CHAPTERI
AWordforLavengro。
LAVENGROisthehistoryuptoacertainperiodofoneofratherapeculiarmindandsystemofnerves,withanexteriorshyandcold,underwhichlurkmuchcuriosity,especiallywithregardtowhatiswildandextraordinary,aconsiderablequantityofenergyandindustry,andanunconquerableloveofindependence。Itnarrateshisearliestdreamsandfeelings,dwellswithminutenessontheways,words,andcharactersofhisfather,mother,andbrother,lingersontheoccasionalresting—placesofhiswanderinghalfmilitarychildhood,describesthegradualhardeningofhisbodilyframebyrobustexercises,hissuccessivestruggles,afterhisfamilyandhimselfhavesettleddowninasmalllocalcapital,toobtainknowledgeofeverykind,butmoreparticularlyphilologicallore;hisvisitstothetentoftheRomanychal,andtheparlouroftheAnglo—Germanphilosopher;theeffectproduceduponhischaracterbyhisflinginghimselfintocontactwithpeopleallwidelydifferingfromeachother,butallextraordinary;hisreluctancetosettledowntotheordinarypursuitsoflife;hisstrugglesaftermoraltruth;hisglimpsesofGodandtheobscurationoftheDivineBeing,tohismind’seye;andhisbeingcastupontheworldofLondonbythedeathofhisfather,attheageofnineteen。Intheworldwithinaworld,theworldofLondon,itshowshimplayinghispartforsometimeashebestcan,inthecapacityofawriterforreviewsandmagazines,anddescribeswhathesawandunderwentwhilstlabouringinthatcapacity;
itrepresentshim,however,asneverforgettingthatheisthesonofabravebutpoorgentleman,andthatifheisahackauthor,heislikewiseascholar。Itshowshimdoingnodishonourablejobs,andprovesthatifheoccasionallyassociateswithlowcharacters,hedoessochieflytogratifythecuriosityofascholar。Inhisconversationswiththeapple—womanofLondonBridge,thescholariseverapparent,soagaininhisacquaintancewiththemanofthetable,forthebookisnorakerupoftheuncleannessofLondon,andifitgiveswhatatfirstsightappearsrefuse,itinvariablyshowsthatapearlofsomekind,generallyaphilologicalone,iscontainedamongstit;itshowsitsheroalwaysaccompaniedbyhisloveofindependence,scorninginthegreatestpovertytoreceivefavoursfromanybody,anddescribeshimfinallyrescuinghimselffrompeculiarlymiserablecircumstancesbywritingabook,anoriginalbook,withinaweek,evenasJohnsonissaidtohavewrittenhis"Rasselas,"andBeckfordhis"Vathek,"andtellshow,leavingLondon,hebetakeshimselftotheroadsandfields。
Inthecountryitshowshimleadingalifeofrovingadventure,becomingtinker,gypsy,postillion,ostler;
associatingwithvariouskindsofpeople,chieflyofthelowerclasses,whosewaysandhabitsaredescribed;but,thoughleadingthiserraticlife,wegatherfromthebookthathishabitsareneithervulgarnorvicious,thathestillfollowstoacertainextenthisfavouritepursuits,huntingafterstrangecharacters,oranalysingstrangewordsandnames。Attheconclusionofthelastchapter,whichterminatesthefirstpartofthehistory,ithintsthatheisabouttoquithisnativelandonagrandphilologicalexpedition。
Thosewhoreadthisbookwithattention—andtheauthorbegstoobservethatitwouldbeoflittleutilitytoreadithurriedly—mayderivemuchinformationwithrespecttomattersofphilologyandliterature;itwillbefoundtreatingofmostoftheprincipallanguagesfromIrelandtoChina,andoftheliteraturewhichtheycontain;anditisparticularlyminutewithregardtotheways,manners,andspeechoftheEnglishsectionofthemostextraordinaryandmysteriousclanortribeofpeopletobefoundinthewholeworld—thechildrenofRoma。Butitcontainsmattersofmuchmoreimportancethananythinginconnectionwithphilology,andtheliteratureandmannersofnations。
PerhapsnoworkwaseverofferedtothepublicinwhichthekindnessandprovidenceofGodhavebeensetforthbymorestrikingexamples,orthemachinationsofpriestcraftbeenmoretrulyandlucidlyexposed,orthedangerswhichresulttoanationwhenitabandonsitselftoeffeminacy,andarageforwhatisnovelandfashionable,thanthepresent。
WithrespecttothekindnessandprovidenceofGod,aretheynotexemplifiedinthecaseoftheoldapple—womanandherson?Thesearebeingsinmanypointsbad,butwithwarmaffections,who,afteranagonizingseparation,arerestoredtoeachother,butnotuntiltheheartsofbotharechangedandpurifiedbytheinfluenceofaffliction。Aretheynotexemplifiedinthecaseoftherichgentleman,whotouchesobjectsinordertoaverttheevilchance?Thisbeinghasgreatgiftsandmanyamiablequalifies,butdoesnoteverybodyseethathisbesettingsinisselfishness?Hefixeshismindoncertainobjects,andtakesinordinateinterestinthem,becausetheyarehisown,andthoseveryobjects,throughtheprovidenceofGod,whichiskindnessindisguise,becomesnakesandscorpionstowhiphim。Tiredofvariouspursuits,heatlastbecomesanauthor,andpublishesabook,whichisverymuchadmired,andwhichheloveswithhisusualinordinateaffection;thebook,consequently,becomesavipertohim,andatlastheflingsitasideandbeginsanother;thebook,however,isnotflungasidebytheworld,whoarebenefitedbyit,derivingpleasureandknowledgefromit:sothemanwhomerelywrotetogratifyself,hasalreadydonegoodtoothers,andgothimselfanhonourablename。ButGodwillnotallowthatmantoputthatbookunderhisheadanduseitasapillow:thebookhasbecomeavipertohim,hehasbanishedit,andisaboutanother,whichhefinishesandgivestotheworld;itisabetterbookthanthefirst,andeveryoneisdelightedwithit;butitprovestothewriterascorpion,becausehelovesitwithinordinateaffection;butitwasgoodfortheworldthatheproducedthisbook,whichstunghimasascorpion。
Yes;andgoodforhimself,forthelabourofwritingitamusedhim,andperhapspreventedhimfromdyingofapoplexy;
butthebookisbanished,andanotherisbegun,andherein,again,istheprovidenceofGodmanifested;themanhasthepowerofproducingstill,andGoddeterminesthatheshallgivetotheworldwhatremainsinhisbrain,whichhewouldnotdo,hadhebeensatisfiedwiththesecondwork;hewouldhavegonetosleepuponthatashewoulduponthefirst,forthemanisselfishandlazy。Inhisaccountofwhathesufferedduringthecompositionofthiswork,hisbesettingsinofselfishnessismanifestenough;theworkonwhichheisengagedoccupieshiseverythought,itishisidol,hisdeity,itshallbeallhisown,hewon’tborrowathoughtfromanyoneelse,andheissoafraidlest,whenhepublishesit,thatitshouldbethoughtthathehadborrowedfromanyone,thatheiscontinuallytouchingobjects,hisnervoussystem,owingtohisextremeselfishness,havingbecomepartlyderanged。Heislefttouching,inordertobanishtheevilchancefromhisbook,hisdeity。Nomoreofhishistoryisgiven;butdoesthereaderthinkthatGodwillpermitthatmantogotosleeponhisthirdbook,howeverextraordinaryitmaybe?Assuredlynot。Godwillnotpermitthatmantoresttillhehascuredhimtoacertainextentofhisselfishness,whichhas,however,hithertobeenveryusefultotheworld。
Then,again,inthetaleofPeterWilliams,isnotthehandofProvidencetobeseen?Thispersoncommitsasininhischildhood,utterswordsofblasphemy,theremembranceofwhich,inafterlife,preyinguponhisimagination,unfitshimforquietpursuits,towhichheseemstohavebeennaturallyinclined;butfortheremembranceofthatsin,hewouldhavebeenPeterWilliamsthequietandrespectableWelshfarmer,somewhatfondofreadingtheancientliteratureofhiscountryinwinterevenings,afterhisworkwasdone。
God,however,wasawarethattherewassomethinginPeterWilliamstoentitlehimtoassumeahighercalling;hethereforepermitsthissin,which,thoughachildishaffair,wasyetasin,andcommitteddeliberately,topreyuponhismindtillhebecomesatlastaninstrumentinthehandofGod,ahumblePaul,thegreatpreacher,PeterWilliams,who,thoughheconsidershimselfareprobateandacastaway,insteadofhavingrecoursetodrinkinginmaddesperation,asmanydowhoconsiderthemselvesreprobates,goesaboutWalesandEnglandpreachingthewordofGod,dilatingonhispowerandmajesty,andvisitingthesickandafflicted,untilGodseesfittorestoretohimhispeaceofmind;whichhedoesnotdo,however,untilthatmindisinaproperconditiontoreceivepeace,tillithasbeenpurifiedbythepainoftheoneideawhichhassolongbeenpermittedtoriotinhisbrain;whichpain,however,anangel,intheshapeofagentlefaithfulwife,hadoccasionallyalleviated;forGodismercifulevenintheblowswhichHebestoweth,andwillnotpermitanyonetobetemptedbeyondthemeasurewhichhecansupport。AndhereitwillbeaswellforthereadertoponderuponthemeansbywhichtheWelshpreacherisrelievedfromhismentalmisery:heisnotrelievedbyatextfromtheBible,bythewordsofconsolationandwisdomaddressedtohimbyhisangel—mindedwife,norbythepreachingofoneyetmoreeloquentthanhimself;butbyaquotationmadebyLavengrofromthelifeofMaryFlanders,cut—purseandprostitute,whichlifeLavengrohadbeeninthehabitofreadingatthestallofhisoldfriendtheapple—woman,onLondonBridge,whohadherselfbeenverymuchaddictedtotheperusalofit,thoughwithoutanyprofitwhatever。ShouldthereaderbedissatisfiedwiththemannerinwhichPeterWilliamsismadetofindrelief,theauthorwouldwishtoanswer,thattheAlmightyfrequentlyaccomplisheshispurposesbymeanswhichappearverysingulartotheeyesofmen,andatthesametimetoobservethatthemannerinwhichthatreliefisobtained,iscalculatedtoreadalessontotheproud,fanciful,andsqueamish,whoareeverinafidgetlesttheyshouldbethoughttomixwithlowsociety,ortobestowamoment’sattentiononpublicationswhicharenotwhatiscalledofaperfectlyunobjectionablecharacter。HadnotLavengroformedtheacquaintanceoftheapple—womanonLondonBridge,hewouldnothavehadanopportunityofreadingthelifeofMaryFlanders;and,consequently,ofstoringinamemory,whichneverforgetsanything,apassagewhichcontainedabalmfortheagonizedmindofpoorPeterWilliams。Thebestmedicinesarenotalwaysfoundinthefinestshops。Suppose,forexample,if,insteadofgoingtoLondonBridgetoread,hehadgonetoAlbemarleStreet,andhadreceivedfromtheproprietorsoftheliteraryestablishmentinthatveryfashionablestreet,permissiontoreadthepublicationsonthetablesofthesaloonsthere,doesthereaderthinkhewouldhavemetanybalminthosepublicationsforthecaseofPeterWilliams?doesthereadersupposethathewouldhavefoundMaryFlandersthere?Hewouldcertainlyhavefoundthathighlyunobjectionablepublication,"Rasselas,"andthe"Spectator,"or"LivesofRoyalandIllustriousPersonages,"but,ofasurety,noMaryFlanders;sowhenLavengrometwithPeterWilliams,hewouldhavebeenunprovidedwithabalmtocurehisulceratedmind,andhavepartedfromhiminawaynotquitesosatisfactoryasthemannerinwhichhetookhisleaveofhim;foritiscertainthathemighthaveread"Rasselas,"andallotherunexceptionableworkstobefoundinthelibraryofAlbemarleStreet,overandoveragain,beforehewouldhavefoundanycureinthemforthecaseofPeterWilliams。ThereforetheauthorrequeststhereadertodropanysqueamishnonsensehemaywishtoutteraboutMaryFlanders,andthemannerinwhichPeterWilliamswascured。
AndnowwithrespecttotheoldmanwhoknewChinese,butcouldnottellwhatwaso’clock。Thisindividualwasamanwhosenaturalpowerswouldhavebeenutterlyburiedandlostbeneathamountainofslothandlaziness,hadnotGoddeterminedotherwise。Hehadinhisearlyyearschalkedoutforhimselfaplanoflifeinwhichhehadhisowneaseandself—indulgencesolelyinview;hehadnoparticularbadpassionstogratify,heonlywishedtoliveahappyquietlife,justasifthebusinessofthismightyworldcouldbecarriedonbyinnocentpeoplefondofeaseorquiet,orthatProvidencewouldpermitinnocentquietdronestooccupyanyportionoftheearthandtocumberit。Godhadatanyratedecreedthatthismanshouldnotcumberitasadrone。Hebringsacertainafflictionuponhim,theagonyofwhichproducesthatterriblewhirlingofthebrainwhich,unlessitisstoppedintime,producesmadness;hesuffersindescribablemiseryforaperiod,untilonemorninghisattentionisarrested,andhiscuriosityisaroused,bycertainChineselettersonateapot;hiscuriosityincreasesmoreandmore,and,ofcourse,inproportionashiscuriosityisincreasedwithrespecttotheChinesemarks,themiseryinhisbrain,producedbyhismentalaffliction,decreases。HesetsaboutlearningChinese,andafterthelapseofmanyyears,duringwhichhismindsubsidesintoacertainstateoftranquillity,heacquiressufficientknowledgeofChinesetobeabletotranslatewitheasetheinscriptionstobefoundonitssingularcrockery。Yes,thelaziestofhumanbeings,throughtheProvidenceofGod,abeingtooofratherinferiorcapacity,acquiresthewrittenpartofalanguagesodifficultthat,asLavengrosaidonaformeroccasion,nonebutthecleverestpeopleinEurope,theFrench,areabletoacquireit。ButGoddidnotintendthatmanshouldmerelyacquireChinese。Heintendedthatheshouldbeofusetohisspecies,andbytheinstrumentalityofthefirstChineseinscriptionwhichhetranslates,theonewhichfirstarrestedhiscuriosity,heistaughtthedutyofhospitality;yes,bymeansofaninscriptioninthelanguageofapeople,whohavescarcelyanideaofhospitalitythemselves,Godcausestheslothfulmantoplayausefulandbeneficentpartintheworld,relievingdistressedwanderers,and,amongstothers,Lavengrohimself。Butastrikingindicationoftheman’ssurprisingslothisstillapparentinwhatheomitstodo;hehaslearntChinese,themostdifficultoflanguages,andhepractisesactsofhospitality,becausehebelieveshimselfenjoinedtodosobytheChineseinscription,buthecannottellthehourofthedaybytheclockwithinhishouse;hecangeton,hethinks,verywellwithoutbeingabletodoso;
thereforefromthisoneomission,itiseasytocometoaconclusionastowhatasluggard’spartthemanwouldhaveplayedinlife,butforthedispensationofProvidence;
nothingbutextremeagonycouldhaveinducedsuchamantodoanythinguseful。Hestillcontinues,withallhehasacquired,withallhisusefulness,andwithallhisinnocenceofcharacter,withoutanypropersenseofreligion,thoughhehasattainedaratheradvancedage。Ifitbeobserved,thatthiswantofreligionisagreatdefectinthestory,theauthorbegsleavetoobservethathecannothelpit。
Lavengrorelatesthelivesofpeoplesofarastheywereplacedbeforehim,butnofurther。Itwascertainlyagreatdefectinsogoodamantobewithoutreligion;itwaslikewiseagreatdefectinsolearnedamannottobeabletotellwhatwaso’clock。ItisprobablethatGod,inhislovingkindness,willnotpermitthatmantogooutoftheworldwithoutreligion;whoknowsbutsomepowerfulministerofthechurchfullofzealforthegloryofGod,willillumethatman’sdarkmind;perhapssomeclergymanwillcometotheparishwhowillvisithimandteachhimhisdutytohisGod。
Yes,itisveryprobablethatsuchaman,beforehedies,willhavebeenmadetolovehisGod;whetherhewilleverlearntoknowwhat’so’clockisanothermatter。Itisprobablethathewillgooutoftheworldwithoutknowingwhat’so’clock。Itisnotsonecessarytobeabletotellthetimeofdaybytheclockastoknowone’sGodthroughHisinspiredword;amancannotgettoheavenwithoutreligion,butamancangetthereverycomfortablywithoutknowingwhat’so’clock。
But,aboveall,thecareandprovidenceofGodaremanifestedinthecaseofLavengrohimself,bythemannerinwhichheisenabledtomakehiswayintheworlduptoacertainperiod,withoutfallingapreyeithertoviceorpoverty。Inhishistory,thereisawonderfulillustrationofpartofthetext,quotedbyhismother,"Ihavebeenyoung,butnowamold,yetneversawItherighteousforsaken,orhisseedbegginghisbread。"Heisthesonofgoodandhonourableparents,butatthecriticalperiodoflife,thatofenteringintotheworld,hefindshimselfwithoutanyearthlyfriendtohelphim,yethemanagestomakehisway;hedoesnotbecomeaCaptainintheLifeGuards,itistrue,nordoeshegetintoParliament,nordoesthelastvolumeconcludeinthemostsatisfactoryandunobjectionablemanner,byhismarryingadowagercountess,asthatwisemanAddisondid,orbyhissettlingdownasagreatcountrygentleman,perfectlyhappyandcontented,liketheverymoralRoderickRandom,ortheequallyestimablePeregrinePickle;heishackauthor,gypsy,tinker,andpostillion,yet,uponthewhole,heseemstobequiteashappyastheyoungersonsofmostearls,tohaveashighfeelingsofhonour;andwhenthereaderlosessightofhim,hehasmoneyinhispockethonestlyacquired,toenablehimtocommenceajourneyquiteaslaudableasthosewhichtheyoungersonsofearlsgenerallyundertake。SurelyallthisisamanifestationofthekindnessandprovidenceofGod:andyetheisnotareligiousperson;uptothetimewhenthereaderlosessightofhim,heisdecidedlynotareligiousperson;hehasglimpses,itistrue,ofthatGodwhodoesnotforsakehim,buthepraysveryseldom,isnotfondofgoingtochurch;and,thoughheadmiresTateandBrady’sversionofthePsalms,hisadmirationisrathercausedbythebeautifulpoetrywhichthatversioncontainsthanthereligion;yethistaleisnotfinished—likethetaleofthegentlemanwhotouchedobjects,andthatoftheoldmanwhoknewChinesewithoutknowingwhatwaso’clock;
perhaps,likethem,heisdestinedtobecomereligious,andtohave,insteadofoccasionalglimpses,frequentanddistinctviewsofhisGod;yet,thoughhemaybecomereligious,itishardlytobeexpectedthathewillbecomeaverypreciseandstraightlacedperson;itisprobablethathewillretain,withhisscholarship,somethingofhisgypsyism,hispredilectionforthehammerandtongs,andperhapssomeinclinationtoputoncertaingloves,notwhitekid,withanyfriendwhomaybeinclinedforalittleoldEnglishdiversion,andareadinesstotakeaglassofale,withplentyofmaltinit,andaslittlehopasmaywellbe—aleatleasttwoyearsold—withtheaforesaidfriend,whenthediversionisover;for,asitisthebeliefofthewriterthatapersonmaygettoheavenverycomfortablywithoutknowingwhat’so’clock,soitishisbeliefthathewillnotberefusedadmissionthere,becausetothelasthehasbeenfondofhealthyandinvigoratingexercises,andfeltawillingnesstopartakeofanyofthegoodthingswhichitpleasestheAlmightytoputwithinthereachofhischildrenduringtheirsojournuponearth。
CHAPTERII
OnPriestcraft。
THEwriterwillnowsayafewwordsaboutpriestcraft,andthemachinationsofRome,andwillafterwardssaysomethingabouthimself,andhismotivesforwritingagainstthem。
WithrespecttoRome,andhermachinations,muchvaluableinformationcanbeobtainedfromparticularpartsofLavengro,anditssequel。Shortlybeforethetimewhentheheroofthebookislaunchedintotheworld,thePopishagitationinEnglandhadcommenced。ThePopishpropagandahaddeterminedtomakeagrandattemptonEngland;Popishpriestswerescatteredovertheland,doingthebesttheycouldtomakeconvertstotheoldsuperstition。WiththeplansofRome,andherhopes,andthereasonsonwhichthosehopesaregrounded,theheroofthebookbecomesacquainted,duringanexpeditionwhichhemakesintothecountry,fromcertainconversationswhichheholdswithapriestinadingle,inwhichtheherohadtakenuphisresidence;helikewiselearnsfromthesamepersonmuchofthesecrethistoryoftheRomanSee,andmanymattersconnectedwiththeoriginandprogressofthePopishsuperstition。Theindividualwithwhomheholdstheseconversationsisalearned,intelligent,buthighly—unprincipledperson,ofacharacterhoweververycommonamongstthepriestsofRome,whoingeneralarepeoplevoidofallreligion,andwho,notwithstandingtheyaretiedtoRomebyabandwhichtheyhaveneitherthepowernorwishtobreak,turnherandherpractices,overtheircupswiththeirconfidentialassociates,toaridiculeonlyexceededbythattowhichtheyturnthosewhobecomethedupesoftheirmistressandthemselves。
Itisnownecessarythatthewritershouldsaysomethingwithrespecttohimself,andhismotivesforwagingwaragainstRome。Firstofall,withrespecttohimself,hewishestostate,thattotheverylastmomentofhislife,hewilldoandsayallthatinhispowermaybetoholduptocontemptandexecrationthepriestcraftandpracticesofRome;thereis,perhaps,nopersonbetteracquaintedthanhimself,notevenamongthechoicestspiritsofthepriesthood,withtheoriginandhistoryofPopery。FromwhathesawandheardofPoperyinEngland,ataveryearlyperiodofhislife,hiscuriositywasaroused,andhesparedhimselfnotrouble,eitherbytravelorstudy,tomakehimselfwellacquaintedwithitinallitsphases,theresultbeingahatredofit,whichhehopesandtrustsheshallretaintillthemomentwhenhisspiritquitsthebody。Poperyisthegreatlieoftheworld;asourcefromwhichmoremiseryandsocialdegradationhavefloweduponthehumanrace,thanfromalltheothersourcesfromwhichthoseevilscome。Itistheoldestofallsuperstitions;andthoughinEuropeitassumesthenameofChristianity,itexistedandflourishedamidsttheHimalayanhillsatleasttwothousandyearsbeforetherealChristwasborninBethlehemofJudea;inaword,itisBuddhism;andletthosewhomaybedisposedtodoubtthisassertion,comparethePoperyofRome,andthesuperstitiouspracticesofitsfollowers,withthedoingsofthepriestswhosurroundthegrandLama;andthemouthings,bellowing,turningsround,and,aboveall,thepenancesofthefollowersofBuddhwiththoseofRomandevotees。Butheisnotgoingtodwellhereonthispoint;itisdweltuponattolerablelengthinthetext,andhaslikewisebeenhandledwithextraordinarypowerbythepenofthegiftedbutirreligiousVolney;moreover,theELITEoftheRomanpriesthoodareperfectlywellawarethattheirsystemisnothingbutBuddhismunderaslightdisguise,andtheEuropeanworldingeneralhasentertainedforsometimepastaninklingofthefact。
AndnowafewwordswithrespecttothemotivesofthewriterforexpressingahatredforRome。
ThisexpressedabhorrenceoftheauthorforRomemightbeentitledtolittleregard,provideditwerepossibletoattributeittoanyself—interestedmotive。TherehavebeenprofessedenemiesofRome,orofthisorthatsystem;buttheirprofessedenmitymayfrequentlybetracedtosomecausewhichdoesthemlittlecredit;butthewriteroftheselineshasnomotive,andcanhavenomotive,forhisenmitytoRome,savetheabhorrenceofanhonestheartforwhatisfalse,base,andcruel。AcertainclergymanwrotewithmuchheatagainstthePapistsinthetimeof—whowasknowntofavourthePapists,butwasnotexpectedtocontinuelonginoffice,andwhosesupposedsuccessor,theperson,indeed,whodidsucceedhim,wasthoughttobehostiletothePapists。
Thisdivine,whoobtainedarichbeneficefromthesuccessorof—whoduring—’stimehadalwaysopposedhimineverythingheproposedtodo,andwho,ofcourse,duringthattimeaffectedtobeveryinimicaltoPopery—thisdivinemightwellbesuspectedofhavingamotiveequallycreditableforwritingagainstthePapists,asthatwhichinducedhimtowriteforthem,assoonashispatron,whoeventuallydidsomethingmoreforhim,hadespousedtheircause;butwhatmotive,saveanhonestone,canthepresentwriterhave,forexpressinganabhorrenceofPopery?Heisnoclergyman,andconsequentlycanexpectneitherbeneficesnorbishoprics,supposingitwerethefashionofthepresent,orlikelytobethefashionofanyfutureadministration,torewardclergymenwithbeneficesorbishoprics,who,inthedefenceofthereligionoftheircountrywrite,orshallwrite,againstPopery,andnottorewardthosewhowrite,orshallwrite,infavourofit,andallitsnonsenseandabominations。
"Butifnotaclergyman,heistheservantofacertainsociety,whichhastheoverthrowofPoperyinview,andtherefore,"etc。Thisassertion,whichhasbeenfrequentlymade,isincorrect,evenasthosewhohavemadeitprobablyknewittobe。Heistheservantofnosocietywhatever。Heeatshisownbread,andisoneoftheveryfewmeninEnglandwhoareindependentineverysenseoftheword。
ItistruehewenttoSpainwiththecoloursofthatsocietyonhishat—oh!thebloodglowsinhisveins!oh!themarrowawakesinhisoldboneswhenhethinksofwhatheaccomplishedinSpaininthecauseofreligionandcivilizationwiththecoloursofthatsocietyinhishat,anditsweaponinhishand,eventheswordofthewordofGod;
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