第7章
加入书架 A- A+
点击下载App,搜索"ENGLISH TRAITS",免费读到尾

  Londonispagan。HefanciedthatgreatermenhadlivedinEngland,thananyofherwriters;and,infact,aboutthetimewhenthosewritersappeared,thelastofthesewerealreadygone。

  Weleftthemoundinthetwilight,withthedesigntoreturnthenextmorning,andcomingbacktwomilestoourinn,weweremetbylittleshowers,andlateasitwas,menandwomenwereoutattemptingtoprotecttheirspreadwind—rows。ThegrassgrowsrankanddarkintheshoweryEngland。Attheinn,therewasonlymilkforonecupoftea。Whenwecalledformore,thegirlbroughtusthreedrops。MyfriendwasannoyedwhostoodforthecreditofanEnglishinn,andstillmore,thenextmorning,bythedog—cart,soleprocurablevehicle,inwhichweweretobesenttoWilton。Iengagedthelocalantiquary,Mr。Brown,togowithustoStonehenge,onourway,andshowuswhatheknewofthe\"astronomical\"and\"sacrificial\"

  stones。Istoodonthelast,andhepointedtotheupright,orrather,inclinedstone,calledthe\"astronomical,\"andbademenoticethatitstoprangedwiththesky—line。\"Yes。\"Verywell。Now,atthesummersolstice,thesunrisesexactlyoverthetopofthatstone,and,attheDruidicaltempleatAbury,thereisalsoanastronomicalstone,inthesamerelativepositions。

  Inthesilenceoftradition,thisonerelationtosciencebecomesanimportantclue;butwewerecontenttoleavetheproblem,withtherocks。Wasthisthe\"Giants’Dance\"whichMerlinbroughtfromKillaraus,inIreland,tobeUtherPendragon’smonumenttotheBritishnobleswhomHengistslaughteredhere,asGeoffreyofMonmouthrelates?orwasitaRomanwork,asInigoJonesexplainedtoKingJames;oridenticalindesignandstylewiththeEastIndiantemplesofthesun;asDaviesintheCelticResearchesmaintains?Ofallthewriters,Stukeleyisthebest。Theheroicantiquary,charmedwiththegeometricperfectionsofhisruin,connectsitwiththeoldestmonumentsandreligionoftheworld,andwiththecourageofhistribe,doesnotsticktosay,\"theDeitywhomadetheworldbytheschemeofStonehenge。\"Hefindsthatthe_cursus_(*1)onSalisburyPlainstretchesacrossthedowns,likealineoflatitudeupontheglobe,andthemeridianlineofStonehengepassesexactlythroughthemiddleofthis_cursus_。Buthereisthehighpointofthetheory:

  theDruidshadthemagnet;laidtheircoursesbyit;theircardinalpointsinStonehenge,Ambresbury,andelsewhere,whichvaryalittlefromtrueeastandwest,followedthevariationsofthecompass。TheDruidswerePh;oenicians。Thenameofthemagnetis_lapisHeracleus_,andHerculeswasthegodofthePhoenicians。Hercules,inthelegend,drewhisbowatthesun,andthesun—godgavehimagoldencup,withwhichhesailedovertheocean。Whatwasthis,butacompass—box?Thiscuporlittleboat,inwhichthemagnetwasmadetofloatonwater,andsoshowthenorth,wasprobablyitsfirstform,beforeitwassuspendedonapin。Butsciencewasan_arcanum_,and,asBritainwasaPh;oeniciansecret,sotheykepttheircompassasecret,anditwaslostwiththeTyriancommerce。

  Thegoldenfleece,again,ofJason,wasthecompass,——abitofloadstone,easilysupposedtobetheonlyoneintheworld,andthereforenaturallyawakeningthecupidityandambitionoftheyoungheroesofamaritimenationtojoininanexpeditiontoobtainpossessionofthiswisestone。HencethefablethattheshipArgowasloquaciousandoracular。Thereisalsosomecuriouscoincidenceinthenames。Apollodorusmakes_Magnes_thesonof_Aeolus_,whomarried_Nais_。Onhintslikethese,Stukeleybuildsagainthegrandcolonnadeintohistoricharmony,andcomputingbackwardbytheknownvariationsofthecompass,bravelyassignstheyear406beforeChrist,forthedateofthetemple。

  (*1)ConnectedwithStonehengeareanavenueanda_cursus_。

  Theavenueisanarrowroadofraisedearth,extending594yardsinastraightlinefromthegrandentrance,thendividingintotwobranches,whichlead,severally,toarowofbarrows;andtothe_cursus_,——anartificiallyformedflattractofground。ThisishalfamilenortheastfromStonehenge,boundedbybanksandditches,3036yardslong,by110broad。

  Forthedifficultyofhandlingandcarryingstonesofthissize,thelikeisdoneinallcities,everyday,withnootheraidthanhorsepower。IchancedtoseeayearagomenatworkonthesubstructureofahouseinBowdoinSquare,inBoston,swingingablockofgraniteofthesizeofthelargestoftheStonehengecolumnswithanordinaryderrick。Themenwerecommonmasons,withpaddiestohelp,nordidtheythinktheyweredoinganythingremarkable。I

  suppose,therewereasgoodmenathousandyearsago。AndwewonderhowStonehengewasbuiltandforgotten。Afterspendinghalfanhouronthespot,wesetforthinourdog—cartoverthedownsforWilton,C。notsuppressingsomethreatsandevilomensontheproprietors,forkeepingthesebroadplainsawretchedsheep—walk,whensomanythousandsofEnglishmenwerehungryandwantedlabor。ButIheardafterwardsthatitisnotaneconomytocultivatethisland,whichonlyyieldsonecroponbeingbrokenupandisthenspoiled。

  WecametoWiltonandtoWiltonHall,——therenownedseatoftheEarlsofPembroke,ahouseknowntoShakspeareandMassinger,thefrequenthomeofSirPhilipSidneywherehewrotetheArcadia;whereheconversedwithLordBrooke,amanofdeepthought,andapoet,whocausedtobeengravedonhistombstone,\"HereliesFulkeGrevilleLordBrooke,thefriendofSirPhilipSidney。\"ItisnowthepropertyoftheEarlofPembroke,andtheresidenceofhisbrother,SidneyHerbert,Esq。,andisesteemedanoblespecimenoftheEnglishmanor—hall。MyfriendhadaletterfromMr。Herberttohishousekeeper,andthehousewasshown。Thestatedrawing—roomisadoublecube,30feethigh,by30feetwide,by60feetlong:theadjoiningroomisasinglecube,of30feeteveryway。Althoughtheseapartmentsandthelonglibrarywerefullofgoodfamilyportraits,Vandykesandother;andthoughthereweresomegoodpictures,andaquadranglecloisterfullofantiqueandmodernstatuary,——towhichC。,catalogueinhand,didalltoomuchjustice,——yettheeyewasstilldrawntothewindows,toamagnificentlawn,onwhichgrewthefinestcedarsinEngland。Ihadnotseenmorecharminggrounds。Wewentout,andwalkedovertheestate。WecrossedabridgebuiltbyInigoJonesoverastream,ofwhichthegardenerdidnotknowthename,(_Qu_。Alph?)watchedthedeer;climbedtothelonelysculpturedsummerhouse,onahillbackedbyawood;camedownintotheItaliangarden,andintoaFrenchpavilion,garnishedwithFrenchbusts;andsoagain,tothehouse,wherewefoundatablelaidforuswithbread,meats,peaches,grapes,andwine。

  OnleavingWiltonHouse,wetookthecoachforSalisbury。TheCathedral,whichwasfinished600yearsago,hasevenaspruceandmodernair,anditsspireisthehighestinEngland。Iknownotwhy,butIhadbeenmorestruckwithoneofnofameatCoventry,whichrises300feetfromtheground,withthelightnessofamullein—plant,andnotatallimplicatedwiththechurch。SalisburyisnowesteemedtheculminationoftheGothicartinEngland,asthebuttressesarefullyunmasked,andhonestlydetailedfromthesidesofthepile。TheinterioroftheCathedralisobstructedbytheorganinthemiddle,actinglikeascreen。Iknownotwhyinrealarchitecturethehungeroftheeyeforlengthoflineissorarelygratified。Theruleofartisthatacolonnadeismorebeautifulthelongeritis,andthat_adinfinitum_。Andthenaveofachurchisseldomsolongthatitneedbedividedbyascreen。

  Weloiteredinthechurch,outsidethechoir,whilstservicewassaid。Whilstwelistenedtotheorgan,myfriendremarked,themusicisgood,andyetnotquitereligious,butsomewhatasifamonkwerepantingtosomefineQueenofHeaven。C。wasunwilling,andwedidnotasktohavethechoirshownus,butreturnedtoourinn,afterseeinganotheroldchurchoftheplace。WepassedinthetrainClarendonPark,butcouldseelittlebuttheedgeofawood,thoughC。hadwishedtopaycloserattentiontothebirthplaceoftheDecreesofClarendon。AtBishopstokewestopped,andfoundMr。H。,whoreceivedusinhiscarriage,andtookustohishouseatBishopsWaltham。

  OnSunday,wehadmuchdiscourseonaveryrainyday。Myfriendsasked,whethertherewereanyAmericans?——anywithanAmericanidea,——anytheoryoftherightfutureofthatcountry?

  Thuschallenged,Ibethoughtmyselfneitherofcaucusesnorcongress,neitherofpresidentsnorofcabinet—ministers,norofsuchaswouldmakeofAmericaanotherEurope。Ithoughtonlyofthesimplestandpurestminds;Isaid,`Certainlyyes;——butthosewhoholditarefanaticsofadreamwhichIshouldhardlycaretorelatetoyourEnglishears,towhichitmightbeonlyridiculous,——andyetitistheonlytrue。’SoIopenedthedogmaofno—governmentandnon—resistance,andanticipatedtheobjectionsandthefun,andprocuredakindofhearingforit。Isaid,itistruethatIhaveneverseeninanycountryamanofsufficientvalortostandforthistruth,andyetitisplaintome,thatnolessvalorthanthiscancommandmyrespect。Icaneasilyseethebankruptcyofthevulgarmusket—worship,——thoughgreatmenbemusket—worshippers;——and’tiscertain,asGodliveth,thegunthatdoesnotneedanothergun,thelawofloveandjusticealone,caneffectacleanrevolution。I

  fanciedthatoneortwoofmyanecdotesmadesomeimpressiononC。,andIinsisted,thatthemanifestabsurdityoftheviewtoEnglishfeasibilitycouldmakenodifferencetoagentleman;thatastooursecuretenureofourmutton—chopandspinageinLondonorinBoston,thesoulmightquoteTalleyrand,_\"Monsieur,jen’en__voispaslanecessite。\"_(*2)AsIhadthustakenintheconversationthesaint’spart,whendinnerwasannounced,C。refusedtogooutbeforeme,——\"hewasaltogethertoowicked。\"Iplantedmybackagainstthewall,andourhostwittilyrescuedusfromthedilemma,bysaying,hewasthewickedest,andwouldwalkoutfirst,thenC。followed,andI

  wentlast。

  (*2)_\"Mais,Monseigneur,ilfautquej’existe。\"_

  OnthewaytoWinchester,whitherourhostaccompaniedusintheafternoon,myfriendsaskedmanyquestionsrespectingAmericanlandscape,forests,houses,——myhouse,forexample。Itisnoteasytoanswerthesequerieswell。ThereIthought,inAmerica,liesnaturesleeping,over—growing,almostconscious,toomuchbyhalfformaninthepicture,andsogivingacertain_tristesse_,liketherankvegetationofswampsandforestsseenatnight,steepedindewsandrains,whichitloves;andonitmanseemsnotabletomakemuchimpression。There,inthatgreatslovencontinent,inhighAlleghanypastures,inthesea—wide,sky—skirtedprairie,stillsleepsandmurmursandhidesthegreatmother,longsincedrivenawayfromthetrimhedge—rowsandover—cultivatedgardenofEngland。And,inEngland,Iamquitetoosensibleofthis。Everyoneisonhisgoodbehavior,andmustbedressedfordinneratsix。SoIputoffmyfriendswithveryinadequatedetails,asbestIcould。

  JustbeforeenteringWinchester,westoppedattheChurchofSaintCross,and,afterlookingthroughthequaintantiquity,wedemandedapieceofbreadandadraughtofbeer,whichthefounder,HenrydeBlois,in1136,commandedshouldbegiventoeveryonewhoshouldaskitatthegate。Wehadboth,fromtheoldcouplewhotakecareofthechurch。Sometwentypeople,everyday,theysaid,makethesamedemand。Thishospitalityofsevenhundredyears’standingdidnothinderC。frompronouncingamaledictiononthepriestwhoreceives2000poundsayear,thatweremeantforthepoor,andspendsapittanceonthissmallbeerandcrumbs。

  IntheCathedral,Iwasgratified,atleastbytheampledimensions。ThelengthoflineexceedsthatofanyotherEnglishchurch;being556feetby250inbreadthoftransept。IthinkI

  preferthischurchtoallIhaveseen,exceptWestminsterandYork。

  HerewasCanuteburied,andhereAlfredtheGreatwascrownedandburied,andheretheSaxonkings:and,later,inhisownchurch,WilliamofWykeham。Itisveryold:partofthecryptintowhichwewentdownandsawtheSaxonandNormanarchesoftheoldchurchonwhichthepresentstands,wasbuiltfourteenorfifteenhundredyearsago。SharonTurnersays,\"AlfredwasburiedatWinchester,intheAbbeyhehadfoundedthere,buthisremainswereremovedbyHenryI。

  tothenewAbbeyinthemeadowsatHyde,onthenorthernquarterofthecity,andlaidunderthehighaltar。ThebuildingwasdestroyedattheReformation,andwhatisleftofAlfred’sbodynowliescoveredbymodernbuildings,orburiedintheruinsoftheold。\"(*

  3)WilliamofWykeham’sshrinetombwasunlockedforus,andC。tookholdoftherecumbentstatue’smarblehands,andpattedthemaffectionately,forherightlyvaluesthebravemanwhobuiltWindsor,andthisCathedral,andtheSchoolhere,andNewCollegeatOxford。Butitwasgrowinglateintheafternoon。Slowlywelefttheoldhouse,andpartingwithourhost,wetookthetrainforLondon。

  (*3)HistoryoftheAnglo—Saxons,I。599。

  ChapterXVII_Personal_

  InthesecommentsonanoldjourneynowrevisedaftersevenbusyyearsemuchchangedmenandthingsinEngland,Ihaveabstainedfromreferencetopersons,exceptinthelastchapter,andinoneortwocaseswherethefameofthepartiesseemedtohavegiventhepublicapropertyinallthatconcernedthem。Imustfurtherallowmyselfafewnotices,ifonlyasanacknowledgmentofdebtsthatcannotbepaid。Myjourneyswerecheeredbysomuchkindnessfromnewfriends,thatmyimpressionoftheislandisbrightwithagreeablememoriesbothofpublicsocietiesandofhouseholds:and,whatisnowherebetterfoundthaninEngland,acultivatedpersonfitlysurroundedbyahappyhome,\"withhonor,love,obedience,troopsoffriends,\"isofallinstitutionsthebest。AtthelandinginLiverpool,IfoundmyManchestercorrespondentawaitingme,agentlemanwhosekindreceptionwasfollowedbyatrainoffriendlyandeffectiveattentionswhichneverrestedwhilstIremainedinthecountry。Amanofsenseandofletters,theeditorofapowerfullocaljournal,headdedtosolidvirtuesaninfinitesweetnessand_bonhommie_。Thereseemedapoolofhoneyabouthisheartwhichlubricatedallhisspeechandactionwithfinejetsofmead。Anequalgoodfortuneattendedmanylateraccidentsofmyjourney,untilthesincerityofEnglishkindnessceasedtosurprise。MyvisitfellinthefortunatedayswhenMr。BancroftwastheAmericanMinisterinLondon,andathishouse,orthroughhisgoodoffices,Ihadeasyaccesstoexcellentpersonsandtoprivilegedplaces。AtthehouseofMr。Carlyle,Imetpersonseminentinsocietyandinletters。TheprivilegesoftheAthenaeumandoftheReformClubswerehospitablyopenedtome,andIfoundmuchadvantageinthecirclesofthe\"Geologic,\"the\"Antiquarian,\"andthe\"RoyalSocieties。\"EverydayinLondongavemenewopportunitiesofmeetingmenandwomenwhogivesplendortosociety。IsawRogers,Hallam,Macaulay,Milnes,Milman,BarryCornwall,Dickens,Thackeray,Tennyson,LeighHunt,D’Israeli,Helps,Wilkinson,Bailey,Kenyon,andForster:theyoungerpoets,Clough,Arnold,andPatmore;and,amongthemenofscience,RobertBrown,Owen,Sedgwick,Faraday,Buckland,Lyell,DelaBeche,Hooker,Carpenter,Babbage,andEdwardForbes。ItwasmyprivilegealsotoconversewithMissBaillie,withLadyMorgan,withMrs。Jameson,andMrs。Somerville。Afinerhospitalitymademanyprivatehousesnotlessknownanddear。Itisnotindistinguishedcirclesthatwisdomandelevatedcharactersareusuallyfound,or,iffound,notconfinedthereto;andmyrecollectionsofthebesthoursgobacktoprivateconversationsindifferentpartsofthekingdom,withpersonslittleknown。NoramIinsensibletothecourtesywhichfranklyopenedtomesomenoblemansions,ifIdonotadornmypagewiththeirnames。

  AmongtheprivilegesofLondon,Irecallwithpleasuretwoorthreesignaldays,oneatKew,whereSirWilliamHookershowedmealltherichesofthevastbotanicgarden;oneattheMuseum,whereSirCharlesFellowesexplainedindetailthehistoryofhisIonictrophy—monument;andstillanother,onwhichMr。OwenaccompaniedmycountrymanMr。H。andmyselfthroughtheHunterianMuseum。

  Thelikefrankhospitality,bentonrealservice,Ifoundamongthegreatandthehumble,whereverIwent;inBirmingham,inOxford,inLeicester,inNottingham,inSheffield,inManchester,inLiverpool。AtEdinburgh,throughthekindnessofDr。SamuelBrown,I

  madetheacquaintanceofDeQuincey,ofLordJeffrey,ofWilson,ofMrs。Crowe,oftheMessrs。Chambers,andofamanofhighcharacterandgenius,theshortlivedpainter,DavidScott。

  AtAmblesideinMarch,1848,IwasforacoupleofdaystheguestofMissMartineau,thennewlyreturnedfromherEgyptiantour。

  OnSundayafternoon,IaccompaniedhertoRydalMount。AndasIhaverecordedavisittoWordsworth,manyyearsbefore,Imustnotforgetthissecondinterview。WefoundMr。Wordsworthasleeponthesofa。

  Hewasatfirstsilentandindisposed,asanoldmansuddenlywaked,beforehehadendedhisnap;butsoonbecamefulloftalkontheFrenchnews。HewasnationallybitterontheFrench:bitteronScotchmen,too。NoScotchman,hesaid,canwriteEnglish。Hedetailedthetwomodels,ononeortheotherofwhichallthesentencesofthehistorianRobertsonareframed。NorcouldJeffrey,northeEdinburghReviewerswriteEnglish,norcan,whoisapesttotheEnglishtongue。Incidentallyheadded,GibboncannotwriteEnglish。TheEdinburghReviewwrotewhatwouldtellandwhatwouldsell。IthadhoweverchangedthetoneofitsliterarycriticismfromthetimewhenacertainletterwaswrittentotheeditorbyColeridge。Mrs。W。hadtheEditor’sanswerinherpossession。

  Tennysonhethinksarightpoeticgenius,thoughwithsomeaffectation。HehadthoughtanelderbrotherofTennysonatfirstthebetterpoet,butmustnowreckonAlfredthetrueone……

  InspeakingofIknownotwhatstyle,hesaid,\"tobesure,itwasthemanner,butthenyouknowthematteralwayscomesoutofthemanner。\"……HethoughtRioJaneirothebestplaceintheworldforagreatcapitalcity……WetalkedofEnglishnationalcharacter。Itoldhim,itwasnotcreditablethatnooneinallthecountryknewanythingofThomasTaylor,thePlatonist,whilstineveryAmericanlibraryhistranslationsarefound。Isaid,ifPlato’sRepublicwerepublishedinEnglandasanewbookto—day,doyouthinkitwouldfindanyreaders?——heconfessed,itwouldnot:

  \"andyet,\"headdedafterapause,withthatcomplacencywhichneverdesertsatrue—bornEnglishman,\"andyetwehaveembodieditall。\"

  HisopinionsofFrench,English,Irish,andScotch,seemedrashlyformulizedfromlittleanecdotesofwhathadbefallenhimselfandmembersofhisfamily,inadiligenceorstage—coach。Hisfacesometimeslightedup,buthisconversationwasnotmarkedbyspecialforceorelevation。YetperhapsitisahighcomplimenttothecultivationoftheEnglishgenerally,whenwefindsuchamannotdistinguished。Hehadahealthylook,withaweather—beatenface,hisfacecorrugated,especiallythelargenose。

  MissMartineau,wholivednearhim,praisedhimtomenotforhispoetry,butforthriftandeconomy;forhavingaffordedtohiscountry—neighborsanexampleofamodesthousehold,wherecomfortandcultureweresecuredwithoutanydisplay。Shesaid,that,inhisearlyhousekeepingatthecottagewherehefirstlived,hewasaccustomedtoofferhisfriendsbreadandplainestfare:iftheywantedanythingmore,theymustpayhimfortheirboard。Itwastheruleofthehouse。Ireplied,thatitevincedEnglishpluckmorethananyanecdoteIknew。AgentlemanintheneighborhoodtoldthestoryofWalterScott’sstayingonceforaweekwithWordsworth,andslippingouteverydayunderpretenceofawalk,totheSwanInn,foracoldcutandporter;andonedaypassingwithWordsworththeinn,hewasbetrayedbythelandlord’saskinghimifhehadcomeforhisporter。Ofcourse,thistraitwouldhaveanotherlookinLondon,andthereyouwillhearfromdifferentliterarymen,thatWordsworthhadnopersonalfriend,thathewasnotamiable,thathewasparsimonious,&c。Landor,alwaysgenerous,says,thatheneverpraisedanybody。AgentlemaninLondonshowedmeawatchthatoncebelongedtoMilton,whoseinitialsareengravedonitsface。Hesaid,heonceshowedthistoWordsworth,whotookitinonehand,thendrewouthisownwatch,andhelditupwiththeother,beforethecompany,butnoonemakingtheexpectedremark,heputbackhisowninsilence。IdonotattachmuchimportancetothedisparagementofWordsworthamongLondonscholars。Whoreadshimwellwillknow,thatinfollowingthestrongbentofhisgenius,hewascarelessofthemany,carelessalsoofthefew,self—assuredthatheshould\"createthetastebywhichheistobeenjoyed。\"Helivedlongenoughtowitnesstherevolutionhehadwrought,and\"toseewhatheforesaw。\"Therearetorpidplacesinhismind,thereissomethinghardandsterileinhispoetry,wantofgraceandvariety,wantofduecatholicityandcosmopolitanscope:hehadconformitiestoEnglishpoliticsandtraditions;hehadegotisticpuerilitiesinthechoiceandtreatmentofhissubjects;butletussayofhim,that,aloneinhistimehetreatedthehumanmindwell,andwithanabsolutetrust。Hisadherencetohispoeticcreedrestedonrealinspirations。TheOdeonImmortalityisthehigh—water—markwhichtheintellecthasreachedinthisage。Newmeanswereemployed,andnewrealmsaddedtotheempireofthemuse,byhiscourage。

  ChapterXVIII_Result_

  Englandisthebestofactualnations。Itisnoidealframework,itisanoldpilebuiltindifferentages,withrepairs,additions,andmakeshifts;butyouseethepoorbestyouhavegot。

  Londonistheepitomeofourtimes,andtheRomeofto—day。

  Broad—frontedbroad—bottomedTeutons,theystandinsolidphalanxfoursquaretothepointsofcompass;theyconstitutethemodernworld,theyhaveearnedtheirvantage—ground,andhelditthroughagesofadversepossession。Theyarewellmarkedanddifferingfromotherleadingraces。Englandistender—hearted。Romewasnot。

  Englandisnotsopublicinitsbias;privatelifeisitsplaceofhonor。Truthinprivatelife,untruthinpublic,marksthesehome—lovingmen。Theirpoliticalconductisnotdecidedbygeneralviews,butbyinternalintriguesandpersonalandfamilyinterest。

  TheycannotreadilyseebeyondEngland。ThehistoryofRomeandGreece,whenwrittenbytheirscholars,degeneratesintoEnglishpartypamphlets。TheycannotseebeyondEngland,norinEnglandcantheytranscendtheinterestsofthegoverningclasses。\"Englishprinciples\"meanaprimaryregardtotheinterestsofproperty。

  England,Scotland,andIrelandcombinetocheckthecolonies。

  EnglandandScotlandcombinetocheckIrishmanufacturesandtrade。

  EnglandralliesathometocheckScotland。InEngland,thestrongclasseschecktheweaker。Inthehomepopulationofnearthirtymillions,therearebutonemillionvoters。TheChurchpunishesdissent,punisheseducation。Downtoalateday,marriagesperformedbydissenterswereillegal。Abitterclass—legislationgivespowertothosewhoarerichenoughtobuyalaw。Thegame—lawsareaproverbofoppression。Pauperismincrustsandclogsthestate,andinhardtimesbecomeshideous。Inbadseasons,theporridgewasdiluted。Multitudeslivedmiserablybyshell—fishandsea—ware。Incities,thechildrenaretrainedtobeg,untiltheyshallbeoldenoughtorob。Menandwomenwereconvictedofpoisoningscoresofchildrenforburial—fees。InIrishdistricts,mendeterioratedinsizeandshape,thenosesunk,thegumswereexposed,withdiminishedbrainandbrutalform。DuringtheAustralianemigration,multitudeswererejectedbythecommissionersasbeingtooemaciatedforusefulcolonists。DuringtheRussianwar,fewofthosethatofferedasrecruitswerefounduptothemedicalstandard,thoughithadbeenreduced。

  TheforeignpolicyofEngland,thoughambitiousandlavishofmoney,hasnotoftenbeengenerousorjust。Ithasaprincipalregardtotheinterestoftrade,checkedhoweverbythearistocraticbiasoftheambassador,whichusuallyputshiminsympathywiththecontinentalCourts。ItsanctionedthepartitionofPoland,itbetrayedGenoa,Sicily,Parga,Greece,Turkey,Rome,andHungary。

  Somepublicregardstheyhave。TheyhaveabolishedslaveryintheWestIndies,andputanendtohumansacrificesintheEast。Athometheyhaveacertainstatutehospitality。Englandkeepsopendoors,asatradingcountrymust,toallnations。Itisoneoftheirfixedideas,andwrathfullysupportedbytheirlawsinunbrokensequenceforathousandyears。In_MagnaCharta_itwasordained,thatall\"merchantsshallhavesafeandsecureconducttogooutandcomeintoEngland,andtostaythere,andtopassaswellbylandasbywater,tobuyandsellbytheancientallowedcustoms,withoutanyeviltoll,exceptintimeofwar,orwhentheyshallbeofanynationatwarwithus。\"Itisastatuteandobligedhospitality,andperemptorilymaintained。Butthisshop—rulehadonemagnificenteffect。Itextendsitscoldunalterablecourtesytopoliticalexilesofeveryopinion,andisafactwhichmightgiveadditionallighttothatportionoftheplanetseenfromthefartheststar。Butthisperfunctoryhospitalityputsnosweetnessintotheirunaccommodatingmanners,nocheckonthatpuissantnationalitywhichmakestheirexistenceincompatiblewithallthatisnotEnglish。

  Whatwemustsayaboutanationisasuperficialdealingwithsymptoms。Wecannotgodeepenoughintothebiographyofthespiritwhoneverthrowshimselfentireintoonehero,butdelegateshisenergyinpartsorspasmstoviciousanddefectiveindividuals。ButthewealthofthesourceisseenintheplenitudeofEnglishnature。

  Whatvarietyofpowerandtalent;whatfacilityandplenteousnessofknighthood,lordship,ladyship,royalty,loyalty;whataproudchivalryisindicatedin\"Collins’sPeerage,\"througheighthundredyears!Whatdignityrestingonwhatrealityandstoutness!Whatcourageinwar,whatsinewinlabor,whatcunningworkmen,whatinventorsandengineers,whatseamenandpilots,whatclerksandscholars!Noonemanandnofewmencanrepresentthem。Itisapeopleofmyriadpersonalities。Theirmany—headednessisowingtotheadvantageouspositionofthemiddleclass,whoarealwaysthesourceoflettersandscience。Hencethevastplentyoftheiraestheticproduction。Astheyaremany—headed,sotheyaremany—nationed:theircolonizationannexesarchipelagoesandcontinents,andtheirspeechseemsdestinedtobetheuniversallanguageofmen。IhavenotedthereserveofpowerintheEnglishtemperament。Intheisland,theyneverletoutallthelengthofallthereins,thereisnoBerserkirrage,noabandonmentorecstasyofwillorintellect,likethatoftheArabsinthetimeofMahomet,orlikethatwhichintoxicatedFrancein1789。Butwhowouldseetheuncoilingofthattremendousspring,theexplosionoftheirwell—husbandedforces,mustfollowtheswarmswhichpouringnowfortwohundredyearsfromtheBritishislands,havesailed,androde,andtraded,andplanted,throughallclimates,mainlyfollowingthebeltofempire,thetemperatezones,carryingtheSaxonseed,withitsinstinctforlibertyandlaw,forartsandforthought,——

  acquiringundersomeskiesamoreelectricenergythanthenativeairallows,——totheconquestoftheglobe。Theircolonialpolicy,obeyingthenecessitiesofavastempire,hasbecomeliberal。CanadaandAustraliahavebeencontentedwithsubstantialindependence。

  TheyareexpiatingthewrongsofIndia,bybenefits;first,inworksfortheirrigationofthepeninsula,androadsandtelegraphs;andsecondly,intheinstructionofthepeople,toqualifythemforself—government,whentheBritishpowershallbefinallycalledhome。

  Theirmindisinastateofarresteddevelopment,——adivinecripplelikeVulcan;ablind_savant_likeHuberandSanderson。Theydonotoccupythemselvesonmattersofgeneralandlastingimport,butonacorporealcivilization,ongoodsthatperishintheusing。

  Buttheyreadwithgoodintent,andwhattheylearntheyincarnate。

  TheEnglishmindturnseveryabstractionitcanreceiveintoaportableutensil,oraworkinginstitution。Suchistheirtenacity,andsuchtheirpracticalturn,thattheyholdalltheygain。Hencewesay,thatonlytheEnglishracecanbetrustedwithfreedom,——

  freedomwhichisdouble—edgedanddangeroustoanybutthewiseandrobust。TheEnglishdesignatethekingdomsemulousoffreeinstitutions,asthesentimentalnations。Theircultureisnotanoutsidevarnish,butisthoroughandsecularinfamiliesandtherace。Theyareoppressivewiththeirtemperament,andallthemorethattheyarerefined。IhavesometimesseenthemwalkwithmycountrymenwhenIwasforcedtoallowthemeveryadvantage,andtheircompanionsseemedbagsofbones。

  Thereiscramplimitationintheirhabitofthought,sleepyroutine,andatortoise’sinstincttoholdhardtothegroundwithhisclaws,lestheshouldbethrownonhisback。Thereisadragofinertiawhichresistsreformineveryshape;——law—reform,army—reform,extensionofsuffrage,Jewishfranchise,Catholicemancipation,——theabolitionofslavery,ofimpressment,penalcode,andentails。Theypraisethisdrag,undertheformula,thatitistheexcellenceoftheBritishconstitution,thatnolawcananticipatethepublicopinion。Thesepoortortoisesmustholdhard,fortheyfeelnowingssproutingattheirshoulders。Yetsomewhatdivinewarmsattheirheart,andwaitsahappierhour。Ithidesintheirsturdywill。\"Will,\"saidtheoldphilosophy,\"isthemeasureofpower,\"andpersonalityisthetokenofthisrace。_Quidvultvaldevult_。Whattheydotheydowithawill。YoucannotaccountfortheirsuccessbytheirChristianity,commerce,charter,commonlaw,Parliament,orletters,butbythecontumacioussharptonguedenergyofEnglish_naturel_,withapoiseimpossibletodisturb,whichmakesalltheseitsinstruments。Theyareslowandreticent,andarelikeadullgoodhorsewhichletseverynagpasshim,butwithwhipandspurwillrundowneveryracerinthefield。Theyarerightintheirfeeling,thoughwrongintheirspeculation。

  Thefeudalsystemsurvivesinthesteepinequalityofpropertyandprivilege,inthelimitedfranchise,inthesocialbarrierswhichconfinepatronageandpromotiontoacaste,andstillmoreinthesubmissiveideaspervadingthesepeople。Thefaggingoftheschoolsisrepeatedinthesocialclasses。AnEnglishmanshowsnomercytothosebelowhiminthesocialscale,ashelooksfornonefromthoseabovehim:anyforbearancefromhissuperiorssurpriseshim,andtheysufferinhisgoodopinion。Butthefeudalsystemcanbeseenwithlesspainonlargehistoricalgrounds。Itwaspleadedinmitigationoftherottenborough,thatitworkedwell,thatsubstantialjusticewasdone。Fox,Burke,Pitt,Erskine,Wilberforce,Sheridan,Romilly,orwhatevernationalman,werebythismeanssenttoParliament,whentheirreturnbylargeconstituencieswouldhavebeendoubtful。Sonowwesay,thattherightmeasuresofEnglandarethemenitbred;

  thatithasyieldedmoreablemeninfivehundredyearsthananyothernation;and,thoughwemustnotplayProvidence,andbalancethechancesofproducingtengreatmenagainstthecomfortoftenthousandmeanmen,yetretrospectivelywemaystrikethebalance,andpreferoneAlfred,oneShakspeare,oneMilton,oneSidney,oneRaleigh,oneWellington,toamillionfoolishdemocrats。

  TheAmericansystemismoredemocratic,morehumane;yettheAmericanpeopledonotyieldbetterormoreablemen,ormoreinventionsorbooksorbenefits,thantheEnglish。CongressisnotwiserorbetterthanParliament。Francehasabolisheditssuffocatingold_regime_,butisnotrecentlymarkedbyanymorewisdomorvirtue。

  Thepowerofperformancehasnotbeenexceeded,——thecreationofvalue。TheEnglishhavegivenimportancetoindividuals,aprincipalendandfruitofeverysociety。Everymanisallowedandencouragedtobewhatheis,andisguardedintheindulgenceofhiswhim。\"MagnaCharta,\"saidRushworth,\"issuchafellowthathewillhavenosovereign。\"Bythisgeneralactivity,andbythissacrednessofindividuals,theyhaveinsevenhundredyearsevolvedtheprinciplesoffreedom。Itisthelandofpatriots,martyrs,sages,andbards,andiftheoceanoutofwhichitemergedshouldwashitaway,itwillberememberedasanislandfamousforimmortallaws,fortheannouncementsoforiginalrightwhichmakethestonetablesofliberty。

  ChapterXIX_SpeechatManchester_

  AfewdaysaftermyarrivalatManchester,inNovember,1847,theManchesterAthenaeumgaveitsannualBanquetintheFree—TradeHall。Withotherguests,Iwasinvitedtobepresent,andtoaddressthecompany。Inlookingoverrecentlyanewspaper—reportofmyremarks,Iinclinetoreprintit,asfitlyexpressingthefeelingwithwhichIenteredEngland,andwhichagreeswellenoughwiththemoredeliberateresultsofbetteracquaintancerecordedintheforegoingpages。SirArchibaldAlison,thehistorian,presided,andopenedthemeetingwithaspeech。HewasfollowedbyMr。Cobden,LordBrackley,andothers,amongwhomwasMr。Cruikshank,oneofthecontributorsto\"Punch。\"Mr。Dickens’sletterofapologyforhisabsencewasread。Mr。Jerrold,whohadbeenannounced,didnotappear。OnbeingintroducedtothemeetingIsaid,——

  Mr。ChairmanandGentlemen:Itispleasanttometomeetthisgreatandbrilliantcompany,anddoublypleasanttoseethefacesofsomanydistinguishedpersonsonthisplatform。ButIhaveknownallthesepersonsalready。WhenIwasathome,theywereasneartomeastheyaretoyou。TheargumentsoftheLeagueanditsleaderareknowntoallthefriendsoffreetrade。Thegayetiesandgenius,thepolitical,thesocial,theparietalwitof\"Punch\"godulyeveryfortnighttoeveryboyandgirlinBostonandNewYork。Sir,whenI

  cametosea,Ifoundthe\"HistoryofEurope\"(*1)ontheship’scabintable,thepropertyofthecaptain;——asortofprogrammeorplay—billtotelltheseafaringNewEnglanderwhatheshallfindonhislandinghere。AndasforDombey,sir,thereisnolandwherepaperexiststoprinton,whereitisnotfound;nomanwhocanread,thatdoesnotreadit,and,ifhecannot,hefindssomecharitablepairofeyesthatcan,andhearsit。

  (*1)BySirA。Alison。

  Butthesethingsarenotformetosay;thesecompliments,thoughtrue,wouldbettercomefromonewhofeltandunderstoodthesemeritsmore。Iamnotheretoexchangecivilitieswithyou,butrathertospeakofthatwhichIamsureintereststhesegentlemenmorethantheirownpraises;ofthatwhichisgoodinholidaysandworking—days,thesameinonecenturyandinanothercentury。ThatwhichluresasolitaryAmericaninthewoodswiththewishtoseeEngland,isthemoralpeculiarityoftheSaxonrace,——itscommandingsenseofrightandwrong,——theloveanddevotiontothat,——thisistheimperialtrait,whicharmsthemwiththesceptreoftheglobe。Itisthiswhichliesatthefoundationofthataristocraticcharacter,whichcertainlywandersintostrangevagaries,sothatitsoriginisoftenlostsightof,butwhich,ifitshouldlosethis,wouldfinditselfparalyzed;andintrade,andinthemechanic’sshop,givesthathonestyinperformance,thatthoroughnessandsolidityofwork,whichisanationalcharacteristic。Thisconscienceisoneelement,andtheotheristhatloyaladhesion,thathabitoffriendship,thathomageofmantoman,runningthroughallclasses,——theelectingofworthypersonstoacertainfraternity,toactsofkindnessandwarmandstaunchsupport,fromyeartoyear,fromyouthtoage,——whichisalikelovelyandhonorabletothosewhorenderandthosewhoreceiveit;——

  whichstandsinstrongcontrastwiththesuperficialattachmentsofotherraces,theirexcessivecourtesy,andshort—livedconnection。

  Youwillthinkmeverypedantic,gentlemen,butholidaythoughitbe,Ihavenotthesmallestinterestinanyholiday,exceptasitcelebratesrealandnotpretendedjoys;andIthinkitjust,inthistimeofgloomandcommercialdisaster,ofafflictionandbeggaryinthesedistricts,that,ontheseveryaccountsIspeakof,youshouldnotfailtokeepyourliteraryanniversary。Iseemtohearyousay,that,forallthatiscomeandgoneyet,wewillnotreducebyonechapletoroneoakleafthebraveriesofourannualfeast。ForI

  musttellyou,Iwasgiventounderstandinmychildhood,thattheBritishislandfromwhichmyforefatherscame,wasnolotus—garden,noparadiseofsereneskyandrosesandmusicandmerrimentalltheyearround,no,butacoldfoggymournfulcountry,wherenothinggrewwellintheopenair,butrobustmenandvirtuouswomen,andtheseofawonderfulfibreandendurance;thattheirbestpartswereslowlyrevealed;theirvirtuesdidnotcomeoutuntiltheyquarrelled:theydidnotstriketwelvethefirsttime;goodlovers,goodhaters,andyoucouldknowlittleaboutthemtillyouhadseenthemlong,andlittlegoodofthemtillyouhadseentheminaction;thatinprosperitytheyweremoodyanddumpish,butinadversitytheyweregrand。Isitnottrue,sir,thatthewiseancientsdidnotpraisetheshippartingwithflyingcolorsfromtheport,butonlythatbravesailerwhichcamebackwithtornsheetsandbatteredsides,striptofherbanners,buthavingriddenoutthestorm?Andso,gentlemen,IfeelinregardtothisagedEngland,withthepossessions,honorsandtrophies,andalsowiththeinfirmitiesofathousandyearsgatheringaroundher,irretrievablycommittedasshenowistomanyoldcustomswhichcannotbesuddenlychanged;presseduponbythetransitionsoftrade,andnewandallincalculablemodes,fabrics,arts,machines,andcompetingpopulations,——Iseehernotdispirited,notweak,butwellrememberingthatshehasseendarkdaysbefore;——indeedwithakindofinstinctthatsheseesalittlebetterinacloudyday,andthatinstormofbattleandcalamity,shehasasecretvigorandapulselikeacannon。Iseeherinheroldage,notdecrepit,butyoung,andstilldaringtobelieveinherpowerofenduranceandexpansion。Seeingthis,Isay,Allhail!

  motherofnations,motherofheroes,withstrengthstillequaltothetime;stillwisetoentertainandswifttoexecutethepolicywhichthemindandheartofmankindrequiresinthepresenthour,andthusonlyhospitabletotheforeigner,andtrulyahometothethoughtfulandgenerouswhoareborninthesoil。Sobeit!soletitbe!Ifitbenotso,ifthecourageofEnglandgoeswiththechancesofacommercialcrisis,IwillgobacktothecapesofMassachusetts,andmyownIndianstream,andsaytomycountrymen,theoldraceareallgone,andtheelasticityandhopeofmankindmusthenceforthremainontheAlleghanyranges,ornowhere。

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