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} + body {font-family: Georgia, serif; text-align: justify; } + table {font-size: .9em; padding: 1.5em .5em 1em; page-break-inside: avoid; + clear: both; } + div.titlepage {text-align: center; page-break-before: always; + page-break-after: always; } + div.titlepage p {text-align: center; text-indent: 0em; font-weight: bold; + line-height: 1.5; margin-top: 3em; } + .ph1 { text-indent: 0em; font-weight: bold; font-size: xx-large; + margin: .67em auto; page-break-before: always; } + .ph2 { text-indent: 0em; font-weight: bold; font-size: x-large; margin: .75em auto; + page-break-before: always; } + .x-ebookmaker p.dropcap:first-letter { float: left; } + </style> + </head> + <body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75215 ***</div> + +<div class='tnotes covernote'> + +<p class='c000'><strong>Transcriber’s Note:</strong></p> + +<p class='c000'>New original cover art included with this eBook is granted to the public domain.</p> + +</div> + +<div class='titlepage'> + +<div> + <h1 class='c001'>BLACKWOOD’S EDINBURGH MAGAZINE.<br> <span class='xlarge'><span class='sc'>No. CCCXCV.      SEPTEMBER, 1848.      Vol. LXIV.</span></span></h1> +</div> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c002'>CONTENTS.</h2> +</div> + +<table class='table0'> + <tr> + <td class='c003'><span class='sc'>A Review of the Last Session</span>,</td> + <td class='c004'><a href='#Page_261'>261</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'><span class='sc'>To a Caged Skylark. By B. Simmons</span>,</td> + <td class='c004'><a href='#Page_290'>290</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'><span class='sc'>Sonnet.—To Denmark</span>,</td> + <td class='c004'><a href='#Page_292'>292</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'><span class='sc'>Life in the “Far West.” Part IV.</span>,</td> + <td class='c004'><a href='#Page_293'>293</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'><span class='sc'>The Caxtons. Part VI.</span>,</td> + <td class='c004'><a href='#Page_315'>315</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'><span class='sc'>Life and Times of George II.</span>,</td> + <td class='c004'><a href='#Page_327'>327</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'><span class='sc'>The Great Tragedian</span>,</td> + <td class='c004'><a href='#Page_345'>345</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'><span class='sc'>The Moscow Retreat</span>,</td> + <td class='c004'><a href='#Page_359'>359</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'><span class='sc'>What would Revolutionising Germany be at?</span></td> + <td class='c004'><a href='#Page_373'>373</a></td> + </tr> +</table> + +<div class='nf-center-c0'> + <div class='nf-center'> + <div><span class='large'>EDINBURGH:</span></div> + <div class='c005'>WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS, 45, GEORGE STREET; AND 37, PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON.</div> + <div><span class='small'><em>To whom all Communications (post paid) must be addressed.</em></span></div> + <div><span class='small'>SOLD BY ALL THE BOOKSELLERS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.</span></div> + <div class='c005'><span class='xsmall'>PRINTED BY WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS, EDINBURGH.</span></div> + </div> +</div> + +</div> +<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_261'>261</span></div> +<div class='chapter ph1'> + +<div class='nf-center-c0'> +<div class='nf-center c006'> + <div>BLACKWOOD’S</div> + <div class='c005'>EDINBURGH MAGAZINE.</div> + <div class='c005'><span class='large'><span class='sc'>No. CCCXCV.      SEPTEMBER, 1848.      Vol. LXIV.</span></span></div> + </div> +</div> + +</div> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c002'>A REVIEW OF THE LAST SESSION.</h2> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>There is perhaps no body of men +confederated in her Majesty’s dominions +who are less properly the subjects +of envy than the members of the +present Cabinet. A session, begun +under circumstances of unexampled +commercial pressure, continued amidst +insurrection abroad and turbulence at +home, and ending with an Irish rebellion, +ought surely to have exhibited +some specimens of extraordinary and +judicious legislation. Slovenliness in +high places, at no time decorous, is +most undecent, dangerous, and unendurable, +at a period when the whole +world is drunk with the revolutionary +elixir. France, that old irreclaimable +bacchante, is staggering to and fro, +madly bellicose, and threatening incendiarism +in her cups. Germany, +once thought too stolid to be roused, +is hiccuping for national unity, and on +the fair way of contributing largely to +the overthrow of the equilibrium of +power in Europe. The Irish symptoms +have by no means surprised us. +The insurrection there is the inevitable +fruit of the measures and policy against +which, for the last twenty years, we +have entered our strong and unflinching +protest. The shameful truckling +of the Whigs to O’Connell and his +scandalous followers; the unconstitutional +fostering of the Roman Catholic +Church; and the conciliation +system, which, while it did gross injustice +to the people of England and +Scotland, contributed to confirm the +spirit of improvidence and pauperism +among the Irish, without in any way +securing their gratitude,—have resulted +in a rebellion, imbecile, indeed, +and almost ludicrous in its issue, but +not, on that account, less afflicting +to the supporters of order and the +crown.</p> + +<p class='c008'>More than once, too, we have been +threatened at home by manifestations +of the insurrectionary spirit. In so +densely populated a country as this, +it is impossible that commercial distress +and slackness can exist for any +length of time, without trying sorely +the patience and the fortitude of the +working classes. Such distress undoubtedly +did prevail, towards the +close of last year, in a most alarming +degree; and throughout the whole +spring there was a vast want of employment +in the manufacturing districts. +The completion of some of the +great lines of railway, and in others +the partial abandonment or suspension +of the works, caused by the extreme +tightness of the money market, also +threw a great deal of unemployed +labour on the public; and this evil +was increased by the heterogeneous +character of the masses. Irish immigration +has increased to such an extent, +that not only in all the towns of Britain, +but almost in every village, especially +on the western coast, there +exists a Hibernian colony; unreclaimed +by civilisation—uneducated +as the brutes that perish—knowing +nothing of religion, save as an idolatrous +form, and professing rebellion +as a principle. This class have always +formed a nucleus for disaffection, and, +but for the extreme reluctance of the +native labourers to fraternise with +those children of Esau, the results +might ere now have been more serious +than we altogether care to contemplate. +As it was, the British demagogue +was always sure of finding a +ready partisan, confederate, and coadjutor +in the western Celt; and we +need hardly say that the Chartist +leaders availed themselves to the full +of that sympathy. We shall presently +see how far this state of matters +received the attention of the men +in power.</p> + +<p class='c008'>In this critical position we were +entitled to expect that the government +would have shown itself fully +adequate to the crisis—that the causes +of distress, which lie at the root of +turbulence and disaffection, would be +probed with a firm and prudent hand—that +every possible relief and assistance +would be given to the home +market—and that, above all, nothing +should be done which might tend, in +the remotest degree, to endanger the +integrity of the empire. The welfare +of Great Britain is a terrible trust in +times like these, and the responsibility +of those who have professed themselves +ready to govern, and who, in fact, +have rather claimed the government +than received it, is proportionally great.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Let us then take a candid and +impartial review of the proceedings +which have characterised this session +of Parliament, extending over a period +more fertile in insurrection than any +which the world has known. Let us examine +how Lord John Russell and his +colleagues have acquitted themselves in +the discharge of their important functions. +We shall be sparing neither of +praise nor blame: glad, indeed, if we +can find an opportunity of being lavish +of the former, or, in case of neglect, +of stumbling upon an honest excuse.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Our readers cannot have forgotten +the circumstances under which this +last session of Parliament commenced. +The commercial world has not, for very +many years, felt any thing like a corresponding +crisis; and the change is +most remarkable, when we reflect that +the depression followed immediately +upon a period of almost unexampled +prosperity. Our opinion is still unchanged, +as to the causes which led to +this. We pointed out, in former articles, +long before the pressure began, +what must be the inevitable result of a +wholesale departure from our older system, +of the adoption of the free-trading +economical views, and of the arbitrary +contraction of the currency, as devised +by Sir Robert Peel. Every word +we then said has been verified to the +letter; and, as we expected, the very +contingencies which we suggested as +likely to operate in producing this unfavourable +state of matters, and which +actually did subsequently occur, have +been paraded, by the free-traders and +extreme bullionists, as the causes of +the whole disaster. It is of great +importance that the public should understand +this subject clearly; and, +therefore, without repeating what we +have elaborately attempted to demonstrate +before, let us merely remark +that the tendency of free trade, and of +fettered currency combined, was to +prostrate the whole commercial world, +on the first occurrence of a bad season +and a scarcity of food, by stimulating +the exportation of gold, and at the +same time by withdrawing its representative. +In fact, Sir Robert Peel +constructed his machinery so, that the +result, in the event which we have +instanced, could be calculated on with +mathematical certainty. The realised +wealth of Britain was rendered of no +avail in this emergency, for the counters +which represented it were amissing, +and nothing else would be received +in exchange. Hence arose that total +prostration of credit, and consequent +lack of employment, which was so +lamentably felt towards the close of +the year 1847.</p> + +<p class='c008'>So intolerable was the pressure that, +after much delay and repeated refusals +to interfere, the Whig ministers were +compelled to bestir themselves, and to +suspend the operation of the Banking +Act, in order to save the country from +actual convulsion. Parliament was +summoned about the middle of November, +more, perhaps, for the sake of +obtaining a bill of indemnity for the +suspension—a measure which, after all, +did not lead to any infringement of +the Act—than with the view of boldly +facing the increasing difficulties of +the country. Notwithstanding annual +disappointment, every one waited +for the speech from the throne with +the most intense anxiety, trusting +that at such a time some comforting +glimpses for the future, some earnest +ministerial schemes would be announced, +likely to retrieve the commercial +world from its embarrassment. +These expectations were destined to +receive an immediate check. The +financial prose of the author of “Don +Carlos” was as vague and unsatisfactory +as his halting tragic verse. There +was, of course, a decent show of regret +for public calamity, but no vestige of +an intention to interpose any remedial +measure. In point of finance, the +only intelligible topic contained in the +speech was ominous of the repeal of +the Navigation Laws. Sanitary improvements, +the great Whig hobby, +which they are constantly thrusting +forward beneath the public nose, were +also recommended. Ireland, then +testifying the humane and Christian +disposition of its inhabitants, by a +series of the most cold-blooded and +revolting murders, was recommended +to the benevolence of the state. A +treaty with the Republic of the +Equator, touching the suppression of +the slave-trade, was announced; and +the Whigs looked forward “with +confidence to the maintenance of the +general peace of Europe.” A more +paltry programme was never yet +submitted to the public eye.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The ministerial move in November, +and the suspension of the Banking +Act, for however short a period, was +in truth a remarkable circumstance. +If the suspension was right, it must +necessarily imply that Sir Robert +Peel was utterly wrong in framing the +measure as he did. We know that the +Act is useless for control in times +of prosperity, and that it pinches us +by becoming operative under adverse +seasons; and it was precisely when +the pinch was felt that the Whigs +were forced to suspend it. True—a +great deal of the mischief had by that +time been accomplished. Men, every +whit as respectable as the late Premier, +had been driven into the Gazette +for the sheer want of temporary accommodation, +and property sank in +value as rapidly as the mercury before +a storm. But the true nature of +the Act had been felt and condemned +by the public; and in no one instance +do we ever recollect to have witnessed +a greater unanimity of opinion, +hostile to its endurance and principle, +than prevailed, at least beyond the +walls of the House of Commons. If +the public were wrong in this impression, +then it followed as a matter of +course that the ministry were highly +blameable for the suspension; that +Peel’s machine, being a sound and +salutary one, should have been left to +do its work, and to crush down as +many victims as it could possibly +entangle in its wheels. But in truth, +very few could be found to support +such a proposition. If credit is to be +altogether annihilated in this country, +whether by Banking Acts like this, +framed and forced upon us contrary +to the experience and in face of the +remonstrance of the mercantile classes, +or by anarchy and mob rule, as has +been the case in France, we must prepare +to bid an everlasting farewell to +our greatness. Credit, it is in vain to +deny, has made the British nation. +Credit may, like every thing else, be +pushed too far; but even over-trading +is a far less calamity than a restrictive +system, which in a day can destroy +the accumulated profits of years, +for the first carries with it its own antidote +and cure. Peel’s banking legislation, +we do not hesitate to say, has +been productive of more harm to this +country in three years, than has ever +occurred from any known cause within +the same period of time; and the +obstinacy with which he has clung to +his delusion, the sophistry which he +has invariably employed to shift the +responsibility from his shoulders, and +the manœuvring style of his defence, +may be consistent with the character +of the man, but are not worthy of the +dignity of a British statesman.</p> + +<p class='c008'>In suspending the operation of the +Banking Act, the Whigs tacitly admitted +that, in their opinion, whether +lately adopted or not, there was something +fundamentally injurious and +wrong with the measure. The subject +was a very serious one. You may +bungle sanitary bills, pass coercive +laws, or tamper with the jurisprudence +of the country, without doing more +than a limited amount of evil. But +the subject of the currency is so intimately +and vitally connected with our +whole commercial greatness, that it +must be handled with the utmost precaution. +A leak in a ship is not more +dangerous than a flaw in a monetary +statute; and, when once discovered, +not a moment should be lost in repairing +it.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Not one member of the present Cabinet +was in any way competent for +the task. It is most extraordinary, +that the Whigs, after all their official +experience, should exhibit such a singular +incapacity in every matter which +has the slightest connexion with finance. +They do not seem to comprehend +the subject at all; and if their +private affairs were conducted in the +same slovenly fashion as are those of +the public when unfortunately committed +to their guidance, we should +very soon see the Gazette adorned +with some elegant extracts from the +Court Guide. The only respectable +Chancellor of the Exchequer whom +they ever produced was Mr Baring; +and he, it is rumoured, was considered +too scrupulous to be admitted to that +post again. Besides this, his views +upon the currency were known to be +diametrically opposite to those entertained +by Sir Robert Peel. Sir Charles +Wood, the worst financier that ever +disgraced the memory of Cocker, had +committed himself before the suspension +of the Act, in an especially ridiculous +manner. At one time, this +gentleman was quite jocund and hopeful, +a firm believer in the existence of +a plethora, and smiled at the idea of +a crisis with a happy air of mingled +indifference and satisfaction. Shortly +afterwards, however, he took the +alarm, attempted to eat in his own +words—an operation which he performed +with most indifferent grace,—and +possibly became dimly conscious +that a Chancellor of the Exchequer +has more duties to perform than to +sign the receipt for his salary. Sir +Charles evidently was not the man to +grapple with the difficulty; and besides +this, he could not afford to offend +Sir Robert Peel, or give a triumph to +his political opponents, who had all +along denounced the Banking Act as +an experiment of a perilous nature. In +this position, the Whigs adopted the +safest course for themselves, if not for +the country. They asked for a committee, +both in the Lords and Commons, +to consider the question of the +currency, taking care, of course, to +nominate members whose opinions +were already known. We thoroughly +agree with Mr Herries, that the inquiry +was a work of supererogation. +The subject has been already investigated +in every possible way. Blue +books have been issued from time to +time, containing an enormous mass +of deliberate evidence; and that evidence +has been repeatedly analysed +and dissected by writers of great +ability and statistical knowledge on +either side. The public mind was +perfectly ripe for decision—indeed, for +months the currency had formed +almost the sole topic discussed by the +press; and it was peculiarly desirable +that we should no longer be left in a +state of uncertainty, or exposed to the +operation of another panic. But such +an arrangement did not suit the +Whigs. They were not prepared to +come forward with an intelligible +plan for remedying the evil which +they had already admitted to exist.—Not +secretly displeased, perhaps, at +the general impression that the Tamworth +Baronet had committed a gross +and unpardonable blunder, they were +unable to dispense with his support, +and extremely unwilling to give him +umbrage—and therefore they took +refuge in the convenient scheme of +committees. In vain did Mr Herries, +in an able and statesmanlike speech, +point out the danger of delay, and +exhibit the true causes of the distress +which had lately prevailed, and +which was still weighing upon the +country. In vain did he implore +ministers to face the question manfully. +His proposal that the House +should proceed at once to the consideration +of the Banking Act, with +the view of suspending permanently +its limitations, subject to a wholesome +control, was lost by a majority of +forty-one. After a most lengthened +examination, the committees have +issued their reports; and the result is +another difference of opinion, which +leaves the whole matter open to +renewed discussion. The session has +rolled away, and the Banking Act is +left untouched.</p> + +<p class='c008'>We presume that the most confirmed +free-trader within the four +seas of Britain will at all events +admit this fact, that not one of the +glorious promises held out to us by +the political economists and gentlemen +of the Manchester school has +as yet been realised. We can hardly +expect that they will be candid +enough to confess the fallacy of the +views which they then so enthusiastically +maintained; and we doubt not +that, in any discussion, we should +still hear some very ingenious explanations +to account for the non-advent +of the anticipated blessings. But the +boldest of them will not deny that, +in the mean time, all the fiscal changes +have been followed by a decline in +our prosperity, a falling-off in trade, +and a consequent defalcation of the +revenue. We have certainly not +gained in employment, we have lost +money; and the best proof of it is, the +low ebb of the national revenue. +Such being the case, it is no wonder +if the budget or financial statement +of the minister was expected with the +most intense anxiety, and if, for the +time, every other topic was merged +in the consideration of this. Political +history does not contain many episodes +equal to that famous discussion—many +instances of utter helplessness +like that exhibited by the Premier.</p> + +<p class='c008'>We have already analysed the budget +fully in another article,<a id='r1'></a><a href='#f1' class='c009'><sup>[1]</sup></a> and it is +not worth while now to recur to it for +the purposes of exposure. The deficit +was estimated at no less than three +millions for the year; and this large +sum was to be made up by the imposition +of an augmented income-tax. +Considering what had taken place on +the occasion when Sir Robert Peel +first proposed that discreditable and +decidedly odious impost, the assurances +that it was to be merely temporary +in its endurance, and the specious +pleas of necessity with which it was +then fortified,—it is no matter of surprise +that the ministerial plan should +have been received with symptoms of +marked disgust, even by those who +usually accord their support to the +measures of the present government. +Mr Hume opined that the ministry +were mad. Mr Osborne declared +his belief that, had there been a +regularly organised Opposition, such +a financial statement would have +been the death-warrant of any administration. +Even the Manchester +section of the free-traders held aloof +from ministers, just as cowards might +do from the support of a drowning +man. For however vexatious the +admission might be, they were bound +in common gratitude to have recollected +that the change from indirect +to direct taxation was effected mainly +at their instance, and to gratify their +everlasting clamour. That change had +resulted in a huge deficit of the +revenue; and, it being admitted on +all sides that a revenue must be +raised—for we have not yet got the +length of talking openly of the +sponge—they, at all events, might +have been expected to say something +in favour of their friends, +at a crisis of their own producing. +But there is no creature on earth so +utterly selfish and devoid of compunction, +as your thorough-paced economical +free-trader. Point merely in the +direction of his pocket, and he instantly +howls with terror. Five per +cent income-tax was as obnoxious in +the eyes of Cobden and Bright as in +those of other men who acted upon +sounder principles; and it is not uninstructive +to remark the course which +on this occasion the ex-members of +the League thought fit to pursue. It +had been long apparent to them, as it +was to every man in the country, that +the revenue of the year must prove insufficient +to meet the expenditure. +They knew that the unpalatable fact, +when announced in Parliament, would +inevitably lead to a discussion regarding +the policy of past measures, and the +wisdom of persisting in a course which +hitherto had met with no reciprocity +from foreign countries, but, on the +contrary, had been used to increase +the burden of our embarrassments. +Such discussion was to be deprecated +and avoided by every possible means; +and the readiest way of effecting this +seemed to be the suggestion of a plan +whereby the expenditure might be +lessened and brought down to the +level of the revenue. This very desirable +result was not so easy of accomplishment; +but nevertheless Mr +Cobden undertook the task. The product +was worthy of the author. The +wise, politic, and sagacious principle +of the calico-printer was to effect a +saving by the material reduction of our +military and naval establishments, +and the weakening of the national +arm. We hope our readers have not +forgotten, were it merely from the disgust +they must have excited, the silly +and egotistic remarks of this complacent +personage touching his travels, +his observations, and his mission as a +peaceful regenerator. Free trade, +which ought long ago to have made +Great Britain rich, had, according to +his experiences, already pacified the +world. There was to be no more war—the +French were the most affectionate +and domesticated men upon the +face of the earth—and he, Cobden, and +his friend Cremieux, were interchanging +congratulatory letters on the +advent of the new millennium. In our +March Number for the present year, +we had the satisfaction of bestowing +a slight castigation upon Cobden, to +which we beg now to refer those gentlemen +who were so wroth with us for +presuming to question the <em>dicta</em> of the +oracle of the West Riding. Within +a few days after that article was +penned, Europe was wrapped in insurrection, +and Cobden’s correspondent +a member of a revolutionary +government! The French free-trader, +Cremieux, was a consenting party to +the decree which drove forth the +British labourers from France, without +warning and without compensation! +The barricades of June have demonstrated +the affectionate and domesticated +character of the race whom +Cobden delighteth to honour. If to +cut, in cold blood, the throats of prisoners, +to shoot down the messengers +of peace in spite of their sacred calling, +to mangle the bodies of the wounded, +and these brothers and countrymen, +under circumstances unheard-of, save +perhaps in the tales of African atrocity—if +these things constitute domestication, +then by all means let us fall +back upon a more erratic and natural +state of society. How would we have +stood at this moment, with regard to +Ireland, save for the fact of our being +able to overawe rebellion by the presence +of an overwhelming military +force? Did ever a man, professing to +be an apostle and a prophet, find himself +landed in such a ridiculous and +ignominious posture?</p> + +<p class='c008'>It is strange that the reception +which he met with in the House of +Commons, upon the occasion of his +first attack upon the army, did not +induce Cobden to pause before committing +himself to a second absurdity. +But there are some men whose conceit +is of such extravagant a development, +that no experience, no failure, +no argument, will induce them to part +with one iota of a preconceived +opinion. Such a person is Cobden. +Unabashed by the result of his previous +exhibitions, callous to shame, +and impenetrable to ridicule, he again +addressed the House on the subject of +the navy estimates, for the purpose of +demonstrating the propriety of an immediate +reduction of the fleet. This +was too much even for Lord John +Russell, who for once took heart of +grace, and administered a fair allowance +of punishment to the arrogant +and ignorant free-trader. But the +truth is, Mr Cobden’s career is ended. +The <cite>Times</cite>, once a warm admirer of +this confident gentleman, has ceased +to vouchsafe him its protection, as +will be seen from the following extract +of 11th August last:—</p> + +<p class='c010'>“What has he done? What have been +his tactics? What is the sum and substance +of the statesmanship to which all +the world looked forward so anxiously? +Simply this—a depreciation of our military +and naval establishments, and an emulation +of America. The first constitutes the +whole gist and pith of the honourable +member’s speeches; the latter, of his +policy. England is to disband her fleets +and armies, to give up her colonies, and to +enter boldly on a course of Yankee statesmanship. +We would not wrong the hon. +gentleman. We refer to his speeches on +Tuesday and Wednesday nights, as well +as those delivered at the close of the last +year. What do they amount to? ‘Retrench +your expenditure; give up your +ships; abolish the ordnance; send round +embassies to every country and court +of Europe; tell them you have disarmed; +ask them to do the same; and +then set to work, and tinker up your +constitution on the model of the United +States. Do away with open voting. +Destroy the <em>privilege</em> of the suffrage; +abolish the virtue of patriotic courage; +give every man a vote, and <em>make</em> every +man vote in secret. Then you will be +rich and prosperous; your expenditure +will at once be curtailed, and your commerce +will be diffused by the amity of +nations.’ This is the policy which is to +save us from ruin, to pay our debt and +confirm our strength. All that we can +say is, that one part of it is well matched +to the other; that both equally demonstrate +the ability of the counsellor to +advise, as his vaticinations last winter +proved his ability to prophesy.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>And yet this is the person whom the +Whigs lauded, and whom Sir Robert +Peel elaborately eulogised for his sagacity!</p> + +<p class='c008'>By a somewhat curious coincidence, +the budget was brought forward on +the very week when the French revolution +broke out. Mr Cobden’s proposal, +therefore, met with no support; +and it must have become evident, even +to the free-traders, that under such a +threatening aspect as the Continent +presented, no sane man would agree +to a reduction in our military force. +Still that party continued inflexibly +opposed to the ministerial measure for +raising an adequate revenue, and, by +doing so, we maintain that they were +guilty of an act of political ingratitude. +In this situation, ministers were fain +to withdraw their proposal, and to +continue the income-tax as formerly, +for a period of three years, without +any definite scheme of making up for +the deficiency in the revenue.</p> + +<p class='c008'>In fact, the session has passed +away without a budget at all. That +which Lord John Russell tabled, has +crumbled away like a thing of gossamer; +and, so far as financial matters +are concerned, we are left in the +pleasant impression that we are getting +into further debt, and have no +distinct means of paying it. To exhibit +the recklessness with which the +Whigs regard all matters connected +with revenue, it is sufficient to remark, +that with three millions of deficit admitted, +our rulers think this an advantageous +and a proper time to sacrifice +about fifty thousand pounds annually, +the produce of duties upon imported +copper ore.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Mr Osborne was right. No ministry, +had there been a decent Opposition, +could have stood such an exposure. +We even go further; for we believe +that—but for the French revolution, +and the universal turbulence +abroad, which rendered it absolutely +necessary that this country should +maintain a firm front, and exhibit no +symptoms of internal weakness or +discord—the present ministry could +not have existed for another fortnight. +As it is, we are in some respects glad +that they have continued in office; +because, though late, they have been +called upon to act under circumstances +which, in future, may give a +new and improved tone to Whig political +opinions.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Before quitting the budget, let us +say a word or two regarding future +financial prospects. It is no doubt possible +that trade may revive—though, +from the present aspect of European +affairs, we are not inclined to be at +all sanguine in our expectations. We +cannot, it is quite clear, reduce our +effective establishments; for no one +can say what emergency may arise +to make us, not mere spectators, but +active partisans in a contest which we +shall deeply and long deplore. Economy +we may practise at home, and +for once we are of Joseph’s mind. +There are items in our civil and pension +list clearly superfluous and undefensible, +and we wish to see these +removed, though with a just regard to +vested interests and claims. We are +no admirers of such antiquated offices +as that of Hereditary Grand Falconer; +and we think that Mr MacGregor’s +inquiry, as to the heirs of the +Duke of Schomberg, who for a century +and a half have been billeted +upon the country to the tune of three +thousand a-year, deserved at least a +courteous reply from so very determined +an economist as the Premier +formerly proclaimed himself. A doorkeeper +may surely be maintained at a +less annual expense than the income +of a country gentleman; and in many +departments even of government, we +have certainly been over lavish of +remuneration. But these retrenchments, +though they may give satisfaction +to the nation, can never free +it from its embarrassments. The revenue +has clearly sunk to a point +when it must be augmented by some +decided and effective measure; and it +will well become us all to consider, +even without reference to past disputes, +from what quarter the supply is to +come. If the decision, or at all +events the expressed feeling, of the +House of Commons can be taken as +an index of the popular wish, the +nation will not submit to an augmentation +of the income-tax. No +increased duties upon excise can be +levied,—indeed the cry is general for +the removal of those which exist. +The window-tax—though it might be +materially improved by a more equitable +arrangement, and by rating great +houses without any graduated scale—is +decidedly unpopular. In fact, all +direct taxation is of an obnoxious +character—it is the fertile source of +murmur and of discontent, and it +never can be adjusted so as to render +it palatable to the payer.</p> + +<p class='c008'>From what quarter, then, is it possible +for us to recruit our revenue? +How are we to provide for casualties, +and for a possibly increased expenditure? +That question must be solved +in one way or the other, and that +without lack of time. It will not do +to go on from year to year with a +continually increasing deficit, the +arrears of which shall be passed to +the capital of our national debt—we +must raise money, and the only question +is, how to do it.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Within the last six years, says Sir +Charles Wood, the nation has remitted +<em>seven and a half</em> millions of annual +taxation: since the peace, says Lord +John Russell, more than <em>thirty-nine +millions</em> of annual taxes have been +removed. Highly satisfactory this, no +doubt—but what does it prove? Simply +that we have pushed the abolition +of indirect taxation too far. We +have gone on, year after year, lowering +tariffs, for the purpose of stimulating +foreign trade. We have thereby +unquestionably increased our imports, +but we have failed in giving any thing +like a corresponding buoyancy to our +exports. <em>Why</em> we did this is not +very difficult of comprehension, if we +look attentively to the state of party +which has subsisted for the last few +years in this country.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Free-trade, in so far as it lessens +the cost of production, is clearly the +interest of the master-manufacturer +who exports for the foreign market; +but, we repeat, it is the interest of no +one else in the community. Free-trade +in certain articles,—that is, in +raw material introduced to this country +for the purpose of being manufactured, +sold at home, or exported—is +just and commendable. Free-trade +in what are called the necessaries of +life, such as corn and cattle, does not +tend to the wealth of the country; but, +for the present, we shall leave that +subject in abeyance. Free-trade in +luxuries and in manufactured goods, +whenever these latter displace the +home labourer in the home market, +we hold to be utterly injurious, and +we shall presently state our reasons.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The Manchester school have adopted, +preached, and insisted upon free +trade in <em>all</em> these branches. It was +their interest to push the cotton trade +to its utmost possible limits, and to +undersell all competitors in every accessible +market. Hence their favourite +doctrine of cheapness, which in +appearance is so plausible, but which +actually is so fallacious, and the pertinacity +with which they have continued +to preach it up. Hence the +League, in the formation of which +they displayed such undoubted energy, +and the immense sums which they +lavished for the popular promulgation +of their creed. To conciliate these +men, swollen to a formidable number, +and maintaining their opinions with +extreme plausibility, and no ordinary +share of talent, became an important +object to the leaders who were then +at the head of the two great parties +of the state. It is in vain to deny that +a large body of the middle classes +were concerned in this movement, +and, to gain their votes and support, +the unholy race for power began.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Hence our legislation, whether under +Peel or Russell, has been directed +for the last six or seven years invariably +to one point. The man who +could boast of having removed the +greatest amount of taxation was sure +to be the popular favourite; and we +all know in what manner, and by +what means, Sir Robert Peel accomplished +his share of the work. He +first, on the assurance that it was to +be merely temporary, obtained an +income-tax, amply sufficient to redeem +the financial deficit which was +the legacy of his predecessors. He +next proceeded to make that income-tax +permanent, by paring at, and +reducing the tariffs; and finally, in +order that his rival might not have +the start of him in popularity, he +threw his party overboard, and consented +to the abolition of the corn-laws.</p> + +<p class='c008'>But there is a point beyond which +taxation cannot possibly be remitted; +and that point Sir Robert Peel had +reached before he retired from office. +True, the effect of his measures had +not yet become apparent, but they +were foreseen by many, and perhaps +not unsuspected by himself towards +the close of his tenure of office. +Further than as being consenting +parties to those reckless sacrifices of +revenue, it would be unfair to charge +the Whigs with having brought us +into our present perplexity. Sir +Robert Peel is the real author of +this, and he cannot escape the responsibility.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Now upon two points—viz., the +introduction of raw material for +manufacture, and of articles of food—we +shall for the present forbear joining +issue with the free-traders. But +the third one, that of the admission +of foreign manufactured goods at +nearly nominal rates of duty, is far +too important to be passed over, even +at the risk of repetition.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The industry of this country is not +confined to a few, but flows through +a thousand channels. There are, +however, about four great trades in +which Britain can at present, owing +to her mineral wealth, machinery, and +capital, compete with decided advantage +against any other country in the +world. These are the cotton, the +linen, the woollen, and the iron trade, +the exports of which articles amount +to rather more than <span class='fss'>TWO-THIRDS</span> of +the whole exports of the United +Kingdom, or in round numbers from +thirty-three to thirty-five millions +annually. It is to the unceasing +agitation of men connected with +<em>these</em> trades that we owe the erection +of the League, and the progress of +free trade which has brought us to so +low a condition.</p> + +<p class='c008'>It is no matter of surprise that the +corn-laws were obnoxious to such +persons. With the agricultural interest +they had no natural sympathy; +and being always able to command +the monopoly of the home market, +their invariable effort has been to +stimulate trade abroad to the very +utmost of their power. High wages +interfered with their profits; and in +order to command the labour market, +they formed their famous scheme +for reducing the price of food, by +dealing a blow to agriculture at +home, and opening the ports to the +admission of foreign corn. This +cry was to a certain degree popular, +especially amongst those who +were not connected with their works; +for the more intelligent of the operatives, +to their credit be it said, very +early detected the selfishness of the +whole manœuvre, and saw, that with +the price of food wages also would +inevitably decline. Foreign corn, +however, was not enough for the +appetite of those grasping monopolists. +They looked with envy on the smaller +non-exporting trades, who constituted +a great portion of the population, and +who were defended in the home +market, their only field, by a reasonable +scale of duties. It presently +occurred to them, that if, by any +means this scale could be broken +down, and the market inundated with +foreign manufactures, they might be +enabled to export a larger quantity +of their own fabrics, reduce the price +of articles which they were personally +inclined to consume, and finally reap +another benefit by cheapening labour—that +is, by forcing a new class, through +want of employment, to compete with +their former operatives. These we +know to have been the secret views +of the League, and to these ends, for +several years past, they have bent the +whole of their energies. How they +have succeeded, let the present state +of the labour market tell. The tariffs +of 1846 were expressly framed in their +favour. They have done half of the +anticipated work; for by the admission +of foreign manufactures into this +country at a reduced rate of duty, +they have thrown many thousands of +industrious handicraftsmen into the +streets. The small shopkeeper has +been reduced from an employer into +a mere retailer, and disaffection has +been engendered through the pressure +of absolute misery.</p> + +<p class='c008'>This may seem a highly-coloured +picture; but if any man of intelligence +will take the trouble to make himself +acquainted with the feelings, and to +listen to the individual histories of +persons of the working-class, he will +find it to be strictly true. Four-fifths +of the men who were in attendance +at the late Chartist meetings belonged +in 1845 to the non-exporting trades, +were then in full employment, and +probably as loyal as any subjects in +the kingdom. So, indeed, we believe +they are still, in so far as loyalty to +the crown is concerned; for, thank +God! Republicanism has not taken +any root in the empire. But they are +utterly discontented with the government, +and furious at the apathy with +which, they think, their sufferings are +regarded. They find that the repeal +of the corn-laws has done absolutely +nothing in their favour. They find +that the lowered tariffs have opened a +sluice-gate through which articles of +foreign manufacture have rushed in +to swamp them; and they gloomily, +and even savagely, assert, that this +state of things is the result of a combination +of the rich against the poor. +So it is: but from that combination +the aristocracy and gentlemen of England +stand apart. The headquarters +of the grinding-society are at Manchester, +Liverpool, and Sheffield; the +machinery it uses are the arms of the +League; the master-spirits of the confederacy +are Cobden, Wilson, and +Bright.</p> + +<p class='c008'>A very pregnant instance of the +sympathy which is felt by the free-traders +and political economists for +the suffering of the lower orders, occurred +during a debate towards the +beginning of May last. We specially +notice the fact, because it proves that, +however two successive ministers may +have forgot their duty to the people, +there exists, in a higher quarter still, +the deepest commiseration for their +distress, and an earnest desire to alleviate +it in every possible manner. It +appears from official documents that, +during the first three months of the +present year, there were entered for +home consumption, at the port of +London alone, foreign silk goods worth +£400,000, equal to the employment of +31,000 weavers; lace and needlework +worth £40,000, or sufficient to +displace the produce of 4000 workwomen +and sempstresses; and 7000 +dozen of boot and shoe fronts, enough +to keep 1200 cordwainers in full employment. +So near as we can calculate, +the duty payable upon those articles, +under the tariff of 1845, would +have amounted to £88,150: at present +it is not more than £65,575, thus entailing +a primary loss of £22,575 to +the revenue. Such an influx of goods, +at a peculiarly unprofitable season, was +tantamount to displacing the labour +of 36,200 persons, who were to be +thrown upon the public charity, without +any other resource. A short time +after these facts became known, an +order was issued from the Lord +Chamberlain’s office, containing her +Majesty’s commands to the ladies of +England, that in attending court they +should appear attired in dresses exclusively +the production of native industry. +Yes! our gracious Queen, +whose heart is unchilled by the cold +dogmas of political economy, felt like +a woman and a sovereign, and resolved, +on her part at least, to rescue +from famine and misery so many +thousands of her poorer subjects. It +is most gratifying to know that this +exercise of the royal care and benevolence +has met with its best reward, +for in the midst of all the distress +which has unfortunately prevailed, +the class for whose benefit those timely +orders were issued have been kept in +employment and food: the example set +from the throne has been widely and +generously followed. But will it be +believed, that this act of mercy gave +huge umbrage to the free-traders, and +was fiercely commented on in their +journals as a gross infringement of the +principles of enlightened government? +Therefore, in the eyes of the Leaguers, +it seems a crime to interfere for the +support of the British workman,—and +unjustifiable interference with Providence +to give work to the labouring +poor!</p> + +<p class='c008'>But this is not all. Lord John +Russell, on being asked in the House +of Commons whether he had any share +in suggesting this philanthropic action, +or whether the sole credit of it appertained +to his royal mistress, was not +slow in uttering his disclaimer. “<em>He</em> +had not advised the crown in the +matter,—he could only say that the +order had issued from the Chamberlain’s +office.” After a vain attempt +to show that no extra quantity of +goods had been imported, but that the +apparent increase arose solely from +the cessation of smuggling, he proceeded +to remark:—“But if more +goods <em>are</em> now entered, and thereby a +particular class do suffer inconvenience +or distress, <em>yet these entries must stimulate +the production and exportation +of the classes of goods for which the +imports are exchanged</em>.” There spoke +the convert to the League—the truckler +to Cobden and Co.! There, from +the lips of a British minister, fell the +most un-British, the most unpatriotic +doctrine that ever yet was enunciated! +Said we not truly that the whole object +of free trade is to put down and +exterminate the non-exporting trades, +for the exclusive benefit of the few +monster monopolies? The Premier +concluded an ungracious, halting, and +discreditable speech with the somewhat +unnecessary announcement that, +under all circumstances, he thought +he should be the last person to advise +her Majesty to make an alteration in +the commercial policy which of late +years had been pursued.</p> + +<p class='c008'>We need hardly remark that, in the +present instance, the importation of +these foreign goods could in no way +“stimulate the production or exportation” +of any kind of British manufacture +whatever. The articles in +question were sent from France, at a +time when every thing was unsaleable, +and were sold in London for hard cash, +at a heavy discount. Even Cobden +need not have grudged this little encouragement +to Spitalfields and Bethnal +Green. He did not sell a yard of +calico the less. Gold, and not shirting, +was what the French wanted, +what they bargained for, and what +they received. But let us see a little +more of the sympathy of the Leaguers +for the poor, and respect for the +sovereign, who surely might be left, +in matters of this kind, to exercise +some discretion of her own.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Colonel Thompson, representing <em>an +exporting constituency</em>, was furious at +the alleged interference. “He would +ask whether there was any charity, +any humanity, any justice, any policy, +any common-sense in representing +hostility to one portion of the manufacturing +classes of the country, to +come from a quarter of which he was +sure no one in that House wished to +speak otherwise than with feelings of +the utmost affection and reverence?” +We are not sure that we quite understand +this outburst of the gallant +Colonel, which we copy verbatim from +the columns of the <em>Spectator</em>, but, as +he talks about charity and humanity +with reference to his waistcoat and +pantaloon exporting constituency of +Bradford, we take him to mean that +that favoured place should flourish, +and Spitalfields utterly disappear. +This is pure Leaguer’s doctrine, distinctly +redolent of the Bastile!</p> + +<p class='c008'>Mr John Bright was also true to +his order. The partisan of peace +opined that “there was no difference +between driving out workmen, and +keeping out their work: though no +order had been issued to exclude +foreign work, yet the effect of the +order really given is, that French +silks, which would have been consumed, +will not be used, <em>and English +taken instead</em>. It should be known, +that from the late convulsions, the +contingent depression of trade, and +the low price of French silks in France, +very large quantities of them have +been purchased and brought to this +country. The announcement in question +might therefore entail <em>great loss +on large capitalists</em>, and ruin on many +of smaller means. The kindness to +the Spitalfields weavers would then +be done only at a cost of loss and +injury to other classes.” Quite right, +Friend Bright! the first persons to be +guarded are <em>your</em> speculators and <em>your</em> +capitalists. The poor operative, +who is not in your line, may starve +for any thing you care. There is a +protective spirit about this, which absolutely +charms us. We wonder that +Mr Bright did not on a former occasion +foresee that the repeal of the +corn-laws might entail great loss on +large proprietors, and ruin on many +of smaller means!</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sir William Molesworth considered +that “it was <em>a silly and foolish</em> order; +and he was informed, on the best +authority, that there was not the +slightest chance of its being obeyed.” +We leave this remark of Molesworth +without any comment, merely asking +his authority for holding that, to assist +in feeding the hungry, and maintaining +our poorer countrymen by the +exercise of their own industry, is a +silly and a foolish act; and requesting +him to consider how far his chivalrous +title is consistent with such language, +when applied to an order emanating +directly from his sovereign.</p> + +<p class='c008'>This little episode is very instructive, +as elucidating the views of the free-traders. +The great exporting trades +have combined to crush and annihilate +the small handicrafts, and this +they are rapidly doing through the +operation of these lowered tariffs. If +direct taxation were to be introduced, +and the custom-house virtually abolished, +in so far as regards articles of +foreign manufacture, the thing would +be done at once—for no one would +wear clumsy English boots when he +could get French ones at a lower +price; or British instead of Parisian +gloves; or silk from Spitalfields rather +than the less costly fabric of Lyons. +The more honest of the free-traders +make no scruple of announcing their +views. They admit that the realisation +of their maxim, to sell in the +dearest and buy in the cheapest +market, implies the ruin of every +non-exporting trade, and they seem +absolutely resolved to push their +theory to the utmost. At present Sir +Robert Peel has managed it so, that, +without being absolutely annihilated, +the poorer classes are ground down to +the lowest point. We ask the shopkeepers, +artisans, and smaller manufacturers, +who have no connexion +with the foreign market, whether this +is not truly the case,—and if so, whether +they are inclined to allow this +cruel, selfish, and inhuman system to +be carried any further—nay, whether +they will not at once resolve to make +determined head against it? But for +the obstinate blindness of the political +economists, we would appeal to that +dearest of all considerations, their own +safety. Do they really think it possible, +even were it politic, to drive +the whole operative industry of Britain +into the compass of a few exporting +trades. Can they make millions of +men change their habits of a sudden, +and walk from the country towns and +villages,—wherein, before Sir Robert +Peel introduced the foreigner to +swamp them, they had supported +themselves by the exercise of their +craft,—to the factory or the mine, or +the furnace, or the printing work, +there to spend the remainder of their +existence in twisting, digging, smelting, +and stamping, for the benefit of +Cobden and his confederates? The +idea is absolute madness. Already +we see the effects of false and unpatriotic +legislation, in Chartist meetings +and processions, in agitations for +universal suffrage, in crime three-fold +increased, and in augmented poor-rates. +What are considerations of +sanatory reform or of public instruction +compared to these? Will men +thank you for soap and tracts, even +should these articles be gratuitous, if +you take their labour away from them, +and legislate for one class alone, as +has been the case of late years? Can +you expect to make them loyal and +peaceable, whilst you deny them the +means of obtaining a fair day’s wage +for a fair day’s labour—whilst you +not only encourage, but convert into +an actual fact the idea that a large +portion of the poor are oppressed, and +drive them to seek a remedy in attempts +to procure a more popular representation? +Free trade has been +the great incentive to Chartism, and, +unless men return speedily to their +senses, it may chance to be the terrible +promoter of revolution.</p> + +<p class='c008'>But what is to be the real amount +of the deficit? No man living can +tell. Lord John Russell estimated it +at about three millions, and subsequently +Sir Charles Wood announced +that, by sundry savings and sales of +old stores—which latter source of +revenue very much resembles the case +of a gentleman parting with his body +clothes to make up for his annual expenditure—it +might be reduced to a +million and a half. Since then we +have received the official accounts of +the trade of the kingdom for the six +months ending 5th July 1848; and +we very much fear, from a perusal +of these, that the Chancellor of +the Exchequer has understated his +difficulties. Our exports, for the sake +of which every other interest has +been sacrificed, have fallen off to an +alarming extent. During the corresponding +six months of last year +the declared value of our exports was +£25,395,243: the whole amount for +this period is £21,571,939, or very +nearly <span class='fss'>FOUR MILLIONS</span> less on the +half year! Here is another staggering +instance of the utter futility of free +trade. The decrease of export for +the year 1846, as compared with 1845, +was about two millions—and now it +is going on at the rate of four millions +for half the time! Was there +ever a more pregnant proof of the +impossibility of forcing markets?</p> + +<p class='c008'>Looking to the imports, we find +some very curious results. Lord +John Russell took great credit for +the increased consumption of sugar +consequent on his West Indian experiments, +which we shall presently have +occasion to notice more minutely; and +predicted a still further consumption +and increase to the revenue. Let us +see how that matter stands. The +following is the total of sugar imported +to this country for the first six +months of the last three years respectively.</p> + +<table class='table1'> + <tr> + <th class='c003'></th> + <th class='c011'>1846.</th> + <th class='c011'>1847.</th> + <th class='c012'>1848.</th> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'>Sugar unrefined, cwts.,</td> + <td class='c013'>2,956,986</td> + <td class='c013'>3,967,686</td> + <td class='c004'>2,960,430</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'>Sugar Refined,</td> + <td class='c013'>54,249</td> + <td class='c013'>39,344</td> + <td class='c004'>50,863</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'>Sugar Candy,</td> + <td class='c013'>1</td> + <td class='c013'>1,025</td> + <td class='c004'>507</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'>Sugar Molasses,</td> + <td class='c013'>202,264</td> + <td class='c013'>411,263</td> + <td class='c004'>191,531</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'> </td> + <td class='c013'><hr></td> + <td class='c013'><hr></td> + <td class='c004'><hr></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'> </td> + <td class='c013'>3,213,500</td> + <td class='c013'>4,419,318</td> + <td class='c004'>3,203,331</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'> </td> + <td class='c013'><hr></td> + <td class='c013'><hr></td> + <td class='c004'><hr></td> + </tr> +</table> + +<p class='c008'>So that we are absolutely importing +<em>less sugar</em> in 1848 than we did in +1846, before Lord John Russell and +his sapient colleagues chose to give +the <em>coup de grace</em> to the colonists! So +much for increased revenue from that +source.</p> + +<p class='c008'>In the articles of raw material for +manufacture there is a considerable +increase; and, should money be obtainable +at easy rates throughout the +coming winter, this may be a source of +real congratulation. But from recent +symptoms, and the insanity of ministers +in refusing to face the difficulties +of the Bank Restriction Acts, we very +much dread another recurrence of +tightness, in which case industry must +inevitably be paralysed as before. It +is, however, comforting to know that +we have a stock of raw material in +hand, and that our condition in that +respect has improved since last year, +when the warehouses were nearly +drained. The aggregate amount of +cotton, wool, flax, hemp, and silk +which have been imported for the last +six months is in the ratio of 28,811,825, +to 27,372,502 for the same period in +1847.</p> + +<p class='c008'>But the influx of foreign manufactures +is the most singular feature of +all; and we do entreat the most serious +consideration of our readers to this +very pressing point. What we have +already said regarding the annihilation +of the small trades in this country, +by the total withdrawal of protection, +receives the amplest confirmation +from these official tables; and, if we +are wise, something must be done, +with the least possible delay, to remedy +the evils which have been entailed +upon us, through our blind submission +to the pernicious doctrines of the free-traders. +Do honourable members +really believe, that by agitating the +ballot, or bringing forward schemes +for extended suffrage, they will give +work to the unemployed, or put bread +in the mouths of the starving? If, +instead of attempting to gain a little +transient popularity by advocating +organic changes, they would seriously +address themselves to the task of revising +the tariffs, and so encouraging +the home market, they would be of +real use to the country at this momentous +time. For momentous it is +most certainly. The discovery of a +deliberate plan for general incendiarism +in Liverpool, the mobs in Glasgow, +and the disturbances at Bradford, +are all symptoms of disaffection, +and all proceed from one cause—from +the sacrifice of native industry at the +shrine of the Moloch of free trade. +Even now, while we are writing, +intelligence has arrived of the arrest +of armed Chartists in London and in +Manchester; assassination has begun +at Ashton, and every post brings in +tidings of some new commotion. Is +this a time for Parliament to separate +without any remedial measure? Is +this a time to allow our markets to +be inundated with foreign produce; +each fresh cargo displacing our own +industry, and further adding to our embarrassment, +by hastening on another +monetary crisis by the exportation of +bullion in exchange? This is the +work commenced by Peel, and consummated +by the incapable Whigs. +God knows how it will end, if wiser, +more unselfish, and more patriotic men +are not speedily summoned to take +the lead in her Majesty’s councils.</p> + +<p class='c008'>No account is given, as in former +years, of the amount of foreign linen +and woollen manufactures imported, +or of several other important branches +of trade upon which Sir Robert Peel +abolished the duty. Why this omission +has taken place we do not know, +unless it be for the worst of all reasons, +that the results were too startling +for disclosure. But we shall take +the statistics of the silk manufactured +trade alone, from which it will be seen +that, in two years after the relaxation +of the duties, we have <em>doubled our +imports</em>, thereby throwing immense +numbers of our own operatives out of +employment.</p> + +<table class='table1'> + <tr><th class='c014' colspan='7'><span class='sc'>Foreign Silk Manufactures, entered under Tariff of 1846.</span></th></tr> + <tr> + <th class='c003'></th> + <th class='c011' colspan='2'>1846.</th> + <th class='c011' colspan='2'>1847.</th> + <th class='c012' colspan='2'>1848.</th> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'>Silk or satin broad stuffs,</td> + <td class='c013'>64,269</td> + <td class='c015'>lbs.</td> + <td class='c013'>85,589</td> + <td class='c015'>lbs.</td> + <td class='c013'>141,179</td> + <td class='c016'>lbs.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'>Silk ribbons,</td> + <td class='c013'>79,541</td> + <td class='c015'> </td> + <td class='c013'>95,906</td> + <td class='c015'> </td> + <td class='c013'>95,881</td> + <td class='c016'> </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'>Gauze or crape broad stuffs,</td> + <td class='c013'>4,383</td> + <td class='c015'> </td> + <td class='c013'>4,053</td> + <td class='c015'> </td> + <td class='c013'>5,127</td> + <td class='c016'> </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'>Gauze ribbons,</td> + <td class='c013'>11,268</td> + <td class='c015'> </td> + <td class='c013'>26,166</td> + <td class='c015'> </td> + <td class='c013'>26,312</td> + <td class='c016'> </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'>Gauze, mixed,</td> + <td class='c013'>18</td> + <td class='c015'> </td> + <td class='c013'>8</td> + <td class='c015'> </td> + <td class='c013'>39</td> + <td class='c016'> </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'>Mixed ribbons,</td> + <td class='c013'>687</td> + <td class='c015'> </td> + <td class='c013'>1,650</td> + <td class='c015'> </td> + <td class='c013'>1,244</td> + <td class='c016'> </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'>Velvet broad stuffs,</td> + <td class='c013'>2,935</td> + <td class='c015'> </td> + <td class='c013'>4,822</td> + <td class='c015'> </td> + <td class='c013'>6,558</td> + <td class='c016'> </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'>Velvet embossed ribbons,</td> + <td class='c013'>4,183</td> + <td class='c015'> </td> + <td class='c013'>3,141</td> + <td class='c015'> </td> + <td class='c013'>10,530</td> + <td class='c016'> </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'> </td> + <td class='c013'><hr></td> + <td class='c015'> </td> + <td class='c013'><hr></td> + <td class='c015'> </td> + <td class='c013'><hr></td> + <td class='c016'> </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'> </td> + <td class='c013'>167,284</td> + <td class='c015'>lbs.</td> + <td class='c013'>221,335</td> + <td class='c015'>lbs.</td> + <td class='c013'>286,870</td> + <td class='c016'>lbs.</td> + </tr> +</table> + +<p class='c008'>Now if, as it is fair to suppose, the +same increase, or even half of it, has +taken place in the importation of other +articles upon which the duties were +removed, but which have been quietly +withdrawn from the official tables; +these statistics are enough to condemn +free trade before any tribunal in the +world. Mark how the matter stands. +Here is a <em>doubled importation</em> of foreign +manufactured goods. One half +at least of these goods have come in +to displace your home manufacture. +The other half would have come in as +formerly to supply the rich, who would +have had to pay a high duty for the +gratification of their fancy. That +duty, where reduced, is now lost to +the revenue. Who is the gainer, then? +No one, save the rich consumer; +whilst, on the other hand, the revenue +has suffered, and home industry has +received a prostrating blow. But—say +men of the Cobden school—though +the silk weaver, and embroiderer, and +milliner, and plaiter, and shoemaker, +and tailor, may have suffered, the +country is no loser, because <span class='fss'>WE</span> export +goods in return for the articles of +import. Do you, gentlemen? Let +us turn to the export tables, and see +how your account stands. Recollect, +you have undertaken to show us a +corresponding export of your goods to +meet the influx of foreign manufactures. +Unless you can do this, your +case is utterly worthless, and you +stand as detected impostors.</p> + +<table class='table1'> + <tr><th class='c014' colspan='4'><span class='sc'>Export of Principal Manufactures from the United Kingdom.</span></th></tr> + <tr> + <th class='c003'></th> + <th class='c011'>1846.</th> + <th class='c011'>1847.</th> + <th class='c012'>1848.</th> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'>Cotton manufactures,</td> + <td class='c013'>£8,899,272</td> + <td class='c013'>£9,248,835</td> + <td class='c004'>£8,023,825</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'>Ditto yarn,</td> + <td class='c013'>3,523,793</td> + <td class='c013'>2,628,616</td> + <td class='c004'>2,214,431</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'>Linen manufactures,</td> + <td class='c013'>1,389,520</td> + <td class='c013'>1,502,770</td> + <td class='c004'>1,413,819</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'>Ditto yarn,</td> + <td class='c013'>410,277</td> + <td class='c013'>315,196</td> + <td class='c004'>236,076</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'>Silk manufactures,</td> + <td class='c013'>421,910</td> + <td class='c013'>494,806</td> + <td class='c004'>263,798</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'>Woollen yarn,</td> + <td class='c013'>377,160</td> + <td class='c013'>444,797</td> + <td class='c004'>291,985</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'>Ditto manufactures,</td> + <td class='c013'>3,143,550</td> + <td class='c013'>3,564,754</td> + <td class='c004'>2,578,470</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'> </td> + <td class='c013'><hr></td> + <td class='c013'><hr></td> + <td class='c004'><hr></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c003'> </td> + <td class='c013'>£18,165,482</td> + <td class='c013'>£18,199,774</td> + <td class='c004'>£15,022,404</td> + </tr> +</table> + +<p class='c008'>The result is a loss on these articles +alone of <span class='fss'>THREE MILLIONS</span> in six months, +and we are to set that against doubled +imports, free of duty, and displacing +British employment! Here are the +glorious effects of Sir Robert’s commercial +legislation!</p> + +<p class='c008'>What, then, <em>has</em> gone out to meet +the import which is rapidly promoting +Chartism among us, by impoverishing +the poorer classes? Just what we +predicted long ago—<span class='sc'>Gold</span>; the idol +without which men must starve, but +which free trade periodically sweeps +from out our grasp. The lowered tariffs +have operated peculiarly unfavourably +at the present crisis—not perhaps so +much in the branch of silk manufactures +as in others; for it is remarkable that +the increase of import in 1847, over +that of 1846, is quite as large as the +increase of the present over the former +year; and had Lord John Russell been +alive to the duties of his situation, +or capable of comprehending the effects +which a glut of foreign goods must +produce on the home market, he ought +instantly to have brought in a bill +augmenting the customs duties, and +hurried it through Parliament without a +moment’s unnecessary delay. The madness +of encouraging increased imports, +whilst exports are falling, is utterly +inconceivable to any who have not +eaten and drunk with Cobden; and it +is quite possible that some who have +been admitted to that precious privilege, +may agree with us if they will take +the trouble to consider the foregoing +tables. We are not the only sufferers. +America is beginning to understand +that increased imports are by no means +decisive symptoms of a healthy commercial +state; and the following extract +from Transatlantic correspondence, +which we copy from the +money article in the <cite>Sun</cite> newspaper +of 16th August last, is pregnant with +meaning in the present posture of +affairs.</p> + +<p class='c010'>“The whole of Europe is in a terrible +condition, and our only hope is, that Great +Britain may escape the blast which has +swept from one end of the Continent to +the other with such devastating effect. If +England escape, we shall continue to find +extensive markets for our products, and +our prosperity will be partially preserved. +Our markets on the Continent have almost +become extinct, so that the worst in that +particular has already been realised; but, +every week or month, consumption in that +section of the world is restricted or limited—so +much the more injurious must be the +revolution causing such a state of things. +With the exception of Great Britain, our +European export trade has been literally +annihilated; but <em>unfortunately, our import +trade with these countries</em> has not met +with a similar fate, but on the contrary, +has rather increased than otherwise. +Importers and speculators in this country +have taken advantage of the financial embarrassments +growing out of the Revolution, +which the manufacturers of France +and Europe generally have laboured under, +and have purchased of them for cash, goods +at one half their cost, and have filled our +markets. <em>A portion of the specie which +has been shipped from this port within the +last four months went abroad for this purpose</em>; +and while our exports had become +reduced to the lowest limit, and exchange +drawn upon previous shipments of produce +was coming back protested, millions of +dollars of gold and silver were going forward +to purchase goods which could not +be obtained on the usual credit. In this +way, our whole foreign trade has become +deranged, and we have thus far borne the +brunt of the commercial revulsions and +political revolutions in Europe.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>What is to be said of a system +which swamps our home market, whilst +at the same time it promotes a drain +of gold? What is to be said of the +system which makes a drain of gold +almost tantamount to national bankruptcy?</p> + +<p class='c008'>Having hitherto dealt with the +subjects of the currency and finance, +let us now glance for a moment +at the new legislation for our colonies. +We need not repeat the +tale of the disasters into which the +West Indies have been plunged, or the +ruin which has befallen many of our +own most respectable citizens, who, +to their misfortune, had embarked +their capital and fortunes in sugar-growing +estates, trusting to British +faith and protection for at least an +adequate return. The veriest zealot +could not have wished to have seen +the crime of slavery more bitterly +avenged; but in what a manner! +Great Britain, after having made a +sacrifice of twenty millions to emancipate +the slave population in her own +colonies,—a sacrifice to her, though +not an adequate compensation to the +planters,—after having declared to the +whole world her determination no +longer to participate in the profits +of forced labour,—after having made +treaties, and equipped armaments for +the suppression of the slave-trade,—suddenly +changed her policy, admitted +slave-grown sugar from foreign states, +first, at a high, and, latterly, at so low +a duty, that her own colonies, already +impoverished, could no longer afford to +defray the cost of production. Here, +again, the principle of free trade has +been triumphant and ruinous; here, +again, the exporting trades have carried +their point, not only against the +interests of the colonists, but against +those of benevolence and Christianity. +The cause of the Blacks has been +abandoned for the tempting bribe of +cheap sugars, of an augmented demand +for cottons and blankets to supply the +gangs of Cuba, and of machinery for +Brazil, to enable the planter more +utterly to prostrate Jamaica.</p> + +<p class='c008'>In February last we reviewed with +great care all the evidence which we +could collect regarding the West +Indian interest. The conclusion to +which we arrived was contained in +the following paragraph:—“And +what is it that our colonists ask? +What is the extravagant proposal +which we are prepared to reject at +the cost of the loss of our most fertile +possessions, and of nearly two hundred +millions of British capital? +Simply this, that in the meantime +such a distinctive duty should be enforced +as will allow them to compete +on terms of equality with the slave-growing +states. Let this alone be +granted, and they have no wish to +interfere with any other fiscal regulation. +And what would be the amount +of differential duty required? <em>Not +more, as we apprehend, than ten shillings +the hundredweight.</em>” Having +hazarded this statement so early, it +was certainly gratifying to find that +an impartial committee of the House +of Commons, reporting four months +later, had, after a full investigation of +the whole case,—and of course with +official documents before them, the +correctness of which could not admit +of a doubt,—arrived at precisely the +same result. The proposition for a +differential duty of ten shillings, which +was finally agreed to by the committee, +was actually made by a member +whose general opinions are understood +to lean towards the side of free trade,—we +mean Sir Thomas B. Birch, one +of the representatives for Liverpool.</p> + +<p class='c008'>This resolution of course implied a +direct condemnation of the Whig Act +of 1846, which the West Indians +bitterly complained of as a flagrant +breach of faith, and as having put the +coping-stone on their misfortunes. +It was the resolution of an independent +and intelligent parliamentary +committee, founded upon a mass of +evidence derived from every quarter; +and in a matter of this sort, wherein +so vast an interest as that of our +most valuable colonies was concerned, +it might have been expected that the +report would be treated with deference, +even though it might in some +degree impugn the sagacity of a +prime minister, by exposing the +results of his former reckless legislation. +Such was not the case. Had +the seven wise men of Greece sate +upon that committee, their report +would have been utterly indifferent to +Lord John, who immediately came +forward with a counter-scheme, which +had not even the merit of consistency +to give it colour. He proposed a +new sliding-scale of duties, the result +of which will be, that next year the +colonists will have a protection +against the slave-owners of seven +shillings in the article of clayed, and +five-and-sixpence in that of muscovado +sugar,—the boon to taper away annually, +until, in 1854, the protective +duty will be reduced to three shillings +on the one article, and two shillings +upon the other. This is the doom of the +West Indies,—and we expect nothing +less than an immediate stoppage of +the supplies for the maintenance of +the colonial governments. Robbed +as they have been, ruined as they are, +and all through a course of most reckless +and unprovoked legislation, it is +in vain to hope that any further capital +will be embarked in the cultivation +of these islands. For the benefit +of economists at home, and the clamourers +for cheap sugar, it may be as +well to record that this new sliding-scale +is to be accompanied with a <em>loan</em> +of £500,000, in addition to £160,000 +already guaranteed this session, for +the purposes of promoting immigration, +and that at a period when the +annual deficit was originally calculated +at <em>three</em> millions! The amendment +of Sir John Pakington, founded +upon the resolutions of the committee, +was negatived in a full house by the +small majority of fifteen.</p> + +<p class='c008'>This has been by far the most +important debate of the session; and +at one time it was confidently expected +that ministers would have been +defeated. Sir Robert Peel, however, +came to their rescue at the last stage. +Oleaginous and plausible as ever, the +wily baronet began his speech by +deploring the misfortunes of the West +Indians, repudiating mere pecuniary +considerations, and calling to mind +old struggles, in which these colonies +had stood by the side of the mother +country. This sympathetic introduction +boded little mercy for the parties it +seemed to favour. Sir Robert had acquiesced +in the Act of 1846, and it was +now rather difficult to back out from +that position. But soothing measures +might be adopted, the salaries of +governors defrayed by the mother +country, and <em>perhaps</em>, if, after due +consideration, it should be found expedient +to remove the blockading +squadron from the coast of Africa, +part of the sums so saved might be +devoted to colonial purposes. Then +came a discourse upon the merits of +irrigation, which would have done +credit to a lecturer in an agricultural +society. Finally, Sir Robert rested +his future hopes for the Indies upon +other, and what appear to us peculiarly +objectionable considerations. He +has no confidence in the tranquillity +of Cuba and Brazil, and he hints at +an insurrection of the slaves being +probable, if emancipation is not +granted. We shall not comment more +than lightly upon the decency of such +a hint. Desirable as emancipation +may be, it is, to say the least, questionable +whether it would be cheaply +bought by so terrible a catastrophe as +a general rising of the black barbarian +population against the whites; and in +the event of such a misfortune occurring +either in the above slave colonies +or in the United States, it is extremely +problematical whether our own dearly +bought emancipation would effectually +prevent the contagion from spreading +to the free colonies. But we will tell +Sir Robert a fact of which he ought +to be fully cognisant. The greatest +enemies and obstacles to emancipation, +in the Spanish and South American +States, have been himself and +his free-trading allies. It is well +known to many here, and notorious +in the West Indies, that at the very +time when the ill-advised Act permitting +slave-grown sugar to be introduced +into this country was produced, +negotiations were actually +pending in Cuba for the immediate +emancipation of the slaves. The +results of that Act were the instant +abandonment of such an idea, the +withdrawal of the slaves from the +coffee plantations to the sugar-fields, +double work rigorously enforced, and +an enormously increased importation +of human beings from the coast of +Africa. With such a bonus held out +to the Cuban planter, such a huge +increase of consumption in this country +as Lord John Russell gloatingly contemplates, +it would be utter insanity +to expect that emancipation can take +place through any other means than +blood, rapine, plunder, and incendiarism. +Sir Robert and the free-traders +have effectually precluded any +milder method. Had they been true +to the principles professed by this +country at the time of our own +emancipation, there is every human +reason to believe that by this time +Cuba would have been a free colony. +Had that event taken place, slavery, +and of course the slave-trade, would +have received its death-blow. But +now when we have given, and continue +to give, a direct premium to the +abhorred system, when we have shown +that we love its produce so much, as +to hold the welfare of our own colonies +as nothing in comparison, it is mere +Jesuitry to cant about the probability +of voluntary freedom. This is the +worst and most indefensible argument, +if, indeed, it can be brought within +the category of arguments, which has +yet been advanced from any quarter +in support of the false legislation and +determined opposition of ministers to +the just claims of the colonists.</p> + +<p class='c008'>In the course of the debate a singular +discussion arose, which tends to +throw some light upon the management +of the Colonial Office. A most +important despatch upon the state of +Jamaica had been received from Governor +Grey, and this was withheld +from the select committee then sitting, +although Mr Hawes, the Under-secretary +for the Colonies, was directly +questioned as to its existence. We +do not wish to enter into the details +of this matter, or to cast any imputation +upon the probity of Mr Hawes, +who, in explanation, was fain to take +shelter under the plea of a mistake. +But the circumstance certainly did +look awkward, and the doubts, not +only of the House but of the country, +were far from being removed by the +extreme acrimony displayed by the +Premier, in his injudicious defence of +his subordinate. Never in our recollection +has a Prime Minister shown +so remarkable a want of temper and +of courtesy to a political opponent, as +was exhibited by Lord John Russell +in his reply to Lord George Bentinck. +We should be glad, for the sake of the +utterer, that the speech could be +erased from the pages of Hansard, +even were we to lose, at the same +time, the brilliant and withering reply +which it elicited from Mr D’Israeli. A +suppression certainly had occurred, +whether through mistake or otherwise; +and the matter was thought so serious +that Earl Grey volunteered an explanation +in the Upper House. He +had better have let it alone. New +charges of suppression were preferred; +and finally Earl Grey admitted that, +on one occasion at least, he had quoted +passages from a Jamaica memorial in +support of his argument, totally and +purposely omitting to read other sentences, +which gave a different construction +to the meaning intended to be +conveyed! This is popularly said to +be the method adopted by a certain +personage, who shall be nameless, +whenever he has occasion to quote +Scripture, and yet it is practised and +defended by a high official functionary! +We copy the remarks of our contemporary +the <em>Spectator</em>, as very apposite +on this occasion.</p> + +<p class='c010'>“The personal dispute about the conduct +of Lord Grey and Mr Hawes, and +the strictures of Lord George Bentinck, +which began on Friday last, have usurped +a large share of the week’s debates; not +altogether to so little purpose as most +personal squabbles, since it throws considerable +light on the administration of colonial +affairs. The general impression, +when all sides have had their say, is, +that Mr Hawes and Lord Grey did not +intend to cheat Lord George Bentinck’s +committee by the deliberate suppression +of evidence; but the very statements +made by ministers, in defence, unveil reprehensible +practices. It seems that the +routine of the Colonial Office is such as to +preclude any security against ‘mistakes’ +so grave as the withholding of most important +despatches. And Lord Grey +claims, as an admitted official privilege, +to pick out bits of evidence in his exclusive +possession, that make for a particular +view, although those bits may be torn from +a context that should perfectly refute that +particular view! In effect, he upholds the +doctrine that a government is not bound to +lay before parliament all the information +that reaches the departments, even though +that information be not of a secret kind, +but may select such parts as go to bolster +up the preconceived crotchets of the minister +for the time being. In this case, Lord +Grey had preconceived crotchets hostile +to the West Indian colonies, whom he +treated as if he were the Attorney-General +prosecuting a state criminal. He has +carried beyond its usual bounds the spirit +of the <em>Anti</em>-Colonial Office, in Downing +Street. With this spirit of animosity the +Secretary for the Colonies coupled the +most singular exhibition of personal +trifling, and self-worship. He appealed +to the name of his father, as a reason for +not accusing himself! and pointed to the +‘awful warning across the Channel,’ as +a reason for not preferring charges calculated +to weaken English statesmen. +‘Don’t talk of inefficiency or dishonesty,’ +cries he—‘it is dangerous; for such talk +has upset governments abroad.’ Yes, +shaky and dishonest governments; but +what is Lord Grey afraid of?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>As for the sugar duties, we do not +by any means believe that this is a +final settlement of the question. If +free trade, indeed, should continue to +progress, there is not much hope for +the colonists; but, to the observant +eye, there are unmistakeable symptoms +of reaction apparent in this country, +and a very general sympathy for the +case of the West Indians. Our greatest +fear is, that irretrievable mischief will +be wrought before there is an opportunity +of applying a remedy. It seems +cruel mockery, after all that has happened, +to exhort the planters to persevere, +and to prevent those valuable +islands from lapsing into a state of +wilderness: and yet there seems no +alternative between such perseverance +and abandonment. This only we can +say, that should the commercial principles, +which we have advocated +throughout, be again recognised and +adopted—should true and not hollow +Conservatism once more triumph over +Whig effrontery and weakness, this +mighty grievance will assuredly be +the earliest redressed.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Referring again to the speech from +the throne as the text for the parliamentary +campaign, we find the Navigation +Laws specially marked out +either for modification or repeal. This +subject having been fully dealt with +in our July Number, we offer no further +remarks upon the policy which +dictated such a plan; indeed, no remarks +are necessary, for since then +the measure has been postponed. This +is a sorry result for ministers; for although +they plead, in justification, that +other important business had prevented +them from forcing on the consideration +of this very serious question, +their protestations do not seem to satisfy +the gentlemen who are most clamorous +against the shipping interest +of Britain. It has been more than hinted +in certain quarters, that this postponement +is a small stroke of Whig policy +or prudence, for the purpose of keeping +alive as long as possible a theme +of dissension among the Conservatives. +We offer no opinion as to this conjecture, +which may be substantially true +or not. Certain it is that the proposal +for the repeal of those laws has +been encountered, outside of the +House of Commons, with a storm of +disapprobation; and that, if the feeling +of the public, as opposed to the interests +of the exporters, has any weight +with the legislature, the ministerial +bill will be strangled before it can +receive the royal assent. So great +was the anxiety displayed, that on the +day after it became known in Glasgow +that the bill was not to be pushed +forward this session, every vessel in +the Clyde was decorated with flags, +in token of thankfulness for the respite. +We hope that every advantage +will be taken in the interval to force +upon the attention of parliament the +resolution of the well-affected people +of this country, to maintain intact +that law which has been the source of +our naval supremacy, and which was +declared, by no less an authority than +Adam Smith, to be as wise as if it +had been dictated by the most deliberate +wisdom.</p> + +<p class='c008'>A considerable number of minor +bills have been quietly allowed to +drop. This is not matter of lamentation, +for, as far as we could comprehend +the principle of most of them, +they were utterly worthless and uncalled +for. The Bill for the Removal +of the Jewish Disabilities was, we rejoice +to say, thrown out in the House +of Lords, the peers being of opinion +that the British Legislature should +continue a Christian assembly. Lord +John, in the plenitude of his zeal for +the Sanhedrim, gave notice of a motion +for altering the form of the oaths required +to be taken by each member of +Parliament at his admission, and so +introducing the Jew by a convenient +little postern. But somehow or other, +as the session progressed, the ardour +of the Premier cooled, and Baron +Rothschild is at present left with as +little chance of adorning the benches +of St Stephens as ever. Mr Joseph +Hume and his party have got up a +radical alliance, for the extension of +the suffrage and various other organic +schemes, and it was understood that +Sir Joshua Walmsley was to have the +honour of leading the movement. +Unfortunately, however, before the +day of debate had arrived, Sir Joshua +had been unseated in consequence of +certain acts of bribery which had taken +place in connexion with the borough +of Leicester, so that the purists had +to march to battle under the chieftainship +of the veteran of Montrose. They +were beaten hollow: but at a later +period of the session, the carelessness +of ministers gave a temporary triumph +to the same parties, resolutions in +favour of the ballot having been passed +by a small majority. This vote is of +no importance whatever, save in so +far as it demonstrates the utter helplessness +of the Whigs when left to +their own resources.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Whilst upon the subject of shelving, +let us remark that the Scottish Registration +and Marriage Bills have +shared a similar fate. Of this we +are devoutly glad. Not a single +petition has been presented in their +favour; and though no doubt the +registration of births, and a stricter +law of marriage, may be desirable, we +think it might be quite possible to +accomplish both objects, without creating +a new and expensive staff of +functionaries, or holding forth a prospect +of entire immunity to seduction. +Possibly at a later period we may +take an opportunity of examining +these postponed measures in detail.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Two more questions remain, and +then the history of the session is +ended. They are of vast importance—Ireland, +and our foreign policy.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The opening of the session found +Ireland in a state of agrarian outrage. +Agitation was doing its work, +and murder was rife on every hand. +Foremost in stirring up the people, +most determined in hounding them +on, were the Roman Catholic priesthood; +and we trust that this fact will +not be forgotten by those who are now +meditating to buy their silence. Individuals +were openly denounced from +the altar, and next day shot down by +the assassin. The most seditious language +was used by these cassocked traitors +towards the British government; +and even the higher dignitaries of their +church sought to stimulate the passions +of the populace by the most barefaced +and impudent misrepresentation. +Hear Archdeacon Laffan at Cashel, +upon a Sunday, surrounded by some +fifteen thousand of the peasantry, and +backed by that notable worthy, Mr +John O’Connell, and three other members +of Parliament—“The Saxon +scoundrel, with his bellyful of Irish +meat, could very well afford to call his +poor, honest, starving fellow-countrymen +savages and assassins; but if in +the victualling department John Bull +suffered one-fifth of the privations to +which the Tipperary men were subject, +if he had courage enough, he +would stand upon one side, <em>and shoot +the first man he could meet with a decent +coat on his back</em>—(Cheers.) But +the Saxon had not courage to do any +thing like a man; he growls out like +a hungry tiger!” At the time when +this expositor of the Christian doctrine +was raving to his miserable flock, +the following was the condition of the +Established clergy. One of them, +writing from King’s County, described +his position—“For nearly twenty +years I have been a minister of the +Established Church; and during that +time I have had nothing whatever to +do with tithes, for my benefice is a +chapelry of £90 a-year, and is paid +partly out of land set apart for the +purpose, and partly by the ecclesiastical +commissioners of Ireland, from a +fund bequeathed to small livings by +Primate Boulter.” He had devoted +much attention to the employment of +the poor; had never shown favour or +partiality to any one sect; had lived +simply, and attended to his duties; +had never brought an ejectment, or +taken any other law proceedings, +against a tenant. “What, then,” +continued he, “was my surprise and +horror to find an assassin lying in +wait for me for three successive days; +and—for this is still more horrifying—that +most of the people of the neighbourhood +where I live have been so +far from expressing joy at the escape +I have made, that they show evident +disappointment at my not being +shot!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>We have often marvelled what must +be the impression of foreigners after +reading such speeches as are usually +delivered at an Irish assembly, by men +who cannot plead utter ignorance in +extenuation of the language they employ. +They must, we presume, imagine +that “the Saxon” has taken forcible +possession of the whole of Ireland; that +the natives are no better than serfs—unprotected +by any laws, and liable +to be beaten, plundered, and massacred +at the pleasure of the invaders; +that, on the approach of each harvest, +hordes of the Saxons repair to the +fertile fields of the Celt, reap them +with a sickle in the one hand and a +musket in the other, and then carry +off the produce, without leaving a +single doit in reparation. He would +imagine that the women are forced, +the men defrauded, and the houses +pillaged at pleasure; that the Roman +Catholics are hunted down like wild +beasts, by armies of bloodthirsty Protestants; +that the exercise of their +faith is denied them; and that they +are allowed no voice whatever in +the national representation. Some +such conception as this he must form +from the harangues which have constituted +the staple of Conciliation Hall +for more years than we care to reckon. +But what would be his amazement +were he told that Ireland is governed +by precisely the same laws as the +sister country; that property is equally +protected, and life endangered only by +the brutality of the Celtic assassin; +that Ireland is specially exempted from +several of the taxes which press most +heavily upon the industrious classes +of Great Britain; that on the last +occasion of famine, upwards of nine +millions of public, and a vast amount +of private money, was given for the +support of her poor; that Roman +Catholic colleges have been munificently +endowed; that Ireland has her +full share of representation in the imperial +Parliament, and that upwards +of one half of the time of the House +of Commons is occupied with measures +tending to the amelioration of the +Irish people! If he were told all this—and +it is no more than the naked +truth—what would be his astonishment? +And yet so it is. Ireland +has persisted, and is persisting, in her +course of sedition without a grievance, +of murder without provocation, of +black and brutal ingratitude without +even the shadow of an excuse!</p> + +<p class='c008'>It is impossible to find language too +strong to characterise the guilt of the +individuals, lay or clerical, who have +spent the better part of their mean +and mischievous existence in misleading +their rude and ignorant fellow-countrymen. +They are the moral +nuisances who have always stood in +the way of Ireland’s progression and +happiness. But for them, there would +have been no absenteeism, no heart-burning +between the landlord and the +tenant. The people would gradually +have learned habits of industry and +providence, and instead of whooping +through the country like maniacs, +shouting and yelling for repeal, which +if granted, would make an utter hell +of Ireland, they would be tilling the +ground, or usefully employed in the +development of that capital which no +one dare hazard at present in their +mad and turbulent districts. For all +these things we do not blame, but execrate +O’Connell and his tribe. The +grasping selfishness of that family +has for the last few years been the +greatest curse to Ireland; and the +crimes of other and inferior agitators +shrink into insignificance, compared +with the moral turpitude of the men +who have deliberately fattened upon +their country’s ruin.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Mr John O’Connell, having previously +declared his intention of dying +on the floor of the House of Commons +rather than permit the passing of a +Coercion Bill to restrain his countrymen +from murder, did in effect make +his appearance in St Stephens, but by +no means with a suicidal intention. +One of his earliest speeches is worth +preserving, as it exhibits, in a most +extraordinary degree, the hereditary +power of mendicancy. “If they had +a reverence for human life, let them +extend it to the people of Ireland. +Give money. He asked for money. +He heard the laughter of honourable +gentlemen; but he could tell them that +they ought to give money, and that it +was their duty to do so. Charge them +for the money if they liked, but at all +events let them save the lives of the +people. He did not expect to be met +otherwise than with laughter; and he +was bound to say that he never saw in +that House one single real thought for +the interest of Ireland. (<em>Great laughter.</em>) +He begged to say, that he had +made that remark hastily and hotly, +but now he repeated it deliberately +and coolly. Whenever the interests of +Ireland came into competition with +those of England, they were invariably +sacrificed. And if he did ask money, +had he not a right to do so? In a few +nights a motion would come on, and +then he would prove that they owed +it!” No man certainly ever did more +credit to his profession. Brought up +under the most able instructor of his +age in the art of begging, John O’Connell +exhibited on this occasion talents +of the highest order, which would have +made his fortune on the highway, unless +some stray traveller should have +mistaken the intentions of the suppliant, +and been over ready with his +pistol to prevent an anticipated robbery. +The vile ingratitude of this +man is almost equal to his audacity. +Great Britain, without the slightest +hope of any return, had impoverished +herself for the support of the Irish, and +yet here was the whole acknowledgment! +Even on the score of policy it +would have been wiser for Mr O’Connell +to have mitigated his tone.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The Irish Crime and Outrage Bill +was introduced by ministers at an +early stage of the session, with the +general concurrence of all parties. +No one could doubt that it was especially +needed, but few were sanguine +that it would suffice to cure the spirit +of disaffection which was abroad. In +fact, Irish agitation has been allowed +to proceed to such a point, that the +evil is utterly incurable. What chance +is there of putting a stop to physical +force demonstrations, or, in other +words, to open rebellion, whilst another +gang of demagogues is permitted +to preach sedition under the guise of +moral force, and to fill the minds of +their deluded victims with every +species of misrepresentation and wild +hostility to Great Britain? Our +system of government towards Ireland +has been timid and weak, and +we are now paying the penalty. Our +charities have been given with far +too liberal a hand. Ireland has but +had to ask, in order to be relieved by +the public money: and this process +has been so often repeated, that what +at first was an extraordinary boon, is +now considered in the light of an indefeasible +claim. The Irish peasant will +not work, will do nothing to better +his own position, because he believes +that, in his hour of need, he will be +supported by British alms. We wish +we could believe that this scandalous +and sordid spirit was confined to the +peasantry alone. It is not so. A +general scramble takes place on each +fresh issue of bounty, and rich and +poor, high and low, among the +repealers, press clamorously forward +for their share. Never was money +more absurdly, more mischievously +misapplied, than the great government +grants on occasion of the famine. +Had the proposals of Lord George +Bentinck been agreed to, and the +money given by way of loan for construction +of the Irish railroads, not +only would the government have held +some security for repayment, or, at +all events, a vested interest in the +works, but a useful improvement +would have been effected in the heart +of the country, and a new element +of civilisation introduced. But the +scheme was rejected, for no other +reason, we believe, than because it +was suggested by a political opponent, +and the millions granted by Britain +have been squandered in making +good roads bad, in trenching mosses, +draining waste lands, and what not. +The expenditure has been lost to this +country, and has not had the effect +of awakening the slightest spark of +gratitude or respect for the quarter +whence it came. Ireland must be +disabused on one point. These grants +are not annual, and cannot be continued. +The time has come when +Ireland must be put upon precisely +the same footing of taxation with the +sister kingdoms—she must be forced +to forego pauperism, and in future to +rely on her industry, and on her own +resources. Ireland is at least four +times as fertile in soil as Scotland, +and there can be no reason whatever +why she should be exempt from +burdens which apply to the latter, and +moreover, like a sturdy beggar, be for +ever vociferous for relief.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The Crime and Outrage Bill in some +degree fulfilled its purpose; for open +murder and assassination, if not extinguished, +were somewhat diminished +throughout the winter. Still the work +of sedition progressed. Old and Young +Ireland, ruffians both, were at loggerheads—the +older section finding a profit +in the shape of the weekly rent, the +younger and more conscientious one +thirsting for the hour when the dogs +of rebellion might be let loose. The +French revolution found Ireland in +this state, and no doubt aided to precipitate +the crisis. The visions of mere +repeal gradually faded before the more +brilliant and daring aspiration of an +Irish republic! France would probably +sympathise with Erin; and a deputation +was sent over to wait upon +Lamartine, then in the zenith of his +popularity, for the double purpose of +ascertaining the chances of assistance, +and of taking a flying lesson in the art +of constructing barricades. But the +members of the French Provisional +Government showed no alacrity in recognising +the Irish patriots, and distinctly +refused to interfere. Then it +became apparent, that if the Irish +party were determined to rebel, they +must do so without foreign aid and intervention; +and on their own ground, +and with their own weapons, be prepared +to cope with the Saxon.</p> + +<p class='c008'>It is but fair, in justice to the unfortunate +men who, since that time, +have suffered for their almost incredible +folly, to state that others, too +crafty or pusillanimous to approach +within grasp of the law, were at least +equally guilty in promoting agitation +after revolution had been triumphant +in France. John O’Connell thus wrote +from Paris a few days after Louis +Philippe had been driven from his +throne:—“Speak out, people of Ireland! +Speak from every city—every +valley—every hill—every plain! <span class='sc'>The +time is come!</span> The hour has arrived +when it is our instant right! when it +is England’s directest and most imperative +interest that we should manage +our own affairs in our own Parliament +at home!” It matters not, +in a moral point of view, though it +might be convenient for sheltering +purposes, that this note of sedition +was accompanied with advice to abstain +from crime and bloodshed. Such +advice goes for nothing with the million, +as O’Connell well knows; and, +furthermore, he knows this, that of all +the phantoms ever conjured up by +designing rogues and mountebanks, +this one of Irish repeal is the most +unlikely of realisation. What, then, +did the man mean by these words, +“<em>The time is come!</em>” save to stir up +the people to some demonstration, the +issue of which must have been massacre +and bloodshed?</p> + +<p class='c008'>We need hardly allude to the +effect of those appeals upon the +more hot-headed and determined of +the confederates. They no longer +preserved even the semblance of +loyalty, but, with a daring wholly +unexampled, gloried in the name of +traitors. At public meetings they +recommended the immediate arming +of the people—descanted, in terms of +gloating fondness, upon that “queen +of weapons” the pike—and the only +point of hesitation was the precise +period of the rising—whether it ought +to take place immediately, or be +postponed “until French steamers +were letting off their steam in Falmouth +and Portsmouth.” John +Mitchell, in the <cite>United Irishman</cite>, and +his coadjutors in the <cite>Nation</cite>, seconded +these views in a series of the most +inflammatory and villanous articles. +They propounded deliberate plans for +barricading the streets of Dublin; +displayed the most hellish ingenuity +in devising implements to be used +against the troops; attempted to persuade +their dupes, that, in the event +of a rising, the army would be found +on their side; and, in short, set every +law, human and divine, at defiance. +At this crisis, ministers failed to act +with that decision which was clearly +their duty. They should at once +have suspended the <em>Habeas Corpus</em> +Act, and arrested the whole of the +leading agitators. Such a course +would have struck terror into the +insurgents, before, emboldened by impunity, +and relying upon the want of +unanimity almost sure to prevail +among Irish juries, they had dragged +other misled individuals into a participation +of their guilt.</p> + +<p class='c008'>March, and a portion of April, +passed away before ministers took +courage to introduce the Crown and +Government Security Bill, under which +Mitchell was ultimately convicted. +In the discussions which took place, +Lord John Russell was evidently +sorely hampered by the opinions +which he had expressed when in +opposition, and the manifest discrepancy +of his measures with the principles +of the Whiggish creed. He +showed a disposition to truckle, when +he came to that portion of the bill +which declared that open and advised +speaking, of treasonable nature, should +henceforward be treated as felony, +and took it merely as a temporary +provision. A bolder front, at such a +time, would better have become a +British statesman.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Smith O’Brien and Meagher, two +of the most daring leaders of the faction, +were tried at Dublin in the +month of May, and escaped, the jury +being in neither case unanimous. +These trials may be memorable in +the history of the jurisprudence of +Ireland, for they distinctly prove that +the present system of trial is utterly +unsuited for that country. Nothing +could be clearer than the evidence +against both parties. O’Brien had +recommended the formation of an +Irish brigade in the United States. +Meagher’s recommendation was “up +with the barricades, and invoke the +god of battles.” Yet in the face of +this, the jury could not agree upon +their verdict. Mitchell was the first +person convicted under the new Act. +On the 27th of May, he was found +guilty, and sentenced to fourteen years’ +transportation.</p> + +<p class='c008'>No effort whatever was made, on +the part of the populace, to rescue +this misguided man. He had proclaimed +himself a felon, and he was +sent forth to undergo the punishment +of his crime. But this example, +stringent as it was, had no effect +whatever in repressing the spirit of +treason. The arming went on rapidly +as before, or rather in an augmented +ratio. Cargoes of muskets, and other +fire-arms, were openly shipped for +Dublin, and exposed for sale; their +destination and use were openly admitted, +and yet ministers did not seem +to consider it their duty to interfere! +The newspaper war continued. Fresh +journals sprang up to replace the +<cite>United Irishman</cite>, and the favourite +doctrines of Mitchell were enforced +with a ferocity and earnestness almost +equal to his own. Clubs, after the +fashion of those in Paris, were organised +throughout the country: drilling +began, and at length rebellion assumed +a tangible shape, the confederate +forces having been reviewed by Smith +O’Brien at Cork. On the 21st of +July, Dublin was proclaimed by the +Lord Lieutenant; and immediately +thereafter, and not a moment too +soon, ministry were compelled to suspend +the <cite>Habeas Corpus</cite> Act in Ireland.</p> + +<p class='c008'>As we are not writing a history of +this most abortive rebellion, we need +not follow its leaders throughout their +ignominious, and even cowardly +career. That a bubble, deemed so +gigantic, should have burst with so +miraculously small an explosion, may +hereafter be a source of wonder to the +chronicler; at present our only feeling +should be gratitude to the Almighty that +this affair has as yet been accompanied +with so little loss of human life. So far, +it is well; but it would be absolute +madness to suppose that the spirit of +rebellion has been extinguished. The +Irish people have been guilty of a great +crime. A large portion of them are, +without any doubt, rebels in their +hearts; and they must submit to be +treated as such, until we are satisfied +that their stubborn disposition is removed. +Great credit, it seems, is now +given in certain quarters to the +Roman Catholic clergy, for the part +they took in suppressing the late +disturbances; and we anticipate an +immediate burst of laudation, and +perhaps a promise of reward, in return +for their disinterested exertions. +If to foster rebellion in every possible +manner, whilst there is the least +chance of its success, and to preach +it down from the very moment when +the cause appears obviously desperate, +be an acceptable course, we freely +admit the claims of the priesthood to +the heartfelt gratitude of Britain: +upon no other ground whatever can +we see a reason for their recognition. +Let any man consider seriously and +impartially the history and proceedings +in Ireland for the last six months, +and he cannot fail, we think, to +arrive at the conclusion, that clerical +connivance is visible in every scene +of the drama. Smith O’Brien and +Mitchell, being both of them Protestants, +may have raised the banner +too early, and may have been sacrificed +with little scruple; but we repeat, +that we have no faith in that +interference which comes so very late, +and which, without any hyperbole, +may be said to have been forced at +the point of the bayonet.</p> + +<p class='c008'>As regards ministers, we think +their later measures have been taken +with a fair regard for the interests +of the imperial crown. Much they +might have done earlier; but, on the +whole, we are not inclined to quarrel +with their conduct. Lord John Russell, +in the course of late events, has +received a more wholesome lesson in +the practical science of legislation +than was ever vouchsafed him before. +His Lordship’s eyes are now, we +hope, opened to the fallacy of some of +the cherished Whig propositions. He +has learned that there are times when +a government must have recourse to +extraordinary measures, if it is sincere +in its wish to maintain the integrity +of the crown and the constitution: +and that although the liberty +of the subject, and the freedom of the +press, are undoubtedly most excellent +things, and capital toasts at Whig +propaganda banquets, neither of them +can be allowed to go so far as to +achieve a violent revolution. If +some slight tinge should be apparent +on the cheek of the Premier as he +reviews his past career, and reflects +on the inconsistency of his former +speeches with his present more energetic +conduct, we are willing to +attribute the blush to the most +amiable, and certainly the most +honourable of possible motives—the +acknowledgment of a cherished error.</p> + +<p class='c008'>But while we accord with satisfaction +this meed of praise to ministers, +it is impossible to forget that +the Whig party, by playing into the +hands of O’Connell and his followers, +have given a pernicious incentive to +the agitation which has ended in the +late revolt. There has been far too +much coquetting and trafficking with +the repealers,—far too little consideration +shown for the really loyal and +peaceable portion of the Irish people. +Is it possible to expect that any +credence will be given to the idea +that the Whigs are sincere and +determined in their opposition to the +repeal doctrines, when a high official +functionary like Sir William Somerville, +Chief Secretary of State for +Ireland, is found subscribing to the +fund raised for defending the return +of Mr Reynolds, the member for Dublin? +Is it, we say, decent that a +man in the position of the honourable +baronet should be allowed to +identify not only himself, but the +government to which he belongs, +with a party so diametrically opposed +to the best interests of the British +empire? If the Whigs are determined +to put down agitation in Ireland—and +put down it must be, at +whatever cost—let them show their +sincerity by dropping all connexion +with the agitators. These are not +times for truckling—least of all for +party purposes and pretension.</p> + +<p class='c008'>If there is an immediate return +to the old system of conciliation—if +that unhappy country is to be left +under the impression that Britain is +bound to support her, we may look for +another projected rebellion at no very +distant period. Ireland must be +taught to depend thoroughly upon +herself. The wages of idleness must +no longer be given her under any +circumstances whatever. We are +satisfied that the social misery of +Ireland proceeds mainly from the +injudicious system of eleemosynary +support, to which she has been so +long accustomed; for nowhere else +in the known world is there a land so +rich in resources, with a population +so utterly improvident. An end also +must be put, by the strong arm of +power, to agitation of every kind. +Jury trial requires remodelment; and +we hope that the very first Irish +measure which is introduced, will be +one for assimilating the system of jury +trial in criminal cases there with +that which has worked so well and +satisfactorily in Scotland. Let fifteen +men be impanelled, and let the +opinion of the majority be the verdict. +This would effectually prevent those +allegations about packing, which do +certainly detract from the moral +weight of such convictions as that of +Mitchell: it would strengthen the +hands of justice, and be especially +useful as a further preventive of +crime. The weal or the continued +misery of Ireland will depend very +much upon the character and complexion +of the measures which may +be introduced during the next session +of Parliament.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The progress of the revolutions +abroad has been any thing but peaceful. +On the Continent, the treaty of +Vienna has become a dead letter—a +mere antiquated sheet of parchment, +hardly to be appealed to by any of +the conflicting powers. War has +broken out in more than one point; +and though, during the last month, +there has been some prospect of compromise, +it is in vain to hope that +Europe will immediately subside into +its former tranquillity. Hitherto, +whatever may be said regarding the +internal economy of France, that +country has manifested no aggressive +spirit. Paris, the centre-point of the +volcanic eruption, has kept, and may +keep for some time, the soldiery in +full employment; and we are sincerely +of opinion that General Cavaignac, +now at the head of affairs in France, +has no personal disposition to undertake +a war of conquest. But the +position of Germany is very peculiar, +and her affairs so complicated, that +we may justly feel alarm as to the +issue.</p> + +<p class='c008'>We shall say little of the experiment, +so rashly undertaken by a number +of untried constitution craftsmen, +for welding together into one indissoluble +mass the political existence of +the different Teutonic tribes. It is +a project which, at first sight, may +appear sufficiently imposing; but when +we examine it more closely, it seems +fraught with insuperable difficulties. +To constitute a Regent for all Germany, +in whose hands is to be lodged +the sovereign administration of affairs, +is in fact to dethrone and mediatise the +whole of the reigning potentates. It +may be freely conceded that a number +of the smaller states might be +absorbed, and their names removed +from the map of Europe, without +causing any disturbance of the balance +of power; but, with regard to the +larger ones, the case is very different. +Will Austria, Prussia, Bavaria, and +Saxony, submit to surrender their +independence? Will the kings allow +themselves to be stripped of their +authority—of the power to make laws, +to proclaim war and peace, and to +levy and command their own armies? +We do not believe it. Austria may +not object at this peculiar juncture, +both because she is deeply engaged +in war for the recovery of Lombardy, +and because the present Regent is a +prince of her imperial family. Prussia +can hardly be the first to dissent, +because her monarch had the credit +of originating the idea of German +unity, under the illusion that he would +be nominated as the head. But unity +is not popular in Prussia, any more +than it is in Bavaria, and the moment +is fast approaching when this bubble +also must explode. We might look +upon the whole experiment with feelings +of pure curiosity, were it not that +incipient unity has been signalised by +an act of the most flagrant aggression. +We allude to the occupation of Schleswig-Holstein +by the Germans.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Denmark is one of those small states +in which the nationality is of the +most invincible kind. Circumscribed +in territorial space, the Danish people +are possessed of a courage and energy +which for centuries has continued undiminished; +and the more powerful +northern states are bound, if not by +treaty, at least by the strongest ties +of policy and relationship, to assist +their gallant neighbours in maintaining +their original position. Russia and +Sweden have already declared themselves +open allies of Denmark, and resolute +to maintain her against the +forces of Germany. The disposition +of England, and, we are glad to say, +of France also, tends towards the same +point; and such being the case, we +have great hopes that the Germans +will not be mad enough to persevere in +their unjustifiable course. A war in +the north of Europe, in which so many +great nations would be engaged, must +be a hideous calamity; and Germany, +if wise, should be the last country to +provoke it. But, as if to complicate +matters, the parliament at Frankfort +have manifested an intention of embroiling +themselves with Holland for +one of the ceded duchies.</p> + +<p class='c008'>It is no purpose of ours to speculate +upon events, and therefore we leave +the Danish question without further +comment. It will be extremely gratifying +if, after all the demonstration +which has been made, and the actual +collision between the Danes and the +Germans, peace can be re-established +without having recourse to the armed +interference of a northern confederation; +and it would be still more gratifying +if this desirable result should be +the effect of British mediation. But, +looking to the south of Europe, we +cannot approve of the policy which +Great Britain has since pursued, or +the attitude which Lord Palmerston +has chosen to assume towards a friendly +foreign power.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Our readers will not have forgotten +the surprise and suspicion which was +excited, about a year ago, by the absence +of a cabinet minister, who was +understood to be perambulating Italy +with a sort of roving commission. The +intention may have been friendly, but +the fact was both unusual and degrading, +and gave rise at the time to a +multitude of unpleasant suspicions. +Whether Lord Minto travelled in the +capacity of constitution-maker for +Italy we know not; but if so, as has +more than once been broadly alleged, +his attempts have been utter failures. +We hope it was not by his advice that +Charles Albert has done his best to +light up the flames of general war by +that ungenerous attack upon Austria, +which has ended so disastrously for +himself. Baffled on every hand—after +having sacrificed his army, and squandered +his treasure—the King of Sardinia +has been driven back into his +own country, amidst the execrations +of those whom he professedly came to +emancipate, and without a hope left +of gaining the diadem for which he +had perilled so much. The papal constitution +at Rome has by no means fulfilled +the hopes of the liberal advocates. +Pius, lately so popular, is +trembling in the Vatican, and the inhabitants +of the Eternal City are in as +much terror as if Attila were again at +its gates. We repeat that we do not +know how much share British councils +may have had in promoting these untoward +events; but this we know, that +it would have been far better if Lord +Minto had remained at home. For, +in the matter of Naples at least, we +have chosen to take a direct part, +which throws suspicion upon the tendency +of our whole negotiations with +the Peninsula.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sicily has chosen to cast off its +allegiance to the crown of Naples, +and to elect a sovereign of its own. +This is strictly a domestic contest, +and one in which we had no title +whatever to interfere. But mark +what has taken place. No sooner +was Naples—a country which has +also felt the revolutionary shock—quieted +by the granting of a constitution, +than King Ferdinand, desirous +of quelling rebellion in Sicily, is intimidated +from sending his squadron +for that purpose, by the appearance +of a British fleet off his own territory. +Against this unjustifiable demonstration +the King of Naples has protested, +declaring that he will hold any armed +interference between himself and his +subjects as tantamount to a declaration +of war on the part of the British +government. Lord Stanley—whose +conduct throughout the session, on all +questions connected with foreign or +colonial affairs, has been pre-eminently +distinguished for temperance, +rectitude, and ability, and who has +exhibited, in a remarkable degree, +every qualification requisite for the +leader of a great and national party—brought +the whole subject before the +consideration of the House of Lords: +but the explanations given by Lord +Lansdowne are not calculated to improve +our character for good faith, +whilst they may afford a ready apology +to other states for any act of aggression +whatever. Also, at a later period +of the session, Mr D’Israeli, in one of +those brilliant speeches for which he is +unrivalled, again demanded explanation +from the Foreign Secretary, and +took occasion to comment, with sarcastic +felicity, on the Minto pilgrimage +to Rome. We shall presently allude +to the reply which Lord Palmerston +thought proper to make.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The facts of the case, as admitted +by Lord Lansdowne, are shortly +these:—Britain was never asked to +mediate formally between the conflicting +parties. The Sicilians stood +in the position of rebels, victorious +perhaps on their own soil, but not, on +that account, released from an allegiance +which had been formally recognised +by Europe. They proceeded, +as all insurgents do, to debate upon +some form of government; and at this +point, it seems, the Foreign Office +thought fit to use its influence. Lord +Palmerston became a party to the +discussions of the revolted Sicilians, +to the extent at least of advising +them to select a monarchical instead +of a republican form of government; +with an assurance that, in that +event, Britain would recognise the +prince who might be elected by the +people.</p> + +<p class='c008'>This is neither more nor less than a +recognition of the right of revolt; and +we should like to know upon what +principle of the law of nations it can +be defended. It is one thing to +acknowledge the right of a nation to +change the character of its institutions,—as +for example, in the case of +France, which from a monarchy has become +a republic. Were we to undergo +the same organic change, France, +doubtless, would recognise us, and continue +the same relations with us under +the altered form of government. But +what if France had chosen to espouse +the cause of the Irish confederates? +What if—supposing our troops had +been defeated by a general rising, +and Smith O’Brien had been proclaimed +not only King of Munster, +but of Ireland—General Cavaignac +should have assured the rebels, that +he would recognise the descendant +of Brian Boru as the prince elected +by the people? Would not that +negotiation, that assurance, be treated +by England as an open declaration +of hostility,—an interference +which no circumstances could palliate, +and for which no explanation could +suffice? We apprehend there can be +no difficulty in answering the question, +and yet our position with regard to +Naples was precisely similar.</p> + +<p class='c008'>No official recognition of the independence +of Sicily has as yet taken +place. Her Britannic Majesty has +accredited no ambassador to that +court, nor does she know any thing +more of the King of Sicily than her +royal predecessor did of Theodore +King of Corsica. In all Sicilian +matters, as yet, this country nominally +recognises the supremacy of King +Ferdinand, who has in no way incurred +a forfeiture. Yet at the very +moment when that potentate has completed +his preparations for coercing +his rebel subjects, a British fleet +appears off his shores, and no explanation +has been vouchsafed of +the reasons which have brought it +there.</p> + +<p class='c008'>In answer to Lord Malmesbury, +who reiterated the question originally +put by Lord Stanley, “Is the fleet of +Admiral Parker to interfere with any +expedition which his Neapolitan +Majesty may send against his subjects +in Sicily?” Lord Lansdowne distinctly +refused explanation. So did +Lord Palmerston in answer to Mr +D’Israeli; and he further added, “that +it is not the practice of the government +of this country to announce to parliament +what the intentions of the government +are.” All that we shall say upon +that point is, that, even during the +present session of parliament, ministers +have more than once been particularly +eager to parade their intentions, without +even the formality of a question. +Such answers are very apt to make +distrustful people recollect that Naples +is but a small state, and not so formidable +as some others which have +led the van of revolution. But even +supposing that the Whig government +are not prepared to go the +length of violating treaties, and breaking +alliances by a direct and forcible +interference, this concealment is peculiarly +unwise at a moment when neutrality +is of the last importance. +Apart from this question of Sicilian +interference, no one wants to know +why Admiral Parker’s fleet is there. +It is not alone Lord Stanley or Mr +D’Israeli whose curiosity requires to be +gratified. The King of Naples believes +this armament is sent with intentions +hostile to him, and he has a right to +know whether Britain proposes to +throw an impediment betwixt him +and his revolted dominions. Are +ministers aware of the effect which +such ambiguous answers may have +upon the future policy of France? +General Oudinot, we know, is at the +head of a large army on the southern +frontier of France, and Charles Albert +has notoriously solicited assistance +from that quarter. What if the French, +drawing their own deduction from the +fact of the fleet being there, and +all explanation refused, should choose +to assume that we have exceeded the +bounds of neutrality, and are now +coercing the King of Naples?—what +if they should march an army to the +support of the Piedmontese, again +make Lombardy a field of battle, and +throw all Europe into irretrievable +confusion, by engaging in hostilities +with Austria? Is that contingency +so remote that we can afford to indulge +in mysteries, and peril the fair fame +of England’s open dealing for a paltry +Palmerston intrigue?</p> + +<p class='c008'>If we contemplate seriously the +whole course of our foreign policy, in +so far as regards Italy, we cannot fail +to be impressed with the idea that the +Whigs have given undue countenance +to the late insurrectionary movements. +Great Britain might have come forward +honourably at the commencement +of the Lombardy campaign to +stop the effusion of blood and the +horrors of war, by the offer of a +timely mediation; but no such step +was taken. On the contrary, our +Cabinet remained quiescent and looked +on approvingly, so long as success +appeared to favour the Sardinian +arms: it is only after the invader has +been beaten back, and driven within +the frontiers of his own kingdom—after +Austria has redeemed by force +all her Lombard territory, that Lord +Palmerston, and his new ally Cavaignac, +have thought fit to tender their +good offices. We may safely ask—what +good purpose can be achieved +by this very late intervention? Who +are the parties whose quarrel is to be +taken up? Mr D’Israeli put the +matter well when he asked,—First, +what was to be the principle of this +mediation; secondly, what was to be +the motive of the mediation; and +thirdly, what was the end proposed to +be attained by the mediation? The +motive, we are assured, is the preservation +of peace, and we fully subscribe +to its importance; but on all +other matters we are left as thoroughly +in the dark as ever. Really this +mystery is, to say the least of it, tantalising; +and we would fain know +whether Austria is the party who has +taken the initiative, in securing the +advice of two peace-makers like +Palmerston and Cavaignac. Austria +has recovered the possessions guaranteed +her by the faith of the leading +states of Europe, has put down insurrection, +and driven back in rout and terror +the invading Sardinian over his own +frontier. There remains no body of +her revolted subjects in a position to +ask for mediation. As for Charles +Albert, he is not, we presume, either +King of Italy or Lord of Lombardy, +neither have we heard of any other +claim, save that of sympathy, which +could entitle him to enter into the +contest. Personally he had no wrong +to avenge; but having chosen to +espouse the cause of the rebels, and +to encounter the risks of war, he is +surely not entitled, especially after +defeat, to insist upon any conditions. +If Austria shall choose, of her own +free will and accord, to cede possession +of Lombardy, it will be a mere +act of grace, which cannot be +demanded from her by any state in +Europe. But she is clearly entitled +to dictate, and not to receive conditions; +and any interference with her +guaranteed and fully recovered rights, +either on the part of England or of +France, would be tantamount to a +declaration of war.</p> + +<p class='c008'>From first to last, therefore, we +condemn the course which has been +pursued by the British foreign minister +with reference to the affairs of +Italy, as undignified, unconstitutional, +and mischievous. It has naturally +lowered the estimate of our character +in the eyes of the Italian people, +whose own fondness for intrigue does +not prevent them from despising that +system, when pursued on the part of a +strong and powerful nation. Minto +jobbing has proved an utter failure. +It may not indeed have been unproductive +in results, for it has materially +stimulated sedition, but certainly it +has not tended to the preservation of +peace, or the consolidation of government +in Italy.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Lord Palmerston has not been happy +for the present year in his foreign +relations. Some gratuitous advice to +Spain, which he no doubt tendered +with the best possible intentions, was +ignominiously returned upon his hand; +and this affront was followed up by +another still more serious, for our +ambassador at Madrid was dismissed. +Such are the results of constant meddling +with the institutions of foreign +states, or prying into their domestic +arrangements, and of everlastingly tendering +unsolicited and unpalatable +advice. We do Lord Palmerston the +justice to believe, that he is the last +man in the world who would brook +such conduct at the hands of others. +Why then will he persist in acting the +part of Mentor to all the states of +Europe, at the risk of attracting insult +to himself, and of materially endangering +the character and position of +his country?</p> + +<p class='c008'>Whether we regard the conduct of +the present ministry at home or +abroad, in domestic or in foreign +relations, we find little to praise, and +much which we must conscientiously +condemn. Late events do not seem to +have conveyed to them any important +lesson. Diminished exports, want of +reciprocity, and the disorganisation +of affairs on the Continent, have +effected as yet no change in their +commercial policy. They are still +determined to persevere in the course +which they have unfortunately adopted, +and to neglect the home and colonial +markets for the desperate chance of +pushing exportation further. By delaying +to make any provision for the +relaxation of the odious Bank Restriction +Acts—by placing upon the committee +of the House of Commons +men whose financial reputation depended +upon the maintenance of these +measures—they have again exposed +the country to a recurrence of that +crisis which, in November last, was +so near a fatal termination. Who +shall answer for it that a fresh drain +of bullion will not take place this +autumn? If the harvest shall prove +deficient, such undoubtedly may be +the case, and the mercantile world +will be left without the means of +accommodation at the moment of its +utmost need.</p> + +<p class='c008'>When we look at the long period of +tranquillity which this country has +enjoyed since the peace—when we +reflect upon the extension of trade, +the increase of our colonies, the apparent +accumulation of wealth at home, +the development of industry, and the +enormous social improvements which +have resulted from the progress of +science—it seems almost miraculous +that any combination of circumstances +should so rapidly have involved us in +financial embarrassments. Those embarrassments +are marked by the price +of money and its fluctuations, by the +difficulty of accommodation, by the +unprecedented decline in the value of +every kind of property, by the amount +of unemployed labour in the market, +and by the long list of bankruptcies. +We ask for an explanation of these +phenomena, and we are referred to a +failure of the potato crop! The political +economists will not acknowledge +the share they have had in the production +of such lamentable results—but, +fortunately, they cannot alter +dates; and one thing at least is incontestible, +that the commencement +of the period of decline corresponds +exactly with that of Sir Robert Peel’s +fiscal and currency measures. It may +have been that we were previously in +danger from the want of these, but the +country neither knew nor felt it. The +change was made, and since then our +prospects have been dark and gloomy.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Parliament has utterly failed, during +last session, to suggest any remedy +for the general distress. It must fail +so to do, until it is called together +under the auspices of a Cabinet imbued +with patriotic principles, aware +of the responsibility of their situation, +and thoroughly resolved to release +themselves from the trammels of a +system which has fraud and selfishness +for its foundation, and which +seeks to aggrandise a few at the sacrifice +of the industrious many. May +Heaven grant that such men may +speedily be called to the supreme +councils of the nation, and that this +may be the last session, the futilities +of which it is our duty to record, +under the imbecile and slovenly administration +of the Whigs!</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_290'>290</span> + <h2 class='c002'>TO A CAGED SKYLARK, REGENT’S CIRCUS, PICCADILLY.</h2> +</div> + +<div class='nf-center-c0'> +<div class='nf-center c017'> + <div>BY B. SIMMONS.</div> + </div> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c018'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line in8'>The city’s stony roar around!</div> + <div class='line in10'>The city’s stifling air!</div> + <div class='line in8'>The London May’s distracting sound,</div> + <div class='line in10'>And dust, and heat, and glare!</div> + <div class='line in8'>She sings to-night who puts to shame</div> + <div class='line in8'>Her fabled sisters’ syren-fame;</div> + <div class='line in8'>And, swarming through one mighty street,</div> + <div class='line in8'>From all opposing points they meet;</div> + <div class='line in8'>And hurrying, whirling, madd’ning on,</div> + <div class='line in10'>The crashing wheels and battling crowd</div> + <div class='line in8'>Are coming still, and still are gone—</div> + <div class='line in10'>The Thunder and the Cloud.</div> + <div class='line in12'>But the gush of faint odours</div> + <div class='line in14'>From apple-tree blooms—</div> + <div class='line in12'>The dew-fall by starlight</div> + <div class='line in14'>In green mossy glooms—</div> + <div class='line in12'>The sob of low breezes</div> + <div class='line in14'>Through hill-lifted pines</div> + <div class='line in12'>Looking miles o’er lone moorlands</div> + <div class='line in14'>While evening declines—</div> + <div class='line in12'>The dying away</div> + <div class='line in14'>Of far bleats at the shealing,</div> + <div class='line in12'>The hum of the night-fly</div> + <div class='line in14'>Where streamlets are stealing—</div> + <div class='line in12'>All are floating, this moment, or mournfully heard,</div> + <div class='line'>(Distinct as lutes mid trumpets) round thy cage, heart-breaking Bird!</div> + <div class='line in8'>They heed, nor hear—that seething mass—</div> + <div class='line in10'>But storm and brawl and burst along,</div> + <div class='line in8'>Porter and Peer—the City class—</div> + <div class='line in8'>And high-born Beauty shrined in glass—</div> + <div class='line in8'>The pale Mechanic and his lass—</div> + <div class='line in8'>Thick as the scythe-awaiting grass,</div> + <div class='line in10'>In one discordant throng.</div> + <div class='line in8'>While, loud with many a clanging bell,</div> + <div class='line in8'>Some annual joy the steeples tell,</div> + <div class='line in8'>And waggons’ groan and drivers’ yell</div> + <div class='line in8'>The loud hubbub and riot swell;</div> + <div class='line'>Yet still the stunn’d ear drinks, through all, that liquid song.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line in12'>And far sinks the tumult,</div> + <div class='line in14'>And takes the soft moan</div> + <div class='line in12'>Of billows that shoreward</div> + <div class='line in14'>Are lapsingly thrown,</div> + <div class='line in12'>When the stars o’er the light-house</div> + <div class='line in14'>Set faintly and few,</div> + <div class='line in12'>And the waves’ level blackness</div> + <div class='line in14'>Is trembling to blue.</div> + <div class='line in12'>Wing’d Darling of Sunrise!</div> + <div class='line in14'>How oft at that hour,</div> + <div class='line in12'>Where the grassy lea lovingly</div> + <div class='line in14'>Tufted thy bower,</div> + <div class='line in12'>Thy friends the meek cowslips</div> + <div class='line in14'>Still folded in sleep,</div> + <div class='line in12'>Didst thou burst, and meet Morning</div> + <div class='line in14'>Half way from the deep,</div> + <div class='line in12'>And circle and soar</div> + <div class='line in14'>Till thy small rosy wing</div> + <div class='line in12'>Seem’d a sparkle the far-coming</div> + <div class='line in14'>Splendour might fling!</div> + <div class='line in12'>How lavishly then</div> + <div class='line in14'>On the night-hidden hill</div> + <div class='line in12'>Didst thou rain down thy carol</div> + <div class='line in14'>Deliciously shrill—</div> + <div class='line in12'>Still mounting to Heaven,</div> + <div class='line in14'>As thou didst rejoice</div> + <div class='line in12'>To be nearer the Angels,</div> + <div class='line in14'>Since nearest in voice!</div> + <div class='line in12'>And thy wild liquid warbling,</div> + <div class='line in14'>Sweet Thing! after all,</div> + <div class='line in12'>Leaves thee thus aching-breasted,</div> + <div class='line in14'>A captive and thrall.</div> + <div class='line in8'>For the thymy dell’s freshness and free dewy cloud</div> + <div class='line in4'>A barr’d nook in this furnace-heat and suffocating crowd.</div> + <div class='line in4'>No pause even here to list thy lay;</div> + <div class='line in6'>The human ferment working</div> + <div class='line in4'>Must on with unresisted sway</div> + <div class='line in4'>In bubbling thousands swept away,</div> + <div class='line'>Nor near thy cage be left <span class='fss'>ONE HERMIT-HEARER</span> lurking.</div> + <div class='line in8'>Twin minstrels were ye</div> + <div class='line in10'>Once in sunshine and shade</div> + <div class='line in8'>With <em>thy</em> hymns to the Love-star,</div> + <div class='line in10'><em>His</em> rhymes to the Maid.</div> + <div class='line in8'>How sweet was it then,</div> + <div class='line in10'>As he linger’d at noon</div> + <div class='line in8'>Beneath trees dropping diamonds</div> + <div class='line in10'>In shower-freshen’d June,</div> + <div class='line in8'>Beloved of the Rainbow!</div> + <div class='line in10'>To mark thee on high,</div> + <div class='line in8'>Where violet and amber</div> + <div class='line in10'>Were arching the sky;</div> + <div class='line in8'>And to deem thou wert singing</div> + <div class='line in10'>Of comfort to him—</div> + <div class='line in8'>Of some Bow yet to brighten</div> + <div class='line in10'>His destiny dim!</div> + <div class='line in8'>From <em>thy</em> Cloud and <em>his</em> Dream</div> + <div class='line in10'>Long the glory is gone,</div> + <div class='line in8'>And the dungeon remains</div> + <div class='line in10'>To each desolate one:</div> + <div class='line in4'>And as vainly as thine would his spirit up-spring,</div> + <div class='line'>Beating against his prison-bar with faint and baffled wing.</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<div class='chapter'> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_292'>292</span> + <h2 class='c002'>SONNET.—TO DENMARK.</h2> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c018'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line in8'>Again the trumpet-blast of war is blown:</div> + <div class='line in8'>Again the cannon booms along the sea.</div> + <div class='line in8'>Now, may the God of Battles stand by thee,</div> + <div class='line in8'>True-hearted Denmark! struggling for thine own,</div> + <div class='line in8'>For right, and loyalty, and King, and throne,</div> + <div class='line in8'>Against the weight of frantic Germany!</div> + <div class='line in8'>Old Honour is not dead whilst thou art free—</div> + <div class='line in8'>Oh be thou faithful to thy past renown!</div> + <div class='line in8'>May the great spirit of thy heroes dead</div> + <div class='line in8'>Be as a bulwark to thine ancient shore:</div> + <div class='line in8'>And, midst the surge of battle rolling red,</div> + <div class='line in8'>Still be thy banner foremost as of yore;</div> + <div class='line in8'>Prouder than when it waved, to winds outspread,</div> + <div class='line in8'>On the broad bastion-keep of Elsinore!</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<div class='chapter'> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_293'>293</span> + <h2 class='c002'>LIFE IN THE “FAR WEST.”</h2> +</div> +<h3 class='c019'>PART IV.</h3> + +<p class='c020'>We have said that La Bonté was a +philosopher: he took the streaks of +ill luck which checkered his mountain +life in a vein of perfect carelessness, if +not of stoical indifference. Nothing +ruffled his danger-steeled equanimity +of temper; no sudden emotion disturbed +his mind. We have seen how +wives were torn from him without +eliciting a groan or grumble, (but +such <em>contretemps</em>, it may be said, can +scarcely find a place in the category +of ills;) how the loss of mules and +mustangs, harried by horse-stealing +Indians, left him in the <em>ne-plus-ultra</em> +of mountain misery—“afoot;” how +packs and peltries, the hard-earned +“beaver” of his perilous hunts, were +“raised” at one fell swoop by freebooting +bands of savages. Hunger +and thirst, we know, were commonplace +sensations to the mountaineer. +His storm-hardened flesh scarce felt +the pinging wounds of arrow-point +or bullet; and when in the midst of +Indian fight, it is not probable that +any tender qualms of feeling would +allay the itching of his fingers for his +enemy’s scalp-lock, nor would any +remains of civilised fastidiousness prevent +his burying his knife again and +again in the life-blood of an Indian +savage.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Still, in one dark corner of his heart, +there shone at intervals a faint spark +of what was once a fiercely-burning +fire. Neither time, that corroder of +all things, nor change, that ready +abettor of oblivion, nor scenes of +peril and excitement, which act as +dampers to more quiet memory, could +smother this little smouldering spark, +which now and again—when rarely-coming +calm succeeded some stirring +passage in the hunter’s life, and left +him, for a brief time, devoid of care +and victim to his thoughts—would +flicker suddenly, and light up all the +nooks and corners of his rugged breast, +and discover to his mind’s eye that +one deep-rooted memory clung there +still, though long neglected; proving +that, spite of time and change, of life +and fortune,</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c021'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“<span lang="fr">On revient toujours à ses premiers amours.</span>”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c008'>Often and often, as La Bonté sat +cross-legged before his solitary camp-fire, +and, pipe in mouth, watched the +blue smoke curling upwards in the +clear cold sky, a well-remembered +form appeared to gaze upon him from +the vapoury wreaths. Then would +old recollections crowd before him, +and old emotions, long a stranger to +his breast, shape themselves, as it +were, into long-forgotten but now familiar +pulsations. Again he felt the +soft subduing influence which once, in +days gone by, a certain passion exercised +over his mind and body; and +often a trembling seized him, the same +he used to experience at the sudden +sight of one Mary Brand, whose dim +and dreamy apparition so often +watched his lonely bed, or, unconsciously +conjured up, cheered him in +the dreary watches of the long and +stormy winter nights.</p> + +<p class='c008'>At first he only knew that one face +haunted his dreams by night, and the +few moments by day when he thought +of any thing, and this face smiled +lovingly upon him, and cheered him +mightily. Name he had quite forgotten, +or recalled it vaguely, and, +setting small store by it, had thought +of it no more.</p> + +<p class='c008'>For many years after he had deserted +his home, La Bonté had cherished +the idea of again returning to +his country. During this period he +had never forgotten his old flame, and +many a choice fur he had carefully +laid by, intended as a present for +Mary Brand; and many a <i><span lang="fr">gâge d’amour</span></i> +of cunning shape and device, worked +in stained quills of porcupine and +bright-coloured beads—the handiwork +of nimble-fingered squaws—he had +packed in his possible sack for the +same destination, hoping a time would +come when he might lay them at her +feet.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Year after year wore on, however, +and still found him, with traps and +rifle, following his perilous avocation; +and each succeeding one saw him +more and more wedded to the wild +mountain life. He was conscious +how unfitted he had become again to +enter the galling harness of conventionality +and civilisation. He thought, +too, how changed in manners and appearance +he now must be, and could not +believe that he would again find favour +in the eyes of his quondam love, who, +he judged, had long since forgotten +him; and inexperienced as he was in +such matters, yet he knew enough of +womankind to feel assured that time +and absence had long since done the +work, if even the natural fickleness of +woman’s nature had lain dormant. +Thus it was that he came to forget +Mary Brand, but still remembered the +all-absorbing feeling she had once +created in his breast, the shadow of +which still remained, and often took +form and feature in the smoke-wreaths +of his solitary camp-fire.</p> + +<p class='c008'>If truth be told, La Bonté had his +failings as a mountaineer, and—sin +unpardonable in hunter law—still possessed, +in holes and corners of his +breast seldom explored by his inward +eye, much of the leaven of kindly human +nature, which now and again +involuntarily peeped out, as greatly +to the contempt of his comrade trappers +as it was blushingly repressed by +the mountaineer himself. Thus, in +his various matrimonial episodes, he +treated his dusky <em>sposas</em> with all the +consideration the sex could possibly +demand from hand of man. No +squaw of his ever humped shoulder to +receive a castigatory and marital +“lodge-poling” for offence domestic; +but often has his helpmate blushed +to see her pale-face lord and master +devote himself to the feminine labour +of packing huge piles of fire-wood +on his back, felling trees, butchering +unwieldy buffalo—all which are +included in the Indian category of +female duties. Thus he was esteemed +an excellent <em>parti</em> by all the marriageable +young squaws of Blackfoot, +Crow, and Shoshone, of Yutah, +Shian, and Arapaho; but after his last +connubial catastrophe, he steeled his +heart against all the charms and coquetry +of Indian belles, and persevered +in unblessed widowhood for +many a long day.</p> + +<p class='c008'>From the point where we left him +on his way to the waters of the Columbia, +we must jump with him over a +space of nearly two years, during +which time he had a most uninterrupted +run of good luck; trapping +with great success on the head streams +of the Columbia and Yellow Stone—the +most dangerous of trapping ground—and +finding good market for his +peltries at the “North-west” posts—beaver +fetching as high a price as five +and six dollars a “plew”—the “golden +age” of trappers, now, alas, never +to return, and existing only in the +fond memory of the mountaineers. +This glorious time, however, was too +good to last. In mountain language, +“such heap of fat meat was not going +to ‘shine’ much longer.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>La Bonté was at this time one of a +band of eight trappers, whose hunting +ground was about the head waters of +the Yellow Stone, which we have +before said is in the country of the +Blackfeet. With him were Killbuck, +Meek, Marcelline, and three others; +and the leader of the party was Bill +Williams, that old “hard case” who +had spent forty years and more in the +mountains, until he had become as +tough as the parflêche soles of his +mocassins. They were all good men +and true, expert hunters, and well-trained +mountaineers. After having +trapped all the streams they were +acquainted with, it was determined to +strike into the mountains, at a point +where old Williams affirmed, from the +“run” of the hills, there must be +plenty of water, although not one of +the party had before explored the +country, or knew any thing of its nature, +or of the likelihood of its affording +game for themselves or pasture for +their animals. However, they packed +their peltry, and put out for the land +in view—a lofty peak, dimly seen above +the more regular summit of the chain, +being their landmark.</p> + +<p class='c008'>For the first day or two their route +lay between two ridges of mountains, +and by following the little valley which +skirted a creek, they kept on level +ground, and saved their animals +considerable labour and fatigue. Williams +always rode ahead, his body +bent over his saddle-horn, across which +rested a long heavy rifle, his keen +gray eyes peering from under the +slouched brim of a flexible felt-hat, +black and shining with grease. His +buckskin hunting-shirt, bedaubed until +it had the appearance of polished +leather, hung in folds over his bony +carcass; his nether extremities being +clothed in pantaloons of the same +material, (with scattered fringes down +the outside of the leg—which ornaments, +however, had been pretty well +thinned to supply “whangs” for mending +mocassins or pack-saddles,) which, +shrunk with wet, clung tightly to his +long, spare, sinewy legs. His feet +were thrust into a pair of Mexican +stirrups, made of wood, and as big as +coal-scuttles; and iron spurs of incredible +proportions, with tinkling drops +attached to the rowels, were fastened +to his heel—a bead-worked strap, four +inches broad, securing them over the +instep. In the shoulder-belt which +sustained his powder-horn and bullet-pouch, +were fastened the various instruments +essential to one pursuing +his mode of life. An awl, with +deer-horn handle, and the point defended +by a case of cherry-wood +carved by his own hand, hung at +the back of the belt, side by side +with a worm for cleaning the rifle; and +under this was a squat and quaint-looking +bullet-mould, the handles +guarded by strips of buckskin to save +his fingers from burning when running +balls, having for its companion a little +bottle made from the point of an antelope’s +horn, scraped transparent, +which contained the “medicine” used +in baiting the traps. The old coon’s +face was sharp and thin, a long nose +and chin hob-nobbing each other; and +his head was always bent forward, +giving him the appearance of being +hump-backed. He <em>appeared</em> to look +neither to the right nor left, but, in fact, +his little twinkling eye was everywhere. +He looked at no one he was +addressing, always seeming to be +thinking of something else than the +subject of his discourse, speaking in a +whining, thin, cracked voice, and +in a tone that left the hearer in doubt +whether he was laughing or crying. +On the present occasion he had +joined this band, and naturally assumed +the leadership, (for Bill ever +refused to go in harness,) in opposition +to his usual practice, which was to +hunt alone. His character was well +known. Acquainted with every inch +of the Far West, and with all the Indian +tribes who inhabited it, he never +failed to outwit his Red enemies, and +generally made his appearance at the +rendezvous, from his solitary expeditions, +with galore of beaver, when numerous +bands of trappers dropped in +on foot, having been despoiled of their +packs and animals by the very Indians +through the midst of whom old Williams +had contrived to pass unseen +and unmolested. On occasions when +he had been in company with +others, and attacked by Indians, +Bill invariably fought manfully, and +with all the coolness that perfect +indifference to death or danger +could give, but always “on his +own hook.” His rifle cracked away +merrily, and never spoke in vain; +and in a charge—if ever it came +to that—his keen-edged butcherknife +tickled the fleece of many a +Blackfoot. But at the same time, if +he saw that discretion was the better +part of valour, and affairs wore so +cloudy an aspect as to render retreat +advisable, he would first express his +opinion in curt terms, and decisively, +and, charging up his rifle, would take +himself off, and “cache”<a id='r2'></a><a href='#f2' class='c009'><sup>[2]</sup></a> so effectually +that to search for him was +utterly useless. Thus, when with a +large party of trappers, when any +thing occurred which gave him a hint +that trouble was coming, or more +Indians were about than he considered +good for his animals, Bill was +wont to exclaim—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Do ’ee hyar now, boys, thar’s +sign about? this hos feels like caching;” +and, without more words, and +stoically deaf to all remonstrances, he +would forthwith proceed to pack his +animals, talking the while to an old, +crop-eared, raw-boned Nez-percé +pony, his own particular saddle-horse, +who, in dogged temper and iron +hardiness, was a worthy companion +of his self-willed master. This beast, +as Bill seized his apishamore to lay +upon its galled back, would express +displeasure by humping its back and +shaking its withers with a wincing +motion, that always excited the ire of +the old trapper; and no sooner had he +laid the apishamore smoothly on the +chafed skin, than a wriggle of the +animal shook it off.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Do ’ee hyar now, you darned +crittur!” he would whine out, “can’t’ee +keep quiet your old fleece now? Isn’t +this old coon putting out to save ’ee from +the darned Injuns now, do ’ee hyar?” +And then, continuing his work, and +taking no notice of his comrades, who +stood by bantering the eccentric trapper, +he would soliloquise—“Do ’ee +hyar, now? This niggur sees sign +ahead—he does; he’ll be afoot afore +long, if he don’t keep his eye skinned,—<em>he</em> +will. <em>Injuns</em> is all about, they ar’: +Blackfoot at that. Can’t come round +this child—they can’t, wagh!” And at +last, his pack animals securely tied to +the tail of his horse, he would mount, +and throwing the rifle across the horn +of his saddle, and without noticing +his companions, would drive the jingling +spurs into his horse’s gaunt +sides, and muttering, “Can’t come +round this child—they can’t!” would +ride away; and nothing more would +be seen or heard of him perhaps for +months, when they would not unfrequently, +themselves bereft of animals +in the scrape he had foreseen, find him +located in some solitary valley, in his +lonely camp, with his animals securely +picketed around, and his peltries safe.</p> + +<p class='c008'>However, if he took it into his head +to keep company with a party, all felt +perfectly secure under his charge. His +iron frame defied fatigue, and, at night, +his love for himself and his own animals +was sufficient guarantee that the +camp would be well guarded. As he +rode ahead, his spurs jingling, and +thumping the sides of his old horse at +every step, he managed, with admirable +dexterity, to take advantage of +the best line of country to follow—avoiding +the gullies and cañons and +broken ground, which would otherwise +have impeded his advance. This +tact appeared instinctive, for he +looked neither right nor left, whilst +continuing a course as straight as possible +at the foot of the mountains. +In selecting a camping site, he displayed +equal skill: wood, water, and +grass began to fill his thoughts towards +sundown, and when these three requisites +for a camping ground presented +themselves, old Bill sprang from his +saddle, unpacked his animals in a +twinkling, and hobbled them, struck +fire and ignited a few chips, (leaving +the rest to pack in the wood,) lit his +pipe, and enjoyed himself. On one +occasion, when passing through the +valley, they had come upon a band of +fine buffalo cows, and, shortly after +camping, two of the party rode in +with a good supply of fat fleece. One +of the party was a “greenhorn” on +his first hunt, and, fresh from a fort +on Platte, was as yet uninitiated +in the mysteries of mountain cooking. +Bill, lazily smoking his pipe, called to +him, as he happened to be nearest, to +butcher off a piece of meat and put it +in his pot. Markhead seized the +fleece, and commenced innocently +carving off a huge ration, when a +gasping roar from the old trapper +caused him to drop his knife.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Ti-yah,” growled Bill, “do ’ee +hyar, now, you darned greenhorn, do +’ee spile fat cow like that whar you +was raised? Them doin’s won’t shine +in this crowd, boy, do ’ee hyar, darn +you? What! butcher meat across +the grain! why, whar’ll the blood be +goin’ to, you precious Spaniard? +Down the grain I say,” he continued +in a severe tone of rebuke, “and let +your flaps be long, or out the juice’ll +run slick—do ’ee hyar, now?” But this +heretical error nearly cost the old +trapper his appetite, and all night long +he grumbled his horror at seeing “fat +cow spiled in that fashion.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>When two or three days’ journey +brought them to the end of the valley, +and they commenced the passage of the +mountain, their march was obstructed +by all kinds of obstacles; although +they had chosen what appeared to +be a gap in the chain, and what +was in fact the only practicable passage +in that vicinity. They followed +the cañon of a branch of the Yellow +Stone, where it entered the mountain; +but from this point it became a torrent, +and it was only by dint of incredible +exertions that they reached the summit +of the ridge. Game was exceedingly +scarce in the vicinity, and they +suffered extremely from hunger, having, +on more than one occasion, recourse +to the parflêche soles of their +mocassins to allay its pangs. Old +Bill, however, never grumbled; he +chewed away at his shoes with relish +even, and as long as he had a +pipeful of tobacco in his pouch, was a +happy man. Starvation was as yet +far off, for all their animals were in +existence; but as they were in a country +where it was difficult to procure a remount, +each trapper hesitated to sacrifice +one of his horses to his appetite.</p> + +<p class='c008'>From the summit of the ridge, Bill +recognised the country on the opposite +side to that whence they had just +ascended as familiar to him, and +pronounced it to be full of beaver, as +well as abounding in the less desirable +commodity of Indians. This +was the valley lying about the lakes +now called Eustis and Biddle, in +which are many thermal and mineral +springs, well known to the trappers +by the names of the Soda, Beer, and +Brimstone Springs, and regarded by +them with no little awe and curiosity, +as being the breathing places of his +Satanic majesty—considered, moreover, +to be the “biggest kind” of “medicine” +to be found in the mountains. +If truth be told, old Bill hardly relished +the idea of entering this country, +which he pronounced to be of “bad +medicine” notoriety, but nevertheless +agreed to guide them to the best trapping +ground.</p> + +<p class='c008'>One day they reached a creek full +of beaver sign, and determined to halt +here and establish their headquarters, +while they trapped in the neighbourhood. +We must here observe, that +at this period—which was one of considerable +rivalry amongst the various +trading companies in the Indian +country—the Indians, having become +possessed of arms and ammunition in +great quantities, had grown unusually +daring and persevering in their attacks +on the white hunters who passed +through their country, and consequently +the trappers were compelled +to roam about in larger bands for +mutual protection, which, although it +made them less liable to open attack, +yet rendered it more difficult for them +to pursue their calling without being +discovered; for, where one or two men +might pass unseen, the broad trail of +a large party, with its animals, was +not likely to escape the sharp eyes of +the cunning savages.</p> + +<p class='c008'>They had scarcely encamped when +the old leader, who had sallied out +a short distance from camp to reconnoitre +the neighbourhood, returned +with an Indian mocassin in his hand, +and informed his companions that its +late owner and others were about.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Do ’ee hyar now, boys, thar’s +<em>Injuns</em> knocking round, and Blackfoot +at that; but thar’s plenty of beaver +too, and this child means trapping +any how.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>His companions were anxious to +leave such dangerous vicinity; but +the old fellow, contrary to his usual +caution, determined to remain where +he was—saying that there were Indians +all over the country for that +matter; and as they had determined +to hunt here, he had made up his +mind too—which was conclusive, and +all agreed to stop where they were, in +spite of the Indians. La Bonté killed +a couple of mountain sheep close to +camp, and they feasted rarely on the +fat mutton that night, and were unmolested +by marauding Blackfeet.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The next morning, leaving two of +their number in camp, they started in +parties of two, to hunt for beaver sign +and set their traps. Markhead paired +with one Batiste, Killbuck and La +Bonté formed another couple, Meek +and Marcelline another; two Canadians +trapped together, and Bill Williams +and another remained to guard +the camp: but this last, leaving Bill +mending his mocassins, started off to +kill a mountain sheep, a band of +which animals was visible.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Markhead and his companion, the +first couple on the list, followed a +creek, which entered that on which +they had encamped, about ten miles +distant. Beaver sign was abundant, +and they had set eight traps, when +Markhead came suddenly upon fresh +Indian sign, where squaws had passed +through the shrubbery on the banks +of the stream to procure water, as he +knew from observing a large stone +placed by them in the stream, on +which to stand to enable them to dip +their kettles in the deepest water. +Beckoning to his companion to follow, +and cocking his rifle, he carefully +pushed aside the bushes, and noiselessly +proceeded up the bank, when, +creeping on hands and knees, he +gained the top, and, looking from +his hiding-place, descried three Indian +huts standing on a little plateau +near the creek. Smoke curled from +the roofs of branches, but the skin +doors were carefully closed, so that he +was unable to distinguish the number +of the inmates. At a little distance, +however, he observed two or three +squaws gathering wood, with the usual +attendance of curs, whose acuteness in +detecting the scent of strangers was +much to be dreaded.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Markhead was a rash and daring +young <a id='t298'></a>fellow, caring no more for Indians +than he did for prairie dogs, +and acting ever on the spur of the +moment, and as his inclination +dictated, regardless of consequences. +He at once determined to enter the +lodges, and attack the enemy, should +any be there; and the other +trapper was fain to join him in the +enterprise. The lodges proved empty, +but the fires were still burning and +meat cooking upon them, to which +the hungry hunters did ample justice, +besides helping themselves to whatever +goods and chattels, in the shape +of leather and mocassins, took their +fancy.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Gathering their spoil into a +bundle, they sought their horses, +which they had left tied under cover +of the timber on the banks of the +creek; and, mounting, took the back +trail, to pick up their traps and remove +from so dangerous a neighbourhood. +They were approaching the spot where +the first trap was set, a thick growth +of ash and quaking-ash concealing the +stream, when Markhead, who was +riding ahead, observed the bushes +agitated, as if some animal was making +its way through them. He instantly +stopped his horse, and his companion +rode to his side, to inquire the +cause of this abrupt halt. They were +within a few yards of the belt of shrubs +which skirted the stream; and before +Markhead had time to reply, a dozen +swarthy heads and shoulders suddenly +protruded from the leafy screen, and +as many rifle barrels and arrows were +pointing at their breasts. Before the +trappers had time to turn their horses +and fly, a cloud of smoke burst from +the thicket almost in their faces. +Batiste, pierced with several balls, +fell dead from his horse, and Markhead +felt himself severely wounded. +However, he struck the spurs into his +horse; and as some half-score Blackfeet +jumped with loud cries from their +cover, he discharged his rifle amongst +them, and galloped off, a volley of +balls and arrows whistling after him. +He drew no bit until he reined up at +the camp-fire, where he found Bill +quietly dressing a deer-skin. That +worthy looked up from his work; and +seeing Markhead’s face streaming +with blood, and the very unequivocal +evidence of an Indian rencontre in the +shape of an arrow sticking in his +back, he asked,—“Do’ee feel bad +now, boy? Whar away you see them +darned Blackfoot?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well, pull this arrow out of my +back, and may be I’ll feel like telling,” +answered Markhead.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Do ’ee hyar now! hold on till I’ve +grained this cussed skin, will ’ee! +Did ’ee ever see sich a darned pelt, +now? it won’t take the smoke any how +I fix it.” And Markhead was fain +to wait the leisure of the imperturbable +old trapper, before he was eased of +his annoying companion.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Old Bill expressed no surprise or +grief when informed of the fate of +poor Batiste. He said it was “just +like greenhorns, runnin’ into them +cussed Blackfoot;” and observed that +the defunct trapper, being only a Vide-pôche, +was “no account anyhow.” +Presently Killbuck and La Bonté +galloped into camp, with another +alarm of Indians. They had also been +attacked suddenly by a band of Blackfeet, +but, being in a more open country, +had got clear off, after killing two of +their assailants, whose scalps hung at +the horns of their saddles. They had +been in a different direction to that +where Markhead and his companion +had proceeded, and, from the signs +they had observed, expressed their +belief that the country was alive with +Indians. Neither of these men had +been wounded. Presently the two +Canadians made their appearance on +the bluff, galloping with might and +main to camp, and shouting “Indians, +Indians,” as they came. All being +assembled, and a council held, it was +determined to abandon the camp and +neighbourhood immediately. Old Bill +was already packing his animals, and +as he pounded the saddle down on the +withers of his old Rosinante, he muttered,—“Do +’ee hyar, now! this coon +’ull câche, <em>he</em> will.” So mounting his +horse, and leading his pack mule by a +lariat, he bent over his saddle-horn, +dug his ponderous rowels into the +lank sides of his beast, and, without a +word, struck up the bluff and disappeared.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The others, hastily gathering up +their packs, and most of them having +lost their traps, quickly followed his +example, and “put out.” On cresting +the high ground which rose from +the creek, they observed thin columns +of smoke mounting into the air from +many different points, the meaning of +which they were at no loss to guess. +However, they were careful not to +show themselves on elevated ground, +keeping as much as possible under the +banks of the creek, when such a +course was practicable; but, the bluffs +sometimes rising precipitously from +the water, they were more than once +compelled to ascend the banks, and +continue their course along the uplands, +whence they might easily be +discovered by the Indians. It was +nearly sundown when they left their +camp, but they proceeded during the +greater part of the night at as rapid a +rate as possible; their progress, however, +being greatly retarded as they +advanced into the mountain, their +route lying up stream. Towards +morning they halted for a brief space, +but started again as soon as daylight +permitted them to see their way +over the broken ground.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The creek now forced its way +through a narrow cañon, the banks +being thickly clothed with a shrubbery +of cottonwood and quaking-ash. The +mountain rose on each side, but not +abruptly, being here and there broken +into plateaus and shelving prairies. In +a very thick bottom, sprinkled with +coarse grass, they halted about noon, +and removed the saddles and packs +from their wearied animals, piqueting +them in the best spots of grass.</p> + +<p class='c008'>La Bonté and Killbuck, after securing +their animals, left the camp to +hunt, for they had no provisions of +any kind; and a short distance beyond +it, the former came suddenly upon a +recent mocassin track in the timber. +After examining it for a moment, he +raised his head with a broad grin, and, +turning to his companion, pointed into +the cover, where, in the thickest part, +they discerned the well-known figure +of old Bill’s horse, browsing upon the +cherry bushes. Pushing through the +thicket in search of the brute’s master, +La Bonté suddenly stopped short as +the muzzle of a rifle-barrel gaped +before his eyes at the distance of a +few inches, whilst the thin voice of +Bill muttered—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Do ’ee hyar now, I was nigh giving +’ee h——: I <em>was</em> now. If I didn’t +think ’ee was Blackfoot, I’m dogged +now.” And not a little indignant was +the old fellow that his câche had been +so easily, though accidentally, discovered. +However, he presently made +his appearance in camp, leading his +animals, and once more joined his late +companions, not deigning to give any +explanation as to why or wherefore +he had deserted them the day before, +merely muttering, “do ’ee hyar now, +thar’s trouble comin’.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The two hunters returned after sundown +with a black-tailed deer; and +after eating the better part of the +meat, and setting a guard, the party +were glad to roll in their blankets and +enjoy the rest they so much needed. +They were undisturbed during the +night; but at dawn of day the sleepers +were roused by a hundred fierce yells, +from the mountains enclosing the creek +on which they had encamped. The +yells were instantly followed by a +ringing volley, the bullets thudding +into the trees, and cutting the branches +near them, but without causing any +mischief. Old Bill rose from his +blanket and shook himself, and exclaimed +“Wagh!” as at that moment +a ball plumped into the fire over which +he was standing, and knocked the +ashes about in a cloud. All the +mountaineers seized their rifles and +sprang to cover; but as yet it was +not sufficiently light to show them +their enemy, the bright flashes from +the guns alone indicating their position. +As morning dawned, however, +they saw that both sides of the cañon +were occupied by the Indians; and, +from the firing, judged there must be +at least a hundred warriors engaged in +the attack. Not a shot had yet been +fired by the trappers, but as the light +increased, they eagerly watched for an +Indian to expose himself, and offer a +mark to their trusty rifles. La Bonté, +Killbuck, and old Bill, lay a few yards +distant from each other, flat on their +faces, near the edge of the thicket, +their rifles raised before them, and the +barrels resting in the forks of convenient +bushes. From their place of +concealment to the position of the +Indians—who, however, were scattered +here and there, wherever a rock +afforded them cover—was a distance +of about a hundred and fifty yards, or +within fair rifle-shot. The trappers +were obliged to divide their force, +since both sides of the creek were occupied; +but such was the nature of the +ground, and the excellent cover afforded +by the rocks and boulders, and clumps +of dwarf pine and hemlock, that not a +hand’s-breadth of an Indian’s body +had yet been seen. Nearly opposite +La Bonté, a shelving glade in the +mountain side ended in an abrupt +precipice, and at the very edge, and +almost toppling over it, were several +boulders, just of sufficient size to afford +cover to a man’s body. As this bluff +overlooked the trapper’s position, it +was occupied by the Indians, and +every rock covered an assailant. At +one point, just over where La Bonté +and Killbuck were lying, two boulders +lay together, with just sufficient interval +to admit a rifle-barrel between +them, and from this breastwork an +Indian kept up a most annoying fire. +All his shots fell in dangerous propinquity +to one or other of the trappers, +and already Killbuck had been grazed +by one better directed than the others. +La Bonté watched for some time in +vain for a chance to answer this persevering +marksman, and at length an +opportunity offered, by which he was +not long in profiting.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The Indian, as the light increased, +was better able to discern his mark, +and fired, and yelled every time he did +so, with redoubled vigour. In his +eagerness, and probably whilst in the +act of taking aim, he leaned too heavily +against the rock which covered him, +and, detaching it from its position, +down it rolled into the cañon, exposing +his body by its fall. At the same +instant, a wreath of smoke puffed +from the bushes which concealed the +trappers, and the crack of La Bonté’s +rifle spoke the first word of reply +to the Indian challenge. But a few +feet behind the rock, fell the dead +body of the Indian, rolling down +the steep sides of the cañon, and +only stopped by a bush at the very +bottom, within a few yards of the +spot where Markhead lay concealed in +some high grass.</p> + +<p class='c008'>That daring fellow instantly jumped +from his cover, and, drawing his knife, +rushed to the body, and in another +moment held aloft the Indian’s scalp, +giving, at the same time, a triumphant +whoop. A score of rifles were levelled +and discharged at the intrepid mountaineer; +but in the act many Indians +incautiously exposed themselves, +every rifle in the timber +cracked simultaneously, and for each +report an Indian bit the dust.</p> + +<p class='c008'>But now they changed their tactics. +Finding they were unable to drive +the trappers from their position, they +retired from the mountain, and the +firing suddenly ceased. In their retreat, +however, they were forced to expose +themselves, and again the whites +dealt destruction amongst them. As +the Indians retired, yelling loudly, the +hunters thought they had given up the +contest; but presently a cloud of +smoke rising from the bottom immediately +below them, at once discovered +the nature of their plans. A brisk +wind was blowing up the cañon, and, +favoured by it, they fired the brush on +the banks of the stream, knowing that +before this the hunters must speedily +retreat.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Against such a result, but for the +gale of wind which drove the fire +roaring before it, they could have provided—for +your mountaineer never +fails to find resources on a pinch. +They would have fired the brush to +leeward of their position, and also +carefully ignited that to windward, or +between them and the advancing flame, +extinguishing it immediately when a +sufficient space had thus been cleared, +and over which the fire-flame could not +leap, and thus cutting themselves off +from it both above and below their +position. In the present instance, +they could not profit by such a course, +as the wind was so strong that, if +once the bottom caught fire, they +would not be able to extinguish it; +besides which, in the attempt, they +would so expose themselves that they +would be picked off by the Indians +without difficulty. As it was, the fire +came roaring before the wind with the +speed of a race-horse, and, spreading +from the bottom, licked the mountain +sides, the dry grass burning like tinder. +Huge volumes of stifling smoke +rolled before it, and, in a very few +minutes, the trappers were hastily +mounting their animals, driving the +packed ones before them. The dense +clouds of smoke concealed every +thing from their view, and, to avoid +this, they broke from the creek and +galloped up the sides of the cañon on +to the more level plateau. As they +attained this, a band of mounted Indians +charged them. One, waving +a red blanket, dashed through the +cavallada, and was instantly followed +by all the loose animals of the trappers, +the rest of the Indians following +with loud shouts. So sudden was the +charge, that the whites had not power +to prevent the stampede. Old Bill, as +usual, led his pack mules by the lariat; +but the animals, mad with terror at +the shouts of the Indians, broke from +him, nearly pulling him out of his seat +at the same time.</p> + +<p class='c008'>To cover the retreat of the others +with their prey, a band of mounted +Indians now appeared, threatening an +attack in front, whilst their first assailants, +rushing from the bottom, at +least a hundred strong, assaulted in +rear. “Do ’ee hyar, boys!” shouted +old Bill, “break, or you’ll go under. +This child’s goin’ to câche!” and saying +the word, off he went. <i><span lang="fr">Sauve-qui-peut</span></i> +was the order of the day, and +not a moment too soon, for overwhelming +numbers were charging upon them, +and the mountain resounded with +savage yells. La Bonté and Killbuck +stuck together: they saw old Bill, +bending over his saddle, dive right +into the cloud of smoke, and apparently +make for the creek bottom—their other +companions scattering each on his +own hook, and saw no more of them +for many a month; and thus was one +of the most daring and successful +bands broken up that ever trapped in +the mountains of the Far West.</p> + +<p class='c008'>It is painful to follow the steps +of the poor fellows who, thus despoiled +of the hardly-earned produce +of their hunt, saw all their wealth +torn from them at one swoop. The +two Canadians were killed upon the +night succeeding that of the attack. +Worn with fatigue, hungry and cold, +they had built a fire in what they +thought was a secure retreat, and, +rolled in their blankets, were soon +buried in a sleep from which they +never awoke. An Indian boy tracked +them, and watched their camp. +Burning with the idea of signalising +himself thus early, he awaited +his opportunity, and noiselessly approaching +their resting-place, shot +them both with arrows, and returned +in triumph to his people with their +horses and scalps.</p> + +<p class='c008'>La Bonté and Killbuck sought a +passage in the mountain by which to +cross over to the head waters of the +Columbia, and there fall in with some +of the traders or trappers of the North-west. +They became involved in the +mountains, in a part where was +no game of any description, and no +pasture for their miserable animals. +One of these they killed for food; the +other, a bag of bones, died from sheer +starvation. They had very little ammunition, +their mocassins were worn +out, and they were unable to procure +skins to supply themselves with fresh +ones. Winter was fast approaching, +the snow already covered the mountains, +and storms of sleet and hail +poured incessantly through the valleys, +benumbing their exhausted limbs, +hardly protected by scanty and ragged +covering. To add to their miseries, +poor Killbuck was taken ill. He had +been wounded in the groin by a bullet +some time before, and the ball still +remained. The wound, aggravated by +walking and the excessive cold, assumed +an ugly appearance, and soon +rendered him incapable of sustained +exertion, all motion even being attended +with intolerable pain. La +Bonté had made a shanty for his +suffering companion, and spread a soft +bed of pine branches for him, by the +side of a small creek at the point +where it came out of the mountain +and followed its course through a little +prairie. They had been three days +without other food than a piece of +parflêche, which had formed the back +of La Bonté’s bullet-pouch, and which, +after soaking in the creek, they eagerly +devoured. Killbuck was unable to +move, and sinking fast from exhaustion. +His companion had hunted +from morning till night, as well as his +failing strength would allow him, but +had not seen the traces of any kind of +game, with the exception of some old +buffalo tracks, made apparently months +before by a band of bulls crossing the +mountain.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The morning of the fourth day La +Bonté, as usual, rose at daybreak +from his blanket, and was proceeding +to collect wood for the fire during his +absence while hunting, when Killbuck +called to him, and in an almost inarticulate +voice desired him to seat himself +by his side.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Boy,” he said, “this old hos feels +like goin’ under, and that afore long. +You’re stout yet, and if thar was meat +handy, you’d come round slick. Now, +boy, I’ll be under, as I said, afore +many hours, and if you don’t raise +meat you’ll be in the same fix. I +never eat dead meat<a id='r3'></a><a href='#f3' class='c009'><sup>[3]</sup></a> myself, and +wouldn’t ask no one to do it neither; +but meat fair killed is meat any way; +so, boy, put your knife in this old +niggur’s lights, and help yourself. It’s +‘poor bull,’ I know, but maybe it’ll +do to keep life in; and along the +fleece thar’s meat yet, and maybe my +old hump ribs has picking on ’em.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You’re a good old hos,” answered +La Bonté, “but this child ain’t turned +niggur yet.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Killbuck then begged his companion +to leave him to his fate, and strive +himself to reach game; but this alternative +La Bonté likewise generously +refused, and faintly endeavouring to +cheer the sick man, left him once +again to look for game. He was so +weak that he felt difficulty in supporting +himself, and knowing how +futile would be his attempts to hunt, +he sallied from the camp convinced +that a few hours more would see the +last of him.</p> + +<p class='c008'>He had scarcely raised his eyes, +when, hardly crediting his senses, he +saw within a few hundred yards of +him an old bull, worn with age, lying +on the prairie. Two wolves were +seated on their haunches before him, +their tongues lolling from their mouths, +whilst the buffalo was impotently rolling +his ponderous head from side to +side, his bloodshot eyes glaring fiercely +at his tormentors, and flakes of foam, +mixed with blood, dropping from his +mouth over his long shaggy beard. +La Bonté was transfixed; he dared +scarcely to breathe lest the animal +should be alarmed and escape. Weak +as it was, he could hardly have followed +it, and, knowing that his own +and companion’s life hung upon the +success of his shot, he scarcely had +strength to raise his rifle. By dint +of extraordinary exertions and precautions, +which were totally unnecessary, +for the poor old bull had not a +move in him, the hunter approached +within shot. Lying upon the ground, +he took a long steady aim, and fired. +The buffalo raised its matted head, +tossed it wildly for an instant, and, +stretching out its limbs convulsively, +turned over on its side and was dead.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Killbuck heard the shot, and crawling +from under the little shanty which +covered his bed, saw, to his astonishment, +La Bonté in the act of butchering +a buffalo within two hundred yards +of camp. “Hurraw for you!” he +faintly exclaimed; and exhausted by +the exertion he had used, and perhaps +by the excitement of an anticipated +feast, fell back and fainted.</p> + +<p class='c008'>However, the killing was the easiest +matter, for when the huge carcass lay +dead upon the ground, our hunter had +hardly strength to drive the blade of +his knife through the tough hide of the +old patriarch. Then having cut off +as much of the meat as he could carry, +eating the while sundry portions +of the liver, which he dipped in the +gall-bladder by way of relish, La +Bonté cast a wistful look upon the +half-starved wolves, who now loped +round and round, licking their chops, +only waiting until his back was turned +to fall to with appetite equal to his +own, and capabilities of swallowing +and digesting far superior. La Bonté +looked at the buffalo, and then at the +wolves, levelled his rifle and shot one +dead, at which the survivor scampered +off without delay.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Arrived at camp, packing in a +tolerable load of the best part of the +animal—for hunger lent him strength—he +found poor Killbuck lying on his +back, deaf to time, and to all appearance +gone under. Having no sal-volatile +or vinaigrette at hand, La +Bonté flapped a lump of raw fleece +into his patient’s face, and this instantly +revived him. Then taking the +sick man’s shoulder, he raised him +tenderly into a sitting posture, and invited, +in kindly accents, “the old hos +to feed,” thrusting at the same time a +tolerable slice of liver into his hand, +which the patient looked at wistfully +and vaguely for a few short moments, +and then greedily devoured. It was +nightfall by the time that La Bonté, +assisted by many intervals of hard +eating, packed in the last of the meat, +which formed a goodly pile around +the fire.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Poor bull” it was in all conscience: +the labour of chewing a mouthful of +the “tender loin” was equal to a hard +day’s hunt; but to them, poor starved +fellows, it appeared the richest of +meat. They still preserved a small +tin pot, and in this, by stress of eternal +boiling, La Bonté contrived to +make some strong soup, which soon +restored his sick companion to marching +order. For himself, as soon as a +good meal had filled him, he was +strong as ever, and employed himself +in drying the remainder of the meat +for future use. Even the wolf, bony +as he was, was converted into meat, +and rationed them several days. Winter, +however, had set in with such +severity, and Killbuck was still so +weak, that La Bonté determined to +remain in his present position until +spring, as he now found that buffalo +frequently visited the valley, as it +was more bare of snow than the lowlands, +and afforded them better pasture; +and one morning he had the +satisfaction of seeing a band of seventeen +bulls within long rifle-shot of the +camp, out of which four of the fattest +were soon laid low by his rifle.</p> + +<p class='c008'>They still had hard times before +them, for towards spring the buffalo +again disappeared; the greater part of +their meat had been spoiled, owing to +there not being sufficient sun to dry it +thoroughly; and when they resumed +their journey they had nothing to carry +with them, and had a desert before +them without game of any kind. We +pass over what they suffered. Hunger, +thirst, and Indians assaulted them at +times, and many miraculous and hairbreadth +escapes they had from such +enemies.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The trail to Oregon, followed by +traders and emigrants, crosses the +Rocky Mountains at a point known as +the South Pass, where a break in the +chain occurs of such moderate and +gradual elevation as to permit the +passage of waggons with tolerable facility. +The Sweet Water Valley runs +nearly to the point where the dividing +ridge of the Pacific and Atlantic +waters throws off its streams to their +respective oceans. At one end of this +valley, and situated on the right bank +of the Sweet Water, a huge isolated +mass of granitic rock rises to the +height of three hundred feet, abruptly +from the plain. On the smooth and +scarped surface presented by one of +its sides, are rudely carved the names +and initials of traders, trappers, travellers +and emigrants, who have here recorded +the memorial of their sojourn in +the remote wilderness of the Far West. +The face of the rock is covered with +names familiar to the mountaineers as +those of the most renowned of their +hardy brotherhood; while others again +occur, better known to the science and +literature of the Old World than to the +unlearned trappers of the Rocky +Mountains. The huge mass is a well-known +landmark to the Indians and +mountaineers; and travellers and emigrants +hail it as the half-way beacon +between the frontiers of the United +States and the still distant goal of +their long and perilous journey.</p> + +<p class='c008'>It was a hot sultry day in July. +Not a breath of air relieved the intense +and oppressive heat of the atmosphere, +unusual here where pleasant summer +breezes, and sometimes stronger gales, +blow over the elevated plains with the +regularity of trade-winds. The sun, +at its meridian height, struck the dry +sandy plain and parched the drooping +buffalo-grass on its surface, and its +rays, refracted and reverberating from +the heated ground, distorted every +object seen through its lurid medium. +Straggling antelope, leisurely crossing +the adjoining prairie, appeared to +be gracefully moving in mid-air; +whilst a scattered band of buffalo bulls +loomed huge and indistinct in the +vapoury distance. In the timbered +valley of the river deer and elk were +standing motionless in the water, +under the shade of the overhanging +cottonwoods, seeking a respite from +the persevering attacks of swarms of +horseflies and mosquitos; and now and +then the heavy splash was heard, as +they tossed their antlered heads into +the stream, to free them from the +venomous insects that buzzed incessantly +about them. But in the sandy +prairie, beetles of an enormous size +were rolling in every direction huge +balls of earth, pushing them with their +hind legs with comical perseverance; +cameleons darted about, assimilating +the hue of their grotesque bodies +with the colour of the sand: groups +of prairie-dog houses were seen, +each with its inmate barking lustily +on the roof; whilst under cover of +nearly every bush of sage or cactus +a rattlesnake lay glittering in lazy +coil. Tantalising the parched sight, +the neighbouring peaks of the lofty +Wind River Mountains glittered in a +mantle of sparkling snow, whilst Sweet +Water Mountain, capped in cloud, +looked gray and cool, in striking contrast +to the burned up plains which +lay basking at its foot.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Resting their backs against the +rock, (on which, we have said, are +<em>now</em> carved the names of many travellers,) +and defended from the powerful +rays of the sun by its precipitous +sides, two white men quietly slept. +They were gaunt and lantern-jawed, +and clothed in tattered buckskin. +Each held a rifle across his knees, +but—strange sight in this country—one +had its pan thrown open, +which was rust-eaten and contained +no priming; the other’s hammer +was without a flint. Their faces +were as if covered with mahogany-coloured +parchment; their eyes were +sunken; and as their jaws fell listlessly +on their breasts, their cheeks were hollow, +with the bones nearly protruding +from the skin. One was in the prime +of manhood, with handsome features; +the other, considerably past the middle +age, was stark and stern. Months +of dire privation had brought them to +this pass. The elder of the two +was Killbuck, of mountain fame; the +other hight La Bonté.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The former opened his eyes, and +saw the buffalo feeding on the plain. +“Ho, boy,” he said, touching his companion, +“thar’s meat a-runnin.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>La Bonté looked in the direction the +other pointed, stood up, and hitching +round his pouch and powder-horn, drew +the stopper from the latter with his +teeth, and placing the mouth in the +palm of his left hand, turned the horn +up and shook it.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Not a grain,” he said—“not a +grain, old hos.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Wagh!” exclaimed the other, +“we’ll have to eat afore long,” and +rising, walked into the prairie. He +had hardly stepped two paces, when, +passing close to a sage bush, a rattlesnake +whizzed a note of warning with +its tail. Killbuck grinned, and taking +the wiping-stick from his rifle-barrel, +tapped the snake on the head, and, +taking it by the tail, threw it to La +Bonté, saying, “hyar’s meat, any +how.” The old fellow followed up his +success by slaying half a dozen more, +and brought them in skewered through +the head on his wiping-stick. A fire +was soon kindled, and the snakes as +soon roasting before it; when La Bonté, +who sat looking at the buffalo which +fed close to the rock, suddenly saw +them raise their heads, snuff the air, and +scamper towards him. A few minutes +afterwards a huge shapeless body loomed +in the refracted air, approaching +the spot where the buffalo had been +grazing. The hunters looked at it and +then at each other, and ejaculated +“Wagh!” Presently a long white +mass showed more distinctly, followed +by another, and before each was a +string of animals.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Waggons, by hos and beaver! +Hurrah for Conostoga!” exclaimed +the trappers in a breath, as they now +observed two white-tilted waggons, +drawn by several pairs of mules, approaching +the very spot where they +sat. Several mounted men were riding +about the waggons, and two on horseback, +in advance of all, were approaching +the rock, when they observed the +smoke curling from the hunters’ fire. +They halted at sight of this, and one +of the two, drawing a long instrument +from a case, which Killbuck voted a +rifle, directed it towards them for a +moment, and then, lowering it, again +moved forward.</p> + +<p class='c008'>As they drew near, the two poor +trappers, although half-dead with +joy, still retained their seats with +Indian gravity and immobility of feature, +turning now and then the crackling +snakes which lay on the embers +of the fire. The two strangers approached. +One, a man of some fifty +years of age, of middle height and +stoutly built, was clad in a white +shooting-jacket, of cut unknown in +mountain tailoring, and a pair of +trousers of the well-known material +called “shepherd’s plaid;” a broad-brimmed +Panama shaded his face, +which was ruddy with health and +exercise; a belt round the waist supported +a handsome bowie-knife, and +a double-barrelled fowling-piece was +<em>slung</em> across his shoulder.</p> + +<p class='c008'>His companion was likewise dressed +in a light shooting-jacket, of many +pockets and dandy cut, rode on an +English saddle and in <em>boots</em>, and was +armed with a superb double rifle, +glossy from the case, and bearing few +marks of use or service. He was a +tall, fine-looking fellow of thirty, with +light hair and complexion; a scrupulous +beard and mustache; a wide-awake +hat, with a short pipe stuck in +the band, but not very black with +smoke; an elaborate powder-horn +over his shoulder, with a Cairngorm +in the butt as large as a plate; a blue +handkerchief tied round his throat in +a sailor’s knot, and the collar of his +shirt turned carefully over it. He +had, moreover, a tolerable idea of his +very correct appearance, and wore +Woodstock gloves.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The trappers looked at them from +head to foot, and the more they looked +the less could they make them out.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“H—!” exclaimed La Bonté emphatically.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“This beats grainin’ bull-hide +slick,” broke from Killbuck as the +strangers reined up at the fire, the +younger dismounting, and staring with +wonder at the weather-beaten trappers.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well, my men, how are you?” +he rattled out. “Any game here? +By Jove!” he suddenly exclaimed, +seizing his rifle, as at that moment a +large buzzard, the most unclean of +birds, flew into the topmost branch of +a cottonwood, and sat, a tempting +shot. “By Jove, there’s a chance!” +cried the mighty hunter; and, bending +low, started off to approach the +unwary bird in the most approved +fashion of northern deer-stalkers. The +buzzard sat quietly, and now and then +stretched its neck to gaze upon the +advancing sportsman, who on such +occasions threw himself flat on the +ground, and remained motionless, in +dread of alarming the bird. It was +worth while to look at the countenance +of old Killbuck, as he watched +the antics of the “bourgeois” hunter. +He thought at first that the dandy +rifleman had really discovered game +in the bottom, and was nothing loth +that there was a chance of his seeing +meat; but when he understood the +object of such manœuvres, and saw +the quarry the hunter was so carefully +approaching, his mouth grinned +from ear to ear, and, turning to La +Bonté, he said, “Wagh! <em>he’s</em> some—<em>he</em> +is!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Nothing doubting, however, the +stranger approached the tree on which +the bird was sitting, and, getting well +under it, raised his rifle and fired. +Down tumbled the bird; and the successful +hunter, with a loud shout, +rushed frantically towards it, and bore +it in triumph to the camp, earning the +most sovereign contempt from the two +trappers by the achievement.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The other stranger was a quieter +character. He, too, smiled as he +witnessed the exultation of his +younger companion, (whose horse, +by the way, was scampering about +the plain,) and spoke kindly to +the mountaineers, whose appearance +was clear evidence of the sufferings +they had endured. The snakes by +this time were cooked, and the trappers +gave their new acquaintances the +never-failing invitation to “sit and +eat.” When the latter, however, understood +what the viands were, their +looks expressed the horror and disgust +they felt.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Good God!” exclaimed the elder, +“you surely cannot eat such disgusting +food?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“This niggur doesn’t savy what +disgustin’ is,” gruffly answered Killbuck; +“but them as carries empty +paunch three days an’ more, is glad +to get ‘snake-meat,’ I’m thinkin.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What! you’ve no ammunition, +then?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<em>Well</em>, we haven’t.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Wait till the waggons come up, +and throw away that abominable +stuff, and you shall have something +better, I promise,” said the elder of +the strangers.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes,” continued the younger, +“some hot preserved soup, hotchpotch, +and a glass of porter, will do +you good.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The trappers looked at the speaker, +who was talking Greek (to them.) +They thought the bourgeois were +making fun, and did not half like it, +so answered simply, “Wagh! h—’s +full of hosh-posh and porter.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Two large waggons presently came +up, escorted by some eight or ten stout +Missourians. Sublette was amongst +the number, well known as a mountain +trader, and under whose guidance +the present party, which formed a +pleasure expedition at the expense of +a Scotch sportsman, was leisurely +making its way across the mountains +to the Columbia. As several mountaineers +were in company, Killbuck +and La Bonté recognised more than +one friend, and the former and Sublette +were old compañeros. As soon as the +animals were unhitched, and camp +formed on the banks of the creek, a +black cook set about preparing a meal. +Our two trapping friends looked on +with astonishment as the sable functionary +drew from the waggon the +different articles he required to furnish +forth a feed. Hams, tongues, tins of +preserved meats, bottles of pickles, of +porter, brandy, coffee, sugar, flour, +were tumbled promiscuously on the +prairie; whilst pots and pans, knives, +forks, spoons, plates, &c. &c. displayed +their unfamiliar faces to the mountaineers. +“Hosh-posh and porter” +did not now appear such Utopian +articles as they had first imagined; +but no one can understand the relish, +but those who have fared for years +on simple meat and water, with which +they accepted the invitation of the +Capen (as they called the Scotchman,) +to “take a horn of liquor.” Killbuck +and La Bonté sat in the same position +as when we first surprised them asleep +under the shadow of Independence +Rock, regarding the profuse display of +comestibles with scarce-believing eyes, +and childishly helpless by the novelty +of the scene. Each took the proffered +half-pint cup, filled to the brim with +excellent brandy—(no tee-totallers +they!)—looked once at the amber-coloured +surface, and with the usual +mountain pledge of “here’s luck!” +tossed off the grateful liquor at a +breath. This prepared them in some +measure for what was yet in store for +them. The Scotchman bestirred the +cook in his work, and soon sundry +steaming pots were lifted from the +fire, and the skillets emptied of their +bread—the contents of the former +poured in large flat pans, while pannikins +were filled with smoking coffee. +The two trappers needed no second +invitation, but, seizing each a panful +of steaming stew, drew the butcher +knives from their belts, and fell to +lustily—the hospitable Scotchman +plying them with more and more, and +administering corrective noggins of +brandy the while; until at last they +were fain to cry enough, wiped their +knives on the grass, and placed them +in their sheaths—a sign that human +nature could no more. How can +pen describe the luxury of the smoke +that followed, to lips which had not +kissed pipe for many months, and +how the fragrant honey-dew from Old +Virginia was relishingly puffed!</p> + +<p class='c008'>But the Scotchman’s bounty did not +stop here. He soon elicited from the +lips of the hunters the narrative of +their losses and privations, and +learned that they now, without ammunition +and scarcely clothed, were +on their way to Platte Fort, to hire +themselves to the Indian traders in +order to earn another outfit, wherewith +once more to betake themselves to their +perilous employment of trapping. +What was their astonishment to see +their entertainer presently lay out upon +the ground two piles of goods, each +consisting of a four-point Mackinaw, +two tin canisters of powder, with corresponding +lead and flints, a pair of +mocassins, a shirt, and sufficient buckskin +to make a pair of pantaloons; +and how much the more was the +wonder increased when two excellent +Indian horses were presently lassoed +from the cavallada, and with mountain +saddle, bridle, and lariats complete, +together with the two piles of goods +described, presented to them “on the +prairie” or “gift-free,” by the kindhearted +stranger, who would not even +listen to thanks for the most timely +and invaluable present.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Once more equipped, our two hunters, +filled with good brandy and fat +buffalo meat, again wended on their +way; their late entertainers continuing +their pleasure trip across the gap of +the South Pass, intending to visit the +Great Salt Lake, or Timponogos, of +the West. The former were bound +for the North Fork of the Platte, with +the intention of joining one of the +numerous trapping parties which rendezvous +at the American Fur Company’s +post on that branch of the river. +On a fork of Sweet Water, however, +not two days after the meeting with +the Scotchman’s waggons, they encountered +a band of a dozen mountaineers, +mounted on fine horses, and +well armed and equipped, travelling +along without the usual accompaniment +of a mulada of pack-animals, +two or three mules alone being packed +with meat and spare ammunition. +The band was proceeding at a smart +rate, the horses moving with the gait +peculiar to American animals, known +as “<em>pacing</em>” or “<em>racking</em>,” in Indian +file—each of the mountaineers with a +long heavy rifle resting across the +horn of his saddle. Amongst them +our two friends recognised Markhead, +who had been of the party dispersed +months before by the Blackfeet on +one of the head streams of the Yellow +Stone, which event had been the +origin of the dire sufferings of Killbuck +and La Bonté. Markhead, +after running the gauntlet of numerous +Indians, through the midst of +whose country he passed with his +usual temerity and utter disregard +to danger, suffering hunger, thirst, +and cold—those every-day experiences +of mountain life—riddled with +balls, but with three scalps hanging +from his belt, made his way +to a rendezvous on Bear River, whence +he struck out for the Platte in early +spring, in time to join the band he +now accompanied, who were on a +horse-stealing expedition to the Missions +of Upper California. Little +persuasion did either Killbuck or La +Bonté require to join the sturdy freebooters. +In five minutes they had +gone “files-about,” and at sundown +were camping on the well-timbered +bottom of “Little Sandy,” feasting +once more on delicate hump-rib and +tender loin.</p> + +<p class='c008'>For California, ho!</p> + +<p class='c008'>Fourteen good rifles in the hands of +fourteen mountain men, stout and true, +on fourteen strong horses, of true Indian +blood and training—fourteen cool +heads, with fourteen pairs of keen +eyes in them, each head crafty as an +Indian’s, directing a right arm strong +as steel, and a heart as brave as +grizzly bear’s. Before them a thousand +miles of dreary desert or wilderness, +overrun by hostile savages, +thirsting for the white man’s blood; +famine and drought, the arrows of +wily hordes of Indians—and, these +dangers past, the invasion of the +civilised settlements of whites, the +least numerous of which contained ten +times their number of armed and +bitter enemies,—the sudden swoop +upon their countless herds of mules +and horses, the fierce attack and +bloody slaughter;—such were the consequences +of the expedition these bold +mountaineers were now engaged in. +Fourteen lives of any fourteen enemies +who would be rash enough to stay +them, were, any day you will, carried +in the rifle barrels of these stout fellows; +who, in all the proud consciousness +of their physical qualities, +neither thought, nor cared to think, +of future perils; and rode merrily +on their way, rejoicing in the dangers +they must necessarily meet. Never +a more daring band crossed the +mountains; a more than ordinary +want of caution characterised their +march, and dangers were recklessly +and needlessly invited, which even +the older and more cold-blooded +mountaineers seemed not to care to +avoid. They had, each and all, many +a debt to pay the marauding Indians. +Grudges for many privations, for +wounds and loss of comrades, rankled +in their breasts; and not one but had +suffered more or less in property and +person at the hands of the savages, +within a few short months. Threats of +vengeance on every Redskin they met +were loud and deep; and the wild war-songs +round their nightly camp-fires, +and grotesque scalp-dances, borrowed +from the Indians, proved to the initiated +that they were, one and all, +“half-froze for hair.” Soon after +Killbuck and La Bonté joined them, +they one day suddenly surprised a +band of twenty Sioux, scattered on +a small prairie and butchering some +buffalo they had just killed. Before +they could escape, the whites +were upon them with loud shouts, +and in three minutes the scalps of +eleven were dangling from their saddle-horns.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Struggling up mountains, slipping +down precipices, dashing over prairies +which resounded with their Indian +songs, charging the Indians wherever +they met them, and without regard to +their numbers; frightening with their +lusty war-whoops the miserable Diggers, +who were not unfrequently surprised +while gathering roots in the +mountain plains, and who, scrambling +up the rocks and concealing themselves, +like sage rabbits, in holes and corners, +peered, chattering with fear, as the wild +and noisy troop rode by. Scarce drawing +rein, they passed rapidly the heads +of Green and Grand Rivers, through +a country abounding in game and +in excellent pasture; encountering in +the upland valleys, through which +meandered the well-timbered creeks on +which they made their daily camps, +many a band of Yutahs, through whom +they dashed at random, caring not +whether they were friends or foes. +Passing many other heads of streams, +they struck at last the edge of the +desert, lying along the south-eastern +base of the Great Salt Lake, +and which extends in almost unbroken +sterility to the foot of the range of +the Sierra Nevada—a mountain chain, +capped with perpetual snow, that +bounds the northern extremity of a +singular tract of country, walled by +mountains and utterly desert, whose +salt lagoons and lakes, although +fed by many streams, find no outlet +to the ocean, but are absorbed in the +spongy soil or thirsty sand, which +characterise the different portions of +this deserted tract. In the “Grand +Basin,” it is reported, neither human +nor animal life can be supported. No +oases cheer the wanderer in the unbroken +solitude of the vast wilderness. +More than once the lone trapper has +penetrated, with hardy enterprise, +into the salt plains of the basin; +but no signs of beaver or fur-bearing +animal rewarded the attempt. The +ground is scantily covered with coarse +unwholesome grass that mules and +horses refuse to eat; and the water +of the springs, impregnated with the +impurities of the soil through which it +percolates, affords but nauseating +draughts to the thirsty traveller.</p> + +<p class='c008'>In passing from the more fertile +uplands to the lower plains, as they +descended the streams, the timber +on their banks became scarcer, +and the groves more scattered. The +rich buffalo or <em>grama</em> grass was +exchanged for a coarser species, +on which the hard-worked animals +soon grew poor and weak. The +thickets of plum and cherry, of box-alder +and quaking-ash, which had +hitherto fringed the creeks, and where +the deer and bear loved to resort—the +former to browse on the leaves +and tender shoots, the latter to devour +the fruit—now entirely disappeared, +and the only shrub seen was the +eternal sage bush, which flourishes +every where in the western regions in +uncongenial soils where other vegetation +refuses to grow. The visible +change in the scenery had also a +sensible effect on the spirits of the +mountaineers. They travelled on in +silence through the deserted plains; +the hi-hi-hiya of their Indian chants +was no longer heard enlivening the +line of march. More than once a +Digger of the Pi-yutah tribe took himself +and hair, in safety, from their +path, and almost unnoticed; but as +they advanced they became more +cautious in their movements, and +testified, by the vigilant watch they +kept, that they anticipated hostile +attacks even in these arid wastes. +They had passed without molestation +through the country infested by the +bolder Indians. The mountain Yutes, +not relishing the appearance of the +hunters, had left them unmolested; +but they were now entering a country +inhabited by the most degraded and +abject of the western tribes; who, nevertheless, +ever suffering from the extremities +of hunger, have their brutish wits +sharpened by the necessity of procuring +food, and rarely fail to levy a contribution +of rations, of horse or mule +flesh, on the passenger in their inhospitable +country. The brutish +cunning and animal instinct of +these wretches is such, that although +arrant cowards, their attacks are +more feared than those of bolder +Indians. These people—called the +Yamparicas or Root-Diggers—are, +nevertheless, the degenerate descendants +of those tribes which once +overran that portion of the continent +of North America now comprehended +within the boundaries of +Mexico, and who have left such +startling evidences in their track of a +comparatively superior state of civilisation. +They now form an outcast +tribe of the great nation of the +Apache, which extends under various +names from the Great Salt Lake along +the table-lands on each side the +Sierra Madre to the tropic of Cancer, +where they merge into what are +called the Mexican Indians. The +whole of this nation is characterised +by most abject cowardice; and they +even refuse to meet the helpless +Mexicans in open fight—unlike the +Yutah or Camanche, who carry bold +and open warfare into the territories +of their civilised enemy, and never +shrink from hand to hand encounter. +The Apaches and the degenerate +Diggers pursue a cowardly warfare, +hiding in ambush, and shooting the +passer-by with arrows; or, dashing +upon him at night when steeped in +sleep, they bury their arrow to the +feather in his heaving breast. As the +Mexicans say, “<i><span lang="es">Sin ventaja, no salen</span></i>;” +they never attack without odds. +But they are not the less dangerous +enemies on this account; and by the +small bands of trappers who visit their +country, they are the more dreaded +by reason of this coward and wolfish +system of warfare.</p> + +<p class='c008'>To provide against surprise, therefore, +as the hunters rode along, flankers +were extended <i><span lang="es">en guerilla</span></i> on each +side, mounting the high points to +reconnoitre the country, and keeping +a sharp look-out for the Indian sign. +At night the animals were securely +hobbled, and a horse-guard posted +round them—a service of great danger, +as the stealthy cat-like Diggers +are often known to steal up silently, +under cover of the darkness, towards +the sentinel, shoot him with their +arrows, and, approaching the animals, +cut the hobbles and drive them away +unseen.</p> + +<p class='c008'>One night they encamped on a +creek where was but little of the +coarsest pasture, and that little scattered +here and there; so that they +were compelled to allow their animals +to roam farther than usual from camp +in search of food. Four of the hunters, +however, accompanied them to +guard against surprise; whilst but half +of those in camp laid down to sleep, +the others, with rifles in their hands, +remaining prepared for any emergencies. +This day they had killed one +of their two pack mules for food, game +not having been met with for several +days; but the animal was so poor, +that it scarcely afforded more than +one tolerable meal to the whole party.</p> + +<p class='c008'>A short time before the dawn of +day an alarm was given; the animals +were heard to snort violently; a loud +shout was heard, followed by the +sharp crack of a rifle, and the tramp +of galloping horses plainly showed +that a stampede had been effected. +The whites instantly sprang to their +arms, and rushed in the direction +of the sounds. The body of the +cavallada, however, had luckily turned, +and, being headed by the mountaineers, +were surrounded and secured, +with the loss of only three, which had +probably been mounted by the Indians.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Day breaking soon after, one of +their band was discovered to be +missing; and it was then found that +a man who had been standing horse-guard +at the time of the attack, +had not come into camp with his +companions. At that moment a thin +spiral column of smoke was seen to +rise from the banks of the creek, +telling but too surely the fate of the +missing mountaineer. It was the signal +of the Indians to their people that a +“<em>coup</em>” had been struck, and that an +enemy’s scalp remained in their triumphant +hands.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“H——!” exclaimed the trappers in +a breath; and soon imprecations and +threats of revenge, loud and deep, +were showered upon the heads of the +treacherous Indians. Some of the +party rushed to the spot where the +guard had stood, and there lay the +body of their comrade, pierced with +lance and arrow, the scalp gone, +and the body otherwise mutilated +in a barbarous manner. Five were +quickly in the saddle, mounted upon +the strongest horses, and flying +along the track of the Indians, who +had made off towards the mountains +with their prize and booty. +We will not follow them in their work +of bloody vengeance, save by saying +that they followed the savages +to their village, into which they +charged headlong, recovered their +stolen horses, and returned to camp +at sundown with thirteen scalps dangling +from their rifles, in payment +for the loss of their unfortunate companion.<a id='r4'></a><a href='#f4' class='c009'><sup>[4]</sup></a></p> + +<p class='c008'>In their further advance, hunger +and thirst were their daily companions; +they were compelled to kill several +of their animals for food, but were +fortunate enough to replace them by a +stroke of good luck in meeting a party +of Indians returning from an excursion +against one of the Californian settlements +with a tolerably large band of +horses. Our hunters met this band +one fine morning, and dashed into the +midst at once; half a dozen Indians +bit the dust, and twenty horses were +turned over from red to white masters +in as many seconds, which remounted +those whose animals had +been eaten, and enabled the others to +exchange their worn-out steeds for +fresh ones. This fortunate event was +considered a <em>coup</em>, and the event was +celebrated by the slaughter of a fat +young horse, which furnished an excellent +supper that night—a memorable +event in these starveling regions.</p> + +<p class='c008'>They were now devouring their +horses and mules at the rate of one +every alternate day; for, so poor were +the animals, that one scarcely furnished +an ample meal for the thirteen +hungry hunters. They were once +more reduced to the animals they +rode on; and after a fast of twenty-four +hours’ duration, were debating on +the propriety of drawing lots as to +whose Rosinante should fill the kettle, +when some Indians suddenly appeared +making signs of peace upon the bluff, +and indicating a disposition to enter +the camp for the purpose of trading. +Being invited to approach, they offered +to trade a few dressed elk-skins; but +being asked for meat, they said that +their village was a long way off, and +they had nothing with them but a +small portion of some game they had +lately killed. When requested to +produce this, they hesitated, but the +trappers looking hungry and angry +at the same moment, an old Indian +drew from under his blanket several +flaps of portable dried meat which +he declared was bear’s. It was but +a small ration amongst so many; but, +being divided, was quickly laid upon +the fire to broil. The meat was stringy, +and of whitish colour, altogether unlike +any flesh the trappers had before +eaten. Killbuck was the first to discover +this. He had been quietly +masticating the last mouthful of his +portion, the stringiness of which required +more than usual dental exertion, +when the novelty of the flavour +struck him as something singular. +Suddenly his jaws ceased their work, +he thought a moment, took the morsel +from his mouth, looked at it intently, +and dashed it into the fire.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Man-meat, by G—!” he cried +out; and at the words every jaw +stopped work: the trappers looked at +the meat and each other.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I’m dog-gone if it ain’t!” cried +old Walker, looking at his piece, “and +white meat at that, wagh!” (and report +said it was not the first time he +had tasted such viands;) and the conviction +seizing each mind, every +mouthful was quickly spat into the +fire, and the ire of the deceived whites +was instantly turned upon the luckless +providers of the feast. They saw the +storm that was brewing, and without +more ado turned tail from the camp, +and scuttled up the bluffs, where, turning +round, they fired a volley of arrows +at the tricked mountaineers, and instantly +disappeared.</p> + +<p class='c008'>However, the desert and its nomade +pilferers were at length passed; the +sandy plains became grass-covered +prairies; the monstrous cottonwood +on the creeks was replaced by oak +and ash; the surface of the country +grew more undulating, and less +broken up into cañons and ravines; +elk and deer leaped in the bottoms, +and bands of antelope dotted the +plains, with occasional troops of wild +horses, too wary to allow the approach +of man. On the banks of a +picturesque stream called the San +Joaquim, the party halted a few days +to recruit themselves and animals, +feasting the while on the fattest of +venison and other game. They then +struck to the south-east for two days, +until they reached a branch of the +“Las Animas,” a clear stream running +through a pretty valley, well timbered +and abounding in game. Here, as +they wound along the river-banks, a +horseman suddenly appeared upon +the bluff above them, galloping at a +furious rate along the edge. His dress +approached in some degree to civilised +attire. A broad-brimmed sombrero +surmounted his swarthy face; a coloured +blanket, through a slit in which his +head was thrust, floated in the air from +his shoulders; leathern leggings encased +his lower limbs; and huge spurs +jingled on his heels. He rode in a +high-peaked Mexican saddle, his feet +thrust in ponderous stirrups, and in +his hand swung a coil of ready lasso, +his only offensive arm. One of the +trappers knew a little Spanish, and +instantly hailed him.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<i><span lang="es">Compadre</span></i>,” he shouted, “<i><span lang="es">por onde +va?</span></i>” The Californian reined in suddenly, +throwing the horse he rode on +its very haunches, and darting down +the bluff, galloped unhesitatingly into +the midst of the hunters.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<i><span lang="es">Americanos!</span></i>” he exclaimed glancing +at them; and continued, smiling—“<i><span lang="es">Y +caballos quieren, por eso vienen tan +lejitos. Jesus, que mala gente!</span></i>” “It’s +horses you want, and for this you +come all this way. Ah, what rogues +you are!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>He was an Indian, employed at the +Mission of San Fernando, distant three +days’ journey from their present position, +and was now searching for a +band of horses and mules which +had strayed. San Fernando, it appeared, +had once before been visited +by a party of mountain free-traders, +and the Indian therefore divined the +object of the present one. He was, he +told them, “<i><span lang="es">un Indio, pero mansito</span></i>:” +an Indian, but a tame one;<a id='r5'></a><a href='#f5' class='c009'><sup>[5]</sup></a> “<i><span lang="es">de mas, +Christiano</span></i>;” a Christian moreover, +(exhibiting a small cross which hung +round his neck.) There were many +people about the mission, he said, +who knew how to fight, and had +plenty of arms; and there were enough +to “eat up” the “<i><span lang="es">Americanos, sin +frijoles</span></i>,” without beans, as he facetiously +observed. For his part, however, +he was very friendly to the +<i><span lang="es">Americanos</span></i>; he had once met a man +of that nation who was a good sort of +fellow, and had made him a present of +tobacco, of which he was particularly +fond. Finding this hint did not take, +he said that the horses and mules belonging +to the mission were innumerable—“like +that,” he added, sweeping +his hand to all points of the compass +over the plain, to intimate that they +would cover that extent; and he could +point out a large herd grazing nearer +at hand than the mission, and guarded +but by three <em>vaqueros</em>. Regaled with +venison, and with a smoke of his +coveted tobacco, he rode off, and made +his way to the mission without delay; +conveying the startling intelligence +that a thousand Americans were upon +them.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The next morning the thirteen +doughty mountaineers quietly resumed +their journey, moving leisurely along +towards the object of their expedition.</p> + +<p class='c008'>It will not be out of place here to +digress a little, in order to describe the +singular features of the establishments +formed in those remote regions by +the Catholic church, as nuclei round +which to concentrate the wandering +tribes that inhabit the country, with +a view to give them the benefit of +civilised example, and to wean them +from their restless nomadic habits.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The establishment of missions in +Upper California is coeval with the +first settlement of Southern Mexico. +No sooner had Spanish rule taken a +firm foothold in the Aztec empire, than +the avowed primary object of the +military expedition began to be carried +into effect. “To save the souls” of +the savage and barbarous subjects of +their most Catholic majesties was ever +inculcated upon the governors of the +conquered country as the grand object +to be sought after, as soon as tranquillity +was partially restored by the submission +of the Mexicans; and the +cross, the sacred emblem of the Catholic +faith, was to be upraised in the +remotest corners of the country, and +the natives instructed and compelled +to worship it, in lieu of the grotesque +images of their own idolatrous religion.</p> + +<p class='c008'>To carry into effect these orthodox +instructions, troops of pious priests, +of friars and monks of every order, and +even of saintly nuns, followed in the +wake of the victorious armies of Cortez; +and girding up their loins with zealous +fervour and enthusiasm, and with +an enterprise and hardihood worthy of +buccaneers, they pushed their adventurous +way far into the bowels of the +land, preaching devoutly and with +commendable perseverance to savages +who did not understand a syllable of +what they so eloquently discoursed; +and returning, after the lapse of many +months passed in this first attempt, +with glowing accounts of the “<i><span lang="es">muy +buen indole</span></i>,” the very ductile disposition +of the savages, and of the thousands +they had converted to “<i><span lang="es">la santa +fé catolica</span></i>.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Ferdinand and Isabel, of glorious +memory, at once beat up for volunteers. +Crowds of Franciscan monks, +greasy Capuchinos, and nuns of orthodox +odour, joined the band; and +saints even of the feminine gender, +long since canonised and up aloft +amongst the goodly muster of saints +and martyrs, put foot once more on +<em>terra firma</em>, and, rosary in hand, +crossed the seas to participate in the +good work. As proof of this latter +fact, one Venabides, a Franciscan, +whose veracity is beyond impeachment, +declared that, while preaching +in the regions now known as New +Mexico, one million Indians from the +“rumbo” known as Cibolo, a mighty +nation, approached his temporary pulpit +on the Rio Grande, and requested +in a body the favour of being baptised. +Struck with the singularity of this request +from Indians with whom he had +as yet held no communication, and +with conscientious scruple as to whether +he would be justified in performing +such ceremony without their having +received previous instruction, he +hesitated a few moments before making +an answer. At this juncture, the +Indians espied a medallion which hung +around his neck, bearing the effigy of +a certain saint of extraordinary virtue. +At sight of this they fell on their knees +before it; and it was some time before +they found words (in what language +does not appear) to explain to the +holy father that the original of that +effigy, which hung pendant from his +neck, had been long amongst them instructing +them in the elements of the +Christian religion, and had only lately +disappeared; informing them that certain +reverend men would shortly appear +in the land, who would finish the +good work she had devoutly commenced, +and clench the business by +baptising the one million miserable +sinners who now knelt before El Padre +Venabides.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Valgame Dios!” reverently exclaimed +that worthy man, “qui milagro +es este;” [what a miracle is this I +hear;] and casting up his eyes, and +speaking slowly, as if he weighed +every word, and taxing his memory +of the historical calendar of saints, +continued,—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<i><span lang="es">Se murió—aquella—santissima—muger—en +el ano 175—es decir—ya +hacen—mil—quatro—cientos—anos.</span></i>” +[That most holy woman died in the +year 175, that is to say, one thousand +four hundred years ago.]</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, what a strange thing is this!” +the padre continues devoutly. “After +so many ages spent in heaven in company +of the angels, of most holy men, +and of virgins the most pure; and, +perhaps, also in the company of my +worthy and esteemed friend and patron +Don Vincente Carvajal y Calvo, who +died a few years ago in San Lucar of +Xeres, (bequeathing me certain arrobas +of dry wine, of a class I greatly +esteem,—for which act he deserved +to be canonised, and, I have +no doubt, is,) the said Don Vincente +Carvajal y Calvo being, moreover, +a man of the purest and holiest +thoughts, (Dios mio! what a +puchero that man always had on his +table!) this holy woman comes here—to +these wild and remote regions; +this holy woman, (who died fifteen +hundred years ago,) abandoning the +company of angels, of holy men, and +sanctified women and virgins, and also +of Don Vincente Carvajal y Calvo, +(that worthy man!)—comes here, I say, +where there are neither pucheros, nor +garbanzos, nor dry wine, nor sweet +wine, neither of Xeres, nor of Val de +Peñas, nor of Peralta; where” (sobbed +the padre, and bellowed the last word) +“there is—nothing either to eat or to +drink. Valgame Purissima Maria! +And what is the name of this holy +woman? the world will ask,” continues +Venabides. “Santa Clara of +Carmona is her name, one well known +in my native country, who leaves +heaven and all its joys, wends her +way to the distant wilds of New Spain, +and spends years in inducting the savage +people to the holy faith. Truly +a pious work, and pleasing to God!”<a id='r6'></a><a href='#f6' class='c009'><sup>[6]</sup></a></p> + +<p class='c008'>Thus spoke Venabides the Franciscan, +and no doubt he believed what +he said; and many others in Old +Spain were fools enough to believe it +too, for the shaven heads flocked over +in greater numbers, and the cry was +ever “still they come.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Along the whole extent of the table-lands, +not an Indian tribe but was +speedily visited by the preaching +friars and monks; and, in less than a +century after the conquest of Mexico +by the Spaniards, these hardy and +enthusiastic <span lang="es">frayles</span> had pushed their +way into the inhospitable regions of +New Mexico, nearly two thousand +miles distant from the valley of Anahuac. +How they succeeded in surmounting +the natural obstacles presented +by the wild and barren deserts +they traversed; how they escaped the +infinite peril they encountered at every +step, at the hands of the savage inhabitants +of the country, with whose language +they were totally unacquainted, +is sufficient puzzle to those who, in +the present day, have attempted a +journey in the same regions.</p> + +<p class='c008'>However, it is impossible not to +admire the hardihood of these holy +pioneers of civilisation, who, totally +unfitted by their former mode of life +for undergoing such hardships as they +must have anticipated, threw themselves +into the wilderness with fearless +and stubborn zeal.</p> + +<p class='c008'>For the most part, however, they +found the Indians exceedingly hospitable +and well disposed; and it was +not until some time after—when, receiving +from the missionary monks +glowing, and not always very truthful +accounts of the riches of the country +in which they had located themselves, +the governors of Mexico despatched +armed expeditions under adventurous +desperadoes to take and retain possession +of the said country, with orders +to compel the submission of the native +tribes, and enforce their obedience to +the authority of the whites—that the +simple and confiding Indians began to +see the folly they had committed in +permitting the residence amongst +them of these superior beings, whom +they had first looked upon as more +than mortal, but who, when strong +enough to do so, were not long in +throwing off the mask, and proving to +the simple savages that they were +much “more human than divine.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Thus, in the province of New Mexico, +Fray Augustin Ruiz, with his co-preachers +Marcos and Venabides, +were kindly received by the native +inhabitants, and we have seen how +one million (?) Indians came from the +“rumbo” of the Cibolo, ready and +willing to receive the baptismal sacrament. +This Cibolo, or Sivulo, as it is +written in some old MSS., is, by the +way, mysteriously alluded to by the +monkish historians who have written +on this region, as being a kingdom +inhabited by a very superior class of +Indians to any met with between +Anahuac and the Vale of Taos—in +the enjoyment of a high state of civilisation, +inhabiting a well-built city, +the houses of which were three stories +high, and having attained considerable +perfection in the domestic arts. +This, notwithstanding the authority of +Don Francisco Vasquez Coronado, +who visited Cibolo, and of Solis and +Venegas, who have guaranteed the assertion, +must be received <i><span lang="la">cum grano +salis</span></i>; but, at all events, the civilisation +of the mysterious Cibolo may be compared +to that of the Aztec empire, +under Montezuma, at the time of the +Spanish Conquest, both being egregiously +exaggerated by the historians +of the day. Cibolo was situated on a +river called Tegue. At this day, +neither name is known to the inhabitants +of New Mexico. If pate-shaven +Venabides had held his tongue, New +Mexico might now be in the peaceful +possession of the Catholic Missions, +and the property of the Church of +Mexico pretty considerably enhanced +by the valuable <i><span lang="es">placeres</span></i>, or gold +washings, which abound in that province. +Full, however, of the wonderful +miracle of Santa Clara of Carmona, +which had been brought to light +through the agency of the medallion +at the end of his rosario, Fray Venabides +must needs return to Spain, and +humbug poor old Fernando, and even +the more sensible Isabel, with wonderful +accounts of the riches of the +country he had been instrumental in +exploring, and of the excellent disposition +of the natives to receive the word +of God. Don Juan Oñate was, therefore, +quickly despatched to take possession; +and in his train followed +twelve Castilian families of <i><span lang="es">sangre +azul</span></i>, to colonise the newly-acquired +territory. The names of these still +remain, disgraced by the degenerate +wretches who now bear them, but in +whom scarce a drop of blood remains +which ever filtered from the veins of +the paladins of Old Castile.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Then commenced the troublous +times. The missions were upheld by +dint of steel alone; and, on every occasion, +the Indians rose, and often massacred +their white persecutors. The +colonists were more than once driven +bodily from New Mexico, and were +only reinstated by the aid of large +bodies of armed men.</p> + +<p class='c008'>In California, however, they managed +these things better. The wily +monks took care to keep all interlopers +from the country, established themselves +in snug quarters, instructed the +Indians in agriculture, and soon gained +such an ascendency over them, that +no difficulty was experienced in keeping +them under proper and wholesome +restraint. Strong and commodious +missions were built and fortified, +well stored with arms and ammunition, +and containing sufficient defenders +to defy attack. Luxuriant gardens +and thriving vineyards soon surrounded +these isolated stations: the plains +waved with golden corn; whilst domestic +cattle, thriving on the rich pasture, +and roaming far and near, multiplied +and increased a hundred-fold.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Nothing can be more beautiful than +the appearance of one of these missions, +to the traveller who has lately passed +the arid and barren wilderness of the +North-west. The <em>adobe</em> walls of the +convent-looking building, surmounted +by cross and belfry, are generally +hidden in a mass of luxuriant vegetation. +Fig-trees, bananas, cherry, +and apple, leaf-spreading platanos, +and groves of olives, form umbrageous +vistas, under which the sleek monks +delight to wander; gardens, cultivated +by their own hands, testify to +the horticultural skill of the worthy +padres; whilst vineyards yield their +grateful produce to gladden the hearts +of the holy exiles in these western +solitudes. Vast herds of cattle roam +half-wild on the plains, and bands of +mules and horses, whose fame has +even reached the distant table-lands +of the Rocky Mountains, and excited +the covetousness of the hunters—and +thousands of which, from the day +they are foaled to that of their death, +never feel a saddle on their backs—cover +the country. Indians (Mansitos) +idle round the skirts of these vast +herds, (whose very numbers keep +them together,) living, at their own +choice, upon the flesh of mule, or ox, +or horse.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_315'>315</span> + <h2 class='c002'>THE CAXTONS.—PART VI.</h2> +</div> +<h3 class='c019'>CHAPTER XVIII.</h3> + +<p class='c020'>“I don’t know that,” said my +father.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What is it my father does not +know? My father does not know +that happiness is our being’s end +and aim.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>And pertinent to what does my +father reply, by words so sceptical, +to an assertion so little disputed?</p> + +<p class='c008'>Reader, Mr Trevanion has been +half-an-hour seated in our little drawing-room. +He has received two cups +of tea from my mother’s fair hand; he +has made himself at home. With Mr +Trevanion has come another old friend +of my father’s, whom he has not seen +since he left college—Sir Sedley Beaudesert.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Now, you must understand that it +is a warm night, a little after nine +o’clock—a night between departing +summer and approaching autumn—the +windows are open—we have a +balcony, which my mother has taken +care to fill with flowers—the air, +though we are in London, is sweet +and fresh—the street quiet, except +that an occasional carriage or hackney +cabriolet rolls rapidly by—a few +stealthy passengers pass to and fro +noiselessly on their way homeward. +We are on classic ground—near that +old and venerable Museum, the dark +monastic pile, with its learned treasures, +which the taste of the age had +spared then—and the quiet of the +temple seems to hallow the precincts; +Captain Roland is seated by the fireplace, +and though there is no fire, +he is shading his face with a handscreen; +my father and Mr Trevanion +have drawn their chairs close to each +other in the middle of the room; Sir +Sedley Beaudesert leans against the +wall near the window, and behind +my mother, who looks prettier and +more pleased than usual, since her +Austin has his old friends about him; +and I, leaning my elbow on the table, +and my chin upon my hand, am gazing +with great admiration on Sir Sedley +Beaudesert.</p> + +<p class='c008'>O rare specimen of a race fast +decaying!—specimen of the true fine +gentleman, ere the word dandy was +known, and before exquisite became +a noun substantive—let me here +pause to describe thee! Sir Sedley +Beaudesert was the contemporary of +Trevanion and my father; but, without +affecting to be young, he still +seemed so. Dress, tone, look, manner—all +were young—yet all had a +certain dignity which does not belong +to youth. At the age of five-and-twenty, +he had won what would have +been fame to a French marquis of +the old regime, viz.—he was “the +most charming man of his day”—the +most popular with our sex—the most +favoured, my dear lady reader, with +yours. It is a mistake, I believe, to +suppose that it does not require talent +to become the fashion; at all events, +Sir Sedley was the fashion, and he +had talent. He had travelled much, he +had read much—especially in memoirs, +history, and belles-lettres—he made +verses with grace and a certain originality +of easy wit and courtly sentiment—he +conversed delightfully—he +was polished and urbane in manner—he +was brave and honourable in conduct; +in words he could flatter—in +deeds he was sincere.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sir Sedley Beaudesert had never +married. Whatever his years, he was +still young enough in looks to be +married for love. He was high-born, +he was rich; he was, as I have said, +popular; yet on his fair features there +was an expression of melancholy; and +on that forehead—pure from the lines +of ambition, and free from the weight +of study—there was the shadow of +unmistakeable regret.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I don’t know that,” said my +father; “I have never yet found in +life one man who made happiness his +end and aim. One wants to gain a +fortune, another to spend it—one to +get a place, another to build a name; +but they all know very well that it is +not happiness they search for. No +Utilitarian was ever actuated by self-interest, +poor man, when he sate down +to scribble his unpopular crochets to +prove self-interest universal. And as +to that notable distinction—between +self-interest vulgar and self-interest +enlightened—the more the self-interest +is enlightened, the less we are influenced +by it. If you tell the young +man who has just written a fine book +or made a fine speech, that he will not +be any happier if he attains to the +fame of Milton, or the power of Pitt, +and that, for the sake of his own happiness, +he had much better cultivate a +farm, live in the country, and postpone +to the last the days of dyspepsia +and gout, he will answer you fairly,—‘I +am quite as sensible of that as you +are. But I am not thinking whether +or not I shall be happy. I have made +up my mind to be, if I can, a great +author or a prime minister.’ So it is +with all the active sons of the world. +To push on is the law of nature. And +you can no more say to men and to +nations than to children,—‘Sit still, +and don’t wear out your shoes!’”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Then,” said Trevanion, “if I tell +you I am not happy, your only answer +is, that I obey an inevitable law.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No! I don’t say that it is an inevitable +law that man should not be +happy; but it is an inevitable law +that a man, in spite of himself, should +live for something higher than his +own happiness. He cannot live in +himself or for himself, however egotistical +he may try to be. Every desire +he has links him with others. Man +is not a machine—he is a part of +one.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“True, brother, he is a soldier, +not an army,” said Captain Roland.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Life is a drama, not a monologue,” +pursued my father. “Drama +is derived from a Greek verb, signifying +<em>to do</em>. Every actor in the drama +has something to do, which helps on +the progress of the whole: that is the +object for which the Author created +him. Do your part, and let the Great +Play get on.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Ah!” said Trevanion briskly, +“but to do the part is the difficulty! +Every actor helps to the catastrophe, +and yet must do his part without +knowing how all is to end. Shall he +help the curtain to fall on a tragedy +or a comedy? Come, I will tell you +the one secret of my public life—that +which explains all its failure (for, in +spite of my position, I have failed) and +its regrets—<em>I want conviction!</em>”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Exactly,” said my father; “because +to every question there are two +sides, and you look at them both.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You have said it,” answered +Trevanion, smiling also. “For public +life a man should be one-sided; he +must act with a party; and a party +insists that the shield is silver, when, +if it will take the trouble to turn the +corner, it will see that the reverse of +the shield is gold. Wo to the man who +makes that discovery alone, while his +party are still swearing the shield is +silver, and that not once in his life, +but every night!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You have said quite enough to +convince me that you ought not to +belong to a party, but not enough to +convince me why you should not be +happy,” said my father.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Do you remember,” said Sir +Sedley Beaudesert, “an anecdote of +the first Duke of Portland? He had a +gallery in the great stable of his villa +in Holland, where a concert was given +once a-week, to <em>cheer and amuse</em> his +horses! I have no doubt the horses +thrived all the better for it. What +Trevanion wants is a concert once +a-week. With him it is always saddle +and spur. Yet, after all, who would +not envy him? If life be a drama, his +name stands high in the playbill, and +is printed in capitals on the walls.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Envy <span class='fss'>ME</span>!” cried Trevanion—“<span class='fss'>ME!</span>—no, +you are the enviable man—you +who have only one grief in the +world, and that so absurd a one, +that I will make you blush by disclosing +it. Hear, O sage Austin!—O +sturdy Roland!—Olivares was +haunted by a spectre, and Sedley +Beaudesert by the dread of old age!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well,” said my mother seriously, +“I do think it requires a great sense +of religion, or, at all events, children +of one’s own, in whom one is +young again, to reconcile one’s-self to +becoming old.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“My dear ma’am,” said Sir Sedley, +who had slightly coloured at Trevanion’s +charge, but had now recovered +his easy self-possession, “you +have spoken so admirably that you +give me courage to confess my weakness. +I do dread to be old. All the +joys of my life have been the joys of +youth. I have had so exquisite a +pleasure in the mere sense of living, +that old age, as it comes near, terrifies +me by its dull eyes and gray hairs. +I have lived the life of the butterfly. +Summer is over, and I see my flowers +withering; and my wings are chilled +by the first airs of winter. Yes, I +envy Trevanion; for, in public life, +no man is ever young; and while he +can work he is never old.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“My dear Beaudesert,” said my +father, “when St Amable, patron +saint of Riom, in Auvergne, went to +Rome, the sun waited upon him as a +servant, carried his cloak and gloves +for him in the heat, and kept off the +rain, if the weather changed, like an +umbrella. You want to put the sun to +the same use; you are quite right; +but then, you see, you must first be a +saint before you can be sure of the +sun as a servant.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sir Sedley smiled charmingly; but +the smile changed to a sigh as he +added, “I don’t think I should much +mind being a saint if the sun would +be my sentinel instead of my courier. +I want nothing of him but to stand +still. You see he moved even for St +Amable. My dear madam, you and +I understand each other; and it is a +very hard thing to grow old, do what +one will to keep young.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What say you, Roland, of these +two malcontents?” asked my father. +The Captain turned uneasily in his +chair, for the rheumatism was gnawing +his shoulder, and sharp pains +were shooting through his mutilated +limb.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I say,” answered Roland, “that +these men are wearied with marching +from Brentford to Windsor—that +they have never known the bivouac +and the battle.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Both the grumblers turned their +eyes to the veteran: the eyes rested +first on the furrowed, care-worn lines +on his eagle face—then they fell on +the stiff, outstretched cork limb—and +then they turned away.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Meanwhile my mother had softly +risen, and, under pretence of looking +for her work on the table near him, +bent over the old soldier, and pressed +his hand.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Gentlemen,” said my father, “I +don’t think my brother ever heard of +Nichocorus, the Greek comic writer; +yet he has illustrated him very ably. +Saith Nichocorus, ‘the best cure for +drunkenness is a sudden calamity.’ +For chronic drunkenness, a continued +course of real misfortune must be very +salutary!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>No answer came from the two +complainants; and my father took up +a great book.</p> + +<h3 class='c022'>CHAPTER XIX.</h3> + +<p class='c020'>“My friends,” said my father, looking +up from his book, and addressing +himself to his two visitors, “I know +of one thing, milder than calamity, +that would do you both a great deal +of good.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What is that?” asked Sir Sedley.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“A saffron bag, worn at the pit of +the stomach!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Austin, my dear!” said my mother +reprovingly.</p> + +<p class='c008'>My father did not heed the interruption, +but continued gravely,—“Nothing +is better for the spirits! +Roland is in no want of saffron, +because he is a warrior; and the +desire of fighting, and the hope of +victory, infuse such a heat into the +spirits as is profitable for long life, +and keeps up the system.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Tut!” said Trevanion.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But gentlemen in your predicament +must have recourse to artificial +means. Nitre in broth, for instance—about +three grains to ten—(cattle fed +upon nitre grow fat); or earthy odours—such +as exist in cucumbers and +cabbage. A certain great lord had +a clod of fresh earth, laid in a napkin, +put under his nose every morning after +sleep. Light anointing of the head +with oil, mixed with roses and salt, is +not bad; but, upon the whole, I prescribe +the saffron bag at the”—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Sisty, my dear, will you look for +my scissors?” said my mother.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What nonsense are you talking! +Question, question!” cried Mr Trevanion.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Nonsense!” exclaimed my father, +opening his eyes; “I am giving you +the advice of Lord Bacon.—You want +conviction—conviction comes from +passion—passion from the spirits—spirits +from a saffron bag. You, +Beaudesert, on the other hand, want +to keep youth. He keeps youth +longest who lives longest. Nothing +more conduces to longevity than a +saffron bag, provided always it is +worn at the”—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Sisty, my thimble!” said my +mother.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You laugh at us justly,” said +Beaudesert, smiling; “and the same +remedy, I dare say, would cure us +both!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes,” said my father, “there is +no doubt of that. In the pit of the +stomach is that great central web of +nerves called the ganglions; thence +they affect the head and the heart. +Mr Squills proved that to us, Sisty.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes,” said I; “but I never heard +Mr Squills talk of a saffron bag.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, foolish boy! it is not the +saffron bag—it is the belief in the +saffron bag. Apply <span class='fss'>BELIEF</span> to the +centre of the nerves, and all will go +well,” said my father.</p> + +<h3 class='c022'>CHAPTER XX.</h3> + +<p class='c020'>“But it is a devil of a thing to have +too nice a conscience!” quoth the +member of Parliament.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And it is not an angel of a thing +to lose one’s front teeth!” sighed the +fine gentleman.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Therewith my father rose, and, +putting his hand into his waistcoat, +<i><span lang="it">more suo</span></i>, delivered his famous</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c021'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>SERMON UPON THE CONNEXION BETWEEN FAITH AND PURPOSE.</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c008'>Famous it was in our domestic +circle. But as yet, it has not gone +beyond. And since the reader, I am +sure, does not turn to the Caxton memoirs +with the expectation of finding +sermons, so to that circle let its fame +be circumscribed. All I shall say +about it is, that it was a very fine +sermon, and that it proved indisputably, +to me at least, the salubrious +effects of a saffron bag applied to the +great centre of the nervous system. +But the wise Ali saith, that “a fool +doth not know what maketh him look +little, neither will he hearken to him +that adviseth him.” I cannot assert +that my father’s friends were fools, +but they certainly came under this +definition of Folly.</p> + +<h3 class='c022'>CHAPTER XXI.</h3> + +<p class='c020'>For therewith arose not conviction +but discussion; Trevanion was logical, +Beaudesert sentimental. My +father held firm to the saffron bag. +When James the First dedicated to +the Duke of Buckingham his Meditation +on the Lord’s Prayer, he +gave a very sensible reason for +selecting his grace for that honour,—“For,” +(saith the king) “it is made upon +a very short and plaine prayer, and, +therefore, the fitter for a courtier, for +courtiers are for the most part thought +neither to have lust nor leisure to say +long prayers; liking best <i><span lang="fr">courte messe +et long disner</span></i>.” I suppose it was for +a similar reason that my father persisted +in dedicating to the member of +parliament and the fine gentleman, +this “short and plaine” morality of +his—to wit, the saffron bag. He was +evidently persuaded, if he could once +get them to apply that, it was all that +was needful; that they had neither +lust nor leisure for longer instructions. +And this saffron bag,—it came down +with such a whack, at every round in +the argument! You would have +thought my father one of the old plebeian +combatants in the popular ordeal, +who, forbidden to use sword and lance, +fought with a sand-bag tied to a flail: +a very stunning weapon it was when +filled only with sand; but a bag +filled with saffron,—it was irresistible! +Though my father had two to one +against him, they could not stand +such a deuce of a weapon. And after +tuts and pishes innumerable from Mr +Trevanion, and sundry bland grimaces +from Sir Sedley Beaudesert, they fairly +gave in, though they would not own +they were beaten.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Enough,” said the member, “I see +that you don’t comprehend me; I must +continue to move by my own impulse.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>My father’s pet book was the Colloquies +of Erasmus; he was wont to +say that those Colloquies furnished +life with illustrations in every page. +Out of the Colloquies of Erasmus he +now answered the member:—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Rabirius, wanting his servant +Syrus to get up,” quoth my father, +“cried out to him to move. ‘I do +move,’ said Syrus. ‘I see you move,’ +replied Rabirius, ‘but you <em>move nothing</em>.’ +To return to the saffron +bag,—”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Confound the saffron bag!” cried +Trevanion in a rage; and then, softening +his look as he drew on his gloves, +he turned to my mother, and said, +with more politeness than was natural +to, or at least customary with +him:—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“By the way, my dear Mrs Caxton, +I should tell you that Lady +Ellinor comes to town to-morrow, +on purpose to call on you. We +shall be here some little time, Austin; +and though London is so empty, there +are still some persons of note to whom +I should like to introduce you, and +yours—”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Nay,” said my father, “your +world and my world are not the same. +Books for me, and men for you. +Neither Kitty nor I can change our +habits, even for friendship; she has a +great piece of work to finish, and so +have I. Mountains cannot stir, especially +when in labour; but Mahomet +can come to the mountain as often as +he likes.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Mr Trevanion insisted, and Sir +Sedley Beaudesert mildly put in his +own claims; both boasted acquaintance +with literary men, whom my +father would, at all events, be pleased +to meet. My father doubted whether +he could meet any literary men more +eloquent than Cicero, or more amusing +than Aristophanes; and observed, +that if such did exist, he would rather +meet them in their books than in a +drawing-room. In fine, he was immovable; +and so also, with less argument, +was Captain Roland.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Then Mr Trevanion turned to me.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Your son, at all events, should see +something of the world.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>My mother’s soft eyes sparkled.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“My dear friend, I thank you,” +said my father, touched; “and Pisistratus +and I will talk it over.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Our guests had departed. All four of +us gathered to the open window, and +enjoyed in silence the cool air and the +moonlight.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Austin,” said my mother at +last, “I fear it is for my sake that +you refuse going amongst your old +friends: you knew I should be frightened +by such fine people, and—”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And we have been happy for more +than eighteen years without them, +Kitty! My poor friends are not +happy, and we are. To leave well +alone is a golden rule worth all in +Pythagoras. The ladies of Bubastis, +my dear, a place in Egypt where the +cat was worshipped, always kept +rigidly aloof from the gentlemen in +Athribis, who adored the shrewmice. +Cats are domestic animals,—your +shrewmice are sad gadabouts: you +can’t find a better model, my Kitty, +than the ladies of Bubastis!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“How Trevanion is altered!” said +Roland, musingly—“he who was so +lively and ardent!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“He ran too fast up-hill at first, +and has been out of breath ever since,” +said my father.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And Lady Ellinor;” said Roland, +hesitatingly, “shall you see her to-morrow?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes!” said my father, calmly.</p> + +<p class='c008'>As Captain Roland spoke, something +in the tone of his question seemed +to flash a conviction on my mother’s +heart,—the woman there was quick; +she drew back, turning pale, even in +the moonlight, and fixed her eyes +on my father, while I felt her hand +which had clasped mine tremble convulsively.</p> + +<p class='c008'>I understood her. Yes, this Lady +Ellinor was the early rival whose +name till then she had not known. +She fixed her eyes on my father, and +at his tranquil tone and quiet look she +breathed more freely, and sliding her +hand from mine rested it fondly on his +shoulder. A few moments afterwards, +I and Captain Roland found ourselves +standing alone by the window.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You are young, nephew,” said +the Captain; “and you have the +name of a fallen family to raise. +Your father does well not to reject for +you that opening into the great world +which Trevanion offers. As for me, +my business in London seems over: +I cannot find what I came to seek. I +have sent for my daughter; when she +arrives I shall return to my old tower; +and the man and the ruin will crumble +away together.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Tush, uncle! I must work hard +and get money; and then we will repair +the old tower, and buy back the +old estate. My father shall sell the +red brick house; we will fit him up a +library in the keep; and we will all +live united, in peace, and in state, as +grand as our ancestors before us.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>While I thus spoke, my uncle’s eyes +were fixed upon a corner of the street, +where a figure, half in shade half in +moonlight, stood motionless. “Ah!” +said I following his eye, “I have +observed that man, two or three +times, pass up and down the street on +the other side of the way, and turn +his head towards our window. Our +guests were with us then, and my +father in full discourse, or I should +have—”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Before I could finish the sentence, +my uncle, stifling an exclamation, +broke away, hurried out of the room, +stumped down the stairs, and was in +the street, while I was yet rooted to +the spot with surprise. I remained +at the window, and my eye rested on +the figure. I saw the Captain, with +his bare head and his gray hair, cross +the street; the figure started, turned +the corner, and fled.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Then I followed my uncle, and +arrived in time to save him from +falling: he leant his head on my +breast, and I heard him murmur,—“It +is he—it is he! He has watched +us!—he repents!”</p> + +<h3 class='c022'>CHAPTER XXII.</h3> + +<p class='c020'>The next day Lady Ellinor called; +but to my great disappointment without +Fanny.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Whether or not some joy at the incident +of the previous night had served +to make my uncle more youthful than +usual, I know not, but he looked to +me ten years younger when Lady +Ellinor entered. How carefully the +buttoned up coat was brushed! how +new and glossy was the black stock! +The poor Captain was restored to his +pride, and mighty proud he looked! +With a glow on his cheek, and a fire +in his eye; his head thrown back, and +his whole air composed, severe, Mavortian +and majestic, as if awaiting the +charge of the French cuirassiers at +the head of his detachment.</p> + +<p class='c008'>My father, on the contrary, was as +usual (till dinner, when he always +dressed punctiliously, out of respect +to his Kitty) in his easy morning +gown and slippers; and nothing but a +certain compression in his lips which +had lasted all the morning, evinced +his anticipation of the visit, or the +emotion it caused him.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Lady Ellinor behaved beautifully. +She could not conceal a certain nervous +trepidation, when she first took the +hand my father extended; and, in +touching rebuke of the Captain’s +stately bow, she held out to him the +hand left disengaged, with a look which +brought Roland at once to her side. +It was a desertion of his colours to +which nothing, short of Ney’s shameful +conduct at Napoleon’s return from +Elba, affords a parallel in history. +Then, without waiting for introduction, +and before a word indeed was +said, Lady Ellinor came to my mother +so cordially, so caressingly—she threw +into her smile, voice, manner, such +winning sweetness, that I, intimately +learned in my poor mother’s simple +loving heart, wondered how she refrained +from throwing her arms round +Lady Ellinor’s neck, and kissing her +outright. It must have been a great +conquest over herself not to do it! +My turn came next; and talking to +me, and about me, soon set all parties +at their ease—at least apparently.</p> + +<p class='c008'>What was said I cannot remember: +I do not think one of us could. But +an hour slipped away, and there was +no gap in the conversation.</p> + +<p class='c008'>With curious interest, and a survey +I strove to make impartial, I compared +Lady Ellinor with my mother. And +I comprehended the fascination the +high-born lady must, in their earlier +youth, have exercised over both brothers, +so dissimilar to each other. +For <em>charm</em> was the characteristic of +Lady Ellinor—a charm indefinable. +It was not the mere grace of refined +breeding, though that went a great +way; it was a charm that seemed to +spring from natural sympathy. Whomsoever +she addressed, that person appeared +for the moment to engage all +her attention, to interest her whole +mind. She had a gift of conversation +very peculiar. She made what she +said like a continuation of what was +said to her. She seemed as if she +had entered into your thoughts, and +talked them aloud. Her mind was +evidently cultivated with great care, +but she was perfectly void of pedantry. +A hint, an allusion, sufficed to +show how much she knew, to one well +instructed, without mortifying or perplexing +the ignorant. Yes, there probably +was the only woman my father +had ever met who could be the companion +to his mind, walk through the +garden of knowledge by his side, and +trim the flowers while he cleared the +vistas. On the other hand, there was +an inborn nobility in Lady Ellinor’s +sentiments that must have struck the +most susceptible chord in Roland’s +nature, and the sentiments took eloquence +from the look, the mien, the +sweet dignity of the very turn of the +head. Yes, she must have been a +fitting Orinda to a young Amadis. +It was not hard to see that Lady +Ellinor was ambitious—that she had +a love of fame, for fame itself—that +she was proud—that she set value +(and that morbidly) on the world’s +opinion. This was perceptible when +she spoke of her husband, even of +her daughter. It seemed to me as +if she valued the intellect of the one, +the beauty of the other, by the gauge +of the social distinction or the fashionable +<em>éclat</em>. She took measure of the +gift, as I was taught at Dr Herman’s +to take measure of the height of a +tower—by the length of the shadow it +cast upon the ground.</p> + +<p class='c008'>My dear father, with such a wife you +would never have lived eighteen years, +shivering on the edge of a great book!</p> + +<p class='c008'>My dear uncle, with such a wife +you would never have been contented +with a cork leg and a Waterloo medal! +And I understand why Mr Trevanion, +“eager and ardent” as ye say he was +in youth, with a heart bent on the +practical success of life, won the hand +of the heiress. Well, you see Mr Trevanion +has contrived not to be happy! +By the side of my listening, admiring +mother, with her blue eyes moist, +and her coral lips apart, Lady Ellinor +looks faded. Was she ever as pretty +as my mother is now? Never. But +she was much handsomer. What +delicacy in the outline, and yet how +decided in spite of the delicacy! The +eyebrow so defined—the profile slightly +aquiline, so clearly cut—with the +curved nostril, which, if physiognomists +are right, shows sensibility so +keen; and the classic lip that, but for +that dimple, would be so haughty. +But wear and tear are in that face. +The nervous excitable temper has +helped the fret and cark of ambitious +life. My dear uncle, I know +not yet your private life. But as for +my father, I am sure that, though he +might have done more on earth, he +would have been less fit for heaven, +if he had married Lady Ellinor.</p> + +<p class='c008'>At last this visit—dreaded, I am +sure, by three of the party, was over, +but not before I had promised to dine +at the Trevanions’ that day.</p> + +<p class='c008'>When we were again alone, my father +threw off a long breath, and looking +round him cheerfully, said, “Since +Pisistratus deserts us, let us console +ourselves for his absence—send for +brother Jack, and all four go down to +Richmond to drink tea.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Thank you, Austin,” said Roland. +“But I don’t want it, I assure you!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Upon your honour?” said my +father in a half whisper.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Upon my honour.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Nor I either! So Kitty, Roland, +and I will take a walk, and be back +in time to see if that young Anachronism +looks as handsome as his new +London-made clothes will allow him. +Properly speaking, he ought to go with +an apple in his hand, and a dove in +his bosom. But now I think of it, that +was luckily not the fashion with the +Athenians till the time of Alcibiades!”</p> + +<h3 class='c022'>CHAPTER XXIII.</h3> + +<p class='c020'>You may judge of the effect that +my dinner at Mr Trevanion’s, with a long +conversation after it with Lady +Ellinor, made upon my mind, when, +on my return home, after having +satisfied all questions of parental +curiosity, I said nervously, and looking +down,—“My dear father,—I +should like very much, if you have no +objection,—to—to—”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What, my dear?” asked my father +kindly.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Accept an offer Lady Ellinor has +made me, on the part of Mr Trevanion. +He wants a secretary. He is +kind enough to excuse my inexperience, +and declares I shall do very +well, and can soon get into his ways. +Lady Ellinor says (I continued with +dignity) that it will be a great opening +in public life for me; and at all +events, my dear father, I shall see +much of the world, and learn what I +really think will be more useful to me +than any thing they will teach me at +college.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>My mother looked anxiously at my +father. “It will indeed be a great +thing for Sisty,” said she timidly; +and then taking courage she added—“And +that is just the sort of life he +is formed for—”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Hem!” said my uncle.</p> + +<p class='c008'>My father rubbed his spectacles +thoughtfully, and replied, after a long +pause,—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You may be right, Kitty: I don’t +think Pisistratus is meant for study; +action will suit him better. But what +does this office lead to?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Public employment, sir,” said I +boldly; “the service of my country.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“If that be the case,” quoth Roland, +“I have not a word to say. But I +should have thought that for a lad of +spirit, a descendant of the old De +Caxtons, the army would have—”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“The army!” exclaimed my mother, +clasping her hands, and looking involuntarily +at my uncle’s cork leg.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“The army!” repeated my father +peevishly. “Bless my soul, Roland, +you seem to think man is made for +nothing else but to be shot at! You +would not like the army, Pisistratus?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Why, sir, not if it pained you and +my dear mother; otherwise, indeed—”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Papæ!” said my father interrupting +me. “This all comes of your +giving the boy that ambitious, uncomfortable +name, Mrs Caxton; what +could a Pisistratus be but the plague +of one’s life? That idea of serving his +country is Pisistratus ipsissimus all +over. If ever I have another son, +(<i><span lang="la">Dii meliora!</span></i>) he has only got to be +called Eratostratus, and then he will +be burning down St Paul’s; which I +believe was, by the way, first made +out of the stones of the temple of +Diana! Of the two, certainly, you +had better serve your country with a +goose-quill than by poking a bayonet +into the ribs of some unfortunate +Indian;—I don’t think there are any +other people whom the service of one’s +country makes it necessary to kill just +at present,—eh, Roland?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“It is a very fine field, India,” said +my uncle, sententiously. “It is the +nursery of captains.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Is it? Those plants take up a great +deal of ground, then, that might be +more profitably cultivated. And, indeed, +considering that the tallest +captains in the world will be ultimately +set into a box not above seven +feet at the longest, it is astonishing +what a quantity of room that species +of <i><span lang="fr">arbor mortis</span></i> takes in the growing! +However, Pisistratus, to return to +your request, I will think it over, and +talk to Trevanion.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Or rather to Lady Ellinor,” said +I imprudently: my mother slightly +shivered, and took her hand from mine. +I felt cut to the heart by the slip of +my own tongue.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“That, I think, your mother could +do best,” said my father, drily, “if +she wants to be quite convinced that +somebody will see that your shirts are +aired. For I suppose they mean you +to lodge at Trevanion’s.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, no!” cried my mother. “He +might as well go to college then. I +thought he was to stay with us; only +go in the morning, but, of course, sleep +here.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“If I know any thing of Trevanion,” +said my father, “his secretary will be +expected to do without sleep. Poor +boy, you don’t know what it is you +desire. And yet, at your age, I—” +my father stopped short. “No!” he +renewed abruptly, after a long silence, +and as if soliloquising. “No, man +is never wrong while he lives for +others. The philosopher who contemplates +from the rock, is a less noble +image than the sailor who struggles +with the storm. Why should there +be two of us? And <em>could</em> he be an +<em>alter ego</em>, even if I wished it? impossible!” +My father turned on his +chair, and, laying the left leg on the +right knee, said smilingly, as he bent +down to look me full in the face; +“But, Pisistratus, will you promise +me always to wear the saffron bag?”</p> + +<h3 class='c022'>CHAPTER XXIV.</h3> + +<p class='c020'>I now make a long stride in my narrative. +I am domesticated with the +Trevanions. A very short conversation +with the statesman sufficed to decide +my father; and the pith of it lay +in this single sentence uttered by Trevanion—“I +promise you one thing—he +shall never be idle!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Looking back, I am convinced that +my father was right, and that he understood +my character, and the temptations +to which I was most prone, +when he consented to let me resign +college and enter thus prematurely on +the world of men. I was naturally +so joyous, that I should have made college +life a holiday, and then, in repentance, +worked myself into a phthisis.</p> + +<p class='c008'>And my father, too, was right, that, +though I could study, I was not meant +for a student.</p> + +<p class='c008'>After all, the thing was an experiment. +I had time to spare: if the +experiment failed, a year’s delay would +not necessarily be a year’s loss.</p> + +<p class='c008'>I am ensconced, then, at Mr Trevanion’s. +I have been there some +months—it is late in the winter—parliament +and the season have commenced. +I work hard—Heaven knows, +harder than I should have worked at +college. Take a day for a sample.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Trevanion gets up at eight o’clock, +and in all weathers rides an hour before +breakfast; at nine he takes that +meal in his wife’s dressing-room; at +half-past nine he comes into his study. +By that time he expects to find done +by his secretary the work I am about +to describe.</p> + +<p class='c008'>On coming home, or rather before going +to bed, which is usually after three +o’clock, it is Mr Trevanion’s habit to +leave on the table of the said study a +list of directions for the secretary. The +following, which I take at random +from many I have preserved, may show +their multifarious nature:—</p> + + <dl class='dl_1'> + <dt>1.</dt> + <dd>Look out in the Reports—Committee House of Lords for the last seven years—all that is + said about the growth of flax—mark the passages for me. + </dd> + <dt>2.</dt> + <dd>Do. do—“Irish Emigration.” + </dd> + <dt>3.</dt> + <dd>Hunt out second volume of Kames’s History of Man, passage containing “Reid’s Logic”—don’t + know where the book is! + </dd> + <dt>4.</dt> + <dd>How does the line beginning “Lumina conjurent, inter” something, end? Is it in Gray? See! + </dd> + <dt>5.</dt> + <dd>Fracastorius writes—“<span lang="la">Quantum hoc <em>infecit</em> vitium, quot adiverit urbes.</span>” + Query, Ought it not to be—<i><span lang="la">infecerit</span></i> instead of <i><span lang="la">infecit</span></i>?—if you + don’t know, write to father. + </dd> + <dt>6.</dt> + <dd>Write the four letters in full from the notes I leave, <em>i.e.</em> about the + Ecclesiastical Courts. + </dd> + <dt>7.</dt> + <dd>Look out Population Returns—strike average of last five years (between mortality and + births), in Devonshire and Lancashire. + </dd> + <dt>8.</dt> + <dd>Answer these six begging-letters; “No”—civilly. + </dd> + <dt>9.</dt> + <dd>The other six, to constituents—“that I have no interest with Government.” + </dd> + <dt>10.</dt> + <dd>See, if you have time, whether any of the new books on the round table are not trash. + </dd> + <dt>11.</dt> + <dd>I want to know <span class='fss'>ALL</span> about Indian corn! + </dd> + <dt>12.</dt> + <dd>Longinus says something, somewhere, in regret for uncongenial pursuits, (public life, I + suppose)—what is it? N.B. Longinus is not in my London Catalogue, but is here I know—I + think in a box in the lumber-room. + </dd> + <dt>13.</dt> + <dd>Set right the calculation I leave on the poor-rates. I have made a blunder somewhere. &c. + &c. + </dd> + </dl> + +<p class='c008'>Certainly my father knew Mr Trevanion; +he never expected a secretary +to sleep! To have all the above +ready by half-past nine, I get up by +candle-light. At half-past nine I am +still hunting for Longinus, when Mr +Trevanion comes in with a bundle +of letters.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Answers to half the said letters fall +to my share. Directions verbal—in +a species of short-hand talk. While +I write, Mr Trevanion reads the newspapers—examines +what I have done—makes +notes therefrom, some for +Parliament, some for conversation, +some for correspondence—skims over +the Parliamentary papers of the morning—and +jots down directions for +extracting, abridging, and comparing +them, with others, perhaps twenty +years old. At eleven he walks down +to a Committee of the House of Commons—leaving +me plenty to do—till +half-past three, when he returns. +At four, Fanny puts her head into +the room—and I lose mine. Four +days in the week Mr Trevanion +then disappears for the rest of the +day,—dines at Bellamy’s or a club—expects +me at the House at eight +o’clock, in case he thinks of something, +wants a fact or a quotation. +He then releases me—generally with +a fresh list of instructions. But I +have my holidays, nevertheless. On +Wednesdays and Saturdays Mr Trevanion +gives dinners, and I meet the +most eminent men of the day—on +both sides. For Trevanion is +on both sides himself—or on no side +at all, which comes to the same thing. +On Tuesdays, Lady Ellinor gives me +a ticket for the Opera, and I get there +at least in time for the ballet. I +have already invitations enough to +balls and soirées, for I am regarded as +an only son of great expectations. I +am treated as becomes a Caxton who +has the right, if he pleases, to put +a De before his name. I have grown +very smart. I have taken a passion +for dress—natural to eighteen. I like +every thing I do, and every one about +me. I am over head and ears in love +with Fanny Trevanion—who breaks +my heart, nevertheless; for she flirts +with two peers, a life-guardsman, +three old members of parliament, Sir +Sedley Beaudesert, one ambassador, +and all his attachés, and, positively, +(the audacious minx!) with a bishop, +in full wig and apron, who, people say, +means to marry again.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Pisistratus has lost colour and flesh. +His mother says he is very much improved,—<em>that</em> +he takes to be the natural +effect produced by Stultz and +varnished boots. Uncle Jack says he +is “fined down.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>His father looks at him, and writes +to Trevanion,—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Dear T.—I refused a salary for +my son. Give him a horse, and two +hours a day to ride it. Yours, A. C.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The next day I am master of a +pretty bay mare, and riding by the +side of Fanny Trevanion. Alas! alas!</p> + +<h3 class='c022'>CHAPTER XXV.</h3> + +<p class='c020'>I have not mentioned my Uncle +Roland. He is gone—abroad—to +fetch his daughter. He has stayed +longer than was expected. Does he +seek his son still—there as here? +My father has finished the first portion +of his work, in two great volumes. +Uncle Jack, who for some time has +been looking melancholy, and who now +seldom stirs out, except on Sundays, +(on which days we all meet at my +father’s and dine together)—Uncle +Jack, I say, has undertaken to sell it.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Don’t be over sanguine,” says +Uncle Jack, as he locks up the MS. +in two red boxes with a slit in the lids, +which belonged to one of the defunct +companies. “Don’t be over sanguine +as to the price. These publishers +never venture much on a first experiment. +They must be talked even into +looking at the book.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh!” said my father, “if they +will publish it at all, and at their own +risk, I should not stand out for any +other terms. ‘Nothing great,’ said +Dryden, ‘ever came from a venal pen!’”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“An uncommonly foolish observation +of Dryden’s,” returned Uncle +Jack: “he ought to have known +better.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“So he did,” said I, “for he used +his pen to fill his pockets—poor man!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But the pen was not venal, master +Anachronism,” said my father. “A +baker is not to be called venal if he +sells his loaves—he is venal if he sells +himself: Dryden only sold his loaves.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And we must sell yours,” said +Uncle Jack emphatically. “A thousand +pounds a volume will be about +the mark, eh?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“A thousand pounds a volume?” +cried my father. “Gibbon, I fancy, +did not receive more.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Very likely; Gibbon had not an +Uncle Jack to look after his interests,” +said Mr Tibbets, laughing, and rubbing +those smooth hands of his. “No! two +thousand pounds the two volumes!—a +sacrifice, but still I recommend +moderation.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I should be happy, indeed, if the +book brought in any thing,” said my +father, evidently fascinated—“for that +young gentleman is rather expensive; +and you, my dear Jack;—perhaps half +the sum may be of use to you!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“To me! my dear brother,” cried +Uncle Jack—“to me! why, when my +new speculation has succeeded, I shall +be a millionnaire!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Have you a new speculation, +Uncle?” said I anxiously. “What is +it?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Mum!” said my uncle, putting his +finger to his lip, and looking all round +the room—“Mum!! Mum!!!”</p> + +<p class='c008'><span class='sc'>Pisistratus.</span>—“A Grand National +Company for blowing up both Houses +of Parliament!”</p> + +<p class='c008'><span class='sc'>Mr Caxton.</span>—“Upon my life, I +hope something newer than that; for +they, to judge by the newspapers, +don’t want brother Jack’s assistance +to blow up each other!”</p> + +<p class='c008'><span class='sc'>Uncle Jack</span>, mysteriously.—“Newspapers! +you don’t often read a +newspaper, Austin Caxton!”</p> + +<p class='c008'><span class='sc'>Mr Caxton.</span>—“Granted, John +Tibbets!”</p> + +<p class='c008'><span class='sc'>Uncle Jack.</span>—“But if my speculation +made you read a newspaper +every day?”</p> + +<p class='c008'><span class='sc'>Mr Caxton</span>, astounded.—“Made +me read a newspaper every day!”</p> + +<p class='c008'><span class='sc'>Uncle Jack</span>, warming, and expanding +his hands to the fire.—“As +big as the Times!”</p> + +<p class='c008'><span class='sc'>Mr Caxton</span>, uneasily.—“Jack, +you alarm me!”</p> + +<p class='c008'><span class='sc'>Uncle Jack.</span>—“And make you +write in it, too,—a leader!”</p> + +<p class='c008'><span class='sc'>Mr Caxton</span>, pushing back his +chair, seizes the only weapon at his +command, and hurls at Uncle Jack +a great sentence of Greek.—“Τους μεν +γαρ ειναι χαλεπους, ὁσε λαι ανθροποφαγειν!”<a id='r7'></a><a href='#f7' class='c009'><sup>[7]</sup></a></p> + +<p class='c008'><span class='sc'>Uncle Jack</span>, nothing daunted.—“Ay, +and put as much Greek as you +like into it!”</p> + +<p class='c008'><span class='sc'>Mr Caxton</span>, relieved, and softening.—“My +dear Jack, you are a great +man,—let us hear you!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Then Uncle Jack began. Now, +perhaps my readers may have remarked +that this illustrious speculator +was really fortunate in his ideas. His +speculations in themselves always had +something sound in the kernel, considering +how barren they were in the +fruit; and this it was that made him +so dangerous. The idea Uncle Jack +had now got hold of will, I am convinced, +make a man’s fortune one of +these days; and I relate it with a sigh, +in thinking how much has gone out of +the family. Know, then, it was nothing +less than setting up a daily paper +on the plan of the Times, but devoted +entirely to Art, Literature, and Science—<em>Mental</em> +Progress in short; I say on +the plan of the Times, for it was to +imitate the mighty machinery of that +diurnal illuminator. It was to be the +Literary Salmoneus of the political +Jupiter: and rattle its thunder over +the bridge of knowledge. It was to +have correspondents in all parts of the +globe; every thing that related to the +chronicle of the mind, from the labour +of a missionary in the South Sea +islands, or the research of a traveller +in pursuit of that mirage called Timbuctoo, +to the last new novel at Paris, +or the last great emendation of a Greek +particle at a German university, was +to find a place in this focus of light. +It was to amuse, to instruct, to interest—there +was nothing it was not to +do. Not a man in the whole reading +public, not only of the three kingdoms, +not only of the British empire, but +under the cope of heaven, that it was +not to touch somewhere, in head, in +heart, or in pocket. The most crotchety +member of the intellectual community +might find his own hobby in +those stables.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Think,” cried Uncle Jack—“think +of the march of mind—think of the +passion for cheap knowledge—think +how little quarterly, monthly, weekly +journals can keep pace with the main +wants of the age. As well have a +weekly journal on politics, as a-weekly +journal on all the matters still more +interesting than politics to the mass +of the public. My Literary Times +once started, people will wonder how +they had ever lived without it! Sir, +they have not lived without it—they +have vegetated—they have lived in +holes and caves like the Troggledikes.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Troglodytes,” said my father +mildly—“from <em>trogle</em>, a cave—and +<i><span lang="it">dumi</span></i>, to go under. They lived in +Ethiopia, and had their wives in +common.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“As to the last point, I don’t say +that the Public, poor creatures, are as +bad as that,” said Uncle Jack candidly; +“but no simile holds good in +all its points. And the public are +not less Troggledummies, or whatever +you call them, compared with +what they will be when living under +the full light of my Literary Times. +Sir, it will be a revolution in the +world. It will bring literature out of +the clouds into the parlour, the cottage, +the kitchen. The idlest dandy, +the finest fine lady, will find something +to her taste; the busiest man +of the mart and counter will find some +acquisition to his practical knowledge. +The practical man will see the progress +of divinity, medicine, nay, even +law. Sir, the Indian will read me +under the banyan; I shall be in the +seraglios of the East; and over my +sheets the American Indian will smoke +the calumet of peace. We shall reduce +politics to its proper level in the +affairs of life—raise literature to its +due place in the thoughts and business +of men. It is a grand thought; +and my heart swells with pride while +I contemplate it!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“My dear Jack,” said my father, +seriously, and rising with emotion, +“it <em>is</em> a grand thought, and I honour +you for it! You are quite right—it +would be a revolution! It would +educate mankind insensibly. Upon +my life, I should be proud to write a +leader, or a paragraph. Jack, you +will immortalise yourself!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I believe I shall,” said Uncle Jack, +modestly; “but I have not said a word +yet on the greatest attraction of all—”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Ah! and that—”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<span class='sc'>The Advertisements!</span>” cried +my uncle, spreading his hands, with all +the fingers at angles, like the threads +of a spider’s web. “The advertisements—oh, +think of them!—a perfect +<em>El Dorado</em>. The advertisements, sir, +on the most moderate calculation, will +bring us in £50,000 a-year. My dear +Pisistratus, I shall never marry, you +are my heir. Embrace me!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>So saying, my Uncle Jack threw +himself upon me, and squeezed out +of breath the prudential demur that +was rising to my lips.</p> + +<p class='c008'>My poor mother, between laughing +and sobbing, faltered out—“And it is +<em>my</em> brother who will pay back to <em>his</em> +son all, all he gave up for me!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>While my father walked to and fro’ +the room, more excited than ever I +saw him before, muttering,—“A sad +useless dog I have been hitherto! I +should like to serve the world! I +should indeed!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Uncle Jack had fairly done it this +time! He had found out the only +bait in the world to catch so shy a +carp as my father—“<i><span lang="la">hæret lethalis +arundo</span></i>.” I saw that the deadly hook +was within an inch of my father’s nose, +and that he was gazing at it with a +fixed determination to swallow.</p> + +<p class='c008'>But if it amused my father? Boy that +I was, I saw no further. I must own +I myself was dazzled, and perhaps, +with childlike malice, delighted at the +perturbation of my betters. The +young carp was pleased to see the +waters so playfully in movement, +when the old carp waved his tail, and +swayed himself on his fins.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Mum!” said Uncle Jack, releasing +me: “not a word to Mr Trevanion, to +any one.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But why?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Why? God bless my soul. +Why? If my scheme gets wind, do +you suppose some one will not clap +on sail to be before me? You frighten +me out of my senses. Promise me +faithfully to be silent as the grave—”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I should like to hear Trevanion’s +opinion too—”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“As well hear the town-crier! Sir, +I have trusted to your honour. Sir, +at the domestic hearth all secrets are +sacred. Sir, I—”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“My dear Uncle Jack, you have +said quite enough. Not a word will I +breathe!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I’m sure you may trust him, +Jack,” said my mother.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And I do trust him—with wealth +untold,” replied my uncle. “May I +ask you for a little water—with a +trifle of brandy in it—and a biscuit, +or indeed a sandwich. This talking +makes me quite hungry.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>My eye fell upon Uncle Jack as he +spoke. Poor Uncle Jack, he had +grown thin!</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_327'>327</span> + <h2 class='c002'>LIFE AND TIMES OF GEORGE II.<a id='r8'></a><a href='#f8' class='c009'><sup>[8]</sup></a></h2> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>It has been the fortune of England +to have undergone more revolutions +than any other kingdom of Europe. +Later periods have made Revolution +synonymous with popular violence; +but the more effectual revolution is +that which, being required by the +necessities of a people, is directed by +the national judgment. It is not the +convulsion of a tempest, which, if it +purifies the air, strips the soil; it is +a change, not of temperature but of +the seasons, gradual but irresistible; +it is a great operation of moral Nature, +in every change preparing for the +more abundant provision of public +prosperity.</p> + +<p class='c008'>It is an equally remarkable contrast +to the condition of other kingdoms, +that while their popular revolutions +have almost always plunged the +country into confusion, and been ultimately +rectified only by the salutary +despotism of some powerful master, +the hazards of our revolutions have +chiefly originated in personal ambition, +and have been reduced to +order by popular sentiment.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The Reformation was the first <em>great</em> +revolution of England: it formed +the national circle of light and darkness. +All beyond it was civil war, +arbitrary power, and popular wretchedness—all +within it has been progress, +growing vigour, increasing +illumination, and more systematic +liberty. Like the day, it had its +clouds; but the sun was still above, +ready to shine through their first +opening. That sun has not yet stooped +from its meridian, and will go down, +only when we forget to honour the +Beneficence and the power which commanded +it to shine.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The accession of the Hanoverian +line was one of those peaceful revolutions—it +closed the era of Jacobitism. +The reign of Anne had vibrated between +the principles of the constitution and +the principles of Charles II. Never +was a balance more evenly poised, +than the fate of freedom against the +return to arbitrary power. Anne +herself was a Jacobite—she had all the +superstition of “Divine right.” By her +nature she had the infirmities of the +convent. She was evidently fitter to be +an abbess than a queen: a character +of frigidness and formality designated +her for the cloister; and if the Hanoverian +succession had not been palpably +prepared before the national +eye, to ascend the throne at the +moment when the royal coffin sank +into the vault, England might have +seen the profligate son of James dealing +out vengeance through a corrupted +or terrified legislature; the Reformation +extinguished by the Inquisitor; +the jesuit at the royal ear, mass in +Westminster Abbey, and the scaffold +the instrument of conversion to the +supremacy of Rome.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The expulsion of the Stuarts had +left the throne to the disposal of the +nation. By the Bill of Rights, it +was determined that the succession +should go to the heirs of William and +Mary; and, in their default, to Anne, +daughter of James. But the deaths +of Mary, and of the Duke of Gloucester, +awoke the hopes of Popery and +the cabals of Jacobitism once more. +The danger was imminent. William +became deeply anxious for the Protestant +succession, and a bill was brought +into the House of Commons, declaring +that the crown should devolve on the +Electress Sophia, Duchess-dowager of +Hanover, and her heirs,—the Electress +of Hanover (or more correctly, of +Brunswick and Luneburg) being the +tenth child of Elizabeth, Queen of Bohemia, +daughter of James I., the only +Protestant princess among the foreign +relations of the line. The next in succession +to Anne in the Roman Catholic +line would have been the houses of Savoy, +France, and Spain, through Henrietta, +daughter of Charles I. This order +of succession was made law by the +12th of William III., and confirmed +in the next session by the Abjuration +Act, (13th William,) so named from +the oath <em>abjuring</em> the Pretender.</p> + +<p class='c008'>It is striking to observe how many +high matters of legislation have +seemed the work of casualty. The +Habeas Corpus Act, confessedly +the noblest achievement of British +liberty since Magna Charta, was said +to have been carried by a mistake in +counting the votes of the House; +the limitation to the Electress was +proposed by a half-lunatic; the oath +of abjuration was carried but by a majority +of one; and the Reform Bill, +which, though a measure as doubtful +in its principles as disappointing in +its promises, has yet exercised an +extraordinary power over the constitution, +was carried in its second reading +by a majority of only one.</p> + +<p class='c008'>It is more important to observe +how large a share of legislation, in +the reign of Anne, was devoted to +the security of the Protestant succession. +The 4th, 6th, and 10th of +Anne are occupied in devising clauses +to give it force. It was guaranteed +in all the great diplomatic transactions +of the reign,—in the Dutch +Treaty of 1706, in the Barrier Treaty +of 1709, in the Guarantee Treaty +of 1713, and in the Treaty of Utrecht +of the same year, between England +and France, and England and +Spain.</p> + +<p class='c008'>This diligence and determination +seem wholly due to the spirit of the +people. The Queen was almost a +Jacobite; her ministers carried on +correspondences with the family of +James; there was scarcely a man of +influence in public life who had not +an agent at St Germains. Honest +scruples, too, had been long entertained +among individuals of high rank. Six +of the seven bishops who had so +boldly resisted the arrogance of James, +shrank from repudiating the claims of +his son. It is true, that nothing +could be feebler than their reasons; +for nothing could be more evident +than the treason of James to the oath +which he had sworn at his coronation. +Its violation was his virtual dethronement—his +abdication was his actual +dethronement; and the principles of +his family, all Papists like himself, +rendered it impossible to possess freedom +of conscience, while any one of +a race of bigots and tyrants retained +the power to oppress. Thus the +nation only vindicated itself, and used +only the common rights of selfdefence; +and used them only in the +calm and deliberate forms of self-preservation.</p> + +<p class='c008'>This strong abhorrence of the +exiled family arose alike from a sense +of religion, and a sense of fear. The +people had seen with disgust and disdain +the persecution of Protestantism +by the French King. They had seen +the scandalous treachery which had +broken all compacts, the ostentatious +falsehood which had trafficked in promises, +and the remorseless cruelty +which had strewed the Protestant provinces +with dead. The Revocation +of the Edict of Nantes gave a sanguinary +and perpetual caution “not to +put their trust in princes;” and the +generous spirit of the people, doubly +excited by scorn for the persecutor, +and pity for his victims, was thenceforth +armed in panoply alike against +the arts and the menaces of Jacobitism +and Popery. So it has been, and +so may it ever be. The Stuarts have +passed away—they mouldered from +the sight of men; they have no more +place or name on earth; they have +been sunk in the mire of their monkism; +their “drowned honour” is incapable +of being plucked up even “by +the locks;” but their principles survive, +and against their corruption we +must guard the very air we breathe.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The Electress, a woman of remarkable +intelligence, died in 1714, in her +84th year. The Queen died in the +August following. George I., Elector +of Brunswick, son of Sophia, arrived +in England in September, and was +King of the fairest empire in the +world. He was then fifty-four years +old.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The habits of George I. were Continental—a +phrase which implies all of +laxity that is consistent with the etiquette +of a court. His personal reign +was anxious, troubled, and toilsome; +but the nation prospered, and the era +had evidently arrived when the character +of the sitter on the throne had +ceased to attract the interest, or influence +the conduct of the nation. The +King had no taste for the fine arts: he +had no knowledge of literature. He had +served in the army, like all the German +princes, but had served without distinction. +He loved Hanoverian life, and he +was incapable of enjoying the life of +England. He lived long enough to be +easily forgotten, and died of apoplexy +on his <em>way to Hanover</em>!</p> + +<p class='c008'>George II., the chief object of these +Memoirs, only son of George I. and +Sophia Dorothea, was forty-four at +his accession. In 1705 he had married +Caroline, daughter of the Margrave +of Brandenburg Anspach.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The reign of George II. was the +era of another revolution—the supremacy +of ministers. A succession of +ambitious and able men governed the +country by parties. The King was +intelligent and active, yet they controlled +him, until he found his chief +task to be limited to obedience. He +was singularly fond of power, and +openly jealous of authority, but his +successive ministers were the virtual +masters of the crown. His chief vexations +arose from their struggles for +office; and his only compensation to +his injured feelings was, in dismissing +one cabinet, to find himself shackled +by another. He seems to have lived +in a state of constant ebullition with +the world—speaking sarcastically of +every leading person of his own society, +and on harsh terms with his +family. His personal habits were incapable +of being praised, even by flattery, +and the names of the Walmodens, +the Deloraines, and the Howards, +still startle the graver sensibilities +of our time.</p> + +<p class='c008'>But his public conduct forms a +striking contrast to those painful +scenes. He was bold in conception +and diligent in business. He felt the +honour of being an English king; and +though he wasted time and popularity +in his childish habit of making +his escape to Hanover whenever he +could, he offered no wilful offence to +the feelings of the people. His letters +on public affairs exhibit strong sense, +and he had the wisdom to leave his +finance in the hands of Walpole, and +the manliness to suffer himself to be +afterwards eclipsed by the lustre of +Chatham. His reign, which had begun +in difficulties, and was carried on in +perils, closed in triumph.—The French +navy was swept from the ocean; the +battle of the Heights of Abraham gave +him Canada; the battle of Plassy gave +him India; and at his death, in 1760, +at the age of seventy-seven, he left +England in a blaze of glory.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The death of George I. had brought +Walpole forward as the minister of +his son. The story of Sir Spencer +Compton has been often told, but +never so well as in these Memoirs. +The King died on the 11th of June 1727 +at Osnaburg. The news reached +Walpole on the 14th, at his villa in +Chelsea. He immediately went to Richmond +to acquaint the Prince of Wales +with this momentous intelligence. +The Prince was asleep after dinner, +according to his custom; but he was +awakened for the intelligence, which +he appeared to receive with surprise. +Yet, neither the sense of his being +raised to a throne, nor the natural feelings +of such an occasion, prevented +the exhibition of his dislike to Walpole. +On being asked, when it was +his pleasure that the Council should be +summoned, the King’s abrupt answer +was, “Go to Chiswick, and take your +directions from Sir Spencer Compton.” +Sir Robert bore this ill-usage with his +habitual philosophy, and went to +Compton at once. There he acted +with his usual address; told him that +he was minister, and requested his +protection; declaring that he had no +desire for power or business, but +wished to have one of the “white +sticks,” as a mark that he was still +under the shelter of the crown.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Lord Hervey delights in portraiture, +and his portraits generally have a +bitter reality, which at once proves +the truth of the likeness and the severity +of the artist. He daguerreotypes +all his generation. He thus describes +Sir Spencer: “He was a plodding, +heavy fellow, with great application +but no talents; with vast complaisance +for a court; always more concerned +for the manner of the thing than for +the thing itself; fitter for a clerk to a +minister than for a minister to a prince. +His only pleasures were money and +eating; his only knowledge forms and +precedents; and his only insinuation +bows and smiles.” Walpole and he +went together to the Duke of Devonshire, +President of the Council, but +laid up with the gout. Lord Hervey’s +sketch of him is certainly not flattering—but +such is the price paid by +personal feebleness for public station—“He +was more able as a virtuoso +than a statesman, and a much better +jockey than a politician.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>At the council Sir Spencer took +Walpole aside, and begged of him, as +a speech would be necessary for the +King in Council, that, as Sir Robert +was more accustomed to that sort of +composition than himself, he should +go into another room, and make a +draft of the speech. Sir Robert +retired to draw up his paper, and Sir +Spencer went to Leicester Fields, +where the King and Queen were +already, followed by all who had any +thing to ask, or any thing to hope—a +definition which seems to have included +the whole of what, in later parlance, +are called the fashionable world. +Whether the present sincerity of court +life is purer than of old may be doubtful, +but the older manners were certainly +the more barefaced. When the +new premier was returning to his +coach he walked through a lane of +“bowers,” all shouldering each other +to pay adoration to the new idol.</p> + +<p class='c008'>During the four days of the King’s +remaining in town, Leicester House, +which used to be a desert, was +“thronged from morning till night, like +the ‘Change at noon.’” But Walpole +walked through those rooms “as if they +had been empty.” The same people +who were officiously, a-week before, +crowding the way to flatter his prosperity, +were now getting out of it +to avoid sharing his disgrace. Horace +Walpole says, that his mother could +not make her way to pay her respects +to the King and Queen between the +scornful backs and elbows of her late +devotees, nor could approach nearer +to the Queen than the third or fourth +row, until the Queen cried out,—“There, +I am sure I see a friend.” +The torrent then divided, and shrank +to either side. In short, Walpole, +with his brother Horace, ambassador +to France, the Duke of Newcastle and +Lord Townshend, the two Secretaries +of State, were all conceived to be as +much undone, as a pasha on the arrival +of the janizary with the bowstring.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The evidences, it must be owned, +seemed remarkably strong. The King +had openly, and more than once, called +Walpole “rogue and rascal;” he had +called the ambassador “a scoundrel and +a fool;” he had declared his utter +contempt for the Duke, and his determination +never to forgive him. Townshend +fared still worse. The King +looked on him to be no more an honest +man than an able minister, and attributed +all the confusion in foreign affairs +to the heat of his temper and +his scanty genius, to the strength of +his passions and the weakness of his +understanding. There can be no +doubt that a minister of foreign affairs, +with those qualities, might become a +very mischievous animal.</p> + +<p class='c008'>On Compton’s receiving the speech +drawn up by Walpole, he carried it, in +his own handwriting, to the King. +The King objected to a paragraph, +which Sir Spencer Compton was either +unwilling or unable to amend; and +not being satisfied of his own powers +of persuasion, he actually solicited +Walpole to go to the King, and persuade +him to leave it as it was! The +Queen, who was the friend of Walpole, +instantly took advantage of this +singular acknowledgment of inferiority, +and advised the King to retain the +man whom his intended successor so +clearly acknowledged to be his superior.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Nothing can be more evident than +that Sir Spencer played the fool egregiously. +To place a rival in immediate +communication with the King was, at +least, an unusual way of supplanting +him; while, to give him the advantage +of his authorship, by sending +him to explain it to the King, would +have been ridiculous under any circumstances. +But there are no miracles +in politics; and he was evidently so +far convinced of his own security, that +the idea of a rival was out of the +question. Compton had been all his +life a political personage. He had +been Paymaster; he had been Speaker +in three Parliaments; he was <em>au fait</em> +in the routine of office; and he had +evidently received the King’s order to +make a ministry. But we have had +such sufficient proof in our own time +that princes and kings are different +persons according to circumstances, +that we can perfectly comprehend the +cessation of the royal favouritism on +one side, and of the royal aversion +on the other. The civil list was still +to be voted—the subject dearest to +the royal heart. Walpole was noted +for financial management, and Compton’s +awkwardness in the preceding +transaction might well have startled +the monarch. The general result +was, that Walpole remained minister, +Compton was quietly put out of the +way with a peerage, as Lord Wilmington, +and an enormous civil list +was carried, with but a single vote, +that of Mr William Shippen, against +it. The civil list was little less than +£900,000 a-year, an immense revenue, +when we consider that the value of +money at that time probably made it +equal to double the sum now. The +present civil list would be practically +not much more than a fourth of the +amount in 1777. The Queen’s jointure +was equally exorbitant; it was +£100,000 a-year, besides Somerset +House and Richmond Lodge, a sum +amounting to double what any Queen +of England had before.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Walpole was now paramount; he +had purchased his supremacy by his +official prodigality. Lord Hervey +thinks that he was still hurt by two +mortifications—the displacement of +his son-in-law, Lord Malpas, and +of Sir William Yonge, a Lord of the +Treasury, and his notorious tool. +But, contrasting those trifling changes +with the plenitude of Walpole’s +power, and recollecting the extraordinary +wiliness of his nature, it seems +not improbable that he either counselled +or countenanced those dismissals, +to escape the invidiousness of absolute +power; for both Malpas and Yonge +clung to the court, and, after a decent +interval, were replaced in office. Walpole +was, perhaps, one of the most +singular instances of personal dexterity +in the annals of statesmanship. +Without eloquence in the House, or +character out of it; without manners +in the court, or virtue any where, he +continued to hold supreme ministerial +power for nearly a quarter of a century, +under the most jealous of kings, +with the weakest of cabinets, against +the most powerful Opposition, and in +the midst of the most contemptuous +people. His power seems even to have +grown out of those sinister elements. +By constantly balancing them against +each other, by at once awaking fears +and exciting hopes, he deluded all the +fools, and enlisted all the knaves of public +life in his cause. The permanency of +his office, however, wholly rested upon +the Queen; and he had the dexterity +to discover, from the moment of the +Royal accession, that, insulted as she +was by the King’s conduct, she was +the true source of ministerial power. +He accordingly adhered to her, in all +the fluctuations of the court, appeared +to consult her on all occasions, studied +her opinions, and provided for her +expenses. The want of money, or its +possession, seem to have exerted an +extraordinary influence on the higher +ranks in those days; and one of the +first acts of Walpole was to offer the +Queen £60,000 a-year. Sir Spencer +Compton had been impolitic enough +to propose but £40,000, on the ground +that this sum had been sufficient for +Charles II.’s queen. The sum was at +last settled at £50,000, and the donor +was not forgotten.</p> + +<p class='c008'>But it seems impossible to doubt, +that Walpole’s character was essentially +corrupt; that he regarded corruption +as a legitimate source of +power; that he bribed every man +whom he had the opportunity to +bribe: that he laughed at political +integrity, and did his best to extinguish +the little that existed; that no +minister ever went further to degrade +the character of public life; and that +the period of his supremacy is a general +blot upon the reign, the time, and the +people.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The celebrated Burke, in that magnanimous +partiality which disposed +him to overlook the vices of individuals +in the effect of their measures, +has given a high-flown panegyric on +the administration of Walpole; but +the whole is a brilliant paradox. +He looked only to the strength of the +Brunswick succession, and, taking his +stand upon that height, from which +he surveyed grand results alone, +neglected or disdained to examine into +the repulsive detail. Seeing before +him a national harvest of peace and +plenty, he never condescended to +look to the gross and offensive material +by which the furrow was fertilised. +Nothing is more certain, than +that the daily acts of Walpole would +now stamp a ministry with shame—that +no man would dare now to express +the sentiments which form the +maxims of the minister; and that any +one of the acts which, though they +passed with many a sneer, yet passed +with practical impunity, in the days +of George II., would have ruined the +proudest individual, and extinguished +the most powerful cabinet, of the last +fifty years.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The arguments which Lord Hervey +puts into the lips of the Queen are +scarcely less corrupt in another style. +She tells the King not merely that Walpole’s +long experience and known abilities +would make him the best minister, +but that his simply being in power +would make him the most submissive—that +his having made a vast fortune +already would make him less solicitous +about his own interest—that <em>new</em> +leeches would be more hungry, and +that, Walpole’s fortune being made, +he would have nothing in view +but serving the King, and securing +the government, to keep what he had +got—closing all this grave advice +with that maxim of consummate +craft, that in royal breasts both enmity +and friendship alike should always +give way to policy. If such were to +be regarded as the habitual rules of +the highest rank, well might we remonstrate +against their baseness. +The bigotry of James, or the morals +of Charles II., would be preferable to +this scandalous selfishness. But those +maxims have never found tolerance +among the people of England. We are +to recollect that they came from a despotic +soil, that they were the wisdom +of courts where the great corrective +of state-craft, public opinion, was unknown; +that they were the courage +of the timid, and the integrity of the +intriguing; and that the maxims, the +manners, and the system, have alike +been long since consigned to a deserved +and contemptuous oblivion.</p> + +<p class='c008'>By much the best part of Lord +Hervey’s authorship consists in his +characters of public personages. No +rank is suffered to shield any man. +He exercises a sort of Egyptian judgment +even upon kings, and pronounces +sentence upon their faults with all +the indignation of posthumous virtue. +The King of France at that period +had begun to exercise a powerful +influence over Europe. France, always +liable to great changes, had been +for half a century almost prostrated +before the great powers of Europe. +The triumphs of Marlborough in the +earliest years of the century had swept +her armies from the field, as the close +of the preceding century had desolated +the industry of her southern provinces +by persecution. The supremacy of the +Regent had subsequently dissolved +almost the whole remaining force of +public character in a flood of profligacy, +and the reigning King was perhaps +the most profligate man in the +most licentious nation of the world. The +description of him in these volumes is +equally disdainful and true. “I cannot,” +says Lord Hervey, “by the best +accounts I have had, and by what I have +myself seen of this insensible piece of +royalty, venture absolutely to say +that he was of a good or bad disposition, +for, more properly speaking, +he was of no disposition at all. He was +neither merciful nor cruel, without +affection or enmity, without gratitude +or resentment, and, to all appearance, +without pleasure or pain.” His actions +are described as resembling more +the mechanical movements of an automaton, +than the effects of will and +reason. The state of his mind seemed +to be a complete apathy, neither acting +nor acted on. If he had any +passion, it was avarice; and if he +took pleasure in any amusement, it +was in gaming. It is observed that +he had not any share in the “epidemical +gaiety that runs through +the French nation.” He appeared to +take as little pleasure as he gave, to +live to as little purpose to himself as +to any body else, and to have no more +joy in being King, than his people +had advantage in being his subjects.</p> + +<p class='c008'>It was the good fortune of France +to be governed at this period by +Cardinal Fleury, a man of no distinction +for talents, yet possessing a +plain, practical understanding, habitual +prudence, and personal honesty. +But his most important qualification +was a remarkable absence of the +passion for disturbing the world, +which seems to have made him an exception +to all Frenchmen since the days +of Julius Cæsar. Fleury loved peace, +and was so far an illustrious anomaly in +French nature. Something of this singular +contradiction to his countrymen +may have arisen from his being eighty +years old, from his habits as an ecclesiastic, +and from his being fully +acquainted with the fact, that France +had not the power to go to war. The +result of this policy was not merely +tranquillising to Europe, but fortunate +for France. Her task was to recover +from the wasteful wars of Louis XIV., +from the general corruption of the +Regency, from the financial follies of +the Mississippi scheme, and from +the weak and rapacious ministry of +the Duke of Bourbon. The administration +of Cardinal Fleury met all her +evils, and met them with patience, +and thus with success. France has +been always the great disturber of +Europe, and will be so whenever she +has the power to disturb; but the old +Cardinal, conscious of her helplessness, +applied himself to restrain her +ambition, and taught her that the indulgence +of vanity was no compensation +for defeat, and that war was folly, at +least until success was possible. Under +this rational course of government, +the public mind was turned to intellectual +advancement and national industry. +Paris, instead of being the +centre of European profligacy, rapidly +became the centre of European science. +A succession of extraordinary men +threw light upon every kingdom of +nature and knowledge. The Continent +actually basked in the beams of +France; her language became universal, +her literature the general +model, her taste the leader of European +refinement, her manners the +standard of fashion to the world; and, +at the accession of the unfortunate +Louis XVI., Paris, the court, and the +people, possessed an acknowledged +supremacy over the opinions, the +habits, and the accomplishments of +Europe, to which no kingdom of the +modern world has ever exhibited a +parallel.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The closing period of the eighteenth +century has already been given to +the world by a historian equal to the +magnitude of his subject. The “History +of the French Revolution,” by +Alison, will never be superseded. The +extent of its information, the clearness +of its details, the freshness and +fidelity of its descriptions, and the +force and vividness of its language, +place it at the head of all contemporary +annals. But we should wish +also to see a History of the whole +preceding portion of the century. +The French Revolution was a result: +we should desire to see the origin. It +was a burst of gigantic violence, and +gigantic strength: we should desire to +have the primal <em>myth</em> of this assault +of the Titans; the narrative of their +growth, their passions, and their +powers, until the moment when they +moved against the battlements of all +that was lofty, magnificent, and glittering +in the land. There is nothing +without a cause on earth,—accident is +a name which has no place in the Providential +supremacy of things. To investigate +the sources of even the +common events of nature, is a subject +worthy of the philosopher. But there +never was a time when it was more +important to connect its mightier +changes with the mystery in which +they find their birth; to ascertain the +laws of national convulsion; to fix +the theory of moral storms and inundations. +Such would be among the +highest services, as they might administer +to the most effective security of +the social system.</p> + +<p class='c008'>It strikes us, that our chief historians +have hitherto limited their +view too much to England: a +broader view would have been more +productive. The combinations of this +great country with the Continental +kingdoms; the contrasts furnished by +them all; the variety in their means +of working out the same object of +national power; their comparative +tardiness; even their failures, would +have supplied new conceptions of history, +and have added alike to the +illustration and the interest of that +political science which is among the +noblest bequests of a great nation to +posterity. We are fully convinced +that politics, rightly examined, will +be found to constitute a <em>system</em>, as +much as astronomy, and that a <em>solitary</em> +kingdom would be as much a +contradiction to nature as a solitary +star.</p> + +<p class='c007'>We now glance over the pages of +these volumes: they are very amusing. +If they do not give the court +<em>costumes</em> of a hundred years ago, they +give the mental costumes. The witty +and the wise, the great and the little, +pass before the eye with the rapidity +and the oddity of the figures in a show-box. +Kings, queens, and courtiers +are exhibited to the life; and, harsh +as their physiognomies may sometimes +seem, the exhibition is always +amusing.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The King was generally regarded +as being governed by his wife, and +the opinion was not the less general +because the King constantly boasted +of his own independence. One day, +alluding to this subject, he said, +“Charles I. was governed by his +wife, Charles II. by his mistresses, +James by his priests, William by his +men-favourites, and Anne by her +women-favourites.” He then turned +with a significant and satisfied air, +and asked, “Who do they say governs +now?” The political squibs of the +time were, however, of a different +opinion from the King. For example—</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c021'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“You may strut, dapper George, but ‘twill all be in vain,</div> + <div class='line'>We know ’tis Queen Caroline, not you, that reign—</div> + <div class='line'>You govern no more than Don Philip of Spain.</div> + <div class='line'>Then, if you would have us fall down and adore you,</div> + <div class='line'>Lock up your fat spouse, as your dad did before you.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c008'>The “dapper” was an allusion to +the King’s figure, which was much +under size. The locking up was an +allusion to the imprisonment of the +wife of George I., whom, by an atrocious +act of cruelty, he had shut up +in one of his castles for thirty-two +years. It argues something in favour +of the progress of public opinion, that +in our day the most despotic or +powerful sovereign of Europe would +not dare to commit an act, which was +then committed with perfect impunity +by a little German Elector. +Another of those squibs began—</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c021'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“Since England was England there never was seen</div> + <div class='line'>So strutting a King, and so prating a Queen.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c008'>The first of those brought Lord +Scarborough into a formidable scrape; +for, being taxed by the King with +having seen it, evidently in private, +the King demanded to know who had +shown it to him. Scarborough declared +that he was on his honour, not to +reveal it. On this the King became +furious, and said to him, “Had I +been Lord Scarborough in this situation, +and you king, the man should +have shot me, or I him, who had +dared to affront me in the person of +my master, by showing me such insolent +nonsense!” His Lordship replied, +that he never told his Majesty it was +a man from whom he had it. He +consequently left the King, (who never +spoke to him for three months after,) +almost as much irritated against him +as the author.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Lord Hervey’s portrait of the celebrated +Chesterfield is a work of +elaborate peevishness. It has all the +marks of an angry rival, and all the +caricature of a pen dipped in personal +mortification. He allows him +wit, but with an utter “mismanagement +in its use;” talent without common-sense, +and a ridiculous propensity +to love-making, with an ungainly face +and a repulsive figure. This character +is new to those who have been so long +accustomed to regard Chesterfield +even on the more unfavourable side +of his character. To his admirers +the portrait is of course intolerable; +but we must leave some future biographer +to settle those matters with +the ghost of his libeller.</p> + +<p class='c008'>An anecdote is given illustrative of +the violence of Lord Townshend’s +temper, and the cutting calmness of +Walpole’s. Townshend was a man +of considerable powers, but singularly +irritable. He had been from an +early period engaged in office, and +was a constant debater in the House. +His temper, however, made him so +publicly disliked, and his selfishness so +much alienated public men, that when +he left office he did not leave a regret +behind. He was followed only by +epigrams, of which one is given—</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c021'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“With such a head, and such a heart,</div> + <div class='line'>If fortune fails to take thy part,</div> + <div class='line'>And long continues thus unkind,</div> + <div class='line'>She must be deaf as well as blind,</div> + <div class='line'>And, quite reversing every rule,</div> + <div class='line'>Nor see the knave, nor hear the fool.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c008'>Lord Townshend had been Foreign +Secretary, and Walpole had to defend +his blunders in the Commons. +This made the latter anxious, and +the former jealous. Another source +of discontent was added, probably +with still greater effect. Walpole, +who had begun as a subordinate to +Townshend, had risen above him. +He had begun poor, and now exceeded +him in fortune; and, as the +last offence, he had built Houghton, +a much handsomer mansion than +Lord Townshend’s house at Raynham, +which his lordship had once considered +as the boast of Norfolk. Thus +both were in a condition for perpetual +squabble. The anecdote to which we +have alluded was this:—One evening, +at Windsor, on the Queen’s asking +Walpole and Townshend where +they had dined that day, the latter +said that he had dined at home with +Lord and Lady Trevor; on which +Walpole said to her Majesty, smiling, +“My lord, Madam, I think, is grown +<em>coquet</em> from a long widowhood, and +has some design upon my Lady Trevor; +for his assiduity of late, in that +family, is grown so much beyond +common civility, that without this +solution I know not how to account +for it.” The burlesque of this not +very decorous observation was obvious, +for Lady Trevor was nearly +seventy years old, and, besides being +a woman of character, was of the +“most forbidding countenance that +natural ugliness, age, and small-pox, +ever compounded.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>But Townshend, affecting to take +the remark literally, replied with +great warmth—“No, sir, I am not +one of those fine gentlemen who find +no time of life, nor any station in +the world, preservatives against follies +and immoralities that are hardly excusable +when youth and idleness make +us most liable,” &c., &c. In short, +his lordship made a speech in which +his voice trembled, and every limb +shook with passion. But Walpole, +always master of his temper, made +him no other answer than asking him +with a smile, and in a very mild tone +of voice, “What, my lord, all this +for Lady Trevor!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The Queen grew uneasy, and, to +avoid Townshend’s replying, only +laughed, and turned the conversation.</p> + +<p class='c008'>An anecdote is told of the Duchess +of Queensberry’s being forbid the +court; which belongs to the literary +history of the cleverest opera in our +own or any other language—Gay’s +famous production. Walpole, justly +regarding himself as caricatured in +the “Beggar’s Opera,” obtained the +Duke of Grafton’s authority as Lord +Chamberlain to suppress the representation +of his next opera, “Polly.” +Gay resolved to publish it by subscription, +and his patroness, the +Duchess of Queensberry, put herself +at the head of the undertaking, and +solicited every person she met, to subscribe. +As the Duchess was handsome, +a wit, and of the first fashion, +she obtained guineas in all directions, +even from those who dreaded to encourage +this act of defiance. The +Duchess’s zeal, however, increased +with her success; and she even came +to the drawing-room, and under the +very eye of majesty solicited subscriptions +for a play which the monarch +had forbidden to be acted. When the +King came into the drawing-room, seeing +the Duchess very busy in a corner +with three or four persons, he asked +her what she was doing. She answered, +“What must be agreeable, she was +sure, to any body so humane as his +Majesty, for it was an act of charity; +and a charity to which she did not +despair of bringing his Majesty to +contribute.” This proceeding was so +much resented, that Mr Stanhope, +vice-chamberlain to the King, was +sent in form to the Duchess to forbid +her coming to court. The message +was verbal; but she desired to send a +written answer—wrote it on the spot—and +thus furnished a document, +whose style certainly exhibited more +sincerity than courtiership.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“That the Duchess of Queensberry +is surprised and well pleased that +the King has given her so agreeable a +command as to stay from court, +where she never came for diversion, +but to bestow a great civility on the +King and Queen. She hopes that, by +such an unprecedented order as this, +the King will see as few as he +wishes at his court, particularly such +as dare to think or speak truth. I +dare not do otherwise, and ought not, +nor could have imagined that it +would not have been the very highest +compliment I could possibly pay the +King, to endeavour to support truth +and innocence in his house—particularly +when the King and Queen both +told me that they had not read Mr +Gay’s play. I have certainly done +right, then, to stand by my own words +rather than his Grace of Grafton’s, +who hath neither made use of truth, +judgment, nor honour, through this +whole affair, either for himself or his +friends.</p> + +<div class='lg-container-r'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“<span class='sc'>C. Queensberry.</span>”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c008'>When her Grace had finished this +paper, drawn up, as Lord Hervey observes, +“with more spirit than accuracy,” +Stanhope requested of her to +think again, and give him a more courtly +message to deliver. The Duchess took +her pen and wrote another, but it was +so much more disrespectful, that he +asked for the former one and delivered +it.</p> + +<p class='c008'>There was, of course, a prodigious +quantity of court gossip on this occasion: +and, doubtless, though some +pretended to be shocked, many were +pleased at the sting of royalty, and +many more were amused at the dashing +oddity of the Duchess. But public +opinion, on the whole, blamed the +court. It certainly was infinitely +childish in the King, to have inquired +into what the Duchess was doing +among her acquaintances in the drawing-room; +it was equally beneath the +natural notions of royal dignity that +the King should put himself in a state +of hostility with a subject, and in so +trifling a matter as the subscription to +an unpublished play; and it was +equally impolitic, for the world was +sure to range itself on the side of the +woman, especially when that woman +was handsome, eccentric, and rich. +It produced some inconvenience, however, +to the lady’s husband, as he, in +consequence, gave up the office of +Admiral of Scotland.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The history of the “Beggar’s Opera” +is still one of those mysticisms which +perplex the chroniclers of the stage. +It has been attributed to the joint +conception of Swift, Pope, and Gay. +The original idea probably belonged +to Swift, who, in that fondness for +contrasts, and contempt of romance, +which belonged to him in every thing, +had observed, “What a pretty thing +a Newgate pastoral would make!” +Pope may have given hints for the +epigrammatic pungency of the dialogue; +while the general workmanship +may have been left to Gay. It is +scarcely possible to doubt the sharp +and worldly hand of Swift in some of +the scenes and songs. Pope may have +polished the dialogue, or nerved some +of the songs, otherwise it is difficult +to account for the total failure +of all those characters of sternness, +sharpness, and knowledge of the world, +in Gay’s subsequent and unassisted +drama, “Polly.” For, as the note on the +subject observes, nothing can be more +dull and less sarcastic, or, in fact, less +applicable to either public characters +or public events than the latter opera, +against which a prime minister levelled +the hostilities of the Lord Chamberlain, +and engaged the indignation of the +King.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Gay had been a dependant on Mrs +Howard,—a matter which, in the +scandalous laxity of the time, was by +no means disgraceful. He had been +solicitor for some place under the court, +and had been disappointed. But the +“Beggar’s Opera” had been written +before his disappointment. Of course, +it is unlikely that he should have then +thought of burlesquing the minister. +His disappointment, however, may +have given him new intentions, and +a few touches from Swift’s powerful +hand might have transformed Macheath, +Peachum, and Lockit into the +fac-similes of the premier and his +cabinet. It is remarkable that Gay had +never attempted any thing of the kind +before, nor after. His solitary muse +was the very emblem of feebleness, his +ambition never soared beyond a salary, +and his best authorship was fables.</p> + +<p class='c008'>As ours is the day when rioting is +popular, and rebels in every country +are modellers of government, it may +be amusing to remember how those +matters were managed in the last +century. The history of the famous +Excise scheme, which in its day convulsed +England, and finally shook the +most powerful of all ministers out of +the most powerful of all cabinets, is +amongst the curious anecdotes of a +time full of eccentricity. Walpole +was no more superior to the effects +of prosperity than honester men. +Long success had confirmed him in a +belief of its perpetual power; and the +idea that, with a court wholly at his +disposal, with a Queen for his agent, +a King almost for his subject, the +peerage waiting his nod, and the +commons in his pay, he could be cast +down and shattered like a plaster +image, seems never to have entered +into his dreams. But in this plenitude +of power, whether to exercise his +supremacy, or for the mere want of +something to do, it occurred to him +to relieve the country gentlemen by +reducing the land-tax to a shilling +in the pound, turning the duty on +tobacco and wine, then payable on importation, +into inland duties,—that is, +changing customs on those two commodities +into excise. By which scheme, +and the continuation of the salt-duty, +he proposed to improve the revenue +half a million a-year, so as to supply +the abatement of the shilling in the +pound. The plan seemed feasible, and +it also appeared likely to attract popularity +among the country gentlemen, +who had frequently complained of the +pressure of the land-tax—two shillings +in the pound.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The result, however, showed that +a man may govern a court who +is unequal to govern a people. The +very mention of excise raised a universal +storm,—all kinds of exaggerations +flew through the land. The subject, +at no time popular, was converted +into a source of frantic indignation. +The orators alleged, that if excise was +once to be made a substitute for the +land-tax, it might be made a substitute +for every tax; that if it was laid +on wine and tobacco, it would soon be +laid on corn and clothing; that every +man’s house would be at the mercy of +excise-officers, whose numbers would +amount to a standing army, and of the +most obnoxious kind, an army of tax-gatherers; +that liberty must perish; +Magna Charta be not worth its own +parchment; parliament be voted useless; +and the monarch, who could extract +every shilling from the pockets +of his subjects under the pretext of an +excise, might soon ride roughshod over +the liberties of England. Petition +on petition, of course, showered into +parliament; the boroughs angrily +advised their representatives to vote +against the measure; and the towns +and cities haughtily commanded their +parliamentary delegates to resist all +extension of the excise, however +qualified, corrected, or modelled by +the minister.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Walpole was thunderstruck; but he +still relied upon his fortune. His +friends crowded round him with entreaties +that he would abandon the +measure. But his argument was the +argument of infatuation—the old absurdity +of exposing himself to immediate +ruin, through fear of being ruined +at some future time, which might +never arrive. In fact, his flexibility, +which often saves a minister, was suddenly +exchanged for the stubbornness +which is the ministerial road to ruin. +At last the memorable day came, +March 14, 1743, when the bill was to +be presented to parliament. It was +reported that thousands of the people +would block up the House, and there +was a general order for constables, +peace-officers, and the Guards to be in +readiness. The mob, however, were +neither so numerous nor so unruly as +was expected. The debate was long, +and the question was carried for the +excise scheme by a majority of 61—the +numbers being 204 and 265. The +King was so anxious on the subject, +that he made Lord Hervey write to +him from the House at five o’clock; +and, when the debate broke up at one +in the morning, and Lord Hervey +came to St James’s to mention the +result, the King carried him into the +Queen’s bedchamber, and kept him +there till three in the morning, (without +having dined;) asking him ten thousand +questions, not merely about the +speeches, but the very looks of the +speakers.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The memoirs of persons in high life +have a certain use for those who will +draw the true moral from them; which +is, that the highest rank is by no means +the happiest. The exterior glitters to +the eye, and doubtless there are few +pedestrians who would not rejoice to +drive in a gilt coach, with a squadron +of hussars prancing round them. But +the Memoirs of George II. and his +Queen, altogether independently of +private character, give formidable evidence +of the cares which haunt even +thrones. Yet, perhaps, there was no +more palmy state of public affairs than +that which saw George and Caroline +on the throne. The country was in profound +peace, commerce was flourishing, +there was no impediment to the +wheels of society—neither famine nor +pestilence, nor rebellion; and yet +distress, vexation, and perplexity +seem to be as frequent inmates of the +palace as they could have been of the +workhouse. Even the great minister +himself, though the head and front of +the whole immediate disturbance, and +likely to suffer more severely than all +the rest, bore the crisis with more equanimity +than either of their majesties.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“This evening,” says Lord Hervey, +“Sir Robert Walpole saw the King +in the Queen’s apartment, and the +final resolution was then taken to +drop the bill; but as there was a petition +to come from the city of London +against it the next day, it was +resolved that the bill should not be +dropped till that petition was rejected, +lest it should be thought to be done +by the weight and power of the city.” +Walpole, on coming from this conference, +called on Lord Hervey to let +him know what had passed. Sir +Robert was extremely disconcerted. +Lord Hervey told him that he had +been twice that afternoon sent for by +the King; but, not knowing in what +strain to talk to him, as he was ignorant +whether Sir Robert intended +to go forward or retreat, and expecting +that he should be asked millions +of questions relating to what he saw, +and what he heard, and what he +thought; to avoid the difficulties which +this catechism would lay him under, +he kept out of the way.</p> + +<p class='c008'>In the mean time, Sir Robert had +gone to the Queen, and told her, that +the clamour had grown so great, that +there were but two ways of trying to +appease it, one by dropping the project, +and the other by dropping the +projector. The Queen chid him extremely +“for thinking it possible she +could act so cowardly a part.” When +Lord Hervey went up to the drawing-room, +he saw that her Majesty had +been weeping very plentifully, and +found her so little able to disguise +what she felt, that she was forced to +pretend headach and vapours, and +break up her quadrille party sooner +than the usual hour. When the +drawing-room was over, the King +called Lord Hervey into the Queen’s +bedchamber, and began with great +eagerness to ask him where he had +been all day, whom he had seen, what +he had heard, and how both friends +and foes looked? To some of the +replies, referring to the Opposition, +the King said with great warmth, +“It is a lie; those rascals in the +Opposition are the greatest liars that +ever spoke.” The city petition was +presented the next morning, and +attended by a train of coaches reaching +from Temple Bar to Westminster. +The prayer of the petition was, that +they might be heard by counsel +against the bill. After a debate till +midnight the petition was rejected, +but only by a majority of seventeen—214 +to 197. Walpole was never +more deeply smitten than by this +defeat, for so small a majority was +a virtual defeat. He stood for some +time after the House was up, leaning +against the table, with his hat pulled +over his eyes, and some few friends, +with melancholy countenances, round +him. As soon as the whole was over, +Pelham went to the King, and Hervey +to the Queen, to acquaint them with +what had passed. When Hervey, at +his first coming into the room, shook +his head and told her the numbers, +the tears ran down her cheeks, and +for some time she could not utter a +word. At last she said, “It is over—we +must give way; but pray tell me +a little how it passed.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>On the next day, Walpole proposed +the postponement of the tobacco bill +for two months. On coming out of the +House, the mob, who had increased +in numbers, continued to insult the +members. Walpole, though warned +of the reception which he was likely to +get, determined to face the mob, as he +boldly said, “there was no end of flying +from their menaces, and that meeting +dangers of this kind was the only +way to put an end to them.” With +some friends, and to a certain degree +protected by the constables, who made +a passage for the members to go +out, he at last worked his way through +the mob; though there was a great +deal of jostling, and the constables +were obliged to make large use of +their staves. Three of his friends +(among whom was Lord Hervey) +were hurt. The city had been filled +with illuminations and bonfires the +night before, when Sir Robert Walpole, +with a fat woman, (meant for +the Queen,) was burnt in effigy. It +is singular that this triumph was carried +as far as Oxford, where for three +nights together, round the bonfires in +the streets, the healths of Ormond, +Bolingbroke, and James III. were +publicly drunk!</p> + +<p class='c008'>Lord Hervey’s sketches of character +are among the best specimens of +his writing, and the most interesting +portions of his book. They are always +acute and forcible, natural though +epigrammatic, and remorseless though +polished. As the lives of Chancellors +have been, of late, so frequently +brought before the public, we give +his sketch of Lord Chancellor King. +Speaking of King as having risen +from obscurity to the woolsack, +without an obstruction in his career, +and with the general approbation +of all judges of legal merit, he +observes that, from the moment of his +presiding in Chancery, his reputation +began to sink. But this is explained, +not by any newly discovered deficiency +of talent, but by deficiency of +decision. “Expedition,” says Lord +Hervey, “was never reckoned +among the merits of the Court of +Chancery; but while Lord King presided +there, its delays became insupportable. +He had such a diffidence of +himself, that he dared not do right for +fear of doing wrong. Decrees were always +extorted from him; and, had he +been left alone, he would never have +given any suitor his due, for fear of giving +him what was not so; never reflecting +that the suspension of justice +was almost as bad as the total privation +of it. His understanding was of that +balancing irregular kind, which gives +people just light enough to see difficulties +and form doubts, yet not +enough to surmount the one, or remove +the other. This sort of understanding, +which was of use to him as +a pleader, was a trouble to him as a +judge, and made him make a great +figure at the bar, but an indifferent +one upon the bench. The Queen once +said of him, very truly, as well as +agreeably, that ‘he was just in +the law, what he had formerly been +in the gospel—making creeds of the +one, without any steady belief, and +judgments in the other, without any +settled opinion. But the misfortune,’ +said she, ‘for the public is, that +though they can reject his silly creeds, +they are forced to submit to his +silly judgments.’” (Lord King had +dabbled in divinity, and published a +history of the Apostles’ Creed.) Complaints +soon arose, that all the equity +of the nation was at a stand. He +afterwards nearly lost his senses by +repeated attacks of apoplexy. He was +at last induced to retire on a pension +of £3000. He died in the next year, +“little regretted by any body, but +least of all by his Majesty, who saved +£3000 a-year by it.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The condition of the court seems to +have been perpetual conflict. The +King’s personal conduct was inexcusable; +the Queen’s great object was +the possession of power; and the +Prince was an object of suspicion to +both, as both were objects of vexation +to the Prince. His case in short +was this: “He had a father that abhorred +him, a mother that despised +him, sisters that betrayed him, a brother +set up against him, and a set of +servants that neglected him, and were +neither of use to him, nor capable of being +of use, nor desirous of being of use.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The Opposition were in pretty much +the same condition: they, too, were in a +state of civil war. Lord Carteret and +Bolingbroke had no correspondence at +all; Pulteney and Bolingbroke hated +each other; Carteret and Pulteney +were jealous of each other; Sir +William Wyndham and Pulteney the +same; while Chesterfield had a little +correspondence with them all, but was +confided in by none.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The Princess’s marriage to the +Prince of Orange had long engrossed +the consideration of the court. The +Princess was not ill-looking, but her +figure was short, and inclined to be +fat. She seems to have resembled +both the King and the Queen in their +better, and in their worst, qualities. +She was quick, intelligent, and passionate; +yet could be cool, callous, +and ready to sacrifice every thing to +power. The Prince of Orange was +poor, having but £12,000 a-year, and +he was deformed, having a humpback, +and altogether exhibiting the +least attractive object possible in the +eyes of a princess as haughty as any +in Christendom. The marriage was +solemnised at seven in the evening: +the chapel was splendidly fitted up; +but the Queen and the Princesses exhibited +so much undisguised concern, +that the procession to the chapel, and +the aspect of matters there, looked +more like a sacrifice than a marriage. +We cannot go any further into details +which, however suitable to foreign +manners, can only disgust the fortunate +delicacy of the English mind. +But Lord Hervey’s manner of consoling +the philosophic Queen in her disdain +and disgust, is capital, as a specimen +at once of the man of the world +and of the courtier.</p> + +<p class='c008'>His answer was, “Madam, in half +a year all persons are alike; and the +figure one is married to, like the prospect +of the place one lives at, grows +so familiar to one’s eyes, that we look +at it mechanically, without regarding +either the beauties or deformities that +strike a stranger.” The Queen’s answer +was clever: “One may, and I believe +one does, grow blind at last; but you +must allow, my dear Lord Hervey, +that there is a great difference, as long +as one sees, in the <em>manner</em> of one’s +growing blind.” The sisters spoke +much in the same style as the mother, +with horror at his figure, and commiseration +for his wife. The Princess +Emily said, “nothing on earth should +have induced her to marry the monster.” +The Princess Caroline, in her +soft sensible way, spoke truth and said, +“She must own it was very bad, but +that, in her sister’s situation, all things +considered, she believed she should +have come to the same resolution.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>From time to time, some traits of men +and history oddly remind us of foreign +courts in our own day. The Emperor +of Germany, a personage in whom +ambition and imbecility seem to have +contended for the mastery, had commenced +a war, which transferred hostilities +into Italy. France, Sardinia, +and Spain attacked him there, and +pushed his army to the walls of Mantua. +The position of Radetsky, while +he continued constrained by a court +which gave him little more than orders +and counter-orders, was evidently +the <em>fac-simile</em> of Austrian affairs in +1733. “Those affairs,” says Lord +Hervey, “were so <em>well managed</em>, that +with thirteen thousand men in Lombardy, +and provisions for double the +number, and ammunition in proportion, +those essentials of war were so +dispersed and scattered, that, wherever +there were provisions there was +no ammunition, and where there was +ammunition there were no provisions, +and where there were men there was +neither ammunition nor provisions.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The German war engaged a good +deal of the public attention at this +time; but much less in the nation +than at the court. Prince Eugene, +on the Rhine, marched to the relief of +Philipsburg, while Marshal Berwick, +with one hundred thousand men, +carried on the siege. The high reputation +of Prince Eugene had excited +the King’s hope that Philipsburg +would be relieved. It was, however, +taken. This gave rise to a smart +saying of the Princess Royal. She observed +to Lord Hervey, after the drawing-room, +shrugging up her shoulders, +“Was there ever any thing so unaccountable +as the temper of papa! He +has been snapping and snubbing every +mortal for this week, because he +began to think that Philipsburg +would be taken; and this very day, +that he hears it is actually taken, he +is in as good humour as ever I saw +him in my life. But all this seems +so odd, that I am more angry at +his good humour than I was at his +bad.” Lord Hervey said, with that +sort of wit which was fashionable at +the time, “that this was like David, +who, when his child lived wore sackcloth, +but when it was dead, shaved and +drank wine.”—“It may be like +David,” said the Princess, “but I +am sure it is not like Solomon.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The King had a foolish habit of +talking of war, of imagining his +genius made for renown, and of +pronouncing himself infinitely unlucky +in not being permitted by his minister +to gain laurels in Germany. Walpole +exhibited his power in nothing more +effectually than in preventing the +operation of this thirst for “glory.”—“He +could not bear,” said the monarch, +“that while he was engaged only +in treaties, letters, and despatches, his +booby brother, the brutal King of Prussia, +should pass his time in camps and +in the midst of arms,” neither desirous +of the glory, nor fit for the employment.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Walpole, who saw the danger of +involving England in this war, and +probably the absurdity of going to +war for the sake of any foreigners, +reminded the King of the existence of +the Pretender, and of the probability +“that his crown would yet have to be +fought for on British ground.” As to +the Queen, Lord Hervey said, “the +<em>shadow</em> of the Pretender would beat +the whole German body.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>His lordship’s knowledge of the +world appears to have extinguished +all his ideas of its generosity: for he +finds a personal motive in every +thing. Thus, he assigns three reasons +for Walpole’s pacific advice. One +was, to avoid new clamour against his +administration; the next was, to avoid +the unpopularity of new taxes; and +the third was, that military business +might not throw his power into the +hands of military men.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The Memoir then proceeds “to toss +and gore” all the prominent public men +in succession. It tells us “that the +Duke of Newcastle, who always +talked as his master talked,” echoed all +the King’s “big words,” and expatiated +for ever on regaining Italy for the +Emperor, chastising Spain, and humbling +the pride of France. Next comes +the Duke of Grafton; of whom it is +said, that loving to make his court as +well as the Duke of Newcastle, he +talked in the same strain, and for the +same reason; but “could never make +any great compliment to the King and +Queen of embracing their opinions, as +he never understood things enough to +have one of his own.” Next comes +Lord Grantham. “He was a degree +still lower, and had the gift of reasoning +in so small a proportion, that his +existence was barely distinguished +from a vegetable.” Then follows +Lord Harrington. Of him it is +said that, “with all his seeming +phlegm, he was as tenacious of an +opinion, when his indolence suffered +him to form one, as any man +living. His parts were of the common +run of mankind. He was well +bred, a man of honour, and fortunate, +loved pleasure, and was infinitely lazy.” +The Queen once in speaking of him +said, “There is a heavy insipid sloth +about that man, that puts me out of +all patience: he must have six hours +to dress, six more to dine, six more +for his intrigues, and six more to sleep; +and there, for a minister, are the four-and-twenty +admirably disposed of; +and if, now and then, he borrows six +of those hours, to do any thing relating +to his office, it is for something that +might be done in six minutes, and +ought to have been done six days +before.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>We have then another instance of +the discomforts of Royalty in those +times. The day before the birthday, +October 29, 1734, the court removed +from Kensington to London, and the +Queen, “who had long been out of order +with a cough and a little lurking fever, +notwithstanding she had been twice +blooded, grew every hour worse and +worse. However, the King forced her, +the night she came from Kensington—the +first of Farinelli’s performances—to +the Opera, and made her the next +day go through all the tiresome ceremonies +of drawing-rooms and balls, the +fatigues of heats and crowds, and +every other disagreeable appurtenance +to the celebration of a birthday.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>His lordship observes that “there +was a strange affectation of an incapacity +of being sick, that ran through +the whole royal family. I have +known the King to get out of his bed, +choking with a sore throat, and in a +high fever, only to dress and have a +levee, and, in five minutes after it, undress +and return to his bed, till the +same ridiculous farce of health was to +be presented the next day at the same +hour. He used to make the Queen, in +like circumstances, commit the same +extravagances; but never with more +danger than at this time. In the +morning drawing-room, she found herself +so near swooning, that she was +forced to send Lord Grantham to the +King, to beg he would retire, for that +she was unable to stand any longer; +notwithstanding which, at night, he +brought her into a still greater crowd +at the ball, and there kept her till +eleven o’clock.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The recollections of those times +constantly bring the name of Lady +Suffolk before the eye. We have no +wish to advert to the grossnesses connected +with the name; but the waning +of her power gave a singular pungency +to opinion in the palace. The Princesses +were peculiarly candid upon +the occasion. The Princess Emily +“wished Lady Suffolk’s disgrace, because +she wished misfortune to most +people. The Princess Caroline, because +she thought it would please her +mother. The Princess Royal was for +having her crushed; and, when Lord +Hervey made some remonstrance, she +replied, that Lady Suffolk’s conduct, +with regard to politics, had been so impertinent, +that she cannot be too ill +used.” It must seem strange to us that +such topics should have been in the lips +of any women, especially women of +such rank—but they seem to have been +discussed with the most perfect familiarity; +and a name and conduct which +ought to have been suppressed through +mere delicacy, appear to have furnished +the principal conversation of +the court.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The next affair was the quarrel +with the Princess of Orange, from her +reluctance to return to Holland. As +she was about to be confined, her +husband was desirous that his child +should be born in Holland. To this +the Princess demurred. However, +they at length contrived to send her +on board, and she sailed from Harwich; +but after she had been some +time at sea, she either grew so ill, or pretended +to be so ill, that she either was, +or pretended to be, in convulsions: we +give his lordship’s rather ungallant +surmise. On this, and the wind not +being quite fair, she obliged the captain +of the yacht to put back to Harwich. +She then despatched a courier +to London with letters, written, as it +was supposed, by her own absolute +command, from her physician, her +accoucheur, and her nurse, to say that +she was disordered with her expedition, +and that she could not be stirred +for ten days from her bed, nor put to +sea again, without the hazard of her +child’s life and her own. The King +and Queen declined giving any orders. +The Prince of Orange was written to, +and he desired that his wife might go +by France to Holland. The King, +hating the bustle of a new parting, +directed that she should cross the +country from Harwich to Dover; but +his Majesty, after having been informed +that the roads were impassable +at this time of the year in a coach, +(how strangely this sounds in our day +of universal locomotion!) permitted +her to come to London and go over +the bridge; but it was a positive command +that she should not lie in in +London, nor even come to St James’s. +Accordingly, “after all her tricks and +schemes, to avoid going to Holland, +and to get back to London, she was +obliged to comply with those orders; +and had the mortification and disgrace +to go, without seeing any of her family, +over London Bridge to Dover.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>A note conjectures, that the Princess +Royal might have had some expectation +of ascending the throne of England, +neither of her brothers being then +married; a circumstance, which may +account for the Princess’s anxiety to +have her child born in this country.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The next scene is laid among the +bishops. The bishopric of Winchester +had been promised to Hoadly. +Willis, the Bishop of Winchester, was +seized with an apoplectic fit, and +Lord Hervey instantly wrote to +Hoadly, who was then Bishop of +Salisbury, to come up to town and +enforce his claim. The bishop wrote +to the Queen and Sir Robert letters, +which were to be delivered as soon +as Willis was dead. The Queen, on +presenting those letters, asked Lord +Hervey if he did not blush for the +conduct of his friend in this early and +pressing application for a thing not +yet vacant. While he was speaking, +the King came in, and both King +and Queen talked of Hoadly, in such +a manner as plainly showed that they +neither esteemed nor loved him. +Potter, Bishop of Oxford, a great +favourite of the Queen, strongly solicited +Winchester, and would have +obtained it, but for Walpole’s suggestion, +that the engagements to +Hoadly could not be broken without +scandal. Hoadly at last obtained +Winchester; and, as the Memoir observes, +one of the best preferments +in the church was conferred upon a +man hated by the King, disliked by +the Queen, and long estranged from +the friendship of Walpole. Then all +followed in the way which might +have been anticipated; the King not +speaking a word to the new bishop, +either when he kissed his hand or +did homage; the Queen, when she +found it could not be helped, making +the most of promoting him,—and Sir +Robert taking the whole merit of the +promotion to himself.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Another source of contention now +arose. The Chancellor Talbot had +recommended Rundle, a chaplain +of his father, the late Bishop of +Durham, for the see of Gloucester, +which had been vacant a twelvemonth. +Gibson, Bishop of London, +objected to him, that fourteen or fifteen +years before he had been heard +to speak disrespectfully of some portions +of Scripture, and Rundle was suspected +of Arianism. This reason was +certainly sufficient to justify inquiry.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Sir Robert, in his usual style, tried +to mediate; begged of the Chancellor +to give up his support of Rundle, offering +him at the same time a deanery, +or to give him the Bishopric of Derry +in Ireland, then possessed by Henry +Downes; of whom the Memoir speaks +as a crazy old fellow with three thousand +a-year. This affair ended in +Benson’s being made Bishop of +Gloucester, and Secker Bishop of +Bristol, both formerly chaplains to +the Chancellor’s father. Rundle was +subsequently made Bishop of Derry, +where he died, nine years after, in +his sixtieth year, much regretted.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Walpole was now visibly approaching +decline. He had become negligent +of the claims of his friends, and +solicitous only to conciliate his enemies. +Of course, where he bought +over one opponent, there were fifty +others ready to fill up his place. This +policy failed, and ought always to +fail. At the close of the session, say +the Memoirs, “the harvest of court +favour was small, though the labourers +were many.” The only things to +give away were the Privy Seal, by +the retirement of Lord Lonsdale, and +the Secretaryship at War, by the dismissal +of Sir William Strickland, +“who was become so weak in mind +and body, that his head was as much +in its second infancy as his limbs.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>A new source of ministerial vexation +was added to the <em>mêlée</em>, by the +King’s sudden determination to run +over to Hanover, in spite of all remonstrance—the +royal answer being always +“Pooh, stuff! You think to +get the better of me, but you shall +not.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Walpole, who dreaded that the +King, once in Hanover, would plunge +the country into a war, tried to set the +Queen against this untoward journey; +but her Majesty, though she gave the +minister fair words, was in favour of +the freak. The reasons assigned by +the Memoir for her conduct being +those rather irreverent ones, on the +part of his lordship—pride in the +<em>éclat</em> of the regency; the ease of +being mistress of her hours, which +was not the case for two hours together, +when the King was in England; +and, “besides these <em>agrémens</em>, she +had the certainty of being, for six +months at least, not only free from +the fatigue of being obliged to entertain +him for twenty hours in the +twenty-four, but also from the more +irksome office of being set up to receive +the <em>quotidian</em> sallies of a temper +that, let it be charged by what hand +it would, used always to discharge +its hottest fire, on some pretence or +other, upon her.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>But “one trouble arose from the +King’s going to Hanover, which her +Majesty did not at all foresee;” and +which was his becoming, soon after +his arrival, so much attached to a +Madame Walmoden, “a married +woman of the first fashion in Hanover,” +that nobody in England talked +of any thing but the declining power +of the Queen.</p> + +<p class='c008'>They might justly have talked much +more of the insult of this conduct to +public morals; but we shall not +go further into those details. They +absolutely repel the common-sense of +propriety, to a degree which, we hope, +will never be endurable in England. +The King, however, gave her Majesty, +in the long succession of his correspondence, +the complete history of his +passion, its progress, and his final +purchase of the lady for 1000 ducats! +A proof, as Lord Hervey says, more +of his economy than his passion.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The life of courts is stripped of its +glitter a good deal by the indefatigable +courtier who has here left us his +reminiscences; but it requires strong +evidence, to believe that the persons +who constitute the officials of royal +households <em>can</em> submit to the humiliations +described in these volumes.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The Queen narrates a sort of quarrel +which she had with Lady Suffolk, +a woman so notoriously scandalous, +that the wife of George II. ought not +to have suffered her to approach her +person. The quarrel was, as a note +conceives it, not about holding a basin +for the Queen to wash in, but about +holding it on her knees. (What person +of any degree of self-respect can discover +the difference?) But Lady Suffolk, +on this nice distinction, consulted the +well-known Lady Masham, bedchamber +woman to Queen Anne, as to the +point of etiquette. This authority +delivered her judgment of chambermaid +duties, in the following style:—“When +the Queen washed her hands, +a page of the backstairs brought and set +down upon a side-table the basin and +ewer. Then the bedchamber <em>woman</em> +set it before the Queen, and <em>knelt</em> on +the other side of the table over against +the Queen, the bedchamber <em>lady</em> only +looking on. The bedchamber <em>woman</em> +brought in the chocolate, and gave it +<em>kneeling</em>.” Lady Suffolk, formerly +Mrs Howard, had been bedchamber +<em>woman</em>, and of course had performed +this menialism! “We shall see by-and-by,” +adds the note, “that, the +<em>lady</em> of the bedchamber, though a +countess, presented the basin for the +Queen’s washing, <em>on her knees</em>.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>If such things were done, we must +own that it wholly exceeds our comprehension +how they could be exacted +on the one side, or submitted to on +the other. We are sure that there is +not a scullion in England who would +stoop to hold a basin for her mistress’s +ablutions on her knees. Yet, however +we may be surprised at the existence +of such practices, it is impossible +to feel the slightest sympathy for +the persons whom their salaries tempt +to the sufferance.</p> + +<p class='c008'>We have left ourselves but little +room for the biography of Lord Hervey +himself. He was born in 1696, the +second son of the first Lord Bristol. +He travelled; returned to solicit a +commission; failed in his solicitation; +became, of course, “a virtuous opponent +of the court,” and attached himself +to the Prince and Princess, who +held a sort of Opposition court at +Richmond. Hervey, young, handsome, +and polished, became a general +favourite. He won the most accomplished +woman of her time; married; +and, in 1723, became Lord Hervey by +the death of his elder brother, a man +of ability, but of habits remarkably +profligate.</p> + +<p class='c008'>On the death of George I., Hervey +changed his politics; abandoned Pulteney; +leveed Walpole; obtained a +pension of £1000 a-year; received another +gilded fetter, in the office of vice-chamberlain, +and became a courtier +for life.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Whether to console himself for this +showy slavery, or to indulge a natural +taste for the sarcasm which is forbidden +in the atmosphere of high life, +he wrote the Memoirs, of which we +have given a sketch. The prudence +of his son, the third earl, kept them in +secret. The marquis, nephew of that +earl, probably regarding the time as +past when they could provoke private +resentment, has suffered them to +emerge, and Mr Croker has edited +them, for the benefit of the rising +generation.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Whether the editor has done credit +to himself or service to the public, +by this employment of his hours of +retirement, has been the subject of +considerable question. That the volumes +are amusing there can be no +doubt; that they are flippant and +frivolous there can be no question +whatever; that they disclose conceptions +of the interior of courts which +may “make the rabble laugh and the +judicious grieve,” that, though filtered +through three generations of correctors, +they yet remain miry enough still, +requires no further proof than their +perusal.</p> + +<p class='c008'>We say this in no favouritism for +either the King or the Queen: the +truth was probably told of both. Their +foreign habits evidently clung to +them; and the purer feelings of +England, as evidently, had not the +power to purify the practices of their +foreign descent. But if Lord Hervey’s +mind was exercised in giving +the secret life of courts to the world, +we think that a much more contemptuous +subject for the pencil might be +found, in the man who, earning his +daily bread by his courtiership, pretended +to independence of opinion; +who, listening to every expression of +royalty with a bow, and receiving +every command with the submission +of a slave, threw off the sycophant +only to assume the satirist, and +revenged his sense of servitude only +by privately registering the errors of +those, the dust of whose shoes he licked +for twelve hours in every twenty-four.</p> + +<p class='c008'>But we must hope that the Memoirs +of Lord Hervey will be the last with +which the national curiosity is to be +stimulated. We must have no further +ill-natured overflowing on the absurdities +of high life. If this fashion +shall invade the shelves and <i><span lang="la">scrinia</span></i> of +noble families, there is probably not +a household of the higher ranks which +may not furnish its tribute. We +shall be overrun with feeble gossiping +and obsolete scandal. No rational +purpose can be held in view by indulging +the posthumous malice of a +discontented slave. No manly curiosity +can be gratified by breaking up +the tomb, showing us only the decay +so long hidden by its marbles and +escutcheons from the eye.—<em>Requiescat.</em></p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_345'>345</span> + <h2 class='c002'>THE GREAT TRAGEDIAN.</h2> +</div> + +<h3 class='c019'>CHAPTER I.</h3> + +<p class='c020'>Amidst a storm of applause the +curtain fell. The applause continued, +and the curtain rose once more; and +the favourite actor, worn out with +emotion and fatigue, reappeared to +receive the homage which an enthusiastic +multitude paid to his genius.</p> + +<p class='c008'>I saw a proud flush of triumph steal +over his wan face, which lighted it for +a moment with almost supernatural +expression. As he passed behind the +scenes, amidst the rustling dresses of +the rouged and spangled crowd, I +observed his face contracted by a pang, +which struck me the more forcibly +from its so quickly succeeding the +look of triumph. He passed on to his +room without uttering a word—there +to disrobe himself of the kingly garments +in which he had “strutted his +brief hour on the stage;” and in a +little while again passed me (as I +was hammering out compliments, in +voluble but questionable German, to +the pretty little * * *) in his sober-suited +black, and, stepping into his +carriage, drove to the Behren Strasse.</p> + +<p class='c008'>I knew he was going there, as I +had been earnestly pressed to meet +him that very evening; so, collecting +all my forces, I uttered the happiest +thing my German would permit me, +and accompanying it with my most +killing glance, raised the tiny hand of * * * +to my lips and withdrew, perfectly +charmed with her, and perfectly +satisfied with myself.</p> + +<p class='c008'>There was a brilliant circle that +night at Madame Röckel’s. To use +the received phrase, “all Berlin was +there.” I found Herr Schoenlein, +the great actor, surrounded by admirers, +more profuse than delicate in +their adulation. He was pale; looked +wearied. He seemed to heed that +admiration so little—and yet, in truth, +he needed it so much! Not a muscle +moved—not a smile answered their +compliments; he received them as if +he had been a statue which a senseless +crowd adored. Yet, fulsome as the +compliments were, they were never +too fulsome for his greed. He had the +fever-thirst of praise upon him now +more than ever—now more than at any +period of his long career, during which +his heart had always throbbed at every +sound of applause, did he crave more +and more applause. That man, seemingly +so indifferent, was sick at heart, +and applause alone could cure him! +Had he not applause enough? Did not +all Germany acknowledge his greatness? +Did not Berlin worship him? +True; but that was not enough: he +hungered for more.</p> + +<p class='c008'>I was taken up to him by Madame +Röckel, and introduced as an “English +admirer.” Now, for the first time, +he manifested some pleasure. It was +not assuredly <em>what</em> I said—(for although, +<em>of course</em>, I am always “mistaken +for a German,” so pure is my +accent, so correct my diction!)—it +was the fact of my being a foreigner—an +Englishman—which made my +praise so acceptable. I was a countryman +of Shakspeare’s, and, of +course, a discerning critic of Shakspearian +acting. We rapidly passed +over the commonplace bridges of +conversation, and were soon engaged +in a discussion respecting the stage.</p> + +<p class='c008'>With nervous energy, and a sort of +feverish irritability, he questioned me +about our great actors—our Young, +Kean, Kemble, and Macready—which +gave me an opportunity for +displaying that nice critical discrimination +which my friends are kind +enough to believe I possess—with +what reason it is not for me to say.</p> + +<p class='c008'>When I told him that, on the whole, +I was more gratified with the performances +of Shakspeare in Germany, +he turned upon me with sudden quickness +and asked—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“In what towns?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“At Berlin and Dresden,” I answered.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You have seen Franz, then?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I have.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>His lip quivered. I saw that I had +made a mistake. I am not generally +an ass—nay, I am believed to possess +some little tact; but what demon +could have possessed me to talk of an +actor <em>to</em> an actor?</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Do you think Franz greater than +any of your English actors?” he asked, +fretfully.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Why, I cannot say that exactly. +But I was amazingly struck with his +performance. My observation, however, +principally applied to the general +‘getting-up.’”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But Franz—Franz. I wish to +hear your opinion of him.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“He is young,” I replied; “has +a fine figure, a noble voice, a grand +carriage, and, although new to the +stage, and consequently deficient in +some technical matters, yet he has +that undefinable something which men +call genius.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Hm!” was the significant answer.</p> + +<p class='c008'>I then saw whither my stupidity +had led me. This, however, I will +say for myself, if ever I do get into +a dilemma, I have generally readiness +of mind enough to extricate myself. I +do not say this out of conceit, for I am +not at all conceited—I merely mention +it as a fact. This is how I turned +my blunder to account.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Although,” said I, “he has not +<em>your</em> mastery, yet he reminded me a +great deal of you. I cannot pay <em>him</em> +a higher compliment.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>To my surprise he did not see the +flattery of this, but moved to another +part of the room; and I did not speak +with him again till supper.</p> + +<p class='c008'>This little incident excited my +attention. I puzzled my brain for an +explanation of the riddle which his +conduct presented, and spoke to several +of my friends about it, who could +only tell me that Schoenlein was jealous +of this new actor Franz.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Did you ever sup in Berlin, reader? +If not, let me inform you that supper +there is a most substantial affair. I +had not read Miss Bremer’s novels +when first I went there; so, not being +prepared for the infinite amount of +eating and drinking which is transacted +in the north, I confess my astonishment +was a little mingled with +disgust to find a supper begin with +white-beer soup, (capital soup, by the +way,) followed by various kinds of +fish, amongst them, of course, that +eternal hideous carp—roast veal, +poultry, pastry, and dessert. To see +the worthy Berliners sup, you would +fancy they had not dined, and to see +them dine next day, you would fancy +they had not supped, and breakfasted +<em>twice</em>.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Eating is an art. It is also—and +this fact we are prone to overlook—a +habit. As a habit it may be enlarged +to an indefinite extent; and lisping +<i><span lang="de">fraüleins</span></i> have demonstrated the capacity +of the human stomach to be such +as would make our beauties stare.</p> + +<p class='c008'>It must not be supposed that I am +a coxcomb, since nothing can be farther +from the truth; nor must I be +held to share with Lord Byron his +horror at seeing women eat. In fact +I like to see the darlings enjoy +themselves: but—and I care not who +knows it—to see German women eat, +is more than I can patiently endure.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Let me cease this digression to remark +that, except myself, the great +tragedian was the only person at +table who was not voracious—and that +because he was unhappy. While +knives and forks were playing with +reckless energy he talked to me, but +there was a coldness and constraint in +his manner which plainly told me that +my praises of Franz had deeply mortified +him.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Poor Schoenlein! Unhappy he came +to Madame Röckel’s; for, amidst the +storm of applause which saluted him +at the theatre, he heard the applause +which was saluting his rival at Dresden; +and he had left the theatre for a +friendly circle of admirers only to hear +his rival praised by an Englishman. +All the applause of all Berlin weighed +as nothing against one compliment +paid to Franz!</p> + +<p class='c008'>It was nearly twelve, and the company +had gradually departed. I was +left alone with Madame Röckel; and, +as usual, I stayed half-an-hour later +than the others, to have a quiet chat +with her. I wanted to ask her for +an explanation of Schoenlein’s conduct. +Much as I had seen of the +vanity of actors—well as I knew their +petty jealousy of each other—I was +not prepared for what I had seen that +night.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Madame Röckel had resumed her +knitting—the never-failing accompaniment +of a German lady—and I drew +a chair close to the sofa, and told her +what had passed.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“His story is a strange one,” she +said; “and to understand him you +must know it.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Can you not tell it me?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Willingly. Schoenlein is a man +well born and well bred, who feels his +profession is a disgrace.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“A disgrace!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Very absurd, is it not? but that +<em>is</em> his feeling. At the same time, just +as the opium-eater, knowing the degradation +of his vice, cannot resist its +fascination—so this actor, with an +intense feeling of what he regards as +the sinfulness of the stage, cannot +resist its fascination.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You astonish me!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“He is an austere man—what you +English would call a puritan—who +looks upon the stage as the theatre +of vice, and yet cannot quit it because +it is the theatre of his triumphs!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But how came he to be an actor!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Why, thrown upon the stage +when the stage seemed the only +means of livelihood open to him—forced +on it by necessity, success has +chained him there. I have heard +him say that every time he performs +it is with the conviction that he is +performing for the last time. But the +fascination still continues—his heart +is still greedy of applause—his mind +still eager for its accustomed emotions. +He goes on the stage sad, +struggling, and repentant; to leave +it with throbbing pulses and a wild-beating +heart. He accepts no engagement, +he only plays by the night. +He has from time to time made +vigorous efforts to quit the stage, +but at the end of a fortnight he invariably +returns. He once set out for +Italy, thinking that if away from +Germany he should be able to wean +himself from the theatre; but he got +no farther than Vienna, and there +played for twenty nights.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But don’t you think there must +be a great deal of humbug in all this?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Not a bit.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Do you really believe in his +scruples?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I know him too well to doubt +them. There are many men quite as +inconsistent. He deludes himself +with all sorts of sophistry. He persuades +himself that he acts only to +realise an independence for his son, +and to secure his own old age. But +the truth is, he acts because he has +an irresistible impulse to act. It is +a sort of intellectual dram-drinking +which he cannot forego.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“To be sure, men are strange bundles +of contradictions; and I suppose +one must give Schoenlein credit for +being sincere.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“He is his own dupe, for to no +one but very intimate friends has he +ever disclosed his real opinions.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Then his life must be a constant +struggle?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“It is. This it is which has made +him prematurely old: the struggle of +his conscience with his passions. But +this it is also which gives such touching +pathos to his acting—which makes +his voice so mournful that it vibrates +through your whole being. As the +poet’s sufferings are sublimed into +song, and become the delight of mankind, +so from the ground of this +tragedian’s despair springs the well +of his inspiration, which makes him +truly great.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>We were both silent for a few moments.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I have said enough,” added Madame +Röckel, “to explain how such +a man must necessarily be, above all +others, envious—how the success of +another must be torture to him. Nothing +but intense vanity could keep +him on the stage. Hitherto he has +really had no rival—he has stood alone; +other tragedians have not been named +beside him. But now, within the last +few weeks, there has arisen this young +Franz, who has only played at Leipsic +and Dresden, yet whose fame has +spread all over Germany.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But I have seen Franz, and I +assure you he is not so great an actor +as Schoenlein. To be sure, he has +youth on his side.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“It is not his success alone which +is so exasperating; it is because the +critics, as usual, will do nothing but +compare the young Franz with the old +Schoenlein; while the public, with its +natural inconstancy, begins to discover +that Schoenlein is no longer young. +It is a sad thing,” she pursued, with +a faint smile, “for those who have +reigned supreme over audiences to feel +their dynasty is drawing to a close—sad +for those who have swayed all +hearts, to feel that another is now to +usurp their place. We women know +what it is, in a slight degree, when +we grow old. Do we ever grow old, +and <em>know</em> it? When our glass still +tells us we are young, that the bloom +is still upon our cheeks, the lustre in +our eyes, the witchery in our smiles, +now as of yore—and yet what the +glass tells us, what our feelings confirm, +we do <em>not</em> see mirrored in the +admiration of those around us! We +also know what it is when we see our +former adorers pass to newer beauties, +and we perhaps overhear such a phrase +spoken of us as, ‘Yes, she has been +handsome!’ But even we cannot +know the actor’s triumph or the actor’s +humiliation. To feel that our presence +is the signal for applause, that every +word we utter is listened to with +eager interest, that every part we +play is an image which we engrave +upon the minds of thousands, there +to abide as a thing of beauty and of +wonder—this is beyond us.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But, my dear Madame Röckel, I +see no diminution of admiration for +Schoenlein in Berlin. Surely no audience +can be more enthusiastic. Why +should he fear a rival?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You might as well ask a beauty,” +she replied, “why she is jealous of a +woman less pretty than herself. The +<em>why</em> is not to be explained by logic, +for envy does not <em>calculate</em>—it <em>feels</em>.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yet, when Franz comes to Berlin, +which will be next month, there +will then be no possible doubt as to +which is the finer actor.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Perhaps not. But the public will +nevertheless applaud Franz; and however +slightly they do so, to the envious +ears of Schoenlein it will sound like +thunder.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The clock striking twelve warned +me to depart, for in Berlin they keep +early hours; and I went away thinking +of what I had just heard, and +feeling no small contempt for Schoenlein’s +preposterous jealousy: “What +a contemptible feeling is envy!—as if +only one person in the world had a +right to admiration!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>At that moment I stepped into a +droschke, and was driving to my +rooms, when I passed that miserable +puppy Fürstenberg, whom, I am sorry +to say, little * * * admires so much; +though, for the life of me, I never +could see wherefore. Yet this uncouth +German, aping the dandy, +usurps all her conversation, even +when I am by!</p> + +<p class='c008'>It is not that I am jealous, for that +is not my character; but I <em>cannot</em> +bear to see so charming a girl so +miserably deceived in any one as she +is in Fürstenberg!</p> + +<h3 class='c022'>CHAPTER II.</h3> + +<p class='c020'>Schoenlein did not play for a fortnight, +and, as the time of Franz’s +engagement was drawing near, I +imagined he was sulking. I communicated +my suspicions to Madame +Röckel.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I would wager fifty thalers,” she +replied, “that he has gone to Dresden +to see his dreaded rival, and judge for +himself.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>It was as Madame Röckel said: +goaded by irresistible jealousy, Schoenlein +had set off for Dresden to see his +rival play.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Arrived there, he was three days +before he could summon resolution to +enter the theatre. Franz’s name met +him every where. At the <em>table-d’hôte</em> +he heard nothing but praises of Franz: +in the newspapers he read nothing but +invidious comparisons between Franz +and himself, in which the palm was +awarded to his rival. “Franz,” it +was said, “had all the energy of +Schoenlein, with youth, and grace, +and beauty in his favour. The same +power of distinct conception and +unexaggerated execution, without +Schoenlein’s tendency to conventional +‘points.’” Strangers asked him if +he had seen Franz. The very waiters +at the hotel recommended him to +go and see Franz!</p> + +<p class='c008'>Schoenlein never hated his profession +so much as at that moment. +Yet, such was his exasperation, that +he was constantly tempted to appear +on the stage at Dresden, and crush +his rival by acting in the same theatre +with him—constantly tempted to +show the fickle public the genius of +the actor they were fast forgetting.</p> + +<p class='c008'>It was the fourth day of his presence +at Dresden. Hamlet was to be +performed that evening, and Schoenlein +had resolved to be there. As +the hour drew near, he was seated at +a table on that beautiful terrace, which +no one who has visited Dresden can +ever forget, and which the Hahn-Hahn +has so graphically set before us +in her <em>Faustine</em>. He was smoking a +meditative cigar, gazing abstractedly +at the promenaders, who, in their gay +dresses, passed to and fro in light happy +talk, while the sounds of a good orchestra +in the Café came mellowed by the +distance, and lent another charm to +the exhilarating scene. His thoughts +were not at all in harmony with that +happy scene—they were fixed mournfully +on his own condition. He felt +the sadness of a fallen favourite.</p> + +<p class='c008'>There he sat, and saw the sun go +down over the antique bridge—saw +its last rays shimmering on the placid +bosom of the Elbe, which winds its +undulating course beneath the terrace—saw +the groups of promenaders gradually +disappear, and the tables all +deserted. The calls for ices, for +cigars, for “light,” were becoming +rarer and rarer. The music had +ceased—night had shut in. Still he +sat there in the same mournful mood, +tempted to go to the theatre, so close +at hand, but repelled by the idea of +hearing Franz applauded.</p> + +<p class='c008'>At the conclusion of the third act, +several playgoers reappeared upon +the terrace, to cool themselves in the +evening air, and to take an ice. Their +conversation, of course, turned but +upon one man, and that man was +Franz. They spoke of his Hamlet +as the finest part he had yet +played.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Three men seated themselves at +Schoenlein’s table. In the midst of +their enthusiastic criticism one of +them remarked—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Well, Franz is certainly very +fine; but it is absurd to compare him +with Schoenlein.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I think him better,” said another.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Nonsense!—you would not say +so if you could see them together. +You will find that in a little while the +public will come round to my opinion. +Let them once get over the novelty, +and they will judge correctly.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>A thrill ran through the actor’s +frame as he heard this. He called +the waiter; paid; rose; departed. +In another instant he was in the +<em>parterre</em> of the theatre, feverishly +impatient for the curtain to rise.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The brief scene between the King +and Queen, which opens the fourth +act, seemed to that impatient man as +if it never would end; and when +Rosenkranz was heard within calling, +“Hamlet, Lord Hamlet!” the perspiration +burst from every pore, and +he trembled like a leaf as Hamlet +appeared, uttering the “Soft—what +news? Who calls on Hamlet?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Schoenlein heard no more. The +tones of that voice raised a mist before +his brain—stung and perplexed +him with rage and astonishment. He +heard nothing, saw nothing—his +brain was in a whirl.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The Hamlet before him—Franz, +the dreaded rival—was his son!</p> + +<h3 class='c022'>CHAPTER III.</h3> + +<p class='c020'>It is necessary here to take a retrospective +glance into Schoenlein’s history, +that we may understand the +horror which possessed him at the +discovery of his son upon the stage.</p> + +<p class='c008'>We may readily conceive how his +dislike to his profession made him +very sedulous of keeping his child +from all contact with it, lest its fascination +should mislead him also. He +had never permitted him to see a play. +He brought him up strictly, religiously, +austerely. He had no friends +among actors: acting was never spoken +of in his presence. Yet, by an +inconsistency easily enough explained, +the works most constantly read and +talked about by him were those of +Shakspeare, Molière, Göthe, and +Schiller. These were his household +gods. Young Franz was early initiated +into their beauties, and would +declaim, (in private,) with great gusto, +all the long speeches.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Franz was sent to the university of +Leipsic, where it was his father’s +fond hope he would distinguish himself +as a student of theology. For the +first year he was assiduous enough; +but theology grew inexpressibly wearisome, +while poetry became irresistibly +alluring to him. Göthe’s <cite>Wilhelm +Meister</cite> fell into his hands, and +was read with rapture. He fell in +love with the actor’s life, and felt +secret yearnings to quit the university, +and throw himself upon the world in +quest of adventure—especially in quest +of a Marianne, a Philina, and a +Mignon! He had not as yet dared +to disobey his father’s strict commands—he +had never ventured inside +a theatre; but he had imbibed the +dangerous poison—he had learned to +look upon an actor’s life as a life of +poetry. The seed was sown!</p> + +<p class='c008'>About this time my cousin William +went to the Leipsic university, and +became the fellow-student and companion +of Franz. From him I learned +most of these details. William was +by no means a model of select virtue—in +fact, was what, in the jargon of +the day, is called “rather a fast +man;” and he led Franz into many +a debauch which would have driven +Schoenlein wild, had he known it; +but he could not persuade him to go +to the theatre.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Franz was ready enough at a duel, +and had spoiled the beauty of some +half-dozen faces by the dexterous +sword-cut which draws a line over +the nose, and lays open the cheek. +He was ready enough, too, with his +beer—few youths of his age had more +promising talents that way: and as +to patriotic songs, energetically demanding +of the universe where the +German’s fatherland might be, or the +probability of tyrants long crushing +free hearts beneath their heels, together +with frantic calls upon the +sword, responded to by the clatter of +beer-jugs—in these Franz was distinguished.</p> + +<p class='c008'>At last he did brush away his +scruples, and accompanied William to +the theatre. They played Schiller’s +<cite>Don Carlos</cite>. Conceive his rapture +at this first taste of the long-coveted +forbidden fruit! He thought the +Marquis of Posa a demigod. But +words cannot express his adoration +of the Princess Eboli, that night +played by Madame Clara Kritisch. +She was to him the “vision of loveliness +and light,” which an actress always +is to an impassioned youth, the +first time he sees one. Her large +voluptuous eyes, her open brow, her +delicate nostrils, her full and not ungraceful +figure, together with the +dazzling beauty of her (theatrical) +complexion, made a powerful impression +on him. Her acting seemed to +him the acting of an angel.</p> + +<p class='c008'>He left the theatre madly in love +with her.</p> + +<p class='c008'>We all know what it is to be in +love with an actress. We have all of +us, in the halcyon days of boyhood, +offered up the incense of our young +hearts to some painted, plain, conventional, +and perfectly stupid actress, +round whose head we have thrown +the halo and the splendour of our +imaginations. We have had our +Juliets, our Desdemonas, our Imogens, +our Rosalinds, our Violas, our +Cordelias, who, though in the flesh-and-blood +reality they were good, +honest, middle-aged women, mothers +of families or disreputable demireps, +to us were impersonations of the ideal—fairy +visions, to whom we have +written verses, whose portraits have +hung over our beds!</p> + +<p class='c008'>Therefore, having known a touch +of this “exquisite fooling,” we can +sympathise with Franz. Never having +seen an actress before, any hag +painted for the heroine of the night +would have charmed him. But Clara +was by no means a hag: in fact, his +passion was excusable, for on the +stage she was charming.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Franz went again and again, only +to return home more in love than +before. He fancied she had remarked +him in the pit; he fancied the smile +on her ruddy lips was a smile of encouragement +addressed to him. He +wrote her a burning love-letter, which +she quietly burned. He waited impatiently +for an answer, and went to +the theatre expecting to read it in her +looks. He could read nothing there +but her loveliness.</p> + +<p class='c008'>He wrote again; he wrote daily. +He sent her quires of verses, and +reams of “transcripts of his heart,” +in the form of letters. He lived a +blissful life of intense emotion. Fatherland +was forgotten; the sword +was no longer called upon; all tyrants +were merged in the cruel one whom +he adored.</p> + +<p class='c008'>At length he gained admittance behind +the scenes; nay, more—he was +introduced to Clara.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Alas! the shock his sense of loveliness +received, when he beheld before +him the fat, rouged, spangled woman, +whom he had regarded as the incarnation +of beauty! Her complexion—was +this its red and white? were its +roses and lilies gathered by the hare’s +foot and the powder-puff?</p> + +<p class='c008'>He could not speak; the springs of +his eloquence were frozen; the delicate +compliments he had so laboriously +prepared, faded away in an +unmeaning stammer. The first illusion +of his life was gone.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Perhaps there is nothing more +striking to a young man than his first +experience of the stage behind the +scenes. That which, seen from the +boxes, looks health and beauty, behind +the scenes is weariness and paint; +that which in the house is poetic, +behind the scenes is horrible mechanism. +What scene-painting is when +looked at closely, that are actresses +seen in the green-room.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Franz was staggered, but not cured. +He could not divest his heart of her +image, and began to see her again as +he had always seen her. Growing +accustomed to the reality, he again +beheld it in its ideal light; and as on +the stage Clara was always enchanting, +she carried with her some of the enchantment +when she left it. Poor +fellow! how patiently he stood there, +hungering for the merest word—the +simplest look! He saw others—a +privileged few—speaking to her +boldly; jesting with her; admiring +her; giving their opinions respecting +her costume, as if she were an ordinary +woman, while he could only stammer +out some meaningless remark. What +would he have given to feel himself +at ease with her, to be familiar, so +that he might be seen to advantage!</p> + +<p class='c008'>At last he thought of a plan for +making himself better known to her. +He wrote a play, in which the heroine +was destined for her; and as hers was +the only character in the piece which +was effective, she pronounced it the +finest thing which had been written +since Schiller. Franz was in ecstasies. +She read the play herself to the +manager, and exerted all her eloquence +in its behalf. But the manager +saw well enough her motive,—knew +that she was so delighted with the +play merely because her part was the +important one, and declined to produce +it. The play gained its author’s +end however. It had established him +among Clara’s friends. She began to +notice his love for her, began to recognise +its seriousness. She knew +how to distinguish between the real +homage of a heart, and the lip-homage +which others offered her.</p> + +<p class='c008'>There is something inexpressibly +charming in knowing yourself possessed +of a heart’s first love; and +women—especially those who have +passed the first flush of youth—are +more gratified by the love of a boy, +than by that of twenty men. A boy’s +love has something in it so intense, +so absorbing, so self-forgetting! It +is love, and love only, unmixed with +any thoughts of responsibilities; +looking forward to no future, reflected +by no past. There is a bloom on first +love. Its very awkwardness is better +than grace; its silence or imperfect +stammerings more eloquent than eloquence; +there is a mute appeal in its +eyes, which is worth all the protestations +in the world.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Clara, who had been accustomed to +the admiration of <em>roués</em>, felt the exquisite +charm of this boy’s love. In +a few weeks he became her acknowledged +lover; and excited no little +envy among the <em>habitués</em> of the theatre, +who could not for the life of them +comprehend “what the devil she could +see in that bumpkin.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>But if boys love intensely, they love +like tyrants, and Clara was made a +slave. Jealous of every one who approached +her, he forced her to give up +all her friends; she gave way to every +caprice; she began to idolise him.</p> + +<p class='c008'>This connexion with an actress, as +may easily be foreseen, led to Franz’s +adopting the profession of the stage. +Clara taught him in a few months +that which ordinary actors take years +to acquire; but this was owing to his +hereditary dramatic talent more than +to her instruction. His appearance +on the stage, which would, he knew, +profoundly hurt his father, was not +the mere theatrical ambition which +possesses most young men: it was +stern necessity; it was the only profession +open to him, for he had married +Clara!</p> + +<p class='c008'>Yes! he, the boy of one-and-twenty, +had married a woman of five-and-thirty! +It was a mad act—the recklessness +or delirium of a boy: but it +was an act which has too many +precedents for us to wonder at it. +He had by this act separated himself, +he feared, from his father for +ever. His only hope of pardon was, +as he fondly thought, dramatic success. +Could his father but see him successfully +following in his footsteps, he +would surely forgive him. It was a +proud moment—that boy’s triumphant +debut; proud because he had +succeeded, proud because his pardon +was purchased—as he thought!</p> + +<p class='c008'>Franz had only played a few weeks, +and Germany was ringing with his +praises. So great was his success, +that when a few critics and actors +whose judgments were all <em>traditional</em>, +objected that he could not be a good +actor because he had not gradually +worked his way upwards, they were +speedily silenced by the incontestible +fact that he <em>was</em> a great actor. A +brilliant engagement had been offered +him at Berlin; and he was about to +appear on the same stage with his +father, before that father had the +faintest suspicion of his son’s ever +having entered a theatre.</p> + +<h3 class='c022'>CHAPTER IV.</h3> + +<p class='c020'>The curtain fell. Franz had reappeared +to receive the enthusiastic +homage of the audience, and was now +in his room undressing, when the door +opened, and his father stood before +him.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Instead of rushing into his arms, +Franz stood confused, blushing, trembling. +The haggard sternness of his +father’s face told but too plainly with +what feelings he was regarded.</p> + +<p class='c008'>It was a moment of cruel silence.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The position was humiliating. +With his clothes scattered about the +room; with the paint still unwashed +from his face; with his room in disorder;—swords, +playbills, theatrical +dresses, a wig, a rouge-pot, and +washing-stand, lying about; himself +in the undignified attitude of drawing +on his stockings;—all combined to +present the miserable and prosaic side +of his profession to the angry glance +of an incensed parent.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“So!” said the old man, “these +are your theological studies! This is +the end of all my care! you have disobeyed +me. You have destroyed all +my hopes, and gone upon the stage, +for which you well know my detestation. +I find you <em>thus</em>!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Franz could make no answer.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“While I fondly believed you +still at the university, pursuing an +honourable career—a career useful to +mankind and honourable to yourself—you +were like a runaway apprentice +taking to this odious life.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But, sir,—I have succeeded!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“So much the worse!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Is not that my excuse?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No; it is your condemnation.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Surely, father, it proves that I +have chosen right. It proves I have +a vocation for the stage?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“It only proves your disobedience. +Vocation, indeed! Any man has a +vocation for the stage: any man who +has brains, and is not physically too +weak to utter the thoughts of an +author. Vocation! You might as well +tell me you had a vocation for the +highway—and if you had robbed +a man, by placing a pistol to his +head, and bidding him stand and +deliver, that your success was your +excuse!</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Is it not enough,” pursued Schoenlein, +after a pause, “that there should +be <em>one</em> actor in the family: one whose +necessities have driven him on the +stage, and who, once there, is forced +to remain there?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But I, for my part, see nothing +reprehensible in the life of an actor.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I do.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Franz saw there was no appeal from +such a decision, so he dressed himself +in silence.</p> + +<p class='c008'>He was hurt, angry. He expected +that his father would have been delighted +with his performance, would +have rejoiced in his success. To be +treated like a schoolboy, to hear such +tones and see such looks, irritated +him.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Come with me to my hotel,” said +Schoenlein, as Franz completed his +dressing.</p> + +<p class='c008'>They had not taken many steps before +a stout middle-aged woman, enveloped +in a fur cloak, said to Franz:</p> + +<p class='c008'>“<i><span lang="de">Lieber Franz</span></i>, the carriage is waiting.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Schoenlein did not hear the whispered +reply, but strode hastily onwards: +his son followed.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Who was that,” he inquired, as +they came out into the street, “who +called you <i><span lang="de">Lieber Franz</span></i>?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh! that—an actress—one of +our company—Madame Kritisch.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Hm!” growled the old man; but +he did not speak again till they +reached the hotel. Arrived there, they +went up into his room.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Franz, my dear boy,” said Schoenlein, +with great tenderness, “you +must promise me to quit this life, and +I will forget that you have ever disobeyed +me. Let us look on it as a +boyish freak, now over.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Franz was silent.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“It is your father who speaks. Remember +he is your best friend; and he +earnestly implores you to quit a career +which even success can only make a +gilded disgrace. Will you promise +me this?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>He felt very uncomfortable, and +knew not what answer to make.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You are young,” pursued his +father; “young and hopeful. You +look as yet only to the bright side of +life, and see only the pleasures of the +stage. You think it glorious to be +applauded, to have your name in the +mouths of men, your portrait in shop +windows. In a little while all this +applause will pall upon your ear; all +these portraits will look like so many +signs of your disgrace, and caricatures +of yourself. The charm will pass +away, and you will feel yourself to be +a mountebank, painted to amuse a +gaping crowd! Then the wear and +tear of the profession, its thousand +petty irritations and miserable anxieties, +will be as stings of wretchedness, +and you will curse the day you first +trod upon a stage.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Look at me!” he said, suddenly +pausing in the angry walk which he +was taking up and down the room. +“Have <em>I</em> not been successful? have <em>I</em> +not been flattered, envied? have <em>I</em> +not known what it is to be a great +tragedian, to dictate terms to managers, +to sway audiences? Have <em>I</em> +not known all this? And yet, since you +can remember me, have you ever seen +me happy? Is not my life an example? +Does not my whole life cry out to you, +Beware! Will you not profit by the +bitter lessons of my experience?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But, my dear father, you forget +one thing: you have always looked +upon the profession with disgust. I +do not.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You will learn to do so.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I cannot believe it. You are the +only actor in Germany who thinks so. +Besides, I have, as it seems to me, a +real vocation.—You may sneer, but +a vocation is necessary in this as in +all other professions. It is quite clear +that I have none for theology. I +must get my bread somehow.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Your bread? Franz, listen to me. +So fixed is my opinion, that if you +will obey me, from this time forward +you shall have the whole of my earnings. +I have already saved enough to +satisfy my own humble wants. I will +devote every shilling to furthering and +maintaining you in any profession you +choose to select. You shall not say +that necessity made you—as it has +made <em>me</em>—an actor.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I cannot accept such a sacrifice.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“It is none. I would sacrifice +every thing rather than see you on the +stage! Besides, in another year or two +you may make a rich marriage. I +have already agreed with our old +friend Schmidt, that you should be +united to his daughter Bertha, and her +dowry will be very large.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>A deep, deep blush overspread +Franz’s face, which was succeeded by +a deathlike paleness, as his father mentioned +marriage.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“How can I ever break my marriage +to him!” was his mental exclamation.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Will you promise me?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I cannot. Believe me, it distresses +me thus to disobey you, but I cannot +quit the stage.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I have failed to convince you +then? You misapprehend my motives. +You think, perhaps”—and here an +affected laugh of irony gave tenfold +force to the words—“that I am jealous +of you?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, father!” exclaimed Franz.</p> + +<p class='c008'>But his father’s words and tone had, +as in a flash of light, suddenly revealed +the real feeling in his heart: he +<em>was</em> jealous, and his son perceived it.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Do not, however, suppose that the +old man was aware of this feeling; he +would have shuddered at the accusation. +Blinding himself with all sorts +of sophistications, he attributed his +horror at Franz’s adoption of the stage +to his very sincere disgust to that profession; +and because he really did in +his own person feel an actor’s life was +disgraceful, even sinful, he fancied his +objection to Franz’s being an actor +was wholly derived from that feeling. +But in the depths of his heart he was +horribly jealous. He had learned to +hate Franz as a rival, before he knew +him to be his son. Critics had maddened +him by their comparisons. +Franz had been pointed out as the +actor who was to eclipse him. And +now that he found Franz was his son, +instead of rejoicing in his success, instead +of feeling proud that at any rate +his rival was his son, and that the +genius which dethroned him was derived +from himself—instead of the consolation +which another father would +have received, he was assailed by the +bitterest thoughts at the idea of his +son being an actor! He was incensed +at such disobedience, at such +violation of all his wishes; and attributed +to his anger all he really felt of +jealousy.</p> + +<p class='c008'>There is something so painful in the +idea of a father being jealous of his +son, that many will be tempted to +pronounce it impossible. Rare it fortunately +is, but not impossible. Who +has not known women jealous of their +daughters: women preserving their +beauty, and followed by homage, till +their girls are old enough to dispute +and bear away the palm from them? +If this is not uncommon—and more +than one instance must occur within +every reader’s experience—what is to +prevent the same principle applying +in a man’s case? You have only to +imagine the vanity pampered by flattery +into an unhealthy condition, and +then bring in a rival—no matter whom—and +the thing is done. Either the +father’s vanity will be caressed by the +reflection of the child’s success, (and +this, happily, is the commoner case,) +or it will be irritated at the child’s interference +with its claims.</p> + +<p class='c008'>In Schoenlein’s case must be added +the strange but intense dislike with +which he regarded the profession of +an actor. Had there been no rivalry +in the case, had Franz been only a +tolerable actor, he would still have +been excessively irritated. But for +his son to be an actor, and for the +public to prefer him as an actor to his +father—this was agonising!</p> + +<p class='c008'>He grew eloquent in his exhortations. +Finding it was in vain to make +Franz share his religious opinions, he +endeavoured to dissuade him by painting +all the dangers of the profession—its +pangs, its weariness, its disappointments—painted +the disagreeable ordeal +he himself had been forced to +undergo; and speaking, as he thought, +to accomplish his son’s welfare, he was +eloquent.</p> + +<p class='c008'>This much is to be said for fathers +who object to their sons following their +own careers: the struggles by which +they have won their way, the sorrows +which have been forced upon them, +the dangers they have escaped—these +are all so vividly present to their +minds, that they believe them inseparable +from the career. Who shall +say that another will escape these +perils? All the delight, all the rapture +of hope and of success are forgotten, or +else weigh but as a feather in the scale +against these perils. A father says:—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“It is true I escaped; but I was +fortunate. Besides, I had genius,—I +had rectitude,—I had strength of will. +My poor boy, (and fathers are apt to +look with a sort of compassion on their +children: is it because the children +have, from infancy upwards, looked +to them for pity and protection?)—my +poor boy will not be able to buffet +with the world as I did! He will be +led away by temptations; he will +succumb beneath adversity!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>In proportion to the precariousness +of the profession is the reluctance of +the parent. Poets never wish their +sons to be poets; certainly not to +trust to poetry for their livelihood. +Nor do artists desire their sons to be +artists. Actors almost universally +shudder at the idea of their children +becoming actors.</p> + +<p class='c008'>So that Schoenlein’s remonstrances +would have been vehement, even had +he not been tormented with jealousy. +But, from the moment Franz perceived +the real state of his father’s mind, all +compunction vanished. No arguments +could have made him quit the stage; +but now he felt his father’s arguments +to be insults.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I hope you do not misunderstand +me,” said the old man. “You must +know me well enough to believe that +no one would more rejoice in your +success—that to no one should I be so +proud to transmit my laurel crown, +if it were not lined with iron, which +brands the forehead with disgrace. I +am growing old, and am soon about +to leave the stage for ever: to whom +could I so fitly leave the inheritance +of my renown, did I not perceive that +it would entail lasting misery upon +him, as it has entailed it upon me? +No, no, you must relinquish this boyish +notion,—you shall marry Bertha +Schmidt, and quit the stage for ever.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Oh, do not ask it!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I do more than ask it—I command!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Do not—dear father—do not force +me to disobey you.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You—you will <em>not</em> leave the +stage?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I—I cannot! It would be hypocrisy +in me to pretend it. I have a +passion for the stage; and whether +that passion lead me to happiness or +to ruin, I <em>must</em> gratify it.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And think you Bertha will marry +an actor?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Perhaps not.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Are you indifferent to that?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Why—the truth is—I cannot +marry her.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You cannot? You shall!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I love another!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You love another!” angrily exclaimed +his father; and then adding, +with a sneer—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Some <em>actress</em>, I presume!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Franz coloured.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“It <em>is</em> so,” said his father. “Old +Clara Kritisch, I shouldn’t wonder!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>A deeper blush overspread Franz’s +face, and a look of anger shot from +his eyes, as his father contemptuously +let fall those words.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Franz loved his wife; but he knew +the disparity between them. She was +not old to him, for he loved her,—was +happy with her; but although to him +she was as young as a bride, he knew +what others said of her—what others +thought of her. For himself he felt +that</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c021'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“Age could not wither, nor custom stale</div> + <div class='line'>Her infinite variety;”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c023'>yet he trembled at his father’s knowing +she was his wife.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Schoenlein, who had observed the +blush on Franz’s countenance, walked +up to him and, placing one hand upon +his shoulder, said—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Franz, Franz, beware! You are +on the edge of an abyss: the worst +temptations of our miserable profession +beset you. Beware of that artful +old woman:—do not frown, she is +artful,—I have heard of her! She +has ruined more young men than +any woman now upon the stage. +She has ensnared you;—do not attempt +to deny it,—I see it in your +countenance. She has flattered and +cajoled you. She has lured you with +languishing looks and sweet low +words. You are already her dupe;—beware +lest you become her victim!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I cannot,” said Franz, rising +wrathfully, “I must not, I will not, +hear this language of her.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You must and shall hear it. Why +should I hesitate to utter the contempt +I feel for that <em>refuse</em> of a hundred +libertines!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Franz was purple with suppressed +passion, and, with terrible calmness, +said:—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You are speaking, sir, of <span class='fss'>MY +WIFE</span>!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Schoenlein’s lower jaw fell; his +eyes became glazed, and, slowly sinking +on the sofa, he waved his hand +for his son to withdraw.</p> + +<h3 class='c022'>CHAPTER V.</h3> + +<p class='c020'>The following week Schoenlein was +again in Berlin, and playing three +nights a-week—a thing quite unprecedented +with him. All his repertory +was brought forward. A sort of rage +possessed him. He was tormented +with the idea of producing such an +effect upon the public as should perfectly +eclipse his rival and son.</p> + +<p class='c008'>With true actor’s ingenuity in such +matters, he gave the preference to his +son’s favourite parts. He hoped, by +repeatedly performing them ere Franz +arrived, he should weary the public +of those plays, and so prevent large +audiences welcoming the new actor. +He hoped, also, that by this means +the public would better appreciate the +difference between his finished style +and the crude energy of his rival. The +consequence of this procedure he expected +to be,—small audiences and unfavourable +criticisms. By these he +hoped to disgust his son, and so wean +him from the stage.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Unhappily, he was so goaded by the +desire to produce a greater effect than +heretofore, as to act much worse than +heretofore. He overdid every thing. +He was too violent; his contrasts +were too marked; the elaboration was +painful. People lamented his exaggeration, +and began to whisper that his +day was gone.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Franz appeared. Young, handsome, +ambitious, full of hope and +energy—around him the charm which +always belongs to novelty, and within +him the inappreciable wealth of genius—how +could he fail to produce a deep +impression? The calculation of his +rival turned out a mistake: so far +from the public keeping away because +they had so recently seen the pieces +performed, they flocked to the house +because they wished to compare the +two rivals in the same parts. As in +the case of all well-known plays, the +attraction was in the actor, not in the +piece.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Berlin never witnessed such a debut. +Franz was called sixteen times +before the curtain to receive their +boisterous homage. The whole town +was in a state of excitement. Every +body talked about him; every body +compared him with Schoenlein—to the +general disadvantage of the latter; +and the secret of the relationship soon +transpired, which led to endless discussion. +The actors mostly stood by +Schoenlein: they do not like new favourites. +But the public, undisguisedly, +unequivocally preferred Franz.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Exasperated by what he called the +fickleness of the public, Schoenlein +went to Dresden, there to eclipse the +remembrance of his son. He played +to crowded houses. But if at Berlin +he overacted, at Dresden he “tore +the passion to tatters.” Instead of +crushing Franz’s reputation he nearly +ruined his own. One paper had the +malice to recommend him to retire +from the stage.</p> + +<p class='c008'>He did retire; but not till after a +fearful struggle with himself, and many +a bitter reflection on the world’s ingratitude, +and the worthlessness of +his efforts. He was deeply hurt. He +secluded himself from every one. In +the practices of devotion, and in brooding +solitude, he endeavoured to forget +the world and its frivolities. He tried +to find occupation in study, and solace +in religion. But to the one he did +not bring a studious mind; to the +other he did not bring a religious +heart. Lacerated with envy and humiliation, +his soul found no comfort +in books. He could not forget the +past; he could not shut the world +from his heart. The solemn organ +strains, which stirred his soul when in +church, recalled to him the stage; +still more so did the inflections of the +preacher’s voice recall it to him; he +could not refrain from criticising the +preacher’s declamation.</p> + +<p class='c008'>He ceased to go to church, and tried +the efficacy of lonely prayer. In vain! +The stage was for ever present before +his mind. He tried to renounce the +world, but the world held possession +of his heart. His renunciation was not +prompted by weariness, but by rage: +the world weighed not too heavily and +sorely upon his spirit, making him +weary, making him yearn “for the +wings of the dove, to flee away and +be at rest;” on the contrary, he was +only angry at his unjust appreciation. +His retreat was not misanthropy but +sulking. He could not forget his defeat.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Months passed away in this unavailing +struggle.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Suddenly he reappeared upon the +stage. His reappearance created intense +interest, and the theatre trembled +with applause. The public was so +glad to see its old favourite again! +Schoenlein’s heart bounded, as of old, +responsive to that thunder of applause; +but the joy was transient: his pride +was soon once more to be laid low. +That very public, which had welcomed +him so enthusiastically, grew indifferent +by the end of the week. In truth +his acting had lost its former grandeur. +Flashes of the old genius there still +were, from time to time, but they only +served to make more obvious the indifference +of the whole performance. +People shook their heads, and said, +“He was certainly grown too old for +the stage.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>He never reappeared.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Meanwhile Franz continued his +triumphant career. He played at +almost every town in Germany; and +even the old men thought him superior +to the actors of “their day.” +The greatest triumph an actor can +achieve is to make the “laudator +temporis acti” forget for a moment the +illusions of his youth, and confess +that, even seen through the magnifying +mist which envelops and aggrandises +the past, this living actor is as +great as those who are no more.</p> + +<p class='c008'>But Franz, amidst his brilliant +success, was far from happy. The +stage was the scene of his triumphs, +but home was the scene of his despair. +He was in a false, a very +false position. Petted and idolised +by the loveliest women in Germany, +he had learned to look upon his wife +as what she was—a woman past +her prime, faded in beauty, insignificant +in mind. He began to blush +for her! This is perhaps the cruellest +torture a husband can know, because +it affects his self-love as keenly as his +love. It is a torture which generally +results from such ill-assorted unions. +Slowly had the conviction dawned +upon him—but it had come. He +struggled against it, but it would not +be set aside; it pressed on and on, +till at last it fairly gained admittance +into his mind, and made him +wretched.</p> + +<p class='c008'>For observe, it was not her faded +beauty which made him blush—it +was not that she was so much older—it +was because this faded insignificant +woman was fretful, jealous, ungenerous, +and unprincipled. The perception +of these faults of disposition +opened his eyes to the perception of +her faults of person; they raised the +question in his mind—<em>who</em> is this +whose jealousy irritates, whose fretfulness +distresses me? He began to +scrutinise her, and the scales fell from +his eyes!</p> + +<p class='c008'>“My dear Clara,” he said to her +one day, “what in heaven’s name +has changed you so? You used to +be cheerful—now you are unbearably +peevish.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And what has changed <em>you</em> so, +Franz?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“I am not aware of any change!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“No!” she said ironically.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“In what, pray?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“You used to be fond and attentive, +and now you are cold and neglectful.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“If I am so, whose fault is it?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Lieschen Flemming’s. Oh, yes! +pretend astonishment; but I see +clearly enough. Your tenderness <em>on</em> +the stage with her is so well acted, +because you have so often rehearsed +it in private.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Clara! Clara! this jealousy is +insupportable!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Yes, yes—that is the answer I +always receive; but it is no answer +to my accusation.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Why, Lieschen is betrothed to +Fechter!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“What matters that? Are <em>you</em> +not married to me—and does that +interfere with your making love to +her?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“This is perfectly ridiculous! Last +week you were jealous of Rosa Behr, +because she played Juliet; now it is +Lieschen Flemming, because she plays +Gretchen. I presume every actress +whom I have to make love to on the +stage will come under your suspicions?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Every one to whom I see you +making evident love. I know I am +old. I have lost the charm I once +had in your eyes.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“This is not the way to regain it,” +he said, as he put on his hat and +angrily left the room.</p> + +<p class='c008'>He that day confessed to himself +that she was old, that she had lost +the charm which once had captivated +him! But Franz was a man of honour; +and although he found himself in this +false position, he resolved to support +his lot with courage. He was wedded +to a woman too old for him, +unsuited to him; but the wedding +had been his act and desire. It had +been the crown upon his hopes. He +had loved her—been happy with her. +He could not forget that. And although +divorces are easily obtained +in Germany, he could not bring himself +to abandon her, to separate from +her, now she was past her prime. He +had offered her an independence if +she wished to part from him; but she +did not wish to part—she still clung +to the idea of regaining his lost affection—and +made home miserable as a +means of regaining it!</p> + +<p class='c008'>For five years did Franz drag about +with him this load of wretchedness.</p> + +<p class='c008'>To render his situation still more +pitiable, he became conscious that he +loved another. Madame Röckel’s +youngest daughter—a sweet innocent +girl of eighteen—had conceived a passion +for the young tragedian, which +her artless nature had but ill concealed. +Franz read it in her eyes, in +her tones, in her confusion; and +reading it, he also read in his own +heart that her passion was returned.</p> + +<p class='c008'>He left Berlin in two days after +the discovery, with bitter curses on +his youthful error, which had yoked +him to a woman he could no longer +love, and which had shut him for +ever from the love of another.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Then, indeed, the thought of a +divorce rose constantly before him; +but he wrestled with the temptation, +and subdued it. He resolved to bear +his fate. His only hope was that +death might interpose to set him free!</p> + +<h3 class='c022'>CHAPTER VI.</h3> + +<p class='c020'>If in these brief sentences I have +indicated the misery of Franz’s condition—the +depth of the shadows +which accompanied the lustre of his +success—if I have truly presented the +main outlines of his domestic history, +the reader will imagine Franz’s +feelings when a hand as friendly as +that of death did interfere to set him +free.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Clara ran away with the low comedian +of the troop!</p> + +<p class='c008'>She had worn away in tears and +fretfulness all the affection she once +had felt for Franz, and having inspired +a sort of passion in the breast +of this comedian, lent a willing ear to +his romantic proposal of an elopement. +To a woman of her age an +elopement was irresistible!</p> + +<p class='c008'>She fled, and left Franz at liberty.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The very day on which Franz received +this intelligence he had to +perform in Kotzebue’s <cite><span lang="de">Menschenhass +und Reue</span></cite> (our “Stranger.”) He went +to the theatre extremely agitated. +Great as was his delight at being +released from his wife, and released +by no act of his own—he could not +think without a shudder upon the +probable fate which awaited her; and +a remembrance of his former love +and happiness with her returned to +make him sad.</p> + +<p class='c008'>It happened that old Schoenlein +had that night been seized with a +sudden impulse to see his son act, and +had gone privately into the <em>parterre</em>. +It was the first time he saw his son +acting—for on that Dresden night he +<em>saw</em> nothing—a mist was before his +eyes. He was now sufficiently calm +to be critical.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Franz played the wronged husband +with such intense feeling, such depth +of passion, such thrilling intonation +of voice, that the old man shared the +rapture of the audience, and wept +tears of joy and of pride as he confessed +that his son was really a great +actor.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The curtain had no sooner descended +than Schoenlein, hurrying out of the +house, went round to the stage-door, +knocked at his son’s dressing-room, +and in another instant had fallen on +his shoulders, sobbing—“My boy! my +dear, dear Franz! you have conquered +me!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>“My dear father!” exclaimed +Franz, pressing him convulsively to +his heart.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Franz, I retract all that I have +said. I forgive you. You have a +real vocation for the stage!”</p> + +<p class='c008'>This happy reconciliation was soon +followed by the betrothal of Franz +Schoenlein to Matilda Röckel; and +the old man had not only the delight +of seeing his son wedded to a woman +worthy of him, but also to hear him +announce his intention of retiring for +ever from the stage. He had realised +an independence, and the stage was +connected with too many disagreeable +associations for him not to quit +it on this opening of a new era in his +life.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_359'>359</span> + <h2 class='c002'>THE MOSCOW RETREAT.</h2> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>“It is scarcely necessary,” says Mr +Rellstab, in the preface to an early +edition of his romance of “1812,” +“for the author to confess how largely +he has availed himself of Ségur’s +narrative of the Russian campaign. +It will be evident to all readers that +he has followed, at times almost word +for word, the descriptions of that skilful +historian.” Without taxing Mr +Rellstab with exceeding the romance-writer’s +legitimate privilege in thus +largely helping himself from the pages +of General Count Ségur, we may congratulate +him on having had as a +guide, in the historical portions of his +book, so admirable a work as the <cite><span lang="fr">Histoire +de Napoleon et de la Grande +Armée</span></cite>. As interesting as any romance, +it at the same time conveys +the conviction that the author has +determined to merit the character of +historian, and to avoid that of the +retailer of campaigning gossip and +anecdotes. Indeed one often feels disappointed +and almost vexed at the +extreme brevity with which the Count +refers to all matters not strictly essential +to the history of the grand army +and great chief whose history, during +the brief existence of the former and +the first reverses of the latter, he undertakes +to portray. He dismisses in +three lines many an incident of strange +romance or thrilling horror, whose details +one would gladly see extended +over as many pages. Mr Rellstab has +cleverly availed himself of this dignified +and military conciseness, improving +upon hints, and filling up blanks. +With a few bold dashes of his graphic +pen, Count Ségur furnishes the rough +sketch; this his German follower +seizes, adds figures, tints, and names, +and expands it into a picture. The +account in “1812” of the retreat from +Moscow to Wilna is, in fact, a poetical +paraphrase of that given in Ségur’s history; +and this paraphrase Mr Rellstab, +seduced by the excellence of his +text, allows somewhat to impede the +progress of his plot; or rather it protracts +the book after the plot has, in +all essential respects, been wound up. +Nevertheless, as we have already said, +this paraphrase, which may be considered +in some degree supplementary +or parenthetical, is the best part +of the work; and Mr Rellstab displays +great power of pen, and +artistical skill, in his handling and +adaptation of the materials furnished +by his French leader. The last strictly +original chapters of the romance are +those composing the eleventh book, +commencing immediately after Ludwig +is rescued by hostile peasants from +death at the hands of his own friends. +Here for a while we lose sight of the +fugitive army, and abide amongst the +Russians.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The chief ground of apprehension +with the Russian nobles, upon Napoleon’s +invasion of their country, was +lest he should proclaim the emancipation +of the serfs, and thus enlist in his +behalf millions of oppressed peasants. +The plan occurred, and was suggested +to the French Emperor, but various +considerations deterred him from attempting +its realisation. He apprehended +a frightful amount of license +and excess amongst a barbarous people +thus suddenly released from bondage. +Tremendous destruction of property, +and frightful massacres of the higher +classes, were the almost certain results. +He might succeed in raising the storm, +but he could never hope to guide it. +Moreover, although the child of revolution, +his sympathies were not with +the masses. The Russian landholders, +however, did not reckon upon his forbearance, +and took every means in their +power to counteract any propagandist +projects he might have in view. “In +the first place,” says Ségur, “they +worked upon the minds of their unfortunate +serfs, brutalised by every +kind of servitude. Their priests, in +whom they are accustomed to confide, +misled them by deceitful discourse, +persuading these peasants that we +were legions of demons, commanded +by Antichrist,—infernal spirits, whose +aspect excited horror, and whose contact +polluted. Our prisoners perceived +that when they had used a dish +or vessel, their captors would not +touch it again, but kept it for the most +unclean animals. As we advanced +into the country, however, it was +natural that the clumsy fables of the +priests should lose credit with their +dupes. But, on our approach, the +nobles recede with their serfs into the +interior of the land, as from the advance +of some mighty contagion. +Riches, habitations, all that could +delay them or serve us, are sacrificed. +They place hunger, fire, the desert, +between us and them; for it is as much +against their serfs as against Napoleon +that this great resolution is +executed. It is not a mere war of +kings, but a war of classes and of +parties, a religious war, a national +war, every kind of war united in one.” +Stimulated to hatred of the intruding +foreigners by those they most feared +and respected—by their owners, +namely, and their priests—the peasant-slaves +of Russia perpetrated frightful +cruelties upon those unfortunate +Frenchmen who fell into their hands; +cruelties admitted and abundantly +illustrated by Mr Rellstab, although +his predilections are upon the whole +rather Russian than French. It is +only justice to say, however, that in +all the historical portions of his +romance he displays great impartiality, +and puts himself above national antipathies, +taking a cosmopolitan view of +the causes, conduct, and progress of +the great struggle.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Led away by his captors to a +bivouac of armed peasants in the +glades of a vast forest, Ludwig at +first almost regrets having escaped +the volley of the French firing-party. +A colossal Russian stretches out his +hand to appropriate his prisoner’s +foraging-cap, and, upon the imprudent +resistance of the latter, raises a club +to dash out his brains. Ludwig +deems himself no better than a dead +man, when suddenly a woman’s scream +is heard, and a figure clad in costly +furs rescues him from the fierce savage. +A veil is thrown back, and Ludwig +beholds Bianca, who possesses a castle +in the neighbourhood, the same which +the Polish lancers had surprised upon +her wedding-night. It is not quite +clear what has brought her into the +forest among beastly Cossacks and +bloodthirsty peasants, unless it were to +meet Ludwig. The sights she there +meets are not all of the most agreeable +kind. Whilst the enraptured +Ludwig kneels before her, kissing her +hand and weeping, a horseman, whose +noble steed and rich dress bespeaks +the man of rank, dashes into the circle, +and sternly inquires the reason of this +strange scene between the lady and +the captive dragoon. It is Count +Dolgorow, who interrupts Bianca’s +explanation by suddenly springing +from his horse, and seizing the +scoundrel Beaucaire, his former secretary, +whom his quick eye has distinguished +in the group of prisoners. +By a strange fatality, his betrayer +and his rescuer are together delivered +into his hands. He gratifies revenge +before showing gratitude, and has the +traitor precipitated into one of the +huge bivouac fires that blaze around. +Before this we have met with a French +grenadier impaled alive in a wood, and +with a party of Russians setting up +their captives as targets. There is no +scarcity of the horrible in Mr Rellstab’s +pages, but without it the retreat +from Moscow could not be faithfully +described. After Beaucaire has been +roasted, Bianca recovered from her +swoon, and Ludwig presented to the +Count—who admits, but with no very +good grace, his claims to gratitude +and consideration—the other prisoners +are sorted. The able-bodied are sent +to the Count’s hunting-seat, thence to +be forwarded to the mines. To those +unfit to work, Russia, says Dolgorow, +can afford no other nourishment than +two ounces of lead. One man only +is put aside as too old for labour. +This is St Luces, Beaucaire’s employer +and Ludwig’s persecutor.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“St Luces, not having understood +the Count’s words, fancied that, from +his appearance and fine linen, and +from his clothes (of which, however, +he was by this time pretty well +stripped,) his captors had discovered +him to belong to the higher classes. +The pallid horror which had spread +over his features since the terrible +fate of Beaucaire, was replaced by a +faint gleam of hope. He ventured to +address the Count in French.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘I trust, sir,’ he said, ‘I shall be +treated in conformity with those laws +of war which all civilised nations +respect. I am not a military man, +but belong to the civil service; my +rank—’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘You are a Frenchman,’ sternly +interrupted Dolgorow—‘one of those +vampires who have sucked the blood +and marrow out of half the nations of +Europe; more contemptible and odious +than the soldier, for he, at least, fights +with fair and open weapons.’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘They would willingly,’ persisted +St Luces, again trembling with apprehension, +‘exchange me against Russian +prisoners!’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Prisoners! what prisoners have +you?’ cried Dolgorow with bitter +scorn. ‘Thousands, certainly are set +down in your bulletins, but where can +you show them? You do wrong to +remind me of that. Think you we +know not how your ruthless assassin +bands have treated the few who fell +into their hands? Think you we +have not found them, lying with +shattered skulls upon the roads in +rear of your flying columns? Did we +not meet with them shut up in churches, +barns, and stables, dead in the pangs +of famine? Away with ye! We shall +find enough to exchange, when exchange +we <em>will</em>.’”<a id='r9'></a><a href='#f9' class='c009'><sup>[9]</sup></a></p> + +<p class='c008'>Discoveries and surprises now tread +rapidly on each other’s heels. A +German in the service of Count Dolgorow +recognises Ludwig as the son, +and St Luces as the murderer of his +former master; whereupon Ludwig +generously intercedes for the Frenchman’s +life, but is sternly repulsed by +the Count, and St Luces is forthwith +shot. Then, upon their way to +Bianca’s castle, Ludwig and his +mistress stumble upon Bernard, +lying senseless in the road. They +pick him up and take him with them, +in spite of danger from wolves and of +the anger of Countess Dolgorow, impatient +to proceed. At the castle +Bernard and Bianca discover, by the +somewhat hackneyed contrivance of +identical rings, that they are brother +and sister, and soon afterwards the +Count becomes aware of the good +understanding between them, and +that Bianca knows she is not his +daughter. These meetings and recognitions +thwarting certain deep-laid +plans, he resolves to forward Ludwig +and Bernard to Siberia; but before he +can do so, the two young men, with +Bianca and Willhofen the German +servant, make their escape by the aid +of some French prisoners, and take +the road to Smolensko, with the intention +of joining the French army and +seeking refuge in Germany.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Meanwhile Rasinski, with the +shattered remnant of his gallant regiment, +now reduced to a feeble squadron +of sixty horses, forms part of the +rear-guard under the hero Ney. We +will give a specimen of Mr Rellstab’s +adaptation of Ségur.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Rasinski!’ suddenly exclaimed +Jaromir, ‘do you see yonder on the +rising ground?’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Cossacks! And I wager my head +they are not alone!’ replied Rasinski.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Upon the heights appeared three +horsemen, seemingly thrown forward +to reconnoitre. They were soon remarked +by all; and there occurred in +the French ranks that restless stir +and low murmur, betokening the expectation +of an important event.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Jump on your horse, Jaromir,’ +said Rasinski, ‘and ride to the corner +of the forest; thence you will see far +over the country.’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Jaromir, now the best mounted in +the regiment, sped swiftly across the +snow, in obedience to the order. But +he returned even more rapidly, to +announce that the entire heights +were covered with Cossacks, and that +infantry columns were debouching +from the depths of the forest.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Just then Colonel Regnard, who +by the marshal’s order had also been +out to reconnoitre, rode by. ‘This +looks like work, Rasinski,’ he cried in +passing; ‘the ball opens just like the +day before yesterday. The wood is as +full of Russians as an anthill of ants.’ +The drums beat. The troops stood to +their arms. The disorderly groups of +weaponless stragglers and invalids +formed themselves into a dense mass.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘For us the fight is a pleasure,’ +exclaimed Rasinski; ‘but it is hard +upon Boleslaw and the other wounded. +We must do our best to shield them +from harm. But who comes here?’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“A Russian officer was seen descending +the hill, waving a white +handkerchief.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Useless trouble, sir,’ said Rasinski +proudly to himself, as he distinguished +the Russian’s object. ‘We +shall not treat for peace so long as we +can handle our arms.’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“The marshal was busy placing +and ordering his troops. He galloped +through the ranks, showing himself +every where, directing and encouraging +all. Rasinski sent an orderly to +report to him the approach of a flag +of truce. But before the message +reached him, the Russian officer +reached the outposts, and, on distinguishing +the Polish uniform, summoned +them in their own language to +surrender to overpowering forces. +Rasinski sprang forward like an incensed +lion. ‘What!’ he shouted, +‘you would seduce our men, incite +them to desert! That is not the +duty of a flag of truce. You are my +prisoner!’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“The alarmed officer would have +turned his horse, but Rasinski already +held the bridle, and his soldiers surrounded +the Russian so quickly that +resistance and flight were alike impossible.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘You will surely respect the sacred +rights of a flag of truce!’ cried the +Russian.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘You should have waited at proper +distance, till you knew if it pleased us +to receive you,’ replied Rasinski. ‘It +is against all usage of war to approach +an enemy’s army as you have +done.’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Take me to your commander,’ +said the officer, ‘he will listen to my +well-intended offers. The bravest +must yield to impossibility. You have +no alternative but capitulation.’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘We shall see that,’ answered +Rasinski, well assured beforehand of +the marshal’s decision. ‘Here comes +our commander, Marshal Ney. That +name may suffice to convince you that +you will waste your words.’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“The marshal came; Rasinski rode +to meet him and reported what had +passed.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘You have done your duty as an +officer and man of honour,’ replied +Ney; ‘I should take shame to myself +did I hesitate to confirm your +words.’ And he rode forward and +inquired the Russian’s pleasure.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Marshal Kutusow sends me,’ began +the officer. ‘He would not offend +so renowned a warrior and general +by asking him to lay down his arms, +if any alternative remained open. +Upon the surrounding heights stand +eighty thousand men, and one hundred +pieces of cannon. If you doubt +my words, you are at liberty to send +an officer, whom I will conduct +through our ranks that he may count +our strength.’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘I hope to get near enough to your +army to count them myself,’ replied +the marshal with flashing eyes. ‘Tell +Prince Kutusow that Marshal Ney has +never yet surrendered, and that the +world’s history shall never record his +having done so. Yonder is the goal +which duty and honour assign me; I +will break a road through your ranks, +though your forests became armies.’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘They <em>will</em> do so,’ replied the Russian. +The words had scarce left his +lips, when the thunder of artillery +echoed from the heights in front and +on the left flank, and an iron hail +crashed and rattled upon the icy surface +of the plain.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘This is treachery!’ cried the +marshal sternly, as he looked up and +beheld the hills crowned on all sides +with levelled guns, and dark masses +of troops. ‘There is no parleying +under fire! You are my prisoner!’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“The officer, confounded at being +thus sacrificed by the imprudence or +recklessness of his friends, gave up +his sword.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Take him to the rear!’ commanded +the marshal. ‘General Ricard, +forward! Attack the enemy +with the bayonet. You shall have +the honour of opening the road.’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“The general, at the head of fifteen +hundred men, pressed resolutely forward.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Everybody who has read Ségur, and +those who have not had better begin +immediately, knows how these fifteen +hundred men were swept away by Kutusow’s +artillery; how Ney in person +headed the next charge; and how, after +losing more than half his division, he +retreated towards Smolensko, made a +flank movement, again returned southwards, +and at last struck the Dnieper, +and crossed it with the remnant of +his force, without a bridge, and on +blocks of floating ice, to find, upon the +further bank, Platoff and his Cossacks, +with their Scythian tactics and sledge-mounted +artillery, to which he had +no cannon to oppose,—the six guns +wherewith he had audaciously returned +the fire of Kutusow’s tremendous +batteries having been left, of +course, on the north bank of the river. +But, after braving and escaping from +the whole Russian army, Ney was +not to be intimidated by a horde of +ill-disciplined savages; and he forced +his way, fighting incessantly, to the +neighbourhood of Orcha, where Eugene +received him with open arms. +There are only five short days’ +marches from Smolensko to Orcha; +but in that little section of the long +and terrible retreat, Ney, whilst losing +thousands of men daily, gathered +enough laurels to shade the brows of +half a dozen heroes. We do not envy +the feelings of those, be they Russians, +English, or of what country they may, +who can read, without profound emotion +and admiration, the history of +Marshal Ney during the Russian campaign, +and especially during its latter +and most disastrous portion. When +those who previously ranked as the +bravest gave in—when pride and thirst +for glory were obliterated by extremity +of suffering, and by the instinct +of self-preservation—when the soldier’s +most powerful incentives, discipline, +honour, and gain, were forgotten +and lost sight of, and even the +iron veterans of the Old Guard, no +longer sustained by their Emperor’s +presence, renounced the contest and +lay down to die—when his fellow-marshals, +with rare exceptions, showed +weariness and discouragement, and +even the stern Davoust complained +that the limits of human suffering were +exceeded,—where was Ney, what was +his aspect, what his words and actions? +In rear of the army, a musket +in his hand, a smile of confidence on +his lips, the fire of his great soul and +of his own glory flashing from his +eyes, he exposed his life each minute +in the day, as freely as ever he had +done when he had but life to lose, +before his valour had given him riches +and rank, family and fame. Surely, so +long as valour is appreciated, the +name of <span class='sc'>Ney</span> will be borne in +glorious remembrance. And surely +those men who subsequently pronounced +his sentence of death, must +since have sometimes felt remorse at +their share in the untimely fate of so +great a warrior. “I have saved my +eagles!” joyously exclaimed Napoleon, +when he learned, at two leagues from +Orcha, that Ney was safe, although he +brought with him but the ghost of his +fine division. “I would have given +three hundred millions to avoid the +loss of such a man.” Although Napoleon, +in some things the most magnificent +charlatan upon record, dealt +largely in speeches of this sort, we +may believe that in this instance the +cry came from the heart. What would +the Emperor have said, had he then +been told that three years later, on the +7th December 1815, the anniversary +of one of those days when Ney so +bravely breasted the Muscovite torrent, +an execution would take place in +an alley of the Luxemburg gardens, +and that there, by sentence of a French +chamber and the bullets of French +soldiers, a premature end would be put +to the glorious career of him he had +surnamed the Bravest of the Brave!</p> + +<p class='c008'>Previously to the junction of Ney +and Eugene, Colonel Rasinski, whilst +reconnoitring in the gray of the morning, +falls in with a sledge containing +three persons muffled in furs, whom +he at first takes for Russians, but +who prove to be Ludwig and his two +companions. Upon the occasion of +so happy a meeting, M. Rellstab is of +course profuse in tears and embraces; +Jaromir and Boleslaw are summoned +to assist at the jubilee, and thenceforward +the three Poles, the two Germans, +Bianca, her waiting-maid +Jeannette, and the faithful Willhofen, +keep together as far as Wilna, save +and except those amongst them whom +death snatches by the way. The +party is soon increased by an infant, +the daughter of Colonel Regnard, and +of a French actress, of which Bianca +takes charge. Here again the author +of “1812” has made good and effective +use of an incident thus briefly recorded +by Ségur.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“At the gates of the town (Smolensko) +an infamous act struck all +witnesses with a horror that still survives. +A mother abandoned her +son, a child of five years old; in +spite of his cries and tears she repulsed +him from her overloaded sledge, +wildly exclaiming that ‘he had not +seen France! he would not regret +it! But as to her, she knew France! +she must see her country again!’ +Twice did Ney have the poor child +replaced in its mother’s arms, thrice +she threw it upon the frozen snow. +But amongst a thousand instances of +sublime and tender devotedness, this +solitary crime was not left unpunished. +This unnatural parent was herself +abandoned upon the snow, whence +her victim was raised and confided to +another mother. At the Beresina, at +Wilna, and Kowno, the orphan was +seen, and he finally escaped all the +horrors of the retreat.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>In the romance the child is first +fostered by a wounded veteran, and +a compassionate canteen woman, but +is separated from them when traversing +the Dnieper, and receives the +tenderest care from Bianca. On +the northern bank of the Beresina +we find the principal personages of +the tale assembled, at the moment +when the Russian cannon pour their +murderous contents into the dense +mass of fugitives, and these, crowding +to the bridge, fall by hundreds into the +water. A round-shot suddenly shatters +the front of the vehicle in which +Bianca, her maid, and the child are +seated. The scene that ensues is +spiritedly and naturally told.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“The frightened horses reared furiously, +and would have upset the carriage +had not the pole and fore-axle +been in splinters. Willhofen sprang +forward to hold them; Ludwig and +Bernard hurried to his assistance. +With streaming hair, Jeannette had +already leaped from the cart, and +Bianca, unconscious of what she did, +followed her example, still closely +clasping the infant.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Is it alive?’ cried a voice, and at +the same moment she felt herself seized +from behind. She turned, and Regnard +stood before her, his right arm +in a sling: he had just made his way +through the crowd of carts. ‘Oh! I +have you then at last,’ he tenderly +exclaimed, kissing and caressing his +child as she lay in the arms of Bianca, +who, stunned with terror and the +recent shock, scarce thought of wondering +at his unexpected appearance.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘You here, colonel?’ cried Bernard. +‘How and whence came you?’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘From the fight up yonder,’ replied +Regnard. ‘’Tis awful work; our +fellows stand like the walls of Troy, +but all must soon be overthrown, +for the Russians bury us under their +bullets.’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Did you see Rasinski? Is he +alive? And Boleslaw and Jaromir?’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘They fight like lions, like devils, +those Poles; but it’s all in vain, we +cannot hold out another hour. And +this defile over the bridge looks about +as tempting as the jaws of hell.’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘You are wounded, colonel?’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘My right arm shattered. My horse +was knocked over by a shell; I +dragged myself as far as Studianka +to seek a doctor, and found ashes and +corpses, no longer of use in the fight. +I thought I would have a trial to +cross the bridge. I saw these carriages +from above; I knew you had +driven up here yesterday. If I could +only find you, I thought, and get a +last look at my little daughter! Laugh +at me, if you like, but the thought +came like a whisper from heaven. +‘Perhaps it is the last wish you will +see fulfilled,’ said I to myself. And +as if some invisible guide had led me, +I made my way to your very carriage, +just as the twelve-pounder played you +the trick. Only see now how hearty +the child is; it grows like its mother! +Ah! if I only had something for you, +poor darling! Were we but in Paris, +that I might give you a pocketful of +bonbons!’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And in fondling and chattering with +the infant, he forgot both his crushed +arm and the destruction that raged +so actively around. The storm of +shot had no terrors for him; twenty +battles had accustomed him to it. +But the sweet emotions of paternal +love were new to him, and a secret +voice seemed to warn him that he +would not long enjoy them.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Ludwig now came up and greeted +the colonel. Bianca gave the child +to Jeannette, for Regnard, with only +one arm, could not hold it, and she +felt that her strength was giving way +amidst this complication of horrors. +She leaned against the wheel of the +carriage. Bernard observed her faltering, +and encircling her tenderly +with his arm, he kissed her pale cheek.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘See yonder woman,’ he said; +‘take pattern by her; see, dearest +sister! how calm she is amidst the +ravages of death.’</p> + +<p class='c008'>About twenty paces off, a tall female +figure sat upon a horse, a child +of three years old in her arms, and +gazed steadily at the tumult. A black +veil was twined round her head, but +left her noble and striking countenance +exposed. She could but just have +arrived, otherwise her appearance was +too remarkable not to have attracted +attention, even in that hour of confusion +when few thought of any thing +but their danger.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Calm?’ said Bianca, after a long +look, ‘calm, say you? Petrified, you +<em>should</em> say. See you not the tears +that roll over her rigid countenance, +and the despairing gaze she directs to +heaven? Alas, poor woman!’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘She is the widow of Colonel Lavagnac,’ +said Regnard; ‘her husband +fell three weeks ago at Wiazma; the +child in her lap is her daughter.’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“All eyes were fixed in pity on the +mourning figure, when a cannon-ball +boomed through the air, and struck +her and her horse to the ground. A +cry of horror escaped the bystanders. +The unhappy woman had disappeared. +One could not see her for the throng. +Bernard, Ludwig, and Regnard forced +a passage through the mob of men and +horses, but with all their efforts their +progress was slow. Bianca followed +them, led partly by pity and partly by +fear of separation from her protectors.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Silent and uncomplaining, the lady +sat upon the ensanguined snow, her +tall, dignified form supported against +an overturned cart, her child clasped +in her arms. The shot had shattered +both her feet, but her infant appeared +unhurt, and anxiously clasped its +mother’s neck with its little hands. +None thought of succouring the poor +creatures; all were too engrossed with +their own selfish misery, and few +vouchsafed her more than a passing +glance as they struggled onwards. +She would hardly have escaped being +trampled under foot, had not her +wounded horse, lashing out convulsively +in the agonies of death, cleared +a space around her. Whilst Bernard +supported his trembling sister, Ludwig +and Regnard attempted to climb over +the cart which intervened between +them and the wounded lady. But at +that moment the noble sufferer took a +strong hair-chain from her neck, twisted +it, before any could stay her hand, +around her infant’s throat, and with a +sudden exertion of strength drew it +tight. The little creature drooped its +head and fell strangled on its mother’s +knees. In a last frantic convulsion, +the unhappy parent clasped her child +to her bosom, gave an agonised sigh, +a glance to heaven, and fell back, +dead. At that moment Ludwig and +Regnard reached her, but it was too +late. Bianca hid her face in her +brother’s bosom.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>A fragment of a shell knocks over +the faithful Willhofen. The fire from +the Russian batteries becomes more +terrible than ever, the crowd more +agitated and frantic.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Let us keep together!’ cried +Regnard—‘once separated, we shall +never meet again.’ And he stretched +out his hand to grasp that of Ludwig, +when a ball passed between them, +overthrowing the colonel.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Regnard!’ cried Ludwig, +springing to his assistance, ‘are you +badly hit?’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Bernard raised the wounded man +by the shoulders, and bent over him.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘I have got my allowance,’ said +Regnard, faintly. ‘Where is my +little daughter?’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Shuddering, but with resolute step, +Bianca came forward, the child in her +arms. She kneeled beside the dying +soldier and held it out to him. Regnard +looked mournfully at the little +creature so soon to be an orphan.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Farewell!’ he said, kissing it +for the last time. ‘You have no +longer a father—but a mother—has +she not?’ added he, imploringly to +Bianca. ‘Greetings to Rasinski, if he +still lives to receive them. Long live +the Emperor!’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Upon this last exclamation, +uttered in a hoarse soldier-like tone, +the final breath of the dying man was +expended. The next instant his soul +had fled.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>From the heights of Studianka the +beaten French now pour down, and +Bianca loses her female attendant, +who perishes miserably, crushed by +a gun-carriage. It will be seen that +there is a considerable accumulation +of horrors at this part of the romance; +but tender-hearted persons, whom +narratives of human suffering too +painfully affect, will naturally avoid +a book founded on such a campaign +as that of 1812. The passage of the +Beresina has been too often described +to be worth dwelling upon here; and +the more so as Mr Rellstab very +judiciously has not attempted to alter +or improve upon the reality, of itself +sufficiently extraordinary and harrowing. +He makes Rasinski execute +the famous feat of Jacqueminot, +Oudinot’s aide-de-camp, who, after +swimming the Beresina in spite of the +piercing cold and of the floating blocks +of ice that bruised and cut his horse’s +chest and flanks, galloped after the +stragglers from Tchaplitz’s retreating +column, caught one, disarmed him, +put him before him on his horse and +swam back with him to Napoleon, +who had expressed a wish for a prisoner +from whom to get information.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Hopeless of crossing the crowded +bridge, where a fearful struggle for +precedence now goes on amongst the +mob of desperate fugitives, Bianca +and her two companions take their +course up stream, still bearing with +them Regnard’s orphan daughter, and +hoping to find rest and shelter by +passing themselves off as Russians. +At last, seeing no signs of house or +village, they sit down in despair upon +the snow and await their fate; when, +in accordance with Mr Rellstab’s +practice of bringing about opportune +meetings, Rasinski and his handful of +lancers ride up to them, and after +the due amount of kisses and tears, +a Lithuanian peasant guides them to +a ford, and they get through the river +in safety. At Zembin they procure +a small sledge, and Bernard and +Ludwig urge Bianca to hurry forward +to Wilna. Neither of them offer to +accompany her, which they might +with great propriety have done, seeing +that they are dismounted and useless, +but propose confiding her to a wounded +dragoon, a proposal which she naturally +enough declines, and declares +she will stick to the ship—in other +words to the regiment—and rough it +with the rest. After which plucky +decision there is no more talk of +parting company till they reach Wilna. +Before getting there, however, there +is much to be gone through. For +winter sets in, and the tortures of +cutting cold are added to those previously +endured, slaying the sick and +wounded by hundreds of a night. +Overpowered by the fatigues of the +day, they lie down to sleep beside +their watchfires, and in the morning +are stiff and cold. The north-west +wind suddenly surrounds the +harassed Frenchmen with the terrible +atmosphere of the north pole, the +air is filled with an icy dust, lips and +cheeks crack and blister, the eyes are +inflamed by the glittering whiteness +of the snow. The horses die from +extreme cold, and it is just as well +for their riders, who would otherwise +be frozen in their saddles. Thus +Rasinski and his comrades find themselves +dismounted, and Bianca’s sledge +becomes useless. They pursue their +way on foot, amidst scenes of inconceivable +suffering and woe. Few of +those around them show fortitude in +this extremity of misery. In some +instances despair and madness lead to +violence and shameful excesses. +Bianca, whose courage rises with the +necessity for exertion, is walking supported +by Ludwig’s arm, and Bernard +follows at a short distance, carrying +the infant, who, unconscious of +the danger, smiles cheerily in his face, +when the following incident occurs.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“At this moment a hoarse firm +voice was heard in rear of Bernard.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Stop, dog!’ it exclaimed. +‘Your cloak, or I shoot you dead!’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Bernard stopped and looked +round. A soldier, scantily attired in +wretched rags, his features distorted, +his beard long and tangled, his face +black with earth and smoke, his eyes, +frightfully inflamed, rolling wildly in +their orbits, stood before him and +covered him with his musket.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘What would you, wretched +man?’ cried Bernard, horror-struck +and stepping backwards. The child +screamed with terror, clasped its arms +around him, and hid its little head in +his breast.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Your warm cloak, or I shoot you +down!’ shouted the frantic soldier. +‘No more comrades here; I’ve as +good a right to save myself as you.’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Bernard saw himself almost alone +with the assassin; although thousands +were within hail, the bullet +would be quicker than their aid, supposing +even that one amongst them +had sufficient pity for another’s peril +to turn aside for a moment, and thus +lengthen his journey and sufferings +by a few painful paces. There was +nothing for it but to yield to the +menace and give up his warm wrapper, +although he well knew that with it he +gave up his life.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘You would murder a comrade to +prolong your own life?’ said Bernard, +in a tone of dignified determination; +‘be it so, but you will profit little by +the deed. Your hour will overtake +you the sooner.’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Quick, death gripes me already!’ +cried the madman, his musket still +levelled and his bloodshot eyes wildly +rolling.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Bernard stooped to put down the +child, which impeded him in pulling +off his coat; as he did so, he heard a +loud cry, and turning, he beheld Bianca, +who threw herself weeping at the feet +of the furious soldier.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Take this gold, these jewels!’ +she exclaimed; ‘this warm cloak is +yours, but let my brother live!’ And, +with the quickness of thought, she tore +the rich chain from her neck and the +furs from her shoulders, leaving her +arms and delicate frame exposed with +slight covering to the rigour of that +horrible climate. The soldier gazed +at her for a moment with fixed and +straining eyes, then his arms slowly +sank; letting the musket fall to the +ground, he pressed both hands to his +face, and broke out in loud weeping +and whimpering. By this time Ludwig +came up, and he and Bernard lifted +up Bianca, who was still kneeling on +the frozen ground, and extending her +arms with the proffered gifts.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Wild beast that I am!’ suddenly +exclaimed the stranger; ‘no, I cannot +survive this shame. Forgive me; you +knew me once a better man, before +suffering drove me mad! But no +matter; I know my duty.’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“He stooped to pick up his musket. +Bernard kept his eyes fixed upon him, +and racked his memory for the features, +which, wild and distorted though they +now were, still seemed familiar to him.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Where have I known you?’ he +asked, as the man resumed his erect +position.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘I don’t wonder you’ve forgotten +me,’ was the gloomy reply; ‘I have +forgotten myself. Alive, I am no +longer worthy of the Order!’ cried he +wildly, tearing from his rags the +ribbon of the Legion of Honour and +throwing it upon the snow. ‘I will +try to earn it again, that you may lay +it upon my body. I am my own judge, +and I show no favour.’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Setting the butt of his musket +firmly on the earth, he pressed his +breast against the muzzle and touched +the trigger with his foot. The piece +went off, and its unfortunate owner +fell heavily to the ground.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Gracious God!’ exclaimed Bianca, +sinking senseless into Ludwig’s arms.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Bernard was at the side of the +fallen man, supporting his head. A +last spark of life still remained. ‘If +you get to France,’ gasped the suicide, +‘a word to my wife and children—Sergeant +Ferrand—of Laon,’ and the +spirit departed. As he closed his +eyes, Bernard remembered him. It +was the same Sergeant Ferrand whose +humanity saved him and Ludwig from +perishing during their imprisonment +at Smolensko. Military honour was +the condition of the veteran’s existence; +he thought himself degraded +beyond redemption by the murderous +aggression to which misery, pain, and +despair, had driven him; a woman +had surpassed him in courage, and +that was more than he could bear. +A rigorous judge, he had pronounced +his own doom, and executed it with +his own hand.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Deeply moved, Bernard knelt +beside the body; he gathered up the +scrap of tarnished ribbon which the +departed soldier had prized above all +earthly goods, and laid it upon the +breast of the corpse.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Who shall deprive you of it?’ +he said. ‘May it adorn you beyond +the grave, amidst the throng of the +valiant who have preceded you!’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And they continued their journey, +for the times admitted not of delay.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>That night they have to fight for +their quarters in the village of Malodeczno, +and use their artillery for the +last time, being compelled to abandon +it for the want of horses. Boleslaw +is killed in the action. Soon afterwards, +the Emperor leaves the army, +and his departure dispirits even those +who admit its propriety. Things get +worse and worse. Often, after a +fatiguing day’s march, no shelter is +obtainable, and Bianca and her tender +charge are fain to brave the inclemency +of the bivouac, whilst the men +watch by turns to keep off wolves and +marauders. One night, when performing +this duty, Jaromir is startled +by a loud laugh, sounding strangely +horrible in that scene of misery and +desolation.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“From out of the surrounding +darkness a grim figure stalked into +the circle of fire-light. It was a gigantic +cuirassier, wrapped in a tattered +cloak, a bloody cloth bound +round his head beneath his helmet. +In his hand he carried a young fir +tree, as a staff to support his steps.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Good evening,’ he said, in a hollow +voice to Jaromir. ‘Good evening, +comrade. You seem merry here.’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘What seek you?’ demanded +Jaromir, amazed at this hideous apparition! +‘There is no place for you +here. Begone!’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“The cuirassier stared at him with +his hollow eyes, twisted his mouth +into a frightful grin, and gnashed +his teeth like some infuriated +beast.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Ha, ha, ha!’ he laughed, or +rather yelled; ‘Sleep you then so +sound, ye idlers?’ And as he spoke +he stamped with his foot on a frozen +corpse upon which he stood. ‘Awake, +awake!’ he cried, ‘and come with +me!’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“For a moment he stood as if listening +to some distant sound, then +tottered painfully forward to the +fire.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Back!’ cried Jaromir, ‘Back, +or I shoot you on the spot!’ And he +drew a pistol; but his hand, trembling +with fever, had not strength to level +it.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“The lunatic stared at him with +stupified indifference, his sunken features +varying in their expression from +a ghastly smile to the deepest misery. +Jaromir gazed at him in silent horror. +The huge figure stretched its lean arms +out from under the cloak, and made +strange and unintelligible gestures.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Ho! I am frozen!’ howled the +human spectre at last, and shook himself. +Then he clutched at the flames +with his fingers, like an infant, and +staggered nearer and nearer till +he stood close to the circle of sleepers, +far within which he extended his +arms. For the first time he now +seemed to feel the warmth of the fire. +A low whining noise escaped him, +then he suddenly exclaimed, in tones +between laughing and crying, ‘To +bed! to my warm bed!’ tossed his +fir-tree staff far from him, stumbled +forwards over the sleeping soldiers, and +threw himself, in his raging madness, +into the centre of the glowing pile.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Help, help!’ cried Jaromir, his +hair erect with horror, and seizing +Rasinski, he shook him with all his +remaining strength.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘What is it?’ cried Rasinski, +raising himself.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘There, there!’ stammered his +friend, pointing to the flames, in which +the unhappy cuirassier lay writhing +and bellowing with agony. Rather +conjecturing than comprehending what +had occurred, Rasinski started up to +rescue the sufferer. But it was too +late. The heat had already stifled +him; he lay motionless, the flame +licking greedily round his limbs, and +a thick nauseous smoke ascending in +clouds from his funeral faggots. +Rasinski stepped shudderingly backward, +and turned away his face to +conceal his emotion; then he observed +that all around him lay buried in a +deathlike sleep. Not one had been +aroused by the terrible catastrophe +that had occurred in the midst of so +many living men.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>After those long days of hunger and +fatigue, the bonds of slumber were of +iron strength, and difficult to loosen. +And it was even more dangerous than +difficult to rob the survivors of the +Grand Army of that brief repose, +often their sole solace and refreshment +during the twenty-four hours. In his +turn overtaken by delirium, Jaromir’s +cries and complaints at last awoke the +whole party round the fire. A low +murmur arose amongst the soldiers, +and rapidly increased. Soon they +cast ominous and threatening glances +at the young Pole, and at last their +discontent found a voice.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Who is the madman, and what +ails him?’ savagely exclaimed a +bearded grenadier. ‘He robs us of +our precious sleep! Thrust him from +the fire—let him freeze if he cannot +be still!’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Ay, thrust him out!’ was the +universal cry; and several sprang to +accomplish the barbarous deed. +Bianca uttered a cry of terror; Ludwig +caught her in his right arm, and +with his left kept off the assailants. +Rasinski, who at once saw the greatness +of the peril, left Jaromir in Bernard’s +care, and leaped with flashing +eyes into the midst of the circle. +Ever prompt and decided, he snatched +a half consumed branch from the fire, +waved it above his head, and shouted +with that lion’s voice so often heard +above the thunder of the battle, +‘Back, knaves! The first step forward +costs one of you his life.’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“The angry soldiers hesitated and +hung back, yielding to Rasinski’s moral +ascendency as much as to his threat +of punishment. But then the grenadier +drew his sabre and furiously +exclaimed:—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘What, dastards, are ye all afraid +of one man? Forward! Down with +the Polish dogs!’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Down thyself, inhuman ruffian!’ +thundered Rasinski, and sprang to +meet his foe. Adroitly seizing the +soldier by the wrist of his uplifted arm, +so that he could not use his weapon, +he struck him over the head with the +burning branch so violently, that the +charred wood shivered, and a cloud of +sparks flew out. But the blow, heavy +as it was, was deadened by the thick +bearskin cap, and served only to convert +the angry determination of the +grenadier into foaming fury. Of +herculean build, and at least half the +head taller than his opponent, he let +his sabre fall, and grappled Rasinski +with the intention of throwing him +into the flames. The struggle lasted +but for a moment before Rasinski +tottered and fell upon his knees. To +all appearance his doom was sealed, +the hero succumbed before the overpowering +strength of the brute, when +Ludwig flew to his assistance, dragged +the soldier backwards, and fell with +him to the ground. Rasinski picked +up the sabre, with his left hand dashed +the bearskin from the head of the +fallen grenadier, and with the right +dealt him a blow that clove his skull +in twain. Then, erecting his princely +form, he advanced, with the calm +dignity that characterised him, into +the midst of the astounded bystanders. +‘Throw the corpse into the snow,’ +commanded he: ‘lie down again and +sleep. It matters no more than if I +knocked a wolf upon the head.’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“As if he had no longer occasion for +it, he threw the sabre contemptuously +from him. None dared to +murmur, but two soldiers obediently +raised the bloody corpse of the fallen +man, carried it a few paces, and +threw it upon the snow-covered +ground.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>The following evening the little +band of friends reached Wilna, but +without Jaromir, who had expired on +the road. Wilna, the first inhabited +town the French army had seen since +their entrance into Russia, had been +looked forward to by the fugitives +who escaped from the terrible passage +of the Beresina, as a refuge and a +resting-place. There they fondly expected +shelter from the cold, food for +the famishing, bandages and medicine +for the wounded and the sick. But +their arrival took the Lithuanian +capital by surprise. The inhabitants +were still without any certain accounts +of the disasters of the French, when +suddenly they beheld their streets +invaded by forty thousand ragged +wretches, in whom it was impossible +to recognise the remains of those +magnificent troops which had passed +through with Napoleon in the previous +month of July. The very impatience +of the men to get into the comfortable +quarters they had promised themselves +(but which few of them found, +for the inhabitants shut their doors, +and the commissaries, although their +stores were crammed with bread and +meat, refused to serve out those much +needed provisions without a host of +formalities rendered impossible by the +general disorganisation) was the destruction +of thousands. They all +rushed in at one entrance,—the narrow +suburb became blocked up with men, +horses, and vehicles, and numbers +perished of cold and of suffocation. +When the survivors got through, their +despair was terrible on finding themselves +every where repulsed, from +hospital and barracks, from the provision-store +and the private dwelling. +The hospitals and barracks, where +there were neither beds or straw, +were converted into charnel-houses, +heaped with human bodies. “At +last,” says Ségur, “the exertions of +certain chiefs, such as Eugene and +Davoust, the pity of the Lithuanians +and the avarice of the Jews, opened +places of refuge. Then it was strange +to behold the astonishment of these +unfortunates on finding themselves at +last in inhabited houses. What delicious +food a loaf of bread appeared, +what inexpressible pleasure did they +find in eating it seated, and with what +admiration were they struck by the +sight of a single weak battalion, still +armed and uniformly clothed. They +seemed to return from the extremity +of the world, so completely had the +violence and duration of their sufferings +detached them from all their +former habits.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Bianca, her brother and friends, +skirt the town to avoid the throng, +and get in by an unencumbered entrance. +In the streets, however, Rasinski +is separated from his three +companions, who find shelter in the +house of a former servant of Bianca, +and there meet with Ludwig’s sister +Marie, and the Countess Micielska, a +widowed sister of Rasinski, whom we +have not had occasion previously to +mention, although she is a fine enthusiastic +character, and plays no unimportant +part in the earlier scenes of +the book. On learning, by letters +from their brothers, the burning of +Moscow and probability of retreat, +the two ladies braved the severity of +a Lithuanian winter, and left Warsaw +for Wilna, where their arrival coincides +with that of Napoleon’s disordered +cohorts. Their joy at meeting Ludwig +and Bernard is greatly overcast by the +loss of Jaromir and Boleslaw, and +by the absence of Rasinski, whom +the two young Germans vainly seek +in the crowded town, until at last, +overcome with weariness, they retire +to rest, dissembling, for his sister’s +sake, their uneasiness touching his +fate. Scarcely in bed, however, they +are aroused by Paul, their host, who +calls their attention to groans and +lamentations in the street without. +Arming themselves, they hurry forth +to investigate the cause.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Paul, bearing a lantern, preceded +them to the spot whence the piteous +sounds proceeded. It was a narrow +lane, running parallel to the city wall, +and inhabited entirely by Jews. Just +as they turned into it they were challenged +by a manly and well-known +voice in their rear. ‘Who goes there? +What is this disturbance?’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Rasinski!’ exclaimed Ludwig. +Paul turned, and, as the light fell +upon the face of the new comer, the +features of the noble Pole were revealed +to his friends.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Rasinski! you here, and alive!’ +cried Ludwig, throwing himself into +the Count’s arms.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Here follows, of course, <em>more Rellstab</em>, +half a page of tender embraces +and gratulations. Then, the groans +and lamentations continuing, the +friends again move forward.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“The lane was narrow and crooked, +so that they could not see far before +them. On passing an abrupt bend, +they distinguished several figures, +which fled noiselessly before them, +like night-birds frightened by the +sudden light, keeping close in the +shadow of the wall.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Who goes there?’ cried Rasinski +in Russian. ‘Stand, or I fire!’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“But the shadows flew onwards, +grazing the wall, and gliding over the +snow. Rasinski rushed after them, +stumbled over an object in his path, +fell, and, in his fall, his pistol went +off. Ludwig and Bernard, close at +his heels, would have stopped to help +him up—</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Forward, forward!’ he cried: +‘follow and catch them.’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“They hurried on, but only one +figure was now visible. They called +to him to stop; he heeded them not. +A shot fired by Bernard missed its +mark, but the whistle of the bullet +discomposed the fugitive, who, in +stooping his head, slipped and fell. +Ludwig was upon him in an instant, +inquiring who he was, and why he +fled. The stranger, who wore a sort +of long black caftan, replied in piteous +and terrified tones.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘God of my fathers!’ he cried: +‘have compassion, gracious sir! Why +persecute the poor Jew, who does +harm to no one?’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Paul, a light!’ cried Bernard, +who just then came up. ‘Let us see +who it is that is in such haste to +crave mercy. His conscience seems +none of the best.’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Paul lifted the lantern, casting +the light full on the Jew’s visage.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘The devil!’ cried Bernard. ‘I +should know that face. Where have +I seen the accursed mask? To be +sure, those red-bearded Lithuanians +are all as like each other as bullets. +But I greatly err, Jew, or you are the +spy with whom we have an account +to settle, that has stood over for the +last five months.’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“A shout from Rasinski interrupted +the speaker.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Hither, friends!’ he cried; ‘your +help here!’ The three hastily obeyed +the summons, dragging the Jew with +them in spite of his struggles and +cries.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Here has been the most villanous +crime the world ever witnessed!’ exclaimed +Rasinski, pale with horror +and indignation, as his friends joined +him. ‘Behold our comrades, driven +out naked in this deadly cold, plundered, +strangled, hurled from the +windows! Inhuman monster!’ he +cried in a terrible voice to the trembling +Jew, ‘if you have shared in this +work, I will have you torn by dogs. +See! here they lie. Horrible, horrible!’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“In a nook formed by the recession +of a house from the line of street, +lay eight human bodies, half naked, +some with only a shirt or a few +miserable rags to cover them. Over +one of these unfortunates, who was +still alive, Rasinski had thrown his +furred cloak, to protect him from the +piercing cold. Ludwig and Bernard +shuddered at this lamentable spectacle.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘God of Abraham!’ cried the +Jew, ‘to thee I lift up my right hand, +and swear that I am innocent of this +deed. May I be accursed with my +children and my grandchildren if I +know aught of it! May the ravens +pick out my eyes, and the flesh of my +hand wither, if I speak not the truth.’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘He was amongst the murderers,’ +the wounded man faintly gasped out: +‘he was about to cut my throat, when +the fall from the window did not kill +me, and because I called for help. +Only your arrival saved me.’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘Fiend, inhuman fiend! the unspeakable +misery that might draw +tears from a demon could not touch +you.’ Thus spoke Rasinski between +his set teeth, and raised his sabre to +split the skull of the Jew. In convulsions +of terror the miserable wretch +embraced his knees, and prayed for +pity.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘God—Jehovah—mercy, noble +Count, mercy!’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“Ludwig held back Rasinski’s arm. +‘Sully not your good blade with the +monster’s blood,’ he said, earnestly +and solemnly. ‘Leave him to the +justice of an omnipotent Avenger.’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“‘You are right,’ replied Rasinski, +quickly resuming his habitual composure. +‘Think you I have forgotten?’ +said he, with an expression of the +deepest loathing, to the Jew, who still +clasped his feet in agony of fear. ‘I +know you well for the base and double +traitor who once already escaped +well-merited death. Nothing could +save you now, were it not that even +a villain like yourself may be made +useful. Begone, and warn your fellow-assassins, +that if to-morrow I find a +single dead body, a single mark of +violence in one of their houses, I lay +the whole quarter in ashes,—men, +women, and habitations; and I myself +will be the first to hurl the sucking-babe +into the devouring flames! Away, +dog! Yet will I mark thee, that thou +mayest not escape.’</p> + +<p class='c008'>“And raising his foot, he stamped +thrice upon the face of the prostrate +Jew, who bellowed like a wild beast, +whilst his blood reddened the snow. +Nevertheless, the murderer managed +to scramble to his feet, and reach an +adjacent house door, where he stood +knocking and calling upon his fellow +Israelites for help and compassion.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Count Ségur tells us, that the Jews +enticed the unfortunate wounded into +their houses to despoil them, and afterwards, +in sight of the Russians, threw +them, naked and dying, out of the +doors and windows, leaving them to +perish of cold.</p> + +<p class='c008'>We approach the final chapters of +Mr Rellstab’s romance. Bianca, whose +quality of a Russian noble suffices to +protect her and her attendants, remains +with Ludwig, Marie, and her +brother at Wilna, after the French +leave it. They then post to Germany +without further adventure. Their last +sight of Rasinski is when, mounted on +a Cossack horse, by the side of Marshal +Ney, he heads a scanty but determined +band, covering the retreat of +the French. He subsequently falls at +Leipzig, fighting with his wonted gallantry +under the orders of his countryman +Poniatowski.</p> + +<p class='c008'>From the glimpses of the plot and +numerous extracts we have given, the +reader will have small difficulty in +forming his own estimate of the faults +and merits of “1812.” We have already +commented upon both: upon +the spirit and power often conspicuous +in the dialogue and description, as +well as upon the excess of forced coincidences, +and upon the occasional +long-windedness and super-sentimentality. +However the interest may +here and there, by reason of prolixity, +be found to flag, the book, when once +begun, is not likely to be laid aside +unfinished. This alone is saying much +for a historical romance in four very +long volumes. There are not many +German writers, in that style, of whose +works we would venture the like prediction. +And just at present Mr Rellstab +need not apprehend fresh rivals. +The year 1848 is unfavourable to German +literature. The country is far +too busy revolutionising to care about +belles-lettres. Fictions are ousted by +realities, novels by newspapers, trim +octavos by uncouth twopenny pamphlets, +polemical and satirical, attacking +and defending, supporting +and tearing to pieces, the numerous +schemes afoot for the regeneration of +Fatherland. In due time it will be +seen whether the literature of the +country is to share the general improvement +so sanguinely anticipated +from the recent changes in a system, +under which Germany undeniably has +long enjoyed a very large share of +tranquillity and happiness.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_373'>373</span> + <h2 class='c002'>WHAT WOULD REVOLUTIONISING GERMANY BE AT?</h2> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>Many a confirmed wanderer upon +Continental highways and byways may +have been long since wearied by the +conceitedly-vulgar airs in which old +Father Rhine has indulged himself in +latter years, and heartily tired of his +bald vineyards, his melodramatic old +ruins, and the make-believe majesty +of his so-called mountains. But still +there remained a sort of spurious halo +about his very name; some kindly +reminiscence of the time when, as an +enthusiastic youth just escaped from +the supposed commonplace of England, +one gazed for the first time upon +this famed show-stream of the Continent, +and wondered, and admired, +and poetised in spite of one’s-self, +may have cast a charm of early memory +upon its overrated allurements; +and, of a surety, there must have been +brought a comfortable glow of pleasure +to the heart of any one, except that +nearly-exploded animal, the exclusive +exquisite, either male or female, in +witnessing the happy gaping faces of +the touristic hordes, who paddled up +and down the well-known old banks—a +feeling of ease, comfort, and even +homeishness, in the modern luxuries +of the hundred palace-hotels of the +Rhenish towns and villages, in the +contented aspect of the thriving landlord, +welcoming the guests who +brought him wealth, and in the ready +alertness of the active and obsequious +waiters. Well, Germany has taken +into its head to follow in the lead +which distracted France gave, when +it madly beckoned with frantic finger +to all the Continent to follow in its +wild dance. Germany has caught the +St Vitus of revolution, and danced off, +if not as distractedly, at all events in +less connected step, and less defined +figure, than its neighbour: and in +this revolutionary frenzy Germany +has assumed so ungenial an aspect—a +manner so doubtful, so unpromising, +so uncertain, as regards the next step +it may be inclined to take in the jerkings +of its abrupt and unregulated +dance—that the gentle tourist-seekers +of ease and pleasure have turned away +in disgust from this heavy Meg Merrilees, +who has forgotten even her +scraps of song, and her long-pretended +spirit of romance, and declined to +visit her until she shall have somewhat +recovered from her drunken fit +of revolution, and become more decently +behaved. The Rhine, then, +has lost the last charm of foreign +bustle and movement, with which he +decked his old head, as with a crown +of wild flowers, not unbecoming his +gray hairs. He looks sad, sober, discontented, +disappointed, mourning his +lost old joys, and his lost glories, of +which young Germany, in its revolutionary +excitement, has despoiled +him. His hotels are empty; landlords, +too, have a forlorn air, and +take to rattling their last <em>groschen</em> in +their pockets; and unhappy waiters +get fat upon their inactivity, but, at +the same time, pale with ill-humour +at their diminished <i><span lang="de">trinkgelder</span></i>, and +apprehension of losing their places +altogether. Travellers’ visits have +grown, like those of angels, “few +and far between;” and as angels do +the poor scanty tourists appear to be +regarded—as munificent beings, in +fact, from whom too much cannot be +demanded and expected; for the +Rhenish hotel-keepers, in pursuance +of the system adopted by Parisian +shopkeepers, in these days of revolutionary +scarcity and destitution, +seem determined to make those unhappy +beings, who fall into their +clutches, redeem the debt they appear +to consider due to them from those +absent tourists, who have not come +to enjoy all the splendours prepared +for them. Since Germany, with its +newborn cry for imperial unity, has +appeared inclined to turn back again, +in new revolutionary spirit, to old +feudal times, the Rhenish hotel-keepers +seem to think that they ought to +appear in the characters of the old +robber-knights. This consideration, +perfectly personal to a poor tourist, +who has lately paid his <i><span lang="de">löse-geld</span></i> at +many a modern robber’s stronghold +on the Rhine, brings him round, however, +to the question which he has +been putting to himself, at every step +he has been taking in Germany—“What +would revolutionising Germany +be at?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>What would revolutionising Germany +be at? It is a question easily +put, but very difficult to answer. The +old joke, lately “freshed-up” to be +applied to the French—namely, that +“they don’t know what they want, +and won’t be easy till they get it,” +may, with still deeper truth, be applied +to the Germans. In spite of +much inquiring conversation with all +men of all ranks, and in all positions of +life, it has been quite impossible for an +unimaginative English understanding +to discover exactly, in the midst of +all the vague rhapsody, florid discourse, +and poetical politics with +which it has been assailed, “what +they want.” To judge by the fermenting +spirit every where prevalent, +the bombastic and unpractical dreams—for +plans they are not—formed as +regards the future, it would be difficult +also not to suppose that “they +won’t be easy till they get it.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>What would revolutionising Germany +be at? In spite of all one sees +and hears, or rather does not hear, it +is impossible not to recur to the +question again and again; for, after +all, in Germany we are among thinking +men, and, children as they may +be in political life, <em>thinking men</em> they +<em>are</em>; and, surely, thinking men must +have some definite end and aim to +which their thoughts, their hopes, +their aspirations, and their efforts are +directed. All the Utopian schemes, +all the unpractical theories of all parties, +who put themselves forward in +the revolutionary movement, be their +tendencies monarchic, constitutional, +or republican, aspire, then, to the +setting up of the ill-defined idol of +modern German political fancies—“German +unity”—“One great and +powerful united Germany”—“One +great united German Empire”—or +whatever name, designation, or varied +shade of name the idol, whose pedestal +is “Union,” may bear. This was +the great fancied panacea for all evils, +for which men clamoured, when, in +imitation of that distracted city of +Paris—so worthy of imitation, forsooth!—they +got up revolutions, and +tried their hands at building barricades. +This has been, in truth, long +since the watchword of the German +student, when, in the recesses of his +beer-cellar at the university, he collected +a set of fellow <em>fancied</em> enthusiasts +around the beer-jugs, imagined +this species of club to be a wonderful +conspiracy, because he designated it +by the forbidden name of “<i><span lang="de">Burschenschaft</span></i>,” +and deemed himself a notable +and formidable conspirator, because he +drank off his <i><span lang="de">krug</span></i> of beer to the cry +of “Perish all Princes—<i><span lang="de">es lebe hoch +das Deutsche Vaterland</span></i>!” The princes, +by the way, were highly complimentary +to such conspirators, in +considering them dangerous, and forbidding +the existence of the <i><span lang="de">Burschenschaften</span></i>, +which were pretty safety-valves +enough to let off the exuberance +of studentic steam. Whether the cry +for a “United Germany” first proceeded +again from the mouths of these fantastic +enthusiasts, who, when they +found out, to their surprise, that the +parts they had been acting in their +mimic dramas of the beer-cellars +might be acted to the life and under +the open sky of heaven, became in +most parts of Germany the leaders +of the mobs, or the heroes of the +barricades, matters but little; nothing +is more like a flock of sheep—although +the term of “a pack of wolves” might +often appear more applicable—than +the general herd of men in moments +of revolutionary excitement; whatever +conclusion, however far-fetched +and fantastic, any old revolutionary +bell-wether may jump at, the +flock is sure to follow and jump after +him. It matters, then, but little +how or by whom the cry of “United +Germany” was first raised—the whole +revolutionary flock immediately set up +the same “baa!” and in each convulsion +of each German State, great +or small, in which a revolution may +be said to have taken place, among +the grievances which mobs, deputations, +or delegates laid before German +princes, as necessary to be forthwith +amended and rectified, was the immediate +and indispensable want of a +“United Germany.” A somewhat +more decided and definite step towards +the possible realisation of this tolerably +vague and indefinite <em>desideratum</em>, +in the amendment of people’s wrongs, +was taken by the call for the meeting +of one united German parliament, for +the purpose of considering and regulating +the affairs of all Germany in +this revolutionary crisis; but more +especially of effecting that union in +one empire, under one head, or under +one form of government, which appeared +to be the great desire of those +who now put themselves forward as +the expression of the will of all the +German nation, either as a whole, or +in its parts; and which seemed to +be considered as the great unknown +remedy for all evils, real or imaginary. +The meeting of the first illegal and +self-constituted body, which, in its +impatience to be ruling the destinies +of the nation, assembled at Frankfort +under the name of a <i><span lang="fr">Vor-Parlement</span></i>, +or preliminary parliament, and, although +originally only emanating +from a club of revolutionary spirits at +Heidelberg, contrived to impose itself +upon Germany and its princes, and +sway the destinies of the land, in +opposition to the old German Diet +assembled in the same place—the +proceedings of the <cite><span lang="de">Ausschuss</span></cite>, or select +committee, which the members of this +<i><span lang="fr">Vor-Parlement</span></i> left behind them, to +follow up their assumed authority, +when they themselves dispersed,—the +constitution of the present National +Assembly, sanctioned by most of the +German princes, and acknowledged +as fully legal and supreme in its +authority, its members being elected +by universal suffrage,—and its meeting +in time to put a stop to the wild +democratic tendencies and reckless +proceedings of the <cite><span lang="de">Ausschuss</span></cite>, are all +matters of newspaper history, and +need here no further detail; they are +mentioned only to show what revolutionising +Germany fancies and pretends +it would be at, as far as any +idea can be formed from its actions—and +the means it would employ to +arrive at its ends. We have got thus +far, then, in the solution of our question. +Revolutionising Germany desires, +above all things, one great and +powerful union of all its several parts,—the +how, when, where, &c., being +as yet very indefinite and unintelligible; +and the General National +Assembly is there to settle those important +preliminaries. Let us content +ourselves awhile with this very +vague and uncertain answer, and return +to old Father Rhine and his neighbourhood, +to have some further idea +of the physiognomy of the country +under the present revolutionary +auspices, and with the soothing hopes +of the realisation of the grand desideratum +of union before the country’s +eyes. After taking this superficial +survey of the “outward man,” and +judging as far as we can of his character +and temper therefrom, we may +then speculate, perhaps, a little upon +his tendencies in his present course; +and even go so far as to attempt to take +his hand, and try a trick or two of +palmistry in fortune-telling—not pretending, +however, in true gipsy spirit, +to infallibility in foretelling the future, +however knowingly and mysteriously +we may shake our heads in so doing.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Although the Germans cannot be +said to have the capabilities of acting +any new part, that they may pretend +to take upon themselves, to the life—and +even to the death—with all that +reality and energy for which the +French have such an inborn talent, +yet they may be looked up to as a +still more symbol-loving people than +the latter; and although perhaps not +quite so much “up to” correctness of +costume, at least quite as fond of +parading the dress of the new part +upon all occasions. The first thing, +consequently, that strikes the tourist, +on entering the Germany of 1848, is the +ostentatious display of the new-old +imperial, so-called national cockade, +the red, black, and gold colours of the +old German empire. It is not only +upon the caps of vapouring students, +who begin to consider themselves +more or less the masters of the world, +or upon the hats of hot-headed, <em>soi-disant</em>-enthusiastic, +poetico-political +young men that the new cockade is +now to be seen; it stares you in the +face from the head and breast of almost +every man you meet—gray-beard, +middle-aged, or youngster. It +is generally from the centre of the +cap or hat, and thus just upon the +forehead, that it glares upon you, +like the dark, red, gleaming eye of a +new race of Cyclops: almost every +male individual looks like a political +Polyphemus. The soldiers are, one +and all, adorned with two cockades, +the one of the colours of the individual +country they serve, the other of those +of Imperial United Germany. They +have thus two staring, distorted, and +unmatched eyes, one over the other, +in the centre of their foreheads. With +their two eyes they ought, one would +suppose, to see farther in the mist of +the political storm than other people. +The military, however, influenced +perhaps by the example of their +aristocratic young officers, have shown +themselves, generally speaking, and +markedly so in Prussia, where the +revolutionary movement has been the +most decided, recalcitrant towards the +so-called progress of the day, anti-popular +in their sympathies, attached +only to the king and individual +country they serve, disdainful of the +new central power, the authority of +which they do not and will not comprehend, +and of its representatives, +whom they regard as a herd of insolent +<i><span lang="de">schwätzer</span></i>, or chatterers—in +fact, anti-revolutionary, or, as it is +called in the pet political phrases of +the day, which the Germans have, +now more than ever, shown themselves +so foolishly eager to borrow of +the French—<i><span lang="de">retrograd</span></i> and <i><span lang="de">reactionär</span></i>.</p> + +<p class='c008'>This position of the military, which +appears, generally speaking, to be the +same all over the country, is, to say +the best, a very ticklish and equivocal +one, and promises but little for the +future internal peace of United Germany. +Orders, however, have been +given by such authorities as still are,—and +in the first instance by weak, +uncertain, vacillating, and now disappointed +Prussia,—that the military +should do their homage to the ideas +of the day, by wearing the imperial +cockade, if not in lieu of, at all events +in addition to, that which they had +heretofore considered as their national +symbol: and the double Polyphemus +eye of the soldier is one of the most +striking and startling evidences of the +unsteady and contending spirit of the +times, that meet the eye of the tourist +in Germany of to-day. Even more +than the students—who are still, however, +sufficiently remarkable both in +costume and manner in these days of +unrestricted movement and opinion—you +will find a certain set of men, +whose physiognomy of race is so +strongly marked by some indescribable +peculiarity of type, whatever be their +colour or form of feature, as to render +them unmistakeable, and who make +the most flaring display of the imperial +national colours, now so +strangely converted into the symbol +of a revolutionary spirit, be it in +cockade, or band, or button-hole +decoration. These are the Jews. +They are positively lavish in their +display of ribbon. Ever since the +revolution has begun its dubious and +unsteady course throughout Germany, +it has been, invariably and everywhere, +the Jews who have displayed +the strongest revolutionary spirit, the +most decided republican tendencies, +the most acrimonious hatred against +the “powers that be,” and the most +virulent efforts towards the subversion +of the existing state of things. What +may have been the cause of the outburst +of this spirit in an essentially trading +and money-getting people, whose +commercial advantages, in whatever +branch they may lie, must be so completely +compromised, if not altogether +ruined, by revolutionary movements +and their consequences, it would be +difficult in a superficial sketch to say: +it may be conjectured to have arisen +simply from a spirit of revenge against +the exclusive upper classes of Germany, +who have so long treated +their sect, proud of its wealth, +and seeking influence from its power, +with cutting repulsion and contempt. +The fact, however, is as stated; the +most active revolutionary spirits engaged +in the task of pulling down and +destroying, as far as was possible, +have been every where the Jews; the +avowed republicans may chiefly be +found among men of their persuasion; +the clamour, the attack, and the +denunciation, chiefly still proceed +from Jewish mouths and Jewish pens. +Those who now march forward, then, +the most boldly, hand in hand in +strange conjunction, along the precipitous +path of revolutionary movement, +are the students and the Jews. +If you unwisely allow one of the latter +to lay hold of an unlucky button of +your coat in a steamboat, he will be +sure to endeavour, with his peculiar +twang, to insinuate into you all the +wildest ultra-revolutionary doctrines: +the former will keep more apart from +you, and herd in knots; but, when +they get drunk, instead of vapouring +vague, incomprehensible, <em>soi-disant</em> +Kantian philosophy, as of yore, they +will bellow still more vague and incomprehensible +political theories about +United Germany. It is these two +classes of beings, then, who make the +most ostentatious parade of the national +cockades that flash across our +eyesight.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The fate of this cockade has been a +very strange one, by the way, in latter +years. The red, black, and gold combination +was long formally proscribed +in universities, as deleterious and +dangerous, and typical of the forbidden +<i><span lang="de">Burschenschaften</span></i>: it was worn only +in secret and by stealth, by recalcitrant +would-be revolutionary students. All +on a sudden it has been raised on +high in flag and banner, waving not +only in revolutionary procession, but +from palace walls, and tops of public +buildings. The cockade has not only +been authorised, but enjoined; and in +a late reactionary movement in Berlin,—when, +out of jealousy and spite towards +a central power, that had +chosen its executive head from southern +and not northern Germany, a +considerable public feeling was exhibited +against the imperial national +flag, and in favour of the Prussian +colours exclusively—the government, +or rather the king himself, was +obliged, for fear of an outbreak of the +students, to command the resumption +of those colours in flag and cockade, +which, but a little while ago, he himself +had proscribed. The pride of the +young <em>soi-disant</em> heroes at being +openly able to parade that symbol +which they cherished only heretofore +as fancied conspirators, may be easily +conceived: and, now these boy-men +find that they can dictate to the +princes of the earth, not only upon the +matter of flags and cockades, but +upon matters of far graver note, +there is no knowing to what height +of presumption this pride may not +still further lead them.</p> + +<p class='c008'>If, now, we look around us to note +the general physiognomy of the people, +we shall find many other little traits, +that mark these revolutionary times +in Germany. The common people, +more especially upon the Rhine, and +in many parts of the duchy of Baden—the +common people, formerly so smiling, +so ready, so civil, perhaps only +too obsequious in their signs of respect, +have grown insolent and rude: ask them +a question, and they will scarcely deign +to bestow upon you an answer: in +many instances they will shrug their +shoulders, laugh in your face, and then +turn their back upon you. On the +contrary the public officials, the government +<i><span lang="de">beamten</span></i>, have considerably +lowered that arrogance of tone for +which they formerly possessed a not +unmerited evil repute, and will answer +your inquiries with civil words +and smiling faces. Such, however, is +the natural see-saw movement of +manners in revolutionary times, in the +lower and lower-middle classes; and +as far as regards the latter effect of +revolutionary movement, no tourist +in Germany will be disposed to complain +of the change.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Over the middle and upper classes, +at the same time, there has fallen a +very visible gloom. That uncertainty +of the future, which is proverbially +far more difficult for moral strength +to bear than any certain evil, has had +the very evident effect, to the least +observant eye, of depressing the spirits +of “all manner of men.” The <em>hope</em> +appears to exist only in the theoretical +fancies of the excited liberal politician,—the +<em>enthusiasm</em> only in the +wild dreams of the declaiming student. +The prevailing impression is one of +all the dulness of doubt and the stupor +of apprehension. Talk to people of +the state of the country, and they will +either shake their heads with a grunt, +or openly express their fears about the +future: and those fears are none the +less active because they are so vague—none +the less depressing because +they wear the mysterious, visionary, +and consequently awful form which +the dim distance of complete uncertainty +imparts.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Another change, again, in the manners +of the people, is in the politicising +spirit, so uncongenial in times gone +by to the Germans, which, in most +great towns, seems now to have so +completely absorbed them. It is to +be found not only in the low clubs, +and in the insensate pothouse debates, +but in the eagerness to crowd +round the revolutionary addresses, +which are posted by ultra-liberals at +street corners, in the anxiety to read +the last revolutionary disquisition of +the new radical journal, in all its glory +of large sheet and full columns, which +has taken the place of the innocent +and patriarchal little <cite>Volks-blatt</cite>, that +was before the study and delight of the +humble burgher; and in the malicious +enjoyment with which the political +caricature, railing at prince or +men in power, is studied at the shop +window, and the feverish importance +that is attached to it.</p> + +<p class='c008'>All these characteristic signs and +changes will meet the eye of the tourist +if he even go no farther than the +confines of the Rhine, and the old city +of Cologne. There at once is that +depression visible to which allusion +has already been made. It is +visible in the aspect of the fallen half-ruined +shopkeeper, of the disconsolate +master of the hotel, and, above all, +of the anxious labourer upon the progress +of that mighty work, the completion +of which evil times seem again +to render an impossible task—the Cologne +cathedral. Funds for the further +progress of the great undertaking +already begin to fail; and these are +not times to seek them from the munificence +either of states or private +individuals. The <i><span lang="de">Baumeister</span></i>, who has +spent the greater part of a life upon +the wonderful task of working out the +completion of this miracle of Gothic +art,—whose whole soul has been concentrated +upon this one object,—the +breath of whose very existence seems +to depend upon the growth of this +foster-child of his fancy, for which +alone he has lived,—now shakes his +head, like the consumptive man whose +presentiments tell him that his last +hour is nigh, and who despairs of +escaping his doom. The revolutionary +wind has blown like the plague-blast +over the land: he feels that his +hand must soon fall powerless before +the neglect, or even ill-will of the +newborn age of revolutionary liberty, +and that he must disperse +abroad that band of artist-workmen +whom he has fashioned and educated +to the noble work, and whom, in +their completeness of artistic intelligence, +none perhaps, in future years, +may be able again to collect together. +The cathedral, however, has proceeded +to a certain point, at which the whole +interior may be enclosed; and there, +in all probability, the progress of the +works will be checked for the present. +The consecration of the new part of +the building, in this state, has already +taken place; but, even in these ceremonies, +the revolutionary modern +spirit of Germany has not forgotten to +assert its influence: the deputation +sent to them by the Prussian Assembly +refused to join to itself a Catholic +ecclesiastic; and yet it was seriously +proposed at the same time, by the +arrangers of the ceremonial <em>programme</em>, +that the monarchs who were expected +to be present upon the occasion should +mount upon the roof of the cathedral, +and there take an oath to preserve the +unity of Germany, which oath was to +be blessed and ratified by the Pope, +who was to be invited to come over +to Cologne for the purpose. The Pope +has had other deeds and other revolutionary +tendencies to bless or to ban +in his own dominions; but this little +trait, culled from the first <em>programme</em> +of the consecration of the Cologne +cathedral, may be taken, at the same +time, as a slight specimen of the wild +poetico-political freaks of theoretically +revolutionising Germany.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Let us wend our way a little farther. +Without attempting to take any precise +survey of Prussia and Austria, +the continued fermenting and agitated +state of which countries is the topic of +every-day newspaper notice, and consequently +without venturing upon any +description of the poisonous and ulcerating +sores continually breaking out +upon the face of the fair and once +healthy cities of Berlin and Vienna, +the ignorant tumult of the parliamentary +meetings assembled in them, +the noisy fermentation of the ultra-revolutionary +and republican clubs, +the symbolical but dangerous demonstrations +of hot-headed students and +other unripe and unquiet spirits, the +continual struggle and clash of parties +accusing each other reciprocally of +utterly subversive or counter-revolutionary +and reactionary tendencies, +and the constantly threatened danger +of fresh convulsions, with further ruin +to trade, and consequently to the well-being +of the country at large—without, +then, painting to ourselves a well-known +and notorious picture, let us +cast our eyes over the outward aspect +of some of the smaller states.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Nothing, in the first place, can be +more uneasy and disquieting than the +appearance of the Duchy of Baden. +In Heidelberg, ultra-revolutionary +students have come to a total schism +with their moderately and vaguely revolutionary +professors; and it is at +present difficult to see how any understanding +is to be effected between +teacher and scholar, so as to render +the university a seat of learning of any +other kind than that of subversive +principles. In this part of Germany +the revolutionary fermentation appears +far more active, and is far more visible +in the manner, attitude, and language +of the lower classes, than even in those +hotbeds of revolutionary movement, +Austria and Prussia. To this state of +things the confinity with agitated +France, and consequently a more +active affinity with its ideas, caught +like a fever from a next-door neighbour’s +house, the agency of the emissaries +from the ultra-republican Parisian +clubs, who find an easier access +across the frontiers—not without the +cognisance, and, it would now seem, +as was long suspected, with the aid +also of certain influential members of +the Provisional Government of France—and +the fact also that the unhappy +duchy has been, if not the native +country, at least the scene of action of +the republican insurgents Hecker and +Struve—have all combined to contribute. +It is impossible to enter the +duchy and converse with the peasant +population, formerly and proverbially +so peacefully disposed in patriarchal +Germany, without finding the poison +of these various influences gathering +and festering in all their ideas, words, +and actions. The prostration of spirit, +generally speaking, among the +middle and trading classes, the discouragement, +the uncertain fear, are +even still more apparent here than on +the lower Rhine; and the gloom appears +the greater, from all we see and +hear, the higher we mount upon the +social ladder. The proud and exclusive +German nobility, who have so +long slept cradled in the pride and +exclusiveness of their courtly prerogatives +and privileges, now waken to see +an abyss before and behind them, a +precipice at every step. How far they +may have merited the terrors of utter +ruin to their fortunes as well as their +position, by their long contemptuous +exclusion from their intercourse and +society of all who had not the magic +key to secure admission to them, +in the shape of the privileged particle +denoting nobility, whatever was the +talent and the worth of the despised +unprivileged—and to this state of +things, even up to the present day, +there have been very few exceptions +at German courts, and much less in +German high society—how far they +have themselves prepared the way for +their present position, by their wilful +blindness to the progress of ideas in the +world, are not questions to be discussed +here. Their present apprehension and +consternation are very apparent in +every word and action, however much +the younger generation, and especially +those of it who may be military men, +may bluster and talk big, and defy: +they fly away to their country houses, +if they have them, economise, retrench, +and pinch, in preparation for +that change in circumstances and +position which seems to be approaching +them like a spectre. The little +capitals of Carlsruhe and Stuttgardt, +with their small ducal and royal courts, +certainly never exhibited any picture +of great animation or bustle even in +their most flourishing times; but the +gloom that now hangs over them is +assuredly very different from the +peaceful, although somewhat torpid +quietude in which they heretofore reposed: +their dulness has become +utter dreariness; their lady-like old-maidish +decent listlessness a sort of +melancholy bordering upon despair. +Princes and people look askance +at one another: people suffer; and +princes think right to retrench. The +theatres of these little capitals are +about to be closed, because they are +considered to be too expensive popular +luxuries in the present state of +things, and onerous appendages +to court charges. Sovereigns cut +down their households and their studs; +and queens shut themselves close up in +their summer residences, declaring +themselves too poor to visit German +watering-places, and support the expenses +of regal <em>toilette</em>. In Stuttgardt +these symptoms are all peculiarly +visible. Spite of the long-acquired +popularity of the King of Wurtemberg, +as a liberal, well-judging, and +rightly-minded monarch towards his +subjects, the wind of revolution, that +has blown in such heavy gusts in other +parts of Germany, has not wholly +spared that kingdom; and before accomplishing +the intention attributed +to him of retiring, in order to avoid +those revolutionary demands which, +in spite of his best intentions, he declares +himself unable conscientiously to +meet, the present king puts in practice +those measures of retrenching economy, +which add to the gloom of his capital +and the disconsolate look of the court-attached +and commercial portion of +his subjects. It is scarcely possible, +however, to suppose that the King of +Wurtemberg can seriously think of +abdicating in favour of a son whose +youthful actions have always rendered +him highly unpopular, all the more so +as he is married to a Russian archduchess, +whose birth must render her +<i><span lang="fr">suspecte</span></i> to the liberals of the day. +Another cause, which contributes to +the melancholy and deserted air of +these capitals of the smaller German +courts, is the retirement of the ambassadors +and diplomatic agents of +the other German courts, who, if not +already recalled from their posts, will +probably shortly be so, to meet the +views of German unity, which needs +but one representative in common. +This unhappy look of the little German +capitals is one of the most melancholy +signs of the times in these smaller +states. In Hanover and Brunswick +the apparent resolution of their +present rulers, to resist the power +of the new Central Government of +would-be united Germany, occasions +agitation, uncertainty, and fear, which +make themselves as fully apparent +in outward symptoms as elsewhere. +Bavaria alone appears to preserve an +exceptional position. Bavaria also +has had her revolution, to be sure; +but, strange to say, the revolution +was occasioned by the manœuvres of +the anti-liberal, or, in that country, +Jesuitical party, against the liberal +tendencies of a wild woman’s influence +over the mind of the king; and, singular +as was the nature and cause of +this revolution, singular has remained +the situation of Bavaria, quiet, unagitated, +and seemingly contented, in +the midst of the convulsive hurly-burly +passing every where around it.</p> + +<p class='c008'>After this cursory survey of the +outward aspect of a great part of +Germany, let us turn our eyes to +Frankfort, the present central point of +all interest and attention; for there +sits the General National Assembly; +there is to be brewed, by whatever recipe, +or in whatever manner it may be, +that fancied panacea for all evils, the +Union of Germany: there, then, we +may probably best learn what revolutionising +Germany would be at, or, +at all events, best see the means employed +to arrive at something like a +consummation. Let us first look at +the cooks at their work; and then +taste the nature of the brew, as far as +their political culinary efforts have +gone to “make the medley slab and +good.”</p> + +<p class='c008'>Let us enter, then, that plain, dry, +and harsh-looking circular building, +which is the Lutheran Church of St +Paul; it is there the Assembly holds +its sittings. The interior arrangement +has been fashioned entirely upon the +plan of the French Chambers. The +President’s tribune, the lower tribune +of the orator before it, the gradually +rising and diverging amphitheatre of +seats for the members, are all entirely +French in their plan. Completely +French also, and with similar designation, +is the political shading of the +members according to their seats; the +<i><span lang="fr">Droit</span></i>, the <i><span lang="fr">Centre</span></i> in its variety of progressing +<i><span lang="fr">nuances</span></i>, and the <i><span lang="fr">Gauche</span></i> and +<i><span lang="fr">Extreme Gauche</span></i> have the same signification +in the German Assembly as in +the French. Nor does the resemblance +cease here; the constitution of +the Assembly, in its various elements, +has a strong affinity to that of the +present French National Assembly. +The majority of the members are +evidently concentrated in the different +shades of the <i><span lang="fr">Centre</span></i>. The old conservatives +of the right have but little +influence, except as a make-weight +against the ultra-liberals. The centre +consists chiefly of the old liberals, and +opposition leaders in the different +chambers of such of the German states +as possessed constitutions of one modification +or another—men who have +now, in turn, in their position towards +the ultra-revolutionary spirits, that +tendency which may be called liberal +conservative: they are the men of +progress, who, in the present hurricane +of revolutionary ideas, endeavour to +guide the helm so as to avoid the very +rocks they have had so great a hand in +raising, and to restrain the very +waves which their own breath has so +greatly contributed to lash into fury! +They are the Odillon Barrots, and +suchlike old liberals of Germany. +They find that the task before them is +one of far ruder difficulty than in their +theoretical fancies they had first imagined; +and many of them there may be, +who cannot but acknowledge to themselves, +however little they may be +inclined to acknowledge it to the world, +that the business of a vast nation is +not to be conducted by inexperienced +heads, however talented, however well +they may have conducted the business +of a counting-house, or taught theories +from a professor’s chair—in fact, that +theory and practice will not walk hand +in hand without a long process of +amalgamating experience. The left +is occupied by the men of revolutionary +utopics and crude subversive +opinions; and in its extreme by the +ardent republicans and tribunes of the +people, whom the revolution has caused +to spring out of the political soil like +mushrooms. These are the men who +complain, in speech or in journal, that +the Assembly is wasting its time +in vain vapid disputations—an +accusation, by the way, by no means +unfounded—and yet themselves, when +ever they mount into the tribune, +indulge, more than any others, in declamatory +would-be poetical phrases, +“full of sound and fury, signifying +nothing,” and containing not one practical +idea, or feasible proposal. They +seem to think that, by ringing the +changes upon certain pet words, such +as “patriotism” and “nationality,” +they have said great things and done +great deeds for the good of the country; +and, as far as such clap-trap efforts to +gain popular applause go, they may +fairly be said to obtain their ends. +In this again they have a strong +“cousin-german” resemblance with +the French ultras in a similar position—and +no less so in their endeavours to +overawe and browbeat the majority of +the Assembly by noisy exclamations, +and even uproarious riot. The German +ultras, however, have succeeded, +to a great extent, in a manœuvre in +which their French brethren have +failed, although supported in it, at +first, by a certain reckless member +of the Provisional Government—that +is to say, in packing the public galleries +with acolytes, said to be paid, +who, while they applaud all ultra-revolutionary +speeches “to the echo,” +endeavour to put down the conservative +orators by tumult, or violent +hissings, and are of course vaunted +forth in the ultra-liberal journals as +“the expression of the will of the +nation.” Be it said, at the same time, +<em>en passant</em>, that this manner of applauding +by the clapping of hands, and +expressing disapproval by hissing, has +been borrowed from a habit of the +members of the Assembly themselves, +which has certainly a very unparliamentary +appearance and sound to +English eyes and ears. This use of +the public galleries, which, in spite of +the regulations of the Assembly, it +has been found impossible altogether +to put down, has assuredly a certain +influence in overawing and intimidating +some of the members of the majority. +Two causes, however, have +contributed to preserve the Assembly +from utter anarchy and confusion. +The first of these, a negative one, +consists in the fact that Frankfort is +not a great noisy stirring capital of a +great country, where a mob is always +at hand to be used as a tyrannical +influence by the leaders of the people, +and that there are no suburbs filled +with a working population, whence, +as in Paris, an insurgent army may be +suddenly recruited to work mischief, +when it may have no other work to do. +The second, a direct and active one, +arises from the personality of the +President of the Assembly; and certainly +it is in the personal qualities +and physical advantages of the Herr +von Gagern, as much as in his position, +and from the esteem in which he is +held, that his power to dominate, control, +and will to order, very greatly +consists.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The President Gagern, long known as +the most talented and leading opposition +member of the Darmstadt Chamber, +has passed his life in his energetic +attempts to further those constitutional +liberties, which he would now check +with powerful hand, that they may not +go too far. Disappointed and disgusted +with his fruitless efforts to promote +what he considered the interests of +his country, the Herr von Gagern had +retired, for some time past, into private +life, when, upon the breaking forth +of the revolutionary storm, he was +called upon by his prince to take the +helm of affairs, and, as minister, to +steer the bark along the current by +which he might avoid the Scylla of +ultra-democracy as much as the Charybdis +of resistance to the progress of +the age. In this new character he again +appeared upon the stage of the political +world; and he has only retired from +his post, as he has since refused to +accept office as minister of the new +central executive power of all Germany, +in order to maintain the position, +to which he was raised by acclamation, +as the controlling head of that +Assembly which was to decide the +destinies of the country, and from the +councils of which he himself had +fondly hoped to see emanate the welfare +of united Germany.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Tall and stout, with a face which +possesses a decision and firmness of +character, much aided by a pair of +very broad black brows, Herr von +Gagern has, at the same time, a bold +dignity of manner and gesture, which +is well calculated to rule an Assembly, +and a powerful voice, which +knows how to make itself heard in a +storm: a ready and simple eloquence, +and a clear good sense, which fastens +upon the right point at the right +moment, are combined with these +advantages of exterior appearance; +and as he rises, in cases of emergency, +to display a vigour of energy, rather +than that system of conciliation so +fatally used in France, and so impracticable +amidst all the clashing party +opinions of a revolutionary Assembly, +he shows himself to be the man of +the moment, and of the place. He +may be said to be the saviour of the +German National Assembly, inasmuch +as his personal influence may be +considered to have rescued it from +that state of anarchy and confusion +which now disgraces the French chamber, +and into which the German +Assembly, with its conflicting elements, +and its still greater inexperience, +seemed at first about to fall.</p> + +<p class='c008'>As it is, the German National +Assembly can by no means be looked +upon as a model of parliamentary +order: it is still noisy, ill-regulated, +and uncertain in its movements. It +cannot be denied, at the same time, +that sufficient individual talent may +be found among its members. Among +the rising men of the day, the orators +of Prussia and the smaller northern +states, (for Southern Germany has +as yet produced but little striking +talent,)—along with those young, +ardent, and energetic men who, the +conspirators and insurgents of a few +months ago, have gone over to the +liberal conservative majority, and the +people’s orators, who aim at being +the O’Connells of Germany, as their +phraseology goes, and who, in spite +of the impracticable nature of their +tenets, and the frequently vapid nature +of their declamation, have a certain, +rude ready eloquence, that strives to +be poetical—there are also a few +practised statesmen, a few wary old +men of action, and several well-known +authors and poets, such as old Uhland, +whose democratic ardour still keeps, +him upon the benches of the left, and +the Count Auersperg, well known +under the name of Anastatius Grün, +whom disappointments in his position, +in society are supposed also to have +driven into the ultra-democratic ranks. +But there seems to be an utter want +of purpose in most of the speeches +which emanate from the lips of these +men of talent. Proverbially vague +in their philosophical theories, even +when they make most pretensions to +clearness, the Germans show themselves +still more so in their political +views. The speeches not only of the +ultra-liberals, but of the would-be +statesmen of the centre, appear +mere compilations of “words, words, +words,” without any tangible argument +or practical proposal: it is rarely +that it is possible to sift from the +readily flowing, but generally most +muddy stream, a sand of gold, that +may be used as one of sterling worth +in the crown of unity which the hands +of the Assembly would be forging. +In all that emanates from the Assembly, +either in debate or in decree, +there is generally a lamentable want +of correctly defined purpose: and, in +fact, to return to the point from which +we have started, it is as difficult to +discover from the vague, wavering, +boggling proceedings of the Assembly, +as from any other quarter, or from +any other movement, precisely what +revolutionising Germany would be at. +Up to the present time, like the Provisional +Government of France, it has +rather attempted to rule aristocratically +itself, than to prepare the way, as +was its object, for the future definitive +constitution of Germany. The only +definite step it has yet taken towards +that vague <em>desideratum</em>, a “United +Germany,” has been in the appointment +of a Provisional Executive +Head, and of a cabinet of ministers +at its direction.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Except in as far as regards the +jealousy of Prussia, disappointed in +its hopes of itself giving the head to +the Imperial government, and inclined +in consequence to quarrel with +the dictates of that central power, +for which it clamoured, and which +it at least accepted not ungraciously, +as long as it thought, with true Prussian +conceit, that the head must +necessarily emanate from itself—a +jealousy to which reference will be +made further on—the choice of the +Austrian Archduke John, as Administrator +or Protector of the Government +of United Germany, whatever +his charge may be called, (for the +German term “Reichs Verweser” +expresses in itself both these attributive +designations,) cannot be looked +upon as one of any political weight. +As a prince, enjoying for many years +past a certain popularity, more perhaps +from a feeling of opposition, +because he was considered as living +upon ill terms with the Imperial court +of Austria, than from any personal +attachment to himself, the Archduke +John may be considered to be well +selected as a popular and generally +accepted head of Germany: whether +he possesses either the talent or the +energy to fill so strange and awfully +responsible a post in the present disturbed +state of Germany is another +question, which only those who have +known him in the retirement of private +life can answer. The political writer +who designated him as the Duke of +Sussex of Austria, made a happy hit +in thus classifying him. The Archduke +John has rendered himself popular +by his patronage and furtherance +of scientific institutions: but he has +been too little known, otherwise than +as the discarded and disgraced of the +Imperial family, to be called in any +way “the man of the people.” The +marriage, which was the cause of +his disgrace, was thus, likewise, +the cause of his popularity, such as it +was: the union of an Imperial prince +with a girl of comparatively humble +birth—a union about the origin of +which so many absurdly fabulous +tales have been told—flattered the +instincts of the middle and lower +classes. The Archduchess, however, +who now finds herself elevated still +more, to a pinnacle to which her +wildest dreams could scarcely have +led her, and who is now flattered, +caressed, and done homage to, as she +was before set aside, is said to reveal +nothing of any humble origin, and to +be as lady-like as sensible in manner. +Upon the whole, then, it is not in the +wholly provisional and most unstable +appointment of the Archduke John as +“Reichs Verweser” that we shall find +any solution to the inquiry as to the +more certain revolutionary tendencies +of Germany.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Assuredly more ought to be gathered +from the appointment of the new +central cabinet, and more especially +of its Minister for Foreign Affairs and +leading member, Prince Leiningen: +and naturally we look to the recent +manifesto of the prince as a document +from which we may best learn “what +revolutionising Germany would be at.” +Sensible and clear, or at all events as +little confused as is possible in the present +confused state of all theories, plans, +and reasonings in Germany, the manifesto, +in doing no more than pointing +out two methods towards effecting the +reconstruction of Germany, leaves +every thing as regards the future in as +vague and uncertain a state as before. +It only states a dilemma—it does not +attempt to resolve it. It puts Germany +in a cleft stick, or rather, at the +division of two paths, the greater merit +or practicability of either of which it does +not attempt to show very decisively, +by its concluding words, “<i><span lang="de">Entweder, +Oder!</span></i> choose!” In fact, it does no +more than ask with ourselves, “What +would revolutionising Germany be +at?”</p> + +<p class='c008'>It may be surmised, certainly, from +the manifesto of Prince Leiningen, +that he himself is really inclined towards +the going forward in the uncertain +course of doing <em>something</em> towards +the effectuation of the desired union, +although he by no means pretends to +recommend <em>how</em> this is to be done. +He seems—and his acceptation of +office would in itself appear to confirm +the fact—a partisan of what he +defines somewhat confusedly as “an +actual union of all the component +parts of the whole, in such a manner +as to avert the possibility of any dispute +between the whole and the parts;” +for he adds, “If any other course be +pursued, not singleness or unity, but +discord and separation will be established.” +But in the alternative which +he places before Germany, of either +returning to the past, or of realising +the uncertain and as yet undefined desideratum +of a great union for the +future, it would seem, whatever be the +prince’s own meaning, or whatever +may be supposed to be the means used +by the Assembly to produce a united +whole, that he only places before it at +the same time the alternative of a civil +war, at which he himself hints, or a +republican constitution, which must +appear to be the result of the progress +in its present sense, of revolutionising +Germany.</p> + +<p class='c008'>When we hear that “to retrograde +to a confederation of states, or to establish +a weak federal state, by a +powerfully impressed independence of +the individual states, would only be to +create a mournful period of transition +to fresh catastrophes and new revolutions;” +that from such a course of +proceeding would result the danger +“of harbouring in Germany revolutionary +movements, or perchance civil +war, for a series of years;” that the +nation would arrive at “the most undesirable +consummation of rendering +itself ridiculous for ever by trumpeting +to the world German unity and German +power, and presenting in reality +a spectacle the very reverse”—when +we hear that “no dynastic interests +can be taken into consideration if the +nation wills unity;” that “to construct +a new empire, and at the same time to +permit an organisation tending to an +inevitable contest for the supreme +sovereignty between the individual +states, would be to sow disunion instead +of unity, to create weakness instead +of power;” and that, consequently, +“the imperial power must, +in a degree, absorb in itself the sovereignty +of the individual states, abolish +the diplomatic intercourse of the individual +states at home and abroad, and +concentrate it in its own hands, appropriate +to itself the unconditional +disposal of the national forces, and not +allow governments or their constituent +State Assemblies to occupy themselves +with affairs appertaining to the +National Assembly alone, since a perfectly +established central state, in +which other perfectly established states +are encased, would be virtually a monstrosity,”—when +we hear all these +things, and weigh the tendency of their +views, we can see in them no other +result than the abasement of the individual +sovereigns, an absorption +of their power, which would leave +them no more than useless and ridiculous +puppets, and, consequently, their +inevitable overthrow in the course of +time, and the establishment of republican +institutions, whatever the name +given to the new form of republic, +whatever the title bestowed upon +its head, be it even Emperor, or <i><span lang="de">Reichs +Verweser</span></i>, Regent, Protector, Administrator, +or President.</p> + +<p class='c008'>On the other hand, when we are +told—although “jealousies between +individual states, and revilings of the +northern by the southern parts of the +empire” are stigmatised as “criminal +absurdities”—that, “if the many collateral +and coexistent interests are too +preponderant to be sacrificed to German +unity, if the old spirit of discord +and separation is still too powerfully +at work, if the jealousy between race +and race, between north and south, is +still too strongly felt, the nation must +convince itself of the fact, and return +to the old federal system,” already +hinted at as <em>impossible</em> without fresh +revolutions or long civil wars; and +when we know, at the same time, that +these jealousies between state and +state not only <em>do</em> exist, but continue +to increase and ferment still more in +the present state of things,—that in +fact, the old spirit of discord and separation +is still more powerfully at +work than ever,—what can we look +forward to? Only the other alternative +to which we have alluded—those civil +wars which the manifesto of Prince +Leiningen itself hints at so cautiously.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Since, from the very first commencement +of the revolution in Germany, the +jealous spirit between the northern +and southern states broke out in a decided +form, it has only increased instead +of diminishing. When the vacillating +but ambitious King of Prussia, +desirous of coming forward as the +“man of Germany” of the day, but +“infirm of purpose,” attempted to +direct the revolutionary movement in +his own states by accepting the call for a +United German Empire, and by placing +himself, although unavowedly, at its +head, the Austrian <em>Official</em> Gazette +immediately fulminated a severe, +damning, and, under the circumstances, +almost cruel manifesto +against the ambitious Prussian monarch; +in Bavaria, the young men of +the upper classes burnt his majesty +in effigy in the public market-place of +Munich; at Stuttgardt, the picture of +the offending sovereign was as publicly +hung by the neck to a gallows. +Southern Germany was indignant at +the thought that an upstart King of +Prussia should attempt to lead the +movement for a new United Empire +of Germany, and presume even to +dream of being its future emperor. +But when, in the course of events, the +provisional head of the newly constituted +central power was chosen by +the assembly from among the princes +of Southern Germany, it was the turn +of Prussia to exhibit its spite and +anger: its jealousy was not to be +concealed. The result of the disappointed +ambition of Prussia was +exhibited, as already alluded to, in a +reactionary feeling against that central +power, which it would have accepted +probably with acclamation, +and been the first to applaud and +support, had it emanated from its own +country. The exhibition of this feeling +in some violent outbreak was so +much dreaded upon the occasion of +the military homage appointed to +be shown to the <i><span lang="de">Reichs Verweser</span></i> at +Berlin, that the ceremony, as is well +known, was obliged to be countermanded. +The feeling is now still +continuing to be shown in a constant +exhibition of mistrust on the part of +Prussia towards the National Assembly, +and as well as in the counter-accusation +of that new and vaguely +defined political crime “reaction,” +laid by the journals of the moderate +party, as well as by the ultra-liberals, +to the charge of Prussia. With all +these conflicting elements at work between +the various parts of Germany, +and again between these various +parts and the central power, placed +in the hands of the Assembly, it is +very difficult to look clearly as yet +towards any possible constitution of +that unity which would appear to be +the most vague end and aim of the +revolution in Germany. To those +who attempt to look into the mist of +the future, and see visions, and dream +dreams—for, in the present state of +the cloudy and wavering political +horizon, it would seem that all +political foresight can pretend to no +better name than that—the nearer of +the two alternatives to be deduced +from Prince Leiningen’s manifesto, +would appear to be the disunion, the +total rupture, the civil war.</p> + +<p class='c008'>The other alternative, however, +seems not without its chances; for, +although the old liberals of republican +tendencies, the suspected and imprisoned, +have now been brought +round, for the most part, into the +ranks of the moderately progressive +party, in the natural course of revolutionary +changes, or even been called +to the councils of the kings and +princes who rejected and persecuted +them; yet, on the other hand, the exertions +of the moderate party, in spite +of the clog that they would now put +upon the too rapid course of ultra-democracy, +appear to tend, in the +efforts made, and the views entertained +respecting the unity of Germany, +towards the very republican +institutions which they disavow, and +suppose themselves endeavouring to +avoid. The real republicans, at the +same time, although without any +present weight among the political +spirits of the day, are yet composed, +as elsewhere, of the young, hot-headed, +reckless, active, stirring elements of +the time, and are always ready to +make up, by violence and headlong +precipitation, for what they want in +importance and experience. They are +aided also in their views by a certain +party of the liberal press, which is +always preaching the imitation of +French institutions and the conduct +of the present leading men in France,—as +if France and the French did not +hold up a lesson and a warning instead +of models for imitation—and +consoling Germany with the idea, that +although it does not possess such +enviable men or measures, the men +must shortly rise upon the political +surface, and that the measures will +follow behind them. By a great portion +of the press, even that of the +moderate party also, a continual irritation +of suspicion and mistrust is +being kept up against the still reigning +sovereigns of Germany; and the +cry of that very vague accusation +“reaction,” the name of which alone, +however, is considered sufficiently +damning, is constantly raised upon +every movement, of whatever nature +it may be, which those sovereigns +may make. The moderate party may +be acquitted of republican tendencies +in their hearts; but they seem to +ignore the old proverb, “give a dog +a bad name,” and the consequences; +and they will make “sad dogs” out +of the sovereigns, until at last the +consequences will threaten more and +more nearly.</p> + +<p class='c008'>Between these two alternatives, +however, Germany seems to think +that it may find a middle course, and +establish its theoretical and vaunted +unity without exciting civil dissension, +or plunging into the depths of republicanism. +May it prove right in its +as yet uncertain hopes; but certainly +the means by which this desired consummation +is to be arrived at, are not +in the least degree visible: it remains +as yet the vaguest of vague fancies—the +how, the where, the when, and +even the why, are as yet matters of +doubt: not only deeds but principles, +not only principles but plans, to this +intent, are as yet utterly absent. In +fact our question, after all, remains +unanswered; and, beyond the main +point of “unity,” to be effected somehow +or other, revolutionising Germany +seems utterly unable to tell us, +as we vainly endeavour to find out +definitively, “what it would be at?”</p> + +<div class='nf-center-c0'> +<div class='nf-center c017'> + <div><span class='small'><em>Printed by William Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh.</em></span></div> + </div> +</div> + +<hr class='c024'> +<div class='footnote' id='f1'> +<p class='c008'><a href='#r1'>1</a>. See our No. for March 1848.</p> +</div> +<div class='footnote' id='f2'> +<p class='c008'><a href='#r2'>2</a>. Hide—from <em>cacher</em>.</p> +</div> +<div class='footnote' id='f3'> +<p class='c008'><a href='#r3'>3</a>. Carrion.</p> +</div> +<div class='footnote' id='f4'> +<p class='c008'><a href='#r4'>4</a>. In Frémont’s expedition to California, on a somewhat similar occasion, two +mountaineers, one the celebrated Kit Carson, the other a St Louis Frenchman named +Godey, and both old trappers, performed a feat surpassing the one described above, +inasmuch as they were but two, who charged into an Indian village to rescue some +stolen horses, and avenge the slaughter of two New Mexicans who had been butchered +by the Indians; both which objects they effected, returning to camp with the lost +animals and a couple of propitiatory scalps.</p> +</div> +<div class='footnote' id='f5'> +<p class='c008'><a href='#r5'>5</a>. The Mexicans call the Indians living near the Missions and engaged in agriculture, +<i><span lang="es">mansos</span></i>, or <i><span lang="es">mansitos</span></i>, tame.</p> +</div> +<div class='footnote' id='f6'> +<p class='c008'><a href='#r6'>6</a>. From a manuscript obtained in Santa Fé of New Mexico, describing the labours +of the missionaries Fray Augustin Ruiz, Venabides, and Macos, in the year 1585.</p> +</div> +<div class='footnote' id='f7'> +<p class='c008'><a href='#r7'>7</a>. “Some were so barbarous as to eat their own species.” The sentence refers to +the Scythians, and is in Strabo. I mention the authority, for Strabo is not an author +that any man engaged on a less work than the History of Human Error is expected +to have by heart.</p> +</div> +<div class='footnote' id='f8'> +<p class='c008'><a href='#r8'>8</a>. <cite>Memoirs of the Reign of George II., from his Accession to the Death of Queen +Caroline.</cite> By <span class='sc'>John Lord Hervey</span>. Edited, from the original MSS. at Ickworth, by +the Right Hon. <span class='sc'>J. W. Croker</span>. 2 vols. Murray, London: 1848.</p> +</div> +<div class='footnote' id='f9'> +<p class='c008'><a href='#r9'>9</a>. “Upon the evening of this long day’s march, the imperial column approaching +Gjatz was surprised to find upon the road the bodies of Russians quite recently +slain, all with their heads cloven in the same manner, and with their brains scattered +around. It was known that two thousand prisoners preceded the column, escorted +by Spaniards, Portuguese, and Poles. Various opinions were emitted; some were +indignant, others approved or remained indifferent, according to the character of each. +Around the Emperor these different impressions found no voice, until Caulaincourt +burst out and exclaimed, ‘that it was an atrocious cruelty. This, then, is the civilisation +we bring to Russia! What effect would this barbarity have upon the enemy? +Did we not leave him our wounded and a host of prisoners? Would he lack the +opportunity of horrible reprisals?’ Napoleon maintained a gloomy silence, but upon +the morrow these murders had ceased. The unfortunate prisoners were allowed to +die of hunger in the enclosures into which, at night, they were huddled like cattle. +Doubtless it was still a barbarity; but what could be done? Exchange them? The +enemy refused. Set them free? They would have hastened to proclaim our destitution, +and soon they would have returned with their companions to harass our march. +In this unsparing war, to have given them life would have been to sacrifice ourselves. +We were cruel from necessity. The fault was, to have ever placed ourselves in so +terrible an alternative.</p> + +<p class='c008'>“On the other hand, during our march into the interior of Russia, our captive +soldiers were not treated more humanely, although the Russians had not imperious +necessity for an excuse.”—<span class='sc'>Ségur</span>, vol. ii. p. 149.</p> +</div> + +<div class='pbb'> + <hr class='pb c005'> +</div> +<div class='tnotes x-ebookmaker'> + +<div class='chapter ph2'> + +<div class='nf-center-c0'> +<div class='nf-center c006'> + <div>TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES</div> + </div> +</div> + +</div> + +<table class='table0'> + <tr> + <th class='c011'>Page</th> + <th class='c011'>Changed from</th> + <th class='c012'>Changed to</th> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c013'><a href='#t298'>298</a></td> + <td class='c015'>young follow, caring no more for Indians</td> + <td class='c016'>young fellow, caring no more for Indians</td> + </tr> +</table> + + <ul class='ul_1'> + <li>Typos fixed; non-standard spelling and dialect retained. + + </li> + <li>Used numbers for footnotes, placing them all at the end of the last chapter. + </li> + </ul> + +</div> + +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75215 ***</div> + </body> + <!-- created with ppgen.py 3.57e (with regex) on 2025-01-26 18:09:26 GMT --> +</html> + diff --git a/75215-h/images/cover.jpg b/75215-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..72f3653 --- /dev/null +++ b/75215-h/images/cover.jpg |
