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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, Vol. 60, No. 373, November 1846 + +Author: Various + +Release Date: October 19, 2011 [EBook #37797] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BLACKWOOD'S EDINBURGH *** + + + + +Produced by Brendan OConnor, Ron Stephens, Jonathan Ingram +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images +generously made available by The Internet Library of Early +Journals.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<h1>BLACKWOOD'S<br /> +EDINBURGH MAGAZINE.</h1> + +<h3><span class="rspace"><span class="smcap">No</span>. CCCLXXIII.</span><span class="btbb">NOVEMBER, 1846.</span><span class="lspace"><span class="smcap">Vol.</span> LX.</span></h3> + + +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#MARLBOROUGHS_DISPATCHES">Marlborough's Dispatches. 1710-1711</a></span></td><td align="right"> 517</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#MOHAN_LAL_IN_AFGHANISTAN">Mohan Lal in Afghanistan</a></span></td><td align="right">539</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#ON_THE_OPERATION_OF_THE_ENGLISH_POOR-LAWS">On the Operation of the English Poor-Laws</a></span></td><td align="right"> 555</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#PRUSSIAN_MILITARY_MEMOIRS">Prussian Military Memoirs</a></span></td><td align="right">572</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#ADVICE_TO_AN_INTENDING_SERIALIST">Advice to an Intending Serialist</a></span></td><td align="right">590</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#A_NEW_SENTIMENTAL_JOURNEY">A New Sentimental Journey</a></span></td><td align="right">606</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#HONOUR_TO_THE_PLOUGH">Honour to the Plough</a></span></td><td align="right">613</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#LUIGIA_DE_MEDICI">Luigia de' Medici</a></span></td><td align="right">614</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#THINGS_IN_GENERAL">Things in General</a></span></td><td align="right">625</td></tr> +</table></div> +<p><br /><br /></p> +<hr style="width: 20%;" /> +<p><br /><br /></p> +<p class="center"><big>EDINBURGH:</big></p> + +<p class="center">WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS, 45, GEORGE STREET;<br /> +AND 37, PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON.<br /> + +<i>To whom all Communications (post paid) must be addressed.</i><br /> + +SOLD BY ALL THE BOOKSELLERS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.</p> +<hr style="width: 10%;" /> +<p class="center">PRINTED BY BALLANTYNE AND HUGHES, EDINBURGH.</p> + + +<h1>BLACKWOOD'S<br /> +EDINBURGH MAGAZINE.</h1> +<h3><span class="rspace"><span class="smcap">No</span>. CCCLXXIII.</span><span class="btbb">NOVEMBER, 1846.</span><span class="lspace"><span class="smcap">Vol.</span> LX.</span></h3> + + + + + +<h2><a name="MARLBOROUGHS_DISPATCHES" id="MARLBOROUGHS_DISPATCHES"></a>MARLBOROUGH'S DISPATCHES.</h2> + +<p class="center">1710-1711.</p> + +<p>Louis XIV. was one of the most +remarkable sovereigns who ever sat +upon the throne of France. Yet there +is none of whose character, even +at this comparatively remote period, +it is more difficult to form a just estimate. +Beyond measure eulogised by +the poets, orators, and annalists of +his own age, who lived on his bounty, +or were flattered by his address, he +has been proportionally vilified by +the historians, both foreign and national, +of subsequent times. The Roman +Catholic writers, with some truth, +represent him as the champion of their +faith, the sovereign who extirpated the +demon of heresy in his dominions, and +restored to the church in undivided +unity the realm of France. The Protestant +authors, with not less reason, +regard him as the deadliest enemy of +their religion, and the cruellest foe of +those who had embraced it; as a +faithless tyrant, who scrupled not, at +the bidding of bigoted priests, to +violate the national faith plighted by +the Edict of Nantes, and persecute, +with unrelenting severity, the unhappy +people who, from conscientious +motives, had broken off from the +Church of Rome. One set of writers +paint him as a magnanimous monarch, +whose mind, set on great things, and +swayed by lofty desires, foreshadowed +those vast designs which Napoleon, +armed with the forces of the Revolution, +afterwards for a brief space realised. +Another set dwell on the foibles +or the vices of his private character—depict +him as alternately swayed by +priests, or influenced by women; selfish +in his desires, relentless in his +hatred; and sacrificing the peace of +Europe, and endangering the independence +of France, for the gratification +of personal vanity, or from the thirst +of unbounded ambition.</p> + +<p>It is the fate of all men who have +made a great and durable impression +on human affairs, and powerfully affected +the interests, or thwarted the +opinion of large bodies of men, to be +represented in these opposite colours +to future times. The party, whether +in church or state, which they have +elevated, the nation whose power or +glory they have augmented, praise, as +much as those whom they have oppressed +and injured, whether at home +or abroad, strive to vilify their memory. +But in the case of Louis XIV., +this general propensity has been greatly +increased by the opposite, and, at +first sight, inconsistent features of his +character. There is almost equal truth +in the magniloquent eulogies of his +admirers, as in the impassioned invectives +of his enemies. He was not +less great and magnanimous than he +is represented by the elegant flattery +of Racine or Corneille, nor less cruel +and hard-hearted than he is painted +by the austere justice of Sismondi or +D'Aubigné. Like many other men, +but more than most, he was made up +of lofty and elevated, and selfish and +frivolous qualities. He could alternately +boast, with truth, that there<span class="pagenum">[518]</span> +were no longer any Pyrenees, and +rival his youngest courtiers in frivolous +and often heartless gallantry. In +his younger years he was equally assiduous +in his application to business, +and engrossed with personal vanity. +When he ascended the throne, his first +words were: "I intend that every +paper, from a diplomatic dispatch to +a private petition, shall be submitted +to me;" and his vast powers of application +enabled him to compass the +task. Yet, at the same time, he +deserted his queen for Madame la +Vallière, and soon after broke La +Vallière's heart by his desertion +of her for Madame de Montespan. +In mature life, his ambition to extend +the bounds and enhance the +glory of France, was equalled by +his desire to win the admiration +or gain the favour of the fair sex. +In his later days, he alternately +engaged in devout austerities with +Madame de Maintenon, and, with +mournful resolution, asserted the independence +of France against Europe +in arms. Never was evinced a more +striking exemplification of the saying, +so well known among men of the +world, that no one is a hero to his +valet-de-chambre; nor a more remarkable +confirmation of the truth, +so often proclaimed by divines, that +characters of imperfect goodness constitute +the great majority of mankind.</p> + +<p>That he was a great man, as well +as a successful sovereign, is decisively +demonstrated by the mighty changes +which he effected in his own realm, as +well as in the neighbouring states +of Europe. When he ascended the +throne, France, though it contained +the elements of greatness, had never +yet become great. It had been alternately +wasted by the ravages of the +English, and torn by the fury of the +religious wars. The insurrection of +the Fronde had shortly before involved +the capital in all the horrors +of civil conflict;—barricades had been +erected in its streets; alternate victory +and defeat had by turns elevated and +depressed the rival faction. Turenne +and Condé had displayed their consummate +talents in miniature warfare +within sight of Notre-Dame. Never +had the monarchy been depressed to +a greater pitch of weakness than during +the reign of Louis XIII. and the +minority of Louis XIV. But from +the time the latter sovereign ascended +the throne, order seemed to arise out +of chaos. The ascendancy of a great +mind made itself felt in every department. +Civil war ceased; the rival faction +disappeared; even the bitterness +of religious hatred seemed for a time +to be stilled by the influence of patriotic +feeling. The energies of France, +drawn forth during the agonies of civil +conflict, were turned to public objects +and the career of national aggrandisement—as +those of England had been +after the conclusion of the Great Rebellion, +by the firm hand and magnanimous +mind of Cromwell. From a +pitiable state of anarchy, France at +once appeared on the theatre of +Europe, great, powerful, and united. +It is no common capacity which can +thus seize the helm and right the ship +when it is reeling most violently, and +the fury of contending elements has +all but torn it in pieces. It is the +highest proof of political capacity to +discern the bent of the public mind, +when most violently exerted, and, by +falling in with the prevailing desire of +the majority, convert the desolating +vehemence of social conflict into the +steady passion for national advancement. +Napoleon did this with the +political aspirations of the eighteenth, +Louis XIV. with the religious fervour +of the seventeenth century.</p> + +<p>It was because his character and turn +of mind coincided with the national +desires at the moment of his ascending +the throne, that this great monarch +was enabled to achieve this marvellous +transformation. If Napoleon +was the incarnation of the Revolution, +with not less truth it may be +said that Louis XIV. was the incarnation +of the monarchy. The feudal +spirit, modified but not destroyed by +the changes of time, appeared to be +concentrated, with its highest lustre, +in his person. He was still the head +of the Franks—the lustre of the historic +families yet surrounded his +throne; but he was the head of the +Franks only—that is, of a hundred +thousand conquering warriors. Twenty +million of conquered Gauls were +neither regarded nor considered in +his administration, except in so far +as they augmented the national +strength, or added to the national +resources. But this distinction was<span class="pagenum">[519]</span> +then neither perceived nor regarded. +Worn out with civil dissension, torn +to pieces by religious passions, the +fervent minds and restless ambition +of the French longed for a <i>national</i> +field for exertion—an arena in which +social dissensions might be forgotten. +Louis XIV. gave them this +field: he opened this arena. He +ascended the throne at the time +when this desire had become so +strong and general, as in a manner +to concentrate the national will. His +character, equally in all its parts, was +adapted to the general want. He +took the lead alike in the greatness +and the foibles of his subjects. Were +they ambitious? so was he:—were +they desirous of renown? so was he:—were +they set on national aggrandisement? +so was he:—were they desirous +of protection to industry? so was he:—were +they prone to gallantry? so was +he. His figure and countenance tall +and majestic; his manner stately and +commanding; his conversation dignified, +but enlightened; his spirit ardent, +but patriotic—qualified him to +take the lead and preserve his ascendancy +among a proud body of ancient +nobles, whom the disasters of preceding +reigns, and the astute policy of +Cardinal Richelieu, had driven into +the antechambers of Paris, but who +preserved in their ideas and habits +the pride and recollections of the +conquerors who followed the banners +of Clovis. And the great body of the +people, proud of their sovereign, proud +of his victories, proud of his magnificence, +proud of his fame, proud of +his national spirit, proud of the literary +glory which environed his throne, +in secret proud of his gallantries, +joyfully followed their nobles in the +brilliant career which his ambition +opened, and submitted with as much +docility to his government as they +ranged themselves round the banners +of their respective chiefs on the day +of battle.</p> + +<p>It was the peculiarity of the government +of Louis XIV., arising from this +fortuitous, but to him fortunate combination +of circumstances, that it +united the distinctions of rank, family +attachments, and ancient ideas of +feudal times, with the vigour and efficiency +of monarchical government, +and the lustre and brilliancy of literary +glory. Such a combination could +not, in the nature of things, last long; +it must soon work out its own destruction. +In truth, it was sensibly +weakened during the course of the +latter part of the half century that he +sat upon the throne. But while it +endured, it produced a most formidable +union; it engendered an extraordinary +and hitherto unprecedented +phalanx of talent. The feudal ideas +still lingering in the hearts of the nation, +produced subordination; the +national spirit, excited by the genius +of the sovereign, induced unanimity; +the development of talent, elicited +by his discernment, conferred power; +the literary celebrity, encouraged by +his munificence, diffused fame. The +peculiar character of Louis, in which +great talent was united with great +pride, and unbounded ambition with +heroic magnanimity, qualified him to +turn to the best account this singular +combination of circumstances, and to +unite in France, for a brief period, +the lofty aspirations and dignified +manners of chivalry, with the energy +of rising talent and the lustre of literary +renown.</p> + +<p>Louis XIV. was essentially monarchical. +That was the secret of his +success; it was because he first gave +the powers of <i>unity</i> to the monarchy, +that he rendered France so brilliant +and powerful. All his changes, and +they were many, from the dress of +soldiers to the instructions to ambassadors, +breathed the same spirit. He +first introduced a <i>uniform</i> in the +army. Before his time, the soldiers +merely wore a banderole over their +steel breast-plates and ordinary dresses. +That was a great and symptomatic +improvement; it at once induced +an <i>esprit de corps</i> and a sense of responsibility. +He first made the troops +march with a measured step, and +caused large bodies of men to move +with the precision of a single company. +The artillery and engineer +service, under his auspices, made +astonishing progress. His discerning +eye selected the genius of Vauban, +which invented, as it were, the modern +system of fortification, and wellnigh +brought it to its greatest elevation—and +raised to the highest command +that of Turenne, which carried +the military art to the most consum<span class="pagenum">[520]</span>mate +perfection. Skilfully turning +the martial and enterprising genius +of the Franks into the career of conquest, +he multiplied tenfold their +power, by conferring on them the +inestimable advantages of skilled discipline +and unity of action. He +gathered the feudal array around his +banner; he roused the ancient barons +from their chateaux, the old retainers +from their villages; but he arranged +them in disciplined battalions of regular +troops, who received the pay +and obeyed the orders of government, +and never left their banners. When +he summoned the array of France to +undertake the conquest of the Low +Countries, he appeared at the head +of a hundred and twenty thousand +men, all regular and disciplined troops, +with a hundred pieces of cannon. +Modern Europe had never seen such +an array. It was irresistible, and +speedily brought the monarch to the +gates of Amsterdam.</p> + +<p>The same unity which the genius +of Louis and his ministers communicated +to the military power of France, +he gave also to its naval forces and +internal strength. To such a pitch +of greatness did he raise the marine +of the monarchy, that it all but outnumbered +that of England; and the +battle of La Hogue in 1792 alone determined, +as Trafalgar did a century +after, to which of these rival powers the +dominion of the seas was to belong. +He reduced the government of the +interior to that regular and methodical +system of governors of provinces, +mayors of cities, and other subordinate +authorities, all receiving their +instructions from the Tuileries, which, +under no subsequent change of government, +imperial or royal, has been +abandoned, and which has, in every +succeeding age, formed the main +source of its strength. He concentrated +around the monarchy the rays +of genius from all parts of the country, +and threw around its head a lustre +of literary renown, which, more even +than the exploits of his armies, dazzled +and fascinated the minds of men. He +arrayed the scholars, philosophers, and +poets of his dominions like his soldiers +and sailors; the whole academies of +France, which have since become so +famous, were of his institution; he +sought to give discipline to thought, +as he had done to his fleets and +armies, and rewarded distinction in +literary efforts, not less than warlike +achievement. No monarch ever knew +better the magical influence of intellectual +strength on general thought, or +felt more strongly the expedience of +enlisting it on the side of authority. +Not less than Hildebrand or Napoleon, +he aimed at drawing, not over his own +country alone, but the whole of Europe, +the meshes of regulated and +centralised opinion; and more durably +than either he attained his object. +The religious persecution, which constitutes +the great blot on his reign, +and caused its brilliant career to close +in mourning, arose from the same +cause. He was fain to give the same +unity to the church which he had done +to the army, navy, and civil strength +of the monarchy. He saw no reason +why the Huguenots should not, at the +royal command, face about like one of +Turenne's battalions. Schism in the +church was viewed by him in exactly +the same light as rebellion in the +state. No efforts were spared by +inducements, good deeds, and fair +promises, to make proselytes; and +when twelve hundred thousand Protestants +resisted his seductions, the +sword, the fagot, and the wheel were +resorted to without mercy for their +destruction.</p> + +<p>Napoleon, it is well known, had +the highest admiration of Louis XIV. +Nor is this surprising: their principles +of government and leading objects of +ambition were the same. "L'état +<i>c'est moi</i>," was the principle of this +grandson of Henry IV.: "Your first +duty is <i>to me</i>, your second to France," +said the Emperor to his nephew Prince +Louis Napoleon. In different words, +the idea was the same. To concentrate +Europe in France, France in +Paris, Paris in the government, and +the government in himself, was the +ruling idea of each. But it was no +concentration for selfish or unworthy +purposes which was then desired; it +was for great and lofty objects that +this undivided power was desired. It +was neither to gratify the desire of an +Eastern seraglio, nor exercise the tyranny +of a Roman emperor, that +either coveted unbounded authority. +It was to exalt the nation of which +they formed the head, to augment<span class="pagenum">[521]</span> +its power, extend its dominion, enhance +its fame, magnify its resources, +that they both deemed themselves +sent into the world. It was the general +sense that this was the object of +their administration which constituted +the strength of both. Equally with +the popular party in the present day, +they regarded society as a pyramid, of +which the multitude formed the base, +and the monarch the head. Equally +with the most ardent democrat, they +desired the augmentation of the national +resources, the increase of public +felicity. But they both thought +that these blessings must descend +from the sovereign to his subject, not +ascend from the subjects to their sovereign. +"Every thing <i>for</i> the people, +nothing <i>by</i> them," which Napoleon +described as the secret of good government, +was not less the maxim of the +imperious despot of the Bourbon race.</p> + +<p>The identity of their ideas, the similarity +of their objects of ambition, +appears in the monuments which both +have left at Paris. Great as was the +desire of the Emperor to add to its +embellishment, magnificent as were +his ideas in the attempt, he has yet +been unable to equal the noble structures +of the Bourbon dynasty. The +splendid pile of Versailles, the glittering +dome of the Invalides, still, after +the lapse of a century and a half, overshadow +all the other monuments in the +metropolis; though the confiscations +of the Revolution, and the victories of +the Emperor, gave succeeding governments +the resources of the half of +Europe for their construction. The +inscription on the arch of Louis, +"Ludovico Magno," still seems to +embody the gratitude of the citizens +to the greatest benefactor of the capital; +and it is not generally known +that the two edifices which have added +most since his time to the embellishment +of the metropolis, and of which +the revolution and the empire are fain +to take the credit—the Pantheon and +the Madeleine—were begun in 1764 +by Louis XV., and owe their origin +to the magnificent ideas which Louis +XIV. transmitted to his, in other respects, +unworthy descendant.<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a></p> + +<p>Had one dark and atrocious transaction +not taken place, the annalist +might have stopped here, and painted +the French monarch, with a few foibles +and weaknesses, the common bequest +of mortality, still as, upon the whole, +a noble and magnanimous ruler. His +ambition, great as it was, and desolating +as it proved, both to the adjoining +states, and in the end his own subjects, +was the "last infirmity of noble +minds." He shared it with Cæsar and +Alexander, with Charlemagne and +Napoleon. Even his cruel and unnecessary +ravaging of the Palatinate, +though attended with dreadful private +suffering, has too many parallels in the +annals of military cruelty. His personal +vanities and weaknesses, his love +of show, his passion for women, his +extravagant expenses, were common to +him with his grandfather Henry IV.; +they seemed inherent in the Bourbon +race, and are the frailties to which +heroic minds in every age have been +most subject. But, for the revocation +of the Edict of Nantes, and the heartrending +cruelties with which it was +carried into execution, no such apology +can be found. It admits neither +of palliation nor excuse. But for +the massacre of St Bartholomew, and +the expulsion of the Morescoes from +Spain, it would stand foremost in the +annals of the world for kingly perfidy +and priestly cruelty. The expulsion +of five hundred thousand +innocent human beings from their +country, for no other cause but difference +of religious opinion—the destruction, +it is said, of nearly an hundred +thousand by the frightful tortures of +the wheel and the stake—the wholesale +desolation of provinces and destruction +of cities for conscience sake, +never will and never should be forgotten. +It is the eternal disgrace of the Roman +Catholic religion—a disgrace to which +the "execrations of ages have not +yet affixed an adequate censure"—that +all these infamous state crimes took +their origin in the bigoted zeal, or +<span class="pagenum">[Pg 522]</span>sanguinary ambition of the Church +of Rome. Nor have any of them +passed without their just reward. The +expulsion of the Moors, the most industrious +and valuable inhabitants of +the Peninsula, has entailed a weakness +upon the Spanish monarchy, +which the subsequent lapse of two +centuries has been unable to repair. +The reaction against the Romish atrocities +produced the great league of +which William III. was the head; it +sharpened the swords of Eugene and +Marlborough; it closed in mourning +the reign of Louis XV. Nor did the +national punishment stop here. The +massacre of St Bartholomew, and revocation +of the Edict of Nantes, were +the remote, but certain cause of the +French Revolution, and all the unutterable +miseries which it brought +both upon the Bourbon race and the +professors of the Romish faith. Nations +have no immortality; their punishment +is inflicted in this world; it +is visited with unerring certainty +on the third and fourth generations. +Providence has a certain way of dealing +with the political sins of men—which +is, to leave them to the consequences +of their own actions.</p> + +<p>If ever the characters of two important +actors on the theatre of human +affairs stood forth in striking and emphatic +contrast to each other, they +were those of Louis XIV. and William +III. They were, in truth, the representatives +of the principles for which they +respectively so long contended; their +characters embodied the doctrines, and +were distinguished by the features, of +the causes for which they fought +through life. As much as the character—stately, +magnanimous, and ambitious, +but bigoted and unscrupulous—of +Louis XIV. personified the Romish, +did the firm and simple, but persevering +and unconquerable mind of William, +embody the principles of the +Protestant faith. The positions they +respectively held through life, the +stations they occupied, the resources, +moral and political, which they wielded, +were not less characteristic of the +causes of which they were severally +the heads. Louis led on the feudal +resources of the French monarchy. +Inured to rigid discipline, directed by +consummate talent, supported by immense +resources, his armies, uniting +the courage of feudal to the organisation +of civilised times, like those of +Cæsar, had at first only to appear to +conquer. From his gorgeous palaces +at Paris, he seemed able, like the +Church of Rome from the halls of the +Quirinal, to give law to the whole +Christian world. William began the +contest under very different circumstances. +Sunk in obscure marshes, +cooped up in a narrow territory, driven +into a corner of Europe, the forces at +his command appeared as nothing +before the stupendous array of his +adversary. He was the emblem of +the Protestant faith, arising from +small beginnings, springing from the +energy of the middle classes, but destined +to grow with ceaseless vigour, +until it reached the gigantic strength +of its awful antagonist.</p> + +<p>The result soon proved the prodigious +difference in the early resources +of the parties. Down went tower and +town before the apparition of Louis +in his strength. The iron barriers +of Flanders yielded almost without +a struggle to his arms. The +genius of Turenne and Vauban, the +presence of Louis, proved for the time +irresistible. The Rhine was crossed; +a hundred thousand men appeared +before the gates of Amsterdam. +Dissension had paralysed its strength, +terror all but mastered its resolution. +England, influenced by French mistresses, +or bought by French gold, +held back, and ere long openly joined +the oppressor, alike of its liberties and +its religion. All seemed lost alike for +the liberties of Europe and the Protestant +faith. But William was not +dismayed. He had a certain resource +against subjugation left. In his own +words, "he could die in the last ditch." +He communicated his unconquerable +spirit to his fainting fellow-citizens; +he inspired them with the noble resolution +to abandon their country +rather than submit to the invaders, +and "seek in a new hemisphere that +liberty of which Europe had become +unworthy." The generous effort was +not made in vain. The Dutch rallied +round a leader who was not wanting +to himself in such a crisis. The dikes +were cut; the labour of centuries was +lost; the ocean resumed its sway over +the fields reft from its domain. But +the cause of freedom of religion was<span class="pagenum">[523]</span> +gained. The French armies recoiled +from the watery waste, as those of +Napoleon afterwards did from the +flames of Moscow. Amsterdam was +the limit of the conquests of Louis +XIV. He there found the power +which said, "Hitherto shalt thou come, +and no further, and here shall thy +proud waves be staid." Long, and +often doubtful, was the contest; it was +bequeathed to a succeeding generation +and another reign. But from the invasion +of Holland, the French arms +and Romish domination permanently +receded; and but for the desertion of +the alliance by England, at the peace +of Utrecht, they would have given law +in the palace of the Grand Monarque, +bridled the tyranny of Bossuet and +Tellier, and permanently established +the Protestant faith in nearly the half +of Europe.</p> + +<p>Like many other men who are called +on to play an important part in the +affairs of the world, William seemed +formed by nature for the duties he was +destined to perform. Had his mind +been stamped by a different die, his +character cast in a different mould, he +would have failed in his mission. He +was not a monarch of the most brilliant, +nor a general of the most daring +kind. Had he been either the one +or the other, he would have been +shattered against the colossal strength +of Louis XIV., and crushed in the +very outset of his career. But he +possessed in the highest perfection +that great quality without which, +in the hour of trial, all others prove +of no avail—moral courage, and +invincible determination. His enterprises, +often designed with ability +and executed with daring, were yet +all based, like those of Wellington +afterwards in Portugal, on a just sense +of the necessity of husbanding his resources +from the constant inferiority +of his forces and means to those of the +enemy. He was perseverance itself. +Nothing could shake his resolution, +nothing divert his purpose. With +equal energy he laboured in the +cabinet to construct and keep together +the vast alliance necessary to restrain +the ambition of the French monarch, +and toiled in the field to baffle the +enterprises of his able generals. With +a force generally inferior in number, +always less powerful than that of his +adversaries in discipline, composition, +and resources, he nevertheless contrived +to sustain the contest, and +gradually wrested from his powerful +enemy the more important fortresses, +which, in the first tumult of invasion, +had submitted to his arms. If the +treaties of Nimeguen and Ryswick +were less detrimental to the French +power than that of Utrecht afterwards +proved, they were more glorious to +the arms of the Dutch commonwealth +and the guidance of William; for they +were the result of efforts in which +the weight of the conflict generally +fell on Holland alone; and its honours +were not to be shared with those won +by the wisdom of a Marlborough, or +the daring of a Eugene.</p> + +<p>In private life, William was distinguished +by the same qualities +which marked his public career. He +had not the chivalrous ardour which +bespoke the nobles of France, nor the +stately magnificence of their haughty +sovereign. His manners and habits +were such as arose from, and suited, the +austere and laborious people among +whom his life was passed. Without +being insensible to the softer passions, +he never permitted them to influence +his conduct, or incroach upon his time. +He was patient, laborious, and indefatigable. +To courtiers accustomed +to the polished elegance of Paris, or +the profligate gallantry of St James's, +his manners appeared cold and unbending. +It was easy to see he had +not been bred in the saloons of Versailles +or the <i>soirées</i> of Charles II. +But he was steady and unwavering in +his resolutions; his desires were set +on great objects; and his external +demeanour was correct, and often +dignified. He was reproached by the +English, not without reason, with being +unduly partial, after his accession +to the British throne, to his Dutch subjects; +and he was influenced through +life by a love of money, which, though +at first arising from a bitter sense of +its necessity in his long and arduous +conflicts, degenerated in his older +years into an avaricious turn. The +national debt of England has been +improperly ascribed to his policy. It +arose unavoidably from the Revolution, +and is the price which every +nation pays for a lasting change, how +necessary soever, in its ruling dynasty.<span class="pagenum">[524]</span> +When the sovereign can no longer +depend on the unbought loyalty of +his subjects, he has no resource but +in their interested attachment. Louis +Philippe's government has done the +same, under the influence of the same +necessity. Yet William was not a +perfect character; more than one dark +transaction has left a lasting stain on +his memory; and the massacre of +Glencoe, in particular, if it did not +equal the revocation of the Edict of +Nantes in the wide-spread misery +with which it was attended, rivalled +it in the perfidy in which it was conceived, +and the cruelty with which it +was executed.</p> + +<p>On his arrival in Holland on the +18th March 1710, Marlborough again +found himself practically involved +in the still pending negotiations for +peace, over which, on the decline +of his influence at court, he had ceased +to have any real control. Still exposed +to the blasting imputation of seeking +to prolong the war for his own private +purposes, he was in reality doing his +utmost to terminate hostilities. As +the negotiation with the ostensible +plenipotentiaries of the different courts +was at an end, but Louis still continued +to make private overtures to +the Dutch, in the hope of detaching +them from the confederacy, Marlborough +took advantage of this circumstance +to endeavour to effect an +accommodation. At his request, the +Dutch agent, Petcum, had again repaired +to Paris in the end of 1709, to +resume the negotiation; and the <i>Marlborough +Papers</i> contain numerous +letters from him to the Duke, detailing +the progress of the overtures.<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> +On the very day after Marlborough's +arrival at the Hague, the plenipotentiaries +made their report of the issue +of the negotiation; but the views of +the parties were still so much at variance, +that it was evident no hopes of +peace could be entertained. Louis +was not yet sufficiently humbled to +submit to the arrogant demands of +the Allies, which went to strip him of +nearly all his conquests; and the different +powers of the confederacy were +each set upon turning the general +success of the alliance to their own +private advantage.</p> + +<p>Zenzindorf, on the part of Austria, +insisted that not the smallest portion +of the Spanish territories in Italy +should be ceded to a prince of the +house of Bourbon, and declared the +resolution of his imperial master to +perish with arms in his hands, rather +than submit to a partition which would +lead to his inevitable ruin. King +Charles expressed the same determination, +and insisted further for the +cession of Roussillon, which had been +wrested from Spain since the treaty +of the Pyrenees. The Duke of Savoy, +who aimed at the acquisition of Sicily +from the spoils of the fallen monarch, +was equally obstinate for the prosecution +of the war. Godolphin, Somers, +and the Dutch Pensionary, inclined +to peace, and were willing to purchase +it by the cession of Sicily to Louis; +and Marlborough gave this his entire +support, provided the evacuation of +Spain, the great object of the war, +could be secured.<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> But all their efforts +were in vain. The ambitious designs +of Austria and Savoy prevailed over +their pacific counsels; and we have +the valuable authority of Torcy, who, +in the former congress, had accused +the Duke of breaking off the negotiation, +that in this year the rupture was +entirely owing to the efforts of Count +Zenzindorf.<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a> Marlborough, however, +never ceased to long for a termination +of hostilities, and took the field with +a heavy heart, relieved only by the +hope that one more successful campaign +would give him what he so +ardently desired, the rest consequent +upon a general peace.<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a></p> + +<p>War being resolved on, Marl<span class="pagenum">[525]</span>borough +and Eugene met at Tournay +on the 28th April, and commenced +the campaign by the capture of the +fort of Mortagne, which capitulated +on the same day. Their force already +amounted to sixty thousand men, and, +as the troops were daily coming up +from their cantonments, it was expected +soon to amount to double the +number. The plan of operations was +soon settled between these two great +men; no difference of opinion ever +occurred between them, no jealousy +ever marred their co-operations. They +determined to commence serious operations +by attacking Douay—a strong +fortress, and one of the last of the +first order which, in that quarter, +guarded the French territory. To +succeed in this, however, it was +necessary to pass the French lines, +which were of great strength, and +were guarded by Marshal Montesquieu +at the head of forty battalions and +twenty squadrons. Douay itself also +was strongly protected both by art +and nature. On the one side lay the +Haine and the Scarpe; in the centre +was the canal of Douay; on the other +hand were the lines of La Bassie, which +had been strengthened with additional +works since the close of the campaign. +Marlborough was very sanguine of +success, as the French force was not +yet collected, and he was considerably +superior in number; and he wrote to +Godolphin on the same night—"The +orders are given for marching this +night, so that I hope my next will +give you an account of our being in +Artois."<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a></p> + +<p>The Duke operated at once by both +wings. On the one wing he detached +the Prince of Wirtemberg, with fifteen +thousand men, by Pont-a-Tessin to +Pont-a-Vendin, where the French +lines met the Dyle and the canal of +Douay; while Prince Eugene moved +forward Count Fels, with a considerable +corps, towards Pont Auby on +the same canal. The whole army +followed in two columns, the right +commanded by Eugene, and the left +by Marlborough. The English general +secured the passage at Pont-a-Vendin +without resistance; and Eugene, +though baffled at Pont Auby, +succeeded in passing the canal at Sant +and Courieres without serious loss. +The first defences were thus forced; +and that night the two wings, having +formed a junction, lay on their arms +in the plain of Lens, while Montesquieu +precipitately retired behind the +Scarpe, in the neighbourhood of Vitry. +Next morning the troops, overjoyed +at their success, continued their advance. +Marlborough sent forward +General Cadogan, at the head of the +English troops, to Pont-a-Rache, to +circumscribe the garrison of Douay, +on the canal of Marchiennes on the +north; while Eugene, encamping on +the other side of the Scarpe, completed +the investment on the west. +The perfect success of this enterprise +without any loss was matter of +equal surprise and joy to the Duke, +who wrote to the Duchess in the +highest strain of satisfaction at his +bloodless triumph. It was entirely +owing to the suddenness and secresy +of his movements, which took the +enemy completely unawares; for, had +the enterprise been delayed four days +longer, its issue would have been extremely +doubtful, and thousands of +men must, at all events, have been +sacrificed.<a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum">[526]</span></p><p>Douay, which was immediately invested after this success, +is a fortress +of considerable strength, in the second +line which covers the French province +of Artois. Less populous than Lille, +it embraces a wider circuit within its +ample walls. Its principal defence +consists in the marshes, which, on +the side of Tournay, where attack +might be expected, render it extremely +difficult of access, especially in the +rainy season. Access to it is defended +by Fort Scarpe, a powerful outwork, +capable of standing a separate siege. +The garrison consisted of eight thousand +men, under the command of the +Marquis Albergotti, an officer of the +highest talent and bravery; and under +him were the renowned Valory, to +direct the engineers, and the not less +celebrated Chevalier de Jaucourt, to +command the artillery. From a fortress +of such strength so defended, +the most resolute resistance might be +expected, and no efforts were spared +on the part of the Allied generals to +overcome it.</p> + +<p>The investment was completed on +the 24th, and the trenches opened on +the 5th May. On the 7th, the head +of the sap was advanced to within +two hundred and fifty yards of the +exterior palisades; but the besiegers +that night experienced a severe check +from a vigorous sally of the besieged +with twelve hundred men, by which +two English regiments were nearly +cut to pieces. But, on the 9th, a +great train of artillery, consisting of +two hundred pieces, with a large +supply of artillery, arrived from Tournay; +on the 11th, the advanced works +were strongly armed, and the batteries +were pushed up to the covered +way, and thundered across the ditch +against the rampart. The imminent +danger of this important stronghold +now seriously alarmed the French +court; and Marshal Villars, who commanded +their great army on the +Flemish frontier, received the most +positive orders to advance to its relief. +By great exertions, he had now collected +one hundred and fifty-three +battalions and two hundred and sixty-two +squadrons, which were pompously +announced as mustering one hundred +and fifty thousand combatants, and +certainly amounted to more than +eighty thousand. The Allied force +was almost exactly equal; it consisted +of one hundred and fifty-five +battalions and two hundred and sixty-one +squadrons. Villars broke up from +the vicinity of Cambray on the 21st +May, and advanced in great strength +towards Douay. Marlborough and +Eugene immediately made the most +vigorous preparations to receive him. +Thirty battalions only were left to +prosecute the siege; twelve squadrons +were placed in observation at Pont-a-Rache; +and the whole remainder of +the army, about seventy thousand +strong, concentrated in a strong position, +covering the siege, on which all +the resources of art, so far as the +short time would admit, had been +lavished. Every thing was prepared +for a mighty struggle. The whole guns +were mounted on batteries four hundred +paces from each other; the infantry +was drawn up in a single line along +the intrenchment, and filled up the +whole interval between the artillery; +the cavalry were arranged in two +lines, seven hundred paces in rear of +the foot-soldiers. It seemed another +Malplaquet, in which the relative position +of the two armies was reversed, +and the French were to storm the intrenched +position of the Allies. Every +man in both armies fully expected a +decisive battle; and Marlborough, who +was heartily tired of the war, wrote +to the Duchess, that he hoped for a +victory, which should at once end the +war, and restore him to private life.<a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a></p> +<p><span class="pagenum">[527]</span></p> + +<p>Yet there was no battle. The +lustre of Blenheim and Ramilies +played round Marlborough's bayonets; +the recollection of Turin tripled the +force of Eugene's squadrons. Villars +advanced on the 1st June, with all the +pomp and circumstance of war, to +within musket-shot of the Allied position; +and he had not only the authority +but the recommendation of Louis to +hazard a battle. He boasted that his +force amounted to a hundred and +sixty thousand men.<a name="FNanchor_9_9" id="FNanchor_9_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a> But he did not +venture to make the attack. To +Marlborough's great regret, he retired +without fighting; and the English +general, at the age of threescore, was +left to pursue the fatigues and the +labours of a protracted campaign, in +which, for the first time in his life, he +was doubtful of success, from knowing +the malignant eyes with which he was +regarded by the ruling factions in his +own country. "I long," said he, "for +an end of the war, so God's will be +done; whatever the event may be, I +shall have nothing to reproach myself +with, having, with all my heart, done +my duty, and being hitherto blessed +with more success than was ever +known before. My wishes and duty are +the same; but I can't say I have the +same prophetic spirit I used to have; +for in all the former actions I never +did doubt of success, we having had +constantly the great blessing of being +of one mind. I cannot say it is so +now; for I fear some are run so far +into villanous faction, that it would +more content them to see us beaten; +but if I live I will be watchful that it +shall not be in their power to do much +hurt. The discourse of the Duke of +Argyle is, that when I please there +will then be peace. I suppose his +friends speak the same language in +England; so that I must every summer +venture my life in a battle, and +be found fault with in winter for not +bringing home peace. No, I wish for +it with all my heart and soul."<a name="FNanchor_10_10" id="FNanchor_10_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a></p> + +<p>Villars having retired without fighting, +the operations of the siege were +resumed with redoubled vigour. On +the 16th June, signals of distress were +sent up from the town, which the +French marshal perceived, and he +made in consequence a show of returning +to interrupt the siege, but his +movements came to nothing. Marlborough, +to counteract his movement, +repassed the Scarpe at Vitry, and took +up a position directly barring the line +of advance of the French marshal, +while Eugene prosecuted the siege. +Villars again retired without fighting. +On the 22d, the Fort of Scarpe was +breached, and the sap was advanced +to the counterscarp of the fortress, +the walls of which were violently shaken; +and on the 26th, Albergotti, who +had no longer any hope of being relieved, +and who saw preparations +made for a general assault, capitulated +with the garrison, now reduced to +four thousand five hundred men.<a name="FNanchor_11_11" id="FNanchor_11_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_11_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a></p> + +<p>On the surrender of Douay, the +Allied generals intended to besiege +Arras, the <i>last</i> of the triple line of +fortresses which on that side covered +France, and between which and Paris +no fortified place remained to arrest +the march of an invader. On the +10th July, Marlborough crossed the +Scarpe at Vitry, and, joining Eugene, +their united forces, nearly ninety +thousand strong, advanced towards +Arras. But Villars, who felt the extreme +importance of this last stronghold, +had exerted himself to the +utmost for its defence. He had long +employed his troops on the construction +of new lines of great strength on +the Crinchon, stretching from Arras +and the Somme, and he had here collected +nearly a hundred thousand +men, and a hundred and thirty pieces +of cannon. After reconnoitring this +position, the Allied generals concurred +in thinking that it was equally impossible +to force them, and undertake +the siege of Arras, while the enemy, +in such strength, and so strongly +posted, lay on its flank. Their first +intention, on finding themselves baffled +<span class="pagenum">[528]</span>in this project, was to seize Hesdin +on the Cancher, which would have +left the enemy no strong place between +them and the coast. But the skilful +dispositions of Villars, who on this +occasion displayed uncommon abilities +and foresight, rendered this design +abortive, and it was therefore determined +to attack Bethune. This place, +which was surrounded with very +strong works, was garrisoned by nine +thousand men, under the command of +M. Puy Vauban, nephew, of the celebrated +marshal of the same name. +But as an attack on it had not been +expected, the necessary supplies for a +protracted resistance had not been +fully introduced when the investment +was completed on the 15th July.<a name="FNanchor_12_12" id="FNanchor_12_12"></a><a href="#Footnote_12_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a></p> + + +<p>Villars, upon seeing the point of +attack now fully declared, moved in +right columns upon Hobarques, near +Montenencourt. Eugene and Marlborough +upon this assembled their +covering army, and changed their +front, taking up a new line stretching +from Mont St Eloi to Le Comte. Upon +advancing to reconnoitre the enemy, +Marlborough discovered that the +French, advancing to raise the siege, +were busy strengthening a new set of +lines, which stretched across the plain +from the rivulet Ugie to the Lorraine, +and the centre of which at Avesnes +Le Comte was already strongly fortified. +It now appeared how much +Villars had gained by the skilful +measures which had diverted the Allies +from their projected attack upon Arras. +It lay upon the direct road to Paris. +Bethune, though of importance to the +ultimate issue of the war, was not of +the same present moment. It lay +on the flank on the second line, Arras +in front, and was the only remaining +fortress in the last. By means of the +new lines which he had constructed, +the able French marshal had erected +a fresh protection for his country, when +its last defences were wellnigh broken +through. By simply holding them, +the interior of France was covered +from incursion, and time gained for +raising fresh armaments in the interior +for its defence, and, what was of more +importance to Louis, awaiting the +issue of the intrigues in England, +which were expected soon to overthrow +the Whig cabinet. Villars, on +this occasion, proved the salvation of his +country, and justly raised himself to +the very highest rank among its military +commanders. His measures were +the more to be commended that they +exposed him to the obloquy of leaving +Bethune to its fate, which surrendered +by capitulation, with its numerous +garrison and accomplished commander, +on the 28th August.<a name="FNanchor_13_13" id="FNanchor_13_13"></a><a href="#Footnote_13_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a></p> + +<p>Notwithstanding the loss of so many +fortresses on the endangered frontier +of his territory, Louis XIV. was so +much encouraged by what he knew of +the great change which was going on +in the councils of Queen Anne, that, +expecting daily an entire revolution +in the ministry, and overthrow of the +war party in the Cabinet, he resolved +on the most vigorous prosecution of +the contest. He made clandestine +overtures to the secret advisers of the +Queen, in the hope of establishing that +separate negotiation which at no distant +period proved so successful. Torcy, +the Duke's enemy, triumphantly declared, +"what we lose in Flanders, we +shall gain in England."<a name="FNanchor_14_14" id="FNanchor_14_14"></a><a href="#Footnote_14_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a> To frustrate +these machinations, and if possible +rouse the national feeling more strongly +in favour of a vigorous prosecution +of the war, Marlborough determined to +lay siege to Aire and St Venant, which, +though off the line of direct attack on +France, laid open the way to Calais, +which, if supported at home, he hoped +to reduce before the conclusion of +the campaign.<a name="FNanchor_15_15" id="FNanchor_15_15"></a><a href="#Footnote_15_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a> He entertained the +most sanguine hopes of success from +<span class="pagenum">[529]</span>this design, which was warmly supported +by Godolphin; but he obtained +at this time such discouraging accounts +of the precarious condition of his influence +at court, that he justly concluded +he would not be adequately +supported in them from England, from +which the main supplies for the enterprise +must be drawn. He wisely, +therefore, resolved, in concert with +Eugene, to forego this dazzling but +perilous project for the present, and +to content himself with the solid advantages, +unattended with risk, of +reducing Aire and St Venant.</p> + +<p>Having takes their resolution, the +confederate generals began their march +in the beginning of September, and on +the 6th of that month, both places +were invested. Aire, which is comparatively +of small extent, was garrisoned +by only five thousand seven +hundred men; but Venant was a place +of great size and strength, and had a +garrison of fourteen battalions of foot +and three regiments of dragoons, mustering +eight thousand combatants. +They were under the command of the +Count de Guebriant, a brave and skillful +commander. Both were protected +by inundations, which retarded extremely +the operations of the besiegers, +the more especially as the autumnal +rains had early set in this year with +more than usual severity. While +anxiously awaiting the cessation of +this obstacle, and the arrival of a +great convoy of heavy cannon and +ammunition which was coming up +from Ghent, the Allied generals received +the disheartening intelligence +of the total defeat of this important +convoy, which, though guarded by +sixteen hundred men, was attacked +and destroyed by a French corps on +the 19th September. This loss affected +Marlborough the more sensibly, that +it was the first disaster of moment +which had befallen him during nine +years of incessant warfare.<a name="FNanchor_16_16" id="FNanchor_16_16"></a><a href="#Footnote_16_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a> But, +notwithstanding this disaster, St Venant +was so severely pressed by the +fire of the besiegers, under the Prince +of Anhalt, who conducted the operations +with uncommon vigour and +ability, that it was compelled to capitulate +on the 29th, on condition of its +garrison being conducted to St Omer, +not to serve again till regularly exchanged.</p> + +<p>Aire still held out, as the loss of the +convoy from Ghent, and the dreadful +rains which fell almost without intermission +during the whole of October, +rendered the progress of the siege +almost impossible. The garrison, +too, under the command of the +brave governor, made a most resolute +defence. Sickness prevailed to +a great extent in the Allied army; +the troops were for the most part up +to the knees in mud and water; and +the rains, which fell night and day +without intermission, precluded the +possibility of finding a dry place for +their lodging. It was absolutely necessary, +however, to continue the +siege; for, independent of the credit +of the army being staked on its +success, it had become impossible, as +Marlborough himself said, to draw +the cannon from the trenches.<a name="FNanchor_17_17" id="FNanchor_17_17"></a><a href="#Footnote_17_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a> The +perseverance of the Allied commanders +was at length rewarded by success. +On the 12th November the +fortress capitulated, and the garrison, +still three thousand six hundred and +twenty-eight strong, marched out +prisoners, leaving sixteen hundred +sick and wounded in the town. This +conquest, which concluded the campaign, +was, however, dearly purchased +by the loss of nearly seven thousand +men killed and wounded in the Allied +ranks, exclusive of the sick, who, +amidst those pestilential marshes, had +now swelled to double the number.<a name="FNanchor_18_18" id="FNanchor_18_18"></a><a href="#Footnote_18_18" class="fnanchor">[18]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum">[530]</span></p><p>Although the capture of four such +important fortresses as Douay, Bethune, +St Venant, and Aire, with +their garrisons, amounting to thirty +thousand men, who had been taken in +them during the campaign, was a most +substantial advantage, and could not +fail to have a most important effect on +the final issue of the war; yet it +did not furnish the same subject for +national exultation which preceding +ones had done. There had been no +brilliant victory like Blenheim, Ramilies, +or Oudenarde, to silence envy +and defy malignity; the successes, +though little less real, had been not so +dazzling. The intriguers about the +court, the malcontents in the country, +eagerly seized on this circumstance to +calumniate the Duke, and accused +him of unworthy motives in the conduct +of the war. He was protracting +it for his own private purposes, reducing +it to a strife of lines and sieges, +when he might at once terminate it +by a decisive battle, and gratifying +his ruling passion of avarice by the +lucrative appointments which he enjoyed +himself, or divided among his +friends. Nor was it only among the +populace and his political opponents +that these surmises prevailed; his +greatness and fame had become an +object of envy to his own party. Orford, +Wharton, and Halifax had on +many occasions evinced their distrust +of him; and even Somers, who had +long stood his friend, was inclined to +think the power of the Duke of Marlborough +too great, and the emoluments +and offices of his family and connexions +immoderate.<a name="FNanchor_19_19" id="FNanchor_19_19"></a><a href="#Footnote_19_19" class="fnanchor">[19]</a> The Duchess +inflamed the discord between him and +the Queen, by positively refusing to +come to any reconciliation with her +rival, Mrs Masham. The discord +increased daily, and great were the +efforts made to aggravate it. To the +Queen, the never-failing device was +adopted of representing the victorious +general as lording it over the throne; +as likely to eclipse even the crown by +the lustre of his fame; as too dangerous +and powerful a subject for a sovereign +to tolerate. Matters came to +such a pass, in the course of the summer +of 1710, that Marlborough found +himself thwarted in every request he +made, every project he proposed; and +he expressed his entire nullity to the +Duchess, by the emphatic expression, +that he was a "mere sheet of white +paper, upon which his friends might +write what they pleased."<a name="FNanchor_20_20" id="FNanchor_20_20"></a><a href="#Footnote_20_20" class="fnanchor">[20]</a></p> + +<p>The spite at the Duke appeared in +the difficulties which were now started +by the Lords of the Treasury in regard +to the prosecution of the works +at Blenheim. This noble monument +of a nation's gratitude had hitherto +proceeded rapidly; the stately design +of Vanburgh was rapidly approaching +its completion, and so anxious had +the Queen been to see it finished, that +she got a model of it placed in the +royal palace of Kensington. Now, +however, petty and unworthy objections +were started on the score of expense, +and attempts were made, by +delaying payment of the sums from +the Treasury, to throw the cost of +completing the building on the great +general. He had penetration enough, +however, to avoid falling into the +snare, and actually suspended the progress +of the work when the Treasury +warrants were withheld. He constantly +directed that the management +of the building should be left to the +Queen's officers; and, by steadily adhering +to this system, he shamed them +into continuing the work.<a name="FNanchor_21_21" id="FNanchor_21_21"></a><a href="#Footnote_21_21" class="fnanchor">[21]</a></p> + +<p>Marlborough's name and influence, +however, were too great to be entirely +neglected, and the party which was +now rising into supremacy at court +were anxious, if possible, to secure +them to their own side. They made, +accordingly, overtures in secret to him; +and it was even insinuated that, if he +would abandon the Whigs, and coalesce +with them, he would entirely regain +the royal favour, and might aspire +to the highest situation which a subject +could hold. Lord Bolingbroke +has told us what the conditions of this +alliance were to be:—"He was to +abandon the Whigs, his new friends, +and take up with the Tories, his old +friends; to engage heartily in the +true interests, and no longer leave +<span class="pagenum">[531]</span>his country a prey to rapine and +faction. He was, besides, required +to restrain the rage and fury of +his wife. Their offers were coupled +with threats of an impeachment, and +boasts that sufficient evidence could +be adduced to carry a prosecution +through both Houses."<a name="FNanchor_22_22" id="FNanchor_22_22"></a><a href="#Footnote_22_22" class="fnanchor">[22]</a> To terms +so degrading, the Duke answered in +terms worthy of his high reputation. +He declared his resolution to be of no +party, to vote according to his conscience, +and to be as hearty as his +new colleagues in support of the +Queen's government and the welfare +of the country. This manly reply +increased the repulsive feelings with +which he was regarded by the ministry, +who seem now to have finally +resolved on his ruin; while the intelligence +that such overtures had been +made having got wind, sowed distrust +between him and the Whig leaders, +which was never afterwards entirely +removed. But he honourably declared +that he would be governed by the +Whigs, from whom he would never +depart; and that they could not suspect +the purity of his motives in so +doing, as they had now lost the majority +in the House of Commons.<a name="FNanchor_23_23" id="FNanchor_23_23"></a><a href="#Footnote_23_23" class="fnanchor">[23]</a></p> + +<p>Parliament met on the 25th November; +and Marlborough, in the end +of the year, returned to London. But +he soon received decisive proof of the +altered temper both of government +and the country towards him. In +the Queen's speech, no notice was +taken of the late successes in Flanders, +no vote of thanks for his services +in the campaign moved by ministers; +and they even contrived, by a sidewind, +to get quit of one proposed, to +their no small embarrassment, by +Lord Scarborough. The Duchess, +too, was threatened with removal +from her situation at court; and +Marlborough avowed that he knew +the Queen was "as desirous for her +removal as Mr Harley and Mr Masham +can be." The violent temper and +proud unbending spirit of the Duchess +were ill calculated to heal such a +breach, which, in the course of the +winter, became so wide, that her removal +from the situation she held, as +mistress of the robes, was only prevented +by the fear that, in the vehemence +of her resentment, she might +publish the Queen's correspondence, +and that the Duke, whose military +services could not yet be spared, +might resign his command. Libels +against both the Duke and the Duchess +daily appeared, and passed entirely +unpunished, though the freedom of +the press was far from being established. +Three officers were dismissed +from the army for drinking +his health. When he waited on the +Queen, on his arrival in England, in +the end of December, she said—"I +must request you will not suffer any +vote of thanks to you to be moved in +Parliament this year, <i>as my ministers +will certainly oppose it</i>." Such was +the return made by government to +the hero who had raised the power +and glory of England to an unprecedented +pitch, and in that very campaign +had cut deeper into the iron +frontier of France than had ever been +done in any former one.<a name="FNanchor_24_24" id="FNanchor_24_24"></a><a href="#Footnote_24_24" class="fnanchor">[24]</a></p> + +<p>The female coterie who aided at +St James's the male opponents of Marlborough, +were naturally extremely solicitous +to get the Duchess removed +from her situations as head of the +Queen's household and keeper of the +privy purse; and ministers were only +prevented from carrying their wishes +into effect by their apprehension, if +executed, of the Duke's resigning his +command of the army. In an audience, +on 17th January 1711, Marlborough +presented a letter to her +Majesty from the Duchess, couched +in terms of extreme humility, in +<span class="pagenum">[532]</span>which she declared that his anxiety +was such, at the requital his services +had received, that she apprehended +he would not live six +months.<a name="FNanchor_25_25" id="FNanchor_25_25"></a><a href="#Footnote_25_25" class="fnanchor">[25]</a> The Queen at first refused +to read it; and when at length, at the +Duke's earnest request, she agreed to +do so, she coldly observed—"I cannot +change my resolution." Marlborough, +in the most moving terms, and with +touching eloquence, intreated the +Queen not to dismiss the Duchess till +she had no more need of her services, +by the war being finished, which, he +hoped, would be in less than a year; +but he received no other answer, +but a peremptory demand for the surrender +of the gold key, the symbol of +her office, within three days. Unable +to obtain any relaxation in his sovereign's +resolution, Marlborough withdrew +with the deepest emotions of +indignation and sorrow. The Duchess, +in a worthy spirit, immediately took +his resolution; she sent in her resignation, +with the gold key, that very +night. So deeply was Marlborough +hurt at this extraordinary ingratitude +for all his services, that he at first resolved +to resign his whole command, +and retire altogether into private life. +From this intention he was only diverted, +and that with great difficulty, +by the efforts of Godolphin and the +Whigs at home, and Prince Eugene +and the Pensionary Heinsius abroad, +who earnestly besought him not to +abandon the command, as that would +at once dissolve the grand alliance, +and ruin the common cause. We can +sympathise with the feelings of a victorious +warrior who felt reluctant to +forego, by one hasty step, the fruit of +nine years of victories: we cannot but +respect the self-sacrifice of the patriot +who preferred enduring mortifications +himself, to endangering the great cause +of religious freedom and European +independence. Influenced by these +considerations, Marlborough withheld +his intended resignation. The +Duchess of Somerset was made mistress +of the robes, and Mrs Masham +obtained the confidential situation of +keeper of the privy purse. Malignity, +now sure of impunity, heaped up +invectives on the falling hero. His +integrity was calumniated, his courage +even questioned, and the most consummate +general of that, or perhaps +any other age, represented as the lowest +of mankind.<a name="FNanchor_26_26" id="FNanchor_26_26"></a><a href="#Footnote_26_26" class="fnanchor">[26]</a> It soon appeared +how unfounded had been the aspersions +cast upon the Duchess, as well as +the Duke, for their conduct in office. +Her accounts, after being rigidly +scrutinised, were returned to her +without any objection being stated +against them; and Marlborough, +anxious to quit that scene of ingratitude +and intrigue for the real theatre +of his glory, soon after set out for the +army in Flanders.<a name="FNanchor_27_27" id="FNanchor_27_27"></a><a href="#Footnote_27_27" class="fnanchor">[27]</a></p> + +<p>Marlborough arrived at the Hague +on the 4th March; and, although no +longer possessing the confidence of +government, or intrusted with any +control over diplomatic measures, he +immediately set himself with the utmost +vigour to prepare for military +operations. Great efforts had been +made by both parties, during the winter, +for the resumption of hostilities, +on even a more extended scale than in +any preceding campaign. Marlborough +found the army in the Low Countries +extremely efficient and powerful; +diversions were promised on the side +both of Spain and Piedmont; and a +treaty had been concluded with the +Spanish malcontents, in consequence of +which a large part of the Imperial forces +were rendered disposable, which Prince +Eugene was preparing to lead into the +Low Countries. But, in the midst of +these flattering prospects, an event +occurred which suddenly deranged +then all, postponed for above a +month the opening of the campaign, +and, in its final result, changed the +<span class="pagenum">[533]</span>fate of Europe. This was the death +of the Emperor Joseph, of the smallpox, +which happened at Vienna on +the 16th April—an event which was +immediately followed by Charles, King +of Spain, declaring himself a candidate +for the Imperial throne. As his pretensions +required to be supported by +a powerful demonstration of troops, +the march of a large part of Eugene's +men to the Netherlands was immediately +stopped, and that prince himself +was hastily recalled from Mentz, +to take the command of the empire at +Ratisbon, as marshal. Charles was +soon after elected Emperor. Thus +Marlborough was left to commence +the campaign alone, which was the +more to be regretted, as the preparations +of Louis, during the winter, for +the defence of his dominions had been +made on the most extensive scale, and +Marshal Villars' lines had come to be +regarded as the <i>ne plus ultra</i> of field +fortification. Yet were Marlborough's +forces most formidable; for, when reviewed +at Orchies on the 30th April, +between Lille and Douay, they were +found, including Eugene's troops +which had come up, to amount to +one hundred and eighty-four battalions, +and three hundred and sixty-four +squadrons, mustering above one +hundred thousand combatants.<a name="FNanchor_28_28" id="FNanchor_28_28"></a><a href="#Footnote_28_28" class="fnanchor">[28]</a> But +forty-one battalions and forty squadrons +were in garrison, which reduced +the effective force in the field to eighty +thousand men.</p> + +<p>The great object of Louis and his +generals had been to construct such a +line of defences as might prevent +the irruption of the enemy into the +French territory, now that the interior +and last line of fortresses was so nearly +broken through. In pursuance of this +design, Villars had, with the aid of +all the most experienced engineers in +France, and at a vast expense of labour +and money, constructed during +the winter a series of lines and field-works, +exceeding any thing yet seen +in modern Europe in magnitude and +strength, and to which the still more +famous lines of Torres Vedras have +alone, in subsequent times, afforded a +parallel. The works extended from +Namur on the Meuse, by a sort of +irregular line, to the coast of Picardy. +Running first along the marshy line of +the Canche, they rested on the forts +of Montreuil, Hesdin, and Trevant; +while the great fortresses of Ypres, +Calais, Gravelines, and St Omer, +lying in their front, and still in +the hands of the French, rendered +any attempt to approach them both +difficult and hazardous. Along the +whole of this immense line, extending +over so great a variety of ground, for +above forty miles, every effort had +been made, by joining the resources +of art to the defences of nature, +to render the position impregnable. +The lines were not continuous, +as in many places the ground was so +rugged, or the obstacles of rocks, +precipices, and ravines were so formidable, +that it was evidently impossible +to overcome them. But where*ever +a passage was practicable, the +approaches to it were protected in the +most formidable manner. If a streamlet +ran along the line, it was carefully +dammed up, so as to be rendered impassible. +Every morass was deepened, +by stopping up its drains, or +letting in the water of the larger +rivers by artificial canals into it; redoubts +were placed on the heights, so +as to enfilade the plains between them; +while in the open country, where no +advantage of ground was to be met +with, field-works were erected, armed +with abundance of heavy cannon. To +man these formidable lines, Villars +had under his command one hundred +and fifty-six battalions, and two hundred +and twenty-seven squadrons in +the field, containing seventy thousand +infantry, and twenty thousand horse. +He had ninety field guns and twelve +howitzers. There was, besides, thirty-five +battalions and eighty squadrons +detached or in the forts; and, as Eugene +soon took away twelve battalions +and fifty squadrons from the Allied +army, the forces on the opposite side, +when they came to blows, were very +nearly equal.<a name="FNanchor_29_29" id="FNanchor_29_29"></a><a href="#Footnote_29_29" class="fnanchor">[29]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum">[534]</span></p><p>Marlborough took the field on the +1st May, with eighty thousand men; +and his whole force was soon grouped +in and around Douay. The headquarters +of Villars were at Cambray; +but, seeing the forces of his adversary +thus accumulated in one point, he +made a corresponding concentration, +and arranged his whole disposable +forces between Bouchain on the right, +and Monchy Le Preux on the left. +This position of the French marshal, +which extended in a concave semicircle +with the fortresses, covering either +flank, he considered, and with reason, +as beyond the reach of attack. The +English general was meditating a +great enterprise, which should at once +deprive the enemy of all his defences, +and reduce him to the necessity of +fighting a decisive battle, or losing +his last frontier fortresses. But he was +overwhelmed with gloomy anticipations; +he felt his strength sinking under +his incessant and protracted fatigues, +and knew well he was serving a party +who, envious of his fame, were ready +only to decry his achievements.<a name="FNanchor_30_30" id="FNanchor_30_30"></a><a href="#Footnote_30_30" class="fnanchor">[30]</a> He +lay, accordingly, for three weeks +awaiting the arrival of his illustrious +colleague, Prince Eugene, who +joined on the 23d May, and took +part in a great celebration of the +anniversary of the victory at Ramilies, +which had taken place on that day. +The plans of the Allied generals were +soon formed; and, taking advantage +of the enthusiasm excited by that +commemoration, and the arrival of so +illustrious a warrior, preparations +were made for the immediate commencement +of active operations. On +the 28th, the two generals reviewed +the whole army. But their designs +were soon interrupted by an event +which changed the whole fortune of +the campaign. Early in June, Eugene +received positive orders to march to +Germany, with a considerable part of +his troops, to oppose a French force, +which was moving towards the Rhine, +to influence the approaching election +of Emperor. On the 13th June, Eugene +and Marlborough separated, for +<i>the last time</i>, with the deepest expressions +of regret on both sides, and +gloomy forebodings of the future. +The former marched towards the +Rhine with twelve battalions and fifty +squadrons, while Marlborough's whole +remaining force marched to the right +in six divisions.<a name="FNanchor_31_31" id="FNanchor_31_31"></a><a href="#Footnote_31_31" class="fnanchor">[31]</a></p> + +<p>Though Villars was relieved by the +departure of Eugene from a considerable +part of the force opposed to him, +and he naturally felt desirous of now +measuring his strength with his great +antagonist in a decisive affair, yet he +was restrained from hazarding a general +engagement. Louis, trusting +to the progress of the Tory intrigues +in England, and daily expecting to +see Marlborough and the war-party +overthrown, sent him positive orders +not to fight; and soon after detached +twenty-five battalions and forty squadrons, +in two divisions, to the Upper +Rhine, to watch the movements of Eugene. +Villars encouraged this separation, +representing that the strength +of his position was such, that he could +afford to send a third detachment to +the Upper Rhine, if it was thought +proper. Marlborough, therefore, in +vain offered battle, and drew up his +army in the plain of Lens for that +purpose. Villars cautiously remained +on the defensive; and, though he threw +eighteen bridges over the Scarpe, and +made a show of intending to fight, he +cautiously abstained from any steps +which might bring on a general battle.<a name="FNanchor_32_32" id="FNanchor_32_32"></a><a href="#Footnote_32_32" class="fnanchor">[32]</a> +It was not without good reason +that Louis thus enjoined his lieutenant +to avoid compromising his army. +The progress of the negotiations with +England gave him the fairest ground +for believing that he would obtain +nearly all he desired from the favour +<span class="pagenum">[535]</span>with which he was regarded by the +British cabinet without running any +risk. He had commenced a <i>separate</i> +negotiation with the court of St +James's, which had been favourably +received; and Mr Secretary St John +had already transmitted to Lord +Raby, the new plenipotentiary at the +Hague, a sketch of six preliminary +articles proposed by the French king, +which were to be the basis of a general +peace.<a name="FNanchor_33_33" id="FNanchor_33_33"></a><a href="#Footnote_33_33" class="fnanchor">[33]</a></p> + +<p>The high tone of these proposals +proved how largely Louis counted +upon the altered dispositions of the +British cabinet. The Spanish succession, +the real object of the war, was +evaded. Every thing was directed to +British objects, and influenced by the +desire to tempt the commercial cupidity +of England to the abandonment +of the great objects of her national +policy. Real security was tendered +to the British commerce with Spain, +the Indus, and the Mediterranean; +the barrier the Dutch had so long contended +for was agreed to; a reasonable +satisfaction was tendered to the +allies of England and Holland; and, +as to the Spanish succession, it was +to be left to "new expedients, to the +satisfaction of all parties interested." +These proposals were favourably received +by the British ministry; they +were in secret communicated to the +Pensionary Heinsius, but concealed +from the Austrian and Piedmontese +plenipotentiaries; and they were <i>not +communicated to Marlborough</i>—a decisive +proof both of the altered feeling +of the cabinet towards that general, +and of the consciousness on their part +of the tortuous path on which they +were now entering.<a name="FNanchor_34_34" id="FNanchor_34_34"></a><a href="#Footnote_34_34" class="fnanchor">[34]</a></p> + +<p>After much deliberation, and a due +consideration of what could be effected +by the diminished force now at his +disposal, which, by the successive +drafts to Eugene's army, was now reduced +to one hundred and nineteen +battalions, and two hundred and fifty-six +squadrons, not mustering above +seventy-five thousand combatants, +Marlborough determined to break +through the enemies' boasted lines; +and, after doing so, undertake the +siege of Bouchain, the possession of +which would give him a solid footing +within the French frontier. With this +view, he had long and minutely studied +the lines of Villars; and he hoped +that, even with the force at his disposal, +they might be broken through. To +accomplish this, however, required an +extraordinary combination of stratagem +and force; and the manner in +which Marlborough contrived to unite +them, and bring the ardent mind and +lively imagination of his adversary to +play into his hands, to the defeat of +all the objects he had most at heart, +is perhaps the most wonderful part of +his whole military achievements.<a name="FNanchor_35_35" id="FNanchor_35_35"></a><a href="#Footnote_35_35" class="fnanchor">[35]</a></p> + +<p>During his encampment at Lewarde, +opposite Villars, the English general +had observed that a triangular piece +of ground in front of the French position, +between Cambray, Aubanchocil-au-bac, +and the junction of the Sauzet +and Scheldt, offered a position so +strong, that a small body of men might +defend it against a very considerable +force. He resolved to make the occupation +of this inconsiderable piece +of ground the pivot on which the +whole passage of the lines should be +effected. A redoubt at Aubigny, +which commanded the approach to it, +was first carried without difficulty. +Arleux, which also was fortified, was +next attacked by seven hundred men, +who issued from Douay in the night. +That post also was taken, with one +hundred and twenty prisoners. Marlborough +instantly used all imaginable +expedition in strengthening it; and +Villars, jealous of a fortified post so +close to his lines remaining in the +hands of the Allies, attacked it in the +night of the 9th July; and, though he +failed in retaking the work, he surprised +the Allies at that point, and +made two hundred men and four hundred +horses prisoners. Though much +chagrined at the success of this nocturnal +attack, the English general +<span class="pagenum">[536]</span>now saw his designs advancing to +maturity. He therefore left Arleux +to its own resources, and marched +towards Bethune. That fort was immediately +attacked by Marshal Montesquieu, +and, after a stout resistance, +carried by the French, who made the +garrison, five hundred strong, prisoners. +Villars immediately razed Arleux +to the ground, and withdrew +his troops; while Marlborough, who +was in hopes the lure of these successes +would induce Villars to hazard +a general engagement, shut himself +up in his tent, and appeared to be +overwhelmed with mortification at +the checks he had received.<a name="FNanchor_36_36" id="FNanchor_36_36"></a><a href="#Footnote_36_36" class="fnanchor">[36]</a></p> + +<p>Villars was so much elated with +these successes, and the accounts he +received of Marlborough's mortification, +that he wrote to the king of +France a vain-glorious letter, in which +he boasted that he had at length +brought his antagonist to a <i>ne plus +ultra</i>. Meanwhile, Marlborough sent +off his heavy baggage to Douay; sent +his artillery under a proper guard to +the rear; and, with all imaginable +secresy, baked bread for the whole +troops for six days, which was privately +brought up. Thus disencumbered +and prepared, he broke up at +four in the morning on the 1st of +August, and marched in eight columns +towards the front. During +the three following days, the troops +continued concentrated, and menacing +sometimes one part of the French +lines and sometimes another, so as +to leave the real point of attack in +a state of uncertainty. Seriously +alarmed, Villars concentrated his +whole force opposite the Allies, and +drew in all his detachments, evacuating +even Aubigny and Arleux, the +object of so much eager contention +some days before. On the evening +of the 4th, Marlborough, affecting great +chagrin at the check he had received, +spoke openly to those around him of +his intention of avenging them by a +general action, and pointed to the direction +the attacking columns were +to take. He then returned to the +camp, and gave orders to prepare for +battle. Gloom hung on every countenance +of those around him; it appeared +nothing short of an act of +madness to attack an enemy superior +in number, and strongly posted in a +camp surrounded with entrenchments, +and bristling with cannon. They ascribed +it to desperation, produced by +the mortifications received from the +government, and feared that, by one +rash act, he would lose the fruit of all +his victories. Proportionally great +was the joy in the French camp, +when the men, never doubting they +were on the eve of a glorious victory, +spent the night in the exultation +which, in that excitable people, has +so often been the prelude to disaster.<a name="FNanchor_37_37" id="FNanchor_37_37"></a><a href="#Footnote_37_37" class="fnanchor">[37]</a></p> + +<p>Having brought the feeling of both +armies to this point, and produced a +concentration of Villars's army directly +in his front, Marlborough, at +dusk on the 4th, ordered the drums +to beat; and before the roll had ceased, +orders were given for the tents to be +struck. Meanwhile Cadogan secretly +left the camp, and met twenty-three +battalions and seventeen squadrons, +drawn from the garrisons of +Lille and Tournay, which instantly +marched; and continuing to advance +all night, passed the lines rapidly to +the left, without opposition at Arleux, +at break of day. A little before nine, +the Allied main army began to defile +rapidly to the left, through the woods +of Villers and Neuville—Marlborough +himself leading the van, at the head of +fifty squadrons. With such expedition +did they march, still holding +steadily on to the left, that before five +in the morning of the 5th they reached +Vitry on the Scarpe, where they found +pontoons ready for their passage, and +a considerable train of field artillery. +At the same time, the English general +here received the welcome intelligence +of Cadogan's success. He instantly +dispatched orders to every man and +horse to press forward without delay. +Such was the ardour of the troops, who +all saw the brilliant manœuvre by +which they had outwitted the enemy, +and rendered all their labour abortive, +that they marched <i>sixteen hours</i> with<span class="pagenum">[537]</span>out once halting; and by ten next +morning, the whole had passed the +enemies' lines without opposition, and +without firing a shot! Villars received +intelligence of the night-march +having begun at eleven at night; but +so utterly was he in the dark as to the +plan his opponent was pursuing, that +he came up to Verger, when Marlborough +had drawn up his army on the +<i>inner</i> side of the lines in order of battle, +attended only by a hundred dragoons, +and narrowly escaped being made +prisoner. Altogether, the Allied troops +marched thirty-six miles in sixteen +hours, the most part of them in the +dark, and crossed several rivers, without +either falling into confusion or +sustaining any loss. The annals of +war scarcely afford an example of +such a success being gained in so +bloodless a manner. The famous +French lines, which Villars boasted +would form the <i>ne plus ultra</i> of Marlborough, +had been passed without +losing a man; the labour of nine +months was at once rendered of no +avail, and the French army, in deep +dejection, had no alternative but to +retire under the cannon of Cambray.<a name="FNanchor_38_38" id="FNanchor_38_38"></a><a href="#Footnote_38_38" class="fnanchor">[38]</a></p> + +<p>This great success at once restored +the lustre of Marlborough's reputation, +and, for a short season, put to silence +his detractors. Eugene, with the +generosity which formed so striking +a feature in his character, wrote to +congratulate him on his achievement;<a name="FNanchor_39_39" id="FNanchor_39_39"></a><a href="#Footnote_39_39" class="fnanchor">[39]</a> +and even Bolingbroke admitted +that this bloodless triumph +rivalled his greatest achievements.<a name="FNanchor_40_40" id="FNanchor_40_40"></a><a href="#Footnote_40_40" class="fnanchor">[40]</a> +Marlborough immediately commenced +the siege of Bouchain; but this was +an enterprise of no small difficulty, +as it was to be accomplished on very +difficult ground, in presence of an +army superior in force. The investment +was formed on the very day +after the lines had been passed, and +an important piece of ground occupied, +which might have enabled Villars to +communicate with the town, and regain +a defensible position. On the +morning of the 8th August, a bridge +was thrown over the Scheldt at Neuville, +and sixty squadrons passed +over, which barred the road from +Douay. Villars upon this threw thirty +battalions across the Seuzet, and +made himself master of a hill above, +on which he began to erect works, +which would have kept open his communications +with the town on its +southern front. Marlborough saw at +once this design, and at first determined +to storm the works ere they +were completed; and, with this view, +General Fagel, with a strong body of +troops, was secretly passed over the +river. But Villars, having heard of +the design, attacked the Allied posts at +Ivry with such vigour, that Marlborough +was obliged to counter-march in +haste, to be at hand to support them. +Baffled in this attempt, Marlborough +erected a chain of works on the right +bank of the Scheldt, from Houdain, +through Ivry, to the Sette, near Haspres, +while Cadogan strengthened +himself with similar works on the left. +Villars, however, still retained the +fortified position which has been mentioned, +and which kept up his communication +with the town; and the +intercepting this was another, and the +last, of Marlborough's brilliant field +operations.<a name="FNanchor_41_41" id="FNanchor_41_41"></a><a href="#Footnote_41_41" class="fnanchor">[41]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum">[538]</span></p><p>Notwithstanding all the diligence +with which Villars laboured to +strengthen his men on this important +position, he could not equal the activity +with which the English general +strove to supplant them. During the +night of the 13th, three redoubts were +marked out, which would have completed +the French marshal's communication +with the town. But on the +morning of the 14th they were all +stormed by a large body of the Allied +troops before the works could be +armed. That very day the Allies carried +their zig-zag down to the very +edge of a morass which adjoined +Bouchain on the south, so as to command +a causeway from that town to +Cambray, which the French still held, +communicating with the besieged +town. But, to complete the investment, +it was necessary to win this +causeway; and this last object was +gained by Marlborough with equal +daring and success. A battery, commanding +the road, had been placed +by Villars in a redoubt garrisoned by +six hundred men, supported by three +thousand more close in their rear. +Marlborough, with incredible labour +and diligence, constructed two roads, +made of fascines, through part of the +marsh, so as to render it passable to foot-soldiers; +and, on the night of the 16th, +six hundred chosen grenadiers were +sent across them to attack the intrenched +battery. They rapidly advanced +in the dark till the fascine +path ended, and then boldly plunging +into the marsh, struggled on, with the +water often up to their arm-pits, till +they reached the foot of the intrenchment, +into which they rushed, without +firing a shot, with fixed bayonets. +So complete was the surprise, that the +enemy were driven from their guns +with the loss only of six men; the +work carried; and with such diligence +were its defences strengthened, that +before morning it was in a condition +to bid defiance to any attack.<a name="FNanchor_42_42" id="FNanchor_42_42"></a><a href="#Footnote_42_42" class="fnanchor">[42]</a></p> + +<p>Villars was now effectually cut off +from Bouchain, and the operations of +the siege were conducted with the +utmost vigour. On the night of the +21st, the trenches were opened; three +separate attacks were pushed at the +same time against the eastern, western, +and southern faces of the town, and a +huge train of heavy guns and mortars +thundered upon the works without +intermission. The progress of the +siege, notwithstanding a vigorous defence +by the besieged, was unusually +rapid. As fast as the outworks were +breached they were stormed; and repeated +attempts on the part of Villars +to raise the siege were baffled by the +skilful disposition and strong ground +taken by Marlborough with the covering +army. At length, on the 12th +September, as the counterscarp was +blown down, the rampart breached, +and an assault of the fortress in preparation, +the governor agreed to capitulate; +and the garrison, still three +thousand strong, marched out upon +the glacis, laid down their arms, and +were conducted prisoners to Tournay.<a name="FNanchor_43_43" id="FNanchor_43_43"></a><a href="#Footnote_43_43" class="fnanchor">[43]</a> +The two armies then remained in +their respective positions, the French +under the cannon of Cambray, the +Allied in the middle of their lines, +resting on Bouchain; and Marlborough +gave proof of the courtesy of his disposition, +as well as his respect for +exalted learning and piety, by planting +a detachment of his troops to +protect the estates of Fenelon, archbishop +of Cambray, and conduct the +grain from thence to the dwelling of +the illustrious prelate in that town, +which began now to be straitened +for provisions.<a name="FNanchor_44_44" id="FNanchor_44_44"></a><a href="#Footnote_44_44" class="fnanchor">[44]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum">[539]</span></p> + + +<h2><a name="MOHAN_LAL_IN_AFGHANISTAN" id="MOHAN_LAL_IN_AFGHANISTAN"></a>MOHAN LAL IN AFGHANISTAN.</h2> + + +<blockquote><p><i>The Life of the Amir Dost Mohammed Khan of Kabul.</i> By <span class="smcap">Mohan Lal</span>, Esq., +Knight of the Persian order of the Lion and Sun, lately attached to the Mission +at Kabul, &c. &c. London: 1846.</p></blockquote> + +<p>We have arrived at an age when +striking contrasts and seeming incongruities +cease to startle and offend. +If we have not yet attained the promised +era when the lion shall lie down +with the lamb—and even of that day +a <span class="smcap">Van Amburgh</span> and a <span class="smcap">Carter</span> have +given us significant intimations—we +have certainly reached an epoch quite +as extraordinary, and behold things +as opposite conciliated, as hostile reconciled. +We need not go far for +illustrations: in the columns of newspapers, +in the public market-place, at +each street-corner, they force themselves +upon us. The <span class="smcap">East</span> and the +<span class="smcap">West</span> are brought together—the +desert and the drawing-room are but +a pace apart—European refinements +intrude themselves into the haunts +of barbarism—and bigoted Oriental +potentates learn tolerance from the +liberality of the Giaour. An article +upon contrasts would fill a magazine. +Ibrahim Pasha and religious liberty, +the Red Sea and the Peninsular Steam +Company, the Great Desert and the +Narrow Gauge, are but one or two of +a thousand that suggest themselves. +On all sides Europe thrusts out the +giant arms of innovation, spanning +the globe, encompassing the world. +England, especially, ever foremost in +the race, by enterprise and ingenuity +achieves seeming miracles. With +steam for her active and potent agent, +she drives highways across the wilderness, +covers remote seas with +smoky shipping, replaces dromedaries +by locomotives, runs rails through the +Arab village and the lion's lair. From +his carpet and coffee, his pipe and <i>farniente</i>, +the astonished Mussulman is +roused by the rush and rattle of the +train. On the sudden, by no gradual +transition or slow approach, is this +semi-savage brought in contact with +the latest refinements and most astounding +discoveries of civilisation. +He is bewildered by sights and sounds +of which yesterday he had not the +remotest conception. Couriers traverse +the desert with the regularity +of a London and Edinburgh mail; +caravans of well-dressed ladies and +gentlemen ramble leisurely over the +sands, and brave the simoon on a +trip of pleasure to the far East; +omnibuses, after the fashion of Paddington, +have their stations on the +Isthmus of Suez. Every where the +hat is in juxtaposition with the turban, +and the boot of the active Christian +galls the slippered heel of Mahomet's +indolent follower, spurring him to progress +and improvement.</p> + +<p>As strange as any of the incongruous +associations already hinted at, is +one that we are about to notice. That +an Oriental should write a book, is +in no way wonderful; that he should +write it in English, more or less correct, +may also be conceived, since +abundant opportunities are afforded +to our Eastern fellow-subjects for the +acquirement of that language; but +that he should write it, not out of the +fulness of his knowledge, or to convey +the results of long study and profound +meditation, but merely, as the razors +were made, to sell, does seem strangely +out of character, sadly derogatory to +the gravity and dignity of a Wise +Man of the East. We have really +much difficulty in portraying upon +our mental speculum so anomalous an +animal as an Oriental bookmaker. We +cannot fancy a Knight of the very +Persian order of the Lion and Sun +transformed into a publisher's hack, +driving bargains with printers, delivered +over to devils, straining each +nerve, resorting to every stale device +to swell his volumes to a presentable +size, as if bulk would atone for dulness, +and wordiness for lack of interest. +Such, nevertheless, is the painful +picture now forced upon us by a +Kashmirian gentleman of Delhi, Mohan +Lal by name. Encouraged by +the indulgent reception accorded to +an earlier, less pretending, and more +<span class="pagenum">[540]</span>worthy literary attempt—allured also, +perhaps, by visions of a shining river +of rupees pleasantly flowing into his +purse, the aforesaid Lal, Esquire—so +does his title-page style him—has +committed himself by the fabrication +of two heavy volumes, whose interesting +portions are, for the most part +stale, and whose novelties are of little +interest. Neither the fulsome dedication, +nor the humility of the preface, +nor the indifferent lithographs, purporting +to represent notable Asiatics +and Europeans, can be admitted in +palliation of this Kashmirian scribbler's +literary misdemeanour. It is +impossible to feel touched or mollified +even by the plaintive tone in which +he informs us that he has disbursed +three hundred pounds for payment of +copyists, paper, and portraits. The +latter, by the bye, will hardly afford +much gratification to their originals, +at least if they be all as imperfect and +unflattering in their resemblance as +some two or three which we have had +opportunities of comparing. But that +is a minor matter. Illustration is a +mania of the day—a crotchet of a +public whose reading appetite, it is +to be feared, is in no very healthy +state. From penny tracts to quarto +volumes, every thing must have pictures—the +more the better—bad ones +rather than none. Turning from the +graphic embellishments of the books +before us, we revert to the letterpress, +and to the endeavour to sift +something of interest or value out of +the nine hundred pages through which, +in conscientious fulfilment of our critical +duties, we have wearisomely +toiled.</p> + +<p>The work in question purports to +be a life of Dost Mohammed Khan, +the well-known Amir of Kabul. It is +what it professes to be, but it is also +a great deal more; the whole has been +named from a part. A history of the +affairs of Sindh occupies nearly half a +volume, and consists chiefly of copious +extracts from works already published—such +as <i>Pottinger's Bilochistan</i>, <i>Dr +Burnes' Visit to the Court of Sindh</i>, <i>Sir +A. Burnes' Travels in Bokhara</i>, <i>Thornton's +British India</i>—from which sources +the unscrupulous Lal helps himself +unsparingly, and with scarce a word +of apology either to reader or writer. +We have long accounts of Russian +intrigues, and of those alarming plots +and combinations which frightened +Lords Auckland and Palmerston from +their propriety, and led to our interference +and reverses in Afghanistan—interference +so impotently followed +up, reverses which neither have been +nor ever can be fully redeemed. The +mismanagement or incapacity of our +political agents during the short time +that we maintained the unfortunate +Shah Shuja on the throne of Kabul, is +another fertile topic for the verbose +Kashmirian; but this, it must be +observed, is one of the best portions +of his book, although it has no very +direct reference to Dost Mohammed, +"the lion of my subject and hero of +my tale," as his historian styles him. +Numerous copies of despatches, +treaties and diplomatic correspondence, +sundry testimonies of Mr. Lal's +abilities and services, and various +extraneous matters, complete the +volumes. To give the barest outline +of so voluminous a work would lead +us far beyond our allotted limits. +We should even be puzzled to effect +the analysis of the first half volume, +which sketches the history of Afghanistan +from the period when Payandah +Khan, chief of the powerful Barakzai +tribe and father of Dost Mohammed, +was the prime favourite and triumphant +general of Taimur Shah, up to +the date when the Dost himself, after +a long series of bloody wars, sat upon +the throne, was in the zenith of his +prosperity, and when British diplomatists +first began to make and meddle +in the affairs of his kingdom. The +perpetually recurring changes, the +revolts, revolutions, and usurpations +of which Afghanistan was the scene +with little intermission during the +whole of that period, the absence of +dates, which Mohan Lal accounts for +by the loss of his manuscripts during +the Kabul insurrection, and the host +of proper names introduced, render +this part of the work most perplexingly +confused. The reader, however attentive +to his task, becomes fairly +bewildered amidst the multitude of +Khans, Shahs, Vazirs, Sardars, and +other personages, who pass in hurried +review before his eyes, and utterly +puzzled by the strange manœuvres +and seemingly unaccountable treasons +of the actors in this great Eastern<span class="pagenum">[541]</span> +melodrama. In glancing at the book, +we shall confine ourselves more +strictly than Mohan Lal has done, to +the personal exploits and history of +Dost Mohammed.</p> + +<p>On the death of Taimur Shah, +leaving several sons, there was much +difference of opinion amongst the +nobles as to who should succeed him. +Payandah Khan, who had received +from the sovereign he had so faithfully +served, the title of Sarfraz, or, the +Lofty, and whose position and influence +in the country enabled him in some +sort to play the part of king-maker, +solved the difficulty by placing Prince +Zaman upon the throne. For a time +Zaman was all gratitude, until evil +advisers poisoned his mind, and accused +Payandah and other chiefs of plotting +to transfer the crown to Shah Shuja, +another son of Taimur. Without +trial or investigation, the persons +accused were put to death; and the +sons and nephews of Payandah became +fugitives, and suffered great misery. +Some were taken prisoners, others +begged their bread, or took shelter in +the mausoleum of Ahmad Shah, in +order to receive a share of the food +there doled out for charity's sake. +Fatah Khan, the eldest son of Payandah, +fled to Persia; Dost Mohammed, +the twentieth son of the same +father, found protection in a fortress +belonging to the husband of his +mother, who, in conformity with an +Afghan custom, had been claimed by +and compelled to marry one of the +nearest relatives of her deceased lord. +This occurred when Dost was a child +of seven or eight years old. After a +while, Fatah Khan returned from +Persia with an army, and accompanied +by Mahmud Shah, another of +Taimur's sons who pretended to the +crown of Afghanistan. His first +encounter with the troops of Shah +Zaman was a triumph; and now, says +the figurative Lal, the stars of the +descendants of the Sarfraz began to +shine. Fatah sought out his young +brother, Dost Mohammed, gave him +in charge to a trusty adherent, fixed +an income for his support, and marched +away to besiege Qandhar, which he +took by escalade. This was the commencement +of a war of succession, or +rather of a series of wars, in which +the two sons of Payandah played +important parts. The elder met his +death, the younger gained a crown. +At first the contest was amongst the +sons and grandsons of Taimur; to +several of whom in turn Fatah and +Dost gave their powerful support. +It was not till after many years of +civil strife that the last-named chief, +prompted by ambition, and presuming +on his popularity and high military +reputation, set up on his own account, +and bore away the prize from the +more legitimate competitors.</p> + +<p>When only in his twelfth year, Dost +Mohammed Khan was attached to the +retinue of his brother as <i>abdar</i>, or water-bearer. +He soon acquired Fatah's +confidence, and was admitted to share +his secrets. Before he was fourteen +years old, he displayed great energy +and intrepidity, which qualities, added +to his remarkable personal beauty, +rendered him exceedingly popular in +the country and a vast favourite with +Fatah, but excited the jealousy of his +other brothers—men of little more +than ordinary capacity, totally unable +to compete with him in any respect. +Whilst still a mere lad, Dost, by his +courage and sagacity, delivered Fatah +from more than one imminent peril. +At last Shah Zaman, who had been +deposed and blinded, and his son +Shah Zadah, laid a snare for Fatah +in the palace-gardens at Qandhar. +Ambushed men suddenly seized him, +hurled him to the ground with such +violence as to break his teeth, and +kept him prisoner. Dost Mohammed +made a dashing attempt at a rescue; +but he had only five hundred followers, +the palace was strongly garrisoned, +and a heavy fire of matchlocks repelled +him. Meanwhile large bodies +of troops marched to occupy the city +gates; and, for his own safety's sake, +he was compelled to leave his brother +in captivity, and cut his way out. Retreating +to his stronghold of Giriskh, +he awaited the passage of a rich caravan +from Persia. This he plundered, +thereby becoming possessed of about +four lakhs of rupees, which he employed +in raising troops. With these +he invested Qandhar. After a three +months' siege, the garrison had exhausted +its provisions and ammunition; +and Zadah, to get rid of the terrible +Dost, released Fatah Khan. The +prisoner's liberation was also partly<span class="pagenum">[542]</span> +owing to the intercession of Shah +Shuja; notwithstanding which, Fatah +and Dost, with an utter contempt of +gratitude and loyalty, soon afterwards +turned their arms against that prince. +A great cavalry fight took place, in +which the brave but unprincipled +brothers were victorious. Dost Mohammed +was made a field-marshal, +and marched against an army commanded +by Shah Shuja in person; +a desperate battle ensued, terminated +by negotiation, and once more Dost +and the Shah were allies. But no +sooner had poor Shuja gained over +his enemies, than his friends revolted +against him, and set up his nephew +Zadah as king of Afghanistan; and +very soon his new allies, with unparalleled +treachery, and despite of the +titles and presents he had showered +upon them, once more abandoned him. +Friend Lal, we are sorry to perceive, +seems struck rather with admiration +than horror of these double-dyed +traitors, and talks of the brave heart +and wise head of Dost Mohammed, +and of the noble and independent notions +which nature had cultivated in +him; thus betraying a certain Oriental +laxity of principle which European +education and society might have been +expected to eradicate. But he is perhaps +dazzled and blinded by the brilliant +military prowess of Dost, who, +at the head of only three thousand +men, fell upon the advanced-guard of +the Shah's army, ten thousand strong, +and, after a terrible slaughter, completely +routed it. The news of this +reverse greatly incensed and alarmed +Shuja, who said confidentially to his +minister, that whilst Dost Mohammed +was alive and at large, he (Shuja) +could never expect victory or the enjoyment +of his crown. A wonderful +and true prophecy, observes Mohan +Lal. Shortly afterwards, the remainder +of the Shah's troops were defeated +by Dost, and the Shah himself was +once more a fugitive.</p> + +<p>Shah Mahmud was now placed upon +the throne; Vazir Fatah Khan was his +prime minister, and Dost received the +title of Sardar, or chief. It was about +this time that the "Sardar of my tale," +as the worthy Lal affectionately styles +his hero, committed the first of a series +of murders which, were there no other +infamous deeds recorded of him, would +stamp him as vile, and destroy any +sympathy that his bravery in the field +and notable talents might otherwise +excite in his favour. A Persian secretary, +one Mirza Ali Khan, by his skill +and conduct as a politician, and by his +kindly disposition, gained a popularity +and influence which offended the ambitious +brothers, and Fatah desired +Dost to make away with him.</p> + +<p>"On receiving the orders of the +Vazir, Dost Mohammed armed himself +cap-a-pie, and taking six men with +him, went and remained waiting on +the road between the house of Mohammed +Azim Khan and the Mirza. +It was about midnight when the Mirza +passed by Dost Mohammed Khan, +whom he saw, and said, 'What has +brought your highness here at this +late hour? I hope all is good.' He +also added, that Dost Mohammed +should freely command his services if +he could be of any use to him. He +replied to the Mirza that he had +got a secret communication for him, +and would tell him if he moved aside +from the servants. He stopped his +horse, whereupon Dost Mohammed, +holding the mane of the horse with +his left hand, and taking his dagger +in his right, asked the Mirza to bend +his head to hear him. While Dost +Mohammed pretended to tell him +something of his own invention, and +found that the Mirza was hearing him +without any suspicion, he stabbed him +between the shoulders, and throwing +him off his horse, cut him in many +places. This was the commencement +of the murders which Dost Mohammed +Khan afterwards frequently committed."</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding his high military +rank and great services, Dost was +very submissive to Fatah, who was +greatly his senior. He acted as his +cup-bearer, and was a constant attendant +at his nocturnal carouses, +carrying a golden goblet, and helping +him to wine. The morals of both +brothers were as exceptionable in +private as in public life. Their biographer +gives details of an intrigue +between Dost and the favourite wife +of Fatah; and even hints a doubt +whether the Vazir was not cognizant +of the intercourse, which he took no +steps to check or punish. Both +brothers were fond of wine, and in<span class="pagenum">[543]</span>dulged +in it to excess. Dost, especially, +was at one time a most unmitigated +sot, although his bibulous propensities +had apparently no permanent +effect upon his intellects and +energies. His capacity for liquor, if +Lal's account be authentic, was extraordinary. +"It is said that he has +emptied several dozens of bottles in +one night, and did not cease from +drinking until he was quite intoxicated, +and could not drink a drop +more. He has often become senseless +from drinking, and has, on that account, +kept himself confined in bed +during many days. He has been often +seen in a state of stupidity on horseback, +and having no turban, but a +skull-cap, on his head." At a later +period of his life, Dost Mohammed, +being abroad one evening, met two of +his sons, Afzal Khan, and the well-known +Akhbar Khan, in an intoxicated +state. Less tolerant for his +children than for himself, he gave +them a sound thrashing, and, not +satisfied with that, took them up to +the roof of a house, and threw them +down on stony ground, to the risk of +their lives. The mother of Akhbar +heard of this, and reproached her +husband with punishing others for a +vice he himself was prone to. Dost +hung his head, and swore to drink +wine no more. We are not told +whether he kept the vow, but subsequently, +when he was made Amirul-Momnim, +or Commander of the +Faithful, he did forsake his drunken +habits. On his reinstatement at +Kabul, after its final abandonment by +the British, he relapsed into his old +courses, saying, that whilst he was an +enemy to wine, he was always unlucky; +but that since he had resumed +drinking, his prosperity had returned, +and he had gained his liberty after +being in "Qaid i Frang," which, +being interpreted, means an English +prison. When sitting over his bottle, +he can sing a good song, and play +upon the <i>rabab</i>, a sort of Afghan +fiddle, with very considerable skill. +Altogether, and setting aside his +throat-cuttings, and a few other peculiarities, +Dost Mohammed must be +considered as rather a jovial and +good-humoured barbarian.</p> + +<p>Although a fervent admirer of the +fair sex, the valiant Sardar occasionally, +in the hurry and excitement of +war and victory, forgot the respect to +which it is entitled. A blunder of +this description was productive of +fatal consequences to his brother the +Vazir. A breach of decorum overthrew +a dynasty: a lady's girdle +changed the destinies of a kingdom. +The circumstances were as follows:—By +a well-executed stratagem, Dost +Mohammed surprised the city of +Hirat, seized Shah Zadah Firoz, who +ruled there, and plundered the palace. +Not content with appropriating the +rich store of jewels, gold, and silver, +found in the treasury, he despoiled +the inmates of the harem, and committed +an offence unpardonable in +Eastern eyes, by taking off the +jewelled band which fastened the +trowsers of the daughter-in-law of +Shah Zadah. The insulted fair one +sent her profaned inexpressibles to +her brother, a son of Mahmud Shah, +known by the euphonious appellation +of Kam Ran. Kam swore to be revenged. +Even Fatah Khan was so +shocked at the unparalleled impropriety +of his brother's conduct, that +he threatened to punish him; whereupon +Dost, with habitual prudence, +avoided the coming storm, and took +refuge with another of his brothers, +then governor of Kashmir. Kam +Ran came to Hirat, found that Dost +had given him the slip, and consoled +himself by planning, in conjunction +with some other chiefs, the destruction +of Fatah Khan. They seized +him, put out his eyes, and brought +him pinioned before Mahmud Shah, +whom he himself had set upon the +throne. The Shah desired him to +write to his rebellious brothers to +submit: he steadily refused, and +Mahmud then ordered his death. +"The Vazir was cruelly and deliberately +butchered by the courtiers, who +cut him limb from limb, and joint +from joint, as was reported, after his +nose, ears, fingers, and lips, had been +chopped off. His fortitude was so +extraordinary, that he neither showed +a sign of the pain he suffered, nor +asked the perpetrators to diminish +their cruelties; and his head was at +last sliced from his lacerated body. +Such was the shocking result of the +misconduct of his brother, the Sardar +Dost Mohammed Khan, towards the<span class="pagenum">[544]</span> +royal female in Hirat. However, the +end of the Vazir, Fatah Khan, was +the end of the Sadozai reign, and an +omen for the accession of the new dynasty +of the Barakzais, or his brothers, +in Afghanistan."</p> + +<p>It would be tiresome to trace in +detail the events that followed the +Vazir's death,—the numerous battles—the +treaties concluded and violated—the +reverses and triumphs of the +various chiefs who contended for the +supremacy. To revenge their brother, +and gratify their own ambition, the +Barakzais united together, expelled +Mahmud, and divided the country +amongst themselves. Mohammed +Azim, the eldest brother, took Kabul, +Sultan Mohammed had Peshavar, +Purdil Khan received Qandhar, and +to the Sardar Dost Mohammed +Ghazni was allotted. Apparently all +were content with this arrangement; +but, in secret, Dost was far from satisfied, +and plotted to improve his share. +With this view, he entered into negotiations +with Ranjit Singh and the +Lahore chiefs; and at last, by intrigue +and treachery, rather than by +force of arms, he reduced Mohammed +Azim to such extremities and despair, +that he retired to Kabul, and there +died broken-hearted. His son, Habib-Ullah, +who succeeded him, fared no +better. He was turned out of Kabul, +and exposed to want and misery, +which broke his spirit, and rendered +him insane. He left the country with +his wives and children, whom he +murdered on the banks of the Indus, +and threw into the river.</p> + +<p>Whilst Dost was in full career of +success and aggrandisement, achieved +by the most treacherous and sanguinary +means, Shah Shuja raised an +army in Sindh, intending to invade +Qandhar and recover his dominions. +A report was spread by certain discontented +chiefs in Dost Mohammed's +and the Qandhar camps that the English +favoured Shuja's attempt. To +ascertain the truth of this, Dost Mohammed +addressed a letter to Sir +Claude Wade, then political agent at +Loodianah, requesting to know whether +the Shah was supported by the English. +If so, he said, he would take +the state of affairs into his deliberate +consideration; but if the contrary was +the case, he was ready to fight the +Shah. Sir Claude Wade replied, that +the British government took no share +in the king's expedition against the +Barakzai chief, but that it wished him +well. Thereupon Dost and his son +Akhbar Khan marched to meet the +Shah. A battle was fought in front +of Qandhar, and at first victory seemed +to incline to Shuja; but by the exertions +and valour of the Sardar and his +son, the tide was turned, and the +threatened defeat converted into a +signal victory. "All the tents, guns, +and camp equipage of the ever-fugitive +Shah Shuja fell into the hands of the +Lion of Afghanistan, and a large bundle +of the papers and correspondence +of various chiefs in his country with +the Shah. Among these he found +many letters under the real or forged +seal of Sir Claude Wade, to the address +of certain chiefs, stating that +any assistance given to Shah Shuja +should be appreciated by the British +government."</p> + +<p>Whilst Mohammed thus successfully +assisted his brothers, the Qandhar +chiefs, against their common foe, +Shah Shuja, his other brothers, the +Peshavar chiefs, were dispossessed by +the Sikhs, and compelled to take refuge +at Jellalabad. There, expecting +that Dost would be beaten by the +Shah, they planned to seize upon +Kabul. Their measures were taken, +and in some districts they had actually +appointed governors, when they learned +Shuja's defeat, and their brother's triumphant +return. This was the destruction +of their ambitious projects; +but with true Afghan craft and hypocrisy, +they put a good face upon the +matter, fired salutes in honour of the +victory, disavowed the proceedings of +those officers who, by their express +order, had taken possession of the +Sardar's villages, and went out to +meet him with every appearance of +cordiality and joy. Although not +the dupe of this seeming friendship, +Dost Mohammed received them well, +and declared his intention of undertaking +a religious war against the +Sikhs to revenge their aggressions at +Peshavar, and to punish them for having +dared, as infidels, to make an inroad +into a Mahomedan land. In acting +thus, the cunning Sardar had two +objects in view. One was to obtain +recruits by appealing to the fanaticism<span class="pagenum">[545]</span> +of the people, for his funds were low, +and the Afghans were weary of +war; the other, which he at once +attained, was to get himself made +king, on the ground that religious +wars, fought under the name and flag +of any other than a crowned head, do +not entitle those who fall in them to +the glory of martyrdom. The priests, +chiefs, and counsellors, consulted together, +and agreed that Dost Mohammed +ought to assume the royal title. +The Sardar, without any preparation +or feast, went out of the Bala +Hisar with some of his courtiers; and +in Idgah, Mir Vaiz, the head-priest +of Kabul, put a few blades of grass +on his head, and called him "Amirul-Momnin," +or, "Commander of the +Faithful." Thus did the wily and +unscrupulous Dost at last possess the +crown he so long had coveted. Instead, +however, of being inflated by +his dignity, the new Amir became still +plainer in dress and habits, and more +easy of access than before. Finding +himself in want of money for his projected +war, and unable to obtain it by +fair means, he now commenced a system +of extortion, which he carried to +frightful lengths, pillaging bankers +and merchants, confiscating property, +and torturing those who refused to +acquiesce in his unreasonable demands. +One poor wretch, a trader +of the name of Sabz Ali, was thrown +into prison, branded and tormented +in various ways, until he expired in +agony. His relatives were compelled +to pay the thirty thousand rupees +which it had been the object of this +barbarous treatment to extort. At +last five lakhs of rupees were raised, +wherewith to commence the religious +war. Its result was disastrous and +discreditable to the Amir. Without +having fought a single battle, he was +outwitted and outmanœuvred, and +returned crestfallen to Kabul—his +brothers, the Peshavar chiefs, who +were jealous of his recent elevation, +having aided in his discomfiture.</p> + +<p>Although the Amir had many +enemies both at home and abroad—the +most inveterate amongst the former +being some of his own brothers—and +although he was often threatened +by great dangers, he gradually succeeded +in consolidating his power, and +fixing himself firmly upon the throne +he had usurped. Himself faithless +and treacherous, he distrusted all +men; and gradually removing the +governors of various districts, he +replaced them by his sons, who feared +him, scrupulously obeyed his orders, +and followed his system of government. +In time his power became so +well established that the intrigues of +his dissatisfied brethren no longer +alarmed him. The Sikhs gave him +some uneasiness, but in a battle at +Jam Road, near the entrance of the +Khaibar Pass, his two sons, Afzal +and Akhbar, defeated them and killed +their general, Hari Singh. The victory +was chiefly due to Afzal, but +Akhbar got the credit, through the +management of his mother, the Amir's +favourite wife. This unjust partiality, +to which we shall again have occasion +to refer when touching upon the future +prospects of Afghanistan, greatly +disheartened Afzal and his brothers, +and indisposed them towards their +father.</p> + +<p>The brief and imperfect outline +which we have been enabled to give +of the career of Dost Mohammed, and +of his arrival at the supreme power +in Kabul, is entirely deficient in dates. +The Afghans have no records, but +preserve their history solely by tradition +and memory. Mohan Lal having, +as before mentioned, lost his +manuscripts, containing information +supplied by the Amir's relations and +courtiers, was afterwards unable to +place the circumstances of his history +in chronological order. The deficiency +is not very important, since it +naturally ceases to exist from the +time that British India became mixed +up in the affairs of Afghanistan. +The fight of Jam Road, in which the +Afghans were the aggressors, and +which was occasioned by the Amir's +cravings after the province of Peshavar, +brings us up to the latter part of +the year 1836. Previously and subsequently +to that battle, Dost Mohammed +wrote several letters to the +Governor-general of India, Lord Auckland, +expressing his fear of the Sikhs, +and asking advice and countenance. +Lord Auckland resolved to accord him +both, and dispatched Sir Alexander +Burnes to Kabul to negotiate the +opening of the Indus navigation. The +presence of the British mission at the<span class="pagenum">[546]</span> +Amir's court, and the proposals made +by the Governor-general to the Maharajah +to mediate between him and +Dost Mohammed, sufficed to check +the advance of a powerful Sikh +army which Ranjit Singh had assembled +to revenge the reverse of Jam +Road. The Amir was not satisfied +with this protection; but urged Sir +Alexander Burnes to make the Sikhs +give up Peshavar to him. The reply +was, that Peshavar had never belonged +to the Amir, but to his brothers; +that Ranjit Singh was a faithful ally +of the English government, which +could not use its authority directly in +the case; but that endeavours should +be made to induce the Maharajah +amicably to yield Peshavar to its former +chief, Sultan Mohammed Khan. +This mode of viewing the question by +no means met the wishes of the ambitious +Amir; for he coveted the territory +for himself, and would rather +have seen it remain in the hands of +the Sikhs than restored to Sultan +Mohammed, who was his deadly +enemy.<a name="FNanchor_45_45" id="FNanchor_45_45"></a><a href="#Footnote_45_45" class="fnanchor">[45]</a> He expressed his dissatisfaction +in very plain terms to Sir +Alexander Burnes; and perceiving +that the English were not disposed +to aid him in his unjustifiable projects +of aggrandisement, he threw himself +into the arms of Russia and Persia, +to which countries he had, with characteristic +duplicity, communicated +his grievances and made offers of alliance, +at the same time that he professed, +in his letters to Lord Auckland, +to rely entirely upon British +counsels and friendship.</p> + +<p>And now commenced those intrigues +and machinations of Russia, +of which so great a bugbear was made +both in India and England. Mohan +Lal maintains that the apprehensions +occasioned by these manœuvres were +legitimate and well-founded; that the +views of Russia were encroaching +and dangerous; and that her name +and influence were already seriously +injurious to British interests, as far +even as the eastern bank of the Indus. +Vague rumours of Russian power and +valour had spread through British +India; had been exaggerated by +Eastern hyperbole, and during their +passage through many mouths; and +had rendered numerous chiefs, Rajput +as well as Mahomedan, restless and +eager for a fray. Throughout the +country there was a growing belief +that English power was on the eve of +a reverse. We are told of the mission +of Captain Vikovich, of Muscovite +ducats poured into Afghan pockets, +of an extension of influence +sought by Russia in Turkistan and +Kabul, of arms to be supplied by +Persia, and of a Persian army to be +marched into Afghanistan to seize +upon the disputed province of Peshavar. +As the companion and friend +of Sir Alexander Burnes during his +mission to Kabul, Mohan Lal coincides +in the opinions of that officer +with respect to the necessity of taking +vigorous and immediate steps to +counteract the united intrigues of the +Shah of Persia and Count Simonich, +the Russian ambassador at Tehran. +This necessity was pressed upon Lord +Auckland in numerous and alarming +despatches from Sir A. Burnes and +other Anglo-Indian diplomatists.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum">[547]</span></p> +<p>With such opinions and prognostications +daily ringing in his ears, Lord +Auckland, who at first, we are told, +did not attach much importance to +the Vikovich mission and the Russian +intrigues, at last took fright, and prepared +to adopt the decisive measures +so plausibly and perseveringly urged +by the alarmists. The well-known +and notable plan to be resorted to, +was the expulsion of the Amir Dost +Mohammed and of the other Barakzai +chiefs inimical to the British, and the +establishment of a friendly prince +upon the throne of Kabul. Who was +to be chosen? Two candidates alone +appeared eligible—Sultan Mohammed +Khan, chief of Peshavar, brother and +bitter foe of the Amir, and Shah +Shuja, the deposed but legitimate +sovereign of Afghanistan. The Shah, +who had long lived inactive and retired +at Loodianah, was believed, not +without reason, to have lost any ability +or talent for reigning which he +had ever possessed; nevertheless, his +name and hereditary right caused +him to be preferred by Lord Auckland, +whose advisers also were unanimous +in their recommendation of +Shuja. "As for Shah Shuja," wrote +Sir Alexander Burnes, who had now +left Kabul, in his letter to the Governor-general, +dated 3d June 1838, +"the British government have only +to send him to Peshavar with an +agent, one or two of its own regiments +as an honorary escort, and an +avowal to the Afghans that we have +taken up his cause, to ensure his being +fixed <i>for ever</i> on his throne."</p> + +<p>"The British government," said +one of those on whose information +that government acted, (Mr Masson,) +"could employ interference without +offending half-a-dozen individuals. +Shah Shuja, under their auspices, +would not even encounter opposition," +&c.—(<i>Thornton's British India</i>, +vol. vi. p. 150.)</p> + +<p>"Annoyed at Dost Mohammed's +reception of Vikovich, the Russian +emissary, and disquieted by the departure +of the British agent, they (the +Afghans)" says Lieutenant Wood, +"looked to the Amir as the sole cause +of their troubles, and thought of Shah +Shuja and redress."</p> + +<p>Sir C. Wade, Mr Lord, and other +authorities supposed to be well +versed in the politics of the land +where mischief was imagined to be +brewing, expressed opinions similar +in substance to those just cited. +It was decided that Shuja was the +man; and Sir William M'Naghten +started for the court of Lahore to negotiate +a tripartite treaty between the +Maharajah, the Shah, and the British +government. Wade and Burnes were +to co-operate with the envoy. The +treaty was concluded and signed, advices +from Lord Palmerston strengthened +and confirmed Lord Auckland +in his predilection for "vigorous measures," +and a declaration of war was +proclaimed and circulated throughout +India and Afghanistan.</p> + +<p>Lord Auckland is, we dare to say, +a very well-meaning man—albeit not +exactly of the stuff of which viceroys +of vast empires ought to be made; +and we willingly believe that he acted +to the best of his judgment in undertaking +the Afghan war. Unfortunately, +that is not saying much. His +lordship's advisers may have been +right in supposing that the people of +Kabul were weary of the Amir's extortionate +and tyrannical rule, and +desired the milder government of Shah +Shuja; but if so, it is the more to be +regretted that, when we had established +Shuja on the throne, the mismanagement +and want of unity of +British agents—amongst whom were +some of those very advisers—should +so rapidly have changed the partiality +of the Afghans for the Shah into contempt, +their friendly dispositions towards +the British into aversion and +fierce hatred. Mohan Lal strenuously +insists upon the blamelessness of Lord +Auckland in the whole of the unfortunate +affairs of Afghanistan; lauds +his judicious measures, and maintains +that had they not been adopted, "disasters +and outbreaks would soon have +appeared in the very heart of India. +The object of the governor-general +was to annihilate the Russian and +Persian influence and intrigues in +Afghanistan, both at that time, and +for all time to come, unless they adopt +open measures; and this object he +fortunately and completely attained, +in a manner worthy of the British +name, and laudable to himself as a +statesman." We could say a word or +two on this head, but refrain, not +wishing to rake up old grievances, or +discuss so uninteresting a subject as +Lord Auckland's merits and abilities. +Mr Lal admits that his lordship made +two enormous blunders: one "in appointing +two such talented men as Sir +William M'Naghten and Sir Alexander +Burnes, to act at the same time, +in one field of honour; the second was,<span class="pagenum">[548]</span> +that on hearing of the outbreak at +Kabul, he delayed in insisting upon +the commander-in-chief to order an +immediate despatch of the troops towards +Peshavar." "He being the +superior head of the government," +continues this long-winded Kashmirian, +"he ought not to allow hesitation +to approach and to embarrass his +sound judgement, at the crisis when +immediate and energetic attention was +required." <i>De mortuis nil</i>, &c.; and +therefore, of the two unfortunate gentlemen +above referred to, we will +merely say, that many have considered +their talents far less remarkable +than their blunders. As to the Earl +of Auckland—"Save me from my +friends!" his lordship might well exclaim. +Indecision and lack of discrimination +compose a nice character for +a governor-general. One great criterion +of ability to rule is a judicious +choice of subordinate agents. Lord +Auckland's reason for not sending the +reinforcements so terribly required by +our troops in Kabul, is thus curiously +rendered by his Eastern advocate:—"His +lordship had already made +every arrangement to retire from the +Indian government, and therefore did +not wish to prolong the time for his +departure by embarking in other and +new operations." Truly a most ingenious +defence! So, because the governor-general +was in haste to be off, +an army must be consigned to destruction. +Most sapient Lal! his lordship +is obliged to you. "Call you that +backing your friends?" May our +worst enemy have you for his apologist.</p> + +<p>We return to Dost Mohammed and +his fortunes. Shah Shuja was publicly +installed upon the throne; numerous +chiefs tendered him their allegiance; +Kalat, Qandhar, and Ghazni +fell into the hands of his British allies, +before the Amir himself gave sign of +life. This he did by sending his brother, +Navab Jabbar Khan, who was +considered a stanch friend of Europeans, +and especially of the English, +to treat with Sir William M'Naghten. +The Navab stated that the Amir was +desirous to surrender, on condition +that he should be made Vazir or +Prime Minister of the Shah, to which +post he had an hereditary claim. The +condition was refused; as was also +the Navab's request that his niece, +the wife of Haidar Khan, the captured +governor of Ghazni, should be +given up to him. Altogether, the poor +Navab was treated in no very friendly +manner; and he returned to Kabul +with his affection for the English considerably +weakened. As he had long +been suspected of intriguing against +the Amir, he took this opportunity to +wipe off the imputation, by encouraging +the people to rise and oppose his +brother's enemies. "The Amir called +an assembly in the garden which surrounds +the tomb of Taimur Shah, and +made a speech, petitioning his subjects +to support him in maintaining +his power, and in driving off the infidels +from the Mahomedan country. +Many people who were present stated +to me that his words were most touching +and moving, but they gained no +friends." He also invented various +stories to frighten the lower orders +into resistance, saying that during +their march from Sindh to Ghazni, the +English had ill-treated the women, +and boiled and eaten the young children. +Arguments and lies—all were +in vain. The Kohistanis, his own subjects, +who had been induced to rise +against him, descended from their +valley, and threatened to attack the +Kabulis, if they allowed the Amir to +remain amongst them. The army of +the Indus drew near, and at last Dost +Mohammed abandoned the city, and +fled to Bamian, leaving his artillery +and heavy baggage at Maidan. There +it was taken possession of by the British, +and given up to Shah Shuja; and +on the 7th of August 1839, that prince, +after an exile of thirty years, re-entered +the capital of his kingdom.</p> + +<p>Hard upon the track of the fugitive +Amir, followed Colonel Outram, with +several other officers, and some Afghans +under Haji Khan Kaker, in all +about eight hundred foot and horse. +Dost Mohammed had with him a +handful of followers, including the +Navab Jabbar Khan and Akhbar +Khan, the latter of whom was sick +and travelled in a litter. On the +21st August, Colonel Outram was +informed that he was within a day's +march of the object of his pursuit, +whose escape, on that occasion, he +attributes to the treachery of Haji +Khan. One night the Hazarahs stole<span class="pagenum">[549]</span> +twenty of the Amir's horses, which +greatly reduced the numbers of his +little escort. At last, however, he +found himself in safety amongst the +Uzbegs, and thence wished to proceed +to Persia; but the difficulties of +the road, already nearly impassible +on account of the snow, decided him +to accept the proferred protection of +the Amir of Bokhara. By this half-mad +monarch he was very queerly +treated; at one time his life was in +peril—a treacherous attempt being +made to drown him, his sons, and +relations, whilst crossing the river +Oxus in a boat. At last he was forbidden +to leave his house, even to +make his prayers at the mosque, and +was in fact a prisoner. His two sons, +Afzal and Akhbar, shared his captivity.</p> + +<p>For the easy conquest of Afghanistan, +and for the popularity of the +English during the early days of its +occupation, a long string of reasons +is given by Mohan Lal. By various +parts of his conduct, especially by his +injustice and extortions, the Amir +had made himself unpopular with the +Afghans, who, on the other hand, remembered +the liberality displayed by +the Honourable Montstuart Elphinstone +in the days of his mission to +Kabul, and being by nature exceedingly +avaricious, hoped to derive immense +profit and advantage from +British occupation of their country. +The recent intercourse and friendship +of the Amir with the Shah of Persia +had also excited the indignation of +his subjects, who, being Sunnies by +sect, were deadly enemies of the Persian +Shias. The English, in short, +were as popular as the Barakzais +were detested. Nevertheless it behoved +the Shah Shuja and his European +supporters to be circumspect and +conciliatory; for Dost Mohammed +was still at large, and lingering on +the frontier, and any offence given to +the Kabulis might be the signal for +his recall. "Notwithstanding," says +Mohan Lal, "all these points of grave +concern, we sent a large portion of +the army back, with Lord Keane, to +India; and yet we interfered in the +administration of the country, and +introduced such reforms amongst the +obstinate Afghans just on our arrival, +as even in India, the quietest part of +the world, Lords Clive and Wellesley +had hesitated to do but slowly." The +administration of the principal frontier +towns was now confided to the +Shah's officers; but these were not +suffered to rule undisturbed, for Sir +W. MacNaghten's political assistants +every where watched their conduct +and interfered in their jurisdictions. +The occult nature of this interference +prevented benefit to the people, +whilst it caused a disregard for the +local authorities. An undecided course +was the bane of our Afghanistan +policy. The government was neither +entirely taken into the hands of the +British, nor wholly left in those of the +Shah. Outwardly, we were neutral; +in reality, we constantly interfered: +thus annoying the king and disappointing +the people. Shah Shuja grew +jealous of British influence, and began +to suspect that he was but the shadow +of a sovereign, a puppet whose +strings were pulled for foreign advantage. +Sir A. Burnes introduced reductions +in the duties on all articles +of commerce. Trade improved, but +the Shah's servants frequently deviated +from the new tariff, and extorted +more than the legal imposts. When +complaints were made to the English, +they were referred to the Shah's Vazir, +Mulla Shakur, who, instead of giving +redress, beat and imprisoned the aggrieved +parties for having appealed +against the king's authority. Persons +known to be favoured by the English +were vexed and annoyed by the +Shah's government; and it soon became +evident that Mulla Shakur was +striving to form a party for Shuja, in +order to make him independent of +British support. The people began +to look upon the Shah as the unwilling +slave of the Europeans; the +priests omitted the "Khutbah," or +prayer for the king, saying that it +could only be recited for an independent +sovereign. Soon the high price +of provisions gave rise to grave dissensions. +The purchases of grain +made by the English commissariat +raised the market, and placed that +description of food out of reach of +the poorer classes. Forage, meat, +and vegetables, all rose in proportion, +and a cry of famine was set up. Both +in town and country, the landlords +and dealers kept back the produce, or<span class="pagenum">[550]</span> +sent the whole of it to the English +camp. A proclamation made by +Mulla Shakur, forbidding the hoarding +of provisions, or their sale above +a fixed price, was disregarded. The +poor assembled in throngs before the +house of Sir A. Burnes, who was compelled +to make gratuitous distributions +of bread. At last the Shah's +government adopted the course usual +in Afghanistan in such emergencies; +the store-keepers were seized, and +compelled to sell their grain at a +moderate price. They complained to +the English agents, who unwisely +interfered. Mohan Lal was ordered +to wait upon Mulla Shakur, and to +request him to release the traders. +The result of this was a universal cry +throughout the kingdom, that the +English were killing the people by +starvation. What wretched work +was this? what miserable mismanagement? +and how deluded must +those men have been who thought it +possible, by pursuing such a course, to +conciliate an ignorant and barbarous +people, and secure the permanence of +Shah Shuja's reign? "After the outbreak +of Kabul," says Mohan Lal, +whose evidence on these matters +must have weight, as that of an eyewitness, +and of one who, from his +position as servant of the East India +Company, would not venture to distort +the truth, "when I was concealed +in the Persian quarters, I heard both +the men and the women saying that +the English enriched the grain and +the grass-sellers, &c., whilst they +reduced the chiefs to poverty and +killed the poor by starvation."</p> + +<p>It is a well-known English foible to +think nothing good unless the price be +high. This was strikingly exemplified +in Afghanistan, where every thing +was done virtually to lower the value +of money. The labourers employed +by our engineer officers were paid at +so high a rate that there was a general +strike, and agriculture was brought +to a stand-still. The king's gardens +were to be put in order, but not a +workman was to be had except for +English pay. The treasury could not +afford to satisfy such exorbitant demands, +and the people were made to +work, receiving the regular wages of +the country. Clamour and complaint +were the consequence, and the English +authorities informed Mullah +Shakur, that if he did not satisfy the +grumblers, they would pay them for +the Shah, thus constituting him their +debtor. Shuja's jealousy increased, +and he showed his irritation by various +petty attempts at annoyance. +Discontent was rife in Afghanistan, +even when the general impression +amongst the English officers there, +was, that the country was quiet and +the people satisfied. Colonel Herring +was murdered near Ghazni; a chief +named Sayad Hassim rebelled, but +was subdued, and his fort taken, by +Colonel Orchard and the gallant Major +Macgregor.</p> + +<p>It was at this critical period that +news came to Kabul of Dost Mohammed's +escape from Bokhara. The +Shah of Persia had rebuked the Bokhara +ambassador for his master's harsh +treatment of the Amir, whereupon the +latter was allowed more liberty, of +which he took advantage to escape. +On the road his horse knocked up, +but he luckily fell in with a caravan, +and obtained a place in a camel-basket. +The caravan was searched by +the emissaries of the King of Bokhara, +but the Amir had coloured his +white beard with ink, and thus avoided +detection. He was received with +open arms by the Mir of Shahar Sabz +and the Vali of Khulam, and held +counsel with those two chiefs and +some other adherents as to the course +he should adopt. It was resolved to +make an attempt to recover Kabul, +and measures were taken to collect +money, men, and horses. The moment +appeared favourable for the enterprise; +the Afghan chiefs and people +were discontented, and there were disturbances +in Kohistan. Sir William +MacNaghten knew not whom to trust; +and a vast number of arrests were +made on suspicion, some without the +slightest cause, which increased the +disaffection and want of confidence. +On the 30th of August hostilities +commenced with an attack by Afzal +Khan on the British post at Bajgah. +It was repulsed, and on the 18th of +September the Amir and the Vali of +Khulam were routed by Colonel Dennie. +Dost Mohammed fled to Kohistan, +many of whose chief inhabitants +rallied round his standard, until he +found himself at the head of five<span class="pagenum">[551]</span> +thousand men. He might have augmented +this number, but for the exertions +of Sir A. Burnes and Mohan +Lal, who sent agents into the revolted +country with money to buy up +the inhabitants. This became known +amongst the Amir's followers, and +rendered him distrustful of them; for +he feared they would be unable to +withstand the temptations held out, +and would betray him, in hopes of a +large reward. On the 2d of November +occurred a skirmish between the +Amir's forces and the troops under +General Sale and Shah Zadah, in +which the 2d cavalry were routed, +and several English officers killed, or +severely wounded. Notwithstanding +this slight advantage, and a retrograde +movement effected the same night by +the united British and Afghan division, +the Amir felt himself so insecure, +fearing even assassination at the hand +of the Kohistanis, that, on the evening +of the 30th November, he gave +himself up to Sir William MacNaghten +at Kabul. He was delighted with +the kind and generous reception he +met, and wrote to Afzal Khan and +his other sons to join him. After a +few days, the necessary arrangements +being completed, he was sent to India.</p> + +<p>The Amir a prisoner, the chief apparent +obstacle to the tranquillity of +Afghanistan was removed, and it was +not unreasonable to suppose that Shah +Shuja would thenceforward sit undisturbed +upon the throne of his ancestors. +Unfortunately such anticipations +were erroneous. Had Dost +Mohammed remained at large, any +harm he could have done would have +been inferior to that occasioned by +the injudicious measures of the British +agents. These measures, as Mohan +Lal asserts, with, we fear, too +much truth, were the very worst that +could be devised for the attainment of +the ends proposed. The Afghan character +was misunderstood, Afghan customs +and institutions were interfered +with, and Afghan prejudices shocked. +Certain things there were, which it +would have been good policy to wink +at, or appear ignorant of. The contrary +course was adopted. On the +field of Parvan, where the combat of +the 2d November took place, a bag +of letters was found, compromising a +large number of chiefs and influential +Kabulis. The Amir having surrendered, +and as it was not intended to +punish these persons, the wisest plan +would have been to suppress the letters +entirely; but this was not done, +and the disclosure caused a vast deal +of mistrust on the part of the suspected +chiefs towards the English. It +also gave a stimulus to a practice +then very prevalent in Kabul, that of +forging letters from persons of note, +with a view to compromise the supposed +writers, and to procure for the +forgers money and English friendship. +Much mischief was done by these letters, +some of which were fabricated by +Afghans enjoying the favour and confidency +of Sir A. Burnes and Sir W. +MacNaghten.</p> + +<p>On the repeated solicitations of the +English, the Vazir Mulla Shakur +was dismissed. His successor, Nizam-ul-Daulah, +was almost forced upon the +Shah, whose power was thus rendered +contemptible in the eyes of the Afghans. +The new minister took his +orders rather from the British agents +than from his nominal master—going +every day to the former to report +what he had done, caring nothing for +the good or bad opinion of the nation, +or for the will of the Shah, whose +mandates he openly disobeyed. Having +committed an oppressive act, by +depriving a Sayad of his land, +Shuja repeatedly enjoined him to restore +the property to its rightful +owner. He paid no attention to these +injunctions; and at last the Shah told the +suppliant, when he again came to him +for redress, "that he had no power +over the Vazir, and therefore that the +Sayad should curse him, and not +trouble the Shah any more, because +he was no more a king but a slave." +By bribes to the newswriters of the +envoy and Sir A. Burnes, Nizam-ul-Daulah +endeavoured to keep his misdeeds +from the ears of those officers. +Nevertheless, they became known to +them through Mohan Lal and others; +but Sir A. Burnes "felt himself in an +awkward position, and considered it +impossible to cause the dismissal of +one whose nomination he had with +great pains so recently recommended."</p> + +<p>A reform in the military department, +recommended by Sir A. Burnes,<span class="pagenum">[552]</span> +caused immense bitterness and ill-blood +amongst the chiefs, whose retinues +were compulsorily diminished, +the men who were to be retained, and +those who were to be dismissed, being +selected by a British officer. This +was looked upon as an outrageous +insult and grievous humiliation. The +reduction was effected, also, in a harsh +and arbitary manner, without consideration +for the pride of the chiefs +and warriors, by whom all these +offences were treasured up, to be one +day bloodily revenged. Other innovations +speedily followed and increased +their discontent; until at last +they were reduced to so deplorable a +position that they waited in a body +upon Shah Shuja to complain of it. +The Shah imprudently replied, that +he was king by title only, not by +power, and that the chiefs were +cowards, and could do nothing. These +words Mohan Lal believes were not +spoken to stimulate the chiefs to +open rebellion, but merely to induce +them to such acts as might convince +the English of the bad policy of their +reforms and other measures. But the +Shah had miscalculated the effect of +his dangerous hint. After the interview +with him, at the end of September +1841, the chiefs assembled, and +sealed an engagement, written on the +leaves of the Koran, binding themselves +to rebel against the existing +government, as the sole way to annihilate +British influence in Kabul. +Mohan Lal was informed of this plot, +and reported it to Sir A. Burnes, who +attached little importance to it, and +refused to permit the seizure of the +Koran, whence the names of the conspirators +might have been learned. +It has been frequently stated, that +neither Burnes nor MacNaghten had +timely information of the discontent +and conspiracy of the chiefs. Mohan +Lal affirms the contrary, and supports +his assertion by extracts from letters +written by those gentlemen. Pride of +power, he says, and an unfortunate +spirit of rivalry, prevented them from +taking the necessary measures to meet +the outbreak. Sir A. Burnes thought +that to be on the alert would show +timidity, whilst carelessness of the +alarming reports then afloat would +prove intrepidity, and produce favourable +results. But it was not the moment +for such speculations. A circular +letter was secretly sent round to all +the Durrani and Persian chiefs in +Kabul and the suburbs, falsely stating +that a plan was on foot to seize them +and send them to India, whither Sir +W. MacNaghten was about to proceed +as governor of Bombay. The authors +of this atrocious forgery were afterwards +discovered. They were three +Afghans of bad character and considerable +cunning, who had been employed +by the Vazir, by the envoy, +and by Sir A. Burnes. Their object was +to produce a revolt, in which they +might make themselves conspicuous +as friends of the English, and so obtain +reward and distinction. They +had been wont to derive advantage +from revolutions and outbreaks, and +were eager for another opportunity +of making money. Their selfish and +abominable device was the spark to +the train. It caused a prompt explosion. +The chiefs again assembled, +resolved upon instant action, and +fixed upon its plan. It was decided +to begin by an attack upon the houses +of Sir A. Burnes and the other English +officers resident in the city. For fear +of discovery, not a moment was to be +lost. The following day, the 2d of +November, was to witness the outbreak.</p> + +<p>And now, at the eleventh hour, +fresh intimations of the approaching +danger were conveyed to those whom +it threatened. Two persons informed +Sir A. Burnes of it; and one of the +conspirators more than hinted it to +Mohan Lal, who had boasted to him +that the Ghilzais were pacified by +Major Macgregor, and that Sir Robert +Sale was on his victorious march to +Jellalabad. The conspirator laughed. +"To-morrow morning," he said, "the +very door you now sit at will be in +flames of fire; and yet still you pride +yourselves in saying that you are +safe!"</p> + +<p>"I told all this," says Mohan Lal, +"to Sir Alexander Burnes, whose +reply was, that we must not let the +people suppose we were frightened, and +that he will see what he can do in the +cantonment, whither he started immediately. +Whilst I was talking with +Sir A. Burnes, an anonymous note +reached him in Persian, confirming +what he had heard from me and from<span class="pagenum">[553]</span> +other sources, on which he said, 'The +time is arrived that we must leave +this country.'" The time for that +was already past.</p> + +<p>The disastrous occurrences in Afghanistan, +on and subsequently to the +2d of November 1841, are so recent, so +well-known, and have been so much +written about, that any thing beyond a +passing reference to them is here unnecessary. +Mohan Lal's account of +the deaths of Sir A. Burnes, Charles +Burnes, Sir W. MacNaghten, and Shah +Shuja, is interesting, as are also some +details of his own escapes and adventures +during the insurrection. From +the roof of his house he witnessed the +attack upon that of Sir A. Burnes, and +the death of Lieutenant H. Burnes, +who slew six Afghans before he +himself was cut to pieces. Sir Alexander +was murdered without resistance, +having previously tied his cravat +over his eyes, in order not to see the +blows that put an end to his existence. +Mohan Lal himself narrowly escaped +death at the hands of the man who +subsequently murdered Shah Shuja; +but he was rescued by an Afghan +friend, and concealed in a harem. +Afterwards, whilst prisoner to Akhbar +Khan, he did good service in sending +information to the English generals +and political agents, and finally in +negotiating the release of the Kabul +captives. For all these matters we +refer our readers to the closing chapters +of his book, and return to Dost +Mohammed.</p> + +<p>On his arrival at Calcutta, the Amir +was treated by Lord Auckland with +great attention and respect, an income +of three lakhs of rupees was allotted +to him, and he was taken to see the +curiosities of the city, the naval and +military stores, &c. All these things +greatly struck him, and he was heard +to say, that had he known the extraordinary +power and resources of the +English, he would never have opposed +them. After a while, his health sufferred +from the Calcutta climate; he +became greatly alarmed about himself, +and begged to be allowed to join +his family at Loodianah. He was sent +to the upper provinces, and afterwards +to the hills, where the temperature +was cool and somewhat similar to +that of his own country. During the +Kabul insurrection he managed to +keep up a communication with his son +Akhbar, whom he strongly advised to +destroy the English by every means +in his power.</p> + +<p>When the British forces re-entered +Afghanistan to punish its inhabitants +for the Kabul massacres, Prince Fatah +Jang, son of the murdered Shah Shuja, +was placed upon the throne. But +when he found that his European supporters, +after accomplishing the work of +chastisement, were about to evacuate +the country with a precipitation which, +it has been said, "resembled almost +as much the retreat of an army defeated +as the march of a body of conquerors,"<a name="FNanchor_46_46" id="FNanchor_46_46"></a><a href="#Footnote_46_46" class="fnanchor">[46]</a> +he hastened to abdicate +his short-lived authority. He was too +good a judge of the chances, to await +the departure of the British and the +arrival of Akhbar Khan, and preferred +taking off his crown himself to having +it taken off by somebody else, with +his head in it. His brother, Prince +Shahpur, a mere boy, was then seated +upon the throne, and left at the mercy +of his enemies. His reign was very +brief. As the English marched from +Kabul, Akhbar Khan approached it, +and the son of Shuja had to run away, +with loss of property and risk of life. +"By such a precipitate withdrawal from +Afghanistan," says Mohan Lal, "we +did not show an honourable sentiment +of courage, but we disgracefully placed +many friendly chiefs in a serious dilemma. +There were certain chiefs +whom we detached from Akhbar Khan, +pledging our honour and word to reward +and protect them; and I could +hardly show my face to them at the +time of our departure, when they +came full of tears, saying, that 'we +deceived and punished our friends, +causing them to stand against their +own countrymen, and then leaving +them in the mouths of lions.' As soon +as Mohammed Akhbar occupied Kabul, +he tortured, imprisoned, extorted +money from, and disgraced, all those +who had taken our side. I shall consider +it indeed a great miracle and a +divine favour, if hereafter any trust +ever be placed in the word and pro<span class="pagenum">[554]</span>mise of the authorities of the British +government throughout Afghanistan +and Turkistan."</p> + +<p>When it at last became evident that +the feeble and talentless Sadozais +were unable to hold the reins of +power in Afghanistan, or to contend, +with any chance of success, against +the energy and influence of the Barakzai +chiefs, Dost Mohammed was released, +and allowed to return to his +own country. On his way he concluded +a secret treaty of alliance with +Sher Singh, the Maharajah of the +Punjaub, and from Lahore was escorted +by the Sikhs to the Khaibar +pass, where Akhbar Khan and other +Afghan chiefs received him. The +Amir's exultation at again ascending +his throne knew no bounds. Unschooled +by adversity, he very soon +recommenced his old system of extortion, +and made himself so unpopular, +that he was once fired at, but +escaped. He now enjoys his authority +and the superiority of his family, fearless +of invasion from West or East.</p> + +<p>Although Akhbar Khan, of all the +Amir's sons, has the greatest influence +in Afghanistan, and renown out of it, +his elder brother, Afzal Khan, is, we +are informed, greatly his superior in +judgment and nobility of character. +Mohan Lal predicts a general commotion +in Kabul when Dost Mohammed +dies. If any one of his brothers, the +chiefs of Qandhar, or Sultan Mohammed +Khan, the ex-chief of Peshavar, +be then alive, he will attempt +to seize Kabul, and many of the Afghan +nobles, some even of the Amir's +sons, will lend him their support against +Akhbar Khan. The popular candidate, +however, the favourite of the +people, of the chiefs, and of his relations, +the Barakzais, is Afzal Khan. Akhbar +will be supported by his brothers—the +sons, that is to say, of his own mother +as well as of the Amir. Perhaps the +whole territory of Kabul will be divided +into small independent principalities, +governed by the different sons +of Dost Mohammed. At any rate, +there can be little doubt that at his +death wars and intrigues, plunderings +and assassinations, will again distract +the country. The crown that was +won by the crimes of the father, will, +in all probability, be shattered and +pulled to pieces by the dissensions +and rivalry of the children.<span class="pagenum">[555]</span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="ON_THE_OPERATION_OF_THE_ENGLISH_POOR-LAWS" id="ON_THE_OPERATION_OF_THE_ENGLISH_POOR-LAWS"></a>ON THE OPERATION OF THE ENGLISH POOR-LAWS.</h2> + + +<p>The time has arrived when the +modes of administering the poor-law +in England and Wales must undergo +inquiry and revision. Twelve years +have elapsed since the Poor-Law +Amendment Act became the law of +the land; and during the period many +changes have been made. In many +cases, the new arrangements of the +Poor-Law Commissioners have been +adopted without a murmur. In some +cases, they have met with continued +but fruitless opposition. In others, +they have been resisted with success. +During the whole period a war has +raged, in which no two of the combatants +have used the same weapons, +or drawn them in the same cause. +One has adduced particular cases of +hardship, suffering, and death, as the +results of the new system. Another +has collected statistics, and referred +to depauperised counties. And yet +the same number of cases of hardship +and suffering may have occurred before +1834, although unrecorded and +unknown. Nor does it follow, because +the official returns from agricultural +counties may show a diminished +number of paupers, or a diminished +expenditure, that the residue have +been able to earn their bread as +independent labourers. No period +appears to have been assigned when +the results of the new system should +be examined. Successive governments +have kept aloof from fear, until +an accident led to important disclosures, +and an inquiry is now inevitable. +The Poor-Law Commissioners +have been invested with extraordinary +and dangerous powers. They +possess the united powers of Queen, +Lords, and Commons. Their most imperfectly-considered +resolutions have +the force of an act of parliament, or +rather, ten-fold more force—it being +their duty, first, to ascertain <i>what +ought to be the law—then to make the +law—then to enforce it—and then, after +the elapse of time, to report upon its +success or failure</i>. It would be difficult +for the wisest to exercise powers +like these beneficially; and it is to +be feared that abuses have crept in. +And when we find that men, who +have hitherto upheld the system, now +demand inquiry in their place in parliament, +and the ministers who were +concerned in the establishment of the +system, promising, either to withdraw +opposition to the demand, or to amend +the laws themselves so we may be assured +that the topic at the present +time, as regards the administration +of Relief to the Poor in England and +Wales, is Inquiry and Revision.</p> + +<p>The subject matter of this article +must be suggestive, rather than affirmative. +Even at this time of day, it +would be presumptuous to take up a +commanding or decided position. The +old system was rotten. The good it +contained was choked up with weeds; +the pruning-knife has been applied +unsparingly; and it is to be feared +that good wood has been cut away. +New arrangements have been devised +with practical shrewdness, to displace +clearly recognised evils; but, with +these practical improvements, certain +economic theories have been speculatively, +tried; and it is likely that evils +have sprung up; so that those who +proclaim so loudly that every part of +the new arrangements is either naught +or vicious, and those who affirm that +the old methods were all good, are both +remote from the truth, which, probably, +lies somewhere between the two.</p> + +<p>The subject being set apart for inquiry, +the question arises—How can +a subject which has so many phases +be advantageously considered; to +whom must we go for information; +and to what matters should the attention +be chiefly directed? It is to these +questions this article will attempt to +provide answers. To the first question—To +whom must we go for information?—the +answer is obvious. To +all who are engaged in the administration +of the law, and chiefly to +those who have to do with those +departments where evils may be supposed +to exist. And, in order to +answer the second, the subject must be +divided into classes, and the mode of +operation of the law in each must be +sketched. The reader will then be +able to see for himself, and judge +whether the matters referred to are<span class="pagenum">[556]</span> +not those which most imperatively +demand inquiry.</p> + +<p>The several parishes, townships, +chapelries, and hamlets of England +and Wales, whether grouped into +Unions or not, may be usefully distributed +into three classes.</p> + +<p><i>The First Class</i> includes "parishes, +townships, chapelries, and hamlets," +grouped into Unions, in which the +<i>population bears a small proportion to +the number of acres they comprise</i>.</p> + +<p><i>The Second Class</i> includes small populous +parishes, grouped into Unions, +in which the <i>population bears a large +proportion to the number of statute +acres they cover</i>.</p> + +<p><i>The Third Class</i> consists of <i>large +single parishes</i>, in which the <i>population +bears a large proportion to the +number of acres</i>.</p> + +<p>The following diagram will explain +this classification:</p> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="2" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" summary=""> + +<tr><td align="center"></td><td align="center"><span class="smcap"><br />County.</span></td><td align="center"><br /><span class="smcap">Union.</span></td><td align="center"><br /> No. of<br />Parishes</td> +<td align="center"> Population of<br />Parishes.<br/>______________<br />Highest | Lowest</td><td align="center">Population<br />of Union.</td><td align="center">Area of<br />Union,<br />Statute<br/>Acres.</td><td align="center">No. of <br />Reliev-<br />ing<br />Officers.</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="center"><span class="smcap">First<br /> Class</span>,</td><td align="left">Denbigh,<br />Durham,<br />Staffordshire,<br />Derbyshire,<br />Lincoln,</td> +<td align="left">Ruthin,<br />Easington,<br />Uttoxeter,<br />Shardlow,<br />Louth,</td> +<td align="center">21<br /> 19 <br />16 <br />46 <br />88<br /></td> +<td align="center"> 2066 97<br />2976 10<br />4864 116<br /> 3182 23<br />6927 24</td> +<td align="right"> 16,019<br /> 6,984<br /> 12,837<br /> 29,812<br /> 25,214</td> +<td align="right">166,619<br />34,660<br />56,685<br />66,974<br />152,251 </td> +<td align="center">2<br /> 1<br /> 1<br /> 2<br /> 3 </td></tr> + +<tr><td align="center"><span class="smcap">Second<br /> Class</span>,</td><td align="left">Middlesex,</td><td align="left">City of<br />London</td> +<td align="center">98</td><td align="center"> 401 72</td><td align="right">57,100</td><td align="right">370</td><td align="center">3</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="center"><span class="smcap">Third<br />Class</span>,</td><td align="left">Middlesex.</td><td align="center">Parish<br />Marylebone,</td><td align="center">1</td> +<td align="left"> ..... .....</td><td align="right">138,164</td><td align="right"> 1490</td><td align="center">...</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>These divisions of territory may be +regarded from different points of view. +They may be seen through the media +of statute-books, reports, returns, and +statistics; or they may be actually +surveyed. Each course has its peculiar +dangers. The mind, occupied +with matters of detail and routine +occurrences, is apt to lose in comprehensiveness +as much as it gains in +minute exactness. To avoid this +danger the mind must soar as the +facts accumulate. It must regard +them, sometimes from the height of +one theory, and sometimes from the +height of another. For the mind becomes +tinged with the hue of whatever +is frequently presented to it. +Opinions even are hereditary. And +every set of facts leads to a different +conclusion, according to the texture +of the minds they pass through. Refer +to the facts connected with the +condition of the poor, which have +been proclaimed during the last few +years; and then reflect to what contradictory +opinions they have led. +The man of strong benevolent feelings +deduces one inference. The politico-economical +theorist deduces +another. And the man of practice +and experience is as likely to be deluded +as either. He sees destitution +so frequently connected with imprudence, +laziness, and crime, that he is +apt to believe that the union is indissoluble. +His mind has never embraced +a general idea, or traced effects +to causes, or distinguished them, +the one from the other. And in this +matter, where the causes and effects +are so complicated, and entangled by +their mutual reaction, he is likely to +be at fault. Then the man of pure +benevolence sees only the pain, and +demands only the means of immediate +relief. And the political economist +tells us, "That the law which would +enforce charity can fix no limits, +either to the ever-increasing wants +of a poverty which itself has created, +or to the insatiable desires and demands +of a population which itself +hath corrupted and led astray."</p> + +<p>In the First Class, the parishes are +large, thinly populated, and situated +generally in rural districts. In some +cases, the Union includes a country +town; the neighbouring parishes and +hamlets being connected with it. The +total number of parishes may be +eighteen or twenty. In other cases,<span class="pagenum">[557]</span> +the Union consists of about twenty-five +parishes, townships, hamlets, and +chapelries. In some instances, the +population of the parishes are collected +into so many villages, which are distant +from each other. In others, the +entire surface of the country is sprinkled +thinly with cottages. The communications +are by high-roads, and +muddy lanes, over high hills, and +through bogs and marshes, and by +bridle-roads and footpaths—</p> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">"O'er muirs and mosses many, O."<br /><br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<p>In each of these Unions, the management +of the relief fund is confided to a +Board, consisting of resident rate-payers, +and resident country magistrates. +The former are guardians by +election, and the latter ex-officio. +The Board is completed by the addition +of the churchwardens and overseers. +The chairman is generally the +most distinguished, and the vice-chairman +the most active man in +the Union. The chairman regulates +the proceedings of the Board, and ascertains +its resolutions. The clerk +records them. The relief which applicants +are to receive, is determined +by the Board; except that which is +given by certain officers in cases of +"sudden and urgent necessity." The +management of the Union-house is +invested in the master—a paid officer. +His duties are ascertained and fixed. +He is liable to dismissal by the joint +resolution of the Poor-Law Commissioners +and the Guardians, or by the +order of the Commissioners alone. It +is also the duty of the master to attend +to such cases of destitution as +may be presented at the Union-House +gate; and, if their necessities be of a +sudden and urgent character, to admit +them into the house. It may be +remarked here, that information is +wanted upon this point. The question +is not, by what general term may the +cases be designated, whether sudden +or urgent, but what the circumstances +of the cases really are, which are so +relieved. The answers to the question +would throw light upon the +relation subsisting between a strict +work-house system and the increase +of vagrancy. To continue. The sick +poor are confided to the care of the +medical officer; and the out-door +relief is chiefly administered by the +relieving-officer. His duties in rural +Unions are as follows:—To pay or deliver +such amounts of money or food +as the Board may have ordered the +poor to receive, at the villages, hamlets, +and cottages where they may +reside. He must visit the poor at +their homes. He receives applications +for relief; and when the necessity +is sudden and urgent, he relieves +the case promptly with food. He +must report upon the circumstances +of each case, and keep accounts. For +neglect of duty, he is liable to penal +consequences, and to dismissal, in +the same way as the master. The +average number of parishes, townships, +and hamlets committed to the +care of the relieving-officer may be +about twenty. The reader may be +able, from his local knowledge, to picture +this Union, and give it a name.</p> + +<p>The Union then consists of twenty +parishes. The Union-house is pretty +central, and situated near a small +market-town. The meetings of the +Board are held in the Union-house, +and upon the market-day; because +then the guardians, churchwardens, +and overseers, after having transacted +their private business, may conveniently +perform their public duties. At +the last meeting of the Board of Guardians, +certain poor persons appeared +before them, and were ordered to be +relieved with money or food, at a +specific rate, and for a specified time. +The relieving-officer resides in that +part of the Union from whence he can +reach the most distant and opposite +points with nearly equal facility. He +divides his district into rounds, and +each occupies the greatest portion of a +day. At the end of each week he will +have visited the whole of the twenty +parishes.</p> + +<p>The Board met yesterday, and to-day +the relieving-officer's week began. +By the conditions of his appointment, +he must have a horse and chaise. +The contractor for bread is bound to +deliver it at the home of the pauper; +he must therefore provide man and +horse, and they accompany the relieving-officer. +They set out on the +first day's journey; they arrive at +the first hamlet on the route, and +stop at a cottage door. Around it +and within it the destitute poor of the +hamlet are assembled. Each receives<span class="pagenum">[558]</span> +his allowance of money and bread. +But a group has collected about the +door, whose names are not on the +relief-list. One woman tells the relieving-officer +that her husband is ill +with fever, and her children are without +food. He knows the family; he +hastens down the lane, and across +the field, and enters the labourer's +hut. The man is really ill, and there +are too evident signs of destitution. +A written order is given on the medical +officer to attend the case, and +necessary relief is given. The man +who now approaches the officer with +such an air of overbearing insolence, +or fawning humility, is also an applicant. +He is known at the village +beer-shop, and by the farmer as a +man who can work, but will not; +he is the last man employed in the +parish; his hovel is visited—it is a +scene of squalid misery. What is to +be done? He may be relieved temporarily +with bread, or admitted into +the Union-house, or he is directed to +attend the Board. The relieving +officer then proceeds to his next station. +There a larger supply of bread +awaits him, for he is now in a populous +parish. The poor of the place +are assembled at the church door, and +the relief is given in the vestry-room. +The applications are again received +and disposed of. He then rides to +the cottages of the sick and the aged, +and again continues his route. He +does not proceed far before he is hailed +by the labourer in the field, who tells +him of some solitary person who is +without medical aid. By-and-by, he +is stopped by the boy who has long +waited for him on the stile, and begs +him to come and see his mother; +and the farmer's man, on the farmer's +horse, gives him further news of disease, +destitution, or death. He completes +his day's journey before the +evening. To-morrow another route +is taken; and thus he proceeds from +day to day, and from month to month, +through summer's heat and winter's +cold.</p> + +<p>The number of medical officers in +a Union varies. In some cases, +where there are two relieving-officers, +there are four medical officers. +The medical officer resides within the +limits of the Union. He is not prevented +from attending to his private +practice, and he does not therefore +reside in a central position, or at the +nearest point to his pauper patients; +he is supplied with a list of persons +who are in receipt of relief, and he is +bound to attend these without an +order; he must also attend to cases +upon the receipt of a written order +from the relieving-officer or the overseer; +he regulates the diet of his patients, +and he is paid by a salary, and +by fees in certain cases.</p> + +<p>There are contradictory opinions +respecting the efficiency of this system. +Some say that the amount of remuneration +is inadequate to insure qualified +persons, and others that the +qualifications are secured by the requisition +of recognised diplomas.</p> + +<p>If we inquire of those among the +peasantry who have never received +parochial relief, or even of the yeomanry, +we find that in many districts, +and especially those of which +we are now speaking, it is a difficult +matter to obtain immediate medical +aid; and if this consideration have +any weight, the system would appear +satisfactory, providing always the +overseers perform their duty when +applied to. It would be desirable to +ascertain whether there are any restrictions +in the issue of medical +orders. As regards relieving the poor +with food, there are many who say, +that, in so doing, the very evil is +created which we are endeavouring +to destroy. But this is not said with +respect to medical relief. The labouring +man with his family may +earn an average wage of from 7s. to +12s. per week. The most prudent +cannot save much, and those savings +are invested in the purchase of a +stack of wood, a sack of meal, a crop +of potatoes, a stye of pigs, or a cow. +His savings might enable him to provide +food for his family during illness, +but they would be totally insufficient to +pay for medicine and medical aid. It +would be desirable to ascertain where +and to what extent medical clubs and +dispensaries exist, and what means the +agricultural labourer, in thinly populated +districts, possesses for obtaining +gratuitous medical aid.</p> + +<p>It would be well, too, if Boards of +Guardians would remember that their +duties have not ended when they +have disposed of the cases on each<span class="pagenum">[559]</span> +board-day. They have to do with +pauperism, not only as it exists to-day, +but as it may exist next month +or next year; and therefore they have +to do with its causes, as well as its +existing results. This truth is just +now occupying the minds of statesmen, +and it is to be hoped that it +may receive the attention of Boards +of Guardians. Sanatory regulations +will decrease pauperism. Many men +have been destroyed, and their families +pauperised, by uncovered sewers in +thickly populated lanes and alleys; +and much disease has been engendered +by the want of facilities for cleanliness. +And so also has much pauperism +been engendered by the drain +upon the resources of the poor man +during a long illness. Could not this +be remedied, and that without weakening +the feeling of independence? +And why might not a Board of +Guardians be allowed, or compelled, to +contribute a given sum to any dispensary +or medical club which may +be governed by certain rules duly +certified?</p> + +<p>We must now refer to the churchwardens +and overseers of the several +parishes of this rural Union. The +question with respect to them is, do +they receive the applications of the +poor in their respective parishes, and +deal with them in the same way as +the relieving-officer? It would not be +a sufficient answer to quote acts of +parliament, or lists of duties. It is +doubtless of importance to know that, +according to law, the duty of relieving +in cases of sudden and urgent +necessity is still reserved to the overseer. +But it is of equal importance +to ascertain whether, in those extensive +or thinly populated parishes +where the relieving-officer may reside +many a weary mile distant from the +cottage of the destitute, any check, +or hinderance, or heavy discouragement +has been offered to the overseer +in his attempt to perform his duty. +We can easily conceive the farmer +overseer, before 1834, riding over the +fields of his parish, and meeting one +of the poor cottagers, at once relieving +him with a piece of money, and +taking no further note of the circumstance +than was necessary to prevent +his forgetting to repay himself. And +we can understand how the same +overseer, under the new system, when +men to whom he has been accustomed +to look up with deference are united +with him in the administration of +relief, may not trouble himself to +inquire into, or care to exercise, the +rights reserved to him. Or he may +find that he has something more to +do than merely to enter the amount +in his pocket-book. He may have to +report the case to the relieving-officer, +or to defend it at the Board—neither +of which acts his literary habits, his +opportunities, his patience, or his +ability to speak before the magnates +of his district in Board assembled, +may dispose him to perform. In other +cases, where these considerations may +have no weight, the overseer may be +of opinion, since paid officers have +been appointed to do the duty, and +are paid to do it, that they are the +proper persons to perform it.</p> + +<p>In thus referring to the duties of +overseers, it must not be supposed +that a recurrence to the old system is +aimed at. It is a common opinion +that the Union system is diametrically +opposed to the old parochial system. +And it seems to be too generally +thought that relief should be given +through paid agency. But this is not +so. The power to relieve, in cases of +sudden and urgent necessity, still rests +with the overseers. But the law has +deprived the overseer of the power to +give permanent relief. It will not allow +him to give a regular weekly allowance. +The question the overseer has to do with +is not whether labourer Miles shall +receive, for a number of consecutive +weeks or months, a certain sum, but +whether he should not receive relief +at this moment, his necessities being +sudden and urgent. The question of +permanent relief is no longer a subject +of personal controversy and irritation +between the labourer and the farmer. +It is now a question between the +labourer and the Board. What he +shall receive no longer depends upon +the will of a single person, but upon +the collective will of a number so +great, that personal partialities and +prejudices can scarcely have place. +The system, in this respect, assures +justice alike to the rate-payer and +the indigent poor. It stands between<span class="pagenum">[560]</span> +the poor man and the overseer; and +also between the overseer and the +sturdy threatening vagrant.</p> + +<p>But it is desirable to know whether +the dereliction of duty by overseers +has been of frequent occurrence, and +whether there has been any want of +care or disposition on the part of the +authorities to facilitate its exercise. +That the relief given must be duly +recorded and accounted for, is quite +clear. Now, do the means for doing +this equal those given to the relieving-officer, +who requires them less? Then, +again, have arrangements been duly +made to enable overseers to relieve in +food? Is the loaf or the meat at hand? +Can it be had from the nearest shop? +Or must it be brought from the store +of the contractor, who cannot always +reside in the next village? In fact, +must the destitute person wait for the +periodical visit of the relieving-officer, +and is the duty of the overseer thus +made a superfluity?</p> + +<p>It is likely that the dweller in cities +may not sufficiently estimate the importance +of this topic. In a populous +city, however sudden the casualty +may be to which a fellow-creature +may fall a victim, the means of relief +are within a stone's-throw from the +spot. But the case is different in +that wide expanse of level country +which opens to the view of the pedestrian +as he gains the summit of the +hill. The plain is dotted with solitary +cottages, hamlets, and villages. The +town is just perceptible in the distance. +But its hum and its chimes are unheard. +The Union-house loses its +barrack-like appearance by its remoteness. +He descends, and its "goes +on his way." He hears the voices of +children, the song of birds; and he +sees cottages "embosomed" in trees, +and those pictures which pastoral +poets have so loved to paint, pass in +panoramic order before him. He enters +the cottage door; he sees the +dampness of the walls; he feels the +clayey coldness of the floors, and +observes the signs of poverty. While +pondering upon these things, sensation +vacates its office, and imagination +rules in the ascendant; material +images fade away. Now the fields, +the trees, and the entire air become +covered and filled with drifting snow. +Or,</p> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">"The stillness of these frosty plains,<br /><br /></span> +<span class="i4">Their utter stillness, and the silent grace<br /><br /></span> +<span class="i4">Of yon ethereal summits, white with snow,<br /><br /></span> +<span class="i4">(Whose tranquil pomp and spotless purity<br /><br /></span> +<span class="i4">Report of storms gone by<br /><br /></span> +<span class="i4">To those who tread below.")<br /><br /></span> + +</div></div> + +<p>Or the winds howl, the biting sharpness +of the frosty air nips the joints +and shrivels the flesh, and the smoking +smouldering fire has no power to +control the winds which rush across +the room. The scene changes. The +lowlands are flooded, and the waters +reach to, and stagnate at the cottage +door. The rains descend; the air is +saturated with water; it chills the +frame; the heart beats languidly, and +the soul of man stoops to the deadening +influence of the elements. Agues, +rheumatism, and fevers prevail. The +hardships of the season bear down +old and young; for the want of sufficient +or nutritious food has shorn them +of their strength.</p> + +<p>Upon awakening from this trance, +"which was not all a dream," and +reflecting how far aid is distant, even +if it can be obtained from the nearest +overseer, how forcibly must the +thought occur—what numbers suffer +and die whose suffering is unrelieved +and unknown! If our pedestrian +learn nothing from his trip for health +and pleasure more than this, he will +have learnt enough to satisfy him +that the point we have directed his +attention to, viz. that the means of +relief in rural districts should be made +as ample as possible; and that, therefore, +the right and duty of the overseers +to relieve promptly should be +encouraged and zealously guarded.</p> + +<p>Reference must now be made to the +notorious "Prohibitory Order." And +in doing so, it is not to the order itself, +either in its original or amended +form, that the following remarks are +especially made, but to the practices +which owe their origin to the enactments +of the Poor-Law Amendment +Act, to the Utopian expectations of +many, that a strict work-house test +would destroy pauperism, and to the +explanations and reports of the Commissioners +themselves. The following<span class="pagenum">[561]</span> +is the prohibitory in its latest and most +humanised form:—</p> + +<blockquote><p>"Article I.—Every able-bodied person, +male or female, requiring relief +from any parish within any of the said +Unions, shall be relieved wholly in the +work-house of the said Unions, together +with such of the family of every such +able-bodied person as may be resident +with him or her, and may not be in +employment, and together with the wife +of every such able-bodied male person, +if he be a married man, and if she be +resident with him; save and except in +the following cases:—</p></blockquote> + +<p class="indent">1st, Where such person shall require +relief on account of sudden and +urgent necessity.<a name="FNanchor_47_47" id="FNanchor_47_47"></a><a href="#Footnote_47_47" class="fnanchor">[47]</a></p> + +<p class="indent">2d, Where such person shall require +relief on account of any sickness, +accident, or bodily or mental infirmity, +affecting such person, or +any of his or her family.</p> + +<p class="indent">3d, Where such person shall require +relief, for the purpose of defraying +the expenses, either wholly or in +part, of the burial of his or her +family.</p> + +<p class="indent">4th, Where such person, being a +widow, shall be in the first six +months of her widowhood.</p> + +<p class="indent">5th, Where such person shall be a +widow, and have a legitimate child +or legitimate children dependent +upon her, and incapable of earning +his, her, or their livelihood, and no +illegitimate child born after the +commencement of her widowhood.</p> + +<p class="indent">6th, Where such person shall be confined +in any jail or place of safe +custody.</p> + +<p class="indent">7th, Where the relief shall be required +by the wife, child, or children +of any able-bodied man who shall +be in the service of her Majesty, +as a soldier, sailor, or marine.</p> + +<p class="indent">8th, Where any able-bodied person, +not being a soldier, sailor, or marine, +shall not reside within the +Union, but the wife, child, or children, +of such person shall reside +within the same, the Board of +Guardians of the Union, according +to their discretion, may afford relief +in the work-house to such +wife, child, or children, or may +allow out-door relief for any such +child or children, being within the +age of nurture, and resident with +the mother within the Union."</p> + +<p>The fifth exception, relating to widows, +is accompanied with a course +of reasoning directed against its application; +and as it is to be feared +that the practice engendered by a +former order, in which this exception +had no place, may have become habitual, +this exception will be treated +as if it did not exist. Especial inquiries +ought to be made, in order to ascertain +whether widows with children +are generally allowed out-door relief.</p> + +<p>The immediate effect of this system +of relief is a diminution of expenditure. +But we must look beyond the +immediate effects. It is to be feared +that great politico-social evils result +from this system. They have +been somewhat reduced in number, +perhaps, by the new prohibitory order. +But it is too probable that the +original wound has left a scar. The +evils are not on the surface, and strike +the mind at intervals. Perhaps we +may be struck with the fact, that our +prisons are filled with individuals who +have been committed for slight offences, +and for short periods; and it +may casually appear, that the work-house +has something to do with it. +Then the question may occur, why +the ordinary accommodation for wayfarers +in the casual wards of work-houses +has become insufficient or less +ample than formerly? Or, when travelling, +we may see whole families +creeping along the roads apparently +without object or aim; and if, after +giving them a coin, you ask them +where they are going to, and why +they are going? you will be struck +<span class="pagenum">[562]</span>with the vagueness of their replies. +Wherever you meet them, you find +they are going from this place to that; +and if you were to meet them every +day for a twelvemonth, the answers +would always be as indefinite. At +another time, we may be deeply concerned +in the subject of prison discipline; +and while studying reports, +returns, and dietaries, the subject of +workhouse discipline may become +associated with it, and induce comparisons. +And it may come to our +knowledge, that there is a vast body +of persons to whom it is a matter of +indifference whether they are inmates +of a prison or a workhouse. Or the +mind may soar above the dull, cold, +field of politics, and extend its researches +to the pure regions of morality, +leaving the questions of science +for those of philosophy; and then it +will appear that there are causes in +operation, and results constantly +flowing, which escape the "economic" +eyes of assistant Commissioners.</p> + +<p>But we must avoid generalities. We +still retain our original ground, viz. +the rural Union, with its large area +and its thinly scattered population. +The reader must accompany us to +the rural Union, where the spirit of +the prohibitory order exercises its +most baneful influence.</p> + +<p>We saw the relieving-officer performing +his round of duties. The poor +were assembled at the cottage door. +Two classes of applicants were then +given. We must now, however, look +deeper into human nature. The destitute +consist of the virtuous and the +vicious, the vulgar and the refined. +There stands an able-bodied man with +his able-bodied wife, and his large +healthy family. His weekly wages +amount to nine shillings per week. +If he loses a week's work he is destitute. +He is now making an application +to the relieving-officer. But it is +useless. He must walk to the Union, +and become an inmate, where his dinner +awaits him. The man who now +approaches the officer is like the last, +able-bodied and out of work; but, unlike +him, he has an idle, unthrifty, drunken +wife. He is always trembling on the +confines of destitution; and the instant +he is without work he is on the +brink of starvation. His spirit is +broken. His children are dirty and +ragged, and appear emaciated without +disease. He, too, must enter the +Union. The next is a hard-featured +man;—</p> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i3">"A savage wildness round him hung<br /></span> +<span class="i4">As of a dweller out of doors;<br /></span> +<span class="i4">In his whole figure, and his mien,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">A savage character was seen<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Of mountains and of dreary moors."<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<p>He does not seem to care whether +relief is granted or not; and we may +hear him say, "I don't want relief +for myself, I can get my living somehow +or other—but my wife and child +musn't starve. I shan't go to the +Union—I shall be off—and catch me +who can."—In the cottage, a woman +is seated with her children, whose +husband has done that which the +other has threatened to do. She may +be industrious or idle, but she cannot +support herself, thus suddenly thrown +upon her own resources. Let us hope +that she is allowed the benefit of the +amended order.—There is the man +whose children are approaching the +state of womanhood or manhood. He +has work to do, and he does it. He +could manage to eke out a subsistence +for himself—for his habits are simple +and frugal; but his children are now +a sore trial to him. His daughter has +returned to his cottage with a child of +shame. She has erred, but she cannot +be turned from his door. She has +tried to make the father contribute to +the support of the child, but without +success. Poor ignorant creature, instead +of taking a competent witness +with her, when she asked the man to +assist her, she was too anxious to +hide her shame. Instead of putting +questions to him, in order "to get up" +the corroborative evidence, she was +too apt to spoil all by passionate +upbraidings. And then, when she +appeared before their worships the +justices, she was too much abashed +or excited, to enable her to develope +those latent powers of examination +and cross-examination which the law +supposes her to possess. Those who +have witnessed those humiliating proceedings +in our petty courts of justice, +and seen the magistrate at one +moment kindly acting as counsel for +the girl, then falling back to his posi<span class="pagenum">[563]</span>tion +as judge, and observed the evident +helplessness of the girl, must +have left the court with the impression +that the whole affair is a disgusting +farce. She departs without redress. +The "corroborative evidence" is declared +insufficient. She goes to her +father's cottage. His heart compels +him to give her shelter, and a place +at his scanty board. But the smallest +assistance cannot be rendered with +impunity. And there he stands an +applicant. He is told, "you must +come into the house." "But it is my +daughter." "Then she must enter +the Union." And, if she does, there +she must remain until her child dies, +or her hair grows grey.—On the other +side, and away from the rest, stands +a coarse-featured man, who has often +been an inmate of the county jail. +He is the smuggler on the coast, the +footpad on the common, the poacher +in the forest, the housebreaker, the +horse-stealer, the sheep-slayer, or +the incendiary. He may be any of +these. He demands his rights, and +threatens vengeance if refused.—We +turn from this group, and walk slowly +to the Union-house, now visible in the +distance; and, in walking, the time +may be well employed in reflection. +The thought which occurs with the +greatest vividness is this—for the reception +of such a group, what must +the arrangements be? There is the +old man, honest but poor, who seeks +there an asylum. There is the man +old in sin and iniquity, as well as +years. There is the able-bodied man +and woman with their family. There +is the able-bodied man with his +drunken, unthrifty wife, and his emaciated +children. There is the young +girl, whom the season has thrown out +of her ordinary field employment. +There is the woman with her illegitimate +child, either heart-broken, or +glorying in her shame. There is the +girl, young in years but old in profligacy, +suffering for her sins. There +is the matron in her green old age, +the result of a life of industry and +prudence. And there is the ruffian, +and the thief, and the profligate vagrant, +male and female. Now what +arrangements can be made for this +assemblage—the bad anxious to obtain +temporary quarters, the good +anxious to retain their homes?</p> + +<p>Surely they are not classed according +to rules in which age, and sex, +and state of health are the only principles? +The widow with the prostitute, +the aged cottar with the aged +vagrant. If this were all, the moral +consequences would not be so fearful. +Does the young girl, who is now innocent, +associate daily with her who +has wandered over half the neighbouring +counties, sinking lower and +lower each journey? If so, poison +will be instilled, which produces certain +moral death. Refer to any list, +now seven years old, of the inmates +of a workhouse, who were then aged +from twelve to eighteen years, and +then inquire what has become of them. +Or inquire of those who have the administration +in metropolitan parishes, +or in manufacturing and sea-port +towns, how many of those unfortunates, +scarcely yet arrived at the +state of womanhood, and suffering +from loathsome diseases, were brought +up, or were sometime inmates of one +of these Unions. Then there are the +children of all these;—the children of +the farm-labourer associating with +those of the vagrant, who has quartered +himself in the Union during the rains.</p> + +<p>The evils which this system occasions +are not, unfortunately, either to +be seen or understood by the casual +observer. Even our observer may +suppose that all is well, after he has +inspected the place. He sees every +thing clean and in order. There are +no rags, no unshorn beards, no unclean +flesh. The ordinary concomitants +of virtue are here present—by +compulsion. The rags, the filthiness +of place and person, are absent—by +order. This is forgotten; and, allowing +the outward and visible to govern +his judgment rather than the inward +and spiritual, he leaves the place exclaiming, +"Well! this is not so bad +after all!" The outside is indeed white, +but it is the whiteness of the sepulchre.</p> + +<p>If this group is to be received into +one building, there must be something +peculiar in its arrangements. All +these persons are suffering, more or +less, from the want of food, or lodging, +or clothing, or medical aid. They +are now offered the whole of these +blessings, and yet they do not feel +blessed thereby. He has now that<span class="pagenum">[564]</span> +livelihood freely offered to him which +had cost him many a sigh to procure, +and he has often sighed in vain. +What then can or must be the nature +of the arrangements? It must be remembered +that this Union is presumed +to be a test of poverty, and therefore +the condition of its inmates must be +inferior to that of the independent +labourer.</p> + +<p>To effect this, how must the authorities +proceed? In the first place, +there are arrangements which they +cannot make. They cannot altogether +dispense with the counsels of the medical +man, while the matter is under +discussion. And an inspector of +prisons should be admitted, certainly, +as far as the ante-room. Then the +locality of the Union-house must not +be unhealthy. The internal parts of +the building must not be exposed to +the inclemency of the seasons.</p> + +<p>The rooms cannot be badly warmed +or ventilated. They must not be allowed +to become filthy. The inmates +must not sleep on a damp floor, with +loose straw for a bed, or an old carpet +for a coverlid. Their clothes must +not be permitted to fall from them in +tatters. They must not remain twenty-four +hours without food. And they +cannot experience that gnawing anxiety—that +sickness of heart which +those thousands suffer who rise in the +morning without knowing where they +can obtain a meal, or lay down their +head at night. These "ills," which +constitute so large a portion of the +poor man's lot, the inmate of this +Union cannot be <i>made</i> to suffer. Nor +can they be detained like prisoners. +He must not be confined for a longer +period, after an application to leave +has been made, than will allow for +forms and casualties. So in three +hours he is a free man again. What +is to be done? Might not his food +be touched? Might he not be allowed +food which, although possessing nutritious +qualities, should not be palatable? +At this point, the prison +inspector should be consulted. This +experiment upon the dietaries has +been tried, and with what success +let public opinion trumpet-tongued +proclaim. What must then be done? +First, the family may, nay, must be +divided and distributed over the building. +The husband is sent to the +"Man's Hall," the wife to the "Woman's +Ward," and the male and female +children each to their's. This arrangement +is inevitable, but is fraught with +dangers. The man who has lived for +months estranged from his wife and +children—for seeing them at certain +times cannot be considered the same +thing as living with them—may learn +to believe that their presence is not +necessary to his existence. And +then it should not be forgotten, that +the pain here introduced is the pain +arising from the infliction of a moral +wound. An attempt has been made +to disturb a set of virtuous emotions +in their healthy exercise. By this +separation they are deprived of their +necessary aliment; and, if they are +not strong, will soon sicken and die. +Now, those moral feelings which preside +over the social hearth are those +which exercise the greatest influence +over the heart of the poor man, and +bind, and strengthen, and afford opportunities +for the development of +the rest. They are in general the +last that leave him. And when they +are gone, he is bankrupt indeed. It is +a pain, too, which only the virtuous +feel. The lawless, the debauched, and +the drunken pass unscathed. Is there +not danger?</p> + +<p>In the second place, the inmates +of the Union must work. And here +also there are limits which a Board +cannot pass. Labour cannot be enforced +from a diseased man. The +prudent master of a Union will not +require a task to be performed which +he cannot enforce. The question is, +what work can the inmates be set to +do? Not to lace-making or stocking-weaving, +for that is the staple of the +neighbourhood. To give them this +work would diminish the demand for +labour out of doors. What labour +then must it be? Here is the rock +upon which the vessel is now driving. +It must certainly be real work. Must +it, then, be disagreeable work? It +must. But there is no work so disagreeable +that willing labourers cannot +be found to do it, and that at a +rate of wages reduced by competition. +Then, again, the most disagreeable +kind of labour cannot be done +in a Union-house. And experience +proves, that the number of such employments +is extremely limited.<span class="pagenum">[565]</span></p> + +<p>There are, however, certain kinds +of labour that require no exertion of +skill—no variety of operation—and +consisting of the mechanical and monotonous +operation of picking, which, +if performed in the same room during +a certain number of hours of each +day, and from day to day, and from +week to week, will become so sickening +and wearying, that life with all +its miseries, doubts, and anxieties, +and impending starvation, will be +welcomed in exchange.</p> + +<p>This labour women may perform. +Now, in what way can the men be +tasked? There are certain kinds of +mere labour, hard and monotonous, +such as grinding—or rather turning +a handle all day long—without seeing +the progress or result of the toil. He +might also be employed in breaking +bones. This has been tried, and received +a check.</p> + +<p>But while the conclave are sitting +in "consultation deep" upon this +knotty question, let us turn to another +conclave, and mark their doings. +They know nothing of the poor-law, +or paupers. The two authorities are +separated, the one from the other, by +a gulf, the depth of which official +persons alone know. <i>They</i> have to +do with crime. They have to punish +the offender. And not only to punish +the offender who has committed acts +which require long imprisonment, but +those also who have committed petty +offences. Upon this latter subject +they are engaged. The prisoner +must be set to work. And then arise +the old questions, and with the same +result. What do they determine?</p> + +<p>What has been done? Surely the +two bodies have not each issued the +same regulations to paupers and prisoners. +If this be so, the matter +cannot rest. And that it must be so, +is obvious from a mere inspection of +the means which the workhouse master +and the jailer have at their disposal. +It is not an oversight or an abuse. +The data being given, the consequences +are inevitable. Each conclave +has separately arrived at nearly the +same conclusion. In one case a prison +and a prisoner, and a brief period of +incarceration is given, with the condition, +that his punishment shall not +be so severe as that of the criminal +deeply dyed in crime; and yet his circumstances +shall be less desirable than +those of the independent labourer. In +the other case, a pauper and a Union-house +is given; and if the condition +of the problem be, that the pauper's +situation shall be less disagreeable +than that of the independent labourer, +the solution becomes impossible; and, +if this latter condition be left out or +forgotten, the result is, that the prisoner +and the pauper are in the same +position. This mode of treating the +matter has been preferred to that of +comparing dietaries and labour-tables, +and to quoting from evidence showing +the indifference with which the prison +and the workhouse are regarded by +the lower class of paupers. Our object +has been to show that the strict +workhouse system leads necessarily +to these evils.</p> + +<p>It is argued, on the other side, that +pauperism has diminished in those +Unions where the "prohibitory order" +has been issued; and, in proof thereof, +we are referred to reports and tables +showing diminished expenditure. +A family, with a judicious out-door +management, would be able to subsist +with the occasional assistance of +two, three, or four shillings' worth of +food weekly. The cost of the family +in the house would be about 18s. +weekly; and yet the expenditure in +the rural Union, where the "prohibitory +order" is in force, has been reduced. +No especial reference can now +be made to the amount of unrelieved +suffering which this fact discloses. +Those who decline the order cannot +now be followed to their homes; nor +can another incident of this system be +dwelt upon—its tendency to reduce +the standard of wages. The employer +is likely to get labour cheap, when he +has a number of unemployed labourers +to choose from, who have just preferred +to "live on" in a half-starved +condition, rather than submit to a +system of prison discipline. To return +to the allegation, that pauperism +has been diminished in those Unions +where the order is in operation. The +reply is—that the statistics do not +touch the question. They ought to +be thrown aside as useless, until the +condition of those who have refused +to enter the Union walls has been +ascertained. Have their numbers become +thinned by the ravages of the<span class="pagenum">[566]</span> +fever, which their "houseless heads +and unfed sides" have unfitted them +to resist? Have they been unable to +pay their pittance of rent; and is the +cottage, which was once theirs, now +falling to decay? Have estates thus +been thinned without the formality +and notoriety of a warrant? Have +the able-bodied left the Union, and +become wanderers, seeking for an understocked +labour-market; and, finding +it not, are they becoming, through +common lodging-house associations, +half labourers, half vagrants—labouring +to-day, begging to-morrow, and +stealing the next? Is the inclination +to wander growing into a passion? +Are habits of strolling being formed? +Is he gradually deteriorating to the +half-savage state? Is this so? A +great national question is involved. +The French government know, by +experience, the importance of a true +knowledge of "Les Classes Dangereuses."</p> + +<p>Now, if any of these applicants +have become wanderers, or have migrated +to distant towns where charities +abound, or have been cut off by +sickness, or have remained in a state +of semi-starvation, the statistics would +remain the same. Besides, these statistics +embrace two periods; the present +time, when an extremely rigid +system of out-door relief is in action; +and a past time, when the out-door +management was loose, irregular, and +rotten; and for the diminution of expenditure, +arising from a sound system +of out-door relief, no allowance has +been made, the whole benefit of the +economy being referred to the workhouse +test.</p> + +<p>It is probable much of the evil has +been stayed, from the circumstance +that the "system" has been carried +into effect by human agency. A certificate +of illness from the medical +officer would exempt the individual +from the operation of the rule. Now, +the seeds of disease are oftentimes +deeply hidden in the bodily frame; +and the alleged throbbing or shooting +pain, although the symptoms may not +be seen, may have an existence, and +be certified accordingly.</p> + +<p>Then the relieving-officer, after relieving +the case as one of sudden and +urgent necessity to-day, may see the +applicant again upon his next visit; +and knowing that a case is urgent +after forty-eight hours' fasting, and +may be considered sudden, if two +days' work only was obtained when +four days was expected, he may be +relieved on the same plea again, and +again, and again. In point of fact, +the relief is an allowance.</p> + +<p>If this be the practice, a bad mode +of out-door relief has grown into use, +the worst peculiarities of the old +method being involved in it. It is +irregular, partial, and dependent on +personal partialities and prejudices; +and, if persisted in, would revive old +times, when the overseer gave away, +in the first place, to the bold, the +insidious, and the designing, and modest +merit was left to pick up the +crumbs.</p> + +<p>The result of an inquiry into the +two other classes into which England +is parochially divided would probably +be, that many evils have been removed +or lessened, that others have +remained untouched, that much good +has been secured, and that new abuses +have crept in.</p> + +<p>Take the Union of small parishes. +An improvement has certainly been +effected by the Union of these. A city +or town, because it happened to be composed +of a large number of small parishes, +having no perceptible boundaries, +but, in virtue of ancient usage or +statute-law, was governed by so many +independent petty powers. It does not +require much study to ascertain what +abuses would be likely to arise, or from +what quarter they would probably +come. It is likely that the round of +petty magnates would be a small and +cozy party; that a man, the moment +he became initiated, would begin to +ascend the ladder of fortune. Jobbery +would flourish. Such things are not +peculiar to England. In Spain and +France they have been matter of observation. +Read the following extract +from Fabrice's account of the masters +he served:—"Le Seigneur Manuel +Ordonnez, mon maître, est un homme +d'une piété profonde. On dit que, +dès sa jeunesse, n'ayant en vue que +le <i>bien</i> des pauvres, il s'y est attaché +avec un zèle infatigable. Aussi ses +soins ne sont-ils pas demeurés sans +récompense: tout lui a prospéré. +Quelle benediction! En faisant les +affaires des pauvres, il s'est enriché."<span class="pagenum">[567]</span></p> + +<p>These abuses belong to the past, +but their existence should not be forgotten. +Pauperism would flourish. +For a system of management, proverbially +jealous of having its affairs +exposed to the gaze of the ignorant +vulgar, could not look with too curious +an eye into the circumstances of +those who applied for relief. The +beadle who flourished in those days +did not, as some affirm, derive his +authority from his cocked hat or his +gilded coat, but from the real power he +exercised.</p> + +<p>The overseers were elected with +their will, or against it. They often +served in a perpetual circle. The +duty of relieving the poor was too +often left to subordinate irresponsible +officers, whose duties were neither +expressed nor recognised. Their most +arduous task was to keep their superior +out of hot water. But what +kind of cases were relieved, and +under what circumstances, and what +kind of cases were refused, and under +what circumstances, is now mere +matter—matter of tradition, and will +become a mystery in the course of a +few years. Many poor were relieved; +but the bold, the idle, and the squalid +had the best chance. Honest, humble +poverty approached the overseer's +door with fear and trembling, +and the slightest rebuff or harsh +word, which an importune application +might occasion, would be sufficient to +make her leave the door unrelieved. +While the destitute confirmed pauper +would annoy, insult, and extract relief, +by the scandal of so much squalid +destitution lying and crouching about +the overseer's door.</p> + +<p>Now what change has taken place? +These parishes have been formed into +Unions. The churchwardens and +overseers of each parish form part of +a Board of management. This Board +of management is completed by the +addition of a class hitherto unknown +in parish matters, viz. the guardians +who are elected from the parishioners, +on grounds in which wealth, station, +and public importance are elements. +All repairs and alterations, and the +supply of provisions, are subject to +contract, and open to competition. +The parish plumber can no longer +make his fortune by the repair of the +parish pump. All disbursements +are recorded, and subjected to rigid +inspection, and all receipts are duly +accounted for.</p> + +<p>But the poor, how do they fare? +It is necessary to state, with reference +to this point, that the peculiar politico-economic +theories which have had +such frequent expression in the letters, +reports, and orders of the Poor-Law +Commissioners, have also had their +influence upon all persons connected +with the administration of relief. The +idea was, that a severe "house test" +would nearly destroy pauperism. +This dream, however, is passing away, +and a more humane set of opinions +are being engendered.</p> + +<p>The circumstances of a city Union +are widely different from those of the +rural Union; and, therefore, many +suggestions and strictures which have +been made against the mode of administering +relief in the latter are +inapplicable to the former. In the +rural Union, the chief difficulty is, +that a long distance must be travelled +before the application to the relieving-officer +can be made, and relief obtained. +And it becomes a matter of +importance to know to what extent the +local officers are able to perform their +duty. In the Union of small parishes, +these difficulties cannot exist, for the +whole diameter may be traversed in +half-an-hour. Then a relief office is +built. It is situated in a poor neighbourhood. +It is open a certain +number of hours in each day; an +officer is in attendance; and the bread +and meat, and other kind of food, are +in the building. These facts are +known to the poor, to the magistrates, +and to the police. The individual +power of the overseer in these little +parishes falls daily into disuetude. +The poor man can obtain relief most +readily at the office. He need not +wait for the leisure moment of an +overseer—deeply engaged in his private +affairs. The poor know this, +and do not apply to him. Occasionally +an application is made to +an overseer, and if he wish the case to +be relieved, his most convenient practical +course, is to submit the case to +the relieving-officer, by a note, and +then to put a question to the chairman +at the next board-day.</p> + +<p>It will be found that the evil to be +apprehended is, that relief in certain<span class="pagenum">[568]</span> +cases may be too easily obtained, and +a class of paupers improperly encouraged. +This, however, does not necessarily +proceed from the Union, but +from certain other wise notions respecting +mendicancy and vagrancy.</p> + +<p>A certain part of every workhouse +is separated from the rest of the +building, and appropriated to wayfarers. +Formerly, at the close of day, +a number of persons usually applied +to the officers for lodging for the night. +They were questioned as to their mode +of livelihood, their object in travelling, +the distance they had travelled, +and the route; and these answers +were tested by any means at hand. +If the result was satisfactory, they +were admitted, and allowed to pursue +their way at an early hour in the +morning, with an allowance of food. +If the result was doubtful, or they +were convicted of deceit, their application +was either deferred, refused, or +they were required to do work for the +relief given. Then questions of age, +sex, and degrees of health were +considered. Now, relief precedes +inquiry; and as these persons are +relieved but once, no inquiry is +made, and is in fact impossible. Now, +if a man appears before an officer apparently +destitute, he must be relieved +forthwith. If the man is not relieved, +the relieving-officer's situation and +character are in jeopardy. And so +the workhouse at night has become +open house to all comers. The wards +are filled with a strange group of +beings. The very scum, not of the +poor, but the vicious, are to be found +in these wards. The man who attends +these dens does his duty in the midst +of revilings and cursings, and at the +risk of his life. The poor man who +is really "tramping" in search of +work, and has not been able to get +the threepence for his night's lodging, +has not the benefit of this change. +Fevers and other contagious diseases +are likely to be generated and spread. +Some inquiry has been made into this +subject, but is by no means exhausted. +Further inquiry should be made, and +the connexion between vagrancy and +a strict workhouse system should not +be overlooked.</p> + +<p>The third class into which the parishes +and Unions of England have been +divided in this article, viz. that of +populous single parishes, differs from +that which comprises Unions of small +parishes in but few particulars. These +parishes are generally very populous, +and cover a small area. The duty of +administering relief has always been +heavy and onerous. The mode of +management has generally been determined +by local acts. A board of +management has always existed. In +some cases the overseers have been +elected and paid, because much experience, +and the devotion of much +time, is necessary for the due performance +of the duties. In other +instances, unpaid overseers hold the +responsibility, and are assisted by +subordinate officers. Many of these +parishes have defied the power of the +Commissioners, and retained their independent +authority. The Boards are +composed of men of standing and +business habits. They are generally +well acquainted with the poor, and +know much better how the relief fund +should be expended, than those who +see them only through the imperfect +media of reports and statistics. Many +novelties in management, enforced +on Unions by the Commissioners, +have been voluntarily adopted, and +many time-honoured fictions have been +exploded. In general, the proceedings +of the Commissioners have not been +to them satisfactory. The new project +of district asylums for the reception +of wayfarers may be given as an +example.</p> + +<p>These parishes, however, should +not escape the inquiry; and a useful +direction might be given to it, if the +subject of classifications in workhouses +were to be considered in connexion +with these populous places. Not that +special evils exist, but because the +subject of classification on moral +grounds might be more conveniently +considered, and more severely tested.</p> + +<p>We think that an improved classification +in workhouses, in which moral +consideration might be allowed to form +an element, might be attempted. +Very decided opinions have been +expressed to the contrary. It is generally +believed, and has been declared +by high authorities, that the poor fund +is a statutable fund, raised by compulsion, +for the relief of destitution; +and, therefore, the statutable purpose +of the fund has reference only to the<span class="pagenum">[569]</span> +fact of destitution, and not to moral +qualities. That this may be true in +cases of <i>sudden</i> necessity is not denied; +but with respect to those cases where +relief is likely to be permanent—as +old age—or in those cases in which +a period must elapse before the relief +is withdrawn, the moral character of +the individual must, and does, form a +leading circumstance in the treatment. +It is not said that the fact of giving +or refusing relief should depend on +moral considerations, but that the +mode or manner should be determined +by them. Take a case. A widow +with a family, in the first month of +her widowhood, applies for relief. +During the first three months of her +husband's illness, his savings were +adequate to his necessities. And during +the last three months, the weekly +voluntary gathering of his brother +workmen, or the allowance from his +club, has sufficed; and he died without +destitution actually coming to his +door. His remains have been conveyed +to the grave; and, with the +balance of money from the friendly +society, or trades' club, she has been +supported to the end of the first +month of her widowhood.</p> + +<p>The other case is also a widow. +But, as a wife, she was unthrifty and +drunken, and she has not changed, +for her sobriety was more than suspected +on the day of the funeral. +Here, there are no savings, no donations +from friends, no allowance from +a club. Her husband lived and died +a pauper, was buried as a pauper, and +his widow has determined to make +the most of her destitution, and extract +the utmost farthing from the +reluctant guardians. Each of these +cases must be relieved. As regards +the fact of destitution, the latter case +is the worst; but the frugal widow +suffers the greatest deprivation. To +the common observer, the state of the +bad is one of pure misery, and the +state of the other simply quiet, frugal, +lowliness of condition. The fact, +however, really is, that the good +widow suffers the most keenly; and, +excepting certain little matters of decency +and cleanliness, is really the +most destitute. The cry, "What +will become of my children?" implies +in itself a large amount of suffering. +The thought scarcely occurs +to the mind of the other. The treatment +of these cases must be, and is +different; and the difference is founded +on moral grounds. In one case, if +the relief were in money, it would be +instantly transmitted into gin. Relief +in kind must be resorted to, and +be given in small quantities, and frequently; +and even then she must be +watched, or the bread would never +reach the mouths of her children. In +the other case, a liberal allowance in +money, given in the first month of +her widowhood, would be expended +carefully, and if given promptly, before +her "little home" has been +broken up, she may be able in a few +months to insure a livelihood, and +become independent of the parish. +These cases represent extremes. There +is every variety of shade between +them; and sometimes the case presents +so mingled a yarn of laziness, +and bodily weakness, ignorance, +cunning, and imprudence, that the +guardians scarcely know the proper +treatment. Boards of guardians have +frequently to deal with such cases, +and do, without expressing it in +words, dispose of them on moral +grounds, although those in high places +may be too much occupied with statistics +and generalities to be aware of +the fact.</p> + +<p>The question, how far moral considerations +can be allowed in the +classification of workhouses, is one of +difficulty, and all opinions and suggestions +require to be cautiously and +guardedly stated. This cannot be +done now. It may, however, be +thought that, in suggesting a moral +classification, we are getting rid of +some of our objections to the "strict +workhouse system." We may therefore +say, that while we think a sound +system of out-door relief is the preferable +mode of dealing with poverty +and pauperism, yet we believe the +workhouse to be a necessary adjunct. +Under the most favourable circumstances, +the Union-house or workhouse +is a moral pest-house; but, +in the large manufacturing town +or populous metropolitan parish, it +is a necessary evil. In cities, where +wretchedness is seen in its most +squalid condition, and where crime +assumes its most varied and darkest +hues, there must always be a mul<span class="pagenum">[570]</span>titude +of human beings whose necessities +the public charities cannot +reach. There are diseases which +hospitals will not admit, because they +can end only in speedy dissolution, +or because they are incurable and +lingering. There are cases, compounded +of deceit and misery, which +private charity passes by. There +are aged men and women who have +either outlived their children or their +affection, or who saw them depart +many years since to foreign lands as +emigrants, soldiers, sailors, or convicts. +And there are young children +whose parents have been cut off by +fever. There are the children of sin +and shame. There is the young woman, +overtaken in her downward +career by horrible diseases, and who +is now pitilessly turned from the door +of her who taught her to sin for money. +There is the vagrant, the debauched, +and the criminal, who are approaching +the end of their career. There are +those who, by unexpected circumstances, +have been deprived of a shelter. +And there are those who will +not work, who have absconded, and +whose wives and children are without +home or food. For all these, and +many more, an asylum must exist, +and this asylum is the workhouse. +Is it quite clear that this collection +of human beings, representing so many +varieties of virtue and vice, cannot be +divided and distributed over the +building on principles of classification, +in which other elements than those +of age, sex, and healthiness might be +admitted? The subject is worthy of +full investigation.</p> + +<p>The subject of out-door relief might +also be considered by the committee, +not so much with a view to ascertain +the actual mode in which it is dispensed, +as to obtain suggestions from +subordinate officers of improvement +in its administration. The stoker of +steam-engine can point out defects, +and suggest simple remedies, which +might escape the utmost penetration +and official research of the principal +engineer. This subject may be most +conveniently considered under this +head, because, in populous parishes, +out-door relief is a prominent feature. +In many cases, an apparently trivial +change, which might be treated very +contemptuously as a mere affair of +detail, would lead to important reforms. +In the report upon the Andover +case, certain stringent remarks +appear upon the neglect of the relieving-officer +in not filling up the columns +in his report-book headed "wages." +Now, to those engaged in the administration +of relief, the omission is not +considered a great fault, it being in +fact an omission of a mere form. +Refer to the application and report-book, +and the pauper description-book, +prepared by the Commissioners, +and the use of which <i>is enforced in all +Unions</i>. They consist in a series of +narrow columns. Each column is +headed by an interrogatory, and appears +to require a very brief answer. +Refer to the column headed "weekly +earning," &c. In this column, it is +the duty of the relieving-officer to +enter the amount of wages earned by +the pauper. Now, in most populous +parishes, the mode of living of those +who receive relief is so irregular and +precarious, as to preclude the possibility +of ascertaining the amount of +their earnings. The number of carpenters, +bricklayers, smiths, and masons +who receive relief is almost incredibly +few. There are many who style +themselves carpenters, &c. who have +no knowledge of the trade. The bulk +of the relieved poor consists of such +a group as this—jobbing-smiths and +carpenters, who are generally old or unskilful; +aged men and women, and infirm +persons, who do certain kinds of +rough needlework, take care of children +and sick people. There are cases where +the head of the family is sickly, and +whose employ is occasional. There +are widows who do needlework by +the piece—not for tradesmen, but for +those who have received the work for +those who received it from the tradesmen. +There are those who wash and +charr by the half or quarter of a day. +There are men who make money-boxes, +cigar-cases, children's toys, +list-shoes, and cloth caps, and send +their wives and children to sell them +in the streets. If the weather is fine, +they go singly; if the night be rainy, +they form a miserable group at the +corner of great thoroughfares. There +are men who frequent quays, docks, +markets, and coach-offices. There are +those who sell in the streets, fruit, +vegetables, and fish. There are those<span class="pagenum">[571]</span> +who sweep crossings, and pick up +bones, rags, and excrement; and there +are those who say they do nothing; +and the most searching inquiry is at +fault, and yet they appear to thrive. +In this multitude, there are thousands +who do not apply for parochial relief +once in ten years. Now, try to fix +the wages of those who really compose +the mass of pauperism in towns. +Who can conscientiously do it? The +most correct statement must be erroneous. +By frequent visitation, the +officer acquires an intimate knowledge +of their condition. When the Board +are disposing of the out-relief cases, +it is by this knowledge the Board are +guided. The column of brief answers, +read by the clerk, are so many algebraic +symbols to the majority, and +convey no particular meaning; and +this explains the conduct of the Andover +Guardians, which is otherwise +inexplicable. They must have had +some data before them in dealing +with cases, and the earnings of the +paupers could not possibly be omitted. +There is no doubt that the report-book +was tacitly considered as a form +necessary to be filled up, because there +were orders to that effect, but as having +no practical utility. And yet, how +easily might the evil have been avoided! +The individual who devised and +drew up the form should have thought +less of its statistical completeness, and +more of its practical use. He should +have seated himself in the Boardroom, +while the business of the week +was being transacted, a silent but +observant spectator; and then, with +his mind imbued with the fact, he +might have drawn up a form of report-book +which would have been useful, +statistically and practically. The +principle of the book would have +been that of the merchant's ledger, +in which, upon reference to a particular +folio, an account of business +transactions with a person during +many years may be seen at a glance. +Its construction would be obvious, +and its chief feature might be easily +shown. It would be a book of the +largest size. Each case would have +its own double page. On the left +side, columns, as at present, might +appear; and on the right would appear +a most circumstantial account +of the pauper's circumstances. If +this page had been commenced in +1836, and Mary Miles had received +relief, either continuously or from +time to time, until 1846, the page +would probably be filled; and its +contents being read by the clerk upon +each appearance of the pauper before +the Board, a minute account of the +character and circumstances of the +case would be disclosed, together with +the several amounts of relief ordered +or refused, and the several opinions +of the Board, as recorded at different +times, which would enable the Board +to dispense with the verbal statements +of the relieving-officer. At present, a +case, however often relieved, is essentially +a new one. The Board of +Guardians is a changing body; the +individuals composing it may not +attend regularly; and thus the relieving-officer +becomes the only person +conversant with the facts and merits +of the case, and he is enabled, or +compelled, to exercise a degree of +authority or influence which is highly +inexpedient.</p> + +<p>How easily may these and other +evils be remedied! But how, and by +whom? This brings us back to our +starting-point. An inquiry must be +instituted into the actual working of +the existing machinery. It must be +conducted in a sober spirit, and without +reference to theories; not in a +reckless spirit of destruction, but of +improvement. The question is, What +remedial measures or improvement +can be adopted in the administration +of the English Poor-Laws? And if +this paper has shown any imperfections, +suggested any improvement, or +should give the inquiry a useful direction, +its object would be gained.<span class="pagenum">[572]</span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="PRUSSIAN_MILITARY_MEMOIRS" id="PRUSSIAN_MILITARY_MEMOIRS"></a>PRUSSIAN MILITARY MEMOIRS.</h2> + + +<blockquote><p><i>Wanderungen eines alten Soldaten</i>, von <span class="smcap">Wilhelm Baron Von Rahden</span>, +ehemaligem Hauptmann in Königl. Preuss. und Konigl. Niederländ. Diensten, +designirtem Capitain im Kaiserl. Russ. Generalstabe, zuletzt Brigade-Général im +Genie-Corps der Spanisch-Carlistischen Armee von Aragon und Valencia. Erster +Theil. Befreiungs Kreig von 1813, 1814, and 1815. Berlin: 1846.</p></blockquote> + +<p>Military memoirs are a popular +class of literature. If few non-military +men make them their chief +study, still fewer do not upon occasion +willingly take them up and dip with +pleasure into their animated pages. +The meekest and most pacific, those +in whose composition no spark of the +belligerent and pugnacious is discernible, +yet dwell with interest upon +the strivings, dangers, and exploits +of more martial spirits. Even the +softer sex, whilst gracefully shuddering +at the bloodshed and horrors of +war, will ofttimes seriously incline to +read of the disastrous chances, moving +accidents, and hair-breadth 'scapes +that checker a soldier's career. The +poetical and the picturesque of military +life appeal to the imagination, +and act as counterpoise to the massacres +and sufferings that painfully +shock the feelings. Amidst the wave +and rustle of silken banners, the glitter +and clash of steel, the clang of +the brazen trumpet, and hurra of the +flushed victor, the blood that buys +the triumph and soaks the turf vanishes +or is overlooked; the moans +of those who die upon the field, +linger in hospital, or pine in stern +captivity, are faintly heard, if not +wholly drowned. The pomp and +pageantry of war, the high aspirations +and heroic deeds of warriors, too +often make us forget the countless +miseries the strife entails—the peaceful +peasant's ravaged homestead, the +orphan's tears, the widow's desolation.</p> + +<p>Although the public mind dwells +upon military matters less in England +than in France and Germany, neither +of these countries has, during the +thirty years' peace, been more prolific +than our own in books of a military +character. We speak not of +strategical works, but of the pleasant +and sometimes valuable narratives of +individual adventure that have flowed +in abundance from the pens of soldiers +of every class and grade. Not +a branch of the service, from the amphibious +corps of the marines to the +aristocratic cohorts of the guards, but +has paid tribute, in many cases a most +liberal one, to the fund of military +literature. The sergeant and the +general, the lieutenant and the lieutenant-colonel, +the showy hussar and +the ponderous dragoon, the active +rifleman and the stately grenadier—men +of all ranks and arms—have, upon +hanging up the sabre, taken up the +pen, and laboured more or less successfully +to add their mite to the +stores of history and stock of entertainment. +The change from the excitement +and bustle of active service +to the monotony and inertion of peacetime, +is indeed great, and renders +occupation essential to stave off +ennui. In ruder days than the present, +the dice-box and pottle-pot +were almost sole resources. In +the rare intervals of repose afforded +by a more stirring and warlike age, +the soldier knew no other remedies, +against the <i>tædium vitæ</i> that assailed +him. When "wars were all over, and +swords were all idle," "the veteran +grew crusty as he yawned in the +hall," and he drank. Now it is otherwise. +Refinement has driven out +debauchery, and the unoccupied <i>militaire</i>, +superior in breeding and education +to his brother in arms of a +former century, often fills up his leisure +by telling of the battles, sieges, and +fortunes he has passed; reciting them, +not, like Othello, verbally and to win +a lady's favour, but in more permanent +black and white, for the instruction +and amusement of his fellows.</p> + +<p>Whilst paying a well-merited +tribute to the talents of our English +military authors, we willingly acknowledge +the claims of men, who, +<span class="pagenum">[573]</span>although born in another clime, and +speaking a different tongue, are yet +allied to us by blood, have fought +under the same standard, and bled in +the same cause. One of these, a +German officer who shared the reverses +and triumphs of the three +eventful years, 1813 to 1815, beginning +at Lutzen and ending with Waterloo, +has recently published a volume +of memoirs. It contains much +of interest, and well deserves a notice +in our pages.</p> + +<p>William Baron von Rahden is a +native of Silesia. His father, an +officer in the Prussian service, was +separated from his wife, after ten +years' wedlock, by one of those divorces +so easily procurable in Germany, +and returned to Courland, his +native country, leaving his children +to their mother's care. At the age +of six years, William, the second son, +was adopted by a Silesian nobleman, +a soldier by profession, who had +served under Frederick the Great, +and who, although he had long left +the service, still retained in full force +his military feelings and characteristics. +The apartments of his country +house were hung with portraits of +his warlike ancestors; the officers of +the neighbouring garrison were his +constant guests. Thus it is not surprising +that young Rahden's first +associations and aspirations were all +military, and that he eagerly looked +forward to the day when he should +don the uniform and signalise himself +amongst his country's defenders. His +wishes were early gratified. When +only ten years old, he was sent to +the military school at Kalisch.</p> + +<p>The novitiate of a Prussian officer +at the commencement of the present +century was a severe ordeal, the road +to rank any thing but a flowery path, +and it was often with extreme unwillingness +that the noble families of +South Prussia yielded their sons to +the tender mercies of the Kalisch college. +The boys had frequently to be +hunted out in the forests, where, +through terror of the drill or in obedience +to their parents, they had +sought refuge, and when caught they +were conducted in troops to their destination. +On reaching the Prosna, a +little river near Kalisch, they were +stripped naked, their hair was cut +close, and they were then driven into +the water, whence, after a thorough +washing, they emerged upon the opposite +bank, there to be metamorphosed +into Prussian warriors. The same +operation, with the exception of the +bath in the Prosna, was undergone +by the willing recruits. Baron von +Rahden gives a humorous account +of the equipment of these infant soldiers, +and of his own appearance in +particular.</p> + +<p>"The little lad of ten years old, +broader than he was long, with his +closely cropped head, upon the hinder +part of which a bunch of hair was +left, whereto to fasten a tail eight or +ten inches long, and with a stiff stock +over which his red cheeks puffed out +like cushions, was altogether a most +comical figure. The old uniform coats +originally blue, but now all faded and +threadbare, with facings of a brick-dust +colour and great leaden buttons, +never fitted the young bodies to which +they were allotted; they were always +either too long and broad, or too narrow +and short. The same was the +case with the other portions of the +uniform, which were handed down +from one generation of cadets to +another, without reference to any +thing but the number affixed to them. +I got No. 24; I was heir to some +lanky long-legged urchin, into whose +narrow garments I had to squeeze my +unwieldy figure. A yellow waistcoat +of immoderate length, short white +breeches, fastened a great deal too +tight below the knee, grey woollen +stockings and half-boots, composed the +costume, which was completed by a +little three-cornered hat, pressed low +down over the eyes, with the view of +imparting somewhat of the stern aspect +of a veteran corporal to the red +and white face of the juvenile wearer."</p> + +<p>Such was the clothing of Prussia's +future defenders. Their fare was +of corresponding quality; abundant, +but coarse in the extreme. The harsh +and unswerving enactments of the +great Frederic had as yet been but +little amended. Moreover, by the +system of military economy existing +in 1804, both food and raiment were +lawfully made a source of profit to +the captain of this company of cadets. +The director of the establishment +Major Von Berg, was an excellent +man, zealous for the improvement of +his pupils, and striving his utmost to<span class="pagenum">[574]</span> +instil into them a military spirit. Under +his superintendence strict discipline +was maintained, and instruction +advanced apace.</p> + +<p>The year 1806 brought the French +into Prussia. Marshal Ney visited +Kalisch, and placed a score of cadets +in the newly-formed Polish regiments. +In due time the others, as they were +given to understand, were to be similarly +disposed of. Young Rahden +wrote to his adopted father, begging +to be removed from the college, lest +he should be made to serve with the +enemies of his country. But the old +officer looked further forward than +the impatient boy; he knew that it +was no time for the youth of Prussia +to abandon the military career; +that the day would come when their +country would claim their services. +His reply was prompt, brief, and decided. +"I will not take you home," +he wrote; "for then you will learn +nothing. Be a Polish or a French +cadet, I care not; only become an +honourable soldier, and all that is in +my power will I do for you. But do +not come to me like our young officers +from Jena; for if you do, you will get +neither bread nor water, but a full +measure of disgrace. Your faithful +father, T." This letter made a strong +impression upon Von Rahden, and he +nerved himself to endure what he now +viewed as inevitable. For another +year he remained at Kalisch, until, in +December 1807, news came of the +approach of Prince Ferdinand of Pless, +who had thrown himself, with a few +thousand men, between the French +army, then on its march to Poland, +and the Bavarians and Wurtembergers +under Jerome Buonaparte. This +intelligence caused universal alarm in +the college of Kalisch, now become +French.</p> + +<p>"On the broad road in front of +our barracks, large bodies of Polish +boors, in coarse linen frocks, were +drilled for the service of Napoleon by +officers in Prussian uniforms; certainly +a singular mixture. At the cry—'The +Prussians are coming!' they all +ran away, the officers the very first, +and this might have given me an +inkling of the reasons and motives of +my father's severe letter. Under +cover of the general confusion, a +Prussian artilleryman muffled me and +six other Silesian cadets in the linen +frocks of the recruits, and hurried us +off through field and forest, over bog +and sand, to the Prince of Pless, +whom we fell in with after thirty-six +hours' wanderings. We were all weary +to death. Nevertheless, five of my +companions were immediately placed +amongst the troops, who continued +their route without delay; only myself +and a certain Von M——, still +younger than me, were left behind, +as wholly unable to proceed. Of what +passed during the next six weeks, I +have not the slightest recollection. I +afterwards learned that I had been +seized with a violent nervous fever, +the result of fatigue and excitement, +and that I was discovered by a Bavarian +officer in a Jew tavern near +Medzibor, close to the frontier. The +uniform beneath my smock-frock, and +a small pocket-book, told my name +and profession, and under a flag of +truce I was sent into Breslaw, then +besieged, to my mother, whom I had +not seen for seven years."</p> + +<p>After two years passed in idleness, +young Von Rahden was attached as +bombardier to the artillery at Glatz, +and found himself under the command +of a certain Lieutenant Holsche, an +officer of impetuous bravery, but +somewhat rough and hasty, and apt +to show slight respect to his superiors. +At that time, 1809, the Duke of +Brunswick was recruiting at Nachod +in Bohemia, within two German +miles of Glatz, his famous black corps, +the death's-head and <i>memento mori</i> +men—the Corps of Revenge, as it was +popularly called in Germany. Numbers +of Prussians, officers of all arms, +left their homes in Silesia, where they +vegetated on a scanty half-pay, to +swell his battalions; and even from +the garrison of Glatz officers and +soldiers daily deserted to him, eager +to exchange inaction for activity. +Subsequently, many of these were +tried and severely punished for their +infringement of discipline, and over-eagerness +in the cause of oppressed +Germany, but the year 1813 again +found them foremost in the ranks of +their country's defenders.</p> + +<p>On a certain morning, subsequent +to Von Rahden's arrival at Glatz, the +young artillery cadets were assembled +on the parade-ground outside the gates +of the fortress, and went through +their exercise with four light guns,<span class="pagenum">[575]</span> +drawn, as was then the custom, by +recruits instead of horses. Holsche, +who was also known as the "Straw-bonnet" +commandant, from his desperate +defence of a detached work of +the fort of Silberberg, which bore +that name, was present. Although +usually free and jocose with his subordinates, +on that day he was grave +and preoccupied, and twisted his black +mustache with a thoughtful air. It +was an oppressive and stormy morning, +and distant thunder mingled +with the sound of cannon, which the +wind brought over from Bohemia.</p> + +<p>"By a succession of marches and +flank movements, Holsche took us +through the river Neisse, which flowed +at the extremity of the parade-ground, +and was then almost dry. +We proceeded across the country, and +finally halted in a shady meadow. +Here the word of command brought +us round the lieutenant, who addressed +us in a suppressed voice:—'Children,' +said he, pointing towards +Bohemia, 'yonder will I lead you; +there you will be received with open +arms. There, horses, not men, draw +the guns, and many of you will be +made sergeants and even officers. +Will you follow me?' A loud and +unanimous hurra was the reply. For +a quarter of an hour on we went, +over hedge and ditch, at a rapid pace. +A heavy rain soaked the earth and +rendered it slippery, the wheels of the +gun-carriages cut deep into the ground, +until we panted and nearly fell from +our exertions to get them along. Suddenly +the word was given to halt. +'Boys,' cried the lieutenant, 'many +of you are heartily sick of this work; +that I plainly see. Listen, therefore! +I will not have it said that I compelled +or over-persuaded any one. +He who chooses may return, not to +the town, but home to his mother. +You children, in particular,' he added, +stepping up to the first gun, to which +five young lads, of whom I was the +least, were attached as bombardiers, +'you children <i>must</i> remain behind.' +Against this decision we all protested. +We would not go back, we screamed +at the top of our voices. Holsche +seemed to reflect. After a short pause, +the tallest and stoutest fellow in the +whole battery came to the front, and +in a voice broken by sobs, begged the +lieutenant to let him go home to his +mother. 'Oho!' shouted Holsche, +'have I caught you, you buttermilk +hero? Boys!' he continued, addressing +himself to all of us, 'how could +you believe that my first proposal +was a serious one? I only wished to +ascertain how many cowards there +were amongst you. Thank God, there +is but one! Help me to laugh at the +fellow!' A triple shout of laughter +followed the command; then 'Right +about' was the word, and in an +hour's time, weary and wet through, +we were again in our barracks."</p> + +<p>The pluck and hardihood displayed +on this occasion by the boy-bombardier +won the favour of Holsche, +who took him into the society of the +officers, gave him private lessons in +mathematics, and did all he could to +bring him forward in his profession. +But, soon afterwards, Rahden's destination +was altered, and, instead of +continuing in the artillery, he was +appointed to the second regiment of +Silesian infantry, now the eleventh of +the Prussian line. In this regiment +he made his first campaigns, and +served for nearly twenty years. In +the course of the war he frequently +fell in with his friend Holsche, and +we shall again hear of that eccentric +but gallant officer.</p> + +<p>The year 1813 found Von Rahden, +then nineteen years of age, holding a +commission as second lieutenant in +the regiment above named, and indulging +in brilliant day-dreams, in +which a general's epaulets, laurel +crowns, and crosses of honour, made +a conspicuous figure. But a very +small share of these illusions was destined +to realisation. For the time, +however, and until experience dissipated +them, they served to stimulate +the young soldier to exertion, and to +support him under hardship and suffering. +Such stimulus, however, was +scarcely needed. The hour was come +for Germany to start from her long +slumber of depression, and to send +forth her sons, even to the very last, +to victory or death. The disasters of +the French in Russia served as signal +for her uprising.</p> + +<p>"The great events which the fiery +sign in the heavens (the comet of +1811) was supposed to forerun, came +to pass in the last months of the following +year. The French bulletin of +the 5th December 1812, announced<span class="pagenum">[576]</span> +the terrible fate of the Grande Armée, +and removed the previously existing +doubt, whether it were possible to +humble the invincible Emperor and +his presumptuous legions. It was a +sad fate for veteran soldiers, grown +grey in the harness, to be frozen to +death, or, numbed and unable to use +their weapons, to be defencelessly +murdered. Such was the lot of the +French, and although they were then +our bitterest foes, to-day we may well +wish that they had met a death more +suitable to brave men. At Malo-Jaroslawetz, +at Krasnoi, and by the +Beresina, whole battalions of those +frozen heroes were shot down, unable +to resist. Do the Russians still commemorate +such triumphs? Hardly, +one would fain believe. No man of +honour, in our sense of the word, +would now command such massacres; +for only when our foes are in full possession +of their physical and moral +strength, is victory glorious. But at +that time I lacked the five-and-thirty +years' experience that has enabled me +to arrive at these conclusions; I was +almost a child, and heartily did I rejoice +that the whole of the Grande +Armée was captured, slain, or frozen. +The joy I felt was universal, if that +may serve my excuse.</p> + +<p>"Like some wasted and ghastly +spectre, hung around with rags, its +few rescued eagles shrouded in crape, +the remains of the great French army +recrossed the German frontier. Sympathy +they could scarce expect in Germany; +pity they found, and friendly +arms and fostering care received the +unfortunates. So great a mishap +might well obliterate hostile feelings; +and truly, it is revolting to read, in +the publications of the time, that 'at +N—— or B—— the patriotic inhabitants +drove the French from their doors, +refusing them bread and all refreshment.' +Then, however, I rejoiced at +such barbarity, which appeared to me +quite natural and right. One thing +particularly astonished me; it was, +that amongst the thirty thousand +fugitives, there were enough marshals, +generals, and staff-officers to supply +the whole army before its reverses. +Either they had better horses to +escape upon, or better cloaks and +furs to wrap themselves in; thus not +very conscientiously fulfilling the duty +of every officer, which is to share, in +all respects, the dangers and fatigues +of his subordinates."<a name="FNanchor_48_48" id="FNanchor_48_48"></a><a href="#Footnote_48_48" class="fnanchor">[48]</a></p> + +<p>The hopes and desires of every +Prussian were now concentrated on +one single object—the freedom of the +Fatherland. Breslaw again became +the focus of the whole kingdom. +From all sides thousands of volunteers +poured in, and the flower of +Prussia's youth joyfully exchanged +the comforts and superfluities of home +for the perils and privations of a campaigner's +life. Universities and schools +were deserted; the last remaining son +buckled on hunting-knife and shouldered +rifle and went forth to the +strife, whilst the tender mother and +anxious father no longer sought to +restrain the ardour of the Benjamin +of their home and hearts. All were +ready to sacrifice their best and dearest +for their country's liberation. Women +became heroines; men stripped +themselves of their earthly wealth for +the furtherance of the one great end. +In Breslaw the enthusiasm was at the +hottest. In an idle hour, Von Rahden +had sauntered to the college, the Aula +Leopoldina, and stood at an open +window listening to a lecture on anthropology, +delivered by a young, but +already celebrated professor. Little +enough of the learned discourse was +intelligible to the juvenile lieutenant, +but still he listened, when suddenly +the stillness in the school was broken +by the clang of wind instruments.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum">[577]</span></p> +<p>The people shouted joyful hurras, +casements were thrown open, and +thronged with women waving their +handkerchiefs. Professor and scholars +hurried to the windows and +into the street. What had happened? +It was soon known. A score +of couriers, blowing furious blasts +upon their small post-horns, dashed +through the town-gates, and the next +instant a shout of "War! War!" +burst from ten thousand throats. The +couriers brought intelligence of the alliance +just contracted at Kalisch between +the Emperor Alexander and +the King of Prussia.</p> + +<p>When the clamour and rejoicing +amongst the students had a little +subsided, their teacher again addressed +them. All were silent. Twisting +a small silver pencil-case between his +thin fingers, he began as follows: +"My young friends! It would be +difficult to resume the thread of a +lecture thus abruptly broken by the +sound of the war-trumpet. At this +moment our country demands of +us other things than a quiet abode +in the halls of study. I propose to +you, therefore, that we all, without +exception, at once join the +ranks of our country's defenders, +and henceforward wield the sword +instead of the pen." This patriotic +proposal was received with joyous +applause. Professor Steffens and +hundreds of his hearers left the lecture-room, +exchanged the university +gown for the uniform, and from that +day were the pith and marrow of the +black band of Lutzow. It is matter +of history how Henry Steffens, at the +head of his wild Jägers, greatly distinguished +himself in the field, won +the Iron Cross, and by his animated +eloquence and noble example, drew +thousands of brave defenders around +the standard of German independence. +Thirty-two years later, at +Berlin, Baron von Rahden followed +his mortal remains to their last resting-place.</p> + +<p>Other examples of devotion, less +known but not less touching, are cited +in the volume before us. When the +King of Prussia's celebrated proclamation +"<span class="smcap">To my People</span>," had raised +German enthusiasm to its highest +pitch, and the noble-hearted women +of Silesia sent their jewels to the public +treasury, replacing them by iron +ornaments, a young girl at Breslaw, +who had nothing of value to contribute, +cut off the luxuriant golden +tresses that adorned her graceful head, +and sold them, that she might add her +mite to the patriotic fund. The purchaser +gave a high price, but yet +made an enormous profit; for no sooner +was the story known, than hundreds +of those then arming for the fight flew +to obtain a golden hair-ring, to wear +as a talisman in the battle-field. This +heroine, Baron von Rahden believes, +was a Fraulein von Scheliha, a name +noted in the annals of Prussian patriotism. +The three sons of a Herr +von Scheliha, officers in various regiments, +fell in the campaign of 1813. +Their mother and only sister died of +broken hearts, and the father, bowed +down under his grief, sold his estate +and country-house, which now only +served to remind him of his losses. +The King of Prussia sent him the +Iron Cross; and that and the sympathy +of all who knew his sad history, were +the only remaining consolations of +the bereaved old man. A Silesian +count, named Reichenbach, wrote to +the King in the following terms: "If +it please your majesty to allow me, I +will send five thousand measures of +corn and my draught oxen to the +military stores for rations, and my +best horses to the —— regiment of +cavalry; I will equip all the men on +my estates capable of bearing arms, +and they shall join the —— regiment +of infantry, and I will pay ten thousand +thalers into the military chest. +For my three sons I crave admission +into the army as volunteers. And, +finally, I humbly implore of your majesty +that I myself; who, although +advanced in years, am strong and +willing, may be permitted to march +by their side, to teach then to fight +and, if needs be, to die. Meanwhile, +my wife and daughters shall remain at +home to prepare lint, sew bandages, +and nurse the sick and wounded."</p> + +<p>A Major Reichenbach commanded +Von Rahden's battalion, and under +his guidance the young lieutenant +first smelled powder. It was at +Lutzen, a bloody fight, and no bad +initiation for an unfledged soldier. +Although modest and reserved when +speaking of his own exploits, it is not +difficult to discern that on this, as on +many subsequent occasions, the baron<span class="pagenum">[578]</span> +bore himself right gallantly. At eleven +o'clock the army of the Allies stood +in order of battle, Von Rahden's battalion, +which formed part of General +Kleist's division, in the centre, and +well to the front. At a distance of +six or eight hundred paces, the hostile +masses moved to and fro, alternately +enveloped in clouds of dust, and disappearing +behind trees and houses. +The fight began with artillery. "The +first round-shot whizzed close over +the heads of the battalion, and buried +itself in the ground a few hundred +paces in our rear. A second immediately +followed, carrying away a few +bayonets and the drum-major's cane. +Each time the whole battalion, as if +by word of command, bobbed their +heads, and the men pressed closer together. +In front of us sat our commandant, +Count Reichenbach, reining +in his splendid English roan, which +snorted and curveted with impatience. +The count had not bowed his head; +he had made the Rhine campaigns, +and a cannon-ball was nothing new +to him. He turned to the battalion, +slapping his leg with his right hand, +whilst a comical twitching of his nose +and at the corner of his mouth betrayed +his discontent. 'Men!' said +he, 'balls that whistle do not hit, so +it is useless to fear them. Henceforward, +let no one dare to stoop.' +Hardly had the words left his lips +when a third shot passed close over +his head and dashed into the battalion. +This time very few made the +respectful salutation which had occasioned +the count's reproof, but astonishment +and horror were visible on +every countenance when we saw our +dear comrades struck down by our +side.</p> + +<p>"After an hour's cannonade the infantry +advanced. Skirmishers were +thrown out, and the musketry came +into play; and truly, often as I have +been in action, such firing as at +Lutzen I never since heard. From +about mid-day till nine at night, one +uninterrupted roll; not even for a +moment were single shots to be distinguished. +My old comrades will +bear witness to the truth of this.</p> + +<p>"Our light company hastened forward +as skirmishers, Lieutenant +Merkatz led them on, and, with +waving sword and a joyful shout, +rushed towards the foe, full a hundred +paces in front of his men. Soon +the wounded straggled, and were carried +past us by dozens—amongst +others Anselme, captain of the company. +A rifle-ball had shattered his +right shoulder. When I saw him, +twenty-five years later, as a general, +he still carried his arm in a sling, +fragments of bone frequently came +away, and his sufferings were very +great. Such wounds as his no gold, +or title, or decorations can repay; +in the consciousness of having done +one's duty the only compensation is +to be found."</p> + +<p>Von Rahden was soon called upon +to replace a wounded officer, and he +hurried to the front. Before he +reached the skirmishers, he met the +dead body of the young prince of +Hesse-Homburg, who served as staff-officer +in the first regiment of Silesian +infantry. He had entered action as +he would have gone to parade, in full +dress, with a star upon his breast, and +wearing all the insignia of his rank. +General Ziethen remonstrated with +him on the imprudence of thus rendering +himself a conspicuous mark, +but he was deaf to the warning, and +refused to take off his star. "This," +said he, "is the soldier's most glorious +parade-ground." The next moment +a ball struck him, and he fell +mortally wounded from his horse.</p> + +<p>We shall not follow Baron Von +Rahden through the bloody day of +Lutzen, in the course of which he received +a wound, not sufficiently severe, +however, to compel him to leave the +field. Neither of that action, nor of +any subsequent one, does he give a +general account, but professes merely +to relate what he himself saw. As a +subaltern officer, his sphere of observation +was, of course, very limited. +He recites his own adventures and +the proceedings of his battalion, or, +at most, of the division to which it +was attached, and is careful to +name those officers who particularly +distinguished themselves. He +urges the surviving veterans of those +eventful campaigns to follow his example, +and publish their reminiscences, +as a means of rescuing from unmerited +oblivion the names of many who +especially signalised themselves whilst +defending the holy cause of German +independence. It was a period prolific +in heroes; and if the manœuvres<span class="pagenum">[579]</span> +and discipline of the Prussian army +had been more in proportion with the +gallant spirit that animated the majority +of its members, doubtless the +struggle would have been briefer. As +it was, the campaign of 1813 opened +with a reverse which it was vainly +endeavoured to cloak by mendacious +bulletins. "The nobly fought and +gloriously won action of Gross-Gröschen," +said the official accounts of the +battle of Lutzen. But stubborn facts +soon refuted the well-intended but injudicious +falsehoods, propounded to +maintain the moral courage of the +nation. The French entered Dresden, +driving out the rear-guard of the +retreating Allies, who, on the evening +of the 12th of May, established their +camp, or rather their bivouac, for +tents they had none, near Bautzen, +and fortified their position by intrenchments +and redoubts. On the +20th the fight began; 28,000 Prussians +and 70,000 Russians, so says the +baron, against 150,000 French. A +large disproportion; and, moreover, +the troops of the Allies were not made +the most of by their commanders. +General Kleist's corps, consisting of +but 5000 men, was left from ten in the +morning till late in the afternoon to +defend itself unassisted against over-powering +numbers of the French. +And most gallant their defence was. +They fought before the eyes of both +armies, on the heights of Burk, which +served as a stage for the exhibition of +their courage, and of the calm skill of +their commander. Von Rahden records +the fact, that the Emperor +Alexander sent several times to Kleist +to express his praise and admiration; +and that his last message was, that +he could kiss Kleist's feet (a thorough +Russian testimony of respect) for his +splendid behaviour with the advanced +guard. At length large bodies of the +French having moved up to support +the assailants, a reinforcement was +sent to Kleist to cover his retreat. It +consisted of Von Rahden's battalion, +which, on the retrograde movement +being commenced, was for some time +completely isolated, and bore the +whole brunt of the fight. Orders +were given to clear a corn-field which +afforded shelter to the enemy. Here +is a spirited description of the fight +that ensued.</p> + +<p>"I led the skirmishes of the first +and second company. We entered the +field, and instantly found ourselves +within fifteen or twenty paces of the +French marines, whom Napoleon had +attached to the army, and whom we +recognised by the red lace on their +shakos. We were so near each +other, that when our opponents fired +I felt the heat of the burnt powder. +The battalion was about fifty paces +behind us, but on rather higher ground. +It deployed into line, and fired a volley +over our heads, which some of the +bullets missed by a trifle. A very +unpleasant sensation and critical moment; +and many of my men showed +an eagerness to get out of this double +fire, or at least to shelter themselves +from it as much as possible. The +bugler tried to run; I caught him +by the coat skirt, and ordered him +to sound the assembly, meaning to +retire with my skirmishers to the right +flank of the battalion. He obeyed, +clapped his bugle to his lips, and began +a quavering call. Suddenly the sounds +ceased, and the bugler fell backwards, +spitting and sputtering with his mouth, +stamping and striking out with his +feet and hands; then, jumping up, +he ran off like a madman. A bullet +had entered the sound-hole of his +bugle. At the same moment I felt a +hard rap on the right hip, and was +knocked down. It was a canister-shot; +the blood poured out in streams, +and, before I could join the battalion, +my boot was full of it. My comrades +were hard at work; after a few volleys, +they kept up an incessant file-fire. +They were drawn up in line, only two +deep, the third rank having been taken +for skirmishers. Luckily the enemy +had no cavalry at hand, or it would +have been all up with us, for we should +never have been able to form a square. +It was all that the officers and serrafiles +could do to keep the men in their +places. The French infantry surrounded +us on three sides, but they +kept behind the hedges, and amongst +the high corn, and showed no disposition +to come to close quarters, when +the bayonet and but-end would have +told their tale. On the other hand, +from the adjacent heights the artillery +mowed us down with their canister. +The fight lasted about an hour; half +a one more, and to a certainty we +should all have been annihilated or +prisoners, for we were wholly unsup<span class="pagenum">[580]</span>ported. +Sporschil and other writers +have said that Blucher sent General +Kleist a reinforcement of three thousand +infantry. To that I reply that +our battalion was at most six hundred +strong, and I did not see another infantry +soldier in the field. The other +troops had retired far across the plain. +Suddenly the earth shook beneath our +feet, and two magnificent divisions of +Russian cuirassiers charged to the +rescue. The French infantry sought +the shelter of their adjacent battery, +and we retreated wearily and slowly +towards our lines. The sun, which +had shone brightly the whole day, had +already set when we reached a small +village, and again extended our skirmishers +behind the walls and hedges. +Once more the earth trembled; and, +with unusual rapidity for an orderly +retreat, back came the brilliant cuirassiers, +with bloody heads, and in +most awful confusion. The French +infantry and artillery had given them +a rough reception. A few hostile +squadrons followed, and, as soon as +the Russians were out of the way, +I opened fire with my skirmishers; +but I was ordered to cease, for the +distance was too great, and it was +mere waste of ammunition."</p> + +<p>Von Rahden's hurt was but a flesh +wound, and did not prevent his sharing +in the next day's fight, and in the +retreat which concluded it. He was +then obliged to go into hospital, and +only on the last day of June rejoined +his regiment in cantonments between +Strehlen and Breslaw. At the latter +town he visited his mother. She had +mourned his death, of which she had +received a false account from a soldier +of his regiment, who had seen him +struck down by a bullet at Lutzen, +and had himself been wounded and +carried from the field before Von +Rahden regained consciousness and +rejoined his corps.</p> + +<p>The truce which, during the summer +of 1813, afforded a brief repose to the +contending armies, was over, and the +cause of the Allies strengthened by the +accession of Austria. Hostilities recommenced; +and on the 27th August +we find our young lieutenant again +distinguishing himself, at the head of +his sharpshooters, in the gardens of +Dresden. Several wet days, bad quarters, +and short commons, had pulled +down the strength and lowered the +spirits of the Allied troops. Exhausted +and discouraged, they showed little +appetite for the bloody banquet to +which they were invited. Suddenly +a hurra, but no very joyous one, ran +through the ranks. The soldiers had +been ordered to utter it, in honour of +the Emperor Alexander and King of +Prussia, who now, with their numerous +and brilliant staff, rode along the +whole line of battle, doubtless with the +intention of raising the sunken spirits +of the men. Close in front of the +baron's battalion the two monarchs +halted; and there it was that General +Moreau was mortally wounded, at +Alexander's side, by a French cannon-shot. +The following details of his +death are from the work of a well-known +Russian military author, General +Michailefski-Danielefski:—"Moreau +was close to the Emperor +Alexander, who stood beside an Austrian +battery, against which the French +kept up a heavy fire. He requested +the Russian sovereign to accompany +him to another eminence, whence a +better view of the battle-field was obtainable. +'Let your majesty trust +to my experience,' said Moreau, and +turning his horse, he rode on, the +emperor following. They had proceeded +but a few paces, when a cannon-ball +smashed General Moreau's +right foot, passed completely through +his horse, tore away his left calf, and +injured the knee. All present hurried +to assist the wounded man. His first +words, on recovering consciousness, +were—'I am dying; but how sweet +it is to die for the right cause, and +under the eyes of so great a monarch!' +A litter was formed of Cossack lances; +Moreau was laid upon it, wrapped +in his cloak, and carried to Koitz, the +nearest village. There he underwent, +with the courage and firmness of a +veteran soldier, the amputation of both +legs. The last bandage was being fastened, +when two round-shot struck +the house, and knocked down a corner +of the very room in which he lay. He +was conveyed to Laun, in Bohemia, +and there died, on the 2d of September. +Such was the end of the hero of +Hohenlinden."</p> + +<p>General Michailofski, it must be +observed, has been accused by Sporschil +of stretching the truth a little, +when by so doing he could pay a +compliment to his deceased master.<span class="pagenum">[581]</span> +The adulatory words which he puts +into Moreau's mouth, may therefore +never have been uttered by that unfortunate +officer. Some little inexactitudes +in the account above quoted +are corrected by Captain Von Rahden. +Moreau's litter was composed of muskets, +and not of lances; he was taken +to Räcknitz, and not to Koitz; and so +forth. Upon the 2d of September, +Von Rahden and eighteen other Prussian +officers, stood beside the bed +whereon Moreau had just expired, +and divided amongst them a black +silk waistcoat that had been worn by +the deceased warrior. "I still treasure +up my shred of silk," says the +baron, "as a soldierly relic, and as I +should a tatter of a banner that had +long waved honourably aloft, and at +last tragically fallen. In these days +few care about such memorials, and a +railway share is deemed more valuable. +Practically true; but horribly +unpoetical!"</p> + +<p>In 1813, one battle followed hard +upon the heels of the other. It was +a war of giants, and small breathing-time +was given. The echoes of +the fight had scarcely died away at +Dresden, when they were reawakened +in the fertile vale of Toeplitz. The +action of Kulm was a glorious one for +the Allies. On the first day, the 29th +of August, the Russians, under Ostermann +Tolstoy, reaped the largest +share of laurels; on the 30th, Kleist +and the Prussians nobly distinguished +themselves. The latter, after burning +their baggage, made a forced march +over the mountains, and fell upon the +enemy's rear on the afternoon of the +second day's engagement. Here Von +Rahden was again opposed to his old +and gallant acquaintances the French +marines, who, refusing to retreat, were +completely exterminated. The action +over, his battalion took up a position +near Arbesau, with their front towards +Kulm. On the opposite side of the +road a Hungarian regiment was drawn +up.</p> + +<p>"The sun had set, and distant objects +grew indistinct in the twilight, +when we suddenly saw large masses +of troops approach us. These were +the French prisoners, numbering, it +was said, eight or ten thousand. First +came General Vandamme, on horseback, +his head bound round with a +white cloth: a Cossack's lance had +grazed his forehead. Close behind +him were several generals, (Haxo and +Guyot;) and then, at a short interval, +came twenty or thirty colonels and +staff-officers. On the right of these +marched an old iron-grey colonel, with +two heavy silver epaulets projecting +forwards from under his light-blue +great-coat, the cross of the Legion of +Honour on his breast, a huge chain +with a bunch of gold seals and keys +dangling from his fob. He had been +captured by very forbearing foes, and +he strode proudly and confidently +along. He was about ten paces from +the head of our battalion, which was +drawn up in column of sections, when +suddenly three or four of our Hungarian +neighbours leaped the ditch, and +one of them, with the speed of light, +snatched watch and seals from the +French colonel's pocket. Captain Von +Korth, who commanded our No. 1 +company, observed this, sprang forward, +knocked the blue-breeched +Hungarians right and left, took the +watch from them, and restored it +to its owner. The latter, with the +ease of a thorough Frenchman, +offered it, with a few obliging words, +to Captain Von Korth, who refused +it by a decided gesture, and hastened +back to his company. All this +occurred whilst the French prisoners +marched slowly by, and the captain +had not passed the battalion more +than ten or fifteen paces, when he +turned about, and with the cry of +"<i>Vive le brave capitaine Prussien!</i>" +threw chain and seals into the middle +of our company. The watch he had +detached and put in his pocket. Von +Korth offered ten and even fifteen +<i>louis d'ors</i> for the trinkets, but could +never discover who had got them; +whoever it was, he perhaps feared to +be compelled to restore them without +indemnification."</p> + +<p>"The Emperor Alexander received +Vandamme, when that general was +brought before him as prisoner, with +great coolness, but nevertheless promised +to render his captivity as light +as possible. Notwithstanding that +assurance, Vandamme was sent to +Siberia. On his way thither, the proud +and unfeeling man encountered many +a hard word and cruel taunt, the which +I do not mean to justify, although he +had richly earned them by his numerous +acts of injustice and oppres<span class="pagenum">[582]</span>sion. +In the spring of 1807, he had +had his headquarters in the pretty +little town of Frankenstein in Silesia, +and, amongst various other extortions, +had compelled the authorities to supply +him with whole sackfuls of the +delicious red filberts which grow in +that neighbourhood. When, upon his +way to the frozen steppes, he chanced +to halt for a night in this same town +of Frankenstein, the magistrates sent +him a huge sack of his favourite nuts, +with a most submissive message, to +the effect that they well remembered +his Excellency's partiality to filberts, +and that they begged leave to offer +him a supply, in hopes that the cracking +of them might beguile the time, +and occupy his leisure in Siberia."</p> + +<p>At Kulm the captain of Von Rahden's +company was slain. He had +ridden up to a French column, taking +it, as was supposed, for a Russian one, +and was killed by three of the enemy's +officers before he found out his mistake. +Each wound was mortal; one +of his assailants shot him in the breast, +another drove his sword through his +body, and the third nearly severed +his head from his shoulders with a +sabre-cut. The day after the battle, +before sunrise, Von Rahden awakened +a non-commissioned officer and three +men, and went to seek and bury the +corpse. It was already stripped of +every thing but the shirt and uniform +coat; they dug a shallow grave under +a pear-tree, and interred it. The +mournful task was just completed +when a peasant came by. Von Rahden +called him, showed him the captain's +grave, and asked if he might +rely upon its not being ploughed up. +"Herr Preusse," was the answer, "I +promise you that it shall not; for the +ground is mine, and beneath this tree +your captain shall rest undisturbed." +The promise was faithfully kept. In +August 1845, the baron revisited the +spot. The tree still stood, and the +soldier's humble grave had been respected.</p> + +<p>Whilst wandering over the field of +battle, followed by Zänker, his sergeant, +Von Rahden heard a suppressed +moaning, and found amongst the +brushwood, close to the bank of a little +rivulet, a sorely wounded French soldier. +The unfortunate fellow had been +hit in three or four places. One ball +had entered behind his eyes, which +projected, bloody and swollen, from +their sockets, another had shattered +his right hand, and a third had broken +the bones of the leg. He could neither +see, nor move, nor die; he lay in the +broad glare of the sun, parched with +thirst, listening to the ripple of the +stream, which he was unable to reach. +In heart-rending tones he implored a +drink of water. Six-and-thirty hours +had he lain there, he said, suffering +agonies from heat, and thirst, and +wounds. "In an instant Zänker threw +down his knapsack, filled his canteen, +and handed it to the unhappy Frenchman, +who drank as if he would never +leave off. When at last satisfied, he +said very calmly, 'Stop, friend! one +more favour; blow my brains out!' +I looked at Zänker, and made a sign +with my hand, as much as to say, 'Is +your gun loaded?' Zänker drew his +ramrod, ran it into the barrel quite +noiselessly, so that the wounded man +might not hear, and nodded his head +affirmatively. Without a word, I +pointed to a thicket about twenty +paces off, giving him to understand +that he was not to fire till I had reached +it, and, hurrying away, I left him +alone with the Frenchman. Ten minutes +passed without a report, and +then, on turning a corner of the wood, +I came face to face with Zänker. 'I +can't do it, lieutenant,' said he. +'Thrice I levelled my rifle, but could +not pull the trigger.' He had left the +poor French sergeant-major—such +four gold chevrons on his coat-sleeve +denoted him to be—a canteen full of +water, had arranged a few boughs +above his head to shield him from the +sun, and as soon as we reached the +camp, he hastened to the field hospital +to point out the spot where the +wounded man lay, and procure surgical +assistance."</p> + +<p>The battle of Kulm was lost by +the French through the negligence of +Vandamme, who omitted to occupy +the defiles in his rear—an extraordinary +blunder, for which a far younger +soldier might well be blamed. The +triumph was complete, and, in conjunction +with those at the Katzbach +and Gross-Beeren, greatly raised the +spirits of the Allies. At Kulm, the +French fought, as usual, most gallantly, +but for once they were outmanœuvred. +A brilliant exploit of +three or four hundred chasseurs, be<span class="pagenum">[583]</span>longing +to Corbineau's light cavalry +division, is worthy of mention. Sabre +in hand, they cut their way completely +through Kleist's corps, and +did immense injury to the Allies, especially +to the artillery. Of themselves, +few, if any, escaped alive. "Not +only," says Baron Von Rahden, "did +they ride down several battalions at +the lower end of the defile, and cut to +pieces and scatter to the winds the +staff and escort of the general, which +were halted upon the road, but they +totally annihilated our artillery for +the time, inasmuch as they threw the +guns into the ditches, and killed nearly +all the men and horses. By this example +one sees what resolute men on +horseback, with good swords in their +hands, and bold hearts in their bosoms, +are able to accomplish." In a letter +of Prince Augustus of Prussia, we +find that "the artillery suffered so +great a loss at Kulm, that there are +still (this was written in the middle of +September, fifteen days after the action) +eighteen officers, eighty non-commissioned +officers, one hundred and +twenty-six bombardiers, seven hundred +and eighteen gunners, besides +bandsmen and surgeons, wanting to +complete the strength." In both days' +fight the present King of the Belgians +greatly distinguished himself. He was +then in the Russian service, and, on +the 29th, fought bravely at the head +of his cavalry division. On the 30th, +the Emperor Alexander sent him to +bring up the Austrian cavalry reserves, +and the judgment with which he performed +this duty was productive of +the happiest results.</p> + +<p>The Russian guards fought nobly +at Kulm, and held the valley of Toeplitz +one whole day against four times +their numbers. To reward their +valour, the King of Prussia gave +them the Kulm Cross, as it was called, +which was composed of black shining +leather with a framework of silver. +The Prussians were greatly annoyed +at its close resemblance to the first +and best class of the Iron Cross, +which order had been instituted a few +months previously, and was sparingly +bestowed, for instances of extraordinary +personal daring, upon those only +who fought under Prussian colours. +It was of iron with a silver setting, +and could scarcely be distinguished +from the Kulm cross. "Many thousands +of us Prussians," says the Baron, +"fought for years, poured out our +blood, and threw away our lives, in +vain strivings after a distinction which +the Muscovite earned in a few hours. +For who would notice whether it +was leather or iron? The colour and +form were the same, and only the +initiated knew the difference, which +was but nominal. In the severe winter +of 1829-30, when travelling in a Russian +sledge and through a thorough +Russian snow-storm, along the shores +of the Peipus lake, I passed a company +of soldiers wrapped in their grey +coats. On the right of the company +were ten or twelve Knights of the +Iron Cross, as it appeared to me, and +of the first class of that order. This +astonished me so much the more, that +in Prussia it was an unheard-of thing +for more than one or two private soldiers +in a regiment to achieve this +high distinction. I started up, and +rubbed my eyes, and thought I +dreamed. At Dorpat I was informed +that several hundred men from the +Semenofskoi regiment of guards, (the +heroes of Kulm,) had been drafted +into the provincial militia as a punishment +for having shared in a revolt at +St Petersburg."</p> + +<p>On the 14th of October occurred +the battle of cavalry in the plains +between Güldengossa, Gröbern, and +Liebertwolkwitz, where the Allied +horse, fifteen thousand strong, encountered +ten to twelve thousand +French dragoons, led by the King of +Naples, who once, during that day, +nearly fell into the hands of his foes. +The incident is narrated by Von Schöning +in his history of the third Prussian +regiment of dragoons, then known as +the Neumark dragoons. "It was +about two hours after daybreak; the +regiment had made several successful +charges, and at last obtained a moment's +breathing-time. The dust had +somewhat subsided; the French cavalry +stood motionless, only their +general, followed by his staff, rode, +encouraging the men, as it seemed, +along the foremost line, just opposite +to the Neumark dragoons. Suddenly +a young lieutenant, Guido von Lippe +by name, who thought he recognised +Murat in the enemy's leader, galloped +up to the colonel. 'I must and will +take him!' cried he; and, without +waiting for a Yes or a No, dashed<span class="pagenum">[584]</span> +forward at the top of his horse's speed, +followed by a few dragoons who had +been detached from the ranks as skirmishers. +At the same time the colonel +ordered the charge to be sounded. A +most brilliant charge it was, but nothing +more was seen of Von Lippe +and his companions. Two days afterwards, +his corpse was found by his +servant, who recognised it amongst a +heap of dead by the scars of the yet +scarcely healed wounds received at +Lutzen. A sabre-cut and a thrust +through the body had destroyed life." +An interesting confirmation of this +story may be read in Von Odeleben's +"Campaign of Napoleon in Saxony +in the year 1813," p. 328. "He +(Murat) accompanied by a very small +retinue, so greatly exposed himself, +that at last one of the enemy's squadrons, +recognising him by his striking +dress, and by the staff that surrounded +him, regularly gave him +chase. One officer in particular made +a furious dash at the king, who, by +the sudden facing about of his escort, +found himself the last man, a little in +the rear, and with only one horseman +by his side. In the dazzling anticipation +of a royal prisoner, the eager +pursuer called to him several times, +'Halt, King, halt!' At that moment +a crown was at stake. The officer +had already received a sabre-cut from +Murat's solitary attendant, and as he +did not regard it, but still pressed forward, +the latter ran him through the +body. He fell dead from his saddle, +and the next day his horse was +mounted by the king's faithful defender, +from whose lips I received +these details. Their truth has been +confirmed to me from other sources. +Murat made his rescuer his equerry, +and promised him a pension. The +Emperor gave him the cross of the +legion of honour."</p> + +<p>The second Silesian regiment suffered +terribly at the great battle of +Leipzig. Von Rahden's battalion, in +particular, was reduced at the close +of the last day's fight to one hundred +and twenty effective men, commanded +by a lieutenant, the only unwounded +officer. Kleist's division, of which it +formed part, had sustained severe +losses in every action since the truce, +and after Leipzig it was found to have +melted down to one-third of its original +strength. Disease also broke +out in its ranks. To check this, to +recruit the numbers, and repose the +men, the division was sent into quarters. +Von Rahden's regiment went +to the duchy of Meiningen, and his +battalion was quartered in the town +of that name. The friendly and +hospitable reception here given to +the victors of Kulm and Leipzig +was well calculated to make them +forget past hardships and sufferings. +The widowed Duchess of Meiningen +gave frequent balls and entertainments, +to which officers of all grades +found ready admittance. The reigning +duke was then a boy; his two +sisters, charming young women, were +most gracious and condescending. In +those warlike days, the laurel-wreath +was as good a crown as any other, +and raised even the humble subaltern +to the society of princes.</p> + +<p>"It chanced one evening," says +the Baron, "that our major, Count +Reichenbach, stood up to dance a +quadrille with the Princess Adelaide +of Meiningen. His toilet was not +well suited to the ball-room; his boots +were heavy, the floor was slippery, +and he several times tripped. At last +he fairly fell, dragging his partner +with him. His right arm was in a +sling, and useless from wounds received +at Lutzen, and some short +time elapsed before the princess was +raised from her recumbent position +by the ladies and gentlemen of the +court, and conducted into an adjoining +apartment. With rueful +countenance, and twisting his red +mustache from vexation, Count +Reichenbach tried to lose himself in +the crowd, and to escape the annoyance +of being stared at and pointed +out as the man who had thrown +down the beautiful young princess. +It was easy to see that he would +rather have stormed a dozen hostile +batteries than have made so unlucky +a <i>debût</i> in the royal ball-room. In a +short quarter of an hour, however, +when the fuss caused by the accident +had nearly subsided, the princess +reappeared, looking more charming +than ever, and sought about until she +discovered poor Count Reichenbach, +who had got into a corner near the +stove. With the most captivating +grace, she invited him to return to +the dance, saying, loud enough for +all around to hear, 'that she honour<span class="pagenum">[585]</span>ed +a brave Prussian soldier whose +breast was adorned with the Iron +Cross, and whose badly-wounded +arm had not prevented his fighting +the fight of liberation at Leipzig, +and that with all her heart she +would begin the dance again with +him.' The Count's triumph was complete; +the court prudes and parasites, +who a moment before had looked +down upon him from the height of +their compassion, now rivalled each +other in amiability. With a well-pleased +smile the Count stroked his +great beard, led the princess to the +quadrille, and danced it in first-rate +style." The reader will have recognised +our excellent Queen Dowager +in the heroine of the charming trait +which an old soldier thus bluntly narrates. +The kind heart and patriotic +spirit of the German Princess were +good presage of the benevolence and +many virtues of the English Queen. +"When, in May 1836," continues +Captain Von Rahden, "I was presented, +as captain in the Dutch service, +to the Princess Adelaide, then +Queen of England, at St James's +Palace, her majesty perfectly remembered +the incident I have here narrated +to my readers. To her inquiries +after Count Reichenbach, I +unfortunately had to reply that he +was long since dead."</p> + +<p>In January 1814, the Baron's regiment +left Meiningen, crossed the +Rhine, joined the great Silesian army +under old Blucher, and began the +campaign in France. The actions +of Montmirail, Méry sur Seine, La +Ferté sous Jouarre, and various +other encounters, followed in rapid +succession. Hard knocks for the +Allies, many of them. But all Napoleon's +brilliant generalship was in +vain; equally in vain did his young +troops emulate the deeds of those iron +veterans whose bones lay bleaching +on the Beresina's banks, and in the +passes of the Sierra Morena. The +month of February was passed in constant +fighting, and was perhaps the +most interesting period of the campaigns +of 1813-14. On the 13th, the +Prussian advanced guard, Ziethen's +division, was attacked by superior +numbers and completely beaten at +Montmirail. Von Rahden's battalion +was one of those which had to cover +the retreat of the routed troops, and +check the advance of the exulting +enemy. Retiring slowly and in good +order, the rearmost of the whole army, +it reached the village of Etoges, when +it was assailed by a prodigious mass of +French cavalry. But the horsemen +could make no impression on the +steady ranks of Count Reichenbach's +infantry.</p> + +<p>"Here the hostile dragoons, formed +in columns of squadrons and regiments, +charged us at least twelve or +fifteen times, always without success. +Each time Count Reichenbach let +them approach to within fifty or sixty +paces, then ordered a halt, formed +square, and opened a heavy and well-sustained +fire, which quickly drove +back the enemy. As soon as they +retired, I and my skirmishers sprang +forward, and peppered them till they +again came to the charge, when we +hurried back to the battalion. Count +Reichenbach himself never entered +the square, but during the charges took +his station on the left flank, which +could not fire, because it faced the +road along which our artillery marched. +Our gallant commander gave his orders +with the same calm coolness and +precision as on the parade ground. His +voice and our volleys were the only +sounds heard, and truly that was one +of the most glorious afternoons of +Count Reichenbach's life. Our western +neighbours love to celebrate the +deeds of their warriors by paint-brush +and graver; our heroes are forgotten, +but for the occasional written +reminiscences of some old soldier, witness +of their valiant deeds. And truly, +if Horace Vernet has handed Colonel +Changarnier down to posterity for +standing <i>inside</i> his square whilst it received +the furious but disorderly charge +of semi-barbarous horse, he might, +methinks, and every soldier and true +Prussian will share my opinion, find +a far worthier subject for his pencil +in Count Reichenbach, awaiting <i>outside</i> +his square the formidable attacks +of six thousand French cavalrymen.</p> + +<p>"It became quite dark, and the +enemy ceased to charge. Pity it was! +for such was the steadiness and discipline +of our men, that the defence +went on like some well-regulated machine, +and might have been continued +for hours longer, or till our last cartridge +was burnt. The count seemed +unusually well pleased. Twirling his<span class="pagenum">[586]</span> +mustache with a satisfied chuckle, +he offered several officers and soldiers +a dram from a little flask which he +habitually carried in his holster, and +turned to me with the words, 'Well +done, my dear Rahden, bravo!' On +hearing this praise, short and simple +as it was, I could have embraced my +noble commander for joy, and with +feelings in my heart which only +such men as Reichenbach know how +to awaken, I resumed my place on +the right of the battalion, which now +marched away."</p> + +<p>Gradually the Allies approached +Paris. On the 28th March, at the +village of Claye, only five leagues +from the capital, Kleist's division +came to blows with the French troops +under General Compan, who had +marched out to meet them. As +usual, Von Rahden was with the skirmishers, +as was also another lieutenant +of his battalion, a Pole of gigantic +frame and extraordinary strength, +who here met his death. He was +rushing forward at the head of +his men, when a four-pound shot +struck him in the breast. It went +through his body, passing very near +the heart, but, strange to say, without +causing instant death. For most +men, half an ounce of lead in the +breast is an instant quietus; but so +prodigious was the strength and vitality +of this Pole, that he lingered, +the baron assures us, full six-and-thirty +hours.</p> + +<p>"We now followed up the French +infantry, which hastily retreated to a +farm-yard surrounded by lofty linden +and chestnut trees, and situated on a +small vine-covered hill. When half-way +up the eminence, we saw, upon +the open space beneath the trees, +several companies of the enemy in +full parade uniform, with bearskin +caps, large red epaulets upon their +shoulders, and white breeches, form +themselves into a sort of phalanx, +which only replied to our fire by single +shots. Presently even these ceased. +Scheliha and myself immediately ordered +our men to leave off firing; and +Scheliha, who spoke French very +intelligibly, advanced to within thirty +paces of the enemy and summoned +them to lay down their arms, supposing +that they intended to yield themselves +prisoners. They made no reply, +but stood firm as a wall. Scheliha +repeated his summons: a shot was +fired at him. This served as a signal +to our impatient followers, who opened +a murderous fire upon the dense mass +before them. We tried a third time to +get the brave Frenchmen to yield; +others of our battalions had come up, +and they were completely cut off; but +the sole reply we received was a sort of +negative murmur, and some of them +even threatened us with their muskets. +Within ten minutes they all lay dead +or wounded upon the ground; for our +men were deaf alike to commands and +entreaties, and to the voice of mercy. +Most painful was it to us officers to +look on at such a butchery, impotent +to prevent it." It afterwards appeared +that these French grenadiers, who +belonged to the <i>Jeune Garde</i>, had left +Paris that morning. By some mismanagement +their stock of ammunition +was insufficient, and having expended +it, they preferred death, with +arms in their hands, to captivity.</p> + +<p>At eight o'clock on the thirtieth, +Kleist's and York's corps, now united, +passed the Ourcq canal, and marched +along the Pantin road towards Paris. +Upon that morning they saw old +Blucher for the first time for more +than a month. He seemed on the +brink of the grave, and wore a woman's +bonnet of green silk to protect +his eyes, which were dangerously inflamed. +He was on horseback, but +was soon obliged to return to his travelling +carriage in rear of the army, +and to give up the command to Barclay +de Tolly. "Luckily," says the +baron, "the troops knew nothing of +the substitution." Although it would +probably hardly have mattered much, +for there was little more work to do. +For that year this was the last day's +fight. After some flank movement +which took up several hours, the allied +infantry attacked the village of La +Villette, but were repulsed by the +artillery from the adjacent barrier. +The brigade batteries loitered in the +rear, and Prince Augustus, vexed at +their absence, sent an aide-de-camp +to bring them up. One of them was +commanded by Lieutenant Holsche, +Von Rahden's former instructor at the +artillery school, of whom we have +already related an anecdote. Although +an undoubtedly brave and +circumspect officer, on this occasion +he remained too far behind the in<span class="pagenum">[587]</span>fantry; +and Captain Decker,<a name="FNanchor_49_49" id="FNanchor_49_49"></a><a href="#Footnote_49_49" class="fnanchor">[49]</a> who +was dispatched to fetch him, was not +sorry to be the medium of conveying +the Prince's sharp message, the less +so as he had observed a certain nonchalance +and want of deference in the +artillery lieutenant's manner of receiving +the orders of his superiors. At a +later period, Baron Von Rahden heard +from Decker himself the following +characteristic account of his reception +by the gallant but eccentric +Holsche.</p> + +<p>"I came up to the battery," said +Decker, "at full gallop. The men +were dismounted, and their officer +stood chatting with his comrades beside +a newly-made fire. 'Lieutenant +Holsche,' said I, rather sharply, 'his +Royal Highness is exceedingly astonished +that you remain idle here, +and has directed me to command you +instantly to advance your battery +against the enemy.'</p> + +<p>"'Indeed?' was Holsche's quiet +reply, 'his Royal Highness is astonished!' +and then, turning to his men +with the same calmness of tone and +manner, 'Stand to your horses! +Mount! Battery, march!'</p> + +<p>"I thought the pace commanded +was not quick enough, and in the same +loud and imperious voice as before, I +observed to Lieutenant Holsche that +he would not be up in time; he had +better move faster. 'Indeed! not +quick enough?' quietly answered +Holsche, and gave the word, 'March, +march!' We now soon got over the +ground and within the enemy's fire, +and, considering my duty at an end, I +pointed out to the Lieutenant the +direction he should take, and whereabouts +he should post his battery. +But Holsche begged me in the most +friendly manner to go on and show +him exactly where he should halt. +I naturally enough complied with his +request. The nearer we got to the +French, the faster became the pace, +until at last we were in front of our +most advanced battalions. The bullets +whizzed about us on all sides; I +once more made a move to turn back, +and told Holsche he might stop where +he was. With the same careless air +as before, he repeated his request that +I would remain, in order to be able to +tell his Royal Highness where Lieutenant +Holsche and his battery had +halted! What could I do? It was +any thing but pleasant to share so +great a danger, without either necessity +or profit; and certainly I might +very well have turned back, but +Holsche, by whose side I galloped, +fixed his large dark eyes upon my +countenance, as though he would have +read my very soul. We were close to +our own skirmishers; on we went, +right through them, into the middle +of the enemy's riflemen, who, quite +surprised at being charged by a battery, +retired in all haste. It really +seemed as if the artillery was going +over to the enemy. At two hundred +paces from the French columns, +however, Holsche halted, unlimbered, +and gave two discharges from the +whole battery, with such beautiful +precision and astounding effect, that +he sent the hostile squadrons and battalions +to the right about, and even +silenced some of the heavy guns +within the barriers. That done he +returned to me, and begged me to inform +the Prince where I had left +Lieutenant Holsche and his battery. +'Perhaps,' added he, 'his Royal +Highness will again find occasion to +be astonished; and I shall be very +glad of it.' And truly the Prince and +all of us <i>were</i> astonished at this gallant +exploit; it had been achieved in +sight of the whole army, and had produced +a glorious and most desirable +result."</p> + +<p>For this feat Holsche was rewarded +with the Iron Cross of the first class. +He had already at Leipzig gained +that of the second, and on receiving +it his ambition immediately aspired +to the higher decoration. Many a +time had he been heard to vow, that +if he obtained it, he would have a +cross as large as his hand manufactured +by the farrier of his battery, +and wear it upon his breast. To this +he pledged his word. The manner in +which he kept it is thus related by his +old friend and pupil.</p> + +<p>"We were on our march from +Paris to Amiens, when we were informed, +one beautiful morning, that<span class="pagenum">[588]</span> +our brigade battery, under Lieutenant +Holsche, was in cantonments in +the next village. The music at +our head, we marched through the +place in parade time, and paid Holsche +military honours as ex-commandant +of the Straw-bonnet, which title +he still retained. Intimate acquaintance +and sincere respect might well +excuse this little deviation from the +regulations of the service. Our hautboys +blew a favourite march, to which +Holsche himself had once in Glatz +written words, beginning:—</p> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i3">'Natz, Natz, Annemarie,<br /><br /></span> +<span class="i4">Da kommt die Glätzer Infanterie.'<br /><br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<p>In his blue military frock, with forage +cap and sword, Holsche stood upon a +small raised patch of turf in front of +his quarters, gravely saluting in acknowledgment +of the honours paid +him, which he received with as proud +a bearing as if he was legitimately +entitled to them. This did not surprise +us, knowing him as we did, but +not a little were we astonished when +we saw an Iron Cross of the first class, +as large as a plate, fastened upon his +left breast. The orders for the battle +of Paris and the other recent fights +in France had just been distributed; +Holsche was amongst the decorated, +and the jovial artilleryman took this +opportunity to fulfil his oft-repeated +vow. Only a few hours before our +arrival he had had the cross manufactured +by his farrier."</p> + +<p>This dashing but wrong-headed +officer soon afterwards became a +captain, and subsequently major, but +his extravagances, and especially his +addiction to wine, got him into frequent +trouble, until at last he was +put upon the retired list as lieutenant-colonel, +and died at Schweidnitz in +Silesia.</p> + +<p>At six in the evening of the 30th +March, the last fight of the campaign +was over, and aides-de-camp galloped +hither and thither, announcing the +capitulation of Paris. Right pleasant +were such sounds to the ears of the +war-worn soldiers. Infantry grounded +their arms, dragoons dismounted, +artillerymen leaned idly against their +pieces; Langeron alone, who had begun +the storm of Montmartre, would +not desist from his undertaking. +Officers rode after him, waving their +white handkerchiefs as a signal to +cease firing, but without effect. The +Russians stormed on; and if Langeron +attained his end with comparatively +small loss, the enemy being already +in retreat, there were nevertheless +four or five hundred men sacrificed to +his ambition, and that he might have it +to say that he and his Russians carried +Montmartre by storm. Whilst the rest +of the troops waited till he had attained +his end, and congratulated each other +on the termination of the hardships +and privations of the preceding three +months, a Russian bomb-carriage +took fire, the drivers left it, and its +six powerful horses, scorched and +terrified by the explosion of the +projectiles, ran madly about the field, +dragging at their heels this artificial +volcano. The battalions which +they approached scared them away +by shouts, until the unlucky beasts +knew not which way to turn. At +last, the shells and grenades being all +burnt out, the horses stood still, and, +strange to say, not one of them had +received the slightest injury.</p> + +<p>Terrible was the disappointment of +Kleist's and York's divisions, when +they learned on the morning subsequent +to the capitulation that they +were not to enter Paris; but, after +four-and-twenty hours' repose in the +faubourg Montmartre, where they had +passed the previous night, were to +march from the capital into country +quarters. Their motley and weather-beaten +aspect was the motive of this +order—a heart-breaking one for the +brave officers and soldiers who had +borne the heat and burden of the day +during a severe and bloody campaign, +and now found themselves excluded +on the earthly paradise of their +hopes. They had fought and suffered +more than the Prussian and Russian +guards; but the latter were smart and +richly uniformed, whilst the poor fellows +of the line had rubbed off and +besmirched in many a hard encounter +and rainy bivouac what little gilding +they ever possessed. So long as +fighting was the order of the day, +they were in request; but it was now +the turn of parades, and on these +they would cut but a sorry figure. +So "right about" was the word, and +Amiens the route. A second day's +respite was allowed them, however; +and although they were strictly confined +to their quarters, lest they should +shock the sensitiveness of the Parisian<span class="pagenum">[589]</span> +<i>bourgeoisie</i> by their ragged breeks, +long beards, and diversity of equipment, +some of the officers obtained +leave to go into Paris. Von Rahden +was amongst these, and, after a dinner +at Véry's, where his Silesian simplicity +and campaigning appetite were +rather astonished by the exiguity of +the <i>plats</i> placed before him, whereof he +managed to consume some five-and-twenty, +after admiring the wonders +of the Palace Royal, and the rich +uniforms of almost every nation with +which the streets were crowded, he betook +himself to the Place Vendôme to +gaze at the fallen conqueror's triumphant +column. It was surrounded by +a mob of fickle Parisians, eager to cast +down from its high estate the idol +they so recently had worshipped. One +daredevil fellow climbed upon the +Emperor's shoulders, slung a cord +round his neck, dragged up a great +ship's cable and twisted it several +times about the statue. The rabble +seized the other end of the rope, and +with cries of "<i>à bas ce canaille!</i>" tugged +furiously at it. Their efforts +were unavailing, Napoleon stood firm, +until the Allied sovereigns, who, from +the window of an adjacent house, +beheld this disgraceful riot, sent +a company of Russian grenadiers to +disperse the mob. The masses gave +way before the bayonet, but not till +the same man who had fastened the +rope, again climbed up, and with a +white cloth shrouded the statue of the +once adored Emperor from the eyes of +his faithless subjects. It is well known +that, a few weeks later, the figure was +taken down by order of the Emperor +Alexander, who carried it away as his +sole trophy, and gave it a place in the +winter palace at St Petersburg. When +Louis XVIII. returned to Paris, a +broad white banner, embroidered +with three golden lilies, waved from +the summit of the column; but this in +its turn was displaced, by the strong +south wind that blew from Elba in +March 1815, when Napoleon re-entered +his capital. A municipal deputation +waited upon him to know what he +would please to have placed on the +top of the triumphant column. "A +weathercock" was the little corporal's +sarcastic reply. Since that day, the +lilies and the tricolor have again alternated +on the magnificent column, until +the only thing that ought to surmount +it, the statue of the most extraordinary +man of modern, perhaps of any, times, +has resumed its proud position, and +once more overlooks the capital which +he did so much to improve and embellish.</p> + +<p>"I now wandered to the operahouse," +says the baron, "to hear +Spontini's <i>Vestale</i>. The enormous +theatre was full to suffocation; in +every box the Allied uniforms glittered, +arms flashed in the bright light, +police spies loitered and listened, +beautiful women waved their kerchiefs +and joined in the storm of applause, +as if that day had been a most glorious +and triumphant one for France. +The consul Licinius, represented, if I +remember aright, by the celebrated +St Priest, was continually interrupted +in his songs, and called upon for the +old national melody 'Vive Henri +Quatre,' which he gave with couplets +composed for the occasion, some of +which, it was said, were improvisations. +In the midst of this rejoicing, a +rough voice made itself heard from the +upper gallery. '<i>A bas l'aigle imperial!</i>' +were the words it uttered, and in an +instant every eye was turned to the +Emperor's box, whose purple velvet +curtains were closely drawn, and to +whose front a large and richly gilt eagle +was affixed. The audience took up the +cry and repeated again and again—'<i>A +bas l'aigle imperial!</i>' Presently +the curtains were torn asunder, a fellow +seated himself upon the cushioned +parapet, twined his legs round the +eagle, and knocked, and hammered, +till it fell with a crash to the ground. +Again the royalist ditty was called +for, with <i>ad libitum</i> couplets, in which +the words '<i>ce diable à quatre</i>' were +only too plainly perceptible; the unfortunate +consul had to repeat them +till he was hoarse, and so ended the +great comedy performed that day by +the 'Grande Nation.' Most revolting +it was, and every right-thinking man +shuddered at such thorough Gallic +indecency."</p> + +<p>Baron Von Rahden tells the story +of his life well and pleasantly, without +pretensions to brilliancy and elegance +of style, but with soldierly +frankness and spirit. We have read +this first portion of his memoirs with +pleasure and interest, and may take +occasion again to refer to its lively +and varied contents.<span class="pagenum">[590]</span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="ADVICE_TO_AN_INTENDING_SERIALIST" id="ADVICE_TO_AN_INTENDING_SERIALIST"></a>ADVICE TO AN INTENDING SERIALIST.</h2> + + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">A Letter to T. Smith, Esq., Scene-Painter and Tragedian at the +Amphitheatre.</span></p> + + +<p>My dear Smith,—Your complaint +of my unwarrantable detention of the +manuscript which, some months ago, +you were kind enough to forward for +my perusal, is founded upon a total +misconception of the nature of my interim +employments. I have not, as +you somewhat broadly insinuate, been +prigging bits of your matchless rhetoric +in order to give currency and flavour +to my own more maudlin articles. +The lemon-peel of Smith has not entered +into the composition of any of +my literary puddings; neither have I +bartered a single fragment of your +delectable facetiæ for gold. I return +you the precious bundle as safe and +undivulged as when it was committed +to my custody, and none the worse +for the rather extensive journey +which it has materially contributed +to cheer.</p> + +<p>The fact is, that I have been sojourning +this summer utterly beyond +the reach of posts. To you, whose +peculiar vocation it is to cater for the +taste of the public, I need hardly remark +that novelty is, now-a-days, in +literature as in every thing else, an +indispensable requisite for success. +People will not endure the iteration +of a story, however well it may be +told. The same locality palls upon +their ears, and that style of wit which, +last year, was sufficient to convulse +an audience, may, if continued for +another session, be branded with the +infamy of slang. Even our mutual +friend Barry, whose jests are the life +of the arena, is quite aware of this +unerring physiological rule. He does +not depend upon captivating the galleries +for ever by his ingenious conundrum +of getting into an empty quart +bottle. His inimitable "be quiet, +will ye?" as the exasperated Master +of the Ring flicks off an imaginary fly +from his motley inexpressibles, is now +reserved as a great point for rare and +special occasions; and he now lays +in a new stock of witticisms at the +commencement of each campaign, as +regularly as you contract for lamp-black +and ochre when there is an immediate +prospect of a grand new military +spectacle. The want of attention +to this rule has, I fear, operated +prejudicially upon the fortunes of our +agile acquaintance, Hervio Nano, +whom I last saw devouring raw +beef in the character of a human +Nondescript. Harvey depended too +much upon his original popularity as +the Gnome Fly, and failed through incessant +repetition. The public at +length would not stand the appearance +of that eternal blue-bottle. The sameness +of his entomology was wearisome. +He should have varied his representations +by occasionally assuming the +characters of the Spectre Spider, or +the Black Tarantula of the Tombs.</p> + +<p>Now you must know, that for the +last three years I have been making +my living exclusively out of the Swedish +novels and the Countess Ida +von Hahn-Hahn. To Frederike Bremer +I owe a prodigious debt of gratitude; +for she has saved me the +trouble—and it is a prodigious bore—of +inventing plots and characters, as +I was compelled to do when the +Rhine and the Danube were the chosen +seats of fiction. For a time the literary +plough went merrily through the +sward of Sweden; nor can I, with any +degree of conscience, complain of the +quality of the crop. But, somehow or +other, the thing was beginning to grow +stale. People lost their relish for the +perpetual raspberry jam, tart-making, +spinning, and the other processes of +domestic kitchen economy which formed +our Scandinavian staple; indeed, I +had a shrewd suspicion from the first +that the market would soon be glutted +by the introduction of so much linen +and flannel. It is very difficult to keep +up a permanent interest in favour of a +heroine in homespun, and the storeroom +is but a queer locality for the +interchange of lovers' sighs. I therefore +was not surprised, last spring, +to find my publishers somewhat shy +of entering into terms for a new translation +of "<i>Snorra Gorvundstrul; or,<span class="pagenum">[591]</span> +The Barmaid of Strundschensvoe</i>," +and, in the true spirit of British enterprise, +I resolved to carry my flag +elsewhere.</p> + +<p>On looking over the map of the +world, with the view of selecting a +novel field, I was astonished to find +that almost every compartment was +already occupied by one of our literary +brethren. There is in all Europe +scarce a diocese left unsung, and, +like romance, civilisation is making +rapid strides towards both the east +and the west. In this dilemma I +bethought me of Iceland as a virgin +soil. Victor Hugo, it is true, had +made some advances towards it in +one of his earlier productions; but, if I +recollect right, even that daring pioneer +of letters did not penetrate beyond +Norway, and laid the scene of +his stirring narrative somewhere about +the wilds of Drontheim. The bold +dexterity with which he has transferred +the Morgue from Paris to the +most artic city of the world, has always +commanded my most entire admiration. +It is a stroke of machinery +equal to any which you, my dear +Smith, have ever introduced into a +pantomime; and I question whether +it was much surpassed by the transit +of the Holy Chapel to Loretto. In +like manner I had intended to transport +a good deal of ready-made London +ware to Iceland; or rather—if +that will make my meaning clearer—to +take my idea both of the scenery and +characters from the Surrey Zoological +Gardens, wherein last year I had the +privilege of witnessing a superb eruption +of Mount Hecla. On more mature +reflection, however, I thought it might +be as well to take an actual survey of +the regions which I intend henceforward +to occupy as my own especial +domain; and—having, moreover, certain +reasons which shall be nameless, +for a temporary evacuation of the +metropolis—I engaged a passage in a +northern whaler, and have only just +returned after an absence of half a year. +Yes, Smith! Incredible as it may appear +to you, I have actually been in +Iceland, seen Hecla in a state of conflagration; +and it was by that lurid +light, while my mutton was boiling in +the Geyser, that I first unfolded your +manuscript, and read the introductory +chapters of "<span class="smcap">Silas Spavinhitch</span>; <i>or, +Rides around the Circus with Widdicomb +and Co.</i>"</p> + +<p>I trust, therefore, that after this +explanation, you will discontinue the +epithet of "beast," and the corresponding +expletives which you have +used rather liberally in your last two +epistles. When you consider the +matter calmly, I think you will admit +that you have suffered no very material +loss in consequence of the unavoidable +delay; and, as to the public, +I am quite sure that they will devour +Silas more greedily about Christmas, +than if he had made his appearance, +all booted and spurred, in the very +height of the dog-days. You will +also have the opportunity, as your +serial is not yet completed, of reflecting +upon the justice of the hints which +I now venture to offer for your future +guidance—hints, derived not only +from my observation of the works of +others, but from some little personal +experience in that kind of popular +composition; and, should you agree +with me in any of the views hereinafter +expressed, you may perhaps be +tempted to act upon them in the revision +and completion of your extremely +interesting work. First, then, let me +say a few words regarding the purpose +and the nature of that sort of +<i>feuilleton</i> which we now denominate +the serial.</p> + +<p>Do not be alarmed, Smith. I am +not going to conglomerate your faculties +by any Aristotelian exposition. +You are a man of by far too much +practical sense to be humbugged by +such outworn pedantry, and your own +particular purpose in penning Silas +is of course most distinctly apparent. +You want to sack as many of the +public shillings as possible. That is +the great motive which lies at the +foundation of all literary or general +exertion, and the man who does not +confess it broadly and openly is an +ass. If your study of Fitzball has +not been too exclusive, you may perhaps +recollect the lines of Byron:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> + +<span class="i4">"No! when the sons of song descend to trade,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Their bays are sear, their former laurels fade,<br /></span> +<span class="pagenum">[592]</span> +<span class="i4">Let such forego the poet's sacred name,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Who rack their brains for lucre, not for fame;<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Low may they sink to merited contempt,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">And scorn remunerate the mean attempt!<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Such be their meed, such still the just reward<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Of prostituted muse and hireling bard!"<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +</div></div> + +<p>Now these, although they have +passed current in the world for some +thirty years, are in reality poor lines, +and the sentiment they intend to inculcate +is contemptible. Byron lived +long enough to know the value of +money, as his correspondence with +the late Mr Murray most abundantly +testifies—indeed, I question whether +any author ever beat him at the art +of chaffering. If it be a legitimate +matter of reproach against an author +that he writes for money, then heaven +help the integrity of every profession +and trade in this great and enlightened +kingdom! What else, in the +name of common sense, should he +write for? Fame? Thank you! Fame +may be all very well in its way, but it +butters no parsnips; and, if I am to be +famous, I would much rather case my +renown in fine linen than in filthy +dowlas. Let people say what they +please, the best criterion of every article +is its marketable value, and no man +on the face of this earth will work +without a reasonable wage.</p> + +<p>Your first and great purpose, therefore, +is to make money, and to make +as much as you can. But then there +is another kind of purpose, which, if +I was sure you could comprehend me, +I should call the intrinsic one, and +which must be considered very seriously +before you obtrude yourself upon +the public. In other words, what +is to be the general tendency of your +work? "Fun," I think I hear you +reply, "and all manner of sky-larking." +Very good. But then, my dear +friend, you must consider that there +is a sort of method even in grimacing. +There is a gentleman connected +with your establishment, who is popularly +reported to possess the inestimable +talent of turning his head +inside out. I never saw him perform +that cephalic operation, but I have +heard it highly spoken of by others +who have enjoyed the privilege. But +this it is obvious, though a very admirable +and effective incident, could +hardly be taken as the groundwork of +a five-act play, or even a three-act +melodrama; and, in like manner, your +fun and sky-larking must have something +of a positive tendency. I don't +mean to insinuate that there is no +story in Silas Spavinhitch. He is, if +I recollect aright, the younger son of a +nobleman, who falls in love—at Astley's, +of course—with Signora Estrella +di Canterini, the peerless Amazon of +the ring. He forsakes his ancestral +halls, abjures Parliament, and enlists +in the cavalry of the Hippodrome. +In that gallant and distinguished corps +he rises to an unusual rank, utterly +eclipses Herr Pferdenshuf, more commonly +known by the title of the Suabian +acrobat—wins the heart of the +Signora by taming Centaur, the fierce +Arabian stallion; and gains the notice +and favour of royalty itself, by leaping +the Mammoth horse over nineteen consecutive +bars. Your manuscript ends +at the point where Spavinhitch, having +accidentally discovered that the +beautiful Canterini is the daughter of +Abd-el-Kader by a Sicilian princess, +resolves to embark for Africa with +the whole chivalry of the Surrey side, +and, by driving the French from +Algiers, to substantiate his claim +upon the Emir for his daughter's +hand. There is plenty incident here; +but, to say the truth, I don't quite +see my way out of it. Are you going +to take history into your own hands, +and write in the spirit of prophecy? +The experiment is, to say the least of +it, dangerous; and, had I been you, I +should have preferred an earlier period +for my tale, as there obviously could +have been no difficulty in making +Spavinhitch and his cavaliers take a +leading part in the decisive charge +at Waterloo.</p> + +<p>Your serial, therefore, so far as I +can discover, belongs to the military-romantic +school, and is intended to +command admiration by what we +may call a series of scenic effects. I +an not much surprised at this. Your +experience has lain so much in the +line of gorgeous spectacle, and, indeed, +you have borne a part in so +many of those magnificent tableaux +in which blue fire, real cannon, charging +squadrons, and the transparency +of Britannia are predominant, that +it was hardly to be expected that the<span class="pagenum">[593]</span> +current of your ideas would have +flowed in a humbler channel. At +the same time, you must forgive me +for saying, that I think the line is a +dangerous one. Putting tendency +altogether aside, you cannot but recollect +that a great many writers +have already distinguished themselves +by narratives of military adventure. +Of these, by far the best and most +spirited is Charles Lever. I don't +know whether he ever was in the +army, or bore the banner of the +Enniskillens; but I say deliberately, +that he has taken the shine out of +all military writers from the days of +Julius Cæsar downwards. There is a +rollocking buoyancy about his battles +which to me is perfectly irresistible. +In one chapter you have the lads of +the fighting Fifty-fifth bivouacking +under the cork-trees of Spain, with +no end of spatchcocks and sherry—telling +numerous anecdotes of their +early loves, none the worse because +the gentleman is invariably disappointed +in his pursuit of the well-jointured +widow—or arranging for a +speedy duel with that ogre of the +army, the saturnine and heavy dragoon. +In the next, you have them +raging like lions in the very thick of +the fight, pouring withering volleys +into the shattered columns of the +Frenchmen—engaged in single-handed +combats with the most famous marshals +of the empire, and not unfrequently +leaving marks of their prowess +upon the persons of Massena or Murat. +Lever, in fact, sticks at nothing. His +heroes indiscriminately hob-a-nob with +Wellington, or perform somersets at +leap-frog over the shoulders of the +astounded Bonaparte; and, though +somewhat given to miscellaneous flirtation, +they all, in the twentieth number, +are married to remarkably nice +girls, with lots of money and accommodating +papas, who die as soon as +they are desired. It may be objected +to this delightful writer—and a better +never mixed a tumbler—that he is, if +any thing, too helter-skelter in his +narratives; that the officers of the +British army do not, as an invariable +rule, go into action in a state of <i>delirium +tremens</i>; and that O'Shaughnessy, +in particular, is rather too +fond of furbishing up, for the entertainment +of the mess, certain stories +which have been current for the last +fifty years in Tipperary. These, however, +are very minor points of criticism, +and such as need not interfere with +our admiration of this light lancer of +literature, who always writes like a +true and a high-minded gentleman.</p> + +<p>Now, my dear Smith, I must own +that I have some fear of your success +when opposed to such a competitor. +You have not been in the army—that +is, the regulars—and I should say +that you were more conversant in +theory and in practice with firing from +platforms than firing in platoons. I +have indeed seen you, in the character +of Soult, lead several desperate +charges across the stage, with +consummate dramatic effect. Your +single combat with Gomersal as Picton, +was no doubt a masterpiece of +its kind; for in the course of it you +brought out as many sparks from the +blades of your basket-hilts, as might +have served in the aggregate for a +very tolerable illumination. Still I +question whether the style of dialogue +you indulged in on that occasion, +is quite the same as that which +is current on a modern battle-field. +"Ha! English slave! Yield, or thou +diest!" is an apostrophe more appropriate +to the middle ages than the +present century; and although the +patriotism of the following answer by +your excellent opponent is undeniable, +its propriety may be liable to censure. +Crossing the stage at four tremendous +strides, the glorious Gomersal +replied, "Yield, saidst thou? Never! +I tell thee, Frenchman, that whilst +the broad banner of Britain floats +over the regions on which the day-star +never sets—while peace and plenty +brood like guardian angels over +the shores of my own dear native +isle—whilst her sons are brave, and +her daughters virtuous—whilst the +British lion reposes on his shadow in +perfect stillness—whilst with thunders +from our native oak we quell the +floods below—I tell thee, base satellite +of a tyrant, that an Englishman +never will surrender!" In the applause +which followed this declaration, +your remark, that several centuries +beheld you from the top of a +canvass pyramid, was partially lost +upon the audience; but to it you +went tooth and nail for at least a<span class="pagenum">[594]</span> +quarter of an hour; and I must confess +that the manner in which you +traversed the stage on your left knee, +parrying all the while the strokes of +your infuriated adversary, was highly +creditable to your proficiency in the +broadsword and gymnastic exercises.</p> + +<p>But all this, Smith, will not enable +you to write a military serial. I +therefore hope, that on consideration +you will abandon the Algiers +expedition, and keep Silas in his +native island, where, if you will follow +my advice, you will find quite +enough for him to do in the way of +incident and occupation.</p> + +<p>Now let us return to the question +of tendency. Once upon a time, it +was a trite rule by which all romance +writers were guided, that in the <i>denoûment</i> +of their plots, virtue was invariably +rewarded, and vice as invariably +punished. This gave a kind of +moral tone to their writings, which +was not without its effect upon our +grandfathers and grandmothers, many +of whom were inclined to consider all +works of fiction as direct emanations +from Beelzebub. The next generation +became gradually less nice and +scrupulous, demanded more spice in +their pottage, and attached less importance +to the prominence of an +ethical precept. At last we became, +strictly speaking, a good deal blackguardised +in our taste. Ruffianism +in the middle ages bears about it a +stamp of feudality which goes far to +disguise its lawlessness, and even to +excuse its immorality. When a German +knight of the empire sacks and +burns some peaceful and unoffending +village—when a Bohemian marauder +of noble birth bears off some shrieking +damsel from her paternal castle, +having previously slitted the weasand +of her brother, and then weds her in +a subterranean chapel—or when a roaring +red-bearded Highlander drives +his dirk into a gauger, or chucks a +score of Sassenachs, tied back to +back, with a few hundredweight of +greywacke at their heels, into the +loch—we think less of the enormity +of the deeds than of the disagreeable +habits of the times. It does not follow +that either German, Bohemian, +or Celt, were otherwise bad company +or disagreeable companions over a +flagon of Rhenish, a roasted boar, or +a gallon or so of usquebæ. But when +you come to the Newgate Callendar +for subjects, I must say that we are +getting rather low. I do not know +what your feelings upon the subject +may be, but I, for one, would certainly +hesitate before accepting an invitation +to the town residence of Mr Fagin; +neither should I feel at all comfortable +if required to plant my legs +beneath the mahogany in company +with Messrs Dodger, Bates, and the +rest of their vivacious associates. +However fond I may be of female +society, Miss Nancy is not quite the +sort of person I should fancy to look +in upon of an evening about tea-time; +and as for Bill Sykes, that infernal +dog of his would be quite enough to +prevent any advances of intimacy between +us. In fact, Smith, although +you may think the confession a +squeamish one, I am not in the +habit of selecting my acquaintance +from the inhabitants of St Giles, +and on every possible occasion I +should eschew accepting their hospitalities.</p> + +<p>I have, therefore, little opportunity +of judging whether the characters +depicted by some of our later serialists, +are exact copies from nature or +the reverse. I have, however, heard +several young ladies declare them to +be extremely natural, though I confess +to have been somewhat puzzled +as to their means of accurate information. +But I may be allowed <i>en passant</i> +to remark, that it seems difficult +to imagine what kind of pleasure can +be derived from the description of a +scene, which, if actually contemplated +by the reader, would inspire him +with loathing and disgust, or from +conversations in which the brutal alternates +with the positive obscene. +The fetid den of the Jew, the stinking +cellar of the thief, the squalid attic of +the prostitute, are not haunts for +honest men, and the less that we +know of them the better. Such places +no doubt exist—the more is the pity; +but so do dunghills, and a hundred +other filthy things, which the imagination +shudders at whenever they +are forced upon it,—for the man who +willingly and deliberately dwells upon +such subjects, is, notwithstanding all +pretext, in heart and soul a nightman! +Don't tell me about close<span class="pagenum">[595]</span> +painting after nature. Nature is not +always to be painted as she really is. +Would you hang up such paintings in +your drawing-room? If not, why suffer +them in print to lie upon your +drawing-room tables? What are +Eugene Sue and his English competitors, +but coarser and more prurient +Ostades?</p> + +<p>Oh, but there is a moral in these +things! No doubt of it. There is a +moral in all sin and misery, as there +is in all virtue and happiness. There +is a moral every where, and the veriest +bungler cannot fail to seize it. +But is that a reason why the minds +of our sons and daughters should be +polluted by what is notoriously the +nearest thing to contact with absolute +vice—namely, vivid and graphic +descriptions of it by writers of undenied +ability? Did <i>Life in London</i>, +or the exploits of Tom, Jerry, and +Logic, make the youth of the metropolis +more staid, or inspire them with +a wholesome horror of dissipation? +Did the memoirs of Casanova ever +reclaim a rake—the autobiography of +David Haggart convert an aspiring +pickpocket—or the daring feats of +Jack Sheppard arrest one candidate +for the gallows? These are +the major cases; but look at the +minor ones. What are the favourite +haunts of the heroes in even +the most blameless of our serials? +Pot-houses—cigariums—green-rooms +of theatres—hells—spunging-houses—garrets—and +the scullery! Nice +and improving all this—isn't it, +Smith?—for the young and rising +generation! No need now for surreptitious +works, entitled, "A Guide +to the Larks of London," or so forth, +which used formerly to issue from the +virgin press of Holywell Street. Almost +any serial will give hints enough +to an acute boy, if he wishes to gain +an initiative knowledge of subjects +more especially beneath the cognisance +of the police. They will at +least guide him to the door with the +red lamp burning over it, and only +one plank betwixt its iniquity and +the open street. And all this is for a +moral! Heaven knows, Smith, I am +no Puritan; but when I think upon +the men who now call themselves the +lights of the age, and look back upon +the past, I am absolutely sick at heart, +and could almost wish for a return +of the days of Mrs Radcliffe and the +Castle of Otranto.</p> + +<p>Now, my dear fellow, as I know you +to be a thoroughly good-hearted man—not +overgiven to liquor, although +your estimate of beer is a just one—a +constant husband, and, moreover, +the father of five or six promising +olive-branches, I do not for a moment +suppose that you are likely to +inweave any such tendencies in your +tale. You would consider it low to +make a prominent character of a +scavenger; and although some dozen +idiots who call themselves philanthropists +would brand you as an aristocrat +for entertaining any such opinion, I +think you are decidedly in the right. +But there is another tendency towards +which I suspect you are more likely +to incline. You are a bit of a Radical, +and, like all men of genius, you pique +yourself on elbowing upwards. So +far well. The great ladder, or rather +staircase of ambition, is open to all of +us, and it is fortunately broader than +it is high. It is not the least too +narrow to prevent any one from approaching +it, and after you have +taken the first step, there is nothing +more than stamina and perseverance +required. But then I do not see that +it is necessary to be perpetually plucking +at the coat-tails, or seizing hold +of the ankles of those who are before. +Such conduct is quite as indecorous, +and indeed ungenerous, as it would +be to kick back, and systematically +to smite with your heel the unprotected +foreheads of your followers. +Nor would I be perpetually pitching +brickbats upwards, in order to show +my own independence; or raising a +howl of injustice, because another fellow +was considerably elevated above +me. In the social system, Smith, as +it stands at present, has always stood, +and will continue to stand long after +Astley's is forgotten, it is not necessary +that every one should commence +at the lowest round of the staircase. +Their respective fathers and progenitors +have secured an advantageous +start for many. They have achieved, +as the case may be, either rank or +fame, or honour, or wealth, or credit—and +these possessions they are +surely entitled to leave as an inheritance +of their offspring. If we want<span class="pagenum">[596]</span> +to rise higher in the social scale than +they did, we must make exertions for +ourselves; if we are indolent, we +must be contented to remain where +we are, though at imminent risk of +descending. But you, I take it for +granted, and indeed the most of us +who owe little to ancestral enterprise +and are in fact men of the masses, are +struggling forward towards one or +other of the good things specified +above, and no doubt we shall in time +attain them. In the meanwhile, +however, is it just—nay, is it wise—that +we should mar our own expectancies, +and depreciate the value of +the prizes which we covet, by abusing +not only the persons but the position +of those above us? How are they to +blame? Are they any the worse that +they stand, whether adventitiously or +not, at a point which we are endeavouring +to reach? Am I necessarily +a miscreant because I am born rich, +and you a martyr because you are +poor? I do not quite follow the argument. +If there is any one to blame, +you will find their names written on +the leaves of your own family-tree; +but I don't see that on that account +you have any right to execrate me or +my ancestors.</p> + +<p>I am the more anxious to caution +you against putting any such rubbish +into your pages, because I fear you +have contracted some sort of intimacy +with a knot of utilitarian ninnyhammers. +The last time I had the pleasure +of meeting you at the Ducrow's Head, +there was a seedy-looking, ill-conditioned +fellow seated on your +right, who, between his frequent +draughts of porter, (which you paid +for,) did nothing but abuse the upper +classes as tyrants, fools, and systematical +grinders of the poor. I took +the liberty, as you may remember, of +slightly differing from some of his +wholesale positions; whereupon your +friend, regarding me with a cadaverous +sneer, was pleased to mutter something +about a sycophant, the tenor of +which I did not precisely comprehend. +Now, unless I am shrewdly mistaken, +this was one of the earnest men—fellows +who are continually bawling +on people to go forward—who set +themselves up for popular teachers, +and maunder about "a oneness of +purpose," "intellectual elevation," +"aspirations after reality," and suchlike +drivel, as though they were absolute +Solons, not blockheads of the +muddiest water. And I was sorry to +observe that you rather seemed to +agree with the rusty patriot in some +of his most sweeping strictures, and +evinced an inclination to adopt his +theory of the coming Utopia, which, +judging from the odour that pervaded +his apostolic person and raiment, +must bear a strong resemblance to a +modern gin-shop. Now, Smith, this +will not do. There may be inequalities +in this world, and there may also +be injustice; but it is a very great +mistake to hold that one-half of the +population of these islands is living in +profligate ease upon the compulsory +labour of the other. I am not going +to write you a treatise upon political +economy; but I ask you to reflect for +a moment, and you will see how ludicrous +is the charge. This style of +thinking, or, what is worse, this style +of writing, is positively the most mischievous +production of the present +day. Disguised under the specious +aspect of philanthropy, it fosters self-conceit +and discontent, robs honest +industry of that satisfaction which is +its best reward, and, instead of removing, +absolutely creates invidious class-distinctions. +And I will tell you from +what this spirit arises—it is the working +of the meanest envy.</p> + +<p>There never was a time when talent, +and genius, and ability, had so fair a +field as now. The power of the press +is developed to an extent which almost +renders exaggeration impossible, +and yet it is still upon the increase. +A thousand minds are now at work, +where a few were formerly employed. +We have become a nation of readers +and of writers. The rudiments of education, +whatever may be said of its +higher branches, are generally distributed +throughout the masses—so +much so, indeed, that without them +no man can hope to ascend one step in +the social scale. This is a great, +though an imperfect gain, and, like all +such, it has its evils.</p> + +<p>Of these not the least is the astounding +growth of quackery. It assails us +every where, and on every side; and, +with consummate impudence, it asserts +its mission to teach. Look at +the shoals of itinerant lecturers which<span class="pagenum">[597]</span> +at this moment are swarming through +the land. No department of science +is too deep, no political question too +abstruse, for their capacity. They +have their own theories on the subjects +of philosophy and religion—of +which theories I shall merely remark, +that they differ in many essentials +from the standards both of church +and college—and these they communicate +to their audience with the least +possible regard to reservation. Had +you ever the pleasure, Smith, of meeting +one of these gentlemen amongst +the amenities of private life? I have +upon various occasions enjoyed that +luxury; and, so far as I am capable +of judging, the Pericles of the platform +appeared to me a coarse-minded, +illiterate, and ignorant Cockney, with +the manners and effrontery of a bagman. +Such are the class of men who +affect to regenerate the people with +the tongue, and who are listened to +even with avidity, because impudence, +like charity, can cover a multitude of +defects; and thus they stand, like so +many sons of Telamon, each secure +behind the shelter of his brazen +shield. As to the pen-regenerators, +they are at least equally numerous. +I do not speak of the established +press, the respectability and talent of +which is undeniable; but of the minor +crew, who earn their bread partly by +fostering discontent, and partly by +pandering to the worst of human +passions. The merest whelp, who +can write a decent paragraph, considers +himself, now-a-days, entitled +to assume the airs of an Aristarchus, +and will pronounce opinions, <i>ex cathedrâ</i>, +upon every question, no matter +of what importance, for he too is +a teacher of the people!</p> + +<p>This is the lowest sort of quackery; +but there are also higher degrees. +Our literature, of what ought to be +the better sort, has by no means +escaped the infection. In former +times, men who devoted themselves +to the active pursuit of letters, brought +to the task not only high talent, but +deep and measured thought, and an +accumulated fund of acquirement. +They studied long before they wrote, +and attempted no subject until they +had thoroughly and comprehensively +mastered its details. But we live +under a new system. There is no +want of talent, though it be of a +rambling and disjointed kind; but we +look in vain for marks of the previous +study. Our authors deny the necessity +or advantage of an apprenticeship, +and set up for masters before +they have learned the rudiments of +their art, and they dispense altogether +with reflection. Few men now think +before they write. The consequence +is, that a great proportion of our modern +literature is of the very flimsiest +description—vivid, sometimes, and not +without sparkles of genuine humour; +but so ill constructed as to preclude +the possibility of its long existence. +No one is entitled to reject models, +unless he has studied them, and detected +their faults; but this is considered +by far too tedious a process +for modern ingenuity. We are thus +inundated with a host of clever +writers, each relying upon his peculiar +and native ability, jesting—for +that is the humour of the time—against +each other, and all of them +forsaking nature, and running deplorably +into caricature.</p> + +<p>These are the men who make the +loudest outcry against the social +system, and who appear to be imbued +with an intense hatred of the +aristocracy, and indeed with every +one of our time-honoured institutions. +This I know has been denied; but, +in proof of my assertion, I appeal to +their published works. Read any +one of them through, and I ask you +if you do not rise from it with a sort +of conviction, that you must search +for the cardinal virtues solely in the +habitations of the poor—that the rich +are hard, selfish, griping, and tyrannical—and +that the nobility are either +fools, spendthrifts, or debauchees? +Is it so, as a general rule, in actual +life? Far from it. I do not need to +be told of the virtue and industry +which grace the poor man's lot; for +we all feel and know it, and God forbid +that it should be otherwise. But +we know also that there is as great, +if not greater temptation in the hovel +than in the palace, with fewer counteracting +effects from education and +principle to withstand it; and it is an +insult to our understanding to be told, +that fortune and station are in effect +but other words for tyranny, callousness, +and crime.<span class="pagenum">[598]</span></p> + +<p>The fact is, that most of these authors +know nothing whatever of the society +which they affect to describe, but +which in truth they grossly libel. +Their starting-point is usually not a +high one; but by dint of some talent—in +certain cases naturally great—and +a vivacity of style, joined with a good +deal of drollery and power of bizarre +description, they at last gain a portion +of the public favour, and become +in a manner notables. This is as it +should be; and such progress is always +honourable. Having arrived at this +point, not without a certain degree of +intoxication consequent upon success, +our author begins to look about him +and to consider his own position—and +he finds that position to be both new and +anomalous. On the one hand he has +become a lion. The newspapers are +full of his praises; his works are dramatized +at the minor theatres; he is +pointed at in the streets, and his publisher +is clamorous for copy. At small +literary reunions he is the cynosure of +all eyes. And so his organ of self-esteem +continues to expand day by +day, until he fancies himself entitled +to a statue near the altar in the Temple +of Fame—not very far, perhaps, +from those of Shakspeare, of Spencer, +or of Scott. One little drop of gall, +however, is mingled in the nectar of +his cup. He does not receive that +consideration which he thinks himself +entitled to from the higher classes. +Peers do not wait upon him with +pressing invitations to their country-seats; +nor does he receive any direct +intimation of the propriety of presenting +himself at Court. This appears +to him not only strange but grossly +unfair. He is one of nature's aristocracy—at +least so he thinks; and yet +he is regarded with indifference by the +body of the class aristocrats! Why +is this? He knows they have heard of +his name; he is convinced that they +have read his works, and been mightily +tickled thereby; yet how is it that +they show no manner of thirst whatever +for his society? In vain he lays +in scores of apple-green satin waistcoats, +florid cravats, and a wilderness +of mosaic jewellery—in vain he makes +himself conspicuous wherever he can—he +is looked at, to be sure; but +the right hand of fellowship is withheld. +Gradually he becomes savage +and indignant. No man is better +aware than he is, that not one scion +of the existing aristocracy could +write a serial or a novel at all to be +compared to his; and yet Lord John +and Lord Frederick—both of them +literary men too—do not insist upon +walking with him in the streets, and +never once offer to introduce him to +the bosom of their respective families! +Our friend becomes rapidly +bilious; is seized with a moral jaundice; +and vows that, in his next +work, he will do his uttermost to +show up that confounded aristocracy. +And he keeps his vow.</p> + +<p>Now, Smith, to say the least of it, +this is remarkably silly conduct, and +it argues but little for the intellect +and the temper of the man. It is +quite true that the English aristocracy, +generally speaking, do not consider +themselves bound to associate with +every successful candidate for the public +favour; but they neither despise +him nor rob him of one tittle of his +due. The higher classes of society +are no more exclusive than the +lower. Each circle is formed upon +principles peculiar to itself, amongst +which are undoubtedly similarity of +interest, of position, and of taste; and +it is quite right that it should be so. +You will understand this more clearly +if I bring the case home to yourself. I +shall suppose that the success of Silas +Spavinhitch is something absolutely +triumphant—that it sells by tens and +hundreds of thousands, and that the +treasury of your publisher is bursting +with the accumulated silver. You +find yourself, in short, the great literary +lion of the day—the intellectual +workman who has produced the consummate +masterpiece of the age. What, +under such circumstances, would be +your wisest line of conduct? I should +decidedly say, to establish an account +at your banker's, enjoy yourself reasonably +with your friends, make Mrs +Smith and your children as happy as +possible, and tackle to another serial +without deviating from the tenor of +your way. I would not, if I were you, +drop old acquaintances, or insist clamorously +upon having new ones. I should +look upon myself, not as a very great +man, but as a very fortunate one; and I +would not step an inch from my path +to exchange compliments with King or<span class="pagenum">[599]</span> +with Kaisar. Don't you think such +conduct would be more rational than +quarrelling with society because you +are not worshipped as a sort of demi-god? +Is the Duke of Devonshire +obliged to ask you to dinner, because +you are the author of Silas Spavinhitch? +Take my word for it, Smith, +you would feel excessively uncomfortable +if any such invitation came. I +think I see you at a ducal table, with +an immense fellow in livery behind +you, utterly bewildered as to how you +should behave yourself, and quite +as much astounded as Abon Hassan +when hailed by Mesrour, chief of the +eunuchs, as the true Commander of +the Faithful! How gladly would you +not exchange these <i>soufflés</i> and <i>salmis</i> +for a rump-steak and onions in the +back-parlour of the Ducrow's Head! +Far rather would you be imbibing +porter with Widdicomb than drinking +hermitage with his Grace—and O!—horror +of horrors! you have capsized +something with a French name into +the lap of the dowager next you, and +your head swims round with a touch +of temporary apoplexy, as you observe +the snigger on the countenance of the +opposite lackey, who, menial as he is, +considers himself at bottom quite as +much of a gentleman, and as conspicuous +a public character as yourself.</p> + +<p>And—mercy on me!—what would +you make of yourself at a ball? You +are a good-looking fellow, Smith, and +nature has been bountiful to you in +calf; but I would not advise you to +sport that plum-coloured coat and +azure waistcoat of an evening. Believe +me, that though you may pass +muster in such a garb most creditably +on the Surrey side, there are +people in Grosvenor Square who will +unhesitatingly pronounce you a tiger. +And pray, whom are you going to +dance with? You confess to yourself, +whilst working on those relentless +and impracticable kids, that you +do not know a single soul in the +saloon except the man who brought +you there, and he has speedily abandoned +you. That staid, haughty-looking +lady with the diamonds, is a +Countess in her own right, and those +two fair girls with the auburn ringlets +are her daughters, the flower of +the English nobility, and the name +they bear is conspicuous in history to +the Conquest. Had you not better +walk up to the noble matron, announce +yourself as the author of Silas +Spavinhitch, and request an introduction +to Lady Edith or Lady Maude? +You would just as soon consent to +swing yourself like Fra Diavolo on +the slack-rope! And suppose that +you were actually introduced to Lady +Maude, how would you contrive to +amuse her? With anecdotes of the +back slums, or the green-room, or the +witticisms of medical students? +Would you tell her funny stories +about the loves of the bagmen, or +recreations with a migratory giantess +in the interior of a provincial caravan? +Do you think that, with dulcet +prattle of this sort, you could manage +to efface the impression made long +ago upon her virgin heart by that +handsome young guardsman, who is +now regarding you with a glance prophetic +of a coming flagellation? +Surely, you misguided creature, you +are not going to expose yourself by +dancing? Yes, you are! You once +danced a polka with little Laura +Wilkins on the boards at Astley's, +and ever since that time you have +been labouring under the delusion +that you are a consummate Vestris. +So you claw your shrinking partner +round the waist, and set off, prancing +like the pony that performs a pas-seul +upon its hinder legs; and after bouncing +against several couples in your +rash and erratic career, you are arrested +by the spur of a dragoon, +which rips up your inexpressibles, +lacerates your ankle, and stretches you +on the broad of your back upon the +floor, to the intense and unextinguishable +delight of the assembled British +aristocracy.</p> + +<p>Or, by way of a change, what +would you say to go down with your +acquaintance, Lord Walter, to Melton? +You ride well—that is, upon +several horses, with one foot upon the +crupper of the first, and the other upon +the shoulder of the fourth. But a +hunting-field is another matter. I +think I see you attempting to assume +a light and jaunty air in +the saddle; your long towsy hair +flowing gracefully over the collar of +your spotless pink; and the nattiest +of conical castors secured by a ribband +upon the head which imagined<span class="pagenum">[600]</span> +the tale of Spavinhitch. You have +not any very distinct idea of what is +going to take place; but you resolve +to demean yourself like a man, and +cover your confusion with a cigar. +The hounds are thrown into cover. +There is a yelping and the scouring of +many brushes among the furze; a red +hairy creature bolts out close beside +you, and, with a bray of insane +triumph, you commence to canter +after him, utterly regardless of the +cries of your fellow-sportsmen, entreating +you to hold hard. In a couple +of minutes more, you are in the middle +of the hounds, knocking out the brains +of one, crushing the spine of another, +and fracturing the legs of a third. A +shout of anger rises behind; no matter—on +you go. Accidents will happen +in the best regulated hunting-fields—and +what business had these +stupid brutes to get under your +horse's legs? Otherwise, you are +undeniably a-head of the field; and +won't you show those tip-top fellows +how a serialist can go the pace? But +your delusion is drawing to an end. +There is a clattering of hoofs, and a +resonant oath behind you—and smack +over your devoted shoulders comes +the avenging whip of the huntsman, +frantic at the loss of his most favourite +hounds, and execrating you for a +clumsy tailor. "Serve him right, +Jem! Give it him again!" cries the +Master of the hounds—a very different +person from your old friend the Master +of the Ring—as the scarlet crowd +rushes by; and again and again, with +intensest anguish, you writhe beneath +the thong wielded by the brawny +groom—and, after sufficient chastisement, +sneak home to anoint your +aching back, and depart, ere the +sportsmen return, for your own Paddingtonian +domicile.</p> + +<p>Now, Smith, are you not convinced +that it would be the height of folly to +expose yourself to any such unpleasant +occurrences? To be sure you +are; and yet there are some dozen of +men, no better situated than yourself, +who would barter their ears for the +chance of being made such laughingstocks +for life. The innate good +sense and fine feeling of the upper +classes, prevents these persons from +assuming so extremely false and ridiculous +a position, and yet this consideration +is rewarded by the most foul +and malignant abuse. It is high +time that these gentlemen should be +brought to their senses, and be taught +the real value of themselves and of +their writings. Personally they are +objectionable and offensive—relatively +they are bores—and, in a literary +point of view, they have done much +more to lower than to elevate the +artistic standard of the age. Their +affectation of philanthropy and maudlin +sentiment is too shallow to deceive +any one who is possessed of the ordinary +intellect of a man; and in point +of wit and humour, which is their +stronghold, the best of them is far +inferior to Paul de Kock, whose +works are nearly monopolized for +perusal by the <i>flaneurs</i> and the <i>grisettes</i> +of Paris.</p> + +<p>Take my advice then, and have +nothing to say to the earnest and +oneness-of-purpose men. They are +not only weak but wicked; and they +will lead you most lamentably astray. +Let us now look a little into your +style, which, after all, is a matter of +some importance in a serial.</p> + +<p>On the whole, I like it. It is nervous, +terse, and epigrammatic—a +little too high-flown at times; but I +was fully prepared for that. What +I admire most, however, is your fine +feeling of humanity—the instinct, as +it were, and dumb life which you +manage to extract from inanimate +objects as well as from articulately-speaking +men. Your very furniture +has a kind of automatonic life; you +can make an old chest of drawers +wink waggishly from the corner, and +a boot-jack in your hands becomes a +fellow of infinite fancy. This is all +very pleasant and delightful; though +I think, upon the whole, you give us +a little too much of it, for I cannot +fancy myself quite comfortable in a +room with every article of the furniture +maintaining a sort of espionage +upon my doings. Then as to your +antiquarianism you are perfect. Your +description of "the old deserted stable, +with the old rusty harness hanging +upon the old decayed nails, so honey-combed, +as it were, by the tooth of +time, that you wondered how they +possibly could support the weight; +while across the span of an old discoloured +stirrup, a great spider had<span class="pagenum">[601]</span> +thrown his web, and now lay waiting +in the middle of it, a great hairy bag +of venom, for the approach of some +unlucky fly, like a usurer on the +watch for a spendthrift,"—that description, +I say, almost brought tears to +my eyes. The catalogue, also, which +you give us of the decayed curry-combs +all clogged with grease, the +shankless besoms, the worm-eaten +corn-chest, and all the other paraphernalia +of the desolate stable, is as +finely graphic as any thing which I +ever remember to have read.</p> + +<p>But your best scene is the opening +one, in which you introduce us to the +aërial dwelling of Estrella di Canterini, +in Lambeth. I do not wish to +flatter you, my dear fellow; but I +hold it to be a perfect piece of composition, +and I cannot resist the +temptation of transcribing a very few +sentences:—</p> + +<p>"It was the kitten that began it, +and not the cat. It isn't no use saying +it was the cat, because I was +there, and I saw it and know it; and +if I don't know it, how should any +body else be able to tell about it, +if you please? So I say again it was +the kitten that began it, and the way +it all happened was this.</p> + +<p>"There was a little bit, a small +tiny string of blue worsted—no! I am +wrong, for when I think again the +string was pink—which was hanging +down from a little ball that lay on the +lap of a tall dark girl with large lustrous +eyes, who was looking into the +fire as intently as if she expected to +see a salamander in the middle of it. +Huggs, the old cat, was lying at her +feet, coiled up with her tail under her, +enjoying, to all appearance, a comfortable +snooze: but she wasn't asleep, +for all the time that she was pretending +to shut her eyes, she was watching +the movements of a smart little +kitten, just six weeks old, who was +pouncing upon, and then letting go, +like an imaginary mouse, a little roll +of paper, which, between ourselves, +bore a strong resemblance to two or +three others which occupied a more +elevated position, being, in fact, placed +in a festoon or sort of fancy-garland +round the head of the dark girl who +was so steadfastly gazing into the fire. +But this sort of thing didn't last long; +for the kitten, after making a violent +pounce, shook its head and sneezed, +as if it had been pricked by a pin, +which was the case, and then cried +mew, as much as to say, 'You nasty +thing! if I had known that you were +going to hurt me, I wouldn't have +played with you so long; so go away, +you greasy little rag!' And then the +kitten put on a look of importance, as +if its feelings had been injured in the +nicest points, and then walked up demurely +to Huggs, and began to pat +her whiskers, as if it wanted, which it +probably did, to tell her all about it. +But Huggs didn't get up, or open her +great green eyes, but lay still upon the +rug, purring gently, as though she +were dreaming that she had got into +a dairy, and that there was nobody to +interfere at all between her and the +bowls of cream. So the smart little +kitten gave another pat, and a harder +one than the last, which might have +roused Huggs, had it not observed at +that moment the little pink string of +worsted. Now the end of the little +pink string reached down to within a +foot of the floor, so that the smart +little kitten could easily reach it; so +the smart little kitten wagged its tail +and stood up upon its hind-paws, and +caught hold of the little pink string by +the end, and gave it such a pull, that +the worsted ball rolled off the girl's +knee and fell upon the head of Huggs, +who made believe to think that it was +a rat, and got up and jumped after it, +and the kitten ran too, and gave another +mew, as much as to say, that +the worsted was its own finding out, +and that Huggs shouldn't have it at +all. All this wasn't done without +noise; so the tall girl looked round, +and seeing her worsted ball roll away, +and Huggs and the kitten after it, she +said in a slightly foreign accent,</p> + +<p>"'Worrit that Huggs!'</p> + +<p>"All this while there was sitting +at the other side of the fire, a young +girl, a great deal younger than the +other; in fact, a little, very little child, +who was sucking a dried damson in +her mouth, and looked as if she would +have liked to have swallowed it, but +didn't do it, for fear of the stone. Now +Huggs was the particular pet of the +little girl, who wouldn't have her +abused on any account, and she said,</p> + +<p>"''Twor'n't Huggs, aunt Strelly, +'twore the kitten!'<span class="pagenum">[602]</span></p> + +<p>" 'Eliza Puddifoot!' replied the +other, in a somewhat raucous and +melo-dramatic tone—'Eliza Puddifoot! +I is perticklarly surprised, I is, +that you comes for to offer to contradick +me. I knows better what's what +than you, and all I says is, that there +'ere Huggs goes packing out of the +windor!'</p> + +<p>"The child—she was a very little +one—burst into a flood of tears."</p> + +<p>Now, that is what I call fine writing, +and no mistake. There is a +breadth—a depth—a sort of <i>chiaroscuro</i>, +about the picture which betrays +the hand of a master, and shows how +deeply you have studied in a school +which has no equal in modern, and +never had a parallel in former times.</p> + +<p>Almost equal to this is your sketch +of the soirée at Mr Grindlejerkin's, +which is written with a close observance +of character, and, at the same +time, an ease and playfulness which +cannot fail of attracting a large share +of the popular regard. Your hero, +Mr Spavinhitch, has distinguished +himself so much by throwing a somerset +through a blazing hoop, that at +last he receives the honour of an invitation +to the hospitalities of the +Master of the Ring.</p> + +<p>"I can tell you, that an uncommonly +fine man Mr Grindlejerkin was, +with a stout Roman nose, only a little +warty, and black whiskers curling +under his chin, and a smart little imperial +that gave quite a cock to his +countenance, and made him altogether +look a good deal like a hero. He was +dressed in bright bottle-green, was +Mr Grindlejerkin—that is, in so far as +regarded his coat, which was garnished +with large silver buttons and a +horse's head upon them: but his +trousers were of a light-blue colour, a +little faded or so, and creased, as if +they had been sent out a good deal to +the washing, and had come home +without having been pressed carefully +through the mangle. He had evidently +been drinking, had Mr Grindlejerkin, +for he leaned against the +fireplace in a sort of vibratory manner, +as if he were not very sure of his +own equilibrium, and couldn't trust it. +However, he did his best to welcome +Silas, which he did with an air of patronising +affability, as if he wished +him to understand that he was not to +be considered as letting himself down +by inviting a voltigeur to his table.</p> + +<p>"'Now, Mr Spavinhitch,' said Mr +Grindlejerkin, 'glad to see you, sir, +or any other rising member of the profession. +May I perish of the string-halt, +sir, if I do not consider you an +eminent addition to the Ring! Your +last vault through the hoops, sir, was +extraordinary; upon my credentials, +quite! It reminded me much of my +late esteemed friend Goggletrumkins. +Ah, what a man that was! Did you +know Goggletrumkins, Mr Spavinhitch?'</p> + +<p>"Silas modestly repudiated that +honour.</p> + +<p>"'Ah, sir, you should have known +him!' replied the stately Master of +the Ring. 'That was indeed a man, +sir; the gem of the British arena. +His Life-guardsman Shaw, sir, was +one of the finest things in nature: +quite statuesque, sir; it was enough +to inspire a nation. You are, perhaps, +not aware, sir, that he used to +sit as a model for the Wellington +statues?'</p> + +<p>"'Indeed!' said Silas.</p> + +<p>"'He did, sir,' continued Mr +Grindlejerkin solemnly, 'and the boast +of Astley's now lives in imperishable +marble. But I forgot: you do not +know my lady. Mrs Grindlejerkin, +my cherub—Mr Spavinhitch, one of +our most distinguished recruits.'</p> + +<p>"Mrs Grindlejerkin was a tall lady, +with black treacly hair, a good deal +younger than her lord, to whom she +had been only recently united. She +was married off the stage, which she +had ornamented since she was three +years old, when she used to appear +as a little fairy crawling out of paste-board +tulips, and frighten, by the +magic of her rod, some older imps in +green, who used to shoulder their legs +like muskets, and go through all sorts +of strange diabolical manœuvres. Miss +Clara Tiggs, such was her virgin name, +then rose to the rank of the angels, +and might be seen any evening flying +across the stage with little gauze +winglets fastened to her back, by aid +of which it is not likely that she could +have flown very far, if it had not +been for the cross-wires and the cord +attached to her waist. But she looked +very pretty, did Clara Tiggs, as she +fluttered from the side-wings like an<span class="pagenum">[603]</span> +exaggerated butterfly, and rained +down white paper flowers upon the +heads of imploring lovers. But she +soon got too heavy for that business, +and having no natural genius for +tragedy, and being rather too splayfooted +for the ballet, and too stiff-jointed +for the hippodrome, she became +one of those young ladies in white, +who always walk before the queens +in melodramatic spectacles, and who +keep in pairs, and look like the most +loving and affectionate creatures in +the world, because they always are +holding one another's hands. And +it possibly might be this appearance +of sisterly devotion which induced +Mr Grindlejerkin to pay his addresses +to Miss Clara Tiggs; for Miss Clara +Tiggs never appeared in public except +linked to Miss Emily Whax, another +nice young lady, who was always +dressed in white, and who carried +around her neck a locket, which was +supposed to contain the hair of a +certain officer who always took a +considerable number of tickets for her +benefit. Such was Mrs Grindlejerkin, +who now saluted Mr Spavinhitch with +a pleasant smile.</p> + +<p>"'Clara, my own dear love,' said +Mr Grindlejerkin after a pause, 'can +you tell me what we are to have for +supper?'</p> + +<p>"'La! Mr Grindlejerkin,' replied +the lady, 'how should I know? Sassengers +and pettitoes, I suppose. It's +very odd,' continued she, addressing +Silas—'it's very odd, but Mr Grindlejerkin +always <i>does</i> ask me what he is +to have for supper!'</p> + +<p>"Silas didn't think it was odd at +all, for the same idea had just been +floating through his mind; but as he +did not think it would be right to say +so, he merely smiled, whereupon Mrs +Grindlejerkin, who was a good-natured +body in the main, smiled too, and Mr +Grindlejerkin began to smile, but +checked himself, and didn't, because +it might have been thought that he +was letting down his dignity. So he +contented himself with ringing the +bell, and directed the servant-girl who +answered it, rather ferociously, to +bring him a tumbler of rum-and-water.</p> + +<p>"'Ha! Bingo, my buck, how are +you?' cried the Master of the Ring to +the principal clown, who now entered +the apartment, and who, being a personage +of much consideration and importance +in the theatrical circles, +might be addressed with any kind of +familiarity without a compromise of +official reserve. 'How are ye, Bingo? +Well and herty, eh? Won't you +take a drop of summat?'</p> + +<p>"'I will,' replied the clown in a +melancholy voice, well corresponding +to his features, which, when the paint +was washed off, were haggard and +malagugrious in the extreme. 'I will; +but I am not well. Spasms in the +heart, kidneys, merry-thought, and +liver. A silent sorrow here. Age +brings care. I thank you. Stop. I +like it stiff.'</p> + +<p>"'That's my rum 'un!' said Mr +Grindlejerkin. 'Drown dull care in +Jamaikey. But here is the Signora +Estrella. Madame, you are most +welcome!'</p> + +<p>"Silas felt the blood rise to his +temples. And so at last he could meet +her, the lady of his heart, the bright +star of his boyish existence, not in the +feverish whirl of the arena, beneath +the glare of gas, surrounded by clouds +of sawdust and the gazing eyes of +thousands, but in the calm sanctuary +of private life, where, at least if he +could find the courage, he might pour +forth the incense of his soul, and tell +her how madly, how desolatingly he +had begun to love her—no, not begun, +for it seemed to him as if he had loved +her long before he ever saw her: as if +the love of her were something implanted +in his bosom before yet he +knew what it was to undergo the +agonies of teething; long before, like +a roasting oyster, he lay in his silken +cradle, and squared with tiny and +ineffectual fists at the approaching +phantoms of time, existence, and futurity. +It seemed to him as though +the doll, with which, when a very +little child, he had played, had just the +same dark lustrous eyes, with something +bead-like and mysterious in +their expression, which lent such an +inexpressible fascination to the countenance +of the beautiful Canterini. +That doll! he had fondled it a thousand +times in his baby arms: had +called it his duck, his dolly, his wifikin, +and numerous other terms of +childish prattle and endearment: had +grown jealous of it, because, when his<span class="pagenum">[604]</span> +little brother kissed it, it did not cry +out or show any symptoms of anger, +and so, in a mad moment of rage and +remorse, he had struck the waxen +features against a mantelpiece, and +shivered them into innumerable fragments. +What would he not have given +at that moment to have recalled the +doll! But it could not be. The fragments +had been long, long ago swept +into the dust-hole of oblivion, and +though they might afterwards have +been carried out and scattered over +the fresh green fields, where there are +trees, and cows, and little singing-birds, +and flowers, they could not be—oh +no, never—reunited! But the lady, +the Signora! no rude hand had marred +the wax of that countenance; for +though very, very pale, there still +lingered beneath her eyes a touch +of the enchanting carmine.</p> + +<p>"'The Signora,' said Mr Bingo. +'Fine woman. Grass though. Decidedly +grass. All flesh is, you know.' +And with this remark the mimic resumed +his tumbler.</p> + +<p>"The Signora turned her dark lustrous +eyes upon Silas, and instantly +encountered his ardent and devoted +gaze. She did not shrink from it; +true love never does, for it is always +bold if not happy; but she grew a +shade paler as she accepted that involuntary +homage, and, with a graceful +wave of her hand, she sunk upon +a calico sofa.</p> + +<p>"'The sassengers is dished!' said +the pudding-faced servant-maid; and +the whole party, now increased by +the addition of Mr Jonas Fitzjunk, +who did the nautical heroes, and +Whang Gobretsjee Jeehohupsejee, the +Brahmin conjurer, who talked English +with a strong Aberdeen accent, +besides one or two other notables, adjourned +to the supper-room.</p> + +<p>"'Signora, sassenger?' said Mr +Grindlejerkin.</p> + +<p>"'If you pleases; underdone and +graveyless,' replied the beautiful +foreigner.</p> + +<p>"'Oh, that I were that sausage, +that so I might touch those ripe and +tempting lips!' thought Silas, as he +reached across the Brahmin for the +pickles.</p> + +<p>"'Can the buddy no tak' a care!' +cried Jeehohupsejee; 'fat's he gauen +to dee wi' the wee joug?'</p> + +<p>"'Hush, conjurer!' cried Bingo. +'Eat. Swallow. That's your sort. +Life is short. Victuals become cold.'</p> + +<p>"'Mr Grindlejerkin!' screamed +the helpmate of that gentleman suddenly +from the lower end of the table. +'Mr Grindlejerkin! I wish you would +come here and stop Mr Fitzjunk from +winking at me!'</p> + +<p>"'Mr Fitzjunk!' thundered the +Master of the Ring, 'do you know, +sir, that that lady has the honour to +be my wife? What do you mean by +this conduct, sir? How dare you +wink?'</p> + +<p>"'Avast there, messmate!' said +Fitzjunk, who always spoke as if he +were in command of a Battersea +steamer. 'Avast there! None of +your fresh-water and loblolly-boy +terms, if you please. Shiver my +binnacle, if things haven't come to a +pretty pass, when an old British sailor +can't throw out a signal of distress to +one of the prettiest craft that ever +showed her sky-scrapers where Neptune's +billows roll!'</p> + +<p>"'Oh, Mr Fitzjunk! but you <i>did</i> +wink at me!' said Mrs Grindlejerkin, +considerably mollified by the compliment.</p> + +<p>"'I knows I did,' replied the +representative of the British navy. +'The more by token, as how I ha'n't +got nothing here to stow away into +my locker; so I shut up one deadlight +twice, and burned a blue fire for a +cargo of pettitoes to heave to.'</p> + +<p>"'Was that all, sir?' said Mr +Grindlejerkin, still rather sternly.</p> + +<p>"'Ay, ay, sir!' replied the tar.</p> + +<p>"'Then I shall be happy to drown +all unkindness in a pot of porter, sir.'</p> + +<p>"'Good!' said Mr Bingo, 'Right. +Harmony preserved. Glad to join +you. Cup of existence. Gall at +bottom.'</p> + +<p>"'I beg your pardink, sir,' said the +Signora looking full at Silas, who was +seated exactly opposite—'I beg your +pardink, sir, but vos you pleased to +vish anythink?'</p> + +<p>"'No, lady!' replied Silas blushing +scarlet. 'No, lady, not I—That is—'</p> + +<p>"'O, very vell!' observed the Signora; +'it don't much sicknify; only I +thought you might vant somethink, +'cos you vos a treadin' on my toes!'"</p> + +<p>I shall not, my dear Smith, pursue +this delightful scene any further. It<span class="pagenum">[605]</span> +is enough to substantiate your claim—and +I am sure the public will coincide +with me in this opinion—to a +very high place amongst the domestic +and sentimental writers of the age. +You have, and I think most wisely, +undertaken to frame a new code of +grammar and of construction for yourself; +and the light and airy effect of +this happy innovation is conspicuous +not only in every page, but in almost +every sentence of your work. There +is no slipslop here—only a fine, manly +disregard of syntax, which is infinitely +attractive; and I cannot doubt that +you are destined to become the founder +of a far higher and more enduring +school of composition, than that which +was approved of and employed by the +fathers of our English literature.</p> + +<p>You work will be translated, Smith, +into French and German, and other +European languages. I am sincerely +glad of it. It is supposed abroad that +a popular author must depict both +broadly and minutely the manners of +his particular nation—that his sketches +of character have reference not only +to individuals, but to the idiosyncrasy +of the country in which he +dwells. Your works, therefore, will +be received in the saloons of Paris +and Vienna—it may be of St Petersburg—as +conveying accurate pictures +of our everyday English life; and I +need hardly remark how much that +impression must tend to elevate our +national character in the eyes of an +intelligent foreigner. Labouring under +old and absurd prejudices, he +perhaps at present believes that we +are a sober, unmercurial people, given +to domestic habits, to the accumulation +of wealth, and to our own internal +improvements. It is reserved for +you, Smith, to couch his visionary eye. +You will convince him that a great +part of our existence is spent about +the doors of theatres, in tap-rooms, +pot-houses, and other haunts, which +I need not stay to particularize. You +will prove to him that the British +constitution rests upon no sure foundation, +and that it is based upon injustice +and tyranny. Above all, he +will learn from you the true tone which +pervades society, and the altered +style of conversation and morals +which is universally current among +us. In minor things, he will discover, +what few authors have taken +pains to show, the excessive fondness +of our nation for a pure Saxon nomenclature. +He will learn that such +names as Seymour, and Howard, and +Percy—nay, even our old familiars, +Jones and Robinson—are altogether +proscribed among us, and that a new +race has sprung up in their stead, +rejoicing in the euphonious appellations +of Tox and Wox, Whibble, +Toozle, Whopper, Sniggleshaw, Guzzlerit, +Gingerthorpe, Mugswitch, +Smungle, Yelkins, Fizgig, Parksnap, +Grubsby, Shoutowker, Hogswash, +and Quiltirogus. He will also learn +that our magistrates, unlike the +starched official dignitaries of France, +are not ashamed to partake, in the +public streets, of tripe with a common +workman—and a hundred other little +particulars, which throw a vast light +into the chinks and crevices of our +social system.</p> + +<p>I therefore, Smith, have the highest +satisfaction in greeting you, not only +as an accomplished author, but as a +great national benefactor. Go on, +my dear fellow, steadfastly and cheerfully, +as you have begun. The glories +of our country were all very well in +their way, but the subject is a hackneyed +one, and it is scarcely worth +while to revive it. Be it yours to +chronicle the weaknesses and peculiarities +of that society which you frequent—no +man can do it better. +Draw on for ever with the same felicitous +pencil. Do not fear to repeat +yourself over and over again; to indulge +in the same style of one-sided +caricature; and to harp upon the same +string of pathos so long as it will vibrate +pleasantly to the public ear. What +we want, after all, is sale, and I am +sure that you will not be disappointed. +Use these hints as freely as you please, +in the composition of that part of +Silas Spavinhitch which is not yet +completed; and be assured that I have +offered them not in an arrogant spirit, +but, as some of our friends would +say, with an earnest tendency and a +serious oneness of purpose. Good-by, +my dear Smith! It is a positive +pain to me to break off this letter, but +I must conclude. Adieu! and pray, +for all our sakes and your own, take +care of yourself.<span class="pagenum">[606]</span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="A_NEW_SENTIMENTAL_JOURNEY" id="A_NEW_SENTIMENTAL_JOURNEY"></a>A NEW SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY.</h2> + + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">On a Stone.</span></p> + +<p>I have been toiling up this long +steep road, under that broiling sun, +for more than an hour; my cabriolet +is I know not where. The last time +I saw it was at the turn of the road, +full half-a-mile behind me, and the +lean postilion trying to put something +comfortable into that lanky carcase +of his at the auberge. "Içi on loge +à pied et à cheval;" so said the sign: +why did not I, who was literally <i>à +pied</i>, stop and enjoy myself a little? +whereas I stalked proudly by: and +now that rogue of the big boots and +the powdered queue, and the short +jacket and the noisy whip, is getting +still more and more slowness out of +his sorry horses, and is the man <i>à +cheval</i>, treated by the busy little woman +of the house as her worthiest +customer. The Marquis will be at +least two hours in advance of me: I +shall not see Madame till night: positively +I will run down the hill again +and pull that rascal off his horse. +Am I not paying for the accommodation +of posting? have I not a right +to get on? do I not fee him like a +prince? I'll try a shout at him.</p> + +<p>"Hilloa! hilloa! come along +there!"—I might as well shout in the +middle of the Atlantic; and as for +running back again, why, I shall have +to come over the same ground once +more: the tariff shall be his fate: not +a liard more: and I'll write him down +in the post-book; I will crush the +reptile: I'll annihilate him!</p> + +<p>Here, sit thee down, man: art thou +not come hither to enjoy thyself? why +this impatience? why this anxiety to +go over ground in a hurry which, a +few hours ago, thou wouldst have +given many a crown to visit at thy +leisure? Sit thee down and look around +thee: hurry no man's cattle, and fret +not thyself out of thy propriety.</p> + +<p>And, truly, 'tis a wondrous spot! +what a wide extent of grassy slopes +and barren rocky wastes! how white +and hard and rough the road; how +smooth the hill-side; how blue the +distant landscape; how more than +blue the cloudless sky! Look onwards +towards the distant east; why, +you can see almost across France to +the Jura: what endless ridges of +mountains, one above the other, like +the billows of the green sea: what +boundless plains between! But turn, +for a moment, to the hills on either +side of you; look at those wild copses +of fir and stunted oak making good +their 'vantage ground wherever the +scanty vegetation will allow them; +and above, look at the little round +clumps of box-trees, dotting the +mountain-breast with their shadows, +and relieving the dull uniformity of +its surface. So dark are they that +you might take them for black cattle +at a distance; but that, ever and +anon, the sun brings out from them +a bright green tint, and dispels the +illusion.</p> + +<p>Here, then, on this stone, am I resting, +hundreds of miles away from my +dull fatherland; where I have left behind +me nought but pride and ennui, +and heart-corroding cares, and soul-harrowing +occupations. I have quitted +that dense, black, throng of men, +whose minds, pent up in the narrow +circle of their insular limits, are intent +on one thing only—and that thing, +money! Thou land of the rich and +the poor; of the lord and the slave; +of the noble and the upstart; chosen +home of labour and never-ending +care; I have bid thee adieu: my face is +to the world; my lot is on the waters +of boundless life; and I am free to +choose my dwelling wherever the +clime suits my fancy, and my wishes +tally with the clime. In this dry and +barren valley, amidst those lofty hills, +where once fire and sulphur and +burning rocks poured forth as the +only elements, and where the melted +lava flowed along the face of the +earth like an unloosed torrent; in +this lonely spot, where few living +beings are seen, and yet where the +vast reproductive energies of the<span class="pagenum">[607]</span> +world have been so widely developed—even +here, let me commune a while +with nature and with myself.</p> + +<p>Thou mysterious power of expansion, +whatever thou art, whether some +igneous form existing within the womb +of Earth, and demonstrating thyself +ere our tiny planet revolved in its present +orb—or whether some product of +the combination of chemical fluids +originating flames, and melting this +prison-house with fervent heat—say +when didst thou convulse this fair +land, and raise up from the circumjacent +plains these mountain-masses +that now tower over my head? For +I see around me the traces not of one, +but of four separate convulsions; and +I can pursue in fancy the long lapse +of ages which have served to modify +the crude forms of thy products, and +to change the various classes of animated +life which have lived and died +at the feet of these vast steeps. First +come thy granitic ebullitions, slow, +lumpy, and amorphous—partly incandescent, +yet glowing with heat that +cooled not for ages;—and then, when +these rude ribs of the earth had been +worn and channeled by atmospheric +action, through time too vast to be +reckoned, they split again with a +mighty rending up of their innermost +frame, and thy power, fell spirit of +destruction! thrust forth the great +chain of the Monts Dor, and the Cantal. +There thou raisedst them stratum +above stratum of volcanic rock; +and scoriæ and boiling mud, and lava, +and porphyry, and basalt, and light +pumice, tier above tier, till the seven-thousandth +foot above Old Ocean's +level had been reached; and then thou +restedst from thy labours awhile, rejoicing +in thy force, and proud of the +chaos thou hadst occasioned. But not +to slumber long; for, glad to have +made a new mineral combination, +thou didst thrust forth at the northern +point of thy work the great trachytic +mass of the Puy de Dôme: there it +stands with its solid hump of felspathic +crystals, a vast watch-tower of +creation—white and purple within, +glassy-green without. And then burst +out the full hubbub of this mischief—twenty +vast craters vomiting forth +molten rocks and cinders and the deep +lava-stream, and throwing their products +leagues upon leagues, afar into +the fair country:—twenty Etnas +thundering away at the same time, +and answered by twenty more in the +Vivaraix, and the infernal chorus kept +up by as many in the Cantal:—all +the batteries of the Plutonic artillery +launching forth destruction at once +from the summits of their primæval +bastions. Well was it for man that +he existed not when this Titanic warfare +was going on, and when these +hills, like those of ancient Thessaly, +were heaped, each upon each, up to +heaven's portal! If Europe then existed, +it must have been shaken to its +furthest bounds:—Hecla must have +answered to the distant roar; and +even the old Ural must have heaved +its unwieldy sides.</p> + +<p>And now, what see we? A sea of +volcanic waves; dark lava-currents—rough, +black, and fresh as though +vomited but yesterday:—vast chasms, +red and burnt, and cinders, as though +the fire which raised them were not +yet extinguished. Why, from the Puy +de Parion I could swear that smoke +must rise at times, and that sulphurous +vapours must still keep it in perpetual +desolation. Yes, though winter's +rains and snows visit this volcanic +chain full sharply, and though the +gigantic sawing force of frost disintegrates +the softer portions of this, +the Fire-king's Home, yet there they +stand—and so they shall stand, till +nature be again convulsed, the imperishable +monuments, the stupendous +demonstrations, of the Creator's illimitable +energy. Yes, let the Almighty +but touch these hills again, and they +shall smoke!</p> + +<p>Thou dull, senseless stone, with thy +numberless crystals variegating and +glittering on the hard resting-place +that I have chosen, whence came +those minerals that combined to form +thee? Did they exist, pell-mell, beneath, +in the vast Tartaric depths, +ready to assimilate themselves on the +first signal of eruption? or did they +arise suddenly, instantaneously, on +the first darting of the electric current +that summoned their different +atoms into new forms of existence? +Whence came this green olivine?—whence +this plate of specular iron?—whence +this quartz and felspar; and +all these other minerals I see around +me? Thou rude product of the great<span class="pagenum">[608]</span> +infernal Foundery, thy very existence +is a problem—much more the formation +of thy component parts.</p> + +<p>Stone! thou art not more varied in +thy aspect—not less intelligible in thy +constitution—not harder, not more +unfeeling, than the heart of man! I +would sooner have thee for my companion +and my bosom friend, than +any of that melancholy, solemn-faced +crowd of hypocrites I have left behind +me. Refuse me not thy rough +welcome: thou art, for the time being, +my couch: thou art even warmed by +my contact: hast thou, then, some +sympathy with the wanderer? Thou +dull, crystallised block, I will think +of thee, and will remember thy solid +virtues, when the uncongenial offices +of man shall plague me no more!</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">The Philosopher.</span></p> + +<p>"Monsieur!" said the postilion: +"Monsieur!" he repeated; and he +looked round wistfully to see if any +one was at hand. Now, I hate to be +interrupted in a reverie; and, indeed, +I was so absorbed in the wheelings of +a kite over my head, that I was thinking +of any thing but of my lazy guide +and my rolling wheels. A loud clack—clack—slap—tap—crack—crack of +the whip, flourished over his head +with all the gusto and the <i>savoir-craquer</i> +of a true postilion, brought +me to myself. "Monsieur, I have +been waiting your orders here for half +an hour."</p> + +<p>The coolness with which the fellow +lied, disarmed me of my wrath in a +minute: I had else docked him of his +pigtail, or broken the wooden sides of +his boots for him. But he had such +an imperturbable air of self-satisfaction, +and he thrust his thumb so knowingly +into his little black pipe, and +this again he plunged with such nonchalance +into his pocket, that I saw he +was a philosopher of the true school—and +I profited by his example.</p> + +<p>"Fellow," said I, "dost know that +I have promised myself the pleasure +of passing half an hour with M. de +Montlosier on my road to the baths: +and that at the rate thou takest me +at, I shall not see Mont Dor till to-morrow?"</p> + +<p>"Don't be afraid, Monsieur: I +know the Count's house well: we are +not more than an hour's drive from +it: I go there with some one or other +every week; and as for Mont-Dor-les-bains, +why—that depends on Monsieur: +if you get there by dark it will +do, I suppose—the provisions will not +all be eaten, nor the beds filled!"</p> + +<p>Lucky fellow to live in a world +where no greater stimulus to labour +exists than here! why should we toil +and wear ourselves to death as we do +in England for the mere means of +living—and forget the lapse of life +itself? So, pocketing my dignity, and +also pocketing sundry specimens of my +mute companions the stones, I mounted +into the cabriolet—and lost myself +once more in my thoughts till I arrived +at the Ferme de Randan.</p> + +<p>Just where the Puy de Vache circles +round with two other red hollow craters, +and at the end of a black sea of +lava, stood the philosopher's house: +a plain low building: half farm half +cottage: with a few trees and enclosures +shutting it in, and two or three +acres of garden-ground bringing up the +rear. There was an air of simplicity +about the whole exceedingly striking, +and the more so if one thought of the +simple-minded man who dwelt within. +My name was announced: my letters +of introduction presented: and the +Comte de Montlosier welcomed me to +his mountain home.</p> + +<p>"You see me here, sir," he said, +"quite a farmer; I am tired of the +busy world: who would not be, after +having lived in it so long, and after +having seen such events? I can here +give myself up to my books: I can +speculate on the wonders of this remarkable +district, I can attend to my +little property—for I have not much +remaining—and I can receive my +friends. You would not believe it, +but Dr D—— of Oxford was with me +last week: he came to look at our +volcanoes, and he stayed with me +several days: a charming little man, +sir, and very active in climbing over +hills. You will excuse me, perhaps, +if I do not offer to accompany you to +the summit of the Puy de Vache: but +my servants are at your orders: had<span class="pagenum">[609]</span> +I as few years over my head as when +I first visited Arthur's Seat, I would +be at your side in all your mountain +rambles; but age and ease are fond +of keeping company."</p> + +<p>"Ah, Monsieur le Comte, I came to +make your acquaintance; your hills I +will see at another time."</p> + +<p>"Young man, you are wrong: +these volcanic mountains are worthy +of your deepest study; for myself, I +am nothing but a broken-down old +man. I have nothing here attractive +to my friends. The spot is full of +charms for myself, but not for others. +I have so many old associations connected +with it: 'tis my paternal estate: +I had to fly from it during those terrible +days, and I never thought to see it +again: but now that I find myself once +more restored to it, my unwillingness +to quit the place increases every +day. After all, you can learn more +about Auvergne from your learned +countryman, Poulett Scrope, than from +me; my little work, by the way, is +at your service if you will accept it: +I am as a lamp going out, you find me +flickering, and when next you pass this +way, the light may be extinguished."</p> + +<p>"True, sir; and it is from these +expiring flames that the brightest +sparks may be sometimes derived: at +any rate I would know from you +wherewith to trim my own lamp for +future days."</p> + +<p>"Alas," replied the Count, "the +present generation are not willing to +give credit to the last for all they have +witnessed, for all they have undergone. +Had you, like me, seen all the +phases of the Revolution, from the +time when I was sent as a deputy to +the States-General from Auvergne, to +the Reign of Terror, and then the +time of exile, and if you could have +felt the joys of returning to your longlost +home again, you might indeed +look back on your life with emotion—let +me say with gratitude."</p> + +<p>"Did you know many members of +the literary and scientific world previous +to the Revolution?"</p> + +<p>"Oh yes, I was acquainted with +Condorcet, Lavoisier, and many others +of that stamp. Who shall say that, +in the deaths of those great men, +France did not lose more than she +gained by all her boasted freedom? +Ah yes, the men of those days were +giants in intellect! there was a force +of originality in them, a vividness of +thought and expression, which we +shall never witness again: and, allow +me to say, there was a dignity surrounding +them, and accompanying +them, which, with all our pretended +liberality and respect for science, we +are far from attributing to their followers +now. Those of us, the actors +in some of those tremendous scenes +who still survive, are but as the +blasted oaks of the forest after the +hurricane has swept by. Some few +remain erect; but withered, scorched, +and leafless: all the rest are prostrate, +snapped off at the root—many in the +full vigour of vegetation: all now +rotting on the ground. It was a national +tempest—a tornado—an earthquake; +it was like an eruption from +the very volcano in whose bosom we +are now sitting and talking. The +world never has seen, and perhaps +never shall see, any thing half so terrible +as our Revolution. My young +friend, excuse me; perhaps you are a +politician—and you are newly arrived +in France: things are tending to +something ominous even at the present +day. M. de Polignac has just +been summoned to office: the king is +an easy good man—a perfect gentleman—and +an honest one, too; but +there are people near the throne who +would be glad to see it tottering, and +who are ready to take advantage of +the least false step. Mark my words, +sir, another year will produce something +decisive in the history of France."</p> + +<p>"But surely, M. le Comte, every +thing is too much consolidated since +the Restoration of Louis XVIII. to +allow of any fresh changes—the +French nation have all the liberty +they can desire."</p> + +<p>"Much more, my dear sir, than they +either understand or can enjoy properly. +I am ashamed to say it, but my +fellow countrymen are children in +constitutional matters: every thing +depends on the personal character of +our governors for the time being. And +again, we are too ambitious; every +body wants to rise—by fair means or +by foul; but rise he must: and every +body expects to be a gainer by change. +We are, and I am afraid we always +shall be, fond of playing at revolutions."<span class="pagenum">[610]</span></p> + +<p>"Permit me to think better of the +French, sir. I am delighted with +their country, and I wish them all the +happiness that the possession of so +fine a territory can cause."</p> + +<p>"You are right: it is a fine territory: +it might be the first agricultural +country in Europe: there is hardly +a square league of ground in it +that is not suitable to some useful +vegetable production. We have none +of the cold clays nor barren heathtracts +of Great Britain; our mountains +all admit of pasturage to their +tops, or are productive of wood; +and our climate is so genial that +even the bare limestone rocks of +Provence yield, as you are aware, the +finest grapes. Here, in the midst of +the Monts Dor, you will come upon +those vast primæval forests of the silver-fir +which have never been disturbed +from the time of their erection, +and you will judge for yourself how +rich even this district really is. Look +at our rivers: at our boundless plains, +covered with corn and wine, and oil: +and yet allowed to stand fallow one +year in three. My good friends in +Scotland—for, believe me, I shall ever +remember with gratitude my stay in +Edinburgh—do not farm their lands +in our slovenly fashion. France, depend +upon it, might be made, and I +believe it will ultimately become, one +of the richest and most prosperous +countries of Europe. The wealth of +England is fleeting: when you come +to lose India and others of your colonies—and +'twill be your fate sooner +or later, your power will, with your +trade, fall to the ground: and, like +your predecessors in a similar career, +the Portuguese and the Dutch, you +must infallibly become a second or +third-rate power. France is solid and +compact: her wealth lies in her land: +you cannot break up that: she exists +now, and is great without any colony +worthy of mention: and she cannot +but increase. Even Spain, from +her mere geographical size and position, +has a better chance of political +longevity than England."</p> + +<p>"And yet Spain is rather decrepid +at present, you will admit, M. le +Comte."</p> + +<p>"True; but a century, you know, +is nothing in the life of a nation:—England, +to speak the truth, was only +a second-rate power until the reign of +George the Second. She has still her +social revolution to go through: and +whatever has been effected for the +benefit of this country would have +come without the Revolution: and it +was paying rather dear to destroy +the whole framework of society for +what we should certainly have attained +by easy and more natural means. +It is a fearful catastrophe to break up +all the old ideas and feelings of a +people, merely to substitute in their +place something new—you know not +what: better or worse—and most +probably the latter. Add to this, +that the results of the Revolution +have fully borne out what I maintain: +we are neither better nor happier than +we should have been had we gone on +as usual: other countries which have +not been revolutionised are just as +happy and prosperous as we are."</p> + +<p>"But then the more equal distribution +of property, M. le Comte; has +not this effected some good?"</p> + +<p>"<i>Some</i> it may have caused undoubtedly; +but much less than is imagined: +the effect of it has been only +to raise up an aristocracy of money, +instead of one of birth: and, aristocracy +for aristocracy, the former is infinitely +more overbearing and tyrannical +than the latter. Before the +Revolution, the country was said to +be in the hands of the nobles and +the clergy: what has happened since? +It has merely been transferred to +those of the lawyers and the employés. +Every third man you meet, holds +some place or other under government: +and you can hardly transact +the commonest affairs of life without +the aid of the notary or the advocate. +We cannot boast much of our comparative +improvement in morality: for +in Paris, the prefect of police can inform +you, from the registers of births, +that one in three children now born +there is always illegitimate."</p> + +<p>"Of what good, then, has the Revolution +been?"</p> + +<p>"My young friend, ask not that +question; it was one of those inscrutable +arrangements of Providence, the +aim and extent of which we do not +yet know. You might as well ask +what these puys and volcanoes have +done to benefit the country, which, +no doubt, they once devastated;<span class="pagenum">[611]</span> they +may even yet break out into +activity again, and France may even +yet have to pass through another +social trial. Things have not yet +found their level amongst us.—But +we are getting into a long political +and philosophical discussion that +makes me forget my duties to my +guest. I am at least of opinion that +the volcanoes have done me personally +some good; for they have formed +this wonderful country, and they +attract hither many of my friends, +whom I might otherwise never have +seen again. You will appreciate +them when you arrive at the Baths; +and, apropos of this, I am coming +over there myself in a few days to +consult my friend Dr Bertrand. This +will give me the opportunity of introducing +you to several of the visitors +worth knowing. You will find a gay +and gallant crowd there; and let me +advise you, take care of your heart +and your pockets."</p> + +<p>"Monsieur, dinner is served," said +a domestic, opening the door; so I +followed the worthy Count into the +salle-à-manger.</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">A Shandrydan.</span></p> + +<p>The top of the great plateau of +Auvergne looked beautiful the evening +I reached it—a fine July evening, +when the sun had yet three hours to +go down, and I was about a dozen +miles from the village of the Baths. +I had been vainly flattering myself +that something or other might have +detained M. de Mirepoix's carriage, +and that I should have the pleasure +of viewing this splendid scene in company +with Madame. She had so +strong a taste for the picturesque, +that I knew her sympathies would be +expressed, and I anticipated no small +pleasure from eliciting her sentiments. +To see what is magnificent in the +society of one whose feelings of the +sublime and beautiful emulate your +own in intensity, multiplies the charm, +and elevates the pleasure, by the mutual +communication of the effects perceived +and produced. So I looked +out for their carriage anxiously.</p> + +<p>Nothing met my eye but the long +undulating plain stretching like a +rounded wave or swell of the ocean +to the feet of the mountains, and the +distant blue horizon—to the west +nearly as far off as the Garonne—to +the east as far as the Saone. The +plateau was covered with fine grass, +pastured by large herds of small dark-coloured +cattle, goats, and a few +sheep; wild-flowers grew here and +there of fragrant smell, and the tops +of the vast pine forests peeped up +from the ends of the deep ravines +that run far into the bosom of the still +hills. The sky was without a cloud, +and the sun seemed to gain double +glory as he fell towards his western +bed.</p> + +<p>My spirits rose with the scene; I +was excited and yet happy; the full +genial warmth of nature was before +me, and around me, and in me. I +could have danced and sung for joy. +I could have stopped there for ever, +and I wanted somebody to say all this +to, and who should re-echo the same +to me.</p> + +<p>There stood the postilion—dull, +senseless, brutal animal—he had got +off his horses, for I was once more +out of the cabriolet, and was bounding +over the turf to look over the edge of +a precipice on my right hand: there +he stood, he had lighted another pipe, +and was thinking only of a good chopine +of wine out of his pour-boire, +when he should arrive at the village.</p> + +<p>"A fine view, mon ami!" said I, +at last, in pure despair.</p> + +<p>He gave a shrug with his shoulders.</p> + +<p>"Very high mountains those," I +went on.</p> + +<p>He turned round and looked at +them; and then tapped his pipe +against his whip.</p> + +<p>"What splendid forests!" I added.</p> + +<p>"Monsieur! voyez-vous! it is the +most villainous road I know; and +if we do not push on, we shall not +get to Mont Dor before dark. I +would not go over the bridge at the +bottom there in the dark, no Monsieur, +not if I had the honour to be +carrying M. Le Préfet himself. They +were never found, Monsieur!"</p> + +<p>"Who were never found?"</p> + +<p>"Why, sir, when Petit-jean was<span class="pagenum">[612]</span> +driving M. le Commandant, the last +year but one—he was going to the +Baths for the gout, sir—he did not +get down to the bridge till near ten +at night; there was no parapet then, +the horses did not know the road, and +over they went, roll, roll, all the way +into the Dor at the bottom; thirty +feet, sir, and more, and then the cascade +to add to that."</p> + +<p>"Dreadful! and did no trace remain +of the unfortunate traveller and +your poor friend?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, certainly yes! they got well +wetted; but they rode the horses into +the village the same evening."</p> + +<p>"Who were lost, then?"</p> + +<p>"Petit-jean's new boots, and 'twas +the first time he had put them on."</p> + +<p>I jumped into the cabriolet; "drive +on," said I pettishly, "and go to the ——"</p> + +<p>"Hi! hardi! Sacré coquin!" and +crash went the whip over the off +horse's flank, enough to cut a steak +of his lean sides had there been any +flesh to spare. In a quarter of an +hour we found ourselves going down +a steep rough road, such as might +break the springs of the best carriage, +chariot, britscha, &c., that ever came +out of Long-Acre; and the thumps +that I got against the sides of my +own vehicle, light as it was, made me +call out for a little less speed, and +somewhat more care.</p> + +<p>"Don't be afraid, Monsieur! Hi! +hardi! heugh!"</p> + +<p>I thought it was all over with me; +so, holding in my breath, and firmly +clenching the top of my apron, I +looked straight a-head, and made up +my mind for a pitch over the wall at +the bottom, and down through the +wood, like the commandant and +Petit-jean.</p> + +<p>Just as we got to the bottom of the +hill, we turned a sharp corner, that I +had not before perceived, and charged, +full gallop, right into an old shandrydan, +that had pulled up, and, with a +single horse, was beginning to climb +the ascent. Our impetus seemed to +carry us over the poor animal that +was straining against its load, for he +fell under our two beasts, and the +shafts of the cabriolet catching the +shandrydan under the driver's seat, +turned it completely topsy-turvy into +the midst of the road.</p> + +<p>Such a shriek, or rather such a +chorus of confused cries, came forth +from the dark sides of that small and +closely-shut vehicle!</p> + +<p>"Au secours!" "Jesus-Maria!" +"Vite, vite!" "Relevez-nous!" "Pour +l'amour de Dieu!"</p> + +<p>They were women's voices:—</p> + +<p>"Ah ça, j'étouffe!" said a deep, +gruff voice, in the midst of the hubbub.</p> + +<p>As neither the postilion nor myself +were hurt, we were quickly on our +legs: he trying to get the horses disentangled—for +they were kicking each +other to pieces—and I to aid a thin, +meek-looking peasant lad, who had +been driving the shandrydan, to right +the crazy vehicle.</p> + +<p>'Twas a square, black-looking +thing, covered at top, with no opening +whatever but a small window in +the door behind. It might have been +built some time in the reign of Louis +le Bien-aimé, and its cracked leather +sides and harness seemed as if they +had been strangers to oil ever since. +If people were not very corpulent, +four might have squeezed into it—not +that they would have been comfortable, +but they could have got in, +and would have sat on the opposite +seats, without much room to spare.</p> + +<p>Some honest old Frenchman, +thought I to myself, with his wife +and daughter, and perhaps their +maid. Poor man! he is coming from +the Baths, cured of some painful malady, +and now has had the misfortune +to run the risk of his life—if, indeed, +his bones be not broken—and all +through that étourdi of a postilion. +"If I do not report him to the maître +de poste!" said I to myself.</p> + +<p>"For the love of God, messieurs," +said a faint voice, "get us out!"</p> + +<p>"The door! the door! open the +door then!" said at least three other +voices, one after the other and all +together.</p> + +<p>"Je meurs!" wept the bass-voice +from the inmost recesses of the vehicle—or +it might have been from under +ground, so deep and sepulchral was +its tone.</p> + +<p>"Don't disturb yourself, monsieur," +grumbled the postilion, who had now +got one of his horses on its legs; "'tis +nothing! Come along, you varmint!" +said he to the poor young peasant,<span class="pagenum">[613]</span> +who stood wringing his hands and +looking distractedly at his whip—'twas +broken clean in half—"Arrive, +te dis-je!—pousse bien là!—là bien! +encore! hardi! houp!"</p> + +<p>The door of the shandrydan burst +open, and there emerged, in sadly +rumpled state, a pitiable confusion of +rustled petticoats and tumbled headgear, +red as the roses on a summer's +morn, and dewy as the grass on an +autumn eve—<i>six sœurs-de-charité</i>, all +white and black like sea-fowl thrown +from the shooter's bag—and after +them, slowly toiling forth and writhing +through the door in unwieldy +porpoise-guise—M. le Curé!</p> + + + + +<h2><a name="HONOUR_TO_THE_PLOUGH" id="HONOUR_TO_THE_PLOUGH"></a>HONOUR TO THE PLOUGH.</h2> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> + +<span class="i4">Though clouds o'ercast our native sky,<br /></span> +<span class="i5">And seem to dim the sun,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">We will not down in languor lie,<br /></span> +<span class="i5">Or deem the day is done:<br /></span> +<span class="i4">The rural arts we loved before<br /></span> +<span class="i5">No less we'll cherish now;<br /></span> +<span class="i4">And crown the banquet, as of yore,<br /></span> +<span class="i5">With Honour to the Plough.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">In these fair fields, whose peaceful spoil<br /></span> +<span class="i5">To faith and hope are given,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">We'll seek the prize with honest toil,<br /></span> +<span class="i5">And leave the rest to Heaven.<br /></span> +<span class="i4">We'll gird us to our work like men<br /></span> +<span class="i5">Who own a holy vow,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">And if in joy we meet again,<br /></span> +<span class="i5">Give Honour to the Plough.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">Let Art, array'd in magic power,<br /></span> +<span class="i5">With Labour hand in hand,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Go forth, and now in peril's hour<br /></span> +<span class="i5">Sustain a sinking land.<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Let never Sloth unnerve the arm,<br /></span> +<span class="i5">Or Fear the spirit cow;<br /></span> +<span class="i4">These words alone should work a charm—<br /></span> +<span class="i5">All Honour to the Plough.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">The heath redress, the meadow drain,<br /></span> +<span class="i5">The latent swamp explore,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">And o'er the long-expecting plain<br /></span> +<span class="i5">Diffuse the quickening store:<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Then fearless urge the furrow deep<br /></span> +<span class="i5">Up to the mountain's brow,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">And when the rich results you reap,<br /></span> +<span class="i5">Give Honour to the plough.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">So still shall Health by pastures green<br /></span> +<span class="i5">And nodding harvests roam,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">And still behind her rustic screen<br /></span> +<span class="i5">Shall Virtue find a home:<br /></span> +<span class="i4">And while their bower the muses build<br /></span> +<span class="i5">Beneath the neighbouring bough,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Shall many a grateful verse be fill'd<br /></span> +<span class="i5">With Honour to the Plough.<br /></span> +</div></div> +<p><span class="pagenum">[614]</span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="LUIGIA_DE_MEDICI" id="LUIGIA_DE_MEDICI"></a>LUIGIA DE' MEDICI.</h2> + + +<p>The study of literary history offers +an extraordinary charm, when it tends +to raise the veil, frequently thrown +by inattention and forgetfulness, over +noble and graceful forms, which deserved +to excite the interest, or even +to receive the active thanks of posterity. +At such moments, we find the +mysterious sources of inspiration admired, +through a long period, for their +fulness and sincerity: we go back to +the forgotten or falsely interpreted +causes of celebrated actions, of classic +writings, of resolutions, whose renown +rang through many ages; the vagueness +of poetic pictures gives place to +positive forms; and that which appeared +but a brilliant phantom is +sometimes transformed into a living +reality.</p> + +<p>Among the glorious titles which +have borne the name of Michel Angelo +Buonarotti to so high a pitch of celebrity, +the least popular is that derived +from the composition of his poetical +works. The best judges, however, +regard these productions not only +with profound esteem, but yet more +often with an ardent admiration. +Michel Angelo lived during the <i>golden +age</i> of the Lingua Toscana. Among +the poets who filled the interval between +the publication of the <i>Orlando</i> +and that of the <i>Aminta</i>—first, in order +of date, of the <i>chefs-d'o[eu]vres</i> of Torquato—not +one has raised himself +above, nor, perhaps, to the level, of +Buonarotti. In the study of his writings, +we recognise all the essential +characteristics of his genius, as revealed +to the world in his marbles, +frescos, and the edifices erected by +his hand. It is a copious poetry—masculine +and vigorous—fed with +high thoughts—serious and severe in +the expression. Berni wrote truly +of it to Fra Sebastiano—"Ei dice +cose: voi dite parole!" The poet +exists always in entire possession +of himself: enthusiasm elevates, +carries him away, but seduces him +never. We admire in his mind +a constitution firm, healthful, and +fertile—a constant equilibrium of +passion, will, and conception—often +of fervency—nowhere of delirium. +The qualities necessary to the artist +do no harm to those which make +the thinker and good citizen—every +where, as in the literary laws of ancient +Greece, consonance, <i>sophrosyne</i>, +moderation. Michel Angelo, amid +the passions and illusions of his time, +knew how to hold the helm of "that +precious bark, which singing sailed."<a name="FNanchor_50_50" id="FNanchor_50_50"></a><a href="#Footnote_50_50" class="fnanchor">[50]</a> +Sincere and humble Christian, with a +leaning to the austere, he succeeded +in keeping himself free from all +superstition; declared republican, he +avoided all popular fanaticism, and +bore, even during the siege of Florence, +the <i>honourable</i> hostility of the Arrabiati; +admirer of Savonarola, he combated +the sickly exaggerations of the +<i>esprit piagnone</i>, and remained faithful +to the worship of art; and last, guest +of Leo X., favourite sculptor of Julius +II., he never suffered himself to be +seduced by the Pagan intoxication of +the Renaissance; from his early youth, +the frame, in which he was destined +to form so many sublime conceptions, +was irrevocably determined.</p> + +<p>But, in the poetical works of Michel +Angelo, as in his works of sculpture +and design, there is a side of grace +and delicacy; the fire of a masculine +and profound tenderness circulates, so +to speak, in all the members of this +marvellous body. Angelo's regularity +of morals was never altered by doubts; +it acquired, even at an early period, +the externals of a rigid austerity. +But had he, in his youthful years, +experienced the power of a real love? +We have nothing to reply to those +who, after an attentive perusal of his +writings, see in them nothing more +than a <i>jeu-d'esprit</i> produced by a vain +fantasy. But to those who think, +with us, that truth and force of expression +suppose reality and depth of +sentiment—to those who discover the +burning traces of a passion which has +conquered the heart, and imprinted a +new direction on the thoughts of the +<span class="pagenum">[615]</span>writer, in the precious metal of this +classical versification, we propose to +follow us for a few moments. We +shall seek whatever historical vestiges +have been left of the object of +this affection, as durable as sincere: +we shall afterwards examine the +manner in which Michel Angelo has +expressed it in his rhyme; what order +of philosophical and religious ideas +developed themselves in his mind, in +intimate connexion with the ardour +that penetrated his heart; whatever +influences, in short, which a love, +whose object quitted this life so early, +appears to have exercised upon the +whole duration of a career prolonged, +with so great <i>eclat</i>, for more than +sixty years afterwards.<a name="FNanchor_51_51" id="FNanchor_51_51"></a><a href="#Footnote_51_51" class="fnanchor">[51]</a></p> + +<p>The smallest acquaintance with the +character of Michel Angelo would +lead to the belief that, according to +the expression of his epoch, he could +"have fixed his heart nowhere but +in a lofty sphere. The conjectures +which have been formed bore reference +to the house of the first citizen of +Florence and of Italy, at the period of +Angelo's entrance on his career, to +the family of the grandson of Cosmo +Pater Patriæ," of the man to whom the +disinterested voice of foreigners and +of posterity has confirmed all that +his contemporaries attributed to him, +in the great work of the Italian Renaissance—scientific, +literary, artistic +even—namely, the chief and most +brilliant honour.</p> + +<p>Lorenzo the Magnificent, born in +1450, married Clarice Orsini in 1468. +There were born from this alliance, +besides the children who died in the +cradle, three sons and four daughters. +In 1492, Pietro succeeded to the offices +and dignity of his father, and lost +them in 1494; Giovanni mounted the +Pontifical throne, and became the +illustrious Leo X.; Giuliano died +Duke of Nemours and "<i>prince du +gouvernement</i>" of Florence. Of the +four daughters, Maddalena became +the wife of Francesco Cybo, Count +dell Anguillara, Lucrezia married +Giacopo Salviati; and Contessina, +Piero Ridolfi. Luigia was the +youngest, according to certain authorities; +Count Pompeo Litta, however, +in his <i>Illustri Famiglie Italiane</i>, +places her in order of birth immediately +after Maddalena. Whichever +it may be, Clarice Orsini dying in +1488, Lorenzo contracted no other +alliance, and, at the end of four years, +followed his wife to the tomb. We +have no means of determining the +age Luigia had reached at the time +of this melancholy event; but, as +her marriage was then talked of, we +cannot give her less than from fifteen +to sixteen years. Michel Angelo, +born the 6th March 1475,<a name="FNanchor_52_52" id="FNanchor_52_52"></a><a href="#Footnote_52_52" class="fnanchor">[52]</a> wanted a +month of his seventeenth year when +he lost the generous protector of his +early youth.</p> + +<p>It was in 1490 that Angelo first went +to live in the house of the Magnificent +Lorenzo. Apprenticed, the 1st April +1488, to the "master of painting," +Domenico di Tommasso del Ghirlandajo, +he astonished the grave and +learned artist by his rapid progress +and fire of imagination. Ghirlandajo, +finding his disposition more decided for +sculpture than for the pencil, hastened +to recommend him to Lorenzo, who, +in his gardens, situated near the convent +of Saint Mark, was exerting himself +to create a school capable of restoring +to Florence the glorious days +of the Ghiberti and the Donatello. +It was no easy task for the prince of +the Florentine government to buy the +child of genius from the timorous +avarice of his father, Lodovico Buonarotti.<a name="FNanchor_53_53" id="FNanchor_53_53"></a><a href="#Footnote_53_53" class="fnanchor">[53]</a> +At length, an office in the +financial administration of the state, +conferred upon the father, and a provision +of five ducats monthly settled +on the son, but of which it was agreed +that Lodovico should derive the profit, +conquered the scruples of the old +citizen; and Michel Angelo, adopted +as it were, among the children of +Lorenzo, was enabled, at his own +pleasure, to divide his hours between +the practice of his favourite art, and +the lessons that Pietro, Giovanni, and +Giuliano received at "the Platonic +<span class="pagenum">[616]</span>Academy," of which the illustrious +Politiano was director.</p> + +<p>This society, of which Lorenzo was +the soul as well as the founder,<a name="FNanchor_54_54" id="FNanchor_54_54"></a><a href="#Footnote_54_54" class="fnanchor">[54]</a> reckoned +among its members certain individuals, +whose names are still held +in respect by posterity; and many +others who, less distinguished or less +fortunate, exercised, nevertheless, a +useful influence on the regeneration of +good studies, and the diffusion of the +knowledge that may be derived from +the works of antiquity. Among the +former, the first rank was unanimously +given to Politiano, Pico della Mirandola, +Leon-Battista Alberti, and +Marsilio Ficino. Lorenzo required +that his sons should be present at the +learned discourses of the academy. +Michel Angelo listened to them in +company with Pietro, and Cardinal +Giovanni, and received most flattering +consideration from Politiano. The +subtilties of Grecian metaphysics, and +the technical language of logic, discouraged +Buonarotti's clear and free +understanding; but the sublimity of +conception, and majesty of expression +of the Attic Bee, met with marvellous +affinities in the disposition of the +young Florentine. These studies developed +in Michel Angelo, the poetical +genius of which he has left admirable +proofs in his marbles, his cartoons, +and his writings.</p> + +<p>It was not only the affectionate +interest of Lorenzo, the intimacy with +his sons, and the generous cares of +Politiano, in the house of the Medici, +which aided the progress, and inflamed +the energy of Michel Angelo. At +this same time, more profound lessons +were repeated in an austere pulpit, +not far from the delicious gardens of +Valfondo. Girolamo Savonarola, the +celebrated dominican of Saint Mark, +was at the zenith of his reputation; +and his influence over the people of +Florence, without directly thwarting +that of Lorenzo, began, nevertheless, +to counterbalance it. Michel Angelo, +says the most exact of his biographers, +(Vasari, <i>Vite dei Pittori</i>,) read "with +great veneration" the works written +by the enthusiastic and eloquent monk. +From him he learned to seek in the +Holy Scriptures for the pure and direct +source of the highest inspiration; and, +during his whole life, Buonarotti had +constantly in his hand the sacred +volume, and the <i>Divina Comedia</i> of +Dante, which he regarded as a commentary +at once philosophical, theological, +and, above all, poetical upon +the former. An ardent love of art +confined within due bounds the effect +which Savonarola's exhortations produced +upon the true and serious soul +of the young sculptor; he neither followed +the Dominican in his fanatical +hostility to the artistic and literary +Renaissance, then displaying all the +riches of its spring, nor in the political +aberrations which Savonarola, after +the death of Lorenzo, had the misfortune +to display in the public squares +of Florence, and even in the heart of +her councils.</p> + +<p>In the midst of a life so full and +already fruitful, which the approach +of a glory almost unequalled illuminated +by a few precursive rays, Michel +Angelo appears to have opened +his heart to the sentiment of a love as +true and elevated as the other emotions +which swayed his soul, and directed +his faculties: Luigia de' Medici +seems to have been its object. It is, +as already remarked, in the poetical +compositions, forming the first part of +Angelo's collection, that we must +endeavour to find the imperishable +memorials of this tenderness, to which +the illusions even of early youth appear +to have never lent, for a single +moment, any hope of the union with +which it might have been crowned. +Michel Angelo's timid pride combined +with his respect and gratitude +to interdict to him all designation, +even indirect, of the woman to whom +his affections were bound by a chain +whose embrace death alone could +have relaxed. We shall see in the +poetry of Buonarotti none of the artifice +made use of by Petrarch to render +the name of <i>Laura</i> intelligible, +which Camoëns afterwards employed +to celebrate Donna <i>Caterina</i>, and from +which, still later, the unhappy Torquato +regretted, with much bitterness, +to have wandered, when, in the +intoxication of his illusions, he traced +the fatal name of <i>Eleonora</i>.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum">[617]</span></p> +<blockquote><p> +"Quando sara che d'<i>Eleonora mia</i><br /> +Potro goder in libertade amore."<br /> +(<i>Verse stolen from Tasso and given to the Duke of Ferrara.</i>)<br /> +</p></blockquote> + +<p>It is but rarely, and with a light touch, +that Angelo makes allusion to the extreme +youth of her whom he loves,—</p> + +<blockquote><p> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">——"il corpo umano</span><br /> +Mal segue poi ... d'un <i>angelletta</i><br /> il volo."—(<i>Sonnetto</i> 15.)<br /> +</p></blockquote> + +<p>Once only he speaks of light hair:—</p> + +<blockquote><p> +"Sovra quel <i>biondo crin</i>" ...<br /> + +(<i>Sonnetto ultimo.</i>)<br /> +</p></blockquote> + +<p>Never does he write a word that can +be referred to the difference of rank +existing between them, to the splendour +which had surrounded the cradle +even of the daughter of the great +citizen whom all Italy seems to have +made the arbiter of her political combinations. +Michel Angelo speaks +only of the touching beauty of her +who has subjugated him by "that +serene grace, certain mark of the nobility +and purity of a soul in perfect +harmony with its Creator;" (<i>Sonnetto +3, et passim</i> in the first part.) Never +does he give us to understand that his +love received the least encouragement. +It has been thought, however, that +Luigia had detected the attachment +of the youth whose genius had as yet +been attested by no great work, and +that she rewarded it by the tenderest +friendship. It is certain that, in a +transport of gratitude, Angelo wrote +the beautiful verse—</p> + +<blockquote><p> +"Unico spirto, e da me solo inteso!"<br /> + +(<i>Sonnetto</i> 16.)<br /> +</p></blockquote> + +<p>and that, in another <i>morceau</i>, he +thanks "those beautiful eyes which +lend him their sweet light, the genius +that raises his own to heaven, the +support that steadies his tottering +steps,"</p> + +<blockquote><p> +"Veggio co'bei vostri occhi un dolce<br /> lume." ... + +—(<i>Sonnetto</i> 12.)<br /> +</p></blockquote> + +<p>But, checking himself immediately in +these half-revelations, the poet, on +the contrary, multiplies the complaints +torn from him by the coldness +and apparent indifference of her +whose beauty he celebrates, whom +he can render immortal. See more +particularly Sonnet 21—</p> + +<blockquote><p> +"Perchè d'ogni mia speme il verde è spento."<br /> +</p></blockquote> + +<p>He exclaims even that he has rarely +enjoyed the presence on which his +happiness depends:—"You know +neither custom nor opportunity have +served my affection: it is very rarely +that my eyes kindle themselves at the +fire which burns in yours, guarded by +a reserve to which desire scarcely +dares to approach—</p> + +<blockquote><p> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">——'gli occhi vostri</span><br /> +Circonscritti ov' appena il desir vola.'<br /> +</p></blockquote> + +<p>A single look has made my destiny, +and I have seen you, to say truly, but +once."—(<i>Madrigale</i> 5.)</p> + +<p>It has been said that the "divine +hand" of Michel Angelo painted the +portrait of Luigia de' Medici. This is +the name given, in reality, during the +last century, to the head of a young +female, "handsome rather than really +beautiful," writes father Della Valle—a +work in which Buonarotti's drawing +was said to be recognised, with a +softer and more lively colouring than +obtains in the other pictures from his +easel. Angelo's repugnance to paint +portraits is one of the best established +traits of his character. But he sculptured +several—among those positively +known are that of Julius II., lost in +the chateau of Ferrara, and another of +Gabriel Faërne, preserved in the Museum +Capitolinum. We know, besides, +that he consented to paint the +portrait of the noble and witty Messer +Tomasso de' Cavalieri, (see <i>Vasari</i>,) +of the natural size; but that was a +rare favour. "For," said he, "I abhor +the obligation to copy that which, +in nature, is not of infinite beauty." +In another place, sonnet nineteen, addressing +the object of his tenderness, +Michel Angelo reminds her, that +works of art are endowed, so to say, +with eternal life and youth. "Perhaps," +he adds, (<i>Sonnetto</i> 19 ,) "I +shall be able to prolong thy life and +mine beyond the tomb, by employing, +if thou wilt, colour, or marble, +if thou preferest, to fix the lines of +our features and the resemblance of +our affection!"</p> + +<p>Again he writes—"While I paint +her features, why cannot I convey to +her face the pallor which disfigures +mine, and which comes from her +cruelty to me?"—(<i>Madrigale</i> 24.) +But in some others of Angelo's +poems, mention is made of a statue, +or more probably of a bust, on +which the young artist worked with<span class="pagenum">[618]</span> +an impassioned mixture of zeal and +faint-heartedness.</p> + +<p>"I fear," he says, "to draw from +the marble, instead of her image, that +of my features worn, and void of +grace."—(<i>Madrigale 22.</i> ) And when +he drew near the term of his labour—"Behold," +he exclaims, "an animated +stone, which, a thousand years +hence, will seem to breathe! What, +then, ought heaven to do for her, its +own work, while the portrait only is +mine; for her whom the whole world, +and not myself alone, regard as a +goddess rather than a mortal? Nevertheless +the stone remains, while she +is about to depart."—(<i>Madrigale 39.</i>)</p> + +<p>It was probably on this occasion +that Michel Angelo wrote those +charming, and mysterious verses, +whose sense it is otherwise difficult +to determine:-</p> + +<blockquote><p> +"Qui risi e piansi, e con doglia infinita,<br /> +Da questo sasso vidi far partita<br /> +Colei ch 'a me mi tolse, e non mi volse."<br /> +(<i>Sonnetto 29.</i>)<br /> +</p></blockquote> + +<p>The bust of Luigia de' Medici, if it +really came from the hands of Angelo, +has shared the fate of many other +<i>chefs-d'œuvres</i>, of which his contemporaries +appear to have spoken with +such great enthusiasm, only to increase +our regret; while the most diligent +researches have led to no recovery +since their disappearance, caused by +the disasters that visited Florence, and +by the culpable negligence which, +throughout the whole of Italy, followed +the period of which Buonarotti +was the principal ornament.</p> + +<p>If it be to the affection of Luigia de' +Medici that Angelo's nineteenth sonnet<a name="FNanchor_55_55" id="FNanchor_55_55"></a><a href="#Footnote_55_55" class="fnanchor">[55]</a> +really refers, we are led to the +belief that this lofty soul, temperate +in its own hopes, yet imbued with a +generous ambition, had suffered itself, +for a moment, to be carried away by +the illusion of a permanent happiness; +but a blow, as terrible as unforeseen, +scattered these thoughts. The "Magnificent" +Lorenzo, scarcely in his +forty-second year, sunk at his seat of Careggi, +under a short illness, but of +which he foresaw the inevitable term +with great resignation from the earliest +moment. With Lorenzo de' Medici +descended to the tomb all that +was yet bright in the glory of his +family—all that was real in the prosperity +of Florence—all that was assured +in the fortune, or attractive in +the labours of the young Buonarotti, +then only seventeen years of age.</p> + +<p>Of the three sons left by Lorenzo, +not one was capable of replacing him. +The Cardinal Giovanni had a cultivated +mind, engaging manners, and +vast ambition; but, overwhelmed already, +in spite of his youth,<a name="FNanchor_56_56" id="FNanchor_56_56"></a><a href="#Footnote_56_56" class="fnanchor">[56]</a> with the +weight of his benefices and ecclesiastical +dignities, he pursued, at the Papal +Court, the high fortune of which he +then foresaw the accomplishment. +Giuliano, born in 1478, was as yet +little more than a child, in whom appeared +the germ of amiable and even +generous qualities, spoiled by pride, +the hereditary vice of his house. With +regard to Pietro, the new prince of +the government—for he succeeded +without opposition to the ill-defined +and conventional, rather than regularly +constituted authority which +his ancestors and his father had left +in his possession—he evinced only +incapacity, presumption, improvidence, +and foolish vanity. Aged +twenty-one, he had already espoused +Alfonsina Orsini, and drew a false +security from an alliance in which he +hoped for the support of one of the +most warlike and powerful families of +southern Italy. Michel Angelo felt +the necessity of quitting the abode of +the Medici, where Pietro, of too vulgar +a mind to appreciate the artist's +character, displayed a soul mean +enough to make him feel the bitterness +of protection. He returned to +the paternal home; and although he +continued to show a marked attachment +for the legitimate interests of +<span class="pagenum">[619]</span>the Medici, and was even again sometimes +employed—but not in important +matters—by the younger members +of the family, the separation was +final, and the republican convictions of +the young artist developed themselves, +after that time, at full liberty. Angelo's +poetical collection proves to us +how cruelly his removal, from the +house where Lorenzo had entertained +him with the most agreeable hospitality, +affected his heart. In future it +must become a stranger, at least in +looks and conversation, to her whom +he loved with an inquiet fervour.</p> + +<blockquote><p>"How, separated from you, shall I +ever have the power to guide my life, +if I can not, at parting, implore your +assistance?</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>Lest absence condemn my loyal devotion +to forgetfulness, in remembrance +of my long affliction, take, Signora, take +in pledge a heart which hereafter belongs +no more to me."—(<i>Madrigale 11.</i> )</p></blockquote> + +<p>And in another place:</p> + +<blockquote><p>"He who departs from you has no more +hope of light: where you are not, there +is no more heaven."—(<i>Madrigale 9.</i> )</p></blockquote> + +<p>The hour approached, however, +when, according to the usage of the +country, and the relations of her +family, Luigia's lot should be decided. +Various projects of alliance +were discussed. The choice hesitated +between two brothers, descended +from Giovanni de' Medici, a branch +from the dominant house, and of that +which took the name of its individual +ancestor, Lorenzo. The latter, brother +of Cosmo, Pater Patriæ, had, by +Ginevra Cavalcanti Piero Francesco, +to whom his wife, Landomia Acciajuoli, +brought two sons, Lorenzo and +Giovanni. Both had arrived at the +age of maturity, and were reckoned +among the most considerable citizens +of Florence. The marriage, however, +did not take place. It is said that Luigia +herself prevented its conclusion, until +a misunderstanding, caused by some +opposition of interests, had definitely +separated Pietro from the two brothers, +more especially from Giovanni, +upon whom the reigning prince appears +principally to have reckoned. +Others, however, have supposed that +the obstacles to the proposed union +arose only on the part of Giovanni +and his brother, who, in fact, followed +the principal citizens in the opposition, +then planned, against Pietro's +unskilful administration. And last, +it has been asserted, that Luigia was +betrothed to Giovanni, but died before +the time fixed for the marriage. Among +these opinions, Litta appears to incline +to the second; Roscoe adopts +the last. However it may be, it is +only certain that, alone of all Lorenzo's +daughters, Luigia left the paternal +house but to exchange it for the +repose of the tomb.</p> + +<p>According to the historians, she +died a few days before the catastrophe +which overturned Pietro's government, +and condemned all the descendants of +Cosmo l'Antico to an exile of sixteen +years. It was consequently late in the +autumn of 1494 that Luigia departed +this life. Amid the passionate prejudices +which prepared, and the convulsions +which followed, the Florentine +revolution, the extinction of the beauteous +light excited no sensation.</p> + +<p>Michel Angelo was not at that moment +in Florence. Politiano's death +seems to have broken the last ties that +attached him to the obligations contracted +in his early youth. His penetrating +intelligence warned him of the +coming fall of the Medici. He neither +wished to renounce his ancient attachments, +nor to give them the predominance +over the duties of a citizen, to a +free state, which it was of the highest +importance to wean from a blind and +dangerous course. In this painful alternative, +Michel Angelo determined to +withdraw for a time. He went first to +Venice, and afterwards to Bologna, +where the warm reception of the Aldrovandi +kept him during an entire +year, and even longer.</p> + +<p>According to all appearance, on +quitting Florence, Buonarotti was +aware of Luigia's declining health; +and his poetry shows us the courageous +artist sinking under the burden of +his melancholy presentiments:—</p> + +<blockquote><p>"Be sure, O eyes, that the time is +past, that the hour approaches which +will close the passage to your regards, +even to your tears. Remain, in pity to me, +remain open while this divine maiden +deigns yet to dwell on this earth. But +when the heaven shall open to receive +these unique and pure beauties ..., +when she shall ascend to the abode of +glorified and happy souls, then close; I +bid you farewell."—(<i>Madrigale 40.</i> )</p></blockquote><p><span class="pagenum">[620]</span></p> + +<p>It was while at Venice, at least so +it is believed, that Michel Angelo +learned the death of Luigia de' Medici. +An expression of profound sadness +and manly resignation pervades the +poems which escaped from his oppressed +soul, already familiarized with +grief: he knew "that death and love +are the two wings which bear man +from earth to heaven."</p> + +<blockquote><p> +... "chi ama, qual chi muore,<br /> +Non ha da gire al ciel dal mondo altr'ale."<br /> + +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">(Sonnetto: <i>Dall' aspra piaga.</i>)</span><br /> +</p></blockquote> + +<p>There are, in Angelo's collection, +four compositions which may be regarded +as dedicated to the memory of +Luigia de Medici; first, the sonnet.—"Spirto +ben nato," ... +in which the poet deplores "the cruel +law which has not spared tenderness, +compassion, mercy—treasures so rare, +united to so much of beauty and fidelity; +then the Sonnets 27, 28, and 30, +where Michel Angelo, as though emboldened +by the irreparable calamity +which had befallen him, raises the +veil under which the circumstances +and the illusions of his love had hitherto +been shrouded, for every one, and +almost for himself. Now he exclaims:—"Oh, +fallacious hopes! where shall +I now seek thee—liberated soul? +Earth has received thy beauteous +form, and Heaven thy holy thoughts!—(<i>Sonnetto +27.</i>).... This <i>first love</i>, +which fixed my wandering affections, +now overwhelms my exhausted soul +with an insupportable weight.—(<i>Sonnetto +28.</i>) ... Yes, the brightness +of the flame, which nourished while +consuming my heart, is taken from me +by heaven; but one teeming spark +remains to me, and I would wish to +be reduced to ashes only after shining +in my turn." The sense of the latter +triplet is very enigmatical; it is here +interpreted in accordance with the +known character of the poet, and the +direction which he delayed not to give +to his faculties. From this moment +Angelo, devoted to the threefold worship +of God, art, and his country, constantly +refused to think of other ties. +He had, he remarked, "espoused the +affectionate fantasy which makes of +Art a monarch, an idol; "my children," +he added, "will be the works +that I shall leave behind me." More +than thirty years were to elapse, ere +in this heart, yet youthful at the approach +of age, another woman, and +she the first of her era, (Vittoria Colonna,) +occupied in part the place left +vacant by Luigia de' Medici.</p> + +<p>It is to these few imperfect indications, +conjectures, and fugitive glimpses, +to which the most perspicacious +care has not always succeeded in +giving a positive consistency, that all +our knowledge is reduced of one of +the purest and most amiable forms +presented by the historical and poetical +gallery of Florence, during what +is named her <i>golden age</i>. But what +destiny was more worthy than that of +Luigia de' Medici to excite a generous +envy? Orphan from her birth, +her life experienced that alone which +elevates and purifies: hope, grief, and +love. No vulgar cares abased her +thoughts; no bitter experience withered +her heart; death, in compassion, +spared her the spectacle of the reverses +of her family, and participation +in the guilty successes which followed +those disasters. Delicate and stainless +flower, she closed on the eve of +the storm that would have bathed her +in tears and blood! The only evidence +remaining to us of her is poetry of a +fame almost divine—of a purity almost +religious; and this young maiden, of +whom no mention has come down to +us, in addressing herself to our imagination, +borrows the accents of the +most extraordinary genius possessed +by a generation hitherto unequalled +in achievements of the mind. The +place of sepulture of Luigia de' Medici +is unknown; her remains were most +probably deposited, without monumental +inscription, in the vaults of +San Lorenzo, the <i>gentilizia</i> church of +her house. Among the epitaphs composed +by Angelo, without attempting +to indicate for whom, there is one +whose application to Luigia de' Medici +would be apt and touching. It may +be thus translated:—"To earth the +dust, to heaven the soul, have been +returned by death. To him who yet +loves me, dead, I have bequeathed +the thought of my beauty and my +glory, that he may perpetuate in +marble the beautiful mask which I +have left."</p> + +<p>The editors of Michel Angelo have +assumed that this admirable composition, +as well as those which accom<span class="pagenum">[621]</span>pany +it under the same title, were +written for a certain Francesco Bracci. +The expression "chi <i>morta</i> ancor m' +ama" is sufficient to refute this singular +supposition.</p> + +<p>We shall now attempt to give some +idea of the poetical compositions from +which we have not yet quoted, and +which we conjecture to have been similarly +inspired in Michel Angelo by his +love for Luigia de' Medici. We incline +to consider as belonging to the earliest +poetic age of the great artist, to the +epoch of the first and only real love +experienced by him, all the pieces +forming the first part of his work, +commencing with the celebrated sonnet—</p> + +<blockquote><p> +"Non ha l'ottimo artista," * * *<br /> +</p></blockquote> + +<p>and ending with the thirtieth—</p> + +<blockquote><p> +"Qual meraviglia è se vicino al fuoco."<br /> +* * *<br /> +</p></blockquote> + +<p>in addition, the sonnet, three <i>madrigali</i>, +(pieces without division of +stanzas or couplets,) and one <i>canzone</i>, +which the editors have placed at the +head of the collection, entitled by +them—"Componimenti men gravi e +giocosi." The commencement of a +new era in Angelo's thoughts and +poetic style appears to us marked by +the composition of the two admirable +pieces which he dedicated to the memory +of Dante Alighieri:—</p> + +<blockquote><p> +"Dal mondo scese ai ciechi abissi;"<br /> +* * *<br /> +</p></blockquote> + +<p>and</p> + +<blockquote><p> +"Quanto dime si dee non si può dire."<br /> +</p></blockquote> + +<p>Michel Angelo <i>petitioned</i> but once: +this was that Leo X. would grant the +ashes of Dante to Florence, where the +artist "offered to give a becoming +burial to the divine poet, in an honourable +place in the city."—(Condivi, +<i>Vita di Michel Angelo</i>.)</p> + +<p>Previously a stranger to the sentiments +of love, the young artist at +first wonders and fears at their violence:</p> + +<blockquote><p>"Who, then, has lifted me by main +force above myself? How can it be +that I am no longer my own? And +what is the unknown power which, +nearer then myself, influences me; which +has more control over me; passes into +my soul by the eyes; increases there +without limit, and overflows my whole +being?"—<i>Madrigali</i>, 3, 4.</p></blockquote> + +<p>Soon, however, he no longer doubts +upon the character of this intoxication; +he feels that he loves; he traces +in sport the most graceful and animated +picture of her who has captivated +his heart! But this pure and +ardent soul speedily becomes alarmed +at the profound agitation in which it +sees itself plunged; desires to go back +to the cause, to recognise its origin, +and measure its danger. Michel Angelo +recognises, in conjunction with +the danger, a sublime reward reserved +for him who shall know how to merit +it.</p> + +<blockquote><p>"The evil which I ought to shun, +and the good to which I aspire, are +united and hidden in thee, noble and +divine beauty! * * * Love, beauty, +fortune, or rigour of destiny, it is not +you that I can reproach for my sufferings; +for in her heart she bears at once +compassion and death! Woe to me if +my feeble genius succeed only, while +consuming itself, in obtaining death from +it!"<a name="FNanchor_57_57" id="FNanchor_57_57"></a><a href="#Footnote_57_57" class="fnanchor">[57]</a></p></blockquote> + +<p>Yes, dangerous and often fatal is +that passion which seems to choose +its favourite victims among hearts the +most generous—intelligence the most +ample:</p> + +<blockquote><p>"Very few are the men who raise +themselves to the heaven; to him who +lives in the fire of love, and drinks of +its poison, (for to love is one of life's +fatal conditions,) if grace transport him +not towards supreme and incorruptible +beauties—if all his desires learn not to +direct themselves thither—Ah! what +miseries overwhelm the condition of +lover!"—(<i>Sonnet</i> 10.)</p></blockquote> + +<p>But this declaration has not been +applied to all passionate and deep +affections:</p> + +<blockquote><p>"No, it is not always a mortal and +impious fault to burn with an immense +love for a perfect beauty, if this love +afterwards leave the heart so softened +that the arrows of divine beauty may +penetrate it."</p> + +<p>"Love wakens the soul, and lends it</p></blockquote> +<p><span class="pagenum">[622]</span></p> +<blockquote><p>wings for its sublime flight: often its +ardour is the first step by which, discontented +with earth, the soul remounts +towards her Creator."—(<i>Sonnet</i> 8.)</p></blockquote> + +<p>Transported with this thought, in +which he feels the passion to which +he has yielded at once transforming +and tranquillising itself, Michel Angelo +gives to it in his verses the most eloquent +and most ingenious developments.</p> + +<blockquote><p>"No, it is not a mortal thing which +my eyes perceived, when in them was +reflected, for the first time, the light of +thine; but in thy look, my soul, inquiet, +because it mounts towards its object +without repose, has conceived the hope +of finding her peace."</p> + +<p>"She ascends, stretching her wings +towards the abode from whence she descended! +The beauty which charms +the eyes calls to her on her flight; but, +finding her weak and fugitive, she passes +onwards to the universal form, the divine +archetype."</p></blockquote> + +<p>This expression, and many others +dispersed throughout the collection, +show that he had profited more than +he cared to acknowledge by the discourses +of the Platonic Academy.</p> + +<blockquote><p>"Yes, I perceive it; that which must +die can offer no repose to the wise man. +* * * That which kills the soul is +not love; it is the unbridled disorder of +the senses. Love can render our souls +perfect here below, and yet more in +heaven!"—(<i>Sonnet</i> 2.)</p></blockquote> + +<p>And fruther on:</p> + +<blockquote><p>"From the stars most near to the +empyrean, descends sometimes a brightness +which attracts our desires towards +them: it is that which is called love!"—(<i>Mad.</i> +8.)</p></blockquote> + +<p>But this celestial route demands +extraordinary efforts on the part of +him who aspires to travel it:</p> + +<blockquote><p>"How rash and how unworthy are +the understandings, which bring down +to the level of the senses this beauty +whose approaches aid the true intelligence +to remount to the skies. But +feeble eyes cannot go from the mortal +to the divine;<a name="FNanchor_58_58" id="FNanchor_58_58"></a><a href="#Footnote_58_58" class="fnanchor">[58]</a> never will they raise +themselves to that throne, where, without +the grace from on high, it is a vain +thought to think of rising."</p></blockquote> + +<p>Michel Angelo believed that he recognised +these characteristics, as rare +as sublime, in the love which pervaded +his own heart.</p> + +<blockquote><p>"The life of my love is not the all +in my heart. * * This affection +turns to that point where no earthly +weakness, no guilty thought, could +exist."</p> + +<p>"Love, when my soul left the presence +of her Creator, made of her a +pure eye, of thee a splendour, and my +ardent desire finds it every hour in that +which must, alas! one day die of thee."</p> + +<p>"Like as heat and fire, so is the +Beautiful inseparable from the Eternal. +* * * I see Paradise in thy eyes, +and so return there where I loved thee +before this life,<a name="FNanchor_59_59" id="FNanchor_59_59"></a><a href="#Footnote_59_59" class="fnanchor">[59]</a> I recur every hour to +consume myself under thy looks."—(<i>Sonnet</i> +6.)</p></blockquote> + +<p>He writes elsewhere, with a singular +mixture of affectionate ardour +and metaphysical boldness,—</p> + +<blockquote><p>"I know not if this is, in thee, the prolific +light from its Supreme Author which +my soul feels, or if from the mysterious +treasures of her memory some other +beauty, earlier perceived, shines with +thy aspect in my heart."<a name="FNanchor_60_60" id="FNanchor_60_60"></a><a href="#Footnote_60_60" class="fnanchor">[60]</a></p> + +<p>"Or if the brilliant ray of <i>thy former +existence</i> is reflected in my soul, +leaving behind this kind of painful joy, +which perhaps, at this moment, is the +cause of the tears I shed;"</p> + +<p>"But after all, that which I feel, and +see, which guides me, is not with me, is +not in me, * * sometimes I imagine +that thou aidest me to distinguish it." +* * * * (<i>Sonnet</i> 7.)</p></blockquote> +<p><span class="pagenum">[623]</span></p> +<p>It is easy to conjecture the danger +of this inclination to metaphysical +speculation for an ardent and subtile +genius, which, even in its works of +art, has left the proof of a constant +disposition towards an obscure mysticism +or a sombre austerity. Michel +Angelo was enabled to avoid these +two dangers, on one or the other of +which he would have seen his genius +wrecked, by the noble confidence +which he ever maintained in "the +two beacons of his navigation," tenderness +of heart, and pure worship of +beauty.</p> + +<p>Thus, we shall see with what outpouring +he proclaims the necessity, +for the human soul, to attach itself +strongly to some generous love:</p> + +<blockquote><p>"The memory of the eyes, and this +hope which suffices to my life, and more +to my happiness, * * * reason +and passion, love and nature, constrain +me to fix my regard upon thee during the +whole time given me. * * * Eyes serene +and sparkling; he who lives not in +you is not yet born!"</p></blockquote> + +<p>And again:</p> + +<blockquote><p>"It is to thee that it belongs to bring +out from the coarse and rude bark +within which my soul is imprisoned, +that which has brought and linked +together in my intelligence, reason +strength, and love of the good." +(<i>Mad.</i> 10.)</p></blockquote> + +<p>Then was renewed that sweet and +pregnant security in which the soul, +"under the armour of a conscience +which feels its purity," may gain +new energy and journey towards her +repose:<a name="FNanchor_61_61" id="FNanchor_61_61"></a><a href="#Footnote_61_61" class="fnanchor">[61]</a></p> + +<blockquote><p>"Yes, sometimes, with my ardent +desire, my hope may also ascend; it +will not deceive me, for if all our affections +are displeasing to heaven, to +what end would this world have been +created by God?</p> + +<p>"And what cause more just of the +love with which I burn for thee, than +the duty of rendering glory to that +eternal peace, whence springs the divine +charm which emanates from thee, +which makes every heart, worthy to +comprehend thee, chaste and pious?</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>"Firm is the hope founded on a noble +heart, the changes of the mortal bark +strip no leaves from its crown; never +does it languish, and even here it receives +an assurance of heaven."—(<i>Sonnet</i> 9.)</p></blockquote> + +<p>Now it is with accents of triumph +and anon with the serener emotion of +an immortal gratitude, that the poet +exhibits the luminous ladder which +his love assists him to mount, the +support he finds in it when he descends +again to the earth:</p> + +<blockquote><p>"The power of a beautiful countenance, +the only joy I know on earth, +urges me to the heaven, I rise, yet +living, to the abode of elect souls—favour +granted rarely to our mortal state!</p> + +<p>"So perfect is the agreement of this +divine work with its Creator, that I ascend +to Him on the wings of this celestial +fervour; and there I form all my +thoughts, and purify all my words.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>"In her beautiful eyes, from which +mine cannot divert themselves, I behold +the light, guide upon the way which +leads to God;</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>"Thus, in my noble fire, calmly +shines the felicity which smiles, eternal, +in the heavens!—(<i>Sonnet</i> 3.)</p> + +<p>"With <i>your</i> beautiful eyes I see the +mild light which my darkened eyes +could not discern. Your support enables +me to bear a burden which my +weary steps could not endure to the +end."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>"My thoughts are shaped in your +heart; my words are born in your +mind.</p> + +<p>"With regard to you, I am like the +orb of night in its career; our eyes can +only perceive the portion on which the +sun sheds his rays."—(<i>Sonnet</i> 12.)</p></blockquote> + +<p>The admirable picture of indissoluble +union in a settled tenderness, +one of the most perfect pieces which +has come from Angelo's pen, was +sketched, doubtless, in one of those +moments of severe and entire felicity:</p> + +<blockquote><p>"A refined love, a supreme affection, +an equal fortune between two hearts, to +whom joys and sorrows are in common,</p></blockquote> +<p><span class="pagenum">[624]</span></p> +<blockquote><p>because one single mind actuates them +both;</p> + +<p>"One soul in two bodies, raising both +to heaven, and upon equal wings;</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>"To love the other always, and one's +self never, to desire of Love no other +prize than himself; to anticipate every +hour the wishes with which the reciprocal +empire regulates two existences:</p> + +<p>"Such are the certain signs of an +inviolable faith; shall disdain or anger +dissolve such a tie?"—(<i>Sonnet</i> 20.)</p></blockquote> + +<p>The last verse makes allusion to some +incident of which we have been unable +to find any historical explanation:</p> + +<p>"Or potra <i>sdegno</i> tanto nodo sciorre?"</p> + +<p>But these ill-founded fears soon +gave way to the presentiment of the +cruel, the imminent trial, for which +the poet's affection was reserved.</p> + +<blockquote><p>"Spirit born under happy auspices, +to show us, in the chaste beauty of thy +terrestrial envelope, all the gifts which +nature and heaven can bestow on their +favourite creation!"</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>"What inexorable law denies to this +faithless world, to this mournful and +fallacious life, the long possession of +such a treasure? Why cannot death +pardon so beautiful a work?"—(<i>Sonnet</i> +25.)</p></blockquote> + +<p>The poet, however, already knew +that such is the law, severe in appearance, +but merciful in reality, which +governs all things on this earth, +"where nothing endures but tears."<a name="FNanchor_62_62" id="FNanchor_62_62"></a><a href="#Footnote_62_62" class="fnanchor">[62]</a> +It was then that Michel Angelo discovered +in his heart that treasure of +energy destined to sustain him in the +multiplied trials of a life, of which he +measured the probable length with a +melancholy resignation.<a name="FNanchor_63_63" id="FNanchor_63_63"></a><a href="#Footnote_63_63" class="fnanchor">[63]</a></p> + +<blockquote><p>"Why," he exclaims, "grant to my +wounded soul the vain solace of tears +and groaning words, since heaven, +which clothed a heart with bitterness, +takes it away but late, and perhaps +only in the tomb?"</p> + +<p>"<i>Another</i> must die. Why this haste +to follow her? Will not the remembrance +of her look soothe my last hours? +And what other blessing would be worth +so much as one of my sorrows?"<a name="FNanchor_64_64" id="FNanchor_64_64"></a><a href="#Footnote_64_64" class="fnanchor">[64]</a></p></blockquote> + +<p>In fine, armed with "the faith that +raises souls<a name="FNanchor_65_65" id="FNanchor_65_65"></a><a href="#Footnote_65_65" class="fnanchor">[65]</a> to God, and sweetens +their death," Michel Angelo, when +the fatal blow fell, was enabled to +impart to his regrets an expression of +thankfulness to the Supreme Dispenser +of our destinies; and giving a voice +from the tomb to her whom he had +so deeply loved, he puts these sublime +words into her mouth:</p> + +<blockquote><p>"I was a mortal, now I am an +angel. The world knew me for a +little space, and I possess heaven for +ever. I rejoice at the glorious exchange, +and exult over the death +which struck, to lead me to eternal +life!"—<i>Epitaffio</i>, v.</p></blockquote> + +<p><span class="pagenum">[625]</span></p> + + +<h2><a name="THINGS_IN_GENERAL" id="THINGS_IN_GENERAL"></a>THINGS IN GENERAL.</h2> + + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">A Gossiping Letter from the Seaside to Christopher North, Esq.<br /> +By an Old Contributor.</span></p> + +<p style="text-align: right;"> +------ <br /> +Near ——, England,<br /> +<i>October 1846. </i><br /> +</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">My Dear Christopher</span>,—Where +am I? What am I doing? Why have +I forgotten you and Maga? Bless us! +what a pother!—Give a man time, +my revered friend, to answer: I have +<i>not</i> forgotten either you or Maga; I +am at the seaside; and I am doing, +as well as I can, <i>nothing</i>. There are +your testy questions answered: and +as to divers objurgatory observations +of your's, I shall not attempt to reply +to them—regarding them as the results +of some gout-twinges which have, +I fear, a little quickened and heated +the temper of that "old man eloquent," +who, when in good health, +plays but one part—that of a caressing +father towards his children; for +as such Christopher North has ever +(as far as I know) regarded his contributors. +"Why don't you <i>review</i> +something or other? There's ——, +an impudent knave!—has just sent +me his ——: you will find it pleasant +to flagellate him, or ——, a Cockney +coxcomb! And if you be not in that +humour, there are several excellent, +and one or two admirable works, +which have appeared within the last +eighteen months, and which really +have as strong a claim on Maga as +she has on her truant sons,—and +you, among the rest, have repeatedly +promised to take one, at least, in +hand. If you be not in the critical +vein—do, for heaven's sake, turn +your hand to something else—you +have lain fallow long enough!—With +one of the many articles which you +have so often told me that you were +'seriously thinking of' on ——, or +----, or ——, &c., &c., &c.; and if +<i>that</i> won't do—why, rather than do +<i>nothing</i>, set to work for an hour or +two on a couple of mornings, and +write me a gossiping sort of letter—such +as I can print—such as you have +once before done, and I printed,—on +Things in General. Surely the last few +months have witnessed events which +must have set you, and all observant +men, thinking, and thinking very +earnestly. Set to work, be it only in +a simple, natural, easy way—care not +you, as I care not, how discursively—a +little touch of modest egotism, even, +I will forgive on this occasion, if you +find that—" Here, dear Christopher, +I recalcitrate, and decline printing +the rest of the sentence; but as to +"<i>Things in General</i>"—I am somewhat +smitten with the suggestion. +'Tis a taking title—a roomy subject, +in which one can flit about from gay +to grave, from lively to severe, according +to the humour of the moment; +and since you really do not +dislike the idea of an old contributor's +gossip on men and things, given you in +his own way, I shall forthwith begin +to pour out my little thoughts as unreservedly +as if you and I were sitting +together alone here. <i>Here</i>; but +where? As I said before, at the seaside; +at my favourite resort—where +(eschewing "Watering-places" with +lively disgust) I have spent many +a happy autumn. When I first found +it out, I thought that the <i>lines</i> had indeed +<i>fallen</i> to me in <i>pleasant places</i>, +and I still think so; but were I to +tell the public, through your pages, +of this green spot, I suspect that +by this time next year the sweet +solitude and primitive simplicity of +the scene around me would have +vanished: greedy speculating builders, +tempting the proprietors of the +soil, would run up in all directions +vile, pert, vulgar, brick-built, slate-roofed, +Quakerish-looking abominations, +exactly as a once lovely nook +in the Isle of Wight—Ventnor to wit—has +become a mere assemblage of +eyesores, a mass of <i>un</i>favourable eruptions, +so to speak—Bah! I once used<span class="pagenum">[626]</span> +to look forward to the Isle of Wight +with springy satisfaction. Why, the +infatuated inhabitants were lately +talking of having a railroad in the +island!!</p> + +<p>I quitted Babylon, now nearly +eleven weeks ago, for this said +sweet mysterious solitude. London +I dearly, dearly love—except during +the months of August, September, +and October, when it goes to sleep, +and lies utterly torpid. When I +quitted it very early in August, London +life was, as it were, at dead-low +water-mark. I was myself somewhat +jaded with a year's severe exertion in +my lawful calling, (what that may be, +it concerns none of your readers to +know,) and my family also were in +want of change of air and scene; so +that, when the day of departure had +arrived, we were in the highest possible +spirits. <i>Our</i> house would—we +reflected—within a few hours put on +the dismal, dismantled appearance +which almost every other house in +the street had presented for several +weeks, and we, whirling away to +----; but first of all it occurred to me +to lay in a stock of our good friend +Lee's port and sherry, (for where +were we to get drinkable wine at +----?)—ditto, in respect of six +pounds of real tea—not <i>quasi</i> tea, +<i>i.e.</i>, raisin-stalks and sloe-leaves—three +bottles of whisky; four of Anchovy +sauce; and four of Reading +or Harvey's sauce; two pounds of +mustard, and some cayenne and +curry-powder: having an eye, in +respect of this last, to—hot crab! a +delicious affair! Arrangements these +which we are resolved always to +make hereafter, having repeatedly +experienced the inconvenience of not +doing so. Having packed up every +thing, and given special orders for +the <i>Times</i> to be provided daily, and +the <i>Spectator</i> weekly, away we go—myself, +wife, three hostages to fortune, +and three other persons, and—bless +him!—Tickler; Timothy Tickler—that +sagacious, quaint, affectionate, +ugly-beautiful Skye terrier, which +found its way to me from you, my +revered friend—and is now lying +gracefully near me, pretending—the +little rogue—to be asleep; but really +watching the wasps buzzing round +him, and every now and then snapping +at them furiously, unconscious +of the probable consequences of his +success,—that,</p> + +<blockquote><p> +"If 'twere <i>done</i>, when 'tis done,<br /> +<i>Then</i>—'twere well it were done quickly!"<br /> +</p></blockquote> + +<p>By what railway we went, I care not +to say—beyond this, that it belongs +to one of that exceedingly select class, +the well-conducted railways; and we +were brought to the end of that portion +of our journey—whether one hundred, +two hundred, or two hundred and +fifty, or three hundred miles, signifies +nothing—safely and punctually arriving +two minutes earlier than our appointed +time. Then, by means of +steam-boats, cars, and otherwise, +<i>taliter processum est</i>, that about eight +o'clock in the evening we reached +this place, which, in the brilliant +moonlight, looked even more beautiful +than I had ever seen it. Near us +on our left—that is, within a few +hundred feet—was the placid silvery +sea, "its moist lips kissing the shore," +as Thomas Campbell expressed it; and +while supper was preparing, we went +to the shore to enjoy its loveliness. +Not a breath of wind was stirring—scarce +a cloud interfered with the +moon's serene effulgence. Lofty cliffs +stretched on either side of us as we +faced the sea, casting a kindly gloom +over part of the shore; and on turning +towards the land, we beheld +nothing but solemn groves of trees, +and one sweet cottage peeping modestly +from among them, as it were a +pearl glistening half-hid between the +folds of green velvet, about half-way +up the fissure in the cliffs by which +we had descended. Two or three +fishing-boats were moored under the +cliff, and against one of them was +leaning the fisherman, not far from +his snugly-sheltered hut, pleasantly +puffing at his pipe. Near him lay +extended on the shingle, grisly even +in death, a monster—viz. a shark, the +victim of the patience, pluck, and +tact, which had been exhibited that +afternoon by the fisherman and his +son, who had captured the marine +fiend in the bay, at less than two +miles' distance from the shore. 'Twas +nine feet in length, wanting one inch;—and +<i>its</i> teeth made your teeth chatter<span class="pagenum">[627]</span> +to look at them. Tickler inspected +him narrowly, having first cautiously +ascertained by his nose that all was +right, and then exclaimed, "Bow, +wow, wow!"—thus showing that +even as a live ass is better than a +dead lion, so a live terrier was better +than a dead shark. [As I find that +several of these hideous creatures +have been lately captured here, <i>quære</i> +the propriety of bathing, as I had +intended, from a boat, a little way +of from the land? Hem!] The only +visible occupants of those solitary +sands at that moment were myself, +my wife and children, the fisherman, +Tickler, and the dead shark. I remained +standing alone for a few moments +after my companions had turned +their steps towards our cottage, eager +for supper, and gazed upon the sequestered +loveliness around me with +a sense of luxury. What a contrast +this to the scene of exciting London +life in which I had happened to bear +a part on the preceding evening! +The following verses of Lord Rosscommon +happened to occur to me, +and chimed in completely with the +tone of my feelings:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> + +<span class="i0">"Hail, sacred Solitude! from this calm bay<br /></span> +<span class="i2">I view the world's tempestuous sea;<br /></span> +<span class="i4">And with wise pride despise<br /></span> +<span class="i4">All those senseless vanities:<br /></span> +<span class="i2">With pity moved for others, cast away,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">On rocks of hopes and fears I see them toss'd,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">On rocks of folly and of vice I see them lost:<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Since the prevailing malice of the great<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Unhappy men, or adverse fate<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Sunk deep into the gulfs of an afflicted state:<br /></span> +<span class="i2">But more, far more, a numberless prodigious train,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Whilst virtue counts them, but, alas, in vain.<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Fly from her kind embracing arms,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Deaf to her fondest call, blind to her greatest charms,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">And sunk in pleasures and in brutish ease,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">They in their shipwreck'd state themselves obdurate please.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">* * * * * *<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Here may I always, on this downy grass,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Unknown, unseen, my easy moments pass,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Till, with a gentle force, victorious Death<br /></span> +<span class="i4">My solitude invade,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And stopping for a while my breath,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">With ease convey me to a better shade!"<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +</div></div> + +<p>But a sharpened appetite for supper +called me away, and I quickly followed +my companions, casting a last +glance around, and suppressing a faint +sigh, fraught with the reflection, "All +this—<i>Deo volente</i>—will be ours for +nearly three months." Why <i>does</i> one +so often sigh on such an occasion?</p> + +<p>You may conceive how we enjoyed +our supper to the utmost, +and then all of us retired to our +respective apartments, which were +so brilliantly lit by the moon, as to +make our candles pale their ineffectual +fires. I stood for a long time +gazing at the beautiful scenery visible +from my little dressing-room window, +and then retired to rest, grateful to +the Almighty for our being allowed +the prospect of another of these periodical +intervals of relaxation and enjoyment. +To me they get more precious +every year; <i>they do</i>, decidedly. +But why? Let me, however, return +to this question by-and-by: 'tis one +which, with kindred subjects, has +much occupied my thoughts this autumn, +in many a long, solitary stroll +over the hills, and along the seashore.</p> + +<p>I wish I could do justice to my +cottage and its lovely locality. Yet +why should I try to set your's and +your readers' teeth on edge? You +have some lovely nooks on your Scottish +coast; but you cannot beat this. +We are about three hundred yards +from the sea, of which our windows, +on one side, command a full view; +while from all the others are visible +dark, high, steep downs, at so short a +distance, that methinks, at this moment, +I can hear the faint—the +very faint—tinkle of a sheep-bell,<span class="pagenum">[628]</span> +proceeding from some of the little +white tufts moving upon them. I +am now writing to you towards the +middle of this stormy October. Its +winds have so much thinned the leaves +of the huge elms which stand towards +the south-eastern parts of our house, +that I can now, from my study-window, +distinctly see the church—very +small, and very ancient—which, when +first we came, the thick foliage rendered +totally invisible from this point. +My window looks directly upon the +aforesaid downs, which at present +appear somewhat gloomy and desolate. +Yet have they a certain air of +the wild picturesque, the effect of +which is heightened by the howling +winds, which are sweeping down over +them to us, moaning and groaning +through the trees, and round the gables +of our house, (the aspect of the sky +being, at the same time, bleak and +threatening.) How it enhances my +sense of snugness in the small antique, +thoroughly wind-and-weather tight +room in which I am writing! A little +to my left is a vast natural hollow in +the downs, from which springs a sort +of little hanging wood or copse, the +mottled variegated hues of which have +a beautiful effect. Between me and +the downs are small clumps of trees—abrupt +little declivities, thickly lined +with shrubs, all touched with the +bronze tinting of the far-advanced +autumn—two or three intensely-green +fields, in the nearest of which are +browsing the two cows belonging to +the parsonage—which is, by the way, +quite invisible from any part of my +house, though at only a hundred +yards' or two distance. Oh! 'tis a +model—a love of a parsonage!—buried +among lofty trees, richly adorned with +myrtles, laurel, and clematis—the +well-trimmed greensward immediately +surrounding the long, low, +thatched house, which combines rural +elegance, simplicity, and comfort +in its disposition—is bordered +by spreading hydrangeas, dahlias, +fuschias, mignionette, and roses—ay, +roses, even yet in full bloom! Its +occupant is my friend, a dignitary of +the church, a scholar, a gentleman, +and "given to hospitality;" but I +will say nothing more on this head, +lest, peradventure, I should offend +his modesty, and disclose my locality. +My own house is more than sufficient +for my family; 'tis a small gentleman's +cottage, delightfully situate, +and containing every convenience, +(especially for a <i>symposium</i>,) and surrounded +by a luxuriant garden. Along +one side of the house, and commanding +an extensive and varied sea and +land view, runs a little terrace of +"soft, smooth-shaven green," made +for a meditative man to pace up and +down, as I have done some thousand +times—by noonday sunlight, by midnight +moonshine—buried in reverie, +or charmed by contemplating the +scenery around, disturbed by no sound +save the caw! caw! caw! from +the parsonage rookery, the <i>sough</i> of +the wind among the trees, and, latterly, +the sullen echoes of the sea +thundering on the shore. Ah! what +an inexpressibly beautiful aspect is +just given to the scene by that transient +gleam of saddening sunlight!</p> + +<p>I can really give no account of my +time for the last eleven weeks, which +have slipped away almost unperceivedly—one +day so like another, +that scarce any thing can be recorded +of one which would not be applicable +to every other. Breakfast over, (crabs, +lobster, or prawns, and honey indigenous, +the constant racy accessaries,) +all the intermediate time between +that hour and dinner, (for I am +no lunch-eater,) six <span class="smcap">p.m.</span>, is spent in +sauntering along the shore, poking +among the rocks, strolling over the +clefts, and clambering up and wandering +about the downs; and occasionally +in pilgrimages to distant and +pretty little farm-houses, (in quest of +their products for our table,) generally +accompanied by Tickler, always +by a book, sometimes with my wife +and children; but most frequently +<i>alone</i>, chewing the cud of sweet and +bitter fancies, and always avoiding, +of set purpose, any other company +(even were it here to be had) in my +rambles, than as is aforesaid. 'Tis +ecstacy to me to sit alone on a rock +in a sequestered part of the shore, +especially when the tide is high, and +equally whether it be rough or smooth, +or calm or stormy weather: for as to +this last, I have discovered a friendly +nook in the rocks, big enough to hold +me only, and deep enough to give me +shelter from the wind and rain, ex<span class="pagenum">[629]</span>cept +when they beat right in upon me. +You may laugh, perhaps, but in this +retreat I have spent many an entire +day—<i>i.e.</i> from ten <span class="smcap">A.M.</span> to six <span class="smcap">P.M.</span>, +sometimes pacing to and fro on the +sands, near my hole, generally bathing +about mid-day, taking with me +always the <i>Times</i> newspaper, (which +I generally got from the old postman, +whom I met on my way down to the +sands,) the current number of <i>Maga</i>, +or some favourite volume, being also +frequent companions. I must acknowledge, +however, that the first +was my special luxury, to which I +daily addressed myself with all the +eager relish of a dog with a fresh +bone in an unfrequented place—and +whom I conceive to be, so circumstanced, +in a state paradisiacal;—for, +indeed, to such a pass are matters +come, that no man whom I know of +can miss his newspaper without a +restless, uncomfortable feeling of having +slipped a day behind the world. +Surely I may here, in passing, say a +word or two about <span class="smcap">NEWSPAPERS</span>?</p> + +<p>And coming from one who, as you +know, never had any thing to do with +newspapers, except as having been +an eager and regular reader of them +for more than twenty years, I hope +my testimony is worth having, when +I express my opinion that our newspaper +press is a very great honour +to Great Britain, as well negatively +in its abstinence from myriads of +tempting but objectionable topics, as +well as positively in the varied ability, +the energy, accuracy, and amazing +promptitude displayed in dealing with +the ever-changing and often-perplexing +affairs of the world. Inestimably +precious is the unshackled freedom of +these wondrous organs of public opinion: +infringe, though never so slightly, +and but for a moment, upon that +independence, and you wound our +<span class="smcap">LIBERTY</span> in the very apple of the eye.</p> + +<p>Let any government unjustifiably or +oppressively attack one of our newspapers—whatever +may be its politics—how +indifferent even soever its character—with +an evident intention to +impair its independence—and there +is not a man in the country who +would not suddenly feel a stifling sensation, +as if some attempt had been +made upon his immediate personal +rights. The nation may be (though +fancifully) compared to a huge monster, +with myriads of <i>tentacles</i>—or +whatever else you may call them—as +its organ of existence and action, +every single one of which is so sensitive, +that, if touched, the whole <i>creature</i> +is instantly roused and in motion, as if +you had touched them <i>all</i>, and stimulated +<i>all</i> into simultaneous and frightful +action. The public is this vast +creature—the press are these tentacles. +Fancy our Prime Minister pouncing +oppressively and illegally upon the +very obscurest provincial paper going—say +the "Land's End Farthing Illuminator!" +Why, the whole artillery +of the press of the United Kingdom +would instantly open upon him; in +doing so, being the true exponent of the +universal fury of the country—and in +a twinkling where would be my Lord +John, or would have been Sir Robert, +with the strongest government that +ever was organised? Extinguished, +annihilated. Let some young and +unreflecting Englishman compare this +state of things with that which is at +this moment in existence in Spain!—in +which every newspaper daring to +express itself independently, though +moderately, on a stirring political +event of the day, is instantly pounced +upon by an infamous—a truly execrable +government, and silenced and +suppressed; and its conductors fined +and imprisoned. We in this country +cannot write or read the few words +conveying the existence of such a +state of facts, without our blood +boiling. And is there no <i>other</i> country +where the press is overawed—submits, +however sullenly, to be dictated +to by government, to become the despicable +organ of falsehood and deceit—and +is accessible to bribery and corruption? +And what are we to say +of the press of the United States of +America, pandering (with some bright +exceptions) to the vilest passions, the +most depraved tastes of the most +abandoned among the people, and +mercenary and merciless libellers? +With scarcely more than a single foul +exception—and that, one regrets to +say, in our Metropolis, in which are +published nearly forty newspapers—can +any person point out a newspaper, +in town or country, indulging in, ribald +or obscene language or allusions, or—with +two or three exceptions—professed +impiety, or slanderous attacks +upon public or private character.<span class="pagenum">[630]</span> +Some year or two ago there was manifested, +in a certain portion of the +metropolitan press, a tendency downwards +of this sort; and how long was +it before popular indignation rose, and—to +use a legal phrase—abated the +nuisance? Can the chief perpetrator +of the enormities referred to, even +now, after having undergone repeated +legal punishment, show himself any +where in public without encountering +groans and hisses, and the risk even +of personal violence? And did not +the occasion in question rouse the +legislature itself into action, the result +of which was a law effectually protecting +the public against wicked +newspapers, and, on the other hand, +justly affording increased protection +to the freedom and independence of +the virtuous part of the press? I +repeat the question—Who can point +out more than one or two of our +newspapers which are morally discreditable +to the country? No censor +of the press want we: the British +public is its own censor. What a +vast amount of humbug, of fraud, of +meanness, of corruption, of oppression, +of cruelty, and wickedness, as well +in private as in public life—as well in +low as in high places—is not kept in +check, and averted from us, by the +sleepless vigilance, the fearless interference, +the ceaseless denunciations of +our public press! 'Tis a potent preventive +to check evil—or rather may +be regarded as a tremendous tribunal, +to which the haughtiest and fiercest +among us is amenable, before which, +though he may outwardly bluster, +he inwardly quails, whose decrees +have toppled down headlong the +most exalted, into obscurity and insignificance, +and left them exposed to +blighting ridicule and universal derision. +It is true that this power may +be, and has been, abused: that good +institutions and their officials have +been unjustly denounced. But this is +rare: the vast power above spoken +of exists not, except where the press +is unanimous, or pretty nearly so: and +as the British people are a just and +truth-loving people, (with all their +weaknesses and faults,) the various +organs of their various sections and +parties rarely come to approach unanimity, +except in behalf of a good +and just cause. Let the most potent +journal in the empire run counter to +the feeling and opinion of the country, +if we could imagine a journal so obstinate +and shortsighted, and its voice +is utterly ineffectual—the objects of +its deadliest animosity remain unscathed, +though, it may be, for a brief +space exposed to the irritating and +annoying consequences of publicity. +Let this country embark, for instance, +in a just war—within a day or two +our press would have roused the enthusiasm +of this country, even as that +of one man. Let it be an unjust war—and +the government proposing it, +or appearing likely to precipitate it, +bombarded by the artillery of the +press, will quickly be shattered to +pieces. All our institutions profit +prodigiously by the wholesome scrutiny +of the press. The Church, the +Army, the Navy, the Law, every department +of the executive—down to +our police-offices, our prisons, our +workhouses—in any and every of +them, tyranny, peculation, misconduct +of every sort, is quickly detected, and +as quickly stopped and redressed. +While conferring these immense social +benefits, how few are the evils, how +rare—as I have already observed—the +misconduct to be set off! How +very, very rare are prosecutions for +libel or sedition, or actions for libel, +against the press; and even when they +do occur, how rare is the success of +such proceedings! I happen, by the +way, to be able to give two instances +of the generous and gentlemanlike +conduct of the conductors of two +leading metropolitan newspapers of +opposite politics; one was of very +recent occurrence:—A hot-headed political +friend of mine, contrary to my +advice, forwarded to <i>The ———</i> a +<i>fact</i>, duly authenticated, concerning a +person in high station, which, if it had +been published, would have exquisitely +annoyed the party in question, +whose politics were diametrically opposed +to those of the newspaper referred +to, and would also have afforded +matter for party sarcasm and piquant +gossip in society. The only notice +taken of my crestfallen friend's communication +was the following, in the +next morning's "Notices to Correspondents:"—"To [Greek: S].—The +occurrence referred +to is hardly a fair topic for [or +'within the province of'] newspaper +discussion." The other case was one +which occurred two or three years ago;<span class="pagenum">[631]</span> +and the editor of the paper in question +did not deign to take the least notice +whatever of the communication—not +even acknowledging the receipt of it. +There is one feature of our leading +London newspapers which always appears +to me interesting and remarkable: +it is their leading article on a +debate, or on newly-arrived foreign +intelligence. Let an important ministerial +speech be delivered in either +House of Parliament on a very difficult +subject, and at a very late hour, +or say at an early hour in the morning; +and on our breakfast-tables, the +same morning, is lying the speech and +the editor's interesting and masterly +commentary on it—evincing, first, a +thorough familiarity with the speech +itself, and with the difficult and often +obscure and complicated topics which it +deals with; and, secondly, a skilful +confutation or corroboration, wherein +it is difficult which most to admire, +the logical acuteness, dexterity, and +strength of the writer, the vigour and +vivacity of his style, or the accuracy +and extent of his political knowledge; +and this, too, after making large allowance +for occasional crudity, perversion, +inconsistency, or flippancy. The same +observation applies to their articles, +often equally interesting and masterly, +on newly-arrived foreign intelligence. +Conceive the extent to which such +a writer, such a journal must influence +public opinion, and gradually +and unconsciously bias the minds +of even able and thinking readers. +Engaged actively in their own concerns +all day long, they have too +often neither the inclination nor opportunity +for sifting the sophistries, +skilfully intermingled with just and +brilliant reasoning, and disguised under +splendid sarcasm and powerful +invective. How, again, can they test +the accuracy of historical and political +references and assertions, if happening +to lie beyond their own particular +acquisitions and recollections? The +other side of the question, such a one +is aware, will probably be found in the +<i>Chronicle</i> or <i>Standard</i>, the <i>Times</i> or +<i>Globe</i>, <i>Sun</i> or <i>Herald</i> respectively, +whose business it is to be continually +on the watch for each other's lapses, to +detect and expose them. To what does +all this lead but the formation of an indolent +habit of acquiescence in other +men's opinions—a hasty, superficial +acquaintance with <i>pros</i> and <i>cons</i>, upon +even the gravest question propounded +by other men—a heedless, universal +<i>taking upon trust</i>, instead of that salutary +jealousy, vigilance, and independence, +which insists in every thing, +upon weighing matters in the balances +of one's own understanding? Many a +man is reading these sentence who +knows that they are telling the truth; +and doubtless he will be for the future +upon his guard, resolved not to surrender +his independence of judgement, +or suffer his faculties to decay through +inaction.—But, bless me! this glorious +morning is slipping away. I hear +Tickler scratching at the door. I +shut up my writing-case, don my +coat, hat, and walking-stick, and +away to the shore. Scarcely have I +got upon the sands, when behold, +floating majestically past me, at little +more than a mile's distance, the magnificent +<i>St Vincent</i> (one hundred and +twenty guns.) There's a line-of-battle +ship for you! I take off my hat involuntarily +in the presence of our Naval +Majesty. I gaze after her with those +feelings and thoughts of fond pride +and exultation which gush over the +heart of an Englishman looking at +one of <span class="smcap">HIS MEN-OF-WAR</span>! Well—superb +St Vincent, you have now +rounded the corner, and are out of +sight; but I remain riveted to the +spot with folded arms, and ask of our +naval rulers, with a certain stern +anxiety, a question, which I shall +throw into the striking language of +Mr Canning—"Are <i>you</i>, my Lords +and Gentlemen, <i>silently concentrating +the force to be put forth on an adequate +occasion</i>?" Who can tell how soon +that adequate occasion will present +itself? Is the peace of Europe at this +moment so profound, is our own position +so satisfactory and impregnable, +that we may wisely and safely dismiss +all anxiety from our minds? +Why, has not, within these few days +past, an event occurred which is calculated +to give rise to very serious +anxiety in the minds of those feeling +an interest in public affairs? I allude +to the Duc de Montpensier's marriage +with the Infanta Donna Luisa, which +I have just learned, was actually carried +into effect at Madrid on the 10th +instant, in the teeth of the stern and<span class="pagenum">[632]</span> +repeated protest of Great Britain. I +do not take every thing for gospel +which appears on this subject in the +newspapers, from which alone we +have hitherto derived all our knowledge +of this affair; and, with a liberal +allowance in respect of their excusable +anxiety to make the most of what +they regard as a godsend at this +vapid period of the year, I would suspend +my judgment till the country +shall have had full and authentic information +concerning the real state of +the case. I hope it will prove that I +for one have altogether mistaken the +aspect and bearings of the affair. Discarding +what may possibly turn out +to be greatly exaggerated or wholly +unfounded, I take it nevertheless for +granted, that, (1st,) the youngest son +of the reigning King of the French +was, on the 10th instant, married to +Donna Luisa, the sister of the reigning +Queen of Spain, and heiress-presumptive +to her crown; (2dly,) +That this was done after and in spite +of the distinct emphatic protest of the +British government, conveyed to those +of both Spain and France; (3dly,) +That the British government and the +British ambassadors at Madrid and +Paris had been kept in profound +ignorance of the whole affair up +to the moment of the annunciation +to the world at large of the fact, that +the marriage had been finally—irrevocably +determined upon. I think it, +moreover, highly probable, that (1st,) +this marriage is regarded by the +people of Spain with sullen dislike and +distrust; (2dly,) that there has been +cruel coercion upon the two royal +girls—for such they are—the result +of an intrigue between their Mother, +the notorious Christina, and Louis +Philippe; (3dly,) that an express or +implied promise was personally given, +during the last year, at the Chateau +d'Eu, by the French king and his +minister, to our queen and her minister, +that this event should <i>not</i> take +place;—and all this done while England +was reposing in confident and +gratified security, upon the supposed +"<i>cordial understanding</i>" between herself +and France; in contemptuous +disregard of England's title to be consulted +in such an affair, founded upon +her stupendous sacrifices and exertions +on behalf of the peace and +liberty of Spain, and in deliberate +defiance—as it appears to me—of the +treaty of Utrecht! What is Louis +Philippe about? On what principles +are we to account for his conduct? +Has he counted the cost of obtaining +his immediate object? Has he calculated +the consequences with respect +to France and to Europe generally? +Is he prepared, at the proper time, +to demonstrate, that the step which +he has taken is consistent with his +character for sincerity and straight-forwardness—with +his personal honour +and welfare—with the honour +and welfare of his family and of +France? That he has not violated +any pledge, or infringed any treaty? +That England is not warranted in +considering herself aggrieved, slighted, +insulted? That he could have had +no sinister object in view, and that +his conduct has been consistent with +his loud professions of friendship and +respect for this country and its sovereign? +Let him ask himself the +startling question, whether he can afford +to lose our friendship and support +towards himself or his family and +dynasty, in his rapidly declining +years—or further, provoke our settled +anger and hostility? England is +frank and generous, but somewhat +stern and sensitive in matters of honour +and fidelity; and none is abler +than Louis Philippe to appreciate the +consequences of her resentment. Is +he aware of the altered feeling towards +him which his recent conduct +has generated in this country? That +his name, when coupled with that +conduct, is mentioned only with the +contempt and disgust due to gross +insincerity, selfishness, and treachery; +and that, too, in a country which, up +to within a few months ago, gave him +such unequivocal and gratefully-recognised +tokens of respect and affection? +Whenever he escaped from +the hand of the assassin, where was +the event hailed with such profound +sympathy as here? <i>Now</i>, his name +suggests to us only that of his execrable +father, and reminds us that the +blood running in his veins is that of +Philip Egalité. Surely the equipoise +of European interests has been seriously +disturbed, either through the +insane recklessness of an avaricious +monarch, bent on enriching every<span class="pagenum">[633]</span> +member of his family, at all hazards, +or in furtherance of a deep and long-considered +scheme, having for its exclusive +and sinister object the aggrandisement +of his family and nation. +Had he come to a secret understanding +beforehand with America, or any +European power, to support him +throughout the consequences which +might ensue? Was it his object to +crush English influence in the Peninsula, +and render it at no distant period +a mere French province, and +give him a right or pretext for interference? +What will the Spanish nation +say to what he has done? Has +he rightly estimated the Spanish character, +and foreseen the consequences +of what he has done, in perpetrating +an <i>abduction</i> of their Infanta? What +prospects has he opened for Spain? +Has he considered what a line of +policy is now open to Great Britain, +with reference to Spain? Whether +the northern powers of Europe will +<i>announce</i> dissatisfaction at this proceeding +remains to be seen. They +cannot <i>feel</i> satisfaction, unless their +relations and policy towards this +country and France are assuming a +new character. I should like to know +what M. Guizot really thinks on all +these subjects, and am curious to hear +what he will say—or rather suffer his +royal master to coerce him into saying—when +the time shall have arrived +for public explanation. I trust +that it will speedily appear that our +representatives in Spain and France +have acted, as became them, with +promptitude, prudence, and spirit, +and that neither our late nor present +foreign Secretary has been guilty of +neglect or bungling diplomacy, so +as to place us now in a position of +serious embarrassment, or ridiculous +inability for action. If the contrary +be the case—that is, if no such compromise +of our national interests have +occurred, and we are now free to say +and do what we may consider consistent +with our rights and character, +it is to be hoped that our government, +by whomsoever carried on, will +act on the one hand with dignified +and uncompromising determination, +and on the other with the utmost +possible circumspection. They have +to deal with a very subtle and dangerous +intriguer in Louis Philippe, +who seems to have chosen a moment +for the development of his plans most +convenient for himself—viz., when +our Parliament was newly prorogued, +not to meet again till he should have +had the benefit of the chapter of accidents. +All will, however, assuredly +come out; and if the main features +of the case prove to have been already +shadowed forth truly, I do not think +that there will be found two opinions +in this country upon the subject of +Louis Philippe and his Montpensier +marriage. It is represented by, <i>one</i> +of our journals as an event, the hubbub +about which "will soon blow over;" +but I do not think so—it appears, on +the contrary, pregnant with very serious +and far-stretching consequences—the +first of which is the undoubted +conversion of the "cordial understanding" +between England and +France, into a very "cordial <i>mis</i>understanding,"—with +all its embarrassing +and threatening incidents. +Our diplomatic relations are now +chilled and disordered; and the worst +of it is, not by a temporary, but +<i>permanent</i> cause—one which, the more +we contemplate it, the more distinctly +we perceive the consequences which +it was <i>meant</i> should follow from it. +The bearing of England towards +France has become one of stern and +guarded caution. In all human probability, +Louis Philippe will never +look again upon the face of our +Queen Victoria, or partake of her +hospitalities, or be permitted to pour +his dulcet deceit into her ears. He +may affect to regard with satisfaction +and exultation the fact of his +having become the father-in-law of +the heiress-presumptive to the throne +of Spain: but I do not think that he +can really regard what he has just +accomplished otherwise than with +rapidly-increasing misgiving. "A +few months," to adopt the language of +one of our most powerful journalists, +"will now probably show us how far +Louis Philippe has succeeded in a feat +which foiled the undying ambition of +Louis le Grand, and the unexampled +might of Napoleon; and what is the +real value of the spoil for which he has +not hesitated to imperil a thirty years' +peace, and convulse the relations of<span class="pagenum">[634]</span> +Europe?" Let me return, however, to +the topic which led me into this subject, +and express again my deep anxiety for +the efficient management of our navy: +adding a significant fact disclosed +by the last number of <i>La Presse</i>—which +announces that the Minister of +Marine has just concluded contracts +for ship-timber to be supplied to the +ports of Toulon, Cherbourg, Brest, +L'Orient, and Rochefort, to the extent +of upwards of 25,000,000 francs, (<i>i.e.</i> +upwards of a million sterling.) Does +Louis Philippe meditate leaving to +France the destructive legacy of a war +with England, as a hoped-for prevention +of the civil war which he may +expect to ensue upon his death?</p> + +<hr style="width: 15%;" /> + +<p>If I were to write a diary here, it +would be after the following sort:—</p> + +<p><i>Monday.</i>—Another shark! Mercy +on us! What a brute! But not so big +as the other.</p> + +<p><i>Tuesday.</i>—We had capital honey +this morning to breakfast; eightpence +per lb.—freshly expressed from the +wax, and got from Granny Jolter's +farm.</p> + +<p><i>Wednesday.</i>—My <i>Times</i> did not +come by to-day's post, and I feel I +don't know how.</p> + +<p><i>Thursday.</i>—The "hot crab" which +we had at the parsonage, where we +dined to-day, was exquisite. The +way it is done is—the whole of the +inside, and the claws, having been +mixed together with a little rich gravy, +(sometimes cream is used;) curry-<i>paste</i>, +not curry-powder, and very +fine fried crumbs of bread, is put into +the shell of the crab and then <i>salamandered</i>. +If <i>my</i> cook can do it on +my return to town, I will give her +half-a-crown.</p> + +<p><i>Friday.</i>—Nothing whatever happened; +but it looked a little like rain, +over the downs, about four o'clock in +the afternoon.</p> + +<p><i>Saturday.</i>—A day of incidents. +Ten o'clock <span class="smcap">A.M.</span>—The coast-guard +man told me, that about five o'clock +this morning, as he was coming along +---- cliff, a young fox popped out of a +thicket close at his feet, looked "quite +steady-like at him for about five seconds," +and then ran back into the +furze.</p> + +<p>Eleven o'clock.—Saw a Cockney +"gent" on a walking tour, the first of +the sort that I have seen in these parts, +and he looked frightened at the solitariness +of the scene. Every thing +that he had on seemed new: a dandified +shining hat; a kind of white +pea-jacket; white trowsers; fawn-coloured, +gloves; little cloth boots +tipped with shining French polished +leather; a very slight umbrella covered +with oil-skin; and a little telescope +in a leathern case, slung round his +waist. He fancied, as he passed me, +that he had occasion to use a gossamer +white pocket-handkerchief, with +a fine border to it; for he took it out of +an outside breast-pocket, and unfolded +it deliberately and jauntily. Whence +came he, I wonder? He cannot walk +four miles further, poor fellow! for +evidently walking does not agree with +him: yet he must, or sit down and +cry in this out-of-the-way place.</p> + +<p>Two o'clock.—Tickler caught a little +crab among the rocks. It got hold of +his nose, and bothered him.</p> + +<p>Four o'clock.—As I was sitting on +a tumble-down sort of gate, talking +earnestly with my little boy, I heard +some vehicle approaching—looked up +as it turned the corner of the road, +and behold—Her Gracious Majesty +Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, and one +or two other persons, without outriders +or any sort of state whatever! She +was dressed exceedingly plain, and +was laughing heartily at something +said to her by a well-known nobleman +who walked beside the carriage. I +never saw her Majesty looking to so +much advantage: in high spirits, with +a fine fresh colour, and her hair a <i>little</i> +deranged by the wind. She and her +little party seemed surprised at seeing +any one in such an out-of-the-way +place, and her Majesty and the Prince +returned our obeisances with particular +courtesy.</p> + +<p>Half-past Five.—Nick Irons met me +with a large viper which he had just +killed, after it had flown at his dog. +Is there any difference between vipers +and adders?</p> + +<p>A quarter past Six.—On arriving +at home, found a hot crab, which had +been sent in to us, as an addition to +our dinner, from the parsonage. I +lick my lips while thinking of it. I +prefer the cream to the gravy.<span class="pagenum">[635]</span></p> + +<p>Half-past six.—Find I have got +only three bottles of port and two of +sherry left!</p> + +<p>Nine o'clock.—My four gallon cask +of elderberry wine, made for me—and +capitally made, too—by one of +the villagers, came home. We are +to put a quart of brandy in it, and +"take care it don't <i>forment</i>." I fancy +I see ourselves and the children regaling +ourselves with it on the winter's +evenings, in town. Altogether +it has cost me twelve shillings and +sixpence!</p> + +<p>Quarter past Nine.—Children go +to bed; I had the candles brought in, +resolved to read the new number of the +----; but fell asleep directly, and +never woke till half-past twelve +o'clock, when I knew not where I +was; being in darkness—and alone. +Really a journal of this sort is, upon +consideration, so instructive and entertaining, +that I wish to know whether +you would like me to keep one +during my next sojourn at the seaside +and publish it in <i>Maga</i>? I would +undertake not to exceed three numbers +of <i>Maga</i>, each Part to contain +only twenty pages.</p> + +<hr style="width: 15%;" /> + +<p><span class="smcap">Miss Strickland</span> <i>v.</i> <span class="smcap">Lord Campbell</span>.</p> + +<p>Will his lordship favour the world +with some reply to this clever and +laborious lady's accusation contained +in her letter to the <i>Times</i>? That letter +is exceedingly specific and pointed +in the charge of literary larceny, and +committed under circumstances which +every consideration of candour, gallantry, +and literary character, concurs +in rendering Lord Campbell's complete +exculpation a matter of serious +consequence to his reputation. Has he, +or has he not, designedly appropriated +to his own use, as the fruits of his +own original research, the results of a +literary fellow-labourer's meritorious +and pains-taking original investigation—that +fellow-labourer, too, being +a lady? I sincerely hope that Lord +Campbell's first literary attempt will +prove not to be thus discreditably +signalized. His book <i>is yet</i> unnoticed +in <i>Maga</i>.</p> + +<hr style="width: 15%;" /> + +<p>According to that good old intelligible +English saying, it is this morning +<i>raining cats and dogs</i>. There's an +end, Tickler, to our intended eighteen-mile +walk (thither and back) to the +lighthouse, the machinery of which +I was very anxious to explain to you. +<i>Bow, wow, wow, wow!</i> indeed! I +know what you mean, you little sinner! +You want to be after the rabbits +in yonder thickets, and you mean to +intimate that you can go perfectly +well by yourself, don't mind the rain, +and will come safely home when you +have finished your sport. Don't look +so earnestly at me, and whine so +piteously. By the way, do you call +yourself a vermin dog? and yet every +hair of your shaggy coat stood on end +the other day, when I turned out for +you the two pennyworth of mice—<i>mice!</i>—which +I had bought for you +from Nick Irons? What would you +have done if a <span class="smcap">RAT</span> were to meet you? +Bah, you little wretch! Where's +your spirit? Refined, and refined +away by breeding, eh? What would +you have done if you were to be allowed +to go off now, and were to rout +out accidentally a hedgehog, as <i>Hermit</i> +did yesterday? You may well +whine! He's five times your size, +eh? But I've seen a terrier that +would tackle a hedgehog, and bring +him home, too—your own second cousin, +Tory, poor dear dog—peace to his +little ashes. Besides, to return to the +rabbits—in spite of all your snuffing +and smelling, and scampering, and +routing about, you never turned up a +rabbit yet! And even our kitten has +only to rise and curve her little back, +and you slink away, like an arrant +coward as you are—Well!—come +along, doggy! you're a good little +creature, with all your faults—these +black eyes of yours, with your little +erect ears, look as if you had really +understood all that I have been saying +to you—so I really think—and +yet—pour! pour! pour!—[Enter +Emily.]</p> + +<p><i>Emily.</i>—Papa, Miss —— says that +we have said <i>all</i> our lessons, and <i>will</i> +you let us have Tickler to play with?</p> + +<p><i>Tickler.</i>—Bow—wow—wow!—Bow, +wow!—Bow! bow! bow!—[Running +up and scampering towards +her, and they go away together.]</p> + +<p><i>Servant.</i>—Brown has called with +some lobsters, sir—(shows them)—two +very nice ones, and a small crab—only +fifteenpence the lot.<span class="pagenum">[636]</span></p> + +<p><i>Self.</i>—Very well—buy 'em.</p> + +<p><i>Wife.</i>—(Entering)—Lobsters and +crabs again! Really one would think +that you had had a surfeit of them long +ago.</p> + +<p><i>Servant.</i>—Brown says, sir, he +mayn't be able to get any more for +some time, the wind's so high.</p> + +<p><i>Wife.</i>—Oh, buy them, of course! +Every thing is bought that comes +here! That's eleven crabs this week!</p> + +<p><i>Self.</i>—What have you got there, +my Xantippe?</p> + +<p><i>Wife.</i>—I wish you would drop that +odious name.</p> + +<p><i>Self.</i>—What have you there, my +Angel?</p> + +<p><i>Wife.</i>—No, <i>that</i> won't do either.</p> + +<p><i>Self.</i>—Well, Fanny, then—what +have you got there?</p> + +<p><i>Wife.</i>—Why, 'tis the new work of +Mr Dickens—<i>Dombey & Son.</i> What +an odd name for a tale!</p> + +<p><i>Self.</i>—Why, how did you get it?</p> + +<p><i>Wife.</i>—Mrs —— (at the parsonage) +has just got a packet of books +from town, and has lent us this, as it +is a wet day, till the evening, and +they have got lots to read at present.</p> + +<p><i>Self.</i>—I am very much obliged to +them.</p> + +<p><i>Wife.</i>—So am I, for I want to read +it first; manners, if you please.</p> + +<p><i>Self.</i>—Come, come, Fanny, I really +want it; I've a good deal of curiosity.</p> + +<p><i>Wife.</i>—So have I, too!</p> + +<p><i>Self.</i>—Well, at any rate, let me +look at the plates.</p> + +<p><i>Wife.</i>—Certainly; and suppose, by +the way, as I've no letter to write—suppose +I sit down with you, and read +it to you! 'Twill save your eyes, and +I'm all alone in the other room.</p> + +<p><i>Self.</i>—Very well. [Madame shuts +the door; seats herself on the miniature +sofa; I poke the fire; and she +begins.] Being called away soon +afterwards on some domestic exigency, +she leaves me—and I read +for myself. You said that you +should like to know my opinion of +Mr Dickens' new story, and I read it +with interest, and some care. 'Tis +exactly what I had expected; containing +clear evidence of original genius, +disfigured by many most serious, +and now plainly incurable, blemishes. +The first thing striking me, on perusing +this new performance, is, that +its author writes, as it were, from +amidst a thick theatrical mist. Cursed +be the hour—should say a sincere admirer +of Mr Dickens' genius—that he +ever set foot within a theatre, or became +intimate with theatrical people. +You fancy that every scene, incident, +and character, is conceived with a +view to its <i>telling</i>—from the stage. +This suggestion seems to me to afford +a key to most of the prominent faults +and deficiencies of Mr Dickens as an +imaginative writer; the lamentable +absence of that simplicity and sobriety +which invest the writings, for instance, +of Goldsmith with immortal +freshness and beauty. With what +truthful tenderness does <i>such</i> a writer +depict nature!—how different is his +treatment from the spasmodic, straining, +extravagant, vulgarizing efforts +of the play-wright! The one is delicate +and exquisite limning; the other, +gross daubing:—the one faithfully represents; +the other monstrously caricatures. +This is the case with Mr +Dickens; and it is intolerably provoking +that it should be so; for he +has the penetrating eye and accurate +pencil, which—properly disciplined +and trained—might have produced +pictures worthy to stand beside those +of the greatest masters. As it is, you +might imagine his sketches to be the +result of the combined simultaneous +efforts of two artists—one the delicate +limner, the other the vulgar dauber +and scene-painter above spoken of. +He has invention and skill enough to +produce an interesting character; and +place him in a situation favourable +for developing his eccentricities, his +failings, his excellences—in a word, +his peculiarities. Well; he prepares +his reader's mind—sets before you an +interesting, a moving, a mirth-stirring +occasion, when—bah!—all is +ruined; the spasmodic straining after +effect becomes instantly and painfully +visible; and the personage before you +is made to talk to the level of a theatrical +audience, especially pit and gallery—and +in unison with "gingerbeer, +apples, oranges, and sodawater" +associations and recollections. +Let me give two striking instances, +occurring at the very opening of +"<i>Dombey and Son</i>." The first is the +colloquy at pp. 3, 4; the other at +p. 9. The former presents you Dr +Parker Peps, a fashionable accou<span class="pagenum">[637]</span>cheur, +and the humble admiring family +medical man—the occasion being +a momentary absence of both from +the clamber of a lady dying in childbed, +Mrs Dombey; and can any one +of correct taste or feeling bear in +mind that occasion, and fail of +being revolted by the drivel put +into the mouth of the consulting +accoucheur?—who, when telling Mr +Dombey of the mortal peril in which +his wife overhead is lying—apologises +to him for speaking of her as +"<i>Her Grace the Duchess!</i>" "<i>Lady +Cankaby</i>," "<i>The Countess of Dombey</i>:" +his obsequious companion accounting +for such lapses on the score +of his "West End practice." Is this +nature? Is it actual life? Any thing +approaching to either? If not, what +is it meant for? Why, to tickle a +Christmas audience at one of the +minor playhouses! The other (these +are only two out of many) is the +character of Mr Chick, an old fool, who +has a habit of whistling and humming +droll tunes on the most solemn occasions, +interrupting and interlarding +conversation with "<i>Right tol loor-rul</i>," +"<i>A cobbler there was</i>," "<i>Rumpti-iddity +bow, wow, wow!</i>" is it not certain that +Mr Dickens here had his eye on Tilbury +or Bedford enacting the part? +And for no other purpose whatever is +this precious character introduced than +to hit off this very original peculiarity! +From the same theatrical habit of +mind, it happens that Mr Dickens cannot +carry on his stories in an even, +straightforward course, but presents +us with a series of "scenes!"—utterly +marring the effect and annihilating +the truthfulness and reality of the +whole; <i>e. g.</i> the jarring interruption of +this story at a touching and interesting +moment—at the moment of the +two doctors and Mr Dombey's return to +poor Mrs Dombey's death-bed, when +the reader <i>feels</i> that they are almost +instantly to witness her death, by the +introduction of two tiresome twaddlers, +reproductions of old stock characters +of the author, Mrs Chick and Miss +Tox, whose descriptions and utterly +irrelevant conversation detain us for +nearly three pages. At length these +motley "stagers"—if I may be allowed +the word—are grouped round the poor +lady's death-bed; and let me here +say, that in my opinion the character +and situation of poor Mrs Dombey are +both exquisitely conceived, and appeal +to the deepest sympathies of the +heart; but, alas! the perverse, provoking, +incorrigible writer will not +let us enjoy "the luxury of grief;" +but while we are bending over her +death-bed, our attention is called off +to a remarkably interesting and appropriate +circumstance—two watches +of two of the doctors "seem in the +silence to be <i>running a race</i>!" * * +"they seem to be racing faster!!" * * +"The race, in the ensuing pause, was +fierce and furious. The watches +seemed to jostle, and to trip each +other up!!!" and a moment or two +afterwards the lady expires, under +very moving circumstances, touched +with perfect delicacy and truthfulness. +Would the intrusion of a sow into a +lovely flower-garden be more shocking +or disgusting to the beholder? Again, +in the first page, we are presented +to Mr Dombey, gazing with unutterable +feelings at his newly-born son, "forty-eight +minutes of age;" and Mr Dickens +tastefully suggests the comparison of +the little creature, which is "somewhat +<i>crushed and spotty</i> in his general effect!!" +whose mother is at that moment +in dying agonies in that very +room, to "a <i>muffin</i>, which it was essential +to toast brown while it was +very new!!" And a few lines forward, +the posture of the innocent unconscious +little being suggests the +brutal idea of a <i>prize-fighter</i>—his +"little fists, curled up and clenched, +seemed, in his feeble way, to be +<span class="smcap">SQUARING AT EXISTENCE</span> for having +come upon him so unexpectedly!!!" +Was ever any thing more monstrous? +To find a gentleman of Mr Dickens' +great genius, and experience in literary +composition, sinning in this way, +is provoking beyond all measure. The +above abominations to be perpetrated +by him, who at page seventeen can +present us with so exquisite a touch +as the following:—He is describing +the blank appearance of the dismantled +house, immediately after the +funeral of the poor, neglected, and +heart-broken lady. "The dead and +buried lady was awful, in a picture +frame of ghastly bandages. Every +gust of wind that rose, brought eddying +round the corner, from the neighbouring +mews, some fragments of the<span class="pagenum">[638]</span> +straw that had been strewn before the +house when she was ill; mildewed +remains of which were still cleaving +to the neighbourhood, and these being +always drawn by some invisible attraction +to the threshold of the dirty +house to let opposite, addressed a +dismal eloquence to Mr Dombey's +window." The thirty-two pages of +this first number contain very many +provocatives to unfavourable criticism. +They bristle all over with mannerisms—abound +with grotesque, unseemly, +extravagant comparisons and +personation, (one of Mr Dickens' +chiefly besetting sins)—many of the +scenes contain truth and humour, +smothered and lost by prolixity, incident +and character diluted by a tedious +and excessive minuteness of +description; and it is to be feared +that several of the characters will bear +a painfully strong resemblance to some +of their predecessors in Mr Dickens' +other stories. Mr Dickens may feel +angry at my plainness; and, in return, +I must express my fears that he is +not aware of the extent of injury +which has been inflicted upon him by +<i>clique-homage</i>—the flattery of fluent, +incompetent admirers—the misconstrued +silence of critics of experienced +taste and refinement. Does Mr Dickens +really consider the light in which +his writings, containing such faults as +those above adverted to, must be +viewed by the upper and thinking +classes of society—persons of cultivated +taste, of refinement, of piercing +critical capacity, who disdain to +enter the little, babbling, vulgar, narrow-minded +circles miscalled "literary?"</p> + +<p>But I have done. Mr Dickens has +been magnificently patronised by the +public, who—I being one of them—have +a right to speak plainly to, and of +a gentleman whose writings have so +large a circulation at home and +abroad; who has no excuse, that I +am aware of, for negligence or inattention; +who is bound to consider the +effect of example on the minds of tens +of thousands of young and inexperienced +readers who may take all for +gospel that he chooses to tell them—and +to be very very guarded as to moral +object or effect—if moral object or effect +his writings have, and be not intended +solely to provoke, by their amusing +and farcical absurdity and extravagance, +an idle and forgotten laugh. +I have no personal acquaintance with +Mr Dickens, and have written in an +impartial spirit, paying homage to his +undoubted genius, denouncing his +literary faults—for his own good, and +the advantage of his readers, and of +the literary character of the country.</p> + +<p>Speaking of the literary character +of the country, puts me in mind of the +intention which I had formed some +months ago, of writing an article upon +the prevalent style of literary composition. +May I take <i>this</i> opportunity +of making a few observations upon +that subject? And yet I must first +admit, that my own style in writing +this letter is far more loose, and inexact, +and slovenly, than ought to be +tolerated in even such a letter as this. +Herein, however, I only imitate Dr +Whately, who, on arriving at that +part of his "rhetoric" which deals +with public speaking, starts with an +admission that he himself does not +possess the qualifications, the acquisition +of which he proceeds to enforce +upon others.</p> + +<p>The writing of the present day has +many distinguishing excellences and +faults. The most conspicuous of the +latter is, perhaps, a want of simplicity +and steadiness of style. Force—startling +energy—are too uniformly aimed +at by some; others affect continual +sarcasm and irony, whatever may be +the nature of the occasion. One class +of writers are so priggishly curt and +epigrammatic as to throw over their +lucubrations an uniform air of small +impertinence: it would be easy to +point out, I think, an incessant illustration +of this "school," if one may +use the word. Others uniformly affect +the trenchant and tremendous, with +very big words, and awful accumulations +of them. Some seem to aim at +a picturesque ruggedness of style—defying +rule, and challenging imitation. +Very many writers of all classes +are so parenthetical and involved in +their sentences, that by the time that +they have got to the end of a sentence, +both they and their readers have forgotten +where they set out from, and +how the plague they got where they +are: looking back breathless and dismayed +at a confused series of hyphens +entangled among all sorts of excep<span class="pagenum">[639]</span>tions, +reservations, and qualifications. +This fault, and a grievous one it is, +is daily illustrated, and by writers, +who, by their carelessness in this matter, +do themselves incalculable injustice, +rendering apparently turbid the +clearest possible stream of reasoning, +marring the effect of the most beautiful +and apposite illustration, and irritating +and confusing the reader. In +my opinion, this fault of our public +writers is to be traced to the influence +of Lord Brougham's style. He has, +and always had, a prodigious command +of nervous and apposite language, +always writing or speaking with a +violent <i>impetus</i> upon him; and yet, +while crashing along, his versatile and +suggestive faculties hurried him incessantly +from one side to the other, +hither and thither—anticipating <i>this</i>, +qualifying that, guarding against <i>this</i>, +reserving that—extruding undesirable +implications and inferences, with a +sort of wild rapidity and energy—adopting +ever-varying fanciful equivalent +expressions—crowding, in fact, +a dozen considerable sentences into +one turbid monster. Yet it must be +owned, that in all this he seldom +misses his way; his original <i>impetus</i> +carries him headlong on to the point +at which he had aimed. Not so with +his imitators. They start with an +imaginary equality of force, of fulness, +and variety; but forthwith rush +into a strange higgle-piggledy, helter-skelter +sort of imposing wordiness, +equally bewildering and stupifying to +their readers and themselves. No +man can fall into this sort of fault +who is habituated to leisurely distinctness +of thought: he will conceive beforehand +with deliberate purpose, and +that, <i>cæteris paribus</i>, will induce a clear, +close, and energetic expression of his +thoughts, preventing misapprehension, +and convincing even a strongly prejudiced +opponent. Shorten your sentences, +gentlemen; take one thing +at a time; put every thing in its +proper place; attempt not to <i>put a +quart into a pint pot</i>; do not write in +such a desperate hurry, nor attempt +to hit half-a-dozen birds with one +stone. Another prevalent vice is a +sickening redundancy of classical quotation +and allusion. Many of our +newspaper writers, and among them +some of the very cleverest, cannot +contemplate any topic which they +propose to discuss, without its suggesting, +as if by a sudden, secret sort +of elective affinity, previous events and +occurrences of past ages. Out tumble +scraps from Virgil, Horace, Ovid, +Terence, Plautus, Lucretius, with their +prose companions; and this, too, be +it observed, almost always <i>Roman</i>;—it +requires a certain hardihood to adopt +the Greek language in modern composition. +In short, one really thinks +himself entitled to infer, from this extravagant +amount of quotation and +allusion, as well ancient as modern, +that its perpetrators are very young: +red-hot from their classical studies, +panting to exhibit the extent of their +acquisitions, the scholarly ease and +precision with which they can apply +the most recondite passages and allusions +to the fresh occurrences of the +moment. One is apt to suspect that +one great motive for acquiring, extending, +and retaining knowledge, is +the simple desire to exhibit the possession +of it. But all this is very vain +and foolish. It looks stupidly ridiculous +to persons of experienced judgment. +An occasional and very sparing +use of this sort of accessory is always +desirable, often marvellously graceful +and happy; an excess of it decisively +indicates pedantic puerility, ostentation, +and a grievous deficiency of +strength and originality. It is likely, +moreover, to have a very unpleasant +and irritating effect, when apparent +in popular compositions—in leading or +other articles in newspapers, for instance—viz. +on occasions where the +persons addressed, or at least very +many of them, do not comprehend or +appreciate the allusion or quotation. +A really classical turn of mind is +usually accompanied by too fine and +correct a taste to admit of these eccentricities +and vagaries. The English +language is a very fine language, my +friends; and a very, <i>very</i> fine and rare +thing it is to be able to use it with +freedom, and purity, and power. +Another very censurable kindred +habit of many of our public writers is, +the interlarding their compositions with +abominable scraps of French, and even +of Italian. Faugh!—is not this adding +insult to injury, in dealing with the +noble language of our country?</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum">[640]</span></p><hr style="width: 15%;" /> + +<p>A week has elapsed since I penned +the foregoing sentences, and during +that week only two things have +occurred to me worthy of noticing. +First, a couple (apparently newly +married) put up for a few hours at +the little inn in the village. They +were both of a certain age. <i>He</i> wore +a ponderous watch-chain and seals; +she also was sufficiently bedizened +after the same fashion. Twice I encountered +them. First, on the seashore, +where they took their seat very +coolly on the rock next adjoining +<i>my</i> old perch, which I was then occupying. +After some considerable +swagger, my gentleman produced a +newspaper from his pocket, and distinctly +said to his fair companion—"What +an uncommon good thing the +Illus<i>trious London News</i> is for the +lower classes!" Second, the worthy +couple were walking together, at a +subsequent period of the day, laden +with provender for an open-air lunch—with +sandwiches and a black bottle, +and with a matter-of-fact air, turned +into a beautifully disposed rustic walk, +having palpable <i>indicia</i> of privacy—it +belonging, in fact, to the residence of +a nobleman. My lord's gentleman, +or gentleman's gentleman, happening +to meet them, (I passing at the time,) +asked them, with great courtesy of manner, +if they were aware "that that was +private property?" "Well," replied +our male friend angrily, "and what if +it is? I thought an Englishman might +go any where he pleased in his own +country, <i>provided he didn't do any mischief</i>. +But come along, my dear," +giving his arm to his flustered companion, +"times are come to a pretty pass, +aren't they?" With this, the offended +dignities retraced their steps, but prodigiously +slowly, and I saw no more +of them.—The other occurrence was +a dream, as odd, as obstinate in adherence +to my memory. Methought +I went one day to church to hear a +revered elderly relative of mine preach. +The church was crammed with an +attentive and solemnly-disposed audience, +whom the preacher was addressing +very calmly but seriously, without +gown or bands, but wearing two +neckerchiefs, one resting upon the +topmost edge of the other, and being +of blue silk, with white spots! Though +aware of this slight departure from +clerical costume, it occasioned me no +surprise, but I listened with serious +attention. 'Twas only when I had +awoke that the fantastic absurdity +of the thing became apparent.</p> + +<hr style="width: 15%;" /> + +<p>The "British Association" has just +been making, at Southampton, as I +see by the papers, one of its annual +exhibitions of childish inanity. This +sort of thing appears to me to be +humiliating to the country, in respect +of so many men of real scientific +eminence, like Sir John Herschel +and Dr Faraday, and one or two +others, permitting themselves to be +trotted out on such occasions for the +amusement of the vulgar, and, in +doing so, countenancing the herd of +twaddling ninnies who figure on these +occasions as spouters, or patronising +listeners to the fluent confident sciolists +of the various "sections." I can +fancy one of these personages carefully +bottling up against the day of display, +some such precious discovery as +that of "a peculiar appearance in the +flame of a candle!"—which actually +formed the subject of a paper at the +last meeting; or, "on certain magnetic +phenomena attending corns on +the human foot,"—which latter, after +a stiff debate as to the propriety of publishing +it, is not, it seems, at present, +to edify the world at large. The whole +thing is resolvable into a paltry love +of lionising, and being lionised—of +enacting the part of prodigies before +pretty admiring women, and simpering +simpletons of the other sex. 'Tis an +efflorescence of that vicious system +which of late years continually manifests +itself in the shape of flaunting <i>reunions</i>, +<i>soirées</i>, <i>conversazioni</i>, &c. &c., +where is to be heard little else than +senile garrulity, the gabble of ignorant +eulogy, or virulent envious depreciation +and detraction. 'Tis true that +distinguished scientific foreigners now +and then make their appearance at +the meetings of the Association; but +there can be little doubt that they +come over in utter ignorance of the +really trifling character of those +meetings, misled by the eager exaggerations +of their friends and +correspondents in this country. Can +you conceive any thing more preposterous +in its way, than the chartering +of the steam-boat by the Association,<span class="pagenum">[641]</span> +to convey its members from Southampton +to the Isle of Wight on a +geological expedition? Methinks I +see the crowd of "venerable boys"—to +adopt the bitterly-humorous language +of the <i>Times</i>—landing at Black +Gang Chine, each with his bag slung +round him, and hammer in hand, dispersing +about, rap! rap! rap!—chick! +chick! chick!—and fondly fancying +that they are effectually learning, or +teaching, geology, in the hour or two +thus idled away! <i>Can</i> any thing be +more exquisitely absurd? Bah! all +this might be harmless and pleasant +enough, in the way of a holiday recreation +for school-boys or girls; but +for grave, grown-up men—peers, +baronets, knights, doctors, F.R.S., +F.A.S.'s, &c. &c.,—the thing really +does not bear dwelling upon.</p> + +<hr style="width: 15%;" /> + +<p>"I can have no hesitation, to whatever +amount of obloquy, or of forfeited +friendship, the avowal may expose +me, in stating the conclusion, which +anxious and repeated consideration +of the state of Ireland has at length +forced upon me, (<i>Cheers.</i>) It is, that +the time has arrived for reconsidering +the state of our relations with Ireland, +with a view to a repeal of the Legislative +Union between the two countries, +(<i>Hear, hear.</i>) I see no other +adequate remedy for the ills which +desolate that unhappy country, and +think that such a step would also +happily free England from a burden +long felt to be intolerable, (<i>Hear.</i>) I +am fortified in arriving at this result, +by a review of the favourable effects +produced on Ireland by the measures +which, during the last few years, I +have had the honour to bring forward +in this house, and see carried into effect +by the legislature, (<i>Cheers.</i>) I +am aware that this avowal may +startle some of the more timid (<i>hear, +hear</i>) of those gentlemen who have +usually done me the honour to act +with me; but an imperious sense of +duty compels me to be prompt and +explicit upon this vital question, +which I am fixedly resolved to settle +in the way I propose; and I will, for +that purpose, avail myself of every +means which the constitution places +at the disposal of her Majesty's responsible +advisers, (<i>Cheers.</i>) * * * +I claim no credit for proposing this +great measure of justice and mercy, +nor wish to detract from the merit due +to those whose minds the light of +truth and reason reached earlier than +mine. Whatever credit is due, I have +no hesitation in ascribing to—<i>Daniel +O'Connell</i>," (<i>Cheers.</i>) * * * * +Is there a man in the empire who would +be seriously surprised if he were to +hear Sir Robert Peel make the above +statement in the next session of +Parliament, if he met the house +once more as Prime Minister? And +so, in the session after, might we +expect a similar announcement with +reference to the Protestant succession +to the throne; and then—but by no +means to stop even there—the conversion +of our form of government +from a limited monarchy into a republic. +What, in short, may not be +predicted of such a statesman as Sir +Robert Peel? Who can conceive of +him taking his stand <i>any where</i>? Assisting +<i>any body</i> or <i>any thing</i>? It pains +me to ask, whether the history of this +country ever saw a man who had +done so many things, the impropriety +and danger of which he had +himself uniformly beforehand <i>demonstrated</i>? +Sir Robert Peel has been +converted into a sort of political pillar +of salt—a melancholy instructive memento +of the evils of unprincipled +statesmanship—the former word being +used, not in a vulgar offensive sense, +but as signifying, simply and solely, +<i>the absence of any fixed principles of +political action</i>; or the habit of action +irrespective of principle. I will not, +however, pursue this painful and humiliating +topic further, than to express +the deep concern and perplexity occasioned +to me, amongst hundreds of +thousands of others, by the recent +movements of Sir Robert Peel. I +have never thought or spoken of him, +up even to the present moment, otherwise +than with sincere respect for his +spotless personal character, and the +highest admiration of his intellectual +and administrative qualities. I would +scout the very faintest insinuation +against the purity of his motives, at +the same time loudly expressing my +concern and amazement at witnessing +such conduct as his, in <i>such</i> a man!</p> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i3">"Who would not weep if such a man there be—<br /><br /></span> +<span class="i4">Who would not weep if Atticus were he?"<br /><br /></span> +</div></div> +<p><span class="pagenum">[642]</span></p> + +<p>I said just now, that Sir Robert +Peel's signal characteristic was the +doing things, the impropriety and +danger of doing which he had himself +beforehand demonstrated; and that +was the reflection with which I yesterday +concluded the perusal of a memorable +little document which I took +care to preserve at the time—I mean +his national manifesto at the general +election of 1841, in the shape of his +address to the electors of Tamworth. +Apply it now like a plummet to the +edifice of Sir Robert Peel's political +character; how conclusively it shows +the extent to which it has diverged or +swelled from the perpendicular line of +right—how much he has departed from +the standard which he had himself set +up! What must be his feelings on recurring +to such a declaration as this?</p> + +<p>"That party," [the Conservative,] +"gentlemen, has been pleased to intrust +your representative with its confidence—(<i>cheers</i>;) +and, notwithstanding +all the remarks that have been +made at various times, respecting +differences of opinion and jealousy +among them, you may depend upon +it that they are altogether without +foundation; and that that party which +has paid me the compliment of taking +my advice, and following my counsel, +<i>are a united and compact party, among +which there does not exist the slightest +difference of opinion in respect to the +principles they support, and the course +they may desire to pursue. (Cheers.) +Gentlemen, I hope I have not abused +the confidence of that great party."<a name="FNanchor_66_66" id="FNanchor_66_66"></a><a href="#Footnote_66_66" class="fnanchor">[66]</a> +(Loud cheers.)!!!</i> I give the eloquent +and eminent speaker credit for +feeling a sort of twinge, a pang, a +spasm, on reading the above. One +more extract I will give relative to +the recent conduct of Sir R. Peel on +the sugar-duties:—"The question +now is, gentlemen, 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, +we shall run the risk of losing +the benefit of these sacrifices, and +<i>tarnishing for ever that glory</i>, by admitting +to the British markets sugar, +the produce of foreign slavery? Gentlemen, +the character of this country, +in respect to slavery, is thus spoken +of by one of the most eloquent writers +and statesmen of another country, Dr +Channing, of the United States:—'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 +sink into a more and more narrow +space on the records of our race. This +moral triumph will fill a broader, +brighter page.' <i>Gentlemen</i>," proceeded +Sir Robert Peel, "<i>let us take care +that this 'brighter page' be not sullied +by the admission of slave sugar into the +consumption of this country, by our +unnecessary encouragement of slavery +and the slave-trade.</i>"<a name="FNanchor_67_67" id="FNanchor_67_67"></a><a href="#Footnote_67_67" class="fnanchor">[67]</a></p> + +<p>Is it not humiliating and distressing +to compare these sentences, and +the lofty spirit which pervades them, +with the speech, and the <i>animus</i> pervading +it, delivered by Sir Robert Peel in +the House of Commons, on Lord John +Russell's bringing in his bill for "sullying +this bright page" of English glory? +Did Sir Robert Peel, true to principle, +solemnly and peremptorily announce +the refusal of his assent to that +cruel, and foolish, and wicked measure? +I forbear to press this topic, +also quitting it, with the expression of +my opinion, that that speech alone +was calculated to do him fearful and +irreparable injury in public estimation. +It is impossible for the most +zealous and skilful advocacy to frame +a plausible vindication of this part of +Sir Robert Peel's conduct. I sincerely +acquit him of having any sinister or +impure motive; the fact was, simply, +that he found that he had placed himself +in a dire perplexity and dilemma.</p> + +<p>I think it next to impossible that +Sir Robert Peel can ever again be in a +position, even if he desired it, to sway +the destinies of this country, either as +a prime minister, or by the force of his +personal influence and opinion. Has +he or has he not done rightly by the +<span class="pagenum">[643]</span>greatest party that ever gave its noble +and ennobling support to a minister? +Can he himself, in 1846, express the +"hope" of 1841, that "he has not +abused the confidence of that great +party?" If he again take part in the +debates of Parliament, he will always +be listened to, whoever may be in +power, with the interest and attention +justly due to his masterly acquaintance +with the conduct of the public business, +most especially on matters of +finance. But with what involuntary +shrinking and distrust is his advocacy +or defence of any of our great institutions +likely to be received hereafter +by their consistent and devoted +friends? Will they not be prepared +to find the splendid vindication of the +preceding evening, but the prelude to +the next evening's abandonment and +denunciation? Is not, in short, the +national confidence thoroughly shaken? +His support and advocacy of +any great interest are too likely to +be received with guarded satisfaction—as +far as they go, <i>as long as they +continue</i>—not with the enthusiastic +confidence due to surpassing and +consistent statesmanship.</p> + +<p>It has sometimes occurred to me, +in scrutinising his later movements, +that one of his set purposes was +finally to break up the Conservative +party, and scatter among it the seeds +of future dissension and difficulty; +possibly thinking, conscientiously, that +in the state of things which he had +brought about, the continued existence +of a Conservative party with +definite points of cohesion, with visible +acknowledged rallying-points, +could no longer be beneficial to the +country. He may have in his eye +the formation of another party, willing +to accept of his leadership, after +another general election; of which +said new party his present few adherents +are to form the nucleus. But +I do not see how this is to be done. +Confounding, for a time, to all party +connexions and combinations as +have been the occurrences of the last +session, of perhaps the last two sessions, +of Parliament, a steady watchful +eye may already see the two great +parties of the state—Liberal and +Conservatives—readjusting themselves +in conformity with their respective +<i>general</i> views and principles. +The Conservative party has at the +moment a prodigious strength of hold +upon the country—not noisy or ostentatious, +but real, and calculated to +have its strength rapidly, though +secretly, increased by alarmed seceders +from the Liberal ranks, on seeing +the spirit of change become more bold +and active, and directing its steps towards +the regions of revolution and +democracy. Sir Robert Peel's speech, +on resigning office, presented several +features of an alarming character. +Several of his sentences, especially +with reference to Ireland,</p> + +<blockquote><p> +—"made the boldest hold their breath<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">For a time."</span><br /> +</p></blockquote> + +<p>Candid persons did not see in what +he was doing, the paltry desire to outbid +his perplexed successors, but suspected +that he was designedly—advisedly—laying +down visible lines of +eternal separation between him and +his former supporters, rendering it +impossible for him to return to them, +or for them to go over to him; and +so at once putting an extinguisher +upon all future doubts and speculation. +To me it appeared that the speech in +question evidenced an astounding revolution—astounding +in its suddenness +and violence—of the speaker's +political system; announcing <i>results</i>, +while other men were only +just beginning to see the process. +Will Sir Robert Peel join Lord John +Russell? What, serve under him, +and become a fellow-subordinate of +Lord Palmerston's? I think not. +What post would be offered to him? +What post would <i>he</i>, the late prime +minister, consent to fill under his victorious +rival? Will, then, Lord John +Russell act under Sir Robert Peel? +Most certainly—at least in my opinion—not. +What then is to be done, +in the event of Sir Robert Peel's being +willing to resume official life? <i>Over</i> +whom, <i>under</i> whom, <i>with</i> whom, is he +to act? The Conservative party have +already elected his successor, Lord +Stanley, who cannot, who will not be +deposed in favour of <i>any</i> one; a man +of very splendid talents, of long official +experience, of lofty personal character, +of paramount hereditary claims to the +support of the aristocracy, who has +never sacrificed consistency, but rather +sacrificed every thing for consistency.<span class="pagenum">[644]</span> +Ever since he accepted the leadership +of the great Conservative party, he +has evinced a profound sense of its +responsibilities and requirements, and +the possession of these qualifications +in respect of prudence and moderation, +which some had formerly doubted. +Lord Stanley, then, will continue the +Conservative leader, and Lord John +Russell the Liberal leader; and I +doubt whether any decisive move will +be made till after the ensuing general +election. What will be the result of +it? What will be the rallying-cries of +party? What will Sir Robert Peel +say to the Tamworth electors?</p> + +<p>However these questions may be +answered, I would, had I the power, +speak trumpet-tongued to our Conservative +friends in every county and +borough in the kingdom, and say, "up, +and be doing." Spare no expense or +exertion, but do it prudently. Use +every instrument of legitimate influence—for +the stake played for is tremendous; +the national interests evidently +marked out for assault, are +vital; and they will stand or fall, +and we enjoy peace, or be condemned +to agitation and alarm, according to +the result of the next General Election, +which will assuredly palsy the +hands of either the friends or enemies +of the best interests of the country.</p> + +<hr style="width: 15%;" /> + +<p>And now, dear Christopher, I draw +towards the close of this long letter, +without having been able even to +touch upon several other "<i>Things</i>" +which I had noted down for observation +and comment. As my letter +draws to a close, so also draws rapidly +to a close my seaside sojourn. My +hours of relaxation are numbered. I +must return to the busy scenes of the +metropolis, and resume my interrupted +duties. And you, too, have returned +to the scene of your renown, +the sphere of your honourable and +responsible duties. May your shadow +never grow less! <i>Floreat Maga!</i> I +have done. The old postman, wet +through in coming over the hills, is +waiting for my letter, and, having +finished his beer, is fidgeting to be +off. "What! can't you spare me one +five minutes more?" "No, sir—impossible—I +ought to have been at——an +hour ago"</p> + +<p style="text-align: right;"> +Farewell then, dear Christopher, <br /> +Your faithful friend, <br /> +<span class="smcap">An Old Contributor</span>.<br /> +</p> +<p>FOOTNOTES:</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> "La Madeleine comme le Pantheon avait été commencée la même année en +1764, par les ordres de Louis XV., le roi des grand monumens, et dont le +regne a été travesti par la petite histoire."—<span class="smcap">Capefigue</span>, <i>Histoire de Louis +Philippe</i>, viii. 281.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> Marlborough to the Earl of Sunderland, 8th Nov. 1709. +<i>Disp.</i> iv. 647. Coxe, iv. 167.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> Coxe, iv. 169. Lamberti, vi. 37, 49.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> Note to Petcum, August 10, 1710. <i>Marlborough Papers</i>; +and Coxe, iv. 173.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> "I am very sorry to tell you that the behaviour of the French looks as if +they had no other desire than that of carrying on the war. I hope God will bless +this campaign, for I see nothing else that can <i>give us peace either at home or abroad</i>. +I am so discouraged by every thing I see, that I have never, during this war, gone +into the field with so heavy a heart as at this time. I own to you, that the present +humour in England gives me a good deal of trouble; for I cannot see how it is possible +they should mend till every thing is yet worse." <i>Marlborough to Duchess +Marlborough</i>, Hague, 14th April 1710. Coxe, iv. 179.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_6_6" id="Footnote_6_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> Marlborough to Godolphin, 20th April, iv. 182.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_7_7" id="Footnote_7_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> "In my last, I had but just time to tell you we had passed the lines. I hope +this happy beginning will produce such success this campaign as must put an end +to the war. I bless God for putting it into their heads not to defend their lines; +for at Pont-a-Vendin, when I passed, the Marshal D'Artagnan was with twenty +thousand men, which, if he had staid, must have rendered the event very doubtful. +But, God be praised, we are come without the loss of any men. The excuse the +French make is, that we came four days before they expected us."—<i>Marlborough +to the Duchess</i>, 21st April 1710. Coxe, ix. 184.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_8_8" id="Footnote_8_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_8_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> "I hope God will so bless our efforts, that if the Queen should not be so +happy as to have a prospect of peace before the opening of the next session of +parliament, she and all her subjects may be convinced we do our best here in the +army to put a speedy and good period to this bloody war." <i>Marlborough to the +Duchess</i>, May 12, 1710. +</p><p> +"I hear of so many disagreeable things, that make it very reasonable, both for +myself and you, to take no steps but what may lead to a quiet life. This being +the case, am I not to be pitied that am every day in danger of exposing my life +for the good of those who are seeking my ruin? God's will be done. If I can be +so blessed as to end this campaign with success, things must very much alter to +persuade me to come again at the head of the army." <i>Marlborough to the Duchess</i>, +19th May 1710. Coxe, iv. 191, 192.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_9_9" id="Footnote_9_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_9_9"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> Marlborough to Godolphin, 26th May and 2d June 1710.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_10_10" id="Footnote_10_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_10_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> Marlborough to the Duchess, 12th June 1710. Coxe, iv. 197.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_11_11" id="Footnote_11_11"></a><a href="#FNanchor_11_11"><span class="label">[11]</span></a> Marlborough to Godolphin, 26th June 1710. <i>Disp.</i> iv. 696.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_12_12" id="Footnote_12_12"></a><a href="#FNanchor_12_12"><span class="label">[12]</span></a> <i>Considerat. sur la Camp. de 1710, par M. le Marshal Villars</i>; and Coxe, iv. 192.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_13_13" id="Footnote_13_13"></a><a href="#FNanchor_13_13"><span class="label">[13]</span></a> Marlborough to Godolphin, 29th August 1710. <i>Disp.</i> iv. 581. Coxe, iv. 294.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_14_14" id="Footnote_14_14"></a><a href="#FNanchor_14_14"><span class="label">[14]</span></a> Coxe, iv. 343, 344.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_15_15" id="Footnote_15_15"></a><a href="#FNanchor_15_15"><span class="label">[15]</span></a> "I am of opinion that, after the siege of Aire, I shall have it in my power to +attack Calais. This is a conquest which would very much prejudice France, and +ought to have a good effect for the Queen's service in England; but I see so much +malice levelled at me, that I am afraid it is not safe for me to make any proposition, +lest, if it should not succeed, my enemies should turn it to my disadvantage." +<i>Marlborough to Godolphin</i>, 11th August 1710. Coxe, iv. 343.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_16_16" id="Footnote_16_16"></a><a href="#FNanchor_16_16"><span class="label">[16]</span></a> "Till within these few days, during these <i>nine years</i> I have never had occasion +to send ill news. Our powder and other stores, for the carrying on these two +sieges, left Ghent last Thursday, under the convoy of twelve hundred foot and +four hundred and fifty horse. They were attacked by the enemy and beaten, so +that they blew up the powder, and sunk the store-boats." <i>Marlborough to the +Duchess</i>, 22d September 1710. Coxe, iv. 365.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_17_17" id="Footnote_17_17"></a><a href="#FNanchor_17_17"><span class="label">[17]</span></a> "Take it we must, for we cannot draw the guns from the batteries. But +God knows when we shall have it: night and day our poor men are up to the +knees in mud and water." <i>Marlborough to Godolphin</i>, 27th October 1710.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_18_18" id="Footnote_18_18"></a><a href="#FNanchor_18_18"><span class="label">[18]</span></a> Marlborough to Godolphin, 13th November 1710. <i>Disp.</i> iv. 685, 689. Coxe, +iv. 366, 367.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_19_19" id="Footnote_19_19"></a><a href="#FNanchor_19_19"><span class="label">[19]</span></a> Cunningham, ii. 305.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_20_20" id="Footnote_20_20"></a><a href="#FNanchor_20_20"><span class="label">[20]</span></a> Marlborough to the Duchess, 26th July 1710. Coxe, iv. 299.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_21_21" id="Footnote_21_21"></a><a href="#FNanchor_21_21"><span class="label">[21]</span></a> Marlborough to the Duchess, 25th October and 24th November 1710. Coxe, +iv. 351, 352.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_22_22" id="Footnote_22_22"></a><a href="#FNanchor_22_22"><span class="label">[22]</span></a> Bolingbroke's <i>Corresp.</i>, i. 41; Mr Secretary St John to Mr Drummond, +20th Dec. 1710.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_23_23" id="Footnote_23_23"></a><a href="#FNanchor_23_23"><span class="label">[23]</span></a> "I beg you to lose no time in sending me, to the Hague, the opinion of our +friend mentioned in my letter; for I would be governed by the Whigs, from +whose principle and interest I will never depart. Whilst they had a majority in +the House of Commons, they might suspect it might be my interest; but now they +must do me the justice to see that it is my inclination and principle which makes +me act." <i>Marlborough to the Duchess</i>, Nov. 9, 1710. Coxe, iv. 360.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_24_24" id="Footnote_24_24"></a><a href="#FNanchor_24_24"><span class="label">[24]</span></a> Coxe, iv. 405.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_25_25" id="Footnote_25_25"></a><a href="#FNanchor_25_25"><span class="label">[25]</span></a> "Though I never thought of troubling your Majesty again in this manner, +yet the circumstances I see my Lord Marlborough in, and the apprehension I +have that he cannot live six months, if there is not some end put to his sufferings +on my account, make it impossible for me to resist doing every thing in my power +to ease him." <i>Duchess of Marlborough to Queen Anne</i>, 17th Jan. 1711. Coxe, +iv. 410.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_26_26" id="Footnote_26_26"></a><a href="#FNanchor_26_26"><span class="label">[26]</span></a> Smollett, c. x. § 20.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_27_27" id="Footnote_27_27"></a><a href="#FNanchor_27_27"><span class="label">[27]</span></a> Marlborough to the Duchess, 24th May 1711. Coxe, v. 417-431.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_28_28" id="Footnote_28_28"></a><a href="#FNanchor_28_28"><span class="label">[28]</span></a> Eugene to Marlborough, 23d April 1710; Marlborough to St John, 29th +April 1710. Coxe, vi. 16. <i>Disp.</i> v. 319.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_29_29" id="Footnote_29_29"></a><a href="#FNanchor_29_29"><span class="label">[29]</span></a> Lidiard, ii. 426. Coxe, vi. 21. 22.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_30_30" id="Footnote_30_30"></a><a href="#FNanchor_30_30"><span class="label">[30]</span></a> "I see my Lord Rochester has gone where we all must follow. I believe my +journey will be hastened by the many vexations I meet with. I am sure I wish +well to my country, and if I could do good, I should think no pains too great; +but I find myself decay so very fast, that from my heart and soul I wish the Queen +and my country a peace by which I might have the advantage of enjoying a little +quiet, which is my greatest ambition." <i>Marlborough to the Duchess</i>, 25th May, +1711. Coxe, vi. 28.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_31_31" id="Footnote_31_31"></a><a href="#FNanchor_31_31"><span class="label">[31]</span></a> Marlborough to St John, 14th June 1711. <i>Disp</i>. v. 428. Coxe, vi. 29, 30.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_32_32" id="Footnote_32_32"></a><a href="#FNanchor_32_32"><span class="label">[32]</span></a> <i>Villars' Mem.</i> tom. ii. ann. 1711.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_33_33" id="Footnote_33_33"></a><a href="#FNanchor_33_33"><span class="label">[33]</span></a> <i>Bolingbroke's Corresp.</i> i. 172.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_34_34" id="Footnote_34_34"></a><a href="#FNanchor_34_34"><span class="label">[34]</span></a> "The Duke of Marlborough has no communication from home on this affair; +I suppose he will have none from the Hague." <i>Mr Secretary St John to +Lord Raby</i>, 27th April 1711. <i>Bolingbroke's Corresp.</i> i. 175.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_35_35" id="Footnote_35_35"></a><a href="#FNanchor_35_35"><span class="label">[35]</span></a> Coxe, vi. 52-54.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_36_36" id="Footnote_36_36"></a><a href="#FNanchor_36_36"><span class="label">[36]</span></a> Kane's <i>Memoirs</i>, p. 89. Coxe, vi. 53, 55; <i>Disp.</i> v. 421, 428.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_37_37" id="Footnote_37_37"></a><a href="#FNanchor_37_37"><span class="label">[37]</span></a> Kane's <i>Memoirs</i>, p. 92. Marlborough to Mr Secretary St John, 6th August, +1711. <i>Disp.</i> v. 428.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_38_38" id="Footnote_38_38"></a><a href="#FNanchor_38_38"><span class="label">[38]</span></a> Marlborough to Mr Secretary St John, 6th August 1711. <i>Disp.</i> v. 428. Coxe, +vi. 60-65. <i>Kane's Mil. Mem.</i> 96-99.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_39_39" id="Footnote_39_39"></a><a href="#FNanchor_39_39"><span class="label">[39]</span></a> "No person takes a greater interest in your concerns than myself; your +highness has penetrated into the <i>ne plus ultra</i>. I hope the siege of Bouchain +will not last long." <i>Eugene to Marlborough</i>, 17th August 1711. Coxe, vi. 66.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_40_40" id="Footnote_40_40"></a><a href="#FNanchor_40_40"><span class="label">[40]</span></a> "My Lord Stair opened to us the general steps which your grace intended +to take, in order to pass the lines in one part or another. It was, however, hard to +imagine, and too much to hope, that a plan, which consisted of so many parts, +wherein so many different corps were to co-operate personally together, should +entirely succeed, and no one article fail of what your grace had projected. I +most heartily congratulate your grace on this great event, of which I think no +more needs be said, than that you have obtained, without losing a man, such an +advantage, as we should have been glad to have purchased with the loss of several +thousand lives." <i>Mr Secretary St John to Marlborough</i>, 31st July 1711. <i>Disp.</i> +v. 429.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_41_41" id="Footnote_41_41"></a><a href="#FNanchor_41_41"><span class="label">[41]</span></a> Marlborough to Mr Secretary St John, 10th August 1711. <i>Disp.</i> v. 437.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_42_42" id="Footnote_42_42"></a><a href="#FNanchor_42_42"><span class="label">[42]</span></a> Coxe, vi. 71-80; Marlborough to Mr Secretary St John, 14th, 17th, and 20th +August 1711; <i>Disp.</i> v. 445, 450, 453.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_43_43" id="Footnote_43_43"></a><a href="#FNanchor_43_43"><span class="label">[43]</span></a> Marlborough to Mr Secretary St John, 14th Sept. 1711. <i>Disp.</i> v. 490. +<i>Coxe</i>, vi. 78-88.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_44_44" id="Footnote_44_44"></a><a href="#FNanchor_44_44"><span class="label">[44]</span></a> <i>Victoires de Marlborough</i>, iii. 22. Coxe, vi. 87.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_45_45" id="Footnote_45_45"></a><a href="#FNanchor_45_45"><span class="label">[45]</span></a> There were special reasons for the mutual hatred of these two brothers. +One of the Amir's wives was a lady of the royal family of Sadozai, who, when the +decline of that dynasty commenced, had attracted the attention of Sultan Mohammed +Khan, and a correspondence took place between them. She prepared to +leave Kabul to be married to him, when the Amir, who was also smitten with her +charms, forcibly seized her and compelled her to become his wife. This at once +created, and has ever since maintained, a fatal animosity between the brothers; +and Sultan Mohammed Khan has often been heard to say, that nothing would +afford him greater pleasure, even at breathing his last, than to drink the blood of +the Amir. Such is the nature of the brotherly feeling now existing between them.—See +<i>Life of Dost Mohammed Khan</i>, vol. i. p. 222, 223.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_46_46" id="Footnote_46_46"></a><a href="#FNanchor_46_46"><span class="label">[46]</span></a> <i>Sale's Brigade in Afghanistan.</i> By the Rev. <span class="smcap">G.R. Gleig</span>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_47_47" id="Footnote_47_47"></a><a href="#FNanchor_47_47"><span class="label">[47]</span></a> "By sudden and urgent necessity, the Commissioners understand any case +of destitution requiring instant relief, before the person can be received into the +workhouse; as, for example, when a person is deprived of the usual means of +support, by means of fire, or storm, or inundation, or robbery, or riot, or any other +similar cause, which he could not control, where it had occurred, and which it +would have been impossible or very difficult for him to foresee and prevent."—<i>Eighth +Report of the Poor-Law Commissioners.</i> App. A.; No. 2.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_48_48" id="Footnote_48_48"></a><a href="#FNanchor_48_48"><span class="label">[48]</span></a> In the third volume of Von Schöning's <i>History of the Artillery</i>, we find +the following extract from an official report of Captain Spreuth, an artillery officer, +dated Königsberg, 18th December 1812. "The 'Grand Army' is retreating +across the Weichsel, if indeed it may be called a retreat; it is more like a +total rout or disbandment, for the fugitives came without order or baggage. The +post-horses are at work day and night. From the 16th to the 17th, 71 generals +60 colonels, 1243 staff and other officers, passed through this place; the majority +continued their route on foot, being unable to procure horses; the officers' baggage +is all lost, some of it has been plundered by their own men, and we have even +seen officers fighting in the streets with the common soldiers."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_49_49" id="Footnote_49_49"></a><a href="#FNanchor_49_49"><span class="label">[49]</span></a> The noted military writer, Carl Von Decker, since General.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_50_50" id="Footnote_50_50"></a><a href="#FNanchor_50_50"><span class="label">[50]</span></a> "Dietro al mio legno, che cantando varca."—<i>Dante.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_51_51" id="Footnote_51_51"></a><a href="#FNanchor_51_51"><span class="label">[51]</span></a> Michel Angelo lived until the beginning of the year 1564, the seventieth +after the death of Luigia de' Medici.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_52_52" id="Footnote_52_52"></a><a href="#FNanchor_52_52"><span class="label">[52]</span></a> In the Florentine style, 1474. The Florentine year began at Easter.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_53_53" id="Footnote_53_53"></a><a href="#FNanchor_53_53"><span class="label">[53]</span></a> Michel Angelo was the fourth and last of the sons of Ludovico.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_54_54" id="Footnote_54_54"></a><a href="#FNanchor_54_54"><span class="label">[54]</span></a> The Platonic Academy was established at Florence in 1474. Politiano's +death, twenty years later, was the cause of its entire dispersion.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_55_55" id="Footnote_55_55"></a><a href="#FNanchor_55_55"><span class="label">[55]</span></a> "But, perhaps, thy compassion regards with more justice than I thought in +the beginning, my pure and loyal ardour, and the passion which thy looks have +kindled in me for noble actions. +</p><p> +"Oh, most happy day! if it ever arrive for me, let my days and hours concentrate +themselves in that moment! and, to prolong it, let the sun forget his accustomed +course!"</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_56_56" id="Footnote_56_56"></a><a href="#FNanchor_56_56"><span class="label">[56]</span></a> He was born in 1475.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_57_57" id="Footnote_57_57"></a><a href="#FNanchor_57_57"><span class="label">[57]</span></a> The first sonnet of the collection; that commencing with the celebrated +proposition— + +</p><p> +"<i>Non ha l'ottimo artista alcun concetto.</i>"<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_58_58" id="Footnote_58_58"></a><a href="#FNanchor_58_58"><span class="label">[58]</span></a> + +</p><p> +"Dal mortale al divin non vanno gli occhi<br /> +Che sono infermi." * * * *<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_59_59" id="Footnote_59_59"></a><a href="#FNanchor_59_59"><span class="label">[59]</span></a> + +</p><p> +"Veggendo ne tuo' occhi il Paradiso,<br /> +Per ritornar là dove io t'amai pria,<br /> +Ricorro ardendo sotto le tue ciglia."<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_60_60" id="Footnote_60_60"></a><a href="#FNanchor_60_60"><span class="label">[60]</span></a> + +</p><p> +"Non so se e' <i>l'immaginata luce</i><br /> +Del suo primo Fattor che l'alma sente,<br /> +O se dalla memoria. * * *<br /> +Alcuna altra bella nel cor traluce,<br /> +* * * * * * *<br /> +<i>Del tuo primiero stato il raggio ardente</i><br /> +Di sè lasciando un non so che cocente." * * *<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_61_61" id="Footnote_61_61"></a><a href="#FNanchor_61_61"><span class="label">[61]</span></a> + +</p><p> +"La buona coscienza che l'uom franchigia,<br /> +Sotto l'usbergo di sentirsi pura."—<i>Dante.</i><br /> +</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_62_62" id="Footnote_62_62"></a><a href="#FNanchor_62_62"><span class="label">[62]</span></a> "To what am I reserved?" writes Angelo in another piece. "To live +long? that terrifies me. The shortest life is yet too long for the recompense +obtained in serving with devotion."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_63_63" id="Footnote_63_63"></a><a href="#FNanchor_63_63"><span class="label">[63]</span></a> "Ahi, che null altro che pianto al mondo dura!"—<i>Petrarca.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_64_64" id="Footnote_64_64"></a><a href="#FNanchor_64_64"><span class="label">[64]</span></a> "<i>Ogni altro ben val men ch'una mia doglia!</i>"</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_65_65" id="Footnote_65_65"></a><a href="#FNanchor_65_65"><span class="label">[65]</span></a> + +</p><p> +* * * * "Chi t'ama con fede<br /> +Si leva a Dio, e fa dolce la morte."<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_66_66" id="Footnote_66_66"></a><a href="#FNanchor_66_66"><span class="label">[66]</span></a> Speech of Sir R. Peel at the Tamworth election, pp. 4, 5.—Ollivier, Pall-Mall.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_67_67" id="Footnote_67_67"></a><a href="#FNanchor_67_67"><span class="label">[67]</span></a> <i>Ibid.</i> pp. 8, 9.</p></div> + +<p><br /><br /></p> + +<p class="sidenote">Transcribers notes:<br /><br /> + +Maintained original spelling and punctuation.<br /><br /> + +Silently corrected a few typesetting errors.</p> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Vol. +60, No. 373, November 1846, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BLACKWOOD'S EDINBURGH *** + +***** This file should be named 37797-h.htm or 37797-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/7/9/37797/ + +Produced by Brendan OConnor, Ron Stephens, Jonathan Ingram +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images +generously made available by The Internet Library of Early +Journals.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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