it summons us--the valiant Fire-Brigade!" + + Then fast the Fireman rose, and waked his mate that lay beside; + And each man gripp'd his trusty axe, and donn'd his coat of hide-- + There bounds beneath that leather coat a heart as strange to fear + As ever swell'd beneath the steel of gilded cuirassier. + + And from beneath the leather casque that guards the Fireman's brow, + A bolder, sterner glance shines out than plumy crest can show; + And oft shall ply the Fireman's axe, though rude and rough it be, + Where sabre, lance, and bayonet, right soon would turn and flee! + + Off dash the thundering engines, like goblin jaeger-chase-- + The sleeper shudders as they pass, and pallid grows his face: + Away, away! though close and bright yon ruddy glow appear, + Far, far we have to gallop yet, or e'er our work we near! + + A plain of upturn'd faces--pale brows and quivering lips, + All flickering like the tropic sea in the green light of eclipse; + And the multitude waves to and fro, as in the tropic sea, + After a tempest, heaves and falls the ground-swell sleeplessly. + + Now, by my faith! goodly sight you mansion fast asleep-- + Those winking lamps beside the gate a dull watch seem to keep-- + But a gay awaking waits them, when the crash of blazing beam, + And the Fireman's stern reveille, shall mingle with their dream! + + And sound as sleeps that mansion, ye may mark in every chink + A gleam, as in the lava-cracks by the volcano's brink; + Through key-hole and through window-slit, a white and sullen glow-- + And all above is rolling smoke, and all is dark below. + + Hark! hear ye not that murmur, that hush and hollow roar, + As when to the south-wester bow the pines upon the shore; + And that low crackling intermix'd, like wither'd twig that breaks, + When in the midnight greenwood the startled squirrel wakes! + + Lo, how the fire comes roaring on, like a host in war array! + Nor lacks it gallant music to cheer it on its way, + Nor flap of flame-tongued banner, like the Oriflamme of old, + Its vanward cohorts heralding, in crimson, green, and gold. + + The engines now are ranged a-row--hark, how they sob and pant! + How gallantly the water-jets curve soaringly aslant! + Up spins the stream--it meets the flame--it bursts in fleecy rain, + Like the last spout of the dying whale, when the lance is in + his brain. + + Ha, ha! from yon high window thrill'd the wild shriek of despair, + And gibbering phantoms seem to dance within the ruddy glare; + And as a valiant captain leads his boarders to the fray, + "Up, up, my sons!" our foreman shouts--"up firemen, and away!" + + Their arms are strong and sinewy--see how the splinters fly-- + Their axes they are sharp and good--"Back, comrades! or ye die-- + Look to the walls!"--a rending crash--they topple--down they come-- + A cloud of sparks--a feeble cheer--again!--and all is dumb. + + A pause--as on that battle-day, 'twixt France and England's might, + When huge L'Orient blew up at once, in the hottest of the fight: + There was not one, they say, but wink'd, and held his breath + the while, + Though brave were they that fought that day with Nelson at the Nile. + + And by to-morrow's sunrise, amid the steaming stones, + A chain of gold half-melted, and a few small white bones, + And a few rags of roasted flesh, alone shall show where died-- + The noble and the beautiful, the baby and the bride! + + O fire, he is a noble thing!--the sot's pipe gives him birth; + Or from the livid thunder-cloud he leaps alive on earth; + Or in the western wilderness devouring silently; + Or on the lava rocking in the womb of Stromboli. + + Right well in Hamburg revell'd he--though Elbe ran rolling by-- + He could have drain'd--so fierce his thirst--the mighty river dry! + With silk, and gold, and diamond, he cramm'd his hungry maw; + And he tamed the wild republicans, who knew nor lord nor law! + + He feasted well in Moscow--in the city of the Tsar-- + When 'fore the northern streamers paled Napoleon's lurid star: + Around the hoary Kremlin, where Moscow once had stood, + He pass'd, and left a heap behind, of ashes slaked in blood! + + He feasted once in London--he feasted best of all-- + When through the close-packed city, he swept from wall to wall: + Even as of old the wrath of God came down in fiery rain, + On Sodom and Gomorrha, on the Cities of the Plain! + + * * * * * + + + + +POSITION AND PROSPECTS OF THE GOVERNMENT. + + +A recruited revenue; reviving trade and commerce; reduction in the +price of provisions; the triumphant termination of hostilities in all +parts of the world, with its great immediate prospective advantages: a +general feeling of confidence, arising from the steady administration +of public affairs, in spite of persevering and atrocious efforts to +excite dissatisfaction and alarm; nay, even the stern repose +prevailing in Ireland, preserved though it be, for a while, under +cover of artillery, and at the bayonet's point, but affording a +precious respite from agitation, and a foretaste of the blessings that +may be expected from its permanent suppression: all these +circumstances unequivocally attest the existence of a powerful +Government acting upon a comprehensive and enduring policy, which is +becoming daily better appreciated by the strong good sense which ever +distinguishes the British character, when a fair opportunity is +afforded for its exercise. + +Upwards of two years have now elapsed since the accession of the +present Government to power, at a period of universally admitted +difficulty and danger. We have been, during this critical interval, +dispassionate and independent observers of Ministers, and their +conduct of public affairs, anxious to see whether they were really +equal to the occasion, and worthy of the confidence of the Sovereign +and the country. We are ourselves satisfied, and undertake to +demonstrate to our readers, that this question must be answered in the +affirmative. We say all this advisedly, and with no disposition to +deny the existence of difficulties, which, if serious to the present, +would be absolutely insuperable to any other Government. During the +interval in question, Ministers have triumphed over more formidable +difficulties than any which they have at present to encounter. _That_, +also, we say advisedly--cheerfully, confidently--with Ireland before +our eyes, and the din of the audacious and virulent Anti-corn-law +League in our ears. + +Passing these topics for the present, let us proceed to examine +carefully the real position of Sir Robert Peel and his Government, +with a view to ascertaining its prospects of a continuance in power. +This enquiry cannot be successfully conducted, without referring for a +moment to the immense changes in principles and parties effected by +the Reform Bill in 1832--a period of quite as great a revolution as +that of 1688. The Tory party it nearly annihilated!--The first Reform +Parliament consisting of only 187 Tories to 471 Whigs and +Radicals--the former being thus in the fearful minority of 284. We +recollect sharing in the despondency, and even despair, which +paralysed our party. There was, however, one signal exception in the +person of Sir Robert Peel, whose conduct on that occasion entitles him +to the eternal gratitude of every man pretending to the character of a +Conservative, nay, of every true lover of his country and its +institutions. With surprising energy, calmness, and foresight, he +instantly addressed himself to the formation, even under those +inauspicious and disheartening circumstances, of that _great_ +CONSERVATIVE _party_ of which he is now the acknowledged head. In +1841, just _before_ the general election, he thus _reminded that +party_, and apprized the country at large of the principle on which he +had acted in 1832. We beg our readers to ponder his words, and the +period when he uttered them. + + "I then foresaw the good that might result from laying the + foundation of a great Conservative party in the state, + attached to the fundamental institutions of the country--not + opposed to any rational change in it which the lapse of years, + or the altered circumstances of society might require, but + determined to maintain, on their ancient footing and + foundation, our great institutions in church and state. In + order to form that party, however, it was necessary, in the + first instance, to widen the foundation on which it should + stand: to call into our connexion men from whom we had been + separated in consequence of differences which no longer + existed. My grand object was to build up that great party + which has been gradually acquiring strength in this + country--which has been gradually widening the foundation on + which it stands, and which has drawn, from time to time, its + support from its opponents."[11] + + [11] Speech to the Tamworth Electors on 28th June 1841, + (Painter, Strand.) + +The shortest and best evidence of the success which has attended the +unwearied exertions of Sir Robert Peel during the ensuing then years, +is afforded by the following summary of the results of the four +general elections since the passing of the Reform Bill; three of them +under the auspices and with the unscrupulously exercised patronage of +the Reform Government. Observe the ascending and descending scales:-- + + C. L. + 187 471 (1832) + 275 383 (1835) + 314 344 (1837) + 373 283 (1841) + +Who was it but its founder, that led the Conservative party through +these successive stages of triumph? Who did so much as he to effect +that gradual but decisive change in public opinion which, in 1841, +routed the Liberal Ministry in spite of their extraordinary exertions +and advantages, and placed a Conservative Government at the head of +affairs? To enable us to appreciate the importance of that great +victory, and also the decision of character evinced on that occasion +by Sir Robert Peel, let us for a moment advert to the calm +self-reliance with which, amidst the breathless apprehensions and +misgivings of his whole party, he gave battle to the enemy--proposed +the memorable vote of want of confidence, and carried it by a majority +of one.[12] A more critical move never was followed by more signal +success; every ensuing event serving to show, that so far from his +movements having been impelled by rash and desperate party +speculations, they had been based upon a profound and accurate +knowledge of his resources, and of the state of feeling and opinion in +the country. "I gave the Government every advantage," said he, "to +make their appeal to the country. They boast of the confidence of the +crown--they have every means at their disposal which official +influence can command to exert in their own behalf. An appeal has been +made by them from the House of Commons to you, and it is for the +country to decide the question at issue. They have made an appeal to +public feeling on account of cheap sugar and cheap bread. My firm +belief is, that the people of this country have not at all responded +to that cry." How well-founded was that "firm belief," was proved by +the glorious result:--the "people of this country did" _not_ "respond +to that cry"--they rejected--they repudiated it, and they would do so +again if another such appeal were made to them to-morrow. + + [12] Ayes, 312; Noes, 311--4th June 1841. + +Let us now proceed to show what pretence there is for the injurious +insinuations and assertions of Sir Robert Peel's traducers--whether +treacherous friends or open enemies--that, in order to obtain power, +he hung out false colours to the nation; that his declarations before +the general election have been disregarded and falsified by his acts +on attaining office. We will for ever demolish all such calumnies and +false pretences by going, step by step, through a document which we +made a point of procuring at the time, and preserving hitherto, and to +which we have since frequently referred, on hearing uttered the +slanderous charges to which we allude. That document is a copy of the +speech which Sir Robert Peel, on the 28th June 1841, addressed +formally to his constituents, but virtually, of course, to the whole +nation. + +One of his earliest declarations was the following:--"Gentlemen, _I +have ever professed moderate opinions on politics_. The principles I +professed, and adhered to, I shall adhere to during my public life, +whether in opposition or in power, are, I believe, in perfect +conformity with the prevailing good sense, the moderation, and the +intelligence of the great body of the people of England." This was a +sufficiently distinct notice to all men, especially to those of +extreme opinions, whether Tory, Liberal, or Radical, of the course of +action which was to be looked for from the expectant Prime Minister. + +Then, first, he proceeded to admit the existence of manufacturing +distress. + +"I admit and deplore it, but I do not despair. I have seen distress in +manufactures and in commerce before now. I think the causes of the +present distress are but temporary--that the cloud will soon blow +over--and that the great foundations of manufacturing prosperity are +not affected; and I hope I shall very shortly see the day when our +manufactures will once more revive, and when we shall again fill the +place we have always occupied--that of producers for the markets of +the world." + +Now for its _cause_. + +"Now let us consider the important question, as to how far the +distress in the manufactures and commerce of the country is fairly +attributable to the corn-laws." He proceeded to show, from Lord +Palmerston's official statement in Parliament on the 22d July 1840, +that, between the years 1830 and 1839, the _exports_ had risen from +the value of L.38,000,000 to L.53,000,000, and the _imports_ from +L.46,000,000 to L.62,000,000, "a clear proof that, notwithstanding the +local and temporary checks which our commerce had experienced, on the +whole it had gone on steadily improving, and that between the two +periods it had increased not much less than from two to three." + +He then took the _shipping_ and _navigation_ of the country for the +preceding three years; and in looking at them, I cannot help thinking +that, if there was any thing like an absolute decrease in trade and +commerce, there would also be a decrease in the shipping of the +country. "Well," said Sir Robert Peel, "What do I find?" The returns +"showed an increase, presented within the last three years, from +4,000,000 tons to 4,780,000 tons." Now mark--"during the whole of this +period the corn-laws were in operation; how then can they be fairly or +honestly assigned as the cause of the present manufacturing and +commercial distress?" + +But if the corn-laws were _not_, what _was_ the cause? + +"I see causes enough in the world, as well as in this country, why +there should be manufacturing and commercial distress at the present +moment, irrespective and totally independent of the corn-laws." + +These were-- + +1st, "_I do fear that, in the north of England, an undue stimulus has +been given to manufacturing industry by the accommodation system +pursued by the joint-stock banks. I think the connexion of the +manufacturer with the joint-stock banks gave an undue and an improper +impulse to trade in that quarter of the county; and I think that, in +consequence of this, there have been more manufactures produced within +the last two years than were necessary to supply the demand for +them._" + +2ndly, "Look to the state of some of the foreign countries, which +took, at one time, the greatest quantity of our manufactures;" South +America, its ports strictly blockaded by France; the United States of +North America, "in a state of nascent hostility," and also labouring +under "a distress similar to our own, and arising from similar causes. +The facility of accommodation afforded by certain banks there gave an +undue stimulus to industry; this produced extravagant speculations; +many persons failed in consequence, and trade necessarily then came to +a stand-still." Canada--the peninsula, France, the great Kingdoms of +the middle and north of Europe--Syria, Egypt, China, had been, and +were, in such a state, as occasioned all interruption of our trade +thither; "a stoppage in the demand for manufactured goods, and a +correspondent depression in commerce." "When you put all these things +together, all causes, mind you, affecting the market for your goods, +and then combine them with the two or three defective harvests we have +had of late, I ask you to answer me the question, Whether or not they +have been sufficient to account for the depression of manufacturing +industry." + +Then came Sir Robert Peel to the two grand and suddenly discovered +panaceas of the late Government, for recruiting the exhausted revenue, +and relieving the general distress--viz. "cheap sugar," and "cheap +bread." + +1st, As to foreign sugar:-- + +"I clearly and freely admit that those restrictions which cannot be +justified should be removed, and that the commerce of the country +should be perfectly free, whenever it can possibly be so; but I +consider the article of sugar to be wholly exempt from the principle +of free trade." * * * "The question now is this--whether, after the +sacrifices which this country has made for the suppression of the +slave trade and the abolition of slavery, and the glorious +results that have ensued, and are likely to ensue, from these +sacrifices--whether we shall run the risk of losing the benefit of +those sacrifices, and tarnishing for ever that glory, by admitting to +the British market sugar the produce of foreign slavery." * * * "If +you admit it, it will come from Brazil and Cuba. In Brazil, the +slave-trade exists in full force; in Cuba, it is unmitigated in its +extent and horrors. The sugar of Cuba is the finest in the world; but +in Cuba, slavery is unparalleled in its horrors. I do not at all +overstate the fact, when I say, that 50,000 slaves are annually landed +in Cuba. That is the yearly importation into the island; but, when you +take into consideration the vast numbers that perish before they leave +their own coasts, the still greater number that die amidst the horrors +of the middle passage, and the number that are lost at sea, you will +come to the inevitable conclusion, that the number landed in +Cuba--50,000 annually--is but a slight indication of the number +shipped in Africa, or of the miseries and destruction that have taken +place among them during their transport thither. If you open the +markets of England to the sugar of Cuba, you may depend on it that you +give a great stimulus to slavery, and the slave-trade." Sir Robert +Peel then pointed out peculiar and decisive distinctions between the +case of sugar, and that of cotton, tobacco, and coffee; that, though +all of them were the produce of slave labour--First, we cannot now +reject the _cotton_ of the United States, without endangering to the +last degree the manufacturing prosperity of the kingdom. Secondly, of +all the descriptions of slave produce, sugar is the most cruelly +destructive of human life--the proportion of deaths in a sugar +plantation being infinitely greater than on those of cotton or coffee. +Thirdly, slave grown sugar has _never_ been admitted to consumption in +this country.[13] He also assigned two great co-operating reasons for +rejecting slave-grown sugar:--"That the people of England required the +great experiment of emancipation to be fairly tried; and they would +_not_ think it fairly tried, if, at this moment, when the colonies +were struggling with such difficulties, we were to open the floodgates +of a foreign supply, and inundate the British market with sugar, the +produce of slave-labour;" adopting the very words of the Whig +Vice-President of the Board of Trade, Mr Labouchere, on the 25th June +1840. The other reason was, "that our immense possessions in the East +Indies give us the means, and afford us every facility, for acquiring +sugar, the produce of free labour, to an illimitable extent." + + [13] The following striking passage from the writings of the + celebrated Dr Channing of America, was quoted by Sir Robert + Peel in the speech under consideration. "Great Britain, loaded + with an unprecedented debt, and with a grinding taxation, + contracted a new debt of a hundred millions of dollars, to + give freedom, not to Englishmen, but to the degraded African. + I know not that history records an act so disinterested, so + sublime. In the progress of ages, England's naval triumphs + will shrink into a more and more narrow space in the records + of our race--this moral triumph will fill a broader--brighter + page." "Take care!" emphatically added Sir Robert Peel, "that + this brighter page be not sullied by the admission of slave + sugar into the consumption of this country--by our + encouragement--and, too, our unnecessary encouragement of + slavery and the slave-trade!"--Noble sentiments! + +So much for foreign sugar. Now for-- + +II. FOREIGN CORN; and we beg the special attention of all parties to +this portion of the manifesto of Sir Robert Peel:-- + +"Look at the capital invested in land and agriculture in this +country--look at the interests involved in it--look at the arrangement +that has been come to for the commutation of tithes--look at your +importation of corn diminishing for the last ten years--consider the +burdens on the land peculiar to this country[14]--take all these +circumstances into consideration, and then you will agree with Mr +McCulloch, the great advocate of a change in the Corn-law, that +'considering the vast importance of agriculture, _nearly half the +population of the empire are directly or indirectly dependent on it +for employment and the means of subsistence_; a prudent statesman +would pause before he gave his sanction to any measure however sound +in principle, or beneficial to the mercantile and manufacturing +classes, that might endanger the prosperity of agriculture, or check +the rapid spread of improvement.'"[15] + + [14] "We believe," says _Mr McCulloch_ himself in another part + of the pamphlet, (Longman & Co., 1841, p. 23--6th Edit.) from + which Sir Robert Peel is quoting, "that land is more heavily + taxed than any other species of property in the country--and + that its owners are clearly entitled to insist that a duty + should be laid on foreign corn when imported, sufficient fully + to countervail the excess of burdens laid upon the land." + + [15] Speech, pp. 9, 10. + +Now for the "_Sliding Scale_." + +"I just here repeat the opinion which I have declared here before, and +also in the House of Commons, that I cannot consent to substitute a +fixed duty of 8s. a-quarter on foreign corn, for the present ascending +and descending scale of duties. I prefer the principle of the +ascending and descending scale, to such an amount of fixed duty. And +when I look at the burdens to which the land of this country is +subject, I do not consider the fixed duty of 8s. a-quarter on corn +from Poland, and Prussia, and Russia, where no such burdens exist, a +sufficient protection for it."[16] + + [16] Do. p. 8. + +Again-- + +"If you disturb agriculture, and divert the employment of capital from +the land, you may not increase your foreign trade--for that is a thing +to dwell under existing circumstances--_but will assuredly reduce the +home trade, by reducing the means to meet the demand_, and thus +permanently injure yourselves also."[17] + + [17] Do. p. 13. + +Again-- + +"I have come to the conclusion, that the existing system of an +ascending and descending scale of duties, should not be altered: and +that, moreover, we should as much as possible make ourselves +independent of a foreign supply--and not disturb the principle of the +existing corn-laws--of these corn-laws, which, when you have an +abundance of your own, exclude altogether the foreign supply--and when +the price rises in this country, freely admits it."[18] + + [18] Speech, p. 15. + +Again--he quoted the following remarkable language of Lord Melbourne +on the 11th June 1840-- + +"_Whether the object be to have a fixed duty, or an alteration as to +the ascending and descending scale, I see clearly and distinctly, +that that object will not be carried without a most violent +struggle--without causing much ill-blood, and a deep sense of +grievance--without stirring society to its foundations, and leaving +behind every sort of bitterness and animosity. I do not think the +advantages to be gained by the change are worth the evils of the +struggle_."[19] + + [19] Do. p. 18. + +And Sir Robert Peel concluded the foregoing summary of his views, on +the great questions then proposed to the country for its decision, in +the following words:-- + +"I ask your free suffrages, with this frank and explicit declaration +of my opinions."[20] + + [20] Do. p. 18. + +On this, there occur to us three questions-- + +(1st.) Was this, or was it not, a frank and explicit declaration of +his opinions? And, (2d.) Did it, or did it not, as tested by the +result of the general election, completely satisfy the country? (3d.) +In what respect has the subsequent conduct of Sir Robert Peel been +inconsistent with these declarations? And we echo the stern enquiry +of the Duke of Wellington, for "the _when_, the _where_, and the +_how_," "of Sir Robert Peel's deceiving his supporters or the +country"--and "pause for a reply." Failing to receive any--for none +can be given, except in the negative--we shall proceed to condense the +substance of this memorable manifesto into a few words; offer some +general observations designed to assist in forming a correct judgment +upon the topics discussed in the ensuing pages; and then give as fair +an outline as we know how to present, of the "DOINGS" of Sir Robert +Peel and his Government, by way of comment upon, and illustration of +his previous and preparatory "SAYINGS." + +What, then, was the substance of Sir Robert Peel's declaration, on +presenting himself before the country as a candidate for the office +which he fills? He avowed himself a man of moderate political +opinions; recognized the existence of manufacturing and commercial +distress, but referred it to causes of only a temporary nature, +unconnected with the corn-laws; repudiated the empirical expedients +proposed by the late ministry; and pledged himself to maintain the +principle of protection to our agricultural interests; declaring his +deliberate preference of a sliding scale of duties, to a fixed duty, +upon foreign corn. + +The first of the observations to which we beg the reader's earnest +attention, is--that Sir Robert Peel has _to govern by means of a +Reformed House of Commons_. It is for want of well considering this +circumstance, that one or two respectable sections of the Conservative +party have conceived some dissatisfaction at the line of policy +adopted by Sir Robert Peel. They forget that, as we have already +stated, the _Tory_ party was nearly destroyed by the passing of the +Reform Bill; that from its ashes rose the CONSERVATIVE party, adapted +to the totally new political exigencies of the times; its grand object +being, as it were, out of the elements of democracy to arrest the +progress of democracy. The bond of its union was correctly described +by its founder, as consisting in attachment to the fundamental +institutions of the country--non-opposition to rational changes +rendered requisite by the altered circumstances of the times--but +determination to maintain, on their ancient footing and foundation, +our great institutions in Church and State. Keeping these grand +objects ever in view, the true policy to be adopted was to widen the +foundations on which should stand "that new party _which was to draw, +from time to time, its strength from its opponents_." None saw this +more clearly than Sir Robert Peel--and hence the "_moderation_," +indispensable and all-powerful, which he prescribed to himself, and +recommended to all those who chose to act with him, and the steady +acting upon which has at length conducted them to their present +splendid position of power and responsibility. Could the government of +the country be now carried on upon principles that were all-powerful +twenty--or even fewer--years ago? No more than Queen Victoria could +govern on the principles of Queen Elizabeth! We must look at things, +not as they were, or as we would wish them to be--but as they are and +are likely to be. He is unable to take a just and comprehensive view +of political affairs in this country--of the position of parties, and +the tendency of the principles respectively advocated by them, who +does not see that the great and only contest now going on, is between +_conservative_ and _destructive_. We say boldly--and we are satisfied +that we say it in conformity with the opinions of the immense majority +of persons of intelligence and property--that the forces which would +drive Sir Robert Peel's Government from office would immediately and +inevitably supply their places by a Government which must act upon +destructive principles. This will not be believed by many of those +who, moving in the circumscribed sphere of intense party feeling, can +contemplate only one object, namely--a return to power, and disregard +the intentions of the fierce auxiliaries of whose services they would +avail themselves. To the country at large, however, who breathe a +freer air, the true nature of the struggle is plain as the sun at +noonday. The number of those who only nominally belong to parties, +but have a very deep stake in the preservation of our national +institutions, and see distinctly the advantages of a Minister acting +_firmly_ on moderate principles, and who will consequently give him a +_silent_ but steady support in moments of danger, is infinitely larger +than is supposed by the opponents of the Conservative party. Such a +Minister, however, must make up his account with receiving often only +a cold and jealous support from those of his adherents who incline to +extreme opinions; while his opponents will increase their zeal and +animosity in proportion to their perception of the unobjectionableness +of his measures, the practical _working_ of his moderation, viz.--his +continuance in power, and their own exclusion from it. Such a Minister +must possess a large share of fortitude, careless of its exhibition, +and often exposing him to the charge of insensibility, as he moves +steadily on amongst disaffected supporters and desperate +opponents, mindless equally of taunts, threats, reproaches, and +misrepresentations. He must resolve to _bide his time_, while his +well-matured measures are slowly developing themselves, relying on the +conscious purity of his motives. Such a man as this the country will +prize and support, and such a man we sincerely believe that the +country possesses in the present Prime Minister. He may view, +therefore, with perfect equanimity, a degree of methodized clamour and +violence, which would overthrow a Minister of a different +stamp. Such are the inconveniences--such the consolations and +advantages--attending that course of _moderation_ which alone can be +adopted with permanent success, by a Conservative Minister governing +with a reformed House of Commons. + +Another observation we would offer, has for its object to abate the +pique and vexation under which the ablest volunteer advisers of the +Minister are apt to suffer, on his disregard of their counsels, and +sometimes to revenge themselves by bitter and indiscriminate censure +of his general policy. They should remember, that while they are +irresponsible volunteers, he acts under a tremendous responsibility; +to sustain which, however, he has advantages which none but those in +his situation can possibly possess--the co-operation of able brother +Ministers, with all those sources and means of universal information +which the constitution has placed at his disposal. The superior +knowledge of the circumstances of the country thus acquired, enable +him to see insuperable objections to schemes and suggestions, which +their proposers reasonably deem to be palpably just and feasible. We +have often thought that if Sir Robert Peel, or any other Prime +Minister, were to take one of these eager and confident advisers into +his cabinet, and calmly exhibit to him the actual impossibility--the +imminent danger--of adopting the course of procedure which that +adviser has been strenuously recommending, he would go away with +slightly increased distrust of himself, and consideration for the +Minister. Neither Sir Robert Peel, nor any other Minister, would be so +arrogantly stupid as to disregard free information and advice, +_merely_ because it came from such persons, who, if they have no right +to expect their advice to be followed, have yet a clear right to offer +it, and urge it with all their force. + +Again--The present Ministers had the disadvantage (in some respects) +of succeeding to those, who, if they could _do_ nothing, made up for +it by _promising_ every thing. Sir Robert Peel and his friends, on the +contrary, made no promises whatever, beyond what would indeed be +implied by acceptance of office--namely, honestly to endeavour to +govern the country, for the permanent good of the country. While +admitting the existence of great distress, they expressly admitted +also, that they saw no mode of sudden relief for that distress, but +would trust to the energies of the country gradually recovering +themselves, under steady and cautious management. Sir Robert Peel +frankly stated in the House of Commons, just previously to the +dissolution in 1841, that he had no hope of an immediate return of +prosperity; and that such had become the state of our domestic and +foreign embarrassments, that "we must for years expect to struggle +with difficulty." This was their language on the eve of the general +election, yet the country placed confidence in their honour and +capacity, heartily sickened of the prodigal _promises_ of their +opponents. The extravagant visionary hopes which they held forth at +the eleventh hour, in their frenzied eagerness to obtain a majority at +the last election, are still gleaming brightly before the eyes of +numbers of their deluded supporters; imposing on the present +Government the painful and ungracious duty of proving to them that +such hopes and expectations cannot be realized, even for a brief +space, without breaking up the foundations of our national existence +and greatness. + +Lastly. Can the Conservatives be expected in TWO years' time to repair +all the evils resulting from a TEN years' gross mismanagement of the +national affairs by their predecessors? "The evil that they did, +_lives after them_." But for the fortunate strength of the +Conservative party, moreover, in opposition, and the patriotism and +wisdom of the house of Lords, the late Ministers would, by the time of +their expulsion from office, have rendered the condition of the +country _utterly_ desperate--for very nearly desperate it assuredly +was. Their vacillating, inconsistent, wild, and extravagant conduct +during these ten years, had generated an universal sense of insecurity +and want of confidence among all the great interests of the country, +which locked up capital--palsied enterprise. Trade and commerce +drooped daily, and the revenue melted away rapidly every year. Great +things were justly expected from the practical skill and experience +possessed by the new Government; but _time_ is requisite for the +development of a policy which had, and still has, to contend against +such numerous and formidable obstacles. Confidence, especially +mercantile confidence, is a delicate flower, of slow growth, and very +difficult to rear. A breath may blight it. It will bloom only in a +tranquil and temperate air. If ever there was a man entitled to speak, +however, with authority upon this subject, it was Mr Baring, the late +candidate, and unquestionably the future member, for the city of +London--a man constantly engaged in vast mercantile transactions in +all parts of the globe, and whose ability equals his experience. In +the presence of a great number of gentlemen, representing two-thirds +of the wealth and intelligence of the city of London, thus spoke Mr +Baring, on the 6th October 1843:--"I rejoice that Sir Robert Peel did +not hold out to the country the fallacious hope, that, by any +particular measure, he could restore prosperity, or cure sufferings +which were beyond the reach of legislation, and that he patiently +relied upon the resources and energies of the country to set trade and +commerce right. That expectation is already beginning to be realized. +That calm reliance is already justified. I am speaking in the presence +of those who are as much as, if not more conversant with business +than, myself, and they will contradict me if I am not right when I +say, that great symptoms of improvement in the trade and industry of +the country have manifested themselves; which symptoms are of such a +nature, that they do not appear to be the result of momentary +excitement produced by some fallacious experiment, but of the +paramount re-establishment of commerce, and of a fresh era in the +prosperity of the empire. I am asked what have the Government done? +Why, they have _restored_ CONFIDENCE to the country! They have +terminated wars, they have restored confidence at home, and commanded +respect abroad." + +Now, however, for the DOINGS of the Government; and of those we shall +take no more detailed or extended notice than is requisite, in our +opinion, to exhibit the general system and _plan_ of their procedure, +and show its complete consistency with the declaration of opinions +made by Sir Robert Peel previous to the general election of 1841. + +It will be borne in mind, that the then existing distress in our +commercial and manufacturing interests he referred to three +_temporary_ causes:--the undue stimulus which had been given to +industry in the manufacturing districts--by the accommodation system +pursued in the joint-stock banks, the troubled and hostile condition +of almost all those foreign countries which used to be the best +customers for our manufactures, and the two or three preceding +defective harvests. The first of these was not of a nature to call +for, or perhaps admit of, direct and specific legislative +interference. It originated in a vicious system of contagious private +speculation, which has involved many thousands of those engaged in it +in irredeemable, shall we add _deserved_, disgrace and ruin--and which +had better, perhaps, be left to work its own cure. The last of the +three causes was one to which all mankind is every where subject, and +which is in a great measure beyond the reach of effective human +interference. Before proceeding to explain the steps taken to remedy +the second, viz., our distracted foreign relations, let us premise +briefly for the present, that the very earliest acts of Ministers +showed how profoundly sensible they were of the necessity of doing +_something_, and that promptly, to relieve the grievous distress under +which the lower orders were suffering, and at the same time afford a +safe, effective, and permanent stimulus to trade and commerce. A +comprehensive survey of the state, not only of our own but foreign +commercial countries, satisfied them, as practical men, of the serious +difficulties to be here contended with. The steps they took, after due +deliberation--viz., the proposing the new tariff and the new +corn-law--we shall presently refer to. Let us now point out _the +income-tax_ as a measure reflecting infinite credit upon those who had +the sagacity and resolution to propose it. We shall not dwell upon +this great _temporary_ measure, which in one year has poured upwards +of _five millions_ into the exhausted exchequer, further than to say, +that as soon as ever it was known among the monied classes, that the +Minister, environed as he was with financial difficulties, would risk +any amount of popular odium rather than add to the permanent burdens +of the country, or permit the ruinous continuance of an excess of +expenditure over revenue. As soon as this was evident, we say, the +great monied interests of the kingdom recognized in Sir Robert Peel an +honest minister, and gave him forthwith its complete confidence, which +has never since been for an instant withdrawn from him. And how great +are the obligations of that vast portion of the most suffering classes +of the community, whom he exempted from this extraordinary +contribution to the burdens of the state! + +But now for _foreign affairs_. May not the present Ministers look with +just pride towards every quarter of the globe, and exclaim, _Quae regio +in terris nostri non plena laboris?_ In truth their success here has +been sufficient to set up half a dozen Ministers--as is known to no +man better than Lord Palmerston. The Duke of Wellington and Lord +Aberdeen have restored peace to the whole world, re-establishing it on +a footing of dignified security and equality. By the persevering +energy, the calm determination, and inexhaustible resources of Lord +Aberdeen, "the winter of our discontent," has been "made glorious +summer," with all the great powers of the world. Look at our glorious +but irritable neighbour--France: is there any language too strong to +express the delight which we feel at the renovated sympathy and +affection which exist between us? + +We cannot answer for France to the extent which we can for England; +but we know, that through the length and breadth of _this_ land--our +beloved Queen's familiar visit to the King of the French, their +affectionate greeting, and her Majesty's enthusiastic reception by the +people, diffused a feeling of joy and affection towards France, which +will not soon--nay, should it ever?--subside. But would that visit +have taken place, if Lord Palmerston, and not Lord Aberdeen, had +presided over the foreign councils of this country? 'Tis a +disagreeable question, and we pass on. Then as to America, thanks to +the mission of Lord Ashburton, peace has been secured between us, on +terms equally honourable to both. We are now at peace with the United +States--a peace not to be disturbed by the (to Whiggish eyes) +_promising_ (!!) aspect of the Oregon difficulties--which we tell our +aforesaid friends will end in--_nothing at all_--[It is not, by the +way, _the fault of our Government_, that this disputed matter was not +embraced by the Washington Treaty.]--While Lord Palmerston and his +doleful ally, the _Morning Chronicle_, were daily stigmatizing the +treaty of Washington, as highly dishonourable and disadvantageous to +this country, it may interest our readers to see what one of the +disaffected _American_ senators had to say on the subject. Thus spoke, +in the senate, Mr Benton, a well-known member of congress:-- + + "The concessions of Great Britain to the United States are + small. The territory granted to the United States, is of such + a nature, that it will never be of importance to hold it, + while the possessions given up by the United States are + important and valuable to them, and have the effect of + admitting a foreign power within a territory which was granted + to the United States, by the treaty of 1783. * * When I see + the Government giving up more than Great Britain demanded, I + cannot conceal my amazement and mortification!" + + +Glancing, however, from the West to the East--what do we see? +Wars in India and China, brought gloriously to an advantageous +termination.--"Wars," to adopt the language of one of the greatest +mercantile authorities living, "which have been deranging our money +transactions, and making our trade a trade of hazard and speculation, +most injurious to the commerce of the empire at large." + +While, on the one hand, we are relieved from the ruinous drain upon +our resources, occasioned by our protracted warlike operations in +India and China, on the other, a prospect is opened to us, by the +immensely important treaty into which the Emperor of China has entered +with this country, of very great and permanent commercial advantages, +which are already being realized. Let our manufacturers, however, +beware of the danger of forfeiting these advantages, by excessive +eagerness to avail themselves of these newly acquired markets. +Twelve-months ago, we earnestly warned them on this score,[21] and we +now as earnestly repeat that warning; "Notwithstanding," observed an +able French journalist, a few weeks ago, upon this subject, "the +opening of five ports to European commerce, China will for many years +preserve her internal laws, her eccentric tastes, her inveterate +habits. China is the country of routine and immovability. The treaty +with Great Britain cannot modify the nature of China in a few months. +_If the English are not prudent in their exports, if they overload the +newly opened ports with foreign produce, they will injure themselves +more than they were injured by the war just concluded._" In every word +of this we concur: but alas! what weight will such considerations have +with the agitating manufacturers in the north of England? Their fierce +but short-sighted anxiety to make rapid fortunes, will make most of +them, in a very few years, melancholy evidences of the justness of our +observations! We cannot pass from the East without noticing the sound +statesmanship which is regulating all Lord Ellenborough's leading +movements in India--a matter now universally admitted. How unspeakably +contemptible and ridiculous has the lapse of a few months rendered the +petty clamours against him, with which the ex-ministerial party +commenced their last year's campaign! Without, however, travelling +round the entire circle of our foreign connexions and +operations--there are one or two points to which we will briefly +refer, as striking instances of the vigilant and indefatigable energy, +and the powerful diplomatic influence of Lord Aberdeen, especially +with reference to the securing commercial advantages to this +country--and which has extorted the following testimony, during the +present month (December,) from another French journal, by no means +favourably disposed to this country:--"The English Government is +incontestably the best served of all Governments in the means of +obtaining new, and extending old markets, and in the rapid and +complete knowledge of the course to be adopted to ensure the sale of +the immense products of Great Britain in different parts of the +globe." Take for instance the case of Russia. We have actually +succeeded in wringing from the tenacious and inflexible Cabinet of St +Petersburg an important commercial advantage! On Lord Aberdeen's +accession to office, he found Russia in the act of aiming a fatal +blow at a very important branch of our shipping trade, by levying a +differential duty on all British vessels conveying to Russian ports +any goods which were not the produce of the British dominions. After, +however, a skilful and very arduous negotiation, our foreign secretary +has succeeded in averting that blow--and we retain the great +advantages of which we were about to be deprived. Nor has this signal +advantage been purchased by any sacrifice on the part of Great +Britain, but only by a permission, founded on most equitable +principles, for Russian vessels arriving here from Russian ports with +the produce of Russian Poland, to possess the same privileges as if +they had come direct from Russian ports: Russian Poland being able to +communicate effectively with the sea, only through the Prussian +territory. Look again at Brazil--which has also been recently the +object of persevering and energetic negotiation on the part of Lord +Aberdeen. It is true that, at present, his exertions have been +attended with no direct success; but we have doubts whether the +importance of the proposed Brazilian treaty has not, after all, been +greatly exaggerated. However this may be, Lord Aberdeen is, at this +moment, as strenuously at work with the young emperor, as could be +desired by the most eager advocate of a commercial treaty with Brazil. +But, suppose the emperor's advisers should be disposed to continue +their obstinate and unreasonable opposition, observe the gentle +pressure upon them, to be felt by and by, which Lord Aberdeen has +contrived to effect by the commercial treaty which he has concluded +with the contiguous republic of Monte Video, and other states on the +right bank of the river Plata, for the admission (on most favourable +terms) of British imports into these states. One of them is the +Uruguay republic, which borders through a great extent of country on +Brazil, the Government of which is utterly unable to prevent the +transfer of merchandise across the border; whereby the exclusion of +British goods from the Brazilian territory is rendered a matter of +physical impossibility. + + [21] Great Britain at the commencement of the 19th + Century--January 1843--No. CCC. + +It is true, that our efforts to enter into commercial treaties with + +France and Portugal have not, as yet, been successful; but, formidable +as are the obstacles at present in existence, we do not despair. Those +least wonder at the present position of affairs who are best +acquainted with the artificial and complicated positions of the +respective countries, and their relations, and consequent policy, +towards each other. Whatever can be done by man, is at this moment +being done by Lord Aberdeen; and sooner than we have at present a +right to expect, his indefatigable exertions may be crowned with +success--not only in these, but in other quarters. All foreign +Governments must be strongly influenced in such matters, by +contemplating a steady and strong Government established in this +country; and that object they see more nearly and distinctly every +day. Such (without entering into details which would be inconsistent +with either our space or our present object) is the general +result--namely, the rapidly returning tide of prosperous commercial +intercourse of the foreign policy of Conservative Government, which +has raised Great Britain, within the short space of two years, to even +a higher elevation among the nations of the world, than she had +occupied before a "Liberal Ministry undertook the government of the +country"--"a policy," to adopt the equally strong and just language of +an able writer, "replete with auspicious evidences of the efficacy of +intellect, combined with firmness, activity, and integrity, in +restoring to wholesome and honourable order a chaotic jumble of +anomalies--of humiliations and dangers--of fears, hatred, and +confusion thrice trebly confounded."[22] + + [22] Thoughts on Tenets of Ministerial Policy. By a Very Quiet + Looker-on.--P. 22. Aylott, London, 1843. + +While thus successfully active abroad, have Ministers been either idle +or unsuccessful at home? Let us look at their two main measures--the +_new tariff_ and the _new corn-law_. + +The object of the first of these great measures was twofold--to give a +healthy and speedy but permanent stimulus to trade and commerce; and, +at the same time, to effect such a reduction of price in the leading +articles of consumption as should greatly reduce the cost of living--a +boon, of course, inexpressibly precious to the poorer classes. Mark +the moment at which this bold and critical line of policy was +conceived and carried into execution--namely, a moment when the nation +was plunged into such a depth of gloom and distress as had very nearly +induced utter despair! when there was a deficiency of _five millions +sterling in_ the revenue of the two preceding years, and a certainty +of greatly augmented expenditure for the future, owing to our wars in +the East and elsewhere. We say--_mark this_, in order to appreciate a +display of the true genius of statesmanship. Foreseeing one effect of +such a measure, namely, a serious reduction in the revenue derived +from the customs, and which would commence with the bare +_announcement_ of such a measure, the Government had to consider +whether it would prove a permanent or only a temporary reduction, and +to act accordingly. After profound consideration, they satisfied +themselves (whether justly or not remains to be seen) that the +diminution of revenue would prove only temporary; and to secure the +_immediate_ benefits of the measure, they imposed a temporary +income-tax, the onerous pressure of which was to cease as soon as +matters should have come round again. That period they fixed at the +expiration of three years. After an interval of two years, do their +calculations appear to have been well or ill founded? Let us see. +Early in March 1842 they announced the proposed new tariff, (instantly +producing the effect on the customs duties which had been +anticipated;) and succeeded in bringing it into operation on the 9th +of the ensuing July. The deficiency of revenue which ensued was so +very serious that it would have alarmed the whole country, but for +their confidence in the firmness and sagacity of Ministers, +particularly as evidenced by their announced measures. We have not at +the present moment before us the earliest _quarterly_ revenue returns +of the period referred to; but it will suffice to state, that such had +been the extent of the reductions effected, that the deficiency on the +_year_ ending on the 5th October 1843, amounted to no less a sum than +L.1,136,000; the decrease on the _quarter_ ending on that day being +L.414,000. Still, however, each succeeding quarter--or at least the +latter quarters--gave more satisfactory indications of a rallying +revenue; and we are enabled to announce the highly gratifying fact +that, up to the 8th of the present month (December,) the customs +duties returns _are of the most decisively improving character_. The +receipts of duties for the port of London alone, during that period, +exceeds the receipt on the corresponding period of last year by +L.206,000; while the returns from all the outports, especially from +Liverpool, are of the same cheering character, and warrant us in +predicting that the returns to be presented on the 5th of the ensuing +month will afford a most triumphant proof of the accuracy of the +Minister's calculations and the success of his policy; for be it borne +in mind, moreover, that his income-tax realized, in the year ending on +the 5th October last, the immense sum of L.5,052,000. As far, +therefore, as concerns the direct _financial_ effects of the new +tariff and its counterbalancing income-tax, the results of Sir Robert +Peel's policy are such as may stagger and confound the boldest of his +opponents. + +Now, however, for the two great objects of the new tariff, which were +declared by Sir Robert Peel[23] to be "the revival of commerce, and +such an improvement in the manufacturing interest, as would react on +every other interest in the country; and diminishing the prices of the +articles of consumption and the cost of living." + + [23] Hansard, Vol. lxi. Col. 439. + +With respect to the first of these objects, we had prepared a copious +explanation of the highly satisfactory working of one great portion of +the machine of the new tariff, viz. _the relaxation of the taxes on +the raw materials of manufacture_; but it has occurred to us, that the +necessity of our doing so has been entirely superseded by the +following very remarkable admission, contained in a number of the +_Morning Chronicle_ newspaper, published towards the close of +September last; an invaluable admission, tending to prove, out of the +mouth of the bitterest opponent of the present Ministry, the general +success of their domestic policy:--"Notwithstanding insurrection in +Wales and agitation in Ireland, there are various circumstances in the +present aspect of our national affairs of an encouraging and cheering +nature. The first and most prominent thing which strikes an observer, +is, the undoubted general revival of trade and commerce. Every thing +seems to indicate that the morning is breaking; that the dreary night +of disaster and suffering, through which all our material interests +have been passing since 1836, is now well-nigh over. The hum of busy +industry is once more heard throughout our manufacturing districts; +our seaports begin once more to stir with business; merchants on +'Change have smiling faces; and the labouring population are once more +finding employment easier of access; and wages are gently, slowly +rising. This has not come upon us suddenly; it has been in operation +since the end of last year; but so terrible was the depression, so +gradual the improvement, that the effects of the revival could not be +perceptible till within a recent period. Our exports of cotton and +wool, during the present year, very considerably exceed those of a +similar period in the preceding; and though there might be increase of +export without increase of profit, the simple fact that the districts +of our great manufacturing staples are now more active and busy than +they have been for a very considerable period, coupled with the +apparently well-founded belief that this increased activity is +produced, not by speculative but genuine demand, are indications of +the most pleasing and gratifying kind to all who are in the least +concerned about the prosperity of the country. In addition to the +improvement manifested in our staple articles of industry, other +important interests are showing symptoms of decided improvement; even +the iron-trade has got over its 'crisis;' and though we are very far +indeed from having attained to a condition of prosperity, the steady, +though slow, revival of every branch of industry, is a proof that the +cause of the improvement must be a general one, operating +universally." May we venture to suggest, that the worthy editor of the +_Morning Chronicle_ need not go about with a lantern to discover this +_cause_?--that it is every where before his very eyes, under his very +nose, in the form of the bold, but sagacious and consistent, policy +pursued by the present Government? + +With respect to the second great object of the new tariff, viz., the +"Diminishing of the prices of the articles of consumption and the cost +of living." + +Has _this_ great object, or has it not, been attained? Why, the +reduced price of provisions is a matter of universal notoriety, and +past all question. Unable to contest the existence of this most +consolatory fact, the Opposition papers endeavoured to get up a +diversion by frightening the farmers, whom they assured, that the +admission of foreign live-stock would lead to a fearful depreciation +in the value of British agricultural produce. The graziers and +cattle-dealers were forthwith to find "their occupations gone." +British pasture farming was to be annihilated, and an immense stimulus +given to that of our continental rivals. Hereat the farmers pricked up +their ears, and began to consider for a moment whether they should not +join in the outcry against the new tariff. But the poor beasts that +have come, doubtless much to their own surprise, across the water to +us, looked heartily ashamed of themselves, on catching a glimpse of +their plump, sleek brother beasts in England--and the farmers burst +out a-laughing at sight of _the lean kine that were to eat up the fat +ones_! The practical result has been, that between the 9th of July +1842, and the present time, there have not come over foreign cattle +enough to make one week's show at Smithfield. But mark, _the power_ of +admitting foreign cattle and poultry, (on payment, however, of a +considerable duty,[24]) conferred by the new tariff, is one that must +be attended with infinite permanent benefits to the public, in its +_moderating influence upon the prices of animal food_. Its working is +in beautiful harmony with that of the newly modeled corn-laws, as we +shall presently explain. In years of abundance, when plenty of meat is +produced at home, the new tariff will be inoperative, as far as +regards the actual importations of foreign cattle; but in years of +scarcity at home, the expectation of a good price will induce the +foreigner to send us a sufficient supply; for he will then be, and +then only, able to repay himself the duty, and the heavy cost of +sea-carriage. As prices fall, the inducement to import also declines. +In short, "the inducement to importation falls with the fall, and +rises with the rise of price. The painful contingency of continued bad +seasons has thus, in some measure, been provided against. The new +tariff is so adjusted, that when prices threaten to mount to an unfair +and extravagant height, unjust to consumers, and dangerous to +producers, in such contingencies a mediating power steps in, and +brings things to an equilibrium."[25] These great and obvious +advantages of the new tariff, the opponents of Ministers, and +especially their reckless and discreditable allies called the +"Anti-corn-law League," see as plainly as we do; but their anxious aim +is to conceal these advantages as much as possible from public view; +and for this purpose they never willingly make _any allusion_ to the +tariff, or if forced to do so, underrate its value, or grossly +misrepresent its operation. But we are convinced that _this will not +do_. Proofs of their humbug and falsehood are, as it were, daily +forcing themselves into the very stomachs_ of those whom once, when +an incompetent Ministry was in power, these heartless impostors were +able to delude. "A single shove of the bayonet," said Corporal Trim to +Doctor Slop, "is worth all your fine discourses about the art of war;" +and so the English operative may reply to the hireling "Leaguers," +"This good piece of cheap beef and mutton, now smoking daintily before +me, is worth all your palaver." + + [24] Poultry L5 for every L100 value; oxen and bulls, L1 each; + cows, 15s.; calves, 10s.; horses, mares, foals, colts, and + geldings, L1 each; sheep, 3s. each; lambs, 2s. each; swine and + hogs, 5s. each--(Stat. 5 and 6 Vict. c. 47, Table A.) + + [25] Thoughts, &c., by a Quiet Looker-on, pp. 16, 17. + +Before passing from the subject of the new tariff, let us observe, +that the suddenness and vastness of its changes (some of which we +consider to be of questionable propriety) for a time unavoidably +deranged mercantile operations; and in doing so, as necessarily +produced many cases of individual dissatisfaction and distress. Some +of the persons thus situated angrily quitted the Conservative ranks +for those of the Opposition; others, for a position of mortified +neutrality: but we believe that many more, notwithstanding this sharp +trial of their constancy, remained true to their principles, faithful +to their party, and are now rewarded by seeing things coming rapidly +round again, while unvarying and complete success has attended every +other branch of the policy of Ministers. We know a good deal of the +real state of opinion among the mercantile classes of the City of +London; and believe we correctly represent it averse to further +changes in our tariff-system, and coincident with the views expressed +by Mr Baring in his address to the electors, when he deprecated "a +constant change, unsettling men's minds, baffling all combinations, +destroying all calculations, paralysing trade, and continuing the +stagnation from which we are recovering;" and declared his belief +"that the minister who applies the principles of free-trade with the +most caution, deliberation, and judgment, is the statesman who merits +the confidence of the commercial world." We now, however, quit the +subject--interesting, indeed, and all-important--of the tariff, with +the deliberate expression of our opinion, that it is, taken as a +whole, a very bold, masterly, and successful stroke of policy. Now for +the NEW CORN-LAW. + +But how shall we deal with a topic with which the public has been so +utterly sickened by the people calling themselves "The Anti-corn-law +League?" We do not, nevertheless, despair of securing the attention of +our readers to the few observations which we have to offer upon a +subject which, however hackneyed, is one of paramount importance. We +are satisfied that nine out of every ten even of newspaper readers +turn with disgust from the columns headed "Anti-corn-law League," +"Doings of the League," "Great Meeting of the Anti-corn-law League," +and so forth; and, (making every allowance for the exigencies +occasioned by the dearth of topics while Parliament is not sitting,) +we are exceedingly surprised, that the great London newspapers should +inflict upon their readers so much of the slang and drivel of the +gentry in question. In the due prosecution of our subject, we cannot +avoid the topic of the new corn-law, even were we so disposed; and we +shall at once proceed to our task, with two objects in view--to +vindicate the course pursued by Sir Robert Peel, and set forth, +briefly and distinctly, those truly admirable qualities of the +existing Corn-laws, which are either most imprudently misrepresented, +or artfully kept out of view, by those who are now making such +desperate efforts to overthrow it. "Mark how a plain tale shall set +them down!" + +Whether foreign corn should be admitted into this country on payment +of _fluctuating_ duties, or a _fixed_ duty, or free of all duties, are +obviously questions of the highest importance, involving extensive and +complicated considerations. Sir Robert Peel, Lord John Russell, and +the persons banded together under the name of "The Anti-corn-law +League," may be taken as representing the classes of opinion which +would respectively answer these three questions in the affirmative. +All of them appealed to the nation at large on the last general +election. The _form_ in which the question was proposed to the +country, it fell to the lot of the advocates of a fixed duty to +prescribe, and they shaped it thus in the Queen's speech:-- + + "It will be for you to determine whether the corn-laws do not + aggravate the natural fluctuations of supply; whether they do + not embarrass trade, derange currency, and, by their + operation, diminish the comforts and increase the privations + of the great body of the community." + +To this question the country returned a deliberate and peremptory +answer in the NEGATIVE; expressing thereby its will, that the existing +system, which admits foreign corn on payment of _fluctuating_ duties, +should continue. The country thus adopted the opinions of Sir Robert +Peel, rejected those of Lord John Russell, and utterly scouted those +of the "Anti-corn-law League," in spite of all their frantic +exertions. + +We believe that this deliberate decision of the nation, is that to +which it will come whenever again appealed to; and is supported by +reasons of cogency. The nation is thoroughly aware of the immense +importance of upholding and protecting the agriculture of the country, +and that to secure this grand object, it is necessary to admit foreign +corn into the country, only when our deficiencies absolutely require +it. That _in_ the operation of the "_sliding-scale_ of duties," and +the exact distinction between its effect and that of the proposed +_fixed_ duty, is demonstrably this: that the former would admit +foreign corn in dear years, excluding it in seasons of abundance; +while the latter would admit foreign corn in seasons of abundance, and +exclude it in dear years. Our _present_ concern, however, is with the +course taken by the present Government. Have they hitherto yielded to +the clamour with which they have been assailed, and departed from the +principle of affording efficient protection to the agriculture of the +country? Not a hair's breadth; _nor will they_. We have seen that Sir +Robert Peel, previously to the general election, declared his +determination to adhere to the existing system of corn-laws, +regulating the admission of foreign corn by the power of the +sliding-scale of duties; but both he and the leading members of his +party, had distinctly stated in Parliament, just before its +dissolution, that while resolved to adhere to the _principle_ of a +sliding-scale, they would not pledge themselves to adhere to all the +_details_ of that scale. And they said well and wisely, for there were +grave objections to some of those details. These objections they have +removed, and infinitely added to the efficiency of the sliding-scale; +but in removing the principal objections, they stirred a hornet's +nest--they rendered furious a host of sleek gamblers in grain, who +found their "occupation gone" suddenly! On the other hand, the +Government conferred a great substantial benefit upon the country, by +securing a just balance between protection to the British corn +consumer and producer; removing, at the same time, from the latter, a +long-existing source of jealousy and prejudice. A few words will +suffice to explain the general scope of those alterations. Under they +system established by statute 9 Geo. IV. c. 60, in the year 1828, the +duty on foreign corn, up to the price of 68s. per quarter, was so +high, and declined so very slowly, (L.1, 5s. 8d., L.1. 4s. 8d., L.1, +3s. 8d., L.1, 2s. 8d., L.1, 1s. 8d., L.1, 0s. 8d., 18s. 8d.,) as to +amount to a virtual prohibition against importation. But when the +price mounted from 68s. to 72s. per quarter, the duty declined with +such great rapidity. (16s 8d., 13s. 8d., 10s. 8d., 6s. 8d., 2s. 8d.,) +as to occasion the alarming and frequently recurring evils of glut and +panic. Now the following was the mode in which these serious defects +in the law of 1828 were taken advantage of by the aforesaid desperate +and greedy "rogues in grain," who are utterly prostrated by the new +system; they entered into a combination, for the purpose of raising +the apparent average price of corn, and forcing it up to the point at +which they could import vast quantities of foreign corn at little or +no duty. Thus the price of corn was rising in England--the people were +starving--and turned with execration against those into whose pockets +the high prices were supposed to go, viz., the poor farmers; whereas +those high prices really were all the while flowing silently but +rapidly into the pockets of the aforesaid "rogues in grain"--the +gamblers of the Corn Exchange!--Ministers effected their salutary +alterations, by statute 5 and 6 Vict. c. 14, in the following +manner:--They substituted for the former duties of 10s. 8d. per +quarter, when the price of corn was 70s. per quarter, and 1s. when the +price was 73s.; a duty of 4s. when the price of corn is 70s. per +quarter, and made the duty fall gradually, shilling by shilling, with +the rise of price, to 3s., 2s., and 1s. Thus are at one blow destroyed +all the inducements formerly existing for corn-dealers to "hold" their +foreign corn, in the hopes of forcing up the price of corn to +starvation-point, viz., the low duty, every inducement being now given +them to _sell_, and none to speculate. Another important provision for +preventing fraudulent combinations to raise the price of corn, was +that of greatly extending the averages, and placing them under +regulations of salutary stringency. + +So far, then, from evincing a disposition to trifle with, or +surrender, the principle of the sliding-scale, the Government have, +with infinite pains and skill, applied themselves to effect such +improvements in it as will secure its permanency, and a better +appreciation of its value by the country at large, with every +additional year's experience of its admirable qualities. There is a +perfect identity of principle, both working to the same good end, +between the existing corn-law and the new tariff. Their combined +effect is to oppose every barrier that human wisdom and foresight can +devise, against dearth and famine in England: securing an abundant +supply of corn and meat from abroad, whenever our own supply is +deficient; but up to that point protecting our home producers, whose +direct interest it will henceforth be to supply us at fair and +moderate prices. It is the cunning policy of the heterogeneous +opponents of the existing corn-laws, to speak of them as "doomed" by a +sort of universal tacit consent; to familiarise the public with the +notion that the recent remodeling of the system is to be regarded as +constituting it into nothing more than a sort of transition-measure--a +stepping-stone towards a great fundamental change, by the adoption of +"a fixed duty," some say--"a total repeal," say the Anti-corn-law +League. But those who think thus, must be shallow and short-sighted +indeed, and have paid very little real attention to the subject, if +they have failed to perceive in the existing system itself all the +marks of completeness, solidity, and permanence; and, in the +successful pains that have been taken to bring it to a higher degree +of perfection than before, a determination to uphold it--a conviction +that it will long continue the law of the land, and approved of as +such by the vast majority of those who represent the wealth and +intellect of the kingdom, and have the deepest stake in its +well-being. + +As for a total repeal of the corn-laws, no thinking man believes that +there is the remotest prospect of such a thing; but many imagine that +a fixed duty would be a great change for the better, and a safe sort +of compromise between the two extreme parties. Can any thing be more +fallacious? We hesitate not to express our opinion, that the idea of +maintaining a fixed duty on corn is an utter absurdity, and that Lord +John Russell and his friends know it to be so, and are guilty of +political dishonesty in making such a proposal. They affect to be +friends of the agricultural interest, and satisfied of the necessity +for protection to that body; and yet they acknowledge that their +"_fixity_" of duty is of precisely the same nature as the "finality" +of the Reform bill, viz.--to last only till the first pressure shall +call for an order in council. Does any one in his senses believe that +any Minister could abide by a fixed duty with corn at the price of +70s., with a starving, and therefore an agitating and rebellious +population? A fixed duty, under all times and circumstances, is a +glaring impossibility; and, besides, is it not certain that the period +for the issue of an order in council will be a grand object of +speculation to the corn importer; and that he will hoard, and create +distress, merely to force out that order? And the issuing of that +order would depend entirely on the strength or the necessity of the +Minister: on his "Squeezableness"--his anxiety for popularity. Does +the experience of the last ten years justify the country in placing +confidence, on such a point, in a _Whig_ Ministry? In every point of +view, the project of a fixed duty is exposed to insuperable +objections. It is plain that on the very first instant of there being +a pressure upon the "fixed duty," it must give way, and for ever. Once +off, it is gone for ever; it can never be re-imposed. Again, what is +to govern the _amount_ at which it is to be fixed? Must it be the +additional burden on land? or the price at which foreign countries, +with their increased facilities of transport, and improved cultivation +of their soil, would be able to deliver it in the British markets? +What _data_ have we, in either case, on which to decide? Let it, +however, always be borne in mind, by those who are apt too easily to +entertain the question as to either a fixed duty, or a total repeal of +duty, that the advantages predicted by the respective advocates of +those measures are _mere assumptions_. We have no experience by which +to try the question. The doctrines of free trade are of very recent +growth; the _data_ on which its laws are founded are few, and also +uncertain. And does any one out of Bedlam imagine, that any Minister +of this country would consent to run such tremendous risks--to try +such experiments upon an article of such immense importance to its +well-being? Let us never lose sight of Lord Melbourne's memorable +words:--"Whether the object be to have a fixed duty, or an alteration +as to the ascending and descending scale, I see clearly and +distinctly, that the object will not be carried without a most violent +struggle--without causing much ill-blood, and a deep sense of +grievance--without stirring society to its foundation, and leaving +every sort of bitterness and animosity. I do not think the advantages +to be gained by the change are worth the evils of the struggle."[26] + + [26] Debates, 11th June 1840. + +To return, however. Under the joint operation of the three great +measures of the Government--the income-tax, the new tariff, and the +new corn-law, our domestic affairs exhibit, at this moment, such an +aspect of steadily returning prosperity, as not the most sanguine +person living could have imagined possible two years ago. For the +first time after a miserable interval, we behold our revenue exceeding +our expenditure; while every one feels satisfied of the fact, that our +finances are now placed upon a sound and solid basis, and daily +improving. Provisions are of unexampled cheapness, and the means of +obtaining them are--thank Almighty God!--gradually increasing among +the poorer classes. Trade and commerce are now, and have for the last +six months been steadily improving; and we perceive that a new era of +prosperity is beginning to dawn upon us. We have a strong and united +Government, evidently as firmly fixed in the confidence of the Queen +as in that of the country, and supported by a powerful majority in the +House of Commons--an annihilating one in the House of Lords. The reign +of order and tranquillity has been restored in Wales, and let us also +add, in Ireland, after an unexampled display of mingled determination +and forbearance on the part of the Government. Chartism is defunct, +notwithstanding the efforts made by its dishonoured and discomfited +leaders to revive it. When, in short, has Great Britain enjoyed a +state of more complete internal calm and repose than that which at +present exists, notwithstanding the systematic attempts made to +diffuse alarm and agitation? Do the public funds exhibit the slightest +symptoms of uneasiness or excitement? On the contrary, ever since the +accession of the present Government, there has been scarce any +variation in them, even when the disturbances in the manufacturing +districts in the north of England, and in Wales, and in Ireland, were +respectively at their height. Her Majesty moves calmly to and +fro--even quitting England--her Ministers enjoy their usual intervals +of relaxation and absence from town--all the movements of Government +go on like clockwork--no symptoms visible any where of feverish +uneasiness. But what say you, enquires a timid friend, or a bitter +opponent, to the Repeal agitation in Ireland, and the Anti-corn-law +agitation in England? Why, we say this--that we sincerely regret the +mischief which the one has done, and is doing, in Ireland, and the +other in England, among their ignorant and unthinking dupes; but with +no degree of alarm for the stability of the Government, or the +maintenance of public tranquillity and order. Ministers are perfectly +competent to deal with both the one and the other of these two +conspiracies, as the chief actors in the one have found already, and +those in the other will find, perhaps, by and by; if, indeed, they +should ever become important or successful enough to challenge the +notice and interference of the Government. A word, however, about +each, in its turn. + +The Anti-corn-law League has in view a two-fold object--the overthrow +of the present Ministry whom they abhor for their steadfast and +powerful support of the agricultural interest;--and the depression of +the wages of labour, to enable our manufacturers (of whom the league +almost exclusively consists) to compete with the manufacturers on the +Continent. Their engine for effecting their purposes, is the Repeal of +the corn-laws; and they are working it with such a desperate energy, +as satisfies any disinterested observer, that they themselves perceive +the task to be all but utterly hopeless. They were confounded by the +result of the general election, and dismayed at the accession to power +of men whom they knew to be thoroughly acquainted with their true +objects and intentions, and resolved to frustrate them, and able to +carry their resolutions into effect. The ominous words of Sir Robert +Peel--"I think that the connexion of the manufacturers in the north of +England with the joint-stock banks, gave an undue and improper impulse +to trade in that quarter of the country"--rang in their ears as a +knell; and told them that they were _found out_ by a firm and +sagacious Minister, whom, therefore, their sole object thenceforth +must be to overthrow _per fas aut nefas_. For this purpose they +adopted such an atrocious course of action, as instantly deprived them +of the countenance of all their own moderate and reasoning friends, +and earned for themselves the execration of the bulk of the +community:--they resolved to inflame the starving thousands in the +manufacturing districts into acts of outrage and rebellion. They felt +it necessary, in the language of Mr Grey, one of their own principal +men, in order "_to raise the stubborn enthusiasm of the people_," (!) +to resort to some desperate expedient--which was--immediately on Sir +Robert Peel's announcing his determination, early in 1842, to +preserve, but improve, the existing system of the corn-laws--to reduce +the wages of all their work-people to the amount of from ten to twenty +per cent. This move originated with the _Stockport_ manufacturers. We +have little doubt but it was the suggestion of Mr Cobden; and are +quite prepared for a similar move during the ensuing session of +Parliament. But was not--is not--this a species of moral arson? The +Government calmly carried their measure: the outbreak (which we firmly +believe to have been concerted by the Anti-corn-law League) in +Lancashire arrived, and was promptly and resolutely, but mercifully +repressed; and thus was extinguished the guilty hopes and expectations +of its contrivers; and Ministers were left stronger at the close of +the session than they had been at its commencement. They resolved to +open a new campaign against Ministers and the Corn-laws--greatly to +augment their numbers and pecuniary resources--to redouble their +exertions, and immensely to extend the sphere of their operations. +They _did_ augment their pecuniary resources, by large forced +contributions among the few persons most deeply interested in the +success of their schemes; namely, the Lancashire manufacturers--they +_did_ redouble their exertions--they _did_ extend the sphere of their +operations, spreading themselves over the whole length and breadth of +the land, even as did the plague of lice over Egypt. But did they +augment the number of their friends? Not a person of the least +political or personal importance could be prevailed upon to join their +discreditable ranks; it remained as before:--Cobden and Bright--Bright +and Cobden--Wilson, Bright, and Cobden--Milner Gibson, Fox, Bright and +Cobden--_ad nauseam usque_; but, like a band of travelling +incendiaries, they presented themselves with indefatigable energy in +places which had never known their presence before. And how comes it +to pass that they have not long since kindled at least the +manufacturing population into a blaze? Is it any fault of the +aforesaid incendiaries? No--but because there is too much intelligence +abroad, they could not do what they would--"_raise the stubborn +enthusiasm_" of the people. In one quarter they were suspected--in +another despised--in another hated; and it became a very general +impression that they were, in fact, a knot of double dealers, who +certainly contrived to make a great noise, and keep themselves +perpetually before the public; but as for getting the steam "up," in +the nation at large, they found it impossible. In truth, the +"Anti-corn-law League" would have long ago been dissolved amidst the +indifference or contempt of the public, but for the countenance they +received, from time to time, and on which they naturally calculated, +from the party of the late Ministers, whose miserable object was to +secure their own return to power by means of any agency that they +could press into their service. But, to return to our sketch of the +progress of the "League." Admitting that, by dint of very great and +incessant exertion, they kept their ground, they made little or no +progress among the mercantile part of the community; and they resolved +to try their fortune with the agricultural constituencies--to sow +dissension between the landlords and the tenants, the farmers and +their labourers, and combine as many of the disaffected as they could, +in support of the clamour for free trade. This was distinctly avowed +by Cobden, at a meeting of the Anti-corn-law deputies, in the +following very significant terms: "_We can never carry the measure +ourselves_: WE MUST HAVE THE AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS WITH US!!"[27] + + [27] League Circular, No. xxx. p. 3. + +They therefore proceeded to commence operations upon the agricultural +constituencies. They knew they could always reckon upon a share of +support wherever they went--it being hard to find any country without +its cluster of bitter and reckless opponents of a Conservative +government, who would willingly aid in any demonstration against it. +With such aid, and indefatigable efforts to collect a crowd of noisy +non-electors: with a judicious choice of localities, and profuse +bribery of the local Radical newspapers, in order to procure copious +accounts of their proceedings--they commenced their "grand series of +country triumphs!" Their own organs, from time to time, gave out that +in each and every county visited by the League, the _farmers_ attended +their meetings, and joined in a vote condemnatory of the corn-laws, +and pledged themselves to vote thereafter for none but the candidates +of the Anti-corn-law League! + +The following are specimens of the flattering appellations which had +till now been bestowed, by their new friends, upon these selfsame +farmers--"_Bull-frogs!"_ "_chaw-bacons!" _"_clod-poles!_" +"_hair-bucks!_" "_deluded slaves!_" "_brute drudges!_"[28] Now, +however, they and their labourers were addressed in terms of +respectful sympathy and flattery, as the victims of the rapacity of +their landlords--on whom were poured the full phials of Anti-corn-law +wrath. The following are some of the scalding drops let fall upon +their devoted heads--_"Monster of impiety!" "inhuman fiend!" +"heartless brutes!" "rapacious harpies!" "relentless demons!" +"plunderers of the people!" "merciless footpads!" "murderers!" +"swindlers!" "insatiable!" "insolent!" "flesh-mongering!" "scoundrel!" +"law-making landlords!" "a bread-taxing oligarchy!"_[29] Need we say +that the authors of these very choice and elegant expressions were +treated with utter contempt by both landlords and tenants--always +making the few allowances above referred to? Was it very likely that +the landlord or the farmer should quit their honourable and important +avocations at the bidding of such creatures as had thus intruded +themselves into their counties? should consent to be yoked to the car, +or to follow in the train of these enlightened, disinterested, and +philanthropic cotton-spinners and calico-printers? Absurd! It became, +in fact, daily more obvious to even the most unreflecting, that these +worthies were not likely to be engaged in their "labours of _love_;" +were not _exactly_ the kind of persons to desert their own businesses, +to attend out of pure benevolence that of others--to let succumb their +own interest to promote those of others; to subscribe out of the gains +which they had wrung from their unhappy factory slaves, their L.10, +L.20, L.30, L.50, L.100, out of mere public spirit and philanthropy. + + [28] League Circular, No. 10. + + [29] Ibid. Nos. 26, 29, 44, 50, 71, 83, 94, 99, 100. + +Still, we say, the whole thing was really a failure--the "steam," even +yet, could not be "got up," in spite of all their multiplied agencies +and machinery, incessantly at work--the unprecedented personal +exertions of the members of the league--the large pecuniary sacrifices +of the Lancashire subscribers to its funds. One more desperate +exertion was therefore felt necessary--and they resolved to attempt +getting up a _sensation_, by the sudden subscription of splendid sums +of money, by way of starting a vast fund, with which to operate +directly upon the entire electoral body--in what way, it is not very +difficult to guess. Accordingly, they began--but where? At the old +place--Manchester!--Manchester!--_Manchester!_ Many thousands were +subscribed at an hour's notice by a mere handful of manufacturers; the +news came up to London--and the editor of the _Times_, in a transient +fit of excitement, pronounced "the existence of the League" to be a +GREAT FACT. Upon this phrase they have lived ever since--till somewhat +roughly reminded the other day, by Mr Baring, that "great _facts_" are +very "_great follies!_" Now let us once more ask the question--would +all these desperate and long-continued exertions and sacrifices--(all +proceeding, be it ever observed, from _one_ quarter, and from the same +class of people--nay, the same individuals of that class)--be +requisite, were there any _real movement of the public mind and +feeling_ against the Corn-laws? Are they not requisite solely because +of the _absence_ of any such movement? Nay, are they not evidence that +the public feeling and opinion are against them? And that, perhaps, +they will by and by succeed in rousing the "stubborn enthusiasm of the +people" against themselves? Where has there been called one single +spontaneous public meeting of any importance, and where exhibited a +spark of enthusiasm, for the total repeal of the Corn-laws? Surely the +_topic_ is capable of being handled in a sufficiently exciting manner! +But no; wherever a "meeting," or "demonstration," is heard of--there, +also, are the eternal Cobden, Bright and Wilson, and their miserable +fellow-agitators, who alone have got up--who alone harangue the +meetings. Was it so with Catholic Emancipation?--with the abolition of +Negro Slavery?--with the Reform Bill? Right or wrong, the public +feeling was then roused, and exhibited itself unequivocally, +powerfully, and spontaneously; but _here_--bah! common sense revolts +at the absurd supposition that even hundreds of thousands of pounds +can of themselves get up a real demonstration of public feeling in +favour of the object, for which so much Manchester money has been +already subscribed. + + "'Tis not in _thousands_ to command success." + +If the public opinion of this great country--this great enlightened +nation--were _really_ roused against the Corn-laws, they would +disappear like snow under sunshine. But, as the matter _now_ stands, +if their dreary drivellers Cobden, Bright, Wilson, Acland, W.J. Fox, +were withdrawn from the public scene in which they are so anxious to +figure, and sent to enjoy the healthy exercise of the tread-mill for +one single three months, would this eternal "_brutum fulmen_" about +the repeal of the Corn-laws be heard of any more? We verily believe +not. "But look at our triumphs!"--quoth Cobden--"Look at our glorious +victories at Durham, London, and Kendal!--our virtual victory at +Salisbury!" Moonshine, gentlemen, and you know it;--and that you have +spent your money in vain. Let us see how the matter stands. + + +I. _Durham_. True, Mr Bright was returned; but to what is the House of +Commons indebted for the acquisition of that distinguished senator, +except the personal pique and caprice of that eccentric Tory peer, +Lord Londonderry? This is notorious, and admitted by all parties; and +these causes will not be in operation at another election. + + +II. _London_. And do you really call this a "great triumph?" +Undoubtedly Mr Pattison was returned; but is it a matter of +congratulation that this notorious political nonentity, who openly, we +understand, entertains and will support _Chartist_ opinions, is +returned instead of such a man as Mr Baring? What was the majority of +Mr Pattison? One hundred and sixty-five, out of twelve thousand eight +hundred and eighty-nine who actually voted. And how was even that +majority secured? By the notorious absence from London--as is always +the case at that period of the year (21st October 1843)--of vast +numbers of the stanchest Conservative electors. There is no doubt +whatever, that had the election happened one fortnight later than it +did, Mr Baring would have been returned by a large majority, in spite +of the desperate exertions of the Anti-corn-law League and Mr +Rothschild and the Jews. As it was, Mr Baring polled more (6367) than +had ever been polled by a Conservative candidate for London before; +and had an immense majority over his competitor, among the superior +classes of the constituency.[30] At another election, we can +confidently predict that Mr Baring will be returned, and by a large +majority, unless, indeed, the Charter should be the law of the land; +in which case Mr Pattison will probably enjoy another ovation. + + [30] Among the _Livery_, the numbers were--Baring, 3196; + Pattison, 2367;--majority for Baring, 889! + + Among the _Templars_--Baring, 258; Pattison, 78!!--majority + for Baring, 180! + + +III. _Kendal_. Is this, too, a victory? "Another such, and you are +undone." Why? Till Mr Bentinck presented himself before that +enlightened little constituency, no Conservative dared even to offer +himself; 'twas a snug little stronghold of the Anti-corn-law League +interest, and yet the gallant Conservative gave battle against the +whole force of the League; and after a mortal struggle of some +fourteen days, was defeated by a far smaller majority than either +friends or enemies had expected, and has pledged himself to fight the +battle again. Here, then, the League and their stanch friends have +sustained an unexpected and serious shock. + + +IV. _Salisbury_.--We have not the least desire to magnify this into a +mighty victory for the Conservative party; but the interference of +the Anti-corn-law League certainly made the struggle a very critical +and important one. We expected to succeed, but not by a large +majority; for ever since 1832, the representation had (till within the +last year) been divided between a Conservative and a Liberal. However, +the Anti-corn-law League, flushed with their "triumphs" at London and +Kendal, flung all their forces ostentatiously into the borough, and +exhibited a disgusting and alarming specimen of the sort of +interference which it seems we are to expect in all future elections, +in all counties and boroughs. It was, however, in vain; the ambitious +young gentleman who had the benefit of their services, and who is a +law-student in London, but the son of the great Earl of Radnor, lost +his election by a large majority, and the discomfited League retired +ridiculously to Manchester. When we heard of their meditated descent +upon Salisbury, we fancied we saw Cobden and his companions waddling +back, geese-like, and exclaimed-- + + "Geese! if we had you but on Sarum plain, + We'd drive you cackling back to Camelot!" + +So much for the boasted electoral triumphs of the Anti-corn-law +League--we repeat, that they are all mere moonshine, and challenge +them to disprove our assertion. + +They are now making another desperate effort to raise a further sum of +a hundred thousand pounds; and beginning, as usual, at Manchester, +have raised there alone, within a few days' time, upwards of L.20,000! +The fact (if _true_) is at once ludicrous and disgusting: ludicrous +for its transparency of humbug--disgusting for its palpable +selfishness. Will these proverbially hard-hearted men put down their +L.100, L.200, L.300, L.400, L.500, for nothing? Alas, the great sums +they have expended in this crusade against the Corn-laws, will have to +be wrung out of their wretched and exhausted factory slaves! For how +otherwise but by diminishing wages can they repay themselves for lost +time, for trouble, and for expense? + +Looked at in its proper light, the Corn-law League is nothing but _an +abominable conspiracy against labour_. Cheap _bread_ means cheap +_labour_; those who cannot see this, must be blind indeed! The +melancholy fact of the continually-decreasing price of labour in this +country, rests on undisputable authority--on, amongst others, that of +Mr Fielding. In 1825, the price of labour was 51 per cent less than in +1815; in 1830 it was 65 per cent less than in 1815, though the +consumption of cotton had increased from 80,000,000 lbs. to +240,000,000 lbs.! In 1835 it was 318,000,000 lbs., but the operative +received 70 per cent less than in 1815. In 1840 the consumption of +cotton was 415,000,000 lbs., and the unhappy operative received 75 per +cent less than in 1815! + +If proofs be required to show that in reality the deadly snake, _cheap +labour_, lurks among the flourishing grass, _cheap bread_, we will +select one or two out of very many now lying before us, and prepared +to be presented to the reader. + +"If grain be high," said Mr Ricardo, in the House of Commons,[31] "the +price of labour would necessarily be a deduction from the _profits of +stock_." "The Corn-laws raise the price of sustenance--that has +_raised the price of labour_; which, of course, diminishes the profit +in capital."[32] + + [31] Debates, May 30, 1820. + + [32] Ib. Dec. 24, 1819. + +"Until the price of food in this country," said Mr Hume, in the House +of Commons on the 12th of May last, in the presence of all the leading +free-trade members, "is placed on a level with that on the Continent, +it will be impossible for us to compete with the growing manufactures +of Belgium, Germany, France, and America!!" + +Hear a member of the League, and of the Manchester Chamber of +Commerce, Mr G. Sandars:-- + + "If three loaves instead of two could be got for 2s., in + consequence of a repeal of the Corn-laws, another consequence + would be, that the workman's 2s. would be reduced to 1s. 4d., + which would leave matters, as far as he was concerned, just + as they were!!"[33] + + [33] Authentic Discussions on the Corn-law, (Ridgway, 1839,) + p. 86. + +Hear a straightforward manufacturer--Mr Muntz, M.P.--in the debate on +the 17th May last:-- + + "If the Corn-laws were repealed, the benefit which the + manufacturer expected was, that he could produce at a lower + price; and this he could do only by reducing wages to the + continental level!!" + +If the above fail to open the eyes of the duped workmen of this +country, what will succeed in doing so? Let us conclude this portion +of our subject--disgusting enough, but necessary to expose +imposture--with the following tabular view, &c., of the gross +contradiction of the men, whom we wish to hold up to universal and +deserved contempt, on even the most vital points of the controversy in +which they are engaged; and then let our readers say whether any thing +proceeding from such a quarter is worthy of notice:-- + + * * * * * + + +The _League Oracle_ says-- + + +1. "If we have free trade, the landlords' rents will fall 100 per +cent."--(_League Circular_, No. 15. p. 3.) + +2. "Provisions will fall one-third."--(Ib. No. 34, p. 4.) + +"The Corn-laws makes the labourer pay double the price for his +food."--(Ib. No. 15.) + +3. "The Corn-law compels us to pay _three times the value for a loaf +of bread_."--(Ib. No. 13.) + +"If the Corn-laws were abolished, the working man WOULD SAVE 31/2d. UPON +EVERY LOAF OF BREAD."--(Ib. No. 75.) + +"As a consequence of the repeal of the Corn-laws, _we promise cheaper +food_, and our hand-loom weavers would get _double_ the rate of +wages!"--(Ib. No. 7.) + +"We shall have _cheap bread_, and its price will be reduced 33 per +cent."--(Ib. No. 34.) + +4. Messrs Villiers, Muntz, Hume, Roche, Thornton, Rawson, Sandars, +(all Leaguers,) say, and the oracle of the _League_ itself has said, +that "We want free trade, to enable us to _reduce wages_, that we may +compete with foreigners."--(_Post_, pp. 13-16.) + +5. The _League Oracle_ admits that "a repeal would _injure_ the +farmer, but not so much as he fears."--(_League Circular_, No. 58.) + + +Mr Cobden says-- + + +1. "If we have free trade, the landlords will have as good rents as +now."--(Speech in the House of Commons, 15th May last.) + +2. "Provisions will be no cheaper."--(Speech at Bedford, _Hertford +Reformer_, 10th June last.) + +3. "THE ARGUMENT FOR CHEAP BREAD WAS NEVER MINE."--(_Morning +Chronicle_, 30th June 1843, Speech on Penenden Heath.) + +"THE IDEA OF LOW-PRICED FOREIGN CORN IS ALL A DELUSION."--SPEECH AT +Winchester, _Salisbury Herald_, July 29, 1843, p. 3. + +4. Messrs Cobden, Bright, and Moore, now affirm--"It is a base +falsehood to say we want free trade, to enable us to reduce the rate +of wages."--(Mr Cobden on Penenden Heath. Messrs Bright and Moore at +Huntingdon.) + +5. Cobden, Moore, and Bright, say, that it is to the _interest_ of the +farmer to have a total and _immediate_ repeal.--(Uxbridge, Bedford, +Huntingdon.[34]) + + [34] Extracted from a very admirable speech by Mr Day of + Huntingdon, (Ollivier, 1843,) and which we earnestly recommend + for perusal. + + * * * * * + +The disgusting selfishness and hypocrisy of such men as Cobden and his +companions, in veiling their real objects under a pretended enmity to +"Monopoly" and "Class Legislation"--and disinterested anxiety to +procure for the poor the blessings of "cheap bread"--fills us with a +just indignation; and we never see an account of their hebdomadal +proceedings, but we exclaim, in the language of our immortal bard-- + + "Oh, Heaven! that such impostors thoud'st unfold, + And put in every honest hand a whip, + To lash the rascals naked through the land!" + +While we repeat our deliberate opinion, that the Anti-corn-law League, +as a body, is, in respect of actual present influence, infinitely less +formidable than the vanity and selfish purposes of its members would +lead them to wish the country to believe--we must add, that it is +quite another question how long it will continue so. It may soon be +converted--if indeed it has not already been secretly converted, into +an engine of tremendous mischief, for other purposes than any ever +contemplated by its originators. Suppose, in the next session of +parliament, Ministers were to offer a law-fixed duty on corn: would +that concession dissolve the League? Absurd--they have long ago +scouted the idea of so ridiculous a compromise. Suppose they effected +their avowed object of a total repeal of the Corn-laws--is any one +weak enough to imagine that they would _then_ dissolve? No--nor do +they _now_ dream of such a thing; but are at the present moment, as we +are informed, "_fraternizing_" with other political societies of a +very dangerous character, and on the eve of originating serious and +revolutionary movements. Their present organization is precisely that +of the French Jacobins; their plan of operation the same. Let any one +turn to _The League Circular_ of the 18th November, and he will see +announced a plan of action on the part of this Association, precisely +analagous, in all its leading features, to that of the French +Jacobins: and we would call the attention of the legislature to the +question, whether the Anti-corn-law League, in its most recent form of +organization and plan of action, be not clearly within the provisions +of statutes 57 Geo. III., c. 19, Sec. 25 and 39; Geo. III., c. 79? What +steps, if any, the legislature may take, is one thing; it is quite +another, what course shall be adopted by the friends of the +Conservative cause--the supporters of the British constitution. It is +impossible to assign limits to the mischief which may be effected by +the indefatigable and systematic exertions of the League to diffuse +pernicious misrepresentations, and artful and popular fallacies, among +all classes of society. That they entertain a fearfully envenomed +hatred of the agricultural interest, is clear; and their evident +object is to render the landed proprietors of this country objects of +fierce hatred to the inferior orders of the community. "If a man tells +me his story every morning of my life, by the year's end he will be my +master," said Burke, "and I shall believe him, however untrue and +improbable his story may be;" and if, whilst the Anti-corn-law League +can display such perseverance, determination, and system, its +opponents obstinately remain supine and silent, can any one wonder if +such progress be not made by the League, in their demoralizing and +revolutionary enterprize, that it will soon be too late to attempt +even to arrest? + +If this Journal has earned, during a quarter of a century's career of +unwavering consistency and independence, any title to the respect of +the Conservative party, we desire now to rely upon that title for the +purpose of adding weight to our solemn protest against the want of +union and energy--against the apathy, from whatever cause arising--now +but too visible. In vain do we and others exert ourselves to the +uttermost to diffuse sound political principles by means of the press; +in vain do the distinguished leaders of our party fight the battles of +the constitution with consummate skill and energy in parliament--if +their exertions be not supported by corresponding energy and activity +on the part of the Conservative constituencies, and those persons of +talent and influence professing the same principles, by whom they can, +and ought to be, easily set in motion. It is true that persons of +liberal education, of a high and generous tone of feeling, of +intellectual refinement, are entitled to treat such men as Cobden, +Bright, and Acland, with profound contempt, and dislike the notion of +personal contact or collision with them, as representatives of the +foulest state of ill feeling that can be generated in the worst +manufacturing regions--of sordid avarice, selfishness, envy, and +malignity; but they are active--ever up and doing, and steadily +applying themselves, with palatable topics, to the corruption of the +hearts of the working classes. So, unless the persons to whom we +allude choose to cast aside their morbid aversions--to be "UP AND AT +them," in the language of the Duke of Waterloo--why then will be +verified the observation of Burke--that "if, when bad men combine, the +good do not associate, they will fall, one by one--an unpitied +sacrifice in a contemptible struggle." Vast as are our forces, they +can effect comparatively nothing without union, energy, and system: +_with_ these, their power is tremendous and irresistible. What we +would say, therefore, is--ORGANIZE! ORGANIZE! ORGANIZE! Let every +existing Conservative club or association be stirred up into increased +action, and _put into real working trim_ forthwith; and where none +such clubs or associations exist, let them be immediately formed, and +set into cheerful and spirited motion. Let them all be placed under +the vigilant superintendence of one or two _real men of business_--of +local knowledge, of ability, and influence. We would point out +Conservative solicitors as auxiliaries of infinite value to those +engaged in the good cause; men of high character, of business habits, +extensive acquaintance with the character and circumstances of the +electors--and capable of bringing legitimate influence to bear upon +them in a far more direct and effective manner than any other class of +persons. One such gentleman--say a young and active solicitor, with a +moderate salary, as permanent secretary in order to secure and, in +some measure, requite his services throughout the year--would be worth +fifty _dilletante_ "friends of the good cause dropping in every now +and then," but whose "friendship" evaporates in mere _talk_. Let every +local Conservative newspaper receive constant and substantial +patronage; for they are worthy of the very highest consideration, on +account of the ability with which they are generally conducted, and +their great influence upon local society. Many of them, to our own +knowledge, display a degree of talent and knowledge which would do +honour to the very highest metropolitan journals. Let them, then, be +vigorously supported, their circulation extended through the influence +of the resident nobility and gentry, and the clergy of every +particular district throughout the kingdom. Let no opportunity be +missed of exposing the true character of the vile and selfish +agitators of the Anti-corn-law league. Let not the league have all the +"publishing" to themselves; but let their impudent fallacies and +falsehoods be _instantly_ encountered and exposed on the spot, by +means of small and cheap tracts and pamphlets, which shall bring +plain, wholesome, and important truths home to the businesses and +bosoms of the very humblest in the land. Again, let the resident +gentry seek frequent opportunities of mingling with their humbler +neighbours, friends, and dependents, by way of keeping up a cordial +and hearty good understanding with them, so as to rely upon their +effective co-operation whenever occasions may arise for political +action. + +Let all this be done, and we may defy a hundred Anti-corn-law Leagues. +Let these objects be kept constantly in view, and the Anti-corn-law +League will be utterly palsied, had it a hundred times its present +funds--a thousand times its present members! + +Let us now, however, turn for a brief space to Ireland; the present +condition of which we contemplate with profound concern and anxiety, +but with neither surprise nor dismay. As far as regards the +Government, the state of affairs in Ireland bears at this moment +unquestionable testimony to the stability and strength of the +Government; and no one know this better than the gigantic impostor, to +whom so much of the misery of that afflicted portion of the empire is +owing. He perceives, with inexpressible mortification, that neither he +nor his present position awake any sympathy or excitement whatever in +the kingdom at large, where the enormity of his misconduct is fully +appreciated, and every movement of the Government against him +sanctioned by public opinion. The general feeling is one of profound +disgust towards him, sympathy and commiseration for his long-plundered +dupes and of perfect confidence that the Government will deal firmly +and wisely with both. As for a _Repeal of the Union_! Pshaw! Every +child knows that it is a notion too absurd to be seriously dealt with; +that Great Britain would rather plunge _instanter_ into the bloodiest +civil war that ever desolated a country, than submit to the +dismemberment of the empire by repealing the union between Great +Britain and Ireland. This opinion has had, from time to time, every +possible mode of authentic and solemn expression that can be given to +the national will; in speeches from the Throne; in Parliamentary +declarations by the leaders of both the Whig and Conservative +Governments; the members of both Houses of Parliament are (with not a +single exception worth noticing) unanimous upon the subject; the +press, whether quarterly, monthly, weekly, or daily, of all classes +and shades of political opinions, is unanimous upon the subject; in +society, whether high or low, the subject is never broached, except to +enquire whether any one can, for one moment, seriously believe the +Repeal of the Union to be possible. In Ireland itself, the vast +majority of the intellect, wealth, and respectability of the island, +without distinction of religion or politics, entertains the same +opinion and determination which prevail in Great Britain. Is Mr +O'Connell ignorant of all this? He knows it as certainly as he knows +that Queen Victoria occupies the throne of these realms; and yet, down +to his very last appearance in public, he has solemnly and +perseveringly asseverated that the Repeal of the Union is an +absolutely certain and inevitable event, and one that will happen +within a few months! _Is he in his senses?_ If so, he is speaking from +his knowledge of some vast and dreadful conspiracy, which he has +organized himself, which has hitherto escaped detection. The idea is +too monstrous to be entertained for a moment. What, then, can Mr +O'Connell be about? Our opinion is, that his sole object in setting on +foot the Repeal agitation, was to increase his pecuniary resources, +and at the same time overthrow Sir Robert Peel's Government, by +showing the Queen and the nation that his admitted "_chief_ +difficulty"--Ireland--was one _insuperable_; and that he must +consequently retire. We believe, moreover, that he is, to a certain +extent, acting upon a secret understanding with the party of the late +Government, who, however, never contemplated matters being carried to +their present pitch; but that the Ministry would long ago have +retired, terrified before the tremendous "demonstration" in Ireland. +We feel as certain as if it were a past event, that, had the desperate +experiment succeeded so far as to replace the present by the late +Government, Mr O'Connell's intention was to have announced his +determination to "_give England_ ONE MORE trial"--to place Repeal once +more in abeyance--in order to see whether England would really, at +length, do "_justice_ to _Ireland_;" in other words, restore the +halcyon days of Lord Normanby's nominal, and Mr O'Connell's real, rule +in Ireland, and enable him, by these means, to provide for himself, +his family, and dependents; for old age is creeping rapidly upon +him--his physical powers are no longer equal to the task of vigorous +agitation--and he is known to be in utterly desperate circumstances. +The reckless character of his proceedings during the last fifteen +months, is, in our opinion, fully accounted for, by his unexpected +discovery, that the ministry were strong enough to defy any thing that +he could do, and to continue calmly in their course of administering, +not _pseudo_, but real "justice to Ireland," supported in that course +by the manifest favour and countenance of the Crown, overwhelming +majorities in Parliament, and the decided and unequivocal expression +of public opinion. His personal position was, in truth, inexpressibly +galling and most critical, and he must have agitated, or sunk at once +into ignominious obscurity and submission to a Government whom, +individually and collectively, he loathed and abhorred. Vain were the +hopes which, doubtless, he had entertained, that, as his agitation +assumed a bolder form, it would provoke formidable demonstrations in +England against Ministers and their policy; not a meeting could be got +up to petition her Majesty for the dismissal of her Ministers! But it +is quite conceivable that Mr O'Connell, in the course he was pursuing, +forgot to consider the possibility of developing a power which might +be too great for him, which would not be wielded by him, but carry +_him_ along with _it_. The following remarkable expressions fell from +the perplexed and terrified agitator, at a great dinner at Lismore in +the county of Waterford, in the month of September last:--"Like the +heavy school-boy on the ice, _my pupils are overtaking me_. It is now +my duty to regulate the vigour and temper the energy of the people--to +compress, as it were, the exuberance of both." + +We said that Mr O'Connell revived the Repeal agitation; and the fact +was so. He first raised it in 1829--having, however, at various +previous periods of his life, professed a desire to struggle for +Repeal; but Mr Shiel, in his examination before the House of Commons +in 1825, characterized such allusions as mere "rhetorical artifices." +"What were his real motives," observes the able and impartial author +of _Ireland and its Rulers_[35], "when he announced his new agitation +in 1829, can be left only to him to determine." It is probable that +they were of so mixed a nature, that he himself could not accurately +define them.... It is, however, quite possible, that, after having so +long tasted of the luxuries of popularity, he could not consent that +the chalice should pass from his lips. Agitation had, perhaps, begun +to be necessary to his existence: a tranquil life would have been a +hell to him." It would seem that Mr O'Connell's earliest recorded +manifesto on Repeal was on the 3d June 1829, previous to the Clare +election, on which occasion he said--"We want political excitement, in +order that we may insist on our rights as Irishmen, but not as +Catholics;" and on the 20th of the same month in the same year, 1829, +he predicted--listen to this, ye his infatuated dupes!--"_that_ BEFORE +THREE YEARS THERE WOULD BE A PARLIAMENT IN DUBLIN!!!" In the general +elections of 1832, it was proclaimed by Mr O'Connell, that no member +should be returned unless he solemnly pledged himself to vote for the +Repeal of the Union; but it was at the same time hinted, that _if they +would only enter the House as professed Repealers, they would never be +required to_ VOTE _for Repeal_. On the hustings at the county of +Waterford election, one of these gentry, Sir Richard Keave, on being +closely questioned concerning the real nature of his opinion on +Repeal, let out the whole truth:--"_I will hold it as an imposing +weapon to get justice to Ireland_." This has held true ever since, and +completely exemplifies all the intervening operations of Mr O'Connell. +It has been his practice ever since "to connect every grievance with +the subject of Repeal--to convert every wrongful act of any Government +into an argument for the necessity of an Irish Legislature." Can it be +wondered at that the present Government, thoroughly aware of the true +state of the case--_knowing their man_--should regard the cry for +Repeal simply as an imposture, its utterers as impostors? They did and +do so regard it and its utterers--never allowing either the one or the +other to disturb their administration of affairs with impartiality and +firmness; but, nevertheless, keeping a most watchful eye upon all their +movements. + + [35] pp. 43, 50. + +At length, whether emboldened by a conviction that the +non-interference of the Government was occasioned solely by their +incapacity to grapple with an agitation becoming hourly more +formidable, and that thus his schemes were succeeding--or impelled +onwards by those whom he had roused into action, but could no longer +restrain--his movements became daily characterized by more astounding +audacity--more vivid the glare of sedition, and even treason, which +surrounded them: still the Government interfered not. Their apparent +inaction most wondered, very many murmured, some were alarmed, and Mr +O'Connell laughed at. Sir Robert Peel, on one occasion, when his +attention was challenged to the subject in the House of Commons, +replied, that "he was not in the least degree moved or disturbed by +what was passing in Ireland." This perfect calmness of the Government +served to check the rising of any alarm in the country; which felt a +confidence of the Ministry's being equal to any exigency that could be +contemplated. Thus stood matters till the 11th July last, when, at the +close of the debate on the state of Ireland, Sir Robert Peel delivered +a very remarkable speech. It consisted of a calm demonstration of the +falsehood of all the charges brought by the Repealers against the +imperial Parliament; of the impolicy and the impracticability of the +various schemes for the relief of Ireland proposed by the Opposition; +of the absolute impossibility of Parliament entertaining the question +of a Repeal of the Union; and a distinct answer to the question--"What +course do you intend to pursue?" That answer is worthy of being +distinctly brought under the notice of the reader. "I am prepared to +administer the law in Ireland upon principles of justice and +impartiality. I am prepared to recognise the principle established by +law--that there shall be equality in civil privileges. I am prepared +to respect the franchise, to give substantially, although not +nominally, equality. In respect to the social condition of +Ireland--_as to the relation of landlord and tenant_[36]--I am +prepared to give the most deliberate consideration to the important +matters involved in those questions. With respect to the Established +Church, I have already stated that we are not prepared to make an +alteration in the law by which that Church is maintained." + + [36] In conformity with this declaration, has been issued the + recent commission, for "enquiring into the state of the law + and practice in respect to the occupation of land in Ireland, + and in respect also to the burdens of county cess and other + charges, which fall respectively on the landlord and occupying + tenant, and for reporting as to the amendments, if any, of the + existing laws, which, having due regard to the just rights of + property, may be calculated to encourage the cultivation of + the soil, to extend a better system of agriculture, and to + improve the relation between landlord and tenant, in that part + of the United Kingdom." + +We recollect being greatly struck with the ominous calmness +perceptible in the tone of this speech. It seemed characterised by a +solemn declaration to place the agitation of Ireland for ever in the +_wrong_--to deprive them of all pretence for accusing England of +having misgoverned Ireland since the Union. It appeared to us as if +that speech had been designed to lay the basis of a contemplated +movement against the agitation of the most decisive kind. The +Government acted up to the spirit of the declaration, on that +occasion, of Sir Robert Peel, with perfect dignity and resolution, +unmoved by the taunts, the threats, the expostulations, or fears of +either enemies or friends. Mr O'Connell's tone increased in audacity; +but we greatly doubt whether in his heart he had not frequent +misgivings as to the real nature of the "_frightful silence_"--"_cette +affreuse silence_"--of a Government in whose councils the Duke of +Wellington took a decided part, and which was actually at that moment +taking complete military occupation of Ireland. On what information +they were acting, no one knew; but their preparations were _for the +worst_. During all this time nothing could exceed the tranquillity +which prevailed in England. None of these threatening appearances, +these tremendous preparations, caused the least excitement or alarm; +the funds did not vary a farthing per cent in consequence of them; and +to what could all this be ascribed but to the strength of public +confidence in the Government? At length the harvest in Ireland had +been got in; ships of war surrounded the coast; thirty thousand picked +and chosen troops, ready for instant action, were disposed in the most +masterly manner all over Ireland. With an almost insane audacity, Mr +O'Connell appointed his crowning monster meeting to take place at +Clontarf, in the immediate vicinity of the residence and presence of +the Queen's representative, and of such a military force as rendered +the bare possibility of encountering it appalling. The critical +moment, however, for the interference of Government had at length +arrived, and it spoke out in a voice of thunder, prohibiting the +monster meeting. The rest is matter of history. The monster demagogue +fell prostrate and confounded among his panic-stricken confederates; +and, in an agony of consternation, declared their implicit obedience +to the proclamation, and set about dispersing the myriad dupes, as +fast as they arrived to attend the prohibited meeting. Thus was the +Queen's peace preserved, her crown and dignity vindicated, without one +sword being drawn or one shot being fired. Mr O'Connell had repeatedly +"defied the Government to go to law with him." They _have_ gone to law +with him; and by this time we suspect that he finds himself in an +infinitely more serious position than he has ever been in, during the +whole of a long and prosperous career of agitation. Here, however, we +leave him and his fellow defendants. + +We may, however, take this opportunity of expressing our opinion, that +there is not a shadow of foundation for the charges of blundering and +incompetency which have been so liberally brought against the Irish +Attorney-General. He certainly appears, in the earlier stages of the +proceedings, to have evinced some little irritability--but, only +consider, under what unprecedented provocation! His conduct has since, +however, been characterised by calmness and dignity; and as for his +legal capabilities, all competent judges who have attended to the +case, will pronounce them to be first-rate; and we feel perfectly +confident that his future conduct of the proceedings will convince the +public of the justness of our eulogium. + +The selection by the Government of the moment for interference with Mr +O'Connell's proceedings, was unquestionably characterised by +consummate prudence. When the meetings commenced in March or April, +this year, they had nothing of outward character which could well be +noticed. They professed to be meetings to petition Parliament for +Repeal; and, undoubtedly, no lawyer could say that such a meeting +would _per se_ be illegal, any more than a meeting to complain of +Catholic relief, or to pray for its repeal--or for any other matter +which is considered a settled part of the established constitution. +The mere numbers were certainly alarming, but the meetings quietly +dispersed without any breach of the peace: and after two or three such +meetings, without any disturbance attending them, no one could with +truth swear that he expected a breach of the peace as a _direct_ +consequence of such a meeting, though many thought they saw a civil +war as a _remote_ consequence. The meetings went on: some ten, twelve, +fifteen occurred,--still no breach of the peace, no disturbance. The +language, indeed, became gradually more seditious--more daring and +ferocious: but, as an attempt to put down the first meeting by _force_ +would have been considered a wanton act of oppression, and a direct +interference with the subject's right to petition, it became a very +difficult _practical_ question, at what moment any _legal_ notice +could be taken by prosecution, or _executive_ notice by proclamation, +to put down such meetings. Notwithstanding several confident opinions +to the contrary advanced by the newspaper press at the time, a greater +mistake--indeed a grosser blunder--could not have been made, than to +have prosecuted those who attended the early meetings, or to have sent +the police or the military to put those meetings down. An acquittal in +the one case, or a conflict in the other, would have been attended +with most mischievous consequences; and, as to the latter, it is clear +that the executive never ought to interfere unless with a _force which +renders all resistance useless_. It appears perfectly clear to us, +_even now_, that a prosecution for the earlier meetings must have +failed; for there existed then none of that evidence which would prove +the object and the nature of the association: and to proclaim a +meeting, without using force to prevent or disperse it if it defied +the proclamation; and to use force without being certain that the +extent of the illegality would carry public opinion along with the use +of force; further, to begin to use force without being sure that you +have enough to use--would be acts of madness, and, at least, of great +and criminal disregard of consequences. Now, when meeting after +meeting had taken place, and the general design, and its mischief, +were unfolded, it became necessary that _some new feature should +occur_ to justify the interference of Government; and that occurred at +the Clontarf meeting. No meeting had, before that, ventured to call +itself "_Repeal infantry_;" and to Clontarf _horsemen_ also were +summoned, and were designated "_Repeal cavalry_;" and, in the orders +for their assembling, marching, and conducting themselves, _military +directions were given_; and the meeting, had it been permitted to +assemble, would have been a parade of cavalry, ready for civil war. It +would have been a sort of review--in the face of the city of Dublin, +in open defiance of all order and government. Let us add, that, just +at that time, Mr O'Connell had published his "Address to all her +Majesty's subjects, in all parts of her dominions," (a most libellous +and treasonable publication;) and the arrangements to secure the peace +were more complete, and could be brought to bear more easily, on the +Clontarf than on any of the preceding meetings. The occasion presented +itself, and as soon as possible the Irish authorities assembled at +Dublin; the proclamation appeared; the ground was pre-occupied, and a +force that was irresistible went out to keep the peace, and prevent +the meeting. The result showed the perfect success of the Government's +enterprise. + +As the foregoing topics will doubtless occupy much of the attention of +parliament during the ensuing session, we were anxious to place on +record our own opinions, as the result of much reflection, during a +period when events were transpiring which threw upon the Government an +awful responsibility, and rendered their course one of almost +unprecedented difficulty. Modern times, we are convinced, have +witnessed but few instances of such a masterly policy, combined with +signal self-reliance. + +One or two general topics connected with Ireland, we have time only to +glance at. First.--From the faint reluctant disavowal and +discouragement of Mr O'Connell and his Repeal agitation, by the +leading ex-Ministers during the last session, when emphatically +challenged by Sir Robert Peel to join him in denouncing the attempted +dismemberment of the empire, irrespective and independent of all party +consideration, we are prepared to expect that in the ensuing session, +the Opposition will, to a great extent, make common cause with Mr +O'Connell, out of mingled fear, and gratitude, and hope towards their +late friend and patron. Such a course will immensely strengthen the +hands of the Queen's Government. + +Secondly.--To any thoughtful and independent politician, the present +Sovereign state of Ireland demonstrates the utter impossibility of +governing it upon the principle of breaking down or disparaging the +Protestant interest. Such a course would tend only to bloody and +interminable anarchy. + +Thirdly.--Ireland's misery springs from social more than political +evils; and the greatest boon that Providence could give her, would be +a powerful government inflexibly resolved to _put down agitation_. + +Lastly.--Can we wonder at the exasperation of the peasantry, who have +for so many years had their money extorted from them, without ever +having had, up to this moment, the shadow of an equivalent? And how +long is this disgraceful pillage to go on? But we must conclude. The +ensuing session of parliament may, and probably will, be a stormy one, +and harassing to the Government; but they may prepare to encounter it +with cheerful confidence. Their measures, during their brief tenure of +office, have been attended with extraordinary success--and of that +both the sovereign and the country are thoroughly aware, and we +entertain high hopes concerning the future. We expect to see their +strong majority in the House of Commons rather augmented than +diminished by reason of the events which have happened during the +recess. If the Ministers remain firm in their determination--and who +doubts it?--to support the agricultural interests of the country, and +persevere in their present vigorous policy towards Ireland, the +Government is impregnable, and the surges of Repeal agitation in +Ireland, and Anti-corn-law agitation in England, will dash against it +in vain. So long as they pursue this course, they will be cheered by +augmented indications of the national good-will, and of that implicit +and affectionate confidence in their councils, which, we rejoice to +know, is vouchsafed to her Ministers by our gracious Sovereign. + + + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. +CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. 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