oflivingatVersailles。IfanythingcouldexceedGrey’sreluctancetoleave
　　hisgreathouseinNorthumberlandfortheexcitementsofParliament，itwas
　　Fox’sreluctancetoleavehislittlehouseinSurrey。Thetasteforcountry
　　pleasuresandforcountrysportswasneverlost，anditspersistenceexplains
　　thephysicalvitalityofthearistocracy。Thiswasasocialfactofgreat
　　importance，foritishealthafterallthatwinshalfthebattlesofclasses。
　　NoquantityofBurgundyandPortcouldkilloffaracethatwascontinually
　　restoringitshealthbylifeintheopenair；itdidnotmatterthatSquire
　　Westerngenerallyspentthenightunderthetableifhegenerallyspentthe
　　dayinthesaddle。Thisinheritanceofanopen-airlifeisprobablythereason
　　thatinEngland，incontrasttoFranceandItaly，goodlooksaremoreoften
　　tobefoundinthearistocracythaninotherclassesofsociety。
　　Itwasduetothisphysicalvigourthatthearistocracy，corruptandselfish
　　thoughitwas，neverfellintothesupremeviceofmoraldecadence。Theother
　　EuropeanaristocraciescrumbledatoncebeforeNapoleon：theEnglisharistocracy，
　　amidstallitsblundersanderrors，keptitscharacterforenduranceand
　　fortitude。Throughoutthatlongstruggle，whenNapoleonwasstrewingEurope
　　withhistriumphsand，asSheridansaid，makingkingsthesentinelsofhis
　　power，Englandaloneneverbrokeatreatyormadeasurrenderathisbidding。
　　FortenyearsPittseemstheonefixedpointamongtherulersofEurope。
　　Itisnot，ofcourse，tobearguedthattherulingclassshowedmorevalour
　　anddeterminationthananyotherclassofEnglishmenwouldhaveshown：the
　　empire-buildersofthecentury，menofdaringandenterpriseondistantfrontiers，
　　werenotusuallyoftherulingclass，andDr。Johnsononcewroteanessay
　　toexplainwhyitwasthattheEnglishcommonsoldierwasthebravestof
　　thecommonsoldiersoftheworld。ThecomparisonisbetweentheEnglisharistocracy
　　andtheotherchampionsoflawandorderinthegreatordealofthiswar，
　　andinthatcomparisontheEnglisharistocracystandsoutinconspicuous
　　eminenceinaEuropeofshiftingandmeltinggovernments。
　　Thepoliticsofasmallclassofprivilegedpersonsenjoyinganundisputed
　　powermighteasilyhavedegeneratedintoamerebusinessofmoney-making
　　andnothingelse。Thereisplentyofthisatmosphereintheeighteenth-century
　　system：astudymerelyofthesocietymemoirsoftheageisenoughtodissipate
　　thefineoldillusionthatmenofbloodandbreedinghaveaniceandfastidious
　　Senseaboutmoney。Justtheoppositeisthetruth。Aristocracieshavehad
　　theirvirtues，hutthevirtueofamagnificentdisdainformoneyisnotto
　　beexpectedinaclasswhichhasforgenerationstakenitasamatterof
　　coursethatitshouldbemaintainedbytheState。AtnotimeinEnglishhistory
　　havesordidmotivesbeensoconspicuousinpoliticsasduringthedayswhen
　　powerwasmostamonopolyofthearistocracy。Nopoliticianshavesacrificed
　　somuchoftheirtime，ability，andprinciplestothepursuitofgainas
　　thepoliticiansoftheagewhenpoormencouldonlysqueezeintopolitics
　　bytwosorthreesinageneration，whenthearistocracyputwholefamilies
　　intotheHouseofCommonsasamatterofcourse，andBurkeboastedthatthe
　　HouseofLordswaswholly，andtheHouseofCommonswasmainly，composed
　　forthedefenceofhereditaryproperty。
　　Butthepoliticsoftheeighteenthcenturyarenotamerescramblefor
　　placeandpower。AnagewhichproducedthetwoPittscouldnotbecalled
　　anageofmereavarice。AnagewhichproducedBurkeandFoxandGreycould
　　notbecalledanageofmereambition。Thepoliticsofthislittleclass
　　areilluminatedbythegreatandgenerousbehaviourofindividuals。IfEngland
　　wastheonlycountrywheretherulingclassmadeastandagainstNapoleon，
　　Englandwastheonlycountrywheremembersoftherulingclasswerefound
　　tomakeastandfortheideasoftheRevolution。Perhapstheproudestboast
　　thattheEnglisholigarchycanmakeistheboastthatsomeofitsmembers，
　　nursedastheyhadbeeninasoftandfeatheredworldofluxuryandprivilege，
　　couldlookwithoutdismayonwhatBurkecalledthestrange，wild，nameless，
　　enthusiasticthingestablishedinthecentreofEurope。Thespectacleof
　　FoxandSheridanandGreyleadingouttheirhandfulofLiberalsnightafter
　　nightagainsttheTreasonandSeditionBills，atatimewhenanavalanche
　　ofterrorhadoverwhelmedthemindofEngland，whenPitt，Burke，andDundas
　　thoughtnomalicetoopoisoned，GillrayandRowlandsonnodeformingtouch
　　ofthebrushtoobrutal，whentheupperclassesthoughttheyweregoingto
　　losetheirproperty，andthemiddleclassesthoughttheyweregoingtolose
　　theirreligion，isoneofthesublimespectaclesofhistory。Thisquality
　　offearlessnessinthedefenceofgreatcausesisdisplayedinafinesuccession
　　ofcharactersandincidents；Chatham，whosecourageinfacinghiscountry’s
　　dangerswasnotgreaterthanhiscourageinblaminghiscountry’scrimes；
　　Burke，withhiselaboraterageplayingroundthedazzlingrenownofaRodney；
　　Fox，whosevoicesoundslikethundercomingoverthemountains，hurledat
　　thewholeraceofconquerors；Holland，pleadingalmostalonefortheabolition
　　ofcapitalpunishmentforstealingbeforeabenchofbishops；amansolittle
　　giventorevolutionarysympathiesasFitzwilliam，leavinghislord-lieutenancy
　　ratherthancondonethemassacreofPeterloo。Ifmoralcourageisthepower
　　ofcombatinganddefyinganenvelopingatmosphereofprejudice，passion，
　　andpanic，agenerationwhichwaspoorinmostofthepublicvirtueswas，
　　atleast，conspicuouslyrichinone。Foreignpolicy，thetreatmentofIreland，
　　ofIndia，ofslaves，arebeyondthescopeofthisbook，butinglancingat
　　theclasswhosetreatmentoftheEnglishpoorhasbeenthesubjectofour
　　study，itisonlyjusttorecordthatinotherregionsofthoughtandconduct
　　theybequeathedagreatinheritanceofmoralandliberalideas：apassion
　　forjusticebetweenpeoples，asensefornationalfreedom，agreatbodyof
　　principlebywhichtocheck，refine，anddisciplinethegrossappetitesof
　　nationalambition。Thoseideasweretheideasofaminority，buttheywere
　　expressedanddefendedwithaneloquenceandapowerthathavemadetheman
　　importantandagloriouspartofEnglishhistory。Inallthisdevelopment
　　ofliberaldoctrineitisnotfancifultoseetheennoblinginfluenceof
　　theGreekwritersonwhomeveryeighteenth-centurypoliticianwasbredand
　　nourished。
　　FoxthoughtinthebaddaysofthewarwiththeRevolutionthathisown
　　ageresembledtheageofCicero，andthatParliamentarygovernmentinEngland，
　　underminedbythepoweroftheCourt，woulddisappearlikelibertyinrepublican
　　Rome。Thereisastrangeletterinwhich，condolingwithGreyonhisfather’s
　　becomingapeer，heremarksthatitmattersthelessbecausetheHouseof
　　Commonswillsoonceasetobeofanyimportance。Thispredictionwasfalsified，
　　andEnglandneverproducedaCaesar。Thereis，however，arealanalogyin
　　thesocialhistoryofthetwoperiods。TheEnglishrulingclasscorresponds
　　totheRomansenatorialorder，bothclassesclaimingofficeonthesameground
　　offamilytitle，aCavendishbeingasinevitableasaClaudius，andanAEmilius
　　asaGower。TheequiteswerethesecondrankoftheRomansocialaristocracy，
　　asthemanufacturersorbankerswereoftheEnglish。ARomanequescould
　　passintothesenatorialorderbyholdingthequaestorship；anEnglishmanufacturer
　　couldpassintothegoverningclassbybuyinganestate。TheEnglisharistocracy，
　　liketheRoman，lookedalittledoubtfullyonnew-comers，andevenaCicero
　　oraCanningmightcomplainofthe。freezingwelcomeoftheoldnobles；but
　　itpreferredtouseratherthantoexcludethem。
　　Inbothsocietiesthearistocracyregardedthepoorinmuchthesamespirit，
　　asaproblemofdisciplineandorder，andpassedontoposteritythesame
　　vaguesuggestionofsqualorandturbulence。Thusitcomesthatmostpeople
　　whothinkofthepoorintheRomanRepublicthinkonlyofthegreatcorn
　　largesses；andmostpeoplewhothinkofthepoorineighteenth-centuryEngland
　　thinkonlyofthegreatsystemofrelieffromtherates。Mr。WardeFowler
　　hasshownhowharditistofindintheRomanwritersanyrecordsofthe
　　poor。Soitiswiththerecordsofeighteenth-centuryEngland。Inbothsocieties
　　theobscuritywhichsurroundedthepoorinlifehassettledontheirwrongs
　　inhistory。Foronepersonwhoknowsanythingaboutsoimmenseaneventas
　　thedisappearanceoftheoldEnglishvillagesociety，thereareahundred
　　whoknoweverythingaboutthefashionablescenesofhighpoliticsandhigh
　　play，thatformedtheexcitingworldoftheupperclasses。Thesilencethat
　　shroudsthesevillagerevolutionswasnotquiteunbroken，butthecrythat
　　disturbeditislikeanoisethatbreakforamomentonthenight，andthen
　　diesaway，onlyservingtomakethestillnessdeeperandmoresolemn。TheDesertedVillageisknownwherevertheEnglishlanguageisspoken，
　　butGoldsmith’scriticshavebeenapttotreatit，asDr。Johnsontreated
　　it，asabeautifulpieceofirrelevantpathos，andhispictureofwhatwas
　　happeninginEnglandhasbeenadmiredasapictureofwhatwashappening
　　inhisdiscolouringdreams。Macaulayconnectedthatpicturewithreality
　　inhisingenioustheory，thatEnglandprovidedthevillageofthehappyand
　　smilingopening，andIrelandthevillageofthesombreandtragicalend。
　　Oneenclosurehasbeendescribedinliterature，anddescribedbyavictim，
　　JohnClare，theNorthamptonshirepeasant，whodriftedintoamadhousethrough
　　alifeofwantandtrouble。Thosewhorecallthediscussionsofthetime，
　　andtheassumptionoftheupperclassesthattheonlyquestionthatconcerned
　　thepoorwasthequestionwhetherenclosureincreasedemployment，willbe
　　struckbythegenuineemotionwithwhichClaredwellsonthenaturalbeauties
　　ofthevillageofhischildhood，andhisattachmenttohishomeanditsmemories。
　　ButClare’sdaywasbriefandhehasfewreaders。3*Inartthemostundistinguished
　　featuresofthemostundistinguishedmembersofthearistocracydwellin
　　theglowingcoloursofaReynolds；thepoorhavenoheirlooms，andthere
　　wasnoMillettopreservethesorrowanddespairofthehomelessanddispossessed。
　　Socomfortablyhavetherichsoothedtosleepthesensibilitiesofhistory。
　　Thesedebonairlordswhosmileatusfromthefamilygalleriesdonotgrudge
　　usourknowledgeoftheescapadesatBrooks’soratWhite’sinwhichthey
　　sowedtheirwildoats，butwefancytheyaregratefulforthepoppyseeds
　　ofoblivionthathavebeenscatteredoverthesecretsoftheirestates。Happy
　　theracethatcansoengagetheworldwithitsfolliesthatitcansecure
　　reposeforitscrimes。
　　DeQuinceyhascomparedtheblottingoutofacolonyofAlexander’sin
　　theremoteandunknownconfinesofcivilisation，tothedisappearanceof
　　oneofthosestarrybodieswhich，fixedinlongitudeandlatitudeforgenerations，
　　areonenightobservedtobemissingbysomewanderingtelescope。’Theagonies
　　ofaperishingworldhavebeengoingon，butallisbrightandsilentin
　　theheavenlyhost。’Soisitwiththeagoniesofthepoor。Wilberforce，in
　　themidstofthescenesdescribedinthisvolume，coulddeclare，’Whatblessings
　　doweenjoyinthishappycountry；Iamreadingancienthistory，andthe
　　picturesitexhibitsofthevicesandthemiseriesofmenfillmewithmixed
　　emotionsofindignation，horrorandgratitude。’Amidthegreatdistressthat
　　followedWaterlooandpeace，itwasacommonplaceofstatesmenlikeCastlereagh
　　andCanningthatEnglandwastheonlyhappycountryintheworld，andthat
　　solongasthemonopolyoftheirlittleclasswasleftuntouched，herhappiness
　　wouldsurvive。Thatclasshasleftbrightandamplerecordsofitslifein
　　literature，inart，inpoliticaltraditions，inthedisplayofgreatorations
　　anddebates，inmemoriesofbrilliantconversationandsparklingwit；it
　　hasleftdimandmeagrerecordsofthedisinheritedpeasantsthatarethe
　　shadowofitswealth；oftheexiledlabourersthataretheshadowofits
　　pleasures；ofthevillagessinkinginpovertyandcrimeandshamethatare
　　theshadowofitspoweranditspride。
　　SeearemarkableletterfromLordDudley。’Hehasalreadybeenenough
　　ontheContinentforanyreasonableandeitherofcuriosityorinstruction，
　　andhisavailinghimselfsoimmediatelyofthisopportunitytogotoaforeign
　　countryagainlooksalittletoomuchlikedistasteforhisown。’——Letters
　　toIvyfromthefirstEarlofDudley，October1808。
　　SeeonthissubjectaveryinterestingarticlebyMrL。MarchPhillippe
　　intheContemporaryReview，August1911。
　　HelpstonewasenclosedbyanActof1809。Clarewasthensixteenyears
　　old。Hisassociationwiththeoldvillagelifehadbeenintimate，forhe
　　hadtendedgeeseandsheeponthecommon，andhehadlearnttheoldcountry
　　songsfromthelastvillagecowherd。HispoemonHelpstonewaspublished
　　in1820。