Doestheearlyhistoryofeachtribeshowthepermanentbias,which,thoughnotlesspotent,ismasked,asthetribespreadsitsactivityintocolonies,commerce,codes,arts,letters?Theearlyhistoryshowsit,asthemusicianplaystheairwhichheproceedstoconcealinatempestofvariations。InAlfred,intheNorthmen,onemayreadthegeniusoftheEnglishsociety,namely,thatprivatelifeistheplaceofhonor。Glory,acareer,andambition,wordsfamiliartothelongitudeofParis,areseldomheardinEnglishspeech。
Nelsonwrotefromtheirheartshishomelytelegraph,"Englandexpectseverymantodohisduty。"
Foractualservice,forthedignityofaprofession,ortoappeasediseasedorinflamedtalent,thearmyandnavymaybeentered(theworstboysdoingwellinthenavy);andthecivilservice,indepartmentswhereseriousofficialworkisdone;andtheyholdinesteemthebarristerengagedinthesevererstudiesofthelaw。Butthecalm,sound,andmostBritishBritonshrinksfrompubliclife,ascharlatanism,andrespectsaneconomyfoundedonagriculture,coal—mines,manufactures,ortrade,whichsecuresanindependencethroughthecreationofrealvalues。
Theywishneithertocommandorobey,buttobekingsintheirownhouses。Theyareintellectualanddeeplyenjoyliterature;theylikewelltohavetheworldserveduptotheminbooks,maps,models,andeverymodeofexactinformation,and,thoughnotcreatorsinart,theyvalueitsrefinement。Theyarereadyforleisure,candirectandfilltheirownday,norneedsomuchasotherstheconstraintofanecessity。Butthehistoryofthenationdiscloses,ateveryturn,thisoriginalpredilectionforprivateindependence,and,howeverthisinclinationmayhavebeendisturbedbythebribeswithwhichtheirvastcolonialpowerhaswarpedmenoutoforbit,theinclinationendures,andformsandreformsthelaws,letters,manners,andoccupations。Theychoosethatwelfarewhichiscompatiblewiththecommonwealth,knowingthatsuchaloneisstable;
aswisemerchantspreferinvestmentsinthethreepercents。
ChapterIX_Cockayne_
Theenglishareanationofhumorists。Individualrightispushedtotheuttermostboundcompatiblewithpublicorder。Propertyissoperfect,thatitseemsthecraftofthatrace,andnottoexistelsewhere。Thekingcannotsteponanacrewhichthepeasantrefusestosell。Atestatorendowsadogorarookery,andEuropecannotinterferewithhisabsurdity。Everyindividualhashisparticularwayofliving,whichhepushestofolly,andthedecidedsympathyofhiscompatriotsisengagedtobackupMr。Crump’swhimbystatutes,andchancellors,andhorse—guards。ThereisnofreaksoridiculousbutsomeEnglishmanhasattemptedtoimmortalizebymoneyandlaw。
BritishcitizenshipisasomnipotentasRomanwas。Mr。Cockayneisverysensibleofthis。Thepursymanmeansbyfreedomtherighttodoashepleases,anddoeswronginordertofeelhisfreedom,andmakesaconscienceofpersistinginit。
Heisintenselypatriotic,forhiscountryissosmall。Hisconfidenceinthepowerandperformanceofhisnationmakeshimprovokinglyincuriousaboutothernations。Hedislikesforeigners。
Swedenborg,wholivedmuchinEngland,notes"thesimilitudeofmindsamongtheEnglish,inconsequenceofwhichtheycontractfamiliaritywithfriendswhoareofthatnation,andseldomwithothers:andtheyregardforeigners,asonelookingthroughatelescopefromthetopofapalaceregardsthosewhodwellorwanderaboutoutofthecity。"A
mucholdertraveller,theVenetianwhowrotethe"RelationofEngland,"(*1)in1500,says:——"TheEnglisharegreatloversofthemselves,andofeverythingbelongingtothem。Theythinkthattherearenoothermenthanthemselves,andnootherworldbutEngland;and,whenevertheyseeahandsomeforeigner,theysaythathelookslikeanEnglishman,anditisagreatpityheshouldnotbeanEnglishman;andwhenevertheypartakeofanydelicacywithaforeigner,theyaskhimwhethersuchathingismadeinhiscountry。"
Whenheaddsepithetsofpraise,hisclimaxis"soEnglish;"andwhenhewishestopayyouthehighestcompliment,hesays,IshouldnotknowyoufromanEnglishman。Franceis,byitsnaturalcontrast,akindofblackboardonwhichEnglishcharacterdrawsitsowntraitsinchalk。ThisarrogancehabituallyexhibitsitselfinallusionstotheFrench。IsupposethatallmenofEnglishbloodinAmerica,Europe,orAsia,haveasecretfeelingofjoythattheyarenotFrenchnatives。Mr。ColeridgeissaidtohavegivenpublicthankstoGod,atthecloseofalecture,thathehaddefendedhimfrombeingabletoutterasinglesentenceintheFrenchlanguage。IhavefoundthatEnglishmenhavesuchagoodopinionofEngland,thattheordinaryphrases,inallgoodsociety,ofpostponingordisparagingone’sownthingsintalkingwithastranger,areseriouslymistakenbythemforaninsuppressiblehomagetothemeritsoftheirnation;andtheNewYorkerorPennsylvanianwhomodestlylamentsthedisadvantageofanewcountry,log—huts,andsavages,issurprisedbytheinstantandunfeignedcommiserationofthewholecompany,whoplainlyaccountalltheworldoutofEnglandaheapofrubbish。
(*1)PrintedbytheCamdenSociety。
Thesameinsularlimitationpincheshisforeignpolitics。Hestickstohistraditionsandusages,and,sohelphimGod!hewillforcehisislandby—lawsdownthethroatofgreatcountries,likeIndia,China,Canada,Australia,andnotonlyso,butimposeWappingontheCongressofVienna,andtrampledownallnationalitieswithhistaxedboots。LordChathamgoesforliberty,andnotaxationwithoutrepresentation;——forthatisBritishlaw;butnotahobnailshalltheydaremakeinAmerica,butbuytheirnailsinEngland,——
forthatalsoisBritishlaw;andthefactthatBritishcommercewastoberecreatedbytheindependenceofAmerica,tookthemallbysurprise。
Inshort,IamafraidthatEnglishnatureissorankandaggressiveastobealittleincompatiblewitheveryother。Theworldisnotwideenoughfortwo。
But,beyondthisnationality,itmustbeadmitted,theislandoffersadailyworshiptotheoldNorsegodBrage,celebratedamongourScandinavianforefathers,forhiseloquenceandmajesticair。
TheEnglishhaveasteadycourage,thatfitsthemforgreatattemptsandendurance:theyhavealsoapettycourage,throughwhicheverymandelightsinshowinghimselfforwhatheis,andindoingwhathecan;sothat,inallcompanies,eachofthemhastoogoodanopinionofhimselftoimitateanybody。Hehidesnodefectofhisform,features,dress,connection,orbirthplace,forhethinkseverycircumstancebelongingtohimcomesrecommendedtoyou。Ifoneofthemhaveabald,orared,oragreenhead,orbowlegs,orascar,ormark,orapaunch,orasqueakingoraravenvoice,hehaspersuadedhimselfthatthereissomethingmodishandbecominginit,andthatitsitswellonhim。
Butnaturemakesnothinginvain,andthislittlesuperfluityofself—regardintheEnglishbrain,isoneofthesecretsoftheirpowerandhistory。For,itsetseverymanonbeinganddoingwhathereallyisandcan。Ittakesawayadodging,skulking,secondaryair,andencouragesafrankandmanlybearing,sothateachmanmakesthemostofhimself,andlosesnoopportunityforwantofpushing。A
man’spersonaldefectswillcommonlyhavewiththerestoftheworld,preciselythatimportancewhichtheyhavetohimself。Ifhemakeslightofthem,sowillothermen。Weallfindintheseaconvenientmeterofcharacter,sincealittlemanwouldberuinedbythevexation。Irememberashrewdpolitician,inoneofourwesterncities,toldme,"thathehadknownseveralsuccessfulstatesmenmadebytheirfoible。"Andanother,anex—governorofIllinois,saidtome,"Ifamanknewanything,hewouldsitinacornerandbemodest;
butheissuchanignorantpeacock,thathegoesbustlingupanddown,andhitsonextraordinarydiscoveries。"
Thereisalsothisbenefitinbrag,thatthespeakerisunconsciouslyexpressinghisownideal。Humorhimbyallmeans,drawitallout,andholdhimtoit。TheirculturegenerallyenablesthetravelledEnglishtoavoidanyridiculousextremesofthisself—pleasing,andtogiveitanagreeableair。ThenthenaturaldispositionisfosteredbytherespectwhichtheyfindentertainedintheworldforEnglishability。ItwassaidofLouisXIV。,thathisgaitandairwerebecomingenoughinsogreatamonarch,yetwouldhavebeenridiculousinanotherman;sotheprestigeoftheEnglishnamewarrantsacertainconfidentbearing,whichaFrenchmanorBelgiancouldnotcarry。Atallevents,theyfeelthemselvesatlibertytoassumethemostextraordinarytoneonthesubjectofEnglishmerits。
AnEnglishladyontheRhinehearingaGermanspeakingofherpartyasforeigners,exclaimed,"No,wearenotforeigners;weareEnglish;itisyouthatareforeigners。"Theytellyoudaily,inLondon,thestoryoftheFrenchmanandEnglishmanwhoquarrelled。
Bothwereunwillingtofight,buttheircompanionsputthemuptoit:
atlast,itwasagreed,thattheyshouldfightalone,inthedark,andwithpistols:thecandleswereputout,andtheEnglishman,tomakesurenottohitanybody,firedupthechimney,andbroughtdowntheFrenchman。Theyhavenocuriosityaboutforeigners,andansweranyinformationyoumayvolunteerwith"Oh,Oh!"untiltheinformantmakesuphismind,thattheyshalldieintheirignorance,foranyhelphewilloffer。Therearereallynolimitstothisconceit,thoughbrightermenamongthemmakepainfuleffortstobecandid。
Thehabitofbragrunsthroughallclasses,fromtheTimesnewspaperthroughpoliticiansandpoets,throughWordsworth,Carlyle,Mill,andSydneySmith,downtotheboysofEton。Inthegravesttreatiseonpoliticaleconomy,inaphilosophicalessay,inbooksofscience,oneissurprisedbythemostinnocentexhibitionofunflinchingnationality。InatractonCorn,amostamiableandaccomplishedgentlemanwritesthus:——"ThoughBritain,accordingtoBishopBerkeley’sidea,weresurroundedbyawallofbrasstenthousandcubitsinheight,stillshewouldasfarexceltherestoftheglobeinriches,asshenowdoes,bothinthissecondaryquality,andinthemoreimportantonesoffreedom,virtue,andscience。"
(*2)
(*2)WilliamSpence。
TheEnglishdisliketheAmericanstructureofsociety,whilstyettrade,mills,publiceducation,andchartismaredoingwhattheycantocreateinEnglandthesamesocialcondition。Americaistheparadiseoftheeconomists;isthefavorableexceptioninvariablyquotedtotherulesofruin;butwhenhespeaksdirectlyoftheAmericans,theislanderforgetshisphilosophy,andremembershisdisparaginganecdotes。
Butthischildishpatriotismcostssomething,likeallnarrowness。TheEnglishswayoftheircolonieshasnorootofkindness。Theygovernbytheirartsandability;theyaremorejustthankind;and,wheneveranabatementoftheirpowerisfelt,theyhavenotconciliatedtheaffectiononwhichtorely。
Coarselocaldistinctions,asthoseofnation,province,ortown,areusefulintheabsenceofrealones;butwemustnotinsistontheseaccidentallines。Individualtraitsarealwaystriumphingovernationalones。ThereisnofenceinmetaphysicsdiscriminatingGreek,orEnglish,orSpanishscience。Aesop,andMontaigne,Cervantes,andSaadiaremenoftheworld;andtowaveourownflagatthedinnertableorintheUniversity,istocarrytheboisterousdulnessofafire—clubintoapolitecircle。Natureanddestinyarealwaysonthewatchforourfollies。Naturetripsusupwhenwestrut;andtherearecuriousexamplesinhistoryonthisverypointofnationalpride。
GeorgeofCappadocia,bornatEpiphaniainCilicia,wasalowparasite,whogotalucrativecontracttosupplythearmywithbacon。
Arogueandinformer,hegotrich,andwasforcedtorunfromjustice。Hesavedhismoney,embracedArianism,collectedalibrary,andgotpromotedbyafactiontotheepiscopalthroneofAlexandria。
WhenJuliancame,A。D。361,Georgewasdraggedtoprison;theprisonwasburstopenbythemob,andGeorgewaslynched,ashedeserved。
Andthispreciousknavebecame,ingoodtime,SaintGeorgeofEngland,patronofchivalry,emblemofvictoryandcivility,andtheprideofthebestbloodofthemodernworld。
Strange,thatthesolidtruth—speakingBritonshouldderivefromanimpostor。Strange,thattheNewWorldshouldhavenobetterluck,——thatbroadAmericamustwearthenameofathief。AmerigoVespucci,thepickledealeratSeville,whowentout,in1499,asubalternwithHojeda,andwhosehighestnavalrankwasboatswain’smateinanexpeditionthatneversailed,managedinthislyingworldtosupplantColumbus,andbaptizehalftheearthwithhisowndishonestname。Thusnobodycanthrowstones。Weareequallybadlyoffinourfounders;andthefalsepickledealerisanoffsettothefalsebacon—seller。
ChapterX_Wealth_
Thereisnocountryinwhichsoabsoluteahomageispaidtowealth。InAmerica,thereisatohofshamewhenamanexhibitstheevidencesoflargeproperty,asif,afterall,itneededapology。
ButtheEnglishmanhaspureprideinhiswealth,andesteemsitafinalcertificate。AcoarselogicrulesthroughoutallEnglishsouls;——ifyouhavemerit,canyounotshowitbyyourgoodclothes,andcoach,andhorses?Howcanamanbeagentlemanwithoutapipeofwine?Haydonsays,"thereisafierceresolutiontomakeeverymanliveaccordingtothemeanshepossesses。"Thereisamixtureofreligioninit。TheyareundertheJewishlaw,andreadwithsonorousemphasisthattheirdaysshallbelongintheland,theyshallhavesonsanddaughters,flocksandherds,wineandoil。
Inexactproportion,isthereproachofpoverty。Theydonotwishtoberepresentedexceptbyopulentmen。AnEnglishmanwhohaslosthisfortune,issaidtohavediedofabrokenheart。Thelasttermofinsultis,"abeggar。"Nelsonsaid,"thewantoffortuneisacrimewhichIcannevergetover。"SydneySmithsaid,"povertyisinfamousinEngland。"Andoneoftheirrecentwritersspeaks,inreferencetoaprivateandscholasticlife,of"thegravemoraldeteriorationwhichfollowsanemptyexchequer。"Youshallfindthissentiment,ifnotsofranklyput,yetdeeplyimplied,inthenovelsandromancesofthepresentcentury,andnotonlyinthese,butinbiography,andinthevotesofpublicassemblies,inthetoneofthepreaching,andinthetable—talk。
IwaslatelyturningoverWood’s_AthenaeOxonienses_,andlookingnaturallyforanotherstandardinachronicleofthescholarsofOxfordfortwohundredyears。ButIfoundthetwodisgracesinthat,asinmostEnglishbooks,are,first,disloyaltytoChurchandState,and,second,tobebornpoor,ortocometopoverty。A
naturalfruitofEnglandisthebrutalpoliticaleconomy。Malthusfindsnocoverlaidatnature’stableforthelaborer’sson。In1809,themajorityinParliamentexpresseditselfbythelanguageofMr。FullerintheHouseofCommons,"ifyoudonotlikethecountry,damnyou,youcanleaveit。"WhenSirS。Romillyproposedhisbillforbiddingparishofficerstobindchildrenapprenticesatagreaterdistancethanfortymilesfromtheirhome,Peelopposed,andMr。
Wortleysaid,"though,inthehigherranks,tocultivatefamilyaffectionswasagoodthing,’twasnotsoamongthelowerorders。
Bettertakethemawayfromthosewhomightdepravethem。Anditwashighlyinjurioustotradetostopbindingtomanufacturers,asitmustraisethepriceoflabor,andofmanufacturedgoods。"
TherespectfortruthoffactsinEngland,isequalledonlybytherespectforwealth。ItisatoncetheprideofartoftheSaxon,asheisawealth—maker,andhispassionforindependence。TheEnglishmanbelievesthateverymanmusttakecareofhimself,andhashimselftothank,ifhedonotmendhiscondition。Topaytheirdebtsistheirnationalpointofhonor。FromtheExchequerandtheEastIndiaHousetothehuckster’sshop,everythingprospers,becauseitissolvent。TheBritisharmiesaresolvent,andpayforwhattheytake。TheBritishempireissolvent;for,inspiteofthehugenationaldebt,thevaluationmounts。Duringthewarfrom1789
to1815,whilsttheycomplainedthattheyweretaxedwithinaninchoftheirlives,and,bydintofenormoustaxes,weresubsidizingallthecontinentagainstFrance,theEnglishweregrowingricheveryyearfasterthananypeopleevergrewbefore。Itistheirmaxim,thattheweightoftaxesmustbecalculatednotbywhatistaken,butbywhatisleft。SolvencyisintheideasandmechanismofanEnglishman。TheCrystalPalaceisnotconsideredhonestuntilitpays;——nomatterhowmuchconvenience,beauty,oreclat,itmustbeself—supporting。Theyarecontentedwithslowersteamers,aslongastheyknowthatswifterboatslosemoney。Theyproceedlogicallybythedoublemethodoflaborandthrift。Everyhouseholdexhibitsanexacteconomy,andnothingofthatuncalculatedheadlongexpenditurewhichfamiliesuseinAmerica。Iftheycannotpay,theydonotbuy;
fortheyhavenopresumptionofbetterfortunesnextyear,asourpeoplehave;andtheysaywithoutshame,Icannotaffordit。
Gentlemendonothesitatetorideinthesecond—classcars,orinthesecondcabin。Aneconomist,oramanwhocanproportionhismeansandhisambition,orbringtheyearroundwithexpenditurewhichexpresseshischaracter,withoutembarrassingonedayofhisfuture,isalreadyamasteroflife,andafreeman。LordBurleighwritestohisson,"thatoneoughtnevertodevotemorethantwothirdsofhisincometotheordinaryexpensesoflife,sincetheextraordinarywillbecertaintoabsorbtheotherthird。"
Theambitiontocreatevalueevokeseverykindofability,governmentbecomesamanufacturingcorporation,andeveryhouseamill。Theheadlongbiastoutilitywillletnotalentlieinanapkin,——ifpossible,willteachspiderstoweavesilkstockings。
AnEnglishman,whileheeatsanddrinksnomore,ornotmuchmorethananotherman,laborsthreetimesasmanyhoursinthecourseofayear,asanyotherEuropean;or,hislifeasaworkmanisthreelives。Heworksfast。EverythinginEnglandisataquickpace。
Theyhavereinforcedtheirownproductivity,bythecreationofthatmarvellousmachinerywhichdifferencesthisagefromanyotherage。
’Tisacuriouschapterinmodernhistory,thegrowthofthemachine—shop。Sixhundredyearsago,RogerBaconexplainedtheprecessionoftheequinoxes,theconsequentnecessityofthereformofthecalendar;
measuredthelengthoftheyear,inventedgunpowder;andannounced,(asiflookingfromhisloftycell,overfivecenturies,intoours,)"thatmachinescanbeconstructedtodriveshipsmorerapidlythanawholegalleyofrowerscoulddo;norwouldtheyneedanythingbutapilottosteerthem。Carriagesalsomightbeconstructedtomovewithanincrediblespeed,withouttheaidofanyanimal。Finally,itwouldnotbeimpossibletomakemachines,which,bymeansofasuitofwings,shouldflyintheairinthemannerofbirds。"
ButthesecretsleptwithBacon。Thesixhundredyearshavenotyetfulfilledhiswords。Twocenturiesago,thesawingoftimberwasdonebyhand;thecarriagewheelsranonwoodenaxles;thelandwastilledbywoodenploughs。Anditwastolittlepurpose,thattheyhadpit—coal,orthatloomswereimproved,unlessWattandStephensonhadtaughtthemtoworkforce—pumpsandpower—looms,bysteam。Thegreatstrideswerealltakenwithinthelasthundredyears。TheLifeofSirRobertPeel,whodied,theotherday,themodelEnglishman,veryproperlyhas,forafrontispieceadrawingofthespinning—jenny,whichwovethewebofhisfortunes。Hargreavesinventedthespinning—jenny,anddiedinaworkhouse。Arkwrightimprovedtheinvention;
andthemachinedispensedwiththeworkofninety—ninemen:thatis,onespinnercoulddoasmuchworkasonehundredhaddonebefore。Theloomwasimprovedfurther。Butthemenwouldsometimesstrikeforwages,andcombineagainstthemasters,and,about1829—30,muchfearwasfelt,lestthetradewouldbedrawnawaybytheseinterruptions,andtheemigrationofthespinners,toBelgiumandtheUnitedStates。Ironandsteelareveryobedient。Whetheritwerenotpossibletomakeaspinnerthatwouldnotrebel,normutter,norscowl,norstrikeforwages,noremigrate?Atthesolicitationofthemasters,afteramobandriotatStaleyBridge,Mr。
RobertsofManchesterundertooktocreatethispeacefulfellow,insteadofthequarrelsomefellowGodhadmade。Afterafewtrials,hesucceeded,and,in1830,procuredapatentforhisself—actingmule;acreation,thedelightofmill—owners,and"destined,"theysaid,"torestoreorderamongtheindustriousclasses";amachinerequiringonlyachild’shandtopiecethebrokenyarns。AsArkwrighthaddestroyeddomesticspinning,soRobertsdestroyedthefactoryspinner。ThepowerofmachineryinGreatBritain,inmills,hasbeencomputedtobeequalto600,000,000men,onemanbeingablebytheaidofsteamtodotheworkwhichrequiredtwohundredandfiftymentoaccomplishfiftyyearsago。Theproductionhasbeencommensurate。
Englandalreadyhadthislaboriousrace,richsoil,water,wood,coal,iron,andfavorableclimate。Eighthundredyearsago,commercehadmadeitrich,anditwasrecorded,"Englandistherichestofallthenorthernnations。"
TheNormanhistoriansrecite,that"in1067,WilliamcarriedwithhimintoNormandy,fromEngland,moregoldandsilverthanhadeverbeforebeenseeninGaul。"Butwhen,tothislaborandtrade,andthesenativeresourceswasaddedthisgoblinofsteam,withhismyriadarms,nevertired,workingnightanddayeverlastingly,theamassingofpropertyhasrunoutofallfigures。
Itmakesthemotorofthelastninetyyears。ThesteampipehasaddedtoherpopulationandwealththeequivalentoffourorfiveEnglands。FortythousandshipsareenteredinLloyd’slists。Theyieldofwheathasgoneonfrom2,000,000quartersinthetimeoftheStuarts,to13,000,000in1854。A
thousandmillionofpoundssterlingaresaidtocomposethefloatingmoneyofcommerce。In1848,LordJohnRussellstatedthatthepeopleofthiscountryhadlaidout300,000,000poundsofcapitalinrailways,inthelastfouryears。Butabettermeasurethanthesesoundingfigures,istheestimate,thatthereiswealthenoughinEnglandtosupporttheentirepopulationinidlenessforoneyear。
Thewise,versatile,all—givingmachinerymakeschisels,roads,locomotives,telegraphs。Whitworthdividesabartoamillionthofaninch。Steamtwineshugecannonintowreaths,aseasilyasitbraidsstraw,andvieswiththevolcanicforceswhichtwistedthestrata。Itcanclotheshinglemountainswithship—oaks,makesword—bladesthatwillcutgun—barrelsintwo。InEgypt,itcanplantforests,andbringrainafterthreethousandyears。Alreadyitisrudderingtheballoon,andthenextwarwillbefoughtintheair。
ButanothermachinemorepotentinEnglandthansteam,istheBank。
Itvotesanissueofbills,populationisstimulated,andcitiesrise;itrefusesloans,andemigrationemptiesthecountry;tradesinks;revolutionsbreakout;kingsaredethroned。Bythesenewagentsoursocialsystemismoulded。Bydintofsteamandofmoney,warandcommercearechanged。Nationshavelosttheiroldomnipotence;thepatriotictiedoesnothold。Nationsaregettingobsolete,wegoandlivewherewewill。Steamhasenabledmentochoosewhatlawtheywillliveunder。Moneymakesplaceforthem。
Thetelegraphisalimp—bandthatwillholdtheFenris—wolfofwar。
Fornow,thatatelegraphlinerunsthroughFranceandEurope,fromLondon,everymessageittransmitsmakesstrongerbyonethread,thebandwhichwarwillhavetocut。
Theintroductionoftheseelementsgivesnewresourcestoexistingproprietors。AsportingdukemayfancythatthestatedependsontheHouseofLords,buttheengineersees,thateverystrokeofthesteam—pistongivesvaluetotheduke’sland,fillsitwithtenants;doubles,quadruples,centuplestheduke’scapital,andcreatesnewmeasuresandnewnecessitiesforthecultureofhischildren。Ofcourse,itdrawsthenobilityintothecompetitionasstockholdersinthemine,thecanal,therailway,intheapplicationofsteamtoagriculture,andsometimesintotrade。Butitalsointroduceslargeclassesintothesamecompetition;theoldenergyoftheNorseracearmsitselfwiththesemagnificentpowers;newmenproveanover—matchfortheland—owner,andthemillbuysoutthecastle。ScandinavianThor,whoonceforgedhisboltsinicyHecla,andbuiltgalleysbylonelyfiords;inEngland,hasadvancedwiththetimes,hasshornhisbeard,entersParliament,sitsdownatadeskintheIndiaHouse,andlendsMiollnirtoBirminghamforasteam—hammer。
ThecreationofwealthinEnglandinthelastninetyyears,isamainfactinmodernhistory。ThewealthofLondondeterminespricesallovertheglobe。Allthingsprecious,oruseful,oramusing,orintoxicating,aresuckedintothiscommerceandfloatedtoLondon。SomeEnglishprivatefortunesreach,andsomeexceedamillionofdollarsayear。Ahundredthousandpalacesadorntheisland。Allthatcanfeedthesensesandpassions,allthatcansuccorthetalent,orarmthehandsoftheintelligentmiddleclass,whoneverspareinwhattheybuyfortheirownconsumption;allthatcanaidscience,gratifytaste,orsoothecomfort,isinopenmarket。
Whateverisexcellentandbeautifulincivil,rural,orecclesiasticarchitecture;infountain,garden,orgrounds;theEnglishnoblecrossesseaandlandtoseeandtocopyathome。Thetasteandscienceofthirtypeacefulgenerations;thegardenswhichEvelynplanted;thetemplesandpleasure—houseswhichInigoJonesandChristopherWrenbuilt;thewoodthatGibbonscarved;thetasteofforeignanddomesticartists,Shenstone,Pope,Brown,Loudon,Paxton,areinthevastauction,andthehereditaryprincipleheapsontheownerofto—daythebenefitofagesofowners。Thepresentpossessorsaretothefullasabsoluteasanyoftheirfathers,inchoosingandprocuringwhattheylike。Thiscomfortandsplendor,thebreadthoflakeandmountain,tillage,pasture,andpark,sumptuouscastleandmodernvilla,——allconsistwithperfectorder。
Theyhavenorevolutions;nohorse—guardsdictatingtothecrown;noParisian_poissardes_andbarricades;nomob:butdrowsyhabitude,dailydress—dinners,wine,andale,andbeer,andgin,andsleep。
Withthispowerofcreation,andthispassionforindependence,propertyhasreachedanidealperfection。Itisfeltandtreatedasthenationallife—blood。Thelawsareframedtogivepropertythesecurestpossiblebasis,andtheprovisionstolockandtransmitithaveexercisedthecunningestheadsinaprofessionwhichneveradmitsafool。Therightsofpropertynothingbutfelonyandtreasoncanoverride。Thehouseisacastlewhichthekingcannotenter。
TheBankisastrongboxtowhichthekinghasnokey。Whateversurlysweetnesspossessioncangive,istestedinEnglandtothedregs。Vestedrightsareawfulthings,andabsolutepossessiongivesthesmallestfreeholderidentityofinterestwiththeduke。Highstonefences,andpadlockedgarden—gatesannouncetheabsolutewilloftheownertobealone。Everywhimofexaggeratedegotismisputintostoneandiron,intosilverandgold,withcostlydeliberationanddetail。
AnEnglishmanhearsthattheQueenDowagerwishestoestablishsomeclaimtoputherparkpalingarodforwardintohisgrounds,soastogetacoachway,andsaveheramiletotheavenue。Instantlyhetransformshispalingintostone—masonry,solidasthewallsofCuma,andallEuropecannotprevailonhimtosellorcompoundforaninchoftheland。Theydelightinafreakastheproofoftheirsovereignfreedom。SirEdwardBoynton,atSpicPark,atCadenham,onaprecipiceofincomparableprospect,builtahouselikealongbarn,whichhadnotawindowontheprospectside。StrawberryHillofHoraceWalpole,FonthillAbbeyofMr。Beckford,werefreaks;andNewsteadAbbeybecameoneinthehandsofLordByron。
Buttheproudestresultofthiscreationhasbeenthegreatandrefinedforcesithasputatthedisposaloftheprivatecitizen。Inthesocialworld,anEnglishmanto—dayhasthebestlot。Heisakinginaplaincoat。Hegoeswiththemostpowerfulprotection,keepsthebestcompany,isarmedbythebesteducation,issecondedbywealth;andhisEnglishnameandaccidentsarelikeaflourishoftrumpetsannouncinghim。This,withhisquietstyleofmanners,giveshimthepowerofasovereign,withouttheinconvenienceswhichbelongtothatrank。ImuchprefertheconditionofanEnglishgentlemanofthebetterclass,tothatofanypotentateinEurope,——
whetherfortravel,orforopportunityofsociety,orforaccesstomeansofscienceorstudy,orformerecomfortandeasyhealthyrelationtopeopleathome。
SuchaswehaveseenisthewealthofEngland,amightymass,andmadegoodinwhateverdetailswecaretoexplore。Thecauseandspringofitisthewealthoftemperamentinthepeople。ThewonderofBritainisthisplenteousnature。Herworthiesareeversurroundedbyasgoodmenasthemselves;eachisacaptainahundredstrong,andthatwealthofmenisrepresentedagaininthefacultyofeachindividual,——thathehaswastestrength,powertospare。TheEnglisharesorich,andseemtohaveestablishedatap—rootinthebowelsoftheplanet,becausetheyareconstitutionallyfertileandcreative。
Butamanmustkeepaneyeonhisservants,ifhewouldnothavethemrulehim。Manisashrewdinventor,andisevertakingthehintofanewmachinefromhisownstructure,adaptingsomesecretofhisownanatomyiniron,wood,andleather,tosomerequiredfunctionintheworkoftheworld。Butitisfoundthatthemachineunmanstheuser。Whathegainsinmakingcloth,helosesingeneralpower。
Thereshouldbetemperanceinmakingcloth,aswellasineating。A
manshouldnotbeasilk—worm;noranationatentofcaterpillars。
TherobustruralSaxondegeneratesinthemillstotheLeicesterstockinger,totheimbecileManchesterspinner,——faronthewaytobespidersandneedles。Theincessantrepetitionofthesamehand—workdwarfstheman,robshimofhisstrength,wit,andversatility,tomakeapin—polisher,abuckle—maker,oranyotherspecialty;andpresently,inachangeofindustry,wholetownsaresacrificedlikeant—hills,whenthefashionofshoe—stringssupersedesbuckles,whencottontakestheplaceoflinen,orrailwaysofturnpikes,orwhencommonsareinclosedbylandlords。Thensocietyisadmonishedofthemischiefofthedivisionoflabor,andthatthebestpoliticaleconomyiscareandcultureofmen;for,inthesecrises,allareruinedexceptsuchasareproperindividuals,capableofthought,andofnewchoiceandtheapplicationoftheirtalenttonewlabor。Thenagaincomeinnewcalamities。Englandisaghastatthedisclosureofherfraudintheadulterationoffood,ofdrugs,andofalmosteveryfabricinhermillsandshops;findingthatmilkwillnotnourish,norsugarsweeten,norbreadsatisfy,norpepperbitethetongue,norgluestick。IntrueEnglandallisfalseandforged。Thistooisthereactionofmachinery,butofthelargermachineryofcommerce。’Tisnot,Isuppose,wantofprobity,somuchasthetyrannyoftrade,whichnecessitatesaperpetualcompetitionofunderselling,andthatagainaperpetualdeteriorationofthefabric。
Themachineryhasproved,liketheballoon,unmanageable,andfliesawaywiththeaeronaut。Steam,fromthefirst,hissedandscreamedtowarnhim;itwasdreadfulwithitsexplosion,andcrushedtheengineer。Themachinisthaswroughtandwatched,engineersandfiremenwithoutnumberhavebeensacrificedinlearningtotameandguidethemonster。ButharderstillithasprovedtoresistandrulethedragonMoney,withhispaperwings。ChancellorsandBoardsofTrade,Pitt,Peel,andRobinson,andtheirParliaments,andtheirwholegeneration,adoptedfalseprinciples,andwenttotheirgravesinthebeliefthattheywereenrichingthecountrywhichtheywereimpoverishing。Theycongratulatedeachotheronruinousexpedients。
Itisraretofindamerchantwhoknowswhyacrisisoccursintrade,whypricesriseorfall,orwhoknowsthemischiefofpapermoney。
Intheculminationofnationalprosperity,intheannexationofcountries;buildingofships,depots,towns;intheinfluxoftonsofgoldandsilver;amidthechuckleofchancellorsandfinanciers,itwasfoundthatbreadrosetofamineprices,thattheyeomanwasforcedtosellhiscowandpig,histools,andhisacreofland;andthedreadfulbarometerofthepoor—rateswastouchingthepointofruin。Thepoor—ratewassuckinginthesolventclasses,andforcinganexodusoffarmersandmechanics。Whatbefalsfromtheviolenceoffinancialcrises,befalsdailyintheviolenceofartificiallegislation。
SuchawealthhasEnglandearned,evernew,bounteous,andaugmenting。Butthequestionrecurs,doesshetakethestepbeyond,namely,tothewiseuse,inviewofthesupremewealthofnations?
Weestimatethewisdomofnationsbyseeingwhattheydidwiththeirsurpluscapital。And,inviewoftheseinjuries,somecompensationhasbeenattemptedinEngland。Apartofthemoneyearnedreturnstothebraintobuyschools,libraries,bishops,astronomers,chemists,andartistswith;andaparttorepairthewrongsofthisintemperateweaving,byhospitals,savings—banks,Mechanics’Institutes,publicgrounds,andothercharitiesandamenities。Buttheantidotesarefrightfullyinadequate,andtheevilrequiresadeepercure,whichtimeandasimplersocialorganizationmustsupply。Atpresent,shedoesnotruleherwealth。SheissimplyagoodEngland,butnodivinity,orwiseandinstructedsoul。Shetooisinthestreamoffate,onevictimmoreinacommoncatastrophe。
Butbeinginthefault,shehasthemisfortuneofgreatnesstobeheldasthechiefoffender。Englandmustbeheldresponsibleforthedespotismofexpense。Herprosperity,thesplendorwhichsomuchmanhoodandtalentandperseverancehasthrownuponvulgaraims,istheveryargumentofmaterialism。Hersuccessstrengthensthehandsofbasewealth。Whocanproposetoyouthpovertyandwisdom,whenmeangainhasarrivedattheconquestoflettersandarts;whenEnglishsuccesshasgrownoutoftheveryrenunciationofprinciples,andthededicationtooutsides?Acivilityoftrifles,ofmoneyandexpense,aneruditionofsensationtakesplace,andtheputtingasmanyimpedimentsaswecan,betweenthemanandhisobjects。Hardlythebravestamongthemhavethemanlinesstoresistitsuccessfully。
Hence,ithascome,thatnottheaimsofamanlylife,butthemeansofmeetingacertainponderousexpense,isthatwhichistobeconsideredbyayouthinEngland,emergingfromhisminority。A
largefamilyisreckonedamisfortune。Anditisaconsolationinthedeathoftheyoung,thatasourceofexpenseisclosed。
ChapterXI_Aristocracy_
ThefeudalcharacteroftheEnglishstate,nowthatitisgettingobsolete,glaresalittle,incontrastwiththedemocratictendencies。Theinequalityofpowerandpropertyshocksrepublicannerves。Palaces,halls,villas,walledparks,alloverEngland,rivalthesplendorofroyalseats。Manyofthehalls,likeHaddon,orKedleston,arebeautifuldesolations。Theproprietorneversawthem,orneverlivedinthem。Primogeniturebuiltthesesumptuouspiles,and,Isuppose,itisthesentimentofeverytraveller,asitwasmine,’Twaswelltocomeeretheseweregone。PrimogenitureisacardinalruleofEnglishpropertyandinstitutions。Laws,customs,manners,theverypersonsandfaces,affirmit。
Theframeofsocietyisaristocratic,thetasteofthepeopleisloyal。Theestates,names,andmannersofthenoblesflatterthefancyofthepeople,andconciliatethenecessarysupport。Inspiteofbrokenfaith,stolencharters,andthedevastationofsocietybytheprofligacyofthecourt,wetakesidesaswereadfortheloyalEnglandandKingCharles’s"returntohisright"withhisCavaliers,——knowingwhataheartlesstriflerheis,andwhatacrewofGod—forsakenrobberstheyare。ThepeopleofEnglandknewasmuch。
Butthefairideaofasettledgovernmentconnectingitselfwithheraldicnames,withthewrittenandoralhistoryofEurope,and,atlast,withtheHebrewreligion,andtheoldesttraditionsoftheworld,wastoopleasingavisiontobeshatteredbyafewoffensiverealities,andthepoliticsofshoemakersandcostermongers。Thehopesofthecommonerstakethesamedirectionwiththeinterestofthepatricians。Everymanwhobecomesrichbuysland,anddoeswhathecantofortifythenobility,intowhichhehopestorise。TheAnglicanclergyareidentifiedwiththearistocracy。Timeandlawhavemadethejoiningandmouldingperfectineverypart。TheCathedrals,theUniversities,thenationalmusic,thepopularromances,conspiretoupholdtheheraldry,whichthecurrentpoliticsofthedayaresapping。Thetasteofthepeopleisconservative。
Theyareproudofthecastles,andofthelanguageandsymbolofchivalry。Eventhewordlordistheluckieststylethatisusedinanylanguagetodesignateapatrician。Thesuperioreducationandmannersofthenoblesrecommendthemtothecountry。
TheNorwegianpirategotwhathecould,andhelditforhiseldestson。TheNormannoble,whowastheNorwegianpiratebaptized,didlikewise。Therewasthisadvantageofwesternoverorientalnobility,thatthiswasrecruitedfrombelow。Englishhistoryisaristocracywiththedoorsopen。Whohascourageandfaculty,lethimcomein。Ofcourse,thetermsofadmissiontothisclubarehardandhigh。Theselfishnessofthenoblescomesinaidoftheinterestofthenationtorequiresignalmerit。Piracyandwargaveplacetotrade,politics,andletters;thewar—lordtothelaw—lord;thelaw—lordtothemerchantandthemill—owner;buttheprivilegewaskept,whilstthemeansofobtainingitwerechanged。
ThefoundationsofthesefamiliesliedeepinNorwegianexploitsbysea,andSaxonsturdinessonland。Allnobilityinitsbeginningswassomebody’snaturalsuperiority。ThethingstheseEnglishhavedonewerenotdonewithoutperiloflife,norwithoutwisdomandconduct;andthefirsthands,itmaybepresumed,wereoftenchallengedtoshowtheirrighttotheirhonors,oryieldthemtobettermen。"Hethatwillbeahead,lethimbeabridge,"saidtheWelshchiefBenegridran,whenhecarriedallhismenovertheriveronhisback。"Heshallhavethebook,"saidthemotherofAlfred,"whocanreadit;"andAlfredwonitbythattitle:andI
makenodoubtthatfeudaltenurewasnosinecure,butbaron,knight,andtenant,oftenhadtheirmemoriesrefreshed,inregardtotheservicebywhichtheyheldtheirlands。TheDeVeres,Bohuns,Mowbrays,andPlantagenetswerenotaddictedtocontemplation。Themiddleageadorneditselfwithproofsofmanhoodanddevotion。OfRichardBeauchamp,EarlofWarwick,theEmperortoldHenryV。thatnoChristiankinghadsuchanotherknightforwisdom,nurture,andmanhood,andcausedhimtobenamed,"Fatherofcurtesie。""OursuccessinFrance,"saysthehistorian,"livedanddiedwithhim。"
(*1)
(*1)Fuller’sWorthies。II。p。472。
Thewar—lordearnedhishonors,andnodonationoflandwaslarge,aslongasitbroughtthedutyofprotectingit,hourbyhour,againstaterribleenemy。InFranceandinEngland,thenobleswere,downtoalateday,bornandbredtowar:andtheduel,whichinpeacestillheldthemtotherisksofwar,diminishedtheenvythat,intradingandstudiousnations,wouldelsehavepriedintotheirtitle。Theywerelookedonasmenwhoplayedhighforagreatstake。
Greatestatesarenotsinecures,iftheyaretobekeptgreat。
Acreativeeconomyisthefuelofmagnificence。InthesamelineofWarwick,thesuccessornextbutonetoBeauchamp,wasthestoutearlofHenryVI。andEdwardIV。Fewesteemedthemselvesinthemode,whoseheadswerenotadornedwiththeblackraggedstaff,hisbadge。
AthishouseinLondon,sixoxenweredailyeatenatabreakfast;andeverytavernwasfullofhismeat;andwhohadanyacquaintanceinhisfamily,shouldhaveasmuchboiledandroastashecouldcarryonalongdagger。
Thenewagebringsnewqualitiesintorequest,thevirtuesofpiratesgavewaytothoseofplanters,merchants,senators,andscholars。Comity,socialtalent,andfinemanners,nodoubt,havehadtheirpartalso。Ihavemetsomewherewithahistoriette,which,whethermoreorlesstrueinitsparticulars,carriesageneraltruth。"HowcametheDukeofBedfordbyhisgreatlandedestates?
Hisancestorhavingtravelledonthecontinent,alively,pleasantman,becamethecompanionofaforeignprincewreckedontheDorsetshirecoast,whereMr。Russelllived。TheprincerecommendedhimtoHenryVIII。,who,likinghiscompany,gavehimalargeshareoftheplunderedchurchlands。"
ThepretenceisthatthenobleisofunbrokendescentfromtheNorman,andhasneverworkedforeighthundredyears。Butthefactisotherwise。WhereisBohun?whereisDeVere?Thelawyer,thefarmer,thesilkmercerlies_perdu_underthecoronet,andwinkstotheantiquarytosaynothing;especiallyskilfullawyers,nobody’ssons,whodidsomepieceofworkatanicemomentforgovernment,andwererewardedwithermine。
ThenationaltastesoftheEnglishdonotleadthemtothelifeofthecourtier,buttosecurethecomfortandindependenceoftheirhomes。Thearistocracyaremarkedbytheirpredilectionforcountry—life。Theyarecalledthecounty—families。TheyhaveoftennoresidenceinLondon,andonlygothitherashorttime,duringtheseason,toseetheopera;buttheyconcentratetheloveandlaborofmanygenerationsonthebuilding,plantinganddecorationoftheirhomesteads。Someofthemaretoooldandtooproudtoweartitles,or,asSheridansaidofCoke,"disdaintohidetheirheadinacoronet;"andsomecuriousexamplesarecitedtoshowthestabilityofEnglishfamilies。Theirproverbis,that,fiftymilesfromLondon,afamilywilllastahundredyears;atahundredmiles,twohundredyears;andsoon;butIdoubtthatsteam,theenemyoftime,aswellasofspace,willdisturbtheseancientrules。SirHenryWottonsaysofthefirstDukeofBuckingham,"HewasbornatBrookebyinLeicestershire,wherehisancestorshadchieflycontinuedaboutthespaceoffourhundredyears,ratherwithoutobscurity,thanwithanygreatlustre。"(*2)Wraxallsays,that,in1781,LordSurrey,afterwardsDukeofNorfolk,toldhim,thatwhentheyear1783shouldarrive,hemeanttogiveagrandfestivaltoallthedescendantsofthebodyofJockeyofNorfolk,tomarkthedaywhenthedukedomshouldhaveremainedthreehundredyearsintheirhouse,sinceitscreationbyRichardIII。Pepystellsus,inwritingofanEarlOxford,in1666,thatthehonorhadnowremainedinthatnameandbloodsixhundredyears。
(*2)ReliquiaeWottonianae,p。208。
Thislongdescentoffamiliesandthiscleavingthroughagestothesamespotofgroundcaptivatestheimagination。Ithastooaconnectionwiththenamesofthetownsanddistrictsofthecountry。
Thenamesareexcellent,——anatmosphereoflegendarymelodyspreadovertheland。Olderthanallepicsandhistories,whichclotheanation,thisundershirtsitsclosetothebody。Whathistorytoo,andwhatstoresofprimitiveandsavageobservationitinfolds!CambridgeisthebridgeoftheCam;SheffieldthefieldoftheriverSheaf;Leicesterthe_castra_orcampoftheLearorLeir(nowSoar);Rochdale,oftheRoch;ExeterorExcester,the_castra_
oftheEx;Exmouth,Dartmouth,Sidmouth,Teignmouth,themouthsoftheEx,Dart,Sid,andTeignrivers。Walthamisstrongtown;
Radcliffeisredcliff;andsoon:——asincerityanduseinnamingverystrikingtoanAmerican,whosecountryiswhitewashedalloverbyunmeaningnames,thecast—offclothesofthecountryfromwhichitsemigrantscame;or,namedatapinchfromapsalm—tune。ButtheEnglisharethose"barbarians"ofJamblichus,who"arestableintheirmanners,andfirmlycontinuetoemploythesamewords,whichalsoaredeartothegods。"
’Tisanoldsneer,thattheIrishpeeragedrewtheirnamesfromplaybooks。TheEnglishlordsdonotcalltheirlandsaftertheirownnames,butcallthemselvesaftertheirlands;asifthemanrepresentedthecountrythatbredhim;andtheyrightlywearthetokenoftheglebethatgavethembirth;suggestingthatthetieisnotcut,butthatthereinLondon,——thecragsofArgyle,thekailofCornwall,thedownsofDevon,theironofWales,theclaysofStafford,areneitherforgettingnorforgotten,butknowthemanwhowasbornbythem,andwho,likethelonglineofhisfathers,hascarriedthatcrag,thatshore,dale,fen,orwoodland,inhisbloodandmanners。Ithas,too,theadvantageofsuggestingresponsibleness。AsusceptiblemancouldnotwearanamewhichrepresentedinastrictsenseacityoracountyofEngland,withouthearinginitachallengetodutyandhonor。
Thepredilectionofthepatriciansforresidenceinthecountry,combinedwiththedegreeoflibertypossessedbythepeasant,makesthesafetyoftheEnglishhall。MirabeauwrotepropheticallyfromEngland,in1784,"IfrevolutionbreakoutinFrance,Itrembleforthearistocracy:theirchateauxwillbereducedtoashes,andtheirbloodspiltintorrents。TheEnglishtenantwoulddefendhislordtothelastextremity。"TheEnglishgototheirestatesforgrandeur。TheFrenchliveatcourt,andexilethemselvestotheirestatesforeconomy。Astheydonotmeantolivewiththeirtenants,theydonotconciliatethem,butwringfromthemthelastsous。EvelynwritesfromBlois,in1644,"Thewolvesarehereinsuchnumbers,thattheyoftencomeandtakechildrenoutofthestreets:yetwillnottheDuke,whoissovereignhere,permitthemtobedestroyed。"
Inevidenceofthewealthamassedbyancientfamilies,thetravellerisshownthepalacesinPiccadilly,BurlingtonHouse,DevonshireHouse,LansdowneHouseinBerkshireSquare,and,lowerdowninthecity,afewnoblehouseswhichstillwithstandinalltheiramplitudetheencroachmentofstreets。TheDukeofBedfordincludesorincludedamilesquareintheheartofLondon,wheretheBritishMuseum,onceMontagueHouse,nowstands,andthelandoccupiedbyWoburnSquare,BedfordSquare,RussellSquare。TheMarquisofWestminsterbuiltwithinafewyearstheseriesofsquarescalledBelgravia。StaffordHouseisthenoblestpalaceinLondon。
NorthumberlandHouseholdsitsplacebyCharingCross。ChesterfieldHouseremainsinAudleyStreet。SionHouseandHollandHouseareinthesuburbs。Butmostofthehistoricalhousesaremaskedorlostinthemodernusestowhichtradeorcharityhasconvertedthem。A
multitudeoftownpalacescontaininestimablegalleriesofart。
Inthecountry,thesizeofprivateestatesismoreimpressive。
FromBarnardCastleIrodeonthehighwaytwenty—threemilesfromHighForce,afalloftheTees,towardsDarlington,pastRabyCastle,throughtheestateoftheDukeofCleveland。TheMarquisofBreadalbaneridesoutofhishouseahundredmilesinastraightlinetothesea,onhisownproperty。TheDukeofSutherlandownsthecountyofSutherland,stretchingacrossScotlandfromseatosea。
TheDukeofDevonshire,besideshisotherestates,owns96,000acresintheCountyofDerby。TheDukeofRichmondhas40,000acresatGoodwood,and300,000atGordonCastle。TheDukeofNorfolk’sparkinSussexisfifteenmilesincircuit。AnagriculturistboughtlatelytheislandofLewes,inHebrides,containing500,000acres。
ThepossessionsoftheEarlofLonsdalegavehimeightseatsinParliament。ThisistheHeptarchyagain:andbeforetheReformof1832,onehundredandfifty—fourpersonssentthreehundredandsevenmemberstoParliament。Theborough—mongersgovernedEngland。
Theselargedomainsaregrowinglarger。Thegreatestatesareabsorbingthesmallfreeholds。In1786,thesoilofEnglandwasownedby250,000corporationsandproprietors;and,in1822,by32,000。Thesebroadestatesfindroominthisnarrowisland。AlloverEngland,scatteredatshortintervalsamongship—yards,mills,mines,andforges,aretheparadisesofthenobles,wherethelivelongreposeandrefinementareheightenedbythecontrastwiththeroarofindustryandnecessity,outofwhichyouhavesteppedaside。
IwassurprisedtoobservetheverysmallattendanceusuallyintheHouseofLords。Outof573peers,onordinarydays,onlytwentyorthirty。Wherearethey?Iasked。"Athomeontheirestates,devouredby_ennui_,orintheAlps,oruptheRhine,intheHarzMountains,orinEgypt,orinIndia,ontheGhauts。"But,withsuchinterestsatstake,howcanthesemenaffordtoneglectthem?"O,"
repliedmyfriend,"whyshouldtheyworkforthemselves,wheneverymaninEnglandworksforthem,andwillsufferbeforetheycometoharm?"Thehardestradicalinstantlyuncovers,andchangeshistonetoalord。Itwasremarked,onthe10thApril,1848,(thedayoftheChartistdemonstration,)thattheupperclasseswere,forthefirsttime,activelyinterestingthemselvesintheirowndefence,andmenofrankwereswornspecialconstables,withtherest。"Besides,whyneedtheysitoutthedebate?HasnottheDukeofWellington,atthismoment,theirproxies,——theproxiesoffiftypeersinhispocket,tovoteforthem,iftherebeanemergency?"
Itishowevertrue,thattheexistenceoftheHouseofPeersasabranchofthegovernmententitlesthemtofillhalftheCabinet;
andtheirweightofpropertyandstationgivethemavirtualnominationoftheotherhalf;whilsttheyhavetheirshareinthesubordinateoffices,asaschooloftraining。ThismonopolyofpoliticalpowerhasgiventhemtheirintellectualandsocialeminenceinEurope。Afewlawlordsandafewpoliticallordstakethebruntofpublicbusiness。Inthearmy,thenobilityfillalargepartofthehighcommissions,andgivetotheseatoneofexpenseandsplendor,andalsoofexclusiveness。Theyhavebornetheirfullshareofdutyanddangerinthisservice;andtherearefewnoblefamilieswhichhavenotpaidinsomeoftheirmembers,thedebtoflifeorlimb,inthesacrificesoftheRussianwar。Fortherest,thenobilityhavetheleadinmattersofstate,andofexpense;inquestionsoftaste,insocialusages,inconvivialanddomestichospitalities。Ingeneral,allthatisrequiredofthemistositsecurely,topresideatpublicmeetings,tocountenancecharities,andtogivetheexampleofthatdecorumsodeartotheBritishheart。
Ifoneasks,inthecriticalspiritoftheday,whatservicethisclasshaverendered?——usesappear,ortheywouldhaveperishedlongago。Someoftheseareeasilyenumerated,othersmoresubtlemakeapartofunconscioushistory。Theirinstitutionisonestepintheprogressofsociety。Foraraceyieldsanobilityinsomeform,howeverwenamethelords,assurelyasityieldswomen。
TheEnglishnoblesarehigh—spirited,active,educatedmen,borntowealthandpower,whohaverunthrougheverycountry,andkeptineverycountrythebestcompany,haveseeneverysecretofartandnature,and,whenmenofanyabilityorambition,havebeenconsultedintheconductofeveryimportantaction。Youcannotwieldgreatagencieswithoutlendingyourselftothem,and,whenithappensthatthespiritoftheearlmeetshisrankandduties,wehavethebestexamplesofbehavior。Powerofanykindreadilyappearsinthemanners;andbeneficentpower,_letalentdebienfaire_,givesamajestywhichcannotbeconcealedorresisted。
Thesepeopleseemtogainasmuchastheylosebytheirposition。Theysurveysociety,asfromthetopofSt。Paul’s,and,iftheyneverhearplaintruthfrommen,theyseethebestofeverything,ineverykind,andtheyseethingssogroupedandamassedastoinfereasilythesumandgenius,insteadoftediousparticularities。Theirgoodbehaviordeservesallitsfame,andtheyhavethatsimplicity,andthatairofrepose,whicharethefinestornamentofgreatness。
Theupperclasseshaveonlybirth,saythepeoplehere,andnotthoughts。Yes,buttheyhavemanners,and,’tiswonderful,howmuchtalentrunsintomanners:——nowhereandneversomuchasinEngland。
Theyhavethesenseofsuperiority,theabsenceofalltheambitiouseffortwhichdisgustsintheaspiringclasses,apuretoneofthoughtandfeeling,andthepowertocommand,amongtheirotherluxuries,thepresenceofthemostaccomplishedmenintheirfestivemeetings。
LoyaltyisintheEnglishasub—religion。Theywearthelawsasornaments,andwalkbytheirfaithintheirpaintedMay—Fair,asifamongtheformsofgods。Theeconomistof1855whoasks,ofwhatusearethelords?maylearnofFranklintoask,ofwhatuseisababy?Theyhavebeenasocialchurchpropertoinspiresentimentsmutuallyhonoringtheloverandtheloved。Politenessistheritualofsociety,asprayersareofthechurch;aschoolofmanners,andagentleblessingtotheageinwhichitgrew。’TisaromanceadorningEnglishlifewithalargerhorizon;amidwayheaven,fulfillingtotheirsensetheirfairytalesandpoetry。This,justasfarasthebreedingofthenoblemanreallymadehimbrave,handsome,accomplished,andgreat—hearted。
Ongeneralgrounds,whatevertendstoformmanners,ortofinishmen,hasagreatvalue。Everyonewhohastastedthedelightoffriendship,willrespecteverysocialguardwhichourmannerscanestablish,tendingtosecurefromtheintrusionoffrivolousanddistastefulpeople。Thejealousyofeveryclasstoguarditself,isatestimonytotherealitytheyhavefoundinlife。Whenamanonceknowsthathehasdonejusticetohimself,lethimdismissallterrorsofaristocracyassuperstitions,sofarasheisconcerned。
Hewhokeepsthedoorofamine,whetherofcobalt,ormercury,ornickel,orplumbago,securelyknowsthattheworldcannotdowithouthim。Everybodywhoisrealisopenandreadyforthatwhichisalsoreal。
Besides,thesearetheywhomakeEnglandthatstrongboxandmuseumitis;whogatherandprotectworksofart,draggedfromamidstburningcitiesandrevolutionarycountries,andbroughthitheroutofalltheworld。Ilookwithrespectathousessix,seven,eighthundred,or,likeWarwickCastle,ninehundredyearsold。I
pardonedhighpark—fences,whenIsaw,that,besidesdoesandpheasants,thesehavepreservedArundelmarbles,Townleygalleries,HowardandSpenserianlibraries,WarwickandPortlandvases,Saxonmanuscripts,monasticarchitectures,millennialtrees,andbreedsofcattleelsewhereextinct。Inthesemanors,afterthefrenzyofwaranddestructionsubsidesalittle,theantiquaryfindsthefrailestRomanjar,orcrumblingEgyptianmummy—case,withoutsomuchasanewlayerofdust,keepingtheseriesofhistoryunbroken,andwaitingforitsinterpreter,whoissuretoarrive。Theselordsarethetreasurersandlibrariansofmankind,engagedbytheirprideandwealthtothisfunction。
第4章