首页 >出版文学> The Romany Ryel>第4章

第4章

  Ofthem,itwouldbedifficulttosaywhethertheymosthatedordespisedhim。Religionhehadnone。OnedayhefavouredPopery;thenext,onhearingcertainclamoursofthepeople,hesenthiswife’sdomesticsbackpackingtoFrance,becausetheywerePapists。Papists,however,shouldmakehimasaint,forhewascertainlythecauseofthetakingofRochelle。
  Hisson,CharlestheSecond,thoughhepassedhisyouthintheschoolofadversity,learnednootherlessonfromitthanthefollowingone—takecareofyourself,andneverdoanaction,eithergoodorbad,whichislikelytobringyouintoanygreatdifficulty;andthismaximheacteduptoassoonashecametothethrone。HewasaPapist,buttookespecialcarenottoacknowledgehisreligion,atwhichhefrequentlyscoffed,tilljustbeforehislastgasp,whenheknewthathecouldlosenothing,andhopedtogaineverythingbyit。Hewasalwaysinwantofmoney,buttookcarenottotaxthecountrybeyondallendurablebounds;preferringtosuchaboldanddangerouscourse,tobecomethepensionerofLouis,towhom,inreturnforhisgold,hesacrificedthehonourandinterestsofBritain。Hewastoolazyandsensualtodelightinplayingthepartofatyranthimself;buthenevercheckedtyrannyinotherssaveinoneinstance。Hepermittedbeastlybutcherstocommitunmentionablehorrorsonthefeeble,unarmed,anddisunitedCovenantersofScotland,butcheckedthemwhentheywouldfainhaveendeavouredtoplaythesamegameonthenumerousunited,dogged,andwarlikeIndependentsofEngland。Toshowhisfilialpiety,hebadethehangmandishonourthecorpsesofsomeofhisfather’sjudges,beforewhom,whenalive,heranlikeascreaminghare;butpermittedthosewhohadlosttheirallinsupportinghisfather’scause,topineinmiseryandwant。Hewouldgivetoapaintedharlotathousandpoundsforaloathsomeembrace,andtoaplayerorbuffoonahundredforatrumperypun,butwouldrefuseapennytothewidowororphanofanoldRoyalistsoldier。Hewasthepersonificationofselfishness;
  andashelovedandcaredfornoone,sodidnooneloveorcareforhim。Solittlehadhegainedtherespectoraffectionofthosewhosurroundedhim,thatafterhisbodyhadundergoneanafter—deathexamination,partsofitwerethrowndownthesinksofthepalace,tobecomeeventuallythepreyoftheswineandducksofWestminster。
  Hisbrother,whosucceededhim,JamestheSecond,wasaPapist,butsufficientlyhonesttoacknowledgehisPopery,butuponthewhole,hewasapoorcreature;thoughatyrant,hewascowardly,hadhenotbeenacowardhewouldneverhavelosthisthrone。TherewereplentyofloversoftyrannyinEnglandwhowouldhavestoodbyhim,providedhewouldhavestoodbythem,andwould,thoughnotPapists,haveencouragedhiminhisattempttobringbackEnglandbeneaththeswayofRome,andperhapswouldeventuallyhavebecomePapiststhemselves;butthenationraisingacryagainsthim,andhisson—in—law,thePrinceofOrange,invadingthecountry,heforsookhisfriends,ofwhomhehadahost,butforwhomhecaredlittle—lefthisthrone,forwhichhecaredagreatdeal—andPoperyinEngland,forwhichhecaredyetmore,totheirfate,andescapedtoFrance,fromwhence,aftertakingalittleheart,herepairedtoIreland,wherehewasspeedilyjoinedbyagallantarmyofPapistswhomhebaselyabandonedattheBoyne,runningawayinamostlamentablecondition,atthetimewhenbyshowingalittlecouragehemighthaveenabledthemtoconquer。Thisworthy,inhislastwill,bequeathedhishearttoEngland—hisrightarmtoScotland—
  andhisbowelstoIreland。WhattheEnglishandScotchsaidtotheirrespectivebequestsisnotknown,butitiscertainthatanoldIrishpriest,supposedtohavebeenagreat—
  grand—uncleofthepresentReverendFatherMurtagh,onhearingofthebequesttoIreland,fellintoagreatpassion,andhavingbeenbroughtupat"ParisandSalamanca,"
  expressedhisindignationinthefollowingstrain:—"Malditasseantustripas!teniamosbastantedelolordetustripasaltiempodetunuidadelabatalladelBoyne!"
  Hisson,generallycalledtheOldPretender,thoughborninEngland,wascarriedinhisinfancytoFrance,wherehewasbroughtupinthestrictestprinciplesofPopery,whichprinciples,however,didnotpreventhimbecoming(whendidtheyeverpreventanyone?)aworthlessandprofligatescoundrel;therearesomedoubtsastotherealityofhisbeingasonofJames,whichdoubtsareprobablyunfounded,thegrandproofofhislegitimacybeingthethoroughbasenessofhischaracter。Itwassaidofhisfatherthathecouldspeakwell,anditmaybesaidofhimthathecouldwritewell,theonlythinghecoulddowhichwasworthdoing,alwayssupposingthatthereisanymeritinbeingabletowrite。Hewasofameanappearance,and,likehisfather,pusillanimoustoadegree。Themeannessofhisappearancedisgusted,andhispusillanimitydiscouragedtheScotchwhenhemadehisappearanceamongstthemintheyear1715,sometimeafterthestandardofrebellionhadbeenhoistedbyMar。
  HeonlystayedashorttimeinScotland,andthen,seizedwithpanic,retreatedtoFrance,leavinghisfriendstoshiftforthemselvesastheybestcould。HediedapensionerofthePope。
  Thesonofthisman,CharlesEdward,ofwhomsomuchinlateryearshasbeensaidandwritten,wasaworthlessignorantyouth,andaprofligateandilliterateoldman。Whenyoung,thebestthatcanbesaidofhimis,thathehadoccasionallyspringsofcourage,invariablyatthewrongtimeandplace,whichmerelyservedtoleadhisfriendsintoinextricabledifficulties。Whenold,hewasloathsomeandcontemptibletobothfriendandfoe。Hiswifeloathedhim,andforthemostterribleofreasons;shedidnotpollutehiscouch,fortodothatwasimpossible—hehadmadeitsovile;butshebetrayedit,invitingtoitnotonlyAlfieritheFilthy,butthecoarsestgrooms。DoctorKing,thewarmestandalmostlastadherentofhisfamily,said,thattherewasnotaviceorcrimeofwhichhewasnotguilty;asforhisfoes,theyscornedtoharmhimevenwhenintheirpower。Intheyear1745hecamedownfromtheHighlandsofScotland,whichhadlongbeenafocusofrebellion。HewasattendedbycertainclansoftheHighlands,desperadoesusedtofree—booteryfromtheirinfancy,and,consequently,totheuseofarms,andpossessedofacertainspeciesofdiscipline;withthesehedefeatedatPrestonpansabodyofmencalledsoldiers,butwhowereinrealitypeasantsandartizans,leviedaboutamonthbefore,withoutdisciplineorconfidenceineachother,andwhoweremiserablymassacredbytheHighlandarmy;hesubsequentlyinvadedEngland,nearlydestituteofregularsoldiers,andpenetratedasfarasDerby,fromwhichplaceheretreatedonlearningthatregularforceswhichhadbeenhastilyrecalledfromFlanderswerecomingagainsthim,withtheDukeofCumberlandattheirhead;hewaspursued,andhisrearguardovertakenanddefeatedbythedragoonsofthedukeatClifton,fromwhichplacetherebelsretreatedingreatconfusionacrosstheEdenintoScotland,wheretheycommenceddancingHighlandreelsandstrathspeysonthebankoftheriver,forjoyattheirescape,whilstanumberofwretchedgirls,paramoursofsomeofthem,wereperishinginthewatersoftheswollenriverinanattempttofollowthem;
  theythemselvespassedoverbyeightiesandbyhundreds,arminarm,formutualsafety,withoutthelossofaman,buttheyleftthepoorparamourstoshiftforthemselves,nordidanyofthesecannypeopleafterpassingthestreamdashbacktorescueasinglefemalelife,—no,theyweretoowellemployeduponthebankindancingstrathspeystothetuneof"Charlieo’erthewater。"Itwas,indeed,Charlieo’erthewater,andcannyHighlanderso’erthewater,butwherewerethepoorprostitutesmeantime?INTHEWATER。
  TheJacobitefarce,ortragedy,wasspeedilybroughttoaclosebythebattleofCulloden;theredidCharliewishhimselfbackagaino’erthewater,exhibitingthemostunmistakablesignsofpusillanimity;thereweretheclanscuttopieces,atleastthosewhocouldbebroughttothecharge,andtherefellGilesMacBean,orashewascalledinGaelic,GiliosaMacBeathan,akindofgiant,sixfeetfourinchesandaquarterhigh,"thanwhom,"ashiswifesaidinacoronachshemadeuponhim,"nomanwhostoodatCuiloitrwastaller"—GilesMacBeantheMajoroftheclanCattan—agreatdrinker—agreatfisher—agreatshooter,andthechampionoftheHighlandhost。
  ThelastoftheStuartswasacardinal。
  SuchweretheStuarts,suchtheirmiserablehistory。TheyweredeadandburiedineverysenseoftheworduntilScottresuscitatedthem—how?bythepoweroffinewritingandbycallingtohisaidthatstrangedivinity,gentility。HewrotesplendidnovelsabouttheStuarts,inwhichherepresentsthemasunlikewhattheyreallywereasthegracefulandbeautifulpapillonisunlikethehideousandfilthyworm。Inaword,hemadethemgenteel,andthatwasenoughtogivethemparamountswayoverthemindsoftheBritishpeople。ThepublicbecameStuart—mad,andeverybody,speciallythewomen,said,"Whatapityitwasthatwehadn’taStuarttogovern。"Allparties,Whig,Tory,orRadical,becameJacobiteatheart,andadmirersofabsolutepower。
  TheWhigstalkedaboutthelibertyofthesubject,andtheRadicalsabouttherightsofmanstill,butneitherpartycaredastrawforwhatittalkedabout,andmentallysworethat,assoonasbymeansofsuchstufftheycouldgetplaces,andfilltheirpockets,theywouldbeasJacobiteastheJacobsthemselves。AsforTories,nogreatchangeinthemwasnecessary;everythingfavouringabsolutismandslaverybeingcongenialtothem。Sothewholenation,thatis,thereadingpartofthenation,withsomeexceptions,forthankGodtherehasalwaysbeensomesaltinEngland,wentoverthewatertoCharlie。ButgoingovertoCharliewasnotenough,theymust,oratleastaconsiderablepartofthem,goovertoRometoo,orhaveahankeringtodoso。AsthePriestsarcasticallyobservesinthetext,"AsalltheJacobswerePapists,sothegoodfolkswhothroughScott’snovelsadmiretheJacobsmustbePapiststoo。"AnideagotaboutthatthereligionofsuchgenteelpeopleastheStuartsmustbetheclimaxofgentility,andthatideawasquitesufficient。Onlyletathing,whethertemporalorspiritual,beconsideredgenteelinEngland,andifitbenotfolloweditisstrangeindeed;soScott’swritingsnotonlymadethegreaterpartofthenationJacobite,butPopish。
  Heresomepeoplewillexclaim—whoseopinionsremainsoundanduncontaminated—whatyousayisperhapstruewithrespecttotheJacobitenonsenseatpresentsoprevalentbeingderivedfromScott’snovels,butthePopishnonsense,whichpeopleofthegenteelerclassesaresofondof,isderivedfromOxford。WesentoursonstoOxfordnicehonestlads,educatedintheprinciplesoftheChurchofEngland,andattheendofthefirsttermtheycamehomepuppies,talkingPopishnonsense,whichtheyhadlearnedfromthepedantstowhosecarewehadentrustedthem;ay,notonlyPoperybutJacobitism,whichtheyhardlycarriedwiththemfromhome,forweneverheardthemtalkingJacobitismbeforetheyhadbeenatOxford;butnowtheirconversationisafarragoofPopishandJacobitestuff—"ComplinesandClaverse。"Now,whatthesehonestfolkssayis,toacertainextent,foundedonfact;thePoperywhichhasoverflowedthelandduringthelastfourteenorfifteenyears,hascomeimmediatelyfromOxford,andlikewisesomeoftheJacobitism,PopishandJacobitenonsense,andlittleornothingelse,havingbeentaughtatOxfordforaboutthatnumberofyears。
  ButwhencedidthepedantsgetthePopishnonsensewithwhichtheyhavecorruptedyouth?Why,fromthesamequarterfromwhichtheygottheJacobitenonsensewithwhichtheyhaveinoculatedthoseladswhowerenotinoculatedwithitbefore—Scott’snovels。JacobitismandLaudism,akindofhalfPopery,hadatonetimebeenveryprevalentatOxford,butbothhadbeenlongconsignedtooblivionthere,andpeopleatOxfordcaredaslittleaboutLaudastheydidaboutthePretender。Bothweredeadandburiedthere,aseverywhereelse,tillScottcalledthemoutoftheirgraves,whenthepedantsofOxfordhailedboth—ay,andthePope,too,assoonasScotthadmadetheoldfellowfascinating,throughparticularnovels,moreespeciallythe"Monastery"and"Abbot。"Thenthequiet,respectable,honourableChurchofEnglandwouldnolongerdoforthepedantsofOxford;theymustbelongtoamoregenteelchurch—theywereashamedatfirsttobedownrightRomans—sotheywouldbeLauds。Thepale—looking,butexceedinglygenteelnon—juringclergymaninWaverleywasaLaud;buttheysoonbecametiredofbeingLauds,forLaud’sChurch,gew—gawishandidolatrousasitwas,wasnotsufficientlytinsellyandidolatrousforthem,sotheymustbePopes,butinasneakingway,stillcallingthemselvesChurch—of—Englandmen,inordertobattenonthebountyofthechurchwhichtheywerebetraying,andlikewisehaveopportunitiesofcorruptingsuchladsasmightstillresorttoOxfordwithprinciplesuncontaminated。
  Sotherespectablepeople,whoseopinionsarestillsound,are,toacertainextent,rightwhentheysaythatthetideofPopery,whichhasflowedovertheland,hascomefromOxford。ItdidcomeimmediatelyfromOxford,buthowdiditgettoOxford?Why,fromScott’snovels。Oh!thatsermonwhichwasthefirstmanifestationofOxfordfeeling,preachedatOxfordsometimeintheyear’38byadivineofaweakandconfusedintellect,inwhichPoperywasmixedupwithJacobitism!Thepresentwriterremembersperfectlywell,onreadingsomeextractsfromitatthetimeinanewspaper,onthetopofacoach,exclaiming—"Why,thesimpletonhasbeenpilferingfromWalterScott’snovels!"
  OOxfordpedants!Oxfordpedants!yewhosepoliticsandreligionarebothderivedfromScott’snovels!whatapityitisthatsomeladofhonestparents,whosemindyeareendeavouringtostultifywithyournonsenseabout"ComplinesandClaverse,"hasnotthespirittostartupandcry,"Confoundyourgibberish!I’llhavenoneofit。HurrahfortheChurch,andtheprinciplesofmyFATHER!"
  CHAPTERVII
  SameSubjectcontinued。
  NOWwhatcouldhaveinducedScotttowritenovelstendingtomakepeoplePapistsandJacobites,andinlovewitharbitrarypower?DidhethinkthatChristianitywasagaudymummery?
  Hedidnot,hecouldnot,forhehadreadtheBible;yetwashefondofgaudymummeries,fondoftalkingaboutthem。DidhebelievethattheStuartswereagoodfamily,andfittogovernacountrylikeBritain?Heknewthattheywereavicious,worthlesscrew,andthatBritainwasadegradedcountryaslongastheyswayedthesceptre;butforthosefactshecarednothing,theygovernedinawaywhichheliked,forhehadanabstractloveofdespotism,andanabhorrenceofeverythingsavouringoffreedomandtherightsofmaningeneral。Hisfavouritepoliticalpicturewasajoking,profligate,carelessking,nominallyabsolute—theheadsofgreathousespayingcourtto,butinrealitygoverning,thatking,whilstrevellingwithhimontheplunderofanation,andasetofcrouching,grovellingvassals(theliteralmeaningofvassalisawretch),who,afterallowingthemselvestobehorsewhipped,wouldtakeaboneifflungtothem,andbegrateful;sothatinlovewithmummery,thoughheknewwhatChristianitywas,nowonderheadmiredsuchachurchasthatofRome,andthatwhichLaudsetup;andbynatureformedtobetheholderofthecandletoancientworm—eatenandprofligatefamilies,nowonderthatallhissympathieswerewiththeStuartsandtheirdissipatedinsolentparty,andallhishatreddirectedagainstthosewhoendeavouredtocheckthemintheirproceedings,andtoraisethegeneralityofmankindsomethingaboveastateofvassalage,thatis,wretchedness。Thosewhowereborngreat,were,ifhecouldhavehadhiswill,alwaystoremaingreat,howeverworthlesstheircharacters。Thosewhowerebornlow,werealwaystoremainso,howevergreattheirtalents;
  though,ifthatrulewerecarriedout,wherewouldhehavebeenhimself?
  Inthebookwhichhecalledthe"HistoryofNapoleonBonaparte,"inwhichheplaysthesycophanttoallthelegitimatecrownedheadsinEurope,whatevertheircrimes,vices,ormiserableimbecilities,he,inhisabhorrenceofeverythinglowwhichbyitsownvigourmakesitselfillustrious,callsMuratofthesabrethesonofapastry—
  cook,ofaMarseilleisepastry—cook。Itisapitythatpeoplewhogivethemselveshoity—toityairs—andtheScotchingeneralarewonderfullyaddictedtogivingthemselveshoity—toityairs,andcheckingpeoplebetterthanthemselveswiththeirbirth(6)andtheircountry—itisagreatpitythatsuchpeopledonotlookathome—sonofapastry—cook,ofaMarseilleisepastry—cook!Well,andwhatwasScotthimself?Why,sonofapettifogger,ofanEdinburghpettifogger。"Oh,butScottwasdescendedfromtheoldcow—
  stealersofBuccleuch,andtherefore—"descendedfromoldcow—stealers,washe?Well,hadhenothingtoboastofbeyondsuchapedigree,hewouldhavelivedanddiedthesonofapettifogger,andbeenforgotten,anddeservedlyso;buthepossessedtalents,andbyhistalentsroselikeMurat,andlikehimwillberememberedforhistalentsalone,anddeservedlyso。"Yes,butMuratwasstillthesonofapastry—cook,andthoughhewascertainlygoodatthesabre,andcuthiswaytoathrone,still—"Lord!whatfoolsthereareintheworld;butasnoonecanbethoughtanythingofinthisworldwithoutapedigree,thewriterwillnowgiveapedigreeforMurat,ofaverydifferentcharacterfromthecow—stealingoneofScott,butsuchaoneastheproudesthemightnotdisdaintoclaim。Scottwasdescendedfromtheoldcow—stealersofBuccleuch—washe?Good!andMuratwasdescendedfromtheoldMoorsofSpain,fromtheAbencerages(sonsofthesaddle)ofGranada。ThenameMuratisArabic,andisthesameasMurad(LeDesire,orthewished—forone)。
  ScottinhisgenteelLifeofBonaparte,saysthat"whenMuratwasinEgypt,thesimilaritybetweenthenameofthecelebratedMamelukeMouradandthatofBonaparte’sMeilleurSabreurwasremarked,andbecamethesubjectofjestamongstthecomradesofthegallantFrenchman。"ButthewriterofthenovelofBonapartedidnotknowthatthenameswereoneandthesame。Nowwhichwasthebestpedigree,thatofthesonofthepastry—cook,orthatofthesonofthepettifogger?Whichwasthebestblood?Letusobservetheworkingsofthetwobloods。Hewhohadthebloodofthe"sonsofthesaddle"inhim,becamethewonderfulcavalierofthemostwonderfulhostthateverwentforthtoconquest,wonforhimselfacrown,anddiedthedeathofasoldier,leavingbehindhimason,onlyinferiortohimselfinstrength,inprowess,andinhorsemanship。Thedescendantofthecow—
  stealerbecameapoet,anovelwriter,thepanegyristofgreatfolkandgenteelpeople;becameinsolventbecause,thoughanauthor,hedeemeditungenteeltobemixedupwiththebusinesspartoftheauthorship;diedparalyticandbroken—heartedbecausehecouldnolongergiveentertainmentstogreatfolks,leavingbehindhim,amongstotherchildren,whowereneverheardof,ason,who,throughhisfather’sinterest,hadbecomelieutenant—colonelinagenteelcavalryregiment。Asonwhowasashamedofhisfatherbecausehisfatherwasanauthor;asonwho—paugh—whyaskwhichwasthebestblood?
  So,owingtohisrageforgentility,ScottmustneedsbecometheapologistoftheStuartsandtheirparty;butGodmadethismanpaydearlyfortakingthepartofthewickedagainstthegood;forlaudinguptotheskiesthemiscreantsandrobbers,andcalumniatingthenoblespiritsofBritain,thesaltofEngland,andhisowncountry。AsGodhaddriventheStuartsfromtheirthrone,andtheirfollowersfromtheirestates,makingthemvagabondsandbeggarsonthefaceoftheearth,takingfromthemallthattheycaredfor,sodidthatsameGod,whoknowsperfectlywellhowandwheretostrike,deprivetheapologistofthatwretchedcrewofallthatrenderedlifepleasantinhiseyes,thelackofwhichparalysedhiminbodyandmind,renderedhimpitiabletoothers,loathsometohimself,—somuchso,thatheoncesaid,"Whereisthebeggarwhowouldchangeplaceswithme,notwithstandingallmyfame?"Ah!Godknowsperfectlywellhowtostrike。Hepermittedhimtoretainallhisliteraryfametotheverylast—hisliteraryfameforwhichhecarednothing;butwhatbecameofthesweetnessoflife,hisfinehouse,hisgrandcompany,andhisentertainments?Thegrandhouseceasedtobehis;hewasonlypermittedtoliveinitonsufferance,andwhatevergrandeuritmightstillretain,itsoonbecameasdesolatealookinghouseasanymisanthropecouldwishtosee—wherewerethegrandentertainmentsandthegrandcompany?therearenograndentertainmentswherethereisnomoney;nolordsandladieswheretherearenoentertainments—andtherelaythepoorlodgerinthedesolatehouse,groaningonabednolongerhis,smittenbythehandofGodinthepartwherehewasmostvulnerable。Ofwhatusetellingsuchamantotakecomfort,forhehadwrittenthe"Minstrel"and"RobRoy,"—tellinghimtothinkofhisliteraryfame?Literaryfame,indeed!hewantedbackhislostgentility:—
  "Retainmyaltar,Icarenothingforit—but,oh!touchnotmyBEARD。"
  PORNY’SWAROFTHEGODS。
  Hedies,hischildrendietoo,andthencomesthecrowningjudgmentofGodonwhatremainsofhisraceandthehousewhichhehadbuilt。HewasnotaPapisthimself,nordidhewishanyonebelongingtohimtobePopish,forhehadreadenoughoftheBibletoknowthatnoonecanbesavedthroughPopery,yethadheasneakingaffectionforit,andwouldattimesinanunderhandmanner,giveitagoodwordbothinwritinganddiscourse,becauseitwasagaudykindofworship,andignoranceandvassalageprevailedsolongasitflourished—buthecertainlydidnotwishanyofhispeopletobecomePapists,northehousewhichhehadbuilttobecomeaPopishhouse,thoughtheverynamehegaveitsavouredofPopery;butPoperybecomesfashionablethroughhisnovelsandpoems—theonlyonethatremainsofhisrace,afemalegrandchild,marriesapersonwho,followingthefashion,becomesaPapist,andmakesheraPapisttoo。Moneyaboundswiththehusband,whobuysthehouse,andthenthehousebecomestherankestPopishhouseinBritain。AsuperstitiouspersonmightalmostimaginethatoneoftheoldScottishCovenanters,whilstthegrandhousewasbeingbuiltfromtheprofitsresultingfromthesaleofwritingsfavouringPoperyandpersecution,andcalumniatoryofScotland’ssaintsandmartyrs,hadrisenfromthegrave,andbannedScott,hisrace,andhishouse,byreadingacertainpsalm。
  InsayingwhathehassaidaboutScott,theauthorhasnotbeeninfluencedbyanyfeelingofmaliceorill—will,butsimplybyaregardfortruth,andadesiretopointouttohiscountrymentheharmwhichhasresultedfromtheperusalofhisworks;—heisnotoneofthosewhowoulddepreciatethetalentsofScott—headmireshistalents,bothasaprosewriterandapoet;asapoetespeciallyheadmireshim,andbelieveshimtohavebeenbyfarthegreatest,withperhapstheexceptionofMickiewicz,whoonlywroteforunfortunatePoland,thatEuropehasgivenbirthtoduringthelasthundredyears。Asaprosewriterheadmireshim,less,itistrue,buthisadmirationforhiminthatcapacityisveryhigh,andheonlylamentsthatheprostitutedhistalentstothecauseoftheStuartsandgentility。Whatbookoffictionofthepresentcenturycanyoureadtwice,withtheexceptionof"Waverley"and"RobRoy?"Thereis"Pelham,"itistrue,whichthewriteroftheselineshasseenaJewessreadinginthesteppeofDebreczin,andwhichayoungPrussianBaron,agreattraveller,whomhemetatConstantinoplein’44toldhimhealwayscarriedinhisvalise。And,inconclusion,hewillsay,inordertoshowtheopinionwhichheentertainsofthepowerofScottasawriter,thathedidforthesceptreofthewretchedPretenderwhatallthekingsofEuropecouldnotdoforhisbody—
  placeditonthethroneoftheserealms;andforPopery,whatPopesandCardinalsstroveinvaintodoforthreecenturies—broughtbackitsmummeriesandnonsenseintothetemplesoftheBritishIsles。
  Scottduringhislifetimehadacrowdofimitators,who,whethertheywrotehistorysocalled—poetrysocalled—ornovels—nobodywouldcallabookanovelifhecouldcallitanythingelse—wroteCharlieo’erthewaternonsense;andnowthathehasbeendeadnearlyaquarterofacentury,thereareothersdailyspringingupwhoarestrivingtoimitateScottinhisCharlieo’erthewaternonsense—fornonsenseitis,evenwhenflowingfromhispen。They,too,mustwriteJacobitehistories,Jacobitesongs,andJacobitenovels,andmuchthesamefigureasthescoundrelmenialsinthecomedycutwhenpersonatingtheirmasters,andretailingtheirmasters’conversation,dotheycutasWalterScotts。
  Intheirhistories,theytootalkaboutthePrinceandGlenfinnan,andthepibroch;andintheirsongsabout"Claverse"and"BonnyDundee。"ButthoughtheymaybeScots,theyarenotWalterScotts。Butitisperhapschieflyinthenovelthatyouseetheveritablehoginarmour;thetimeofthenovelisofcoursethe’15or’45;theheroaJacobite,andconnectedwithoneorotheroftheenterprisesofthoseperiods;andtheauthor,toshowhowunprejudicedheis,andwhatORIGINALviewshetakesofsubjects,mustneedsspeakupforPopery,wheneverhehasoccasiontomentionit;though,withallhisoriginality,whenhebringshisheroandthevagabondswithwhichheisconcernedbeforeabarricadoedhouse,belongingtotheWhigs,hecanmakethemgetintoitbynoothermethodthanthatwhichScottmakeshisriotersemploytogetintotheTolbooth,BURNINGDOWNthedoor。
  ToexpressthemorethanutterfoolishnessofthislatterCharlieo’erthewaternonsense,whetherinrhymeorprose,thereisbutoneword,andthatwordaScotchword。Scotch,thesorriestofjargons,comparedwithwhichevenRothWelschisdignifiedandexpressive,hasyetonewordtoexpresswhatwouldbeinexpressiblebyanywordorcombinationofwordsinanylanguage,orinanyotherjargonintheworld;andveryproperly;forasthenonsenseisproperlyScotch,soshouldthewordbeScotchwhichexpressesit—thatwordis"fushionless,"pronouncedFOOSHIONLESS;andwhenthewriterhascalledthenonsensefooshionless—andhedoescallitfooshionless—hehasnothingmoretosay,butleavesthenonsensetoitsfate。