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diff --git a/43721-h/43721-h.htm b/43721-h/43721-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ad978a9 --- /dev/null +++ b/43721-h/43721-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,15820 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Vol. LXVI., July--December, 1849., by Various. + </title> + + <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> + + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +h1,h2,h3 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .51em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .49em; +} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: 33.5%; + margin-right: 33.5%; + clear: both; +} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + + .tdl {text-align: left;} + .tdr {text-align: right;} + .tdc {text-align: center;} + +.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; +} /* page numbers */ + +.bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.gesperrt +{ + letter-spacing: 0.2em; + margin-right: -0.2em; +} + +em.gesperrt +{ + font-style: normal; +} + +/* Images */ +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + +/* Footnotes */ +.footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + +.footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + +.footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + +.fnanchor { + vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: + none; +} + +/* Poetry */ +.poem { + margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; + text-align: left; +} + +.poem br {display: none;} + +.poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + +/* Transcriber's notes */ +.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; + color: black; + font-size:smaller; + padding:0.5em; + margin-bottom:5em; + font-family:sans-serif, serif; } + +/* Rick's */ +/* epub headings */ +/* Title Pages */ + +div.titlepage { + text-align: center; + page-break-before: always; + page-break-after: always; +} +div.titlepage p { + text-align: center; + text-indent: 0em; + font-weight: bold; + line-height: 1.5; + margin-top: 3em; +} + +/* epub css for created cover.jpg */ + +div.tnotes {background-color: #eeeeee; border: 1px solid black;} + .covernote {visibility: hidden; display: none;} +@media handheld { + .covernote {visibility: visible; display: block;} +} + +/* epub horizontal rules */ + +hr.tb {width: 45%; margin-left: 27.5%; margin-right: 27.5%;} +hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} + + .poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i10 {display: block; margin-left: 5em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i14 {display: block; margin-left: 7em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 1em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i30 {display: block; margin-left: 15em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i6 {display: block; margin-left: 3em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Vol. 66, No +405, July 1849, by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license + + +Title: Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Vol. 66, No 405, July 1849 + +Author: Various + +Release Date: September 14, 2013 [EBook #43721] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BLACKWOOD'S MAGAZINE, JULY 1849 *** + + + + +Produced by Brendan OConnor, Richard Tonsing, 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> + + +<!-- delete if unnecessary --> +<div class="tnotes covernote"> + <p>The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.</p> +</div> + + + + +<div class="titlepage"> +<h1>BLACKWOOD'S<br /> + +Edinburgh<br /> + +MAGAZINE.<br /> + +<small>VOL. LXVI.<br /> + +JULY—DECEMBER, 1849.</small></h1> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 662px;"> +<img src="images/blackwoodsmagazi66edinuoft_0005.jpg" width="662" height="800" alt="" /> + +</div> + +<p>WILLIAM BLACKWOOD & SONS, EDINBURGH;</p> + +<p>AND</p> + +<p>37, PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>1849.</p></div> + +<p class="center">BLACKWOOD'S</p> + +<p class="center">EDINBURGH MAGAZINE.</p> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">No. CCCCV.</span> JULY, 1849. <span class="smcap">Vol. LXVI.</span> +</p> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> +<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS">CONTENTS.</a></h2> + + + + + +<div class="tdr"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" summary="table"> +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Dies Boreales. No. II. Christopher under Canvass</span>,</td><td><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Island of Sardinia</span>,</td><td><a href="#Page_33">33</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Caxtons.—Part XIV.</span></td><td><a href="#Page_48">48</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Game Laws in Scotland</span>,</td><td><a href="#Page_63">63</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Dominique</span>,</td><td><a href="#Page_77">77</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Pestalozziana</span>,</td><td><a href="#Page_93">93</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Crowning of the Column, and Crushing of the Pedestal</span>,</td><td><a href="#Page_108">108</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Postscript</span>,</td><td><a href="#Page_131">131</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p class="center">EDINBURGH:</p> + +<p class="center">WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS, 45, GEORGE STREET; +AND 37, PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON.</p> + +<p class="center"><i>To whom all Communications (post paid) must be addressed.</i></p> + +<p class="center">SOLD BY ALL THE BOOKSELLERS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.</p> + +<p class="center">PRINTED BY WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS, EDINBURGH. +</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> + +<p class="center">BLACKWOOD'S +EDINBURGH MAGAZINE.</p> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">No. CCCCV.</span> JULY, 1849. <span class="smcap">Vol. LXVI.</span> +</p> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> +<h2><a name="Dies_Boreales" id="Dies_Boreales">Dies Boreales.</a></h2> + +<p><span class="smcap">No. II.</span></p> + +<h3>CHRISTOPHER UNDER CANVASS.</h3> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Encampment at Cladich.</span> <span class="smcap">Time</span>—<i>Eleven</i>, <span class="smcap">A.M.</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">SCENE</span>—<i>The Portal of the Pavilion.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">North</span>—<span class="smcap">Buller</span>—<span class="smcap">Seward</span>.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>I know there is nothing you dislike so much as personal observations——</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>On myself to myself—not at all on others.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>Yet I cannot help telling you to your face, sir, that you are one of the +finest-looking old men——</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Elderly gentlemen, if you please, sir.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>In Britain, in Europe, in the World. I am perfectly serious, sir. You are.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>You needed not to say you were perfectly serious: for I suffer no man to +be ironical on Me, Mr Buller. I am.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>Such a change since we came to Cladich! Seward was equally shocked, +with myself, at your looks on board the Steamer. So lean—so bent—so +sallow—so haggard—in a word—so aged!</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Were you shocked, Seward?</p> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>Buller has such a blunt way with him that he often makes me blush. I +was not shocked, my dear sir, but I was affected.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>Turning to me, he said in a whisper, "What a wreck!"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span></p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>I saw little alteration on you, Mr Seward; but as to Buller, it was with +the utmost difficulty I could be brought, by his reiterated asseverations, into +a sort of quasi-belief in his personal identity; and even now, it is far from +amounting to anything like a settled conviction. Why, his face is twice the +breadth it used to be—and so red! It used to be narrow and pale. Then +what a bushy head—now, cocker it as he will, bald. In figure was he not +slim? Now, stout's the word. Stout—stout—yes, Buller, you have grown +stout, and will grow stouter—your doom is to be fat—I prophesy paunch——</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>Spare me—spare me, sir. Seward should not have interrupted me—'twas +but the first impression—and soon wore off—those Edinboro' people have +much to answer for—unmercifully wearing you out at their ceaseless <i>soirées</i>—but +since you came to Cladich, sir, <span class="smcap">Christopher's Himself again</span>—pardon +my familiarity—nor can I now, after the minutest inspection, and severest scrutiny, +detect one single additional wrinkle on face or forehead—nay, not a +wrinkle at all—not one—so fresh of colour, too, sir, that the irradiation is at +times ruddy—and without losing an atom of expression, the countenance +absolutely—plump. Yes, sir, plump's the word—plump, plump, plump.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Now you speak sensibly, and like yourself, my dear Buller. I wear well.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>Your enemies circulated a report—</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>I did not think I had an enemy in the world.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>Your friends, sir, had heard a rumour—that you had mounted a wig.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>And was there, among them all, one so weak-minded as to believe it? But +to be sure, there are no bounds to the credulity of mankind.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>That you had lost your hair—and that, like Sampson—</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>And by what Delilah had my locks been shorn?</p> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>It all originated, I verily believe, sir, in the moved imagination of the Pensive +Public:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Res est soliciti plena timoris Amor."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Buller, I see little, if any—no change whatever—on you, since the days of +Deeside—nor on you, Seward. Yes, I do. Not now, when by yourselves; but +when your boys are in Tent, ah! then I do indeed—a pleasant, a happy, a +blessed change! Bright boys they are—delightful lads—noble youths—and +so are my Two—emphasis on <i>my</i>—</p> + +<p>SEWARD AND BULLER.</p> + +<p>Yes, all emphasis, and may the Four be friends for life.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>In presence of us old folks, composed and respectful—in manly modesty +attentive to every word we say—at times no doubt wearisome enough! Yet +each ready, at a look or pause, to join in when we are at our gravest—and +the solemn may be getting dull—enlivening the sleepy flow of our conversation +as with rivulets issuing from pure sources in the hills of the morning—</p> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>Ay—ay; heaven bless them all!</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Why, there is more than sense—more than talent—there is <i>genius</i> among +them—in their eyes and on their tongues—though they have no suspicion of it—and +that is the charm. Then how they rally one another! Witty fellows all +Four. And the right sort of raillery. Gentlemen by birth and breeding, to +whom in their wildest sallies vulgarity is impossible—to whom, on the giddy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span> +brink—the perilous edge—still adheres a native Decorum superior to that of +all the Schools.</p> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>They have their faults, sir—</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>So have we. And 'tis well for us. Without faults we should be unloveable.</p> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>In affection I spake.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>I know you did. There is no such hateful sight on earth as a perfect character. +He is one mass of corruption—for he is a hypocrite—<i>intus et in cute</i>—by +the necessity of nature. The moment a perfect character enters a room—I +leave it.</p> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>What if you happened to live in the neighbourhood of the nuisance?</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Emigrate. Or remain here—encamped for life—with imperfect characters—till +the order should issue—Strike Tent.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>My Boy has a temper of his own.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Original—or acquired?</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>Naturally sweet-blooded—assuredly by the mother's side—but in her goodness +she did all she could to spoil him. Some excuse—We have but +Marmy.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>And his father, naturally not quite so sweet-blooded, does all he can to preserve +him? Between the two, a pretty Pickle he is. Has thine a temper of +his own, too, Seward?</p> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>Hot.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Hereditary.</p> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>No—North. A milder, meeker, Christian Lady than his mother is not +in England.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>I confess I was at the moment not thinking of his mother. But somewhat +too much of this. I hereby authorise the Boys of this Empire to have what +tempers they choose—with one sole exception—<span class="smcap">The Sulky</span>.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>The Edict is promulged.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Once, and once only, during one of the longest and best-spent lives on record, +was I in the mood proscribed—and it endured most part of a whole day. +The Anniversary of that day I observe, in severest solitude, with a salutary +horror. And it is my Birthday. Ask me not, my friends, to reveal the +Cause. Aloof from confession before man—we must keep to ourselves—as +John Foster says—a corner of our own souls. A black corner it is—and enter +it with or without a light—you see, here and there, something dismal—hideous—shapeless—nameless—each +lying in its own place on the floor. +There lies the <span class="smcap">Cause</span>. It was the morning of my Ninth Year. As I kept sitting +high upstairs by myself—one familiar face after another kept ever and +anon looking in upon me—all with one expression! And one familiar voice +after another—all with one tone—kept muttering at me—"<i>He's still in the +Sulks!</i>" How I hated them with an intenser hatred—and chief them I before +had loved best—at each opening and each shutting of that door! How I hated +myself, as my blubbered face felt hotter and hotter—and I knew how ugly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span> +I must be, with my fixed fiery eyes. It was painful to sit on such a chair for +hours in one posture, and to have so chained a child would have been great +cruelty—but I was resolved to die, rather than change it; and had I been +told by any one under an angel to get up and go to play, I would have spat in +his face. It was a lonesome attic, and I had the fear of ghosts. But not +then—my superstitious fancy was quelled by my troubled heart. Had I not +deserved to be allowed to go? Did they not all know that all my happiness in +this life depended on my being allowed to go? Could any one of them give a +reason for not allowing me to go? What right had they to say that if I did +go, I should never be able to find my way, by myself, back? What right had +they to say that Roundy was a blackguard, and that he would lead me to the +gallows? Never before, in all the world, had a good boy been used so on his +birthday. They pretend to be sorry when I am sick—and when I say my +prayers, they say theirs too; but I am sicker now—and they are not sorry, but +angry—there's no use in prayers—and I won't read one verse in the Bible +this night, should my aunt go down on her knees. And in the midst of such +unworded soliloquies did the young blasphemer fall asleep.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>Young Christopher North! Incredible.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>I know not how long I slept; but on awaking, I saw an angel with a most +beautiful face and most beautiful hair—a little young angel—about the same +size as myself—sitting on a stool by my feet. "Are you quite well now, +Christopher? Let us go to the meadows and gather flowers." Shame, sorrow, +remorse, contrition, came to me with those innocent words—we wept together, +and I was comforted. "I have been sinful"—"but you are forgiven." +Down all the stairs hand in hand we glided; and there was no longer anger +in any eyes—the whole house was happy. All voices were kinder—if that +were possible—than they had been when I rose in the morning—a Boy in his +Ninth Year. Parental hands smoothed my hair—parental lips kissed it—and +parental greetings, only a little more cheerful than prayers, restored me to +the Love I had never lost, and which I felt now had animated that brief and +just displeasure. I had never heard then of Elysian fields; but I had often +heard, and often had dreamt happy, happy dreams of fields of light in heaven. +And such looked the fields to be, where fairest Mary Gordon and I gathered +flowers, and spoke to the birds, and to one another, all day long—and again, +when the day was gone, and the evening going, on till moon-time, below and +among the soft-burning stars.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>And never has <i>Christopher been in the Sulks</i> since that day.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Under heaven I owe it all to that child's eyes. Still I sternly keep the +Anniversary—for, beyond doubt, I was that day possessed with a Devil—and +an angel it was, though human, that drove him out.</p> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>Your first Love?</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>In a week she was in heaven. My friends—in childhood—our whole future +life would sometimes seem to be at the mercy of such small events as these. +Small call them not—for they are great for good or for evil—because of the +unfathomable mysteries that lie shrouded in the growth, on earth, of an immortal +soul.</p> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>May I dare to ask you, sir—it is indeed a delicate—a more than delicate +question—if the Anniversary—has been brought round with the revolving +year since we encamped?</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>It has.</p> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>Ah! Buller! we know now the reason of his absence that day from the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> +Pavilion and Deeside—of his utter seclusion—he was doing penance in the +Swiss Giantess—a severe sojourn.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>A Good Temper, friends—not a good Conscience—is the Blessing of Life.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>Shocked to hear you say so, sir. Unsay it, my dear sir—unsay it—pernicious +doctrine. It may get abroad.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The Sulks!</span>—the <span class="smcap">Celestials</span>. The Sulks are hell, sirs—the Celestials, +by the very name, heaven. I take temper in its all-embracing sense of +Physical, Mental, and Moral Atmosphere. Pure and serene—then we respire +God's gifts, and are happier than we desire! Is not that divine? Foul and +disturbed—then we are stifled by God's gifts—and are wickeder than we +fear! Is not that devilish? A good Conscience and a bad Temper! Talk +not to me, Young Men, of pernicious doctrine—it is a soul-saving doctrine—"millions +of spiritual creatures walk unseen" teaching it—men's Thoughts, +communing with heaven, have been teaching it—surely not all in vain—since +Cain slew Abel.</p> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>The Sage!</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>Socrates.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Morose! Think for five minutes on what that word means—and on what +that word contains—and you see the Man must be an Atheist. Sitting in +the House of God <i>morosely</i>! Bright, bold, beautiful boys of ours, ye are not +morose—heaven's air has free access through your open souls—a clear conscience +carries the Friends in their pastimes up the Mountains.</p> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>And their fathers before them.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>And their great-grandfather—I mean their spiritual great-grandfather—myself—Christopher +North. They are gathering up—even as we gathered up—images +that will never die. Evanescent! Clouds—lights—shadows—glooms—the +falling sound—the running murmur—and the swinging roar—as cataract, +stream, and forest all alike seem wheeling by—these are not evanescent—for +they will all keep coming and going—before their Imagination—all life-long at +the bidding of the Will—or obedient to a Wish! Or by benign Law, whose +might is a mystery, coming back from the far profound—remembered apparitions!</p> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>Dear sir.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Even my Image will sometimes reappear—and the Tents of Cladich—the +Camp on Lochawe-side.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>My dear sir—it will not be evanescent——</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>And withal such Devils! But I have given them <i>carte blanche</i>.</p> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>Nor will they abuse it.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>I wonder when they sleep. Each has his own dormitory—the cluster +forming the left wing of the Camp—but Deeside is not seldom broad awake +till midnight; and though I am always up and out by six at the latest, +never once have I caught a man of them napping, but either there they are +each more blooming than the other, getting ready their gear for a start;—or, on +sweeping the Loch with my glass, I see their heads, like wild-ducks—swimming—round +Rabbit Island—as some wretch has baptised Inishail—or away +to Inistrynish—or, for anything I know, to Port-Sonachan—swimming for a +Medal given by the Club! Or there goes <i>Gutta-Percha</i> by the Pass of Brandir,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> +or shooting away into the woods near Kilchurn. Twice have they been on +the top of Cruachan—once for a clear hour, and once for a dark day—the very +next morning, Marmaduke said, they would have "some more mountain," and +the Four Cloud-compellers swept the whole range of Ben-Bhuridh and Bein-Lurachan +as far as the head of Glensrea. Though they said nothing about it, +I heard of their having been over the hills behind us, t'other night, at Cairndow, +at a wedding. Why, only think, sirs, yesterday they were off by daylight +to try their luck in Loch Dochart, and again I heard their merriment +soon after we had retired. They must have footed it above forty miles. +That Cornwall Clipper will be their death. And off again this morning—all +on foot—to the Black Mount.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>For what?</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>By permission of the Marquis, to shoot an Eagle. She is said to be again +on egg—and to cliff-climbers her eyrie is within rifle-range. But let us +forget the Boys—as they have forgot us.</p> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>The Loch is calmer to-day, sir, than we have yet seen it; but the calm is +of a different character from yesterday's—that was serene, this is solemn—I +had almost said austere. Yesterday there were few clouds; and such was +the prevailing power of all those lovely woods on the islands, and along the +mainland shores—that the whole reflexion seemed sylvan. When gazing on +such a sight, does not our feeling of the unrealities—the shadows—attach to +the realities—the substances? So that the living trees—earth-rooted, and +growing upwards—become almost as visionary as their inverted semblances +in that commingling clime? Or is it that the life of the trees gives life to the +images, and imagination believes that the whole, in its beauty, must belong, +by the same law, to the same world?</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Let us understand, without seeking to destroy, our delusions—for has not +this life of ours been wisely called the dream of a shadow!</p> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>To-day there are many clouds, and aloft they are beautiful; nor is the +light of the sun not most gracious; but the repose of all that downward +world affects me—I know not why—with sadness—it is beginning to look +almost gloomy—and I seem to see the hush not of sleep, but of death. There +is not the unboundaried expanse of yesterday—the loch looks narrower—and +Cruachan closer to us, with all his heights.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>I felt a drop of rain on the back of my hand.</p> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>It must have been, then, from your nose. There will be no rain this week. +But a breath of air there is somewhere—for the mirror is dimmed, and the +vision gone.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>The drop was not from his nose, Seward, for here are three—and clear, pure +drops too—on my Milton. I should not be at all surprised if we were to have +a little rain.</p> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>Odd enough. I cannot conjecture where it comes from. It must be dew.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>Who ever heard of dew dropping in large fat globules at meridian on a summer's +day? It is getting very close and sultry. The interior must be, as +Wordsworth says, "Like a Lion's den." Did you whisper, sir?</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>No. But something did. Look at the quicksilver, Buller.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>Thermometer 85. Barometer I can say nothing about—but that it is very +low indeed. A long way below Stormy.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span></p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>What colour would you call that Glare about the Crown of Cruachan? +Yellow?</p> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>You may just as well call it yellow as not. I never saw such a colour before—and +don't care though I never see such again—for it is horrid. That <i>is</i> +a—Glare.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Cowper says grandly,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"A terrible sagacity informs<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The Poet's heart: he looks to distant storms;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He hears the thunder ere the tempest lowers."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>He is speaking of tempests in the moral world. You know the passage—it +is a fine one—so indeed is the whole Epistle—Table-Talk. I am a bit of a +Poet myself in smelling thunder. Early this morning I set it down for mid-day—and +it is mid-day now.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>Liker Evening.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Dimmish and darkish, certainly—but unlike Evening. I pray you look at +the Sun.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>What about him?</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Though unclouded—he seems shrouded in his own solemn light—expecting +thunder.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>There is not much motion among the clouds.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Not yet. Merely what in Scotland we call a carry—yet that great +central mass is double the size it was ten minutes ago—the City Churches +are crowding round the Cathedral—and the whole assemblage lies under the +shadow of the Citadel—with battlements and colonnades at once Fort and +Temple.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>Still some blue sky. Not very much. But some.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Cruachan! you are changing colour.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>Grim—very.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>The Loch's like ink. I could dip my pen in it.</p> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>We are about to have thunder.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Weather-wise wizard—we are. That mutter was thunder. In five seconds +you will hear some more. One—two—three—four—there; that was a growl. +I call that good growling—sulky, sullen, savage growling, that makes the +heart of Silence quake.</p> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>And mine.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>What? Dying away! Some incomprehensible cause is turning the thunderous +masses round towards Appin.</p> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>And I wish them a safe journey.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>All right. They are coming this way—all at once—the whole Thunderstorm. +Flash—roar.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span></p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Be thou as lightning in the eyes of France;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For ere thou canst report I will be there,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The thunder of my cannon shall be heard."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Who but Willy could have said <i>that</i>?</p> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>Who said what?</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>How ghastly all the trees!</p> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>I see no trees—nor anything else.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>How can you, with that Flying Dutchman over your eyes?</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>I gave him my handkerchief—for at this moment I know his head is like +to rend. I wish I had kept it to myself; but no use—the lightning is seen +through lids and hands, and would be through stone walls.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Each flash has, of course, a thunder-clap of its own—if we knew where to +look for it; but, to our senses, all connexion between cause and effect is lost—such +incessant flashings—and such multitudinous outbreaks—and such a +continuous roll of outrageous echoes!</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>Coruscation—explosion—are but feeble words.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>The Cathedral's on Fire.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>I don't mind so much those wide flarings among the piled clouds, as these +gleams——oh!</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Where art thou, Cruachan! Ay—methinks I see thee—methinks I do +not—thy Three Peaks may not pierce the masses that now oppress thee—but +behind the broken midway clouds, those black purple breadths of solid +earth are thine—thine those unmistakeable Cliffs—thine the assured beauty +of that fearless Forest—and may the lightning scathe not one single tree!</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>Nor man.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>This is your true total Eclipse of the Sun. Day, not night, is the time +for thunder and lightning. Night can be dark of itself—nay, cannot help it; +but when Day grows black, then is the blackness of darkness in the Bright +One terrible;—and terror—Burke said well—is at the heart of the sublime. +The Light, such as it is, sets off the power of the lightning—it pales to that +flashing—and is forgotten in Fire. It smells of hell.</p> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>It is constitutional in the Sewards. North, I am sick.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Give way to gasping—and lie down—nothing can be done for you. The +danger is not—</p> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>I am not afraid—I am faint.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>You must speak louder, if you expect to be heard by ears of clay. Peals is +not the word. "Peals on peals redoubled" is worse. There never was—and +never will be a word in any language—for <i>all that</i>.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>Unreasonable to expect it. Try twenty—in twenty languages.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Buller, you may count ten individual deluges—besides the descent of three +at hand—conspicuous in the general Rain, which without them would be Rain +sufficient for a Flood. Now the Camp has it—and let us enter the Pavilion.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> +I don't think there is much wind here—yet far down the black Loch is silently +whitening with waves like breakers; for here the Rain alone rules, and +its rushing deadens the retiring thunder. The ebbing thunder! Still louder +than any sea on any shore—but a diminishing loudness, though really vast, +seems quelled; and, losing its power over the present, imagination follows it +not into the distant region where it may be raging as bad as ever. Buller?</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>What?</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>How's Seward?</p> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>Much better. It was very, very kind of you, my dear sir, to carry me in +your arms, and place me in your own Swing-chair. The change of atmosphere +has revived me—but the Boys!</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>The Boys—why, they went to the Black Mount to shoot an eagle, and see +a thunder-storm, and long before this they have had their heart's desire. +There are caves, Seward, in Buachail-Mor; and one recess I know—not a +cave—but grander far than any cave—near the Fall of Eas-a-Bhrogich—far +down below the bottom of the Fall, which in its long descent whitens the +sable cliffs. Thither leads a winding access no storm can shake. In that +recess you sit rock-surrounded—but with elbow-room for five hundred men—and +all the light you have—and you would not wish for more—comes down +upon you from a cupola far nearer heaven than that hung by Michael +Angelo.</p> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>The Boys are safe.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Or the lone House of Dalness has received them—hospitable now as of yore—or +the Huntsman's hut—or the Shepherd's shieling—that word I love, and shall +use it now—though shieling it is not, but a comfortable cottage—and the +dwellers there fear not the thunder and the lightning—for they know they are +in His hands—and talk cheerfully in the storm.</p> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>Over and gone. How breathable the atmosphere!</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>In the Forests of the Marquis and of Monzie, the horns of the Red-deer are +again in motion. In my mind's eye—Harry—I see one—an enormous fellow—bigger +than the big stag of Benmore himself—and not to be so easily brought +to perform, by particular desire, the part of Moriens—giving himself a shake of +his whole huge bulk, and a <i>caive</i> of his whole wide antlery—and then leading +down from the Corrie, with Platonic affection, a herd of Hinds to the greensward +islanded among brackens and heather—a spot equally adapted for +feed, play, rumination, and sleep. And the Roes are glinting through the +glades—and the Fleece are nibbling on the mountains' glittering breast—and +the Cattle are grazing, and galloping, and lowing on the hills—and the furred +folk, who are always dry, come out from crevices for a mouthful of the fresh +air; and the whole four-footed creation are jocund—are happy!</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>What a picture!</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>And the Fowls of the Air—think ye not the Eagle, storm-driven not unalarmed +along that league-long face of cliff, is now glad at heart, pruning the +wing that shall carry him again, like a meteor, into the subsided skies?</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>What it is to have an imagination! Worth all my Estate.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Let us exchange.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>Not possible. Strictly entailed.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span></p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Dock.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>Mno.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>And the little wren flits out from the back door of her nest—too happy +she to sing—and in a minute is back again, with a worm in her mouth, to +her half-score gaping babies—the sole family in all the dell. And the seamews, +sore against their will driven seawards, are returning by ones and +twos, and thirties, and thousands, up Loch-Etive, and, dallying with what +wind is still alive above the green transparency, drop down in successive parties +of pleasure on the silver sands of Ardmatty, or lured onwards into +the still leas of Glenliver, or the profounder quietude of the low mounds of +Dalness.</p> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>My fancy is contented to feed on what is before my eyes.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>Doff, then, the Flying Dutchman.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>And thousands of Rills, on the first day of their apparent existence, are +all happy too, and make me happy to look on them leaping and dancing down +the rocks—and the River Etive rejoicing in his strength, from far Kingshouse +all along to the end of his journey, is happiest of them all; for the storm that +has swollen has not discoloured him, and with a pomp of clouds on his breast, +he is flowing in his expanded beauty into his own desired Loch.</p> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>Gaze with me, my dear sir, on what lies before our eyes.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>The Rainbow!</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>Four miles wide, and half a mile broad.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Thy own Rainbow, Cruachan—from end to end.</p> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>Is it fading—or is it brightening?—no, it is not fading—and to brighten +is impossible. It is the beautiful at perfection—it is dissolving—it is gone.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>I asked you, sir, have the Poets well handled Thunder?</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>I was waiting for the Rainbow. Many eyes besides ours are now regarding +it—many hearts gladdened—but have you not often felt, Seward, as if +such Apparitions came at a silent call in our souls—that we might behold +them—and that the hour—or the moment—was given to us alone! So +have I felt when walking alone among the great solitudes of Nature.</p> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>Lochawe is the name now for a dozen little lovely lakes! For, lo! as the +vapours are rising, they disclose, here a bay that does not seem to be a bay, +but complete in its own encircled stillness,—there a bare grass island—yes, it is +Inishail—with a shore of mists,—and there, with its Pines and Castle, Freoch, +as if it were Loch Freoch, and not itself an Isle. Beautiful bewilderment! +but of our own creating!—for thus Fancy is fain to dally with what we love—and +would seek to estrange the familiar—as if Lochawe in its own simple +grandeur were not all-sufficient for our gaze.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>Let me try my hand. No—no—no—I can see and feel, have an eye and +a heart for Scenery, as it is called, but am no hand at a description. My +dear, sweet, soft-breasted, fair-fronted, bright-headed, delightful Cruachan—thy +very name, how liquid with open vowels—not a consonant among them +all—no Man-Mountain Thou—Thou art the <span class="smcap">Lady of the Lake</span>. I am in +love with Thee—Thou must not think of retiring from the earth—Thou<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> +must not take the veil—off with it—off with it from those glorious shoulders—and +come, in all Thy loveliness, to my long—my longing arms!</p> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>Is that the singing of larks?</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>No larks live here. The laverock is a Lowland bird, and loves our brairded +fields and our pastoral braes; but the Highland mountains are not for him—he +knows by instinct that they are haunted—though he never saw the shadow +nor heard the sugh of the eagle's wing.</p> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>The singing from the woods seems to reach the sky. They have utterly +forgotten their fear; or think you, sir, that birds know that what frightened +them is gone, and that they sing with intenser joy because of the fear that kept +them mute?</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>The lambs are frisking—and the sheep staring placidly at the Tents. I +hear the hum of bees—returned—and returning from their straw-built Citadels. +In the primal hour of his winged life, that wavering butterfly goes by in +search of the sunshine that meets him; and happy for this generation of +ephemerals that they first took wing on the afternoon of the day of the Great +Storm.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>How have the Poets, sir, handled thunder and lightning?</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Sæpe ego, cum flavis messorem induceret arvis<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Agricola, et fragili jam stringeret hordea culmo,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Omnia ventorum concurrere prælia vidi,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Quæ gravidam latè segetem ab radicibus imis<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Sublimè expulsam eruerent: ita turbine nigro<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ferret hyems culmumque levem, stipulasque volantes.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Sæpe etiam immensum cœlo venit agmen aquarum,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Et fœdam glomerant tempestatem imbribus atris<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Collectæ ex alto nubes: ruit arduus æther,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Et pluviâ ingenti sata læta, boumque labores<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Diluit: implentur fossæ, et cava flumina crescunt<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Cum sonitu, fervetque fretis spirantibus æquor.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ipse Pater, mediâ nimborum in nocte, corusca<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Fulmina molitur dextrâ: quo maxima motu<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Terra tremit: fugêre feræ, et mortalia corda<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Per gentes humilis stravit pavor: ille flagranti<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Aut Atho, aut Rhodopen, aut alta Ceraunia telo<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Dejicit: ingeminant Austri, et densissimus imber:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Nunc nemora ingenti vento, nunc littora plangunt.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>You recite well, sir, and Latin better than English—not so sing-songy—and +as sonorous: then Virgil, to be sure, is fitter for recitation than any +Laker of you all——</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>I am not a Laker—I am a Locher.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>Tweedledum—Tweedledee.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>That means the Tweed and the Dee? Content. One might have thought, +Buller, that our Scottish Critics would have been puzzled to find a fault in +that strain——</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>It is faultless; but not a Scotch critic worth a curse but yourself——</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>I cannot accept a compliment at the expense of all the rest of my countrymen. +I cannot indeed.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span></p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>Yes, you can.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>There was Lord Kames—a man of great talents—a most ingenious man—and +with an insight——</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>I never heard of him—was he a Scotch Peer?</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>One of the Fifteen. A strained elevation—says his Lordship—I am sure +of the words, though I have not seen his Elements of Criticism for fifty +years——</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>You are a creature of a wonderful memory.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>"A strained elevation is attended with another inconvenience, that the author +is apt to fall suddenly, as well as the reader; because it is not a little difficult +to descend sweetly and easily from such elevation to the ordinary tone of the +subject. The following is a good illustration of that observation"—and then +his Lordship quotes the passage I recited—stopping with the words, "<i>densissimus +imber</i>," which are thus made to conclude the description!</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>Oh! oh! oh! That's murder.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>In the description of a storm—continues his Lordship—"to figure Jupiter +throwing down huge mountains with his thunderbolts, is hyperbolically sublime, +if I may use the expression: the tone of mind produced by that image +is so distinct from the tone produced by a thick shower of rain, that the +sudden transition <i>must be very unpleasant</i>."</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>Suggestive of a great-coat. That's the way to deal with a great Poet. Clap +your hand on the Poet's mouth in its fervour—shut up the words in mid-volley—and +then tell him that he does not know how to descend sweetly and +easily from strained elevation!</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Nor do I agree with his Lordship that "to figure Jupiter throwing down +huge mountains with his thunderbolts is hyperbolically sublime." As a part +for a whole is a figure of speech, so is a whole for a part. Virgil says, +"dejicit;" but he did not mean to say that Jupiter "tumbled down" Athos +or Rhodope or the Acroceraunian range. He knew—for he saw them—that +there they were in all their altitude after the storm—little if at all the worse. +But Jupiter had struck—smitten—splintered—rent—trees and rocks—midway +or on the summits—and the sight was terrific—and "dejicit" brings it before +our imagination which not for a moment pictures the whole mountain +tumbling down. But great Poets know the power of words, and on great +occasions how to use them—in this case—one—and small critics will not suffer +their own senses to instruct them in Poetry—and hence the Elements of +Criticism are not the Elements of Nature, and assist us not in comprehending +the grandeur of reported storms.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>Lay it into them, sir.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Good Dr Hugh Blair again, who in his day had a high character for taste +and judgment, agreed with Henry Home that "the transition is made too +hastily—I am afraid—from the preceding sublime images, to a thick shower +and the blowing of the south wind, and shows how difficult it frequently is +to descend with grace, without seeming to fall." Nay, even Mr Alison +himself—one of the finest spirits that ever breathed on earth, says—"I +acknowledge, indeed, that the 'pluviâ ingenti sata læta, boumque labores +diluit' is defensible from the connexion of the imagery with the subject of the +poem; but the 'implentur fossæ' is both an unnecessary and a degrading cir<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span>cumstance +when compared with the magnificent effects that are described in +the rest of the passage." In his quotation, too, the final grand line is inadvertently +omitted—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Nunc nemora ingenti vento, nunc litora plangunt."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>I never read Hugh Blair—but I have read—often, and always with increased +delight—Mr Alison's exquisite Essays on the Nature and Principles +of Taste, and Lord Jeffrey's admirable exposition of the Theory—in statement +so clear, and in illustration so rich—worth all the Æsthetics of the Germans—Schiller +excepted—in one Volume of Mist.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Mr Alison had an original as well as a fine mind; and here he seems to +have been momentarily beguiled into mistake by unconscious deference to the +judgment of men—in his province far inferior to himself—whom in his +modesty he admired. Mark. Virgil's main purpose is to describe the dangers—the +losses to which the agriculturist is at all seasons exposed from wind and +weather. And he sets them before us in plain and perspicuous language, not +rising above the proper level of the didactic. Yet being a Poet he puts poetry +into his description from the first and throughout. To say that the line +"Et pluviâ" &c. is "<i>defensible</i> from the connexion of the imagery with the +subject of the Poem" is not enough. It is <i>necessitated</i>. Strike it out and +you abolish the subject. And just so with "implentur fossæ." The "fossæ" +we know in that country were numerous and wide, and, when swollen, dangerous—and +the "cava flumina" well follow instantly—for the "fossæ" were +their feeders—and we hear as well as see the rivers rushing to the sea—and +we hear too, as well as see, the sea itself. <i>There the description ends.</i> Virgil +has done his work. But his imagination is moved, and there arises a new +strain altogether. He is done with the agriculturists. And now he deals with +man at large—with the whole human race. He is now a Boanerges—a son +of thunder—and he begins with Jove. The sublimity comes in a moment. +"Ipse Pater, mediâ nimborum in nocte"—and is sustained to the close—the +last line being great as the first—and all between accordant, and all true to +nature. Without rain and wind, what would be a thunder-storm? The +"densissimus imber" obeys the laws—and so do the ingeminanting Austri—and +the shaken woods and the stricken shores.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>Well done, Virgil—well done, North.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>I cannot rest, Buller—I can have no peace of mind but in a successful +defence of these Ditches. Why is a Ditch to be despised? Because it is +dug? So is a grave. Is the Ditch—wet or dry—that must be passed by the +Volunteers of the Fighting Division before the Fort can be stormed, too +low a word for a Poet to use? Alas! on such an occasion well might he say, +as he looked after the assault and saw the floating tartans—<i>implentur fossæ</i>—the +Ditch is filled!</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>Ay, Mr North, in that case the word Ditch—and the thing—would be +dignified by danger, daring, and death. But here——</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>The case is the same—with a difference, for there is all the Danger—all the +Daring—all the Death—that the incident or event admits of—and they are +not small. Think for a moment. The Rain falls over the whole broad heart +of the tilled earth—from the face of the fields it runs into the Ditches—the +first unavoidable receptacles—these pour into the rivers—the rivers into the +river mouths—and then you are in the Sea.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>Go on, sir, go on.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>I am amazed—I am indignant, Buller. <i>Ruit arduus æther.</i> The steep or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> +high ether rushes down! as we saw it rush down a few minutes ago. What +happens?</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Et pluvià ingenti sata læta, boumque labores<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Diluit!"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Alas! for the hopeful—hopeless husbandman now. What a multiplied and +magnified expression have we here for the arable lands. All the glad seed-time +vain—vain all industry of man and oxen—there you have the true agricultural +pathos—washed away—set in a swim—deluged! Well has the Poet—in +one great line—spoke the greatness of a great matter. Sudden affliction—visible +desolation—imagined dearth.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>Don't stop, sir, you speak to the President of our Agricultural Society—go +on, sir, go on.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Now drop in—in its veriest place, and in two words, the <i>necessitated Implentur +fossæ</i>. No pretence—no display—no phraseology—the nakedest, but +quite effectual statement of the fact—which the farmer—I love that word +farmer—has witnessed as often as he has ever seen the Coming—the Ditches +that were dry ran full to the brim. The homely rustic fact, strong and impressive +to the husbandman, cannot be dealt with by poetry otherwise than +by setting it down in its bald simplicity. Seek to raise—to dress—to disguise—and +you make it ridiculous. The Mantuan knew better—he says what +must be said—and goes on—</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>He goes on—so do you, sir—you both get on.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>And now again begins Magnification,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i10">"Et cava flumina crescunt<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Cum sonitu."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The "hollow-bedded rivers" grow, swell, visibly wax mighty and turbulent. +You imagine that you stand on the bank and see the river that had shrunk +into a thread getting broad enough to fill the capacity of its whole hollow bed. +The rushing of arduous ether would not of itself have proved sufficient. +Therefore glory to the Italian Ditches and glory to the Dumfriesshire Drains, +which I have seen, in an hour, change the white murmuring Esk into a red +rolling river, with as sweeping sway as ever attended the Arno on its way to +inundate Florence.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>Glory to the Ditches of the Vale of Arno—glory to the Drains of Dumfriesshire. +Draw breath, sir. Now go on, sir.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>"Cum sonitu." Not as Father Thames rises—<i>silently</i>—till the flow lapse +over lateral meadow-grounds for a mile on either side. But "cum sonitu," +with a voice—with a roar—a mischievous roar—a roar of—ten thousand +Ditches.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>And then the "flumina"—"cava" no more—will be as clear as mud.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>You have hit it. They will be—for the Arno in flood is like liquid mud—by +no means enamouring, perhaps not even sublime—but showing you that +it comes off the fields and along the Ditches—that you see swillings of the +"sata læta boumque labores."</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>Agricultural Produce!</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>For a moment—a single moment—leave out the Ditches, and say merely, +"The rain falls over the fields—the rivers swell roaring." No picture at all. +You must have the fall over the surface—the gathering in the narrower artifi<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span>cial—the +delivery into the wider natural channels—the fight of spate and surge +at river mouth—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Fervetque fretis spirantibus æquor."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The Ditches are indispensable in nature and in Virgil.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>Put this glass of water to your lips, sir—not that I would recommend water +to a man in a fit of eloquence—but I know you are abstinent—infatuated in +your abjuration of wine. Go on—half-minute time.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>I swear to defend—at the pen's point—against all Comers—this position—that +the line</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Diluit: implentur fossæ, cava flumina crescunt<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Cum sonitu—"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>is, where it stands—and looking before and after—a perfect line; and that to +strike out "implentur fossæ" would be an outrage on it—just equal, Buller, +to my knocking out, without hesitation, your brains—for your brains do not +contribute more to the flow of our conversation—than do the Ditches to that +other Spate.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>That will do—you may stop.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>I ask no man's permission—I obey no man's mandate—to stop. Now Virgil +takes wing—now he blazes and soars. Now comes the power and spirit +of the Storm gathered in the Person of the Sire—of him who wields the thunderbolt +into which the Cyclops have forged storms of all sorts—wind and +rain together—"<i>Tres Imbri torti radios!</i>" &c. You remember the magnificent +mixture. And there we have <span class="smcap">Virgilius</span> <i>versus</i> <span class="smcap">Homerum</span>.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>You may sit down, sir.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>I did not know I had stood up. Beg pardon.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>I am putting Swing to rights for you, Sir.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Methinks Jupiter is <i>twice</i> apparent—the first time, as the President of +the Storm, which is agreeable to the dictates of reason and necessity;—the +second—to my fancy—as delighting himself in the conscious exertion of +power. What is he splintering Athos, or Rhodope, or the Acroceraunians for? +The divine use of the Fulmen is to quell Titans, and to kill that mad fellow +who was running up the ladder at Thebes, Capaneus. Let the Great Gods find +<i>out their enemies now</i>—find out and finish them—and enemies they must have +not a few among those prostrate crowds—"per gentes humilis stravit pavor." +But shattering and shivering the mountain tops—which, as I take it, is here +the prominent affair—and, as I said, the true meaning of "dejicit"—is +mere pastime—as if Jupiter Tonans were disporting himself on a holiday.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>Oh! sir, you have exhausted the subject—if not yourself—and us;—I beseech +you sit down;—see, Swing solicits you—and oh! sir, you—we—all of +us will find in a few minutes' silence a great relief after all that thunder.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>You remember Lucretius?</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>No, I don't. To you I am not ashamed to confess that I read him with +some difficulty. With ease, sir, do you?</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>I never knew a man who did but Bobus Smith; and so thoroughly was he +imbued with the spirit of the great Epicurean, that Landor—himself the best +Latinist living—equals him with Lucretius. The famous Thunder passage is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> +very fine, but I cannot recollect every word; and the man who, in recitation, +haggles and boggles at a great strain of a great poet deserves death without +benefit of clergy. I do remember, however, that he does not descend from +his elevation with such ease and grace as would have satisfied Henry Home +and Hugh Blair—for he has so little notion of true dignity as to mention +rain, as Virgil afterwards did, in immediate connexion with thunder.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Quo de concussu sequitur <i>gravis imber</i> et uber,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Omnis utei videatur in imbrem vortier æther,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Atque ita præcipitans ad diluviem revocare."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>What think you of the thunder in Thomson's Seasons?</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>What all the world thinks—that it is our very best British Thunder. He +gives the Gathering, the General engagement, and the Retreat. In the Gathering +there are touches and strokes that make all mankind shudder—the foreboding—the +ominous! And the terror, when it comes, aggrandises the premonitory +symptoms. "Follows the loosened aggravated roar" is a line of power +to bring the voice of thunder upon your soul on the most peaceable day. +He, too—prevailing poet—feels the grandeur of the Rain. For instant on +the words "convulsing heaven and earth," ensue,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Down comes a deluge of sonorous hail,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Or prone-descending rain."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Thomson had been in the heart of thunder-storms many a time before he left +Scotland; and what always impresses me is the want of method—the confusion, +I might almost say—in his description. Nothing contradictory in +the proceedings of the storm; they all go on obediently to what we know of +Nature's laws. But the effects of their agency on man and nature are given—not +according to any scheme—but as they happen to come before the Poet's +imagination, as they happened in reality. The pine is struck first—then the +cattle and the sheep below—and then the castled cliff—and then the</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i30">"Gloomy woods<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Start at the flash, and from their deep recess<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Wide-flaming out, their trembling inmates shake."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>No regular ascending—or descending scale here; but wherever the lightning +chooses to go, there it goes—the blind agent of indiscriminating destruction.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>Capricious Zig-zag.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Jemmy was overmuch given to mouthing in the <i>Seasons</i>; and in this description—matchless +though it be—he sometimes out-mouths the big-mouthed +thunder at his own bombast. Perhaps that is inevitable—you must, in +confabulating with that Meteor, either imitate him, to keep him and yourself +in countenance, or be, if not mute as a mouse, as thin-piped as a fly. In +youth I used to go sounding to myself among the mountains the concluding +lines of the Retreat.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Amid Carnarvon's mountains rages loud<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The repercussive roar; with mighty crush,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Into the flashing deep, from the rude rocks<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of Penmanmaur heap'd hideous to the sky,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Tumble the smitten cliffs, and Snowdon's peak,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Dissolving, instant yields his wintry load:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Far seen, the heights of heathy Cheviot blaze,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And Thule bellows through her utmost isles."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Are they good—or are they bad? I fear—not good. But I am dubious. The +previous picture has been of one locality—a wide one—but within the visible +horizon—enlarged somewhat by the imagination, which, as the schoolmen said,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> +inflows into every act of the senses—and powerfully, no doubt, into the senses +engaged in witnessing a thunder-storm. Many of the effects so faithfully, and +some of them so tenderly painted, interest us by their picturesque particularity.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Here the soft flocks, with that same harmless look<br /></span> +<span class="i0">They wore alive, and ruminating still<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In fancy's eye; and there the frowning bull,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And ox half-raised."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>We are here in a confined world—close to us and near; and our sympathies +with its inhabitants—human or brute—comprehend the very attitudes or postures +in which the lightning found and left them; but the final verses waft us +away from all that terror and pity—the geographical takes place of the +pathetic—a visionary panorama of material objects supersedes the heart-throbbing +region of the spiritual—for a mournful song instinct with the +humanities, an ambitious bravura displaying the power and pride of the +musician, now thinking not at all of us, and following the thunder only as +affording him an opportunity for the display of his own art.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>Are they good—or are they bad? I am dubious.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Thunder-storms travel fast and far—but here they seem simultaneous; +Thule is more vociferous than the whole of Wales together—yet perhaps the +sound itself of the verses is the loudest of all—and we cease to hear the thunder +in the din that describes it.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>Severe—but just.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Ha! Thou comest in such a questionable shape—</p> + +<p>ENTRANT.</p> + +<p>That I will speak to thee. How do you do, my dear sir? God bless you, +how do you do?</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Art thou a spirit of health or goblin damned?</p> + +<p>ENTRANT.</p> + +<p>A spirit of health.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>It is—it is the voice of <span class="smcap">Talboys</span>. Don't move an inch. Stand still for ten +seconds—on the very same site, that I may have one steady look at you, to +make assurance doubly sure—and then let us meet each other half-way in a +Cornish hug.</p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>Are we going to wrestle already, Mr North?</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Stand still ten seconds more. He <i>is</i> He—You <i>are</i> You—gentlemen—H. G. +Talboys—Seward, my crutch—Buller, your arm—</p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>Wonderful feat of agility! Feet up to the ceiling—</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Don't say ceiling—</p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>Why not? ceiling—cœlum. Feet up to heaven.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>An involuntary feat—the fault of Swing—sole fault—but I always forget it +when agitated—</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>Some time or other, sir, you will fly backwards and fracture your skull.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>There, we have recovered our equilibrium—now we are in grips, don't fear a +fall—I hope you are not displeased with your reception.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span></p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>I wrote last night, sir, to say I was coming—but there being no speedier +conveyance—I put the letter in my pocket, and there it is—</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>(<i>On reading</i> "<i>Dies Boreales.</i>—No. 1.")</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">A friend returned! spring bursting forth again!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The song of other years! which, when we roam,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Brings up all sweet and common things of home,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And sinks into the thirsty heart like rain!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Such the strong influence of the thrilling strain<br /></span> +<span class="i2">By human love made sad and musical,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Yet full of high philosophy withal,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Poured from thy wizard harp o'er land and main!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">A thousand hearts will waken at its call,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And breathe the prayer they breathed in earlier youth,—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">May o'er thy brow no envious shadow fall!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Blaze in thine eye the eloquence of truth!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Thy righteous wrath the soul of guilt appal,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">As lion's streaming hair or dragon's fiery tooth!<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>I blush to think I have given you the wrong paper.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>It is the right one. But may I ask what you have on your head?</p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>A hat. At least it was so an hour ago.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>It never will be a hat again.</p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>A patent hat—a waterproof hat—it was swimming, when I purchased it +yesterday, in a pail—warranted against Lammas floods—</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>And in an hour it has come to this! Why, it has no more shape than a +coal-heaver's.</p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>Oh! then it can be little the worse. For that is its natural artificial +shape. It is constructed on that principle—and the patentee prides himself +on its affording equal protection to head, shoulders, and back—helmet at once +and shield.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>But you must immediately put on dry clothes—</p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>The clothes I have on are as dry as if they had been taking horse-exercise +all morning before a laundry-fire. I am waterproof all over—and I had +need to be so—for between Inverary and Cladich there was much moisture in +the atmosphere.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Do—do—go and put on dry clothes. Why the spot you stand on is absolutely +swimming—</p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>My Sporting-jacket, sir, is a new invention—an invention of my own—to +the sight silk—to the feel feathers—and of feathers is the texture—- but that is +a secret, don't blab it—and to rain I am impervious as a plover.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Do—do—go and put on dry clothes.</p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>Intended to have been here last night—left Glasgow yesterday morning—and +had a most delightful forenoon of it in the Steamer to Tarbert. Loch +Lomond fairly outshone herself—never before had I felt the full force of the +words—"Fortunate Isles." The Bens were magnificent. At Tarbert—just<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> +as I was disembarking—who should be embarking but our friends Outram, +M'Culloch, Macnee——</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>And why are they not here?</p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>And I was induced—I could not resist them—to take a trip on to Inverarnan. +We returned to Tarbert and had a glorious afternoon till two this morning—thought +I might lie down for an hour or two—but, after undressing, it occurred +to me that it was advisable to redress—and be off instanter—so, wheeling +round the head of Loch Long—never beheld the bay so lovely—I glided up the +gentle slope of Glencroe and sat down on "Rest and be thankful"—to hold a +minute's colloquy with a hawk—or some sort of eagle or another, who seemed +to think nobody at that hour had a right to be there but himself—covered him +to a nicety with my rod—and had it been a gun, he was a dead bird. Down +the other—that is, this side of the glen, which, so far from being precipitous, is +known to be a descent but by the pretty little cataracts playing at leap-frog—from +your description I knew that must be Loch Fine—and that St Catherine's. +Shall I drop down and signalise the Inverary Steamer? I have not +time—so through the woods of Ardkinglass—surely the most beautiful in this +world—to Cairndow. Looked at my watch—had forgot to wind her up—set +her by the sun—and on nearing the inn door an unaccountable impulse +landed me in the parlour to the right. Breakfast on the table for somebody +up stairs—whom nobody—so the girl said—could awaken—ate it—and the ten +miles were but one to that celebrated Circuit Town. Saluted Dun-nu-quech +for your sake—and the Castle for the Duke's—and could have lingered all June +among those gorgeous groves.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Do—do—go and put on dry clothes.</p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>Hitherto it had been cool—shady—breezy—the very day for such a saunter—when +all at once it was an oven. I had occasion to note that fine line of the +Poet's—"Where not a lime-leaf moves," as I passed under a tree of that +species, with an umbrage some hundred feet in circumference, and a presentiment +of what was coming whispered "Stop here"—but the Fates tempted me +on—and if I am rather wet, sir, there is some excuse for it—for there was +thunder and lightning, and a great tempest.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Not to-day? Here all has been hush.</p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>It came at once from all points of the compass—and they all met—all the +storms—every mother's son of them—at a central point—where I happened +to be. Of course, no house. Look for a house on an emergency, and if +once in a million times you see one—the door is locked, and the people gone +to Australia.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>I insist on you putting on dry clothes. Don't try my temper.</p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>By-and-by I began to have my suspicions that I had been distracted from +the road—and was in the Channel of the Airey. But on looking down I saw +the Airey in his own channel—almost as drumly as the mire-burn—vulgarly +called road—I was plashing up. Altogether the scene was most animating—and +in a moment of intense exhilaration—not to weather-fend, but in defiance—I +unfurled my Umbrella.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>What, a Plover with a Parapluie?</p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>I use it, sir, but as a Parasol. Never but on this one occasion had it +affronted rain.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>The same we sat under, that dog-day, at Dunoon?</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span></p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>The same. Whew! Up into the sky like the incarnation of a whirlwind! +No turning outside in—too strong-ribbed for inversion—before the wind he +flew—like a creature of the element—and gracefully accomplished the descent +on an eminence about a mile off.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Near Orain-imali-chauan-mala-chuilish?</p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>I eyed him where he lay—not without anger. It had manifestly been a +wilful act—he had torn himself from my grasp—and now he kept looking at +me—at safe distance as he thought—like a wild animal suddenly undomesticated—and +escaped into his native liberty. If he had sailed before the +wind—why might not I? No need to <i>stalk</i> him—so I went at him right in +front—but such another flounder! Then, sir, I first knew fatigue.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i14">"So eagerly <span class="smcap">The Fiend</span><br /></span> +<span class="i0">O'er bog, or steep, through strait, rough, dense, or rare,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With head, hands, wings, or feet pursues his way,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And swims, or sinks, or wades, or creeps, or flies."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>Finally I reached him—closed on him—when Eolus, or Eurus, or Notus, or +Favonius—for all the heathen wind-gods were abroad—inflated him, and away +he flew—rustling like a dragon-fly—and zig-zagging all fiery-green in the +gloom—sat down—as composedly as you would yourself, sir—on a knoll, in +another region—engirdled with young birch-groves—as beautiful a resting-place, +I must acknowledge as, after a lyrical flight, could have been selected +for repose by Mr Wordsworth.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>I know it—Arash-alaba-chalin-ora-begota-la-chona-hurie. Archy will go +for it in the evening—all safe. But do go and put on dry clothes. What +now, Billy?</p> + +<p>BILLY BALMER.</p> + +<p>Here are Mr Talboys' trunk, sir.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Who brought it?</p> + +<p>BILLY.</p> + +<p>Nea, Maister—I dan't kna'—I s'pose Carrier. I ken't reet weell—ance +at Windermere-watter.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Swiss Giantess—Billy.</p> + +<p>BILLY.</p> + +<p>Ay—ay—sir.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>You will find the Swiss Giantess as complete a dormitory as man can desire, +Talboys. I reserve it for myself, in event of rheumatism. Though lined with +velvet, it is always cool—ventilated on a new principle—of which I took +merely a hint from the Punka. My cot hangs in what used to be the Exhibition-room—and +her Retreat is now a commodious Dressing-room. Billy, show +Mr Talboys to the Swiss Giantess.</p> + +<p>BILLY.</p> + +<p>Ay—ay, sir. This way, Mr Talboy—this way, sir.</p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>What is your dinner-hour, Mr North?</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Sharp seven—seven sharp.</p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>And now 'tis but half-past two. Four hours for work. The Cladich—or +whatever you call him—is rumbling disorderly in the wood; and I noted, as I +crossed the bridge, that he was proud as a piper of being in Spate—but he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> +looks more rational down in yonder meadows—and——<span class="smcap">heaven have mercy +on me! there's Loch Awe!!</span></p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>I thought it queer that you never looked at it.</p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>Looked at it? How could I look at it? I don't believe it was there. If +it was—from the hill-top I had eyes but for the Camp—the Tents and the Trees—and +"Thee the spirit of them all!" Let me have another eye-full—another +soul-full of the Loch. But 'twill never do to be losing time in this way. +Where's my creel—where's my creel?</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>On your shoulders—</p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>And my Book? Lost—lost—lost! Not in any one of all my pockets. I +shall go mad.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Not far to go. Why your Book's in your hand.</p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>At eight?</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Seven. Archy, follow him—In that state of excitement he will be walking +with his spectacles on over some precipice. Keep your eye on him, Archy—</p> + +<p>ARCHY.</p> + +<p>I can pretend to be carrying the landing-net, sir.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>There's a specimen of a Scottish Lawyer, gentlemen. What do you think +of him?</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>That he is without exception the most agreeable fellow, at first sight, I ever +met in my life.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>And so you would continue to think him, were you to see him twice a-week +for twenty years. But he is far more than that—though, as the world goes, +that is much: his mind is steel to the back-bone—his heart is sound as his +lungs—his talents great—in literature, had he liked it, he might have excelled; +but he has wisely chosen a better Profession—and his character now stands +high as a Lawyer and a Judge. Yonder he goes! As fresh as a kitten after +a score and three quarter miles at the least.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>Seward—let's after him. Billy—the minnows.</p> + +<p>BILLY.</p> + +<p>Here's the Can, sirs.</p> + +<p><i>Scene closes.</i></p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Scene II.</span></p> + +<p><i>Interior of Deeside.</i>—<span class="smcap">Time</span>—<i>Seven</i> <span class="smcap">p.m.</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">North—Talboys—Buller—Seward.</span></p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Seward, face Buller. Talboys, face North. Fall too, gentlemen; to-day we +dispense with regular service. Each man has his own distinct dinner before +him, or in the immediate vicinity—soup, fish, flesh, fowl—and with all necessary +accompaniments and sequences. How do you like the arrangement of +the table, Talboys?</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span></p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>The principle shows a profound knowledge of human nature, sir. In theory, +self-love and social are the same—but in practice, self-love looks to your own +plate—social to your neighbours. By this felicitous multiplication of dinners—this +One in Four—this Four in One—the harmony of the moral system is +preserved—and all works together for the general good. Looked at artistically, +we have here what the Germans and others say is essential to the beautiful +and the sublime—Unity.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>I believe the Four Dinners—if weighed separately—would be found not to +differ by a pound. This man's fish might prove in the scale a few ounces +heavier than that man's—but in such case, his fowl would be found just so +many ounces lighter. And so on. The Puddings are cast in the same mould—and +things equal to the same thing, are equal to one another.</p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>The weight of each repast?</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Calculated at twenty-five pounds.</p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>Grand total, one hundred. The golden mean.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>From these general views, to descend to particulars. Soup (turtle) two +pounds—Hotch, ditto—Fish (Trout) two pounds—Flesh, (Jigot—black face +five-year-old,) six pounds—Fowl (Howtowdie boiled) five pounds—Duck, +(wild) three pounds—Tart (gooseberry) one pound—Pud (Variorum Edition) +two pounds.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>That is but twenty-three, sir! I have taken down the gentleman's words.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Polite—and grateful. But you have omitted sauces and creams, breads +and cheeses. Did you ever know me incorrect in my figures, in any affirmation +or denial, private or public?</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>Never. Beg pardon.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Now that the soups and fishes seem disposed of, I boldly ask you, one and +all, gentlemen, if you ever beheld Four more tempting Jigots?</p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>I am still at my Fish. No fish so sweet as of one's own catching—so I +have the advantage of you all. This one here—the one I am eating at this +blessed moment—I killed in what the man with the Landing-net called the +Birk Pool. I know him by his peculiar physiognomy—an odd cast in his eye—which +has not left him on the gridiron. That Trout of my killing on your +plate, Mr Seward, made the fatal plunge at the tail of the stream so overhung +with Alders that you can take it successfully only by the tail—and I know him +by his colour, almost as silvery as a whitling. Yours, Mr Buller, was the +third I killed—just where the river—for a river he is to-day, whatever he may +be to-morrow—goes whirling into the Loch—and I can swear to him from his +leopard spots. Illustrious sir, of him whom you have now disposed of—the +finest of the Four—I remember saying inwardly, as with difficulty I encreeled +him—for his shoulders were like a hog's—this for the King.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Your perfect Pounder, Talboys, is the beau-ideal of a Scottish Trout. How +he cuts up! If much heavier—you are frustrated in your attempts to eat him +thoroughly—have to search—probably in vain—for what in a perfect Pounder +lies patent to the day—he is to back-bone comeatable—from gill to fork, +Seward, you are an artist. Good creel?</p> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>I gave Mr Talboys the first of the water, and followed him—a mere caprice—with +the Archimedean Minnow. I had a run—but just as the monster<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> +opened his jaws to absorb—he suddenly eschewed the scentless phenomenon, +and with a sullen plunge, sunk into the deep.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>I tried the natural minnow after Seward—but I wished Archimedes at Syracuse—for +the Screw had spread a panic—and in a panic the scaly people +lose all power of discrimination, and fear to touch a minnow, lest it turn up a +bit of tin or some other precious metal.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>I have often been lost in conjecturing how you always manage to fill your +creel, Talboys; for the truth is—and it must be spoken—you are no angler.</p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>I can afford to smile! I was no angler, sir, ten years ago—now I am. +But how did I become one? By attending you, sir—for seven seasons—along +the Tweed and the Yarrow, the Clyde and the Daer, the Tay and the Tummel, +the Don and the Dee—and treasuring up lessons from the Great Master +of the Art.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>You surprise me! Why, you never put a single question to me about the +art—always declined taking rod in hand—seemed reading some book or +other, held close to your eyes—or lying on banks a-dose or poetising—or +facetious with the Old Man—or with the Old Man serious—and sometimes +more than serious, as, sauntering along our winding way, we conversed of +man, of nature, and of human life.</p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>I never lost a single word you said, sir, during those days, breathing in every +sense "vernal delight and joy," yet all the while I was taking lessons in the +art. The flexure of your shoulder—the sweep of your arm—the twist of your +wrist—your Delivery, and your Recover—that union of grace and power—the +utmost delicacy, with the most perfect precision—All these qualities of a +heaven-born Angler, by which you might be known from all other men on the +banks of the Whittadder on a Fast-day——</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>I never angled on a Fast-day.</p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>A <i>lapsus linguæ</i>—From a hundred anglers on the Daer, on the Queen's +Birthday——</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>My dear Friend, you ex——</p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>All those qualities of a heaven-born Angler I learned first to admire—then +to understand—and then to imitate. For three years I practised on the carpet—for +three I essayed on a pond—for three I strove by the running waters—and +still the Image of Christopher North was before me—till emboldened +by conscious acquisition and constant success, I came forth and took my place +among the Anglers of my country.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>To-day I saw you fast in a tree.</p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>You mean my Fly.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>First your Fly, and then, I think, yourself.</p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>I have seen <i>Il Maestro</i> himself in Timber, and in brushwood too. From +him I learned to disentangle knots, intricate and perplexed far beyond the +Gordian—"with frizzled hair implicit"—round twig, branch, or bole. Not more +than half-a-dozen times of the forty that I may have been fast aloft—I speak +mainly of my noviciate—have I had to effect liberation by sacrifice.</p> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>Pardon me, Mr Talboys, for hinting that you smacked off your tail-fly +to-day—I knew it by the sound.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span></p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>The sound! No trusting to an uncertain sound, Mr Seward. Oh! I did so +once—but intentionally—the hook had lost the barb—not a fish would it hold—so +I whipped it off, and on with a Professor.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>You lost one good fish in rather an awkward manner, Mr Talboys.</p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>I did—that metal minnow of yours came with a splash within an inch of +his nose—and no wonder he broke me—nay, I believe it was the minnow +that broke me—and yet you can speak of <i>my</i> losing a good fish in rather an +awkward manner!</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>It is melancholy to think that I have taught young Scotland to excel +myself in all the Arts that adorn and dignify life. Till I rose, Scotland was +a barbarous country—</p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>Do say, my dear sir, semi-civilised.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Now it heads the Nations—and I may set.</p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>And why should that be a melancholy thought, sir?</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Oh, Talboys—National Ingratitude! They are fast forgetting the man +who made them what they are—in a few fleeting centuries the name of +Christopher North will be in oblivion! Would you believe it possible, +gentlemen, that even now, there are Scotsmen who never heard of the Fly +that bears the name of me, its Inventor—Killing Kit!</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>In Cornwall it is a household word.</p> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>And in all the Devons.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>Men in Scotland who never heard the name of North!</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Christopher North—who is he? Who do you mean by the Man of the +Crutch?—The Knight of the Knout? Better never to have been born than +thus to be virtually dead.</p> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>Sir, be comforted—you are under a delusion—Britain is ringing with your +name.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Not that I care for noisy fame—but I do dearly love the still.</p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>And you have it, sir—enjoy it and be thankful.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>But it may be too still.</p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>My dear sir, what would you have?</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>I taught you, Talboys, to play Chess—and now you trumpet Staunton.</p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>Chess—where's the board? Let us have a game.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Drafts—and you quote Anderson and the Shepherd Laddie.</p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>Mr North, why so querulous?</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Where was the Art of Criticism? Where Prose? Young Scotland owes all +her Composition to me—buries me in the earth—and then claims inspiration +from heaven. "How sharper than a Serpent's tooth it is to have a thankless<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> +Child!" Peter—Peterkin—Pym—Stretch—where are your lazinesses—clear +decks.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Away with Melancholy—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Nor doleful changes ring<br /></span> +<span class="i0">On Life and human Folly,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But merrily, merrily sing—fal la!"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>What a sweet pipe! A single snatch of an old song from you, sir—</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Why are you glowering at me, Talboys?</p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>It has come into my head, I know not how, to ask you a question.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Let it be an easy one—for I am languid.</p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>Pray, sir, what is the precise signification of the word "Classical?"</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>My dear Talboys, you seem to think that I have the power of answering, +off-hand, any and every question a first-rate fellow chooses to ask me. Classical—classical! +Why, I should say, in the first place—One and one other +Mighty People—Those, the Kings of Thought—These, the Kings of the +Earth.</p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>The Greeks—and Romans.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>In the second place—</p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>Attend—do attend, gentlemen. And I hope I am not too much presuming +on our not ancient friendship—for I feel that a few hours on Lochawe-side +give the privilege of years—in suggesting that you will have the goodness to +use the metal nut-crackers; they are more euphonious than ivory with walnuts.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>In the second place—let me consider—Mr Talboys—I should say—in the +second place—yes, I have it—a Character of Art expressing itself by words: +a mode—a mode of Poetry and Eloquence—<span class="smcap">Fitness and Beauty</span>.</p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>Thank you, sir. Fitness and Beauty. Anything more?</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Much more. We think of the Greeks and Romans, sir, as those in whom +the Human Mind reached Superhuman Power.</p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>Superhuman?</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>We think so—comparing ourselves with them, we cannot help it. In the +Hellenic Wit, we suppose Genius and Taste met at their height—the Inspiration +Omnipotent—the Instinct unerring! The creations of Greek Poetry!—Ποιησις—a +Making! There the soul seems to be free from its chains—happily +self-lawed. "The Earth we pace" is there peopled with divine Forms. Sculpture +was the human Form glorified—deified. And as in Marble, so in Song. +Something common—terrestrial—adheres to <i>our</i> being, and weighs <i>us</i> down. +They—the Hellenes—appear to us to have <i>really</i> walked—as we walk in our +visions of exaltation—as if the Graces and the Muses held sway over daily +and hourly existence, and not alone over work of Art and solemn occasion. +No moral stain or imperfection can hinder them from appearing to us as the +Light of human kind. Singular, that in Greece we reconcile ourselves to +Heathenism.</p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>It may be that we are all Heathens at heart.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>The enthusiast adores Greece—not knowing that Greece monarchies over<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> +him, only because it is a miraculous mirror that resplendently and more beautifully +reflects—himself—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i14">"Divisque videbit<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Permixtos Heroas, et <span class="smcap">Ipse</span>, videbitur illis."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>Very fine.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>O life of old, and long, long ago! In the meek, solemn, soul-stilling hush of +Academic Bowers!</p> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>The Isis!</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>My youth returns. Come, spirits of the world that has been! Throw open +the valvules of these your shrines, in which you stand around me, niched side +by side, in visible presence, in this cathedral-like Library! I read Historian, +Poet, Orator, Voyager—a life that slid silently away in shades, or that +bounded like a bark over the billows. I lift up the curtain of all ages—I stand +under all skies—on the Capitol—on the Acropolis. Like that magician whose +spirit, with a magical word, could leave his own bosom to inhabit another, I +take upon myself every mode of existence. I read Thucydides, and I would +be a Historian—Demosthenes, and I would be an Orator—Homer, and I dread +to believe myself called to be, in some shape or other, a servant of the Muse. +Heroes and Hermits of Thought—Seers of the Invisible—Prophets of the +Ineffable—Hierophants of profitable mysteries—Oracles of the Nations—Luminaries +of that spiritual Heaven! I bid ye, hail!</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>The fit is on him—he has not the slightest idea that he is in Deeside.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Ay—from the beginning a part of the race have separated themselves from +the dusty, and the dust-devoured, turmoil of Action to Contemplation. Have +thought—known—worshipped! And such knowledge Books keep. Books +now crumbling like Towers and Pyramids—now outlasting them! Books that, +from age to age, and all the sections of mankind helping, build up the pile of +Knowledge—a trophied Citadel. He who can read Books as they should be +read, peruses the operation of the Creator in his conscious, and in his unconscious +Works, which yet we call upon to join, as if conscious, in our worship. +Yet why—oh! why all this pains to attain that, through the labour of ages, +which in the dewy, sunny prime of morn, one thrill of transport gives to me +and to the Lark alike, summoning, lifting both heavenwards? Ah! perchance +because the dewy, sunny prime does not last through the day! Because light +poured into the eyes, and sweet breath inhaled, are not the whole of man's life +here below—and because there is an Hereafter!</p> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>I know where he is, Buller. He called it well a Cathedral-like Library.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>The breath of departed years floats here for my respiration. The pure air +of heaven flows round about, but enters not. The sunbeams glide in, bedimmed +as if in some haunt half-separated from Life, yet on our side of Death. +Recess, hardly accessible—profound—of which I, the sole inmate, held under +an uncomprehended restraint, breathe, move, and follow my own way and +wise, apart from human mortals! Ye! tall, thick Volumes, that are each a +treasure-house of austere or blazing thoughts, which of you shall I touch with +sensitive fingers, of which violate the calmly austere repose? I dread what I +desire. You may disturb—you may destroy me! Knowledge <i>pulsates</i> in me, +as I receive it, communing with myself on my unquiet or tearful pillow—or as +it visits me, brought on the streaming moonlight, or from the fields afire with +noon-splendour, or looking at me from human eyes, and stirring round and +around me in the tumult of men—Your knowledge comes in a holy stillness and +chillness, as if spelt off tombstones.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span></p> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>Magdalen College Library, I do believe. Mr North—Mr North—awake—awake—here +we are all in Deeside.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Ay—ay—you say well, Seward. "Look at the studies of the Great +Scholar, and see from how many quarters of the mind impulses may mingle +to compose the motives that bear him on with indefatigable strength in his +laborious career."</p> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>These were not my very words, sir—</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Ay, Seward, you say well. From how many indeed! First among the +prime, that peculiar aptitude and faculty, which may be called—a Taste and +Genius for—Words.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>I rather failed there in the Schools.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Yet you were in the First Class. There is implied in it, Seward, a readiness +of logical discrimination in the Understanding, which apprehends the +propriety of Words.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>I got up my Logic passably and a little more.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>For, Seward, the Thoughts, the Notions themselves—must be distinctly +dissevered in the mind, which shall exactly apply to each Thought—Notion—its +appropriate sign, its own Word.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>You might as well have said "Buller"—for I beat Seward in my Logic.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>But even to this task, Seward, of rightly distinguishing the meaning of +Words, more than a mere precision of thinking—more than a clearness and +strictness of the intellectual action is requisite.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>And in Classics we were equal.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>You will be convinced of this, Buller, if you recollect what Words express. +The mind itself. For all its affections and sensibilities, Talboys, furnish +a whole host of meanings, which must have names in Language. For +mankind do not rest from enriching and refining their languages, until they +have made them capable of giving the representation of their whole Spirit.</p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>The pupil of language, therefore, sir—pardon my presumption—before he +can recognise the appropriation of the Sign, must recognise the Thing signified?</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>And if the Thing signified, Talboys, by the Word, be some profound, solemn, +and moral affection—or if it be some wild, fanciful impression—or if it be +some delicate shade or tinge of a tender sensibility—can anything be more +evident than that the Scholar must have experienced in himself the solemn, +or the wild, or the tenderly delicate feeling before he is in the condition of +affixing the right and true sense to the Word that expresses it?</p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>I should think so, sir.</p> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>The Words of Man paint the spirit of Man. The Words of a People +depicture the Spirit of a People.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Well said, Seward. And, therefore, the Understanding that is to possess +the Words of a language, in the Spirit in which they were or are spoken and +written, must, by self-experience and sympathy, be able to converse, and +have conversed, with the Spirit of the People, now and of old.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span></p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>And yet what coarse fellows hold up their dunderheads as Scholars, forsooth, +in these our days!</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Hence it is an impossibility that a low and hard moral nature should furnish +a high and fine Scholar. The intellectual endowments must be supported +and made available by the concurrence of the sensitive nature—of the moral +and the imaginative sensibilities.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>What moral and imaginative sensibilities have they—the blear-eyed—the +purblind—the pompous and the pedantic! But we have some true scholars—for +example——</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>No names, Buller. Yes, Seward, the knowledge of Words is the Gate of +Scholarship. Therefore I lay down upon the threshold of the Scholar's +Studies this first condition of his high and worthy success, that he will not +pluck the loftiest palm by means of acute, quick, clear, penetrating, sagacious, +intellectual faculties alone—let him not hope it: that he requires to the +highest renown also a capacious, profound, and tender soul.</p> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>Ay, sir, and I say so in all humility, this at the gateway, and upon the +threshold. How much more when he <i>reads</i>.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Ay, Seward, you laid the emphasis well there—<i>reads</i>.</p> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>When the written Volumes of Mind from different and distant ages of the +world, from its different and distant climates, are successively unrolled before +his insatiable sight and his insatiable soul!</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>Take all things in moderation.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>No—not the sacred hunger and thirst of the soul.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>Greed—give—give.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>From what unknown recesses, from what unlocked fountains in the depth +of his own being, shall he bring into the light of day the thoughts by means +of which he shall understand Homer, Pindar, Æschylus, Demosthenes, Plato, +Aristotle—<span class="smcap">DISCOURSING</span>! Shall understand them, as the younger did the +elder—the contemporaries did the contemporaries—as each sublime spirit +understood—himself?</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>Did each sublime spirit always understand himself?</p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>Urge that, Mr Buller.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>So—and so only—to read, is to be a Scholar.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>Then I am none.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>I did not say you were.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>Thank you. What do you think of that, Mr Talboys? Address Seward, +sir.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>I address you all three. Is the student smitten with the sacred love of +Song? Is he sensible to the profound allurement of philosophic truth? Does +he yearn to acquaint himself with the fates and fortunes of his kind? All +these several desires are so many several inducements of learned study.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>I understand that.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span></p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>Ditto.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>And another inducement to such study is—an ear sensible to the Beauty of +the Music of Words—and the metaphysical faculty of unravelling the causal +process which the human mind followed in imparting to a Word, originally +the sign of one Thought only, the power to signify a cognate second Thought, +which shall displace the first possessor and exponent, usurp the throne, and +rule for ever over an extended empire in the minds, or the hearts, or the +souls of men.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>Let him have his swing, Mr Talboys.</p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>He has it in that chair.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>A Taste and a Genius for Words! An ear for the beautiful music of Words! +A happy justness in the perception of their strict proprieties! A fine skill in +apprehending the secret relations of Thought with Thought—relations along +which the mind moves with creative power, to find out for its own use, and +for the use of all minds to come, some hitherto uncreated expression of an +idea—an image—a sentiment—a passion! These dispositions, and these +faculties of the Scholar in another Mind falling in with other faculties of +genius, produce a student of a different name—<span class="smcap">The Poet</span>.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>Oh! my dear dear sir, of Poetry we surely had enough—I don't say more +than enough—a few days ago, sir.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Who is the Poet?</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>I beseech you let the Poet alone for this evening.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Well—I will. I remember the time, Seward, when there was a great clamour +for a Standard of Taste. A definite measure of the indefinite!</p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>Which is impossible.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>And there is a great clamour for a Standard of Morals. A definite measure +of the indefinite!</p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>Which is impossible.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Why, gentlemen, the Faculty of Beauty <i>lives</i>; and in finite beings, which +we are, Life changes incessantly. The Faculty of Moral Perception <i>lives</i>—and +thereby it too changes for better and for worse. This is the Divine Law—at +once encouraging and fearful—that Obedience brightens the moral eyesight—Sin +darkens. Let all men know this, and keep it in mind always—that +a single narrowest, simplest Duty, steadily practised day after day, does more +to support, and may do more to enlighten the soul of the Doer, than a course of +Moral Philosophy taught by a tongue which a soul compounded of Bacon, +Spenser, Shakspeare, Homer, Demosthenes, and Burke—to say nothing of +Socrates, and Plato, and Aristotle, should inspire.</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>You put it strongly, sir.</p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>Undeniable doctrine.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Gentlemen, you will often find this question—"Is there a Standard of +Taste?" inextricably confused with the question "Is there a true and a false +Taste?" He who denies the one seems to deny the other. In like manner, +"Is there a Right and Wrong?" And "is there accessible to us an infallible<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> +measure of Right and Wrong" are two questions entirely distinct, but often +confused—for Logic fled the earth with Astræa.</p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>She did.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Talboys, you understand well enough the sense and culture of the Beautiful?</p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>Something of it perhaps I do.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>To feel—to love—to be swallowed up in the spirit and works of the Beautiful—in +verse and in the visible Universe! That is a life—an enthusiasm—a +worship. You find those who would if they could, and who pretend they can, +attain the same end at less cost. They have taken lessons, and they will +have their formalities go valid against the intuitions of the dedicated soul.</p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>But the lessons perish—the dedicated soul is a Power in all emergencies and +extremities.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>There are Pharisees of Beauty—and Pharisees of Morality.</p> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>At this day spiritual Christians lament that nine-tenths of Christians +Judaise.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Nor without good reason. The Gospel is the Standard of Christian +Morality. That is unquestionable. It is an authority without appeal, and +under which undoubtedly all matters, uncertain before, will fall. But pray +mark this—it is not a <i>positive standard</i>, in the ordinary meaning of that word—it +is not one of which our common human understanding has only to require +and to obtain the indications—which it has only to apply and observe.</p> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>I see your meaning, sir. The Gospel refers all moral intelligence to the +Light of Love within our hearts. Therefore, the very reading of the canons, +of every prescriptive line in it, must be by this light.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>That is my meaning—but not my whole meaning, dear Seward. For take +it, as it unequivocally declares itself to be, a Revelation—not simply of instruction, +committed now and for ever to men in written human words, and +so left—but accompanied with a perpetual agency to enable Will and Understanding +to receive it; and then it will follow, I believe, that it is at every +moment intelligible and applicable in its full sense, only by a direct and present +inspiration—is it too much to say—anew revealing itself? "They shall +be taught of God."</p> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>So far, then, from the Christian Morality being one of which the Standard +is applicable by every Understanding, with like result in given cases, it is one +that is different to every Christian in proportion to his obedience?</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Even so. I suppose that none have ever reached the full understanding of +it. It is an evergrowing illumination—a light more and more unto the perfect +day—which day I suppose cannot be of the same life, in which we see as +through a glass darkly.</p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>May I offer an illustration? The land shall descend to the eldest son—you +shall love your neighbour as yourself. In the two codes these are foundation-stones. +But see how they differ! There is the land—here is the eldest +son—the right is clear and fast—and the case done with. But—do to thy +neighbour! Do what? and to whom?</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>All human actions, all human affections, all human thoughts are then contained +in the one Law—as the <i>subject</i> of which it defines the disposal. All mankind,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> +but distributed into communities, and individuals all differently related to me +are contained in it, as the parties in respect of whom it defines the disposal!</p> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>And what is the Form? Do as thou wouldst it be done to thee!</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Ay—my dear friend—The form resolves into a feeling. Love thy neighbour. +That is all. Is a measure given? As thyself.</p> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>And is there no limitation?</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>By the whole apposition, thy love to thyself and thy neighbour are both +to be put together in subordination to, and limitation and regulation by—thy +Love to God. Love Him utterly—infinitely—with all thy mind, all thy heart, +all thy strength. This is the entire book or canon—<span class="smcap">the Standard</span>. How +wholly indefinite and formless, to the Understanding! How full of light +and form to the believing and loving Heart!</p> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>The Moon is up—how calm the night after all that tempest—and how +steady the Stars! Images of enduring peace in the heart of nature—and of +man. They, too, are a Revelation.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>They, too, are the legible Book of God. Try to conceive how different the +World must be to its rational inhabitant—with or without a Maker! Think +of it as a soulless—will-less World. In one sense, it abounds as much with +good to enjoy. But there is no good-giver. The banquet spread, but the +Lord of the Mansion away. The feast—and neither grace nor welcome. The +heaped enjoyment, without the gratitude.</p> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>Yet there have been Philosophers who so misbelieved!</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Alas! there have been—and alas! there are. And what low souls must be +theirs! The tone and temper of our feelings are determined by the objects with +which we habitually converse. If we see beautiful scenes, they impart serenity—if +sublime scenes, they elevate us. Will no serenity, no elevation come +from contemplating Him, of whose Thought the Beautiful and the Sublime are +but shadows!</p> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>No sincere or elevating influence be lost out of a World out of which He +is lost?</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p><i>Now</i> we look upon Planets and Suns, and see Intelligence ruling them—on +Seasons that succeed each other, we apprehend Design—on plant and +animal fitted to its place in the world, and furnished with its due means of +existence, and repeated for ever in its kind—and we admire Wisdom. Oh! +Atheist or Sceptic—what a difference to Us if the marvellous Laws are here +without a Lawgiver—If Design be here without a Designer—all the Order +that wisdom could mean and effect, and not the Wisdom—if Chance, or +Necessity, or Fate reigns here, and not Mind—if this Universe is matter of +Astonishment merely, and not of adoration!</p> + +<p>SEWARD.</p> + +<p>We are made better, nobler, sir, by the society of the good and the noble. +Perhaps of ourselves unable to think high thoughts, and without the bold +warmth that dares generously, we catch by degrees something of the mounting +spirit, and of the ardour proper to the stronger souls with whom we live familiarly, +and become sharers and imitators of virtues to which we could not +have given birth. The devoted courage of a leader turns his followers into +heroes—the patient death of one martyr inflames in a thousand slumbering +bosoms a zeal answerable to his own. And shall Perfect Goodness contemplated +move no goodness in us? Shall His Holiness and Purity raise in us no +desire to be holy and pure?—His infinite Love towards His creatures kindle +no spark of love in us towards our fellow-creatures!</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span></p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>God bless you, my dear Seward—but you speak well. Our fellow-creatures! +The name, the binding title, dissolves in air, if He be not our common Creator. +Take away that bond of relationship among men, and according to circumstances +they confront one another as friends or foes—but Brothers no longer—if +not children of one celestial Father.</p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>And if they no longer have immortal souls!</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>Oh! my friends—if this winged and swift life be all our life, what a mournful +taste have we had of possible happiness? We have, as it were, from some +dark and cold edge of a bright world, just looked in and been plucked away +again! Have we come to experience pleasure by fits and glimpses; but intertwined +with pain, burdensome labour, with weariness, and with indifference? +Have we come to try the solace and joy of a warm, fearless, and confiding +affection, to be then chilled or blighted by bitterness, by separation, by change +of heart, or by the dread sunderer of loves—Death? Have we found the +gladness and the strength of knowledge, when some rays of truth have +flashed in upon our souls, in the midst of error and uncertainty, or amidst continuous, +necessitated, uninstructive avocations of the Understanding—and is +that all? Have we felt in fortunate hour the charm of the Beautiful, that +invests, as with a mantle, this visible Creation, or have we found ourselves +lifted above the earth by sudden apprehension of sublimity? Have we had +the consciousness of such feelings, which have seemed to us as if they might +themselves make up a life—almost an angel's life—and were they "instant +come and instant gone?" Have we known the consolation of <span class="smcap">Doing Right</span>, +in the midst of much that we have done wrong? and was that also a corruscation +of a transient sunshine? Have we lifted up our thoughts to see Him +who is Love, and Light, and Truth, and Bliss, to be in the next instant +plunged into the darkness of annihilation? Have all these things been but +flowers that we have pulled by the side of a hard and tedious way, and that, +after gladdening us for a brief season with hue and odour, wither in our +hands, and are like ourselves—nothing?</p> + +<p>BULLER.</p> + +<p>I love you, sir, better and better every day.</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>We step the earth—we look abroad over it, and it seems immense—so does +the sea. What ages had men lived—and knew but a small portion. They circumnavigate +it now with a speed under which its vast bulk shrinks. But let the +astronomer lift up his glass and he learns to believe in a total mass of matter, +compared with which this great globe itself becomes an imponderable grain +of dust. And so to each of us walking along the road of life, a year, a day, +or an hour shall seem long. As we grow older, the time shortens; but when +we lift up our eyes to look beyond this earth, our seventy years, and the few +thousands of years which have rolled over the human race, vanish into a point; +for then we are measuring Time against Eternity.</p> + +<p>TALBOYS.</p> + +<p>And if we can find ground for believing that this quickly-measured span of +Life is but the beginning—the dim daybreak of a Life immeasurable, never +attaining to its night—what <i>weight</i> shall we any longer allow to the cares, +fears, toils, troubles, afflictions—which here have sometimes bowed down our +strength to the ground—a burden more than we could bear?</p> + +<p>NORTH.</p> + +<p>They then all acquire a new character. That they are then felt as transitory +must do something towards lightening their load. But more is disclosed +in them; for they then appear as having an unsuspected worth and use. If +this life be but the beginning of another, then it may be believed that the +accidents and passages thereof have some bearing upon the conditions of that +other, and we learn to look on this as a state of Probation. Let us out, and +look at the sky.</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="THE_ISLAND_OF_SARDINIA1" id="THE_ISLAND_OF_SARDINIA1">THE ISLAND OF SARDINIA.</a><a name="FNanchor_1" id="FNanchor_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a></h2> + + +<p>The opinion of Nelson with regard +to the importance of Sardinia,—that +it is "worth a hundred Maltas," +is well known; and that he strongly +recommended its purchase to our government, +thinking it might be obtained +for £500,000. We can scarcely +believe that Nelson failed to make an +impression on the government, and conjecture +rather that it was with the King +of Sardinia the precious inheritance +of a Naboth's vineyard. We do not +remember to have met with a Sardinian +tourist. Travellers as we are, +with our ready "Hand-Books" for +the remote corners of the earth, we +seem, by a general consent, to have +cut Sardinia from the map of observable +countries. "Nos numerus sumus"—we +plead guilty to this ignorance +and neglect, and should have remained +unconcerned about Sardinia still, +had we not, in the work of Mr Tyndale, +dipped into a few extracts from Lord +Nelson's letters. Extending our reading, +we find in these three volumes +so much research, learning, historical +speculation, and interesting matter, +interspersed with amusing narrative, +that we think a notice in Maga of this +valuable and agreeable work may be +not unacceptable.</p> + +<p>The very circumstance that Sardinia +is little known, renders it an +agreeable speculation. The <i>ignotum</i> +makes the charm. Our pleasure is in +the fabulous, the dubious, the unexplained. +In the ecstacy of ignorance +the reader stands by the side of Mr +Layard, watching the exhumation of +the unknown gods or demons of Nineveh. +"Ignorance is bliss,"—for the +subject-matter of ignorance is fact—fact +isolated—or the broken links in +time's long chain. The mind longs +to fabricate, and connect. Were it possible +that other sibylline books should +be offered for sale, it would be preferable +that Mr Murray should act the +part of Tarquin than publish them as +"Hand-Books." In truth, curiosity, +that happy ingredient in the clay of +the human mind, if so material an expression +be allowed, is fed by ignorance, +but dies under a surfeit of +knowledge. Now, to apply this to +our subject—Sardinia. The island is +full of monuments, as mysterious to +us as the Pyramids. There is sufficient +obscurity to make a "sublime." +It is happy for the reader, who has +not lost his natural propensity to wonder, +that there is so little known respecting +them, and yet such grounds +for conjecture; for he may be sure +that, if any documents existed anywhere, +Mr Tyndale would have discovered +them, for he is the most +indefatigable of authors in exploring +in all the mines of literature. But he +has to treat of things that were before +literature was. The traveller +who should first discover a Stonehenge—one +who, walking on a hitherto +untrodden plain, should come suddenly +upon two such great sedate +sitting images in stone as look over +Egyptian sands—is he not greatly to be +envied? We, who peer about our cities +and villages, raking out decayed stone +and mortar for broken pieces of antique +art or memorial, as we facetiously +term the remnants of a few hundred +years, and of whose "whereabouts," +from the beginning, we can receive +some tolerable assurance, have but a +slight glimpse of the delight experienced +by the first finder of a monument +of the Pelasgi, or even Cyclopean +walls. But to make conjecture upon +monuments beyond centuries—to +count by thousands of years, and +make out of them a dream that shall, +like an Arabian magician, take the +dreamer back to the Flood—is a +happiness enjoyed by few. We +never envied traveller more than +we once did that lady who came +suddenly upon the Etrurian monument, +in which there was just aperture +enough to see for a moment only a +sitting figure, with its look and drapery +of more than thousands of years; who +just saw it for a few seconds, preserved +only in the stillness of antiquity, +and falling to dust at her very breathing. +Not so ancient the monument, +but of like character the dis<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span>covery +of him who, digging within +the walls of his own house at Portici, +came upon marble steps that led him +down and down, till he found before +him, in the obscure, a white marble +equestrian statue the size of life. If +one could be <i>made</i> a poet, these two +incidents were enough. The interior +of Sardinia has been hitherto a kind of +"terra incognita." Mr Tyndale must +therefore have ascended and descended +its craggy or wooded mountains, and +threaded its ravines, and crossed its +fertile or desolate plains, with no common +feeling of expectation; and though +the frequent "Noraghe" and "Sepolture +de is Gigantes," and their accompanying +strange conical stones, were +not of a character to fill him with that +amazement produced by the above-mentioned +incidents, they were sufficiently +mysterious, and the attempt +to reach them in some instances sufficiently +adventurous—to keep alive the +mind, and stir the imagination to the +working out visions, and conjuring up +the seeming-probable existences of the +past, or wilder dreams, in such variety +as reason deduced or fancy willed. +On one occasion he descended an aperture, +in a domed chamber of a Noraghe, +groped his way through a subterranean +passage, and came upon some finely-pulverised +matter, "about fifteen +inches deep, which at first appeared +to be earth, but on scraping into it +were several human bones, some broken +and others mouldering away on being +touched." But here the reader unacquainted +with Sardinia, as it may be +presumed very many are, may ask +something about these Noraghe, with +their domed chambers, and the Sepolture. +There may be a preliminary +inquiry into the origin of the inhabitants. +Various are the statements of +different authors: without following +chronological order, we may readily +concur in their conclusions, that the +island was peopled by Phœnician, Libyan, +Tyrrhenian, Greek, Trojan, and +other colonies—unless the disquisitions +of some historians of our day +would compel us to reject the Trojans, +in the doubt as to the existence of +Troy itself. But many of these may +have been only partial, temporary +immigrations, which found a people in +prior possession. The argument is +strongly in favour of the supposition +that the Sarde nation are of Phœnician +origin, and that its antiquities are +Phœnician, or of a still earlier epoch. +In descending to more historic times, +we find the Carthaginians exercising +influence there as early as 700 +<span class="smcap">B.C.</span>, and that the island suffered +severely from the alternate sway of the +rival powers of Rome and Carthage. +And here we are disposed to rest, +utterly disinclined to follow the labyrinth +of cruelties which the history of +every people, nation, and language +under the sun presents.</p> + +<p>If, at least for the present moment, +a disgust of history is a disqualification +for the notice of such a work +as this before us, the reader must be +referred to the book itself at once; +but there are in it so many subjects of +interest, both as to customs, manners, +and some characters that shine out +from the dark pages of history here +and there, that we venture on, not +careful of the thread, but with a purpose +of taking it up, wherever there +may be a promise of amusement. +There is little pleasure in recording +how many hundreds of thousands were +put to the sword by Carthaginians, +Romans, and, subsequently, Vandals +and Goths; nor the various tyrannies +arising out of contests for the possession +of the island, which have been +continually inflicted upon the people +by the European powers of Christian +times. Mankind never did, and it +may be supposed never will, let each +other alone. We are willing to believe +that peace and security, for +any continuance, is not for man on +earth, and that his nature requires +this universal stirring activity of aggression +and defence, for the development +of his powers—and that out of +this evil comes good. Where would +be virtue without suffering? Yet we +are not always in the humour to sit +out the tragedy of human life. There +are moments when the present and +real troubles of our own times press +too heavily on the spirits, and we +shrink from the scrutiny of past results, +through a dread of a similar +future, and gladly seek relief from +bitter truths in lighter speculations. +In such a humour we confess a dislike +to biography, in which kind of reading +the future does cast its dark shadow +before, and we are constantly haunted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> +by the ghost of the last pages, amid +the earnest pursuits and perhaps +gaieties of the first. But what that +last page of biography is, we find +nearly every page of history to be, +only far sadder, and far more cruel. +The man's tale may tell us that at least +he died in his bed; but history draws +up the curtain at every act, presenting +to the unquiet sight, scenes of wholesale +tortures, poisonings, slaughters, +and fields of unburied and mutilated +carcases.</p> + +<p>It is time to say something of these +monuments of great antiquity, the +Noraghe, and what they are, before +speculating upon who built them. We +extract the following account, unable +to make it more concise:—</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>"All are built on natural or artificial +mounds, whether in valleys, plains, or on +mountains, and some are partially enclosed +at a slight distance, by a low wall of a +similar construction to the building. +Their essential architectural feature is a +truncated cone or tower, averaging from +thirty to sixty feet in height, and from +one hundred to three hundred in circumference +at the base. The majority have +no basement, but the rest are raised on +one extending either in corresponding or +in irregular shape, and of which the perimeter +varies from three hundred to six +hundred and fifty-three feet, the largest +yet measured. The inward inclination +of the exterior wall of the principal tower, +which almost always is the centre of the +building, is so well executed as to present, +in its elevation, a perfect and continuously +symmetrical line; but sometimes +a small portion of the external face +of the outer-works of the basements, +which are not regular, is straight and +perpendicular: such instances are, however, +very rare. There is every reason +to believe, though without positive proof—for +none of the Noraghe are quite perfect—that +the cone was originally truncated, +and formed thereby a platform on +its summit. The material of which they +are built being always the natural stone +of the locality, we accordingly find them +of granite, limestone, basalt, trachyte porphyry, +lava, and tufa; the blocks varying +in shape and size from three to nine cubic +feet, while those forming the architraves +of the passages are sometimes twelve feet +long, five feet wide, and the same in +depth. The surfaces present that slight +irregularity which proves the blocks to +have been rudely worked by the hammer, +but with sufficient exactness to form regular +horizontal layers. With few exceptions, +the stones are not polygonal, but, +when so, are without that regularity of +form which would indicate the use of the +rule; nor is their construction of the Cyclopean +and Pelasgic styles; neither have +they any sculpture, ornamental work, or +cement. The external entrance, invariably +between the E.S.E. and S. by W., +but generally to the east of south, seldom +exceeds five feet high and two feet wide, +and is often so small as to necessitate +crawling on all fours. The architrave, as +previously mentioned, is very large; but +having once passed it, a passage varying +from three to six feet high, and two to +four wide, leads to the principal domed +chamber, the entrance to which is sometimes +by another low aperture as small as +the first. The interior of the cone consists +of one, two, or three domed chambers, +placed one above the other, and diminishing +in size in proportion to the external +inclination; the lowest averaging +from fifteen to twenty feet in diameter, +and from twenty to twenty-five in height. +The base of each is always circular, but, +when otherwise, elliptical; the edges of +the stones, where the tiers overlay each +other, are worked off, so that the exterior +assumes a semi-ovoidal form, or that of +which the section would be a parabola, +the apex being crowned with a large flat +stone, resting on the last circular layer, +which is reduced to a small diameter." +"In the interior of the lowest chamber, +and on a level with the floor, are frequently +from two to four cells or niches, +formed in the thickness of the masonry +without external communication, varying +from three to six feet long, two to four +wide, and two to five high, and only accessible +by very small entrances. The +access to the second and third chambers, +as well as to the platform on the top of +those Noraghe which have only one +chamber, is by a spiral corridor made in +the building, either as a simple ramp, +with a gradual ascent, or with rough +irregular steps made in the stones. The +corridor varies from three to six feet in +height, and from two to four in width, +and the outer side either inclines according +to the external wall of the cone, and +the inner side according to the domed +chamber, or resembles in the section a +segment of a circle. The entrance to +this spiral corridor is generally in the +horizontal passage which leads from the +external entrance to the first-floor chamber +of the cone; though sometimes it is +by a small aperture in the chamber, about +six or eight feet from the base, and very +difficult of entry. The upper chambers +are entered by a small passage at right +angles to this corridor; and opposite to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> +this passage, is often a small aperture in +the outer wall, having apparently no regular +position, though frequently over the +external entrance to the ground floor; +while, in some instances, there are several +apertures so made that only the sky, or +most distant objects in the horizon, are +visible."</p></blockquote> + +<p>Such is the description of these +singular structures—when and by +whom built? Their number must have +been very great indeed; for although +there have ever been decay and abstraction +of the materials for common +purposes going on, there are now upwards +of three thousand in existence; +yet, not one has been built during the +last 2500 years. Not only is the +inquiry, by whom, and when were +they erected, but for what purpose? +On all these points, various opinions +have been given. Mr Tyndale, who +has well weighed all that has been +written on the subject, is of opinion +that they were built by the very early +Canaanites, when, expelled from their +country, they migrated to Sardinia. +There are visible indications of other +migrations of the Canaanites, but nowhere +are exactly, or even nearly +similar buildings found. We know, +upon the authority of Procopius, that +in Mauritania were two columns, on +which were inscribed in Phœnician characters, +"We are those who fled from +the face of Joshua, the robber, the son +of Nane." There is certainly a kind of +similarity between these buildings and +the round towers of Ireland—a subject +examined by our author; but +there is also a striking dissimilarity in +dimensions, they not being more than +from eight to fifteen feet in diameter. +But there is a tumulus on the banks +of the Boyne, between Drogheda and +Slane, which in its passages, domed +chambers, and general dimensions, +may find some affinity with the Sarde +Noraghe. It certainly is curious that +an opinion has been formed, not without +show of reason for the conjecture, +that these people, whether as Canaanites, +Phœnicians, or Carthaginians, +reached Ireland; and it is well known +that the single specimen of the Carthaginian +language, in a passage in +Plautus, is very intelligible Irish. +It has been observed that when Cato, +in the Roman senate, uttered those +celebrated and significant words, +"Delenda est Carthago," he was unconsciously +fulfilling a decree against +that denounced people. We should +be unwilling to trace the denunciation +further. There are, however, few things +more astonishing in history, than +that so powerful a people as the Carthaginians +were—the great rivals of +the masters of the world, should have +been apparently so utterly swept from +the face of the world, and nothing +left, even of their language, but those +few unintelligible (unless they be +Irish) words in Plautus.</p> + +<p>The "Sepolture de is Gigantes" +should also be here noticed.</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>"They may be described as a series of +large stones placed together without any +cement, enclosing a foss or vacuum, from +fifteen to thirty-six feet long, from three +to six wide, the same in depth, with +immense flat stones resting on them as +a covering; but though the latter are not +always found, it is evident, by a comparison +with the more perfect sepulture, that +they once existed, and have been destroyed +or removed. The foss runs invariably +from north-west to south-east; and at the +latter point is a large upright headstone, +averaging from ten to fifteen feet high, +varying in its form from the square, elliptical, +and conical, to that of three quarters +of an egg, and having in many instances +an aperture about eighteen inches +square at its base. On either side of this +still commences a series of separate stones, +irregular in size and shape, but forming +an arc, the chord of which varies from +twenty to forty feet, so that the whole +figure somewhat resembles the bow and +shank of a spear."</p></blockquote> + +<p>Their number must have been very +great. They are called sepulchres of +giants by the Sardes, who believe that +giants were buried within them. There +is no doubt that these Sepolture and +Noraghe were works of one and the +same people. Mr Tyndale thinks, if +the one kind of structure were tombs, +so were the other: we should draw a +different conclusion from their general +contiguity to each other. It should +be mentioned, that in the Noraghe +have been found several earthenware +figures, which are described in La +Marmora's work as Phœnician idols. +There is another very remarkable object +of antiquity—"a row of six conical +stones near the Sepoltura, standing +in a straight line, a few paces apart +from each other, with the exception<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> +of one, which has been upset, and lies +on the ground, but in the sketch is +represented as standing. They are +about four feet eight inches high, of +two kinds, and have been designated +male and female, from three of them +having two globular projections from +the surface of the stone, resembling +the breasts of a woman." He meets +elsewhere with five others, there evidently +having been a sixth, but without +the above remarkable significance. +We know, from Herodotus, that columns +were set up with female emblems, +denoting the conquest over an +effeminate people, but can scarcely attribute +to these such a meaning, for +they are together of both kinds. For a +curious and learned dissertation upon +the subject of these antiquities, we +confidently refer the reader to Mr Tyndale's +book.</p> + +<p>After the mention of these singular +monuments, perhaps of three thousand +years ago, it may be scarcely worth +while to notice the antiquities of, comparatively +speaking, a modern date, +Roman or other. Nor do we intend +to speak of the history of the people +under the Romans or Carthaginians, +and but shortly notice that kind of +government under "Giudici," as +princes presiding over the several +provinces some centuries before the +Pisan, Genoese, and Aragon possession +of the island. The origin of this +government is involved in much obscurity; +there are, however, documents +of the eleventh and twelfth +centuries, which speak of preceding +Giudici, and their acts. It would be +idle to inquire why they were called +Giudici: it may suffice, that the +"judges" were the actual rulers.</p> + +<p>"It is supposed," says our author, +"that the whole island was originally +comprehended in one Giudicato, of +which Cagliari was the capital; but, +in the course of time, the local interests +of each grew sufficiently self-important +to cause a subdivision and +establishment of separate Giudicati." +The minor ones were in time swallowed +up by the others, and only four +remained, of which there is a precise +history, Cagliari, Arborea, Gallura, +and Logudoro.</p> + +<p>To us, the government of Giudicati +is interesting from its similarity to the +condition of England under the Heptarchy. +This similarity is traced +through its detail by Mr Tyndale. +The Giudici are mentioned as early as +598, though there is no account of any +direct succession till about 900. "In +both countries the ecclesiastics took a +leading part in the administration of +public affairs; and the hierarchy of +Sardinia was as sacred and honoured +as that of England, where, by the laws +of some of the provinces of the Heptarchy, +the price of the archbishop's +head was even higher than that of the +king's. It is unnecessary, though it +would be easy, to give further proofs +of similarity in the institutions of the +two countries; but those above are +sufficient to show their analogy, without +the appearance of there having +been the slightest connexion or communication +with each other, or derived +from the same origin." Perhaps +something may be attributed to the +long possession of both countries by +the Romans. We have not certainly +lost all trace of them in our own.</p> + +<p>The government of the Giudici was +not characterised by feudalism, before +the Pisan, Genoese, and Aragon influence. +It did, however, become +established in all its usual forms. +Feudalism has, however, been abolished +by the present reigning family; +and we trust, notwithstanding our +author's evident doubts and suspicious, +that the change will ultimately, if not +immediately, be for the happiness of +the Sardes. It requires a very intimate +knowledge of a people, of their +habits, their modes of thinking, their +character as a race, as well as their +character from custom, to say that +this or that form of government is best +suited to them.</p> + +<p>The constitution-mongering fancy +is a very mischievous one, and is +generally that of a very self-conceited +mind. There are some among us, in +high places, who have dabbled very +unsuccessfully that way; and there is +now enough going on in the state of +Europe to read them a good lesson. +Carlo Alberto is no great favourite +with Mr Tyndale; yet we are not +sure that he has not done more wisely +for Sardinia than if the barons had set +aside their "pride and ignorance," +and made such "spontaneous concessions" +as we find elsewhere have not +had very happy terminations. We<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> +conclude the following was written +prior to events which throw rather a +new light on the nature of constitutional +reforms, as they are called: +"In Hungary and Sicily the nobles, +with generous patriotism, voluntarily +conceded, not only privileges, but +pecuniary advantages, and the people +have reaped the benefit. In Sardinia, +the empty pride and ignorance of the +greater part of the feudal barons +always prevented such a spontaneous +concession." We beg Mr Tyndale to +reflect upon the peculiar <i>benefits</i> those +two happy people are now reaping. +A man cannot tell his own growth of +mind and character, how he comes to +be what he is; but he must have little +reflection indeed not to know, that, +under other circumstances than those +in which he has been placed, he must +have been a very different man, and +have required a very different kind of +self, or other government, to regulate +his own happiness. So institutions +grow—and so governments. Paper +changes are very pretty pieces for +declamation; but for sudden application, +and that to all, whatever their +condition in morals and knowledge, +they are but "σηματα λυγρα," and indicate +bloodshed.</p> + +<p>To return, however. We will not +dismiss the subject of the Giudici +without the mention of two persons +whose romantic histories are intimately +connected with Sardinian affairs. +The celebrated Enzio, illegitimate +son of the Emperor Frederick II. +and the Giudicessa Eleonora. More +than a century elapsed between these +two extraordinary characters; the +benefits conferred on Sardinia by the +latter may be said to still live in +some of the excellent laws which she +established.</p> + +<p>Enzio, not a Sarde by birth, by his +marriage with Adelasia, a widow, +Giudicessa of Torres, and Gallura, and +a part of Cagliari, came into possession +of those provinces, and soon, by +treaty and force of arms, became +powerful over the whole island. The +favourite son of Frederick II., as a +matter of course, he obtained the +enmity of Gregory IX., who had, by +this marriage, been foiled in his +schemes upon Sardinia, through a +marriage he contemplated between +Adelasia and one of his own relatives. +Enzio bore an illustrious part in the +warfare of those times, between the +Pope and the Emperor; and such was +his success, that, after his celebrated +engagement of the fleets near Leghorn, +and the capture of the prelates +who had been summoned from the +Empire to the Pope—to prevent whose +arrival this armament was undertaken—Pope +Gregory died in his hundredth +year, his disease having been greatly +aggravated by this disastrous event. +The quarrel was, however, continued +by his successor, Innocent IV., and +the fortune of events turned against +the Emperor. Enzio was taken prisoner +in an unsuccessful battle near +Modena, by the Bolognese, and was, +though handsomely treated, detained +captive twenty years, during which all +the members of his family quitted this +life. He consoled the hours of his +captivity by music and poetry, in +which he excelled, so as to have obtained +eminence as a poet amongst +the poets of Italy. But he enjoyed a +still sweeter solace. When he had +been led in triumph as prisoner into +Bologna, in his twenty-fifth year, so +early had he distinguished himself as +a warrior, the beauty of his person, +and the elegance of his deportment, +awakened in all the tenderest sympathies. +An accomplished maiden of +Bologna, Lucia Viadagoli, besides the +pity and admiration which all felt, entertained +for him the most ardent +passion; an intimacy ensued, and the +passion was as mutual as it was ardent. +From this connexion, as it is +said, arose the founder of the family +of Bentivoglio, who were, in after years, +the avengers of his sufferings, and +lords over the proud republic. He +had likewise obtained the devoted attachment +of a youth, Pietro Asinelli; +through this faithful friend, a plan was +laid down for his escape, which was +very nearly successful. He was carried +out in a tun, in which some excellent +wine for the King Enzio's use +had been brought. His friends Asinelli +and Rainerio de' Gonfalioneri were +waiting near, with horses for his escape, +when a lock of beautiful hair, +protruding from the barrel, was discovered, +either by a soldier, or, as +some say, a maid, or an old mad +woman, for accounts vary. Alarm was +given, and the prisoner rescued in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> +his place of confinement. Gonfalioneri +was arrested and executed; his friend +Asinelli escaped, but was banished +for life. Enzio died in this captivity +in the 47th year of his age, 15th +March 1272, on the anniversary of +his father the Emperor's death, ad +the saints' day of his beloved Lucia. +He was buried magnificently at the +expense of the republic. It might +have been recorded of him, that he +possessed every virtue, had not his +conduct to his wife left a stain on his +name. His early and ill-assorted marriage +may offer some excuse for one +who showed himself so amiable on all +other occasions. He had won and +governed Sardinia, and "conquered a +great part of Italy, at an age when the +vast majority of youths, even under the +most favourable circumstances, are +but beginning to aspire to glory and +active life; while, equally fitted for the +duties of a peaceful statesman, he was, +at the same early age, intrusted with +a highly important charge, and opposed +to the most subtle politicians."</p> + +<p>Should any future Hesiod meditate +another poem on illustrious women, +Eleonora of Sardinia will have a conspicuous +place among the "Ηοιαι." +This Giudicessa was born about the +middle of the fourteenth century. +Her father was Mariano IV., Giudice +of Arborea. She was married to +Brancaleone Doria, a man altogether +inferior to his wife. On the death of +her brother Ugone IV., a man worthy +of note, she assumed the government, +styling herself Giudicessa of Arborea, +in the name of her infant son; in this +she displayed a talent and vigour +superior even to her father.</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>"The first occasion on which her courage +and political sagacity were tried, was +on the murder of her brother Ugone, and +his daughter Benedetta, when the insurgents +sought to destroy the whole reigning +family, and to form themselves into a +republic. Perceiving the danger which +threatened the lives and rights of her +sons, and undismayed by the pusillanimous +conduct of her husband, who fled +for succour to the court of Aragon, she +promptly took the command in the state, +and placing herself in arms, at the head +of such troops as remained faithful, +speedily and entirely discomfited the +rebels. She lost no time in taking possession +of the territories and castles belonging +to the Giudici of Arborea, causing +all people to do homage, and swear fealty +to the young prince, her son; and wrote +to obtain assistance from the King of +Aragon, in restoring order in her Giudicato. +Brancaleone, encouraged by his +wife's intrepidity and success, asked permission +from the King of Aragon to return +to Sardinia with the promised auxiliaries; +but the king, alarmed at the high spirit +of the Giudicessa, prevented his departure, +and kept him in stricter confinement, +under pretence of conferring greater +honours on him. He was, however, at +last allowed to depart, under certain +heavy conditions, one of them being the +surrender of Frederic, his son, as a hostage +for the performance of a treaty then +commenced. On his arrival at Cagliari +in 1384, with the Aragonese army, he +repeatedly besought his wife to submit to +the king, in pursuance of the treaties. It +was in vain. Despising alike the pusillanimous +recommendation of her husband, +and the threats of the Aragonese general, +she for two years kept up a courageous +and successful warfare against the latter, +till having, by her exertions, acquired an +advantageous position, she commenced a +treaty with her enemy respecting the +sovereignty in dispute, and for the deliverance +of her husband, who, during the +whole of the time, was kept in close confinement +at Cagliari."</p></blockquote> + +<p>Finally, these terms of peace, so +honourable to her, were signed by +Don Juan I., who succeeded his +brother Pedro, who died in 1387.</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>"The peace was but ill kept, for Brancaleone, +when at liberty, and once more +under the influence of his high-minded +wife, regained his courage, and in 1390, +renewing the war more fiercely than ever, +he continued it for many years, without +the Kings of Aragon ever reducing Eleonora +to submission, or obtaining possession +of her dominions. She formed alliances +with Genoa, and, with the aid of +their fleet, took such vigorous measures +that nearly the whole of Logoduro was in +a short time subdued; while Brancaleone, +inspired by her example, reconquered Sassari, +the castle of Osilo, and besieged the +royal fortresses of Alghero and Chivia."</p></blockquote> + +<p>After this, Don Martino, who succeeded +his brother Don Juan I. of +Aragon, made peace, which secured +the prosperity and honour of Arborea +during the life of Eleonora. But this +extraordinary woman not only, in a +remarkable degree, exhibited the talents +of a great general, and the genius +of a consummate politician, but, for +that age, a wonderful forethought,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> +sagacity, and humanity, in the fabrication +of a code of laws for her people. +As Debora <i>judged</i> Israel, and the +people came to her for judgment, so +might it be said of Eleonora.</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>"The Carta di Logu, so called from its +being the code of laws in her own dominions, +had been commenced by her +father, Mariano IV., but being compiled, +finished, and promulgated by Eleonora, to +her is chiefly due the merit of the undertaking, +and the worthy title of enlightened +legislatrix. It was first published on +11th April 1395, and by its provisions, +the forms of legal proceedings and of +criminal law are established, the civil and +customary laws defined, those for the protection +of agriculture enjoined, the rights +and duties of every subject explained, +the punishments for offences regulated; +and, in these last provisions, when compared +with the cruelty of the jurisprudence +of that age, we are struck with the +humanity of the Carta de Logu, and its +superiority to the other institutions of +that period. The framing of a body of +laws so far in advance of those of other +countries, where greater civilisation existed, +must ever be the highest ornament +in the diadem of the Giudicessa. Its merits +were so generally felt, that, though intended +only for the use of the dominions subject +to her own sceptre, it was some years +after her death adopted throughout the +island, at a parliament held under Don +Alfonzo V., in 1421. This great princess +died of the plague in 1403 or 1404, regretted +by all her subjects."</p></blockquote> + +<p>Of the natural curiosities, the Antro +de Nettuno, a stalactitic grotto, about +twelve miles from Alghero, is one of +the most interesting. It was seen by +Mr Tyndale under very favourable +circumstances, he having been invited +by the civic authorities to visit +it in the suite of the King of Sardinia. +The Antro de Nettuno is +under the stupendous cliffs of Capo +Caccia, close to the little island of +Foradala. "In parts of the grotto +were corridors and galleries some 300 +or 400 feet long, reminding one, if the +comparison is allowable, of the Moorish +architecture of the Alhambra. One +of them terminates abruptly in a deep +cavern, into which we were prevented +descending." "Some of the columns, +in different parts of the grotto, are +from seventy to eighty feet in circumference, +and the masses of drapery, +drooping in exquisite elegance, are of +equally grand proportions."</p> + +<p>The coast of Alghero is noted for +the Pinna marina, of the mussel tribe, +whose bivalved shell frequently exceeds +two feet in length. As the +shark is accompanied by its pilot fish, +so is this huge mussel by a diminutive +shrimp, supposed to be appointed by +nature as a watchman, but in fact the +prey of the Pinna. The Pinna is fastened +by its hinges to the rock, and is +itself a prey to a most wily creature, +the Polypus octopodia. This crafty +creature may be seen, in fine weather, +approaching its victim with a pebble in +its claws, which it adroitly darts into +the aperture of the yawning shells, so +that the Pinna can neither shut itself +close, to pinch off the feelers of the +polypus, nor save itself from being +devoured. The tunny fishery is of +some importance to the Sardes. Mr +Tyndale was present at one of their +great days of operation, the Tonnara. +A large inclosure is artificially made, +into which the fish pass, when the +"portcullis" is let down, and a great +slaughter commences.</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>"Fears now began to be expressed +lest the wind, which had increased, should +make it too rough for the Mattanza, but, +while discussing it, a loud cry broke upon +us of 'Guarda sotto'—'look beneath.' The +ever watchful Rais, (commander,) whose +eye had never been off its victims, in a +moment had perceived by their movements +that they were making for the +Foratico, and, obeying his warning voice, +we all were immediately on our knees, +bending over the sides of the barges, to +watch the irruption, and, from the dead +silence and our position, it appeared as if +we were all at prayers. In less than two +minutes the shoal of nearly 500 had passed +through. The well-known voice shouted +out 'Ammorsella'—'let down the portcullis,'—down +it went amid the general and +hearty cheers of all present; and the +fatal Foratico, into which 'Lasciate ogni +speranza voi che entrate,' was for ever +closed on them."</p></blockquote> + +<p>Whatever foundation there may be +for conjecture as to the origin of the +races, and extent of Phœnician migrations, +we are continually struck with +the resemblance between the Sardes +and the native Irish. There is the +same indolence, the same recklessness, +superstition, and Vendetta—that disregard +of shedding human blood, and +the same screening of the murderers,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> +who, we are told, though well known, +visit the towns on "festa" days, +fearlessly and with impunity. But +the Vendetta of the Sardes is not only +more excusable, from a habitual denial +or perversion of justice, but it has +its own honourable and humane laws, +not under any circumstances to be infringed, +which place it in conspicuous +contrast with the too common barbarities +and cruelties of our unfortunate +sister island.</p> + +<p>The Sardinian "fuorusciti" are +not the Italian banditti. The term +includes, with the robber, those who +escape from the arm of the law, and +the avenger of injuries. These take to +the mountains. The common robbers +are few, and their attacks on passengers +are for necessary subsistence, and +more commonly for gunpowder with +which they may obtain it. Those +who escape from the consequences of +crime for vengeance—Vendetta—are +many; but these, as we related, have +their humane code, we might almost +say their romantic—for the presence +of a woman is a perfect security. It is +their law that no atrocity, no Vendetta, +is allowable when a woman is +in the company. A foe travelling +with wife or child is safe. A melancholy +instance of a breach of this law +is thus given:—</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>"A brigand was conducting his wife +on horseback through the mountains +when he suddenly met his adversary, who, +regardless of the conventional and living +flag of truce, attacked and slew him, together +with his pregnant wife. The relations +and friends of the deceased were +not the only outraged parties; a general +feeling of indignation and vengeance was +kindled throughout the whole province. +Every bandit felt it to be a breach of +their laws of honour; and even the murderer's +partisans not only denounced the +act, but 'refused him the kiss of peace.' +The mangled corpses were conveyed home, +and the friends of the deceased having +sworn, on the body of the unfortunate +Teodora, a perpetual Vendetta against +the family of the assassin, a system of +revenge and bloodshed was framed and +carried out to such an extent, that hundreds +of victims, perfectly innocent of +even indirect participation in this single +act of dishonour, fell in all parts of +Gallura."</p></blockquote> + +<p>Another characteristic story is told. +A party of six females were sojourning +at a church, performing a "Novena." +Some banditti, knowing this, +descended from their mountains to +visit them, and proposed the hospitality +of the mountains. The women +assented, and accompanied the bandits, +who treated them with respect, +and they closed their evenings with +songs and dancing. The banditti kept +watch the whole night guarding their +fair guests: one of the bandits had +been the rejected lover of one of the +party, whose husband and other +friends, hearing of this departure to +the mountains, in fear and for vengeance, +collected in force to rescue the +women. The bandits, in their descent, +to conduct back their guests, met the +other party ascending. The presence +of women prohibited Vendetta; +a truce was therefore demanded, when +the bridegroom and the rejected lover +met, with feelings of past injuries, +and fears of more recent on one side. +Each had his gun cocked; they felt +them, and gazed at each other. Their +lives were at instant peril, when the +bride rushed into the arms of her husband, +seized his gun, and discharged +it; then, placing herself in front to protect +him, she led him up to the bandit, +and demanded from him his gun. He +yielded it, and she discharged it also. +The rest of the party pressed on, an +explanation was given of the nature +of the visit, and both parties joined in +a feast, and mutual explanations of +former differences were given and received, +their Vendetta terminated, and +a general and lasting reconciliation +took place. Such quarrels are, however, +sometimes settled otherwise than +by Vendetta. The "Paci" are reconciliations +through means of the priest. +The parties meet in the open air near +some chapel, and such settlements are +perpetual. But another mode is preferred, +by "Ragionatori" or umpires; +but appeals may be made from +these to a greater number, whose decision +is final. An interesting anecdote +showing their power is thus told:—</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>"It was the case of a young shepherd +who had been too ardent in his advances +to a young maiden. On the youth demurring +to the decision as too severe, the +Ragionatori, indignant at his presumption, +arose from under the shady wild olive, +and saying to the surprised spectators, +'we have spoken, and done justice,' saluted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> +them and turned towards their homes. +But one of his nearest relations, who was +leaning against the knotted trunk of an +oak, with his bearded chin resting on the +back of his hand on the muzzle of his +gun, raised his head, and, with a fierce +look, extended his right hand to the +Ragionatori: 'Stop, friends!' he exclaimed, +'the thing must be finished at this moment.' +Then turning to his nephew, with +a determined and resolute countenance, +and placing his right hand upon his chest, +he said to him, 'Come, instantly!—either +obey the verdict of the Ragionatori, or——'. +The offender, at this deadly threat, no +longer hesitated, but approached the +offended party and sued for pardon. The +uncle, thus satisfied, advanced, and demanded +for him the hand of the maiden; +the betrothal took place, and things being +thus happily terminated, they betook +themselves to prepare the feast."</p></blockquote> + +<p>We could wish that we had space +to describe an interview our author +had with one of the Fuorusciti, and of +his rescue of his guide from the Vendetta. +But we must refer to the book +for this, and many other well-told incidents +respecting these strange people; +and particularly a romantic tale +of "Il Rosario e La Palla," which, if +not in all its parts to be credited, is +no bad invention—"<i>Se non e vero e +ben' trovato.</i>"</p> + +<p>We would make some inquiry into +the habits and manners of the Sardes. +We have before observed their resemblance +to the Irish. A description +of the houses, or rather huts or +hovels in the country, will remind the +reader of the Irish cabin, where a +hole in the roof serves for chimney, +and the pig and the family associate +on terms of mutual right. Like Italians +in general, they are under a +nervous hydrophobia, and prefer dirt +to cleanliness, and, in common with +really savage nations, lard their hair +with an inordinate quantity of grease. +Washing is very superfluous, as if +they considered the removal of dirt +as the taking off a natural clothing. +Upon one occasion Mr Tyndale, arriving +at a friend's house, and retiring +to his room, sent his servant to request +some jugs of water, for ablution +after a hot ride. This unusual demand +put the whole habitation into commotion, +and brought the host and several +visitors in his rear, into the room, +while Mr Tyndale was in a state of +nudity, to ascertain the use of so +much water. They had no idea of +this being an indelicate intrusion. +Finding that the water was for a kind +of cold bath, they were astonished—"What, +wash in cold water? what is +the good of it? do all your countrymen +do such things? are they very +dirty in England? we do not wash +in that way—why do you?" Such +were the questions, on the spot, which +he was required to answer. But they +were reiterated by the ladies below +stairs, who expressed amazement at +the eccentricities of the English.</p> + +<p>Hospitality is the common virtue +of the Sardes. "In most houses +admitting of an extra room, one is +set apart for the guests—the <i>hospitale +cubiculum</i> of the Romans—ready +and open to all strangers." It would +be the highest offence to offer the +smallest gratuity to the host, however +humble, though a trifle may be given +to a servant. "La mia casa è piccola, +ma il cuore é grande," (my house is +small, but my heart is large,) was the +apology on one occasion of his Cavallante, +on his arrival in Tempio, where, +owing to the presence of the King, +not a bed was to be had, and the +Cavallante earnestly entreated the use +of his hospitality, which, indeed, +seemed in the proof to bear no proportion +to his means of exercising it. +Even the family bed was emptied of +four children and a wife's sister, in +spite of all remonstrance, for his +accommodation.</p> + +<p>Where hospitality is a custom +stronger than law, inns offer few comforts +and fewer luxuries—the traveller +is supposed to bring, not only his +own provisions, but his own furniture. +Our traveller arriving at Ozieri, a +town with more than eight thousand +inhabitants, "mine host" was astonished +at the unreasonable demand of +a bed. Finding how things were, Mr +Tyndale stood in the court-yard, +contemplating the alternative of presenting +some of his letters to parties +in the town, when he was attracted +to a window on the other side of the +court, from whence this invitation +issued: "Sir, it is impossible for you +to go to the Osteria; there is no accommodation +fit for you. Apparently +you are a stranger, and if you have +no friends here, pray accept what<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> +little we can do for you." He ascended +the stairs to thank his hostess, +who sent for her husband, holding a +high government appointment in the +town, who received and entertained +him as if they had been his intimate +friends. On another occasion, in +search of the Perdas Lungas stones, +antiquarian curiosities, he met a +stranger, who, though going to Nuovo +in a great hurry, and anxious to return +for the Festa, on finding he was a +foreigner, insisted on accompanying +him, as he was acquainted with the +way—"one of the many instances," +says Mr Tyndale, "of Sarde civility +and kindness." And such hospitable +kindness he invariably received, +whether in towns or among the +poorest in the mountain villages, or +more lonely places. It has been +cynically observed, that hospitality is +the virtue of uncivilised nations. +However selfishly gratifying the exercise +of it may have been to that +wealthy Scotch laird, who said that +his nearest neighbour, as a gentleman, +was the King of Denmark, among +such a people as the Sardes, it surely +may be an indication of natural kindness, +and, in some degree, of honesty, +for our civilised roguery is a sore +destroyer of open-housed hospitality.</p> + +<p>A royal return for hospitable care +is, however, not to be altogether rejected. +When the King of Sardinia +visited the island, a shepherd of the +little island of Tavolara, the ancient +Hermea, near the port of Terranova, +of simple manners and notions, sent +his majesty some sheep and wild +goats, judging that the royal larder +might not be over-richly stored. His +majesty properly, in turn, requested to +know if he could grant him anything. +The shepherd consulted his family +upon all their real and imaginary wants, +and finally decided against luxuries, +but "would not mind if the king gave +him a pound of gunpowder." On +the royal messenger, therefore, suggesting +that he should ask for something +else, the dilemma was greater +than ever; but, after strolling about, +and torturing his imagination for +several minutes, he suddenly broke +out—"Oh, tell the King of Terra-firma +that I should like to be the king +of Tavolara; and that if any people +come to live in the island, that they +must obey me, as the people obey +him in Terra-firma." What compromise +his majesty made between the +regal crown and the pound of gunpowder, +we are not told. Though we +would by no means vouch for this +shepherd's story, which is nevertheless +very probable, we can vouch for +one not very dissimilar.</p> + +<p>Not very long since, a small farmer +in a little village in Somersetshire, +who prided himself on his cheeses, in +a fit of unwonted generosity—for he +was a penurious man—sent to her +majesty Queen Victoria a prime +cheese. A person given to practical +jokes knowing this, bought an eighteen-penny +gilt chain, and sent it in a +letter, purporting to be from her +majesty, appointing him her "well +beloved" mayor of the village, in the +document exalted into a corporate +town, but whereof he, the said mayor, +formed the sole body and whole +authority. The ignorant poor man +swallowed the bait, and called the +village together; gave an ox to be +roasted whole, and walked at the head +of the invited procession, wearing his +chain of office; and for several weeks +exhibited the insignia of royal favour, +the chain and royal autograph, at +church and at markets. It is a doubt +if he be yet undeceived, and lowered +from his imaginary brief authority. +We know not what our farmer would +say to the use to which the Sardes +apply their cheeses, or what may be +expected from a free trade with them +in this article; but we learn that so +plentiful was cheese in the Donori +district, in 1842, that some of it was +used for manuring the ground, which +practice would amount to throwing it +away, for they are not given to any +industrial means of agriculture. So +fertile was Sardinia under the Romans, +that, in the last years of the second +Punic war, corn was so abundant that +it was sold for the mere price of the +freight. Should the reader be curious +to know the result of this cheapness, +he may see it in the present condition +of Sardinia compared with its former, +a population diminished from about +two millions to about five hundred +and twenty-four thousand, and full +three quarters of the land uncultivated.</p> + +<p>The "Attitu," or custom of mourning +around the body of the dead, will<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> +bring to mind, to those who have witnessed +such a ceremony, the Irish +hovel. The "Conducti" are ever +more vehement than the <i>verè plorantibus</i>. +The word Attitu is supposed to +be derived from the <i>atat</i> of the Romans, +but it was not an original word +of their language, nor may it have +been so with the Greeks, from whom +they took it. The Sarde Attitadores +are thus described, and the description +perfectly answers to exhibitions we +have witnessed in some remote parts +of Ireland. "They wear black stuff +gowns, with a species of Capucin +hood, and, maintaining a perfect silence, +assume the air of total ignorance +as to there having been a death in the +family, till, suddenly and accidentally +seeing the dead body, they simultaneously +commence a weeping, wailing, +and gnashing of teeth, accompanied +with groans and ejaculations,—tearing +their hair, throwing themselves +on the ground, raising their +clenched fists maniacally to heaven, +and carrying on the attitudes and expressions +of real anguish." It is curious +that the "ailinon" of the Greeks +is traced to the Phœnicians, and, on +the authority of Athenæus, "Linus +was a mythological personage, who +gave his name to a song of a mournful +character." It is said that the +Phœnician "Lin" signifies complaint.</p> + +<p>It would be well if writers, especially +travellers, would exercise a little +more forbearance in speaking of the +superstitions of the people amongst +whom they are thrown. It is too +prevalent a custom to attribute every +superstition to the priesthood, whereas +the mere traveller can scarcely be +able to distinguish what belongs wholly +and hereditarily to the people, and +what the priests enjoin. We suspect +in most instances the foundation is in +the people, and that the priests could +not, though in many cases it may be +admitted they would not, put a stop +to them. They would too often lose +their influence in the attempt, and +find themselves compelled to acquiesce +in practices and ceremonies of which +they do not approve. Those who +treat with contempt and ridicule the +superstitions of other countries do not +scrutinise those of their own. It is true +ours are wearing out, and before their +expiration become very innocent: attempts +to suppress them by authority +would only tend to perpetuate them. +It would be very silly, for instance, to +issue a proclamation against "May +day," or to remind the innocents who +crown the Maypole that they are following +a pagan and not very decent +worship and ceremony. Superstitions +are the natural tares of the mind, and +spring up spontaneously, and among +the wheat, too, it should be observed; +and we should remember the warning +not to be over eager to uproot the +tares, lest we uproot the wheat also. +It is the object of travel to gratify +curiosity, and the nature of travel to +increase the appetite for it. It is, +therefore, like wholesome food, which +by giving health promotes a fresh relish; +but there arises from this traveller's +habit a less nice distinction as +to quality, and at length a practised +voracity is not dismayed by quantity. +The inquirer is on the look-out, and +overlooks but little; and in all Roman +Catholic countries there is no lack of +infidels, happy to have their tongues +loosened in the presence of questioning +Englishmen, and to pour into their +listening ears multitudes of tales, fabricated +or true, as it may chance, with +a feeling of hatred for the religion of +their country—for the superstition of +unbelief is inventive and persecuting. +We are not for a moment meditating +a defence of Romish superstitions, but +we think they are too widespread, +and too mixed up with the entire habit +of thought of the general population, +to render a sudden removal possible, +or every attempt safe. The reformation +will not commence with the unlearned. +In the meanwhile, there is a +demand on the traveller's candour and +benevolence for the exercise of forbearance; +for we doubt if a foreign +traveller in our own country would +not, were he bent upon the search, +pick up, amongst both our rural and +town population, a tolerably large collection +of the "Admiranda" of superstition, +and sectarian and other saints, +with surprising lives and anecdotes, +to rival the Romish calendar and the +"Aurea Leggenda." We offer these +few remarks, because we think our +author in his anti-popish zeal, and +abhorrence of "ignorance," is too +much inclined to see all the wrong, +and overlook the good in—shall we say<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> +the superstitions he meets with, and +to conclude that the clergy encourage, +where, and possibly wisely, they +only tolerate. It may not be amiss +here to refer to a fact narrated by our +author, that a Capucin convent at +Ozieri is at present indebted for the +severity with which its laws are +enforced, to the interference of the +bishop, not to establish but to put +down a pretended miracle. A nun +had announced that she had received +the "stigmata;" pilgrims flocked, and +offerings were made. The bishop +suspected, perhaps more than suspected, +fraud, caused a strict inquiry, +and the miraculous Stigmata disappeared. +But let us come to an instance +where the clergy encouraged, +or, to be candid, assuming the perfect +truth of the narration, originated a +superstitious fear. It is one that had +so much reverence of a right kind in +it, and so much of <i>truth</i> at least in the +feeling, if not in the fact, as may well +pass for a kind of belief in the minds +of those who propagated it.</p> + +<p>When the King of Sardinia visited +the island, he caused some excavations +to be made at Terranova. Tombs +were broken into, and the dead despoiled +of their rings, buckles, and +other ornaments; upon which, Mr +Tyndale says, "a heavy gale of wind +and storm, having done some damage +to the town, during the progress of +digging up the graves, the priests +assured the people, and the people +reiterated the assurance, that the +calamity arose from, and was a punishment +for having disturbed and dug +up the tombs of the holy saints and +martyrs of Terranova!"</p> + +<p>Is the mark of admiration one of +approbation or the reverse? We cannot +believe it to be one of contempt, and +are sure our author would not wish to +see the feeling—to the credit of human +nature, a common one—eradicated. +When the Scythians were taunted +with flying before their invaders, they +simply replied, "We will stay and fight +at the burial places of our fathers." +They considered no possession so well +worth preserving intact.</p> + +<p>When Mr Tyndale was receiving +hospitality in a shepherd's hut among +the mountains, a Ronuts arrived with +a box of relics. The household within +doors, a mother and daughters, placed +themselves on their knees before it. +They embraced the box, and three +times affectionately kissed it, and +expressed dismay in their looks that +their guest did not do likewise. He +admits they looked upon him as an +infidel, but they did not treat him, on +that account, as Franklin's apologue +feigned that Abraham treated his +unbelieving aged stranger guest, but +bore with him, as the warning and +reproving voice told Abraham to do. +The poor hostess, in her ignorance, +knew not even whose relics she had +reverenced, for hers was the common +answer, when inquired of as to this +particular—"Senza dubbio la reliquia +d'una Santa del Paese, ben conosciuta +da per tutto." But this poor family +superstition did not harden the heart; +the shepherd's wife believed at least +in the <i>sanctity</i> of some saint, and that +veneration for a life passed in holiness, +by whomsoever, demanded of her goodwill +to all, and kindly hospitality, and +such as should overcome even the +prejudice of an ignorant shepherd's +wife; and therefore we must quote +Mr Tyndale's confession to this virtue +of her faith. "If the ignorance and +superstitious credulity of my present +hostess were great, her hospitality +and generosity were no less. She +soon recovered from her momentary +horror of my heretical irreverence, +and, though not the bearer of a holy +relic, it was with some difficulty I +could get away without having several +cheeses put into my saddle-bags; and +when my repeated assurances that I +was not partial to them at length +induced her to desist, she wanted to +send her husband to bring me home a +kid or a lamb. She would have considered +it an insult to have been +offered any payment for her gifts, had +they been even accepted; and after +repeated expressions of her wish to +supply me from her humble store, we +parted with a shower of mutual benedictions." +We have brought to +our remembrance patriarchal times, +when kids and lambs were readily set +before wayfaring strangers. There +have been, and are, worse people in +the world than those poor ignorant +superstitious Sardes.</p> + +<p>Not far from San Martino our traveller +halted, to inquire his way at +an "ovile," the shepherd's hut. It<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> +may not be unsatisfactory to describe +the dwellings whose inhabitants are +thus hospitable. The hut here spoken +of was rude enough—a mass of stones +in a circle of about twelve feet diameter, +and eight feet high, with a +conical roof made of sticks and reeds. +The whole family had but one bed; a +few ashes were burning in a hole in +the ground; a bundle of clothes, some +flat loaves of bread, and three or four +pans, made up the inventory of goods. +The shepherd was preparing to kill a +lamb for his family, yet he offered to +accompany the stranger, which he +did, and went with him a distance of +three miles. "After showing me the +spot, and sharing a light meal, I +offered him a trifle for his trouble; +but he indignantly refused it, and, on +leaving to return home, gave me an +adieu with a fervent but courteous +demeanour, which would have shamed +many a mitred and coroneted head." +We are not, however, to conclude +that all the shepherd districts, however +they may bear no reproach on +the score of hospitality, are regions of +innocence and virtue. We are told, +on the authority of a Padre Angius, +that the people of Bonorva are quarrelsome +and vindictive; and a story +is told of their envious character. A +certain Don Pietrino Prunas was the +owner of much cattle, and ninety-nine +flocks of sheep; he was assassinated +on the very day he had brought +the number to a hundred, for no other +reason than out of envy of his happiness. +And here Mr Tyndale remarks, +in a note, a French translator's carelessness. +"Valery, in mentioning +the circumstance, says that he was +murdered 'le jour même où il atteignait +sa centième année.'" The words +professed to be translated are, +"Padrone di 99 greggi di pecori, +trucidato nel giorno istesso che ei +doneva formarsi la centessima."</p> + +<p>The reader will not expect to find +accounts of many treasures of the +fine arts in Sardinia. Convents and +churches are, however, not without +statues and pictures. Nor do the +clergy or inmates of convents possess +much knowledge on the subject. If +a picture is pronounced a Michael +Angelo, without doubt the possessors, +with a charming simplicity, would +inquire "who Michael Angelo was." +We quote the following as worthy +the notice of the Arundel Society, +particularly as it is out of the general +tourings of connoisseurs.</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>"The screen of the high altar (the +church at Ardara) is covered with portraits +of apostles, saints, and martyrs, +apparently a work of the thirteenth or +early part of the fourteenth century; +and, notwithstanding the neglect and +damp, the colours and gildings are still +bright and untarnished. Many of them +are exquisitely finished, with all the +fineness of an Albert Durer and Holbein, +and will vie with the best specimens of +the early masters in the gallery of Dresden, +or the Pinakothek at Munich."</p></blockquote> + +<p>Valery, the mis-translator just mentioned, +is in ecstacy in his notice of +these works. He considers them +worthy the perpetuity which the +graver alone can give them, and considers +how great their reputation +would be had they found a Lanzi, a +d'Agincour, or a Cicognara.</p> + +<p>We have now travelled with our +agreeable, well-informed author over +much country—wild, and partially cultivated; +have speculated with him +upon all things that attracted attention +by the way; and, though the +roads have been somewhat rough, we +have kept our tempers pretty well—no +light accomplishment for fellow-travellers; +and our disputes have +been rather amusing than serious. +We now enter with him the capital +of Sardinia—Cagliari. We shall not +follow him, however, through the modern +town, though there can be no +better cicerone; nor look in at the +museum, fearful of long detention; +not even to examine the Phœnician +curiosities, or discuss the identity in +character, with them, of some seals +found in the bogs of Ireland; or to +speculate with Sir George Staunton +as to their Chinese origin, and how +they unaccountably found themselves, +some in an Irish bog and some in +excavated earth in Sardinia, and from +thence into the museum at Cagliari. +We are content to visit some Roman +antiquities, and read inscriptions probably +of the age of the Antonines, or +of an earlier period. The monuments +are sepulchral: one is of a very interesting +character. It is of some architectural +pretensions—in honour of +an exemplary wife, who, like Alces<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span>tis, +is said to have died for her husband. +The prose tale, were it in existence, +might have told, perhaps, how +Pomptilla—for that is her name—attended +her husband in a sickness, +caught his fever, and died, while he +recovered. The inscriptions are many. +Some have been made out tolerably +well: they are in Latin and Greek. +One, in Greek, has so much tenderness, +that, deeming it quite worthy the +melancholy cadence of verse, we have +been tempted to substitute our own +translation for that of Mr Tyndale in +prose, with which we are not quite +satisfied.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Pomptilla, from thy dew-embalmèd earth,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Which mournful homage of our love receives,<br /></span> +<span class="i6">May fairest lilies rise,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Pale flow'rets of a sad funereal birth—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And roses opening their scarce-blushing leaves,<br /></span> +<span class="i6">Of tenderest dyes,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And violets, that from their languid eyes,<br /></span> +<span class="i6">Shed perfumed shower—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And blessèd amaranth that never dies.<br /></span> +<span class="i6">O! be thyself a flower,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Th' unsullied snow-drop—being and witness true<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of thy pure self, e'en to perpetual years—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">As erst a flow'ret fair Narcissus grew—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And Hyacinthus all bedew'd with tears.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">For when, now in the tremulous hour of death,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Her spouse Philippus near to Lethe drew<br /></span> +<span class="i0">His unresisting lips and fainting breath,<br /></span> +<span class="i6">A woman's duteous vow she vow'd—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And gently put aside his drooping head,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And her firm presence to the waters bow'd,<br /></span> +<span class="i6">And drank the fatal stream instead.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Such perfect union did stern Death divide,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Th' unwilling husband and the willing wife—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Willing to die, while he, now loathing life,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Through the dear love of his devoted bride—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Still lives, and weeps, and prays that he may die—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That his releasèd spirit to hers may fly,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And mingled evermore with hers abide.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>In taking leave of our author, we +confidently recommend the three +volumes on Sardinia to the general +reader—we say general reader, for, +whatever be his taste or pursuit, he +will find amusement and information. +The work is a <i>full</i> work. If the +reader be an antiquary, he will be +gratified with deep research and historic +lore; if an economist, he will +have tabular detail and close statistics; +an agriculturist, and would he +emigrate from his own persecuted +lands, he will learn the nature of soils, +their capabilities, and how fair a field +is offered for that importable and exportable +commodity, his industry, so +much wanted in Sardinia, and so little +encouraged at home; if a sportsman, +besides the use of the gun, which he +knows already, he will be initiated +into the mystery of tunny fishing, +and, would he turn it to his profit, +have license to dispose of his game. +Nay, even the wide-awake shopkeeper +may learn how to set up his +"store" in Sassari or Cagliari, and +what stock he had best take out. If +he be a ne'er-do-well just returned +from California, and surprised into +the possession of a sackful of gold, Mr +Tyndale will conduct him to the +Barathra into which he may throw it, +whether they be sea-fisheries or land-marshes; +or into whose pockets he +may deposit the wealth, whose burthen +he is of course wearied in bearing, for +the excitement of generosity in becoming +a benefactor, or for the amusement +of corrupting.</p> + +<p>The work is indeed a "guide book," +as well as much more, for it tells every +one what he may do profitably or unprofitably +in Sardinia—whether as +traveller and private speculator, minding +his own concerns; or as an enthusiastic +disperser of ignorance, and +renovator of the customs, manners, +religion, and political condition of a +people as unlike his own race and +kindred as possible.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a name="Footnote_1" id="Footnote_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> <i>The Island of Sardinia.</i> By <span class="smcap">John Warre Tyndale</span>. 3 vols., post 8vo.</p></div></div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="THE_CAXTONS_PART_XIV" id="THE_CAXTONS_PART_XIV">THE CAXTONS.—PART XIV.</a></h2> + +<h3>CHAPTER LXXX.</h3> + + +<p>There would have been nothing in +what had chanced to justify the suspicions +that tortured me, but for my +impressions as to the character of +Vivian.</p> + +<p>Reader, hast thou not, in the easy, +careless sociability of youth, formed acquaintance +with some one, in whose +more engaging or brilliant qualities thou +hast—not lost that dislike to defects +or vices which is natural to an age when, +even while we err, we adore what is +good, and glow with enthusiasm for +the ennobling sentiment and the virtuous +deed—no, happily, not lost dislike +to what is bad, nor thy quick +sense of it,—but conceived a keen interest +in the struggle between the bad +that revolted, and the good that attracted +thee, in thy companion? Then, +perhaps, thou hast lost sight of him +for a time—suddenly thou hearest +that he has done something out of the +way of ordinary good or commonplace +evil: And, in either—the good +or the evil—thy mind runs rapidly +back over its old reminiscences, and +of either thou sayest, "How natural!—only +So-and-so could have done this +thing!"</p> + +<p>Thus I felt respecting Vivian. The +most remarkable qualities in his character +were his keen power of calculation, +and his unhesitating audacity—qualities +that lead to fame or to infamy, +according to the cultivation of +the moral sense and the direction of +the passions. Had I recognised those +qualities in some agency apparently +of good—and it seemed yet doubtful if +Vivian were the agent—I should have +cried, "It is he! and the better angel +has triumphed!" With the same (alas! +with a yet more impulsive) quickness, +when the agency was of evil, and +the agent equally dubious, I felt that +the qualities revealed the man, and +that the demon had prevailed.</p> + +<p>Mile after mile, stage after stage, +were passed, on the dreary, interminable, +high north road. I narrated to +my companion, more intelligibly than +I had yet done, my causes for apprehension. +The Captain at first listened +eagerly, then checked me on the sudden. +"There may be nothing in all +this!" he cried. "Sir, we must be men +here—have our heads cool, our reason +clear: stop!" And, leaning back in +the chaise, Roland refused further conversation, +and, as the night advanced, +seemed to sleep. I took pity on his +fatigue, and devoured my heart in +silence. At each stage we heard of +the party of which we were in pursuit. +At the first stage or two we were less +than an hour behind; gradually, as we +advanced, we lost ground, despite the +most lavish liberality to the postboys. +I supposed, at length, that the mere +circumstance of changing, at each relay, +the chaise as well as the horses, +was the cause of our comparative +slowness; and, on saying this to Roland, +as we were changing horses, +somewhere about midnight, he at once +called up the master of the inn, and +gave him his own price for permission +to retain the chaise till the journey's +end. This was so unlike Roland's ordinary +thrift, whether dealing with my +money or his own—so unjustified by +the fortune of either—that I could +not help muttering something in apology.</p> + +<p>"Can you guess why I was a +miser?" said Roland, calmly.</p> + +<p>"A miser!—anything but that! Only +prudent—military men often are so."</p> + +<p>"I was a miser," repeated the Captain, +with emphasis. "I began the +habit first when my son was but a +child. I thought him high-spirited, and +with a taste for extravagance. 'Well,' +said I to myself, 'I will save for him; +boys will be boys.' Then, afterwards, +when he was no more a child, (at least +he began to have the vices of a man!) I +said to myself, 'Patience, he may reform +still; if not, I will save money +that I may have power over his self-interest, +since I have none over his +heart. I will bribe him into honour!' +And then—and then—God saw that +I was very proud, and I was punished. +Tell them to drive faster—faster—why, +this is a snail's pace!"</p> + +<p>All that night, all the next day, till<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> +towards the evening, we pursued our +journey, without pause, or other food +than a crust of bread and a glass of +wine. But we now picked up the +ground we had lost, and gained upon +the carriage. The night had closed +in when we arrived at the stage at +which the route to Lord N——'s +branched from the direct north road. +And here, making our usual inquiry, +my worst suspicions were confirmed. +The carriage we pursued had changed +horses an hour before, but had not +taken the way to Lord N——'s;—continuing +the direct road into Scotland. +The people of the inn had not seen +the lady in the carriage, for it was +already dark, but the man-servant, +(whose livery they described) had +ordered the horses.</p> + +<p>The last hope that, in spite of appearances, +no treachery had been designed, +here vanished. The Captain, +at first, seemed more dismayed than +myself, but he recovered more quickly. +"We will continue the journey on +horseback," he said; and hurried to +the stables. All objections vanished +at the sight of his gold. In five +minutes we were in the saddle, with +a postilion, also mounted, to accompany +us. We did the next stage in +little more than two-thirds of the time +which we should have occupied in +our former mode of travel—indeed, I +found it hard to keep pace with Roland. +We remounted; we were only +twenty-five minutes behind the carriage. +We felt confident that we +should overtake it before it could +reach the next town—the moon was +up—we could see far before us—we +rode at full speed. Milestone after +milestone glided by, the carriage was +not visible. We arrived at the post-town, +or rather village; it contained +but one posting-house. We were long +in knocking up the ostlers—no carriage +had arrived just before us; no +carriage had passed the place since +noon.</p> + +<p>What mystery was this?</p> + +<p>"Back, back, boy!" said Roland, +with a soldier's quick wit, and spurring +his jaded horse from the yard. "They +will have taken a cross-road or by-lane. +We shall track them by the +hoofs of the horses or the print of the +wheels."</p> + +<p>Our postilion grumbled, and pointed +to the panting sides of our horses. +For answer, Roland opened his +hand—full of gold. Away we went +back through the dull sleeping village, +back into the broad moonlit +thoroughfare. We came to a cross-road +to the right, but the track we +pursued still led us straight on. We had +measured back nearly half the way to +the post-town at which we had last +changed, when, lo! there emerged +from a by-lane two postilions and +their horses.</p> + +<p>At that sight our companion, shouting +loud, pushed on before us and +hailed his fellows. A few words gave +us the information we sought. A +wheel had come off the carriage just +by the turn of the road, and the young +lady and her servants had taken refuge +in a small inn not many yards down +the lane. The man-servant had dismissed +the postboys after they had +baited their horses, saying they were +to come again in the morning, and +bring a blacksmith to repair the wheel.</p> + +<p>"How came the wheel off?" asked +Roland sternly.</p> + +<p>"Why, sir, the linchpin was all +rotted away, I suppose, and came +out."</p> + +<p>"Did the servant get off the dickey +after you set out, and before the accident +happened?"</p> + +<p>"Why, yes. He said the wheels +were catching fire, that they had not +the patent axles, and he had forgot to +have them oiled."</p> + +<p>"And he looked at the wheels, and +shortly afterwards the linchpin +came out?—Eh?"</p> + +<p>"Anon, sir!" said the postboy, +staring; "why, and indeed so it was!"</p> + +<p>"Come on, Pisistratus, we are in +time; but pray God—pray God—that—" the +Captain dashed his spur +into the horse's sides, and the rest of +his words was lost to me.</p> + +<p>A few yards back from the causeway, +a broad patch of green before it, +stood the inn—a sullen, old-fashioned +building of cold gray stone, looking +livid in the moonlight, with black firs +at one side, throwing over half of it a +dismal shadow. So solitary! not a +house, not a hut near it. If they who +kept the inn were such that villany +might reckon on their connivance, and +innocence despair of their aid—there +was no neighbourhood to alarm—no<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> +refuge at hand. The spot was well +chosen.</p> + +<p>The doors of the inn were closed; +there was a light in the room below; +but the outside shutters were drawn +over the windows on the first floor. My +uncle paused a moment, and said to +the postilion—</p> + +<p>"Do you know the back way to +the premises?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir; I doesn't often come +by this way, and they be new folks +that have taken the house—and I +hear it don't prosper overmuch."</p> + +<p>"Knock at the door—we will stand +a little aside while you do so. If any +one ask what you want—merely +say you would speak to the servant—that +you have found a purse;—here, +hold up mine."</p> + +<p>Roland and I had dismounted, and +my uncle drew me close to the wall +by the door. Observing that my impatience +ill submitted to what seemed +to me idle preliminaries,</p> + +<p>"Hist!" whispered he; "if there be +anything to conceal within, they will +not answer the door till some one has +reconnoitred: were they to see us, +they would refuse to open. But seeing +only the postboy, whom they will +suppose at first to be one of those who +brought the carriage—they will have +no suspicion. Be ready to rush in the +moment the door is unbarred."</p> + +<p>My uncle's veteran experience did +not deceive him. There was a long +silence before any reply was made to the +postboy's summons; the light passed +to and fro rapidly across the window, +as if persons were moving within. +Roland made sign to the postboy to +knock again; he did so twice—thrice—and +at last, from an attic-window +in the roof, a head obtruded, and a +voice cried, "Who are you?—what do +you want?"</p> + +<p>"I'm the postboy at the Red Lion; +I want to see the servant with the +brown carriage; I have found this +purse!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's all—wait a bit."</p> + +<p>The head disappeared; we crept +along under the projecting eaves of +the house; we heard the bar lifted +from the door; the door itself cautiously +opened; one spring and I +stood within, and set my back to the +door to admit Roland.</p> + +<p>"Ho, help!—thieves!—help!" cried +a loud voice, and I felt a hand gripe +at my throat. I struck at random in +the dark, and with effect, for my +blow was followed by a groan and a +curse.</p> + +<p>Roland, meanwhile, had detected +a ray through the chinks of a door in +the hall, and, guided by it, found his +way into the room at the window of +which we had seen the light pass and +go, while without. As he threw the +door open, I bounded after him; and +saw in a kind of parlour, two females—the +one a stranger, no doubt the hostess, +the other the treacherous Abigail. +Their faces evinced their terror.</p> + +<p>"Woman," I said, seizing the last, +"where is Miss Trevanion?" Instead +of replying, the woman set up +a loud shriek. Another light now +gleamed from the staircase, which +immediately faced the door, and I +heard a voice that I recognised as +Peacock's, cry out, "Who's there?—what's +the matter?"</p> + +<p>I made a rush at the stairs. A burly +form (that of the landlord, who +had recovered from my blow) obstructed +my way for a moment, to +measure its length on the floor at the +next. I was at the top of the stairs, +Peacock recognised me, recoiled, and +extinguished the light. Oaths, cries, +and shrieks, now resounded through +the dark. Amidst them all, I suddenly +heard a voice exclaim, "Here, +here!—help!" It was the voice of +Fanny. I made my way to the right, +whence the voice came, and received a +violent blow. Fortunately, it fell on +the arm which I extended, as men do +who feel their way through the dark. +It was not the right arm, and I seized +and closed on my assailant. Roland +now came up, a candle in his hand; +and at that sight my antagonist, who +was no other than Peacock, slipped +from me, and made a rush at the +stairs. But the Captain caught him +with his grasp of iron. Fearing nothing +for Roland in a contest with any single +foe, and all my thoughts bent on the +rescue of her whose voice again broke +on my ear, I had already (before the +light of the candle which Roland held +went out in the struggle between himself +and Peacock) caught sight of a door +at the end of the passage, and thrown +myself against it: it was locked, but +it shook and groaned to my pressure.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Hold back, whoever you are!" +cried a voice from the room within, +far different from that wail of distress +which had guided my steps. "Hold +back, at the peril of your life!"</p> + +<p>The voice, the threat, redoubled my +strength; the door flew from its fastenings. +I stood in the room. I saw +Fanny at my feet, clasping my hands; +then, raising herself, she hung on my +shoulder and murmured, "Saved!" +Opposite to me, his face deformed by +passion, his eyes literally blazing +with savage fire, his nostrils distended, +his lips apart, stood the man +I have called Francis Vivian.</p> + +<p>"Fanny—Miss Trevanion—what +outrage—what villany is this? You +have not met this man at your free +choice,—oh speak!" Vivian sprang +forward.</p> + +<p>"Question no one but me. Unhand +that lady,—she is my betrothed—shall +be my wife."</p> + +<p>"No, no, no,—don't believe him," +cried Fanny; "I have been betrayed +by my own servants—brought here, +I know not how! I heard my father +was ill; I was on my way to him: +that man met me here, and dared +to"—</p> + +<p>"Miss Trevanion—yes, I dared to +say I loved you."</p> + +<p>"Protect me from him!—you will +protect me from him!"</p> + +<p>"No, madam!" said a voice behind +me, in a deep tone, "it is I who +claim the right to protect you from +that man; it is I who now draw +around you the arm of one sacred, +even to him; it is I who, from this +spot, launch upon his head—a father's +curse. Violator of the hearth! Baffled +ravisher!—go thy way to the doom +which thou hast chosen for thyself. +God will be merciful to me yet, and +give me a grave before thy course find +its close in the hulks—or at the gallows!"</p> + +<p>A sickness came over me—a terror +froze my veins—I reeled back, and +leant for support against the wall. +Roland had passed his arm round +Fanny, and she, frail and trembling, +clung to his broad heart, looking +fearfully up to his face. And never +in that face, ploughed by deep emotions, +and dark with unutterable sorrows, +had I seen an expression so +grand in its wrath, so sublime in its +despair. Following the direction of +his eye, stern and fixed as the look of +one who prophesies a destiny, and denounces +a doom, I shivered as I +gazed upon the son. His whole +frame seemed collapsed and shrinking, +as if already withered by the +curse: a ghastly whiteness overspread +the cheek, usually glowing with the +dark bloom of Oriental youth; the +knees knocked together; and, at last, +with a faint exclamation of pain, like +the cry of one who receives a death-blow, +he bowed his face over his +clasped hands, and so remained—still, +but cowering.</p> + +<p>Instinctively I advanced and placed +myself between the father and the +son, murmuring, "Spare him; see, +his own heart crushes him down." +Then stealing towards the son, I whispered, +"Go, go; the crime was not +committed, the curse can be recalled." +But my words touched a wrong chord +in that dark and rebellious nature. +The young man withdrew his hands +hastily from his face, and reared his +front in passionate defiance.</p> + +<p>Waving me aside, he cried, +"Away! I acknowledge no authority +over my actions and my fate; I allow +no mediator between this lady +and myself. Sir," he continued, gazing +gloomily on his father—"sir, you +forget our compact. Our ties were +severed, your power over me annulled; +I resigned the name you bear; +to you I was, and am still, as the dead. +I deny your right to step between me +and the object dearer to me than life.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" (and here he stretched forth +his hands towards Fanny)—"oh! Miss +Trevanion, do not refuse me one +prayer, however you condemn me. +Let me see you alone but for one +moment; let me but prove to you +that, guilty as I may have been, it was +not from the base motives you will +hear imputed to me—that it was not +the heiress I sought to decoy, it was +the woman I sought to win; oh! +hear me"—</p> + +<p>"No, no," murmured Fanny, clinging +closer to Roland, "do not leave +me. If, as it seems, he is your son, I +forgive him; but let him go—I shudder +at his very voice!"</p> + +<p>"Would you have me, indeed, annihilate +the very memory of the bond +between us?" said Roland, in a hollow<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> +voice; "would you have me see in +you only the vile thief, the lawless +felon,—deliver you up to justice, or +strike you to my feet. Let the memory +still save you, and begone!"</p> + +<p>Again I caught hold of the guilty son, +and again he broke from my grasp.</p> + +<p>"It is," he said, folding his arms deliberately +on his breast, "it is for me to +command in this house: all who are +within it must submit to my orders. +You, sir, who hold reputation, name, +and honour at so high a price, how can +you fail to see that you would rob them +from the lady whom you would protect +from the insult of my affection? How +would the world receive the tale of your +rescue of Miss Trevanion? how believe +that—Oh pardon me, madam,—Miss +Trevanion—Fanny—pardon me—I +am mad; only hear me—alone—alone—and +then if you too say 'Begone,' I +submit without a murmur; I allow +no arbiter but you."</p> + +<p>But Fanny still clung closer, and +closer still, to Roland. At that moment +I heard voices and the trampling +of feet below, and supposing that +the accomplices in this villany were +mustering courage, perhaps, to mount +to the assistance of their employer, I +lost all the compassion that had +hitherto softened my horror of the +young man's crime, and all the awe +with which that confession had been +attended. I therefore, this time, +seized the false Vivian with a gripe +that he could no longer shake off, and +said sternly—</p> + +<p>"Beware how you aggravate your +offence. If strife ensues, it will not be +between father and son, and—"</p> + +<p>Fanny sprang forward. "Do not +provoke this bad, dangerous man. I +fear him not. Sir, I <i>will</i> hear you, +and alone."</p> + +<p>"Never!" cried I and Roland simultaneously.</p> + +<p>Vivian turned his look fiercely to +me, and with a sullen bitterness to +his father, and then, as if resigning +his former prayer, he said—"Well +then, be it so; even in the presence +of those who judge me so severely, I +will speak at least." He paused, and, +throwing into his voice a passion +that, had the repugnance at his guilt +been less, would not have been without +pathos, he continued to address +Fanny: "I own that, when I first +saw you, I might have thought of love, +as the poor and ambitious think of +the way to wealth and power. Those +thoughts vanished, and nothing remained +in my heart but love and madness. +I was as a man in a delirium +when I planned this snare. I knew +but one object—saw but one heavenly +vision. Oh, mine—mine at least in +that vision—are you indeed lost to +me for ever!"</p> + +<p>There was that in this man's tone +and manner which, whether arising +from accomplished hypocrisy or actual +if perverted feeling, would, I thought, +find its way at once to the heart of a +woman who, however wronged, had +once loved him; and, with a cold +misgiving, I fixed my eyes on Miss +Trevanion. Her look, as she turned +with a visible tremor, suddenly met +mine, and I believe that she discerned +my doubt; for after suffering +her eyes to rest on my own, with +something of mournful reproach, her +lips curved as with the pride of her +mother, and for the first time in my +life I saw anger on her brow.</p> + +<p>"It is well, sir, that you have thus +spoken to me in the presence of others, +for in their presence I call upon you +to say, by that honour which the son +of this gentleman may for a while forget, +but cannot wholly forfeit,—I call +upon you to say, whether by deed, +word, or sign, I, Frances Trevanion, +ever gave you cause to believe that I +returned the feeling you say you +entertained for me, or encouraged you +to dare this attempt to place me in +your power."</p> + +<p>"No!" cried Vivian readily, but +with a writhing lip—"no; but where +I loved so deeply, periled all my fortune +for one fair and free occasion to +tell you so alone, I would not think +that such love could meet only loathing +and disdain. What!—has nature +shaped me so unkindly, that where I +love no love can reply? What!—has +the accident of birth shut me out from +the right to woo and mate with the +highborn? For the last, at least, +that gentleman in justice should tell +you, since it has been his care to +instil the haughty lesson into me, that +my lineage is one that befits lofty +hopes, and warrants fearless ambition. +My hopes, my ambition—they +were you! Oh, Miss Trevanion, it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> +is true that to win you I would +have braved the world's laws, defied +every foe, save him who now rises +before me. Yet, believe me, believe +me, had I won what I dared to aspire +to, you would not have been disgraced +by your choice; and the name, +for which I thank not my father, +should not have been despised by the +woman who pardoned my presumption,—nor +by the man who now tramples +on my anguish, and curses me in my +desolation."</p> + +<p>Not by a word had Roland sought +to interrupt his son—nay, by a feverish +excitement, which my heart understood +in its secret sympathy, he had seemed +eagerly to court every syllable that +could extenuate the darkness of the +offence, or even imply some less sordid +motive for the baseness of the means. +But as the son now closed with the +words of unjust reproach, and the +accents of fierce despair;—closed a +defence that showed in its false pride, +and its perverted eloquence, so utter +a blindness to every principle of that +honour which had been the father's idol, +Roland placed his hand before the eyes +that he had previously, as if spellbound, +fixed on the hardened offender, +and once more drawing Fanny towards +him, said—</p> + +<p>"His breath pollutes the air that +innocence and honesty should breath. +He says 'All in this house are at his +command,'—why do we stay?—let us +go." He turned towards the door, +and Fanny with him.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the louder sounds below +had been silenced for some moments, +but I heard a step in the hall. +Vivian started, and placed himself +before us.</p> + +<p>"No, no, you cannot leave me thus, +Miss Trevanion. I resign you—be it +so; I do not even ask for pardon. +But to leave this house thus, without +carriage, without attendants, without +explanation!—the blame falls on me—it +shall do so. But at least vouchsafe +me the right to repair what I yet can +repair of the wrong, to protect all that +is left to me—your name."</p> + +<p>As he spoke, he did not perceive (for +he was facing us, and with his back +to the door,) that a new actor had +noiselessly entered on the scene, and, +pausing by the threshold, heard his +last words.</p> + +<p>"The name of Miss Trevanion, sir—and +from what?" asked the new comer, +as he advanced and surveyed Vivian +with a look that, but for its quiet, +would have seemed disdain.</p> + +<p>"Lord Castleton!" exclaimed +Fanny, lifting up the face she had +buried in her hands.</p> + +<p>Vivian recoiled in dismay, and +gnashed his teeth.</p> + +<p>"Sir," said the marquis, "I await +your reply; for not even you, in my +presence, shall imply that one reproach +can be attached to the name +of that lady."</p> + +<p>"Oh, moderate your tone to me, my +Lord Castleton!" cried Vivian: "in you +at least there is one man I am not forbidden +to brave and defy. It was to +save that lady from the cold ambition +of her parents—it was to prevent the +sacrifice of her youth and beauty, to +one whose sole merits are his wealth +and his titles—it was this that impelled +me to the crime I have committed, +this that hurried me on to risk +all for one hour, when youth at least +could plead its cause to youth; and +this gives me now the power to say +that it does rest with me to protect +the name of the lady, whom your +very servility to that world which you +have made your idol forbids you to +claim from the heartless ambition that +would sacrifice the daughter to the +vanity of the parents. Ha! the future +Marchioness of Castleton on her way +to Scotland with a penniless adventurer! +Ha! if my lips are sealed, +who but I can seal the lips of those +below in my secret? The secret shall +be kept, but on this condition—you +shall not triumph where I have failed; +I may lose what I adored, but I do +not resign it to another. Ha! have I +foiled you, my Lord Castleton?—ha, +ha!"</p> + +<p>"No, sir; and I almost forgive +you the villany you have <i>not</i> effected, +for informing me, for the first time, +that, had I presumed to address +Miss Trevanion, her parents at least +would have pardoned the presumption. +Trouble not yourself as to +what your accomplices may say. +They have already confessed their +infamy and your own. Out of my +path, sir!"</p> + +<p>Then, with the benign look of a +father, and the lofty grace of a prince,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> +Lord Castleton advanced to Fanny. +Looking round with a shudder, she +hastily placed her hand in his, and, by +so doing, perhaps prevented some violence +on the part of Vivian, whose +heaving breast, and eye bloodshot, +and still un-quailing, showed how little +even shame had subdued his fiercer +passions. But he made no offer to +detain them, and his tongue seemed +to cleave to his lips. Now, as Fanny +moved to the door, she passed Roland, +who stood motionless and with vacant +looks, like an image of stone; and with +a beautiful tenderness, for which +(even at this distant date, recalling +it) I say, "God requite thee, Fanny," +she laid her other hand on Roland's arm, +and said, "Come too; <i>your</i> arm still!"</p> + +<p>But Roland's limbs trembled, and +refused to stir; his head, relaxing, +drooped on his breast, his eyes closed. +Even Lord Castleton was so struck +(though unable to guess the true and +terrible cause of his dejection) that +he forgot his desire to hasten from the +spot, and cried with all his kindliness +of heart, "You are ill—you faint; +give him your arm, Pisistratus."</p> + +<p>"It is nothing," said Roland feebly, +as he leant heavily on my arm, +while I turned back my head with all +the bitterness of that reproach which +filled my heart, speaking in the eyes +that sought <i>him</i> whose place should have +been where mine now was. And, oh!—thank +heaven, thank heaven!—the look +was not in vain. In the same moment +the son was at the father's knees.</p> + +<p>"Oh, pardon—pardon! Wretch, +lost wretch though I be, I bow my head +to the curse. Let it fall—but on me, and +on me only—not on your own heart too."</p> + +<p>Fanny burst into tears, sobbing out, +"Forgive him, as I do."</p> + +<p>Roland did not heed her.</p> + +<p>"He thinks that the heart was not +shattered before the curse could come," +he said, in a voice so weak as to be +scarcely audible. Then, raising his +eyes to heaven, his lips moved as if he +prayed inly. Pausing, he stretched +his hands over his son's head, and +averting his face, said, "I revoke the +curse. Pray to thy God for pardon."</p> + +<p>Perhaps not daring to trust himself +further, he then made a violent effort, +and hurried from the room.</p> + +<p>We followed silently. When we +gained the end of the passage, the +door of the room we had left, closed +with a sullen jar.</p> + +<p>As the sound smote on my ear, +with it came so terrible a sense of the +solitude upon which that door had +closed—so keen and quick an apprehension +of some fearful impulse, suggested +by passions so fierce, to a condition +so forlorn—that instinctively +I stopped, and then hurried back +to the chamber. The lock of the +door having been previously forced, +there was no barrier to oppose my +entrance. I advanced, and beheld a +spectacle of such agony, as can only +be conceived by those who have looked +on the grief which takes no fortitude +from reason, no consolation from conscience—the +grief which tells us what +would be the earth were man abandoned +to his passions, and the <span class="smcap">CHANCE</span> +of the atheist reigned alone in the +merciless heavens. Pride humbled to +the dust; ambition shivered into fragments; +love (or the passion mistaken +for it) blasted into ashes; life, at the +first onset, bereaved of its holiest ties, +forsaken by its truest guide; shame +that writhed for revenge, and remorse +that knew not prayer—all, all +blended, yet distinct, were in that +awful spectacle of the guilty son.</p> + +<p>And I had told but twenty years, +and my heart had been mellowed in +the tender sunshine of a happy home, +and I had loved this boy as a stranger, +and, lo—he was Roland's son! I forgot +all else, looking upon that anguish; +and I threw myself on the ground by +the form that writhed there, and, folding +my arms round the breast which in +vain repelled me, I whispered, "Comfort—comfort—life +is long. You shall +redeem the past, you shall efface +the stain, and your father shall bless +you yet!"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span></p> + + +<h3>CHAPTER LXXXI.</h3> + +<p>I could not stay long with my unhappy +cousin, but still I stayed long +enough to make me think it probable +that Lord Castleton's carriage would +have left the inn: and when, as I +passed the hall, I saw it standing before +the open door, I was seized with fear +for Roland; his emotions might have +ended in some physical attack. Nor +were those fears without foundation. +I found Fanny kneeling beside the +old soldier in the parlour where we +had seen the two women, and bathing +his temples, while Lord Castleton +was binding his arm; and the marquis's +favourite valet, who, amongst +his other gifts, was something of a +surgeon, was wiping the blade of the +penknife that had served instead of a +lancet. Lord Castleton nodded to me, +"Don't be uneasy—a little fainting fit—we +have bled him. He is safe now—see, +he is recovering."</p> + +<p>Roland's eyes, as they opened, turned +to me with an anxious, inquiring +look. I smiled upon him as I kissed +his forehead, and could, with a safe +conscience, whisper words which +neither father nor Christian could refuse +to receive as comfort.</p> + +<p>In a few minutes more we had left +the house. As Lord Castleton's carriage +only held two, the marquis, +having assisted Miss Trevanion and +Roland to enter, quietly mounted the +seat behind, and made a sign to me +to come by his side, for there was +room for both. (His servant had +taken one of the horses that had +brought thither Roland and myself, +and already gone on before.) No +conversation took place between us +then. Lord Castleton seemed profoundly +affected, and I had no words +at my command.</p> + +<p>When we reached the inn at which +Lord Castleton had changed horses, +about six miles distant, the marquis +insisted on Fanny's taking some rest +for a few hours, for indeed she was +thoroughly worn out.</p> + +<p>I attended my uncle to his room, +but he only answered my assurances +of his son's repentance with a pressure +of the hand, and then, gliding from me, +went into the furthest recess of the +room, and there knelt down. When +he rose, he was passive and tractable +as a child. He suffered me to assist +him to undress; and when he had lain +down on the bed, he turned his face +quietly from the light, and, after a +few heavy sighs, sleep seemed mercifully +to steal upon him. I listened to +his breathing till it grew low and +regular, and then descended to the +sitting-room in which I had left Lord +Castleton, for he had asked me in a +whisper to seek him there.</p> + +<p>I found the marquis seated by the +fire, in a thoughtful and dejected attitude.</p> + +<p>"I am glad you are come," said he, +making room for me on the hearth, +"for I assure you I have not felt so +mournful for many years; we have +much to explain to each other. Will +you begin? they say the sound of the +bell dissipates the thunder-cloud. And +there is nothing like the voice of a +frank, honest nature to dispel all the +clouds that come upon us when we +think of our own faults and the villany +of others. But, I beg you a thousand +pardons—that young man, your relation!—your +brave uncle's son! Is it +possible!"</p> + +<p>My explanations to Lord Castleton +were necessarily brief and +imperfect. The separation between +Roland and his son, my ignorance of +its cause, my belief in the death of the +latter, my chance acquaintance with +the supposed Vivian; the interest I +took in him; the relief it was to +the fears for his fate with which he +inspired me, to think he had returned +to the home I ascribed to him; and the +circumstances which had induced my +suspicions, justified by the result—all +this was soon hurried over.</p> + +<p>"But, I beg your pardon," said the +marquis, interrupting me, "did you, in +your friendship for one so unlike you, +even by your own partial account, +never suspect that you had stumbled +upon your lost cousin?"</p> + +<p>"Such an idea never could have +crossed me."</p> + +<p>And here I must observe, that +though the reader, at the first introduction +of Vivian, would divine the +secret,—the penetration of a reader +is wholly different from that of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> +actor in events. That I had chanced +on one of those curious coincidences +in the romance of real life, which a +reader looks out for and expects in +following the course of narrative, was +a supposition forbidden to me by a +variety of causes. There was not +the least family resemblance between +Vivian and any of his relations; and, +somehow or other, in Roland's son +I had pictured to myself a form and +a character wholly different from +Vivian's. To me it would have +seemed impossible that my cousin +could have been so little curious +to hear any of our joint family affairs; +been so unheedful, or even weary, if +I spoke of Roland—never, by a word +or tone, have betrayed a sympathy +with his kindred. And my other conjecture +was so probable!—son of the +Colonel Vivian whose name he bore. +And that letter, with the postmark +of 'Godalming!' and my belief, too, in +my cousin's death; even now I am +not surprised that the idea never +occurred to me.</p> + +<p>I paused from enumerating these +excuses for my dulness, angry with +myself, for I noticed that Lord Castleton's +fair brow darkened;—and he exclaimed, +"What deceit he must have +gone through before he could become +such a master in the art!"</p> + +<p>"That is true, and I cannot deny +it," said I. "But his punishment now +is awful; let us hope that repentance +may follow the chastisement. And, +though certainly it must have been his +own fault that drove him from his +father's home and guidance, yet, so +driven, let us make some allowance +for the influence of evil companionship +on one so young—for the suspicions +that the knowledge of evil produces, +and turns into a kind of false knowledge +of the world. And in this last +and worst of all his actions"—</p> + +<p>"Ah, how justify that!"</p> + +<p>"Justify it!—good heavens! justify +it!—no. I only say this, strange +as it may seem, that I believe his +affection for Miss Trevanion was for +herself: so he says, from the depth of +an anguish in which the most insincere +of men would cease to feign. But no +more of this,—she is saved, thank +Heaven!"</p> + +<p>"And you believe," said Lord +Castleton musingly, "that he spoke +the truth, when he thought that I—." +The marquis stopped, coloured slightly, +and then went on. "But no; Lady +Ellinor and Trevanion, whatever +might have been in their thoughts, +would never have so forgot their dignity +as to take him, a youth—almost a +stranger—nay, take any one into their +confidence on such a subject."</p> + +<p>"It was but by broken gasps, incoherent, +disconnected words, that Vivian,—I +mean my cousin,—gave me +any explanation of this. But Lady +N——, at whose house he was staying, +appears to have entertained such +a notion, or at least led my cousin to +think so."</p> + +<p>"Ah! that is possible," said Lord +Castleton, with a look of relief. "Lady +N—— and I were boy and girl +together; we correspond; she has +written to me suggesting that——. +Ah! I see,—an indiscreet woman. +Hum! this comes of lady correspondents!"</p> + +<p>Lord Castleton had recourse to the +Beaudesert mixture; and then, as if +eager to change the subject, began his +own explanation. On receiving my +letter, he saw even more cause to +suspect a snare than I had done, for +he had that morning received a letter +from Trevanion, not mentioning a +word about his illness; and on turning +to the newspaper, and seeing a paragraph +headed, "Sudden and alarming +illness of Mr Trevanion," the marquis +had suspected some party manœuvre +or unfeeling hoax, since the mail that +had brought the letter would have +travelled as quickly as any messenger +who had given the information to the +newspaper. He had, however, immediately +sent down to the office of +the journal to inquire on what authority +the paragraph had been inserted, +while he despatched another messenger +to St James's Square. The +reply from the office was, that the +message had been brought by a servant +in Mr Trevanion's livery, but was not +admitted as news until it had been +ascertained by inquiries at the minister's +house that Lady Ellinor had received +the same intelligence, and +actually left town in consequence.</p> + +<p>"I was extremely sorry for poor +Lady Ellinor's uneasiness," said Lord +Castleton, "and extremely puzzled, +but I still thought there could be no<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> +real ground for alarm when your letter +reached me. And when you there +stated your conviction that Mr Gower +was mixed up in this fable, and that +it concealed some snare upon Fanny, +I saw the thing at a glance. The +road to Lord N——'s, till within the +last stage or two, would be the road +to Scotland. And a hardy and unscrupulous +adventurer, with the assistance +of Miss Trevanion's servants, +might thus entrap her to Scotland +itself, and there work on her fears; +or, if he had hope in her affections, +win her consent to a Scotch marriage. +You may be sure, therefore, that I +was on the road as soon as possible. +But as your messenger came all the +way from the city, and not so quick +perhaps as he might have come; and +then as there was the carriage to see +to, and the horses to send for, I found +myself more than an hour and a half +behind you. Fortunately, however, +I made good ground, and should probably +have overtaken you half-way, +but that, on passing between a ditch +and waggon, the carriage was upset, +and that somewhat delayed me. On +arriving at the town where the road +branched off to Lord N——'s, I was +rejoiced to learn you had taken what I +was sure would prove the right direction, +and finally I gained the clue to +that villanous inn by the report of +the postboys who had taken Miss +Trevanion's carriage there, and met +you on the road. On reaching the inn, +I found two fellows conferring outside +the door. They sprang in as we drove +up, but not before my servant Summers—a +quick fellow, you know, who has +travelled with me from Norway to +Nubia—had quitted his seat, and got +into the house, into which I followed +him with a step, you dog, as active as +your own! Egad! I was twenty-one +then! Two fellows had already knocked +down poor Summers, and showed +plenty of fight. Do you know," said +the marquis, interrupting himself with +an air of seriocomic humiliation—"do +you know that I actually—no, you +never will believe it—mind 'tis a secret—actually +broke my cane over one fellow's +shoulders?—look!" (and the +marquis held up the fragment of the +lamented weapon.) "And I half suspect, +but I can't say positively, that I +had even the necessity to demean myself +by a blow with the naked hand—clenched +too!—quite Eton again—upon +my honour it was. Ha, ha!"</p> + +<p>And the marquis, whose magnificent +proportions, in the full vigour of man's +strongest, if not his most combative, +age, would have made him a formidable +antagonist, even to a couple of +prize-fighters, supposing he had retained +a little of Eton skill in such +encounters—laughed with the glee +of a schoolboy, whether at the thought +of his prowess, or his sense of the +contrast between so rude a recourse +to primitive warfare, and his own indolent +habits, and almost feminine +good temper. Composing himself, +however, with the quick recollection +how little I could share his hilarity, he +resumed gravely, "It took us some time—I +don't say to defeat our foes, but to +bind them, which I thought a necessary +precaution;—one fellow, Trevanion's +servant, all the while stunning me +with quotations from Shakspeare. I +then gently laid hold of a gown, the +bearer of which had been long trying to +scratch me; but being luckily a small +woman, had not succeeded in reaching +to my eyes. But the gown escaped, +and fluttered off to the kitchen. I +followed, and there I found Miss Trevanion's +Jezebel of a maid. She was +terribly frightened, and affected to be +extremely penitent. I own to you +that I don't care what a man says in +the way of slander, but a woman's +tongue against another woman—especially +if that tongue be in the +mouth of a lady's lady—I think it +always worth silencing; I therefore +consented to pardon this woman on +condition she would find her way here +before morning. No scandal shall +come from her. Thus you see some +minutes elapsed before I joined you; +but I minded that the less, as I heard +you and the Captain were already in +the room with Miss Trevanion; and +not, alas! dreaming of your connexion +with the culprit, I was wondering +what could have delayed you so long,—afraid, +I own it, to find that Miss +Trevanion's heart might have been +seduced by that—hem—hem!—handsome—young—hem—hem!—There's +no fear of that?" added Lord Castleton, +anxiously, as he bent his bright +eyes upon mine.</p> + +<p>I felt myself colour as I answered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> +firmly, "It is just to Miss Trevanion +to add that the unhappy man owned, +in her presence and in mine, that he +had never had the slightest encouragement +for his attempt—never one cause +to believe that she approved the affection, +which I try to think blinded +and maddened himself."</p> + +<p>"I believe you; for I think"—Lord +Castleton paused uneasily, again +looked at me, rose, and walked about +the room with evident agitation; +then, as if he had come to some resolution, +he returned to the hearth and +stood facing me.</p> + +<p>"My dear young friend," said he, +with his irresistible kindly frankness, +"this is an occasion that excuses +all things between us, even my +impertinence. Your conduct from +first to last has been such, that I wish, +from the bottom of my heart, that I +had a daughter to offer you, and that +you felt for her as I believe you feel +for Miss Trevanion. These are not +mere words; do not look down as if +ashamed. All the marquisates in the +world would never give me the pride +I should feel, if I could see in my life +one steady self-sacrifice to duty and +honour, equal to that which I have +witnessed in you."</p> + +<p>"Oh, my lord! my lord!"</p> + +<p>"Hear me out. That you love +Fanny Trevanion, I know; that she +may have innocently, timidly, half +unconsciously, returned that affection, +I think probable. But—"</p> + +<p>"I know what you would say; +spare me—I know it all."</p> + +<p>"No! it is a thing impossible; and, +if Lady Ellinor could consent, there +would be such a life-long regret on +her part, such a weight of obligation +on yours, that—no, I repeat, it is +impossible! But let us both think +of this poor girl. I know her better +than you can—have known her from +a child; know all her virtues—they +are charming; all her faults—they +expose her to danger. These +parents of hers—with their genius, and +ambition—may do very well to rule +England, and influence the world; +but to guide the fate of that child—no!" +Lord Castleton stopped, for he +was affected. I felt my old jealousy +return, but it was no longer bitter.</p> + +<p>"I say nothing," continued the +marquis, "of this position, in which, +without fault of hers, Miss Trevanion +is placed: Lady Ellinor's knowledge +of the world, and woman's wit, will +see how all that can be best put right. +Still it is awkward, and demands +much consideration. But, putting this +aside altogether, if you do firmly believe +that Miss Trevanion is lost to you, +can you bear to think that she is to +be flung as a mere cipher into the +account of the worldly greatness of an +aspiring politician—married to some +minister, too busy to watch over +her; or some duke, who looks to pay +off his mortgages with her fortune—minister +or duke only regarded +as a prop to Trevanion's power +against a counter cabal, or as giving +his section a preponderance in the +Cabinet? Be assured such is her +most likely destiny, or rather the beginning +of a destiny yet more mournful. +Now, I tell you this, that he who +marries Fanny Trevanion should +have little other object, for the first +few years of marriage, than to correct +her failings and develop her virtues. +Believe one who, alas! has too dearly +bought his knowledge of women—hers +is a character to be formed. Well, +then, if this prize be lost to you, would +it be an irreparable grief to your +generous affection to think that it +has fallen to the lot of one who at +least knows his responsibilities, and +who will redeem his own life, hitherto +wasted, by the steadfast endeavour +to fulfil them? Can you take this +hand still, and press it, even though +it be a rival's?"</p> + +<p>"My lord! This from you to me, +is an honour that—"</p> + +<p>"You will not take my hand? Then +believe me, it is not I that will give +that grief to your heart."</p> + +<p>Touched, penetrated, melted by this +generosity in a man of such lofty +claims, to one of my age and fortunes, +I pressed that noble hand, half raising +it to my lips—an action of respect +that would have misbecome neither; +but he gently withdrew the hand, in +the instinct of his natural modesty. +I had then no heart to speak further +on such a subject, but, faltering out +that I would go and see my uncle, I took +up the light, and ascended the stairs. +I crept noiselessly into Roland's room, +and shading the light, saw that, though +he slept, his face was very troubled.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> +And then I thought, "What are my +young griefs to his?" and—sitting +beside the bed, communed with my +own heart and was still!</p> + + +<h3>CHAPTER LXXXII.</h3> + +<p>At sunrise, I went down into the +sitting-room, having resolved to write +to my father to join us; for I felt +how much Roland needed his comfort +and his counsel, and it was no great +distance from the old Tower. I was +surprised to find Lord Castleton still +seated by the fire; he had evidently +not gone to bed.</p> + +<p>"That's right," said he; "we must +encourage each other to recruit +nature," and he pointed to the breakfast +things on the table.</p> + +<p>I had scarcely tasted food for many +hours, but I was only aware of my +own hunger by a sensation of faintness. +I eat unconsciously, and was +almost ashamed to feel how much the +food restored me.</p> + +<p>"I suppose," said I, "that you will +soon set off to Lord N——'s?"</p> + +<p>"Nay, did I not tell you, that I +have sent Summers express, with a +note to Lady Ellinor, begging her to +come here? I did not see, on reflection, +how I could decorously accompany +Miss Trevanion alone, without +even a female servant, to a house full +of gossiping guests. And even had +your uncle been well enough to go +with us, his presence would but have +created an additional cause for wonder; +so as soon as we arrived, and while +you went up with the Captain, I wrote +my letter and despatched my man. +I expect Lady Ellinor will be here +before nine o'clock. Meanwhile, I +have already seen that infamous waiting-woman, +and taken care to prevent +any danger from her garrulity. And +you will be pleased to hear that +I have hit upon a mode of satisfying +the curiosity of our friend Mrs +Grundy—that is, 'The World'—without +injury to any one. We must +suppose that that footman of Trevanion's +was out of his mind—it is but a +charitable, and your good father would +say, a philosophical supposition. All +great knavery is madness! The world +could not get on if truth and goodness +were not the natural tendencies +of sane minds. Do you understand?"</p> + +<p>"Not quite."</p> + +<p>"Why, the footman, being out of +his mind, invented this mad story of +Trevanion's illness, frightened Lady +Ellinor and Miss Trevanion out of +their wits with his own chimera, and +hurried them both off, one after the +other. I having heard from Trevanion, +and knowing he could not +have been ill when the servant left +him, set off, as was natural in so old +a friend of the family, saved her from +the freaks of a maniac, who, getting +more and more flighty, was beginning +to play the Jack o' Lantern, and leading +her, Heaven knows where! over the +country;—and then wrote to Lady +Ellinor to come to her. It is but a +hearty laugh at our expense, and +Mrs Grundy is content. If you don't +want her to pity, or backbite, let her +laugh. She is a she-Cerberus—she +wants to eat you: well—stop her +mouth with a cake."</p> + +<p>"Yes," continued this better sort +of Aristippus, so wise under all his +seeming levities; "the cue thus +given, everything favours it. If that +rogue of a lackey quoted Shakspeare +as much in the servant's hall as he +did while I was binding him neck and +heels in the kitchen, that's enough for +all the household to declare he was +moon-stricken; and if we find it necessary +to do anything more, why, we +must get him to go into Bedlam for +a month or two. The disappearance +of the waiting-woman is natural; +either I or Lady Ellinor send her +about her business for her folly in +being so gulled by the lunatic. If +that's unjust, why, injustice to servants +is common enough—public and +private. Neither minister nor lackey +can be forgiven, if he help us into a +scrape. One must vent one's passion +on something. Witness my poor +cane; though, indeed, a better illustration +would be the cane that Louis +XIV. broke on a footman, because<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> +his majesty was out of humour with +a prince whose shoulders were too +sacred for royal indignation.</p> + +<p>"So you see," concluded Lord +Castleton, lowering his voice, "that +your uncle, amongst all his other +causes of sorrow, may think at least +that his name is spared in his son's. +And the young man himself may find +reform easier, when freed from that +despair of the possibility of redemption, +which Mrs Grundy inflicts upon +those who—Courage, then; life is +long!"</p> + +<p>"My very words!" I cried; "and +so repeated by you, Lord Castleton, +they seem prophetic."</p> + +<p>"Take my advice, and don't lose +sight of your cousin, while his pride +is yet humbled, and his heart perhaps +softened. I don't say this only for +his sake. No, it is your poor uncle I +think of: noble old fellow. And now, +I think it right to pay Lady Ellinor +the respect of repairing, as well +as I can, the havoc three sleepless +nights have made on the exterior of +a gentleman who is on the shady side +of remorseless forty."</p> + +<p>Lord Castleton here left me, and I +wrote to my father, begging him to +meet us at the next stage, (which was +the nearest point from the high road +to the Tower,) and I sent off the letter +by a messenger on horseback. That +task done, I leant my head upon my +hand, and a profound sadness settled +upon me, despite all my efforts to face +the future, and think only of the duties +of life—not its sorrows.</p> + + +<h3>CHAPTER LXXXIII.</h3> + +<p>Before nine o'clock, Lady Ellinor +arrived, and went straight into Miss +Trevanion's room. I took refuge in +my uncle's. Roland was awake and +calm, but so feeble that he made no +effort to rise; and it was his calm, +indeed, that alarmed me the most—it +was like the calm of nature thoroughly +exhausted. He obeyed me mechanically, +as a patient takes from your +hand the draught, of which he is almost +unconscious, when I pressed +him to take food. He smiled on me +faintly when I spoke to him; but +made me a sign that seemed to implore +silence. Then he turned his face +from me, and buried it in the pillow; +and I thought that he slept again, +when, raising himself a little, and +feeling for my hand, he said in a +scarcely audible voice,—</p> + +<p>"Where is he?"</p> + +<p>"Would you see him, sir?"</p> + +<p>"No, no; that would kill me—and +then—what would become of him?"</p> + +<p>"He has promised me an interview, +and in that interview I feel +assured he will obey your wishes, +whatever they are."</p> + +<p>Roland made no answer.</p> + +<p>"Lord Castleton has arranged all, +so that his name and madness (thus +let us call it) will never be known."</p> + +<p>"Pride, pride! pride still!"—murmured +the old soldier. "The name, +the name—well, that is much; but +the living soul!—I wish Austin were +here."</p> + +<p>"I have sent for him, sir."</p> + +<p>Roland pressed my hand, and was +again silent. Then he began to +mutter, as I thought, incoherently, +about "the Peninsula and obeying +orders; and how some officer woke +Lord Wellesley at night, and said +that something or other (I could +not catch what—the phrase was +technical and military) was impossible; +and how Lord Wellesley asked +'Where's the order-book?' and looking +into the order-book, said, 'Not +at all impossible, for it is in the +order-book;' and so Lord Wellesley +turned round and went to sleep again." +Then suddenly Roland half rose, and +said in a voice clear and firm, "But +Lord Wellesley, though a great captain, +was a fallible man, sir, and the +order-book was his own mortal +handiwork.—Get me the Bible!"</p> + +<p>Oh Roland, Roland! and I had +feared that thy mind was wandering!</p> + +<p>So I went down and borrowed a +Bible in large characters, and placed +it on the bed before him, opening the +shutters, and letting in God's day +upon God's word.</p> + +<p>I had just done this, when there +was a slight knock at the door. I +opened it, and Lord Castleton stood<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> +without. He asked me, in a whisper, +if he might see my uncle. I drew +him in gently, and pointed to the soldier +of life "learning what was not +impossible" from the unerring Order-Book.</p> + +<p>Lord Castleton gazed with a changing +countenance, and, without disturbing +my uncle, stole back. I followed +him, and gently closed the door.</p> + +<p>"You must save his son," he said in +a faltering voice—"you must; and +tell me how to help you. That sight!—no +sermon ever touched me more. +Now come down, and receive Lady +Ellinor's thanks. We are going. +She wants me to tell my own tale to +my old friend, Mrs Grundy: so I go +with them. Come."</p> + +<p>On entering the sitting-room, Lady +Ellinor came up and fairly embraced +me. I need not repeat her thanks, +still less the praises, which fell cold +and hollow on my ear. My gaze +rested on Fanny where she stood apart—her +eyes, heavy with fresh tears, bent +on the ground. And the sense of all +her charms—the memory of the tender, +exquisite kindness she had shown +to the stricken father; the generous +pardon she had extended to the criminal +son; the looks she had bent +upon me on that memorable night—looks +that had spoken such trust in +my presence—the moment in which +she had clung to me for protection, +and her breath been warm upon my +cheek,—all these rushed over me; +and I felt that the struggle of months +was undone—that I had never loved +her as I loved her then—when I saw +her but to lose her evermore! And +then there came for the first, and, I +now rejoice to think, for the only +time, a bitter, ungrateful accusation +against the cruelty of fortune and the +disparities of life. What was it that +set our two hearts eternally apart, +and made hope impossible? Not +nature, but the fortune that gives a +second nature to the world. Ah, +could I then think that it is in that +second nature that the soul is ordained +to seek its trials, and that the elements +of human virtue find their +harmonious place! What I answered +I know not. Neither know I how +long I stood there listening to sounds +which seemed to have no meaning, +till there came other sounds which +indeed woke my sense, and made my +blood run cold to hear,—the tramp +of the horses, the grating of the +wheels, the voice at the door that +said "All was ready."</p> + +<p>Then Fanny lifted her eyes, and +they met mine; and then involuntarily +and hastily she moved a few steps +towards me, and I clasped my right +hand to my heart, as if to still its +beating, and remained still. Lord +Castleton had watched us both. I +felt that watch was upon us, though +I had till then shunned his looks: +now, as I turned my eyes from +Fanny's, that look came full upon me—soft, +compassionate, benignant. +Suddenly, and with an unutterable +expression of nobleness, the marquis +turned to Lady Ellinor, and said—"Pardon +me for telling you an old +story. A friend of mine—a man of +my own years—had the temerity +to hope that he might one day or other +win the affections of a lady young +enough to be his daughter, and whom +circumstances and his own heart led +him to prefer from all her sex. My +friend had many rivals; and you will +not wonder—for you have seen the lady. +Among them was a young gentleman, +who for months had been an inmate +of the same house—(Hush, Lady +Ellinor! you will hear me out; the +interest of my story is to come)—who +respected the sanctity of the house he +had entered, and left it when he felt +he loved—for he was poor, and the +lady rich. Some time after, this gentleman +saved the lady from a great +danger, and was then on the eve of +leaving England—(Hush! again—hush!) +My friend was present when +these two young persons met, before +the probable absence of many years, +and so was the mother of the lady to +whose hand he still hoped one day to +aspire. He saw that his young rival +wished to say, 'Farewell!' and without +a witness: that farewell was all +that his honour and his reason could +suffer him to say. My friend saw that +the lady felt the natural gratitude for +a great service, and the natural pity +for a generous and unfortunate affection; +for so, Lady Ellinor, he only interpreted +the sob that reached his +ear! What think you my friend did? +Your high mind at once conjectures. +He said to himself—'If I am ever<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> +to be blest with the heart which, in +spite of disparity of years, I yet hope +to win, let me show how entire is the +trust that I place in its integrity and +innocence: let the romance of first +youth be closed—the farewell of pure +hearts be spoken—unembittered by the +idle jealousies of one mean suspicion.' +With that thought, which <i>you</i>, Lady +Ellinor, will never stoop to blame, +he placed his hand on that of the +noble mother, drew her gently +towards the door, and, calmly confident +of the result, left these two +young natures to the unwitnessed +impulse of maiden honour and manly +duty."</p> + +<p>All this was said and done with a +grace and earnestness that thrilled +the listeners: word and action suited +each to each with so inimitable a harmony, +that the spell was not broken +till the voice ceased and the door +closed.</p> + +<p>That mournful bliss for which I had +so pined was vouchsafed: I was alone +with her to whom, indeed, honour and +reason forbade me to say more than +the last farewell.</p> + +<p>It was some time before we recovered—before +we <i>felt</i> that we were alone.</p> + +<p>O ye moments! that I can now recall +with so little sadness in the mellow +and sweet remembrance, rest +ever holy and undisclosed in the +solemn recesses of the heart. Yes!—whatever +confession of weakness was +interchanged, we were not unworthy +of the trust that permitted the mournful +consolation of the parting. No +trite love-tale—with vows not to be +fulfilled, and hopes that the future +must belie—mocked the realities of +the life that lay before us. Yet on the +confines of the dream, we saw the +day rising cold upon the world: and +if—children as we wellnigh were—we +shrunk somewhat from the light, +we did not blaspheme the sun, and +cry "There is darkness in the dawn!"</p> + +<p>All that we attempted was to comfort +and strengthen each other for +that which must be: not seeking to +conceal the grief we felt, but promising, +with simple faith, to struggle +against the grief. If vow were pledged +between us—<i>that</i> was the vow—each +for the other's sake would strive +to enjoy the blessings Heaven left +us still. Well may I say that we +were children! I know not, in the +broken words that passed between us, +in the sorrowful hearts which those +words revealed—I know not if there +were that which they who own, in +human passion, but the storm and +the whirlwind, would call the love of +maturer years—the love that gives +fire to the song, and tragedy to the +stage; but I know that there was +neither a word nor a thought which +made the sorrow of the children a +rebellion to the heavenly Father.</p> + +<p>And again the door unclosed, and +Fanny walked with a firm step to her +mother's side, and, pausing there, +extended her hand to me, and said, +as I bent over it, "Heaven <span class="smcap">WILL</span> be +with you!"</p> + +<p>A word from Lady Ellinor; a frank +smile from him—the rival; one last, +last glance from the soft eyes of +Fanny, and then Solitude rushed upon +me—rushed, as something visible, +palpable, overpowering. I felt it in +the glare of the sunbeam—I heard it +in the breath of the air: like a ghost +it rose there—where <i>she</i> had filled the +space with her presence but a moment +before? A something seemed gone +from the universe for ever; a change +like that of death passed through my +being; and when I woke to feel that +my being lived again, I knew that it +was my youth and its poet-land that +were no more, and that I had passed +with an unconscious step, which never +could retrace its way, into the hard +world of laborious man!</p> + + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="THE_GAME_LAWS_IN_SCOTLAND" id="THE_GAME_LAWS_IN_SCOTLAND">THE GAME LAWS IN SCOTLAND.</a></h2> + + +<p>Those who have been accustomed +to watch the tactics of the Manchester +party cannot have overlooked or forgotten +the significant coincidence, in +point of time, between Mr Bright's +attack on the Game Laws, and the last +grand assault upon the barrier which +formerly protected British agriculture. +That wily lover of peace among all +orders of men saw how much it would +assist the ultimate designs of his +party to excite distrust and enmity +between the two great divisions of +the protectionist garrison—the owners +and the cultivators of land; and +the anti-game-law demonstration was +planned for that purpose. The manœuvre +was rendered useless by the +sudden and unconditional surrender +of the fortress by that leader, whose +system of defence has ever been, as +Capefigue says—"céder incessamment." +It is impossible, however, to +disguise the true source of the sudden +sympathy for the farmers' grievances, +which in 1845 and 1846 yearned in +the compassionate bowels of the +agrarian leaders, and led to the +lengthened inquiries of Mr Bright's +committee.</p> + +<p>But it seems we are not yet done +with the game-law agitation. It is +true the last rampart of protection is +levelled to the ground: but the subjugation +of the country interest to the +potentates of the factory is not yet +accomplished. The owners of the +soil have not yet bowed low enough +to the Baal of free trade; their influence +is not altogether obliterated, nor +their privileges sufficiently curtailed; +and therefore Mr Bright and the +Anti-Game-Law Association have +buckled on their armour once more, +and the tenantry are again invited to +join in the crusade against those who, +they are assured, have always been +their inveterate oppressors; and, to +cut of as much as possible the remotest +chance of an amicable settlement, +it is proclaimed that no concession +will be accepted—no proposal +of adjustment listened to—short of the +total and immediate abolition of every +statute on the subject of game.</p> + +<p>The truth is, that this branch of +the agitation trade is too valuable to +be lost sight of by those who earn +their bread or their popularity in that +line of business. Hundreds of honest +peasants, rotting in unwholesome +gaols, their wives and children herded +in thousands to the workhouse—hard-working +tenants sequestrated by a +grasping and selfish aristocracy—these +are all too fertile topics for the +platform philanthropist to be risked +by leaving open any door for conciliation; +and therefore the terms demanded +are such as it is well known +cannot be accepted.</p> + +<p>Our attention has been attracted to +the doings of an association which +has for its professed object the abolition +of all game laws, and which has +recently opened a new campaign in +Scotland, under the leadership of the +chief magistrate of Edinburgh, and +one of the representatives of the city. +Of course the construction of such +societies is no longer a mystery to any +one; and that under our notice appears +to be got up on the most approved +pattern, and with all the +newest improvements. A staff of +active officials directs its movements, +and collects funds—lecturers, pamphleteers, +newspaper editors are paid +or propitiated. From the raw material +of Mr Bright's blue-books the +most exaggerated statements and +calculations of the most zealous witnesses +are carefully picked out, and +worked up into a picture, which is +held up to a horrified public as a +true representation of the condition +of the rural districts; and the game +laws become, in the hands of such +artists, a monster pestilence, enough +to have made the hair of Pharaoh +himself to stand on end. It is not to +be wondered at if some, who have +not had the opportunity of investigating +for themselves the effects of these +laws, have been misled by the bold +ingenuity of the professed fabricators +of grievances; but it is a fact which +we shall again have occasion to +notice, that they have made but little +impression on the tenant farmers. Of +the few members of that class who +have taken an active share in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> +agitation, we doubt if there is one +who could prove a loss from game on +any year's crop to the value of a five-pound +note.<a name="FNanchor_2" id="FNanchor_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> The fact is, that while +no one will deny the existence of individual +cases of hardship from the +operation of the game laws, you will +hear comparatively little about them +among those who are represented as +groaning under their intolerable burden. +If you would learn the weight +of the grievance, you must go to the +burghs and town-councils; and there—among +small grocers and dissenting +clergymen, who would be puzzled to +distinguish a pheasant from a bird-of-paradise—you +will be made acquainted +with the extent of the desolation +of these "fearful wildfowl:" from +them you will learn the true shape +and dimensions of "the game-law +incubus," which, as one orator of the +tribe tells us, "is gradually changing +the surface of this once fertile land +into a desert."</p> + +<p>But while we are willing to allow +for a certain leaven of misled sincerity +among the supporters of this +association, it is evident that, among +its most active and influential leaders, +the relief of the farmer or the relaxation +of penal laws is not the real +object. We shall show from their +own writings and speeches the most +convincing proof that they contemplate +far more extensive and fundamental +changes than the mere abolition +of the game laws. There is +not, indeed, much congruity or system +in the opinions which we shall +have to quote; but in one point it +will be seen that they all concur—a +vindictive hostility to the possessors +of land, and an eager desire to abridge +or destroy the advantages attached, +or supposed to be attached, to that +description of property. Thus the +system of entails—the freedom of real +property from legacy and probate +duty—the landlord's preferable lien +for the rent of his land, figure in the +debates of the abolitionist orators, +along with other topics equally relevant +to the game laws, as oppressive +burdens on the industry of the country. +The system of the tenure of +land, also, is pronounced to be a crying +injustice; and one gentleman +modestly insists on the necessity of a +law for compelling the landlord to +make payment to his tenant at the +expiry of every lease for any increase +in the value of the farm during his +occupation. The author of an "Essay +on the Evils of Game-Laws," which +the association rewarded with their +highest premium, and which, therefore, +we are fairly entitled to take as +an authorised exposition of their sentiments, +thus enlarges on "the withering +and ruinous thraldom" to which +the farmers are subjected by a system +of partial legislation.</p> + +<p>"No individual," he complains, "of +this trade has ever risen to importance +and dignity in the state. While +merchants of every other class, lawyers, +and professional men of every +other class, have often reached the +highest honours which the crown has +to bestow, no farmer has ever yet +attained even to a seat in the legislature, +or to any civic title of distinction; +uncertain as the trade is naturally, +and harassed and weighed +down by those sad enactments the +game laws, to be enrolled among the +class of farmers is now tantamount to +saying, that you belong to a caste +which is for ever excluded from the +rewards of fair and honourable ambition."—(Mr +Cheine Shepherd's <i>Essay</i>. +Edinburgh, 1847.)</p> + +<p>The association of the game laws +with the scorns which "patient merit +of the unworthy takes," is at least ingenious. +We confess, with Mr Cheine +Shepherd, that the aspect of the times +is wofully discouraging to any hope +that a coronet, "or even the lowest +order of knighthood," will in our days +become the usual reward for skill</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"In small-boned lambs, the horse-hoe, or the drill."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>We cannot flatter him with the prospect +of becoming a Cincinnatus; or +that we shall live to see the time when +muck shall make marquisates as well +as money; and perhaps the best ad<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span>vice, +under the circumstances, we +can tender him, is that which the old +oracle gave to certain unhappy <i>shepherds</i> +in Virgil's time—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Pascite, ut ante, boves, pueri—submittite tauros."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Absurd, however, as the complaint +of this ambitious Damon appears, it +indicates at least the extent of change +which he and his patrons of the association +think they may justly demand. +It is not, then, redress of game-law +grievances they aim at, but an indefinite +change in the social and political +system of the country. If any one +doubts this, let him read the following +extract from the address of Mr Wilson +of Glassmount:—</p> + +<p>"Much <i>organic change</i> must, however, +precede the reforms for which +they were now agitating. <i>The suffrage +must be extended.</i>—(applause)—and, +above all, the voters must be +protected in the exercise of their functions +by <i>the ballot</i>; for, in a country +where so great a disparity existed between +the social condition of the electoral +body, parliamentary election, +as now conducted under a system of +open voting, was only a delusion and +a mockery."—(<i>Caledonian Mercury</i>, +Feb. 12, 1849.)</p> + +<p>From such an authority we cannot +expect much amity towards the aristocracy, +who, he says, "it is notorious, +are, in point of political, scientific, and +general knowledge, far behind those +employed in commerce and manufactures."<a name="FNanchor_3" id="FNanchor_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> +He compares the present +state of Britain with "the condition +of France anterior to her first revolution, +when the ancient <i>noblesse</i> possessed +the same exclusive privileges +which are still enjoyed by the aristocracy +of this country—and, among the +rest, <i>a game law</i>, which was administered +with so much severity, that it is +admitted on all hands to have been +the chief cause of that convulsion +which shook Europe to its centre."<a name="FNanchor_4" id="FNanchor_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a></p> + +<p>France and its institutions form a +subject of constant eulogy to this +gentleman, whose speeches show him +to be by far the ablest, and, at the +same time, the most straightforward +of the League lecturers. He admonishes +our landed proprietors to visit +that country. "In the social condition +of that country they would see +the results of the abolition of those +class privileges and distinctions which +their order are still permitted to enjoy +in England; and they would there +find a widespread comfort in all the rural +districts, which has been produced +by the subdivision of property, and +which is nowhere to be found in this +country, where game laws, and laws +of entail and primogeniture, are maintained +for the exclusive amusement +and aggrandisement," &c.<a name="FNanchor_5" id="FNanchor_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a></p> + +<p>We are willing to believe that Mr +Wilson of Glassmount has never himself +visited the country whose condition +he longs to see resembled here; +and that it is simply from ignorance +that he eulogises the agricultural prosperity +of a land where five bushels of +wheat is the average yield of an imperial +acre—where, in two generations, +the landed system of the Code Napoleon +has produced five and a-half +millions of proprietors, the half of +whom have revenues not exceeding +£2 a-year, and whom the greatest +statist of France describes as "<i>propriétaires +républicains et affamés</i>." +Our object, however, is not to reason +with adversaries of this stamp, but +simply to show, from their own words, +the nature of the reforms they contemplate, +under cover of a design to +ameliorate the game laws. It may +be said, indeed, that such indiscreet +avowals of the more zealous members +of the Anti-Game-Law Association +cannot be fairly ascribed to its leaders. +But though their language is, of +course, more wary, it were easy to +select from their orations even equally +strong proofs of that bitter hostility +to the landed interest, which prompts +Mr Bright himself to cheer on his followers +with the announcement that the +people are ready to throw off "the +burdens imposed on them by <i>an aristocracy +who oppress, grind them down, +and scourge them</i>;" and "that <i>the +time is now come to leach the pro<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span>prietors of the soil the limits of their +rights</i>."<a name="FNanchor_6" id="FNanchor_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a></p> + +<p>A reference to the proceedings of +the anti-game-law leaders will show +that the specimens we have given are +only fair samples of the factious spirit—the +querulous, yet bullying and +vindictive tone, in which they have +conducted this controversy. No one +can seriously believe that a hostility, +directed not against these laws in +particular, but against the whole social +and political system of our country, +can be founded on a wise and deliberate +review of the effects of the statutes +in question. Discontent with things +in general is a disease which admits +of no remedy, and which any ordinary +treatment, by argument or concession, +would only aggravate.</p> + +<p>There are many, however, of more +moderate views, who are interested +in knowing to what extent the complaints +they have heard are founded +on reason, and are capable of redress. +We purpose, for the present, to limit +our remarks principally to the operation +of the Scotch law upon game, +both because agitation on this subject +has recently been most active on this +side of the Tweed, and because we +think the important differences in the +game-laws of England and Scotland +have not been sufficiently attended +to, and have given rise to much popular +misapprehension.</p> + +<p>All the abolition orators begin by +telling us that game laws are a remnant +of the feudal system—that they +originated in the tyranny and oppression +of the middle ages, and are, +therefore, wholly unsuited to our improved +state of society. Such an +origin, of course, condemns them at +once; for, in the popular mind, feudal +law is somehow synonymous with +slavery, rape, robbery, and all that is +damnable. The truth is, however, +that the game law of Scotland has +no more connexion with the feudal +law than with the code of Lycurgus. +Even as regards England, there is +good ground for questioning Blackstone's +doctrine that the right to pursue +and kill game is, in all cases, traceable +to, and derived from, the crown. +But in Scotland, at all events, there +never existed any such exclusive +system of forest laws as that which +grew up under the Norman kings, +and which King John was finally compelled +to renounce. The broad and +liberal principle out of which the +Scotch game law has grown, is the +maxim of the civil law—<i>quod nullius +est occupanti conceditur</i>—that any one +may lawfully appropriate and enjoy +whatever belongs to no one else—a +maxim which must necessarily form +the fountainhead of all property. All +wild animals, therefore, may be seized +by any one, and the law will defend +his possession of them. But out of +this very principle itself there naturally +springs a most important restriction +of the common privilege of pursuing +game; for the possessor of +<i>land</i>, as well as the possessor of game, +must be protected in the exclusive enjoyment +of what (though originally +<i>res nullius</i>) he has made his own by +occupation or otherwise. It is evident, +then, that the contingent right +of the hunter to the animals he may +succeed in seizing, can be exercised to +its full extent only in an unoccupied +and uncultivated country; and must +give way, wherever the soil has become +the subject of property, to the +prior and perfect right of the landowner. +Accordingly, we find that in +the Roman law the affirmation of the +common right to hunt wild animals +is coupled with this important restriction, +under the very same title—"Qui +alienum fundum ingreditur, venandi +aut aucupandi gratiâ, potest a domino +prohiberi ne ingrediatur;" and, notwithstanding +the perplexed and anomalous +nature of the tenure of land +among the Romans, we find everywhere +traces of a strict law of trespass, +from the Twelve Tables down to Justinian. +And in this the civil law was +followed by that of Scotland. Subject +to this inevitable restriction, and to a +few regulative enactments of less importance, +the privilege continued open +to all, without distinction, up to the +year 1621.<a name="FNanchor_7" id="FNanchor_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a> About this time the tenor +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span>of the statutes shows that game of all +kinds had become exceedingly scarce; +and it was probably with a view of +preventing its extirpation, as well as +of discouraging trespass, which, from +the increase of the population, had +increased in frequency, that, in the +above-mentioned year, an act was introduced +which was, without doubt, a +decided violation of the principle on +which the system was originally +founded. The act 1621 prohibited +every one from hunting or hawking +who had not "a plough of land in +heritage;" and subsequent statutes extended +this prohibition to the sale and +purchase, and even to the possession +of game, by persons not thus qualified. +This, we repeat, was a direct departure +from the leading maxim of the +law, as it stood previously; and we +can see no reason whatever for now +retaining it on the statute-book. It +is notorious, however, that, practically, +these statutes have now fallen +into desuetude, and that the mere +want of the heritable qualification +has not, for a long period, been made +a ground for prosecution. In fact, +the privilege is open to any one provided +with the landlord's permission, +and who has paid the tax demanded +by the Exchequer, though he may not +possess a foot of land. When, then, +we find the orators of Edinburgh complaining +of the harsh and intolerable +operation of the qualification statutes, +it affords the most complete evidence +either of their utter ignorance of the +actual state of the law, or of the +weakness of a cause that needs such +disingenuous advocacy.</p> + +<p>The fiscal license, which was first +required by the act 24th Geo. III. c. +43, cannot be justly regarded in the +light of an infraction of the general +principle of the Scotch law. Its +direct object is not the limitation of +the right of hunting, but the maintenance +of the public revenue; and it +will be readily admitted by all reasonable +men that, on the one hand, +there cannot be a less objectionable +source of taxation than the privilege +in question, and, on the other, that +the duty is not excessive, when we +find above 60,000 persons in Great +Britain voluntarily subjecting themselves +to it every year.</p> + +<p>The two other principal enactments +regarding the pursuit of game in Scotland, +commonly known as the Night +and the Day Trespass Acts, 9 Geo. +IV. c. 69, and 2 and 3 Will. IV. c. +68, cannot here be criticised in detail. +Their provisions contain one or +two anomalies which we shall have +occasion to notice below, in suggesting +some practicable amendments +on the present law. But as to +their general spirit, we venture to +affirm that they are most legitimate +developments of the general principle +above stated. In every class +of injuries to the rights of others, +there are some species of the offence +which, from their frequency, or from +their being difficult to detect, must +necessarily be prevented by more +stringent prohibitions than those attached +to the genus in general; and +in the same way that orchards for +example, timber, salmon fisheries, +and many other subjects are protected +by special penalties, so has it been +found requisite to amplify the common +law of trespass, in its application +to that particular manner of trespass +which is confessedly the most frequent +and annoying. If the penalties are +unnecessarily stringent, let them by +all means be modified; but their severity, +in comparison with the punishment +of ordinary trespass, is not +inconsistent with justice, or the principles +of wise legislation.</p> + +<p>We have adverted, in this hasty +sketch, only to the prominent features +and growth of the law of Scotland; +but a more detailed comparison +with that of England and other +countries of Europe, especially when +recent statutes and decisions are +taken into view, will fully justify the +opinion of Hutcheson and other well +qualified judges, that it is "the most +liberal and enlightened of all laws +as to game." It recognises, of course, +no such thing as <i>property</i> in game +more than in any other animals of a +wild nature. The proprietor of a manor +has no right to the pheasant he has +fed until he shall have actually +brought it to bag, or at least disabled +it from escaping; and the right which +he then first acquires is quite independent +of his ownership of the land.</p> + +<p>To many the distinction thus +created, by considering all game as +wild animals, appears too theoretical;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> +and no doubt it is a question for +zoologists rather than for lawyers to +decide, whether there really be in animals +any such permanent and invariable +character as to justify such a +universal distinction. There is the +strongest presumption that all our +domesticated animals were at one +time <i>feræ</i>; and it is rather a difficult +task to show reason for considering +some classes as "<i>indomitabiles</i>," when +we see the reindeer, of a tribe naturally +the most shy of man, living in the +hut of his Lapland master—and when +we recollect that among birds, the duck, +turkey, and peacock, with us the most +civilised and familiar of poultry, are +elsewhere most indubitable <i>feræ</i> at +this very moment. It has been argued +that the commoner kinds of game, +under the system of rearing and feeding +now so general, are scarcely more +shy or migratory in their habits than +those animals which the law contrasts +with them as <i>mansuefactæ</i>, and therefore +regards as property: that even +when straying in the fields, we may +as reasonably impute to them the +<i>animus revertendi</i>—the instinct of returning +to their haunts and coverts, +as to pigeons and bees which the law +for this reason retains under its protection, +though abroad from their +cots or hives; that the common +objection as to the difficulty of identifying +game, is one which applies as +strongly to many other subjects recognised +as vested in an owner; and +finally, that, being now in reality +valuable articles of commerce, these +classes of animals should cease to be +viewed as incapable of becoming +property. It is difficult to gainsay +the premises on which this proposal +is built: and if we look to analogy, it +cannot be doubted that the invariable +tendency of civilisation is towards +the restriction of the category of <i>res +nullius</i>, and by art and culture to +subject all products of the earth to +the use, and consequently to the possession +of man. But, apart from this +speculative view of the subject—it +seems to us that, while common +opinion is unprepared for so fundamental +a change in the law of Scotland, +the alteration proposed would +not in practice improve the position +of any of those classes who are affected +by the operation of the present +game laws, nor materially obviate +any of the bad effects usually ascribed +to them.</p> + +<p>But it is time now to turn to those +alleged evils, and to form some judgment +as to whether they are in reality +so weighty and numerous, that nothing +short of the total abolition of +the game laws can effectually check +them. The abrogation of a law is +no doubt an easy way of overcoming +the difficulty of amending it—in the +same way that the expedient of wearing +no breeches will unquestionably +save you the cost of patching them; +and as a device for diminishing game-law +offences, the total repeal of all +game laws is perhaps as simple and +efficacious a recipe as could well be +conceived. But let us first inquire +into the existence of the disease, before +we resort to so summary a remedy.</p> + +<p>There are three distinct parties who +are said to be injured by the operation +of these laws—<i>The community</i> at large +suffer chiefly by being deprived, it is +alleged, of a very large proportion of +the produce of the soil, which, if not +consumed by game, would go to increase +the stock of human food—<i>The +poacher</i> has to bear the double injustice +of a law which first makes the +temptation, and then punishes the +transgression—<i>The farmer</i> finds, in the +protection given to game, a source of +constant annoyance, loss, and disappointment. +We shall take these complainants +in their order.</p> + +<p>The public, (we are told by the enlightened +commercial gentleman who +represents the metropolis of Scotland,) +the public have <i>a right</i> to see that +none of the means for maintaining +human life are wasted—a great popular +principle popularly and broadly +stated. It is possible, however, that +Mr Cowan may not have contemplated +all the admirable results of his +principle. He may, perchance, not +have seen that it sweeps away, not +only every hare and pheasant, but +every animal whatever that cannot be +eaten or turned to profit in the ledger. +His carriage horses eat as much as +would maintain six poor paper-makers +and their families; the keep of his +children's pony would board and +educate four orphans at the Ragged +Schools. But we are not yet done<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> +with him; for he cannot stick his fork +into that tempting fowl before him +until he can satisfy us, the public, +that the grain it has consumed would +not have been more profitably applied +in fattening sheep or cattle. And what, +pray, is that array of plate on the +<i>buffet</i> behind him but so much capital +held back from the creation of +employment and food for that starving +population, which he assures us +(though every one but himself knows +it is nonsense) is increasing at the +rate of 1000 per diem! Political +economy of this quality may do very +well for the Edinburgh Chamber of +Commerce; but we really hope, for +the credit of the city he represents, +that he will not expose himself on any +other stage, nor consider it a necessary +part of his duties as a legislator, to +prescribe the precise manner in which +corn shall or shall not be used.</p> + +<p>The supposed amount of destruction +by game of cereal and other produce, +has afforded a fine field for the +more erudite of the game law opponents. +Mr Gayford's celebrated +calculation, that three hares eat as +much as a full-grown sheep, is generally +assumed as the infallible basis of +their estimates, and the most astounding +results are evolved from it.<a name="FNanchor_8" id="FNanchor_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> Mr +Charles Stevenson thinks the destruction +cannot be less than two bushels +per acre over the whole kingdom, representing +a total of <i>two hundred +thousand quarters</i>. "<i>If it be the case</i>," +says Mr Chiene Shepherd, with a +modest hesitation—"if it be the case, +that throughout this empire the +farmers, in general, suffer more loss +from game than they pay in the form +of poor's tax (<i>and I suppose it cannot +be doubted that they do so</i>—that in +most parts they suffer <i>more than double</i> +the amount of their poor-rates,) then +it follows, of course, that there is more +destruction from game than would +make up the sum collected from poor-rates +from the whole lands of the +empire."<a name="FNanchor_9" id="FNanchor_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a> Double the amount of +poor-rates paid by land may be taken +roughly at some £9,000,000. But +there are others who think even this +too low an estimate, and throw into +the scale (a million out or in is of no +importance) the county rate, highway +rate, and all the other direct +burdens on land put together! Let +us carry on the line of calculation a +step further: if game animals <i>alone</i> +consume all this, and if we allow a +fair proportion of voracity to the +minor, but more numerous <i>feræ</i>—rats, +mice, rooks, wood-pigeons, &c.—it is +clear as daylight that it is a mere delusion +to think that a single quarter of +wheat can, by any possibility, escape +the universal devastation. There is +no lunatic so incurable as your rampant +arithmetician; and the only delusion +that could stand a comparison +with the above would be the attempt +to reason such men out of their absurdities.</p> + +<p>But the actual waste of grain is +not, it seems, the only way in which +the public suffers. The annual cost +to the community of prosecutions under +the game acts is an enormous and +annually increasing burden. This is +proved, of course, by the same system +of statistics run mad as that of +which we have just given some specimens. +The game convictions in the +county of Bedford, it is discovered, +were, in the year 1843, 36 per cent of +the total <i>male</i> summary convictions; +and the lovers of the marvellous, who +listen to such statements, are quietly +left to infer, not only that this is +usually the case in Bedfordshire, but +that a similar state of things prevails +throughout England and Scotland +also. They are sagacious enough, however, +never to refer to general results. +They carefully avoid any mention of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span>the fact, (which, however, any one +may learn for himself, by referring to +Mr Phillipps' tables,) that the average +of the game convictions during the +five years these tables include, was, +for <i>all England</i>, not 36, but a fraction +over 6 per cent of the whole. +Now, let us see how the case stands +in Scotland. We have observed that +our northern orators always draw their +illustrations from the south of the +Tweed; and we have, therefore, looked +with some curiosity into the records +of our Scotch county courts, +as affording some test of the real +extent of the grievance in this part of +the empire. Unfortunately these records +are not preserved in a tabular +form by all the counties; but we +have been favoured with returns from +five of the most important on the east +coast, which we selected as being those +in which the preservation of game is +notoriously carried to the greatest +extent. An abstract of these returns +will be found below,<a name="FNanchor_10" id="FNanchor_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a> and will suffice +to show how false, in regard to Scotland, +is the assertion that game prosecutions +are alarmingly numerous; +while every one knows that the expense +is borne, not by the public, but +by the private party, except in very +rare and aggravated cases. From +these it appears that the whole number +of game cases tried, or reported to +the authorities, in these five counties, +during the years 1846 and 1847, was +one hundred and forty-four, being +about 2.5 per cent of the whole. Fifeshire +(which was selected to be shown +up before Mr Bright's committee as +an abyss of game-law abuses) had, in +1848, out of eight hundred and thirty +offences, only <i>three</i> under the game +acts. As to the alleged progressive +<i>increase</i> of such cases, the subjoined +table of the numbers for the five years +preceding 1848<a name="FNanchor_11" id="FNanchor_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a> proves that, whether +it be true or not as respects isolated +districts of England, that the number +of game-law trials is every year +becoming a heavier burden on the +public, it certainly is not true in four +of the largest and most <i>game-keeping</i> +counties of Scotland.</p> + +<p>We have now to make a remark or +two on the plea set up on behalf of +the poacher against the present game +laws. What is it that makes a man +become a poacher? "Temptation," +says Mr Bright, "and temptation only. +How can you expect that the poor but +honest labourer, who, on his way home +from his daily toil, sees hares and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span>pheasants swarming round his path, +should abstain from eking out his +scanty meal with one of those wild +animals, which, though on your land, +are no more yours than his? The idea +would never have occurred to him if +he had not seen the pheasants; and if +there had been no game laws, he would +have remained an upright and useful +member of society." Such, we believe, +is the beau-ideal of the poacher, as we +find it in abolitionist speeches, and in +popular afterpieces at the theatre. +He is, of course, always poor, but +virtuous,—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"A friendless man, at whose dejected eye<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Th'unfeeling proud one looks, and passes by."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>We shall not quarrel, however, with +the fidelity of this fancy sketch; but +we may be allowed to doubt whether +any large proportion of those who +incur penalties for game trespass have +been led into temptation by the mere +abundance of game in large preserves. +Men of plain sense will think it just +as fair to ascribe the frequency of +larceny to the abundance of bandanas +which old gentlemen <i>will</i> keep dangling +from their pockets while pursuing their +studies at print-shop windows. The +evidence taken by the committee seems +rather to show that the poacher's trade +thrives best where there is what is +called "a fair sprinkling" of ill-watched +game, than where he has to +encounter a staff of vigilant and well-trained +keepers. But what though +the case were otherwise? Suppose +the existence of the temptation to be +admitted, is it to be seriously argued +that the province of legislation is not +to prohibit offence, but to remove all +temptation from the offenders? not to +protect men in the enjoyment of their +rights, but to abridge or annihilate +those rights, that they may not be +invaded by others? This, we affirm, +is the principle when reduced to simple +terms; and startling enough it is to +those who have been accustomed to +think that the proper tendency of laws +and civilisation is in precisely the +opposite direction. What although a +breach of these laws may sometimes +be the commencement of a course of +crime, are there no other temptations +which open the road to the hulks or +the penitentiary? If the magistrates +of our towns, who so vehemently +denounce the danger of the game laws, +are sincere in their search after the +sources of crime, and in their efforts +to repress them, we can help their inquiries—we +can show them at their +own doors, and swarming in every +street, temptations to debauchery, +which have made a hundred crimes +for every one that can be traced to +game laws,—and yet we cannot +perceive that the zeal of our civic +reformers has been very strenuously +directed to discourage or to +diminish the numbers of these dens of +dissipation. We can refer them to +the reports of our gaol chaplains for +proof that three out of every four +prisoners are ignorant of the simplest +rudiments of education; and yet a +praiseworthy attempt lately made in +our metropolis to promote instruction +by means of apprentice schools, was +not favoured with the countenance of +our chief magistrate, because he happened +to be engaged in the more philanthropic +duty of presiding at a meeting +for condemning the game laws!</p> + +<p>If we are called upon to assign a +reason for the frequency of poaching, +we should attribute it neither to the +mere superabundance of game by +itself, nor yet to the pressure of poverty, +but very much to the same sort +of temptation that encourages the +common thief to filch a watch or a +handkerchief—namely, the facility of +disposing of his spoil. Well-stocked +covers may present opportunities to +the poacher for turning his craft to +account, but it is plain the practice +would be comparatively rare if he did +not know that at the bar of the next +alehouse he can barter his sackful of +booty either for beer or ready coin, and +no questions asked. Every village of +1000 or 1500 inhabitants offers a +market for his wares, and any surplus +in the hands of the country dealer can +be transferred in eighteen hours to the +London poulterer's window. There +cannot be a doubt that the consumption +of game has increased enormously +since the beginning of this century. +It was formerly unknown at the tables +of men of moderate means, except +when haply it came as an occasional +remembrance from some country relation, +or grateful M.P. Now-a-days +the spouse of any third-rate attorney +or thriving tradesman would consider<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> +her housekeeping disgraced for ever, +if she failed to present the expected +pheasant or brace of moorfowl "when +the goodman feasts his friends." And +even if we descend to the artisans and +operatives of our large towns, it will +be found that hares and rabbits form +a wholesome and by no means unusual +variation of their daily fare. We have +the evidence of one of the great Leadenhall +game dealers, that in the month +of November hares are sent up to +London in such quantities, that they +are often enabled to sell them at 9d., +and even at 6d. each. The average +weight of a hare may be taken at +about 8 lb.; and if we deduct one-half +for the skin, &c., there will remain +4 lb. of nutritious food, which, +even at 2s., is cheaper than beef or +mutton; while the occasional change +cannot but be both agreeable and +beneficial to those who have so limited +a choice of food within reach of their +means. Some idea may be formed of +the vast quantity of game brought +into London, from the statements of +Mr Brooke, who buys £10,000 worth +of game during the course of the winter; +and there are ten other great +salesmen in Leadenhall market alone. +If we make allowance for the supplies +sent directly to the smaller poulterers, +for the consumption in the other great +towns throughout the kingdom, and +for the probably still larger quantity +that never comes into market at +all, it is impossible to deny that game +has now become an important part of +the food of the people, and that, as an +article of commerce, it deserves the +attention of the legislature. Any +attempt to check the production and +sale of a commodity for which there +is so general a demand, must prove +both useless and mischievous. It is +in vain to proscribe it as an expensive +luxury, and insist on the substitution +of less costly fare. It may be true, +for anything we know, that the grain +or provender consumed by the 164,000 +head of game, which Mr Brooke disposed +of in six months, might have +produced a greater weight of bullocks +or Leicester wedders, (though this is +extremely unlikely, for the simple +reason that grain, grass, and green +crops form only a <i>part</i> of the food of +any of the game species); but, whether +true or not, it is useless to prevent the +rearing of game by any sort of sumptuary +enactment, direct or indirect. +The proper course of legislation is very +plain. While compensation should be +made exigible for all damage from +excess of game, and new statutory +provision made for this purpose, if the +present law is insufficient—fair encouragement +should at the same time +be given for the production, in a legitimate +way, of what is required for the +use of the public. Facilities should be +afforded to the honest dealer for conducting +his trade without risk or +disguise, and the useless remnant of +the qualification law in Scotland +should be abolished. Measures of this +nature, by turning the constant demand +for game into proper channels, +will prove the most effectual discouragement +to the occupation of the +poacher, and to the reckless and irregular +habits of life which it generally +induces.</p> + +<p>A very opposite result, we are persuaded, +would follow from the adoption +of Mr Bright's quack recipe for +putting an end to the practice of +poaching. By what indirect influence +is the abolition of the game laws expected +to produce this effect? If, +indeed, along with the game laws, +you sweep away also the law of common +trespass—if you proclaim, in the +nineteenth century, a return to the +habits of the golden age, when, as +Tibullus tells us—</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>"Nullus erat <i>custos</i>, nulla exclusura volentes +Janua";</p></blockquote> + +<p>and if you authorise the populace at +large to traverse every park and enclosure, +at all hours and seasons, and +in any numbers and any manner they +please, then we can understand that a +few months probably of rustic riot and +license may settle the question by the +extermination of the whole game +species. But we have not yet met +any game-law reformer so rabid as to +propose putting an end to the penalties +on ordinary trespass; on the contrary, +we find most of them, (Sir +Harry Verney and Mr Pusey among +the number,)<a name="FNanchor_12" id="FNanchor_12"></a><a href="#Footnote_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a> anticipating the necessity +of arming the law with much +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span>stronger powers for preventing common +trespasses. And even without such +additional powers, will not the trespass +law as it stands be employed by +proprietors to prevent interference with +their sports? Is it supposed that the +abolition of the game statutes will at +once prevent the owners of great +manors from rearing pheasants in their +own covers? It may indeed drive +them to do so at a greater expense, +and to enlist additional watchers; but +it is not likely that keen game preservers +will not avail themselves of +such defences as the common law may +still leave them. Game then, we contend, +may be thinned by this plan, +but it will not be exterminated. The +consequence will be that its price +will be enhanced; but as the demand +will still continue, the trade of +the poachers will remain as thriving +as ever. He may have to work +harder and to trudge farther before +he can fill his wallet; but this will be +compensated by the additional price; +and if the present quantity of game is +diminished by one-half, the consequence +will be that his agents will be +able to pay him five shillings a-head +for his pheasants instead of five shillings +a-brace. In short, we should +anticipate, as the effects of abolishing +the present statutes, that, while many +of the less wealthy owners of land +would be deterred by the expense +from protecting game, and while the +amusement (such as it is) would become +greatly more exclusive than it +is now, such a measure would not +only fail to remove any of the inducements +which tempt the idle peasant +to take to the predatory life of a +poacher, but would, in the outset at +least, induce many to try it who never +thought of it before.</p> + +<p>We must now pass on to the considerations +we have to offer on the +situation of the tenant-farmer as to +game; and the first question that +suggests itself as to his case is this,—Whether +the injury suffered by tenants +be really so serious and extensive +as is represented?</p> + +<p>"There is no denying," says Mr +Shepherd, in his <i>Essay</i>, (p. 12,) "the +notoriety of the fact that, <i>in a great +majority of instances</i>, this excessive +power of infringement on the property +of the tenant through these +laws has been abused. It has been +almost <i>universally abused</i>." Is this +true as regards either England or +Scotland? or is it merely one of those +vague and reckless affirmations which +a man writing for a purpose, and not +for truth, is so apt to hazard, in disregard +or defiance of the facts before +him? One thing we do find to be +notorious—that the committee's evidence +of game abuses in Scotland was +limited <i>to one solitary case</i>, that of +the estate of Wemyss. And although +we may very readily conceive that, +with more time and exertion, the +agents of the league might have ferreted +out other instances, we may, +nevertheless, be allowed to express +our astonishment that, on the slender +foundation of this single case, Mr +Bright should have ventured to ask +his committee to find the general +fact proved, that the prosperity of +agriculture "<i>in many parts of Scotland</i> +as well as England, is greatly +impaired by the preservation of +game." We learn at least to estimate +the value of the honourable +gentleman's judgment, and the amount +of proof which an abolitionist regards +as demonstration. But the truth is, +that the case of Scotland was not +examined at all; and the <i>rejected</i> +report of Mr Bright and his associates +bears on its face the most satisfactory +evidence of their utter ignorance that +the law on this side the Tweed is a +perfectly different system from that +of England.</p> + +<p>Will any believe that if our Scotch +farmers, "in a great majority of instances," +found their property sacrificed, +they would not have universally +joined in demanding the interference +of the legislature? But what is the +fact? An examination of the reports +on petitions during the last two sessions +shows that there certainly have +been petitions against the game laws, +but that for every one emanating from +an agricultural body there have been +ten from town-councils. We have +better evidence, however, than mere +inference, for the general distrust with +which the farmers have regarded this +agitation; for we find the Leaguers +themselves, one and all of them, lamenting +that their disinterested exertions +on behalf of the tenantry have +been viewed by that body with the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> +most callous and ungrateful indifference. +It is impossible to read without +a smile Mr Bright's Address to the +Tenant-farmers (prefixed to Mr Welford's +Summary of the Evidence); and +to mark the patient earnestness with +which he entreats them to believe that +they are groaning under manifold oppressions—and +insists on "rousing +them to a sense of what is due to themselves." +But your tiller of the soil is +ever hard to move. It is surprising +that the obstinate fellow cannot be +made to comprehend that he is the +victim of a malady he has never felt—that +he will persist in believing that +if game were all he had to complain +of, he might snap his fingers at Doctor +Bright and his whole fraternity. The +essayist of the Association can find no +better reason to assign for what he +calls "the wondrous and apparently +patient silence of the tenantry under +so exasperating an evil,"—than, forsooth, +that they are too servile to speak +out their true opinions. Such an explanation, +at the expense of the body +whom he pretends to represent, can +only insure for him the merited scorn +of all who have opportunities of knowing +the general character of the +spirited, educated, and upright men +whom he ventures thus to calumniate. +The most obvious way of accounting +for their wondrous silence under oppression +is also the true one—namely, +that, as a general fact, the oppression +is unknown. When an intelligent +farmer looks round among his neighbours, +and finds that for every acre +damaged by game there are thousands +untouched by it,—when he +knows that there are not only whole +parishes, but almost whole counties, +in which he could not detect in the crops +the slightest indication of game,—and +further, that, in ninety-nine cases out +of a hundred in which a tenant really +suffers injury, he is sure of prompt +and ample compensation—it is not surprising +that he looks upon the Association +with suspicion, and refuses to support, +by his name or his money, their +system of stupendous exaggeration. +If anyone wishes to convince himself of +the actual truth, we venture to suggest +to him a simple test. Damage from +game, to be appreciable at all, cannot +well be less than a shilling an acre. +Now, let any farmer survey in his +mind the district with which he is +best acquainted, and estimate on how +much of it the tenants would give +this additional rent, on condition of +the game laws being abolished. An +average-sized farm, in our best cultivated +counties, may be taken at two +hundred acres—how many of his brother +farmers can he reckon up, who +would consent to pay £10 a-year additional +on these terms? A similar +test, it may be mentioned, was offered +to one of Mr Bright's witnesses, (Evidence, +i. 4938,) who had set down +his annual damages from game at from +£180 to £200, and who, after successively +declining to give £200, £100, +and £75 a-year additional rent for +leave to extirpate the game, thought, +at last, he <i>might</i> give £50 a-year for +that bargain.</p> + +<p>But the question immediately before +us is this: what remedy does the +existing law of Scotland give a tenant +in cases of real hardship from the preservation +of game? In regard to this +question, it is impossible to overlook +the broad distinction between the +cases of those who have expressly undertaken +the burden of the game, and +those whose leases contain no such +covenant. The quasi-right of property +in game recognised by the English +law is, by Lord Althorpe's statute +of 1832, vested in the <i>occupier</i> of +land, when there is no express stipulation +to the contrary. The reverse +is virtually the case in Scotland—the +landlord retains his right to kill game, +unless he shall have agreed to surrender +it to his tenant. In most cases, +however, the landlord's right does not +rest merely on the common law, but +is expressly reserved to him in the +lease. Now, when a tenant has deliberately +become a party to such an +express stipulation, and when the +quantity of game (whether it be small +or great) does not exceed, during the +currency of the lease, what it was at +his entry, on what conceivable plea of +reason or justice can he ask the interference +either of a court of law or of +the legislature? To say, with Mr +Bright and his coadjutors, that he seldom +attends much to such minor articles +in a lease—that he does not understand +their effect—that in the competition +for land he is glad to secure a +farm on any conditions—all this is the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> +most childish trifling, and unworthy +of a moment's serious notice. There is +not a single sentence in any lease that +may not be set aside on the very same +grounds; and if agreements of this nature +are to be cancelled on pretences +so frivolous, there is an end to all +faith and meaning in contracts between +man and man.</p> + +<p>But the tenant's case assumes a very +different aspect when, by artificial +means expressly contrived for the +purpose, the game has been increased +<i>subsequent</i> to his entry. Then, it is +obvious, the burden is no longer the +same which the tenant undertook. It +is a state of things which he could not +anticipate from the terms of his contract; +and if the authority of the +courts of law were unable to reach +such a case, and to protect the tenant +from what is in fact an infringement, +on the part of the landlord, of their +mutual agreement, it is difficult to +imagine stronger grounds for insisting +that the defect should be supplied by +positive enactment. No such interference, +however, is requisite. Our +law courts not only possess the power +of enforcing compensation for such injuries, +but in the recent decision, in +the case of Wemyss and Others v. +Wilson, the supreme court has asserted +and exercised that power in +the most distinct and unqualified manner. +"There is no instance," says +Mr Chiene Shepherd, writing before +the date of the above-mentioned judgment, +"in which our head court in +Scotland—the Court of Session—has +ever given a decision entitling a +tenant to damages from a landlord for +destruction of his crops by game." +Now, supposing the fact as here +stated, to be strictly correct, what +inference, we ask, can common candour +draw from it? Are we to conclude +that the law of Scotland, or the +bench that administers it, are so corrupt +as to countenance such an insult +to justice? No such express decision +had then been given, simply because +no such claim had ever been tried; +and surely this very fact is in itself +the strongest possible presumption +against the alleged universal abuse of +the power of preserving game—a presumption +that a hardship which, up +to 1847, had never been made the +ground of a formal appeal to the law +tribunals, cannot be either very frequent +or very severe. The statement, +however, is not strictly correct; for, +though no actual decree had been +given on the special amount of damages +before 1847, a very distinct, +though incidental, opinion as to the +liability of landlords in such cases was +given in a case which occurred fifteen +years ago—Drysdale v. Jameson. +The principle of the law could not be +more lucidly stated than in the words +of the learned judge (Fullerton) on +that occasion.</p> + +<p>"A tenant, in taking a farm, must +be considered as taking it under the +burden of supporting the game, and +may be presumed to have satisfied +himself of the extent of that burden, +as he is understood to do of any other +unfavourable circumstance impairing +the productiveness of the farm. But, +on the other hand, it would seem contrary +to principle that the landlord, +who is bound to warrant the beneficial +possession to the tenant, should be +allowed, by his own act, to aggravate +the burden in any great degree. A +tenant, in order to support such a +claim, must prove not only a certain +visible damage arising from game, but +a certain visible increase of the game, +and <i>a consequent alteration of the circumstances +contemplated in the contract, +imputable to the landlord</i>. The +true ground of damage seems to be, not +that the game is abundant, but that +its abundance has been materially increased +since the date of the lease."<a name="FNanchor_13" id="FNanchor_13"></a><a href="#Footnote_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a></p> + +<p>Surely so clear an opinion, coming +from such a quarter, was a pretty plain +indication of the protection which the +law would extend to a tenant in these +circumstances; and, accordingly, it +has been completely confirmed on +every point by the more recent and +comprehensive decision on Captain +Wemyss' case. Any new steps on the +part of a landlord for stimulating the +natural supply of game, whether +by feeding them, breeding them artificially, +or by a systematic destruction +of the vermin which naturally prey +on them, will be held as indicating an +intention on his part to depart from +the terms of the contract, and as +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span>therefore opening a valid claim for +any damage the tenant may experience +in consequence of the change. And +it is not only such direct and active +measures for augmenting the stipulated +burden that will be thus interpreted +against the landlord; but even his doing +so negatively—that is, his failing to +exercise the power he retains in his own +hands, and to keep down the burden +to the same amount at which the tenant +found it on his entry, will be held +as equivalent to his positive act.</p> + +<p>If, then, there ever was any ground +for alleging that the state of the law +was indefinite, the objection is now +removed. No one can pretend to +doubt that a tenant of land in Scotland +has as ample a protection +against injury from game as the law +can give him. To prevent the injury +beforehand is beyond the power of +any law. All that it can do is to +afford him as prompt and effectual +means of redress as it furnishes against +any other species of injury. In short, +when its principle is weighed fairly, +and when we take into consideration +the relief from the fiscal qualification +which Mr Mackenzie's act of last session +conferred on the farmers, we shall +be able to estimate how far it is true +that, "both in parliament and out of +parliament, the interests and industry +of tenants are systematically sacrificed +to the maintenance of the odious privileges +of more favoured classes."</p> + +<p>We have followed out and exposed, +perhaps at greater length than was +necessary, the stock sophisms and +more flagrant exaggerations by which +the total abolition of game laws is +usually supported. Some points are +yet untouched; but we prefer employing +the rest of our paper in briefly +stating a few suggestions for the removal +of some of those difficulties and +anomalies in the Scotch law, which +we set out with acknowledging. In +judging of any such alterations, it is +necessary never to lose sight of the +leading principle on which the whole +Scotch system is founded—namely, +the original and common right to seize +and appropriate the animals of chase, +qualified and determined by the previous +right of the landowner to the +exclusive use of the soil.</p> + +<p>1st. Keeping this in view, our first +change would be the abolition of the +land-qualification introduced by the +Act 1621; and this for the double +reason that it was originally an unwarrantable +departure from the general +principle just mentioned, and that +it is inexpedient to cumber the system +with a law which is practically +in desuetude.</p> + +<p>2d. The effect of this alteration +would be to remove also the useless +and improper restriction on the sale of +game. There can be no good reason +for throwing difficulties in the way of +the game-dealer's trade. As a check +to poaching, we have abundant proof +that the present restriction is inoperative; +or, if it has any effect, it is +directly the reverse of that intended, +by throwing the trade very much into +the hands of a low class of retailers. +Instead of requiring a qualification or +permission, which is constantly evaded, +we would substitute a game-dealer's +license, as in England.</p> + +<p>3d. The fifth section of the Day +Trespass Act empowers the person +having the right to kill game on any +lands, or any person authorised by +him, to seize game in the possession of +a trespasser. This provision has +sometimes given occasion to dangerous +conflicts between the parties, and +is, moreover, quite at variance with +the principle of the law above noted.</p> + +<p>4th. The next particular we shall +mention is of more importance. The +evidence of Mr Bright's committee +has, we think, fully disproved the +charge against the county magistracy +of England, of partiality and excessive +severity in game cases. Exceptions no +doubt were brought forward, but their +paucity shows the contrary to be the +rule. In Scotland there is still less +ground for such an accusation. With +us, such an occurrence as a justice +adjudicating in his own case is unknown; +and we find even the most +violent of the abolition lecturers admitting +that proceedings before the +sessions under the game statutes are +conducted with equity and leniency. +But this is not enough. The parties +who have to administer the law should +be above all suspicion of bias or interest, +even of the most indirect kind; +and we should greatly prefer that +game prosecutions were removed altogether, +into the court of the judge-ordinary. +Such an alteration, were a +sure, would be regarded generally by +the benches of county magistrates as +a most desirable relief from one of +the most invidious and embarrassing +duties they have to execute. But, as +the law stands, they have no option—for +offences under the Day Trespass +Act are cognisable by them only. If, +then, there be any valid reason against +transferring the trial of all game offences +to the sheriff court, (and at +present we can see none) it is at all +events most advisable that his jurisdiction +should be extended to day as +well as to night trespasses.</p> + +<p>5th. Any revisal of the law should +embrace provisions against the accumulation +of penalties; for although +these are very rarely insisted on in +Scotland, the power of enforcing them +affords a pretext for declamations +against the severity of the game law, +which its opponents know well how to +employ.</p> + +<p>Besides these modifications of the +statutes, it seems most desirable +that in all leases the disposal of game +should be regulated by special clauses, +which should include a reference to +arbitration in case of dispute.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a name="Footnote_2" id="Footnote_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> "The game agitators are individuals who suffer <i>a little</i>, and see their brethren +suffering more, and who have <i>their feelings annoyed</i>; and those who are not hurt at +all by game, but will strike at any public wrong."—<i>Speech of Mr Munro, one of the +Council of the Association.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a name="Footnote_3" id="Footnote_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> <i>Lecture on the Game Laws</i>, by R. Wilson, &c., March 22, 1848.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a name="Footnote_4" id="Footnote_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> Ibid.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a name="Footnote_5" id="Footnote_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> Ibid.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a name="Footnote_6" id="Footnote_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> Address in Mr Welford's <i>Influences of the Game Laws</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a name="Footnote_7" id="Footnote_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> The statute of 1600, prohibiting hunting and hawking to those who had not +"the revenues requisit in sik pastimes," is plainly one of a sumptuary tenor, and not +properly a game law.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a name="Footnote_8" id="Footnote_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> It is right to mention, that there is some discrepancy in the estimates of Mr +Bright's authorities on this point, of whom Mr Gayford is comparatively moderate; +for we have others who, (upon, no doubt, equally sound data,) think two hares is the +proper equivalent; and Mr Back of Norfolk is convinced that <i>one</i> hare is <i>worse</i> than +a sheep; in other words, that one hare will eat up a statute acre. On the other +hand, Mr Berkeley weighed the <i>full</i> stomachs of a large hare, and an average Southdown +sheep, and found them as one to fifty-five. So that, if the accounts of Mr +Gayford and his <i>confrères</i> are right, we have arrived at a law in physiological science +equally new and surprising—that the digestive powers of animals increase in a compound +inverse ratio to the capacity of the digestive organs!</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a name="Footnote_9" id="Footnote_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_9"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> <i>Scotsman</i>, February 12, 1848.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a name="Footnote_10" id="Footnote_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> +</p> + + + +<div class="tdr"> +<table border="1" cellpadding="4" summary="table"> + +<tr><td class="tdc" rowspan="2">Counties.</td><td class="tdc" colspan="2">1846.</td><td class="tdc" colspan="2">1847.</td><td class="tdc bb" rowspan="2">Per cent.<br />(both years.)</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdc bb">Total cases.</td><td class="tdc bb">Game cases.</td><td class="tdc bb">Total cases.</td><td class="tdc bb">Game cases.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Aberdeen,</td><td>683</td><td>2</td><td>800</td><td>5</td><td>0.4</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Berwick,</td><td>317</td><td>10</td><td>342</td><td>16</td><td>3.9</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Edinburgh,</td><td>336</td><td>12</td><td>475</td><td>14</td><td>3.2</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Haddington,</td><td>456</td><td>33</td><td>572</td><td>33</td><td>6.4</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Fife,</td><td class="bb">862</td><td class="bb">13</td><td class="bb">819</td><td class="bb">6</td><td class="bb">1.1</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Total,</td><td>2654</td><td>70</td><td>3008</td><td>74</td><td>2.5</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p> +Compare these facts with the preposterous statements which the latest orator of +the league, Mr M. Crichton, has been repeating to listening zanies at Greenock, Glasgow, +and Edinburgh, that "the commitments arising from game laws amount to <span class="smcap">ONE-FOURTH</span> +of the whole crime of the country."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a name="Footnote_11" id="Footnote_11"></a><a href="#FNanchor_11"><span class="label">[11]</span></a> Return of game-law offences during the years 1843-7 +</p> + + + +<div class="tdr"> +<table border="1" cellpadding="4" summary="table"> + +<tr><td class="tdc">Counties.</td><td class="tdc bb">1843.</td><td class="tdc bb">1844.</td><td class="tdc bb">1845.</td><td class="tdc bb">1846.</td><td class="tdc bb">1847.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Berwick,</td><td>14</td><td>8</td><td>14</td><td>10</td><td>16</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Edinburgh,</td><td>41</td><td>48</td><td>21</td><td>12</td><td>14</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Haddington,</td><td>35</td><td>55</td><td>23</td><td>33</td><td>33</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Fife,</td><td class="bb">30</td><td class="bb">25</td><td class="bb">19</td><td class="bb">13</td><td class="bb">6</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Total,</td><td>120</td><td>136</td><td>77</td><td>68</td><td>69</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a name="Footnote_12" id="Footnote_12"></a><a href="#FNanchor_12"><span class="label">[12]</span></a> Evidence, Part i. 1414; ii. 7647, 7651.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a name="Footnote_13" id="Footnote_13"></a><a href="#FNanchor_13"><span class="label">[13]</span></a> Shaw, ii. 147.</p></div></div> + +<div class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></div> + + + +<h2><a name="DOMINIQUE" id="DOMINIQUE">DOMINIQUE.</a></h2> + +<h3>A SKETCH FROM LIFE.</h3> + + +<h3>TWO STUDENTS.</h3> + +<p>At the lower extremity of that ancient +street long recognised as the +head and centre of the <i>Pays Latin</i> or +scholastic quarter of Paris, and which, +for six centuries, has borne the name +of the <i>Rue de la Harpe</i>, within a few +doors of the bridge of <i>St Michel</i>, and +in a room upon the fifth floor, two young +men were seated, on a spring morning +of the year 182-. Even had the +modest apartment been situated elsewhere +than in the focus of the students' +district, its appearance would have +prevented the possibility of mistake +as to the character of its inmates. +Scanty furniture, considerably battered, +caricatures of student life, partially +veiling the dirty damp-stained +paper that blistered upon the walls, +which were also adorned by a pair of +foils, a cracked guitar, and a set of +castanets; a row of pegs supporting +pipes, empty bottles in one corner, +ponderous octavos thickly coated with +dust in another, told a tale confirmed +by the exterior of the occupants of the +apartment. One of these, a young +man of two-and-twenty, was evidently +at home, for his feet were thrust into +slippers, once embroidered, a Greek +cap covered his head, and a tattered +dressing-gown of pristine magnificence +enveloped his slender and active figure. +His features were regular and intelligent, +and he had the dark fiery eyes, +clustering black hair, and precociously +abundant beard of a native of southern +France. His companion, a young +Norman, had nothing particularly +noticeable in his countenance, save a +broad open brow and a character of +much shrewdness and perspicacity—qualities +possessed in a high degree +by a majority of his fellow provincials. +His dress was one of those nondescript +eccentric coats and conical broad-leafed +hats at all times particularly +affected by French <i>studiosi</i>.</p> + +<p>The two young men were seated at +either extremity of the low sill of a +tall French window, thrown wide open +to admit the pleasant spring sunshine, +into which they puffed, from capacious +pipes, wreaths of thin blue smoke. +Their conversation turned upon a crime—or +rather a series of crimes—which +occasioned, at that particular moment, +much excitement in Paris, and which +will still be remembered by those persons +upon the tablets of whose memory +the lapse of a quarter of a century +does not act as a spunge. About +three years previously, a young man +named Gilbert Gaudry, of respectable +family, liberal education, and good +reputation, had been tried and convicted +for the murder of an uncle, by +whose death he largely inherited. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> +accused man was in debt, and his embarrassed +circumstances prevented his +marrying a woman to whom he was +passionately attached; his uncle had +recently refused him pecuniary assistance, +upon which occasion Gaudry +was heard to express himself harshly +and angrily. Many other circumstances +concurred to throw upon him +the odium of the crime; and, altogether, +the evidence, although entirely +circumstantial, was so strong against +him, that, in spite of his powerful appeal +and solemn denial, the judge condemned +him to death. The sentence +had been commuted to the galleys for +life. Three years passed, and the real +murderer was discovered—a discharged +servant of the murdered man, +who, at the trial, had given important +evidence against Gaudry. The guillotine +did its work on the right offender, +and Gaudry's sentence was reversed. +But three years of slavery +and opprobrium, of shame, horror, +and gnawing sense of injustice, had +wrought terribly upon the misjudged +man, inspiring him with a blind and +burning thirst of revenge. Almost +his first act, on finding himself at +liberty, was to stab, in broad daylight, +and in the open street, the judge +who had condemned him. This time +there could be no question of his guilt, +and he would inevitably have been condemned +to death; but, before his trial, +he found means of hanging himself in +his cell. This last tragical and shocking +incident had occurred but two +days previously, and now furnished +the embryo jurists with a theme for +animated discussion. Without vindicating +the wretched murderer and +suicide, the young Norman was disposed +to find an extenuating circumstance +in the unjust punishment +he had endured. But his friend scouted +such leniency, and, taking up high +ground, maintained that no criminal +was baser than he who, the victim of +judicial error, revenged himself upon +the magistrate who had decided according +to the best of his judgment and +conscience, but who, sharing the liability +to err of every human judge, was +misled by deceitful appearances or +perjured witnesses.</p> + +<p>"Argue it as you will," cried Dominique +Lafon; "be plausible and eloquent, +bring batteries of sophisms to +the attack, you cannot breach my +solid position. Excuse and extenuation +are alike in vain. I repeat and +maintain, that to make a magistrate +personally responsible for his judgments, +be they just or unjust, so long +as he has kept within the line of his +duty, and acted according to his conscience, +is revenge of the basest and +most criminal description."</p> + +<p>"Bear in mind," replied Henry la +Chapelle, "that I attempt not to +justify the unhappy Gaudry. All I +assert is, that injustice excites in the +breast of every man, even of the +gentlest, hatred against him by whom +the injustice is done. And its frequent +repetition, or the long continuance of +the suffering it occasions, will ultimately +provoke, in nine cases out of +ten, an outbreak of revengeful fury. +The heart becomes embittered, the +judgment blinded, the mild and beautiful +injunctions of Scripture are forgotten +or disregarded, in the gust of +passion and vindictive rage. To offer +the left cheek when the right has been +buffeted, is, of all divine precepts, the +most difficult to follow. A man +ruined, tortured, or disgraced by injustice, +looks to the sentence, not to +the intention, of his judge; taxes him +with precipitation, prejudice, or over-severity, +and views revenge as a right +rather than a crime. Doubtless there +are exceptions—men whose Christian +endurance would abide by them even +unto death; but, believe me, they are +few, very few. The virtues of Job are +rare; and rancour, the vile weed, +chokes, in our corrupt age, the meek +flower, resignation."</p> + +<p>"A man to whom injustice is really +done," said Dominique, "may console +himself with the consciousness of his +innocence, which an act of rancorous +revenge would induce many to doubt. +The suffering victim finds sympathy; +the fierce avenger excites horror and +reprobation."</p> + +<p>"Mere words, my dear fellow," +replied la Chapelle. "Fine phrases, +and nothing else. You are a theorist, +pleading against human nature. What +logic is this? Undeserved punishment +is far more difficult to endure than +merited castigation; and an act of +revenge should rather plead in favour +of the innocence of him who commits +it. In a criminal, the consciousness<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> +that he merited his punishment would +leave less room for hatred than for +shame; it would excite vexation at +his ill luck, rather than enduring +anger against his judge. There would +be exceptions and variations, of +course, according to the moral idiosyncracy +of the individual. It is impossible +to establish a mathematical scale +for the workings of human passions. +I repeat that I do not justify such revenge, +but I still maintain that to seek +it is natural to man, and that many +men, even with less aggravation than +was given to Gaudry, might not have +sufficient resolution and virtue to resist +the impulse."</p> + +<p>"You have but a paltry opinion of +your fellow-creatures," said Dominique. +"I am glad to think better of +them. And I hold him a weak slave +to the corruption of our nature, who +has not strength to repress the impulse +to a deed his conscience cannot +justify."</p> + +<p>"Admirable in principle," said la +Chapelle, smiling, "but difficult in +practice. You yourself, my dear +Dominique, who now take so lofty a +tone, and who feel, I am quite sure, +exactly as you speak—you yourself, +if I am not greatly mistaken in your +character, would be the last man to +sit down quietly under injustice. +Your natural ardour and impetuosity +would soon upset your moral code."</p> + +<p>"Never!" vehemently exclaimed +Dominique. "La Chapelle, never +will I suffer my passions thus to subdue +my reason! What gratification +of revenge can ever compensate the +loss of that greatest of blessings, a +pure and tranquil conscience? What +peace of mind could I hope for, after +permitting such discord between my +principles and my actions? La Chapelle, +you wrong me by the thought."</p> + +<p>"Well, well," replied his friend, +"I may be wrong, and at any rate I +reason in the abstract rather than personally +to you. I heartily wish you +never may suffer wrong, or be tempted +to revenge. But remember, my friend, +safety is not in over-confidence. The +severest assaults are for the strongest +towers."</p> + +<p>A knock at the room-door interrupted +the conversation. It was the +porter of the lodging-house, bringing +a letter that had just arrived for +Dominique. On recognising the handwriting +of the address, and the postmark +of Montauban, the young man +uttered a cry of pleasure. It was from +home, from his mother. He hastily +tore it open. But as he read, the +smile of joy and gratified affection +faded from his features, and was replaced +by an expression of astonishment, +indignation, grief. Scarcely +finishing the letter, he crumpled it in +his hand with a passionate gesture, and +stripping off his dressing-gown began +hastily to dress. With friendly solicitude +la Chapelle observed his varying +countenance.</p> + +<p>"No bad news, I hope?" he +inquired.</p> + +<p>For sole reply, Dominique threw +him the letter.</p> + + +<h3>MOTHER AND SON.</h3> + +<p>Dominique Lafon was the son of a +man noted for his democratic principles, +who, after holding high provincial +office under the Republic and the +Consulate, resigned his functions in +displeasure, when Napoleon grasped +an emperor's sceptre, and retired to +his native town of Montauban, where +he since had lived upon a modest +patrimony. Under Napoleon, Pascal +Lafon had been unmolested; but +when the Bourbons returned, his name, +prominent during the last years of the +eighteenth century, rendered him the +object of a certain <i>surveillance</i> on the +part of the police of the Restoration. +On the occasion of more than one republican +conspiracy, real or imaginary, +spies had been set upon him, and +endeavours made to prove him implicated. +Once he had even been conducted +before a tribunal, and had +undergone a short examination. Nothing, +however, had been elicited +that in any way compromised him; +and in a few hours he was again at +liberty, before his family knew of his +brief arrest. In reality, Lafon, although +still an ardent republican, was +entirely guiltless of plotting against +the monarchy, which he deemed too +firmly consolidated to be as yet<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> +shaken. France, he felt, had need of +repose before again entering the revolutionary +arena. His firm faith still +was, that a time would come when +she would dismiss her kings for ever, +and when pure democracy would +govern the land. But before that time +arrived, his eyes, he believed, would +be closed in death. He was no conspirator, +but he did not shun the +society of those who were; and, moreover, +he was not sufficiently guarded +in the expression of his republican +opinions and Utopian theories. Hence +it came that, like the Whig in Claverhouse's +memoranda, he had a triple +red cross against his name in the +note-book of the Bourbon police, who, +at the time now referred to, had been +put upon the alert by the recent assassination +of the Duke of Berri. Although +the circumstances of that crime, +and the evidence upon Louvel's trial, +combined to stamp the atrocious deed +as the unaided act of a fanatic, without +accomplices or ulterior designs, the +event had provoked much rigid investigation +of the schemes of political +malcontents throughout France; and +in several districts and towns, magistrates +and heads of police had been +replaced, as lax and lukewarm, by +men of sterner character. Amongst +other changes, the Judge of Instruction +at Montauban had had a successor +given him. The new magistrate +was preceded by a reputation of great +vigilance and severity—a reputation +he lost no time in justifying. By the +aid of a couple of keen Parisian police +agents of the <i>Procureur du Roi</i>, whom +he stimulated to increased activity, +he soon got upon the scent of a republican +conspiracy, of which Montauban +was said to be a principal focus. +Various reports were abroad as to the +manner in which Monsieur Noell, the +new judge, had obtained his information. +Some said, the plotters had been +betrayed by the mistress of one of +them, in a fit of jealous fury at a fancied +infidelity of her lover; others +declared, that hope of reward had +quickened the invention of a police +spy, who, despairing of discovering a +conspiracy, had applied himself to +fabricate one. Be that as it might, a +number of arrests took place, and, +amongst others, that of Dominique's +father. The intelligence of this event +was conveyed to the young student in +a few despairing lines from his mother, +whose health, already very precarious, +had suddenly given way under the +shock of her husband's imprisonment. +She wrote from a sick-bed, imploring +her son to lose no time in returning +to Montauban.</p> + +<p>Gloomy were the forebodings of +Dominique as the mail rattled him +over the weary leagues of road between +Paris and Montauban. Yet, +when he reached home, he half hoped +to be greeted by his father's friendly +voice, for, himself convinced of his +innocence, he could not believe the +authorities would be long in recognising +it. He was disappointed. The +sorrowful mien of the domestic who +opened the door told a tale of misfortune.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Monsieur Dominique!" said +the man, an old servant, who had +known the student from his cradle, +"the house is not wont to be so sad +when you return."</p> + +<p>"My mother! where is my mother?" +cried Dominique. The next +instant he was at her bedside, clasping +her poor thin fingers, and gazing +in agony on her emaciated features. +A few days of intense alarm and +anxiety, acting on an exquisitely susceptible +organisation, had done the +work of months of malady. A slow +fever was in her veins, undermining +her existence. Dominique shuddered +at sight of her sunken temples, and of +the deep dark furrows below her eyes. +It seemed as if the angel of death had +already put his stamp upon that beloved +countenance. But he concealed +his mental anguish, and spoke cheeringly +to the invalid. She told him +the particulars of his father's arrest. +She had already written to some +friends, sent for others, and had done +all in her power to ascertain exactly +the offences of which Lafon was accused; +but the persons who had made +the inquiries had been put off with +generalities, and none had obtained +access to the prisoner, who was in +solitary confinement.</p> + +<p>Dominique Lafon was tenderly attached +to both his parents. Upon him, +their only child, their entire affection +was concentrated and lavished. They +had made him their companion even +from his earliest years, had tended<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> +him with unwearying solicitude +through his delicate infancy, had devoted +themselves to his education +when he grew older, and had consented +with difficulty and regret to +part from him, when his arrival at +man's estate rendered it desirable he +should visit the capital for the conclusion +of his studies. Dominique +repaid their care with devoted love. +His father's consistency and strength +of character inspired him with respect; +he listened to his precepts with +veneration and gratitude; but he +idolised his mother, whose feminine +graces and tender care were intertwined +with the sweetest reminiscences +of childhood's happy days. He now +strove to repay some portion of his +debt of filial love by the most unwearying +attendance at the invalid's +pillow. His arrival brought a gleam +of joy and hope to the sick woman's +brow, but the ray was transient, and +quickly faded. The vital flame had +sunk too low to revive again permanently. +She grew weaker and +weaker, and felt that her hour approached. +But her spirit, so soon to +appear before her Maker, yet clung +to an earthly love. Whilst striving +to fix her thoughts on things heavenly, +they still dwelt upon him by whose +side she had made life's checkered +pilgrimage. She wrung her hands in +agony at the thought that she must +leave the world without bidding him +a last farewell. She asked but a moment +to embrace him who, for five-and-twenty +years, had been her guardian +and protector, her tenderest +friend and companion. Dominique +could not endure the spectacle of her +grief. He left the house to use every +endeavour to obtain for her the indulgence +she so ardently desired.</p> + +<p>The first person to whom he applied +was the Judge of Instruction, +Monsieur Noell. Provided with a +medical certificate of his mother's +dying state, he obtained admission to +that magistrate's cabinet. He found +a tall thin man, with harsh strongly +marked features, and a forbidding +expression of countenance. The glazed +stare of his cold gray eyes, and the +cruel lines about his mouth, chilled +Dominique's hopes, and almost made +him despair of success. The youth +preferred his request, however, with +passionate earnestness, imploring that +his father might be allowed to leave +his prison for a single hour, under +good guard, to visit the bedside of +his expiring wife, in presence of such +witnesses as the authorities would +think proper to name. The reply to +this prayer was a formal and decided +negative. Until the prisoner Lafon +had undergone a second examination, +no one could be admitted to see him +under any pretext whatever. That +examination was not to take place +for at least a week. Dominique +was very sure, from what the physicians +had told him, that his mother +could not survive for a third +of that time.</p> + +<p>The frigid manner and unsympathising +tone of the magistrate, and +the uncourteous brevity of his refusal, +grated so unpleasantly upon the irritated +feelings of the student, that he +had difficulty in restraining a momentary +anger. In less imminent circumstances, +his pride would have prevented +his persisting in a petition +thus unkindly rejected, but the thought +of his dying mother brought patience +and humility to his aid. Warmly, +but respectfully, he reiterated his +suit. The magistrate was a widower, +but he had children, to whom report +said he was devotedly attached. +Harsh and rigid in his official duties, +in his domestic circle he was said to +be the tenderest of fathers. Dominique +had heard this, and availed of +it in pleading his suit.</p> + +<p>"You have children, sir!" he said; +"you can picture to yourself the grief +you would feel were your deathbed +unblessed by their presence. How +doubly painful must be the parting +agony, when the ear is unsoothed by +the voice of those best beloved, when +no cherished hand is there to prop the +sinking head, and close the eyes for +ever on this world and its sufferings! +Refuse not my father the consolation +of a last interview with his dying +wife! Have compassion on my poor +mother's agony! Suffer her to breathe +her last between the two beings who +share all her affection! So may your +own deathbed be soothed by the presence +of those you most dearly love!"</p> + +<p>Doubtless Monsieur Noell's ear was +well used to such pleadings, and his +heart was hardened by a long course<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> +of judicial severity. His glance lost +nothing of its habitual cold indifference, +as he replied to Dominique's +passionate entreaties with a decided +negative.</p> + +<p>"I must repeat my former answer," +he said; "I neither can nor will grant +the indulgence you require. And +now I will detain you no longer, as +you may perhaps make use of your +time to greater advantage in other +quarters."</p> + +<p>He rose from his chair, and remained +standing till Dominique left +the room. The tone of his last words +had wellnigh crushed hope in the +young man's bosom. But as long as +a possibility remained, the student +pursued it. He betook himself to the +<i>Procureur du Roi</i>, whose office constituted +him public prosecutor in cases of +this kind. That functionary declared +himself incompetent, until the prisoner +should have undergone another +examination. Until then, the only +appeal from the judge was to the +minister of justice. Dominique instantly +drew up and forwarded a +petition; but before it reached Paris, +his mother breathed her last. She +met her death, preceded and attended +by acute sufferings, with the resignation +of a martyr. But even after the +last sacrament of her religion had +been administered, and when she +earnestly strove to fix her mind on +eternity, to the exclusion of things +temporal, the thought of her husband, +so long and tenderly beloved, and +absent at this supreme hour, intruded +itself upon her pious meditations, +brought tears to her eyes, and drew +heartrending sobs from her bosom; +her last sigh was for him, her latest +breath uttered his name. This fervent +desire, so cruelly thwarted, +those tears of deferred hope and final +profound disappointment, were inexpressibly +painful to contemplate. +Upon Dominique, whose love for his +mother was so deep and holy, they +made a violent impression. Bitter +were his feelings as he sat beside her +couch when the spirit had fled, and +gazed upon her clay-cold features, +whereon there yet lingered a grieved +and suffering expression. And later, +when the earth had received her into +its bosom, that pallid and sorrowful +countenance was ever before his eyes. +In his dreams he heard his mother's +well-known voice, mournfully pronouncing +the name of her beloved +husband, and praying, as she had +done in the last hours of her life, that +she might again behold him before +she departed. Nor were these visions +dissipated by daylight. They recurred +to his excited imagination, and +kindled emotions of fierce hatred +towards the man who had had it in his +power to smooth his mother's passage +from life to death, and who had wantonly +refused the alleviation. Nay +more; convinced of his father's innocence, +Dominique considered the +judge who had thrown him into prison +as in some sort his mother's murderer. +He had accelerated her decease, and +thrown gall into the cup it is the lot +of every mortal to drain. The physicians +had declared anxiety of mind +to be the immediate cause of her +death. Dominique brooded over this +declaration, and over the misfortunes +that had so suddenly overtaken him, +until he came to consider M. Noell +as much an assassin as if he had +struck a dagger into his mother's +heart. "What matter," he thought, +"whether the wound be dealt to body +or to soul, so long as it slays?" He +had nothing to distract his thoughts +from dwelling upon and magnifying +the wrongs that had deprived him of +both parents, one by death, the other +by an imprisonment whose termination +he could not foresee. At times +his melancholy was broken by bursts +of fury against him he deemed the +cause of his misfortunes.</p> + +<p>"Could I but see him die!" he +would exclaim, "the cold-blooded +heartless tyrant—die alone, childless, +accursed, without a friendly hand to +wipe the death-sweat from his face! +Then, methinks, I could again be +happy, when his innocent victim was +thus revenged. Alas, my mother!—my +poor, meek, long-suffering mother,—must +your death go unrequited? For +what offence was your life taken as +atonement? By what vile distortion +of justice did this base inquisitor +visit upon your innocent head a transgression +that never was committed?"</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the captivity of the +elder Lafon was prolonged. A second +examination relaxed nothing of his +jailor's severity, and his son's applica<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span>tions +to see him were all rejected. +Dominique wrote to his father, but +he received no answer; and he afterwards +learned that his letter had not +been delivered when sent, but had +been detained by Noell, who, finding +nothing criminatory in its contents, +had subjected it, with characteristic +suspicion, to chemical processes, in +hopes to detect writing with sympathetic +ink, and had finally made it +accessory to an attempt to extort a +confession from the prisoner. This +information, obtained from an understrapper +of the prison by means of a +large bribe, raised Dominique's exasperation +to the highest pitch.</p> + +<p>"Gracious Heaven!" he exclaimed, +"are such things to be endured in +silence and submission? Has human +justice iron scourges for nominal offences,—honours +and rewards for real +crimes? On a false accusation my +father pines in a dungeon, whilst my +mother's murderer walks scatheless +and exalted amongst his fellows; but +if the laws of man are impotent to +avenge her death, who shall blame +her son for remembering her dying +agony, and requiting it on those who +aggravated her sufferings?"</p> + +<p>And he walked forth, pondering +vengeance. Unconsciously his steps +took the direction of the prison. Long +he stood, with folded arms and lowering +brow, gazing at the small grated +aperture that gave light and air to his +father's cell, and hoping to see his +beloved parent look out and recognise +him. He gazed in vain: twilight +came, night followed, no one appeared +at the window. Dominique knew not +that it was high above the prisoner's +reach. He returned home, fancying +his father ill, nourishing a thousand +bitter thoughts, and heaping up fresh +hatred against the author of so much +misery. That night Michel, the old +servant, came twice to his room door, +to see what ailed him, since, instead +of retiring to rest, he unceasingly +paced the apartment. Dominique +dismissed the faithful fellow to his bed, +and resumed his melancholy walk. +But in the morning he was so pale +and haggard that Michel slipped out +to ask the family physician to call in +<i>by accident</i>. When he returned, +Dominique had left the house. In +great alarm—for his young master's +gloomy despondency at once suggested +fear of suicide—Michel tracked his +steps. His fears proved unfounded. +With some trouble he ascertained that +Dominique had quitted the town on +the top of a passing diligence, with a +valise for sole baggage, and without +informing any one of the object of his +journey.</p> + + +<h3>THE DOUBLE DUEL.</h3> + +<p>Antony Noell, the judge, had three +children, and report lied not when it +said that he was tenderly attached to +them. A harsh and unfeeling man in +his official capacity, and in the ordinary +affairs of life, all the softer part +of his nature seemed to have resolved +itself into paternal affection. His two +sons were students at the university +of Toulouse; his youngest child, a +blooming maiden of twelve, still +brightened his home and made his +heart joyful, although she soon was +to leave him to finish her education +in a convent. The two students were +gay handsome lads, but somewhat +dissipated; fonder of the bottle and +the billiard-room than of grave lectures +and dry studies. They were in +small favour with their pedagogues, +but in high repute with their fellow +collegians; whilst peaceable citizens +and demure young ladies regarded +them with mingled aversion, interest, +and curiosity, on account of certain +mad pranks, by which, during their +first half-year's residence, they had +gained a certain notoriety in the quiet +city of Toulouse.</p> + +<p>It happened one night, as the brothers +came both flushed with play and +wine from their accustomed coffeehouse +on the Place du Capitole, that +Vincent, the elder of the two, stumbled +over the feet of a man who sat upon +one of the benches placed outside the +establishment. The passage through +the benches and tables was narrow; +and the stranger, having thrust his +legs nearly across it, had little reason +to complain of the trifling offence offered +him. Nevertheless he jumped to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> +his feet and fiercely taxed young Noell +with an intentional insult. Noell, +full of good humour and indifferent +wine, and taking his interlocutor for +a fellow student, made a jesting reply, +and seizing one of the stranger's +arms, whilst his brother Martial +grasped the other, dragged him into +the lamp-light to see who he was. But +the face they beheld was unknown to +them; and scarcely had they obtained +a glimpse at it when its owner shook +them off, applying to them at the same +time a most injurious epithet. The +students would have struck him, but +he made a pace backwards, and, seizing +a heavy chair which he whirled +over his head as though it had been a +feather, he swore he would dash out +the brains of the first who laid a finger +on him.</p> + +<p>"I do not fight like a water-carrier," +he said, "with fists and feet; +but if you are as ready with your +swords as you are with your insolence, +you shall not long await satisfaction."</p> + +<p>And offering a card, which was at +once accepted, he received two in return. +The disputants then separated; +and as soon as the Noells turned out +of the square, they paused beneath a +lamp to examine the card they had +received. Inscribed upon it was the +name of Dominique Lafon.</p> + +<p>It was too late, when this quarrel +occurred, for further steps to be taken +that night; but early on the following +morning Dominique's second, a young +lawyer whom he had known during +his studies at Paris, had an interview +with the friends appointed by the +Noells to act on their behalf. The +latter anticipated a duel with swords, +and were surprised to find that Dominique, +entitled, as the insulted party, +to fix the weapon, selected the more +dangerous and less usual one of pistols. +They could not object, however, and +the meeting was fixed for the next +day; the arrangement being that both +brothers should come upon the ground, +and that, if Dominique was unhurt in +the first encounter, the second duel +should immediately succeed it.</p> + +<p>In a secluded field, to the right of +the pleasant road from Toulouse to +Albi, and at no great distance from +the tumulus on whose summit a stone +pillar commemorates Soult's gallant +resistance to Wellington's conquering +forces, the combatants met at the appointed +hour, and saluted each other +with cold courtesy. Dominique was +pale, but his hand and eye were steady, +and his pulse beat calmly. The two +Noells were cheerful and indifferent, +and bore themselves like men to whom +encounters of this kind were no novelty. +The elder brother took the first turn. +The seconds asked once more if the affair +could not be peaceably arranged; +but, receiving no answer, they made +the final arrangements. Two peeled +willow rods were laid upon the ground, +six yards apart. At ten yards from +either of these the duellists were placed, +making the entire distance between +them six and twenty yards; and it was +at their option, when the seconds gave +the word, either to advance to the +barrier before firing, or to fire at once, +or from any intervening point.</p> + +<p>The word was given, and the antagonists +stepped out. Vincent Noell +took but two paces, halted and fired. +He had missed. Dominique continued +steadily to advance. When he had +taken five paces, the seconds looked +at each other, and then at him, as if +expecting him to stop. He took no +notice, and moved on. It was a +minute of breathless suspense. In the +dead silence, his firm tread upon the +grass was distinctly audible. He +paused only when his foot touched the +willow wand. Then he slowly raised +his arm, and fired.</p> + +<p>The whirling smoke prevented him +for an instant from discerning the effect +of his shot, but the hasty advance of +the seconds and of two surgeons who +had accompanied them to the field, +left him little doubt that it had told. +It had indeed done so, and with fatal +effect. The unhappy Vincent was +bathed in his blood. The surgeons +hastened to apply a first dressing, but +their countenances gave little hope of +a favourable result.</p> + +<p>Pale and horror-stricken, not with +personal fear, but with grief at his +brother's fate, Martial Noell whispered +his second, who proposed postponing +the second duel till another day. +Dominique, who, whilst all his companions +had been busy with the +wounded man, had remained leaning +against a tree, his discharged pistol in +his hand, collected and unsympathis<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span>ing, +stepped forward on hearing this +proposition.</p> + +<p>"Another day?" said he with a +cruel sneer. "Before another day +arrives, I shall doubtless be in prison +for this morning's work. But no +matter; if the gentleman is less ready +to fight than he was to insult me, let +him leave the field."</p> + +<p>The scornful tone and insinuation +brought a flush of shame and anger +to the brow of the younger Noell. He +detested himself for the momentary +weakness he had shown, and a fierce +flame of revenge kindled in his heart.</p> + +<p>"Murderer!" he exclaimed, "my +brother's blood calls aloud for vengeance. +May Providence make me +its instrument!"</p> + +<p>Dominique replied not. Under the +same conditions as before, the two +young men took their stations. But +the chances were not equal. Dominique +retained all his coolness; his +opponent's whole frame quivered with +passionate emotion. This time, neither +was in haste to fire. Advancing +slowly, their eyes fixed on each other, +they reached at the same moment the +limits of their walk. Then their +pistols were gradually raised, and, as +if by word of command, simultaneously +discharged. This time both balls took +effect. The one that struck Dominique +went through his arm, without +breaking the bone, and lodged in his +back, inflicting a severe but not a +dangerous wound. But Martial Noell +was shot through the head.</p> + +<p>The news of this bloody business +soon got wind, and the very same day +it was the talk of all Toulouse. Martial +Noell had died upon the spot; his +brother expired within forty-eight +hours. The seconds got out of the +way, till they should see how the +thing was likely to go. Dominique's +wound prevented his following their +example, if he were so disposed; and +when it no longer impeded his movements, +he was already in the hands +of justice. Frantic with grief on +learning the fate of his beloved sons, +Anthony Noell hurried to Toulouse, +and vigorously pushed a prosecution. +He hoped for a very severe sentence, +and was bitterly disappointed when +Dominique escaped, in consideration +of his wounds and of his having been +the insulted party, with the lenient +doom of five years' imprisonment.</p> + + +<h3>FIVE YEARS LATER.</h3> + +<p>Five years of absence from home +may glide rapidly enough away, when +passed in pursuit of pleasure or profit; +dragged out between prison walls, +they appear an eternity, a chasm +between the captive and the world. +So thought Dominique as he re-entered +Montauban, at the expiration +of his sentence. During the whole +time, not a word of intelligence had +reached him from his home, no friendly +voice had greeted his ear, no line +of familiar handwriting had gladdened +his tearless eyes. Arrived in his +native town, his first inquiry was for +his father. Pascal Lafon was dead. +The fate of his wife and son had +preyed upon his health; the prison +air had poisoned the springs of life in +the strong, free-hearted man. The +physician declared drugs useless in +his case, for that the atmosphere of +liberty alone could save him; and he +recommended, if unconditional release +were impossible, that the prisoner +should be guarded in his own house. +The recommendation was forwarded +to Paris, but the same post took a +letter from Anthony Noell, and a few +days brought the physician's dismissal +and an order for the close confinement +of Lafon. Examinations followed +each other in rapid succession, +but they served only to torment the +prisoner, without procuring his release; +and after some months he +died, his innocence unrecognised. +The cause of his death, and the circumstances +attending it, were loudly +proclaimed by the indignant physician; +and Dominique, on his return +to Montauban, had no difficulty in +obtaining all the details, aggravated +probably by the unpopularity of the +judge. He heard them with unchanging +countenance; none could detect a +sign of emotion on that cheek of +marble paleness, or in that cold and +steadfast eye. He then made inquiries +concerning Anthony Noell. That<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> +magistrate, he learned, had been promoted, +two years previously, and now +resided in his native town of Marseilles. +At that moment, however, +he happened to be at an hotel in +Montauban. He had never recovered +the loss of his sons, which had aged +him twenty years in appearance, and +had greatly augmented the harshness +and sour severity of his character. +He seemed to find his sole consolation +in the society of his daughter, now a +beautiful girl of seventeen, and in +intense application to his professional +duties. A tour of inspection, connected +with his judicial functions, had +now brought him to Montauban. +During his compulsory absences from +home, which were of annual occurrence +and of some duration, his +daughter remained in the care of an +old female relation, her habitual companion, +whose chief faults were her +absurd vanity, and her too great indulgence +of the caprices of her darling +niece.</p> + +<p>Dominique showed singular anxiety +to learn every particular concerning +Anthony Noell's household, informing +himself of the minutest details, and +especially of the character of his +daughter, who was represented to him +as warmhearted and naturally amiable, +but frivolous and spoiled by +over-indulgence. On the death of +his sons, Noell renounced his project +of sending her from home, and the +consequence was, that her education +had been greatly neglected. Madame +Verlé, the old aunt already mentioned, +was a well-meaning, but very +weak widow, who, childless herself, +had no experience in bringing up +young women. In her own youth +she had been a great coquette, and +frivolity was still a conspicuous feature +in her character. As M. Noell, +since his sons' death, had shown a +sort of aversion for society, the house +was dull enough, and Madame Verlé's +chief resource was the circulating +library, whence she obtained a constant +supply of novels. Far from +prohibiting to her niece the perusal of +this trash, she made her the companion +of her unwholesome studies. +The false ideas and highflown romance +with which these books teemed, might +have made little impression on a +character fortified by sound principles +and a good education, but they sank +deep into the ardent and uncultivated +imagination of Florinda Noell, to +whose father, engrossed by his sorrows +and by his professional labours, +it never once occurred to check the +current of corruption thus permitted +to flow into his daughter's artless +mind. He saw her gay, happy, and +amused, and he inquired no further; +well pleased to find her support so +cheerfully the want of society to +which his morose regrets and gloomy +eccentricity condemned her.</p> + +<p>One of Dominique's first cares, on +his return to Montauban, was to visit +his parents' grave. Although his +father died in prison, and his memory +had never been cleared from the slur +of accusation, his friends had obtained +permission, with some difficulty, to +inter his corpse beside that of his wife. +The day was fading into twilight +when Dominique entered the cemetery, +and it took him some time to find the +grave he sought. The sexton would +have saved him the trouble, but the +idea seemed a profanation; in silence +and in solitude he approached the +tomb of his affections and happiness. +Long he sat upon the mound, plunged +in reverie, but with dry eyes, for the +source of tears appeared exhausted in +his heart. Night came; the white +tombstones looked ghastly pale in the +moonlight, and cast long black shadows +upon the turf. Dominique arose, +plucked a wild-flower from his mother's +grave, and left the place. He had +taken but three steps when he became +aware he was not alone in the churchyard. +A tall figure rose suddenly +from an adjacent grave. Although +separated but by one lofty tombstone, +the two mourners had been too absorbed +and silent in their grief to notice +each other's presence. Now +they gazed at one another. The +moon, for a moment obscured, emerged +from behind a cloud, and shone +upon their features. The recognition +was mutual and instantaneous. Both +started back. Between the graves of +their respective victims, Anthony +Noell and Dominique Lafon confronted +each other.</p> + +<p>A dusky fire gleamed in the eyes of +Dominique, and his features, worn +and emaciated from captivity, were +distorted with the grimace of intense<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> +hatred. His heart throbbed as though +it would have burst from his bosom.</p> + +<p>"May your dying hour be desolate!" +he shrieked. "May your end +be in misery and despair!"</p> + +<p>The magistrate gazed at his inveterate +foe with a fixed stare of horror, +as though a phantom had suddenly +risen before him. Then, slowly raising +his hand, till it pointed to the +grave of his sons, his eye still fixed, +as if by fascination, upon that of Dominique, +a single word, uttered in a +hollow tone, burst from his quivering +lips.</p> + +<p>"Murderer!" he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>Dominique laughed. It was a +hideous sound, a laugh of unquenchable +hatred and savage exultation. +He approached Noell till their faces +were but a few inches apart, and +spoke in a voice of suppressed fierceness.</p> + +<p>"My father and my mother," he +said, "expired in grief, and shame, +and misery. By your causeless hate +and relentless persecution, I was made +an orphan. The debt is but half paid. +You have still a child. You still find +happiness on earth. But you yet shall +lose all—all! Yet shall you know +despair and utter solitude, and your +death shall be desolate, even as my +father's was. Remember! <i>We shall +meet again.</i>"</p> + +<p>And passing swiftly before the magistrate, +with a gesture of solemn +menace, Dominique left the cemetery. +Noell sank, pale and trembling, upon +his children's grave. His enemy had +found him, and security had fled. +Dominique's last words, "We shall +meet again!" rang in his ears, as if +uttered by the threatening voice of +hostile and irresistible destiny. Slowly, +and in great uneasiness, he returned +into the town, which he left early the +next day for Marseilles. To his terrified +fancy, his daughter was safe only +when he watched over her. So great +was his alarm, that he would have +resigned his lucrative and honourable +office sooner than have remained +longer absent from the tender flower +whom the ruthless spoiler threatened +to trample and destroy.</p> + + +<h3>THE HORSE-RIDERS.</h3> + +<p>Months passed away, and spring +returned. On a bright morning of +May—in parched Provence the pleasantest +season of the year—a motley +cavalcade approached Marseilles by +the Nice road. It consisted of two +large waggons, a score of horses, and +about the same number of men and +women. The horses were chiefly +white, cream-coloured, or piebald, and +some of them bore saddles of peculiar +make and fantastical colours, velvet-covered +and decorated with gilding. +One was caparisoned with a tiger-skin, +and from his headstall floated +streamers of divers-coloured horsehair. +The women wore riding-habits, +some of gaudy tints, bodices of purple +or crimson velvet, with long flaunting +robes of green or blue. They were +sunburned, boldfaced damsels, with +marked features and of dissipated +aspect, and they sat firmly on their +saddles, jesting as they rode along. +Their male companions were of corresponding +appearance; lithe vigorous +fellows, from fifteen to forty, attired +in various hussar and jockey costumes, +with beards and mustaches fantastically +trimmed, limbs well developed, +and long curling hair. Various nations +went to the composition of the +band. French, Germans, Italians, +and Gipsies made up the equestrian +troop of Luigi Bartolo, which, after +passing the winter in southern Italy, +had wandered north on the approach +of spring, and now was on its way to +give a series of representations at Marseilles.</p> + +<p>A little behind his comrades, upon +a fine gray horse, rode a young Florentine +named Vicenzo, the most skilful +rider of the troop. Although but +five-and-twenty years old, he had +gone through many vicissitudes and +occupations. Of respectable family, +he had studied at Pisa, had been expelled +for misconduct, had then enlisted +in an Austrian regiment, +whence his friends had procured his +discharge, but only to cast him off for +his dissolute habits. Alternately a +professional gambler, a stage player, +and a smuggler on the Italian frontier, +he had now followed, for up<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span>wards +of a year, the vagabond life of a +horse-rider. Of handsome person and +much natural intelligence, he covered +his profligacy and taste for low associations +with a certain varnish of +good breeding. This had procured +him in the troop the nickname of the +<i>Marchese</i>, and had made him a great +favourite with the female portion of +the strollers, amongst whom more +than one fierce quarrel had arisen for +the good graces of the fascinating Vicenzo.</p> + +<p>The Florentine was accompanied by +a stranger, who had fallen in with +the troop at Nice, and had won their +hearts by his liberality. He had +given them a magnificent supper at +their <i>albergo</i>, had made them presents +of wine and trinkets—all apparently +out of pure generosity and love of their +society. He it was who had chiefly +determined them to visit Marseilles, +instead of proceeding north, as they +had originally intended, by Avignon +to Lyons. He marched with the +troop, on horseback, wrapped in a +long loose coat, and with a broad hat +slouched over his brow, and bestowed +his companionship chiefly on Vicenzo, +to whom he appeared to have taken a +great affection. The strollers thought +him a strange eccentric fellow, half +cracked, to say the least; but they +cared little whether he were sane or +mad, so long as his society proved +profitable, his purse well filled, and +ever in his hand.</p> + +<p>The wanderers were within three +miles of Marseilles when they came +to one of the <i>bastides</i>, or country-houses, +so thickly scattered around that +city. It was of unusual elegance, almost +concealed amongst a thick plantation +of trees, and having a terrace, +in the Italian style, overlooking the +road. Upon this terrace, in the cool +shade of an arbour, two ladies were +seated, enjoying the sweet breath of +the lovely spring morning. Books +and embroidery were on a table before +them, which they left on the appearance +of the horse-riders, and, leaning +upon the stone parapet, looked +down on the unusual spectacle. The +elder of the two had nothing remarkable, +except the gaudy ribbons that +contrasted with her antiquated physiognomy. +The younger, in full flush +of youth, and seen amongst the bright +blossoms of the plants that grew in +pots upon the parapet, might have +passed for the goddess of spring in her +most sportive mood. Her hair hung +in rich clusters over her alabaster +neck; her blue eyes danced in humid +lustre; her coral lips, a little parted, +disclosed a range of sparkling pearls. +The sole fault to be found with her +beauty was its character, which was +sensual rather than intellectual. One +beheld the beautiful and frivolous +child of clay, but the ray of the spirit +that elevates and purifies was wanting. +It was the beauty of a Bacchante +rather than of a Vestal—Aurora disporting +herself on the flower banks, +and awaiting, in frolic mood, the advent +of Cupid.</p> + +<p>The motley cavalcade moved on, +the men assuming their smartish seat +in the saddle as they passed under the +inspection of the <i>bella biondina</i>. When +Vicenzo approached the park wall, his +companion leaned towards him and +spoke something in his ear. At the +same moment, as if stung by a gadfly, +the spirited gray upon which the Florentine +was mounted, sprang with all +four feet from the ground, and commenced +a series of leaps and curvets +that would have unseated a less expert +rider. They only served to display +to the greatest advantage Vicenzo's +excellent horsemanship and +slender graceful figure. Disdaining +the gaudy equipments of his comrades, +the young man was tastefully attired +in a dark closely-fitting jacket. Hessian +boots and pantaloons exhibited +the Antinöus-like proportions of his +comely limbs. He rode like a centaur, +he and his steed seemingly forming +but one body. As he reached, gracefully +caracoling, the terrace on whose +summit the ladies were stationed, he +looked up with a winning smile, and +removing his cap, bowed to his horse's +mane. The old lady bridled and +smiled; the young one blushed as +the Florentine's ardent gaze met hers, +and in her confusion she let fall a +branch of roses she held in her hand. +With magical suddenness Vicenzo's +fiery horse stood still, as if carved of +marble. With one bound the rider +was on foot, and had snatched up the +flowers; then placing a hand upon +the shoulder of his steed, who at +once started in a canter, he lightly,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> +and without apparent effort, vaulted +into the saddle. With another bow +and smile he rode off with his companion.</p> + +<p>"'Twas well done, Vicenzo," said +the latter.</p> + +<p>"What an elegant cavalier!" exclaimed +Florinda Noell pensively, following +with her eyes the accomplished +equestrian.</p> + +<p>"And so distinguished in his appearance!" +chimed in her silly aunt. +"And how he looked up at us! One +might fancy him a nobleman in disguise, +bent on adventures, or seeking +intelligence of a lost lady-love."</p> + +<p>Florinda smiled, but the stale platitude, +borrowed from the absurd romances +that crammed Madame Verlé's +brain, abode in her memory. Whilst +the handsome horse-rider remained +in sight, she continued upon the parapet +and gazed after him. On his part, +Vicenzo several times looked back, +and more than once he pressed to his +lips the fragrant flowers of which accident +had made him the possessor.</p> + +<p>A small theatre, which happened +then to be unoccupied, was hired by +the equestrians for their performances, +the announcement of which was soon +placarded from one end to the other of +Marseilles. At the first representation, +Florinda and her aunt were +amongst the audience. They had no +one to cheek their inclinations, for Mr +Noell, after passing many months +with his daughter without molestation +from Dominique, who had disappeared +from Montauban the day after their +meeting in the churchyard, had forgotten +his apprehensions, and had departed +on his annual tour of professional +duty. At the circus, the honours +of the night were for Vicenzo. His +graceful figure, handsome face, skilful +performance, and distinguished air, +were the theme of universal admiration. +Florinda could not detach her +gaze from him as he flew round the +circle, standing with easy negligence +upon his horse's back; and she could +scarcely restrain a cry of horror and +alarm at the boldness of some of his +feats. Vicenzo had early detected +her presence in the theatre; and the +expression of his eyes, when he passed +before her box, made her conscious +that he had done so.</p> + +<p>Several days elapsed, during which +Florinda and her aunt had more than +once again visited the theatre. Vicenzo +had become a subject of constant +conversation between the superannuated +coquette and her niece, the +old lady indulging the most extravagant +conjectures as to who he could +be, for she had made up her mind he +was now in an assumed character. +Florinda spoke of him less, but thought +of him more. Nor were her visits to +the theatre her only opportunities of +seeing him. Vicenzo, soon after his +arrival at Marseilles, had excited his +comrades' wonder and envy by appearing +in the elegant costume of a +private gentleman, and by taking +frequent rides out of the town, at first +accompanied by Fontaine, the stranger +before mentioned, but afterwards +more frequently alone. These rides +were taken early in the morning, or +by moonlight, on evenings when there +was no performance. The horse-riders +laughed at the airs the <i>Marchese</i> +gave himself, attributed his +extravagance to the generosity of +Fontaine, and twitted him with some +secret intrigue, which he, however, +did not admit, and they took little +pains to penetrate. Had they followed +his horse's hoof-track, they +would have found that it led, sometimes +by one road, sometimes by +another, to the <i>bastide</i> of Anthony +Noell the magistrate. And after a +few days they would have seen +Vicenzo, his bridle over his arm, +conversing earnestly, at a small postern-gate +of the garden, with the +charming <i>biondina</i>, whose bright +countenance had greeted, like a good +augury, their first approach to Marseilles.</p> + +<p>At last a night came when this +stolen conversation lasted longer than +usual. Vicenzo was pressing, Florinda +irresolute. Fontaine had accompanied +his friend, and held his +horse in an adjacent lane, whilst the +lovers (for such they now were to be +considered) sauntered in a shrubbery +walk within the park.</p> + +<p>"But why this secrecy?" said the +young girl, leaning tenderly upon the +arm of the handsome stroller. "Why +not at once inform your friends you +accede to their wishes, in renouncing +your present derogatory pursuit? +Why not present yourself to my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> +father under your real name and title? +He loves his daughter too tenderly to +refuse his consent to a union on which +her happiness depends."</p> + +<p>"Dearest Florinda!" replied Vicenzo, +"how could my ardent love +abide the delays this course would +entail? How can you so cruelly urge +me thus to postpone my happiness? +See you not how many obstacles to +our union the step you advise would +raise up? Your father, unwilling to +part with his only daughter, (and +such a daughter!) would assuredly +object to our immediate marriage—would +make your youth, my roving +disposition, fifty other circumstances, +pretexts for putting it off. And did +we succeed in overruling these, there +still would be a thousand tedious formalities +to encounter, correspondence +between your father and my family, +who are proud as Lucifer of their +ancient name and title, and would +be wearisomely punctilious. By my +plan, we would avoid all long-winded +negotiations. Before daylight we are +across the frontier; and before that +excellent Madame Verlé has adjusted +her smart cap, and buttered her first +roll, my adored Florinda is Marchioness +of Monteleane. A letter to papa +explains all; then away to Florence, +and in a month back to Marseilles, +where you shall duly present me to +my respected father-in-law, and I, as +in humility bound, will drop upon my +knees and crave pardon for running +off with his treasure. Papa gives his +benediction, and curtain drops, leaving +all parties happy."</p> + +<p>How often, with the feeble and +irresolute, does a sorry jest pass for a +good argument! As Vicenzo rattled +on, his victim looked up in his face, +and smiled at his soft and insidious +words. Fascinated by silvery tones +and gaudy scales, the woman, as of +old, gave ear to the serpent.</p> + +<p>"'Tis done," said the stroller, with +a heartless smile, as he rode off with +Fontaine, half an hour later—"done. +A post-chaise at midnight. She brings +her jewels—all the fortune she will +ever bring me, I suppose. No chance +of drawing anything from the old +gentleman?"</p> + +<p>"Not much," replied Fontaine +drily.</p> + +<p>"Well, I must have another thousand +from you, besides expenses. +And little enough too. Fifty yellow-boys +for abandoning my place in the +troop. I was never in better cue for +the ring. They are going to Paris, +and I should have joined Franconi."</p> + +<p>"Oh!" said Fontaine, with a slight +sneer, "a man of your abilities will +never lack employment. But we +have no time to lose, if you are to be +back at midnight."</p> + +<p>The two men spurred their horses, +and galloped back to Marseilles.</p> + +<p>A few minutes before twelve o'clock, +a light posting-carriage was drawn up, +by the road-side, about a hundred +yards beyond Anthony Noell's garden. +Vicenzo tapped thrice with his +knuckles at the postern door, which +opened gently, and a trembling female +form emerged from the gloom of the +shrubbery into the broad moonlight +without. Through the veil covering +her head and face, a tear might be +seen glistening upon her cheek. She faltered, +hesitated; her good genius +whispered her to pause. But an evil +spirit was at hand, luring her to destruction. +Taking in one hand a casket, +the real object of his base desires, +and with the other arm encircling her +waist, the seducer, murmuring soft +flatteries in her ear, hurried Florinda +down the slope leading to the road. +Confused and fascinated, the poor +weak girl had no power to resist. +She reached the carriage, cast one +look back at her father's house, +whose white walls shone amidst the +dark masses of foliage; the Florentine +lifted her in, spoke a word to the +postilion, and the vehicle dashed +away in the direction of the Italian +frontier.</p> + +<p>So long as the carriage was in +sight, Fontaine, who had accompanied +Vicenzo, sat motionless upon his +saddle, watching its career as it sped, +like a large black insect, along the +moonlit road. Then, when distance +hid it from his view, he turned his +horse's head and rode rapidly into +Marseilles.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span></p> + + +<h3>FOES AND FRIENDS.</h3> + +<p>Upon the second day after Florinda's +elopement with her worthless +suitor, the large coffee-room of the +Hotel de France, at Montauban, was +deserted, save by two guests. One +of these was a man of about fifty-five, +but older in appearance, whose thin +gray hair and stooping figure, as well +as the deep, anxious wrinkles and +mournful expression of his countenance, +told a tale of cares and troubles, +borne with a rebellious rather +than with a resigned spirit. The other +occupant of the apartment, who sat +at its opposite extremity, and was +concealed, except upon near approach, +by a sort of high projecting counter, +was much younger, for his age could +hardly exceed thirty years. A certain +sober reserved expression, (hardly +amounting to austerity,) frequently +observable in Roman Catholic priests, +and which sat becomingly enough +upon his open intelligent countenance, +betrayed his profession as surely as +some slight clerical peculiarities of +costume.</p> + +<p>Suddenly a waiter entered the room, +and approaching the old man with an +air of great respect, informed him +that a gentleman, seemingly just come +off a journey, desired particularly to +speak with him. The person addressed +raised his eyes, whose melancholy +expression corresponded with the +furrows of his cheek, from the Paris +newspaper he was reading, and, in a +voice at once harsh and feeble, desired +the stranger should be shown in. The +order was obeyed; and a person entered, +wrapped in a cloak, whose collar +was turned up, concealing great +part of his face. His countenance +was further obscured by the vizard of +a travelling-cap, from beneath which +his long hair hung in disorder. +Splashed and unshaven, he had all +the appearance of having travelled far +and fast. The gentleman whom he +had asked to see rose from his seat +on his approach, and looked at him +keenly, even uneasily, but evidently +without recognition. The waiter left +the room. The stranger advanced to +within three paces of him he sought, +and stood still and silent, his features +still masked by his cloak collar.</p> + +<p>"Your business with me, sir?" +said the old man quickly. "Whom +have I the honour to address?"</p> + +<p>"I am an old acquaintance, Mr +Anthony Noell," said the traveller, in +a sharp ironical tone, as he turned +down his collar and displayed a pale +countenance, distorted by a malignant +smile. "An old debtor come to discharge +the balance due. My errand +to-day is to tell you that you are +childless. Your daughter Florinda, +your last remaining darling, has fled +to Italy with a nameless vagabond +and stroller."</p> + +<p>At the very first word uttered by +that voice, Noell had started and +shuddered, as at the sudden pang of +exquisite torture. Then his glassy +eyes were horribly distended, his +mouth opened, his whole face was +convulsed, and with a yell like that of +some savage denizen of the forest +suddenly despoiled of its young, he +sprang upon his enemy and seized +him by the throat.</p> + +<p>"Murderer!" he cried. "Help! +help!"</p> + +<p>The waiters rushed into the room, +and with difficulty freed the stranger +from the vice-like grasp of the old +man, to whose feeble hands frenzy +gave strength. When at last they +were separated, Noell uttered one +shriek of impotent fury and despair, +and fell back senseless in the servants' +arms. The stranger, who himself +seemed weak and ailing, and who +had sunk upon a chair, looked curiously +into his antagonist's face.</p> + +<p>"He is mad," said he, with horrible +composure and complacency; +"quite mad. Take him to his bed."</p> + +<p>The waiters lifted up the insensible +body, and carried it away. The +stranger leaned his elbows upon a +table, and, covering his face with his +hands, remained for some minutes absorbed +in thought. A slight noise +made him look up. The priest stood +opposite to him, and uttered his name.</p> + +<p>"Dominique Lafon," he said, +calmly but severely, "what is this +thing you have done? But you need +not tell me. I know much, and can +conjecture the rest. Wretched man, +know you not the word of God, to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> +whom is all vengeance, and who +repayeth in his own good time?"</p> + +<p>Dominique seemed surprised at +hearing his name pronounced by a +stranger. He looked hard at the +priest. And presently a name connected +with days of happiness and +innocence broke from the lips of the +vindictive and pitiless man.</p> + +<p>"Henry la Chapelle!"</p> + +<p>It was indeed his former fellow-student, +whom circumstances and disposition +had induced to abandon the +study of the law and enter the church. +They had not met since Dominique +departed from Paris to receive the last +sigh of his dying mother.</p> + +<p>Who shall trace the secret springs +whence flow the fountains of the +heart? For seven years Dominique +Lafon had not wept. His captivity +and many sufferings, his father's death, +all had been borne with a bitter heart, +but with dry eyes. But now, at sight +of the comrade of his youth, some +hidden chord, long entombed, suddenly +vibrated. A sob burst from his +bosom, and was succeeded by a gush +of tears.</p> + +<p>Henry la Chapelle looked sadly +and kindly at his boyhood's friend.</p> + +<p>"He who trusteth in himself," he +said in low and gentle tones, "let +him take heed, lest his feet fall into +the snares they despise. Alas! Dominique, +that you so soon forgot our +last conversation! Alas! that you +have laid this sin to your soul! But +those tears give me hope: they are +the early dew of penitence. Come, +my friend, and seek comfort where +alone it may be found. Verily there +is joy in heaven over one repentant +sinner, more than over many just men."</p> + +<p>And the good priest drew his friend's +arm through his, and led him from the +room.</p> + +<p>Dominique's exclamation was prophetic. +When Anthony Noell rose +from the bed of sickness to which grief +consigned him, his intellects were +gone. He never recovered them, but +passed the rest of his life in helpless +idiocy at his country-house, near +Marseilles. There he was sedulously +and tenderly watched by the unhappy +Florinda, who, after a few miserable +months passed with her reprobate +seducer, was released from farther ill-usage +by the death of Vicenzo, stabbed +in Italy in a gambling brawl.</p> + +<p>Not long after 1830, there died in a +Sardinian convent, noted for its ascetic +observances and for the piety of its +inmates, a French monk, who went +by the name of brother Ambrose. His +death was considered to be accelerated +by the strictness with which he followed +the rigid rules of the order, +from some of which his failing health +would have justified deviation, and +by the frequency and severity of his +self-imposed penances. His body, +feeble when first he entered the convent, +was no match for his courageous +spirit. In accordance with his dying +request, his beads and breviary were +sent to a vicar named la Chapelle, +then resident at Lyons. When that +excellent priest opened the book, he +found the following words inscribed +upon a blank page:—</p> + +<p>"Blessed be the Lord, for in Him +have I peace and hope!"</p> + +<p>And Henry la Chapelle kneeled +down, and breathed a prayer for the +soul of his departed friend, Dominique +Lafon.</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="PESTALOZZIANA" id="PESTALOZZIANA">PESTALOZZIANA.</a></h2> + +<blockquote> + +<p>"Etiam illud adjungo, sæpius ad laudem atque virtutem <i>naturam sine doctrinâ</i>, +quam sine naturâ valuisse doctrinam."—<span class="smcap">Cicero</span>, <i>pro. Arch.</i>, 7.</p></blockquote> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Que vous ai-je donc fait, O mes jeunes années!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Pour m'avoir fui si vite, me croyant satisfait?"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p> +<span class="smcap">Victor Hugo</span>, <i>Odes</i>.<br /> +</p> + + +<p>For the abnormal, and, we must +think, somewhat faulty education of +our later boyhood—a few random recollections +of which we here purpose +to lay before the reader—our obligations, +<i>quantulœcunquœ sint</i>, are certainly +due to prejudices which, though +they have now become antiquated and +obsolete, were in full force some thirty +years ago, against the existing mode +of education in England. Not that +the public—<i>quâ</i> public—were ever very +far misled by the noisy declamations +of the Whigs on this their favourite +theme: people for the most part paid +very little attention to the inuendoes +of the peripatetic schoolmaster, so +carefully primed and sent "abroad" +to disabuse them; while not a few +smiled to recognise under that imposing +misnomer a small self-opinionated +<i>clique</i>—free traders in everything else, +but absolute monopolists here—who +sought by its aid to palm off on society +the <i>jocosa imago</i> of their own crotchets, +as though in sympathetic response to +a sentiment wholly proceeding from +itself. When much inflammatory +"stuff" had been discharged against +the walls of our venerable institutions, +not only without setting Isis or Cam +on fire, but plainly with some discomfitures +to the belligerents engaged, from +the opposite party, who returned the +salute, John Bull began to open his +eyes a little, and, as he opened them, +to doubt whether, after all, the promises +and <i>programmes</i> he had been +reading of a spic-and-span new order +of everything, particularly of education, +might not turn out a <i>flam</i>; and +the authors of them, who certainly +showed off to most advantage on +<i>Edinburgh Review</i> days, prove anything +but the best qualified persons to +make good their own vaticinations, or +to bring in the new golden age they +had announced. Still, the crusade +against English public seminaries, +though abortive in its principal design—that +of exciting a <i>general</i> defection +from these institutions—was not quite +barren of results. It was so far successful, +at least, as completely to unsettle +for a time the minds of not a +few over-anxious parents, who, taught +to regard with suspicion the credentials +of every schoolmaster "at home," +were beginning to make diligent inquiries +for his successor among their +neighbours "abroad." To all who +were in this frame of mind, the first +<i>couleur de rose</i> announcements of Pestalozzi's +establishment at Yverdun +were news indeed! offering as they +did—or at least seeming to offer—the +complete solution of a problem which +could scarcely have been entertained +without much painful solicitude and +anxiety. "Here, then," for so ran +the accounts of several trustworthy +eyewitnesses, educational amateurs, +who had devoted a <i>whole morning</i> to +a most prying and probing dissection +of the system within the walls of the +chateau itself, and putting down all +the results of their carefully conducted +autopsy, "here was a school composed +of boys gathered from all parts of the +habitable globe, where each, by simply +carrying over a little of his mother +tongue, might, in a short time, become +a youthful Mezzofante, and take his +choice of many in return; a school which, +wisely eschewing the routine service +of books, suffered neither dictionary, +gradus, grammar, nor spelling-book to +be even seen on the premises; a school +for morals, where, in educating the +head, the right training of the heart +was never for a moment neglected; a +school for the progress of the mind, +where much discernment, blending itself +with kindness, fostered the first dawnings +of the intellect, and carefully protected +the feeble powers of memory +from being overtaxed—where delighted +Alma, in the progress of her development, +might securely enjoy many +privileges and immunities wholly +denied to her at home—where even +philosophy, stooping to conquer, had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> +become <i>sportive</i> the better to <i>persuade</i>; +where the poet's vow was actually +realised—the bodily health being as +diligently looked after as that of the +mind or the affections; lastly, where +they found no fighting nor bullying, as +at home, but agriculture and gymnastics +instituted in their stead." To such +encomiums on the school were added, +and with more justice and truth, a +commendation on old Pestalozzi himself, +the real liberality of whose sentiments, +and the overflowings of whose +paternal love, could not, it was argued, +and did not, fail to prove beneficial to +all within the sphere of their influence. +The weight of such supposed advantages +turned the scale for not a few just +entering into the pupillary state, and +settled their future destination. Our +own training, hitherto auspiciously +enough carried on under the birchen +discipline of Westminster, was <i>suddenly</i> +stopt; the last silver prize-penny +had crossed our palm; the last quarterly +half-crown tax for birch had been +paid into the treasury of the school; +we were called on to say an abrupt +good-by to our friends, and to take a +formal leave of Dr P——. That ceremony +was not a pleasing one; and had +the choice of a visit to Polyphemus in +his cave, or to Dr P—— in his study, +been offered to us, the first would certainly +have had the preference; but +as the case admitted neither evasion +nor compromise, necessity gave us +courage to bolt into the august presence +of the formidable head-master, +after lessons; and finding presently +that we had somehow managed to +emerge again safe from the dreaded +interview, we invited several class-fellows +to celebrate so remarkable a +day at a tuck-shop in the vicinity +of Dean's Yard. There, in unrestricted +indulgence, did the party get +through, there was no telling how +many "lady's-fingers," tarts, and +cheese-cakes, and drank—there was +no counting the corks of empty ginger-beer +bottles. When these delicacies +had lost their relish—και ἑξ ἑρον ἑντο—the +time was come for making a distribution +of our personal effects. First +went our bag of "taws" and "alleys," +<i>pro bono publico</i>, in a general scramble, +and then a Jew's-harp for whoever +could twang it; and out or one pocket +came a cricket-ball for A, and out of +another a peg-top for B; and then +there was a hockey-stick for M, and a +red leathern satchel, with book-strap, +for N, and three books a-piece to two +class-chums, who ended with a toss-up +for Virgil. And now, being fairly +cleaned out, after reiterated good-bys +and shakes of the hand given and taken +at the shop door, we parted, (many of +us never to meet again,) they to enjoy +the remainder of a half-holiday in the +hockey-court, while we walked home +through the park, stopping in the midst +of its ruminating cows, ourself to ruminate +a little upon the future, and to +wonder, unheard, what sort of a place +Switzerland might be, and what sort +of a man Pestalozzi!</p> + +<p>These adieus to old Westminster +took place on a Saturday; and the +following Monday found us already +<i>en route</i> with our excellent father for +the new settlement at Yverdun. The +school to which we were then travelling, +and the venerable man who +presided over it, have both been long +since defunct—<i>de mortuis nil nisi +bonum</i>; and gratitude itself forbids +that we should speak either of one or +of the other with harshness or disrespect; +of a place where we certainly +spent some very happy, if not the +happiest, days of life; of him who—rightly +named the <i>father</i> of the establishment—ever +treated us, and all +with whom he had to do, with a uniform +gentleness and impartiality. To +tell ill-natured tales out of school—of +such a school, and after so long a +period too—would indeed argue ill for +<i>any one's</i> charity, and accordingly <i>we</i> +do not intend to try it. But though +the feeling of the <i>alumnus</i> may not +permit us to think unfavourably of the +<i>Pensionat</i> Pestalozzi, we shall not, on +that account, suppress the mention of +some occasional hardships and inconveniences +experienced there, much +less allow a word of reproach to escape +our pen. The reader, with no such +sympathies to restrain his curiosity, +will no doubt expect, if not a detailed +account, some outline or general +ground-plan of the system, which, +alas! we cannot give him; our endeavour +to comprehend it as a digested +<i>whole</i>—proceeding on certain data, +aiming at certain ends, and pursuing +them by certain means—has been entirely +unsuccessful; and therefore, if<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> +pressed for more than we can tell, +our answer must be, in the words of +Cicero, <i>Deprecor ne me tanquam philosophum +putet scholam sibi istam, explicaturum</i>.<a name="FNanchor_14" id="FNanchor_14"></a><a href="#Footnote_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a> +But though unable to +make out—if, indeed, there were any +spirit of unity to be made out—in +Pestalozzi's scheme, there were certain +manifest imperfections in the +composition of his plan of education—improprieties +to which the longest +familiarity could scarcely reconcile, +nor the warmest partiality blind even +the most determined partisan. In the +first place—to state them at once, and +have done with the unpleasing office +of finding fault—it always struck us +as a capital error, in a school where +books were not allowed, to suffer +almost the whole teaching of the +classes to devolve upon some leading +member of each; for what, in fact, +could self-taught lads be expected to +teach, unless it were to make a ring +or a row—to fish, to whistle, or to +skate? Of course, any graver kind +of information, conveyed by an infant +prodigy to his gaping pupils, must +have lacked the necessary precision +to make it available to them: first, +because he would very seldom be +sufficiently possessed of it himself; +and secondly, because a boy's imperfect +vocabulary and inexperience render +him at all times a decidedly bad +interpreter even of what he may really +know. In place of proving real lights, +these little Jack-o'-Lanterns of ours +tended rather to perplex the path of +the inquiring, and to impede their +progress; and when an appeal was +made to the master, as was sometimes +done, the master—brought up in the +same vague, bookless manner, and +knowing nothing more <i>accurately</i>, +though he might know <i>more</i> than his +puzzle-pated pupils—was very seldom +able to give them a lift out of the +quagmire, where they accordingly +would stick, and flounder away till +the end of the lesson. It was amusing +to see how a boy, so soon as he got +but a glimpse of a subject before the +class, and could give but the ghost of +a reason for what he was eager to +prelect upon, became incontinent of +the bright discovery, till all his companions +had had the full benefit of it, +with much that was irrelevant besides. +The mischiefs which, it would occur +to any one's mind, were likely to +result in after life from such desultory +habits of application in boyhood, actually +did result to many of us a few +years later at college. It was at once +painful and difficult to indoctrinate +indocile minds like ours into the accurate +and severe habits of university +discipline. On entering the lists for +honours with other young aspirants, +educated in the usual way at home, +we were as a herd of unbroken colts +pitted against well-trained racers: +neither had yet run for the prize—in +that single particular the cases were +the same; but when degree and race +day came, on whose side lay the odds? +On theirs who had been left to try an +untutored strength in scampering over +a wild common, at will, for years, or +with those who, by daily exercise in +the <i>manège</i> of a public school, had +been trained to bear harness, and +were, besides, well acquainted with +the ground? <i>Another</i> unquestionable +error in the system was the absence +of emulation, which, from some strange +misconception and worse application +of a text in St Paul, was proscribed +as an unchristian principle; in lieu of +which, we were to be brought—though +we never <i>were</i> brought, but that was +the object aimed at—to love learning +for its own sake, and to prove ourselves +anxious of excelling without a +motive, or to be <i>good for nothing</i>, as +Hood has somewhere phrased it.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Nunquam præponens se aliis, <span class="smcap">ITA</span> facillime<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Sine invidia invenias laudem,"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>says Terence, and it will be so where +envy and conceit have supplanted emulation: +yet are the feelings perfectly +distinct; and we think it behoves all +those who contend that every striving +for the mastery is prohibited by the +gospel, to show how <i>communism</i> in +inferiority, or <i>socialism</i> in dulness, +are likely to improve morals or mend +society. Take from a schoolboy the +motive of rewards and punishments, +and you deprive him of that incentive +by which your own conduct through +life is regulated, and that by which +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span>God has thought fit, in the moral +government of his rational creatures, +to promote the practice of good works, +and to discourage and dissuade from +evil. Nor did that which sounds thus +ominously in theory succeed in its +application better than it sounded. +In fact, nothing more unfortunate +could have been devised for all parties, +but especially for such as were +by nature of a studious turn or of +quicker parts than the rest; who, +finding the ordinary stimulus to exertion +thus removed, and none other to +replace it, no longer cared to do well, +(why should they, when they knew +that their feeblest efforts would transcend +their slow-paced comrades' best?) +but, gradually abandoning themselves +to the <i>vis inertiæ</i> of sloth, incompetence, +and bad example, did no more +than they could help; repressing the +spirit of rivalry and emulation, which +had no issue in the school, to show +it in some of those feats of agility or +address, which the rigorous enactment +of gymnastic exercises imposed +on all alike, and in the performance +of which we certainly <i>did</i> pride ourselves, +and eagerly sought to eclipse +each other in exhibiting any natural +or acquired superiority we might possess. +The absence of all elementary +books of instruction throughout the +school, presented another barrier in +the way of improvement still more +formidable than even the <i>bétise</i> of +boy pedagogues, the want of sufficient +stimulus to exertion, or the absurd +respect paid sometimes to natural incapacity, +and sometimes even to idleness. +Those who had no rules to +learn had of course none to apply +when they wanted them; no masters +could have adequately supplied this +deficiency, and those of the chateau +were certainly not the men to remedy +the evil. As might therefore have +been anticipated, the young Pestalozzian's +ideas, whether innate or acquired, +and on every subject, became +sadly vague and confused, and his +grammar of a piece with his knowledge. +We would have been conspicuous, +even amongst other boys, for +what <i>seemed</i> almost a studied impropriety +of language; but it <i>was</i>, in fact, +nothing more than the unavoidable +result of natural indolence and inattention, +uncoerced by proper discipline. +The old man's slouching gait +and ungraceful attire afforded but too +apt an illustration of the intellectual +<i>nonchalance</i> of his pupils. As to the +modern languages, of which so much +has been said by those who knew so +little of the matter, they were in parlance, +to be sure—but how spoken? +Alas! besides an open violation of all +the concords, and a general disregard +of syntax, they failed where one +would have thought them least likely +to fail, in correctness of idiom and +accent. The French—this was the +language of the school—abounded in +conventional phrases, woven into its +texture from various foreign sources, +German, English, or Italian, and in +scores of barbarous words—not to be +found in the <i>Dictionnaire de l'Academie</i>, +certainly, but quite current in the +many-tongued vernacular of the +chateau. Our pronunciation remained +unequivocally John Bullish to the end—not +one of us ever caught or thought +of catching the right intonation; and, +whether the fault originated merely +in want of ear, or that we could not +make the right use of our noses, it is +quite certain that all of us had either +no accent or a wrong one. The German +was as bad as the French: it was +a Swiss, not a German, +abounding in <i>patois</i> phrases and provincialisms—in +short, a most hybrid +affair, to say nothing of its being as +much over-guttural as the last was +sub-nasal. With regard to Spanish +and Italian, as the English did not +consort with either of these nations, +all they ever acquired of their languages +were such oaths and <i>mauvais +mots</i> as parrots pick up from sailors +aboard ship, which they repeated +with all the innocence of parrots. +Thus, then, the opportunities offered +for the acquisition of modern languages +were plainly defective; and when it is +further considered that the dead languages +remained untaught—nay, were +literally unknown, except to a small +section of the school, for whom a kind +Providence had sent a valued friend +and preceptor in Dr M——, (whose +neat Greek characters were stared at +as cabalistical by the other masters of +the <i>Pensionat</i>,)—and finally, that our +very English became at last defiled +and corrupted, by the introduction of +a variety of foreign idioms, it will be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> +seen that for any advantage likely to +accrue from the polyglot character of +the institution, the Tower of Babel +would, in fact, have furnished every +whit as good a school for languages +as did our turreted chateau. And +now, if candour has compelled this +notice of some, it must be admitted, +serious blemishes in the system of +old Pestalozzi, where is the academy +without them?</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Whoever hopes a faultless school to see,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Hopes what ne'er was, nor is, nor is to be."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Meanwhile the Swiss Pension was +not without solid advantages, and +might justly lay claim to some regard, +if not as a school for learning, at least +as a <i>moral</i> school; its inmates for the +most part spoke truth, respected +property, eschewed mischief, were +neither puppies, nor bullies, nor talebearers. +There were, of course, exceptions +to all this, but then they were +<i>exceptions</i>; nor was the number at any +time sufficient to invalidate the general +rule, or to corrupt the better principle. +Perhaps a ten hours' daily attendance +in class, coarse spare diet, +hardy and somewhat severe training, +may be considered by the reader as +offering some explanation of our general +propriety of behaviour. It may +be so; but we are by no means willing +to admit, that the really high moral +tone of the school depended either upon +gymnastic exercises or short commons, +nor yet arose from the want of facilities +for getting into scrapes, for here, +as elsewhere, where there is the will, +there is ever a way. We believe it to +have originated from another source—in +a word, from the encouragement +held out to the study of natural +history, and the eagerness with which +that study was taken up and pursued +by the school in consequence. Though +Pestalozzi might not succeed in making +his disciples scholars, he certainly +succeeded in making many among +them <i>naturalists</i>; and of the two—let +us ask it without offence—whether +is he the happier lad (to +say nothing of the future man) who +can fabricate faultless pentameters +and immaculate iambics to order; or +he who, already absorbed in scanning +the wonders of creation, seeks with +unflagging diligence and zeal to know +more and more of the visible works +of the great <i>Poet of Nature</i>? "Sæpius +sane ad laudem atque virtutem naturam +sine doctrinâ, quam sine naturâ +valuisse doctrinam;" which words +being Cicero's, deny them, sir, if you +please.</p> + +<p>The Pension, during the period of +our sojourn at Yverdun, contained +about a hundred and eighty élèves, +natives of every European and of some +Oriental states, whose primitive mode +of distribution into classes, according +to age and acquirements, during school +hours, was completely changed in +playtime, when the boys, finding it +easier to speak their own tongue than +to acquire a new one, divided themselves +into separate groups according +to their respective nations. The +English would occasionally admit a +German or a Prussian to their +coterie; but that was a favour seldom +conferred upon any other foreigner: for +the Spaniards, who were certainly the +least well-conducted of the whole +community, did not deserve it: among +them were to be found the litigious, +the mischief-makers, the quarrellers, +and—for, as has been hinted, we were +not all honest—the exceptional thieves. +The Italians we could never make +out, nor they us: we had no sympathy +with Pole or Greek; the Swiss we +positively did not like, and the French +just as positively did not like us; so +how could it be otherwise? The +ushers, for the most part trained up +in the school, were an obliging set of +men, with little refinement, less pretension, +and wholly without learning. +A distich from Crabbe describes them +perfectly—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Men who, 'mid noise and dirt, and play and prate,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Could calmly mend the pen, and wash the slate."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Punishments were rare; indeed, flogging +was absolutely prohibited; and +the setting an imposition would have +been equally against the <i>genius loci</i>, +had lesson-books existed out of which +to hear it afterwards. A short imprisonment +in an unfurnished room—a not +very formidable black-hole—with the +loss of a <i>goutte</i>, now and then, and at +very long intervals, formed the mild +summary of the penal "code Pestalozzi."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span></p> + +<p>It was Saturday, and a half holiday, +when we arrived at Yverdun, and oh +the confusion of tongues which there +prevailed! All Bedlam and Parnassus +let loose to rave together, could not +have come up to that diapason of discords +with which the high corridors +were ringing, as, passing through the +throng, we were conducted to the +venerable head of the establishment +in his private apartments beyond. +In this gallery of mixed portraits +might be seen long-haired, highborn, +and high-cheek-boned Germans; +a scantling of French <i>gamins</i> +much better dressed; some +dark-eyed Italians; Greeks in most +foreign attire; here and there +a fair ingenuous Russian face; several +swart sinister-looking Spaniards, models +only for their own Carravagio; +some dirty specimens of the universal +Pole; one or two unmistakeable +English, ready to shake hands with +a compatriot; and Swiss from +every canton of the Helvetic confederacy. +To this promiscuous multitude +we were shortly introduced, the +kind old man himself taking us by the +hand, and acting as master of the +ceremonies. When the whole school +had crowded round to stare at the +new importation, "Here," said he, +"are four English boys come from +their distant home, to be naturalised +in this establishment, and +made members of our family. Boys, +receive them kindly, and remember +they are henceforth your brothers." +A shout from the crowd proclaiming +its ready assent and cordial participation +in the adoption, nothing remained +but to shake hands <i>à l'Anglaise</i>, +and to fraternise without loss of time. +The next day being Sunday, our +skulls were craniologically studied by +Herr Schmidt, the head usher; and +whatever various bumps or depressions +phrenology might have discovered +thereon were all duly registered +in a large book. After this examination +was concluded, a week's furlough +was allowed, in order that Herr +Schmidt might have an opportunity +afforded him of seeing how far our +real character squared with phrenological +observation and measurement, +entering this also into the same +ledger as a note. What a contrast +were we unavoidably drawing all this +time between Yverdun and Westminster, +and how enjoyable was the +change to us! The reader will please +to imagine as well as he can, the sensations +of a lately pent up chrysalis, +on first finding himself a butterfly, or +the not less agreeable surprise of some +newly metamorphosed tadpole, when, +leaving his associates in the mud and +green slime, he floats at liberty on the +surface of the pool, endowed with +lungs and a voice,—if he would at all +enter into the exultation of our feelings +on changing the penitential air +of Millbank for the fresh mountain +breezes of the Pays de Vaud. It +seemed as if we had—nay, we had +actually entered upon a new existence, +so thoroughly had all the elements +of the old been altered and improved. +If we looked back, and compared past +and present experiences, there, at the +wrong end of the mental telescope, +stood that small dingy house, in +that little mis-yclept Great Smith +Street, with its tiny cocoon of a bedroom, +whilom our close and airless +prison; here, at the other end, and +in immediate contact with the eye, a +noble chateau, full of roomy rooms, +enough and to spare. Another retrospective +peep, and <i>there</i> was Tothill +Fields, and its seedy cricket ground; +and <i>here</i>, again, a level equally perfect, +but carpeted with fine turf, and extending +to the margin of a broad living +lake, instead of terminating in a +nauseous duck-pond; while the cold +clammy cloisters adjoining Dean's +Yard were not less favourably replaced +by a large open airy play-ground, +intersected by two clear trout-streams—and +a sky as unlike that above Bird-Cage +Walk as the interposed atmosphere +was different; whilst, in place +of the startling, discordant <i>Keleusmata</i> +of bargees, joined to the creaking, +stunning noise of commerce in a great +city, few out-of-door sounds to meet +our ear, and these few, with the exception +of our own, all quiet, pastoral, +and soothing, such as, later in life, +make</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Silence in the heart<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For thought to do her part,"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>and which are not without their charm +even to him "who whistles as he goes +for <i>want</i> of thought." No wonder, +then, if Yverdun seemed Paradisaical +in its landscapes. Nor was this all.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> +If the views outside were charming, +our domestic and social relations +within doors were not less pleasing. +At first, the unwelcome vision of the +<i>late</i> head-master would sometimes +haunt us, clad in his flowing black +D.D. robes—"tristis severitas in +vultu, atque in verbis fides," looking +as if he intended to flog, and his words +never belying his looks. That terrible +Olympian arm, raised and ready to +strike, was again shadowed forth to +view; while we could almost fancy +ourselves once more at that judicial +table, one of twenty boys who were +to draw lots for a "hander." How +soothingly, then, came the pleasing consciousness, +breaking our reverie, that a +very different person was <i>now</i> our +head-master—a most indulgent old +man whom we should meet ere long, +with hands uplifted, indeed, but only +for the purpose of clutching us tight +while he inflicted a salute on both +cheeks, and pronounced his affectionate +<i>guten morgen, liebes kind</i>, as he hastened +on to bestow the like fatherly +greeting upon every pupil in turn.</p> + + +<h3>THE DORMITORY.</h3> + +<p>The sleeping apartments at the chateau +occupied three of the four sides +of its inner quadrangle, and consisted +of as many long rooms, each with a +double row of windows; whereof one +looked into the aforesaid quadrangle, +while the opposite rows commanded, +severally, views of the garden, the +open country, and the Grande Place +of the town. They were accommodated +with sixty uncurtained stump +bedsteads, fifty-nine of which afforded +<i>gîte</i> to a like number of boys; and +one, in no respect superior to the rest, +was destined to receive the athletic +form of Herr Gottlieb, son-in-law to +Vater Pestalozzi, to whose particular +charge we were consigned during the +hours of the night. These bedrooms, +being as lofty as they were long, +broad, and over-furnished with windows, +were always ventilated; but +the in-draught of air, which was sufficient +to keep them cool during the +hottest day in summer, rendered them +cold, and sometimes <i>very</i> cold, in the +winter. In that season, accordingly, +especially when the <i>bise</i> blew, and +hail and sleet were pattering against +the casements, the compulsory rising +to class by candlelight was an ungenial +and unwelcome process; for +which, however, there being no remedy, +the next best thing was to take +it as coolly, we were going to say—<i>that +of course</i>—but, as patiently as +might be. The disagreeable anticipation +of the <i>réveil</i> was frequently +enough to scare away sleep from our +eyes a full hour before the command +to jump out of bed was actually +issued. On such occasions we would +lie awake, and, as the time approached, +begin to draw in our own breath, furtively +listening, not without trepidation, +to the loud nose of a distant +comrade, lest its fitful stertor should +startle another pair of nostrils, on +whose repose that of the whole dormitory +depended. Let Æolus and his +crew make what tumult they liked +inside or outside the castle—<i>they</i> disturbed +nobody's dreams—<i>they</i> never +murdered sleep. Let them pipe and +whistle through every keyhole and crevice +of the vast <i>enceinte</i> of the building—sigh +and moan as they would in their +various imprisonments of attic or corridor; +howl wildly round the great +tower, or even threaten a forcible entry +at the windows, nobody's ears were +scared into unwelcome consciousness +by sounds so familiar to them all. It +was the expectation of a blast louder +even than theirs that would keep our +eyes open—a blast about to issue from +the bed of Herr Gottlieb, and thundering +enough, when it issued, to +startle the very god of winds himself! +Often, as the dreaded six <span class="smcap">A.M.</span> drew +nigh, when the third quarter past five +had, ten minutes since, come with a +sough and a rattle against the casements, +and still Gottlieb slept on, we +would take courage, and begin to +dream with our eyes open, that his +slumbers might be prolonged a little; +his face, turned upwards, looked so +calm, the eyes so resolutely closed—every +feature so perfectly at rest. It +could not be more than five minutes +to six—might not he who had slept<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> +<i>so long</i>, for once <i>over</i>sleep himself? +<span class="smcap">Never!</span> However placid those slumbers +might be, they invariably forsook +our "unwearied one" just as the +clock was on the point of striking six. +To judge by the rapid twitchings—they +almost seemed galvanic—first of +the muscles round the mouth, then of +the nose and eyes, it appeared as +though some ill-omened dream, at +that very nick of time, was sent +periodically, on purpose to awaken +him; and, if so, it certainly never returned +απρακτος. Gottlieb would instantly +set to rubbing his eyes, and +as the hour struck, spring up wide +awake in his shirt sleeves—thus destroying +every lingering, and, as it +always turned out, ill-founded hope +of a longer snooze. Presently we beheld +him jump into his small-clothes, +and, when sufficiently attired to be +seen, unlimber his tongue, and pour +forth a rattling broadside—<i>Auf, kinder! +schwind!</i>—with such precision +of delivery, too, that few sleepers +could turn a deaf ear to it. But, lest +any one should still lurk under his +warm coverlet out of earshot, at the +further end of the room, another and +a shriller summons to the same effect +once more shakes the walls and windows +of the dormitory. Then every +boy knew right well that the last +moment for repose was past, and that +he must at once turn out shivering +from his bed, and dress as fast as possible; +and it was really surprising to +witness how rapidly all could huddle +on their clothes under certain conditions +of the atmosphere!</p> + +<p>In less than five minutes the whole +school was dressed, and Gottlieb, in +his sounding shoes, having urged +the dilatory with another admonitory +<i>schwind, schwind!</i> has departed, key +and candle in hand, to arouse the +remaining sleepers, by ringing the +"Great Tom" of the chateau. So cold +and cheerless was this matutinal summons, +that occasional attempts were +made to evade it by simulated headach, +or, without being quite so specific, +on the plea of general indisposition, +though it was well known beforehand +what the result would be. Herr +Gottlieb, in such a case, would presently +appear at the bedside of the +delinquent patient, with very little +compassion in his countenance, and, +in a business tone, proceed to inquire +from him, Why not up?—and on +receiving for reply, in a melancholy +voice, that the would-be invalid +was <i>sehr krank</i>, would instantly pass +the word for the doctor to be summoned. +That doctor—we knew him +well, and every truant knew—was a +quondam French army surgeon—a +sworn disciple of the Broussais school, +whose heroic remedies at the chateau +resolved themselves into one of two—<i>i. e.</i>, +a starve or a vomit, alternately +administered, according as the idiosyncracy +of the patient, or as this or +that symptom turned the scale, now +in favour of storming the stomach, +now of starving it into capitulation. +Just as the welcome hot mess of +bread and milk was about to be served +to the rest, this dapper little Sangrado +would make his appearance, feel the +pulse, inspect the tongue, ask a few +questions, and finding, generally, indications +of what he would term <i>une +légère gastrite</i>, recommend <i>diète absolue</i>; +then prescribing a mawkish +<i>tisane</i>, composed of any garden +herbs at hand, and pocketing lancets +and stethoscope, would leave the patient +to recover <i>sans calomel</i>—a mode +of treatment to which, he would tell +us, we should certainly have been subjected +in our own country. Meanwhile, +the superiority of <i>his</i> plan of +treatment was unquestionable. On +the very next morning, when he called +to visit his <i>cher petit malade</i>, an +empty bed said quite plainly, "Very +well, I thank you, sir, and in class." +But these feignings were comparatively +of rare occurrence; in general, +all rose, dressed, and descended together, +just as the alarum-bell had +ceased to sound; and in less than two +minutes more all were assembled in +their respective class-rooms. The rats +and mice, which had had the run of +these during the night, would be still +in occupation when we entered; and +such was the audacity of these vermin +that none cared <i>alone</i> to be the +first to plant a candle on his desk. +But, by entering <i>en masse</i>, we easily +routed the <i>Rodentia</i>, whose forces +were driven to seek shelter behind the +wainscot, where they would scuffle, +and gnaw, and scratch, before they +finally withdrew, and left us with blue +fingers and chattering teeth to study<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> +to make the best of it. Uncomfortable +enough was the effort for the first +ten minutes of the session; but by degrees +the hopes of a possible warming +of hands upon the surface of the Dutch +stoves after class, if they should have +been lighted in time, and at any rate +the certainty of a hot breakfast, were +entertained, and brought their consolation; +besides which, the being up in +time to welcome in the dawn of the +dullest day, while health and liberty +are ours, is a pleasure in itself. There +was no exception to it here; for when +the darkness, becoming every moment +less and less dark, had at length given +way, and melted into a gray gloaming, +we would rejoice, even before it appeared, +at the approach of a new day. +That approach was soon further +heralded by the fitful notes of small +day-birds chirping under the leaves, +and anon by their sudden dashings +against the windows, in the direction +of the lights not yet extinguished in +the class-rooms. Presently the pigs +were heard rejoicing and contending +over their fresh wash; then the old +horse and the shaggy little donkey in +the stable adjoining the styes, knowing +by this stir that their feed was coming, +snorted and brayed at the pleasant +prospect. The cocks had by this time +roused their sleepy sultanas, who came +creeping from under the barn-door to +meet their lords on the dunghill. Our +peacock, to satisfy himself that he had +not taken cold during the night, would +scream to the utmost pitch of a most +discordant voice; then the prescient +goats would bleat from the cabins, +and plaintively remind us that, till +their door is unpadlocked, they can +get no prog; then the punctual magpie, +and his friend the jay, having +hopped all down the corridor, would +be heard screaming for broken victuals +at the school-room door, till +our dismissal bell, finding so many +other tongues loosened, at length +wags its own, and then for the next +hour and a half all are free to follow +their own devices. Breakfast +shortly follows; but, alas! another +cold ceremony must be undergone +first. A preliminary visit to pump +court, and a thorough ablution of +face and hands, is indispensable to +those who would become successful +candidates for that long-anticipated +meal. This bleaching process, at an +icy temperature, was never agreeable; +but when the pipes happened to be +frozen—a contingency by no means +unfrequent—and the snow in the yard +must be substituted for the water +which was not in the pump, it proved +a difficult and sometimes a painful +business; especially as there was +always some uncertainty afterwards, +whether the chilblained paws would +pass muster before the inspector-general +commissioned to examine them—who, +utterly reckless as to how the +boys might "be off for soap," and +incredulous of what they would fain +attribute to the adust complexion of +their skin, would require to have that +assertion tested by a further experiment +at the "pump head."</p> + + +<h3>THE REFECTORY.</h3> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Forbear to scoff at woes you cannot feel,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Nor mock the misery of a stinted meal."—<span class="smcap">Crabbe.</span><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The dietary tables at the chateau, +conspicuous alike for the paucity and +simplicity of the articles registered +therein, are easily recalled to mind. +The fare they exhibited was certainly +<i>coarse</i>—though, by a euphemism, it +might have been termed merely <i>plain</i>—and +spare withal. The breakfast +would consist of milk and water—the +first aqueous enough without dilution, +being the produce of certain ill-favoured, +and, as we afterwards tasted their +flesh, we may add ill-flavoured kine, +whose impoverished lacteals could furnish +out of their sorry fodder no better +supplies. It was London sky-blue, in +short, but not of the Alderney dairy, +which was made to serve our turn at +Yverdun. This milk, at seven in summer, +and at half-past seven in winter, +was transferred boiling, and as yet +unadulterated, into earthenware mixers, +which had been previously half-filled +with hot water from a neighbouring +kettle. In this half-and-half +state it was baled out for the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> +assembled school into a series of pewter +platters, ranged along the sides of +three bare deal boards, some thirty +feet long by two wide, and mounted +on tressels, which served us for tables. +The ministering damsels were two +great German Fraus, rejoicing severally +in the pleasing names of Gretchen +and Bessie. When Frau Gretchen, +standing behind each boy, had +dropt her allowance of milk over his +right shoulder—during which process +there was generally a mighty clatter +for full measure and fair play—the +other Frau was slicing off her slices of +bread from a brown loaf a yard long, +which she carried under her arm, and +slashed clean through with wonderful +precision and address. It was now +for all those who had saved pocket-money +for <i>menus-plaisirs</i> to produce +their <i>cornets</i> of cinnamon or sugar, +sprinkle a little into the milk, and +then fall to sipping and munching with +increased zest and satisfaction. So +dry and chaffy was our <i>pain de ménage</i> +that none ventured to soak it entire, +or at once, but would cut it into <i>frustrums</i>, +and retain liquid enough to +wash down the boluses separately. +In a few minutes every plate was +completely cleaned out and polished; +and the cats, that generally entered the +room as we left it, seldom found a +drop with which they might moisten +their tongues, or remove from cheeks +and whiskers the red stains of murdered +mice on which they had been +breaking their fast in the great tower. +So much for the earliest meal of the +day, which was to carry us through +five hours, if not of laborious mental +study, at least of the incarceration of +our bodies in class, which was equally +irksome to them as if our minds had +been hard at work. These five hours +terminated, slates were once more insalivated +and put by clean, and the +hungry garrison began to look forward +to the pleasures of the noon-day +repast. The same bell that had been +calling so often to class would now +give premonitory notice of dinner, but +in a greatly changed tone. In place of +the shrill snappish key in which it had +all the morning jerked out each short +unwelcome summons from lesson to +lesson, as if fearful of ringing one note +beyond the prescribed minute, it now +would take time, vibrate far and wide +in its cage, give full scope to its +tongue, and appear, from the loud increasing +swell of its prolonged <i>oyez</i>, +to announce the message of good +cheer like a herald conscious and proud +of his commission. Ding-dong!—come +along! Dinner's dishing!—ding-dong! +<i>Da capo</i> and <i>encore</i>! Then, starting +up from every school-room form +throughout the chateau, the noisy +boys rushed pell-mell, opened all +the doors, and, like emergent bees +in quest of honey, began coursing up +and down right busily between the +<i>salle-à-manger</i> and the kitchen—snuffing +the various aromas as they +escaped from the latter into the passage, +and inferring from the amount +of exhaled fragrance the actual progress +of the preparations for eating. +Occasionally some "sly Tom" would +peep into the kitchen, while the +Fraus were too busy to notice him, +and watch the great cauldron that +had been milked dry of its stores in +the morning, now discharging its +aqueous contents of a much-attenuated +<i>bouillon</i>—the surface covered with +lumps of swimming bread, thickened +throughout with a hydrate of potatoes, +and coloured with coarse insipid +carrots, which certainly gave it a +savoury appearance. It was not good +broth—far from it, for it was both +<i>sub</i>-greasy and <i>super</i>-salted; but then +it was hot, it was thick, and there +was an abundant supply. It used to +gush, as we have said, from the great +stop-cock of the cauldron, steaming +and sputtering, into eight enormous +tureens. The shreds of beef, together +with whatever other solids remained +behind after the fluid had been drawn +off, were next fished up from the +abyss with long ladles, and plumped +into the decanted liquor. The young +<i>gastronome</i> who might have beheld +these proceedings would wait till the +lid was taken off the <i>sauerkraut</i>; +and then, the odour becoming overpoweringly +appetising, he would run, +as by irresistible instinct, into the +dining-room, where most of the boys +were already assembled, each with a +ration of brown bread in his hand, +and ready for the Fraus, who were +speedily about to enter. The dinner +was noisy and <i>ungenteel</i> in the extreme—how +could it be otherwise? +<i>ventre affamé n'a point d'oreilles.</i><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> +Hardly was the German grace concluded, +and the covers removed, +when that bone of contention, the +marrow bone, was caught up by some +big boy near the top of the table, and +became the signal for a general row. +All in his neighbourhood would call +out second, third, fourth, fifth, &c., +for said bone; and thus it would travel +from plate to plate, yielding its +contents freely to the two or three +first applicants, but wholly inadequate—unless +it could have resolved +itself altogether into marrow—to meet +all the demands made upon its stores. +Then arose angry words of contention, +which waxed hot as the marrow +waxed cold, every candidate being +equally vociferous in maintaining the +priority of his particular claim. Earnest +appeals in German, French, +Spanish, English, &c., were bandied +from one to the other in consequence, +as to who had really said <i>après toi</i> +first! At last the "dry bone" was +found undeserving of further contention; +and, ceasing to drop any more +fatness upon any boy's bread, the +competition for it was dropt too. +When now we had half-filled our +stomachs with a soup which few +physicians would have withheld from +their fever patients on the score of its +strength, we threw in a sufficiency +of bread and <i>sauerkraut</i> to absorb +it; and, after the post-prandial German +grace had been pronounced, the +boys left the table, generally with a +saved crust in their pockets, to repair +to the garden and filch—if it was +filching—an alliaceous dessert from +the beds, which they washed in the +clear stream, and added, without fear +of indigestion, to the meal just concluded +within the chateau. Most of +us throve upon this Spartan diet; but +some delicate boys, unendowed with +the ostrich power of assimilation usual +at that period—for boys, like ostriches, +can digest almost anything—became +deranged in their chylopoietics, and +continued to feel its ill effects in +mesenteric and other chronic ailments +for years afterwards. An hour +was given for stomachs to do their +work, before we reassembled to ours +in the class-room. At half-past four +precisely, a <i>gouté</i>, was served out, +which consisted of a whacking slice of +bread, and either a repetition of the +morning's milk and water, or <i>café au +lait</i>, (without sugar "<i>bien entendu</i>,") +or twenty-five walnuts, or a couple +of ounces of strong-tasted <i>gruyère</i>, +or a plateful of <i>schnitz</i> (cuttings of +dried apples, pears, and plums). We +might choose any one of these several +dainties we liked, but not more. +Some dangerous characters—not to +be imitated—would occasionally, while +young Frau Schmidt stood doling +out the supplies from her cupboard +among the assembled throng, +make the disingenuous attempt to +obtain cheese with one hand and +<i>schnitz</i> with the other. But the +artifice, we are happy to say, seldom +succeeded; for that vigilant lady, +quick-eyed and active, and who, of +all things, hated to be imposed upon, +would turn round upon the false +claimant, and bid him hold up both +his hands at once—which he, ambidexter +as he was, durst not do, and +thus he was exposed to the laughter +and jeers of the rest. At nine, the +bell sounded a feeble call to a <i>soi-disant</i> +supper; but few of us cared for +a basin of <i>tisane</i> under the name +of lentil soup—or a pappy potato, +salted in the boiling—and soon after +we all repaired to our bedrooms—made +a noise for a short time, then +undressed, and were speedily asleep +under our <i>duvets</i>, and as sound, if +not as musical, as tops.</p> + +<p>Our common fare, as the reader has +now seen, was sorry enough; but we +had our Carnival and gala days as +well as our Lent. Vater Pestalozzi's +birthday, in summer, and the first +day of the new year, were the most +conspicuous. On each of these occasions +we enjoyed a whole week's holiday; +and as these were also the +periods for slaughtering the pigs, we +fed (twice a-year for a whole week!) +upon black puddings and pork <i>à +discretion</i>, qualified with a sauce of +beetroot and vinegar, and washed +down with a fluid really like small-beer.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span></p> + + +<h3>CLASSES.</h3> + +<p>The school-rooms, which lay immediately +under the dormitories on +the ground-floor, consisted of a number +of detached chambers, each of +which issued upon a corridor. They +were airy—there was plenty of air at +Yverdun—and lofty as became so +venerable a building; but they were +unswept, unscrubbed, peeled of their +paint, and, owing to the little light +that could find its way through two +very small windows punched out of +the fortress walls, presented, save at +mid-day, or as the declining sun illumined +momentarily the dark recess, +as comfortless a set of interiors as you +could well see. It required, indeed, +all the elasticity of youth to bear +many hours' daily incarceration in +such black-holes, without participating +in the pervading gloom. Such +dismal domiciles were only fit resorts +for the myoptic bat, who would occasionally +visit them from the old tower; +for the twilight horde of cockroaches, +which swarmed along the floor, or the +eight-eyed spiders who colonised the +ceiling. The tender sight, too, of a +patient just recovering from ophthalmia +would here have required no +factitious or deeper shade—but merits +like these only rendered them as ungenial +as possible to the physiology +and feelings of their youthful occupants. +If these apartments looked +gloomy in their dilapidations and want +of sun, the sombre effect was much +heightened by the absence of the ordinary +tables and chairs, and whatever +else is necessary to give a room +a habitable appearance. Had an appraiser +been commissioned to make +out a complete list of the furniture and +the fixtures together, a mere glance +had sufficed for the inventory. In +vain would his practised eye have wandered +in quest of themes for golden +sentences, printed in such uncial characters +that all who run may read; in +vain for the high-hung well-backed +chart, or for any pleasing pictorial +souvenirs of Æsop or the Ark—neither +these nor the long "coloured +Stream of Time," nor formal but useful +views in perspective, adorned our +sorry walls. No old mahogany case +clicked in a corner, beating time for +the class, and the hour up-striking +loud that it should not be defrauded of +its dues. No glazed globe, gliding +round on easy axis, spun under its +brassy equator to the antipodes on its +sides being touched. No bright zodiac +was there to exhibit its cabalistic +figures in pleasing arabesques. In +place of these and other well-known +objects, here stood a line of dirty, +much-inked desks, with an equally +dirty row of attendant forms subjacent +alongside. There was a scantling—it +seldom exceeded a leash—of rickety +rush-bottom chairs distributed at long +intervals along the walls; a coal-black +slate, pegged high on its wooden horse; +a keyless cupboard, containing the +various implements of learning, a +dirty duster, a pewter plate with +cretaceous deposits, a slop-basin and +a ragged sponge;—and then, unless he +had included the cobwebs of the ceiling, +(not usually reckoned up in the +furniture of a room,) no other +movables remained. One conspicuous +fixture, however, there was, a +gigantic Dutch stove. This lumbering +parallelogram, faggot-fed from +the corridor behind, projected several +feet into the room, and shone bright +in the glaze of earthenware emblazonments. +Around it we would +sometimes congregate in the intervals of +class: in winter to toast our hands and +hind quarters, as we pressed against the +heated tiles, with more or less vigour +according to the fervency of the central +fire; and in summer either to tell +stories, or to con over the pictorial +History of the Bible, which adorned +its frontispiece and sides. We cannot +say that every square exactly +squared with even our schoolboy +notions of propriety in its mode of +teaching religious subjects; there was +a Dutch quaintness in the illustrations, +which would sometimes force a smile +from its simplicity, at others shock, +from its apparent want of decorum +and reverence. Preeminent of course +among the gems from Genesis, Adam +and Eve, safe in innocency and "<i>naked</i> +truth," here walked unscathed amidst +a menagerie of wild beasts—<i>there</i>, +dressed in the costume of their fall, +they quitted Eden, and left it in pos<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span>session +of tigers, bears, and crocodiles. +Hard by on a smaller tile, that brawny +"knave of clubs," Cain, battered +down his brother at the altar; then +followed a long picture-gallery of the +acts of the patriarchs, and another +equally long of the acts of the apostles. +But, queer as many of these misconceptions +might seem, they were nothing +to the strange attempts made at +dramatising the <i>parables</i> of the New +Testament—<i>e. g.</i> a stout man, staggering +under the weight of an enormous +beam which grows out of one eye, +employs his fingers, assisted by the +other, to pick out a black speck from +the cornea of his neighbour. Here, an +unclean spirit, as black as any sweep, +issues from the mouth of his victim, +with wings and a tail! Here again, the +good Samaritan, turbaned like a Turk, +is bent over the waylaid traveller, and +pours wine and oil into his wounds +from the mouths of two Florence flasks; +there, the grain of mustard-seed, become +a tree, sheltering already a large +aviary in its boughs; the woman, +dancing a hornpipe with the Dutch +broom, has swept her house, and lo! +the piece of silver that was lost in +her hand; a servant, who is digging a +hole in order to hide his lord's talent +under a tree, is overlooked by a magpie +and two crows, who are attentive +witnesses of the deposit:—and many +others too numerous to mention. So +much for the empty school-room, but +what's a hive without bees, or a school-room +without boys? The reader +who has peeped into it untenanted, +shall now, if he pleases, be introduced, +<i>dum fervet opus</i> full and alive. +Should he not be able to trace out +very clearly the system at work, he +will at least be no worse off than the +bee-fancier, who hears indeed the +buzzing, and sees a flux and reflux +current of his winged confectioners +entering in and passing out, but cannot +investigate the detail of their labours +any farther. In the Yverdun, +as in the hymenopterus apiary, we +swarmed, we buzzed, dispersed, reassembled +at the sound of the bell, +flocked in and flocked out, all the +day long; exhibited much restlessness +and activity, evincing that something +was going on, but <i>what</i>, it would have +been hard to determine. Here the +comparison must drop. Bees buzz to +some purpose; they know what they +are about; they help one another; +they work orderly and to one end,—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"How skilfully they build the cell,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">How neat they spread the wax,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And labour hard to store it well<br /></span> +<span class="i2">With the sweet food," &c. &c.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>In none of these particulars did we +resemble the "busy bee." This being +admitted, our object in offering a few +words upon the course of study pursued +at the chateau is not with any +idea of enlightening the reader as to +anything really acquired during the +long ten hours' session of each day; +but rather to show how ten hours' +imprisonment may be inflicted upon +the body for the supposed advantage +of the mind, and yet be consumed in +"profitless labour, and diligence +which maketh not rich;" to prove, by +an exhibition of their opposites, that +method and discipline are indispensable +in tuition, and (if he will accept +our "pathemata" for his "mathemata" +and guides in the bringing up +of his sons) to convince him that education, +like scripture, admits not of +private interpretation. Those who +refuse to adopt the Catholic views of +the age, and the general sense of the +society in which they live, must blame +themselves if they find the experiment +of foreign schools a failure, and +that they have sent their children +"farther to fare worse."</p> + +<p>And now to proceed to the geography +class, which was the first after breakfast, +and began at half-past eight. +As the summons-bell sounded, the +boys came rushing and tumbling in, +and ere a minute had elapsed were +swarming over, and settling upon, the +high reading-desks: the master, +already at his work, was chalking +out the business of the hour; and as +this took some little time to accomplish, +the youngsters, not to sit unemployed, +would be assiduously engaged +in impressing sundry animal +forms—among which the donkey was +a favourite—cut out in cloth, and well +powdered, upon one another's backs. +When Herr G—— had finished his +chalkings, and was gone to the corner +of the room for his show-perch, a +skeleton map of Europe might be seen, +by those who chose to look that way, +covering the slate: this, however, was +what the majority of the assembly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> +never dreamt of, or only dreamt they +were doing. The class generally—though +ready when called upon to +give the efficient support of their +tongues—kept their eyes to gape elsewhere, +and, like Solomon's fool, had +them where they had no business to +be. The map, too often repeated to +attract from its novelty, had no claim +to respect on other grounds. It was +one of a class accurately designated by +that careful geographer, old Homer, +as "μαπς ου Κατα Κοσμον." Coarse +and clumsy, however, as it necessarily +would be, it might still have proved +of service had the boys been the +draughtsmen. As it was, the following +mechanically Herr G——'s wand +to join in the general chorus of the +last census of a city, the perpendicular +altitude of a mountain, or the length +and breadth of a lake, could obviously +convey no useful instruction to any +one. But, useful or otherwise, such +was our <i>regime</i>,—to set one of from +fifty to sixty lads, day after day, +week after week, repeating facts and +figures notorious to every little reader +of penny guides to science, till all +had the last statistical returns at +their tongue's tip; and knew, when +all was done, as much of what geography +really meant as on the day +of their first matriculation. Small +wonder, then, if some should later have +foresworn this study, and been revolted +at the bare sight of a map! +All our recollections of <i>map</i>, unlike +those of <i>personal</i> travel, are sufficiently +distasteful. Often have we +yawned wearily over them at Yverdun, +when our eyes were demanded to +follow the titubations of Herr G——'s +magic wand, which, in its uncertain +route, would skip from Europe +to Africa and back again—<i>qui modo +Thebas modo me ponit Athenis</i>; and +our dislike to them since has increased +amazingly. Does the reader care to +be told the reason of this? Let him—in +order to obtain the pragmatic +sanction of some stiff-necked examiner—have +to "get up" all the anastomosing +routes of St Paul's several +journeyings; have to follow those +rebellious Israelites in all their wanderings +through the desert; to draw +the line round them when in Palestine; +going from Dan to Beersheba, +and "meting out the valley of Succoth;" +or, finally, have to cover a +large sheet of foolscap with a progressive +survey of the spread of +Christianity during the three first +centuries—and he will easily enter +into our feelings. To return to the +class-room: The geographical lesson, +though of daily infliction, was accurately +circumscribed in its duration. +Old Time kept a sharp look-out over +his blooming daughters, and never +suffered one hour to tread upon the +heels or trench upon the province of +a sister hour. Sixty minutes to all, +and not an extra minute to any, was +the old gentleman's impartial rule; +and he took care to see it was strictly +adhered to. As the clock struck ten, +geography was shoved aside by the +muse of mathematics. A sea of dirty +water had washed out in a twinkling +all traces of the continent of Europe, +and the palimpsest slate presented a +clean face for whatever figures might +next be traced upon it.</p> + +<p>The hour for Euclidising was arrived, +and anon the black parallelogram +was intersected with numerous +triangles of the Isosceles and Scalene +pattern; but, notwithstanding this +promising <i>début</i>, we did not make +much quicker progress here than in +the previous lesson. How should +we, who had not only the difficulties +inseparable from the subject to cope +with, but a much more formidable +difficulty—viz. the obstruction which +we opposed to each other's advance, +by the plan, so unwisely adopted, of +making all the class do the same +thing, that they might keep pace together. +It is a polite piece of folly +enough for a whole party to be kept +waiting dinner by a lounging guest, +who chooses to ride in the park when +he ought to be at his toilet; but we +were the victims of a much greater +absurdity, who lost what might have +proved an hour of profitable work, +out of tenderness to some incorrigibly +idle or Bœotian boy, who could not +get over the Pons Asinorum, (every +proposition was a <i>pons</i> to some <i>asinus</i> +or other,) and so made those who +were over stand still, or come back +to help him across. Neither was +this, though a very considerable +drawback, our only hindrance—the +guides were not always safe. Sometimes +he who acted in that capacity<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> +would shout "Eureka" too soon; +and having undertaken to lead the +van, lead it astray till just about, as +he supposed, to come down upon the +proof itself, and to come down with a +Q. E. D.: the master would stop him +short, and bid him—as Coleridge told +the ingenious author of <i>Guesses at +Truth</i>—"to guess again." But suppose +the "guess" fortunate, or that a +boy had even succeeded, by his own +industry or reflection, in mastering a +proposition, did it follow that he +would be a clear expositor of what he +knew? It was far otherwise. Our +young Archimedes—unacquainted +with the terms of the science, and +being also (as we have hinted) lamentably +defective in his knowledge +of the power of words—would mix up +such a "farrago" of irrelevancies and +repetitions with the proof, as, in fact, +to render it to the majority no proof +at all. Euclid should be taught in +his own words,—just enough and +none to spare: the employment of +less must engender obscurity; and of +more, a want of neatness and perspicacity. +The best geometrician amongst +us would have cut but a bad figure +by the side of a lad of very average +ability brought up to know Euclid +by book.</p> + +<p>Another twitch of the bell announced +that the hour for playing at +triangles had expired. In five minutes +the slate was covered with bars +of minims and crotchets, and the +music lesson begun. This, in the +general tone of its delivery, bore a +striking resemblance to the geographical +one of two hours before; the only +difference being that "ut, re, me" +had succeeded to names of certain +cities, and "fa, so, la" to the number +of their inhabitants. It would be +as vain an attempt to describe all the +noise we made as to show its rationale +or motive. It was loud +enough to have cowed a lion, stopped +a donkey in mid-bray—to have excited +the envy of the vocal Lablache, +or to have sent any <i>prima donna</i> into +hysterics. When this third hour had +been bellowed away, and the bell had +rung unheard the advent of a fourth—<i>presto</i>—in +came Mons. D——, to relieve +the meek man who had acted as +coryphæus to the music class; and +after a little tugging, had soon produced +from his pocket that without +which you never catch a Frenchman—a +<i>thème</i>. The theme being announced, +we proceeded (not quite +<i>tant bien que mal</i>) to scribble it down +at his dictation, and to amend its +orthography afterwards from a corrected +copy on the slate. Once more +the indefatigable bell obtruded its +tinkle, to proclaim that Herr Roth was +coming with a Fable of Gellert, or a +chapter from Vater Pestalozzi's serious +novel, <i>Gumal und Lina</i>, to read, +and expound, and catechise upon. +This last lesson before dinner was +always accompanied by frequent +yawns and other unrepressed symptoms +of fatigue; and at its conclusion +we all rose with a shout, and rushed +into the corridors.</p> + +<p>On resuming work in the afternoon, +there was even less attention and +method observed than before. The +classes were then broken up, and +private lessons were given in accomplishments, +or in some of the useful +arts. Drawing dogs and cows, with +a master to look after the trees and +the hedges; whistling and spitting +through a flute; playing on the patience +of a violin; turning at a lathe; +or fencing with a powerful <i>maître +d'armes</i>;—such were the general +occupations. It was then, however, +that we English withdrew to our +Greek and Latin; and, under a kind +master, Dr M——, acquired (with +the exception of a love for natural +history, and a very unambitious turn +of mind) all that really could deserve +the name of education.</p> + +<p>We have now described the sedentary +life at the chateau. In the next +paper the reader shall be carried to +the gymnasium; the drill ground +behind the lake; to our small menageries +of kids, guinea pigs, and rabbits; +be present at our annual ball +and skating bouts in winter, and at +our bathings, fishings, frog-spearings, +and rambles over the Jura in +summer.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a name="Footnote_14" id="Footnote_14"></a><a href="#FNanchor_14"><span class="label">[14]</span></a> <span class="smcap">Cicero</span>, <i>De Fin.</i>, ii. 1.</p></div></div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="THE_CROWNING_OF_THE_COLUMN_AND_CRUSHING_OF_THE_PEDESTAL" id="THE_CROWNING_OF_THE_COLUMN_AND_CRUSHING_OF_THE_PEDESTAL">THE CROWNING OF THE COLUMN, AND CRUSHING OF THE PEDESTAL.</a></h2> + + +<p>It was said in the debate on the +Navigation Laws, in the best speech +made on the Liberal side, by one of the +ablest of the Liberal party, that the +repeal of the Navigation Laws was +the <i>crowning of the column of free +trade</i>. There is no doubt it was so; +but it was something more. It was +not only the carrying out of a principle, +but the overthrow of a system; +it was not merely the crowning of +the column, but the <i>crushing of the +pedestal</i>.</p> + +<p>And what was the system which +was thus completely overthrown, for +the time at least, by this great triumph +of Liberal doctrines? It was the system +under which England had become +free, and great, and powerful; under +which, in her alone of all modern +states, liberty had been found to coexist +with law, and progress with order; +under which wealth had increased +without producing divisions, and power +grown up without inducing corruption; +the system which had withstood the +shocks of two centuries, and created an +empire unsurpassed since the beginning +of the world in extent and magnificence. +It was a system which had been followed +out with persevering energy by +the greatest men, and the most commanding +intellects, which modern +Europe had ever produced; which +was begun by the republican patriotism +of Cromwell, and consummated +by the conservative wisdom of Pitt; +which had been embraced alike by +Somers and Bolingbroke, by Walpole +and Chatham, by Fox and Castlereagh; +which, during two centuries, had produced +an unbroken growth of national +strength, a ceaseless extension of national +power, and at length reared up +a dominion which embraced the earth +in its grasp, and exceeded anything +ever achieved by the legions of Cæsar, +or the phalanx of Alexander. No +vicissitudes of time, no shock of adverse +fortune, had been able permanently +to arrest its progress. It had +risen superior alike to the ambition of +Louis XIV. and the genius of Napoleon; +the rude severance of the North +American colonies had thrown only a +passing shade over its fortunes; the +power of Hindostan had been subdued +by its force, the sceptre of the +ocean won by its prowess. It had +planted its colonies in every quarter +of the globe, and at once peopled with +its descendants a new hemisphere, +and, for the first time since the creation, +rolled back to the old the tide +of civilisation. Perish when it may, +the <i>old English system</i> has achieved +mighty things; it has indelibly affixed +its impress on the tablets of history. +The children of its creation, the Anglo-Saxon +race, will fill alike the solitudes +of the Far West, and the isles of the +East; they will be found equally on +the shores of the Missouri, and on the +savannahs of Australia; and the period +can already be anticipated, even by +the least imaginative, when their +descendants will people half the globe.</p> + +<p>It was not only the column of free +trade which has been crowned in this +memorable year. Another column, +more firm in its structure, more lasting +in its duration, more conspicuous +amidst the wonders of creation, has, +in the same season, been crowned by +British hands. While the sacrilegious +efforts of those whom it had sheltered +were tearing down the temple of protection +in the West, the last stone was +put to the august structure which it +had reared in the East. The victory of +Goojerat on the Indus was contemporary +with the repeal of the Navigation +Laws on the Thames. The completion +of the conquest of India occurred +exactly at the moment when the system +which had created that empire +was repudiated. Protection placed the +sceptre of India in our hands, when free +trade was surrendering the trident of +the ocean in the heart of our power. +With truth did Lord Gough say, in +his noble proclamation to the army of +the Punjaub, on the termination of +hostilities, that "what Alexander had +attempted they had done." Supported +by the energy of England, guided by +the principles of protection, restrained +by the dictates of justice, backed by +the navy which the Navigation +Laws had created, the British arms +had achieved the most wonderful +triumph recorded in the annals of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> +mankind. They had subjugated a +hundred and forty millions of men in +the Continent of Hindostan, at the +distance of ten thousand miles from +the parent state; they had made +themselves felt alike, and at the same +moment, at Nankin, the ancient capital +of the Celestial Empire, and at +Cabool, the cradle of Mahommedan +power. Conquering all who resisted, +blessing all who submitted, securing +the allegiance of the subjects by the +justice and experienced advantages of +their government, they had realised +the boasted maxim of Roman administration—</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>"Parcere subjectis et debellare superbos,"</p></blockquote> + +<p>and steadily advanced through a +hundred years of effort and glory, not +unmixed with disaster, from the banks +of the Hoogley to the shores of the +Indus—from the black hole of Calcutta +to the throne of Aurengzebe.</p> + +<p>"Nulla magna civitas," said Hannibal, +"diu quiescere potest—si foris +hostem non habet, <i>domi invenit</i>: ut +praevalida corpora ab externis causis +tuta videntur, suis ipsis viribus conficiuntur."<a name="FNanchor_15" id="FNanchor_15"></a><a href="#Footnote_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a> +When the Carthaginian +hero made this mournful reflection on +the infatuated spirit which had seized +his own countrymen, and threatened to +destroy their once powerful dominion, +he little thought what a marvellous +confirmation of it a future empire of +far greater extent and celebrity was to +afford. That the system of free trade—that +is, the universal preference of +foreigners, for the sake of the smallest +reduction of price, to your own +subjects—must, if persisted in, lead to +the dismemberment and overthrow of +the British empire, cannot admit of a +moment's doubt, and will be amply +proved to every unbiassed reader in +the sequel of this paper. Yet the +moment chosen for carrying this principle +into effect was precisely that, when +the good effects of the opposite system +had been most decisively demonstrated, +and an empire unprecedented +in magnitude and magnificence had +reached its acme under its shadow. +It would be impossible to explain so +strange an anomaly, if we did not +recollect how wayward and irreconcilable +are the changes of the human +mind: that action and reaction is the +law not less of the moral than of the +material world; that nations become +tired of hearing a policy called wise, +not less than an individual called the +just; and that if a magnanimous and +truly national course of government +has been pursued by one party long +in possession of power, this is quite +sufficient to make its opponents +embrace the opposite set of tenets, +and exert all their influence to carry +them into effect when they succeed +to the direction of affairs, without the +slightest regard to the ruin they may +bring on the national fortunes.</p> + +<p>The secret of the long duration and +unexampled success of the British +national policy is to be found in +the protection which it afforded to <i>all</i> +the national interests. But for this, it +must long since have been overthrown, +and with it the empire which was +growing up under its shadow. No +institutions or frames of government +can long exist which are not held together +by that firmest of bonds, <i>experienced +benefits</i>. What made the +Roman power steadily advance during +seven centuries, and endure in all a +thousand years? The protection +which the arms of the legions afforded +to the industry of mankind, the international +wars which they prevented, +the general peace they secured, the +magnanimous policy which admitted +the conquered states to the privileges +of Roman citizens, and caused the +Imperial government to be felt through +the wide circuit of its power, only by +the vast market it opened to the industry +of its multifarious subjects, +and the munificence with which local +undertakings were everywhere aided +by the Imperial treasury. Free trade +in grain at length ruined it: the harvests +of Libya and Egypt came to +supersede those of Greece and Italy,—and +thence its fall. To the same +cause which occasioned the rise of +Rome, is to be ascribed the similar +unbroken progress of the Russian ter<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span>ritorial +dominion, and that of the +British colonial empire in modern +times. What, on the other hand, +caused the conquests of Timour and +Charlemagne, Alexander the Great +and Napoleon, to be so speedily +obliterated, and their vast empires +to fall to pieces the moment the +powerful hand which had created +them was laid in the dust? The +<i>want of protection</i> to general interests, +the absence of the strong bond of +experienced benefits; the oppressive +nature of the conquering government; +the sacrifice of the general interests +to the selfish ambition or rapacious +passions of a section of the community, +whether civil or military, which had +got possession of power. It is the +selfishness of the ruling power which +invariably terminates its existence: +men will bear anything but an interference +with their patrimonial +interests. The burning of 50,000 +Protestants by the Duke of Alva was +quietly borne by the Flemish provinces: +but the imposition of a small +<i>direct</i> tax at once caused a flame to +burst forth, which carried the independence +of the United Provinces. Attend +sedulously to the interests of +men, give ear to their complaints, +anticipate their wishes, and you may +calculate with tolerable certainty on +acquiring in the long run the mastery +of their passions. Thwart their interests, +disregard their complaints, +make game of their sufferings, and +you may already read the handwriting +on the wall which announces your +doom.</p> + +<p>That the old policy of England, +foreign, colonial, and domestic, was +thoroughly protective, and attended, +on the whole, with a due care of the +interests of its subjects in every part +of the world, may be inferred with +absolute certainty from the constant +growth, unexampled success, and long +existence of her empire. But the +matter is not left to inference: decisive +proof of it is to be found in +the enactments of our statute-book, +the treaties we concluded, or the +wars we waged with foreign powers. +Protection to native industry, at +home or in the colonies, security to +vested interests, a sacred regard to +the rights and interests of our +subjects, in whatever part of the +world, were the principles invariably +acted upon. Long and bloody wars +were undertaken to secure their predominance, +when threatened by foreign +powers. This protective system of +necessity implied some restrictions +upon the industry, or restraints upon +the liberty of action in the colonial +dependencies, as well as the mother +country—but what then? They were +not complained of on either side, because +they were accompanied with +corresponding and greater benefits, +as the consideration paid by the +mother country, and received by her +distant offspring. Reciprocity in those +days was not entirely one-sided; +there was a <i>quid pro quo</i> on both +sides. The American colonies were +subjected to the Navigation Laws, +and, in consequence, paid somewhat +higher for their freights than if they +had been permitted to export and +import their produce in the cheaper +vessels of foreign powers; but this +burden was never complained of, because +it was felt to be the price paid +for the immense advantages of the +monopoly of the English market, and +the protection of the English navy. +The colonies of France and Spain desired +nothing so much, during the late +war, as to be conquered by the armies +of England, because it at once opened +the closed markets for their produce, +and restored the lost protection of a +powerful navy. The English felt that +their colonial empire was in some respects +a burden, and entailed heavy +expenses both in peace and war; but +they were not complained of, because +the manufacturing industry of England +found a vast and increasing market for +its produce in the growth of its offspring +in every part of the world, and +its commercial navy grew with unexampled +rapidity from the exclusive +enjoyment of their trade.</p> + +<p>Such was the amount of protection +afforded in our statute-book to commercial +industry, that we might +imagine, if there was nothing else in +it, that the empire had been governed +exclusively by a manufacturing aristocracy. +Such was the care with +which the interests of the colonies +were attended to, that it seemed as if +they must have had representatives +who possessed a majority in the legislature. +To one who looked to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> +welfare of land, and the protection of +its produce, the chapel of St Stephens +seemed to have been entirely composed +of the representatives of squires. The +shipping interest was sedulously fostered, +as appeared in the unexampled +growth and vast amount of +our mercantile tonnage. The interests +of labour, the welfare of the poor, +were not overlooked, as was demonstrated +in the most decisive way by +the numerous enactments for the relief +of the indigent and unfortunate, and +the immense burden which the legislature +voluntarily imposed on itself and +the nation for the relief of the destitute. +Thus <i>all</i> interests were attended +to; and that worst of tyrannies, the +tyranny of one class over another +class, was effectually prevented. It is +in this sedulous attention to <i>all</i> the interests +of the empire that its long +duration and unparalleled extension is +to be ascribed. Had any one class or +interest been predominant, and commenced +the system of pursuing its +separate objects and advantages, to +the subversion or injury of the other +classes in the state, such a storm of +discontent must have arisen as would +speedily have proved fatal to the +unanimity, and with it to the growth +and prosperity of the empire.</p> + +<p>Two causes mainly contributed to +produce this system of catholic protection +by the British government +to native industry; and to their +united operation, the greatness of +England is chiefly to be ascribed. +The first of these was the peculiar +constitution which time had worked +out for the House of Commons, and +the manner in which all the interests +of the state had come silently, and +without being observed, to be indirectly +but most effectually represented +in parliament. That body, +anterior to the Reform Bill, possessed +one invaluable quality—its franchise +was multiform and various. In +many burghs the landed interest in +their neighbourhood was predominant; +in most counties it returned members +in the interests of agriculture. In +other towns, mercantile or commercial +wealth acquired by purchase an +introduction, or won it from the +influence of some great family. +Colonial opulence found a ready inlet +in the close boroughs: Old Sarum or +Gatton nominally represented a house +or a green mound—really, the one +might furnish a seat to a representative +of Hindostan, the other of the +splendid West Indian settlements. +The members who thus got in by +purchase had one invaluable quality, +like the officers who get their commissions +in the army in the same +way—they were independent. They +were not liable to be overruled or +coerced by a numerous, ignorant, and +conceited constituency. Hence they +looked only to the interests of the +class to which they belonged, amidst +which their fortunes had been made, +and with the prosperity of which +their individual success was entirely +wound up. With what energy these +various interests were attended to, +with what perseverance the system of +protecting them was followed up, is +sufficiently evident from the simultaneous +growth and unbroken prosperity +of all the great branches of +industry during the long period of a +hundred and fifty years. Talent, +alike on the Whig and the Tory side, +found a ready entrance by means of +the nomination burghs. It is well +known that all the great men of the +House of Commons, since the Revolution, +obtained entrance to parliament +in the first instance through these +narrow inlets. Rank looked anxiously +for talent, because it added to its +influence. Genius did not disdain +the entrance, because it was not obstructed +by numbers, or galled by +conceit. No human wisdom could +have devised such a system; it rose +gradually, and without being observed, +from the influence of a vast body of +great and prosperous interests, feeling +the necessity of obtaining a voice in +the legislature, and enjoying the +means of doing so by the variety of +election privileges which time had +established in the House of Commons. +The reality of this representation of +interests is matter of history. The +landed interest, the West India +interest, the commercial interest, the +shipping interest, the East Indian +interest, could all command their respective +phalanxes in parliament, who +would not permit any violation of the +rights, or infringement on the welfare, +of their constituents to take +place. The combined effect of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> +whole was the great and glorious +British empire, teeming with energy, +overflowing with patriotism, spreading +out into every quarter of the +globe, and yet held together in all its +parts by the firm bond of experienced +benefits and protected industry.</p> + +<p>The second cause was, that no +speculative or theoretical opinions +had then been broached, or become +popular, which proclaimed that the +real interest of any one class was to be +found in the spoliation or depression +of any other class. No gigantic +system of <i>beggar my neighbour</i> had +then come to be considered as a +shorthand mode of gaining wealth. +The nation had not then embraced +the doctrine, that to buy cheap and +sell dear constituted the sum total of +political science. On the contrary, protection +to industry in all its branches +was considered as the great principle +of policy, the undisputed dictate +of wisdom, the obvious rule of justice. +It was acknowledged alike by speculative +writers and practical statesmen. +The interests of the producers +were the main object of legislative +fostering and philosophic thought—and +for this plain reason, that they +constitute the great body of society, +and their interests chiefly were thought +of. Realised wealth was then, in +comparison to what it now is, in a +state of infancy; the class of traders +and shopkeepers, who grow up with +the expenditure of accumulated opulence, +was limited in numbers and +inconsiderable in influence. It would +have been as impossible <i>then</i> to get +up a party in the House of Commons, +or a cry in the country, in favour of +the consumers or against the producers, +as it would be now to do the +same among the corn producers in the +basin of the Mississippi, or among the +cotton growers of New Orleans.</p> + +<p>It is in the profound wisdom of +Hannibal's saying—that great states, +impregnable to the shock of external +violence, are consumed and wasted +away by their own internal strength—that +the real cause of the subsequent +and extraordinary change, first in the +opinions of men, and then in the measures +of government, is to be found. +Such was the wealth produced by the +energy of the Anglo-Saxon race, sheltered +and invigorated by the protection-policy +of government in every +quarter of the globe, that in the end +it gave birth to a new class, which +rapidly grew in numbers and influence, +and was at length able to bid defiance +to all the other interests in the state +put together. This was the <i>moneyed +interest</i>—the class of men whose fortunes +were made, whose position was +secure, and who saw, in a general +cheapening of the price of commodities +and reduction of prices, the means of +making their wealth go much farther +than it otherwise would. This class +had its origin from the long-continued +prosperity and accumulated savings of +the whole producing classes in the +state; like a huge lake, it was fed by +all the streams and rills which descended +into it from the high grounds +by which it was surrounded; and the +rise of its waters indicated, as a register +thermometer, the amount of additions +which it was receiving from the +swelling of the feeders by which it +was formed. But when men once +get out of the class of producers, and +into that of moneyed consumers, they +rapidly perceive an <i>immediate</i> benefit +to themselves in the reduction of +the price of articles of consumption, +because it adds proportionally +to the value of their money. If prices +can be forced down fifty per cent by +legislative measures, every thousand +pounds in effect becomes fifteen hundred. +It thus not unfrequently and +naturally happened, that the son who +enjoyed the fortune made by protection +came to join the ranks of the free +traders, because it promised a great +addition to the value of his inheritance. +The transition from Sir Robert Peel +the father, and staunch supporter of +protection, who <i>made the fortune</i>, to +Sir Robert Peel the son, who <i>inherited +it</i>, and introduced free-trade principles, +was natural and easy. Each acted in +conformity with the interests of his +respective position in society. It is +impossible to suppose in such men a +selfish or sordid regard to their own +interests, and we solemnly disclaim +the intention of imputing such. But +every one knows how the ablest and +most elevated minds are insensibly +moulded by the influence of the atmosphere +with which they are surrounded; +and, at all events, they were a +type of the corresponding change going<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> +on in successive generations of others +of a less elevated class of minds, in +whom the influence of interested motives +was direct and immediate.</p> + +<p>Adam Smith's work, now styled the +<i>principia</i> of economical science by the +free-traders, first gave token of the +important and decisive change then +going forward in society. It was an +ominous and characteristic title: <i>The +Nature and Cause of the</i> <span class="smcap">Wealth</span> <i>of +Nations</i>. It was not said of their +wisdom, virtue, or happiness. The +direction of such a mind as Adam +Smith's to the exclusive consideration +of the riches of nations, indicated +the advent of a period when the fruits +of industry in this vast empire, sheltered +by protection, had become so +great that they had formed a powerful +class in society, which was beginning +to look to its separate interests, +and saw them in the beating down the +price of articles—that is, diminishing the +remuneration of other men's industry. +It showed that the <i>Plutocracy</i> was becoming +powerful. The constant arguments +that able work contained, in +favour of competition and against +monopoly,—its impassioned pleadings +in favour of freedom of commerce, +and the removal of all restrictions on +importation, were so many indications +that a new era was opening in society; +that the interests of <i>realised wealth</i> +were beginning to come into collision +with those of <i>creating industry</i>, and that +the time was not far distant when a +fierce legislative contest might be anticipated +between them. It is well +known that Adam Smith advocated +the Navigation Laws, upon the ground +that national independence was of +more importance than national wealth. +But there can be no doubt that this +was a deviation from his principles, +and that, if they were established in +other particulars, it would be difficult, +if not impossible, to succeed in maintaining +an exception in favour of the +shipping interests, because that was +retaining a burden on the colonies, +when the corresponding benefit had +been voted away.</p> + +<p>Although, however, the doctrines +of Adam Smith, from their novelty, +simplicity, and alliance with democratic +liberty, spread rapidly in the +rising generation—ever ready to repudiate +the doctrines and throw off +the restraints of their fathers—yet, so +strongly were the producing interests +intrenched in the legislature, that a +very long period would probably have +elapsed before they came to be practically +applied in the measures of +government, had it not been that, +at the very period when, from the +triumph of protection-principles during +the war, and the vast wealth they +had realised in the state, the moneyed +interest had become most powerful, a +great revolution in the state gave that +interest the command of the House +of Commons. By the Reform Bill +<i>two-thirds of the seats</i> in that house +were given to boroughs, and <i>two-thirds +of the voters</i> in boroughs, in +the new constituency, were shopkeepers +or those in their interest. +Thus a decisive majority in the house, +which, from having the command of +the public purse, practically became +possessed of supreme power, was vested +in those who made their living by +buying and selling—with whom cheap +prices was all in all. The producing +classes were virtually, and to all +practical purposes, cast out of the +scale. The landed interest, on all +questions vital to its welfare, would +evidently soon be in a minority. +Schedules A and B at one blow disfranchised +the whole colonial empire +of Great Britain, because it closed +the avenue by which colonial wealth +had hitherto found an entrance to the +House of Commons. Seats could no +longer be bought: the virtual representation +of unrepresented places was +at an end. The greatest fortunes +made in the colonies could now get +into the house only through some +populous place; and the majority of +voters in most populous places were +in favour of the consumers and against +the producers, because the consumers +bought <i>their goods</i>, and they bought +those of the producers. Thus no colonial +member could get in but by forswearing +his principles and abandoning +the interests of his order. The +shipping interest was more strongly +intrenched, because many shipping +towns had direct representatives in +parliament, and it accordingly was +the last to be overthrown. But when +the colonies were disfranchised, and +protection was withdrawn from their +industry to cheapen prices at home, it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> +became next to impossible to keep up +the shipping interest—not only because +the injustice of doing so, and +so enhancing freights, when protection +to colonial produce was withdrawn, +was evident, but because it was well +understood, by certain unequivocal +symptoms, that such a course of policy +would at once lead to colonial +revolt, and the dismemberment of +the empire.</p> + +<p>The authors of the Reform Bill were +well aware that under it two-thirds of +the seats in the House of Commons +were for boroughs: but they clung to +the idea that a large proportion of +these seats would fall under the influence +of the landed proprietors in +their vicinity, and thus be brought +round to the support of the agricultural +interest. It was on that belief that +Earl Grey said in private, amidst all +his public democratic declamations, +that the Reform Bill was "the most +<i>aristocratic</i> measure which had ever +passed the House of Commons." But +in this anticipation, which was doubtless +formed in good faith by many of +the ablest supporters of that revolution, +they showed themselves entirely +ignorant of the effect of the great +monetary change of 1819, which at +that very period was undermining the +influence of the owners of landed +estates as much as it was augmenting +the power of the holders of bonds over +their properties. As that bill changed +the prices of agricultural produce, at +least to the extent of forty <i>per cent</i>, it +of course crippled the means and +weakened the influence of the landowners +as much as it added to the +powers of the moneyed interest +which held securities over their estates. +This soon became a matter of paramount +importance. After a few severe +struggles, the landowners in most +places saw that they were over-matched, +and that their burdened estates and +declining rent-rolls were not equal to +an encounter with the ready money +of the capitalists, which that very +change had so much enhanced in value +and augmented in power. One by one +the rural boroughs slipped out of the +hands of the landed, and fell under the +influence of the moneyed interest. At +the same time one great colonial interest, +that of the West Indies, was so +entirely prostrated by the ruinous measure +of the emancipation of the negroes, +that its influence in parliament was +practically rendered extinct. Thus +two of the great producing interests +in the state—those of corn and sugar—were +materially weakened or nullified, +at the very time when the power of +their opponents, the moneyed aristocracy, +was most augmented.</p> + +<p>Experience, however, proved, on +one important and decisive occasion, +that even after the Reform Bill had +become the law of the land, it was +still possible, by a coalition of <i>all</i> the +producing interests, to defeat the utmost +efforts of the moneyed party, even +when aided by the whole influence of +government. On occasion of the memorable +Whig budget of 1841, such a +coalition took place, and the efforts of +the free-traders were overthrown. A +change of ministry was the consequence; +but it soon appeared that +nothing was gained by an alteration +of rulers, when the elements in which +political power resided, under the +new constitution, remained unchanged.</p> + +<p>Sir Robert Peel, and the leaders of +the party which now succeeded to +power, appear to have been guided +by those views in the free-trade measures +which they subsequently introduced. +They regarded, and with +justice, the Reform Bill as, in the +language of the <i>Times</i>, "a great +fact"—the settlement of the constitution +upon a new basis—on foundations +<i>non tangenda non movenda</i>, if we would +shun the peril of repeated shocks to +our institutions, and ultimately of +a bloody revolution. Looking on +the matter in this light, the next +object was to scan the composition of +the House of Commons, and see in +what party and interest in the state +a preponderance of power was now +vested. They were not slow in discerning +the fatal truth, that the Reform +Bill had given a decided majority +to the representatives of boroughs, +and that a clear majority in these +boroughs was, from the embarrassments +which monetary change had +produced on the landed proprietors, +and the preponderance of votes +which that bill had given to shopkeepers, +vested in the moneyed or consuming +interest. Such a state of +things might be regretted, but still it +existed; and it was the business of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> +practical statesmen to deal with +things as they were, not to indulge in +vain regrets on what they once were +or might have been. It seemed impossible +to carry on the government +on any other footing than that of +concession to the wishes and attention +to the interests of the moneyed +and mercantile classes, in whose +hands supreme power, under the new +constitution, was now practically +vested. Whether any such views, supposing +them well founded, could justify +a statesman and a party, who had +received office on a solemn appeal to +the country, under the most solemn +engagement to support the principles +of protection, to repudiate those principles, +and introduce the measures +they were pledged to oppose, is a +question on which, it is not difficult to +see, but one opinion will be formed by +future times.</p> + +<p>Still, even when free-trade measures +were resolved on by Sir R. +Peel's government, it was a very +doubtful matter, in the first instance, +how to secure their entire success. The +great coalition of the chief producing +interests, which had proved fatal to +the Whig administration by the election +of 1841, might again be reorganised, +and overthrow any government +which attempted to renew the same +projects. Ministers had been placed +in office on the principles of protection—they +were the watches, planted +to descry the first approaches of the +enemy, and repel his attacks. But +the old Roman maxim, "<i>Divide et +impera</i>," was then put in practice +with fatal effect on the producing +interests, and, in the end, on the +general fortunes of the empire. The +assault was in the first instance +directed against the agricultural interest: +the cry of "Cheap bread," ever +all-powerful with the multitude, was +raised to drown that of "Protection +to native industry." The whole +weight of government, which at once +abandoned all its principles, was directed +to support the free-trade assault, +and beat down the protectionist +opposition. The whole population in +the towns—that is, the inhabitants of +the places which, under the Reform +Bill, returned two-thirds of the House +of Commons—was roused almost to +madness by the prospect of a great +reduction in the price of provisions. +The master-manufacturers almost +unanimously supported the same +views, in the hope that the wages of +labour and the cost of production +would be in a similar way reduced, +and that thus the foreign market for +their produce would be extended. +The West India interest, the colonial +interest, the shipping interest, stood +aloof, or gave only a lukewarm support +to the protectionists, conceiving +that it was merely an agricultural +question, and that the time was far +distant when there was any chance +of their interests being brought into +jeopardy. "<i>Cetera quis nescit?</i>" The +corn-laws were repealed, agricultural +protection was swept away, and England, +where wheat cannot be raised +at a profit when prices are below +50s., or, at the lowest, 45s. a quarter, +was exposed to the direct competition +of states possessing the means of +raising it to an indefinite extent, +where it can be produced and imported +at a profit for in all 32s.</p> + +<p>What subsequent events have abundantly +verified, was at the time foreseen +and foretold by the protectionists,—that +when agricultural protection +at home was withdrawn, it could +not be maintained in the colonies, +and that cheap prices must be rendered +universal, as they had been +established in the great article of +human subsistence. This necessity +was soon experienced. The West +Indies were the first to be assailed. +Undeterred by the evident ruin which +a free competition with the slave-growing +states could not fail to bring +on British planters forced to work +with free labourers—undismayed by +the frightful injustice of first establishing +slavery by law in the English +colonies, and giving the utmost encouragement +to negro importation, +then forcibly emancipating the slaves +on a compensation not on an average +a fourth part of their value, and then +sweeping away all fiscal protection, +and exposing the English planters, +who could not with their free labourers +raise sugar below £10 a ton, to +competition with slave states who +could raise it for £4 a ton—that +great work of fiscal iniquity and free-trade +spoliation was perpetrated. The +English landed interest resisted the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> +unjust measure; but it could hardly +be expected that they were to be very +enthusiastic in the cause. They had not +forgotten their desertion in the hour +of need by the West India planters, +and the deferred punishment, as they +conceived, dealt out to them in return, +was not altogether displeasing. The +shipping interest did little or nothing +when either contest was going on; +nay, they in general, and with fatal +effect, supported free-trade principles +thus far: they were delighted that the +tempest had not as yet reached their +doors, and flattered themselves none +would be insane enough to attack the +wooden walls of Old England, and +hand us over, bereft of our ocean bulwarks, +to the malice and jealousy of +our enemies. They little knew the extent +and infatuation of political fanaticism. +They were only reserved, like +Ulysses in the cave of Polyphemus, for +the melancholy privilege of being last +devoured. Each session of Parliament, +since free trade was introduced, +has been marked by the sacrifice of +a fresh interest. The year 1846 witnessed +the repeal of the corn laws; +the year 1847 the equalisation, by a +rapidly sliding scale, of the duties on +English free-grown and foreign slave-raised +sugar; and 1849 was immortalised +by the destruction of the +Navigation Laws. The British shipowner, +who pays £10 for wages on +ships, is exposed to the direct competition +of the foreign shipowner, who +navigates his vessel for £6. "Perish +the colonies," said Robespierre, "rather +than one principle be abandoned." +Fanaticism is the same in all ages +and countries. The triumph of free +trade is complete. A ruinous and +suicidal principle has been carried +out, in defiance alike of bitter experience +and national safety. Each +interest in the state has, since the +great conservative party was broken +up by Sir R. Peel's free-trade +measures, looked on with indifference +when its neighbour was destroyed; +and to them may be applied with +truth what the ancient annalist said +of the enemies of Rome, "<i>Dum singuli +pugnant, universi vincuntur.</i>"<a name="FNanchor_16" id="FNanchor_16"></a><a href="#Footnote_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a></p> + +<p>We say advisedly, each interest has +looked on with indifference when its +neighbour was <i>destroyed</i>. That this +strong phrase is not misapplied to the +effect of these measures in the West +Indies, is too well known to require any +illustration. Ruin, widespread and +universal, has, we know by sad experience, +overtaken, and is rapidly destroying +these once splendid colonies. +While we write these lines, a decisive +proof<a name="FNanchor_17" id="FNanchor_17"></a><a href="#Footnote_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a> has been judicially afforded of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span>the frightful depreciation of property +which has there taken place, from +the acts of successive administrations +acting on liberal principles, and yielding +to popular outcries: the fall +has amounted to <i>ninety-three per cent</i>. +Beyond all doubt, since the new system +began to be applied to the West +Indies, property to the amount of <i>a +hundred and twenty millions</i> has perished +under its strokes. The French +Convention never did anything more +complete. Free-trade fanaticism may +well glory in its triumphs; it is doubtful +if they have any parallel in the +annals of mankind.</p> + +<p>We do not propose to resume the +debate on the Navigation Laws, of +which the public have heard so much +in this session of parliament. We +are aware that their doom is sealed; +and we accept the extinction of shipping +protection as <i>un fait accompli</i>, +from which we must set out in all +future discussions on the national +prospects and fortunes. But, in order +to show how enormously perilous is +the change thus made, and what +strength of argument and arrays of +facts free-trade fanaticism has had +the merit of triumphing over, we +cannot resist the temptation of transcribing +into our pages the admirable +letter of Mr Young, the able and +unflinching advocate of the shipping +interest, to the Marquis of Lansdowne, +after the late interesting debate +on the subject in the House of +Lords. We do so not merely from +sincere respect for that gentleman's +patriotic spirit and services, but because +we do not know any document +which, in so short a space, contains +so interesting a statement of that +leading fact on which the whole question +hinges—viz. the progressive and +rapid decline of British, and growth of +foreign tonnage, with those countries +with whom we have concluded reciprocity +treaties: affording thus a +foretaste of what we may expect now +that we have established a reciprocity +treaty, by the repeal of the Navigation +Laws, with the whole world:</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>"My Lord,—In the debate last night +on the Navigation Laws, your Lordship +said,—</p> + +<p>'The noble and learned Lord opposite +has spoken contemptuously of statistics. +Let me remind that noble and learned +Lord that if any statement founded +on statistics remains unshaken, it is +the statement that under reciprocity +treaties now existing, by which this +country enjoys no protection, she, nevertheless, +monopolises the greater part of +the commerce of the north of Europe.'</p> + +<p>As an impartial statist, as well as a +statesman, your Lordship will perhaps +permit me to invite your attention to the +following abstract from Parliamentary +returns, respectfully trusting that, if the +facts it discloses should be found irreconcilable +with the opinions you have +expressed, a sense of justice will induce +your Lordship to correct the error:—</p> + +<p>The reciprocity treaty with the United +States was concluded in 1815.</p> + +<p>The British inward entries from that +country were—</p> + + + +<div class="tdr"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" summary="table"> +<tr><td></td><td class="tdc">Tons.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">In 1816</td><td>45,140</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">In 1824, reciprocity having been +eight years in operation</td><td class="bb">44,994</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">British tonnage having in +that period decreased</td><td>146</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>The inward entries of American tonnage +were—</p> + + + +<div class="tdr"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" summary="table"> +<tr><td></td><td class="tdc">Tons.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">In 1816</td><td>91,914</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">In 1824</td><td class="bb">153,475</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">American tonnage having in +that period increased</td><td>61,561</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>During that period no reciprocity existed +with the Baltic Powers; and</p> + + + +<div class="tdr"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" summary="table"> +<tr><td></td><td class="tdc">Tons.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">In 1815 the British entries from +Prussia, Sweden, Denmark, +and Norway were</td><td>78,533</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">In 1824</td><td class="bb">129,895</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">British tonnage having increased</td><td>51,362</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">In 1815 those Baltic entries were</td><td>319,181</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">In 1824</td><td class="bb">350,624</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Baltic tonnage having increased</td><td>31,443</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>Thus, from the peace in 1815 to 1824, +when the "Reciprocity of Duties Act" +passed, in the trade of the only country +in the world with which great Britain +was in reciprocity, her tonnage declined +146 tons, and that of the foreign nation +advanced 61,561 tons; while in the trade +with the Baltic powers, with which no +reciprocity existed, British tonnage advanced +on its competitors in the proportion +of 51,362 to 31,443 tons.</p> + +<p>From 1824 the reciprocity principle +was applied to the Baltic powers; and—</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span></p> + + + +<div class="tdr"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" summary="table"> +<tr><td></td><td class="tdc">Tons.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">In 1824, the British entries being</td><td>129,895</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">In 1846 they had declined to</td><td class="bb">88,894</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Having diminished during +the period</td><td>41,001</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">While the Baltic tonnage, which +in 1824 was</td><td>350,624</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Had advanced in 1846 to</td><td class="bb">571,161</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Showing an increase of no +less than</td><td>220,537</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>And during this same period, the proportion +of tonnage of the United States +continued, under the operation of the same +principle, steadily to advance, the British +entries thence being—</p> + + + +<div class="tdr"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" summary="table"> +<tr><td></td><td class="tdc">Tons.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">In 1846</td><td>205,123</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">And the American</td><td class="bb">435,399</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Showing an excess of American over British of</td><td>230,276</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>I have (I hope not unfairly) introduced +into this statement American tonnage, +because it shows that while, in the period +antecedent to general reciprocity, the +adoption of the principle in the trade +with that nation produced an actual decline +of British navigation, while in the +trade with the Baltic powers, which was +free from that scourge, British navigation +outstripped its competitor, it exhibits in +a remarkable manner the reverse result, +from the moment the principle was applied +to the Baltic trade; while, above +all, it completely negatives the statement +of the greater part of the commerce of +the north of Europe being monopolised +by British ships, showing that in that +commerce, in 1846, of an aggregate of +660,055 tons, British shipping had only +88,894 tons, while no less than 571,161 +tons were monopolised by Baltic ships!"</p></blockquote> + +<p>It is evident, from this summary, +that the decline of British and growth +of foreign shipping will be so rapid, under +the system of Free Trade in Shipping, +that the time is not far distant +when the foreign tonnage employed +in conducting our trade will be superior +in amount to the British. In all +probability, in six or seven years that +desirable consummation will be effected; +and we shall enjoy the satisfaction +of having purchased freights +a farthing a pound cheaper, by the +surrender of our national safety. +It need hardly be said that, from the +moment that the foreign tonnage +employed in conducting our trade +exceeds the British, our independence +as a nation is gone; because we have +reared up, in favour of states who may +any day become our enemies, a nursery +of seamen superior to that which we +possess ourselves. And every year, +which increases the one and diminishes +the other, brings us nearer the period +when our ability to contend on our +own element with other powers is to +be at end, and England is to undergo +the fate of Athens after the catastrophe +of Aigos Potamos—that of being blockaded +in our own harbours by the +fleets of our enemies, and obliged to +surrender at discretion on any terms +they might think fit to impose.</p> + +<p>But in truth, the operations of the +free-traders will, to all appearance, +terminate our independence, and compel +us to sink into the ignoble neutrality +which characterised the policy of +Venice for the last two centuries of its +independent existence, before the foreign +seamen we have hatched in our +bosom have time to be arrayed in +a Leipsic of the deep against us. So +rapid, <i>so fearfully rapid</i>, has been the +increase in the importation of foreign +grain since the repeal of the corn +laws took place, and so large a portion +of our national sustenance has already +come to be derived from foreign +countries, that it is evident, on the first +rupture with the countries furnishing +them, we should at once be starved +into submission. The free-traders +always told us, that a considerable importation +of foreign grain would only +take place when prices rose high; that +it was a resource against seasons of +scarcity only; and that, when prices +in England were low, it would cease +or become trifling. Attend to the +facts. Free trade in grain has been in +operation just three years. We pass +over the great importation of the year +1847, when, under the influence of the +panic, and high prices arising from the +Irish famine, no less than 12,000,000 +quarters of grain were imported in +fifteen months, at a cost of £31,000,000, +nearly the whole of which was paid in +specie. Beyond all doubt, it was the +great drain thus made to act upon our +metallic resources—at the very time +when the free-traders had, with consummate +wisdom, established a <i>sliding +paper circulation</i>, under which the +bank-notes were to be <i>withdrawn</i> from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> +the public in proportion as the sovereigns +were exported—which was the +main cause of the dreadful commercial +catastrophe which ensued, and from +the effects of which, after two years +of unexampled suffering, the nation +has scarcely yet begun to recover. +But what we wish to draw the public +attention to is this. The greatest importation +of foreign grain ever known, +into the British islands, before the +corn laws were repealed, was in the +year 1839, when, in consequence of +three bad harvests in succession, +4,000,000 quarters in round numbers +were imported. The average importation +had been steadily diminishing +before that time, since the commencement +of the century: in the five years +ending with 1835, it was only 381,000 +quarters. But since the duties have +become nominal, since the 1st February +in this year, the importation has +become so prodigious that it is going +on at the rate of <span class="smcap">FIFTEEN MILLIONS</span> +of quarters a-year, or a full fourth of +the national consumption, which is +somewhat under sixty millions. This +is in the face of prices fallen to +44s. 9d. for the quarter of wheat, and +18s. the quarter of oats! We recommend +the Table below, taken from +the columns of that able free-trade +journal, the <i>Times</i>—showing the +amount of importation for the month +ending April 5, 1849, when wheat was +at 45s. a-quarter—to the consideration +of those well-informed persons who +expect that low prices will check, +and at last stop importation. It +shows decisively that even a very +great reduction of prices has not that +tendency in the slightest degree. The +importation of grain and flour is going +on steadily, under the present low +prices, at the rate of about 15,000,000 +quarters a-year.<a name="FNanchor_18" id="FNanchor_18"></a><a href="#Footnote_18" class="fnanchor">[18]</a></p> + +<p>The reasons of this continued and +increasing importation, notwithstanding +the lowness of prices, is evident, +and was fully explained by the protectionists +before the repeal of the +corn laws took place, though the free-traders, +with their usual disregard of +facts when subversive of a favourite +theory, obstinately refused to credit +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span>it. It is this. The price of wheat and +other kinds of grain, in the grain-growing +countries, especially Poland +and America, is entirely regulated by +its price in the British islands. They +can raise grain in such quantities, and +at such low rates, that everything +depends on the price which it will +fetch in the great market for that +species of produce—the British empire. +In Poland, the best wheat can be +raised for 16s. a-quarter, and landed +at any harbour in England at 25s. +The Americans, out of the 250,000,000 +quarters of bread stuffs which they +raise annually, and which, if not exported, +is in great part not worth +above 10s. a-quarter, can afford, with +a handsome profit to the exporting +merchant, to send grain to England, +however small its price may be in the +British islands. However low it may +be, it is much higher than with them—and +therefore it is <i>always</i> worth +their while to export it to the British +market. If the price here is 40s., it +will there be 28s. or 30s.; if 30s. +here, it will not be more than 15s. or +20s. there. Thus the profit to be +made by importation retains its proportion, +whatever prices are in this +country, and the motives to it are the +same whatever the price is. It is as +great when wheat is low as when it is +high, except to the fortunate shippers, +before the rise in the British +islands was known on the banks of the +Vistula or the shores of the Mississippi. +Now that the duty on wheat is reduced +to 1s. a-quarter, we may look for an +annual importation of from 15,000,000 +to 20,000,000 quarters—that is, from +a fourth to a third of the annual subsistence, +constantly, alike in seasons +of plenty and of scarcity.</p> + +<p>That the importation is steadily +going on, appears by the following +returns for the port of London alone, +down to May, taken from the <i>Morning +Post</i> of May 7:—</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>Entered for home consumption during +the month ending—</p> + + + +<div class="tdr"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" summary="table"> +<tr><td></td><td class="tdc">Wheat.<br />qrs.</td><td class="tdc">Flour.<br />cwt.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">February 5,</td><td>442,389</td><td>478,815</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">March 5,</td><td>405,685</td><td>355,462</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">April 5,</td><td>559,602</td><td>356,308</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">May 5,</td><td class="bb">383,395</td><td class="bb">243,154</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Making a total in four months,</td><td>1,791,071</td><td>1,433,739</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>—equal, if we take 3½ cwt. of flour to +the qr. of wheat, to 2,200,700 qrs. of the +latter. The importations of the first four +months of the year are, therefore, nearly +as great as they were during the whole of +the preceding twelve months, the quantities +duty paid in 1848 being, of wheat, +2,477,366 qrs., and of flour, 1,731,974 +cwt.</p></blockquote> + +<p>The reason why young states, especially +if they possess land eminently +fitted for agricultural production, such +as Poland and America, can thus +permanently undersell older and longer +established empires in the production +of food, is simple, permanent, and of +universal application, but nevertheless +it is not generally understood or appreciated. +It is commonly said that +the cause is to be found in the superior +weight of debts, public and private, in +the old state. There can be no doubt +that this cause has a considerable +influence in producing the effect, but +it is by no means the only or the +principal one. The main cause is to +be found in the superior <i>riches</i> of the +old state, when compared with the +young one, which makes money of less +value, because it is more plentiful. +The wants and necessities of an extended +commerce, the accumulated +savings of centuries of industry, at +once require an extended circulation, +and produce the wealth necessary to +purchase it. The precious metals, and +wealth of every sort, flow into the rich +old state from the poor young one, for +the same reason that corn, and wine, +and oil, follow the same direction in +obedience to the same impulse. That +it is the superior riches, and not the +debts or taxes, of England which render +prices so high, comparatively +speaking, in these islands, is decisively +proved by the immense difference +between the value of money, and the +cost of living at the same time, in +different parts of the same empire, +subject to the same public and private +burdens,—in London, for example, +compared with Edinburgh, Aberdeen, +and Lerwick. Every one knows that +£1500 a-year will not go farther in +the English metropolis than £1000 in +the Scotch, or £750 in the ancient +city of Aberdeen, or £500 in the +capital of the Orkney islands. Whence +this great difference in the same +country, and at the same time?<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span> +Simply, because money is over plentiful +in London, less so in Edinburgh, +and much less so in Aberdeen or +Lerwick. The same cause explains +the different cost of agricultural production +in England, Poland, the +Ukraine, and America. It is the +comparative poverty, the <i>scarcity of +money</i>, in the latter countries which is +the cause of the difference. Machinery, +and the division of labour, almost omnipotent +in reducing the cost of the production +of manufactured articles, are +comparatively impotent in affecting the +cost of articles of rude or agricultural +produce. England, under a real system +of free trade, would undersell all the +world in its manufactures, but be +undersold by all the world in its +agricultural productions. If the national +debt was swept away, and the +whole taxes of Great Britain removed, +the cost of agricultural production +would not be materially different from +what it now is. We shall be able to +raise grain as cheap as the serfs of +Poland, or the peasants of the Ukraine, +when we become as poor as they are, +but <i>not till then</i>. Under the free-trade +system, however, the period may +arrive sooner than is generally suspected, +and the importation of foreign +grain be checked by the universal +pauperism and grinding misery of the +country.</p> + +<p>Assuming it, then, as certain that, +under the free-trade system, the importation +of grain is to be constantly +from a third to a fourth of the annual +consumption, the two points to be +considered are, How is the national +<i>independence to be maintained</i>, or <i>incessant +commercial crises averted</i>, under +the new system? These are questions +on which it will become every inhabitant +of the British islands to ponder; +for on them, not only the independence +of his country, but the private +fortune of himself and his children, is +entirely dependent. If so large a +portion as a third or a fourth of the +annual subsistence is imported almost +entirely from three countries, Russia, +Prussia, and America, how are we to +withstand the hostility of these states? +Prussia, in the long run, is under the +influence of Russia, and follows its +system of policy. The nations on +whom we depend for so large a part +of our food are thus practically reduced +to two, viz., Russia and America—what +is to hinder them from +coalescing to effect our ruin, as they +practically did in 1800 and 1811, +against the independence of England? +Not a shot would require to be fired, +not a loan contracted. The simple +threat of closing their harbours would +at once drive us to submission. Importing +a third of our food from these +two states, to what famine-price +would the closing of their harbours +speedily raise its cost! The failure +of £15,000,000 worth of potatoes in +1847—scarce a <i>twentieth</i> part of the +annual agricultural produce of these +islands, which is about £300,000,000,—raised +the price of wheat, in 1848, +from 60s. to 110s.—what would the +sudden stoppage of a <i>third</i> do? Why, +it would raise wheat to 150s. or 200s. +a-quarter—in other words, to famine-prices—and +inevitably induce general +rebellion, and compel national submission. +After the lapse of fifteen +centuries, we should again realise, +after similar Eastern triumphs, the +mournful picture of the famine in +Rome, in the lines of the poet Claudian,<a name="FNanchor_19" id="FNanchor_19"></a><a href="#Footnote_19" class="fnanchor">[19]</a> +from the stoppage of the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span>wonted supplies of grain from the two +granaries of the empire, Egypt and +Libya, by the effect of the Gildonic +war. But the knowledge of so terrible +a catastrophe impending over +the nation would probably prevent +the collision. England would capitulate +while yet it had some food left, +on the first summons from its imperious +grain-producing masters.</p> + +<p>But supposing such a decisive catastrophe +were not to arise, at least for +a considerable period, how are <i>commercial +crises</i> to be prevented from +continually recurring under the new +policy? How is the commercial interest +to be preserved from ruin—from +the operation of the system which itself +has established? This is a point of +paramount interest, as it directly affects +every fortune in the kingdom, the +commercial in the first instance, but +also the realised and landed in the +last; but, nevertheless, it seems impossible +to rouse the nation to a sense +of its overwhelming importance and +terrible consequences. Experience has +now decisively proved that the corn-growing +states, upon whom we most +depend for our subsistence, will not +take our manufactures to any extent, +though they will gladly take our sovereigns +or bullion to any imaginable +amount. The reason is, they are +poor states, who are neither rich +enough to buy, nor civilised enough +to have acquired a taste for our manufactured +articles, but who have an +insatiable thirst for our metallic riches, +the last farthing of which they will +drain away, in exchange for their +rude produce. The dreadful monetary +crises of 1839 and 1848, it is +well known, were owing to the drain +upon our metallic resources, produced +by the great grain importations of +those years, in the latter of which +above £30,000,000 of gold, probably +a half of the metallic circulation, was +at once sent headlong out of the country. +Now, if an importation of grain +to a similar amount is to become <i>permanent</i>, +and an export of the precious +metals to a corresponding degree to go +on year after year, how, in the name +of wonder, is a perpetual repetition of +similar disasters to be prevented?</p> + +<p>We could conceive, indeed, a system +of paper currency which might in a +great degree, if not altogether, prevent +these terrible disasters. If the nation +possessed a circulation of bank-notes +capable of being <i>extended</i> in proportion +as the metallic circulation was withdrawn +by the exchanges of the commerce +in grain, as was the law during +the war, the industry of the country +might be vivified and sustained during +the absence of the precious metals, +and their want be very little, if at all, +experienced. But it is well known +that not only is there no provision +made by law, or the policy of government, +for an <i>extension</i> of the paper +circulation when the metallic currency +is withdrawn, but the very reverse is +done. There is a provision, and a +most stringent and effectual one, made +for the <i>contraction</i> of the currency at +the very moment when its expansion +is most required, and when the national +industry is threatened with +starvation in consequence of the vast +and ceaseless abstraction of the precious +metals which free trade in grain +necessarily establishes. When free +trade is sending gold headlong out of +the country, to buy food, Sir Robert +Peel's law sends the bank-notes, public +and private, back into the banker's +coffers, and leaves the industry of the +country without <i>either</i> of its necessary +supports! Beyond all question, it is +the double operation of free trade in +sending the sovereigns in enormous +quantities out of the country, and of +the monetary laws, in contracting the +circulation of paper in a similar degree, +and at the same time, which has done +all the mischief, and produced that +widespread ruin which has now overtaken +nearly all the interests—but +most of all the <i>commercial</i> interests—in +the state. That ruin is easily explained, +when it is recollected what +government has done by legislative +enactment, on free-trade principles, +during the last five years.</p> + +<p>1. They first, by the Acts of 1844 +and 1845, restricted the paper circu<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span>lation +of the whole empire, including +Ireland, to £32,000,000 in round +numbers. For every note issued, either +by the Bank of England or private +banks, above that sum, they required +these establishments to have sovereigns +in their coffers.</p> + +<p>2. Having thus restricted the currency, +by which the industry of the +country was to be paid and supplied, +to an amount barely sufficient for its +<i>ordinary</i> wants, they next proceeded +to encourage to the greatest degree +railway speculation, and pass bills +through parliament requiring an <i>extraordinary</i> +expenditure, in the next +four years, of £333,000,000 sterling.</p> + +<p>3. Having thus contracted the currency +of the nation, and doubled its +work, they next proceeded to introduce, +in 1846 and the two following +years, the free-trade system, under the +operation of which our specie was +sent out of the country in enormous +quantities, in exchange for food, and +by the operation of the law the paper +proportionally contracted.<a name="FNanchor_20" id="FNanchor_20"></a><a href="#Footnote_20" class="fnanchor">[20]</a></p> + +<p>4. When this extraordinary system +of augmenting the work of the people, +at the time the currency which was to +sustain it was withdrawn, had produced +its natural and unavoidable +effects, and landed the nation, in October +1847, in such a state of embarrassment +as rendered a suspension of the +law unavoidable, and induced a commercial +crisis of unexampled severity +and duration, the authors of the +monetary measures still clung to them +as the sheet-anchor of the state, and +still upheld them, although it is as +certain as any proposition in Euclid, +that, combined with a free trade in +grain, they <i>must</i> produce a constant +succession of similar catastrophes, +until the nation, like a patient exhausted +by repeated shocks of apoplexy, +perishes under their effects.</p> + +<p>It may be doubted whether the +annals of the world can produce +another example of insane and suicidal +policy on so great a scale as has been +exhibited by the government of England +of late years, in its West India +measures, and the <i>simultaneous</i> establishment +of free trade and fettered currency, +and a railway mania, in the +heart of the empire.</p> + +<p>The effect of these measures upon +the internal state of the empire has +been beyond all measure dreadful, +and has far exceeded the worst predictions +of the protectionists upon their +inevitable effect. Proofs on this subject +crowd in on every side, and all +entirely corroborative of the prophecies +of the protectionists, and subversive +of all the prognostics of the free-traders. +It was confidently asserted +by them that their system would immensely +increase our foreign trade, +because it would enrich the foreign +agriculturists from whom we purchased +grain, and who would take our manufactures +in exchange; and what has +been the result, after free-trade principles +have been in full operation for +three years? Why, they have stood +thus:—</p> + + + +<div class="tdr"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" summary="table"> +<tr><td class="tdl"></td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td class="tdc">Imports,<br />Market Value.</td><td class="tdc">Exports,<br />Declared Value.<br />British and Irish produce.</td></tr> +<tr><td>1845,</td><td>£84,054,272</td><td>£60,111,081</td></tr> +<tr><td>1846,</td><td>89,281,433</td><td>57,786,875</td></tr> +<tr><td>1847,</td><td>117,047,229</td><td>58,971,166</td></tr> +<tr><td>1848,</td><td>92,660,699</td><td>53,099,011<a name="FNanchor_21" id="FNanchor_21"></a><a href="#Footnote_21" class="fnanchor">[21]</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>Thus, while there has been an enormous +increase going on during the +last three years in our imports, there +has been nothing but a diminution at +the same time taking place in our +exports. The foreigners who sent us, +in such prodigious quantities, their +rude produce, would not take our +manufactures in return. They would +only take our gold. Hence our metallic +treasures were hourly disappearing +in exchange for the provisions +which showered in upon us; and this +was the precise time which the free-traders +took to establish the monetary +system which compelled the contraction +of the paper circulation <i>in direct +proportion to that very disappearance</i>. +It is no wonder that our commercial +interests were thrown into unparalleled +embarrassments from such an absurd +and monstrous system of legislation.</p> + +<p>Observe, if the arguments and ex<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span>pectations +of the free-traders had been +well founded, the immense importation +of provisions which took place in +1847 and 1848, in consequence of the +failure of the potato crop in Ireland +and the west of Scotland, should immediately +have produced a vast rise +in our exports. Was this the case? +Quite the reverse; it was attended +with a decline in them. The value of +corn, meal, and flour imported in the +following years stood thus:—</p> + + + +<div class="tdr"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" summary="table"> +<tr><td>1845,</td><td>£3,594,299</td></tr> +<tr><td>1846,</td><td>8,870,202</td></tr> +<tr><td>1847,</td><td>29,694,112</td></tr> +<tr><td>1848,</td><td>12,457,857<a name="FNanchor_22" id="FNanchor_22"></a><a href="#Footnote_22" class="fnanchor">[22]</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>Now, in the year 1847, though we +imported nearly thirty millions' worth +of grain, our exports were £1,200,000 +<i>less</i> than in 1845, when we only received +three millions and a half of +subsistence from foreign states. Can +there be a more decisive proof that +the greatest possible addition to our +importation of grain is not likely to +be attended with any increase to +our export of manufactures?</p> + +<p>But if the great importation of grain +which free-trade induces into the +British empire is not attended with +any increase of our exports, in the +name of heaven, what good does it +do? Feed the people cheap. But +what do they gain by that, if their +wages, and the profits of their employers, +fall in the same or a greater +proportion? That effect has already +taken place, and to a most distressing +extent. Wages of skilled operatives, +such as colliers, iron-moulders, cotton-spinners, +calico-printers, and the like, +are now not more than <i>half</i> of what +they were when the corn-laws were +in operation. They are now receiving +2s. 6d. a-day where, before the change, +they received 5s. Wheat has been +forced down from 56s. to 44s.: that is +somewhat above a fifth, but wages +have fallen a half. The last state of +those men is worse than the first. +The unjust change for which they +clamoured has proved ruinous to +themselves.</p> + +<p>The way in which this disastrous +effect has taken place is this: In the +first place, the <i>balance</i> of trade has +turned so ruinously against us, from +the effect of the free-trade measures, +that the credit of the commercial +classes has, under the operation of +our monetary laws, been most seriously +confused. It appears, from the +accurate and laborious researches of +Mr Newdegate, that the balance of +trade against Great Britain, during +the last three years of free trade, has +been no less than £54,000,000 sterling.<a name="FNanchor_23" id="FNanchor_23"></a><a href="#Footnote_23" class="fnanchor">[23]</a> +Now, woful experience has +taught the English people that the +turning of the balance of trade is +a most formidable thing against a +commercial nation, and that the practical +experience of mankind, which +has always regarded it as one of the +greatest of calamities, is more to be +regarded than the theory of Adam +Smith, that it was a matter of no sort +of consequence. When coupled with +a sliding currency scale, which contracts +the circulation of bank-notes in +proportion as the specie is withdrawn, +it is one of the most terrible calamities +which can befall a commercial and +manufacturing state. It is under this +evil that the nation is now labouring: +and it will continue to do so, till +folly of conduct and error of opinion +have been expiated or eradicated by +suffering.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span></p> + +<p>In the next place, the purchase of +so very large a portion as a fourth of +the annual subsistence—not from our +own cultivators, who consume at an +average five or six pounds a-head of +our manufactures, but from foreign +growers, who consume little or nothing—has +had a most serious effect +upon the home trade. The introduction +of 12,000,000 or 13,000,000 quarters +of grain a-year into our markets, +from countries whose importation of +our manufactures is almost equal to +nothing, is a most dreadfully depressing +circumstance to our manufacturers. +It is destroying one set of +customers, and that the very best we +have—the home growers—without +rearing up another to supply their +place. It is exchanging the purchases +by substantial yeomen, our +own countrymen and neighbours, of +our fabrics, for the abstraction by +aliens and enemies of our money. It +is the same thing as converting a customer +into a pauper, dependent on +our support. It was distinctly foretold +by the protectionists, during the +whole time the debate on the repeal +of the corn laws was going forward, +that this effect would take place: +that the peasants of the Ukraine and +the Vistula did not consume a +hundredth part as much, per head, as +those of East Lothian or Essex; and +that to substitute the one for the +other was to be penny wise and pound +foolish. These predictions, however, +were wholly disregarded; the thing +was done; and now it is found that +the result has been <i>much worse</i> than +was anticipated—for not only has it +gratuitously and unnecessarily crippled +the means of a large part of the +home consumers of our manufactures, +but it has universally shaken and contracted +credit, especially in the commercial +districts, by the drain it has +induced upon the precious metals. +These evils, from the earliest times, +have been felt by mercantile nations; +but they were the result, in previous +cases, of adverse circumstances or +necessity. It was reserved for this +age to introduce them voluntarily, +and regard them as the last result of +political wisdom.</p> + +<p>In the third place, the reduction +of prices, and diminution in the remuneration +of industry, which has +taken place from the introduction of +free trade, and the general admission +of foreign produce and manufactures, +raised in countries where production +is cheap, because money is +scarce and taxes light, to compete +with one where production is dear, +because money is plentiful and taxes +heavy, cannot of course fail to be attended—and +that from the very outset—with +the most disastrous effects +upon the general interests of the empire, +and especially such of them as +are engaged in trade and manufactures. +Suppose that, anterior to the +monetary and free-trade changes intended +to force down prices, the annual +value of the industry of the country +stood thus, which we believe to be +very near the truth:—</p> + + + +<div class="tdr"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" summary="table"> +<tr><td class="tdl">Lands and minerals,</td><td></td><td>£300,000,000</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Manufactures and commerce of all sorts,</td><td></td><td class="bb">200,000,000</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Deduct taxes and local burdens,</td><td>£80,000,000</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Interest of mortgages,</td><td class="bb">50,000,000</td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td></td><td class="bb">130,000,000</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Clear to national industry,</td><td></td><td>£370,000,000</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>But if prices are forced down a half, +which, at the very least, may be anticipated, +and in fact has already taken +place, from the <i>combined</i> effect of +free trade and a restricted currency, +estimating each at a fourth only, the +account will stand thus,—</p> + + + +<div class="tdr"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" summary="table"> +<tr><td class="tdl">Land and minerals,</td><td></td><td>£150,000,000</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Manufactures,</td><td></td><td class="bb">100,000,000</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Total,</td><td></td><td>£250,000,000</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Deduct taxes and rates,</td><td>£80,000,000</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Interest of mortgages,</td><td class="bb">50,000,000</td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td></td><td class="bb">130,000,000</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Clear to national industry,</td><td></td><td>£120,000,000</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>Thus, by the operation of these +changes, in money and commerce, +which lower prices <i>a half</i>, the whole +national income is reduced from +£370,000,000 to £120,000,000, or +<i>less than a third</i>. Such is the inevitable +effect of a great reduction of +prices, in a community of which the +major and more important part is +still engaged in the work of production; +and such the illustration of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> +truth of the Marquis of Granby's observation, +that, under such a reduction, +the whole producing classes must lose +more than they can by possibility +gain, because their loss is upon their +<i>whole</i> income, their gain only upon +that portion of their means—seldom +more than a half—which is spent on +the purchase of articles, the cost of +which is affected by the fall of prices.</p> + +<p>The most decisive proof of the +universality and general sense of this +reduction of income and general distress, +is to be found in the efforts +which Mr Cobden and the free-trade +party are now making to effect a great +reduction in the public expenditure. +During the discussion on corn-law +repeal, they told us that the change +they advocated could make no sort of +difference on the income of the producing +and agricultural classes, and +that it would produce an addition to +the income of the trading classes of +£100,000,000 a-year. Of course, the +national and public resources were to +be greatly benefited by the change; +and it was under this belief adopted. +Now, however, that the change has +taken place, and its result has been +found to be a universal embarrassment +to all classes and interests, +but especially to the commercial, +they turn round and tell us that this +effect is inevitable from the change of +prices—that the halcyon days of high +rents and profits are at an end, and +that all that remains is for all classes +to accommodate themselves the best +way they can to the inevitable change. +They propose to begin with Queen +Victoria and the Chancellor of the +Exchequer, from whom they propose +to cut off £11,000,000 a-year of income. +But they consider this perfectly +safe, because, as the aspect of +things, both abroad and in our colonial +empire, is so singularly pacific, and +peace and goodwill are so soon to +prevail among men, they think it will +be soon possible to disband our troops, +sell our ships of war, and trust the +stilling the passions and settling the +disputes of nations and races to the +great principles of justice and equity, +which invariably regulate the proceedings +of all popular and democratic +communities. We say nothing of the +probability of such a millennium soon +arriving, or of the prognostics of its +approach, which passing and recent +events in India, Canada, France, Germany, +Hungary, Italy, Sicily, and +Ireland, have afforded, or are affording. +We refer to them only as giving +the most decisive proof that the free-traders +have now themselves become +sensible that their measures have produced +a general impoverishment of all +classes, from the head of the state +downwards, and that a great reduction +of expenditure is unavoidable, if +a general public and private bankruptcy +would be averted.</p> + +<p>In truth, the proofs of this general +impoverishment are now so numerous +and decisive, that they have brought +conviction home to the minds of the +most obdurate, and, with the exception +of the free-trade leaders or agitators—whose +fanaticism is, of course, +fixed and incurable—have produced a +general distrust of the new principles. +A few facts will place them in the +most striking light. The greatest +number of emigrants who had previously +sailed from the British shores +was in 1839, when they reached +129,000. But in the year 1847, the +sacred year of free trade and a fettered +currency, they rose at once to 258,270. +In 1848 they were 248,000. The +number this year is understood to +be still greater, and composed almost +entirely, not of paupers—who, of +course, cannot get away—but of the +better sort of mechanics, tradesmen, +and small farmers, who, under the new +system, find their means of subsistence +dried up. The poor-rate in England +has now risen to £7,000,000 annually—as +much in nominal amount as it was +in 1834, when the new poor-law was +introduced by the Whig government, +and, if the change in the value of +money is taken into account, half as +much more. A <i>seventh</i> of the British +empire are now supported in the two +islands by the parish rates, and yet +the demands on private charity are +hourly increasing. Crime is universally +and rapidly on the increase: in +Ireland, where the commitments never +before exceeded 21,000, they rose in +1848 to 39,000. In England, in the +same year, they were 30,000; in +Scotland, 4908; all a great increase +over previous years. It is not surprising +crime was so prolific in a country +where, in the preceding year, at least<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> +250,000 persons <i>died of famine</i>, in +spite of the noble grant of £10,000,000 +from the British treasury for their +support. We extract from the <i>Standard +of Freedom</i> the following summary +of some of the social results +which have followed the adoption of +liberal principles:—</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">State of England.</span>—One man in every +ten, according to Sir J. Graham, a short +time ago was in receipt of parish relief +in this country; but now, it appears, +from a return up to June last, it is not 10 +per cent, but 11 per cent of the population +who receive parochial relief; for the +persons so relieved amount to 1,700,000 +out of 15,000,000. £7,000,000 was raised +annually for the relief of the poor in +England, and £500,000 in Scotland; and, +taking the amount collected for and raised +in Ireland at £1,860,957, it makes a total +of £9,460,957, as the sum levied annually +in the British empire for the relief of the +poor, or three times the cost of the civil +government, independently of the cost of +the army and navy. Besides the regular +standing force, there is the casual poor, a +kind of disposable force, moving about +and exhausting every parish they go +through. In 1815, there were 1,791 vagrants +in one part of the metropolis, and, +in 1828, in the same district in London, +they had increased to 16,086. In 1832, +the number was 35,600, which had increased, +in 1847, to 41,743. Moreover, +there is a certain district south of the +Thames, in which, for the six months ending +September 1846, the number was +18,533, and which had increased, during +the same six months in 1847, to 44,937. +And, in the county of York, in one of the +first unions in the West Riding, in 1836, +one vagrant was relieved, and, in 1847, +1,161. This affords a pretty strong, dark, +and gloomy picture of the state of destitution +prevailing in this country."—<i>Standard of Freedom.</i></p></blockquote> + +<p>General as the distress is which, +under the combined operations of free +trade and a fettered currency, has +been brought upon the country, there +is one circumstance of peculiar importance +which has not hitherto, from the +efforts of the free-traders to conceal +it, met with the attention it deserves. +This is the far greater amount of ruin +and misery they have brought upon the +commercial classes, who supported, +than the agriculturists, who opposed +them. The landed interest is only +beginning to experience, in the present +low prices, the depressing effects +of free trade. The Irish famine has +hitherto concealed or postponed them. +London is suffering, but not so much +as the provincial towns, from its being +the great place where the realised +wealth of the country is spent. But +the whole commercial classes in the +manufacturing towns have felt them +for nearly two years in the utmost intensity. +It is well known that, during +that short period, <i>one-half</i> of the +wealth realised, and in course of realisation, +in Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, +and Glasgow, has perished. +There is no man practically acquainted +with these cities who will dispute that +fact. The poor-rates of Glasgow, +which, five years ago, did not exceed +£30,000 a-year for the parliamentary +city, have now reached £200,000; viz.</p> + + + +<div class="tdr"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" summary="table"> +<tr><td class="tdl">Glasgow parish,</td><td>£90,000</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Barony,</td><td>70,000</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Gorbals,</td><td class="bb">40,000</td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td>£200,000</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>The sales by shopkeepers in these +towns have not, during three years, +been a third of their average amount. +All the witnesses examined before the +Lords' committee on the public distress, +describe this panic of autumn +1847 as infinitely exceeding in duration +and severity anything previously experienced; +and the state of matters, and +the intensity of the shock given to +public credit, may be judged of by the +following entries as to the state of the +Bank of England in June 1845 and +October 1847, when the law was suspended:—</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">June 1845.</span></p> + + + +<div class="tdr"> +<table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="table"> +<tr><td></td><td class="tdc" colspan="2"><span class="smcap">Issue Department.</span></td><td class="tdc" colspan="2"><span class="smcap">Banking Department.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdc">Date.</td><td class="tdc">Notes Issued.</td><td class="tdc">Gold and Silver Bullion.</td><td class="tdc">Notes in Reserve.</td><td class="tdc">Gold and Silver Coin.</td></tr> +<tr><td>June 7</td><td>£29,732,000</td><td>£15,732,000</td><td>£9,382,000</td><td>£779,000</td></tr> +<tr><td>— 14</td><td>29,917,000</td><td>15,917,000</td><td>9,854,000</td><td>696,000</td></tr> +<tr><td>— 21</td><td>30,051,000</td><td>16,051,000</td><td>9,837,000</td><td>587,000</td></tr> +<tr><td>— 28</td><td>30,047,000</td><td>16,047,000</td><td>9,717,000</td><td>554,000</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="smcap">October 1847.</span></p> + + + +<div class="tdr"> +<table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="table"> +<tr><td></td><td class="tdc" colspan="2"><span class="smcap">Issue Department.</span></td><td class="tdc" colspan="2"><span class="smcap">Banking Department.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdc">Date.</td><td class="tdc">Notes Issued.</td><td class="tdc">Gold and Silver Bullion.</td><td class="tdc">Notes in Reserve.</td><td class="tdc">Gold and Silver Coin.</td></tr> +<tr><td>Oct. 2</td><td>£22,121,000</td><td>£8,121,000</td><td>£3,409,000</td><td>£443,000</td></tr> +<tr><td>— 9</td><td>21,961,000</td><td>7,961,000</td><td>3,321,000</td><td>447,000</td></tr> +<tr><td>— 16</td><td>21,989,000</td><td>7,989,000</td><td>2,630,000</td><td>441,000</td></tr> +<tr><td>— 23</td><td>21,865,000</td><td>7,865,000</td><td>1,547,000</td><td>447,000</td></tr> +<tr><td>— 30</td><td>22,009,000</td><td>8,009,000</td><td>1,176,000</td><td>429,000</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p> +<i>Commercial Crisis</i>, 2d edition, 132-133.<br /> +</p> + +<p>Thus, such was the severity of the +panic, and the contraction of the currency, +consequent on the monetary +laws and the operation of free trade +in grain, that the nation was all but +rendered bankrupt, and half its traders +unquestionably were so, when there +were still eight millions of sovereigns +in the issue department of the bank +which could not be touched, while +the reserve of notes in the banking +department had sunk from nearly +£10,000,000, in 1845, to £1,100,000!</p> + +<p>So portentous a state of things, +fraught as it necessarily was with +utter ruin to a great part of the best +interests in the empire, was certainly +not contemplated by the commercial +classes, when they embarked in the +crusade of free trade against the productive +interests. It might have been +long of coming on, and certainly would +never have set in with half the severity +which actually occurred, had it +not been that, not content with the +project of forcing down prices by +means of the unrestricted admission +of foreign produce, they at the same +time sought to augment their own +fortunes by restricting the currency. +It was the <i>double project</i>, beyond all +question, which proved their ruin. +They began and flattered themselves +they would play out successfully the +game of "<i>beggar my neighbour</i>," but +by pushing their measures too far, it +turned into one of "<i>beggar ourselves</i>." +It was the double strain of free trade +and a fettered currency which brought +such embarrassment on the commercial +classes, as it was the double strain +of the Spanish and Russian wars +which proved the destruction of Napoleon. +It would appear to be a general +law of nature, that great measures of +injustice cannot be carried into execution, +either by communities or single +men, without vindicating the justice +of the Divine administration, by +bringing down upon themselves the +very ruin which they have designed +for others.</p> + +<p>The free-traders say that there is +no general reaction against their principles, +and that the formation of a +government on protectionist principles +is at present impossible. We +shall not inquire, and have not the +means of knowing, whether or not +this statement is well founded. We +are willing to accept the statement as +true, and we perceive a great social +revolution, accompanied with infinite +present suffering, but most important +ultimate results, growing from their +obstinate adherence to their principles +in defiance of the lessons of experience. +<i>The free-traders are with their own +hands destroying the commercial classes, +which had acquired an undue preponderance +in the state.</i> They must work +out their own punishment before they +abjure their principles. Every day a +free-trading merchant or shopkeeper +is swept into the <i>Gazette</i>, and his +family cast down to the humblest +ranks in society. They go down like +the Fifth Monarchy men when expelled from +the House of Commons by the +bayonets of Cromwell, or the Girondists +when led to the scaffold by the +Jacobins, chanting hymns in honour +of their principles when perishing from +their effects:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"They are true to the last of their blood and their breath,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And, like reapers, descend to the harvest of death."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>But this constancy of individuals +when suffering under the measures +they themselves have introduced, +however curious and respectable as a +specimen of the unvarying effect of +fanaticism, whether religious or social,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> +on the human mind, cannot permanently +arrest the march of events; it +cannot stop the effect of their own +measures, any more than the courage +of the Highlanders in 1745 could prevent +the final extinction of the Jacobite +cause. Let them adhere to free trade +and a fettered currency as they like, +the advocates of the new measures are +daily and hourly losing their influence. +Money constitutes the sinews of war +not less in social than in national +contests. No cause can be long victorious +which is linked to that worst +of allies, <span class="smcap">Insolvency</span>. In two years +the mercantile classes have destroyed +one-half of their own wealth; in two +years more, one-half of what remains +will be gone. Crippled, discredited, +ruined, beat down by foreign competition, +exhausted by the failure of +domestic supplies, the once powerful +mercantile body of England will be +prostrate in the dust. All other classes, +of course, will be suffering from their +fall, but none in the same degree as +themselves. It is not improbable that +the land may regain its appropriate +influence in the state, by the ruin which +their own insane measures have brought +upon its oppressors. No one will +regret the lamentable consequences of +such a change, already far advanced +in its progress, more than ourselves, +who, have uniformly foretold its advent, +and strenuously resisted the commercial +and monetary changes which, +amidst shouts of triumph from the +whole Liberal party, were silently +but certainly inducing these results.</p> + +<p>Confounded at such a series of +events, so widely different from what +they anticipated and had predicted +from their measures, the free-traders +have no resource but to lay them all +on two external causes, for which they +are not, as they conceive, responsible: +these causes are, the French and German +revolutions, and the potato famine +in Ireland.</p> + +<p>That the revolutions on the continent +of Europe have materially affected +the market for the produce of +British industry, in the countries where +they have occurred, is indeed certain; +but are the Liberals entitled to shake +themselves free from the consequences +of these convulsions? Have we not, +for the last thirty years, been labouring +incessantly to encourage and extend +revolution in all the adjoining +states? Did we not insidiously and +basely support the revolutions in +South America, and call a new world +into existence to redress the balance +of the old? Was not the result of +that monstrous and iniquitous interference +in support of the rebels in an +allied state, to induce the dreadful +monetary catastrophe of December +1825, the severest, till that of 1847, +ever experienced in modern Europe? +Did we not, not merely instantly recognise +the French revolutions of 1830 +and 1848, but lend our powerful aid and +countenance to extend the laudable +example to the adjoining states? Did +we not join with France to prevent +the King of the Netherlands from regaining +the command of Flanders in +1832, and blockade the Scheldt while +Marshal Gerard bombarded Antwerp? +Did we not conclude the Quadruple +Alliance to effect the revolutionising +of Spain and Portugal, and bathe both +countries for four years with blood, to +establish revolutionary queens on both +the thrones in the Peninsula? Have +we not intercepted the armament of +the King of Naples against Sicily, by +Admiral Parker's fleet, and aided the +insurgents in that island with arms +from the Tower? Did we not interfere +to arrest the victorious columns +of Radetsky at Turin, but never move +a step to check Charles Albert +on the Mincio? Did we not side +with revolutionary Prussia against the +Danes, and aid in launching Pio Nono +into that frantic career which has +spread such ruin through the Italian +peninsula? Have we not all but lost +the confidence of our old ally, Austria, +from our notorious intrigues to encourage +the furious divisions which +have torn that noble empire? Nay, +have we not been so enamoured of +revolution, that we could not avoid +showing a partiality for it in our own dominions—rewarding +and encouraging +O'Connell, and allowing monster meetings, +till by the neglect of Irish industry +we landed them in famine, and +by the fanning of Irish passions brought +them up to rebellion;—and establishing +a constitution in Canada which +gave a decided majority in parliament +to an alien and rebel race, and, as a necessary +consequence, giving the colonial +administration to the very party<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> +whom, ten years ago, the loyalists put +down with true British spirit at the +point of the bayonet? All this we have +done, and have long been doing, with +impunity; and now that the consequences +of such multifarious sins have fallen +upon us, in the suffering which revolution +has at last brought upon the +British empire, the Liberals turn round +and seek to avoid the responsibility of +the disasters produced by their internal +policy, by throwing it on the external +events which they themselves +have induced.</p> + +<p>Then as to the Irish famine of 1846, +it is rather too much, after the lapse of +<i>three</i> years, to go on ascribing the +general distress of the empire to a +partial failure of a particular crop, +which, after all, did not exceed the +loss of a twentieth part of the annual +agricultural produce of the British +Islands. But if the free-traders' principles +had been well founded, this +failure in Ireland should have been the +greatest possible blessing to their party +in the state, because it <i>immediately</i> effected +that transference of the purchase +of a part of the national food from +home to foreign cultivators, which is +the very thing they hold out as such an +advantage, and likely in an especial +manner to enlarge the foreign market +for our manufactures. It induced the +importation of £30,000,000 worth of +foreign grain in three months: that, +on the principles of the free-traders, +should have put all our manufacturers +in activity, and placed the nation in +the third heaven. Disguise it as you +will, the Irish potato-rot was but an +anticipation, somewhat more sudden +than they expected, of the <i>free-trade +rot</i>, which was held out as a certain +panacea for all the national evils. And +now, when free trade and a restricted +currency have not proved quite so +great a blessing as they anticipated, +the free-traders turn round and lay +it all on the substitution of foreign +importation for domestic production +in Ireland, when that very substitution +is the thing they have, by abolishing +the corn laws, laboured to effect +over the whole empire.</p> + +<p>Then as to the state of Ireland, which +has at length reached the present +unparalleled crisis of difficulty and +suffering, the conduct of the Liberals +has been, if possible, still more inconsistent +and self-condemnatory. For +half a century past, they have been +incessantly declaiming on the mild, +inoffensive, and industrious character +of the Irish race; upon their inherent +loyalty to the throne; and upon the +enormous iniquity of British rule, +which had brought the whole misfortunes +under which they were labouring +on that virtuous people. Nothing +but equal privileges, Catholic emancipation, +parliamentary reform, burgh +reform, and influence at Dublin Castle, +we were told, were required to set +everything right, and render Ireland +as peaceable and prosperous as any +part of the British dominions. The +conduct of James I. and Cromwell, +in planting Saxon and Protestant +colonies in Ulster, was in an essential +manner held up to detestation, +as one of the chief causes of the +social and religious divisions which +had over since distracted the country. +Well, the Liberals have given all +these things to the Irish. For +twenty years, the island has been +governed entirely on these principles. +They have got Catholic +emancipation, a reduction of the Protestant +church, national education, +corporate reform, parliamentary reform, +monster meetings, ceaseless +agitation, and, in fact, all the objects +for which, in common with the Liberal +party in Great Britain, they have so +long contended. And what has been +the result? Is it that pauperism has +disappeared, industry flourished, divisions +died away, prosperity become +general? So far from it, divisions +never have been so bitter, dissension +never so general, misery so grinding, +suffering so universal, since the British +standards, under Henry II., seven +centuries ago, first approached their +shores. A rebellion has broken out; +anarchy and agitation, by turning the +people aside from industry, have terminated +in famine; and even the stream +of English charity seems dried up, from +the immensity of the suffering to be relieved, +and the ingratitude with which +it has heretofore been received. And +what do the Liberals now do? Why, +they put it all down to the score of the +incurable indolence and heedlessness +of the Celtic race, which nothing can +eradicate, and cordially support Sir +R. Peel's proposal to plant English +colonies in Connaught, <i>exactly similar +to Cromwell's in Ulster</i>, so long the +object of Liberal hatred and declamation! +They tell us now that the native +Irish are irreclaimable helots, +hewers of wood and drawers of water, +and incapable of improvement till +directed by Saxon heads and supported +by the produce of Saxon hands. +They forget that it is these very helots +whom they represented as such immaculate +and valuable subjects, the +victims of Saxon injustice and Ulster +misrule. They forget that English capitalists +and farmers would long since +have migrated to Ireland, and induced +corn cultivation in its western and +southern provinces, were it not that +Liberal agitation kept the people in a +state of menacing violence, and Liberal +legislation took away all prospect +of remunerating prices for their grain +produce. And thus much for the +Crowning of the Column of Free +Trade, and Crushing of the Pedestal +of the Nation.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a name="Footnote_15" id="Footnote_15"></a><a href="#FNanchor_15"><span class="label">[15]</span></a> "No great state can long remain quiet; if it has not an enemy abroad, it finds one +at home, as powerful bodies resist all external attacks, but are destroyed by their +internal strength."—<span class="smcap">Livy.</span></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a name="Footnote_16" id="Footnote_16"></a><a href="#FNanchor_16"><span class="label">[16]</span></a> "While each separately fights, all are conquered."—<span class="smcap">Tacitus.</span></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a name="Footnote_17" id="Footnote_17"></a><a href="#FNanchor_17"><span class="label">[17]</span></a> +</p> + + + + + +<div class="tdr"> +<table border="1" cellpadding="4" summary="table"> +<tr><td class="tdc bb">Slavery Value.</td><td class="tdc bb">After Abolition.</td><td class="tdc bb">After Abolition of Apprenticeship.</td><td class="tdc bb">Since passing Sugar Bill of 1846.</td><td class="tdc" rowspan="2">Name of the Estate.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdc">£</td><td class="tdc">£</td><td class="tdc">£</td><td class="tdc">£</td></tr> +<tr><td>120,000</td><td>60,000</td><td>45,000</td><td>5,000</td><td class="tdl">Windsor Forest.</td></tr> +<tr><td>65,000</td><td>32,000</td><td>26,000</td><td>5,000</td><td class="tdl">La Grange.</td></tr> +<tr><td>55,000</td><td>27,500</td><td>23,000</td><td>3,500</td><td class="tdl">Belle Plaine.</td></tr> +<tr><td>80,000</td><td>30,000</td><td>20,000</td><td>6,000</td><td class="tdl">Rabacca.</td></tr> +<tr><td>70,000</td><td>25,000</td><td>17,000</td><td>3,000</td><td class="tdl">Sir W. South.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="bb">45,000</td><td class="bb">20,000</td><td class="bb">15,000</td><td class="bb">5,000</td><td class="tdl">Richmond Hill.</td></tr> +<tr><td>435,000</td><td>194,500</td><td>146,000</td><td>27,500</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl" colspan="4">Slavery value, </td><td>£435,000</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl" colspan="4">Estimated present value, </td><td class="bb">27,500</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdc" colspan="4">Depreciation, </td><td>£407,500</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl" colspan="5">Or equal to 93½ per cent on original value.</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p> +<br /> +—<span class="smcap">In Re Cruikshanks, in Chancery</span>, <i>Times</i>, June 6th, 1849.<br /> +</p> + + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a name="Footnote_18" id="Footnote_18"></a><a href="#FNanchor_18"><span class="label">[18]</span></a> +</p> + + + +<div class="tdr"> +<table border="1" cellpadding="4" summary="table"> +<tr><td class="tdl" colspan="10"><span class="smcap"><br />Quantities</span> imported into the United Kingdom in the month ending April 5, 1849:—</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdc bb">Species of Corn, Grain, Meal, and Flour.</td><td class="tdc bb" colspan="3">Imported from foreign countries.</td><td class="tdc bb" colspan="3">The produce of, and imported from, British possessions out of Europe.</td><td class="tdc bb" colspan="3">Total.</td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td class="tdc">Qrs.</td><td class="tdc" colspan="2">Bush.</td><td class="tdc">Qrs.</td><td class="tdc" colspan="2">Bls.</td><td class="tdc">Qrs.</td><td class="tdc" colspan="2">Bush.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Wheat</td><td>535,015</td><td colspan="2">2</td><td></td><td colspan="2"></td><td>535,015</td><td colspan="2">2</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Barley</td><td>150,177</td><td colspan="2">5</td><td></td><td colspan="2"></td><td>150,177</td><td colspan="2">5</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Oats</td><td>146,149</td><td colspan="2">6</td><td>1</td><td colspan="2">6</td><td>146,151</td><td colspan="2">4</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Rye</td><td>20,768</td><td colspan="2">4</td><td></td><td colspan="2"></td><td>20,768</td><td colspan="2">4</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Peas</td><td>12,313</td><td colspan="2">6</td><td></td><td colspan="2"></td><td>12,313</td><td colspan="2">6</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Beans</td><td>60,294</td><td colspan="2">5</td><td></td><td colspan="2"></td><td>60,294</td><td colspan="2">5</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Maize or Indian corn</td><td>184,772</td><td colspan="2">4</td><td></td><td colspan="2"></td><td>184,772</td><td colspan="2">4</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Buck-wheat</td><td>12</td><td colspan="2">3</td><td></td><td colspan="2"></td><td>12</td><td colspan="2">3</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Bere or bigg</td><td class="bb">800</td><td class="bb" colspan="2">0</td><td class="bb"></td><td class="bb" colspan="2"></td><td class="bb">800</td><td class="bb" colspan="2">0</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Total of corn and grain</td><td class="bb">1,110,304</td><td class="bb" colspan="2">3</td><td class="bb">1</td><td class="bb" colspan="2">6</td><td class="bb">1,110,306</td><td class="bb" colspan="2">1</td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td class="tdl">Cwt.</td><td>qrs.</td><td>lb.</td><td class="tdl">Cwt.</td><td>q.</td><td>lb.</td><td class="tdl">Cwt.</td><td>qrs.</td><td>lb.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Wheat meal or flour</td><td>307,617</td><td>0</td><td>7</td><td>753</td><td>3</td><td>11</td><td>308,370</td><td>3</td><td>18</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Barley meal</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Oat meal</td><td>24</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>24</td><td>2</td><td>0</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Rye meal</td><td>1,571</td><td>1</td><td>9</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>1,571</td><td>1</td><td>9</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Pea meal</td><td>10</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>10</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Indian meal</td><td>10,707</td><td>1</td><td>10</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>10,707</td><td>1</td><td>10</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Buck-wheat meal</td><td class="bb">80</td><td class="bb">0</td><td class="bb">0</td><td class="bb"></td><td class="bb"></td><td class="bb"></td><td class="bb">80</td><td class="bb">0</td><td class="bb">0</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Total of meal and flour</td><td class="bb">320,010</td><td class="bb">0</td><td class="bb">26</td><td class="bb">753</td><td class="bb">3</td><td class="bb">11</td><td class="bb">320,764</td><td class="bb">0</td><td class="bb">9</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl" colspan="10"><span class="smcap"><br />Quantities</span> charged with duty for Home Consumption in the United Kingdom in the month ended April 5, 1849:—</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdc bb">Species of Corn, Grain, Meal, and Flour.</td><td class="tdc bb" colspan="3">Imported from foreign countries.</td><td class="tdc bb" colspan="3">The produce of, and imported from, British possessions out of Europe.</td><td class="tdc bb" colspan="3">Total.</td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td class="tdc">Qrs.</td><td class="tdc" colspan="2">Bush.</td><td class="tdc">Qrs.</td><td class="tdc" colspan="2">Bls.</td><td class="tdc">Qrs.</td><td class="tdc" colspan="2">Bush.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Wheat</td><td>559,602</td><td colspan="2">2</td><td></td><td colspan="2"></td><td>559,602</td><td colspan="2">2</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Barley</td><td>170,343</td><td colspan="2">5</td><td></td><td colspan="2"></td><td>170,343</td><td colspan="2">5</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Oats</td><td>149,784</td><td colspan="2">5</td><td></td><td colspan="2"></td><td>149,786</td><td colspan="2">3</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Rye</td><td>22,432</td><td colspan="2">1</td><td>1</td><td colspan="2">6</td><td>22,432</td><td colspan="2">1</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Peas</td><td>17,782</td><td colspan="2">0</td><td></td><td colspan="2"></td><td>17,782</td><td colspan="2">0</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Beans</td><td>59,546</td><td colspan="2">5</td><td></td><td colspan="2"></td><td>59,546</td><td colspan="2">5</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Maize or Indian corn</td><td>183,604</td><td colspan="2">6</td><td></td><td colspan="2"></td><td>183,604</td><td colspan="2">6</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Buck-wheat</td><td>12</td><td colspan="2">3</td><td></td><td colspan="2"></td><td>12</td><td colspan="2">3</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Bere or bigg</td><td class="bb">800</td><td class="bb" colspan="2">0</td><td class="bb"></td><td class="bb" colspan="2"></td><td class="bb">800</td><td class="bb" colspan="2">0</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Total of corn and grain</td><td class="bb">1,163,908</td><td class="bb" colspan="2">3</td><td class="bb">1</td><td class="bb" colspan="2">6</td><td class="bb">1,163,910</td><td class="bb" colspan="2">1</td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td class="tdc">Cwt.</td><td class="tdc">qrs.</td><td class="tdc">lb.</td><td class="tdc">Cwt.</td><td class="tdc">q.</td><td class="tdc">lb.</td><td class="tdc">Cwt.</td><td class="tdc">qrs.</td><td class="tdc">lb.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Wheat meal or flour</td><td>353,799</td><td>1</td><td>3</td><td>2509</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>356,308</td><td>1</td><td>4</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Barley meal</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Oat meal</td><td>26</td><td>2</td><td>8</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>26</td><td>2</td><td>8</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Rye meal</td><td>825</td><td>3</td><td>6</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>825</td><td>3</td><td>6</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Pea meal</td><td>10</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>10</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Indian meal</td><td>10,671</td><td>1</td><td>7</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>10,671</td><td>1</td><td>7</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Buck-wheat meal</td><td class="bb">80</td><td class="bb">0</td><td class="bb">0</td><td class="bb"></td><td class="bb"></td><td class="bb"></td><td class="bb">80</td><td class="bb">0</td><td class="bb">0</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Total of meal and flour</td><td class="bb">365,412</td><td class="bb">3</td><td class="bb">24</td><td class="bb">2509</td><td class="bb">0</td><td class="bb">1</td><td class="bb">367,921</td><td class="bb">3</td><td class="bb">25</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p> +<br /> +—<i>London Gazette</i>, 20th April, 1849.<br /> +</p> + + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a name="Footnote_19" id="Footnote_19"></a><a href="#FNanchor_19"><span class="label">[19]</span></a> +</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Advenio supplex, non ut proculcet Araxen<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Consul ovans, nostræve premant pharetrata secures<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Susa, nec ut rubris Aquilas figamus arenis.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Hæc nobis, hæc ante dabas. Nunc pabula tantum<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Roma precor. Miserere tuæ pater optime gentis,<br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Extremam defenda famam</i>—Satiavimus iram,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Si quâ fuit. Lugenda Getis et flenda Suëvis<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Hausimus: ipsa meos exhorret Parthia casus.<br /></span> +<span class="i0"><br /></span> +<span class="i0"> + +<br /></span> + + +<hr class="tb" /><br /> +<span class="i0"><br /></span> +<span class="i0"> + +<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Armato quondam populo, Patrumque vigebam<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Consiliis. Domui terras, urbesque revinxi<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Legibus: ad solem victrix utrumque cucurri,<br /></span> +<span class="i0"><br /></span> +<span class="i0"> + +<br /></span> + + +<hr class="tb" /><br /> +<span class="i0"><br /></span> +<span class="i0"> + +<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Nunc inhonorus egens perfert miserabile pacis<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Supplicium, nulloque palam circumdatus hoste,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Obsessi discrimen habet—per singula letum<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Impendit momenta mihi, dubitandaque pauci<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Prescribant alimenta Dies."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p> +<br /> +—<span class="smcap">Claudian</span>, <i>De Bello</i>. <i>Gildonico</i>, 35—100.<br /> +</p> + + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a name="Footnote_20" id="Footnote_20"></a><a href="#FNanchor_20"><span class="label">[20]</span></a> In 1845, the Bank of England notes out with the public were about £23,000,000. +Since the free trade began they have seldom been above £18,000,000, and at times +as low as £16,800,000, and that at the very time when all the railways were going on.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a name="Footnote_21" id="Footnote_21"></a><a href="#FNanchor_21"><span class="label">[21]</span></a> Newdegate's <i>Letter to Mr Labouchere</i>, p. 12-13.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a name="Footnote_22" id="Footnote_22"></a><a href="#FNanchor_22"><span class="label">[22]</span></a> Newdegate's <i>Letter to Mr Labouchere</i>, p. 17.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a name="Footnote_23" id="Footnote_23"></a><a href="#FNanchor_23"><span class="label">[23]</span></a> +</p> + + + +<div class="tdr"> +<table border="1" cellpadding="4" summary="table"> +<tr><td class="tdl bb" rowspan="2"></td><td class="tdl bb" rowspan="2">Total Imports.</td><td class="tdl bb" rowspan="2">Total Exports.<br />Home and Colonial.</td><td class="tdl bb" rowspan="2">Balance of Freight carried by British Ships.</td><td class="tdl" colspan="2">Balance of Trade against Britain.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl bb">Exports and Imports.</td><td class="tdl bb">Deducting Freights.</td></tr> +<tr><td>1845</td><td>£84,054,272</td><td>£70,236,726</td><td>£12,979,089</td><td>£13,817,446</td><td>£838,357</td></tr> +<tr><td>1846</td><td>89,281,433</td><td>66,283,270</td><td>13,581,165</td><td>22,998,163</td><td>9,416,998</td></tr> +<tr><td>1847</td><td>117,047,229</td><td>70,329,671</td><td>18,817,742</td><td>46,717,558</td><td>27,899,816</td></tr> +<tr><td>1848</td><td class="bb">92,660,699</td><td class="bb">61,557,191</td><td class="bb">14,699,491</td><td class="bb">31,103,508</td><td class="bb">16,404,017</td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td>£383,043,633</td><td>£268,406,878</td><td>£60,077,487</td><td>£114,636,675</td><td>£54,559,188</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p> +<br /> +—<span class="smcap">Newdegate</span>, 12-13.<br /> +</p> + + +</div></div> + +<div class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></div> + + + + +<h2><a name="POSTSCRIPT" id="POSTSCRIPT">POSTSCRIPT.</a></h2> + + +<p>The discussion on the Canadian +question, in the House of Lords, has +had one good effect. It has elicited +from Lord Lyndhurst a most powerful +and able speech, in the best style of +that great judge and distinguished +statesman's oratory; and it has caused +Lord Campbell to make an exhibition +of spleen, ill-humour, and bad taste, +which his warmest friends must have +beheld with regret, and which was +alone wanting to show the cogent +effect which Lord Lyndhurst's speech +had made on the house. Of the +nature of Lord Campbell's attack on +that able and venerable judge, second +to none who ever sat in Westminster +Hall for judicial power and +forensic eloquence, some idea may be +formed from the observations in reply +of Lord Stanley:—</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>"I must say for myself, and I think I +may say for the rest of the house, and not +with the exception of noble lords on the +opposite side of it, that they listened to +that able, lucid, and powerful speech +(Lord Lyndhurst's) with a feeling of +anything but pain—a feeling of admiration +at the power of language, the undiminished +clearness of intellect—(cheers)—the +conciseness and force with which +my noble and learned friend grappled +with the arguments before him, and +which, while on the one hand they showed +that age had in no degree impaired the +vigour of that power, on the other added +to the regret at the announcement he +made of his intention so seldom to occupy +the attention of the house. (Hear, hear.) +But I should have thought that if there +were one feeling it was impossible for any +man to entertain after hearing that +speech, it would be a feeling in any way +akin to that which led the noble and +learned lord to have introduced his answer +to that speech by any unworthy taunts. +(Loud cheers.) His noble and learned +friend's high position and great experience, +his high character and eminent +ability, might have secured him in the +honoured decline of his course from any +such unworthy taunts—(great cheering)—as +the noble and learned lord has not +thought it beneath him on such an occasion +to address to such a man. (Renewed +cheering.) If the noble and learned lord +listened with pain to the able statement +of my noble and learned friend, sure am I +that there is no friend of the noble and +learned lord who must not have listened +with deeper pain to what fell from him +on this occasion."—<i>Times</i>, 20th June +1849.</p></blockquote> + +<p>And of the feeling of the country, +on this uncalled-for and unprovoked +attack, an estimate may be formed +from the following passage of the +<i>Times</i> on the subject:—"This debate +has also recalled to the scene of his +former triumphs the undiminished +energy and vigorous eloquence of +Lord Lyndhurst. That it supplied +Lord Campbell with the opportunity +of making a series of remarks in the +worst possible taste on that aged and +distinguished peer is, we suspect, a +matter on which neither the learned +lord nor any of his colleagues will be +disposed to look back with satisfaction."—<i>Times</i>, +22d June 1849.</p> + +<p>What Lord Campbell says of Lord +Lyndhurst is, that he was once a Liberal +and he has now become a Conservative: +that the time was when he +would have supported such a bill as +that which the Canadian parliament +tendered to Lord Elgin, and that now +he opposes it. There is no doubt of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> +the fact: experience has taught him +the errors of his early ways; he has +not stood all day gazing at the east +because the sun rose there in the +morning—he has looked around him, +and seen the consequences of those +delusive visions in which, in common +with most men of an ardent temperament, +he early indulged. In doing +so, he has made the same change +as Pitt and Chatham, as Burke +and Mackintosh, as Windham and +Brougham, as Wordsworth, Coleridge, +and Southey. There are men of a +different stamp—men whom no experience +can teach, and no facts wean +from error—who retain in advanced +life the prejudices and passions of +their youth, and signalise declining +years by increased personal ambition +and augmented party spleen. Whatever +Lord Lyndhurst may be, he is +not one of them. He has not won his +retiring allowance by a week's service +in the Court of Chancery. He can +look back on a life actively spent in +the public service, and enjoy in his +declining years the pleasing reflection, +that the honours and fortune he has +won are but the just meed of a nation's +gratitude, for important public services +long and admirably performed.</p> + +<p>The Canadian question, itself, on +which ministers so narrowly escaped +shipwreck in the House of Peers (by +a majority of <span class="smcap">THREE</span>) appears to us +to lie within a very small compass. +Cordially disapproving as we do of +the bill for indemnifying the rebels +which the Canadian ministry introduced +and the Canadian parliament +passed, we yet cannot see that any +blame attaches to Lord Elgin personally +for giving the consent of +government to the bill. Be the bill +good or bad, just or unjust, it had +passed the legislature by a large majority, +and Lord Elgin would not have +been justified in withholding his consent, +any more than Queen Victoria +would have been in refusing to pass +the Navigation Laws Bill. The passing +of disagreeable and often unjust +laws, by an adverse majority, is a great +evil, no doubt; but it is an evil inherent +in popular and responsible +government, for which the Canadian +loyalists equally with the Canadian +rebels contended. Let our noble +brethren in Canada reflect on this. +The Conservatives of England have +for long seen a series of measures +pass the legislature, which they +deem destructive to the best interests +of their country; but they never +talked of separating from their Liberal +fellow-citizens on that account, or +blamed the Queen because she affixed +the royal assent to their bills. They +are content to let time develop the +consequences of these acts; and meanwhile +they direct all their efforts to +enlighten their countrymen on the +subject, and, if possible, regain a preponderance +in the legislature for their +own party. The Canadian loyalists, +second to none in the British empire +in courage, energy, and public spirit, +will doubtless see, when the heat of +the contest is over, that it is by such +conduct that they will best discharge +their duty to their country.</p> + +<p><i>Printed by William Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh.</i></p> + + + + + + +<div class="transnote"><p>Transcriber's Notes:</p> + + +<p>Punctuation and spelling were made consistent when a predominant +preference was found in this book; otherwise they were not changed.</p> + +<p>Simple typographical and spelling errors were corrected.</p> + +<p>Provided anchor for unanchored footnote on p. <a href="#Page_33">33</a>.</p> + +<p>In the table to the footnote to p. <a href="#Page_119">119</a> the 1 6 for oats or rye +should likely be in the same row.</p> + +<p>On p. <a href="#Page_122">122</a> either the total of £9,460,957 should be £9,360,957 or +one of the summands is incorrect.</p></div> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Vol. +66, No 405, July 1849, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BLACKWOOD'S MAGAZINE, JULY 1849 *** + +***** This file should be named 43721-h.htm or 43721-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/4/3/7/2/43721/ + +Produced by Brendan OConnor, Richard Tonsing, 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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