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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/75498-0.txt b/75498-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0f36939 --- /dev/null +++ b/75498-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9257 @@ + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75498 *** + + + + + + BLACKWOOD’S + EDINBURGH MAGAZINE. + NO. CCCCXIII. MARCH, 1850. VOL. LXVII. + + + + + CONTENTS. + + + CIVIL REVOLUTION IN THE CANADAS, 249 + A LATE CASE OF COURT-MARTIAL, 269 + A FAREWELL TO NAPLES, 279 + BARBARIAN RAMBLES, 281 + GOLDSMITH. PART II., 296 + TO BURNS’S “HIGHLAND MARY,” 309 + MY PENINSULAR MEDAL. BY AN OLD PENINSULAR. PART IV., 313 + THE GREEN HAND—A “SHORT” YARN. PART IX., 329 + CANADIAN LOYALTY. AN ODE, 345 + AGRICULTURE, COMMERCE, AND MANUFACTURES: OPENING OF THE SESSION, 347 + + + EDINBURGH: + WILLIAM BLACKWOOD & SONS, 45, GEORGE STREET; + AND 37, PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON. + + _To whom all communications (post paid) must be addressed._ + + SOLD BY ALL THE BOOKSELLERS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. + + PRINTED BY WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS, EDINBURGH. + + + + + ERRATUM. + + +Page 372, column second, Estimate of Expenditure of Absentees, _for_ +£40,000,000 _read_ £20,000,000. + + + + + BLACKWOOD’S + + EDINBURGH MAGAZINE. + + NO. CCCCXIII. MARCH, 1850. VOL. LXVII. + + + + + CIVIL REVOLUTION IN THE CANADAS. + + +We had intended changing the title of our papers on the Canadas, and +throwing together for the Magazine the results of many years’ +experience, and many opportunities of observing the lights and shades of +colonial life. Not that we had a new system of settlement to propound, +or a new art of colonisation to illustrate. Our purpose was simply to +have conducted the reader along the high road of colonial life, and to +have pointed out to him, on the way, houses evidencing comfort, +respectability, and plenty, farms proving wealth and independence, and +barn-yards filled with stock and with grain, belonging to men, who, but +a comparatively short time before, had been labouring in Europe without +a hope beyond their daily bread, or a prospect beyond that of constantly +toiling for others. We had purposed, too, telling the story of how these +men rose; and pointing out, in the same great country, thousands upon +thousands of openings for others to go and do likewise. Nor did we +intend stopping here. There is a large class of men in Great Britain, +who, feeling as men, and wishing to discharge the duties of men, cannot +look very comfortably around them, and see those who owe their existence +to them likely to be left worse off in the world than they were left +themselves; yet who cannot, from the peculiar organisation of society in +Britain, help themselves; and who are often prevented—through family +connexions that bring them no good, and family pride that often sickens +much more than it elevates the heart—even from using those exertions and +efforts that might better their condition. We purposed pointing out the +adaptation of the colonies to such men, and their adaptation to the +colonies. But this to us agreeable undertaking—for we believe it might +be attended with good—we are obliged for the present to abandon, to +consider the state of the colonies with respect to their government and +the institutions of England; and to see if we cannot suggest a plan +whereby those we might induce to settle in them might not lose the +protection, the glory, and the fostering care of their mother country. + +The legislation of Great Britain, for the last ten years, is marked by +some peculiar and distinctive features over that of perhaps any other +portion of her legislative history. These are eminently, a studied and +intentional disregard of the teachings and the experience of the past, +in an overweening confidence in the wisdom of present measures, and +their being proof against all future disasters; a sort of supercilious +spurning, in sailing under the new canvass of free trade, of all the old +landmarks which saved England’s power from many a shipwreck, and her +glory from many a stain. It will hardly be denied, that that portion of +Great Britain’s national worth which is made up of her achievements, of +her glory, ever well-earned, and of her fame, ever dearly bought, has +been and is regarded, by the philosophy of the Manchester school of +politicians, as a possession by no means worth its cost, and little +worth the keeping. May it not, in truth, be fairly presumed, from the +movements that have followed the portentous measure of _free trade_, and +from the recent agitations and speeches of its principal promoters, that +they are seeking to establish a new description of glory for Great +Britain; that they are endeavouring to change her whole national +character; that they are, in short, seeking to raze all the former +monuments, sacred to _her_ greatness, in order to construct, in their +stead, monuments sacred to their own? Clearly the spirit of the age, in +so far as they have evoked it, is destructive alike of reverence for the +wisdom, and pride in the achievements, of the past. Neither is it +unnatural, with the views of this school of politicians, that it should +be so. The free-trade movement has ever advanced, in proportion as it +succeeded in converting Great Britain to the belief, that the whole mind +of the past was shrouded in darkness and error. It could not, therefore, +be expected to inspire admiration or reverence, for what it thus +practically taught men to condemn and repudiate. And it may well indeed +seek to establish a new and a great glory for Britain; for assuredly +great is the glory, and great is the national possession of which it is +fast bereaving her. The essential spirit of national patriotism—that +chivalrous feeling of disinterestedness, which once made Britons proud +of forgetting the world for their country, and themselves in its +defence—where is it?—what is now swiftly becoming its doom? Is it not +palpably withering beneath the cold shadow of free-trade philosophy? Are +not the cosmopolitan doctrines of free trade rapidly making Britons +forget their country? Are these doctrines not absorbing all the energies +of the nation in the struggles of avarice? Are they not sinking every +patriotic, every noble national feeling, in the love of gain? Speak now +of a measure involving the glory, the shame, and the interests of +England, or of even a single class in England, and what will be its +probable treatment? The glorious part may have a few advocates, who will +be laughed at for their antiquated notions; or it may serve to evoke a +few bright ideas in a debate—the modern surplusage of great men’s +speeches. The shame part may occasion a feeling of effervescent +indignation for the moment. But the interest portion will instantly call +forth all the energies of the economic mind of Britain, and will soon +accumulate such an avalanche of figures and calculations, as will bear +down and crush every other consideration before it. It was once thought +wise that men should be taught, through the achievements of their +forefathers, the value of their institutions. Free-trade philosophy +calls it wiser to teach them to forget forefathers, achievements, and +all, in a gigantic struggle for pounds, shillings, and pence. “Confound +your acquiring a manly pride by learning your hereditary right to it!” +is the language of this school of politicians, and the language they are +rapidly teaching England. “Give us the pride of money.” “Britain against +the world, as long as Britain pays; but the world against Britain, the +moment she doesn’t,” are the popular and practical lessons of the +Manchester school,—though a nation’s glory, all the world’s experience +teaches us, is the very vitality of its patriotism. A throne or a +republic, without such flowers blooming around it, is a poor, unsightly, +unlovable thing, having nothing for a people’s affections to cling to; +yet are not these flowers fast withering round the throne of England? +Are not the memories of the nation, which nourish and keep them alive, +being obliterated by the all-powerful tendencies of a political +philosophy which recognises no greatness but that of money, and no +pursuit worth following but that of material interests? Are not the +ties, too, which bind subjects together, and the duties which men owe to +each other in a state, of harmonising their interests for the common +good, and of making mutual sacrifices for national unity and great +national destiny, being fast relaxed and forgotten in Great Britain? + +The parties ruling the United States of America are at this moment +making sacrifices of the vastest magnitude to each other—sacrifices of +great principles as well as of great interests. And why? Because, did +they not do so, the republic could not hold together perhaps for a +twelvemonth; and, once severed, they know full well what would be the +magnitude of their disaster. Mutual sacrifices and concessions are, in +truth, the ties that bind them together. Let their common glory and +their common destiny, let the knowledge of what they have achieved +united, and what they would become if severed, once fail to produce a +patriotism, or national virtue, powerful enough to cause them to yield +sectional interests for the common good, and to forego great party +principles and objects, for the preservation of their institutions and +the integrity of their government, and glory would soon take leave of +their Israel. + +Now in Great Britain, where the operation of free institutions occasions +similar necessities for sacrifices and concessions being made by each +great class in the state to the other, or others, in order to secure +that harmony and unity necessary to all national permanency, and to the +perpetuation of national power, what does the legislation of the last +ten years exhibit? Does it not exhibit one great class struggling for +the giant’s power over another, and, having gained it, using it like a +giant? In the great co-partnery in national property and national +destiny, men owe it to each other to balance their books fairly as to +national advantages. What ruins one large class, though it may +temporarily benefit another, must eventually ruin the nation. A nation +cannot, more than an individual, bear a constantly mortifying limb. Now +it is impossible for an intelligent mind not to see, not to have the +conviction forced upon it, that free trade in Britain is destroying the +great agricultural limb of the state; and that, if the giant’s power is +much longer wielded by the giant, fearful consequences must ensue. + +But whether the philosophy of free trade has produced, or is producing, +such great changes as these upon English national character—whether it +is un-Anglifying England to the extent that we have indicated or not, we +can answer, at least, for its training to forgetfulness of Britain the +North American colonies. We can answer for its causing the sinking of +the subject in the avaricious struggler for “material interests” in +America. We can answer for its obliterating all national memories, +obligations, and ties on the part of the colonists, in following the +selfish lessons that have been sent to them from England, “to take care +of themselves, for England no longer cares for them.” Perhaps the seeds +that have been thrown upon the winds by free-trade discussions in +England, have first taken root in the colonies. Perhaps it was designed +that they should. Be this as it may, let England learn from the result +of these on the colonies what it may soon be with herself. Let her +learn, by their example, the effect of the doctrines, that allegiance +may be made wholly subservient to interest, and that love of country +must give way to love of gain. + +Twelve years ago, in the month in which we write, the city of Montreal +presented an appearance that no similarly situated city in the world +perhaps ever presented before. Its whole British population, educated to +business, little accustomed to ordinary exercises, least of all to those +of war, were in the short space of a few days literally converted into +an army; for, though they knew not the use of arms, and were incapable +of systematic movements, yet each had the heart to grapple, hand to +hand, with his foe: and in this they were soldiers. Old men of sixty and +seventy years of age, accustomed to ease and luxuries, might have been +seen, at this period, doing duty in the streets of Montreal, in the +middle of a Canadian winter’s night, as common sentinels. Boys, taken +away from their schools, might have been seen doing the same. A regiment +of regulars at the time marched through the city; they struck up, as +they halted, an air as familiar as the rhymes of children. The strains +of the music were drowned in the spontaneous cheers of the people. Women +shed tears of gladness. The air the soldiers played was _God save the +Queen!_ But why this enthusiasm? and why this military display? +Two-thirds of the people of Lower Canada—its French inhabitants—had +taken up arms against the institutions of England. The people of +Montreal were British. + +Now this city of Montreal was little, if at all, capable of military +defence. It was so constructed as to have been peculiarly liable to +destruction by fire; and, at the time that the spectacle we have faintly +sketched might have been witnessed, the chances of war were at least two +to one against its determined British inhabitants. Nor should it be +forgotten, that nearly the whole of the property in this city was owned +by these British inhabitants; was the fruits of many years of their +honest toil; and as it is well known that policies of insurance do not +cover losses occasioned by the Queen’s enemies, the loss to them might +have been total had it been burned. + +These British inhabitants of Montreal, therefore, without a moment’s +hesitation, in an indefensible city, and with the chances of war as two +to one against them, willingly and even cheerfully perilled their lives, +their families, their hearths, their property, their all, to uphold the +flag of England. + +In the month of October last, upwards of twelve hundred persons, in the +space of a few days—one half of whom were the very men who acted in 1838 +as we have described—openly and deliberately called upon their fellow +colonists to haul down the flag of Britain upon the continent of +America; and coupled that request with another, that the flag of a rival +power should be put up in its stead. + +Now what are the causes of this most extraordinary change? What is it +which has exerted so powerful an influence, as to have caused men +capable of making the noblest sacrifices to uphold the institutions of +their forefathers at one time, capable of making such attempts to +destroy them at another? We answer, emphatically, it was free trade and +its attendant philosophy. It was the injuries it inflicted upon the +colonies—not in the spirit of national compromise or mutual sacrifices, +but in the spirit of the giant using the giant’s power. It was the +lessons, too, that accompanied the injuries. It was the obliterating the +love of country in the pursuits of avarice. It was the ruinous latitude +that free-trade philosophy had to allow to others, in claiming the same +for its own disciples. + +To those who have closely observed the opinions expressed regarding the +colonies, in the debates upon free trade, little need be said to prove +that the Manchester school of politicians not only considered their +connexion with Britain as of no importance, but as actually undesirable +in itself. There was no attempt made at harmonising interests with them. +There was no intention expressed of making sacrifices for them, and +incidentally, as we shall show, for England. There was no respect paid +to their love of Britain; for loyalty is not a word in the free-trade +catalogue. But there was a studious and intentional under-rating and +disparaging of them and their country, to subserve the free-trade cause, +and to destroy the force that the argument of their ruin might possibly +have upon the people of England. They were made the subject too of cold, +mercenary calculations, which were enough to insult them into sedition, +and to disgust them out of their connexion with the mother country. When +the disastrous effect that the loss of a protection, to the benefits of +which they had been educated by England for fifty years, and to which +the whole business arrangements of their country were as much adapted +and which they as much required as the very crops in their ground +required sunshine and rain—when these were pointed out in England, how +were they met by the free-trade leaders? Was it not by cold calculations +of how much they consumed per head of this, and how much they consumed, +in comparison with the rest of the world, of that; and how much they +cost for this, and how little they required of that; until, by some +strange mystification of arithmetic, they were made out to be an actual +injury to England. And had the colonies the satisfaction, if they must +needs be injured and crippled, of knowing that one single individual +connected with the free-trade movement had the justice to regret the +injury that was being perpetrated against them, and to say, that England +would endeavour to retrieve it in some other way? We believe we are +justified in saying there was not one. The vilification of the colonies +was an argument in favour of free trade, and they were vilified. And +when the consequences of free trade upon the colonies have been alluded +to; when the shops which had been built, in expectation of the +agricultural interests of the country being stimulated as they had +formerly been, and large quantities of land being taken up and cleared, +as was formerly the case—when these shops became unrequired and useless; +when store-houses, and wharves, and vessels, and steamers, which, before +free trade came into operation, were full of activity, life, and +business, became as so much dead property on the hands of their owners, +and the people connected with them had to seek a livelihood by other +means, and in other places than the colonies: when these disastrous +consequences of free trade were experienced and pointed out, how were +they also met? how were they regarded, and were the colonists +sympathised with on account of them? They were spoken of and accounted +for, by the free-trade leaders, in a spirit similar to the following +paragraph—in a spirit of exaggerated detraction, instead of national +sympathy and management. And we put it to the candour of the English +public, if the succeeding remarks of the _Daily News_ are not a fair +sample of the manner in which the party that paper represents are in the +habit of speaking of the colonies:— + + + “The argument of the Montreal traders is: ‘The Americans are more + prosperous than we. If our territory was incorporated into the Union, + we would be as prosperous as the Americans.’ The fallacy of this + argument is obvious to dispassionate lookers-on. The superior + prosperity of the Americans was as marked when the late Mr Stuart + visited Canada and the United States as it is now. It has not + originated in the change of British mercantile policy. It has all + along been owing to the superior energy and enterprise of the + Americans. The Canadians were listless, relying upon protection in the + British market; the Americans were active, because they had only their + own enterprise to rely upon. The Americans, in the position of the + Canadians, are not afraid of free competition. The stronghold of the + protectionist party in America is in the sea-board manufacturing + states. If the Canadians would be as prosperous as the Americans, they + must become as active and enterprising as the Americans. The + self-government of the people of the United States promoted the spirit + of enterprise; but, for all essential purposes, Canadians now enjoy + that spring of energy. Canada annexed to the United States would + advance more rapidly than Canada under its former close government and + protective system did; but the advance would be the work of, and its + profits would be reaped by, the hardy emigrants from the United + States. The dreamers who think that their prosperity depends upon + their being subject to this or the other government, not upon their + own exertions, would be driven to the wall before the new-comers. + Their individual plight, be that of the province what it might, would + be worse than ever.” + + +Now, that the deductions and statements in this paragraph—if they are +intended to apply to the state of Canada before as well as after free +trade, and they certainly seem so intended—are as untrue, ungenerous, +and unjust, towards the colonists—towards the hardy, persevering, and +hard-working people of Great Britain in them—as they are grossly +misrepresentative and unfair with respect to the prosperity of the +country—we here undertake and pledge ourselves to the reader +satisfactorily to prove. + +We are no enemies to the American States; and in the incidental +references we have had occasion to make to them, in the course of our +papers upon the colonies, we have candidly and fully admitted their +extraordinary advancement; we have conceded to the fullest the great +impetus their peculiar working of the institutions of Britain—for this +is in reality the true state of the case—has imparted to human progress. +But we are practically and well acquainted with their agricultural +interests, and with much of their great country, and with the comforts +and prosperity enjoyed and gained by its farmers; and we are also well +and practically acquainted with the whole of Upper Canada, and we assert +without fear of question by any man in America who understands the +matter, that, in period of settlement, and prosperity to show for it; in +crops raised from the land, and evidences of good management and good +farming; in stock proving comfort and plenty; in houses, carriages, +dress; in all that establishes that an agricultural people are easy in +their circumstances, and are enjoying comfort and plenty—the farmers of +Upper Canada are behind none in any part of the United States, and are +before them in many. + +Now, London, as all the world knows, is a great leviathan city; but its +being so does not prove that individual comfort, happiness, and +prosperity are greater in it than they are in many a small town in +England. The United States, too, have vastly more territory than Upper +Canada has; have many larger and more bustling cities, and have finer +and more gorgeous steamers; but this does not prove, more than London +does as respects England, that this larger territory brings greater +prosperity, health, and comfort, to the farmers in it, than Canada does; +that the business in the larger and bustling cities is more healthy, or +more profitable, than that which is the legitimate offspring of the +people’s wants in Canada; or that the gorgeous steamers pay better, or +are better, than those which are adapted to the purposes, and are +admirably suited to the conveniences and comforts, of the agricultural +population of the Canadas. The question therefore, to any man who has +settled in either country, or who wishes to do so, is not how much +larger one’s territory is over that of the other, but which secures, and +has secured, the greater amount of benefits and prosperity for the same +amount of labour and capital invested in it; and which has by experience +been proved to be the most desirable place for man to live in? Now, that +the only interest which Great Britain has ever fostered or encouraged in +America, and indeed the only interest which, with her policy of +manufacturing for the colonies, she has allowed to grow up in +them—namely, their agricultural interest—was not in Canada, before free +trade withered it, behind its state in any part of America; and that the +Canadas as a country were before any portion of it, we adduce the +conclusive and unquestionable proof, that, distributed over the last +thirty years, twenty-five thousand shrewd and sagacious American +citizens have left the institutions that they so much prized, have +foregone the temptations of their magnificent prairies and valleys that +the world has heard so much of, and have taken leave of all their fine +and prosperous cities, to take up their abode in Upper Canada. As +equally conclusive evidence that the legitimate business of the province +was, in proportion to the requirements of the country, always in a +healthy and prosperous state, we adduce the fact of the invariable +success in every branch of business that they ever engaged in, in Upper +Canada, of these same American citizens. And we here state it as a fact +that will not be denied by a single American farmer in the province, +that, before free trade prostrated its agricultural interests, there was +not a single farmer, American or of other country—with the exception of +the time of the rebellion in 1837–8—who would have been willing to +exchange his property for similar property in any part of the whole +United States. And does not, in truth, the fact that these Americans +came and settled in the province, under their circumstances, and with +their feelings of regard for their own institutions, prove that this +must have been the case? And does not the fact of these men carrying +with them the same energy and industry into Canada that their friends +were possessed of in the States, prove, that in everything that marked +the success of labour in a generous land, Canada could not have been +behind the rest of America? But it is a well-known fact, as the +Americans quaintly observe of themselves, “that they do not love to work +as well as the English, Irish, and Scotch do.” They are, as a nation, +given to speculating; and an American farmer or mechanic would rather at +any time make a dollar by a “trade,” than he would two by hard work. So +that, in the march of improvement in agriculture in the Canadas, and in +the growth of wealth, these American settlers are by no means before +their Canadian neighbours; and, excepting where they have combined some +business with their farming, they have not wherewithal to show that they +have equally prospered with them. Now, these are facts—facts whose force +and justice will not be questioned by a single individual in America who +understands the matter; and we state them, not only with the view of +vindicating our own countrymen against the injustice of those who +wilfully or ignorantly underrate their exertions and the success that +has attended their labours, but we state them to save the Americans +themselves from unjust and unfair comparisons, and in defence of one of +the finest countries that a beneficent Creator ever spread out before +needy humanity—a country teeming with unappropriated wealth; with a +climate pure, bracing, and adapted to the largest development of the +best energies of man, and with millions of openings for poverty to raise +itself out of the ashes of its degradation; and for capital to reproduce +itself to an extent unheard of in Europe. + +Now the people living adjacent to Lake Windermere might just as well be +supposed to be an inert, unprosperous race, because their beautiful +little lake has fewer steamers, and sailing craft, and bustle upon it, +than the Thames exhibits near London, as the people of the Canadas, in +comfort and prosperity, can be said to be behind those of the States, +because their towns have less bustle, and their waters fewer steamers +and less trade upon them. The Canadas have been, and are, a purely +agricultural country; and it is in this respect only they can be +compared with the rest of America. Their trade and business is, and +could only have been, such as naturally grew out of their other +interests. If that trade and business was, though less bustling than +that of the States, as it naturally would be from its character, healthy +and paying, no man could expect more of it. Have we not fairly proved +that it must have been so? But if any traveller wishes to judge truly +and justly of Upper Canada and the States, he must not skim over their +borders, and be deceived by the superficial glare. He must learn the +intrinsic value of the thing itself, by going into the interior of the +country. He must see men plough. He must see how deep they plough, and +what sort of cattle they plough with, and how hard they work. He must +examine the farmers’ houses, and learn how they are finished, furnished, +and provisioned. He must hover round their barn-yards, and linger along +their fences. He must witness their harvests, and be fortunate enough +occasionally to be their guests. He must make his observations on their +children; and we would excuse him even coming a little closer to their +young women, although it would be hardly fair to expect him to judge +impartially under such circumstances. But let any man of intelligence do +this with regard to the farmers of Upper Canada, and of any portion of +the American States—we care not which—and if he does not find that +industry has secured as large rewards, and the farmers have as many +comforts, in the British possessions as the American, he is at liberty +to say that our upwards of seventeen years’ practical experience in them +has been of no use to us; or, to use the words of an American friend of +ours upon the subject, “we might be inclined to recommend his friends +not to trust him very far away from home again.” + +But now we would put it to the proverbial sense of justice and fairness +of the people of England, if the calling such men “listless, relying +upon protection in the British market,” is a fair way of treating them, +after educating them to the benefits of that protection; and after +checking the manufacturing interests that might have grown up in the +colonies, and placed them on a par with the States, for the express +benefit of the manufacturing interests of Britain? Men who built +vessels, and store-houses, and purchased property in the colonies, upon +the faith that England, having established the system of manufacturing +for them, would continue that of discriminating in their favour in her +markets, have now not only their property in ruin on their hands, but +they are abused because it is in ruins. Farmers who, as we have shown, +and as no man in America will deny, have worked hard, and have +wherewithal to show for it—have achieved that which is no less a credit +to themselves than it is to the country they came from—are vilified +because they complain that England’s policy, in destroying manufacturing +interests in the colonies, has deprived them of a home market such as +the farmers of the United States have got; and England’s free-trade +system, in destroying so much, and injuring so much more property, in +the colonies, has involved them in the general depression and +retrogression. The plain English, and the plain truth of the whole +matter, is this—that the free-trade leaders of England, having +sacrificed the colonies, are desirous of making their former history +harmonise with the picture of the injury and ruin they have brought upon +them. But we trust that we have established, to the satisfaction of +every honest man, what we promised we should—namely, that the attempt is +no less unjust and unfair to the colonists, to their industry, and to +their perseverance, than it is to the country they came from—its +institutions, and its patient, cheerful, and successful labour. + +We have dwelt somewhat at length upon this matter; and for two reasons. +The first is, because the reiteration of the same, or similar remarks +and reflections as those contained in the extract we have made from the +_Daily News_, has given a false impression, both in England and America, +of the true state of the Canadas. People, forgetting that they were +settled—at least the great province of Upper Canada was—by the very same +people who have settled the greater portion of the States, and by whose +labour these States have become what they are—people in England, +unknowingly or unthinkingly, have been led to associate the inhabitants +of the colonies with ideas of listlessness, inertness, and poverty, +when, in truth, on the whole continent of America, there is not a +hardier or a steadier working people, or a people whose success, +independence, and comfort would afford a better example to the poor of +Europe. The locomotives by which the farmers of Canada should be judged +of, after all, are their waggons and their teams. The bustle which best +shows their prosperity, is the bustle of their harvest fields. The +business which gives the best proof of success to the world, is that +which can show good balance-sheets, and few bankruptcies. Now, before +free trade overtook the prosperity of these colonies, we can, with the +most perfect safety, challenge any and all America to show a better +state of things in all these several branches of their business and +interests, than the province of Upper Canada did and could exhibit. We +have felt that we owed it to this great province, to this province which +might, and we trust will, be made a great right arm of Britain’s power +and empire, to say thus much in its defence. We owed it to the manly and +hard-working people of England, Ireland, and Scotland, who have settled +in it, and whose industry and skill have made many parts of it the very +gardens of America, to shield them against the unjust representations +that have been sent abroad to the world concerning them, and that have +been the more galling, because they have emanated from home and friends. +Our other reason for going into this matter so fully, is to ask, at this +important juncture, how it is possible to expect that these colonists +will or can continue loyal to Britain long, with vilification and +detraction thus added to the injuries that they have so unquestionably +and undeniably suffered? They point to their vessels lying unused, and +rotting in their harbours; and they point to the lands of the province +not being taken up as they used to be, and those that are cleared not +paying for the labour of tilling them: and they ask themselves, and they +ask America, and they ask England,—Why is it so? And all answer—Free +trade will not make it pay to clear the lands; free trade will not make +it pay to till the lands; free trade has knocked Canadian farming on the +head. Yet free trade, upon hearing this, turns round and asserts it to +be all false, and says that the vessels are decaying because the +Canadians are too indolent to use them, although they have nothing to +carry. Free trade says, that the stagnation of the country, and the +indisposition of people to settle in it, are owing to the country’s own +backwardness, are the result of its inertness; whereas we have shown +that its people, of all others on earth, least deserve such injustice +and insults at the hands of England. Free trade, when driven—for it +sometimes is—to admit that it must inevitably separate Great Britain +from her colonies, then turns round, and charges the colonies with being +an expense and an injury to England. Yet, after all this, free trade +expects the colonies to continue loyal to England. Free trade affects to +be shocked at the effects of the storm which itself palpably, and in a +thousand ways, sowed. Free trade having sickened, weakened, and struck +down the colonies, now literally stands over them, taunting them with +the effects of its own medicines, and, at the same time, affects to +wonder that they should be sick or depressed. + +That these effects of free trade upon the colonies have been foreseen +and accurately judged of by the shrewd and far-seeing mind of America, +we may show, by quoting the opinions in point of the great leading +journal of the New England States. This journal, the _Boston Atlas_, +like many of the leading papers in Britain, is occasionally contributed +to by the leading statesmen of the great Whig party in America; and as +we happen to know that the article from which we quote was written by a +gentleman who commands a wide and powerful influence as a statesman and +political economist in the States, his views may be considered entitled +to the greater attention in England:— + + + “We have said that Canada has been deliberately sacrificed; and we + have too high an opinion of the intelligence of the British ministry + not to suppose that, when they made the sacrifice, they foresaw the + probable ultimate result. We do not believe that they will be + surprised at the movements which are now taking place, or that they + will think of making serious resistance to any step which the + Provinces may decide to take—whether it be for annexation or + independence—though we have no doubt the latter would best suit their + views, for grave reasons upon which we do not now think it necessary + to expatiate. + + “As matters now stand, Canada is an agricultural State, paying for all + the manufactures she consumes in the raw productions of the earth. She + has been but a very short time in this position, and yet she already + groans under the free-trade experiment. Her wants are the same; but + the more timber and corn she exports, the less she gets for them. + Instead of growing rich under this beneficent free-trade system, she + is every day getting poorer. She has had enough of free trade, and is + anxiously seeking some way of escape from it. Such is ever the + inevitable result, when the attempt is made to pay for manufactures + with raw productions; and the longer it is continued, the worse will + be the situation of the agricultural state. + + “Can she mend her position by adopting the proposed ‘Remedy?’ If her + representatives in parliament happen to be the true representatives of + her interests—which is very far from certain—and if they can persuade + the government to restore the bounty upon her timber and corn—the + answer is, yes. But we see little chance of that, for the situation of + Canada is perfectly well known now by that same government; her case + has been examined in all its bearings, and she has been deliberately + sacrificed to ‘free trade,’—in other words, to the manufacturing + interest of Great Britain; and it will take something more than the + eloquence of a few Canadian orators, admitted to seats in parliament, + to induce that interest to reconsider her case, or to yield a + hair’s-breadth to her claims. She has not been sacrificed through + ignorance, but because she stood in the way of a great theory. She + will look in vain to this source for relief. But if the proposed + consolidation should cause British capital to cross the water and set + up manufacturing establishments, would not the end be gained? Perhaps + so. Of this, however, the chance is small, unless labour is as cheap + in Canada as it is in England, which it never can be until the United + States, ceasing to afford any protection to labour, become parties to + the Free Trade League, and so bring all the labour of North America + down to the level of the labour of Europe. Such a suicidal system can + never be permanently established here, and, therefore, we look upon + this second source of relief as equally visionary with the + first.”—_Boston Atlas._ + + +We had purposed showing that, in addition to the free trade party in +England’s having literally endeavoured to injure and insult the colonies +out of their allegiance to their mother country, they have also been +educating them, by their speeches in parliament and otherwise, to the +same end. But we trust that we have already proved enough to satisfy any +man, not unwilling to believe the truth, that if some men in the +colonies have fallen from their high estate, they have but taken the +course that the free-trade policy of England left open to them; the +course that that policy, if not intentionally, at least inevitably, must +sooner or later compel them to take. If, therefore, England thinks that +those men in the colonies who have looked towards another government +have acted unworthily of themselves and of her, let her lay the blame at +once on those who compelled them to take to the boats by making the ship +no longer a home for them. If their love for their great and glorious +mother country has diminished, it is only, and it is solely, because the +nutriment which supported the affection has been poisoned by men who +have ruled the councils of England. Yet, injured though they were, and +galled and insulted though they unquestionably have been, to palliate +and to justify that injury, still, we believe that the loyalists would +have looked beyond the sway of the free-trade party over England; would +have been willing to trust to England’s justice eventually doing justice +to them, had it not been for the lessons which we have already referred +to as having been diffused by free-trade philosophy with free trade +itself. It is the colonists being practically told, that those who ruled +the councils of the empire would do the best they could for themselves, +and that they must and might do likewise, that made the inroads upon +their loyalty. It is the utter absence of the spirit of compromise—of a +disposition to make a single sacrifice, or to harmonise a single +interest, either to preserve the empire or to save it from humiliation, +by the free-trade party of England, that has taught the colonists +selfishness sufficient to make them say that they would leave Britain +behind for “material interests;” that they too had allowed all memories +of the past to be obliterated in the struggles and aspirations of +avarice. Let England contrast the conduct of these colonies twelve years +ago with what it is now. Let her ask those who have been willing to +forego their connexion with her destiny, and the glory and the safety of +her protection, what it is that causes them to do so; and they will +answer, to a man, it is the teachings and the effects of free trade. +These lessons have been falling upon the colonial mind for years, like +water upon a rock, and they have worn seams and made impressions upon +it, that the swords of many enemies in many years could not have +effected. + +But we have now arrived at a point when that plain and straightforward +question, common to Englishmen to ask, may be put to us—and that is, +What is to be done with the colonies, situated as they are? Connected +with this, too, is another question, equally necessary to be answered, +which is—What is Great Britain likely to lose, in possessions, people, +and character, with the Canadas, if she loses them? + +With regard to the latter question, which, as it is suggestive of the +consequences to be provided against, it may be better to consider before +that which is suggestive of a remedy—it seems clear enough to us, that +the loss of all the North American colonies would inevitably follow that +of the Canadas. The situation of all of them is the same. Free trade has +affected them nearly equally; and it is a significant fact, that the +agitation upon the subject of “annexation,” without concert, common +interests, or agreement, commenced in all the provinces simultaneously, +though not to the same extent in some as in others. But, apart from +this, if the great province of Upper Canada should take leave of +Britain, the following of the others would be as natural as the limbs +following the dictates of the head. It is indeed useless to waste words +upon a matter that is perfectly self-evident; for if the Canadas +separate from Britain, it must and will go forth to the world, that they +had to do so in order to prosper; and all the colonies being +dissatisfied, and chafing under the same mortifications, and suffering +the same injuries from England’s free-trade policy, would claim, upon +the same grounds, to be relieved of the withering shadow of her power in +America. However uncomplimentary or unjust this may or might be, such +will be the opinion of the world, and Great Britain must prepare to meet +it, or to counteract what will occasion it. As misfortunes, too, do not +come single with a nation more than with an individual, the West Indian +possessions would assuredly follow the North American; and would +certainly not give any more complimentary reasons for doing so. Great +Britain would therefore stand forth before the rest of her colonies and +the world, as having utterly and humiliatingly failed to govern those +she lost with that success which ought to result from her free +institutions, and the freedom of her people. Now this momentous +consideration is clearly bound up with that of what she is to do with +the Canadas. Now, will Great Britain—by whatsoever cause or policy they +may justify their claim for separation, or by whatsoever party in +England it may be or may have been favoured—permit the Canadas to shake +off her power, with these consequences palpably before her eyes? Will +she not the rather prefer coming back to that best of all systems—mutual +sacrifices for common good, and mutual concessions for national +integrity and destiny? Will she not rather endeavour to impart to them +that capital and those people, which would benefit her much, and make +them rich indeed? We think so; and we think she will, because we know +she can devise a plan for doing so, and for governing them in a manner +that will not be attended with the mortifications that have accrued to +both the colonists and the mother country, from all former patchings and +props to a constitutionally bad colonial system. Thinking this, we shall +now proceed briefly to consider—for in the space we have at our command, +it would be impossible fully to show—what great Britain would lose, in +possessions, by losing the Canadas. In this we shall be obliged to lay +under tribute a short but interesting sketch of the Canadas, their value +and extent, by the late Charles Fothergill. He spent many years in the +colonies; knew them well; and his opinions are those of an intelligent +English gentleman, who saw, and made himself practically and thoroughly +acquainted with what he wrote concerning + + + “THE CANADAS. + + “The geographical position of this vast country may be thus generally + stated:—It is bounded on the east by the Gulf of St Lawrence and + Labrador; on the north by the territories of Hudson’s Bay; on the west + by the Pacific Ocean; on the south by Indian countries, which extend + to Mexico, and part of the United States of America—viz., Wisconsin, + Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, + New Hampshire, the district of Maine, and by the British province of + New Brunswick. These boundaries describe a large and magnificent + portion of the globe we inhabit, large enough for the foundation of an + empire, which may become hereafter the arbitress of the destinies of + the new world, embracing with her mighty arms the whole width of the + great continent of America. Secured in her rear by the frozen regions + of the north, and with such a front as she possesses towards the + south, it is impossible but that, with the adoption of wise and + decisive measures, she must be able, hereafter, to hold a far more + potential influence over the countries of the south, than was ever + held by the Tartars, (in their best days,) over Asia; or by the + northern hordes of Europe over the empire of Rome, at the period of + her overthrow. The foundation stone of this empire has been laid by + England, and it depends on the wisdom of her councils, and on the + loyalty, ambition, temper, skill, industry, bravery, high qualities, + and perseverance of the Canadians, no matter of what origin, how far + the fairy vision which is kindled up in fancy may be realised. + + “We have only to cast our eyes slightly over a map of North America, + to be immediately assured of the singularly advantageous situation of + the settled parts of Upper Canada. Seated like a gem in the bosom of a + country that is neither scorched by the sultry summers of the south, + nor blasted by the tardy, bitter, winters of the north; surrounded by + the most magnificent lakes, and possessing the most extensive internal + navigation in the known world, it would be difficult, perhaps + impossible, to find in any other region of the globe a tract of + country of the same magnitude with so many natural advantages, as that + part of Upper Canada which lies between the Lakes Ontario, Erie, and + Huron, and the Ottawa, or Grand River, nine-tenths of the whole extent + of which are calculated for the exercise of almost every description + of agricultural labour, and with such a prospect of success as, + perhaps, no other part of this continent could realise. A part of this + tract of country, commencing in the neighbourhood of Kingston, and + running westward nearly 500 miles to the Sandwich frontier, by a + depth, northward, of from 40 to 100 miles, is, alone, capable of + supplying all Europe with grain; besides being rich in cattle, and + producing silver, lead, copper, iron, lime, marl, gypsum, marble, + freestone, coal, salt, wool, hemp and flax, of the best quality, + tobacco and timber of every description, besides furs, game, fish, and + many other valuable productions. + + Much has been said, at a distance, against the climate of this fine + country. Those, however, who have removed to it from Great Britain are + agreeably disappointed in finding it more pleasant, (all things + considered,) than that which they have left, because it is neither so + moist nor so unsettled. It might be said, with no great impropriety, + that the present inhabitants of Canada have but two seasons—summer and + winter—for winter has no sooner disappeared, which generally happens + by the middle of April, than the whole animal and vegetable creation + starts into renewed life, with a rapidity and vigour that leaves the + season of spring with such doubtful limits as to be scarcely + perceptible, or deserving a specific character. Again, in the fall of + the year, the months of September and October are generally so fine + and summerlike, and these being succeeded by what is aptly termed the + Indian summer, in November, (that month which is so gloomy in England, + and said to be so fatal to Englishmen,) that we should have great + difficulty, were it not for an artificial calendar, in saying when it + was autumn. As a proof of the general nature of our climate, and to + show that we have other sources of wealth, by the exercise of domestic + industry, in store, it must not be here forgotten that the culture of + both cotton and indigo has been attempted, on a small scale, in the + western district, with success; that the various species of Mulberry, + necessary for the growth of silk, flourish under the care of those who + have made the experiment in the London and western districts; that + vineyards may be advantageously laid out; and the hop is found in + perfection almost everywhere. It may be readily supposed that, in such + a vast extent of country, every description of soil, and every variety + of surface, as to mountains, hills, valleys, and plains, must occur. + Speaking of the inhabited parts of Canada, the Lower Province is the + most mountainous, and the Upper the most level and champagne; indeed, + from the division line on Lake St Francis to Sandwich, a distance of + nearly six hundred miles, nothing like a mountain occurs, although the + greater part of the country which is passed through, between those + places, is gently undulated into pleasing hills, fine slopes, and + fertile valleys. There is, however, a ridge of rocky and generally + barren country, running south-easterly from Lake Huron, through the + Newcastle district, towards the Ottawa, or Grand River, at the + distance of from 50 to 100 miles from the northern shore of Lake + Ontario, and the course of the River St Lawrence; a ridge which + divides and directs the course of innumerable streams, those on one + side running to the northward or north-east, whilst those on the other + run to the southward, and empty themselves into Lake Ontario or the + River St Lawrence. The base of this ridge has an elevation of not much + less than 200 feet above the level of Ontario, and it is rich in + silver, lead, copper, and iron, and near the Lake Marmora, in white + marble. In the neighbourhood of Gunanoque, a beautifully variegated + marble of green and yellow is found; and, in the vicinity of Kingston, + there is an immense bed of black and also gray marble. + + “Farther to the north, beyond the French River, which falls into Lake + Huron, are immense mountains, some of them of great elevation. Many of + the mountains which describe the great valley of the St Lawrence, are + from 2000 to 3000 feet above the level of the river; and that part of + the chain which approaches the city of Quebec, on the northern side of + the river, is worthy the attention of the geologist; and, in a + particular manner, of the mineralogist, from the hope there is every + reason to entertain that these mountains yield several rare and + valuable kinds of earth for pigments, which may hereafter become + articles of commerce. When in Quebec, some years ago, the writer of + this sketch was shown several fine specimens, in the seminary of that + city, which had been procured in those mountains at no great distance + from Quebec; amongst which may be mentioned a rich brown resembling + the Vandyke brown of artists; a yellow, equal to that of Naples, and + an extraordinary fine blue, of a tint between that of indigo and the + costly ultramarine. The subject is mentioned in this place with a view + of exciting further inquiry and experiment; because, at present, the + artists and colourmen of London are principally supplied with their + most valuable pigments from Italy. A scientific gentleman who has + lately explored the coast of Labrador, and the Gulf of St Lawrence, + was very successful in his mineralogical pursuits, particularly in the + neighbourhood of Gaspé, from whence he obtained some new, and many + valuable and beautiful specimens of the quartz family—including a + great variety of cornelians, agates, opals, and jaspers; several of + which have been cut into useful or ornamental articles at Quebec. From + Labrador the same gentleman brought several large and beautiful + specimens of the spar so peculiar to that coast, and which is commonly + known by the name of Labrador spar, of a brilliant cornelian or + ultramarine tint, with others of a green, yellow, red, and one or two + of a singularly fine pearl-gray colour. These specimens were found at + Mingan, imbedded in a rock of granite. + + “It may give a just idea of the general richness of the soil to state, + that we have frequently heard of instances where 50 bushels of wheat + per acre have been produced on a farm, even where the stumps (which + would probably occupy one eighth of the surface of the field) have not + been eradicated; and, in the district of Newcastle, many examples may + be found wherein wheat has been raised on the same ground for 16 or 18 + years successively, without the application of manure! The general + average of the returns of wheat crops, however, throughout Upper + Canada, is probably not more than 25 bushels per acre, owing to the + space occupied by stumps, and the indifferent skill of some of the + farmers. The winter wheats are found to be the most productive, and + they weigh the heaviest: the best seldom exceeds 64 lb. or 65 lb., to + the Winchester bushel, although we have known several instances of + higher weights. + + “Of Indian corn or maize, from 60 to 80 bushels per acre is not an + uncommon return; and of pumpkins, of the largest kinds, we have + instances of more than a cwt. being produced from a single seed. But + there cannot be a more certain indication of the depth and richness of + the soil than the fine growth of the timber which it produces; and we + have not unfrequently measured particular trees of that species of + white oak, which grows in low moist places, and which is usually + called swamp oak, that gave circumferences of sixteen to seventeen and + eighteen feet, and an altitude of from thirty to forty, and even fifty + feet to the first bough. And we have more than once, on the rich lands + to the northward of Rice Lake, found white pine trees, that give a + diameter of five feet, and altitude of two hundred! These are facts + that determine at once the depth, richness, and vegetative power of + the soil, since those giants of the forest are not nourished solely by + the heavens which they pierce, but also by the earth from whence they + spring. + + “Vegetation is so rapid in this country, that barley sown in July has + been reaped in the second week of September, for several years + successively, and on land that was deemed poor and exhausted; and a + more abundant crop has been seldom witnessed. + + “From every observation and experiment that has been made, no doubt + can be entertained of the great fertility of the soil of this fine + country. Not only does every vegetable production which thrives in + similar latitudes in Europe prosper here, but others, which require + either greater heat or greater care, are found to succeed in Canada, + without any particular attention. The finest melons and cucumbers are + brought to perfection in the open fields, and tobacco is cultivated + with success. Even the wild grapes become ripe by the first or second + week in September; so that there is every reason to believe, if + vineyards were cultivated, the inhabitants of this country might add a + variety of choice wines to their list of articles of home consumption, + and of foreign trade. We have drunk of wine very nearly resembling, + and but little inferior to, that of Oporto, which was made from the + common wild grape of the country.” + + +Now, we have already shown the prosperity that has attended labour in +these provinces, and the comfort and independence that is enjoyed by +their farmers. Few readers in England—at least it is to be hoped there +are few—have not read something of the life and prosperity of the +thousands who are annually taking possession of the vast prairies of the +western states and the valley of the Mississippi. We have shown that, by +the most adventurous and the shrewdest people in the world, the Canadas +have been preferred to them. If England had the world to select from, +she could not desire a finer country for her poor to prosper in, or for +her poor gentlemen to strike out for themselves in, and to work where +labour is honoured, and where its rewards are the only titles that the +people lay claim to. We have, after some pains and calculation, arrived +at the conclusion, that at least five millions of additional inhabitants +can, by agricultural pursuits alone, prosper, in a manner unknown in +Europe, in the province of Upper Canada; not by the hundreds perpetually +toiling for the tens, but by the hundreds having an opportunity, from +the prodigious extent of the country, of becoming, by industry and +management, the lords of their own, and that an abundant, share of the +soil. Now, will Great Britain let it go forth to the world, that she +cannot keep her flag floating over this great country in prosperity and +peace? We think not. But will she do what may be necessary to make it to +her what it ought to be? and make herself to it what she might, and +should be? We think she will; and we shall now, in so far as our short +space will admit of, point out what the country has suffered from, and +what it requires to make it a credit to England, and a support to her +power, instead of being a source of mortification to her, and an +inglorious field for the employment of her troops. + +The country’s whole wants may be comprised in few words. It wants +population—not paupers, without industry, or anything left to engraft a +manly pride upon; but people that the country is by nature adapted to +benefit, and who are by nature adapted to benefit it. It wants capital, +nationality, stability in its institutions, and peace. + +Now, will the people of England, under the present colonial system, +which has from the very first been marked by broils, misunderstandings, +and commotions—which have always undermined the credit of the colonies, +which are now worse than ever, and which must soon lead to something +worse still, (for paroxysms such as they have must change for the +better, or the state of the patient will become hopeless,)—will the +people of England, then, who have anything to lose, and who wish to live +in peace, settle in the Canadas in this state of things; and in this +state of hopes, too? We think not. + +The same reasons which would prevent people settling in the colonies, +would likewise prevent capital being invested in them; so that, under +the present system, there can be no rational hope entertained of the +colonies having much, if any, capital invested in them. + +This brings us to the consideration, then, of this other great and +principal want, upon which, in fact, all the others are mainly +founded—namely, a nationality and stability in their institutions. We +have already, in the October number of the Magazine, pointed out at some +length, that these can only be properly and effectually acquired by the +colonists being represented in the Imperial Legislature, and raised to +the standard, in fact, of British subjects. We have shown—and every +event and circumstance that has transpired since has confirmed us in the +opinion—that it is only by this that the colonies can be, or, indeed, +ought to be, connected with Great Britain. They can never otherwise have +the stamp of permanency put upon their institutions. They can never +otherwise command that credit in the world which they are justly +entitled to. But, above all, they can never otherwise make their +property and worth known to England, or to the world, in such a way as +to secure that attention to it which is absolutely indispensable to the +legitimate prosperity of the country. + +We have left ourselves comparatively little space to say much, in +addition to what we said in October, upon this great question. It may in +the end, however, be mainly resolved into this—Would it be better to +have intelligent colonists representing and making known their own +interests in Great Britain, than to have incompetent governors sent out +to the colonies, to keep them in constant broils among themselves, and +in constant collision with the colonial office in England? We are but +too well assured that it would be better. And in forming these great +colonies into an empire, which Great Britain must do if she does them +justice, and which indeed will be done with or without Britain,—the race +that inhabits them must, in the very nature of things, be and become +what they ought to be. But if Great Britain will but undertake to do so, +can any man say that no questions could arise in that empire’s growth +and maturity, upon which her wisdom, experience, and mind might not +exert a salutary influence? Or can any person, willing to take a broad +view of this great question and country, continue in the belief that it +should be, or ought to be crippled, or have its growth longer stunted? + +Probably one of the most galling circumstances connected with colonial +residence and birth, is the constantly seeing and feeling that colonial +mind is underrated by England; for no other reason, it would seem, than +because it is colonial; or, if there be another reason, it is the no +less humiliating one, that England deems the mind of the colonies +beneath her attention. Not less injurious, though less disagreeable, is +the indifference constantly displayed by England towards the colonies, +and the almost universal ignorance that prevails there as to their +importance and worth. It was the same with the old colonies. The idea +was ridiculed of “clod-hopping colonists” entering the House of Commons, +and holding up their heads among the collected wisdom of Great Britain. +The unpretending but profound wisdom of Franklin was sneered at and +underrated by men as much higher than him in power as they were lower in +understanding. The powerful and convincing eloquence of Patrick Henry +fell dead upon the English nation; and what has since commanded the +admiration of the world for its originality and boldness, was then +regarded with cold contempt. + +Speaking of what should be the treatment of American mind by England, +Adam Smith used the following language; and its complete applicability +to the present state of things, shows that great truths lose nothing by +long keeping. He said— + + + “By this representation, a new method of acquiring importance, a new + and more dazzling object of ambition, would be presented to the + leading men of each colony. Instead of piddling for the little prizes + which are to be found in what may be called the paltry raffle of a + colony faction, they might then hope, from the presumption which men + naturally have in their own ability and good fortune, to draw some of + the great prizes which sometimes come from the whole of the great + state lottery of British politics. Unless this, or some other method + is fallen upon—and there seems to be none more obvious than this—of + preserving the importance and gratifying the ambition of the leading + men in America, it is not very probable they will ever voluntarily + submit to us; and we ought to consider that the blood we shed in + forcing them to do so, is, every drop of it, the blood of either those + who are, or of those whom we wish to have, for our fellow citizens.” + + +Before concluding this part of our subject, we cannot avoid comparing +the conduct of the American States towards their distant possessions, +and the feeling of these distant possessions towards them, with that of +Britain towards her colonies, and of her colonies towards Britain. We +could perhaps adduce no better argument in favour of what we are +contending for; and the example of America is well worthy the attention +of a power like Britain, which owes so much of its greatness to its +distant possessions, and so many of its troubles and embarrassments to +their bad management. + +California is between five and six months’ passage from New York round +Cape Horn. It is about thirty-five days by way of Panama. It is several +months—and the journey is only at certain seasons accomplishable at +all—by the south pass of the Rocky Mountains; and it is about forty days +by way of the Mexican territory, with many dangers and uncertainties +attending it to even well-protected parties—and somewhat of the most +hazardous to those who are not protected. Now, these distant possessions +of the United States—which are, measuring distance by the time and +difficulties attending the journey, at least four times as far as +Halifax is from Liverpool—these distant possessions, how are they +treated by America? Has their intended application to be received into +the Union, and to bear their share of its burthens, and receive their +share of its benefits and protection, been regarded as dreamy and +utopian? Have the States regarded it as impossible to extend to them +their stability, and the conservative elements of their legislation and +federal government? Have the States had their misgivings, as to +California’s representatives having too much influence in their +government? or have the Californians thought the United States’ +government would exercise too much power over them? Whatever they have, +or have not, thought in this respect, the great consideration of their +becoming an integral portion of the United States, of their being +identified with their destiny, and borne along with their prosperity, +has utterly obliterated all others; and there is no doubt but that in a +few years they will bear the same relation to the American Union that +Louisiana and Texas do. + +Now, what good reason is there why Great Britain should not regard her +North American colonies and her West Indian possessions in the same way +as the States do California? And why should these colonies and +possessions not look to England as the Californians do to the States—and +seek, in the same way, to identify themselves with her destiny—to share +in her stability—to participate in her glory and greatness—and to enjoy, +as far as they merit it, her vast credit? + +But it is not alone in the mutual appreciation of each other’s value, by +the States and their distant possessions, and their mutual willingness +to share in each other’s burthens, and to have an identity of destiny, +that these States and their possessions differ from Great Britain and +her colonies. The two nations, apart from the views of their respective +colonists, differ widely from each other in the most essential point +necessary to the beneficial governmental connexion of any country with +another, be it empire or colony, or distant far or near. And that +difference consists in the people of the United States always becoming +thoroughly acquainted with what they are connected with, and thoroughly +understanding how that connexion may be rendered advantageous; and in +the people of England’s desiring to retain their sway over what they +will not take the trouble to understand, and wishing to combine and +harmonise their interests with those which they seem, and ever have +seemed, determined to be in ignorance regarding. Almost every +intelligent inhabitant of the States, at this present moment, has nearly +as definite and particular a knowledge of the portions of California +that have been explored, as those who live in or have traversed +California for themselves. The value of town lots, their situation and +eligibility in San Francisco are as well understood in New York and +Boston as they are by the man who occupies the next lot to them. There +is not a spot where a village might grow up—there is not a place where a +mill might be advantageously built—that is not known, marked, and +considered, with all its relative bearings and benefits, by thousands in +the States, with just as much intention of taking advantage of it, and, +from the extraordinary enterprise of the people, with just as much +likelihood of being able to do so, as those that are on the spot. The +whole country—its towns, its situations for towns, its valleys, its +hills, its woods, and its want of woods, its crops, and its climate, +are, for all purposes of business, for present and for future advantage +to the States, well and universally understood by the mass of the +people. Its newspapers, published at the immense distance that San +Francisco is from New York and Boston, are largely supported by +subscribers in these cities, and by the people in every direction over +the vast surface of the United States. The advertisements in them of +village lots for sale, are matters of nearly as much interest to +Americans as an auction sale of a bankrupt’s furniture and plate would +be to a Jew in London. + +Now, can it be accounted as other than natural, that the legislation of +America should partake of the universality of its mind, and the +largeness of its activity and enterprise?—that, California’s interests, +situation, extent, and value, being well understood by America, America +might wisely legislate for it?—that America might beneficially extend +the mantle of her wisdom and experience over it, and infuse the +conservative elements of her federal government into it, and raise it as +much in the estimation of the world as it benefited it within itself? +Hence the desire of the Californians that the flag of the United States +should not only represent their protection of California, but their +government over it, and their legislation in it, which the world has +associated with success and advancement. + +Now, for upwards of half a century, there has been an extensive +commercial intercourse carried on between Great Britain and her North +American colonies. The province of Upper Canada is all that we have +described it to be—open to five millions of people to settle and become +independent in—open to many more millions of capital being profitably +invested in it. The other colonies ever have been, and are, full of +opportunities for the successful employment of money and enterprise, and +the profitable application of labour. But we would here ask, with such +opportunities on the part of Great Britain of knowing the value of these +magnificent possessions, has she shown anything of the activity of mind +and the universality of enterprise of America? Has she literally done +anything where the Americans have done everything, to render these +possessions valuable to her—to render them a vast boon to her people, +instead of being a perpetual source of confusion and embarrassment to +her government? Who has there been in England, with capital ready to +invest and enterprise ready to undertake, looking out for valuable mill +sites on the magnificent rivers of the Canadas? How many of her +capitalists have been looking over the map of the colonies, and +inquiring into the richness and value of particular lands, adjacent to a +stream, where a village or a town might be formed and grow up? Who in +England have been learning the wealth of her colonies in timber, in +fisheries, in minerals, and in scores of other things, with the view of +profitably employing their capital in them, and making the colonies +while they enriched themselves? Few, very few, indeed. Is it not a fact, +that thousands in Great Britain, whose capital might be of the vastest +use to the colonies, and the colonies the best field in the world for +reproducing it, hardly know whether they lie on the north or the south +side of the St Lawrence; hardly know whether the cities of Hamilton and +Toronto are on lake Ontario or lake Erie; hardly know whether Upper +Canada is a cold, inhospitable region, or possesses the bracing, genial, +and healthy climate it really has? And though it is now but a ten days’ +trip from these colonies to Great Britain, and they possess so many +objects of interest and value to her, we believe we might with safety +offer a reward to any person who would find in England, apart from +government officials, news-rooms, and colonial traders, twelve men who +take a Canadian newspaper. Now, is it any wonder that the colonists +would like to get rid of a system of colonial government which has been +productive of no better knowledge or understanding, for this period of +time, of their interests and prosperity than this? Is it any wonder that +they feel that they never can, and never will, be appreciated, valued, +or benefited as they should, and might, and ought to be, as long as the +present system is kept up? Is it any wonder that, knowing their great +country—knowing what it is capable of—and knowing what they as colonists +should be thought of in connexion with it, they should seek in the +parliament of Great Britain to place themselves and their country before +the world in the position that they both should occupy? + +As pertinent to this view of the question, we may here mention that the +facilities of communication between Great Britain and the colonies have +now become so great and so perfect, that all the commercial houses of +importance in the colonies send home their agents twice a-year to +purchase goods. Thus these agents go home in January to lay in their +spring and summer stocks. They return to Canada again in the latter end +of March, and make their observations of the trade, and help to sell the +goods they purchased in England. In July, they go home again to buy +their fall and winter stocks, and in October they return to help to +assort and to sell them. The agent for the large importing house of +Buchanan, Harris, & Co., in Hamilton, at the head of Lake Ontario, has +done this for years; and between Hamilton (which is five hundred and +ninety-five miles above Quebec) and Liverpool, since the Canard steamers +have been running, the time occupied on the journey has not varied two +days, the time of performing it averaging but eighteen days. We may add, +too, as a singular fact, that we have seen, in a country village six +hundred and twenty-five miles above Quebec, fashions worn within the +same month in which they first appeared in London! + +Now, should these extraordinary evidences of the triumphs of science +over matter not teach legislation to move from its old and crippling +paths, and to keep pace with the spirit and the advancement of the age? +Is it not a fact, pregnant with powerful reasons why the colonies should +represent their own interests in the Legislature of Great Britain, that +commercial houses find it indispensable to their success to be +represented twice a-year in the British markets? Yet the vast property +and interests of the colonies are without any representation in that +legislature, where alone they can be fostered or withered. We have +pointed out the consequences. + +Before concluding this paper, it may be expected by the English public, +(and indeed by the Americans,) that we should not pass unnoticed a +movement in the colonies, which, though it might well have been looked +for, from what we have already proved and shown, has still struck the +great body of the people of England with surprise, if not with alarm. We +mean the movement in favour of the “annexation” of the colonies to the +States. It may be proper, in the first place, to say, that though its +name would seem to imply that the consent of the government and people +of the United States had been solicited and obtained, before the “banns” +were published to the world, yet that consent has never been asked, nor +was it either promised or given without the asking. The people of the +United States are quietly and calmly looking on at the dispute between +Great Britain and her colonies, and they are determined to continue so +to do until that dispute is settled. The days of their bitterness and +hostility to England are over. What they may, or what they would do, if +the colonies should be separated from Britain, they reserve to +themselves the right of deciding when the colonies are in a position to +ask for themselves, and to act for themselves. In this we believe we +express the feelings and opinions of the great body of the intelligent +people of the American States—certainly we do of the distinguished +individual at the head of their government, and of the whole of the +respectable portion of the American press. A report may reach England, +that a portion of the money which was collected in the States, to aid +the late unhappy insurrection in Ireland, has been contributed to +establish and support “annexation” newspapers in the Canadas. This +report requires confirmation; and if it were even partially true, it +would only amount to this, that the “Irish Directory” in New York, who +are said to have the money, have been regularly sold; for if they wished +to dismember England, there is nothing they could possibly do that would +more effectually tend to defeat their intentions. The “annexation” +movement rests, in truth, upon the merits or demerits of its own +treason, for treason it assuredly is. Authorised by whomsoever it may +be—justified, occasioned, or palliated by whatever men or measures, in +England or elsewhere—it is clearly a case of attempting to dissolve her +Majesty’s empire in the name of “material interests,” being moved and +instigated thereto by a certain individual called _free trade_. + +But can this movement go on and prosper, seditious as it palpably is, +without establishing a most dangerous precedent for England? And can it +be stopped without a waste of life and money, that would bring Great +Britain but little credit, and less advantage? + +Whatever may be the danger of the precedent, and whatever may be its +effects upon other colonies, or upon England herself, it seems clear +that a large expenditure of blood and money, to suppress this movement +in the Canadas, is neither desirable, nor, in the present temper of the +British public, might it be possible. And this movement never could be +physically or forcibly put down, without a large expenditure of both +these. The men who have deliberately entered into it are not such as +could be easily driven out of the land, or frightened out of their +convictions in it. They would fight for their opinions, and, considering +all things—loyalists disgusted, and Frenchmen in power—they are +dangerously numerous. + +This brings us, then, to consider what is being done in a conciliatory +point of view, by the free-trade party in England—who are answerable for +the difficulty—to take the wind out of this “annexation movement’s” +sails. This is, according to Lord John Russell’s speech—at the dinner +given some months since, for the purpose, it would seem, of discussing +colonial subjects—to give them more liberty. Heaven help us! If Lord +John Russell saw, as we have seen, liberty recently running clean mad in +these colonies; if he saw responsible government playing its “fantastic +tricks before high heaven,” with England’s “dignified neutrality” +looking on, he would hardly be disposed to give them any more rope. But +what is the character of the liberty and privileges they ask? and, being +asked, he would give them? The last small instalment they require is, to +elect their legislative council; and, thinking that the phantom of Great +Britain’s power, called “dignified neutrality,” may be had at a cheaper +rate at home, they propose to elect that also—feeling, too, not without +justice, that they might thereby _neutralise_ the loss to the colonies +of some four thousand pounds annually. But suppose England should waive +the privilege of sending out a phantom, and the legislative lords would +have, like David Crocket, to go about the country electioneering with a +pocket full of _quids_, pray what, after all this, would be left in the +colonies to recognise England by? An Englishman coming to them, like the +man in the farce who had been asleep for a century, would find it rather +difficult to recognise his relations. But, seriously, what is all this +but annexation? And is this the only way the great authors of the +colonial difficulties have of keeping the colonies British?—of making +them a home for men who seek and who claim to live under the +institutions of Britain? Better—infinitely better—would it be to tell +men straightforwardly, and at once, that they must feel the iron enter +their souls of seeing the flag of their forefathers hauled down on the +American continent for ever, than compel them to endure its being thus +slowly and gradually disgraced out of it. And this would and must be the +inevitable result of Lord John Russell’s giving the colonies more rope. + +But what other cause or question is there now before the colonies to put +against this “annexation movement?” Of purely colonial questions there +are none. Beyond the true and honest hearts which love Britain, despite +of all her faults; who would, and will, cling to her, although she has +sadly requited their attachment,—she has nothing now to bind her to or +to represent her in America. Her institutions are gone; her government +has ceased to be respected; Lord Elgin has made her power as “the +baseless fabric of a vision.” There is nothing Britain can do; there is +nothing Britain ought to do, but to say, emphatically and at once, to +her North American colonies—We have not understood you—we have not +appreciated you—we have not known your great country as we should have +known it—we have not respected your mind or your interests; but we will +now make you partners in our great legislature—we will impart to you our +credit, our greatness, and our stability—and we will bind you up with +our destiny. + +Great Britain has a glorious part to play in America; and she has a +disastrous one. _She has but a short time to decide upon which she will +play._ + + HAMILTON, CANADA WEST, _Jan. 17, 1850_. + + + (POSTSCRIPT.) + +The very day on which I last wrote you, we received a London morning +paper, containing an announcement that the Whig ministry were prepared +to give up these colonies, and to take upon themselves, before +parliament, the responsibility of the act. Though it seemed unlike that +party—whatever they might privately think, or whatever they might +plainly see must be the inevitable result of their present free-trade +policy—to take so bold, or rather, so frank a step, yet the articles +which have appeared from time to time in the _Times_, and which bore on +the face of them an air of authority, had prepared me to attach some +credence to the statement. These, after all, may be put from the cabinet +as feelers upon the country. They may be but a disingenuous _ruse_ of +men who do not seek to regulate their conduct by what they ought to do +from the dictates of enlightened principle and great national +consideration, but are anxious only to float along with the current of +popular delusion, regardless of the nation’s humiliation and +dismemberment. It is my belief, however, that if the present ministry, +backed by Mr Cobden and the Manchester party, play into the hands of +those here who are struggling to dismember the empire, it will produce a +civil or social war in the colonies. There is a large body of their +British and loyal inhabitants who will cling to Britain, and keep her +flag floating here; and who will, if necessary, part with their lives +ere they part with it. It is possible—nay, is it not certain?—that Sir +Robert Peel, and other statesmen, who have plainly and undeniably placed +the colonies in a situation incompatible with imperial connexion,—may +throw out such hints and suggestions in the approaching session of +parliament, as will agitate and move the colonies to their very heart’s +core,—one party to secure a majority in favour of their “annexation” to +the States, the other to prevent the dismemberment of their mother +country? Sir Robert Peel and others have thrown out such suggestions +before; but, under existing circumstances, if they are again put forth, +they will be regarded by the “annexation movement” party as an +invitation to test the opinions of the colonies—to proselytise them, as +in fact they are now doing, into insurrection, and away from allegiance +to Britain. Meetings will follow; _the stars and stripes_ will be +hoisted by one party; the flag of their forefathers by the other; and, +take my word for it, you will hear of struggles of which God only can +tell the end, and what they may lead to here and elsewhere. Certainly +the world will never have witnessed such a scene. The statesmen, the +cabinet even of Britain playing into the hands of those who would tear +down her flag in America; and her loyal children supporting it against +the influence of many who are, and have been, surrounding the throne. + +A long residence in the colonies, and a habit of observing, unbiassed by +colonial party considerations, the character and tendencies of men and +measures, have enabled me to judge, with some accuracy, of the effects +of causes not generally supposed to be pregnant with important results. +At this moment there are, in my judgment, the slumbering elements of a +deadly strife in the colonies. There is but a small remove between a +civil revolution and a physical struggle. The seeds of the national and +revolutionary hurricane are often sown in the peaceful closet, and by +men who could weep over the thought of what they would produce. The +seeds of a wild and fearful hurricane in the colonies, and which must +and will reach England, may be now sowing in many a peaceful closet in +England. Mr Cobden may talk of peace, and denuding Britain of her +national defences, and convincing men against all humanity’s experience; +but he must be, he should be, made aware, that he has not made Britain, +and may not be allowed to unmake her. He has not added these colonies to +her crown; and while he may be in words _twaddling_ about universal +peace, his very speeches may be sowing the seeds here of a deadly +struggle. Let him beware; let others beware of the vanity of free-trade +success. The wisdom of the Manchester school has not been that which has +made Great Britain. Let its vanity and its arrogance not ruin her. If it +arms treason here—if it wings a storm, from which England may learn +much, it may be taught to feel what it has done. The demagogues of +Athens succeeded in banishing the great and the just, but they did not +succeed in destroying greatness or justice—these are immortal. The +free-trade party may denude Britain of her glorious possessions in +America, but these possessions may be the rising, growing, unending +shame of those who caused their loss, and the generation of Britons who +permitted it. + + + HAMILTON, _30th January 1850_. + + + + + A LATE CASE OF COURT-MARTIAL.[1] + + +“Surely never was so slight a fault visited by so severe a punishment!” +Such is the exclamation which will fall from the lips, or pass through +the mind, we believe, of every one who shall peruse Mr Warren’s _Letter +to the Queen on a Late Court-Martial_. The reader of that letter will +also rise from its perusal with the painful conviction, that, in the +awarding of this heavy punishment, a gross violation of one of the most +ordinary and fundamental laws of jurisprudence has been committed; and +he will probably conclude with Mr Warren, that if this be a fair +specimen of the lax manner in which justice is administered in +courts-martial, some reform is necessary in their structure, or, at all +events, some higher court of appeal ought to be instituted for the +revision of their proceedings. + +We have read this admirable letter of Mr Warren’s with unusual interest. +As a literary performance it well comports with, and sustains the +established reputation of its author; but it reflects a high honour upon +him of another and loftier description than that which springs from +literary excellence. It shows him in the light of a warmhearted, zealous +champion of one whom he believes, and with every appearance of reason, +to be an oppressed and injured man. He had assisted Captain Douglas at +his trial before the court-martial, on which he now comments, as his +legal adviser; he had done his duty as counsel for the defendant, so far +as such a court admits of the aid or interference of counsel; he had no +interest to promote, and no obligation to fulfil, by any further +advocacy of his cause. Captain Douglas had been condemned; the great +authorities of the Horse Guards had sanctioned and confirmed the +sentence: a cautious man, and a lover of his ease, would here have +parted company. He would have shaken his mournful client by the hand, +and, with some cold unmeaning words of condolence, have left him with +that troop of summer friends, who have, no doubt, by this time, found +him a most uncompanionable man. The world was now against him; to +volunteer his defence was to oppose constituted authorities; it was to +side with weakness against power—with defeat against triumph. It was to +stand side by side with one in adversity—stricken, and condemned. But +caution and love of ease are evidently motives that have very little +influence on the mind of Mr Warren. As the counsel of Captain Douglas, +he had grown warm in his defence; he could not suddenly cool when he saw +him prostrate, defeated, and dishonoured. He was convinced of the +innocence of his client; he felt persuaded that it was in his power to +show to all mankind that that client had been cruelly dealt with—treated +with a degree of harshness amounting to injustice. His position of +counsel had also given him insight into the whole legal proceedings of +this court-martial, which betrayed to his practised eye a palpable +infraction of one at least of those essential rules by which every +tribunal of justice ought to be governed, or cease to be considered a +tribunal of justice. He knew all this, and the truth _burnt within him_; +he could not sit down in silence; he could not at once dismiss his +sympathy and indignation—his sympathy for an injured man, his +indignation for the rules of justice violated. He had ceased to be the +advocate of Captain Douglas, but he still clung to his cause, for it was +the cause, he was persuaded, of truth and justice. + + + “Only a great and pressing exigency,” he thus explains himself in the + eloquent exordium of his letter, “could have induced one of the + humblest of your Majesty’s subjects to step forth from his obscurity, + and thus publicly and directly address your Majesty. Even had he not + known, however, the benignant and equitable temper of his sovereign, a + case like the present would have forced him to bring it forward; for + the voice of justice is a sublime one, strengthening the feeblest, and + elevating the humblest, who, hearing, endeavours to obey it. + + “He who has thus ventured to beseech the ear of his sovereign, + believes in his conscience that the cause of justice in this country + has recently sustained, through a defective system of military + jurisprudence, a calamitous defeat. + + “An officer, an accomplished gentleman, of ancient and honourable + family, in the very flower of his age,[2] after having devoted + thirteen years to the faithful and zealous service of your Majesty in + almost every quarter of your world-wide dominions, has been + ignominiously expelled from that service, branded as a Liar. He stood + on trial before his brother officers with as high vouchers to + character, as could have been presented, had it unfortunately been + rendered necessary by such a casualty as has befallen him, by any one + of themselves. He was, moreover, the eldest son of a general officer + who lately descended to his grave with honour, after half a century + spent in the service of three of your Majesty’s predecessors; leaving + behind him, as his eldest son, the unhappy gentleman to whose case I + earnestly implore the attention of your Majesty.... + + “That gentleman I believe to be, at this moment, one of the most + deeply-injured men in your Majesty’s dominions. He has been convicted + of misconduct of which he is utterly incapable; and I consider that + conviction to be altogether contrary to law and justice, and to have + proceeded upon an unconscious violation of cardinal and characteristic + rules of British jurisprudence, essential to the safety as well as to + the liberties of your Majesty’s subjects. And what has thus happened + to Captain Douglas may happen to any other gentleman who is now, or + may be hereafter, honoured by bearing the commission of your Majesty. + I think myself able to bring forward facts which are incontrovertible, + and reasonings which appear, if I may be permitted to say it, + conclusive—and that not to myself alone, but to others whose judgment, + were it publicly pronounced, would be deemed entitled to the utmost + deference—to establish the innocence of one, upon whose brow, + nevertheless, stands at this moment, and has stood for eight miserable + months, the brand of ‘infamous and scandalous conduct.’” + + +He then proceeds to say that her Majesty alone has the power to redress +the wrong of which he comes forward to complain. + + + “In the present case, the blighting sentence passed upon Captain + Douglas cannot be reviewed in any court of law. It was solemnly + decided, in your Majesty’s Court of Queen’s Bench, on a late occasion, + that it had no power to issue a prohibition to restrain the execution + of the sentence of a court-martial, after that sentence had been + ratified by the king, and carried into execution. And yet, in the + existing state of the law, the unfortunate accused has no means of + knowing the sentence which has crushed him, until it has been so + ratified, carried into execution, and thus declared _therefore_ + irrevocable! And that sentence, too, pronounced by a _court of law_, + bound to proceed according to the law of the land—which law it may + have violated in every particular!” + + +It is hardly necessary to say, that the military law under which our +army has been governed, ever since the Revolution, is as completely +founded upon the statutes of parliament as any other branch of our +jurisprudence. A less technical mode of procedure is recognised as +prevailing in courts-martial, than that which regulates our civil or +criminal courts. But there is nothing of an _arbitrary_ nature in the +sentences they pass. These are determined, so far as this is possible, +by the act of parliament. A judge of the bankruptcy court is not more +bound by the statute, when he grants or withholds the bankrupt’s +certificate, than are the judges of a court-martial when they sentence a +fellow-officer to be cashiered. Let it be granted, therefore, that +Captain Douglas had so far committed himself, in the course of the +events we shall have to record, that it was expedient to bring him +before a court-martial. Let this be granted—an opinion, however, from +which many will dissent—when there, he claims justice! He is under the +protection of the law. He is not to be punished with undue severity; he +is not to be punished illegally. + +It is probable that Mr Warren will be thought to have been carried a +little too far, in his vindication of Captain Douglas’s conduct, by his +generous zeal and by the ardour of advocacy. It would be asking too much +to require that he should suddenly assume towards his late client the +coolness of a quite impartial observer. But whilst his argument is that +of an advocate, and is something too much tainted with the logic of the +courts of Westminster, his statement of facts is full and impartial. He +may be a too zealous advocate, but he is a candid historian. It is +hardly necessary to add, that, whenever occasion legitimately permits, +he is a very pleasant and graphic historian. + +We do not intend that our account of this case should be a substitute +for the perusal of Mr Warren’s pamphlet; we desire rather to prompt to +such a perusal. It is far, therefore, from our design to enter upon all +the topics it discusses. But the case is one to which, on public +grounds, we would cheerfully assist in calling public attention. In +doing so we shall endeavour, in the first place, to state, with perfect +impartiality, the real and sole offence, or fault, or error, of which it +seems to us Captain Douglas can be justly accused; and, in the second +place, to show with what _illegal severity_ this offence has been +visited. On the first of these topics, we shall, perhaps, be in some +slight degree at variance with our author; on the second, we shall fully +accord with him in his main and leading argument: for we think there +cannot be a doubt that the judgment of this court-martial is +vitiated—not by any merely technical error, but by an error affecting +the very justice of the sentence—by no less an error than the finding a +man guilty of an offence of a certain degree of guilt, and condemning +him to a punishment expressly and solely awarded to an offence of a far +greater degree of criminality—finding him, in short, guilty of the crime +A, and inflicting the penalty decreed only to the crime B. + +The life of military men in time of peace presents, as we catch a +glimpse of it here, no very attractive picture. Captain Douglas in +barracks at Longy, in the island of Alderney, with one subaltern, Ensign +Parker, is commanding his detachment. Lieutenant-Colonel Le Mesurier is +commanding at Alderney, under the title of Town Major. Between these +rival potentates disputes arise as to their respective jurisdictions. +Instead of companionship, assistance, co-operation, there is only mutual +repulsion, mutual hostility. + + + In this cheerless position of affairs, Captain Douglas “went one + day—on Friday the 5th January—about twelve o’clock, for a little + amusement, to practise pistol-firing, at a spot near the Frying-Pan + Battery, as it is called, which was at a distance of two or three + hundred yards from the barracks where he resided. This happened to be + the first and only time of his using firearms during his stay in the + island. No one but himself, indeed, knew even the fact of his + possessing firearms. He ordered his servant Riley to procure some + potatoes, and to follow him with them, and the pistol-case, (which, + however, Riley did not know to be such, nor for what purpose the + potatoes were required,) to the Frying-Pan Battery.” + + +These circumstances are mentioned to account for the scanty testimony +which Riley afterwards gave; it being supposed that he had withheld +evidence to serve the interest of his master. And certainly it is a +little difficult to believe that Patrick Riley, who was a soldier as +well as the servant of Captain Douglas, did not know what the +pistol-case contained, or for what purpose he carried it and the two +potatoes to the battery. We continue the narrative in the words of Mr +Warren, which we should be very unwise not to adopt, wherever it is in +our power to do so. + + + “Captain Douglas proceeded to make a target in the wall opposite, + which faced the sea—by putting a potato into the centre of an open + piece of newspaper, and then thrusting it into a crevice in the wall. + This he did to make the mark at which he intended to aim more + distinctly visible. He had selected this particular spot for his + practice because it was retired and safe. It was entirely hid from the + view of the sentry, or any of the men on guard at the barracks.... + After firing about twenty or thirty shots, every one of them at the + target in question—standing all the while with his back to the sea, + and against the rampart, and at which stood the pistol-case and + potatoes—he saw Mr Parker approaching. It was a few minutes before one + o’clock when he got there. Having fired two shots, both at the same + target at which Captain Douglas had been shooting, he went down by a + somewhat precipitous descent to the beach, which lay about forty feet + immediately below them, accompanied by his dog—intending to amuse + himself for a few minutes by throwing stones into the sea, and sending + his dog after them; and also desirous of ascertaining whether a hole, + which had caught his eye in descending, was that of a rabbit or a + rat.” + + +Amusements were scarce at Alderney. + + + “Neither Captain Douglas nor Mr Parker’s attention was called to the + circumstance of their harmless pistol practice, on the 5th January, + till about three or four o’clock on the ensuing Monday afternoon—the + 8th January. During the interval, Captain Henderson had arrived from + Guernsey; and he, Mr Parker, and Captain Douglas were walking together + towards the town, when they met Mr Bains, (a medical gentleman.) After + the ordinary salutations, Captain Douglas asked him, ‘What news was + going on in the town?’ To which Mr Bains answered, laughing, ‘Nothing + new, _since your sport with the bulls of Bashan at Longy_;’ and he + proceeded to say, to the surprise of Captain Douglas and Mr Parker, + ‘that he understood a bullock had been shot at or near Longy.’ Captain + Douglas replied with a smile, ‘You surely don’t mean to say that _I_ + am charged with having had anything to do with it?’—‘Indeed you are,’ + said Mr Bains—‘and you will find the constable at your quarters about + it, on your return! But it is true, is it not, that you and Parker + were ball firing there?’—‘Yes, we were practising,’ replied Captain + Douglas unhesitatingly; ‘but I know nothing about the bullock.’ After + some other observations, Mr Bains, who knew the position in which + Colonel Le Mesurier and Captain Douglas stood towards each other, said + with a smile, ‘Colonel Le Mesurier has gone up to look at the + bullock.’ To this observation Captain Douglas made a brief sarcastic + answer; and shortly afterwards Mr Bains left them. + + “The three officers, after continuing their walk for some time longer, + separated, towards five o’clock. Captain Henderson went to Corblets + barracks, to dress for dinner, both he and Mr Parker being engaged to + dine that evening with Captain Douglas; who, with Mr Parker, walked + towards Longy, expecting to meet with the constable spoken of by Mr + Bains. As they went, they conversed on the subject of his + communication, remarking how oddly circumstances seemed to favour the + notion that, if a bullock had really been shot, it must have been by + them; and they also adverted to the fact of Colonel Le Mesurier having + already become acquainted with the matter, and what could have been + his object in going to see the carcase of the animal. After some + consideration they agreed that it would be better, under the + circumstances, _not to admit the fact of their having been firing, but + leave it to be proved by those who seemed disposed to charge them with + having shot the bullock_.” + + +Here was the fatal error. In this resolution, and the acting on it, lies +the whole moral offence, fault, or delinquency of Captain Douglas. Not +to admit a fact, when questioned on it, is so close upon a denial of the +fact, that no human ingenuity can keep them long separate. His +concealment of an act perfectly innocent was construed into a denial of +that act: it could not well be otherwise, for an evasive answer, which +serves the purpose of concealment, must be understood by the party who +receives it as a denial, or it no longer serves the purpose of +concealment. Yet an evasive answer of this description is permitted by +men of the strictest honour in a thousand instances, and is only visited +with _moral opprobrium_ in those cases where there is an imperative +claim upon the conscience to tell the whole truth. No such imperative +claim can be made out in the present case. We admit, however, that it +was an error. The better rule is never to resort to an evasion unless +there are very strong reasons for so doing. We admit that the adopting +of, and persisting in, this policy, or rather this _impolicy_, of +concealment, was here to some extent blameable. But we can detect no +base or dishonourable motive leading to it. The worst motive we can +divine, is a certain love of a tortuous policy by which some ingenious +persons are afflicted. They like finessing, and will introduce into the +common affairs of life, much to their own and other people’s +embarrassment, what they would describe as a diplomatic dexterity. + +The constable, Renier, on the same afternoon, made his appearance at the +house of Captain Douglas. There is much controversy as to the import of +the question which he put to Captain Douglas; whether, when he asked +him, “If he knew anything about it?”—he referred to the shooting of the +bullock, or the firing on the battery. It is plain, from the +circumstances of the case, that both these matters were inextricably +mixed up _in the mind of the constable_; for he came to inquire of the +shooting of the bullock because of the firing on the battery; and into +the firing on the battery, because of the supposed shooting of the +bullock. There is no wonder, therefore, that a man, not accustomed to +analyse his own ideas, should, in giving his evidence before the court, +sometimes state one, and sometimes the other, as the object of his +inquiry. But it is equally plain, from the very nature of the case, that +whatever was stirring in the mind of the constable, his first question +to the Captain would be, whether he knew anything about the death of the +bullock. He would never have thought of coming to the barracks to ask an +officer whether he had been practising with his pistol, without showing +in the first place that he had grounds for making what otherwise would +be a very impertinent inquiry. We feel ourselves, therefore, quite +justified in adopting here the statement of Captain Douglas. According +to that statement, Renier asked him “if he knew anything about shooting +the bullock?” He answered “No,” as he well might. For it is to be +understood at once, and distinctly, that Captain Douglas had nothing +whatever to do with the death of the bullock, and knew nothing about it. +But, unfortunately, the dialogue between them did not stop here. It will +be remembered that Captain Douglas had made use of a piece of a +newspaper, the _Times_, to form his target. This newspaper bore his own +name and address on it. The constable added—“That a _Times_ paper had +been found near the spot, with Captain Douglas’s name upon it.” _This_ +remark could have reference only to the question—who had been firing on +the battery? And to this remark Captain Douglas replied—“Possibly so; +there were plenty of his papers about; they went all through the +barracks and into the town, and he had five or six a-week.” With this +answer the constable departed. + +The next day a civil court was held, presided over by Judge Gaudion, to +inquire into this affair of the death of the bullock. Captain Douglas +was summoned to attend. A number of witnesses were examined, whose +testimony it is not necessary for our purpose to enter into. Mr Bisset, +the owner of the animal, who had connected its death with the firing +heard upon the ramparts, produced a number of flattened bullets, broken +percussion caps, and pieces of a newspaper addressed to Captain Douglas, +which had been found upon the battery. After the judge had asked Captain +Douglas whether he had any knowledge who had shot the bullock, and had +received the decisive and truthful answer, that “he had not,” he +proceeded—pointing to some pieces of newspaper lying on the table—to put +the following question: “Can you account for the _Times_ newspaper to +your address having been found in the battery, perforated evidently by +ball practice?” To which Captain Douglas answered, “I am not accountable +for my papers, as they travel through the barracks and into the town.” + +This absurd policy (for so we should characterise it) of concealment is +adhered to, and with these unfortunate pieces of the _Times_ newspaper +lying before him! His answer is understood as a denial of having been +practising with his pistol on the battery, and there are those tell-tale +fragments “evidently perforated with ball.” It is inconceivably absurd. +He is getting into a scrape, and raising a scandal in the little island +of Alderney, for no intelligible motive whatever. + +Mr Warren here defends the conduct of his late client on the legal +principle or maxim, that no man is bound to criminate himself. He stood +there in a court of justice “virtually as an accused party;” the court +throws its shield over persons in such a position, cautions them, and +would protect them even against their own indiscretion. Captain Douglas +was fully justified in availing himself of this well-known privilege—in +evading and warding off a question which he could not answer without +supplying evidence against himself. + +Mr Warren will forgive us if we smiled, for a moment, at this instance +of the inveterate habits of the lawyer, overpowering the natural +shrewdness and sagacity of the man. This legal argument is manifestly +inapplicable, and for this simple reason: in the circumstances of the +case, there is nothing sufficiently grave—no impending charge of +sufficient magnitude—to induce or warrant, in any reasonable man, a +departure from, or a concealment of the truth, or any tampering with his +honour. _If_ the evasive statement of Captain Douglas be considered as +tantamount to a denial, and _if_ that virtual denial be considered as in +some degree dishonourable, there can be no shelter for him in this maxim +of law, because the fear of a false accusation of having accidentally +shot a bullock, would not be accepted, by men of honour, as an excuse or +justification. + +If Captain Douglas had really shot the bullock, he would have been still +more completely under the shelter of this legal maxim—and his +equivocation would have been a ten times more heinous offence. + +As Mr Warren repeats this argument more than once, it may be worth while +to state, in general terms, wherein its fallacy lies. A person is tried +before a court-martial, which partakes of the nature of a court of +honour, for a departure from, or a concealment of truth, considered to +be dishonourable to a gentleman. It is no sufficient answer to plead the +privilege which courts of law throw around a witness, unless you show at +the same time that, in his case, such a privilege could be taken +advantage of without any derogation to his character as a member of +society. A very little reflection will satisfy us that the permission +granted by courts of law to the accused party, or to a witness, to deny +or withhold the truth, _may_ or _may not_ be a valid excuse in the moral +judgment of society—may or may not be such a permission as it would be +honourable to accept. + +A man is tried for his life on the charge of murder, or high treason. He +pleads not guilty. Although he is in fact guilty, the most honourable +and fastidious portion of society add nothing to their reprobation of +the accused on account of this plea. The code of honour or of moral +opinion, and the rule of the court of law, are not at variance. + +But nothing is easier than to imagine cases in which they would be at +variance, and at variance in all possible degrees, from slight +difference to complete opposition. The accused is being tried on a false +accusation for murder. Titus is a witness. He can by his evidence +establish the innocence of the accused, but in giving that evidence he +will reveal his own guilt. The court allows him to be silent where his +answer to the question would criminate himself. And here, too, the +opinion of society would probably coincide with the rule of the +court,—yet not entirely; many would censure the witness, many would +excuse, none would cordially approve. + +Let us now suppose that Titus is innocent, but, in giving his evidence, +he must confess some fact which will excite a strong suspicion against +himself. Here the number of those who would justify his silence would +greatly diminish. Suppose now that the suspicion which would be raised +against him, was of a slight character, one which might be easily +removed; suppose that by his evidence alone could the accused be saved +from the unjust condemnation that hung over him; add to all this, that +the accused and innocent party was the _friend_ of Titus, and had been +his benefactor—and now this witness, “not bound to criminate himself,” +has become the object of execration to all mankind. + +This legal maxim is but one of many rules which courts of law, or the +legislature, enact for the better administration of justice,—rules which +cannot be so framed as to be strictly consentaneous, or identical, with +the rules of morality. One who owes a just debt takes advantage of the +forbearance of an indulgent creditor, and pleads the statute of +limitations. The court admits the plea, puts it in his mouth, justifies +him for the use of it. But the use of it has dishonoured him for life. + +To return to our case. Mr Bisset, the owner of the bullock, still +associating its death, most erroneously, with the firing heard on the +battery, published a newspaper paragraph in the _Guernsey Comet_, headed +DISGRACEFUL AFFAIR! in which suspicion was thrown upon Captain Douglas +and Ensign Parker, and which terminated with the offer of “A REWARD OF +TWENTY POUNDS, to be paid to any one giving information sufficient to +convict the party or parties who were shooting at the Frying-pan Battery +on Friday the 5th January, between the hours of twelve and three P.M. + +Mr Bisset also laid his complaint before Major-General Bell, the +commanding officer at Guernsey. That officer wrote to Captain Douglas, +requiring his explanation of the affair. A great part of the letter +referred distinctly to this pistol-firing on the battery. Now then, the +reader is prepared to say, Captain Douglas will surely lay aside this +needless and silly piece of diplomacy, this concealment of a perfectly +innocent act, which is only strengthening suspicion against him. If he +could permit himself to trifle with Judge Gaudion, and the petty civil +court at Alderney, he will not trifle with his superior officer; he will +not run the risk _here_ of being thought to equivocate. Nearly a month +had now elapsed since the first visit of Constable Renier. Time had been +given him to reflect: and Captain Douglas did reflect. Ensign Parker +lets fall in his evidence that he wrote _two_ letters in answer to this +communication, and pondered some time which he should send. In the one, +he frankly avowed having been firing with his pistol on the battery, +whilst he utterly denied the accusation of having shot the bullock; in +the other, he adhered to his policy of concealment, confined himself to +a denial of the main accusation, and left all that part of the letter +relating to the firing on the battery virtually unanswered. He pondered +which of the two he should send; but the genius of diplomacy +prevailed,—he sent the second! + +Major-General Bell, as might be expected, was not satisfied with such a +reply. He instituted a military Court of Inquiry, consisting of Colonel +Le Mesurier, Captain Cockburn, and Captain Clerk, with instructions “to +ascertain whether any person or persons, belonging to the garrison, were +engaged in firing with ball, within or immediately adjoining Longy +Lines, on the day and within the hours specified in several of the +documents laid before them.” It was not till the evening of the second +day on which this court had sat, that Captain Douglas seems to have had +his eyes opened to the perilous manner in which he was compromising +himself. On the evening of that day, he wrote a letter to Judge Gaudion, +stating the whole and simple truth with regard to this pistol-firing; +and the next morning, he repeated the same statement before the military +Court of Inquiry. The confession, it seems, came too late to save him +from the consequences of his unwise, needless, and pertinacious +concealment of an act in itself perfectly innocent. It was thought a +case sufficiently grave to bring before a court-martial.[3] + +It will be seen and acknowledged at once, that we have not attempted to +screen Captain Douglas from the degree of blame which an impartial judge +would throw upon his conduct. If the court-martial had reprimanded +Captain Douglas, we should have thought the penalty sufficiently severe, +but neither we, nor perhaps others, would have been disposed to dispute +the propriety of the sentence, or, at least, to call public attention to +the case. But, for this offence, the court has sentenced Captain Douglas +to be _cashiered_! + +This sentence—to enter now upon our second topic—is not only cruelly +severe, it is illegal, it is unjust. Our readers need not fear that we +are about to involve them in the technicalities of jurisprudence. It is +no technical matter we have to deal with, but broad principles of +justice. Mr Warren has, indeed, raised a class of legal objections +against the verdict of the court-martial, grounded on its refusal to +admit certain evidence. On these objections we shall not enter. To us it +appears that the president of the court exercised his power in this +matter, in general, very discreetly. But, on these objections, we wish +it to be understood that we give no opinion. We pass at once to what we +deem a fatal error in this verdict—an error, not of form, but of +substance; an error which constitutes it to be an _unjust judgment_. + +Captain Douglas was tried upon the following charge,—“for conduct +unbecoming the character of an officer and a gentleman.” Of such conduct +he was found guilty. Now, the article of war under which he was +arraigned, and the only one under which his offence, by any fair +interpretation, could fall, is the 80th, and runs thus:—“Any officer who +shall behave _in a scandalous, infamous manner_, unbecoming the +character of an officer and a gentleman, shall, on conviction thereof +before a general court-martial, be CASHIERED.”[4] + +The penalty, under this article, is _peremptorily_ that of cashiering. A +less punishment the court is not competent to pronounce. The article has +for its express object the removal from the service of officers who are +convicted of scandalous and infamous behaviour. + + + “There is no provision,” says Mr Warren, “in the Articles of War, for + the cognisance of unofficer-like and ungentleman-like conduct, + divested of a tendency to prejudice good order and military + discipline, (so as to bring it within Article 108,) in any degree less + than that involving infamy and scandal. In the year 1801, an officer + was charged before a General Court-martial with scandalous and + infamous conduct, unbecoming the character of an officer and a + gentleman. The Court acquitted the prisoner of ‘scandalous and + infamous behaviour,’ but considering his conduct, nevertheless, as + ‘unbecoming the character of an officer and a gentleman,’ adjudged him + to ‘be suspended from rank and pay for six calendar months.’ His + Majesty King George III. declared the adjudication irregular, and + disapproved the sentence, ‘inasmuch as the Court had acquitted the + prisoner of the only imputation which could bring the business as a + charge before them—namely, of any scandalous and infamous behaviour in + the transaction.’ In another case, which happened in 1814, in India, + an officer was tried by General Court-martial, on the charge of + ‘scandalous and infamous conduct, unbecoming the character of an + officer and a gentleman,’ in two instances. The Court acquitted him of + the first, but found him guilty of the criminal acts charged in the + second instance; acquitting him, however, of ‘scandalous and infamous + conduct, unbecoming the character of an officer and a gentleman.’ The + Commander-in-Chief, Earl Moira, declared that ‘he regarded the Court + as having returned a verdict of acquittal generally, and directed the + officer who had been convicted to return to his duty.’ His lordship + observed that ‘the Court, in declaring that the criminal act proved + against the prisoner did not come within the description of + ‘scandalous, infamous, and unbecoming the character of an officer and + a gentleman,’ had divested itself of all power to award punishment, + except inasmuch as the acts might be considered to come under the + above specific definition.’ In the present case, the Court _could_ not + have acquitted of scandalous and infamous conduct, because _it was not + charged_.” + + +The charge quotes a portion of the very words of the article. But that +this portion can be separated from the rest of the sentence, and made to +designate a distinct, substantive offence, would be a monstrous +supposition. The whole stress, the whole meaning lies in the words +“infamous and scandalous;” but because there may be scandalous and +infamous conduct, which does not fall under the cognisance of a +court-martial, it is added as a further definition, that it must be such +misconduct as affects the character of an officer and a gentleman.[5] +The article of war intends to describe such conduct as would make a man +_scandalous and infamous amongst his fellow-officers_. + +Suppose it were thought fit to frame similar rules for the medical +profession, and one of these declared, “That any one who shall behave in +a scandalous and infamous manner unbecoming the character of a physician +and a gentleman, shall, on conviction thereof, be expelled from the +profession,” would any one in his senses think it sufficient to adopt +the last qualifying phrase, “unbecoming the character of a physician and +a gentleman,” as descriptive of an offence which, under this rule, would +incur an expulsion from the faculty? Why, it might be thought +“unbecoming” a physician to break rude and silly jests upon his +patients, (as a late celebrated character is accused of doing,) but not +for such offences, we presume, would any one imagine that expulsion from +the profession was provided. + +But we shall be told that the proceedings of a court-martial are not +fettered by the same strict rules which preside over the record in a +court of law. This is very true. It is sufficient if the offence is +substantially indicated. Perhaps it will be argued that these words, +“unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman,” must be taken as a part for +the whole, and that the charge _was_ essentially for scandalous and +infamous behaviour. + +If so, the court has placed itself in the following dilemma, from which +we do not see any possibility of escape:—_Either_ the charge is to be +understood as substantially for scandalous and infamous conduct—and, in +that case, who will venture to assert that the evidence supports so +heinous an accusation?—who will venture to assert that the concealment +or equivocation proved against Captain Douglas was that falsehood, that +sort of lie, which stamps a man as scandalous and infamous, and drives +him from the society of gentlemen? _Or_ (which is the plain common-sense +view of the case) the charge is what it professes to be—for “unbecoming” +conduct—it is this charge which is present to the minds of the members +of the court-martial—it is on this he is tried, of this which he is +convicted; and _then_, after being found guilty of this all but venial +offence, he is visited with the punishment of a far heavier one—for +behaviour which would make him scandalous and infamous amongst his +brother officers. + +We repeat, this is no technical argument—it is gross, palpable +injustice—as palpable injustice as if a man were tried for manslaughter, +convicted of manslaughter, and hanged for murder! + +If we ask why the Court awarded so severe a sentence as cashiering on so +trifling an offence, we shall be told that the Court had no power to +pass any less sentence than that which is decreed by the article of war. +We admit the reason. But surely if the Court was bound to inflict the +severe sentence decreed by the article of war, it was bound to convict +of the crime specified by that article. The court-martial which tried +Captain Douglas was scrupulous in passing the right sentence, was _not_ +scrupulous in determining whether the crime had been committed for which +alone that sentence is by law awarded. + +Mr Warren concludes his “Letter” by some suggestions for the reform of +our military law. These appear to us to be worthy of consideration. But +legal reforms are grave and intricate matters; we would not give a hasty +opinion on them; we would recommend them to the consideration of our +jurists, and the whole pamphlet to the perusal of our readers. They will +also probably find it far more entertaining than, from our meagre +abstract of the case of Captain Douglas, they will expect. There is one +subject which occupies a considerable space, and which, to the +generality of readers, will form the most attractive portion of the +“Letter,” to which we have made no allusion. We refer to a narrative of +facts, which show the hostile attitude in which Colonel Le Mesurier and +Captain Douglas stood towards each other. It is a little history we +could not possibly abridge, and which did not appear to us as absolutely +necessary to an intelligible view of the case. This narrative will be +read with interest, affording as it does a glimpse into real life, and +showing us what very animated contests and controversies a few officers +may contrive to while away their time with, even in the dull quiet +island of Alderney. It is well told, with graphic but _subdued_ power. +Conscious that the author of one of our best and most popular novels +would be watched on such an occasion, and readily suspected of employing +his art as a consummate narrator, Mr Warren has abstained from producing +any startling effects; he has, at least, used no other than that highest +art which conceals art. We have left the whole of this portion of the +pamphlet fresh and untouched, for the perusal of the reader. + +In the account we have given of this really very important case, we have +not been able to mention the numerous points on which Mr Warren dwells +for the exculpation of his client. We have been compelled to content +ourselves with the impression which the whole narrative, after careful +and unbiassed perusal, left upon our own minds. We are utterly unable to +imagine, for the conduct of Captain Douglas, any worse motive than what +we have described as a somewhat too diplomatic taste, as a want of a +perfectly straightforward manner of speech. We see in his conduct a very +palpable error in judgment, but we are quite at a loss to fix upon +anything which deserves to be characterised as dishonourable—anything +like such infamous and palpable falsehood as ought to drive a man with +disgrace out of the service. + +When we turn from the conduct of Captain Douglas to the sentence passed +upon it, we are utterly amazed at its egregious disproportion and +flagrant injustice. There is an article of war framed for the express +purpose of ridding the service of scandalous and infamous persons. In +order to bring the case of Captain Douglas under this article, he is +first arraigned for “unbecoming conduct,” and by a very severe +construction found guilty of this charge; and then these comparatively +mild and harmless expressions are found to be equivalent to “scandalous +and infamous conduct.” Why, if this be law, if this is a precedent, that +article of war should henceforth be read thus,—“Whoever is guilty of +unbecoming conduct shall be cashiered.” And what a terrible instrument +of injustice such an article of war might be converted into, it is quite +unnecessary to insist upon. If any officer should have made himself +unpopular at the Horse Guards, or amongst his fellow-officers, no matter +by what line of conduct, by being worse or better than the general and +approved standard—it would be strange if his enemies could not fasten +upon some act they could pronounce “unbecoming,” and thereupon expel him +from the service with disgrace and infamy. + + + + + A FAREWELL TO NAPLES. + + +I. + + A glorious amphitheatre, whose girth + Exceeds three-fold th’ horizons of the north, + Mixing our pleasure in a goblet wide, + With hard, firm rim through clear air far-descried; + Illumined mountains, on whose heavenly slopes, + Quick, busy shades rehearse, while Phœbus drops, + Dramatic parts in scenic mysteries; + Far-shadowing islands, and exulting seas + With cities girt, that catch, till day is done, + Successive glances from the circling sun, + And cast a snowy gleam across the blue:— + A gulf that, to its lakelike softness true, + Reveres the stillness of the syren’s cell, + Yet knows the ocean’s roll, and loves it well; + A gulf where Zephyr oft, with noontide heat + Oppressed, descends to bathe his sacred feet, + And, at the first cold touch, at once reviving, + Sinks to the wings in joy, before him driving + A feathery foam into the lemon groves;— + Evasive, zone-like sands and secret coves; + Translucent waves that, heaved with motion slow, + On fanes submerged a brighter gleam bestow; + Fair hamlets, streets with odorous myrtles spread, + Bruised by processions grave with soundless tread, + That leave (the Duomo entered) on the mind + A pomp confused, and music on the wind; + Smooth, mounded banks like inland coasts and capes, + That take from seas extinct their sinuous shapes, + And girdle plains whose growths, fire-fed below, + In bacchanal exuberance burst and blow; + A light Olympian and an air divine— + Naples! if these are blessings, they are thine. + + + II. + + Thy sands we paced in sunlight and soft gloom; + From Tasso’s birthplace roamed to Virgil’s tomb. + Baia! thy haunts we trod, and glowing caves + Whose ambushed ardours pant o’er vine-decked waves. + Thy cliffs we coasted, loitered in thy creeks, + O shaggy island[6] with the five gray peaks! + Explored thy grotto, scaled thy fortress, where + Thy dark-eyed maids trip down the rocky stair, + With glance cast backward, laugh of playful scorn, + And cheek carnationed with the lights of morn. + The hills Lactarean lodged us in their breast: + Shadowy Sorrento to her spicy rest + Called us from far with gales embalmed, yet pure; + Her orange brakes we pierced, and ranged her rifts obscure. + Breathless along Pompeii’s streets we strayed + By songless fount, mosaic undecayed, + Voluptuous tomb, still forum, painted hall, + Where wreathed Bacchantes float on every wall; + Where Ariadne, by the purple deep, + Hears not those panting sails, but smiles in sleep; + Where yet Silenus grasps the woodland cup, + And buried Pleasure from its grave looks up. + Lastly, the great Vesuvian steep we clomb; + Then, Naples! made once more with thee our home. + We leave thee now—but first, with just review, + We cast the account, and strike the balance true— + And thus, as forth we move, we take our last adieu. + + + III. + + From her whom genius never yet inspired, + Or virtue raised, or pulse heroic fired; + From her who, in the grand historic page, + Maintains one barren blank from age to age; + From her, with insect life and insect buz, + Who, evermore unresting, nothing does; + From her who, with the future and the past + No commerce holds, no structure rears to last: + From streets where priests and jesters, side by side, + Range the rank markets, and their gains divide; + Where faith in art, and art in sense is lost, + And toys and gewgaws form a nation’s boast; + Where Passion, from Affection’s bond cut loose, + Revels in orgies of its own abuse; + And appetite, from Passion’s portals thrust, + Creeps on its belly to its grave of dust; + Where Vice her mask disdains, where Fraud is loud, + And naught but Wisdom dumb and Justice cowed;— + Lastly, from her who planted here unawed, + ’Mid heaven-topped hills, and waters bright and broad, + Lacks heart to gather, and lacks strength to bear, + From these, one impulse of the free and fair; + And, girt not less with ruin, lives to show + That worse than wasted weal is wasted woe,— + We part; forth issuing through her closing gate, + With unreverting faces, not ingrate. + + + + + BARBARIAN RAMBLES.[7] + + +That great geniuses meet, is a saying almost as ancient as the twin +rocks that give a title to Mr David Urquhart’s latest literary +production. But not often is the same country visited and described, +within the short space of two years, by two such distinguished persons +as the member for Stafford and the author of _Monte-Christo_. For the +honour of their presence, the shores of Barbary and Andalusia are +indebted to the chapter of accidents. “I did not visit Morocco or Spain +on any settled plan. I was on my way to Italy by sea, and, passing +through the straits of Gibraltar, was so fascinated by the beauty and +mysteries of the adjoining lands, that I relinquished my proposed +excursion for the explorations which are here recorded.” Thus far the +Celt. Hear the Gaul’s reply to the Bey of Tunis, when questioned as to +the motive of his African excursion,—“I answered, that I had the honour +to be known to the king and princes of France; that I had the misfortune +to be on tolerably bad terms with the father, but the happiness to stand +pretty well with the sons; that one of these sons, of whom he (the Bey) +had doubtless heard speak, and who was dead—M. le Duc d’Orléans—had more +than once deigned to call me his friend; that another son, still better +known to him than the first,—M. le Duc de Montpensier—had inherited his +brother’s friendship for me, and had invited me to his wedding, which +had just taken place at Madrid; that, being at Madrid, I desired to push +on to Algiers, and, once at Algiers, I felt unwilling to quit Africa +without saying a prayer upon the tomb of St Louis, who was, as he surely +knew, a great _marabout_; that I was on my way to perform this duty, +when I heard that he did me the honour to expect me, whereupon I +hastened to pay him my respects.” Such trivial causes lead to great +results! To the Montpensier marriage is the Bey of Tunis indebted for an +interview with the first of French novelists, and the European world for +the narrative of his African travels. We hesitated before associating +the two books that form the theme of this article. We feared to rouse M. +Dumas’ indignation, by coupling him with an author whom he, with his +usual supercilious disesteem of things British, will probably set down +as _un pédant Ecossais_. On the other hand, we thought it possible so +grave and erudite a person as Mr Urquhart might consider his labours +slighted, when linked with the playful superficialities of _Le Véloce_; +and from this apprehension we were relieved, only upon finding him quote +his French cotemporary’s Spanish tour with an air of greater approval +than he usually bestows upon the works of recent writers on Spain. For +it is not the most amiable of his peculiarities, that his references to +brother travellers are generally censorious. He seems to have vowed +opposition and animosity to all who have rambled and written over the +same ground as himself. Blanco White, George Borrow, Richard Ford, and +various others of less note, in turn come in for correction or a sneer. +The last-named is particularly ill-treated. “To Mr Ford’s book, however +disagreeable the task, I had intended to devote a special chapter; but, +understanding that the two volumes are, in the second edition, reduced +to one, I must infer that the author has anticipated my conclusion,—that +the work might be made valuable by cutting out the slang, ribaldry, +opinions, and false quotations.” Should _The Pillars of Hercules_ reach +a second edition, either condensed, or in its present diffuse form, we +advise its author to cut out this passage, or at least to correct its +discourtesy and exaggeration. So harsh and unjust a verdict drives us to +the inference that, owing to some mental idiosyncrasy of Mr Urquhart’s, +the chief merits of the book he decries altogether escape his +perception; and that, whilst dwelling upon an occasional +error—pardonable in a work embracing so great a variety of subject, and +such a mass of detail—and condemning those opinions that are so +unfortunate as to differ from his own, he totally overlooks the racy +humour, the happy illustrations, the felicitous exposition of Spanish +foibles and characteristics, the intimate knowledge of the country and +its customs, which place the author of the _Handbook_ and _Gatherings_ +amongst the very highest authorities respecting modern Spain. But we +need not take up the cudgels for Richard Ford, whose works will stand +upon their own bottom, and whose acute and pungent pen is quite able to +defend his literary offspring, should he think it worth his while, even +against his present formidable assailant. + +There can be no doubt about the disappointment of those persons who open +_The Pillars of Hercules_ in expectation of finding what the title +promises—a narrative of travel in Spain and Morocco. These countries are +certainly mentioned here and there in the two bulky octavos, but quite +subordinately to a variety of other matters which had perhaps better +been treated elsewhere than in the professed book of travels they cumber +and overload. Mr Urquhart, who has published volumes and pamphlets on +innumerable subjects, social and political, foreign and domestic, +appears to have had by him a heterogeneous mass of essays and +dissertations, which he has now strung, pretty much at random, upon the +slender thread of his Spanish-African ramble. Wearisomely discursive and +desultory, he continually canters off to distant regions, and to +subjects foreign to his text. Thus we have a chapter on the invention +and antiquity of glass; another concerning the magnetic needle; a third +and fourth, in which we are taken to America, Ceylon, China, and other +remote places; one about the celebrated drug hashish, which temporarily +transports its votaries into paradise. This is presently succeeded by a +dissertation on buttered muffins; and shortly thereafter we arrive at a +long essay on the early races of Spain and Mauritania, which we take for +granted to be exceedingly learned and important, and which we are quite +sure is awfully heavy and uninteresting. Etymology is a hobby of this +author’s, and the portions of his work devoted to it would, of +themselves, make a good-sized volume, by whose separation the book would +be greatly lightened and advantaged. On the subject of corporal +purification he grows positively eloquent and impassioned; and so minute +are his descriptions of the scrubbing and scraping processes, by which +alone men become fit to live, that he very rightly deems a prefatory +apology essential. On this head more anon. We pause, for a specimen of +solemn trifling, at Chapter Nine, Book the First, Volume the First. +Nominally an “Excursion round the Straits,” it is actually an essay on +costume, commencing with Spanish petticoats, giving a passing glance to +the history and origin of lace, asserting the identity of the Moorish +and Highland garb, and closing with an argument in favour of the +importance and moral influence of a national dress. The chapter opens +with praises of Cadiz, a city so long accustomed to rhyme with “ladies,” +that it will hardly feel surprise or annoyance at Mr Urquhart’s +attributing its charm less to the beauty of its buildings than to the +“swarm of women,” with “fluttering eyes,” and “silk blonde tresses,” +covering the floor of the cathedral. From tresses to dresses the +transition is easy, and he proceeds to discourse upon the mantilla: not +a very novel subject certainly, but one upon which he, nevertheless, +contrives to cast some new lights—lights that would, we suspect, rather +dazzle and astonish the amiable Gaditanas, whose habits and habiliments +he professes to describe. Whilst stigmatising as “a bagged hood” the +most graceful and elegant description of mantilla—that, namely, composed +entirely of lace, and which is in fact the only kind worn by the higher +classes of Spanish women—he informs us that “in windy weather the +mantilla is secured against the cheek by the tip of the fan.” We laugh +horribly as we summon up, at this conjuror’s bidding, a procession of +mantilla-draped dames and damsels tripping the Alameda on a breezy day, +each one of them with the extremity of her fan poked into her dexter +jaw. Spanish women know better how to use that active little instrument +of flirtation. Passing over these and other slight absurdities, we +arrive at the hair-dressing department. Here Mr Urquhart is at first +rather puzzled. But he will not be baffled, and goes to the very roots +of the capillaries. “The hair is dressed in two styles. One is called +_sarrano_. The only explanation I could get for this name was, that +_sierra_ means mountain, and that the mountaineers dress in this way. +But neither does it seem to be the style of the sierra, nor does the +word _sarrano_ mean mountain: there is, indeed, no such word in +Spanish.” When ascertaining this last fact by reference to his +dictionary, it is strange that our traveller did not stumble upon the +word “_Serrano_, subs. mountaineer; adj. pertaining to mountains,” and +which is, in fact, the very word applied to the style of head-dress in +question, his ear having doubtless misled him as to the _e_ and _a_. +This guides us to two derivations. First, the one furnished him by the +natives, that the style in question is or was particularly affected by +the dwellers in the Andalusian sierras, as it still is by the +mountaineers of Catalonia. A second explanation may be found in the form +of the comb that accompanies this mode of head-dress, (but of which Mr +Urquhart makes no mention,) and whose turreted or dentated crest, rising +full four inches perpendicularly from the crown of the head, may have +suggested the term _serrano_, by its elevation and imaginary resemblance +to a row of hill-tops. But such interpretations as these are far too +simple and vulgar to suit Mr Urquhart, who loves to journey by +roundabout roads, and would make, like Monkbarns, a Roman sacrificing +vessel out of a kail-supper’s ladle. He bores and proses away till he +proves, quite to his own satisfaction, that “sarrano head-dress means +neither more nor less than Tyrian head-dress. Such an etymology is by no +means far-fetched.” Certainly not, when compared with others scattered +through the book, although even this one may be considered rather _tiré +par les cheveux_: and, moreover, the whole fabric is overthrown by the +word proving to be serrano. But the hunting after derivations is a +passion with Mr Urquhart, and leads him to the unearthing of affinities +which nobody else would suspect. We confess ourselves so overwhelmed by +the flux of erudition, by the multiplicity of languages brought to bear, +and by the extraordinary etymons assigned to words with which they have +nothing visible in common, that we resign ourselves to believe in +Urquhart, and are prepared to admit, at his dictation, the old +derivation of cucumber from Jeremiah King as perfectly valid, and +consonant to all received laws. So fond is the honourable gentleman of +this grubbing for roots, that, when once he stumbles on a derivation, he +goes on through a whole alphabet of them; like a child who, having begun +to run down hill, is unable to stop till it reaches the plain, or falls +exhausted by the road-side. We doubt if many of his readers will share +the avidity with which he pursues his dry and long-winded +investigations, which would be more in place in a dictionary of +derivations than in a narrative of travel. + +Our intention, in bringing Messrs Dumas and Urquhart into juxtaposition, +is by no means to compare them, or to exalt either at the expense of the +other. Their books form the strongest possible contrast. In one respect +only do they agree—in a propensity to ramble from their subject. We have +hinted at the crotchets that lead the Highlander from his track; the +Frenchman strays in quest of the dramatic and romantic, and is beguiled +by his prodigious vanity into the most divertingly egotistical details. +The one is an eccentric dogmatist, full of crotchets, but unobtrusive of +his individuality; the other never loses sight of himself, nor will +suffer his reader to do so. He is always in the foreground of the +picture, the chief character on the canvass, the hero of his own comedy; +or, if for a moment he retires from the foot-lamps, it is that their +light may shine upon his son and heir, Alexander the younger, a _grand +garçon blond_, and one of the half-score artists and literati who +compose the suite of the illustrious Monte-Christo. When the travellers +arrived at Cadiz, in November 1846, Mr Dumas junior was suddenly +discovered to be missing. Fascinated by the bright eyes of a Cordovan +maiden, he had given his friends the slip. Although somewhat uneasy, his +father contented himself with detaching one of his staff in quest of the +truant, and went on board the war-steamer Véloce, which had been placed +at his disposal by the Minister of Public Instruction. Some of our +readers may remember that, about three years ago, this circumstance gave +rise to a discussion in the French Chamber, when some doubt was thrown +upon the fact of M. Dumas being intrusted with a government mission. +This seems to have annoyed the distinguished dramatist, who repeatedly +refers to the subject, gives a copy of his passport and of certain +official letters; and upbraids M. Guizot, whom he at last, however, +magnanimously forgives, declaring he has forgotten his name. He then +protests against the envy of which his eminent position has rendered him +the object, and concludes his remarks, made in a tone of dignified and +chastened indignation, with the following striking passage:—“The steamer +thus placed at my disposal has made me more enemies than _Antony_ and +_Monte-Christo_, which is saying not a little. It was in 1823 or 1824, I +believe, that Sir Walter Scott, being then in bad health, expressed a +wish to make a voyage to Italy. The English admiralty placed its finest +frigate at the disposal of the author of _Ivanhoe_; and England +applauded, and the two houses of parliament applauded, and the very +newspapers clapped their hands approvingly. And it was well done; for, +for the first time perhaps, the flag with the three leopards was saluted +in every port of the Mediterranean by the enthusiastic acclamations of +the people. Were those acclamations for the flag, or for the man of +genius it sheltered? for the unknown captain of the frigate, whose name +I never heard, or for Sir Walter Scott? True, I may be told that I am +not Sir Walter Scott; but to this I reply, that it is the great +misfortune of living men in France not to know what they are, so long as +they _are_ living.” + +How very good is this quiet assertion of merit and anticipation of +posthumous appreciation by an ungrateful country. “The steamer,” +continues the possible future rival of Scott, “was granted me—be it as a +matter of favour, or as an act of justice; and Government consented to +expend for me some sixteen thousand francs’ worth of coal. It is right +the world should know that this voyage, which caused such an outcry, +cost the Government sixteen thousand francs. Just half what it cost me!” +A paltry eight hundred napoleons! Can France regret it, when applied to +the service of her brightest literary ornament? Let her read the +_Véloce_, and take shame for her shabbiness. Astride upon his fiery +charger, the giant commenced his cruise. Need we say that all eyes were +upon him as he boarded the steamer, and that he took by assault the +hearts of the entire ship’s company, whom he seized an early opportunity +to convince that his skill was as great with the fowling-piece as with +the pen. “The Véloce was surrounded by a flock of sea-fowl; on +approaching the vessel, desirous to give our future companions a +specimen of my dexterity, I fired my two barrels at a brace of gulls, +both of which fell. The yawl pulled to pick them up; and, after this +brilliant feat, we proceeded triumphantly to the steamer.” This is the +first and least considerable of a series of “brilliant feats” of the +same kind, recorded by M. Dumas of himself in the pages of _Le Véloce_. +At Tangiers, his first landing-place in Africa, he goes out shooting, +and encounters an Arab, the first he has seen. This meeting furnishes a +chapter—a sort of parody of scenes in Scott and Cooper, the parts of +Robin Hood and Leatherstocking by M. Alexandre Dumas. He has just shot a +small bird, when the Arab appears and doubts his having killed it on the +wing. A trial of skill ensues between the Parisian and the Bedouin, the +former promising the latter, who is unwilling to waste his powder, six +charges for every one he fires away. The Arab fires at a plover and +misses. M. Dumas brings down a snipe. The Arab smiles. + +“‘The Frenchman shoots well,’ he said; ‘but a true hunter uses not shot, +but a ball.’ The janissary translated his words to me. + +“‘’Tis true’ I replied; ‘tell him I quite agree with him, and that, if +he will fix upon a mark, I engage to do what he does.’ + +“‘The Frenchman owes me six charges of powder,’ quoth the Arab. + +“‘True again,’ I replied; ‘let the Arab hold out his hand.’ He held it +out, and I emptied into it about a third of the contents of my flask. He +produced his horn, and poured in the powder to the very last grain. This +done, he would evidently have been well-pleased to depart; but that +would not answer the purpose of Giraud and Boulanger, who had not yet +finished their sketches. Accordingly, at the first movement he made, + +“‘Remind your countryman,’ said I to El-Arbi-Bernat, ‘that we have each +of us to send a bullet somewhere, whithersoever he pleases.’ + +“‘Yes,’ said the Arab. He looked about and found a stick, which he +picked up, and then again set himself to seek for something. I had in my +pocket a letter from one of my nephews, employed on His Majesty’s +private domain: this letter reposed peaceably in its square envelope, +adorned with a red seal; I give it to the Arab, suspecting he was +looking for it, or for something like it. The letter was the very thing +for a target. The Arab understood at once; he split the end of the stick +with his knife, stuck in the letter, planted the stick in the sand, and +returned to us, counting twenty-five paces. Then he loaded his gun. I +had a double-barrelled rifle, ready loaded; an excellent weapon, made by +Devisme: in each of its barrels was one of those pointed bullets with +which one kills a man at fifteen hundred metres, (an English mile; well +done, M. Dumas!) I took it from Paul, its usual bearer, and I waited. + +“The Arab took aim with a care which showed the importance he attached +to not being vanquished a second time. He fired, and his bullet carried +off a corner of the envelope. Masters of themselves as Arabs generally +are, ours could not restrain a cry of joy as he pointed to the rent in +the paper. I made sign that I saw it perfectly well. He addressed to me +a few animated words. + +“‘He says it is your turn,’ interpreted the janissary. + +“‘Certainly,’ I replied; ‘but tell him that in France we do not fire at +so short a distance.’ I measured fifty paces. He watched me with +astonishment. ‘Now,’ said I, ‘tell him that, with the first shot, I will +hit the target nearer the centre than he has done; and with the second I +will cut the stick that sustains it.’ + +“In my turn I took a careful aim; I had not come to Africa to leave a +wrong prospectus; and, having declared my game, I was bound to play it +well. The first ball sped, and broke the seal. The second followed +almost immediately, and cut the stick. The Arab threw his gun on his +shoulder, and walked away, without claiming the six charges of powder he +was entitled to. It was evident he felt crushed under the weight of his +inferiority, and that, at that moment, he doubted of everything, even of +the Prophet. He followed the circular road along the beach, leading to +Tangiers, and reached the town, I am certain, without having once turned +his head. Two or three Arabs, who in the meanwhile had crossed the Oued, +and who had witnessed the trial of skill, departed as silently, and +almost in as great consternation, as their countryman. All Morocco was +humiliated in the person of its representative.” + +Mr Urquhart and Mr Dumas each made some stay at Tangiers, but, as will +easily be understood, they employed their time very differently, and +have scarcely an idea in common on the subject. The one talks politics, +dissects languages and makes antiquarian investigations; the other, +after the shooting match above detailed, and some rather high-flown +attempts at description of scenery, goes fishing and boar-hunting, +attends a Jewish wedding, and purchases half the stock in trade of David +Azencot, an honest Israelite, and a wealthy dealer in sabres, burnous, +scarfs, lamps, chibouks, and a thousand and one other Moorish +curiosities. The Scot is didactic and dull; the Frenchman frivolous, but +amusing. Of course they both visit Gibraltar, and devote a chapter to +that remarkable fortress; and here we must say that M. Dumas carries it +hollow, as far as pleasant tone and good taste go. As is customary with +him, he is flippant and good-humouredly impertinent; but he shows +himself grateful for a hospitable reception, and does not rake up old +stories to the disadvantage of the dead. He begins with the notable +discovery that Gibraltar has a foggy atmosphere. The English, he says, +being used to a fog in their own country, have manufactured one, by the +help of sea-coal, upon the coast of Spain. The English, he affirms, +strive against and vanquish nature herself. “They have produced dahlias +that smell like pinks, cherries without stones, gooseberries without +grains, and they are now rearing oxen without legs. Behold, for +instance, those of the county of Durham; they have but one joint, and +walk almost upon their belly. Soon they will have no joints at all, and +will walk quite upon their belly. Thus it is with the fog. There was no +fog at Gibraltar before it belonged to the English; but the English were +accustomed to fog, they missed it, and they made it.... On entering +Gibraltar, I felt that I quitted Spain. Tangiers, which we had just +left, was much more Spanish than Gibraltar. Hardly had we passed the +gate, when we were transported into England. No more pointed pavements, +no more latticed houses and green _jalousies_, no more of those charming +_patios_, with marble fountains in the midst of the shops: but +clothiers, cutlers, armourers, hotels with the arms of Great Britain, +flagged footpaths, fair women, red officers, and English horses. Tom +Thumb had lent us his boots, and each step we had taken from the deck of +the Véloce had carried us seven leagues. We entered a _restaurant_. We +ate raw beefsteaks, sandwiches, butter, moistening them with ale and +porter; but when, after breakfast, we asked for a glass of Malaga, they +were obliged to send out for it. On the other hand, the tea was +irreproachable.” This is a very fair skit on the Englishman’s habit of +carrying his country’s usages into climates for which they are totally +unadapted. Although feeling, according to his own account, far from at +his ease in this British military colony, of whose warlike aspect and +regulations he sketches a ludicrous caricature, M. Dumas would not leave +it without paying a visit to the governor; and, lest the anonymous lady +to whom his African letters are addressed should be unable to comprehend +this unusual (?) desire on his part to make the acquaintance of those in +high places, he beguiles the time, till the governor returns from his +ride, by telling the story of Lavalette. No matter that it has been +pretty often told; related _à la Dumas_, that is to say, with a +superabundance of detail, it covers a few pages, and explains his wish +for an interview with the English general. “Sir Robert Wilson, a +magnificent old man, sixty-six or sixty-eight years of age, who still +breaks his own horses, and rides ten leagues every day, gave me a +charming reception. I was so imprudent as to express my admiration of +some Moorish pottery-wares upon his sideboard, and I found them in my +cabin on returning to the Véloce. If anything could have induced me to +remain another day at Gibraltar, it would have been the pressing +invitation Sir Robert Wilson was kind enough to give me. Impressed with +a lively sentiment of admiration, I left this noble and loyal-hearted +man. May God grant long and happy days to him, to whom another man was +indebted for long days of happiness.” All his admiration of Lavalette’s +saviour was insufficient to detain him in Gibraltar, which he declares +himself to have quitted with as strong a sensation of relief as +Napoleon’s ex-aide-de-camp can have felt when, thanks to Sir Robert +Wilson’s chivalry, he safely set foot across France’s frontier. French +and English are now well used to each other’s jocular sarcasm, and are +never the worse friends for it, because it is the interest of both to +remain in amity. There is no venom in M. Dumas’ playful satire, which +one glances over with a smile, quitting it with regret for the croakings +of Mr Urquhart. This gentleman has some very peculiar notions respecting +Gibraltar, whose restoration to Spain he strongly advocates, and to +whose retention by Great Britain he ascribes a frightful catalogue of +evils, including sundry European wars, fifty-five millions sterling +unprofitably sunk, and the undying hatred of Spain towards this +country—bringing no less a witness than Napoleon to the truth of this +last assertion. The fifty-five millions are “suggested as a rough guess” +at the actual outlay; and besides them, we are assured, hundreds of +millions have been spent on wars entailed by our possession of +Gibraltar. All this is too vaguely put, seriously to challenge argument +or refutation; and as to the “undying hatred,” why, the anti-English +party in Spain may occasionally bluster about the hole in the national +honour, and so forth; but the great majority of the nation never bestow +a thought upon the matter, and the smuggling portion of the community—no +uninfluential class—find Gibraltar exceedingly convenient for their +contraband traffic. But Mr Urquhart’s statements on this head are very +loose, and some of them very fallacious; and he attains the climax of +absurdity and misrepresentation when he says, that “the fiscal +regulations of Spain, which sustain this (contraband) traffic, would +long since have fallen but for its (Gibraltar’s) retention by England. +We therefore lose the legitimate trade of all Spain, for the smuggling +profits (which go to the Spaniards) at this port.” The sort of jingle of +plausibility in these sentences will impose only upon persons profoundly +ignorant of the subject. The assertion is made in the teeth of notorious +facts, and is opposed alike to truth and to common sense. The more +difficult, dangerous, and expensive smuggling could be rendered, the +less would be its injurious effect on the Spanish revenue, and the less +likely would be a reduction of duties. The smuggling facilities afforded +by Gibraltar, by the Portuguese frontier and the Pyrenean line, (Mr +Urquhart, it has been seen, wholly ignores the two latter channels, and +lays the high-duty system entirely at the door of Gibraltar,) have, by +limiting the custom-house receipts to the merest trifle, contributed, +more than any other cause, to fix the attention of the Spanish +government on the advantage to be derived from reductions in their +monstrous tariff—reductions which the last four months have beheld +carried out, although as yet but to an exceedingly limited extent. This +subject, however, has of late been so fully discussed in our pages that +we shall not here pursue it further, particularly as it is evident that +Mr Urquhart has still to become acquainted with its rudiments. It were +more amusing, although scarcely more profitable, to dwell upon a +subsequent chapter, where, reverting to Gibraltar, the honourable +gentleman tilts at its late governor, and raises the Russian bugbear—a +goblin which he would doubtless always manage to evoke, in whatsoever +part of the world he chanced to find himself. In portentous italics he +tells us as how “a Russian steam-vessel of war was admitted to the quay +of her Majesty’s vessels to get coal, which was furnished her from the +royal stores, while French men-of-war were allowed no such indulgence; +on departing she _was saluted by the fortress with twenty-one guns_! +This I witnessed with my own eyes, and heard with my own ears. The +assembled crowd said, ‘_Es loco_’—‘he is mad.’” Is Mr Urquhart certain +to whom the crowd’s exclamation referred? His pet crotchet is by this +time pretty generally recognised; and even his best friends, and a few +partial admirers, cannot choose but smile at the tenacity of his +monomania, and at the moonshine illumination he throws upon Russian +designs and their British abettors. Truly he is a dead hand at a mare’s +nest. With a scuttle of coals and a blank cartridge, he would build up a +powder-plot, and talks darkly and ominously about “the system of +government (in England) by secresy and intrigue.” We do think, however, +he would have done more gracefully to let Sir Robert Wilson alone. +“Since the above was written,” he says, “Sir Robert Wilson has +disappeared from the scene. I do not on that account suppress what I +have written, as I have not brought any charge against him.” No new +charge; but he has revived and dragged forth an old one, wellnigh +forgotten under the moss of years and the laurels of the departed +veteran. It is no generous hand that will approach, otherwise than +kindly and with reverence, the memory of the gallant soldier of the +Peninsula, the brave defender of Portugal, the stout fighter by Dresden, +of whom it has so truly been said, that “he ever was foremost where +danger was to be encountered or glory won.”[8] + +Totally dissimilar in character as are the two works under examination, +the transitions from the one to the other are yet astonishingly easy. +Thus Mr Urquhart’s Muscovite nightmare leads us, in the most natural +manner possible, to a tale of a cotton nightcap, related by his witty +contemporary. At Tunis, M. Dumas was quite confounded by the prevalence +of this unpoetical but comfortable head-dress, which he constantly met +with in the streets and on the quays. Puzzled at its naturalisation in a +clime so remote from its native country, (an honour which he claims for +France,) and being of an inquisitive turn of mind, he instituted +inquiries, and received for explanation an anecdote, which we shall here +transcribe, as nearly as possible, in his own phraseology. We feel that +we neglect Mr Urquhart, and ought by right to give precedence of extract +to his muffin-investigation; but really the nightcap story is much more +amusing, and quite as important, although it may possibly owe more to +its narrator’s imagination. + +About twenty years ago, according to M. Dumas, under the reign of a +former Bey, a ship bound from Marseilles to Gibraltar, with a cargo of +cotton nightcaps, was driven by a gale into Tunis roads. At that period +a duty was levied on vessels availing themselves of the port of Tunis; +and this duty, depending on the caprice of the Raïa-marsa, or captain of +the port, was very arbitrary. The Marseilles captain was naturally +subjected to this impost; still more naturally the Raïa-marsa fixed it +at an exorbitant sum. There was, however, no alternative but to pay: the +unlucky speculator in nightcaps lay beneath the paw of the lion. With +the loss of part of his skin, he slipped between the beast’s claws, and +ran to throw himself at the feet of the Bey. The Bey hearkened to the +complaint of the Giaour. When he had heard it, and had satisfied himself +that the amount of extortion had been rightly stated by its victim, he +said:— + +“Do you desire Turkish justice or French justice?” + +After long reflection, the Marseillese, with a confidence that did +honour to the legislation of his native land, replied: + +“French justice.” + +“’Tis good,” replied the Bey; “return to thy ship and wait.” + +The seaman kissed his highness’s papooshes, returned to his ship, and +waited. He waited one month, two months, three months. At the end of the +third month, finding the time rather long, he went ashore, and watched +for the Bey to pass by. The Bey appeared: the captain threw himself at +his feet. + +“Highness,” said he, “you have forgotten me?” + +“By no means,” replied the Bey; “you are the captain of the French ship +who complained to me of the Raïa-marsa?” + +“And to whom you promised justice!” + +“Yes; but French justice.” + +“Certainly.” + +“Well, of what do you now complain?” + +“Of having waited three months for it.” + +“Listen,” said the Bey. “Three years ago your consul treated me with +disrespect; I complained to your king, claiming justice at his hands, +and three years have I waited for it: come back in three years, and we +will see.” + +“The deuce!” exclaimed the captain, who began to understand; “and is +there no means of abridging the delay, your highness?” + +“You asked for French justice.” + +“But if I had asked for Turkish justice?” + +“That were different: it had been done you on the instant.” + +“Is it too late to change my mind?” + +“It is never too late to do wisely.” + +“Turkish justice then, highness—grant me Turkish justice!” + +“’Tis good. Follow me.” + +The captain kissed the Bey’s papooshes, and followed him to his palace. +Arrived there: “How much did the Raïa-marsa exact from you?” inquired +the Bey. + +“Fifteen hundred francs.” + +“And you consider that sum too large?” + +“Highness, such is my humble opinion.” + +“Too large by how much?” + +“By at least two-thirds.” + +“’Tis just; here are fifteen hundred piastres, making exactly a thousand +francs.” + +“Highness,” said the captain, “you are the balance of divine justice,” +and he kissed the papooshes of the Bey, and was about to depart. The Bey +stopped him. + +“Have you no other claim to prefer?” he said. + +“One I certainly have, highness, but I dare not.” + +“Dare, and speak.” + +“It seems to me that I deserve compensation for the time I have lost, +whilst awaiting the memorable decision your highness has just +pronounced.” + +“’Tis just.” + +“The rather,” continued the captain, emboldened by the Bey’s +approbation, “that I was expected at Gibraltar in the beginning of the +winter, which is now over, and the favourable season for the sale of my +cargo is past.” + +“And of what does thy cargo consist?” demanded the Bey. + +“Highness, of cotton nightcaps.” + +“What are cotton nightcaps?” + +The captain took from his pocket a specimen of his goods, and presented +it to the Bey. + +“For what purpose is this utensil?” said the latter. + +“To cover the head,” replied the captain. And joining example to +precept, he put on the nightcap. + +“It is very ugly,” quoth the Bey. + +“But very comfortable,” retorted the captain. + +“And you say that my delay to do you justice has occasioned you a loss?” + +“Of ten thousand francs, at least, highness.” + +The Bey called his secretary. The secretary entered, crossed his hands +upon his breast, and bowed to the ground. Then he took his pen, and the +Bey dictated to him a few lines, which, being in Arabic, were totally +unintelligible to the captain. When the secretary had done writing: +“’Tis good,” said the Bey; “let this decree be proclaimed throughout the +city.” Again the secretary crossed his hands upon his breast, bent +himself to the earth, and departed. + +“Craving your highness’s pardon,” said the captain, “may I venture to +inquire the substance of that decree?” + +“Certainly; it is an order to all the Jews in Tunis to cover their +heads, within twenty-four hours from this time, with a cotton nightcap, +under penalty of decapitation.” + +“Ah! _tron de l’air_!” exclaimed the Marseillese; “I understand.” + +“Then if you understand, return to your ship, and make the best profit +you can of your goods; you will soon have customers.” The captain threw +himself at the feet of the Bey, kissed his papooshes and returned to his +ship. Meanwhile, by sound of trumpet, and in all the streets of Tunis, +the following proclamation was made. + +“Praises to Allah, the universal, to whom all things return! + +“The slave of Allah glorified, who implores his pardon and absolution, +the Mouchir Sidi-Hussein-Pacha, Bey of Tunis: + +“Forbids every Jew, Israelite, or Nazarene, to appear in the streets of +Tunis without a cotton nightcap upon his accursed and infidel head. + +“This, under pain of decapitation. + +“Giving to the unbelievers twenty-four hours to provide themselves with +the said covering. + +“To this order all obedience is due. + +“Written under date of the 20th April, in the year 1243 of the Hegira. + + (Signed,) “SIDI HUSSEIN.” + +You may fancy the sensation excited in Tunis by such a proclamation +as this. The twenty-five thousand Jews who compose the Israelite +population of the city looked aghast, and asked each other what was +this eighth plague which thus descended upon the people chosen of +the Lord. The most learned Rabbis were appealed to, but not one of +them had a clear notion of what a cotton nightcap was. At last a +_Gourni_—it is thus the Leghorn Jews are named—remembered to have +once seen the crew of a Norman ship enter that port with the +head-dress in question. It was something to know the article +required; the next thing to be ascertained was, where it could be +procured. Twelve thousand cotton nightcaps are not to be picked up +at every street corner. The men wrung their hands, the women tore +their hair, the children ate the dust upon the highway. Just when +the cries of anguish were most piercing, and the desolation at its +climax, a report spread through the multitude. It said that a ship +laden with cotton nightcaps was then in the port. Inquiry was made. +It was, said rumour, a three-master from Marseilles. The question +was, would there be nightcaps enough? Were there twelve thousand of +them—a cotton nightcap for everybody? There was a rush to the water +side; in an instant a flotilla of boats, crowded almost to sinking, +covered the lake, and it was a hot race out to the roads. At the +Goulette there was fouling, and four or five boats were capsized; +but as there are but four feet of water in the lake of Tunis, nobody +was drowned. They cleared the narrow passage, and approached the +good ship _Notre Dame de la Garde_, whose captain was upon deck +expecting their arrival. Through his telescope he had beheld the +embarkation, the race, the accidents—everything in short. In less +than ten minutes three hundred boats surrounded his vessel, and +twelve thousand throats vociferated, “Cotton nightcaps! cotton +nightcaps!” The captain signed with his hand for silence, and the +noisy mob were mute as mice. + +“You want cotton nightcaps?” said he. + +“Yes! yes! yes!” was the reply on every side. + +“All very well,” said the captain; “but you are aware, gentlemen, that +cotton nightcaps are just now in great request. My letters from Europe +advise a rise in the article.” + +“We know that,” said the same voices—“we know that, and ve vill make a +sacrifice.” + +“Listen to me,” said the captain; “I am an honest man.” + +The Jews trembled. The captain’s words were their invariable exordium +when about to rob a Christian. + +“I will not take advantage of your position to impose upon you.” + +The Jews turned pale. + +“The cotton nightcaps cost me two francs apiece, one with the other.” + +“Vell, it ish not too dear,” muttered the Jews in their beards. + +“I will be satisfied with a hundred per cent profit,” continued the +captain. + +“Hosannah!” cried the Jews. + +“At four francs apiece, cotton nightcaps!” said the captain, and twelve +thousand hands were extended. “Order!” he continued; “come up on the +larboard side, and go down on the starboard.” Every Jew crossed the +vessel in turn, carried away a nightcap, and left four francs. The +captain’s receipts were forty-eight thousand francs, whereof thirty-six +thousand were clear profit. The twelve thousand Jews returned to Tunis, +every man plus a cotton nightcap, and minus four francs. + +The next day the captain presented himself at the palace of the Bey, at +whose feet he prostrated himself, and kissed his papooshes. + +“Well?” said the Bey. + +“Your highness,” said the captain, “I come to thank you.” + +“You are satisfied?” + +“Delighted.” + +“And you prefer Turkish justice to French justice?” + +“There is no comparison between them.” + +“This is not all,” said the Bey. And, turning to his secretary, he bade +him take his pen and write at his dictation. The writing was a second +decree, forbidding the Jews, under pain of death, to appear in the +streets of Tunis with cotton nightcaps on their heads, and granting them +twenty-four hours to dispose of their recent purchases as advantageously +as possible. + +“Do you understand?” said the Bey to the captain. + +“Oh, highness!” cried the Marseillese in an ecstasy of delight, “you are +the greatest of all Beys, past, present, and to come.” + +“Return to your vessel, and wait.” + +Half an hour later, the trumpets sounded in the streets of Tunis, and +the town’s-people thronged to the unusual summons. Amongst the listeners +the Jews were easily recognised by their triumphant air, and by their +cotton nightcaps cocked over one ear. The decree was read in a loud and +intelligible voice. The Jews’ first impulse was to throw their nightcaps +into the fire. On reflection, however, the head of the synagogue saw +that twenty-four hours were allowed to get rid of the proscribed +articles. The Jew is essentially a calculating animal. The Jews of Tunis +calculated that it was better to lose one half, or even three quarters, +than to lose the whole. Having twenty-four hours to turn in, they began +by driving a bargain with the boatmen, who on the previous occasion had +abused their haste, and overcharged them. Two hours later, the French +ship was again surrounded by boats. + +“Captain! captain!” cried twelve thousand voices. “Cotton nightcaps to +shell! cotton nightcaps to shell!” + +“Pooh!” said the captain. + +“Captain, itsh a bargain; captain, you shall have them sheap.” + +“I have received a letter from Europe,” said the captain. + +“Vell! vell!” + +“It advises a great fall in cotton nightcaps.” + +“Captain, ve vill looshe upon them.” + +“So be it,” said the captain. “I can only give you half price.” + +“Ve vill take it.” + +“I bought them at two francs. Let those who will give them for one come +on board by the starboard gangway, and depart by the larboard.” + +“Oh, captain!” + +“It’s to take or to leave, as you like.” + +“Captain.” + +“All hands to make sail!” shouted the captain. + +“Vat are you doing, captain? vat are you doing?” + +“Lifting my anchor, to be sure.” + +“Ah now, captain, can’t you shay two francs?” + +The captain continued to give orders for sailing. + +“Vell, captain, ve must shay thirty sous.” + +The mainsail expanded its folds, and the capstan began to creak. + +“Captain, captain! ve vill take your franc!” + +“Stop,” cried the captain. + +One by one the Jews ascended the starboard side and descended to +larboard, leaving their cotton nightcaps, and receiving a franc apiece. +For a miserable three francs they had twice saved their heads: it was +not dear. As to the captain, he had got back his goods, and made a clear +profit of thirty-six thousand francs. As he was a man who knew how to +behave, he put eighteen thousand francs in his boat, went ashore, and +presented himself before the Bey, at whose feet he again prostrated +himself, and whose papooshes he once more kissed. + +“I come to present my humble thanks to your highness.” + +“Are you satisfied?” + +“Overjoyed.” + +“Do you consider the indemnity sufficient?” + +“Too much. And I come to offer your highness half my net profit of +thirty-six thousand francs.” + +“Nonsense!” said the Bey. “Have you forgotten that I promised you +Turkish justice?” + +“I perfectly remember.” + +“Well, Turkish justice is done gratis.” + +“_Tron de l’air!_” cried the captain: “in France a judge would not have +been contented with half; he would have taken at least three quarters.” + +“You mistake,” said the Bey; “he would have taken the whole.” + +“Aha!” exclaimed the captain, “I see you know France as well as I do.” + +And once more he went down into the dust to kiss the Bey’s papooshes, +but the Bey gave him his hand. The captain returned to his ship, and a +quarter of an hour later he left the African coast under press of sail. +He feared lest the Bey might change his mind. + +Their brief experience of the nightcap convinced the Tunisian Jews of +its superiority to the yellow caps and black turbans with which they +were wont to cover their infidel heads; and upon the death of the Bey +they obtained permission from his successor to adopt the cotton +covering, whose wear previously entailed decapitation. Such, at least, +is the explanation given by the ingenious M. Dumas of the naturalisation +of Paris nightcaps on the Barbary coast. + +Incidentally, and rather as things told him than of his own knowledge, +Mr Urquhart gives some brief details of the celebrated French campaign +against Morocco, in which Marshal Bugeaud won his dukedom, and Admiral +Joinville immortalised his name. His account of the affair of Isly is +contemptuous enough, and will assuredly entail upon him the indignation +of France, or at least of that portion of Frenchmen who believe, or +affect to believe, that there was a battle and a victory—not a surprise +and a scamper, unexpected by the assailed, and bloodless to the +assailants. “On the 14th August,” says Mr Urquhart, “the son of the +sultan is awakened by an alarm, ‘_The French army is in sight_.’ He +tells his people the marshal is coming to pay him a visit, before his +departure; and after giving orders for a tent to be pitched, and +coffee—which he knew the French liked—to be sought for and prepared, he +again assumed, to use the phraseology of Antar, ‘the attitude of +repose.’ He is again awakened—‘_The French are on us_’—and the French +_were_ on them—found _the coffee ready_, and, instead of drinking, spilt +it. The loss of the Moors was eight hundred men by _suffocation_.” +Compare this statement with the reflection of Alexander Dumas, on +approaching the mountains of Djema-r’ Azaouat. “Behind yonder hills,” he +fervently exclaims, “are two great mementos, equal to Thermopylæ and +Marathon—the combat of Sidi-Ibrahim, and the battle of Isly.” Funny Mr +Dumas! how gravely he says these droll things. How many persons, out of +France, remember to have heard of this modern Thermopylæ? We seriously +suggest to Mr Dumas, whose indefatigable pen, although more particularly +devoted to romance and the drama, occasionally flies at history, to +write that of the conquest and colonisation of Algeria, in which would +naturally be included the episode of the campaign against the Moors. We +are quite sure his account of the battle of Isly will differ widely from +that of Mr Urquhart: as widely as, or still more so than that of Admiral +Bruat, which was addressed to the inhabitants of the Society Islands, in +a proclamation quoted as a note to _The Pillars of Hercules_, and which +Mr Urquhart declares, with much truth, to be highly deserving of a place +in history. M. Dumas seems to us to be exactly cut out for the historian +of his countrymen’s African exploits. The razzias and crop-burnings, the +bloody skirmishes of Zouaves and Bedouins, the constant pursuit and many +narrow escapes of the Emir, will acquire additionally romantic interest +from the picturesque handling of the author of the _Mousquetaires_, who +declares, in the pages of _Le Véloce_, that he is not only a soldier’s +son, but himself a soldier at heart. With what glowing eloquence will he +refute the various charges brought against his countrymen in Africa! “If +Abd-el-Kader,” says Mr Urquhart, “had not been playing a game, at all +events a game was played in his person. He was necessary to the French +military system of Algiers. He is known to have been three times in +their hands, and to have been suffered to escape.” This accusation has +frequently been brought against the French generals in Africa. If such +collusion existed, it was not subscribed to, according to M. Dumas, by +Colonel Montagnac, who commanded, in the year 1845, the garrison of +Djema-r’ Azaouat, and who had repeatedly sworn to take the Emir or lose +his life. One day an Arab presented himself at the colonel’s quarters. +He came from the chief of the neighbouring tribe of Souhalias, who was, +he said, more devoted than ever to the French cause; and who sent word +that, if the garrison would make a sortie, and place themselves in +ambuscade on the territory of his tribe, he engaged to deliver +Abd-el-Kader into their hands. Confiding in the Arab’s promise, +Montagnac issued forth at the head of four hundred and eight men and +twelve officers, including sixty-five cavalry. But on the second day he +found he was betrayed, and that the promised capture was but a bait to +lure him from his stronghold. The little band retraced their steps, and +were within five leagues of Djema-r’ Azaouat, when they were menaced by +an overwhelming force of Arabs and Kabyles; and in the distance the Emir +himself, his banner displayed at the head of his regulars, was seen +descending the hills. Two companies of French riflemen remained to guard +the baggage; and the others, with the cavalry, advanced against the foe. +After a desperate struggle, the main body was cut to pieces, or made +prisoners; and a company, advancing from the bivouac to its support, was +surrounded and exterminated. Of these combats, Mr Dumas gives a minute +account, introducing dramatic dialogues between the men and officers, +and imparting to the whole scene his usual vivid and animated colouring. +Thus, when the company from the baggage-guard is marching up, only sixty +strong, to the assistance of its comrades, and is suddenly surrounded, +we find the following graphic account of its proceedings:— + +“The commanding officer had but just time to order formation of square. +The manœuvre was executed under the fire of ten thousand Arabs (!) as it +would have been in the Champ-de-Mars. Of all these men, only one showed +signs of regret—none of fear. This was a young rifleman, twenty years +old, named Ismaël. + +“‘Oh, _commandant_!’ he exclaimed, ‘we are lost!’ + +“The commandant smiled upon the poor lad; he understood that at twenty +years of age he knew so little of life that he had a right to regret it. + +“‘How old are you?’ he asked of the young soldier. + +“‘One-and-twenty,’ was the reply. + +“‘Well, you will have eighteen years less to suffer than I have had; +look at me, and learn how to die with firm heart and head erect.’ + +“He had scarcely spoken, when a bullet struck his forehead, and he fell +as he had promised to fall. Five minutes later, Captain Burgaud had +likewise fallen. + +“‘Come, my friends,’ said the non-commissioned adjutant Thomas, ‘one +step forward: let us die upon the bodies of our officers.’ + +“These were the last distinct words that were heard; the death-rattle +followed them, then the silence of the grave. In its turn, the second +company had disappeared. All that now remained was the company under +Captain de Géreaux, left in charge of the camp.” + +Mr Dumas’ habit of writing melodrama renders him very effective in this +sort of romantic military chronicle, which is pretty well received in +France, where people are used to the style. It is compounded upon the +plan of all his historical romances and romantic histories, with the +sole difference that, in these, he frequently audaciously perverts +historic truth; whilst the African business is so recent that he cannot +venture to be unfaithful to the outline, and confines himself to filling +up and extending with his own fantastic details. Having been on the +spot, and one of the first to welcome the few survivors of the prisoners +taken in the above bloody affair, when they were ransomed from the +Arabs, he doubtless picked up a number of the tales that always +circulate in such cases; and these he has very cleverly amalgamated and +patched up into a consecutive narrative—perhaps the most amusing section +of those two volumes of _Le Véloce_ which alone as yet have reached us. +His account of the fate of the last company—the one that stopped with +the baggage—is the best bit of all, although certainly very French, and +strongly impregnated with that peculiar flavour of theatrical +fanfaronade which is inseparable from the character of our vain and +volatile neighbours, which they cannot see, and consequently are not +likely to lose, and which stirs the gall of prejudiced and untravelled +Englishmen, and brings a smile to the lip of those who, with greater +justice and in a better spirit, will not allow peculiarities of tone and +manner to blind them to the good qualities of a gallant and ingenious +nation, whose soldiers, although of late years they have more than once +been employed in wars and expeditions unworthy of their prowess, have +never lost an opportunity of proving that, in valour at least, they are +no way degenerate from their fathers who fought under the banners of +Napoleon the Great. And although one cannot but be amused at the +ambitious comparison with Thermopylæ, the affair of Sidi-Ibrahim was +unquestionably most honourable to the handful of brave fellows who +defended the Marabout of that name against fifty times their number. The +term _Marabout_ is applied, in Africa, not only to a saint, but to the +small, round-roofed, stone edifice which serves as his mausoleum after +death, and, not unfrequently, as his habitation during life. In a +building of this description, after driving out the Arabs that occupied +it, and when the cessation of the musketry warned them that their +comrades were slain or prisoners, the last company of Colonel +Montagnac’s ill-fated detachment took refuge, under the orders of its +captain, de Géreaux, and there withstood the fierce and reiterated +attacks of a host of Arabs and Kabyles. Abd-el-Kader himself approached +the little fortress, and was wounded in the cheek by a French bullet. He +offered quarter on surrender: it was refused. Thrice he summoned the +handful of beleaguered warriors, who spurned his proposals, and would +not trust themselves to the word of an Arab. Then the combat recommenced +and lasted till night, whose arrival found the French still in +possession of their post. At daybreak, hostilities were resumed, and +continued till ten o’clock in the forenoon, when Abd-el-Kader took his +departure, and the Arabs, whose loss was very heavy, converted the siege +into a blockade. Night returned, and Captain de Géreaux, who was on the +watch, saw an Arab creeping stealthily towards the Marabout. He awoke Dr +Rosagutti, the interpreter; they called to the Arab, who came to them; +they gave him all the money they had about them, and a letter to take to +the camp of Lalla Maghrnia. The Arab was faithful; he delivered the +letter; but none knew the signature of Captain de Géreaux; a stratagem +was suspected, and no relief was sent. Hope of succour, however, buoyed +up the spirits of the besieged of Sidi-Ibrahim, and they waited another +day, without bread or water, almost without ammunition, their gaze fixed +in the direction of Lalla Maghrnia. But the next morning at six o’clock, +despairing of relief, they resolved to sally forth and cut their way to +Djema-r’Azaouat. There were four leagues to get over, and thousands of +Arabs were echeloned along the route. With desperate courage, the +fifty-five or sixty Frenchmen repulsed numerous attacks, forming square +when hard pressed, receiving many wounds, marking their track with +corpses, but still, by their steadiness and deadly fire, keeping the +undisciplined Arabs at bay. Some five-and-twenty succeeded in arriving +within half a league of Djema-r’Azaouat, but then their ammunition was +expended; the Arabs pressed upon them, and a volley at twenty paces +stretched half their number, including the brave de Géreaux, lifeless in +the dust. The remainder dispersed, and sought concealment and safety +amongst the copsewood and bushes. Three of them reached the lines of +Djema-r’Azaouat, told the sad tale, and died, unwounded, of mere +exhaustion. A sortie was made, and five or six men, who had escaped the +Kabyle sabres, were brought in. Eight men were all that survived of the +gallant eighth battalion of the Chasseurs of Orleans. The disaster, +however, was signally revenged. The Arabs who had brought it about, by +the false message sent to Colonel Montagnac—the tribe of the +Beni-Snanen—were cooped up by General Cavaignac on a narrow projection +of the coast, and driven into the sea or put to the sword, to the number +of four or five thousand. “The furious soldiers gave no quarter,” adds +M. Dumas, “and General Cavaignac perilled his popularity with the army +by saving a remnant of this unfortunate tribe. The trumpeter, Roland, +the only survivor of the massacre of the m’Louïa, (when the prisoners +taken by Abd-el-Kader were put to death in cold blood,) was in this +affair: he had a terrible revenge to take, and he took it, and declared +himself satisfied, for he had slain with his own hand more than thirty +Arabs.” + +Great as is the press of more important matter, and prolonged though +this paper has been by the extracts to which the diverting Dumas has +tempted us, we yet cannot close it without a glance at Mr Urquhart’s +remarkable chapter, entitled “THE BATH.” On this subject his notions and +prepossessions are completely Oriental. His residence in the East has +given him a distaste for the modes of washing customary in Western +Europe, and which he styles “dabbling in dirty water.” Nothing less than +the running stream can come up to his standard of cleanliness. And as it +is not always practicable to have fountains in dwelling-houses, he tells +us how he manages without one. “I find the most convenient substitute a +vase holding about two gallons of water, with a spout like that of a +tea-urn, only three times the length, placed on a stand about four feet +high, with a tub below: hot or cold water can be used; the water may be +very hot, as the stream that flows is small. It runs for a quarter of an +hour or twenty minutes.” This is his plan in the West, we understand; +but when the member for Stafford gets amongst Mussulmans, oh, how he +revels in the shampoo! The gusto of his descriptions positively makes us +shudder. The bathman, we are told, “stands with his feet on the thighs +and on the chest, and slips down the ribs; then up again three times; +and, lastly, doubling your arms one after the other on the chest, pushes +with both hands down, beginning at the elbow, and then putting an arm +under the back and applying his chest to your crossed elbows, _rolls on +you across till you crack_. You are now turned on your face, and, in +addition to the operation above described, he works his elbow round the +edges of your shoulder-blade, and with the heel plies hard the angle of +the neck; he concludes by hauling the body half up by each arm +successively, while he stands with one foot on the opposite thigh. You +are then raised for a moment to a sitting posture, and a contortion +given to the small of the back, and a jerk to the neck by the two hands +holding the temples.” This has rather a dislocating, formidable, and +certainly a most disgusting sound; but Mr Urquhart assures us the +process is delightful, and particularly gentle compared with the mode of +operation in a Moorish bath, where, practised bather though he is, he +shrieked under the rough usage of his manipulator. The conclusion of +this latter bath he describes as follows:—“Thrice taking each leg and +lifting it up, he placed his head under the calf, and raising himself, +scraped the leg as with a rough brush, _for his shaved head had the +grain downwards. The operation concluded by his biting my heel._” We +should like to see any human being, whether Turk, Pagan, Jew, or +Christian, attempt such revolting liberties with our person. By the +bones of Belshazzar! we would brain him with the bath-brush. The member +for Stafford should be ashamed of himself. He positively makes us +scunner. We have a firm and wholesome faith in the efficacy and +cleanliness of a British spunging-bath and rough towel; we repel with +abhorrence Mr Urquhart’s manipulatory innovations, and feel intense +disgust at the Mahometan kneading, pummelling, trampling, sweating, +soaping, and scraping, which he dwells upon with such nauseous +minuteness, and whose results he describes as so wonderfully salubrious +and delightful. We really hesitate at transferring to our page any more +of his nasty details. We venture, however, to present him to our readers +in the character of Marsyas, undergoing the flaying process which, it +appears, forms an essential stage of the Turkish bathing operation. With +a glove of camel’s hair, the bathman “commences from the nape of the +neck in long sweeps down the back till he has started the skin; _he +coaxes it into rolls_, keeping them in and up, till within his hand they +gather volume and length; he then successively strikes and brushes them +away, and they fall right and left as if spilt from a dish of macaroni. +The dead matter which will accumulate in a week forms, when dry, _a ball +of the size of the fist. I once collected it and had it dried—it is like +a ball of chalk._” Well may the honourable gentleman declare the human +body “a fountain of impurities,” when he can back the assertion by such +a startling statement of the weekly amount of his own cuticular +incrustations. No wonder he commiserates the condition of the unwashed +portion of his countrymen, and urges the establishment of public baths +on a scale more magnificent than practicable. Cleanliness is so nearly a +virtue, that all deserve well of their country who efficaciously promote +its spread amongst classes by whom it is too often neglected. But the +carrying out of such plans must devolve upon philanthropists of a more +practical stamp than this fantastical theorist and crotchety M.P. It +were ridiculous to suppose that all the advantages would be realised +which he predicts, from the adoption in this country of a universal +system of bathing; but so manifold and enormous are they, that, if only +a tithe of them were guaranteed, it would suffice to make us sigh for +the days when in London there should be “no gin palaces, but a thousand +baths!” + + + + + GOLDSMITH. + PART II. + +From the character of the man, we turn to the character of the +author—from the life to the works of Goldsmith. What we said of the +well-known events of his career would apply equally to his writings; it +would be a tedious and superfluous office to pass in formal review +performances so familiar, and which appear to be as justly appreciated +as they are widely circulated. All that we propose doing, is to add a +few miscellaneous observations, hints, and fragments of criticism, which +may be interesting to those who like to examine also, as well as to +admire. For these we could find no space in our previous Number: we +throw them together here in the best order their miscellaneous nature +permits. + +In the _Citizen of the World_, Goldsmith tells us of a man who earned +his livelihood by making wonders—curiosities of nature or of art—and +exhibiting them to the world. “His first essay in this way was to +exhibit himself as a wax-work figure, behind a glass door at a +puppet-show. Thus, keeping the spectators at a proper distance, and +having his head adorned with a copper crown, he looked extremely +natural, and very like the life itself.” This would be no bad +illustration of what his critics have often pointed out as Goldsmith’s +own proceeding, in the manufacture of his literary wonders and +curiosities. When he wanted a fictitious character for his novel, or his +play, he sate himself down behind the glass door, with some copper +crown, or other slight disguise upon his head, and all the world +confessed that it “looked extremely natural, and very like the life +itself!” + +His Good-natured Man, in the comedy of that name; Young Marlow in _She +Stoops to Conquer_, the Philosopher Vagabond, the Man in Black, and +others that could be named, are all Goldsmith sitting behind the glass +door. There is a strong personal resemblance in all his characters; they +are portraits of himself, drawn with the features widened into broad +humour, or elongated into saturnine wisdom. His Beau Tibbs seems to have +been created by looking at, and magnifying, some of his own foibles; his +Dr Primrose, by drawing forth those grave and kindly feelings, which, +notwithstanding those foibles, lay, he knew, at the bottom of his heart. + +The incidents of his life, too, supplied very often the plot or story; +and memory took the place of invention. Yet, in this respect, +considering the varied and adventurous nature of his life, we are rather +surprised that he did not draw more copiously from himself, and from his +past history. We should have thought that the curious scenes he must +have witnessed in that wild journey of his—footing it through Europe, +now as medical student, now as itinerant musician, at one time playing +the tutor (he the tutor!) to some junior scapegrace; at another, +furbishing up all the Latin and logic he was master of, to dispute at +Padua for bed and supper—would have supplied him with many an incident +for a novel. We are persuaded, that if he had lived in these days, when +the value of an incident is better known, and it is more the fashion +than it was formerly to put to literary profit the experience and events +of private life, he would have made much greater use than he has done of +such materials. + +But it is not only thus that we trace the life of Goldsmith in his +writings. We trace the influence of his career in the formation of his +intellectual character. Travel had stood with him in the place of +philosophy. It had enlarged his sphere of thought, had broken up +national prejudices, and given him an insight into many a matter which +otherwise would never have attracted his attention. But travel is far +more effective in dispersing error or prejudice, than in lending +assistance to the formation of settled opinions. It confirmed him in a +desultory mode of thinking, uncertain and undecided. His horizon was +extended, but his vision was not distinct. Yet as Goldsmith was never +devoted to the discipline of philosophy, and would never, perhaps, have +pursued any systematic study, he was, upon the whole, a great gainer by +his varied vagrant life, and the cosmopolitan temper it had generated. A +philosopher he never would have been: it was something to feel as a +citizen of the world. + +Goldsmith was of a quick apprehensive intellect, open to receive +impressions, with ready faculty to give them forth again; but to +continuous thought, to close and prolonged examination of any subject, +he was by no means addicted. With him the philosophers were more talked +of than read. Abstract thinking and severe reasoning were not his +vocation. It thus happens that the solitary observation, simply +asserted, is often excellent, and carries with it our cordial assent. He +only discovers his weakness when he undertakes to convince us by his +reasoning. On those occasions when he puts forth a thesis, and solemnly +begins to demonstrate it, his thesis may be good, but it will stand none +the firmer for his argument. + +Let us give an instance of this from the _Vicar of Wakefield_. Nothing +could be more just, or more happily expressed, than the opening +observation we are about to quote. The reasoning which follows, and is +intended to support it, is as weak and fantastical as, on so beaten a +subject, it well could be. + + + “And it were highly to be wished,” says the Vicar, “that legislative + power would thus direct the law rather to reformation than severity; + that it would seem convinced that the work of eradicating crimes is + not by making punishment familiar, but formidable. Then instead of our + present prisons, which find or make men guilty, which enclose wretches + for the commission of one crime, and return them, if returned alive, + fitted for the perpetration of thousands—we should see, as in other + parts of Europe, places of penitence and solitude, where the accused + might be attended by such as could give them repentance, if guilty, or + new motives to virtue, if innocent. And this, but not the increasing + punishment, is the way to mend a state.” + + +Now, if the good Vicar had stopped here, he would have expressed a truth +much needed at the time, in a simplicity and elegance of language which +could not be improved. But the Vicar enters into abstract reasoning to +prove his thesis, grows argumentative, and, at the same time, grows +weak. + + + “Nor can I,” he continues, “avoid even questioning the validity of + that right which social combinations have assumed of capitally + punishing offences of a slight nature. In cases of murder their right + is obvious, as it is the duty of us all, from the law of self-defence, + to cut off that man who has shown a disregard for the life of another. + Against such all nature rises in arms; but it is not so against him + who steals my property. Natural law gives me no right to take away his + life, as by that the horse he steals is as much his property as mine. + If, then, I have any right, it must be from a compact made between us, + that he who deprives the other of his horse shall die. _But this is a + false compact; because no man has a right to barter his life any more + than to take it away, as it is not his own. And, besides, the compact + is inadequate, and could be set aside even in a court of modern + equity, as there is a great penalty for a trifling inconvenience, + since it is far better that two men should live than that one man + should ride._ But a compact that is false between two men is equally + so between a hundred and a hundred thousand; for as ten millions of + circles can never make a square, so the united voice of myriads cannot + lend the smallest foundation to falsehood.” + + +Logic such as this, even if set forth in Latin, would hardly have earned +him his supper and his bed in the University of Padua. + +We are told that at Dublin University Goldsmith manifested great +repugnance to the study of mathematics. The conduct towards him of the +mathematical tutor did not tend to diminish this aversion. In one of his +miscellaneous essays, he thus revenges himself on the science and on its +professors:— + + + “A youth incapable of retaining one rule of grammar, or of acquiring + the least knowledge of the classics, may nevertheless make great + progress in mathematics; _nay, he may have a strong genius for the + mathematics without being able to comprehend a demonstration of + Euclid_; because his mind conceives in a peculiar manner, and is so + intent upon contemplating the object in one particular point of + view, that it cannot perceive it in any other. We have known an + instance of a boy who, while his master complained that he had not + capacity to comprehend the properties of a right-angled triangle, + had actually, in private, by the power of his genius, _formed a + mathematical system of his own_; discovered a series of curious + theorems, and even applied his deductions to practical machines of + surprising construction.”—_Essay on Taste._ + + +But although Goldsmith could commit the most surprising blunders when he +invades the region of abstract or severe reasoning, yet the credit must +be given to him of _thinking for himself_. With undisciplined powers, +and but slenderly equipped for the task, we still see him engaging in +the solution of social and political problems. He does not merely repeat +from books the ideas of others; nor is he a thoughtless spectator of the +world. One subject especially our homeless wanderer, who had looked up +at society from the last round of the ladder, is frequently observed to +be canvassing. His opinions on it are far from settled; his conclusions +are often diametrically opposed; his reasonings never very clear; but he +is, at all events, seen from time to time pondering it with great +interest. It is the subject of luxury—the gratifications and pleasures +of the wealthy in a state of civilisation. The rule admits of +exceptions; but, in general, he condemns luxury in his poetry, and +defends it in his prose. In neither case is he very successful in his +reasonings. When he assails, he appears to be under the influence of a +mere sentiment; when he defends it, he seems to be dealing with a +half-learned philosophy, and such as is generally understood to be +rather a native of France than of England. + + + “Examine,” says the _Citizen of the World_, “the history of any + country remarkable for opulence and wisdom, you will find that they + would never have been wise had they not been first luxurious: you will + find poets, philosophers, and even patriots, marching in luxury’s + train. The reason is obvious. _We then only are curious in knowledge, + when we find it connected with sensual happiness._ The senses ever + point out the way, and reflection comments upon the discovery. Inform + a native of the desert of Kobi of the exact measure of the parallax of + the moon, he finds no satisfaction at all in the information; he + wonders how any could take such pains, and lay out such treasures, in + order to solve so useless a difficulty; but connect it with his + happiness by showing that it improves navigation—that by such an + investigation he may have a warmer coat, a better gun, or a finer + knife, and he is instantly in raptures at so great an improvement. In + short, we only desire to know when we desire to possess; and, whatever + we may talk against it, luxury adds the spur to curiosity, and gives + us a desire of becoming more wise.”—Letter XI. + + +Not true, Dr Goldsmith!—only a mere fragment of the truth; and your +astronomical illustration singularly unfortunate. For the science of +astronomy has been all along a labour of love—from the time when +Chaldæan shepherds, quite heedless of navigation, watched the stars, and +marked out the planet (the _wanderer_) amongst the fixed and stationary +lights, to these our own days, when the profound _mathematician_, +calculating, in the midst of revolutionary Paris, his disturbances on +the remote boundaries of our planetary system, writes to the skilful +_observer_, and bids him direct his great tube to a certain spot in the +heavens, and he will find a new _wanderer_ there, as yet unseen and +unsuspected. The observer points his telescope as he is told, and +discovers it that very night, in that very spot. + +Still less will his reasoning hold together, or prove +“refutation-tight,” when, as in the _Deserted Village_, he finds that +the wealth of our merchants has occasioned the desertion of the country, +and the depopulation of the land. “In regretting,” he says, in the +preface to that poem, “the depopulation of the land, I inveigh against +the increase of our luxuries.” Happily no one, in reading that poem, +thinks of the political economy of the _Deserted Village_. Happily, +also, there is often a greater truth in the poet’s general enunciations, +than he himself is able to explain, or accurately to develop. The reader +may adopt his language, and apply it to a more correct conception than +was present to the author’s mind. The very paragraph which might be +quoted for its manifest blunder in the rudiments of political science, +opens with these admirable lines, which every one, in a sense of his +own, will readily adopt:— + + “Ye friends to truth, ye statesmen who survey + The rich man’s joys increase, the poor’s decay, + ’Tis yours to judge how wide the limits stand + Between a splendid and a happy land.” + +What follows will not easily bear a wise interpretation. Goldsmith +speaks of commerce as if ships came in laden with nothing but gold—with +“loads of freighted ore”—and finds that this imported wealth converts +the ploughed fields into parks and pleasure-grounds. The writer of a +history of England might have called to mind the Forest Laws, and the +wide tracts of country kept waste, and, in some cases, _laid waste_ by +our rude ancestors, for their rude sports. + +There is amongst the essays of Goldsmith a tale or allegory, which our +readers may remember to have read in their youth, in some Speaker, or +collection of Elegant Extracts. We are quite sure they have no +acquaintance with it of a later date. This tale we will venture to +revive. It belongs to so old-fashioned a species of literature, that it +must needs be a novelty. We would quote it as an instance illustrative +of the remarks we have made on the intellectual character of Goldsmith. +It is wrong—argumentatively and logically wrong—yet no man would say +that he was a mere repeater of other men’s words, who wrote _Asem, an +Eastern Tale; or a Vindication of the Wisdom of Providence in the moral +government of the World_. No one can read it without being prompted to +think, which is good proof that the author thought when he wrote +it—though he did not think very accurately. + +In the time of Goldsmith, the fashion was not extinct of seeing moral +visions, and dreaming sagacious dreams. Wisdom delighted to speak in +allegory. There were still to be found in those days, here and there, +retired hermits, with long beards, hiding in solitary caves, and living +on the simplest herbs—cold water and a salad; and there were still +lingering on the earth genii, or other stupendous and supernatural +beings, who occasionally visited these favoured mortals, teaching them +surpassing wisdom, and illustrating their lessons in the most marvellous +manner. Asem was such a hermit. Yet, all hermit and Mussulman as he was, +he bears a strong resemblance to the Goldsmith family. “From the +tenderness of his disposition, he exhausted all his fortune in relieving +the wants of the distressed.” Having reduced himself to want, he is +shocked to find that one who comes to beg, is not so welcome as when he +came to give. Accordingly, he turns with wrath from an ungrateful world. + + + “He began to view mankind in a very different light from that in which + he had before beheld them; he perceived a thousand vices he had never + before suspected to exist; wherever he turned, ingratitude, + dissimulation, and treachery contributed to increase his detestation + of them. Resolved, therefore, to continue no longer in a world which + he hated, and which repaid his detestation with contempt, he retired + to a region of sterility, in order to brood over his resentment in + solitude, and converse with the only honest heart he knew—namely, his + own.” + + +But the contemplation of this only honest heart was not sufficient +consolation for that prospect of a wicked world which perpetually +haunted him, and which filled him with doubts on the wisdom or the +beneficence of Allah. He finally resolved on suicide. He was about to +plunge into the lake, when— + + + “He perceived a most majestic being walking on the surface of the + water, and approaching the bank on which he stood! + + “‘Son of Adam!’ cried the Genius, ‘stop thy rash purpose: the Father + of the Faithful has seen thy justice, thy integrity, thy miseries, and + hath sent me to afford and administer relief. Give me thine hand, and + follow without trembling wherever I shall lead. In me behold the + Genius of Conviction, kept by the Great Prophet, to turn from their + errors those who go astray, not from curiosity, but a rectitude of + intention. Follow me, and be wise!’” + + +Such an invitation, and from so imposing a personage, was not to be +declined. The Genius of Conviction conducts Asem along the surface, and +to the centre of the lake: here the waters open, and close on them; they +descend into another world, where human foot had never trod before. + + + “‘The rational inhabitants of this world,’ the Genius tells him, ‘are + formed agreeably to your own ideas; they are absolutely without vice. + If you find this world more agreeable than that you so lately left, + you have free permission to spend the remainder of your days in it.’ + + “‘A world without vice! Rational beings without immorality!’ cried + Asem in a rapture. ‘I thank thee, Allah!—thou hast at length heard my + petitions: this—this, indeed, will produce happiness, ecstasy, and + ease. Oh for an immortality to spend it among men who are incapable of + ingratitude, injustice, fraud, violence, and a thousand other crimes + that render society miserable!’ + + “‘Cease thine exclamations!’ replied the Genius. ‘Look around thee.’ + + “They soon gained the utmost verge of the forest, and entered the + country inhabited by men without vice; and Asem anticipated in idea + the rational delight he hoped to experience in such an innocent + society. But they had scarcely left the confines of the wood, when + they beheld one of the inhabitants flying with hasty steps, and terror + in his countenance, from an army of squirrels that closely pursued + him. ‘Heavens!’ cried Asem, ‘why does he fly? What can he fear from + animals so contemptible?’ He had scarcely spoken, when he perceived + two dogs pursuing another of the human species, who, with equal terror + and haste, attempted to avoid them. ‘This,’ cried Asem to his guide, + ‘is truly surprising; nor can I conceive the reason for so strange an + action.’—‘Every species of animals,’ replied the Genius, ‘has of late + grown very powerful in this country; for the inhabitants, at first, + thinking it unjust to use either fraud or force in destroying them, + they have insensibly increased, and now frequently ravage their + harmless frontiers.’ ‘But they should have been destroyed!’ cried + Asem: ‘you see the consequence of such neglect.’—‘Where is then that + tenderness you so lately expressed for subordinate animals?’ replied + the Genius, smiling; ‘you seem to have forgot that branch of justice.’ + ‘I must acknowledge my mistake,’ returned Asem. ‘I am now convinced + that we must be guilty of tyranny and injustice to the brute creation, + if we would enjoy the world ourselves. But let us no longer observe + the duty of man to these irrational creatures, but survey their + connexions with one another.’ + + “As they walked farther up the country, the more he was surprised to + see no vestiges of handsome houses, no cities, nor any mark of elegant + design. His conductor, perceiving his surprise, observed, that the + inhabitants of this new world were perfectly content with their + ancient simplicity; each had a house, which, though homely, was + sufficient to lodge his little family; they were too good to build + houses, which would only increase their own pride and the envy of the + spectator; what they built was for convenience, and not for show. ‘At + least, then,’ said Asem, ‘they have neither architects, painters, nor + statuaries in their society; but these are idle arts, and may be + spared. However, before I spend much more time here, you should have + my thanks for introducing me into the society of some of their wisest + men: there is scarcely any pleasure to me equal to a refined + conversation; there is nothing of which I am so much enamoured as + wisdom.’—‘Wisdom!’ replied his instructor; ‘how ridiculous! We have no + wisdom here, for we have no occasion for it: true wisdom is only a + knowledge of our own duty, and the duty of others to us; but of what + use is such wisdom here? Each intuitively performs what is right in + itself, and expects the same from others. If by wisdom you should mean + vain curiosity and empty speculation, as such pleasures have their + origin in vanity, luxury, or avarice, we are too good to pursue them.’ + ‘All this may be right,’ said Asem, ‘but I think I observe a solitary + disposition prevail among the people; each family keeps separately + within their own precincts, without society, or without + intercourse.’—‘That, indeed, is true,’ replied the other; ‘here is no + established society, nor should there be any: all societies are made + either through fear or friendship; the people we are among are too + good to fear each other; and there are no motives to private + friendship, where all are equally meritorious.’ ‘Well, then,’ said the + sceptic, ‘if I am to spend my time here—if I am to have neither the + polite arts, nor wisdom, nor friendship in such a world, I should be + glad, at least, of an easy companion, who may tell me his thoughts, + and to whom I may communicate mine.’—‘And to what purpose should + either do this?’ says the Genius. ‘Flattery or curiosity are vicious + motives, and never allowed of here; and wisdom is out of the + question.’ + + “‘Still, however,’ said Asem, ‘the inhabitants must be happy; each is + contented with his own possessions, nor avariciously endeavours to + heap up more than is necessary for his own subsistence; each has, + therefore, leisure for pitying those that stand in need of his + compassion.’ He had scarcely spoken when his ears were assaulted by + the lamentations of a wretch who sat by the way-side, and, in the most + deplorable distress, seemed gently to murmur at his own misery. Asem + immediately ran to his relief, and found him in the last stage of a + consumption. ‘Strange,’ cried the son of Adam, ‘that men who are free + from vice should thus suffer so much misery without relief!’—‘Be not + surprised,’ said the wretch who was dying; ‘would it not be the utmost + injustice for beings who have only just sufficient to support + themselves, and are content with a bare subsistence, to take it from + their own mouths to put it into mine? They never are possessed of a + single meal more than is necessary; and what is barely necessary + cannot be dispensed with.’ ‘They should have been supplied with more + than is necessary,’ cried Asem. ‘And yet I contradict my own opinion + but a moment before: all is doubt, perplexity, and confusion.’” + + +After some other attempts to find happiness in this world without vice, +Asem exclaims—“Take me, O my Genius! back to that very world I have +despised!” And hereupon the triumphant Genius, “assuming an air of +terrible complacency, called all his thunders around him, and vanished +in a whirlwind.” Asem found himself at the very place, and (with such +rapidity had these scenes passed in review) almost at the very instant +of time, in which the Genius had at first accosted him. “His right foot +was still advanced to take the fatal plunge, nor had it been yet +withdrawn.” + +Who would dare to contend with the _Genius of Conviction_?—who venture +to prescribe laws of reasoning to so majestic a being,—one who walks +upon the waters, calls his thunders about him, and has a whole +subterranean world wherewith to demonstrate his theory of morals? +Nevertheless, if we were quite sure that the Genius were out of hearing, +we should be disposed to question whether he had ever framed an accurate +definition of virtue. If, in a virtuous world, men must be chased by +squirrels, and devoured by dogs, live in penury, and let their +neighbours starve, either we, or the Genius of Conviction, have been in +error all this time as to what virtue really _is_. + +As a critic, it is confessed on all hands that Goldsmith lamentably +failed. As a politician, he had this honourable peculiarity, that his +speculations had very little reference to the party feuds of the day. He +had contracted, probably from his Continental travels, a bias in favour +of monarchical power. He seems to have embraced the opinion which Burke +combated in his _Thoughts on the Present Discontents_; namely, that the +houses of parliament, or the aristocracy through their influence in +these houses, were dangerously encroaching on the royal prerogative. At +least this is the best explanation we can give of the expressions that +he, from time to time, throws out upon this subject. + +The only grudge we owe his politics is, that they occasioned the +introduction of the weakest and most confused passage in his noble poem +of _The Traveller_. When discoursing upon foreign countries—on Holland, +France, or Italy—he naturally and wisely restricts himself to certain +general characteristics of the people and of their governments—general +views which admit of vigorous and poetic enunciation, and are not likely +to raise cavil or controversy. But when he lands upon his native +country, these home politics beset him, and he gets entangled in a train +of thought but half made out, of too controversial a character, and +which does not easily lend itself to the harmony of verse, and the +simple force of poetic expression. + + “Calm is my soul, nor apt to rise in arms, + Except when fast approaching danger warms: + But when contending chiefs blockade the throne, + Contracting regal power to stretch their own; + When I behold a factious band agree + To call it freedom, when themselves are free; + Each wanton judge new penal statutes draw, + Laws grind the poor, and rich men rule the law; + The wealth of climes where savage nations roam, + Pillaged from slaves to purchase slaves at home; + Fear, pity, justice, indignation start, + Tear off reserve, and bare my swelling heart; + _Till half a patriot, half a coward grown, + I fly from petty tyrants to the throne_.” + +Yet the whole passage must be forgiven for the sake of the two last +lines. Of these the second is repeatedly quoted; but there is much +significance and extreme felicity of expression in the preceding line— + + “——half a patriot, half a coward grown.” + +It is a pity they should be so often separated. + +Having mentioned _The Traveller_, let us turn at once to this and to its +exquisite companion—the two poems which give to Goldsmith his secure and +eminent position in the literature of England. Our few detached +criticisms on these old favourites shall not, at all events, be +wearisome by their length. His comedies we design to leave untouched; +they cannot be criticised without some review, however rapid, of the +literature of the stage, and for this we have at present neither space +nor inclination. A glance at _The Citizen of the World_ and _The Vicar +of Wakefield_ will bring our subject to its conclusion. + +Every one remembers the anecdote connected with the first line of _The +Traveller_— + + “Remote, unfriended, melancholy, slow.” + +Mr Irving shall relate it for us. + + + “The appearance of _The Traveller_ at once altered Goldsmith’s + intellectual standing in the estimation of society; but its effect + upon the club, if we may judge from the account given by Hawkins, was + almost ludicrous. They were lost in astonishment that a ‘newspaper + essayist,’ and a ‘bookseller’s drudge,’ should have written such a + poem. On the evening of its announcement, Goldsmith had gone away + early, after ‘rattling away as usual;’ and they knew not how to + reconcile his heedless garrulity with the serene beauty, the easy + grace, the sound good sense, and the occasional elevation of his + poetry. They could scarcely believe that such magic numbers had flowed + from a man to whom in general, says Johnson, ‘it was with difficulty + they could give a hearing.’ ‘Well,’ exclaimed Chamier, ‘I do believe + he wrote this poem himself; and, let me tell you, that is believing a + great deal.’ + + “At the next meeting of the club, Chamier sounded the author a little + about his poem. ‘Mr Goldsmith,’ said he, ‘what do you mean by the last + word in the first line of your _Traveller_, “remote, unfriended, + melancholy, _slow_?” Do you mean tardiness of locomotion?’—‘Yes,’ + replied Goldsmith inconsiderately, being probably flurried at the + moment. ‘No, sir,’ interposed his protecting friend Johnson, ‘you did + not mean tardiness of locomotion; you meant that sluggishness of mind + which comes upon a man in solitude.’—‘Ah!’ exclaimed Goldsmith, + ‘_that_ was what I meant.’ Chamier immediately believed that Johnson + himself had written the line, and a rumour became prevalent that he + was the author of many of the finest passages.” + + +With due deference to the great critic, and to the author himself, he +_did_ mean tardiness of movement; but the epithet, joined as it is with +others, tells us also that this slowness of motion was the result of +heaviness of heart, and indicative of a sad and pensive spirit. It means +all that Dr Johnson said; but it means also, and first of all, the slow +pace of the solitary poet. Goldsmith was more probably “flurried at the +moment,” when he so readily adopted the interpretation of Dr Johnson, +than when he gave his first natural answer. He found the passage +explained for him so authoritatively, and so much to the satisfaction of +those present, that he could not hesitate in accepting the explanation. +But had he taken time and _courage_ to reflect a moment, he would have +seen that there was no discrepancy between his own answer and what Dr +Johnson had added. Take away the image of the slow moving poet, and you +take away all _picture_ from the passage. The pensive sadness is +depicted in what Captain Chamier calls, in seeming imitation of the +great man he is conversing with, “tardiness of locomotion.” + + “Remote—unfriended—melancholy—slow.” + +Every word comes from the heart. Many a time, without a doubt, had our +wandering poet, at a distance from his country, walked by the side of +some foreign stream—alone—unfriended—with nothing for his portion upon +earth but genius and poverty. + +“We cannot, for our part, see the point of Captain Chamier’s question. +He might, with just as much reason, have put the same query to Petrarch, +who opens one of his sonnets in a very similar manner. + + “Solo e pensoso, i più deserti campi + Vo misurando, a passi tardi e lenti.” + +He would have found here also “tardiness of locomotion,” and the languor +of the pensive man, united in the same description. + + “Where’er I roam, whatever realms to see, + My heart untravell’d fondly turns to thee; + Still to my brother turns, with ceaseless pain, + And drags at each remove a lengthening chain.” + +The same image is made use of in the _Citizen of the World_. The reader +may like to contrast the prose with the poetic version. “The farther I +travel,” says Lien Chi Altangi to his correspondent, “I feel the pain of +separation with stronger force; those ties that bind me to my native +country and you, are still unbroken. _By every remove I only drag a +greater length of chain._” We prefer the prose. Indeed the metaphor is +not so much to our taste as that we should have thought it worth using a +second time, and in the greater work. It suited Lien Chi Altangi very +well, and with him it might have remained. It is too cumbrous—too +material. What are we to do with this “lengthening chain” which he +“drags” along the earth? and where, in imagination, are we to fasten it? +To his ankle? It would make a felon of him. To his waist? Ridiculous! +But, you will say, we are not to see the chain at all—only to hear it +clank a little in the verse—only to have some dim idea of lengthening +ligature. Very good; and thereupon we honestly respond—if, whilst +reading the line you feel no irresistible tendency to look down upon the +ground for this chain—if you do not see it at all, then to you the +metaphor is quite unobjectionable. + + “And find no spot of all the world my own!” + +The natural feeling of the homeless, unprovided wanderer, looking over a +great stretch of country. How finely is it contrasted with the sentiment +which follows! No spot his own! It is all his! He has taken sympathetic +possession of the whole. + + “Ye glittering towns, with wealth and splendour crowned; + Ye fields, where summer spreads profusion round; + Ye lakes, whose vessels catch the busy gale; + Ye bending swains that dress the flowery vale— + For me your tributary stores combine; + _Creation’s heir, the world, the world is mine!_” + +Having thus wrought himself into proper mood for his philosophic +purpose, the poet commences his survey of the several regions of the +earth, and nations of mankind. The train of thought is, at starting, +somewhat perplexed, from the author being occupied with two separate +reflections, which, until they are closely examined, appear +contradictory. We have them in close juxtaposition in the following +lines:— + + “Yet oft a sigh prevails, and sorrows fall, + To see the hoard of human bliss so small; + And oft I wish amidst the scene to find + _Some spot to real happiness consigned_, + Where my worn soul, each wandering hope at rest, + May gather bliss to see my fellows blest. + But where to find that happiest below— + Who can direct, when _all pretend to know_? + The shuddering tenant of the frigid zone + Boldly proclaims that happiest spot his own.” + &c., &c. + +So far, then, from the hoard of happiness being small, every country +proclaims itself to be specially and pre-eminently blest. The +philosophic poet has no reason for his sorrow: he wanted one happy spot, +and he has found every spot is happy—supremely happy. + +But the apparent incongruity vanishes on a closer examination. Each +nation boasts its pre-eminence over other nations; but man nowhere +boasts much of being man. Every people is proud and self-congratulatory +whilst it compares itself with other people; but its pride and +gratulation are only sustained by this comparison. Every congregation of +men who merely contemplate themselves as with the earth beneath them, +and the sky above, are heard to fill the air with lamentations and +discontent. So that the philosopher, notwithstanding these several +vaunts of every nation, civilised and savage, may still search, if he +thinks fit, for the spot “to happiness consigned.” + +Our poet seems to find an equal proportion of good and evil in every +clime, people, and government. Sometimes he is guilty of a little +overcharge in this or that particular, in order to keep the balance +even. Only thus can we account for the very severe language with which +he takes leave of Holland. He had found the people of that country so +very comfortable that it was absolutely necessary to abuse them as— + + “A land of tyrants and a den of slaves,” + +or the due proportion of evil would not have been preserved. + +It is observable, and characteristic of the age in which Goldsmith +wrote, that, beautiful as are his descriptions of the several countries +of Europe, there is very little in them which betrays that he himself +had ever visited those countries. There are few of those picturesque +circumstances which the eye of an observer detects, and which the +memory, or the note-book, preserves. Unfortunately, it was the habit of +the day to trust more to the knowledge acquired from books than to the +eyesight: _learning_ had not lost that undue influence which it +naturally acquired at the restoration of letters; poets chose rather to +describe what had been described before, and adhere to traditional +feelings and classical models, than to consult their own experience. The +descriptions of scenery in _The Traveller_ are so general, and consist +of broad outlines so well known to all educated men, that they might +have been written in Green Arbour Court, by one who had lived there all +his life. Switzerland itself does not provoke him to quit the beaten +track of broad generalities. He even describes what he did _not_ see, +because it harmonises with the ideas obtained from books. Thus,— + + —“The bleak Swiss their stormy mansion tread, + And force a churlish soil for scanty bread; + No produce _here_ the barren hills afford, + But man and steel, the soldier and his sword.” + +Switzerland has been long celebrated for the mercenary troops she +supplied to foreign courts; but there is no country where less is seen +of the soldier and his sword; nor can “scanty bread” be said to be the +lot of those who cultivate its soil. + +While our eye is on this part of the poem, can we possibly resist +quoting the following half-a-dozen lines? They are perfect:— + + —“Those ills that round his mansion rise + Enhance the bliss his scanty fund supplies. + Dear is that shed to which his soul conforms, + And dear that hill which lifts him to the storms; + And as a child, when scaring sounds molest, + Clings close and closer to the mother’s breast— + So the loud torrent, and the whirlwind’s roar, + But bind him to his native mountains more.” + +Perhaps the happiest of all these national portraits is that of France. +He sympathised with the French; his pen is often employed in defending +them from absurd attacks, and combating the prejudices of the John Bull +of his day. The concluding lines are peculiarly happy: there is a +refinement of analysis expressed in the most graceful diction. + + —“Honour + Here passes current; paid from hand to hand, + It shifts in splendid traffic through the land; + From courts to camps, to cottages it strays, + And all are taught an avarice of praise; + They please, are pleased; _they give to get esteem_, + Till, seeming blest, they grow to what they seem.” + +His praise of England we must not appear so deficient in patriotism as +to quarrel with. But just as one is curious to know where an artist +stood who has taken some captivating sketch of an old familiar spot, +which never appeared to us so very charming before—so one might feel a +little curious to discover where it was, in town or country, that +Goldsmith took his stand when he saw— + + “The lords of human race pass by; + Intent on high design—a thoughtful band.” + +Was it on London Bridge or at Temple Bar that he read the marks of “high +design” in the “thoughtful band” that we were rushing past him like a +mill-stream? Or was he far off in the country, and did the squire and +his tenantry sit for the picture? + +We already find in _The Traveller_ that strange hallucination which +seems to have haunted him, and which he more fully expressed in the +subsequent poem of _The Deserted Village_—that England was being +depopulated! What could have conducted him to a conclusion so utterly at +variance with the fact, it is useless to inquire. It was his crotchet. +He had probably seen decay in some places, and took no calculation of +the more than proportionate increase of others. For Goldsmith did not +limit himself to the mistaken notion, which many had expressed, that the +towns were growing large at the expense of the country, but +entertained—what to us must seem the strangest of paradoxes—entertained +the conviction that the population of the whole country was wasting +away. + +Happily, as we have already remarked, no one thinks of the theory of +depopulation, or over-population, or any other theory of political +economy, whilst reading _The Deserted Village_. We have all learned to +love “Sweet Auburn” long before any idea connected with so crabbed and +distressful a subject entered our minds. Indeed the village, with all +its accessories, is brought with such distinctness before us, that even +the decay of Auburn itself, is not the most prominent impression which +the poem produces. The deserted Auburn is made to live again so vividly +in the imagination, that the desolation in which it lies only occurs +occasionally to the mind, throwing a feeling of sadness and melancholy +over the picture. For ourselves, we can well remember that when we first +became acquainted with the village of Auburn, we always thought of +it—notwithstanding the use of the past tense—as somewhere still +existing. It existed, at all events, very palpably in the imagination. + +The scene is English: it is, in the main, a description of an English +village; but because the poet has also drawn materials from the +recollections of his early home, some of his critics have been resolved +to place Auburn in Ireland, and to identify what is clearly an ideal +picture with the definite locality of Lissoy. On this ground they have +even proceeded to convict him of an error for introducing the +nightingale in one of his descriptions, there being no such bird in +Ireland. + +This line, in which the nightingale is introduced, we should venture to +quarrel with on quite another ground. Here is the passage. No one will +object to read it again, though he has read it fifty or twice fifty +times. + + “Sweet was the sound when oft, at evening’s close, + Up yonder hill the village murmur rose; + There as I passed with careless steps and slow, + The mingling notes came soften’d from below: + The swain responsive as the milkmaid sung, + The sober herd that lowed to meet their young; + The noisy geese that gabbled o’er the pool, + The playful children just let loose from school; + The watch-dog’s voice, that bayed the whispering wind; + And the loud laugh that spoke the vacant mind; + _These all in sweet confusion sought the shade, + And fill’d each pause the nightingale had made_.” + +Have not our readers already felt how much better the description would +have been if the last couplet had been omitted? This nightingale takes +us by surprise. We thought we were listening to the sounds of the +distant village, and find that we have been attending to the song of the +nightingale, and that these had only filled up the pauses of her song. +What had been the chief and prominent subject is suddenly reduced to +this subordinate part. But, what is more to the purpose, the description +becomes unfaithful, and ceases to reflect a real experience, when this +nightingale is introduced. If that shy bird were heard singing while the +milkmaid and the schoolboy were still audible, there would be no +pleasing, but a very displeasing effect produced by the mingling of +sounds of so very different a nature. They would by no means harmonise. +We should listen with pleasure to the milkmaid and to the distant +schoolboy, (he must be very distant,) and we should listen with pleasure +to the nightingale, but with very little pleasure to all these at once. + +Goldsmith was a genuine lover of nature; but nevertheless he had not +quite escaped that taste of the day which often led to the sacrifice of +the truthfulness of a picture to what was deemed the perfection of the +verse. He too can sometimes desert the _sense_ for the _sound_. And this +word _sound_ reminds us of rather an amusing instance where he +introduces some geographical names for no earthly reason except the +array of sonorous syllables they present. “Farewell,” he exclaims to +poetry,— + + “Farewell, and oh! where’er thy voice be tried, + _On Torno’s cliffs, or Pambamarca’s side_.” + +Had we been in Captain Chamier’s place at the club, and wished to puzzle +our friend Goldsmith, we should have asked him why he sent the muse to +Pambamarca? and where, indeed, Pambamarca lay? We suspect that Goldsmith +must have answered, that he knew nothing about it, except that it was a +great way off, and sounded very majestically. + +There is one instance where the poet has introduced a reminiscence from +Ireland, which we do not recollect to have seen noticed. In the +inimitable description of the village schoolmaster, he says,— + + “Lands he could measure, terms and tides presage, + And e’en the story ran—_that he could gauge_.” + +Now the rustics of an English village were not at all likely to select +this accomplishment of gauging as one to bestow upon their prodigy of +learning. We were tempted to explain this choice in the poet by the +necessity of rhyme, which too often has manifestly determined him in the +selection of his epithets, till it occurred to us that his mind had been +travelling back to the _Irish_ village, where the illicit still may have +brought even to the ragged urchins of the place some rumours of the +science of the exciseman. + +In the whole range of English heroic verse, there is nothing more +beautiful or more complete than the description of the village pastor,— + + ——“The man to all the country dear, + And passing rich with forty pounds a-year.” + +Indeed, of the entire poem, it may be deliberately said, that it has +more tenderness and pathos, gives more of picture to the eye, and of +feeling to the heart, than any other in the language which is written in +the same verse or metre. The polished couplets of Pope are nowhere else +seen united with so much of the genuine essence of poetry. How perfect, +in every way, are such lines as these,— + + “But in his duty prompt at every call, + He watched and wept, he pray’d and felt for all; + And, as a bird each fond endearment tries, + To tempt its new-fledged offspring to the skies, + He tried each art, reproved each dull delay, + Allured to brighter worlds, and led the way.” + +One more remark, one other brief quotation, and we quit this most +fascinating poem, which nestles deeper in the English heart than perhaps +any other. What a bland, gentle, loving humour it is which occasionally +steals over the picture of _The Deserted Village_, giving here and there +charming touches, as of gay sunshine breaking out upon the several +points of a shaded landscape, yet never disturbing the sweet serenity +and sadness of the whole. Never did humour wear so gentle an aspect. We +go from the pastor’s house, and the pastor himself, to the village inn, +and there is no abruptness in the transition. What a quiet, observant, +tolerant humour it is that sees those—“broken tea-cups, _wisely kept for +show_.” What else could they serve for? And they may still do to be +looked at. + + “Vain transitory splendours! could not all + Reprieve the tottering mansion from its fall? + Observe it sinks, nor shall it more impart + _An hour’s importance to the poor man’s heart_. + Thither no more the peasant shall repair, + To sweet oblivion of his daily care; + No more the farmer’s news, the barber’s tale, + No more the woodman’s ballad shall prevail; + No more the smith his dusky brow shall clear, + _Relax his ponderous strength, and lean to hear_.” + +But why continue the quotation, when half our readers could complete it +from their own memory? + +We proposed to ourselves a glance at _The Citizen of the World_ and _The +Vicar of Wakefield_. It can only be a glance. + +Is this really the same—we are tempted to ask ourselves—is this really +the same _Citizen of the World_ that, on our first introduction to the +acquaintance of books, we read, amongst the _British Essayist_, with so +grave attention, and so implicit a faith? Yes, it is the same; for here +is the Man in Black, and here is the unmistakeable Beau Tibbs. Can we +possibly forget the invitation to dinner—on the first floor down the +chimney—something elegant, a turbot or an ortolan, which finally +resolves itself into “a nice little piece of ox-cheek, piping hot, which +Mrs Tibbs shall dress herself with that sauce the Duke dotes upon,”—and +which dinner, if his hungry guest will but wait, shall be “ready in at +least two hours.” Yes, here is Beau Tibbs as full of life as ever. But +the Chinese philosopher—he is gone;—there is left of _him_, or of China, +nothing but his name, and the suspicious name of his correspondent, +“Fum, the son of Fo.” Instead thereof, we have Oliver Goldsmith writing +his series of clever _Idlers_ and _Spectators_. + +Pity this Chinaman ever made his appearance. All the humour and satire +of the piece might have been preserved, if some simple Englishman, some +Parson Adams or Dr Primrose, had been the writer of the letters; and we +should have been spared the constant incongruity of a Chinese who is not +only a palpable European, but a European of the literary class. So +completely versed is this Chinese philosopher in the feuds and vexations +of critics and authors, that we must suppose him commissioned by the +Grub Street of Pekin, to inquire into the condition of distressed poets +and discontented playwrights amongst the “outer barbarians.” We should +have been spared also those episodes, or adventures, which _his_ Eastern +correspondents detail to him, and which, indeed, are neither European +nor Eastern, but very tedious stories. + +In vain does the Chinaman assume the prejudices of his country: he may +amuse us; but he cannot even get a momentary credit for the outlandish +taste he affects. He cannot disparage the beauty of Englishwomen, +without insinuating his praise of them. There is as much flattery as +abuse, when he says:— + + + “I shall never forget the beauties of my native city of Nanfew. How + very broad their faces! how very short their noses! how very little + their eyes! how very thin their lips! how very black their teeth. Here + a lady with such perfections would be frightful: Dutch and Chinese + beauties, indeed, have some resemblance, but Englishwomen are entirely + different; red cheeks, big eyes, and teeth of a most odious whiteness, + are not only seen here, but wished for; and then they have such + masculine feet, as actually serve some for walking.” + + +That which constitutes the greatest charm of the work is the subdued and +chastened satire one occasionally meets with. Not a rude and boisterous, +a cutting or malicious satire, but such as requires to be read with some +attention before the full force of its sly inuendos, and of slight +circumstances mentioned as if in passing, is fully perceived. Take the +following instance, and note how the effect is heightened by a number of +little details, thrown in as if by accident. + + + “A few days ago, passing by one of their prisons, I could not avoid + stopping in order to listen to a dialogue which I thought might afford + me some entertainment. The conversation was carried on between a + debtor through the grate of his prison, a porter who had stopped to + rest his burden, and a soldier at the window. The subject was upon a + threatened invasion from France, and each seemed extremely anxious to + rescue his country from the impending danger. ‘For my part,’ cries the + prisoner, ‘the greatest of my apprehension is for our freedom: if the + French should conquer, what would become of English liberty? My dear + friends, liberty is the Englishman’s prerogative; we must preserve + that at the expense of our lives: of that the French shall never + deprive us; it is not to be expected that men who are slaves + themselves, would preserve our freedom should they happen to conquer.’ + ‘Ay, slaves,’ cries the porter; ‘they are all slaves, fit only to + carry burdens, every one of them. Before I would stoop to slavery, may + this be my poison, (and he held the goblet in his hand,) may this be + my poison—but I would sooner list for a soldier.’ + + “The soldier, taking the goblet from his friend, with much awe + fervently cried out, ‘It is not so much our liberties as our religion + that would suffer by such a change: ay, our religion, my lads. May the + devil sink me into flames (such was the solemnity of his adjuration) + if the French should come over, but our religion would be utterly + undone.’ So saying, instead of a libation, he applied the goblet to + his lips, and confirmed his sentiments with a ceremony of the most + persevering devotion.” + + +There are some works so simple in their structure, and so highly +popular, that on both grounds they defy criticism. Their faults lie so +open and undisguised, that the critic who would pertinaciously insist +upon them, would get neither credit nor thanks for his pains. In this +category is _The Vicar of Wakefield_. To expose its improbabilities of +plot or character would be an easy and most ungracious task. We love the +good Vicar, and he shall be allowed to tell his tale to the end of time +just as he pleases. To be sure, this odd notion he entertains, that a +clergyman ought by all means to marry once, and by no means more than +once, is very like a monomania. He is so staunch a _monogamist_, as he +calls it, as to be resolved on convincing his old friend and +fellow-clergyman, Mr Wilmot, who has been married three times. But this, +and all the wonderful things which the Thornhills, nephew and uncle, +contrive to do, who cares to cavil at? The genuine feelings of human +nature are portrayed in the novel,—kind, homely, unpretending feelings +which all can sympathise with—and when the attention is once fixed by +this species of truth, a thousand improbabilities may pass without +challenge. It is always thus. The writer of fiction, whether it be fable +or romance, and whether he deal with man or monster, or spirit of the +air, has always found that if he can present a faithful reflexion of the +human heart, he may give almost any conceivable license to the +imagination. + +What most struck us on a late perusal of _The Vicar of Wakefield_, was +the very low level, in point of refinement, on which all the female +characters are placed. The love and the courtship are of the rudest +sort, without the least trace of sentiment or the poetry of the passion. +Mrs Primrose, notwithstanding the excellence of her gooseberry wine, and +the liberality with which she dispenses it, is, we are sorry to say, +decidedly a vulgar personage. That her learning and accomplishments were +those which we should now assign to the housekeeper, rather than to the +wife of a wealthy vicar, (for such is Dr Primrose when we are first +introduced to him,) is no part of our objection; this the difference of +times and systems of education may sufficiently explain. Mrs Primrose is +vulgar _at the heart_. She lacks those feelings of refinement which +sometimes grow up spontaneously even in the peasant’s hut. + +Recall to mind the manner in which she receives back her unfortunate +daughter Olivia. Let it be remembered that she had been practising her +petty blundering artifices, her most visible palpable manœuvres, to +catch the rich young squire. It was her plot, her scheme for elevating +the family; in which scheme her daughter was of course to co-operate. +Yet this is her speech upon the occasion. It is true human nature, but +it is human nature of a very vulgar description. “Ah, Madam,” cried her +mother, “this is but a poor place you are come to after so much finery. +My daughter Sophy and I can afford but little entertainment to persons +who have kept company only with people of distinction. Yes, Miss Livy, +your poor father and I have suffered very much of late; but I hope +Heaven will forgive you.” + +This Olivia herself is not made interesting to us by any one trait in +her character. Her beauty, and the cruel treatment she meets with from +her coarse and brazen seducer, is all she has to depend upon for any +claim to our sympathy. Affliction has its worst effect upon her, the +effect it has on the selfish and unrefined. “Every tender epithet +bestowed on her sister brought a pang to her heart, and a tear to her +eye; and as one vice, when cured, ever plants others where it has been, +so her former guilt, though driven out by repentance, left jealousy and +envy behind.” It is just as well we do not get more intimate with the +female part of the family, for it is evident that in proportion as we +knew them better, we should like them less. + +Had the life of Goldsmith brought him acquainted with no higher +specimens of the sex? Had his fair cousin Jane, the daughter of good +Uncle Contarine, with whom he used to practise music, and talk poetry, +left with him no more refined impression of female society than we see +reflected in _The Vicar of Wakefield_? Or, must we understand his +portraits as fair specimens of the women of his time? Or, shall we seek +a third explanation in the want of refinement in the literature of that +period? We suspect the last has much to do with it. + +Here we must bring to a conclusion our necessarily detached and +desultory criticisms on the works of Goldsmith. As a _prose_ writer, it +would be in vain for any too partial biographer or critic to elevate him +to the rank of those who guide or confirm opinion, and teach us to +reason and to judge. But how many a familiar truth has he clothed in +clear and graceful diction! How often, too, the isolated observation, +thrown out as if by happy chance, stimulates the mind to reflection! +What a master he is of _form_—of the pleasing art which moulds the +style! But his two principal _poems_ are the works which raise him to +the rank of _the immortals_. We can easily understand that many ardent +admirers of our contemporaneous poetry—replete as it is with the +philosophic speculations of the age, its subtle and ambitious +thinking—may be disposed to look down with an air of condescension, and +a sort of gentle disdain, upon the poetry of Goldsmith. But time passes +on, and brings new modes of philosophising; the subtleties of one age do +not always charm the next; and it may happen that much which is now held +in highest repute, as the most _poetical_ of poetry, shall have grown +dim and obsolete, whilst mothers shall be still teaching to their +children, and old men still repeating to themselves, the descriptions of +_The Traveller_ and of _The Deserted Village_. + + + + + TO BURNS’S “HIGHLAND MARY.” + + + I. + + O loved by him whom Scotland loves, + Long loved, and honoured duly + By all who love the bard who sang + So sweetly and so truly! + In cultured dales his song prevails, + Thrills o’er the eagle’s aëry,— + Ah! who that strain has caught, nor sighed + For Burns’s “Highland Mary?” + + + II. + + I wandered on from hill to hill, + I feared nor wind nor weather; + For Burns beside me trode the moor, + Beside me pressed the heather. + I read his verse—his life—alas! + O’er that dark shades extended:— + With thee at last, and him in thee, + My thoughts their wanderings ended. + + + III. + + His golden hours of youth were thine— + Those hours whose flight is fleetest; + Of all his songs to thee he gave + The freshest and the sweetest. + Ere ripe the fruit, one branch he brake, + All rich with bloom and blossom; + And shook its dews, its incense shook, + Above thy brow and bosom. + + + IV. + + And when his Spring, alas, how soon! + Had been by care subverted, + His Summer, like a god repulsed, + Had from his gates departed; + Beneath the evening star, once more, + Star of his morn and even! + To thee his suppliant hands he spread, + And hailed his love “in heaven.” + + + V. + + And if his spirit in “a waste + Of shame” too oft was squandered, + And if too oft his feet ill-starred + In ways erroneous wandered; + Yet still his spirit’s spirit bathed + In purity eternal; + And all fair things through thee retained + For him their aspect vernal. + + + VI. + + Nor less that tenderness remained + Thy favouring love implanted; + Compunctious pity, yearnings vague + For love to earth not granted; + Reserve with freedom, female grace + Well matched with manly vigour, + In songs where fancy twined her wreaths + Round judgment’s stalwart rigour. + + + VII. + + A mute but strong appeal was made + To him by feeblest creatures; + In his large heart had each a part + That part had found in Nature’s. + The wildered sheep, sagacious dog, + Old horse reduced and crazy, + The field-mouse by the plough upturned, + And violated daisy. + + + VIII. + + In him there burned that passionate glow, + All Nature’s soul and savour, + Which gives its hue to every flower, + To every fruit its flavour. + Nor less the kindred power he felt, + That love of all things human, + Whereof the fiery centre is + The love man bears to woman. + + + IX. + + He sang the dignity of man, + Sang woman’s grace and goodness; + Passed by the world’s half-truths, her lies + Pierced through with lance-like shrewdness. + Upon life’s broad highways he stood, + And aped nor Greek nor Roman; + But snatched from heaven Promethean fire + To glorify things common. + + + X. + + He sang of youth, he sang of age, + Their joys, their griefs, their labours; + Felt with, not for, the people; hailed + All Scotland’s sons his neighbours: + And therefore all repeat his verse— + Hot youth, or graybeard steady, + The boat-man on Loch Etive’s wave, + The shepherd on Ben Ledi. + + + XI. + + He sang from love of song; his name + Dunedin’s cliff resounded:— + He left her, faithful to a fame + On truth and nature founded. + He sought true fame, not loud acclaim; + Himself and Time he trusted: + For laurels crackling in the flame + His fine ear never lusted. + + + XII. + + He loved, and reason had to love. + The illustrious land that bore him: + Where’er he went, like heaven’s broad tent + A star-bright Past hung o’er him. + Each isle had fenced a saint recluse, + Each tower a hero dying; + Down every mountain-gorge had rolled + The flood of foemen flying. + + + XIII. + + From age to age that land had paid + No alien throne submission, + For feudal faith had been her Law, + And freedom her Tradition. + Where frowned the rocks had Freedom smiled, + Sung, mid the shrill wind’s whistle— + So England prized her garden Rose, + But Scotland loved her Thistle. + + + XIV. + + The land thus pure from foreign foot, + Her growing powers thus centred + Around her heart, with other lands + The race historic entered. + Her struggling dawn, convulsed or bright, + Worked on through storms and troubles, + Whilst a heroic line of kings + Strove with heroic nobles. + + + XV. + + Fair field alone the brave demand, + And Scotland ne’er had lost it: + And honest prove the hate and love + To objects meet adjusted. + Intelligible course was hers + By safety tried or danger: + The native was for native known— + The stranger known for stranger. + + + XVI. + + Honour in her a sphere had found, + Nobility a station, + The patriots’ thought the task it sought, + And virtue—toleration. + Her will and way had ne’er been crossed + In fatal contradiction; + Nor loyalty to treason soured, + Nor faith abused with fiction. + + + XVII. + + Can song be mute where hearts are sound? + Weak doubts—away we fling them! + The land that breeds great men, great deeds, + Should ne’er lack bards to sing them. + That vigour, sense, and mutual truth + Which baffled each invader, + Shall fill her marts, and feed her arts, + While peaceful olives shade her. + + + XVIII. + + Honour to Scotland and to Burns! + In him she stands collected. + A thousand streams one river make— + Thus Genius, heaven-directed, + Conjoins all separate veins of power + In one great soul-creation; + And blends a million men to make + The Poet of the nation. + + + XIX. + + Honour to Burns! and her who first + Let loose the abounding river + Of music from the Poet’s heart, + Borne through all lands for ever! + How much to her mankind has owed + Of song’s selectest treasures! + Unsweetened by her kiss, his lips + Had sung far other measures. + + + XX. + + Be green for aye, green bank and brae + Around Montgomery’s Castle! + Blow there, ye earliest flowers! and there, + Ye sweetest song-birds, nestle! + For there was ta’en that last farewell + In hope, indulged how blindly; + And there was given that long last gaze + “That dwelt” on him “sae kindly.” + + + XXI. + + No word of thine recorded stands; + Few words that hour were spoken: + Two Bibles there were interchanged, + And some slight love-gift broken. + And there thy cold faint hands he pressed, + Thy head by dewdrops misted; + And kisses, ill-resisted first, + At last were unresisted. + + + XXII. + + Ah cease!—she died. He too is dead. + Of all her girlish graces + Perhaps one nameless lock remains: + The rest stern Time effaces— + Dust lost in dust. Not so: a bloom + Is hers that ne’er can wither; + And in that lay which lives for aye + The twain live on together. + + + + + MY PENINSULAR MEDAL. + BY AN OLD PENINSULAR. + PART IV.—CHAPTER X. + + +Next morning, I commenced my regular attendance at the office; all hands +employed in counting money. + +“Well, Mr Y—,” said my commanding officer, “I fear you find the +gentleman with whom you lodge rather dull company.” + +“Particularly lively, sir; never met with a more pleasant person.” + +“Thought he was rather morose,” replied Mr Q—. “That’s the character he +bears amongst his acquaintance here.” + +“Quite cheerful and obliging, sir; sings a good song. Yesterday he +invited a couple of friends to meet me at dinner. Does all he can to +make me comfortable, even to his own inconvenience. Last night, as we +were short of blankets, he forced me to take his greatcoat, which he +generally puts upon his own bed. Offered, as a favour, to sell it me, as +I am going up to the army. Only asks ten dollars.” + +“Yes, yes; he’s always trying to bargain. That’s what has got him such a +bad name here. Constantly on the look-out to turn a penny. Well, do you +buy the pony?” + +“Yes, sir,” said I; “we settled about that this morning at breakfast. +Shall have to trouble you for the needful, as he would like to be paid +in the course of the day.” + +“In the course of the day? Oh, very well. The cashier may as well give +it you at once. Stop; I’ll write you an order. At the same time, I feel +it my duty to say this to you; mind and take a receipt. How much will +you draw?” + +“I suppose, sir, the usual allowance granted by Government, eighty +dollars. That, he said, of course.” + +“What! Eighty dollars for that beast of a pony? Why, Mr Y—, one would +think you had come out direct from England! Saddle and bridle in? Of +course.” + +“No, sir; we are to settle about the saddle and bridle to-morrow. Said +he didn’t know what he _ought_ to ask for them.” + +“Ought!—a rascal! He knows very well, when you’ve got the pony, you +_must_ have the saddle and bridle. Don’t know of a saddle that would +suit Sancho, in all Passages. Well, Mr Y—; I feel it my duty to say this +to you—it’s a regular take-in. Sixty dollars I should call a high +figure, saddle and bridle included. If you can sell at headquarters for +forty, you may think yourself well off.” + +“Hadn’t I better go and pitch into him, sir?” + +“Pitch into him? Nonsense. That won’t do here, Mr Y—. Besides, a +bargain’s a bargain, you know. If you have said eighty, it must be +eighty. Have you looked out for a fresh billet?” + +“Didn’t know there was any occasion, sir.” + +“You don’t expect to pass another night in your present quarters, after +you have paid for Sancho? If you complete the purchase this morning, +depend upon it, you’ll have to get other accommodation before bed-time.” + +“I’m rather at a loss how to proceed, sir.” + +“Why, let me see. I must consider. Go and tell him—yes—go and tell him, +for that money you ought to have saddle and bridle in. Tell him so, from +me. We must try and be a match for this gentleman. Don’t think it right +that your uncle’s nephew, the moment he joins, should be pigeoned at +this rate. Stop—tell him, at the same time, you can’t purchase till the +day you’re off. Under all the circumstances of the case, I feel it my +duty to say this to you; till then, I shall keep the eighty dollars in +the military chest. While you’re here, he may as well have the bother of +keeping Sancho as you. And, besides, while the bargain’s open—don’t you +see?—you won’t be disturbed in your quarters. If you lose them, the +place is so crowded, ten to one I shall be forced to accommodate you +_myself_.” + +Charged with what promised to prove an awkward negotiation, I walked off +to find my friend. Nothing of the kind. He took it all with the greatest +good-humour; consented with alacrity to throw in the saddle and bridle; +and as to the money, why, if it wasn’t forthcoming at once, he could +wait till it was. + +Three hands of us, counting dollars till dinner-time, did a good stroke +of work:—only that plaguy “small mixed” was a serious addition to our +labours. Fancy a bag of small silver, a thousand dollars in amount, shot +out before you on the table; a heap of mingled coin, specimens of every +fraction of a dollar, that ever issued in silver from the Spanish mint; +the whole lot to be sorted, counted, and made right. A single bag took +us often two or three hours. As to counting a bag of whole dollars, that +was a far easier job. Count ten; set them on the table in a pile. Ten +such piles in a row make a hundred; ten such rows in a square make one +thousand:—the bag is counted. Unluckily, though, your last pile is +sometimes nine, or eleven, instead of ten. Ah, you’re a greenhorn; +you’ve counted wrong. Then down goes your nose to the edge of the table; +your eye glances over the summit of the piles. Discover, if you can, a +pile higher or lower than the rest: the error is then detected. Should +you fail, there’s no remedy: “Mr Snooks, you had better count the whole +again.” Still wrong? then some older hand is set to count. Can’t he get +it right? Why, then, the bag is wrong. Set it on one side and count +another. Fingers sore, about the third day. With the first day’s +counting they get a little black; on the second, rough, and painful; +third, cracked, and begin to bleed. About this time comes a thundering +letter, blowing up the whole department sky high, for not having the +money ready to pay the troops. What your fingers are, if the counting +goes on a day or two longer, especially with the encouraging +accompaniment of a rap on the knuckles, I leave you to guess. We had a +military guard; four Germans, one of them a corporal. The man on duty as +sentry walked up and down in the passage, while the other three sat over +a small fire in an adjoining room. They could sing in parts—sang well. +One of them struck up, the others followed, the sentry joined in as he +paced the lobby. Sometimes it was a national song, sometimes a hymn. +Nothing, in sacred music, like those German hymns. But then, take +notice, you must have German voices to do them justice. The men of our +guard were quiet, sober, well-conducted fellows; always willing to make +themselves useful; rendered us great assistance in helping the carpenter +to open and close the boxes, and in lifting the bags from the boxes to +the table, and _vice versâ_. Mr Q—, as an acknowledgment, made a +handsome addition to their supper. + +Our dinner was strictly departmental, very much to my taste; quite a +sort of family party. No one was present save the gentlemen of our own +office at Passages. Mr Q—, I rather suspect, wanted to give me some idea +of my duties, in the responsible charge of conducting treasure to +headquarters through the enemy’s country. Perhaps he thought a little +chat amongst ourselves would be the best mode of instruction. + +Towards the close of the evening, as we sat talking over departmental +matters, each with his tumbler before him—hot,—our conversation was +interrupted by a tap at the door. “Come in,” said Mr Q—. + +The door opened; and in the doorway appeared one of our German guard. +With an earnest but somewhat vacant look, and his hand spread out upon +his breast, he stood erect, his appearance that of a man who wants +words, but is very anxious to speak. At length he began: “_Mine haarrt +ist folle._” Just at that moment the corporal appeared behind, seized +the orator by the shoulders, and cut short his harangue by spinning him +round into the passage, and closing the door. “Oh, I see how it is,” +said Mr Q—. “The extra allowance has got into his head. He wants to +return thanks for his supper; that’s all.” + +Presently there was a scuffle outside. Again the door opened; and again +the same individual made his appearance, commencing as before, with +pathos and much gravity, “_Mine haarrt ist folle._” The corporal +interposed once more; but another scuffle ensued in the passage, +followed by a third visit, with similar results. + +“Better get him to turn in,” said Mr Q—; but that was more English than +the corporal understood. Recollecting a few German words, I contrived to +make the command intelligible; and partly by force, partly by +persuasion, our grateful friend was stowed away for the night; still +exclaiming, from time to time, “_Mine haarrt ist folle_,” and making +strenuous efforts to break away from his comrades, come back, and finish +his oration. When all was quiet, I took my leave for the night. The +sound of my footsteps caught his ear, and set him off again. His voice +grew louder as my distance increased; and “_Mine haarrt ist folle_” +resounded in the street. Next morning he came up to me, looking very +sheepish and compunctious; and commenced a long discourse in German, +expressive of his profound regret. This at his request I interpreted, as +far as able, to his “Excellenz” the “Haupt.” + +At length arrived the day, the important day, of my departure to join +the army. It was arranged that the treasure should be conveyed up the +harbour in boats to the bridge of Oyarzun, with a guard of soldiers. At +Oyarzun we were to sleep the first night; and there, also, we were to +meet the rest of our escort, and the mules intended to convey the money. +My friend and I had arranged it together, that he was to bring Sancho to +the office in the course of the morning, saddled and bridled. I was then +to pay the purchase-money, and the pony would be mine. My friend was +punctual to his time; Sancho stood at the door; and I applied to Mr Q— +for the eighty dollars. + +“Oh yes, of course,” said he; “may as well give it you at once. Is the +pony at Oyarzun?” + +“No, sir; he’s here, at the door.” + +“Here at the door? Then how do you mean to get him to Oyarzun?” I had +never thought of that. + +“Can’t he go with us, in one of the boats, sir?” + +“Oh yes, certainly; yes, yes. If they were horse-boats, of course he +could. But as they are common ship-boats, borrowed for the occasion from +the transports in harbour, how will you get him in, and how will you get +him out? Not to mention that he might take to kicking; and kick out a +plank from the bottom of the boat, as you were pulling up the harbour. +In that case, the treasure would have a short voyage, and you too.” + +“Hadn’t I better mention it to my friend, sir?” + +“Why, yes; I think you had. Stop; let me see. Suppose you request him to +step in. I’ll speak to him myself.” + +I invited my friend into the office. He entered smiling—rubbed his +hands—looked sleeky and resigned—evidently thought he was going to +realise. + +“Well, sir,” said Mr Q—, addressing my friend, “this is an awkward +business about the pony. I don’t see how the purchase can be completed.” + +“Completed, sir?” said my friend, rather taken aback, and losing his +temper. “I thought it _was_ completed, all but paying the money.” + +“Very true, sir,” said Mr Q—; “but that, you know, makes all the +difference. The money is not paid; and, more than that, it’s not issued. +And, sir, under all the circumstances of the case, I feel it my duty to +say this to you; unless I see everything straight, I don’t intend to +issue it.” + +“Well, sir,” said my friend, “I conceive everything _is_ straight, so +far as I am concerned. There stands the pony, at the door.” + +“Yes, I know he does. But how is he to be got to the head of the +harbour?” + +“Of course I supposed Mr Y— would ride him, sir.” + +“No, no; that’s out of the question. The treasure goes by water; and of +course, being in charge, Mr Y— must go with it.” + +“Well, sir,” replied my friend, “if that’s all, my servant shall take +the pony.” + +“Oh, very well, sir,” said Mr Q—, “if you think you can trust your +servant to receive and bring back the purchase-money.” + +“No occasion for that, sir; I can receive it here, sir, if you’ve no +objection.” + +“None whatever, when I know that the pony is delivered at Oyarzun. Not +before delivery, of course.” + +My friend was seized with a fit of musing;—looked rather at a loss. At +length he found his tongue. + +“The long and the short of it is, I think, sir, I had better ride the +pony to Oyarzun myself, and make the delivery in person.” + +“Very well, sir,” said Mr Q—. “I think so too. Then, on receiving the +pony at Oyarzun, Mr Y— will pay you the eighty dollars. Will you favour +us with your company? We are just going to lunch.” + +“Thank you, sir; much obliged. Think I had better be off at once. Mr Y— +will not reach Oyarzun till late; and it’s out of the question my +returning to Passages after dark, especially on foot, and with a lot of +dollars.” + +“Oh, certainly; and by such a horrid, cut-throat, out-of-the-way road, +too. You’d certainly be robbed and murdered; that is, if you get safe +there. Better secure a night’s lodging at Oyarzun, if there’s one to be +had, sir.” + +“Yes, and come back to-morrow by daylight. Well, the sooner I’m off the +better. Good morning, sir.” + +“Good morning, sir.” My friend mounted Sancho at the door, and set off +forthwith to Oyarzun. + +Mr Q—, laughing heartily, then handed me my route, made out in due form. + +While I was making the necessary arrangements for my start in the +afternoon, Mr Q— summoned me into his private apartment. He had doffed +his blue frock with black velvet collar, and now appeared in full fig, +departmental coat, epaulet on his shoulder, staff-hat on the table. His +manner was serious, but friendly. + +“You are probably aware, Mr Y—,” said he, “that the Allied army is not +likely to resume active operations for some days.” + +“So I have understood, sir,” said I. + +“I presume, however, you are not acquainted with the cause of this +temporary inactivity.” + +“Can’t say I am, sir.” + +“It is, I believe I may venture to inform you, principally the want of +money. That deficiency your arrival will supply. You will readily +perceive, then, how much depends on your conducting the treasure safely, +and delivering it by the time when it is looked for. Your route lies +through the enemy’s country; but the population is now comparatively +quiet; the date of your departure is known at headquarters, and, I have +no doubt, every requisite arrangement has been made to secure the safety +of your convoy. All such arrangements, however, proceed, and must +proceed, on one supposition—namely, that the officer in charge is, on +his part, competent to the task committed to him, obeys his orders, and +does his duty properly. You will readily perceive, then, that some +measure of responsibility rests upon your own shoulders.” + +“Yes, sir; and, in the course of the last few days, I have been thinking +on that subject more than once.” + +“All the better. Mr Y—, if you had ever discharged this duty before, I +should now merely wish you a pleasant journey, and send you off. But +this is your first expedition; it is one, to speak candidly, of greater +risk than any that has hitherto fallen to our department. The army is +considerably in advance in the French territory; you have before you six +or seven days’ march upon French ground; it will, of course, be +discovered that you carry money—there is no concealing that; a convoy +like yours will naturally excite the cupidity of partisans and +marauders; from St Jean de Luz to headquarters you will not find a +single officer of our department to give you the benefit of his +experience; and, under all the circumstances of the case, I feel it my +duty to say this to you—mind what you are about; on no account separate +from your convoy; let nothing induce you to deviate from the written +route; always reach the specified station at the specified time; keep +your escort sober, if you can; keep your muleteers in good-humour; keep +your mules well together on the line of march; and, if you are asked +questions, don’t be lavish of information. The French, Mr Y—, though an +inquisitive people, are not apt to interrogate official persons out of +mere curiosity. If, therefore, any individual should pester you with +inquiries, depend upon it he has a motive.” + +“I suppose, sir,” said I, “in such a case, it will be as well to return +some sort of a general reply, just to avoid the appearance of mystery.” + +“Exactly that,” said Mr Q—. “When a gentleman makes an inquiry, you are +bound, by etiquette, to give him a _reply_. Whether you give him an +_answer_ is optional, and a matter of discretion. + +“By the bye,” added Mr Q—, after a pause, “I shouldn’t wonder if you +missed the pony, after all—no great harm if you do. To be sure, you must +march on foot, the first day or two; but you won’t mind that; and you +will have your eighty dollars. Put twenty to them, and I shouldn’t +wonder if you pick up a very tolerable mule, which will answer your +purpose far better. Then, if at headquarters you wish to come out well +mounted, and choose to buy a horse, a mule, you know, will always fetch +its value.” + +“I hope, sir,” said I, “we shall have a good escort.” + +“Oh, yes—the escort. That is one of the subjects I wish to mention. +Well, Mr Y—, you must do the best you can with them. Your escort +consists of twenty men; not, I am sorry to say, twenty men of any one +corps, but twenty men of twenty different regiments; men who have been +in hospital at Vittoria, sick or wounded—have recovered, and are now on +their return to headquarters—not exactly the guard I should have wished +to provide, but the best I could get for you. The worst is, I have seen +the officer who is to command them, and don’t like him at all. Hope you +will like him better than I do. Hope he won’t give you trouble, or prove +incompetent. Should he turn out not quite the person you wish, or should +your escort appear insufficient, say nothing till you reach St Jean de +Luz, up to which point I consider you as safe as if travelling in +England. Then wait upon old Colonel B—, the commandant; state your case +to him; and he, I have no doubt, will make the best arrangements in his +power, for the security of your subsequent progress. Come, Mr Y—, after +dinner, we’ll see you into the boat.” + +“Perhaps, sir,” said I, “you will oblige me with a line to the +commandant, to be presented if the case requires.” + +“No need of that,” said he, “I wrote to the Colonel yesterday, after +seeing the gentleman who goes with you.” + +Before leaving the room, I very heartily thanked my commanding officer +for all his good advice, forethought, and kind attentions. We then shook +hands upon it, in the usual English style; and I held by the paw as +worthy a little man as ever trod shoe-leather, and as smart an officer +as ever drew rations. + +The dinner was again departmental, and so was the talk. “It is the boast +of our department,” said Mr Q—, “that, since we have served in the +Peninsula under our present commander-in-chief, no treasure in our +keeping, not even a single mule’s load of specie, has ever been captured +by the enemy. Recollect that, Mr Y—, and keep up our character.” + +“Didn’t we once lose a box of papers, sir?” said one of my +fellow-clerks. + +“We did,” said Mr Q—; “but, two days after, it was recaptured, and all +the papers found right. That was on the retreat, subsequent to the +battle of Talavera. I see nothing of the boats,” he added, rising, and +walking to the balcony. “Hope they’ll be here in time.” + +“Get him to tell about that campaign,” whispered the senior of my +fellow-clerks, winking to the junior. “Did you ever hear him tell it, Mr +Y—?” + +“I think, sir, in the course of that campaign,” said the junior, +addressing Mr Q—, on his return to the table, “the whole department +together, chest and all, had a narrow escape from being captured.” + +“Not exactly,” said Mr Q—, “because we obeyed orders. Had we not, we +should have had no escape at all: we must have been taken, every man of +us. The boats are not in sight, so I’ll just tell you how it was. +Gentlemen, try this Madeira. We halted one evening, after a weary march, +in a village. The rain was coming down in torrents. We unloaded the +treasure, and housed it, glad enough to get a little rest. Just at that +moment, Mr Y—, an order came to your uncle, to load again, and be ready +to move on at a moment’s warning, but not to stir till further notice. +Well, sir, we made ready again, with all expedition; the night closed +in; the rain fell, heavier than ever; and an anxious time we had of it. +Parties of stragglers, one after the other, came hurrying through the +village—one set assuring us the enemy were close at their heels, another +telling us we had better be off, another warning us, if we stayed there, +we should all be taken, and serve us right. I own I felt rather nervous; +but the Governor would not budge. He had got his directions, he said, +not to proceed without further orders; and there he should wait, +treasure and all, till the orders came. Presently, in a mighty bustle, +up rode a general officer. Begged to know, in a tone of authority, why +we were waiting there. The Governor replied as before. ‘Well, but it was +perfectly absurd. The enemy were close at hand—on our flanks, right and +left.’ Couldn’t move the Governor. The general grew angry, swore, almost +threatened. ‘Will you move on, sir, or will you not?’ Then clapped spurs +to his horse, in a towering passion, and rode away with a wave of his +hand, as if saying, ‘I leave you to your fate.’ Well, gentlemen, we +waited, waited till midnight. No order came. Waited on till morning +dawned. Then, at length, came a staff-officer, with a message from his +lordship, directing us to proceed. We did so; and found the general +quite right in one thing—the French had been on our flanks. But not only +that; they had been in our front. During the night, they had occupied in +force the very road by which we were to pass. Had we started sooner, we +should have walked right into them.” + +The boats now made their appearance, and were soon alongside the jetty. +A working party embarked the treasure, packed, as before, in boxes. I +then said farewell, and took my seat. With three boat-loads of treasure, +and a guard of a corporal and six soldiers, we pulled away for the +bridge of Oyarzun. There we found three individuals expecting our +arrival—Captain Rattler, who was appointed to command our escort, my +friend, and Sancho. + +I completed the purchase of Sancho, by handing over to my friend the +eighty dollars, and receiving an acknowledgment of the same, which he +had brought in his pocket. Just at that moment, my attention was called +from my friend, by something in the boats. The next instant I turned, to +resume our conversation—he had vanished! By the dim ray of evening at +length I caught sight of him in the distance, walking down the road +towards the town. My friend! My jolly, good-humoured, hospitable friend! +My friend, who could sing a good song! My friend, who laughed +indiscriminately and immoderately at all my jokes! He had got his money. +It was all he wanted. He was off, without staying to say “Good night!” + +CHAPTER XI. + +The departure of my friend was soon followed by that of the boats. The +treasure was then placed in security for the night, in charge of two +sentries; and Captain Rattler politely offered me accommodation in his +quarters, as well as stable-room for Sancho. We accordingly started +together, I leading the pony; when one of the soldiers stepped up, and, +saluting in due form, took hold of the bridle. “Well,” said I, “just +lead him to the stable, will you?” + +“Yes, sir,” said he smartly; “and take care on him too, sir. Git across +him, sir, if you’ve no objections, sir. Got a bullet in my leg, sir.” + +Suiting the action to the word, and not waiting for leave, he then +mounted the pony, or, as he had more graphically described the process, +“got across” him. That is, laying hold with both hands, he took a +spring, and brought the pit of his stomach upon the saddle; then, +wriggling forwards, got one leg over, dug his heels into Sancho’s side +before he was well in his seat, and started off at a trot, his legs +dangling, and the stirrups too. As he mounted and rode away, I noticed a +hard, droll sort of leer, on the weather-beaten countenances of his +comrades. Jones, it soon became apparent, was both the wag and the butt +of the whole escort. + +The corporal, meanwhile, was receiving his instructions from Captain +Rattler. “Fraser of the 42d?” said the captain. “Oh, very well. You will +see to the whole party. We haven’t another corporal in the escort. Turn +them out to-morrow in good time; and be sure to have them here by eight +o’clock, when we load the mules.” + +While the captain and I were seated at our tea, Jones entered without +knocking, twitched his forelock, and with a savage look made a plunge at +my boots, and walked away with them. Jones, it was clear, had made up +his mind to be my personal attendant, as long as I and he marched in +company. That being the case, I here beg leave to give you his +character,—though I fear it would not gain him admittance into your +service. + +Jones went among his comrades by the name of Taffy, and certainly was +not wronged by the legend, which says “Taffy was a thief.” Take a trait. +On the march, he stole a Dutch cheese, sold it me for a dollar, and ate +it himself. He was conversable, and couldn’t keep his own counsel: _e. +g._ not satisfied with realising both dollar and cheese, he +ostentatiously pleaded guilty to the original theft, walking by the side +of my pony. Jones was no raw recruit:—had served in the Peninsula, if +his word was to be trusted, through five successive campaigns; got his +wound at Pampeluna, and was now returning from hospital to join his +regiment. In active service, he had acquired all the good and bad +qualities of an old campaigner; united with which were some of both +sorts, that were properly his own. His oddities he did not attempt to +hide, though they constantly exposed him to the jeers of his comrades. +He was susceptible, touchy, testy—not quarrelsome. Felt ridicule very +acutely; if laughed at, complained bitterly—expostulated—but was not to +be laughed out of his own ways. He was somewhat undersized; a smart, +wiry, hard-featured light-infantry man: had, to an excess, that wriggle +in his gait, which was imparted to our foot-soldiers by the awkward set +of their accoutrements—straightening their back, stretching their neck, +fixing their head, projecting their chin, and throwing all the action, +in walking, into their loins, thighs, and shoulders. His first +appearance was by no means a letter of recommendation. He carried the +gallows in his countenance,—in short, had that sort of look which helps +to get “oudacious” boys a “larrupping;” desperate, dogged, abject, and +impudent at the same time. He was capable of any sort of atrocity:—you +might turn him by a word. Had a perpetual wolf—yet didn’t care much for +eating, when he could get drink. Never refused a tumbler of wine—but +preferred something short. His tact was considerable. He soon found out +just what I disliked, and what I liked—accommodated his likings to mine. +With a constant eye to self, was my intensely devoted humble servant. +Never resisted—always gave up a point at once, when he couldn’t carry +it—yet often contrived to have his own way. Much preferred riding to +walking: seldom suffered a day to pass, without finding more than one +opportunity to “get across” Sancho in the course of the march. If I was +off, he was on. Took an amazing liking to “the pony,”—and sold his corn. +Hated the French, but not so much as he hated our own horse-soldiers. +Jones, often offended, was never saucy. Took a jobation as a matter of +course. Looked savage at the moment; the next, was larking with the +muleteers. The muleteers took to him amazingly. For endless neglects and +trespasses, he had one plea, always ready—“Got a bullet in my leg, sir.” + +Next morning, just as we had done breakfast, Corporal Fraser entered to +announce the men ready, the mules arrived, and all prepared for loading. +The captain and I proceeded to the spot, and the loading commenced. +Corporal Fraser made himself universally useful; I soon discovered that, +in him, we had an acquisition. Leaving the superintendence, for a +moment, to the captain and him, I stepped back to the billet, for the +purpose of stowing, in my already overcharged portmanteau, a lot of +loose dollars, part of my own ready cash, which I found a drag. Just as +I had piled them on the table, to the number of forty, and was forcing +them in amongst shirts, shaving materials, and portable dictionaries, +who should enter but the captain? “Ah!” said he, “don’t trouble +yourself; you haven’t room. You’ll ruin your things. Here; my +portmanteau is open.” So saying, he laid hands on the dollars, counted +thirty, and whipped them into his box. “Thirty,” said he—“there, they’ll +go safe. Remember. Thirty.” It was done in the twinkling of an eye. +“Rather cool,” thought I; “but of course it’s all right.” + +We returned together. A few of the soldiers were placed as sentries. The +rest had piled their arms, and stood waiting about, ready to fall in and +march when the mules were loaded. Something out of the usual course was +evidently going on: the men were all on a broad grin. I walked into a +sort of court-yard, and at once discovered the cause of the general +mirth. On a money-box sat Jones, and before him stood a goat. “Purty +creatur!” said Jones. “Purty thing—isn’t she, sir?” He held out a bit of +biscuit. She playfully made a show of butting, advanced, and took +it—“It’s mine, sir,” said he: “follows me about like a dog, sir.” + +“No wonder,” said I, “so long as the biscuit lasts.” + +“No, sir; ’tisn’t that, sir,” replied Jones. “It’s ’cause I speaks to +her as goats understands, sir; same as we speaks to ’em in the +Principality, sir. Only see, sir.” + +Jones then knelt down, put his nose close to nanny’s, and, with a +coaxing voice and a most affectionate look, gave utterance to a few low +guttural sounds, in a language to me unknown. Nanny rose on her hind +legs, and again made play with her head; then, just as I expected to see +Jones punched and prostrate, arched her neck gracefully on one side, +descended on her fore-feet, stepped back, cut a caper, ran up to Jones +again in a butting attitude, and, instead of knocking him over, put her +nose close to his, and uttered a short bleat. “There, sir,” said Jones; +“see that, sir?—understands me every word, sir.” It certainly did look +very much as if nanny understood Welch. + +“Well, what did you say to her?” + +“Why, I said this, sir. ‘Nanny,’ says I, ‘we’re off directly instant,’ +says I; ‘and you must come along with us,’ says I; ‘and I’ll milk you +morning and evening,’ says I. ‘And then the cappn, and this here +hommerble jeddleham what’s present,’ says I, ‘won’t never not want milk +for their tea,’ says I, ‘nor yet for their breakfast nayther,’ says I.” + +“Well, and what does nanny say?” asked I, almost laughing at this stroke +of generalship. + +“Please, sir,” replied Jones, “she says she’s quite agreeable, sir; that +is, if you are, sir. That’s what she says, sir.” + +“Oh, very well.” Had Jones and I been better acquainted, I might have +felt it needful to ask first, how nanny had passed into his possession. + +“Thank yer honour,” said Jones, springing on his feet. “That’s jest the +very thing as I was a-going to aast yer honour. Much obleeged to yer +honour. Purty creatur! Nothing to her, a day’s march, sir. Won’t mind it +the least in the world, sir. Come in quite fresh, sir.” As I was walking +out of the yard, Jones ran after me,—“Please, sir, if the cappn makes +any objections, when he siz nanny coming on along with us, sir, please +just tell him she’s a nanny, sir; that is, I means to say, a femmel, +sir, and giz milk, sir. Then he won’t have nothing to say against her, +sir.” + +Nanny did actually accompany our march to headquarters; and not only +gave us milk, regularly twice a-day, but on one occasion rendered us a +far more important service. She became the pet of the men, and soon +knocked up an acquaintance with the pony. Sancho and nanny travelled +side by side; except that nanny’s line of march was now and then +excursive; on which occasions the pony expressed his uneasiness by +turning his head to look, with an impatient snort. Nanny was certainly +not undeserving of Jones’s commendations of her beauty. Not one of that +homebred race, of vulgar aspect, ungainly form, and short, coarse coat, +so common both in this country and abroad—a race that lose all their +sprightliness when they cease to be kids, and become full-grown +goats;—in form she resembled the antelope; her step was that of goats +that haunt the precipice, the pinnacle, and the glacier; elegance was in +all her movements; and her hair, fine, flowing, and luxuriant—in colour +a beautiful light orange-tawny, softening into an amber yellow, pale and +delicate—with its snow-white fringe almost sweeping the ground. A dainty +hussy, too, was Miss Nanny. She had her luxuries, and scorned to browse +on common grass: culled her tidbits by the road-side, as she trotted +along—a nibble here, and a nibble there; was partial to biscuit broken +small, and wouldn’t refuse a crumb of cheese. Didn’t care for bread, +except when she could steal it—her only vice—off the table before +dinner; an object which she easily effected, by raising herself on her +hind-legs. At the end of the march, as Jones had predicted, she always +came in as fresh as she started; and proved it, wherever we were, by +commencing an immediate perambulation of the house and premises, in +search of anything she could pick up. This sometimes brought her into +odd positions, and gave us trouble. + +Where are we? Oh, loading the money for our start from Oyarzun. Just as +I was coming out of the court-yard, a soldier entered it, with a look of +execration, muttering. Didn’t at all like appearances, when I got into +the road. All the men looked sulky; the muleteers, perfectly vicious. +The loading was going on, but without method, and not by any means with +despatch. Of all the party, the only man that didn’t show ill blood was +Corporal Fraser. He was doing his best, but looked serious, and somewhat +nonplussed. The cause of all was soon apparent. The captain, for some +reason or other, had worked himself into a perfect fury, to which he was +giving expression in a regular stream of abuse and imprecations; +discharging it indiscriminately on the muleteers and the escort, in +Portuguese, Spanish, and English, as though he had rifled and ransacked +the vocabularies for every bullying and blasphemous expression in the +three languages. He had already got matters into a little bit of a +mess—was ordering, counter-ordering—bothering the whole party out of +their wits—in short, obstructing everything, and thereby indefinitely +delaying our departure. This particularly enraged the muleteers: for you +must know, first, they take the packing upon themselves, understand +their business, and like to be let alone at it; secondly, they have a +notion that nothing ruins their mules like keeping a beast standing, +when once he has got his load on his back; and some of the first loaded +were a couple of hours in this predicament, before we got off. We +started at last, and passed through Oyarzun in no very military order: +soldiers, mules, and muleteers, all jumbled together, like beef, pork, +onions, and mutton-chops, in a Saturday’s pie. Fraser’s smartness saved +us more than once from a jam, as we threaded the narrow street; and at +length we emerged on the high road to St Jean de Luz. + +Although, in our transition to French from Spanish ground, we mounted +not to the regions of perpetual snows, we did certainly pass over some +very high ground, both before and after crossing the Bidassoa; and our +second elevation gave us a splendid prospect of the fertile plains of +France. “Shan’t want for nothing to eat, sir,” said Jones, “when we gits +down there, sir. Shocking bad country, Spain, for poor soldiers, sir. +Starvation country, I calls it, sir. Nothing but lean ration beef, as +tough as hides, sir; and couldn’t always get that, sir. Dreadful hard +work up these hills, sir. Got a bullet in my leg, sir.” + +Beyond Irun, we passed over an irregular eminence, which had been the +scene of a sharp conflict with the enemy. Nothing, however, now +indicated the field of combat, save a few dead horses, that lay +scattered on the bare side of a hill. “What are those smaller animals,” +said I to Jones, “lying about there, among the horses? Can’t be goats, +can they?” + +“Thim’s dogs, sir,” said Jones. “They goes and gits a good blowout off +the horses, sir; then they crawls a little way off, and lies down a bit, +jest to choe the quid, sir; and then they goes back again, and takes +another pull, sir. That’s jest how three or four on us did at Vittoria, +sir, when we come upon the Frinch Ginneral’s dinner, sir, which he +hadn’t time to stop and eat sir. Please sir, it’s not correct, what the +men jeers me about the goats where I comes from, sir. Niver see’d nobody +a-riding of a goat in the Principality, sir; nayther man, nor yet woman, +sir; no, nor a babby nayther, sir; let alone a clergyman, sir.” + +Perhaps, my dear reader, as this is our first day on the road, I may as +well give you here a description of our regular order of march; that is, +so far as we marched in any order at all. We had eighty mules, then, in +twenty strings, of four mules each. The muzzle of the second mule was +connected with the _albarda_ (or pack-saddle) of the first, by a thong +of leather. The third mule was attached to the second in like manner, +and the fourth to the third. Each of these strings of mules had its own +muleteer—twenty muleteers in all. The twenty were divided into two +parties of ten; and over each of these ten was a sort of +master-muleteer, called a Capataz. Of the four mules in each string, +three carried money, and the fourth carried nothing but his _albarda_. +We had thus twenty unloaded mules, and sixty charged with treasure: that +is, fifty-eight with dollars, and two with doubloons. Now, as each mule +carried two boxes, and each box contained two bags of a thousand, I +think you will find, reckoning the dollar at only 4s. 6d. (the value at +which it was issued to the troops,) and reckoning sixteen dollars to the +doubloon, that we were marching to headquarters to the tune of +eighty-one thousand pounds sterling. If, however, you prefer calculating +the dollar at what it was then and there worth in buying bills on +England—say from 6s. 6d. to 7s. 6d.—why then, of course, the value of +our load comes to so much the more. What a catch for a Frenchman—one of +our mules! + +Supposing us, then, to march in due order, the mules proceed in single +file, each string of four attended by its own muleteer. Of the soldiers, +some precede the line of march, others follow it, and others, again, +march at intervals on the flanks: and so we walk on at mules’ pace, +which is steady and uniform, convenient for marching, and gets over the +ground at a very satisfactory rate; so that we cover our sixteen or +twenty miles a-day with tolerable facility, going straight on from end +to end. But we don’t always get on so pleasantly. If, not keeping the +single file, one string of mules comes up abreast of that next in +advance, then there is a thronging, which soon leads to confusion. Or if +the load of one of your mules gets wrong, then there is a stoppage. +Those in the rear come crowding up, and are brought to a halt; those in +advance walk on. Thus a division takes place, your line is broken, and +your cavalcade of mules (“bad English!”—It’s good Portuguese,) no longer +kept well together as it ought to be, becomes extended over an undue +length of road, and cannot be looked after and kept regular. Should you +ever march with such a convoy, you will soon make the discovery that +order, though excellent in theory, is not always reducible to practice. +It won’t at all mend the matter, if you happen to have such a commander +as ours was: a battered dandy of forty, a military _roué_, who carried +in his countenance the marks of rough weather and hard drinking—for his +face was not only bronzed by the elements, but pimpled with brandy—and +whose continual language, all through the march from starting to +halting, was just nothing but one stream of oaths, vituperations, and +contradictory orders. And yet this same officer, I make no doubt, had we +been placed in a position of real danger, would have conducted himself +with coolness, energy, and judgment. As it was, he started us in +confusion, and kept us in it all day. The muleteers, who set out in +ill-temper, hadn’t one chance given them of recovering their amiability. +The soldiers first walked along in dogged silence—then, finding what +sort of a gentleman they had to deal with, began to take things easy, +joked among themselves, talked loud, and, when he commanded them with an +oath to hold their tongues, all but laughed in his face. Discipline was +gone. One fellow, a Yorkshire lad, almost amused me with his provoking +insolence. He was a red-faced chap with flaxen hair, white eyebrows, and +a merry but malevolent eye;—could look, in a moment, either impudent or +sedate—just kept himself steady under the captain’s immediate +inspection; the moment it was off him, recommenced his antics—was clown, +harlequin, and scaramouch, all in one—cut the double-shuffle, winked, +twisted his mouth, broke out singing, and was dumb in a moment; cracked +jokes, raised a roar, made believe to quarrel, kicked up every devisable +sort of row. At length he deliberately disobeyed orders, and the captain +put him under arrest; in other words, he was deprived of his musket. +Whispered audibly, “It was just what he wanted; now one of the mules +could shoulder arms”—set half-a-dozen fellows laughing. Yet this man +afterwards, when we were differently commanded, was as well-conducted as +any soldier of the escort. + +We at length reached St Jean de Luz, after a long, and, to me, very +anxious march—the more so as it was my first. Towards our journey’s end, +the question was uppermost in my thoughts, “Is it thus we are to march, +when the road is insecure?” Marching as we did now, far from being +prepared to meet Marshal Soult, I should have felt it far from agreeable +to meet another distinguished commander that shall be nameless. There +certainly were periods, during the day, when a few resolute assailants +might easily have driven off part of our convoy, money and all; nay, +when one or other of our own muleteers, had they been so disposed, might +have slipped down one of the cross-roads with his string of mules, and +made his escape among the hills. These uneasy reflections brought to my +mind the advice given me at Passages by Mr Q—; and I resolved to wait on +the commandant immediately on my arrival, in the hope of effecting some +more satisfactory arrangement for our subsequent progress. + +We reached a large house assigned to our department on the outskirts of +St Jean de Luz, stowed the treasure in safety under a guard, and +dismissed the rest of the men to their quarters; Jones only excepted, +who remained in charge of the pony. Captain Rattler took his leave, with +a polite “_Au revoir._” Having seen the moneyboxes all right, secured +accommodation for the mules and muleteers, and ascertained that dinner +would be ready in half-an-hour, I stepped on at once to the +commandant’s, and found him in his office. + +“I have waited on you, sir, to announce my arrival from Oyarzun, with a +convoy of treasure for headquarters.” + +“Oh yes; Mr Y—, I presume. Mr Y—, pray take a chair. Happy to see you, +Mr Y—, especially on such an occasion. If you arrive safe, I trust we +shall all get a little of it; for it’s what we’re all in want of. Can I +render you any assistance, Mr Y—?” + +“Should feel much obliged, sir, if you could increase the strength of +our escort. For eighty mules, twenty men will hardly be sufficient.” + +“Why, no; certainly not, Mr Y—, if you don’t happen to find the country +quiet. Well, what sort of an addition would you like to have?” + +“At Passages, sir, we had a guard of Germans; so steady and +well-conducted, I should be very glad to have some more like them. As to +number, I would leave that to you, sir.” + +“Sorry to say we have no Germans going up at present, Mr Y—.” + +“Well, sir, we have with us a Scotch corporal, decidedly the steadiest +man in our party. Perhaps you could give me some Scotsmen.” + +“My dear sir, I’d go with you myself, if I could, with the greatest +pleasure. Unfortunately, though, we have no Scotch regiment in the +place. Suppose I could give you—say twenty or thirty men, heavy +cavalry.” + +“Well, sir, I think cavalry, joined with our infantry, would be the best +escort we could have.” + +“Very good, sir. Well, now you’ll want an officer to command them.” + +“Why, sir, the truth is, I wished to consult you on that subject. The +present commander of our party is Captain Rattler.” + +“Your present? Say your late. He’s off.” + +“He was with me within the last half-hour, sir. Said nothing about +leaving.” + +“Well, I don’t know anything about that. All I know is this—he was here +just before you; got his route changed. By this time, I should think, +he’s on his way to St Jean Pied de Port. Very well, Mr Y—. Load +to-morrow, and start with your present escort. At what hour may I expect +you to pass here, in your way through the town?” + +“Probably about ten o’clock, sir.” + +“Very well, Mr Y—. Then, to-morrow morning, by ten o’clock, I’ll have +your additional escort here in readiness for you. As to the officer +that’s to command the party, we’ll talk about that when we meet. Let me +see. I hardly know how to settle it. At present, I have only one that’s +going to join, and he’s young—your junior, I should say, by three or +four years; has never seen service—a cornet, fresh from England. Well, +if you can’t have another, you know, you must have him. Very well, Mr +Y—; to-morrow morning, if you please, at ten o’clock.” + +I withdrew, satisfied with the result of my visit, not at all sorry to +have got rid of the captain by his own act, and without any complaint on +my part—a little surprised, however, at the precipitancy of his retreat, +especially after his last words, “_Au revoir._” Suddenly a thought came +plump—“My thirty dollars! The caitiff! he’s off, and I am once more a +victim!” + +It didn’t turn out quite so bad as it looked, though. On my return to +our office, I was met by Jones, who, with a face of famine, announced +“dinner ready,” and handed me the following letter:— + + “ST JEAN DE LUZ, _March 1814_. + +“Dear Sir—As unexpected circumstances have induced me to alter my route, +I adopt this hurried method of wishing you a safe and pleasant journey +to headquarters. It would have afforded me much gratification to +accompany you, or at any rate to have said farewell in person. You will, +however, I am sure, pardon the little omission, as I am compelled to +start without delay. + +“I have thirty dollars belonging to you in my portmanteau. _They are_ +_safe._ I was about to forward them by the bearer of this, but, not +feeling entire confidence in such a mode of conveyance, I beg to +enclose you an order on England for the amount. Believe me to remain, +dear sir, faithfully yours, + + “R. RATTLER. + + “P.S.—Excuse haste. + + G. Y—, Esq., + Army Pay Department, St Jean de Luz.” + + +“_Au revoir!_” Never, from that time forward, have I and the captain +met. Sly rogue! His _modus operandi_, how dashing, yet how cool! To say +nothing of his walking off with my dollars in his box, and thus securing +a little hard cash at my expense, when cash was so scarce, how civilly +he took leave of me at the door of our office! Thence he must have cut +away direct to the commandant’s, resolved to be off forthwith—in plain +English, to bolt! “Excuse haste!” And then in the morning, too, at +Oyarzun, how smartly he whipped up my dollars, stowed them in his own +portmanteau without asking my leave, and locked them up before my eyes. +“_Au revoir!_” Yes; “_they are safe!_” + +Well, the less said about my dinner, that day, the better. In the course +of the afternoon, though, Miss Nanny-goat thought fit to indulge herself +in a bit of a spree. She walked, in search of varieties, into an old +gentleman’s garden. Jones pursued—wanted to milk her for tea. The +proprietor followed; I joined the chase. Nanny, for the fun of the +thing, sprang on the wall, walked up the roof of the summer-house, ran +along the ridge, pedestalled herself on the gable-end which rose in a +peak, and there stood, looking down on us in defiance, her four little +feet gathered up within the compass of a crown-piece. Jones called, +coaxed, spoke Welsh, held out successively cabbage-leaf, lettuce-leaf, +vine-leaf, all in vain. “Ah!” said the old Frenchman; and, toddling off +to his geraniums, culled a scarlet cluster of aromatic flowers. That was +irresistible. One jump brought Nanny down upon the wall, another landed +her easy on the ground. Before you could say Jack Robinson, she was +nibbling the nosegay out of the Frenchman’s hand. Next morning he loaded +us, when we took leave, with a blushing bouquet of geraniums—shed tears, +poor old gentleman, when Nanny departed—put his arms round her neck—a +true Frenchman—and, _hi oculi viderunt_, kissed her. + +The morning after our arrival at St Jean de Luz, I rose betimes, +breakfasted, and descended into the road to superintend the loading of +the mules—a much more expeditious process without the captain’s aid than +with it. We got off with the convoy in good time, and soon reached the +commandant’s. In that part of the town the street widened into a sort of +“place;” and there, drawn up and awaiting our arrival, I had the +pleasure of discovering a party of dragoons, in number four-and-twenty. +Being fresh from winter-quarters, they had turned out in capital order; +presentable, as to dress and accoutrements, at a Windsor review; their +horses, too, in good condition, though rather undersized for the men, +none of them being English. At the door of the commandant’s office stood +two horses, held by a groom, both of them serviceable, and rather showy +animals, apparently recent arrivals from home. I alighted, and ascended +to the office. + +“Punctual to your time,” said the commandant. “This, Mr Y—, is the +officer who will command your party—the Hon. Mr Chesterfield.” Did the +introduction in due form. + +In the military undress of his regiment—viz. cap with tassel and gold +band, said cap hiding one side of the head and face, and leaving the +other bare, long greatcoat, redundant in frogs, belt and sabre, enormous +boots, and formidable spurs—I saw before me a youth of eighteen, slight +in form, elegant in manner, who quietly returned my salutation, and, +shortly after, walked down stairs and mounted. “I have explained to Mr +C. the nature of the duty,” said the colonel. “He is quite fresh from +England; but he seems to have no nonsense about him; and, at any rate, I +trust you will find the change for the better. Well, Mr Y—, we mustn’t +keep the mules standing; so I now wish you a pleasant journey.” + +“Thank you, sir. Much obliged to you for this arrangement. Good morning, +sir.” + +It soon became apparent, as we proceeded on our march, that matters were +greatly mended since the day before. Our new commander said little; but, +young as he was, seemed to know what he was about; and all went on much +to my satisfaction. He never interfered needlessly; and his directions, +when given, were much to the purpose. Managed the cavalry himself, and +the infantry through Corporal Fraser. Things began to grow right of +their own accord, and a great load was taken off my mind. The men, +finding they were now _commanded_, were orderly and well-conducted. Even +our jolly Yorkshireman behaved himself—that is, with the exception of an +occasional caper or grimace when he felt himself safe. Nothing more was +said about his arrest. Consequently he had to carry his musket through +the rest of the march; for, seeing what kind of a person he now had to +deal with, he was too wise to try over again the game of the day before. +The muleteers, too, recovered their good-humour. Muleteers are like live +lobsters—very tractable, if you know how to handle them. The delays were +now few. And though, with such a mixture of men and mules, we could not +keep perfect order, if anything got wrong, it was soon set right. + +We reached at length that point in our march where a lane struck off to +the left, from the high road which we were following, and which led +direct to Bayonne. Our route, with official brevity, assigned Bayonne as +our halting-place for the night. But as Bayonne happened just then to be +occupied by the French, we proposed directing our course toward the +headquarters of Sir John Hope, who commanded the besieging army. The +aforesaid lane to the left soon brought us out on a heathy eminence, +covered with fieldworks completed or in progress, and affording us a +splendid view of the beleaguered city, of the river Adour, and of the +bridge of boats thrown across it near the sea. Headquarters were at a +small hamlet, on the right or opposite bank of the river. + +Yes, we saw that famous bridge. The Duke was always great in passing +rivers. Witness his services in India. Witness the Douro, the Bidassoa, +the Nivelle, the Nive, and now the Adour. Sufficient attention, perhaps, +has not been directed to this subject. Take two feats out of the number, +and view them together—the passage of the Adour, and the passage of the +Bidassoa: both original ideas; both ideas that no mere tactician would +have conceived or brought to bear; and both vindicating their claim to a +distinguished record, by taking an able, gallant, and vigilant opponent +by surprise. Who, but the Duke, would have dreamed of passing the +Bidassoa at its mouth, without a bridge? Who, but the Duke, would have +dreamed of passing the Adour at its mouth, by such a bridge as we now +beheld? One thing is clear: _Soult_ did not dream of either one passage +or the other. Obs. 1.—The execution, in each case, was off-hand, +dashing, and daring. The preparation, in both, was deliberate, mature, +and secret. Obs. 2.—The distinguishing excellence of the Duke’s strategy +did not, however, consist in the mere exploit of throwing an army across +a wide and rapid stream, in the face of an enemy assembled in +force—though this, in itself, is among the most difficult operations of +war; but in the combined, extensive, and successful movements which +uniformly attended the achievement. In short, the subject claims a +distinct volume. All the Duke’s passages of rivers, effected in the face +of the enemy, should be brought into one view, and studied together. +Such a work, properly executed, would merit a place in every military +library. However, don’t think I’m going to inflict on you a detailed +description of the oft-described bridge which we had now to pass. +Suffice it to say, the bridge consisted of small vessels, moored side by +side, all across the river. These vessels answered the purpose of piers; +that is, they supported the gangway of planks, which formed the passage +across. + +It may be deemed extraordinary, that this idea of floating piers has not +been more generally adopted. But I suppose the real objection is an +inconvenience, to which the method is unavoidably liable, and which we +experienced on the present occasion, in passing with our mules and +moneyboxes; namely, the variation of the bridge’s altitude, with the +rise and fall of the water. This, in the Adour, at spring-tides, is +fourteen feet. You must know, the river was now low. The consequence +was, that the level of the bridge was considerably beneath the level of +the banks on each side; while its two extremities were two boarded +slopes, connecting the higher level with the lower. It was a ticklish +business, passing these two slopes with our mules four in a string—one +of them light, three loaded. In going _down_-hill, to get on the bridge, +the mules managed admirably—let them alone for that. Seeing that this +part of the process was proceeding satisfactorily, I left an injunction +with Senhor Roque, the chief Capataz, not to send on the mules too +fast—for this might have led to a jam, which would probably have +consigned some of our boxes to the bottom of the Adour—and pushed on for +the opposite bank, to be ready to superintend the ascent. This was the +real bother, the going _up_-hill. In coming to the rise, which was +somewhat abrupt, the first mule of the first string stumbled and fell. +The muleteer got him on his legs again—his load happily not +unshipped—and, taking him by the head, was about to lead him up. But +this, it was clear, wouldn’t do. The beast had sense to see it wouldn’t, +and declined moving. It might have answered very well for a single mule; +but was no security for the ascent of the other three, that followed in +the same category; and, unless all ascended together, we were undone. +Under these circumstances, the leading mule, not choosing to compromise +himself, refused the ascent. Meanwhile, the other strings of mules came +crowding up; and we should soon have had them all of a heap, shouldering +one another into the water. It was a nervous moment. I shouted to the +muleteer, “_Anda para detraz, homem, e falla_”—(Old fellow, go behind, +and speak to them.) “Si, si, Senhor,” said he, catching the idea at +once, and promptly adopting it. The moment the mules heard, behind them, +the well-known “_árre_” of their driver, they bolted simultaneously; +and, scrambling up like cats, soon reached the summit of the slope, and +stood on _terra firma_. Thus, though they could not have done it +walking, they did it with a run. The other muleteers, as they came up in +succession, adopted the same expedient each with his own team; and thus +we effected the passage of the Adour, without either jam, crowding, +confusion, or capsize. + +Before we go any further, though, I must let you into the use of that +magical word “_árre_,” which, on the present occasion, effected so much +in our favour. It is the word used by drivers to their beasts, to set +them off, or increase their speed. Please to pronounce it with a +lengthened rattling of the _r_—ár-r-r-r-r-r-r-re. Only remember this: +pronounce it ever so correctly, you yourself can never do anything with +it: for, if twenty persons sing out ár-r-r-r-r-r-r-re, neither horse, +mule, nor donkey will move the faster, till they hear the +ár-r-r-r-r-r-r-re of their own driver. This they distinguish among a +hundred, and bolt forthwith. The knowledge of this singular fact in +animal psychology tends greatly to enliven an Almada or Cintra +donkey-party. Upon an occasion of this kind, my friend John G—, being +the longest fellow of the party, thought fit to appropriate the tallest +donkey. This was deemed a usurpation, and, as such, meriting +castigation. A hint was therefore given to the driver of his (John’s) +donkey. John was suffered to get one foot quietly into the stirrup; but, +before he had got the other over the Albarda, ár-r-r-r-r-r-r-re was +heard behind; away went the donkey through the village of Almada; and +away went John, one hand holding by the Albarda, the other by an ear—one +toe in the stirrup, the other now hopping along the ground, now +describing circles aloft, in vain attempts to get across. John, how +unjustly I need not say, imputes the Almada exhibition to my +contrivance, and bides his time. Presently we enter a sandy lane—John +warns me I shall be in the dust ere we get out of it—advises to take +feet out of stirrups. Advice followed, in defiance. Again the cry is +heard, ár-r-r-r-r-r-r-re; but now in a different key. This time, it is +my driver. Donkey bolts—away we go—ár-r-r-r-r-r-r-re is heard once +more—donkey can gallop no faster, so begins to kick. I stoop forward—hug +him round the neck; both donkey and rider are soon rolling in the dust. +“Now,” says John, as he trots exulting by, “you and I are quits.” “Yes,” +says Frank Woodbridge, passing at a canter; “one Johnny has avenged the +other.” _Mem._—As, in an English donkey-race, no one rides his own +donkey, and the donkey last in wins; so, in those Almada donkey-parties, +each paid another man’s driver, no man paid his own. That driver got +most whose donkey spilt his rider oftenest. + +To proceed. All our party having passed the bridge, I was viewing with +some satisfaction the train of mules, as they walked off from the river +towards the hamlet, cheerily switching their tails—the animals’ usual +practice after accomplishing any extraordinary _tour de force_—when I +noticed, not far from the bridge-head, in a long military frock-coat, +quietly eyeing me with folded arms, a stately officer of the engineers. +Who, do you think?—who, but my fellow-passenger from England a year +before, Captain Gabion? We exchanged greetings with mutual cordiality. + +“Much obliged to you, Mr Y—,” said he; “you have saved me some trouble.” + +“Happy to hear it, sir: don’t exactly understand how, though.” + +“Why, the fact is,” replied the Captain, “I was here waiting to see the +convoy safe over—if needful, to render assistance. But really you got +them so handily up the bank, I had no occasion to interfere. Famous +plan, that, of sending them up with a run: shan’t soon forget it. That +ár-r-r-r-r-r-r-re starts them capitally,—acts like a brad-awl.” + +“Were you not on the bridge just now, towards the other side of the +river, sir?” + +“Yes, yes; but I saw you were getting them on well; so I came over to +this end, to see how you would get them off.” + +“What I most feared,” said I, “was their crowding up, in passing the +bridge.” + +“No, no,” said the captain, “no danger of that. Had I seen the least +tendency to confusion, I should have passed a command by signal. +Effectual means would then have been taken at once, to keep back those +coming on, till those in front were clear. Well, what do you think of +our bridge?” + +“I was thinking how I could destroy it—that is, if I was General +Thouvenot, shut up in Bayonne with thirteen or fourteen thousand men. +That’s what I began to think of, as soon as I saw it; and that’s what +I’ve been thinking of ever since.” + +“Destroy it?” said the Captain; “destroy the bridge? Come, that’s a good +one. Destroy it, indeed! I should like just to know, now, how you would +go to work to do that. Why, Thouvenot did come down and attack, on our +first arrival here; got well pounded, though. Don’t think it very +probable he’ll try that again.” + +“Now, it’s too late, perhaps. Besides, he committed two great mistakes; +he attacked with an insufficient force, and he came down only on one +side of the river. If, instead, when the bridge was first thrown over, +he had come down on both sides, and that with adequate—” + +“Going up with the treasure to headquarters, Mr Y—?” + +“That’s our destination, sir. This afternoon, though, we halt where we +are.” + +“What, halt here?” said the Captain. “Let me look at your route.” + +“Our route says Bayonne, sir; but of course we came here.” + +“Yes, yes; very right; exactly; just so. Sorry to say, though, Mr Y—, I +fear you’ll find no accommodation where you are. Every house, every +cottage, every shed, is as full as it can cram. If it was only yourself, +pony, and goat, I would give you accommodation most willingly. I sleep +on a deal table. Would give you half with pleasure. But such a lot of +you—about seventy bipeds, I guess, and more than a hundred +quadrupeds—why, where could we put you all?” + +“Well, then,” said I, “we must make a bivouac of it, I suppose.” + +“Bivouac? Nonsense!—bivouac! How would those fine fellows stand a +bivouac, I wonder, with their white gloves and horsehair plumes? +Besides, it’s beginning to rain. Bet you a dollar, it rains all night. +Besides that, where would you put your money? If General Thouvenot +should take your advice, ‘come down on both sides,’ and find your boxes +ranged along that bank by the road-side—and that’s the only place to put +them I know of—a pretty catch he’d make of it. No, no, Mr Y—; your only +plan is to go on. Follow the lane till it brings you back into the high +road above Bayonne. You will then soon find a village, which will afford +you accommodation for the night.” + +“Very well, sir. I suppose, then, the sooner we move the better. Will +you have the goodness, though, to put me in the way of getting the men +their rations?” + +“Oh yes,” said the Captain; “yes, yes: I’ll set all that straight for +you, in no time. I see you’re rather a young campaigner; and the officer +of your escort, I suspect, is younger still. You can’t stay here +to-night, that’s certain. Better see the General, though, before you +move on; just report yourself, you know, and hear what he says about it. +Step on to his quarters, that small house with a white front, and I’ll +be after you directly.” + +I turned to remount; but what had become of Sancho? Two minutes before, +I held his bridle in my hand. Now, he was nowhere to be seen. At length, +in the distance, I caught sight of Jones’ legs, dangling from the pony’s +side, as he trotted off towards the houses, with Nanny cantering after +him. + + + + + THE GREEN HAND. + A “SHORT” YARN. + PART IX. + + +“More than once that night,” resumed Captain Collins, “I woke up with a +start, at thought of our late adventures in the river Nouries—fancying I +was still waiting for the turn of tide to bring down the boats or the +schooner, and had gone to sleep, when that horrible sound through the +cabin skylight seemed full in my ears again. However, the weltering wash +of the water under the ship’s timbers below one’s head was proof enough +we were well to sea; and, being dog-tired, I turned over each time with +a new gusto:—not to speak of the happy sort of feeling that ran all +through me, I scarce knew why; though no doubt one might have dreamt +plenty of delightful dreams without remembering them, more especially +after such a perfect seventh heaven as I had found myself in for a +moment or two, when Violet Hyde’s hand first touched mine, and when I +carried her in after she had actually saved my life. The broad daylight +through our quarter-gallery window roused me at last altogether; and on +starting up I saw Tom Westwood half dressed, shaving himself by an inch +or two of broken looking-glass in regular nautical style—that’s to say, +watching for the rise of the ship—as she had the wind evidently on her +opposite beam, and there appeared to be pretty much of a long swell +afloat, with a breeze brisk enough to make her heel to it; while the +clear horizon, seen shining through the port to north-westward, over the +dark blue heave of water, showed it was far on in the morning. “Well, +Ned,” said Westwood, turning round, “you seemed to be enjoying it, in +spite of the warm work you must have had last night on board here! Why, +I thought you had been with us in the boats, after all, till I found, by +the good joke the cadets made of it, that that puppy of a mate had left +you still locked up, on account of some fancy he had got into his head +of your being in partnership with the schooner! For heaven’s sake, +though, my dear fellow, wash your face and shave—you look fearfully +suspicious just now!” “No wonder!” said I: and I gave him an account of +the matter, leaving out most of what regarded the young lady; Westwood +telling me, in his turn, so much about their boat expedition as I didn’t +know before from the planter. Everything went to certify what I believed +all along, ’till this sudden affair in the river. The schooner’s people +had plainly some cue in keeping hold of our passengers, but hadn’t +expected to see us so soon again, or perhaps at all—as was shown by +their hailing the boats at once in a pretended friendly way, whenever +they came in sight up the creek; while Ford and the rest shouted with +delight, off her bulwarks, at sound of the mate’s voice. + +“I tell you what, Collins,” continued Westwood, “this may be all very +well for _you_, who are continually getting into scrapes and out of +them, and don’t seem to care much whether you ship on board an Indiaman +or a corn-brig—you can always find something to do—but to me the service +is _everything_!” “Well, well,” said I hastily, “I’m much mistaken if we +don’t find something to do in India, Tom,—only wait, and that uncle of +yours will make all right; for all we know, there may be news from +Europe to meet us, and I must say I don’t like the notion of being born +too late for turning out an admiral! I’m sure, for my part, I wish old +Nap well out of that stone cage of his!” “No, no, Ned,” said Westwood, +“I ought to clear myself at home first, and sorry I am that I gave in to +you by leaving England, when I should have faced the consequences +whatever they were. Running only made matters worse, Collins!” “No +doubt,” I said; “and as it was my fault, why, deuce take me, Tom, if I +don’t manage to carry you out scot-free! Depend on it, Captain +Duncombe’s friends would have you strung up like a dog, with the +interest he had, and sharp as discipline is just now.” Westwood +shuddered at the thought. “I fear it would go hard with me, Ned,” said +he, “and I shan’t deny that these few weeks have brought me back a taste +for life. But, in spite of all, I’d deliver myself up to the first +king’s ship we speak, or go home in some Indiaman from the Cape—but for +one thing, Collins!” “Ah!” said I, “what’s that?” Westwood gave me a +curious half look, and said—“One _person_, I mean, Ned—and I shouldn’t +like _her_ to hear of me being—” “Yes, yes,” said I stiffly, “I know.” +“It must have been by guess, then!” answered he. “Often as we’ve talked +of her during the voyage, I thought you didn’t know we had met +frequently in London before you came home, and—and—the fact is, I wasn’t +sure you would like _me_ to—” “Westwood,” said I quickly, “Tom +Westwood—what I have to ask is—do you love her?” “If ever a man loved a +woman, Ned,” was his answer, “I do _her_; but if _you_—” “Have you any +chance, then?” I broke out. “Ay, true—true enough, you have the best of +chances—your way is as clear as could be, Westwood, if you knew it! Only +I _must_ know if she is willing—does she—” “I got leave to write to her +in London,” answered Westwood, “and I did so pretty often, you may be +sure; but I only had one short little note in answer to the last, I +think it was—which I had in my breast that morning on Southsea beach, +when I expected the bullet would come through it!” Here Westwood stooped +down to his trunk, and took out a rose-coloured note wrapped in a bit of +paper; I standing the while fixed to the deck, not able to speak, till +he was handing it to me. “No, no!” said I, turning from him angrily, and +like to choke, “that’s too much, Mr Westwood—pray keep your own +love-letters for your own reading!” “There’s nothing particular in it, +Ned,” answered he, flushing a little, “only there’s a few words in it +I’d like you to see—don’t look at it just now, but tell me afterwards +what you think—you ought to see it, as the matter seems to depend on +you, Ned; and if _you_ object, you may be sure, so far as I’m concerned, +’tis all over!” Somehow or other, the look of the little folded piece of +paper, with the touch and the scent of it, as Westwood slipped it into +my hand, made it stick to me. I caught one glance of the address on the +back, written as if fairy fingers had done it, and I suppose I slipped +it into my coat as I went out of the berth, meaning to go aloft in the +foretop and sicken over the thought at my leisure, of Violet Hyde’s +having ever favoured another man so far, and that man Tom Westwood. The +strangeness of the whole affair, as I took it, never once struck me; all +that I minded was the wretched feeling I had in me, as I wished I could +put the Atlantic betwixt me and them all; in fact a hundred things +before we sailed, and during the passage, seemed all at once to agree +with what I’d just heard; and I’d have given thousands that moment it +had been some one else than Westwood, just that I might wait the voyage +out coolly, for the satisfaction of meeting him at twelve paces the +first morning ashore. + +On the larboard side of the berth-gangway, opposite our door, I saw the +old planter’s standing half open, and Mr Rollock himself with his shirt +and trousers on, taking in his boots. “Hallo, Collins, my boy,” he sang +out eagerly, “come here a moment, I’ve got something to show you!” +“Look,” said he, standing on tiptoe to see better through the half-port, +“there’s something new been put in my picture-frame here overnight, I +think—ha! ha!” The first thing that caught my eye, accordingly, was the +gleam of a sail rising from over the swell to windward, far away off our +larboard quarter; seemingly rolling before the south-easter; while the +Indiaman hove her big side steadily out of water, with her head across +the other’s course, and gave us a sight of the strange sail swinging to +the fair wind, every time we rose on the surge. “What is it, eh?” said +the planter turning to me, “back or face, Collins? for, bless me, if I +can distinguish tub from bucket, with all this bobbing about—great deal +of capital indigo wasted hereabouts, my dear fellow!” “Why, you may make +out the two breasts of her royals,” said I—“a brig, I think, sir.” “Not +that abominable schooner in her first shape again, I hope!” exclaimed +he, “perhaps bringing back the Yankee.” “Too square-shouldered for that, +Mr Rollock,” I said; “in fact she seems to be signalling us; yes, by +Jove! there’s the long pennant at her fore-royal mast-head—she’s a brig +of war. They’re surely asleep, on deck, and we shall have a shot +directly, if they don’t look sharp!” “You’d better say nothing about the +Yankee’s absence, Collins,” put in the planter, “till we’re fairly away. +For my part, I really have no notion of waiting for any one—particularly +a fellow who _must_ have some go-ahead scheme in his noddle, which we +Indians don’t want. Quietly speaking, my dear fellow, I shall be glad if +we’re rid of him!” On my mentioning what sort of “notions” were found in +Mr Snout’s berth, and the drowning of his heathen images, the worthy +planter went into perfect convulsions, till I thought I should have to +slap him on the back to give him breath. “What the deuce!” said he at +last; “Daniel must really have something worth his while to expect, +before he’d fail to look after such a treasure!” “Ah,” said I, not +attending to him, as I heard a stir on deck, “there we go at last, +cluing up the topsails, I suppose.” “Seriously, now,” continued Mr +Rollock, “I can _not_ fathom that vessel and her designs; but I bless my +stars at getting clear off from the company of that tall Frenchman with +his mustache—can’t bear a mustache, Collins—always reminds me of those +cursed Mahrattas that burnt my factory once. Couldn’t the man shave like +a Christian, I wonder? I defy you to enjoy Mulligatawny soup and not +make a beast of yourself, with ever so much hair over your mouth. By the +way, Collins,” added he, eyeing me, “since I saw you last, you’ve let +your whiskers grow, and look more like one of your nauticals than Ford +himself!—should scarce have known you! Any of it owing to the fair one +up yonder, eh?” And the jolly old chap, whose own huge white whiskers +gave him the cut of a royal Bengal tiger, pointed with his thumb over +his shoulder towards the roundhouse above, with a wink of his funny +round eye, that looked at you like a bird’s. “What do you suppose the +Frenchman to be then, sir?” asked I, gloomily. “Oh, either a madman, a +spy, or something worse! Just guess what he asked me suddenly one +morning,—why, if I weren’t a distinguished _savant_, and wouldn’t like +to study the botany of some island! ‘No, Monsieur, not at all,’ replied +I, in fearfully bad French. ‘The geology, then?’ persisted he, with a +curious gleam in his fierce black eyes—‘does the research of Monsieur +lie in that direction?’ ‘Why no,’ I answered carelessly, ‘I don’t care a +_sacre_ about stones, or anything of the kind, indeed; indigo is _my_ +particular line, which may be called botany, in a way—I’m perhaps +prejudiced in favour of it, Monsieur!’ The Frenchman leant his tufted +chin on his hand,” continued Mr Rollock, “meditated a bit, then glanced +at me again, as if he didn’t care though I were studying sea-weed in the +depths of the ocean rolling round us, and stalked down stairs. Then he +took to Mrs Brady again, and lastly to the Yankee, whose conversations +with him, I fancy, had a twang of both commerce and politics.” “What do +you think of it all, Mr Rollock?” inquired I, rather listlessly. “It +didn’t strike me at the time,” said the planter, “but now, I just ask +you, Collins, if there ain’t a certain great personage studying geology +at present in a certain island, not very far away, I suppose, where +there’s plenty of it, and deuced little botany, too, I imagine?” To this +question of the old gentleman’s I gave nothing but a half stupid sort of +stare, thinking as I was at the same time of something else I cared more +about. + +“By Jupiter! though,” cried I on a sudden, “instead of heaving the ship +to, I do believe we’ve set topmast-stu’nsails, judging from the way she +pitches into the water; there’s the brig nearing the wind a point or two +in chase, too;—why, the fellow that has charge of the deck must be mad, +sir!” Next minute the fire out of one of her bow-chasers flashed out +behind the blue back of a swell, and the sudden _thud_ of it came +rolling down to leeward over the space betwixt us, angrily, so to speak; +as the brig’s fore-course mounted with a wave, the sun shining clear on +the seams and reef-points, till you caught sight of the anchor hanging +from one bow, and the men running in her lee stu’nsail-booms upon the +yardarms. The planter and I went on deck at once, where we found a fine +breeze blowing, far out of sight of land, the Indiaman rushing ahead +stately enough; while our young fourth officer appeared to have just +woke up, and the watch were still rubbing their eyes, as if every man +had been “caulking it,” after last night’s work. Even Mr Finch, when he +came hastily up, seemed rather doubtful what to do, till the salt old +third-mate assured him the brig was a British sloop-of-war, as any one +accustomed to reckoning sticks and canvass at sea could tell by this +time; upon which our topsails were clued up, stu’nsails boom-ended, and +the ship hove into the wind to wait for the brig. + +When the brig’s mainyard swung aback within fifty fathoms of our +weather-quarter, hailing us as she brought to, I had plenty to think of, +for my part. There she was, as square-countered and flat-breasted a +ten-gun model as ever ran her nose under salt water, or turned the +turtle in a Bahama squall; though pleasant enough she looked, dipping as +we rose, and prancing up opposite us again with a curtsey, the brine +dripping from her bright copper sheathing, the epaulets and gold bands +glancing above her black bulwark, topped by the white hammock-cloth; +marines in her waist, the men clustering forward to see us, and +squinting sharp up at our top-hamper. It made one ashamed, to take in +the taunt, lightsome set her spars had, tall and white, with a rake in +them, and every rope running clean to its place; not a spot about her, +hull or rig, but all English and ship-shape, to the very gather of her +courses and top-gallant sails in the lines, and the snowy hollow her two +broad topsails made for the wind, as they brought it in betwixt them to +keep her steady on the spot. “His Britannic Majesty’s sloop Podargus!” +came back in exchange for our mate’s answer; and though ’twas curious to +me to think of meeting the uniform again in five minutes, I saw plainly +this was one of the nice points that Westwood and I might have to +weather. Your brig-cruisers are the very sharpest fellows alive, so far +as regards boarding a merchant craft; if they find the least smell of a +rat, they’ll overhaul your hold to the very dunnage about the keelson; +and I knew that, if they made out Westwood, they’d be sure to have me +too; so you may fancy that, during the short time her boat took to drop +and pull under our quarter, I was making up my mind as to the course. In +fact, I was almost resolved to leave the ship at any rate, feeling as I +did after what I’d heard; but while most of the passengers were running +about and calling below for their shoes, and what not, the Judge and his +daughter came out of the roundhouse, and I caught a single glance from +her for a moment, as she turned to look at the brig, that held me at the +instant like an anchor in a strong tideway. I kept my breath as the +lieutenant’s hand laid hold of the manrope at the head of the +side-ladder, expecting his first question; while he swung himself +actively on deck, looking round for a second, and followed by another; +the wide-awake-looking young middy in the boat folding his arms, and +squinting up sideways at the ladies with an air as knowing as if he’d +lived fifty years in the world, instead of perhaps thirteen. + +The younger of the lieutenants took off his cap most politely, eyeing +the fair passengers with as much respect as he gave cool indifference to +the cadets; the other, who was a careful-like, working first luff, said +directly to Mr Finch—“Well, sir, you seemed inclined to lead us a bit of +a chase—but I don’t think,” added he, smiling from the Indiaman to the +brig, “you’d have cost us much trouble after all!” Here Finch hurried +out his explanation, in a half-sulky way, when the naval man cut him +short by saying that “Captain Wallis desired to know” if we had touched +at St Helena. “May I ask, sir,” went on the officer, finding we had +preferred the Cape, “if _you_ command this vessel—or is the master not +on deck—Captain—Captain Wilson, I think you said?” The mate said +something in a lower voice, and the lieutenant bared his head more +respectfully than before, seeing the Company’s ensign, which had been +lowered half-apeak while the boat was under our side; after which Finch +drew him to the capstan, telling him, as I guessed, the whole affair of +the schooner, by way of a great exploit, with hints of her being a +pirate or suchlike. The brig’s officer, however, was evidently too busy +a man, and seemingly in too great a hurry to get back, for listening +much to such a rigmarole, as he no doubt thought it; they had been at +the Cape, and were bound for St Helena again, where she was one of the +cruisers on guard; so that what with Finch’s story, and what with the +crowd round the second lieutenant, all anxious to get the news, I saw it +wouldn’t cost Westwood and me great pains to keep clear of notice. There +were some riots in London, and three men hanged for a horrid murder, the +Duke of Northumberland’s death, not to speak of a child born with two +heads, or something—all since we left England. Then there was Lord +Exmouth come home from Algiers, and Fort Hattrass, I think it was, taken +in India, which made every cadet prick up his ears; Admiral Plampin was +arrived at the Cape of Good Hope, too, in the Conqueror, seventy-four, +and on his way steering for St Helena, to take Sir Pulteney Malcolm’s +place. All of a sudden, I heard the young luff begin to mention a +captain of a frigate’s having been shot two months ago, by his own first +lieutenant, on Southsea Beach, and the lieutenant being supposed to have +gone off in some outward-bound ship. “By the bye,” said the officer to +Mr Rollock, “you must have left about that time—did you touch at +Portsmouth?” “Why, yes,” answered the planter, “we did. What were the +parties’ names?” I edged over to Westwood near the head of the +companion, and whispered to him to go below to our berth, in case of +their happening to attend to us more particularly; and the farther apart +we two kept, the better, I thought. The officer at once gave Captain +Duncombe’s name, but didn’t remember the other, on which he turned to +his first lieutenant with, “I say, Mr Aldridge, d’you recollect the +man’s name that shot the captain of the N’Oreste, as they called her?” +“What, that bad business?” said the other; “no, Mr Moore, I really +don’t—I hope he’s far enough off by this time!” My breath came again at +this, for it had just come into my mind that Finch, who was close by, +had got hold of the name, although he fancied it mine. I was sauntering +down the stair, thinking how much may hang at times on a man’s good +memory, when I heard the first lieutenant say, “By the bye, though, now +I recollect, wasn’t it Westwood?” “Yes, yes, Westwood it was!” said the +other; then came an exclamation from Finch, and shortly after he and the +first lieutenant stepped down together, talking privately of the matter, +I suppose; to the cuddy, where I had gone myself. The lieutenant looked +up at me seriously once or twice, then went on deck, and a few minutes +afterwards the brig’s boat was pulling towards her again, while the +passengers flocked below to breakfast. I saw the thing was settled; the +mate could scarce keep in his triumph, as he eyed me betwixt surprise +and dislike, though rather more respectfully than before. As for +Westwood, he sat down with the rest, quite ignorant of what had turned +up; notwithstanding he threw an uneasy look or two through the cuddy +port at the brig, still curveting to windward of us, with her mainyard +aback: for my part, I made up my mind, in the meanwhile, to bear the +brunt of it. + +’Twas no matter to me _now_ where I went; whereas, with Westwood, it was +but a toss-up betwixt a rope and a prison, if they sent him back to +England. No fear of _my_ being tried in his place, of course; but if +there had been, why, to get away both from him and _her_, I’d have run +the chance! There was a bitter sort of a pleasure, even, in the thought +of taking one’s-self out of the way—to some purpose, too, if I saved a +fellow like my old schoolmate from a court-martial sentence, and a man +far worthier to win the heart of such a creature than myself; while the +worst of it was, I was afraid I’d have come to hate Tom Westwood, if we +had staid near each other much longer. Accordingly, I no sooner heard +the dip of the gig’s oars coming alongside again, than one of the +stewards brought me a quiet message from Mr Finch, that he wanted to see +me on deck; upon which I rose off my chair just as quietly, and walked +up the companion. The fact was—as the fellow could scarce have ventured +to look his passengers in the face again after a low piece of work like +this—’twas his cue to keep all underhand, and probably lay it to the +score of my actions aboard, or something; however, he couldn’t throw any +dust of the kind in the second lieutenant’s eyes, who gave him a cold +glance as he stepped on deck, and, picking me out at once where I stood, +inquired if I were the person. The first mate nodded, whereupon the +brig’s officer walked towards me, with a gentlemanly enough bow, and, “I +regret to have to state, sir,” said he, “that Captain Wallis desires to +see you, _particularly_, aboard the brig.” “Indeed, sir,” answered I, +showing very little surprise, I daresay, gloomy as I felt; “then the +sooner the better, I suppose.” “Why, yes,” said the lieutenant, +seemingly confused lest he should meet my eye, “we’re anxious to make +use of this breeze, you—you know, sir.” “Hadn’t Mr Collins—this +gentleman—better take his traps with him, Lieutenant Moore?” said Finch, +free and easy wise. “No, sir,” said the young officer, sternly, “we can +spare time to send for them, if necessary; of course you will keep the +Indiaman in the wind, sir, till the brig squares her mainyard.” I gave +Finch a single look of sheer contempt, and swung myself down by the +manropes from the gangway into the boat; the lieutenant followed me, and +next minute we were pulling for the brig’s quarter. The moment I found +myself out of the Seringapatam, however, my heart nigh-hand failed me, +more especially at sight of the quarter-gallery window I had seen the +light from, on the smooth of the swell, that first night we got to sea. +I even began to think if there weren’t some way of passing myself clear +off, without hauling in Westwood; but it wouldn’t do. Before I well +knew, we were on board, and the lieutenant showing me down the after +hatchway to the captain’s cabin. + +The captain was sitting with one foot upon the carronade in his outer +cabin, looking through the port at the heavy Indiaman, as she slued +about and plunged in the blue surge, with all sorts of ugly ropes +hanging from her bows, dirty pairs of trousers towing clear of the water +when she lifted, and rusty stains at her hawse-holes. A stout-built, +hard-featured man he was, with bushy black eyebrows, and grizzled black +hair and whiskers, not to speak of a queer, anxious, uneasy look in the +keen of his eyes when he turned to me. However, he got half up on my +coming in, and I saw he was lame a little of one foot, while he +overhauled me all over with his eye. “I’m sorry to have to send for you +in this way, sir,” said he, rather surprised at my rig, +apparently—“curst sorry, sir, and no more about it; but I can’t help it, +confound me—_must_ do my duty.” “Certainly, sir,” I said. “In fact,” +said Captain Wallis, “the Admiral ordered us to see after you—_him_, +that’s to say—at the Cape, you know.” “Ay, ay, sir,” said I, watching +the Indiaman’s poop-nettings through the port over his head, as he sat +down. “Pooh, pooh,” continued he, “you can’t be the man—just say you +don’t belong to the service—confound it, I’ll pass you!” “Why, sir,” +said I, “I can’t exactly say _that_.” “I hear you’re Westwood of the +Orestes, though,” said he; “now I don’t ask you to say _no_, sir—but +everybody knew the Orestes, and I don’t like the thing, I must say—so +perhaps you’re able to swear _he_ is not aboard the Indiaman—just now, +you know, sir, _just now_, eh?” This tack of his rather dumfoundered me, +seeing the captain of the brig meant it well; but deuced unlucky +kindness it was, since I couldn’t swear to the very thing he fancied so +safe, and his glance was as quick as lightning, so he caught the sense +of my blank look in a moment; as I fancied, at least. “The fact is, +sir,” added he, “the surgeon told me just now he knows Lieutenant +Westwood well enough by sight, so they locked him up! You see we could +have made you out at any rate, sir—however, we’ll let the doctor stay +till we’re clear of the Indiaman, I think!” “Then you take me for the +gentleman you speak of, Captain Wallis?” asked I faintly; for at the +same moment I could see a light-coloured dress and a white ribbon +fluttering on the Seringapatam’s poop, the look of which sent the blood +about my heart. ’Twas hard to settle betwixt a feeling of the kind, and +fear for Westwood; it struck me Captain Wallis wasn’t very eager in the +affair, and ’twas on my lips to assure him I wasn’t the man. “Harkee,” +broke in he, with almost a wink, and a smile ready to break out on his +mouth, “the short and the long of it is, I’ll take _you_! We must have +somebody to show in the case; though now I remember, there was some one +else said to’ve gone off with you—but we won’t trouble _him_! If we’ve +brought away the wrong man, why, hang it, so much the better! If you’re +Westwood, I can tell you, they’ll run ye up to a yardarm, sir! Much more +comfortable than ten years or so in a jail, too, as—as no one knows +better than _I_ do myself.” Here the captain’s face darkened, his eye +gleamed, and he rose with a limp to ring a hand-bell on the table. +“White,” said he to the marine that put his head in at the door, with +his hand up to it, “Desire the first lieutenant, from me, to send a boat +aboard for this gentleman’s things.” “I’m afraid, sir,” continued he +gravely to me, “you’ll have to reckon yourself under arrest,—but you’ll +find the gentlemen in the gun-room good company, I hope, for a day or +two, till we make St Helena.” I saw the captain’s mind was made up, and +for the life of me I didn’t know what to say against it; but speak I +could not, so with a stiff bow and a sick sort of a smile I turned out +of the door, and walked along to the gun-room, which was empty. I could +see the boat soon after under the ship’s side, dipping and rising as +they handed down my couple of portmanteaus to the man-o’-war’s-men; the +young reefer came down again as nimble as a monkey, with some letters in +his hand, took off his cap to some ladies above, and sang out to give +way; five or six flashing feathers of the oars in the sunlight, and they +were coming round the brig’s stern. The brig was just squaring away her +mainyard at the whistle from the boatswain’s mates, when the whole run +of the Indiaman’s bulwarks was crowded with the passengers’ and men’s +faces, watching the brig gather way to pass ahead; I could hear the +officers on deck hail the India mates, wishing them a good voyage; the +ladies bowing and waving their handkerchiefs to the British union-jack. +Some sort of confusion seemed to get up, however, about the ship’s +taffrail, where Rollock, Ford, and some others were standing together; +the planter jumped up all at once on the quarter-mouldings nearest the +brig, then jumped down again, and his straw hat could be seen hurrying +toward the quarterdeck. Next I caught a bright glimpse of Violet Hyde’s +face, as the sun shot on it free of the awnings—her eyes wandering with +the brig’s motion, I fancied, along the deck above me; till suddenly she +seemed to start, and Westwood appeared behind her. The next thing I saw +was the black-faced figure-head of the Seringapatam rising below her +bowsprit, about sixty yards from the gun-room port where I was, and down +she went again with a heavy plash, as Tom Westwood himself leapt up +between the knight-heads at the bow, hailing the brig’s deck with a +voice like a trumpet, “Ahoy!—the Podargus ahoy!—for mercy’s sake heave +to again, sir!” he sung out; “I’m the man you want!” “The Indiaman +ahoy!” I heard Captain Wallis himself hail back, “what d’ye say?” The +creak of our yards, with the flap of the jib, and the men’s feet, +drowned Westwood’s second hail, as it came sharp up to windward; the +sailors in the Indiaman’s bows were grinning at him behind, while the +first lieutenant of the brig shouted gruffly that she had no time to +wait for more letters; and I heard the gun-room steward say to the +marine, on going out with the dirty breakfast cloth, he wondered if +“that parson cove thought the Pedarkis vanted a chapling!” or was only +“vun of these fellers that’s so troublesome to see the French Hemperor!” +“Well,” said the marine, “’twas pretty queer if he took the Pedarkis for +the ship to carry him there! I don’t think the captain would let a rat +into the island, if he could help it!” “Not he,” said the steward; +“plenty of ’em in already, Vite, my man—I do think they used to swim off +on board here, by the way the cheese vent!” All this time I never +stirred from the port, watching with my chin on the muzzle of the gun +till the Indiaman was half a mile to windward of us, her big hull still +rising and falling on the same swells, topped with clusters of heads; +her topsails lowered in honour of the flag, the ensign blowing out +half-mast high for the death of Captain Williamson: a long wash of the +water ran outside the brig’s timbers, surge after surge, and the plunge +at her bows showed how fast she began to run nor’-westward before the +wind. You may well fancy my state, after all I’d done for weeks; in +fact, one scarce knew the extent of what he’d felt, what he’d looked +forward to, till he found himself fairly adrift from it: ’twould even +have been nothing, after all, could I just have thought of Violet Hyde +as I’d done two hours ago, on waking, with last night in the river on my +mind. As it was, ’twould have taken little to make me jump out of the +port into the sweep of blue water swelling toward the brig’s counter; +the Seringapatam being by this time astern. I couldn’t even see her, or +aught save the horizon, to windward; but at this moment the young second +lieutenant came below, and, seeing me, he began in a polite enough way, +with a kindly manner about it, trying to raise my spirits. “I suppose, +sir,” said I, rather sulkily, I daresay, “I can have a berth just now?” +“Oh, certainly,” said he, “the steward has orders to see to it at once. +Will you come on deck a minute or two, in the meantime, sir?” + +I looked back from the ship astern to the brig-of-war’s clean white +decks, flush fore and aft, with the men all forward at their stations, +neatly dressed in regular man-o’-war style, every one alike—a sight that +would have done me good at another time, small as she was by comparison; +but the very thought of the Indiaman’s lumbering poop and galleries was +too much for me—’twas as if you’d knocked out those two roundhouse doors +of hers, and let in a gush of bare sky instead. The ship-shape +man-o’-war cut of things was nothing, I fancied, to the snug spot under +those top-gallant bulwarks of hers, and the breezy poop all a-flutter +with muslin of an evening, where you found books and little basket +affairs stuck into the coils of rope: I thought the old Seringapatam +never looked so well, as she commenced trimming sail on a wind, +beginning to go drive ahead, with a white foam at her bows, and her +whole length broadside-on to us. All at once we saw her clue up courses +and to’-gallant sails, till she was standing slowly off under the three +topsails and jib; the two lieutenants couldn’t understand what she was +about, and the captain put the glass to his eye, after which he said +something to the second lieutenant, who went forward directly. The next +thing I saw was the Indiaman coming up in the wind again for about a +minute; she had her stern nearly to us, when the moment after, as she +rose upon a long sea, you saw something flash white off her lee-gangway +in the sunlight, that dropped against it into the hollow of a wave. The +next minute she fell off again with her topsails full, and the first +shower of spray was rising across her forefoot, when the flash of a gun +broke out of her side, and the sound came down to us; then a second and +a third. The brig gave her the same number in answer, and as soon as the +smoke betwixt us had cleared away, the ship could be seen under full +sail to the south-westward by west. “_That’s_ her poor skipper’s hammock +dropped alongside, gentlemen!” said Captain Wallis to his officers; “God +be with him!” “Amen!” said the first lieutenant, and we put our caps on +again. “Set stu’nsails, Mr Aldridge,” said the captain, limping down the +hatchway: as for me, I leant I don’t know how long over the brig’s +taffrail, watching the ship’s canvass grow in one, through the width of +air betwixt us; my heart full, as may be supposed, not to say what +notions came into my head of what might happen to her under Finch’s +charge, ere she reached Bombay. No one belonging to the brig spoke to +me, out of kindness, no doubt; and the ship was hull-down on the +horizon, to my fancy with somewhat of a figure like _hers_, when she +stood with the Cashmere shawl over her head in the dusk. Then I went +gloomily down to my berth, where I kept close by myself till I fell +asleep, though the gun-room steward was sent more than once to ask me to +join the officers. + +It wasn’t till the next day, in fact, when I went on the quarterdeck at +noon, wearied for a fresher gulp of air, that I saw any of them; and the +breeze having fallen lighter that morning, they were too busy trimming +sail and humouring her to give me much notice. I must say I had seldom +seen a commander seem more impatient about the sailing of his craft, in +time of peace, than the captain of the Podargus appeared to be; walking +the starboard side as fast as the halt in his gait would let him, and +the anxious turn of his eyes plainer than before, while he looked from +the brig’s spread of stu’nsails to the horizon, through the glass, +which, I may say, he never once laid down. From where the brig spoke the +Indiamen, to St Helena, would be about two or three days’ sail with a +fair wind, at the ordinary strength of the south-east trade; though, at +this rate, it might cost us twice the time. I noticed the men on the +forecastle look to each other now and then knowingly, at some fresh sign +of the captain’s impatience; and the second lieutenant told me in a low +voice, with his head over the side near mine, Captain Wallis had been +out of sorts ever since they lost sight of the island. “You’d suppose, +sir,” said he, laughing, “that old Nap was his sweetheart, by the way he +watches over him; and now, I fancy, he’s afraid St Helena may be sunk in +blue water while we were away! In fact, Mr Westwood,” added he, “it +looks devilish like as if it had come up from Davy Jones, all standing; +so I don’t see why it shouldn’t go down to him again some day; I can +tell you it’s tiresome work cruising to windward there, though, and we +aren’t idle at all!” “Did you ever see the French Emperor yourself, +sir?” asked I—for I must say the thought of nearing the prison such a +man was in made me a little curious. “Never, sir, except at a mile’s +distance,” said the second lieutenant; “indeed, it’s hard to get a pass, +unless you know the governor. But I’ve a notion,” continued he, “the +governor’s carefulness is nothing to our skipper’s! Indeed, they tell a +queer story of how Sir Hudson Lowe was gulled for months together, when +he was governor of Capri island, in the Mediterranean. As for the +captain, again, you’d seek a long time ere you found a better +seaman—he’s as wide awake, too, as Nelson himself—while the curious +thing is, I believe, he never once clapped eyes on Bonaparte in his +life! But good cause he has to hate him, you know, Mr Westwood!” +“Indeed,” said I, taking a moment’s interest in the thing; and I was +just going to ask the reason, when the first lieutenant came over to +say. Captain Wallis would be glad if I would dine with him in the cabin. + +At dinner-time, accordingly, I put on a coat, for the first time, less +like those the cadets in the Seringapatam wore, and went aft, where I +found the first lieutenant and a midshipman with the captain. He did his +best to soften my case, as I saw by his whole manner during dinner; +after which, no sooner had the reefer had his one glass of wine, than he +was sent on deck to look out to windward. “Well, sir,” said Captain +Wallis thereupon, turning from his first luff to me, “I’m sorry for this +disagreeable business! I believe you deny being the person at all, +though?” “Why, sir,” said I, “I am certainly no more the first +lieutenant of the Orestes than yourself, Captain Wallis! ’Twas all owing +to a mistake of that India mate, who owed me a grudge.” “Oh, oh, I see!” +replied he, beginning to smile, “the whole matter’s as plain as a +handspike, Mr Aldridge! But I couldn’t do less, on the information!” +“However, sir,” put in the first lieutenant, “there’s no doubt the real +man must have been in the ship, or the mistake could not have happened, +sir!” “Well—you look at things too square, Aldridge,” said the captain. +“All _you_’ve got to do, I hope, sir, is just to prove you’re not +Westwood; and if you want still to go out to the East Indies, why, I +daresay you won’t be long of finding some outward-bound ship or other +off James Town. Only, I’d advise you, sir, to have your case over with +Sir Pulteney, before Admiral Plampin comes in—as I fear he would send +you to England.” “It matters little to me, sir,” I answered; “seeing the +reason I had for going out happens to be done with.” Here I couldn’t +help the blood rising in my face; while Captain Wallis’s steady eye +turned off me, and I heard him say in a lower key to the lieutenant, he +didn’t think it was a matter for a court-martial at all. “Pooh, +Aldridge!” said he, “some pretty girl amongst the passengers in the +case, I wager!” “Why,” returned Aldridge, carelessly, “I heard Mr Moore +say some of the ladies were pretty enough, especially one—some India +judge or other’s young daughter—I believe he was in raptures about, +sir.” This sort of thing, as you may suppose, was like touching one on +the raw with a marlin-spike; when the captain asked me, partly to smooth +it over, maybe,—“By the bye, sir, Mr Aldridge tells me there was +something about a pirate schooner, or slaver, or some craft of the kind, +that frightened your mates—that’s all stuff, I daresay—but what I want +to know is, in what quarter you lost sight of her, if you recollect?” +“About nor’west by north from where we were at the time, sir,” said I. +“A fast-looking craft was she?” asked he. “A thorough-built smooth-going +clipper, if ever there was one,” I said. At this the captain mused for a +little, till at last he said to his lieutenant—“They daren’t risk it; I +don’t think there’s the Frenchman born, man enough to try such a thing +by water, Aldridge?” “Help _him_ out, you mean, sir?” said the luff; +“why, if he ever got as far as the water’s edge, I’d believe in +witchcraft, sir!” “Give a man time, Mr Aldridge,” answered the captain, +“and he’ll get out of anything where soldiers are concerned—every year +he’s boxed up, sharpens him till his very mind turns like a knife, man! +It makes one mad on every point beside, I tell you, sir—whereas after +he’s free, perhaps, it’s just on _that only_ his brain has a twist in +it!” “No doubt, Captain Wallis,” said Aldridge, glancing over to me, as +his commander got up and began walking about the cabin, spite of his +halt. “D’ye know,” continued he, “I’ve thought at times what I should +like best would be to have _him_ ahead of the brig, in some craft or +other, and we hard in chase—I’d go after that man to the North Pole, +sir, and bring him back! Without once going aboard to know he was there, +I’d send word it was Jack Wallis had him in tow!” “What is Bonaparte +like, then, after all, sir?” I asked, just to fill up the break. “I +never saw him, nor he me,” replied Captain Wallis, stopping in his walk, +“but every day he may have a sight of the brig cruising to windward; and +as for the island, we see plenty of _it_, I think, Aldridge?” “Ay, ay, +sir,” said Aldridge, “that we do! For my part, I can’t get the ugly +stone steeples of it out of my head!” “Well,” continued the captain, “at +times, when we’re beating round St Helena of a night, I’ll be hanged if +I haven’t thought it began to loom as if the French Emperor stood on the +top of it, like a shadow looking out to sea the other way,—and I’ve gone +below lest he’d turn round till I saw his face. I’ve a notion, Mr +Aldridge, if I once saw his face I’d lose what I feel against him,—just +as I used always to fancy, the first five years in the _Temple_, if he +were only to see _me_, he would let me out! But they say he’s got a +wonderful way of coming over every one, if he likes!” After this, +Captain Wallis sat down and passed the decanters, the first lieutenant +observing he supposed Bonaparte was a great man in his way, but nothing +to Nelson. “Don’t tack them together, Aldridge!” said his commander, +quickly; “Nelson was a man all over,—he’d got the feelings of a man, and +his faults—but I call _him_, yonder, a perfect demon let loose upon the +world! To my mind all the blood those republicans shed, with their +murdered king’s at bottom of it, got somehow into him, till he thought +no more of human beings, or aught concerning ’em, than I do of so many +cockroaches! But the terrible thing was, sir, his infernal schemes, and +his cunning—why, he’d twist you one country against another, and get +hold of both, like a man bending stun-sail halliards—there were men grew +up round him quick as mushrooms, fit to carry out everything he wanted; +so one could’nt wonder at him enough, Mr Aldridge, if it was only +natural! I can’t tell you anything like what I felt,” he went on, “when +I was in Sir Sidney Smith’s ship, cruising down Channel, and we used to +see the gunboats and flat-bottoms he got together for crossing the +straits—or one night, with poor Captain Wright, that we stood in near +enough to get a shot sent at us off the heights—the whole shore about +Boulogne was one twinkle of lights and camp-fires, and you heard the +sound of the hammers on planks and iron, with the carts and +gun-carriages creaking—not to speak of a hum from soldiers enough, you’d +have thought, to eat old England up! And where are they now?” “I don’t +know, sir, indeed,” said the first lieutenant gravely, supposing by the +captain’s look, no doubt, that it was a question. “What, Captain +Wallis!” exclaimed I, “were you with Captain Wright, then, sir?” Of +course, like every one in the service, I had heard Captain Wright’s +story often, with ever so many versions; there was a mystery about his +sad fate that made me curious to hear more, of what gave the whole navy, +I may say, a hatred to Bonaparte not at all the same you regard a fair +enemy with. + +“_With_ him, say you, sir?” repeated the captain of the Podargus, “ay +was I! I was his first lieutenant, and good cause I had to feel for the +end he came to,—as I’ll let you hear. One night Captain Wright went +ashore, as he’d often done, into the town of Beville, dressed like a +smuggler; for the fact was the French winked at the smuggling, only I +must say _we_ used to land men instead of goods. I didn’t like the thing +that night, and advised him not to go, as they’d begun to suspect +something of late; however, the captain by that time was foolhardy, +owing to having run so many risks, and he was bent on going in before we +left the coast; though, after all, I believe it was only to get a letter +that any fisherman could have brought off. The boat was lying off and on +behind a rocky point, and we waited and waited, hearing nothing but the +sound of the tide making about the big weedy stones, in the shadow from +the lights of the town; when at last the French landlord of the little +tavern he put up at, came down upon the shingle and whistled to us. He +gave me a message from Captain Wright, with the private word we had +between us, saying he wanted me to come up to the town on a particular +business. Accordingly, I told the men to shove out again, and away I +went with the fellow. No sooner did I open the door of the room, +however, than three or four gens-d’-armes had hold of me, and I was a +prisoner: as for Captain Weight, I never saw him more. The morning broke +as they brought me up on horseback in the middle of them, along the road +to Paris, from whence I could make out the cutter heeling to the breeze +a mile or two off the land, with two or three gunboats hard in chase.” + +“Well, sir, at Paris they clapped me into a long gloomy-like piece of +mason-work called the Temple, close alongside of the river, where plenty +of our countrymen were; Captain Wright and Sir Sidney Smith himself +among the rest, as I found out afterwards. The treatment wasn’t so bad +at first; but when you climbed up to the windows, there was nothing to +be seen but the top of a wall, and roofs of houses all round, save where +you’d a glimpse of the dirty river and some pig-trough of a boat. One +day I got a letter from Captain Wright—how they let me have it I don’t +well know—saying he was allowed a good deal of comfort in the mean time, +but he suspected some devilish scheme in it, to make him betray the +British government, or something of the kind; that he’d heard one of the +French royalist generals had choked himself in his prison, but never to +believe he’d do the same thing, though every night he woke up thinking +he heard the key turn in the door. The next thing I heard of was that +Captain Wright had made away with himself, sir!” Here Captain Wallis got +up again, walking across the cabin, seemingly much moved. “Well, after +that I slept with the dinner-knife in my breast, till the jailer took it +away; for I thought at the time that poor Wright had been murdered, +though I found cause to change my mind when I knew what loneliness does +with a man, not to speak of the notion being put before him to take his +own life. For a while, too, Captain Shaw was in the same cell; by which +time we had such bad food, and so little of it, that one day when a +pigeon lighted on the window, which used to come there for a crumb or +two every afternoon, right along with the gold gleam of the sun as it +shot over the dark houses to that window—I jumped up and caught it. Shaw +and I actually tore it in bits, and eat it raw on the spot; though ’twas +long ere I could get rid of the notion of the poor bird fluttering and +cooing against the bars, and looking at me with its round little soft +eye as it pecked off the slab. But what was that to the thought of my +old father that had hurt himself to keep me in the navy, and me able, +now, to make his last days comfortable—or the innocent young girl I had +married the moment I got my commission of first lieutenant, expecting to +be flush of prize-money! It even came into my head often, when I sat by +myself in the cell they afterwards put me into, alone,—how that little +blue pigeon might have carried a letter to England for me—at any rate it +was the only thing like a chance, or a friend, I ever saw the whole time +I was there,—and foolish as the notion may look, why the window was too +high in a smooth wall, for me once to reach it. I heard all Paris +humming round the thick of the stone, every day, and sometimes the sound +of thousands of soldiers tramping past below, over the next bridge, with +music and suchlike—no doubt when the First Consul, as they called him, +went off to some campaign or other: then I’d dream I felt the deck under +me in a fresh breeze at night, till the soul sickened in me to wake up +and find the stones as still as before, and now and then hear the +sentries challenging on their rounds. + +“Well, one day a fellow in a cloak, with a slouch hat over his forehead, +was let in to try, as I thought, if there was anything to be got out of +me, as they tried two or three times at first; some spy he was, +belonging to that police devil, Fouché. What did he offer me, d’ye +think, after beating about the bush for half an hour, but the command of +a French seventy-four under the Emperor, as he was by that time, and, if +I would take it, I was free! On this I pretended to be thinking of it, +when the police-fellow sidled near me, to show a commission signed with +the Emperor’s name at the foot. + +“In place of taking hold of it, however, I jumped up and seized the +villain’s nose and chin before he saw my purpose, stuffed the parchment +into his mouth by way of a gag, and made him dance round the cell, with +his cloak over his head and his sword dangling alongside of him, to keep +his stern clear of my foot; till the turnkey heard the noise, and he +made bolt out as soon as the door was opened. You’d wonder how long that +small matter served me to laugh over, for my spirit wasn’t broken yet, +you see; but even then, in the very midst of it, I would all of a sudden +turn sick at heart, and sit wondering when the exchange of prisoners +would be made, that I looked for. The worst of it was, at times a horrid +notion would come into my head of the French seventy-four being at sea +at the moment, and me almost wishing they’d give me the offer over +again—I fancied I felt the very creak of her, straining in the trough of +a sea, and saw the canvass of her topsails over me, standing on her poop +with a glass in my hand,—till she rose on a crest, and there were the +Agamemnon’s lighted ports bearing down to leeward upon us, till I heard +Nelson’s terrible voice sing out, “Give it to ’em, my lads!” when the +flash of her broadside showed me his white face under the cocked hat, +and it came whizzing over like a thirty-two pound shot right into my +breast, as I sunk to the bottom, and found myself awake in the prison. + +“I don’t know how long it was after, but they moved me to another berth, +where a man had shot himself through the head, for we actually met his +body being carried along the passage; and more than that, sir, they +hadn’t taken the trouble to wash his brains off the wall they were +scattered on! There I sat one day after another, watching the spot +marked by them turn dry, guessing at everything that had gone through +them as long as he was alive in the place, till my own got perfectly +stupid; I was as helpless as a child, and used to cry at other times +when the jailer didn’t bring me my food in time. I fancied they’d forget +all about me in England; and as for time, I never counted it, except by +the notion I had been two or three years in. At last the turnkey got so +used to me, thinking me no doubt such a harmless sort of a poor man, +that he would sit by and talk to me, giving accounts of the Emperor’s +battles and victories, and such matters. I must say I began to feel as +if he was some sort of a God upon earth there was no use to strive +against, just as the turnkey seemed to do, more especially when I heard +of Nelson’s death; so when he told me, one time, it wouldn’t do for +Fouché or the Emperor to let me out yet, I said nothing more. “Will the +Emperor not let me out _now_?” asked I, a long time after. “Diable!” +said the man, “do you think his Majesty has time to think of such a poor +fellow as you, amongst such great matters? No, no, pauvr’ homme!” +continued he; “you’re comfortable here, and wouldn’t know what to do if +you were out! No fear of your doing as your Capitaine _Ourite_ did, +since you’ve lived here so long, monsieur!” “How long is it, now, good +Pierre?” asked I, with a sigh, as he was going out at the door; and the +turnkey counted on his fingers. “Ulm—Austerlitz—Jena,” said he slowly; +“oui, oui—I scarcely thought it so much—it wants only six or seven +months of ten years!” and he shut to the door. I sprang up off the bed I +was sitting on, wild at the thought—I may say, for a day or two I was +mad—ten years! ten years!—and all this time where was my poor innocent +Mary, and the child she expected to bear, when I left Exeter—where was +my old father? But I couldn’t bear to dwell on it. Yes, Aldridge, by the +God above, they had kept me actually _ten years_ there, in that cursed +Temple, while _he_ was going on all the time with his victories, and his +shows, and his high-flown bulletins! Yet he wasn’t too high, it seems, +to stoop to give out, through his tools, how Wright and I had both +killed ourselves for fear of bringing in the British government—nor to +offer me a seventy-four in a dungeon—_me_, a man used to wind and water, +that loved a breeze at sea like life! ’Twas the very devil’s temptation, +sir; but I’ll tell you what, both Captain Wright and myself had been +with Sir Sidney Smith at Acre, when _he_ was baffled for the first time +in his days—_that_ was the thing, I believe from my soul, that he hated +us for! _I_ had a right to be exchanged ten times over, though he might +have called Wright a spy; but what was my poor wife and her newborn +baby, or my old father’s grey hairs, to _him_, and his damnable ambition +to make everything his own—and when the very thought of me in my hole at +the Temple would strike him in the midst of his victories, where he +hadn’t time, forsooth, to trouble himself about a poor man like me! The +fact was, I could tell how he offered a British seaman, that had had a +finger in nettling him, the command of one of his seventy-fours, which +he had nobody fit to manage—and that in a prison where I’d be glad even +of fresh air! + +“’Twas then, in fact, the purpose rose firmer and firmer in me, out of +the fury that was like to drive me mad, how I’d get out of his clutches, +and spend my life against the very pitch of his power I knew so well +about. Till that time I used to look through the bars of the window at +the Seine, without ever fancying escape, low down as it was, compared +with my last cell. There was a mark in the stone floor with my walking +back and forward, since they put me in; and by this time I had the +cunning of a beast, let alone its strength, in regard of anything I took +into my head: often I used to think I saw the end of my finger, or the +corner of a stone, more like the way a fly sees them, than a man. The +turnkey, Pierre, would never let me have a knife to eat my food with, +lest I should do as he said all we English were apt to do—kill +myself—which, by the way, is a lie; and I think that fiend of an Emperor +yonder must have taught them to blame us with their own crime! However, +latterly he let me have a fork for half an hour at dinner; and for a +quarter of an hour every day, except those when he staid to talk to me +as I ate it, did I climb up and work with that fork at the top and +bottom of one of the window-bars, taking care not to break the fork, and +jumping down, always, in time to finish the meal. It took me four whole +months, sir, to loosen them! Such deadly fear as I was in, too, lest +he’d find it out, or lest they moved me to another cell—you’d have +thought I was fond of the walls round the place, where hundreds of men +before me had scrawled their last words; and the one that shot himself +had written, “_Liberté—anéantissement!_ Liberty—annihilation!” just over +where the spatter of his brains had stuck when he laid his head to the +spot! If Pierre had noticed what I’d been about, my mind was made up to +kill him, and then make the trial before they missed him; but _that_ I +had a horror of, after all, seeing the man had taken a sort of liking to +me, and I knew he had a wife. + +“Well, at last, one day I had the thing finished; when midnight came I +trembled like a leaf, till I began to fear I couldn’t carry it through: +I tore my shirt and the blanket in strips, to twist into a line, got out +the bar by main force, squeezed through, and let myself down. The line +was just long enough to let me swing against the cold wall, over a +sentry’s head going round the parapet below; as soon as he was past I +dropped on the edge of the wall, and fell along it, my fingers scraping +the smooth stone to no purpose, till I was sliding off into the dark, +with the river I didn’t know how far below me, though I heard it lapping +against some boats at the other side. For a few moments I was quite +senseless, from the fall into the water; the splash roused the +sentinels, and three or four bullets whizzed into it about me, as I +struck out for the shore. Still the night was thick enough to help me +clear off among the dark lanes in the city;—and the upshot of it was, +that I found out some royalists, who supplied me with a pedlar’s dress; +till, in the end, after I can’t tell you how many ticklish chances, +where my luck hung upon a hair, I reached the coast, and was taken off +to a British frigate. At home, sir—at home, I found I’d been given up +long ago for a dead man in Bonaparte’s prisons, and—and—the old man had +been buried seven years, Aldridge—but not so long as my—wife. The news +of my taking my own life in the Temple saved her the rest—’twas too much +for her at the time, Aldridge—both she and her little one had lain in +the mould nine years, when I stood looking at the grass under Exeter +Cathedral! I was a young man almost, still; but my hair was as grizzled +when I got out of the Temple in 1813, as you see it now, and I’ll never +walk the deck fairly again. Aldridge,” added the captain of the +Podargus, turning round and standing still, with a low sort of a deep +whisper, “’tis a strange thing, the Almighty’s way of working—but I +never thought—in the Temple yonder, longing for a heave of the water +under me—I little thought John Wallis would ever come to keep guard over +his Majesty, the Emperor Napoleon!” + +When Captain Wallis stopped, the long send of the sea lifting the brig +below us, with a wild, yearning kind of ripple from her bows back to her +counter, and weltering away astern,—one felt it, I may say, somewhat +like an answer to him, for the breeze had begun to freshen: it had got +all of a sudden nearly quite dark, too, as is the case inside the +tropics, without the moon. “Let’s go on deck, gentlemen,” said the +captain, coming to himself; “now clap on those other topmost stuns’ls, +Mr Aldridge, and make her walk, sir!” “No saying,” I heard him mutter, +as he let us go up before him—“no saying what the want of the Podargus +might do, off the island, these dark nights—with water alongside, one +can’t be sure—I warrant me if _that man’s_ dreams came true, as mine +did, he would be at the head of his thousands again, ruining the whole +world, with men rotting out of sight in dungeons while the wind blows! +Ay, dreams, young gentleman!” said he to me as we stood on deck; “I’ll +never get rid of that prison, in my head, nor the way that dead man’s +brain seemed to come into mine, off the wall! But for my part, off St +Helena, ’tis Napoleon Bonaparte’s dreams that enter into my head. If +you’ll believe it, sir, I’ve _heard_ them as it were creeping and +tingling round the black heights of the island at dead of night, like +men in millions ready to break out in war music, as I used to hear them +go over the bridge near the Temple—or in shrieks and groans; we all the +time forging slowly ahead, and the surf breaking in at the foot of the +rocks. I know then, _who’s_ asleep at the time up in Longwood!” + +The brig-of-war was taking long sweeps and plunges before the wind; the +Southern Cross right away on her larboard quarter, and the very same +stars spread all out aloft, that I’d watched a couple of nights before, +close by Violet Hyde. The whole of what I’d just heard was nothing to me +in a single minute, matched with the notion of never seeing her more. +Everything I’d thought of since we left England was gone, even one’s +heart for the service; and what to do now, I didn’t know. I scarce +noticed it commence to rain, till a bit of a squall had come on, and +they were hauling down stu’nsails; the dark swells only to be seen +rising with the foam on them, and a heavier cover of dull cloud risen +off the brig’s beam, as well as ahead; so that you merely saw her +canvass lift before you against the thick of the sky, and dive into it +again. ’Twas just cleared pretty bright off the stars astern of us, +however, wind rather lighter than before the squall, when the captain +thought he made out a sail near about the starboard beam, where the +clouds came on the water-line; a minute or two after she was plain +enough in the clear, though looming nearly end-on, so that one couldn’t +well know her rig. Thinking at first sight it might be the schooner, +Captain Wallis was for bracing up, to stand in chase and overhaul her; +but shortly after she seemed either to yaw a little, or fall off again +before the wind like ourselves, at any rate showing three sticks on the +horizon with square canvass spread, and evidently a small _ship_. “Some +homeward-bound craft meaning to touch at the island!” said Captain +Wallis, telling the first lieutenant to keep all fast; by which time she +was lost in the dusk again, and I wasn’t long of going below. A fancy +had got hold of me for the moment, I can’t deny, of its being the +Seringapatam after us, on Westwood’s owning himself; whereupon I +persuaded myself Captain Wallis might perhaps take the risk on him of +letting us both go. For my part, I felt by this time as if I’d rather be +in the same ship with _her_, hopeless though it was, than steer this way +for the other side of the Line; and I went down with a chill at my heart +like the air about an iceberg. + +Not being asleep, however, a sudden stir on deck, an hour or two after +that, brought me out of my cot, to look through the scuttle in the side. +The brig had hauled her wind from aft onto her starboard quarter, making +less way than _before_ it, of course; I heard the captain’s voice near +the after-hatchway, too; so accordingly I slipped on my clothes, and +went quietly up. The Podargus was running through the long broad swells +usual thereabouts, with her head somewhere toward north-east; the +officers all up, the whole of the crew in both watches clustered beyond +the brig’s fore-course, and the captain evidently roused, as well as +impatient; though I couldn’t at first make out the reason of her being +off her course. As soon as she fell off a little, however, to my great +horror I could see a light far ahead of us, right in the gloom of the +clouds, which for a moment you’d have supposed was the moon rising red +and bloody, till the heave of the sea betwixt us and it showed how both +of us were dipping: and now and then it gave a flaring glimmer fair out +from the breast of the fog-bank, while the breeze was sending a brown +puff of smoke from it now and then to leeward against the clouds; +through which you made a spar or two licking up the flame, and a rag of +canvass fluttering across on the yard. ’Twas neither more nor less than +a ship on fire—no doubt the vessel seen abeam of us that evening—a sight +at which Captain Wallis seemingly forgot his hurry to make St Helena, in +the eagerness shown by all aboard to save the poor fellows. Suddenly +there was another wild gleam from the burning craft, and we thought it +was over altogether, when up shot a wreath of fire and smoke again, then +a fierce flash with a blue burst of flame, full of sparks and all sorts +of black spots and broken things, as if she had blown up while she +heaved the last time on the swell. Everything was pitch dark next minute +in her place, as if a big blot of ink had come instead; the brig-of-war +herself rolling with a flap of her headsails up against the long heavy +bank of cloud that blocked the horizon. “Keep her away, sirrah!” shouted +Captain Wallis, and the Podargus surged ahead as before, all of us +standing too breathless to speak, but counting the heads of the waves as +they flickered past her weather beam. “God’s sake!” exclaimed the +captain at last, “this is terrible, Aldridge. If I had only overhauled +her, as I meant at first, we might have helped them in time; for no +doubt the fire must have been commenced when we noticed her yawing +yonder a couple of hours ago, sir.” “I think not, sir,” said his +lieutenant, “_we_ were against the clear; and if they’d been in danger +_then_, she’d have fired a distress-gun. There couldn’t have been much +powder aboard, sir—more likely rum, I think!” + +“For heaven’s sake!” continued the captain, “let’s look about—she must +surely have had boats out, or something, Mr Aldridge? The best thing we +can do is to fire a few times as we bear down—see that bow-gun cleared +away, Mr Moore, and do it!” + +We might have been about a mile, as was guessed, from where she was last +seen, when the brig fired a gun to windward, still standing on under +everything. At the second flash that lighted up the belly of the clouds, +with the black glitter of the swells below them, I fancied I caught a +moment’s glimpse of something two or three miles away. It was too short +to say, however; and soon after the twinkle of a light, seemingly +hoisted on a spar, was seen little more than half a mile upon the brig’s +lee-bow, dipping and going out of sight at times, but plain enough when +it rose. Down went the Podargus for the spot, sending the foam off her +cut-water; and it was no long time before a wild hail from several +voices could be made out almost close aboard. Ten minutes after she was +brought to the wind, heaving a rope to the men on a loose raft of casks +and spars, as it pitched alongside of her, with the sail hauled down on +a spar they had stuck up, and a lantern at the head of it; after which +the raft was cast off, and the poor fellows were safe on board. + +Two of them seemed to be half-drowned, the one wrapped up in a wet +pilot-coat, his face looking white and frightened enough by the glimmer +of the lanterns; the other darker a good deal, so far as I could make +him out for the crowd about him, and he didn’t seem able to speak; +accordingly, both of them were taken at once below to the surgeon. The +rest were four half-naked blacks, and a little chap with ear-rings and a +seaman’s dress, who was the spokesman on the quarterdeck to the +captain’s questions—plainly American by his snuffling sort of drawl. +“Are there no more of you afloat?” was the first thing asked, to which +the Yankee sailor shook his head. She was an American bark, he said, +from a voyage of discovery round the two Capes; he was mate himself, and +the skipper, being addicted to his cups, had set a cask of rum on fire; +so, finding they couldn’t get it under, besides being wearied at the +pumps, on account of an old leak, the men broke into the spirit-room and +got dead drunk. He and the blacks had patched up a raft in a hurry for +bare life, barely saving the passenger and his servant who had jumped +overboard: the passenger was a learned sort of a man, he said, and his +servant was a Mexican. Most of this I found next day, from the gun-room +officers: however, I heard the mate of the burnt barque inquire of the +captain whereabouts they were, as the skipper was the only man who could +use a chronometer or quadrant, and the last gale had driven them out of +their reckonings a long way. “Somehow south of the Line, I guess?” said +he; but, on being told, the fellow gave a bewildered glance round him, +seemingly, and a cunning kind of squint after it, as I fancied. “Well,” +said he, “I guess we’re considerable unlucky—but I consider to turn in, +if agreeable!” The man had a way, in fact, half free-and-easy, half +awkward, that struck me; especially when he said, as he went below, he +supposed “this was a war-brig,” and hoped there “wasn’t war between the +States and the old country?” “No, my man,” said the captain, “you may +set your mind at ease on that point—but I’m afraid, nevertheless, we’ll +have to land you at St Helena!” “What, mister?” said the American, +starting, “that’s where you’ve got Boneyparty locked up? Well now, if +you give me a good berth for a few, mister, I guess I’ll rayther ship +aboard you, till I get a better! What’s your wage just now, if I may +ask, captain?” “Well, well,” said the captain, laughing, “we’ll see +to-morrow, my man!”—and the American went below. “Set stu’nsails again, +Mr Aldridge,” continued Captain Wallis, “and square yards. Why, rather +than have such a fellow in the ship’s company, Aldridge, I’d land him +without Sir Hudson’s leave!” + +“For my own part, next day, I should have given more notice to our new +shipmates while the brig steered fair before the wind—the blacks and the +mate leaning about her forecastle, and the other two being expected by +the surgeon to come pretty well round before night, though the captain +had gone to see them below; but a thing turned up all at once that threw +me once more full into the thought of Violet Hyde, till I was perfectly +beside myself with the helpless case I was in. The note Tom Westwood had +shown me was still in the pocket of my griffin’s coat, though I hadn’t +observed it till now; and what did I feel at finding out, that, instead +of one from her to Westwood, it was a few words from my own sister, +little Jane, saying in a pretty, bashful sort of a way, that her brother +Ned must come home before she could engage to anything! You may fancy +how I cursed myself for being so blind; but a fellow never thinks his +own sister charming at all—and what else could I have done at any rate? +All I hoped for was to get aboard of some Indiaman at St Helena, and +there was nothing else I wearied to see the island again for. I may say +I walked the brig’s lee quarterdeck till daybreak; but anyhow the +look-out from the foreyard had scarce sung out “St Helena on the +weather-bow!” when I was up, making out the round blue cloud in the +midst of the horizon, with a white streak across it, like a bird afloat +in the hazy blue, with the clear gleam from eastward off our starboard +quarter running round to it.” + + + + + CANADIAN LOYALTY. + AN ODE. + + + [Written at Sunrise on New Year’s Morning of 1850, at the head of Lake + Ontario, in Western Canada.] + + As gleams the sunrise on the deep, + And on yon cliffs where eagles sweep, + And on the circling forests deep, + This morn, which owns the New Year’s birth,— + Is there no gratulating strain + To hail the advent of thy reign, + Thou latest link of Time’s long chain + Let down from heaven to this our earth? + + Of Britain be that strain;—for she, + Stretching her empire o’er the sea, + Exalts the lowly, and sets free + From thraldom’s bonds the fettered slave; + For ever may her children share + The smiles of her maternal care; + For ever may her vessels bear + St George’s standard o’er the wave! + + Droop not! Although dark tempests may + Obscure awhile the potent ray + That to these o’er-sea realms brought day, + And Treason walk secure the scene; + A second morning o’er the deep + Shall call us jubilee to keep, + And to old strains each heart shall leap— + “God save Britannia’s noble Queen!” + + “God save Britannia’s noble Queen!”— + Shout it aloud! that strain hath been + From east to west, in every scene, + Heard by the nations, like a hymn + Wafted along from clime to clime, + To succour truth, to startle crime, + And, with an influence all sublime, + To brighten what before was dim. + + Hark! ’tis Britannia’s morning gun + Heralding thee, thou glorious sun; + And, if it peal when daylight’s done, + Doth she not well that honour claim? + For wheresoe’er thy beams light earth, + Thou seest her wisdom and her worth; + Glories that own to her their birth, + And Trophies of her deathless fame! + + From Zembla’s snows to India’s sun, + To her the faint, the feeble run, + They who Oppression’s grasp would shun, + Or Superstition’s horrors blind: + There exiles find a country—there + Monarchs and serfs alike repair, + And, underneath her guardian care, + A sure and safe asylum find! + + Then think not, demagogues! on whom + Strike these first rays which now illume + Our land, that, with this year, in gloom + Shall Britain’s power eclipsed be seen. + No! if she wills it, hearts are here + That glory in her high career, + That from her side will sunder ne’er, + But proudly own one common Queen! + + Methinks there glows in Britain yet + A feeling, that would grieve to let + Thee, sun! upon her empire set, + While shouts of rival nations rose:— + Our fathers were her sons, and we + Are but her offspring o’er the sea; + Aye undivided let us be— + We scorn to link us with her foes! + + Methinks her subjects, side by side, + Will long her burdens just divide,— + Will long maintain, in matchless pride, + Her flag, which aye hath honoured been:— + And many a great deed yet be done, + And many a glorious field be won, + Ere of her empire set the sun. + “God save Britannia’s noble Queen.” + + + + + AGRICULTURE, COMMERCE, AND MANUFACTURES: + OPENING OF THE SESSION. + + +It rarely happens that the proceedings which occur in parliament, +immediately after its reassembling, are so intrinsically important as to +sustain the interest invariably excited in the public mind by the +approach of the legislative season. Such at least is the case whenever +men can predict, almost with certainty, what topics will be alluded to +and what avoided in the royal address; what policy Ministers are +determined to pursue; and what amount of support they may confidently +count on receiving from political friends and auxiliaries. From the +opening of the session of 1850 little novelty was to be augured. The +Free-traders, having had everything their own way, could not be expected +to express any misgiving as to the working of a system which they had so +deliberately adopted. The cry of distress from without, loud and general +as it was, had not shaken the equanimity of the secret divan of Downing +Street; nor perhaps was the complaint deemed as yet articulate enough to +require more than a casual notice. The storm might be brewing, but it +was not at its height, and there would be time enough to meet it +hereafter. What her Majesty’s Ministers had to do was to make out a fair +case of prosperity for the present, and to hold out a still brighter +prospect for the future. They had plausible materials for doing so. +Bullion was plentiful in the vaults of the Bank of England; the exports +for the past year had increased largely in amount; the revenue was in no +bad condition. Abroad, there was a lull in those hostilities which for +the last two years have frightened Europe from its propriety; and, +though the victory had not declared itself on the side of those whom the +Whigs favoured with their approbation, still tranquillity was something. +It gave an augmented market to our manufacturers, and removed those +hindrances which threatened to become serious interruptions to commerce. +With such materials at command, no one but a most sorry artificer could +have failed in constructing a plausible prosperity address. The state of +the home market was evidently a subject for future discussion. + +Notwithstanding various rumours as to meditated organic changes, it was +pretty evident that Ministers had no intention to undertake the conduct +of a new Reform bill. Of all the men who ever attempted to ape the +character of Peter the Hermit, Sir Joshua Walmsley is at once the +dullest and the most self-sufficient. Any crusade, under the auspices of +such a preacher, could not be otherwise than abortive: indeed, he failed +signally in the first and easiest quality of an agitator—that of +enlisting a considerable share of popular sympathy on his side. Nor was +finance reform likely to be seriously taken up by the Whigs, inasmuch as +one of the earliest effects of such a scheme would necessarily be the +reduction of their official salaries. That is a point, however, which +they cannot long hope to evade; and it will be forced upon them, sorely +against their will, as the inevitable consequence of low prices. They +must prepare themselves to submit to a reduction similar to that which +has been practised upon the officials of the Great Western Railway, who +are put upon a short allowance in consequence of “the reduced prices of +the necessaries of life.” The rule admits of general application, and +doubtless will be rigidly carried out in the highest as in the lowest +places. At present we shall not discuss that matter: we merely refer to +it as a sufficiently intelligible reason why financial reform formed no +part of the programme of her Majesty’s Ministers. No man expected that +it would do so. + +Apart from such topics as these, there was little to be looked for in +the speech: and accordingly, when it appeared, the speech was as meagre +and unsuggestive as such documents usually are. Nor should we have +thought it necessary to make it the subject of comment, save for one +passage, which may be said to contain its kernel, in so far as the +prospects of the home population are concerned:— + + + “Her Majesty has great satisfaction in congratulating you on the + improved condition of commerce and manufactures. It is with regret + that her Majesty has observed the complaints which, in many parts of + the kingdom, have proceeded from the owners and occupiers of land. Her + Majesty greatly laments that any portion of her subjects should be + suffering distress; but it is a source of sincere gratification to her + Majesty to witness the increased enjoyment of the necessaries and + comforts of life which cheapness and plenty have bestowed upon the + great body of her people.” + + +Here there is no distinct admission of agricultural distress. Such +distress may or may not exist: all that is known on the subject is, that +complaints are made. But, supposing these complaints to be well founded, +the great body of the people is reaping the benefit of that cheapness +which is the cause of the distress of others. That is the language of +the speech. + +We think it is much to be regretted that, on an occasion like this, +Ministers should have avoided the open and manly course. If they do not +believe in the actual existence of such distress, but are of opinion +that the great agitation which at present is spread over England, is +either an unfounded panic or a factious clamour, it would have been well +to have met the statements of their adversaries with a broad and +unequivocal denial. If, on the contrary, they are convinced that +distress actually does exist, and that it is likely to prove permanent, +they have placed themselves in a strange and unprecedented position with +regard to the class so complaining. For, in that view, the terms of the +speech will hardly admit of any other interpretation, than that it is +matter of congratulation to find, that one section of the British public +is prospering upon the ruin of another. We do not, of course, believe +that the Ministry intended to lay down any such principle; for, if once +adopted and carried out, it must lead to the entire disorganisation of +society. We think that their peculiar position affords us the true key +to their language. On the one hand, they cannot deny that distress +actually does exist: on the other, they cannot, in the face of the +commercial principles which they have adopted, and the precarious nature +of their majority, venture to suggest a remedy. Her Majesty is not even +allowed to express sympathy, because sympathy implies suffering—and that +admission Ministers are by no means, as yet, prepared to make. + +Turning from the speech itself to the addresses, and the reported +subsequent debates, we find this view of the matter sufficiently borne +out. The Earl of Essex, the mover of the address in the House of Peers, +expressed himself in the following terms:— + + + “Her Majesty had also expressed her deep sympathy with the distress + _stated to exist_ in many of our agricultural districts. No man could + regret the existence of that distress more than he did; but, in + expressing that regret, he must also state his conviction—a conviction + which was shared by many wealthy merchants, and by many, he would not + say a majority, of landlords—that that distress was not of a + permanent, but of a temporary character.” + + +Lord Methuen, the seconder, took nearly the same view. The Earl of +Carlisle said:— + + + “The degree of his alarm would be somewhat proportioned to the + apprehended nature of the distress. If it were temporary, and produced + by special and exceptional causes, not liable continually to prevail + or constantly to recur, then it would be plain that agriculture was + only subject to that variation which every other pursuit, every other + profession and branch of industry, every source of emolument, seemed, + by a law of the universe, to undergo—that change from which + agriculture, in a marked degree, whether protected or unprotected, had + never been exempt.” + + +And again:— + + + “What he contended was, that, with so very circumscribed limits for + the experiment, and with such a marked interference of special and + exceptional causes, during the progress of the experiment, it would be + altogether preposterous to assume that the experiment had been tested, + that it was exhausted, and that a change in the policy of the country + ought to be considered, and forthwith entered upon. Neither could he + think they were in a situation to pronounce what were the permanent + fruits of the great experiment they had agreed to make. It would be + impossible to say at what cost corn could be permanently grown in this + country, or whether the same amount of foreign importations would + always prevail. His own feeling was not one of despondency or despair + on the subject. He had no right, on these points, to palm his own + opinion on their lordships. All he contended was, that they were not + in a condition to determine the questions he had indicated. He could + not honestly stop there, however; he could not confine himself to + these ambiguous and hypothetical limits: he was bound to tell their + lordships that, even if he were convinced that the average price of + corn could never ascend higher, still he was not prepared to reverse + the policy they had entered upon.” + + +Finally, the Marquis of Lansdowne said:— + + + “Adverting to the subject of the amendment, regret must be felt when + distress affected any large class of her Majesty’s subjects. When the + noble lord (Stanley) went on to say he was convinced the distress, + which to a certain degree affected the owners and occupiers of land, + was shared by the agricultural community at large, including the + labourers, he met the noble lord distinctly with the assertion that, + throughout England, the condition of the labourers was generally + better.” + + +Lord Lansdowne then went on to state facts regarding the importation of +foreign corn; from which, we presume, he wished his hearers to infer +that such importation was on the wane. + + + “With respect to the importation of foreign corn, it had diminished + almost to nothing at present. In the last three months of last year, + ending January 5th, the importation was reduced considerably below the + importation of the corresponding period in the previous year. He had a + return of the importation for the first four weeks of January. In the + first four weeks of last year, the importation of all sorts was + 1,118,653; for the last four weeks of this year, ending January 28th, + only 336,895 quarters had been imported.” + + +A valuable addition to the above statistics would have been a note of +the range of the thermometer during the periods referred to, especially +at the Baltic ports. In conclusion, Lord Lansdowne, whilst maintaining +the impossibility of any recurrence to the protective system, remarked:— + + + “He considered the experiment as finally made; but, if he were to see + a quantity of acres thrown out of cultivation, and a number of + labourers without employment, he would not hesitate to confess himself + in the wrong, and he hoped others would not hesitate to do the same. + He was not now, however, prepared to go back to their past policy, and + to uphold what he believed to be a delusion, or to lay a foundation + for that ill feeling and acrimony which had distinguished the + discussion of the question out of doors.” + + +These extracts, from the debate in the House of Lords on the first night +of the session, deserve to be recorded for the sake of fixture +reference. Every one of the speakers on the Ministerial side proceeded +on the assumption that agricultural distress, if it existed, was only +temporary, and not permanent, in its character—and, such being the case, +that there was no room, or, at all events, no occasion for a remedy. + +Turning to the debate in the House of Commons, we find a bolder tone +assumed. In their selection of the gentleman who had the honour of +moving the address to her Majesty, Ministers gave a very strong +indication of their deliberate views. Amongst those who annually renewed +the motion for the repeal of the corn laws in the House of Commons, +there was one who, with more candour or more discrimination than the +rest, had the courage to acknowledge that the result of such a measure +must be the “annihilation” of the small farmers. That gentleman, Mr +Villiers, was selected as the fittest person to reciprocate to the royal +message. We are far from reflecting upon the taste and feeling which +suggested such a choice—indeed, we are not sure whether a better one +could have been made; for, if the agriculturists are to understand that +under no possible circumstances can our recent policy be changed, that +assurance could hardly be conveyed more authoritatively than from the +lips of the honourable member for Wolverhampton; and accordingly Mr +Villiers does not mince the matter. He speaks out loud and bold, and +tells the farmers that no amount of distress will make him withdraw one +inch from his original position. + + + “He did not deny that distress existed among the occupiers of the + land, and he deeply regretted it; but they were not precluded from + retiring from that pursuit with which they were not satisfied. He + thought it was some consolation to know that land now fetched as high + a value in the market as it ever had brought in the history of this + country; that there never was a farm vacant but there were numerous + candidates for the tenancy; and that the agricultural labourers, + instead of being worse off, were much better off than usual. If ‘the + worst come to the worst,’ and the landed proprietor and the occupier + should be obliged to proceed in the same business-like way in + conducting their pursuits as persons in other businesses in this + country, they would have this consolation, that there was no advantage + possessed over them by other countries in the raising agricultural + produce. The only thing that he (Mr Villiers) could discover, + distinguishing the agriculturist here from those of other + countries—and that was one which he had under his own control—was the + price of land. It certainly was higher here than on the Continent. But + in many respects his advantages were great; and the inferiority, where + it existed, could be counteracted.” + + +Statements of this kind carry with them an antidote as well as a bane. +We are not sorry to find the foremost champion of the League, and the +mover of the address, thus openly setting at defiance physical fact, +common sense, and the results of practical experience. He tells the +British agriculturist that he is in every respect, except in the price +of land, on an equality with the foreign producer. So, then, his climate +is as constant, his soil is as rich, the labour he employs is as cheap, +his direct burdens are as low, his luxuries are as moderately taxed! He +is exposed to no restrictions; there is no malt-tax; he may have his +bricks at prime cost; he may grow his own tobacco; he may distil his own +spirits; he is not chargeable with income-tax, irrespective of his +drawing one shilling of profit from his farm! So says Mr Villiers: and, +if this be true, not one of us has a right to complain. But is it true? +We shall not insult the intelligence of our readers by entering on a +deliberate refutation. + +Let us next hear the Chancellor of the Exchequer:— + + + “He admitted that in some respects, and in several parts of the + country, the agricultural interest had suffered; but it was all a + question of degree. He did not deny that the degree was considerable, + but he did not think it existed to anything approaching the extent + that had been represented; and he denied, therefore, that they ought + to retrace the steps of their policy; for, though distress existed, he + relied on the industry and the energy of the British farmer.” + + +Then come general opinions, almost amounting to assertions, that the +present low price of corn cannot be permanent; and these opinions are +fortified by a comparison of the importations in January 1849 with those +in January 1850, no notice being taken of any difference between the +seasons! Sir Charles Wood next put forth an authority, to which we crave +attention:— + + + “The _Mark-Lane Express_ stated that the price of corn in the Baltic + was so high that it would not pay to send it to this country; and the + only country from which corn was at present sent to us was France, + which, in ordinary years, was not an exporting country. There was good + reason to suppose, therefore, that the permanent price of wheat in + this country would not range so low as at the present time. Prices + were not at present remunerative to the importer, and importation had + received a most signal check. The farmer need not, therefore, + apprehend that ruin from the operation of free trade which he at + present anticipated from prices under 40s. a quarter. What the future + price of corn in this country would be, it would be wrong in him (the + Chancellor of the Exchequer) to attempt to state, after the mistakes + that the most practical and wisest men had fallen into with regard to + the importation of corn. But it was worth observing, that at present + no importation could take place from those countries from which + importation had been most feared, and that the greatest quantities of + corn recently received had come from those countries from which no one + had anticipated any importation whatever. An honourable member had + expressed an opinion that 44s. a quarter was the average price that + might be expected to prevail for wheat. Now, he could not agree with + those who held the opinion that the agriculturist would be ruined by + such a price.” + + +Here there are two distinct propositions, with regard to which we have a +word to say. 1st, Sir Charles Wood, on the authority of the _Mark-Lane +Express_, an authority which he afterwards admits will not be disputed, +says that the importations are checked, and will be checked, on account +of the high price of corn in the Baltic, and, therefore, that the price +of wheat in this country will rise. 2d, He thinks that the home +agriculturist can carry on production with wheat at 44s. per quarter. + +Well, then, let us see what has since been told us on the authority of +the _Mark-Lane Express_, so lately as 11th February:— + + + “The value of wheat having receded, without a check, from week to week + since the commencement of the year, has fallen to a point at which + growers are very unwilling to sell; and within the last eight days the + deliveries have fallen off more or less, which circumstance, and the + probability of short supplies during the time farmers shall be engaged + preparing the land for the reception of the spring crops, appear to + have led to the belief that quotations will not for the present + undergo any farther reduction. That a temporary rally may take place + is not improbable; but we are by no means sanguine on the subject, and + regard any improvement of moment as wholly out of the question. + Whatever may be said to the contrary, we maintain that prices of wheat + are at present higher on the continent of Europe than is warranted by + the result of the last harvest. With average crops, such as those + secured in 1849 in most of the large grain-growing countries of + Europe, a very considerable surplus must have been produced for + export; and as there appears to be no chance of France, Holland, or + Belgium requiring supplies from the Baltic, and as our markets hold + out little encouragement for calculating on higher prices, the value + of the article must, we think, inevitably come down in Russia, Poland, + and Germany. Any argument founded on what has occurred in bygone times + is no longer applicable, the alteration in our corn laws placing the + matter in an entirely new position. For the past to be serviceable in + affording materials to form a judgment of the probable future, it is + necessary to have a parallel instance; and all calculations founded on + what prices have been in years when a different order of things + existed, are more likely to mislead than instruct. It is not probable + that prices will fall to so low a point as they have done on former + occasions, when England has required comparatively small supplies, the + removal of our import duties and the repeal of the Navigation Laws + being greatly in favour of the foreign grower; but, on the other hand, + it may be easily foreseen that with wheat at 35s. per quarter in many + of our home markets, British merchants will not purchase abroad on + such terms as have been hitherto asked for spring delivery. + Speculation may for a time support prices at Dantzic, Rostock, &c., + but the value must ultimately be regulated by prices here; and we feel + perfectly satisfied that supplies on a much larger scale than we are + likely to want will reach us from the Baltic, Black Sea, &c., later in + the year.” + + +Nowhere can be discerned any symptom which might justify us in believing +that prices are likely, for any length of time, to take an upward +tendency. The importations of last year principally consisted of the +yield of an inferior Continental crop—that of 1848. The large crop of +1849 is preparing for us; and how is it possible to suppose that this +will be kept back unless an augmented price is given for it? Even the +frozen state of the Baltic ports has had no effect in raising prices at +home. On the contrary, they are still declining. The average of wheat in +the Haddington market of 8th February, was 34s. 1d. The Berks +correspondent of _Bell’s Weekly Messenger_ writes thus on the 4th:—“The +corn markets are gradually getting lower, and, taking all the sorts of +grain together, they are now lower than they have been since the +memorable year 1822; and there is, we are sure, less money in +circulation in the country than there has been for many years. The +occupiers of the soil seem to be the first class doomed to be ruined; +but it must be recollected that the farmers will not be the only class.” + +But it is of little use for us at present to discuss a point which the +experience of a few months must necessarily solve. Sir Charles Wood’s +statement, if intended to influence the division, has already served its +purpose. Inasmuch, therefore, as the prospects of importation are +concerned, we need not speculate farther. + +But when Sir Charles assumes a price of 44s. as remunerative for the +grower of wheat, he takes his position on other ground. We shall not +reiterate our own opinions on this subject, or those of any writer who +may be supposed to be favourable to protection. The evidence of +adversaries may be more valuable; and the first whom we shall cite is +Sir Robert Peel. In 1842, the late Premier indicated his opinion that +the remunerative price ranged from 54s. to 58s., and he never wished to +see it lower than the former sum. Sir Charles Wood, however, +courageously fixes his estimate 10s. beneath that of Sir Robert Peel; +and we doubt not that, if the fall should still continue, we shall find +him averring hereafter that 34s. per quarter is a price amply +remunerative to the British grower. + +Our next witness is a gentleman whose testimony must be valuable in the +eyes of political economists. We quote from a work originally published +in 1839, entitled, _Influences of the Corn Laws_, by JAMES WILSON, Esq. +now M.P. for Westbury, and Secretary of the Board of Control. It is a +treatise on which we set so much store, that we propose, in an early +number of Maga, to subject it to a deliberate review, for the purpose of +pointing out the singularly felicitous realisation of the leading +prophecies therein contained, and the intimate knowledge displayed by +the writer of the subject with which he was dealing. At present we shall +confine ourselves strictly to one point. + + + “This may therefore be called the rate which is fixed by our own + internal competition and resources; 52s. 2d. per quarter may be called + the prime cost of wheat to the consumer, and that sum, reduced by the + charges enumerated, may be called the remunerating price to the landed + interest to the exact extent to which they have been remunerated.”—p. + 53. + + +Again:— + + + “As we shall afterwards show, we take 52s. 2d. to be the proper price + for wheat, at which an exactly sufficient amount of production would + be kept up, it having been the average price for the last seven years; + we therefore take it as the standard price at which wheat can be sold + to the consumer. It must be clear that whatever average annual price + the farmer receives in any year above that price, he obtains so much + profit beyond the average rate; _and that whatever average annual + price he receives in any year less than that standard price, he makes + so much distinct loss_; and therefore the difference between the + profit derived from the higher prices and the loss from the lower + prices must show the balance in favour or against the home grower.”—p. + 41. + + +Mr Wilson’s argument we leave for the present untouched; we merely found +upon his statement that 52s. 2d. is the proper standard price for +British wheat, and that any lower rate of price must entail a loss on +the grower. So far, therefore, his views are utterly irreconcilable with +those of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. + +Lord John Russell, who addressed the House last, on the Ministerial +side, was not very distinct in his admission as to the existence of +distress. If there was any, he seemed to think it was caused by corn +speculation, and he rang the changes on the old topic of periods of +transition and depression. The division was in entire accordance with +the debate, for it resulted in the rejection of the amendment on the +address, proposed in the following terms, “But humbly to represent to +her Majesty that, in many parts of the United Kingdom, and especially in +Ireland, the various classes of her Majesty’s subjects connected with +the cultivation of the soil are labouring under severe distress, mainly +attributable, in our opinion, to recent legislative enactments, the +operation of which is aggravated by the severe pressure of local +taxation.” + +That such an amendment was called for on the part of those who are +opposed to the free-trade policy, we think will be generally admitted. +It was but right and reasonable that the case of the agriculturist +should be brought under the notice of parliament at the very earliest +opportunity; not with the view of forcing on an immediate reversal of +the national policy, but to obtain, if possible, a distinct +acknowledgment of the position in which the most important section of +the community is placed. That acknowledgment has not been given. It +would almost seem as if the Free-traders, in the intoxication of their +headlong career, already considered the great agricultural interest as +completely prostrated as the colonies, with regard to which no notice +whatever was vouchsafed in the royal speech. Mr Cobden is perfectly +furious that the point should be again mooted. He considered protection +as defunct, and the ghost of it laid in the Dead Sea; and now, when it +starts up before him, a living, thriving, and withal a formidable +reality, he has recourse to language unmeet for the mouth of any +respectable conjuror. Lord John Russell can do little more than utter a +feeble and wholly inapplicable descant upon the advantages of the +station of an English gentleman—forgetting all the while that such a +station implies the performance of certain duties, of which not the +meanest are the advocacy of the rights of the British labourer, and the +maintenance of the British constitution. The amendment, as every one +anticipated, was rejected; but, notwithstanding, it has served its +purpose. It has elicited opinions, a commentary on which will be +valuable before the present session is over; it has shown the +agricultural interest how little they have to expect from the present +Parliament; it has laid the foundation for distinct propositions +regarding the equalising and proper adjustment of taxation, which no +doubt will be brought forward _seriatim_, and submitted to the +consideration of the Commons. If these are rejected, as they probably +will be, and if every measure of relief is met by a direct or a virtual +negative, it will then be time for the defenders of British interests to +lay their complaint at the foot of the throne, and to ask for a +dissolution of the present Parliament, in order that the constituencies +of Great Britain may have an opportunity of recording their votes for or +against the continuance of the present policy. + +We shall, of course, be told that the point has been already settled. +What is settled? Have not our fiscal regulations been altered year after +year; and was there not a settlement disturbed by the repeal of the Corn +Laws, at least as deliberate as that which is now assumed to be +inviolable? How long is it since “the experiment,” to which we were +entreated to give a fair trial, lost its experimental character, and +became a law, fenced against repeal as closely as a statute of Darius? +Is there a single free-trade prophet who can hold up his head and say +that his vaticinations have been fulfilled? Mr M’Gregor prophesied that +the nation would become richer, at the ratio of two millions a-week. Mr +Economist Wilson prophesied augmented prices to the agriculturist, +adding this ingenuous commentary,—“that there is no better evidence of a +prosperous community or country, _than the existence of a high average +price of provisions_, when the condition of the labourer, as is the case +in this country, is relatively better than in other countries; and that, +on the contrary, there is no stronger evidence of a miserable and +impoverished country, than the existence of low prices of provisions, +where the condition of the labourer is comparatively and infinitely +worse than in other countries where prices are higher.” Mr Cobden +prophesied thus in 1843 and 1844, not once but many times,—“The +landlords will (with free trade) have better rents.” “Give us a free +trade, and land will be as valuable as it is now.” “I believe that land +would be more valuable in this country if you had at once an entire +abolition of the Corn Laws.” We could cite similar testimony, uttered by +a host of prophets as numerous as those of Baal, but we think the above +instances may suffice; and it is on the faith of such vaticinations that +we are peremptorily desired to consider the late ruinous measures as +fixed and unalterable! The railway and the free-trade delusion reached +their highest point in one and the self-same year. We have seen the +quacks, impostors, and swindlers of the one system, scouted by the +unanimous voice of public reprobation already; the leading partisans of +the other cannot long hope to escape the infliction of a similar doom. + +It has been said, in various quarters, that we have taken too gloomy a +view of the future agricultural prospects of Great Britain. It may be +so; but, at all events, we are borne out, and even exceeded, by Mr +Villiers. If any man has doubts as to the depression of the agricultural +interest, let him peruse carefully the following statement of the mover +of the address:— + + + “He (Mr Villiers) had made a calculation of the saving effected by the + people of this country, in consequence of the present reduced price of + food. He found that the average price of wheat in 1847 was 69s. 5d.; + on the 29th of December 1849, it was 39s. 4d.; the average price of + barley in 1847 was 43s., and, in 1849, 25s.; of oats, in 1847, 28s., + and in 1849, 15s.; and there had been a corresponding reduction in + beans and peas. The usual calculation was, that our population of + 30,000,000 consumed one quarter of corn to each person annually; but, + taking a low estimate of consumption, and calculating that the + population annually consumed 20,000,000 quarters of each of these + descriptions of grain, he found that the saving effected by the + difference of prices between 1847 and 1849, amounted to £61,000,000. + He had also estimated, on the same moderate scale, the saving effected + by the difference in the prices of meat, butter, cheese, potatoes, and + other articles, in 1847 and 1849, and he found that it amounted to + £30,000,000 more; so that there had been a total saving in the + expenditure of the people upon food of £91,000,000 between 1847 and + 1849. This was the result of free trade _in the very first year of its + operation_. And when so large an amount was saved for expenditure on + other articles than food, he thought it was no matter of astonishment + that the general condition of the people had improved, and that the + country was in a flourishing condition.” + + +We shall not investigate the accuracy of this calculation, nor shall we +discuss the soundness of the conclusions. It is enough for us that Mr +Villiers holds it to be matter of congratulation that, in one year, “the +very first year of the operation of free trade,” agricultural produce +has been depreciated to the amount of £91,000,000. This is worth a +little consideration. Messrs Cobden, Bright, & Co., have taken much +pains of late to impress upon the farmers that the present struggle is +“a mere landlord’s question;” that the tenantry have nothing earthly to +do with it; and that their sole object ought to be a speedy lowering of +the rents. Our statistics, published in the Magazine, although certified +by a large body of the leading agriculturists in nearly every district +of Scotland, have been designated as “cooked,” by Cockneys who never saw +a blade of wheat grow except on a Sunday excursion to Thames Ditton, and +by pseudo-political economists, who, when detected in deliberate +falsification, have not even the grace to tender a lame apology. The +gravity of an insult depends upon the respectability of those who utter +it. Foul language from the mouth of a cabman does not excite any +rancorous feeling in the bosom of the man who is favoured with the abuse +of Jehu; and, therefore, our correspondents, in number more than +thirty—gentlemen of the highest respectability and character in +Scotland—need not be disturbed by any imputations emanating from the +quarters which we are reluctantly compelled to notice. But, since our +opponents affect to disbelieve the accuracy of our views and +calculations, let them deal with those of Mr Villiers. He puts down the +amount of saving in food at £91,000,000, for a single year. The net +rental of Great Britain and Ireland is £58,753,615:[9] and it therefore +follows, that _supposing no rent whatever to have been paid_, the +tenantry must have suffered loss or diminution of profits to the extent +of £22,246,385! These are the free-trade calculations—not ours. We do +not wonder that the _Times_ did not lose a day in casting discredit upon +a statement which, though cheered on the Ministerial side of the house, +was, in reality, a more damnatory exposition of free trade than the most +ingenious Protectionist could have devised. For our part, we shall not +venture to say whether Mr Villiers was right or wrong. A calculation, of +this extended nature, might tax the powers of the ablest actuary; but, +if it be correct, surely we stand acquitted of all exaggeration; and, +what is of far greater importance, no one can henceforth venture to +assert that this is a mere “landlord’s question;” since, if all rent +were abandoned, the loss to the tenantry, in a single year, would be +twenty-two and a quarter millions! + +But let us pass in the meantime from the agricultural case, and see what +real ground exists for the self-gratulations of ministers on the general +prosperous state of the country at the opening of the present session. +We quote the paragraph from the royal speech:—“Her Majesty has great +satisfaction in congratulating you on the improved condition of commerce +and manufactures.” We shall consider the two interests separately. + +First, as to commerce, and its main branch, the shipping and +shipbuilding interest. The repeal of the Navigation Laws having been +effected in the course of last year, it might be premature to form a +decided judgment on the working of the new system. Most certainly we +have not done so; and we think it would have been only decent had her +Majesty’s Ministers exercised a similar discretion. But in order to make +out a case of prosperity, the commerce of the country could not be +overlooked; and facts, (when they _are_ facts,) however slight, are too +valuable to be dispensed with on such an occasion as this. Accordingly, +we are told that the shipping interest never was in a state of greater +activity and prosperity than now. Mr Villiers opened thus:— + + + “It was rather early, perhaps, to express any opinions of what would + be the general results of that great change; but there was reason to + believe that all the anticipations of its advocates would be + infinitely more than realised, and that all the fearful predictions of + its opponents would be falsified. _The interest most affected by these + changes had not been for some years in such a state of activity as it + presented at this moment._ In the Thames and Tyne, in the Wear and + Clyde, the business of the shipbuilder or shipowner exhibited a more + cheering aspect. _From all our dockyards the reports were equally + satisfactory_; and many of the gentlemen who had been most prominent + in foretelling ruin and destruction from the change, admitted the + advantages they were deriving from it.” + + +The Chancellor of the Exchequer entirely acquiesced in this statement: + + + “At the present moment no one could find fault with the change which + had taken place in the Navigation Laws, if he took the trouble to look + at the state of the great shipbuilding ports of this commercial + country. He might mention one port, which, above all others, should be + regarded as indicating the condition of the shipbuilding interest + throughout the seaports of England, namely, Sunderland; but he might + also mention Liverpool and the Scotch ports, where the shipbuilding in + the year 1849 went on with more rapidity than in any former period; + and not only was the quantity of shipping built at these places + greater than in any former year, but a better class of vessels was + built, vessels calculated and fitted for the long voyage.” + + +Mr Labouchere, the President of the Board of Trade, was even stronger in +his averments: + + + “He confidently appealed to every member of that house who had + considered the subject, and, above all, to the representatives of the + great shipping ports of this country, whether it was true to say that + the industry of the dockyards had been paralysed by the measure of + last session. On the contrary—and this was a subject on which he + naturally felt the greatest interest, and which he had looked into + with the utmost care—he had never made an assertion in that house with + greater confidence, _and he challenged contradiction on the part of + any mercantile man or gentleman interested in shipping_, than when he + stated his belief that the industry of shipbuilding, that the + confidence of the mercantile public in shipowning, that the whole + business of the country connected with shipbuilding and shipowning, + were in a state most satisfactory and most encouraging to those who + did not believe that they were paralysing that important branch of + industry by the measures of last session. He believed the fact to be + that there were at least as many ships building at this moment as at + any period within the last twenty years in this country.” + + +In the face of such unqualified averments and challenges, on a point +necessarily statistical, and in opposition to the President of the Board +of Trade, who, from his official position, was the man of all others +most likely to be furnished with full and accurate information, it would +have been rash in any individual member to have hazarded a flat +contradiction. But a question of such vital importance as this is sure +to be thoroughly investigated; and we are indebted to that excellent +paper, the _Shipping and Mercantile Gazette_, for an elaborate and +complete refutation of the whole case so ostentatiously paraded by +Government. Our contemporary, we are sure, will not quarrel with us if +we transfer into our columns a good deal of the valuable information +obtained by so much industry and perseverance, for which the thanks of +the whole community are justly due. + + + “We are prepared,” says the editor of the _Shipping and Mercantile + Gazette_, in his leading article of the 31st January, “to prove that + the depression in our shipping—in building as well as in freights—has + not been so great for years as it is at the present time; in short, + that it is _depression_, and not improvement, which is UNIVERSAL, with + scarcely ‘the exception of a few ports.’ + + “With regard to shipbuilding, it is necessary to bear in mind that + shipbuilders cannot stop their business all at once; they have yards + on lease—materials on hand—and apprentices to maintain; therefore they + must be doing a little at almost any risk. + + “With a view to obtain correct information upon the subject, we have + procured authenticated returns from accredited correspondents at all + the ports, which we shall proceed to lay before our readers; merely + premising that, as the foreign and colonial trade diminishes in + profit, it drives ships into the coasting trade, which, as it will be + seen, is suffering severely from the depreciating effects.” + + +The following are a few of the returns, inserted alphabetically:— + + + “ABERDEEN, _Feb. 2, 1850_. + + “It is vain to try to conceal the very depressed state of the shipping + interest at this port at present, everything around us having a dreary + and most discouraging aspect. Our docks are full of vessels of every + class and size, and nothing for them to do. Freights offering (and + they are very few indeed) are not, by any means, at remunerative + rates: 30s. to 33s. per load timber from Quebec, or 67s. 6d. per ton + guano from Peru, will never pay the shipowner, while he pays the + present rate of wages, and gives the usual rations to his seamen. If + freights are to be kept down by foreign competition, the British + sailor must be brought down to the level of the foreigner; but such a + state of things, we hope, will still, by some means or other, be + averted. + + “Notwithstanding the justly high character our shipbuilders here have + attained in the construction of their ships, and the great perfection + they have come to in the construction of vessels with the clipper-bow, + and which are now making such unparalleled rapid voyages, we believe + they have few, if any, orders on hand; and in the absence of such have + been building on speculation, and have at this moment a few vessels on + the stocks for sale, superb specimens of naval architecture, and no + immediate prospect of purchasers. One of our local papers was holding + out to us the other day that we need not fear foreign competition, + having vessels of such great sailing and carrying qualities. This + would be all very well, if guaranteed to this country alone; but it + will soon be found that foreigners will get improved vessels as well + as we, and, most probably, get our carpenters to go from this country + to build them. + + “The number of seamen at this port is about 2330, of which at present + there are about 280 unemployed. Vessels laid up, 45—a greater number + than was ever known in any previous year.” + + + “BOSTON, _Jan. 26, 1850_. + + “Our harbour-master here, who has been upwards of forty years master + of vessels out of this port, states that HE NEVER KNEW THE SHIPPING + INTEREST AT SO LOW AN EBB AS AT THE PRESENT TIME; and he firmly + believes the future prospects are very discouraging. The majority of + our vessels are _now_ worked by the masters at _thirds_, and many of + them have lost money during the past year—that is, have not made the + former wages of £5 per month; in fact, many of them have not made + mate’s wages—viz., £3, 5s. per month, who have not reduced their pay + more than 5s. per month, and ordinary seamen at the same rate.” + + + “CAERNARVON, _Jan. 29, 1850_. + + “Ours is nearly altogether a coasting trade, engaged principally in + the export of slates, which averages about 91,000 tons per annum. + During the year 1849 the export declined to 79,000 tons, and at + present there are no prospects of its revival. The shipping belonging + to the port is in a _most depressed_ condition; freights are very + difficult to be had; and when they are offered, the rate is ruinously + low—say 9s. per ton to London, 4s. and 5s. to Liverpool, and so on in + proportion. Masters of our coasters are remunerated out of the profits + of the vessels they command; and so small have been their earnings of + late, that some are giving up _the command_, and shipping as _able + seamen_, inasmuch as they earn better wages in the latter capacity! + Shipbuilding is almost at an end here; no one will invest capital in + coasting vessels now, so depressed are freights, and so clouded is the + future.” + + + “CORK, _Jan. 29, 1850_. + + “I subjoin a statement of freights, &c., at this port:— + + Per load timber. + Freights, Quebec, 1847 40s. + „ „ 1848 32s. + „ „ 1849 30s. + per ton. + „ W. C. So. America 1848 £4 5 0 + „ „ beginning of 1849 3 17 6 + „ „ end of 1849 3 7 6 + + +“The other freights are in the same proportion. + +“The wages of shipmasters have been reduced _one-third_. A few years +back we generally had six or eight vessels on the stocks at this port, +AT PRESENT ONLY ONE, and that is an iron screw-steamer, building for the +Cork Steam-ship Company. The great majority of the vessels now belonging +to this port are colonial built. + +“Shipmasters have been obliged to accept of reduced wages in order to +obtain employment to enable them to support their families. Several of +them who were fortunate in having a little money saved, have commenced +_tailoring_, rope-making, acting as coasting pilots, &c. &c.” + + + “DROGHEDA, _Feb. 1, 1850_. + + “There are no ships building here, although we have a good dockyard; + nor are there any repairing, although we have an excellent patent + slip: there are four or five ships laying up, which the owners will + not repair. They would willingly sell, but no person can be got to + purchase: in fact, were it not for the purpose of giving employment to + the masters and crews, I do think that our vessels would be laid up, + for they are not earning one shilling for their owners. It is also my + firm belief that, in seven years, one half of our ships will drop + away, and what was once a nursery for our navy, will not be so, for in + a little time the coasting trade will almost cease to exist, as we + have to contend with railways, steamboats, and foreigners driven into + our trade by the late change in the law. + + “As regards our sailors, they are to be seen every day walking about + our quays, anxious to procure employment, but, from the complete + annihilation of our trade, they are unable to procure any; + consequently they and their families are in a most wretched + condition.” + + + “LIVERPOOL, _Jan. 29, 1850_. + + “The shipping trade is exceedingly depressed here, and freights are + wholly unremunerative. A Manchester house has just chartered an + American ship from Calcutta, at £2, 15s. 6d. + + “FREIGHTS ARE AT LEAST 15 PER CENT LOWER, ON THE AVERAGE, THAN THEY + WERE LAST YEAR.” + + + “MARYPORT, _Jan. 29, 1850_. + + “Cumberland has long been famed for its celebrity in shipbuilding, its + vessels being known to, and appreciated by, the merchants in every + region of the globe; but I am sorry to observe that, at the present + moment, owing to the unwise repeal of the Navigation Laws, THE SEVERAL + SHIPBUILDERS AT MARYPORT, WORKINGTON, AND WHITEHAVEN ARE WITHOUT ANY + CONTRACTS—a circumstance strangely at variance with the account which + lately appeared in some of the Free-trade journals at Manchester. It + was then stated that several eminent merchants of that locality were + desirous of building a large amount of tonnage in England; but, owing + to the several builders being so full of contracts, they were + necessarily obliged to go abroad to build their vessels. It would, + however, seem that these gentlemen had entirely forgotten the + geographical position of Cumberland, or else we must suppose that they + would have deemed it their interest to have made contracts there; + unless, indeed, they found, as I strongly suspect they did, that the + Continental builder could build cheaper.” + + + “PLYMOUTH, _Feb. 2, 1850_. + + “The shipping interest of this port is in a very depressed state, many + vessels being laid up; and, consequently, their crews are out of + employment, and our quays quite deserted by shipping. The vessels in + actual service are principally employed in the coal trade, and by the + owners only, at very reduced freights—at from 5s. to 5s. 6d. from + Wales, and from 6s. to 6s. 6d. from the north; others sailing out of + other ports at anything but remunerating freights. There are nine + shipwrights’ yards in this port, in one of which only one vessel is + building for a shipowner; and one sold from another. Two vessels have + been for sale for many months past. In each of the others, vessels, + varying from 100 to 300 tons, are being built on speculation, but + progress very slowly. From a want of that enterprising spirit evinced + in times past, there are not half the shipwrights kept in the yards + now, and a reduction has already taken place in the wages. Many + masters and sailors are also walking the quays unemployed; but we are + told, by those who use the old adage of the pinching shoe, that a man + may get as much for 10d. now as he could have got for double that sum + some time since. Where is the use of things being _so very cheap_, + when the poor man is deprived of the means of employment? Our exports + are very trifling: manganese at about 6s. to 10s. to Liverpool and + Scotland; lead and copper ores 3s. to 7s. per ton! Our + imports—principally timber from Quebec, hemp, tar, fruit, &c. The + former was 30s. to 32s. per load last year; what it will be this it is + impossible to tell, now the foreigner goes into the trade. Six of our + vessels (Quebec ships) are gone to Sierra Leone, thereby leaving the + trade open to the foreigner. The average wages are from 30s. to 40s. + for seamen in the coasting trade, 40s. foreign; £4 to £8 for masters, + £2, 10s. to £3 mates, at per month, which are much lower.” + + + “RUNCORN, _Feb. 1, 1850_. + + “The number of vessels belonging to the port of Runcorn is about 70, + of the total burthen of about 6500 tons, most of them engaged in the + coasting trade. Freights to and from this port are very scarce, and + when any are offered they are at a miserably low rate. We should say + that freights are, at the least, 25 per cent less than they were in + the years 1845, 1846, and 1847. Nearly all the vessels belonging to + this port are sailed by the shares—that is, the master takes one half + the freight after all port charges are deducted from it, and he has to + pay out of his share seamen’s wages, and also to find victuals; the + owner has the remaining half, out of which he has to pay all expenses + for wear and tear. But the present rates of freight are so very low + that the masters cannot keep out of debt, let alone earn anything for + themselves, and the owner’s share is not sufficient to keep the vessel + in efficient working order. THE SHIPBUILDING TRADE HERE IS IN A MANNER + DESERTED: there are only two vessels on the stocks; one has been + partially finished for the last twelve months, and the other for the + last six months. There is not the slightest inducement for persons to + lay out their capital in shipping, there being no certainty of the + smallest return.” + + + “SUNDERLAND, _Feb. 1, 1850_. + + “Various statements having lately been published relative to the state + of shipbuilding at this port, it is desirable that those interested in + knowing how far the statements alluded to are correct, should be made + acquainted with the real facts. It is true that at the close of last + year there were about 92 ships on the stocks at this port; since that + time several of them have been launched: many of them were larger than + the average of ships built here, and about two-thirds of them were + sold from the builders. Be it, however, understood that of the + two-thirds sold, say 60 out of 92, upwards of 30 were purchased by + outfitters, or ship-jobbers, who purchase the hulls of ships in order + to have the outfit; _they are therefore still in the market_. Many of + the shipbuilders, and also outfitters, had great stocks of timber and + other materials on hand twelve months ago, previous to the ships in + question being put on the stocks. It was then the opinion of the + shipbuilders that the project to repeal the Navigation Laws, and grant + foreign-built ships British registers, would not be carried, from the + general manifestation of feeling against that measure evinced by + practical men generally, who best understood the subject. + Shipbuilders’ stocks were therefore kept up, and in many instances + increased, and remunerating prices for ships were maintained. Since + the act was passed which repealed the Navigation Laws, prices have + been gradually on the decline. Within the last two years the average + price for a ship, A 1 eight years classed, was from £10, 10s. to £11 + per ton; now the price for a ship of that character, is from £8, 10s. + to £9 per ton. The most respectable shipbuilders of this port freely + declare that their trade appears fast hastening to the destructive + state of agriculture; and that, if the present line of policy is + pursued, all who are engaged in their trade must be great sufferers.” + + +Letters to the same effect are given by the editor of _The Shipping +Gazette_, from correspondents at Aldborough, Bude, Dundalk, Kinsale, +Maldon, Padstow, Pwllheli, Strangford, Torquay, Westport, and +Woodbridge; so that from the ports all round the British Islands, the +cry of distress, caused by the crushing effect of free trade upon the +body of British industry, is arising. And this is what our Whig rulers +call unexampled prosperity! + +From the leading Plymouth journal of 31st Jan. we extract the following +letter, which we would venture to recommend to the earnest attention of +Mr Labouchere. It contains some statements of a very different +complexion from those which appear to have passed through the hands of +the officials of the Board of Trade. + + “_To the Editor of the West of England Conservative._ + + + “SIR,—My attention having been called to a paragraph in your journal, + which states that the shipwrights in one of the principal firms in + Plymouth had struck for wages, I have to inform you that the firm is + mine. + + For several years past I have paid my men 18s. per week on new work, + and 21s. per week on old work; and they never lost any time, but by + their own fault. + + For some time past I have had complaints from many shipowners, that, + as their returns were greatly reduced by freights constantly lowering, + we, the shipbuilders, must reduce our charges, or they would be + compelled to take their ships to other ports. Added to this, a friend + of mine, Captain Shapcott, for whom I built a ship two years since, + and with which he was so much pleased that he wished me to give him a + price for another, of about 230 tons burthen. I accordingly did so; + she was to be a first-class vessel, and entitled to class A 1 twelve + years, at Lloyd’s. My proposals were sent to a merchant in London, + whom Captain Shapcott wished should be the principal owner. This + gentleman (Mr Brooking) replied, that as everything was coming down, + wages, and materials for shipbuilding, must come down also; and that, + unless I would engage to build for £10 per ton, and find a very large + number of articles more than I had for the former vessel, he would not + contract at all. He also said, that he had been in treaty for a ship + to be built for him in Prussia, which he found he could do for £3 per + ton cheaper than he could have one in England. I was obliged to + decline engaging to build on such terms, as would have occasioned me a + loss of some hundreds of pounds. + + On Friday, the 18th January, on paying my men, I gave them a + memorandum, stating these particulars, and that I imagined they must + have been expecting, for some time, that wages would be reduced, not + only from what they must know themselves, but also from the great + reduction in the price of provisions and clothing. I, at the same + time, offered them 17s. per week on new work, and 19s. per week on old + work, telling them that, as their labour was their own property, if + they could do better, I should have no objection whatever. They all, + 29 in number, refused to work; and, I believe, the greater part of + them have not been employed since, as I have seen them walking the + streets. + + Not pretending to be a politician, I can only give my own opinion of + the acts of the Legislature; and, from the first, I believed that the + abrogation of the Navigation Laws must have the effect of depriving + thousands of Englishmen of employment. + + Put this case to myself. I have employed more than 100 persons in + building and fitting ships; every other class, such as rope-makers, + sail-makers, block-makers, boat-builders, coopers, painters, glaziers, + chain and anchor makers, provision merchants, and others engaged in + putting a ship to sea, have all employ here. A merchant goes abroad + and builds (which he will do) at, it may be, a less price, and see the + consequence—the foreigner is employed, and our artisans must be idle; + it is the natural result. As to the bugbear of Free trade, it will + ruin England,—can I compete with a foreigner? He has his timber, his + labour, and materials for fitting out his ship infinitely cheaper than + I have; he is not oppressed by heavy Government and local taxation; + and when his ship comes to England, she has all the privileges of a + ship of the first class, which it is in my power to build; and + further, by the manner in which Lloyd’s class ships, she will fully + stand A 1 with mine. + + I contend that it is the duty of Government so to legislate that their + artisans should have employment, and any act which deprives them of + it, must be detrimental to the nation. That is my firm belief. I must + apologise for occupying your columns, but, as you first mentioned the + circumstance of my workmen, I thought it right to state the reasons. I + am, sir, yours, + + WM. MOORE, Shipbuilder.” + + +There is more than this. Messrs. Lindsay & Co. have published a table of +freights for the last four years, which exhibits an average decline +ranging from thirty-five to fifty per cent. The following are a few +notable instances:— + + s. d. s. d. + Singapore, from 105 0 to 60 0 + Calcutta, 117 6 77 6 + Hong Kong, 105 0 55 0 + (last quotation from there) + Bombay, 95 0 60 0 + Ceylon, 95 0 70 0 + Mauritius, 84 0 60 0 + Callao, 95 0 63 0 + Havannah, 85 0 47 6 + Odessa, 95 0 42 6 + Alexandria, 12 0 5 6 + Cronstadt, 32 6 19 0 + Quebec, 47 6 32 0 + +This decline of freights deeply concerns the agriculturist, since it +unsettles even those loose and incorrect calculations, which were +brought forward by the Free-traders for the purpose of proving that high +freights must necessarily act as a powerful check to the importation of +foreign corn, in the event of the abolition of the duties. + +The challenge so confidently made has been accepted in another quarter. +At the great Wiltshire meeting held at Swindon on the 6th February, Mr +George Frederick Young spoke as follows:— + + + “Another point which has been taken as a kind of _cheval de + bataille_—a sort of hobby-horse which the Ministers were determined to + ride—I am somewhat familiarly acquainted with; I allude to the + shipping interest. As they have brought that interest so prominently + before parliament, I may, perhaps, be allowed to correct their + statements when they are at fault. What were we told about the + shipping interest in the House of Lords? I thought that they might + have managed to get up returns, to answer the purpose of the occasion, + of a somewhat specious character, extending over a large surface, + before they asked the house to come to a conclusion. But what did they + do? They said that the shipbuilding interest is in a most prosperous + state; and that it is prosperous, they deduced from the fact that + there were 90 ships building in the port of Sunderland on the 31st of + December last. It is the truth that that was the case at that time, + but it is not the whole truth; and the whole truth is, that though + there were 90 ships building in that great shipbuilding port, 24 of + them only were sold, whilst 66 were standing, 31 of them being ready + to launch, but could not get purchasers. I find also, that out of 251 + ships which were building at the several shipbuilding ports at that + date, there were but 66 sold, making nearly 200 out of the 250 that + could not obtain purchasers, (hear, hear.) Is that fair? (cries of + ‘no,’ and cheers.) Is that the way in which a great public question is + to be supported by the Ministers of the Crown? Yet these gentlemen + have not thought it to be beneath them to stoop to such paltry + prevarication for the purpose of misleading the parliament, (great + cheering.) But I will give you yet another instance, which is even + more pregnant still. In the course of the debate on the Address in the + House of Commons, Mr Labouchere made use of these words in reference + to the shipping interest:—‘This was a subject in which he naturally + felt the greatest interest, and which he had looked into with the + utmost care. He had never made an assertion in that house with greater + confidence, and he challenged contradiction’—most unusual on the part + of a Minister of the Crown—‘on the part of any mercantile man, or + gentleman interested in shipping, when he stated his belief that the + industry of shipbuilding—that the confidence of the mercantile public + in shipowning—that the whole business of the country connected with + shipbuilding and shipowning, was in a state the most satisfactory and + encouraging to those who did not believe that they were paralysing + that important branch of industry by the measures of last session.’ I + will not affect to conceal the part which I took upon reading these + words. I viewed the statement with indignation. I knew that it was not + a fact; and on Saturday morning, the instant I had seen it in the + paper, I drew up this declaration, which was advertised in all the + daily journals of London on Monday morning:— + + “‘We the undersigned shipowners and others connected with the building + and equipment of ships in the port of London, having observed with + much surprise that in the debate on the Address in the House of + Commons on the 1st inst., the right hon. the President of the Board of + Trade confidently stated, and ‘challenged contradiction on the part of + any gentleman interested in shipping, that the whole business of the + country connected with shipbuilding and shipowning was in a state the + most satisfactory and encouraging,’ consider it a duty to declare our + conviction that the statement of the right honourable gentleman must + have proceeded from misinformation, and is entirely erroneous. We + declare that the shipping interest is, on the contrary, at this moment + in a state of great depression, no employment being obtained for + British ships offering any reasonable prospect of remuneration for the + capital embarked and the expenses to be incurred; that the accounts + from all the great shipping ports of the world announce a + superabundance of tonnage and extremely low rates of freight, + rendering the prospect for the present year most discouraging, and + that the various trades connected with shipping consequently and + necessarily participate in the general depression; and we make this + declaration without any party or political motive, and entirely + without reference to the causes that have produced the depression we + describe, in the desire alone that the legislature and the public + should be truly informed as to the real facts of this important + question, which appear to be misunderstood by her Majesty’s + Government.’ + + “I will tell you the result. That declaration was advertised to lie at + the London Tavern on Monday, Tuesday, and to-day; and upon the very + first day it received the signatures of several hundreds of the most + eminent men connected with this branch of our national industry, and + from among whom I will undertake to say I can pick out twelve names of + men who are owners of not less than 100,000 tons of British shipping + (cheers.) That the President of the Board of Trade should venture to + make such a statement, and challenge contradiction from any one, is, I + think, most extraordinary. Is it not calculated to produce this + effect—that statements made by the Ministers of the Crown, with + whatever confidence, will be received with a little doubt and + distrust, and that though they come even from so upright and + honourable a man as Mr Labouchere, it will be necessary to + substantiate them by something better than mere assertions of belief?” + + +We are sorry that Mr Labouchere should have committed himself so far. +His personal character is beyond suspicion; and we do nothing more than +express the universal feeling of his political opponents when we say, +that no one will prefer against him the charge of having made a wilful +misrepresentation of this nature. But it is the curse of men high in +office, that they are surrounded by subordinates, whose share of +honourable scruple is of the most convenient elasticity, and who +sometimes have a substantial interest in the verification of their +hazarded opinions. To this kind of influence Mr Labouchere is peculiarly +subjected. The returns on which he founded, with so rash a confidence, +had evidently passed through the hands of some veteran statist and +figure-monger, and been adapted to suit an immediate purpose, rather +than to conform to the actual truth. On no other hypothesis can we +account for so strange a perversion of fact; for we believe that, after +the evidence cited above, no man, whatever may be his political +opinions, will hold that the commerce of the nation is not materially +depressed, instead of being, as Ministers represented it, flourishing +beyond all precedent. + +We next come to the manufacturing interest, which assuredly ought to be +in a most prosperous condition. In the course of the bygone year, +tranquillity was restored on the Continent, and the interrupted markets +were opened with every prospect of a fair demand. Notwithstanding the +fall of prices, it might have been supposed that agricultural depression +had hardly time to react upon the home market; and food was cheaper than +perhaps it has been in Britain within the memory of man. Yet, with all +these advantages, it is by no means certain that our manufactures are in +a sound condition. The official tables indeed exhibit a large increase +of exports, but these tables are quite useless as exponents of actual +value. No later than last session, Sir Robert Peel gave a decided +testimony on this point. + + + “Let me observe,” said he, “that nothing can be more unsafe than any + inference drawn from the returns which give the declared value of + manufactures imported. Owing to the manner in which the accounts of + imports and exports are prepared, arguments drawn from that source + must be exceedingly fallacious.” + + +The _Liverpool Standard_, applying itself to the statistics of the +cotton trade, has done good service in exposing the nature of the export +returns. According to the official statement, there would appear to be +an increase of nearly £4,210,000 in the exports of cotton manufactures +and yarn; but the _Standard_, going to the fountainhead, has shown that +the increase in the entire quantity of cotton _spun_ in Great Britain in +1849, was only a little over one-twelfth of the previous year’s +consumption. The conclusions of our contemporary are very forcible:— + + + “_We place no confidence whatever now in these customs reports. Since + the abolition of the half per cent duty on exports_, there is nothing + in the world to prevent goods being entered at any prices the shipper + pleases. A bale of cotton and other goods may be valued at £5 or £500, + without incurring a farthing of increased charges at our ports; and, + without imputing to any party the wish to do a moral wrong, and to + make out a favourable case in behalf of a particular policy, it is + enough to throw discredit upon returns, thus left unprotected against + error, to know that extensive malversation can be carried on.” + + +When we turn for information to the manufacturing districts, we find +some mills working on short time, and less employment generally diffused +than might be expected in an average year. We hear of nothing but the +most gloomy anticipations, contrasting very strangely, indeed, with the +triumphant language of Ministers. The depression is not confined to the +remoter towns; it exists in Manchester itself, as will be seen from the +following statement—the last which has reached us—from the great +manufacturing capital:— + + (From the _Manchester Guardian_.) + + + “MANCHESTER, Tuesday, Feb. 12.—We have had a spiritless and rather + drooping market. The merchants have shown a growing indisposition for + business; looking upon prices as, for the most part, too high to + warrant further exports in the present state of supplies in foreign + markets. The letters received this morning from Germany give + quotations of prices which afford no encouragement for the immediate + resumption of operations. There has been some inquiry from the Greeks, + but with little result. As to the home dealers, seldom have they been + so little seen in the warehouses of the manufacturers. There is + evidently a diminished confidence among all classes of buyers as to + the maintenance of prices; and a determination to proceed cautiously, + buying only for the supply of the most pressing wants, is become + general. The business of the day has, consequently, fallen in amount + below that of any Tuesday for some time back. Under these + circumstances, those spinners and manufacturers whose contracts are + drawing to a close have shown a willingness to make some concession in + price rather than suffer an offer to pass by them. Water twist may be + quoted ⅛d. to ¼d. lower; and in mule yarn the buyer has some advantage + in price, except as to fine counts, from No. 60’s upwards. In printing + cloths, there is a giving way of about 1½d. per piece, and 3d. in + shirting. There is a difference in point of firmness, however, among + spinners and manufacturers, and a corresponding irregularity is + observable in the quotations. The spinners of water twist, and the + manufacturers of domestics, T’s, and some other stout cloths, are so + much discouraged by the little prospect there is of an improvement in + the unfavourable trade they have so long experienced, that many of + them are seriously intending to diminish their production. One or two + establishments in Manchester have either stopped altogether or + resorted to short time, and an attempt is being made to induce a + general adoption of the latter measure in these branches of + manufacture. At Rochdale two or three mills have taken one or other of + the above courses; and we have before us the names of seven firms at + Heywood who have limited the hours of work in their mills. + + “STATE OF TRADE.—MANCHESTER, Thursday.—We have no improvement since + Tuesday. The demand, whether for cloth or yarn, is not equal to the + production, and prices, consequently, tend still in favour of the + buyer. Indeed, no considerable sales could be effected without + material concessions in price.” + + +Reading such an account as this, we feel perplexed as to the meaning +which the Ministry attach to their favourite term prosperity. We are +almost tempted to suppose that they consider want of employment the +greatest possible blessing which can befall the labouring man. + +This account, it will be observed, is dated posterior to the opening of +Parliament. We may therefore be told that the depression had no +existence at the time when the royal speech was framed. Such was not the +case. The depression was felt much earlier, as appears by the following +extract taken from a favourite organ of the Free-traders. On 1st +December last, the _Economist_ thus spoke of the cotton trade— + + + “At the beginning of this year, great expectations were entertained of + our home demand. It was argued, and with good reason, that we never + yet had a year of general employment and low prices of provisions + combined, which was not also a year of very large domestic consumption + of manufactured fabrics. This year labour has been in very brisk + request, and food has never been so cheap and plentiful since 1836. + Yet our expectations from these facts have not been fully answered. + The sellers of printing-cloths and medium shirtings report that their + home demand has, on the whole, been good; the sellers of domestics + report, on the contrary, a decidedly dull business, worse than that of + last year; but we believe that all agree that the anticipations with + which they began the year have by no means been realised. We suspect + the cause to be this:—The depreciation in railway property, the + effects of the Irish famine, and the commercial crash in 1847, have + impoverished all classes of the community to a much greater extent + than has been allowed for in the calculations of our tradesmen. We + question whether ‘the power of purchase,’ on the part of the British + community, is nearly equal to what it was in 1845.” + + +We here perfectly coincide in opinion with the _Economist_. The power of +purchase, on the part of the British community, is not nearly what it +was in 1845; and for that diminution of power, he may thank the +operation of the free-trade system. If the calculations of Mr Villiers +are correct—if agricultural produce has depreciated to the extent of +£91,000,000—there is no necessity whatever for recurring to Irish +famine, railway losses, or commercial embarrassment, for an explanation +of the unhealthy state of the home market. If we divide the population +of the British islands, between agriculture and manufactures, in +proportion to the ascertained number of those employed in either +pursuit, we shall find that rather more than 18,700,000 are dependent on +agriculture; whilst the number of those directly and indirectly drawing +their livelihood from manufactures is short of 8,100,000.[10] Any blow +levelled at the larger interest must perforce materially affect the +lesser; and our decided conviction is, that the manufacturers have yet +to learn, through adversity, a wholesome lesson. They have been taught +to look to the foreign, or exporting trade, as their chief source of +gain; and, in doing so, they have had to face a competition with other +countries, which, in the course of a few years, has lowered their +profits fully 50 per cent. They are still willing to go on, in the pure +reckless spirit of gambling, caring nothing what social mischief they +occasion, so long as they can deluge the markets of the world with their +bales of calico and cotton. For this end, by an unholy and unprincipled +combination, they have contrived to substitute foreign in place of +British agricultural labour, whilst, with unparalleled selfishness, they +reject all proposals for an equitable distribution of taxation. + +The annual amount of the manufacturing productions of this country is +estimated at £178,000,000; and it is said that last year we have +exported £58,000,000. If this be the case, there remain goods to the +value of £120,000,000, to be consumed at home; and the amount of the +actual consumption mainly depends upon the consumers’ power of purchase. +Mr Villiers tells us that £91,000,000 have been _lost_ to the +agricultural classes—for depreciation is neither more nor less than +direct loss. It is an obvious fallacy to assume, as Mr Muntz does, that +this sum is merely to be considered as transferred from one pocket of +the community to another, as a note for five pounds might be. In the +latter case, the capital represented by the note is not destroyed; in +the former, the agricultural produce having been purchased and consumed +at two-thirds of its productive cost, there is clearly a direct loss to +the producing party. The annual amount of agricultural produce in this +country was estimated, according to former average prices, at +£250,000,000; and if this be accepted as true, or even an approximation +to the truth, the estimate of Mr Villiers will show a depreciation of +more than a third of the value. To that extent, therefore, the power of +purchase in the home market is lessened; for if £120,000,000 of +manufactures are made to be consumed at home, and the means of the +consumers are reduced by £91,000,000, how is it possible that trade can +remain in a prosperous condition? + +If the dependence of the prosperity of manufactures on the amount of the +demand existing in the home market is admitted—and no man yet has +attempted to deny that intimate relationship between the agricultural +and the manufacturing classes—it will follow, as a clear deduction, that +to curtail the means of the consumer is tantamount to limiting the +demand. No body of men understood this more clearly than the leading +agitators of the League. They knew perfectly well, that agricultural +distress must react fearfully upon that numerous section of the +manufacturers, who look solely to the home market for the regular +consumption of their produce, and who supply the greater number of the +retail dealers and shopkeepers, whose means of livelihood depend on +their intervention between the makers of the fabric and the buyers. +Those leading agitators were independent of the home trade. Their +interest lay in pushing exports to the utmost, and in maintaining their +hold of the foreign and distant markets, in spite of a fierce +competition with France, Germany, and America. That competition had +latterly become so serious and formidable, that, in order to maintain +their ground, they found it necessary to devise some means whereby +operative labour, already brought down to the lowest point of monetary +wage, might be stimulated and sustained; and the only scheme available +to them was the breaking up of the corn laws, which, in this +highly-taxed country, with the accumulated burdens of more than a +century and a half pressing upon it, afforded a necessary protection to +the British agricultural labourer. For no one can deny that the +producers of corn are, like all others, subject to taxation; and all +taxation, whether direct or indirect, must be added to the price of the +fruits of labour. This was just what the corn laws effected. The +consumer paid for the taxation when he purchased the article; and in no +branch of industry or trade is another rule recognised. There is a +natural price, and an artificial price. The natural price of corn is +that for which it can be grown in this country, deducting labour and the +grower’s profit, but without any burdens of taxation at all. The +artificial price is that which is charged for the produce to the +consumer, when the taxation falling upon the land, for state purposes, +is added to the natural price. By the repeal of the corn laws, the +consumer escaped this taxation, and the whole burden was thrown on the +producer and the labourer, who, in consequence of superior natural +advantages possessed by the foreigner, can be undersold by him even at +the natural price, and who yet are called upon to bear the whole of the +artificial cost. + +Such a scheme as this—one so manifestly unjust, not only to the +agriculturists, but to the manufacturers and the shopkeepers, whose +whole dependence was on the home consumers—would never have been carried +into execution, had its inevitable results been honestly laid before the +public. But there was no honesty in these men. They were fighting a +desperate game, without regard to the general interest of the country, +so that they could be the individual gainers; and they fought it, as +gamblers will do, unscrupulously, falsely, and dishonestly. They durst +not have hinted that the immediate effect of the repeal of the corn laws +would be a large and permanent depreciation of the value of agricultural +produce. Had they done so, the tradesmen and retail dealers whom they +chiefly aimed to dupe—because the electoral influence of that class is +immensely large—would at once have seen, that, by limiting the general +power of their customers to purchase, they were, in fact, depriving +themselves of so much of their former profit. Shopkeepers and tradesmen +do not live by the export trade: they maintain themselves and their +families by distributing the products of labour among the community; and +their gains, as well as those of the artisan, are measured by the amount +of custom which they receive. Any legislative change, therefore, which +could have the effect of diminishing that custom in a serious degree, +would necessarily be most detrimental to the interests of this class—a +proposition so clear, that no effort of political jesuitry could +disguise it. The corn-law repealers knew this, and accordingly they +rested their case on different grounds. They maintained that the +abolition of the duties on corn would not, and could not, have the +effect of curtailing the means or the revenue of the producer. They +professed that their sole object was to prevent extravagant fluctuations +in price; and they were quite as touching and lachrymose in the pictures +which they drew of the evils certain to arise from a range of low +prices, as in those descriptive of the opposite extreme. Let us again +refresh ourselves with a few sentences from the work of Mr James +Wilson—sentences which afford good ground for hope that, upon the next +agricultural division, we may find the member for Westbury using his +best endeavour to repair some of the mischief which recent legislation +has inflicted. The reader will bear in mind that Mr Wilson distinctly +enunciated 52s. 2d. to be the proper price for wheat, at which an +exactly sufficient amount of production would be kept up. + + + “It never can be advantageous for the community at large that they + should consume the produce of any one party below the cost of + production; for a period is not very far distant when the consequences + must react, and infallibly produce high prices and great scarcity; and + we will show that the evils of the reaction are far greater than any + advantage derived from the low prices.”—_Influences of the Corn Laws_, + p. 28. + + +Again: + + + “Our belief is, that the whole of these generally received opinions + are erroneous; that if we had had a free trade in corn since 1815, the + average price of the whole period, actually received by the British + grower, would have been higher than it has been; that little or no + more foreign grain would have been imported; and that if, for the next + twenty years, the whole protective system shall be abandoned, _the + average price of wheat will be higher than it has been for the last + seven years_, (52s. 2d.,) or than it would be in the future with a + continuance of the present system; but with this great difference, + that prices would be nearly uniform and unaltering from year to year; + that the disastrous fluctuations would be greatly avoided, which we + have shown in the first proposition to be so ruinous under the present + system.”—P. 56. + + +Perhaps we cannot better illustrate this part of our subject, than by +transcribing the second “proposition” laid down by the present Secretary +of the Board of Control. It is so unambiguous in its terms that we are +saved the necessity of a commentary. Mark, and perpend! + + + “PROPOSITION THE SECOND.—That the agricultural interest has derived no + benefit, but great injury, from the existing laws; and that the fears + and apprehensions of the ruinous consequences which would result to + this interest by the adoption of a free and liberal policy with + respect to the trade in corn, are without any foundation: THAT THE + VALUE OF THIS PROPERTY, INSTEAD OF BEING DEPRECIATED, ON THE AGGREGATE + WOULD BE RATHER ENHANCED, AND THE GENERAL INTERESTS OF THE OWNERS MOST + DECIDEDLY BENEFITED THEREBY.” + + +We presume that we need go no further in illustration of the line of +argument adopted by the exporting manufacturers and their adherents, for +the purpose of persuading the tradesmen and artisans that the repeal of +the corn laws could not in any way affect the consumers’ power of +purchase. + +In dealing with the state of the manufacturing interest, we must never +lose sight of the fact, that enlarged exports furnish no proof whatever +of the prosperity of the home trade. We shall not go the length of +adopting a hypothesis, plausibly enough put forward, that increased +exports are a natural result of deficiency in the home demand; that +where any sudden stimulus is given to a market abroad, goods originally +intended for British consumption, but not taken out of stock, are +shipped on speculation, and thus augment the declared value of the +exports. We shall not make any averment of the kind, however probable it +may be—simply because it is not in our power, or that of any man in the +country, to prove such an allegation as the general rule. But so far as +we can gather, from the voice of the public press, there would appear to +be little room for exultation in the present prospects of manufactures. +The agricultural depression is yet recent, and its reaction on +manufactures, though it began in 1849, will probably not be felt in its +real intensity until the present year is well advanced. In estimating +the prosperity of manufactures, what we must look to are the wages and +the condition of the labourer. The individual profits of the masters are +secondary to this consideration; and we shall now proceed to examine +whether cheap food has fulfilled its chief recommendation in bettering +the condition of the operatives. + +In a single number of the _Birmingham Mercury_ for 2d February, now +lying before us, we find four separate letters upon this important +subject. The first is from the operatives’ committee of the glass-trade, +in which they state that “never was there more flint glass manufactured +than there is at the present time, and never did the operatives receive +less than they do at present for the quantity of work made.” The second +is from a person engaged in the pin-trades, also complaining of low +wages. The third is an indignant remonstrance from an operative against +recent prosperity-statements, in which he says, “the condition of the +workmen is such at the present time, that it is important to them to +have their condition truly represented, devoid of that colouring which, +while it would please some manufacturers, would to the workmen possess +no charm whatever. Where a writer’s heart is, there also will his +leaning be; and I feel convinced that no operative in this town could +fail to see which way these articles incline. Obtaining information from +masters about men, and publishing it like accounts from a house +proprietor about his houses, or from a farmer about his cows, does not +suit those workmen who think, and feel, and wish to be treated in a +manner due to their position as producers of articles ministering to the +comforts and conveniences of mankind at large.” The fourth proceeds from +the committee of the gun-trade, stating that “the year 1849 has perhaps +been unparalleled in the history of our trade; for the general +depression of our prices, and the suffering of the working men, with the +shortness of work, and the very low price at which that work has been +done, have reduced us to the most pitiable condition which working and +industrious men could be brought to.” Surely these letters are +inconsistent with the statement of Mr Villiers, that “when he looked to +the working classes, he was gratified to find that both manufacturing +and agricultural labourers were either receiving a higher rate of wages, +or were able to command a better supply of the comforts of life with +their former wages.” Within ten days after that speech was made, an +operative strike began at Nottingham. The following letter, addressed +to, but not published in, the _Times_, appeared lately in the _Morning +Herald_, and remains, so far as we know, uncontradicted:— + + + “_To the Editor of The Times._ + + “Sir,—I have read with great interest your able exposures of the + butchers and other tradesmen of the metropolis. Will you, with your + usual impartiality, give the following facts for free-traders a corner + in your journal:—The wages paid in the factory of Messrs Marshal, at + Shrewsbury, before and after free trade came into operation, are as + follows:— + + 1846. 1849. + Protection. Free Trade. + Mechanics, £1 5 0 £0 18 0 + Overlookers, 1 0 0 0 14 0 + Thread-polishers, 0 12 0 0 8 0 + Boys, 0 8 0 0 6 0 + Female reelers, 0 6 0 0 4 8 + + “Messrs Marshal are among the most extensive manufacturers in the + kingdom, and this may be taken as a fair specimen of what has been + generally done. I should be sorry to make one comment on these facts, + but leave it to the judgment of the public to decide whether the + operatives of this country, or the manufacturers who employ them, have + reaped the benefit of that cheap bread which they promised to the + labouring population; and whether what they gave with one hand in the + shape of bread, they do not more than take with the other by so large + a reduction of wages.—I am, Sir, your obedient Servant, + + JOHN PHILLIPS. + + “Winsley, near Shrewsbury, Jan 22.” + + +As to the condition of the agricultural labourers, it would really +appear to be needless to enter upon that point. The cry of suffering and +distress is universal throughout the length and breadth of the land. How +can it be otherwise, when every cargo of foreign grain sent to our +shores is in effect so much untaxed foreign labour introduced to beat +down the wages of the working man? Mr Bonnar Maurice, at a late meeting +at Welshpool, thus described the present condition of the agricultural +labourers of England:— + + + “But there was another class—from their numbers a very important + class—and if they took (as they might fairly do) the well or ill doing + of that class as an indication of the prosperity or otherwise of the + country generally, it was indeed a _most_ important class—he meant the + labouring class. They were promised that free trade was to bring + within their reach comforts and luxuries which they had not even + dreamt of. How was it now with them? Take first the agricultural + labourer. A short time ago he was earning 9s. or 10s., or in some + counties 12s. a-week; his wife could earn 5s. or 6s., and his boy (if + he had one eleven or twelve years of age) about the same. Now numbers + are without employment at all; numbers can obtain only occasional + employment; and those who are in constant work must be satisfied with + 7s. or 8s., and in some places with not more than 6s. a-week, and with + little or no aid from their wives and families. With other labourers + the case is no better—their employment is becoming more and more + scarce; the effects of an unfair competition are reducing the means of + giving employment; and those who are suffering from such effects are + accordingly lessening the number of their labourers, and reducing + their establishments. Thus, scarcity of employment, combined with + reduction of wages, is the blessing which free trade brings to the + labourer. And so it must be; for what is the real principle of free + trade but the unfair encouragement of the foreigner at the expense of + the British labourer, the taking away employment from the labourers of + our own country, and the giving that employment to the foreigner?” + + +In Scotland matters are no better. We have many instances of proprietors +compelled by the decline of rents to abandon the improvement of their +estates, and to relax that employment which was formerly given to +labour. This is a great calamity; since it must inevitably tend to swell +the poor-rate, already augmenting alarmingly. In the western districts +the labour of Irish emigrants, forced from their own country by the same +cause, and willing to work at the lowest possible rate of wage which +will suffice to sustain existence, is supplanting that of our Scottish +peasantry; and as the farmers are nearly driven to the wall by the +unprecedented decline in the value of both corn and cattle, they cannot +be blamed for putting into practice the noxious free-trade dogma, and +availing themselves of labour at the cheapest rate. If this state of +matters is to continue, the results may be terrible indeed. The +legislature is bound to look to it in time; and, for the general safety, +to take heed that the power of labour of the working man, which is his +sole capital, is not tampered with too far. We cannot refrain from +making another extract from the pages of Mr Wilson, who deprecates +agricultural depression upon the express ground of its pernicious effect +upon the condition and morals of the labourer. Any fall below 52s. 2d. +per quarter of wheat, Mr Wilson estimates as depression. The present +averages are under 40s., with no prospect of a rise:— + + + “It must be obvious that the tendencies experienced by the farmer must + immediately influence the labourers he employs. In his successful or + advancing years, a good demand exists for labour, and either attracts + or retains more to this pursuit than on an average it is capable of + maintaining; and thus we find, when the period of diminished + cultivation arrives, the strongest evidences of surplus labour, as of + surplus stock—distress to a painful degree becomes the lot of the + hard-working tiller of the ground, whose only desire is for ‘_leave to + toil_;’ but, like his master, he had already toiled too much, and too + unprofitably. Ignorant of the real causes of his distress, driven to + pinch and want, he becomes too readily the victim of vicious and + designing men, and has recourse to many acts of violence and + injustice, which, instead of mending his case, can only tend to make + it still worse. + + “No one can have forgot the terror and dismay which, from this cause, + spread through our usually quiet and peaceful rural districts a few + years ago, when the agricultural interest was severely depressed; the + awful and mysterious midnight fires, which frequently lighted up a + whole district at the same moment, consuming the very means of + subsistence; anonymous letters followed up by all their threatenings; + secret societies to fan and inflame the worst passions; highway + robberies and personal attacks; outrages of every description; and all + perpetrated by men whose ignorance and misery (from causes over which + they had no control) were really much more apt to excite our pity than + our blame. But how insensibly all these evidences have vanished with a + return to prosperity, although it is impossible that they have not + left behind a population of a lower and more debased standard of + morals! They are now as quiet as ever, _but the return of distress to + their employers will not fail to reduce them once more to a similar + condition_. + + “It should also be remarked, _that this distress cannot fail naturally + to increase the poor-rates_, and the charges of maintaining good + order, which must act as a distinct cause of reducing the rents and + income of farmer and landlord. In some instances these charges have + pressed so heavily at particular times, as to consume the whole rent, + and to render land of little or no value, which would otherwise have + let at a fair average rate.” + + +We also learn from Mr Wilson, that extreme cheapness is the reverse of a +benefit to the manufacturing operative, inasmuch as it induces habits of +luxury which are by no means suited to his welfare. It is not impossible +that this view may have led to that salutary reduction of wages, which +seems, at the present moment, to be taking place throughout the +manufacturing districts of England, and that the diminished supply of +money is intended to check that inordinate appetite for cheap loaves and +bacon, which is naturally enough engendered by the foreign untaxed +supplies pouring in to supersede the production of the home labourer, +and to drive him gradually to the workhouse. The member for Westbury +says:— + + + “With the manufacturing labouring classes similar effects occur at + opposite periods, when the necessaries of life are pressed to the + highest point: they are introduced, _in the years of ruinous + cheapness_, to habits of comparative luxury and consumption which + their labour cannot, on an average, command; and they, therefore, feel + much more the want occasioned by extreme high prices, when they cannot + command so much as their labour should produce to them. So the effect + is, that _in cheap years his labour commands too much agricultural + labour_, and he thus anticipates a part of what should be the + consumption of a future day; and in dear years his labour commands too + little agricultural labour, and he is obliged to receive + proportionably as much too little as before he received too much.” + + +We are decidedly of opinion that there is much sound sense in the above +extract. We never have known a year so characterised by _ruinous +cheapness_ of all kinds of provisions as that which has just gone by; +the present year holds out no prospect of improvement, but rather +indicates a farther decline; and therefore we are not without hope that +this important point may be worked out at greater length in the columns +of the _Economist_. + +The question of wages has led us into a slight digression. Our immediate +topic was the dependence of the manufacturers, or at least a large +section of them, upon the purchase power of the community; and we have +already shown, by the evidence of our opponents, that, in so far as the +agriculturists are concerned, their aggregate produce, which constitutes +their means, has been diminished by one-third. Now, it must be +remembered that _the cost of production_ falls to be deducted altogether +from the remaining two-thirds; and that, in the lost third was contained +the greater part of the surplusage or profit, which afforded the means +of commanding luxuries and superfluities. Of course any diminished power +of purchase must tell against the manufacturers, by keeping up their +stocks in hand, and lessening the necessity for production. But many of +them, failing the home trade, have the chance of a market, though it may +be a less profitable one, elsewhere. They can export on consignation if +not on order; and late accounts from San Francisco, where bales of +British goods are stated to be lying unwarehoused, and exposed to the +weather without finding purchasers, show that the export mania may be +carried beyond the verge of average recklessness. But the shopkeepers +and tradesmen have no such alternative resource. They depend solely upon +the consumers of Britain, and any material lowering of the value of home +produce reacts upon them in the shape of lessened demand for all +articles of luxury in which they deal, and upon the artisan in the form +of diminished employment. It may be useful to lay before our readers Mr +Spackman’s estimate of the total productions of this country, calculated +on the most authentic data _before_ the commencement of the depression. + + ANNUAL PRODUCTION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. + Annual value of agricultural productions, £250,000,000 + Annual value of manufacturing productions, £177,184,292 + From which deduct value of raw material, 50,000,000 + ———————————— 127,184,292 + Annual value of product of mining interest, 36,121,000 + Annual value of profits of shipping interest, 3,637,231 + Annual income from Colonies, about 15,000,000 + Annual income from foreign trade, 15,000,000 + Annual income from fisheries, about 3,000,000 + ———————————— + Total, £449,942,523 + ———————————— + +This constitutes the whole product of our national wealth. It is the +substance of Britain, and from one or other of the above sources does +every individual in the land derive his means of support. Out of these +all taxation is paid: from these, all professional men, tradesmen, +artisans, and dealers, derive their profit and their means. Hitherto, by +all wise legislators, the interests of the two leading classes of +producers have been considered indissolubly united. The agriculturist +supplied the manufacturer with food, and to a considerable extent with +raw material; and in return he took annually two-thirds of the +manufactured productions. Our exports were exchanged for luxuries, or +for articles which could not be produced at home, and the balance in our +favour constituted the yearly increment of our wealth. What free trade +proposes to do, and, indeed, has partially effected, is the dissolution +of the dependence of the two great classes on each other. The +manufacturer is invited to seek his food and raw material from the +cheapest foreign source; the agriculturist to do the same with respect +to foreign manufactures. But the two classes are not upon a par. The +agriculturist cannot export any considerable portion of his produce, +because he is greatly undersold by the cheap growers of the Continent +and America. We observe that, last year, the whole of the exports which +can be termed agricultural, were as follows:— + + Butter, £210,604 + Cheese, 24,912 + Wool, sheep and lambs, 535,801 + ———————— + £771,317 + +This, it will be seen, is an infinitesimally small portion of our whole +products. The manufacturer can export, though not to an extent +corresponding to his powers of production. Manufactures have been +cheapening year by year, in consequence of augmented foreign +competition, and that struggle is likely to go on for years as fiercely +as ever. To maintain the export trade in a competition which cannot end +otherwise than disastrously, we have been called upon to sacrifice +everything. This is the true secret of the lowered tariffs, of the +unnatural policy which we have pursued towards our colonies, of the +clamour for financial reform which has been so industriously raised. +Without speculating as to future operations, which probably will include +a direct attack upon the Monarchy and the National Debt, we shall simply +draw the attention of our readers to this fact, that, for the sake of +increasing the bulk of our exports by the annual value of three, four, +or ten millions, (which we have _not achieved_, our exports last year +being lower than those of 1845,) we have lowered the annual value of our +home productions by ninety-one millions! And the men who have done this +call themselves statesmen, and congratulate each other on the results of +their singular sagacity! + +But, let the manufacturers do what they can, two-thirds of their +produce, in round numbers £120,000,000, must still be consumed at home. +The shopkeepers are the brokers of this amount of produce. And how is it +to be consumed, if the great agricultural interest is to be broken up? +No Free-trader alive can answer that question. We perfectly understand +the virulence of their organs, and their wrath and rage at the +unanswerable case which we have laid before the public in former papers; +but no rage or wrath will extricate the Free-traders from their dilemma. +They must now explain to the tradesmen and artisans the profitable +nature of their scheme. They may take credit, if they please, for +increased exportations to the amount of ten millions—let them debit +themselves _per contra_ with ninety-one millions of decrease in the +power of the home consumers to purchase, and then account to us for the +defalcation. We have a high authority behind whom we shall retire for +shelter, if again assailed. That redoubted political economist, Mr James +Wilson, must in common consistency put forth his ægis before us, and +defend, lion-like, his original proposition, “that _individuals_, +_communities_, or _countries_, can only be prosperous in proportion to +the prosperity of the whole.” + +There are other considerations connected with the permanent depreciation +of landed property in Great Britain, which are personal to almost every +man belonging to the higher and middle classes of society. It has been +far too hastily assumed that this is a mere proprietor’s question, or at +least one in which the mercantile and professional classes have no +direct interest. We propose, towards the conclusion of this article, to +examine that matter minutely: in the mean time we shall direct our +attention to the official tables of the exports and imports for the last +year, which have been thought so favourable to free trade, as almost to +justify the celebration of a national jubilee. + +In 1848, our exports were short of forty-nine millions; this year they +exceed fifty-eight. Such is their declared value; and though we must +still hold with Sir Robert Peel, that these tables cannot be entirely +relied on for accuracy, we shall consider them simply as they are given +us. + +In order to estimate the real advantage which the country has derived +from the adoption of free trade, it is necessary to revert to the +condition in which we stood _before_ the Corn and Navigation Laws were +repealed. No one, who reflects upon the state of the Continent in 1848, +can be surprised that our exports have been augmented materially by the +restoration of tranquillity. That augmentation has nothing whatever to +do with free trade. The question which we must now consider is this—have +we been materially benefited, or benefited at all, or the reverse, by +the substitution of free trade instead of our former system? In order to +ascertain that, we must institute a comparison between our situation +anterior to free trade, and that which is now made the ground of +Ministerial triumph. We shall, therefore, compare the exports and +imports of the year 1845, the last protection year, with those of 1849. +The fairness of this comparison will not, we presume, be disputed. And +first, as to the exports: + +From Mr Porter’s Tables, (page 358 of the new edition,) we learn that +the real or declared value of British and Irish produce and +manufactures, exported in 1845, was £60,111,081. The Government tables, +just published, give us the total declared value of the exports for 1849 +at £58,848,042. There is, therefore, a deficit of £1,263,039 in 1849, as +compared with 1845. Mr M’Gregor, it will be remembered, told us that we +were to have _an increase of two millions a-week_: the Government tables +show us that we have a decrease of a million and a quarter a-year, +comparing the one year with the other! We understand that the whole of +the exports are included in the statement just issued. We can form no +other conclusion from the large increase of the items inserted, and the +small amount of some of them—for example, stockings—which are estimated +at £1494 in 1849, in comparison with £39 in 1848; indeed, the words +“total declared value,” admit of no other construction. So, then, our +exports in the aggregate have not increased, but, on the contrary, have +fallen off. We find the declared value of our principal textile exports +to be as follows:— + + 1845. 1849. + Cotton manufactures, £19,172,564 £18,834,601 + —— yarn, 6,962,626 6,701,920 + Linen manufactures, 3,062,006 3,073,903 + —— yarn, 1,051,303 737,650 + Woollen manufactures, 7,674,672 7,330,475 + —— yarn, 1,067,056 1,089,867 + ——————————— ——————————— + £38,990,227 £37,768,416 + +The imports, however, are more valuable for our consideration. No idea +of their comparative value can be formed from the tables; but the amount +is set forth in bulk and number, and we believe our readers will feel +astonished at the results. We shall first enumerate those articles which +have been brought in to displace British produce. + + Animals living, viz.— 1845. 1849. + Oxen and bulls, 9,782 21,751 + Cows, 6,502 17,921 + Calves, 586 13,645 + Sheep, 15,846 126,247 + Lambs, 112 3,018 + Swine and hogs, 1,598 2,653 + —————————— —————————— + Total animals, 34,426 185,235 + Bacon, cwt., 64 384,325 + Beef, salted, not corned, 3,540 144,638 + — fresh, or slightly salted, 651 5,279 + Pork, salted, 1,461 347,352 + — fresh, 133 924 + Hams, 2,603 9,460 + —————————— —————————— + Total of meats, cwt., 8,452 891,978 + —————————— —————————— + Butter, cwt., 240,118 279,462 + Cheese, 258,246 390,978 + Eggs, number, 75,669,843 97,884,557 + —————————— —————————— + Corn— + Wheat, qrs. 135,670 4,509,626 + Barley, 299,314 1,554,860 + Oats, 585,793 1,368,673 + Rye, 23 256,308 + Peas, 82,556 285,487 + Beans, 197,919 483,430 + Indian corn or maize, 42,295 2,249,571 + Buckwheat, 1,105 308 + Beer or bigg, 1,749 + —————————— —————————— + Total grain, qrs., 1,344,675 10,710,012 + —————————— —————————— + Wheat meal or flour, cwt., 630,255 3,937,219 + Barley meal, 224 + Oatmeal, 2,224 40,055 + Rye meal, 24,031 + Pea meal, 300 + Bean meal, 2 + Indian corn meal, 102,181 + Buckwheat meal, 1,095 + —————————— —————————— + Total flour and meal, cwts., 632,479 4,105,107 + +These are the free-trade importations which are ruining the British +agriculturist. This is the kind of competition which he is called upon +to face, with a heavier load of taxation pressing upon him than is known +in any other country in the world. + +We shall probably be told, however, that this enormous supply of cheap +food has enabled the people to extend their consumption of articles of +luxury to a large extent. Let us see how that matter stands. We select +the common luxuries, which are next to necessaries, for +illustration,—and we also add another column, showing the quantities +entered for consumption in 1848. By this our readers will be enabled to +ascertain the increasing rate of demand for these articles. + + 1845. 1848. 1849. + Coffee, lb., 34,318,095 37,107,279 34,431,074 + Tea, 44,183,135 48,735,696 50,024,688 + Tobacco and snuff, 26,323,944 27,305,134 27,685,687 + Wine, gallons, 6,986,846 6,369,785 6,487,689 + +It will be observed, that of these articles there is no great additional +consumption. We have excepted sugar from the above list, on account of +the alteration of the duties since 1845. There was, however, less +entered for home consumption in 1849 than in 1848, by 240,067 cwt. + +There appears to be nothing else in these tables which calls for special +remark. They establish the fact that, under the operation of free trade, +we have not yet been able to export as large an amount of manufactures +as left this country in the last year of protection; a fact very +suggestive, when we regard the enormous increase of the imports. The +foreigner is supplanting our agricultural industry, without taking in +return an augmented quantity of the produce of our manufacturers. + +We cannot, therefore, see that these returns afford us any ground for +congratulation. We can draw no good augury for the future from the +figures which appear on the import side of the account: on the contrary, +they appear to us ominous of calamity and disaster. + +The large amount of bullion contained in the vaults of the Bank of +England has been triumphantly referred to by the Free-traders as a +proof, almost conclusive in itself, that the country is flourishing +under the system of unrestricted importations; and the Protectionists +have been taunted with the failure of their prediction, that a large +import of foreign grain would drain the gold from Britain. These +assumptions rest upon a most superficial view of the causes which have +combined to restore bullion to the Bank during the last two years; and +they argue a total forgetfulness of the calamitous monetary panic of +1847, occasioned by the demand for gold to meet the large importations +of foreign grain consequent upon the famine. The ruinous effects of the +adverse state of the foreign exchanges upon our commercial and +manufacturing classes, in 1847 and 1848, are matters of history; and the +unprecedented advice given by the Government to the Bank, to charge +_eight per cent_ on its advances, as well as the virtual abrogation of +the Bank Act of 1844, are incidents in our mercantile annals too +startling to be soon forgotten. It is not difficult, if we keep these +things steadily in view, and also take into account the disturbed state +of Europe for the last two years, to understand the reason why the +returns of bullion have been so great. + +The principal sources of the steady accumulation of gold during the last +two years, in the face of continued large imports of grain and +provisions, may be enumerated as follows:— + +1st, The sale of foreign investments by parties in this country, and the +stringent enforcement of all moneys due to them abroad. + +2d, Forced sales and consignments of British goods at prices ruinously +low to the producers. + +3d, A considerable reduction in the stock of raw material. + +4th, A diminution in the quantity of gold coin required to carry on the +internal trade and domestic expenditure of the country. This diminution +has been caused by the fall of prices, whereby the same quantity of +commodities is represented by less money—by the sudden limitation of the +employment of labour—and by the reduced means of the people for ordinary +expenditure. + +5th, Remittances from foreign countries, caused by the revolutionary +movements in most of the Continental states. + +6th, The return of the absentees from abroad, whose expenditure has been +estimated as high as £20,000,000. Allowing this to be a great +exaggeration, and estimating it even at a third of the amount, the +result becomes most important. + +7th, By other minor causes, amongst which we may particularise the +return of sovereigns to this country from Belgium, in consequence of the +alteration in the law which regulates the currency there. + +When we look to the operation of these causes, some of them being, from +their nature, mere temporary expedients, and others arising from +political movements over which we had no control, the existence of a +large _balance_ of bullion in the coffers of the Bank of England ceases +to be an index of the legitimate operations of trade. It is, in fact, +nothing more than a balance. Without accurate data as to the quantities +of the gold which have been sent into and again exported from this +country during the last two years—data which our opponents have no wish +whatever to see produced—it would be fallacious to assume that our +increased imports of commodities have been met by our extended exports. +Indeed, the Government accounts distinctly demonstrate that such is not +the case. They prove that our imports are augmenting at a ratio to which +the exports bear no manner of proportion; and no man, who will take the +pains of considering dispassionately the foregoing tables, can doubt +this. How, then, is the balance paid? Not certainly in goods; and if not +in goods, in what other shape than money? + +The maintenance of the stock of bullion in the Bank depends solely upon +the continuance or the recurrence of such unusual accidents as we have +enumerated above. We have been large sellers of foreign funds and +investments; and we have received from other countries, for the sake of +security, important remittances of the precious metals. But until we can +restore the balance of trade by raising our exports to the level of the +imports, or by restricting the latter, which we are bound to do in every +case where large branches of native industry can be affected, we cannot +hope permanently to retain the treasure, except at a frightful +sacrifice. Further sales and further deposits may combine to keep it +here, even for a considerable period; but so soon as confidence is +restored abroad, we must look for a steady drain. If our imports shall +constantly exceed our exports, which is the tendency of our recent +legislation, we shall be forced to correct the balance of trade by +drawing upon the accumulations of our more prudent ancestors, who acted +on different principles; and so long as the foreign investments of their +wealth last us, we may be enabled to continue our spendthrift course, +consuming more than we produce. But this must evidently have an end; +and, long before that period, the annual diminution of our national +means would be felt by all classes of society, and the war between the +great bulk of the community and the money power would commence in +terrible earnest. + +There are, we know, many people who, in spite of all the testimony which +has been adduced, and the solemn declaration of the farmers that they +cannot carry on cultivation at present prices, refuse to believe that +the agricultural interest is virtually doomed to extinction. They say +that the farmers are habitual grumblers, and they insinuate that this +may be a false alarm. Now, as to grumbling, we suspect it would be +impossible to find any body of men, who are exposed to constant +fluctuations in the value of their produce, exempt from such a +propensity; and we have heard, ere now, something worse than grumbling +proceed from the throats of the manufacturers. But we ask those +gentlemen whether, supposing America were to carry her avowed purpose +into execution, and to stimulate her own population by converting the +raw material of cotton into fabrics, instead of sending it four thousand +miles across the Atlantic to be spun in Manchester,—and supposing that, +in consequence, American calicoes could be offered in the British market +at a price lower than the cost of the production of a similar article +would be to Mr Cobden or Mr Bright—they imagine that the machinery of +Manchester, Rochdale, and Staley Bridge, would still continue in motion? +Does not common sense—does not all experience tell us, that a losing +trade must be abandoned? And in order to show that agriculture is a +losing trade, we need have recourse neither to farmers’ statistics nor +to pamphlets, however valuable. We prove it out of the mouths of our +adversaries. Here they are:— + +SIR ROBERT PEEL, in February 1842, estimated the proper remunerative +price of wheat in this country, “allowing for natural oscillations,” as +between 54s. and 58s.—on the average, 56s.; and stated, that he, “for +one, would never wish to see it vary beyond these two specified values.” + +Mr JAMES WILSON, M.P. for Westbury, writing in 1839, stated it as his +opinion, that the proper price of wheat was 52s. 2d.; and that, whatever +average annual price the farmer received in any year less than that +standard price, he made “so much distinct loss.” + +Sir CHARLES WOOD, Chancellor of the Exchequer, stated in January 1850, +that he did not think “the agriculturist would be ruined with wheat at +44s. a quarter.” + +THE AVERAGE PRICE OF WHEAT AT THE HADDINGTON MARKET, ON 8TH FEBRUARY, +WAS 34S. 1D. + +We know, moreover, that sales of good wheat have been made in Scotland, +since that time, at even lower prices. + +But is this state of things to continue? We say it must. It is a simple +labour and taxation question. You expect the British labourer, who, in +every commodity he consumes, pays taxes to Government, to compete with +foreign serfs, who pay no taxes at all. You expect the British farmers +and landowners to work a worse soil, in a more variable climate, to as +much advantage as the foreign grower; and, moreover, to discharge a +great portion of the public burdens of the state, to pay their full +share of the interest arising from the expenses of every war in which +Britain has been engaged since the Revolution of 1688; to support the +national church, and to pay an undue proportion for the maintenance of +the poor. The cost of cultivating 100 acres of British soil, in +Hertfordshire, is estimated at £545—£1 per acre being allowed for rent. +The cost of cultivating the same area, in Denmark or the northern states +of Germany, is £324, 3s. 4d.—being £220, 16s. 8d., or 40 per cent, +cheaper than in England. In this way, if we assume 50s. as the +productive cost of British wheat, on an expenditure of £545, for the +average here assumed, it will be seen that the expenditure of £324, 3s. +4d. gives 29s. 8d. as the productive cost of German wheat; that the +difference in the price of barley between the countries will be as 30s. +to 18s.; and of oats, as 20s. to 12s.[11] + +This comparison is favourable to our opponents, because, in estimating +the cost of British cultivation, a remarkably low rent is assumed; +whilst, on the other hand, the wages of labour and other charges are +greatly higher in Denmark and North Germany than in Russia, Poland, +Wallachia, or Moldavia, from which countries we draw large supplies of +grain. What hope is there of a rise of prices? Corn has been brought to +its present low ebb by the importation, last year, of enormous supplies +from the deficient Continental harvest of 1848. This year we are about +to receive the discharge of a cornucopia filled to the very brim, in +consequence of an unusually luxuriant crop. We have had experience of a +bad year, and we are about to have experience of a good year, heralded +by the following significant fact:—“_Bell’s Weekly Messenger_ states, on +unquestionable authority, that, a few days ago, one of the principal +City houses chartered several vessels at a freight of 6s. per qr., to +load wheat at Odessa at 24s. per qr., free on board.” How long is this +to go on? Is it proposed, by this precious Ministry of ours, that +nothing is to be done until the whole capital of the tenant-farmers is +squandered, and the soil has gone out of cultivation? Or are we to +understand that nothing whatever will be done, should prices fall lower +than now, or even remain at their present level? If the land goes out of +cultivation, a large proportion of the whole annual production of Great +Britain, giving at present employment to many thousands, must be +directly sacrificed; the manufacturers would, in that event, be +compelled to close their establishments for the want of a home market; +and we should have no revenue left to pay the expenses of the cheapest +kind of provisional government, far less the interest of the national +debt. Are the Ministry really aware of what they are doing? According to +their own admissions—according to the calculations of their +supporters—according to the estimates of the leading Free-traders, the +tenant-farmers are at this moment cultivating the soil at a prodigious +annual loss. No possible reduction of rent can suffice to cure the evil, +even if a reduction of rent, which would throw hundreds of thousands out +of employment, were no evil in itself. And yet, in this state of +matters, the Whigs have thought proper to issue a prosperity address, +almost without qualification, in the name of their gracious Sovereign! + +We shall now entreat the attention of our readers to a point in which +almost every man of ordinary means in this country is vitally +interested. For a great many years the benefits to be derived from LIFE +INSURANCE, as the best means of providing portions for families, have +been acknowledged and largely sought. All classes have participated in +these Assurances; and we believe that, in Scotland, it would be +difficult to find any considerable number of professional persons, or +tradesmen, who do not contribute to the funds of some of the numerous +societies. We are not exactly aware what may be the method practised in +England, but in Scotland by far the greater portion of the accumulated +funds of these societies, amounting to many millions sterling, is lent +on the security of the land. The value of the land, as every one knows, +must in the aggregate depend on its productive power; and, if present +prices are to rule, (and why they should not do so, under present +legislation, no mortal man can tell us,) great tracts of the land of +this country must go out of cultivation, and consequently be depreciated +in value. In that case, how will the creditor fare? There is already a +disposition shown, in some quarters, to make the creditor participate in +the reduced income of the landed debtor. So hints Lord Drumlanrig, and +he is not quite singular in his opinion. This is just repudiation; for +could the idea be carried into effect, it would be necessary to apply +the same rule to the principal as to the interest, and to provide that +the lender of £100 under protection, should not be entitled to claim +from his debtor more than £67 under the benign, just, and wholesome +operation of free trade. Were this view to be adopted, and the +adjustment made on the supposition that rents were only lowered by a +third, the family of the man who has insured his life for £100, and +regularly paid the premium, would lose rather more than £33. But a +reduction of the whole rental of Great Britain and Ireland, to the +extent of one-third, would amount to little more than £19,500,000,—a sum +utterly insufficient to meet the depreciation, if we adopt the figures +of Mr Villiers, or even if we make the largest allowance for +exaggeration. The merest tyro in political science knows that land +incapable of cultivation is comparatively worthless in price: we have a +practical instance of that at present before us in Ireland, where +estates have been actually abandoned by their owners. Now, if land at +present under tillage should go out of cultivation, on account of the +sale of the produce being inadequate to its cost—a catastrophe to which +our northern districts are fast approaching—it must become, to all +intents and purposes, waste; and the creditor who has lent money on its +security will find that, instead of grain-bearing acres, he can take +possession of nothing save a wilderness of heather and furze. + +Every man, therefore, whose life is insured, has a direct interest in +the maintenance of the agricultural prosperity of the country. If _that_ +is not maintained, the provision which he has prudently made for his +family is placed in extreme jeopardy, and free-trade legislation may +utterly neutralise his thrift. Nor let him quarrel with the security, +for there is none better. If the land goes down, the tenure of the +existence of the Funds is worse than precarious. If the imports of +foreign corn and provisions shall augment materially during the next two +years, and if “the great experiment,” as it has been called, shall be +persevered in so long, the fortunes and apparent destiny of this great +country must be materially and radically altered. In any case, there +must be a change, and a change of an important description. The +unprincipled Currency Act of 1819 has yet to undergo a revision. In +spite of _dilettante_ arrangements, and financial hocus-pocus, +sedulously invented to blind the eyes of the community to the rottenness +and peculation of our present monetary system, that matter must be +thoroughly probed and examined by the aid of a clearer light than the +lamp of the Jew Ricardo. But, for the present, it would be unwise to +complicate the immediate question. Our stand is taken upon the broad +basis of justice to native industry. We care not in what form or shape +that industry is developed—whether it be applied to agriculture, trade, +or manufactures—so long as it is industry seeking but its own, and +disclaiming the selfish and sordid end of making an individual profit at +the expense, and from the ruin, of other classes of the community. +Sometimes, in calmly considering the course of our legislation for the +last few years, this reflection irresistibly obtrudes itself—whether men +have altogether lost the old feeling of patriotism and devotion, which, +more than anything else, placed Britain in her proud position in the +scale of the European nations? Certainly, when we read the speeches and +harangues of the Free-traders, there is no trace of any such sentiment. +They are cosmopolitans, not Britons: and, discarding the landmarks of +the Almighty, they seem to hope that the laws of nature will be +abrogated, and the doom of Babel reversed, by their own miserable +efforts. Their sympathy is of a curious kind. They estimate foreign +nations upon a scale founded on the consumption of calico; their notions +of liberty undergo a material change, whenever raw cotton or cheap sugar +become elements of the calculation of profit. They must have slavery +abolished in the West Indian colonies: and yet, having ruined the +planters, they are ready to take sugar on the cheapest terms which they +dare offer from foreign slave-growing states, and to furnish them with +clothing and machinery. Their capital, Manchester, and their principal +seats of manufacture, depend for their existence on the continuance of +Negro slavery in America, and not a man of these cosmopolitans dare +raise his voice to denounce it. Why should he? He can gain popularity +cheaper, by retailing gross falsehoods against unreciprocating European +states, in every instance where Red Republicanism has reared its head, +and been, most fortunately, suppressed. The British labourer has none of +his sympathy—he cares not for him in his capacity of a fellow-subject. +If the labourer is an agriculturist, our generous philanthropist would +rather see him and his family condemned to the union-workhouse, than +throw any obstacle in the way of increased serfage in Russia or in +Poland. If the labourer is a manufacturer, the cosmopolitan spurns the +laws enacted by the gentlemen of England for the protection of the women +and children; and, availing himself of a verbal error, claims his right +to work human beings, by relays, like cattle in his mill! And these are +the men who now regulate the movements, and almost dictate the words, of +our British statesmen! In the pages of British history, we meet with +instances of degradation which we fain would see cancelled. We know that +Charles II. was an acquiescent pensioner of the crown of France, and was +content to remain so, at the hazard of the national honour. But we shall +search history in vain for so mean a pandering as that which we have +seen by Ministers to the interests of an upstart oligarchy—founded on +the most perishable basis—scarcely disguising their hostility to the +religion and the constitution of the land—trampling on the rights of the +poor—denying the claims of Native Industry—and doing their utmost to +make these great and glorious kingdoms the habitation of only two +classes—one of them being the master-manufacturers, and the other, the +operatives, whom they may tread at pleasure under their heel. + + + _Printed by William Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh._ + +----- + +Footnote 1: + + _A Letter to the Queen on a Late Court-Martial._ By SAMUEL WARREN, + F.R.S. Barrister-at-Law. “I was constrained to appeal unto Cæsar.” + +Footnote 2: + + “Captain Douglas delivered his defence, before the court-martial which + cashiered him, on his thirtieth birth-day.” + +Footnote 3: + + In justice to Captain Douglas, we must here state, that he clearly + proved before the court-martial, that he withheld his statement for + two days before the Court of Inquiry, still under the impression that + it might be used to damage him in the proceedings before the civil + court. That he was justified in doing so is shown by an order from the + Horse Guards, 3d July 1809, expressly acknowledging the “right” of any + party, before a court of inquiry, “of declining to answer any + question, or to make any statement, which might, in his opinion, have + proved prejudicial to him in the course of any ulterior inquiry into + his conduct.” On the 28th November last also, we may remark that Sir + Charles Napier, in an order to the Indian Army, says, in reference to + a Court of Inquiry—“If any person happens to be accused of misconduct, + he is called on for his statement of the matter in hand, like any + other person: he may either appear or refuse to appear, as he pleases, + unless ordered by superior authority; and _either answer_ any + questions put to him, or _refuse_ to answer.” + + If, in the face of these two orders, an officer is to be arraigned + before a court-martial for conduct “unbecoming the character of an + officer and a gentleman, in having omitted and neglected to make a + statement before a Court of Inquiry” which he thought would injure + himself, we must say they are a _snare and a delusion for the unwary_, + and ought to be expunged forthwith from the Order-books of the army. + +Footnote 4: + + The only article of war, beside this, which could be supposed, for a + moment, to embrace the case, is the 108th, which says, that—“All + crimes not capital, and all disorders and neglects which officers and + soldiers may be guilty of, _to the prejudice of good order and + military discipline_, though not specified in the foregoing cases, or + in our Articles of War, shall be taken cognisance of by + courts-martial, according to the nature and the degree of the + offence.” But it is evident that this article applies to matters of a + military nature. If the merely moral delinquency of which Captain + Douglas is charged might be described as affecting “good order and + military discipline,” there is no act of a man’s life that might not + be designated in the same manner. + +Footnote 5: + + “In the old articles of war the language used was scandalous and + infamous conduct, _such as is_ unbecoming the character of an ‘officer + and a gentleman.’” + +Footnote 6: + + Capri. + +Footnote 7: + + _The Pillars of Hercules; or, a Narrative of Travels in Spain and + Morocco in 1848._ By DAVID URQUHART, Esq. M.P. 2 vols. 8vo. London: + 1850. + + _Le Véloce; ou Tanger, Alger, et Tunis._ Par ALEXANDRE DUMAS. Vols. I. + and II. Paris: 1849. + +Footnote 8: + + Alison. + +Footnote 9: + + Spackman’s _Tables_, p. 185. + +Footnote 10: + + SPACKMAN’S _Occupations of the People_. _Vide_ Synoptical Table. + +Footnote 11: + + We are indebted for these calculations to a pamphlet entitled + _Observations on the Elements of Taxation, and the Productive Cost of + Corn_, by S. SANDARS, which we strongly recommend to the notice of our + readers, as one of the most able treatises on the subject which has + yet appeared. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + + + + + TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES + + + ● Typos fixed; non-standard spelling and dialect retained. + ● Used numbers for footnotes, placing them all at the end of the last + chapter. + ● Erratum item was corrected. + ● Enclosed italics font in _underscores_. + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75498 *** diff --git a/75498-h/75498-h.htm b/75498-h/75498-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6d96630 --- /dev/null +++ b/75498-h/75498-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,16400 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html lang="en"> + <head> + <meta charset="UTF-8"> + <title>Blackwood 413 - 1850.03 | Project Gutenberg</title> + <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> + <style> + body { margin-left: 8%; margin-right: 10%; } + h1 { text-align: center; font-weight: bold; font-size: xx-large; 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} + </style> + </head> + <body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75498 ***</div> + +<div class='tnotes covernote'> + +<p class='c000'><strong>Transcriber’s Note:</strong></p> + +<p class='c000'>New original cover art included with this eBook is granted to the public domain.</p> + +</div> + +<div class='titlepage'> + +<div> + <h1 class='c001'>BLACKWOOD’S<br> EDINBURGH MAGAZINE.<br> <span class='large'><span class='sc'>No. CCCCXIII.      MARCH, 1850.      Vol. LXVII.</span></span></h1> +</div> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c002'>CONTENTS.</h2> +</div> + +<table class='table0'> + <tr> + <td class='c003'><span class='sc'>Civil Revolution in the Canadas</span>,</td> + <td class='c004'><a href='#Page_249'>249</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'><span class='sc'>A Late Case of Court-Martial</span>,</td> + <td class='c004'><a href='#Page_269'>269</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'><span class='sc'>A Farewell to Naples</span>,</td> + <td class='c004'><a href='#Page_279'>279</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'><span class='sc'>Barbarian Rambles</span>,</td> + <td class='c004'><a href='#Page_281'>281</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'><span class='sc'>Goldsmith. Part II.</span>,</td> + <td class='c004'><a href='#Page_296'>296</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'><span class='sc'>To Burns’s “Highland Mary,”</span></td> + <td class='c004'><a href='#Page_309'>309</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'><span class='sc'>My Peninsular Medal. By an Old Peninsular. Part IV.</span>,</td> + <td class='c004'><a href='#Page_313'>313</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'><span class='sc'>The Green Hand—A “Short” Yarn. Part IX.</span>,</td> + <td class='c004'><a href='#Page_329'>329</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'><span class='sc'>Canadian Loyalty. An Ode</span>,</td> + <td class='c004'><a href='#Page_345'>345</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'><span class='sc'>Agriculture, Commerce, and Manufactures: Opening of the Session</span>,</td> + <td class='c004'><a href='#Page_347'>347</a></td> + </tr> +</table> + +<div class='nf-center-c0'> +<div class='nf-center c005'> + <div>EDINBURGH:</div> + <div>WILLIAM BLACKWOOD & SONS, 45, GEORGE STREET;</div> + <div>AND 37, PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON.</div> + <div class='c006'><span class='small'><em>To whom all communications (post paid) must be addressed.</em></span></div> + <div class='c006'><span class='small'>SOLD BY ALL THE BOOKSELLERS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.</span></div> + <div class='c006'><span class='small'>PRINTED BY WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS, EDINBURGH.</span></div> + </div> +</div> + +</div> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 id='ERRATUM' class='c002'>ERRATUM.</h2> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>Page <a href='#Page_372'>372</a>, column second, Estimate of Expenditure of Absentees, <em>for</em> +£40,000,000 <em>read</em> £20,000,000.</p> +<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_249'>249</span></div> +<div class='chapter ph1'> + +<div class='nf-center-c0'> +<div class='nf-center c008'> + <div>BLACKWOOD’S</div> + <div class='c006'>EDINBURGH MAGAZINE.</div> + <div class='c006'><span class='large'><span class='sc'>No. CCCCXIII.      MARCH, 1850.      Vol. LXVII.</span></span></div> + </div> +</div> + +</div> + +<div> + <h2 class='c002'>CIVIL REVOLUTION IN THE CANADAS.</h2> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>We had intended changing the title +of our papers on the Canadas, and +throwing together for the Magazine +the results of many years’ experience, +and many opportunities of observing +the lights and shades of colonial life. +Not that we had a new system of +settlement to propound, or a new art +of colonisation to illustrate. Our purpose +was simply to have conducted +the reader along the high road of +colonial life, and to have pointed out +to him, on the way, houses evidencing +comfort, respectability, and plenty, +farms proving wealth and independence, +and barn-yards filled with +stock and with grain, belonging to +men, who, but a comparatively short +time before, had been labouring in +Europe without a hope beyond their +daily bread, or a prospect beyond +that of constantly toiling for others. +We had purposed, too, telling the +story of how these men rose; and +pointing out, in the same great country, +thousands upon thousands of +openings for others to go and do likewise. +Nor did we intend stopping +here. There is a large class of men +in Great Britain, who, feeling as men, +and wishing to discharge the duties of +men, cannot look very comfortably +around them, and see those who owe +their existence to them likely to be +left worse off in the world than they +were left themselves; yet who cannot, +from the peculiar organisation of +society in Britain, help themselves; +and who are often prevented—through +family connexions that bring +them no good, and family pride that +often sickens much more than it elevates +the heart—even from using those +exertions and efforts that might better +their condition. We purposed pointing +out the adaptation of the colonies +to such men, and their adaptation to +the colonies. But this to us agreeable +undertaking—for we believe it +might be attended with good—we +are obliged for the present to abandon, +to consider the state of the colonies +with respect to their government and +the institutions of England; and to +see if we cannot suggest a plan whereby +those we might induce to settle in +them might not lose the protection, +the glory, and the fostering care of +their mother country.</p> + +<p class='c009'>The legislation of Great Britain, for +the last ten years, is marked by some +peculiar and distinctive features over +that of perhaps any other portion of +her legislative history. These are +eminently, a studied and intentional +disregard of the teachings and the +experience of the past, in an overweening +confidence in the wisdom +of present measures, and their being +proof against all future disasters; a +sort of supercilious spurning, in sailing +under the new canvass of free +trade, of all the old landmarks which +saved England’s power from many a +shipwreck, and her glory from many +a stain. It will hardly be denied, +that that portion of Great Britain’s +national worth which is made up of +her achievements, of her glory, ever +well-earned, and of her fame, ever +dearly bought, has been and is regarded, +by the philosophy of the +Manchester school of politicians, as a +possession by no means worth its cost, +and little worth the keeping. May +it not, in truth, be fairly presumed, +from the movements that have followed +the portentous measure of <em>free +trade</em>, and from the recent agitations +and speeches of its principal promoters, +that they are seeking to +establish a new description of glory +for Great Britain; that they are +endeavouring to change her whole +national character; that they are, in +short, seeking to raze all the former +monuments, sacred to <em>her</em> greatness, in +order to construct, in their stead, monuments +sacred to their own? Clearly +the spirit of the age, in so far as they +have evoked it, is destructive alike of +reverence for the wisdom, and pride +in the achievements, of the past. +Neither is it unnatural, with the views +of this school of politicians, that it +should be so. The free-trade movement +has ever advanced, in proportion +as it succeeded in converting +Great Britain to the belief, that the +whole mind of the past was shrouded +in darkness and error. It could not, +therefore, be expected to inspire admiration +or reverence, for what it thus +practically taught men to condemn +and repudiate. And it may well +indeed seek to establish a new and a +great glory for Britain; for assuredly +great is the glory, and great is the +national possession of which it is fast +bereaving her. The essential spirit +of national patriotism—that chivalrous +feeling of disinterestedness, which +once made Britons proud of forgetting +the world for their country, and themselves +in its defence—where is it?—what +is now swiftly becoming its doom? +Is it not palpably withering beneath +the cold shadow of free-trade philosophy? +Are not the cosmopolitan +doctrines of free trade rapidly making +Britons forget their country? Are these +doctrines not absorbing all the energies +of the nation in the struggles of avarice? +Are they not sinking every patriotic, +every noble national feeling, in the love +of gain? Speak now of a measure involving +the glory, the shame, and the +interests of England, or of even a +single class in England, and what will +be its probable treatment? The glorious +part may have a few advocates, +who will be laughed at for their antiquated +notions; or it may serve to +evoke a few bright ideas in a debate—the +modern surplusage of great men’s +speeches. The shame part may occasion +a feeling of effervescent indignation +for the moment. But the interest +portion will instantly call forth all +the energies of the economic mind +of Britain, and will soon accumulate +such an avalanche of figures and calculations, +as will bear down and crush +every other consideration before it. +It was once thought wise that men +should be taught, through the achievements +of their forefathers, the value +of their institutions. Free-trade philosophy +calls it wiser to teach them +to forget forefathers, achievements, +and all, in a gigantic struggle for +pounds, shillings, and pence. “Confound +your acquiring a manly pride +by learning your hereditary right to +it!” is the language of this school of +politicians, and the language they are +rapidly teaching England. “Give +us the pride of money.” “Britain +against the world, as long as Britain +pays; but the world against Britain, +the moment she doesn’t,” are the +popular and practical lessons of the +Manchester school,—though a nation’s +glory, all the world’s experience +teaches us, is the very vitality +of its patriotism. A throne or a +republic, without such flowers blooming +around it, is a poor, unsightly, +unlovable thing, having nothing for +a people’s affections to cling to; yet +are not these flowers fast withering +round the throne of England? Are +not the memories of the nation, which +nourish and keep them alive, being +obliterated by the all-powerful tendencies +of a political philosophy +which recognises no greatness but that +of money, and no pursuit worth following +but that of material interests? +Are not the ties, too, which bind subjects +together, and the duties which +men owe to each other in a state, of +harmonising their interests for the +common good, and of making mutual +sacrifices for national unity and great +national destiny, being fast relaxed +and forgotten in Great Britain?</p> + +<p class='c009'>The parties ruling the United States +of America are at this moment making +sacrifices of the vastest magnitude +to each other—sacrifices of great +principles as well as of great interests. +And why? Because, did they not do +so, the republic could not hold together +perhaps for a twelvemonth; and, +once severed, they know full well +what would be the magnitude of their +disaster. Mutual sacrifices and concessions +are, in truth, the ties that +bind them together. Let their common +glory and their common destiny, +let the knowledge of what they have +achieved united, and what they would +become if severed, once fail to produce +a patriotism, or national virtue, +powerful enough to cause them to yield +sectional interests for the common +good, and to forego great party principles +and objects, for the preservation +of their institutions and the +integrity of their government, and +glory would soon take leave of their +Israel.</p> + +<p class='c009'>Now in Great Britain, where the +operation of free institutions occasions +similar necessities for sacrifices +and concessions being made by each +great class in the state to the other, +or others, in order to secure that harmony +and unity necessary to all national +permanency, and to the perpetuation +of national power, what does +the legislation of the last ten years +exhibit? Does it not exhibit one great +class struggling for the giant’s power +over another, and, having gained it, +using it like a giant? In the great co-partnery +in national property and national +destiny, men owe it to each +other to balance their books fairly as +to national advantages. What ruins +one large class, though it may temporarily +benefit another, must eventually +ruin the nation. A nation cannot, +more than an individual, bear a constantly +mortifying limb. Now it is +impossible for an intelligent mind not +to see, not to have the conviction +forced upon it, that free trade in Britain +is destroying the great agricultural +limb of the state; and that, if +the giant’s power is much longer +wielded by the giant, fearful consequences +must ensue.</p> + +<p class='c009'>But whether the philosophy of free +trade has produced, or is producing, such +great changes as these upon English +national character—whether it is un-Anglifying +England to the extent that +we have indicated or not, we can answer, +at least, for its training to forgetfulness +of Britain the North American colonies. +We can answer for its causing +the sinking of the subject in the avaricious +struggler for “material interests” +in America. We can answer +for its obliterating all national memories, +obligations, and ties on the part +of the colonists, in following the selfish +lessons that have been sent to them +from England, “to take care of themselves, +for England no longer cares +for them.” Perhaps the seeds that +have been thrown upon the winds by +free-trade discussions in England, +have first taken root in the colonies. +Perhaps it was designed that they +should. Be this as it may, let England +learn from the result of these +on the colonies what it may soon be +with herself. Let her learn, by their +example, the effect of the doctrines, +that allegiance may be made wholly +subservient to interest, and that love +of country must give way to love of +gain.</p> + +<p class='c009'>Twelve years ago, in the month in +which we write, the city of Montreal +presented an appearance that no similarly +situated city in the world perhaps +ever presented before. Its whole +British population, educated to business, +little accustomed to ordinary +exercises, least of all to those of +war, were in the short space of a +few days literally converted into an +army; for, though they knew not the +use of arms, and were incapable of +systematic movements, yet each had +the heart to grapple, hand to hand, +with his foe: and in this they were +soldiers. Old men of sixty and +seventy years of age, accustomed to +ease and luxuries, might have been +seen, at this period, doing duty in the +streets of Montreal, in the middle of +a Canadian winter’s night, as common +sentinels. Boys, taken away from +their schools, might have been seen +doing the same. A regiment of regulars +at the time marched through the +city; they struck up, as they halted, +an air as familiar as the rhymes of +children. The strains of the music +were drowned in the spontaneous +cheers of the people. Women shed +tears of gladness. The air the soldiers +played was <cite>God save the Queen!</cite> +But why this enthusiasm? and why +this military display? Two-thirds of +the people of Lower Canada—its +French inhabitants—had taken up +arms against the institutions of England. +The people of Montreal were +British.</p> + +<p class='c009'>Now this city of Montreal was little, +if at all, capable of military defence. +It was so constructed as to have been +peculiarly liable to destruction by +fire; and, at the time that the spectacle +we have faintly sketched might +have been witnessed, the chances of +war were at least two to one against +its determined British inhabitants. +Nor should it be forgotten, that nearly +the whole of the property in this city +was owned by these British inhabitants; +was the fruits of many years of +their honest toil; and as it is well +known that policies of insurance do +not cover losses occasioned by the +Queen’s enemies, the loss to them +might have been total had it been +burned.</p> + +<p class='c009'>These British inhabitants of Montreal, +therefore, without a moment’s +hesitation, in an indefensible city, and +with the chances of war as two to one +against them, willingly and even +cheerfully perilled their lives, their +families, their hearths, their property, +their all, to uphold the flag of England.</p> + +<p class='c009'>In the month of October last, upwards +of twelve hundred persons, in +the space of a few days—one half of +whom were the very men who acted +in 1838 as we have described—openly +and deliberately called upon their fellow +colonists to haul down the flag of +Britain upon the continent of America; +and coupled that request with +another, that the flag of a rival power +should be put up in its stead.</p> + +<p class='c009'>Now what are the causes of this most +extraordinary change? What is it +which has exerted so powerful an +influence, as to have caused men +capable of making the noblest sacrifices +to uphold the institutions +of their forefathers at one time, +capable of making such attempts to +destroy them at another? We answer, +emphatically, it was free trade +and its attendant philosophy. It was +the injuries it inflicted upon the colonies—not +in the spirit of national compromise +or mutual sacrifices, but in +the spirit of the giant using the giant’s +power. It was the lessons, too, that +accompanied the injuries. It was the +obliterating the love of country in the +pursuits of avarice. It was the ruinous +latitude that free-trade philosophy +had to allow to others, in claiming the +same for its own disciples.</p> + +<p class='c009'>To those who have closely observed +the opinions expressed regarding the +colonies, in the debates upon free trade, +little need be said to prove that the Manchester +school of politicians not only +considered their connexion with Britain +as of no importance, but as actually +undesirable in itself. There was +no attempt made at harmonising interests +with them. There was no intention +expressed of making sacrifices for +them, and incidentally, as we shall +show, for England. There was no +respect paid to their love of Britain; +for loyalty is not a word in the free-trade +catalogue. But there was a +studious and intentional under-rating +and disparaging of them and their +country, to subserve the free-trade +cause, and to destroy the force that +the argument of their ruin might possibly +have upon the people of England. +They were made the subject +too of cold, mercenary calculations, +which were enough to insult them into +sedition, and to disgust them out of +their connexion with the mother country. +When the disastrous effect that +the loss of a protection, to the benefits +of which they had been educated by +England for fifty years, and to which the +whole business arrangements of their +country were as much adapted and +which they as much required as the very +crops in their ground required sunshine +and rain—when these were pointed out +in England, how were they met by the +free-trade leaders? Was it not by cold +calculations of how much they consumed +per head of this, and how much +they consumed, in comparison with the +rest of the world, of that; and how +much they cost for this, and how little +they required of that; until, by some +strange mystification of arithmetic, +they were made out to be an actual injury +to England. And had the colonies +the satisfaction, if they must needs be +injured and crippled, of knowing that +one single individual connected with +the free-trade movement had the justice +to regret the injury that was +being perpetrated against them, and +to say, that England would endeavour +to retrieve it in some other way? We +believe we are justified in saying there +was not one. The vilification of the +colonies was an argument in favour of +free trade, and they were vilified. +And when the consequences of free +trade upon the colonies have been +alluded to; when the shops which had +been built, in expectation of the agricultural +interests of the country being +stimulated as they had formerly been, +and large quantities of land being +taken up and cleared, as was formerly +the case—when these shops became +unrequired and useless; when store-houses, +and wharves, and vessels, and +steamers, which, before free trade +came into operation, were full of activity, +life, and business, became as so +much dead property on the hands of +their owners, and the people connected +with them had to seek a livelihood by +other means, and in other places than +the colonies: when these disastrous +consequences of free trade were experienced +and pointed out, how were +they also met? how were they regarded, +and were the colonists sympathised +with on account of them? They were +spoken of and accounted for, by the +free-trade leaders, in a spirit similar to +the following paragraph—in a spirit +of exaggerated detraction, instead of +national sympathy and management. +And we put it to the candour of the +English public, if the succeeding remarks +of the <cite>Daily News</cite> are not a +fair sample of the manner in which the +party that paper represents are in the +habit of speaking of the colonies:—</p> + +<p class='c010'>“The argument of the Montreal traders +is: ‘The Americans are more prosperous +than we. If our territory was incorporated +into the Union, we would be as prosperous +as the Americans.’ The fallacy of this +argument is obvious to dispassionate lookers-on. +The superior prosperity of the +Americans was as marked when the late +Mr Stuart visited Canada and the United +States as it is now. It has not originated +in the change of British mercantile policy. +It has all along been owing to the superior +energy and enterprise of the Americans. +The Canadians were listless, relying +upon protection in the British market; +the Americans were active, because they +had only their own enterprise to rely +upon. The Americans, in the position of +the Canadians, are not afraid of free competition. +The stronghold of the protectionist +party in America is in the sea-board +manufacturing states. If the Canadians +would be as prosperous as the Americans, +they must become as active and enterprising +as the Americans. The self-government +of the people of the United +States promoted the spirit of enterprise; +but, for all essential purposes, Canadians +now enjoy that spring of energy. Canada +annexed to the United States would advance +more rapidly than Canada under its +former close government and protective +system did; but the advance would be the +work of, and its profits would be reaped +by, the hardy emigrants from the United +States. The dreamers who think that +their prosperity depends upon their being +subject to this or the other government, +not upon their own exertions, would be +driven to the wall before the new-comers. +Their individual plight, be that of the +province what it might, would be worse +than ever.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Now, that the deductions and statements +in this paragraph—if they are +intended to apply to the state of Canada +before as well as after free trade, +and they certainly seem so intended—are +as untrue, ungenerous, and unjust, +towards the colonists—towards +the hardy, persevering, and hard-working +people of Great Britain in +them—as they are grossly misrepresentative +and unfair with respect to +the prosperity of the country—we here +undertake and pledge ourselves to the +reader satisfactorily to prove.</p> + +<p class='c009'>We are no enemies to the American +States; and in the incidental references +we have had occasion to make +to them, in the course of our papers +upon the colonies, we have candidly +and fully admitted their extraordinary +advancement; we have conceded to +the fullest the great impetus their peculiar +working of the institutions of +Britain—for this is in reality the true +state of the case—has imparted to +human progress. But we are practically +and well acquainted with their +agricultural interests, and with much +of their great country, and with the +comforts and prosperity enjoyed and +gained by its farmers; and we are +also well and practically acquainted +with the whole of Upper Canada, +and we assert without fear of question +by any man in America who understands +the matter, that, in period +of settlement, and prosperity to show +for it; in crops raised from the land, +and evidences of good management +and good farming; in stock proving +comfort and plenty; in houses, carriages, +dress; in all that establishes +that an agricultural people are easy +in their circumstances, and are enjoying +comfort and plenty—the farmers +of Upper Canada are behind none in +any part of the United States, and +are before them in many.</p> + +<p class='c009'>Now, London, as all the world +knows, is a great leviathan city; but +its being so does not prove that individual +comfort, happiness, and prosperity +are greater in it than they are +in many a small town in England. +The United States, too, have vastly +more territory than Upper Canada +has; have many larger and more +bustling cities, and have finer and +more gorgeous steamers; but this +does not prove, more than London does +as respects England, that this larger +territory brings greater prosperity, +health, and comfort, to the farmers in +it, than Canada does; that the business +in the larger and bustling cities is +more healthy, or more profitable, than +that which is the legitimate offspring +of the people’s wants in Canada; or +that the gorgeous steamers pay better, +or are better, than those which are +adapted to the purposes, and are admirably +suited to the conveniences +and comforts, of the agricultural population +of the Canadas. The question +therefore, to any man who has settled +in either country, or who wishes to do +so, is not how much larger one’s territory +is over that of the other, but +which secures, and has secured, the +greater amount of benefits and prosperity +for the same amount of labour +and capital invested in it; and which +has by experience been proved to be +the most desirable place for man to +live in? Now, that the only interest +which Great Britain has ever fostered +or encouraged in America, and indeed +the only interest which, with her policy +of manufacturing for the colonies, +she has allowed to grow up in them—namely, +their agricultural interest—was +not in Canada, before free trade +withered it, behind its state in any +part of America; and that the Canadas +as a country were before any portion of +it, we adduce the conclusive and unquestionable +proof, that, distributed +over the last thirty years, twenty-five +thousand shrewd and sagacious American +citizens have left the institutions +that they so much prized, have foregone +the temptations of their magnificent +prairies and valleys that the world +has heard so much of, and have taken +leave of all their fine and prosperous +cities, to take up their abode in Upper +Canada. As equally conclusive +evidence that the legitimate business +of the province was, in proportion to +the requirements of the country, always +in a healthy and prosperous +state, we adduce the fact of the invariable +success in every branch of +business that they ever engaged in, +in Upper Canada, of these same American +citizens. And we here state it +as a fact that will not be denied by a +single American farmer in the province, +that, before free trade prostrated +its agricultural interests, there +was not a single farmer, American or +of other country—with the exception of +the time of the rebellion in 1837–8—who +would have been willing to exchange +his property for similar property +in any part of the whole United +States. And does not, in truth, the +fact that these Americans came and +settled in the province, under their +circumstances, and with their feelings +of regard for their own institutions, +prove that this must have been the +case? And does not the fact of these +men carrying with them the same +energy and industry into Canada that +their friends were possessed of in the +States, prove, that in everything that +marked the success of labour in a generous +land, Canada could not have +been behind the rest of America? +But it is a well-known fact, as the +Americans quaintly observe of themselves, +“that they do not love to +work as well as the English, Irish, +and Scotch do.” They are, as a nation, +given to speculating; and an +American farmer or mechanic would +rather at any time make a dollar by +a “trade,” than he would two by hard +work. So that, in the march of improvement +in agriculture in the Canadas, +and in the growth of wealth, +these American settlers are by no +means before their Canadian neighbours; +and, excepting where they have +combined some business with their +farming, they have not wherewithal to +show that they have equally prospered +with them. Now, these are facts—facts +whose force and justice will not be questioned +by a single individual in America +who understands the matter; and we +state them, not only with the view +of vindicating our own countrymen +against the injustice of those who wilfully +or ignorantly underrate their +exertions and the success that has attended +their labours, but we state them +to save the Americans themselves +from unjust and unfair comparisons, +and in defence of one of the finest +countries that a beneficent Creator +ever spread out before needy humanity—a +country teeming with unappropriated +wealth; with a climate +pure, bracing, and adapted to the +largest development of the best energies +of man, and with millions of +openings for poverty to raise itself +out of the ashes of its degradation; +and for capital to reproduce itself to +an extent unheard of in Europe.</p> + +<p class='c009'>Now the people living adjacent to +Lake Windermere might just as well +be supposed to be an inert, unprosperous +race, because their beautiful +little lake has fewer steamers, and sailing +craft, and bustle upon it, than the +Thames exhibits near London, as the +people of the Canadas, in comfort and +prosperity, can be said to be behind +those of the States, because their towns +have less bustle, and their waters +fewer steamers and less trade upon +them. The Canadas have been, and +are, a purely agricultural country; and +it is in this respect only they can be +compared with the rest of America. +Their trade and business is, and could +only have been, such as naturally +grew out of their other interests. If +that trade and business was, though +less bustling than that of the States, +as it naturally would be from its character, +healthy and paying, no man +could expect more of it. Have we +not fairly proved that it must have +been so? But if any traveller wishes +to judge truly and justly of Upper Canada +and the States, he must not skim +over their borders, and be deceived +by the superficial glare. He must +learn the intrinsic value of the thing +itself, by going into the interior of the +country. He must see men plough. +He must see how deep they plough, +and what sort of cattle they plough +with, and how hard they work. He +must examine the farmers’ houses, +and learn how they are finished, furnished, +and provisioned. He must +hover round their barn-yards, and +linger along their fences. He must +witness their harvests, and be fortunate +enough occasionally to be their +guests. He must make his observations +on their children; and we would +excuse him even coming a little closer +to their young women, although it +would be hardly fair to expect him to +judge impartially under such circumstances. +But let any man of intelligence +do this with regard to the farmers +of Upper Canada, and of any +portion of the American States—we +care not which—and if he does not +find that industry has secured as +large rewards, and the farmers have +as many comforts, in the British possessions +as the American, he is at +liberty to say that our upwards of +seventeen years’ practical experience +in them has been of no use to us; or, +to use the words of an American friend +of ours upon the subject, “we might +be inclined to recommend his friends +not to trust him very far away from +home again.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>But now we would put it to the +proverbial sense of justice and fairness +of the people of England, if the calling +such men “listless, relying upon protection +in the British market,” is a +fair way of treating them, after educating +them to the benefits of that +protection; and after checking the +manufacturing interests that might +have grown up in the colonies, and +placed them on a par with the States, +for the express benefit of the manufacturing +interests of Britain? Men +who built vessels, and store-houses, +and purchased property in the colonies, +upon the faith that England, +having established the system of +manufacturing for them, would continue +that of discriminating in their +favour in her markets, have now not +only their property in ruin on their +hands, but they are abused because it +is in ruins. Farmers who, as we +have shown, and as no man in America +will deny, have worked hard, and +have wherewithal to show for it—have +achieved that which is no less a credit +to themselves than it is to the country +they came from—are vilified because +they complain that England’s policy, +in destroying manufacturing interests +in the colonies, has deprived them of +a home market such as the farmers of +the United States have got; and England’s +free-trade system, in destroying +so much, and injuring so much more +property, in the colonies, has involved +them in the general depression and +retrogression. The plain English, and +the plain truth of the whole matter, is +this—that the free-trade leaders of +England, having sacrificed the colonies, +are desirous of making their former +history harmonise with the picture of +the injury and ruin they have brought +upon them. But we trust that we +have established, to the satisfaction of +every honest man, what we promised +we should—namely, that the attempt +is no less unjust and unfair to the +colonists, to their industry, and to +their perseverance, than it is to the +country they came from—its institutions, +and its patient, cheerful, and +successful labour.</p> + +<p class='c009'>We have dwelt somewhat at length +upon this matter; and for two reasons. +The first is, because the reiteration of +the same, or similar remarks and reflections +as those contained in the +extract we have made from the <cite>Daily +News</cite>, has given a false impression, +both in England and America, of the +true state of the Canadas. People, +forgetting that they were settled—at +least the great province of Upper +Canada was—by the very same people +who have settled the greater portion +of the States, and by whose labour +these States have become what they +are—people in England, unknowingly +or unthinkingly, have been led to +associate the inhabitants of the +colonies with ideas of listlessness, +inertness, and poverty, when, in +truth, on the whole continent of +America, there is not a hardier or a +steadier working people, or a people +whose success, independence, and +comfort would afford a better example +to the poor of Europe. The locomotives +by which the farmers of +Canada should be judged of, after all, +are their waggons and their teams. +The bustle which best shows their +prosperity, is the bustle of their harvest +fields. The business which +gives the best proof of success to the +world, is that which can show good +balance-sheets, and few bankruptcies. +Now, before free trade overtook +the prosperity of these colonies, +we can, with the most perfect safety, +challenge any and all America to +show a better state of things in all +these several branches of their business +and interests, than the province of +Upper Canada did and could exhibit. +We have felt that we owed it to +this great province, to this province +which might, and we trust will, be +made a great right arm of Britain’s +power and empire, to say thus much +in its defence. We owed it to the +manly and hard-working people of +England, Ireland, and Scotland, who +have settled in it, and whose industry +and skill have made many parts of it +the very gardens of America, to +shield them against the unjust representations +that have been sent abroad +to the world concerning them, and +that have been the more galling, because +they have emanated from home +and friends. Our other reason for +going into this matter so fully, is to +ask, at this important juncture, how +it is possible to expect that these +colonists will or can continue loyal +to Britain long, with vilification and +detraction thus added to the injuries +that they have so unquestionably and +undeniably suffered? They point to +their vessels lying unused, and rotting +in their harbours; and they point to the +lands of the province not being taken up +as they used to be, and those that are +cleared not paying for the labour of +tilling them: and they ask themselves, +and they ask America, and they ask +England,—Why is it so? And all +answer—Free trade will not make it +pay to clear the lands; free trade +will not make it pay to till the lands; +free trade has knocked Canadian +farming on the head. Yet free trade, +upon hearing this, turns round and +asserts it to be all false, and says +that the vessels are decaying because +the Canadians are too indolent +to use them, although they have nothing +to carry. Free trade says, that +the stagnation of the country, and the +indisposition of people to settle in it, +are owing to the country’s own backwardness, +are the result of its inertness; +whereas we have shown that +its people, of all others on earth, +least deserve such injustice and insults +at the hands of England. Free +trade, when driven—for it sometimes +is—to admit that it must inevitably +separate Great Britain from her +colonies, then turns round, and +charges the colonies with being an +expense and an injury to England. +Yet, after all this, free trade expects +the colonies to continue loyal to +England. Free trade affects to be +shocked at the effects of the storm +which itself palpably, and in a thousand +ways, sowed. Free trade having +sickened, weakened, and struck down +the colonies, now literally stands over +them, taunting them with the effects +of its own medicines, and, at the same +time, affects to wonder that they should +be sick or depressed.</p> + +<p class='c009'>That these effects of free trade +upon the colonies have been foreseen +and accurately judged of by the shrewd +and far-seeing mind of America, we +may show, by quoting the opinions +in point of the great leading journal +of the New England States. This +journal, the <cite>Boston Atlas</cite>, like many +of the leading papers in Britain, is +occasionally contributed to by the +leading statesmen of the great Whig +party in America; and as we happen +to know that the article from which +we quote was written by a gentleman +who commands a wide and +powerful influence as a statesman and +political economist in the States, his +views may be considered entitled to +the greater attention in England:—</p> + +<p class='c010'>“We have said that Canada has been +deliberately sacrificed; and we have too +high an opinion of the intelligence of the +British ministry not to suppose that, +when they made the sacrifice, they foresaw +the probable ultimate result. We do +not believe that they will be surprised at +the movements which are now taking +place, or that they will think of making +serious resistance to any step which the +Provinces may decide to take—whether +it be for annexation or independence—though +we have no doubt the latter would +best suit their views, for grave reasons +upon which we do not now think it necessary +to expatiate.</p> + +<p class='c011'>“As matters now stand, Canada is an +agricultural State, paying for all the +manufactures she consumes in the raw +productions of the earth. She has been +but a very short time in this position, and +yet she already groans under the free-trade +experiment. Her wants are the same; but +the more timber and corn she exports, the +less she gets for them. Instead of growing +rich under this beneficent free-trade +system, she is every day getting poorer. +She has had enough of free trade, and is +anxiously seeking some way of escape +from it. Such is ever the inevitable result, +when the attempt is made to pay for +manufactures with raw productions; and +the longer it is continued, the worse will +be the situation of the agricultural state.</p> + +<p class='c011'>“Can she mend her position by adopting +the proposed ‘Remedy?’ If her +representatives in parliament happen to +be the true representatives of her interests—which +is very far from certain—and +if they can persuade the government +to restore the bounty upon her timber and +corn—the answer is, yes. But we see +little chance of that, for the situation of +Canada is perfectly well known now by +that same government; her case has been +examined in all its bearings, and she has +been deliberately sacrificed to ‘free +trade,’—in other words, to the manufacturing +interest of Great Britain; and it +will take something more than the eloquence +of a few Canadian orators, admitted +to seats in parliament, to induce +that interest to reconsider her case, or to +yield a hair’s-breadth to her claims. She +has not been sacrificed through ignorance, +but because she stood in the way of a +great theory. She will look in vain to +this source for relief. But if the proposed +consolidation should cause British +capital to cross the water and set up +manufacturing establishments, would not +the end be gained? Perhaps so. Of +this, however, the chance is small, unless +labour is as cheap in Canada as it is in +England, which it never can be until the +United States, ceasing to afford any protection +to labour, become parties to the +Free Trade League, and so bring all the +labour of North America down to the +level of the labour of Europe. Such a +suicidal system can never be permanently +established here, and, therefore, we look +upon this second source of relief as equally +visionary with the first.”—<cite>Boston Atlas.</cite></p> + +<p class='c007'>We had purposed showing that, in +addition to the free trade party in +England’s having literally endeavoured +to injure and insult the colonies +out of their allegiance to their mother +country, they have also been educating +them, by their speeches in parliament +and otherwise, to the same +end. But we trust that we have already +proved enough to satisfy any +man, not unwilling to believe the +truth, that if some men in the colonies +have fallen from their high estate, +they have but taken the course that +the free-trade policy of England left +open to them; the course that that +policy, if not intentionally, at least +inevitably, must sooner or later compel +them to take. If, therefore, England +thinks that those men in the +colonies who have looked towards +another government have acted unworthily +of themselves and of her, let +her lay the blame at once on those +who compelled them to take to the +boats by making the ship no longer +a home for them. If their love for +their great and glorious mother country +has diminished, it is only, and it is +solely, because the nutriment which +supported the affection has been +poisoned by men who have ruled the +councils of England. Yet, injured +though they were, and galled and +insulted though they unquestionably +have been, to palliate and to justify +that injury, still, we believe that the +loyalists would have looked beyond +the sway of the free-trade party over +England; would have been willing to +trust to England’s justice eventually +doing justice to them, had it not been +for the lessons which we have already +referred to as having been diffused by +free-trade philosophy with free trade +itself. It is the colonists being practically +told, that those who ruled the +councils of the empire would do the +best they could for themselves, and +that they must and might do likewise, +that made the inroads upon +their loyalty. It is the utter absence +of the spirit of compromise—of a disposition +to make a single sacrifice, or +to harmonise a single interest, either +to preserve the empire or to save it +from humiliation, by the free-trade +party of England, that has taught +the colonists selfishness sufficient to +make them say that they would leave +Britain behind for “material interests;” +that they too had allowed all +memories of the past to be obliterated +in the struggles and aspirations of +avarice. Let England contrast the +conduct of these colonies twelve years +ago with what it is now. Let her ask +those who have been willing to forego +their connexion with her destiny, and +the glory and the safety of her protection, +what it is that causes them to do +so; and they will answer, to a man, it is +the teachings and the effects of free +trade. These lessons have been falling +upon the colonial mind for years, +like water upon a rock, and they have +worn seams and made impressions +upon it, that the swords of many +enemies in many years could not +have effected.</p> + +<p class='c009'>But we have now arrived at a point +when that plain and straightforward +question, common to Englishmen to +ask, may be put to us—and that is, +What is to be done with the colonies, +situated as they are? Connected with +this, too, is another question, equally +necessary to be answered, which is—What +is Great Britain likely to lose, +in possessions, people, and character, +with the Canadas, if she loses them?</p> + +<p class='c009'>With regard to the latter question, +which, as it is suggestive of the consequences +to be provided against, it +may be better to consider before +that which is suggestive of a remedy—it +seems clear enough to us, that +the loss of all the North American +colonies would inevitably follow that +of the Canadas. The situation of all +of them is the same. Free trade has +affected them nearly equally; and it +is a significant fact, that the agitation +upon the subject of “annexation,” +without concert, common interests, +or agreement, commenced in all the +provinces simultaneously, though not +to the same extent in some as in +others. But, apart from this, if the +great province of Upper Canada should +take leave of Britain, the following of +the others would be as natural as the +limbs following the dictates of the +head. It is indeed useless to waste +words upon a matter that is perfectly +self-evident; for if the Canadas separate +from Britain, it must and will go +forth to the world, that they had to +do so in order to prosper; and all the +colonies being dissatisfied, and chafing +under the same mortifications, and +suffering the same injuries from +England’s free-trade policy, would +claim, upon the same grounds, to be +relieved of the withering shadow of +her power in America. However +uncomplimentary or unjust this may +or might be, such will be the opinion +of the world, and Great Britain +must prepare to meet it, or to counteract +what will occasion it. As misfortunes, +too, do not come single with +a nation more than with an individual, +the West Indian possessions +would assuredly follow the North +American; and would certainly not give +any more complimentary reasons for +doing so. Great Britain would therefore +stand forth before the rest of her +colonies and the world, as having utterly +and humiliatingly failed to govern +those she lost with that success which +ought to result from her free institutions, +and the freedom of her people. +Now this momentous consideration is +clearly bound up with that of what she +is to do with the Canadas. Now, will +Great Britain—by whatsoever cause +or policy they may justify their claim +for separation, or by whatsoever party +in England it may be or may have +been favoured—permit the Canadas to +shake off her power, with these consequences +palpably before her eyes? +Will she not the rather prefer coming +back to that best of all systems—mutual +sacrifices for common good, +and mutual concessions for national +integrity and destiny? Will she not +rather endeavour to impart to them +that capital and those people, which +would benefit her much, and make +them rich indeed? We think so; +and we think she will, because we +know she can devise a plan for doing +so, and for governing them in a manner +that will not be attended with the +mortifications that have accrued to +both the colonists and the mother +country, from all former patchings +and props to a constitutionally bad +colonial system. Thinking this, we +shall now proceed briefly to consider—for +in the space we have at our command, +it would be impossible fully to +show—what great Britain would lose, +in possessions, by losing the Canadas. +In this we shall be obliged to lay +under tribute a short but interesting +sketch of the Canadas, their value +and extent, by the late Charles +Fothergill. He spent many years in +the colonies; knew them well; and +his opinions are those of an intelligent +English gentleman, who saw, and +made himself practically and thoroughly +acquainted with what he +wrote concerning</p> + +<p class='c010'>“<span class='sc'>The Canadas.</span></p> + +<p class='c011'>“The geographical position of this +vast country may be thus generally +stated:—It is bounded on the east by +the Gulf of St Lawrence and Labrador; +on the north by the territories of Hudson’s +Bay; on the west by the Pacific Ocean; +on the south by Indian countries, which +extend to Mexico, and part of the United +States of America—viz., Wisconsin, Illinois, +Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, +New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, +the district of Maine, and by the +British province of New Brunswick. +These boundaries describe a large and +magnificent portion of the globe we inhabit, +large enough for the foundation of +an empire, which may become hereafter +the arbitress of the destinies of the new +world, embracing with her mighty arms +the whole width of the great continent +of America. Secured in her rear by the +frozen regions of the north, and with such +a front as she possesses towards the +south, it is impossible but that, with the +adoption of wise and decisive measures, +she must be able, hereafter, to hold a far +more potential influence over the countries +of the south, than was ever held by the +Tartars, (in their best days,) over Asia; +or by the northern hordes of Europe over +the empire of Rome, at the period of her +overthrow. The foundation stone of this +empire has been laid by England, and it +depends on the wisdom of her councils, +and on the loyalty, ambition, temper, +skill, industry, bravery, high qualities, +and perseverance of the Canadians, no +matter of what origin, how far the fairy +vision which is kindled up in fancy may +be realised.</p> + +<p class='c011'>“We have only to cast our eyes +slightly over a map of North America, to +be immediately assured of the singularly +advantageous situation of the settled +parts of Upper Canada. Seated like a +gem in the bosom of a country that is +neither scorched by the sultry summers +of the south, nor blasted by the tardy, +bitter, winters of the north; surrounded +by the most magnificent lakes, and possessing +the most extensive internal navigation +in the known world, it would be +difficult, perhaps impossible, to find in +any other region of the globe a tract of +country of the same magnitude with so +many natural advantages, as that part of +Upper Canada which lies between the +Lakes Ontario, Erie, and Huron, and the +Ottawa, or Grand River, nine-tenths of +the whole extent of which are calculated +for the exercise of almost every description +of agricultural labour, and with such +a prospect of success as, perhaps, no +other part of this continent could realise. +A part of this tract of country, commencing +in the neighbourhood of Kingston, and +running westward nearly 500 miles to +the Sandwich frontier, by a depth, northward, +of from 40 to 100 miles, is, alone, +capable of supplying all Europe with +grain; besides being rich in cattle, and +producing silver, lead, copper, iron, lime, +marl, gypsum, marble, freestone, coal, +salt, wool, hemp and flax, of the best +quality, tobacco and timber of every +description, besides furs, game, fish, and +many other valuable productions.</p> + +<p class='c011'>Much has been said, at a distance, +against the climate of this fine country. +Those, however, who have removed to it +from Great Britain are agreeably disappointed +in finding it more pleasant, +(all things considered,) than that which +they have left, because it is neither so +moist nor so unsettled. It might be said, +with no great impropriety, that the present +inhabitants of Canada have but two +seasons—summer and winter—for winter +has no sooner disappeared, which generally +happens by the middle of April, +than the whole animal and vegetable +creation starts into renewed life, with a +rapidity and vigour that leaves the season +of spring with such doubtful limits as to +be scarcely perceptible, or deserving a +specific character. Again, in the fall of the +year, the months of September and October +are generally so fine and summerlike, +and these being succeeded by what +is aptly termed the Indian summer, in +November, (that month which is so gloomy +in England, and said to be so fatal to +Englishmen,) that we should have great +difficulty, were it not for an artificial +calendar, in saying when it was autumn. +As a proof of the general nature of our +climate, and to show that we have other +sources of wealth, by the exercise of +domestic industry, in store, it must not +be here forgotten that the culture of both +cotton and indigo has been attempted, on +a small scale, in the western district, with +success; that the various species of Mulberry, +necessary for the growth of silk, +flourish under the care of those who have +made the experiment in the London and +western districts; that vineyards may be +advantageously laid out; and the hop is +found in perfection almost everywhere. +It may be readily supposed that, in such +a vast extent of country, every description +of soil, and every variety of surface, +as to mountains, hills, valleys, and plains, +must occur. Speaking of the inhabited +parts of Canada, the Lower Province is +the most mountainous, and the Upper the +most level and champagne; indeed, from +the division line on Lake St Francis to +Sandwich, a distance of nearly six hundred +miles, nothing like a mountain +occurs, although the greater part of the +country which is passed through, between +those places, is gently undulated into +pleasing hills, fine slopes, and fertile valleys. +There is, however, a ridge of rocky +and generally barren country, running +south-easterly from Lake Huron, through +the Newcastle district, towards the +Ottawa, or Grand River, at the distance +of from 50 to 100 miles from the northern +shore of Lake Ontario, and the course of +the River St Lawrence; a ridge which +divides and directs the course of innumerable +streams, those on one side running +to the northward or north-east, +whilst those on the other run to the +southward, and empty themselves into +Lake Ontario or the River St Lawrence. +The base of this ridge has an elevation of +not much less than 200 feet above the +level of Ontario, and it is rich in silver, +lead, copper, and iron, and near the Lake +Marmora, in white marble. In the neighbourhood +of Gunanoque, a beautifully +variegated marble of green and yellow is +found; and, in the vicinity of Kingston, +there is an immense bed of black and also +gray marble.</p> + +<p class='c011'>“Farther to the north, beyond the +French River, which falls into Lake Huron, +are immense mountains, some of them of +great elevation. Many of the mountains +which describe the great valley of the St +Lawrence, are from 2000 to 3000 feet +above the level of the river; and that +part of the chain which approaches the +city of Quebec, on the northern side of +the river, is worthy the attention of the +geologist; and, in a particular manner, of +the mineralogist, from the hope there is +every reason to entertain that these +mountains yield several rare and valuable +kinds of earth for pigments, which may +hereafter become articles of commerce. +When in Quebec, some years ago, the +writer of this sketch was shown several +fine specimens, in the seminary of that +city, which had been procured in those +mountains at no great distance from +Quebec; amongst which may be mentioned +a rich brown resembling the Vandyke +brown of artists; a yellow, equal to that +of Naples, and an extraordinary fine +blue, of a tint between that of indigo +and the costly ultramarine. The subject +is mentioned in this place with a view +of exciting further inquiry and experiment; +because, at present, the artists and +colourmen of London are principally supplied +with their most valuable pigments +from Italy. A scientific gentleman who +has lately explored the coast of Labrador, +and the Gulf of St Lawrence, was very +successful in his mineralogical pursuits, +particularly in the neighbourhood of +Gaspé, from whence he obtained some new, +and many valuable and beautiful specimens +of the quartz family—including a +great variety of cornelians, agates, opals, +and jaspers; several of which have been +cut into useful or ornamental articles at +Quebec. From Labrador the same gentleman +brought several large and beautiful +specimens of the spar so peculiar to +that coast, and which is commonly known +by the name of Labrador spar, of a brilliant +cornelian or ultramarine tint, with +others of a green, yellow, red, and one or +two of a singularly fine pearl-gray colour. +These specimens were found at Mingan, +imbedded in a rock of granite.</p> + +<p class='c011'>“It may give a just idea of the general +richness of the soil to state, that we have +frequently heard of instances where 50 +bushels of wheat per acre have been produced +on a farm, even where the stumps +(which would probably occupy one eighth +of the surface of the field) have not been +eradicated; and, in the district of Newcastle, +many examples may be found +wherein wheat has been raised on the +same ground for 16 or 18 years successively, +without the application of manure! +The general average of the returns of +wheat crops, however, throughout Upper +Canada, is probably not more than 25 +bushels per acre, owing to the space occupied +by stumps, and the indifferent skill +of some of the farmers. The winter +wheats are found to be the most productive, +and they weigh the heaviest: the best +seldom exceeds 64 lb. or 65 lb., to the +Winchester bushel, although we have +known several instances of higher +weights.</p> + +<p class='c011'>“Of Indian corn or maize, from 60 to +80 bushels per acre is not an uncommon +return; and of pumpkins, of the largest +kinds, we have instances of more than +a cwt. being produced from a single +seed. But there cannot be a more certain +indication of the depth and richness +of the soil than the fine growth of the +timber which it produces; and we have +not unfrequently measured particular +trees of that species of white oak, which +grows in low moist places, and which is +usually called swamp oak, that gave circumferences +of sixteen to seventeen and +eighteen feet, and an altitude of from +thirty to forty, and even fifty feet to the +first bough. And we have more than +once, on the rich lands to the northward +of Rice Lake, found white pine trees, +that give a diameter of five feet, and altitude +of two hundred! These are facts +that determine at once the depth, richness, +and vegetative power of the soil, since +those giants of the forest are not nourished +solely by the heavens which they +pierce, but also by the earth from whence +they spring.</p> + +<p class='c011'>“Vegetation is so rapid in this country, +that barley sown in July has been reaped +in the second week of September, for +several years successively, and on land +that was deemed poor and exhausted; and +a more abundant crop has been seldom +witnessed.</p> + +<p class='c011'>“From every observation and experiment +that has been made, no doubt can +be entertained of the great fertility of +the soil of this fine country. Not only does +every vegetable production which thrives +in similar latitudes in Europe prosper +here, but others, which require either +greater heat or greater care, are found to +succeed in Canada, without any particular +attention. The finest melons and +cucumbers are brought to perfection in +the open fields, and tobacco is cultivated +with success. Even the wild +grapes become ripe by the first or second +week in September; so that there is every +reason to believe, if vineyards were cultivated, +the inhabitants of this country +might add a variety of choice wines to +their list of articles of home consumption, +and of foreign trade. We have drunk of +wine very nearly resembling, and but +little inferior to, that of Oporto, which +was made from the common wild grape +of the country.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Now, we have already shown the +prosperity that has attended labour in +these provinces, and the comfort and +independence that is enjoyed by their +farmers. Few readers in England—at +least it is to be hoped there are +few—have not read something of the +life and prosperity of the thousands +who are annually taking possession of +the vast prairies of the western states +and the valley of the Mississippi. We +have shown that, by the most adventurous +and the shrewdest people in the +world, the Canadas have been preferred +to them. If England had the world +to select from, she could not desire a +finer country for her poor to prosper +in, or for her poor gentlemen to strike +out for themselves in, and to work +where labour is honoured, and where +its rewards are the only titles that the +people lay claim to. We have, after +some pains and calculation, arrived +at the conclusion, that at least five +millions of additional inhabitants can, +by agricultural pursuits alone, prosper, +in a manner unknown in Europe, in +the province of Upper Canada; not +by the hundreds perpetually toiling +for the tens, but by the hundreds having +an opportunity, from the prodigious +extent of the country, of becoming, by +industry and management, the lords of +their own, and that an abundant, share +of the soil. Now, will Great Britain +let it go forth to the world, that she +cannot keep her flag floating over this +great country in prosperity and peace? +We think not. But will she do what +may be necessary to make it to her +what it ought to be? and make herself +to it what she might, and should +be? We think she will; and we +shall now, in so far as our short space +will admit of, point out what the +country has suffered from, and what +it requires to make it a credit to +England, and a support to her power, +instead of being a source of mortification +to her, and an inglorious field for +the employment of her troops.</p> + +<p class='c009'>The country’s whole wants may be +comprised in few words. It wants +population—not paupers, without industry, +or anything left to engraft a +manly pride upon; but people that +the country is by nature adapted to +benefit, and who are by nature +adapted to benefit it. It wants +capital, nationality, stability in its +institutions, and peace.</p> + +<p class='c009'>Now, will the people of England, +under the present colonial system, +which has from the very first been +marked by broils, misunderstandings, +and commotions—which have always +undermined the credit of the colonies, +which are now worse than ever, and +which must soon lead to something +worse still, (for paroxysms such as +they have must change for the better, +or the state of the patient will become +hopeless,)—will the people of England, +then, who have anything to lose, +and who wish to live in peace, settle +in the Canadas in this state of things; +and in this state of hopes, too? +We think not.</p> + +<p class='c009'>The same reasons which would prevent +people settling in the colonies, +would likewise prevent capital being +invested in them; so that, under the +present system, there can be no rational +hope entertained of the colonies +having much, if any, capital invested +in them.</p> + +<p class='c009'>This brings us to the consideration, +then, of this other great and principal +want, upon which, in fact, all the +others are mainly founded—namely, +a nationality and stability in their +institutions. We have already, in +the October number of the Magazine, +pointed out at some length, +that these can only be properly and +effectually acquired by the colonists +being represented in the Imperial +Legislature, and raised to the standard, +in fact, of British subjects. +We have shown—and every event +and circumstance that has transpired +since has confirmed us in the opinion—that +it is only by this that the +colonies can be, or, indeed, ought to be, +connected with Great Britain. They +can never otherwise have the stamp +of permanency put upon their institutions. +They can never otherwise +command that credit in the world +which they are justly entitled to. +But, above all, they can never otherwise +make their property and worth +known to England, or to the world, +in such a way as to secure that attention +to it which is absolutely indispensable +to the legitimate prosperity of +the country.</p> + +<p class='c009'>We have left ourselves comparatively +little space to say much, in +addition to what we said in October, +upon this great question. It may in +the end, however, be mainly resolved +into this—Would it be better to have +intelligent colonists representing and +making known their own interests in +Great Britain, than to have incompetent +governors sent out to the +colonies, to keep them in constant +broils among themselves, and in +constant collision with the colonial +office in England? We are but too +well assured that it would be better. +And in forming these great colonies +into an empire, which Great Britain +must do if she does them justice, +and which indeed will be done with +or without Britain,—the race that +inhabits them must, in the very +nature of things, be and become what +they ought to be. But if Great Britain +will but undertake to do so, can +any man say that no questions could +arise in that empire’s growth and +maturity, upon which her wisdom, experience, +and mind might not exert a +salutary influence? Or can any person, +willing to take a broad view of +this great question and country, continue +in the belief that it should be, +or ought to be crippled, or have its +growth longer stunted?</p> + +<p class='c009'>Probably one of the most galling +circumstances connected with colonial +residence and birth, is the constantly +seeing and feeling that colonial mind +is underrated by England; for no +other reason, it would seem, than because +it is colonial; or, if there be +another reason, it is the no less +humiliating one, that England deems +the mind of the colonies beneath her +attention. Not less injurious, though +less disagreeable, is the indifference +constantly displayed by England towards +the colonies, and the almost +universal ignorance that prevails there +as to their importance and worth. It +was the same with the old colonies. +The idea was ridiculed of “clod-hopping +colonists” entering the House +of Commons, and holding up their +heads among the collected wisdom of +Great Britain. The unpretending but +profound wisdom of Franklin was +sneered at and underrated by men +as much higher than him in power +as they were lower in understanding. +The powerful and convincing eloquence +of Patrick Henry fell dead +upon the English nation; and what +has since commanded the admiration +of the world for its originality and +boldness, was then regarded with cold +contempt.</p> + +<p class='c009'>Speaking of what should be the +treatment of American mind by England, +Adam Smith used the following +language; and its complete applicability +to the present state of things, +shows that great truths lose nothing +by long keeping. He said—</p> + +<p class='c010'>“By this representation, a new method +of acquiring importance, a new and +more dazzling object of ambition, would +be presented to the leading men of each +colony. Instead of piddling for the little +prizes which are to be found in what may +be called the paltry raffle of a colony faction, +they might then hope, from the presumption +which men naturally have in their +own ability and good fortune, to draw some +of the great prizes which sometimes come +from the whole of the great state lottery +of British politics. Unless this, or +some other method is fallen upon—and +there seems to be none more obvious than +this—of preserving the importance and +gratifying the ambition of the leading +men in America, it is not very probable +they will ever voluntarily submit to us; +and we ought to consider that the blood +we shed in forcing them to do so, is, every +drop of it, the blood of either those who +are, or of those whom we wish to have, +for our fellow citizens.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Before concluding this part of our +subject, we cannot avoid comparing +the conduct of the American States +towards their distant possessions, and +the feeling of these distant possessions +towards them, with that of Britain +towards her colonies, and of her colonies +towards Britain. We could perhaps +adduce no better argument in +favour of what we are contending for; +and the example of America is well +worthy the attention of a power like +Britain, which owes so much of its +greatness to its distant possessions, +and so many of its troubles and embarrassments +to their bad management.</p> + +<p class='c009'>California is between five and six +months’ passage from New York round +Cape Horn. It is about thirty-five +days by way of Panama. It is several +months—and the journey is only at +certain seasons accomplishable at all—by +the south pass of the Rocky Mountains; +and it is about forty days by way +of the Mexican territory, with many +dangers and uncertainties attending it +to even well-protected parties—and +somewhat of the most hazardous to +those who are not protected. Now, +these distant possessions of the United +States—which are, measuring distance +by the time and difficulties +attending the journey, at least four +times as far as Halifax is from Liverpool—these +distant possessions, how +are they treated by America? Has +their intended application to be received +into the Union, and to bear +their share of its burthens, and receive +their share of its benefits and protection, +been regarded as dreamy and +utopian? Have the States regarded +it as impossible to extend to them +their stability, and the conservative +elements of their legislation and federal +government? Have the States +had their misgivings, as to California’s +representatives having too much +influence in their government? or +have the Californians thought the +United States’ government would +exercise too much power over them? +Whatever they have, or have not, +thought in this respect, the great consideration +of their becoming an integral +portion of the United States, of +their being identified with their destiny, +and borne along with their prosperity, +has utterly obliterated all +others; and there is no doubt but +that in a few years they will bear +the same relation to the American +Union that Louisiana and Texas do.</p> + +<p class='c009'>Now, what good reason is there +why Great Britain should not regard +her North American colonies and her +West Indian possessions in the same +way as the States do California? +And why should these colonies and +possessions not look to England as +the Californians do to the States—and +seek, in the same way, to identify +themselves with her destiny—to share +in her stability—to participate in her +glory and greatness—and to enjoy, as +far as they merit it, her vast credit?</p> + +<p class='c009'>But it is not alone in the mutual +appreciation of each other’s value, +by the States and their distant possessions, +and their mutual willingness +to share in each other’s burthens, and +to have an identity of destiny, that +these States and their possessions +differ from Great Britain and her +colonies. The two nations, apart +from the views of their respective +colonists, differ widely from each other +in the most essential point necessary +to the beneficial governmental connexion +of any country with another, +be it empire or colony, or distant far +or near. And that difference consists +in the people of the United +States always becoming thoroughly +acquainted with what they are connected +with, and thoroughly understanding +how that connexion may be +rendered advantageous; and in the +people of England’s desiring to retain +their sway over what they will not +take the trouble to understand, and +wishing to combine and harmonise +their interests with those which they +seem, and ever have seemed, determined +to be in ignorance regarding. +Almost every intelligent inhabitant of +the States, at this present moment, +has nearly as definite and particular a +knowledge of the portions of California +that have been explored, as +those who live in or have traversed +California for themselves. The value +of town lots, their situation and eligibility +in San Francisco are as well +understood in New York and Boston +as they are by the man who occupies +the next lot to them. There is not a +spot where a village might grow up—there +is not a place where a mill might +be advantageously built—that is not +known, marked, and considered, with +all its relative bearings and benefits, +by thousands in the States, with just +as much intention of taking advantage +of it, and, from the extraordinary +enterprise of the people, with just as +much likelihood of being able to do +so, as those that are on the spot. The +whole country—its towns, its situations +for towns, its valleys, its hills, +its woods, and its want of woods, its +crops, and its climate, are, for all +purposes of business, for present and +for future advantage to the States, +well and universally understood by +the mass of the people. Its newspapers, +published at the immense distance +that San Francisco is from New +York and Boston, are largely supported +by subscribers in these cities, +and by the people in every direction +over the vast surface of the +United States. The advertisements +in them of village lots for sale, are +matters of nearly as much interest to +Americans as an auction sale of a +bankrupt’s furniture and plate would +be to a Jew in London.</p> + +<p class='c009'>Now, can it be accounted as other +than natural, that the legislation of +America should partake of the universality +of its mind, and the largeness +of its activity and enterprise?—that, +California’s interests, situation, extent, +and value, being well understood +by America, America might +wisely legislate for it?—that America +might beneficially extend the mantle +of her wisdom and experience over +it, and infuse the conservative elements +of her federal government into +it, and raise it as much in the estimation +of the world as it benefited +it within itself? Hence the desire of +the Californians that the flag of the +United States should not only represent +their protection of California, but +their government over it, and their +legislation in it, which the world has +associated with success and advancement.</p> + +<p class='c009'>Now, for upwards of half a century, +there has been an extensive commercial +intercourse carried on between +Great Britain and her North American +colonies. The province of Upper +Canada is all that we have described +it to be—open to five millions of people +to settle and become independent in—open +to many more millions of +capital being profitably invested in it. +The other colonies ever have been, +and are, full of opportunities for the +successful employment of money and +enterprise, and the profitable application +of labour. But we would here +ask, with such opportunities on the +part of Great Britain of knowing the +value of these magnificent possessions, +has she shown anything of the activity +of mind and the universality of enterprise +of America? Has she literally +done anything where the Americans +have done everything, to render these +possessions valuable to her—to render +them a vast boon to her people, instead +of being a perpetual source of +confusion and embarrassment to her +government? Who has there been +in England, with capital ready to +invest and enterprise ready to undertake, +looking out for valuable mill +sites on the magnificent rivers of the +Canadas? How many of her capitalists +have been looking over the map +of the colonies, and inquiring into the +richness and value of particular lands, +adjacent to a stream, where a village +or a town might be formed and grow +up? Who in England have been +learning the wealth of her colonies in +timber, in fisheries, in minerals, and +in scores of other things, with the +view of profitably employing their +capital in them, and making the colonies +while they enriched themselves? +Few, very few, indeed. Is it not a +fact, that thousands in Great Britain, +whose capital might be of the vastest +use to the colonies, and the colonies +the best field in the world for reproducing +it, hardly know whether they +lie on the north or the south side +of the St Lawrence; hardly know +whether the cities of Hamilton and +Toronto are on lake Ontario or lake +Erie; hardly know whether Upper +Canada is a cold, inhospitable region, +or possesses the bracing, genial, and +healthy climate it really has? And +though it is now but a ten days’ trip +from these colonies to Great Britain, +and they possess so many objects of interest +and value to her, we believe we +might with safety offer a reward to +any person who would find in England, +apart from government officials, +news-rooms, and colonial traders, +twelve men who take a Canadian +newspaper. Now, is it any wonder +that the colonists would like to get rid +of a system of colonial government +which has been productive of no better +knowledge or understanding, for this +period of time, of their interests and +prosperity than this? Is it any wonder +that they feel that they never can, and +never will, be appreciated, valued, or +benefited as they should, and might, +and ought to be, as long as the present +system is kept up? Is it any +wonder that, knowing their great +country—knowing what it is capable +of—and knowing what they as colonists +should be thought of in connexion +with it, they should seek in the +parliament of Great Britain to place +themselves and their country before +the world in the position that they +both should occupy?</p> + +<p class='c009'>As pertinent to this view of the +question, we may here mention that +the facilities of communication between +Great Britain and the colonies +have now become so great and so +perfect, that all the commercial houses +of importance in the colonies send +home their agents twice a-year to +purchase goods. Thus these agents +go home in January to lay in their +spring and summer stocks. They +return to Canada again in the latter +end of March, and make their observations +of the trade, and help to sell +the goods they purchased in England. +In July, they go home again to buy +their fall and winter stocks, and in +October they return to help to assort +and to sell them. The agent for the +large importing house of Buchanan, +Harris, & Co., in Hamilton, at the +head of Lake Ontario, has done this +for years; and between Hamilton +(which is five hundred and ninety-five +miles above Quebec) and Liverpool, +since the Canard steamers have been +running, the time occupied on the +journey has not varied two days, the +time of performing it averaging but +eighteen days. We may add, too, as +a singular fact, that we have seen, in +a country village six hundred and +twenty-five miles above Quebec, fashions +worn within the same month in +which they first appeared in London!</p> + +<p class='c009'>Now, should these extraordinary +evidences of the triumphs of science +over matter not teach legislation +to move from its old and crippling +paths, and to keep pace with the +spirit and the advancement of the +age? Is it not a fact, pregnant with +powerful reasons why the colonies +should represent their own interests +in the Legislature of Great Britain, +that commercial houses find it indispensable +to their success to be represented +twice a-year in the British +markets? Yet the vast property and +interests of the colonies are without +any representation in that legislature, +where alone they can be fostered +or withered. We have pointed out +the consequences.</p> + +<p class='c009'>Before concluding this paper, it +may be expected by the English public, +(and indeed by the Americans,) +that we should not pass unnoticed a +movement in the colonies, which, +though it might well have been looked +for, from what we have already +proved and shown, has still struck the +great body of the people of England +with surprise, if not with alarm. We +mean the movement in favour of the +“annexation” of the colonies to the +States. It may be proper, in the first +place, to say, that though its name +would seem to imply that the consent +of the government and people of the +United States had been solicited and +obtained, before the “banns” were +published to the world, yet that consent +has never been asked, nor was it +either promised or given without the +asking. The people of the United +States are quietly and calmly looking +on at the dispute between Great Britain +and her colonies, and they are +determined to continue so to do until +that dispute is settled. The days of +their bitterness and hostility to England +are over. What they may, or +what they would do, if the colonies +should be separated from Britain, they +reserve to themselves the right of +deciding when the colonies are in a +position to ask for themselves, and to +act for themselves. In this we believe +we express the feelings and +opinions of the great body of the +intelligent people of the American +States—certainly we do of the distinguished +individual at the head of +their government, and of the whole of +the respectable portion of the American +press. A report may reach England, +that a portion of the money +which was collected in the States, to +aid the late unhappy insurrection in +Ireland, has been contributed to establish +and support “annexation” +newspapers in the Canadas. This +report requires confirmation; and if +it were even partially true, it would +only amount to this, that the “Irish +Directory” in New York, who are +said to have the money, have been +regularly sold; for if they wished to +dismember England, there is nothing +they could possibly do that would +more effectually tend to defeat their +intentions. The “annexation” movement +rests, in truth, upon the merits +or demerits of its own treason, for +treason it assuredly is. Authorised +by whomsoever it may be—justified, +occasioned, or palliated by whatever +men or measures, in England or elsewhere—it +is clearly a case of attempting +to dissolve her Majesty’s empire +in the name of “material interests,” +being moved and instigated thereto by +a certain individual called <em>free trade</em>.</p> + +<p class='c009'>But can this movement go on and +prosper, seditious as it palpably is, +without establishing a most dangerous +precedent for England? And +can it be stopped without a waste of +life and money, that would bring +Great Britain but little credit, and +less advantage?</p> + +<p class='c009'>Whatever may be the danger of +the precedent, and whatever may be +its effects upon other colonies, or upon +England herself, it seems clear that a +large expenditure of blood and money, +to suppress this movement in the +Canadas, is neither desirable, nor, in +the present temper of the British +public, might it be possible. And +this movement never could be physically +or forcibly put down, without a +large expenditure of both these. The +men who have deliberately entered +into it are not such as could be easily +driven out of the land, or frightened +out of their convictions in it. They +would fight for their opinions, and, +considering all things—loyalists disgusted, +and Frenchmen in power—they +are dangerously numerous.</p> + +<p class='c009'>This brings us, then, to consider +what is being done in a conciliatory +point of view, by the free-trade party +in England—who are answerable for +the difficulty—to take the wind out of +this “annexation movement’s” sails. +This is, according to Lord John Russell’s +speech—at the dinner given some +months since, for the purpose, it +would seem, of discussing colonial +subjects—to give them more liberty. +Heaven help us! If Lord John Russell +saw, as we have seen, liberty recently +running clean mad in these colonies; +if he saw responsible government +playing its “fantastic tricks before +high heaven,” with England’s “dignified +neutrality” looking on, he would +hardly be disposed to give them any +more rope. But what is the character +of the liberty and privileges they ask? +and, being asked, he would give them? +The last small instalment they require +is, to elect their legislative council; +and, thinking that the phantom of +Great Britain’s power, called “dignified +neutrality,” may be had at a +cheaper rate at home, they propose +to elect that also—feeling, too, not +without justice, that they might thereby +<em>neutralise</em> the loss to the colonies of +some four thousand pounds annually. +But suppose England should waive +the privilege of sending out a phantom, +and the legislative lords would +have, like David Crocket, to go about +the country electioneering with a +pocket full of <em>quids</em>, pray what, after +all this, would be left in the colonies +to recognise England by? An +Englishman coming to them, like +the man in the farce who had been +asleep for a century, would find it +rather difficult to recognise his relations. +But, seriously, what is all this +but annexation? And is this the only +way the great authors of the colonial +difficulties have of keeping the colonies +British?—of making them a +home for men who seek and who +claim to live under the institutions of +Britain? Better—infinitely better—would +it be to tell men straightforwardly, +and at once, that they must +feel the iron enter their souls of seeing +the flag of their forefathers hauled +down on the American continent for +ever, than compel them to endure its +being thus slowly and gradually disgraced +out of it. And this would and +must be the inevitable result of Lord +John Russell’s giving the colonies +more rope.</p> + +<p class='c009'>But what other cause or question is +there now before the colonies to put +against this “annexation movement?” +Of purely colonial questions +there are none. Beyond the true +and honest hearts which love Britain, +despite of all her faults; who would, +and will, cling to her, although she has +sadly requited their attachment,—she +has nothing now to bind her to or to +represent her in America. Her institutions +are gone; her government has +ceased to be respected; Lord Elgin +has made her power as “the baseless +fabric of a vision.” There is nothing +Britain can do; there is nothing Britain +ought to do, but to say, emphatically +and at once, to her North American +colonies—We have not understood +you—we have not appreciated you—we +have not known your great country +as we should have known it—we +have not respected your mind or your +interests; but we will now make you +partners in our great legislature—we +will impart to you our credit, our +greatness, and our stability—and we +will bind you up with our destiny.</p> + +<p class='c009'>Great Britain has a glorious part to +play in America; and she has a disastrous +one. <em>She has but a short time +to decide upon which she will play.</em></p> + +<p class='c012'><span class='sc'>Hamilton, Canada West</span>, <em>Jan. 17, 1850</em>.</p> +<h3 class='c013'>(POSTSCRIPT.)</h3> + +<p class='c014'>The very day on which I last wrote you, we received a London morning +paper, containing an announcement that the Whig ministry were prepared to +give up these colonies, and to take upon themselves, before parliament, the +responsibility of the act. Though it seemed unlike that party—whatever +they might privately think, or whatever they might plainly see must be the +inevitable result of their present free-trade policy—to take so bold, or rather, +so frank a step, yet the articles which have appeared from time to time in +the <cite>Times</cite>, and which bore on the face of them an air of authority, had prepared +me to attach some credence to the statement. These, after all, may be +put from the cabinet as feelers upon the country. They may be but a disingenuous +<em>ruse</em> of men who do not seek to regulate their conduct by what they +ought to do from the dictates of enlightened principle and great national +consideration, but are anxious only to float along with the current of popular +delusion, regardless of the nation’s humiliation and dismemberment. It is +my belief, however, that if the present ministry, backed by Mr Cobden +and the Manchester party, play into the hands of those here who are struggling +to dismember the empire, it will produce a civil or social war in the +colonies. There is a large body of their British and loyal inhabitants who +will cling to Britain, and keep her flag floating here; and who will, if +necessary, part with their lives ere they part with it. It is possible—nay, is +it not certain?—that Sir Robert Peel, and other statesmen, who have plainly +and undeniably placed the colonies in a situation incompatible with imperial +connexion,—may throw out such hints and suggestions in the approaching +session of parliament, as will agitate and move the colonies to their very +heart’s core,—one party to secure a majority in favour of their “annexation” +to the States, the other to prevent the dismemberment of their mother country? +Sir Robert Peel and others have thrown out such suggestions before; but, +under existing circumstances, if they are again put forth, they will be regarded +by the “annexation movement” party as an invitation to test the opinions +of the colonies—to proselytise them, as in fact they are now doing, into insurrection, +and away from allegiance to Britain. Meetings will follow; <em>the stars +and stripes</em> will be hoisted by one party; the flag of their forefathers by the +other; and, take my word for it, you will hear of struggles of which God +only can tell the end, and what they may lead to here and elsewhere. Certainly +the world will never have witnessed such a scene. The statesmen, the +cabinet even of Britain playing into the hands of those who would tear +down her flag in America; and her loyal children supporting it against the +influence of many who are, and have been, surrounding the throne.</p> + +<p class='c009'>A long residence in the colonies, and a habit of observing, unbiassed by +colonial party considerations, the character and tendencies of men and +measures, have enabled me to judge, with some accuracy, of the effects of +causes not generally supposed to be pregnant with important results. At this +moment there are, in my judgment, the slumbering elements of a deadly strife +in the colonies. There is but a small remove between a civil revolution and +a physical struggle. The seeds of the national and revolutionary hurricane are +often sown in the peaceful closet, and by men who could weep over the thought +of what they would produce. The seeds of a wild and fearful hurricane in the +colonies, and which must and will reach England, may be now sowing in many +a peaceful closet in England. Mr Cobden may talk of peace, and denuding +Britain of her national defences, and convincing men against all humanity’s +experience; but he must be, he should be, made aware, that he has not made +Britain, and may not be allowed to unmake her. He has not added these +colonies to her crown; and while he may be in words <em>twaddling</em> about universal +peace, his very speeches may be sowing the seeds here of a deadly struggle. +Let him beware; let others beware of the vanity of free-trade success. The +wisdom of the Manchester school has not been that which has made Great +Britain. Let its vanity and its arrogance not ruin her. If it arms treason +here—if it wings a storm, from which England may learn much, it may be +taught to feel what it has done. The demagogues of Athens succeeded in +banishing the great and the just, but they did not succeed in destroying greatness +or justice—these are immortal. The free-trade party may denude Britain +of her glorious possessions in America, but these possessions may be the rising, +growing, unending shame of those who caused their loss, and the generation +of Britons who permitted it.</p> + +<p class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hamilton</span>, <em>30th January 1850</em>.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_269'>269</span> + <h2 class='c002'>A LATE CASE OF COURT-MARTIAL.<a id='r1'></a><a href='#f1' class='c015'><sup>[1]</sup></a></h2> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>“Surely never was so slight a +fault visited by so severe a punishment!” +Such is the exclamation +which will fall from the lips, or pass +through the mind, we believe, of every +one who shall peruse Mr Warren’s +<cite>Letter to the Queen on a Late Court-Martial</cite>. +The reader of that letter +will also rise from its perusal with the +painful conviction, that, in the awarding +of this heavy punishment, a gross +violation of one of the most ordinary +and fundamental laws of jurisprudence +has been committed; and he +will probably conclude with Mr Warren, +that if this be a fair specimen of +the lax manner in which justice is +administered in courts-martial, some +reform is necessary in their structure, +or, at all events, some higher court of +appeal ought to be instituted for the +revision of their proceedings.</p> + +<p class='c009'>We have read this admirable letter +of Mr Warren’s with unusual interest. +As a literary performance it well comports +with, and sustains the established +reputation of its author; but it reflects +a high honour upon him of another +and loftier description than that which +springs from literary excellence. It +shows him in the light of a warmhearted, +zealous champion of one +whom he believes, and with every +appearance of reason, to be an oppressed +and injured man. He had +assisted Captain Douglas at his trial +before the court-martial, on which he +now comments, as his legal adviser; +he had done his duty as counsel for +the defendant, so far as such a court +admits of the aid or interference of +counsel; he had no interest to promote, +and no obligation to fulfil, by +any further advocacy of his cause. +Captain Douglas had been condemned; +the great authorities of the +Horse Guards had sanctioned and confirmed +the sentence: a cautious man, +and a lover of his ease, would here +have parted company. He would +have shaken his mournful client by +the hand, and, with some cold unmeaning +words of condolence, have +left him with that troop of summer +friends, who have, no doubt, by this +time, found him a most uncompanionable +man. The world was now against +him; to volunteer his defence was to +oppose constituted authorities; it was +to side with weakness against power—with +defeat against triumph. It +was to stand side by side with one in +adversity—stricken, and condemned. +But caution and love of ease are evidently +motives that have very little +influence on the mind of Mr Warren. +As the counsel of Captain Douglas, he +had grown warm in his defence; he +could not suddenly cool when he saw +him prostrate, defeated, and dishonoured. +He was convinced of the +innocence of his client; he felt persuaded +that it was in his power to +show to all mankind that that client +had been cruelly dealt with—treated +with a degree of harshness amounting +to injustice. His position of counsel +had also given him insight into the +whole legal proceedings of this court-martial, +which betrayed to his practised +eye a palpable infraction of one +at least of those essential rules by +which every tribunal of justice ought +to be governed, or cease to be considered +a tribunal of justice. He knew +all this, and the truth <em>burnt within +him</em>; he could not sit down in silence; +he could not at once dismiss his sympathy +and indignation—his sympathy +for an injured man, his indignation +for the rules of justice violated. He +had ceased to be the advocate of Captain +Douglas, but he still clung to his +cause, for it was the cause, he was +persuaded, of truth and justice.</p> + +<p class='c010'>“Only a great and pressing exigency,” +he thus explains himself in the eloquent +exordium of his letter, “could have induced +one of the humblest of your Majesty’s +subjects to step forth from his obscurity, +and thus publicly and directly +address your Majesty. Even had he not +known, however, the benignant and equitable +temper of his sovereign, a case like +the present would have forced him to +bring it forward; for the voice of justice +is a sublime one, strengthening the +feeblest, and elevating the humblest, who, +hearing, endeavours to obey it.</p> + +<p class='c011'>“He who has thus ventured to beseech +the ear of his sovereign, believes in his +conscience that the cause of justice in +this country has recently sustained, +through a defective system of military +jurisprudence, a calamitous defeat.</p> + +<p class='c011'>“An officer, an accomplished gentleman, +of ancient and honourable family, +in the very flower of his age,<a id='r2'></a><a href='#f2' class='c015'><sup>[2]</sup></a> after having +devoted thirteen years to the faithful +and zealous service of your Majesty in +almost every quarter of your world-wide +dominions, has been ignominiously expelled +from that service, branded as a +Liar. He stood on trial before his +brother officers with as high vouchers to +character, as could have been presented, +had it unfortunately been rendered necessary +by such a casualty as has befallen +him, by any one of themselves. He was, +moreover, the eldest son of a general +officer who lately descended to his grave +with honour, after half a century spent in +the service of three of your Majesty’s +predecessors; leaving behind him, as his +eldest son, the unhappy gentleman to +whose case I earnestly implore the attention +of your Majesty....</p> + +<p class='c011'>“That gentleman I believe to be, at +this moment, one of the most deeply-injured +men in your Majesty’s dominions. +He has been convicted of misconduct of +which he is utterly incapable; and I +consider that conviction to be altogether +contrary to law and justice, and to have +proceeded upon an unconscious violation +of cardinal and characteristic rules of +British jurisprudence, essential to the +safety as well as to the liberties of your +Majesty’s subjects. And what has thus +happened to Captain Douglas may happen +to any other gentleman who is now, +or may be hereafter, honoured by bearing +the commission of your Majesty. I think +myself able to bring forward facts which +are incontrovertible, and reasonings which +appear, if I may be permitted to say it, +conclusive—and that not to myself alone, +but to others whose judgment, were it +publicly pronounced, would be deemed +entitled to the utmost deference—to +establish the innocence of one, upon whose +brow, nevertheless, stands at this moment, +and has stood for eight miserable months, +the brand of ‘infamous and scandalous +conduct.’”</p> + +<p class='c007'>He then proceeds to say that her +Majesty alone has the power to redress +the wrong of which he comes +forward to complain.</p> + +<p class='c010'>“In the present case, the blighting sentence +passed upon Captain Douglas cannot +be reviewed in any court of law. It +was solemnly decided, in your Majesty’s +Court of Queen’s Bench, on a late occasion, +that it had no power to issue a prohibition +to restrain the execution of the +sentence of a court-martial, after that +sentence had been ratified by the king, +and carried into execution. And yet, in +the existing state of the law, the unfortunate +accused has no means of knowing +the sentence which has crushed him, until +it has been so ratified, carried into execution, +and thus declared <em>therefore</em> irrevocable! +And that sentence, too, pronounced +by a <em>court of law</em>, bound to proceed +according to the law of the land—which +law it may have violated in every +particular!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>It is hardly necessary to say, that +the military law under which our army +has been governed, ever since the +Revolution, is as completely founded +upon the statutes of parliament as +any other branch of our jurisprudence. +A less technical mode of procedure is +recognised as prevailing in courts-martial, +than that which regulates our +civil or criminal courts. But there is +nothing of an <em>arbitrary</em> nature in the +sentences they pass. These are determined, +so far as this is possible, by +the act of parliament. A judge of the +bankruptcy court is not more bound +by the statute, when he grants or +withholds the bankrupt’s certificate, +than are the judges of a court-martial +when they sentence a fellow-officer to +be cashiered. Let it be granted, +therefore, that Captain Douglas had +so far committed himself, in the course +of the events we shall have to record, +that it was expedient to bring him +before a court-martial. Let this be +granted—an opinion, however, from +which many will dissent—when there, +he claims justice! He is under the +protection of the law. He is not to +be punished with undue severity; he +is not to be punished illegally.</p> + +<p class='c009'>It is probable that Mr Warren will +be thought to have been carried a +little too far, in his vindication of +Captain Douglas’s conduct, by his +generous zeal and by the ardour of +advocacy. It would be asking too +much to require that he should suddenly +assume towards his late client +the coolness of a quite impartial +observer. But whilst his argument +is that of an advocate, and is something +too much tainted with the logic +of the courts of Westminster, his +statement of facts is full and impartial. +He may be a too zealous advocate, +but he is a candid historian. +It is hardly necessary to add, that, +whenever occasion legitimately permits, +he is a very pleasant and graphic +historian.</p> + +<p class='c009'>We do not intend that our account +of this case should be a substitute for +the perusal of Mr Warren’s pamphlet; +we desire rather to prompt to such a +perusal. It is far, therefore, from our +design to enter upon all the topics it +discusses. But the case is one to +which, on public grounds, we would +cheerfully assist in calling public attention. +In doing so we shall endeavour, +in the first place, to state, with +perfect impartiality, the real and sole +offence, or fault, or error, of which it +seems to us Captain Douglas can be +justly accused; and, in the second +place, to show with what <em>illegal severity</em> +this offence has been visited. On the +first of these topics, we shall, perhaps, +be in some slight degree at variance +with our author; on the second, we +shall fully accord with him in his main +and leading argument: for we think +there cannot be a doubt that the +judgment of this court-martial is +vitiated—not by any merely technical +error, but by an error affecting the +very justice of the sentence—by no +less an error than the finding a man +guilty of an offence of a certain degree +of guilt, and condemning him to a +punishment expressly and solely +awarded to an offence of a far greater +degree of criminality—finding him, in +short, guilty of the crime A, and inflicting +the penalty decreed only to +the crime B.</p> + +<p class='c009'>The life of military men in time of +peace presents, as we catch a glimpse +of it here, no very attractive picture. +Captain Douglas in barracks at Longy, +in the island of Alderney, with one +subaltern, Ensign Parker, is commanding +his detachment. Lieutenant-Colonel +Le Mesurier is commanding +at Alderney, under the title of Town +Major. Between these rival potentates +disputes arise as to their respective +jurisdictions. Instead of companionship, +assistance, co-operation, +there is only mutual repulsion, mutual +hostility.</p> + +<p class='c010'>In this cheerless position of affairs, +Captain Douglas “went one day—on +Friday the 5th January—about twelve +o’clock, for a little amusement, to practise +pistol-firing, at a spot near the Frying-Pan +Battery, as it is called, which +was at a distance of two or three hundred +yards from the barracks where he resided. +This happened to be the first and only +time of his using firearms during his stay +in the island. No one but himself, indeed, +knew even the fact of his possessing firearms. +He ordered his servant Riley to +procure some potatoes, and to follow him +with them, and the pistol-case, (which, +however, Riley did not know to be such, +nor for what purpose the potatoes were +required,) to the Frying-Pan Battery.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>These circumstances are mentioned +to account for the scanty testimony +which Riley afterwards gave; it being +supposed that he had withheld evidence +to serve the interest of his +master. And certainly it is a little +difficult to believe that Patrick Riley, +who was a soldier as well as the servant +of Captain Douglas, did not +know what the pistol-case contained, +or for what purpose he carried it and +the two potatoes to the battery. We +continue the narrative in the words of +Mr Warren, which we should be very +unwise not to adopt, wherever it is in +our power to do so.</p> + +<p class='c010'>“Captain Douglas proceeded to make +a target in the wall opposite, which faced +the sea—by putting a potato into the +centre of an open piece of newspaper, +and then thrusting it into a crevice in the +wall. This he did to make the mark at +which he intended to aim more distinctly +visible. He had selected this particular +spot for his practice because it was retired +and safe. It was entirely hid from the +view of the sentry, or any of the men on +guard at the barracks.... After +firing about twenty or thirty shots, every +one of them at the target in question—standing +all the while with his back to +the sea, and against the rampart, and +at which stood the pistol-case and potatoes—he +saw Mr Parker approaching. It +was a few minutes before one o’clock +when he got there. Having fired two +shots, both at the same target at which +Captain Douglas had been shooting, he +went down by a somewhat precipitous +descent to the beach, which lay about +forty feet immediately below them, accompanied +by his dog—intending to amuse +himself for a few minutes by throwing +stones into the sea, and sending his dog +after them; and also desirous of ascertaining +whether a hole, which had caught +his eye in descending, was that of a rabbit +or a rat.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Amusements were scarce at Alderney.</p> + +<p class='c010'>“Neither Captain Douglas nor Mr +Parker’s attention was called to the circumstance +of their harmless pistol practice, +on the 5th January, till about three +or four o’clock on the ensuing Monday +afternoon—the 8th January. During the +interval, Captain Henderson had arrived +from Guernsey; and he, Mr Parker, and +Captain Douglas were walking together +towards the town, when they met Mr +Bains, (a medical gentleman.) After the +ordinary salutations, Captain Douglas +asked him, ‘What news was going on in +the town?’ To which Mr Bains answered, +laughing, ‘Nothing new, <em>since your sport +with the bulls of Bashan at Longy</em>;’ and +he proceeded to say, to the surprise of +Captain Douglas and Mr Parker, ‘that +he understood a bullock had been shot at +or near Longy.’ Captain Douglas replied +with a smile, ‘You surely don’t mean to +say that <em>I</em> am charged with having had +anything to do with it?’—‘Indeed you +are,’ said Mr Bains—‘and you will find +the constable at your quarters about it, +on your return! But it is true, is it not, +that you and Parker were ball firing +there?’—‘Yes, we were practising,’ replied +Captain Douglas unhesitatingly; +‘but I know nothing about the bullock.’ +After some other observations, Mr Bains, +who knew the position in which Colonel +Le Mesurier and Captain Douglas stood +towards each other, said with a smile, +‘Colonel Le Mesurier has gone up to look +at the bullock.’ To this observation Captain +Douglas made a brief sarcastic answer; +and shortly afterwards Mr Bains +left them.</p> + +<p class='c011'>“The three officers, after continuing +their walk for some time longer, separated, +towards five o’clock. Captain Henderson +went to Corblets barracks, to dress +for dinner, both he and Mr Parker being +engaged to dine that evening with Captain +Douglas; who, with Mr Parker, +walked towards Longy, expecting to meet +with the constable spoken of by Mr Bains. +As they went, they conversed on the subject +of his communication, remarking how +oddly circumstances seemed to favour the +notion that, if a bullock had really been +shot, it must have been by them; and +they also adverted to the fact of Colonel +Le Mesurier having already become acquainted +with the matter, and what could +have been his object in going to see the +carcase of the animal. After some consideration +they agreed that it would be +better, under the circumstances, <em>not to +admit the fact of their having been firing, +but leave it to be proved by those who +seemed disposed to charge them with having +shot the bullock</em>.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Here was the fatal error. In this +resolution, and the acting on it, lies +the whole moral offence, fault, or delinquency +of Captain Douglas. Not +to admit a fact, when questioned on +it, is so close upon a denial of the +fact, that no human ingenuity can +keep them long separate. His concealment +of an act perfectly innocent +was construed into a denial of that +act: it could not well be otherwise, +for an evasive answer, which serves +the purpose of concealment, must be +understood by the party who receives +it as a denial, or it no longer serves +the purpose of concealment. Yet an +evasive answer of this description is +permitted by men of the strictest +honour in a thousand instances, and +is only visited with <em>moral opprobrium</em> +in those cases where there is an imperative +claim upon the conscience +to tell the whole truth. No such imperative +claim can be made out in the +present case. We admit, however, +that it was an error. The better rule +is never to resort to an evasion unless +there are very strong reasons for so +doing. We admit that the adopting +of, and persisting in, this policy, or +rather this <em>impolicy</em>, of concealment, +was here to some extent blameable. +But we can detect no base or dishonourable +motive leading to it. The +worst motive we can divine, is a certain +love of a tortuous policy by +which some ingenious persons are +afflicted. They like finessing, and +will introduce into the common affairs +of life, much to their own and other +people’s embarrassment, what they +would describe as a diplomatic dexterity.</p> + +<p class='c009'>The constable, Renier, on the same +afternoon, made his appearance at the +house of Captain Douglas. There is +much controversy as to the import of +the question which he put to Captain +Douglas; whether, when he asked +him, “If he knew anything about it?”—he +referred to the shooting of the +bullock, or the firing on the battery. +It is plain, from the circumstances of +the case, that both these matters +were inextricably mixed up <em>in the +mind of the constable</em>; for he came to +inquire of the shooting of the bullock +because of the firing on the battery; +and into the firing on the battery, because +of the supposed shooting of the +bullock. There is no wonder, therefore, +that a man, not accustomed to +analyse his own ideas, should, in +giving his evidence before the court, +sometimes state one, and sometimes +the other, as the object of his inquiry. +But it is equally plain, from the very +nature of the case, that whatever was +stirring in the mind of the constable, +his first question to the Captain would +be, whether he knew anything about +the death of the bullock. He would +never have thought of coming to the +barracks to ask an officer whether he +had been practising with his pistol, +without showing in the first place that +he had grounds for making what +otherwise would be a very impertinent +inquiry. We feel ourselves, therefore, +quite justified in adopting here +the statement of Captain Douglas. +According to that statement, Renier +asked him “if he knew anything +about shooting the bullock?” He +answered “No,” as he well might. +For it is to be understood at once, +and distinctly, that Captain Douglas +had nothing whatever to do with the +death of the bullock, and knew nothing +about it. But, unfortunately, +the dialogue between them did not +stop here. It will be remembered +that Captain Douglas had made use +of a piece of a newspaper, the <cite>Times</cite>, +to form his target. This newspaper +bore his own name and address on it. +The constable added—“That a <cite>Times</cite> +paper had been found near the spot, +with Captain Douglas’s name upon +it.” <em>This</em> remark could have reference +only to the question—who had +been firing on the battery? And to +this remark Captain Douglas replied—“Possibly +so; there were plenty of +his papers about; they went all through +the barracks and into the town, and he +had five or six a-week.” With this +answer the constable departed.</p> + +<p class='c009'>The next day a civil court was +held, presided over by Judge Gaudion, +to inquire into this affair of the death +of the bullock. Captain Douglas was +summoned to attend. A number of +witnesses were examined, whose testimony +it is not necessary for our purpose +to enter into. Mr Bisset, the +owner of the animal, who had connected +its death with the firing heard +upon the ramparts, produced a number +of flattened bullets, broken percussion +caps, and pieces of a newspaper +addressed to Captain Douglas, +which had been found upon the battery. +After the judge had asked +Captain Douglas whether he had any +knowledge who had shot the bullock, +and had received the decisive and +truthful answer, that “he had not,” +he proceeded—pointing to some pieces +of newspaper lying on the table—to +put the following question: “Can +you account for the <cite>Times</cite> newspaper +to your address having been found in +the battery, perforated evidently by +ball practice?” To which Captain +Douglas answered, “I am not accountable +for my papers, as they +travel through the barracks and into +the town.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>This absurd policy (for so we should +characterise it) of concealment is adhered +to, and with these unfortunate +pieces of the <cite>Times</cite> newspaper lying +before him! His answer is understood +as a denial of having been practising +with his pistol on the battery, +and there are those tell-tale fragments +“evidently perforated with ball.” It +is inconceivably absurd. He is getting +into a scrape, and raising a scandal in +the little island of Alderney, for no +intelligible motive whatever.</p> + +<p class='c009'>Mr Warren here defends the conduct +of his late client on the legal +principle or maxim, that no man is +bound to criminate himself. He stood +there in a court of justice “virtually +as an accused party;” the court +throws its shield over persons in such +a position, cautions them, and would +protect them even against their own +indiscretion. Captain Douglas was +fully justified in availing himself of +this well-known privilege—in evading +and warding off a question which he +could not answer without supplying +evidence against himself.</p> + +<p class='c009'>Mr Warren will forgive us if we +smiled, for a moment, at this instance +of the inveterate habits of the lawyer, +overpowering the natural shrewdness +and sagacity of the man. This legal +argument is manifestly inapplicable, +and for this simple reason: in the +circumstances of the case, there is +nothing sufficiently grave—no impending +charge of sufficient magnitude—to +induce or warrant, in any reasonable +man, a departure from, or a concealment +of the truth, or any tampering +with his honour. <em>If</em> the evasive +statement of Captain Douglas be considered +as tantamount to a denial, +and <em>if</em> that virtual denial be considered +as in some degree dishonourable, +there can be no shelter for him in this +maxim of law, because the fear of a +false accusation of having accidentally +shot a bullock, would not be accepted, +by men of honour, as an excuse or +justification.</p> + +<p class='c009'>If Captain Douglas had really shot +the bullock, he would have been still +more completely under the shelter of +this legal maxim—and his equivocation +would have been a ten times more +heinous offence.</p> + +<p class='c009'>As Mr Warren repeats this argument +more than once, it may be worth +while to state, in general terms, +wherein its fallacy lies. A person is +tried before a court-martial, which +partakes of the nature of a court of +honour, for a departure from, or a concealment +of truth, considered to be +dishonourable to a gentleman. It is +no sufficient answer to plead the privilege +which courts of law throw around +a witness, unless you show at the +same time that, in his case, such a +privilege could be taken advantage of +without any derogation to his character +as a member of society. A very +little reflection will satisfy us that the +permission granted by courts of law to +the accused party, or to a witness, to +deny or withhold the truth, <em>may</em> or +<em>may not</em> be a valid excuse in the moral +judgment of society—may or may not +be such a permission as it would be +honourable to accept.</p> + +<p class='c009'>A man is tried for his life on the +charge of murder, or high treason. +He pleads not guilty. Although he is +in fact guilty, the most honourable +and fastidious portion of society add +nothing to their reprobation of the +accused on account of this plea. The +code of honour or of moral opinion, +and the rule of the court of law, are +not at variance.</p> + +<p class='c009'>But nothing is easier than to imagine +cases in which they would be at +variance, and at variance in all possible +degrees, from slight difference to +complete opposition. The accused is +being tried on a false accusation for +murder. Titus is a witness. He can +by his evidence establish the innocence +of the accused, but in giving that evidence +he will reveal his own guilt. +The court allows him to be silent +where his answer to the question would +criminate himself. And here, too, the +opinion of society would probably +coincide with the rule of the court,—yet +not entirely; many would censure +the witness, many would excuse, none +would cordially approve.</p> + +<p class='c009'>Let us now suppose that Titus is +innocent, but, in giving his evidence, +he must confess some fact which will +excite a strong suspicion against himself. +Here the number of those who +would justify his silence would greatly +diminish. Suppose now that the +suspicion which would be raised +against him, was of a slight character, +one which might be easily removed; +suppose that by his evidence alone +could the accused be saved from the +unjust condemnation that hung over +him; add to all this, that the accused +and innocent party was the <em>friend</em> of +Titus, and had been his benefactor—and +now this witness, “not bound to +criminate himself,” has become the +object of execration to all mankind.</p> + +<p class='c009'>This legal maxim is but one of +many rules which courts of law, or the +legislature, enact for the better administration +of justice,—rules which +cannot be so framed as to be strictly +consentaneous, or identical, with the +rules of morality. One who owes a +just debt takes advantage of the forbearance +of an indulgent creditor, and +pleads the statute of limitations. The +court admits the plea, puts it in his +mouth, justifies him for the use of it. +But the use of it has dishonoured him +for life.</p> + +<p class='c009'>To return to our case. Mr Bisset, +the owner of the bullock, still associating +its death, most erroneously, with +the firing heard on the battery, published +a newspaper paragraph in the +<cite>Guernsey Comet</cite>, headed <span class='fss'>DISGRACEFUL +AFFAIR!</span> in which suspicion was +thrown upon Captain Douglas and +Ensign Parker, and which terminated +with the offer of “<span class='fss'>A REWARD OF +TWENTY POUNDS</span>, to be paid to any +one giving information sufficient to +convict the party or parties who were +shooting at the Frying-pan Battery on +Friday the 5th January, between the +hours of twelve and three <span class='fss'>P.M.</span></p> + +<p class='c009'>Mr Bisset also laid his complaint +before Major-General Bell, the commanding +officer at Guernsey. That +officer wrote to Captain Douglas, requiring +his explanation of the affair. +A great part of the letter referred distinctly +to this pistol-firing on the battery. +Now then, the reader is prepared to +say, Captain Douglas will surely lay +aside this needless and silly piece of +diplomacy, this concealment of a perfectly +innocent act, which is only +strengthening suspicion against him. +If he could permit himself to trifle +with Judge Gaudion, and the petty +civil court at Alderney, he will not +trifle with his superior officer; he will +not run the risk <em>here</em> of being thought +to equivocate. Nearly a month had +now elapsed since the first visit of +Constable Renier. Time had been +given him to reflect: and Captain +Douglas did reflect. Ensign Parker +lets fall in his evidence that he wrote +<em>two</em> letters in answer to this communication, +and pondered some time +which he should send. In the one, +he frankly avowed having been firing +with his pistol on the battery, whilst +he utterly denied the accusation of +having shot the bullock; in the +other, he adhered to his policy of +concealment, confined himself to a +denial of the main accusation, and +left all that part of the letter relating +to the firing on the battery virtually +unanswered. He pondered which of +the two he should send; but the +genius of diplomacy prevailed,—he +sent the second!</p> + +<p class='c009'>Major-General Bell, as might be +expected, was not satisfied with such +a reply. He instituted a military +Court of Inquiry, consisting of +Colonel Le Mesurier, Captain Cockburn, +and Captain Clerk, with instructions +“to ascertain whether any +person or persons, belonging to the +garrison, were engaged in firing with +ball, within or immediately adjoining +Longy Lines, on the day and within +the hours specified in several of the +documents laid before them.” It was +not till the evening of the second day +on which this court had sat, that +Captain Douglas seems to have had +his eyes opened to the perilous manner +in which he was compromising +himself. On the evening of that day, +he wrote a letter to Judge Gaudion, +stating the whole and simple truth +with regard to this pistol-firing; and +the next morning, he repeated the +same statement before the military +Court of Inquiry. The confession, it +seems, came too late to save him from +the consequences of his unwise, needless, +and pertinacious concealment of +an act in itself perfectly innocent. It +was thought a case sufficiently grave +to bring before a court-martial.<a id='r3'></a><a href='#f3' class='c015'><sup>[3]</sup></a></p> + +<p class='c009'>It will be seen and acknowledged +at once, that we have not attempted +to screen Captain Douglas from the +degree of blame which an impartial +judge would throw upon his conduct. +If the court-martial had reprimanded +Captain Douglas, we should have +thought the penalty sufficiently severe, +but neither we, nor perhaps +others, would have been disposed to +dispute the propriety of the sentence, +or, at least, to call public attention to +the case. But, for this offence, the +court has sentenced Captain Douglas +to be <em>cashiered</em>!</p> + +<p class='c009'>This sentence—to enter now upon +our second topic—is not only cruelly +severe, it is illegal, it is unjust. Our +readers need not fear that we are +about to involve them in the technicalities +of jurisprudence. It is no +technical matter we have to deal +with, but broad principles of justice. +Mr Warren has, indeed, raised a +class of legal objections against the +verdict of the court-martial, grounded +on its refusal to admit certain evidence. +On these objections we shall +not enter. To us it appears that the +president of the court exercised his +power in this matter, in general, very +discreetly. But, on these objections, +we wish it to be understood that we +give no opinion. We pass at once to +what we deem a fatal error in this +verdict—an error, not of form, but of +substance; an error which constitutes +it to be an <em>unjust judgment</em>.</p> + +<p class='c009'>Captain Douglas was tried upon +the following charge,—“for conduct +unbecoming the character of an officer +and a gentleman.” Of such conduct +he was found guilty. Now, the +article of war under which he was +arraigned, and the only one under +which his offence, by any fair interpretation, +could fall, is the 80th, and +runs thus:—“Any officer who shall +behave <em>in a scandalous, infamous +manner</em>, unbecoming the character of +an officer and a gentleman, shall, on +conviction thereof before a general +court-martial, be <span class='fss'>CASHIERED</span>.”<a id='r4'></a><a href='#f4' class='c015'><sup>[4]</sup></a></p> + +<p class='c009'>The penalty, under this article, is +<em>peremptorily</em> that of cashiering. A +less punishment the court is not competent +to pronounce. The article +has for its express object the removal +from the service of officers who are +convicted of scandalous and infamous +behaviour.</p> + +<p class='c010'>“There is no provision,” says Mr +Warren, “in the Articles of War, for the +cognisance of unofficer-like and ungentleman-like +conduct, divested of a tendency +to prejudice good order and military discipline, +(so as to bring it within Article +108,) in any degree less than that involving +infamy and scandal. In the year +1801, an officer was charged before a +General Court-martial with scandalous +and infamous conduct, unbecoming the +character of an officer and a gentleman. +The Court acquitted the prisoner of +‘scandalous and infamous behaviour,’ +but considering his conduct, nevertheless, +as ‘unbecoming the character of an officer +and a gentleman,’ adjudged him to ‘be +suspended from rank and pay for six +calendar months.’ His Majesty King +George III. declared the adjudication irregular, +and disapproved the sentence, +‘inasmuch as the Court had acquitted the +prisoner of the only imputation which +could bring the business as a charge before +them—namely, of any scandalous and +infamous behaviour in the transaction.’ +In another case, which happened in 1814, +in India, an officer was tried by General +Court-martial, on the charge of ‘scandalous +and infamous conduct, unbecoming +the character of an officer and a +gentleman,’ in two instances. The Court +acquitted him of the first, but found him +guilty of the criminal acts charged in +the second instance; acquitting him, however, +of ‘scandalous and infamous conduct, +unbecoming the character of an +officer and a gentleman.’ The Commander-in-Chief, +Earl Moira, declared that +‘he regarded the Court as having returned +a verdict of acquittal generally, +and directed the officer who had been +convicted to return to his duty.’ His +lordship observed that ‘the Court, in +declaring that the criminal act proved +against the prisoner did not come within +the description of ‘scandalous, infamous, +and unbecoming the character of an officer +and a gentleman,’ had divested itself +of all power to award punishment, except +inasmuch as the acts might be considered +to come under the above specific definition.’ +In the present case, the Court +<em>could</em> not have acquitted of scandalous +and infamous conduct, because <em>it was not +charged</em>.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>The charge quotes a portion of the +very words of the article. But that +this portion can be separated from the +rest of the sentence, and made to designate +a distinct, substantive offence, +would be a monstrous supposition. +The whole stress, the whole meaning +lies in the words “infamous and scandalous;” +but because there may be +scandalous and infamous conduct, +which does not fall under the cognisance +of a court-martial, it is added as +a further definition, that it must be +such misconduct as affects the character +of an officer and a gentleman.<a id='r5'></a><a href='#f5' class='c015'><sup>[5]</sup></a> +The article of war intends to describe +such conduct as would make a man +<em>scandalous and infamous amongst his +fellow-officers</em>.</p> + +<p class='c009'>Suppose it were thought fit to frame +similar rules for the medical profession, +and one of these declared, “That any +one who shall behave in a scandalous +and infamous manner unbecoming the +character of a physician and a gentleman, +shall, on conviction thereof, be +expelled from the profession,” would +any one in his senses think it sufficient +to adopt the last qualifying phrase, +“unbecoming the character of a physician +and a gentleman,” as descriptive +of an offence which, under this +rule, would incur an expulsion from +the faculty? Why, it might be thought +“unbecoming” a physician to break +rude and silly jests upon his patients, +(as a late celebrated character is +accused of doing,) but not for such +offences, we presume, would any one +imagine that expulsion from the profession +was provided.</p> + +<p class='c009'>But we shall be told that the proceedings +of a court-martial are not +fettered by the same strict rules which +preside over the record in a court of +law. This is very true. It is sufficient +if the offence is substantially +indicated. Perhaps it will be argued +that these words, “unbecoming of an +officer and a gentleman,” must be +taken as a part for the whole, and +that the charge <em>was</em> essentially for +scandalous and infamous behaviour.</p> + +<p class='c009'>If so, the court has placed itself in +the following dilemma, from which we +do not see any possibility of escape:—<em>Either</em> +the charge is to be understood +as substantially for scandalous and +infamous conduct—and, in that case, +who will venture to assert that the +evidence supports so heinous an accusation?—who +will venture to assert +that the concealment or equivocation +proved against Captain Douglas was +that falsehood, that sort of lie, which +stamps a man as scandalous and infamous, +and drives him from the society +of gentlemen? <em>Or</em> (which is the plain +common-sense view of the case) the +charge is what it professes to be—for +“unbecoming” conduct—it is this +charge which is present to the minds +of the members of the court-martial—it +is on this he is tried, of this which +he is convicted; and <em>then</em>, after being +found guilty of this all but venial +offence, he is visited with the punishment +of a far heavier one—for behaviour +which would make him scandalous +and infamous amongst his brother +officers.</p> + +<p class='c009'>We repeat, this is no technical argument—it +is gross, palpable injustice—as +palpable injustice as if a man were +tried for manslaughter, convicted of +manslaughter, and hanged for murder!</p> + +<p class='c009'>If we ask why the Court awarded +so severe a sentence as cashiering on +so trifling an offence, we shall be told +that the Court had no power to pass +any less sentence than that which is +decreed by the article of war. We +admit the reason. But surely if the +Court was bound to inflict the severe +sentence decreed by the article of +war, it was bound to convict of the +crime specified by that article. The +court-martial which tried Captain +Douglas was scrupulous in passing the +right sentence, was <em>not</em> scrupulous in +determining whether the crime had +been committed for which alone that +sentence is by law awarded.</p> + +<p class='c009'>Mr Warren concludes his “Letter” +by some suggestions for the reform +of our military law. These appear to +us to be worthy of consideration. But +legal reforms are grave and intricate +matters; we would not give a hasty +opinion on them; we would recommend +them to the consideration of our jurists, +and the whole pamphlet to the perusal +of our readers. They will also probably +find it far more entertaining than, +from our meagre abstract of the case +of Captain Douglas, they will expect. +There is one subject which occupies a +considerable space, and which, to the +generality of readers, will form the most +attractive portion of the “Letter,” +to which we have made no allusion. +We refer to a narrative of facts, which +show the hostile attitude in which +Colonel Le Mesurier and Captain +Douglas stood towards each other. +It is a little history we could not +possibly abridge, and which did not +appear to us as absolutely necessary +to an intelligible view of the case. +This narrative will be read with interest, +affording as it does a glimpse +into real life, and showing us what +very animated contests and controversies +a few officers may contrive to +while away their time with, even in +the dull quiet island of Alderney. It +is well told, with graphic but <em>subdued</em> +power. Conscious that the author +of one of our best and most popular +novels would be watched on such an +occasion, and readily suspected of +employing his art as a consummate +narrator, Mr Warren has abstained +from producing any startling effects; +he has, at least, used no other than +that highest art which conceals art. +We have left the whole of this portion +of the pamphlet fresh and untouched, +for the perusal of the reader.</p> + +<p class='c009'>In the account we have given of +this really very important case, we +have not been able to mention the +numerous points on which Mr Warren +dwells for the exculpation of his +client. We have been compelled to +content ourselves with the impression +which the whole narrative, after careful +and unbiassed perusal, left upon +our own minds. We are utterly unable +to imagine, for the conduct of +Captain Douglas, any worse motive +than what we have described as a +somewhat too diplomatic taste, as a +want of a perfectly straightforward +manner of speech. We see in his +conduct a very palpable error in judgment, +but we are quite at a loss to fix +upon anything which deserves to be +characterised as dishonourable—anything +like such infamous and palpable +falsehood as ought to drive a man +with disgrace out of the service.</p> + +<p class='c009'>When we turn from the conduct of +Captain Douglas to the sentence +passed upon it, we are utterly amazed +at its egregious disproportion and +flagrant injustice. There is an article +of war framed for the express purpose +of ridding the service of scandalous +and infamous persons. In order to +bring the case of Captain Douglas +under this article, he is first arraigned +for “unbecoming conduct,” and by a +very severe construction found guilty +of this charge; and then these comparatively +mild and harmless expressions +are found to be equivalent to +“scandalous and infamous conduct.” +Why, if this be law, if this is a precedent, +that article of war should +henceforth be read thus,—“Whoever +is guilty of unbecoming conduct shall +be cashiered.” And what a terrible +instrument of injustice such an article +of war might be converted into, it is +quite unnecessary to insist upon. If +any officer should have made himself +unpopular at the Horse Guards, or +amongst his fellow-officers, no matter +by what line of conduct, by being +worse or better than the general and +approved standard—it would be +strange if his enemies could not fasten +upon some act they could pronounce +“unbecoming,” and thereupon expel +him from the service with disgrace +and infamy.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_279'>279</span> + <h2 class='c002'>A FAREWELL TO NAPLES.</h2> +</div> + +<p class='c007 nf-center'>I.</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c016'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>A glorious amphitheatre, whose girth</div> + <div class='line'>Exceeds three-fold th’ horizons of the north,</div> + <div class='line'>Mixing our pleasure in a goblet wide,</div> + <div class='line'>With hard, firm rim through clear air far-descried;</div> + <div class='line'>Illumined mountains, on whose heavenly slopes,</div> + <div class='line'>Quick, busy shades rehearse, while Phœbus drops,</div> + <div class='line'>Dramatic parts in scenic mysteries;</div> + <div class='line'>Far-shadowing islands, and exulting seas</div> + <div class='line'>With cities girt, that catch, till day is done,</div> + <div class='line'>Successive glances from the circling sun,</div> + <div class='line'>And cast a snowy gleam across the blue:—</div> + <div class='line'>A gulf that, to its lakelike softness true,</div> + <div class='line'>Reveres the stillness of the syren’s cell,</div> + <div class='line'>Yet knows the ocean’s roll, and loves it well;</div> + <div class='line'>A gulf where Zephyr oft, with noontide heat</div> + <div class='line'>Oppressed, descends to bathe his sacred feet,</div> + <div class='line'>And, at the first cold touch, at once reviving,</div> + <div class='line'>Sinks to the wings in joy, before him driving</div> + <div class='line'>A feathery foam into the lemon groves;—</div> + <div class='line'>Evasive, zone-like sands and secret coves;</div> + <div class='line'>Translucent waves that, heaved with motion slow,</div> + <div class='line'>On fanes submerged a brighter gleam bestow;</div> + <div class='line'>Fair hamlets, streets with odorous myrtles spread,</div> + <div class='line'>Bruised by processions grave with soundless tread,</div> + <div class='line'>That leave (the Duomo entered) on the mind</div> + <div class='line'>A pomp confused, and music on the wind;</div> + <div class='line'>Smooth, mounded banks like inland coasts and capes,</div> + <div class='line'>That take from seas extinct their sinuous shapes,</div> + <div class='line'>And girdle plains whose growths, fire-fed below,</div> + <div class='line'>In bacchanal exuberance burst and blow;</div> + <div class='line'>A light Olympian and an air divine—</div> + <div class='line'>Naples! if these are blessings, they are thine.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line in20 c005'>II.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Thy sands we paced in sunlight and soft gloom;</div> + <div class='line'>From Tasso’s birthplace roamed to Virgil’s tomb.</div> + <div class='line'>Baia! thy haunts we trod, and glowing caves</div> + <div class='line'>Whose ambushed ardours pant o’er vine-decked waves.</div> + <div class='line'>Thy cliffs we coasted, loitered in thy creeks,</div> + <div class='line'>O shaggy island<a id='r6'></a><a href='#f6' class='c015'><sup>[6]</sup></a> with the five gray peaks!</div> + <div class='line'>Explored thy grotto, scaled thy fortress, where</div> + <div class='line'>Thy dark-eyed maids trip down the rocky stair,</div> + <div class='line'>With glance cast backward, laugh of playful scorn,</div> + <div class='line'>And cheek carnationed with the lights of morn.</div> + <div class='line'>The hills Lactarean lodged us in their breast:</div> + <div class='line'>Shadowy Sorrento to her spicy rest</div> + <div class='line'>Called us from far with gales embalmed, yet pure;</div> + <div class='line'>Her orange brakes we pierced, and ranged her rifts obscure.</div> + <div class='line'>Breathless along Pompeii’s streets we strayed</div> + <div class='line'>By songless fount, mosaic undecayed,</div> + <div class='line'>Voluptuous tomb, still forum, painted hall,</div> + <div class='line'>Where wreathed Bacchantes float on every wall;</div> + <div class='line'>Where Ariadne, by the purple deep,</div> + <div class='line'>Hears not those panting sails, but smiles in sleep;</div> + <div class='line'>Where yet Silenus grasps the woodland cup,</div> + <div class='line'>And buried Pleasure from its grave looks up.</div> + <div class='line'>Lastly, the great Vesuvian steep we clomb;</div> + <div class='line'>Then, Naples! made once more with thee our home.</div> + <div class='line'>We leave thee now—but first, with just review,</div> + <div class='line'>We cast the account, and strike the balance true—</div> + <div class='line'>And thus, as forth we move, we take our last adieu.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line in20 c005'>III.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>From her whom genius never yet inspired,</div> + <div class='line'>Or virtue raised, or pulse heroic fired;</div> + <div class='line'>From her who, in the grand historic page,</div> + <div class='line'>Maintains one barren blank from age to age;</div> + <div class='line'>From her, with insect life and insect buz,</div> + <div class='line'>Who, evermore unresting, nothing does;</div> + <div class='line'>From her who, with the future and the past</div> + <div class='line'>No commerce holds, no structure rears to last:</div> + <div class='line'>From streets where priests and jesters, side by side,</div> + <div class='line'>Range the rank markets, and their gains divide;</div> + <div class='line'>Where faith in art, and art in sense is lost,</div> + <div class='line'>And toys and gewgaws form a nation’s boast;</div> + <div class='line'>Where Passion, from Affection’s bond cut loose,</div> + <div class='line'>Revels in orgies of its own abuse;</div> + <div class='line'>And appetite, from Passion’s portals thrust,</div> + <div class='line'>Creeps on its belly to its grave of dust;</div> + <div class='line'>Where Vice her mask disdains, where Fraud is loud,</div> + <div class='line'>And naught but Wisdom dumb and Justice cowed;—</div> + <div class='line'>Lastly, from her who planted here unawed,</div> + <div class='line'>’Mid heaven-topped hills, and waters bright and broad,</div> + <div class='line'>Lacks heart to gather, and lacks strength to bear,</div> + <div class='line'>From these, one impulse of the free and fair;</div> + <div class='line'>And, girt not less with ruin, lives to show</div> + <div class='line'>That worse than wasted weal is wasted woe,—</div> + <div class='line'>We part; forth issuing through her closing gate,</div> + <div class='line'>With unreverting faces, not ingrate.</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<div class='chapter'> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_281'>281</span> + <h2 class='c002'>BARBARIAN RAMBLES.<a id='r7'></a><a href='#f7' class='c015'><sup>[7]</sup></a></h2> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>That great geniuses meet, is a saying +almost as ancient as the twin +rocks that give a title to Mr David +Urquhart’s latest literary production. +But not often is the same country +visited and described, within the short +space of two years, by two such distinguished +persons as the member for +Stafford and the author of <cite>Monte-Christo</cite>. +For the honour of their +presence, the shores of Barbary and +Andalusia are indebted to the chapter +of accidents. “I did not visit Morocco +or Spain on any settled plan. I was +on my way to Italy by sea, and, +passing through the straits of Gibraltar, +was so fascinated by the beauty +and mysteries of the adjoining lands, +that I relinquished my proposed excursion +for the explorations which +are here recorded.” Thus far the +Celt. Hear the Gaul’s reply to the +Bey of Tunis, when questioned as to +the motive of his African excursion,—“I +answered, that I had the honour +to be known to the king and princes +of France; that I had the misfortune +to be on tolerably bad terms with the +father, but the happiness to stand +pretty well with the sons; that one +of these sons, of whom he (the Bey) +had doubtless heard speak, and who +was dead—M. le Duc d’Orléans—had +more than once deigned to call me +his friend; that another son, still +better known to him than the first,—M. +le Duc de Montpensier—had +inherited his brother’s friendship for +me, and had invited me to his wedding, +which had just taken place at +Madrid; that, being at Madrid, I desired +to push on to Algiers, and, once +at Algiers, I felt unwilling to quit +Africa without saying a prayer upon +the tomb of St Louis, who was, as he +surely knew, a great <em>marabout</em>; that +I was on my way to perform this +duty, when I heard that he did me +the honour to expect me, whereupon +I hastened to pay him my respects.” +Such trivial causes lead to great results! +To the Montpensier marriage +is the Bey of Tunis indebted for an +interview with the first of French +novelists, and the European world for +the narrative of his African travels. +We hesitated before associating the +two books that form the theme of this +article. We feared to rouse M. +Dumas’ indignation, by coupling him +with an author whom he, with his +usual supercilious disesteem of things +British, will probably set down as +<i><span lang="fr">un pédant Ecossais</span></i>. On the other +hand, we thought it possible so grave +and erudite a person as Mr Urquhart +might consider his labours slighted, +when linked with the playful superficialities +of <cite>Le Véloce</cite>; and from this +apprehension we were relieved, only +upon finding him quote his French +cotemporary’s Spanish tour with an +air of greater approval than he usually +bestows upon the works of recent +writers on Spain. For it is not the +most amiable of his peculiarities, that +his references to brother travellers are +generally censorious. He seems to +have vowed opposition and animosity +to all who have rambled and written +over the same ground as himself. +Blanco White, George Borrow, +Richard Ford, and various others of +less note, in turn come in for correction +or a sneer. The last-named is +particularly ill-treated. “To Mr +Ford’s book, however disagreeable +the task, I had intended to devote a +special chapter; but, understanding +that the two volumes are, in the +second edition, reduced to one, I +must infer that the author has anticipated +my conclusion,—that the work +might be made valuable by cutting +out the slang, ribaldry, opinions, and +false quotations.” Should <cite>The Pillars +of Hercules</cite> reach a second edition, +either condensed, or in its present diffuse +form, we advise its author to cut +out this passage, or at least to correct +its discourtesy and exaggeration. +So harsh and unjust a verdict drives +us to the inference that, owing to +some mental idiosyncrasy of Mr Urquhart’s, +the chief merits of the book he +decries altogether escape his perception; +and that, whilst dwelling +upon an occasional error—pardonable +in a work embracing so great a variety +of subject, and such a mass of detail—and +condemning those opinions +that are so unfortunate as to differ +from his own, he totally overlooks the +racy humour, the happy illustrations, +the felicitous exposition of Spanish +foibles and characteristics, the intimate +knowledge of the country and +its customs, which place the author +of the <cite>Handbook</cite> and <cite>Gatherings</cite> +amongst the very highest authorities +respecting modern Spain. But we +need not take up the cudgels for +Richard Ford, whose works will +stand upon their own bottom, and +whose acute and pungent pen is quite +able to defend his literary offspring, +should he think it worth his while, +even against his present formidable +assailant.</p> + +<p class='c009'>There can be no doubt about the +disappointment of those persons who +open <cite>The Pillars of Hercules</cite> in +expectation of finding what the title +promises—a narrative of travel in +Spain and Morocco. These countries +are certainly mentioned here and +there in the two bulky octavos, but +quite subordinately to a variety of +other matters which had perhaps +better been treated elsewhere than in +the professed book of travels they +cumber and overload. Mr Urquhart, +who has published volumes and pamphlets +on innumerable subjects, social +and political, foreign and domestic, +appears to have had by him a heterogeneous +mass of essays and dissertations, +which he has now strung, pretty +much at random, upon the slender +thread of his Spanish-African ramble. +Wearisomely discursive and desultory, +he continually canters off +to distant regions, and to subjects +foreign to his text. Thus we have a +chapter on the invention and antiquity +of glass; another concerning the +magnetic needle; a third and fourth, +in which we are taken to America, +Ceylon, China, and other remote +places; one about the celebrated drug +hashish, which temporarily transports +its votaries into paradise. This is presently +succeeded by a dissertation on +buttered muffins; and shortly thereafter +we arrive at a long essay on +the early races of Spain and Mauritania, +which we take for granted to +be exceedingly learned and important, +and which we are quite sure is +awfully heavy and uninteresting. +Etymology is a hobby of this author’s, +and the portions of his work devoted +to it would, of themselves, make a +good-sized volume, by whose separation +the book would be greatly lightened +and advantaged. On the subject +of corporal purification he grows +positively eloquent and impassioned; +and so minute are his descriptions of +the scrubbing and scraping processes, +by which alone men become fit to live, +that he very rightly deems a prefatory +apology essential. On this head more +anon. We pause, for a specimen of +solemn trifling, at Chapter Nine, Book +the First, Volume the First. Nominally +an “Excursion round the Straits,” it +is actually an essay on costume, commencing +with Spanish petticoats, giving +a passing glance to the history and +origin of lace, asserting the identity of +the Moorish and Highland garb, and +closing with an argument in favour of +the importance and moral influence of +a national dress. The chapter opens +with praises of Cadiz, a city so long +accustomed to rhyme with “ladies,” +that it will hardly feel surprise or annoyance +at Mr Urquhart’s attributing +its charm less to the beauty of its +buildings than to the “swarm of women,” +with “fluttering eyes,” and +“silk blonde tresses,” covering the +floor of the cathedral. From tresses +to dresses the transition is easy, and +he proceeds to discourse upon the mantilla: +not a very novel subject certainly, +but one upon which he, nevertheless, +contrives to cast some new +lights—lights that would, we suspect, +rather dazzle and astonish the amiable +Gaditanas, whose habits and habiliments +he professes to describe. Whilst +stigmatising as “a bagged hood” the +most graceful and elegant description of +mantilla—that, namely, composed entirely +of lace, and which is in fact the +only kind worn by the higher classes +of Spanish women—he informs us that +“in windy weather the mantilla is +secured against the cheek by the tip +of the fan.” We laugh horribly as +we summon up, at this conjuror’s bidding, +a procession of mantilla-draped +dames and damsels tripping the Alameda +on a breezy day, each one of +them with the extremity of her fan +poked into her dexter jaw. Spanish +women know better how to use that +active little instrument of flirtation. +Passing over these and other slight +absurdities, we arrive at the hair-dressing +department. Here Mr Urquhart +is at first rather puzzled. But +he will not be baffled, and goes to the +very roots of the capillaries. “The +hair is dressed in two styles. One is +called <em>sarrano</em>. The only explanation +I could get for this name was, that +<em>sierra</em> means mountain, and that the +mountaineers dress in this way. But +neither does it seem to be the style +of the sierra, nor does the word <em>sarrano</em> +mean mountain: there is, indeed, +no such word in Spanish.” +When ascertaining this last fact by +reference to his dictionary, it is strange +that our traveller did not stumble +upon the word “<em>Serrano</em>, subs. mountaineer; +adj. pertaining to mountains,” +and which is, in fact, the very word +applied to the style of head-dress in +question, his ear having doubtless misled +him as to the <em>e</em> and <em>a</em>. This guides +us to two derivations. First, the one +furnished him by the natives, that the +style in question is or was particularly +affected by the dwellers in the Andalusian +sierras, as it still is by the +mountaineers of Catalonia. A second +explanation may be found in the form +of the comb that accompanies this +mode of head-dress, (but of which +Mr Urquhart makes no mention,) and +whose turreted or dentated crest, +rising full four inches perpendicularly +from the crown of the head, may have +suggested the term <em>serrano</em>, by its elevation +and imaginary resemblance to +a row of hill-tops. But such interpretations +as these are far too simple +and vulgar to suit Mr Urquhart, who +loves to journey by roundabout roads, +and would make, like Monkbarns, +a Roman sacrificing vessel out of a +kail-supper’s ladle. He bores and +proses away till he proves, quite to his +own satisfaction, that “sarrano head-dress +means neither more nor less +than Tyrian head-dress. Such an +etymology is by no means far-fetched.” +Certainly not, when compared with +others scattered through the book, although +even this one may be considered +rather <i><span lang="fr">tiré par les cheveux</span></i>: and, +moreover, the whole fabric is overthrown +by the word proving to be +serrano. But the hunting after derivations +is a passion with Mr Urquhart, +and leads him to the unearthing +of affinities which nobody else would +suspect. We confess ourselves so +overwhelmed by the flux of erudition, +by the multiplicity of languages +brought to bear, and by the extraordinary +etymons assigned to words +with which they have nothing visible +in common, that we resign ourselves +to believe in Urquhart, and are prepared +to admit, at his dictation, the +old derivation of cucumber from Jeremiah +King as perfectly valid, and +consonant to all received laws. So +fond is the honourable gentleman of +this grubbing for roots, that, when +once he stumbles on a derivation, he +goes on through a whole alphabet of +them; like a child who, having begun +to run down hill, is unable to stop till +it reaches the plain, or falls exhausted +by the road-side. We doubt if +many of his readers will share the avidity +with which he pursues his dry +and long-winded investigations, which +would be more in place in a dictionary +of derivations than in a narrative of +travel.</p> + +<p class='c009'>Our intention, in bringing Messrs +Dumas and Urquhart into juxtaposition, +is by no means to compare +them, or to exalt either at the expense +of the other. Their books form the +strongest possible contrast. In one +respect only do they agree—in a propensity +to ramble from their subject. +We have hinted at the crotchets that +lead the Highlander from his track; +the Frenchman strays in quest of the +dramatic and romantic, and is beguiled +by his prodigious vanity into +the most divertingly egotistical details. +The one is an eccentric dogmatist, +full of crotchets, but unobtrusive +of his individuality; the other +never loses sight of himself, nor will +suffer his reader to do so. He is always +in the foreground of the picture, the +chief character on the canvass, the +hero of his own comedy; or, if for a +moment he retires from the foot-lamps, +it is that their light may shine +upon his son and heir, Alexander the +younger, a <i><span lang="fr">grand garçon blond</span></i>, and +one of the half-score artists and +literati who compose the suite of the +illustrious Monte-Christo. When the +travellers arrived at Cadiz, in November +1846, Mr Dumas junior was +suddenly discovered to be missing. +Fascinated by the bright eyes of a +Cordovan maiden, he had given his +friends the slip. Although somewhat +uneasy, his father contented himself +with detaching one of his staff in +quest of the truant, and went on +board the war-steamer Véloce, which +had been placed at his disposal by +the Minister of Public Instruction. +Some of our readers may remember +that, about three years ago, this circumstance +gave rise to a discussion +in the French Chamber, when some +doubt was thrown upon the fact of +M. Dumas being intrusted with a +government mission. This seems to +have annoyed the distinguished +dramatist, who repeatedly refers to +the subject, gives a copy of his passport +and of certain official letters; and +upbraids M. Guizot, whom he at last, +however, magnanimously forgives, +declaring he has forgotten his name. +He then protests against the envy +of which his eminent position has +rendered him the object, and concludes +his remarks, made in a tone of +dignified and chastened indignation, +with the following striking passage:—“The +steamer thus placed at my +disposal has made me more enemies +than <em>Antony</em> and <cite>Monte-Christo</cite>, which +is saying not a little. It was in 1823 +or 1824, I believe, that Sir Walter +Scott, being then in bad health, expressed +a wish to make a voyage to +Italy. The English admiralty placed +its finest frigate at the disposal of the +author of <cite>Ivanhoe</cite>; and England applauded, +and the two houses of parliament +applauded, and the very +newspapers clapped their hands approvingly. +And it was well done; +for, for the first time perhaps, the +flag with the three leopards was +saluted in every port of the Mediterranean +by the enthusiastic acclamations +of the people. Were those +acclamations for the flag, or for the +man of genius it sheltered? for the +unknown captain of the frigate, whose +name I never heard, or for Sir Walter +Scott? True, I may be told that I +am not Sir Walter Scott; but to this +I reply, that it is the great misfortune +of living men in France not to know +what they are, so long as they <em>are</em> +living.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>How very good is this quiet assertion +of merit and anticipation of posthumous +appreciation by an ungrateful +country. “The steamer,” continues +the possible future rival of Scott, +“was granted me—be it as a matter +of favour, or as an act of justice; and +Government consented to expend for +me some sixteen thousand francs’ +worth of coal. It is right the world +should know that this voyage, which +caused such an outcry, cost the +Government sixteen thousand francs. +Just half what it cost me!” A paltry +eight hundred napoleons! Can +France regret it, when applied to the +service of her brightest literary ornament? +Let her read the <cite>Véloce</cite>, and +take shame for her shabbiness. +Astride upon his fiery charger, the +giant commenced his cruise. Need +we say that all eyes were upon him +as he boarded the steamer, and that +he took by assault the hearts of the +entire ship’s company, whom he +seized an early opportunity to convince +that his skill was as great with +the fowling-piece as with the pen. +“The Véloce was surrounded by a +flock of sea-fowl; on approaching the +vessel, desirous to give our future +companions a specimen of my dexterity, +I fired my two barrels at a +brace of gulls, both of which fell. +The yawl pulled to pick them up; and, +after this brilliant feat, we proceeded +triumphantly to the steamer.” This +is the first and least considerable of a +series of “brilliant feats” of the +same kind, recorded by M. Dumas of +himself in the pages of <cite>Le Véloce</cite>. +At Tangiers, his first landing-place in +Africa, he goes out shooting, and +encounters an Arab, the first he has +seen. This meeting furnishes a chapter—a +sort of parody of scenes in +Scott and Cooper, the parts of Robin +Hood and Leatherstocking by M. +Alexandre Dumas. He has just shot +a small bird, when the Arab appears +and doubts his having killed it on the +wing. A trial of skill ensues between +the Parisian and the Bedouin, the +former promising the latter, who is +unwilling to waste his powder, six +charges for every one he fires away. +The Arab fires at a plover and misses. +M. Dumas brings down a snipe. The +Arab smiles.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“‘The Frenchman shoots well,’ he +said; ‘but a true hunter uses not shot, +but a ball.’ The janissary translated +his words to me.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“‘’Tis true’ I replied; ‘tell him I +quite agree with him, and that, if he +will fix upon a mark, I engage to do +what he does.’</p> + +<p class='c009'>“‘The Frenchman owes me six +charges of powder,’ quoth the Arab.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“‘True again,’ I replied; ‘let the +Arab hold out his hand.’ He held +it out, and I emptied into it about a +third of the contents of my flask. He +produced his horn, and poured in the +powder to the very last grain. This +done, he would evidently have been +well-pleased to depart; but that would +not answer the purpose of Giraud and +Boulanger, who had not yet finished +their sketches. Accordingly, at the +first movement he made,</p> + +<p class='c009'>“‘Remind your countryman,’ said +I to El-Arbi-Bernat, ‘that we have +each of us to send a bullet somewhere, +whithersoever he pleases.’</p> + +<p class='c009'>“‘Yes,’ said the Arab. He looked +about and found a stick, which he +picked up, and then again set himself +to seek for something. I had in my +pocket a letter from one of my +nephews, employed on His Majesty’s +private domain: this letter reposed +peaceably in its square envelope, +adorned with a red seal; I give it to +the Arab, suspecting he was looking +for it, or for something like it. The +letter was the very thing for a target. +The Arab understood at once; he +split the end of the stick with his +knife, stuck in the letter, planted the +stick in the sand, and returned to us, +counting twenty-five paces. Then he +loaded his gun. I had a double-barrelled +rifle, ready loaded; an excellent +weapon, made by Devisme: in +each of its barrels was one of those +pointed bullets with which one kills a +man at fifteen hundred metres, (an +English mile; well done, M. Dumas!) +I took it from Paul, its usual bearer, +and I waited.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“The Arab took aim with a care +which showed the importance he +attached to not being vanquished a +second time. He fired, and his bullet +carried off a corner of the envelope. +Masters of themselves as Arabs generally +are, ours could not restrain a cry +of joy as he pointed to the rent in the +paper. I made sign that I saw it +perfectly well. He addressed to me +a few animated words.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“‘He says it is your turn,’ interpreted +the janissary.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“‘Certainly,’ I replied; ‘but tell +him that in France we do not fire at +so short a distance.’ I measured fifty +paces. He watched me with astonishment. +‘Now,’ said I, ‘tell him that, +with the first shot, I will hit the target +nearer the centre than he has done; +and with the second I will cut the +stick that sustains it.’</p> + +<p class='c009'>“In my turn I took a careful aim; +I had not come to Africa to leave a +wrong prospectus; and, having declared +my game, I was bound to play +it well. The first ball sped, and broke +the seal. The second followed almost +immediately, and cut the stick. The +Arab threw his gun on his shoulder, +and walked away, without claiming +the six charges of powder he was entitled +to. It was evident he felt +crushed under the weight of his inferiority, +and that, at that moment, +he doubted of everything, even of the +Prophet. He followed the circular +road along the beach, leading to Tangiers, +and reached the town, I am certain, +without having once turned his +head. Two or three Arabs, who in +the meanwhile had crossed the Oued, +and who had witnessed the trial of +skill, departed as silently, and almost +in as great consternation, as their +countryman. All Morocco was humiliated +in the person of its representative.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>Mr Urquhart and Mr Dumas each +made some stay at Tangiers, but, as +will easily be understood, they employed +their time very differently, and +have scarcely an idea in common on +the subject. The one talks politics, +dissects languages and makes antiquarian +investigations; the other, after +the shooting match above detailed, +and some rather high-flown attempts +at description of scenery, goes fishing +and boar-hunting, attends a Jewish +wedding, and purchases half the stock +in trade of David Azencot, an honest +Israelite, and a wealthy dealer in +sabres, burnous, scarfs, lamps, chibouks, +and a thousand and one other +Moorish curiosities. The Scot is didactic +and dull; the Frenchman frivolous, +but amusing. Of course they +both visit Gibraltar, and devote a +chapter to that remarkable fortress; +and here we must say that M. Dumas +carries it hollow, as far as pleasant +tone and good taste go. As is customary +with him, he is flippant and +good-humouredly impertinent; but he +shows himself grateful for a hospitable +reception, and does not rake up old +stories to the disadvantage of the +dead. He begins with the notable +discovery that Gibraltar has a foggy +atmosphere. The English, he says, +being used to a fog in their own country, +have manufactured one, by the +help of sea-coal, upon the coast of +Spain. The English, he affirms, +strive against and vanquish nature +herself. “They have produced dahlias +that smell like pinks, cherries +without stones, gooseberries without +grains, and they are now rearing oxen +without legs. Behold, for instance, +those of the county of Durham; they +have but one joint, and walk almost +upon their belly. Soon they will have +no joints at all, and will walk quite +upon their belly. Thus it is with the +fog. There was no fog at Gibraltar +before it belonged to the English; but +the English were accustomed to fog, +they missed it, and they made it.... +On entering Gibraltar, I felt that I +quitted Spain. Tangiers, which we +had just left, was much more Spanish +than Gibraltar. Hardly had we +passed the gate, when we were transported +into England. No more +pointed pavements, no more latticed +houses and green <em>jalousies</em>, no more +of those charming <em>patios</em>, with marble +fountains in the midst of the shops: +but clothiers, cutlers, armourers, hotels +with the arms of Great Britain, flagged +footpaths, fair women, red officers, +and English horses. Tom Thumb +had lent us his boots, and each step +we had taken from the deck of the +Véloce had carried us seven leagues. +We entered a <em>restaurant</em>. We ate +raw beefsteaks, sandwiches, butter, +moistening them with ale and porter; +but when, after breakfast, we asked +for a glass of Malaga, they were +obliged to send out for it. On the +other hand, the tea was irreproachable.” +This is a very fair skit on the +Englishman’s habit of carrying his +country’s usages into climates for +which they are totally unadapted. +Although feeling, according to his +own account, far from at his ease in +this British military colony, of whose +warlike aspect and regulations he +sketches a ludicrous caricature, M. +Dumas would not leave it without +paying a visit to the governor; and, +lest the anonymous lady to whom his +African letters are addressed should +be unable to comprehend this unusual +(?) desire on his part to make +the acquaintance of those in high +places, he beguiles the time, till the +governor returns from his ride, by +telling the story of Lavalette. No +matter that it has been pretty often +told; related <i><span lang="fr">à la Dumas</span></i>, that is to +say, with a superabundance of detail, +it covers a few pages, and explains +his wish for an interview with the +English general. “Sir Robert Wilson, +a magnificent old man, sixty-six +or sixty-eight years of age, who still +breaks his own horses, and rides ten +leagues every day, gave me a charming +reception. I was so imprudent as +to express my admiration of some +Moorish pottery-wares upon his sideboard, +and I found them in my cabin +on returning to the Véloce. If anything +could have induced me to remain +another day at Gibraltar, it would +have been the pressing invitation Sir +Robert Wilson was kind enough to +give me. Impressed with a lively +sentiment of admiration, I left this +noble and loyal-hearted man. May +God grant long and happy days to +him, to whom another man was indebted +for long days of happiness.” +All his admiration of Lavalette’s +saviour was insufficient to detain him +in Gibraltar, which he declares himself +to have quitted with as strong a +sensation of relief as Napoleon’s ex-aide-de-camp +can have felt when, +thanks to Sir Robert Wilson’s chivalry, +he safely set foot across France’s +frontier. French and English are +now well used to each other’s jocular +sarcasm, and are never the worse +friends for it, because it is the interest +of both to remain in amity. There +is no venom in M. Dumas’ playful +satire, which one glances over with a +smile, quitting it with regret for the +croakings of Mr Urquhart. This +gentleman has some very peculiar +notions respecting Gibraltar, whose +restoration to Spain he strongly advocates, +and to whose retention by Great +Britain he ascribes a frightful catalogue +of evils, including sundry European +wars, fifty-five millions sterling unprofitably +sunk, and the undying hatred +of Spain towards this country—bringing +no less a witness than Napoleon +to the truth of this last assertion. +The fifty-five millions are “suggested +as a rough guess” at the actual outlay; +and besides them, we are assured, +hundreds of millions have been spent +on wars entailed by our possession of +Gibraltar. All this is too vaguely +put, seriously to challenge argument +or refutation; and as to the “undying +hatred,” why, the anti-English +party in Spain may occasionally bluster +about the hole in the national +honour, and so forth; but the great +majority of the nation never bestow a +thought upon the matter, and the +smuggling portion of the community—no +uninfluential class—find Gibraltar +exceedingly convenient for their +contraband traffic. But Mr Urquhart’s +statements on this head are +very loose, and some of them very +fallacious; and he attains the climax +of absurdity and misrepresentation +when he says, that “the fiscal regulations +of Spain, which sustain this +(contraband) traffic, would long since +have fallen but for its (Gibraltar’s) +retention by England. We therefore +lose the legitimate trade of all +Spain, for the smuggling profits (which +go to the Spaniards) at this port.” +The sort of jingle of plausibility in +these sentences will impose only upon +persons profoundly ignorant of the +subject. The assertion is made in the +teeth of notorious facts, and is opposed +alike to truth and to common sense. +The more difficult, dangerous, and +expensive smuggling could be rendered, +the less would be its injurious effect +on the Spanish revenue, and the +less likely would be a reduction of +duties. The smuggling facilities afforded +by Gibraltar, by the Portuguese +frontier and the Pyrenean line, (Mr +Urquhart, it has been seen, wholly +ignores the two latter channels, and +lays the high-duty system entirely at +the door of Gibraltar,) have, by limiting +the custom-house receipts to the merest +trifle, contributed, more than any +other cause, to fix the attention of the +Spanish government on the advantage +to be derived from reductions in their +monstrous tariff—reductions which the +last four months have beheld carried +out, although as yet but to an exceedingly +limited extent. This subject, +however, has of late been so fully discussed +in our pages that we shall not +here pursue it further, particularly as +it is evident that Mr Urquhart has +still to become acquainted with its +rudiments. It were more amusing, +although scarcely more profitable, to +dwell upon a subsequent chapter, +where, reverting to Gibraltar, the +honourable gentleman tilts at its late +governor, and raises the Russian +bugbear—a goblin which he would +doubtless always manage to evoke, in +whatsoever part of the world he +chanced to find himself. In portentous +italics he tells us as how +“a Russian steam-vessel of war +was admitted to the quay of her Majesty’s +vessels to get coal, which was +furnished her from the royal stores, +while French men-of-war were allowed +no such indulgence; on departing +she <em>was saluted by the fortress with +twenty-one guns</em>! This I witnessed +with my own eyes, and heard with my +own ears. The assembled crowd said, +‘<i><span lang="pt">Es loco</span></i>’—‘he is mad.’” Is Mr Urquhart +certain to whom the crowd’s +exclamation referred? His pet crotchet +is by this time pretty generally recognised; +and even his best friends, and a +few partial admirers, cannot choose +but smile at the tenacity of his monomania, +and at the moonshine illumination +he throws upon Russian designs +and their British abettors. Truly he +is a dead hand at a mare’s nest. With +a scuttle of coals and a blank cartridge, +he would build up a powder-plot, +and talks darkly and ominously +about “the system of government (in +England) by secresy and intrigue.” +We do think, however, he would have +done more gracefully to let Sir Robert +Wilson alone. “Since the above was +written,” he says, “Sir Robert Wilson +has disappeared from the scene. I do +not on that account suppress what I +have written, as I have not brought +any charge against him.” No new +charge; but he has revived and dragged +forth an old one, wellnigh forgotten under +the moss of years and the laurels +of the departed veteran. It is no +generous hand that will approach, +otherwise than kindly and with reverence, +the memory of the gallant soldier +of the Peninsula, the brave defender +of Portugal, the stout fighter +by Dresden, of whom it has so truly +been said, that “he ever was foremost +where danger was to be encountered +or glory won.”<a id='r8'></a><a href='#f8' class='c015'><sup>[8]</sup></a></p> + +<p class='c009'>Totally dissimilar in character as +are the two works under examination, +the transitions from the one to the +other are yet astonishingly easy. +Thus Mr Urquhart’s Muscovite nightmare +leads us, in the most natural +manner possible, to a tale of a cotton +nightcap, related by his witty contemporary. +At Tunis, M. Dumas was +quite confounded by the prevalence of +this unpoetical but comfortable head-dress, +which he constantly met with +in the streets and on the quays. +Puzzled at its naturalisation in a clime +so remote from its native country, (an +honour which he claims for France,) +and being of an inquisitive turn of +mind, he instituted inquiries, and received +for explanation an anecdote, +which we shall here transcribe, as nearly +as possible, in his own phraseology. +We feel that we neglect Mr Urquhart, +and ought by right to give precedence +of extract to his muffin-investigation; +but really the nightcap story is much +more amusing, and quite as important, +although it may possibly owe +more to its narrator’s imagination.</p> + +<p class='c009'>About twenty years ago, according +to M. Dumas, under the reign of a +former Bey, a ship bound from Marseilles +to Gibraltar, with a cargo of +cotton nightcaps, was driven by a gale +into Tunis roads. At that period a duty +was levied on vessels availing themselves +of the port of Tunis; and this +duty, depending on the caprice of the +Raïa-marsa, or captain of the port, was +very arbitrary. The Marseilles captain +was naturally subjected to this +impost; still more naturally the Raïa-marsa +fixed it at an exorbitant sum. +There was, however, no alternative +but to pay: the unlucky speculator in +nightcaps lay beneath the paw of the +lion. With the loss of part of his +skin, he slipped between the beast’s +claws, and ran to throw himself at the +feet of the Bey. The Bey hearkened +to the complaint of the Giaour. When +he had heard it, and had satisfied +himself that the amount of extortion +had been rightly stated by its victim, +he said:—</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Do you desire Turkish justice or +French justice?”</p> + +<p class='c009'>After long reflection, the Marseillese, +with a confidence that did honour to the +legislation of his native land, replied:</p> + +<p class='c009'>“French justice.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“’Tis good,” replied the Bey; “return +to thy ship and wait.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>The seaman kissed his highness’s +papooshes, returned to his ship, and +waited. He waited one month, two +months, three months. At the end +of the third month, finding the time +rather long, he went ashore, and +watched for the Bey to pass by. The +Bey appeared: the captain threw +himself at his feet.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Highness,” said he, “you have +forgotten me?”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“By no means,” replied the Bey; +“you are the captain of the French +ship who complained to me of the +Raïa-marsa?”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“And to whom you promised justice!”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Yes; but French justice.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Certainly.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Well, of what do you now complain?”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Of having waited three months +for it.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Listen,” said the Bey. “Three +years ago your consul treated me with +disrespect; I complained to your king, +claiming justice at his hands, and +three years have I waited for it: come +back in three years, and we will see.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“The deuce!” exclaimed the captain, +who began to understand; “and +is there no means of abridging the +delay, your highness?”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“You asked for French justice.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“But if I had asked for Turkish +justice?”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“That were different: it had been +done you on the instant.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Is it too late to change my mind?”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“It is never too late to do wisely.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Turkish justice then, highness—grant +me Turkish justice!”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“’Tis good. Follow me.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>The captain kissed the Bey’s papooshes, +and followed him to his +palace. Arrived there: “How much +did the Raïa-marsa exact from you?” +inquired the Bey.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Fifteen hundred francs.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“And you consider that sum too +large?”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Highness, such is my humble +opinion.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Too large by how much?”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“By at least two-thirds.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“’Tis just; here are fifteen hundred +piastres, making exactly a thousand +francs.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Highness,” said the captain, “you +are the balance of divine justice,” +and he kissed the papooshes of the +Bey, and was about to depart. The +Bey stopped him.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Have you no other claim to prefer?” +he said.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“One I certainly have, highness, +but I dare not.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Dare, and speak.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“It seems to me that I deserve +compensation for the time I have lost, +whilst awaiting the memorable decision +your highness has just pronounced.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“’Tis just.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“The rather,” continued the captain, +emboldened by the Bey’s approbation, +“that I was expected at Gibraltar +in the beginning of the winter, +which is now over, and the favourable +season for the sale of my cargo is +past.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“And of what does thy cargo consist?” +demanded the Bey.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Highness, of cotton nightcaps.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“What are cotton nightcaps?”</p> + +<p class='c009'>The captain took from his pocket +a specimen of his goods, and presented +it to the Bey.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“For what purpose is this utensil?” +said the latter.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“To cover the head,” replied the +captain. And joining example to +precept, he put on the nightcap.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“It is very ugly,” quoth the Bey.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“But very comfortable,” retorted +the captain.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“And you say that my delay to do +you justice has occasioned you a loss?”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Of ten thousand francs, at least, +highness.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>The Bey called his secretary. The +secretary entered, crossed his hands +upon his breast, and bowed to the +ground. Then he took his pen, and +the Bey dictated to him a few lines, +which, being in Arabic, were totally +unintelligible to the captain. When +the secretary had done writing: +“’Tis good,” said the Bey; “let this +decree be proclaimed throughout the +city.” Again the secretary crossed +his hands upon his breast, bent himself +to the earth, and departed.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Craving your highness’s pardon,” +said the captain, “may I venture to +inquire the substance of that decree?”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Certainly; it is an order to all the +Jews in Tunis to cover their heads, +within twenty-four hours from this +time, with a cotton nightcap, under +penalty of decapitation.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Ah! <em>tron de l’air</em>!” exclaimed the +Marseillese; “I understand.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Then if you understand, return to +your ship, and make the best profit +you can of your goods; you will +soon have customers.” The captain +threw himself at the feet of the Bey, +kissed his papooshes and returned to +his ship. Meanwhile, by sound of +trumpet, and in all the streets of Tunis, +the following proclamation was made.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Praises to Allah, the universal, to +whom all things return!</p> + +<p class='c009'>“The slave of Allah glorified, who +implores his pardon and absolution, +the Mouchir Sidi-Hussein-Pacha, Bey +of Tunis:</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Forbids every Jew, Israelite, or +Nazarene, to appear in the streets of +Tunis without a cotton nightcap upon +his accursed and infidel head.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“This, under pain of decapitation.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Giving to the unbelievers twenty-four +hours to provide themselves with +the said covering.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“To this order all obedience is due.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Written under date of the 20th +April, in the year 1243 of the Hegira.</p> + +<div class='lg-container-r'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>(Signed,) “<span class='sc'>Sidi Hussein</span>.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c009'>You may fancy the sensation excited +in Tunis by such a proclamation +as this. The twenty-five thousand +Jews who compose the Israelite population +of the city looked aghast, and +asked each other what was this eighth +plague which thus descended upon +the people chosen of the Lord. The +most learned Rabbis were appealed to, +but not one of them had a clear notion +of what a cotton nightcap was. At last a +<em>Gourni</em>—it is thus the Leghorn Jews +are named—remembered to have once +seen the crew of a Norman ship enter +that port with the head-dress in question. +It was something to know the +article required; the next thing to +be ascertained was, where it could be +procured. Twelve thousand cotton +nightcaps are not to be picked up at +every street corner. The men wrung +their hands, the women tore their +hair, the children ate the dust upon +the highway. Just when the cries of +anguish were most piercing, and +the desolation at its climax, a report +spread through the multitude. It said +that a ship laden with cotton nightcaps +was then in the port. Inquiry +was made. It was, said rumour, a +three-master from Marseilles. The +question was, would there be nightcaps +enough? Were there twelve +thousand of them—a cotton nightcap +for everybody? There was a rush to +the water side; in an instant a flotilla +of boats, crowded almost to sinking, +covered the lake, and it was a hot +race out to the roads. At the Goulette +there was fouling, and four or five +boats were capsized; but as there are +but four feet of water in the lake of +Tunis, nobody was drowned. They +cleared the narrow passage, and approached +the good ship <em>Notre Dame de +la Garde</em>, whose captain was upon deck +expecting their arrival. Through his +telescope he had beheld the embarkation, +the race, the accidents—everything +in short. In less than ten minutes +three hundred boats surrounded his +vessel, and twelve thousand throats +vociferated, “Cotton nightcaps! cotton +nightcaps!” The captain signed +with his hand for silence, and the +noisy mob were mute as mice.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“You want cotton nightcaps?” +said he.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Yes! yes! yes!” was the reply +on every side.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“All very well,” said the captain; +“but you are aware, gentlemen, that +cotton nightcaps are just now in great +request. My letters from Europe +advise a rise in the article.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“We know that,” said the same +voices—“we know that, and ve vill +make a sacrifice.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Listen to me,” said the captain; +“I am an honest man.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>The Jews trembled. The captain’s +words were their invariable exordium +when about to rob a Christian.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“I will not take advantage of your +position to impose upon you.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>The Jews turned pale.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“The cotton nightcaps cost me two +francs apiece, one with the other.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Vell, it ish not too dear,” muttered +the Jews in their beards.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“I will be satisfied with a hundred +per cent profit,” continued the captain.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Hosannah!” cried the Jews.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“At four francs apiece, cotton nightcaps!” +said the captain, and twelve +thousand hands were extended. “Order!” +he continued; “come up on the +larboard side, and go down on the +starboard.” Every Jew crossed the +vessel in turn, carried away a nightcap, +and left four francs. The captain’s +receipts were forty-eight thousand +francs, whereof thirty-six thousand +were clear profit. The twelve +thousand Jews returned to Tunis, +every man plus a cotton nightcap, and +minus four francs.</p> + +<p class='c009'>The next day the captain presented +himself at the palace of the Bey, at +whose feet he prostrated himself, and +kissed his papooshes.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Well?” said the Bey.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Your highness,” said the captain, +“I come to thank you.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“You are satisfied?”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Delighted.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“And you prefer Turkish justice to +French justice?”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“There is no comparison between +them.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“This is not all,” said the Bey. +And, turning to his secretary, he bade +him take his pen and write at his +dictation. The writing was a second +decree, forbidding the Jews, under +pain of death, to appear in the streets +of Tunis with cotton nightcaps on +their heads, and granting them twenty-four +hours to dispose of their recent +purchases as advantageously as possible.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Do you understand?” said the +Bey to the captain.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Oh, highness!” cried the Marseillese +in an ecstasy of delight, “you +are the greatest of all Beys, past, +present, and to come.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Return to your vessel, and wait.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>Half an hour later, the trumpets +sounded in the streets of Tunis, and +the town’s-people thronged to the unusual +summons. Amongst the listeners +the Jews were easily recognised +by their triumphant air, and by their +cotton nightcaps cocked over one ear. +The decree was read in a loud and +intelligible voice. The Jews’ first +impulse was to throw their nightcaps +into the fire. On reflection, however, +the head of the synagogue saw that +twenty-four hours were allowed to +get rid of the proscribed articles. The +Jew is essentially a calculating animal. +The Jews of Tunis calculated +that it was better to lose one half, or +even three quarters, than to lose the +whole. Having twenty-four hours to +turn in, they began by driving a bargain +with the boatmen, who on the +previous occasion had abused their +haste, and overcharged them. Two +hours later, the French ship was again +surrounded by boats.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Captain! captain!” cried twelve +thousand voices. “Cotton nightcaps +to shell! cotton nightcaps to +shell!”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Pooh!” said the captain.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Captain, itsh a bargain; captain, +you shall have them sheap.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“I have received a letter from +Europe,” said the captain.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Vell! vell!”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“It advises a great fall in cotton +nightcaps.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Captain, ve vill looshe upon +them.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“So be it,” said the captain. “I +can only give you half price.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Ve vill take it.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“I bought them at two francs. +Let those who will give them for one +come on board by the starboard gangway, +and depart by the larboard.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Oh, captain!”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“It’s to take or to leave, as you +like.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Captain.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“All hands to make sail!” shouted +the captain.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Vat are you doing, captain? vat +are you doing?”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Lifting my anchor, to be sure.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Ah now, captain, can’t you shay +two francs?”</p> + +<p class='c009'>The captain continued to give +orders for sailing.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Vell, captain, ve must shay thirty +sous.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>The mainsail expanded its folds, +and the capstan began to creak.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Captain, captain! ve vill take +your franc!”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Stop,” cried the captain.</p> + +<p class='c009'>One by one the Jews ascended the +starboard side and descended to larboard, +leaving their cotton nightcaps, +and receiving a franc apiece. For a +miserable three francs they had twice +saved their heads: it was not dear. +As to the captain, he had got back +his goods, and made a clear profit of +thirty-six thousand francs. As he +was a man who knew how to behave, +he put eighteen thousand francs in his +boat, went ashore, and presented himself +before the Bey, at whose feet he +again prostrated himself, and whose +papooshes he once more kissed.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“I come to present my humble +thanks to your highness.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Are you satisfied?”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Overjoyed.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Do you consider the indemnity +sufficient?”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Too much. And I come to offer +your highness half my net profit of +thirty-six thousand francs.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Nonsense!” said the Bey. “Have +you forgotten that I promised you +Turkish justice?”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“I perfectly remember.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Well, Turkish justice is done +gratis.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“<em>Tron de l’air!</em>” cried the captain: +“in France a judge would not have +been contented with half; he would +have taken at least three quarters.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“You mistake,” said the Bey; “he +would have taken the whole.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Aha!” exclaimed the captain, “I +see you know France as well as I do.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>And once more he went down into +the dust to kiss the Bey’s papooshes, +but the Bey gave him his hand. The +captain returned to his ship, and a +quarter of an hour later he left the +African coast under press of sail. He +feared lest the Bey might change his +mind.</p> + +<p class='c009'>Their brief experience of the nightcap +convinced the Tunisian Jews of +its superiority to the yellow caps and +black turbans with which they were +wont to cover their infidel heads; and +upon the death of the Bey they obtained +permission from his successor +to adopt the cotton covering, whose +wear previously entailed decapitation. +Such, at least, is the explanation given +by the ingenious M. Dumas of the +naturalisation of Paris nightcaps on +the Barbary coast.</p> + +<p class='c009'>Incidentally, and rather as things +told him than of his own knowledge, +Mr Urquhart gives some brief details +of the celebrated French campaign +against Morocco, in which Marshal +Bugeaud won his dukedom, and Admiral +Joinville immortalised his name. +His account of the affair of Isly is contemptuous +enough, and will assuredly +entail upon him the indignation of +France, or at least of that portion of +Frenchmen who believe, or affect to +believe, that there was a battle and a +victory—not a surprise and a scamper, +unexpected by the assailed, and bloodless +to the assailants. “On the 14th +August,” says Mr Urquhart, “the +son of the sultan is awakened by an +alarm, ‘<em>The French army is in sight</em>.’ +He tells his people the marshal is +coming to pay him a visit, before his +departure; and after giving orders for +a tent to be pitched, and coffee—which +he knew the French liked—to be +sought for and prepared, he again +assumed, to use the phraseology of +Antar, ‘the attitude of repose.’ He +is again awakened—‘<em>The French are +on us</em>’—and the French <em>were</em> on them—found +<em>the coffee ready</em>, and, instead +of drinking, spilt it. The loss of the +Moors was eight hundred men by +<em>suffocation</em>.” Compare this statement +with the reflection of Alexander +Dumas, on approaching the mountains +of Djema-r’ Azaouat. “Behind yonder +hills,” he fervently exclaims, “are +two great mementos, equal to Thermopylæ +and Marathon—the combat +of Sidi-Ibrahim, and the battle of +Isly.” Funny Mr Dumas! how gravely +he says these droll things. How many +persons, out of France, remember to +have heard of this modern Thermopylæ? +We seriously suggest to +Mr Dumas, whose indefatigable pen, +although more particularly devoted to +romance and the drama, occasionally +flies at history, to write that of the +conquest and colonisation of Algeria, +in which would naturally be included +the episode of the campaign against +the Moors. We are quite sure his +account of the battle of Isly will differ +widely from that of Mr Urquhart: as +widely as, or still more so than that of +Admiral Bruat, which was addressed +to the inhabitants of the Society +Islands, in a proclamation quoted as +a note to <cite>The Pillars of Hercules</cite>, and +which Mr Urquhart declares, with +much truth, to be highly deserving of +a place in history. M. Dumas seems +to us to be exactly cut out for the +historian of his countrymen’s African +exploits. The razzias and crop-burnings, +the bloody skirmishes of +Zouaves and Bedouins, the constant +pursuit and many narrow escapes of +the Emir, will acquire additionally +romantic interest from the picturesque +handling of the author of the <cite>Mousquetaires</cite>, +who declares, in the pages of <cite>Le +Véloce</cite>, that he is not only a soldier’s +son, but himself a soldier at heart. +With what glowing eloquence will he +refute the various charges brought +against his countrymen in Africa! “If +Abd-el-Kader,” says Mr Urquhart, +“had not been playing a game, at all +events a game was played in his person. +He was necessary to the French +military system of Algiers. He is +known to have been three times in +their hands, and to have been suffered +to escape.” This accusation has frequently +been brought against the +French generals in Africa. If such +collusion existed, it was not subscribed +to, according to M. Dumas, +by Colonel Montagnac, who commanded, +in the year 1845, the garrison +of Djema-r’ Azaouat, and who had +repeatedly sworn to take the Emir or +lose his life. One day an Arab presented +himself at the colonel’s quarters. +He came from the chief of the +neighbouring tribe of Souhalias, who +was, he said, more devoted than ever +to the French cause; and who sent +word that, if the garrison would make +a sortie, and place themselves in ambuscade +on the territory of his tribe, +he engaged to deliver Abd-el-Kader +into their hands. Confiding in the +Arab’s promise, Montagnac issued +forth at the head of four hundred and +eight men and twelve officers, including +sixty-five cavalry. But on the second +day he found he was betrayed, and +that the promised capture was but a +bait to lure him from his stronghold. +The little band retraced their steps, and +were within five leagues of Djema-r’ +Azaouat, when they were menaced by +an overwhelming force of Arabs and +Kabyles; and in the distance the Emir +himself, his banner displayed at the +head of his regulars, was seen descending +the hills. Two companies of +French riflemen remained to guard the +baggage; and the others, with the +cavalry, advanced against the foe. +After a desperate struggle, the main +body was cut to pieces, or made prisoners; +and a company, advancing +from the bivouac to its support, was +surrounded and exterminated. Of +these combats, Mr Dumas gives a +minute account, introducing dramatic +dialogues between the men and officers, +and imparting to the whole scene +his usual vivid and animated colouring. +Thus, when the company from +the baggage-guard is marching up, +only sixty strong, to the assistance of +its comrades, and is suddenly surrounded, +we find the following graphic +account of its proceedings:—</p> + +<p class='c009'>“The commanding officer had but +just time to order formation of square. +The manœuvre was executed under +the fire of ten thousand Arabs (!) as +it would have been in the Champ-de-Mars. +Of all these men, only one +showed signs of regret—none of fear. +This was a young rifleman, twenty +years old, named Ismaël.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“‘Oh, <em>commandant</em>!’ he exclaimed, +‘we are lost!’</p> + +<p class='c009'>“The commandant smiled upon the +poor lad; he understood that at twenty +years of age he knew so little of life +that he had a right to regret it.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“‘How old are you?’ he asked of +the young soldier.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“‘One-and-twenty,’ was the reply.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“‘Well, you will have eighteen +years less to suffer than I have had; +look at me, and learn how to die with +firm heart and head erect.’</p> + +<p class='c009'>“He had scarcely spoken, when a +bullet struck his forehead, and he +fell as he had promised to fall. Five +minutes later, Captain Burgaud had +likewise fallen.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“‘Come, my friends,’ said the non-commissioned +adjutant Thomas, ‘one +step forward: let us die upon the +bodies of our officers.’</p> + +<p class='c009'>“These were the last distinct words +that were heard; the death-rattle followed +them, then the silence of the +grave. In its turn, the second company +had disappeared. All that now +remained was the company under +Captain de Géreaux, left in charge of +the camp.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>Mr Dumas’ habit of writing melodrama +renders him very effective in +this sort of romantic military chronicle, +which is pretty well received in +France, where people are used to the +style. It is compounded upon the +plan of all his historical romances and +romantic histories, with the sole difference +that, in these, he frequently +audaciously perverts historic truth; +whilst the African business is so recent +that he cannot venture to be +unfaithful to the outline, and confines +himself to filling up and extending +with his own fantastic details. Having +been on the spot, and one of the +first to welcome the few survivors of +the prisoners taken in the above +bloody affair, when they were ransomed +from the Arabs, he doubtless +picked up a number of the tales that +always circulate in such cases; and +these he has very cleverly amalgamated +and patched up into a consecutive +narrative—perhaps the most +amusing section of those two volumes +of <cite>Le Véloce</cite> which alone as yet have +reached us. His account of the fate +of the last company—the one that +stopped with the baggage—is the best +bit of all, although certainly very +French, and strongly impregnated +with that peculiar flavour of theatrical +fanfaronade which is inseparable from +the character of our vain and volatile +neighbours, which they cannot see, +and consequently are not likely to lose, +and which stirs the gall of prejudiced +and untravelled Englishmen, and +brings a smile to the lip of those who, +with greater justice and in a better +spirit, will not allow peculiarities of +tone and manner to blind them to the +good qualities of a gallant and ingenious +nation, whose soldiers, although +of late years they have more than +once been employed in wars and +expeditions unworthy of their prowess, +have never lost an opportunity of +proving that, in valour at least, they +are no way degenerate from their +fathers who fought under the banners +of Napoleon the Great. And although +one cannot but be amused at the +ambitious comparison with Thermopylæ, +the affair of Sidi-Ibrahim was +unquestionably most honourable to +the handful of brave fellows who +defended the Marabout of that name +against fifty times their number. +The term <em>Marabout</em> is applied, in +Africa, not only to a saint, but to the +small, round-roofed, stone edifice +which serves as his mausoleum after +death, and, not unfrequently, as his +habitation during life. In a building +of this description, after driving out +the Arabs that occupied it, and when +the cessation of the musketry warned +them that their comrades were slain +or prisoners, the last company of Colonel +Montagnac’s ill-fated detachment +took refuge, under the orders of its +captain, de Géreaux, and there withstood +the fierce and reiterated attacks +of a host of Arabs and Kabyles. Abd-el-Kader +himself approached the little +fortress, and was wounded in the cheek +by a French bullet. He offered quarter +on surrender: it was refused. +Thrice he summoned the handful of +beleaguered warriors, who spurned his +proposals, and would not trust themselves +to the word of an Arab. Then +the combat recommenced and lasted +till night, whose arrival found the +French still in possession of their post. +At daybreak, hostilities were resumed, +and continued till ten o’clock in the +forenoon, when Abd-el-Kader took his +departure, and the Arabs, whose loss +was very heavy, converted the siege +into a blockade. Night returned, +and Captain de Géreaux, who was +on the watch, saw an Arab creeping +stealthily towards the Marabout. +He awoke Dr Rosagutti, +the interpreter; they called to the +Arab, who came to them; they gave +him all the money they had about +them, and a letter to take to the +camp of Lalla Maghrnia. The Arab +was faithful; he delivered the letter; +but none knew the signature of Captain +de Géreaux; a stratagem was +suspected, and no relief was sent. +Hope of succour, however, buoyed up +the spirits of the besieged of Sidi-Ibrahim, +and they waited another +day, without bread or water, almost +without ammunition, their gaze fixed +in the direction of Lalla Maghrnia. +But the next morning at six o’clock, +despairing of relief, they resolved to +sally forth and cut their way to +Djema-r’Azaouat. There were four +leagues to get over, and thousands of +Arabs were echeloned along the route. +With desperate courage, the fifty-five +or sixty Frenchmen repulsed numerous +attacks, forming square when hard +pressed, receiving many wounds, marking +their track with corpses, but still, +by their steadiness and deadly fire, +keeping the undisciplined Arabs at +bay. Some five-and-twenty succeeded +in arriving within half a league of +Djema-r’Azaouat, but then their ammunition +was expended; the Arabs +pressed upon them, and a volley at +twenty paces stretched half their number, +including the brave de Géreaux, +lifeless in the dust. The remainder +dispersed, and sought concealment +and safety amongst the copsewood +and bushes. Three of them reached +the lines of Djema-r’Azaouat, told the +sad tale, and died, unwounded, of +mere exhaustion. A sortie was made, +and five or six men, who had escaped +the Kabyle sabres, were brought in. +Eight men were all that survived of +the gallant eighth battalion of the +Chasseurs of Orleans. The disaster, +however, was signally revenged. The +Arabs who had brought it about, by the +false message sent to Colonel Montagnac—the +tribe of the Beni-Snanen—were +cooped up by General Cavaignac +on a narrow projection of the coast, and +driven into the sea or put to the sword, +to the number of four or five thousand. +“The furious soldiers gave no quarter,” +adds M. Dumas, “and General +Cavaignac perilled his popularity with +the army by saving a remnant of this +unfortunate tribe. The trumpeter, +Roland, the only survivor of the massacre +of the m’Louïa, (when the prisoners +taken by Abd-el-Kader were +put to death in cold blood,) was in +this affair: he had a terrible revenge +to take, and he took it, and declared +himself satisfied, for he had slain with +his own hand more than thirty Arabs.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>Great as is the press of more important +matter, and prolonged though +this paper has been by the extracts to +which the diverting Dumas has tempted +us, we yet cannot close it without +a glance at Mr Urquhart’s remarkable +chapter, entitled “<span class='sc'>The Bath</span>.” On +this subject his notions and prepossessions +are completely Oriental. His +residence in the East has given him a +distaste for the modes of washing +customary in Western Europe, and +which he styles “dabbling in dirty +water.” Nothing less than the running +stream can come up to his standard +of cleanliness. And as it is not +always practicable to have fountains +in dwelling-houses, he tells us how he +manages without one. “I find the +most convenient substitute a vase +holding about two gallons of water, +with a spout like that of a tea-urn, +only three times the length, placed on +a stand about four feet high, with a +tub below: hot or cold water can be +used; the water may be very hot, as +the stream that flows is small. It runs +for a quarter of an hour or twenty +minutes.” This is his plan in the +West, we understand; but when the +member for Stafford gets amongst +Mussulmans, oh, how he revels in the +shampoo! The gusto of his descriptions +positively makes us shudder. The +bathman, we are told, “stands with +his feet on the thighs and on the +chest, and slips down the ribs; then +up again three times; and, lastly, +doubling your arms one after the +other on the chest, pushes with both +hands down, beginning at the elbow, +and then putting an arm under the +back and applying his chest to your +crossed elbows, <em>rolls on you across till +you crack</em>. You are now turned on +your face, and, in addition to the +operation above described, he works +his elbow round the edges of your +shoulder-blade, and with the heel +plies hard the angle of the neck; he +concludes by hauling the body half up +by each arm successively, while he +stands with one foot on the opposite +thigh. You are then raised for a +moment to a sitting posture, and a +contortion given to the small of the +back, and a jerk to the neck by the two +hands holding the temples.” This has +rather a dislocating, formidable, and +certainly a most disgusting sound; but +Mr Urquhart assures us the process +is delightful, and particularly gentle +compared with the mode of operation +in a Moorish bath, where, practised +bather though he is, he shrieked under +the rough usage of his manipulator. +The conclusion of this latter bath he +describes as follows:—“Thrice taking +each leg and lifting it up, he placed +his head under the calf, and raising +himself, scraped the leg as with a rough +brush, <em>for his shaved head had the grain +downwards. The operation concluded +by his biting my heel.</em>” We should +like to see any human being, whether +Turk, Pagan, Jew, or Christian, attempt +such revolting liberties with our +person. By the bones of Belshazzar! +we would brain him with the bath-brush. +The member for Stafford +should be ashamed of himself. He +positively makes us scunner. We +have a firm and wholesome faith in +the efficacy and cleanliness of a British +spunging-bath and rough towel; we +repel with abhorrence Mr Urquhart’s +manipulatory innovations, and feel +intense disgust at the Mahometan +kneading, pummelling, trampling, +sweating, soaping, and scraping, +which he dwells upon with such nauseous +minuteness, and whose results +he describes as so wonderfully salubrious +and delightful. We really +hesitate at transferring to our page +any more of his nasty details. We +venture, however, to present him to +our readers in the character of Marsyas, +undergoing the flaying process +which, it appears, forms an essential +stage of the Turkish bathing operation. +With a glove of camel’s hair, the +bathman “commences from the nape +of the neck in long sweeps down the +back till he has started the skin; <em>he +coaxes it into rolls</em>, keeping them in +and up, till within his hand they +gather volume and length; he then +successively strikes and brushes them +away, and they fall right and left as if +spilt from a dish of macaroni. The +dead matter which will accumulate in +a week forms, when dry, <em>a ball of the +size of the fist. I once collected it and +had it dried—it is like a ball of chalk.</em>” +Well may the honourable gentleman +declare the human body “a fountain +of impurities,” when he can back the +assertion by such a startling statement +of the weekly amount of his own +cuticular incrustations. No wonder +he commiserates the condition of the +unwashed portion of his countrymen, +and urges the establishment of public +baths on a scale more magnificent than +practicable. Cleanliness is so nearly +a virtue, that all deserve well of their +country who efficaciously promote its +spread amongst classes by whom it is +too often neglected. But the carrying +out of such plans must devolve +upon philanthropists of a more practical +stamp than this fantastical theorist +and crotchety M.P. It were ridiculous +to suppose that all the advantages +would be realised which he predicts, +from the adoption in this country +of a universal system of bathing; but +so manifold and enormous are they, +that, if only a tithe of them were +guaranteed, it would suffice to make +us sigh for the days when in London +there should be “no gin palaces, but +a thousand baths!”</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_296'>296</span> + <h2 class='c002'>GOLDSMITH.<br> PART II.</h2> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>From the character of the man, we +turn to the character of the author—from +the life to the works of Goldsmith. +What we said of the well-known +events of his career would apply +equally to his writings; it would +be a tedious and superfluous office to +pass in formal review performances so +familiar, and which appear to be as +justly appreciated as they are widely +circulated. All that we propose doing, +is to add a few miscellaneous observations, +hints, and fragments of +criticism, which may be interesting to +those who like to examine also, as +well as to admire. For these we +could find no space in our previous +Number: we throw them together +here in the best order their miscellaneous +nature permits.</p> + +<p class='c009'>In the <cite>Citizen of the World</cite>, Goldsmith +tells us of a man who earned +his livelihood by making wonders—curiosities +of nature or of art—and +exhibiting them to the world. “His +first essay in this way was to exhibit +himself as a wax-work figure, behind +a glass door at a puppet-show. Thus, +keeping the spectators at a proper +distance, and having his head adorned +with a copper crown, he looked extremely +natural, and very like the +life itself.” This would be no bad +illustration of what his critics have +often pointed out as Goldsmith’s own +proceeding, in the manufacture of his +literary wonders and curiosities. +When he wanted a fictitious character +for his novel, or his play, he sate +himself down behind the glass door, +with some copper crown, or other +slight disguise upon his head, and +all the world confessed that it “looked +extremely natural, and very like the +life itself!”</p> + +<p class='c009'>His Good-natured Man, in the +comedy of that name; Young Marlow +in <em>She Stoops to Conquer</em>, the Philosopher +Vagabond, the Man in Black, and +others that could be named, are all +Goldsmith sitting behind the glass +door. There is a strong personal resemblance +in all his characters; they +are portraits of himself, drawn with +the features widened into broad +humour, or elongated into saturnine +wisdom. His Beau Tibbs seems to +have been created by looking at, and +magnifying, some of his own foibles; +his Dr Primrose, by drawing forth +those grave and kindly feelings, +which, notwithstanding those foibles, +lay, he knew, at the bottom of his +heart.</p> + +<p class='c009'>The incidents of his life, too, supplied +very often the plot or story; and +memory took the place of invention. +Yet, in this respect, considering the +varied and adventurous nature of +his life, we are rather surprised that +he did not draw more copiously from +himself, and from his past history. +We should have thought that the +curious scenes he must have witnessed +in that wild journey of his—footing +it through Europe, now as +medical student, now as itinerant musician, +at one time playing the tutor +(he the tutor!) to some junior scapegrace; +at another, furbishing up all +the Latin and logic he was master of, +to dispute at Padua for bed and supper—would +have supplied him with +many an incident for a novel. We +are persuaded, that if he had lived in +these days, when the value of an incident +is better known, and it is more +the fashion than it was formerly to +put to literary profit the experience +and events of private life, he would +have made much greater use than he +has done of such materials.</p> + +<p class='c009'>But it is not only thus that we +trace the life of Goldsmith in his +writings. We trace the influence of +his career in the formation of his intellectual +character. Travel had +stood with him in the place of philosophy. +It had enlarged his sphere +of thought, had broken up national +prejudices, and given him an insight +into many a matter which otherwise +would never have attracted his +attention. But travel is far more +effective in dispersing error or prejudice, +than in lending assistance to +the formation of settled opinions. It +confirmed him in a desultory mode of +thinking, uncertain and undecided. +His horizon was extended, but his +vision was not distinct. Yet as +Goldsmith was never devoted to the +discipline of philosophy, and would +never, perhaps, have pursued any +systematic study, he was, upon the +whole, a great gainer by his varied +vagrant life, and the cosmopolitan +temper it had generated. A philosopher +he never would have been: it +was something to feel as a citizen of +the world.</p> + +<p class='c009'>Goldsmith was of a quick apprehensive +intellect, open to receive impressions, +with ready faculty to give them +forth again; but to continuous +thought, to close and prolonged examination +of any subject, he was by no +means addicted. With him the philosophers +were more talked of than +read. Abstract thinking and severe +reasoning were not his vocation. It +thus happens that the solitary observation, +simply asserted, is often excellent, +and carries with it our cordial +assent. He only discovers his weakness +when he undertakes to convince +us by his reasoning. On those occasions +when he puts forth a thesis, and +solemnly begins to demonstrate it, his +thesis may be good, but it will stand +none the firmer for his argument.</p> + +<p class='c009'>Let us give an instance of this from +the <cite>Vicar of Wakefield</cite>. Nothing could +be more just, or more happily expressed, +than the opening observation +we are about to quote. The reasoning +which follows, and is intended to +support it, is as weak and fantastical +as, on so beaten a subject, it well +could be.</p> + +<p class='c010'>“And it were highly to be wished,” +says the Vicar, “that legislative power +would thus direct the law rather to reformation +than severity; that it would seem +convinced that the work of eradicating +crimes is not by making punishment familiar, +but formidable. Then instead of +our present prisons, which find or make +men guilty, which enclose wretches for the +commission of one crime, and return +them, if returned alive, fitted for the perpetration +of thousands—we should see, as +in other parts of Europe, places of penitence +and solitude, where the accused +might be attended by such as could give +them repentance, if guilty, or new motives +to virtue, if innocent. And this, but not +the increasing punishment, is the way to +mend a state.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Now, if the good Vicar had stopped +here, he would have expressed a truth +much needed at the time, in a simplicity +and elegance of language which +could not be improved. But the Vicar +enters into abstract reasoning to prove +his thesis, grows argumentative, and, +at the same time, grows weak.</p> + +<p class='c010'>“Nor can I,” he continues, “avoid +even questioning the validity of that right +which social combinations have assumed +of capitally punishing offences of a slight +nature. In cases of murder their right is +obvious, as it is the duty of us all, from +the law of self-defence, to cut off that +man who has shown a disregard for the +life of another. Against such all nature +rises in arms; but it is not so against him +who steals my property. Natural law +gives me no right to take away his life, as +by that the horse he steals is as much his +property as mine. If, then, I have any +right, it must be from a compact made +between us, that he who deprives the +other of his horse shall die. <em>But this is +a false compact; because no man has a +right to barter his life any more than to +take it away, as it is not his own. And, +besides, the compact is inadequate, and +could be set aside even in a court of modern +equity, as there is a great penalty for a +trifling inconvenience, since it is far better +that two men should live than that one man +should ride.</em> But a compact that is false +between two men is equally so between a +hundred and a hundred thousand; for as ten +millions of circles can never make a square, +so the united voice of myriads cannot +lend the smallest foundation to falsehood.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Logic such as this, even if set forth +in Latin, would hardly have earned him +his supper and his bed in the University +of Padua.</p> + +<p class='c009'>We are told that at Dublin University +Goldsmith manifested great repugnance +to the study of mathematics. +The conduct towards him of the mathematical +tutor did not tend to diminish +this aversion. In one of his miscellaneous +essays, he thus revenges himself +on the science and on its professors:—</p> + +<p class='c010'>“A youth incapable of retaining one +rule of grammar, or of acquiring the least +knowledge of the classics, may nevertheless +make great progress in mathematics; +<em>nay, he may have a strong genius for the +mathematics without being able to comprehend +a demonstration of Euclid</em>; because +his mind conceives in a peculiar manner, +and is so intent upon contemplating the +object in one particular point of view, +that it cannot perceive it in any other. +We have known an instance of a boy who, +while his master complained that he had +not capacity to comprehend the properties +of a right-angled triangle, had actually, +in private, by the power of his genius, +<em>formed a mathematical system of his own</em>; +discovered a series of curious theorems, +and even applied his deductions to practical +machines of surprising construction.”—<cite>Essay +on Taste.</cite></p> + +<p class='c007'>But although Goldsmith could commit +the most surprising blunders when +he invades the region of abstract or +severe reasoning, yet the credit must +be given to him of <em>thinking for himself</em>. +With undisciplined powers, and +but slenderly equipped for the task, +we still see him engaging in the solution +of social and political problems. +He does not merely repeat from books +the ideas of others; nor is he a +thoughtless spectator of the world. +One subject especially our homeless +wanderer, who had looked up at society +from the last round of the ladder, +is frequently observed to be canvassing. +His opinions on it are far from +settled; his conclusions are often diametrically +opposed; his reasonings +never very clear; but he is, at all +events, seen from time to time pondering +it with great interest. It is +the subject of luxury—the gratifications +and pleasures of the wealthy in +a state of civilisation. The rule admits +of exceptions; but, in general, +he condemns luxury in his poetry, +and defends it in his prose. In neither +case is he very successful in his reasonings. +When he assails, he appears +to be under the influence of a mere +sentiment; when he defends it, he +seems to be dealing with a half-learned +philosophy, and such as is +generally understood to be rather a +native of France than of England.</p> + +<p class='c010'>“Examine,” says the <cite>Citizen of the +World</cite>, “the history of any country remarkable +for opulence and wisdom, you +will find that they would never have +been wise had they not been first luxurious: +you will find poets, philosophers, +and even patriots, marching in luxury’s +train. The reason is obvious. <em>We then +only are curious in knowledge, when we +find it connected with sensual happiness.</em> +The senses ever point out the way, and +reflection comments upon the discovery. +Inform a native of the desert of Kobi of +the exact measure of the parallax of the +moon, he finds no satisfaction at all in +the information; he wonders how any +could take such pains, and lay out such +treasures, in order to solve so useless a +difficulty; but connect it with his happiness +by showing that it improves navigation—that +by such an investigation he +may have a warmer coat, a better gun, or +a finer knife, and he is instantly in raptures +at so great an improvement. In +short, we only desire to know when we +desire to possess; and, whatever we may +talk against it, luxury adds the spur to +curiosity, and gives us a desire of becoming +more wise.”—Letter XI.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Not true, Dr Goldsmith!—only a +mere fragment of the truth; and your +astronomical illustration singularly +unfortunate. For the science of astronomy +has been all along a labour of +love—from the time when Chaldæan +shepherds, quite heedless of navigation, +watched the stars, and marked +out the planet (the <em>wanderer</em>) amongst +the fixed and stationary lights, to these +our own days, when the profound +<em>mathematician</em>, calculating, in the +midst of revolutionary Paris, his disturbances +on the remote boundaries of +our planetary system, writes to the +skilful <em>observer</em>, and bids him direct +his great tube to a certain spot in the +heavens, and he will find a new <em>wanderer</em> +there, as yet unseen and unsuspected. +The observer points his +telescope as he is told, and discovers +it that very night, in that very spot.</p> + +<p class='c009'>Still less will his reasoning hold +together, or prove “refutation-tight,” +when, as in the <cite>Deserted Village</cite>, he +finds that the wealth of our merchants +has occasioned the desertion of the +country, and the depopulation of the +land. “In regretting,” he says, in +the preface to that poem, “the depopulation +of the land, I inveigh against +the increase of our luxuries.” Happily +no one, in reading that poem, +thinks of the political economy of the +<cite>Deserted Village</cite>. Happily, also, there +is often a greater truth in the poet’s +general enunciations, than he himself +is able to explain, or accurately to +develop. The reader may adopt his +language, and apply it to a more correct +conception than was present to +the author’s mind. The very paragraph +which might be quoted for its +manifest blunder in the rudiments of +political science, opens with these +admirable lines, which every one, in +a sense of his own, will readily +adopt:—</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c016'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“Ye friends to truth, ye statesmen who survey</div> + <div class='line'>The rich man’s joys increase, the poor’s decay,</div> + <div class='line'>’Tis yours to judge how wide the limits stand</div> + <div class='line'>Between a splendid and a happy land.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c009'>What follows will not easily bear a +wise interpretation. Goldsmith speaks +of commerce as if ships came in laden +with nothing but gold—with “loads +of freighted ore”—and finds that this +imported wealth converts the ploughed +fields into parks and pleasure-grounds. +The writer of a history of England +might have called to mind the Forest +Laws, and the wide tracts of country +kept waste, and, in some cases, <em>laid +waste</em> by our rude ancestors, for their +rude sports.</p> + +<p class='c009'>There is amongst the essays of +Goldsmith a tale or allegory, which +our readers may remember to have +read in their youth, in some Speaker, +or collection of Elegant Extracts. +We are quite sure they have no acquaintance +with it of a later date. +This tale we will venture to revive. +It belongs to so old-fashioned a species +of literature, that it must needs be a +novelty. We would quote it as an +instance illustrative of the remarks +we have made on the intellectual +character of Goldsmith. It is wrong—argumentatively +and logically wrong—yet +no man would say that he was +a mere repeater of other men’s words, +who wrote <em>Asem, an Eastern Tale; or +a Vindication of the Wisdom of Providence +in the moral government of the +World</em>. No one can read it without +being prompted to think, which is +good proof that the author thought +when he wrote it—though he did not +think very accurately.</p> + +<p class='c009'>In the time of Goldsmith, the +fashion was not extinct of seeing +moral visions, and dreaming sagacious +dreams. Wisdom delighted to +speak in allegory. There were still +to be found in those days, here and +there, retired hermits, with long +beards, hiding in solitary caves, and +living on the simplest herbs—cold water +and a salad; and there were still +lingering on the earth genii, or other +stupendous and supernatural beings, +who occasionally visited these favoured +mortals, teaching them surpassing +wisdom, and illustrating their lessons +in the most marvellous manner. Asem +was such a hermit. Yet, all hermit +and Mussulman as he was, he bears +a strong resemblance to the Goldsmith +family. “From the tenderness +of his disposition, he exhausted all +his fortune in relieving the wants of +the distressed.” Having reduced +himself to want, he is shocked to find +that one who comes to beg, is not so +welcome as when he came to give. +Accordingly, he turns with wrath +from an ungrateful world.</p> + +<p class='c010'>“He began to view mankind in a very +different light from that in which he had +before beheld them; he perceived a thousand +vices he had never before suspected +to exist; wherever he turned, ingratitude, +dissimulation, and treachery contributed +to increase his detestation of them. +Resolved, therefore, to continue no longer +in a world which he hated, and which +repaid his detestation with contempt, he +retired to a region of sterility, in order to +brood over his resentment in solitude, and +converse with the only honest heart he +knew—namely, his own.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>But the contemplation of this only +honest heart was not sufficient consolation +for that prospect of a wicked +world which perpetually haunted him, +and which filled him with doubts on +the wisdom or the beneficence of +Allah. He finally resolved on suicide. +He was about to plunge into +the lake, when—</p> + +<p class='c010'>“He perceived a most majestic being +walking on the surface of the water, +and approaching the bank on which he +stood!</p> + +<p class='c011'>“‘Son of Adam!’ cried the Genius, +‘stop thy rash purpose: the Father of +the Faithful has seen thy justice, thy +integrity, thy miseries, and hath sent me +to afford and administer relief. Give me +thine hand, and follow without trembling +wherever I shall lead. In me behold +the Genius of Conviction, kept by +the Great Prophet, to turn from their +errors those who go astray, not from curiosity, +but a rectitude of intention. Follow +me, and be wise!’”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Such an invitation, and from so +imposing a personage, was not to be +declined. The Genius of Conviction +conducts Asem along the surface, and +to the centre of the lake: here the +waters open, and close on them; they +descend into another world, where +human foot had never trod before.</p> + +<p class='c010'>“‘The rational inhabitants of this +world,’ the Genius tells him, ‘are formed +agreeably to your own ideas; they are +absolutely without vice. If you find this +world more agreeable than that you so +lately left, you have free permission to +spend the remainder of your days in it.’</p> + +<p class='c011'>“‘A world without vice! Rational +beings without immorality!’ cried Asem +in a rapture. ‘I thank thee, Allah!—thou +hast at length heard my petitions: +this—this, indeed, will produce happiness, +ecstasy, and ease. Oh for an immortality +to spend it among men who +are incapable of ingratitude, injustice, +fraud, violence, and a thousand other +crimes that render society miserable!’</p> + +<p class='c011'>“‘Cease thine exclamations!’ replied +the Genius. ‘Look around thee.’</p> + +<p class='c011'>“They soon gained the utmost verge +of the forest, and entered the country inhabited +by men without vice; and Asem +anticipated in idea the rational delight +he hoped to experience in such an innocent +society. But they had scarcely left +the confines of the wood, when they beheld +one of the inhabitants flying with +hasty steps, and terror in his countenance, +from an army of squirrels that +closely pursued him. ‘Heavens!’ cried +Asem, ‘why does he fly? What can he +fear from animals so contemptible?’ He +had scarcely spoken, when he perceived +two dogs pursuing another of the human +species, who, with equal terror and haste, +attempted to avoid them. ‘This,’ cried +Asem to his guide, ‘is truly surprising; +nor can I conceive the reason for so +strange an action.’—‘Every species of +animals,’ replied the Genius, ‘has of late +grown very powerful in this country; for +the inhabitants, at first, thinking it unjust +to use either fraud or force in destroying +them, they have insensibly increased, and +now frequently ravage their harmless +frontiers.’ ‘But they should have been +destroyed!’ cried Asem: ‘you see the +consequence of such neglect.’—‘Where is +then that tenderness you so lately expressed +for subordinate animals?’ replied +the Genius, smiling; ‘you seem to have +forgot that branch of justice.’ ‘I must +acknowledge my mistake,’ returned +Asem. ‘I am now convinced that we +must be guilty of tyranny and injustice +to the brute creation, if we would enjoy +the world ourselves. But let us no +longer observe the duty of man to these +irrational creatures, but survey their connexions +with one another.’</p> + +<p class='c011'>“As they walked farther up the country, +the more he was surprised to see no +vestiges of handsome houses, no cities, +nor any mark of elegant design. His +conductor, perceiving his surprise, observed, +that the inhabitants of this new +world were perfectly content with their +ancient simplicity; each had a house, +which, though homely, was sufficient to +lodge his little family; they were too +good to build houses, which would only +increase their own pride and the envy of +the spectator; what they built was for +convenience, and not for show. ‘At least, +then,’ said Asem, ‘they have neither +architects, painters, nor statuaries in +their society; but these are idle arts, and +may be spared. However, before I spend +much more time here, you should have +my thanks for introducing me into the +society of some of their wisest men: there +is scarcely any pleasure to me equal to a +refined conversation; there is nothing of +which I am so much enamoured as wisdom.’—‘Wisdom!’ +replied his instructor; +‘how ridiculous! We have no wisdom +here, for we have no occasion for it: true +wisdom is only a knowledge of our own +duty, and the duty of others to us; but of +what use is such wisdom here? Each +intuitively performs what is right in itself, +and expects the same from others. If by +wisdom you should mean vain curiosity +and empty speculation, as such pleasures +have their origin in vanity, luxury, or +avarice, we are too good to pursue them.’ +‘All this may be right,’ said Asem, +‘but I think I observe a solitary disposition +prevail among the people; each +family keeps separately within their own +precincts, without society, or without intercourse.’—‘That, +indeed, is true,’ replied +the other; ‘here is no established society, +nor should there be any: all societies are +made either through fear or friendship; +the people we are among are too good to +fear each other; and there are no motives +to private friendship, where all are +equally meritorious.’ ‘Well, then,’ said +the sceptic, ‘if I am to spend my time +here—if I am to have neither the polite +arts, nor wisdom, nor friendship in such +a world, I should be glad, at least, of an +easy companion, who may tell me his +thoughts, and to whom I may communicate +mine.’—‘And to what purpose should +either do this?’ says the Genius. ‘Flattery +or curiosity are vicious motives, and never +allowed of here; and wisdom is out of +the question.’</p> + +<p class='c011'>“‘Still, however,’ said Asem, ‘the inhabitants +must be happy; each is contented +with his own possessions, nor avariciously +endeavours to heap up more than +is necessary for his own subsistence; each +has, therefore, leisure for pitying those +that stand in need of his compassion.’ +He had scarcely spoken when his ears +were assaulted by the lamentations of a +wretch who sat by the way-side, and, in +the most deplorable distress, seemed +gently to murmur at his own misery. +Asem immediately ran to his relief, and +found him in the last stage of a consumption. +‘Strange,’ cried the son of +Adam, ‘that men who are free from vice +should thus suffer so much misery without +relief!’—‘Be not surprised,’ said the +wretch who was dying; ‘would it not be +the utmost injustice for beings who have +only just sufficient to support themselves, +and are content with a bare subsistence, +to take it from their own mouths to put +it into mine? They never are possessed +of a single meal more than is necessary; +and what is barely necessary cannot be +dispensed with.’ ‘They should have been +supplied with more than is necessary,’ +cried Asem. ‘And yet I contradict my +own opinion but a moment before: all is +doubt, perplexity, and confusion.’”</p> + +<p class='c007'>After some other attempts to find +happiness in this world without vice, +Asem exclaims—“Take me, O my +Genius! back to that very world I +have despised!” And hereupon the +triumphant Genius, “assuming an air +of terrible complacency, called all his +thunders around him, and vanished in +a whirlwind.” Asem found himself +at the very place, and (with such +rapidity had these scenes passed in +review) almost at the very instant of +time, in which the Genius had at first +accosted him. “His right foot was +still advanced to take the fatal plunge, +nor had it been yet withdrawn.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>Who would dare to contend with +the <cite>Genius of Conviction</cite>?—who venture +to prescribe laws of reasoning to +so majestic a being,—one who walks +upon the waters, calls his thunders +about him, and has a whole subterranean +world wherewith to demonstrate +his theory of morals? Nevertheless, +if we were quite sure that the Genius +were out of hearing, we should be +disposed to question whether he had +ever framed an accurate definition of +virtue. If, in a virtuous world, men +must be chased by squirrels, and devoured +by dogs, live in penury, and let +their neighbours starve, either we, or +the Genius of Conviction, have been +in error all this time as to what virtue +really <em>is</em>.</p> + +<p class='c009'>As a critic, it is confessed on all +hands that Goldsmith lamentably +failed. As a politician, he had this +honourable peculiarity, that his speculations +had very little reference to the +party feuds of the day. He had contracted, +probably from his Continental +travels, a bias in favour of monarchical +power. He seems to have embraced +the opinion which Burke combated +in his <cite>Thoughts on the Present +Discontents</cite>; namely, that the houses +of parliament, or the aristocracy +through their influence in these houses, +were dangerously encroaching on the +royal prerogative. At least this is the +best explanation we can give of the +expressions that he, from time to +time, throws out upon this subject.</p> + +<p class='c009'>The only grudge we owe his politics +is, that they occasioned the introduction +of the weakest and most confused +passage in his noble poem of +<cite>The Traveller</cite>. When discoursing upon +foreign countries—on Holland, France, +or Italy—he naturally and wisely restricts +himself to certain general characteristics +of the people and of their +governments—general views which +admit of vigorous and poetic enunciation, +and are not likely to raise cavil +or controversy. But when he lands +upon his native country, these home +politics beset him, and he gets entangled +in a train of thought but half made +out, of too controversial a character, +and which does not easily lend itself +to the harmony of verse, and the simple +force of poetic expression.</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c016'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“Calm is my soul, nor apt to rise in arms,</div> + <div class='line'>Except when fast approaching danger warms:</div> + <div class='line'>But when contending chiefs blockade the throne,</div> + <div class='line'>Contracting regal power to stretch their own;</div> + <div class='line'>When I behold a factious band agree</div> + <div class='line'>To call it freedom, when themselves are free;</div> + <div class='line'>Each wanton judge new penal statutes draw,</div> + <div class='line'>Laws grind the poor, and rich men rule the law;</div> + <div class='line'>The wealth of climes where savage nations roam,</div> + <div class='line'>Pillaged from slaves to purchase slaves at home;</div> + <div class='line'>Fear, pity, justice, indignation start,</div> + <div class='line'>Tear off reserve, and bare my swelling heart;</div> + <div class='line'><em>Till half a patriot, half a coward grown,</em></div> + <div class='line'><em>I fly from petty tyrants to the throne</em>.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c009'>Yet the whole passage must be forgiven +for the sake of the two last lines. +Of these the second is repeatedly +quoted; but there is much significance +and extreme felicity of expression in +the preceding line—</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c016'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“——half a patriot, half a coward grown.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c017'>It is a pity they should be so often +separated.</p> + +<p class='c009'>Having mentioned <cite>The Traveller</cite>, +let us turn at once to this and to its +exquisite companion—the two poems +which give to Goldsmith his secure +and eminent position in the literature +of England. Our few detached criticisms +on these old favourites shall +not, at all events, be wearisome by +their length. His comedies we design +to leave untouched; they cannot be +criticised without some review, however +rapid, of the literature of the +stage, and for this we have at present +neither space nor inclination. A glance +at <cite>The Citizen of the World</cite> and <cite>The +Vicar of Wakefield</cite> will bring our subject +to its conclusion.</p> + +<p class='c009'>Every one remembers the anecdote +connected with the first line of <cite>The +Traveller</cite>—</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c016'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“Remote, unfriended, melancholy, slow.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c017'>Mr Irving shall relate it for us.</p> + +<p class='c010'>“The appearance of <cite>The Traveller</cite> at +once altered Goldsmith’s intellectual +standing in the estimation of society; but +its effect upon the club, if we may judge +from the account given by Hawkins, was +almost ludicrous. They were lost in astonishment +that a ‘newspaper essayist,’ +and a ‘bookseller’s drudge,’ should have +written such a poem. On the evening of +its announcement, Goldsmith had gone +away early, after ‘rattling away as +usual;’ and they knew not how to reconcile +his heedless garrulity with the serene +beauty, the easy grace, the sound good +sense, and the occasional elevation of his +poetry. They could scarcely believe that +such magic numbers had flowed from a +man to whom in general, says Johnson, +‘it was with difficulty they could give a +hearing.’ ‘Well,’ exclaimed Chamier, +‘I do believe he wrote this poem himself; +and, let me tell you, that is believing +a great deal.’</p> + +<p class='c011'>“At the next meeting of the club, +Chamier sounded the author a little about +his poem. ‘Mr Goldsmith,’ said he, +‘what do you mean by the last word in +the first line of your <cite>Traveller</cite>, “remote, +unfriended, melancholy, <em>slow</em>?” Do you +mean tardiness of locomotion?’—‘Yes,’ +replied Goldsmith inconsiderately, being +probably flurried at the moment. ‘No, +sir,’ interposed his protecting friend +Johnson, ‘you did not mean tardiness of +locomotion; you meant that sluggishness +of mind which comes upon a man in solitude.’—‘Ah!’ +exclaimed Goldsmith, +‘<em>that</em> was what I meant.’ Chamier immediately +believed that Johnson himself +had written the line, and a rumour became +prevalent that he was the author of +many of the finest passages.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>With due deference to the great +critic, and to the author himself, he +<em>did</em> mean tardiness of movement; but +the epithet, joined as it is with others, +tells us also that this slowness of +motion was the result of heaviness of +heart, and indicative of a sad and +pensive spirit. It means all that Dr +Johnson said; but it means also, and +first of all, the slow pace of the solitary +poet. Goldsmith was more probably +“flurried at the moment,” +when he so readily adopted the interpretation +of Dr Johnson, than when +he gave his first natural answer. He +found the passage explained for him +so authoritatively, and so much to the +satisfaction of those present, that he +could not hesitate in accepting the +explanation. But had he taken time +and <em>courage</em> to reflect a moment, he +would have seen that there was no +discrepancy between his own answer +and what Dr Johnson had added. +Take away the image of the slow +moving poet, and you take away all +<em>picture</em> from the passage. The pensive +sadness is depicted in what Captain +Chamier calls, in seeming imitation +of the great man he is conversing +with, “tardiness of locomotion.”</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c016'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“Remote—unfriended—melancholy—slow.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c017'>Every word comes from the heart. +Many a time, without a doubt, had +our wandering poet, at a distance +from his country, walked by the side +of some foreign stream—alone—unfriended—with +nothing for his portion +upon earth but genius and poverty.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“We cannot, for our part, see the +point of Captain Chamier’s question. +He might, with just as much reason, +have put the same query to Petrarch, +who opens one of his sonnets in a very +similar manner.</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c016'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“<span lang="it">Solo e pensoso, i più deserti campi</span></div> + <div class='line'><span lang="it">Vo misurando, a passi tardi e lenti.</span>”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c017'>He would have found here also “tardiness +of locomotion,” and the languor +of the pensive man, united in the same +description.</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c016'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“Where’er I roam, whatever realms to see,</div> + <div class='line'>My heart untravell’d fondly turns to thee;</div> + <div class='line'>Still to my brother turns, with ceaseless pain,</div> + <div class='line'>And drags at each remove a lengthening chain.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c017'>The same image is made use of in the +<cite>Citizen of the World</cite>. The reader may +like to contrast the prose with the +poetic version. “The farther I travel,” +says Lien Chi Altangi to his correspondent, +“I feel the pain of separation +with stronger force; those ties +that bind me to my native country +and you, are still unbroken. <em>By every +remove I only drag a greater length of +chain.</em>” We prefer the prose. Indeed +the metaphor is not so much to +our taste as that we should have +thought it worth using a second time, +and in the greater work. It suited +Lien Chi Altangi very well, and with +him it might have remained. It is +too cumbrous—too material. What +are we to do with this “lengthening +chain” which he “drags” along the +earth? and where, in imagination, +are we to fasten it? To his ankle? +It would make a felon of him. To +his waist? Ridiculous! But, you will +say, we are not to see the chain at all—only +to hear it clank a little in the +verse—only to have some dim idea of +lengthening ligature. Very good; +and thereupon we honestly respond—if, +whilst reading the line you feel no +irresistible tendency to look down +upon the ground for this chain—if you +do not see it at all, then to you the +metaphor is quite unobjectionable.</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c016'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“And find no spot of all the world my own!”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c017'>The natural feeling of the homeless, +unprovided wanderer, looking over a +great stretch of country. How finely +is it contrasted with the sentiment +which follows! No spot his own! +It is all his! He has taken sympathetic +possession of the whole.</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c016'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“Ye glittering towns, with wealth and splendour crowned;</div> + <div class='line'>Ye fields, where summer spreads profusion round;</div> + <div class='line'>Ye lakes, whose vessels catch the busy gale;</div> + <div class='line'>Ye bending swains that dress the flowery vale—</div> + <div class='line'>For me your tributary stores combine;</div> + <div class='line'><em>Creation’s heir, the world, the world is mine!</em>”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c009'>Having thus wrought himself into +proper mood for his philosophic purpose, +the poet commences his survey +of the several regions of the earth, +and nations of mankind. The train +of thought is, at starting, somewhat +perplexed, from the author being occupied +with two separate reflections, +which, until they are closely examined, +appear contradictory. We have them +in close juxtaposition in the following +lines:—</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c016'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“Yet oft a sigh prevails, and sorrows fall,</div> + <div class='line'>To see the hoard of human bliss so small;</div> + <div class='line'>And oft I wish amidst the scene to find</div> + <div class='line'><em>Some spot to real happiness consigned</em>,</div> + <div class='line'>Where my worn soul, each wandering hope at rest,</div> + <div class='line'>May gather bliss to see my fellows blest.</div> + <div class='line'>But where to find that happiest below—</div> + <div class='line'>Who can direct, when <em>all pretend to know</em>?</div> + <div class='line'>The shuddering tenant of the frigid zone</div> + <div class='line'>Boldly proclaims that happiest spot his own.”</div> + <div class='line'>&c., &c.</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c009'>So far, then, from the hoard of happiness +being small, every country +proclaims itself to be specially and +pre-eminently blest. The philosophic +poet has no reason for his sorrow: he +wanted one happy spot, and he has +found every spot is happy—supremely +happy.</p> + +<p class='c009'>But the apparent incongruity vanishes +on a closer examination. Each +nation boasts its pre-eminence over +other nations; but man nowhere boasts +much of being man. Every people is +proud and self-congratulatory whilst +it compares itself with other people; +but its pride and gratulation are only +sustained by this comparison. Every +congregation of men who merely contemplate +themselves as with the earth +beneath them, and the sky above, are +heard to fill the air with lamentations +and discontent. So that the philosopher, +notwithstanding these several +vaunts of every nation, civilised and +savage, may still search, if he thinks +fit, for the spot “to happiness consigned.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>Our poet seems to find an equal +proportion of good and evil in every +clime, people, and government. Sometimes +he is guilty of a little overcharge +in this or that particular, in +order to keep the balance even. Only +thus can we account for the very severe +language with which he takes leave of +Holland. He had found the people of +that country so very comfortable that +it was absolutely necessary to abuse +them as—</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c016'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“A land of tyrants and a den of slaves,”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c017'>or the due proportion of evil would +not have been preserved.</p> + +<p class='c009'>It is observable, and characteristic +of the age in which Goldsmith wrote, +that, beautiful as are his descriptions +of the several countries of Europe, +there is very little in them which betrays +that he himself had ever visited +those countries. There are few of +those picturesque circumstances which +the eye of an observer detects, and +which the memory, or the note-book, +preserves. Unfortunately, it was the +habit of the day to trust more to the +knowledge acquired from books than +to the eyesight: <em>learning</em> had not +lost that undue influence which it naturally +acquired at the restoration of +letters; poets chose rather to describe +what had been described before, and +adhere to traditional feelings and +classical models, than to consult their +own experience. The descriptions of +scenery in <cite>The Traveller</cite> are so general, +and consist of broad outlines so well +known to all educated men, that they +might have been written in Green +Arbour Court, by one who had lived +there all his life. Switzerland itself +does not provoke him to quit the +beaten track of broad generalities. +He even describes what he did <em>not</em> see, +because it harmonises with the ideas +obtained from books. Thus,—</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c016'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>—“The bleak Swiss their stormy mansion tread,</div> + <div class='line'>And force a churlish soil for scanty bread;</div> + <div class='line'>No produce <em>here</em> the barren hills afford,</div> + <div class='line'>But man and steel, the soldier and his sword.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c009'>Switzerland has been long celebrated +for the mercenary troops she +supplied to foreign courts; but there +is no country where less is seen of the +soldier and his sword; nor can +“scanty bread” be said to be the lot +of those who cultivate its soil.</p> + +<p class='c009'>While our eye is on this part of +the poem, can we possibly resist quoting +the following half-a-dozen lines? +They are perfect:—</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c016'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>—“Those ills that round his mansion rise</div> + <div class='line'>Enhance the bliss his scanty fund supplies.</div> + <div class='line'>Dear is that shed to which his soul conforms,</div> + <div class='line'>And dear that hill which lifts him to the storms;</div> + <div class='line'>And as a child, when scaring sounds molest,</div> + <div class='line'>Clings close and closer to the mother’s breast—</div> + <div class='line'>So the loud torrent, and the whirlwind’s roar,</div> + <div class='line'>But bind him to his native mountains more.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c009'>Perhaps the happiest of all these +national portraits is that of France. +He sympathised with the French; his +pen is often employed in defending +them from absurd attacks, and combating +the prejudices of the John Bull +of his day. The concluding lines are +peculiarly happy: there is a refinement +of analysis expressed in the +most graceful diction.</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c016'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>—“Honour</div> + <div class='line'>Here passes current; paid from hand to hand,</div> + <div class='line'>It shifts in splendid traffic through the land;</div> + <div class='line'>From courts to camps, to cottages it strays,</div> + <div class='line'>And all are taught an avarice of praise;</div> + <div class='line'>They please, are pleased; <em>they give to get esteem</em>,</div> + <div class='line'>Till, seeming blest, they grow to what they seem.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c009'>His praise of England we must not +appear so deficient in patriotism as to +quarrel with. But just as one is +curious to know where an artist stood +who has taken some captivating sketch +of an old familiar spot, which never +appeared to us so very charming before—so +one might feel a little curious +to discover where it was, in town or +country, that Goldsmith took his stand +when he saw—</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c016'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“The lords of human race pass by;</div> + <div class='line'>Intent on high design—a thoughtful band.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c017'>Was it on London Bridge or at Temple +Bar that he read the marks of “high +design” in the “thoughtful band” +that we were rushing past him like a +mill-stream? Or was he far off in the +country, and did the squire and his +tenantry sit for the picture?</p> + +<p class='c009'>We already find in <cite>The Traveller</cite> +that strange hallucination which +seems to have haunted him, and which +he more fully expressed in the subsequent +poem of <cite>The Deserted Village</cite>—that +England was being depopulated! +What could have conducted +him to a conclusion so utterly at variance +with the fact, it is useless to +inquire. It was his crotchet. He +had probably seen decay in some +places, and took no calculation of the +more than proportionate increase of +others. For Goldsmith did not limit +himself to the mistaken notion, which +many had expressed, that the towns +were growing large at the expense of +the country, but entertained—what to +us must seem the strangest of paradoxes—entertained +the conviction +that the population of the whole country +was wasting away.</p> + +<p class='c009'>Happily, as we have already remarked, +no one thinks of the theory +of depopulation, or over-population, +or any other theory of political economy, +whilst reading <cite>The Deserted +Village</cite>. We have all learned to love +“Sweet Auburn” long before any +idea connected with so crabbed and +distressful a subject entered our minds. +Indeed the village, with all its accessories, +is brought with such distinctness +before us, that even the decay of +Auburn itself, is not the most prominent +impression which the poem produces. +The deserted Auburn is made +to live again so vividly in the imagination, +that the desolation in which it +lies only occurs occasionally to the +mind, throwing a feeling of sadness +and melancholy over the picture. For +ourselves, we can well remember that +when we first became acquainted with +the village of Auburn, we always +thought of it—notwithstanding the +use of the past tense—as somewhere +still existing. It existed, at all events, +very palpably in the imagination.</p> + +<p class='c009'>The scene is English: it is, in the +main, a description of an English village; +but because the poet has also +drawn materials from the recollections +of his early home, some of his critics +have been resolved to place Auburn +in Ireland, and to identify what is +clearly an ideal picture with the definite +locality of Lissoy. On this +ground they have even proceeded to +convict him of an error for introducing +the nightingale in one of his descriptions, +there being no such bird in Ireland.</p> + +<p class='c009'>This line, in which the nightingale +is introduced, we should venture to +quarrel with on quite another ground. +Here is the passage. No one will +object to read it again, though he has +read it fifty or twice fifty times.</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c016'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“Sweet was the sound when oft, at evening’s close,</div> + <div class='line'>Up yonder hill the village murmur rose;</div> + <div class='line'>There as I passed with careless steps and slow,</div> + <div class='line'>The mingling notes came soften’d from below:</div> + <div class='line'>The swain responsive as the milkmaid sung,</div> + <div class='line'>The sober herd that lowed to meet their young;</div> + <div class='line'>The noisy geese that gabbled o’er the pool,</div> + <div class='line'>The playful children just let loose from school;</div> + <div class='line'>The watch-dog’s voice, that bayed the whispering wind;</div> + <div class='line'>And the loud laugh that spoke the vacant mind;</div> + <div class='line'><em>These all in sweet confusion sought the shade,</em></div> + <div class='line'><em>And fill’d each pause the nightingale had made</em>.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c009'>Have not our readers already felt +how much better the description would +have been if the last couplet had been +omitted? This nightingale takes us +by surprise. We thought we were +listening to the sounds of the distant +village, and find that we have been +attending to the song of the nightingale, +and that these had only filled up +the pauses of her song. What had +been the chief and prominent subject +is suddenly reduced to this subordinate +part. But, what is more to the purpose, +the description becomes unfaithful, +and ceases to reflect a real experience, +when this nightingale is introduced. +If that shy bird were heard +singing while the milkmaid and the +schoolboy were still audible, there +would be no pleasing, but a very displeasing +effect produced by the +mingling of sounds of so very different +a nature. They would by no means +harmonise. We should listen with +pleasure to the milkmaid and to the +distant schoolboy, (he must be very +distant,) and we should listen with +pleasure to the nightingale, but with +very little pleasure to all these at +once.</p> + +<p class='c009'>Goldsmith was a genuine lover of +nature; but nevertheless he had not +quite escaped that taste of the day +which often led to the sacrifice of the +truthfulness of a picture to what was +deemed the perfection of the verse. +He too can sometimes desert the +<em>sense</em> for the <em>sound</em>. And this word +<em>sound</em> reminds us of rather an amusing +instance where he introduces some +geographical names for no earthly +reason except the array of sonorous +syllables they present. “Farewell,” +he exclaims to poetry,—</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c016'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“Farewell, and oh! where’er thy voice be tried,</div> + <div class='line'><em>On Torno’s cliffs, or Pambamarca’s side</em>.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c009'>Had we been in Captain Chamier’s +place at the club, and wished to puzzle +our friend Goldsmith, we should have +asked him why he sent the muse to +Pambamarca? and where, indeed, +Pambamarca lay? We suspect that +Goldsmith must have answered, that +he knew nothing about it, except that +it was a great way off, and sounded +very majestically.</p> + +<p class='c009'>There is one instance where the poet +has introduced a reminiscence from +Ireland, which we do not recollect to +have seen noticed. In the inimitable +description of the village schoolmaster, +he says,—</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c016'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“Lands he could measure, terms and tides presage,</div> + <div class='line'>And e’en the story ran—<em>that he could gauge</em>.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c017'>Now the rustics of an English village +were not at all likely to select this accomplishment +of gauging as one to +bestow upon their prodigy of learning. +We were tempted to explain this +choice in the poet by the necessity of +rhyme, which too often has manifestly +determined him in the selection of his +epithets, till it occurred to us that his +mind had been travelling back to the +<em>Irish</em> village, where the illicit still may +have brought even to the ragged +urchins of the place some rumours of +the science of the exciseman.</p> + +<p class='c009'>In the whole range of English heroic +verse, there is nothing more beautiful +or more complete than the description +of the village pastor,—</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c016'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>——“The man to all the country dear,</div> + <div class='line'>And passing rich with forty pounds a-year.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c017'>Indeed, of the entire poem, it may be +deliberately said, that it has more +tenderness and pathos, gives more of +picture to the eye, and of feeling to +the heart, than any other in the language +which is written in the same +verse or metre. The polished couplets +of Pope are nowhere else seen +united with so much of the genuine +essence of poetry. How perfect, in +every way, are such lines as these,—</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c016'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“But in his duty prompt at every call,</div> + <div class='line'>He watched and wept, he pray’d and felt for all;</div> + <div class='line'>And, as a bird each fond endearment tries,</div> + <div class='line'>To tempt its new-fledged offspring to the skies,</div> + <div class='line'>He tried each art, reproved each dull delay,</div> + <div class='line'>Allured to brighter worlds, and led the way.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c009'>One more remark, one other brief +quotation, and we quit this most fascinating +poem, which nestles deeper +in the English heart than perhaps any +other. What a bland, gentle, loving +humour it is which occasionally steals +over the picture of <cite>The Deserted Village</cite>, +giving here and there charming +touches, as of gay sunshine breaking +out upon the several points of a shaded +landscape, yet never disturbing the +sweet serenity and sadness of the +whole. Never did humour wear so +gentle an aspect. We go from the +pastor’s house, and the pastor himself, +to the village inn, and there is no +abruptness in the transition. What +a quiet, observant, tolerant humour it +is that sees those—“broken tea-cups, +<em>wisely kept for show</em>.” What else +could they serve for? And they may +still do to be looked at.</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c016'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“Vain transitory splendours! could not all</div> + <div class='line'>Reprieve the tottering mansion from its fall?</div> + <div class='line'>Observe it sinks, nor shall it more impart</div> + <div class='line'><em>An hour’s importance to the poor man’s heart</em>.</div> + <div class='line'>Thither no more the peasant shall repair,</div> + <div class='line'>To sweet oblivion of his daily care;</div> + <div class='line'>No more the farmer’s news, the barber’s tale,</div> + <div class='line'>No more the woodman’s ballad shall prevail;</div> + <div class='line'>No more the smith his dusky brow shall clear,</div> + <div class='line'><em>Relax his ponderous strength, and lean to hear</em>.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c009'>But why continue the quotation, when +half our readers could complete it from +their own memory?</p> + +<p class='c009'>We proposed to ourselves a glance +at <cite>The Citizen of the World</cite> and <cite>The +Vicar of Wakefield</cite>. It can only be a +glance.</p> + +<p class='c009'>Is this really the same—we are +tempted to ask ourselves—is this +really the same <cite>Citizen of the World</cite> +that, on our first introduction to the +acquaintance of books, we read, +amongst the <cite>British Essayist</cite>, with so +grave attention, and so implicit a +faith? Yes, it is the same; for here +is the Man in Black, and here is the +unmistakeable Beau Tibbs. Can we +possibly forget the invitation to dinner—on +the first floor down the chimney—something +elegant, a turbot or +an ortolan, which finally resolves itself +into “a nice little piece of ox-cheek, +piping hot, which Mrs Tibbs shall +dress herself with that sauce the Duke +dotes upon,”—and which dinner, if his +hungry guest will but wait, shall be +“ready in at least two hours.” Yes, +here is Beau Tibbs as full of life as +ever. But the Chinese philosopher—he +is gone;—there is left of <em>him</em>, or of +China, nothing but his name, and the +suspicious name of his correspondent, +“Fum, the son of Fo.” Instead +thereof, we have Oliver Goldsmith +writing his series of clever <cite>Idlers</cite> +and <cite>Spectators</cite>.</p> + +<p class='c009'>Pity this Chinaman ever made his +appearance. All the humour and satire +of the piece might have been preserved, +if some simple Englishman, +some Parson Adams or Dr Primrose, +had been the writer of the letters; and +we should have been spared the constant +incongruity of a Chinese who is +not only a palpable European, but a +European of the literary class. So +completely versed is this Chinese philosopher +in the feuds and vexations of +critics and authors, that we must suppose +him commissioned by the Grub +Street of Pekin, to inquire into the +condition of distressed poets and discontented +playwrights amongst the +“outer barbarians.” We should have +been spared also those episodes, or +adventures, which <em>his</em> Eastern correspondents +detail to him, and which, +indeed, are neither European nor +Eastern, but very tedious stories.</p> + +<p class='c009'>In vain does the Chinaman assume +the prejudices of his country: he may +amuse us; but he cannot even get a +momentary credit for the outlandish +taste he affects. He cannot disparage +the beauty of Englishwomen, without +insinuating his praise of them. There +is as much flattery as abuse, when he +says:—</p> + +<p class='c010'>“I shall never forget the beauties of +my native city of Nanfew. How very +broad their faces! how very short their +noses! how very little their eyes! how +very thin their lips! how very black their +teeth. Here a lady with such perfections +would be frightful: Dutch and Chinese +beauties, indeed, have some resemblance, +but Englishwomen are entirely different; +red cheeks, big eyes, and teeth of a most +odious whiteness, are not only seen here, +but wished for; and then they have such +masculine feet, as actually serve some for +walking.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>That which constitutes the greatest +charm of the work is the subdued and +chastened satire one occasionally +meets with. Not a rude and boisterous, +a cutting or malicious satire, but +such as requires to be read with some +attention before the full force of its +sly inuendos, and of slight circumstances +mentioned as if in passing, is +fully perceived. Take the following +instance, and note how the effect is +heightened by a number of little details, +thrown in as if by accident.</p> + +<p class='c010'>“A few days ago, passing by one of +their prisons, I could not avoid stopping +in order to listen to a dialogue which I +thought might afford me some entertainment. +The conversation was carried on +between a debtor through the grate of +his prison, a porter who had stopped to +rest his burden, and a soldier at the +window. The subject was upon a threatened +invasion from France, and each +seemed extremely anxious to rescue his +country from the impending danger. +‘For my part,’ cries the prisoner, ‘the +greatest of my apprehension is for our +freedom: if the French should conquer, +what would become of English liberty? +My dear friends, liberty is the Englishman’s +prerogative; we must preserve +that at the expense of our lives: of that +the French shall never deprive us; it is +not to be expected that men who are +slaves themselves, would preserve our +freedom should they happen to conquer.’ +‘Ay, slaves,’ cries the porter; ‘they are +all slaves, fit only to carry burdens, every +one of them. Before I would stoop to +slavery, may this be my poison, (and he +held the goblet in his hand,) may this be +my poison—but I would sooner list for +a soldier.’</p> + +<p class='c011'>“The soldier, taking the goblet from +his friend, with much awe fervently cried +out, ‘It is not so much our liberties as +our religion that would suffer by such a +change: ay, our religion, my lads. May +the devil sink me into flames (such was +the solemnity of his adjuration) if the +French should come over, but our religion +would be utterly undone.’ So saying, +instead of a libation, he applied the goblet +to his lips, and confirmed his sentiments +with a ceremony of the most persevering +devotion.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>There are some works so simple in +their structure, and so highly popular, +that on both grounds they defy criticism. +Their faults lie so open and +undisguised, that the critic who would +pertinaciously insist upon them, would +get neither credit nor thanks for his +pains. In this category is <cite>The Vicar +of Wakefield</cite>. To expose its improbabilities +of plot or character would +be an easy and most ungracious task. +We love the good Vicar, and he shall +be allowed to tell his tale to the end +of time just as he pleases. To be +sure, this odd notion he entertains, +that a clergyman ought by all means +to marry once, and by no means more +than once, is very like a monomania. +He is so staunch a <em>monogamist</em>, as he +calls it, as to be resolved on convincing +his old friend and fellow-clergyman, +Mr Wilmot, who has been married +three times. But this, and all +the wonderful things which the +Thornhills, nephew and uncle, contrive +to do, who cares to cavil at? +The genuine feelings of human nature +are portrayed in the novel,—kind, +homely, unpretending feelings which +all can sympathise with—and when +the attention is once fixed by this +species of truth, a thousand improbabilities +may pass without challenge. +It is always thus. The writer of fiction, +whether it be fable or romance, +and whether he deal with man or +monster, or spirit of the air, has +always found that if he can present a +faithful reflexion of the human heart, +he may give almost any conceivable +license to the imagination.</p> + +<p class='c009'>What most struck us on a late +perusal of <cite>The Vicar of Wakefield</cite>, was +the very low level, in point of refinement, +on which all the female characters +are placed. The love and the +courtship are of the rudest sort, +without the least trace of sentiment +or the poetry of the passion. Mrs +Primrose, notwithstanding the excellence +of her gooseberry wine, and the +liberality with which she dispenses it, +is, we are sorry to say, decidedly a +vulgar personage. That her learning +and accomplishments were those +which we should now assign to the +housekeeper, rather than to the wife +of a wealthy vicar, (for such is Dr +Primrose when we are first introduced +to him,) is no part of our objection; +this the difference of times and systems +of education may sufficiently explain. +Mrs Primrose is vulgar <em>at the +heart</em>. She lacks those feelings of +refinement which sometimes grow up +spontaneously even in the peasant’s +hut.</p> + +<p class='c009'>Recall to mind the manner in which +she receives back her unfortunate +daughter Olivia. Let it be remembered +that she had been practising her +petty blundering artifices, her most +visible palpable manœuvres, to catch +the rich young squire. It was her +plot, her scheme for elevating the +family; in which scheme her daughter +was of course to co-operate. Yet +this is her speech upon the occasion. +It is true human nature, but it is human +nature of a very vulgar description. +“Ah, Madam,” cried her mother, +“this is but a poor place you are come +to after so much finery. My daughter +Sophy and I can afford but little entertainment +to persons who have kept +company only with people of distinction. +Yes, Miss Livy, your poor +father and I have suffered very much +of late; but I hope Heaven will forgive +you.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>This Olivia herself is not made interesting +to us by any one trait in her +character. Her beauty, and the cruel +treatment she meets with from her +coarse and brazen seducer, is all she +has to depend upon for any claim to +our sympathy. Affliction has its worst +effect upon her, the effect it has on the +selfish and unrefined. “Every tender +epithet bestowed on her sister brought +a pang to her heart, and a tear to her +eye; and as one vice, when cured, +ever plants others where it has been, +so her former guilt, though driven out +by repentance, left jealousy and envy +behind.” It is just as well we do not +get more intimate with the female part +of the family, for it is evident that in +proportion as we knew them better, +we should like them less.</p> + +<p class='c009'>Had the life of Goldsmith brought +him acquainted with no higher specimens +of the sex? Had his fair cousin +Jane, the daughter of good Uncle +Contarine, with whom he used to +practise music, and talk poetry, left +with him no more refined impression +of female society than we see reflected +in <cite>The Vicar of Wakefield</cite>? Or, +must we understand his portraits as +fair specimens of the women of his +time? Or, shall we seek a third explanation +in the want of refinement in +the literature of that period? We +suspect the last has much to do with +it.</p> + +<p class='c009'>Here we must bring to a conclusion +our necessarily detached and desultory +criticisms on the works of Goldsmith. +As a <em>prose</em> writer, it would be in vain +for any too partial biographer or critic +to elevate him to the rank of those who +guide or confirm opinion, and teach us +to reason and to judge. But how +many a familiar truth has he clothed +in clear and graceful diction! How +often, too, the isolated observation, +thrown out as if by happy chance, +stimulates the mind to reflection! +What a master he is of <em>form</em>—of the +pleasing art which moulds the style! +But his two principal <em>poems</em> are the +works which raise him to the rank of +<em>the immortals</em>. We can easily understand +that many ardent admirers of +our contemporaneous poetry—replete +as it is with the philosophic speculations +of the age, its subtle and ambitious +thinking—may be disposed to +look down with an air of condescension, +and a sort of gentle disdain, upon +the poetry of Goldsmith. But time +passes on, and brings new modes of +philosophising; the subtleties of one +age do not always charm the next; +and it may happen that much which +is now held in highest repute, as the +most <em>poetical</em> of poetry, shall have +grown dim and obsolete, whilst +mothers shall be still teaching to their +children, and old men still repeating +to themselves, the descriptions of <cite>The +Traveller</cite> and of <cite>The Deserted Village</cite>.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_309'>309</span> + <h2 class='c002'>TO BURNS’S “HIGHLAND MARY.”</h2> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c018'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line in20'>I.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>O loved by him whom Scotland loves,</div> + <div class='line in2'>Long loved, and honoured duly</div> + <div class='line'>By all who love the bard who sang</div> + <div class='line in2'>So sweetly and so truly!</div> + <div class='line'>In cultured dales his song prevails,</div> + <div class='line in2'>Thrills o’er the eagle’s aëry,—</div> + <div class='line'>Ah! who that strain has caught, nor sighed</div> + <div class='line in2'>For Burns’s “Highland Mary?”</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line in20 c005'>II.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>I wandered on from hill to hill,</div> + <div class='line in2'>I feared nor wind nor weather;</div> + <div class='line'>For Burns beside me trode the moor,</div> + <div class='line in2'>Beside me pressed the heather.</div> + <div class='line'>I read his verse—his life—alas!</div> + <div class='line in2'>O’er that dark shades extended:—</div> + <div class='line'>With thee at last, and him in thee,</div> + <div class='line in2'>My thoughts their wanderings ended.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line in20 c005'>III.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>His golden hours of youth were thine—</div> + <div class='line in2'>Those hours whose flight is fleetest;</div> + <div class='line'>Of all his songs to thee he gave</div> + <div class='line in2'>The freshest and the sweetest.</div> + <div class='line'>Ere ripe the fruit, one branch he brake,</div> + <div class='line in2'>All rich with bloom and blossom;</div> + <div class='line'>And shook its dews, its incense shook,</div> + <div class='line in2'>Above thy brow and bosom.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line in20 c005'>IV.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>And when his Spring, alas, how soon!</div> + <div class='line in2'>Had been by care subverted,</div> + <div class='line'>His Summer, like a god repulsed,</div> + <div class='line in2'>Had from his gates departed;</div> + <div class='line'>Beneath the evening star, once more,</div> + <div class='line in2'>Star of his morn and even!</div> + <div class='line'>To thee his suppliant hands he spread,</div> + <div class='line in2'>And hailed his love “in heaven.”</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line in20 c005'>V.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>And if his spirit in “a waste</div> + <div class='line in2'>Of shame” too oft was squandered,</div> + <div class='line'>And if too oft his feet ill-starred</div> + <div class='line in2'>In ways erroneous wandered;</div> + <div class='line'>Yet still his spirit’s spirit bathed</div> + <div class='line in2'>In purity eternal;</div> + <div class='line'>And all fair things through thee retained</div> + <div class='line in2'>For him their aspect vernal.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line in20 c005'>VI.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Nor less that tenderness remained</div> + <div class='line in2'>Thy favouring love implanted;</div> + <div class='line'>Compunctious pity, yearnings vague</div> + <div class='line in2'>For love to earth not granted;</div> + <div class='line'>Reserve with freedom, female grace</div> + <div class='line in2'>Well matched with manly vigour,</div> + <div class='line'>In songs where fancy twined her wreaths</div> + <div class='line in2'>Round judgment’s stalwart rigour.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line in20 c005'>VII.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>A mute but strong appeal was made</div> + <div class='line in2'>To him by feeblest creatures;</div> + <div class='line'>In his large heart had each a part</div> + <div class='line in2'>That part had found in Nature’s.</div> + <div class='line'>The wildered sheep, sagacious dog,</div> + <div class='line in2'>Old horse reduced and crazy,</div> + <div class='line'>The field-mouse by the plough upturned,</div> + <div class='line in2'>And violated daisy.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line in20 c005'>VIII.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>In him there burned that passionate glow,</div> + <div class='line in2'>All Nature’s soul and savour,</div> + <div class='line'>Which gives its hue to every flower,</div> + <div class='line in2'>To every fruit its flavour.</div> + <div class='line'>Nor less the kindred power he felt,</div> + <div class='line in2'>That love of all things human,</div> + <div class='line'>Whereof the fiery centre is</div> + <div class='line in2'>The love man bears to woman.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line in20 c005'>IX.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>He sang the dignity of man,</div> + <div class='line in2'>Sang woman’s grace and goodness;</div> + <div class='line'>Passed by the world’s half-truths, her lies</div> + <div class='line in2'>Pierced through with lance-like shrewdness.</div> + <div class='line'>Upon life’s broad highways he stood,</div> + <div class='line in2'>And aped nor Greek nor Roman;</div> + <div class='line'>But snatched from heaven Promethean fire</div> + <div class='line in2'>To glorify things common.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line in20 c005'>X.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>He sang of youth, he sang of age,</div> + <div class='line in2'>Their joys, their griefs, their labours;</div> + <div class='line'>Felt with, not for, the people; hailed</div> + <div class='line in2'>All Scotland’s sons his neighbours:</div> + <div class='line'>And therefore all repeat his verse—</div> + <div class='line in2'>Hot youth, or graybeard steady,</div> + <div class='line'>The boat-man on Loch Etive’s wave,</div> + <div class='line in2'>The shepherd on Ben Ledi.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line in20 c005'>XI.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>He sang from love of song; his name</div> + <div class='line in2'>Dunedin’s cliff resounded:—</div> + <div class='line'>He left her, faithful to a fame</div> + <div class='line in2'>On truth and nature founded.</div> + <div class='line'>He sought true fame, not loud acclaim;</div> + <div class='line in2'>Himself and Time he trusted:</div> + <div class='line'>For laurels crackling in the flame</div> + <div class='line in2'>His fine ear never lusted.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line in20 c005'>XII.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>He loved, and reason had to love.</div> + <div class='line in2'>The illustrious land that bore him:</div> + <div class='line'>Where’er he went, like heaven’s broad tent</div> + <div class='line in2'>A star-bright Past hung o’er him.</div> + <div class='line'>Each isle had fenced a saint recluse,</div> + <div class='line in2'>Each tower a hero dying;</div> + <div class='line'>Down every mountain-gorge had rolled</div> + <div class='line in2'>The flood of foemen flying.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line in20 c005'>XIII.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>From age to age that land had paid</div> + <div class='line in2'>No alien throne submission,</div> + <div class='line'>For feudal faith had been her Law,</div> + <div class='line in2'>And freedom her Tradition.</div> + <div class='line'>Where frowned the rocks had Freedom smiled,</div> + <div class='line in2'>Sung, mid the shrill wind’s whistle—</div> + <div class='line'>So England prized her garden Rose,</div> + <div class='line in2'>But Scotland loved her Thistle.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line in20 c005'>XIV.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>The land thus pure from foreign foot,</div> + <div class='line in2'>Her growing powers thus centred</div> + <div class='line'>Around her heart, with other lands</div> + <div class='line in2'>The race historic entered.</div> + <div class='line'>Her struggling dawn, convulsed or bright,</div> + <div class='line in2'>Worked on through storms and troubles,</div> + <div class='line'>Whilst a heroic line of kings</div> + <div class='line in2'>Strove with heroic nobles.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line in20 c005'>XV.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Fair field alone the brave demand,</div> + <div class='line in2'>And Scotland ne’er had lost it:</div> + <div class='line'>And honest prove the hate and love</div> + <div class='line in2'>To objects meet adjusted.</div> + <div class='line'>Intelligible course was hers</div> + <div class='line in2'>By safety tried or danger:</div> + <div class='line'>The native was for native known—</div> + <div class='line in2'>The stranger known for stranger.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line in20 c005'>XVI.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Honour in her a sphere had found,</div> + <div class='line in2'>Nobility a station,</div> + <div class='line'>The patriots’ thought the task it sought,</div> + <div class='line in2'>And virtue—toleration.</div> + <div class='line'>Her will and way had ne’er been crossed</div> + <div class='line in2'>In fatal contradiction;</div> + <div class='line'>Nor loyalty to treason soured,</div> + <div class='line in2'>Nor faith abused with fiction.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line in20 c005'>XVII.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Can song be mute where hearts are sound?</div> + <div class='line in2'>Weak doubts—away we fling them!</div> + <div class='line'>The land that breeds great men, great deeds,</div> + <div class='line in2'>Should ne’er lack bards to sing them.</div> + <div class='line'>That vigour, sense, and mutual truth</div> + <div class='line in2'>Which baffled each invader,</div> + <div class='line'>Shall fill her marts, and feed her arts,</div> + <div class='line in2'>While peaceful olives shade her.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line in20 c005'>XVIII.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Honour to Scotland and to Burns!</div> + <div class='line in2'>In him she stands collected.</div> + <div class='line'>A thousand streams one river make—</div> + <div class='line in2'>Thus Genius, heaven-directed,</div> + <div class='line'>Conjoins all separate veins of power</div> + <div class='line in2'>In one great soul-creation;</div> + <div class='line'>And blends a million men to make</div> + <div class='line in2'>The Poet of the nation.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line in20 c005'>XIX.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Honour to Burns! and her who first</div> + <div class='line in2'>Let loose the abounding river</div> + <div class='line'>Of music from the Poet’s heart,</div> + <div class='line in2'>Borne through all lands for ever!</div> + <div class='line'>How much to her mankind has owed</div> + <div class='line in2'>Of song’s selectest treasures!</div> + <div class='line'>Unsweetened by her kiss, his lips</div> + <div class='line in2'>Had sung far other measures.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line in20 c005'>XX.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Be green for aye, green bank and brae</div> + <div class='line in2'>Around Montgomery’s Castle!</div> + <div class='line'>Blow there, ye earliest flowers! and there,</div> + <div class='line in2'>Ye sweetest song-birds, nestle!</div> + <div class='line'>For there was ta’en that last farewell</div> + <div class='line in2'>In hope, indulged how blindly;</div> + <div class='line'>And there was given that long last gaze</div> + <div class='line in2'>“That dwelt” on him “sae kindly.”</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line in20 c005'>XXI.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>No word of thine recorded stands;</div> + <div class='line in2'>Few words that hour were spoken:</div> + <div class='line'>Two Bibles there were interchanged,</div> + <div class='line in2'>And some slight love-gift broken.</div> + <div class='line'>And there thy cold faint hands he pressed,</div> + <div class='line in2'>Thy head by dewdrops misted;</div> + <div class='line'>And kisses, ill-resisted first,</div> + <div class='line in2'>At last were unresisted.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line in20 c005'>XXII.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Ah cease!—she died. He too is dead.</div> + <div class='line in2'>Of all her girlish graces</div> + <div class='line'>Perhaps one nameless lock remains:</div> + <div class='line in2'>The rest stern Time effaces—</div> + <div class='line'>Dust lost in dust. Not so: a bloom</div> + <div class='line in2'>Is hers that ne’er can wither;</div> + <div class='line'>And in that lay which lives for aye</div> + <div class='line in2'>The twain live on together.</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<div class='chapter'> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_313'>313</span> + <h2 class='c002'>MY PENINSULAR MEDAL.<br> BY AN OLD PENINSULAR.<br> PART IV.—CHAPTER X.</h2> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>Next morning, I commenced my +regular attendance at the office; all +hands employed in counting money.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Well, Mr Y—,” said my commanding +officer, “I fear you find the +gentleman with whom you lodge rather +dull company.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Particularly lively, sir; never +met with a more pleasant person.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Thought he was rather morose,” +replied Mr Q—. “That’s the character +he bears amongst his acquaintance +here.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Quite cheerful and obliging, sir; +sings a good song. Yesterday he invited +a couple of friends to meet me +at dinner. Does all he can to make +me comfortable, even to his own +inconvenience. Last night, as we +were short of blankets, he forced me +to take his greatcoat, which he generally +puts upon his own bed. Offered, +as a favour, to sell it me, as I +am going up to the army. Only asks +ten dollars.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Yes, yes; he’s always trying to +bargain. That’s what has got him +such a bad name here. Constantly +on the look-out to turn a penny. +Well, do you buy the pony?”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Yes, sir,” said I; “we settled +about that this morning at breakfast. +Shall have to trouble you for the needful, +as he would like to be paid in the +course of the day.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“In the course of the day? Oh, +very well. The cashier may as well +give it you at once. Stop; I’ll write +you an order. At the same time, I +feel it my duty to say this to you; +mind and take a receipt. How much +will you draw?”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“I suppose, sir, the usual allowance +granted by Government, eighty dollars. +That, he said, of course.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“What! Eighty dollars for that +beast of a pony? Why, Mr Y—, +one would think you had come out +direct from England! Saddle and +bridle in? Of course.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“No, sir; we are to settle about the +saddle and bridle to-morrow. Said he +didn’t know what he <em>ought</em> to ask for +them.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Ought!—a rascal! He knows very +well, when you’ve got the pony, you +<em>must</em> have the saddle and bridle. +Don’t know of a saddle that would +suit Sancho, in all Passages. Well, +Mr Y—; I feel it my duty to say this +to you—it’s a regular take-in. Sixty +dollars I should call a high figure, +saddle and bridle included. If you +can sell at headquarters for forty, +you may think yourself well off.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Hadn’t I better go and pitch into +him, sir?”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Pitch into him? Nonsense. That +won’t do here, Mr Y—. Besides, a +bargain’s a bargain, you know. If +you have said eighty, it must be +eighty. Have you looked out for a +fresh billet?”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Didn’t know there was any occasion, +sir.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“You don’t expect to pass another +night in your present quarters, after +you have paid for Sancho? If you +complete the purchase this morning, +depend upon it, you’ll have to get other +accommodation before bed-time.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“I’m rather at a loss how to proceed, +sir.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Why, let me see. I must consider. +Go and tell him—yes—go and tell +him, for that money you ought to +have saddle and bridle in. Tell him +so, from me. We must try and be a +match for this gentleman. Don’t +think it right that your uncle’s +nephew, the moment he joins, should +be pigeoned at this rate. Stop—tell +him, at the same time, you can’t +purchase till the day you’re off. Under +all the circumstances of the case, +I feel it my duty to say this to you; +till then, I shall keep the eighty dollars +in the military chest. While +you’re here, he may as well have the +bother of keeping Sancho as you. +And, besides, while the bargain’s open—don’t +you see?—you won’t be disturbed +in your quarters. If you lose +them, the place is so crowded, ten to +one I shall be forced to accommodate +you <em>myself</em>.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>Charged with what promised to +prove an awkward negotiation, I +walked off to find my friend. Nothing +of the kind. He took it all with +the greatest good-humour; consented +with alacrity to throw in the saddle +and bridle; and as to the money, +why, if it wasn’t forthcoming at once, +he could wait till it was.</p> + +<p class='c009'>Three hands of us, counting dollars +till dinner-time, did a good stroke of +work:—only that plaguy “small +mixed” was a serious addition to our +labours. Fancy a bag of small silver, +a thousand dollars in amount, shot +out before you on the table; a heap +of mingled coin, specimens of every +fraction of a dollar, that ever issued +in silver from the Spanish mint; the +whole lot to be sorted, counted, and +made right. A single bag took us +often two or three hours. As to +counting a bag of whole dollars, that +was a far easier job. Count ten; set +them on the table in a pile. Ten +such piles in a row make a hundred; +ten such rows in a square make one +thousand:—the bag is counted. Unluckily, +though, your last pile is sometimes +nine, or eleven, instead of ten. +Ah, you’re a greenhorn; you’ve counted +wrong. Then down goes your +nose to the edge of the table; your +eye glances over the summit of the +piles. Discover, if you can, a pile +higher or lower than the rest: the +error is then detected. Should you +fail, there’s no remedy: “Mr Snooks, +you had better count the whole +again.” Still wrong? then some +older hand is set to count. Can’t he +get it right? Why, then, the bag is +wrong. Set it on one side and count +another. Fingers sore, about the +third day. With the first day’s +counting they get a little black; on +the second, rough, and painful; third, +cracked, and begin to bleed. About +this time comes a thundering letter, +blowing up the whole department sky +high, for not having the money ready +to pay the troops. What your +fingers are, if the counting goes on a +day or two longer, especially with the +encouraging accompaniment of a rap +on the knuckles, I leave you to guess. +We had a military guard; four Germans, +one of them a corporal. The +man on duty as sentry walked up +and down in the passage, while the +other three sat over a small fire in an +adjoining room. They could sing in +parts—sang well. One of them +struck up, the others followed, the +sentry joined in as he paced the lobby. +Sometimes it was a national song, +sometimes a hymn. Nothing, in sacred +music, like those German hymns. +But then, take notice, you must have +German voices to do them justice. +The men of our guard were quiet, +sober, well-conducted fellows; always +willing to make themselves +useful; rendered us great assistance +in helping the carpenter to open and +close the boxes, and in lifting the +bags from the boxes to the table, and +<em>vice versâ</em>. Mr Q—, as an acknowledgment, +made a handsome addition +to their supper.</p> + +<p class='c009'>Our dinner was strictly departmental, +very much to my taste; quite +a sort of family party. No one was +present save the gentlemen of our +own office at Passages. Mr Q—, I +rather suspect, wanted to give me +some idea of my duties, in the responsible +charge of conducting treasure to +headquarters through the enemy’s +country. Perhaps he thought a little +chat amongst ourselves would be the +best mode of instruction.</p> + +<p class='c009'>Towards the close of the evening, +as we sat talking over departmental +matters, each with his tumbler before +him—hot,—our conversation was interrupted +by a tap at the door. +“Come in,” said Mr Q—.</p> + +<p class='c009'>The door opened; and in the doorway +appeared one of our German +guard. With an earnest but somewhat +vacant look, and his hand spread +out upon his breast, he stood erect, +his appearance that of a man who +wants words, but is very anxious to +speak. At length he began: “<em>Mine +haarrt ist folle.</em>” Just at that moment +the corporal appeared behind, seized +the orator by the shoulders, and cut +short his harangue by spinning him +round into the passage, and closing +the door. “Oh, I see how it is,” +said Mr Q—. “The extra allowance +has got into his head. He wants to +return thanks for his supper; that’s +all.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>Presently there was a scuffle outside. +Again the door opened; and again the +same individual made his appearance, +commencing as before, with pathos and +much gravity, “<em>Mine haarrt ist folle.</em>” +The corporal interposed once more; +but another scuffle ensued in the passage, +followed by a third visit, with +similar results.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Better get him to turn in,” said +Mr Q—; but that was more English +than the corporal understood. Recollecting +a few German words, I +contrived to make the command intelligible; +and partly by force, partly +by persuasion, our grateful friend was +stowed away for the night; still exclaiming, +from time to time, “<em>Mine +haarrt ist folle</em>,” and making strenuous +efforts to break away from his comrades, +come back, and finish his oration. +When all was quiet, I took my +leave for the night. The sound of my +footsteps caught his ear, and set him +off again. His voice grew louder as +my distance increased; and “<em>Mine +haarrt ist folle</em>” resounded in the street. +Next morning he came up to me, +looking very sheepish and compunctious; +and commenced a long discourse +in German, expressive of his +profound regret. This at his request +I interpreted, as far as able, to his +“Excellenz” the “Haupt.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>At length arrived the day, the +important day, of my departure to +join the army. It was arranged that +the treasure should be conveyed up +the harbour in boats to the bridge of +Oyarzun, with a guard of soldiers. +At Oyarzun we were to sleep the first +night; and there, also, we were to +meet the rest of our escort, and the +mules intended to convey the money. +My friend and I had arranged it together, +that he was to bring Sancho +to the office in the course of the morning, +saddled and bridled. I was then +to pay the purchase-money, and the +pony would be mine. My friend was +punctual to his time; Sancho stood at +the door; and I applied to Mr Q— for +the eighty dollars.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Oh yes, of course,” said he; “may +as well give it you at once. Is the +pony at Oyarzun?”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“No, sir; he’s here, at the door.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Here at the door? Then how do +you mean to get him to Oyarzun?” +I had never thought of that.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Can’t he go with us, in one of the +boats, sir?”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Oh yes, certainly; yes, yes. If +they were horse-boats, of course he +could. But as they are common +ship-boats, borrowed for the occasion +from the transports in harbour, how +will you get him in, and how will you +get him out? Not to mention that he +might take to kicking; and kick out +a plank from the bottom of the boat, +as you were pulling up the harbour. +In that case, the treasure would have +a short voyage, and you too.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Hadn’t I better mention it to my +friend, sir?”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Why, yes; I think you had. +Stop; let me see. Suppose you request +him to step in. I’ll speak to +him myself.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>I invited my friend into the office. +He entered smiling—rubbed his hands—looked +sleeky and resigned—evidently +thought he was going to realise.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Well, sir,” said Mr Q—, addressing +my friend, “this is an awkward +business about the pony. I don’t +see how the purchase can be +completed.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Completed, sir?” said my friend, +rather taken aback, and losing his +temper. “I thought it <em>was</em> completed, +all but paying the money.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Very true, sir,” said Mr Q—; +“but that, you know, makes all the +difference. The money is not paid; +and, more than that, it’s not issued. +And, sir, under all the circumstances +of the case, I feel it my duty to say +this to you; unless I see everything +straight, I don’t intend to issue it.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Well, sir,” said my friend, “I +conceive everything <em>is</em> straight, so far +as I am concerned. There stands the +pony, at the door.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Yes, I know he does. But how +is he to be got to the head of the harbour?”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Of course I supposed Mr Y— +would ride him, sir.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“No, no; that’s out of the question. +The treasure goes by water; and of +course, being in charge, Mr Y— must +go with it.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Well, sir,” replied my friend, “if +that’s all, my servant shall take the +pony.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Oh, very well, sir,” said Mr Q—, +“if you think you can trust your servant +to receive and bring back the +purchase-money.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“No occasion for that, sir; I can +receive it here, sir, if you’ve no objection.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“None whatever, when I know that +the pony is delivered at Oyarzun. +Not before delivery, of course.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>My friend was seized with a fit of +musing;—looked rather at a loss. At +length he found his tongue.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“The long and the short of it is, I +think, sir, I had better ride the pony +to Oyarzun myself, and make the delivery +in person.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Very well, sir,” said Mr Q—. +“I think so too. Then, on receiving +the pony at Oyarzun, Mr Y— will pay +you the eighty dollars. Will you +favour us with your company? We +are just going to lunch.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Thank you, sir; much obliged. +Think I had better be off at once. +Mr Y— will not reach Oyarzun till +late; and it’s out of the question my +returning to Passages after dark, +especially on foot, and with a lot of +dollars.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Oh, certainly; and by such a +horrid, cut-throat, out-of-the-way +road, too. You’d certainly be robbed +and murdered; that is, if you get safe +there. Better secure a night’s lodging +at Oyarzun, if there’s one to be had, +sir.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Yes, and come back to-morrow +by daylight. Well, the sooner I’m off +the better. Good morning, sir.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Good morning, sir.” My friend +mounted Sancho at the door, and set +off forthwith to Oyarzun.</p> + +<p class='c009'>Mr Q—, laughing heartily, then +handed me my route, made out in due +form.</p> + +<p class='c009'>While I was making the necessary +arrangements for my start in the afternoon, +Mr Q— summoned me into his +private apartment. He had doffed +his blue frock with black velvet collar, +and now appeared in full fig, +departmental coat, epaulet on his +shoulder, staff-hat on the table. His +manner was serious, but friendly.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“You are probably aware, Mr +Y—,” said he, “that the Allied army +is not likely to resume active operations +for some days.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“So I have understood, sir,” said I.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“I presume, however, you are not +acquainted with the cause of this temporary +inactivity.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Can’t say I am, sir.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“It is, I believe I may venture to +inform you, principally the want of +money. That deficiency your arrival +will supply. You will readily perceive, +then, how much depends on +your conducting the treasure safely, +and delivering it by the time when it is +looked for. Your route lies through the +enemy’s country; but the population +is now comparatively quiet; the date +of your departure is known at headquarters, +and, I have no doubt, every +requisite arrangement has been made +to secure the safety of your convoy. +All such arrangements, however, proceed, +and must proceed, on one supposition—namely, +that the officer in +charge is, on his part, competent to +the task committed to him, obeys his +orders, and does his duty properly. +You will readily perceive, then, that +some measure of responsibility rests +upon your own shoulders.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Yes, sir; and, in the course of +the last few days, I have been thinking +on that subject more than once.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“All the better. Mr Y—, if you +had ever discharged this duty before, +I should now merely wish you a pleasant +journey, and send you off. But +this is your first expedition; it is one, +to speak candidly, of greater risk than +any that has hitherto fallen to our +department. The army is considerably +in advance in the French territory; +you have before you six or +seven days’ march upon French +ground; it will, of course, be discovered +that you carry money—there +is no concealing that; a convoy like +yours will naturally excite the cupidity +of partisans and marauders; from +St Jean de Luz to headquarters you +will not find a single officer of our +department to give you the benefit of +his experience; and, under all the +circumstances of the case, I feel it my +duty to say this to you—mind what +you are about; on no account separate +from your convoy; let nothing +induce you to deviate from the written +route; always reach the specified station +at the specified time; keep your +escort sober, if you can; keep your +muleteers in good-humour; keep your +mules well together on the line of +march; and, if you are asked questions, +don’t be lavish of information. +The French, Mr Y—, though an inquisitive +people, are not apt to interrogate +official persons out of mere +curiosity. If, therefore, any individual +should pester you with inquiries, +depend upon it he has a motive.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“I suppose, sir,” said I, “in such +a case, it will be as well to return some +sort of a general reply, just to avoid +the appearance of mystery.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Exactly that,” said Mr Q—. +“When a gentleman makes an inquiry, +you are bound, by etiquette, to +give him a <em>reply</em>. Whether you give +him an <em>answer</em> is optional, and a matter +of discretion.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“By the bye,” added Mr Q—, after +a pause, “I shouldn’t wonder if you +missed the pony, after all—no great +harm if you do. To be sure, you must +march on foot, the first day or two; +but you won’t mind that; and you +will have your eighty dollars. Put +twenty to them, and I shouldn’t wonder +if you pick up a very tolerable +mule, which will answer your purpose +far better. Then, if at headquarters +you wish to come out well mounted, +and choose to buy a horse, a mule, +you know, will always fetch its value.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“I hope, sir,” said I, “we shall +have a good escort.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Oh, yes—the escort. That is +one of the subjects I wish to mention. +Well, Mr Y—, you must do the best +you can with them. Your escort consists +of twenty men; not, I am sorry +to say, twenty men of any one corps, +but twenty men of twenty different +regiments; men who have been in +hospital at Vittoria, sick or wounded—have +recovered, and are now on +their return to headquarters—not +exactly the guard I should have +wished to provide, but the best I +could get for you. The worst is, I +have seen the officer who is to command +them, and don’t like him at all. +Hope you will like him better than I +do. Hope he won’t give you trouble, +or prove incompetent. Should he +turn out not quite the person you +wish, or should your escort appear +insufficient, say nothing till you reach +St Jean de Luz, up to which point I +consider you as safe as if travelling in +England. Then wait upon old Colonel +B—, the commandant; state your +case to him; and he, I have no doubt, +will make the best arrangements in his +power, for the security of your subsequent +progress. Come, Mr Y—, after +dinner, we’ll see you into the boat.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Perhaps, sir,” said I, “you will +oblige me with a line to the commandant, +to be presented if the case +requires.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“No need of that,” said he, “I +wrote to the Colonel yesterday, after +seeing the gentleman who goes with +you.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>Before leaving the room, I very +heartily thanked my commanding +officer for all his good advice, forethought, +and kind attentions. We +then shook hands upon it, in the usual +English style; and I held by the +paw as worthy a little man as ever +trod shoe-leather, and as smart an +officer as ever drew rations.</p> + +<p class='c009'>The dinner was again departmental, +and so was the talk. “It is the boast +of our department,” said Mr Q—, +“that, since we have served in the +Peninsula under our present commander-in-chief, +no treasure in our +keeping, not even a single mule’s load +of specie, has ever been captured by +the enemy. Recollect that, Mr Y—, +and keep up our character.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Didn’t we once lose a box of +papers, sir?” said one of my fellow-clerks.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“We did,” said Mr Q—; “but, two +days after, it was recaptured, and all +the papers found right. That was on +the retreat, subsequent to the battle +of Talavera. I see nothing of the +boats,” he added, rising, and walking +to the balcony. “Hope they’ll be +here in time.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Get him to tell about that campaign,” +whispered the senior of my +fellow-clerks, winking to the junior. +“Did you ever hear him tell it, Mr +Y—?”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“I think, sir, in the course of that +campaign,” said the junior, addressing +Mr Q—, on his return to the table, +“the whole department together, chest +and all, had a narrow escape from +being captured.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Not exactly,” said Mr Q—, “because +we obeyed orders. Had we not, +we should have had no escape at all: +we must have been taken, every man +of us. The boats are not in sight, so +I’ll just tell you how it was. Gentlemen, +try this Madeira. We halted +one evening, after a weary march, in +a village. The rain was coming down +in torrents. We unloaded the treasure, +and housed it, glad enough to +get a little rest. Just at that moment, +Mr Y—, an order came to your +uncle, to load again, and be ready to +move on at a moment’s warning, but +not to stir till further notice. Well, +sir, we made ready again, with all +expedition; the night closed in; the +rain fell, heavier than ever; and an +anxious time we had of it. Parties +of stragglers, one after the other, came +hurrying through the village—one set +assuring us the enemy were close at +their heels, another telling us we had +better be off, another warning us, if +we stayed there, we should all be +taken, and serve us right. I own I +felt rather nervous; but the Governor +would not budge. He had got his +directions, he said, not to proceed +without further orders; and there he +should wait, treasure and all, till the +orders came. Presently, in a mighty +bustle, up rode a general officer. +Begged to know, in a tone of +authority, why we were waiting +there. The Governor replied as before. +‘Well, but it was perfectly +absurd. The enemy were close at +hand—on our flanks, right and left.’ +Couldn’t move the Governor. The +general grew angry, swore, almost +threatened. ‘Will you move on, sir, +or will you not?’ Then clapped spurs +to his horse, in a towering passion, +and rode away with a wave of his +hand, as if saying, ‘I leave you to +your fate.’ Well, gentlemen, we +waited, waited till midnight. No +order came. Waited on till morning +dawned. Then, at length, came a +staff-officer, with a message from his +lordship, directing us to proceed. We +did so; and found the general quite +right in one thing—the French had +been on our flanks. But not only +that; they had been in our front. +During the night, they had occupied +in force the very road by which we +were to pass. Had we started sooner, +we should have walked right into +them.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>The boats now made their appearance, +and were soon alongside the +jetty. A working party embarked +the treasure, packed, as before, in +boxes. I then said farewell, and +took my seat. With three boat-loads +of treasure, and a guard of a corporal +and six soldiers, we pulled away for +the bridge of Oyarzun. There we +found three individuals expecting our +arrival—Captain Rattler, who was appointed +to command our escort, my +friend, and Sancho.</p> + +<p class='c009'>I completed the purchase of +Sancho, by handing over to my friend +the eighty dollars, and receiving an +acknowledgment of the same, which +he had brought in his pocket. Just +at that moment, my attention was +called from my friend, by something +in the boats. The next instant I +turned, to resume our conversation—he +had vanished! By the dim ray of +evening at length I caught sight of +him in the distance, walking down +the road towards the town. My +friend! My jolly, good-humoured, +hospitable friend! My friend, who +could sing a good song! My friend, +who laughed indiscriminately and immoderately +at all my jokes! He had +got his money. It was all he wanted. +He was off, without staying to say +“Good night!”</p> + +<p class='c009'>CHAPTER XI.</p> + +<p class='c009'>The departure of my friend was +soon followed by that of the boats. +The treasure was then placed in security +for the night, in charge of two +sentries; and Captain Rattler politely +offered me accommodation in his +quarters, as well as stable-room for +Sancho. We accordingly started together, +I leading the pony; when one +of the soldiers stepped up, and, saluting +in due form, took hold of the bridle. +“Well,” said I, “just lead him to the +stable, will you?”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Yes, sir,” said he smartly; “and +take care on him too, sir. Git across +him, sir, if you’ve no objections, sir. +Got a bullet in my leg, sir.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>Suiting the action to the word, and +not waiting for leave, he then mounted +the pony, or, as he had more +graphically described the process, +“got across” him. That is, laying +hold with both hands, he took a +spring, and brought the pit of his +stomach upon the saddle; then, +wriggling forwards, got one leg over, +dug his heels into Sancho’s side before +he was well in his seat, and started +off at a trot, his legs dangling, and +the stirrups too. As he mounted and +rode away, I noticed a hard, droll sort +of leer, on the weather-beaten countenances +of his comrades. Jones, it +soon became apparent, was both the +wag and the butt of the whole escort.</p> + +<p class='c009'>The corporal, meanwhile, was receiving +his instructions from Captain +Rattler. “Fraser of the 42d?” said +the captain. “Oh, very well. You +will see to the whole party. We +haven’t another corporal in the escort. +Turn them out to-morrow in good +time; and be sure to have them here +by eight o’clock, when we load the +mules.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>While the captain and I were seated +at our tea, Jones entered without +knocking, twitched his forelock, and +with a savage look made a plunge at +my boots, and walked away with +them. Jones, it was clear, had made +up his mind to be my personal attendant, +as long as I and he marched in +company. That being the case, I +here beg leave to give you his character,—though +I fear it would not gain +him admittance into your service.</p> + +<p class='c009'>Jones went among his comrades by +the name of Taffy, and certainly was +not wronged by the legend, which +says “Taffy was a thief.” Take a +trait. On the march, he stole a Dutch +cheese, sold it me for a dollar, and +ate it himself. He was conversable, +and couldn’t keep his own counsel: +<em>e. g.</em> not satisfied with realising both +dollar and cheese, he ostentatiously +pleaded guilty to the original theft, +walking by the side of my pony. +Jones was no raw recruit:—had +served in the Peninsula, if his word +was to be trusted, through five successive +campaigns; got his wound at +Pampeluna, and was now returning +from hospital to join his regiment. +In active service, he had acquired all +the good and bad qualities of an old +campaigner; united with which were +some of both sorts, that were properly +his own. His oddities he did not attempt +to hide, though they constantly +exposed him to the jeers of his comrades. +He was susceptible, touchy, +testy—not quarrelsome. Felt ridicule +very acutely; if laughed at, complained +bitterly—expostulated—but +was not to be laughed out of his own +ways. He was somewhat undersized; +a smart, wiry, hard-featured light-infantry +man: had, to an excess, +that wriggle in his gait, which was +imparted to our foot-soldiers by the +awkward set of their accoutrements—straightening +their back, stretching +their neck, fixing their head, projecting +their chin, and throwing all the +action, in walking, into their loins, +thighs, and shoulders. His first appearance +was by no means a letter of +recommendation. He carried the +gallows in his countenance,—in short, +had that sort of look which helps to +get “oudacious” boys a “larrupping;” +desperate, dogged, abject, and +impudent at the same time. He was +capable of any sort of atrocity:—you +might turn him by a word. Had a +perpetual wolf—yet didn’t care +much for eating, when he could get +drink. Never refused a tumbler of +wine—but preferred something short. +His tact was considerable. He soon +found out just what I disliked, and +what I liked—accommodated his +likings to mine. With a constant +eye to self, was my intensely devoted +humble servant. Never resisted—always +gave up a point at once, when +he couldn’t carry it—yet often contrived +to have his own way. Much +preferred riding to walking: seldom +suffered a day to pass, without finding +more than one opportunity to “get +across” Sancho in the course of the +march. If I was off, he was on. Took +an amazing liking to “the pony,”—and +sold his corn. Hated the French, +but not so much as he hated our own +horse-soldiers. Jones, often offended, +was never saucy. Took a jobation as +a matter of course. Looked savage +at the moment; the next, was larking +with the muleteers. The muleteers +took to him amazingly. For endless +neglects and trespasses, he had one +plea, always ready—“Got a bullet +in my leg, sir.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>Next morning, just as we had done +breakfast, Corporal Fraser entered to +announce the men ready, the mules +arrived, and all prepared for loading. +The captain and I proceeded to the +spot, and the loading commenced. +Corporal Fraser made himself universally +useful; I soon discovered that, +in him, we had an acquisition. Leaving +the superintendence, for a moment, +to the captain and him, I stepped +back to the billet, for the purpose of +stowing, in my already overcharged +portmanteau, a lot of loose dollars, +part of my own ready cash, which I +found a drag. Just as I had piled +them on the table, to the number of +forty, and was forcing them in amongst +shirts, shaving materials, and portable +dictionaries, who should enter but the +captain? “Ah!” said he, “don’t +trouble yourself; you haven’t room. +You’ll ruin your things. Here; my +portmanteau is open.” So saying, he +laid hands on the dollars, counted +thirty, and whipped them into his box. +“Thirty,” said he—“there, they’ll +go safe. Remember. Thirty.” It +was done in the twinkling of an eye. +“Rather cool,” thought I; “but of +course it’s all right.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>We returned together. A few of +the soldiers were placed as sentries. +The rest had piled their arms, and +stood waiting about, ready to fall in +and march when the mules were +loaded. Something out of the usual +course was evidently going on: the +men were all on a broad grin. I +walked into a sort of court-yard, and +at once discovered the cause of the +general mirth. On a money-box sat +Jones, and before him stood a goat. +“Purty creatur!” said Jones. +“Purty thing—isn’t she, sir?” He +held out a bit of biscuit. She playfully +made a show of butting, advanced, +and took it—“It’s mine, sir,” said +he: “follows me about like a dog, sir.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“No wonder,” said I, “so long as +the biscuit lasts.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“No, sir; ’tisn’t that, sir,” replied +Jones. “It’s ’cause I speaks to her +as goats understands, sir; same as we +speaks to ’em in the Principality, sir. +Only see, sir.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>Jones then knelt down, put his nose +close to nanny’s, and, with a coaxing +voice and a most affectionate look, +gave utterance to a few low guttural +sounds, in a language to me unknown. +Nanny rose on her hind legs, and again +made play with her head; then, just as +I expected to see Jones punched and +prostrate, arched her neck gracefully +on one side, descended on her fore-feet, +stepped back, cut a caper, ran up to +Jones again in a butting attitude, and, +instead of knocking him over, put her +nose close to his, and uttered a short +bleat. “There, sir,” said Jones; +“see that, sir?—understands me +every word, sir.” It certainly did +look very much as if nanny understood +Welch.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Well, what did you say to her?”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Why, I said this, sir. ‘Nanny,’ +says I, ‘we’re off directly instant,’ says +I; ‘and you must come along with us,’ +says I; ‘and I’ll milk you morning and +evening,’ says I. ‘And then the cappn, +and this here hommerble jeddleham +what’s present,’ says I, ‘won’t never +not want milk for their tea,’ says I, +‘nor yet for their breakfast nayther,’ +says I.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Well, and what does nanny say?” +asked I, almost laughing at this stroke +of generalship.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Please, sir,” replied Jones, “she +says she’s quite agreeable, sir; that is, +if you are, sir. That’s what she says, +sir.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Oh, very well.” Had Jones and +I been better acquainted, I might +have felt it needful to ask first, how +nanny had passed into his possession.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Thank yer honour,” said Jones, +springing on his feet. “That’s jest the +very thing as I was a-going to aast +yer honour. Much obleeged to yer +honour. Purty creatur! Nothing +to her, a day’s march, sir. Won’t +mind it the least in the world, sir. +Come in quite fresh, sir.” As I was +walking out of the yard, Jones ran +after me,—“Please, sir, if the cappn +makes any objections, when he siz +nanny coming on along with us, sir, +please just tell him she’s a nanny, sir; +that is, I means to say, a femmel, sir, +and giz milk, sir. Then he won’t have +nothing to say against her, sir.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>Nanny did actually accompany our +march to headquarters; and not only +gave us milk, regularly twice a-day, +but on one occasion rendered us a far +more important service. She became +the pet of the men, and soon knocked +up an acquaintance with the pony. +Sancho and nanny travelled side by +side; except that nanny’s line of +march was now and then excursive; +on which occasions the pony expressed +his uneasiness by turning his head to +look, with an impatient snort. Nanny +was certainly not undeserving of +Jones’s commendations of her beauty. +Not one of that homebred race, of vulgar +aspect, ungainly form, and short, +coarse coat, so common both in this +country and abroad—a race that lose +all their sprightliness when they cease +to be kids, and become full-grown +goats;—in form she resembled the +antelope; her step was that of goats +that haunt the precipice, the pinnacle, +and the glacier; elegance was in all +her movements; and her hair, fine, +flowing, and luxuriant—in colour a +beautiful light orange-tawny, softening +into an amber yellow, pale and +delicate—with its snow-white fringe +almost sweeping the ground. A dainty +hussy, too, was Miss Nanny. She had +her luxuries, and scorned to browse +on common grass: culled her tidbits +by the road-side, as she trotted +along—a nibble here, and a nibble +there; was partial to biscuit broken +small, and wouldn’t refuse a crumb +of cheese. Didn’t care for bread, except +when she could steal it—her only +vice—off the table before dinner; an +object which she easily effected, by +raising herself on her hind-legs. At +the end of the march, as Jones had +predicted, she always came in as fresh +as she started; and proved it, wherever +we were, by commencing an immediate +perambulation of the house +and premises, in search of anything +she could pick up. This sometimes +brought her into odd positions, and +gave us trouble.</p> + +<p class='c009'>Where are we? Oh, loading the +money for our start from Oyarzun. +Just as I was coming out of the court-yard, +a soldier entered it, with a look +of execration, muttering. Didn’t at all +like appearances, when I got into the +road. All the men looked sulky; the +muleteers, perfectly vicious. The loading +was going on, but without method, +and not by any means with despatch. +Of all the party, the only man that +didn’t show ill blood was Corporal +Fraser. He was doing his best, but +looked serious, and somewhat nonplussed. +The cause of all was soon +apparent. The captain, for some +reason or other, had worked himself +into a perfect fury, to which he was +giving expression in a regular stream +of abuse and imprecations; discharging +it indiscriminately on the muleteers +and the escort, in Portuguese, Spanish, +and English, as though he had rifled +and ransacked the vocabularies for +every bullying and blasphemous expression +in the three languages. He +had already got matters into a little +bit of a mess—was ordering, counter-ordering—bothering +the whole party +out of their wits—in short, obstructing +everything, and thereby indefinitely +delaying our departure. This particularly +enraged the muleteers: for you +must know, first, they take the packing +upon themselves, understand their +business, and like to be let alone at +it; secondly, they have a notion that +nothing ruins their mules like keeping +a beast standing, when once he has +got his load on his back; and some +of the first loaded were a couple of +hours in this predicament, before we +got off. We started at last, and +passed through Oyarzun in no very +military order: soldiers, mules, and +muleteers, all jumbled together, like +beef, pork, onions, and mutton-chops, +in a Saturday’s pie. Fraser’s smartness +saved us more than once from a +jam, as we threaded the narrow street; +and at length we emerged on the high +road to St Jean de Luz.</p> + +<p class='c009'>Although, in our transition to +French from Spanish ground, we +mounted not to the regions of perpetual +snows, we did certainly pass +over some very high ground, both +before and after crossing the Bidassoa; +and our second elevation gave +us a splendid prospect of the fertile +plains of France. “Shan’t want for +nothing to eat, sir,” said Jones, +“when we gits down there, sir. Shocking +bad country, Spain, for poor soldiers, +sir. Starvation country, I calls +it, sir. Nothing but lean ration beef, +as tough as hides, sir; and couldn’t +always get that, sir. Dreadful hard +work up these hills, sir. Got a bullet +in my leg, sir.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>Beyond Irun, we passed over an +irregular eminence, which had been +the scene of a sharp conflict with the +enemy. Nothing, however, now indicated +the field of combat, save a +few dead horses, that lay scattered on +the bare side of a hill. “What are +those smaller animals,” said I to Jones, +“lying about there, among the horses? +Can’t be goats, can they?”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Thim’s dogs, sir,” said Jones. +“They goes and gits a good blowout +off the horses, sir; then they +crawls a little way off, and lies down +a bit, jest to choe the quid, sir; and +then they goes back again, and takes +another pull, sir. That’s jest how +three or four on us did at Vittoria, +sir, when we come upon the Frinch +Ginneral’s dinner, sir, which he hadn’t +time to stop and eat sir. Please +sir, it’s not correct, what the men +jeers me about the goats where I +comes from, sir. Niver see’d nobody +a-riding of a goat in the Principality, +sir; nayther man, nor yet woman, +sir; no, nor a babby nayther, sir; let +alone a clergyman, sir.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>Perhaps, my dear reader, as this is +our first day on the road, I may as +well give you here a description of our +regular order of march; that is, so far +as we marched in any order at all. +We had eighty mules, then, in twenty +strings, of four mules each. The +muzzle of the second mule was connected +with the <i><span lang="pt">albarda</span></i> (or pack-saddle) +of the first, by a thong of +leather. The third mule was attached +to the second in like manner, and the +fourth to the third. Each of these +strings of mules had its own muleteer—twenty +muleteers in all. The twenty +were divided into two parties of ten; +and over each of these ten was a sort +of master-muleteer, called a Capataz. +Of the four mules in each string, three +carried money, and the fourth carried +nothing but his <i><span lang="pt">albarda</span></i>. We had +thus twenty unloaded mules, and +sixty charged with treasure: that is, +fifty-eight with dollars, and two with +doubloons. Now, as each mule carried +two boxes, and each box contained +two bags of a thousand, I think +you will find, reckoning the dollar at +only 4s. 6d. (the value at which it was +issued to the troops,) and reckoning +sixteen dollars to the doubloon, that +we were marching to headquarters +to the tune of eighty-one thousand +pounds sterling. If, however, you +prefer calculating the dollar at what it +was then and there worth in buying +bills on England—say from 6s. 6d. to +7s. 6d.—why then, of course, the value +of our load comes to so much the +more. What a catch for a Frenchman—one +of our mules!</p> + +<p class='c009'>Supposing us, then, to march in +due order, the mules proceed in single +file, each string of four attended by +its own muleteer. Of the soldiers, +some precede the line of march, others +follow it, and others, again, march at +intervals on the flanks: and so we +walk on at mules’ pace, which is +steady and uniform, convenient for +marching, and gets over the ground +at a very satisfactory rate; so that we +cover our sixteen or twenty miles a-day +with tolerable facility, going +straight on from end to end. But we +don’t always get on so pleasantly. If, +not keeping the single file, one string +of mules comes up abreast of that +next in advance, then there is a +thronging, which soon leads to confusion. +Or if the load of one of your +mules gets wrong, then there is a +stoppage. Those in the rear come +crowding up, and are brought to a +halt; those in advance walk on. +Thus a division takes place, your line +is broken, and your cavalcade of mules +(“bad English!”—It’s good Portuguese,) +no longer kept well together +as it ought to be, becomes extended +over an undue length of road, and +cannot be looked after and kept regular. +Should you ever march with such +a convoy, you will soon make the discovery +that order, though excellent in +theory, is not always reducible to +practice. It won’t at all mend the +matter, if you happen to have such a +commander as ours was: a battered +dandy of forty, a military <em>roué</em>, who +carried in his countenance the marks +of rough weather and hard drinking—for +his face was not only bronzed by +the elements, but pimpled with brandy—and +whose continual language, all +through the march from starting to +halting, was just nothing but one +stream of oaths, vituperations, and +contradictory orders. And yet this +same officer, I make no doubt, had we +been placed in a position of real +danger, would have conducted himself +with coolness, energy, and judgment. +As it was, he started us in confusion, +and kept us in it all day. The muleteers, +who set out in ill-temper, hadn’t +one chance given them of recovering +their amiability. The soldiers first +walked along in dogged silence—then, +finding what sort of a gentleman they +had to deal with, began to take things +easy, joked among themselves, talked +loud, and, when he commanded them +with an oath to hold their tongues, +all but laughed in his face. Discipline +was gone. One fellow, a Yorkshire +lad, almost amused me with his +provoking insolence. He was a red-faced +chap with flaxen hair, white +eyebrows, and a merry but malevolent +eye;—could look, in a moment, either +impudent or sedate—just kept himself +steady under the captain’s immediate +inspection; the moment it was off +him, recommenced his antics—was +clown, harlequin, and scaramouch, all +in one—cut the double-shuffle, winked, +twisted his mouth, broke out singing, +and was dumb in a moment; cracked +jokes, raised a roar, made believe to +quarrel, kicked up every devisable +sort of row. At length he deliberately +disobeyed orders, and the captain put +him under arrest; in other words, he +was deprived of his musket. Whispered +audibly, “It was just what he +wanted; now one of the mules could +shoulder arms”—set half-a-dozen +fellows laughing. Yet this man afterwards, +when we were differently commanded, +was as well-conducted as +any soldier of the escort.</p> + +<p class='c009'>We at length reached St Jean de +Luz, after a long, and, to me, very +anxious march—the more so as it +was my first. Towards our journey’s +end, the question was uppermost in +my thoughts, “Is it thus we are to +march, when the road is insecure?” +Marching as we did now, far from +being prepared to meet Marshal Soult, +I should have felt it far from agreeable +to meet another distinguished +commander that shall be nameless. +There certainly were periods, during +the day, when a few resolute assailants +might easily have driven off part +of our convoy, money and all; nay, +when one or other of our own muleteers, +had they been so disposed, +might have slipped down one of the +cross-roads with his string of mules, +and made his escape among the hills. +These uneasy reflections brought to +my mind the advice given me at +Passages by Mr Q—; and I resolved +to wait on the commandant immediately +on my arrival, in the hope +of effecting some more satisfactory +arrangement for our subsequent progress.</p> + +<p class='c009'>We reached a large house assigned +to our department on the outskirts of +St Jean de Luz, stowed the treasure +in safety under a guard, and dismissed +the rest of the men to their quarters; +Jones only excepted, who remained +in charge of the pony. Captain +Rattler took his leave, with a polite +“<i><span lang="fr">Au revoir.</span></i>” Having seen the moneyboxes +all right, secured accommodation +for the mules and muleteers, and +ascertained that dinner would be ready +in half-an-hour, I stepped on at once +to the commandant’s, and found him +in his office.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“I have waited on you, sir, to +announce my arrival from Oyarzun, +with a convoy of treasure for headquarters.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Oh yes; Mr Y—, I presume. +Mr Y—, pray take a chair. Happy +to see you, Mr Y—, especially on +such an occasion. If you arrive safe, +I trust we shall all get a little of it; +for it’s what we’re all in want of. Can +I render you any assistance, Mr Y—?”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Should feel much obliged, sir, if +you could increase the strength of our +escort. For eighty mules, twenty men +will hardly be sufficient.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Why, no; certainly not, Mr Y—, +if you don’t happen to find the country +quiet. Well, what sort of an +addition would you like to have?”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“At Passages, sir, we had a guard +of Germans; so steady and well-conducted, +I should be very glad to have +some more like them. As to number, +I would leave that to you, sir.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Sorry to say we have no Germans +going up at present, Mr Y—.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Well, sir, we have with us a Scotch +corporal, decidedly the steadiest man +in our party. Perhaps you could give +me some Scotsmen.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“My dear sir, I’d go with you +myself, if I could, with the greatest +pleasure. Unfortunately, though, we +have no Scotch regiment in the place. +Suppose I could give you—say twenty +or thirty men, heavy cavalry.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Well, sir, I think cavalry, joined +with our infantry, would be the best +escort we could have.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Very good, sir. Well, now you’ll +want an officer to command them.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Why, sir, the truth is, I wished +to consult you on that subject. The +present commander of our party is +Captain Rattler.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Your present? Say your late. +He’s off.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“He was with me within the last +half-hour, sir. Said nothing about +leaving.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Well, I don’t know anything +about that. All I know is this—he +was here just before you; got his +route changed. By this time, I should +think, he’s on his way to St Jean +Pied de Port. Very well, Mr Y—. +Load to-morrow, and start with your +present escort. At what hour may I +expect you to pass here, in your way +through the town?”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Probably about ten o’clock, +sir.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Very well, Mr Y—. Then, +to-morrow morning, by ten o’clock, +I’ll have your additional escort here +in readiness for you. As to the officer +that’s to command the party, we’ll +talk about that when we meet. Let +me see. I hardly know how to settle +it. At present, I have only one that’s +going to join, and he’s young—your +junior, I should say, by three or four +years; has never seen service—a +cornet, fresh from England. Well, if +you can’t have another, you know, +you must have him. Very well, Mr +Y—; to-morrow morning, if you +please, at ten o’clock.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>I withdrew, satisfied with the result +of my visit, not at all sorry to have +got rid of the captain by his own act, +and without any complaint on my +part—a little surprised, however, at +the precipitancy of his retreat, especially +after his last words, “<i><span lang="fr">Au revoir.</span></i>” +Suddenly a thought came +plump—“My thirty dollars! The +caitiff! he’s off, and I am once more a +victim!”</p> + +<p class='c009'>It didn’t turn out quite so bad as +it looked, though. On my return to +our office, I was met by Jones, who, +with a face of famine, announced +“dinner ready,” and handed me the +following letter:—</p> + +<div class='lg-container-r'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“<span class='sc'>St Jean de Luz</span>, <em>March 1814</em>.</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c009'>“Dear Sir—As unexpected circumstances +have induced me to alter my +route, I adopt this hurried method of +wishing you a safe and pleasant journey +to headquarters. It would have +afforded me much gratification to +accompany you, or at any rate to +have said farewell in person. You +will, however, I am sure, pardon the +little omission, as I am compelled to +start without delay.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“I have thirty dollars belonging +to you in my portmanteau. <em>They are</em> +<em>safe.</em> I was about to forward them +by the bearer of this, but, not feeling +entire confidence in such a mode of +conveyance, I beg to enclose you an +order on England for the amount. +Believe me to remain, dear sir, faithfully +yours,</p> + +<div class='lg-container-r c019'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“<span class='sc'>R. Rattler</span>.</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>“P.S.—Excuse haste.</p> + +<div class='lg-container-l c019'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line in12'>G. Y—, Esq.,</div> + <div class='line'>Army Pay Department, St Jean de Luz.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>“<i><span lang="fr">Au revoir!</span></i>” Never, from that +time forward, have I and the captain +met. Sly rogue! His <em>modus operandi</em>, +how dashing, yet how cool! +To say nothing of his walking off with +my dollars in his box, and thus securing +a little hard cash at my expense, +when cash was so scarce, how civilly +he took leave of me at the door of our +office! Thence he must have cut +away direct to the commandant’s, +resolved to be off forthwith—in plain +English, to bolt! “Excuse haste!” +And then in the morning, too, at +Oyarzun, how smartly he whipped +up my dollars, stowed them in his +own portmanteau without asking my +leave, and locked them up before my +eyes. “<i><span lang="fr">Au revoir!</span></i>” Yes; “<em>they +are safe!</em>”</p> + +<p class='c009'>Well, the less said about my dinner, +that day, the better. In the course +of the afternoon, though, Miss Nanny-goat +thought fit to indulge herself in +a bit of a spree. She walked, in +search of varieties, into an old gentleman’s +garden. Jones pursued—wanted +to milk her for tea. The proprietor +followed; I joined the chase. Nanny, +for the fun of the thing, sprang on the +wall, walked up the roof of the summer-house, +ran along the ridge, +pedestalled herself on the gable-end +which rose in a peak, and there stood, +looking down on us in defiance, her +four little feet gathered up within the +compass of a crown-piece. Jones +called, coaxed, spoke Welsh, held out +successively cabbage-leaf, lettuce-leaf, +vine-leaf, all in vain. “Ah!” said +the old Frenchman; and, toddling off +to his geraniums, culled a scarlet +cluster of aromatic flowers. That +was irresistible. One jump brought +Nanny down upon the wall, another +landed her easy on the ground. Before +you could say Jack Robinson, +she was nibbling the nosegay out of +the Frenchman’s hand. Next morning +he loaded us, when we took leave, +with a blushing bouquet of geraniums—shed +tears, poor old gentleman, +when Nanny departed—put his arms +round her neck—a true Frenchman—and, +<i><span lang="la">hi oculi viderunt</span></i>, kissed her.</p> + +<p class='c009'>The morning after our arrival at +St Jean de Luz, I rose betimes, +breakfasted, and descended into the +road to superintend the loading of the +mules—a much more expeditious process +without the captain’s aid than +with it. We got off with the convoy +in good time, and soon reached the +commandant’s. In that part of the +town the street widened into a sort of +“place;” and there, drawn up and +awaiting our arrival, I had the pleasure +of discovering a party of dragoons, +in number four-and-twenty. +Being fresh from winter-quarters, they +had turned out in capital order; presentable, +as to dress and accoutrements, +at a Windsor review; their +horses, too, in good condition, though +rather undersized for the men, none of +them being English. At the door of +the commandant’s office stood two +horses, held by a groom, both of them +serviceable, and rather showy animals, +apparently recent arrivals from +home. I alighted, and ascended to +the office.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Punctual to your time,” said the +commandant. “This, Mr Y—, is +the officer who will command your +party—the Hon. Mr Chesterfield.” +Did the introduction in due form.</p> + +<p class='c009'>In the military undress of his regiment—viz. +cap with tassel and gold +band, said cap hiding one side of the +head and face, and leaving the other +bare, long greatcoat, redundant in +frogs, belt and sabre, enormous boots, +and formidable spurs—I saw before me +a youth of eighteen, slight in form, +elegant in manner, who quietly returned +my salutation, and, shortly +after, walked down stairs and mounted. +“I have explained to Mr C. the +nature of the duty,” said the colonel. +“He is quite fresh from England; but +he seems to have no nonsense about +him; and, at any rate, I trust you +will find the change for the better. +Well, Mr Y—, we mustn’t keep the +mules standing; so I now wish you a +pleasant journey.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Thank you, sir. Much obliged +to you for this arrangement. Good +morning, sir.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>It soon became apparent, as we proceeded +on our march, that matters +were greatly mended since the day before. +Our new commander said little; +but, young as he was, seemed to know +what he was about; and all went on +much to my satisfaction. He never +interfered needlessly; and his directions, +when given, were much to the +purpose. Managed the cavalry himself, +and the infantry through Corporal +Fraser. Things began to grow +right of their own accord, and a great +load was taken off my mind. The +men, finding they were now <em>commanded</em>, +were orderly and well-conducted. +Even our jolly Yorkshireman +behaved himself—that is, with the exception +of an occasional caper or grimace +when he felt himself safe. Nothing +more was said about his arrest. +Consequently he had to carry his +musket through the rest of the march; +for, seeing what kind of a person he +now had to deal with, he was too +wise to try over again the game of +the day before. The muleteers, too, +recovered their good-humour. Muleteers +are like live lobsters—very tractable, +if you know how to handle them. +The delays were now few. And +though, with such a mixture of men +and mules, we could not keep perfect +order, if anything got wrong, it was +soon set right.</p> + +<p class='c009'>We reached at length that point in +our march where a lane struck off to +the left, from the high road which we +were following, and which led direct +to Bayonne. Our route, with official +brevity, assigned Bayonne as our +halting-place for the night. But as +Bayonne happened just then to be +occupied by the French, we proposed +directing our course toward the headquarters +of Sir John Hope, who commanded +the besieging army. The +aforesaid lane to the left soon brought +us out on a heathy eminence, covered +with fieldworks completed or in progress, +and affording us a splendid +view of the beleaguered city, of the +river Adour, and of the bridge of +boats thrown across it near the sea. +Headquarters were at a small hamlet, +on the right or opposite bank of +the river.</p> + +<p class='c009'>Yes, we saw that famous bridge. +The Duke was always great in passing +rivers. Witness his services in India. +Witness the Douro, the Bidassoa, the +Nivelle, the Nive, and now the +Adour. Sufficient attention, perhaps, +has not been directed to this subject. +Take two feats out of the number, +and view them together—the passage +of the Adour, and the passage of the +Bidassoa: both original ideas; both +ideas that no mere tactician would +have conceived or brought to bear; +and both vindicating their claim to a +distinguished record, by taking an +able, gallant, and vigilant opponent +by surprise. Who, but the Duke, +would have dreamed of passing the +Bidassoa at its mouth, without a +bridge? Who, but the Duke, would +have dreamed of passing the Adour +at its mouth, by such a bridge as we +now beheld? One thing is clear: +<em>Soult</em> did not dream of either one +passage or the other. Obs. 1.—The +execution, in each case, was off-hand, +dashing, and daring. The preparation, +in both, was deliberate, mature, +and secret. Obs. 2.—The distinguishing +excellence of the Duke’s +strategy did not, however, consist in +the mere exploit of throwing an army +across a wide and rapid stream, in +the face of an enemy assembled in +force—though this, in itself, is among +the most difficult operations of war; +but in the combined, extensive, and +successful movements which uniformly +attended the achievement. In +short, the subject claims a distinct +volume. All the Duke’s passages of +rivers, effected in the face of the +enemy, should be brought into one +view, and studied together. Such a +work, properly executed, would merit +a place in every military library. +However, don’t think I’m going to +inflict on you a detailed description +of the oft-described bridge which we +had now to pass. Suffice it to say, +the bridge consisted of small vessels, +moored side by side, all across the +river. These vessels answered the +purpose of piers; that is, they supported +the gangway of planks, which +formed the passage across.</p> + +<p class='c009'>It may be deemed extraordinary, +that this idea of floating piers has not +been more generally adopted. But I +suppose the real objection is an inconvenience, +to which the method is unavoidably +liable, and which we experienced +on the present occasion, in +passing with our mules and moneyboxes; +namely, the variation of the +bridge’s altitude, with the rise and +fall of the water. This, in the Adour, +at spring-tides, is fourteen feet. You +must know, the river was now low. +The consequence was, that the level +of the bridge was considerably beneath +the level of the banks on each side; +while its two extremities were two +boarded slopes, connecting the higher +level with the lower. It was a ticklish +business, passing these two slopes with +our mules four in a string—one of them +light, three loaded. In going <em>down</em>-hill, +to get on the bridge, the mules +managed admirably—let them alone +for that. Seeing that this part of the +process was proceeding satisfactorily, +I left an injunction with Senhor Roque, +the chief Capataz, not to send on the +mules too fast—for this might have +led to a jam, which would probably +have consigned some of our boxes to +the bottom of the Adour—and pushed +on for the opposite bank, to be ready +to superintend the ascent. This was +the real bother, the going <em>up</em>-hill. In +coming to the rise, which was somewhat +abrupt, the first mule of the first +string stumbled and fell. The muleteer +got him on his legs again—his +load happily not unshipped—and, +taking him by the head, was about to +lead him up. But this, it was clear, +wouldn’t do. The beast had sense to +see it wouldn’t, and declined moving. +It might have answered very well for +a single mule; but was no security for +the ascent of the other three, that +followed in the same category; and, +unless all ascended together, we were +undone. Under these circumstances, +the leading mule, not choosing to compromise +himself, refused the ascent. +Meanwhile, the other strings of mules +came crowding up; and we should +soon have had them all of a heap, +shouldering one another into the water. +It was a nervous moment. I shouted +to the muleteer, “<i><span lang="pt">Anda para detraz, +homem, e falla</span></i>”—(Old fellow, go behind, +and speak to them.) “Si, si, +Senhor,” said he, catching the idea at +once, and promptly adopting it. The +moment the mules heard, behind them, +the well-known “<em>árre</em>” of their driver, +they bolted simultaneously; and, +scrambling up like cats, soon reached +the summit of the slope, and stood on +<em>terra firma</em>. Thus, though they could +not have done it walking, they did it +with a run. The other muleteers, as +they came up in succession, adopted +the same expedient each with his own +team; and thus we effected the passage +of the Adour, without either jam, +crowding, confusion, or capsize.</p> + +<p class='c009'>Before we go any further, though, +I must let you into the use of that +magical word “<em>árre</em>,” which, on the +present occasion, effected so much in +our favour. It is the word used by +drivers to their beasts, to set them off, +or increase their speed. Please to +pronounce it with a lengthened rattling +of the <em>r</em>—ár-r-r-r-r-r-r-re. Only remember +this: pronounce it ever so +correctly, you yourself can never do +anything with it: for, if twenty persons +sing out ár-r-r-r-r-r-r-re, neither +horse, mule, nor donkey will move the +faster, till they hear the ár-r-r-r-r-r-r-re +of their own driver. This they distinguish +among a hundred, and bolt +forthwith. The knowledge of this +singular fact in animal psychology +tends greatly to enliven an Almada or +Cintra donkey-party. Upon an occasion +of this kind, my friend John G—, +being the longest fellow of the party, +thought fit to appropriate the tallest +donkey. This was deemed a usurpation, +and, as such, meriting castigation. +A hint was therefore given to +the driver of his (John’s) donkey. +John was suffered to get one foot +quietly into the stirrup; but, before +he had got the other over the Albarda, +ár-r-r-r-r-r-r-re was heard behind; +away went the donkey through the +village of Almada; and away went +John, one hand holding by the Albarda, +the other by an ear—one toe in the +stirrup, the other now hopping along +the ground, now describing circles +aloft, in vain attempts to get across. +John, how unjustly I need not say, +imputes the Almada exhibition to my +contrivance, and bides his time. Presently +we enter a sandy lane—John +warns me I shall be in the dust ere +we get out of it—advises to take feet +out of stirrups. Advice followed, in +defiance. Again the cry is heard, +ár-r-r-r-r-r-r-re; but now in a different +key. This time, it is my driver. +Donkey bolts—away we go—ár-r-r-r-r-r-r-re +is heard once more—donkey +can gallop no faster, so begins to kick. +I stoop forward—hug him round the +neck; both donkey and rider are soon +rolling in the dust. “Now,” says +John, as he trots exulting by, “you +and I are quits.” “Yes,” says Frank +Woodbridge, passing at a canter; +“one Johnny has avenged the other.” +<em>Mem.</em>—As, in an English donkey-race, +no one rides his own donkey, and +the donkey last in wins; so, in those +Almada donkey-parties, each paid +another man’s driver, no man paid his +own. That driver got most whose +donkey spilt his rider oftenest.</p> + +<p class='c009'>To proceed. All our party having +passed the bridge, I was viewing with +some satisfaction the train of mules, +as they walked off from the river +towards the hamlet, cheerily switching +their tails—the animals’ usual +practice after accomplishing any extraordinary +<em>tour de force</em>—when I +noticed, not far from the bridge-head, +in a long military frock-coat, quietly +eyeing me with folded arms, a stately +officer of the engineers. Who, do you +think?—who, but my fellow-passenger +from England a year before, +Captain Gabion? We exchanged +greetings with mutual cordiality.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Much obliged to you, Mr Y—,” +said he; “you have saved me some +trouble.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Happy to hear it, sir: don’t +exactly understand how, though.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Why, the fact is,” replied the +Captain, “I was here waiting to see +the convoy safe over—if needful, to +render assistance. But really you +got them so handily up the bank, I +had no occasion to interfere. Famous +plan, that, of sending them up with a +run: shan’t soon forget it. That +ár-r-r-r-r-r-r-re starts them capitally,—acts +like a brad-awl.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Were you not on the bridge just +now, towards the other side of the +river, sir?”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Yes, yes; but I saw you were +getting them on well; so I came over +to this end, to see how you would get +them off.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“What I most feared,” said I, +“was their crowding up, in passing +the bridge.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“No, no,” said the captain, “no +danger of that. Had I seen the least +tendency to confusion, I should have +passed a command by signal. Effectual +means would then have been +taken at once, to keep back those +coming on, till those in front were +clear. Well, what do you think of +our bridge?”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“I was thinking how I could destroy +it—that is, if I was General +Thouvenot, shut up in Bayonne with +thirteen or fourteen thousand men. +That’s what I began to think of, as +soon as I saw it; and that’s what +I’ve been thinking of ever since.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Destroy it?” said the Captain; +“destroy the bridge? Come, that’s +a good one. Destroy it, indeed! I +should like just to know, now, how +you would go to work to do that. +Why, Thouvenot did come down +and attack, on our first arrival here; +got well pounded, though. Don’t +think it very probable he’ll try that +again.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Now, it’s too late, perhaps. Besides, +he committed two great mistakes; +he attacked with an insufficient +force, and he came down only +on one side of the river. If, instead, +when the bridge was first thrown +over, he had come down on both sides, +and that with adequate—”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Going up with the treasure to +headquarters, Mr Y—?”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“That’s our destination, sir. This +afternoon, though, we halt where we +are.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“What, halt here?” said the Captain. +“Let me look at your route.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Our route says Bayonne, sir; but +of course we came here.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Yes, yes; very right; exactly; +just so. Sorry to say, though, Mr +Y—, I fear you’ll find no accommodation +where you are. Every house, +every cottage, every shed, is as full +as it can cram. If it was only yourself, +pony, and goat, I would give you +accommodation most willingly. I +sleep on a deal table. Would give +you half with pleasure. But such a +lot of you—about seventy bipeds, I +guess, and more than a hundred +quadrupeds—why, where could we +put you all?”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Well, then,” said I, “we must +make a bivouac of it, I suppose.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Bivouac? Nonsense!—bivouac! +How would those fine fellows stand a +bivouac, I wonder, with their white +gloves and horsehair plumes? Besides, +it’s beginning to rain. Bet you +a dollar, it rains all night. Besides +that, where would you put your +money? If General Thouvenot should +take your advice, ‘come down on +both sides,’ and find your boxes +ranged along that bank by the road-side—and +that’s the only place to put +them I know of—a pretty catch he’d +make of it. No, no, Mr Y—; your +only plan is to go on. Follow the +lane till it brings you back into the +high road above Bayonne. You will +then soon find a village, which will +afford you accommodation for the +night.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Very well, sir. I suppose, then, +the sooner we move the better. Will +you have the goodness, though, to put +me in the way of getting the men +their rations?”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Oh yes,” said the Captain; “yes, +yes: I’ll set all that straight for you, +in no time. I see you’re rather a +young campaigner; and the officer of +your escort, I suspect, is younger still. +You can’t stay here to-night, that’s +certain. Better see the General, +though, before you move on; just +report yourself, you know, and hear +what he says about it. Step on to +his quarters, that small house with a +white front, and I’ll be after you +directly.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>I turned to remount; but what had +become of Sancho? Two minutes +before, I held his bridle in my hand. +Now, he was nowhere to be seen. +At length, in the distance, I caught +sight of Jones’ legs, dangling from +the pony’s side, as he trotted off towards +the houses, with Nanny cantering +after him.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_329'>329</span> + <h2 class='c002'>THE GREEN HAND.<br> A “SHORT” YARN.<br> PART IX.</h2> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>“More than once that night,” resumed +Captain Collins, “I woke up +with a start, at thought of our late +adventures in the river Nouries—fancying +I was still waiting for the turn +of tide to bring down the boats or the +schooner, and had gone to sleep, when +that horrible sound through the cabin +skylight seemed full in my ears again. +However, the weltering wash of the +water under the ship’s timbers below +one’s head was proof enough we were +well to sea; and, being dog-tired, I +turned over each time with a new +gusto:—not to speak of the happy sort +of feeling that ran all through me, I +scarce knew why; though no doubt +one might have dreamt plenty of delightful +dreams without remembering +them, more especially after such a perfect +seventh heaven as I had found +myself in for a moment or two, when +Violet Hyde’s hand first touched mine, +and when I carried her in after she +had actually saved my life. The +broad daylight through our quarter-gallery +window roused me at last altogether; +and on starting up I saw Tom +Westwood half dressed, shaving himself +by an inch or two of broken looking-glass +in regular nautical style—that’s +to say, watching for the rise of +the ship—as she had the wind evidently +on her opposite beam, and +there appeared to be pretty much of +a long swell afloat, with a breeze brisk +enough to make her heel to it; while +the clear horizon, seen shining through +the port to north-westward, over the +dark blue heave of water, showed it +was far on in the morning. “Well, +Ned,” said Westwood, turning round, +“you seemed to be enjoying it, in +spite of the warm work you must have +had last night on board here! Why, +I thought you had been with us in the +boats, after all, till I found, by the +good joke the cadets made of it, that +that puppy of a mate had left you still +locked up, on account of some fancy +he had got into his head of your being +in partnership with the schooner! +For heaven’s sake, though, my dear +fellow, wash your face and shave—you +look fearfully suspicious just +now!” “No wonder!” said I: and +I gave him an account of the matter, +leaving out most of what regarded +the young lady; Westwood telling me, +in his turn, so much about their boat +expedition as I didn’t know before +from the planter. Everything went +to certify what I believed all along, +’till this sudden affair in the river. +The schooner’s people had plainly some +cue in keeping hold of our passengers, +but hadn’t expected to see us so soon +again, or perhaps at all—as was shown +by their hailing the boats at once in +a pretended friendly way, whenever +they came in sight up the creek; while +Ford and the rest shouted with delight, +off her bulwarks, at sound of the +mate’s voice.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“I tell you what, Collins,” continued +Westwood, “this may be all +very well for <em>you</em>, who are continually +getting into scrapes and out of them, +and don’t seem to care much whether +you ship on board an Indiaman or a +corn-brig—you can always find something +to do—but to me the service is +<em>everything</em>!” “Well, well,” said I +hastily, “I’m much mistaken if we +don’t find something to do in India, +Tom,—only wait, and that uncle of +yours will make all right; for all we +know, there may be news from Europe +to meet us, and I must say I don’t +like the notion of being born too late +for turning out an admiral! I’m +sure, for my part, I wish old Nap well +out of that stone cage of his!” “No, +no, Ned,” said Westwood, “I ought +to clear myself at home first, and sorry +I am that I gave in to you by leaving +England, when I should have faced +the consequences whatever they were. +Running only made matters worse, +Collins!” “No doubt,” I said; “and +as it was my fault, why, deuce take +me, Tom, if I don’t manage to carry +you out scot-free! Depend on it, +Captain Duncombe’s friends would +have you strung up like a dog, with +the interest he had, and sharp as discipline +is just now.” Westwood shuddered +at the thought. “I fear it +would go hard with me, Ned,” said +he, “and I shan’t deny that these few +weeks have brought me back a taste +for life. But, in spite of all, I’d deliver +myself up to the first king’s ship we +speak, or go home in some Indiaman +from the Cape—but for one thing, +Collins!” “Ah!” said I, “what’s +that?” Westwood gave me a curious +half look, and said—“One <em>person</em>, I +mean, Ned—and I shouldn’t like <em>her</em> +to hear of me being—” “Yes, yes,” +said I stiffly, “I know.” “It must +have been by guess, then!” answered +he. “Often as we’ve talked of her +during the voyage, I thought you +didn’t know we had met frequently in +London before you came home, and—and—the +fact is, I wasn’t sure you +would like <em>me</em> to—” “Westwood,” +said I quickly, “Tom Westwood—what +I have to ask is—do you love +her?” “If ever a man loved a woman, +Ned,” was his answer, “I do <em>her</em>; but +if <em>you</em>—” “Have you any chance, +then?” I broke out. “Ay, true—true +enough, you have the best of chances—your +way is as clear as could be, Westwood, +if you knew it! Only I <em>must</em> know +if she is willing—does she—” “I got +leave to write to her in London,” +answered Westwood, “and I did so +pretty often, you may be sure; but I +only had one short little note in +answer to the last, I think it was—which +I had in my breast that morning +on Southsea beach, when I expected +the bullet would come through +it!” Here Westwood stooped down +to his trunk, and took out a rose-coloured +note wrapped in a bit of +paper; I standing the while fixed to +the deck, not able to speak, till he +was handing it to me. “No, no!” +said I, turning from him angrily, +and like to choke, “that’s too much, +Mr Westwood—pray keep your own +love-letters for your own reading!” +“There’s nothing particular in it, +Ned,” answered he, flushing a little, +“only there’s a few words in it I’d +like you to see—don’t look at it just +now, but tell me afterwards what you +think—you ought to see it, as the +matter seems to depend on you, Ned; +and if <em>you</em> object, you may be sure, so +far as I’m concerned, ’tis all over!” +Somehow or other, the look of the +little folded piece of paper, with the +touch and the scent of it, as Westwood +slipped it into my hand, made it stick +to me. I caught one glance of the +address on the back, written as if +fairy fingers had done it, and I suppose +I slipped it into my coat as I went +out of the berth, meaning to go aloft +in the foretop and sicken over the +thought at my leisure, of Violet Hyde’s +having ever favoured another man so +far, and that man Tom Westwood. +The strangeness of the whole affair, +as I took it, never once struck me; +all that I minded was the wretched +feeling I had in me, as I wished I +could put the Atlantic betwixt me and +them all; in fact a hundred things +before we sailed, and during the passage, +seemed all at once to agree with +what I’d just heard; and I’d have +given thousands that moment it had +been some one else than Westwood, just +that I might wait the voyage out coolly, +for the satisfaction of meeting him at +twelve paces the first morning ashore.</p> + +<p class='c009'>On the larboard side of the berth-gangway, +opposite our door, I saw the +old planter’s standing half open, and +Mr Rollock himself with his shirt and +trousers on, taking in his boots. +“Hallo, Collins, my boy,” he sang out +eagerly, “come here a moment, I’ve +got something to show you!” “Look,” +said he, standing on tiptoe to see +better through the half-port, “there’s +something new been put in my picture-frame +here overnight, I think—ha! +ha!” The first thing that caught my +eye, accordingly, was the gleam of a sail +rising from over the swell to windward, +far away off our larboard quarter; +seemingly rolling before the south-easter; +while the Indiaman hove her +big side steadily out of water, with her +head across the other’s course, and +gave us a sight of the strange sail +swinging to the fair wind, every time +we rose on the surge. “What is it, +eh?” said the planter turning to me, +“back or face, Collins? for, bless me, +if I can distinguish tub from bucket, +with all this bobbing about—great +deal of capital indigo wasted hereabouts, +my dear fellow!” “Why, you +may make out the two breasts of her +royals,” said I—“a brig, I think, sir.” +“Not that abominable schooner in +her first shape again, I hope!” exclaimed +he, “perhaps bringing back +the Yankee.” “Too square-shouldered +for that, Mr Rollock,” I said; “in fact +she seems to be signalling us; yes, by +Jove! there’s the long pennant at her +fore-royal mast-head—she’s a brig of +war. They’re surely asleep, on deck, +and we shall have a shot directly, if +they don’t look sharp!” “You’d +better say nothing about the Yankee’s +absence, Collins,” put in the +planter, “till we’re fairly away. For +my part, I really have no notion of +waiting for any one—particularly a +fellow who <em>must</em> have some go-ahead +scheme in his noddle, which we +Indians don’t want. Quietly speaking, +my dear fellow, I shall be glad if we’re +rid of him!” On my mentioning what +sort of “notions” were found in +Mr Snout’s berth, and the drowning +of his heathen images, the worthy +planter went into perfect convulsions, +till I thought I should have to slap +him on the back to give him breath. +“What the deuce!” said he at +last; “Daniel must really have +something worth his while to expect, +before he’d fail to look after such a +treasure!” “Ah,” said I, not attending +to him, as I heard a stir on +deck, “there we go at last, cluing +up the topsails, I suppose.” “Seriously, +now,” continued Mr Rollock, +“I can <em>not</em> fathom that vessel and +her designs; but I bless my stars at +getting clear off from the company of +that tall Frenchman with his mustache—can’t +bear a mustache, Collins—always +reminds me of those +cursed Mahrattas that burnt my factory +once. Couldn’t the man shave +like a Christian, I wonder? I defy +you to enjoy Mulligatawny soup and +not make a beast of yourself, with +ever so much hair over your mouth. +By the way, Collins,” added he, eyeing +me, “since I saw you last, you’ve +let your whiskers grow, and look +more like one of your nauticals than +Ford himself!—should scarce have +known you! Any of it owing to the +fair one up yonder, eh?” And the +jolly old chap, whose own huge white +whiskers gave him the cut of a royal +Bengal tiger, pointed with his thumb +over his shoulder towards the roundhouse +above, with a wink of his funny +round eye, that looked at you like a +bird’s. “What do you suppose the +Frenchman to be then, sir?” asked I, +gloomily. “Oh, either a madman, a +spy, or something worse! Just guess +what he asked me suddenly one +morning,—why, if I weren’t a distinguished +<em>savant</em>, and wouldn’t like to +study the botany of some island! +‘No, Monsieur, not at all,’ replied I, +in fearfully bad French. ‘The geology, +then?’ persisted he, with a curious +gleam in his fierce black eyes—‘does +the research of Monsieur lie in +that direction?’ ‘Why no,’ I answered +carelessly, ‘I don’t care a +<em>sacre</em> about stones, or anything of the +kind, indeed; indigo is <em>my</em> particular +line, which may be called botany, in +a way—I’m perhaps prejudiced in favour +of it, Monsieur!’ The Frenchman +leant his tufted chin on his +hand,” continued Mr Rollock, “meditated +a bit, then glanced at me again, +as if he didn’t care though I were +studying sea-weed in the depths of +the ocean rolling round us, and +stalked down stairs. Then he took +to Mrs Brady again, and lastly to the +Yankee, whose conversations with +him, I fancy, had a twang of both +commerce and politics.” “What do +you think of it all, Mr Rollock?” inquired +I, rather listlessly. “It didn’t +strike me at the time,” said the +planter, “but now, I just ask you, +Collins, if there ain’t a certain great +personage studying geology at present +in a certain island, not very far +away, I suppose, where there’s plenty +of it, and deuced little botany, too, I +imagine?” To this question of the +old gentleman’s I gave nothing but a +half stupid sort of stare, thinking as I +was at the same time of something +else I cared more about.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“By Jupiter! though,” cried I on a +sudden, “instead of heaving the ship +to, I do believe we’ve set topmast-stu’nsails, +judging from the way she +pitches into the water; there’s the +brig nearing the wind a point or two +in chase, too;—why, the fellow that +has charge of the deck must be mad, +sir!” Next minute the fire out of +one of her bow-chasers flashed out +behind the blue back of a swell, and +the sudden <em>thud</em> of it came rolling +down to leeward over the space betwixt +us, angrily, so to speak; as the +brig’s fore-course mounted with a +wave, the sun shining clear on the +seams and reef-points, till you caught +sight of the anchor hanging from one +bow, and the men running in her lee +stu’nsail-booms upon the yardarms. +The planter and I went on deck at +once, where we found a fine breeze +blowing, far out of sight of land, +the Indiaman rushing ahead stately +enough; while our young fourth officer +appeared to have just woke up, and +the watch were still rubbing their +eyes, as if every man had been +“caulking it,” after last night’s work. +Even Mr Finch, when he came hastily +up, seemed rather doubtful what +to do, till the salt old third-mate assured +him the brig was a British +sloop-of-war, as any one accustomed +to reckoning sticks and canvass at +sea could tell by this time; upon +which our topsails were clued up, stu’nsails +boom-ended, and the ship hove +into the wind to wait for the brig.</p> + +<p class='c009'>When the brig’s mainyard swung +aback within fifty fathoms of our +weather-quarter, hailing us as she +brought to, I had plenty to think of, for +my part. There she was, as square-countered +and flat-breasted a ten-gun +model as ever ran her nose under salt +water, or turned the turtle in a Bahama +squall; though pleasant enough she +looked, dipping as we rose, and prancing +up opposite us again with a +curtsey, the brine dripping from her +bright copper sheathing, the epaulets +and gold bands glancing above +her black bulwark, topped by the +white hammock-cloth; marines in +her waist, the men clustering forward +to see us, and squinting sharp up +at our top-hamper. It made one +ashamed, to take in the taunt, lightsome +set her spars had, tall and +white, with a rake in them, and every +rope running clean to its place; not +a spot about her, hull or rig, but all +English and ship-shape, to the very +gather of her courses and top-gallant +sails in the lines, and the snowy hollow +her two broad topsails made +for the wind, as they brought it in +betwixt them to keep her steady on +the spot. “His Britannic Majesty’s +sloop Podargus!” came back in exchange +for our mate’s answer; and +though ’twas curious to me to think +of meeting the uniform again in five +minutes, I saw plainly this was one +of the nice points that Westwood and +I might have to weather. Your brig-cruisers +are the very sharpest fellows +alive, so far as regards boarding a +merchant craft; if they find the least +smell of a rat, they’ll overhaul your +hold to the very dunnage about the +keelson; and I knew that, if they made +out Westwood, they’d be sure to have +me too; so you may fancy that, during +the short time her boat took to +drop and pull under our quarter, I +was making up my mind as to the +course. In fact, I was almost resolved +to leave the ship at any rate, feeling +as I did after what I’d heard; but +while most of the passengers were running +about and calling below for their +shoes, and what not, the Judge and his +daughter came out of the roundhouse, +and I caught a single glance from her for +a moment, as she turned to look at the +brig, that held me at the instant like +an anchor in a strong tideway. I +kept my breath as the lieutenant’s +hand laid hold of the manrope at the +head of the side-ladder, expecting his +first question; while he swung himself +actively on deck, looking round +for a second, and followed by another; +the wide-awake-looking young middy +in the boat folding his arms, and +squinting up sideways at the ladies +with an air as knowing as if he’d lived +fifty years in the world, instead of +perhaps thirteen.</p> + +<p class='c009'>The younger of the lieutenants +took off his cap most politely, eyeing +the fair passengers with as much +respect as he gave cool indifference to +the cadets; the other, who was a +careful-like, working first luff, said +directly to Mr Finch—“Well, sir, +you seemed inclined to lead us a bit +of a chase—but I don’t think,” added +he, smiling from the Indiaman to the +brig, “you’d have cost us much +trouble after all!” Here Finch hurried +out his explanation, in a half-sulky +way, when the naval man cut +him short by saying that “Captain +Wallis desired to know” if we had +touched at St Helena. “May I ask, +sir,” went on the officer, finding we +had preferred the Cape, “if <em>you</em> command +this vessel—or is the master not +on deck—Captain—Captain Wilson, +I think you said?” The mate said +something in a lower voice, and the +lieutenant bared his head more respectfully +than before, seeing the +Company’s ensign, which had been +lowered half-apeak while the boat was +under our side; after which Finch +drew him to the capstan, telling him, +as I guessed, the whole affair of the +schooner, by way of a great exploit, +with hints of her being a pirate or +suchlike. The brig’s officer, however, +was evidently too busy a man, +and seemingly in too great a hurry to +get back, for listening much to such a +rigmarole, as he no doubt thought it; +they had been at the Cape, and were +bound for St Helena again, where +she was one of the cruisers on guard; +so that what with Finch’s story, and +what with the crowd round the second +lieutenant, all anxious to get the +news, I saw it wouldn’t cost Westwood +and me great pains to keep +clear of notice. There were some +riots in London, and three men hanged +for a horrid murder, the Duke of +Northumberland’s death, not to speak +of a child born with two heads, or +something—all since we left England. +Then there was Lord Exmouth come +home from Algiers, and Fort Hattrass, +I think it was, taken in India, which +made every cadet prick up his ears; +Admiral Plampin was arrived at the +Cape of Good Hope, too, in the Conqueror, +seventy-four, and on his way +steering for St Helena, to take Sir +Pulteney Malcolm’s place. All of a +sudden, I heard the young luff begin +to mention a captain of a frigate’s +having been shot two months ago, by +his own first lieutenant, on Southsea +Beach, and the lieutenant being supposed +to have gone off in some outward-bound +ship. “By the bye,” +said the officer to Mr Rollock, “you +must have left about that time—did +you touch at Portsmouth?” “Why, +yes,” answered the planter, “we did. +What were the parties’ names?” I +edged over to Westwood near the +head of the companion, and whispered +to him to go below to our berth, in case +of their happening to attend to us +more particularly; and the farther +apart we two kept, the better, I +thought. The officer at once gave +Captain Duncombe’s name, but didn’t +remember the other, on which he +turned to his first lieutenant with, “I +say, Mr Aldridge, d’you recollect the +man’s name that shot the captain of +the N’Oreste, as they called her?” +“What, that bad business?” said the +other; “no, Mr Moore, I really don’t—I +hope he’s far enough off by this +time!” My breath came again at +this, for it had just come into my mind +that Finch, who was close by, had +got hold of the name, although he +fancied it mine. I was sauntering +down the stair, thinking how much +may hang at times on a man’s good +memory, when I heard the first lieutenant +say, “By the bye, though, now +I recollect, wasn’t it Westwood?” +“Yes, yes, Westwood it was!” said +the other; then came an exclamation +from Finch, and shortly after he and +the first lieutenant stepped down together, +talking privately of the matter, +I suppose; to the cuddy, where I had +gone myself. The lieutenant looked +up at me seriously once or twice, then +went on deck, and a few minutes +afterwards the brig’s boat was pulling +towards her again, while the passengers +flocked below to breakfast. I +saw the thing was settled; the mate +could scarce keep in his triumph, as he +eyed me betwixt surprise and dislike, +though rather more respectfully than +before. As for Westwood, he sat +down with the rest, quite ignorant of +what had turned up; notwithstanding +he threw an uneasy look or two +through the cuddy port at the brig, +still curveting to windward of us, +with her mainyard aback: for my +part, I made up my mind, in the +meanwhile, to bear the brunt of it.</p> + +<p class='c009'>’Twas no matter to me <em>now</em> where +I went; whereas, with Westwood, it +was but a toss-up betwixt a rope and +a prison, if they sent him back to +England. No fear of <em>my</em> being tried +in his place, of course; but if there +had been, why, to get away both from +him and <em>her</em>, I’d have run the chance! +There was a bitter sort of a pleasure, +even, in the thought of taking one’s-self +out of the way—to some purpose, +too, if I saved a fellow like my old +schoolmate from a court-martial sentence, +and a man far worthier to win +the heart of such a creature than myself; +while the worst of it was, I was +afraid I’d have come to hate Tom +Westwood, if we had staid near each +other much longer. Accordingly, I no +sooner heard the dip of the gig’s oars +coming alongside again, than one of the +stewards brought me a quiet message +from Mr Finch, that he wanted to see +me on deck; upon which I rose off my +chair just as quietly, and walked up +the companion. The fact was—as +the fellow could scarce have ventured +to look his passengers in the face +again after a low piece of work like +this—’twas his cue to keep all underhand, +and probably lay it to the score +of my actions aboard, or something; +however, he couldn’t throw any dust +of the kind in the second lieutenant’s +eyes, who gave him a cold glance as +he stepped on deck, and, picking me +out at once where I stood, inquired if +I were the person. The first mate +nodded, whereupon the brig’s officer +walked towards me, with a gentlemanly +enough bow, and, “I regret to +have to state, sir,” said he, “that +Captain Wallis desires to see you, +<em>particularly</em>, aboard the brig.” “Indeed, +sir,” answered I, showing very +little surprise, I daresay, gloomy as I +felt; “then the sooner the better, I +suppose.” “Why, yes,” said the +lieutenant, seemingly confused lest he +should meet my eye, “we’re anxious +to make use of this breeze, you—you +know, sir.” “Hadn’t Mr Collins—this +gentleman—better take his traps +with him, Lieutenant Moore?” said +Finch, free and easy wise. “No, sir,” +said the young officer, sternly, “we can +spare time to send for them, if necessary; +of course you will keep the +Indiaman in the wind, sir, till the brig +squares her mainyard.” I gave Finch +a single look of sheer contempt, and +swung myself down by the manropes +from the gangway into the boat; the +lieutenant followed me, and next +minute we were pulling for the brig’s +quarter. The moment I found myself +out of the Seringapatam, however, +my heart nigh-hand failed me, +more especially at sight of the quarter-gallery +window I had seen the light +from, on the smooth of the swell, that +first night we got to sea. I even began +to think if there weren’t some +way of passing myself clear off, +without hauling in Westwood; but it +wouldn’t do. Before I well knew, we +were on board, and the lieutenant +showing me down the after hatchway +to the captain’s cabin.</p> + +<p class='c009'>The captain was sitting with one +foot upon the carronade in his outer +cabin, looking through the port at the +heavy Indiaman, as she slued about +and plunged in the blue surge, with +all sorts of ugly ropes hanging from +her bows, dirty pairs of trousers towing +clear of the water when she lifted, +and rusty stains at her hawse-holes. +A stout-built, hard-featured man he +was, with bushy black eyebrows, and +grizzled black hair and whiskers, not +to speak of a queer, anxious, uneasy +look in the keen of his eyes when he +turned to me. However, he got half +up on my coming in, and I saw he +was lame a little of one foot, while he +overhauled me all over with his eye. +“I’m sorry to have to send for you in +this way, sir,” said he, rather surprised +at my rig, apparently—“curst sorry, +sir, and no more about it; but I can’t +help it, confound me—<em>must</em> do my +duty.” “Certainly, sir,” I said. “In +fact,” said Captain Wallis, “the +Admiral ordered us to see after you—<em>him</em>, +that’s to say—at the Cape, +you know.” “Ay, ay, sir,” said I, +watching the Indiaman’s poop-nettings +through the port over his head, +as he sat down. “Pooh, pooh,” continued +he, “you can’t be the man—just +say you don’t belong to the service—confound +it, I’ll pass you!” “Why, +sir,” said I, “I can’t exactly say <em>that</em>.” +“I hear you’re Westwood of the +Orestes, though,” said he; “now I +don’t ask you to say <em>no</em>, sir—but +everybody knew the Orestes, and I +don’t like the thing, I must say—so +perhaps you’re able to swear <em>he</em> is not +aboard the Indiaman—just now, +you know, sir, <em>just now</em>, eh?” This +tack of his rather dumfoundered me, +seeing the captain of the brig meant +it well; but deuced unlucky kindness +it was, since I couldn’t swear to the +very thing he fancied so safe, and his +glance was as quick as lightning, so +he caught the sense of my blank look +in a moment; as I fancied, at least. +“The fact is, sir,” added he, “the +surgeon told me just now he knows +Lieutenant Westwood well enough +by sight, so they locked him up! +You see we could have made you +out at any rate, sir—however, we’ll +let the doctor stay till we’re clear of +the Indiaman, I think!” “Then +you take me for the gentleman you +speak of, Captain Wallis?” asked I +faintly; for at the same moment I +could see a light-coloured dress and a +white ribbon fluttering on the Seringapatam’s +poop, the look of which +sent the blood about my heart. ’Twas +hard to settle betwixt a feeling of the +kind, and fear for Westwood; it +struck me Captain Wallis wasn’t +very eager in the affair, and ’twas on +my lips to assure him I wasn’t the +man. “Harkee,” broke in he, with +almost a wink, and a smile ready to +break out on his mouth, “the short +and the long of it is, I’ll take <em>you</em>! +We must have somebody to show in +the case; though now I remember, +there was some one else said to’ve +gone off with you—but we won’t +trouble <em>him</em>! If we’ve brought away +the wrong man, why, hang it, so much +the better! If you’re Westwood, I +can tell you, they’ll run ye up to a +yardarm, sir! Much more comfortable +than ten years or so in a jail, too, +as—as no one knows better than <em>I</em> do +myself.” Here the captain’s face +darkened, his eye gleamed, and he +rose with a limp to ring a hand-bell +on the table. “White,” said he to +the marine that put his head in at +the door, with his hand up to it, +“Desire the first lieutenant, from me, +to send a boat aboard for this gentleman’s +things.” “I’m afraid, sir,” +continued he gravely to me, “you’ll +have to reckon yourself under arrest,—but +you’ll find the gentlemen in the +gun-room good company, I hope, for +a day or two, till we make St Helena.” +I saw the captain’s mind was made +up, and for the life of me I didn’t +know what to say against it; but +speak I could not, so with a stiff bow +and a sick sort of a smile I turned +out of the door, and walked along to +the gun-room, which was empty. I +could see the boat soon after under +the ship’s side, dipping and rising as +they handed down my couple of portmanteaus +to the man-o’-war’s-men; +the young reefer came down again as +nimble as a monkey, with some letters +in his hand, took off his cap to some +ladies above, and sang out to give +way; five or six flashing feathers of +the oars in the sunlight, and they +were coming round the brig’s stern. +The brig was just squaring away her +mainyard at the whistle from the +boatswain’s mates, when the whole +run of the Indiaman’s bulwarks was +crowded with the passengers’ and +men’s faces, watching the brig gather +way to pass ahead; I could hear the +officers on deck hail the India mates, +wishing them a good voyage; the +ladies bowing and waving their handkerchiefs +to the British union-jack. +Some sort of confusion seemed to get +up, however, about the ship’s taffrail, +where Rollock, Ford, and some others +were standing together; the planter +jumped up all at once on the quarter-mouldings +nearest the brig, then +jumped down again, and his straw +hat could be seen hurrying toward +the quarterdeck. Next I caught a +bright glimpse of Violet Hyde’s face, +as the sun shot on it free of the awnings—her +eyes wandering with the +brig’s motion, I fancied, along the +deck above me; till suddenly she +seemed to start, and Westwood appeared +behind her. The next thing I +saw was the black-faced figure-head +of the Seringapatam rising below her +bowsprit, about sixty yards from the +gun-room port where I was, and +down she went again with a heavy +plash, as Tom Westwood himself +leapt up between the knight-heads at +the bow, hailing the brig’s deck with +a voice like a trumpet, “Ahoy!—the +Podargus ahoy!—for mercy’s sake +heave to again, sir!” he sung out; +“I’m the man you want!” “The +Indiaman ahoy!” I heard Captain +Wallis himself hail back, “what +d’ye say?” The creak of our yards, +with the flap of the jib, and the +men’s feet, drowned Westwood’s +second hail, as it came sharp up to +windward; the sailors in the Indiaman’s +bows were grinning at him +behind, while the first lieutenant of the +brig shouted gruffly that she had no +time to wait for more letters; and I +heard the gun-room steward say to +the marine, on going out with the +dirty breakfast cloth, he wondered if +“that parson cove thought the Pedarkis +vanted a chapling!” or was only +“vun of these fellers that’s so troublesome +to see the French Hemperor!” +“Well,” said the marine, “’twas +pretty queer if he took the Pedarkis for +the ship to carry him there! I don’t +think the captain would let a rat into +the island, if he could help it!” “Not +he,” said the steward; “plenty of ’em +in already, Vite, my man—I do think +they used to swim off on board here, +by the way the cheese vent!” All this +time I never stirred from the port, +watching with my chin on the muzzle +of the gun till the Indiaman was half +a mile to windward of us, her big hull +still rising and falling on the same +swells, topped with clusters of heads; +her topsails lowered in honour of the +flag, the ensign blowing out half-mast +high for the death of Captain Williamson: +a long wash of the water ran +outside the brig’s timbers, surge after +surge, and the plunge at her bows +showed how fast she began to run +nor’-westward before the wind. You +may well fancy my state, after all I’d +done for weeks; in fact, one scarce +knew the extent of what he’d felt, +what he’d looked forward to, till he +found himself fairly adrift from it: +’twould even have been nothing, after +all, could I just have thought of Violet +Hyde as I’d done two hours ago, on +waking, with last night in the river on +my mind. As it was, ’twould have +taken little to make me jump out of +the port into the sweep of blue water +swelling toward the brig’s counter; +the Seringapatam being by this time +astern. I couldn’t even see her, or +aught save the horizon, to windward; +but at this moment the young second +lieutenant came below, and, seeing +me, he began in a polite enough way, +with a kindly manner about it, trying +to raise my spirits. “I suppose, sir,” +said I, rather sulkily, I daresay, “I +can have a berth just now?” “Oh, +certainly,” said he, “the steward has +orders to see to it at once. Will you +come on deck a minute or two, in the +meantime, sir?”</p> + +<p class='c009'>I looked back from the ship astern +to the brig-of-war’s clean white decks, +flush fore and aft, with the men all +forward at their stations, neatly dressed +in regular man-o’-war style, every +one alike—a sight that would have +done me good at another time, small +as she was by comparison; but the +very thought of the Indiaman’s lumbering +poop and galleries was too +much for me—’twas as if you’d knocked +out those two roundhouse doors of +hers, and let in a gush of bare sky +instead. The ship-shape man-o’-war +cut of things was nothing, I fancied, to +the snug spot under those top-gallant +bulwarks of hers, and the breezy poop +all a-flutter with muslin of an evening, +where you found books and little basket +affairs stuck into the coils of rope: +I thought the old Seringapatam never +looked so well, as she commenced +trimming sail on a wind, beginning to +go drive ahead, with a white foam at +her bows, and her whole length +broadside-on to us. All at once we +saw her clue up courses and to’-gallant sails, +till she was standing slowly +off under the three topsails and jib; +the two lieutenants couldn’t understand +what she was about, and the +captain put the glass to his eye, after +which he said something to the second +lieutenant, who went forward directly. +The next thing I saw was the Indiaman +coming up in the wind again for +about a minute; she had her stern +nearly to us, when the moment after, +as she rose upon a long sea, you saw +something flash white off her lee-gangway +in the sunlight, that dropped +against it into the hollow of a wave. +The next minute she fell off again +with her topsails full, and the first +shower of spray was rising across her +forefoot, when the flash of a gun broke +out of her side, and the sound came +down to us; then a second and a +third. The brig gave her the same +number in answer, and as soon as the +smoke betwixt us had cleared away, +the ship could be seen under full sail +to the south-westward by west. +“<em>That’s</em> her poor skipper’s hammock +dropped alongside, gentlemen!” said +Captain Wallis to his officers; “God +be with him!” “Amen!” said the +first lieutenant, and we put our caps +on again. “Set stu’nsails, Mr Aldridge,” +said the captain, limping down +the hatchway: as for me, I leant I +don’t know how long over the brig’s +taffrail, watching the ship’s canvass +grow in one, through the width of air +betwixt us; my heart full, as may be +supposed, not to say what notions +came into my head of what might +happen to her under Finch’s charge, +ere she reached Bombay. No one belonging +to the brig spoke to me, out +of kindness, no doubt; and the ship +was hull-down on the horizon, to my +fancy with somewhat of a figure like +<em>hers</em>, when she stood with the Cashmere +shawl over her head in the +dusk. Then I went gloomily down +to my berth, where I kept close +by myself till I fell asleep, though +the gun-room steward was sent +more than once to ask me to join the +officers.</p> + +<p class='c009'>It wasn’t till the next day, in fact, +when I went on the quarterdeck at +noon, wearied for a fresher gulp of +air, that I saw any of them; and the +breeze having fallen lighter that morning, +they were too busy trimming sail +and humouring her to give me much +notice. I must say I had seldom seen +a commander seem more impatient +about the sailing of his craft, in time of +peace, than the captain of the Podargus +appeared to be; walking the starboard +side as fast as the halt in his gait +would let him, and the anxious turn +of his eyes plainer than before, while +he looked from the brig’s spread of +stu’nsails to the horizon, through the +glass, which, I may say, he never +once laid down. From where the +brig spoke the Indiamen, to St +Helena, would be about two or three +days’ sail with a fair wind, at the +ordinary strength of the south-east +trade; though, at this rate, it might +cost us twice the time. I noticed the +men on the forecastle look to each +other now and then knowingly, at +some fresh sign of the captain’s impatience; +and the second lieutenant +told me in a low voice, with his head +over the side near mine, Captain +Wallis had been out of sorts ever +since they lost sight of the island. +“You’d suppose, sir,” said he, laughing, +“that old Nap was his sweetheart, +by the way he watches over +him; and now, I fancy, he’s afraid St +Helena may be sunk in blue water +while we were away! In fact, Mr +Westwood,” added he, “it looks +devilish like as if it had come up from +Davy Jones, all standing; so I don’t +see why it shouldn’t go down to him +again some day; I can tell you it’s +tiresome work cruising to windward +there, though, and we aren’t idle at +all!” “Did you ever see the French +Emperor yourself, sir?” asked I—for +I must say the thought of nearing the +prison such a man was in made me a +little curious. “Never, sir, except at +a mile’s distance,” said the second +lieutenant; “indeed, it’s hard to get +a pass, unless you know the governor. +But I’ve a notion,” continued he, “the +governor’s carefulness is nothing to +our skipper’s! Indeed, they tell a +queer story of how Sir Hudson Lowe +was gulled for months together, when +he was governor of Capri island, in +the Mediterranean. As for the captain, +again, you’d seek a long time ere +you found a better seaman—he’s as +wide awake, too, as Nelson himself—while +the curious thing is, I believe, +he never once clapped eyes on Bonaparte +in his life! But good cause he +has to hate him, you know, Mr Westwood!” +“Indeed,” said I, taking a +moment’s interest in the thing; and I +was just going to ask the reason, when +the first lieutenant came over to say. +Captain Wallis would be glad if I +would dine with him in the cabin.</p> + +<p class='c009'>At dinner-time, accordingly, I put +on a coat, for the first time, less like +those the cadets in the Seringapatam +wore, and went aft, where I found the +first lieutenant and a midshipman with +the captain. He did his best to soften +my case, as I saw by his whole manner +during dinner; after which, no +sooner had the reefer had his one +glass of wine, than he was sent +on deck to look out to windward. +“Well, sir,” said Captain Wallis +thereupon, turning from his first luff +to me, “I’m sorry for this disagreeable +business! I believe you deny +being the person at all, though?” +“Why, sir,” said I, “I am certainly +no more the first lieutenant of +the Orestes than yourself, Captain +Wallis! ’Twas all owing to a mistake +of that India mate, who owed me +a grudge.” “Oh, oh, I see!” replied +he, beginning to smile, “the whole +matter’s as plain as a handspike, Mr +Aldridge! But I couldn’t do less, on +the information!” “However, sir,” +put in the first lieutenant, “there’s no +doubt the real man must have been in +the ship, or the mistake could not +have happened, sir!” “Well—you +look at things too square, Aldridge,” +said the captain. “All <em>you</em>’ve got +to do, I hope, sir, is just to prove +you’re not Westwood; and if you +want still to go out to the East Indies, +why, I daresay you won’t be long of +finding some outward-bound ship or +other off James Town. Only, I’d advise +you, sir, to have your case over +with Sir Pulteney, before Admiral +Plampin comes in—as I fear he would +send you to England.” “It matters +little to me, sir,” I answered; “seeing +the reason I had for going out +happens to be done with.” Here I +couldn’t help the blood rising in my +face; while Captain Wallis’s steady +eye turned off me, and I heard him say +in a lower key to the lieutenant, he +didn’t think it was a matter for a +court-martial at all. “Pooh, Aldridge!” +said he, “some pretty girl +amongst the passengers in the case, I +wager!” “Why,” returned Aldridge, +carelessly, “I heard Mr Moore +say some of the ladies were pretty +enough, especially one—some India +judge or other’s young daughter—I +believe he was in raptures about, sir.” +This sort of thing, as you may suppose, +was like touching one on the +raw with a marlin-spike; when the +captain asked me, partly to smooth it +over, maybe,—“By the bye, sir, Mr +Aldridge tells me there was something +about a pirate schooner, or slaver, or +some craft of the kind, that frightened +your mates—that’s all stuff, I daresay—but +what I want to know is, in +what quarter you lost sight of her, +if you recollect?” “About nor’west +by north from where we were at the +time, sir,” said I. “A fast-looking +craft was she?” asked he. “A +thorough-built smooth-going clipper, +if ever there was one,” I said. At +this the captain mused for a little, +till at last he said to his lieutenant—“They +daren’t risk it; I don’t think +there’s the Frenchman born, man +enough to try such a thing by water, +Aldridge?” “Help <em>him</em> out, you +mean, sir?” said the luff; “why, if he +ever got as far as the water’s edge, I’d +believe in witchcraft, sir!” “Give a +man time, Mr Aldridge,” answered the +captain, “and he’ll get out of anything +where soldiers are concerned—every +year he’s boxed up, sharpens +him till his very mind turns like a +knife, man! It makes one mad on +every point beside, I tell you, sir—whereas +after he’s free, perhaps, it’s +just on <em>that only</em> his brain has a twist +in it!” “No doubt, Captain Wallis,” +said Aldridge, glancing over to me, as +his commander got up and began walking +about the cabin, spite of his halt. +“D’ye know,” continued he, “I’ve +thought at times what I should like +best would be to have <em>him</em> ahead of +the brig, in some craft or other, and +we hard in chase—I’d go after that +man to the North Pole, sir, and bring +him back! Without once going aboard +to know he was there, I’d send word +it was Jack Wallis had him in tow!” +“What is Bonaparte like, then, after +all, sir?” I asked, just to fill up the +break. “I never saw him, nor he me,” +replied Captain Wallis, stopping in his +walk, “but every day he may have a +sight of the brig cruising to windward; +and as for the island, we see plenty of +<em>it</em>, I think, Aldridge?” “Ay, ay, sir,” +said Aldridge, “that we do! For my +part, I can’t get the ugly stone steeples +of it out of my head!” “Well,” continued +the captain, “at times, when +we’re beating round St Helena of a +night, I’ll be hanged if I haven’t +thought it began to loom as if the +French Emperor stood on the top of +it, like a shadow looking out to sea +the other way,—and I’ve gone below +lest he’d turn round till I saw his +face. I’ve a notion, Mr Aldridge, if +I once saw his face I’d lose what I +feel against him,—just as I used always +to fancy, the first five years in +the <em>Temple</em>, if he were only to see <em>me</em>, +he would let me out! But they say +he’s got a wonderful way of coming +over every one, if he likes!” After +this, Captain Wallis sat down and +passed the decanters, the first lieutenant +observing he supposed Bonaparte +was a great man in his way, but +nothing to Nelson. “Don’t tack +them together, Aldridge!” said his +commander, quickly; “Nelson was a +man all over,—he’d got the feelings of +a man, and his faults—but I call <em>him</em>, +yonder, a perfect demon let loose upon +the world! To my mind all the blood +those republicans shed, with their +murdered king’s at bottom of it, got +somehow into him, till he thought no +more of human beings, or aught concerning +’em, than I do of so many +cockroaches! But the terrible thing +was, sir, his infernal schemes, and +his cunning—why, he’d twist you +one country against another, and get +hold of both, like a man bending stun-sail +halliards—there were men grew +up round him quick as mushrooms, fit +to carry out everything he wanted; so +one could’nt wonder at him enough, +Mr Aldridge, if it was only natural! +I can’t tell you anything like what +I felt,” he went on, “when I was in +Sir Sidney Smith’s ship, cruising down +Channel, and we used to see the gunboats +and flat-bottoms he got together +for crossing the straits—or one night, +with poor Captain Wright, that we +stood in near enough to get a shot sent +at us off the heights—the whole shore +about Boulogne was one twinkle of +lights and camp-fires, and you heard +the sound of the hammers on planks +and iron, with the carts and gun-carriages +creaking—not to speak of a +hum from soldiers enough, you’d have +thought, to eat old England up! And +where are they now?” “I don’t +know, sir, indeed,” said the first lieutenant +gravely, supposing by the captain’s +look, no doubt, that it was a +question. “What, Captain Wallis!” +exclaimed I, “were you with Captain +Wright, then, sir?” Of course, like +every one in the service, I had heard +Captain Wright’s story often, with +ever so many versions; there was a +mystery about his sad fate that made +me curious to hear more, of what gave +the whole navy, I may say, a hatred to +Bonaparte not at all the same you +regard a fair enemy with.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“<em>With</em> him, say you, sir?” repeated +the captain of the Podargus, +“ay was I! I was his first lieutenant, +and good cause I had to feel for the +end he came to,—as I’ll let you hear. +One night Captain Wright went +ashore, as he’d often done, into the +town of Beville, dressed like a smuggler; +for the fact was the French +winked at the smuggling, only I must +say <em>we</em> used to land men instead of +goods. I didn’t like the thing that +night, and advised him not to go, as +they’d begun to suspect something of +late; however, the captain by that +time was foolhardy, owing to having +run so many risks, and he was bent +on going in before we left the coast; +though, after all, I believe it was only +to get a letter that any fisherman +could have brought off. The boat +was lying off and on behind a rocky +point, and we waited and waited, +hearing nothing but the sound of the +tide making about the big weedy +stones, in the shadow from the lights +of the town; when at last the French +landlord of the little tavern he put up +at, came down upon the shingle and +whistled to us. He gave me a message +from Captain Wright, with the +private word we had between us, saying +he wanted me to come up to the +town on a particular business. Accordingly, +I told the men to shove out +again, and away I went with the fellow. +No sooner did I open the door +of the room, however, than three or +four gens-d’-armes had hold of me, +and I was a prisoner: as for Captain +Weight, I never saw him more. The +morning broke as they brought me +up on horseback in the middle of them, +along the road to Paris, from whence +I could make out the cutter heeling +to the breeze a mile or two off the +land, with two or three gunboats hard +in chase.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Well, sir, at Paris they clapped me +into a long gloomy-like piece of mason-work +called the Temple, close alongside +of the river, where plenty of our +countrymen were; Captain Wright +and Sir Sidney Smith himself among +the rest, as I found out afterwards. +The treatment wasn’t so bad at first; +but when you climbed up to the windows, +there was nothing to be seen +but the top of a wall, and roofs of +houses all round, save where you’d a +glimpse of the dirty river and some +pig-trough of a boat. One day I got +a letter from Captain Wright—how +they let me have it I don’t well know—saying +he was allowed a good deal of +comfort in the mean time, but he suspected +some devilish scheme in it, to +make him betray the British government, +or something of the kind; that +he’d heard one of the French royalist +generals had choked himself in his +prison, but never to believe he’d do +the same thing, though every night +he woke up thinking he heard the key +turn in the door. The next thing I +heard of was that Captain Wright +had made away with himself, sir!” +Here Captain Wallis got up again, +walking across the cabin, seemingly +much moved. “Well, after that I +slept with the dinner-knife in my +breast, till the jailer took it away; +for I thought at the time that poor +Wright had been murdered, though I +found cause to change my mind when +I knew what loneliness does with a +man, not to speak of the notion being +put before him to take his own life. +For a while, too, Captain Shaw was +in the same cell; by which time we +had such bad food, and so little of it, +that one day when a pigeon lighted on +the window, which used to come there +for a crumb or two every afternoon, +right along with the gold gleam of the +sun as it shot over the dark houses to +that window—I jumped up and caught +it. Shaw and I actually tore it in bits, +and eat it raw on the spot; though +’twas long ere I could get rid of the +notion of the poor bird fluttering and +cooing against the bars, and looking +at me with its round little soft eye as +it pecked off the slab. But what +was that to the thought of my old +father that had hurt himself to keep +me in the navy, and me able, now, to +make his last days comfortable—or +the innocent young girl I had married +the moment I got my commission of +first lieutenant, expecting to be flush of +prize-money! It even came into my +head often, when I sat by myself in the +cell they afterwards put me into, alone,—how +that little blue pigeon might +have carried a letter to England for me—at +any rate it was the only thing like +a chance, or a friend, I ever saw the +whole time I was there,—and foolish +as the notion may look, why the window +was too high in a smooth wall, +for me once to reach it. I heard all +Paris humming round the thick of the +stone, every day, and sometimes the +sound of thousands of soldiers tramping +past below, over the next bridge, +with music and suchlike—no doubt +when the First Consul, as they called +him, went off to some campaign or +other: then I’d dream I felt the deck +under me in a fresh breeze at night, +till the soul sickened in me to wake +up and find the stones as still as before, +and now and then hear the +sentries challenging on their rounds.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Well, one day a fellow in a cloak, +with a slouch hat over his forehead, +was let in to try, as I thought, if there +was anything to be got out of me, as +they tried two or three times at first; +some spy he was, belonging to that +police devil, Fouché. What did he +offer me, d’ye think, after beating +about the bush for half an hour, but +the command of a French seventy-four +under the Emperor, as he was by +that time, and, if I would take it, I +was free! On this I pretended to +be thinking of it, when the police-fellow +sidled near me, to show a commission +signed with the Emperor’s +name at the foot.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“In place of taking hold of it, however, +I jumped up and seized the villain’s +nose and chin before he saw my +purpose, stuffed the parchment into +his mouth by way of a gag, and made +him dance round the cell, with his +cloak over his head and his sword +dangling alongside of him, to keep his +stern clear of my foot; till the turnkey +heard the noise, and he made bolt out +as soon as the door was opened. You’d +wonder how long that small matter +served me to laugh over, for my spirit +wasn’t broken yet, you see; but even +then, in the very midst of it, I would +all of a sudden turn sick at heart, and +sit wondering when the exchange of +prisoners would be made, that I looked +for. The worst of it was, at times +a horrid notion would come into my +head of the French seventy-four being +at sea at the moment, and me almost +wishing they’d give me the offer over +again—I fancied I felt the very creak +of her, straining in the trough of a +sea, and saw the canvass of her topsails +over me, standing on her poop +with a glass in my hand,—till she +rose on a crest, and there were the +Agamemnon’s lighted ports bearing +down to leeward upon us, till I heard +Nelson’s terrible voice sing out, “Give +it to ’em, my lads!” when the flash +of her broadside showed me his white +face under the cocked hat, and it came +whizzing over like a thirty-two pound +shot right into my breast, as I sunk +to the bottom, and found myself awake +in the prison.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“I don’t know how long it was +after, but they moved me to another +berth, where a man had shot himself +through the head, for we actually met +his body being carried along the passage; +and more than that, sir, they +hadn’t taken the trouble to wash his +brains off the wall they were scattered +on! There I sat one day after another, +watching the spot marked by them turn +dry, guessing at everything that had +gone through them as long as he was +alive in the place, till my own got perfectly +stupid; I was as helpless as a +child, and used to cry at other times +when the jailer didn’t bring me my food +in time. I fancied they’d forget all about +me in England; and as for time, I never +counted it, except by the notion I had +been two or three years in. At last +the turnkey got so used to me, thinking +me no doubt such a harmless sort +of a poor man, that he would sit by +and talk to me, giving accounts of the +Emperor’s battles and victories, and +such matters. I must say I began to +feel as if he was some sort of a God +upon earth there was no use to strive +against, just as the turnkey seemed to +do, more especially when I heard of +Nelson’s death; so when he told me, +one time, it wouldn’t do for Fouché or +the Emperor to let me out yet, I said +nothing more. “Will the Emperor +not let me out <em>now</em>?” asked I, a long +time after. “Diable!” said the man, +“do you think his Majesty has time +to think of such a poor fellow as you, +amongst such great matters? No, +no, pauvr’ homme!” continued he; +“you’re comfortable here, and wouldn’t +know what to do if you were out! +No fear of your doing as your Capitaine +<em>Ourite</em> did, since you’ve lived +here so long, monsieur!” “How long +is it, now, good Pierre?” asked I, with +a sigh, as he was going out at the +door; and the turnkey counted on his +fingers. “Ulm—Austerlitz—Jena,” +said he slowly; “oui, oui—I scarcely +thought it so much—it wants only six +or seven months of ten years!” and +he shut to the door. I sprang up off +the bed I was sitting on, wild at the +thought—I may say, for a day or two +I was mad—ten years! ten years!—and +all this time where was my poor +innocent Mary, and the child she expected +to bear, when I left Exeter—where +was my old father? But I +couldn’t bear to dwell on it. Yes, Aldridge, +by the God above, they had kept +me actually <em>ten years</em> there, in that +cursed Temple, while <em>he</em> was going on +all the time with his victories, and his +shows, and his high-flown bulletins! +Yet he wasn’t too high, it seems, to +stoop to give out, through his tools, +how Wright and I had both killed ourselves +for fear of bringing in the British +government—nor to offer me a seventy-four +in a dungeon—<em>me</em>, a man +used to wind and water, that loved a +breeze at sea like life! ’Twas the +very devil’s temptation, sir; but I’ll +tell you what, both Captain Wright +and myself had been with Sir Sidney +Smith at Acre, when <em>he</em> was baffled +for the first time in his days—<em>that</em> was +the thing, I believe from my soul, that +he hated us for! <em>I</em> had a right to be +exchanged ten times over, though he +might have called Wright a spy; but +what was my poor wife and her newborn +baby, or my old father’s grey +hairs, to <em>him</em>, and his damnable ambition +to make everything his own—and +when the very thought of me in +my hole at the Temple would strike +him in the midst of his victories, +where he hadn’t time, forsooth, to +trouble himself about a poor man like +me! The fact was, I could tell how +he offered a British seaman, that had +had a finger in nettling him, the command +of one of his seventy-fours, +which he had nobody fit to manage—and +that in a prison where I’d be glad +even of fresh air!</p> + +<p class='c009'>“’Twas then, in fact, the purpose +rose firmer and firmer in me, out of +the fury that was like to drive me +mad, how I’d get out of his clutches, +and spend my life against the very +pitch of his power I knew so well +about. Till that time I used to look +through the bars of the window at the +Seine, without ever fancying escape, +low down as it was, compared with +my last cell. There was a mark in +the stone floor with my walking back +and forward, since they put me in; +and by this time I had the cunning of +a beast, let alone its strength, in regard +of anything I took into my head: +often I used to think I saw the end of +my finger, or the corner of a stone, +more like the way a fly sees them, +than a man. The turnkey, Pierre, +would never let me have a knife to eat +my food with, lest I should do as he +said all we English were apt to do—kill +myself—which, by the way, +is a lie; and I think that fiend of +an Emperor yonder must have taught +them to blame us with their own +crime! However, latterly he let me +have a fork for half an hour at dinner; +and for a quarter of an hour every day, +except those when he staid to talk to +me as I ate it, did I climb up and +work with that fork at the top and +bottom of one of the window-bars, +taking care not to break the fork, and +jumping down, always, in time to finish +the meal. It took me four whole +months, sir, to loosen them! Such +deadly fear as I was in, too, lest he’d +find it out, or lest they moved me to +another cell—you’d have thought I +was fond of the walls round the place, +where hundreds of men before me had +scrawled their last words; and the one +that shot himself had written, “<i><span lang="fr">Liberté—anéantissement!</span></i> +Liberty—annihilation!” +just over where the spatter +of his brains had stuck when he +laid his head to the spot! If Pierre +had noticed what I’d been about, my +mind was made up to kill him, and +then make the trial before they missed +him; but <em>that</em> I had a horror of, after +all, seeing the man had taken a sort of +liking to me, and I knew he had a wife.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Well, at last, one day I had the +thing finished; when midnight came I +trembled like a leaf, till I began to fear +I couldn’t carry it through: I tore +my shirt and the blanket in strips, to +twist into a line, got out the bar by +main force, squeezed through, and let +myself down. The line was just long +enough to let me swing against the +cold wall, over a sentry’s head going +round the parapet below; as soon as +he was past I dropped on the edge of +the wall, and fell along it, my fingers +scraping the smooth stone to no purpose, +till I was sliding off into the +dark, with the river I didn’t know how +far below me, though I heard it lapping +against some boats at the other +side. For a few moments I was quite +senseless, from the fall into the water; +the splash roused the sentinels, and +three or four bullets whizzed into it +about me, as I struck out for the +shore. Still the night was thick +enough to help me clear off among +the dark lanes in the city;—and the +upshot of it was, that I found out +some royalists, who supplied me with +a pedlar’s dress; till, in the end, after +I can’t tell you how many ticklish +chances, where my luck hung upon a +hair, I reached the coast, and was +taken off to a British frigate. At +home, sir—at home, I found I’d been +given up long ago for a dead man in +Bonaparte’s prisons, and—and—the +old man had been buried seven +years, Aldridge—but not so long as +my—wife. The news of my taking +my own life in the Temple saved her +the rest—’twas too much for her at +the time, Aldridge—both she and her +little one had lain in the mould nine +years, when I stood looking at the +grass under Exeter Cathedral! I was +a young man almost, still; but my +hair was as grizzled when I got out of +the Temple in 1813, as you see it now, +and I’ll never walk the deck fairly +again. Aldridge,” added the captain +of the Podargus, turning round and +standing still, with a low sort of a +deep whisper, “’tis a strange thing, +the Almighty’s way of working—but +I never thought—in the Temple yonder, +longing for a heave of the water +under me—I little thought John Wallis +would ever come to keep guard +over his Majesty, the Emperor Napoleon!”</p> + +<p class='c009'>When Captain Wallis stopped, the +long send of the sea lifting the brig +below us, with a wild, yearning kind +of ripple from her bows back to her +counter, and weltering away astern,—one +felt it, I may say, somewhat +like an answer to him, for the breeze +had begun to freshen: it had got all +of a sudden nearly quite dark, too, +as is the case inside the tropics, without +the moon. “Let’s go on deck, +gentlemen,” said the captain, coming +to himself; “now clap on those other +topmost stuns’ls, Mr Aldridge, and +make her walk, sir!” “No saying,” +I heard him mutter, as he let us go up +before him—“no saying what the want +of the Podargus might do, off the +island, these dark nights—with water +alongside, one can’t be sure—I warrant +me if <em>that man’s</em> dreams came +true, as mine did, he would be at the +head of his thousands again, ruining +the whole world, with men rotting out +of sight in dungeons while the wind +blows! Ay, dreams, young gentleman!” +said he to me as we stood +on deck; “I’ll never get rid of that +prison, in my head, nor the way +that dead man’s brain seemed to come +into mine, off the wall! But for my +part, off St Helena, ’tis Napoleon +Bonaparte’s dreams that enter into +my head. If you’ll believe it, sir, I’ve +<em>heard</em> them as it were creeping and +tingling round the black heights of +the island at dead of night, like men +in millions ready to break out in war +music, as I used to hear them go over +the bridge near the Temple—or in +shrieks and groans; we all the time +forging slowly ahead, and the surf +breaking in at the foot of the rocks. +I know then, <em>who’s</em> asleep at the time +up in Longwood!”</p> + +<p class='c009'>The brig-of-war was taking long +sweeps and plunges before the wind; +the Southern Cross right away on her +larboard quarter, and the very same +stars spread all out aloft, that I’d +watched a couple of nights before, +close by Violet Hyde. The whole of +what I’d just heard was nothing to +me in a single minute, matched with +the notion of never seeing her more. +Everything I’d thought of since we +left England was gone, even one’s +heart for the service; and what to do +now, I didn’t know. I scarce noticed +it commence to rain, till a bit of a +squall had come on, and they were +hauling down stu’nsails; the dark +swells only to be seen rising with the +foam on them, and a heavier cover +of dull cloud risen off the brig’s beam, +as well as ahead; so that you merely +saw her canvass lift before you against +the thick of the sky, and dive into it +again. ’Twas just cleared pretty +bright off the stars astern of us, however, +wind rather lighter than before +the squall, when the captain thought +he made out a sail near about the +starboard beam, where the clouds +came on the water-line; a minute or +two after she was plain enough in the +clear, though looming nearly end-on, +so that one couldn’t well know her +rig. Thinking at first sight it might +be the schooner, Captain Wallis was +for bracing up, to stand in chase and +overhaul her; but shortly after she +seemed either to yaw a little, or fall +off again before the wind like ourselves, +at any rate showing three sticks +on the horizon with square canvass +spread, and evidently a small <em>ship</em>. +“Some homeward-bound craft meaning +to touch at the island!” said +Captain Wallis, telling the first lieutenant +to keep all fast; by which +time she was lost in the dusk again, +and I wasn’t long of going below. +A fancy had got hold of me for the +moment, I can’t deny, of its being +the Seringapatam after us, on Westwood’s +owning himself; whereupon I +persuaded myself Captain Wallis +might perhaps take the risk on him +of letting us both go. For my part, I +felt by this time as if I’d rather be in +the same ship with <em>her</em>, hopeless +though it was, than steer this way +for the other side of the Line; and I +went down with a chill at my heart +like the air about an iceberg.</p> + +<p class='c009'>Not being asleep, however, a sudden +stir on deck, an hour or two after that, +brought me out of my cot, to look +through the scuttle in the side. The +brig had hauled her wind from aft onto +her starboard quarter, making less +way than <em>before</em> it, of course; I heard +the captain’s voice near the after-hatchway, +too; so accordingly I +slipped on my clothes, and went +quietly up. The Podargus was running +through the long broad swells +usual thereabouts, with her head +somewhere toward north-east; the +officers all up, the whole of the crew +in both watches clustered beyond the +brig’s fore-course, and the captain +evidently roused, as well as impatient; +though I couldn’t at first +make out the reason of her being off +her course. As soon as she fell off a +little, however, to my great horror I +could see a light far ahead of us, right +in the gloom of the clouds, which for +a moment you’d have supposed was +the moon rising red and bloody, till +the heave of the sea betwixt us and +it showed how both of us were dipping: +and now and then it gave a +flaring glimmer fair out from the +breast of the fog-bank, while the +breeze was sending a brown puff of +smoke from it now and then to leeward +against the clouds; through which +you made a spar or two licking up +the flame, and a rag of canvass fluttering +across on the yard. ’Twas +neither more nor less than a ship on +fire—no doubt the vessel seen abeam +of us that evening—a sight at which +Captain Wallis seemingly forgot his +hurry to make St Helena, in the +eagerness shown by all aboard to +save the poor fellows. Suddenly +there was another wild gleam from +the burning craft, and we thought it +was over altogether, when up shot a +wreath of fire and smoke again, then +a fierce flash with a blue burst of +flame, full of sparks and all sorts of +black spots and broken things, as if +she had blown up while she heaved +the last time on the swell. Everything +was pitch dark next minute in +her place, as if a big blot of ink had +come instead; the brig-of-war herself +rolling with a flap of her headsails +up against the long heavy bank of +cloud that blocked the horizon. +“Keep her away, sirrah!” shouted +Captain Wallis, and the Podargus +surged ahead as before, all of us +standing too breathless to speak, but +counting the heads of the waves as +they flickered past her weather beam. +“God’s sake!” exclaimed the captain +at last, “this is terrible, Aldridge. +If I had only overhauled her, as I +meant at first, we might have helped +them in time; for no doubt the fire +must have been commenced when we +noticed her yawing yonder a couple +of hours ago, sir.” “I think not, sir,” +said his lieutenant, “<em>we</em> were against +the clear; and if they’d been in danger +<em>then</em>, she’d have fired a distress-gun. +There couldn’t have been much +powder aboard, sir—more likely rum, +I think!”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“For heaven’s sake!” continued the +captain, “let’s look about—she must +surely have had boats out, or something, +Mr Aldridge? The best thing +we can do is to fire a few times as we +bear down—see that bow-gun cleared +away, Mr Moore, and do it!”</p> + +<p class='c009'>We might have been about a mile, +as was guessed, from where she was +last seen, when the brig fired a gun +to windward, still standing on under +everything. At the second flash that +lighted up the belly of the clouds, with +the black glitter of the swells below +them, I fancied I caught a moment’s +glimpse of something two or three +miles away. It was too short to say, +however; and soon after the twinkle +of a light, seemingly hoisted on a spar, +was seen little more than half a mile +upon the brig’s lee-bow, dipping and +going out of sight at times, but plain +enough when it rose. Down went the +Podargus for the spot, sending the +foam off her cut-water; and it was no +long time before a wild hail from several +voices could be made out almost +close aboard. Ten minutes after she +was brought to the wind, heaving a +rope to the men on a loose raft of +casks and spars, as it pitched alongside +of her, with the sail hauled down on +a spar they had stuck up, and a lantern +at the head of it; after which the +raft was cast off, and the poor fellows +were safe on board.</p> + +<p class='c009'>Two of them seemed to be half-drowned, +the one wrapped up in a +wet pilot-coat, his face looking white +and frightened enough by the glimmer +of the lanterns; the other darker a +good deal, so far as I could make him +out for the crowd about him, and he +didn’t seem able to speak; accordingly, +both of them were taken at +once below to the surgeon. The rest +were four half-naked blacks, and a +little chap with ear-rings and a seaman’s +dress, who was the spokesman +on the quarterdeck to the captain’s +questions—plainly American by his +snuffling sort of drawl. “Are there +no more of you afloat?” was the first +thing asked, to which the Yankee +sailor shook his head. She was an +American bark, he said, from a voyage +of discovery round the two Capes; +he was mate himself, and the skipper, +being addicted to his cups, had set +a cask of rum on fire; so, finding they +couldn’t get it under, besides being +wearied at the pumps, on account of +an old leak, the men broke into the +spirit-room and got dead drunk. He +and the blacks had patched up a raft +in a hurry for bare life, barely saving +the passenger and his servant who had +jumped overboard: the passenger was +a learned sort of a man, he said, and +his servant was a Mexican. Most of +this I found next day, from the gun-room +officers: however, I heard the +mate of the burnt barque inquire of the +captain whereabouts they were, as the +skipper was the only man who could +use a chronometer or quadrant, and +the last gale had driven them out of +their reckonings a long way. “Somehow +south of the Line, I guess?” said +he; but, on being told, the fellow gave +a bewildered glance round him, seemingly, +and a cunning kind of squint after +it, as I fancied. “Well,” said he, “I +guess we’re considerable unlucky—but +I consider to turn in, if agreeable!” +The man had a way, in fact, half free-and-easy, +half awkward, that struck +me; especially when he said, as he +went below, he supposed “this was a +war-brig,” and hoped there “wasn’t +war between the States and the old +country?” “No, my man,” said +the captain, “you may set your mind +at ease on that point—but I’m afraid, +nevertheless, we’ll have to land you +at St Helena!” “What, mister?” +said the American, starting, “that’s +where you’ve got Boneyparty locked +up? Well now, if you give me a good +berth for a few, mister, I guess I’ll +rayther ship aboard you, till I get a +better! What’s your wage just now, +if I may ask, captain?” “Well, +well,” said the captain, laughing, +“we’ll see to-morrow, my man!”—and +the American went below. “Set +stu’nsails again, Mr Aldridge,” continued +Captain Wallis, “and square +yards. Why, rather than have such a +fellow in the ship’s company, Aldridge, +I’d land him without Sir Hudson’s +leave!”</p> + +<p class='c009'>“For my own part, next day, I should +have given more notice to our new +shipmates while the brig steered fair +before the wind—the blacks and the +mate leaning about her forecastle, and +the other two being expected by the +surgeon to come pretty well round +before night, though the captain had +gone to see them below; but a thing +turned up all at once that threw me +once more full into the thought of +Violet Hyde, till I was perfectly beside +myself with the helpless case I +was in. The note Tom Westwood had +shown me was still in the pocket of +my griffin’s coat, though I hadn’t observed +it till now; and what did I feel +at finding out, that, instead of one from +her to Westwood, it was a few words +from my own sister, little Jane, saying +in a pretty, bashful sort of a way, that +her brother Ned must come home before +she could engage to anything! +You may fancy how I cursed myself +for being so blind; but a fellow never +thinks his own sister charming at all—and +what else could I have done at any +rate? All I hoped for was to get aboard +of some Indiaman at St Helena, and +there was nothing else I wearied to +see the island again for. I may say I +walked the brig’s lee quarterdeck till +daybreak; but anyhow the look-out +from the foreyard had scarce sung out +“St Helena on the weather-bow!” +when I was up, making out the round +blue cloud in the midst of the horizon, +with a white streak across it, like a +bird afloat in the hazy blue, with the +clear gleam from eastward off our +starboard quarter running round to it.”</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_345'>345</span> + <h2 class='c002'>CANADIAN LOYALTY.<br> AN ODE.</h2> +</div> + +<div class='nf-center-c0'> +<div class='nf-center c005'> + <div>[Written at Sunrise on New Year’s Morning of 1850, at the head of Lake Ontario, in Western Canada.]</div> + </div> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c016'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>As gleams the sunrise on the deep,</div> + <div class='line'>And on yon cliffs where eagles sweep,</div> + <div class='line'>And on the circling forests deep,</div> + <div class='line in4'>This morn, which owns the New Year’s birth,—</div> + <div class='line'>Is there no gratulating strain</div> + <div class='line'>To hail the advent of thy reign,</div> + <div class='line'>Thou latest link of Time’s long chain</div> + <div class='line in4'>Let down from heaven to this our earth?</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Of Britain be that strain;—for she,</div> + <div class='line'>Stretching her empire o’er the sea,</div> + <div class='line'>Exalts the lowly, and sets free</div> + <div class='line in4'>From thraldom’s bonds the fettered slave;</div> + <div class='line'>For ever may her children share</div> + <div class='line'>The smiles of her maternal care;</div> + <div class='line'>For ever may her vessels bear</div> + <div class='line in4'>St George’s standard o’er the wave!</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Droop not! Although dark tempests may</div> + <div class='line'>Obscure awhile the potent ray</div> + <div class='line'>That to these o’er-sea realms brought day,</div> + <div class='line in4'>And Treason walk secure the scene;</div> + <div class='line'>A second morning o’er the deep</div> + <div class='line'>Shall call us jubilee to keep,</div> + <div class='line'>And to old strains each heart shall leap—</div> + <div class='line in4'>“God save Britannia’s noble Queen!”</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“God save Britannia’s noble Queen!”—</div> + <div class='line'>Shout it aloud! that strain hath been</div> + <div class='line'>From east to west, in every scene,</div> + <div class='line in4'>Heard by the nations, like a hymn</div> + <div class='line'>Wafted along from clime to clime,</div> + <div class='line'>To succour truth, to startle crime,</div> + <div class='line'>And, with an influence all sublime,</div> + <div class='line in4'>To brighten what before was dim.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Hark! ’tis Britannia’s morning gun</div> + <div class='line'>Heralding thee, thou glorious sun;</div> + <div class='line'>And, if it peal when daylight’s done,</div> + <div class='line in4'>Doth she not well that honour claim?</div> + <div class='line'>For wheresoe’er thy beams light earth,</div> + <div class='line'>Thou seest her wisdom and her worth;</div> + <div class='line'>Glories that own to her their birth,</div> + <div class='line in4'>And Trophies of her deathless fame!</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>From Zembla’s snows to India’s sun,</div> + <div class='line'>To her the faint, the feeble run,</div> + <div class='line'>They who Oppression’s grasp would shun,</div> + <div class='line in4'>Or Superstition’s horrors blind:</div> + <div class='line'>There exiles find a country—there</div> + <div class='line'>Monarchs and serfs alike repair,</div> + <div class='line'>And, underneath her guardian care,</div> + <div class='line in4'>A sure and safe asylum find!</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Then think not, demagogues! on whom</div> + <div class='line'>Strike these first rays which now illume</div> + <div class='line'>Our land, that, with this year, in gloom</div> + <div class='line in4'>Shall Britain’s power eclipsed be seen.</div> + <div class='line'>No! if she wills it, hearts are here</div> + <div class='line'>That glory in her high career,</div> + <div class='line'>That from her side will sunder ne’er,</div> + <div class='line in4'>But proudly own one common Queen!</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Methinks there glows in Britain yet</div> + <div class='line'>A feeling, that would grieve to let</div> + <div class='line'>Thee, sun! upon her empire set,</div> + <div class='line in4'>While shouts of rival nations rose:—</div> + <div class='line'>Our fathers were her sons, and we</div> + <div class='line'>Are but her offspring o’er the sea;</div> + <div class='line'>Aye undivided let us be—</div> + <div class='line in4'>We scorn to link us with her foes!</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Methinks her subjects, side by side,</div> + <div class='line'>Will long her burdens just divide,—</div> + <div class='line'>Will long maintain, in matchless pride,</div> + <div class='line in4'>Her flag, which aye hath honoured been:—</div> + <div class='line'>And many a great deed yet be done,</div> + <div class='line'>And many a glorious field be won,</div> + <div class='line'>Ere of her empire set the sun.</div> + <div class='line in4'>“God save Britannia’s noble Queen.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<div class='chapter'> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_347'>347</span> + <h2 class='c002'>AGRICULTURE, COMMERCE, AND MANUFACTURES:<br> <span class='large'>OPENING OF THE SESSION.</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>It rarely happens that the proceedings +which occur in parliament, immediately +after its reassembling, are +so intrinsically important as to sustain +the interest invariably excited in the +public mind by the approach of the +legislative season. Such at least is +the case whenever men can predict, +almost with certainty, what topics +will be alluded to and what avoided +in the royal address; what policy +Ministers are determined to pursue; +and what amount of support they +may confidently count on receiving +from political friends and auxiliaries. +From the opening of the session of +1850 little novelty was to be augured. +The Free-traders, having had everything +their own way, could not be +expected to express any misgiving as +to the working of a system which +they had so deliberately adopted. +The cry of distress from without, +loud and general as it was, had not +shaken the equanimity of the secret +divan of Downing Street; nor perhaps +was the complaint deemed as yet +articulate enough to require more +than a casual notice. The storm +might be brewing, but it was not at +its height, and there would be time +enough to meet it hereafter. What +her Majesty’s Ministers had to do was +to make out a fair case of prosperity +for the present, and to hold out a +still brighter prospect for the future. +They had plausible materials for +doing so. Bullion was plentiful in +the vaults of the Bank of England; +the exports for the past year had +increased largely in amount; the +revenue was in no bad condition. +Abroad, there was a lull in those +hostilities which for the last two +years have frightened Europe from its +propriety; and, though the victory +had not declared itself on the side of +those whom the Whigs favoured with +their approbation, still tranquillity was +something. It gave an augmented +market to our manufacturers, and removed +those hindrances which threatened +to become serious interruptions +to commerce. With such materials at +command, no one but a most sorry +artificer could have failed in constructing +a plausible prosperity address. +The state of the home market was +evidently a subject for future discussion.</p> + +<p class='c009'>Notwithstanding various rumours +as to meditated organic changes, it +was pretty evident that Ministers had +no intention to undertake the conduct +of a new Reform bill. Of all the men +who ever attempted to ape the character +of Peter the Hermit, Sir Joshua +Walmsley is at once the dullest and +the most self-sufficient. Any crusade, +under the auspices of such a preacher, +could not be otherwise than abortive: +indeed, he failed signally in the first +and easiest quality of an agitator—that +of enlisting a considerable share of +popular sympathy on his side. Nor +was finance reform likely to be seriously +taken up by the Whigs, inasmuch +as one of the earliest effects of +such a scheme would necessarily be +the reduction of their official salaries. +That is a point, however, which they +cannot long hope to evade; and it +will be forced upon them, sorely +against their will, as the inevitable +consequence of low prices. They must +prepare themselves to submit to a reduction +similar to that which has been +practised upon the officials of the +Great Western Railway, who are put +upon a short allowance in consequence +of “the reduced prices of the necessaries +of life.” The rule admits of +general application, and doubtless +will be rigidly carried out in the highest +as in the lowest places. At present +we shall not discuss that matter: we +merely refer to it as a sufficiently intelligible +reason why financial reform +formed no part of the programme of +her Majesty’s Ministers. No man +expected that it would do so.</p> + +<p class='c009'>Apart from such topics as these, +there was little to be looked for in the +speech: and accordingly, when it appeared, +the speech was as meagre +and unsuggestive as such documents +usually are. Nor should we have +thought it necessary to make it the +subject of comment, save for one passage, +which may be said to contain +its kernel, in so far as the prospects +of the home population are concerned:—</p> + +<p class='c010'>“Her Majesty has great satisfaction in +congratulating you on the improved condition +of commerce and manufactures. +It is with regret that her Majesty has +observed the complaints which, in many +parts of the kingdom, have proceeded +from the owners and occupiers of land. +Her Majesty greatly laments that any +portion of her subjects should be suffering +distress; but it is a source of sincere +gratification to her Majesty to witness +the increased enjoyment of the necessaries +and comforts of life which cheapness and +plenty have bestowed upon the great +body of her people.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Here there is no distinct admission +of agricultural distress. Such distress +may or may not exist: all that is +known on the subject is, that complaints +are made. But, supposing +these complaints to be well founded, +the great body of the people is reaping +the benefit of that cheapness +which is the cause of the distress of +others. That is the language of the +speech.</p> + +<p class='c009'>We think it is much to be regretted +that, on an occasion like this, Ministers +should have avoided the open and +manly course. If they do not believe +in the actual existence of such distress, +but are of opinion that the great agitation +which at present is spread over +England, is either an unfounded panic +or a factious clamour, it would have +been well to have met the statements +of their adversaries with a broad and +unequivocal denial. If, on the contrary, +they are convinced that distress +actually does exist, and that it is +likely to prove permanent, they have +placed themselves in a strange and +unprecedented position with regard to +the class so complaining. For, in that +view, the terms of the speech will +hardly admit of any other interpretation, +than that it is matter of congratulation +to find, that one section of +the British public is prospering upon +the ruin of another. We do not, of +course, believe that the Ministry intended +to lay down any such principle; +for, if once adopted and carried +out, it must lead to the entire disorganisation +of society. We think +that their peculiar position affords us +the true key to their language. On +the one hand, they cannot deny that +distress actually does exist: on the +other, they cannot, in the face of the +commercial principles which they have +adopted, and the precarious nature of +their majority, venture to suggest a +remedy. Her Majesty is not even +allowed to express sympathy, because +sympathy implies suffering—and that +admission Ministers are by no means, +as yet, prepared to make.</p> + +<p class='c009'>Turning from the speech itself to +the addresses, and the reported subsequent +debates, we find this view of the +matter sufficiently borne out. The +Earl of Essex, the mover of the address +in the House of Peers, expressed himself +in the following terms:—</p> + +<p class='c010'>“Her Majesty had also expressed her +deep sympathy with the distress <em>stated to +exist</em> in many of our agricultural districts. +No man could regret the existence of that +distress more than he did; but, in expressing +that regret, he must also state +his conviction—a conviction which was +shared by many wealthy merchants, and +by many, he would not say a majority, of +landlords—that that distress was not of +a permanent, but of a temporary character.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Lord Methuen, the seconder, took +nearly the same view. The Earl of +Carlisle said:—</p> + +<p class='c010'>“The degree of his alarm would be +somewhat proportioned to the apprehended +nature of the distress. If it were +temporary, and produced by special and +exceptional causes, not liable continually +to prevail or constantly to recur, then it +would be plain that agriculture was only +subject to that variation which every +other pursuit, every other profession and +branch of industry, every source of emolument, +seemed, by a law of the universe, +to undergo—that change from which +agriculture, in a marked degree, whether +protected or unprotected, had never been +exempt.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>And again:—</p> + +<p class='c010'>“What he contended was, that, with +so very circumscribed limits for the experiment, +and with such a marked interference +of special and exceptional causes, +during the progress of the experiment, it +would be altogether preposterous to assume +that the experiment had been tested, +that it was exhausted, and that a change +in the policy of the country ought to be +considered, and forthwith entered upon. +Neither could he think they were in a +situation to pronounce what were the +permanent fruits of the great experiment +they had agreed to make. It would be +impossible to say at what cost corn could +be permanently grown in this country, or +whether the same amount of foreign importations +would always prevail. His +own feeling was not one of despondency +or despair on the subject. He had no +right, on these points, to palm his own +opinion on their lordships. All he contended +was, that they were not in a condition +to determine the questions he had +indicated. He could not honestly stop +there, however; he could not confine +himself to these ambiguous and hypothetical +limits: he was bound to tell their +lordships that, even if he were convinced +that the average price of corn could never +ascend higher, still he was not prepared +to reverse the policy they had entered +upon.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Finally, the Marquis of Lansdowne +said:—</p> + +<p class='c010'>“Adverting to the subject of the +amendment, regret must be felt when +distress affected any large class of her +Majesty’s subjects. When the noble +lord (Stanley) went on to say he was +convinced the distress, which to a certain +degree affected the owners and occupiers +of land, was shared by the agricultural +community at large, including the labourers, +he met the noble lord distinctly with +the assertion that, throughout England, +the condition of the labourers was generally +better.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Lord Lansdowne then went on to +state facts regarding the importation +of foreign corn; from which, we presume, +he wished his hearers to infer +that such importation was on the +wane.</p> + +<p class='c010'>“With respect to the importation of +foreign corn, it had diminished almost to +nothing at present. In the last three +months of last year, ending January 5th, +the importation was reduced considerably +below the importation of the corresponding +period in the previous year. He had +a return of the importation for the first +four weeks of January. In the first four +weeks of last year, the importation of all +sorts was 1,118,653; for the last four +weeks of this year, ending January 28th, +only 336,895 quarters had been imported.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>A valuable addition to the above +statistics would have been a note of +the range of the thermometer during +the periods referred to, especially at +the Baltic ports. In conclusion, Lord +Lansdowne, whilst maintaining the +impossibility of any recurrence to the +protective system, remarked:—</p> + +<p class='c010'>“He considered the experiment as +finally made; but, if he were to see a +quantity of acres thrown out of cultivation, +and a number of labourers without +employment, he would not hesitate to +confess himself in the wrong, and he +hoped others would not hesitate to do the +same. He was not now, however, prepared +to go back to their past policy, and +to uphold what he believed to be a delusion, +or to lay a foundation for that ill +feeling and acrimony which had distinguished +the discussion of the question out +of doors.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>These extracts, from the debate in +the House of Lords on the first night +of the session, deserve to be recorded +for the sake of fixture reference. +Every one of the speakers on the +Ministerial side proceeded on the +assumption that agricultural distress, +if it existed, was only temporary, +and not permanent, in its +character—and, such being the case, +that there was no room, or, at all +events, no occasion for a remedy.</p> + +<p class='c009'>Turning to the debate in the House +of Commons, we find a bolder tone +assumed. In their selection of the +gentleman who had the honour of +moving the address to her Majesty, +Ministers gave a very strong indication +of their deliberate views. Amongst +those who annually renewed the motion +for the repeal of the corn laws in +the House of Commons, there was +one who, with more candour or more +discrimination than the rest, had the +courage to acknowledge that the result +of such a measure must be the “annihilation” +of the small farmers. That +gentleman, Mr Villiers, was selected +as the fittest person to reciprocate to +the royal message. We are far from +reflecting upon the taste and feeling +which suggested such a choice—indeed, +we are not sure whether a +better one could have been made; for, +if the agriculturists are to understand +that under no possible circumstances +can our recent policy be changed, that +assurance could hardly be conveyed +more authoritatively than from the +lips of the honourable member for +Wolverhampton; and accordingly Mr +Villiers does not mince the matter. +He speaks out loud and bold, and tells +the farmers that no amount of distress +will make him withdraw one inch +from his original position.</p> + +<p class='c010'>“He did not deny that distress existed +among the occupiers of the land, and he +deeply regretted it; but they were not +precluded from retiring from that pursuit +with which they were not satisfied. He +thought it was some consolation to know +that land now fetched as high a value in +the market as it ever had brought in the +history of this country; that there never +was a farm vacant but there were numerous +candidates for the tenancy; and that +the agricultural labourers, instead of +being worse off, were much better off +than usual. If ‘the worst come to the +worst,’ and the landed proprietor and the +occupier should be obliged to proceed in +the same business-like way in conducting +their pursuits as persons in other businesses +in this country, they would have this +consolation, that there was no advantage +possessed over them by other countries in +the raising agricultural produce. The +only thing that he (Mr Villiers) could +discover, distinguishing the agriculturist +here from those of other countries—and +that was one which he had under his own +control—was the price of land. It certainly +was higher here than on the Continent. +But in many respects his advantages +were great; and the inferiority, +where it existed, could be counteracted.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Statements of this kind carry with +them an antidote as well as a bane. +We are not sorry to find the foremost +champion of the League, and the +mover of the address, thus openly +setting at defiance physical fact, common +sense, and the results of practical +experience. He tells the British +agriculturist that he is in every respect, +except in the price of land, on +an equality with the foreign producer. +So, then, his climate is as constant, +his soil is as rich, the labour he employs +is as cheap, his direct burdens are as +low, his luxuries are as moderately +taxed! He is exposed to no restrictions; +there is no malt-tax; he may +have his bricks at prime cost; he may +grow his own tobacco; he may distil +his own spirits; he is not chargeable +with income-tax, irrespective of his +drawing one shilling of profit from his +farm! So says Mr Villiers: and, if this +be true, not one of us has a right to +complain. But is it true? We shall +not insult the intelligence of our readers +by entering on a deliberate refutation.</p> + +<p class='c009'>Let us next hear the Chancellor of +the Exchequer:—</p> + +<p class='c010'>“He admitted that in some respects, +and in several parts of the country, the +agricultural interest had suffered; but it +was all a question of degree. He did +not deny that the degree was considerable, +but he did not think it existed to +anything approaching the extent that had +been represented; and he denied, therefore, +that they ought to retrace the steps +of their policy; for, though distress existed, +he relied on the industry and the energy +of the British farmer.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then come general opinions, almost +amounting to assertions, that +the present low price of corn cannot +be permanent; and these opinions +are fortified by a comparison of the +importations in January 1849 with +those in January 1850, no notice being +taken of any difference between the +seasons! Sir Charles Wood next put +forth an authority, to which we crave +attention:—</p> + +<p class='c010'>“The <cite>Mark-Lane Express</cite> stated that +the price of corn in the Baltic was so +high that it would not pay to send it to +this country; and the only country from +which corn was at present sent to us was +France, which, in ordinary years, was not +an exporting country. There was good reason +to suppose, therefore, that the permanent +price of wheat in this country would +not range so low as at the present time. +Prices were not at present remunerative +to the importer, and importation had +received a most signal check. The farmer +need not, therefore, apprehend that +ruin from the operation of free trade +which he at present anticipated from +prices under 40s. a quarter. What the +future price of corn in this country would +be, it would be wrong in him (the Chancellor +of the Exchequer) to attempt to +state, after the mistakes that the most +practical and wisest men had fallen into +with regard to the importation of corn. +But it was worth observing, that at present +no importation could take place from +those countries from which importation +had been most feared, and that the greatest +quantities of corn recently received +had come from those countries from which +no one had anticipated any importation +whatever. An honourable member had +expressed an opinion that 44s. a quarter +was the average price that might be expected +to prevail for wheat. Now, he +could not agree with those who held the +opinion that the agriculturist would be +ruined by such a price.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Here there are two distinct propositions, +with regard to which we have +a word to say. 1st, Sir Charles Wood, +on the authority of the <cite>Mark-Lane +Express</cite>, an authority which he afterwards +admits will not be disputed, +says that the importations are checked, +and will be checked, on account of the +high price of corn in the Baltic, and, +therefore, that the price of wheat in +this country will rise. 2d, He thinks +that the home agriculturist can carry +on production with wheat at 44s. per +quarter.</p> + +<p class='c009'>Well, then, let us see what has since +been told us on the authority of the +<cite>Mark-Lane Express</cite>, so lately as 11th +February:—</p> + +<p class='c010'>“The value of wheat having receded, +without a check, from week to week since +the commencement of the year, has fallen +to a point at which growers are very unwilling +to sell; and within the last eight +days the deliveries have fallen off more +or less, which circumstance, and the probability +of short supplies during the time +farmers shall be engaged preparing the +land for the reception of the spring crops, +appear to have led to the belief that +quotations will not for the present undergo +any farther reduction. That a temporary +rally may take place is not improbable; +but we are by no means sanguine +on the subject, and regard any improvement +of moment as wholly out of the question. +Whatever may be said to the contrary, +we maintain that prices of wheat +are at present higher on the continent of +Europe than is warranted by the result +of the last harvest. With average crops, +such as those secured in 1849 in most of +the large grain-growing countries of +Europe, a very considerable surplus must +have been produced for export; and as +there appears to be no chance of France, +Holland, or Belgium requiring supplies +from the Baltic, and as our markets hold +out little encouragement for calculating +on higher prices, the value of the article +must, we think, inevitably come down in +Russia, Poland, and Germany. Any argument +founded on what has occurred in +bygone times is no longer applicable, the +alteration in our corn laws placing the +matter in an entirely new position. For +the past to be serviceable in affording +materials to form a judgment of the probable +future, it is necessary to have a +parallel instance; and all calculations +founded on what prices have been in +years when a different order of things +existed, are more likely to mislead than +instruct. It is not probable that prices +will fall to so low a point as they have +done on former occasions, when England +has required comparatively small supplies, +the removal of our import duties +and the repeal of the Navigation Laws +being greatly in favour of the foreign +grower; but, on the other hand, it may +be easily foreseen that with wheat at 35s. +per quarter in many of our home markets, +British merchants will not purchase +abroad on such terms as have been +hitherto asked for spring delivery. Speculation +may for a time support prices at +Dantzic, Rostock, &c., but the value must +ultimately be regulated by prices here; +and we feel perfectly satisfied that supplies +on a much larger scale than we are +likely to want will reach us from the +Baltic, Black Sea, &c., later in the year.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Nowhere can be discerned any symptom +which might justify us in believing +that prices are likely, for any +length of time, to take an upward +tendency. The importations of last +year principally consisted of the yield +of an inferior Continental crop—that +of 1848. The large crop of 1849 is +preparing for us; and how is it possible +to suppose that this will be kept +back unless an augmented price is +given for it? Even the frozen state +of the Baltic ports has had no effect +in raising prices at home. On the +contrary, they are still declining. The +average of wheat in the Haddington +market of 8th February, was 34s. 1d. +The Berks correspondent of <cite>Bell’s +Weekly Messenger</cite> writes thus on the +4th:—“The corn markets are gradually +getting lower, and, taking all +the sorts of grain together, they are +now lower than they have been since +the memorable year 1822; and there +is, we are sure, less money in circulation +in the country than there has +been for many years. The occupiers +of the soil seem to be the first class +doomed to be ruined; but it must be +recollected that the farmers will not +be the only class.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>But it is of little use for us at present +to discuss a point which the experience +of a few months must necessarily +solve. Sir Charles Wood’s statement, +if intended to influence the division, +has already served its purpose. Inasmuch, +therefore, as the prospects of +importation are concerned, we need +not speculate farther.</p> + +<p class='c009'>But when Sir Charles assumes a +price of 44s. as remunerative for the +grower of wheat, he takes his position +on other ground. We shall not reiterate +our own opinions on this subject, +or those of any writer who may be +supposed to be favourable to protection. +The evidence of adversaries +may be more valuable; and the first +whom we shall cite is Sir Robert Peel. +In 1842, the late Premier indicated +his opinion that the remunerative +price ranged from 54s. to 58s., and +he never wished to see it lower than +the former sum. Sir Charles Wood, +however, courageously fixes his estimate +10s. beneath that of Sir Robert +Peel; and we doubt not that, if the fall +should still continue, we shall find +him averring hereafter that 34s. per +quarter is a price amply remunerative +to the British grower.</p> + +<p class='c009'>Our next witness is a gentleman +whose testimony must be valuable in +the eyes of political economists. We +quote from a work originally published +in 1839, entitled, <cite>Influences of the +Corn Laws</cite>, by <span class='sc'>James Wilson</span>, Esq. +now M.P. for Westbury, and Secretary +of the Board of Control. It is a +treatise on which we set so much +store, that we propose, in an early +number of Maga, to subject it to a +deliberate review, for the purpose of +pointing out the singularly felicitous +realisation of the leading prophecies +therein contained, and the intimate +knowledge displayed by the writer of +the subject with which he was dealing. +At present we shall confine ourselves +strictly to one point.</p> + +<p class='c010'>“This may therefore be called the rate +which is fixed by our own internal competition +and resources; 52s. 2d. per quarter +may be called the prime cost of wheat +to the consumer, and that sum, reduced by +the charges enumerated, may be called +the remunerating price to the landed +interest to the exact extent to which +they have been remunerated.”—p. 53.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Again:—</p> + +<p class='c010'>“As we shall afterwards show, we take +52s. 2d. to be the proper price for wheat, +at which an exactly sufficient amount +of production would be kept up, it having +been the average price for the last seven +years; we therefore take it as the standard +price at which wheat can be sold to +the consumer. It must be clear that +whatever average annual price the farmer +receives in any year above that price, he +obtains so much profit beyond the average +rate; <em>and that whatever average annual +price he receives in any year less than that +standard price, he makes so much distinct +loss</em>; and therefore the difference between +the profit derived from the higher prices +and the loss from the lower prices must +show the balance in favour or against the +home grower.”—p. 41.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Mr Wilson’s argument we leave for +the present untouched; we merely +found upon his statement that 52s. 2d. +is the proper standard price for British +wheat, and that any lower rate of +price must entail a loss on the grower. +So far, therefore, his views are utterly +irreconcilable with those of the +Chancellor of the Exchequer.</p> + +<p class='c009'>Lord John Russell, who addressed +the House last, on the Ministerial +side, was not very distinct in his admission +as to the existence of distress. +If there was any, he seemed to +think it was caused by corn speculation, +and he rang the changes on +the old topic of periods of transition +and depression. The division was in +entire accordance with the debate, +for it resulted in the rejection of the +amendment on the address, proposed +in the following terms, “But humbly +to represent to her Majesty that, in +many parts of the United Kingdom, +and especially in Ireland, the various +classes of her Majesty’s subjects connected +with the cultivation of the soil +are labouring under severe distress, +mainly attributable, in our opinion, to +recent legislative enactments, the operation +of which is aggravated by the +severe pressure of local taxation.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>That such an amendment was +called for on the part of those who +are opposed to the free-trade policy, +we think will be generally admitted. +It was but right and reasonable that +the case of the agriculturist should +be brought under the notice of parliament +at the very earliest opportunity; +not with the view of forcing +on an immediate reversal of the +national policy, but to obtain, if possible, +a distinct acknowledgment of +the position in which the most important +section of the community is +placed. That acknowledgment has +not been given. It would almost +seem as if the Free-traders, in the intoxication +of their headlong career, +already considered the great agricultural +interest as completely prostrated +as the colonies, with regard to which +no notice whatever was vouchsafed in +the royal speech. Mr Cobden is perfectly +furious that the point should be +again mooted. He considered protection +as defunct, and the ghost of it +laid in the Dead Sea; and now, when +it starts up before him, a living, +thriving, and withal a formidable +reality, he has recourse to language +unmeet for the mouth of any respectable +conjuror. Lord John Russell +can do little more than utter a feeble +and wholly inapplicable descant upon +the advantages of the station of an +English gentleman—forgetting all the +while that such a station implies the +performance of certain duties, of which +not the meanest are the advocacy of +the rights of the British labourer, and +the maintenance of the British constitution. +The amendment, as every one +anticipated, was rejected; but, notwithstanding, +it has served its purpose. +It has elicited opinions, a commentary +on which will be valuable +before the present session is over; +it has shown the agricultural interest +how little they have to expect from +the present Parliament; it has laid +the foundation for distinct propositions +regarding the equalising and proper +adjustment of taxation, which no doubt +will be brought forward <em>seriatim</em>, +and submitted to the consideration of +the Commons. If these are rejected, +as they probably will be, and if every +measure of relief is met by a direct +or a virtual negative, it will then be +time for the defenders of British interests +to lay their complaint at the foot +of the throne, and to ask for a dissolution +of the present Parliament, in +order that the constituencies of Great +Britain may have an opportunity of +recording their votes for or against +the continuance of the present policy.</p> + +<p class='c009'>We shall, of course, be told that +the point has been already settled. +What is settled? Have not our +fiscal regulations been altered year +after year; and was there not a settlement +disturbed by the repeal of the +Corn Laws, at least as deliberate as +that which is now assumed to be inviolable? +How long is it since “the +experiment,” to which we were entreated +to give a fair trial, lost its experimental +character, and became a +law, fenced against repeal as closely +as a statute of Darius? Is there a +single free-trade prophet who can +hold up his head and say that his +vaticinations have been fulfilled? Mr +M’Gregor prophesied that the nation +would become richer, at the ratio of +two millions a-week. Mr Economist +Wilson prophesied augmented prices +to the agriculturist, adding this ingenuous +commentary,—“that there is +no better evidence of a prosperous +community or country, <em>than the existence +of a high average price of provisions</em>, +when the condition of the +labourer, as is the case in this country, +is relatively better than in other +countries; and that, on the contrary, +there is no stronger evidence of a +miserable and impoverished country, +than the existence of low prices of +provisions, where the condition of the +labourer is comparatively and infinitely +worse than in other countries where +prices are higher.” Mr Cobden prophesied +thus in 1843 and 1844, not +once but many times,—“The landlords +will (with free trade) have +better rents.” “Give us a free trade, +and land will be as valuable as it is +now.” “I believe that land would be +more valuable in this country if you +had at once an entire abolition of the +Corn Laws.” We could cite similar +testimony, uttered by a host of prophets +as numerous as those of Baal, +but we think the above instances may +suffice; and it is on the faith of such +vaticinations that we are peremptorily +desired to consider the late ruinous +measures as fixed and unalterable! +The railway and the free-trade delusion +reached their highest point in +one and the self-same year. We have +seen the quacks, impostors, and +swindlers of the one system, scouted +by the unanimous voice of public reprobation +already; the leading partisans +of the other cannot long hope to +escape the infliction of a similar +doom.</p> + +<p class='c009'>It has been said, in various quarters, +that we have taken too gloomy +a view of the future agricultural prospects +of Great Britain. It may be +so; but, at all events, we are borne +out, and even exceeded, by Mr +Villiers. If any man has doubts +as to the depression of the agricultural +interest, let him peruse carefully the +following statement of the mover of +the address:—</p> + +<p class='c010'>“He (Mr Villiers) had made a calculation +of the saving effected by the people +of this country, in consequence of the +present reduced price of food. He found +that the average price of wheat in 1847 +was 69s. 5d.; on the 29th of December +1849, it was 39s. 4d.; the average price +of barley in 1847 was 43s., and, in 1849, +25s.; of oats, in 1847, 28s., and in 1849, +15s.; and there had been a corresponding +reduction in beans and peas. The usual +calculation was, that our population of +30,000,000 consumed one quarter of corn +to each person annually; but, taking a +low estimate of consumption, and calculating +that the population annually consumed +20,000,000 quarters of each of these descriptions +of grain, he found that the saving +effected by the difference of prices +between 1847 and 1849, amounted to +£61,000,000. He had also estimated, on +the same moderate scale, the saving +effected by the difference in the prices of +meat, butter, cheese, potatoes, and other +articles, in 1847 and 1849, and he found +that it amounted to £30,000,000 more; +so that there had been a total saving in +the expenditure of the people upon food +of £91,000,000 between 1847 and 1849. +This was the result of free trade <em>in the +very first year of its operation</em>. And when +so large an amount was saved for expenditure +on other articles than food, he +thought it was no matter of astonishment +that the general condition of the people +had improved, and that the country was +in a flourishing condition.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>We shall not investigate the accuracy +of this calculation, nor shall we +discuss the soundness of the conclusions. +It is enough for us that Mr +Villiers holds it to be matter of congratulation +that, in one year, “the +very first year of the operation of +free trade,” agricultural produce has +been depreciated to the amount of +£91,000,000. This is worth a little +consideration. Messrs Cobden, Bright, +& Co., have taken much pains of +late to impress upon the farmers that +the present struggle is “a mere landlord’s +question;” that the tenantry +have nothing earthly to do with it; +and that their sole object ought to be +a speedy lowering of the rents. Our +statistics, published in the Magazine, +although certified by a large body of +the leading agriculturists in nearly +every district of Scotland, have +been designated as “cooked,” by +Cockneys who never saw a blade of +wheat grow except on a Sunday +excursion to Thames Ditton, and by +pseudo-political economists, who, when +detected in deliberate falsification, +have not even the grace to tender a +lame apology. The gravity of an insult +depends upon the respectability +of those who utter it. Foul language +from the mouth of a cabman does +not excite any rancorous feeling in +the bosom of the man who is favoured +with the abuse of Jehu; and, therefore, +our correspondents, in number +more than thirty—gentlemen of the +highest respectability and character +in Scotland—need not be disturbed +by any imputations emanating from +the quarters which we are reluctantly +compelled to notice. But, since our +opponents affect to disbelieve the accuracy +of our views and calculations, let +them deal with those of Mr Villiers. +He puts down the amount of saving +in food at £91,000,000, for a single +year. The net rental of Great Britain +and Ireland is £58,753,615:<a id='r9'></a><a href='#f9' class='c015'><sup>[9]</sup></a> and it +therefore follows, that <em>supposing no +rent whatever to have been paid</em>, the +tenantry must have suffered loss +or diminution of profits to the +extent of £22,246,385! These are +the free-trade calculations—not ours. +We do not wonder that the <cite>Times</cite> did +not lose a day in casting discredit +upon a statement which, though +cheered on the Ministerial side of the +house, was, in reality, a more damnatory +exposition of free trade than the +most ingenious Protectionist could +have devised. For our part, we shall +not venture to say whether Mr Villiers +was right or wrong. A calculation, +of this extended nature, might +tax the powers of the ablest actuary; +but, if it be correct, surely we stand +acquitted of all exaggeration; and, +what is of far greater importance, no +one can henceforth venture to assert +that this is a mere “landlord’s question;” +since, if all rent were abandoned, +the loss to the tenantry, in a +single year, would be twenty-two and +a quarter millions!</p> + +<p class='c009'>But let us pass in the meantime +from the agricultural case, and see +what real ground exists for the self-gratulations +of ministers on the general +prosperous state of the country at +the opening of the present session. +We quote the paragraph from the +royal speech:—“Her Majesty has +great satisfaction in congratulating you +on the improved condition of commerce +and manufactures.” We shall consider +the two interests separately.</p> + +<p class='c009'>First, as to commerce, and its main +branch, the shipping and shipbuilding +interest. The repeal of +the Navigation Laws having been +effected in the course of last year, it +might be premature to form a decided +judgment on the working of the new +system. Most certainly we have not +done so; and we think it would have +been only decent had her Majesty’s +Ministers exercised a similar discretion. +But in order to make out a case +of prosperity, the commerce of the +country could not be overlooked; and +facts, (when they <em>are</em> facts,) however +slight, are too valuable to be dispensed +with on such an occasion as this. Accordingly, +we are told that the shipping +interest never was in a state of +greater activity and prosperity than +now. Mr Villiers opened thus:—</p> + +<p class='c010'>“It was rather early, perhaps, to express +any opinions of what would be the +general results of that great change; but +there was reason to believe that all the +anticipations of its advocates would be +infinitely more than realised, and that all +the fearful predictions of its opponents +would be falsified. <em>The interest most +affected by these changes had not been for +some years in such a state of activity as it +presented at this moment.</em> In the Thames +and Tyne, in the Wear and Clyde, the +business of the shipbuilder or shipowner +exhibited a more cheering aspect. <em>From +all our dockyards the reports were equally +satisfactory</em>; and many of the gentlemen +who had been most prominent in foretelling +ruin and destruction from the change, +admitted the advantages they were deriving +from it.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>The Chancellor of the Exchequer +entirely acquiesced in this statement:</p> + +<p class='c010'>“At the present moment no one could +find fault with the change which had +taken place in the Navigation Laws, if he +took the trouble to look at the state of +the great shipbuilding ports of this commercial +country. He might mention one +port, which, above all others, should be +regarded as indicating the condition of +the shipbuilding interest throughout the +seaports of England, namely, Sunderland; +but he might also mention Liverpool and +the Scotch ports, where the shipbuilding +in the year 1849 went on with more rapidity +than in any former period; and not +only was the quantity of shipping built +at these places greater than in any former +year, but a better class of vessels was +built, vessels calculated and fitted for the +long voyage.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Mr Labouchere, the President of the +Board of Trade, was even stronger in +his averments:</p> + +<p class='c010'>“He confidently appealed to every +member of that house who had considered +the subject, and, above all, to the representatives +of the great shipping ports of +this country, whether it was true to say +that the industry of the dockyards had +been paralysed by the measure of last +session. On the contrary—and this was +a subject on which he naturally felt the +greatest interest, and which he had looked +into with the utmost care—he had never +made an assertion in that house with +greater confidence, <em>and he challenged contradiction +on the part of any mercantile +man or gentleman interested in shipping</em>, +than when he stated his belief that the +industry of shipbuilding, that the confidence +of the mercantile public in shipowning, +that the whole business of the +country connected with shipbuilding and +shipowning, were in a state most satisfactory +and most encouraging to those who +did not believe that they were paralysing +that important branch of industry by the +measures of last session. He believed the +fact to be that there were at least as +many ships building at this moment as at +any period within the last twenty years in +this country.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>In the face of such unqualified averments +and challenges, on a point necessarily +statistical, and in opposition +to the President of the Board of Trade, +who, from his official position, was the +man of all others most likely to be +furnished with full and accurate information, +it would have been rash in any +individual member to have hazarded +a flat contradiction. But a question +of such vital importance as this is sure +to be thoroughly investigated; and we +are indebted to that excellent paper, +the <cite>Shipping and Mercantile Gazette</cite>, +for an elaborate and complete refutation +of the whole case so ostentatiously +paraded by Government. Our contemporary, +we are sure, will not quarrel +with us if we transfer into our +columns a good deal of the valuable information +obtained by so much industry +and perseverance, for which the thanks +of the whole community are justly due.</p> + +<p class='c010'>“We are prepared,” says the editor of +the <cite>Shipping and Mercantile Gazette</cite>, in +his leading article of the 31st January, +“to prove that the depression in our shipping—in +building as well as in freights—has +not been so great for years as it is at +the present time; in short, that it is <em>depression</em>, +and not improvement, which is <span class='fss'>UNIVERSAL</span>, +with scarcely ‘the exception of a +few ports.’</p> + +<p class='c011'>“With regard to shipbuilding, it is +necessary to bear in mind that shipbuilders +cannot stop their business all at once; +they have yards on lease—materials on +hand—and apprentices to maintain; +therefore they must be doing a little at +almost any risk.</p> + +<p class='c011'>“With a view to obtain correct information +upon the subject, we have procured +authenticated returns from accredited +correspondents at all the ports, +which we shall proceed to lay before our +readers; merely premising that, as the +foreign and colonial trade diminishes in +profit, it drives ships into the coasting +trade, which, as it will be seen, is suffering +severely from the depreciating effects.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>The following are a few of the returns, +inserted alphabetically:—</p> + +<div class='lg-container-r c018'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“<span class='sc'>Aberdeen</span>, <em>Feb. 2, 1850</em>.</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>“It is vain to try to conceal the very +depressed state of the shipping interest +at this port at present, everything around +us having a dreary and most discouraging +aspect. Our docks are full of vessels +of every class and size, and nothing for +them to do. Freights offering (and they +are very few indeed) are not, by any +means, at remunerative rates: 30s. to 33s. +per load timber from Quebec, or 67s. 6d. +per ton guano from Peru, will never pay +the shipowner, while he pays the present +rate of wages, and gives the usual rations +to his seamen. If freights are to be kept +down by foreign competition, the British +sailor must be brought down to the level +of the foreigner; but such a state of things, +we hope, will still, by some means or +other, be averted.</p> + +<p class='c011'>“Notwithstanding the justly high character +our shipbuilders here have attained +in the construction of their ships, and the +great perfection they have come to in the +construction of vessels with the clipper-bow, +and which are now making such +unparalleled rapid voyages, we believe +they have few, if any, orders on hand; +and in the absence of such have been +building on speculation, and have at this +moment a few vessels on the stocks for +sale, superb specimens of naval architecture, +and no immediate prospect of purchasers. +One of our local papers was +holding out to us the other day that we +need not fear foreign competition, having +vessels of such great sailing and carrying +qualities. This would be all very well, +if guaranteed to this country alone; but +it will soon be found that foreigners will +get improved vessels as well as we, and, +most probably, get our carpenters to go +from this country to build them.</p> + +<p class='c011'>“The number of seamen at this port is +about 2330, of which at present there are +about 280 unemployed. Vessels laid up, +45—a greater number than was ever +known in any previous year.”</p> + +<div class='lg-container-r c018'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“<span class='sc'>Boston</span>, <em>Jan. 26, 1850</em>.</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>“Our harbour-master here, who has +been upwards of forty years master of +vessels out of this port, states that <span class='fss'>HE +NEVER KNEW THE SHIPPING INTEREST AT +SO LOW AN EBB AS AT THE PRESENT TIME</span>; +and he firmly believes the future prospects +are very discouraging. The majority of +our vessels are <em>now</em> worked by the masters +at <em>thirds</em>, and many of them have lost +money during the past year—that is, have +not made the former wages of £5 per +month; in fact, many of them have not +made mate’s wages—viz., £3, 5s. per +month, who have not reduced their pay +more than 5s. per month, and ordinary +seamen at the same rate.”</p> + +<div class='lg-container-r c018'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“<span class='sc'>Caernarvon</span>, <em>Jan. 29, 1850</em>.</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>“Ours is nearly altogether a coasting +trade, engaged principally in the export +of slates, which averages about 91,000 +tons per annum. During the year 1849 +the export declined to 79,000 tons, and at +present there are no prospects of its revival. +The shipping belonging to the +port is in a <em>most depressed</em> condition; +freights are very difficult to be had; and +when they are offered, the rate is ruinously +low—say 9s. per ton to London, 4s. and +5s. to Liverpool, and so on in proportion. +Masters of our coasters are remunerated +out of the profits of the vessels they command; +and so small have been their earnings +of late, that some are giving up <em>the +command</em>, and shipping as <em>able seamen</em>, +inasmuch as they earn better wages in +the latter capacity! Shipbuilding is +almost at an end here; no one will invest +capital in coasting vessels now, so depressed +are freights, and so clouded is +the future.”</p> + +<div class='lg-container-r c018'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“<span class='sc'>Cork</span>, <em>Jan. 29, 1850</em>.</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>“I subjoin a statement of freights, &c., +at this port:—</p> + +<table class='table1'> + <tr> + <th class='c020'></th> + <th class='c020'> </th> + <th class='c021'> </th> + <th class='c020'> </th> + <th class='c022'>Per load timber.</th> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c020'>Freights,</td> + <td class='c020'> </td> + <td class='c021'>Quebec,</td> + <td class='c020'>1847</td> + <td class='c004'>40s.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c020'>„</td> + <td class='c020'> </td> + <td class='c020'>„</td> + <td class='c020'>1848</td> + <td class='c004'>32s.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c020'>„</td> + <td class='c020'> </td> + <td class='c020'>„</td> + <td class='c020'>1849</td> + <td class='c004'>30s.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c020'> </td> + <td class='c020'> </td> + <td class='c021'> </td> + <td class='c020'> </td> + <td class='c022'>per ton.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c020'>„</td> + <td class='c020'>W. C.</td> + <td class='c021'>So. America</td> + <td class='c020'>1848</td> + <td class='c004'>£4 5 0</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c020'>„</td> + <td class='c020'>„</td> + <td class='c021'>beginning of</td> + <td class='c020'>1849</td> + <td class='c004'>3 17 6</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c020'>„</td> + <td class='c020'>„</td> + <td class='c021'>end of</td> + <td class='c020'>1849</td> + <td class='c004'>3 7 6</td> + </tr> +</table> + +<p class='c007'>“The other freights are in the same +proportion.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“The wages of shipmasters have been +reduced <em>one-third</em>. A few years back we +generally had six or eight vessels on the +stocks at this port, <span class='fss'>AT PRESENT ONLY ONE</span>, +and that is an iron screw-steamer, building +for the Cork Steam-ship Company. +The great majority of the vessels now +belonging to this port are colonial built.</p> + +<p class='c009'>“Shipmasters have been obliged to accept +of reduced wages in order to obtain +employment to enable them to support +their families. Several of them who were +fortunate in having a little money saved, +have commenced <em>tailoring</em>, rope-making, +acting as coasting pilots, &c. &c.”</p> + +<div class='lg-container-r c018'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“<span class='sc'>Drogheda</span>, <em>Feb. 1, 1850</em>.</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>“There are no ships building here, although +we have a good dockyard; nor are +there any repairing, although we have an +excellent patent slip: there are four or +five ships laying up, which the owners +will not repair. They would willingly +sell, but no person can be got to purchase: +in fact, were it not for the purpose of +giving employment to the masters and +crews, I do think that our vessels would +be laid up, for they are not earning one +shilling for their owners. It is also my +firm belief that, in seven years, one half +of our ships will drop away, and what +was once a nursery for our navy, will not +be so, for in a little time the coasting +trade will almost cease to exist, as we +have to contend with railways, steamboats, +and foreigners driven into our trade +by the late change in the law.</p> + +<p class='c011'>“As regards our sailors, they are to be +seen every day walking about our quays, +anxious to procure employment, but, from +the complete annihilation of our trade, +they are unable to procure any; consequently +they and their families are in a +most wretched condition.”</p> + +<div class='lg-container-r c018'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“<span class='sc'>Liverpool</span>, <em>Jan. 29, 1850</em>.</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>“The shipping trade is exceedingly +depressed here, and freights are wholly +unremunerative. A Manchester house +has just chartered an American ship from +Calcutta, at £2, 15s. 6d.</p> + +<p class='c011'>“<span class='sc'>Freights are at least 15 per cent +lower, on the average, than they were +last year.</span>”</p> + +<div class='lg-container-r c018'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“<span class='sc'>Maryport</span>, <em>Jan. 29, 1850</em>.</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>“Cumberland has long been famed for +its celebrity in shipbuilding, its vessels +being known to, and appreciated by, the +merchants in every region of the globe; +but I am sorry to observe that, at the +present moment, owing to the unwise +repeal of the Navigation Laws, <span class='sc'>the several +shipbuilders at Maryport, Workington, +and Whitehaven are without +any contracts</span>—a circumstance strangely +at variance with the account which lately +appeared in some of the Free-trade journals +at Manchester. It was then stated +that several eminent merchants of that +locality were desirous of building a large +amount of tonnage in England; but, owing +to the several builders being so full of +contracts, they were necessarily obliged +to go abroad to build their vessels. It +would, however, seem that these gentlemen +had entirely forgotten the geographical +position of Cumberland, or else we +must suppose that they would have +deemed it their interest to have made +contracts there; unless, indeed, they +found, as I strongly suspect they did, +that the Continental builder could build +cheaper.”</p> + +<div class='lg-container-r c018'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“<span class='sc'>Plymouth</span>, <em>Feb. 2, 1850</em>.</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>“The shipping interest of this port is +in a very depressed state, many vessels +being laid up; and, consequently, their +crews are out of employment, and our +quays quite deserted by shipping. The +vessels in actual service are principally +employed in the coal trade, and by the +owners only, at very reduced freights—at +from 5s. to 5s. 6d. from Wales, and +from 6s. to 6s. 6d. from the north; others +sailing out of other ports at anything but +remunerating freights. There are nine +shipwrights’ yards in this port, in one of +which only one vessel is building for a +shipowner; and one sold from another. +Two vessels have been for sale for many +months past. In each of the others, +vessels, varying from 100 to 300 tons, are +being built on speculation, but progress +very slowly. From a want of that enterprising +spirit evinced in times past, there +are not half the shipwrights kept in the +yards now, and a reduction has already +taken place in the wages. Many masters +and sailors are also walking the quays +unemployed; but we are told, by those +who use the old adage of the pinching +shoe, that a man may get as much for +10d. now as he could have got for double +that sum some time since. Where is the +use of things being <em>so very cheap</em>, when +the poor man is deprived of the means +of employment? Our exports are very +trifling: manganese at about 6s. to 10s. +to Liverpool and Scotland; lead and +copper ores 3s. to 7s. per ton! Our imports—principally +timber from Quebec, +hemp, tar, fruit, &c. The former was +30s. to 32s. per load last year; what it +will be this it is impossible to tell, now +the foreigner goes into the trade. Six of +our vessels (Quebec ships) are gone to +Sierra Leone, thereby leaving the trade +open to the foreigner. The average +wages are from 30s. to 40s. for seamen in +the coasting trade, 40s. foreign; £4 to £8 +for masters, £2, 10s. to £3 mates, at per +month, which are much lower.”</p> + +<div class='lg-container-r c018'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“<span class='sc'>Runcorn</span>, <em>Feb. 1, 1850</em>.</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>“The number of vessels belonging to +the port of Runcorn is about 70, of the +total burthen of about 6500 tons, most of +them engaged in the coasting trade. +Freights to and from this port are very +scarce, and when any are offered they are +at a miserably low rate. We should say +that freights are, at the least, 25 per cent +less than they were in the years 1845, +1846, and 1847. Nearly all the vessels +belonging to this port are sailed by the +shares—that is, the master takes one half +the freight after all port charges are deducted +from it, and he has to pay out of +his share seamen’s wages, and also to find +victuals; the owner has the remaining +half, out of which he has to pay all expenses +for wear and tear. But the present +rates of freight are so very low that the +masters cannot keep out of debt, let alone +earn anything for themselves, and the +owner’s share is not sufficient to keep the +vessel in efficient working order. <span class='sc'>The +shipbuilding trade here is in a manner +deserted</span>: there are only two vessels on +the stocks; one has been partially finished +for the last twelve months, and the other +for the last six months. There is not the +slightest inducement for persons to lay +out their capital in shipping, there being +no certainty of the smallest return.”</p> + +<div class='lg-container-r c018'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“<span class='sc'>Sunderland</span>, <em>Feb. 1, 1850</em>.</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>“Various statements having lately +been published relative to the state of +shipbuilding at this port, it is desirable +that those interested in knowing how far +the statements alluded to are correct, +should be made acquainted with the real +facts. It is true that at the close of last +year there were about 92 ships on the +stocks at this port; since that time +several of them have been launched: +many of them were larger than the +average of ships built here, and about +two-thirds of them were sold from the +builders. Be it, however, understood that +of the two-thirds sold, say 60 out of 92, +upwards of 30 were purchased by outfitters, +or ship-jobbers, who purchase the +hulls of ships in order to have the outfit; +<em>they are therefore still in the market</em>. +Many of the shipbuilders, and also outfitters, +had great stocks of timber and +other materials on hand twelve months +ago, previous to the ships in question +being put on the stocks. It was then the +opinion of the shipbuilders that the project +to repeal the Navigation Laws, and grant +foreign-built ships British registers, would +not be carried, from the general manifestation +of feeling against that measure +evinced by practical men generally, who +best understood the subject. Shipbuilders’ +stocks were therefore kept up, and in +many instances increased, and remunerating +prices for ships were maintained. +Since the act was passed which repealed +the Navigation Laws, prices have been +gradually on the decline. Within the +last two years the average price for a +ship, A 1 eight years classed, was from +£10, 10s. to £11 per ton; now the price +for a ship of that character, is from £8, +10s. to £9 per ton. The most respectable +shipbuilders of this port freely declare +that their trade appears fast hastening to +the destructive state of agriculture; and +that, if the present line of policy is pursued, +all who are engaged in their trade +must be great sufferers.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Letters to the same effect are +given by the editor of <em>The Shipping +Gazette</em>, from correspondents at Aldborough, +Bude, Dundalk, Kinsale, +Maldon, Padstow, Pwllheli, Strangford, +Torquay, Westport, and Woodbridge; +so that from the ports all +round the British Islands, the cry of +distress, caused by the crushing effect +of free trade upon the body of British +industry, is arising. And this is what +our Whig rulers call unexampled prosperity!</p> + +<p class='c009'>From the leading Plymouth journal +of 31st Jan. we extract the following +letter, which we would venture to +recommend to the earnest attention +of Mr Labouchere. It contains some +statements of a very different complexion +from those which appear to +have passed through the hands of the +officials of the Board of Trade.</p> + +<div class='nf-center-c0'> + <div class='nf-center'> + <div>“<em>To the Editor of the West of England Conservative.</em></div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c010'>“<span class='sc'>Sir</span>,—My attention having been called +to a paragraph in your journal, which +states that the shipwrights in one of the +principal firms in Plymouth had struck +for wages, I have to inform you that the +firm is mine.</p> + +<p class='c011'>For several years past I have paid +my men 18s. per week on new work, +and 21s. per week on old work; and they +never lost any time, but by their own +fault.</p> + +<p class='c011'>For some time past I have had complaints +from many shipowners, that, as +their returns were greatly reduced by +freights constantly lowering, we, the +shipbuilders, must reduce our charges, or +they would be compelled to take their +ships to other ports. Added to this, a +friend of mine, Captain Shapcott, for +whom I built a ship two years since, and +with which he was so much pleased that +he wished me to give him a price for +another, of about 230 tons burthen. I +accordingly did so; she was to be a +first-class vessel, and entitled to class A +1 twelve years, at Lloyd’s. My proposals +were sent to a merchant in London, +whom Captain Shapcott wished should +be the principal owner. This gentleman +(Mr Brooking) replied, that as everything +was coming down, wages, and +materials for shipbuilding, must come +down also; and that, unless I would +engage to build for £10 per ton, and find +a very large number of articles more +than I had for the former vessel, he +would not contract at all. He also said, +that he had been in treaty for a ship to +be built for him in Prussia, which he +found he could do for £3 per ton cheaper +than he could have one in England. I +was obliged to decline engaging to build +on such terms, as would have occasioned +me a loss of some hundreds of pounds.</p> + +<p class='c011'>On Friday, the 18th January, on paying +my men, I gave them a memorandum, +stating these particulars, and that I +imagined they must have been expecting, +for some time, that wages would be reduced, +not only from what they must +know themselves, but also from the great +reduction in the price of provisions and +clothing. I, at the same time, offered +them 17s. per week on new work, and +19s. per week on old work, telling them +that, as their labour was their own property, +if they could do better, I should +have no objection whatever. They all, +29 in number, refused to work; and, I +believe, the greater part of them have +not been employed since, as I have seen +them walking the streets.</p> + +<p class='c011'>Not pretending to be a politician, I can +only give my own opinion of the acts of +the Legislature; and, from the first, I +believed that the abrogation of the Navigation +Laws must have the effect of depriving +thousands of Englishmen of employment.</p> + +<p class='c011'>Put this case to myself. I have employed +more than 100 persons in building +and fitting ships; every other class, such +as rope-makers, sail-makers, block-makers, +boat-builders, coopers, painters, +glaziers, chain and anchor makers, provision +merchants, and others engaged in +putting a ship to sea, have all employ +here. A merchant goes abroad and +builds (which he will do) at, it may be, a +less price, and see the consequence—the +foreigner is employed, and our artisans +must be idle; it is the natural result. +As to the bugbear of Free trade, it will +ruin England,—can I compete with a +foreigner? He has his timber, his labour, +and materials for fitting out his ship infinitely +cheaper than I have; he is not +oppressed by heavy Government and local +taxation; and when his ship comes to +England, she has all the privileges of a +ship of the first class, which it is in my +power to build; and further, by the manner +in which Lloyd’s class ships, she will +fully stand A 1 with mine.</p> + +<p class='c011'>I contend that it is the duty of Government +so to legislate that their artisans +should have employment, and any act +which deprives them of it, must be detrimental +to the nation. That is my firm +belief. I must apologise for occupying +your columns, but, as you first mentioned +the circumstance of my workmen, I thought +it right to state the reasons. I am, sir, +yours,</p> + +<div class='lg-container-r c019'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'><span class='sc'>Wm. Moore</span>, Shipbuilder.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>There is more than this. Messrs. +Lindsay & Co. have published a table +of freights for the last four years, +which exhibits an average decline +ranging from thirty-five to fifty per +cent. The following are a few notable +instances:—</p> + +<table class='table1'> + <tr> + <th class='c003'></th> + <th class='c023'>s. d.</th> + <th class='c004'>s. d.</th> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'>Singapore,</td> + <td class='c023'>from 105 0</td> + <td class='c004'>to 60 0</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'>Calcutta,</td> + <td class='c023'>117 6</td> + <td class='c004'>77 6</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'>Hong Kong,</td> + <td class='c023'>105 0</td> + <td class='c004'>55 0</td> + </tr> + <tr><td class='c024' colspan='3'>(last quotation from there)</td></tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'>Bombay,</td> + <td class='c023'>95 0</td> + <td class='c004'>60 0</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'>Ceylon,</td> + <td class='c023'>95 0</td> + <td class='c004'>70 0</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'>Mauritius,</td> + <td class='c023'>84 0</td> + <td class='c004'>60 0</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'>Callao,</td> + <td class='c023'>95 0</td> + <td class='c004'>63 0</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'>Havannah,</td> + <td class='c023'>85 0</td> + <td class='c004'>47 6</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'>Odessa,</td> + <td class='c023'>95 0</td> + <td class='c004'>42 6</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'>Alexandria,</td> + <td class='c023'>12 0</td> + <td class='c004'>5 6</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'>Cronstadt,</td> + <td class='c023'>32 6</td> + <td class='c004'>19 0</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'>Quebec,</td> + <td class='c023'>47 6</td> + <td class='c004'>32 0</td> + </tr> +</table> + +<p class='c009'>This decline of freights deeply concerns +the agriculturist, since it unsettles +even those loose and incorrect +calculations, which were brought forward +by the Free-traders for the purpose +of proving that high freights must +necessarily act as a powerful check to +the importation of foreign corn, in the +event of the abolition of the duties.</p> + +<p class='c009'>The challenge so confidently made +has been accepted in another quarter. +At the great Wiltshire meeting held +at Swindon on the 6th February, Mr +George Frederick Young spoke as +follows:—</p> + +<p class='c010'>“Another point which has been taken +as a kind of <em>cheval de bataille</em>—a sort of +hobby-horse which the Ministers were determined +to ride—I am somewhat familiarly +acquainted with; I allude to the +shipping interest. As they have brought +that interest so prominently before parliament, +I may, perhaps, be allowed to correct +their statements when they are at +fault. What were we told about the +shipping interest in the House of Lords? +I thought that they might have managed +to get up returns, to answer the purpose +of the occasion, of a somewhat specious +character, extending over a large surface, +before they asked the house to come to a +conclusion. But what did they do? They +said that the shipbuilding interest is in a +most prosperous state; and that it is prosperous, +they deduced from the fact that +there were 90 ships building in the port +of Sunderland on the 31st of December +last. It is the truth that that was the +case at that time, but it is not the whole +truth; and the whole truth is, that though +there were 90 ships building in that great +shipbuilding port, 24 of them only were +sold, whilst 66 were standing, 31 of them +being ready to launch, but could not get +purchasers. I find also, that out of 251 ships +which were building at the several shipbuilding +ports at that date, there were but +66 sold, making nearly 200 out of the 250 +that could not obtain purchasers, (hear, +hear.) Is that fair? (cries of ‘no,’ and +cheers.) Is that the way in which a great +public question is to be supported by the +Ministers of the Crown? Yet these gentlemen +have not thought it to be beneath +them to stoop to such paltry prevarication +for the purpose of misleading the parliament, +(great cheering.) But I will +give you yet another instance, which is +even more pregnant still. In the course +of the debate on the Address in the House +of Commons, Mr Labouchere made use of +these words in reference to the shipping +interest:—‘This was a subject in which +he naturally felt the greatest interest, and +which he had looked into with the utmost +care. He had never made an assertion +in that house with greater confidence, +and he challenged contradiction’—most +unusual on the part of a Minister of the +Crown—‘on the part of any mercantile +man, or gentleman interested in shipping, +when he stated his belief that the industry +of shipbuilding—that the confidence of +the mercantile public in shipowning—that +the whole business of the country connected +with shipbuilding and shipowning, was in a +state the most satisfactory and encouraging +to those who did not believe that they +were paralysing that important branch of +industry by the measures of last session.’ +I will not affect to conceal the part which +I took upon reading these words. I +viewed the statement with indignation. +I knew that it was not a fact; and on +Saturday morning, the instant I had seen +it in the paper, I drew up this declaration, +which was advertised in all the daily +journals of London on Monday morning:—</p> + +<p class='c011'>“‘We the undersigned shipowners +and others connected with the building +and equipment of ships in the port of +London, having observed with much surprise +that in the debate on the Address +in the House of Commons on the 1st inst., +the right hon. the President of the Board +of Trade confidently stated, and ‘challenged +contradiction on the part of any gentleman +interested in shipping, that the whole +business of the country connected with +shipbuilding and shipowning was in a +state the most satisfactory and encouraging,’ +consider it a duty to declare our +conviction that the statement of the right +honourable gentleman must have proceeded +from misinformation, and is entirely +erroneous. We declare that the +shipping interest is, on the contrary, at +this moment in a state of great depression, +no employment being obtained for +British ships offering any reasonable prospect +of remuneration for the capital +embarked and the expenses to be incurred; +that the accounts from all the +great shipping ports of the world announce +a superabundance of tonnage and +extremely low rates of freight, rendering +the prospect for the present year most +discouraging, and that the various trades +connected with shipping consequently and +necessarily participate in the general depression; +and we make this declaration +without any party or political motive, and +entirely without reference to the causes +that have produced the depression we +describe, in the desire alone that the legislature +and the public should be truly informed +as to the real facts of this important +question, which appear to be misunderstood +by her Majesty’s Government.’</p> + +<p class='c011'>“I will tell you the result. That declaration +was advertised to lie at the +London Tavern on Monday, Tuesday, and +to-day; and upon the very first day it +received the signatures of several hundreds +of the most eminent men connected +with this branch of our national industry, +and from among whom I will undertake +to say I can pick out twelve names of +men who are owners of not less than +100,000 tons of British shipping (cheers.) +That the President of the Board of Trade +should venture to make such a statement, +and challenge contradiction from any one, +is, I think, most extraordinary. Is it +not calculated to produce this effect—that +statements made by the Ministers of +the Crown, with whatever confidence, +will be received with a little doubt and +distrust, and that though they come even +from so upright and honourable a man as +Mr Labouchere, it will be necessary to +substantiate them by something better +than mere assertions of belief?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>We are sorry that Mr Labouchere +should have committed himself so far. +His personal character is beyond suspicion; +and we do nothing more than +express the universal feeling of his +political opponents when we say, that +no one will prefer against him the +charge of having made a wilful misrepresentation +of this nature. But it +is the curse of men high in office, +that they are surrounded by subordinates, +whose share of honourable +scruple is of the most convenient +elasticity, and who sometimes have a +substantial interest in the verification +of their hazarded opinions. +To this kind of influence Mr Labouchere +is peculiarly subjected. The +returns on which he founded, with +so rash a confidence, had evidently +passed through the hands of some +veteran statist and figure-monger, and +been adapted to suit an immediate +purpose, rather than to conform to the +actual truth. On no other hypothesis +can we account for so strange +a perversion of fact; for we believe +that, after the evidence cited above, +no man, whatever may be his political +opinions, will hold that the commerce +of the nation is not materially +depressed, instead of being, as Ministers +represented it, flourishing beyond +all precedent.</p> + +<p class='c009'>We next come to the manufacturing +interest, which assuredly ought to be +in a most prosperous condition. In +the course of the bygone year, tranquillity +was restored on the Continent, +and the interrupted markets were +opened with every prospect of a fair +demand. Notwithstanding the fall +of prices, it might have been supposed +that agricultural depression had hardly +time to react upon the home market; +and food was cheaper than +perhaps it has been in Britain within +the memory of man. Yet, with all +these advantages, it is by no means +certain that our manufactures are in +a sound condition. The official tables +indeed exhibit a large increase of exports, +but these tables are quite useless +as exponents of actual value. No +later than last session, Sir Robert +Peel gave a decided testimony on this +point.</p> + +<p class='c010'>“Let me observe,” said he, “that nothing +can be more unsafe than any inference +drawn from the returns which give the +declared value of manufactures imported. +Owing to the manner in which the accounts +of imports and exports are prepared, +arguments drawn from that source +must be exceedingly fallacious.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>The <cite>Liverpool Standard</cite>, applying +itself to the statistics of the cotton +trade, has done good service in exposing +the nature of the export returns. +According to the official statement, +there would appear to be an increase +of nearly £4,210,000 in the exports +of cotton manufactures and yarn; but +the <cite>Standard</cite>, going to the fountainhead, +has shown that the increase +in the entire quantity of cotton <em>spun</em> +in Great Britain in 1849, was +only a little over one-twelfth of +the previous year’s consumption. The +conclusions of our contemporary are +very forcible:—</p> + +<p class='c010'>“<em>We place no confidence whatever now +in these customs reports. Since the abolition +of the half per cent duty on exports</em>, +there is nothing in the world to prevent +goods being entered at any prices the +shipper pleases. A bale of cotton and +other goods may be valued at £5 or £500, +without incurring a farthing of increased +charges at our ports; and, without imputing +to any party the wish to do a +moral wrong, and to make out a favourable +case in behalf of a particular policy, +it is enough to throw discredit upon returns, +thus left unprotected against error, +to know that extensive malversation can +be carried on.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>When we turn for information to +the manufacturing districts, we find +some mills working on short time, +and less employment generally diffused +than might be expected in an +average year. We hear of nothing but +the most gloomy anticipations, contrasting +very strangely, indeed, with +the triumphant language of Ministers. +The depression is not confined to the +remoter towns; it exists in Manchester +itself, as will be seen from the following +statement—the last which has +reached us—from the great manufacturing +capital:—</p> + +<div class='nf-center-c0'> + <div class='nf-center'> + <div>(From the <cite>Manchester Guardian</cite>.)</div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c010'>“<span class='sc'>Manchester</span>, Tuesday, Feb. 12.—We +have had a spiritless and rather +drooping market. The merchants have +shown a growing indisposition for business; +looking upon prices as, for the +most part, too high to warrant further +exports in the present state of supplies +in foreign markets. The letters received +this morning from Germany give quotations +of prices which afford no encouragement +for the immediate resumption of +operations. There has been some inquiry +from the Greeks, but with little result. +As to the home dealers, seldom have they +been so little seen in the warehouses of +the manufacturers. There is evidently a +diminished confidence among all classes +of buyers as to the maintenance of prices; +and a determination to proceed cautiously, +buying only for the supply of the most +pressing wants, is become general. The +business of the day has, consequently, +fallen in amount below that of any Tuesday +for some time back. Under these +circumstances, those spinners and manufacturers +whose contracts are drawing to +a close have shown a willingness to make +some concession in price rather than suffer +an offer to pass by them. Water twist +may be quoted ⅛d. to ¼d. lower; and in +mule yarn the buyer has some advantage +in price, except as to fine counts, from +No. 60’s upwards. In printing cloths, +there is a giving way of about 1½d. per +piece, and 3d. in shirting. There is a +difference in point of firmness, however, +among spinners and manufacturers, and +a corresponding irregularity is observable +in the quotations. The spinners of water +twist, and the manufacturers of domestics, +T’s, and some other stout cloths, are so +much discouraged by the little prospect +there is of an improvement in the unfavourable +trade they have so long experienced, +that many of them are seriously +intending to diminish their production. +One or two establishments in Manchester +have either stopped altogether or resorted +to short time, and an attempt is being +made to induce a general adoption of the +latter measure in these branches of manufacture. +At Rochdale two or three mills +have taken one or other of the above +courses; and we have before us the +names of seven firms at Heywood who +have limited the hours of work in their +mills.</p> + +<p class='c011'>“<span class='sc'>State of Trade.</span>—<span class='sc'>Manchester</span>, +Thursday.—We have no improvement +since Tuesday. The demand, whether +for cloth or yarn, is not equal to the production, +and prices, consequently, tend +still in favour of the buyer. Indeed, no +considerable sales could be effected without +material concessions in price.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Reading such an account as this, we +feel perplexed as to the meaning which +the Ministry attach to their favourite +term prosperity. We are almost +tempted to suppose that they consider +want of employment the greatest possible +blessing which can befall the +labouring man.</p> + +<p class='c009'>This account, it will be observed, is +dated posterior to the opening of Parliament. +We may therefore be told +that the depression had no existence +at the time when the royal speech +was framed. Such was not the case. +The depression was felt much earlier, +as appears by the following extract +taken from a favourite organ of the +Free-traders. On 1st December last, +the <cite>Economist</cite> thus spoke of the cotton +trade—</p> + +<p class='c010'>“At the beginning of this year, great +expectations were entertained of our +home demand. It was argued, and with +good reason, that we never yet had a +year of general employment and low +prices of provisions combined, which was +not also a year of very large domestic +consumption of manufactured fabrics. +This year labour has been in very brisk +request, and food has never been so cheap +and plentiful since 1836. Yet our expectations +from these facts have not been +fully answered. The sellers of printing-cloths +and medium shirtings report that +their home demand has, on the whole, +been good; the sellers of domestics report, +on the contrary, a decidedly dull +business, worse than that of last year; +but we believe that all agree that the +anticipations with which they began the +year have by no means been realised. +We suspect the cause to be this:—The +depreciation in railway property, the +effects of the Irish famine, and the commercial +crash in 1847, have impoverished +all classes of the community to a much +greater extent than has been allowed for +in the calculations of our tradesmen. We +question whether ‘the power of purchase,’ +on the part of the British community, +is nearly equal to what it was in +1845.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>We here perfectly coincide in opinion +with the <cite>Economist</cite>. The power of +purchase, on the part of the British +community, is not nearly what it was +in 1845; and for that diminution of +power, he may thank the operation of +the free-trade system. If the calculations +of Mr Villiers are correct—if +agricultural produce has depreciated +to the extent of £91,000,000—there +is no necessity whatever for recurring +to Irish famine, railway losses, or +commercial embarrassment, for an +explanation of the unhealthy state of +the home market. If we divide the +population of the British islands, +between agriculture and manufactures, +in proportion to the ascertained +number of those employed in either +pursuit, we shall find that rather +more than 18,700,000 are dependent +on agriculture; whilst the number +of those directly and indirectly drawing +their livelihood from manufactures +is short of 8,100,000.<a id='r10'></a><a href='#f10' class='c015'><sup>[10]</sup></a> Any +blow levelled at the larger interest +must perforce materially affect the +lesser; and our decided conviction is, +that the manufacturers have yet to +learn, through adversity, a wholesome +lesson. They have been taught to +look to the foreign, or exporting trade, +as their chief source of gain; and, in +doing so, they have had to face a competition +with other countries, which, +in the course of a few years, has +lowered their profits fully 50 per cent. +They are still willing to go on, in the +pure reckless spirit of gambling, caring +nothing what social mischief they +occasion, so long as they can deluge +the markets of the world with their +bales of calico and cotton. For this +end, by an unholy and unprincipled +combination, they have contrived to +substitute foreign in place of British +agricultural labour, whilst, with unparalleled +selfishness, they reject all +proposals for an equitable distribution +of taxation.</p> + +<p class='c009'>The annual amount of the manufacturing +productions of this country +is estimated at £178,000,000; and it +is said that last year we have exported +£58,000,000. If this be the case, +there remain goods to the value of +£120,000,000, to be consumed at +home; and the amount of the actual +consumption mainly depends upon the +consumers’ power of purchase. Mr +Villiers tells us that £91,000,000 have +been <em>lost</em> to the agricultural classes—for +depreciation is neither more nor +less than direct loss. It is an obvious +fallacy to assume, as Mr Muntz does, +that this sum is merely to be considered +as transferred from one pocket +of the community to another, as a +note for five pounds might be. In the +latter case, the capital represented by +the note is not destroyed; in the +former, the agricultural produce having +been purchased and consumed at +two-thirds of its productive cost, there +is clearly a direct loss to the producing +party. The annual amount of +agricultural produce in this country +was estimated, according to former +average prices, at £250,000,000; and +if this be accepted as true, or even an +approximation to the truth, the estimate +of Mr Villiers will show a depreciation +of more than a third of the +value. To that extent, therefore, the +power of purchase in the home market +is lessened; for if £120,000,000 of +manufactures are made to be consumed +at home, and the means of the +consumers are reduced by £91,000,000, +how is it possible that trade can remain +in a prosperous condition?</p> + +<p class='c009'>If the dependence of the prosperity +of manufactures on the amount of the +demand existing in the home market +is admitted—and no man yet has +attempted to deny that intimate relationship +between the agricultural and +the manufacturing classes—it will follow, +as a clear deduction, that to curtail +the means of the consumer is tantamount +to limiting the demand. No +body of men understood this more +clearly than the leading agitators of +the League. They knew perfectly +well, that agricultural distress must +react fearfully upon that numerous +section of the manufacturers, who look +solely to the home market for the regular +consumption of their produce, +and who supply the greater number +of the retail dealers and shopkeepers, +whose means of livelihood +depend on their intervention between +the makers of the fabric and the +buyers. Those leading agitators +were independent of the home +trade. Their interest lay in pushing +exports to the utmost, and in maintaining +their hold of the foreign and +distant markets, in spite of a fierce +competition with France, Germany, +and America. That competition had +latterly become so serious and formidable, +that, in order to maintain +their ground, they found it necessary +to devise some means whereby operative +labour, already brought down +to the lowest point of monetary wage, +might be stimulated and sustained; +and the only scheme available to them +was the breaking up of the corn laws, +which, in this highly-taxed country, +with the accumulated burdens of more +than a century and a half pressing +upon it, afforded a necessary protection +to the British agricultural labourer. +For no one can deny that +the producers of corn are, like all +others, subject to taxation; and all +taxation, whether direct or indirect, +must be added to the price of the +fruits of labour. This was just what +the corn laws effected. The consumer +paid for the taxation when he purchased +the article; and in no branch +of industry or trade is another rule +recognised. There is a natural price, +and an artificial price. The natural +price of corn is that for which it can +be grown in this country, deducting +labour and the grower’s profit, but +without any burdens of taxation at +all. The artificial price is that which +is charged for the produce to the consumer, +when the taxation falling upon +the land, for state purposes, is added +to the natural price. By the repeal +of the corn laws, the consumer +escaped this taxation, and the whole +burden was thrown on the producer +and the labourer, who, in consequence +of superior natural advantages +possessed by the foreigner, can +be undersold by him even at the natural +price, and who yet are called upon +to bear the whole of the artificial +cost.</p> + +<p class='c009'>Such a scheme as this—one so +manifestly unjust, not only to the +agriculturists, but to the manufacturers +and the shopkeepers, whose +whole dependence was on the home +consumers—would never have been +carried into execution, had its inevitable +results been honestly laid before +the public. But there was no honesty +in these men. They were fighting a +desperate game, without regard to the +general interest of the country, so +that they could be the individual +gainers; and they fought it, as +gamblers will do, unscrupulously, +falsely, and dishonestly. They durst +not have hinted that the immediate +effect of the repeal of the corn laws would +be a large and permanent depreciation +of the value of agricultural produce. +Had they done so, the tradesmen and +retail dealers whom they chiefly +aimed to dupe—because the electoral +influence of that class is immensely +large—would at once have seen, that, +by limiting the general power of their +customers to purchase, they were, in +fact, depriving themselves of so much +of their former profit. Shopkeepers +and tradesmen do not live by the +export trade: they maintain themselves +and their families by distributing +the products of labour among the +community; and their gains, as well +as those of the artisan, are measured +by the amount of custom which they +receive. Any legislative change, +therefore, which could have the effect +of diminishing that custom in a serious +degree, would necessarily be most +detrimental to the interests of this +class—a proposition so clear, that no +effort of political jesuitry could disguise +it. The corn-law repealers knew +this, and accordingly they rested +their case on different grounds. They +maintained that the abolition of the +duties on corn would not, and could +not, have the effect of curtailing the +means or the revenue of the producer. +They professed that their sole object +was to prevent extravagant fluctuations +in price; and they were quite as +touching and lachrymose in the pictures +which they drew of the evils +certain to arise from a range of low +prices, as in those descriptive of the +opposite extreme. Let us again +refresh ourselves with a few sentences +from the work of Mr James Wilson—sentences +which afford good ground +for hope that, upon the next agricultural +division, we may find the +member for Westbury using his best +endeavour to repair some of the mischief +which recent legislation has +inflicted. The reader will bear in +mind that Mr Wilson distinctly +enunciated 52s. 2d. to be the proper +price for wheat, at which an exactly +sufficient amount of production would +be kept up.</p> + +<p class='c010'>“It never can be advantageous for the +community at large that they should +consume the produce of any one party +below the cost of production; for a period +is not very far distant when the consequences +must react, and infallibly produce +high prices and great scarcity; and we +will show that the evils of the reaction +are far greater than any advantage derived +from the low prices.”—<cite>Influences of +the Corn Laws</cite>, p. 28.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Again:</p> + +<p class='c010'>“Our belief is, that the whole of these +generally received opinions are erroneous; +that if we had had a free trade in +corn since 1815, the average price of the +whole period, actually received by the +British grower, would have been higher +than it has been; that little or no more +foreign grain would have been imported; +and that if, for the next twenty years, the +whole protective system shall be abandoned, +<em>the average price of wheat will be +higher than it has been for the last seven +years</em>, (52s. 2d.,) or than it would be in +the future with a continuance of the present +system; but with this great difference, +that prices would be nearly uniform +and unaltering from year to year; that +the disastrous fluctuations would be +greatly avoided, which we have shown +in the first proposition to be so ruinous +under the present system.”—P. 56.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Perhaps we cannot better illustrate +this part of our subject, than by transcribing +the second “proposition” laid +down by the present Secretary of the +Board of Control. It is so unambiguous +in its terms that we are saved the +necessity of a commentary. Mark, +and perpend!</p> + +<p class='c010'>“<span class='sc'>Proposition the Second.</span>—That the +agricultural interest has derived no +benefit, but great injury, from the existing +laws; and that the fears and apprehensions +of the ruinous consequences +which would result to this interest by the +adoption of a free and liberal policy +with respect to the trade in corn, are +without any foundation: <span class='sc'>That the +value of this property, instead of +being depreciated, on the aggregate +would be rather enhanced, and the +general interests of the owners most +decidedly benefited thereby.</span>”</p> + +<p class='c007'>We presume that we need go no +further in illustration of the line of +argument adopted by the exporting +manufacturers and their adherents, +for the purpose of persuading the +tradesmen and artisans that the repeal +of the corn laws could not in any +way affect the consumers’ power of +purchase.</p> + +<p class='c009'>In dealing with the state of the +manufacturing interest, we must never +lose sight of the fact, that enlarged +exports furnish no proof whatever of +the prosperity of the home trade. We +shall not go the length of adopting a +hypothesis, plausibly enough put forward, +that increased exports are a natural +result of deficiency in the home +demand; that where any sudden stimulus +is given to a market abroad, +goods originally intended for British +consumption, but not taken out of +stock, are shipped on speculation, and +thus augment the declared value of +the exports. We shall not make any +averment of the kind, however probable +it may be—simply because it is not +in our power, or that of any man in +the country, to prove such an allegation +as the general rule. But so +far as we can gather, from the +voice of the public press, there +would appear to be little room for +exultation in the present prospects of +manufactures. The agricultural depression +is yet recent, and its reaction +on manufactures, though it began in +1849, will probably not be felt in its +real intensity until the present year +is well advanced. In estimating the +prosperity of manufactures, what we +must look to are the wages and the +condition of the labourer. The individual +profits of the masters are secondary +to this consideration; and we +shall now proceed to examine whether +cheap food has fulfilled its chief recommendation +in bettering the condition +of the operatives.</p> + +<p class='c009'>In a single number of the <cite>Birmingham +Mercury</cite> for 2d February, now +lying before us, we find four separate +letters upon this important subject. +The first is from the operatives’ committee +of the glass-trade, in which +they state that “never was there more +flint glass manufactured than there is +at the present time, and never did the +operatives receive less than they do at +present for the quantity of work +made.” The second is from a person +engaged in the pin-trades, also complaining +of low wages. The third is +an indignant remonstrance from an +operative against recent prosperity-statements, +in which he says, “the +condition of the workmen is such at +the present time, that it is important +to them to have their condition truly +represented, devoid of that colouring +which, while it would please some +manufacturers, would to the workmen +possess no charm whatever. Where +a writer’s heart is, there also will his +leaning be; and I feel convinced that +no operative in this town could fail to +see which way these articles incline. +Obtaining information from masters +about men, and publishing it like +accounts from a house proprietor about +his houses, or from a farmer about his +cows, does not suit those workmen +who think, and feel, and wish to be +treated in a manner due to their position +as producers of articles ministering +to the comforts and conveniences +of mankind at large.” The fourth +proceeds from the committee of the +gun-trade, stating that “the year +1849 has perhaps been unparalleled +in the history of our trade; for the +general depression of our prices, and +the suffering of the working men, with +the shortness of work, and the very +low price at which that work has been +done, have reduced us to the most +pitiable condition which working and +industrious men could be brought to.” +Surely these letters are inconsistent +with the statement of Mr Villiers, +that “when he looked to the working +classes, he was gratified to find that +both manufacturing and agricultural +labourers were either receiving a higher +rate of wages, or were able to command +a better supply of the comforts +of life with their former wages.” +Within ten days after that speech was +made, an operative strike began at +Nottingham. The following letter, +addressed to, but not published in, the +<cite>Times</cite>, appeared lately in the <cite>Morning +Herald</cite>, and remains, so far as we +know, uncontradicted:—</p> + +<div class='nf-center-c0'> +<div class='nf-center c018'> + <div>“<em>To the Editor of The Times.</em></div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>“Sir,—I have read with great interest +your able exposures of the butchers and +other tradesmen of the metropolis. Will +you, with your usual impartiality, give +the following facts for free-traders a corner +in your journal:—The wages paid in +the factory of Messrs Marshal, at Shrewsbury, +before and after free trade came +into operation, are as follows:—</p> + +<table class='table1'> + <tr> + <th class='c003'></th> + <th class='c020'>1846.</th> + <th class='c022'>1849.</th> + </tr> + <tr> + <th class='c003'></th> + <th class='c020'>Protection.</th> + <th class='c022'>Free Trade.</th> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'>Mechanics,</td> + <td class='c023'>£1 5 0</td> + <td class='c004'>£0 18 0</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'>Overlookers,</td> + <td class='c023'>1 0 0</td> + <td class='c004'>0 14 0</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'>Thread-polishers,</td> + <td class='c023'>0 12 0</td> + <td class='c004'>0 8 0</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'>Boys,</td> + <td class='c023'>0 8 0</td> + <td class='c004'>0 6 0</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'>Female reelers,</td> + <td class='c023'>0 6 0</td> + <td class='c004'>0 4 8</td> + </tr> +</table> + +<p class='c011'>“Messrs Marshal are among the most +extensive manufacturers in the kingdom, +and this may be taken as a fair specimen +of what has been generally done. I +should be sorry to make one comment on +these facts, but leave it to the judgment +of the public to decide whether the operatives +of this country, or the manufacturers +who employ them, have reaped the +benefit of that cheap bread which they +promised to the labouring population; +and whether what they gave with one +hand in the shape of bread, they do not +more than take with the other by so large +a reduction of wages.—I am, Sir, your +obedient Servant,</p> + +<div class='lg-container-r c019'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'><span class='sc'>John Phillips</span>.</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c011'>“Winsley, near Shrewsbury, Jan 22.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>As to the condition of the agricultural +labourers, it would really appear +to be needless to enter upon that point. +The cry of suffering and distress is +universal throughout the length and +breadth of the land. How can it be +otherwise, when every cargo of foreign +grain sent to our shores is in +effect so much untaxed foreign labour +introduced to beat down the wages of +the working man? Mr Bonnar Maurice, +at a late meeting at Welshpool, +thus described the present condition +of the agricultural labourers of England:—</p> + +<p class='c010'>“But there was another class—from +their numbers a very important class—and +if they took (as they might fairly do) +the well or ill doing of that class as an +indication of the prosperity or otherwise +of the country generally, it was indeed a +<em>most</em> important class—he meant the labouring +class. They were promised that +free trade was to bring within their reach +comforts and luxuries which they had not +even dreamt of. How was it now with +them? Take first the agricultural labourer. +A short time ago he was earning +9s. or 10s., or in some counties 12s. a-week; +his wife could earn 5s. or 6s., and +his boy (if he had one eleven or twelve +years of age) about the same. Now +numbers are without employment at all; +numbers can obtain only occasional employment; +and those who are in constant +work must be satisfied with 7s. or 8s., +and in some places with not more than 6s. +a-week, and with little or no aid from +their wives and families. With other +labourers the case is no better—their +employment is becoming more and more +scarce; the effects of an unfair competition +are reducing the means of giving +employment; and those who are suffering +from such effects are accordingly lessening +the number of their labourers, and +reducing their establishments. Thus, +scarcity of employment, combined with +reduction of wages, is the blessing which +free trade brings to the labourer. And +so it must be; for what is the real principle +of free trade but the unfair encouragement +of the foreigner at the expense +of the British labourer, the taking +away employment from the labourers of +our own country, and the giving that employment +to the foreigner?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>In Scotland matters are no better. +We have many instances of proprietors +compelled by the decline of +rents to abandon the improvement of +their estates, and to relax that employment +which was formerly given +to labour. This is a great calamity; +since it must inevitably tend to swell +the poor-rate, already augmenting +alarmingly. In the western districts +the labour of Irish emigrants, forced +from their own country by the same +cause, and willing to work at the +lowest possible rate of wage which +will suffice to sustain existence, is +supplanting that of our Scottish peasantry; +and as the farmers are nearly +driven to the wall by the unprecedented +decline in the value of both +corn and cattle, they cannot be blamed +for putting into practice the noxious +free-trade dogma, and availing themselves +of labour at the cheapest rate. +If this state of matters is to continue, +the results may be terrible indeed. +The legislature is bound to look to it +in time; and, for the general safety, +to take heed that the power of labour +of the working man, which is his sole +capital, is not tampered with too far. +We cannot refrain from making another +extract from the pages of Mr +Wilson, who deprecates agricultural +depression upon the express ground +of its pernicious effect upon the condition +and morals of the labourer. +Any fall below 52s. 2d. per quarter of +wheat, Mr Wilson estimates as depression. +The present averages are under +40s., with no prospect of a rise:—</p> + +<p class='c010'>“It must be obvious that the tendencies +experienced by the farmer must immediately +influence the labourers he +employs. In his successful or advancing +years, a good demand exists for labour, +and either attracts or retains more to this +pursuit than on an average it is capable +of maintaining; and thus we find, when +the period of diminished cultivation +arrives, the strongest evidences of surplus +labour, as of surplus stock—distress to a +painful degree becomes the lot of the +hard-working tiller of the ground, whose +only desire is for ‘<em>leave to toil</em>;’ but, like +his master, he had already toiled too +much, and too unprofitably. Ignorant of +the real causes of his distress, driven to +pinch and want, he becomes too readily +the victim of vicious and designing men, +and has recourse to many acts of violence +and injustice, which, instead of mending +his case, can only tend to make it still +worse.</p> + +<p class='c011'>“No one can have forgot the terror +and dismay which, from this cause, +spread through our usually quiet and +peaceful rural districts a few years ago, +when the agricultural interest was +severely depressed; the awful and mysterious +midnight fires, which frequently +lighted up a whole district at the same +moment, consuming the very means of +subsistence; anonymous letters followed +up by all their threatenings; secret +societies to fan and inflame the worst +passions; highway robberies and personal +attacks; outrages of every description; +and all perpetrated by men whose ignorance +and misery (from causes over which +they had no control) were really much +more apt to excite our pity than our +blame. But how insensibly all these +evidences have vanished with a return to +prosperity, although it is impossible that +they have not left behind a population of +a lower and more debased standard of +morals! They are now as quiet as ever, +<em>but the return of distress to their employers +will not fail to reduce them once more to a +similar condition</em>.</p> + +<p class='c011'>“It should also be remarked, <em>that this +distress cannot fail naturally to increase +the poor-rates</em>, and the charges of maintaining +good order, which must act as a +distinct cause of reducing the rents and +income of farmer and landlord. In some +instances these charges have pressed so +heavily at particular times, as to consume +the whole rent, and to render land of +little or no value, which would otherwise +have let at a fair average rate.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>We also learn from Mr Wilson, +that extreme cheapness is the reverse +of a benefit to the manufacturing +operative, inasmuch as it induces +habits of luxury which are by no +means suited to his welfare. It is +not impossible that this view may +have led to that salutary reduction of +wages, which seems, at the present +moment, to be taking place throughout +the manufacturing districts of +England, and that the diminished +supply of money is intended to check +that inordinate appetite for cheap +loaves and bacon, which is naturally +enough engendered by the foreign +untaxed supplies pouring in to supersede +the production of the home +labourer, and to drive him gradually +to the workhouse. The member for +Westbury says:—</p> + +<p class='c010'>“With the manufacturing labouring +classes similar effects occur at opposite +periods, when the necessaries of life are +pressed to the highest point: they are +introduced, <em>in the years of ruinous cheapness</em>, +to habits of comparative luxury +and consumption which their labour cannot, +on an average, command; and they, +therefore, feel much more the want occasioned +by extreme high prices, when they +cannot command so much as their labour +should produce to them. So the effect is, +that <em>in cheap years his labour commands +too much agricultural labour</em>, and he thus +anticipates a part of what should be the +consumption of a future day; and in +dear years his labour commands too little +agricultural labour, and he is obliged to +receive proportionably as much too little +as before he received too much.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>We are decidedly of opinion that +there is much sound sense in the above +extract. We never have known a year +so characterised by <em>ruinous cheapness</em> +of all kinds of provisions as that +which has just gone by; the present +year holds out no prospect of improvement, +but rather indicates a farther +decline; and therefore we are not +without hope that this important +point may be worked out at greater +length in the columns of the <cite>Economist</cite>.</p> + +<p class='c009'>The question of wages has led us +into a slight digression. Our immediate +topic was the dependence of the +manufacturers, or at least a large +section of them, upon the purchase +power of the community; and we have +already shown, by the evidence of +our opponents, that, in so far as the +agriculturists are concerned, their aggregate +produce, which constitutes +their means, has been diminished by +one-third. Now, it must be remembered +that <em>the cost of production</em> falls +to be deducted altogether from the +remaining two-thirds; and that, in the +lost third was contained the greater +part of the surplusage or profit, +which afforded the means of commanding +luxuries and superfluities. +Of course any diminished power of +purchase must tell against the manufacturers, +by keeping up their stocks +in hand, and lessening the necessity +for production. But many of them, +failing the home trade, have the +chance of a market, though it may be +a less profitable one, elsewhere. They +can export on consignation if not on +order; and late accounts from San +Francisco, where bales of British +goods are stated to be lying unwarehoused, +and exposed to the weather +without finding purchasers, show that +the export mania may be carried beyond +the verge of average recklessness. +But the shopkeepers and tradesmen +have no such alternative resource. +They depend solely upon the +consumers of Britain, and any material +lowering of the value of home +produce reacts upon them in the shape +of lessened demand for all articles of +luxury in which they deal, and upon +the artisan in the form of diminished +employment. It may be useful to lay +before our readers Mr Spackman’s +estimate of the total productions of +this country, calculated on the most +authentic data <em>before</em> the commencement +of the depression.</p> + +<table class='table1'> + <tr><th class='c024' colspan='3'>ANNUAL PRODUCTION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM.</th></tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'>Annual value of agricultural productions,</td> + <td class='c023'> </td> + <td class='c004'>£250,000,000</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'>Annual value of manufacturing productions,</td> + <td class='c023'>£177,184,292</td> + <td class='c004'> </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c023'>From which deduct value of raw material,</td> + <td class='c023'>50,000,000</td> + <td class='c004'> </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'> </td> + <td class='c023'><hr></td> + <td class='c004'>127,184,292</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'>Annual value of product of mining interest,</td> + <td class='c023'> </td> + <td class='c004'>36,121,000</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'>Annual value of profits of shipping interest,</td> + <td class='c023'> </td> + <td class='c004'>3,637,231</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'>Annual income from Colonies, about</td> + <td class='c023'> </td> + <td class='c004'>15,000,000</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'>Annual income from foreign trade,</td> + <td class='c023'> </td> + <td class='c004'>15,000,000</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'>Annual income from fisheries, about</td> + <td class='c023'> </td> + <td class='c004'>3,000,000</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'> </td> + <td class='c023'> </td> + <td class='c004'><hr></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c020'>Total,</td> + <td class='c023'> </td> + <td class='c004'>£449,942,523</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'> </td> + <td class='c023'> </td> + <td class='c004'><hr></td> + </tr> +</table> + +<p class='c009'>This constitutes the whole product +of our national wealth. It is the substance +of Britain, and from one or +other of the above sources does every +individual in the land derive his means +of support. Out of these all taxation +is paid: from these, all professional +men, tradesmen, artisans, and +dealers, derive their profit and their +means. Hitherto, by all wise legislators, +the interests of the two leading +classes of producers have been +considered indissolubly united. The +agriculturist supplied the manufacturer +with food, and to a considerable +extent with raw material; and in return +he took annually two-thirds of +the manufactured productions. Our +exports were exchanged for luxuries, +or for articles which could not be produced +at home, and the balance in +our favour constituted the yearly increment +of our wealth. What free +trade proposes to do, and, indeed, has +partially effected, is the dissolution +of the dependence of the two great +classes on each other. The manufacturer +is invited to seek his food and +raw material from the cheapest foreign +source; the agriculturist to do the +same with respect to foreign manufactures. +But the two classes are not +upon a par. The agriculturist cannot +export any considerable portion of his +produce, because he is greatly undersold +by the cheap growers of the Continent +and America. We observe +that, last year, the whole of the exports +which can be termed agricultural, +were as follows:—</p> + +<table class='table1'> + <tr> + <td class='c003'>Butter,</td> + <td class='c004'>£210,604</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'>Cheese,</td> + <td class='c004'>24,912</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'>Wool, sheep and lambs,</td> + <td class='c004'>535,801</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'> </td> + <td class='c004'><hr></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'> </td> + <td class='c004'>£771,317</td> + </tr> +</table> + +<p class='c009'>This, it will be seen, is an infinitesimally +small portion of our whole +products. The manufacturer can export, +though not to an extent corresponding +to his powers of production. +Manufactures have been cheapening +year by year, in consequence of augmented +foreign competition, and that +struggle is likely to go on for years +as fiercely as ever. To maintain the +export trade in a competition which +cannot end otherwise than disastrously, +we have been called upon to +sacrifice everything. This is the true +secret of the lowered tariffs, of the +unnatural policy which we have pursued +towards our colonies, of the clamour +for financial reform which has +been so industriously raised. Without +speculating as to future operations, +which probably will include a direct +attack upon the Monarchy and the +National Debt, we shall simply draw +the attention of our readers to this +fact, that, for the sake of increasing +the bulk of our exports by the annual +value of three, four, or ten millions, +(which we have <em>not achieved</em>, our exports +last year being lower than those +of 1845,) we have lowered the annual +value of our home productions by +ninety-one millions! And the men +who have done this call themselves +statesmen, and congratulate each other +on the results of their singular sagacity!</p> + +<p class='c009'>But, let the manufacturers do what +they can, two-thirds of their produce, +in round numbers £120,000,000, must +still be consumed at home. The shopkeepers +are the brokers of this amount +of produce. And how is it to be consumed, +if the great agricultural interest +is to be broken up? No Free-trader +alive can answer that question. +We perfectly understand the +virulence of their organs, and their +wrath and rage at the unanswerable +case which we have laid before the +public in former papers; but no rage +or wrath will extricate the Free-traders +from their dilemma. They +must now explain to the tradesmen +and artisans the profitable nature of +their scheme. They may take credit, +if they please, for increased exportations +to the amount of ten millions—let +them debit themselves <em>per contra</em> +with ninety-one millions of decrease +in the power of the home consumers +to purchase, and then account to us +for the defalcation. We have a high +authority behind whom we shall retire +for shelter, if again assailed. That +redoubted political economist, Mr +James Wilson, must in common consistency +put forth his ægis before us, +and defend, lion-like, his original proposition, +“that <em>individuals</em>, <em>communities</em>, +or <em>countries</em>, can only be prosperous +in proportion to the prosperity of +the whole.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>There are other considerations connected +with the permanent depreciation +of landed property in Great +Britain, which are personal to almost +every man belonging to the higher +and middle classes of society. It +has been far too hastily assumed that +this is a mere proprietor’s question, or +at least one in which the mercantile +and professional classes have no direct +interest. We propose, towards the +conclusion of this article, to examine +that matter minutely: in the mean +time we shall direct our attention to +the official tables of the exports and +imports for the last year, which have +been thought so favourable to free +trade, as almost to justify the celebration +of a national jubilee.</p> + +<p class='c009'>In 1848, our exports were short of +forty-nine millions; this year they +exceed fifty-eight. Such is their +declared value; and though we must +still hold with Sir Robert Peel, that +these tables cannot be entirely relied +on for accuracy, we shall consider +them simply as they are given us.</p> + +<p class='c009'>In order to estimate the real advantage +which the country has derived +from the adoption of free trade, it is +necessary to revert to the condition +in which we stood <em>before</em> the Corn +and Navigation Laws were repealed. +No one, who reflects upon the state +of the Continent in 1848, can be surprised +that our exports have been +augmented materially by the restoration +of tranquillity. That augmentation +has nothing whatever to do with +free trade. The question which we +must now consider is this—have we +been materially benefited, or benefited +at all, or the reverse, by the substitution +of free trade instead of our +former system? In order to ascertain +that, we must institute a comparison +between our situation anterior +to free trade, and that which is now +made the ground of Ministerial triumph. +We shall, therefore, compare +the exports and imports of the year +1845, the last protection year, with +those of 1849. The fairness of this +comparison will not, we presume, be +disputed. And first, as to the exports:</p> + +<p class='c009'>From Mr Porter’s Tables, (page +358 of the new edition,) we learn that +the real or declared value of British +and Irish produce and manufactures, +exported in 1845, was £60,111,081. +The Government tables, just published, +give us the total declared value +of the exports for 1849 at £58,848,042. +There is, therefore, a deficit of +£1,263,039 in 1849, as compared +with 1845. Mr M’Gregor, it will be +remembered, told us that we were to +have <em>an increase of two millions a-week</em>: +the Government tables show us that +we have a decrease of a million and a +quarter a-year, comparing the one year +with the other! We understand that +the whole of the exports are included +in the statement just issued. We can +form no other conclusion from the +large increase of the items inserted, +and the small amount of some of +them—for example, stockings—which +are estimated at £1494 in 1849, in +comparison with £39 in 1848; indeed, +the words “total declared value,” +admit of no other construction. So, +then, our exports in the aggregate +have not increased, but, on the contrary, +have fallen off. We find the +declared value of our principal textile +exports to be as follows:—</p> + +<table class='table1'> + <tr> + <th class='c003'></th> + <th class='c020'>1845.</th> + <th class='c022'>1849.</th> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'>Cotton manufactures,</td> + <td class='c023'>£19,172,564</td> + <td class='c004'>£18,834,601</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'>—— yarn,</td> + <td class='c023'>6,962,626</td> + <td class='c004'>6,701,920</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'>Linen manufactures,</td> + <td class='c023'>3,062,006</td> + <td class='c004'>3,073,903</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'>—— yarn,</td> + <td class='c023'>1,051,303</td> + <td class='c004'>737,650</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'>Woollen manufactures,</td> + <td class='c023'>7,674,672</td> + <td class='c004'>7,330,475</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'>—— yarn,</td> + <td class='c023'>1,067,056</td> + <td class='c004'>1,089,867</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'> </td> + <td class='c023'><hr></td> + <td class='c004'><hr></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'> </td> + <td class='c023'>£38,990,227</td> + <td class='c004'>£37,768,416</td> + </tr> +</table> + +<p class='c009'>The imports, however, are more +valuable for our consideration. No +idea of their comparative value can +be formed from the tables; but the +amount is set forth in bulk and number, +and we believe our readers will +feel astonished at the results. We +shall first enumerate those articles +which have been brought in to displace +British produce.</p> + +<table class='table1'> + <tr> + <th class='c003' colspan='2'>Animals living, viz.—</th> + <th class='c025'>1845.</th> + <th class='c026'>1849.</th> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'> </td> + <td class='c003'>Oxen and bulls,</td> + <td class='c027'>9,782</td> + <td class='c028'>21,751</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'> </td> + <td class='c003'>Cows,</td> + <td class='c027'>6,502</td> + <td class='c028'>17,921</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'> </td> + <td class='c003'>Calves,</td> + <td class='c027'>586</td> + <td class='c028'>13,645</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'> </td> + <td class='c003'>Sheep,</td> + <td class='c027'>15,846</td> + <td class='c028'>126,247</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'> </td> + <td class='c003'>Lambs,</td> + <td class='c027'>112</td> + <td class='c028'>3,018</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'> </td> + <td class='c003'>Swine and hogs,</td> + <td class='c027'>1,598</td> + <td class='c028'>2,653</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'> </td> + <td class='c003'> </td> + <td class='c027'><hr></td> + <td class='c028'><hr></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c020' colspan='2'>Total animals,</td> + <td class='c027'>34,426</td> + <td class='c028'>185,235</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003' colspan='2'>Bacon, cwt.,</td> + <td class='c027'>64</td> + <td class='c028'>384,325</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003' colspan='2'>Beef, salted, not corned,</td> + <td class='c027'>3,540</td> + <td class='c028'>144,638</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003' colspan='2'>— fresh, or slightly salted,</td> + <td class='c027'>651</td> + <td class='c028'>5,279</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003' colspan='2'>Pork, salted,</td> + <td class='c027'>1,461</td> + <td class='c028'>347,352</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003' colspan='2'>— fresh,</td> + <td class='c027'>133</td> + <td class='c028'>924</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003' colspan='2'>Hams,</td> + <td class='c027'>2,603</td> + <td class='c028'>9,460</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'> </td> + <td class='c003'> </td> + <td class='c027'><hr></td> + <td class='c028'><hr></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c020' colspan='2'>Total of meats, cwt.,</td> + <td class='c027'>8,452</td> + <td class='c028'>891,978</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'> </td> + <td class='c003'> </td> + <td class='c027'><hr></td> + <td class='c028'><hr></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003' colspan='2'>Butter, cwt.,</td> + <td class='c027'>240,118</td> + <td class='c028'>279,462</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003' colspan='2'>Cheese,</td> + <td class='c027'>258,246</td> + <td class='c028'>390,978</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003' colspan='2'>Eggs, number,</td> + <td class='c027'>75,669,843</td> + <td class='c028'>97,884,557</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'> </td> + <td class='c003'> </td> + <td class='c027'><hr></td> + <td class='c028'><hr></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003' colspan='2'>Corn—</td> + <td class='c027'> </td> + <td class='c028'> </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'> </td> + <td class='c003'>Wheat, qrs.</td> + <td class='c027'>135,670</td> + <td class='c028'>4,509,626</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'> </td> + <td class='c003'>Barley,</td> + <td class='c027'>299,314</td> + <td class='c028'>1,554,860</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'> </td> + <td class='c003'>Oats,</td> + <td class='c027'>585,793</td> + <td class='c028'>1,368,673</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'> </td> + <td class='c003'>Rye,</td> + <td class='c027'>23</td> + <td class='c028'>256,308</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'> </td> + <td class='c003'>Peas,</td> + <td class='c027'>82,556</td> + <td class='c028'>285,487</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'> </td> + <td class='c003'>Beans,</td> + <td class='c027'>197,919</td> + <td class='c028'>483,430</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'> </td> + <td class='c003'>Indian corn or maize,</td> + <td class='c027'>42,295</td> + <td class='c028'>2,249,571</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'> </td> + <td class='c003'>Buckwheat,</td> + <td class='c027'>1,105</td> + <td class='c028'>308</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'> </td> + <td class='c003'>Beer or bigg,</td> + <td class='c027'> </td> + <td class='c028'>1,749</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'> </td> + <td class='c003'> </td> + <td class='c027'><hr></td> + <td class='c028'><hr></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c020' colspan='2'>Total grain, qrs.,</td> + <td class='c027'>1,344,675</td> + <td class='c028'>10,710,012</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'> </td> + <td class='c003'> </td> + <td class='c027'><hr></td> + <td class='c028'><hr></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003' colspan='2'>Wheat meal or flour, cwt.,</td> + <td class='c027'>630,255</td> + <td class='c028'>3,937,219</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003' colspan='2'>Barley meal,</td> + <td class='c027'> </td> + <td class='c028'>224</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003' colspan='2'>Oatmeal,</td> + <td class='c027'>2,224</td> + <td class='c028'>40,055</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003' colspan='2'>Rye meal,</td> + <td class='c027'> </td> + <td class='c028'>24,031</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003' colspan='2'>Pea meal,</td> + <td class='c027'> </td> + <td class='c028'>300</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003' colspan='2'>Bean meal,</td> + <td class='c027'> </td> + <td class='c028'>2</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003' colspan='2'>Indian corn meal,</td> + <td class='c027'> </td> + <td class='c028'>102,181</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003' colspan='2'>Buckwheat meal,</td> + <td class='c027'> </td> + <td class='c028'>1,095</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'> </td> + <td class='c003'> </td> + <td class='c027'><hr></td> + <td class='c028'><hr></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c020' colspan='2'>Total flour and meal, cwts.,</td> + <td class='c027'>632,479</td> + <td class='c028'>4,105,107</td> + </tr> +</table> + +<p class='c009'>These are the free-trade importations +which are ruining the British +agriculturist. This is the kind of +competition which he is called upon +to face, with a heavier load of taxation +pressing upon him than is known +in any other country in the world.</p> + +<p class='c009'>We shall probably be told, however, +that this enormous supply of +cheap food has enabled the people to +extend their consumption of articles +of luxury to a large extent. Let us +see how that matter stands. We select +the common luxuries, which are +next to necessaries, for illustration,—and +we also add another column, +showing the quantities entered for +consumption in 1848. By this our +readers will be enabled to ascertain +the increasing rate of demand for +these articles.</p> + +<table class='table1'> + <tr> + <th class='c003'></th> + <th class='c020'>1845.</th> + <th class='c020'>1848.</th> + <th class='c022'>1849.</th> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'>Coffee, lb.,</td> + <td class='c023'>34,318,095</td> + <td class='c023'>37,107,279</td> + <td class='c004'>34,431,074</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'>Tea,</td> + <td class='c023'>44,183,135</td> + <td class='c023'>48,735,696</td> + <td class='c004'>50,024,688</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'>Tobacco and snuff,</td> + <td class='c023'>26,323,944</td> + <td class='c023'>27,305,134</td> + <td class='c004'>27,685,687</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'>Wine, gallons,</td> + <td class='c023'>6,986,846</td> + <td class='c023'>6,369,785</td> + <td class='c004'>6,487,689</td> + </tr> +</table> + +<p class='c009'>It will be observed, that of these +articles there is no great additional +consumption. We have excepted +sugar from the above list, on account +of the alteration of the duties since +1845. There was, however, less entered +for home consumption in 1849 +than in 1848, by 240,067 cwt.</p> + +<p class='c009'>There appears to be nothing else in +these tables which calls for special +remark. They establish the fact that, +under the operation of free trade, we +have not yet been able to export as +large an amount of manufactures as +left this country in the last year of +protection; a fact very suggestive, +when we regard the enormous increase +of the imports. The foreigner is supplanting +our agricultural industry, +without taking in return an augmented +quantity of the produce of our manufacturers.</p> + +<p class='c009'>We cannot, therefore, see that these +returns afford us any ground for congratulation. +We can draw no good +augury for the future from the figures +which appear on the import side of the +account: on the contrary, they appear +to us ominous of calamity and disaster.</p> + +<p class='c009'>The large amount of bullion contained +in the vaults of the Bank of +England has been triumphantly referred +to by the Free-traders as a proof, +almost conclusive in itself, that the +country is flourishing under the system +of unrestricted importations; and +the Protectionists have been taunted +with the failure of their prediction, +that a large import of foreign grain +would drain the gold from Britain. +These assumptions rest upon a most +superficial view of the causes which +have combined to restore bullion to +the Bank during the last two years; +and they argue a total forgetfulness +of the calamitous monetary panic of +1847, occasioned by the demand for +gold to meet the large importations of +foreign grain consequent upon the +famine. The ruinous effects of the +adverse state of the foreign exchanges +upon our commercial and manufacturing +classes, in 1847 and 1848, are +matters of history; and the unprecedented +advice given by the Government +to the Bank, to charge <em>eight per +cent</em> on its advances, as well as the +virtual abrogation of the Bank Act of +1844, are incidents in our mercantile +annals too startling to be soon forgotten. +It is not difficult, if we keep +these things steadily in view, and also +take into account the disturbed state +of Europe for the last two years, to +understand the reason why the returns +of bullion have been so great.</p> + +<p class='c009'>The principal sources of the steady +accumulation of gold during the last +two years, in the face of continued +large imports of grain and provisions, +may be enumerated as follows:—</p> + +<p class='c009'>1st, The sale of foreign investments +by parties in this country, and the +stringent enforcement of all moneys +due to them abroad.</p> + +<p class='c009'>2d, Forced sales and consignments +of British goods at prices ruinously +low to the producers.</p> + +<p class='c009'>3d, A considerable reduction in +the stock of raw material.</p> + +<p class='c009'>4th, A diminution in the quantity +of gold coin required to carry on the +internal trade and domestic expenditure +of the country. This diminution +has been caused by the fall of prices, +whereby the same quantity of commodities +is represented by less money—by +the sudden limitation of the +employment of labour—and by the +reduced means of the people for ordinary +expenditure.</p> + +<p class='c009'>5th, Remittances from foreign +countries, caused by the revolutionary +movements in most of the Continental +states.</p> + +<p class='c009'><span class='pageno' id='Page_372'>372</span>6th, The return of the absentees +from abroad, whose expenditure has +been estimated as high as £20,000,000. +Allowing this to be a great exaggeration, +and estimating it even at a +third of the amount, the result becomes +most important.</p> + +<p class='c009'>7th, By other minor causes, +amongst which we may particularise +the return of sovereigns to this country +from Belgium, in consequence of +the alteration in the law which regulates +the currency there.</p> + +<p class='c009'>When we look to the operation of +these causes, some of them being, +from their nature, mere temporary +expedients, and others arising from +political movements over which we +had no control, the existence of a +large <em>balance</em> of bullion in the coffers +of the Bank of England ceases to be +an index of the legitimate operations +of trade. It is, in fact, nothing more +than a balance. Without accurate +data as to the quantities of the gold +which have been sent into and again +exported from this country during the +last two years—data which our opponents +have no wish whatever to see +produced—it would be fallacious to +assume that our increased imports of +commodities have been met by our +extended exports. Indeed, the Government +accounts distinctly demonstrate +that such is not the case. They +prove that our imports are augmenting +at a ratio to which the exports +bear no manner of proportion; and no +man, who will take the pains of considering +dispassionately the foregoing +tables, can doubt this. How, then, +is the balance paid? Not certainly +in goods; and if not in goods, +in what other shape than money?</p> + +<p class='c009'>The maintenance of the stock of +bullion in the Bank depends solely upon +the continuance or the recurrence of +such unusual accidents as we have +enumerated above. We have been +large sellers of foreign funds and investments; +and we have received +from other countries, for the sake of +security, important remittances of the +precious metals. But until we can +restore the balance of trade by raising +our exports to the level of the +imports, or by restricting the latter, +which we are bound to do in every +case where large branches of native +industry can be affected, we cannot +hope permanently to retain the treasure, +except at a frightful sacrifice. +Further sales and further deposits +may combine to keep it here, even for +a considerable period; but so soon as +confidence is restored abroad, we +must look for a steady drain. If our +imports shall constantly exceed our +exports, which is the tendency of our +recent legislation, we shall be forced +to correct the balance of trade by +drawing upon the accumulations of +our more prudent ancestors, who +acted on different principles; and so +long as the foreign investments of +their wealth last us, we may be enabled +to continue our spendthrift +course, consuming more than we produce. +But this must evidently have +an end; and, long before that period, +the annual diminution of our national +means would be felt by all classes of +society, and the war between the +great bulk of the community and the +money power would commence in +terrible earnest.</p> + +<p class='c009'>There are, we know, many people +who, in spite of all the testimony +which has been adduced, and the +solemn declaration of the farmers that +they cannot carry on cultivation at +present prices, refuse to believe that +the agricultural interest is virtually +doomed to extinction. They say +that the farmers are habitual grumblers, +and they insinuate that this +may be a false alarm. Now, as +to grumbling, we suspect it would +be impossible to find any body of +men, who are exposed to constant +fluctuations in the value of their produce, +exempt from such a propensity; +and we have heard, ere now, something +worse than grumbling proceed +from the throats of the manufacturers. +But we ask those gentlemen whether, +supposing America were to carry her +avowed purpose into execution, and +to stimulate her own population by +converting the raw material of cotton +into fabrics, instead of sending it four +thousand miles across the Atlantic to +be spun in Manchester,—and supposing +that, in consequence, American +calicoes could be offered in the British +market at a price lower than the cost +of the production of a similar article +would be to Mr Cobden or Mr Bright—they +imagine that the machinery of +Manchester, Rochdale, and Staley +Bridge, would still continue in motion? +Does not common sense—does +not all experience tell us, that a losing +trade must be abandoned? And in +order to show that agriculture is a +losing trade, we need have recourse +neither to farmers’ statistics nor to +pamphlets, however valuable. We +prove it out of the mouths of our +adversaries. Here they are:—</p> + +<p class='c009'><span class='sc'>Sir Robert Peel</span>, in February +1842, estimated the proper remunerative +price of wheat in this country, +“allowing for natural oscillations,” as +between 54s. and 58s.—on the average, +56s.; and stated, that he, “for +one, would never wish to see it vary +beyond these two specified values.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>Mr <span class='sc'>James Wilson</span>, M.P. for +Westbury, writing in 1839, stated it +as his opinion, that the proper price of +wheat was 52s. 2d.; and that, whatever +average annual price the farmer +received in any year less than that +standard price, he made “so much +distinct loss.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>Sir <span class='sc'>Charles Wood</span>, Chancellor of +the Exchequer, stated in January +1850, that he did not think “the agriculturist +would be ruined with wheat +at 44s. a quarter.”</p> + +<p class='c009'><span class='sc'>The average price of wheat +at the Haddington market, on +8th February, was 34s. 1d.</span></p> + +<p class='c009'>We know, moreover, that sales of +good wheat have been made in Scotland, +since that time, at even lower +prices.</p> + +<p class='c009'>But is this state of things to continue? +We say it must. It is a +simple labour and taxation question. +You expect the British labourer, who, +in every commodity he consumes, +pays taxes to Government, to compete +with foreign serfs, who pay no taxes +at all. You expect the British farmers +and landowners to work a worse +soil, in a more variable climate, to as +much advantage as the foreign grower; +and, moreover, to discharge a great +portion of the public burdens of the +state, to pay their full share of the +interest arising from the expenses of +every war in which Britain has been +engaged since the Revolution of +1688; to support the national church, +and to pay an undue proportion for +the maintenance of the poor. The +cost of cultivating 100 acres of British +soil, in Hertfordshire, is estimated at +£545—£1 per acre being allowed for +rent. The cost of cultivating the +same area, in Denmark or the northern +states of Germany, is £324, 3s. 4d.—being +£220, 16s. 8d., or 40 per +cent, cheaper than in England. In +this way, if we assume 50s. as the +productive cost of British wheat, on +an expenditure of £545, for the average +here assumed, it will be seen that +the expenditure of £324, 3s. 4d. gives +29s. 8d. as the productive cost of +German wheat; that the difference +in the price of barley between the +countries will be as 30s. to 18s.; and +of oats, as 20s. to 12s.<a id='r11'></a><a href='#f11' class='c015'><sup>[11]</sup></a></p> + +<p class='c009'>This comparison is favourable to +our opponents, because, in estimating +the cost of British cultivation, a remarkably +low rent is assumed; whilst, +on the other hand, the wages of labour +and other charges are greatly higher +in Denmark and North Germany than +in Russia, Poland, Wallachia, or Moldavia, +from which countries we draw +large supplies of grain. What hope is +there of a rise of prices? Corn has +been brought to its present low ebb +by the importation, last year, of enormous +supplies from the deficient Continental +harvest of 1848. This year we +are about to receive the discharge of a +cornucopia filled to the very brim, in +consequence of an unusually luxuriant +crop. We have had experience of a +bad year, and we are about to have +experience of a good year, heralded +by the following significant fact:—“<cite>Bell’s +Weekly Messenger</cite> states, on +unquestionable authority, that, a few +days ago, one of the principal City +houses chartered several vessels at a +freight of 6s. per qr., to load wheat at +Odessa at 24s. per qr., free on board.” +How long is this to go on? Is it proposed, +by this precious Ministry of +ours, that nothing is to be done until +the whole capital of the tenant-farmers +is squandered, and the soil has +gone out of cultivation? Or are we +to understand that nothing whatever +will be done, should prices fall lower +than now, or even remain at their +present level? If the land goes out of +cultivation, a large proportion of the +whole annual production of Great +Britain, giving at present employment +to many thousands, must be directly +sacrificed; the manufacturers would, +in that event, be compelled to close +their establishments for the want of +a home market; and we should have +no revenue left to pay the expenses of +the cheapest kind of provisional government, +far less the interest of the +national debt. Are the Ministry really +aware of what they are doing? According +to their own admissions—according +to the calculations of their +supporters—according to the estimates +of the leading Free-traders, the tenant-farmers +are at this moment cultivating +the soil at a prodigious annual +loss. No possible reduction of rent +can suffice to cure the evil, even if a +reduction of rent, which would throw +hundreds of thousands out of employment, +were no evil in itself. And +yet, in this state of matters, the Whigs +have thought proper to issue a prosperity +address, almost without qualification, +in the name of their gracious +Sovereign!</p> + +<p class='c009'>We shall now entreat the attention +of our readers to a point in which +almost every man of ordinary means +in this country is vitally interested. +For a great many years the benefits +to be derived from <span class='sc'>Life Insurance</span>, +as the best means of providing portions +for families, have been acknowledged +and largely sought. All classes +have participated in these Assurances; +and we believe that, in Scotland, it +would be difficult to find any considerable +number of professional persons, +or tradesmen, who do not contribute +to the funds of some of the numerous +societies. We are not exactly aware +what may be the method practised in +England, but in Scotland by far the +greater portion of the accumulated +funds of these societies, amounting to +many millions sterling, is lent on the +security of the land. The value of +the land, as every one knows, must +in the aggregate depend on its productive +power; and, if present +prices are to rule, (and why they +should not do so, under present legislation, +no mortal man can tell us,) +great tracts of the land of this country +must go out of cultivation, and consequently +be depreciated in value. In +that case, how will the creditor fare? +There is already a disposition shown, +in some quarters, to make the creditor +participate in the reduced income of +the landed debtor. So hints Lord +Drumlanrig, and he is not quite singular +in his opinion. This is just +repudiation; for could the idea be +carried into effect, it would be necessary +to apply the same rule to the +principal as to the interest, and to +provide that the lender of £100 under +protection, should not be entitled +to claim from his debtor more than +£67 under the benign, just, and +wholesome operation of free trade. +Were this view to be adopted, and +the adjustment made on the supposition +that rents were only lowered +by a third, the family of the man who +has insured his life for £100, and regularly +paid the premium, would lose +rather more than £33. But a reduction +of the whole rental of Great +Britain and Ireland, to the extent of +one-third, would amount to little more +than £19,500,000,—a sum utterly insufficient +to meet the depreciation, if +we adopt the figures of Mr Villiers, +or even if we make the largest allowance +for exaggeration. The merest +tyro in political science knows that +land incapable of cultivation is comparatively +worthless in price: we have +a practical instance of that at present +before us in Ireland, where estates +have been actually abandoned by their +owners. Now, if land at present +under tillage should go out of cultivation, +on account of the sale of the +produce being inadequate to its cost—a +catastrophe to which our northern +districts are fast approaching—it must +become, to all intents and purposes, +waste; and the creditor who has lent +money on its security will find that, +instead of grain-bearing acres, he can +take possession of nothing save a wilderness +of heather and furze.</p> + +<p class='c009'>Every man, therefore, whose life is +insured, has a direct interest in the +maintenance of the agricultural prosperity +of the country. If <em>that</em> is not +maintained, the provision which he +has prudently made for his family is +placed in extreme jeopardy, and free-trade +legislation may utterly neutralise +his thrift. Nor let him quarrel +with the security, for there is none +better. If the land goes down, the +tenure of the existence of the Funds +is worse than precarious. If the imports +of foreign corn and provisions +shall augment materially during the +next two years, and if “the great experiment,” +as it has been called, shall +be persevered in so long, the fortunes +and apparent destiny of this great +country must be materially and radically +altered. In any case, there +must be a change, and a change of an +important description. The unprincipled +Currency Act of 1819 has yet to +undergo a revision. In spite of <em>dilettante</em> +arrangements, and financial +hocus-pocus, sedulously invented to +blind the eyes of the community to +the rottenness and peculation of our +present monetary system, that matter +must be thoroughly probed and +examined by the aid of a clearer +light than the lamp of the Jew Ricardo. +But, for the present, it would +be unwise to complicate the immediate +question. Our stand is taken upon +the broad basis of justice to native +industry. We care not in what form +or shape that industry is developed—whether +it be applied to agriculture, +trade, or manufactures—so long as it +is industry seeking but its own, and +disclaiming the selfish and sordid end +of making an individual profit at the +expense, and from the ruin, of other +classes of the community. Sometimes, +in calmly considering the course +of our legislation for the last few years, +this reflection irresistibly obtrudes itself—whether +men have altogether lost +the old feeling of patriotism and devotion, +which, more than anything else, +placed Britain in her proud position +in the scale of the European nations? +Certainly, when we read the speeches +and harangues of the Free-traders, +there is no trace of any such sentiment. +They are cosmopolitans, not Britons: +and, discarding the landmarks of the +Almighty, they seem to hope that the +laws of nature will be abrogated, and +the doom of Babel reversed, by their +own miserable efforts. Their sympathy +is of a curious kind. They estimate +foreign nations upon a scale founded +on the consumption of calico; their +notions of liberty undergo a material +change, whenever raw cotton or +cheap sugar become elements of the +calculation of profit. They must +have slavery abolished in the West +Indian colonies: and yet, having +ruined the planters, they are ready to +take sugar on the cheapest terms +which they dare offer from foreign +slave-growing states, and to furnish +them with clothing and machinery. +Their capital, Manchester, and their +principal seats of manufacture, depend +for their existence on the continuance +of Negro slavery in America, and not +a man of these cosmopolitans dare +raise his voice to denounce it. Why +should he? He can gain popularity +cheaper, by retailing gross falsehoods +against unreciprocating European +states, in every instance where Red +Republicanism has reared its head, +and been, most fortunately, suppressed. +The British labourer has +none of his sympathy—he cares not +for him in his capacity of a fellow-subject. +If the labourer is an agriculturist, +our generous philanthropist +would rather see him and his family +condemned to the union-workhouse, +than throw any obstacle in the way +of increased serfage in Russia or in +Poland. If the labourer is a manufacturer, +the cosmopolitan spurns the +laws enacted by the gentlemen of England +for the protection of the women +and children; and, availing himself of +a verbal error, claims his right to work +human beings, by relays, like cattle in +his mill! And these are the men who +now regulate the movements, and +almost dictate the words, of our +British statesmen! In the pages of +British history, we meet with instances +of degradation which we fain would +see cancelled. We know that Charles +II. was an acquiescent pensioner of +the crown of France, and was content +to remain so, at the hazard of +the national honour. But we shall +search history in vain for so mean a +pandering as that which we have +seen by Ministers to the interests of +an upstart oligarchy—founded on the +most perishable basis—scarcely disguising +their hostility to the religion +and the constitution of the land—trampling +on the rights of the poor—denying +the claims of Native Industry—and +doing their utmost to +make these great and glorious kingdoms +the habitation of only two +classes—one of them being the master-manufacturers, +and the other, the +operatives, whom they may tread at +pleasure under their heel.</p> + +<div class='nf-center-c0'> +<div class='nf-center c005'> + <div><em>Printed by William Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh.</em></div> + </div> +</div> + +<hr class='c029'> +<div class='footnote' id='f1'> +<p class='c009'><a href='#r1'>1</a>. <cite>A Letter to the Queen on a Late Court-Martial.</cite> By <span class='sc'>Samuel Warren</span>, F.R.S. +Barrister-at-Law. “I was constrained to appeal unto Cæsar.”</p> +</div> +<div class='footnote' id='f2'> +<p class='c009'><a href='#r2'>2</a>. “Captain Douglas delivered his defence, before the court-martial which cashiered +him, on his thirtieth birth-day.”</p> +</div> +<div class='footnote' id='f3'> +<p class='c009'><a href='#r3'>3</a>. In justice to Captain Douglas, we must here state, that he clearly proved before +the court-martial, that he withheld his statement for two days before the Court of +Inquiry, still under the impression that it might be used to damage him in the proceedings +before the civil court. That he was justified in doing so is shown by an order +from the Horse Guards, 3d July 1809, expressly acknowledging the “right” of any +party, before a court of inquiry, “of declining to answer any question, or to make any +statement, which might, in his opinion, have proved prejudicial to him in the course +of any ulterior inquiry into his conduct.” On the 28th November last also, we may +remark that Sir Charles Napier, in an order to the Indian Army, says, in reference to +a Court of Inquiry—“If any person happens to be accused of misconduct, he is called +on for his statement of the matter in hand, like any other person: he may either +appear or refuse to appear, as he pleases, unless ordered by superior authority; and +<em>either answer</em> any questions put to him, or <em>refuse</em> to answer.”</p> + +<p class='c009'>If, in the face of these two orders, an officer is to be arraigned before a court-martial +for conduct “unbecoming the character of an officer and a gentleman, in +having omitted and neglected to make a statement before a Court of Inquiry” which +he thought would injure himself, we must say they are a <em>snare and a delusion for the +unwary</em>, and ought to be expunged forthwith from the Order-books of the army.</p> +</div> +<div class='footnote' id='f4'> +<p class='c009'><a href='#r4'>4</a>. The only article of war, beside this, which could be supposed, for a moment, to +embrace the case, is the 108th, which says, that—“All crimes not capital, and all +disorders and neglects which officers and soldiers may be guilty of, <em>to the prejudice of +good order and military discipline</em>, though not specified in the foregoing cases, or in +our Articles of War, shall be taken cognisance of by courts-martial, according to the +nature and the degree of the offence.” But it is evident that this article applies to +matters of a military nature. If the merely moral delinquency of which Captain +Douglas is charged might be described as affecting “good order and military discipline,” +there is no act of a man’s life that might not be designated in the same +manner.</p> +</div> +<div class='footnote' id='f5'> +<p class='c009'><a href='#r5'>5</a>. “In the old articles of war the language used was scandalous and infamous conduct, +<em>such as is</em> unbecoming the character of an ‘officer and a gentleman.’”</p> +</div> +<div class='footnote' id='f6'> +<p class='c009'><a href='#r6'>6</a>. Capri.</p> +</div> +<div class='footnote' id='f7'> +<p class='c009'><a href='#r7'>7</a>. <cite>The Pillars of Hercules; or, a Narrative of Travels in Spain and Morocco in +1848.</cite> By <span class='sc'>David Urquhart</span>, Esq. M.P. 2 vols. 8vo. London: 1850.</p> + +<p class='c009'><cite>Le Véloce; ou Tanger, Alger, et Tunis.</cite> Par <span class='sc'>Alexandre Dumas</span>. Vols. I. and II. +Paris: 1849.</p> +</div> +<div class='footnote' id='f8'> +<p class='c009'><a href='#r8'>8</a>. Alison.</p> +</div> +<div class='footnote' id='f9'> +<p class='c009'><a href='#r9'>9</a>. Spackman’s <cite>Tables</cite>, p. 185.</p> +</div> +<div class='footnote' id='f10'> +<p class='c009'><a href='#r10'>10</a>. <span class='sc'>Spackman’s</span> <cite>Occupations of the People</cite>. <em>Vide</em> Synoptical Table.</p> +</div> +<div class='footnote' id='f11'> +<p class='c009'><a href='#r11'>11</a>. We are indebted for these calculations to a pamphlet entitled <cite>Observations on the +Elements of Taxation, and the Productive Cost of Corn</cite>, by <span class='sc'>S. Sandars</span>, which we +strongly recommend to the notice of our readers, as one of the most able treatises on +the subject which has yet appeared.</p> +</div> + +<div class='pbb'> + <hr class='pb c006'> +</div> +<div class='tnotes x-ebookmaker'> + +<div class='chapter ph2'> + +<div class='nf-center-c0'> +<div class='nf-center c008'> + <div>TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES</div> + </div> +</div> + +</div> + + <ul class='ul_1 c005'> + <li>Typos fixed; non-standard spelling and dialect retained. + + </li> + <li>Used numbers for footnotes, placing them all at the end of the last chapter. + + </li> + <li><a href='#ERRATUM'>Erratum</a> item was corrected. + </li> + </ul> + +</div> + +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75498 ***</div> + </body> + <!-- created with ppgen.py 3.57e (with regex) on 2025-02-08 22:53:09 GMT --> +</html> + diff --git a/75498-h/images/cover.jpg b/75498-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a5215d5 --- /dev/null +++ b/75498-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. 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