twohundredthousandheartswouldswellwithindignationatthegripinginjustice,thebarefacedrobberyofthewardenofBarchesterHospital!Andhowwashetoanswerthis?Howwashetoopenhisinmosthearttothismultitude,tothesethousands,theeducated,thepolished,thepickedmenofhisowncountry;howshowthemthathewasnorobber,noavaricious,lazypriestscramblingforgold,butaretiring,humble-spiritedman,whohadinnocentlytakenwhathadinnocentlybeenofferedtohim?
’WritetoTheJupiter,’suggestedthebishop。
’Yes,’saidthearchdeacon,moreworldlywisethanhisfather,’yes,andbesmotheredwithridicule;tossedoverandoveragainwithscorn;shakenthiswayandthat,asaratinthemouthofapractisedterrier。Youwillleaveoutsomewordorletterinyouranswer,andtheignoranceofthecathedralclergywillbeharpedupon;youwillmakesomesmallmistake,whichwillbeafalsehood,orsomeadmission,whichwillbeself-condemnation;youwillfindyourselftohavebeenvulgar,ill-tempered,irreverend,andilliterate,andthechancesaretentoone,butthatbeingaclergyman,youwillhavebeenguiltyofblasphemy!Amanmayhavethebestofcauses,thebestoftalents,andthebestoftempers;hemaywriteaswellasAddison,orasstronglyasJunius;butevenwithallthishecannotsuccessfullyanswer,whenattackedbyTheJupiter。
Insuchmattersitisomnipotent。WhattheCzarisinRussia,orthemobinAmerica,thatTheJupiterisinEngland。Answersuchanarticle!No,warden;whateveryoudo,don’tdothat。
Weweretolookforthissortofthing,youknow;butweneednotdrawdownonourheadsmoreofitthanisnecessary。’