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■^^i 


THE 

COLLECTED  WORKS  OF  WILLIAM    HAZLITT 

IN   TWELVE  VOLUMES 


VOLUME  SEVEN 


AH  rigAf 


( 


1  ^.  i  i      \       ■ ,  ,  ^  ■  r 

.•      t-.    ■ :  ;■  V  .  ;   ^ 


I  '  ■■.-  r. 

't         \    '  I    ..' 


:L^..':.ii.    i  Hii.;,!!'s    ,-    <"■'■   ■ 


.;  ■%    \ -iVh, 


THE  COLLECTED  WORKS  OF 

WILLIAM  .HAZLITT 

EDITED    BY    A.    R.    WALLER 
AND    ARNOLD    GLOVER 

WITH    AN    INTRODOCTION    BY 

W.  E.   HENLEY 


The  Plain  Speaker. 

Essay  on  the  Principles 

of  Human  Action 

Etc. 


1903 

LONDON:  J.  M.  DENT  (3*  CO. 
McCLURE,  PHILLIPS  &  CO.:  NEW  YORK 


32^.6 


5¥5^960 


t. 


Edinl.aib  :  PtiiiMd  by  T.  and  A.  Cohitasi.b 


CONTENTS 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

AN  ESSAY  ON  THE  PRINCIPLES  OF  HUMAN  ACTION 

REMARKS  ON  THE  SYSTEMS  OF   HARTLEY   AND 
HELVETIDS  

NOTES 


5 

1>S 


414 

479 


THE   PLAIN    SPEAKER 


Voi»ni. :  A 


BIBLIOGRAPHICAL    NOTE 

Tlu  Flm  Sft*itr :  Ofimern  nt  Booiif  itf Af,  amit  TAiMgif  ippured  uctnyiiuiiulf 
in  1826  in  two  nlumu  (9  x  5}  iocbci},  pabliibed  by  Henry  CoUnini,  New 
Batlingtan  Street,  Tkc  impriat  behind  both  titte-pi(u  i>  '  London  1  Printed  by 
Thomu  DiviMin,  Whitefriir* ' ;  bnt  thit  it  the  end  of  the  lecond  mlnme  ii 
'LoDdan;  Printed  by  J.  Nichali  ud  Son,  Pirlument  Street.'  A  lilt  of 
'  Intereiting  Worki,  JuH  publithed  by  Hcniy  Colbarn,*  ■!  the  end  of  the  work 
contiini  u  iDnonncemenE  of  '  The  Spiiiu  of  the  Afe  .  .  .  The  Second  Edition, 
with  Addition!'  (ke  voL  ir.  p.  186,  Bibliographial  Note  to  Tit  Sfirit  tf  t^  Agif. 

In  the  edition  which  wu  pnblithcd  in  1S51,  edited  by  bi>  Mn,  the  Biujp 
entitled  *  On  x  Portriit  of  1  Lady,  by  Vandyke '  i*  not  included  1  it  wu  truu- 
ferred  to  '  Criticifmi  on  Art,' 

In  the  preeent  iine  the  Etuyi  have  been  numbered  conKcutively  1  in  the 
originel  two-volnine  edition  the  *  Second  Serie* '  began  with  BMiy  I.  '  On  the 
JJuilificationi  Neceuuy  to  Succeu  id  Life.' 

See  alu  BibliogiipMal  Note  to  Tail*  Tali, 


CONTENTS 

ESSAY  I. 

rAM 
On  the  Proie-^tyle  of  Poeti  .....  5 

ESSAY  II. 
On  Drtanu  ......  .17 

ESSAY  ni. 
Od  the  CoDTtmtioii  of  Author*  .....  34 

ESSAY  IV. 
The  tune  Subject  continued  .  .  .  ,  ,  35 

ESSAY  V, 
^  On  Reutm  and  Imagination         .  .  .  .  .  44  ,^ 

ESSAY  VL 
On  Application  to  Studf  ......  jj 

y  ESSAY  vn. 

■*  'On  Loodonen  and  Country  People  .  .  .  66  i^ 

ESSAY  VIII. 
On  the  Spirit  of  Obligationi  .....  78 

ESSAY  IX. 
On  the  Old  Age  of  Attiiti  .....  IS 

[/  ESSAY  X. 

4*  On  Envy  (A  IXak^e)      .  .  .  .  ,  •  97  " 

ESSAY  XL 

On  Sitting  for  one'i  Picture  .....        107 

^  ESSAY  xn. 

''^  Whether  Geniui  ii  conidoui  of  its  Powen  f  .  .        117  b- 

^  ESSAY  XUI. 

>ir  On  the  Pleamre  of  Hating  .....        117  t. 

ESSAY  XIV. 
On  Dr.  Spunheim'i  Theory  .  .137 

ESSAY  XV. 
^   On  Egotiim  .......        IJ7 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

ESSAY  XVL 

Hot  ud  Cold 169 

BSSAYXVn. 
The  New  School  of  Refotin  (A  IKalogac  betmn  a  RadomEit 

and  a  Sendmentaliit)  .....        179 

ESSAY  xrm. 

y,/  Ob  the  QuaMcitioni  ntotmuf  to  Sucgcm  hi  lift  .        195  ^^ 

ESSAY  ZIZ. 

Od  the  Look  of  >  Gentlenu        .....        109 

ESSAY  XZ. 

On  Readuig  OU  Booki    ......        xao 

ESSAY  ZZL 

4Kt/  On  Penonal  Chuacter      ......        ajo  r 

ESSAY  zxn. 

On  People  of  Senie  ......        S43 

ESSAY  xjcm. 
Od  AatiquJ^       .......       152 

ESSAY  XXIV. 
On  the  Difference  between  Wridng  and  Speaking  xSx 

y  ESSAY  XXV. 

yr    On  a  Portrait  of  aa  Engliih  Ladj,  bjr  Yandjke  .        180  .- 

ESSAY  XIVI. 
On  Nonl^  and  Fanuliuitj  .....        194 

ESSAY  xxvn. 

On  OU  Engliih  Writer*  and  Speaken  .  .  .        jii 

ESSAY  xxvm. 

Madame  Paita  and  MademoiieUe  Man     ....        3*4 

ESSAY  XXIX. 
Sir  Walter  Scott,  Rwane,  and  Shakeqiear .  .  -        31^ 

,  /  ESSAY  XXX. 

"^'^  On  Depth  and  Superfioalitj  .  .  .  •34^" 

ESSAY  ZXXI. 

'  [/  On  Rcipectable  Pe^le  .  .        360    - 

ESSAY  xxxn. 

On  Jeaknuy  and  spleen  of  Pai»r  ,  .  •  •  ■        %H 


THE    PLAIN    SPEAKER 


ESSAY  I 


OH    THE    PROSE-rnrLE    OF    POETS 


*Do]PM  K*d  vrtintt    If  you  tine,  iron  ilof  *trir  111  I' 

I  KATE  but  ao  bdifTcrrat  opinioo  of  ihe  ptoKitylc  of  poeu :  not 
thil  it  t(  DOt  sometimct  good,  oay,  txccllcot ;  but  it  b  Dcvet  the 
bcttu,  aod  geacrally  the  worse  from  the  habit  of  wrilisg  rcrce. 
PoctB  i.!t  wiofted  uunult,  tad  axi  cleare  the  lif,  like  biids,  with  ea*e 
to  thenttclvet  and  ddiahi  to  the  beholdcc*  g  but  like  thaic  ■  fdthcrcd, 
two-legged  tbiogii'  when  tbey  light  upon  the  ground  of  ptute  kod 
tnatter-of'fact,  chev  wcm  not  to  have  the  tame  luc  of  their  ftru 

WhM  ia  ■  little  extraordinary,  there  ii  a  wau  of  rbytimtu  tnd 
cadence  in  what  tbey  wriic  wiOiout  the  help  of  metrical  nilet.  Like 
periona  who  have  bwo  accuotomcd  to  no^  to  munc,  they  are  at  >  loM 
ID  ibe  ab*ence  of  the  bibitual  accompaniment  and  guide  to  their  judg- 
ment. Their  «tyle  halt«,  totter*,  »  looie,  diijointcd,  and  without 
cxpn«H*e  piuae*  or  rapid  movements.  The  rocaturcd  cadence  and 
regular  ling-tuHg  of  rhyme  or  blank  reric  have  destroyed,  u  it  were, 
their  Utoral  car  for  the  mere  character iatic  banuony  which  ought  to 
(obnilt  between  the  tound  and  the  *cnae.  I  tbould  almost  gueii  the 
Author  of  Wavciley  to  be  a  writer  of  ambttng  ver«es  from, the 
deniliory  TaciIIatioo  and  want  of  lirmoeM  Jo  the  march  of  hii  Kyle. 
There  ii  neiihet  momaUum  nor  elsnticity  in  it  j  I  mean  at  to  the  tart, 
or  ctTcct  upon  the  ear.  He  has  improved  tince  io  hi«  other  works : 
to  be  rare,  he  bat  had  mcticc  nougb  *.  Poets  either  get  into  this 
incohercoi,  undetermioea,  shuffling  style,  made  up  of  '  unbleamcg  flats 
and  sharpi,'  of  unaccountable  atart*  and  poiucs,  of  doubthJ  odt^  and 
cods,  flirted  about  like  nrawa  in  a  gunt  of  wind ;  or,  to  avoid  it  and 

>  I>  it  Dot  *  colUlml  proof  tbsl  Sir  Wtlui  iioK  it  ibe  Author  of  WiTCTltf, 
ihu  cm  tiaee  Ukm  N«nti  lK|in  to  ispcir,  hit  Mbk  ku  beco  tUtot,  liU  ibe 
pabUotioa  e(  KaUdo»-Hm  i 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 


steady  thoiuelvM,  mount  into  a  luttainMl  and  mcsiium]  proie  (like 
the  traoilation  of  Ottian'i  PocniR,  or  (ome  pirti  of  StiAfrnbury'i 
Cbiractrrittict]  which  it  more  odious  nill,  uid  hi  b.id  at  being  at  »ca 
in  a  calm.  Dr.  Johnwn's  style  ({snicduly  io  liis  Rambler,)  ii  oot 
free  from  the  last  objection.  There  ia  a  tune  in  it,  a  mechanical 
recunence  of  the  tame  t'lM  and  lill  in  ihe  ckuaes  of  his  Kntencei, 
iodejjendent  of  any  lelerence  to  the  meaning  of  the  text,  or  progrcN 
or  inflection  of  the  aeRM.  There  in  the  alternate  roll  of  his  cumbrous 
cargo  of  word* ;  hi*  periods  complete  iheit  rcToluiions  at  certain 
stated  intervale,  let  the  matter  be  longer  or  shorter,  rough  or  smooth, 
round  or  s^tiaret  diiferent  or  the  same.  This  monotonous  and 
balanced  mode  of  composition  may  be  compaji-d  to  tlut  specie*  of 
portrait-painting  which  premled  about  a  century  ago,  in  which  each 
face  was  caat  in  a  regular  and  preconceived  mould.  The  eye-browa 
were  arched  malhcmalically  a*  if  with  a  pair  of  compauc*,  and  the 
distances  between  the  noK  and  mouth,  the  forehead  and  chin, 
determined  according  to  a  'foregone  conclusion,'  and  tlie  feature*  of 
the  identical  tndiridual  were  afterward*  accommodated  to  them,  how 
tbev  could ! ' 

rlofne  Tooke  uaed  to  maintain  that  no  ooe  could  write  a  good 
^o*e  style,  who  was  not  accustomed  to  expre**  himself  mvd  voce,  or 
to  talk  in  company.  He  argued  that  thin  wat  the  fault  of  Addison'* 
prose,  and  that  its  imooth,  equable  uniformity,  and  want  of  ^arpoett  j 
and  spirit,  aro»e  from  hi*  not  having  familiuriied  his  ear  to  tlie  aound 
of  his  own  mice,  or  it  Icait  only  aniong  friends  and  admirer*,  where 
there  was  but  little  colliiion,  dramatic  Sucluation,  or  ludden  coniraticiy 
of  opinion  to  provoke  aoimjied  diicutiiion,  and  give  birth  to  diiferent 
intonations  and  lively  transitions  of  speech.  His  style  (in  this  view 
of  it)  waa  not  indented,  nor  did  it  project  from  the  surface.  There 
was  no  tUtu  laid  on  one  word  more  than  another — it  did  not  hurry 
on  or  stop  short,  or  sink  or  iwell  with  the  occasion .-  it  wa*  throughout 
ci^ually  insipid,  flowing,  and  harmonious,  and  had  the  elfect  of  a  studied 
Kcitatioo  rather  ihan  of  a  natural  di*courte.  This  would  not  have 
happened  (to  thr  Member  for  Old  Sarum  contended)  had  Addisoa 
laid  himself  out  to  ar^uc  at  his  club,  or  to  speak  in  public  i  for  thea  I 
hi*  ear  would  have  c-iught  the  necessary  modulations  of  sound  arising 
out  of  the  feeling  of  the  moment,  and  lie  would  have  ttansferred  them 
unconsciously  to  paper.  Much  might  be  aaid  on  both  aide*  of  ihi* 
<lueatioii  * :  but  Mr.  Tooke  waa  himself  an  unintentional  confirmation 

'  Set  (he  Portnili  of  Kntllcr,  Itidiirfltoi],  ind  athcn. 

'  CoMtnitii  wu  BOI  1  Ulkn,  though  he  blurlcil  out  hi*  good  ihlngi  new  snd 
thro  ;  fct  hil  tt^lc  i>  (ly  mil  volubk  rnnu||U.  Pojr  n%i  ilia  9  iilFnl  mtn  ;  in.1 
his  pioH  is  limi^i  snd  cvntlrjincil,  and  hia  vcr*t  in^lioinif  Io  Ihr  monnlonnus. 


ON  THE  PROSE-STYLE  OF  POETS 

of  hb  own  ar^mccti ;  Tor  the  lone  of  hi*  written  compo«ition*  i*  n 
flat  2nd  unrsitcd  a*  his  manner  of  ipciking  wat  hud  and  dry.  Of 
thv  poet  it  is  uid  by  »omc  ooc,  that 

'He  muimura  by  ihc  running  brooks 
A  muiic  iwcrlcr  thin  their  nvrn.' 

Go  the  coDirary,  th«  cclebnccd  person  jtut  alluded  to  might  be  uld 

riD  grind  the  woiencM  bctwceo  his  teeth,  which  he  atterwAxdi  com- 

nttled  to  pap^i  vul  thtew  out  cnuts  to  the  critics,  or  bon-mois  to  the 

lEIecton  of  Wetttninater  {lu  we  tLiow  bonei  to  the  dog«,J  without 

'|]lcring  a  mnticle,  and  without  the  cmalle«t  tremuloumeti  ot  Toice  or 

tye  ' !      I  certainly  so  f»r  agree  with  the  ibote  theory  a»  to  conceive 

that  DO  ityte  it  worth  a  farthing  that  in  not  calculated  to  be  read  out, 

or  that  is  not  allied  to  tptrited  conversation :  but  I  at  the  lame  time 

think  the  process  of  modulation  and  inllectioa  may  be  ()uitc  at  complete, 

or  more  m,  without  the  external  enunciatioo  i  and  that  an  author  had 

better  try  the  effect  of  hii  Kntencei  on  his  stomach  than  on  bin  ear. 

He  may  be  deceived  by  the  last,  not  by  the  lirtc.     No  person,  I 

|iBiagicic>  can  dictate  a  good  style ;  or  tpoui  his  own  compositions  with 

npuntty.      In  the  former  case,  he  will  lioundcr  on  before  the  vxne 

or  words  arc  ready,  sooner  than  suspend  hii  voice  in  air ;  and  in  the 

Uitcf,  he  can  supply  what  intonation  he  pleaies,  without  consiJung 

his  readers.     Parliamentary  speeches  somciimcs  read  well  aloud  (  but 

we  do  not  find,  when  such  persons  sit  down  to  write,  that  the  prosc- 

^■lylc  of  public  speakers  and  great  orators  is  the  bctt,  matt  naniTBl,  or 

'  vined  oral)  others.     It  ha*  almost  always  either  a  profestional  twang, 

■  mecbuica]  rounding  off,  or  else  is  stunted  and  unequal.      Charles 

Fox  was  the  most  rapid  and  even  bvrriiJ  of  speakers ;  but  his  written 

style   lulls  and   cneps  alowty  along  the  ground*. — A  speaker  is 

'  As  ■  liniulir  eumplc  d(  ttttdiactt  of  nuvei,  Mt.  Tooks  oa  oat  ocfsiton  hid 
goi  upon  the  Isblc  it  i  public  (Jinnrr  to  return  ttumki  for  hit  hcallh  having  b*tn 
dtink.  lit  hrM  i  hump"  of  irior  in  hia  hinil,  but  he  wH  rcceiw<(  with  cootiiicr- 
■ble  oppotilion  by  one  pirl)',  iii>l  >l  thr  tad  of  the  ditliirbincr,  which  liitcrl  for  a 
qsariK  of  in  hour,  he  found  the  wine  (bH  Kill  full  to  the  brim. 

'  I  hive  beca  tolil,  thii  when  Sheiiilin  w»  Ant  iatraduced  to  Mt.  Fas,  what 

ecmenteil  an  Lnmediite  iatisucT  bcl«eeo  tbcni  hii  Ihe  (allowing  drcumatince. 

Mr.  Sheridan  hid  been  the  niiht  before  Is  the  Huuie  of  Commoni ;  *nd  beini 

liked  what   hia  imprruinn   w>>,  uid  be  hiJ  ben  prineipiHy  tirurk   with  the 

diffeciocf  of  tninnri  bMwfro  Mr.  Foi  and  Lord  Slitmnnt.     The  lillct  heiin  by 

dtilaiini;  in  ■  ilon-,  tolemn,  ddwlinf,  mail  (one  that  'when  he  eoniMrtrd  the 

vCfunallj  uil  the  nnconiiitDlioail  tendeney  of  the  meaaurc*  juu  propoMd,  he  mi 

Lfcucried  awiy  id  i  torrent  of  piiaian  and  a  wkiilwinil  of  imprtuoiity,'  piuaint 

rbtmcn  crery  woid  and  lylUble  ;  while  the  (irit  iiiil  (ipeikiai  with  the  rapidity 

f«f  li(hin!n(,  ind  with  bniihleo  tniidy  inJ   impitieme],  that   '  luih  wii  the 

■upiilode,  tuch  Ihf  imponmcr,  tuch  the  viul  iatcnal  of  tbii  •;ueitiun,  Ihil  he 

7 


THB  PLAIN  SPEAKER 


nccMMrily  kept  within  boundi  in  expreuing  ccrtiia  thbgt,  or  in  pro- 
Douncing  a  certain  number  of  word*,  by  the  limiii  of  the  breath  or 
power  of  rrspirauon :  cert^n  uutidi  are  ob«crvcd  to  join  io 
harnionioiuly  or  happily  with  other* :  so  emphatic  phraw  must  not  be 
placed,  where  the  power  of  utteruce  it  eofecbled  or  cxhauKed,  Sic. 
All  tbia  mutt  be  iilleoded  to  in  writing  (and  wOl  be  to  uncooscioualy 
by  a  practiied  hand,}or  there  will  be  iiMiu  in  naMmirifiiu.  The 
word)  mtui  be  to  arrai^ccl,  in  order  to  make  on  cfiieient  rcadihle 
ilyle,  w  'to  come  trippingly  off  the  loogur.'  Hence  ii  iccmi  that 
there  U  a  natural  ■ncaoare  of  prow  ia  the  feeling  of  the  rabjeci  aod 
the  pow«r  of  exprcuioo  in  the  voice,  aa  there  is  aa  artificial  one 
of  verse  xa  the  number  aad  co-ordiiutioo  of  the  tyllabW  -.  tad  I 
conceive  that  the  uammela  of  the  lut  do  not  (wliete  ihey  haK 
been  long  worn)  greatly  aMR  the  freedom  or  the  exactnea  of 
the  IW«t. 

Again,  in  poetry,  from  the  lettrabtt  in  many  rcipcew,  a  greater 
Dnmbcr  of  iitTertiont,  or  a  Uiiiude  in  the  iran»po»iiion  of  worda  ta 
allowed,  which  i«  not  conformable  to  the  ttrict  lawa  of  prose.  Con- 
■cqueetly,  a  poet  will  be  at  a  lost,  and  flounder  about  for  the  contmoa 
or  (at  we  undcrtiand  U)  uxtuni/  order  of  words  tn  proie-compo«itioR. 
Dr.  Johnaon  endeavoured  to  give  aa  air  of  dignity  and  novelty  to  hii 
diction  by  affecting  the  order  of  word*  usual  in  poetry.  MiJtoD's 
prose  haa  not  only  thii  draw-back,  but  it  ia»  bIm  the  disadvonugc  of 
being  formed  on  a  classic  model.  It  is  like  a  fine  translation  from  the 
Latin  i  and  indeed,  he  wtotc  originally  in  Latin.  The  frequency  of 
epicheta  and  omanients,  too,  is  a  resource  for  which  the  poet  lindt  it 
difficult  to  obtain  an  equivalent.  A  direct,  or  liraplc  proic-ityle  tecma 
to  him  bald  and  tlat ;  and,  instead  of  forcing  an  intcteit  in  the  subject 
by  icTctity  of  description  and  reasoning,  he  is  repelled  from  it  alto- 
gether by  the  absence  of  those  obviout  and  metcCricious  allurementt, 
by  which  hit  senses  and  hit  imagination  have  been  liitherco  stimulated 
and  daxiled.  Thus  there  it  often  at  the  tame  time  a  want  of 
splendour  and  a  want  of  energy  in  what  he  wniet,  without  the  invoc- 
ation of  the  Mute — iiivlia  JHiiurva.  It  is  like  setting  a  rope-dancer 
to  perform  a  tumUcr'*  tricks— the  hardness  of  the  ground  jars  his 
nerrei ;  or  it  is  the  same  thing  a«  a  painter's  attempting  to  carve  a 
block  of  marble  for  the  first  time — the  coldness  chills  him,  the  colour, 
lets  unifomuty  distracts  him,  ilic  precision  of  form  demanded 
dishearten*  htm.  So  in  prose -writing,  the  severity  of  compoiiiion 
required  damps  the  enthusiasm,  and  cuts  off  the  rctourcts  of  the  poet. 

could  Dot  bdji  implonof,  hr  couIH  noi  help  SiljuriDi  the  HoDic  to  come  la  ll  vith 

tilt  nloioit  (ilointH,  the  uimoii  looliini,  iht  ulmoit  deUberstlon.'     This  trsit  of 

dlicrimloMioa  taslsntly  woo  Mr,  Foa't  bcuE. 

8 


f' 


f^ 


ON  THE  PROSE-STYLE  OF  POETS 


He  11  lookiDg  for  beauty,  when  he  «bould  be  tcckrng  for  trath ;  and 
tim*  M  plramK,  which  he  can  only  commuuk.-iiG  by  incrnaiof  the 
MQK  of^oycc  in  ibe  reader.  The  pott  spreads  the  colour*  of  fancy, 
th«  illuucoB  of  Ilia  ovo  miad.  round  every  objec%  ad  Miitmn ;  the 
'■writer  »  cofitpelleii  to  extract  bu  oiaterialii  patiently  and  bit  by 
,  froin  hi*  tubject.  What  be  addt  of  omuncDt,  what  he  borrowi 
'  from  the  pencil,  mutt  be  >i>ariBg,  ud  judicioudy  inwrtcd.  The  lirtt 
pretendf  to  oothbg  but  the  immodiaic  indulgence  of  his  feeJtsgi :  the 
UK  Ittt  a  mnote  piactical  purpose.  The  one  itroUa  out  toto  the 
•dJoiBiBg  ficUt  or  groTct  to  gitli«i  tlowera :  the  other  liu  a  journey 
to  «»  toiuHiBiet  through  dirty  roodd,  und  at  others  thrDUgh  untroddco 
and  dtfficnit  way*.  It  i>  ihit  ciTeiiiiDacy,  ihi«  immeraioa  to  tennal 
tdcat,  or  cravinc  after  continual  excitement,  that  (poiln  the  poet  for 
bu  prote-iaak.  He  canool  wait  till  the  elTcct  come*  of  itaclf,  or  sritcs 
out  of  the  occasion  :  he  muil  force  it  upon  all  occasions,  oi  hit  apirk 
droopa  aad  flaga  under  a  toppoard  imputatioD  of  duloeu.  He  can 
never  drift  with  the  currtn^  but  is  always  hoistiag  sail,  and  haa  his 
Micamett  laying.  He  ha>  got  a  nrikiox  simile  on  hand  i  he  hi^i  it  in 
with  the  (ir*i  opportunity,  and  with  little  conDexion,aod  *o  deieai*  hit 
object.  He  hat  a  ttory  to  tell :  be  tell*  it  in  the  first  page,  and 
where  it  would  come  in  well,  hat  nothing  to  tay ;  like  Goldsmitb, 
who  baving  to  wait  upon  a  Noble  Lord,  was  so  fall  of  himself  and  of 
the  figure  he  sliuuld  make,  that  he  addresaed  a  let  speech,  which  he 
bad  itudied  Ibc  tbe  occasion,  to  hit  Lordship**  butler,  and  had  jut 
aided  as  the  nobleman  made  bis  appearance.  The  protc  omamenia 
of  tbe  poet  are  frojuenily  b»uiiful  in  themselves  but  do  not  usisi  tlie 
lubjtct.  They  are  pleasing  cxciescencct — hindrances,  not  helps  in 
aa  arinneiK.  The  reason  m,  his  tmbaUiibBKntt  io  his  own  walk 
grow  ottt  of  tbe  lubject  by  natural  awociMioa  \  that  is,  beauty  give* 
biitb  to  kindred  be^ty,  grandeur  lead*  the  mind  on  to  grcitcf 
grandeur.  But  in  treating  a  cosnmon  subject,  the  link  is  trutb,  force 
of  illaiiration,  weight  of  aigument,  oot  a  graceful  harmony  in  the 
immodiatc  ideas;  and  hence  tbe  obvioua  and  habitual  clue  which 
before  gcided  him  is  gone,  and  be  bai^s  on  hit  patch-work,  tinicl 
bicry  at  raitdom,  in  despair,  without  propriety,  and  without  effect. 
The  poetical  prote-wtilcr  giupt  to  describe  an  object,  tf  he  admires  it, 
or  ihioki  it  will  bear  to  !jc  dwelt  on  i  tbe  genuine  prose-wiiter  only 
alludes  to  or  characterises  it  in  patiiog,  and  with  reference  to  his 
subject.  Tbe  proK-wriccr  i*  mauler  of  his  matrrisls  :  the  poet  it  tbe 
itare  of  hi*  ttyle.  Every  thing  ihowy,  crery  thing  extraneous  tempca 
him,  Bed  he  rcpoics  idly  ort  it :  he  is  brnt  on  pleasure,  not  on  btuinesa. 
He  aims  at  effect,  at  captivating  tlie  reader,  and  yet  is  contented  with 
ooaoion-place  omameiMt,  rather  than  none.     Indeed,  this  last  result 

9 


MH^        I 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

mutt  aecMisrily  follow,  when  thtn  ii  an  ambkioo  to  thiDC,  without 
the  eflori  to  dig  for  jcwcU  in  the  minr  of  trtitb.  The  habiti  of  a 
poet'*  niiiKl  oic  oot  thoK  of  iadtotty  or  rci«wch :  h>>  iina|n  catut  to 
htm,  be  doet  no:  go  to  them  i  xod  b  proM-*ubject«.  md  in  matten 
of  fact  and  dote  reatontng,  the  oattiral  ttimulus  that  at  other  timet 
warm*  and  route*,  deicrta  him  altogether.  He  tce«  no  unballowrd 
tiHoni,  he  it  toipiicd  by  do  dnj-^drrami.  All  i«  tame,  literal,  and 
harreo,  without  the  Ntae.  Nor  does  he  collect  hit  ttrength  to  urik« 
Kie  from  the  fliat  by  the  diarpoeu  of  coliiiion,  by  the  eagerneM  of  his 
Uowi.  He  liatheTi  rotec,  he  iteali  coluuti  from  the  roicibow.  He 
lite*  on  iwctai  and  ambtotia.  He  'uead*  the  pnmrove  path  of 
dalliance,'  ax  aiccndt  ■  the  highect  hcareo  of  inTentioo>'  or  nlli  flat 
to  the  ground,      ffe  u  nol/rmg,  if  not  faiuif^ ! 

I  fhall  proceed  to  explaia  Uicm  remark*,  u  wtU  u  I  cao,  by  a  l«w 
inaiance*  in  poioL 

It  hat  alu-ays  appeared  to  me  that  the  mo«t  pericct  piroM-atyle,  the 
moit  powerful,  the  moit  da^ulin^,  the  ma«t  dajting,  that  which  went 
tbe  nearen  to  the  teige  of  poetry,  and  yet  never  fell  over,  waa 
—  ^iirke'i.  It  has  the  solidity,  and  tparkling  effect  of  tbc  diamond : 
aIr50ier_^K  writittg  i*  like  French  pwtc  or  BriitoUloncn  in  ibc  com- 
pariaoD.  Burke'*  ttyle  it  stry,  Eighty,  advcoturous,  but  it  never  low* 
right  of  the  nibject ;  nay,  it  alwavt  in  contact  with,  and  derive*  its 
lacreaied  or  varying  tmpulK  from  it.  It  may  be  taid  to  pai*  yawntne 
gulf*  '  on  the  unitedfan  footing  of  a  tpear : '  atill  it  hai  an  actual 
rentng-ptacc  and  tangible  mipport  undo'  it — it  it  oot  tuapended  on 
nothing.  It  differ*  from  poetry,  as  I  coaceivc,  like  the  cliamoi* 
iroffl  the  eagle :  it  climb*  to  an  almoct  equal  height,  touches  upon  a 
cloud,  orerlooka  a  prcdpicc,  ia  picturcti^ue,  aublime — but  all  the 
while,  ioatesd  of  tearing  thro^jgh  the  air,  it  ttaod*  upon  a  rocky  cliif, 
damberi  up  by  abrupt  and  intricate  ways,  and  browxeaon  the  rougbett 
bari^  or  crap*  tbe  tender  flower.  The  principle  which  guidci  hii  pen 
btlfu^^pot  beauty — not  pli-.i.iurc,  but  power.  He  his  no  choice,  lio 
•Section  of^niUjcct  to  flatter  the  readci'*  idle  tutc,  or  aiciit  hia  own 
fancy :  he  nttist  take  what  comes,  and  make  the  moit  of  tt.  He 
works  the  mo«i  itriking  effect*  out  of  the  most  unpromiting  tnaterialt, 
by  the  mere  actiTity  of  hi«  mind.  He  riies  with  the  lofty,  dcaceods 
with  thi-  mean,  luxuriitet  in  beauty,  gloau  over  deformity.  It  u  all 
the  lutiir  to  him.  i-a  th^t  he  Ifitci  no  panicle  of  the  exact,  characteritdc, 
_ex\r<-mf  i-iijr  :  r,  of  the  thing  be  writes  about,  and  that  he  coin- 
rouiuc.iici  thi-i  lij  ii>c  reader,  after  exhausting  every  possible  mode  of 
illuitraiion,  plain  or  abatiacted,  figurative  or  literal.  Whatever  stamps 
the  original  image  more  distinctly  on  the  mbd,  u  welcome.  The 
atturc  of  bis  task  preclude*  contmual  beauty ;    but  it  does  not  pre- 

lO 


ON  THE  PROSE-STYLE   OF  POETS 

elude  coniiaaal  ift£CRiiit7,  force,  originality.  He  had  to  treat  of 
poTiucal  <)tmttoDE,  mixed  mode*,  ib«tract  ideu,  tuid  hi«  Tixicj  (or 
poetry,  if  you  will)  was  iografied  aa  thne  sriifcislly,  and  as  it  tntght 
•ometiinei  be  thought,  •ioleatly,  bttead  of  growtDg  naturally  out  of 
tbem,  ai  it  would  ipting  of  its  own  accord  from  individual  objecta  and 
fccliagt-  There  i(  a  rciiitance  in  the  mailer  to  the  illuftration  applied 
to  it — the  concrete  and  abmract  are  hardly  co-oidinutc ;  aod  therefore 
ii  it  that,  when  the  iirK  difficulty  in  otercome,  they  muat  agree  more 
closely  ID  the  e«KDtial  oualttieR,  in  order  that  the  coincidence  may  be 
complete.  OtberwiiCt  it  is  good  fornoihiog;  and  you  jun I y  charge 
the  aiuhor'i  «yle  with  bdag  looie,  vague,  flaccid  ami  imbecii.  The 
poet  haa  been  laid 

*  To  make  us  hrin 
Of  truth  and  pure  delight  in  mdlcu  lays.* 

Not  ao  the  peoae-wiiter,  who  olwayt  mingle*  clay  with  hi*  gold,  and 
often  tcparatci  truth  from  mere  pleaiutc.  He  can  only  arrive  at  the 
lait  through  the  firit.  Id  poetry,  one  pieaaing  or  striking  image 
obvioualy  auggeett  another :  the  Incresting  the  «rnK  of  brauty  or 
grandeur  i«  the  principle  of  compoutioo :  in  proie,  the  profcMed  ^ 
object  u  to  impart  conviction,  and  nothing  can  be  admitted  by  wuy  of 
ornament  or  relief,  that  doea  not  add  new  force  or  cleame**  to  the 
origisal  conception.  The  two  claaaea  of  id«a(  brought  together  by  tht 
onior  Of  hspaaiioQcd  pro»e-writcr,  to  wit,  the  groeial  tubject  aod  tbc 
pardcalar  image,  are  m  far  incompatible,  and  the  idenittjr  muat  be 
more  itiict,  more  marked,  more  determinate,  to  make  them  coalesce 
to  any  practical  purpow.  Every  word  should  be  a  blow :  every 
tbought  should  inatantly  grapple  with  itt  fellow.  There  mtitt  be  a 
weight,  a  prccition,  a  conformity  from  auociaiion  in  the  tropes  and 
figures  of  animated  p^'ose  to  lit  them  to  their  |Jace  in  the  argument, 
and  make  them  itil,  which  may  be  dispensed  with  in  poetry,  where 
there  la  something  much  more  congenial  between  the  subject-matter 
and  the  illustratioQ — 

'  Like  brauty  making  bnuiiful  old  rime  I ' 

What  can  be  more  remote,  for  inttance,  and  at  the  same  time  more 
apposile,  more  iht  tamt,  than  the  following  comparison  of  the  Engltih 
CoBiiitution  to  'the  proud  Keep  of  Windtor,'  in  the  eclehratcd 
Letter  to  a  Noble  Lord  i 

*  Such  are  ihrir  ideas ;  such  ihiir  religion,  and  such  litir  law.  But 
at  to  ear  country  and  wr  race,M  long  at  the  well -com  nacted  Mructurc 
of  our  church  and  uate,  the  aanctuary,  the  holy  ai  holies  of  that 
■Dcient  bw,  delended  by  reverence,  defended  by  power— a  fartreaa 

It 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

at  ooce  aad  «  t«npl«^ — dull  aund  inTiolaie  oo  the  biow  of  the 
liritich  Stoo ;  as  long  at  the  Briciib  Monarchy — not  nxHc  Utnilcd 
lluD  fenced  by  the  otden  of  the  Sute — ahall,  like  the  pioud  Keep  of 
Wiodcor,  Hiing  in  the  raajonr  of  proportion,  and  girt  with  the  double 
belt  of  iu  kindred  and  coeval  tower* ;  u  long  a*  thi*  awful  ttruclurv 
fhall  overaee  and  gaard  the  subjected  Uod,  ao  long  the  mouoda  and 
dyke*  of  the  low,  fat,  Bedford  level  will  hare  oothiag  ^  '*"''  ^oin  all 
tlie  pickaxci  of  all  ihe  leveller*  of  Ktance.  A*  looj;  aa  our  Soeereigo 
Lord  the  King,  and  hit  faithful  aubjccta.  tlie  Locdi  and  Conunont  of 
this  realm — the  itiplc  coid  which  do  nun  cm  brciik  ;  tlte  aolemc, 
(worn,  coiutitutional  frink-plcdgc  of  thii  luiion  ;  tbe  tirm  guarantee* 
of  each  other'*  being,  and  each  other'*  righu  ;  the  joint  and  »everal 
securitica,  each  in  ita  place  and  order,  for  every  kind  and  every 

Jiiality  of  property  aod  of  dignity — A*  long  aa  theic  endure,  to  long 
le  Duke  of  Bedford  i*  taft :  and  we  are  aJl  «afe  together — the  high 
from  the  blighti  of  envy  and  the  apoltationa  of  rapacity  ;  the  low  from 
the  iroo  hand  of  oppreiaioa  and  die  insolent  tpurn  of  contempt. 
Amen  !  and  ao  be  it :  and  to  it  will  be, 

**  Dtm  ihmui  Mmn  Cafilsli  biunebili  laxam 
ActtUti  imftriumqui  fvirr  RamoHUj  haMit."' 

Nothing  can  well  be  more  impracticable  to  a  timile  than  the  vague 
and  complicated  idea  which  is  here  embodied  in  one ;  yet  bow  finely, 
how  nobly  it  *Unda  out,  in  natural  grandeur,  in  royal  ataie,  with 
double  barricTi  round  it  lo  answer  for  ita  identity,  with  <  buttreta, 
fliraei  and  coignc  of  'vantage  '  for  the  imagination  to  '  make  iti  pen- 
dant bed  and  procteant  cradle,'  till  the  idea  i*  confounded  with  the 
object  rcpieveoting  it — the  wonder  of  a  kingdotn ;  and  then  how 
■tnkin^  how  determined  the  dctcent,  *  at  one  fell  iwoop,'  to  the  '  low, 
&t,  Bedford  letcl !  '  Poetry  would  have  been  bound  to  maintaio  a 
certain  decorum,  a  regular  balance  between  theae  two  idcM;  •tetltng 
pro«e  throw*  andc  all  tuch  idle  respect  to  appcartOOM,  ud  with  ita 

K,  like  a  aworil,  'aharp  and  »weet,'  lays  open  the  caked  truth! 
e  poet's  Muse  it  like  a  inistrcts,  whom  we  keep  only  while  ihe  ia 
young  and  beautiful,  Juranlt  bene  placilo  i  the  Muie  of  pio>c  ii  like  ■ 
wife,  whom  we  take  during  life,  /or  beller  /or  warn.  Burkc'*  exe- 
cution, like  that  of  all  good  proae,  tavout*  of  the  texture  of  what  he 
describe*,  and  hit  pen  tlidc*  or  drag*  over  the  ground  of  his  subject, 
like  the  painter's  pencil.  The  most  rigid  fidelity  and  tlie  ntoti  fanci- 
ful extravagance  meet,  and  arc  reconciled  in  his  page*.  I  never  pats 
Windtot  but  1  tliink  of  thi*  pataage  in  Burke,  and  hardly  know  to 


14 


'  "  Tiymflum  fw  <wAh>  trcii.' 

Tacttb*  of  ihc  Taafle  of  Jontaleoi. 


ON  THE  PROSE-STYLE  OF  POETS 

iMA  I  un  iBttebtnl  hkmi  for  carichiDj;  my  moni  araw,  that  or  the 
Im  pictarwque  itaiua,  in  Gray, 

'Prom  Windtor'i  hcishti  ih«  cxpinir  Ixtow 
Of  mead,  of  lamti,  of  wood  lurvcy,"  &c 

I  might  tnentioa  thut  the  m  much  udmired  d«scription  in  «>n«  of  the 
dia  (pecches  of  Hyd«i  Ally'*  army  ( I  thiek  ii  it)  which  *  now 
Dg  tike  a  ckmd  upon  the  moumain,  and  now  burtt  Dpon  the  pkia 
like  a  thunder  bolt,  would  do  Mully  well  for  poetry  or  prow.  It  it 
a  bold  and  RTikiDg  illuatntion  of  a  saturally  imprc«Ht«  object.  Thia 
b  Dot  the  caie  with  the  Abbe  Sieyei'i  far.famiKl  '  pigeon-holet,'  nor 
with  the  coaiparison  of  the  Duke  of  Bedford  to  *tbe  L«mtb>n, 
turabling  tbout  hii  unwieldy  bulk  io  the  ocean  of  royal  bounty.' 
Nothing  hcr«  4arr«  the  deacription  but  the  force  of  the  invective ;  the 
•urtling  inith,  the  Tcbcmcnee,  the  rcmnteneo,  the  aptitude,  the  perfect 
Mcalurity  and  coincidence  of  the  alluwon.  No  writer  would  cfrr 
mn  lli0U];bt  of  it  bm  hdnuelf ;  no  reader  can  ever  forget  it.  What 
ia  there  in  common,  one  might  aay,  between  a  Peer  of  the  Realnat  and 
*thn«e>-beaK,'  oftboae 

*  CtcatM  hugtat  that  n*im  the  oeeao-strtatn  f ' 

Yet  Burke  ha*  knit  the  two  ideal  io)[cthert  and  no  mao  can  put  them 

■auadct.     No  matter  how  alight  and  ptecarioui  the  connection,  the 

ngth  of  line  it  i*  nccetaiiry  for  the  fiiDcy  to  pn  out  b  ktrpiog  hold 

~of  the  object  on  which  it  haa  fiMtcoed,  he  aecmi  to  haie  '  put  hit  hook 

in  the  Dottrila '  of  thia  cnormoua  creature  of  the  crown,  that  empurplea 

rftU  in  track  through  the  glittering  expaaie  of  a  profound  and  rctuen 

IfaagiiMWion  I 

In  lookitig  ioM  the  Ikii  of  laat  week,  I  liad  the  feUowing  pMugta, 
in  an  article  on  the  death  of  Lord  CaitliTeaj<h. 

*  Tbc  •picodour  of  MajcRv  Iraiiag  the  Btitith  mctropotit,  careerbt 

J  the  ooeao,  and  landing  in  the  capiul  of  the  North,  it  diitin;;uithed 

Jjr  bjr  gtiinftn  Uwongh  the  dense  array  of  ctouda  in  which  Death 

rUd  hiiMnf,  hIhI*  be  atnKk  down  to  tbc  dtni  the  itatelieai  courtier 

Bear  the  thtoui  ad  the  broken  train  of  which  purtoe*  and  crutact  the 

Royal  progrcM  vberenr  it*  ^orlea  are  preaented  to  the  eye  of 

InamUKn. 

'The  aamc  indefatigable  mind^  mind  of  all  work — which  thoa 
the  Continent  with  a  rod  of  iron,  the  iword — within  the  wall* 
^flf  the  Honae  of  Corubom  nJed  a  more  diRractod  region  with  a  more 
'  and  fioely .tempered  weapoo,  the  tongue  ;  and  truly,  if  ihit  vm 
pthe  ooly  weapon  hit  Lordihip  wielded  there,  where  be  had  daily  to 
nter,  and  frequetiUy  almoct  alooe,  enemiei  more  formidable  tlun 

»5 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

Buonapircr,  it  muK  be  Hclc&owlcidgcd  that  be  >cbir*cd  greater 
victofic*  than  DcmcuthcDn  or  Cicero  em  gaaed  io  far  mote  vmj 
lieldi  of  «rife ;  nay,  lie  wrought  miradea  of  >peech,  outvyinj;  those 
rairacle*  of  ion;;,  wliich  Orpheut  i)  Hid  to  bare  pecformcd,  when  not 
only  men  aod  bruiei,  but  roclt«,  wood*,  and  mountaint,  toliowed  the 

aomd  of  hit  roicc  and  lyic 

'  But  there  was  a  worm  at  the  root  of  the  gourd  that  flourished  over 
hit  head  in  the  brightest  tunthine  of  a  court ;  both  periihed  in  a  night, 
aad  in  the  naoraing,  that  which  had  been  hit  nlotj  and  his  thaduw, 
corered  him  like  a  throud ;  while  the  corpse,  nolwithitandiog  all  his 
bonourt,  and  litieJ,  and  olBces.Uy  unmoved  in  the  pUcc  where  it  fell, 
till  a  judgment  had  been  pained  upon  him,  which  the  poorest  peasant 
escape*  when  he  dies  in  the  ordinary  course  of  nature.' 

SHsnaiD  Adtutiseb,  Aug.  lo,  1H33. 

This,  it  must  be  confessed,  is  very  unlike  Burke:  yet  Mr.  Mont 
gomery  is  a  very  pleasing  poet,  and  a  strenuous  politiciaii.  The 
whole  is  travtlSiig  out  af  the  raord,  and  to  no  Kirt  of  purpose.  The 
anthor  is  constantly  getting  away  from  the  impretsion  of  his  subject, 
to  cDTclop  himself  in  a  cloud  of  images,  which  weaken  and  perplex, 
instead  of  adding  force  and  clr^rncsi  to  it.  Provided  he  it  lignrBliiv, 
he  does  not  care  how  commonplace  or  irrclcTani  tlic  figures  are,  sod 
he  wanders  on,  delighted  in  a  labyrinth  of  wordi.like  a  truant  school- 
boy, who  is  ontv  gUid  to  hare  eicaped  from  bii  tusk.  He  has  a  very 
slight  hold  of  his  subject,  and  is  tempted  to  let  it  go  for  any  fallacious 
ornament  of  style.  How  obscure  and  circuitous  i*  the  allunioo  to 
'  the  cloiuls  in  which  Death  hid  himself,  to  strike  down  the  staicliesi 
couruei  ncai  the  throne  I  '  How  hackneyed  is  the  refcrenoe  to 
Dcmosthmes  and  Cicero,  and  how  utterly  quaint  and  unmeaaiog  is 
the  ringing  ilie  changes  upoo  Orpheus  and  ius  train  of  men,  beasts, 
woods,  rucks,  audi  mountains  in  connection  with  Lord  Caitlereagh ! 
But  he  is  better  pleased  with  this  classical  fable  than  with  the  death 
of  the  Noble  Peer,  and  delights  to  dwell  upon  it,  to  however  little  use- 
So  be  is  glad  to  tiikc  advantage  of  the  scriptural  idea  of  a  gourd ;  not 
to  enforce,  but  as  a  relief  to  fais  rcfectioos ;  and  paints  his  conclusion 
with  a  puling  sort  of  common- place,  that  a  peasant,  who  dies  a  natural 
death,  has  00  Coroner's  Inquest  to  sit  upon  hioi-  All  these  ate  tlie 
faults  of  the  ordinary  poetical  style.  Poets  think  they  are  bound,  by 
the  tenour  of  their  indentorei  to  the  Muses,  to  'elevate  and  surprise' 
io  every  line  \  and  not  having  the  usual  resources  at  hand  in  common 
or  abftrKtcd  subjects,  aspire  to  the  end  without  the  means.  They 
make,  or  pretend,  an  extraordinary  interest  where  there  is  none. 
Tbey  ue  ambitious,  vain,  and  indolent — more  busy  tn  preparing  tdk 

'4 


ON  THE  PHOSE-STYLE  OF  POETS 


oriumeau,  which  ibcy  take  their  cluocc  of  btinging  in  wmchow  or 
other,  ihan  intent  oti  eliciting  irutlx  by  &ir  *nd  honnt  inquiry.  It 
thodd  »eein  m  if  thcjr  con«idered  protc  as  a  *on  of  waitiafi-mud  lo 

ipociry,  that  could  only  be  cxoected  to  wear  her  mittrett'i  cast-off 
finery.  Poeti  hare  been  aid  to  succeed  bc«(  in  liciioot  and  the 
ucouat  here  given  may  in  part  explain  the  reawD.  That  i*  lo  lay, 
they  muK  chootc  their  own  tubjcci,  in  such  a  manner  ni  to  afford 
them  continual  opportunitict  of  appealing  lo  the  een«cs  and  exciting 
tbe  faacy.  Dry  detail*,  abitrusc  ipcculatioDa,  do  not  f;ivc  scope  to 
vividDcu  of  description  [  and,  a*  they  cannot  bear  lo  be  considered 
dall,  they  become  loo  often  affecied,  extraragint,  and  iniipid. 

J  ua  indebted  to  Mr.  Coleridge  for  the  compariaon  of  poetic  prate 
to  the  tecond'huid  iinery  of  a  lady'*  maid  (jutt  made  mk  of}.  He 
himielf  i«  an  iaiianccof  hiaown  obtcrvation,  and  (what  i*rveD  worse) 
of  the  oppoiite  fault — an  alfcctation  of  ()uaintnea*  and  originality. 
With  bit*  of  tarnished  lace  and  wotthlcts  frippery,  he  aMumc*  a 
Dg  oriental  coatume,  or  borrow*  the  itiff  drrwe*  of  our  aDOC»- 
Dn,  or  tuirta  an  eccemtic  fathioa  of  bii  own.    He  ia  (welling  and 

[turgid — ererlattingly  aiming  to  be  greater  than  hit  subject ;  filling  hii 

I  bitcy  with  furoc*  and  vapouta  in  the  pang*  and  throe*  of  miraculou* 
parturition,  and  bringing  forth  only  iiHl  Urthi.  He  bai  an  ioccMUit 
Ctanog,  a*  it  were,  lo  exalt  every  idea  into  a  metaphoi,  to  expand 

i  rrery  aentimeot  tnto  a  leDgtheoed  myiiery,  votuminoua  and  rut,  con- 
bied  and  cloudy.  Hi*  style  ii  not  racaoct,  but  incumbered  with  a 
tnin  of  word*  and  image*  that  have  no  practicat,  and  only  a  poMible 
telatioD  to  one  another — that  add  to  iu  itaiehnci*,  but  impede  ita 
march.  One  of  hit  aeotcoce*  wind*  its  '  forlorn  way  obtcurc  '  over 
Out  Jiagc  lilu  a  pirtriarchal  ptocet«ion  with  camcU  laden,  wreathed 
IBMIU,  honachold  ttvalih,  the  whole  riche*  of  the  author'*  mind 
out  upon  ilie  barren  w8«te  of  hi*  tubjeci.      The  palm-tree 

^i]>r«ada  i»  uerile  branches  overhead,  ami  the  land  of  promiae  i«  teen 
in  the  diuaoce.  All  thi*  ia  owing  to  hit  wiihing  to  overdo  every 
thing — to  nuke  aomething  more  out  of  everything  than  it  ia,  of  than 
i*  worth.  The  simple  truth  doc*  not  satisfy  him — no  direct  pro- 
podiioD  filb  up  the  mottlda  of  hi*  undcrttandii^.  All  b  foreign,  far- 
fetched, irrelevant,  laboured,  unproductive.  To  read  one  of  hi*  dia- 
quiiitionB  ii  like  hearing  the  variation*  to  a  mece  of  muaic  without  the 
•core.  Or,  lo  vary  the  *imik|  he  ia  not  Itxe  a  man  going  a  journey 
by  the  stage-coach  along  the  high-road,  but  i*  alway*  getting  into 

B  ballooe,  and  mounting  into  the  air,  above  the  plain  ground  of  proae. 

(Whether  be  (oar*  to  the  empyrean,  or  dire*  to  the  centre  (at  he 

FwnKtiBiea  dott),  it  i*  equally  to  get  away  from  the  qucatioo  wbre 
turn,  aad  to  prove  that  he  owe*  every  thing  to  hi*  own  mind.     Hit 

<5 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 


object  ii  (o  iovoot ;  he  tcorat  to  imhsw.  The  buuDeu  of  praie  !• 
Che  ramnry.  But  Mr.  Culcridfic  it  »  poet,  and  bit  thoughu  are 
free. 

I  ttiiok  the  poet-hurcRt  in  k  mucb  better  protc-writer.  Hit  nyle 
has  an  uiticjnc  quauttDcM,  with  n  modern  famitiariiy.  He  hsa  Juac  ■ 
nffident  tprinkling  o(  arttaitau,  of  Motion*  to  oid  Fuller,  and  Bunoni 
add  Latimerf  to  set  offor  qualify  the  tmart  tlipptoc  tono  of  hit  apolo- 
gie*  for  exiniiiE  abuaea,  i>t  tlie  ready,  galtinft  rirideecc  of  hit  pentonai 
iDvectiTH.  Mr.  Soulbey  ia  a  faithful  hiiytoriaa,  and  do  inefficient 
pattiMD.  In  the  former  character,  his  mind  ii  tenacioui  of  facts ;  and 
tD  the  tatter,  hii  xpleen  and  jealouif  prevent  the  'extravagant  and 
erring  ipirit '  of  the  poet  t'roni  losing  iticlf  in  F.mty'ii  endico*  maze. 
He  'ftoops  to  rarth,'  at  leaat,  and  proatiiute*  hia  pen  to  aome  purpo«c 
(not  at  the  ume  time  loainj;  hii  own  aoul,  and  gaining  notliing  by  it) 
^-and  hcTiIifiet  Reibmi,  and  tinuM*  the  rei};n  of  Gcorjte  tu.  in  good 
Mt  termi,  in  a  ttraigbtfbrward,  letetligible,  practical,  pointed  my.  He 
n  not  bnoyed  np  by  conicioua  power  out  of  the  reach  of  common 
■pprc)ienuoD«.  but  makra  the  moat  of  the  t^riout  advantage*  he 
noamsea.  You  may  complvn  of  a  prttinen*  and  pctulaticr  of  maimer, 
but  certainly  there  is  no  want  of  tplrii  or  facility  of  execution.  He 
iloct  not  wuate  powdet  and  thoi  tu  the  air,  but  load*  his  piece,  takea 
a  level  aim,  and  hits  his  mark.  One  would  aay  (lhou(;h  hii  Muie  i( 
an^idexier)  that  he  wrote  ptotc  with  hia  right  hand ;  there  ii  nothing 
awlcA'ard,  circuitous,  or  feeble  ia  it.  '  The  wordt  of  Mercury  arc 
barih  after  the  aoogs  of  Apollo  :  *  but  tbit  would  not  apply  to  him. 
Hi>  pcoie-lucubrationt  are  uleaianier  reading  than  hia  poetry.  Indeed) 
be  i[  ecjually  practited  and  volumiooua  in  both  ;  and  it  is  no  improb- 
able conjecture,  that  Mr.  Soutbey  may  have  had  tome  idea  of  rivalling 
the  reputation  of  Vohatre  in  the  extent,  the  tpirii,  and  the  versatility 
of  bit  produciiona  in  prou  and  vcrae,  except  that  he  hat  written  no 
truediet  but  Wat  Tyler ! 

To  my  taite,  the  Author  of  Rimini,  and  Editor  of  the  Examiner,  is 
among  tbc  bcit  and  Icaat  corrupted  of  out  poetical  ptoto-wiitcra.  Id 
bia  light  but  well  nupported  coluinns  we  find  the  tacineiB,  the  aharpnest, 
uid  tparkling  effect  of  poetry,  with  little  that  it  extravagant  or  fiir- 
ietchcCi  and  no  turgidity  or  pompout  pretcmion.  Perhap*  there  is 
too  much  the  apnecirance  of  relaxation  and  trifling  (aa  if  he  had 
ctcaped  the  abacklet  of  rbyrae],  a  caprice,  a  levity,  and  a  disposition 
to  tnnorate  in  words  and  ideas.  Still  the  gemiiae  nuMMpint  of  the 
proK-wriier  ia  there  i  the  tone  of  lively,  leaiiUe  coDvenatioD  t  and 
tbi*  may  in  pan  ariae  &om  the  author'*  being  himself  an  animated 
ulker.  Mr.  Hunt  wanta  something  of  the  beat  and  earoettDCH  of 
the  polttical  partiian;  but  hi*  Farailiar  aod  mitceltaneou*  paper*  have 


ON  DREAMS 

>II  the  ea*e,  grace,  snd  potni  of  the  be«  tyie  of  Euay-wnting.  Mioy 
of  hU  effatiota  in  tbc  iNDiCATok  ihow,  that  if  lie  nad  dcvoicd  bim- 
•elf  exciuMvely  to  tlut  mode  of  wiittag,  he  inbciiu  mot*  of  the  tptrit 
of  Sctck  ihaa  *aif  niui  hdcc  hia  uiat. 

Lord  Byron**  proae  ii  tod ;  that  it  to  aay,  beary,  hbourcd,  aod 
coarte ;  he  tri«*  to  knock  •otne  one  dovn  with  the  butt-cod  of  every 
lioct  wliacb  defeata  hia  object — and  [he  nylc  of  the  Author  of 
Wafcrley  {if  he  come*  fairly  into  thii  discDaiiioD)  at  mere  iiyle,  ii 
villaniona.  It  ii  pretty  plain  he  ii  a  poet;  for  the  aound  of  narna 
ruu  mechanically  in  hi*  ear*,  and  he  rings  the  cliangca  uocoo- 
kioubIt  on  (be  same  worda  in  a  aeatence,  like  the  aame  rhymet  b 
a  couplet. 

Not  to  «tiin  out  thii  ditc<a»ian  too  rauch,  I  would  conclude  by 
ob*et*ing,  that  tome  of  the  old  Engliah  pto>c-wtiter«  (who  were  not 
poet*)  ate  the  beat,  nod,  at  the  aame  time,  the  moil  foetua/  in  tbe 
laTourablc  arnac.  Among  thne  we  may  reckoa  aome  of  the  old 
diTinea,  and  Jeremy  Taylor  at  the  head  of  ihem.  'X'heie  ia  a  lluah 
like  the  dawo  orer  hti  writinj[t  i  the  iweetcew  of  the  rote,  the  fre&h- 
oeaa  of  the  roonun;>-<!ew.  There  la  a  loftDea*  in  bia  «tyle,  proceediDC 
from  the  tendenKta  of  hi*  beari :  but  hii  head  it  firm,  ana  hi*  hand 
u  free.  Hi*  materialit  arc  a*  fiDcly  wrought  up  aa  they  ate  ori^oal 
and  atiractiTc  in  themiclTe*.  Milton'*  piotc-nylc  isTour*  too  moch 
of  poetry,  aodi  aa  I  hare  already  hinted,  of  an  iiniuiion  of  the  Latin. 
Cryden'i  i*  perfectly  uoexceptiooable,  and  a  model,  io  siinplicitjr 
■tccBgth}  and  pcrtpicuity,  for  the  anbjecta  he  treated  of. 


ESSAY  II 


OK    DREAMS 


Da.  SruxiftiaM,  b  trexting  of  ibe  Phjmhgy  t^  tit  BfM»,  hat  ibc 
followtoK  ciirioua  pautKe : 

'  The  Mate  of  (omoambuliun  equally  prove*  the  plurality  of  the 
organ*.  Tbia  ia  a  ttate  of  incomplete  *leep,  wherein  >everal  orj^an* 
are  watching.  It  ia  known  that  the  brain  acta  upon  the  external 
world  by  mcana  of  voluntary  motion,  of  the  voice,  and  of  the  five 
external  ceof««.  Nov,  if  in  *lecpiig  iom*  organ*  be  active,  dream* 
take  place ;  if  the  action  of  the  brain  be  nroni2*M<l  to  (h*  mutctea, 
there  iiollow  moticoa  t  if  the  action  of  the  oraiD  m  propagated  to  the 
vocal  or^*,  the  eleepin;:  pertoo  ipeaka.  Indeed,  it  la  ItDowa  that 
sleeping  pertoM  dicam  ana  «peak  t  other*  dream,  apeak,  bear,  and 


Tou  VII, :  ■ 


>7 


J 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

antwcr;  Mhcri  itill  dream,  rite,  do  niiout  thiagt,  and  walk.  Thu 
Ultcr  lUtc  is  cillcd  lomniimbuliiini,  that  ii,  the  >uec  of  walking  during 
•leep.  Now,  a*  ihe  cai  cati  hear,  lo  the  eyes  may  kc,  while  the 
other  organi  tlt^cp  i  nod  there  are  facta  quite  positive  wliicli  prove 
that  Mveml  petsoQi  in  the  tiate  of  lORuumbuliini  have  eeeo,  but 
alway*  with  open  eyei.  There  are  alio  conTulnve  dvs,  in  which  the 
patient!  act  wiihout  hearing,  and  vite  virta.  Some  loinnumliulittt  do 
thing!  of  which  tbcy  ate  not  capable  in  a  tiatc  o{  watching ;  and 
dreaming  pe[«on>  rcMon  Komeiimeo  better  than  they  do  when  awake. 
This  pheoomeoon  it  not  astonishing,'  &c< — PHVMoaHOMiGLL  Ststbu 
OF  Das.  Gat4.  akd  Sfuriklim,  p.  317. 

There  ii  here  a  very  lingular  mixing  up  of  the  datteit  tniiums  with 
the  mou  gratuitous  atiumptiona ;  so  that  the  one  beinj^  told  with  great 
grariiy,  and  the  other  delwered  with  the  most  familiar  air,  one  U 
puizled  in  a  cursory  perusal  to  disringuiih  which  i>  which.  This 
is  an  art  of  nullifying  the  reader,  like  that  of  the  juggler,  who  shows 

SDU  some  plain  matter-of-fact  experiment  just  as  he  is  going  to  play  off 
is  capital  trick.  The  mind  is,  by  this  ahernaiioD  of  htyJc,  thrown 
off  its  guard  I  and  between  wondering  first  it  the  absuidity,  and  then 
at  the  superficiality  of  the  work,  becoraei  almoit  a  convert  to  it.  A 
thing  exceedingly  qucitianablc  it  staled  to  roundly,  you  think  there 
muHt  be  gomcthing  in  it :  the  plainest  proposition  it  put  in  >o  doubtful 
and  cautious  a  nianncr,  you  conceive  the  writct  must  kc  a  great  deal 
farther  into  the  aubject  tlian  you  do.  You  mistrust  your  ears  and 
eyes,  and  are  it)  a  lair  way  to  retign  the  uae  of  your  understanding. 
It  is  a  line  style  of  •nyittfy'm!.  Again,  it  is  the  practice  with  the 
German  school,  and  in  particular  with  Dr.  .Spurzhcim,  to  run  counter 
to  common  tense  and  the  best  authenticated  opinions.  They  must 
always  be  more  knowing  than  every  body  else,  and  treat  the  wisdom 
of  the  ancienti,  and  the  wisdom  of  the  moderns,  much  in  the  tamt 
supercilioui  way.  It  has  been  taken  for  granted  generally  that  people 
see  with  their  eyes  i  and  therefore  it  is  stated  in  the  above  passage  aa 
a  ditcoveiy  of  the  author,  'imparted  in  dreadful  tecrcsy,'  that  tleeji- 
walkcrs  always  see  with  their  eyes  open.  I'hc  meaning  of  which  is, 
that  we  are  not  to  give  too  implicit  or  unqualified  an  assent  to  the 
principle,  at  which  modern  philosophers  have  arrived  with  some  pains 
and  difficulty,  thai  we  acquire  our  ideas  of  external  objects  through 
the  sense*.  The  irantcendenial  sophitts  wish  To  back  out  of  that,  as 
100  conclutive  and  wcll-dcrincd  a  position.  They  would  be  glad  to 
thriiw  the  whole  of  what  has  been  done  on  this  question  into  con< 
ftisioa  again,  in  order  to  begin  4e  nevo,  like  children  who  construct 
houaet  with  cards,  and  when  the  pack  is  built  up,  shuffle  them  all 
together  on  the  table  again.  These  tntellectual  Syiiphusea  are  always 
18 


ON  DREAMS 


roUiiig  the  atoDc  of  koovrlnlge  up  a  hilli  for  the  penrcrae  pleaffiK  of 
roOinji  it  dowB  apia.  Having  goQc  m  far  at  they  can  in  the  direc- 
tion of  reaion  aod  good  wnte*  rather  than  Kcm  pa«ait-e  or  tlie  (tavea 
of  any  opinioiit  they  turn  back  with  a  wonderful  look  of  tagacitjr  to 
all  *om  of  cxplodol  prejudice*  and  abaurdttv>  It  ii  a  pity  that  we 
cannot  In  wtll  done  alone,  and  that  after  labouring  for  centuries  u> 
remove  tgoonnce,  we  let  our  faccn  wiih  the  mod  wilful  otTiciousoeM 
sgaioM  the  tubility  of  knowledge,  'i'he  Phyiiagmmicni  Sytiem  of 
Dm.  Gal!  and  SpurAhcim  n  full  of  this  sort  of  diegujiing  cant.  We 
are  »till  only  to  ieliroe  in  ati  vaMuf — in  what  they  tell  u*.  The  !<*( 
crcdolout  we  arc  of  other  thiogi,  the  more  faith  we  «hall  hare  in 
reserve  for  them  ;  by  exhamting  our  nock  of  (ccptici*!!!  and  caution 
OD  Kuch  obvious  matters  of  fact  aa  that  people  alwiiyB  tee  with  iheir 

Sea  opeoi  we  ahall  be  prepared  to  swallow  their  crude  and  exiravagant 
Mfie*  whole,  and   not   be  astonialied  at  'the  phcoonicaon,  that 
peraona  lometime*  reafon  better  aaleep  thaa  awake  ! ' 

I  have  alluded  to  ihii  pasuge  because  I  myaelf  am  (or  used  come 
time  ago  to  be)  a  »teep-walker ;  and  know  bow  the  thing  is.  In  this 
ton  M  disturbed,  unsound  aleep,  the  cyei  are  not  cloted,  and  are 
attnctcd  by  the  light.  I  used  to  get  up  and  go  towards  the  window, 
and  nake  violent  efions  to  throw  it  open.  '1  he  air  in  tome  meaaitre 
Tcvived  me,  or  I  ini){ht  liave  tried  to  Hing  mytclf  out.  1  taw  object* 
iediMinctly,  the  houx*,  fgr  inttancc,  facing  rae  on  the  opposite  side  of 
the  street  \  but  still  it  was  some  time  before  I  could  recognise  them 
or  recollect  where  I  was :  that  is,  I  was  still  asleep,  and  the  dimneai 
of  my  tetiitci  (at  far  as  it  prevailed)  was  occanoned  by  the  £teatei 
Dumbneu  of  my  memory.  This  phenomeooo  ta  not  attoojshing, 
noleas  we  chuse  in  all  luch  caaet  to  put  tlie  cart  before  the  horse. 
For  in  fact,  it  i*  the  mind  that  ileeps,  and  the  senses  (so  to  speak) 
only  follow  the  example.  The  mind  doxei,  and  the  eye-lids  clote  in 
Cooie^Bcnce :  we  do  not  go  lo  ilccp,  becauM  we  shut  our  eye*.  I 
can,  howeTer,  speak  to  the  fact  of  the  eyes  being  open,  when  their 
tease  b  shuti  or  rather,  when  we  arc  unable  to  draw  juii  inferences 
from  it.  It  is  generally  in  the  night-iiaie  indeed,  or  in  a  strange 
pltcCi  that  the  circumstance  happens ;  but  ai  tuon  at  the  light  dawns 
oa  tbc  recollection,  the  ubtcurity  and  perplexity  of  the  tenses  clear 
Dp.  The  external  imprctcion  it  made  before,  much  in  the  same 
manner  as  it  is  after  wc  are  awake ;  but  it  doci  not  lead  to  the  usual 
tnia  of  atMciatkiDi  connected  with  that  impression ;  t^.  the  name  of 
the  ttreet  or  town  where  we  ate,  who  lives  at  the  opposite  houae, 
how  wc  came  to  ileep  ia  the  room  where  we  are,  &c. ;  all  which  are 
ideat  bckmeiog  to  our  waking  expertcoce,  and  are  at  this  time  cut  olf 
or  greatly  diawrbed  by  sleep.     It  it  ju«t  tbc  aame  as  whco  pertooi 

19 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

recover  from  a  iwoon,  tod  Rx  thnr  tytt  nDoomcioutly  oo  tfaoM  about 
them,  for  a  conndenblc  time  before  (hey  recollect  where  they  are. 
Woald  any  ooe  but  i  German  ptiynolojtin  tbtnk  it  secetaary  to  aanve 
a*  that  al  (hii  time  they  m«,  but  with  their  e^'cii  open,  or  pretend  that 
ifaoiMli  tbry  have  loM  all  mrmory  ot  understanding  dunog  their 
Aining  fit,  their  mindR  act  then  more  vigoroutly  and  freely  than  eter, 
becaate  they  are  not  diitiactfd  by  outward  irajucKiioni  ?  The  appeal 
it  made  lo  the  outwarti  ketiit,  ia  the  iofltances  we  hare  teen  ;  but  the 
mind  ii  deaf  to  it,  because  its  (iiQctiooi  are  for  the  time  gone.  It  !* 
ndicoloiu  to  ptttend  with  this  author,  that  in  alccp  «>nie  of  the 
•rgm  of  the  miml  reit,  while  othcri  arc  active:  it  might  aa  welt  be 
pNUaded  that  in  deep  one  eve  watche*  while  the  other  i»  diut.  The 
ttu|ior  ii  geoeraJ:  the  Acuity  of  thought  itKlf  ia  impaired;  aod 
whaterer  ideaa  we  have,  toatead  of  being  coelined  to  any  particular 
IkcuUy  or  the  impreMions  of  any  one  lenae,  and  invigorated  thereby, 
float  at  tandoin  from  object  to  object,  from  ooe  claM  of  irapTeMion* 
to  anothct,  without  coherence  or  control.  The  eemiHmit  or  con- 
necting link  between  our  ideat,  which  fonnt  them  into  •rpwatv 
grtmpa  or  compare*  different  pina  and  vievf  of  a  lubjcct  togetbm,  ' 
■eems  to  be  tlut  which  ia  principally  waDliog  in  aleep;  ao  that  any 
idea  that  ptctenta  iiaclf  ia  tfaia  anarchy  of  the  nund  ia  lord  of  the 
uoendant  for  the  momeBt,  and  it  driven  out  by  the  next  atraggliog 
nodon  that  come*  acroaa  it.  The  bundles  of  thought  are,  at  it  were, 
untied,  loowncd  from  a  common  centre,  and  drift  along  the  atream  of 
fancy  as  it  happens.  Hence  the  confusion  (not  the  concentration 
of  the  ^cultiea)  tlitt  oootiDually  takes  place  is  thta  Mate  of  half- 
pcrocptioa.  The  mind  lakea  in  but  one  thing  at  a  time,  but  one  part 
of  a  lubject,  and  therefore  cannot  correct  ita  sudden  and  hctcrogcneoua 
traBiitiona  from  one  momentary  impretaion  to  another  by  a  larger 
{raap  of  uaderaiandtng.  Thus  we  confound  one  person  with  another, 
merely  from  lome  accidental  coincidence,  the  name  or  the  place 
where  we  have  seen  them,  or  their  liaving  been  ooocemed  with  ua  tn 
aonae  particular  transaction  the  evening  before.  Thev  lo*e  and  regain 
their  proper  identity  perhaps  half  a  du/en  tines  in  thia  rambling  way; 
nor  are  we  able  (though  we  arc  somewhat  incredulous  and  surprised 
at  thete  compound  creation*)  to  detect  the  error,  from  not  being  pee- 
pared  to  trace  tlic  same  connected  subject  of  thought  to  a  number  of  j 
varying  and  successive  rami  ft  cations,  or  to  form  the  idea  of  a  v/hole. 
We  think  that  Mr.  Soch-a-one  did  so  and  so :  then,  from  a  second 
face  coming  actoia  us,  like  the  sliders  of  a  magic  lantern,  it  wai  not 
he,  but  another ;  then  some  one  calls  him  by  hit  right  name,  and  he 
ia  htmielf  again.  We  are  little  shocked  at  these  groat  contradiction! ; 
for  if  the  miad  was  capable  of  pcrcdving  them  in  all  their  absurdity, 
>0 


ON   DREAMS 

it  would  rxM  be  luble  lo  bl)  iota  Uwm.  It  ruos  into  ibtm  for  the 
tame  reasoa  that  it  ii  turdly  cootciou*  of  them  whco  made. 

' That  which  WW  now  1  hont,  ■  braf,  >  cloud, 

Evcii  with  a  thought  thr  rack  ilishmns 
And  milut  it  indiitinct  m  wtter  i%  in  water.* 

The  difference,  ao  ht  then,  between  sleeping  tod  walcia)!  teems  to  he 
that  in  the  latter  we  have  a  greater  ran^  of  contciout  recoIlcctiODt,  > 
larger  ducourve  of  reuon,  and  aiwciate  ideai  in  longer  iraini  and 
more  m  the;  tn  connected  one  with  another  in  the  order  of  nature  i 
wberca*  in  the  fonncr,  sny  two  impTCWion*,  that  meet  or  are  alike, 
join  conipnoy,  lod  then  are  pmed  Iftiun.  withoat  notice,  like  the 
I'roth  from  Hie  wave.  So  in  nudnen,  there  i«,  I  should  aj>preheDd, 
the  nn>e  tyranny  of  the  imagination  over  the  judgment ;  that  it,  the 
mind  hi>  dipped  iti  cable,  and  single  image*  meet,  and  jo«tle,  and 
unite  fuddcdy  together,  without  any  power  to  arrange  or  compare 
them  with  other*,  with  which  they  are  cootiected  in  the  world  of 
tcility.  There  i*  a  continual  phantasmagoria  :  whatever  ihapet  and 
colour*  oome  together  are  bj  the  heat  and  Ttalence  of  the  brain 
re&ned  to  external  nature,  without  regard  to  the  order  of  time,  place^ 
or  citcumitance.  From  the  tame  w^nt  of  contiauity,  we  often  forget 
ov  dreamt  m>  speedily :  if  we  cannot  catch  ihem  a*  they  are  pcuatng 
OW  at  the  door,  we  never  set  eye*  on  ihem  again.  There  n  no  cine 
or  thmd  of  inagiaatioo  to  trace  ihem  by.  Id  a  morning  sometime* 
we  have  bad  a  dream  thai  we  try  in  vain  to  recollect ;  it  is  gone,  like 
the  raiabow  from  the  cloud.  At  other  time*  (>o  evaoetcent  is  their 
texnnv)  ww  forget  that  we  hare  dreamt  at  all ;  and  at  tbete  times  the 
mind  seems  to  have  beeo  a  n>cre  blank,  and  tierp  preienu  only  an 
inugc  of  death.  Hcnoe  Ku  arisen  the  famous  dispute,  Wifihtr  ibt 
Mwl  limi*  akvvfi  /—on  which  Mr.  Locke  and  ditfereat  vrriter*  have 
bestowed  so  much  tedioui  and  luproiitable  diacussioo  i  some  maintain- 
ing thai  the  ntind  wu  like  a  watch  that  goe*  continually,  though 
more  slowly  and  irregwlarly  at  one  time  than  another ;  while  the 
oppotitr  party  contended  that  it  often  stopped  iltogclhcr,  bringing 
the  example  of  tonnd  sleep  as  an  argument,  and  desiring  lo  know 
what  proof  we  could  have  of  thougbt*  passing  through  the  mind,  of 
which  it  was  itself  perfectly  ancootcioua,  and  retained  not  the  slightest 
recoUectioo.  I  grant,  we  olten  sleep  m>  sound,  or  hai-e  lucli  faint 
inugerv  pEmtng  through  the  brain,  that  if  we  awake  by  degree*,  we 
forget  It  ajiogethet :  we  recollect  our  first  waking,  and  perhaps  tome 
imperfect  naggeMJoiu  of  fancy  juat  belbre;  but  beyond  this,  all  U 
tnerc  oblivioo.  But  I  have  OMerved  that  whenever  I  have  been 
wtked  up  udclealy,  and  sot  left  to  myself  to  recover  from  this  ttata 

SI 


i 


f 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

of  mtotal  torpca,  I  hoTC  been  alwajr*  dreaming  of  MtnetKiD^  r./. 
thinking,  iccoTding  to  tbc  tenor  of  the  ^uettioo.  Let  »ny  doc  call 
you  a*,  any  time,  b<»wcTCT  (art  ulccp  you  nuy  be,  you  nuke  out  their 
Toioc  in  the  &m  Mtrpritr  to  be  like  tome  ooc't  you  were  tbiaking  of 
io  your  •leep.  Let  an  accidental  ooitei  the  blling  of  Knnething  ia 
the  next  toom,  roiue  you  tip,  you  cotucaatly  find  wiBethiBg  to 
■Hocbte  it  with,  m  trandace  it  back  into  the  laogoagc  of  your 
(kunbenDg  thought*.     You  are  ocrcr  taken  completely  at  a  um/Au 

iMininoocd,  a*  it  were,  mit  of  a  Rate  of  nonexittcnce.  It  ii  eaay 
ibr  aay  ooe  to  try  the  cxpcHmcoi  upon  himcclf ;  that  ii,  to  cxanune 
rrcry  time  he  is  waked  up  ^uddealyt  lo  that  hi*  w&kiog  u>d  ticcpine 
tutu  arc  broojtlit  iato  imntediatt  comaci,  whcdwr  be  bat  not  in  aJl 
•ach  cam  bwo  dreamtng  of  w>methiD;t.  3i>d  oot  fairly  eju^ii  lufpimg. 
For  mytelf,  1  think  I  can  (peak  with  certainty.  It  would  iadced  be 
rather  odd  to  awake  out  of  luch  m  absolute  priratioa  and  nwpeaw  of 
tboaght  a*  i*  contended  for  by  the  paniMn*  of  tbe  caUrarT  theory- 
It  would  be  a  peep  ioio  tbe  grarc,  a  coofdoutnew  of  death,  an 
MCaM  from  the  world  of  noo-eniiiy  ! 

The  vividneta  of  out  imptcuiona  ia  dream*,  of  which  m>  much  ha* 
beco  taid,  teeroi  lo  be  rather  apparent  than  ml  i  ot,  if  thi*  mode  of 
expreiMon  ihould  be  objected  to  a*  tmwairaniable,  Ruher  pliytical 
than  mental.  It  it  a  vapour,  a  fiime,  the  cfiect  of  tbe  *  hcat-oppmted 
braia.'  The  imaginatioo  gloats  over  an  idea,  aod  doau  at  the  ume 
Cime.  However  warm  or  brilliant  tbe  colouring  of  theae  changing 
ippewice*,  they  vaaith  with  the  dawn.  They  arc  put  out  by  oar 
Waking  thought*,  a*  the  ran  puu  out  a  candle.  It  ii  UDlocky  that  we 
MMneiime*  remember  the  heroic  tcntimcntt,  the  profound  diacoveric*. 
the  witty  repartee*  we  have  oitetcd  in  our  deep.  The  ooe  torn  to 
bombatt,  the  other*  arc  mere  truUniR,  and  the  la«t  abaolutc  nonacnae. 
Yet  we  clothe  them  certainly  with  a  fancied  importance  itt  the 
iDonKnt.  Thi*  »ecm*  to  be  merely  the  cffitrvesccnce  of  ifac  blood  or 
of  the  brda,  phyncally  acting.  It  ia  ao  odd  thinx  in  alee]),  that  wc 
not  only  fiuKy  we  aee  different  petaoiu,  aod  talk  to  them,  but  that  we 
bear  them  make  antwer*,  and  *art]c  n*  with  an  obMrration  or  a  piece 
of  new*  ;  aod  though  we  of  coutm  put  the  answer  into  thnr  mouth*, 
we  have  no  idea  beforehand  what  it  will  be,  and  it  lakn  ub  at  much 
by  *urpri*e  a*  it  would  in  reality.  This  kind  of  succettful  veotrtlo- 
tjuiun  which  we  practiae  upon  ourtclve*  may  perhaps  be  in  some 
mcanre  accounted  for  fiom  the  ihort-aghtedneu  and  incomplete 
conacioutne**  which  were  remarked  above  m  the  peculiar  cbaractenitic* 
of  aleep. 

The  power  of  prophesying  or  foreseeing  things  in  our  sleep)  a* 
from  a  hi^er  and  mote  abetracted  sphere  of  (faougbii  need  not  be 

as 


ON   DREAMS 

here  argued  opon.  There  it,  howcm,  a  tort  of  profuodiiy  in  *l«ep; 
iDcl  it  may  be  usHiilly  consulted  m  an  oiRcIe  in  this  way.  It  may  be 
laid,  that  the  voluntary  power  h  tusprnded,  and  thing*  come  upon  ua 
M  unexpecieJ  rcrelatioDi,  which  we  keep  out  of  otir  ihuughu  at  other 
timet.  We  may  be  aware  of  a  danger,  that  yet  we  do  not  cbuK, 
while  we  have  the  full  command  of  our  faculties  'o  acknowledge  to 
otirtclTct :  the  impending  event  wilt  then  appear  to  ii>  as  a  dream, 
and  we  tball  rnott  likely  tiod  it  verified  afterwards.  Anotlier  thing 
of  DO  tmall  conaequence  it,  that  we  may  lometiniet  diacover  our  tacit, 
aod  klmott  uoconiciouii  lentinienta,  with  reipea  to  pertoiu  oi  thin^t 
in  the  ume  way.  We  arc  not  hypocritci  in  our  ileep.  The  curb  » 
taken  off  from  our  paationi,  and  our  imagination  wanden  at  will. 
When  awake,  we  check  ihew  riaiog  thought*,  and  fancy  wc  have 
them  not.  In  drcamB,  whea  we  ate  on  our  guard,  they  return  aecurcly 
nd  unbiddcD.  Wc  may  make  tfaia  um  of  the  infirmity  of  our  alecp- 
ing  mctamorphout,  that  we  may  repreai  any  feelings  of  thi*  *ort  that 
we  dtiapprove  in  their  incipieni  itatc,  and  detect,  ere  h  be  loo  Uie, 
an  unwarrantable  antipathy  or  fatal  pasEJon.  Infanta  cannot  diaguiK 
their  tbgiighu  from  other* ;  and  to  deep  wc  reveal  the  tecret  to 
onnelve*. 

It  thould  appear  that  I  have  never  been  in  lote,  for  the  larne 
rea»on.  I  never  dream  of  the  face  of  any  one  I  am  particularly 
attached  to.  I  have  thought  almost  to  agony  of  the  ume  person  for 
yean,  nearly  without  ceaiiog,  ao  at  to  have  her  face  alway*  before  me, 
and  to  be  haunted  hy  a  perpeiul  coniciousness  of  disappointed  pawion, 
aod  yet  1  never  tn  all  that  time  dreamt  of  thii  pertoo  mote  than  once 
or  twice,  and  then  not  vividly.  1  conceive,  thereibre,  that  tbit 
^laevenoce  of  the  imigbatioo  in  a  frujtleta  track  muat  bare  been 
Owing  to  mortified  pride,  to  an  inCeaK  detiie  and  hope  of  good  in  the 
abitract,  more  than  to  love,  which  1  coniider  ai  an  individual  and 
involnntary  poEiion,  and  which  therefore,  when  it  i*  iirong,  muat 

Srcdominate  over  the  fancy  in  sleep.  1  think  myself  into  love,  and 
zttm  myielf  out  of  it.  I  ahould  have  made  a  very  bad  l^ndymion, 
in  this  leote  ;  for  all  the  time  the  heavenly  Goddess  was  shining  over 
my  bead,  I  ihould  never  have  had  a  thou;;hi  about  her.  If  I  had 
waked  and  found  her  gone,  I  might  have  been  in  a  coniiderablc 
uimg.  Coleridge  used  to  laugh  at  me  for  my  want  of  the  faculty  of 
drcaniag ;  and  once,  on  my  uying  that  I  did  not  like  the  nreter- 
tuturil  (torie*  in  the  Arabian  Night*  (for  the  comic  pant  I  love 
dearly),  he  said,  '  That  mast  be  because  you  never  dream.  I'here  it 
a  ciaia  of  poetry  built  on  this  foundation,  which  la  turely  no  incon- 
■iderable  part  of  our  oature,  unce  we  are  aileep  and  building  up 
imagination*  of  ihii  son  half  our  time.*     I  had  nothing  to  lay  agaioit 

n 


K 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

it:  it  WW  ooe  of  hit  conjectural  tabtlctjea,  in  which  he  txoth  M 
the  pcKODi  I  erct  knew ;  but  I  had  nooic  ntidaccioo  ta  finding 
aftMWtrdt,  that  1  bad  Bithop  Aiierburjr  expreuly  on  roy  tide 
in  ihia  quettion,  who  hu  recorded  hit  dciMtntioD  of  Srwiutn  tiis 
SAtuw,  in  us  iiucreiung  letttr  to  Pope.  Perhaps  he  uh>  did  not 
dicam ! 

Yet  I  dream  tomettme*!  I  dmm  of  the  Louvk— /nnv  rt  m  nit. 
I  dreamt  I  wai  there  a  few  weeks  ago,  and  that  tlie  old  kcdc 
rctivncd — that  I  looked  for  my  favourite  picture*,  and  fuDud  them 
gOQo  or  ersied.  The  dream  of  my  youth  came  upon  me ;  >  slory 
aad  a  fiftioD  unutterable,  that  come*  no  more  but  in  darkncM  and  in 
•lecp :  my  heart  tote  up,  and  I  fell  on  my  knen,  and  lifted  up  my 
Toice  und  wept,  ind  1  awoke.  I  alto  dreamt  a  little  while  »eo.  ihnt 
I  was  leidinf;  the  New  Hloiic  to  an  old  friend,  and  came  to  the 
concluding  pActagc  in  Julia' !i  farewell  letter,  which  hid  much  the  kime 
effect  upon  me, — The  word*  arc,  '  Trvfi  heurtait  ifathiltr  an  frix  dt 
ma  w  it  Jrtil  ile  I'aimtr  toajoart  tani  erimt  tt  dt  te  U  dirt  tnevre  utit 
fcit,awtt  <pn  }*  mturt !  '  I  u*ed  to  »ob  oi«t  ihi-i  pa«Mgc  twenty 
year*  ago;  and  io  thi*  dream  about  it  lately,  I  tecnied  to  lire  tbcie 
twenty  year*  over  af^ain  !n  one  abort  moment  \  I  do  not  drcoin 
ordinarily  ;  and  there  are  people  who  tiCTer  could  tee  anyihbg  in  the 
Nt^v  £Mm.     Are  we  not  quita  1 


ESSAY  III 


ON    THE    CONVERSATION    OF    AUTHORS 

Am  auihof  ia  boiuid  to  write — well  or  ill,  wisely  or  foolUhly :  it  it 
hi*  trade.  But  I  do  not  >ce  that  he  i>  bound  to  talk,  any  more  than 
he  is  bound  to  dance,  or  ride,  or  fence  better  than  other  people. 
Readioj^,  itudy,  silence,  thought,  arc  n  tuid  introduction  to  loquacity. 
It  would  be  looncT  learnt  of  chambcrmiidf  and  i-a]»ier«.  He  under- 
litaridt  the  art  and  my*tcry  of  hie  own  profeauon,  which  ia  book- 
maktog:  whm  right  hat  any  one  to  expect  or  require  him  ta  do 
more — to  make  a  bow  gracefully  on  cnterinit  or  leaTin^  a  room,  to 
make  love  charmingly,  or  to  make  a  fortune  at  alH  In  all  things 
there  it  a  diviuon  of  labour.  A  lord  it  no  leti  amorou*  for  writing 
ridiculoua  love- letter i,  nor  a  Gcnenl  Icm  tucceMful  for  wantioa  wit 
and  honetty.     Why  then  may  not  a  poor  author  *ay  nothing,  and  yet 

EH*  mutter  i     Set  him  on  the  top  of  a  ttage-coich,  he  sill  make  no 
gore  i  he  is  mum-ibana,  while  the  tiang-wic  Aiee  about  at  lut  aa  the 


ON   THE  CONVERSATION  OP  AUTHORS 

duit,  with  tilt  ctack  of  tli«  whip  and  the  clatter  of  the  hortM*  bed* : 
put  him  ia  a  ring  of  boxera,  be  »  a  poot  creature — 

*  And  of  hi*  port  u  meek  u  it  k  maid,* 

Intrednce  him  (a  a  tea-partjr  of  railltner'i  girl*,  and  they  are  ready  to 
split  dwtr  (idea  with  laughing  at  him :  o*er  hit  bottle,  be  it  dry  :  in 
the  dnwiag-toom,  rude  or  nwkward  :  he  is  too  refined  for  the  vulgar, 
too  clownith  for  tlie  faihioiuble  : — ■  he  it  one  that  canoot  maJte  > 
good  leg.  one  that  cannot  eat  a  meu  of  broth  cleanly,  one  that  cannot 
ride  a  hortc  without  (tnu-KolIing,  one  ibai  cannot  tAluce  a  woman,  and 
look  on  her  directly :  — in  courta,  in  campt,  in  town  and  couniry,  he 
it  a  cypher  or  a  butt :  he  it  good  for  nothing  but  a  bugbing-ttock  or 
a  tcare-crow.  You  can  tcarcely  get  a  word  oik  of  him  for  love  or 
iWHtey.  He  knowt  nothing.  He  baa  no  noiion  of  plenaure 
or  buiincM,  or  of  what  it  going  on  in  the  world  ;  lie  doc*  not  undcr- 
ttand  cookery  (uolcat  he  it  B  doctor  in  divinity)  not  autgety,  nor 
cbcmiMry  (unleis  he  it  a  QaiJirmc)  nor  mechanic*,  nor  huibandry 
and  tillage  (nnleta  he  it  at  great  an  admirer  of  ToU'i  Httibandry, 
and  bat  prowled  a«  much  by  it  at  the  phiiotopher  of  Botley) — do, 
nor  mutic,  painting,  the  Drama,  nor  ibc  Fine  Atu  iti  general. 

*  What  the  deuce  ia  it  then,  my  good  lir,  that  he  doet  undor- 
■tand,  or  know  anything  about  I ' 

'BOOKS.  VENUS,  BOOKS'' 

•What  book* r 

'Not  receipt-book*,  Madona,  nor  acconat^Mokt,  nor  book*  of 
pharmacy,  or  the  veieriaary  art  (they  belong  to  their  respective 
GtUiDU  and  handicrafit)  bvt  book*  of  libetld  taste  and  general 
koewlMge.' 

*  What  do  you  mean  by  that  general  knowledge  which  impliet 
not  a  knowledge  of  thing*  in  general,  but  an  ignorance  [by  your  own 
account)  of  every  one  in  particuUr:  or  by  that  libefal  taste  which 
Kornn  the  pursuit*  and  ac(|uirement«  of  die  rrtt  of  the  world  in 
•ncceMioc  and  i«  corttincd  cxcluaively,  and  by  way  of  excellence,  to 
wfist  oobody  take*  so  intereat  in  but  yourself,  and  a  lew  idler*  like 
yourself  J  1«  thia  wlut  the  critics  mean  by  the  ifHa-lfOm,  and  tbe 
alu^  of  humanity  l ' 

Book'knowledge,  in  a  word,  iben,  i*  knowledge  cemmunuaiU  hj 
h»oii :  and  it  it  general  and  liberal  for  thi*  reason,  that  it  is  intelli- 
gible and  iotereatiog  oo  the  bare  suggestion.  That  to  which  soy  on« 
feel*  a  ronaatic  siiachincnt,  merely  from  tinding  it  in  a  book,  must  be 
incerestcng  In  itself:  that  which  he  inuonily  ftirrot  a  lively  and  entire 
coomcioa  of,  from  seeing  a  few  mark*  and  Kntchet  upon  paper, 
auM  oe  ulCiea  fiom  oomsion  nature :  that  which,  the  first  time  you 

as 


i 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

meet  with  it,  te'an  upoo  ihc  Mlcntion  a«  a  curioua  fpecuiation,  muil 
cxcrciK  the  gcner&l  facaliirt  of  the  humin  miod.  Tnerc  arc  ceruia 
broader  aapccu  of  tocicty  and  ritmn  of  thiii{;i  common  to  trtry  subject, 
aod  more  or  leu  cosnizable  to  cvnj  miail ;  and  tline  the  scholar 
trmi*  and  Ibiuxli  his  claim  to  geoeral  attention  upon  them,  without  being 
charKeablc  with  pedantry.  The  minute  deictiptiruii  of  ii  thing- tickle, 
ofbaittand  tiict  in  Walton'*  Complete  Angler,  make  th«  wotk  s  cieai 
faTOuriie  with  tpoittnicn :  the  alloy  of  an  amiable  hununiiy,  and  tfac 
modest  but  touching  descriptions  of  fimiliar  incidents  and  rural 
objects  tcattered  through  ii,  have  made  it  an  etjual  favourite  with  enetr 
reader  of  uate  and  leelinE.  Montaigne**  Eitayt,  Dilworth'i  Spell- 
ing Book,  and  Feam's  TrcaUK  on  Contingent  Renuinderi,  are  all 
equally  book*,  but  not  equally  adapted  for  al!  clanc*  of  readers. 
The  two  Imi  arc  of  no  uk  bnt  to  *choo]-mMtet«  and  lawyers:  but 
the  fint  is  a  work  wc  may  recommend  to  any  one  to  read  who  ha« 
ever  thoujtht  at  all,  or  who  would  leim  to  think  justly  on  any  subject. 
PerM>ni  of  different  trade*  and  profcMioos — the  mechanic,  the  (hop- 
keeper,  the  medical  practitioner,  (be  artist,  &c.  may  all  have  great 
knowledge  and  ingenuity  in  their  iCTetal  Tocationii,  the  dcuiU  of 
which  will  be  Tcry  edifying  to  ihem»c!?cs,  and  just  as  incomprchcn- 
■ible  10  their  neighbours :  but  orcr  and  above  this  profeMional  and 
Uctuiical  knowledge,  they  must  be  iuppo«cd  to  have  a  stock  of 
common  sense  and  common  feeling  to  furotsb  subject*  for  common 
conrersation,  or  to  give  them  any  pleasure  in  each  other's  company. 
It  i*  to  this  common  Mock  of  ideas,  spread  otct  the  surface,  or 
Krikiag  its  root*  into  the  very  centre  of  society,  that  the  popular 
wrher  appeals,  and  not  in  vain  ;  for  he  linds  readers.  It  b  of  this 
finer  essence  of  wisdom  and  humanity, '  etherial  mould,  sky-tinctured,' 
that  books  of  the  better  tort  ate  made.  They  contain  the  language 
of  thought.  It  must  happen  that,  in  the  course  of  time  and  the 
rariety  of  human  capacity,  some  pctiont  will  have  struck  out  finer 
obaemtians,  reflections,  and  seniimcots  than  other*.  These  they 
have  committed  to  books  of  mentory,  hare  bequmthed  as  a  lasting 
IcflKjr  to  posterity  ;  and  such  persons  bate  become  standard  authors. 
We  visit  at  the  sbtine,  drink  in  some  measure  of  the  intpitaiioo,  and 
caoaot  easily  'breathe  in  other  air  lest  pure,  accustomed  to  immortal 
ftnitt.'  Are  we  to  be  blamed  for  this,  because  the  vulgar  and 
illiterate  do  not  always  tmdeisL-tnd  ua  ?  The  fault  it  rather  in  them, 
who  arc  <  confined  snd  calnn'd  in,'  each  in  their  own  particular  sphere 
wd  eonpartmeiil  of  ideas,  and  have  not  the  isme  refined  medium  of 
eORinomcation  or  abstracted  topics  of  ditcourse.  Bring  a  number  of 
literary,  ot  of  illiterate  pcnoni  logethei,  perfect  strangers  to  each 
other,  and  see  which  party  will  make  the  beat  company.  '  Verily, 
16 


ON  THE  CONVERSATION  OP  AUTHORS 


wc  hsTc  our  lYwnrd.'  Wc  hate  made  our  electioo,  and  have  no 
rcMOD  lo  repent  it,  if  we  were  wUe.  iiui  the  miafortune  in,  we  with 
to  bate  all  the  advantagei  on  one  nile.  We  grudge,  and  canoM 
recODcile  it  to  oiuselvci,  tlut  any  one  '  thodri  go  about  to  cozen 
fortuDc,  iriibout  the  scamp  of  learning !  '  Wc  think  *  bccauie  we  are 
jtJMirj,  there  (hall  be  oo  more  cake*  and  ale ! '  We  don't  know 
how  to  account  for  it,  that  bar-maidt  should  goBtip,  or  ladlct  whisper, 
or  bullic*  roar,  or  fooU  laugh,  or  knare*  thrive,  without  liaving  gone 
through  Oie  tame  coune  of  sclea  nudy  that  we  hare  I  This  vanity 
M  preponeroui,  and  carries  its  own  punishment  with  it.  Book*  aie  a 
worla  in  thcmtclvci,  it  ia  true ;  but  they  arc  not  the  only  woild. 
The  world  il»clf  i»  a  Tolumc  Utgrr  than  all  the  litirarict  in  it. 
Learning  it  a  tacrrd  dcpout  from  the  experieuce  of  tgn;  but  it  hai 
not  put  all  future  experience  on  the  thelf,  or  debarred  the  common 
herd  of  mankind  from  the  lue  of  their  handa,  tonguea,  eyes,  tars,  or 
underttandingi.  Taite  i*  a  luxury  for  the  pririleged  few :  but  it 
would  be  hard  upon  thoic  who  hare  not  the  nroe  standard  of  reSne- 
Bienl  in  their  own  mindi  that  we  tuppote  oortclrei  to  hare,  if  this 
should  prevent  ihcm  from  hating  recounc,  m  u«ual,  to  their  o!d  frolin, 
coaric  )okct,  and  horK'play,  and  getting  through  the  wear  ttid  KV  of 
the  world,  with  Mich  homely  sayingB  and  ihrewd  helps  a«  ihey  may. 
Happy  ia  it,  tliat  the  mai«  of  mankind  eat  and  drink,  and  sleep,  and 
perform  their  teveral  task^  and  do  as  they  hke  without  us— caring 
nothing  for  our  scribblinga,  our  carpings,  and  our  t^uibblct ;  and 
moring  on  the  same,  in  spite  of  our  fme-tpun  dtttinctioni,  fantastic 
theoriei,  and  linei  of  denurcation,  which  are  like  ilie  chalk-fignrc« 
dnwD  OD  ball-roum  flcmra  to  be  danced  out  before  morning!  In 
the  field  opposite  the  window  where  I  write  this,  there  is  a  couniry- 
gir)  picking  itonea :  in  the  one  next  it,  there  are  several  poor 
women  weeding  the  blue  aod  red  flowers  from  the  corn ;  farther 
on*  arc  two  boys,  icodiog  a  flock  of  sheep.  What  do  they  know 
or  circ  about  what  I  ani  writing  about  them,  or  ever  will — 
or  wbai  wotild  they  be  the  better  for  it,  if  they  did  i  Or  why  need 
wc  despise 

•  The  wretched  slave. 
Who  like  a  lackey,  from  the  riw  tn  the  ft, 
Sif  cats  in  the  c}-c  of  Phabut,  and  alt  night 
Sltens  in  Elj-tlum;  next  day,  after  dawn, 
Doni  rise,  and  help  Hyperion  lo  hii  honc} 
And  foUcms  so  thr  ever-iunning  year 
With  prohlable  labour  to  his  grave  t ' 

It  not  thit  life  a*  sweet  at  writing  RphcmcrJdei  ?     But  we  put 
that  which  flutters  the  brain  idly  for  a  moment,  and  then  is  heard  no 

»7 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 


lavn,  is  comp«titioD  with  oatun,  which  ocuu  every  where)  ind  lua 
klwayt.  We  dm  only  cnderrate  the  toroe  of  natiue,  and  nuke  too 
much  of  art — bot  we  alto  ovcT-r*te  oor  own  acccmplUhiDeDt*  and 
AdruMagn  derived  irora  ut.  In  the  prcnence  of  clownith  ignortaex. 
Of  of  pertoiM  wiihoBl  any  great  pretfiiHons,  teal  or  ilfccted,  wc  are 
very  much  inclined  to  take  opoo  ouiteitc*,  at  the  virtual  TcpfeMOta- 
livei  of  actencc,  att,  and  literaiurc.  We  hate  a  airong  itch  to  *how 
offaad  do  the  boooufi  of  civUizaiion  for  atl  the  max  men  wboM 
works  we  have  ever  read,  and  wboic  name*  our  auditor*  have  nerer 
heard  of,  m  noblemen'*  Ucqueyt,  in  the  abtence  of  their  inaauT*,  give 
theiDMlre*  aire  of  luperiority  over  every  one  clue.  But  though  w« 
have  read  Congrcve,  %  itige-coachtnan  may  be  an  over-maieh  for  t» 
ia  wit :  though  we  arc  decp-verted  id  the  excellence  of  Shaki|>rarr'i 
colloquial  nyle,  a  village  beldam  may  outicoM  lu :  thonf[h  we  hav« 
rod  Machiavel  io  the  orisinat  Italian,  we  may  be  ea«ily  outwitted  by 
a  clown :  and  though  we  have  cried  our  eye*  out  over  the  New 
EkMe,  a  poor  ihepherd-lad,  who  hardly  kcowi;  how  to  apell  hia  own 
name,  may  ■  tell  hia  tale^  under  the  hawthorn  in  the  dale,'  a&d  prove 
a  more  ihiiviac  wooer.  What  then  is  the  advantage  we  pomii  orcr 
the  meaoru  of  the  mcaD?  Why  thii,  tint  we  liave  read  Cottgnm, 
Shaktpeare,  Macfauvet.  the  New  Eluise  : — not  ihii  we  are  to  have 
their  wit,  gentut,  ihrewdBeM,  or  melting  tendemn*. 

From  apeculaiivc  purauita  we  must  be  uUKJied  with  tpeculative 
bcoefiu.  rrom  reading,  too,  we  learn  to  write.  If  we  have  had 
the  pleasure  of  itudying  the  highest  modela  of  perfection  in  thdr 
kind,  and  can  hope  to  leave  any  thing  ourtelvet,  however  ilight, 
to  be  looked  upon  at  a  model,  or  even  a  good  copy  in  it*  war,  we 
may  think  outkIvc*  pretty  well  off,  without  engrowing  all  the 
privilege*  of  learning,  and  alt  the  blewiogt  of  ignotnace  into  the 
bargain. 

It  hM  been  made  a  qncatioo  whether  there  have  not  been  co- 
dividuali  in  common  life  of  greater  calenta  and  powers  of  mind  than 
ihc  mo*t  celebrated  writer* — whether,  for  iaitance,  nich  or  audi  a 
Liverpool  nerchaot,  or  Maocheiter  manu&cturer,  wat  not  a  more 
•endble  man  than  Montaigne,  of  a  longer  reach  of  undemtandiog 
than  the  Vjucount  of  St,  Alban*.  There  ii  no  aiying,  unlew  »ome 
of  there  illuitriou*  oUcorc  had  communicated  their  important 
ducoverie*  to  the  world.  But  then  they  would  have  been  author*  I 
— On  the  other  hand,  there  ia  a  aet  of  critic*  who  fall  bto  the 
contrary  error  ;  and  auppow  that  unlet*  the  proof  of  capacity  it  laid 
before  all  the  world,  the  capacity  it*elf  cannot  cxiit ;  looking  upon 
all  ihoae  who  have  not  commenced  author*,  u  literally  *  (tocka  and 
aionea,  and  wortc  than  tenaelcm  thing*.'      I    remember  trying  to 


ON  THE  CONVERSATION   OF  AUTHORS 

oonvinM  a  prrMO  of  tbu  cUm,  that  a  young  lady,  whom  he  knew 
totaahiag  ei,  the  niece  o(  a  celebnced  auih<jtc«t,  had  juii  the  umc 
won  of  6tte  lacl  and  ironical  vatn  in  conicftation,  that  her  rrliiiivv  had 
•hown  in  ber  wririogH  when  young.  The  only  aciiwcr  1  could  got 
wsi  an  iucreditloua  imile,  aemI  the  obtervation  that  wltcn  >he  wrote 

any  thing  at  good   m   ,  or    — -  -,    he  might  think   her  aa 

cimr.  I  (aid  all  I  meant  waa,  that  *he  had  the  aame  family 
talecti,  and  iuked  whether  be  thought  that  if  Mi«  — —  hjd  not 
been  *cry  cleveri  aj  a  mere  girl,  before  ihe  wrote  bet  norcl*t  ahe 
would  ever  have  writico  them  i  It  wai  all  ia  vain.  He  still  nuck 
to  bit  text,  aod  vm  convinced  (hat  the  niece  was  a  little  fool  com- 
pared to  her  aunt  at  (he  aame  age ;  and  if  lie  had  known  the  aunt 
fbf  merly,  he  would  have  had  juit  the  unie  opinion  of  ier.  My  frieod 
tn*  oat  of  tbo*e  who  have  a  aettled  penuanon  that  it  i*  the  book 
that  nuke*  the  author,  and  not  the  mtbot  the  book.  That  '•  a 
(tracgc  opinion  for  a  great  phitoiophcr  to  hold.  Bm  be  wilfully 
ahot*  hi»  eye*  to  tbc  g<-rm«  and  indiatinct  working!  nf  gcoiux,  and 
trcat«  them  with  aupetcilioua  indilferencci  till  they  date  him  in  the 
ftiot  through  the  pre**  i  and  then  take*  cogAizaoce  only  of  the  overt 
aeta  and  published  evidence.  Thi*  is  neither  a  proof  of  witdom,  not 
tbc  way  to  be  wiie.  It  is  partly  pc<l4ntry  and  prejudice,  and  panly 
feebleneM  of  judgment  and  want  ot  magn.inimitv.  He  dare  aa  little 
commit  bimiclf  on  the  character  of  books,  as  oiindiTidualti  till  they 
arc  atampcd  by  the  public.  If  you  tliow  him  any  work  for  his 
^pfobatKMt  be  aaka, '  Whoae  ia  the  auperacriptioo  i ' — He  judge*  of 
Keaiua  by  it*  rfiadow,  reputation — of  the  metal  by  the  coin.     He  ia 

jiwt  the  tCTeiae  of  anotlier  penon  whom  I  know — for,  aa  G 

never  allow*  a  particle  oS  merit  to  any  one  till  it  ia  acknowledged  by 

the  whole  world,  C vitfaboldt  hi*  tribute  of  applause  from  erery 

ptrton,  in  whom  any  mortal  but  hinkielf  can  deacr^  the  Icaat  glimpae 
of  tiadcr«a«ding.  He  would  be  thought  to  look  farther  into  a 
mllitoae  than  any  body  elte.  He  would  have  otheta  see  with  bt* 
eyet^  and  take  ibeir  opinion*  from  him  on  trust,  in  spite  of  tbeir 
aentei.     The  tnore  ohtcure  and  defective  the  indicationa  of  merit,  the 

frcater  his  lagacily  and  candour  in  being  the  first  to  pobt  them  out. 
!e  looks  npoa  wbat  he  nicknanKa  «  nm  «fgtmiu,  but  as  the  breath 
of  hi*  nostril*,  and  the  cUy  in  the  potter's  hands.  If  any  such  inert, 
tucooscioua  matt,  under  the  foAering  care  of  the  modem  Prometheti*, 
is  kindled  into  life, — begina  to  see,  (peak,  and  move,  so  at  lo  attract 
tbc  notice  of  other  people,— ^ur  Jealous  paironiset  of  latent  worth  in 
thai  CMC  throw*  aside,  scom*,  and  hates  hi*  own  handy-work  s  and 
dastni  his  iMelleciud  offspring  from  the  moment  they  can  go  alone  and 
iktft  for  tbemidtee.— But  to  post  on  to  our  more  immediate  subject. 

'9 


f 


M 


THE   PLAIN   SPEAKER 


Tbe  con*«muaa  of  suihon  b  not  to  good  at  raigbi  be  imagined ; 
but,  racti  at  it  i*  (sad  with  lare  cxcqHioot)  it  i«  better  than  aaj 
other.  "Hic  proof  of  which  is,  that,  when  you  an  attd  to  ii,  ym 
CB&oot  pot  up  with  uy  otliei.  That  of  mixed  company  becoRiM 
utvHy  intolerable — yon  caiwM  tit  oat  a  commoo  tea  ami  card  party, 
K  ItMt,  if  they  ptctend  to  talk  M  all.  You  are  obliged  in  de^tair  to 
cut  >J1  yo«tr  old  acijtiatntaace  who  are  om  aujaii  on  the  prvrailing 
and  moat  Miurily  cooteated  topici*  who  ate  not  imbtied  with  the  high 
guto  of  criticinn  and  vtrii.  Vou  cannot  bear  to  heir  a  friend  whom 
yoa  have  not  leeti  for  maoy  y«i>,  tell  at  bow  much  a  yird  be  aelU 
bis  lacta  and  tapct,  when  he  meant  to  move  into  hii  next  houae, 
when  be  heard  lul  ftom  hit  relation!  in  the  country,  whether 
trade  i*  aliee  or  dead,  or  whether  Mr.  Such-a^ne  geu  to  look 
old.  Tliit  tort  of  neifthbouily  gOMip  will  not  go  down  after  the 
higb-raiBcd  tone  of  literjry  cocvcnatioa.  The  Uit  may  be  very 
•baurd,  Tery  uoMtiifactory,  and  full  of  turbulence  and  heart-burn- 
iog* ;  but  it  haa  a  xe«t  in  it  which  more  ordinary  topics  of  news 
or  family-alfaira  do  not  supply.  Neither  will  the  conremiioo 
of  what  we  understand  by  geiulemm  and  men  of  luhico,  do  after 
thai  of  men  of  letter*.  It  ia  flat,  iniipad,  stale,  and  unprofitable, 
in  tbe  eotnparifOD.  They  ulk  about  much  the  same  thingi, 
pcnm,  poetry,  politics,  plays  j  but  they  do  it  worac,  and  at  a  sort  of 
r^iid  iccondliand.  They,  in  fact,  talk  out  of  newfpapert  and  maga- 
BMSi  what  «w  BTf rw  ihfrt.  They  do  not  feci  the  same  in!cr«t  in  the 
mbjrct*  tbcy  affect  to  handle  with  an  air  of  ftshionable  condctcenMon, 
nor  have  they  ihc  tame  knowledge  of  them,  if  they  were  ever  to 
much  in  earneu  in  displayiog  it.  If  it  were  not  for  the  wine  and  the 
denett,  no  author  in  hit  scuks  would  :iccept  an  inritatioa  to  a 
well-dreaaed  dinner-party,  except  out  of  pure  good -nature  and 
■nwilltogneni  to  diioolige  by  hit  refuial.  Pettoo*  in  high  life  talk 
almost  entirely  by  rote.  There  are  cen^n  established  modes  of 
addreto,  and  certain  auwers  to  them  expected  at  a  matter  of  course, 
a*  a  point  of  etiquette.  The  studied  formi  of  ixtliteneai  do  not  girt 
the  grrateit  pouihle  tcopc  to  an  exuberance  of  wit  or  fancy.  Th« 
fear  of  giving  oflence  deftroyt  uoccrily,  and  without  lincerily  there 
can  be  no  true  enjoyment  of  aocicty,  not  unfettered  exertion  of 
miellcictua]  activity.— Thoie  who  have  been  accuciomcd  to  lin;  with 
the  pt»  are  hardly  consideicd  at  tonvertibte  persons  in  literary 
tociny.  They  arc  not  to  be  talked  with,  any  more  than  puppets  ot 
cchoa.  Tbcy  have  no  opioioos  but  what  will  pleaw  \  and  you 
naturally  turn  away,  at  a  waste  of  time  and  words,  from  attending  to 
a  person  who  jutt  before  utentcd  to  what  you  taid,  and  whom  you 
find,  the  moment  aitcr,  from  wmethiag  thni  unexpectedly  or  pcrhapa 

JO 


ON  THE  CONVERSATION  OF  AUTHORS 

by  de«i^  drop*  from  him,  to  be  of  a  touAij  dilfer«nt  way  of  tbioklng. 
Thu  hmib^bt'ag  ii  not  regarded  u  fair  play  among  scientific  men. 
Ai  faihiooablc  conrerMtion  i«  a  lacrifice  to  poliieneo,  to  the  conrer- 
oiion  of  tow  life  i«  nothing  but  rudcnm.  They  contradict  you 
without  si*'"!!  *  reason,  or  if  ihey  do,  it  \t  a  very  bad  ooe — twcar, 
talk  loud,  repeal  the  «imc  iIiiisR  fifty  lime*  o»er,  net  lo  calling  nnme«, 
and  from  vrordi  proceed  to  blow*.  You  cannot  nuke  companuini  of 
•errxniii,  or  pcrtoni  in  an  inferior  (tation  in  life.  You  may  talk  to 
(hem  00  maiietn  of  bo»inc>i,  and  what  ihcy  have  to  do  for  you  (a* 
lord*  talk  to  bruisers  on  aubjectt  o(  fimiy,  or  coDOiry-squiiea  to  their 
grooma  on  horte-racing)  but  out  of  that  narrow  iphere,  to  aoy 
general  topic,  you  cannot  lead  ihcm :  the  convetution  soon  Hag*,  and 
you  go  back  to  the  old  ^uetlion,  or  itre  obliged  to  break  up  the 
titling  for  want  of  ideu  in  common.  The  con  venation  of  author*  i* 
beuer  than  that  of  most  profctnona.  It  in  betier  th.in  ihat^of  lawyer*, 
who  talk  nothing  but  liwMf  mirnilrt — than  thai  of  physicians,  who 
talk  of  the  approaching  deaths  of  the  College,  or  the  marriage  oF 
•orne  new  practitioner  with  aomc  rich  widow — than  that  of  divine*, 
who  latk  of  the  la»t  place  they  dined  at — than  that  of  Unirenity-mcn, 
who  make  stale  puni,  re^ai  the  refuse  of  the  London  newspaper*, 
aod  affect  an  ignorance  of  Greek  and  mathcmaiic*~-il  ii  better  than 
that  of  player*,  who  talk  of  nothing  but  the  green-room,  and  reliearie 
the  scholar,  the  wit,  or  the  fine  gentleman,  like  a  part  on  the  stage— 
or  than  that  of  ladies,  who,  whatever  you  talk  of,  think  of  nothing, 
and  expect  you  to  think  of  nothing,  but  themselves.  It  it  not  easy 
to  keep  up  a  conversation  with  women  in  company.  Ji  is  thought  a 
piece  of  rudcoctt  to  dilfcr  from  them  :  it  is  not  quite  fair  to  ask  them 
a  reason  for  what  they  say.  You  are  afraid  of  pressing  too  hard  upon 
them  ;  but  where  you  cannot  differ  openly  and  unreiervedly,  you 
cannot  heartily  agree,  tl  is  not  lo  in  France.  There  the  women  talk 
of  liiingi  in  general,  aod  reason  better  than  the  men  in  this  country. 
Tbey  are  niMrtMCs  of  the  intellectual  foil*.  They  arc  adepii  in  all 
the  topics.  They  know  what  is  to  be  aaid  for  and  against  all  torts  of 
qucDtiuns,  and  are  lively  and  full  of  mi«chief  into  Um  bvgatn.  They 
are  very  tubtle.  They  put  you  to  your  trumps  immediMcly.  Your 
logic  is  more  in  re(]ui>ilion  even  than  your  gallantry.  You  roust  argue 
at  well  as  bow  yourself  into  the  good  graces  of  theie  modern  Amazon*. 
What  a  situation  for  an  Englishman  to  be  placed  in ' ! 

I  The  tof ici  of  mcttfh]*ical  ■rtainvnl  ha*ia|  |^t  ialo  (tmalt  ndtljp  in  PrsDC^ 
is  *  ffoof  boiH  muih  ibrr  muii  hm  V«n  <liMuiM<l  thin  (tiiinlljr,  ind  how 
Bnroundci!  tlic  chiige  it  which  wt  biinf  igiiail  them  of  ciCcHivc  thnafbllcMini 
md  ftinilily.  The  Ffeflch  (ukcn  ill  toguhcr)  art  s  mort  Mnsiblc,  rcilcctisi,  tod 
bttttr  mfisrDMd  jnfU  xhui  tnc  Eiilitli. 

3» 


f 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

Tbr  fniili  of  literary  connmuoQ  io  fjconal  m  iti  too  gmc  tvu- 
doiUDCM.  It  (aainu  upon  >  nibjocti  and  will  dm  let  it  go.  It 
reBcmUM  a  bittle  rather  thin  a  *lurmiih|  and  nuke*  a  UmI  of  a 
ptcature.  Pcrhapt  it  dot*  tbii  fiom  oecnuty,  from  a  con*doii«iie« 
of  wantjug  the  more  familbr  grace*,  the  power  to  iport  and  triile,  to 
touch  lightly  and  adorn  agreeably,  erery  view  or  turn  of  a  <]De«lioo 
tmta/taai,  m  it  aritc*.  Tho«e  who  have  a  reputation  to  loae  are  too 
unoitious  of  Bhining,  to  pleaac.  *  To  excel  io  coavtTMtioa,'  nid  so 
JBgeniou*  man,  '  one  mutt  not  be  alwsyt  tiriviog  to  ny  good  thingi : 
to  taj  one  ^ood  thiagi  one  miut  tty  niaoy  bad,  and  more  indtiFeTeot 
ones.'  Thi)  desire  to  tbine  without  tlie  meaoi  at  hand,  otten  make* 
■nea  siknt : — 

'The  fear  of  being  lilcni  itrike*  u«  dumb,' 

A  writer  who  ha*  been  accuitomed  to  take  a  connected  riew  of  a 
di^icult  quevtion,  and  to  work  it  out  gradually  in  all  ii*  beatin^i,  may 
be  Tcry  deficient  in  that  (joickne**  and  cate,  which  irien  of  the  wotid, 
iriio  are  io  the  habit  of  heating  a  variety  of  opiniooa,  who  pick  upaa 
obterration  on  ooe  subject,  and  another  on  another,  and  who  care 
■bout  none  any  farther  than  the  paning  away  of  an  idle  hour,  umally 
acijuirc.  An  author  haa  uucliea  a  particular  point — be  baa  read,  be 
Ilia  inquired,  be  ha>  thought  a  great  deal  upon  it:  he  it  iwt  coateaied 
to  take  it  up  c^aually  in  common  with  other*,  to  throw  out  a  hioi,  to 
■repote  an  objection:  he  will  either  remain  cilait,  uneaty,  and 
dinaiiified,  or  he  will  begin  at  the  beginning  and  ^  thnm)^  with  it 
to  the  end.  He  it  fiir  taking  the  whole  rcipootibtlity  upon  bimtclf. 
He  would  be  thought  to  underitand  ibe  nibjcct  better  than  others,  or 
indeed  would  thow  that  nobody  elte  knowi  xny  thing  about  it.  There 
are  alwaya  three  or  four  point*  on  which  the  licciary  nortec  at  hit  lint 
oattet  in  life  fancies  he  can  enlighieo  every  company,  and  bear  down 
all  oppotiiioa :  but  he  it  cured  of  this  Quixotic  and  pugoacioua  spirit, 
H  be  goea  mote  iota  the  world,  where  he  lindt  that  there  ate  other 
ofnoion*  sad  other  pretenwons  to  be  adjusted  bciide*  his  own.  When 
this  aiptfity  wear*  olT,  and  a  c«rtaio  achotatiic  precocity  it  mellowed 
dewDi  the  comrcrtttitm  of  mefl  of  letter*  become*  both  intcrettiog  >ad 
lnatnictt*e.  Men  of  the  world  haic  no  fixed  principle*,  oo  groand- 
work  of  thought :  mere  •cbolari  hate  too  much  an  object,  a  theory 
always  in  view,  to  which  they  orrett  every  thing,  and  not  unfTequently, 
cammon  teoK  itself.  By  mixiBB  with  uxriety,  they  rab  on  tbeir 
bardneis  of  manner,  and  impncticabie,  olFcniiTC  tingulariiy,  while 
tbcy  ictaia  a  greater  depth  ard  coherence  of  ooderttanding.  There 
ia  mote  to  be  learat  from  them  than  from  ihdr  book*.  This  waa  a 
remark  of  Rouueaa't,  aad  it  is  a  very  true  one.  In  tbc  coeSdcaoe 
3> 


ON  THE  CONVERSATION  OP  AUTHORS 

aad  unrewTTC  of  prime  intcrcoorw,  they  arc  more  at  liberty  to  ray 
whax  thtj  Uuok,  to  put  tbe  mbjtci  in  diffcrenl  and  oppoiilr  poimt  of 
view,  to  illunrace  it  more  brinly  and  piihily  by  familiar  cxprMtiooc, 
by  an  appeal  to  indiridual  charittor  and  pertonal  knowledfte — to  brioji 
ID  the  limitation,  to  obtiate  misconception,  to  itatc  difficultly  on  tlicir 
own  lidc  of  the  argument,  and  amwcr  them  us  well  ai  they  can. 
Thi<  would  bardly  agrre  with  the  prudery,  and  lomewhat  osicni-itioa* 
claims  of  uihonhip.  Dr.  Johnaon'»  coniYruiion  in  Botwcll'«  Life 
U  tiMch  better  than  hit  pnbliahtd  worki :  and  the  fragment*  of  the 
opinioiu  of  celebcsted  men,  preserred  in  their  letter*  or  in  auecdotea 
u  them,  are  junly  Mugbl  after  a»  invaluable  for  the  tame  reaion. 
For  inttance,  what  a  rand  of  teote  there  it  in  Grimm**  Memoir*  I 
W«  tbiwget  at  theetience  of  what  i>  contained  in  their  more  laboured 
prodnctioi)*,  without  ihe  lifrctation  or  formality. — Argument,  again, 
I*  the  death  of  converiation,  if  carried  on  in  a  apirit  of  hoittlity :  but 
dt*cu»ion  it  a  pleuant  and  profitable  thinj;,  whecc  you  advance  and 
defend  your  opiniooi  as  far  i>  you  can,  and  admit  the  truth  of  vhai  i« 
obJKtM  anamn  them  with  equal  impartkliiy  i  in  khort,  where  you 
do  not  pretend  to  tet  np  for  an  oracle,  but  freely  declare  what  you 
really  know  about  any  quettion,  or  suggest  what  hat  struck  you  an 
throwing  a  new  light  upon  it,  and  let  it  piiss  for  what  ii  is  worth. 
'I'hth  toDC  of  convcraatioo  was  well  described  by  Dr.  .lohnaon,  when 
he  laid  of  mmk  party  at  which  he  hod  been  present  the  nif[bl  before 
— <  We  had  good  talk,  *ir !  *  A*  a  general  rule,  there  ia  no  con- 
vertaiion  wortn  any  thing  bnt  between  hiends,  or  tho*c  who  agree  in 
the  aame  leading  view*  of  a  tubjcci.  Nothing  wa*  rrer  (eami  by 
«ithcT  (ide  in  a  diipute.  You  contradict  one  another,  will  not  allow 
I  gT>io  ^f  tenac  in  wlut  your  adi'cr*jry  adrancei,  are  blind  to  what- 
eter  make*  againtt  yourtelf,  darir  not  look  the  (|ueitioD  fairly  in  the 
&ce,  *o  thai  you  cannot  avail  youtvelf  eren  of  your  real  advant^ea, 
in*i*t  n>o«  on  what  you  feel  to  be  the  weakest  point*  of  your  arjtu- 
meni,  and  get  more  and  more  abmrd,  dogmatical,  and  Tiolcni  erery 
moment.  DHpinct  for  victory  generally  end  to  the  dinsatitfAciion  of 
■11  panic* :  and  the  one  re<cordod  in  Gil  Blai  break*  op  juai  a*  it 
ought.  I  once  knew  a  eery  ingenious  man,  than  whom,  to  take  him 
in  the  way  of  common  c)iit-chat  or  lirevide  ROisip.  no  one  could  be 
more  entenaining  oc  rational.  He  would  make  an  apt  clanical 
qootatioo,  proboie  an  explanation  of  a  curiou*  pauage  in  Shakipeare'i 
Vena*  and  Aaonia,  detect  a  mciaphyiical  error  in  l.ocke,  would  inter 
the  Tolatility  of  the  French  character  from  the  chapter  in  Sterne 
where  the  Count  mitnakc*  the  feigned  name  of  Yortck  for  a  proof  of 
hi*  being  the  identical  imaginary  character  in  Hamlet  (£t  vout  Jiri 
T»rici  /) — ihu*  confounding  word*  iwith  thing*  twice  mer^but  let  a 
VOL.  VII,  1  c  33 


i 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 


diStfcnoe  of  opinioo  be  oacc  hitched  in,  »ad  it  wu  all  aver  with  him. 
Hi*  only  object  fiom  that  time  wu  to  ihut  out  common  sennc,  and  to 
be  proof  againti  conriaion.  He  would  argue  the  rnott  ridicuioui 
point  (tacb  1*  that  there  wac  two  original  Ixingu.igci)  for  hours 
together,  tay,  through  the  horologe.  You  would  noi  itufpoao  it  waa 
the  tanie  peraon.  He  waa  like  ao  obatinitc  run-awuy  hone,  that 
ukca  the  bit  in  hii  mouUi.  and  become*  Mischievous  and  unmanage- 
able. He  bad  made  up  hia  miod  lo  one  thin^,,  not  to  admit  a  aingle 
perticle  o(  what  anjr  one  elie  «aid  for  or  againat  hiro.  It  waa  nil  the 
difTrtencc  between  a  man  drunk  or  aober,  tuie  or  mad.  It  i*  the 
same  when  he  once  get*  the  pen  in  hia  hand.  He  ha«  beeti  trying  to 
prore  a  contradiction  in  trrmc  for  the  ten  la»t  yeift  of  hta  life,  tn. 
tlutt  the  Buurbona  have  the  Mnic  tight  to  tbc  throne  of  France  that 
the  BruDiwick  family  have  to  the  tliionc  of  England.  Many  people 
think  there  u  a  want  of  honi^ecy  or  a  want  of  undentaoding  in  thii. 
There  ia  neither.  But  he  will  persiit  in  an  argument  to  the  latt 
pinch ;  he  will  yield,  in  abaurdiiy,  to  no  man  ! 

Thi*  litigiou*  humour  ii  bad  enough :  but  there  ia  one  charactCT 
itiU  woric,  that  of  a  pcr«OD  who  goca  into  company,  not  to  contradict, 
but  to  la/i  at  you.  This  if  the  greatest  nuisance  in  civiUted  aociety. 
Such  a  perioo  dota  not  come  armed  to  defend  himadf  at  all  poiata, 
but  to  unsettle,  if  be  can,  and  throw  a  alur  on  all  your  faroutite 
Opinions.  If  he  hat  a  nation  ttiat  any  one  in  the  room  i«  fond  of 
poetry,  he  immediately  volunteer*  a  contemptuous  tirade  againat  the 
idle  jingle  ofTKie.  If  he  auipecti  you  have  a  delight  in  pictures,  he 
endearuura,  not  by  fair  argument,  but  by  a  side-wiod,  to  put  you  out 
of  conceit  with  bo  frivolout  an  art.  If  you  have  a  tattc  for  niunc,  he 
doca  not  think  much  good  ia  to  be  done  by  thii  tickling  of  the  ears. 
If  yoti  Kpcak  in  praite  of  a  comedy,  he  does  not  pec  the  utc  of  wit : 
if  you  say  you  have  been  to  a  tragedy,  he  thakc*  hit  head  at  this 
mockery  of  humui  raiaery,  and  thinks  ii  ought  to  be  prohibited. 
He  t/iei  to  fmd  out  bcfotchand  whatever  it  ii  that  you  lake  a 
particular  pride  or  plcuurc  in,  that  he  may  annoy  yotif  self-love  in 
the  tendcreat  point  (as  if  he  were  protang  a  wound)  and  make  rou 
ditNtidicd  with  yourtelf  and  your  purauita  for  aevetal  days  aitcr- 
watdi.  A  person  might  aa  well  make  a  practice  of  throwing  out 
acifldalous  aspeniont  againit  your  dearest  friends  or  nraiect  relations, 
by  war  of  ingratiating  himtelf  into  your  favour.  Such  ill-timed 
impetunence  ia  '  villainous,  and  shews  a  pitiful  ambition  in  the  fool 
that  use*  it.' 

Tbc  soni  of  coaveriation  is  sympathy. — Authors  ahotild  coni-ct»c 
chiefly  with  authors,  and  tbeir  talk  should  be  of  books.  'When 
Greek  meets  Gicek,  then  comes  the  tug  of  war.'     There  ia  nothing 

34 


ON  THE  CONVERSATION   OF  AUTHORS 

ID  prdiotic  M  preteDdtng  dm  (o  b«  pedantic.  No  man  can  get  thott 
hit  purittit  in  Itlc ;  il  ix  getting  iibOTc  hiin*rir,  which  ie  impo«iibl«. 
There  it  a  FtM-maaonry  in  all  ihtngt.  You  can  only  ipeak  to  be 
underftood,  bm  thin  you  cannot  be,  except  by  ihoae  who  are  in  the 
Kcret.  Hence  an  argument  has  betn  Jrawn  to  tuperiwlp  the  necentity 
of  conTetauion  aliogcihcr ;  for  it  has  liecn  laid,  that  there  it  no  uee 
in  talltiog  to  people  of  lente,  who  know  ait  that  you  can  Icll  theni, 
oor  to  fool*,  who  will  not  be  inntructrd.  I'herc  i«,  however,  the 
mallett  cncoaragcmcot  to  proceed,  when  you  arc  conaciout  that  the 
more  you  really  enter  into  a  tubjc>.-t,  the  faither  you  will  be  (rom 
the  coraprebcnnon  of  your  hearett — and  that  the  more  proofi  you 
gnt  of  any  potitiaa,  the  more  odd  and  out-of-the-way  they  will  think 

foat  notioM.     C it  the  only  pcrion  who  can  talk  to  all  wrta  of 

people,  on  all  mmt  of  «ubjcct*,  without  caring  a  farthing  for  their 
tMKUrtunding  one  word  he  «ayt— and  be  ta1k«  only  for  admiratioa 
and  to  be  listened  to,  and  accordingly  the  leut  interruption  puia  him 
out-  I  Grmly  bclierc  he  would  make  ju»t  tlie  tame  impietaion  on 
half  hit  audience*,  if  be  purpoiely  repeated  abioluie  nanwnie  with  the 
■ame  T«Hce  and  manner  and  tnexhausiible  flow  of  undulating  tpecch  ! 
In  gcoera),  wit  thine*  only  by  reflection.  You  muit  take  your  cue 
frooi  your  company — muit  rite  a*  they  rite,  and  tink  a*  they  fall. 
You  mutt  Kc  that  your  good  thing*,  your  knowing  alluaioni,  are  not 
flung  away,  like  the  pearli  in  the  adage.  What  a  check  il  it  to  be 
itked  a  footith  queMion ;  to  ftnil  tliai  ihv  first  principle*  ate  not 
imilerttood !  You  arc  thrown  on  your  back  immediately,  (he  con- 
versation is  Kopprd  like  a  count iv-dancc  by  thote  who  do  not  know 
[be  figure.  But  when  a  «et  o/  adept*,  of  iHumntUi,  get  about  a 
i]u«*tion,  it  it  worth  while  to  bear  them  talk.  They  may  tnarl  aod 
quarrel  over  it,  like  dogt ;  but  they  pick  it  bate  to  the  bone,  they 
mMticaCe  it  thoroughly. 


ESSAY  IV 


THE    SAME   SUBJECT   CONTIKUED 

Tta>  wat  the  cate  formctty  at  L 'i — where  we  UKd  to  hitrt 

BMBy  lively  slurroiibes  at  their  Thursday  erening  oartiei.  I  doubt 
whether  the  Small-coal  nun's  miaical  panic*  could  exceed  them. 
Oh  1   for  the  pen  of  John  Buacle  to  conKcralc  a  ft^  tanaiir  to 

ibeir  mcRMry  t — There  w»i  I bimtelf.  the  moM  (feEriiti«l,  the 

iDMt  proToking,  the  mott  witty  asd  •cntibic  of  mea.    Re  ilwaya 

35 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 


irmIc  ibe  b«t  pun,  ood  the  beat  murk  io  the  cowte  of  the  evemne. 
Hii  aerMKM  conTcruiioQ,  lik«  kii  terioiu  wntut^t  ■*  ^^  b^x.  No 
ODC  ever  Ktaromered  uut  lucfa  fine,  piqiuot,  deept  elotjucni  tbingi  in 
half  a  doxcQ  hilf  (cntcneci  at  be  doci.  Hit  jtiu  KBld  tike  tean : 
and  he  probrt  a  qocuion  with  a  play  npoa  words.  What  a  kmi, 
lan^inSt  haii-biatncd  vein  of  hom^ctt  crulh !  What  choice  mom  I 
How  onJen  did  wc  cut  iau>  the  hauach  of  letters,  while  wc  diicuMcd 
the  hanmch  of  niiMton  on  the  table  !  How  we  ikimiDed  the  cream  of 
critktim  I  How  wc  got  into  the  heart  of  comtrovenjr !  How  we 
picked  out  the  marrow  of  antbora!  *And,  in  our  flowing  cuft, 
na&jr  a  good  luine  lod  true  wu  freshly  rcrnembcnd.'  Recollect 
(iMR  Mga  asd  critical  reader)  that  in  all  (hit  I  was  but  a  gitcttl 
Need  I  go  over  the  osmcs  ?  'I'hcy  were  but  the  old  ererlasiiiifi  tet 
— Miltuo  and  Shakspcarc.  Pope  and  Drytlco,  Steele  and  Addison, 
Swift  aod  Guy,  PieJtlinp,,  Smullet,  Steroe,  RicbardMo,  Hosanfa's 
prints,  Claude's  larxlicauc*,  tbc  Cartoom  at  Hamptoo-ooort,  and  all 
ihoae  things,  that,  haong  once  been,  must  cve-t  be.  The  Scotch 
Novels  had  not  tbco  been  beard  of:  so  wc  uid  nothiog  aboat  tbcoi. 
Id  gnefal,  we  were  hard  upon  the  modcret.  I'he  author  of  the 
Rambler  was  ooty  tolerated  io  Boswell's  Life  of  him  ;  and  it  was  as 

much  aa  aoy  one  could  do  to  edge  in  a  word  for  Junius.     L 

could  not  bear  Gil  Bias.  This  was  a  fault.  I  remember  the  greatest 
triunph  I  erer  had  war  in  persuading  him,  aJtet  tome  years'  diiiicvlty, 
Uui  Fielding  was  better  than  Stnollcl.  Oo  one  occasion,  he  was  for 
makiog  out  a  list  of  persons  famous  in  history  thai  one  would  with  to 
see  again — at  the  head  of  whom  were  Pontius  Pilate,  Sir  Tbonua 
Browne,  and  Ur.  Fsuatus — but  we  black-balled  most  of  his  list! 
But  with  what  a  gusto  wouM  he  detciibe  his  favourite  autbon^ 
Donac,  or  Sir  Philip  Sidney,  and  call  their  most  crabbed  piiwgn ' 
Jtititrnt  I  He  tried  tbcm  on  his  palate  as  rpicum  taste  oliTci,  atnl 
hi*  obtemuont  had  a  smack  in  ihcm,  like  a  roughness  on  the  tongue. 
With  what  discrimination  he  hinted  a  defea  to  what  he  admired 
most — as  in  saying  that  the  display  of  the  tunpnious  banquet  in 
Paradiae  Regained  was  not  ta  true  keeping,  as  the  Mmplest  fare  was 
all  that  was  neceaiary  to  tempt  the  extremity  of  hunger — nod  suting 
that  Adam  a&d  Eve  in  Paradise  Loit  were  too  much  like  married 

people.     He  baa  furnished  many  a  text  for  C to  preach  opoD. 

There  was  no  fu«  or  cant  about  him  :  no*  were  hit  sweets  or  his  Murs 
■nr  diluted  with  one  particle  of  affeciatioo.     I  cannot  lay  ibat  the 

ptfty  at  L '*  were  all  of  one  dcscripboa.     Tfacie  were  hooorxry 

members,  lay-brotliera.      Wit  and  gooid   feUowahip  was  the  motto 
iiMcribed  orer  the  door.     When  a  auaoger  came  in,  it  wa>  not  asked, 
*  Ha*  be  written  any  thing .' '— wc  were  abotc  that  pedantry  j    but 
36 


ON  THE  CONVERSATION  OF  AUTHORS 

wc  wailed  to  se«  wbM  be  could  do.  If  he  coutd  uke  a  hand  at 
piqucl,  be  v»i  wclcomr  la  at  down.  If  a  perton  liked  nor  thing,  if 
he  took  Kitttf  Iwanily,  it  wm  niiScicDt.  He  would  undcnund, 
by  ataiogf,  the  puogeacy  of  other  things,  besides  Irii^h  blackguud, 
or  Scotch  njwee.  A  character  wu  good  soy  where,  in  a  room  or 
on  paper.  Out  we  abhorred  inaipidity,  aifectaitoo,  and  line  gentle- 
men.  There  waa  one  of  our  party  who  nevet  &ilcd  to  mark  '  two 
for  hia  Nob'  at  cribbagc,  and  he  wa*  thought  no   mean   petH>n. 

Thii  waa  Ned  P ,  nnd  a  better  fellow  in  his  way  breathci  not. 

There  waa  ,  who  asierted  aoaie  incredible  matter  of  fact  aa 

a  likely  ^adox,  and  tcttled  all  cootiDvcnics  by  an  iftt  tSxit,  a  ^ 
of  hit  Willi  hammering  out  many  a  liaxd  theory  on  the  antil  of  bia 
brain — the  Bacon  Muochiuten  of  politici  and  practical  phtloaophy  :— 

there  wat  Captain  ,  who  had  you  at  an  advantage  by  Dcnr 

■aderttaadiag  you : — there  wat  Jem  \\'hiie,  the  atithor  of  Falataira 
LcOert,  who  the  other  day  Idt  ihif  dull  world  to  go  in  acarch  of 
more  kindred  iparit*,  'turiung  like  the  latter  end  of  a  lover'i  lute: ' 
— there  waa  A ,  who  loniciimes  dropped  in,  the  Will  Honey- 
comb of  our  »et — and  Mr*.  R ,  who  being  of  i  <juiet  turn,  lo«d  to 

hear  a  noiiy  debate.  An  utterly  uoinformcd  pcraon  might  have 
mippoted  thi«  a  iceae  of  vtdg^r  coofiiaion  and  uproar.  While  the 
iiMMt  critical  question  waa  pending,  while  ibe  mo)t  dilBcuii  problem 

in  pfailoMphy  waa  aolvingi  P cried  out,  'That'*  itame,'  and 

M.  B.  mMUni  a  ijuotatioo  over  the  lau  rematni  of  a  fval-pie  at  a 
nle^able.     Once,  and  once  only,  the  literacy  inter««t  orercame  the 

Kerat.  For  C waa  riding  the  high  German  horse,  and 
wnwauDg  the  Categoric*  of  the  Transcendenial  philocophy  co  the 
wdwr  of  <he  Road  to  Ruin;  who  tntiued  on  hit  knowledge  of 
GemUi  and  Oermati  metaphyaict,  having  read  the  Critimv  ef  Pwrt 

Jteaton  io  the  oitginal.     '  My  dear  Mr.  Holcrolt,'  aaid  C .  in  a 

lone  of  inliniteir  proroking  coociUadon, '  you  really  put  me  in  mind  of 
a  aweet  pretty  German  girl,  about  li^eeo,  that  I  met  with  in  the 
Hartz  forrit  in  Germany — and  who  one  day,  a*  I  wat  reading  the 
Limits  of  ibe  Knowabic  and  the  Unknowable,  the  pcofoundect  of  all 
hii  works,  with  great  attention,  came  behind  my  chair,  and  leaning 
over,  laid,  What,  jpcw  read  Kant !  Why,  /  that  am  German  bom, 
don't  aadctMasd  him  i '     Tliit  wm  too  much  to  bear,  and  Holcroft, 

Marling  up,  called  o«t  in  no  roeaniretl  tone,  ■  Mr.  C ,  rou  are 

the  mott  elo^aent  man  I  ever  met  with,  and    the  rooit  trouNeiome 

with  your  eloquence  I  '     P held  the  cribbage-peg  that  wa»  to 

mark  him  game,  mifwaded  in  hi*  hand ;  and  the  whiu  table  wm 
tUent  for  a  moment.  I  law  Holcroft  down  atain,  and,  on  comiog  to 
the  landtng-placc  in  Miue-ooart,  he  (topped  roe  to  obteree,  that  *  be 

37 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

thought  Mr,  C a  very  clcrer  man,  wiih  a  great  commind  of 

languagr,  but  that  he  feared  he  did  not  alwiya  al^x  very  prcciw  idcaa 
lo  the  words  he  lued.'  After  he  wu  gODC,  wc  had  our  laugh  oM, 
and  wtnt  on  with  the  argument  on  the  nature  of  Reuon,  the 
JniasiDaiion,  aod  the  Will,  t  with  I  could  find  a  publisher  for  it :  it 
would  make  a  lupplemcnt  to  the  Biogra^hin  Liirraria  in  a  volume  and 
B  half  octavo. 

Thoie  dart  arc  over  I  An  event,  the  name  of  which  1  with  never 
to  mention,  broke  up  our  party,  like  a  bomb-thell  thrown  bto  the 
room :  and  now  we  teldoni  meet — 

'  Like  angeli'  viwii,  thort  and  far  bctvreen.* 

There  is  no  longer  the  »ame  •«  of  pcrtona,  nor  of  aiiociaiinoi. 

L doe*  not  live  where  he  did.     By  ihifting  hit  abode,  his 

DOiiona  «em  lew  fixed.  He  doe«  not  wear  ht*  old  snuff-coloured 
coat  and  brecchct.  It  looka  like  an  allerttion  in  his  style.  An 
author  and  a  wit  ahould  have  a  separate  cottume,  a  particular  cloth  : 
be  (bould  present  »omcthin;t  positive  and  lingular  lo  the  mindi  like 
Mr.  Douce  of  the  Muieuni.  Our  faith  in  the  religion  of  leltexa  will 
sot  bear  to  be  taken  to  pieces,  and  jiul  together  again  by  caprice  or 

accident.     L.  H goe*  there  lometimu.     He  hat  a  fine  vinotu 

spirit  about  him,  and  tropicftl  blood  in  his  veins :  but  he  i«  belter  at 
hu  own  table.     He  has  a  ^reat  flow  of  pleataotry  fand  delishlful 

animal  spirits:  but  hi«  hiti  do  not  tell  like  L 'a;  yon  cannot 

repeat  them  the  next  day.  He  tequirei  not  only  to  be  appreciated, 
but  to  have  a  select  circle  of  admirer*  and  dctatcct,  to  leel  him>clf 
quite  at  home.  He  sits  at  the  head  of  a  party  with  great  gaiety  and 
grace ;  hat  an  elegant  manner  and  turn  of  features ;  is  never  at  a 
\o»—i£quanda  n^aminandui  eral — hai  continual  sportive  sallies  of 
wit  or  fancy ;  tells  a  storv  capitally  i  niimici  ^n  actor,  or  an 
acquaiouoce  to  admiration  ;  lasghi  with  great  glee  and  good  humour 
at  h!a  own  or  other  people's  jokcx ;  undcrnands  the  point  of  an 
equivoque,  or  an  obtcrvaiion  immediately ;  ba*  a  taitc  and  know- 
ledge of  bookt,  of  music,  of  medals  ;  manaces  an  argument  adroitly ; 
ia  genteel  and  gallant,  and  hat  a  set  of  bycphratcs  and  quaint 
allusions  always  at  hand  to  produce  a  laugh : — if  he  has  a  fault,  it  tt 
that  he  does  not  listen  so  well  a>  he  tpcaks,  is  impatient  of  interrup- 
tion, sod  is  fond  of  being  looked  up  to,  without  consideitng  by 
whom.  I  believe,  however,  be  has  pretty  well  teen  the  folly  of 
thin.  Neither  is  hit  ready  display  of  pcnonal  accomplishment  and 
variety  of  retourcet  an  advantage  to  hi*  writings.  They  somciimea 
present  a  deniltory  and  slip-ihod  appearance,  owing  to  this  very 
ctrcumsiaace.  The  same  things  that  tell,  perbsps,  best,  to  a  piivate 
38 


ON  THE  CONVEKSATION  OF  AUTHORS 


circle  round  tiie  liresidc,  arc  noi  a!wjry>  iatclligibic  to  the  public,  nor 
doea  be  talie  paint  lo  make  them  so.  He  is  too  conlident  and  secure 
of  his  audience.  That  which  may  be  entcriaining  enough  with  the 
iiiiitancc  of  a  ccriaio  lircUneii  of  manner,  may  read  very  flat  on  pipct, 
because  ii  it  abiiractcd  from  all  the  circumnt^incct  thai  bad  let  it 
off  CO  advaotage.  A  write*  sbould  rccollcci  that  he  ban  otily  lo 
tnui  to  the  inimcdiatc  imprewion  of  words  lil'e  a  mttiiciAD  who  nngs 
without  tJie  accompaniment  of  an  instrument.  There  b  nothing  to 
help  out,  or  tlubber  oxer,  ihe  defect*  of  the  voice  in  the  one  ca»c, 
nor  of  the  atyle  in  the  other.     Tbe  reader  may,  if  he  please*,  get  a 

»ery  good  idea  of  L.  H *»  coDverntion  from  a  very  agreeable 

paper  he  haa  lately  publUbcd,  called  the  JmHeaior,  than  which  nothing 
caa  be  more  happily  concciretl  or  executed. 

The  art  of  cooTcruiioD  is  the  art  of  hearing  at  well  m  of  being 
heard.  Authori  in  geoeraJ  ate  not  good  liBtetien.  Some  of  the 
be*l  ulkeri  are,  on  thti  account,  the  worst  company ;  and  watt  who 
are  »ery  indifferent,  but  »ery  great  talker*,  ate  aa  bad.  Il  is  sonieiimea 
wonderful  to  tee  how  a  person,  who  hax  been  entertaining  or  tiring  a 
company  by  tbe  boui  together,  drop*  his  coutuenancc  as  if  he  had 
been  shot,  or  bad  been  seiicd  with  a  tudden  lock-jaw,  the  moment 
any  one  intttpotet  a  single  observation.  The  bett  convcrscr  I  know 
it,  however,  the  best  liitenei.  1  mean  Mr.  Notthcoie,  tbe  painter. 
Patntett  by  their  profeasion  are  not  bound  to  thine  in  convertation, 
and  they  thine  the  mote.  He  lends  hit  ear  to  an  obterration,  as  if 
you  had  brought  him  a  piece  of  news,  and  enters  into  it  with  a«  much 
avidity  and  earcestncn,  as  if  it  interested  himself  pcrtanaJly.  If  he 
repeat!  an  old  renurk  or  story,  it  is  with  the  same  fre^neti  and 

Kint  as  for  the  lirM  time.  It  always  aritet  out  of  the  occarioo,  and 
t  the  stamp  of  originality.  There  u  no  parroting  of  himself.  Hi* 
look  it  a  cootinaal,  erer- varying  bistory-picce  of  what  pauet  in  hit 
mind.  Hi*  face  it  at  a  book.  There  need  no  mark*  of  interjection 
or  bterrogation  to  what  he  tays.  His  manner  is  quiir  piciutcMue. 
Tbere  it  an  excets  of  cliaracter  and  luiiveif  that  never  tirrt.  Hi* 
dtOi^U  buU>le  up  and  sparkle,  like  beads  on  old  wine.  The  l^nd 
of  aoeedote,  the  cotleaion  of  curioui  particulart,  it  enough  to  set  up 
any  common  retailer  of  jeits,  thai  dines  out  every  day  i  but  tbc»e  are 
not  Rrung  together  like  a  tow  of  galley-tlavet,  but  arc  always  intro- 
duced to  illuttrate  tome  argument  or  bring  out  tome  line  diitinction 
of  character.  The  mixture  of  spleen  add*  to  the  tharpnett  of  the 
point,  like  poifooed  arrows.  Mr.  Northcote  enlarges  with  en- 
thutiatm  on  the  old  paintert,  and  idia  good  ihingt  of  the  new.  The 
only  thing  he  ever  vexed  me  in  wai  ht«  liking  the  Caialogiu  Raimmfe. 
I  had  almott  aa  toon  hear  him  talk  of  Titian'i  piciufea  (which  he 

39 


THE   PLAIN  SPEAKER 


ifoe*  wkl)  tan  in  bia  eye*,  and  kookjag  jbm  tiie  tbem)  at  mc  the 
origiiuU,  and  I  bad  mbcr  beat  him  uUt  of  Sb  Jocinia'i  than  cee 
ifacs.  Hr  u  the  Uu  of  ihai  Kfaool  wtio  knew  GoUmanh  utd 
Joiuwoa.  How  ricKlf  be  <ktcnbc*  Pop*  I  Hu  ricgucc  of  eniadt 
lut  £giiit,  hi*  chintcicr  w«re  aot  vbIiIm  hia  own.  He  doa  sot 
umnbk  a  nodera  rii|liilimiii.  b«t  pou  one  ia  mind  of  a  Rocau 
Cudiaal  or  Sponiih  iBqnkkof.  1  aner  ate  oc  drank  wilb  Mr. 
Nortbcote  i  bm  I  bate  k>ed  on  hii  coovcnatioo  witb  aBdiminMbMl 
ftUi  em  ttDcc  I  can  tcnetnberi — aad  when  I  leatv  k,  I  come  ou 
iau»  liic  iUcM  with  fceliag*  ligbter  and  nwrc  cihcrul  Uun  I  bare  at 
mf  otber  time. — One  of  hit  ttU-tHtUt  wosld  at  any  time  toakc  aa 
EMiy  ;  bat  be  caaoot  wriit  himidf,  bccauK  be  low*  buMelf  to  tbe 
csooectiDg  panagn,  i*  fearful  of  tbe  etfcct,  aod  wiau  ibe  habit  of 
briagiaghM  idea*  into  one  focator  poiot  ofnev.  A  Am  i»  aecwwry 
10  collect  tbe  diTerttng  raya,  tbe  rtftacted  and  bioken  Mtpilar  ligbtt 
of  coanrodoo  on  paper.  Contndictioa  i*  half  the  battle  in  talking 
— the  being  Ranted  by  what  other*  My,  aad  hanag  to  aanrer  on  the 
ipoc.  You  hare  to  defend  yovtcU^  putgf^  by  paragraph, 
pranhewa  wHhis  parnthnik  P«iia|M  it  ni^  be  MpfiOHd  that  a 
pefMM  wbo  czcda  b  coatemtioo  aad  eaoaot  vriic,  would  racceed 
better  in  didogoe.  But  tbe  itimuliK,  the  inunettiace  irritatioa  would 
be  waoting  i  aod  the  work  would  read  flatter  than  ever,  fnm  aot 
hariag  the  Tcry  thing  il  prttcadcd  to  bare. 

Llrciy  lalliei  and  cooaectcd  dJKoune  are  very  dl^creoc  ihiDgh 
TImm  ue  many  pcnoo*  of  that  impatient  aad  re«licM  turn  of  noadi 
that  tbey  canoul  wait  a  motttent  for  a  coadoaioa,  or  follow  up  the 
thread  of  any  atgumcot.  lo  the  hurry  of  cootenatioa  tbeir  idea*  are 
toroebow  hiuldled  into  >ciuc ;  but  in  tbe  intenralt  of  thouj(fat,  leate  a 
grtat  gap  between.  MontcMiuica  laid,  be  often  lo«t  aa  nlea  before 
be  could  Sod  wordi  for  it :  yet  be  dictated,  by  way  of  unng  time. 
to  aa  amaaacsaia.  Thb  Lut  ii,  in  my  optoion,  a  vile  method,  and  a 
nledra  io  auihoriJiip.  Hone  Tooke,  aoioag  otber  paradoxe«,  uoed 
10  nMaUiB,  that  no  one  could  write  a  fjood  ^fle  wbo  vaa  not  ia  tbe 
habit  of  talking  and  hearing  tbe  *ouad  of  hii  own  vmce.  He  nught 
M  well  have  ajd  that  no  ooe  could  reliab  a  good  (tyle  withoui  readmg 
it  iload,  M  we  find  conmoo  people  do  to  BMitt  their  apprehcniioo. 
Bm  there  m  a  ntetbod  of  trying  period*  oa  tbe  car,  or  weighing  tliem 
with  the  icalc*  of  tbe  breath,  without  any  articulate  aound.  AutboMk 
aa  ibcT  write,  may  be  aaid  to  '  hear  a  tound  n  fioe,  there  '•  luifaing 
Itvea  twixt  it  and  mIcbcc.'  Etch  muiiciana  generally  cocnpo*e  in 
their  beadi.  1  agree  that  no  atyle  it  good,  thai  ti  not  fit  to  be  ipoken 
or  read  aloud  with  elTcci.  Thit  hold*  true  not  only  of  cmnhaiit  and 
Cadence,  but  alio  with  regard  to  Daiaral  itUom  aad  coUo<inial  freedom. 

40 


ON  THE  CONVERSATION  OF  AUTHORS 


SufDc's  was  ia  thU  rctpect  the  bnt  icyt«  that  «Ter  wa*  vritm. 
You  fancy  that  you  hur  the  people  talkto;;.  l''or  a  coottary  reaaoDt 
DO  college-nuD  wfite*  a  f>oad  *tyle,  ur  undentund*  tt  when  vrittCD. 
Pioe  wiitiag  U  with  him  all  tcrbiage  and  muoocony-^  uanttatioo 
iolo  claatiu!  ccotos  ot  hcxmncirT  linct. 

That  which  1  hjiic  jutt  mcntion<\l  if  among  mtiny  inetaacc*  I  could 
give  of  ingenious  ab»uMitici  advxDcrd  by  Mr.  'I'ookr  in  the  b«t  snd 
pride  of  cgnuoveray.  A  peraon  who  knew  him  wril,  and  greatly 
admired  hi*  talent*,  (aid  of  him  that  he  never  (to  hi*  tecollecuon) 
heard  him  defend  an  opinion  which  be  thought  right,  or  in  which 
he  believed  him  to  be  him>c1f  lincnrc.  He  indeed  provoked  hi* 
•Hagoni*t«  into  the  toil*  by  the  very  extravagance  of  hi*  aMCttion*, 
tnd  tlie  teating  tojibittry  by  which  he  tendered  theni  plauaiblr.  Hi* 
tciBpei  wai  prompter  to  his  (kill.  He  had  the  manner*  of  a  nun  of 
the  world,  with  great  Kcholutic  reiource*.  He  flung  every  ooe  eltc 
off  hi*  guard,  and  wat  htmtcif  imnwreable.  I  never  knew  any  one 
who  did  not  admil  hi*  tuperiority  in  thit  kind  of  warfare.     He  put  a 

filll  Itop  to  one  of  C '*  long-winded  prefatory  apologie*  for  hii 

jOBtb  and  inexperience,  by  laying  abruptly,  ■  Speak  up,  young  man  I ' 
«xl<  at  another  time,  silenced  a  learned  profeuor,  by  deuring  an 
ex]^ati(Hi  of  a  word  which  the  other  fcei^uenity  u«ed,  and  which, 
be  aaid,  he  had  been  many  yean  trying  to  get  at  the  meaning  of,— 
the  copulative  It!  He  wa*  the  be*t  intellectual  tcncer  of  hi*  day. 
He  taade  «trange  havoc  of  i'uacli'*  fantutic  hieroglyphics,  violetit 
huHMHin,  and  oddity  of  dialect. — Curran,  who  waa  Boniettmet  of  the 
oBie  party,  waa  lively  and  animated  in  convivial  converaation,  hot 
dull  in  argument  (  nay,  averw  to  any  thing  like  reaaoniag  or  aeriout 
obtcrvation,  and  had  the  wortt  tatte  I  ever  knew.  Hii  favourite 
critical  topic*  were  to  abuae  Milion'i  Paradite  Lo«,  and  Romeo  and 
Juliet.  Indeed,  he  coiift*fed  a  want  of  ml!icieni  acquaintance  with 
book*  when  he  found  hiin*clf  in  literary  society  in  London.  He  and 
Sheridan  once  dined  at  John  Keiablc'e  with  Mt*.  Inchhald  and  Mary 
WoolatonecTofi.  when  the  ditcourte  almoit  wholly  turned  on  Love, 
*  from  noon  to  dewy  eve,  a  lutnmer'a  day  ! '  What  a  *ubjeci ! 
What  speaker*,  and  what  hearer* !  What  would  I  not  give  to  have 
been  (here,  had  I  not  learned  it  all  from  the  bright  eye*  of  Amaryllia, 
and  may  one  day  make  a  Tailt-tali  of  it ! — Peter  Pindar  wa*  rich  in 
anecdote  and  grotesque  humour,  and  profrand  in  technical  knowledge 
both  of  music,  poetry,  and  painting,  but  he  wa*  groM  and  over-bearing. 
Wordawonh  •ometidtea  talk*  like  a  man  impired  on  tubjccu  of 
poetry  (hi*  own  out  of  the  queaiioo) — Coleridge  well  on  every 
iubject,  and  G— dwin  on  none.  To  finish  this  subject — Mr*. 
M    ■     'a  convertaiion  i*  u  Gne^ut  a*  her  feature*,  and  I  like  to  tit 

4t 


THE   PLAIN  SPEAKER 

la  the  rootn  with  tlut  lort  of  coroatt  (ace.     What  ibe  tan  teiTc*  a 

ianat,  like  Am  grmi  tea.    H — t'a  u  like  chimpaignc,  and  N '■ 

Bkc  aatbowj  laBdwichei.  H — yd — o'l  i*  like  a  ganx  at  trap-ball : 
L — '•  like  MUfKliagoa:  and  mjr  own  (if  1  ilo  not  nuMaJte  the 
matter)  u  not  rery  macb  mlike  a  game  at  Dioe-ptDi!  .  .  .  Oat 
toitfcc  of  ibe  cooterutiao  of  anihort,  i«  tbc  character  of  other  uthori, 
aad  on  that  tbcy  art  rich  iixiccd.  Wtiit  thtngi  tfaey  tay !  What 
•utrici  they  Ceil  of  one  anothf  r,  more  particularly  of  ihar  (tmi* !  If 
I  dunt  ooly  giic  wiae  of  these  coafidential  comonittCKioM !  •  •  - 
The  reader  may  perhapa  think  tbc  f()t«goiii|  a  ipcctmcn  of  ibem  : — 
but  iadted  he  it  mittakcn. 

I  do  oot  know  of  any  greater  tmpertioence,  than  for  *a  ob«C«re 
indiridual  to  Kt  about  pumping  a  character  of  celebrity.  '  Bdnit  lum 
le  m^'  Bid  a  Doctor  Troochtn,  speaking  of  Roucteau,  'that  I  may 
ne  wbnber  be  baa  any  thing  in  him.'  Before  yon  can  ake  mearaic 
of  tbc  capacity  of  Othtn.  yon  ought  to  be  nre  that  they  hare  not 
taken  flMwure  of  yourt.  They  may  thiok  you  a  tpy  on  them,  and 
may  not  like  their  compaav.  If  you  really  waot  to  know  whetber 
UHMlMr  peraoa  can  talk  well,  be^n  by  saying  a  good  thiog  yourwlf, 
mmI  yon  will  have  a  right  to  look  fot  a  rejoiadcr.  '  The  beet  t«i&i»- 
playerit'  aayi  Sir  Fophng  FIntlcr, '  make  the  bett  matcbch' 


-Fm  wit  u  likt  a  rtit 


Held  up  at  tmsii,  irtiicb  men  do  the  beat 
With  the  beit  fiiftn. 

We  hear  it  often  «aid  of  >  great  author,  or  a  great  nctma,  that 
tbey  are  very  itupid  people  in  printe.  fiat  be  wai  a  fool  that  nud 
10.  Tfil  me  j»ur  t«mf<atf,  and  1 7/  leO  jmi  jtur  maaatrt.  In  C0a> 
vcriatioo,  at  in  other  ihiogt,  the  action  and  reaction  tbotild  bear  a 
ccnua  proportion  to  each  other. — Aoibort  may,  in  tonM  Ko«e,  be 
looked  upon  as  foreigner!,  who  are  no;  naturalized  even  io  their 

Bati*c  aotl.     L once  cansc  down  into  the  country  to  mc  ut. 

He  wai  'like  the  moat  capricioui  poet  Ovtd  aiDong  the  GoiIm.' 
The  country  people  thought  htm  ao  oddity,  aod  did  oot  noderacand 
bk  jokea.  It  would  be  >tnage  if  tbey  bad ;  for  he  did  not  make 
anyi  while  he  Kiaid.  But  when  we  croatcd  the  country  to  Oxford, 
then  be  apokc  a  liitle.  He  and  the  old  college*  were  hail-fellow  well 
Bin ;  and  in  the  quadrangle*,  be  ■  walked  gowned.' 

There  i«  a  character  of  a  gentleman  ;  i»o  there  it  a  charnctcr  of  a 
aGhoiar,  which  it  no  1cm  eatity  recogniacd.  The  one  hat  an  air  of 
book*  about  him,  u  tbe  other  haa  of  good-breeding.  The  one  wear* 
hit  ihonghu  at  the  other  doet  bit  clothes  gracefiillyi  and  even  if 
they  arc  a  little  old-fathioned,  they  are  not  ridiculous :  they  have  had 

4* 


ON  THE  CONVERSATION  OP  AUTHORS 

tbdr  day.  Tbe  )t«Dtlem«D  thows,  by  hi*  manner,  thai  be  ba*  bcca 
nted  to  respect  from  other* :  the  ichvbr  tliil  he  layi  claim  to  telf- 
retpect  uxl  to  a  ccruin  indepcniJeoce  of  opinion.  The  one  ha*  bcca 
Accastomed  to  the  best  company ;  the  other  liaa  poaied  hu  time  to 
cnltivatbg  so  intimacy  witli  the  belt  author*.  There  t«  noihing 
fbrward  or  idgar  in  the  lichavtour  of  the  ooci  nothing  thrcwd  of 
pctnlaiit  to  the  ohacrcuiotis  of  t)ie  oclier,  a>  if  he  ahouJd  aitonith  the 
bye-nandert,  or  was  uitonithed  himwlf  at  bi«  own  ditcoveciM. 
Good  taste  and  j;ood  ncnic,  like  common  poUieneat,  are,  or  are 
nppoied  to  be,  mnitett  o(  caurtie.  One  i>  diitinguithetl  by  an 
appearance  of  marked  aiiention  to  every  one  ptwcntj  the  otlier 
manifnts  an  habitosl  sir  of  abstrsciion  and  absence  of  mind.  The 
ooc  h  not  an  upitart  with  all  the  lelf-imponant  air«  of  the  foandet  of 
hit  own  fortune  i  nor  tlie  other  a  telf-taught  man,  with  the  repuliive 
Mlf-aufficieacy  whtcb  ariaes  from  an  ij;norance  of  what  hnndredt  ha?e 
known  before  him.  We  miut  excuw  perhaps  a  little  conscious 
bmily-pride  in  the  one,  and  a  little  harmlc««  peoaoiry  in  the  otlier.— 
A»  there  i*  a  class  of  the  first  character  which  nnkt  into  the  mere 
gcotleman,  that  it,  which  has  nothing  bat  tJiit  seme  of  renpectability 
and  propriety  to  support  it— «o  the  character  of  a  scholar  not 
tinfreqiKMly  dwindles  down  into  the  shadow  of  a  shade,  till  nothing 
is  left  of  It  but  the  mere  bookworm.  There  is  ofteo  something 
amiable  as  well  as  eniiable  in  this  last  character.  I  know  one  such 
iniiancc,  at  leait.  The  |>erson  I  mean  has  an  sdmiraiion  <br  learning, 
if  he  is  only  daziled  by  ill  light.  He  lives  among  old  authors,  if  he 
does  not  enter  much  into  their  spirit.  He  handle*  the  covers,  and 
turiu  over  the  page,  and  ts  familiar  with  the  names  and  dates.  He 
i*  busy  and  sett.involvcd.  He  hangs  like  a  litm  and  cobweb  upon 
letters,  or  is  like  the  dual  upon  the  ouuide  of  knowledge,  which 
should  not  be  rudely  brushed  aside.  He  follows  learoiog  as  its 
shadow ;  but  as  such,  he  is  respectable.  He  browzes  on  the  husk 
and  Iravcs  of  books,  as  the  young  fawn  browzt4  on  the  hark  and 
leave*  of  tree;*.  Such  a  one  lite*  all  hit  life  in  a  dream  of  learning, 
and  has  ne\-er  once  bad  hit  slerp  broken  by  a  teal  sense  of  things. 
He  believes  implicitly  in  genius,  truth,  virtue,  liberty,  becauae  he  finds 
the  names  of  theac  things  in  books.  He  thinks  that  love  and  friend- 
ship are  the  finest  things  imaginable,  both  in  practice  and  theory. 
The  legend  of  good  women  is  to  him  no  fiction.  When  be  steals 
from  the  twilight  of  his  cell,  the  scene  breaks  upoo  him  like  an 
iUunMBMcd  miasol.  and  all  the  people  he  sees  are  but  so  many  figures 
is  a  <4mtra  otttvra.  He  reads  (be  world,  like  a  favourite  volume, 
only  to  6od  beaoties  in  it,  or  like  an  edhioa  of  some  old  work  which 
be  is  preparing  for  the  pre**,  only  to  make  emendations  in  it,  and 

43 


^ 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

cotrecl  the  erfort  that  haw  inadvenentltr  dipt  in.  He  and  hi*  Aog 
Tray  arc  moch  ihr  untr  honcft,  (imple-bcwud,  laithfii],  affcctioaate 
CfciUuici — if  Tray  could  but  ictdl  Hm  nuad  ciuioi  ukr  ibe 
inptCMiCM)  of  vice :  tmi  tli«  geotlc-ncsi  of  hit  o*iure  turnt  gall  to 
mnk.  He  would  not  bim  ■  fly.  He  diiwi  tine  piciure  of  maakind 
from  the  guileleM  limplkity  of  bu  own  hurt :  ai>d  when  lie  dici,  hit 

r'rit  will  lake  it*  tmiling  leare,  without  luring  erer  bad  ao  ill 
Mght  of  otberet  or  tbc  coBtoootoew  of  one  in  iuetf  I 


ESSAY  V 


OK    REASON   AND    IMAGINATION 

I  HATi  people  who  have  do  ootion  of  any  thing  but  generalidei,  and 
hrmt,  aod  cteed*,  uid  tailed  prapoMtiont,  even  worvc  than  I  diilike 
llwMe  who  cauoot  for  the  foul  of  them  artirc  at  the  comprehennon  of 
an  tburact  idea.  There  aic  thote  (even  ainoag  pbiloaophcrs)  who, 
dttaiag  xiM  all  truth  ii  ctmuiocil  within  certain  out&ic*  utd  commoD 
t0^>i  tf  you  proceed  to  add  colour  »r  relief  from  iniliTidualicy,  jirotest 

SlilMt  the  OM  of  rhetoric  a.i  ao  illogical  ihiDg  ;  and  if  you  drop  a  hint 
picanirc  or  pain  as  ever  cnceriaK  i«o  *  tbi*  brcaihing  world,  raiae  a 
prMJ^oaa  ootcry  agaiiiK  all  appeal*  to  Uie  puaon*. 

U  is  I  conJcM,  *ira4)ge  to  roe  that  men  who  pretend  to  more  than 
luual  accuracy  in  diuinguithing  and  anatyiiog,  chould  ictiat  that  in 
ueatii^  of  human  nature,  of  moral  good  aod  cTitiiheoominaldifTcreocc* 
ve  atooc  of  any  value,  or  that  in  dctcribing  the  feeling*  and  motive* 
of  men,  any  thing  that  convey*  the  imallcii  idea  of  what  tboie 
fipeltDg*  vc  ia  any  ititco  circunuianc»i  or  can  by  parity  of  maon  ercr 
be  in  any  otbctH,  ia  a  dcliberuie  attempt  at  artifice  and  dehinon — as  if 
a  Itoowiedge  or  repreaentatioD  of  tiiingi  at  they  really  exiR  {rule*  and 
deCoition*  apart)  waa  a  proportionable  <lcp.irturc  from  the  trutli. 
Tbev  *tick  to  the  tahlc  of  conicnts  And  never  open  the  volume  of  the 
Blind.  They  are  lor  having  maps,  not  pictures  of  the  world  we  live 
ia  1  aa  much  as  to  tay  that  a  l>ird*»-eye  view  of  tbiog*  contains  the 
tratb,  the  whole  truth,  and  notliing  but  the  truth.  If  you  want  to 
look  for  tlic  aituatioD  of  a  u/ticukr  apot,  they  turn  to  a  pi^tcboard 
globe,  00  which  they  fix  their  wandering  gaze  [  and  because  you  c.ia- 
not  find  the  object  of  your  learcb  in  ibcir  bald  '  ahridgcmentt,'  tell 
VM  tbcre  it  no  tiKb  place,  or  thai  it  i*  not  worth  in<]uiri&g  after. 
Tbe^  had  better  confine  their  atudic*  to  the  celeftial  sphere  and  the 
rignt  of  the  zodiac  ;  for  there  they  will  meet  with  do  petty  details  to 

44 


ON  REASON  AND  IMAGINATION 

boggle  It,  01  contradict  their  ngae  coocIumod*.  Sach  pcrwo*  would 
tmk*  exccUcnt  (li«o!ogiai)i,  but  *re  my  indilTcrcnc  philoti>]>hcra>^To 
parMK  tbis  grognphic^  m»oninf>  a  IMe  farther.  Tbejr  may  uy 
tbal  the  map  of  a  county  or  (hire,  for  iascance,  it  too  lare«,  and  ooo- 
««ys  3  diiproportionate  idea  of  >ti  relation  to  the  whole.  And  wc 
ny  that  their  map  of  the  globe  ii  too  noBll,  and  conycyi  ao  idea  oC 
'n  «  all. 


■  '  In  the  vrorld't  volume 

Out  Britain  Aom  as  of  it,  but  not  in  it  j 
In  a  great  pool  a  iwao'i  ue»t ; ' 

but  it  it  rttUy  to  i  What  f  the  coumy  it  biftgfix  than  tlie  map  at  any 
rate :  the  repretentation  fallt  thort  of  tbe  reality,  by  a  million  degree*, 
and  yoD  would  omit  it  altogether  in  order  to  arrive  at  a  balance  of 
power  ID  the  noo^eniitict  of  the  uoderttacding,  and  call  thit  keeping 
within  the  bourid*  of  lente  and  reaton  i  and  whatever  doea  not  cone 
withiothoKtelf-midetiniitaitto  be  tecatideaa  frivolous  or  moottrotw. 
But  '  there  arc  more  thingt  between  heavea'  and  earth  than  were 
ever  dreamt  of  tn  thit  philosophy.'  They  cannot  get  them  all  in,  of 
lit  ii%t  cf  lift,  and  therefore  they  reduce  them  on  a  graduated  acale, 
till  they  think  they  can.  So  be  it,  for  ccnain  nccesury  xdA  general 
pttrpoM*,  and  is  coRipJiance  with  the  iolirniity  of  haman  intellect :  but 
■t  other  timea,  let  ua  enlarge  our  conceptiont  to  iIk  dimcoiioM  of  tbe 
original  object*  i  nor  let  it  be  pretendod  that  we  have  outraged  trtitb 
and  oaiore,  becauK  we  have  encroached  on  your  dtmiootite  mecbaat- 
cal  tiandard.  There  it  no  language,  no  deacription  that  can  atrictly 
come  up  to  the  truth  and  force  of  reality  :  all  wchaTc  to  do  it  lo  ginw 
our  detcriptiona  and  conclutiont  by  the  reality.  A  certain  proponioa 
mutt  be  kept :  we  mutt  not  inren  the  rulct  of  moral  perspective. 
Log^  thoiikl  enrich  asd_in_Ti£Draie  ita  -  detJitorit  by  the  jHcof 
gWBUMiiQP  I  at  rhetoric  ihould  be  governed  in  itt  upplicatkra,  and 
guarded  nom  abuae  by  the  checkt  of  the  undcnRanding.  Neither,  I 
apprehend,  i*  ralBcietit  alone.  The  mind  can  conceive  only  one  or  a 
few  thingt  in  ibcir  integrity :  if  it  procecda  to  more,  it  mutt  have 
lecourie  to  artilicial  tubttuutet,  and  judge  by  compariton  merely.  In 
the  forn>cr  cjac,  it  may  aetect  the  leaai  worthy,  and  v>  diKort  tbe 
tnuh  of  thingt,  by  giving  a  haity  prtfeience  !  in  the  latter,  the  danger 
it  that  it  may  refine  and  abwract  to  much  at  to  attach  no  idea  at  all 
to  ibcm,  correapondiBg  with  their  practical  value,  or  their  influence 
oa  the  mindt  of  thote  concerned  uiih  them,  ^fen  act  from  tndivi- 
(hid  imprctsion*;  and  to  know  mankind,  we  thnuld  be  acqu^atcd 
with  oatwe.  Men  act  from  paition ;  and  we  caa  only  judge  of  paMion 
by  tyai)tttby.    Pcttont  of  the  dry  a&d  buaky  claat  aboTC  ipokea  of, 

45 


<. 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

oftCB  tttm  (o  think  errn  oaiurc  iMlf  an  iatcilopcr  on  their  diirny 
theorin.  Tbey  prefer  the  ifaadowt  ia  Plato'*  cave  to  the  actud 
objects  without  it.  They  consider  men  '  ai  mice  in  wi  air-pump,*  fit 
only  for  their  exprrimcnu  ;  and  do  not  conaider  the  rc«t  of  the  uni- 
tvrie,  or  '  all  the  mighty  world  of  rye  and  ear,'  i*  worth  any  notice 
at  all.  Thig  it  making  thort,  but  not  ture  work.  Truth  does  out 
lie  in  vanio,  aoy  more  than  in  a  well.  We  must  improve  our  coocrelc 
experjence  of  perionx  and  thin^e  into  the  coniciaplauon  of  general  rale* 
aoa  principle* ;  but  without  beia£  grounded  in  indiridoal  iact*  and 
fecting*,  we  thaJl  end  a>  wc  bc^an,  in  iKnota.tii:e. 

It  u  mentioned  in  a  «hori  account  of  the  La»t  Momcnn  of  Mr.  Fox, 
that  the  convcraaiioo  at  the  houac  of  Lord  Holland  (where  he  died) 
turning  upon  Mf.  Burke'*  tiyle,  that  Noble  Person  objected  to  it  aa 
too  f:audy  and  meretricious,  and  lald  thai  it  was  more  proltue  of 
Howen  than  fruit.  On  which  Mr.  Fox  obterved,  that  though  thi* 
waa  a  cammon  objection,  it  appeared  to  him  alioKether  an  unfounded 
one ;  thai  on  the  contrary,  the  flower*  often  concealed  the  fruit  bc- 
nealb  them,  and  the  ornamcnta  of  itylc  were  rather  an  hindrance  than 
U  ttlTUitage  to  the  Reotimcnta  they  were  nneani  to  iiei  olf.  In  confir- 
■HUlOD  of  ihi«  remark,  lie  offered  to  take  down  the  book,  and  translate 
>  paf.e  any  where  into  his  own  plain,  natural  style  ;  and  by  hia  doing 
ID,  Lord  Holland  wai  convinced  that  he  had  often  misted  the  thought 
from  having  bin  attention  drawn  off  to  the  dajixling  imagery.  Thus 
people  coniinualiy  lind  fauh  with  the  colours  of  iiylr  m  incompatible 
with  the  truth  of  the  reasoning,  but  without  any  foundation  whatever. 
If  it  were  a  question  about  the  figure  of  two  triangles,  and  any  perioa 
were  to  object  that  one  triangle  was  green  and  ihe  other  yellow,  and 
bring  thi*  to  bear  upon  the  acutenem  or  obtuseneas  of  the  angle*,  it 
would  be  obvioni  to  remark  that  the  colour  bad  nothing  to  da  with 
the  question.  But  in  a  dispute  whether  two  object*  arc  coloured  alike, 
the  discovery,  that  one  it  green  and  the  other  yellow,  it  fatal.  So 
with  relict  to  mora!  truth  (aa  diitioct  from  mathematical),  whether 
a  thing  is  good  or  evil,  depend*  on  the  quantity  of  paiMODt  of  fcelifg, 
of  pteature  and  pain  connected  with  it,  and  with  which  we  muit  be 
made  acquainted  in  order  to  come  to  a  nouod  conduaioo,  and  not  on 
the  inquiry,  whether  it  i>  round  or  iquarc.  fanion,  in  shotti  ii  the 
estcncc,  the  chief  ingredient  in  moral  irath  ;  and  the  warmth  of  pauion 
it  nirc  to  kindle  the  light  of  imagination  on  the  object*  around  it. 
The  *  wotdt  that  glow'  ate  ainiott  inseparable  from  the  'thoughts 
that  burn.'  Hence  logical  msOD  and  practical  truth  arc  •Tu^>trtstu.  It 
it  eaiy  to  raise  an  ovticry  against  violent  invective*,  to  talk  loud  against 
extravagance  and  entbiuiaim,  to  pick  a  quarrel  with  every  thing  but 
the  moat  calm,  candid,  and  qualified  stntcmcni  of  fact* :  bin  there  arc 

46 


ON   REASON   AND   IMAGINATION 


enonniuet  to  which  no  words  csd  do  adequate  jutdce.  Are  we  then, 
ID  order  to  form  a  complete  Idea  of  them,  to  omit  etery  circunMUiace 
of  sggtantion,  or  to  tuppreu  erery  feeling  of  impatience  ih;ii  hHm* 
out  of  the  detail*,  leit  we  ihoutd  be  accuocd  of  giving  way  to  the 
iollucnce  of  prejudice  and  |wtuon  ?  1'hia  would  be  to  lalnify  the  ira- 
preition  liiogcther,  to  misconstrue  reason,  and  Aj  in  the  lice  of  nature^ 
Suppoie,  for  inalance,  that  in  the  discumion*  Oft  the  Sla»e- Trade,  a 
dctcription  to  the  life  wag  j^iveo  of  the  horror*  of  the  MiJdU  Patiage 
(,u  it  wa>  termed),  that  jrou  naw  the  manner  in  which  ihooaand*  of 
WTCtchci,  yeal  after  year,  were  ttowed  together  in  the  hold  of  a  slaT«- 
ihip>  without  air,  wilhoui  light,  without  food,  without  hope,  to  that 
what  tliey  autfcrcd  in  tcaliiy  waa  brought  home  to  you  id  imaginalioB) 
till  you  felt  in  tickoeai  of  heart  a«  one  of  tliem,  could  it  be  laid  that 
thia  waa  a  prejudging  of  tJie  caie,  that  your  knowin|;  the  extent  of  ibc 
evil  ditqualiiied  you  from  pronouncing  ■eoteoce  upon  it,  and  that  your 
diiguEi  and  abhorrence  were  the  cfTccta  of  a  heated  imagination  i  No. 
Tho*c  crili  that  inflame  the  imagination  and  make  the  heart  tick, 
ought  not  to  leave  the  head  cool.  This  ii  the  very  teat  and  measure 
of  the  degree  of  the  enormity,  that  it  involuntarily  stagger*  and  appaU 
the  mind.  If  it  were  a  common  iniquity,  if  it  were  ali^l  and  partial, 
or  necetury,  it  would  not  ha«e  tliii  ctTeci  i  but  it  very  properly  fatrica 
away  the  feelioKt,  and  (if  you  will)  overpower*  the  Judgment,  because 
it  it  a  mai*  of  evil  so  monctroui  and  unwarranted  as  not  to  be  endured, 
eren  in  thought.  A  man  on  the  rack  docs  not  sutfer  the  ie»,  becau*e 
the  extremity  of  angui*h  take*  away  his  command  of  feeling  and 
attention  to  a[>pearance«.  A  pang  inflicted  on  humanity  is  not  the  let* 
real,  becauae  it  ittrs  up  sympathy  in  the  breast  of  humanity.  Would 
you  tame  down  the  glowing  language  of  justifiable  passion  into  that  of 
cold  indifleicncc,  of  telf-comgilacent,  tceptical  reason  ing,  and  thus  take 
out  the  tting  of  indignation  from  the  mind  of  the  spectator  f  Not, 
surely,  till  you  have  remoiTd  the  nuisance  by  the  levers  that  strong 
feeling  alone  can  set  at  work,  and  have  thus  taken  away  the  pang  of 
■uAermg  that  caused  it  I  Or  say  that  the  quettion  wcte  proposed  to  you, 
whether,  on  some  occiuioo,  you  should  thrust  vour  baocl  into  the  flame*, 
and  were  coolly  told  that  you  were  not  at  all  to  consider  the  pain  and 
angoidh  it  might  give  you,  nor  suffer  yourself  to  be  led  away  by  any  such 
idle  appeals  to  natural  seoiibiiity,  liui  to  refer  the  decision  to  some 
abstract,  technical  ground  of  propriety,  would  you  not  Isugh  in  your 
adviser's  face  i  Oh  !  no  ;  where  our  own  interests  are  concerned,  or 
where  we  are  sincere  in  our  profeuioDh  of  rcKard,  the  pretended  di*. 
tinction  between  sound  judgment  and  lively  imagination  i*  quicklydone 
away  with.  But  I  would  not  wish  a  better  or  more  philosophical 
standard  of  morality,  than  that  we  should  Ibiiiit  and  feel  towards 

47 


THE   PLAIN  SPEAKEH 


otbers  u  we  shoold.  if  U  wtn  out  own  cue.  I  f  we  look  foe  a  hig^tt 
■ondtrd  than  thit,  we  iball  not  End  it ;  but  «hill  low  the  ubaUDoe  for 
tbe  ihodowf  Again,  luppose  ao  extierne  or  inilividua]  tmaoce  U 
brought  foiwart)  in  iiny  gcoeral  quettion,  u  that  of  the  oxgo  of  lick 
ikrei  that  were  thrown  overboard  at  to  much  inv  tamtrr  by  tbe 
ciBUiD  of  a  Gcinea  tcmcI,  id  the  year  177;.  which  was  one  of  the 
thiRgi  that  firiit  drew  the  attcBtion  of  the  public  10  thja  ncfarioui 
(Mfic ',  or  the  practice  of  niBpcDdiox  coDiumacious  nesroe*  in  cujic* 
to  baie  tbeir  eye*  pecked  out,  aod  10  be  deroured  alive  by  bird*  of 
prey — Doe*  thi*  form  no  rule,  becauae  tbe  miKhief  ii  (oUtary  or  ex- 
CCMivc  \  The  rule  it  abaolute  i  lor  we  l«cl  that  oothing  of  tbe  kind 
conld  take  place,  01  be  tolerated  for  an  iiutant,  in  any  nyrtcm  thai  wa* 
not  rotten  at  the  core.  !f  mich  ihingf  are  erer  done  in  any  cifcum- 
HUces  with  impuaity,  we  know  what  must  be  done  crery  day  under 
the  mtme  aacboo.  It  show*  that  there  it  an  uuer  deadneM  to  erery 
principle  of  justice  or  fiMlinft  of  hunianiiy  ;  and  where  thii  \»  the  caact 
ve  miy  take  out  our  tableu  of  abnrictioo,  nnd  set  down  what  ii  to 
follow  through  every  gradittoo  of  petty,  fEalltn;;  vexatinn,  and  wanton, 
uanJcBttqg  ctvelty.  A  mte  of  ihingi,  where  a  tingle  Jnttance  of  the 
kmd  «>B  poHJUy  l^jpc"  without  exciting  gener.il  conntcrnatioo,  ought 
not  to  cxiu  for  half  an  hour,  '['he  parent,  hydra-headed  injunice 
ought  to  be  croihed  at  once  with  all  its  tiper  brood.  Practice*,  the 
mention  of  which  makes  the  fleah  creep,  and  that  alTrooi  the  light  of 
day,  ought  to  be  put  down  the  iciMant  they  are  kjiown,  withoM  inciniry 
and  without  repeal. 

There  wM  an  example  of  eloquent  moral  rea*oning  connected  with 
ibit  tubject,  gieco  in  the  work  jiMt  referred  to,  which  was  noi  the 
!c«  tolid  and  profouodt  becauae  K  wai  produced  by  a  burtrt  of  atrong 
peraooal  and  momentary  feeling.  It  ia  what  follows : — 'The  name 
of  a  perton  baring  been  mentiimej  in  the  prCMnce  of  Nainibaona  fa 
young  Alrican  chicfuin),  who  wat  undcrttood  by  him  to  have  pu(>- 
udy  UMcrted  aomething  icry  degrading  to  the  general  character  of 
Afncsai,  br  broke  out  ioio  riolcot  nad  rindictive  laaguagc.  He  wm 
immediately  remioded  of  the  Chriatiao  duty  of  forgiving  bis  caemies; 
npon  which  he  anawcred  nearly  in  the  following  word* : — "  If  a  man 
ahonld  rob  me  of  my  money,  I  can  forgive  him  1  if  a  man  ihould  tbooi 
at  me,  or  try  to  ttab  roe,  1  cao  forgive  bim  i  if  a  man  dtuuld  sell  mc 
and  all  my  family  to  a  tiavc-thip,  in  th.1i  we  thould  pftM  all  the  re*c 
of  our  day*  in  ilatery  in  the  Wot  Indie*,  I  can  foigitv  him  ;  but " 
(tddcd  be,  riling  from  hii  icat  with  much  emotion)  "if  a  man  akct 
away  the  character  of  the  people  of  my  country,  I  never  can  forgive 
him."  Being  aikcd  why  be  would  not  extend  hi*  forgivenesi  to  thoie 
'  Sec  Mcmuir*  et  Graaville  Sharp,  by  Prinu  Uoxrt,  Eiij. 

♦8 


ON  REASON   AND   IMAGINATION 


whotookawaythechvacterofthe  people  of  big  country,  heaaswrrcd: 
"  If  a  nun  ihould  uj  to  kill  me,  or  ihould  sell  nie  and  my  family  for 
■lavea,  he  would  do  an  injury  to  ai  many  u:  he  mi^ht  kill  or  tell  i  but 
if  any  one  ukci;  away  th«  chuacter  of  BUck  people,  that  man  injurei 
Black  people  all  over  the  world  ;  and  when  he  hat  oocc  taken  away 
their  cluiactcT,  there  it  nothing  which  he  luxy  nut  do  to  Black  people 
ever  after.  That  man,  for  inicani:e,  will  b»t  Black  men,  and  lay, 
Oi,  k  M  oa^  a  Slari  mam,  why  iheu/J  nal  I  htM  him  ?  That  man  will 
make  *Uve«  of  Black  people ;  for,  wli«n  he  lian  taken  away  their 
character,  he  will  «y.  Oh,  ihty  art  enfy  Bloit  ftofiie,  tvhj  ihouid  not  I 
mait  ihtm  liirtvt  T  That  matt  wilt  take  away  all  the  people  of  Africa 
if  he  can  catch  ihcm ;  and  if  you  aik  him.  But  why  do  you  take 
away  all  thew  people  i  be  wilt  aay.  Oh  !  thn  are  tafy  Biari  finfb — 
thrf  art  nM  Sir  IVhiU  frefi/t — whf  ihguU  I  ml  mh  thrm  f  That  H 
die  reaaofl  why  1  cannot  forgive  ihc  man  who  take*  away  tti* 
cbaracter  of  the  people  of  my  country."  ' — MaMoias  of  Gukvuxb 
SnAftr,  p.  369. 

I  conceive  more  real  light  and  Tital  heat  ii  thrown  into  the 
argnsiMii  hy  thi*  atruggle  of  natural  feeling  to  relieve  ittcif  from 
the  weight  of  a  false  and  injurious  imputation,  than  would  he  added 
to  it  by  twenty  volumea  of  table*  and  calculaiionA  of  the^rv/  and  row 
of  right  and  wrong,  of  utility  ai>d  inutility,  in  Mr,  Benibam't  haiul- 
writing.  In  allusion  to  thia  celebrated  persoo'i  theory  of  inoraU,  1 
will  bete  go  a  atep  farther,  and  deny  that  the  dry  calculatioo  of^ 
coDMiiuenceii  i>  the  nole  and  uaijiulilicd  teat  of  right  and  wrong ;  br 
we  are  to  uke  into  the  account  (ai  well}  the  rc-actioD  of  iheae  conae- 
quertcea  upon  the  mind  of  the  indiTtdaal  and  the  community.  In 
morala,  the  ctiltiratioa  of  a  moral  itnii  k  not  the  lau  thing  to  be 
attended  to — nay,  it  i*  the  fim.  Almoat  the  only  untophisticated 
or  ipifited  remark  that  we  meet  with  io  Falev't  Moral  Philoiophy, 
ii  one  which  it  alto  to  be  found  in  Tucker  >  Light  of  Nature — 
namely,  that  io  diapennng  charity  to  common  beggara  we  are  not  10 
conaider  w  much  the  good  it  may  do  the  object  of  it,  a«  the  kanii 
it  will  do  the  pcrion  who  rcfusci  it.  A  aenac  of  companioB  ia 
ioToluntarily  excited  by  the  immediate  appearance  of  diatrett,  and  a 
violence  and  injury  ia  done  to  the  kindly  feeling*  by  withhoidiog 
the  obnoot  relief,  the  tiiHing  pittance  in  our  power.  This  is  a 
remark,  I  think,  worthy  of  the  ingenioua  and  amiable  author  from 
wlwm  Paley  borrowed  it.  So  with  retpect  to  the  atrociiie*  com- 
mitted in  the  Slare-Trade,  it  could  not  he  *et  up  ai  a  doubtful  plea 
in  their  fm-oor,  that  the  actual  and  intolerable  aufTcringB  iofljcted  00 
the  individu^*  were  compenaaicd  by  certain  advantages  in  a  com- 
mercial and  political  point  of  new — in  a  moral  aente  they  eaiuoi  be 

VOL.  T». :  D  49 


THE   PLAIN  SPEAKER 


comp«nMted.  Their  hurt  the  public  mind :  they  hirdeo  and  tear 
the  natural  ftclitiK'.  The  cti!  it  montitrous  and  palpable ;  the  pre- 
tended gooi)  it  remote  And  contiogent.  lo  inurali,  ai  in  philoiophy* 
De  HOH  afparfuliiul  el  non  ix'uttntiBui  taJem  tit  ratio,  WbiU  doe*  not 
touch  the  heart,  or  come  home  to  the  fcc!ing»,  goe»  comparatively 
for  little  or  nothing.  A  beoefit  that  exiiu  merely  in  po«»i^Uty,  >nd 
ii  judged  of  only  by  the  forced  dictate*  of  the  undentaading,  is  not 
a  tet-oti' agiiaii  au  evil  (uy  of  cquaJ  niagoicude  in  itwlf)  that  ttrikc* 
upoo  the  sense*,  that  hatmta  the  imajjination,  and  lacenttei  the  iiumaa 
heart.  A  tpcctacle  of  tleltberaie  cruelty,  that  ihoclu  eivry  one  that 
K«t  and  henn  of  it,  it  noi  to  be  juitilied  by  my  calculation*  of  cold- 
blooded icir<interc(I — it  not  to  be  permitted  in  any  caie.  It  it  pre- 
judged .ind  self-condemned.  Necesiiiy  ha*  been  therefore  ju«ly 
called  'the  tyrant's  plea.'  It  i*  no  better  with  the  mere  doctrine 
of  utility,  which  i»  the  topbiK's  jilcn.  Thut,  for  example,  an 
iolimte  nmuber  of  lunipa  of  sugar  put  into  Mr.  Denthunk'»  artificial 
ethical  sulcB  would  never  weigh  against  the  pound*  of  human  fleah. 
or  drop!  of  humun  blood,  that  are  sacrificed  to  produce  them.  The 
tatic  of  the  former  on  the  palate  in  cvanetcent ;  but  the  other*  «t 
heavy  on  the  soul.  The  one  are  an  object  lo  the  imagination :  the 
other*  only  to  the  undertunding.  But  man  ii  an  animal  compounded 
both  of  iinagiaatioo  and  undcrManding ;  and,  is  treating  of  what  ia 
good  for  nan's  oitiue,  ii  ia  necetsary  to  consider  both.  A  calcula- 
tion of  the  mere  ultimate  advantages,  without  regard  to  natural  feelings 
and  affiKtioDS,  may  improve  the  external  face  and  physical  comforts 
of  society,  but  will  leave  it  heartless  and  worthless  in  itself.  In  a 
word,  the  sympathy  of  the  individual  with  the  consequences  of  his 
own  act  it  to  be  attended  to  (no  less  than  the  conae<]uenccs  them- 
selves) in  every  sound  system  M  morality ;  and  this  must  be  detcc- 
mined  by  certain  natural  bwa  of  the  human  mind,  and  not  by  rules 
of  logic  or  arithmetic. 

The  aspect  of  a  moral  <]uest)UQ  is  to  be  judged  of  very  much  like 
the  face  of  a  country,  by  the  projecting  point*,  by  what  is  striking 
and  memorable,  by  that  which  leaves  traces  of  itself  behind,  or  ■  cast* 
its  shadow  before.'  Millions  of  acres  do  not  make  a  picture  j  nor 
the  calculation  of  all  the  conseqoeoccs  in  the  world  a  sentiment.  We 
must  have  some  outstanding  object  for  the  mind,  a«  well  at  the  eye, 
to  dwell  on  and  recur  to — something  marked  and  dcciiive  Co  give  a 
tone  and  texture  to  the  moral  feelings.  Not  only  is  the  attention 
thus  routed  and  kept  alive ;  but  what  is  most  important  a*  to  the 
principle*  of  action,  the  desire  of  good  or  hatred  of  eril  is  powerfully 
excited.  But  all  individual  facts  and  history  come  under  the  head  oif 
what  these  people  call  Imagltuttisn.     AU  full,  truei  and  particular 

SO 


ON  REASON  AND  IMAGINATION 

iccouDt*  ibey  coDiiid«r  w  romantic,  ridiculout,  va);ue,  tDftummatoiy. 
A*  a  case  in  point,  one  of  thU  tchool  of  thinkera  declam  tlut  he 
was  ([ualifinl  to  write  s  better  HiMory  of  India  (ram  haring  ncfcr 
bcra  there  than  if  he  had,  aa  the  lane  might  lead  to  IocaI  dintinciion* 
or  pariy-piejudicct ;  tliat  it  to  »ay,  ibat  he  could  describe  »  country 
better  at  lecotid-hand  than  from  original  obeervaiion,  or  that  from 
having  tecD  no  one  object,  place,  or  person,  he  cuuld  du  ampler 
junticc  to  the  whole.  It  mi^.hl  be  mainuiDeit,  nmcli  on  the  uine 
principle-,  that  an  ariixi  would  paint  a  better  likenc**  of  a  person  after 
he  WM  dead,  from  dctcriplion  or  difTcrcnl  tketche*  of  the  fiice,  than 
from  hariog  seen  tbc  individual  liring  mao.  On  the  contrary,  I 
humbly  conceive  that  the  teeing  half  a  do£en  wandering  Lascars  in 
the  iticet*  of  Loodoe  gives  one  a  better  idea  of  tlie  souJ  of  lodia. 
that  cradle  of  the  world,  and  (as  it  were)  garden  of  the  aud,  than  »)1 
ibe  chart!,  records,  and  sutisttcal  TCMrts  that  can  be  sent  over,  even 
under  tbe  clamical  admiDistratitm  of  Mr.  Canning.  Ex  una  omittt. 
One  Hindoo  dijfers  more  from  a  ciiixen  of  London  than  he  does 
from  all  other  Hindoon;  and  by  teeing  the  two  fii't,  man  to  man, 
you  know  coniparaiivcly  and  eisentiolly  what  they  are,  nation  to 
aatioD.  By  a  very  few  specimens  you  ^x  the  great  leading  dilTcr- 
encea,  which  are  nearly  the  same  throughout.  Any  one  thing  it  a 
better  representative  of  ttti  kind,  than  all  tbe  words  and  deiinitions 
in  the  world  can  be.  Tbe  sum  total  i>  indeed  ditfercDt  from  the 
paruculars ;  but  it  ii  not  easy  to  guess  at  any  general  result,  without 
some  previous  indactioo  of  particulars  and  appeal  to  experience. 

'  What  tan  we  reason,  but  from  wliat  wc  know  f ' 

Again,  it  it  quite  wrong,  instead  of  the  most  tcrikiog  illustrations 
of  huraaa  nature,  to  single  out  the  stalest  and  tritest,  aa  if  they  were 
raoBt  authentic  and  infallible :  not  considering  that  from  the  extremes 
you  may  infer  the  means,  but  yon  cannot  from  the  means  infer  the 
cxncmcs  in  any  case.  It  may  be  said  that  the  extreme  and  indi- 
vidual cases  may  be  retorted  upon  us: — 1  deny  it,  nnless  it  be  with 
truth.  The  imagination  is  an  atioeiaiing  principle ;  and  hss  an 
insiiiKtivc  perception  when  a  thing  belongs  to  a  system,  or  is  only 
at)  exception  to  it.  For  instance,  the  excesses  committed  by  the 
vjctortous  beiiegcrs  of  a  town  do  not  attach  lo  the  Dation  committing 
them,  but  to  the  nature  of  that  sort  of  warfare,  and  are  common  to 
both  tides.  They  may  be  struck  off  the  Kore  of  national  prejudices. 
The  ctucltica  exercised  npon  slaves,  on  the  other  hand,  grow  out  of 
the  relation  between  master  and  slave  j  and  the  mind  intoitivcly 
revolts  at  them  st  lucb.  The  cant  about  the  horrors  of  the  French 
Revolution  is  mere  cant — every  body  knows  it  to  be  so :  each  party 

S' 


THE   PLAIN  SPEAKER 

would  have  reuliated  upon  Ui«  other :  it  was  a  civil  vu,  like  tbu 
for  *  <iii]iuu<i  tucccMiao :  the  general  principle  of  the  rixbt  or  wrong 
of  the  change  temained  onMucbed.  Neither  would  lb«»e  horron 
have  takrn  plsice,  except  from  Priusian  itiMufcttat,  and  treachery 
witltin :  there  were  none  in  tlic  Amcricaa,  aod  have  been  none  in 
the  SuBniah  RcrolutioD.  The  ntuncre  of  St.  Bartholomew  arotc 
out  of  the  principle*  of  that  religion  which  exterminaies  with  lire  and 
aword,  tad  ketpa  ao  faith  with  herelica.— If  it  be  ciid  that  nick-iiamea, 
|Mrtf  watch-worda,  bugbean,  thr  ctj  of  '  No  Popeiy,'  &c.  are  con- 
tiniuUj  played  ufT  upon  the  imagination  with  the  moct  miKhievoaa 
dfect,  I  aniwcr  that  moat  of  thcuc  bugbcari  and  icmu  of  Tulgar 
abute  hjirc  arucn  out  of  abstrunc  tpcculatioo  or  barbarou*  prejudice, 
and  hare  *cldora  had  their  root  io  real  facit  or  natural  ferlingi. 
Beiidn,  arc  not  general  toptcs,  rulc«,  exceptions,  cedlcMly  bandied 
tu  and  fro,  and  laLanced  one  aj-ainn  the  otbcr  by  the  nio«t  learned 
ditpuUnta?  Have  not  three-foutibi  of  ail  the  wits,  achiima,  heirt- 
buminga  in  tbe  world  begun  on  mere  uointa  oi  contruteriy  t — There 
are  two  claatea  whom  I  have  found  given  to  thin  kind  of  reatooiog 
againtl  the  uie  of  our  tense*  and  feelingt  in  what  concern*  human 
nature,  «itx.  knavn  and  fooU.  The  last  do  ii,  became  they  think 
their  own  ahallow  dogma*  acltlc  all  c|ueationa  bc«t  witboat  asy  farther 
appeal ;  and  the  lirai  do  it,  because  they  know  that  the  rcnncmenti 
of  the  head  are  more  easily  got  tid  of  than  tbe  tugsettiona  of  the 
hean,  and  that  a  itrong  tente  of  injunicc,  excited  oy  a  particular 
CMC  in  all  it*  aggravation*,  tcU*  more  againit  them  than  alt  the 
ditunction*  of  the  juriat*.  Facti,  concrete  cxiiiieaces,  arc  mnl^m 
things,  and  uc  not  »o  toon  tampered  with  or  turned  about  to  any 
poiM  we  pleaae,  at  laerc  names  and  abstraction*.  Of  these  last  it 
nay  beuid, 

■A  bmih  can  *a«r  them,  aa  a  breach  humadei' 

and  they  ate  liable  to  be  puffed  away  by  every  wind  of  doctrine,  or 
bdBed  by  every  plea  of  cooaenteoce.  I  wonder  t)uE  Rouueau  gave 
in  to  tbb  cant  about  the  want  of  >oundn»*  in  rhciarical  and  imaginative 
maoning  i  and  waa  *o  fond  of  thi*  mbject,  a*  to  make  an  abridgment 
of  Plata*  rbap«odie*  upon  it,  by  which  he  wa*  led  to  expel  poet* 
from  bi*  comrooaweilth.  Thua  two  of  the  mo*t  flowery  writers  arc 
tbow  who  have  exacted  the  greaie*t  severity  of  style  from  other*. 
RaiUMau  wu  too  Bmbitious  of  sn  exceedingly  technical  and  scientific 
mode  of  resWDiAgt  acarccly  Muitmbie  in  tbe  mixed  qiiesiioTit  of  human 
life,  (as  may  be  teen  in  hi*  Socul  CoNTXacT— a  work  of  great  ability, 
but  extreme  formality  of  *iniciuiu)  and  it  ii  probable  he  wa*  led 
into  this  error  in  *e«kiag  to  overcome  hi*  too  gnu  warmth  of  natural 


ON   HEASON  AND  IMAGINATION 

tcRip^ramect  and  a  tendency  to  iodolgc  i»«rcly  ihc  impuUet  of  paision. 
Biukc,  ft'bo  wii  a  itt>D  of  fine  imagiiutton,  had  the  good  krm 
(without  any  of  thia  fstte  modestj)  to  defend  the  moral  usea  of 
the  imiginxtion,  and  ii  biratelf  one  of  ibe  grotxK  instances  of  '«* 
abate. 

It  i*  not  merely  the  fatihion  among  philoiopheri — the  poeti  alto 
hare  got  tnio  a  way  of  vconiing  individuality  u  beneath  the  mblimity 
of  their  pretensions,  and  the  univcnilily  of  their  genius.  The 
pbikwophen  have  become  mere  logici.in;,  and  their  rivals  mere 
rhetoricians  1  fur  at  ihete  last  must  Duat  on  the  surface,  and  are  not 
allowed  to  be  harsh  and  crabbed  and  recondite  like  the  others,  by 
leaving  out  the  iniiividual,  they  become  common -place.  Tbey  cannot 
reason,  and  they  mutii  declaim.  Modem  tragedy,  in  particular,  it  no 
longer  like  a  vrtsci  making  the  voyage  if  bfc,  and  tossed  about  by 
the  wind*  and  waves  of  passion,  but  is  converted  into  a  handsomely^ 
constructed  steani-boai,  that  is  moved  by  the  sole  expantive  power  of 
words.  Lord  Byroe  has  launched  several  of  these  ventures  lately 
(if  ventures  they  may  be  called)  and  may  continue  in  the  same  strain 
as  long  as  he  pleases.  We  have  not  now  a  number  o(  dramalii  ffrient 
afTected  by  particular  incidents  and  speaking  according  to  their 
feelings,  or  as  the  occasion  suggests,  but  each  mouniing  the  rostrum, 
and  delivering  his  opinion  on  fate,  fortune,  and  the  entire  con- 
summation of  thinf;i.  The  individual  is  not  of  suiBcient  importance 
to  occupy  his  own  thoughts  or  the  thoughts  of  others.  The  poet  fill* 
his  page  trait  gram<lt)  ftniin.  He  covers  the  litcc  of  nature  with  the 
beauty  of  his  seotimenu  and  the  brilliancy  of  his  paradoxes.  We 
have  tbe  subtleties  of  the  head,  insiead  of  the  workings  of  the  heart, 
aftd  possible  jostiiications  instead  of  the  actual  motives  of  conduct. 
This  all  seems  to  proceed  on  a  false  estimate  of  individual  nature  and 
the  value  of  human  lite.  We  hate  been  bo  used  to  count  by  millions 
of  late,  that  we  think  the  units  that  compose  tliern  nothing ;  and  are 
10  prone  to  trace  remote  principles,  that  we  neglect  the  immediate 
results.  As  an  instanceof  ibc  opposite  iiyle  of  dramatic  dialogue,  in 
which  the  persons  tpcak  for  ibemselvrs,  .ind  to  one  another,  I  will 
Bve,  by  way  of  illustration,  a  passage  from  as  old  tragedy,  in  which  a 
brotber  has  juti  caused  his  liuer  to  be  put  to  a  violent  death. 

'  Bulla.  Fix  your  eye  here. 

FtrJiitainL  CanMaatly. 

B»nla.  Do  you  not  weep  i 
Other  tins  only  speak  {  munhtr  shrieks  out  i 
The  (Wmrnt  of  water  mni>triu  thr  earth  j 
But  UoimI  flicK  upnards,  and  brdcuri  the  heavens. 

ftrSitoMJ.  Cover  her  face :  mine  eyes  daaile  \  the  died  yousg. 

55 


L 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

Svia.  I  (hifllt  not  M :  K«r  iBrdicitj' 
Smn*<l  to  hmre  jttin  loo  tatnj. 

FtnUmoht  Sbe  and  I  wcfc  tnim : 
And  ibould  I  die  IhU  innant,  I  hail  lircd 
Hk  time  to  a  onnine.' 

DuCHEif  OF  Malpy,  Ad  IV.  Scene  a. 

How  Goe  !>  the  coouaocy  with  which  he  firu  fixe*  Id*  cje  00  ill* 
dead  body,  with  a  rurccil  courage,  uod  then,  u  liii  retolation  wafcn, 
bov  DMnral  !*  hi«  taroiiig  hit  face  avay,  and  the  tetlecttoa  that  ftnlies  , 
htm  on  ber  yauiJi  and  beaaty  and  nuimely  death,  and  the  dxMght 
that  they  wvre  twiiiE,  and  hi*  meuuting  hit  Uie  by  her*  up  to  the 

fretcnt  |>eriod,  as  if  all  that  was  to  come  of  ii  were  nothing !  Now, 
would  fain  a*k  whether  tlierr  is  not  in  thi*  cooteraplatioB  of  the 
inierral  that  sepuates  the  besiaoiBK  f'^"^  ^^  "><'  <^  '■'*•  of  a  life  too 
■o  raried  from  good  to  ill,  and  of  the  pitiable  termioation  of  which 
the  petton  speaking  has  been  the  wilful  and  gnilty  CAUte,  enough  to 
■give  the  mind  paused'  I*  not  that  rerclatiofl  as  it  were  of  the 
whole  extent  oi  our  being  which  is  made  by  the  flashei  of  pMtioa 
and  stroke  of  caUntity,  a  sobjeci  «ul]iciencly  si3ge'''i"S  ^  h^^''  plu*  ' 
Id  le^timate  trjigedy !  Ate  not  the  Mrugglet  of  the  will  with  ua- 
towird  c*eDii  and  the  advcrie  pMsioni  of  others  as  iDterening  ud 
hwtriKlive  in  (he  repre«entitton  an  re^ecttoot  on  the  mutability  of 
lottanc  or  inevitablenc"  of  deiiiny,  or  on  the  patnons  of  men  ia 
general  i  The  tragic  Mute  does  not  merely  otter  muffled  sounds : 
but  we  see  the  palenesi  on  the  cheek,  and  the  life-blood  gushing  from 
the  heart  I  The  iaterest  we  take  in  our  own  liTes,  ia  our  tucccsen 
or  din ppoiot menu,  and  the  tMne  feeliogt  ihni  arise  out  of  thete,  when 
well  described,  are  the  clearest  and  ttuett  mirror  in  which  we  can  see 
the  image  of  human  nature.  For  in  ibis  *ent>e  each  man  is  a  micro- 
cosm. What  he  is,  the  rest  arc^whaiever  hit  joys  tmd  sorrows  uc 
compoBed  of,  theirs  arc  the  same — no  more,  no  less. 

*  One  touch  of  nature  makes  the  whole  norlil  kin.' 

But  it  mutt  be  the  genuine  (ouch  of  natarc,  not  the  outward  flourishes 
and  varnish  of  art.  The  e;ioiiiing.  oracular,  didactic  figure  of  the 
poet  no  more  snswers  to  ihe  Ititng  maa,  tbaa  the  lay-fijufc  of  the 
painter  does.     We  may  well  tay  to  such  a  one, 

'  Thou  hast  no  tpeculatioin  in  tliote  eyei 
That  thou  doit  glare  nith :  thjr  bonci  are  mairowlets, 
Thy  blood  is  cold  ■ ' 

Man  it  (ao  to  speak)  an  endless  and  infinitely  varied  repetition  :  and 

if  we  know  what  one  man  feels,  we  to  hr  know  what  a  tltousand  feci 

S+ 


ON  APPLICATION  TO  STUDY 

in  ihc  luctuary  o(  ibeir  beiog.  Our  feeling  of  general  hununiiy  ib 
aLODce  as  aggregate  of  a  thouHAod  dtfiercnt  trutbt,  and  it  is  nleo  the 
■>ine  truth  a  thoutaDi!  time*  told.  Ai  is  uur  perception  of  thii 
original  truth,  the  tool  of  out  inugination,  to  will  the  force  and 
richneu  of  the  general  imprctnon  proceeding  from  it  be.  The 
boundary  of  our  i^rmpathy  i»  a  circle  which  enlarges  iuelf  according 
to  its  propuluoD  from  the  ccniie — the  heart.  If  we  arc  imbued  with 
B  de«|i  ttn»e  of  individual  weal  or  woe,  we  shall  be  awe-struck  at  the 
idea  of  humaaity  in  general.  If  we  Icoowlitlleaf  itbut  iuabttract  and 
gammon  properties,  without  their  particubr  application,  their  force  or 
degree*,  we.  i ball  care  juit  as  little  at  we  know  either  about  the  whole 
or  the  iadividuals.  li  we  undeniand  the  texture  and  vital  freling,  we 
then  can  fill  up  the  oiiilinc,  but  we  cannot  supply  the  Ibrmer  from 
baftog  the  latter  given.  Moral  and  poetical  truth  »  like  exprestion 
in  a  picture — tlie  one  i*  not  lo  be  attained  by  smearing  over  a  large 
caQvai,  nor  the  other  by  besuidiag  a  vague  topic.  In  such  matier*i 
the  most  pompous  ticioliiu  are  accordingly  found  to  be  the  greuctt 
comiemnert  of  human  lile.  But  I  defy  any  great  tragic  writer  to 
detpiic  that  naiure  which  he  underttamft,  or  that  heart  which  he  has 
probed,  with  all  it*  rich  bleeding  nuietialc  of  joy  and  sorrow.  The 
•abject  may  not  be  a  source  of  much  triumph  to  him,  from  its  alternate 
light  and  shade,  but  it  can  never  become  one  of  supercilious  in- 
dilFcfcace.  He  mun  feel  a  strong  reflex  incereu  in  it,  corresponding 
to  that  which  he  hai  depicted  in  the  character*  of  other*.  Indeed, 
the  object  and  end  of  playing,  ■  both  at  ihe  first  and  now,  is  lo  hold 
the  mirror  up  lo  nature,'  to  enable  us  to  feel  for  others  a*  for 
ovrsclres  or  to  embody  a  distinct  interest  out  of  ourselves  by  ibe 
force  of  imagination  and  paauoo.  This  is  summed  up  in  the  wish 
of  the  poet — 

'  To  feel  "hat  others  are,  and  kno»  myself  a  man.' 

If  it  docB  not  do  Hat,  it  loses  both  iu  dignity  and  iu  proper  utc- 


ESSAY  VI 

ON    APPLICATION    TO    STUDY 

No  one  is  idle,  who  can  do  any  thing.  It  i*  conicious  inability,  or 
the  sense  of  repealed  failure,  that  prevents  uj  from  undertaking,  or 
deters  us  from  the  prosecution  of  any  work. 

WiImo,  the  painter,  might  be  mentioned  u  an  exception  to  this 
rule  ;  for  he  was  said  to  be  an  indolent  man.     After  bellowing  a  few 

S5 


J 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

touch««  a>  a  picture,  he  ^w  (ind,  and  taid  to  any  rricnij  who  called 
in,  '  Now,  let  as  go  tornewhefc  I '  But  the  fsct  i*.  that  Wiitoa  could 
OM  finiab  hit  pictuie*  minutely ;  and  that  tbi»c  few  maMetly  touchec, 
carelcMly  thrown  ia  ofit  morDinx,  were  all  that  he  could  do.  The 
rect  wotud  hare  bcco  labour  loci.  MorUnd  hai  been  refeired  to  a* 
BDotbcf  mas  of  eeoiut,  who  could  ooly  be  brought  to  work  by  &tt 
and  tnaichct.  But  hi*  Undacapet  and  figaic*  (whaterer  degree  of 
merit  they  might  [io«km)  were  mere  batty  aketchet;  and  he  could 
produce  all  that  be  was  capable  of,  ia  the  fint  hatf-houf,  a*  well  aa  in 
twenty  yean.  Why  beitow  addiliooal  point  without  additional 
«Scci  i  What  he  did  wa*  from  the  impulie  of  the  mometit,  from 
tbe  tiTcly  imprewioo  of  aorae  coarte,  but  striking  object  i  and  with 
that  impulte  bin  c^orti  ccaied,  ai  (bey  justly  ought.  There  it  no  u*c 
B  labouring,  imvild  Afmtrva — nor  any  dilBculty  ia  it,  when  the  Mu*e 
ia  not  afvrae. 

'The  labour  we  delight  in  phyiic*  pain.' 

DcniKr  linithed  ht>  unmeaning  portrait*  with  a  microicope,  and  with- 
out being  CTcr  weary  of  hii  ItuitlrM  tanV  ;  fo(  the  eisence  of  hit 
gtniua  WM  indattry.  Htr  -locbua  Reynold*,  cotffted  by  the  Graeei 
wad  by  Fortune,  waa  hardly  ever  out  of  hia  puntiDg-rooni ;  and 
htMBted  a  few  days,  at  any  tinM  apenc  at  a  friend'i  houie  or  at  a 
wUeroan'i  leat  in  the  country,  ai  to  much  time  loat.  That  darkly- 
illuminated  room  ■  to  him  a  kingdom  wat : '  hit  pencil  wa*  the  tceptrc 
that  he  wielded,  and  the  throne,  on  which  hit  tiiier*  were  placed,  a 
thrOM  for  FaiDc.  Here  he  felt  indeed  at  home  i  heie  the  oirreot 
of  hi*  idnt  flowed  full  and  tcrooj; ;  here  he  felt  moit  aclf-potatawont 
mott  command  oxer  other* :  and  the  aenae  of  power  nrgcd  him  on  to 
bb  ddifibtful  tatk  with  a  wrt  of  Tcrnal  cheetfulne«s  and  ngovr,  even 
fai  the  oecline  of  life.  The  feeling  of  wcakneu  and  incapacity  would 
hare  made  bt«  hand  i:oon  falter,  would  have  rehutied  him  from  hi* 
object  i  or  had  the  canrai  mocked,  and  been  inutttiblc  to  hi*  toil, 
ioncad  of  gradoally  turning  to 

*  A  lucid  mxrrer,  in  which  nature  nw 
All  bcr  reflected  features' 

be  would,  like  to  many  otbera,  have  thrown  down  hie  pencil  m 
detpair,  or  proceeded  reluctantly,  without  ipirit  and  without  luccci*. 
Claude  Lorraine,  in  like  nunncr,  apent  whole  morning*  on  the  bank* 
of  the  Tiber  or  in  hi*  iiudy,  eliciting  beauty  after  besuty,  adding 
touch  to  touch,  getting  nearer  and  neater  to  perfection,  luxuriating 
ia  endlctt  felicity — not  merely  giting  the  ralient  point*,  but  filtittg 
up  the  whole  iiMemudute  apace  with  continuoui  grace  and  beuty  I 
$6 


ON   APPLICATION  TO  STUDY 

What  farthtr  motive  wai  atcfaty  to  induce  htm  to  pertcKre,  but 
the  bounty  of  hi*  fate  ?  Wha«  ereater  jilcaiure  could  he  teek  ft>f, 
than  that  of  Keins  the  perfect  image  of  hii  mind  reflected  in  the 
vork  of  hi*  haod  J  Rut  u  ia  ihc  picaaurc  and  the  conlidcDce 
produced  by  coMummate  skill,  ao  ■•  the  pain  and  the  desponding 
effect  of  total  failure.  When  for  th<^  fair  face  of  nature,  wc  only 
•ce  an  un)i;>htly  blot  iatuing;  from  our  beat  endearouia,  then  the 
twrvet  alacken,  the  teara  fill  the  eyes,  and  the  painter  tunia  away 
from  hii  art,  ai  the  loTer  from  a  mittreia,  that  Korn*  hisi<  Alai  t 
how  many  (uch  hafCi  aa  the  port  aaya, 

'  Begun  in  sladnett ; 
WlwfTof  hat  come  in  the  end  (teipondency  and  madoeti  "— 

itot  for  want  of  will  to  ptocmd,  (oh  t  no,]  but  for  lack  of  power ! 

Hence  it  ia  that  those  often  do  bnt  (up  to  a  certain  polM  of 
contnoit-place  tacceis)  who  have  leut  kaowWee  and  least  ambition 
to  excel.  Their  usic  keep*  pace  with  their  capacity )  and  ihey  are 
not  delcrted  by  inturmountable  difficultie*,  of  which  they  ha«c  no 
idet.  I  have  known  artisti  (for  instance)  of  considerable  merit, 
Bod  a  certain  native  rough  strength  and  resolution  of  mind,  who 
have  been  active  and  rnterprising  in  their  profession,  but  who  never 
•eemed  to  chink  of  sny  works  but  thoae  which  they  had  in  hand ; 
they  never  tpoke  of  a  picture,  or  appeared  to  have  aeen  one;  U> 
them  Titian,  Raphael,  Rubens,  Rembrandt,  Correggio,  were  as 
if  they  had  nevet  been  :  no  tones,  mellowed  bv  time  to  aoft  per- 
fection, lured  them  to  thm  luckless  doom,  no  divine  form  bamed 
their  vain  embrace;  no  sound  of  immortality  rung  in  their  ears,  or 
drew  off  their  attention  from  the  calls  of  crcditofs  or  of  hunger: 
the;-  walked  ihrouj^h  collections  of  the  finest  wotkt,  like  the  Children 
b  the  Fiery  Fufcicc,  untouched,  unapproocbed.  With  thcie  true 
ttrrs filia  the  ait  teetoed  to  begin  and  end:  ihey  thought  only  of 
the  aubject  of  their  next  production,  the  size  of  their  next  canvaa, 
the  grauping,  the  getting  of  the  figures  in ;  ud  conducted  their  work 
to  its  conclusion  with  as  lititc  cUttraciion  of  mind  and  as  few  mia- 
{ivings  as  ■  sia2c*c03Chman  conducts  a  stage,  or  a  carrier  deliver* 
\  bole  of  goods,  according  to  its  destination.  Such  persona,  if  they 
'do  Dot  riae  above,  at  least  aeldofn  sink  below  themselves.  They  do 
Dot  soar  to  the  'highest  Heaven  of  invention,'  nor  penetrate  the 
inmoti  recesses  of  the  heart ;  bnt  they  auccced  in  all  that  they 
attempt,  or  are  capable  of,  aa  men  of  busincM  and  industry  in  then 
catling.  For  them  the  veil  of  the  Temple  of  Art  it  not  rent  asunder, 
and  it  ia  well :  one  glimpte  of  the  Sanctuiry,  of  the  Holy  of  the 
Holiea,  might  palsy  their  hands,  and  dim  their  ai^c  for  ever  after  I 

57 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

I  think  there  are  two  miitalcM,  coRunuii  cnouah,  on  thii  nibject  i 
tiz.  ihit  men  org«nlu»,  or  of  (irtt-rAte  capcity,  ao  little,  except  by 
intcrmtitciit  fits,  or  ficr  lalium — and  that  they  do  that  Utile  in  a 
•light  sod  slovenly  manner.  There  may  be  in*Uticot  of  ihit ;  but 
tlwy  ate  oot  the  highett,  and  tliey  arc  the  exccptiott*,  not  the  rule. 
Oa  the  coniniry,  the  KreAt«*t  attim  have  in  general  been  the  moit 
prolific  or  the  mo«  elaborate,  u  the  beii  writem  have  been  Trequently 
the  moit  voltiminout  ai  well  at  indefatigable.  Wc  huve  a  great 
living  initancc  among  wriicrt,  that  the  quality  of  a  man'i  production* 
is  not  to  be  rstim^lcd  in  the  invcntc  ratio  of  their  <]uantily,  I  mean 
IB  the  .\uthor  of  Wjvcrley  \  the  fecundity  of  whone  pen  in  no  lc«» 
admirable  ihao  tit  felicity.  Slialiesjiesir  w  another  initaocc  of  the 
ume  prodigaltiy  of  jeniut;  his  materials  being  endlessly  poured 
forth  with  no  tnagtiA  or  (asiidiuui  hand,  and  the  maitery  of  the 
execuiiofl  being  (in  many  reipecti  at  leaat)  equal  to  the  buUlneta  of 
the  dciign.  A*  one  example  among  othcn  that  I  might  cite  of  the 
attention  which  he  give  to  hi*  iubjcci,  it  is  rafflcient  to  obtcrve, 
that  there  it  scarcely  a  word  in  any  of  his  more  striking  passage* 
that  can  be  altered  for  the  better.  If  any  person,  for  inMance,  is 
trying  to  recotlect  a  favourite  line,  and  cannot  hit  upon  some 
particular  expre«iion.  it  ia  in  vain  to  think  of  nibttitutbg  any  other 
M>  jood.  That  in  the  original  text  ii  not  merely  the  best,  but  it 
•eons  the  only  right  one.  I  will  stop  to  illusitaic  this  point  a  little. 
1  was  at  a  lois  the  other  day  for  the  line  in  Henry  v. 

'  Nkt  customs  curtesy  (o  gnat  kings.* 

I  could  not  recollect  the  word  nkri  I  tried  a  number  of  others,  such 
as  alj,  grave,  &c. — they  would  none  of  them  do,  but  seemed  all 
heavy,  lumbering,  ot  from  the  purpose :  the  word  nkt,  on  the 
contrary,  appc.ired  to  drop  into  its  place,  and  be  ready  to  assist  in 
payiDg  the  reverence  required.     Again, 

■  A  Jest's  ffuperilji  lies  in  the  ear 
Of  him  that  hcara  it.' 

I  thought,  in  quoting  from  memory,  of '  A  ject's  imtm,'  *  A  jest's 
rnatea,'  &c.  I  then  turned  to  the  volume,  and  there  found  the 
very  word  that,  of  all  others,  expressed  the  idea.  Had  Sfaakespear 
searched  through  the  four  quarters  of  tlie  globe,  he  could  not  have 
lighted  on  another  to  convey  ao  exactly  what  he  meant— a  caiaal, 
hotlove,  tounJInj;  success !  I  could  multiply  nuch  examples,  but  that 
I  am  nure  the  readei  will  easily  supply  ibcm  himKlf;  and  they  shew.: 
sufficiently  that  Shakeipear  was  not  (as  he  is  otien  rcprcscnicd) 
loose  or  clumsy  writer.  The  bold,  h^y  texture  of  bis  style,  id 
S8 


V 

ON  APPLICATION  TO  STUDY 

vfaich  CTcry  word  b  prombent,  and  yet  cannot  be  Iotd  from  it> 
place  without  vialencc,  mj  mote  th»a  a  limb  from  the  hody,  is  (one 
diodd  think)  th«  rc«ult  ciihrr  of  Ttgil:)nt  pin»-uking  or  of  unerring, 
imiitiK  pcrc«pi»on,  a&d  not  the  nuik  of  cnide  conccptiong,  uid  '  ibe 
nDdom,  blindfold  blows  of  l^iKirancc.* 

There  cannot  be  a  greater  contradiciion  lo  the  common  prejudice 
that  *  Geniut  ia  naturally  a  truant  and  a  vagabond,'  than  the  aatoniali' 
tnz  and  (on  tht«  hypothcat)  ntiaccouniablc  number  of  ilrf-J'airwti 
kh  behind  them  by  the  old  muter*.  The  itrram  of  their  tnTcntion 
Nfpbea  the  iMic  of  tuccewiTe  eencrationi  like  a  river  :  iheir  fumiah 
B  Mndred  Callerica,  and  preclude  competition,  not  more  by  ihc 
excellence  than  by  the  number  of  ilieir  peribrmanceB.  Take  Raphael 
and  Rubeo*  alone.  There  arc  wurka  of  iheifi  b  linjile  ColleaioDB 
enough  to  occupy  a  long  and  laborioui  life,  and  iret  their  work*  are 
■prrad  through  all  the  Collections  of  E^orope.  They  teem  to  have 
cott  them  no  mote  labour  than  if  they  *  hid  drawn  in  thdr  breath 
*lld  faSed  it  forth  agun.'  But  wc  know  that  they  made  drawing*, 
RodiM,  iketchea  of  all  tlie  principal  of  theac,  with  tlie  care  and 
omiOB  of  the  meteM  tyros  in  the  art;  and  they  remain  ecgual  proof* 
of  tbdr  capacity  and  diligence.  The  Carioont  of  Raphael  alone 
might  hate  employed  many  ycar«,  and  made  a  life  of  illuwtiomi  labour, 
though  they  look  as  if  they  had  been  struck  olf  at  a  blow,  and  are 
DOI  A  tenth  pan  of  what  he  produced  in  his  thon  but  bright  career- 
Titian  and  Michael  Anf;elo  lived  lonf>er,  but  ihey  worked  as  hard 
aod  did  ai  well.  Shall  ve  bring  in  competition  with  eiutraples  like 
theae  some  trashy  caricaturist  or  idle  dauber,  who  has  no  aenie  of 
the  inlioile  resource*  of  natore  or  art,  not  eonse^iuently  any  power 
to  employ  himself  ujion  them  for  any  length  of  time  or  to  any 
porpote,  to  prove  that  genius  and  regular  industry  ate  inoompatibfe 
qualities  i 

tn  my  opinioot  the  very  superiority  of  the  work*  of  the  great 
pointers  (initead  of  being  a  bar  to)  accounts  for  their  multiplicity. 
Power  ia  Measure ;  and  pleasure  ■weeims  pain.  A  fine  poet  thus 
describes  the  effect  of  the  sight  of  ostutc  on  his  mind  ; 

'The  (oundtng  cataract 

Hannted  me  tike  a  pauion :  (he  tall  toch, 
Tlie  mauniain,  and  the  dnp  and  gloomy  wood, 
Tbrir  coloun  and  their  forini  were  then  to  me 
An  appetite,  a  feeling,  and  a  Inve, 
That  hail  no  need  of  a  teoKiiet  charm 
By  thought  lupplird,  or  any  intertK 
DnbotTcnred  from  the  eye.' 

So  the  ibnBt  of  nature,  or  iJie  human  form  divine,  stood  before  tbe 

S9 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 


great  aninj  ot~  old,  not  icijuired  txty  otber  MHMtlas  lo  lead  the  eye 
to  ni.'*cy,  or  tbe  band  to  embody  thtm,  thia  ibe  ploMra  demed 
fruni  the  u)«pir>uon  of  the  wbjecti  tad  '  propulnTc  force '  of  ibc 
nioiic  crcMioo.  The  xrudev  of  tbcir  wodti  wu  an  argnmeat 
with  tbem,  aot  lo  Mop  thort,  but  to  proceed.  Tbey  could  have  do 
Ugher  excitefneat  or  latii&ction  than  to  the  exercue  of  tlteii  art 
and  endleM  ^neraiioo  of  truth  and  beauty.  Succcm  peompU  to 
exertion ;  and  habit  faciliuie*  iucce**.  It  i(  idk  to  Mppotc  we 
can  rxbauai  natcre;  and  tbe  more  we  employ  oar  own  uaitue% 
the  more  we  «:rengthca  them  Mid  enrich  our  Mote*  of  otacmtioa 
■ad  tnicotioD.  Tbe  ntore  we  dO(  tbe  more  we  r«n  do.  Not  indeed 
if  we  gel  Mrr  i/Ujii  oaf  ^Mr  owa  bemb — that  Mocic  m  MOB  cxhasiteiit 
■ad  we  recur  to  tirctome,  rapid  imitation*  of  ourtdte*.  Bui  thit  U 
the  diiTcrencc  between  real  and  mock  talent,  bawieen  gentiu  and 
■Acctttioa.  Nature  ii  not  limited,  not  don  il  bcco«ne  effetCi  like 
ow  conccti  and  vanity.  Tbe  cto«et  we  cx*natie  it,  tbe  more  it 
rcfioct  upon  lu ;  it  expand*  as  we  enlarge  and  thift  our  view ;  it 
*growf  with  our  growth,  and  Mrcngiheai  with  our  Mrength.'  Tbe 
■ubjecu  are  cndlcM  g  and  our  cecity  U  inTigoratcd  a«  it  i*  called 
oM  by  occauoo  >ad  neccMity.  He  who  does  nothing,  render*  him- 
•elf  incapable  of  doin^  any  thing  t  but  while  we  are  execuitng  any 
work,  we  are  preparing  and  ^nafiMi^  ourtclTC*  to  andertake  aikother. 
The  priociplei  are  the  taac  in  alt  oatufe  i  and  we  uaderaund  thctn 
bcacr,  H  we  verify  tben  by  experience  and  practice.  It  >•  not  at  if 
Ihert  waa  a  gives  noinber  of  *ia>jeGt(  to  work  upon,  or  a  >et  of  inimu 
or  precoQcetved  ideai  in  our  tniodi  which  we  c»croac!>cd  upon  with 
every  new  dcnga ;  the  tubjcct*,  >i  I  xaid  bcforr,  ate  mdlcu,  and  we 
acquire  idcu  by  impaniDg  them.  Our  expenditure  of  intclteciual 
wealth  makes  u«  rich  :  we  can  only  be  liberal  a«  we  have  previoiuJy 
■ccnmwlated  the  meant.  By  lyiag  idle,  u  by  aumdiDg  Mill,  Wt  m 
coofieed  to  the  same  trite,  oanow  roaad  of  topics :  by  coaitMiiiig  onr 
efforts,  M  by  mo'bg  foewards  in  a  road,  we  extend  our  view*,  and 
tliacover  cootinually  new  tract*  of  country.  Genius,  like  hemanity, 
null  for  want  of  uie. 

Habit  at«o  giies  prooiptatM;  and  the  soul  of  diipiuch  i*  deduoo. 
One  man  may  write  a  book  or  paint  a  picture,  while  aootber  is 
deliberating  awut  ttw  fin  or  the  title-page.  The  great  uintcrs  were 
able  to  do  so  raudi,  becaMe  tbey  knew  exactly  what  they  meant  to 
do,Uld  how  to  Mt  aboat  k.  They  were  thorough-bred  workmen, 
■ad  were  not  learning  tbeir  art  while  ibcy  were  exercising  iL  One 
can  do  a  great  deal  in  a  short  time  if  ooe  only  know*  bow.  Thus  aD 
aothor  may  become  very  volttmnou*,  who  only  rraptoy*  an  hour  or 
two  in  a  day  in  itody.     If  be  ha*  once  obtained,  by  habit  and  refleo- 

60 


ON  APPLICATION  TO  STUDY 

lion,  a  u«e  of  hit  pra  with  plenty  of  murrial*  to  voik  cpon,  the  pasec 
taoiah  before  him.  The  time  Imt  in  in  bcginniag,  or  in  atoppoig 
ftlTc-i  we  hBTc  begun.  If  wr  only  go  forwatdi  with  ipirii  and  con- 
fidei)c«,  we  thall  tooa  arrtre  at  the  end  of  our  joiuoey.  A  practiced 
wntrr  ought  DeT*r  to  henuic  foe  a  scnienoe  from  the  moment  he  sets 
pen  TO  paper,  oi  chink  about  the  cuurte  lie  is  to  lake.  He  niuit  irutt 
to  hti  prcrioui  koowlctlge  of  the  lubject  and  to  bia  immediate  im- 

Cl«e«,  aod  he  will  get  to  the  clo*e  of  hit  tult  wrtboni  accident*  or 
M  of  time.  I  can  canly  underuand  how  the  old  divine*  and 
conuovcrtialiuB  produced  ilieir  foUo) :  I  could  write  folioi  rayKlf,  if 
I  row  early  and  tat  up  laie  at  this  kind  of  occupation.  But  I  coidcM 
I  thould  be  toon  tired  of  it,  beiidct  wearying  the  reader. 

In  one  tcnte,  ust  ■■  long  and  life  ii  ibort.  In  another  lente,  thu 
aphoriim  i»  not  inte.  The  best  of  lit  are  idle  half  our  time,  tt  ia 
wondcr^t  how  much  i*  done  in  a  nhort  «pacc,  proiided  we  fct  about 
it  pTUpctly,  and  give  oar  mindi  wholly  to  it.  I.ci  ;tny  one  dcrote 
himKlf  to  any  art  or  tcience  ever  lo  iircnttoualy,  aod  he  wrill  oiill 
bare  Injure  to  make  cooiiderable  progrew  in  half  a  dozen  other 
acquireroeittt.  Leooardo  da  Vioci  wai  a  niatheniatician,  a  mutician, 
a  poet,  and  an  aaatoniiM,  besidet  being  one  of  the  greater  painters  of 
hi*  age.  Tbe  Prince  of  Painter*  was  a  courtier,  a  lover,  and  fond  of 
dre«(  and  company.  Michael  Angcio  waa  a  prodigy  of  verMtitity 
of  latent — a  writer  of  Soiuiett  ( which  WortUworih  hu  tboughc  worth 
tmwIattBgl  and  the  •dmiier  of  Dante.  Salvator  wa>  a  luieoift  and  a 
Mdriat.  Titian  was  an  elegant  lettef-wtiter,  and  a  (iniihed  gentleman. 
Sir  Jotbtta  Keyoalds'i  Dukoutk*  are  more  poliahed  and  clastica)  ereo 
thui  any  of  bi«  pictnre*.  Let  a  man  do  all  he  can  in  any  one  branch 
of  nndy,  be  mtiit  cither  exhaon  himielf  and  doze  over  it,  or  vary  hit 
ptwniit,  or  eltc  lie  idle.  All  oar  real  labour  lici  in  a  nut-(hell.  The 
miad  nuke*,  at  some  period  or  other,  one  Hercoleui  eifort,  and  the 
rcM  ia  mecbaiMcal.  We  have  to  climb  a  ttecp  and  narrow  precipice 
at  firu ;  but  after  that,  the  way  i*  broad  and  ea»y,  where  wc  may 
drive  teveral  accompliibmenu  abreau.  Men  should  liave  one  priocipal 
paraiit,  wUcb  may  be  both  agreeably  and  advantageously  diveriihcd 
with  other  lighter  dim*,  ai  the  Mbordioate  parts  of  a  picture  may  be 
fnanaged  to  m  to  give  cifect  to  the  ceotrc  group.  Tt  hat  been 
obmved  by  a  •cntibw  mao,'  that  the  having  a  regular  occupation  or 
pcofeteional  duiiei  to  attend  to  is  no  excuw  for  patting  forth  an 
■aelcssnt  or  inaccurate  work :  for  a  habit  of  iodunry  brace*  and 
KnoftbeiM  the  mand,  aod  enable*  it  to  wield  it*  cneigiea  with 
addhional  eaae  and  iteadier  pnrpwe. — Were  1  allowed  to  intiaoce  in 
nytelf,  if  what  I  write  at  prevent  it  worth  nothing,  at  leaM  it  coat* 

>  IV  Re*.  W.  Shtphtrri,  of  GMeacn,  in  the  Prtba  to  bit  Lib  of  PogEio. 

6l 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 


■K  mtliiBg.  Bat  it  COM  me  a  great  deil  twenty  yean  ago.  1  hare 
added  littk  to  aiy  Rock  mce  tfanit  and  lafcca  little  from  it.  I 
*  mt£M  the  book  vul  rtrfiaar  of  the  bfsin,'  and  ttuwcrtbc  tbc  char- 
Kter*  I  *rt  tberc  aa  iBccfaaaically  m  aay  ooe  raight  copy  the  lettrn 
n  a  (anpler.  I  do  oot  ny  they  came  there  (uechaaically — I  tmuin 
than  to  the  paper  mcdutitciUy.  Afief  eight  or  m  yean'  hard 
aiady,  an  author  (at  lewtl  may  «>  to  >le«p. 

I  do  not  cooceiie  rapdity  ot  exectukio  oeccKarily  impiiei  dona- 
Itacw  ot  ctvdcneM.  Oo  the  coturary,  I  beUeve  it  it  oitco  productive 
both  of  tharpneM  and  ffcedon.  The  eageracM  of  cooipoution  urike* 
on  i{»rklea  of  faocy.  and  tvM  the  tfaonghta  note  oantfaOy  and  doicly 
iMo  one  aactbcf.  There  may  be  Icai  fetntt)  Bwtfcodt  bat  there  i« 
nwre  fife,  and  apitit.  lod  initb.  Id  the  pby  and  aviation  of  the 
miadt  k  nnw  over,  aoJ  we  dally  with  tbc  noJKt,  aa  the  gEaM-hlower 
rapidly  ihapei  th«  Ttireutu  lluid.  A  number  of  new  ihoughti  rite  up 
nootaoeonily,  and  tbcY  come  in  tbc  proper  pUcci,  bccaiuc  they  ariae 
from  the  occatioa.  They  are  alw  auic  to  parukc  of  the  waimth  and 
fifidDCat  of  that  eboUilion  of  mind,  from  which  they  tpruig.  Sfiritw/ 
fret^OMJui  itl.  la  the*e  tort  of  roluoiarirt  in  compoiidaot  the 
UxM^ita  ate  worked  op  to  a  uaie  of  projcctioo :  the  Jtraap  of  the 
Mibjecti  the  preaeoce  of  tiiiod.  ilie  flow  of  exptctaioo  muH  be  nioe- 
thing  akin  lo  fxltmfort  ipeakiag  t  or  perhapa  nich  bold  but  finished 
draa^iia  may  be  owipantd  to  /ran  painiingt,  which  imply  a  life  of 
tradj  tfd  great  preTiom  prepatatioo,  bn  of  which  the  e;[co)tiao  ia 
flMMMMary  and  irrcrocable.  I  will  add  a  M^le  remark  od  ■  paint 
thai  haa  been  much  diapoud.  Mr.  Cobbett  lay*  it  down  that  the 
lirM  word  that  occur*  i*  alway*  the  be«t.  1  would  reatore  to  differ 
from  to  great  an  authority.  Mr.  Cobbett  himself  indeed  writet  as 
CMily  and  a*  well  at  be  talk* ;  but  he  pcthi[»  n  hardly  a  rule  for 
Other*  vitboot  hii  practice  and  without  hi*  aUlity.  In  tbc  hurry  of 
COmpotilaoB  three  or  four  word*  may  prctent  themaclre*,  one  on  (he 
bock  of  the  other,  and  the  laat  may  be  the  beat  and  ri^bt  one.  I 
grant  thua  macht  that  it  it  in  tain  to  arek  for  the  word  we  waott  or 
eodeaTonr  to  get  at  it  »e«ODd-haDd(  or  u  a  Mraptiraae  oo  mmdc  other 
word — it  muat  corac  of  itaelft  or  arise  out  of  an  immediate  impieMioa 
or  lively  intnilaon  of  the  nibject  t  that  ia,  the  proper  word  mtitt  be 
ittggcHcd  imroediatety  by  the  tboogbta,  but  it  need  oot  be  pretenied 
a*  aooD  M  called  for.  It  i«  the  tame  in  trying  to  recollect  the  name* 
of  place*,  person*,  etc.  We  caoaoc  force  our  memory ;  they  must 
come  of  thcnNclTc*  by  aatttral  aaiociatioo,  aa  it  were  i  but  they  may 
occur  to  01  wheo  we  least  think  of  iu  owing  to  some  casual  circwin- 
Btaace  or  link  of  coooexioo,  and  long  after  we  have  given  up  the 
•earch.     Proper  exprewions  rite  to  the  surface  from  the  beat  aud 

6a 


ON  APPLICATION  TO  STUDY 


ItU 


fermentatioo  of  the  mind,  like  bubble*  oo  an  agiUKd  itteam. 
thU  which  produCTH  n  clear  and  sp^kling  style. 

Id  painting,  great  execuiioa  Ruppliet  the  place  of  high  finishing. 
A  few  vi^orout  touches,  properly  and  r.ipitily  diipoaed,  will  often 
giTe  more  of  the  appearance  and  texture  (even)  of  natural  ohieeta 
than  the  mo«t  heavy  and  bboriout  dccaiU.  Bui  tbi>  matcerly  ityle  of 
execution  u  very  ditTercnt  from  coartc  daubing.  I  do  not  think, 
however,  thai  the  pain»  or  polish  an  artist  benow»  upon  his  urorku 
ncceeurily  interferes  with  their  ounibcr.  He  only  grows  more 
coiffloured  of  hit  taik*  proportionally  patient,  indela liable,  and 
dCToies  more  of  the  djy  to  nudy.  The  time  we  lose  ta  not  in  over- 
doinit  what  we  are  abotft,  but  in  doing  oothing.  Ruben*  bad  great 
facility  of  execution,  and  leldom  went  into  the  detatU.  Yet  Raphael, 
whoK  oil-piciurc*  were  exact  and  laboured,  atcbievcd,  according  to 
the  length  of  lime  be  lived,  very  neatly  a*  much  a»  he.  [n  6lling  up 
ihc  part*  of  hit  pictures,  and  giving  them  the  U«t  perfection  they 
were  capable  of,  he  tilled  up  hia  leiture  hours,  which  otherwiie  would 
have  lain  idle  oa  hit  handt.  I  have  uometimet  accounted  for  the 
tlow  pfogrea*  of  certain  aitiit*  from  the  unfinished  state  in  which 
ihey  have  left  their  worki  at  last.  The*c  were  evidently  done  by  Gta 
and  thron — there  wan  no  appearance  of  coatinuoui  labour — one 
figure  had  been  thrown  in  at  a  venture,  and  then  another ;  and  in  tbc 
intervale  between  thcie  convuUivc  and  random  ctforrs,  more  time  bad 
been  waKed  than  could  have  been  *pent  in  working  up  each  individual 
figtire  on  the  cure  principle*  of  aii,  and  by  a  carehil  totpection  of 
naltire,  to  the  uimoti  point  o^  practicable  perfection. 

Some  perton*  are  afraid  of  ibeir  own  worki ;  and  having  nude  one 
or  two  tuccctshil  efforts,  attempt  nothing  ever  after.  They  stand 
(till  midway  in  the  road  to  fame,  from  being  startled  at  the  thadow 
of  their  own  reputation.  This  it  a  needless  alarm.  If  what  they 
hare  already  done  potse«*e«  real  power,  this  will  increase  with 
exerciK :  if  it  ban  not  this  power,  it  i«  not  suAcient  to  ensure  them 
laittng  fame.  Such  delicate  preiendert  tremble  on  the  brink  of  iJeitt 
perfection,  like  dcw-dropi  on  the  edge  of  flowers ;  and  are  fascinated, 
like  so  many  Narcittuscs  with  the  image  of  tliemaclvea,  reflected 
from  the  public  admiration.  It  it  tildom,  indeed,  that  chit  ctoliout 
repose  will  answer  its  end.  While  seekiog  to  luitalo  our  repuCa^oa 
at  the  height,  we  are  forgotten.  Sbakespear  gave  different  advice, 
and  himself  acted  upon  it. 

■^  -  '  Perwrerance,  dear  my  lord. 
Keep*  honour  bright-     To  have  done,  l>  to  hang 
Quite  out  of  raihion,  like  a  ruftjr  mail, 
!■  monumnital  mockery.    Take  the  iiutani  wayt 

63 


THE   PLAIN  SPEAKER 


Fai  boMour  oareb  m  a  taut  to  natraw, 

Wbcrc  one  bin  gaet  jbftmt.    Keep  then  die  path  i 

For  cmubiioa  hatk  a  tbounMd  torn. 

Thai  oof  by  oot  punac.     If  joo  giire  wijr. 

Or  hnlg«  uida  (rem  tht  direct  fenh-ri^t, 

Liht  to  an  cntcr'd  tidt,  iIm^  all  nub  bjr, 

AmI  Irarc  ir«u  hiadmoM  t — 

Or  like  *  gilluit  bonc^  ibll'a  is  Ant  rank, 

lie  ikcre  tor  parancM  to  tbe  abject  rear, 

O'er-ran  and  trampkd.    Tboi  wbK  tbcf  do  in  pRKiu, 

Throi^  ks  than  voun  Id  put,  muU  o'erup  jwm  ■ 

For  timt  ii  like  a  bahionabk  hoM, 

Thai  iligblh'  thakn  hit  paiting  guM  bj*  tb«  hand, 

And  nitii  tut  armt  ountnceh'd  a*  be  would  87, 

OtHpf  i*  die  oonMT.     Wcloonr  ent  imila. 

And  ftrewell  goc*  oik  n^ittg.    O  In  not  nitue  *cefc 

Rnniinenlian  tot  the  tbii^  it  irai;  lor  bcaatjt,  wit. 

High  birth,  viaour  of  booe,  demt  ia  lerrin, 

Lo*«,  frUndibip,  <h»rity,  irr  lul^cti  ail 

To  envious  lod  calummaiins  Time. 

One  touch  of  nature  makn  the  whole  world  kin, 

Tbat  all  with  on*  oonaeCM  nntite  ncw-bom  gtud\ 

Tbou^tbey  are  made  ind  moulded  oftbinfi  pMC; 

And  pirc  co  dmi  ikai  ii  a  little  pit 

More  hud  than  gilt  o'er  duMcd. 

The  ftttcM  eye  ptaltn  the  pmcnt  object.' 

TkoiLDs  AMD  CitraiOA, 

I  cannot  very  well  cooceivc  bow  it  t*  that  mmdc  writm  (eT«n  of 
tarte  and  geoini)  Bpeftd  wbulc  ynrs  b  mere  cotrcctiooa  for  the  pifMC, 
a*  it  were — in  pohthinj;  a  line  or  tdjamag  a  comma.  Tbey  take 
laag  to  conoder,  exactly  ai  there  i*  Doihing  worth  the  trouble  of  a 
moncBt'*  thought ;  and  the  mote  they  dclibmtc,  the  farther  they  are 
from  deciding :  for  their  fntidtoouicM  inccraiet  with  the  indnlgeace 
of  it.  Bor  ii  there  any  re«l  ground  for  preference.  Tbey  aie  in  the 
■itiution  of  NtJ  Sofilj,  in  the  Tarua,  who  waa  a  whole  morning 
debatiiig  whether  a  tine  of  a  poetical  epiRle  sbo<utd  run— 


w» 


'  You  HDg  yoiu  tmg  with  m>  much  ait  | ' 
*  Vouf  tong  you  ning  with  to  motli  att.' 


Thne  are  poinu  that  it  it  impottiblc  ever  to  come  to  a  deurmiDatna 
^bout  i  and  it  ia  only  a  proof  of  a  little  tnind  cTer  to  have  entertained 
iheqiuMion  at  all. 

lliere  ia  a  data  of  pcrMoi  whoae  micd»  teem  to  move  in  aa 
elnnent  of  littfeBCH  1  or  rather,  that  are  entangled  in  trifling  diHt- 

6* 


ON  APPLICATION   TO  STUDY 


FCuldcti  Bud  inciMblc  of  exiricaiing  ihcmiclvta  from  (hem.     Thcic 
WM  a  remarkable  iaaUBc«  of  thia  itnprogreMive,  iocfFectiuil,  reatlets 
ftcttvitjr  of  temper  in  a  late  celebrated  and  very  iD|;cr)iouB  Isodtcape- 
;  jaatut,     '  Never  eodine.  Hill  begbaine,*  kit  mind  >ccmed  entirely 
^lliade  Bp  of  point!  and  Iraction*,  nor  could  he  by  any  meant  arrive  at 
s  condwiaD  or  a  valuable  whole.     He  made  it  his  boagt  that  be  never 
•at  will)  hi«  band*  before  him,  and  yet  he  never  did  any  thing.     Hi* 
I  poweri  acd  hie  time  were  frittered  away  in  an  importunate,  uneasy, 
ridgetty  attention  to  Utile  thin^ti.     The  lirtt  picture  he  ever  painied 
(when  a  ntcre  boy)  u-ai  i  copv  of  hia  father'*  houae ;  and  he  began 
it  by  couoting  the  number  of  orickt  b  the  front  upwards  and  length- 
wavi,  ami  ihen  made  a  scale  of  them  on  hii  canvaR.     Thi*  literal 
ttyte  and  mode  of  atudy  stuck  to  him  to  the  li)»t.      He  was  put  under 
f-WUaoQ,  whoie  example  (if  any  thing  could)  might  have  cured  him 
thif  pectineu  of  cOQCcplion ;  but  nature  prevailed,  at  it  almoR 
dwayv  doc*>     To  uke  pains  to  no  purpotc,  teemed  to  be  hit  mouoi 
the  driight  of  hia  life.     He  left  (when  he  died,  not  long  ago) 
^heapt  of  caDvjtMct  witli  elaborately  Bnithed  pencil  outlincu  oa  them, 
■Dd  with  pcrhapt  a  little  dead- colouring  added  here  and  there.     In 
thi)  ttaic  they  were  thrown  aside,  at  if  he  grew  tired  of  hit  occupation 
the  innant  it  gave  a  promise  of  lurniog  to  account,  and  hit  whole 
object  in  ibe  portuit   of  art  wa«  to  erect  tcatfoldingt.     The  tame 
DM  intereal  in  the  raoit  frivolout  thingt  extended  to  the  common 
FBOOCcnu  of  life,  to  the  arrangin;;  of  his  letteri,  the  labelling  of  hit 
booki,  and  the  iaveniory  of  fait  wardrobe.     Yet  he  wai  a  man  of 
Miuc,  who  taw  the  foil)'  and  the  wane  of  time  in  all  tfait,  and  could 
I  othei*  againti  it.     The  perceiving  our  own  wcaknesiet  enable*  ut 
[lo  give  othert  excellent  advice,  but  it  doct  not  teach  ui  to  reform 
lowaelvci.     'Phpiciao,  heal  thytcif!  '  it  the  hardeti  letion  to 
sDov.     Nobody  knew  better  than  our  artitt  that  repose  ii  necetxary 
I  Meat  efForii,  and  that  he  who  is  never  idle,  labours  in  vain  ! 
Another  error  it  to  spend  one'a  life  io  ptocrattination  and  prepara- 
tioat  for  the  future.     Periont  of  this  turn  of  mind  ti op  at  the  threshold 
of  art,  and  accumulate  the  meant  of  improvcmeni,  till  they  obstruct 
their  progresi  to  the  end.     They  arc  alwayt  putting  olF  the  evil  day, 
i4ad  exciHe  thein»elve«  for  doing  nothing  by  commencing  tome  new 
ioditpeniable  courte  of  ttudy.     Their  projecii  are  magnificent, 
Imt  remote,  and  require  year*  to  complete  or  to  put  ihem  in  execution- 
Fame  ia  seen  in  the  norizon,  and  tltes   before    them.     Like   the 
eaot  boaitful  knight  in  Spenier,  they  turo  their  backs  on  their 
[Eompetitori,  to  make  a  great  career,  but  never  return  to  the  charge. 
iThey  make  ihemselve*  mastert  of  anatomy,  of  drawing,  of  pcntpcciive: 
[tlicy  collect  piiott,  caaii,  medallions,  makt  ttudiet  of  headt,  of  handi, 
VOL.  Tti.  1  a  65 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 


of  the  hoont  the  bmkImi  copr  paciarai  nm  luWi  Grrccc,  and 
rttum  M  thcf  went.  Tbry  fottl  tbe  profcrb,  *  When  yoo  »c  at 
Ramr,  yoa  ibdm  do  M  tbo*c  at  Rome  do.*  1*hii  c>rcvttO(M>  erraiic 
pnTMik  of  art  caa  come  to  do  good.  It  U  only  an  apologjr  ht  iii^i 
ncH  a*d  Taoity,  ForcigD  traTtl  eepecially  maltci  meo  peduu,  noC 
utMta.  WKat  we  teek,  ««  muat  Bad  at  bonte  at  Dowbere.  Tbe 
way  to  do  great  thbgt  ia  to  Kt  about  aonxthinf;,  and  he  who  caonot 
Sod  reaonrce*  in  hinurlf  of  id  hi*  owq  poititu^-nMin,  will  perform^ 
the  graod  tour,  or  go  through  the  ank  M  the  atu  aad  •ciancot  aad 
cedjwt  where  he  began ! 

The  tame  remark*  that  hare  bees  here  argcd  with  re«pect  to  in ' 
application  to  tl>e  Mody  of  tri.  wilJ,  b  a  jtrea:t  meanirc,  (tbonglil 
not  in  every  particular)  apply  to  an  aitentioa  to  buaiDCH:  I  meant 
ihu  cxertjoo  will  generally  follow  ncceu  and  opportunity  in  the 
oae,  41  it  doe*  oooUeace  and  talent  in  the  other.  Girc  a  mao  a 
motive  to  work,  and  he  will  work.  A  lawyer  who  it  icgnlarly  lecdi 
ieldore  ncglccu  to  look  over  hi*  briefa :  the  more  bauutm,  the  man  \ 
faidactry.  The  itreat  laid  upon  early  riling  n  prepotttnMi.  If  t 
have  any  thing  to  do  when  wc  get  up,  we  aball  not  Ue  in  bed,  to  a 
certainty.  Thornton  tbe  fott  waa  found  late  in  bed  by  Dr.  Burncv. 
and  atked  why  he  had  not  riaen  earlier.  The  Scotchnun  wiiely 
aiuwetcd,  '  1  lud  no  motive,  yovng  mao  I  '  What  indeed  bad  he  to 
do  after  writing  the  Sutoxt,  but  (o  dream  ont  tbe  reit  of  lui 
exiMcnce,  tuileea  it  were  to  write  the  Castu  or  Inooi.imci'  ! 


ESSAY  VII 


OK    LONDONERS    AND    COUNTRY    PEOPLE 


I  DO  not  agree  with  Mr.  BUtiweoJ  in  hit  definition  of  the  word 
Ctcknty.  He  mno*  by  it  a  perron  who  bat  happened  at  any  time  to 
live  in  London,  and  who  it  not  a  Tory — I  mean  by  it  a  perron  who 
hat  never  lived  out  of  London,  and  who  hat  got  all  hit  ideai  from  it. 
The  true  Cockney  hat  never  travelled  bevoed  tbe  purtieui  of  the 
Mriropolit,  either  in  the  body  or  the  tpint.  Prirarote-hill  it  the 
tllttma  'I'hale  of  hit  mott  romantic  deairc*  ;  Greenwich  Paik  ttanda 
him  in  ttead  of  the  Valet  of  Arcady.     Time  and  space  are  Ion  taJ 

'  School-bDji  itlcnil  to  thtir  laiki  n  toon  *•  tbty  a<^uin  »  nlitfa  for  itu>ly,  tnJ 
tff\j  to  (btt  far  which   lb«y  £n<l  thrj  hiv«  i  «p>cil7.     tf  t  boy  ihowi  no 
(nillnilion  fat   the  L>iia    lonfu.  It  ii  i   •■(:n   he  hat  dqI  ■   turn   ht   larnlBg  , 
laniunf*!.    Yd  ht  dioMi  wcU.    Give  up  the  thougbi  tit  maklnf  >  tchottr  of  hia^  j 
tmt  brine  ^''^  up  le  bt  a  dincing^muctr  I 

<}6 


ON  LONDONERS  AND  COUNTRY  PEOPLE 


hisk  He  )■  confioed  to  one  >poi,  ttnd  to  the  present  momrnt.  He 
MM  «TCfy  thing  near,  aujx-rficUl,  iitt)c,  in  hnity  succntion.  The 
world  tune  round,  and  bia  hcnil  with  h,  like  a  roundsbout  at  a  &ir, 
till  be  become*  ttunaed  sod  si^y  '"^^  th<  motion.  Figurei  glide 
hj  u  ia  a  eamtra  tiiewa.  There  u  a  tfut,  a  petpeiuai  hubbub,  a 
BOMe,  a  crowd  about  him  ;  he  aeei  and  heara  a  *a*t  tiumber  of  thing*, 
■ad  luowi  nothing.  He  it  pen,  nw,  ignorant,  conceited,  ridiculous, 
•hdlow,  coninn|>tible.  Hit  kbw«  keep  him  alive ;  aod  he  knowt, 
inqBitea,  and  caica  (at  nothing  fanher.  He  meett  the  Loid  Mayor'i 
MUh,  and  without  cetemooy  tmta  liitnaelf  to  an  imsfciiury  Hdc  in 
it.  He  notice*  the  people  goin^  to  court  or  to  a  dcy-feait,  and  i« 
auite  utiElied  with  the  ihow.  He  takei  the  wall  of  a  Lord,  and 
bnciei  himtelf  at  good  aa  he.  He  leet  an  inliniie  quantity  of  people 
paM  along  the  mrpci,  and  think*  there  it  no  »uch  thing  at  life  or  a 
knowledge  of  character  to  be  found  out  of  London.  '  Sryaad  Hyde 
Park  all  ia  a  deaart  to  him.'  He  detpiaci  the  country,  beonue  he  it 
ignoraot  of  it.  and  the  town,  becauae  he  ia  familiar  with  it.  He  in  a« 
well  ao^uatnird  with  Si.  Paul't  at  if  he  had  built  it,  and  talk*  of 
Wcitmiottcr  Abbey  and  Poets'  Corner  with  great  indifierence.  The 
King,  the  Hou»c  of  Lords  and  Commoni  arc  hit  Tcry  good  (rieoda. 
He  knowa  the  mcmbcra  for  Wc»imin«cr  or  the  City  by  aighi,  and 
bow*  to  the  SherilTa  or  the  Sheritfa'  men.  He  ia  hand  and  gloTe 
with  the  Chairman  of  aome  Commtttec.  He  ia,  b  abort,  a  g,itu  man 
by  proxy,  and  come*  m  ofien  in  contact  with  fine  penont  and 
thing*,  that  be  rub*  off  a  little  of  the  gilding,  and  it  surcharged 
with  a  tort  of  tccond-hand,  Tapid,  tingling,  troublesome  telf- 
troponance.  Hit  pctional  vanity  w  ihua  continually  ilatteied  and 
Mfktd  Dp  into  ridicnloua  tclf-camplacency.  while  hit  imagination  ia 
|Hlcd  IM  impaired  by  daily  miaute.  Hverj  thing  is  vulgarited  in  hit 
niad.  Nothing  dwell*  Ion;;  enough  oa  it  to  produce  an  inieren ; 
nothing  ii  coDicmpUted  aullicieatly  at  a  diiunce  to  excite  curioiity  or 
wonder.  Tour  Inu  Cattnty  ii  your  only  Inu  IrveHtr.  Let  him  tw  W 
low  at  he  will,  he  fanciet  be  it  as  good  at  any  body  clie.  He  haa 
no  retpcct  for  himtelf,  and  aiill  lew  (if  potaible)  for  you.  He  cam 
little  about  hi*  own  advantage*,  if  he  can  only  make  a  je*t  at  youn. 
Every  feeling  come*  to  bim  through  a  medium  m  levity  aod 
impertinence  i  nor  doe«  be  like  to  have  that  habit  of  mind  ditturbed 
by  being  brought  into  collision  with  any  thing  teriout  or  retpeciable. 
He  deipair*  (in  tuch  a  crowd  of  competiiort)  of  diitioguiafaiag 
hitatelf,  but  laught  heartily  at  the  idea  of  bdag  able  to  trip  np  the 
heel*  of  other  peogilc't  piclemioni.  A  Cockney  feci*  no  gtatitude. 
Thia  ia  a  firat  principle  with  him.  He  regard*  any  obligation  you 
confer  upon  him  at  a  apedea  of  impONlioo,  a  ludiccoua  uiumption  of 

6? 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

ftDcicd  wpcriontT.  He  ullu  abom  tnrjrbiag,  fw  be  has  heard 
rr'T*'rtg  iboM  U :  and  muiemMuAiaf  nMhing  of  tbe  maticr,  coo- 
clodM  lie  bu  a>  good  a  H^bt  ai  jrou.  He  i>  a  polidciaD  ;  fbt  be  ha* 
Men  the  Parlumcn;  Htnitc:  he  it  a  critic;  becaiuc  he  know*  the 
principal  actor*  by  lieht — hx«  a  uite  for  miwc,  became  he  brionj*  to 
a  (lee-club  at  the  \^e*(  Hod,  and  U  gallant,  in  lirtae  of  toinetlme* 
fieqiKBting  tbe  lobbie*  at  half-price.  A  niere  Londoner,  b  fact, 
Ironi  tbe  omortuoltiet  be  hai  of  ksowtag  Hinethiog  of  a  number  of 
object*  (and  ifaote  iiriking  one*)  fascie*  himtelf  a  tort  of  privileged 
pcrtOD ;  remain*  tatitiied  with  tbe  uiuinptioa  of  tneriti,  *o  much  tbe 
man  wiqaNlioaibfe  a*  they  are  not  hi*  own  ;  and  from  being  dazzled 
with  BMie,  *how,  and  appearance*,  ii  lew  capaUc  of  givbg  a  real 
opinion,  or  entering  into  any  lubject  than  the  meanest  peasant*  There 
are  greater  lawyer*,  orator*,  pointer*,  philoMplier*,  poett,  player*  in 
London,  than  in  any  other  put  of  the  United  Kbgdotn :  be  ia  a 
Loodooer,  and  therefore  it  would  be  Kraoge  if  he  did  not  know  more 
of  law,  clooneoce,  art,  phitoaophy,  poetry,  acting,  than  any  one 
witboot  hi*  local  adranugei,  and  who  it  merely  from  the  country. 
Thi*  i*  a  it«n  tffiuiuri  and  it  conKantly  appear*  to  when  pat  to  the 
teal. 

A  real  Cockney  tt  the  pooren  creature  in  tbe  world,  the  mott 
literal,  the  moK  mechanical,  and  yet  he  too  live*  in  a  world  of  romance 
—*  fairy-iand  of  hit  own.  He  ti  a  citizen  of  LoikIob  ;  and  thi* 
abairsction  lead*  hi*  imagination  the  finnt  dance  in  the  woitd. 
London  it  the  iirtC  city  on  the  habitable  globe;  and  therefoie  he 
mnrt  be  tupeiior  to  etery  one  who  live*  out  of  it.  There  arc  more 
people  in  London  than  any  where  ettei  and  though  a  dwarf  in 
■titare,  hi*  peraon  *well«  out  and  expand*  into  ittiai  importance  and 
borrowed  magnitude.  He  re«idet  in  a  garret  or  in  a  two  pair  of 
■tait*'  back  room ;  yet  he  talk*  of  the  magoiticcncc  of  London,  and 
givei  himtelf  air*  of  confcqucnce  upon  it,  u  if  all  the  houact  in 
Portman  or  in  Groaveooi  Square  were  hit  by  right  or  in  rerenion. 
'  He  is  owner  of  all  he  tuTTeys.'  The  Monument,  tbe  Tower  of 
London,  St.  Jamet'a  Palace,  tbe  Maimion  Houtc,  White-Hall,  arc 
part  and  parcel  of  his  being.  Let  ut  luppow  him  to  be  a  lawyer** 
clerk  at  half-a-guioca  a  week  :  but  he  knowt  the  Inna  of  Court,  the 
Tesiplc  GardcDi,  and  CrayVlon  Pattage,  we*  the  lawyeni  in  their 
wig*  walking  up  and  down  Chancery  Lane,  and  ha*  advanced  witbb 
haif-a-doiCD  yard*  of  the  Chancellor  *  chair : — who  can  doubi  that  he 
■ndertttndi  (by  implication)  every  point  of  law  (however  intricate} 
better  than  the  moit  expert  country  piactitioner  i  He  in  a  ahopman, 
and  nailed  all  day  behind  the  counter :  but  he  tee*  hundreds  and 
thouaand*  of  cay,  wcll-drcsaed  people  pa*i — an  endlea*  phaniMniagoria 

£8 


ON  LONDONERS  AND  COUNTRY  PEOPLE 


—and  enjoy*  their  liberty  stad  gaudy  dutteriog  pride.  He  ii  » 
rooiman — buc  he  tides  behind  beauty,  through  a  crowd  of  carriages, 
and  vi»it«  a  thousand  «hopB.  U  he  a  uilor — that  ]:iii  infirmity  of 
hunian  nature  i  The  stigma  on  hii  profcMion  h  ion  in  the  elegance 
of  the  putlern«  he  provideii,  and  of  the  peitons  he  adorns ;  and  he  is 
•omethmg  very  dilfetcnt  from  a  mere  country  botcher.  Nay.  the 
very  scavenger  and  nightman  ihinki  the  dirt  in  the  ttreet  haa  aome- 
thing  prcciou*  in  it,  -ind  bit  employment  i»  solemn,  lilent,  meted, 
pecJtar  to  London  !  A  hirifr  in  Monmouth  Sireei,  a  alo[>-*cllcr  in 
RadclifTe  Highway,  a  tapcter  at  a  ntght-cclUr,  a  beggar  in  S^  Gitet'i, 
a  drab  in  Ficn-Ditch,  live  in  the  eye*  of  millions,  and  eke  out  > 
dreary,  wretched,  acioty,  or  loathsome  existence  from  the  gorgeous, 
bufy,  glowing  ncene  around  thetn.  It  ia  a  common  taying  among 
such  persona  that '  they  had  rather  be  haogeil  in  London  than  die  a 
natural  death  out  of  it  any  where  cite ' — Such  it  the  force  of  habit 
and  imagination.  Rven  the  eye  of  childhood  it  dax^.Icd  and  delighted 
with  the  poliabed  spletxlour  of  ihc  jewellers*  nhopa,  the  ncatneM  of 
the  turnery  wire,  thic  featoon^  of  aittlicial  floweis,  the  confectionery, 
the  chemiita'  shop«,  tlie  lamp*,  the  hortcs,  the  carriages,  the  sedxn- 
chair* :  to  this  wa«  formerly  added  a  set  of  tradtttoo^d  aisociationa — 
Whittsngton  and  hii  Cat,  Guy  Faux  and  the  Gunpowder  Treason, 
the  Pire  and  the  Plague  of  London,  and  the  Heads  of  the  Scotch 
Rtbcia  that  were  stuck  on  Temple  Bar  in  174;.  These  have 
vanished,  and  in  their  «tead  the  curious  and  romantic  eye  must  be 
eoDteni  to  pore  in  Pennant  for  the  scite  of  old  London- Wall,  01  to 
pcnue  the  sentimental  mile-stone  that  marka  the  dlatance  to  the  place 
*  where  Hickes's  Hall  formerly  atood  ! ' 

The  Cotiiuy  lives  in  a  go-can  of  local  prejudices  and  podtiTe 
illusions;  and  when  he  U  turned  out  of  iCj  he  hardly  knows  how  to 
nud  01  move.  He  ventures  through  Hyde  Park  Corner,  as  ■  cat 
crwui  s  gutter.  The  trees  pu  l^  the  cotcb  very  oddly.  The 
country  has  a  Mtmge  blank  appearanoe.  It  i*  not  lined  wiiJi  houses 
all  the  way,  like  London.  He  came*  to  place*  he  never  saw  or 
heard  of.  He  linds  the  world  is  bigger  than  he  thought  for.  He 
might  have  dropped  from  the  moon,  for  any  thing  he  knows  of  the 
matter.  He  is  mightily  disposed  to  langh,  but  is  half  afraid  of 
making  some  blunder.  Between  sheepishness  and  conceit,  be  if  in  a 
very  ludicrous  situadon.  He  finds  that  the  people  walk  00  two  legs, 
and  wonders  to  hear  them  ulk  a  dialect  so  di^erent  from  hi*  own. 
He  perceives  London  fashions  have  got  down  into  the  country  before 
him,  and  that  some  of  the  better  sort  are  dressed  as  well  as  he  is. 
A  drore  of  pigs  or  cattle  stopping  the  road  i*  a  very  troublesome 
totcmipiion.     A  crow  in  a  field,  a  magpie  in  a  hedge,  are  to  him 

69 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 


very  odd  aoinuU— be  can't  tell  what  to  make  of  them,  or  how  they 
Ii*e.  He  doct  not  iltogcthcr  like  the  acconunodoiiont  at  the  ions- 
it  it  oM  what  he  has  been  used  to  in  town.  He  begins  lo  be  coin- 
muoicatirc^-uyt  he  wat  ■  bora  within  the  sound  of  Bow-bcll,'  and 
attempt*  some  jokes,  at  which  nobody  laughs.  He  asks  the  coachman 
a  question,  to  which  he  leceiTes  no  unver.  All  this  is  to  him  Tery 
tiaaccou&able  and  unexpected.  He  arrive*  at  his  joumer'*  end  t 
;iad  iaMead  of  being  the  great  man  he  anticipated  among  his  friends 
and  country  relations,  linda  ibst  they  arc  barely  civil  to  him,  or  make 
a  butt  of  him ;  hare  ti^c*  of  their  own  which  he  it  as  completely 
ignorant  of  as  they  arc  inditferent  to  what  he  says,  so  that  he  is  glad 
to  get  back  to  London  a^ain,  where  be  meets  with  his  favourite 
indulgences  and  atsociates,  and  fancies  the  whole  world  it  occupied 
with  what  he  hear*  and  (ee». 

A  Cockney  lovet  a  tcu-girden  in  summer,  at  be  lore*  the  play  or 
the  Cider-CciUr  in  winter — where  he  twcctcnt  the  air  with  the  fintici 
of  tobacco,  and  makes  it  echo  to  the  sound  of  hit  own  Toice.  'I*hi* 
kind  of  •ubutbao  retreat  is  a  mo«t  a(;re«able  relief  to  the  close  and 
confined  air  of  a  city  life.  The  imajtinaiion,  lon^  pent  up  behind  a 
counter  or  between  brick  walla,  with  nottome  smells,  and  dingy 
Ejects,  cannot  bear  at  once  to  launch  into  the  boundless  expanse  of 
the  country,  but  *  shorter  excorsion*  trie*,'  coveting  something 
between  the  two,  and  finding  it  at  While-condoit  House,  or  the 
Roaemaiv  Branch,  or  Bagnigge  Wells.  The  landUdy  it  seen  at  a 
bow^wisKww  in  near  nerspectire,  with  punch-bowls  and  temona 
diipoaed  orderly  arouna — the  lime-tree*  or  poplart  ware  overhead  to 
'catch  the  breezy  air,'  through  which,  typical  of  the  huge  denae 
cloud  that  hangs  o?er  the  metropolis,  curls  up  the  thin,  blue, 
odoriferoDs  vapour  of  Virginia  or  Oronooko — the  benclies  are  ranged 
in  rows,  the  6elds  and  hedge-town  spread  out  their  verdure  {  Hamp- 
sirad  and  Hi^hgate  are  seen  in  the  blck-groundi  and  contain  the 
ima;;inatioQ  within  gentle  limits — here  the  holiday  people  are  playing 
ball  t  here  they  arc  playing  bowU — here  they  arc  qaafling  ale,  there 
sippiog  tea — here  the  loud  wager  is  heard,  there  the  political  debate. 
In  a  sequestered  nook  a  slender  youth  with  purple  face  and  drooping 
head,  nodding  over  a  gUta  of  gin  toddy,  breathe*  in  tender  accents^ 
'There's  nought  to  tweet  t»  earth  at  Lore't  young  dreamj'  while 
'  Roty  Ann '  takes  it*  turn,  and  '  Scots  wha  hie  wi'  Wallace  hied  * 
ia  thundered  forth  in  accents  that  might  wake  the  dead.  In  another 
p«rt  lit  carpers  and  criiict,  who  dispute  the  tcore  of  the  reckoning  or 
the  ffOtttiOt  cavil  at  the  tute  and  exccodoo  of  the  «mi/<U«  Brahams 
and  Donscta.  Of  this  latter  chut  was  Dr.  Goodman,  a  nan  of 
other  time* — I  mean  of  those  of  Smollett  and  Defoe — who  was 

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ON  LONDONERS  AND  COUNTRY  PEOPLE 


curioui  in  opinioD,  obatioate  in  (he  wrong,  great  in  liitle  thing*,  >nd 
inrcictatc  in  mtty  warfare.  I  vow  he  held  me  an  UMmeiit  oocc  'bd 
hour  by  St.  Duniun'i  clock,'  while  I  held  Hn  umbrella  ortr  hU  head 
(the  friendij'  protection  of  which  he  wu  unwilliDg  to  quit  to  wilk 
ID  the  rain  to  Cambtrwell)  to  prove  to  me  that  Richard  Pinch 
w»  neither  a  fivct-player  oor  a  pleating  singer.  'Sir,'  (aid  he, 
'  I  itBj  that  Mr.  Pinch  play*  the  game.  He  i*  a  cunning  player, 
but  not  a  good  oae.  1  grant  hit  trick*,  his  little  tnesD  dirty 
way*,  but  he  i*  not  a  manly  aciagoni*!.  He  hat  no  hit,  and 
no  Ictt-hand.  How  then  can  he  «et  up  for  a  tupcrior  player  f 
And  th^n  ai  to  hi*  alway*  striking  the  ball  agaioat  the  *ide-wing*  M 
Copcnhageo-houae,  Cavanagb,  tir,  u*ed  to  *ay,  "  Th«  wall  wu  made 
to  hit  at  I  "  I  have  no  patience  «riih  tuch  pitifu]  shift*  and  advan- 
tage*. They  are  an  inault  upon  *o  line  and  athletic  a  game  I  And 
at  to  hi*  tetiing  up  for  a  singer,  it  'i  ouite  tidiculou*.  Vou  know, 
Mr.  H  ',  that  to  be  a  really  excellent  singer,  a  man  muit  lay 
claim  to  one  of  two  ihingi ;  in  the  lirnt  place,  tir,  he  muit  have  s 
BMnr^ly  fine  ear  for  mutic,  or  tccondly,  an  early  education,  excluMvely 
devoted  to  that  ttudy.  Uuc  no  one  ever  auspccted  Mr.  Pinch  of 
refined  aenaibiliiy ;  and  his  education,  as  we  all  know,  ha*  been  a 
bttle  at  large.  Then  ag:iin,  why  should  he  of  all  other  thing*  be 
alway*  tinging  "  Ro«y  Ann,"  and  "  Scot*  wha  hac  wi'  Wallace  bled," 
til)  one  ii  tick  of  hearing  tJiem  ?  It  '*  prqMsicrous,  and  I  mean  to 
tell  him  10.  You  know,  I  'm  tore,  without  my  hiotiag  it,  that  in  the 
firK  of  the*e  admired  tonga,  the  *entimeat  i*  voluptuou*  and  tender, 
and  in  the  la*t  patriotic.  Now  Pinch**  romance  never  wandered 
from  behind  hi*  counter,  and  bi«  patrioiitm  liei  in  hi*  breeche*' 
pocket.  Sir,  the  utmott  he  should  atpire  to  would  be  to  play  upon 
the  Jew*'  harp  I '  Thin  itory  of  the  Jews'  harp  tickled  *omc  of 
Pinch'*  friend*,  who  gave  him  various  hint*  of  it,  which  neatly  drove 
him  mad,  ti!l  he  diicoi-ered  what  it  waa ;  for  though  no  jeit  or 
tatcatm  ever  had  the  least  elTeci  upon  him,  yet  he  c:knnDt  bear  to 
think  that  there  ihould  be  any  joke  of  thi*  kind  about  him,  and  he 
not  in  the  *ecret :  it  make*  againot  that  iiwiwing  chancier  which 
he  to  much  affiKti.  Pinch  i«  in  one  retpcct  a  complete  ipccimcn  of 
a  Cacinej,  He  never  ha*  any  thing  to  *ay,  and  yet  is  never  at  a 
lorn  for  an  answer.  That  is,  hi*  perine**  keepi  exact  pace  with  hi* 
dulncM.  Hi*  frieod,  the  Doctor,  used  to  complain  E>f  this  in  good 
•et  term*. — '  You  can  never  make  any  thing  of  Mr.  Piach,'  he  would 
(ay.  '  Apply  the  mou  cutting  remark  to  him,  and  hi*  only  aoawer 
i*,  "  7%^  tamt  t»  you,  tir,"  If  Shaketpear  were  to  rite  from  the 
dead  to  confute  him,  1  firmly  believe  it  would  be  to  no  purpoie.  I 
aaiorc  yon.  I  hav«  found  it  to.     I  once  thought  indeed  I  had  him  at 

7» 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

a  duactTsnugCt  ^t  I  w.u  mitiakra.  You  shall  hear,  nr.  I  had 
been  reading  ibc  following  flenumcni  in  a  modem  play — "The  Road 
to  Rttin,"  by  the  ijic  Mr.  Holctofl — "  For  how  ihould  the  iioul  of 
SocrMca  tohabic  th«  body  of  a  ttockinj;- wearer  i  "  This  tu  pat  to 
the  poJDi  {you  know  our  friend  it  a  hosier  and  liaberdsiher]  I  came 
liill  wiih  ii  lu  kee|>  in  apjxHntment  1  had  with  Piocb,  began  a  game, 

Iuarrcllcd  vrith  him  in  the  middle  of  it  on  purpoie,  went  up  Uaits  to 
rcM,  and  u  1  wot  wailijng  my  hand*  in  the  alop-batin  (watching 
my  opportunity)  turned  coolly  round  and  md,  "lt'»  impoinble 
there  should  be  any  sympathy  bciwvcn  you  and  me,  Mr.  Pinch  :  for 
M  the  poet  uys,  how  should  the  soul  of  Socrates  inhabit  the  body  of 
a  stocking-weafer  i "  "  Ay"  says  b.v,  "  does  the  poet  say  so  !  lira 
llv  liimt  lo  jou,  tir  1  "  I  wan  confounded,  J  gave  up  the  attempt  to 
conquer  him  in  wii  or  argument.  He  would  poie  the  Dc*il,  sir,  by 
his  "  Tht  tarni  lo  jau,  tir."  '  We  had  another  joke  againrt  Richud 
Pinch,  to  which  the  Doctor  was  not  a  patty,  which  wat,  that  being 
uked  after  the  rrapectability  of  the  Holt  ia  ibe  Wall,  at  the  time  that 
Rtodsll  took  it,  he  answered  quite  unconsciously,  <  Oh  !  it  '*  a  very 
gtfiicci  place,  I  go  there  myself  sometimes!  '  Dr.  Goodman  was 
descended  by  the  motherS  side  fioni  the  poet  Jsgo,  was  a  private 
genileman  in  town,  and  a  medicul  dilettanti  in  the  country,  diTiding 
his  time  equally  between  buiincw  and  pleasure  )  had  an  inexhaustible 
flow  of  words,  and  an  imperturbable  vanity,  and  held  '  stout  notiont 
on  the  metaphysical  score.  He  maintained  the  free  agency  of  man, 
with  the  spirit  of  a  martyr  and  the  gaiety  of  a  man  of  tnt  and  pleasure 
about  town — told  nie  he  had  a  cunous  tract  on  tliat  subject  by  A.  C. 
(Anthony  ColliniJ  which  he  carcfiiJly  locked  up  in  his  box,  lest  any 
one  should  sec  it  but  himself,  to  the  detriment  of  their  character  and 
morals,  and  put  it  to  mc  whether  it  wm  not  hard,  on  the  principles  of 
ftiloiofibkal  titittiiiyt  for  a  man  to  come  lo  be  hanged  ?  To  which  I 
replied,  *  I  tiiought  it  hard  on  any  terms !  *  A  knarish  martir,  who 
had 'listened  to  the  dispute,  laughed  at  this  letort,  and  eccmed  to 
assent  to  the  truth  of  it,  supposbg  it  might  one  day  be  his  own 

CMC. 

Mr.  Smith  and  the  Brangtons,  in  <  Erelina,'  are  the  finest  po«sible 
examples  of  the  spirit  of  Ctclmyiim.  I  once  knew  a  linen-draper  in 
the  City,  who  owned  to  me  he  did  not  ^uitc  like  this  part  of  Mits 
Burne/s  novel.  He  said,  *  1  myself  lodge  in  a  £rst  floor,  where 
there  are  young  ladies  in  the  house :  they  sometimes  hare  company, 
and  if  I  am  out,  they  ask  me  to  lend  them  the  use  of  my  apattmeni, 
which  I  readily  do  out  of  politeoen,  or  if  it  is  an  agreeable  party,  I 
perhaps  join  them.  All  this  ii  (o  like  what  passes  in  the  novel,  that 
I  fancy  myself  a  son  of  Kcood  Mr.  Smith,  and  am  not  <]uite  easy  at 

7a 


ON  LONDONERS  AND  COUNTRY  PEOPLE 

it ! '  Thi«  was  mentioued  to  the  Ua  AuthorcM.  tad  tht  waa  dclightml 
to  find  thai  hei  characten  wer«  lo  itac,  that  an  aciiul  [K(ton  fancied 
himietr  to  be  one  of  ihcm.  The  reKmblancc,  however,  wan  only  id 
the  externals ;  and  the  real  modcity  of  the  indmdaal  Mumbled  on  the 
likencH  to  a  city  coxcomb ! 

It  is  curiou*  to  what  a  degree  pettoiUi  brought  ugi  lo  ccnain 
occnpationt  in  a  Rrcat  city,  are  ihut  up  from  a  knowledge  of  ihc 
world,  and  carry  their  simpticitr  to  a  [ntch  of  unbeafd-of  exiravai^aoce. 
LondoQ  U  the  only  place  m  which  the  child  {[row*  completely  up  into 
the  iDao.  I  have  known  character*  of  ihii  kind,  which,  in  the  way 
of  childiih  ignoraocc  and  self-plcafin^  dclonon,  exceeded  any  thine  lo 
be  met  with  in  Shaketpear  or  Ben  Jon«oD,  or  the  aid  comedy.  For 
tnttancc,  the  following  may  be  taken  as  a  true  tkctch.  Imagine  a 
peraon  with  a  florid,  ihtDing  complexion  like  a  plough-boy,  targe 
■taring  leeih,  a  merry  eye.  bin  hair  ituck  into  the  bthiOD  with  curlliw- 
iroDi  3nd  uonuium,  a  slender  figure,  and  a  decent  rait  of  black  add 
to  which  the  tboughtlettnets  of  the  tchool-boy,  the  fbrwaidneM  of  the 
thriring  ttadeiman,  and  the  plenary  conociouanciii  of  the  citizen  of 
Londoo — and  you  hive  Mr,  Dunttcr  before  you,  the  lithmongcr  ia 
the  Posliry,  ^  ou  Khali  hear  how  he  chirps  orcr  Ilia  cups,  and  exulti 
in  hia  prtoate  opinions.  '  I  'It  pky  no  more  with  you,'  I  said, 
'  Mr.  Duoiier — you  are  6re  pointi  in  the  ftame  better  than  I  am.'  I 
had  Juft  lost  three  half-crown  rubbers  at  cribbagc  to  him,  which  loot 
of  mine  he  presently  thtuil  into  a  canvaa  pouch  (not  a  silk  puric)  out 
of  which  he  bad  produced  just  before,  first  a  few  halfpence,  then  half 
>  dozen  pieces  of  sUrer,  then  a  handfuU  of  guineas,  and  lastly,  lying 
ptrdu  at  the  bottom,  a  lifty  pound  Book-Note.  •  I  '11  tell  you  what,' 
I  «ud,  ■  I  should  like  to  ^y  vou  a  ^ame  at  marbles ' — thii  was  at  a 
•on  of  Christmas  party  or  Twelfth  Night  merry,  making.  '  Marbia ! ' 
said  Duntter,  catching  up  the  aound,  and  his  eye  btiehtetiing  with 
childish  gloe,  '  What !  you  mean  rmg-nnu  f  '  •  Yea.  •  I  should 
beat  you  at  it,  to  a  certui»y.  I  waa  one  of  the  bat  in  qui  school  fit 
was  at  Clapham,  ur.  the  Rev.  Mr.  Denmao'st  at  Clapham,  was  the 
pUce  where  I  was  brought  upi  ifaoufh  there  were  two  other*  thee 
better  than  me.  They  were  the  beat  that  erer  were.  I  'II  tell  you, 
sir,  I  'II  gire  you  an  idea.  There  wat  a  water-butt  or  cistern,  air,  at 
our  school,  that  cursed  with  a  cock.  Now  luppoce  that  brass-ring 
that  the  window<iirtain  is  futened  to,  to  be  the  cock,  and  that  these 
boys  were  standing  where  wc  are,  about  twenty  feet  oS — well,  sir, 
I  'll  tell  you  whit  I  bare  seen  them  do.  One  of  them  had  a  favourite 
uw  (or  aiUy  we  uwd  to  call  them)  he'd  uke  aim  at  the  cock  of  the 
ciACTD  with  this  marble,  as  1  may  do  now.  Well,  sir,  will  you 
betiere  it !  socb  was  his  strength  of  kanckle  and  certainty  of  aim, 

73 


f 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 


Im  'd  hit  iti  nrn  h,  lei  ibc  water  oat.  Bod  thca,  «if,  wticn  the  water 
had  ran  out  at  moch  aa  it  waa  waeted,  the  other  boy  (he  'd  hut  the 
•amc  ttreogth  of  kowckle,  and  the  aame  certainty  of  eye)  h«  'd  aim  at 
it  too,  be  fure  to  hit  it,  torti  it  round,  aod  nop  tbe  water  froia  natttng 
oat.  Yea,  what  1  tell  jrau  it  rctf  remukaUe,  bat  it  '•  ne.  Ooe 
of  dme  boya  wat  named  Cock,  aod  t'other  Bvder.'  *They  night 
have  been  named  Sfiff*  u>d  Fawcctt,  loj  dear  «tr,  ftocn  yoor  1000001 
of  them.'  •  I  «bo«ld  not  miad  fitjiag  you  ax  G*et  acitber,  though 
I  'm  out  of  practin.  I  think  I  tbonld  heat  yoa  in  a  week :  I  ww  a 
real  good  ooe  at  that.  A  pretty  pmt,  ur !  1  had  the  fioett  UU, 
that  I  n|>po<e  erer  wii  leec.  Madt  it  mytelf,  1  'II  tell  yoa  how, 
■r.  You  tee,  1  put  a  piece  of  cork  at  the  bottom,  then  I  wocod 
tome  fine  wotMcd  yam  roiaad  it,  then  1  had  to  bind  it  round  with 
ioaie  packthread,  and  then  aew  the  case  on.  You'd  hardly  beli«re 
it,  btit  i  wat  the  enry  of  the  whole  tchoel  for  that  boJI.  They  all 
wasted  to  get  it  from  me,  but  lord,  sir,  t  wodd  let  none  of  them 
come  near  it.  I  kept  it  in  my  waiatcoat  pocket  all  day,  and  at  night 
I  mtd  to  take  it  to  bed  with  me  aad  pot  it  ondcr  my  pillow.  I 
eODlda't  ilecp  eaiy  witboat  it.' 

Tbe  aaMie  idle  vein  might  be  foood  in  the  comtnTi  bM  I  doabt 
wliedier  it  womld  fiod  a  toogoc  to  gin  it  oiterance.  Cackseyun  ia 
a  gcoond  of  aatiTe  tbatlowoeat  mmiBted  with  pcrtaea*  and  conceit. 
Yet  with  all  thia  timplidty  aod  extfaTagancc  in  dilating  oo  hit 
&roarite  topio,  Danscer  ia  a  mao  of  ipirit,  of  anentioa  to  butioeai, 
know*  bow  to  make  out  and  gd  in  hit  billt,  and  it  far  from  being 
ben-pecked.  One  thing  it  crTtain,  thai  luch  a  man  mnit  be  a  trae 
Eoglithnua  lod  a  loyal  ti^jtct.  He  hat  a  flight  tinge  of  tettcrit 
with  ^lamt  1  confeat  it — Ittt  ia  bia  poiatitioo  a  Tobme  of  the 
European  Majtaiiae  fot  the  ynr  1761,  and  it  an  humble  admirer  of 
Trittram  Shaody  (pantcutarljr  the  itory  of  the  King  of  Bohemia  and 
hia  SercD  Cattle*,  which  it  aomethiag  in  bia  own  eodleta  manner) 
and  of  Gil  Blat  of  Santilboe.  Over  theae  f  tbe  btt  thing  before  be 
goea  to  bed  at  night)  he  wnokea  a  pipe,  and  medltatet  for  an  hoar. 
AAer  al),  what  it  there  in  thcac  harmleti  hilf-liet,  theae  faotutic 
cxaggeraiiona,  bctt  a  literal,  proaatc,  Coeiaty  trmnalattoo  of  the  admifcd 
liaca  is  Grey't  Ode  10  Etoo  CoUegc : — 

'  What  idle  ptoftay  tuccnd 
To  chaK  the  rolline  cirde'i  tpced 
Or  urge  the  Sying  hall  f ' 

A  DUB  ahn  op  all  hta  life  in  hit  tbop,  withoot  any  thing  to  ictereat 

Un   from  oac  year'i  end  to  another  but   the  caret   and  dctaila  of 

buMitii,  with  icarcely  any  iDtercourae  with  booica  or  oppottnnitiea  for 

74 


ON  LONDONERS  AND  COUNTRY  PEOPLE 


toeiaw,  diatmcted  with  the  butz  and  ([late  and  nciUe  about  him,  tutiw 
for  relief  to  the  trtroipcct  of  hie  childi«ti  yean ;  and  there,  through 
the  long  vitla,  al  one  bright  loop-hole,  Iciding  out  of  ihc  ihomy  mate* 
of  the  world  into  the  clear  morning  light,  h«  ices  the  idJe  fancici;  and 
BBf  amiucmeBt*  of  hig  boyhood  danciDg  like  mote*  lo  ibe  lunshin^. 
SUI  we  blame  or  abould  we  bugh  at  him,  if  hi*  eye  glitteo*,  aad  hia 
toogne  grow*  wmton  jr  their  nraiK  i 

None  but  a  Scotchman  would — that  pragmatical  tort  of  perionage, 
who  thinlta  it  a  folly  cTet  to  hare  been  young,  and  who  in«tcad  of 
dallying  with  the  trail  iu«t,  brndt  his  t^ows  vpoa  the  fiiturc,  tod 
look*  oaly  lo  the  maiii-^biuut.  Forgiiv  me,  dear  Duouer,  if  I  havt 
drawD  a  sketch  of  tome  of  ihy  teni^  foibles,  and  delirered  thee  into 
the  hntda  of  thew  Cockneyi  of  the  North,  who  will  ^11  vpoo  thee 
Mtd  <leTOUr  tbee,  like  so  many  cancibali,  without  a  grain  of  nit ! 

If  familiarity  in  cirie«  breeds  contempt,  ignorance  in  the  country 
breed*  arrrtion  and  diRlike.  People  come  too  much  in  contact  in 
town  :  in  other  places  they  lire  too  much  apart,  to  unite  cordially  nod 
canly.  Our  feelings,  in  the  farmer  catc,  are  diiMpatcd  and  exhausted 
by  being  called  into  conManl  and  rain  activity  i  in  the  latter  they  rust 
and  grow  dead  for  wunt  of  u»e.  If  there  is  an  air  of  lerity  and 
indidercnce  in  London  manner*,  there  it  a  harshnest,  a  moro»ene*t, 
and  ditagreeable  restraint  in  ihote  of  tbe  couittr)-.  We  have  little 
ditpotilioo  to  synipathy,  when  we  hare  few  persons  to  sympathitc 
with ;  we  Iom  the  rdiih  and  capacity  for  tocia)  eojoymenc.  the 
•eldomer  we  meet.  A  habit  of  lullconeis,  coldne**,  and  misaotbropy 
grow*  upon  u*.  If  we  look  for  hospitality  and  a  cheerful  welcome  in 
countty  place*,  it  mu«t  be  in  thoac  where  ihc  arriTal  of  a  itraoger  is 
an  event,  the  rccurrctiec  of  which  need  not  be  greatly  apprehended, 
or  it  mint  be  on  rare  occanons,oo  '*omehigh  festival  of  once  a  year.' 
Tbu  indeed  the  stream  of  hospitality,  so  long  dammed  ap,  may  llow 
iritttout  (tint  for  a  *lion  seaion  ;  or  a  iitria}|cr  may  be  expected  with 
the  ume  tort  of  eager  impatience  a*  a  caravan  of  wild  beaats,  or  any 
Other  naiural  curioaity,  that  excites  our  wonder  and  (ills  up  the 
eravJRg  of  ibe  mind  aAcr  novelty.  By  degrees,  however,  even  this 
Utt  prindple  lo*c*  it*  effect :  books,  newspaper*,  whatever  carries  as 
out  of  ouiselve*  i&to  a  world  of  which  we  see  and  know  ooibing, 
becotnei  di*ta*tefiil,  repulsive  i  and  we  turn  away  with  indifference  or 
dkpHt  from  every  thing  that  dinurb*  our  lethargic  afiimal  exiatcncc, 
or  t^c*  off  our  attentioR  from  our  petty,  local  interest*  and  purtuiia. 
Mao,  left  long  to  himielf,  it  no  better  than  a  titere  clod  |  or  bii 
activity,  for  want  of  aome  other  vent,  prey*  upon  himself,  or  ia 
directed  to  splenetic,  peeriah  dislikes,  or  vexatious,  haratsing  persecn- 
tloo  of  othen.     I  once  drew  a  picture  of  a  country-life:    it  waa  ■ 

75 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

portrait  of  a  nrticnlu  pboe,  a  caricatare  if  tou  will,  bat  wHh  ceruia 
allowance*,  I  fear  it  wm  too  like  in  th«  inditidual  initance,  and  that 
it  would  boJd  too  gcnctdlly  true.     Set  Rovmd  Tahm,  toI.  ii.  p.  1 16. 

If  tbcte  then  arc  the  lault*  and  vice*  of  the  inhatutantt  of  town  or 
of  the  couiury,  wbcrc  should  &  man  go  to  live,  to  a«  to  cfcapc  fVoin 
tbcia  i  I  anawer,  that  io  the  country  we  hare  the  lociety  of  the 
grOTv*.  the  lieldi,  the  brookt,  and  in  London  ft  man  may  keep  to 
hifliaclfi  or  chute  hi«  compiuty  at  he  pleatci. 

It  appear*  to  tnc  that  there  in  an  amiable  mixture  of  these  two 
opposite  chatactcra  in  a  person  who  chance*  to  hare  pait  hi*  youth 
in  London,  and  who  has  triiicd  into  the  countty  for  the  test  of  hi* 
life.  We  may  find  io  *uch  a  one  a  social  polish,  a  pastoral  simplicity. 
He  rusticate*  agreeably,  and  vtjteutei  with  a  degree  of  lemimcnt, 
He  come*  to  the  next  pott-town  to  see  for  letter*,  watches  the  coaches 
at  tliey  pa**,  and  eye*  the  paticngcr*  with  a  look  of  familiar  curiosity* 
thinking  that  he  loo  was  a  gay  fellow  in  hit  time.  He  turn*  hi* 
horte'a  held  down  ihc  oatrow  lane  that  leadi  homewardt,  puu  oo  aa 
old  coal  to  tai-c  his  wardrobe,  and  lillt  hii  glut  nearer  to  the  brim. 
At  he  lifts  the  purple  Juice  to  liit  lip*  and  to  hit  eyci  and  in  the  dim 
Militudr  thu  hems  him  round,  think*  of  the  glowing  line— 

*  Tlu¥  bottle  '■  the  luii  of  our  table  * — 

another  tun  rues  upon  bit  troaginatioo ;  the  *ud  of  hia  youth,  the 
bUze  of  vanity,  the  glitter  of  the  mctropolii,  '  glare*  round  hi*  tou), 
and  mock*  hia  doting  eye-lid*.'  The  ditiaoi  roar  of  coachct  in  hit 
eat* — the  pit  narc  upon  him  with  a  thouxand  eyei — Mrs.  Siddont, 
Bannister,  King,  arc  before  him — he  starts  ai  from  a  dream,  and 
Kwear*  he  will  to  London  :  but  the  expense,  the  length  of  way  dctcri 
him,  and  he  rises  the  next  moruinjj  to  trace  the  fooiitepa  of  the  hare  that 
has  brushed  the  dcwnlrop*  from  the  lawn,  or  to  attend  a  meeiio;;  of 
Majtiitrate* !  Mr.  Justice  Shallow  antwcied  in  tome  tort  to  thit 
description  of  a  retired  Cockney  and  indigenous  country-gentleman. 
He  '  knew  the  Innt  of  Court,  where  they  would  talk  of  mad  Shallow 
yet,  and  where  the  bona  roba*  were,  and  had  them  at  commandment : 
aye^  and  had  heard  the  chimes  at  midnijiht  I  ' 

It  if  a  ttrange  state  of  society  (tuch  as  that  io  London)  where  a 
nuo  doet  not  know  hi*  next-door  neij{hbuur.  and  where  the  feeling* 
(one  would  think)  muat  recoil  upon  themselrei,  and  either  fester  or 
become  obtuse.  Mr.  Wordsworth,  in  the  preface  to  hi*  poem  of  the 
'  Excursion,'  reprc»coi>  men  in  cities  at  »o  many  wild  beasts  or  evil 
spirits,  shut  up  in  cells  of  ignorance,  without  natural  affections,  and 
barricadoed  down  in  tcntuality  and  tcltiahne**.  Tlic  nerve  of 
humanity  it  bound  tip,  according  to  him,  the  ciiculatioti  of  the  blood 

;6 


ON  LONDONERS  AND  COUNTRY  PEOPLE 


itagoatM.  And  it  would  be  k,  if  mm  were  merely  cut  ofT  from 
ioterccurse  w!tli  thrir  imincdi^cr  orighbourt,  aod  did  not  meet 
together  generally  and  more  at  larf-e.  Bui  man  in  Loodoo  become*, 
M  Mr.  Burke  hai  it,  it  sort  of '  [lublic  creature.'  He  Uvct  id  the  eye 
of  the  world,  xnd  the  world  ia  his.  If  he  wttneise*  1ei«  of  the 
detAil*  of  pfivRie  life,  he  hai  better  opportunitict  of  obwrring  its 
target  maaaet  aod  varied  movcmcnu.  He  icc*  the  itrcam  of  human 
life  pouring  aloog  the  ttreett — its  comfort*  and  rmbelliahmentt  piled 
ap  in  the  tbops — the  houaec  are  proofs  of  the  induBiry,  the  public 
building*  of  the  art  and  magniliceitce  of  man;  while  the  public 
amanement*  and  places  of  retort  are  a  centre  and  (upport  for  aocial 
feeling.  A  playhouse  xlone  it  a  school  of  humanity,  where  all  eye* 
■re  fixed  on  the  ume  gay  or  tolemn  scene,  where  imilei  or  (cars  are 
spread  from  face  to  face,  and  where  a  thoatand  hearts  beat  in  untton  ! 
Look  at  the  company  in  a  CDumry'theatrc  (in  compariion)  and  see 
the  coldness,  the  sulleaceM,  the  want  of  sympathy,  and  the  way  in 
which  they  turn  round  to  scan  and  scrutinize  one  another.  In 
London  there  is  a  puitui  and  each  man  ii  |n>t  of  it.  We  are 
gregatioun,  and  afTect  the  kind.  We  have  a  sort  of  abstract  cxiticnce; 
and  B  community  of  ideas  and  knowledge  (rathci  than  local  proximity) 
is  the  bond  of  society  and  good-fellowship.  This  is  one  great  cause 
of  the  tone  of  political  feeling  in  large  and  populous  citiet.  There  is 
here  a  visible  body-politic,  a  type  and  imjige  of  that  huge  Leviathan 
the  State.  We  comprehend  that  vatt  denomination,  the  Peefle,  of 
which  we  see  a  tenth  pan  daily  moving  before  us;  and  by  having 
our  imaginations  emancipated  from  petty  interests  and  personal 
dependence,  we  learn  to  venerate  oarselvcs  as  men,  aod  to  respect  the 
lights  of  human  nature.  Therefore  it  is  that  the  citiiena  and  free- 
men of  London  and  Wektminiter  are  patriots  by  prescription, 
philotophets  and  politicians  bj  tbe  right  of  their  birth-place.  In  the 
country,  men  are  no  better  Uian  a  herd  of  cattle  or  scattered  deer. 
They  have  no  idea  but  of  individuals,  none  of  rights  or  principles^ 
and  a  Idng.  at  the  greatest  individual,  is  the  highest  idea  they  can 
form.  He  is  'a  species  alone,'  and  as  superior  to  any  sioglc  peaiaM 
as  the  latter  is  to  the  peasant's  dog;,  or  to  a  crow  flying  over  his  bead. 
In  London  the  king  is  but  as  one  to  a  million  (numerically  speaking), 
isseldora  seen,  and  then  diitin^uished  only  from  others  by  the  supenor 
graces  of  his  person.  A  country  'squire  or  a  lord  of  the  manor  is  a 
greater  man  io  bis  village  or  hundred ! 


77 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 


ESSAY  VIII 


ON    THE    SriKIT   OF   OBLIGATIONS 

Tmk  two  ramt  thing*  lo  be  met  witb  arc  ggod  h»m  ud  good- 
Douire.  For  ooc  mao  who  judge*  riglii,  there  ut  twcoty  who  caa 
•a^  good  thingBi  m  there  ue  nunibert  who  will  terre  you  or  do 
fneodly  Ktiont,  for  one  who  really  withei  you  well.  It  bat  beea 
laid,  ind  oiua  rqwated,  thut  '  mere  good-oatuie  t>  a  fool : '  but  I 
think  that  the  dearth  of  tound  nenie,  for  the  mo«  part,  proeecdi 
from  ihc  wuit  of  a  rral,  unad'raed  ictctcn  in  thing*,  except  at  ther  j 
rttci  upon  our*elTe« ;  or  frotn  a  neglect  of  the  maxim  of  ihu  EOM 
old  phUanthrotnu,  who  uid,  '  f/ikU  kmumi  a  mt  a£nmm  pia«.'  The 
mrnnraew  of  the  h«an  warp*  the  uoderatanding,  aaid  make*  m 
weigh  object*  ia  the  •cdn  of  our  Klf-lu>c,  ioMcad  of  tbo«e  of  truth 
and  JBitkc.  We  coocider  not  the  merita  of  the  coae,  or  what  » 
due  to  other*,  but  the  nuiiDer  In  which  onr  own  credit  or  con- 
•equencc  will  be  affected ;  and  adapt  our  opinioM  and  conduct  to 
the  latt  of  tbcte  raiber  than  to  the  lirtt.  The  judgmeM  i»  Kldom 
WTOttg  where  the  fceiiogi  m  right;  and  ihey  generally  are  to^ 
profided  they  ue  warm  and  liaccre.  He  who  intendi  otben  well. 
It  likely  to  adriK  them  for  the  belt  i  he  who  hit  any  cauie  at  heart,  ^ 
leldoni  niiat  it  by  hit  imprudence.  Thote  who  play  the  public 
or  their  fiicodt  tlippery  tricct,  have  in  accrct  do  objection  to  beusy 
them. 

Om  £mU  out  the  folly  lod  malice  of  nMoktud  by  the  ioipcrtiacBce 
of  friendt^by  thetr  profeationa  of  wrrice  and  tendera  of  adTice^ 
by  tbctr  feut  (or  your  reputation  and  anticipation  of  what  the  world 
may  tay  of  you  t  by  which  meant  thej  luggett  objection*  to  vour 
encmict,  and  at  the  •atne  time  abaolve  thetuaeUct  from  the  taak  of 
Juatifyiug  your  error*,  by  having  warned  you  of  the  conteijiacncc* — 
by  the  care  with  which  ibcy  tell  you  ill-newt,  and  conceal  from  you 
uy  Suteting  drcmMancc— by  their  dnad  of  your  coga^ng  id  mjF 
creditable  uumjn,  and  nMctitication,  if  you  lucseed — hjr  tfae 
difficulliet  and  liudnDcet  they  throw  in  your  way— by  their  tatia- 
faciion  when  yon  happen  to  nuke  a  tlip  or  ^  into  a  actape,  and 
their  dctcrminatton  to  tie  your  hand*  behind  you,  lest  you  should 
get  out  of  it — by  their  p>anic-teTtora  at  your  catering  into  a  lindicaiioa  \ 
of  yourtclf.  leai  in  the  cour*c  of  it,  you  *boald  enU  Upon  tbem  fiwj 
a  certificate  to  yonr  character — by  their  luke-wamuMM  ie  dd^ndiaib ' 
fay  tbeir  readii>cu  in  betraying  you — by  the  high  ttaodard  by  which 

78 


ON  THE  SPIRIT  OF  OBLIGATIONS 


they  u;  you,  and  lo  which  you  can  h»dly  ever  come  fip—hj  their 
forwudneu  to  putakc  your  triumphs,  by  their  bickwardnnc  to 
ihure  yout  ditftiace — by  liieir  ackoowltslgnieDt  of  your  etrori  out 
of  undour,  und  buppr«uoD  of  your  good  qiuUttet  out  of  cDry—by 
their  not  contradict  lag,  or  by  their  juioing  in  th«  cry  igiiiiK  yoia, 
Icit  they  too  «hou]d  become  objccta  of  the  tame  abute^by  their 
playing  the  game  into  your  advctHtiet'  hud*,  by  alwayt  kiiiog 
their  imagiaalloni  take  part  with  their  cowitrdice,  their  taoity,  aod 
wlfi&hDeM  against  you  i  and  tliut  realising  or  hastening  all  the  ill 
cuowijueDcev  ihey  sfiect  to  deplorei  by  tprcadiog  abroad  tlut  very 
■pitit  of  diittrust,  oblo<)uy,  and  hatted  wliich  they  predict  will  be 
excited  a^init  you  I 

In  all  ihcte  pretended  derouastrationt  of  an  over-anxiety  for  our 
welfare,  we  miy  detect  a  great  deal  of  tpiie  and  ill-nature  larking 
under  the  diiguise  of  a  friendly  and  officiou*  zeal.  It  ia  wonderful 
how  much  love  of  mischief  and  raaUiog  t|JeeD  lica  at  the  bottom  of 
the  human  beait.  and  how  a  constant  supply  of  gall  teemi  as  nececsary 
to  the  health  and  activity  of  the  miad  at  of  the  body.  Yet  perhaps 
it  ought  not  to  excite  much  surprise  that  this  f^nawin^  morbid, 
HcrimoniouB  temper  should  produce  the  ctTcci*  it  does,  when,  if  it 
does  not  vent  ii>elf  on  othem,  ii  preya  upon  ouj  own  comforts,  and 
nukes  ua  sec  the  worn  side  of  cicry  thing,  eren  as  it  regards  out 
own  pcotpccts  and  tranquillity.  It  ia  the  not  being  comfortable  ia 
ouiiclTea,  that  make*  ui  seek  to  render  other  people  uncomfortable. 
A  person  of  this  character  will  advise  you  agunst  a  prosecution  for 
a  libel,  and  ihake  his  head  at  your  attempting  to  shield  yourself 
from  a  shower  of  calumny — It  it  not  thai  he  is  afraid  you  will  be 
nantmird,  but  that  you  will  gain  a  verdict  I     They  caution  you  agaiott 

?ovoking  hoitUiiy,  in  order  that  you  may  aubralt  to  iodigaity. 
bey  uiy  tliat  '  if  you  publish  a  certain  work,  it  will  be  your  ruin ' 
— hoping  that  it  will,  and  by  their  tragical  denunciationt,  bringing 
about  this  very  event  as  fii  as  it  liet  in  their  power,  or  at  aoy  rate, 
enjoying  a  premature  triumph  over  you  in  the  mean  time.  What 
I  would  lay  to  any  friend  who  may  be  disposed  to  foretel  a  general 
outcry  Bgainat  any  work  of  mine,  would  be  to  requeat  htm  to  judge 
and  apeak  of  it  for  himself,  at  he  tliinks  it  deserves— and  not  by  has 
overweening  tcruplcs  and  tjualmt  of  cootcience  oo  my  accouot,  to 
aHord  tboie  i-ery  pertona  whose  hostility  he  deprecates  the  cue  th^ 
are  to  give  to  party-prejudice,  and  which  they  may  juttify  by  li» 
amhcrity. 

Suppose  you  are  about  to  give  Lectures  at  a  Public  Inttitutioni 
these  friends  and  wcll-withen  hope  '  you  '11  be  turned  out — if  you 
prescTTC  youi  priociplci,  they  are  lure  you  will.'     Is  it  that  your 

?9 


THE  Pi.AlN  SPEAKER 

cooiittncv  gim  them  tay  concern?  No,  but  they  are  uOKuy  at 
your  guiuaj>  «  chance  of  a  little  populvity — they  do  oat  like  this 
Dcw  feather  ia  your  cap,  they  wUh  to  tee  it  itruck  oM,/ar  the  lale  of 
ytur  fbartttttr — and  when  this  wai  once  the  cue,  A  would  be  SD 
■ddiliooal  relief  to  them  to  «e«  your  character  fbllowiog  the  «ame 
road  i])e  next  day.  1'he  exerciac  of  their  bile  accmi  to  be  tlie  tole 
eni{)loymeDt  and  gratification  of  tucb  people.  They  deil  in  the 
mtteries  of  human  life.  They  are  always  either  hearing  or  fore- 
boding some  new  grievance.  They  cannot  contain  their  laciafactioo, 
if  you  tell  them  any  mortilication  or  croii-accidcni  thai  hai  happened 
to  yourKlfi  and  if  you  complain  of  their  want  of  aymptthy,  ihey 
laugh  in  your  face.  Thii  would  be  unaccountable,  but  for  the  apirit 
of  perreraity  and  contradiction  implanted  in  human  oaiure.  If  ihiaga 
go  right,  there  ta  nothing  to  be  done — th<«  active-minded  pertona 
grow  feicleu,  dull,  vapid, — life  ia  a  deep,  a  lort  of  tathanatia — Let 
them  go  wrong,  and  all  ii  well  again ;  they  are  once  more  on  the 
alert,  have  aomeihing  to  peater  ihcmtctvca  and  other  people  ^>ont ; 
may  wianglc  on,  and  '  make  raoutha  at  the  inTJirible  cveoi  I ' 
Luckily,  there  ta  no  want  of  materiala  for  ihia  diaporilion  to  work 
upon,  ibrrt  U  pUvtj  «f  ^ntt  for  ihe  mill.  If  you  fall  in  love,  they 
tell  you  (by  way  of  contolationi  it  i»  a  pity  that  you  do  not  fall 
dowosuiit  and  fracture  a  limb — tt  would  be  a  relief  to  your  mind, 
and  ahcw  you  your  folly.  So  they  would  reform  the  world.  The 
claaa  of  peraonn  I  npcak  of  are  almoit  uniform  grumblera  and  croakers 
against  goternmtnit ;  and  it  must  be  confeued,  governments  arc  ol 
great  tervice  in  fasicring  their  humours.  'Born  for  their  use,  they 
live  but  to  oblige  ihtm.'     Wliilc  kinga  are  left  free  to  exerciie  their 

f roper  functiona,  and  poet-laureati  make  out  their  Mittimus  to 
leaven  without  a  warrant,  they  will  never  stop  the  mouthi  of  the 
ccnaorioaa  by  changing  their  diaponition* ;  the  juice*  of  Faction  will 
ferment,  and  the  secretion*  of  the  state  be  duly  performed !  I  do 
not  mind  when  a  character  of  this  son  meets  a  Minister  of  State 
like  an  east-wind  round  a  comer,  and  gives  him  an  ague-fit  i  but 
why  should  be  meddle  with  me  ?  Why  should  he  tell  me  I  write 
too  much,  and  lay  that  I  should  gain  reputation  if  I  could  contrite 
to  starre  for  a  twelvemonth  ?  Or  if  1  apply  to  him  for  a  loan  of 
fifty  pounds  for  present  ncccasiiy,  send  me  word  back  that  he  ha* 
too  much  regard  for  me,  to  comply  with  my  ieque«t  ?  It  la 
unhandsome  irony.     It  is  not  friendly,  'tis  not  prdonable.' 

1  like  teal  good-nature  and  good-will,  better  than  I  do  any  oFcfi 
of  patronage  or  plaunible  rulet  fur  my  conduct  in  life.     I  may  suspect 
the  aonndne**  of  the  latt,  and  I  may  not  be  quite  sure  of  the  motivM 
I  This  cimtoiiaace  did  not  happen  ic  nw,  bui  to  an  ic^aamtaon. 

So 


ON  THE  SPIRIT  OF  OBLIGATIONS 

of  the  itn.  People  comiilain  of  ingraiitudt  for  bcoeliu,  and  of  ibe 
neglect  of  wfaoletottie  advice.  In  the  Cut  place,  we  pny  littJs 
aueotioD  to  advice,  beeauM  we  arc  Kldom  thoujrht  of  in  it.  The 
pertOD  who  girea  it  cither  cootent*  himself  to  lay  down  [ex  taiheiira) 
certain  vague,  general  maxim*,  and  '  wite  law*,'  which  we  knew 
before  ;  or,  inttead  of  coniidcring  what  wc  ought  la  do,  recommends 
irttat  he  hiiOKlf  vmuld  do.  He  merely  lubsiiiuie*  his  own  will* 
Cflprioe,  and  prejudicei  for  ours,  and  expect*  us  to  be  guided  by 
them.  Instead  of  changing;  places  with  us  (to  see  what  it  best  to 
be  done  in  the  given  circumttancet),  he  insists  on  our  lookinft  at  the 
queition  from  his  point  of  view,  and  acting  in  such  a  manner  a>  to 
pleaie  him.  Thit  is  not  at  all  reasonable ;  for  one  man'i  mtat, 
according  to  the  old  adage,  u  anolier  mai'i  fauon.  And  it  n  not 
Strange,  that  starting  from  such  opposite  brcmiscs,  wc  should  seldom 
jump  in  R  conclosion,  and  that  the  art  oc  giving  and  taking  advice 
is  little  better  than  a  game  at  crota-putpo«es.  i  hate  observed  that 
thoK  who  are  the  moit  inclined  to  assist  others  are  the  least  forward 
or  peremptory  with  their  advice  i  for  having  our  interest  really  at 
heart,  they  consider  what  can,  rather  than  what  tannet  be  done,  and 
aid  our  viewt  and  endeavour  to  avert  ill  consequence*  by  moderating 
our  impatience  and  allaying  irritations,  instead  of  thwarting  our  main 
design,  which  only  tends  to  make  us  tnoie  extravagant  and  violent 
than  ever.  In  the  second  place,  beoeiits  ate  often  conferred  out  of 
ostentation  or  pride,  rather  than  from  true  regard  i  and  the  person 
obliged  ii  too  apt  to  perceive  thit.  People  who  arc  fond  of  appearing 
in  the  light  of  patron*  will  perhaps  go  through  fac  and  water  to  lerve 
you,  who  yet  would  be  torry  to  find  you  no  longer  wanted  their 
assiftaoce,  and  whofc  friendship  cools  and  their  good-will  slackens, 
as  you  are  relieved  by  their  active  zeal  from  the  necessity  of  being 
further  beholden  to  it.  Compassion  and  generosity  aie  their  favourite 
virtuei  i  and  they  counienanee  you,  as  you  alTord  them  oppor- 
lunitiei  for  exercising  them.  The  instant  you  can  go  alone,  or  can 
stand  upon  your  own  ground,  you  are  discarded  as  unlit  for  their 
purpose. 

This  it  something  more  than  mere  good-nature  or  humanity.  A 
thoroughly  good-oatured  man,  a  real  friend,  is  one  who  is  pleased  M 
our  good-brtuoc,  as  well  as  prompt  to  seixe  every  occasion  of 
relieving  our  distress.  We  apportion  our  gratitude  accordingly. 
We  are  thankful  for  good-will  rather  than  for  services,  for  tlie 
niotive  than  the  ijuanlum  of  favour  received — a  kind  word  or  loolt 
is  nerer  forgotten,  while  wc  cancel  prouder  and  weightier  ot>Iigation«  t 
and  those  who  esteem  us  or  evince  a  partiality  to  us  arc  those  whom 
we  still  consider  at  our  best  friends.     Nay,  lo  strong  is  this  feeling, 

roi.  VII. :  r  8 1 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKEU 


that  wc  cxtcod  it  mo  to  tboac  cooBtcHnH  is  friradthip,  Baxtenn 
tad  rycofHuau.  Our  Klf-lorc,  ruber  tlua  oar  •df-intereM,  u  the 
muter -key  lo  our  i^ctiau. 

I  am  not  conriaced  that  tfaoic  are  alwaj*  the  bMt-ini«rai  or  the 
bm-coodiiiooetl  men,  who  boiy  ibemadm  moM  with  the  diiirmea 
of  tfadr  fcUow-crcuum.  I  do  mx  koow  thai  tiiosc  whote  naaM* 
uand  at  ibr  br^  of  aU  HbacriptiOM  to  cfatfitible  iaKitatioBt,  attd 
irito  arc  pctpctiul  ucwarda  of  dinncrt  and  mcctiaH  l«  cocouragc 
and  erocooce  tbe  ettabluhiBent  of  aijloto*  toi  ibc  r«i>d'  of  tbe  bliadt 
tbe  halt,  and  ike  otpban  poor*  are  pcnOM  gifud  with  ihc  beat 
teropera  of  tbe  kiodlteit  frtiittfri.  1  do  not  diipwe  iheir  mtue,  I 
donbt  tbeir  KMiUlity.  I  am  not  bete  (peaking  of  tho«e  wfao  make 
a  trade  of  the  proraaton  of  homanity,  or  aet  tbek  Mtmea  down  «at 
of  mere  idle  parade  aod  *aiii(y.  I  mean  thoac  who  rally  cotcr  iato 
the  dttatia  aod  drudgery  of  thi>  tort  of  lervice,  fern  amcrr,  and  who 
delight  in  ■urTcytng  aad  ta  diminiahing  the  amoimt  of  hnraaD  misery. 
I  Doaeenre  it  poattbte.  that  a  peiaoo  who  i*  goioj  to  po«iT  oil  aod 
fatliii  bto  tbe  woundi  of  aSicied  huauaJtjt  at  a  meetiag  of  tbe 
WcMem  Diapenury,  by  handwme  ipeechea  and  by  a  handaome 
dowatian  (oot  grudgini^ly  givea)  may  be  thrown  into  a  fit  of  rage 
that  very  moening,  by  hating  hi*  toait  too  moch  battered,  n^ 
quarrel  with  tbe  ianoceot  prKtIe  aDd  oimiacmcnu  of  hia  childrro, 
cry  '  Piah ! '  at  etery  obterniioii  tua  wife  nttera,  asd  acarcely  fi;el 
a  moBMBt'a  oon&Kt  at  any  period  of  bis  life,  except  when  he  bears 
or  mda  of  some  case  of  preMuig  dtitrcw  that  calU  for  hit  immediate 
inaeffeteiice,  and  drawB  on  ht>  atteotian  from  hi*  own  sitnaiion  and 
feelingi  by  tbe  act  of  allcTiaiing  ii.  Thoic  nurtyta  to  tbe  caoie  of 
buuiity,  in  thon,  who  run  the  ^noilet  of  the  whole  catalogoc 
of  tiabcard-of  crimes  and  ajfiictiog  caaoaltiea,  who  ransack  prisons, 
and  plun]>c  into  lazar-houaei  and  slavc-ahipa  aa  their  daily  ammemeot 
and  highest  hixury,  must  geoerally,  I  think  (tboogh  not  always),  be 
prompted  to  the  ardooo*  tatk  by  uiteasy  feeling*  of  their  own,  aod 
tnppotted  ihroojth  it  by  iroo  nerve*.  Tbeir  fortitode  must  he  equal 
to  their  pity.  1  do  not  think  Mr.  Wtlberforce  a  case  in  point  in  this 
argument.  He  is  endcntly  a  ddicately-fraiBed,  atmm,  scwatirc 
nun.  I  aboald  tumsc  bim  to  be  a  kind  ami  aflitciioaateiy  disposed 
ptTwKi  in  all  the  rcUlMMia  of  life.  Hia  weakaesa  is  too  quick  a  seiMe 
uf  reputation,  a  deore  to  have  tbe  good  word  of  ail  men,  a  tendency 
to  trackle  to  power  aod  fawn  on  opinion.  But  there  arc  lomc  of 
these  pbilaatbropitta  that  a  physio^omiai  haa  hard  work  (o  believe 
in.  Tbcy  leem  made  of  pakeboaid,  they  look  like  mere  machines : 
tbeir  benevolence  mav  be  laid  to  go  on  rollers,  and  they  arc  screwed 
to  tbe  Bticking-placc  by  the  wheels  aod  puUcyt  of  hnraaoity  i 

8> 


ON  THE  SPIRIT  OF  OBLIGATIONS 

*  If  to  thcii  than  icitit  iplfixliil  rinun  fall. 
Look  ill  ihcir  face,  a&d  pni  furgrt  thcin  all.' 

Thcjr  appr;ir  to  much  tbc  cicaturci  of  tlw  head  »nd  to  little  of  the 
hcirtr  they  are  to  cold,  «o  littlets,  no  mccluntcal,  so  much  gantatd 
by  cJcuUition,  and  to  little  by  impuUe,  that  it  Kcmi  the  toct-up  of  a 
luUjwiuiy,  a  mere  turn  of  a  feather,  whether  luch  people  thould 
become  a  Granville  Shaq>,  or  a  Hubert  ia  '  King  John,'  a  Howard, 
or  a  Sir  Hndion  Lowe ! 

*  Charity  coicra  a  niultitadt  of  tins.'  Wherever  it  ia,  there  nothiag 
CM  be  waotiog  1  wherever  it  ie  not.  all  the  i>  rain.  '  The  (neaoen 
Mttaot  00  the  blcukect  mountain  in  not  without  a  portion  of  it  (tay* 
St«tne),  he  Sudi  the  laceiated  bmb  of  aooiher'*  flock,'  Sec.  (Sec 
the  paiaa^e  in  the  SenitKUiUa/  Joumty.}  I  do  not  thiok  educaiioo  or 
circum nance*  can  ever  entirely  eradicate  ihii  principle.  Some  pfO- 
feMioni  may  be  lupposcd  to  bluni  it,  but  it  is  pcrhap*  more  b 
appearance  than  in  reality.  Butchers  are  not  allowed  to  *it  no  a 
jury  for  Ufc  and  death ;  but  probably  this  i«  a  prejudice  :  if  they  have 
the  ilfUmethrt  organ  m  an  unusual  c^grec  of  expaauoo,  they  vent  their 
sanguinary  inclinations  on  the  brute  creation  t  and  betide*,  they  look 
too  jolly,  rosy,  and  in  good  ca*e  (they  and  their  wives),  to  harbour 
much  cruelty  in  their  ditpoaitioas.  Neither  would  I  swear  that  a 
man  was  humane,  merely  (or  abstaining  from  animal  food.  A  tiger 
WObU  not  be  a  iamb,  though  it  fed  on  oiilk.  Sutgeont  are  in  general 
ibmgbt  to  be  unfeeling,  arid  steeled  by  custom  to  the  tutfeiingt  of 
humanity.  They  may  be  >o,  as  far  a«  relates  to  broken  bones  and 
bruitei,  but  not  to  other  thing*.  Nor  are  they  neceaurily  to  in  tbcir 
ptofetsion  ;  for  we  find  dilferent  degree*  of  callous  intentibility  in 
dilfcient  individual*.  Some  practitioner*  have  an  evident  delight 
in  alarming  the  apprehen^ioni  and  cutting  olf  the  limb*  of  their 
patient*:  ihew  would  bare  been  ill-natured  men  in  any  situation  in 
life,  and  merely  make  an  excute  of  tlieir  profeftiiao  to  indulge  tbeir 
natural  Ul-bumour  and  brutality  of  temper.  A  mirgeoa  who  it  fond 
of  giving  pain  to  thoM  who  consult  him  will  not  spore  the  feelings  of 
hi*  neighbour*  in  other  respect*  t  ha*  a  tendency  to  probe  other 
wound*  beadcB  those  of  the  body ;  and  i*  altogether  a  harsh  and  dis- 
agreeable character.  A  .Tack-Ketch  may  be  Lnown  to  lie  the  fatal 
nooM  with  trembling  &ngcn ;  or  a  jailor  may  have  »  heart  softer  than 
the  wall*  of  his  pmoa.  There  have  been  instance*  of  highwaymen 
who  were  proverbially  gentlemen.  1  have  seen  a  Bow-ttrcet  omccr  * 
(not  but  that  the  transition  it  ungracious  and  unjust)  readbg  Racine, 
and  tiallowiag  the  recitation  of  Talraa  at  the  door  of  a  room,  which 


'  L*rnid(r. 


83 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 


he  «rM  um  to  fuud.  PoUcc-maginnce*,  fron  the  tctoa  thej  h*n 
U)  witocH  and  the  cbaiKtcn  tbey  cone  in  contact  with,  may  be 
«uppo»cJ  to  lo*c  the  fine  edge  of  delicacy  and  tcndbiJny :  yet  tbcy 
>re  not  all  alike,  but  diiTcf,  u  ooe  mu  diiferi  fron  sDOcher  ia 
magnitude.  Ooe  i*  at  rcfnirkable  for  mildoeM  and  lenity,  *»  aoothfr 
i*  oatotioas  fof  haiihoevi  and  tetcnty.  The  late  Mr.  Jutttcc 
Fieldtoft  «ru  a  membei  of  iliii  profnnoa,  »faicb  /botrcTtr  btlle 
accordaat  with  hii  own  feeUan)  be  aiade  pleaiant  to  tooac  of  ochen. 
He  gamatly  aent  aw^iy  the  diiputaou  io  that  unruly  region,  where 
be  presided,  tolerably  utiiccd.  I  lure  o&cti  *cca  him,  etc^icd  from 
the  tiouy  repvlrivc  aceae.  wnntag  hioitetf  in  the  adjoining  walk*  of 
St.  Janxa'i  Park,  and  with  mild  aiptct,  atld  lofty  bat  uowieldy  nuea, 
cyeisg  the  verdant  gUdct  aad  leogtlwfua(  nma  where  pcrtuiw  hi* 
childhood  loitered.  He  had  a  Kroii|  reaemUaace  to  hii  fxibti,  the 
immortal  author  of  'Tom  Jone>.'  I  aever  paved  hiio,  that  I  did 
not  take  off  ray  hat  to  him  in  ^irit.  I  coaU  not  help  thinking  of 
Parton  Adanu,  of  Booth  aiid  Aoielia.  I  teetncd  to  belong,  by 
iotellectual  adopcioe,  to  the  aamc  Uniily,  aad  would  willingly  have 
ackaowltdged  my  obligaiioa*  to  ihc  fuher  to  the  too.  He  had  aome- 
thiflg  of  the  air  of  Colonel  Bath.  When  yoanj;,  he  had  very 
exccUeat  protjiecu  in  the  laW|  but  ncj;leaed  a  btief  tent  htm  by  the 
Auomey^GeMnl,  io  ordet  to  attend  a  glee-club,  for  which  he  had 
engaged  to  (ivnuh  a  rondeatL  Thit  apoilcd  hit  foriuoc.  A  mu 
wbote  object  u  to  pleaae  hinwclf,  or  to  keep  hia  word  lo  hit  frieiKlii 
it  the  laai  maa  to  ihriTe  at  court.  Yet  he  looked  terene  and  imiHng 
to  hit  laiest  breath,  conactout  of  the  goodataa  of  his  own  li«art, 
and  of  not  having  nUied  a  Dame  that  bad  thrown  a  light  upon 
huniaotty ! 

There  are  diAcrent  modea  of  obligation,  and  dtifcrent  arcouex  to 
oor  gratitode  and  favour.  A  man  may  lend  hia  countenance  wIm 
will  not  part  with  hii  money,  and  open  hit  enind  to  nt  who  will  not 
draw  out  hit  p«rae.  How  many  waya  arc  tbcre,  in  which  our 
peace  may  be  ait^tcd,  betides  actual  want  I  How  many  comforts 
do  we  Mai)d  in  need  of|  bendea  meat  aad  drink  and  clothing !  I>  it 
nothing  to  'admimner  to  a  mind  dtKaaed ' — to  heal  a  wounded 
(pint !  After  all  other  diflicultiet  are  removed,  we  atill  want  lonte 
one  IO  bear  with  our  tnlinDitiet,  to  im|>an  our  confidence  lo,  to 
encourage  us  in  onr  MHu  (na^lo  get  op  and  tide  behind  lu)  and 
lo  like  us  with  all  our  faults.  True  fricndthip  is  sclftove  at  secood- 
haod  i  where,  at  in  a  flattering  mirror,  we  may  see  our  virtues 
tMgn>(ied  and  our  error*  lottened,  and  where  we  may  fancy  our 
OBliioo  of  euraelves  confirmed  by  an  impartial  and  ftityiil  wttoeat. 
He  (of  all  the  world)  creeps  the  closeit  in  our  bosom*,  bto  oar 

84 


ON  THE  SPIRIT  OF  OBLIGATIONS 

brour  mid  esiwni,  who  ihioka  of  ui  mott  ncntly  m  we  do  of 
ourtelT««.  Such  a  one  is  indeed  die  pattcto  of  a  friend,  another  telf 
— and  our  graunide  for  the  bleiuox  i*  m  uDcere,  as  it  ie  hollow  in 
moRi  other  caan !  ThU  is  one:  reuon  why  entire  friendihip  it 
icarcely  lo  be  found,  except  in  love.  There  it  a  hnrdncut  and 
Mverity  in  our  judgmenti  of^onc  another;  the  npirii  of  competition 
ftlio  intervene*,  unleu  where  ibere  t«  too  great  »n  ineqiuility  of  pre- 
toiBon  or  ditTeieocc  of  tMte  to  admit  of  mutual  lympathy  and 
re«pect  i  but  a  woman'*  vanity  is  iotere*ied  in  making  the  object  of 
her  choice  the  God  of  her  idolatry!  and  in  the  tntercouHC  with  that 
(ex,  [here  ii  ihc  finest  balance  and  rejection  of  oppoiite  and  antwer- 
iog  excellences  imnginablc !  It  t«  in  the  highcit  spirit  of  the  religion 
of  love  io  the  female  brcaH,  that  Lord  Byron  ha*  put  that  beautiful 
apottrophe  into  the  mouth  of  Anab,  in  apeaking  of  her  angel-lover 
(alai !  are  not  the  »oo»  of  meo  too,  when  they  are  deilied  in  the 
heart*  of  women,  only  'a  litlle  lower  than  the  angeU^*) 

'  And  when  I  tliink  chat  hli  immorlal  wing* 
Shall  one  day  hover  o'er  the  icpulchrc 
Df  the  poor  child  of  clay,  thai  to  adored  him, 
A(  h«  adorrd  (he  Highe*t,  death  become* 
Let*  lerribte  I ' 

Thi*  i*  a  dangetou*  «iring,  which  I  ought  never  to  touch  upoaj 
but  the  shattered  cordu  vibrate  of  ihem*clve« ! 

The  di^'crence  of  »gc,  of  situation  in  life,  and  an  absence  of  all 
consider  a  ttunt  of  buiineu  have,  I  apprehend,  something  of  the  tame 
elFect  in  producing  u  rclined  and  ab«tracied  fricndihip.  The  person, 
whose  doors  I  enter  with  moit  pleaturc,  and  tiuii  with  moit  regret, 
never  did  me  the  imalleit  favour.  I  once  did  him  an  uncallea-lor 
Krvicc,  and  we  nearly  quarrelled  about  it.  If  I  were  in  the  utmo«c 
diiUcM,  I  should  jait  as  soon  think  of  asking  hii  assiilancc,  as  of 
itopfriDg  a  perion  on  the  highway.  Practical  benevolence  is  not  his 
Jeru.  He  leaves  the  profetsion  of  that  lo  others.  His  habit*, 
hi*  theory  arc  againtt  it  aa  idle  and  vulgar.  His  band  is  doted,  but 
what  of  that  ?  Hia  tyt  it  ever  Open,  and  rcflecta  the  universe  :  hit 
silver  accent*,  beautiful,  venerable  at  hi*  tilver  hairi,  but  not  scanted. 
Bow  a*  a  river.  1  never  ate  or  drank  in  hi*  house;  nor  do  I  know 
or  care  how  the  tlics  or  spiders  fare  in  it,  or  whether  a  mouic 
CM  gel  a  living.  Bui  I  know  that  I  can  get  there  what  I  get 
nowhere  el«e^-a  welcome,  aa  tf  one  was  ex|>Ected  to  drop  in  just  at 
that  nionieiii,  a  total  ab«ence  of  all  respect  of  persons  and  of  airs  of 
•elf-conteciuence,  endless  topic*  of  diacoiuse,  refined  thoughts,  made 
more  striking  by  ease  and  (iniplicity  of  manner— the  husk,  the  shell 


Jl 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 


of  hnnuoity  ie  left  at  tbe  door,  uid  the  •pint,  mellowed  hf  time, 
retideK  within !  All  you  luve  to  do  w  to  (it  and  listen  g  and  it  h 
like  hetuingooe  of  Titian'*  face*  «pak.  To  think  of  worldly  matter* 
ia  a  profanation,  like  that  of  the  money-changer*  io  the  Temple ;  or 
it  ia  to  regard  the  brc«d  and  wnnc  of  the  Sacfamcni  with  carnal  eye*. 
We  enter  the  enchanter'*  cell,  and  conierte  with  the  ditinc  ia- 
babittiit.  To  have  ihta  privilege  aluraya  at  hand,  and  to  be  circled 
bflhat  »pell  whenei-ct  we  chuie,  with  aa  'Entrr  SttMini,'  ii  better 
than  tittirg  at  the  lower  end  of  the  tablet  of  the  Great,  than  eating 
awkwatdlv  from  gold  plate,  than  drinking  fulaome  toatta,  m  being 
thankful  for  groai  fnTouri,  and  grou  iniullt ! 

Few  things  tend  more  to  alienate  friendthip  than  a  wont  of 
pitnctuility  in  our  engagcmenta.  I  hare  known  the  breach  of  a  promiac 
to  dine  or  tup  break  up  mote  than  one  intimacy.  A  dtaappomtment 
of  thii  kind  rankle*  b  the  mind — it  cut*  up  our  pleaauret  (thcne  rare 
e*eau  in  human  life,  which  ought  not  to  be  wantonly  *ported  with  I ) 
—it  not  only  depritei  n*  of  the  expected  gratification,  but  it  reikden 
us  unfit  for,  and  ont  of  humour  with,  every  other  ;  it  naake*  u*  think 
onr  (ocieiy  cot  worth  haring,  which  i«  not  the  way  lo  make  ut 
delighted  with  our  own  thoughta;  it  le*»enii  our  «elf-e«teem,  and 
denioya  our  confidence  in  othera;  and  baiing  leituce  on  our  hand* 
(by  being  ihui  left  alone)  and  nilficient  provocation  withal,  we 
employ  it  in  ripptne  up  the  faulta  of  the  acquaintance  who  ha*  played 
u*  thit  *Uppery  tnck,  and  in  forming  reiolution*  to  nek  a  ouarrcl 
with  him  the  very  firat  opportunity  we  can  find.  I  myarti  once 
declined  aa  inritation  to  meet  Talma,  who  wia  an  admirer  of 
Shakeapcv,  nid  who  idolized  Buonaparte,  lo  keep  an  appoiounent 
wiih  a  petioo  who  had  forgti  it  I  One  great  art  of  women,  who 
pretend  to  manage  their  huabanda  and  keep  them  to  tbemaelrea,  ia  to 
contrive  *ome  excuie  for  breaking  their  engagementa  with  frienda,  (or 
whom  they  entertain  any  leipect)  or  who  are  likdy  to  bare  any 
inAQcnce  oter  them. 

There  ia,  howeter,  a  claat  of  penoo*  who  hare  a  particular  aatia- 
iaction  in  falaifying  your  expectation*  of  nltaaurc  in  their  aociety,  who 
make  apwinimenta  for  no  other  twtenaiolc  pnipow  than  nM  ta  terp 
ihfmi  who  ihick  their  ill-bebariour  {pvca  them  an  dr  of  mpenority 
over  you,  initead  of  placing  them  at  your  mercy ;  and  who,  in  fact, 
in  all  their  ovctturea  of  condeKending  klndnea*  toward*  yon,  treat 
you  exactly  aa  if  there  waa  no  nich  prrton  in  the  world.  Friendahip 
if  will)  them  a  lavna-draina,  in  which  ihcy  play  the  principal  and  lole 
part.  They  muat  needa  be  very  impoaing  or  amuaicg  character*  to 
auirouiid  tbemielves  with  a  circle  of  frienda,  who  find  that  they  are 
to  be  mere  cypher*.    The  entiam  would  in  auch  inatanoe*  be 

86 


ON  THE  SPIRIT  OF  OBLIGATIONS 

odtamt  and  mu>l«rable,  if  iu  rery  excen  did  oot  rtadct  it  enter- 
taining'.. Some  individuatii  carry  this  hard,  unprtnctplnl,  [cckleaii 
URCDDSciouanect  of  every  thing  bui  themiclTe*  and  their  own  purpoicc 
to  such  a  pitch,  thai  ibry  may  be  compnrcit  to  aulamaU,  whom  yoa 
Dcrer  expect  to  coDiulc  your  irelioga  or  slier  their  moTemcnts  out  of 
eompluMDCc  to  other*.  They  are  wound  up  to  a  certain  poioti  bj 
U  intefoal  machbcry  which  you  do  not  very  well  comprehend  i  bat 
if  they  perform  their  accustomed  erolutiont  >o  as  to  excite  your 
wonder  or  laiq;hter,  it  i*  all  very  well,  you  do  oot  quarrel  with  ibem, 
but  look  oo  at  the  paMBmime  of  friendihip  while  ii  lattt  or  is  agreeable. 

There  are  (1  may  add  here)  a  happy  few,  whose  maoorf  i«  so 
engaging  and  delightful,  that  injure  you  how  they  will,  they  cannot 
oliend  you.  They  rob,  ruin,  ridicule  you,  aod  yoo  caonot  lind  in 
your  h«an  to  tay  a  word  agaiflat  ihern.  The  late  Mr.  Sheridan  was 
a  man  of  thia  kind.  He  too/J  noi  make  eaemiea.  If  any  one  came 
to  requett  the  repayment  of  a  io4D  from  him.  he  borrowed  more.  A 
cordial  ahake  of  hi«  hand  waa  a  receipt  in  full  for  all  demand).  He 
could  '  coin  hiii  imi/e  for  drachma^,'  cancelled  bond*  with  ic»  malt, 
and  gave  jokct  in  di«chargc-  of  a  bill.  A  friend  of  his  Mid,  *  If  I  null 
olT  my  hat  to  him  ia  the  strett,  it  co«t»  me  fifty  pound*,  and  it  fac 
tpeaki  to  me,  it 'a  a  hundred  ! ' 

Onlv  one  other  reflection  occuri  to  me  on  this  lubject.  I  uaed  to 
think  better  of  the  world  than  I  do.  I  thought  its  great  iiiult,  iti 
oiiginaJ  tin,  wm  barbarous  ignorance  and  want,  which  would  be  cured 
by  the  dilfueion  of  civilizauon  and  letters.  But  I  find  (or  fancy  I  do) 
that  a*  •clfisbnew  u  the  vioc  of  unlettered  periods  and  oationt,  cnty 
it  die  boM  of  more  rclined  and  iatellectual  one*.  Vanity  tpriogs  out 
of  the  f!ra»e  of  sordid  aelf-iotercat.  Men  woe  formerly  ready  to  cut 
one  another'*  throat*  about  the  tjrow  meana  of  luhaistence,  and  now 
they  arc  ready  to  do  it  about  reputation.  The  worst  ■*,  vou  are  no 
better  off,  if  you  fail  ih^n  if  you  nuccccd.  You  arc  dcspited  if  you 
do  not  excel  others,  and  hated  if  you  do.  Abuse  or  praise  equally 
weaat  your  friends  from  you.  We  cannot  bear  «ninenc«  in  our  own 
drpartment  or  pursuit,  and  think  it  an  impertinence  in  any  other. 
Initead  of  being  delighted  with  the  proofs  of  excellence  and  the 
admiration  paid  to  it,  we  are  mortified  with  it,  thrive  only  by  the 
defeat  of  others,  and  lite  on  the  caicaae  of  mangled  reputation.  By 
being  tried  by  an  iJtaJ  standard  of  vanity  and  alTcctation,  real  objecta 
and  common  people  become  odious  or  insipid.  Instead  of  bebg 
raiaed,  all  it  ptoititutcd,  degraded,  vile.  livery  thing  is  reduced  to 
thi«  feYcritli,  importunate,  haraaiing  state.  I  'm  bcarlily  sick  of  it) 
and  I  'm  sure  I  have  reanon  if  any  oiw  has. 

87 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 


ESSAY   IX 


ON    THE    OLD   ACE   OF   ARTISTS 


Ml.  NoLUWiH  died  the  other  dxy  at  the  ajte  ef  etgjhtj,  >ad  left 
340,000  pousdt  behind  him,  and  the  nunc  of  one  of  oor  bc*t 
EnglUh  Kvtpcori.  There  wm  a  great  tcramble  aoioDg  the  Icgatect, 
a  codicil  to  a  will  with  large  bezant*  BOtigMdi  aod  that  lut  iriuinplt 
of  the  dead  or  dying  over  thoie  who  wiiiTe — hope*  ruaed  aiid 
defintcd  wiUiouc  a  pontbtlity  of  naiBawm,  or  the  HoalleH  «w  ia 
coiopltini.  The  king  was  at  liric  did  to  be  left  r««idawy  kgaiee. 
Tbii  would  have  been  a  fine  toiUace  of  roDaamic  and  gntukooi 
homage  to  Majetcy,  to  a  man  who  all  hii  life-time  covld  nerer  be 
made  to  comprehend  the  abwract  idea  of  the  diMiociioB  of  rank*  or 
even  of  perton*.  He  would  go  vp  10  ihc  Duke  of  York,  or  PritiM 
of  Walcti  (in  ipite  of  warning},  take  them  familiarly  by  the  biuton 
like  common  actiaaintancc,  aik  them  Imw  litir  faiktr  did\  and 
exprets  pleanre  at  hearing  he  wai  well,  uying,  ■  when  be  waa  Booe, 
we  thouJd  oeref  get  noch  another.'  He  once,  when  the  old  King 
waa  thtiog  to  him  lor  bia  bun,  fairly  lUck  a  pair  of  compaMea  into 
bh  D0«c  10  mcuurc  the  dinance  from  the  tipper  lip  10  the  ferdicad, 
aa  if  be  had  bcm  (ncamring  a  block  of  maiUc.  Hia  late  Majeaty 
Ingbed  heartily  at  ibia,  and  wai  amincd  to  Sod  that  there  wia  a 
penoQ  in  the  world,  ignorant  of  that  vait  bterral  whkh  aeparated 
Bin)  from  ercry  other  nun.  Nolkkeoi,  with  aJl  hit  loyalty,  merdy 
liked  the  man,  and  cued  nothbg  aboat  the  kiog  (whkh  wai  one  of 
thote  mixed  nadii,  at  Mt.  Locke  calk  them,  M  which  be  had  no 
more  idea  than  if  he  had  bc«n  one  of  the  cmm-coloored  faorie«) — 
handled  him  like  m  much  common  day,  and  had  no  other  notion  of 
the  matter,  but  tbst  it  waa  hii  bufinest  to  make  the  bctt  bntc  of  him 
he  potaibly  coald,  aad  to  set  about  in  the  regular  way.  There  waa 
tonwthiog  in  thi*  plainnen  and  timpliciiy  that  tavoured  pubap  of 
the  bardncM  and  dryneat  of  hi*  an,  and  of  hi*  own  peculiar  wrcrity 
of  muiier.  He  conceind  that  one  man'*  head  difTcrcd  from 
another**  only  a*  it  wai  a  better  or  wor»c  nibject  Uxc  modclliitg,  that 
a  bad  bate  wai  not  made  into  a  good  one  by  being  Mack  upon  a 
pedritaJ,  or  by  any  painting  or  rarDiahi&g,  and  that  by  whaterer 
name  he  waa  called,  'a  man  'i  c  man  for  a*  thai.'  A  Kulptor't  idea* 
mmti  I  ihould  gneta,  be  aomewhat  rigid  and  bflexible,  like  the 
materiab  in  which  he  n-ork*.  Beiidct,  Nollekenc'i  «yle  wa*  cotn- 
paniively  hard  and  edgy.  He  had  a*  much  truth  and  characttf, 
88 


ON  THE  OLD  AGE  OF  ARTISTS 

but  noDC  of  the  polUbed  giaceg  or  trantparmt  to^u*  of  Chftfitry. 
He  had  more  of  the  rough,  plnin,  downright  honetty  of  hin  xti.  It 
H«mod  to  be  hie  character.  Mr.  Northcote  wai  once  complinmciRg 
him  on  his  ac  know  led  p.pd  super  iurity—^'  Ay,  jiou  tniide  the  btu  busts  of 
anybody! '  *  I  don't  know  about  that,'  aid  the  other,  hiieyei  (though 
■heir  orbt  were  quenched)  imiling  with  a  gleam  of  smothered  delight — 
<  I  only  know  I  alwayi  cried  to  make  them  a>  like  a*  I  could !  ' 

I  MW  this  emioent  and  singular  person  one  morning  in  Mr. 
Nortlicote't  painting-room.  He  had  then  been  for  some  time  blind, 
md  had  been  obliged  to  lay  atide  the  exercise  of  his  profession  i 
but  he  still  took  a  pieaiure  in  designing  groups,  and  in  giving 
directions  to  others  for  executing  them.  He  and  Norlbcote  made 
a  remarkable  pnir.  He  tat  down  on  a  low  tiool  (from  being  rather 
fatigued],  retted  wilh  both  hands  on  a  ccick,  as  if  he  clung  to  the 
solid  and  tangible,  had  an  habitual  twitch  in  hi*  limbs  and  motions, 
as  if  catching  himself  in  the  act  of  going  too  far  in  chiselling  a  lip  or 
■  dimple  in  a  chin ;  wis  io//-upright,  with  features  hard  and  s<juare, 
but  finr]y  cut,  a  hooked  nose,  thin  tjpt,  an  indented  forehead ;  and 
the  defect  in  hit  sight  completed  his  resemblance  to  one  of  his  own 
roiSM-dy  bustt.  He  seemed,  by  time  and  labour,  to  'have  •mrougbl 
himself  10  stone/  Northcotc  Hood  by  his  side — all  air  and  spirit, 
stooping  down  to  speak  to  him.  The  pstinter  was  in  a  loose  morning- 
gown,  with  his  back  to  the  light ;  his  lace  was  like  a  pale  line  piece 
of  colouring ;  and  bit  eye  came  out  and  glanced  through  the  twilight 
of  the  past,  like  an  old  eagle  looking  from  ill  eyrie  in  the  clouds. 
In  a  moment  they  had  lighted  firom  the  top  of  Mount  Cenis  in  the 
Vatican — 

■  At  when  a  vulture  on  Imaus  bred 
F!ie»  tow'rdi  the  iprinp 
Of  Ganges  and  Kydupri,  Indian  ttreami,' 

these  two  fine  old  men  lighted  with  winged  thoughts  on  the  banks 
of  the  Tiber,  and  there  bathed  and  drank  of  the  spirit  of  their  youth. 
They  talked  of  Titian  and  Bernini  j  and  Nonhcoic  mentioned,  that 
when  Roubillisc  came  bock  from  Rome,  after  seeing  (he  works  of 
the  tatter,  and  wmt  to  look  at  his  own  in  Westminster  Abbcyi  he 
•aid — 'By  G — d,  ihey  looked  like  lobn ceo- pipes.' 

Tbey  then  recalled  a  number  of  anecaote*  of  Day  (a  fitUow- 
atndeol  of  tbeiri],  of  Barry  and  Fuseli.  Sir  Joshua,  and  Burke, 
and  Johnson  were  talked  of.  The  name*  of  these  great  sona  of 
memory  were  in  the  room,  and  they  almost  seemed  to  answer  to 
then  Genius  and  Fame  flung  a  spell  inio  the  air, 
■  And  by  the  force  of  blear  illusion, 
Had  dnwn  me  on  to  my  confition,' 

69 


r 


M 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

had  I  not  been  long  ere  thi(  rimi-pn«f !  It  i*  delt]{htfu],  tbouf^h 
piiofid,  to  bear  two  rctcram  io  ut  thui  talking  over  (he  adventure* 
and  KtidiM  of  their  youth,  whrn  one  feci*  that  they  are  not  quite 
norul.  ibst  they  have  one  inipnUhiibk  part  aboHt  them,  and  that 
they  >rc  contciouR,  ss  they  approach  the  wthMi  *ecgc  of  huroaDity 
in  friendly  intcrcourM  xod  traiiciuil  decay,  that  they  have  done  tatat- 
thing  that  will  live  after  them.  The  coniolations  of  relision  apart, 
thii  ii  perhapa  the  only  lalve  that  take*  out  the  tting  of  that  tore  evil, 
Death  1  and  by  Inicning  the  impatience  and  alarnn  at  hi*  approach, 
ofieD  tciRptt  him  to  prolong  the  term  of  hie  delay. 

It  ha*  been  remarked  thnt  ariisii,  or  at  leut  academician*,  lire 
long.  It  i*  but  a  thort  while  ago  that  Northcote,  Nollekeni,  Wcit, 
Flaxman,  Coiway,  and  Fuicli  were  all  living  at  the  aame  time,  in 
good  health  and  Bpirits,  wiiliuut  any  diminution  of  &cu]tiec,  all  of 
them  baring  long  pant  their  gr.ind  climacteric,  and  attained  to  the 
bighctc  reputation  in  their  leveral  dcpartmcnti.  From  thetc  (tn^ing 
cxamplet,  the  diploma  of  a  Royal  Academician  teemg  to  be  a  grant 
oif  a  longer  le^te  of  lifr,  among  its  other  advantsgca.  la  fact,  it  i* 
tantamount  to  the  conferring  a  cenain  reputation  in  hi*  profetuon 
and  a  competence  on  any  niao,  and  thua  nippliea  the  want*  of  the 
body  and  *et*  hit  mind  at  eaae.  Arti«t*  in  ([eneral  (poor  deriltM, 
I  am  afraid,  are  not  a  long-lived  race.  They  break  up  commonly 
about  fony,  their  *pirita  giving  wny  with  the  diMppointmcnt  of  their 
bopc4  of  excellence,  or  the  want  of  encouragement  for  that  which 
ifaey  have  attained,  their  plans  di»conccrted,  and  their  affairs  itrtuicv- 
able  I  and  in  this  stale  of  mortiiication  and  embdmsiment  f  more  or 
Ie«  pro!on^,ed  and  aggravated)  they  are  either  itarved  or  el»e  drink 
themaelve*  to  death.  But  your  Academician  i*  quite  a  diffetenl  tort 
of  person.  He  <  beats  a  charmed  life,  that  must  not  yield  '  to  dun*, 
or  critics,  or  pairooB.  He  i*  free  of  ParniiMus,  and  claim*  nil  the 
immunities  of  fame  io  hit  life-lime.  He  has  but  to  paint  (as  the  sun 
has  but  to  shioc).  to  baffle  envious  nialigners.  He  has  bnt  to  send 
hit  pictures  to  tlie  Exbibition  at  Somer4e^  House,  b  order  to  have 
them  hunji  up:  be  bu  but  to  dine  once  a  year  with  ibe  Academy, 
the  Nobility,  the  Cabinet-Minister,  and  the  Member*  of  the  Royal 
Family,  in  order  not  to  want  a  dinner  all  the  rest  of  the  year.  Shall 
hunger  come  near  the  man  that  ha*  feasted  with  princes — shall  a 
baililf  tap  the  shoulder  on  which  a  Marquis  has  umiliarly  leaned, 
tliat  has  been  dub1>ed  with  kni^thood^  No,  even  the  fell  Serjeant 
Death  stands  u  it  were  aloo^  and  he  enjoy*  a  kind  of  pten>uture 
imnionaltty  in  recorded  honours  and  endlect  labours.  Ob!  what 
golden  hour*  are  his!  In  the  *hart  days  of  winter  he  huiband* 
time  I  the  long  evenings  of  summer  Mill  dmI  him  employed  i     He 

90 


ON  THE  OLD  AGE  OF  ARTISTS 

pinu  on,  tad  take*  do  thought  for  to-morrow.  All  »  right  ia  that 
rc4peci.  Hi«  bill*  are  regularly  paidt  his  drafti  arc  duly  honoured. 
He  hai  exerciw  for  hw  body,  employmeot  for  liii  mind  in  tiig  mo- 
feoiioD,  and  without  CTer  Kirrinf;  out  of  hit  paimiDg-room.  He 
■tudi««  at  rouch  of  other  thing*  ai  he  pieaaei.  He  goei  into  the 
,  beat  cora|xiny,  or  tatlti  with  hit  sitters —attrndi  at  the  Acadcrny 
Mmingi,  and  enter*  into  ihcir  intriguci  and  cabals,  or  itayi 
at  home,  and  enjoya  the  Mwm  rum  digniiatr.  If  he  it  fond  of 
reputation,  Fame  watches  him  at  work,  and  weave*  a  woof,  like 
iris,  orer  his  head^f  be  it  food  of  money,  Plutui  digs  a  mine  oad«r 
his  feel.     Wbaterer  he  touches  becomes  £oid.     Me  is  paid  half- 

eice  before  he  bcgini ;  and  commitnons  pour  in  upon  commiatioDa. 
it  poriraitt  arc  like,  and  hi*  hintorical  piecetfinej  for  to  question 
the  talents  or  luccesi  of  a  Royal  Academician  ii  to  betray  your  own 
want  of  lane.  Or  if  hia  picture*  are  not  quite  approved,  he  i*  an 
^reeable  man,  and  convrme*  well.  Or  he  is  a  person  of  clegaot 
accoffiplishmeuts,  dreue*  well,  and  is  an  ornament  to  a  ptirate  circle. 
A  nun  it  not  an  Academician  for  noihin;;.  '  His  life  spins  round  on 
it*  soft  axle ; '  and  in  a  round  of  ntiiHed  deiirei  and  pleaiing 
avocations,  without  any  of  the  wmr  aaJ  tear  of  thought  or  busincci, 
there  teem*  no  reaaon  why  it  should  not  nu  smoothly  oo  to  ha 
bat  tuid! 

Of  all  the  Academicians,  the  paiotcrs,  or  pcrtons  I  hi*c  ever 
known,  Mr.  Notthcote  it  the  mou  to  my  taste.  It  may  be  Kui  of 
him  truly, 

'  Akc  cannot  wither,  nor  custom  stale 
Hi*  Infinite  variety." 

Indeed,  !t  i*  not  pottibic  he  should  become  tedious,  since,  even  if  he 
repeat*  the  aamc  thing,  it  appears  quite  new  frnm  hit  manner,  that 
breathe*  new  life  into  ii,  and  from  his  eye,  that  i«  ai  fresh  as  the 
Rioruing.  How  you  hate  any  one  who  tells  the  tame  ttocy  or 
anticipate!  a  remark  of  his — it  seenis  so  coarse  and  vulgar,  so  dry 
and  inanimate  !  There  i«  somethinf,  like  injustice  in  this  preference 
—but  no !  it  it  a  tribute  to  the  spirit  that  ii  in  the  man.  Mr. 
Nooifacote't  manner  i*  completely  tnUmfore.  It  it  juit  (be  reverie 
of  Mr.  Canning't  oratory.  All  hit  thought*  come  upon  him 
unawaiet,  sod  for  this  reaaon  they  tutpriRcand  delight  you,  because 
they  have  evidently  the  same  effect  upon  his  mind.  There  i«  the 
•ame  unconsciouaneas  in  bis  coavettatjon  that  ba*  been  pointed  out 
in  Shaketpear's  dialogues  t  or  you  ate  startled  with  one  observation 
alter  another,  at  when  the  mitt  gradually  withdraw*  from  a  landscape 
and  unfolds  object*  one  by  one.  Htt  figure  is  small,  shadowy, 
emaciated  s  but  you  think  only  of  hi*  bee,  which  i*  fine  and  expressive. 

9' 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

Hi*  body  i*  out  of  the  <]uctiUo>n.  It  is  trnpotubk  to  conTry  sn  adcqtutW 
idea  of  the  nahfie,  and  unatf<Ktcd,  but  delightful  ea»e  of  the  wiy  in 
which  he  gOM  oo — now  touchiag  upon  n  pictuit^ — now  looking  (or 
fail  nofF-box — DOW  alluding  to  tome  hook  he  hit  been  reaidiog — 
Bov  rctartiing  to  hit  favoortlc  an.  He  *eeinB  jun  a*  if  he  was 
by  bimKlf  or  in  the  compasy  of  hi*  own  thought*,  and  make*  yo«i 
feel  quite  at  home.  If  it  u  a  Member  of  Pailiameat,  or  a  beaatiful 
woman,  or  a  child,  or  a  youDg  artiit  thnt  dropi  io,  ii  make*  no 
differeoce  i  he  enter*  into  converaation  with  them  in  the  tame  uncon- 
rtramed  mmncr,  a*  if  they  were  inm::iteti  in  hii  family.  SometimH 
yon  find  hint  silting  on  the  floor,  like  a  *chool-boy  at  play,  turning 
OTCT  a  *ct  of  old  piint* ;  and  I  wm  picawd  to  hear  him  lay  the 
Other  4mj,  coming  io  one  of  wmc  men  putting  off  in  a  boat  from 
S  Aip-wreck — '71!^^/  is  the  grandctt  and  moat  otiginat  thing  I  ever 
did  !  Thii  was  not  egoliBJii,  but  hud  nil  the  beauty  of  truth  and 
sincerity.  The  print  wa»  indeed  a  noble  and  spirited  desij^a.  The 
circumKance  from  which  it  was  taken  happened  to  Captain  Englcfield 
ami  hU  crew.  He  told  Nonhcote  the  iiory,  lai  for  hi*  own  head, 
nd  fareii{hi  the  men  from  Wapping  to  tit  for  theirs ;  and  ihe«e  he 
btd  wrugod  into  a  formal  composition,  till  one  Jeifrey,  a  conceited 
but  clever  artitt  of  that  day,  called  in  upon  him,  aiid  aaid,  'Oh  I 
that  common-place  thing  will  never  do,  it  is  like  West ;  you  should 
throw  them  into  an  action  something  like  this.' — Accordingly,  the 
head  of  the  boat  was  reared  up  like  a  sea-horse  riding  the  ware*, 
•nd  the  elemrou  put  into  commotion,  and  when  the  painter  looked 
at  it  the  !a«t  thing  a«  he  went  out  of  hi*  room  in  the  dusk  of  the 
evening,  he  said  that  'it  frightened  hira.'  He  letaioed  the  ex- 
preition  in  the  face*  of  the  men  nearly  as  they  sat  to  him.  It  is 
very  line,  and  truly  Engliih;  and  being  natural,  it  wai  eauly  made 
bto  history.  There  is  a  portrait  of  a  young  gentleman  striving  to 
gel  into  the  boat,  while  the  crew  arc  pushing  him  off  with  their 
oats ;  but  at  last  he  prevailed  with  them  by  hit  pcricTetsncc  and 
entrcstie*  to  take  him  in.  They  had  only  time  to  throw  a  bag  of 
biicuita  into  the  boat  before  the  sliip  went  down  t  which  they 
divided  into  a  biscuit  a  day  for  each  man,  dipping  them  into  water 
which  they  collected  by  holding  op  their  handkerchiefs  in  the  raio 
and  squeezing  it  into  a  bottle.  They  were  out  sixteen  days  in  the 
Attaniic,  and  got  ashore  at  some  place  in  Spain,  where  the  great 
difficulty  was  to  prevcoi  them  from  eating  too  much  at  once,  so  as  to 
recoivr  gradually.  Captain  EogleGeld  obterved  that  be  lulTcred 
more  afterwards  tlian  at  the  time — that  he  had  horrid  dreamt  of 
ftlling  dawn  precipicea  for  a  long  while  after — that  in  the  boat  they 
told  merry  Morie*,  and  kept  up  one  another's  spiriti  as  well  as  they 
9* 


ON  THE  OLD  AGE  OF  ARTISTS 

could,  and  on  tome  complaiot  being  made  of  their  dikCitMcd 
■ituation,  the  youne  gentleman  who  had  be«a  admitted  inco  their 
crew  remarked,  '  Nay,  we  ate  not  to  badly  off  nciUtcr,  we  are  not 
come  to  fti/in^  one  another  jn  !  ' — Thus,  whatever  U  the  lubject  of 
discourse,  the  scene  w  revived  in  hit  mind,  and  erery  circumttance 
brought  bcfoic  you  without  afTectatioa  or  effort,  just  aa  it  happened. 
It  mi^hc  be  Ciiied  fKlart-la/img.  He  h'M  alwayi  some  pat  alJusion 
or  anecdote.  A  young  engraver  came  into  hi>  room  the  other  day, 
with  a  print  which  be  had  put  into  the  crown  of  his  hat,  in  order  not 
to  crumple  it,  and  he  said  it  had  been  nearly  blown  away  several 
times  in  paising  along  the  street.  •  You  put  rac  in  mind,'  said 
Nonhcote,  'of  a  bird-catcher  at  Plymouth,  who  used  to  put  the 
birds  he  had  caught  into  his  hat  to  biinf;  them  home,  and  one  day 
meeting  my  fatlier  in  the  toad,  he  pulled  off  his  hat  to  make  him  a 
low  bow,  and  all  the  birds  flew  away ! '  Sometimes  Mr.  Northcoie 
geta  to  the  top  of  a  ladder  to  point  a  palm-tree  or  to  finish  a  aky 
in  one  of  hi>  pictures;  and  in  this  situation  fae  lintcnc  very  atten- 
tively to  any  thing  you  tell  him.  I  was  once  mentioning  some 
strange  inconsistencies  of  our  modern  poets ;  and  on  coming  to 
one  that  exceeded  the  reat,  he  descended  the  steps  of  the  ladder  one 
by  one,  laid  his  pallet  and  brushes  deliberately  on  the  ground,  and 
coming  up  to  mc,  said — '  You  don't  say  so,  it 's  the  very  thing  E 
should  hat-e  supposed  of  them  i  yet  thcK  arc  the  men  that  speak 
against  Pope  and  Drydcn.'  Never  any  sarcasms  were  »o  line,  so 
cutting,  so  careless  as  his.  The  grossest  thing*  from  bis  lips  seem 
aa  essence  of  celiDemcDt  :  the  most  tefioed  became  more  so 
than  ever.  Hear  him  talk  of  Pope's  Epistle  to  Jervas,  and  repeat 
the  lines — 

•  V«  ihould  llie  Gram  all  thy  figurei  place, 
And  breathe  an  air  divine  on  every  face  j 
Yet  should  tlie  Muki  bid  my  numben  roll 
Strong  an  iheir  charm*,  and  gentle  as  their  soul, 
With  Zeuxis'  Helen  thy  BriJgcwatcr  vie. 
Ami  ihne  be  tune  till  Granville's  Myta  diei 
Alai  1  how  little  trom  the  grave  ne  claim  i 
Thou  but  prcKtv'tl  a  face,  and  I  a  name.' 

Or  let  him  tpcak  of  Boccacio  and  his  story  of  Isabella  and  her  pot  of 
basil,  in  which  she  kept  her  lover's  head  and  watered  it  with  fiet 
tears,  'and  how  it  grew,  and  it  grew,  and  it  grew,'  and  you  tee  hit 
own  eyes  glisten,  and  the  leaves  of  the  baul-trcc  tremble  to  hit 
faltering  accents  < 

Mr.  FukIi's  conrersaiioD  is  more  striking  and  extravagant,  but 

93 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 


km  pltMJBg  aad  BKunl  tlua  Mr.  Nortbcoie't.  He  ileaJt  ia 
ptndwcc*  uiil  caricKara.  He  uUu  aliMoriet  ood  penaaificKuMt 
n  Im  pHBts  tbrm.  You  ate  MtiMbte  of  tBan  wilbon  aajr  nfott  no 
CvdcM  plwMiry— no  tfiit«  of  duracttr  or  toocbn  firo<n  Dtiore — 
erery  thng  ii  labovinl  of  OTadooc.  Hu  ideaa  arc  gnarkdt  bud* 
ami  (JUi(Xt<d,  like  hi*  featum— hit  theonct  auUuag  aad  «nddl» 
legged,  like  hi*  gik — hi*  prajecu  aapiria^  and  gi{;aiitic,  Kke  hii 
niiiiiiii  liii  pcrfomuoce  uncontb  and  <lwar£i.h,  like  hi*  petMo. 
Hi*  picture*  we  alao  like  bim<e^If,  with  cTv^lli  of  *Uioc  riuck  to 
tinu  of  tia,  aad  nwvcle*  iwiiced  logether  like  rope*  or  wire*.  Yd 
Fndi  il  gadoobudlj  a  rub  of  geaia*.  lod  capable  of  the  mote  vild 
■ad  glOW»c|we  eombiaatKHM  of  bicj,  ll  i*  a  pit^r  that  be  ever  applied 
Uaitelf  to  paoiunb  wluch  must  ilwiy*  be  reduced  to  the  tc«  of  tlM 
■eaae*.  He  i*  a  btle  Kke  Dante  or  Atioito,  perhapi  i  but  no  raera 
Uke  Hkbad  Angelo,  Raphael,  or  CdrregKio,  ihvi  1  am.  Natnre, 
be  comfiiini,  pau  him  out.  Yet  be  can  Uagh  at  ariiiu  who  'paint 
ladica  with  irco  lapdogi ; '  and  he  deacribea  tbc  great  maner*  of  old 
ia  word*  or  Inea  hill  of  ifutb,  and  gbaciug  ftoai  a  pea  or  topgoc  of 
fire.  I  coDoeitc  any  peraoa  would  be  more  Rruck  with  Mr.  Fuaeli 
M  fim  aigbt.  hot  wtnkl  with  to  vim  Mr.  Nonhcot«  otienei.  There 
H  a  bold  and  itattliDg  outline  in  hi*  «<rle  of  talking,  but  not  the 
delkate  fiuiWiinj;  or  Uand  tone  that  ibere  it  in  that  of  the  latter. 
WhateTcr  there  it  har*h  or  repuliire  about  hiia  ia,  howtTcr,  io  a 

?rtat  degree  carried  otf  bj  bii  sniiaatcd  fordgn  aeccal  aad  brokca 
':Dglith,  which  girc  chanKur  wbere  there  ia  noae,  aad  •eftaa  to 
upcritiM  wberc  it  it  ti»  abrupt  and  riolent. 

Coapand  l»  cither  of  tUeie  artittt.  We«  (the  late  Prctadeot  of 
the  Rojal  Academj)  wai  a  tboroughly  mccbaoical  and  ammMtftttt 
petaoa  a  man  *  of  no  mark  or  UkcTibood.'  He  too  wm  ■nail,  thin, 
tMt  with  regolar  wcH-formcd  feature*,  and  a  prccite,  tedaie,  lelf- 
■atit&cd  air.  This  >■>  pBn>  ■ro**  ftoin  the  conviction  in  hi*  own 
mind  that  be  «u  the  greamt  paiotM  (aad  cooiequeotly  tbc  greatcft 
mao)  in  the  world :  king*  aad  aoble*  were  conunoa  everyday  folk*, 
but  there  waa  bm  one  West  in  the  many-peop(ed  tjiobe.  If  there 
wat  aay  one  iadiridwl  with  whom  be  wa*  inclined  to  thare  ihepalBi 
of  Dodirided  tupcriority,  it  wat  with  Buonaparte.  When  Mr.  WcM 
bad  painted  a  picture,  he  tbooghi  it  wai  perfect.  He  had  no  idea  of 
anjr  thing  in  the  art  but  mie*,  and  the*e  be  exactly  conformed  to;  to 
that,  according  10  hi*  theory,  what  be  did  wat  ^mu  right.  He 
ooaccivwd  of  painting  a*  a  mecbaokal  or  icwntific  eroceu,  and  had 
■0  awn  doubt  of  a  face  or  a  group  ia  one  of  hit  hijrh  ideal  cora- 
powdoaa  being  what  it  oooht  to  be,  than  a  carpenter  hai  that  be  haa 
drawn  a  line  ttiaigfat  with  a  ruler  toA  a  piece  of  chalk,  01  than  a 
94 


ON  THE  OLD  AGE  OF  ARTISTS 

suitheTmucun  hu  that  the  ibm  smj^a  of  a  irianxle  are  equal  to  two 
rixht  ooea. 

When  Mr.  Wctt  walked  through  hi>  gallety,  the  rcBult  of  fifty 
yean'  Ubonr,  he  mw  nothing,  either  on  the  right  or  the  left,  to  be 
■ddcd  or  tsktn  away.  The  accooDC  be  gave  of  bi>  own  picture*, 
wbich  might  went  tike  oneDUtion  or  rhodomootade,  bid  a  tincere  and 
infantioe  timpticity  to  it.  \Vh<«  soTne  ooe  ipokc  of  bU  Si.  PtuJ 
ihaking  off  tbt  tirptnl  from  hit  arm,  (at  Greenwich  Hoipiul,  I 
believe],  be  *aid,  <  A  liule  bunt  of  geaiu*,  tir  ! '  Wcit  wu  one  of 
tbote  biippy  mortal*  who  had  not  an  idea  of  any  thing  beyond  him- 
idf  or  hu  own  actual  power*  and  knowledge.  I  once  bcanl  him  uy 
m  a  poblic  room,  tlutt  he  thought  he  had  quite  at  good  in  tdei  of 
Athens  from  reading  the  Travelling  Cataiogun  of  the  place,  aft  if  be 
littd  there  for  yeart.  I  believe  thii  wai  tirictly  true,  und  that 
be  would  bive  come  iway  with  the  iinie  tlender,  literal,  unenrichcd 
idea  of  it  aa  he  went.  Looking  at  a  picttue  of  Rubcna,  which  he 
bad  in  hia  poite«ion,  he  laid  with  great  indiflferencc,  *  What  a  pity 
thai  ihia  man  wanted  cKprexiion  !  '  Tbi*  natural  Retf-ConiplaccDCy 
might  be  ttrengtbencd  by  collateral  circumstances  of  birth  and 
retigian.  Wett,  at  a  native  of  America,  might  be  Buppoied  to  own 
no  npcrior  in  the  Commoawealih  of  ait :  aa  a  Quiiker,  he  tmiled 
with  MctviaD  •elf-aulHciency  ui  the  objeciiona  that  were  made  to  hi* 
theory  or  practice  in  painting.  He  lived  long  in  the  firm  pcrtuasion 
of  beJBg  one  of  the  elect  among  the  lona  of  Pame,  and  went  to 
bi<  final  rcM  io  the  aims  of  Immorultly !  Happy  error !  Unviable 
old  maal 

FUxmaa  is  another  living  and  eminent  artist,  who  i«  distinguished 
by  Euccew!  in  his  profession  and  by  a  prolonged  and  active  old  age. 
He  is  diminutive  m  person,  like  the  others.  I  know  little  of  him, 
but  that  he  is  an  elegant  sculptor,  and  a  profound  mystic.  This  last 
ia  a  character  common  to  many  other  artisu  in  our  days — Louther- 
boorg,  Cosway,  Blake,  Sharp,  Varley,  &c. — who  seem  to  relieve  the 
tiicralncss  of  their  profrtsional  studies  by  voluntary  excursions  into 
the  regioaa  of  the  preieiiutural,  pass  their  time  between  sleeping  and 
wakingt  and  whose  ideas  are  like  a  stormy  night,  with  the  clouds 
driven  rapidly  across,  aod  the  blue  iky  and  ntiirs  gleaming  between  1 

Cosway  ii  the  last  of  these  I  nhull  mention.  At  thai  name  I 
pause,  and  must  be  excused  if  I  consecrate  to  him  a  feui  tauvtiar  ia 
my  best  manner;  for  he  was  Fancy's  child.  What  a  fairy  palace 
was  bia  of  specimens  of  art,  antiqaarianism,  aitd  wrti,  jumbled  ill 
together  in  the  richest  disorder,  dusty,  shadowy,  obscure,  with  much 
leJt  to  the  imaginatioo,  (how  different  from  the  finical,  polished, 
petty,  modernised  air  oif  some  Collections  we  have  seen ! )  and  with 

9S 


\ 


dOH 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 


GO|»c«  of  the  old  Runcrn,  cracked  and  danugcd,  which  he  touched 
nod  moucfacd  with  bix  own  hand,  and  yet  «worr  they  were  the 
genuine,  tlw  pure  original*.  All  other  collector*  sre  fools  to  him : 
ibey  go  ibout  with  painful  anxi«ty  to  find  out  tlic  rMlitie*  : — lie  tiud 
be  bad  tbein — and  lu  a  moment  made  them  of  tbe  breath  of  bit 
Domilt  and  of  the  fume*  of  a  lively  tmaginntion.  His  wa*  the  cracilix 
thai  Abclard  prayed  to — a  lock  of  Eloiia'i  hair — the  dagger  with 
which  Fclion  (Ubbcd  the  Duke  of  Buckingham — the  first  iiniehed 
■ketch  of  the  Jocunda — Tittan'i  large  colossal  profile  of  Peter  Aictine 
— a  mummy  of  an  Lgyptian  king — a  feather  of  a  uhcenix — a  piece  of 
Noah'*  Ark.  Were  the  article*  authentic  ?  What  matter  ?~hi» 
faith  in  tbem  wa*  true.  He  waa  f;ificd  with  a  iftotuLiighl  in  luch 
matter* :  he  believed  whatever  wat  incredible.  Fancy  bore  sway  in 
him ;  and  «0  vivid  were  hi*  imprcuiont,  that  they  included  the 
«ubsuncc«  of  things  in  them.  The  agrer-ablc  and  the  true  with  him 
were  one.  He  bclieveiJ  in  Swedcnborgjanism'-hc  believed  in  animal 
magoetiam — he  had  converted  with  more  than  one  pcraon  of  the 
Trinity — he  could  talk  with  hi*  lady  at  Mantua  through  tome  liiie 
vehicle  of  tense,  a*  we  speak  to  a  servant  down-*tain  through  a  conduH- 
pipe.  Richard  Cotway  was  not  the  man  to  Hinch  from  an  iJe^ 
piopotitSon.  Once,  at  an  Academy  dinner,  when  some  quetiion  wai 
made  whether  the  story  of  Lambert'*  Leap  wat  true,  he  itarted  up, 
and  laid  it  waa ;  for  be  wa*  the  ptraon  that  performed  it : — he  once 
asiured  me  that  the  knee-pan  of  King  Jame*  I.  in  the  ceiling  at 
Whitehall  wa*  nine  feet  acroes  (he  bid  measured  it  in  concert  with 
Mr.  Cipriani,  who  wa*  repairing  the  figure*) — he  could  read  in  the 
Book  of  the  Rcvelationa  without  spectacle*,  and  foretold  the  return 
of  Buonaparte  from  Elba— <and  from  St.  Helena!  His  wife,  the 
moll  lady-likc  of  E&gli*hwomeii,  beiog  asked  in  Paris  what  sort  of  a 
rou  ber  htisbuid  wa*,  made  answer — ■  I'mjoun  riaiil,  feujoun  gv,' 
Tbia  wa*  hi*  character.  He  imiat  have  been  of  French  extraction. 
His  soul  appeared  to  po*»e»  tbe  life  of  a  bird ;  and  such  wa*  the 

Citincat  of^  bis  air  and  manner,  ibat  to  tee  him  sic  to  have  bit  half- 
is  laced  00,  you  would  fancy  (by  the  help  of  a  6gure)  that, 
instead  of  a  little  withered  elderly  gentleman,  it  wa*  Venus  attired  by 
the  Grace*.  His  miniature*  and  whole. length  drawings  were  not 
merely  (iuhionable — they  were  fashion  itself.  His  imitations  of 
Michael  Aogelo  were  not  the  thing.  When  more  than  ninety, 
be  retired  from  hit  ptofeiaion,  and  used  to  hold  up  the  palsied  baud 
that  bad  painted  lord*  and  kdie*  fur  upwardt  of  sixty  yeatt,  and 
smiled,  with  unabated  good-humour,  at  the  vanity  of  human  wi*he«i 
Take  him  with  all  hit  fault*  and  folliea,  we  scarce  '  shall  look  tipoo 
hi*  like  again  I ' 
96 


«  'U 


ON  ENVY 

Why  (hould  4ucK  p«r(oiM  CTcrdie?  It  fteiat  hard  upon  them  tad 
u !  Care  fixct  no  stiog  in  thrir  hcaru,  and  ihdr  pritont  *  jircicnt 
no  mark  xo  the  foc-nua.'  Unch  id  them  tcizn  upon  living  thadowi. 
Thef  (CATcc  c«[uu[»e  viul  air:  their  gtcat  funciioiiH  irc  long  it  an 
end — th«y  live  but  to  paint,  to  talk  or  think,  la  it  that  the  vice  of 
age,  the  miMr't  fault,  giuwt  tbera  ?  Manjr  of  them  are  not  afraid  of 
death,  but  of  cotning  to  wuit ;  and  having  begun  in  poverty,  ate 
hiiucted  with  the  idea  that  they  nhall  cod  in  it,  and  to  die — M  tave 
ebargtj.  Ochcrwiie,  they  might  linger  OD  for  cm,  8od  'defy 
auguty !  * 


ESSAY  X 
OH    ZNVy  (a    dialogue) 

H.  I  HAD  a  theory  about  Eovy  at  one  time,  which  I  bane  panJy 
^ven  up  of  late — which  wai,  that  there  waa  no  tuch  feeling,  or  that 
what  ii  UKiatly  connidered  at  envy  or  ditlike  of  real  merit  it,  more 
properly  ipeakicj),  jealouiy  of  fulte  preten«ion»  to  ti.  I  uoed  to 
tlluatrate  the  argument  by  uyiofi,  that  thin  wa»  the  leaion  we  were 
not  envioui  of  the  dead,  bccnuge  their  merit  wan  enabliabcd  beyond 
the  reach  of  cavil  or  contradiction;  whereat  we  ate  jcalout  and 
uaeuy  at  sudden  and  upaiatt  popularity,  which  wanta  the  wal  of  time 
to  coclirm  it,  and  which  after  all  may  turn  out  to  be  faUe  and  hollow. 
There  i*  no  danger  that  the  icttimonv  of  a^e*  ihould  be  reverted, 
and  we  add  our  luffrage*  to  it  with  conlideDce,  and  even  with 
enthusiaun.  But  we  doubt  reuonably  enough,  whethei  that  which 
was  applauded  ycitcrday  may  not  be  condemned  to-morrow ;  and  tit 
afraid  of  letting  oar  names  to  a  fraudulent  claim  to  ditiinction. 
However  tatialied  we  may  be  ia  our  own  mindi,  we  are  not  lufiicienily 
borne  out  by  general  opinion  and  (ympathy  to  prevent  certain  mi«> 
Mvingi  and  icruptei  on  the  lubject.  No  one  thiaks,  for  inttance,  of 
denyinK  the  merit  of  Teniert  id  his  particular  style  of  art,  and  no 
one  c»ii>e<|ucntly  think*  of  envying  him.  The  merit  of  Wilkic,  on 
the  contrary,  wai  at  tirtt  ttrongly  contecied,  and  there  were  other 
pdiiBtera  Kt  up  In  oppotitioo  to  him,  till  now  that  he  hiu  become  a 
fort  oi  tlaiiU  in  hii  way,  he  has  ceased  to  be  an  object  oi  envy  or 
distike,  becauac  no  one  doubts  his  real  cKccllencr,  at  far  as  it  goes. 
He  baa  no  more  than  justice  done  him,  and  the  mind  never  revolts  at 
juatice.  It  only  lejecta  falte  or  superCcial  claim*  to  admiration,  and 
u  inceated  to  tee  the  world  Lake  up  wtib  appearancei,  wlieo  they 
have  no  lolid  foundation  to  support  them.  We  ate  not  envious  of 
VOL.  vn. !  o  97 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 


Rubcnt  or  Rxptiwl,  becaiue  thdr  hmc  it  a  pledge  of  tbeii  Rcmui ; 
but  if  toy  one  were  to  bring  forward  die  highcti  liriDg  namn  ai  equal 
to  thc*c,  it  immediaicly  scti  the  Mood  in  a  firmiCQi,  nnd  we  try  to 
nific  the  KfiK  we  h»vc  of  their  mrrit*,  not  brcaiuc  ihty  arc  new  or . 
modtro,  but  brcaiwe  wc  are  not  tuic  Oiey  will  etei  be  old. 
we  be  cenaia  that  poiteritjr  would  tanction  oiu  award,  we  thotiMl 
grant  it  without  icruplc,  even  to  >d  aemy  aad  a  rival. 

N.  Tbat  which  you  devcribe  i>  not  envy.     Hnry  i(  when  yon  hatt 
and  would  dettroy  all  excellence  that  you  do  not  yourietf  po«teM>1 
So  tbey  uy  that  Raphael,  after  he  had  copied  (he  tiguret  on  one  of' 
Ibe  antique  met,  endeavoured  lo  defKC  ibcni ;  and  H<^piicr,  it  hai 
beat  ttid,  uted  to  get  fqctutct  of  Sir  Jo«hu*i  into  his  potKwoo,  on 
pnpow  to  paint  tliem  oicr  and  tpoil  them. 

H.  I  do  not  believe  the  Bnt,  certainly.  Rapliael  wat  too  great  a 
nuD,  and  with  too  fortunate  a  temper,  to  need  or  to  with  to  prop 
himiclf  up  on  the  ruict  of  otbert.  A*  to  Hoppner,  he  might  pertiapi 
ihinic  that  there  wai  no  good  rewon  (or  the  ptcfrrence  given  lo  Sir 
Jothu't  portraitt  over  hit  own,  that  hit  woraeo  of  c}niility  were  the 
n>ore  atry  and  fashionable  of  the  two,  and  might  be  tempted  (oace 
pcrhap*)  in  a  fit  of  •plcca,  of  caprice  or  inipfitience,  lo  blot  what  wa* 
aa  eye-wxe  to  himtelf  from  its  old-faiJuoDed,  faded,  dbgy  look,  and 
at  the  ume  time  dazzled  others  from  the  fot ce  of  tradittoD  and  pre- 
judice. Why,  he  might  argue,  thould  that  old  fellow  run  away  with 
all  the  popolarity  even  among  tho«e  who  (as  he  well  knew)  in  their 
beam  prefeired  hi«  own  inupid,  flaunting  ityle  to  any  other  i 
Tbocgh  it  might  be  true  tbat  Sir  Joahua  waa  the  greater  pointer,  yet  it 
wa*  not  true  that  Lotda  and  L:idics  tliuught  mi  :  he  felt  that  lie  on^it 
to  be  "W  favouriiv,  and  be  might  naiutully  hate  what  wa*  cuotintally  I 
tinul  m  tit  £th,  and  (at  far  aa  thotc  about  him  were  concented)  un- 
junly  set  over  hi*  head.  Bcudcf,  Hoppner  bad  very  little  of  hi*  own  ' 
(o  rdy  on,  and  might  with,  by  dctiroj-ing,  to  conceal  the  tonrce  from 
whence  be  had  borrowed  almou  every  tiling. 

N,  Did  you  never  feel  envy  ! 

H.  Very  little,  I  think.  In  tnith.  1  am  out  of  the  way  of  it :  (or 
the  uoly  ptetenaioD,  of  which  I  am  lenaciout,  la  that  of  being  a  mcta*  ] 
phytici^ui ;  and  there  i*  *o  bitle  attenttiui  paid  to  thi*  tubject  to  ponw 
per  one'*  vanity,  and  to  little  fear  of  loting  that  liide  from  compeiiiJont 
that  there  it  tcarcely  any  room  for  envy  here.  One  occupic*  tbc 
nkbc  of  eminence  in  which  one  placet  one  t  *clf,  very  <}uirtly  and  coo- 
tenicdly!  If  I  have  ever  felt  ifait  pasiion  at  all,  it  baa  been  where 
•ome  very  paltry  fellow  ha*  by  trick  and  macugemeot  contrived  to 
obtain  much  tnore  credit  than  he  waa  entitled  to.    There  wa*  , 

U  whom  I  had  a  perfect  antipathy.     He  wai  the  antitbetii  of  a  man 

98 


ON  ENVY 

orgeniut;  and  yet  he  did  better,  by  mere  dint  of  dulncM,  than  many 
coco  of  geoiut.  This  wu  iacolefoblt:.  There  wat  lomething  in  the 
taaa  and  in  hin  manner,  with  which  you  could  noi  ponibly  connect  the 
idea  of  adniiiation,  or  of  any  ihing  that  vm*  not  mucly  mechaoical — 

'His  look  m»d«  the  nlll  air  coM.' 
He  repcUcd  all  Hymp-jthy  and  cordiality.  What  he  did  (though 
anouatina  only  to  mediocrity)  W4a  ^n  inault  on  the  underatanding. 
It  (eemed  th^it  he  (hould  be  able  lo  Jo  nothing ;  for  he  was  ootbiog 
either  in  himiclf  ot  in  other  peoplc'i  idea  of  him  !  Mean  aciions  or 
groia  cxpreiMonti  too  often  untctile  one'*  theory  of  geniu«.  We  are 
unable  a*  well  an  unwilling  to  connect  the  feeling  of  high  intellect 
with  low  moral  tcntiment :  the  one  i«  a  kiod  of  detccration  of  the 
other,  I  have  for  ihia  reaeon  been  Mmetimes  dispoted  to  disparase 
Turner'a  fine  laodicipea,  and  be  glud  when  he  failed  in  his  higher 
attempu,  in  order  that  my  conception  of  the  atti»t  and  his  picturea 
might  be  more  of  a  piece.  Thii  is  not  envy  or  an  impatience  of 
extraordinary  merit,  but  an  impatience  of  the  incongruilie*  in  huniaa 
nature,  and  oi  the  drawback!  and  ntumbiing-blocki  in  the  way  of  our 
admiration  of  it.  Who  ia  there  tliat  admitct  the  Author  of  Waretlcy 
mote  than  !  dof  Who  is  there  that  despiies  Sir  W»»»»«  S"** 
mote  i  1  do  not  like  to  think  there  ihould  be  a  second  instance  of  the 
lame  pcrton'i  beiog 

*Thc  wiint,  meanest  of  mankiml'-* 
and  ahould  be  heartily  glad  if  the  greatest  genius  of  the  age  should 
tun  out  to  be  an  hoocw  man.  The  only  itiing  that  renders  this  mw- 
n/fiomv  between  lirstTate  intellect  and  want  of  principle  endurable  is 
that  nich  an  extreme  instance  of  it  teaches  us  that  great  motal  lesson 
of  moderating  our  expectations  of  human  perfection,  and  enlarging  oia 
indulgence  for  human  iniirmity. 

N.  Yoa  stall  olT  with  ao  idea  at  usual,  and  torture  the  plain  state  i 
of  the  case  into  a  paradox.  There  may  be  sonic  truth  in  what  you  \ ' 
suppose :  but  malice  or  selfishnen  ia  at  the  bottom  of  the  severity  of 
vour  criticiam,  not  the  love  of  truth  or  justice,  though  you  may  make 
It  the  pretext.  Vou  ate  more  angry  at  Sir  W*****  S****'a  succets 
than  at  his  serrility.  You  would  give  yourself  no  trouble  about  hit 
pOTCtty  of  spirit,  if  be  had  not  made  a  hundred  thousand  pounds  by 
bis  writings.  The  sting  lies  there,  though  you  may  try  to  cooccal  it 
from  yourself. 

H.  I  do  not  think  so.  I  hate  the  sight  of  the  Duke  of 
W*******»»  for  his  foolish  fece,  as  much  as  for  any  thing  else.  I 
caanot  believe  that  a  great  geocral  is  contained  under  such  a  put^ 
board  fizor  of  a  man.     This,  you'll  say,  is  party  spite,  and  rage  at 

99 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

Fgood  fortune.  I  deny  it.  1  always  liked  Lord  Caxtkrugh  for 
'  gillaat  tpirii  that  ihonr  through  hi>  jppcanincr ;  and  his  Aiir  buat 
inrmoontcd  and  cnuhcd  fifty  order*  th»  giicicred  bennth  it.  Nature 
*cctncd  to  have  meant  liim  foi  Mnicthing  bettcc  iIijd  he  wa*.  But  id 
tlie  otlt«r  inauncci  Fortune  lui«  evidently  pUycd  Nttuie  a  trick, 

'  T«  dirow  a  cruel  lunthine  on  a  fool.* 

N.  The  truth  ii,  you  were  reconciled  to  Lord  Ceitlcrea^b't  face,  and 
patronised  hit  perton,  bccauic  you  fett  a  ton  of  advanugc  over  him  in 
point  of  ftylc.  Hit  blunder*  <]ua]ilird  ht«  ruccc«);  and  you  fancied 
you  could  ulcc  hit  tpecche*  in  pieces,  wherca*  you  could  not  undo  the 
Uitln  that  the  other  had  won. 

H.     So  I  httTc  btcn  accused  of  denying  the  metiia  of  Pitt,  from 

Siliticat  diUike  and   prejudice ;    but  who  is  there  that  hat  praised 
urke  more  than  I  have !      It  is  a  subject  1  am  never  vrary  of, 
because  I  feel  it. 

N.  You  fflcaD,  because  he  is  dead,  and  is  now  little  talked  of:  and 
you  think  you  show  superior  diKerniQcni  and  liberality  by  praising 
him.  If  there  wat  a  Burti-Cbi&,  you  would  say  nothing  about  him. 
You  deceive  yourself  as  to  your  own  motives,  and  weave  a  wrong 
theory  out  of  iliem  for  human  nature.  The  love  of  distinction  is  the 
ruling  panaioD  of  the  human  mind ;  we  grudge  whatever  draws  off 
attCDtion  from  ounelrei  lo  other* ;  and  all  our  actions  arc  bat  diffcreat 
COntriTancca,  either  by  sheer  malice  or  aJfccted  liberality,  to  keep  it  to 
ourselves  or  share  it  with  others.  Goldsmith  was  jealoua  evea  of 
beauty  in  the  other  sex.  When  the  people  at  Amsterdam  gathered 
round  the  balcony  to  look  at  the  Miits  Hornecks,  he  urcw  impatient, 
and  Slid  peevishly,  'There  are  places  where  I  also  am  admired.'  It 
may  be  said — What  could  their  beauty  hai-c  to  do  with  his  reputation  ! 
No :  it  could  not  tend  to  le»en  it,  but  it  drew  admiraiioD  from  hira- 
•elf  to  (hem.  So  Mr.  C****r,  the  other  day,  when  he  was  at  the 
Academy  dinner,  made  himnelf  conspicuous  by  dijphying  the  same 
feeUng.  He  found  fault  with  every  thing,  ilamnrJ  all  the  picture! — 
latidicapei,  pattraiit,  busts,  nothing  pleaied  him ;  and  not  contented 
with  thii,  he  tlien  fell  foul  of  the  an  itself,  which  he  treated  at 
a  piece  of  idle  foolery,  and  hiid  that  Raphael  had  thrown  away  his 
time  in  doing  what  was  not  worth  the  trouble.  Thit,  betide*  being 
haJDCcre,  was  a  great  breach  of  good-mannert,  which  none  but  a  low- 
bred man  would  be  guilty  of;  but  he  felt  his  own  GonK<)ueoce 
annoyed ;  he  aaw  a  splendid  exhibition  of  art,  a  tplendid  dinner  act 
out,  the  Nobility,  the  Cabinet.  Ministers,  (he  brancfaet  of  the  Royal 
Family  invited  to  it ;  the  most  eminent  professors  were  there  present ; 
it  was  a  triumph  and  a  celebration  of  art,  a  dazzling  proof  of  the 

too 


ON  ENVY.. 

height  to  which  it  had  iltatned  in  thi>  counUr,  aid  of  the  c«t(«Tn  ia 
which  ii  was  held.  He  fell  thai  he  played  ■  Yery  jobordinatc  pjirt 
in  all  this  ;  and  in  order  to  rclicTc  his  own  woundrd  .vmity,  h«  waa 
determined  fas  he  thou|;h[ )  to  mottity  that  of  otbert.  ^e  wanted  lo 
make  himself  of  more  importance  tJiio  any  bodv  elie.  i'y  irampling 
on  Rajihael  and  on  the  art  ittctf.  It  wai  ridicufoui  and  diieu(cii)S] 
becaute  everyone  »w  though  the  motire ;  fo  that  be  defeated' w. 
own  object. 

H.  And  be  would  hare  avoided  ihin  exponirc,  if  with  ill  hi» 
conceit  nnd  ill-humour,  he  had  had  the  unallcst  laaic  for  the  art,  or 
petceptioD  of  ihe  beauties  of  Raphael.  He  has Juit  Icoowledge  eoouf;h 
of  drawing  to  make  a  whole  length  sketch  of  Uuooaparte,  merging  on 
caricature,  yet  Dot  palpably  outraging  probability  t  to  that  it  looked 
like  a  fat,  stupid,  commoH-pIxt  man,  or  a  flattering  likeneti  of  some 
legicimaie  monarch — he  had  «kill,  cunning,  servility  enough  to  do  this 
with  his  own  hand,  and  to  circulate  a  print  of  it  with  realous  aciirity. 
u  an  indirect  means  of  degrading  him  in  appeiiranc«  to  chat  low  level 
to  which  foriune  had  once  raited  him  in  reality.  But  the  man  who 
could  do  this  deliberately,  and  with  satisfaction  to  his  own  nature, 
wai  not  the  man  to  uodcrsiand  Raphael,  and  might  slander  him  or 
any  other,  the  greatert  of  earth's  born,  without  injuring  or  belying 
any  feeling  of  admiration  or  excellence  in  his  own  brcan ;  for  do  tuch 
feeling  had  ever  entered  there. 

N.  Come,  tliit  is  always  the  way>  Now  you  are  growing  per- 
loniJ.  Whv  do  you  *o  cooiuntly  let  your  temper  get  the  bettef  of 
your  reaMD  ' 

H.  BecauK  I  hale  a  hypocrite,  a  time-m-rer,  and  a  tlare.  But 
(O  return  to  the  ^ueition,  and  say  no  more  about  this 'Win; /«/itla('> 
— I  do  not  think  that,  except  in  circumstance*  of  peculiar  iggrira- 
uon,  or  of  extraordinary  il1<tcmpcr  and  moroteness  of  disposition,  aay 
one  who  haa  a  tborou|;h  feeling  of  excetleoce  hab  a  delight  !n  gain- 
saying it.  The  excellence  that  we  feel,  we  porticiiiatc  in  as  if  it 
were  our  own — it  becomes  ours  by  transfusion  of  mind — (t  is  innilled 
into  our  beart»— it  mingle*  with  our  blood.  We  are  unwilling  to 
allow  merit,  because  we  are  unable  to  percriie  it.  But  to  be  coo- 
riaced  of  it,  is  to  be  tody  to  acknowledge  and  pay  homage  to  it. 
lUibcraJicy  or  narrowWH  at  Ming  is  a  narrowness  of  taste,  a  want  of 
proper  tatl.  A  btgotted  and  exclusive  spirit  is  teal  blindness  to  all 
excellence  bnt  our  own,  Of  that  of  tome  particular  school  or  aectj 
I  think  1  can  give  an  instance  of  this  in  some  friends  of  mine,  od 
whom  you  will  be  disposed  to  have  no  more  mercy  than  I  have  on 

'  Mr.  C"**r  miilt  hl>  fitit  apponnn  in  thi>  countrjr  si  i  hick.wiitir,  mA 
mnvitt  this  tunume  from  iht  clutic  lipi  of  Mr.  Cumbtr^nd. 

lot 


THE  IJLAIN  SPEAKER 

Mr.  Crokcr — I  tnfah.tjic  Latt  Stheol.  Their  mxtm  of  OttrMism 
u  not  uniutvral:  'ii-brgini  only  with  the  natural  limitt  of  their  VMt* 
U9<t  fMliagb'.  M/'  "otdswofth,  Mr.  Coictidgc,  jnd  Mr.  Souibcy 
bin  no  Civlhlg  fw  ihc  cxccUcdcc  of  Pope,  or  Ooldiinitli,  or  Gray — 
they^do  bn^'chter  u  all  bto  their  nietiu,  aod  oo  tliat  account  it  u 
that  tf^T  ^°yt  proscribe,  and  cnry  them.  IiKirMMi  «£,  'a  the 
.-Mfllaaitioa  here,  and  in  all  nich  cam.  I  am  tatiiGed  that  the  line 
■\'ipUT)  of  ihoueht  in  Pope,  the  gliding  rcrtc  of  Goldimich,  the  brillbnt 
"■*'diction  of  Gray  hare  no  chaimt  for  the  Author  of  the  Lyrical 
EtlUdt:  he  has  no  faculty  in  his  mind  to  which  these  qualilic*  of 
poetry  addrris  thenuclTM.  It  is  not  an  oppreuive,  galling  tenve  of 
them,  and  a  burninj;  envy  to  rival  them,  and  ihaitie  (hat  be  eannot^ 
be  would  not,  if  he  could.  He  )iaa  no  more  ambition  to  write 
conplcti  like  Pope,  than  to  turn  a  barrel-organ.  He  haa  no  pleaaure 
in  tuch  poetry,  and  therefore  he  hat  no  patience  with  othcri  that 
haw.  The  enthu«ium  that  they  feci  and  cxprew  on  the  rebject 
Mvmi  an  effect  without  a  cause,  and  puzzles  and  proiokes  the  mind 
aeoordingly.  Mr.  Wordsworth,  to  parttctilar,  is  narrower  in  hit 
taates  than  otiicr  people,  bccautc  he  sect  everything  from  a  tingle  and 
original  point  of  view.  Whatever  doet  not  fall  io  «tricdy  with  this, 
he  account*  no  better  than  a  delusion,  or  a  play  upon  words, 

N.  Vou  miiitakc  the  matter  altogether.  The  acting  principle  in 
their  minds  is  an  inivteratc  lellithncss  or  desire  of  dieiinction.  They 
tee  tliat  a  particular  kind  of  excellence  has  been  carried  to  its  height 
•—a  height  that  they  have  no  hope  of  artiving  at — the  road  is  stopped 
up ;  they  must  therefore  Mrike  into  a  dtlTcrent  path ;  and  in  order  to 
divert  the  public  mind  and  draw  attention  to  themaelvet,  they  aflect 
to  decry  the  old  modeU,  and  overturn  what  they  cannot  rival.  They 
know  ihey  cannot  write  tike  Pope  or  Dtydcn,  or  would  be  only 
imiiatort  if  they  did  ;  and  they  coo*c<iuenily  strive  to  gain  an  origins! 
and  equal  celebrity  by  tin^ulsitty  and  aiTectatioo.  Their  simplicity 
ia  not  natural  to  them :  it  is  the  ftrhrn-beft  of  impotent  and  dis- 
appoinied  vanity. 

H.  I  cannot  think  that.  It  may  be  «o  in  part,  but  not  principally 
or  altogether.  Their  minds  arc  cast  in  a  peculiar  mould,  and  they 
cannot  produce  nor  receive  any  other  impreMions  than  those  which 
they  do.     They  ate,  as  to  matters  of  taste,  trh  temii, 

N.  You  Riatic  them  out  ntupidct  than  I  thought.  I  have  somr- 
times  spoken  difrcipecifully  of  their  talents,  and  >o  1  think,  compara- 
tively with  tbote  of  some  of  our  atand.vd  writers.  But  I  certainly 
should  never  conceive  tliem  so  loit  to  common  sense,  as  not  to 
perceive  the  beauty,  or  iplcndour,  or  strength  of  Pope  and  Dryden. 
They  arc  dazzled  by  it,  and  wilfully  shut  their  eyes  to  it,  sod  try  to 

lOZ 


ON  ENVY 

throw  dun  in  tho>e  of  oihcr  people.  W«  cMiJy  dUccni  and  are 
confounded  by  cxccllencr,  which  w«  are  conscious  wc  ihould  in  rtia 
aitcmpi  to  eminl.  Wc  may  sec  that  another  it  ullcr  than  ouriclves» 
and  yet  we  may  know  thai  we  can  never  jtow  to  hia  MaRire.  A 
dwarf  may  easily  enry  a  ;[iant4 

H.  They  would  like  the  compariion  to  Polyphcmu*  in  *  Acii  and 
Galaica '  better.  They  think  that  little  men  have  mo  away  with  the 
prize  of  beauty. 

N.  No  one  admire*  poetry  more  than  I  do.  or  tee*  more  beautiee 
10  it;  though  if  I  were  to  try  for  a  thousand  yt»it,  I  nhoulJ  ncTcr  be 
able  to  do  any  thing  to  please  myielf. 

H.  Pecfaaps  not  in  the  mechanical  part ;  but  still  you  adnure  and 
are  roost  struck  with  those  paEsages  in  poetry,  that  accord  with  the 
previou*  train  of  your  own  fcclinga,  and  giTc  you  back  the  image*  of 
your  own  mind.  There  it  something  congenial  in  taste,  nt  tenst, 
between  ourtcUcs  and  chose  whom  we  admire.  1  do  not  think  there 
it  any  point  of  sympathy  between  Pope  and  the  Latt  Seiaol:  on  the 
contrary,  I  know  there  is  an  antipathy  between  ihem.^When  you 
speak  of  Titiam,  you  look  like  him.  I  can  understand  how  it  is  that 
you  talk  so  well  on  that  nubjcct,  and  tbxt  your  discourse  has  an 
extreme- unction  about  it,  a  marrowines*  like  his  colouring.  But 
1  do  not  believe  that  the  laic  Mr.  We«t  had  the  least  notion  of 
Titian's  peculiar  excellences— he  would  think  one  of  his  own  copie* 
of  him  St  good  ai  the  ortgjoal,  and  hit  own  historical  compoiition* 
much  better.  He  would  therefore,  I  conceive,  lit  and  listen  to  a 
converulian  in  praise  of  him  with  something  like  irap.iticnce,  and 
think  it  an  interruption  to  more  important  discuisions  on  the  principles 
of  high  art.  But  if  Mr.  West  bad  ever  seen  in  nature  what  there  it 
to  be  found  in  Titian's  copies  from  it,  he  would  never  have  thought 
of  such  a  compatiion,  and  would  hare  bowed  hi*  head  in  deep 
humility  at  the  very  mention  of  his  came.  He  might  oot  have  been 
able  to  do  like  him,  and  yet  might  have  teen  nature  with  the  tame 
eyes. 

N,  We  do  not  alwayi  admire  most  what  we  can  do  bcttj  but 
often  the  contrary.  tSir  .lothua's  admiration  of  Michael  Angelo  wag 
perfectly  sincere  and  unaffected ;  but  yet  nothing  could  be  more 
dlameitically  opposite  iliin  the  minds  of  the  two  men — there  wat  aa 
absolute  gulph  between  them.  It  was  the  consciousness  of  bit  own 
inability  to  execute  such  works,  that  made  him  mote  sensible  of  the 
difficulty  and  the  merit.  It  was  the  same  with  hit  fondness  for 
PouMin.  He  wat  alway*  exceedingly  angry  with  me  for  not 
admiring  turn  enough.  But  this  showed  his  good  *cn*c  and  modesty. 
Sir  Joabua  was  always  on  the  /t9t-«ul  (or  whatever  might  enlarge  hit 

10$ 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKEH 


notion*  on  the  mbject  of  his  art,  and  nippty  hii  defecti ;  aad  did  not, 
like  wrnc  trtifU,  tncanicc  all  poaublc  excellence  by  hit  own  actual 
ddicieacim.  He  thu«  im proved  and  tearned  tometbinfi  daily. 
Otben  have  loit  their  way  by  *cttiag  out  with  a  pragmatical  notion 
of  their  owii  Klf-fufEcirncy,  and  have  never  advancMl  a  single  «ep 
beyoitd  thdr  Grat  crude  conctpuon*.  Futeli  waa  to  blame  in  thii 
respect.  He  did  aot  want  capacity  or  enthunum,  bm  he  had  an 
over-weefiing  opinion  of  bis  own  peculiar  acquirements.  Speaking  of 
Vindyke,  he  taid  he  would  not  go  acrosa  the  way  to  see  the  iineat 
portrait  he  had  eter  paioied.  He  asked — '  What  is  it  but  a  little  bit 
of  ooiout  ? '  Sir  Joshua  taid,  on  hearing  this — '  Aye,  be  'II  live  to 
inenc  it.'  And  he  has  lived  to  icpcni  it.  With  that  little  bit 
added  to  his  own  heap,  he  would  ban  beta  a  much  greater  pointer, 
■ik!  a  happier  man. 

H.  Yci :  but  I  doubt  whether  he  could  have  added  ti  Id  prtKtsoc. 
I  think  the  indilference,  in  the  first  inttance,  ariaea  from  the  mot  of 
taste  and  capacity.  If  Foseli  hod  porasased  an  eye  for  coJour,  he 
would  not  have  de»pi*ed  it  in  Vandyke.  B«  we  reduce  others  to 
the  Itmsia  of  our  own  capacity.  We  think  little  of  what  we  caonot 
do,  and  eory  it  where  we  imagine  that  it  meets  with  disproportioned 
admirutioa  from  others.  A  dull,  pompous,  and  obscure  writer  has 
been  heard  to  exclaim,  *  That  tHaut,  Wordsworth !  '  This  was 
excuuble  m  one  who  la  utterly  without  feeling  for  any  object*  in 
natvre,  but  those  which  would  make  splendid  furniture  for  a  drawing- 
moai,  or  Utj  acntimeni  of  the  human  heartf  bm  that  with  which  a 
■ta*e  looks  up  to  a  deapot,  or  a  despot  looks  down  upon  a  sUtc. 
Thia  coiuempluout  expreanon  waa  ao  eoiissoa  of  spleen  and  impatience 
at  the  idea  thai  there  should  be  any  wbo  preferred  Wordsworth's 
deacriplions  of  a  daisy  or  a  linnet'*  nect  to  hia  asiciiwfsr  poetry  about 
CDRiiiii,  and  palla,  and  sceptres,  and  precious  sconea:  but  had 
Wocdiwonb.  ID  addition  to  his  original  sin  of  simplicity  and  true 
tensua,  been  a  popukr  writer,  his  cOBtenpt  would  have  tamed  into 
hatred.  A*  it  is,  he  toleiatcs  hia  id/t  ana/mje:  there  is  a  link  of 
friendship  in  mutual  political  servility ;  and  beside*,  he  ha*  i  fellow- 
ffding  with  him,  aa  one  of  those  writers  of  whose  menia  the  world 
have  not  been  fully  seoiible.  Mr.  Croley  set  out  with  high  pretension*, 
and  had  some  idea  of  rivalling  Lotd  Byroo  in  a  certain  lofty, 
impoving  style  of  vcrtiJicaiioD  :  but  he  is  probably  by  this  time  con- 
vinced that  mere  constitutiooal  iaUrw  as  ill  supplies  the  place  of 
elevation  of  genius,  as  of  the  pride  of  birth  ;  and  that  the  public  know 
bow  to  diitinguith  bctweeo  a  string  of  gaudy,  painted,  turgid  phraacs, 
and  the  rivid  creation*  of  £u)cy,  or  touching  dcliocaiiona  of  the 
human  heart. 

104 


ON  ENVY 

N.  What  did  you  My  the  writer's  name  vati 
H.  Ctt^ey.     He  ti  one  of  the  Royal  Society  of  Authors. 
N.  I  ncnr  heard  of  him.     1*  be  oa  imitator  of  Lord  Byron,  did 
you  ay! 

H.  I  am  afraid  witber  he  nor  Lord  Byron  would  han  it  thought 

•0. 

N.  Such  Imitatori  do  all  the  miicbief,  and  brrng  real  gcniu*  into 
disrepute.  Tbit  i*  in  tome  meature  an  excutc  for  tho*e  who  hufe 
endearoured  to  diiparage  Pope  and  Diyden.  We  harr  had  a  tutfcil 
of  imiaiion*  of  them.  Poetry,  in  the  Kindi  of  a  •«  of  mechanic 
Ktibblcrs,  had  become  such  a  tame,  mawkish  thingt  that  we  coutd 
cndare  it  no  lonf;er,  and  our  impatience  of  the  abute  of  a  {lood  thio^ 
mniferRd  ittelf  to  the  orixina]  tource.  It  waa  thit  which  enabled 
Wordtworth  and  the  red  to  raise  up  a  new  ichool  (or  to  attempt  tt) 
on  the  ruini  of  Pope ;  because  a  race  af  writers  had  tuccccdco  him 
without  one  panicle  of  hi»  wit,  tcnic,  and  delicacy,  and  the  world 
were  tired  of  their  evcrlMung  tmgtens  and  itainhyfanAy,  People 
wvtc  ditguatcd  at  hcarinji  the  faulu  of  Pope  fthe  pan  nio«l  easily 
tmitaied)  cried  up  at  bit  {[reatett  excellence,  and  were  willing  to  take 
refuse  from  «uch  nauseout  cant  in  any  novelty. 

H.  What  you  now  observe  come*  nearly  to  my  account  of  the 
matter.  Sit  Andrew  Wylic  will  rickcn  people  M  the  Author  of 
Wsverley.  It  wai  but  tbe  other  day  that  some  one  was  proposinf; 
that  there  should  be  a  Society  formed  for  not  readiojt  the  Scotch 
Novels.  But  it  it  not  the  excellence  of  that  line  writer  that  we  ate 
tired  of,  or  reroli  at,  but  v^pid  imitations  or  catch-penny  repetitioni  of 
himself.  Even  the  quantity  of  them  has  an  obnous  tendency  to  lead 
to  thb  effect.  It  lessens,  instead  of  increasing  our  admiiation  :  for  it 
•eeint  to  be  in  eridence  that  tbcic  is  no  diiHculty  in  the  task,  and 
leads  us  to  suspect  something  like  trick  or  deception  in  their  produc- 
6m.  We  hare  not  been  used  to  look  upon  works  of  ^niua  as  of  the 
I  fmigiu  tribe.  Yet  the«e  arc  so.  We  bad  rather  doubt  our  own  ta«W 
than  aKtibe  such  a  superiority  of  genius  to  another,  that  it  works 
without  conscioutncM  or  effon,  executes  the  lattmit  of  a  life  b  a  lirw 
weeks,  write*  faster  than  the  public  can  read,  and  scattcn  tbe  rich 
material*  of  thought  sod  feeling  like  so  much  chaff. 

N.  Aye,  there  it  is.  We  had  rather  do  any  thing  than  acknowlcdfe 
the  merit  of  another,  if  we  have  any  possible  excuse  or  evasion  to 
help  it.  Depend  upoa  it,  you  are  glad  Sir  Walter  Scott  is  a  Tory 
^because  it  gives  you  an  opportunity  of  qualifying  your  involuntary 
admiration  of  him.  You  would  be  sorry  indeed  if  be  were  what  yov 
call  an  bwfii  man  t  Rnvy  is  like  a  viper  coiled  up  at  the  bottom  of 
the  heart,  ready  to  Fpting  upon  and  poison  whatever  approachc*  it. 

los 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

Wr  live  upon  the  Ticei,  the  unperfectionit  the  mtafortuoesi  and  di^ 
■ppointincnl*  of  othc-K,  sa  our  nAtunil  food.  W«  canaot  beat  a 
uipcrior  or  ta  eqiul.  Uvea  our  prcicndrd  cordial  admiration  it  only 
a  tubicrfuge  of  our  vanity.  By  raieing  one,  we  proponionobly  Imrer 
and  laiMrtify  others.  Our  tclf-Iovf  may  perhapt  be  taken  by  furpiiae 
■ad  thrown  o€  iu  ^uard  by  noTclty  t  but  it  eoon  recorcis  itacif,  and 
beeia*  to  cool  in  it>  warmett  expretsiona,  and  Hod  every  poauble 
butt.  Ridicule,  for  thii  leaion,  it  lure  to  prevail  ui-er  truth,  because 
the  malice  of  muikind  thrown  into  the  icole  giro  the  caning- weight. 
Wc  have  one  ouccnnon  of  nuthort,  of  painlcrR,  of  favourite*,  alter 
aoocher,  whoni  we  hail  in  thcii  luma,  because  they  operate  at  a 
divcriion  to  one  anoihei,  and  relieve  ua  of  the  galling  lenie  of  the 
Mpeiiority  of  uiy  one  individual  for  any  length  of  time.  By  chaog- 
b{  the  object  of  our  admiration,  we  secretly  pciauadc  ourtelvea  that 
there  !■  no  tuch  thing  at  excellence.  It  it  that  which  we  hate  abore 
all  thingi.  It  it  the  wonn  that  gnaw*  u«,  that  nererdie*.  The  mob 
shout  when  a  king  or  a  comjuctor  appears:  they  would  uke  him  and 
tear  hitn  in  ]ncccs,  but  that  he  i«  the  Kapc-goai  of  their  cride  and 
vanity,  and  make*  all  other  men  appear  like  b  herd  of  ilaves  and 
cowardt.  Instead  of  a  thousand  equals,  we  compound  for  one 
Miperior,  and  allay  all  heart-burnings  and  aniniouties  among  ourselves, 
by  giving  the  palm  to  the  liasi  mortiy.  This  it  the  secret  of 
monarchy. — Loyally  it  not  ibc  love  of  kings,  but  hatred  and  jealotuy 
of  mankind.  A  lact^uey  rides  behind  hi*  lord's  coach,  and  feel*  no 
envy  of  his  master.  Why  ?  because  he  looks  down  and  laughs,  in  his 
berrowad  finery,  at  the  ragged  tabble  below.  I*  it  not  so  io  our 
profittuon  i  What  Academician  cats  liis  dianci  in  peace,  if  a  rival 
tit*  Dear  him ;  if  hi)  own  arc  not  the  raoit  admired  pictures  in  the 
room  I  or,  io  that  case,  if  there  are  any  other*  that  are  at  all  admired, 
and  divide  ditiinction  with  him  i  I*  not  every  artifice  utcd  to  place 
the  picivrv*  of  other  aitiiu  in  the  worst  light  I  Do  they  not  go  there 
after  their  performances  are  hung  up,  and  cry  \o pa'mi  out  imaiher  euii 
What  is  the  case  among  players  i  Does  not  a  favourite  actor  threatca 
to  leave  the  stage,  at  toon  at  a  new  candidate  for  public  favour  ia 
taken  the  lean  notice  of?  Would  not  *  Manager  of  a  theatre  (who 
hashimbelf  prctcntjon*}  sooner  tee  it  burnt  down,  than  that  it  should 
be  saved  from  ruin  and  lifted  into  the  full  tide  of  public  prosperity 
and  favour,  by  the  clfons  of  one  whom  he  conceives  to  have  np- 
planted  himtclf  in  tbe  n^lar  opisioo '.  Do  we  not  sec  an  author, 
who  ha*  had  a  tragedy  oaOBed,  sat  at  the  play  every  night  of  a  new 
pttfMmaoce  for  years  after,  in  the  hopes  of  j[aining  a  new  companion 
n  Meat  i  I*  it  not  an  indelible  o^ence  to  a  picture-collector  and 
pKiroQ  of  the  attt,  to  hint  that  another  has  a  fine  bead  in  hit  collec- 
106 


ON  SITTING  FOR  ONE'S  PICTURE 

tioa  t  WUl  any  racrchant  in  the  dly  illow  another  to  be  wonh  a 
film  i  What  wit  will  applaud  a  ion  mot  by  a  riral !  He  ui*  uncaay 
and  out  of  countenance,  till  he  has  madr  another,  which  he  think* 
will  make  the  company  forget  the  lirai.  l>o  women  ever  allow 
beauty  in  othenf  Obfcive  the  people  in  a  country-town,  and  «e« 
liow  ihey  look  at  thoM  who  are  better  dretied  than  ihemaelYeit ; 
li«iCD  to  die  talk  in  country- pi acea,  and  mind  if  it  i«  campoied  of  any 
thino  but  tlandtrt,  gosMp,  and  lica. 

H.  But  don't  yoa  yourtelf  admire  Sir  Joihua  Reynoldi  ? 

N.  Why,  yc«:  I  think  I  fan  no  enry  mytclf,  and  yet  I  have 
tomctimca  caught  my*elf  at  it.  I  don't  lu>ow  that  I  do  not  admire 
Sir  .lothua  merely  aa  a  screen  againu  the  reputation  of  bad  picttiret. 

H.  Then,  at  any  rate,  what  I  tay  it  true  :  we  envy  the  good  len 
than  we  do  the  bad. 

N.  I  do  not  think  lo ;  and  am  not  nire  that  Sir  Joahua  hinwelf 
did  not  admire  Michael  Angclo  to  get  rid  of  the  auperiority  of  Titian, 
Rubent,  and  Rembrandt,  which  prenacd  closer  on  him,  and  '  galled 
hii  kibe  more.' 

H.  I  ahould  not  think  iJiat  at  all  unlikely ;  for  I  look  unon  Sir 
Jofhua  aa  rather  a  apiieful  man,  and  Jwaya  thought  he  could  hare 
little  teal  feeling  for  the  worki  of  Michael  Angelo  or  Raphael,  which 
he  extolled  to  highly,  or  he  would  not  have  been  inaenrible  to  their 
etfcct  the  tjrst  time  he  ever  beheld  them. 

N.  He  liked  Sir  Peter  Lely  bettw. 


ESSAY    XI 

OK   SITTING    FOR    ONE's    PICTURE 

THgas  i*  a  pleasure  in  titling  for  one'a  picture,  which  many  pcrton* 
are  not  aware  of.  People  are  coy  on  this  subject  at  firtt,  coquet  with 
it,  and  pretend  not  to  liki^  it,  at  it  the  cate  with  other  venial 
iadulgencet,  but  they  soon  get  over  their  tcruplet,  and  become  reugned 
to  their  fate.  There  it  a  contciotit  vanity  in  it  i  and  vanity  it  the 
tntrum  pDutUe  in  all  our  pleamtct,  the  true  rfixir  of  human  life.  The 
utter  at  lirtt  atfecta  an  air  of  indilTcrcncc,  throw*  htmKlf  into  a 
ttovenly  or  awkward  petition,  like  a  clown  when  he  goei  it  courtiog 
for  the  littt  time,  but  gradnaUy  rccoven  himielf,  attempts  an  aititudct 
aod  calls  up  hit  beat  looks,  the  moment  he  receive*  intiinatioa  that 
there  ia  tomething  about  him  that  will  do  for  a  picture.  The  beggar 
bi  the  itreet  it  proud  to  have  hit  picture  painted,  and  would  almoit 

107 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

lit  for  nothiog :  the  finMt  lady  ia  ibc  iniid  i«  an  food  of  lining  to  a 
btourite  irtiat  at  ofntMiBg  hcrwif  before  her  looking-gbM ;  aivd  tbc 
more  to,  *■  the  glis*  io  thi«  cue  >>  ttotible  of  her  chamM,  and  doe* 
all  it  can  to  6 X  or  heighuti  them.  KiofEi  lay  aaide  their  crowna  (0 
nt  for  theii  portrait),  aod  poet*  their  laureli  to  *it  for  their  bii«U  I  I 
■m  aore,  my  lather  had  a*  little  vanity,  and  a*  little  love  lor  the  an 
aa  mon  pcr*oat :  yet  when  he  had  ku  to  me  a  few  timei  (now  *on>c 
twenty  year*  ngo),  he  grew  evidently  uncMy  when  it  wai  a  fine  day, 
that  ia,  when  the  *un  »hone  into  the  room,  *o  that  we  coald  nor  paint ; 
•ad  whcD  it  became  cloudy,  bejan  to  bustle  about,  and  aak  me  if  I 
waa  001  getting  ready.  Poor  old  room !  Doe*  the  win  itil!  thine 
bio  thee,  or  doei  Hope  lling  tit  colours  round  thy  wall*,  gaudier 
dUn  the  rainbow  f  No,  never,  while  thy  oak-pannelt  endure,  will  they 
CDcioae  Ruch  fine  movements  of  the  brain  at  patted  through  mine, 
when  the  freth  hue*  of  naiurc  glr;imrd  from  tlie  canvnt,  and  my  heart 
■lently  breathed  the  namea  of  Kembrandt  and  Correggio  I  Between 
my  father'*  loveof  titting  and  tnineof  painting,  we  hit  upon  a  tolerable 
likeneta  at  last ;  but  tlie  picture  ia  cracked  and  gone  ;  and  MigUf 
(that  bone  of  the  Englwli  tcbool)  hat  dettroyed  ai  fine  an  old 
NoacaofbriDiat  head  aa  one  oouJd  hope  to  tee  m  theae  degetterate 

The  &ct  ia,  that  the  having  one'i  picture  ptintcd  ia  like  the 
creation  of  another  telf ;  and  that  ia  an  idea,  of  the  repetition  or 
Kituplication  of  which  no  man  is  ever  tired,  to  the  thouaandth 
rejection.  It  ha*  been  taid  that  loveri  are  never  tired  of  each  other's 
company,  because  they  ace  always  talking  of  themtelve*.  Thii  teemi 
(o  be  the  bond  of  connexion  (a  delicate  one  it  ia ! }  between  the 
painier  and  the  litter — they  arc  alway*  thinking  and  talking  of  the 
tame  thing,  the  piaure,  in  which  their  nelf-love  findt  an  c<]iu] 
counter-part.  There  ia  always  something  to  be  done  or  to  be 
altered,  that  touches  that  Bcnsitivc  chord— this  feature  was  not 
exactly  hit  off,  tometbing  ia  wanting  lo  the  nose  or  to  the  eye- 
brow*, it  may  perhap*  be  at  well  to  leave  out  this  mark  or  that 
blemi«b,  if  it  were  pottible  to  recal  an  cxpre«tion  that  wat  remarked 
a  «hort  time  before,  it  would  be  an  indcocribabic  advantage  to  the 

rure — a  tquint  or  a  pimple  on  the  face  handtomcly  avoided  may 
a  link  of  attachment  ever  after.  He  \t  no  mean  friend  who 
concealt  from  ourselves,  or  only  gently  indicaiet,  our  obHoiia  defteu 
to  the  world.  The  titter,  by  hit  repeated,  minute, /it^rwjr  inquirtea 
about  himtelf  may  be  lappoted  to  take  ao  indirect  and  laudable 
method  of  arriving  at  telf-knowledge ;  and  tbc  artiit,  in  lelf-defmce, 
b  obliged  to  cultivate  a  icrupuJona  teodemein  toward*  the  fcetingi 
of  hi*  *itter,  letc  he  thoald  appear  in  the  character  of  a  *py  upon 
io8 


ON  SITTING   FOR  ONE'S   PICTURE 

him.  I  do  not  conocire  Umtc  it  a  ttnmgei  ^1  upon  tccret  giatiiuile 
thaa  the  having  made  a  faTOuiabJc  lik«ncM  of  any  one  ;  nor  a  nam 
ground  of  jcalotuy  and  dUiikc  tbaa  the  having  failed  in  iheaitnnpt. 
A  »tii*  or  a  lampoon  in  writing  it  bad  enough  j  but  here  wc  look 
doubt/  foolish,  for  wc  are  ourKlve*  pirtiM  to  the  {dot,  and  have 
been  at  considerable  paint  to  give  crideoce  agaiatl  ouitelvct.  I  httTC 
never  had  a  pbttei  cuu  taken  of  mytelf :  in  tnitb,  I  rather  thrialt 
from  the  experiment ;  for  I  know  I  ihould  be  very  much  mortified 
if  it  did  not  turn  out  veil,  and  «bould  never  forgive  the  unfortunate 
anitt  who  had  lent  his  aatituncc  lo  prove  that  I  looked  like  a 
blockhead! 

Tb«  lute  Mr.  Opie  ated  to  remark  that  the  mott  teeiible  people 
made  the  best  ajttcrt ;  and  I  incline  to  lui  opinion,  etpecially  at 
I  mytelf  am  ao  cxcelleoE  titter.  Indeed,  tt  wemt  to  me  a  pdece  of 
rocic  impertinence  not  to  tit  ua  ttill  xt  one  can  in  thctc  circumttancei. 
1  put  the  best  face  I  can  upon  tbe  mMiter,  at  well  out  of  retpect  to 
the  attiit  a  to  myielf.  I  appear  on  mjr  trial  in  the  court  of 
phytiognomy,  and  am  at  anxiout  to  make  good  a  certain  idea  I  bavr 
of  niyteir,  at  if  I  were  playing  a  part  on  tbe  Mage.  I  have  do  DOttoOi 
how  people  go  to  tleepi  who  arc  titling  for  their  piciurea.  It  ia  an 
evident  nni  of  wast  of  thought  and  of  iDtemal  retourcei.  There 
are  tome  individuali,  aU  wbotc  idea*  are  tn  tbetr  bandt  and  feet — 
make  them  fit  still,  and  you  put  a  itop  to  the  machine  altogether. 
The  volatile  ipirit  of  qoicktilver  in  them  turn*  to  a  cafui  moriiMn. 
Cbiidren  are  otnicularly  acnsible  of  thit  constraint  from  their  tbougbt- 
IcMncM  and  liveltoets.  It  it  the  next  thing  with  them  to  wearing 
the  fool't  cap  at  Bcbuol :  yet  they  are  proud  of  having  their  picture* 
tskcD,  atk  when  ibey  are  to  tit  again,  und  are  raightify  pleated  when 
they  are  dooc.  Charlct  the  Firtt't  children  teem  to  have  been  good 
litter*,  and  the  great  dog  nu  like  a  Lord  Chaocellor. 

The  fc<:ond  time  a  pcrton  tttt,  and  the  view  of  the  feature*  is 
detetmiaed,  tbe  head  teem*  fancncd  in  ao  imawury  vitr,  and  he  ob 
hardly  tell  what  to  make  of  bit  titaaiion.  Re  it  cootinually  ov«r- 
vtepping  tlie  bouodi  of  duty,  and  ti  tied  down  to  certain  Jtne*  and 
limiu  chalked  out  upon  tlie  cinvaa,  to  him  *  ioviiiUe  or  dimly  teen ' 
00  the  throne  where  he  it  exalted.  The  painter  hai  now  a  diilicull 
taak  lo  mani^e — to  throw  in  bi«  gentle  admonitioiit,  •  A  little  more 
thit  way,  ur,'  or  *  You  bend  mher  too  forward,  mxUm,' — and  ongbt 
10  have  a  delicate  white  hand,  that  he  may  venture  to  adjuit  a 
Mn£gling  lock  of  hair,  or  by  giving  i  alight  turn  to  the  hcaid,  co- 
operate in  tbe  prKticaJ  attaiitmcnt  of  a  potition.  Thctc  are  tbe 
ticklith  and  tiremne  placet  of  the  work,  before  much  progreta  it 
madci  where  the  titter  growt  peevith  and  abtuacted,  and  tbe  paiatcr 

109 


THK   PLAIN  SPEAKER 


norc  anxiouB  and  particular  thaa  h«  wm  thr  day  before.  Now  i*  the 
tkat  to  Aiog  ID  a  Tew  adroit  compliments,  or  to  btroJuoe  gcaenl 
topic*  of  conTersation.  The  artiit  ouKkl  to  be  a  well-inforiaed  and 
agreeable  man — able  to  expatiate  on  hit  art,  and  abounding  in  tiiely 
sod  charactcnttic  anecdotei.  Yet  he  ought  not  to  talk  too  much, 
or  to  grow  too  noiniated  s  or  (he  picture  i*  apt  to  mand  Rtill,  and  the 
Bitter  to  be  aware  o(  it.  Accordingif,  the  ben  talkers  in  the  pro- 
lewioD  have  not  alwayi  bmi  the  moit  tucccMfut  portrait-paintctt. 
For  that  purpose  it  it  dniraUe  to  bring  a  frieixl,  who  may  relieve 
gjasi,  or  fiU  up  the  nuue*  of  ooaverMtioe,  occaaoned  by  the 
necesHry  attentioo  of  tne  painter  to  hi*  buuDCM,  and  by  the  io- 
volmtary  teTcrict  of  the  titter  on  what  hia  own  likenen  will  bring 
forth  ;  or  a  book,  a  itew«p^r,  or  a  port-folio  of  print*  may  terve  to 
unuae  the  time.  Wbco  iht  utter'*  fncie  begins  to  Hag,  the  artist 
aty  then  properly  start  a  fresh  topic  of  discourse,  and  while  hit 
Mtcotion  it  fixed  on  the  graces  called  out  by  the  taiying  tntereu  of 
the  tubjectt  and  the  mod«l  aaticipatcs,  pleaded  and  trmilinj;,  their 
being  traatfiiTrcd  every  momeat  to  the  canToa,  nothing  it  wanting  to 
tmproTC  and  carry  to  nt  height  the  amicable  undetitundin^  and  mtiluil 
tttitfactioo  and  good-will  tubtiMbg  between  these  two  pcrtoot,  to 
happily  occupied  with  each  other ! 

Sir  Joahua  matt  have  had  a  (inc  time  of  it  with  his  tittert.  Lords, 
ladiei,  generals  authors,  opcra'niagcrt,  muiticiaai,  the  learned  and  the 
polite,  beweged  hit  doors  and  found  an  uoEulinj;  welcome.  What  a 
rustling  of  wlkt!  What  a  fluttering uffiounces  and  brocades!  What 
a  cloud  of  powder  and  perfume* !  What  a  flow  of  petiwigii !  What 
an  CKcbangc  of  citilitict  and  of  titia !  What  n  recognition  of  old 
friendihips  and  an  inirojuctian  of  new  acquainunce  and  (ittert !  It 
matt,  1  ihtnk,  he  .illowcd  dui  this  it  the  only  mode  in  which  genius 
can  form  a  legitimate  union  with  wealth  and  faihion.  There  is  a 
secret  and  suAtcicot  tic  in  intereti  and  vanity.  Ab«iiact  topic*  of  wit 
or  levntag  do  not  fumiih  a  conneciiDK  link :  but  the  painter,  the 
sctilptot,  come  in  cloie  contact  with  the  pertons  of  the  Great.  The 
tadjr  of  quality,  the  oounier,  and  the  .trtitt,  meet  and  nhakc  hand)  oa 
tbi*  common  ground  ;  the  latter  exercise*  a  tort  of  natural  juritdiciion 
and  dictaiori^u  power  over  the  pretention*  of  the  lirst  to  externa] 
beauty  lod  accompbthmeni,  which  piodocc*  a  mild  sense  and  tone  of 
c<)ualtty  ;  and  the  opulent  sitter  pays  the  taker  of  fiatiering  Ukeoeiset 
handiomcly  for  hit  trouble,  which  doet  not  leiaen  the  lympathy 
between  them.     I'hcre  is  even  a  taiisfactioa  in  paying  down  a  high 

Erice  for  i  picture — it  leems  as  if  one's  bead  was  worth  tomethicg  I — 
>uring  the  fitu  sitting,  Sir  Jothoa  did  little  but  chat  witli  the  new 
candidate  for  the  fame  of  portraiture,  try  an  ittitude,  or  remark  an 
no 


ON  SITTING  FOR  ONES  PICTURE 

exprtttion.  Hi*  object  was  to  gain  time,  by  not  being  m  hute  td 
commit  himKlf,  until  he  wat  matter  of  the  ntbjeci  before  him.  No 
one  ever  dropped  in  but  the  fricndt  and  acquaintaoce  o(  the  Hiiter — 
it  wu  a  rule  with  Sir  Joihua  ihal  from  the  moment  the  latter 
entered,  he  wm  at  home — tlie  room  belonged  to  him — but  what 
lecrct  whiipcrtngs  would  there  be  amoDft  tUcWt  what  eonrideniiali 
ionudiblc  comffiunicatioQi !  It  must  be  a  refrMbJoft  moment,  when 
the  cuke  and  wine  had  been  hund«d  round,  and  the  atti«i  began 
asain.  He,  at  it  were,  by  thii  act  of  hotpitality  a«>umed  a  new 
character,  and  acquired  a  double  claim  to  conlidcRcc  and  retpcci. 
In  the  mean  lime,  the  nitier  would  |)C(hapt  glance  hii  eye  round 
the  room,  and  ncc  a  Titian  or  a  Vandyke  hanging  in  one  corner, 
with  a  trnniient  feeling  of  gcepiiciim  whether  he  «houId  make  tuch 
a  oicture.  How  (he  ladie*  of  quality  and  fashion  must  bleia  chem- 
«]*»  from  being  made  to  look  like  I>i.  JohntKia  or  Goldimtth! 
How  proud  the  first  of  the«e  would  be,  how  haupy  the  la«,  to  fill 
tlic  ume  arm-chair  where  the  Bunbury*  and  the  Horneck*  had  ut ! 
How  (uperiur  the  painter  would  feel  to  them  all !  By  ■  happy  alchemy 
of  mind,'  he  brought  out  all  their  good  <]ualiiicH  and  reconciled  their 
defects,  gair  an  air  of  «tudiou«  ease  to  bi«  learned  friend*,  or  lighted 
up  the  face  of  folly  and  fashion  with  iotelligeDcc  and  graceful  smiles. 
'1  hose  portraits,  however,  that  were  most  admired  ai  the  time,  do 
not  retain  their  preeminence  now:  the  thought  remains  upon  the 
brow,  while  the  colour  has  faded  from  the  cheek,  or  the  dress  grown 
obsolete;  and  after  all.  Sir  Joshaa't  best  pictures  are  thote  of  his 
worst  sitters — hii  Chiidrm.  They  suited  best  witli  his  unfiniibcd 
style  i  and  are  like  the  infancy  of  the  att  itself,  happy,  bold,  Mtd 
cattlesi.  Sir  Joshua  formed  the  circle  of  his  private  friends  from 
the  tiilt  of  his  sitters  i  and  Vandyke  was,  it  appeam,  on  the  same 
footing  with  his.  When  any  of  those  noble  or  distinguished  perconi 
whom  he  has  immonalised  vritb  bis  pencilt  were  sitting  to  him,  he 
used  to  ask  them  to  dinner,  aikd  afterwards  it  was  their  custom  to 
rctuni  to  the  piciore  again,  to  that  it  is  said  that  many  of  his  lincsi 
portraits  were  done  in  this  manner,  ere  the  colours  were  yet  6iy, 
IB  the  eaiitac  of  a  tingle  day.  Oh  I  ephrnieral  works  to  Um  for 
rrcrl 

Vandyke  married  ■  daughter  of  EatI  Gower,  of  whom  there  is  a 
rery  beautiful  picture.     She  was  the  (Enone,  and  he  his  own  Pari*. 

A  painter  of  the  name  of  Aniey  married  a  Lady ,  who  tat  to 

him  for  her  picture.  He  was  a  wretched  hand,  but  a  fine  person  of 
a  loan,  and  a  great  coxcomb;  .tnd  on  his  siruttiog  np  and  dowB 
before  the  portrait  when  it  was  done  with  a  prodigious  air  of  satisfac. 
tion,  she  obteitcd,  *  If  he  was  so  plcaiscd  «ntb  the  copy,  lie  might 

III 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

have  the  origiDtl.'  Thii  A»Iey  w>*  a  per*on  of  roa^ific«nt  habiu 
rad  a  miDptuou*  taite  in  IWing;  and  i*  the  ume  of  whom  tbe  unecdote 
il  rccordea,  that  when  miqc  English  nudcnii  wilting  out  near  Rome 
were  conpellcd  by  the  heat  to  siti}!  oiT  their  coau,  /Vitlcy  (li([^ajrcd 
A  waiiteoit  with  a  huge  wateifall  aucaming  down  the  back  of  it, 
which  wa«  a  piece  of  one  of  bia  owa  caovaMt  that  he  had  coovened 
to  ihia  purpote.  Sir  Jo«hua  fell  in  lore  witli  one  of  hia  fair  sitteii, 
a  jovnn  aod  beautiful  girl,  who  ran  out  one  day  b  a  great  {»nic  and 
confu«ioo,  hid  hei  face  in  her  companion'*  lap  who  wat  teadiDf;  in  an 
outer  room,  and  aid,  *  Sir  Joihua  had  maJe  her  an  offer  !  '  Tbit 
circnmnance  perhaps  deserves  mentioning  the  moret  because  there 
ia  A  general  idea  that  Sir  Joshiu  Reynold)  wa>  a  confirmed  old 
bachelor.  Goldsmith  conceiitd  a  fruitleta  attachment  to  the  same 
person,  and  addressed  some  paisionatc  letters  to  her.  Alas !  it  is 
the  fate  of  genius  to  admire  and  lo  eelebfaie  beauty,  not  to  enjoy  it  1 
It  is  a  &tc,  pefh;ip«  not  without  its  conipentaiioDs — 

'  Had  Pttratch  gained  his  Laura  for  a  wife, 
Would  he  have  irritten  Sonnets  all  hii  life  f ' 

ThU  diatiogisiahcd  lieauty  ia  still  living,  and  handramcr  than  Sir 
Joahua's  picture  of  her  when  a  girl ;  and  intdghs  against  the  free- 
dom of  Lord  Bytoa'a  pen  witk  all  tbe  chainung  pnidery  of  the 
Un  age.i 

The  relation  between  the  ponrait-pstDter  and  his  antiabic  sitters  U 
one  of  citabiishcd  custom  :  but  it  is  al*o  one  of  metaphysical  nicety, 
Bs»d  is  a  running  li^uUt  tntnJrt.  The  lixiag  an  ioouiaitivc  gaze  t>n 
beauty,  the  heighcenisg  a  momeDtary  grace,  the  dwelling  on  the 
hearen  of  an  eye,  the  losing  one's-aelf  to  the  dimple  of  a  chin,  ia  a 
dangerous  employment.  The  painter  may  chance  to  alidc  into  the 
lorer — the  lover  can  hardly  turn  painter.  Tbe  eye  indeed  grows 
critical,  the  hand  is  busy :  but  arc  the  scnsen  unmoved  i  We  are 
cntplo^  to  tnnafcr  living  charms  to  an  inanimate  surface ;  but  they 
may  ssnk  isiio  the  bean  by  the  way,  and  the  Qetveleas  hand  be  anablc 
to  carry  its  Intcious  burden  any  further.  St.  Pteux  wonders  at  the 
rash  nional  who  had  dared  to  trace  the  features  of  bis  Jnlia; 
and  accuses  him  of  iDseotibiliiy  without  reason.  Perhaps  he  too  lud 
an  cnlhnsium  and  pIcMue*  of  hit  own  1     Mr.  Butke,  in  his  SMmt 

'  Sir  Josliui  nuy  tic  tboujtht  ta  hart  in^kit  the  cMipssiiion  «(  his  (*msl* 
porlriiu  niy  coolly.  ThtFc  ii  i  puiun  of  hii  rcmiiniag  o(  ■  Mrs.  S)raun»Di, 
who  ■pfetn  ta  kivt  beto  *  adicstc  bcaul)',  pile,  Wilh  ■  very  lilllc  (olout  ia  h« 
t)i«lu  :  bsl  (btn  to  Ml  olF  ihii  wtcil  of  complfiloa.  At  a  nintc<i  In  i  tnatr- 
wbiu  Hlia  dim,  there  is  s  whit<  mirbk  filiit  nm  bn,  ■  wklla  eimd  avk  hii 
hod,  lad  bjr  h«  lidc  slawJi  Ont  iafajl«  tily, 
113 


ON  SITTING  FOR  ONE'S  PICTURE 


aad  Btauiifiit^  ha*  left  a  <leiaii>tioa  of  wliat  he  termi  the  inoM 
beautiful  object  in  nature,  the  neck  of  a  lovely  and  innocent  female, 
which  ii  wriiten  *rry  much  u  if  he  had  himnr-ll'  forrnecly  painted 
thin  object,  and  ucnticed  at  thbt  formidahlc  shrine.  'l'h«rc  is  no 
doubt  ttiu  the  perception  of  beauty  becomct  moie  exquisite  ( '  till  the 
■enw  adin  at  it ')  by  being  studied  and  refined  upon  as  an  object  of 
u( — it  in  at  the  lamc  lime  fortunately  neutraliBed  by  thit  meani,  or 
the  painter  would  nis  mad.  It  i*  converted  into  an  ibatractioo,  an 
itital  thing,  into  *omcihing  inierniediatc  between  nature  and  art, 
hotcring  between  a  living  aubcuncc  and  a  leniclcM  thadow.  The 
health  and  (pint  that  but  now  breathed  from  a  speaking  face,  the  next 
moment  breathe  with  almoit  e(]ual  etTccl  from  a  dull  piece  of  cin*aa, 
and  thui  dittract  attention :  the  eye  tparltlea,  the  lipa  are  moiai  there 
too )  and  if  we  can  faocy  the  picture  alite,  the  lace  io  ttt  turn  fade* 
into  a  pcture,  a  mere  object  of  fight.  We  take  rapturou*  poaicHion 
with  one  lenoe,  the  eye  ;  but  the  artitt'a  pencil  act*  aa  a  non- 
conductor to  the  groKicT  deairn.  Betidci,  the  acnBC  of  duty,  of 
propriety  inicrferca.  It  i«  not  the  question  at  isKue :  we  have  other 
work  on  our  hands,  and  enough  to  do.  Love  \i  the  product  of  ciK 
and  idlencu ;  but  the  paiotcr  haa  an  anxious,  feverish,  eevcr^cndiag 
tank,  to  rival  the  beauty,  to  which  be  dare  not  aapite  even  io  thought, 
or  in  a  dream  of  b!is».  Paint*  and  bruahe*  are  not  ■  amorou*  toys  of 
light-winged  Cupid  ' ;  a  rising  ugh  cvapoiaics  in  the  aroma  of  some 
fine  oil-colour  or  varnish,  a  kiodliDg  bluah  la  uanslixed  in  a  bed  of 
vermilion  on  the  palette.  A  blue  vein  meajidering  in  a  white  wfi«t 
iovitei  Uie  hand  to  toucJi  it :  but  it  is  better  to  proceed,  and  not  spoil 
the  picture.  The  ambiguity  become*  more  striking  in  painting  from 
the  naked  figure.  If  the  wonder  occasioned  by  the  object  ii  greater,  so 
is  the  despair  of  rivalling  what  wc  sec.  The  tcnac  of  respoDsibility 
incrra>es  with  the  hope  of  crcaibg  an  aiiilicial  tplentioar  to  match 
the  tea]  one.  The  dit^lay  of  unexpected  charm  foils  our  vanity,  simI 
monilies  passion.  The  painting  j1  Diami  anJ  Nymphj  ia  like 
plunging  into  a  cold  bath  of  denre :  to  make  a  auiue  of  a  Vtnw 
traoiforms  the  sculptoi  himself  to  atone.  The  mow  on  the  lap  of 
beauty  freezes  the  soul.  The  heedless,  uniuspcciing  licence  of 
foreign  mannera  giro  the  atiin  abroad  an  advantage  over  ours  at 
home.  Sir  .loshua  Reynold!  pintcd  only  the  head  of  Iphigene  from 
a  beautiful  woman  of  quality  :  Canon  had  innocent  girls  to  tit  to  him 
for  hi*  Graces.  The  Princess  Borghew,  whose  symmetiy  of  form 
was  admirable,  sat  to  him  for  a  model,  which  he  conridered  a*  his 
maitcr-piece  and  the  perfecuon  of  the  female  firm ;  and  when  asked 
if  she  did  not  fieel  oocomfbriable  while  it  was  takbg,  she  replied 
with  great  indiffcre«ce,  'No:  it  was  not  cold!  '  I  have  but  one 
Tou  Til.  :h  IIS 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

Oliver  word  to  odd  on  thii  put  of  the  lubject :  if  havrng  to  paint  a 
dclicJic  Mid  modett  fiMii^ilc  in  a  icmnution  10  g^illnntry.  on  th«  other 
hind  the  ticting  to  »  lady  for  one  t  picture  i«  3  «lill  more  uying 
nlialiODt  and  amounts  [ulniott  of  Mtlf)  to  a  decliratioo  of  lore  I 

Lindacipc-paintiox  ■'  ffw  ''''*'"  ''^f  toftnentinR  dileiwmM  and 
cmbiirrii)«rnenti.  It  h  as  full  of  the  fcelinj;  of  pistornl  limpliciCv  uod 
CMC,  u  poitrait-paintiog  is  of  per»onal  vaoity  and  egotiim.  Aw«y 
then  with  ihone  incumbnuices  to  the  true  libcny  <^  thought — the 
•ittcr't  choir,  the  bug-wig  and  (word,  the  drapcrf,  the  lay  &gort 
— and  let  us  to  some  retired  (pot  in  the  country,  tike  out  our  port- 
foliot  ))laat  our  easel,  and  begin.  We  are  >U  U  once  shrouded  from 
^Merration — 

•The  woiW  forgriling,  hy  the  world  forgot  t' 

We  enjoy  the  coot  thiide,  with  eoUtude  and  silence  i  or  hear  the 
duhing  waterfall, 

'Or  ttodt-dovt  pltin  acniil  the  fore«t  deep. 
That  drowiy  ruttlct  10  (he  highing  g^e.' 

It  Kerns  ilinoR  a  shame  to  do  any  thing,  we  are  N  well  cootrat 
without  it  t  hut  the  eye  is  restless,  and  we  must  have  totnethbg  to 
show  when  we  get  home.  We  set  to  work,  and  liulure  or  lucceM 
prompts  ut  to  go  on.  We  take  up  the  pencil,  or  lay  it  down  again, 
as  we  please.  We  rnu>e  or  pflint,  as  objects  strike  our  senses  or 
our  reilcctioD.  The  perfect  leisure  we  feel  turns  labour  to  a  luxury. 
We  try  to  imitate  the  grey  colour  of  a  rock  or  of  the  bark  of  a  tree : 
the  breexe  wafted  from  its  broad  foliage  giiei  u*  freih  tpiriti  to 
proceed,  we  dip  our  pencil  in  the  sky,  or  aik  the  white  clouds 
sailing  orer  its  bocom  to  sit  for  thrir  pictures.  We  are  in  no  hurry, 
and  have  the  day  before  uh.  Or  else,  escaping  from  the  clofe- 
embowered  scene,  we  catch  fading  dittances  00  airy  downs,  and 
•eize  un  golden  lunsett  with  the  fleecy  flocks  glittering  in  the  evening 
ray,  after  a  ahower  of  rain  has  fallen.  Or  from  Norwood** 
ridgy  heights,  survey  the  make-like  Thames,  or  ha  smoke-crowned 
capiuli 

'  Think  of  iti  crimei,  its  caret,  ii»  pain, 
Then  thield  ui  In  the  wooili  again,' 

No  one  thicks  of  disturbing  a  landscape-painter  at  bis  task  ;  he  seems 
a  kind  of  magidin,  the  privileged  genius  of  the  place.  Wherci-cr  a 
Claude,  b  Wilson  has  btroduccd  bis  own  portrait  in  the  foreground 
of  a  picture,  we  look  at  it  with  interest  (however  ill  it  may  be  done) 
feeling  that  it  is  the  portrait  of  one  who  wu  ijuite  happy  at  the  tiniC) 
and  how  glad  we  should  be  to  change  places  with  him, 
114 


m  ■ 


ON  SITTING  FOa  0N£*8  PICTURE 

Mr.  Bark«  bu  brought  in  a  njiking  nuode  in  one  of  hii  later 
worki  in  allaaioD  to  Sir  JoBhua's  portrnlt  <u  Lord  Kcppcl,  with  thoM 
of  some  other  frienJa,  pamied  in  their  better  day«.  The  portrait 
ii  indeed  i  line  one,  worthy  of  the  artist  and  the  critic,  and  perhip* 
recaUt  Lord  Keppcl't  meinocy  oftener  than  any  other  circumttance 
at  present  doet.'  Portraii-puintiag  ia  in  truth  a  )ort  of  cement  of 
friendthip,  and  »  clue  to  hiitory.  That  hlockheid,  Mr.  C****r, 
of  the  Admiralty,  the  other  day  blundered  upon  some  obiervaiiona  of 
mine  relating  lo  this  subject,  and  made  the  riouae  state  by  aaierting 
that  poitrait-paintingwaa  hiviory  oi  history  pottriit,  u  ii  happened  ;  but 
weot  on  to  add,  'That  those  f^eailcmeo  wlio  had  >een  the  ancient 
portrait)  lately  cxhiUled  in  Pall-mall,  must  have  been  satitfied  that 
they  were  (tnctJy  hiittrieal \ '  which  ihowed  that  he  knew  nothing 
at  all  of  the  matter,  and  merely  talked  by  rote.  There  wai  nothing 
historical  is  the  generality  of  thow  portraits,  except  that  they  were 
portraita  of  people  mentioned  in  hiitory — there  was  no  more  of  the 

'  '  Ko  msn  V'lt*  too  li>n(,wha  lirnto  ilo  wilh  •pirll,  and  •nlFcr  wiih  rnipiilioa, 
(rhit  PioriilFnn  pIoKi  In  con)iT»n<l  or  inAlct  i  but  itiAtti  thtj  ttt  ihirp  incani- 
fnoii^lkt  *hich  bcKt  gE'J  j|rr.  Il  vth  but  thi?  oihfr  ilay,  chiC  ia  puit:fl|;  i:i  onJr-f 
•ODM  things  which  hiiJ  btrn  brouslic  here  on  my  ukiag  InvF  of  Luii'lan  iat  (Tir, 
I  lenkdl  onr  i  iiumbcf  nt  An«  porttaiU,  mHI  uf  (hern  of  pcrioni  now  rioH,  but 
wbost  HKNt]',  in  my  btltcr  <laj>,  made  ihii  >  ptODd  >Dil  hippjr  place.  Amongal 
thew  wu  tlw  pi<tur(  of  Lorrf  Kepprl.  It  wai  piintol  by  >d  *itiil  woithjr  al  ihc 
lubJHt,  the  tMelknt  hienit  of  thai  eitrllfnl  mac  from  lluir  eiFliut  youlh,  anil  s 
common  ttieni  o(  u>  both,  vilh  *hom  v»  XittA  for  mioy  yrtn  wiihinil 
■  moRicnl  of  eoldntia,  a(  pccviiliDcai,  of  jeslouajr,  ct  of  jar,  lo  the  liay  of  our  tint! 
uparitioD. 

'  1  CTM  lookad  on  t,a«!  Krppcl  at  one  of  ihi  (rntot  and  litti  m«n  of  bli 
•gc  ;  and  I  loved  anil  cslliviitit  him  actordintljr.  He  nt  much  in  my  heart, 
and  I  briieve  I  waa  in  hit  to  iht  vojr  tad  btil.  It  wit  afin  hit  irlil  ti  Porl>- 
oieutb  ihtl  be  (an  nic  thii  picture.  With  what  til  an-l  inaioiu  iiFcclipn  I 
■tlcnilecl  liim  tliiough  that  hii  afonf  of  glory  ;  uhii  pari,  mj  ion,  in  e*tly  Auth  and 
Cnlhuiium  of  hi)  virlui^  tail  ihe  pioui  pauiDO  wiih  which  he  oiuehcd  him  at  If  to 
bE]  my  connraiani,  with  wIiMt  pro-li|;>]Lty  *«  both  tt^iEaciicreil  ourKUrt  in  court- 
inf  ilmoit  tvcr;  tort  of  tnnmy  for  hit  uhc,  I  hclicn  he  felt,  jgit  it  I  ihould 
havs  £eIi,  nicfa  fritndthip  on  tuch  an  occation.' — JCrmr  «  a  t/Mi  tarJ,  f.  tj, 
hChJ  iJiiitm,frmN^fir  T.  tt^iiHtmi. 

I  have  given  thii  puta(t  tntirv  htr«,  bfcauR  I  with  to  be  informed,  it  I  eonld, 
whit  ii  (he  conilruction  of  tbr  \aH  afoience  of  it.  It  hit  puiile^  mc  all  my  life- 
One  .litKouliy  niighl  be  (ol  oiei  bji  making  a  panic  iflei  -I  tvlicn  he  fft(,'  and 
leaving  out  the  comma  beiw'een  '  h4ve  felt '  and  ■  loeh  fficndahip.'  That  i»,  (he 
ITMning  would  be,  *  I  believe  he  fell  with  what  leal  and  aniioua  alTtclion,'  dee, 

*  jutt  aa  I  thoiild  have  fett  lueh  friendahip  on  auch  an  occaaion/  But  then  again, 
what  it  to  bteonir  of  the  'what  pan,  my  aont'  Ac.  With  what  doct  ihia 
coaaecl,  or  to  what   vrib  it '  <ny  tor) '  the   nominolive  ok,  or  by  ahti   terb  ii 

*  what  pan '  goreroed  \  1  ibould  really  be  glad,  if,  from  any  maaoacript,  printed 
e«py,  or  marginal  eomciion,  lliii  point  could  b«  clewed  up,  and  n  dot  a  paiBi|c 
rM»lvtd,  by  any  poailhk  elliptit,  into  ordinary  grammar. 


Zi 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

ipiril  of  hiitory  in  them  (which  ii  fattioa  or  aetiem)  ihin  io  tbeit 
dicMct.  But  (hii  it  the  way  at  which  ihai  pertoD,  by  b!«  |)ctti- 
foggiag  habiu  and  literal  undrrKaodiog,  alw«y«  mitiakM  a  verbal 
ttuinn  for  kok,  and  a  misnomer  for  wit  I  I  wat  goiDf  to  obwrve, 
that  I  think  the  aidinjt  the  recolleciioa  of  out  fatnily  and  fiieoda  m 
oar  abience  may  be  >  frequent  and  Ktong  inducement  to  niiia|;  for 
onr  picture* ;  but  tlut  I  belieTc  the  lore  of  poithumoui  fame,  or  oi 
coDtiauiag  our  memoriei  ahci  wc  arc  dead,  hai  very  little  to  do  with 
it.  And  one  rcuoo  I  should  gire  for  that  opinion  i«  thiii  that  wc 
arc  Dot  nainrally  very  prone  to  dwell  with  pIcMurc  on  >ny  thing  that 
may  happen  in  telaiton  to  ui  ifter  we  are  dead,  becauM  we  are  not 
food  of  thinking  of  death  at  all.  We  ihriok  eijually  from  the 
procpect  of  that  fttal  eveut  or  from  any  apeculation  on  iti  con- 
•eqoencet.  The  tuniving  onrcelTe*  in  our  picture*  it  but  a  poor 
cwnpeDsaiion — it  i*  rather  adding  mockery  to  cUamity.  The 
perpetuating  our  name*  in  the  wide  psec  of  history  or  to  a  remote 
pocteiity  is  a  vague  calcutaiion,  tlut  may  take  out  the  immediaie 
King  of  raoruliiy — wliereat  we  ounetves  may  hope  to  Ian  {by  a 
fortunate  exteniioo  of  the  term  of  human  life)  aImo«t  at  lone  u  an 
onliiury  portrait  |  and  the  wouodi  of  lacerated  friendnhip  it  heal* 
mu«  be  idll  green,  and  our  a)he»  icaicely  cold.  I  think  therefore 
thai  the  looking  forward  to  this  mode  of  keeping  alive  the  memory 
of  what  we  were  by  lifeless  hues  and  dticoloured  features,  is  not 
among  the  most  approved  conaolations  of  human  life,  or  ^vourite 
dalliancea  of  the  imagination.  Yet  I  own  I  should  like  tome  pari  of 
tne,  .11  the  hair  or  even  oaili,  to  be  prcierved  entire,  or  I  ihould  hare 
no  objection  to  lie  tike  Whiilield  in  a  state  of  petrifaction.  This 
■macks  of  the  bodily  reality  at  least — acts  like  a  deception  to  the 
tpeciBtor,  and  breaks  the  tall  from  this  '  warm,  kneaded  motioa  to  a 
clod' — from  that  to  nothing— even  to  the  person  himsdf.  I  suspect 
that  (he  idea  of  potthumous  Isme,  which  nas  so  unwelcome  a  con> 
dilion  annexed  to  it,  loses  ita  general  rcUih  a»  we  advance  in  life,  and 
that  it  ii  only  while  we  are  young  that  wc  pamper  our  imaginations  with 
this  bait,  with  a  sort  of  impunity.  The  reversion  of  immortality 
is  then  so  diiuni,  that  we  may  talk  of  it  without  much  fear  of  enter- 
ing upon  immediate  possession  i  death  is  itself  a  fable — i  sound 
that  dies  upon  our  lipi ;  and  the  only  certainty  seems  the  only 
impossibility.  Fame,  at  that  romantic  period,  is  the  iirn  thing  in 
our  roouUu,  and  death  the  last  tn  our  thought*. 


116 


IS  GENIUS  CONSCIOUS  OP  ITS   POWERS? 


ESSAY  XII 

WHETHER   GSNIUS   IS   CONSCIOUS  OF   ITS   POWERS? 

'  Ko  tcaUy  great  nun  ever  thou;;ht  himself  to.  The  idea  of  greainea 
ia  the  mind  anxwcis  but  ill  to  our  knowledge — or  tu  our  ignomncc  of 
ouneUei.  What  lining  prutc-writer,  for  inttnnce,  would  think  of 
comjating  himielf  with  Burke !  Yet  would  it  not  have  bcvrn  c^ul 
prciumpuun  or  cgoiiam  in  him  to  fancy  himwlt  equal  to  ihOK  who 
had  gone  bcrorc  bim — tioliogbroke  or  John»on  or  Sir  William 
Temple  i  Became  hit  lank  id  letter*  it  become  a  tetttcd  point  with 
ua,  we  conclude  that  it  mutt  ha*e  been  quite  aa  aelf-eridcnt  to  him, 
and  that  he  mutt  have  been  perfectly  uonacious  of  hit  vaat  tuperiority 
to  the  re«t  of  the  world.  Alat !  not  to.  No  man  it  truly  bimtctf, 
but  in  the  idea  which  other*  entertain  of  him.  The  miod,  at  well  u 
the  eye,  'leei  not  itself,  but  by  rellcciion  from  lomc  other  thing.' 
What  parity  can  there  be  between  the  effect  of  habitual  compoiitioa 
on  the  mind  of  the  individual,  and  the  turprite  occaiioaed  by  first 
reading  a  fine  puttage  in  an  udmtred  autlior  g  between  what  we  do 
with  cate,  and  what  we  thought  it  aest  to  impotsible  ever  to  be  done  } 
between  the  rcTcrrniial  awe  we  have  for  yeart  encouraged,  without 
■eeing  reaton  to  alter  it,  for  dittingui&bed  genius,  and  the  tlow, 
reluctant,  unwelcome  coovictioo  th.it  after  ioliDite  toil  and  repeated 
ditappointroentt,  and  when  it  i>  too  laie  and  to  little  purpote*  we  have 
ourtetvet  at  length  accomptiihed  what  we  at  firtt  ptopoted  i  between 
the  intigni^cance  of  our  petty,  pcrional  preientionE,  and  the  vattneta 
.-md  Kplendour  which  the  aCmotpherc  of  imagiualion  Icndt  to  an 
illuBtriout  name  i  He  who  comet  up  to  hit  own  idea  of  grtatnct«i 
mutt  alwayt  have  had  a  very  low  ttandard  of  it  in  hit  mind.  '  What 
a  pity,'  taid  tome  one, '  that  Milton  had  not  the  pleaiure  of  reading 
Paraditc  Lottl '  He  codd  not  read  it,  at  we  do,  with  the  weight 
of  impretaioo  that  a  hundred  yeart  of  admiration  have  added  to  it^ 
'  a  phcEnJx  gaxed  by  all ' — with  the  ncnte  of  the  number  of  editiont  it 
hat  paued  through  with  itill  incicating  reputation,  with  the  tone  of 
tolidity,  time-proof,  which  it  hat  received  from  the  breath  of  cold, 
envioui  nulignert,  with  the  tound  which  the  voice  of  Tame  hat  lent 
to  every  line  of  it !  The  writer  of  an  ephenieiat  productioD  may  be 
at  much  dazzled  with  it  at  the  public :  it  m^y  tparkle  in  hit  own 
eyet  for  a  momeci,  and  be  tooo  forgotten  by  every  one  elte.  But  no 
one  cm  anticipate  the  tulfraget  of  pottcriiv.  Every  man,  in  judging 
of  htnuelf,  it  hit  own  contemporary.     He  may  fed   the  gale  (if 

117 


THE  PLAIN   SPEAKER 

popalvity,  bui  he  cannot  tril  how  long  it  will  lut.  Hit  ofiinion  of 
luniKlf  wBot4  dittancc,  w^ints  time,  wnntf  numbcrt,  to  set  it  olf  and 
confirm  it.  He  muai  be  iodilFrrcDt  to  hit  owq  mnit*,  before  he  can 
feel  1  confidence  in  them.  Beside*,  every  one  must  be  ti^nsiblc  oft 
tboiuand  weakneMC*  and  dcticienctes  in  hiiritelfi  whereii)  Geitiui 
only  Icavet  behind  it  the  monuments  of  iu  Etrcngth.  A  ercxi  naihe 
ii  an  abitniction  oftomc  one  excellence:  but  whoever  (anae*  htmielf 
an  abattaciion  of  excellence,  so  far  from  being  great,  may  be  luie 
that  he  is  a  blockhead,  equally  ignorant  of  excellence  or  deiect,  of 
himself  ot  others.  Mt<  Burke,  bcaiiles  being  the  author  of  the 
RtflMivni,  and  the  Liitrr  to  a  NiibU  Lord,  had  a  wife  and  son  ;  and 
had  to  think  ai  much  about  theiu  at  we  do  about  him.  The  imagina- 
tion gainii  nothing  by  the  minute  details  of  perional  knowledge. 

On  the  other  h;tnd,  ii  may  he  said  that  no  roan  knowi  to  well  ai 
the  author  of  any  performance  what  it  has  com  hint,  and  ihc  length  of 
time  and  study  devoted  to  it.  Tht<  n  one,  among  other  reaionR,  why 
00  man  can  ])[i>nouiii:i'  an  opinioa  upun  hirtuclf.  The  happineas  of 
the  result  bears  no  projiOTtion  to  the  dilhculiict  ovetcotne  or  the  jiaint 
taken.  Malrriam  saftriiiat  epui,  ii  an  oM  and  fatal  complaint.  The 
definition  of  gcniui  it  that  it  acts  unconsciounly ;  and  thoie  who  have 
produced  immortal  works,  have  done  lo  without  knowing  how  at 
why.  The  greatest  power  opcratci  unieen,  and  exccutei  its  ap- 
pointed  task  with  aa  little  ostentation  as  difficulty.  .  Whatever  \i  done 
best,  is  done  from  the  natuial  bent  and  dispotition  of  the  mind.  It  ia 
onlv  where  our  incapacity  begirs,  that  we  begin  to  feel  the  obstaclet, 
and  to  set  an  undue  value  on  oui  triumph  over  them.  Correggio, 
Michael  Angelo,  Rembrandt,  did  what  they  did  without  premedita- 
tion or  elFort — their  works  came  from  their  niindt  at  s  natural  birth 
— if  you  had  asked  them  why  they  adopted  this  or  that  Myle,  thejr 
would  bare  answered,  becaaie  they  (iiiild  not  btlp  il,  and  bccaUK  thejT 
knew  of  no  other.     So  Shakespcar  tays ; 

<  Our  poesy  it  as  a  gum  which  isnici 
From  whenct  'tis  noiiiiih'd.     The  (ire  i'  ih"  flint 

Shawn  not  till  it  be  itnick:  out  gentle  flame 
Ptavokei  iiKlf  i  and,  like  the  eurrtnt,  fllci 
Each  bound  it  chafe>.' 

Shakespcar  himielf  waa  an  example  of  his  own  rule,  and  appears  to 
have  owed  almost  every  tiling  to  dunce,  scarce  any  thing  lo  industry 
or  design.  Hi*  poetry  llaihcs  from  him,  like  the  lightning  from  the 
tummer-cloud,  or  the  stroke  from  the  tun-llower.  When  we  look  at 
the  admirable  comic  detigns  of  Hogarth,  they  seem,  from  the  un- 
Gnithcd  state  in  which  they  are  left,  and  from  the  freedom  of  the 
118 


IS  GENIUS  CONSCIOUS  OF  ITS  POWERS? 

pencilling,  to  ban  coil  bitn  little  trouble ;  wherru  the  SigitmunJa  a 
a  very  laboored  and  compancircly  feeble  pet  for  ma  net,  and  he  accord- 
ingly i«  great  store  by  it.  He  alao  thought  hii;h!y  of  his  portrait*, 
and  boaated  that  'he  could  paint  equal  to  Vandyke,  give  hlin  hii  time 
and  let  hiro  cbooK  hit  tubject.'  Thit  was  the  very  teaioo  why  he 
could  [lot.  Vandyke'*  excellence  CDOtinted  in  thi*,  that  he  could 
puM  a  Anc  poniait  of  any  one  ai  »ight :  let  him  take  ever  «o  much 
poiu  or  chootc  ever  io  bad  a  tubject,  he  could  not  help  making 
•OtnethiDg  of  it.  Hie  eye,  hit  mind,  hla  hand  viat  catt  in  the  mould 
of  grace  and  delicacy.  Milton  again  i«  undcmtood  lo  haTe  preferred 
Pamdiit  RegamtJ  to  hi>  other  works.  Thi»,  if  so,  wai  either  because 
he  htroielf  was  conicious  of  hating  failed  in  it ;  or  because  othcri 
thought  he  had.  Wc  are  willing  to  think  well  of  thai  which  we 
know  watili  our  farourabie  opinion,  and  lo  prop  the  ricketcy  bantling, 
livery  step  taken,  inviid  Minrrva,  cobcs  ue  lomcihing,  and  it  »et 
down  10  account ;  whereat  wc  arc  borne  on  the  full  lidc  of  gcniu* 
and  Bucceit  into  the  very  ha»eo  of  our  detirea,  alinott  imperceptibly. 
The  strength  of  the  impulse  by  which  we  are  carried  along  prerenta 
the  sentc  of  difTiculty  or  resistance ;  the  true  inspiration  of  the  Muse 
is  soft  and  balmy  as  the  air  we  breathe ;  and  indeed,  leave*  ut  litdc  to 
boatt  of,  for  the  etTcct  hardly  teems  to  be  our  own. 

There  are  two  persons  who  always  appear  to  me  to  have  worked 
under  this  inroluntary,  silent  impulse  more  than  any  others  ;  i  mean 
Rembrandt  and  Correggio.  It  is  not  known  that  C^rreggio  eter  saw 
a  picture  of  any  great  mamfr.  He  lited  and  died  obscurely  in  an 
OMCure  village.  We  have  few  of  his  workB,  but  they  are  all  perfect. 
What  truth,  what  £racc,  what  an;;clic  sweetnen  are  there!  Not  ooe 
line  or  tone  that  is  not  dirincty  soft  or  exijuisitely  fair  ;  the  pamtcr'i 
mind  rejecting,  by  a  natural  procett,  all  that  it  discordant,  coarse,  or 
un])I<Mting.  The  whole  is  an  emanation  of  pure  thought.  The  work 
grew  under  his  hand  as  if  of  itself,  and  came  out  without  a  flaw,  like 
the  diamond  from  the  rock.  He  knew  not  what  he  did  ;  and  looked 
at  each  modest  grace  aa  ii  stole  from  the  canvas  with  anxious  delight 
and  wonder.  Ah !  graciout  God !  not  he  atone ;  how  many  mote 
in  all  time  have  looked  ai  their  work*  with  the  tame  fcetingt,  not 
knowing  but  they  too  may  have  done  aoniething  divine,  immortal,  and 
finding  in  that  sole  doubt  ample  amends  for  pining  solitude,  for  want, 
neglect,  and  an  untimely  late.  Oh !  for  one  hour  of  that  uneasy 
rapture,  when  the  mind  first  thinks  it  hat  struck  out  something  that 
may  last  for  ever ;  when  the  germ  of  excellence  burtu  from  nothing 
on  the  startled  sight !  Take,  take  away  the  gaudy  triumph*  of  the 
world,  the  long  deatlileai  shout  of  fame,  and  give  back  that  heart-felt 
BJgb  with  which  the  youthful  enthusiast  first  weds  inimorulity  as  hi* 

119 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 


•ecm  bride!  And  tboo  toOt  Renbtandt!  wbo  wm  a  mm  of 
geam,  if  ever  wutcr  wu  a  nOD  of  gnunt,  did  thi*  dieam  hug  orer 
yoB  u  yoa  pasted  that  ttnagc  picnrc  of  JanVt  Ladder  f  Did 
yoBT  rye  ttruD  over  tbOM  gnduJ  dodi;  cloud*  ioio  finanif ,  or  did 
lltoM  iriiit^-tnted,  beaked  figarca  bafable  to  jov  of  fame  m  they 
apfflwchcd  \  Did  you  knew  what  yoa  were  kbout,  or  did  you  oot 
patat  oacb  at  it  bappeoed  \  Oh !  if  m«  h»d  tbou^hl  ooce  aboot 
youfieif,  or  any  thing  but  the  tnbjKt,  it  woukl  have  been  all  otcr 
with  'the  glory,  the  iMuitioat  tbe  aoMoity,'  the  dicani  bad  A«l,  the 
(pell  bad  ben  btokra.  Tbe  hiila  would  Dot  hare  looked  like  thoae 
wv  M«  ia  riccp — that  taiamkinalioo  figure  of  Jacob,  tfarown  on  om 
tide,  woold  not  have  tlept  a*  if  tbe  brnith  w«a  (airly  taken  out  of  lua 
body.  So  muirb  do  Rembrandt'*  (acturea  tarour  of  the  touJ  and 
body  of  reality,  that  tbe  thought*  aeeiii  identical  with  tbe  object* — if 
dure  bad  been  the  Icaii  qocdbon  what  he  tbould  hatre  dooe,  or  hew 
be  iboold  do  it,  or  bow  far  be  had  lucceeded,  it  would  hate  ifwtkd 
emy  thing.  Lamp*  of  light  bung  upon  hii  pencil  aod  fell  npoo  hi* 
caan*  like  dew-drt)p« :  tbe  thadoary  tcU  wat  drawn  over  hit  back- 
graod*  by  tbe  diUl.ofanwe  finger  of  nigbt.  ntkiag  darkact*  viwUc  by 
Mill  greater  darkneM  that  eoaU  oaly  be  felt ! 

Cffraam  b  aaoihcr  t"— ^  of  a  aian  of  eeaitu,  wboae  work  may 
be  nid  to  baie  vmig  from  hi*  Bund>  bkc  Miaerva  frooi  the  bead  of 
Jtifiter.  Doo  Qsixotc  isd  Saacbo  were  a  kind  of  twin* ;  aod  tbe 
JCM  of  ibc  Ittlcr,  aa  he  aayi,  fell  from  him  like  drop*  of  nis  wbea 
be  leaai  tboaght  of  it.  Sbaketpear'i  creatiooi  were  nore  ranhifonD. 
but  equally  oatural  aod  un>t«die(L  Raphael  and  Hiltoo  *ee«n  partial 
cxceptiotu  lo  thla  rule.  Their  prodactioci*  were  of  tbe  ttmfMt  aedtr  \ 
and  tboae  of  the  latter  tometime*  e*eo  anouat  to  ceato*.  Aocord- 
bgly,  we  fittd  Mittoa  quoted  amoog  thoic  aiilbor>t  who  have  left 
prom  of  ibcir  cotertainiag  a  high  opiaioo  of  tbenuetTc*,  and  of 
chcriihiBg  a  atroBg  aipiratioa  alter  fane.  Soaie  of  Shakc«peir'* 
WaaiM  hs*c  beea  alto  cittd  to  the  tame  pvrpow;  bai  they  teeBD 
ratbtr  to  coavey  wayward  and  diaiatitfad  con^biat*  of  bit  mtoward 
lonaae  than  any  thing  bite  a  trinopliaiK  and  can£deot  teltance  oa  hi* 
littve  renown.  He  appcvt  to  have  aiood  oore  alone  aod  to  have 
ibm^t  IcM  aboot  binwlf  than  aay  bnog  being.  One  reatoo  for 
that  indiffereacc  may  have  bceot  (bat  a*  a  writer  be  wa*  tolerably 
MKcetaAiil  in  bit  UiMinie,  aod  oo  doobt  prodoced  hi*  work*  with  very 
great  facility. 

1  hardly  ktiow  wbctbet  lo  data  Qande  Lorraine  aa  aaioitg  tbote 
who  lucceeded  mott  ■  throngh  bappinoii  or  pais*.'  It  i*  certain  that 
be  iraiuted  bo  ooc,  and  ha*  had  oo  wccrMful  ioiiiator.  Tbe  perfec- 
tion of  bit  hodacapea  accmt  to  have  been  owiim  to  as  tnbertau  i}uiiity 

ISO 


IS  GENIUS  CONSCIOUS  OF  ITS  POWERS? 

of  haimon,  to  an  exquiiitc  •enae  of  dclicacf  in  hii  mini.  Hii 
monotony  nu  been  complained  of,  which  i%  apparently  produced  from 
a  preconccircd  idea  in  hii  mind ;  and  not  long  ago  1  heard  a  perwD, 
not  mori:  dieiinguithcd  for  the  lubtilty  than  the  naivni  of  hi«  tu- 
caaini,  remark,  *  Oh  1  1  never  look  at  CUudc :  Lf  one  lia«  Be«a  one  of 
hi)  picture),  DDc  haa  itcn  them  all ;  they  are  every  one  alilie  :  there 
it  l&e  aame  iky,  the  umc  cHmaie,  the  tame  time  of  day,  the  tame 
tree,  and  that  tree  ii  like  a  cabbage.  To  be  nire,  they  *ay  be  did 
pretty  well ;  bat  when  a  man  it  alway*  doing  one  thing,  he  ought  to 
do  it  pretty  well.'  There  is  no  occasion  to  write  the  name  under 
thi«  cntici'm,  and  the  be«t  answer  to  it  i»  that  it  it  true — hii  picturci 
alwayt  are  the  umc*  bot  we  never  wish  them  to  be  Qtbcrwtie.  Pcf- 
fectioo  is  one  thia^.  I  confint  I  think  that  Claude  knew  this,  and 
felt  tliai  hi«  were  the  linett  laodacapea  b  the  world— that  net  had 
been,  or  would  ercr  be. 

I  ant  not  in  the  humour  to  puraac  tbii  argument  any  brther  U 
prcKnt,  but  to  write  a  digrcwioD.  If  the  reader  ii  doc  already 
ttrotiwd  of  it,  he  will  pleate  to  take  notice  that  I  write  thii  at 
Winttnlow.  My  «iylc  there  it  apt  to  be  redundant  and  excuru*e. 
At  other  time*  it  may  be  cramped,  dryt  abrupt  i  but  here  it  flowa 
like  a  river,  aod  overcpruds  it*  tMnk*.  I  bare  not  Co  seek  for 
thoughca  or  bunt  fipr  image* :  they  come  of  thcmaelrci,  I  inhale  them 
with  the  breeze,  and  the  lilent  groTes  ate  vocal  with  a  thouaaod 
tccoUcction^— 

'  And  viiiooi,  as  poetic  eye*  avow, 
Hang  on  each  leaf,  and  cling  to  e*'ry  bough.' 

Here  1  came  fifteen  year*  ago,  a  willing  exile ;  and  ai  I  trod  the 
lengthened  g;retntward  by  the  low  wood-aide,  repeated  the  old  lioe, 

*  My  minii  to  mr  a  kUigiloin  in  1 ' 

I  found  it  M>  then,  before,  and  lincc  i  and  *hall  I  faint,  now  that  I 
have  poufcd  out  the  ipirit  of  chat  miod  to  the  world,  und  treated 
many  aubjeda  with  truth,  with  freedom,  and  power,  because  I  have 
been  followed  with  one  cry  of  abu»c  ever  »ince  /w  not  hang  a  gvoem- 
mttn-toolf  Here  I  returned  a  few  yran  after  to  lini»h  »ome  work*  I 
hiA  undctukeo,  doubtful  of  the  event,  but  dctcimined  to  do  my  beat ; 
•od  wrote  that  character  of  Millimant  which  wa*  once  tnoKribcd  by 
finger*  fairer  than  Aurora'*,  but  no  oocice  waa  taken  of  it,  became  I 
waa  not  a  ffivctntatnlrtjaai,  and  mu>t  be  auppoccd  devoid  of  taate  and 
elegance  by  all  who  aipired  to  ihctc  qualitic*  in  th«r  own  perioM. 
Here  1  ikctched  my  account  of  that  old  honest  Signior  Orlando 
Friioobaldo,  which  with  its  fine,  racy,  acrid  tone  that  old  crab-apple, 
C*ff***d,  would  hare  relifclied  at  pretended  to  rettah,  had  I  been  a 

III 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 


T^lfTA 


If«m««. 


m 


periodiaiki 


IS  GENIUS  CONSCIOUS  OF  ITS  POWERS? 

doM  ««ll|  piy*  wcU,  and  ia  *  cried  out  apon  in  <he  top  of  ibc  coin- 
pMi.'  It  ii  this  indeed  that  has  tared  my  shallow  akiif  from  quite 
RNBdering  on  Tory  spite  and  rancour ;  for  when  people  have  been 
rmjing  and  approring  an  article  in  a  raitcellancous  journal,  it  doct 
sot  do  to  lay  when  they  discover  the  author  afterwards  (whaccTer 
nMglH  hilt  been  the  case  before)  it  is  written  by  a  blockhead  i  and 
even  Mr.  Jerdan  recommends  the  volume  of  CHAUcreitirnct  as  an 
excellent  little  work,  because  it  haa  no  cabalistic  name  in  the  title- 
pag«,  and  swear*  *  there  it  a  iirit-taic  article  of  forty  pagei  in  the  lact 
niimber  of  the  I^dinburgh  from  Jeffrey's  own  hand,  though  wheo  he 
learns  ajtaiott  his  will  that  it  is  mint)  he  devotes  three  successive 
auiubers  of  the  LrreimY  Giii-m  to  abuae  'that  tfrangt  article  in 
the  bat  number  of  the  Edinburgh  Review.'  Others  who  had  not 
thsa  advaDtaec  have  fallen  a  sacrifice  to  the  obloquy  attached  to  the 
napicion  ordoubting,  or  of  being  acquainted  with  any  one  who  is 
ItnowD  to  doubt,  the  divinity  of  kings.  Poor  Kctii  paid  the  forfeit 
of  this  itxi  anijtiii  with  his  health  and  life.  What,  though  his  Verse* 
were  like  the  breath  of  spring,  and  many  of  his  thoughts  like  flowers 
—would  this,  with  the  circle  of  critics  thai  beset  a  throne,  lesicn  the 
crime  of  their  having  been  praised  in  the  Examiner  ?  The  lively  and 
most  agreeable  Editor  of  that  paper  has  in  like  manner  been  driven 
from  hit  country  and  hit  friends  who  delighted  in  him)  for  no  other 
rea»0D  than  having  written  the  Story  of  Rimini,  and  asserted  tco 
year*  ago,  'that  the  most  accomplished  prince  io  Europe  was  u 
Adonis  of  fifty !  ' 

'  Rtium,  Aloheus,  the  dread  VMce  U^it, 
That  shrunk  thy  ttmmai  reniin,  Sicilian  Muse  t  * 

t  look  out  of  my  window  and  sec  that  a  shower  has  just  fallen :  the 
fields  look  green  after  it,  and  a  rosy  cloud  hangs  over  the  brow  of 
the  hill ;  a  lily  expoodi  its  pcul*  la  tht  iBoiliatc,  dressed  in  its  losely 
green  aitd  while;  a  shepherd-boy  hm  just  brought  some  piece*  of 
turf  with  daisies  and  grass  for  hit  young  mistress  to  make  a  bed  for 
her  sky-lark,  not  doomed  to  dip  his  wings  in  the  dappled  dawa — my 
cloudy  thoughts  draw  otf,  the  storm  of  angry  politic*  has  blown  over 
— Mr.  Blackwood,  1  am  yoor* — Mr.  Croker,  my  service  to  voo— 
Mr.  T.  Moore,  1  am  alive  snd  well — Re^ly,  it  is  wonderfiil  how 
little  the  worse  I  am  for  fifteen  years'  wear  and  tear,  how  I  come 
upon  my  legs  again  on  the  ground  of  truth  and  nature,  and  '  took 
abroad  into  universality,'  forgetting  that  these  is  any  ndi  person  •* 
mysdf  in  the  world! 

I  have  lei  this  postage  stand  (however  critical)  because  it  may 
serve  is  a  practical  illustration  to  show  what  author*  really  think  of 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 


themielTM  when  pnt  npoa  the  ixtmure — (I  cocfcMi  the  nibiect  hai 
nothing  to  do  wiib  the  title  M  the  hMd  of  the  Emi^  ! ) — and  a«  a 
wAioiog  to  ihow  who  may  reckon  upon  their  fur  portion  of  populvity 
u  (he  reward  of  the  exereiM  of  aa  iodc^oileat  t|»rte  ind  such  taleoa 
at  tbey  poweu.  It  mmciime*  «eemi  at  fim  tight  at  if  the  low 
•cuiilic^  aod  'fugpo  of  «bu«e  by  which  it  ii  attempted  to  orettay  all 
eOOUBOD  tcDK  and  decency  by  a  tiuuc  of  tin  and  nkkoamet,  ever- 
bttincly  repeated  and  applied  inditcrimiiHtciy  to  all  ihoce  who  are 
BOt  01  the  regular  goTcrnment-paity,  wat  peculiar  to  the  preartu  time, 
and  the  aaomaloua  growth  of  modern  criticism  ;  but  if  we  took  back, 
m  (hall  fiad  the  tame  tynem  acted  upon,  as  ofren  aa  power,  prejo- 
dice,  dulaew,  and  ipite  fouad  their  account  iti  playing  the  same  imo 
one  aaother't  luniit— in  decrying  popular  enbrtt,  and  tn  piing 
cufTCDCy  to  every  tpecie*  of  bate  metal  that  bad  their  own  conTCD- 
tional  ttamp  unoo  it.  The  name*  of  Pope  and  Dryden  were  aaiatled 
with  daily  and  ontpinng  abate — the  epithet  A.  P.  R.  vnt  levelled  U 
the  tacicd  head  of  the  former — and  if  even  men  like  these,  having  to 
deal  with  the  cootciouanett  of  their  own  imlrniities  and  the  iatolence 
aad  tpunn  of  wautoo  eonuty,  mutt  have  found  it  liard  to  poiieet  tbetr 
Mula  in  patience,  any  living  writer  aniidtt  sucb  contradictory  evidence 
can  tcarcely  expect  to  retain  much  calm,  ttcidy  conviction  of  hit  own 
meritt,  or  build  himtcif  a  iccUTc  reveffion  in  imniortality. 

However  one  may  in  a  Ct  of  tuleen  and  impatience  turn  round  and 
aaten  onc't  daimi  in  the  face  of  low-bred,  hireling  malice,  I  will  here 
repeat  what  I  tet  out  with  tayinj;,  that  there  never  yet  was  a  nun  of 
MDte  and  proper  tpdrit,  who  would  not  decline  rather  than  court  a 
compiriton  with  any  of  lho«c  name*,  whotc  reputation  he  really 
emulatci — who  would  not  be  totry  to  tuppote  that  any  of  the  great 
heirt  of  memory  had  as  many  foibles  as  he  knows  himtelf  to  poateia 
— and  who  would  not  shrink  Irom  including  himielf  or  being  included 
by  othert  in  the  tame  praiae.  that  was  otfeted  to  long-euabliihed  and 
Dnivertally  acknowledged  merit,  as  a  kind  of  profanation.  Thoae 
who  are  ready  to  fancy  ihcmselvci  Raphaels  and  Homers  are  very 
tnlcrior  men  indeed — they  have  not  even  an  idea  of  the  mighty 
BUM*  that  '  they  take  in  rain.'  They  are  at  deficient  in  pride  a«  in 
iDodMty,  aad  have  not  to  much  at  served  an  apprenticeship  to  a  true 
ud  boiiourihlc  amlMtiun.  They  mistake  a  momentary  popularity  for 
laatiag  renown^  and  a  sanguine  temperament  for  the  iotpiraiiooi  of 
geotua.  The  love  of  lame  is  too  high  and  delicate  a  feeling  in  the 
miitd  to  be  mixed  up  with  realities — it  it  a  totitaiy  abttractiont  the 
teem  tigh  of  the  toul — 

*  It  is  all  one  at  wc  should  Ion 
A  briglii  particular  Mai,  aad  think  to  wed  it.' 

'*4 


^  ■ 


IS  GENIUS  CONSCIOUS  OF  ITS  POWERS? 

A  name  •  fut-nnchored  ia  th«  deep  abytf  of  lime '  U  like  a  itar 
twinklitig  in  the  iirnuntcnt,  cold,  nilenc,  dittant,  but  ctrrnal  and 
■ublime  i  and  our  trangnutUD};  one  to  posterity  it  aa  if  wc  aboold  con* 
tempJAte  our  translation  to  the  altiea.  If  we  are  not  contented  with 
thU  fccHng  on  the  subject,  we  (hall  never  ail  in  Caaaiopeia'a  chair, 
not  will  our  name*,  studding  Ariadne's  ctown  or  atrcsiming  witlt 
Berenice'!  locks,  erer  make 

'  the  face  of  heaven  to  bright. 
That  birdi  ihall  a'tng,  and  think  it  weri  not  night.' 

Thoae  who  are  in  love  only  with  noi»c  and  tthow,  inetrad  of  dcroting 
themselves  to  a  life  of  Uudy,  had  better  hire  a  booth  at  Bartlemy- 
Fair,  or  march  at  the  head  of  a  recruiting  regiment  with  drumi 
beating  and  colour*  Sying  ! 

It  baa  been  urged,  that  howcrer  little  we  may  be  diipoaed  to 
iodulge  the  rcHeaion  at  other  limca  or  out  of  mere  teif-complaceDcy, 
yet  the  mind  cannot  help  being  conacioua  of  the  efTort  required  for 
any  great  work  while  it  it  about  it,  of 

*  The  high  rndrarour  and  the  glad  lucccu.' 

I  grant  that  there  ia  a  aente  of  power  in  agch  caaca,  with  ibe 
exception  before  nutcd ;  but  ibcn  this  rery  effort  and  state  of  exchv- 
ment  engrosses  the  mind  at  the  time,  and  leaves  it  listless  and 
exhausted  alterwarda.  The  enern  we  exert,  or  the  high  nate  of 
enjoyment  wc  feel,  puts  us  out  of  conceK  with  ourteWe*  at  other 
time*:  compared  to  what  wc  arc  in  the  act  of  compoMtion,  wc  •cem 
dull,  comitMn-pLace  people,  generally  tpcaking;  and  what  we  have 
been  able  to  perform  it  rather  matter  of  wonder  than  of  self* 
conj;  rat  Illation  to  us.  The  tttinulua  of  writing  is  like  the  atimuliu  of 
intoxicaiioo,  with  which  we  can  hardly  sympathise  in  our  sober 
momenta,  when  we  are  no  loogter  under  the  inspiration  of  the  demon, 
or  when  the  rirtae  is  gone  out  of  us.  While  we  are  engaged  in  any 
work,  we  are  thinking  of  the  auhjcci,  and  cannot  atop  to  admire 
ouraelvcE)  and  when  it  if  dooc,  wc  look  at  it  with  compiratiTC 
indi^ereecc.  I  will  vcaiure  to  say,  that  no  one  but  a  pedant  ever 
read  his  own  works  regularly  through.  They  arc  not  lit — they  are 
become  merv  wonla,  wMt^-ptptr,  and  have  none  of  the  glow,  the 
creative  entbiuLann,  the  vebeiDeDce,  and  natural  spirit  with  which  he 
wrote  them.  When  we  have  once  committed  our  thoughts  to  paper, 
written  thcro  fairly  out,  and  teen  that  they  are  right  in  the  printing, 
if  we  arc  in  our  right  wita,  wc  hare  dome  with  them  for  etCT.  I 
•omctimes  try  to  read  an  anicle  I  hare  writirn  in  some  magazine  or 
tcriew — (for  when  they  arc  bound  up  in  a  voIuhh',  I  dread  the  very 

<"5 


THE  PLAIN   SPEAKER 


•ijht  of  tbemi— but  (top  after  a  KntcDce  or  iwo^  aed  mttr  recur  to 
tiK  UiJu  I  UMw  prect;  well  what  I  hare  to  tay  on  the  tubject,  and 
do  not  wact  to  go  to  kHooI  to  mytelf.  It  it  the  worn  iottancc  of 
the  til  reptata  crambe  in  the  world.  I  do  Dot  thinlc  that  even 
Mioteti  hare  much  delight  in  looking  ai  thdr  woiits  alter  they  an 
oooe.  While  iliey  ate  in  ptogreu,  there  it  a  great  degree  of  tatit- 
faciion  in  contJdetinf;  what  has  been  done,  at  what  is  Mill  to  do — but 
thii  it  hope,  in  tewrip,  and  ccairi  with  the  comf-letioD  of  our  elToru. 
1  ihould  t)Ot  imagine  R;iphael  i>r  Coricg^  would  have  mtich 
pleaaure  in  loolting  at  their  foiiner  work*,  though  they  might  rccoUcct 
the  pleatore  they  had  had  in  painting  them  t  they  might  »py  defecu 
io  ibcRi  (for  the  idea  of  aoaiuinablc  perfection  taW  keep*  pace  with 
oiiT  actuat  approaches  to  it},  and  fancy  that  ihey  were  doc  worthy  of 
immortality.  The  greatest  ponran- painter  the  world  ever  taw  nied 
Io  write  under  hta  pictures,  'luitmut  /aiieiai,'  ligaifying  tliat  they 
were  imperfect ;  and  in  hi*  letter  to  Charte*  v.  accompanying  one 
of  hit  moat  admired  work*,  he  only  ipoke  of  the  time  he  had  been 
about  it.  Aonibal  Caracci  boasted  that  he  could  do  like  Titian 
aad  Correggio,  and,  like  tno«[  boaiirrs,  was  wrong.  (Sit  Hi 
tfirrtfJ  hiUrr  II  til  tautin  Ltid»vie»,  on  itfing  iht  pklvra  at  Parma. ) 

The  grtatcti  pleasure  in  life  it  that  of  reading,  while  we  are  young. 
I  have  had  at  much  of  ihii  pleasure  at  perhapa  any  one.  At  I  Erow 
oldef(  it  ^ct ;  or  eW,  the  lUonger  tiimolut  of  writing  take*  oil  the 
edge  of  it.  At  present,  1  hate  neither  time  nor  inclination  for  it : 
yet  I  ihoald  like  to  devote  a  year'*  entire  leiture  to  a  course  of  the 
English  Novctittti  and  peihapt  clap  on  that  old  aly  knttte,  Sii 
Waller,  Io  the  end  of  the  Ittt,  It  is  aatonithiog  how  I  nted  formerlT 
to  relish  the  style  of  certain  authors,  at  a  time  when  I  mytelf 
detpaircd  of  ever  wciiing  a  single  line.  Probablv  thit  wai  the  tca«on> 
It  is  not  in  rocoul  as  in  natuial  atceni — inicllcciual  objects  teem 
higher  when  wc  sarrcy  them  from  below,  than  when  we  look  dowo 
from  any  given  eleTaiion  above  the  common  IctcI.  My  three 
&*ouritc  writer)  about  the  time  I  speak  of  were  Burke,  Junius,  and 
Roatseau.  I  wai  never  weary  of  admuing  and  wondetinj;  at  the 
felicities  of  the  style,  the  turns  of  exptCHioo,  the  relinementt  of 
thought  and  sentiment :  1  laid  the  book  dgwn  lo  find  out  the  iccrct 
of  M>  much  Mccngih  and  beauty,  and  took  it  up  again  in  despair,  to 
read  on  and  admire.  .So  I  patted  whole  days,  monthi,  and  I  may 
add,  years ;  and  have  only  thit  to  tay  dow.  that  at  my  life  besao,  to 
I  could  wibh  that  it  may  end.  The  last  lime  1  tatted  this  luxury  in 
its  full  perfection  was  one  day  after  a  sultry  day's  walk  in  summer 
between  Farnham  and  Alton.  I  wa*  (itirly  tired  outt  t  walked  into 
an  ion-yard  ( I  thiak  at  the  latter  place) ;  I  was  shown  by  the  waiter 

ii6 


ON  THE  PLEASURE  OF   HATING 

to  what  looked  at  (irtt  like  commoD  out-houMi  u  the  other  end  of  it, 
but  they  lutned  out  to  be  a  luite  of  roomi,  probably  a  hundred  yean 
old — (he  one  [  entered  opened  into  an  old-fa>hiocied  garden,  em- 
bellished with  beds  of  lukspuT  and  a  leaden  Metcury ;  it  was 
wainicoicd,  and  tlieie  was  a  grave- looking,  dark-coloured  pottrait 
of  Choilet  ti.  han};in|t  up  over  the  tiled  cbimney-piece.  I  had  '  Lovt 
fir  Low '  in  my  pockcl,  and  began  to  tead  ;  coffee  waa  brought  in 
in  a  tUver  cotfee-pot ;  the  cream,  the  breud  and  butter,  ctery  thing 
wai  excellent,  and  the  flavour  of  Congreve'i  style  prevailed  over  all. 
I  fffoloDgcd  the  enteruinmcni  till  a  laic  hour,  and  relished  this 
divine  comedy  better  even  than  when  I  oied  to  tee  it  played  by  Mita 
Mellon,  as  Mht  Pnte ;  Bob  Palmer,  ai  Talth ;  and  Banoiater,  aa 
honeit  Bfit.  Thii  circumstance  happened  jutt  live  yeaia  ago,  and  it 
Kenu  like  yeaterday.  If  I  count  my  life  lo  by  luairea,  it  will  sooa 
glide  away;  yet  I  ahall  not  have  to  repine,  if,  while  it  last*,  it  ia 
Clinched  with  a  few  tuch  recollecdona ! 


ESSAY  xin 


OM    THE    PLEASURE    OF    HATING 

Tkiu  b  a  ipider  crawling  ikwg  the  matted  Hoot  of  the  room  where 
I  tit  (not  the  one  which  baa  be«n  to  well  allef;ori>ed  in  the  admirable 
Lmui  to  a  SfiiJer,  but  another  of  the  lame  edifying  breed) — he  runt 
with  hccdlcvt,  hurried  hatie,  he  hobbles  awkwardly  towardt  me,  he 
(top* — be  acet  the  giant  thadow  before  him,  and,  at  a  lost  whether  to 
retreat  or  proceed,  meditates  his  huge  foe — but  as  i  do  not  start  up 
and  icize  upon  the  uragfiling  caitiif.  as  be  would  upon  a  hapleM  fly 
within  his  toils,  be  ukes  heart,  and  ventures  on.  with  misgled 
cunning,  impudence,  and  feat.  At  be  pattet  me,  I  lift  up  the  matting 
to  aasist  hii  etcape,  am  glad  to  get  rid  of  the  unwelcome  ininider,  aod 
abuddcr  at  the  recollection  after  he  it  gone.  A  child,  a  wotnaa,  a 
clown,  or  a  nkoralisl  a  century  ago,  would  bare  crushed  the  little 
reptile  to  death— my  philowphy  has  got  beyond  that — I  bear  the 
creature  no  ill-will,  but  itill  1  hate  the  very  sight  of  it.  The  spirit 
of  malerolcnce  lurvives  ilie  practical  exertion  of  it.  We  learn  to 
curb  our  will  and  kcvp  our  orcrt  actioQk  within  the  bounds  of 
humanity,  lo«ig  before  we  can  subdue  our  tectiroenti  and  imaginaiiont 
to  the  lamc  mild  tone.  We  give  up  the  external  demonatration,  the 
Irutf  violence,  but  cannot  part  with  the  cttesce  or  principle  of 
boculity.     We  do  not  tread  upon  the  poor  little  aniroal  in  qoeuion 

>»7 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

(that  tttmt  b*rt»ro«  sad  ptifiil ! )  bat  wc  regwd  h  whb  »  aon  of 
■yMK  borrorsad  tKpertutiout  loatbing.  Ii  viU  Mk  anotber  buadnd 
yean  of  fine  wrUini  ud  hud  tluidUBg  to  cim  na  of  Uw  prejudice, 
Hid  Buk«  w  feel  tawardi  tbia  lU«mnKd  tribe  whb  MNnetMag  of 
'die  milk  of  biHDvi  ktndacM,'  iMteKl  of  tbeir  own  thyncM  uid 


Knvc  leemi  (the  more  we  look  iota  it)  made  up  of  imyilhiw  i 

without  MKiicthiog  to  hate,  wc  Aodd  lote  the  very  apnag  at  ibomht 
■sd  Wtioa.  Life  would  ton)  to  a  Magoaat  |m>o1,  were  it  doc  raffled 
by  the  janiflg  iotemu,  the  uonily  punotti  of  meo.  The  white 
MCak  io  OUT  own  foriufiei  it  brighteoed  (or  jait  rendered  TUible) 
by  BiakiDg  all  uoond  it  ai  dark  u  powible  i  so  the  raiobow  painti 
tti  forai  upon  the  clo«d.  1(  it  pride  t  It  it  enry !  It  it  the  force 
of  cootrait  i  la  it  weakocM  or  malice !  But  to  it  it,  thai  there  it 
a  teciet  affiiuiy,  a  banitrm  after  cril  ia  tbc  buman  miod,  aod  that 
it  takct  a  perrerw,  but  a  lonunaic  delight  in  nuachicf,  tiscc  it  it  a 
BeTecfailinx  aource  of  utitfactkta.  Pare  good  loOB  growt  ioatpkl, 
waott  tatxiy  and  Bpitit.  Pain  it  a  bitter-aweet,  wUch  never  mrfeit*. 
Love  lanu,  wtib  a  little  indulgence,  to  iodifiereoce  or  diagutt : 
hatred  alooe  ia  immortal. — Do  we  not  tee  tbit  principle  at  work 
every  where  ?  Animali  tormeat  and  worry  one  aoocber  without 
mercy :  children  kill  file*  foe  tport :  every  orte  readi  the  accidcnta 
Md  oftecea  in  a  newapaprr,  a*  the  cream  of  tbc  jctt :  a  whole  town 
rwu  to  be  pretent  at  a  Hre,  and  the  ipectaior  by  no  meant  exohi  to 
•ee  it  exiiaig«iabed.  It  it  better  to  ba*e  ir  to,  but  it  dinuDi^het  the 
iiMetettt  and  our  (eelinj{a  t^ke  pn  with  oor  paidona,  rather  than 
with  our  imderManding*.  Men  ataemUe  in  crowd*,  with  eager 
ecthiuiaam,  to  witncta  a  tragedy:  but  if  there  were  an  execution 
goiru;  forward  in  the  next  itreet,  at  Mr.  Burke  obactrca,  tbc  theatre 
would  be  left  empty.  A  Mrange  cur  in  a  village,  an  idiot,  a  crazy 
woman,  are  tet  upon  and  baited  by  the  whole  oommoDtty.  Pnbtie 
naJBBcea  are  in  the  nature  of  piAlic  benelita.  How  long  did  the 
Pope,  the  BomboM,  and  tbe  InouititioQ  keep  the  people  of  Eogbad 
b  breath,  and  aupply  them  wnb  nickMunte*  to  vent  ibeir  fpletn 

r!  Had  they  dooe  ui  any  harm  of  latef  No:  but  we  have 
jt  a  qoantiiy  of  lupcrltuoui  bile  upon  the  nonuch,  and  we 
fraated  an  object  to  let  it  out  upon.  How  loth  were  we  to  give 
■p  ow  pioua  belief  ia  gboit»  and  witches  becauac  we  liked  to 
peraccuie  the  oat,  aod  frighten  ounehca  to  death  with  tbe  other! 
It  ii  not  tbe  qstlity  to  ooch  at  the  quantity  of  excitement  that  we 
are  anxiotii  about :  we  cannot  bear  a  itate  of  iodiifcrcnce  and  nmm : 
the  miod  leemt  to  abhor  a  tMcaww  at  muci)  at  ever  matter  waa 
wppoaed  to  do.  Even  when  tbe  tpirit  of  tbe  age  (that  it,  the 
118 


^  ■ 


ON  THE  PLEASURE  OF  HATING 

prof;r«»  of  inielleetual  refioement,  waning  with  ouf  natufal  iDlirmiiies) 
Du  luay^rt  diowi  uk  to  carry  our  viDdicUTc  tad  hciditrong  humour* 
into  clTcct,  wc  try  to  (crire  tliem  in  dMcription,  Mid  keep  up  the 
old  hugbran,  the  phantomt  of  our  terror  and  our  hate,  in  imagination. 
Wc  burn  Guy  Faux  in  effigy,  and  the  hooting  and  butTcting  and 
maltir^ting  that  poor  Uitciml  ligure  of  rags  aad  attaw  makes  a 
fcniraJ  in  c»ery  village  in  England  oqcc  a  year.  ProtmaBta  and 
Pspiita  do  not  now  burn  ooe  another  at  the  atuke :  but  we  tubactibe 
to  new  ediliona  of  Fox's  Book  tf  Mortyri  \  and  the  aecret  of  the 
nicceiaofche  Scoltb  Nevth  it  much  the  name — they  carry  ui  back 
to  the  icud(,  the  heart- burning!,  the  haToc,  the  diimay,  tbc  wrong* 
and  the  icTrngc  of  a  barbarous  age  and  people — to  the  rooted 
prejudices  and  deadly  animosities  of  srctt  and  purtici  in  politics  and 
religion,  and  of  contending  chiefi  and  clans  in  war  and  intrigue. 
We  feci  tlie  full  force  of  the  «|ririt  of  hatred  with  all  of  them  in 
turn.  Aa  we  read,  we  throw  aside  the  tnimmcl*  of  civiHaation,  the 
flimay  reil  of  humanity.  '  Otf,  you  lendinga ! '  The  wild  beast 
remime*  ita  away  within  ut,  wc  fed  like  hunting-ant  mat  t|  and  .1*  tbc 
hound  tian*  in  hii  aiecp  and  rushes  oo  the  cbatc  in  fancy,  the 
heart  roDics  iiacif  in  in  native  lair,  and  utters  a  wild  cry  of  joy,  at 
being  restored  once  more  to  freedom  and  lawless,  unrestrained 
impul«ea.  Every  one  haa  hit  fiill  twin^,  or  goes  to  the  Deril  bis 
own  way.  Here  are  no  Jeremy  Beoiham  Panopticons,  none  of 
Mr.  Owen's  impaiaabic  Parallclogrann*,  (Rob  Roy  would  hare 
■pumed  and  pouted  a  thousand  cursM  on  them],  no  long  calculations 
of •elf'interett — the  will  takes  its  instant  way  to  m  object;  aa  the 
mountain -tor  rent  flings  itself  o?cr  the  precinice,  the  greatest  jiossiUc 
good  of  each  individual  conaitt*  in  dome  all  the  miachief  he  can  to 
his  neighbour ;  thai  is  charming,  and  finds  a  sure  and  sympathetic 
chord  io  erery  breast!  So  Mr.  Irving,  the  celebrated  preacher, 
has  rekindled  the  old,  original,  almost  exploded  hrll-lirc  in  the  aisles 
of  the  Caledonian  Cbopcl,  as  they  introduce  the  real  water  of  the 
,  New  River  at  Sadler's  Wells,  to  the  delight  and  attoniohmcni  of 
his  fair  aodiencc.  'Tu  pritij,  though  a  fit^ut,  to  sit  and  peep  into 
the  pit  of  Tophet,  to  pUy  at  nu^^agvn  with  flame*  and  brimstone 
^it  giies  a  sman  electrical  thock,  a  lively  fiUip  to  delicate  constitu- 
tions), and  to  see  Mr.  Irving,  like  a  huge  Tiun,  looking  as  grim 
and  swarthy  as  if  he  had  to  forge  tortures  for  all  the  damned ! 
What  a  strange  beine  man  is !  Not  cooccni  with  doing  all  he  can 
to  vex  and  hurt  his  fellows  here,  '  upon  this  bank  and  sboal  of  time,' 
where  one  would  think  there  were  heart-aches,  pain,  disappointment, 
anguish,  .tears,  sighs,  and  groans  enough,  the  bigoted  maniac  taken 
him  to  the  top  of  the  high  peak  of  school  divinity  to  hud  him  down 

VOL.  VU.  1  I  1 19 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 


ihc  yawning  piU  of  pmal  6rei  hit  Bpecolatire  malice  uk»  eternity 
to  wreak  iti  inlinite  tpite  in,  and  call*  on  the  Almighty  to  execute 
its  rclenilM*  doom  I  The  cannibalt  bum  thdr  cncmtn  and  cat 
them,  in  good-fdlowthip  with  one  another :  mcvk  Chriiuaa  dxnnttj 
CMt  thote  who  differ  from  Ihem  bat  a  hairVbreadth.  body  aad  i 
into  hell-lirei  for  the  jlory  of  God  and  the  good  of  hi*  creiinrwi' 
It  ii  well  that  the  power  of  such  permni  ia  not  co-ordinate  wiih  tbcii 
villi :  iodeed,  it  i*  from  the  kok  of  their  weakneii  :uid  inability  to 
control  the  opinion*  of  othen,  (bat  tbcy  ihui '  outdo  termagant,'  nod 
endeavour  to  frighten  them  into  conforraity  by  big  word*  aod 
mooMrout  denunciation  t. 

The  plefttuie  of  hving,  tike  a  poitonotu  mineral,  csu  into  the 
bean  of  religion,  and  tuci»  ii  (o  rankline  tpleen  and  bigotry  i  h 
nukei  uatriottim  an  cxciuc  for  carrying  fire,  peftikoce,  and  umine 
bto  other  Undi ;  it  leave*  to  Tinue  nothing  but  the  «pirit  of 
ceoiorioutnew,  and  a  narrov,  jealoiu,  inquiutorial  watchfalnetf  onr 
the  iciiona  and  modtes  of  other*.  What  hare  the  dilTcfcnt  accts, 
creed*,  doctrine*  in  religion  been  but  co  many  preicxu  tet  up  for 
men  to  nrrangle,  to  qnanel,  (o  tear  one  another  in  piccet  about,  tike 
a  target  as  a  mark  to  shoot  at  i  Doe*  any  one  snppo»e  that  the  love 
of  country  in  an  Engltthmao  implies  any  friendly  feeling  or  dibpoiitioo 
to  serve  another,  bearing  the  same  name  f  No,  it  mean*  only  hntrcd 
to  the  French,  or  the  inhabitants  of  any  other  country  that  wc 
happen  to  be  at  war  with  for  the  time.  Dort  the  love  of  virttw 
denote  any  with  to  discover  or  amend  our  own  fanlu  ?  No,  but  it 
atones  for  an  obstinate  adherence  to  our  own  vices  by  tbe  most 
vinalent  intolerance  to  human  frailtic*.  This  principle  ii  of  a  most 
universal  anplicadoo.  It  extends  to  good  ai  well  a*  evil :  if  it  makes 
u*  hate  folly,  it  makes  u*  no  test  dtstatitlied  with  distinguished  merit. 
If  it  incline*  ti*  to  reient  the  wrong*  of  olhcri,  it  impels  u*  to  be 
a*  tmiMtient  of  their  prosperity.  We  revenge  injuries:  we  repay 
boicRu  wiih  ingratitude.  Even  our  strongest  partialities  and  likings 
loon  take  this  turn.  'That  which  was  luscious  at  locuits  anon 
becomei  bitter  as  coloquintida ; '  and  love  and  friendship  melt  in  their 
own  fire*.  We  hate  old  friends  :  we  hate  old  books :  we  hate  old 
opiDMO*  t  and  at  lait  wc  come  to  hate  ourtelve*. 

I  have  obierved  that  few  of  tbo>c,  whom  I  have  formerly  known 
most  intimate,  continue  on  the  tame  friendly  footing,  or  combine  tbc 
tteadincis  with  the  warmth  ot'  nttachmcni.  I  have  been  acquainted 
with  two  or  thr<«  knot*  of  inseparable  companions,  who  *aw  each 
other  '  iLx  dav»  in  the  week,'  that  have  broken  up  and  diipcrsed. 
I  have  qoarrelled  with  aln>oet  all  my  old  friends,  (tbcy  might  tay 
this  i*  owing  to  my  bod  temfier,  but)  they  have  also  quarrelled  wtth- 

130 


ON  THE  PLEASURE  OF  HATING 

one  another.  What  it  become  of  'that  Rt  of  whist- pUyeii,' 
celebrated  by  EkU  in  hU  notable  Epiiitr  to  R«hfri  Seuihty,  Erg, 
(acd  now  I  think  of  it — that  I  niygelf  have  celebtateii  in  this  vnj 
Ti^unie)  'thai  fof  lo  many  year*  called  Admiril  Bumey  friend?' 
They  arc  tcittetcd,  like  last  year"*  tnow.  Some  of  them  arc  dead— 
or  gone  to  live  at  a  distance— or  pati  one  another  in  the  atreet  like 
BtMnger*  i  or  if  ihcy  atop  to  epeak.  do  it  at  coolly  and  try  to  eul 
one  another  aa  uion  aa  poiaiblc.  Some  of  u(  have  grown  rich — 
others  poor.  Some  hare  got  piacei  under  GoTemment — other*  a 
nktt  in  the  Quarterly  Review.  Some  of  u«  Kave  dearly  eancd 
a  name  in  the  world ;  vrhiln  oihcri  remain  in  their  original  privacy. 
We  deipiM  the  one ;  and  envy  and  are  glad  to  mortify  the  other. 
Timet  are  chaoged  ;  wc  cannot  revive  our  old  feelings  i  and  we 
avoid  (be  light  and  are  uneasy  in  the  pretence  of  thoae,  who  remind 
Uf  of  our  inhrmity,  and  put  ut  upon  an  elTort  at  teeming  cordiality, 
which  cmbarraa)c(  ouraeivei  and  doet  not  impose  upon  our  quoaJom 
atsociatct.  Old  friendihips  are  like  meat*  served  up  rcpcaicdij, 
cold,  coniforltcM,  and  dinutcful.  The  stomach  turns  against  them. 
Either  constant  intercourse  and  fumitiarity  breed  weariness  and 
contempt  i  or  if  we  meet  again  after  an  interval  of  absence,  we 
appear  no  longer  the  *an>e>  One  is  too  wise,  another  too  foolish 
for  u* ;  and  we  wonder  wc  did  not  lind  this  out  before.  We  arc 
ditcooccrted  and  kept  in  a  state  of  continual  alarm  by  the  wit  of 
one,  or  Itted  to  death  of  the  dullness  of  another.  The  geoJ  lUt^i 
of  the  lirst  (betides  leavmg  stings  behind  them)  by  repetition  grow 
ttale,  and  loK  their  atarttiog  c^ect  t  and  the  inttpidity  of  the  last 
become*  intolerable.  The  matt  amusing  or  instructive  companios 
is  at  best  like  a  favourite  volume,  that  we  with  after  a  lime  to  lay 
aprm  iht  thtif;  but  at  our  friends  arc  not  willing  to  be  laid  There, 
this  produce*  a  misunderstanding  and  ilUblood  between  us. — Or  if 
the  zeal  and  integrity  of  friendsliip  is  not  abated,  or  its  career 
interrupted  by  any  obntacle  arising  out  of  ita  own  nature,  we  look 
out  for  other  subjects  of  complaint  and  sources  of  dissatiifaction. 
We  begin  to  criticise  each  other's  dress,  looks,  and  general  character. 
■  Such  a  one  is  a  picaiant  fellow,  but  it  is  a  pity  he  sits  so  late  1 ' 
Another  fails  to  keep  hit  appointmcnti,  and  that  is  a  tore  that  never 
beals.  We  gel  acquainted  with  some  ftshionablc  young  men  or 
with  a  misircse,  and  wish  to  introduce  our  friend  ;  but  he  is  awkward 
and  a  sloven,  the  interview  does  not  answer,  and  this  throws  cold 
water  on  our  intercourse.  Or  he  make*  himself  obnoxious  to 
opinion — and  we  shrink  from  our  own  conviction*  on  the  lubject  m 
an  excu»c  for  not  defending  him.  All  or  any  of  these  cause*  mount 
up  in  time  to  a  ground  o^  coolncsa  or  irritation— and  at  last  they 

131 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 


ImtA  out  bto  open  violence  u  the  only  amendi  ve  can  imJte  our- 
mIvm  for  tuppTCMing  them  to  long,  or  the  readioe  mean*  of  btni^hing 
rccoll«ctiaas  of  former  kindnew,  to  litelc  com)a»blc  with  our  prnnit 
fcclinck  Wc  may  try  to  umpcr  with  the  woundc  or  patch  up  the 
carcuc  of  dep«rt«i  fricndihip,  but  ihe  one  will  hardly  bear  the 
iuuidlbg,  and  the  other  a  not  worth  the  trouble  of  embalmiDB! 
The  ODiy  wa^  to  be  recoocilcd  to  old  frieod)  i*  to  pan  with  them  tor 
good :  at  a  dutAnce  we  may  chance  to  be  thiown  hack  (in  a  wikiog 
dreatn)  upon  old  limen  and  old  fcelinet :  or  at  any  talc,  wc  should 
not  think  of  renewing  our  imimacy,  till  wc  have  fairly  ffil  «ur  tfite, 
at  uid,  thought,  and  felt  all  the  ill  wc  can  of  each  other.  Or  if  we 
can  pick  a  quarrel  with  some  one  cIk,  and  make  him  the  )capc-goat, 
this  IB  an  excellent  contrivance  to  hejil  a  broken  bone.  I  think  1 
muot  be  friendi  with  Lamb  a^uin,  giccc  he  hai  wiitlcn  that  magoani- 
mouK  Letter  to  Southey,  and  loU  him  a  piece  of  his  mind  ! — I  don't 

koow  what  it  it  that  atiachen  me  to  H bo  much,  except  that  he 

and  I,  whenever  wc  meet,  nil  in  judgmcoi  on  another  set  of  old 
friendf,  and  'carve  them  a«  a  dith  fit  for  the  Gods.'     There  was 

L —  H ,  John  Scott,  Mrs. ,  whoic  dark  raven  lock»  made 

a  pcturceque  background  to  our  diecourte,  B ,  who  is  grown  fat, 

and  it,  they  say,  married.  R :  these  had  aJl  separated  long  ago, 

and  their  foibles  are  the  common  link  that  holdi  lit  together.  Wc  do 
not  affect  to  condole  or  whine  orer  iheir  follies  i  we  enjoy,  we  laujb 
at  them  till  we  are  leadv  to  burst  our  sides, '  /«*/  inteimiisioo,  [or  ' 
hours  by  the  dial.'  We  serve  up  a  course  of  anecdote*,  trtiti, 
master -strokes  of  character,  and  cut  and  hack  at  them  till  we  xk 
weary.  Perhaps  lome  of  them  are  even  with  us.  For  my  own  pan, 
at  1  once  taid,  I  like  a  friend  the  better  for  having  faulit  that  one  can 

talk  about.     '  Then,'  said  Mrs, ,  '  you  will  never  cesse  to  be  » 

philanthropist !  '  Those  in  question  were  some  of  the  choice-ipintt ' 
of  the  age,  tiot  ■  fellows  of  no  mark  or  likelihood  ; '  and  we  lo  far 
did  ibem  justice:  but  it  is  well  they  did  not  hear  what  we  sumelimet 
said  of  them.  I  care  little  what  any  one  says  of  me,  paRiculBily  | 
behind  my  back,  and  in  the  way  of  criucal  and  analytical  disctisnon 
— it  is  look*  of  dittike  and  scorn,  that  I  answer  with  the  worst 
vcoom  of  my  pen.  The  expression  of  the  face  wounds  me  more  than 
the  expreaiiont  of  the  tongue.  If  I  hare  in  one  instance  mistaken 
this  expression,  or  resorted  to  this  remedy  where  I  ought  aou  I  am 
sorry  for  it.  But  the  face  was  too  fine  over  which  it  mantled,  and  I 
am  too  old  to  have  misunderstood  it  1    ...  I  sometimes  go  op  to  ^ 

's ;  and  as  often  as  I  do,  resolve  never  to  go  again.     I  do  not  < 

find  the  old  homely  welcome.     The  gbost  of  fcicndnhip  meets  me  at 

the  door,  «od  ritt  with  me  ail  disacr-tiinc.     They  have  got  a  set  of 

'3' 


ON  THE   PLEASURE  OF  HATING 


fine  ootioDs  and  dcw  acquaiDtance.  Alluiioaa  to  pan  occurrence}  are 
thought  tririal,  nor  it  ii  alwayt  lari;  to  touch  upon  more  gmeral 
fubjeci*.  M.  docs  not  brgin  ai  h*  formerly  did  c^■c^y  five  rainnics 
•  Fawceti  uncd  to  wj,'  &c.  Thai  topic  i«  tomcthing  worn.  Tiw 
girla  arc  grown  up,  knd  have  a  thousand  accomplish  meats.  I  perceive 
there  U  s  jealousy  od  both  tides.  They  think  1  give  myielf  airs, 
and  1  fancy  the  same  of  them.  Eirery  time  I  am  asked,  '  If  I  do 
Dot  think  Mr.  Wailiington  Irvine  a  very  fine  writer  ? '  I  shall  not 
go  again  till  I  receive  an  invitation  for  Chrittma»^ay  in  company 
with  Mr,  Lision.  The  only  intimacy  I  nM-cr  fonod  lo  flinch  or  fade 
was  a  purely  inielleciunl  one.  There  wu  none  of  the  cant  of 
candour  in  it,  none  of  the  whine  of  mjwicish  »rnsibilicy.  Our  mutual 
acquaintance  were  considered  merely  at  lubjects  of  conversaiioa  and 
knowledge,  not  at  all  of  atTection.  Wc  regarded  them  no  more  in 
MF  experiments  than  '  mice  in  an  air-pump : '  or  like  malefactors, 
they  were  regularly  cut  down  and  given  over  to  the  diitecting- knife. 
We  ipared  neither  friend  nor  foe.  We  sacriiiced  human  infirmities 
at  the  shrine  of  truth.  The  skeletons  of  character  might  be  teen, 
afi«r  the  juice  was  extracted,  dangling  in  the  air  like  llies  in  cobwebs  : 
or  they  were  kept  for  future  inspection  in  some  refined  acid.  The 
demoDstrstion  was  as  beautiful  as  it  was  new.  There  is  no  surfeiting 
on  gall :  ootliing  keepi  to  well  as  a  dccoctioa  of  spleen.  We  grow 
tired  of  everything  but  luroing  other*  into  ridicule,  and  coDgratulatiog 
ourselves  on  their  defects. 

Wc  take  a  dislike  to  onr  favourite  books,  after  a  time,  for  the  tame 
reason.  Wc  cannot  read  the  same  works  for  ever.  Out  honeymoon, 
even  though  we  wed  the  Muse,  mu)t  come  to  an  end ;  and  ii  lollowed 
by  indifference,  if  not  by  disgust.  There  are  tome  works,  those 
indeed  that  produce  the  mott  striking  effect  at  first  by  novelty  and 
boldness  of  outline,  that  will  not  bear  reading  twice:  others  of  a  less 
extravagant  character,  and  that  excite  and  repay  attention  by  a  greater 
nicety  of  details,  have  hardly  intcrett  enough  to  keep  alive  our 
coniiniicd  enthusiasm.  The  popuUiity  of  (lie  most  successful  writers 
operates  to  wean  us  from  them,  by  the  cant  and  fuis  that  is  made 
about  them,  by  hearing  their  name«  everbstingly  repeated,  and  by  the 
number  of  ignorant  and  iodiscriminate  admirers  they  draw  alter  them : 
— we  as  little  like  to  have  to  drag  others  from  their  unmerited 
obscurity,  lest  we  should  be  exposed  to  the  charge  of  affcctalioD  and 
singularity  of  taiic.  There  i*  nothing  to  br  said  respecting  an  author 
that  all  the  world  have  made  up  their  minds  about :  it  is  a  thankless 
as  well  ashopclus  task  to  recommend  one  that  nobody  lias  ever  heard 
of.  To  cry  up  Shakespeare  as  the  God  of  our  idolatry,  aeemt  like  a 
vulgar,  nation^  prejudice :  to  take  down  a  volume  of  Chaucer,  or 

■33 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

Speoan,  or  Beaumont  and  FlMcher,  or  Ford,  or  Mvlowc,  hat  rtry 
laocl)  tbe  look  of  pedantry  jutd  cgotiun.  I  coofeM  it  nuku  me  hate 
tbc  nry  name  of  h  ame  uid  G«iuih  whca  worlu  like  (bcsc  ire  *  gooc 
into  tbc  wuiGS  of  time,'  while  cKh  RKcewive  Keoei^on  of  fooU  u 
biU))jp  employed  in  reading  the  iruh  of  the  day,  sad  women  of 
faihion  gravely  join  with  their  wailing -makU  id  ditciueing  the 
prcferetice  between  Paradue  Lott  and  Mr.  Moorc'i  Lore*  of  the 
Angela.  I  wai  pJeascd  the  other  day  on  going  into  a  *hop  to  aik, 
•  If  they  had  any  of  tbc  Snut  Xmiii  ^ '  to  be  told — ■  That  they 
had  jna  tent  out  the  last.  Sit  Andrew  Wylie  I  ' — Mr.  G^t  will  alto 
be  Mrated  with  thii  an«wcf  !  The  repBtraoD  of  toeie  book*  ii  raw 
Md  mairftl:  that  of  other*  ii  wonn-eaMB  ukd  mooldy.  Why  lix 
cmr  aScaioM  on  thai  which  we  caonot  ficiag  ouiaeltea  to  have  iaith 
icti  or  which  otbcn  hare  lo»  ceaied  to  trouble  thenMehca  aboM  i  I 
am  half  afraid  to  look  into  Tom  Jones,  le«i  it  aboold  not  ancwer  mj 
cxpectaiiocM  at  thii  time  of  day ;  and  if  it  did  tux,  I  tbonld  cenaiii^ 
be  diifoaed  to  Aiag  it  into  the  fire,  aod  nerer  look  into  aaothei  norel 
white  I  lircd.  But  aurely,  it  may  be  »aid,  tlittv  arc  aone 
worka,  that,  like  natare,  caa  nerer  grow  old  ;  and  iLu  nvM  alwaya 
toneh  tbc  imagination  and  paniona  alike !  Or  there  are  pamagca 
that  acem  aa  if  wc  might  brood  over  tbem  all  ow  bre*,  aad  not 
cxbauai  the  leatimeBta  of  Iotc  and  admiration  they  exdte :  they 
become  &raurite«,  and  wc  are  fead  of  them  to  a  lott  of  dotage. 
Here  i«  one: 


■Silting ID  my  wiadiow 


Plittiac  my  th«iigbtx  in  bwn,  I  nw  a  God, 
I  rtinign  (but  it  wm  nu),  tnter  oar  gatn ) 
Hy  hlood  tew  out  and  bmek  again,  as  Cut 
At  I  had  pitfed  it  fimh  and  tMkcd  it  in 
Like  breath  j  then  waa  I  caled  away  in  haMe 
To  emenain  yon :  Qcrer  mi  a  nua 
ThnM  fiva  a  AeepcuKe  to  a  Mcptre,  taiwd 
So  high  ia  Aoughd  u  I  i  nm  Mt  a  kta 
npon  tbeic  lip*  then,  orhich  I  OMan  to  keep 
From  yoo  fee  ever.    I  did  bear  you  talk 
Fu  above  M^agf 

A  patiagc  like  tU*  indeed  teatea  a  tane  oo  tbe  palate  like  nectar, 
and  we  teem  m  reading  it  to  ait  with  the  Goda  at  their  goldeo  tibka; 
bw  if  wc  repeat  it  often  in  ordipaty  mood*,  it  loaea  tia  ixroat, 
beoMBca  npid,  *  the  wine  offaetry  u  drank,  and  hot  the  Icca  reamia.' 
Of*  M  tbc  other  hand,  if  we  call  in  die  aid  of  extnonlinan 
citCUHMUUcea  to  act  it  odT  to  adaaatage,  at  the  rccitiag  it  to  a  (Head, 

■34 


ON  THE  PLEASURE  OF  HATING 

or  iftcc  biiiag  oui  feelugt  excited  bjr  >  long  walk  in  tome  ronuBtie 
sitiutioD,  or  while  we 

' jjlay  with  Amaiyltii  in  th<  thadr, 

Or  wiih  the  t»iigle»  of  Ncxf»'»  htif ' — 

wc  afierwarda  mis*  the  accompanying  circumiUnceti  and  initcad  of 
tranafening  the  recolleciion  of  them  to  the  favourable  iid«,  rcgrei 
what  wc  have  loat,  and  strive  in  vain  to  bring  back  'the  irrcrocabJe 
hour ' — wondcrinji  in  aome  inatincea  hww  we  aurtive  it,  and  at  the 
iDelaocholy  blank  that  it  left  behind!  The  pleaaure  riies  to  its 
height  in  lome  moment  of  calm  wliiude  or  intoxicating  tynipathy, 
decline*  ever  after,  and  from  the  compariton  and  a  conuiou*  fatling- 
oiT,  IcaTct  rather  a  Rcnic  of  satiety  and  irkaomencs*  behind  it.  .  .  . 
'  I«  it  the  same  in  picture*  ?  *  I  confes*  it  is  with  all  but  iho«e  from 
Tiuan's  hand.  I  don't  know  why,  but  an  air  breathe*  from  hi* 
laodacapea,  pure,  refreshing  a*  if  it  came  from  other  year* ;  there  a  a 
look  in  hii  face*  that  nerer  paite*  away.  I  saw  one  the  other  day. 
Amidat  the  heartle**  detolation  and  glittering  linery  of  Ponthtll,  there 
i*  a  portlblio  of  the  Dretdcn  Gallery.  It  open*,  and  a  young  female 
head  look*  from  ii ;  a  child,  yet  woman  grown  i  with  an  aii  of  nutic 
innocence  and  the  grace*  of  a  princcu,  her  eye*  like  thoie  of  dove** 
the  lipi  about  to  open,  a  tmile  of  pleasure  dimpling  the  whole  face, 
the  jewels  aporkling  in  herctitped  hair,  her  youthful  (hape  compreated 
in  a  rich  antique  drcM,  a*  the  bunting  Icarei  contain  the  April  bud* ! 
Why  do  I  not  call  up  thii  image  of  gentle  (Wcctne**,  and  place  it  a*  a 
perpetual  barrier  between  mischance  and  rati — It  i*  bccauae  pleaiure 
ulu  a  greater  elTott  of  the  mind  to  *upport  it  than  pain ;  and  we  turn, 
after  a  Uttlc  idle  dalliance,  from  what  we  love  to  what  we  hate  I 

As  to  my  old  opinion*,  I  am  heartily  iick  of  tliem.  I  have 
Teaton,  for  they  have  deceived  me  ladJy.  1  waa  taujjht  to  think) 
and  I  wa>  willing  to  betiere,  that  geniua  wai  not  a  bawd — that  virtue 
wa*  not  a  matk — that  liberty  wa*  not  a  name — that  love  had  its 
teat  in  the  human  heart.  Now  1  would  care  little  if  these  words 
were  struck  oat  of  the  dictionary,  or  if  I  had  never  heard  them. 
They  are  become  to  my  ear*  a  mockery  and  a  dream.  Inalcad  of 
patriot*  and  friend*  of  freedom,  I  see  nothing  but  the  tyrant  and  the 
■UvCf  the  people  linked  with  king*  to  rivet  on  the  chain*  of  deapotism 
and  supeniitioe.  I  lee  folly  join  with  knavery,  and  together  make 
np  public  ipirit  and  public  opiniona.  I  sec  the  intolent  Tory,  the 
blind  Reformer,  the  coward  Whig  I  If  mankind  had  wished  for 
wbat  is  right,  they  might  have  had  it  long  ago.  The  theory  i*  plain 
Ctxmgh  i  but  they  are  ptonc  to  mi*chicf,  '  to  every  good  work 
nftSme.'    I  hare  teen  all  that  hod  beeo  done  1^  the  mighty 

'35 


M 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 


teftkiptriindiatdfect«fBca,*efvlMatbe  worid  m 
Mt  W0Rb]r,*  tad  that  promittd  ■  pniad  nyraiig  to  nA  ad  goad 
twM^I  Ac  IMn  01  Jiiuuc  yofft  WOnOHC  Vf  ooc  bud«  oqib  J't 
fita^nmgct  ■Bdenoadsof  CMOgh  M  fed  thai  be  >u  i  kia^  W 
not  u  oodncefand  bow  be  couM  be  kio)t  of  a  £rcc  pra^ !  I  hx*e 
le^  dii»  If  wyh  ctkUmd  by  poen,  the  tiendt  of  mj  Tooib  ^  tbe 
fiiendi  of  man,  bo:  wfao  were  curied  iway  bjr  tbe  infaiiMe  tide 
tbtt,  ■coiBj  b  frooi  a  throae,  bore  doam  ererr  di«iBCtioB  of  right 
rcnoa  benre  it;  tai  I  bM*e  wen  ill  ibote  «bo  did  not  ]oia  ia 
Mffaadiag  tbu  ionh  sad  o«ngc  oa  bmaa^tj  proocribed.  b^Kcd 
Am  (dkc?  lad  tbrir  frievfa  Bade  *  bjre-woed  oOi  w  th«  k  has 
bceoneso  nodemood  Utiat  Umi  ao  ose  cm  Ihv  ^  b»  uteaa  at 
karakdge  wbo  U  not  rcadj  u  pioltatg  ihote  takan  and  tte 
kaovledge  to  betray  bi*  (peciea,  aod  [«ey  upon  bis  tilov-aaa. 
*Tbii  «M  nne  tiiae  a  mytKry :  b«  tbe  aatt  gnvt  etideacc  of  iu' 
The  ecfwM  of  libeny  had  amkcaed  oece  toon  »  Sftaa,  aad  the 
of  bnia  hope  dawaed  agaia :    hm  that  daan  hai  beta 


ovefCHt  bv  toe  raoi  br^eatli  ol  iNfuuya  aad  tbooe  revi^ag  a 
UJntn  vf  tnttk  cnca  frooi  the  tuuc^ua  uratri  of  the  LoaaaiCi 
■la  vidcMg  ^ai  n  iv  at  be  novd  i  ant  lo  beate  raeccf  bat  won  to 
na  iBMtt  pcnrefflrty  ad  itmain  nim  of  ua  own  aaa^  vhid 
lezeea  ao  rooui  toe  lartiieT  bope  oe  fit i  ii  i "  ***  "**t^  Aad  cagiaady 
dm  ard^fcfbroier,  dui  hctoic  dcEietcr,  iha  noathcr  aboat  Ebrftf 
aad  tool  of  power,  Kaad*  gapiag  bj,  aot  iecfiag  the  Ui;;hc  u>d  oiBdew 
eoniag  om  n,  dot  hi  rery  boaea  crack  aad  tara  to  a  ptoe  coder  the 
ynf  aad  circfiaf  fold*  of  tin*  aew  neoKer,  L^jtiaiacr !  In  pcnale 
ale  do  ve  sot  aee  bypocnaj^  aerriny^  *"*™ff*f ,  toUyi  aad  lan 
padenoe  anooedt  while  laoilraiy  ibnaca  uoai  toe  cacoaaccft  aad 
ment  0  trodoea  lauer  toot  r  Hoar  oitea  tt  *  tne  roae  pfacked  tren 
tltc  furebcad  of  a  Tirtaoa  lore  to  nlaai  a  bfi«cr  thm ! '  What 
dUBOc  H  ibcK  of  the  neocM  of  reu  paMwaf  Wbs  certM^  of 
Scvifltg  III  iiaa  at  1  do^  aad  aafa^cnag  the  vco  of 
\  ale  lato  tti  vaiiuua  tsfeaaa  at  ueaaneai^  nttOi  f ff'if  ifflu  ^  w^at 
Ol  iBOiBaf  ^Ba  waat  oi  andoattBivib  of  Baveeeoce  towaroa  <jlum 
ad  igautjuoe  of  oanenea  ^—  awipg  caian  peenu  otct  all  eX' 
cdkaccr  kaelf  gniif  vay  n>  ta&aay — iiiia  il  1  a  ai  I  ba*e  bero  ia  ny 
pahfic  ad  private  bopta,  cakaladag  otbcn  fiaa  aiyaeK^  aad  calcalatiag 
WTOag;  alwayi  duaffointed  tAen  I  pibsed  Ba«  refaaoei  ihe  dgfw 
of  fikadtbipk  aad  the  foot  of  loici  have  I  aot  icaaa  to  tote  ad  10 
dopiie  nyteir?  Indeed  I  dot  aad  da^  for  aot  having  hMed  ad 
d^MH^j  iIk  worU  cnaa^i-' 


>  TWa^ 


•36 


Mtkg(Mat*i(larABbM«faa4tte  ■  wmt^ 
^kindk^  h,tfai  tani^  •«  alM}*  t^a  Ike 


ON  DR.  SPURZHEIM^  THEORY 


ESSAV  XIV 


ON    DR.   SPURZHEIM  S   THEORY 

It  appean  to  me  that  the  truth  of  phyiiognomjr  (if  ve  allow  it) 
ovctturnB  ihc  »cicnce  of  craniology.  ror  instance,  ihc  nysicrn  of 
Drs.  Gall  und  Sparzheim  (uppoan  ihat  riecj  bump  of  protuberance 
on  the  fkoU  ii  ncceuarily  produced  by  an  cxtraordioary  protrvtion  of 
the  br»in  or  increaae  of  the  organ  of^  perception  immediately  under- 
Bcath  it.  Now  behiod  3  great  put  of  the  face  we  have  no  t^aia,  and 
can  have  no  such  orgaai  exttting  and  accounttsg  for  the  extemaJ 
phenomcDi ;  and  yet  here  arc  projcciioni  or  nmiUcations  of  bonet, 
muiclci,  3(c.  which  are  allowed  by  the«e  rca«onert  and  moK  other 
pertOQg  to  indicate  character  and  intellect  ju«t  as  tarely  as  the  ncw< 
dUcoTcred  organs  of  crAiiiotogy.  If  then  the«e  projections  or 
tnodi6catioDi  of  the  countenance  have  such  force  and  mcaninR  where 
there  is  no  brain  underneath  to  account  for  them,  U  it  not  clear  that 
in  other  caaet  the  theory  which  assumes  that  such  projectioni  can 
only  be  caused  by  an  estraordinary  pressure  of  the  brain,  and  of  the 
appropriate  local  organ  within,  is  in  itself  an  otxrioua  fallacy  and  con- 
uadictioo  \  The  long  prudent  chin,  the  scornful  no»c  [nato  di/nncoj, 
the  good-natured  mouth,  are  proverbial  in  phyiiognomy,  out  are  totally 
excluded  from  the  organic  syticro.  I  mentioned  thi*  objection  once 
to  Dr.  Spurzheim  personally,  but  he  only  replied — '  Wc  have  treated 
of  physiognomy  tn  our  larger  work  !  '  I  was  not  saiislicd  with  thia 
answer. 

rinht  *>i1«,  sD.1  makf  tbc  tMt  properly  our  own.  Our  imtginttioDs  an  snfBoicntly 
exluil,  wv  h>vc  nothiag  lo  <lo  with  the  nutter  but  *■  i  fwt  cr«*lioD  of  the  n^aH, 
tad  we  therefore  yitXi  lo  the  nitiir>t,unwirfcd  InipfCMion  of  goo'l  All*  evil.  Our 
own  putmni,  inUrnrt,  and  prejuilicn  out  of  the  i|ue4(L0n,  or  in  m  nbBIriclCtl  point 
of  virw,  ire  jui(j[t  fiiflj  •n'i  eoniticntiootly  i  for  conicirna  it  nothinn  but  the 
lUtnci  id*!  of  r<{bl  idK  wtoof.  But  no  toonrt  hivt  wt  tn  act  o(  nilTTf,  ch*n 
■he  tpirit  of  (oatradictian  or  lonie  olbcr  'Mmon  comri  into  play,  tai  ihrre  ■• 
an  tn4  of  MOijnon  niom  saiI  rcAsan-  Evf  a  chr  vtry  >lrcn|;t]i  of  the  fpccalitjt^ 
bcully,  or  ibe  Aa'at  (o  iiiuHe  thion  «itb  an  ufuf  (iin'tiril  of  ptifMlion  (whftlwr 
itt  c*B  01  no)  \e»i%  fvrhsps  to  naif  the  ibauritiliei  and  miKtiet  of  nisnkiDil. 
Wii  ife  buDtint;  after  whic  vn  cinnoi  ]^n<l,  inJ  ^uarrellinif  with  the  Hood  within 
our  rr^ch.  Among  ihr  (houMniii  thii  hav<  read  Tie  tfrgn  if  MidiBiivn  there 
isaarcdly  neiec  iiai  i  liiiflc  perton  who  riid  not  wiih  Jeanit  Dcsat  tuccrM. 
Bven  GtDtle  Ceuri:*  m,  lorty  foT  whil  he  htrl  ilont,  »hra  n  was  at«r,  ihoiigb  bt 
WoaM  have  ilaycd  llu  wme  pricik  the  nein  .liy  i  an.!  the  mlanua  author,  in  his 
iDUDcrfialc  ckaraecer  of  eonlributar  lo  Blickwooil  anil  ibe  Sentinel,  I)  about  ** 
rcsptcttUt  1  penonnfE  u  Diddy  Rittoa  hinuel/.  On  the  slate,  tTiry  one  lakes 
part  with  Olhello  ijainsE  lagii.  Do  bo)*  M  sclioat,  in  tcadioj  Honwr,  tencrally 
siitc  wiib  the  Greek)  or  Trajaot  i 

'37 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

I  am  utierly  i^Qorant  of  ih«  anntomical  and  pbytiologicnl  part  of 
ibu  <]Uestioi),  aod  only  propotc  to  point  out  a  (ew  error*  or  defect! 
b  hit  (yitcfn,  which  appear  on  the  author'*  own  ihowing,  in  the 
Bianoer  of  marginal  note*  on  ihc  work.  I  would  obncrrc,  by  ihc  bye, 
that  the  fiylc  and  mann«T  of  the  writer  arc  oot  tach  as  to  induce  the 
reader  to  place  a  very  implicit  reliance  on  hit  authority ;  and  io 
a  «ubiec(>  which  is  to  much  an  occult  ncience,  a  ftrra  incegniiji  la  the 
world  of  obMrranon,  dcixmiiinf;  on  the  trareller's  (cport,  authority  U 
a  good  deal.  The  craniolojiiit  may  make  fi>ol*  ot  hit  di«cip!e«  at 
pleasure,  unlet*  he  it  an  honctc  man.  They  have  no  check  upon  him. 
The  fiicc  i»  at  >a  book  where  men  may  read  nrangc  maitcrt:  '  it  is 
open  to  every  one :  ihc  language  of  expreuion  it  at  it  were  a  kind 
<u  mother-tongue,  in  which  ercry  one  ac<|uirei  more  or  leu  tact,  to 
that  hit  own  practical  judgment  formK  a  tett  to  coolirm  or  contradict 
tlie  iotcrpretation  which  is  |j>iven  ot  it.  But  tbc  (kull,  on  which 
Dra.  Gall  and  Spurxheim  have  laid  their  band*  for  the  diicorery 
of  BO  many  important  and  undeniable  trutht,  nobody  elte  knowR  any 
thing  about,  except  at  they  arc  pleated  to  tell  uf.  It  it  concealed 
from  ordinary  obirfiation  by  a  covering  of  hair,  and  we  must  go  by 
heanay.  Wc  may  indeed  examine  one  oi  two  individual  iBttances, 
and  giopc  out  our  way  to  truth  in  the  dark ;  but  there  can  be  no 
habitual  conclutton  formed,  no  broad  light  of  experience  thrown  upon 
the  (ubject.  The  unbeliever  in  the  faihionabic  tystcm  may  well 
exclaim — 

'Oh  I  let  me  prriih  in  the  (ace  of  day  I* 

The  only  opportunity  for  fairly  ttudyinjt  thi*  i^ueatioD  waa  at  the 
period  when  people  wore  artificial  hair  j  for  tlien  any  well-diKposed 
person  had  only  to  pull  olf  hi*  wig>  and  ii«vi  jaa  tli  nW.>  But 
the  hair  ii  a  tort  of  natural  maak  to  the  head.  The  craniologiat 
indeed  '  draw*  the  curtain,  and  thowt  the  picture : '  but  if  there  it 
the  leait  want  of  good  faith  in  him,  the  tcience  it  all  abrond  again. 
Unfortunately  for  the  credit  due  to  hit  tyttcm.  Dr.  Spuribeim  (or 
hi*  predeccMor,  Dr.  Gall,  who  got  up  the  ^t*}  has  very  much  the 
air  of  a  German  quack-docior.  He  i*,  to  to  speak  it,  the  Baron 
Muncliaueen  of  mari'ellout  metaphytict.     Hit  object  is  to  anooith 

'  Thef*  l»  ■  fellow  in  Hoginh'i  Elrtrim  Di*tr,  holdiaj  liii  wi|  in  unt  hioil, 
(Dd  wiping  hi)  bare  tcalp  with  the  other.  Whit  *  prep  Tor  i  ctintDlOfitt  I  Let 
him  look  well  la  it,  in'l  lec  thsl  hit  >filem  it  bcmc  out  bj  the  gnturr,  chinclcr, 
and  iciiona  of  the  portiiit !  A  celrbriuil  Scntch  taiiitt«(  tvin|  iotrDdnctd  to 
Dr.  SpiT«h(im  wilnnnt  liii  iri(.  Mid— 'It  i>  rtjnpTOOi  to  ipftn  betotr  you, 
Doctot,  II  thii  dii)>'nnUKr.'     Tn  which  Ihr    Docior  nptitd — 'Oh!    you  hive 

llolhiDg  ta  feat.     Your  h<td ''At  Icut,'  lattriupud  the  alhct,  '  jrou  will  out 

And  the  art>D  of  irerlulity  there  I' 
138 


ON   DR.  SPURZHEIMS  THEORY 

tlic  leader  into  belief,  u  jugglera  make  clown*  gape  and  «wallow 
whaiCTtr  they  pteoM.  He  fabttutet  wonder*  with  caty  awutance, 
and  deals  io  men  '  whoae  heads  do  grow  beneath  iheir  ahouldeis, 
and  the  anthiopophagi,  that  each  other  eat.'  He  readily  udiiiita 
whatever  (uit*  his  purpote,  and  itiagiitcrally  doubt*  whaterer  nukct 
RgaiDtt  iu  He  haa  a  cant  of  crevlulity  mixed  up  with  the  cant  of 
acepticinin — thing*  not  caaily  reconciled,  except  by  a  very  deliberate 
effon  indeed.  1'herc  i»  aomethiag  groia  and  niUotnc  in  all  thit,  chat 
haa  teoiinl  to  brin);  diacredit  on  a  iiyBteni,  which  a/ter  all  haa  probably 
•ome  foundation  in  nature,  but  which  it  here  orerloaded  with 
exaggerated  and  dogmatical  aaiertioni,  warranted  for  lacta.  We 
doubt  the  whole,  when  wc  know  i  pari  to  be  falac,  and  withhold  our 
aatent  from  a  creed,  the  great  apottlc  of  which  wantc  modeity, 
t:4tDdour,  and  «eIf-l(nowledge!  Another  thing  to  be  conHdcrcd,  and 
to  tnith  the  great  ttumblinjt-block  iu  the  way  of  nearly  the  whole  of 
ilut  lyateni,  it  this,  thai  the  pnnciple  of  thought  and  feeling  in  maa 
ii  one,  wbcreaa  the  pretent  doarine  nuppotet  it  to  be  many,  llic 
roind  i*  one,  or  it  u  infinite.  If  there  ii  not  tome  ainglet  aupcr- 
inteading  faculty  or  conaciout  power  to  which  all  lubordinate  organic 
irepieMioni  are  referred  aa  to  a  centre,  and  which  decide*  and  reacta 
vpoQ  tbem  all,  then  there  it  no  end  of  particular  organ*,  and  there 
must  be  not  only  in  organ  for  poetry,  but  an  organ  for  poeiry  of 
every  ion  and  ti/e,  and  so  of  all  the  icat.  Thia  will  be  aeen  mote 
at  large  when  wc  come  to  detail*  ;  but  at  present  I  wiih  to  lay  it 
down  at  a  comer-ttone  or  Ivndamental  principle  in  the  argument- 

Of  the  way  in  which  Dr.  Spur^.heim  clean  the  ground  before  him, 
and  diuim»  the  incredulity  of^  the  reader  by  a  tiling  of  undeniable 
or  equivocal  propotitiont  blended  togetiiei,  the  foUoi^ng  may  serve 
M  1  tpecimen. 

'  The  doctrine,  that  etcry  thing  ti  provided  with  iu  own  propertiea, 
was  from  time  to  time  checked  1^  metapliyjiiciant  and  icliotaaiic 
diTtnei;  but  by  degree*  it  gained  ground,  and  the  maxim  that  matter 
i*  inert  was  entirely  re&ed.  Natural  philoiotiher*  diacovered 
corporeal  jiropeniea,  the  law*  of  aiuaction  and  repulaion,  of  chemical 
affinity,  of  fin  mentation,  and  even  of  organization.  They  contider«l 
the  phenomena  of  vegetablea  at  the  production  of  maieriaJ  qualitic* — 
a*  jiropertiea  of  matter.  Gtinon  attributed  to  matter  a  particular 
activity,  and  to  the  animal  fibre  a  specific  irritability.  De  Gorter 
acknowledged  in  vegetable  life  aomething  more  than  pure  mechanitra. 
Winter  and  Zupt  proved  that  the  phenomena  of  vegetable  life  ought 
to  be  aacribed  only  to  irritability.  Of  this,  acveral  phenomena  of 
flower*  and  leaves  indicate  a  great  degree.  The  liop  and  Krcndl* 
bean  iwioe  round  rod*  which  are  planted  near  them.    Tlie  tendrili 

'39 


wm 


THE  PLAIN  SPBAEKR 

of  itQM  cud  found  poln  or  the  bra&cbd  of  neighbourinf;  Ikm. 
The  ivy  climbi  the  oaV|  and  adhere*  to  itti  sidev.  Sec.  Now  it 
would  be  ab«ufd  lo  pretend  that  the  organization  of  antraa!«  is  entirely 
dcKttuie  of  propcrtif* ;  thctefore  Frederick  HofFnun  took  it  for 
the  ba*i«  of  hit  ly^ticm,  cb»  the  human  body,  like  all  other  bodici, 
in  endowed  with  rn;iieml  propertiei/     P'ge  56. 

'  Here  be  truth*,'  hut  'duhed  and  brewed  with  lic«'  or  doubtfol 
pointti  Yet  they  pus  all  together  without  di*cri  mi  nation  or  lelcctioD, 
There  is  a  timplicity  in  nuny  of  the  propoatioDs  umuuntinj;  to  ■ 
lort  of  Itniommi/.  There  is  an  over-meaiure  of  candour  nod  platn- 
eeit.  A  man  who  gravely  inform*  you,  a>  an  important  philocophica] 
diKOTery,  that  ■  the  tendrils  of  tinci  curl  round  pole*,'  and  ibat  *  the 
human  body  ii  endowed  with  material  propenic*,'  rnay  escape  with- 
out the  imputation  of  intending  to  delude  ihc  nnwaiy.  Bui  thc«e 
kind  of  innoccot  pretencei  arc  like  thocJog-horni  to  draw  od  the 
hardest  coniteijucnccii.  By  the  setiout  offer  of  this  meat  for  babct, 
you  are  prepared  to  iwallow  a  borie^rench  of  parboiled  paradoxes. 
You  are  thrown  otf  your  guard  into  a  «tate  o(  jtood-natuted  turpriie, 
by  the  utter  want  m  all  meaning ;  and  our  cmniologitt  catche*  hit 
wofidcring  ditciplct  in  a  nap  of  iruiim*.  Irwtancci  might  he 
multtptiea  from  this  pan  of  the  work,  where  the  writer  14  occupied 
in  getting  up  the  plot,  and  tailing  asleep  any  luf^icion,  or  feeling  of 
petulance  in  the  mind  of  (he  public.     Juit  after,  he  layi — • 

<  Id  former  timet  there  were  philotopheti  who  thougbt  that  the 
•oul  form*  ic«  own  body  1  but  if  thii  be  the  catc,  an  itl-tormed  body 
ocver  could  be  endowed  with  a  good  totU.  All  the  natural  influence 
of  gcneraiioB,  nutrition,  climate,  cducauoo,  &c.  would  ihtrtfvr*  be 
inexplic^le.  Hmti,  it  it  much  more  rtaaonable  to  tiiink  that  the 
foul,  in  this  life,  is  only  confined  in  the  body,  and  makes  use  of  its 
respective  instruments,  which  entirely  depend  on  the  laws  of  the 
organization.  In  blindncai,  the  soul  »  not  mutilated,  but  it  cannot 
perceive  light  without  eyes,  &c.'  wi/A  atfter  matUri  of  hh  fith  and 
mtmail.  The  author's  Myle  is  interlarded  with  too  many  tnua 
and  ihrrtfaru  j  nnther  do  hi*  inferences  bang  well  together.  They 
are  ill<cemented.  He  announces  instead  of  demoostrating (  and 
jumps  at  a  conclusion  in  a  heavy,  awkward  way.  He  constantly 
auttmes  the  point  io  dispute,  or  makes  a  dilficuJty  on  one  side  of  a 
cjuettJon  a  decUive  proof  of  the  opponte  view  of  it.  What  aedit  can 
be  attached  to  him  in  nutters  of  fact  or  theory  where  he  must  have 
it  almost  all  his  own  way,  when  he  presumes  *o  much  on  the 
gidLh^Uj  of  his  readers  in  common  argument  f  'If  thew  things  are 
done  in  the  grtcn  tree,  what  shall  be  done  in  the  dry  ? ' — Once 
more; 

1 40 


ON  DR.  SPURZHEIM'S  THEORY 

'  No  <me  will  endcaTOur  to  prow  thai  the  fire  •eowt  arc  tbe 
production  of  our  will :  their  Uwa  are  detcnniaed  by  iiiiturc.  Tiert' 
fort  a>  toon  a*  an  animal  nceu  with  the  food  iJctitined  for  it,  it* 
amcll  and  taiite  declare  in  fHrnur  of  it.  Thui  ii  is  not  astoniahing  that 
a  kid,  taken  from  the  uteni«  of  iu  mother,  preferred  broom-tapi  to 
other  lYgelable*  which  were  presented  to  it.  And  Richeraikd  il 
wrong  in  saying — "  If  (uch  a  fact  have  any  reality,  we  shoutd  be 
forced  to  admit  that  an  animal  may  poiiCM  a  foreknowledge  of  what 
i»  proper  for  it ;  and  that,  indcpeniJeDtly  of  any  impreationt  which 
may  be  aitcrwardt  received  by  the  *en»ei,  it  it  capable,  from  the 
moment  of  birth,  of  chooting,  that  is,  of  comji.-iring  and  judging  of 
what  is  ptceenied  to  it."  The  hog  likewise  eata  the  acorn  the  firit 
time  he  finds  it.  AoimaU  howcrer  hare,  on  that  account,  do  need 
of  any  previous  exercise,  of  any  innate  idea,  of  any  compariion  or 
reflection.  The  relations  between  tlie  external  world  .ind  the  five 
sense*  are  determined  by  creation.  We  cannot  nee  a»  red  that  which 
it  yellow,  nor  at  great  that  which  it  titde.  How  nhould  animals 
hare  any  idea  of  what  they  hafc  not  felt  ? '     Page  59. 

This  is  what  might  be  termed  the  Muxhit  ilylf  in  ^rgumcni.  It 
is  impossible  to  disiingush  the  premises  from  the  conclution.  We 
have  facts  for  arguments,  and  argamentt  for  facts.  He  plays  off 
a  phantasmagoria  of  UIuattatioQi  as  proofs,  like  Sir  Epicure  Mammon 
in  the  Alchemist.  It  is  like  being  in  a  rouod-about  at  a  fair,  or 
skating,  or  flying.  It  i>  not  easy  to  make  oot  even  the  terms  of 
the  question,  so  completely  are  they  overlaid  and  involved  one  in 
the  other,  and  that,  ai  it  should  seem,  purposely,  or  from  a  habit  of 
confounding  the  plainest  things.  To  proceed,  howeveT,  to  tomcthing 
more  material.  In  treating  of  innate  faculties.  Dr.  Spurzheim  runs 
the  following  career,  which  will  throw  considerable  light  on  the 
TagtKncM  ana  contradictorinctt  of  his  general  mode  of  rcssoiung. 

'Now  it  is  beyond  doubt,  that  all  the  bsttnctive  aptitudes  and 
incltnatione  of  animals  are  innate.  Is  it  not  evident  that  the  faculties 
hy  whicii  the  spider  makes  its  web,  the  honeybee  its  cell,  the  beaver 
its  hut,  tile  bird  its  nest,  &c.  are  inherent  in  the  nature  of  these 
animals  i  When  the  young  duck  or  tortoiie  runt  towards  the  water 
as  soon  at  batched,  when  the  b«rd  brukhes  the  worm  with  its  bill, 
when  the  monkey,  before  he  eau  the  may-bug,  bilei  off  its  head,  &c. 
all  thcne  and  similar  ditjiotii ions  arc  conducive  to  the  pfciervatiaa  of 
the  animals ;  bui  they  are  not  at  all  ac(|uired.' 

If  by  aequirrJ,  be  meant  that  these  last  acts  do  not  atite  out  of 
certain  imuresstons  made  oo  the  brims  by  dilTcrent  objccti,  [luch  at 
the  agreeable  or  disagreeable  smell  of  food,  &c.)  this  is  by  no  mona 
eiUiee  dear  or  acknowledged  on  all  lundt. 


THE   PLAIN   SPEAKER 

'  According  lo  the  Mine  Uw,'  he  idds,  pVhui  law  ;j  'the  huiutcr 
liaihen  corn  and  griiin,  the  dog  hides  hit  lupcrlluoiu  food  ' — pTbii  it 
AO)'  rate  teem*  a  rational  act.] — '  the  falcon  kills  the  litre  by  d/iriog 
bU  bak  into  ica  neck,'  Sec. 

<  In  the  lamc  way,  all  inninciiTr  manifcttanont  of  man  must  be 
iniuite.  The  Dew-born  child  nicks  the  (iDg,vi»  and  Keks  the  brean, 
it  the  puopy  and  calf  teek  the  dug.' 

The  circunutance  here  iodiscteetly  mentioned  of  the  child  nicking 
the  finger*  at  well  »  the  nipple,  certainly  doe*  away  the  idea  of  _/(W 
taiuti.  It  «how«  ihal  the  child,  from  a  junicular  state  of  iiriuiion 
of  iu  mouth,  fastenii  on  any  object  calculated  to  allay  that  irritation, 
whether  conducive  to  iu  lutiennncc  or  not.  It  la  difficult  lometiraet 
to  gel  children  to  take  the  btcsn.  Dr.  S.  take*  up  a  common  preju- 
dice, without  any  quatificjition  or  inquiry,  while  it  tuiti  hii  pu-fote, 
and  layi  it  down  without  ceremony  when  it  no  loojier  terrc*  Uic  turn- 
He  proceed* — 

<  /  kavt  mtnlioiuii  alave,  that  vtJmitarj  moliim  aiui  lit  fr>t  ftdtmai 
uniri,  eomman  le  man  a»d  tuinnoL,  art  iniiale.  Moreover,  if  man  and 
■aimali  feci  certain  propenntiet  and  acniimcntt  iv'uh  cltar  and  Jijtiact 
eoKttioatarti,  ve  mu«t  coniider  tbete  facultiei  a*  innate. '—[The  (Uar 
and  £itiiul  ctnicimnntji  has  nothing  to  do  with  the  matter.} — '  Thui, 
if  in  animal*  we  find  example*  of  mutual  incliniiuon  between  the  texet, 
of  maternal  care  for  the  young,  of  actnchment,  of  mutual  asititancct 
of  lOciableneM,  of  union  for  life,  of  peaceablenete,  of  deaire  to 
fight,  of  propensity  to  destroy,  of  ciicumtpcction,  of  liynen,  ol 
lore  of  ^aitcryi  t»  obntinacy*  &C.  all  theic  faculiiei  mu*t  be  con- 
*ideTed  as  innate.' — {A  finer  uiumption  of  the  queitlon  than  tbia,  or 
a  more  complete  jumble  of  imtincta  and  acquired  nropeniitie*  together, 
never  wa*  nude.  The  author  bat  here  got  hold  of  a  ligufc  called 
tntroathmtni,  And  advances  accordingly !  ] — '  Let  all  these  laculliea  be 
ennobled  in  mac :  let  animal  inatinct  of  propagation  be  changed  into 
moral  love;  the  inclination  of  animaJ*  lor  their  young  into  the  vittne 
of  materaal  care  for  children ;  animal  attachment  into  friendiJitp ; 
animal  luaceptibility  of  flattery  into  lure  of  glory  and  ambition ;  ine 
nighiingalc's  melody  into  harmony  t  the  bird  •  nc«t  and  the  bcaver't 
hut  into  palace*  and  temple*,  &c. :  these  faculties  are  still  of  the  tame 
nature,  and  all  theae  phcnomeoa  arc  produced  by  faculties  common  to 
man  and  animals.  They  are  only  ennobled  in  man  by  the  influence 
of  superior  qualities,  which  give  another  direction  to  the  inferior 
one*.'     Page  8j. 

Thii  la(t  pataage  appears  to  destroy  his  whole  argument.  For  the 
Doctor  contend*  that  every  particular  propeniity  or  modificaiion  of 
the  mmd  mutt  be  innate,  and  bavc  its  separate  organ ;  but  if  thetc 

'4* 


ON  DR.  SPURZHEIM'S  THEORY 

tic  *  bculciet  common  to  man  and  animal*,'  which  are  ennobled  or 
dcbaicd  by  thrir  connrxioD  with  othec  ficultirt,  then  we  muat  jidmit 
a  fjcucril  principle  of  thought  Had  action  varying  according  to  cir* 
cumiitanc«,  and  ihe  oiganic  syitcm  become*  neirly  an  impertinenct 

The  following  »hon  »caion,  entitled  InMAn.Kwi  of  tm»  Human 
pACt^LTiKK,  will  icrre  to  place  in  a  tolerably  nriking  point  of  view  the 
turn  of  this  writer  to  an  unmeaning,  ipiaci'ub  tort  of  common-place 
reasoning. 

'  Finally,  man  n  endowed  with  factiltice  which  are  peculiar  to  him. 
Now  it  ii  to  be  investigated,  whether  the  fxcultiea  wbich  dlatinguiih 
man  from  animalti,  and  which  conatitute  bii  human  character,  are 
innate.  Ii  muit  be  anaweied,  that  all  the  facultie*  of  man  are  given 
by  creation,  and  that  human  nature  it  a>  determinate  aa  that  of  every 
other  being.  Tbua,  though  we  ace  that  man  compare*  hit  aenutions 
and  idea*,  inquire*  into  the  cantea  of  phenomena,  draw*  conteciiiencea 
and  diicovera  law*  and  general  prioctple* ;  that  he  mtnaure*  di*tance« 
and  times,  and  crotte*  t]ie  tea  from  one  end  to  another  i  that  he 
acknowledge*  culpability  and  wotihineas  i  that  he  bean  a  monitor  tn 
hia  own  breait,  and  raiiei  hi*  mind  to  the  idea  and  udocaiion  of 
God  : — yet  all  thcte  facultiei  remit  neither  from  accidental  influence 
from  without,  not  from  hi*  own  will.  How  indeed  could  ihc 
Creator  abandon  man  in  the  grratcat  and  moat  important  occupation*, 
and  «>*«  him  up  to  chance?     No!*     Page  83. 

No,  indeed  ;  but  there  !i  a  ditference  between  ehaiKt  and  a  number 
of  bump*  on  the  head.  One  would  think  that  all  thit,  being  common 
to  the  lamc  being,  proceeded  from  a  general  faculty  manifcaiing  iitelf 
in  diiTcrent  waya,  and  not  from  a  parcel  of  petty  facultic*  huddled 
together  nobody  knows  how,  and  acting  without  concert  or  coherence. 
Doct  man  croM  the  tea*,  measure  the  heavens,  construct  teleacopet. 
Sec.  from  a  general  capacity  of  intention  in  the  mind,  or  doe*  the 
navigator  lie  ptrJu,  shut  up  like  a  Jack-in-o-boK  in  one  corner  of  the 
brain,  the  mechanic  in  another,  the  astronomer  in  another,  and  to 
forth  i  That  ia  the  atmple  <|ueMion.  Dr.  Spunheim  add*  ahortly 
after — 

*  We  crery  where  find  the  »amc  apcciei ;  whether  man  stain  hit 
akin,  or  powder  hi*  hair ;  whether  he  dance  to  the  sound  of  a  drum 
or  to  the  music  of  a  concert ;  whether  be  adore  the  star*,  the  aun, 
the  moon,  or  the  God  of  Christians.  The  apecial  faculties  are  every 
where  the  tame.'     Page  85. 

He  ought  to  hare  said  the  general  lacultiet  are  the  tame,  not  the 
ipttiiii.  But  if  there  »*  not  a  cpcciiic  faculty  and  organ  for  every  act 
of  the  mind  and  object  in  naiurc,  then  Dr.  Spurihcim  must  admit  the 
exiMcnce  of  a  general  (acuity  Riodified  by  circumatanccs,  and  we  must 

143 


3 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 


be  ilow  ID  acoouDling  for  Sffatat  pheoomeiu  from  puucdaf  iode- 

eodrat  orgau,  vUhout  the  nxMt  obnont  proofs  or  urgent  oecctHiy. 
ii  orgRtu  are  too  few  or  too  many. 

'  Malcbraochc,*  nys  our  author,  ■  doducM  the  difTcTcat  maancr  of 
lliiakiDg  aad  fceltng  in  [ueo  aod  womco  from  tbc  ilifercat  dcUcaej 
of  (be  cerebral  Gbm.  According  to  oar  doctrine,  ceiiiia  puru  of 
the  bnio  are  more  dereloped  ia  cnea,  othcn  ia  wooicn ;  tod  in  thai 
way  i*  the  difference  of  the  maiufeMaiiocM  of  thetr  facnliic*  perfectly 
ex^icahlc*     Paw  to;. 

Pot  my  pan,  I  prefer  Malcbrsncfac'i  tolution  to  the  more  modern 
ocw.  It  tecmi  to  me  that  tbc  itreogth  or  wcakncu,  the  pliancy  or 
firmBcu  of  tbc  characters  of  men  or  woneo  ii  to  be  accounted  for 
frora  toraetbiog  in  the  general  texture  of  their  mmds,  jaa.  ai  their 
corporal  Mrcnj[ib  or  weakaen,  acdiity  or  grace  U  to  be  accouoted 
for  fiiMn  •omething  in  the  general  textnre  of  their  bodie«,  and  not 
from  the  arbitrary  preponderance  of  this  or  that  particular  limb  or 
muacle.  I  think  the  auJogy  ii  concioiiTe  agaioit  oar  author.  If 
there  ii  no  difference  of  ymSf  ;  i,f.  of  delicacy,  firmncu,  &c.  in  the 
parta  of  the  brain  '  more  dcveioped  in  men,'  the  differcocc  of  yuaiuitj 
aloae  caaaot  acooaot  fi>r  the  difference  of  character.  And,  on  the 
odur  band,  if  we  sllow  aach  a  diSereace  of  quality  in  the  cerebral 
fibre*,  ar  af  hardneia  and  tofteei*,  flexibility  or  aluggiihnett  in  the 
whole  brain,  we  «hall  hare  no  occasion  for  puticular  bump*  or  organ* 
of  tbc  braia  lo  accouai  for  the  difference  in  the  minda  of  mea  aad 
women  generally.  Dri^  Gall  aad  Spurzbeim  aecm  detiroua  to  net 
ande  all  diifercacci  of  texture,  initabtlity,  teaacity,  fee.  ia  tbc  com- 
poMion  of  the  brain,  aa  if  iheie  were  oeeaft  qualitie*,  and  to  reduce 
erery  thine  to  poutire  aad  onenciblc  qcaniiiy ;  not  cooitdering  that 
quantity  alone  accounta  for  no  difference  of  character  or  operatioa. 
The  incrcatiag  the  taze  of  the  organ  of  mouc,  for  tn«iance,  will  ooi 

£ilify  that  organ  to  perform  the  fonctioai  of  the  organ  of  colour : 
tt  man  be  a  natural  apcitnde  in  iiaii,  before  we  talk  about  the 
degree  or  exccn  of  the  &cdty  renliing  from  the  peculiar  coofbrma- 
tion  of  a  gi*en  part.  The  pilinc  up  larger  parccli  of  the  aame 
mateiiab  of  the  brab  will  not  produce  a  new  faculty :  we  mutt 
inchide  the  nature  of  the  differeat  maicriali,  and  it  it  not  too  much  to 
amiroc  that  whenerer  the  faculty  ii  arailaUe  to  a  mambcr  of  purpocea, 
the  difference  in  the  nature  of  the  thinking  nbltaKc  canaot  be  merely 
tatal  or  organic.  For  iattiactt  My  that  the  OrjoM  of  Mtmtrj  ii  dti- 
ttngniifaed  by  greater  tcoaciODKict*  of  parttcles  or  by  tomeihing 
CorrcfpoadcDi  to  thit ;  that  in  tike  manner,  the  Orm  ef  Fanty  ii 
diatingniahed  by  greater  irritability  of  ttnicture ;  ia  it  not  better  to 
Mppo*e  that  the  fir«t  character  pcrrade*  the  brvs  of  a  man  remork- 
■44 


ON  DB.   SPURZHEIM'S  THEORY 


. 


able  for  ttrong  memory,  And  ihc  lut  that  of  anDther  pcnnn  excetltng 
in  fancy,  grncfBily  and  primarily,  inilcad  of  iupposing  that  the  whole 
retcntivcocsR  cf  the  btaia  is  tn  the  lint  iottancc  lodged  in  one  par- 
ticular comparimrnt  of  it,  xod  iho  whole  voUtilicy  of  livelinrK,  in  the 
wcond  ioKitocc,  impriaoned  in  anoiher  hole  or  comer,  wiili  quite  at 
little  rcaion  ^  It  may  be  mid,  thiic  the  organ  ia  queaiioo  ii  not  an 
organ  of  memory  in  general,  but  of  the  memory  of  «ome  particular 
ihiog.  Then  thit  will  rrquite  ihat  there  ihould  be  an  organ  of 
memory  of  ercry  other  piiiiculBr  thing;  an  organ  of  invention,  and 
an  organ  of  judgment  of  (he  umc ;  which  h  too  much  to  belicTc, 
and  betide*  can  be  of  no  lue :  for  unlcM  in  addition  to  thc*e  tcparatc 
organt,  oier  which  is  wtitten — ■  No  connexion  with  the  next  door ' 
— wr  haie  ionic  general  organ  or  faculty,  receiving  information,  cam- 
puring  idea*,  and  arranging  uiu  rolicions,  there  can  be  no  one  homo- 
gencoua  act  or  exercitc  of  the  unctentandtDg,  no  one  art  attained,  or 
■tudy  cng;ij;ed  in.  There  will  cither  he  a  number  of  detached  object* 
and  Beniatiaat  without  a  mind  to  tuperintcnd  them,  or  clic  a  number 
of  mindi  for  every  diRinct  object,  without  any  common  link  of 
intelligence  among  thematUc*.  In  the  tirtt  case,  each  organ  would 
be  that  of  a  mete  brute  instinct,  that  could  never  arrive  at  the  dignity 
of  any  one  art  or  Bcience,  an  painting  or  muiic  ;  in  die  second  ctK, 
DO  art  or  icieccc  (luch  as  poetry)  ever  could  exist  that  implied  a 
compariton  between  any  two  ideu  or  the  imprcMoni  of  dilfereni 
organi,  a*  of  tight  and  tound. 

Dr.  Spurzheim  obaervn,  (page  107}  'The  child  advance*  to  boy- 
hood, adoleacence,  and  manhood.  Then  all  these  facultict  nunifeat 
the  jt'i^atent  energy.  By  dejireea  they  begin  to  decTeaae ;  and  in  the 
decrepitude  of  old  age,  the  Knuiboni  are  blunted,  the  aeniimenu 
weak,  and  the  intellectual  facultiei  almort  or  entirely  luppreMcd. 
Hence,  as  the  manifestfttiont  of  the  faculties  of  the  mind  and  under- 
•landing  arc  proportionate  to  the  organization,  it  it  evident  that  they 
depend  on  it. 

I  do  not  we  the  exact  infcfeoce  meant  to  be  drawn  here.  All 
the  conditioQi  above  enumerated  liTect  the  whole  brain  jjeoerally. 
There  ts  not  an  organ  of  youth,  of  manhood,  of  decrepitude,  fitc. 

'  A  brain  loo  (mall,  however,  it  alwayt  accompanied  with  imbecility. 
WiUii  deictibed  the  brain  of  one  who  wai  an  idiot  fioro  birth.  It 
was  not  more  than  half  the  mm  of  an  ordinary  brain.'     Page  109, 

At  this  rare,  if  there  are  idioti  by  binh,  there  mutt  be  alto  tuch  a 
thing  u  general  capacity. 

*  I  hare  teen  two  tuna-boys  to  like  each  other,  that  it  wu  almost 
inqramble  to  diwioguith  them.  Their  inclioationt  and  lalenia 
pretCBted  alto  a  itrilcing  aod  uionithing  similitude.     Two  others, 

nu  TO. :  K  I4J 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

twin  liif rrii  are  *ery  tUiTerent ;  in  the  one  the  muKular  tfsteni  it  tbe 
BKMt  (Uteloped,  in  ihc  odwt  the  ocrroui.  Tbc  fonner  it  a(  little 
uodencasding,  whcfm  the  second  \»  codowvd  with  stroog  intHUcnul 
faciiltie*.'     Page  t  ta. 

This  a  conitng  to  Malebnochc't  way  of  putting  the  <|ncitMW.  In 
the  Mine  page  we  find  the  folkywinji  mwctaa  ; — 

*  Gantnw  tcUcci,  that  a  girl,  wbote  tather  had  killed  iDcn  b  order 
to  cat  them,  xaA  who  wa>  >epa»ud  rrom  ber  (ather  in  her  tnbncf 
■od  cirefullf  cducaicd,  conuiullccl  ibc  i^nat  znax.  G'ubauii  drew 
ffom  ibU  fact  <i>e  couc^ueDce,  tlui  the  licuhin  arc  ptopagtted  with 
the  ofgafitzatioa.* — Good  GaaiMtu  Gofabo  1  Wiibout  bcberiag  hit 
bcti  we  oecd  not  djtpuie  hii  cuoiequence. 

•  Malebranche  cxphioi  the  dtfTcrence  of  the  facohiet  of  both  Kxes, 
the  mioiu  kiod*  and  panicuJar  laatet  of  different  natioiu  and 
indtTidiiata,  by  the  linnoctf  and  loitiiet*,  dryacti  and  mouttuc  of  the 
cerebral  Son*;  and  he  remark*  thv  our  time  cannot  be  better 
employod  tbaa  in  iavemgatiag  the  maierial  caofes  of  hunun  [>hcnonK:na. 
TIk  CartcttM*,  by  their  doctrine  of  the  tracks  which  they  admit  in 
the  brain,  ickDowledgc  the  induencc  of  the  bruD  oa  the  iauUccual 
faculties.'     Page  it 8. 

Dr.  Sjiurthetn)  altogether  explode*  the  doctrine  of  a  differescc  in 
consiituiionul  temperaraenic,  the  tangomc,  the  phlegmatic,  and  so  on  t 
bccaatc  thii  difTereBCCt  being  general,  is  not  cODtUtcot  with  hit  tpecUl 
organs.  He  alra  denies  unequivocally  the  doctrine  of  the  Mtocia- 
tioD  of  ideas,  which  Dcs  Cartel's  *  track*  ia  the  brain '  were  meant  to 
explain.  One  would  think  thit  alone  dedtire  agaioit  his  book.  Indeed 
the  capacity  of  ataodation,  po«>c«*ed  in  a  greater  or  lets  dejtree,  aeem* 
to  be  the  great  ditcriminatmg  feature  between  man  and  man.  But 
what  «r^aa  tfaiiociation  there  caa  be  between  di^ent  htal  organs  it 
is  diffionit  to  conjecture;  and  Dr.  Spurzheira  wat  right  in  boldly 
denying  a  iruih  which  he  could  not  reconcile  with  his  mechanical 
and  tncoogruotts  theory. 

'  TlieTe  are  persooi  who  maintain  that  in  the  highest  degree  of 
magnetic  influence,  the  manifetlaiiont  of  the  wul  are  indepcadcnt  of 
the  orgsniutioo.'     Page  iia. 

What!  bate  we  animal  tnagncliini  io  the  dance  too?  Would 
oar  great  phyiiologint  awe  us  into  belief  by  bringing  into  the  fidd 
quackery  greater  than  his  own  *.  Then  it  is  time  to  be  oo  our 
gurd. 

'  We  find  tanguine  and  bilious  indiitdualt,  who  are  tntellectual  or 
itiipid,  meek  or  impetuous )  we  may  obterte  phlegmatict  of  a  bold, 
quarreltoror,  and  imperious  character.  In  short,  the  doctrine  of  the 
temperaments,  at  applied  to  the  indication  of  determinate  faculties,  ia 

146 


ON   DH.  SPUUZHEIM'S  THEORY 


t-inore  tare  or  better  founticd,  than  divinutioo  by  the  hxnd*,  feet, 
dnathiir,  <vt,  Uid  ■ImiliU  physiognomical  ligns.'      Page  iltt. 

I'hai  i»,  fed-haired  pcojilc,  Tor  ttmuncr,  have  nol  a  ceitain  gcncritl 
cliaracier.  Afier  that,  I  will  not  believe  i  word  the  learned  author 
eayt  upon  his  bire  authoiicy. 

Dr.  Spurzheim  with  jt'vat  formality  devotci  a  nuraber  of  KCtioiu 
to  ptore  that  the  leveral  krh-*  alone,  without  aov  othei  faculty  or 
priociple  of  thought  and  fecliog,  do  not  account  for  the  moral  and 
intellectual  laculiics.  'There  nc«di  no  ghott  to  tell  lu  that.'  In 
hit  mode  of  entering  upon  thU  patr  of  hit  cubjcct,  the  Doctor  secma 
to  hare  btta  aware  of  the  old  nuixim — DivUt  ii  a^cra — Dietinguibh 
and  confound ! 

'We  have  ittll  to  exasuoe  whether  aight  produces  any  moral 
»cntimcDt  or  intellectual  faculty.  It  it  a  common  opinion  that  ibc  art 
of  fainting  i>  the  rctulc  of  light  t  and  it  is  true  that  eyes  arc  Decenary 
to  perceive  colours,  a4  the  can  arc  lo  perceive  toundi  and  lotici ;  but 
the  art  of  painting  doct  not  conQii  in  the  perception  of  colour*,  Any 
moie  than  munic  in  the  perception  of  aounds.  Sight,  thcrcfbrc,  and 
the  ^dty  of  painting  are  not  >i  all  in  proportion.  The  light  of 
many  aaimalii  is  mote  perfect  than  that  of  niaa,  bu[  ihey  do  not  know 
what  potnting  i>  t  ann  *»  mankind  the  tiJent  of  painting  cannot  be 
mcMuied  by  the  acutenen  of  fight.  Great  jiaintera  never  attribute 
their  ulent  to  th^r  eyes.  They  ny,  it  i*  not  the  eye,  but  the  under- 
tundingi  which  perceives  the  harmony  of  colour*.'     Page  i<8. 

Thi«  'u  well  put,  and  quite  true ;  that  is,  it  ia  the  mind  alone  that 
perceive*  the  relation  uul  connexion  between  all  out  lenntiont. 
Tbu*  tbe  imptcMion  oJ*  the  line  bounding  one  nie  of  the  face  doct 
not  perceive  or  compare  it*elf  with  the  impteHJoo  of  the  line  fonning 
the  other  tide  of  the  face,  but  it  it  the  mind  or  uniletnancling  (by 
meant  indeed  o(  the  eye)  (hat  petccivci  and  com]iarc«  the  two 
imMCMOiu  together.  But  neither  will  an  organ  of  pMit^g  aniwer 
thu  purpote,  uoleM  thia  tepaiate  organ  includes  a  separate  madf  vritfa 
a  complete  wotkihop  and  aet  of  ofhces  to  execute  all  the  deparimcnti 
of  juugment,  tafle,  invention,  Jcc.  i.i,  to  comjiare,  an.ilyx,  and 
combine  itt  own  particular  tentationt.  But  neither  will  tbii  antwcr 
the  end.  For  either  all  ibetc  mutt  be  included  under  one,  and 
exhibit  thenuelvei  in  the  tame  proportion*  wherever  the  organ  cxutK, 
which  is  not  the  fact ;  or  if  they  are  dininct  and  independent  of  one 
anotber,  then  they  cannot  be  exprctted  by  any  one  organ.  Dr. 
Spurxbeim  ha*,  in  a  subsequent  part  of  litB  work,  provided  for  this 
objection,  and  divided  the  Or^iin  ef  Sight  into  fire  or  tax  lubdiviuoai  i 
racb  at,  the  Orgam  «f  Form,  the  Organ  ef  Ceiour,  the  Orgaa  eflVeigbl, 
the  Organ  af  Sface,  and  God  knowi  how  many  more.     Thii    it 

1*7 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

eradtn^  and  at  the  ume  thne  uicrcMing  the  <Iif&cdty.  Tbiw.  The 
boi  drjuglitiincn  uc  not  obKrred  to  be  alwayi  the  best  colouriiti, 
FUpKad  ud  I'iiiaa  for  cxamnlc.  There  muit  therefore  he  i  i>cw 
^nwon  of  the  Organ  of  SigM  into  (at  lean)  the  two  dmiiou  of 
Forni  and  Colour.  Now  it  it  not  to  bv  «uppo»cd  that  theM  orgaiu 
are  thtat  icpuated  meicly  for  tcporition's  taltt,  but  that  there  ia 
tomethiot  to  the  quality  or  icxturc  of  tlie  tub«tance  of  the  btsia  in 
each  organ,  peculiarly  fitted  fur  each  diffeient  tort  of  impre«noD,  and 
faw  an  exceM  of  quaaticy  producing  an  exccit  of  faculty.  The  teu 
MOOc  of  the  organ  cannot  account  foi  the  ditTcrcncc  oi  the  faculty, 
without  thii  other  coodittoo  of  quality  annexed.  Suppotc  the 
difticguiihine  quality  of  the  organ  nfform  to  be  a  certain  tenacioo*- 
Deas)  thdtoithe  ot^im  «/'f«/otv  to  b«  a  certain  liquid  toftnes*  in  the 
finer  particlea  of  the  brain.  Now  a  gieater  quantity  of  the  medullary 
•ubvtance  of  a  girea  texture  and  degree  of  softneu  will  produce  the 
wzf"  ^  totoar :  but  then  wilt  not  a  (greater  degree  of  this  pecuhar 
MnocM  or  texture  (whatever  it  it)  with  the  same  quantity  of  tub- 
nanc^  produce  an  extraordinary  degree  of  fHculty  equally  i  That  it, 
we  make  tbc  fincneiii  or  quality  of  the  ticrrc*,  brain,  mind,  atone  for 
the  want  of  quantity,  or  get  the  faculty  uoiverully  without  ihe  organ : 
<X.  B.  D.  Dr.  Spurcheim  doct  not  make  an  organ  of  melody  anil  an 
organ  of  barmony :  yet  he  ought,  if  erety  dtitinct  operuioD  of  the 
mind  or  teitiet  requtiet  a  diatinct  local  organ,  and  if  hii  whole  tyitem 
■•  not  merely  arbitrary.  Farther,  one  port  of  painting  it  ex^ruikn, 
namely,  the  power  of  connecting  cvnain  feeling*  of  plcuurc  and  pain 
with  certain  line*  and  mo*emcDtR  of  face  t  that  it,  there  ought  to  be 
an  organ  of  tr^tiikm,  or  an  organ,  in  the  firtt  [^ace,  of  pleasure  and 
pin — which  Dr.  Spurzheim  dcniet — th«e  being  general  and  not 
ipecific  maaifetiationt  of  the  mind ;  and  in  the  tecond  place,  an 
organ  for  atiociating  the  impretnontof  one  organ  with  tboteof  all  the 
reat—  of  which  the  Doctor  alto  deniet  the  exitteocc  or  eveo 
pOMibiliiy.      Hit  it  quite  a  new  contlitntion  of  the  human  mind. 

*  Finally,  every  one  feeli  that  be  thinlu  by  mean*  of  the  brain.' 
Page  165. 

When  K  waa  urged  before,  that  crcry  one  thick*  that  he  feclH  by 
mexna  of  the  bean.  Or.  Spurzheim  acoutcd  thit  wit  of  proof  as  vulgar 
and  ridiculuu*,  it  being  then  againtt  himielf. 

■  Ticdeman  relatea  the  example  of  00c  Moter,  who  wat  intane  on 
one  aide  of  hit  head,  and  who  obierved  hit  madncM  with  the  other 
aide.  Gall  attended  a  minittcr  who  bad  a  limilar  diacatc  /«r  three 
jiart.  He  heard  conitantly  on  his  kft  aide  reproache*  and  inhirtet  i 
be  ftttiKd  hia  head  on  thia  tide,  and  looked  at  the  peraont.' — [What 
pertona  ?] — '  With  his  right  tide  he  nuaurnhf  judged  the  madnen  of 

14a 


ON   DR.  SPURZHEIM-S  THEORY 


hb  left  »idei  but  (ocnetime*  m  ajii  o/fevrr  he  could  nol  rectify  his 
peculiar  iiate.  Lonj;  after  beioK  cuteil,  if  he  ha|>pcDcd  to  be  aogry* 
or  if  he  had  drunk  more  than  he  wai  nccustomed  to  do,  ht  ubtCTTcd 
ill  hi*  left  aide  a  tendency  to  hin  former  niienation.'     Pajte  171. 

Thu  b  30  amuiing  book  aftet  all.  One  might  collect  from  it 
natcriali  foi  a  new  edition  of  the  Wendrrful  Muga^ine,  How 
funtli&rly  the  writer  intinuatcs  the  mo«t  incredible  ttoiict,  and  take! 
for  )<rjaiFd  the  mioutett  circumatancci  1  Tbi»  atylc,  though  it  may 
iodine  the  creduloua  to  gape  and  swallow  cTerything,  muai  make  the 
jadicioui  grieve,  and  the  wary  doubt. 

*  It  ia  however  neccstary  to  remark,  that  all  obcervaiiona  of  thti 
kind  can  only  be  made  upon  bcingt  of  the  aame  iqwciea,  and  k  it 
uaeleu  to  compare  the  name  faculty  with  the  respective  ornn  in 
ditferent  tpecies  of  animaU.  Tit  irrUaiHiiji  it  <otry  digirml  ia  £fftrtiii 
lands  bJ animish'     Page  lOJ. 

And  why  not  in  the  lanie  kind  ? 

'The  state  of  djteaae  proves  iIki  the  plurality  of  tlie  orj^oa.  For 
how  it  it  ponible  to  combine  partial  inaanitiei  with  the  unity  of  the 
brain  ?  A  chemcit  wat  a  madman  in  everything  but  chemittry.  An 
tmbroiderer  in  her  lita,  and  in  the  midit  of  the  greateat  ab«urditie«, 
ealcnbtcd  perfectly  how  much  atuff  wm  necessary  to  auch  or  inch  a 
piece  of  work.'     Page  1 19. 

Doe«  our  author  mean  that  there  11  an  organ  of  chemistry,  and  an 
organ  for  embroidery?  King  Ferdinand  vnuld  be  a  good  tubjcct  to 
uecrtain  this  la*t  oUcrraiion  upon.  If  I  could  catch  bim,  I  thould 
be  dtapoted  to  try.     I  would  not  let  him  go,  like  the  Cotte*. 

'  The  exteroal  appar Jtu6  of  the  ncrvei  of  the  fiiT  «en8e«  are  laid  to 
be  diffemtt,  because  tliey  receive  different  imprestiont :  but  how  t» 
it  ponifale  that  differeat  inprcMiooa  ihould  be  trinsmiited  to  the 
bram  by  the  aame  nerve*  *.  How  can  the  impreision*  of  light  be 
poMSaied  by  the  auditory  nerve  .* '     Page  117. 

Wc  only  know  that  they  are  not.  But  how,  we  might  oak,  caa 
(be  diUcrent  tmprnNon*  of  tight — a*  red,  yellow,  blue — be  trana- 
mitted  by  ibc  aante  nerve  \ 

'  PtnoieT  made  the  following  objectioa  :^-"  A  muiician  playa  wiib 
his  lingera  on  all  ianramenti ;  why  should  not  the  toal  manifeit  all 
ita  operationa  by  raeana  of  one  and  tl>e  aame  organ  \ "  This  obaerr*- 
lion  is  rather  for  than  against  the  plurality  of  the  organs.  First, 
there  are  ten  (ingera  which  play  :  morroi'er,  the  imtriamcRtt  present 
different  chords  or  holc«.  We  admit  only  one  organ  for  music  i 
aitd  all  kinds  of  munc  are  produced  by  iliii  organ.  Hence,  this 
aaaenion  of  Plsiiuer  doei  not  invalidate  our  theory.'     Page  130. 

But  it  does  though,  uoksa  you  could  show  that  a  musiciaa  can 

149 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 


^y  n^  « 


be  hM  fiagen,  oo  tbc  one  kind  of  j 
Or*  Spvzlwtfli  coMcodi  cucvuerr  uui  ok  ofjM  i 

MfwtB  OSly  OM  nDCliOSp  lod  bflA^I  li  ft  pfOOf  CV  UK 

ifce  orgiBi  d)c  ahtnntt  KtiaB  ad  mt  of  dw  body  lad  mkL 
if  tbe  Mac  orjpfi  caaaot  nadergD  a  diScmt  «itr,  haw  eta  it  mi  i 
J  hcfv  mM  tvQ  b?  30  or^zo  of  sctiofi  iDd  m  or^pn  a  rcitt  ta  otgtt 
lo  do  MOKtbnft  and  an  orf^  to  do  noduntl  Very  fine  tad  cfcv 
bUiIw. 

The  ioUowta^  wign  aceai  u   bear  doMM  apcn  the  gcncnl 
ye  win*,  and  I  £ul  >f^y  ■jncir  to  tammtt  tfecat  a*  wdl  a^  I  can. 

'The  aaelkctmal  Gmmt*  b>w  baa  placed  ia  dw  bnioi  bqt  it 
vaa  iBipoaHiw  to  point  out  aay  ofjil^  bccnift  Ofgisia  rafc  omb  - 
aougbi  ibr  bnltie*  wbkh  have  no  orgn,  naadj,  (air  coobmi  aad 
fEScral  ncutMt  •  >  >  Ccucidl  or  consood  pliawMMm  ncvcf  Hi^  * 
ai^  partiahr  ot^n.  Secntioa,  for  toiaiK*,  ia  >  u 
aao  iWTtiioB  b  gnwnJ  baa  no  panknlar  orgaa ;  bat  tbe  psticnlar 
HcrcfioMt  at  of  talira.  bik,  torti  Ac  arc  attached  to  panioihr 
OTgaaa.  SwMioe  u  aa  nprctMOO  vbicb  ladicaBw  the 
loMtMO  of  the  tm  euenial  acnan ;  therefore  tint  ukbbmo  beaky 
ha*  00  particular  orgao.  bat  vretj  deterrBiaue  tcaatioB — aa  of  agbl, 
bearioi)  widliag,  uuu,  or  lecliog — ii  attached  to  tome  panicahf 
QtpaJ    Page  273. 

la  the  Srit  pbM,  tbco.  Dr.  Sporzham  biowelf  aiafna  portimbr 
•fDHi  far  conmon  aad  gcoenl  Eicvlact ;  tuch  at  itl^lore.  vcaera- 
lioa,  hope,  cofttoataeaa,  laBfoase,  compariaoBt  caa«Sty,  -wk,  iania- 
bOB,  Sec.  He  alao  talka  of  (he  oeciat  of  afaitractimt  iDcSridsafitj, 
iaiBKiOB,  &c.  It  wwald  be  hard  to  deny  that  ibeae  oieaa  more 
ihaa  ooe  thiag,  aad  refer  to  toon  thaa  to  one  cUat  of  1 
In  iact,  the  author  aO  theou^  hit  volaaw  re^galatly  coafcmda  , 
gcDcral  pnaciplea  with  particnlar  actt  aad  mechanic  excrdaea  of  the 
■aad.  Scceedlf,  he  either  don  net  or  will  not  npcehcad  the 
prtdae  aitaaiag  of  the  temt  mmmBm  or  gmral  farmlnn,  aa  applitd 
to  the  Biiod.  SentaAen  a  a  oomiaoa  (bactioa  iS  the  five  external 
9etan,  that  is  it  bcloog*  tcretally  to  the  exercite  of  the  five  extenial 
•enact:  but  wiidmttmJu^  ta  a  ooaiaioa  &ciilty  of  the  mind — not 
became  it  bebnga  to  any  mnnbet'  of  idea*  in  mcccMioa,  but  becauae 
it  take*  cogfuuBce  of  a  norabcr  of  them  together.  UvoaairaaDnia 
ia  percciriDg  the  rclatiou  betweeti  objecu  aad  imprnsiona,  which 
the  tcBica  ud  panicnUr  or  iodmduil  organ*  can  omr  do.  It  U 
Out  mperiMeadlng  or  Mtmnv  facoliy  or  principle  vfaicb  ia  awirc 
both  of  the  colout  fern,  and  tooad  of  mi  objecti  which  eoanectfri 
itt  prcaent  appearaoce  with  iu  |bk  binory;  wbicb  arraiigea  and 
combuca  the  laultiluioat  imprcttiont  of  nature  into  oac  whole  ( 

150 


ON  DB.  SPURZHEIM'S  THEORY 

which  balance*  (he  Taiioua  motive*  of  aciion,  and  render*  man 
what  he  i> — a  rational  xod  moral  agent :  but  for  this  faculty  wc  find 
DO  trgulAt  place  or  nation  aitrigncd  nmonggt  that  heap  ot  organic 
lumuli,  which  could  produce  nothing  but  niiBCake*  and  confution. 
Tbc  seat  of  this  faculty  it  one,  or  it»  impreujons  are  communicated 
to  the  same  inteiligcat  mind,  which  contemplate*  and  react*  upon 
them  all  with  nore  or  Ic**  wiadom  and  comnrehcniive  power.  Thui 
the  poet  ii  not  a  bdog  made  up  of  a  itnng  of  organ* — an  eye,  an 
ear,  a  heart,  a  tongue — but  i*  one  and  the  lame  intellectual  esience', 
looking  out  from  iu  own  nature  on  sU  the  diiferrnt  impieuiont  it 
receives,  and  to  a  certain  degree  moulding  them  into  ittelf>  It  la  / 
who  temembei  certain  objccu,  who  judge  of  tbem,  who  invent  from 
them,  who  connect  certain  louods  thai  I  hear,  a*  of  a  thrush  unking, 
with  certatD  aight*  that  I  tee,  aa  the  wood  whence  the  note*  itnie. 
There  it  *omc  bond,  *ome  contcioui  connexion  brought  about 
between  these  imprctiion*  and  act*  of  the  mind  ;  thai  i<,  ihcre  il 
a  principle  of  joint  and  common  undrmsnding  in  the  mind,  t|uite 
dilfcrent  from  the  ignorance  in  which  the  ear  is  left  of  what  paatc* 
before  the  eye,  Jcc.  and  which  overruling  and  primary  faculty  of  tbc 
louli  blending  with  all  our  thou^^bts  and  feeling*,  Dr.  Spuizhrim 
doe*  Dot  once  try  to  explain,  but  docs  all  he  can  to  overturn. 

' Underttanding,'  he  continue*,  'being  an  cxprcttion  which 
dt«tgniitef  a  gcimal  faculty,  ha*  no  particular  organ,  but  every 
determinate  tpecies  of  undcritanding  is  attached  to  a  particular 
organ.'     lUJ. 

If  «o,  how  doet  tt  contrive  to  compare  note*  with  the  impreuion* 
of  other  particular  organ*  ^  For  example,  how  doe*  the  organ  of 
wit  combine  with  the  organ  of  form  or  of  indiriduabiy,  to  give  a 
groicu^uc  dcucripiion  of  .1  particular  pcr*on,  without  tome  cmnmon 
and  intermediate  faculty  to  which  thc«c  Kveril  imprewion*  arc 
conKtoutly  referred!  Will  any  one  tell  me  that  one  of  thc*c 
detached  and  very  particular  organ*  perceives  tlic  stained  (almir  of 
an  old  cloak — [How  would  it  apprehend  any  thing  o{  the  one  of  the 
cloak  i\ — that  another  ha*  a  glimpae  of  it*  antiquated  farm  ;  that  a 
third  auppliei  a  viillf  alluaion  or  apt  iUuilralion  of  what  it  know* 
nothing  about ;  and  that  thi<  patchwork  procest  i*  clubbed  by  a 
nnmbex  of  organic  imprc«tioDS  that  hare  no  law  of  subordtnatKn, 
aor  any  common  principle  of  reference  bctwwn  ihcm,  10  make  a 
lively  caricature  i 

■Finally,  it  is  the  same  with  all  common  faculties  of  the  nnder- 
■tanding — of  which  philosophers  and  physiologist*  speak — namely, 
with  perttpl'iMt  mtmory,  or  rtnlltelitm,  jaJgrnentf  and  imognttaiati. 
These  cxprctMOoa  are  commoit,  and  the  respective  faculties  have 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 


va  orgaDit  but  ercry  peculiar  percepuoO'^mefflory,  judgnwflt,  mid 
i"H|B'lt!'"" — u  of  ipacc,  form,  colour,  tucc,  xo6  number,  hnvc  their 
BvttcaUr  organ*.  It  the  common  faculticn  of  undrtilinding  wcr« 
UtKbcd  to  jwnicuUr  organii,  the  pritoo  who  poitcMc*  the  organ  of 
aay  commoa  faculty  ought  to  be  endowed  with  all  particular  kicdi 
of  ficolue*.  If  there  were  an  orf-an  of  perception,  of  meraiwy,  of 
judgmeatt  w  of  inugtoaiion,  auy  one  who  hai  the  organ  of  perceptmot 
of  meaioryt  of  judgmeni,  or  of  imajiiiiation,  ought  to  poaaeu  all  kind* 
of  perception,  of  memory,  of  judgment,  or  of  imagination.  Now  ihU 
is  aniett  all  experience.'     /hiif. 

No  more,  than  a  person  poitciwcd  of  the  general  otg»i  of  tight 
mutt  be  acaoaititcd  equally  with  all  objects  of  tight,  whether  they 
have  ever  fuleo  in  hia  vay,  or  whether  he  hat  «tuiiied  them  or  not. 
But  it  ii  according  to  all  experieocc,  that  aone  pertont  ate  dittin- 
guithed  more  by  memory,  othert  more  by  judgment,  otbert  more  by 
imagination,  geaerally  Ejieaking.  That  it,  upon  whatever  mbject 
they  exercMc  their  attention,  they  (bow  the  umc  turn  of  mind  or 
prcaombating  faculty.  Some  people  do  ei-ery  thing  from  impultc. 
It  is  their  character  under  all  imprctiionii  and  in  all  tiudiei  and 
punuita.  It  there  then  ao  organ  of  impulte !  An  organ  of  tune  it 
EDtelligible,  becautc  it  denotet  a  general  faculty  exercised  upon  a 
particular  cla»  of  imptcniooe,  vrs.  soiindt.  But  what  in  an  organ 
of  wit?     It  meant  noibing ;    for  it  denote*  a  faculty  without  any 

Xcific  objccu :  and  ret  an  organ  meant  a  faculty  limited  to  tpedfic 
^ccit.  Wit  is  the  faculty  of  combining  tuddenly  and  glancing  over 
the  whole  range  of  art  and  nature ;  but  an  organ  it  abut  vp  in  a 
particular  cell  of  tentation,  and  teet  nothing  beyond  ittelf. 

'Ooe  bat  a  great  memory  of  one  kind,'  proceedt  out  author,  'and 
a  very  little  memory  of  other  thingi.' 

Yet,  partly  from  habit,  but  chieliy,  I  grant,  from  original  character  i 
not  becaufc  certain  thing*  strike  upon  a  certain  pan  of  the  brain,  but 
touch  a  certain  quality  or  di>|)Ofition  of  the  mind.  Thut,  tome 
renwmbtr  ttiflct,  otbert  things  of  importance.  Some  retain  forma, 
Otben  feelingt.  Some  hare  a  memory  of  wordt,  otbert  of  things. 
Some  remei^r  what  regard*  their  own  intereiti,  othcn  what  it 
interesting  in  itaelf,  according  to  the  biat  and  tcope  of  their  tentibility. 
All  thctc  retultt  depend  evidently  not  on  a  particular  local  imprceiion, 
but  on  a  laricty  of  general  cnutct  combined  in  one  common  effect. 
Again:  *a  poet  potiioitct  one  kind  of  imagination  in  a  high  degreet 
bat  hat  he  therefore  every  kind  of  imagination,  aa  that  of  iavcnttng 
maehioet,  of  compocangmuitc,  ttc.i'    Page  17$. 

Or  it  may  be  retorted — Hai  he  tberdbre  every  kind  of  poetical 
inugination :      Doei  the  tame   perton    write  epigramn   and   eptca, 


M   ■ 


ON  DR.  SPURZHEIM'S  THEORY 

comeilin  and  uagtdies  i  Is  there  not  tight  and  mioui  poeiry  I  la 
not  Mr.  T.  Mooie  juM  u  likely  to  become  Newtcn  ■•  to  become 
Milton  ?  Or  ai  the  wm  tlie  eagle  ?  Yet  Df .  SpurzJieim  hai  but 
one  ocgao  for  poetry,  ao  he  aay* — '  We  allow  but  one  organ  for  tune.' 
But  ii  there  not  tunc  in  poeiry  i  Ha*  not  the  poet  ao  eai  a«  well  at 
tbc  niu*iciju)J  How  then  don  the  author  reooncUe  theK  common 
or  analogous  ({ualiticf,  and  the  complex  tmprenion*  from  all  the 
acDHCi  iinplinl  in  poetry  (lor  Jnitance}  with  hi*  detached,  ctrcum- 
icribed,  U^ol  orj^aoa  \  Hm  lyitem  ■*  merely  mmim/,  and  a  very 
clunuy  tpccimen  of  nomenclature  into  the  bargain.- — Poetry  relate*  to 
nil  M>rts  of  impremioni,  from  all  aorta  of  object*,  moral  and  physical. 
Muiic  Tclnic*  lo  one  lori  of  impretNOD*  oiuy,  and  to  far  there  i*  an 
excuie  for  siaignine  it  lo  a  particubr  organ;  but  it  al»o  im|>li«« 
common  and  general  faculties,  audi  a«  retention,  judgment,  invctiiion, 
jcc  which  eaKntially  reside  in  the  undcrttanding  or  thinking  principle 
K  Urge,  But  tuppow  thcni  to  be  cooped  and  cabined  up  in  th« 
particular  organ :— do  they  not  exist  b  dllfercnt  degree*,  and  it  ihia 
difference  expreitcd  merely  by  the  tiu  of  the  organ  f — It  canoot  be. 
The  circumttaacc  of  size  can  only  determine  that  tuch  a  one  it  a 
gmi  louxiciao ;  not  what  «art  of  a  rautician  he  ia.  Therefore  thii 
characterittic  difierence  ia  not  expreated  by  <|uantity,  and  ibcteibrc 
Done  of  the  dllferencei  thcmtcNc*.  or  facultica  of  judgment,  inrentioo, 
rclinement,  jcc.  which  form  the  great  muticjan,  can  be  expieated  by 
quantity ;  and  if  none  of  theae  component  pans  of  mmical  geniut  are 
•0  expreatcd,  why  then  '  it  follow*,  an  the  night  the  day,'  that  ibere 
can  be  no  organ  of  mu*ic.  There  may  be  an  organ  peculiarly  adapted 
for  reiAiniag  niuucal  imprcMioo),  but  thii  (without  including  the 
tuelleciual  operations,  which  ia  impomiblc)  would  only  answer  the 
purpoaei  of  a  peculiarly  line  and  sen*itiTc  ear. 

'  Natural  nliiloaopbei*  were  wrong  in  looking  for  organ*  of  ctMnmoii 
&ciiltict.' — \Thai'f  tmc.] — 'A  apccQlatirc  philotophcr  may  be  Mtit> 
ficd  with  vague  and  common  expicaniona,  which  tio  not  denote  the 
particular  and  determinate  (jualitie*  of  the  different  being) ;  but  thete 
general  or  common  coniiderMiont  are  not  sufitcicnt  for  a  naturalist 
who  endeavour!  to  know  the  functiooi  and  faculties  of  etery  organic 
part  in  particular.  Throughout  all  natural  hiiiury,  the  expretttona 
are  the  leu  signiiicunt  the  more  general  or  common  they  arc  t  and  a 
dictinct  knowledge  of  any  being  icquiret  a  study  of  it*  peculiaritic*.' 

Take  away  the  human  mind  and  it*  common  functions,  operstiona, 
and  principle!,  and  Dr.  S]iurzlieiin'*  cianiology  gitea  a  very  satia- 
(actory  and  categorical  *icw  of  human  natnte.  Id  material  Kience, 
the  commoo  properties  ra^  be  the  lean  significant  t  but  in  the  mind 

'5J 


i 


THE   PLAIN   SPEAKER 


of  mu,  tbecoanmoB  priac^  (whaww  it  he)  dui  fcdi|thiBlu,  tad 
Bco,  u  the  duef  tbtog. 

I  do  not  belietc  t^  in  tbe  Doeter't  orjpaa/,  citber  geaerally  or 
fUucvUtiy.  I  hare  oaly  hu  wont  for  them ;  and  temcm  aid 
coiQiDOn  KfiK  tic  agai&n  ihetn.  There  ma;^  be  an  exoeptioa  now 
aad  ibrn,  but  thcK  tt  ercry  where  ■  total  warn,  of  claad&UKM  mm! 
ualjtk  pown.  The  anthor,  iamai  of  grring  the  rmtimali  of  any 
OM  diiob  ruu  oa  woh  cndleM  iBwiiiiam  nd  ■wnaiitioni  of  the 
Bine  knd.  The  organ*  arc  »eBietiMii«  general  no  nOMtiatM 
puticnhu' ;  MMoetanet  compoood  and  wnninei  nn^.  YoB  kaow 
B«  what  to  nuke  of  them :  tbey  tun  over  like  nnblev-figeeiM.  I 
Atonid  be  iaclined  to  admit  the  «rgaK  a/  ■■Mfiuwfw  aa  a  phjnicnl 
reioforceaeBt  of  a  mcMal  pnuioo;  hot  h^dly  thai  oJ  flitt^rifitiliwi 
mat — M  leM,  it  ia  bodly  explaiatd  here.  I  viJl  gii-c  an  iaMaace  or 
two.  *  A  male  tervaiit,'  Dr.  SpttTzhom  obwrvcii  *  acltian  ukr*  care 
of  cUldroi  ao  well  ai  a  woman.  Womeo,  then,  are  food  of  chtldm 
gncfally;  not  of  tbeir  own  merely,  li  not  this  an  extenuon  of  the 
orgaaac  prineiple  beyond  it)  aamta]  and  poaitive  linuts?  Again: 
*  Little  girU  ate  food  of  doUt,'  &c  It  there  then  an  cxprcn  organ 
ior  tbii  i  HDce  doll*  arc  not  litcraUy  children  \  Oh  do  !  it  it  only 
■  nod^cstioo  of  the  «riam  nf  ftikfrtgtmt'nmtti.  WcU  then,  why 
ifaaoU  not  tlua  organ  ttaclfor  pitiCTilar  Lcopemity  be  a  raodiicaboB 
or  pfcM»»*  !■■  J  ^ij^  or  of  in  aniaBie  dupoattMnp  good'Hiiwet  aDd  t 
gcncromy  to  gn>er«l  I  There  team  no  awijTiablr  tcbmxi  why  moat, 
tfaoe  all  of  thcie  ipectJ  organ*  AoiUd  be  coaiidered  aa  any  thing 
■ore  Uun  to  many  nanifeatttieoa  ot  caaea  of  gcwnl  diiyiitiaasr^ 
capnciiie*^  &c-  anrsng  frooi  general  iinlabiutyt  tcndcmcatt  nmncaai . 
qtkneaa,  comprebcwion,  ftc.  of  tbe  auBd  or  far»n  \  tun  M  the 
p"*'™'"  varictiM  and  obliqnitin  of  organic  &aillie*  ana  alfectioM 
are  attrihctrd  by  Sparzhcim  and  Gall  to  a  cooimoo  law  or  principle 
combined  with  otheii,  or  with  peculiar  circonwUiDcca.  The  account 
of  the  mr^am  ^uActUtuntu  b  a  marccr-piece  of  coofiuioo.  It  it  aa 
organ  teatcd  on  the  top  of  the  bead,  and  iaipeUtng  ytM  to  lire  ia 
hi^  placet,  and  then  again  in  low  placet  t  oa  uad  and  water )  to  be 
hm  and  there  and  crery where ;  which  i«  the  tame  and  dMercol, 
and  it  in  thon  an  oma,  not  for  any  panicular  thing,  bat  for  all  aorta 
of  coatradioioet.  r  irat,  it  it  ibe  taaie  at  the  organ  of  pride,  and 
account*  fiv  the  dMmoii  dtaiUng  rockt,  and  the  eagle  the  tky ;  for 
cbBdrca  BWWWiM  on  chairs  and  ktogt  on  throon,  &c.  Bui  ibcn 
tomt  amnab  pn£r  low  ounhy  eroGodis  and  toaie  bicdt  baild  in  the 
hoUowa,  and  not  on  tbe  top*  of  tree*.  Tben  it  looki  like  a  d*^ 
pwwMon  of  Providence  to  people  diifertnt  rcgiont  of  tbe  earth  t  aad 
ooe  wodd  iluak  in  thit  rirw  that  local  prejadifiet  wovld  be  retolTcd 


ON  DR,  SPURZHEIM'S  THEORY 

into  a  (peciet  of  habitual  xttachinnit.  But  no,  that  would  not  be  a 
ttaiirum.  It  i«  thereiorc  uid — ■  Nnturc,  which  intended  that  all 
region*  and  countries  ahould  be  inhabited,  awigned  to  all  aniraali 
their  dwellings,  and  gave  to  cicry  kind  of  animal  it»  rMpectivc  pro- 

EBniity  to  eonie  paiticular  te^on  i '  that  is,  not  to  the  place  where  it 
ad  ^en  botn  and  bted,  but  where  it  mat  lo  h  born  and  bred. 
People  who  prefer  this  mode  of  philosophy  are  wekome  to  it.  No 
wonder  our  author  finds  it  'didicult  to  point  out  the  teat  of  this 
organ ;  '  yet  he  atnirc*  ue,  thai  '  it  muM  be  deep-itcatcd  in  the  brain.' 
The  organ  of  aj/xjivenm  is  evidently  the  tame  h»  the  general 
faculty  of  aitachnieot.  The  argon  «/*  t<m6atit>tnrii  I  conceive  lo  be 
nothing  but  sicength  of  bone  and  riukIc,  and  some  projection  arising 
fton  sod  indicating  thete.  The  er^iOit  sf  Jtitnutivtntii  and  con- 
ttmctlvtiun  are  the  tame,  but  '  »o  an  with  a  difference  '—thai  i*,  they 
express  atrong  will,  with  greater  or  leii  impatience  of  temper  and 
comptchcnciTenei*  of  mind.  The  conqueror  who  overturn*  one 
ttatc,  builds  up  and  aggnindiaci  nnothcr.  I  can  conc«ire  pcnon* 
who  arc  gifted  with  the  ergan  af  •ornrraiiaa  to  have  expanded  brains 
as  well  as  swelling  ideas.  'The  head  of  CHSitT,'  says  oui  physio- 
lo«at, '  is  alwayt  represented  as  very  elevated.' — Yet  be  was  remark- 
able for  meekne«»  as  well  as  piety.  Spuriheini  say*  of  the  wgan  af 
eevtlrnaiai,  that  ■  it  give*  a  dcitre  for  all  that  pleasea.'  Again, 
Dr.  Gall  obnerrcd,  ibat  *  persons  of  a  firm  and  cooiuint  chiracier 
have  the  top  of  the  brain  much  developed  ; '  and  this  is  ciUcd  the 
et^an  ^  dtlirminalifraeii.  Now  if  so,  are  we  to  believe  that  the 
difference  in  resolute  and  irresolute  persons  i»  confined  lo  this  organ, 
and  that  the  nerves,  fibrci,  &c.  of  the  rat  of  the  brain  are  not  lax  or 
firm,  in  proportion  as  the  pcmon  it  of  a  generally  weak  or  determined 
character  J  The  whole  question  nearly  turns  upon  this.  Say  that 
there  i*  »  MTticular  prominence  in  this  part,  owing  to  a  greater 
tirenglh  and  size  of  the  levers  of  the  will  at  this  place.  This 
would  prove  nothing  but  the  particular  manifestation  or  development 
of  a  general  power  i  jutt  as  the  prominence  of  the  muscles  of  the  calf 
of  the  leg  denotes  general  muscular  streneth.  But  the  cruniologitt 
•nys  thit  the  strength  of  the  whole  boi^  lie>  in  the  calf  of  tlic 
leg,  and  has  it*  seat  or  organ  there.  Not  so,  in  the  nnme  of 
common  sense !  When  Dr.  Spurxhcim  gets  down  to  the  visible 
region  of  the  face,  the  eyes,  forehead,  &c.  he  makes  sad  work  of  it : 
SB  infinite  number  of  distinctions  arc  crowded  one  upon  the  hick 
of  the  other,  and  to  no  purpose.  Will  any  body  believe  thai  there 
are  live  or  six  different  ufgoiis  for  the  impresuons  of  one  Kose 
(tight,)  viz,  colour,  form,  size,  and  so  on  f  Do  we  see  the  form 
with  one  organ  and  the  colour  of  the  tame  object  with  another? 

'55 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

There  w^  he  difant  orjaM  w  naa^  difimiM  Baenal  at 
fftftfTfff  M^maoaii  fast  unAj  onlj  the  niBd  can  ilMDaa  tfae 
di&MM  MytwiBiw  of  tbe  noM  wnc  &ea  cacfa  otfaer.  TW  «3n« 
•^  j^MT  M|niri  10  ac  lo  m«u  u  tbe  look  of  wild,  wriag  osiM^. 
Ail  ikK  M  BM  m'uiMid  for  n  lUi  wij,  dafaa  from  gatnl  oes- 

MiHHMn  OV  0OB    BBJVO^HOMW    CXfCVMOBt  1>  O  M^  01  ' 

c^ridoM,  aMadMotKMcd  tadb  I  Kka  ooe  pangnpli  o«  of  tUi 
ptT^pgihiiw.  II  I  niiiiii  nf  «ittt  die  reader  anot  expect  fron  tte 

*WkMtbeB  it  tbc  j^aoo/ Realty  of  the  orfan  of 
ia  iftot  of  aetintjr !  Fcraoat  oidevcd  witk  this  beaky  io  ■ 
Qiffoo  m  Utttfiw  to  tfff  uut  hi|nien>  aroofld  tstti ;  to  nvfy  oojtctt 
le  emy  nbeooneeoo.  ro  eitrj  fad :  tna  tlim  m  hmsbu.  That 
bcokf  ocrImt  barw  llie  qmliiiei  of  objtcu.  not  lU  inmU  of  bet* : 
•I  komn  oolf  their  exjaeoce.  The  qaabties  of  the  object^  aad  the 
|rtfT*^''ff  r''f-  of  the  bea,  are  kaowo  by  the  anrtiaoe  of  other 
orgM*.  B*»Jit,  thn  bcvl^  ho*  koowledge  of  »tt  mtuml  faaJati, 
mi  mtU  tfm  dim.  It  wiihn  to  kaov  >tl  bf  cxpnirscc;  cos- 
■lyilT  >  pou  cfcn  orpo  iMO  utioo :  tt  mfae*  to  hew.  tt, 
■■bB,  nmt,  ami  Umat ;  W  law  aff  ant  aad  uimm ;  11  it  rood 
of  JBWiaiBii,  ceUeoa  bct)^  ud  lead*  to  pnctical  kaovledfe.' 

P"p  430- 

In  the  ocxi  page  he  afinu  ihx  'oyJapiphy  io  the  rcaok  of 
d»  orgaa  of  fiom,  awl  th«  wc  do  not  ga  the  idcot  of  ronghawi  ' 
nd  MMMteeM  &aa  the  tooch. — Boi  I  will  cad  here,  and  nta  Hi 
At  ■nrilf  ooooM  of  DooMerswml  ta  the  Ax'nQuaAT  I  * 

■  It  HpoB\  I  ■lailMl,6i»  M  wmimmt  mv  |<li*i<  br  Or. 
»flfct«»th.tfanteehi»«ifa»e«^>r^«rt*w5teiiiiifciLii—<  niatiii. 
IHO  ■>•  SM«ynr«iJMM  la  ilut  dty.WikdHc  aT  5b  Wdto  S««a,af 
Ac  t>At  of  •*  ^  |-  tai  til  Mm^  BiMtct.  Hk  Int,  eeomr  m  the 
mrWillna  «f  Aoc  taned  nimw,  mou  ikaar^a  of  sMciaaEieB;  tkicMcaad 

At  •>*■  •<  »M>»*iM  t  "^    tl>*    t>^    IBHtWCT    da  OTXH    of  EUCT.       Tb*.  1 

MoAis  M  ta  tW  twB  M.  iffuin  W  m  i  awfliw  dnm.  Ir  irs«U  imlaM 
B«  (nin  ih»  wmj  Ak(  I  btn  ^Tt  Wirtf)  to  *■  aftaiM  dM  thctt  ■  nowtMw 
IfeiMatif  AiaatiM  in  the  umo.  I  Iwi  lM(i(*lM»ed  tmt  Itca  iMrty 
•aaah  M  caffM  •  coB*kiian  iku  Sk  Wila^ifir*  k  a  nrt  •(  «  itfi'iiiJ  &«» 
Mr*  (■hlfcM  be  Moaalju*  w  ifun  ihMigfc  Ui  fugo,  he  kaia  n  k  !•* 
k,  wlA  mr  tew  mukt  al  ibc  kmcb-«U  »•■  14 — w4  m  Ib  tk  uetal  ftnoa 
■rliannl.hc  hw  jh(  Umm  pn*n  •<  Mihitiwi  aUcb  Moot  ta  ■  ■•■  who 
fc>*  •  ball-^  ■  ■  wiac  ui  ton  da  aiad  Imm  afoa  Hi  wnj  tt  the  frawr 
■MoaaC  WiAHMrtu  ?riaaBlMba.i(lKh><aM'>WMliM(l(h>wM 
■la aaaHcf  Ilia a&m,'te  he  omH  da  km*  gf  MMtjre«fli,wha<tMwM' 
bh  Mia^iTBai  aoc  At  pNoman  *i  ihc  MUkaataaL  t  have  at  Mom  tiaM 
MM  ihoc  ifaac  frntiUat  l^a^  m4  1  ^wU  laT  that  tk  hat  toaki  Uht  a 
pliiiiifiraiii,  (b*  PHocc  Ik  a  cnanl  an  t«^  ^  *^  linwramt  ef  a 
|r  II  i  ifcth  Difca  aa  mtlh»t  or  aebaJy.  Yea  look  M  ifat  hwl  of  iht  faW 
156 


ON  EGOTISM 


ESSAY  XV 


OM    BOOTISM 

It  is  mentioned  in  (be  Life  of  Salrator  Roia,  that  on  the  occuior 
of  an  iiliAr-piccc  of  hit  bebg  exhibited  at  Romr,  in  the  inumph  of 
the  moment,  he  competed  himKlf  to  Michael  Angelo,  and  (poke 
againK  Raphael,  cilting  him  harii,  dry,  &c.  Both  the*c  were  btal 
gymptomi  for  the  ultimate  lucceis  of  the  work ;  the  picture  wa*  in 
bet  afterwards  terercly  cenauredt  (o  at  to  caute  him  much  untaai- 
oeai ;  und  he  KiMed  a  great  part  of  hia  lile  in  quaireliiDg  witli  the 
world  foi  admiriog  bit  landicapo,  which  were  truly  excelleai,  and 
for  not  admiring  hi>  historical  pieces  which  were  full  of  defecti. 
Salvaior  wanted  K-lf-knowlcdgc,  and  that  rcapcct  for  othcrt,  which 
ia  both  a  cauae  and  conacquence  of  it.  Like  many  more,  he  mittook 
the  rioleat  aod  irritable  workinga  of  aelf-will  (in  a  wrong  direction) 
for  tlie  itnuulae  of  geoius,  and  his  iDsrotibility  to  the  rati  superiority 
\   of  otheri  for  u,  proof  of  his  cqunJiiy  with  iliem. 

In  tbe  fifit  place,  nothing  augurs  wonc  for  any  one'*  pretenaioaa 
to  the  higheat  rank  of  excellence  than  hit  making  free  with  Ehoae  of 
Others.  He  who  boldly  and  unreaerredly  placea  himtelf  on  a  lerel 
with  the  mghiy  dtad,  (howi  a  want  of  acotiment — the  only  thing  thai 
can  ensure  immortality  to  hia  own  worki.  When  we  foreical  the 
judgment  of  poKerily,  it  ia  because  we  are  not  confident  of  it.  A 
mind  that  bringi  all  other*  into  a  line  with  it*  own  naked  or  auumed 
mcriti,  thai  *eei  alt  objcctt  in  the  foreground  at  it  were,  that  doet 
dot  regard  the  lofty  monuineoti  of  geniua  through  the  atmoaphere  of 
fame,  ia  coarte,  crude,  and  repultiTc  a«  a  picture  without  aerial  per- 
apective.  Time,  like  distance,  spread*  a  haze  and  a  glory  round 
ill  thin^  Not  to  perceive  thii,  it  to  want  a  lense,  ii  lo  be  without 
iioaginatKM.  Yet  there  are  thoie  who  ttrui  in  their  own  nelf-opinion, 
and  deck  tbcDiaelre*  out  in  tbe  plumes  of  fancied  aelf  impoftaocr  aa 
if  they  were  crowned  with  laurel  by  Apollo't  own  hinJ.  There 
waa  nothing  in  common  between  Salvntor  and  Michael  Angelo :  if 
there  had,  the  cooadonancH  of  the  power  with  which  be  had  to 

with  ailmintion  tt  it*  capaeitjr  anil  m\Xi  caotnHi,  at  ifa«  l«(  with  wosAu  ■( 
what  ll  CM  ConUia  (aair  inorc  thui  ■  diun-hrnQ,  it  thf  mui  oCfiecy'  m  of 
■Mf  bncy'  »^  4fl(utl  at  the  poHncw  id<i  biutUitj  vhich  he  •lU  not  al^ct 
la  mkCbL  ThcM,  bovevct,  tic  itight  phjiiognomicil  obKrvitioni  nk«n  at 
IBnilmni  but  I  •hQuld  be  hippy  ta  hire  R17 '  sqassileciag  (Uncct'  in  in/  rtc|rrM 
••■fma'  kji  Ibi  ptofouDdtr  Kicoct  >i><l  nwic  iccunu  iiiKtciifiiioB*  a(  sonhem 

•S7 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 


coduikI  woaM  bxfc  OTvr-awcd  and  ttnick  him  dumb;  w  th»t  tbe 
very  iuiu&uiry  of  bu  apfuroocbn  proved  (u  much  u  anv  thing  elae) 
the  "— ""T"  dMtance  ^ced  between  ibem.  PotntcTi  aume  K«ni  to 
have  a  trick  of  pouaog  thetnaclra  oa  ao  c^uat  footing  with  tbc 
pcnctt  of  their  pccdcccMon,  of  adTaocing,  on  the  »ok  wrcngth  of 
their  faatt;  and  prctumftion,  to  the  highcu  wat*  in  the  Tempk  of 
FaSM,  of  tallusg  o(  theiMclve*  and  Raphael  aad  Michael  An^lo  ia 
dw  nme  breath !  What  (honld  wt  think  of  a  poet  who  «hotild 
poblith  to  the  world,  oi  gire  a  broad  hint  in  pdraie,  tbjt  he  coo- 
ceired  himtclf  filly  oo  a  par  with  Hotner  or  Milton  ot  Shakespcar  i 
It  warJd  be  too  moch  nr  a  hmd  to  lajr  »o  of  hiou  Hot  artitta 
iiufct  their  iViendi  to  p«ff  them  in  the  true  ■  Kiag  Conbjrte*'  vein  ' 
witboat  biuahing.  I*  it  that  tbcj  are  olten  tnea  without  a  liberal 
edncatioB,  who  hare  no  notion  of  any  thing  liui  doe*  not  cooie  tuidec 
their  tmoiedikte  obtervatioB,  and  who  accordingly  prefer  the  linog 
to  the  dead,  and  thenwelves  to  all  tbe  te«t  of  the  world  ?  Or  thai 
there  ■■  tomething  in  tbe  nature  of  tbe  pirofection  icieif,  fixing  the 
view  00  a  particnUr  point  of  linK,  and  ace  linkiog  tbe  present  eithei 
with  tbe  put  or  liitiirc  i 

Again,  Silvaior')  di«eprd  fi>r  Raphael,  intttad  of  ioapiriRg  him 
with  any  thing  like  >  Tain  aad  letf-cocicctt,'  ought  to  hiTe  taaght  kia 
tbe  greaiett  diffideoce  in  himielf.  lotcead  of  aaticipaiittg  a  iriusiph 
over  Raphael  (ram  thia  circunuUDce,  be  might  hare  fercaecn  in  it 
the  rare  Mwce  of  bit  nM>rti£ca(ioD  oad  detrai.  Tbe  poblk  hmked 
to  lind  to  tit  pkturei  what  be  did  not  tec  in  Raphael,  and  were 
MCMMttSy  diiappoiated.  He  coold  hicdly  be  expected  to  prodace 
that  wbkb  wbni  produced  and  »rt  before  him,  be  did  Dot  fed  or 
uaderatand.  The  geoim  for  a  particslar  thing  doe*  not  imply  tute 
b  seaeial  or  for  other  ibing*.  biri  it  awortdiy  prewippotn  a  taate  oc 
feeUng  lor  thai  particular  thmg.  Salvaior  wat  to  much  oAtnded  with 
the  £ym*4t,  bariUtii,  ttc.  of  Raphael,  only  because  be  w»  not  Mtuck, 
that  it,  did  not  lympathitc  with  the  divine  mind  within.  If  he  had, 
bo  would  luTc  bowed  a*  at  a  thrbe,  in  tpitc  of  the  homelinwi  or 
fiaiciliieaa  of  the  coi-cring.  Let  oo  nun  build  himietf  a  fporiou 
Kif-eatecm  on  hi*  contempt  or  tBdiiTercBCc  for  ackMOwfcdged  excet- 
lence.  He  will  in  the  end  py  dear  for  a  momtMar^  dtniion  :  for 
the  world  will  sooner  or  lata  diKOftt  tboae  deficmicn  ia  him, 
which  render  hiiu  inMntible  to  aO  merits  bw  bi*  own. 

Of  all  modes  of  scquirinz  distinctioa  aad,  at  it  were, '  Kttisg  the 
atart  of  the  nujeMic  wiortd,  tbe  most  abmitd  as  well  aa  dugustntt  is 
that  of  scttJBg  Bade  tbe  claim*  of  others  in  the  lump,  aad  bokUag 
out  our  own  particular  excdtcnce  or  purnni  as  the  oaly  oat  worth 
attending  to.     We  thus  tet  ounelve*  up  as  the  standard  of  perftctien, 

1(8 


ON  EGOTISM 


^iad  tn«  ciety  tUag  el«e  that  divcrgM  fnMO  thM  ■i—Jwd  m  boMiA 
oar  Aodcc-  At  thi*  rate,  a  cooumpc  ht  uj  tlii>S  od  >  wytfioiky 
to  it  ur  tTaMTOOiM.  It  U  a  chop  and  «  altOR  way  of  ibowinf 
tiui  we  pnMMi  all  exccUcBce  mUii  oondtMi  to  6taf  tbe  mc  or 
merit  of  all  tboae  <piaiiicitioM>  tlut  do  oot  betoag  to  na.  Accordiag 
to  neb  a  node  at  "T**"'*-,  it  wtmld  appear  that  our  value  u  to 
be  etimaird  not  by  the  aontber  of  a^qmicnicau  that  we  do  powen, 
bet  of  ihoM  in  which  we  arc  dcfidcm  aod  to  which  wv  are  iMcaiiblc : 
— ao  that  wc  can  at  aoT  tioM  mfftj  ibe  flxt  oi  wiadom  and  tktU 
by  a  doe  proponioo  of  tgMrancCi  aftctatioiii  and  cooceit.  If  tOi 
the  dulIcK  fellow,  with  impodeace  enough  to  deapiae  what  he  doe* 
DOt  Baderuaod,  will  alwiijra  be  the  bc^bteat  geiiiw  and  the  gitaian 
■tan.  If  acipidity  ta  to  be  a  nfartkate  ibr  tane,  luHwlcdge,  and 
ecuut,  aoy  one  may  dograaiiae  and  ptay  the  crioc  oo  thia  groood. 
Wc  iDiy  ciiiij  make  a  ntoaopoly  of  talent,  if  the  (orpcdo-towch  of 
ou  callona  and  wilfol  iodilfercocc  ia  lo  Dcotraliae  all  other  pretca- 
•iosa.  Wc  have  only  to  deny  the  advaatagca  of  otbcn  to  make  then 
oor  own :  iUiiardity  will  ant  ou  tbc  way  to  tre-miiococe  niucfa 
better  than  toO  or  mdy  or  qnidueia  of  porta  i  and  b^r  Eutru«io£  oor 
viewi  and  dinMii^  ooiieltca  at  lax  of  coiiiioo  feeling  aoi  humanity, 
we  may  anx>gate  every  vahiable  acoompliihmcct  to  onrtclTe*,  and 
cult  ovaelTc*  mtly  aborc  vat  fcUow-mortali !  That  it,  ia  other 
vordi,  we  hart  oely  u>  shut  our  eye*,  in  order  to  blot  the  no  oat  of 
beaven,  aod  to  annihilate  whatever  gives  light  or  beai  to  the  world,  if 
it  dioei  not  emanate  from  one  Rngle  aoorGC,  by  apreadiag  the  clood  of 
our  own  envy,  tplecn,  malice,  vraot  of  copiprehiaain^  and  prejndioe 
over  it.  Yet  how  many  arc  there  who  aa  tipoo  thb  theory  in  good 
camcK,  grow  more  faigMcd  to  it  ever^  day,  aod  not  ooly  bccocne  tbc 
dopaaof  it  tbcmaclvca,  bat  by  dint  of  gravity,  by  boUying  nd  brow- 
bmia^  MCCcad  in  Bttlung  coavcrta  of  other* ! 

A  noB  is  a  political  eooaomtK.  Good :  but  this  is  bo  reason  be 
sboold  think  ibcrte  ii  notluag  else  ia  the  world,  or  that  every  Aiag 
dae  is  good  loc  oothn^.  Let  na  «Vpoce  that  this  is  the  most 
tobJKt,  and  that  being  his  Gvooritc  stady,  be  is  the  beat 
■  of  that  point,  sdU  it  i>  not  the  only  ooc^-idty  tbca  treat  every 
otber  queatioQ  or  pwnoii  wkh  ditdajn  ai  iosigiuficaat  and  mean,  or 
Mrtiiiniir  to  pat  otbcrt  wbo  have  devoted  tbeir  whole  (in>c  to  it  <m 
of  ooaceii  willi  that  oo  which  tbey  depend  Ibr  their  amusement  or 
(perhaps)  aohdMBee?  I  sec  neither  the  wit,  wiHlom,  oor  good- 
nalare  of  this  nwde  of  proceeding.  Let  him  611  his  library  with 
book*  oo  this  one  ■abjec^  yet  other  peiMM*  are  not  bound  to  ibllow 
the  example,  and  exclude  every  other  topic  from  theirs — let  him 
write,  let  lum  talk,  let  bim  think  oa  aothag  else,  bot  let  him  oot 

•59 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 


iihtMBc  padndc  h^wMr  m  ■  6my  or  •  nurit  of  ' 
odicn — let  Inn  ride  ibc  high  hotw,  aod  4ng  hu  ht»rj  lojd  of 
■nrhiiiril  ItBowledfc  akog  the  tmi  nB-wsjr  of  Uie  nMter^oeace, 
bM  let  Um  not  note  am  of  h  ta  tsnot  or  jo«k  tliow  who  are 
|a«^  ({Mctly  along  upon  tbdr  (crenl  AaMtM,  who  *  owe  htm  no 
■UmMce,'  and  care  not  one  jot  for  bii  opiwpni  Vet  we  cooU 
Cxpvc  nch  a  penoot  if  be  Ru<ic  ■:  hi*  boa*  thai  be  had  nod  Don 
Qonete  twice  throng  m  the  ongiiul  Sjaniih  tad  prdened  Lycidae 
to  all  MiUan't  niuficr  poem  !  Whai  woold  Mr.  — ■  -  say  to  any 
one  who  ■faould  profeM  a  eooieiapt  far  political  economy  I  He 
wo«ld  aMwer  very  blsixJy  and  very  property,  'Then  yo«  koow 
DOlbiiifi  about  it.'  It  it  a  pity  that  ao  MOBble  a  man  md  cloee  a 
teaaoner  ihould  think  of  puttioi;  down  other  lighter  and  hmtc  elegant 
paranin  by  profeaiinf;  a  contecnpi  or  todilfercaoc  fot  tbesi,  which 
■Bfiogi  from  prcciacly  the  tame  worcc,  and  ■*  of  JMt  the  ume  valoe. 
Mt  w  it  ic  that  there  aecnu  lo  be  a  tacit  pimiMiiptioo  of  feUy  in 
irtatCTW  fiw  iiImwh  ;  while  so  air  of  gnmy  aoa  wiadon  boma 
wad  ibe  paionl  and  padaaiic. 

A  ma  conaa  iaw  a  xaoaa,  and  on  hi«  But  eotenag,  declare* 
vitboot  prcfoce  or  ixtttaooy  hii  conerapt  for  poetry.  Arc  wv 
therefore  to  oooctode  hisa  a  greater  geniM  tlun  Homer?  No:  but 
by  thi*  canlier  opioion  be  aaminea  a  certain  natantl  iiirnrtanrj  ovar 
tboae  who  admire  poetry.  To  k»t  Jtvm  upon  any  thing  •ecmhgly 
impliei  a  greater  elevaiioa  and  eaUrgemeai  of  view  thae  lo  koi  »f  to 
it.  The  prctent  Lord  Chancellor  took  «poD  him  lo  declare  in  open 
oowt  that  he  would  not  go  acrow  the  Mrect  to  hear  Madame 
Catalan!  ting.  What  did  thia  prove  *.  Hit  want  of  ta  ear  far 
twuic,  ooi  hit  capacity  for  any  ilung  higher :  So  &r  at  it  wcoi,  it 
only  abowed  him  to  be  inferior  to  thoic  ibooModi  of  persoM  who  go 
with  eager  expectaiioo  lo  hear  ber,  and  corne  away  with  uiookihment 
and  raptwe.  A  man  nugbi  aa  wctl  tell  yon  he  it  deaf,  and  expect 
you  to  look  at  him  with  more  reaped.  The  want  of  any  extnnal 
■cnie  or  organ  >•  an  acknowledged  defect  and  infirmity  :  the  want  ot 
an  nuemal  aenie  or  Realty  it  eiqoaDy  ao,  though  our  telf-lo*c  conuiTca 
to  gire  a  different  tnm  to  it.  We  mortify  other*  by  Anwiiig  tM 
^altr  00  that  in  which  tbey  have  an  adnniage  over  lu,  or  itaggar 
their  opinion  of  an  cxcdlcnce  which  it  not  of  aelf-eTident  or  abaoluie 
■dlity,  and  letarn  iu  luppoted  vatoe,  by  limiting  the  univertality  of  a 
ui(e  for  ii.  Lurd  Eldoo't  proteit  on  thi*  occaitoa  wat  the  ntore 
exiraordintiy,  ai  lie  it  not  oalr  a  good-uMred  but  a  tnocewfid  man. 
Tbeae  little  *piterul  allatioa*  are  moat  apt  to  proceed  &om  ditappoiated 
vanity,  and  an  apprehenuoo  that  yutice  it  not  dooe  to  ourtetve*.  By 
being  »  the  top  of  a  profetaion,  we  have  leiture  to  look   beyond  it. 


ON  EGOTISM 

Tboic  who  i«lty  rxcd  and  orr  allowed  to  excel  in  any  thing  have 
no  excuse  for  iryiog  to  gaio  a  reputation  by  undermining  the  prc- 
teiuioDs  of  oifaer« ;  they  tuod  on  their  own  ground  i  and  do  not  need 
the  aid  of  inTidiout  cDrnpariionft.  Betidei,  the  coDnciuutnew  ot 
excellence  produces  a  fundneta  for,  a  faith  ia  it.  I  ibotild  half 
•uapecl  that  any  one  could  not  be  a  great  lawyer,  who  denied  that 
Madame  Catalaoi  waa  a  grtii  linger.  The  Chancelior  mutt  diilike 
her  dccitive  tone,  the  rapidity  of  her  moveniental  The  lau 
Chancellor  (l^rakine)  was  a  ruq  of  (at  least)  a  dilfeccnt  itSRip.  Id 
the  exuberance  and  buoyancy  of  hii  aiuinat  spirtta,  Ik  icattrred  the 
grace*  and  oiuanienu  of  life  over  the  duat  and  cobwebt  of  the  law. 
Wiut  is  (here  that  i»  now  left  of  him — what  ii  there  to  redeem  liia 
foiblvn,  or  to  recal  the  Huah  of  early  eotbuiiaim  in  bin  favour,  or 
kindle  one  ipork  of  lympathy  in  the  breait,  but  bit  romantic  admiratian 
0^  Mrs.  .SiddoDI !  There  arc  thuac  who,  if  you  praiac  Wa/lon't 
C^mpltif  ^ngtrr,  Kicer  at  it  as  a  childiih  or  old-womaniah  per- 
formance :  tome  laugh  at  the  amusement  of  liihing  a«  ailly,  othcn 
carp  at  it  aa  cruel  \  and  Dr-  Johnaoo  laid  that  ■  a  lishing-rod  waa  « 
Kick  with  a  book  at  one  end,  and  a  fool  at  the  other.'  I  would 
taiher  take  the  ward  of  one  who  had  Mood  for  duyi,  up  to  hia  kneea 
in  water,  and  in  the  coldctt  weather,  intent  on  this  employ,  who 
returned  to  it  again  with  unabated  relish,  and  who  apeni  hiB  whole 
life  is  the  tame  manner  without  being  weary  of  ii  ni  laal.  There  i( 
lometbiog  in  this  ntore  than  Dr.  JoliriKin'*  dctioitioa  accounts  for. 
Ayi»/takei  no  interest  in  any  thing;  of  if  he  doea,  it  it  better  to  be 
a  fool,  than  a  wite  man,  whose  only  pleaaiire  i(  to  disparage  tlie 
puiittita  and  occupation*  of  othcra,  and  out  of  ignorance  or  prejudice 
to  condemn  them,  merely  became  they  arc  not  hii. 

Whatever  interetta,  it  intcrealiDg.  1  know  of  no  way  of  cttinutiog 
the  real  value  of  object*  in  all  their  bearing*  and  coniic<iurncci,  but  I 
can  tell  at  once  their  intellcctttal  value  by  the  degree  of  paaiion  or 
aemimeu  the  very  idea  and  mention  of  them  excite*  in  the  mind. 
To  judge  of  thing*  by  reaaoo  or  the  calcubuoea  of  po«itivc  siility  i* 
a  (tow,  cold,  uncertaio,  and  barren  procci* — thdr  power  of  appealing 
to  and  uiFectiog  the  imagination  a*  (ubjecta  of  thought  and  feeling  ia 
bett  mcaaured  by  the  haiHloal  imprcamoa  they  leave  upon  the  mwA, 
and  it  i«  with  tbii  only  we  have  to  do  in  expre*«tng  our  delight  or 
admiration  of  tbem,  or  in  letting  a  jun  menul  value  upon  thent. 
They  ought  to  excite  all  tbe  emotion  which  tbcy  do  excite  i  for 
ihi»  ii  the  instinctive  and  unerring  result  of  the  coottaot  experience 
we  have  had  of  their  power  of  affecting  ua,  and  of  tbe  aMociatioo* 
that  cling  unconacioualy  to  them.  Fancy,  feeling  nay  be  very 
uudequate  ic*U  ol  inuh)   but  irvtb  itaeU  opentea  cbiefly  on  the 

vou  Tit. ;  L  |6| 


««h  cMW  »  tlMd^  •  «3U  wd        ~  -      -    - 

TbawtepMfi 

tW|>  ^  HI  I  ipn  w  at  A  ta^t  a  A^n-  af  ifaem  -.  1m;  ■«  i 
UMn  wHi  ut  a   ay  Ac  linr  k^v  Aoaer.     Tbe  {vcpea  oT 

mmtfiagAK  imtM  of  tkc  bo^ia  |»B»iiwg  l«nas  far  Ar  BMd. 
T«  MM  K  the  MirfMita^  and  nfiMe  ■•  ptwwd  w  ifcrjfar  ««.ar 


md  tmittf  lKOMi(  ™^  wdi  jmiq  csnipfneflc  to 


in  hwMi  and  mjiijiiiiM.  ii  a  ndt  Md 

'  tx  ptv|itn  vioB  timidi  pcf^it  ^hml' 

fiifae  1R  abtalMrijr  cwdcMD  aay  tfaia^  ««  oagla  to  b*  ibfe 
rfww  >owffhb|g  beam,  noi  ncnly  is  iwlC  bat  is  die  nnt  d 
T«  haow  tfar  bas  in  tatk  dam  'mm  a  bigfas  depve  of  n«r  i 
M)M(dMclaai  i»  flriy  a  f gwion  of  Hate;  br  difaent  chats  do  not 
iotefftra  antb  oae  aaotber.  oor  cas  bb*  ooe'i  jftn  Stk  be  taken  on 
•o  wide  a  yuetdem  aa  abauaa  ncccUeace.  Notkiag  i*  tnly  aod 
ahofttbpf  deapcaUe  ths  cxckea  aapy  coawmpt  or  warn  oppontioot 
■sea  iImi  alwajn  tmpGca  dot  anw  ok  ebe  it  of  a  <BArat  optDMNii 
■ad  take*  aa  e^val  buefe*  to  it. 

WbcB  1  tpok  of  what  it  iateiatiog,  bowerer,  I  raexn  not  only  to 
a  particalar  ^roAoMo,  hm.  io  general  to  othen.  Indeed,  ir  U  tbe 
*cfy  nopolartfy  asd  obriow  mumt  attached  U>  ocRain  trndiet  and 
pwaaitt,  that  rxchri  the  cnry  aad  boadle  refifd  of  gK*ci  aod  more 
tacondicv  peoftMiooi.  Man  it  fahxft  not  auanSj  u  esotut,  or  at 
Imm  be  it  attiified  wHh  ht»  own  Mitiralar  line  of  exceUeocc  and  the 
Tshic  that  he  luppoaea  taaeporaUe  bwa  it,  til!  he  comet  into  the 
world  ao^  fiodt  it  of  lo  Httle  accoun  b  tbe  tjt*  of  the  vnljar  |  aod 

i6s 


ON  EGOTISM 

he  [hen  turn)  round  and  vena  hit  chagnD  and  iliuppoiacment  on  tho*e 
more  attractive,  but  (a*  he  coni:eivc«}  aupcriicial  Rtudtet,  which  co« 
lew  labour  and  patience  to  undrcscand  ihcm,  and  arc  of  to  much  Icm 
uRc  to  locin;.  The  injunicr  done  to  onrKlvc*  malcei  w  unjuxt  to 
othm.  1'hr  man  of  ectcnce  and  the  hard  itudeni  (from  thit  cause, 
as  weli  at  from  a  certain  unWndin);  hanlnnt ormind)  corneal  iait  to 
regard  whatever  ii  uener.illy  pleuiinji  and  Mrikinj;  ai  worthless  and 
light,  and  to  proportion  their  contempt  to  the  admiratiuo  of  oiher>( 
while  the  nniit,  the  poet,  and  the  votary  of  iilcanure  and  popularity 
treat  the  more  solid  and  uKlut  branches  of  human  knowledge  M 
disagreeable  and  dull.  This  h  often  cnrtied  to  too  great  i  length. 
It  i«  enough  tlint  ■  wisdom  in  jusiilied  of  her  children  :  *  the  philofo> 
phcr  ought  to  imile,  instead  of  being  angry  at  the  folly  of  mankind 
( if  tuch  it  it } ,  and  those  who  Gnd  both  pleasure  and  profit  in  adorning 
and  poliihi»;>  the  airy  '  capitalu '  of  science  and  of  art,  ought  not  to 
grudge  thoae  who  toil  underground  at  the  foundation,  the  ptai*c  tbu 
ii  due  to  their  patience  and  (elf-denial.  There  is  a  variety  of  tattca 
snd  capaciticsihatreiiuiret  all  the  variety  of  mea't  talent*  to  adminiftcr 
10  tl.  The  leas  excellent  must  be  provided  for  it  well  as  the 
more  excellent.  Tho»e  who  are  only  capable  of  amuM-ment  ought  to 
be  amused.  If  alt  men  were  forced  to  be  great  philonophert  and 
lasting  benefactors  of  their  species,  how  few  of  u*  could  ever  do  any 
thing  at  all !  But  nature  acts  more  impartially,  though  not  impro- 
videnily.  Whcrercr  she  bestows  a  turn  for  any  thing  on  the 
individual,  she  implants  a  corresponding  tane  for  it  in  other*.  We 
hate  only  to  '  throw  our  bread  upon  the  waters,  and  after  many  days 
we  shall  find  it  again.*  Let  us  do  our  bc«t,  and  we  need  not  be 
ashamed  of  the  smallneM  of  our  talent,  or  afraid  of  the  calumnies  and 
contempt  of  envious  matigners.  When  Goldsmith  was  talking  one 
day  to  Sir  Jothua  of  writing  a  lable  in  which  little  lishc*  were  to  be 
introduced,  Dr.  Johnson  rolled  about  uneasily  in  his  kai  and  began 
to  laugh,  on  which  Goldsmith  said  rather  angrily — 'Why  do  you 
laugh  r  If  you  were  to  write  a  fable  for  tittle  lishes,  you  would  make 
them  speak  like  great  whales ! '  Tlie  reproof  was  just.  Johoaoo 
was  in  tnitli  conscious  of  Goldsmith's  superior  inventiieneis,  and  of 
the  lighter  graces  of  his  pen,  but  he  wished  to  reduce  every  thing  to 
his  own  pompous  and  oracular  style.  There  aie  not  oa\y  hah  for 
thiUnn,  but  tiooki  for  all  a^s  and  for  both  lexes.  After  we  grow 
m  to  years  of  discretion,  we  do  not  all  become  equally  wise  nt  once. 
Our  own  tastes  change :  the  taste*  of  other  individuals  are  still  more 
ditfeicot.  It  was  said  the  other  day,  that  '  Thomson's  Seaioas 
would  be  read  white  there  was  a  boarding-school  girl  in  the  world.' 
If  a  thoimod  volumes  were  written  ajjainsi  Hervej't  MeJUatianj,  the 

163 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 


Mediudoni  would  be  toad  whco  the  critJcinnf  were  rorgoUea.  To 
the  illiterate  asd  nio,  .-itfcctition  aod  vccbiagc  will  almya  mm  for  fine 
writing,  while  the  world  ftand*.  No  womin  crrr  liked  Butkc,  or 
disliked  Goldunitli.  It  is  idle  lo  Kt  up  so  unimul  si.aodaid.  There 
is  a  large  clats  who,  in  tpitc  of  themtelies,  ptefrr  Wtstsll  or  AD|{elka 
KnftlUli  to  Raphael ;  nor  i>  it  lit  they  shuuM  do  othcrwtK.  We 
naf  eOHie  to  Kuniethinj;  like  j  fixed  aod  exclusive  sundard  of  cute,  if 
we  cooline  otu'ieltes  to  uhit  will  pleasi-  thi:  best  judge*,  meaning  thetefajr 
perMDsof  the  tno)t  rettned  and  cultivucd  minds  and  bypersoato^lhc 
most  refined  and  cultivated  inindt,  generally  mcming  otirit/vei  I ' 

To  return  lo  the  original  tjucMion.  1  &in  conceiic  of  notbiag  so 
little  or  ridiculoDs  as  pride.  It  is  t  mixture  of  ioieBiibility  and  ill- 
oaiutc,  in  wliich  ii  iii  hard  to  sajr  which  has  the  Utgnt  aluue.  If  a 
nuiQ  knows  oi  excels  in,  or  has  inrer  studied  any  two  ihinKS  I  will 
veoiure  to  allinn  he  will  be  firoud  of  neither.  It  is  perhaps  excusable 
for  1  person  who  is  ignoriint  of  all  but  one  thing,  to  tlunk  ibai  the 
sole  excellence,  and  to  be  (iill  of  himself  as  the  posaessor.  The 
way  to  cure  him  of  this  folly  is  to  gire  him  something  else  to  be 
proud  of.  Vanity  is  n  building  that  fatU  to  the  ground  as  you  widen 
its  foundation,  or  sucngthen  the  props  that  should  support  it.  The 
grester  a  man  is,  the  less  he  necessarily  thinks  of  himself,  for  hii 
koowledK^  I'Qbrgeti  with  liit  attainments.  In  himself  he  feels  that  be 
ta  nothing,  a  point,  a  speck  in  the  universe,  except  as  his  miod  rejects 
that  unii-erse,  and  as  he  enlers  into  the  infinite  laricty  of  truth,  beauty, 
and  power  contained  in  it.  Let  any  one  be  brought  up  among  books, 
nod  taught  to  think  words  the  only  thinge,  and  he  tnay  conceive 
highly  of  himself  from  the  proficiency  he  has  made  in  lan}!uuge  and  ' 
in  letters.  Let  hini  llica  be  compelled  to  attempt  some  other  pursuit 
^niatin2,  for  instance — and  be  made  to  feel  the  dilSculties,  ihe 
rennemeats  of  which  it  is  ctpable,  and  the  number  of  things  of  which 
he  was  utterly  ignotam  before,  and  there  will  be  an  end  of  hi* 
pedantry  and  his  pride  together.  Nothing  but  the  want  of  com- 
prehension of  view  or  generosity  of  spirit  can  nuke  any  one  fix  on 
his  own  particaUr  acquirement  as  the  limit  of  aII  excellence.  No 
one  is  (generally  speaking)  grc:at  in  more  tlian  one  thing — if  he 
extends  his  pursuits,  he  dinupatea  his  sucngih — yet  in  that  one  tiling 
how  Hiiall  i>  the  inieii-.d  between  him  and  the  next  in  merit  and 
r^ntalion  to  himielf  I  But  he  thinks  nothing  of,  or  scorni  or  l(»tbea 
tw  Mine  0^  hit  rival,  so  that  all  that  the  other  potsrstn  in  conunon 


'  The  books  (hsi  UK  like  in  youth  wc  cctuin  lo  in  sgt,  if  tbtcc  is  flsuirc  ud 
limplIcitT  in  them.    At  whil  tge  sbould  Robloion  Cnuoc  be  laid  sildtf    I  da 
nsi  think  (hil  Dnn  Quisotc  ii  a  book  for  <hil'lrcn  ;  or  it  Icut,  lh«y  andcntanH  it 
bcller  at  they  inw  np. 
l«4 


ON  EGOTISM 


goes  for  notliinj,  and  th«  fraction  of  a  difiVrencc  bctwtro  them 
GtiasCituie*  (in  hia  opinion)  tbe  «um  and  lubKance  of  all  tlut  i( 
excellent  in  the  univenc !  Let  a  man  be  wite,  and  then  let  us  atk, 
will  hii  wiidom  malcc  him  proud  i  I.ct  him  excel  all  other*  In  the 
gracd  of  the  mind,  has  he  alw  those  of  the  body  i  He  has  the 
advantage  of  fortune,  but  hu  he  al«a  that  of  birth,  or  if  he  has  both, 
haji  he  health,  etrctiglh.  beauty  in  a  supreme  degree !  Or  hare  not 
otheri  the  same,  or  doe*  he  think  all  these  nothing  because  he  does 
not  pOMcat  them  ?  The  proud  nun  findei  that  there  it  oo  ooe 
worth  regarding  but  himtelf:  he  might  at  well  Euicy  there  'u  oo 
other  being  but  himiclf.  The  onr-  i«  no!  n  greater  ttretch  of  mad- 
ncM  than  the  other.  To  make  pride  juttiiiable,  there  ooght  to  be 
but  one  proud  man  in  tlie  world,  for  if  any  one  indtiidu^  haa  a  right 
to  be  CO,  nobody  else  has.  So  far  from  thinking  our»eUct  capnior 
to  all  the  re«  of  the  specie*,  we  cannot  be  sure  tliat  we  are  above  the 
meanen  and  raoil  despiied  individual  of  it :  for  he  may  hare  tome 
Tircue,  loine  excellence,  iK>me  source  of  happinett  or  tuefuIncM  withiti 
hirotclf,  which  may  redeem  all  other  dimdrantaget ;  or  even  if  he  ii 
without  any  such  hidden  worth,  this  is  not  a  lubject  of  exultation, 
but  of  regret,  to  any  one  tinctured  with  the  smallet't  humanity,  and  he 
who  ia  totally  devoid  of  the  latter,  cannot  have  much  reason  lo  be 
bioimI  of  any  thing  elte.  Arkwright,  who  invented  the  npioniog- 
jenny,  for  many  year*  kept  a  paltry  barber's  shop  in  a  prorincial 
town :  jrt  at  that  timr  that  weoderlul  machinery  was  working  in  bin 
\xait\,  which  has  added  more  to  the  wealth  and  moorcet  of  this 
country  than  all  the  pride  of  ancestry  or  insolence  of  upsUit  nobility 
for  the  lati  hundred  years.  We  should  be  cautious  whom  we  despise. 
If  we  do  not  know  them,  we  can  have  no  right  to  pronounce  a  hauy 
sentence :  if  we  do,  they  may  espy  some  few  defect*  in  u*.  No  nun 
u  a  here  la  tit  valet-Je-thamBrt.  What  is  it  then  that  make*  the 
difference?  The  dress  and  pride.  But  he  it  the  most  of  a  hero 
who  is  leaat  distinguished  by  the  one,  and  mo«t  free  from  the  other. 
If  we  enter  into  coDvcrutioo  upon  equal  term*  with  the  towett  of  the 
people,  unrestrained  by  circumstance,  unawed  by  interest,  wc  shall 
find  in  ouriclie*  but  little  superiority  o»er  them.  If  wc  know  wliat 
they  do  not,  they  know  what  wc  do  not.  In  general,  those  who  do 
thing*  for  others  know  more  about  them  than  ihote  for  whom  they 
are  done.  A  groom  knows  more  about  hortcs  than  hi*  matter.  He 
rides  them  too :  but  the  one  rides  behind,  the  other  before !  Hence 
the  number  of  fomi*  and  ceremonie*  that  \i»*v  been  invented  to  keep 
the  magic  circle  of  fancied  self  importance  inviolate.  The  late  King 
•ought  but  one  toieniew  with  Dr.  Johntoo :  hit  prcteni  Majesty  it 
oeret  tired  of  tbe  company  of  Mr,  Ctokcr. 

i«5 


THE   PLAIN  SPEAKER 

The  coiltuoo  of  tnitb  or  graiua  natonilly  give*  a  tliock  to  the 
pride  of  exalted  rank :  the  gteat  and  mighty  utuully  teek  out  ibe 
drcg»  of  Riinkind,  buffoon*  and  ditterers,  for  their  pampered  lelf-IOYe 
to  repoie  oo.  Pridr  loon  tirc«  of  ercry  thing  but  iu  Bhadow,  serrility ; 
but  bow  pour  a  triumph  it  that  wbicb  cxin*  only  by  excluding  a)l 
riTalr)',  howo-cr  remote.  He  who  invito  campciition  (the  only  tctt 
of  merit),  who  ch>llcnge«  fur  com  pari  ion  t,  »nd  weigh*  dinerrnt 
clainia,  it  alone  pouencd  of  manly  ambition ;  but  will  not  long 
CODtintie  vain  or  proud.  Pn'de  is  'a  cell  of  ignorance!  travelling 
a-bed.'  If  we  look  u  all  out  of  ouraelve*)  we  niiut  Ke  how  (ar 
•hon  we  are  of  what  we  would  be  tbuu{;ht.  The  man  of  eeniua  is 
poor ;  >  the  rich  man  it  not  a  lord  :  the  lord  want»  to  be  a  kmg :  the 
king  if  uneaiy  to  be  a  tyrant  or  a  God.  Vet  be  alone,  who  could 
claim  thi*  la«t  character  upon  eanh,  gave  hii  life  a  rannotn  for  otheri ! 
The  dwarf  in  the  rom^ince,  who  nm  the  ihAdows  of  the  fairest  and 
the  mightJeai  among  the  tons  of  men  pas»  before  him,  that  he  might 
unune  the  shape  he  liked  best,  had  only  hit  choice  of  wealth,  or 
beauty,  or  ralour,  or  power.  But  could  he  bare  clutched  them  all, 
and  melted  them  into  one  etsence  of  pride,  the  triumph  would  not 
have  been  lasting.  Could  vanity  take  all  pomp  and  power  to  iuelf, 
could  it,  like  the  rainbow,  xpnn  the  earth,  and  feem  to  prop  the 
heavens,  after  all  it  would  be  but  ibe  wonder  of  the  ignorant,  the 

Siageani  of  a  moment.  The  fool  who  dreams  that  be  ii  great  should 
IrR  forget  (bat  he  ti  a  man,  and  before  he  thinks  of  being  proud, 
should  pray  to  be  mad  ! — The  only  great  man  in  modem  times,  that 
ii,  the  only  man  who  rote  in  de«dt  and  fame  to  the  level  of  antiquity, 
who  might  turn  his  gaie  upon  himself,  and  wonder  at  hit  height,  {or 
on  him  »11  eyet  wete  fixed  as  hit  majestic  stature  towered  abOTC 
thrones  and  monumeou  of  renown,  died  the  othet  day  in  exile,  and 
in  linger mg  agony  i  and  we  still  lee  fellows  strulting  about  the  streets, 
and  bocying  they  are  something  1 

Pcraonsl  vanity  it  incompatible  with  the  great  and  the  iJeat.     He 

'  I  ilo  not  ipcik  a(  poirilT  ii  in  ibtalutf  evil ;  thoujli  when  iccompuiifl  with 
luxnrioui  htbitt  in.!  vially,  ■(  ti  •  pcsl  one.  Bnn  haiilthipt  uiil  piiviliont  have 
tbdr  UK,  sad  give  KKOgUi  *ad  eo'lunnn.  Labour  ttailtii  cnc  <let<thlfnl — 
banp*  ■•  llir  bat  aauce.  Tht  pcionl,  whu  it  noon  rtsti  (torn  bit  wcwy  tMk 
uodn  *  hswlhom  hdfc,  ami  eiH  hit  tlict  of  coirK  bm<l  and  cheese  at  ru*tf 
buoa,  tnjoyi  more  ml  Isiuty  thin  the  prince  with  prnperfd,  Itillna  tppclitc 
■Dd«r  I  tuiofj  of  lUte.  Why  then  doo  the  mind  ef  mn  pitf  lite  fanner,  ind 
en'7  llii  l*tl«r  F  It  ii  bceauie  the  imifinition  chui[«  fiten  with  other*  is 
•iluilioa  only,  not  In  fctliof  ;  in<l  >b  fsncyinf  ouiicIk*  the  pnusi,  w«  tevoll  st 
his  honiel)'  fiK,  from  not  btinn  poucucd  n(  hit  froM  Cute  or  kten  ippeiiic,  while  in 
thinking  Of  (he  prince,  we  tupptae  ourHivea  iu  tH  down  to  hi*  dctJciU  vojkIi  and 
tnmptuou*  bo»d,wilh  i  relitn  unshiteii  by  loni  hsbil  and  vicioutetciw.  t  siaaal 
«ute  whether  Msnileville  hiM  noi^itn  the  tinie  antvrer  to  thii  hnknepd  ^ueetiea, 
166 


ON  EGOTISM 


who  bat  DOT  KCn,  or  thought,  or  read  of  something  iiner  than  himnetC, 
hu  teeti,  or  te»d,  or  thoughi  little ;  and  he  who  has,  will  not  be 
always  looking  in  the  gtami  of  hi*  own  vanity.  Hence  poctf,  actini). 
Bod  men  of  gcniat  in  general,  arc  seldom  coxcomb*!,  but  often  sloveoa ; 
for  they  find  fomethiog  out  of  thenisclves  better  worth  itudying  thao 
their  own  perroot.  They  ha«  an  imaginary  stamiarci  in  their  minds, 
with  which  ordioary  features  (even  their  own)  will  not  bear  a  com- 
pariioo,  and  they  turn  their  thoughts  another  way.  If  a  man  had  a 
face  like  one  of  Raphael'*  or  Titian's  headt,  he  might  be  proud  of  ii, 
but  not  cUc  !  and,  erco  then,  he  would  be  sured  at  ns  a  noii-drifripi 
by  'the  universal  Fnglish  nation.'  Few  persons  who  have  seen  the 
AociDOUB  or  the  Theseus  will  be  much  charmed  witli  ibcir  own  beauty 
or  lymmetTy ;  nor  will  those  who  underitand  the  costmie  ot  the 
anljqae,  or  Vandyke's  dreises,  spend  much  time  \a  decking  them- 
■elve«  out  in  all  the  deformity  of  the  prevailing  faabion.  A  coxcomb 
if  his  own  lay-figure,  for  want  of  any  better  models  to  employ  his 
time  and  imagination  npon. 

There  is  an  ini-erted  tort  of  pride,  the  reverse  of  that  egotism  that 
has  been  above  dctcribcd,  and  which,  bccau»e  it  cannot  be  every 
thingi  is  dissatiilied  with  every  thing.  A  petmn  who  ii  liable  to  this 
in6(n)ity,  '  thinks  nothing  done,  while  any  thing  remains  to  be  done,' 
The  sanguine  egoti«c  pridec  himtelf  on  whnt  he  can  do  or  potitHeai 
the  morbid  cgotin  despiies  himself  for  what  he  wantf^  and  is  ever 
joing  out  of  his  way  lo  attempt  hopclcM  aod  inipoitible  laskF.  The 
effect  in  either  caw  is  not  at  all  owing  to  ri^son,  but  to  temperament. 
The  one  is  ai  ewily  depressed  by  what  mortifies  his  latent  amtntion, 
an  the  other  is  dated  by  what  flatten  hit  imniediute  vanity.  Tliere 
are  pcrtons  whom  no  nicceti,  no  advantagei,  no  applause  can  satitfy, 
for  they  dwell  only  on  failure  and  delrac  They  coniicantiy  *  forget 
the  thing's  that  are  behind,  and  press  forward  to  the  things  that  are 
before.'  The  greatest  and  most  decided  actiuisiliona  would  not 
indemnify  them  for  the  smallett  deficiency,  I'hey  go  beyond  the 
old  motto^^ttf  Ctiar,  aal  HihH — they  not  only  want  lo  be  at  the 
head  of  whatever  they  undertake,  but  if  they  succeed  in  tliat,  they 
immediately  want  to  be  at  the  head  of  something  else,  no  matter  bow 
gross  or  trivial.  The  charm  that  rivet*  their  affections  is  not  the 
importance  or  reputation  annexed  to  the  new  {nirniit,  but  it*  noveltv 
or  difficulty.  'Iliat  most  be  a  wonderful  accomplithmeni  indeed, 
which  baffles  their  skill — nothing  is  with  them  of  any  value  but  a*  h 
givea  scope  to  their  restless  aaivity  of  mind,  tlieir  craving  after  an 
imeaiy  aiul  imporluiuite  litate  of  exciiemcnt.  To  them  tlie  pursuit  it 
every  thing,  the  poxtenion  nothing.  I  liave  known  persona  of  thia 
•tamp,  who,  with  every  reason  to  be  satisfied  with  their  *ucce«i  in 

167 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

life,  and  with  tbe  opinion  eotcrumed  of  tbem  by  ocherti  d«([nKd 
thetMclm  became  tliey  could  not  do  itomelhiox  vrliich  th«y  weie  om 
boaad  Co  do,  and  which,  if  they  could  have  done  it,  would  not  have 
added  om  jo(  lo  their  rcipcctabilitv,  either  in  their  own  cycii  or  tho«r 
of  uy  one  cIm,  the  rcry  iniigtiiiicance  of  the  aitaintnent  irriuiing 
ihdr  impatieDcr,  for  it  ii  the  hamour  of  tuch  diipotitions  to  argvw, 
*tf  ihcy  caanot  mcceed  in  what  is  trifliDg  and  cooicmptibt«,  how 
thooM  tfacr  fucceed  in  any  ihiofi  clfe  ? '  If  they  could  nuke  the 
chaut  of  tht  irti  and  iciences  ind  nLUIcr  ihem  ull,  the)'  would  take 
to  tome  mechanical  exerciie,  und  if  they  faijeil,  be  it  discontented  at 
ever.  All  ihat  ihcy  can  do  ranithe*  out  of  tight  the  moment  it  it 
whhin  tbcir  gratp,  and  *  nothing  is  but  what  i>  noL'  A  poet  of  that 
dcKriptiod  i*  ■inbitiou*  of  the  thcwt  and  mu»clc«  of  a  pnie  fightci. 
and  thinkt  tiimaelf  nothing  without  them.  A  pioee-writer  would  be 
»  fine  tennia-pU/er,  and  ia  tlitown  inu>  deip&ir  be<:auae  he  ia  oot  one, 
wiibout  coniiderb^  that  it  require*  a  whole  li&  derotcd  to  the  ^me 
to  excel  in  it ;  and  thai,  even  if  he  could  diapente  «rith  thii  appren- 
ttceihip,  he  would  ttill  be  jiMl  ai  mncb  bound  to  excel  in  rope-dancing, 
or  borscmaiuhip,  or  pJayine  at  cup  and  ball  like  th«  Indian  juggler*, 
all  wbtch  it  imnouible.  Thiii  feeling  i>  a  ncrangc  mixtotc  of  modcAy 
anil  pride.  We  think  nothing  o(  wh^  «c  are,  beciutt  we  cannot  be 
every  thing  with  a  wish.  Goldamtth  wai  even  jealout  of  benuiy  in  the 
other  MX,  and  tbe  aame  chancier  u  anributed  to  Wharton  by  Pope : 

'  TliouKh  littming  icnate*  hung  on  all  he  ipoke, 
Thf  diib  'outt  hail  him  mutrr  of  the  joke.' 

Pbyerc  are  for  going  into  the  cbutcfa— officer*  in  the  army  turn 
player*.  For  myiielf,  do  what  I  might,  1  ahonld  think  myMlfa  poor 
crcaiure  unlet*  I  could  beat  a  boy  of  ten  yev*  old  U  chuck-fanbiag, 
or  an  elderly  gentlewoman  at  pi<|uet  t 

The  extreme  of  faatidiou*  diKontcnt  and  r^riaias  ia  a«  bad  at  that 
of  oTcr-weening  preivmption.  We  oujiht  to  be  taiiitied  if  we  hare 
succeeded  in  any  one  thing,  or  with  having  done  our  be«.  Any 
thing  more  ii  for  health  and  amuicment,  and  ihould  be  retOftcd  to  U 
a  iourcc  of  picamre,  not  of  frctliil  impatience,  and  eadleta  pity,  telT* 
imposed  moitillcation.  Pcrhapt  the  jealout,  uncaty  temptramettt  it 
OKMt  &*aurablc  to  continued  exertion  and  improvement,  if  k  does  doc 
lead  ua  to  friuer  away  attention  on  too  many  purtuiu.  By  lookinf; 
out  of  ouraehret,  we  gain  knowledge :  hy  being  little  tatjified  with 
what  we  have  done,  wcare  leu  apt  to  tink  into  indolence  and  tccurity. 
To  conclude  with  a  piece  of  egoiitm :  I  never  begin  one  of  tltcto  Eiiay 
with  a  contciouimcM  of  having  written  a  line  beA)re ;  and  having  got 
10  the  end  of  the  volume,  hope  never  to  look  into  it  attin. 

ifiti 


I 


HOT  AND  COLD 


ESSAY  XVI 


HOT    AND    COLO 


'- Hot,  colli,  moitc,  lod  drjifoor  dumpiaai  Girceg 

StriTC  hcrt  for  inuwtjr.*—  Miltor. 

*Twii  Protdtanu  ut  much  cleaner  thtn  die  Ciiholic*,'  taid  »  ihop- 
keeper  of  Vtvcy  to  me.  *  Thej  are  to,'  I  replied,  ■  but  why  thoald 
they  } '  A  jirejudicc  sfipewfd  to  bim  a  nanrr-of-bct,  aod  he  did 
noi  think  it  cecnkinr  to  aangn  r«s«oiia  br  a  matter-of-ftct.  That  i* 
out  my  way.  He  had  aot  bottomed  hit  propodlion  oo  ptooft,  nor 
rightly  dc lined  it. 

Nearly  the  tame  remark,  at  to  the  extreme  cl«anlincM  of  the 
people  in  thi*  part  of  the  couotry,  hod  occurred  to  me  a«  toon  u  i 
got  to  Brigg,  where  however  the  tnhabitaDt*  are  Citho)ict.  So  the 
Ortgioal  ftatcmeot  requires  tome  qualilicatioD  aa  to  the  mode  of 
cnuDciacion.  I  had  do  sooner  arrired  in  thtt  *illa£Ct  which  it 
lituated  ju«t  under  the  Simplon,  and  where  you  are  (unouaded  with 
giitaen  and  gtilrej,  than  the  geniui  of  the  place  (truck  me  on  looking 
out  at  the  pump  under  my  window  the  next  morning,  where  the 
*  neat-lianded  Phyllitee '  were  wathing  ibetr  greeDa  in  the  water,  that 
not  a  caterpillar  could  crawl  on  ihrrn,  and  icourinji  their  pails  and 
tubs  ibat  DOC  a  itain  should  be  leli  in  them.  The  raw,  clammy 
leclicg  of  the  air  was  in  unison  with  the  scene,  i  had  not  (cen  luch 
a  thing  in  Italy.  They  hare  there  no  delight  in  tplubiitg  and  dab- 
btiag  in  fresh  streams  and  foaniaing — ibcy  hare  a  dread  of  aUuboiw 
and  abstertiona,  almost  amounting  to  jyttvfitHa.  Hcm  haa  aa 
antipathy  in  nature  to  cold.  The  aaaguine  Italian  ii  chilled  and 
abuddcrs  at  the  touch  of  cold  water,  while  the  Heliretian  boor*  wbooe 
llomoun  creep  through  bit  reias  like  the  dank  mict*  along  the  side* 
of  bit  frOECD  mountaiat,  it  '  native  and  endued  unto  that  element.' 
Here  every  thing  ia  puri&ed  and  liltered  :  there  it  it  baked  and  bumi 
sc,  and  itickt  together  in  a  moat  amicable  union  of  filth  and  biineai. 
1  here  is  a  little  oiywery  and  a  little  contridicticn  in  the  caae — let  ua 
try  if  we  cannot  get  rid  of  both  by  nxua  of  camioa  and  daring 
together.  It  is  not  that  the  diffcmoe  of  latitude  between  one  aide  of 
the  Alps  and  the  other  can  ugotfy  much :  but  the  ehlegnBttic  blood 
of  their  German  anc^iiort  is  poored  down  the  valleya  of  the  Swita 
like  water,  and  keJ  in  it*  progrctt ;  whetca*  that  of  the  Italians, 
bciidci  iu  vigorout  origin,  is  enriched  and  lipcncd  by  basking  in  more 
gcoial  plains.    A  linglc  Milaneie  market-girl  (to  go  no  farther  touth) 

169 


THE   PLAIN  SPEAKER 


■ppcKcd  to  me  to  h»n  mott  blood  in  htt  body,  nore  G»  in  her  eje 
(31  if  the  tun  hid  made  u  bunuo^  Imi  of  it),  more  spirit  and  ptobwl;^ 
more  miKbieF  aboai  her  than  all  the  nice,  lufy,  good-looking  hard- 
WDrkbg  ^rl«  I  hsTC  tcco  in  Swiurrland.  To  torn  thif  ph^«k«nomtcal 
obaemtioD  to  a  mcuphyacal  account,  I  ihould  tay  then  that  Northrm 
people  are  clean  and  Sostbcrn  people  dirty  ai  a  general  nde,  becauie 
where  the  principle  of  life  it  more  cotd,  weak,  and  imporeriihedi 
there  i*  a  greater  ih]rDec«  and  aTernoo  to  come  in  cootxct  with 
external  matter  (with  which  it  doe*  not  wo  eaaily  amalgamate],  a 
greater  faatidiousncn  and  delicacy  in  choodng  it*  KOMtknii  a  greater 
denre  to  koow  turrotmding  obJKt*  and  to  keep  them  dear  of  csch 
ocber,  than  where  thia  principle  bring  more  warm  and  aciiw,  it  may 
be  Hqipoied  to  abwrb  oomfd  impreuions  in  iitelf,  to  melt  them  into 
ha  om  etMooc,  to  impart  ilt  own  vital  impulaei  to  them,  and  in  fine, 
iMiead  of  •hrinkmf'  from  erery  tiling,  to  be  shocked  at  nothiog.  The 
SoMhem  temperament  i«  (to  to  ipeak)  moee  loci^ile  with  matter, 
more  gro«i,  impure,  indinerem,  from  relying  on  iu  own  urength  i 
while  that  oppotcd  to  it,  from  being  Icta  ahk  to  react  on  external 
applicfttioBi,  i«  obliged  to  be  more  cauiioot  and  particvUr  aa  to  the 
kind  of  excitement  to  which  it  renderi  itwtf  liable.  Hence  the 
limidiiy,  reterre,  and  occaaional  hypocritv  of  Northern  manncni 
the  boidneM,  freedom,  lerity,  and  fre<)uent  licentiootneH  of  Southern 
onet.  It  would  be  ton  much  to  lay,  that  if  there  ii  any  thing  of 
which  a  genuine  Italian  haa  a  horror,  it  i«  of  cleanlincu ;  or  tlm  if 
there  IB  any  thing  which  reems  ridtculDot  <o  a  thoroughbred  Italiait 
wooan,  K  ii  modetcy ;  but  certainly  the  deflree  lo  which  nicety  ia 
earned  by  lome  people  ia  a  ion  la  an  Italian  imaj^tDation,  ai  the 
exce«  of  delicacy  which  it  pretended  or  practited  by  tome  women  li 
i|mie  inoomprehentible  to  the  fcmatci  01  the  tSoutb.  It  it  wrong, 
nowcver,  to  make  the  greater  cnnfldcncc  or  fonnrdocu  of  nunncn 
u  BtNolote  test  of  morala:  the  love  of  virtue  it  a  dilfcrent  thing  from 
the  fear  or  even  hatred  of  vice.  The  t^ueamithneat  and  prudery 
in  the  one  cate  have  a  more  plauuble  apoearaoce;  but  it  doc« 
not  fellow  that  there  may  tiot  be  more  native  goodnesi  and  eveo 
habitual  refinement  in  the  other,  though  accompanied  with  nrooger 
nerrea,  and  a  lea*  morbid  imagination.  But  to  return  to  the  nru 
qoeaiion.' — 1  can  readily  underttand  how  a  .Swim  petmot  should 
ffand  a  whole  morning  at  a  pump,  washing  cabbap,et,  cauliflowers 
■allada,  and  getting  rid  half  a  doica  licatt  over  of  the  taod,  dirt,  and 
inaecu  they  contain,  becauie  I  myvelf  tbould  not  only  be  grmtStd  by 

I  WoDica  ibrotd  ((cncrill;  •fctkini)  in  meet  likt  men  in  ih(  Eonr  of  ihtic 
e«aiKmlion  tn-l  fcibitt  of  Ihinkint,  to  that  bom  the  umt  frrmiMi  j^h  M«nal 
irrm  tbt  nnw  c«c<lMiont  at  in  Enctaad. 
170 


J  m 


HOT  AND  COLD 

RKCting  with  tht  one  K  ubic,  but  ihouM  be  m  horrora  at  the  other. 
A  Frenchmao  or  an  Italian  would  be  thrown  into  conrtiUioB*  of 
laughtei  M  thii  supeifluoua  dclJcacyt  ><^  would  lliiak  hi«  repui 
enriched  or  none  the  wone  for  nich  addition!.  The  reluctance  to 
prejr  on  life,  or  on  what  once  had  ii,  Kenu  to  iri*e  from  a  «enK  of 
incongruity,  from  the  repugnance  between  life  uid  death — from  the 
cold,  chmmj  feeling  which  bclonj>»  to  the  one,  and  which  ia 
enhanced  by  the  contraat  to  itt  former  warm,  lively  »ate,  and  by  the 
circumstance  of  its  bein^  taken  into  the  mouili,  and  devoured  a«  food. 
Hence  the  deiire  to  get  rid  of  the  idea  of  the  living  animat  c»eo  in 
ordinary  caset  by  all  the  diiguiic*  of  cookery,  of  boiled  and  rout, 
and  by  the  anibcc  of  changing  the  name  of  (be  animal  into  lomcthing 
diffrxcnt  when  it  becomes  lood.'  Hence  •porttmcn  arc  not  dcvouren 
of  game,  and  hence  the  averiion  to  kill  the  amiBal*  we  eat.*  There 
is  a  contradiction  between  the  animate  and  the  inanimate,  which  ia 
lelt  as  matter  of  peculiar  annopnce  by  the  nMwe  cold  and  congealed 
temperament  which  cannot  lo  well  pisi  from  one  to  the  other  t 
but  thit  objection  is  eatily  swallowed  by  the  inhabitant  of  gayer  and 
more  luxnriou*  reeions,  who  is  to  full  of  life  himself  that  he  can  at 
once  impart  it  to  all  that  comes  in  hif  way,  or  nerer  troubles  him»eir 
about  the  ditTetence.  So  the  Neapolitan  bandit  takes  the  life  of  his 
victim  with  little  remorte,  becauie  he  has  enouj{h  and  to  spare  in 
hiraielf :  hit  pulie  itill  beats  warm  and  Tigoroui,  while  the  blood  of 
a  more  humane  native  of  the  l'ro7cn  North  would  run  cold  with  horror 
at  the  tight  of  the  iiifFened  corse,  and  thia  makes  him  pause  I>efore  he 
■top*  in  another  the  gushing  source,  of  which  he  has  such  feeble 
supplies  in  himielf.  The  wild  Arab  of  the  Desert  can  hardly 
entertain  the  idea  of  death,  neither  dreading  it  fur  himaelf  nor 
regretting  it  for  others.  The  Italians,  Spaniardi,  and  people  of  the 
South  swarm  alive  without  being  sick  or  sorry  at  the  circumstance  i 
they  hnni  the  accustomed  prey  in  each  other  *  ungled  lock*  openly 
io  the  urects  and  on  the  highways,  without  tnsnifcuiog  stutnc  or 

1  Thit  cimnuuocc  I*  nautti  la  IvsnlMe^  ihongh  •  tflOcreai  torn  Is  givca  U  It 
by  ibc  philotophcr  o(  Rulhnvwid. 

'  Sty,  I  ctn  till  yoa  more/  nid  Wimb*  iti  thr  umc  tone,  'thrrt  i*  old 
Al'ltnnin  Oi  cDcitlnutt  In  hoM  hit  SiiDn  rpiihti,  whilt  tia  h  iin>trT  (ht  chaise  of 
Kffi  tn<l  bondiRMi)  tilth  H  tboB  |  but  bc<c«i»  Bctf,  i  Ii<i7  Frca<h  (illinl,  whca 
be  iirin*  ht(on  the  uviihipfvl  jiwi  diil  are  iinimol  to  coniunu  him.  Mjmlwer 
C«lf  too  bcconui  Moailcur  <lc  Vtaii  la  like  Buoaei :  he  a  Smoo  irlten  ke 
RquiiM  lenilaace,  lad  likci  i  NetmiD  otEtic  whca  he  bccomei  sutMr  of 
■BinincDl.' — Vo!.  I,  Chap.  i. 

'  Hrace  lb«  pceoliu  borror  of  cmnibtlinn  from  the  Ittonfvr  ijnnpilhir  wil}i 
oyr  <nm  maationt,  aod  the  (reattr  vJoltnce  thil  it  dona  to  it  by  tho  ttcrilsfiinn 
•ae  of  irhM  once  f  oMcwed  beaan  life  tad  fetlliit. 

171 


k 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 


trpugnance  :  comb*  are  ta  invcotioo  of  our  Nonhrrn  climn.  Now 
1  can  coatprcbcDd  thit.  when  I  look  at  the  ditty,  dingy*  trcuy,  fus- 
bural  complexion  of  an  Italian  peatant  or  bcf^r,  wbote  body  Mcmi 
aliTc  all  over  with  a  tort  of  tingling,  oily  tcntation,  to  ttiat  from  aoy 

!;iveo  poiiicle  of  hii  ihining  itkin  to  the  bcAct '  whose  name  ngnilieii 
ore'  the  iramition  is  but  «rnall.  This  jiopuloiuticw  it  not  uoac- 
countable  where  all  teemi  with  life,  where  all  ■•  glowing  and  in 
moilon,  and  every  pore  thrills  witli  an  ekuberaoce  of  feeling.  Not 
to  b  the  dcarili  uflile  and  ipirit,  io  the  droMy.dry,  material  texture, 
the  clear  complcxiont  and  fair  hair  of  the  Saxon  races,  where  the 
puncture  of  an  insect's  iting  in  a  lolucion  of  their  penonal  identity. 
Bud  the  idea  of  life  attached  lo  and  couning  an  intimacy  wiih  them 
in  i|rite  of  themiekea,  naturally  produces  all  the  revulsions  of  the 
aoft  Tiolcnt  antipathy  and  nearly  drives  them  out  of  their  wits. 
How  well  the  tniootli  ivoty  comli  and  auburn  hair  agree — while  the 
Greek  lianJj,  on  entering  a  room,  applies  his  hand  to  brush  a  cloud 
of  buay  itraggleri  from  hii  hair  like  powder,  and  gives  himself  no 
RKxe  coacem  about  them  ihaa  about  the  motes  dancing  in  ibe  eud- 
beam* !  The  din  of  the  Italians  is  as  it  were  baked  into  them,  and 
so  ingrained  aa  to  become  a  pan  of  tkcDaelvrt,  and  occaflon  bo 
diacontinuity  of  their  being. 

I  can  forgive  the  dirt  and  sweat  of  a  gipaey  under  a  hedge,  when  I 
conaidet  that  the  earth  is  his  mother,  the  mn  is  his  father.  He 
bunu  vermin  for  food :  be  i«  himself  hunted  like  vennio  for  prey. 
His  existence  is  not  one  of  choice,  but  of  oecesaity.  I'he  hungry 
Arab  devours  the  raw  shoulder  of  a  horte.  This  again  I  can 
conceive.  Hit  fcvctiih  blood  seethe*  it,  and  the  vtrulence  of  hit 
own  breath  carries  olf  the  diiagreeableoesa  of  the  smell.  1  do  not 
•ee  that  the  bone  should  be  reckaoed  among  onclean  animals, 
according  to  any  notion*  I  have  of  the  m.-iiiev.  The  dividing  of  the 
hoof  or  (he  cootrary,  I  should  think,  hnt  not  any  thing  to  do  with 
the  ({Dcscion.  I  can  uncknuad  ihedittinciion  between  bcMtaof  prey 
ud  the  herbivorous  and  doreettic  animali,  but  the  horac  i*  urae. 
The  natural  distinction  between  clean  and  unclean  aainutt  (which 
has  been  somctinica  made  into  a  religioua  one)  I  take  to  depend  oa 
two  circunutances,  riz.  the  chw«  and  brittly  hide,  which  f^eneriUv, 
though  not  always,  go  together.  One  would  not  wiih  to  be  torn  in 
pieoe*  tnotead  of  making  a  comforuble  tneaJ,  *  to  be  mined  upon  * 
where  we  thought  of  suppisg.  With  respect  to  the  woli,  the  tiger, 
and  other  animaU  of  the  lame  sprciea,  it  feenu  a  aueutoa  which  of 
IM  ihould  dcTOur  the  other  :  thii  baulks  out  appetite  by  dtttracitng 
oar  nteMion,  and  wc  have  lo  tittle  relish  for  betng  eaten  ounelves,  or 
for  the  fangs  and  teeth  of  these  ahockiog  animals,  that  it  pns  laa  * 
'7» 


HOT  AND  COLD 

dUlMic  for  thtii  wbole  bodies.  The  hotror  we  cODceWe  ai  picying 
upoD  then]  aniCK  iii  part  from  (be  (eai  we  bad  of  bang  pcejred  upon 
by  tlicra.  No  luch  apprehcMion  croiwi  ihe  mind  with  rapcct  to  the 
deer,  the  «hecp,  the  haic — '  h«c  all  !■  contciencc  and  tender  heart.' 
The«c  gentle  cmturc«  (whom  wc  complimenl  a*  utcful]  offer  no 
renitance  to  the  ItRifr,  aad  there  it  therefore  Dothiog  shocking  or 
repnliive  in  the  idea  ot'  devotiDji  tliem  to  it.  There  is  no  confuiioo  of 
ideaa,  but  a  beautiful  linijilidty  and  uniformtly  in  our  relation  to  each 
other,  we  40  the  slaycTB,  they  at  the  iJaio.  A  perfect  underiunding 
nibtist*  an  the  nbjnt.  The  hair  of  animaU  of  prey  i>  alio  iirong 
and  brittlj,  and  forms  an  ob«L»clc  to  our  Epicurcac  defigni.  The 
calf  or  fawn  in  Meek  and  tniooili :  the  briittet  on  H  dog't  or  a  cnt'a 
back  arc  like  *  the  (]uill«  upon  the  fretful  porcupine,'  a  Tery  impracti- 
cable rcpMt  to  the  imagination,  that  lUck  in  the  ihcuat  and  ttiio  (he 
(lomach.  Who  hat  not  read  ami  been  edified  by  the  account  of  the 
»apptt  in  Oil  Bla«?  Ikgidei,  there  it  alio  in  all  probability  the 
practical  comideration  urged  by  Voltaire'j  trateller,  who  being  Mked 
'  which  be  preferred — black  mutton  or  white  J '  replied,  'Either, 
proiided  it  wai  tender.*  The  gmier  rankneu  in  the  Acih  i*  how- 
ever accompanied  by  >  corresponding  irritability  of  turface,  s 
trnaciousncH,  a  prurtrncyi  a  rareneaa  to  attack,  and  oo(  that  fine,  round, 
pampered  paggirencts  to  tniprcBtiona  which  cui«  up  into  haodionie 
joint*  and  entire  piece*  without  any  fidgctty  proce«>,  and  with  an 
obviouji  view  to  >olid,  wholnome  nouriihmeiK.  Swine 't  ll»h,  the 
abomination  of  the  Jewith  law,  certainly  come*  under  the  objcctioi> 
here  iiated  ;  and  tlie  benr  with  it>  ahaggy  fur  it  only  smuggtcd  into 
(he  Chritiian  larder  aa  luJf-brothet  to  the  wild  boar,  and  beeniM 
from  ita  lazy,  lumpish  characier  and  appearance,  it  aettai  matter  of 
indilference  whether  it  eat*  or  it  eaten.  The  horte,  with  ileelc 
round  luuncheit,  ii  lair  game,  except  from  cuatom ;  and  1  thick  I 
could  turTire  having  iwallowcd  part  of  an  a»a'*  foal  without  being 
utterly  loathaome  lo  mycclf.'  Mite*  in  a  rotten  chcc*c  arc  endurable, 
from  being  *o  iniall  and  dry  thai  (bey  are  (Carcc  diitinguiihablc  from 
the  atoms  of  the  cheeie  tuclf,  'to  droaty  and  dtviiiblc  are  ihcy  : '  but 
the  Lord  deliver  me  from  tbcir  more  thriting  next'door  neighbour!  I 
AnimalB  that  are  nude  uae  of  ai  food  thoutd  either  be  ao  tmall  a*  to 
be  imperceptible,  or  elte  we  should  dig  into  ilic  quarry  of  life,  liew 
away  the  maiaei,  and  not  leatre  the  form  Manding  to  reproach  ua  with 
our  gluttony  and  cruelty.  I  hate  lo  aee  a  rabbit  trusted,  or  a  lure 
brought  to  table  io  the  form  which  it  occupied  while  liriog :  they 
«ecm  to  me  apparitions  of  the  burroweti  in  (he  carih  or  the  roven  in 

'  Tbonui  Caopci  of  Minchntfr,  th<  iblc  lojicinn  aid  polilicil  prtiun,  died 
the  tifniraul  wne  jttn  tfo,  irlita  he  inniH  ■  numMr  of  (tntlecnen  >aJ 

•73 


J 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 


the  wood,  teat  to  Kare  away  appetite.  One  reaaoo  why  toadi  and 
tcrpcM*  arc  dugoraag,  u  from  tb«  way  in  which  they  nin  tguan  or 
■uddcniy  cUog  to  the  tk'm  :  the  racouotcfin|  ihcm  caiue*  a  aolutioii 
of  ooatiDnhy.  aod  «e  shudder  to  fed  a  life  which  U  not  out*  io 
cODOa  with  ua.  It  ii  thia  diajoiated  or  tmpctftct  lynipaihy  which 
in  the  recoil  prodocei  the  graunt  mipwhy.  Stene  aalu  why  a 
tword,  which  take*  away  life,  may  be  aaoied  whboui  oAeix«t  though 
other  ihbgt,  which  coaiributc  to  perpetiutr  it,  cacoot  ^  Beciiuc  the 
idea  !o  the  ooc  cue  i«  merely  {ttinful,  aad  there  ia  no  mixture  of  the 
agreeable  to  lead  ihr  ima^nanoo  on  to  a  pcim  from  which  it  miMt 
enaie  a  precipitate  retmi.  The  morally  iodrccm  ari>e*  F^rom  the 
doubdvl  cootlict  between  temptation  and  duty  i  the  ptiyscally  [croliiag 
b  the  piodact  of  ahenMe  snractwa  aad  repwliiaa,  of  partial  adhcaioni 
orof  •ooMtbifig  that  bfbreiga  to  w  Midcmg  ckwa  to  our  pcnow  thn 
we  co«ld  wiib.  The  oa>tie«t  taMea  and  inielli  are  not  the  mo«t 
pnagent  and  painful,  bat  a  compownd  of  tweet  3sd  bitter,  of  the 
agreeable  amJ  diaagrcMblc ;  where  ihc  (cn*c,  hating  been  relaxed 
aad  rendered  cfienUBaie  a>  it  were  by  the  Snt,  is  joabk  to  cooicod 
with  the  laK,  faiau  aad  (ink*  voder  it,  and  ha*  do  way  of  relieriag 
iiaetf  hot  by  Tiolcntly  throwing  olT  the  load  thai  opprcwH  it.  Hence 
loadtiog  aad  nckncM.  Bat  d>c»e  hardly  ever  artac  without  tonc^ 
thing  eotradictofy  or  imtirr  la  ilie  ottjecta,  or  inlet*  the  mind,  haetog 
been  ianttd  aad  prepared  to  be  graliaed  at  KrM,  thu  expectation  ia 
tamed  to  diuppoininicot  and  di(gn*t.  Merc  poina,  mere  pleasures 
do  not  hair  thii  elfect,  me  from  an  exec**  of  the  fim  caauiog 
iamilibility  and  then  a  faiouicM  cnmie*,  or  of  the  laat,  catuisg  what 
Is  called  a  lUfftit.  Sea-tickne«*  haa  lome  aaalogy  to  ihii.  It  como 
OB  with  thai  imteitled  motiua  of  the  ihi|i,  wliicb  take*  away  the 
ordinary  fiwting  or  Gnn  bold  we  hsTe  of  things  aad  by  rcttxing 
OBT  peiceptiaai^  anbracci  the  whole  oer*o«*  tyNefo.  Tht  pddines* 
and  cwtmming  of  the  head  on  looking  down  a  precipice,  when  we 
are  ready  with  crery  breath  of  imagitmion  to  topple  down  iato  the 
abyM,  haa  tu  lource  in  the  uinc  uncenaio  aad  rapid  whirl  of  the 
&acy  throo^  po**)blc  extreme*.     Thua  we  find  that  (at  catc*  of 

oftccn  ^MttcreJ  ia  the  l«vn  u  dine  wiili  Kim  «■  mi  tm't  Cd«I  laMeaJ  of  * 
wlfihwJ^  M  the  loslinnuy  of  tie  ]Mb  el  Jaaauy.    The  liif—Wiiifii  c^ 
m'mi,  t»i  (tn  fttst  eUaia.     lib.  Caapti  htd  te  itteiU  *  inin[i|  iiiiiliii|  lesa 
aftn  M  Boallao-k-Macn^  mb4  ok  of  tB*  caantrjr  n>i(HiiiU*  r«Biin|  la  UK  isa 
far  Ibt  none  parfMi,  i>4  vhen  b«  mkxi  'Uasy  oo*  lau  ia  tk*  moni  1'  rtcaivini 
kt  mmnr—fSo  ooc  bat  Mr.  Cocfcr  of  Mancfaww'    *rtwtJ  wt  kk  kant  n4 
lwnK4intl7  r»4e  haaat  i^m.    Some  (erM*  mutt  m  the  mailia  hjp  Mr.  Sarloi 
ni  Mr.  Shuher*  «(  Guam  eiyltiacd  the  Mory  thai 
'Tbt  rami  haw  tU*  can*  to  pa  a 
TIm  jMtiec  lu:^  lK>t4  thM  Cmpm  ite  »ma '.' 
'74 


HOT  AND  COLD 


Untifig,  Ka-nckneu,  Ac.  »  glaM  of  brand;  ib  recomnKDcled  aa  'the 
tonKign'it  thtn{[  on  earth,'  becauae  by  grappling  with  the  coatt  of 
the  itonuch  and  bringing  our  tomcion*  to  a/ocn/,  it  doc*  away  that 
nouKOiM  Ihictuation  and  tutpcntc  of  feeling  which  it  the  root  of 
the  miKhief.  I  do  ooc  know  whether  I  make  mj^lf  intelligible, 
for  the  uiraoRi  I  can  pretend  i»  to  niggeat  (ome  very  lubtlc  and 
remote  analogie* :  but  if  I  Itavr  at  all  «uccccded  in  opening  up  the 
irain  of  argument  1  inteod,  ii  will  at  Icaw  be  pusjible  to  conceive  how 
the  languine  Italian  ii  leu  nice  in  bii  intercourac  with  maieral 
objects,  lets  tiattlcd  at  incongruitic*,  leu  liable  to  take  ofTcncc,  than 
the  mote  liceral  and  contcicntiou*  German,  became  the  more  hcMlU 
Htrong  current  of  hie  own  Knutioni  fiUi  up  the  gap«  and  '  nuket  dw 
odds  all  even.'  He  docs  not  care  to  hive  hii  cabbagco  and  uUwlt 
washed  ten  timca  over,  or  hi«  beds  ctciicd  of  vermin  :  he  can  lend 
or  borrow  laiiafaction  from  all  object*  indiSeiently.  I'he  air  over 
hia  head  i»  full  of  life,  of  the  hum  of  inaecii  i  the  gram  uader  lii* 
feet  ringi  and  is  loud  witli  die  cry  of  the  gnMhopper  t  innumerable 
green  lixard*  dart  from  the  rockn  and  iport  be^>re  him :  what  aignifiei 
It  if  any  living  creature  anpraachec  neater  hi*  own  peraon,  where  oU 
it  o(w  viul  glow  ?  The  i  ndian  even  twines  the  forked  serpent  round 
his  hand  unharmed,  copper-coloured  like  it,  his  veins  as  heattxl ;  and 
tlie  Brahmin  cbcriihea  lift  and  di>iregard«  his  own  per»on  as  an  act 
of  his  religion — the  religion  o(  lire  and  of  the  tun !  Yet  how  shall 
we  reconcile  to  this  theory  the  connant  ablutioiu  (tivc  time*  a  day) 
of  the  F.Miem  nations,  and  the  squaltd  customs  of  some  Northern 
people,  the  dinincM  of  the  KuMians  and  of  the  Scotch  i  Superstition 
may  perhaps  account  for  the  one,  and  porcrtj  and  barbarinn  for  the 

OtbM.> 

Lazinen  haa  a  great  deal  to  do  !b  (be  auestioD,  and  thi*  agab  h 
owing  to  a  state  o«  feeling  niflicient  to  itself,  and  rich  in  enjoymeat 
without  Uk  help  of  action.  Clothilde  (the  linen  and  darkest  of  the 
GcfMOo  ptlt\  fixes  bcrtclf  at  her  door  about  noon  (when  her  day 'i 
wotk  ti  done) :  her  smile  reflects  back  the  brightness  of  the  luo, 
she  datta  upoa  a  little  girl  with  a  child  ia  her  arms,  nearly  ovcrturni 
both,  devours  it  with  kittet,  aad  tfaca  munun  her  pOMtioo  at  llie 
door,  with  her  haodl  bcUnd  ber  back  aad  ber  diOM  down  at  heel. 
This  sJaltcmliDesa  and  ne^igeoce  i*  the  more  remarkable  in  so  fine 

t  Whtl  s  pLuuc  MoHi  hi<  vilh  his  J«s  to  make  then  'nforni  mil  li«e 
(lesaljF  r  Ta  t^ii  iiy  (■(corduif  to  i  loriKil  lnii«Un)  the  Jews,  wbercver 
•cittttrJ,  hiH  *n  ivetikn  to  •gitcuttutc  sad  ilsxnt  to  iti  froAicts  [  uii  i 
Uwith  |irl  will  [tFuk  Io  icccf<  t  l!4Wct — if  you  otfn  bet  i  plcct  of  monej,  of 
jtwtUecy  ot  tRibrwnRv,  iKc  knows  will  (noiifb  vtnt  te  nufct  of  the  frofliEfed 
cMrtNy.    Set  Btiftifi  Travtlt  n  CtrftOit,  *c 

'71 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 


mgiii,  tad  one  whoM  onfiaacy  ■■— — —  ■  i  gnfgMw  pctare,  ba  b 
iiipan  e(  At  Atraaa  I  bet  drev  ««iU  Bc*a  luvc  faeeo  «a  ndi, 
if  ifac  evrii  take  son  pMM  ib««  m  they  hMv  aa  acnvM  «> 
«tw(lwt  •  ibiii(  it  coaiof  off  ot  mm:  ill  Aam 
a  wnt.  M  loow  wfou  xbxm.  T^nr  clwhw  w  bo 
pR  «f  tfaeaadT««,— dxj  e«ta  M(  Adr  KhIn  afaoK  m  d  tfaey 
■"■nlj  IwliMiil  111  ihwi  tbe  b^  b  MHHa  icyii—  ike 
fttiAm  Md  wiaaa  {wUdt  famMH  a  ImIh).  »d  tter  I 
ti|fo-ieandor  «niMad  aba«  thtk  aaoda  or  bsdic*.  Tlw 
nl  n  nner  (far  «<MI»  nU  viMcr  «br  ohabit  tev' >i») 
■M»«MiUildw  (m  onba  p«B  viih  «■!>  ia  a)  ftiinBm 
VIM*  far  (bar  hmiM^m  tsaokcr.  wukem  mj  tamt  a(  : 
or  dncncbra,  «r  any  otkn  fecfiag  bai  of  tW  kcM  it 
to  bo  hand*.  Sbe  daea  aet  mmad  ka  cbfliaf  tke  rK  of  ks  body 
or  dittigariif  ber  kawit,  nakiag  bn  fiafen  look  like  *la^  P*'?'** 
— tbeaccUldmaf  BMHc'take  tke  good  the  Gad>  fronde  tkoa^' 
jsd  ttoakac  iktfBaawa  hnw  abowt  CAjaap^urocgi  or  Af^aanacca* 
Tkttt  icH^vai  ii  nadi  MraofV  daai  ikcir  nasv— ikiy  haw  m 
Bnlacviod^iknKodMnMeoManifar  ifcair  pw  afiaioa.  Two 
ItaEba  pcaBan  iMiag  by  tkr  nadadc  vfll  aat  m  aack  ••  taia 
■  '  ■  •-  *-  '  --  ^^•'^  -'  g  -■  -  ■  I  •  I  Tbey 
baw  ao  iaaacal  except  in  arbt  m  penaaal,  mbmI.  H^kc  they 
ba«r  la  Bnb  iraicin— <  ■  oa  tkc  •core  af  |irq|icay  as  ta  tbe 
■  cijaiiirion  of  idtaa.  Tbcy  «aai  acitkcr.  Tbcii  goad  ^irkt  «k 
faod,  dmfaiafcaad  boafcaw  ikon.  Hicy  are  faad  of  ttmtan  too, 
bat  niBV  aatioft  oc  it  <&Bcn  kimd  avr^^oara  coaMCa  n  accaBHKM^ 
tke  Boaa  of  eo'pjmKOL,  Aon  ia  bekg  free  to  eajoyi  is  ike  4tat 
fir  mmlt.  Wlut  oecd  bare  Uwy  to  qKaaibB-  ibnaatliti 
fafnaare  or  «eaJtb  or  bmiat-M,  wba  all  ibey  »aqaite  (far  tke 
pan)  ii  ait,  a  boach  af  gnpea,brtad(aaditaoe-«BBt?    Tbe  Italiaaa, 


gcacnlly  ipcakiog,  kavc  aotbi^  da  ■"*■■->  ■"■■_■— **"t. — to  tba 

tbry  iwe.' 
tkevoBcaiobcMneduvebc.    ThedrpcodMX 


rbo  aak  bow  tbry 


The  aicB  m  too 


'  of  CbciigMni 
b^nbe 

ofikcSmBaad  Em|Mk  ob  tfctir  aMnfata.  tkn  i«,o<i  all  * 
ad  atcHB  lo  boot,' a«  beipa  to  ^joynnt  or  UndnooM  to 

IDIXCS  tflC^D  DOC  OBlV  CSffCT  lO  DfOCHTC  QfliCI'^SK  DO^B^lB  Ql  BCCo^B^DDu^^ 

•MM  and  bntary,  bat  BialEa  tbn>  uka  Mcb  painata  their  piamWiaa 
mi!  laJMlliahraiai.  larljuriVm  in  afan  irmiinrit  *AnaB,'»ya 
Yatkk.  'Cadi  m  f^  »tma  ape*  a,  aad  c^  k  hm.'  Tbe  Borr 
aay  aae  aada  anaicfi  cuu^iag  to  wmrnal  aojccta  for  rsQataaov  or 
patifcadaa,  tbe  raore  be  viU  uLc  a  pmooal  iatere«  ia  tbein.  sad 
tke  Bare  vitl  be  dean,  rrput,  poltib,  icnibt  tcoor,  aad  tii£  at  ikon 
witbout  ead,  ai  if  it  were  bia  owa  aonl  that  be  waa  kecpiog  dear 
176 


HOT  AND  COLD 


front  tpM  or  bkmiBh.  A  Swim  <Uiry-mud  tcoar*  tbe  v«ry  hewt 
out  o(  a  wooden  pail ;  a  KoUiaD  wathe*  the  (iiie  ai  well  u  the 
wonM  out  of  a  dith  of  brocoli.  1'h«'  wmcbea  axt  in  like  nuaner 
MW  Htd  clcao  ia  tbHr  own  prrune,  bui  iniipid.  Thr  moti  coane 
•ad  OKtiewy  fmiturr  to  Swiiznland  hu  moK  {wto*  bmowcd  apoa 
k  to  keep  il  in  order,  thu  the  line«  wofk*  of  an  in  Italy.  Tbnre 
tbe  pictures  are  tqlfered  to  mooldcT  on  the  wiUi  t  and  the  Cland(« 
in  the  Doria  Palace  at  Rosie  are  black  with  a^  and  dirt.  We  tet 
more  siofc  by  them  in  England,  where  we  have  tcarce  any  other 
tunshiae  I  At  the  coramoo  iniu  oa  ihit  adc  the  Siaiploa,  the  very 
iheets  hare  a  character  for  whiMncM  to  lo«c :  the  rodi  and  teitert 
of  the  bedi  arc  like  a  peeled  wand.  On  the  oppodte  nde  yoa  arc 
thankful  when  yon  are  not  ihowo  toto  an  apartnieM  reaemUbf*  a 
t)ifce-«taUed  Mable,  with  borie^lothi  for  corcrlids  to  hide  the  dirt, 
■nd  bedaol'horM-hair  or  withered  leaTe*  u  harfMxira;;e  for  vermin. 
The  Dore^  the  merriet ;  the  dirtier,  the  warmer  ;  live  and  tet  live, 
•CCB  ni'r'™  iacnicatcd  t^  tbe  climate.  Wherctve  thing*  are  aot 
k^  evcMIr  tftn  ftoro  nw*ic*  >dmbcnirc«  and  cootaauaados,  dw 
JrtftcliaiM  OT  pcoBoty  iticlf  wul  mm,  I  cooceiw,  be  bekl  fzcc«diB|tk 
ncmL  Tfak  feeliag  b  Hroag  »  the  poanoB*  are  weak.  A  people 
that  are  raaarkable  for  cleaaliaeM,  will  be  w  for  isdattry,  for 
hooeny,  for  avarice,  and  e<ic<  votm.  The  Italian*  cheat.  Heal,  rob 
(when  they  think  it  worth  ibeif  while  to  do  w)  with  licenMd 
impunity :  the  Swiu,  who  feel  tbe  vahic  of  propeny,  aad  laboar 
inceMamly  to  acauire  ii,  are  afraid  to  loae  it.  At  Brig^  I  firit 
beard  the  cry  of  wa.icbmeD  at  night,  which  I  iiad  oot  heard  for 
maay  aiOMha.  I  wa*  remiiKled  of  the  traveller  who  after  wandering 
B  iwaoit  cooBtrie*  aaw  a  g^Uow*  aear  at  hand,  and  knew  by  thi* 
ORHMOOCe  that  be  approached  the  confine*  of  citriUuiioo.  Tbe 
paHw  la  Italy  ti  both  (ecrct  aed  fevere,  bat  it  it  directed  chictly  to 
pelUcal  aod  aoi  to  civil  mattcrt.  Patriot  nghi  are  heaved  vabeard 
HI  Um  daageoat  of  St.  Aagcto  :  tbe  Ncapolitao  bandit  hrcaib«a  the 
free  ur  of  Im  lUtiTe  idovdimd*  ! 

It  nay  by  thi*  ttn*e  be  coejectared  why  Caiholica  are  k**  cleanly 
than  ProccMaou,  becatue  in  fact  they  are  leu  icmpuloua,  and  twaUo* 
whatever  >•  Kt  before  them  in  matter*  of  &itb  m  vrell  m  other  tbioip. 
PnMMaao,  aa  mch,  are  captioo*  and  tcnitniMing,  try  to  pick  bolea 
■od  fiad  fault,— have  a  dry,  meagrcipcattnoa* imaginaiioo.  Catbolica 
m  baoyed  up  over  doabca  aad  dificulliea  by  a  greater  rednadance 
of  fancy,  aod  make  religion  a^Mervient  to  a  feme  of  eojoyment. 
The  one  arc  for  detectii^  aad  weeding  out  all  corriqicioa*  and  abuaea 
ia  doctrine  or  worabip ;  the  otbert  enrich  thein  with  the  dnat  and 
cobweb*  of  aatj^iiKyi  aod  ibiak  their  rimal  none  the  woew  fot  the 

TOunt-tH  177 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

Urniih  <^  igfi.  Tho*e  of  the  Catholic  Commuiuofl  art  willifig  to 
wkc  it  for  jtramcil  tliai  etery  ihing  is  rigbi ;  tli«  ptofcuon  of  the 
Reformed  religion  have  a  pleatuic  in  believing  thai  cverv  thing  ii 
wrong,  in  order  chit  they  may  have  to  tti  it  right.  In  moral*, 
uuOi  Protntantt  arc  more  ptedte  than  their  Catholic  brethren. 
The  Ctced  of  the  Utter  abnofve*  ihera  of  h.ilf  Uicit  dmiet,  of  all 
thote  that  are  a  clog  on  their  inclinauon*,  atonet  for  all  tUps,  and 
patches  up  all  deficicncit«.  But  though  this  may  make  them  leia 
censorious  and  lour,  I  am  not  tare  that  it  renders  tlietn  less  in  ctmiect 
in  the  part  they  do  perform.  When  more  is  left  to  freeidom  of 
choice,  pcrhapi  the  service  that  ii  voluntary  wilt  be  purer  and  marc 
elfcctual.  Tbat  which  !■  not  so  may  as  well  be  done  hy  proxy ;  or 
if  it  docs  not  come  from  the  heart,  may  be  suffered  to  exhale  merely 
from  the  lips.  If  less  i«  owing  in  this  caic  to  a  dread  of  vice  and 
fear  of  shame,  more  will  proceed  from  a  love  of  rirttie,  free  from 
the  Icaat  nnitter  construction.  It  is  asserted  that  Iialian  women  are 
more  grot*;  I  can  beliere  it,  and  that  they  are  at  the  same  time  more 
refined  than  other*.  Theit  religion  it  in  the  nine  manner  more 
tentual :  but  is  it  not  to  the  full  21  risionary  and  imaginative  as  any  i 
I  have  beard  Italian  women  say  things  that  others  would  not — it 
doei  not  therefore  follow  that  they  would  do  them :  partly  because 
the  knowledge  of  vice  that  makcp  it  familiar  renders  it  indifferent ; 
and  because  the  same  masculine  tone  of  thinking  chat  enables  them 
to  confront  vice,  may  raise  them  above  it  into  a  higher  sphere  of 
sentiment.  If  theit  ternien  arc  more  inflammable,  their  passions  (atid 
their  love  of  virtue  and  of  religion  among  the  rest)  may  glow  with 
proportionable  ardour.  Indeed  the  truest  virtue  is  that  which  is 
least  luacejitible  of  contamination  from  ita  opposite.  I  may  admire 
a  Raphael,  and  yet  not  swoon  at  sight  of  a  daub.  Why  ihoutd 
there  not  be  the  tame  taste  in  morals  aa  in  pictures  or  jjoems  i 
Granting  that  vice  ha*  more  voiarie*  here,  at  least  it  hu  fewer 
mercenary  oncN,  and  thia  i*  no  trifling  adrantage.  As  to  manner*, 
the  Catholics  must  be  allowed  to  carry  it  over  all  the  wocUl.  The 
better  sort  not  only  *ay  nothing  to  give  you  pain ;  they  tay  nothing 
of  other*  that  it  would  g^n  them  pain  to  hear  repeated.  Scandal 
and  tittle-tattle  are  lon^  banished  from  good  society.  After  all,  to 
be  wi*e  is  to  be  humane.  What  would  our  English  t/uf-iioeH/^iit  *ay 
to  this?  The  fault  and  the  excellence  of  Italian  society  it,  that  the 
■hocking  or  disagreeable  i*  not  cuppoted  to  have  an  extatence  in  the 
nature  of  thingf.' 

■  The  dirt  snd   comparativt  want  of  canvenlenoet  sniong  Ciilialica  is  afun 
turlbulcil  to  ihc  aumbcr  of  ihcii  Siiaii*  diyi  mil  fciiivjit,  which  divai  them 
(rom  Ikbouf,  sad  (m  them  in  iille  sd>)  ilisorclerI)>  turn  o(  mind. 
178 


THE  NEW  SCHOOL  OP  REFORM 


ESSAY  XVII 


THE    NBW    SCHOOL    OF    REFORM 


A  OlAtOCUE  BETWEEH  A  tUTIOHAUtT  AND  A  iENTIMtHTAUIT 


R.  What  ii  it  you  so  particulirty  object  to  this  ichool  i  It  tbere 
sny  thing  «o  very  obnoxiout  in  the  doctrine  of  Utility,  which  they 
profess  i  Or  in  the  dctign  to  bring  about  the  greatest  possible  good 
i^  the  most  efficacious  and  ditintrtcsied  cnciini? 

S.  DiuDtctcsted  enough,  indeed :  since  ihnr  plan  seems  to  be  to 
sacrifice  every  indiridual  comfort  for  the  good  of  the  whole.  Can 
they  find  out  no  belter  way  of  making  human  life  run  wiiooth  and 
plcos^ini,  than  by  drying  up  the  brain  and  curdling  the  blood?  I  do 
cot  want  society  to  resemble  a  iMy'ing  Sitltion,  whatever  these  'Job's 
Comfoners '  may  do.  They  ire  like  the  fox  in  the  fable — ihey  have 
DO  tecting  thcmscket,  and  would  pcnuade  others  to  do  without  it. 
Take  away  the  JiUtt  of  the  poet,  and  I  do  not  see  what  is  to  become 
of  the  tuile.  It  is  the  common  error  of  the  hunian  mind,  of  forgetting 
the  end  in  ihe  means. 

R.  I  nee  you  are  at  your  SmlimenltiBiiti  again.  Pray,  tell  me,  is 
it  not  their  having  applied  ibis  epithet  to  some  of  your  favourite 
■peculations,  that  has  excited  this  sudden  borit  of  fcpttcn  agaion 
them? 

S.  At  least  I  cannot  retort  this  phrase  on  those  printed  iiremlart 
which  they  throw  down  areas  and  fasten  under  knockers.  But  pass 
on  for  that.  Answer  me  then,  what  is  there  agreeable  or  ornament.'d 
in  humsn  life  that  they  do  not  explode  with  fanatic  rage !  What  is 
there  sordid  and  cynical  that  they  do  not  eagerly  catch  at  ?  What 
it  there  that  delights  others  (hat  docs  not  disgust  them.  What  that 
disgusts  others  with  which  thcj-  arc  not  delighted  ?  I  cuinot  think 
that  this  is  owing  to  philosophy,  but  to  a  sinister  bioji  of  mind; 
inaamuch  as  a  marked  deficiency  of  temper  ii  i  more  obvious  way 
of  accounting  for  certain  things  than  an  entire  mpcriority  of  undcr- 
sianding.  The  Ascetics  of  old  thought  they  were  doing  God  good 
service  by  tormenting  ihcmselTca  and  denying  others  the  most  innocent 
amunements.  Who  doubts  now  that  in  this  (armed  at  they  wete 
with  texta  and  authorities  and  awful  denunciations}  they  weie  really 
actuated  by  a  morose  and  envious  dispotition,  that  had  no  capacity 
for  enjoyment  itself  or  felt  a  malicioui  repugnance  to  the  idea  of  it  in 
any  one  else?     What  in  them  took  the  prb  of  religion,  with  us 

179 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

pgu  on  the  tembUnee  of  philoiopby  i  and  tDtimd  of  doombg  the 
hcedkcH  aDd  refractory  lo  bell-fire  of  the  lerrort  of  pur]ptory,  our 
modcni  polemic*  *et  their  ditciplet  in  the  dock)  of  Utility,  or  throw 
«ll  the  elegant  ant  aod  arei»blc  inipuUci  of  hum^inity  iato  the  Limbo 
of  Political  b'conomy. 

A.  I  cannot  coocciTc  wh«  po«uble  connection  there  can  be 
between  the  weak  and  miachievous  enthiitiaiu  you  apeak  of,  acd  the 
mott  enlightened  reuoner*  of  the  nineteenth  century.  They  would 
bugh  at  nich  a  corojnriaon. 

S.  Selfknowledge  i«  the  hut  thinj  wtiicti  I  abonU  lay  to  the 
charge  of  taitSiani  philoto)>hert ;  bet  a  nun  may  be  a  bigot  without 
a  particle  of  religion,  a  monk  or  an  lD<{(tiMtor  in  ■  plain  cost  and 
praAMtog  the  most  liberal  opiiuona. 

R.  You  (till  di^al,  ai  uiual.  in  idle  farcaasu  and  Biinay  generalitiea. 
Will  you  deacend  to  poriiculut,  and  lUte  &cta  before  yuo  draw 
iafcrcacet  from  them  i 

S.  [n  the  firat  pl^e  then,  they  are  moitly  Scotchmen — litted 
dcKendaou  of  the  Covrnanicr*  na  CaiDcrooiftnt,  and  inspired  with 
the  trve  John  Knox  mi  (oi  mutilMiBg  >&d  defacing  tlie  carved  work 
of  the  nnctuary 

R.  Hold,  bold — this  is  nigir  prejudice  and  peraonality 

J.  But  it 't  the  tact,  and  I  thought  you  called  lor  facta.  Do  you 
inu^e  if  I  heai-  a  fellow  in  ScoiUnd  abuiing  the  Autbof  of 
Wncrley,  who  ha*  fire  hundred  bcatia  beating  in  hi*  boaoBi, 
becauae  there  it  no  Religioo  in  his  works,  and  a  fellow  in  Wcm- 
mtnater  doing  the  lame  thing  because  there  >•  no  Political  Economy 
in  them,  that  any  thing  will  prevent  me  froim  nippoiing  thai  thu 
!•  Tirtnally  the  tame  Scotch  pedlar  with  hit  pack  iif  Utility  at  hit 
bock,  whether  he  dealt  in  tape  and  ttayt  or  in  drawling  compilations 
of  history  and  rcriewa  i 

R.   I  did  not  know  you  had  neb  an  affection  for  Sir  Walter 

S.  I  said  the  Aulhar  tf  iVavrrity.  Not  to  like  him  would  be  not 
to  lore  myaclf  or  human  nature,  of  which  be  hat  giTen  ao  many 
inicreating  apecjmeat:  though  for  the  take  of  tlut  ian>e  human 
taKtn,  1  have  no  liking  to  Sir  Walter.  Thoie  *  few  and  recent 
writera,'  on  the  contrary,  who  by  their  own  account  ■  h-irc  diicovefod 
tbe  trve  principles  of  the  grrateat  happiocta  to  the  greatest  number!,' 
are  easily  reconciled  to  the  Tory  aad  the  bigot,  because  they  hen 
feel  a  certain  snpeiiority  over  him  ;  but  they  cannot  forgrre  the 
great  hinortan  of  tile  and  manner*,  becauae  he  haa  eatar^  oat 
■ympathy  with  human  happineu  beyond  their  pragmatical  limita. 
Tbey  arc  not  eveo  '  good  haters : '  fof  they  hate  not  what  degrade* 
and  dSkti^  but  what  coniolet  and  eletate*  the  mind.     Their  plan 

I  So 


THE  NEW  SCHOOL  OF  BEFOKM 

ia  to  Uxi  mil  bcnun  happinc*i  wbcrercr  they  tee  a  ptactioble 
opcaing  to  it. 

R.  But  perhapi  their  nocioni  of  happinns  difTcr  from  youia.  They 
think  it  ihoulil  be  regulated  by  the  doctnoe  of  Utility.  Whalcrcr  i* 
iDComputibli!  with  thii,  they  [Cj^uid  aa  spurious  and  false,  and  icon)  >ll 
iMic  compn)mi>ct  and  temporary  palliatins. 

S.  Yd ;  juM  iM  the  rctigitHu  lanatic  think*  there  ii  no  MlvaEion 
out  of  the  pale  of  hi«  own  communion,  and  damns  without  icruple 
every  appearance  of  victite  tod  picly  beyond  it.  I'oor  David  Dean*  I 
bow  would  he  ban  been  aurptiKd  to  »ce  ill  hia  folIie»^hiB '  right- 
htnd  defiectioBt  and  hia  left-band  compUancei,'  and  hta  contempt  for 
human  learning,  blowom  again  in  a  knot  of  tophist*  and  profcMtd 
iffaminei !  Such  person*  are  not  to  be  treated  a*  pbiiotophen  ud 
mctaphyticiant,  but  u  conceited  MctAfieri  and  ignorant  mechaoici. 
In  neither  cue  in  the  intolerant  and  proscribing  spirit  a  dcductsoa  of 
pure  reason,  indilTcreDt  to  consequeocci,  but  the  dictate  of  preiump 
tioD,  prejudice,  and  sptritutl  pride,  or  a  strong  desire  in  the  siscT 
to  narrow  the  pririlege  of  salfatioD  to  as  smidl  a  circle  at  poMsblei 
and  in  ■  a  few  and  recent  writers '  to  have  the  whole  field  of  hap^iUM 
and  argument  to  themselves.  The  enthusiasts  of  old  did  all  they 
could  to  strike  the  prctcDt  existence  from  uodei  our  feet  to  give  ua 
aootbcr — to  annihilate  our  natural  atfccuont  and  worldly  vanities,  so 
■«  to  conform  us  to  the  likenesit  of  Cod :  the  modern  scioliM*  offier 
ua  Utopsa  in  lieu  of  cur  actual  enjoyments  ;  fur  warni  flesh  and  blood 
would  give  ua  a  head  of  clay  and  a  heart  of  itccl,  and  conform  at  to 
thrir  own  likenetc— *  a  consummation  not  very  devoutly  to  be  wished  I  * 
Where  is  the  uae  of  getting  rid  of  the  trammel*  of  superstition  and 
slavery,  if  we  arc  immediately  to  be  handed  over  to  these  new  ferrets 
and  inspectors  of  ■  PtAce-PiUaiophji ;  who  pay  domiciliary  vint*  to 
the  htinuo  mind,  catechise  aa  expre«sion,  impale  a  sentiment,  put 
every  enjoyment  to  the  rack,  leave  you  not  a  moment's  eaae  or 
respite,  and  imprison  all  the  faculties  in  a  round  of  cant-pbrasei 
— the  Shibboleth  of  a  party !  They  ate  far  from  indulging  or  eteii 
tolerating  the  strain  of  exulting  CBlbusiasm  cxpretMd  by  bpcnter: — 

'  What  more  frlleity  can  fall  to  creature 
Than  to  enjoy  delight  with  liberty, 
An<l  to  be  lonl  of  all  the  Horks  of  nature  f 
To  ivign  in  the  sir  from  earth  to  highest  sky. 
To  leed  on  Aawct*  and  Hvedt  of  glorlcnit  feature. 
To  taste  whatever  thing  doth  p\nx  the  eye? 
Who  rnia  not  pleased  with  nich  happiness. 
Well  worthy  he  to  taste  of  wretthedneis ! ' 

Without  air  ot  hght,  they  grope  their  way  under-ground,  till  they  are 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 


nade ' ftcfcc  mil  dark  keeping:''  tbeir  Wirwrion.  confiixd  u  the 
uar  dry.  hard,  mrrhMiin'  nbjccu,  wbich  tlicy  hate  act  i^  po«0 
nor  tbc  <vill  u  tuchif  t  fat  otbm.  freti  aad  corrode* ;  asd  aoved 
Md  dMOTMttdt  they  «mk   Umu  ifite  and   nwrnfatriaa  ea  aB 

bat  dnnk  jou 


Jt.  I 


Samy  Ae  vaiKn  tcm  are  ao  ready  u  HRifh 
Uw  Bird  to  cotreci  cfToea  aBd  rcrarsi  gnevasccL 

SL  Yc<  t  bccaaae  tbc  aae  afodi  acerdae  fiar  tfacir  naiqr.  Md  tfae 
aiha  for  Am  tfkm.  Tbry  are  aoncted  fay  tW  odav  of  ibwea. 
asd  rv^M  OB  ^Boad  aBpefarctiooa>  ooi  oo  joa  ai^foae  tSMy  Wkx 
aayi^g  efac  Waer  thai  tkey  do  tbcGwiiMaBf  Are  ilieyoa 
■oytMOer  toaa  wkk  ibcvowa  Ei^Xa  or  ftkadaf  Do  cfaey  Mt 
akelk  Bm  of  ncry  ooe  they  ooae  oear  a  kxvai  to  tfcea,  mk 
their  fodHlk  aobeaa  aad  TipitrT  i  y  a  iaio  *  Do  they  ooi  >|«Tel 
Mh  tfaik  aq^teuK  idaofd  tfcdi  oppoaaa^ 
Aairam  adtof  tlKoaaoa!  AnifaeyMa 
A«tkh«dAt^!    Aod  l»«« Uad  (far ife fmeK)  iiiheir 

OWWmB|^    MIMBV*   Vf   XtMMM   VVB^   tB^B    SB  J^V  MB   HlU(t    IBB 

jmrnxf^t    Do  tkyMCwSk  »  cxtoad  *tfe 

~  iyjHdi(oiaap  10 
charcy,  to  lewdy  dMac  hy 
I?     b  k  oae  a  |Mt  af  tkv  &io«oi 

■  kttetaftfc;     Do  they  oM 

fi^f     U«thaa*ey 

ca^«^  adsaowMMd  afa^ea.  by  halftw  »  a  pom  «f  ihr 
HtOi^  ^aam,  ob^  aaa  atpaaoE,  aai 


btm  the 


■ti 


THE  NEW  SCHOOL  OP  REFORM 

jvif  by  tbeir  interesu,  partly  by  the  unfortunate  bii«  of  thdr  tniodi, 
to  pm  the  game  Into  the  adveriary's  hands?  It  looks  like  tt :  and 
the  Covcrnmeni  giTc  them  'good  aOhdei' — Mi.  Blackwood  {uta 
ilicm  on  the  back — Mr.  Canning  grants  an  intetriew  and  plays  the 
aniiable~~M[.  Hobhoiue  keep*  the  peace.  One  of  them  has  a  place 
at  the  India-House :  but  then  nothing  in  laid  against  the  India-Houte, 
though  the  pone  and  pious  Old  Lady  awcata  and  »lmo»t  dwooqs  at  the 
converaiiooa  which  her  walls  arc  doomed  [o  hear,  but  of  which  she 
is  ashamed  to  complain.  One  triumph  of  the  School  is  to  throw  Old 
Ladies  into  hysterics! '  The  obviow  (I  should  itill  hope  not  the 
tnteniional)  c^ect  of  the  Westminnier  tactic*  is  to  put  every  volunteer 
on  the  same  side  hen  di  tembai,  who  is  not  a  ceaJot  of  the  stricte*t 
sect  of  those  they  call  Political  IvcottomiMa ;  to  come  behind  you  with 
dasurd,  cold-blooded  malice,  and  trip  up  ihc  heel*  of  those  siraggl«r« 
whom  their  friend*  and  patrons  in  the  Quanerly  have  left  siiil  stand- 
ing ;  to  strip  the  cause  of  Reform  (out  of  Kerning  alfeccion  to  tt)  of 
every  thing  like  a  mhaliSance  with  eletrance,  taxe,  decency,  common 
tCBM,  Of  polite  literature,  (an  their  fellow  labourers  in  the  iame  vine- 
yard had  previously  endeavoured  to  do  out  of  acknowledged  hatred) 
— to  disguii  the  friends  of  humanity,  to  cheer  it*  enemies ;  and  for 
the  sake  of  indulging  iheir  unbridled  dogmatism,  envy  and  uncharit- 
ablcocts,  to  leave  nothing  intermediate  between  the  ultra-Toryitm  of 
the  courtly  scribe*  and  their  own  Ultra- Radicalism —between  the 
extreme*  of  practical  wcong  and  impracticable  right.  Their,  ear 
antagonist*  will  be  very  well  tattslicd  with  thic  division  of  the  spoil : — 
give  them  the  earth,  and  any  one  who  chooses  may  take  pos»c»ion 
of  the  moon  for  them  ! 

R.  You  allude  to  their  attacks  on  the  Edinburgh  Review  ! 

S.  And  to  their  articles  on  Scott't  Novels,  on  Hoipitals,  on 
National  Diitres*.  on  Moore'i  Life  of  Sheridan,  and  on  every  subject 
of  taste,  feeling,  or  common  humanity.  Sheridan,  in  particular,  is 
termed  'an  untaccessfiil  adventurer.'  How  gently  this  Jacobta 
jargon  will  fall  on  ears  polite!  Thit  if  wh.it  they  call  attacking 
principles  and  sparing  persons :  they  spare  the  persons  indeed  of  men 
in  power  (who  have  place*  to  give  away),  and  attack  the  character* 
of  the  dead  or  the  uotaccessful  with  impunity !  Sheitdjin's  brilliant 
talents,  his  genius,  his  wit,  his  political  firmnas  (which  all  but  they 

'  This  ii  not  conliaeil  to  th*  WtrtmiinMi.  A  «tuin  TtUmg  Pium  (who  Is 
now  OM  of  the  J'of  of  Church  inil  Sl*tt),  when  h<  Ant  cunc  (o  thU  cuuntry, 
UKd  to  ffijhicn  tumc  rupfClAhlc  old  grailFvoiufn,  who  iuviirii  Jum  to  tupprr,  by 
■•kin|  foi  a  ilicc  u(  tht  'leg  of  the  Sivioui,'  meiobg  *  leg  of  Lamb  |  or  a  bit  of 
*th«  Holji  Ohost  pie,*  meniing  a  pi(caa-pie  on  the  table.  Ill-nUuic  ind  imper- 
tinoK*  s«  (he  sunt  in  all  schooU. 

•8S 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

iuliiiire)  dmr  fortb  no  pMHog  tribate  of  admiration ;  hi*  crrorst  hil 
mitfonunct,  and  bi«  dcaih  (which  all  but  they  dcpktre)  chim  M 
pity.  Tbi*  iodecd  woald  be  to  undcriUDd  ibe  doctrine  of  Utility 
to  itTf  little  ptrpoac,  if  k  did  not  at  the  firK  toucb  wc«d  from  the 
brcMt  cTcry  amiable  wnluxM  and  impCTfcct  rimic  which  bad — 
MTcr  ukcD  root  Uverc.  But  they  nuke  up  for  tfacir  uttei  want  of 
aytDpatby  vith  the  exceUeocei  or  lailiags  m  otlxn  by  a  proponioi»- 
able  •elf-aofficieiicy.  Shertdaa,  Fox,  and  Burke  were  mere  lyTM 
asd  acbool-boyi  in  politic*  compaced  to  thnn,  who  are  tbe  *  mighty 
land-maikt  of  Ukic  latter  timo' — igoorant  of  Ukmc  prmdples  of 
'  Uk  gicAtcK  h^pincM  to  the  grcate*t  MimbetK,'  which  a  frw  and 
rttnti  wriitrt  have  proinulgaied.  It  is  ooc  way  of  taiting  a  pure 
and  ioAy  cnthwiaami  aa  to  the  t^iucitita  at  tbe  bumas  miod,  to  tcora 
alJ  that  ha*  gone  before  na.  Raibei  mj,  this  dwelliitg  with  otct- 
acted  diigiut  on  comoiOD  frailties,  and  tuining  away  with  impaticoc* 
from  tbe  brighuat  poaola  of  character,  i*  '  a  ditciptine  of  humanity/ 
which  (hould  be  confined  aa  much  aa  potable  to  the  Westmtntter 
School.  Belietc  me,  their  tbcoi^ie*  and  ibcir  nwde  of  ecforanf 
tbcm  ataod  in  the  way  of  reform :  their  pbiloaophy  i*  u  little 
•ddnued  to  the  head  aa  to  tbe  heart — tt  ia  fit  ncithef  for  man  nor 
bniL  It  ia  not  fotittded  on  any  Bytup«thy  with  the  accret  yearaingt 
or  higher  tetKlcncic*  of  tnaa'a  nature,  but  oa  a  rankling  antipathy  to 
whatever  ii  already  beat.  It*  object  ii  to  oflnid — km  glory  to  Sod 
out  and  wonnd  the  teodcrcu  part  What  it  not  maltoe,  i*  cowardice, 
and  not  candour,  lliey  attack  the  weak  and  ipare  tbe  uroag,  to 
ildalgc  their  of&ciouaocM  aod  add  to  their  lelf-ifnpoitance.  Nothing 
■a  taid  in  the  Weitminater  Review  of  the  treatment  of  Mt.  ISockiog- 
h«m  by  the  L^aat  India  Company  :  it  might  IcMen  the  writer's  tfiitre 
tf  HiiAljr,  aa  Mr.  Hall  goe«  from  Ldcciter  to  Briitol  to  tavt  mart 
ieulil  They  do  not  grapple  with  the  rich  to  wreat  hit  auperfluitiea 
from  him  (in  thit  tbey  might  he  foiled)  but  trample  on  the  poor 
(a  aafc  aod  pick-thank  ofKce)  and  wrench  bit  [uttaDCc  front  him 
with  their  logical  intirumeats  and  lying  arguraeoia.  Let  tlieir  lyttem 
toccccd,  aa  they  pretend  it  would,  and  ttiSW  comfort  and  bap|nne«a 
around  I  and  tli«y  would  immediately  turn  againtt  it  aa  etfcuinate, 
iliiipid,  uod  tickly ;  for  their  tastci  and  under iLindingt  arc  too 
urongty  braced  to  ertdure  any  but  the  moK  unjiabublc  trutha  and  ibe 
bittercut  ingrcdienu.  Their  bencfiu  are  extracted  by  the  Cxsarcaa 
operHti«(i.  Their  hap[»nctt,  in  abort,  ia  that — which  will  Dcver  be ; 
JDit  aa  their  receipt  for  a  poinilar  article  in  a  newapaper  or  rvriew, 
It  one  thjii  will  never  be  reati.  Tbrir  article*  are  never  read,  aod  if 
tbey  arc  not  popular,  no  other*  ought  to  be  to.  The  more  any  flinuy 
ttutt  it  read  and  admired,  and  the  more  tervice  it  doei  to  tbe  sale  oJ' 
18+ 


THE  NEW  SCHOOL  OF  REPOltiM 

a  Joumalt  •<>  much  xhe  mure  doet  it  debauch  the  public  taace,  md 
render  it  averse  lo  their  dty  and  lolid  lucubtitiont.  Thi»  is  why 
they  compkiD  of  the  patronage  of  my  Senlime^lalisitt  a*  Oci<?  of  the  nn« 
of  the  Edinburgh  Review ;  and  why  ihcy  thcmKUcs  uc  determined 
to  drench  the  town  with  the  moa  unsavoury  tnitht,  without  one  drup 
of  honey  to  awectcn  the  gall.  Had  they  felt  the  Icait  regard  to  the 
ultimate  iucci^m  of  their  principle* — of '  the  gieatett  hsppincsf  to  the 
jteatcn  number*,'  thouxfi  giving  puin  might  be  one  paramount  and 
primary  motive,  they  would  have  combined  thia  object  with  some- 
thing like  the  comfort  and  accommodation  of  their  unenlightened 
reader*. 

it.  I  sec  oo  ground  for  this  philippic,  except  ia  your  own  imagina- 
tion. 

S.  Tell  me,  do  they  not  abu»e  poetry,  patnttDg,  mutic !  Ii  it, 
thiak  you,  for  the  pam  or  the  pleaiun-  these  thiugi  girei  Or 
becniM  they  are  without  eyei,  ear*,  imagination* !  I*  that  an  excel- 
lence in  thcra,  or  the  fault  of  thc«c  arw  ?  Why  do  they  treat  Shakc- 
•pear  to  cavalierly?  1*  there  any  one  they  n«uld  Kt  up  again*! 
him — any  Sir  Richard  Blackmore  they  patroniK  ;  or  do  they  prefer 
Racine,  aa  Adam  Smith  did  bdloTC  them  J  Or  what  arc  w<c  to 
undcratAnd  i 

R.  1  can  answer  for  it,  they  do  not  with  to  pult  down  Shaketpcar 
in  order  (a  let  up  Racine  on  the  ruin*  of  hia  reputation.  They  think 
little  indeed  of  Raciae. 

S.  Or  of  Moliere  either,  I  auppoie  i 

R.  Not  mucli. 

S,  And  yet  these  two  contributed  aomething  to  'the  greaieM 
happinei*  of^  the  grcntcit  numbers  [ '  that  is  to  the  amuaement  and 
delight  of  a  whole  nation  for  lh«  last  century  and  a  half.  But  that 
goes  for  nothing  in  the  syttem  of  Utility,  which  is  tttialicd  with 
nothing  abort  of  the  good  of  the  whole.  Such  benefactors  of  the 
(pccic*,  as  f^hakeipear,  Racine,  and  Muliere,  who  nvrnpathiacd  with 
human  chaidcter  and  feeling  in  their  Itnest  and  lirelic*!  moods,  can 
expect  little  favour  from  '  thote  few  and  recent  wriicti,'  who  tcora 
the  Mute,  and  whotc  philoiophy  is  a  dull  aotiihesiB  to  human  tuture. 
Unhappy  they  who  lived  before  their  time  I  Oh  I  age  of  I.ouia  iir. 
and  ot  Charlct  ii.,  ignorant  of  the  Ji  or  tjiiii  guai  and  of  the  ifovtir 
wtw .'  Oh  !  Pari*  built  {till  now)  of  mud  I  Athena,  Rome,  Suaa, 
Babylon,  I'al my i a— barbarous  icructures  of  a  barbarous  period— bide 
jour  diminished  bead* !  Vc  feo«  and  dykct  of  Holland,  ye  minca 
o.'  Mexico,  what  arc  yc  worth !  Oh  1  bridge*  mitcd,  palace* 
adoincd,  citie*  built,  field*  cultivated  without  skill  or  *cicnce,  how 
came  ye  to  cxiat  till  now  1     Ob  I  picture*,  sutuesi  temples,  altars 

>8J 


THE   PLAIN  SPEAKER 


bcaniu,  the  poet**  nnt,  and  iiiliwtffMi^  ain,  wv  jr  wx  h 
idRk  oci  the  {res  Hiodplet  o('»ftw  tad  ncm  vriun '  t  How 
C3RM  jc  to  txm  wiuMOt  tbcB  lean  ?  Ob !  Arkwhghc*  vaaeqcuated 
wkh  niiiiiitiift  ■  ■■!  I '  Oh,  Sir  Robert  Peel,  iumwl  ia  abei»- 
prifldng !  Oh !  gmenboa  of  ttpatms,  whoa  good  could  have 
hifirnt'd  befbtr  you  time .'     What  til  caa  happen  sfter  it ! 

A.  B«  M  loK  yon  mam.  lUow  ifac  iaponMCC  of  fint  poD- 
cipk*? 

f .  HmcIi  m  I  ntfta  >  dnkr  n  nnriiK  «««,  ia  oU  ngt  mi 
Inb:  boch  the  good*  aad  ibe  f»iBci(<ei  are  pacnUjrttoka.  I  Me 
KbcftiMd  in  the  paper* — ■  Elemeaw  of  PoGtkal  Ecooooy,  faf  Sumtt 
Hai,'  u>d  •  Prindpie*  of  Polibcal  EooMtRf,  by  John  HaccnUach.' 
WiD  jo«  tell  me  ia  thi«  caac,  vhoae  are  dw  Pint  Principle*  ?  whidi 
H  the  tnc  SioMS  Pore  J 

'  Smnge  '  thai  wutk  diCcttnee  there  thonld  he 
Twizt  Tium*  Aw  and  Tiiawdh  dr> !  * 


A.  Yoa  ksow  «e  make  it  a  rale  to  facoaamusce  tnrj  atteapt 
ai  wit,  ai  Bwch  as  the  arerU  ia  geaeral  abhor  a  pooitcr. 

S.  Bj  yoor  amg  the  pbraM,  •  attonpo  at  wit,'  it  aroold  aeom  that 
jtn  aiak  there  it  a  trae  aad  a  Uac  wk ;  then  why  do  job  coafaaaJ 
the  dariaetiaa  ?     Ia  tfaii  logical,  or  even  politic  ? 

JL  Thedttference  i*  oot  worth  atteadi^  to. 

S.  Sttll,  I  n^ipoM-,  fOB  hafe  a  great  deal  of  tbb  qaafitjr,  if  job 
choae  to  exert  it : 

R.  I  hacf  not  nncb. 

S.  And  yet  foa  tak«  i^oa  jran  to  dtapiat  k  I  I  ba*«  i 
tbewht  that  the  great  profeaton  of  dte  MMldcts  philoaophy 
hanfly  MK*re  in  the  coMempt  they  e^nai  fer  poetry,  [laiatiag, 
■nnc,  aad  the  Piae  Ana  in  general — that  they  were  pHTiie  amaltari 
aad  [*«*igtM.  pro&cieflia  aaifar  lit  ntt,  and,  Eifce  other  loren,  hid 

their  [P"""-  at  a  weakaew — thai  Mr.  H mtned  a  band-organ 

— dM  Mr.  P warhled  deli^KfUly^-dwi  Mr.  PI had  a 

mwaaoipt  tragady  by  hhn,  called  •  The  Lax  Maai,'  which  he  with- 
btU  ftnai  the  pabGc,  net  to  oomproBuie  the  digaity  of  philoaophy  by 
■gblJiag  any  one  the  cmalletf  acliul  aaeiaGiaioa  dBriBg  the  mm  of 
lai  lutval  Hfe. 

R,  Oh,  no !  yon  are  ante  —i*"^'™  in  tlui  wippoaitioB,  if  yon  are 
at  all  aeriooa  in  it.  So  or  Iron  being  profideata,  or  haTing  waaud 
thtii  time  m  ihcae  trilJiog  pannha,  I  befaarc  aoc  one  of  the  penooa 
yon  have  naawd  hoa  the  kaat  taa«e  or  capacity  fee  them,  or  any  idea 
cotmpoatSag  to  them,  cxem  Mr.  BcMnn,  who  b  food  of  aianc, 
and  layi,  viu  hii  oaaal  iaaAMt  (which  tecnw  to  iacrtaae  with  Ua 


THE  NEW  SCHOOL  OF  REFORM 

ige)  that  he  doe*  aot  see  «rh/  otheri  ihould  doc  find  an  agreeable 
recreation  in  poetry  and  painting.' 

S.  You  are  luic  thi«  cynical  humour  of  thein  it  not  aCectatioDi  at 

H.  I  nm  oaite  (urc  of  ii. 

S,  Then  I  am  lure  it  is  iotolerablc  pretuinptian  id  then  to  thiok 
their  want  of  ta«te  and  knowledge  qualifies  them  to  judge  {en  tattedra) 
ofthew  Arts;  or  if  a  icandard  by  which  to  mcaiurc  the  degree  of 
interest  which  othen  do  or  ought  to  take  in  ihcm.  It  U  the  hdgbt 
of  imjicrtincnce,  mixed  up  with  a  wot»c  principle.  As  to  the 
cxcc«te9  or  cjpriccs  of  posthumous  fame,  like  other  commodities,  it 
soon  finda  iu  level  in  the  market.  Drtur  optima  it  a  tolerably  general 
rule.  It  (1  not  of  forced  or  laaitioua  growth.  People  would  not 
trouble  their  head*  about  Shakespear,  if  he  had  gi*cn  them  no 
plcature,  or  cry  him  up  to  the  ikies,  if  he  bad  not  first  tai*ed  them 
there.  The  world  are  not  grateful  /or  maiiii^.  Shakespear,  it  ii 
(nw,  had  the  misfortune  to  be  born  before  our  time,  and  is  not  ooe  of 
'those  few  and  recent  writers,'  who  monopolise  all  true  greatness  and 
wisdom  (though  not  the  reputation  of  it)  to  theniaelTes.  He  need 
not,  however,  be  treated  with  cooiumely  on  this  account :  the  instance 
might  be  pasted  orer  as  a  solitary  one.  We  shall  have  a  thounnd 
Political  Economists,  before  we  have  another  Shakcspcar. 

R.  Your  mode  of  arriTing  at  concluaons  is  very  different,  I 
ooafess,  from  the  one  to  which  I  have  been  accntromed,  and  is  too 
wild  and  dcBulioty  for  me  to  follow  it.  Allow  me  to  ask  in  my  tutn, 
Do  you  not  admit  Utility  to  be  the  test  of  morals,  as  Reason  is  the 
test  of  Utility  f 

S.  Pray,  what  definition  have  you  (in  the  School)  of  Reason  and 
of  Utility? 

R.  Nay,  tliey  require  no  dclinition ;  the  mesoing  of  both  la  obvious. 

S.  Indeed,  it  is  easy  to  dogmatize  without  definitions,  and  lo  repeat 
broad  auertioos  without  undenundiog  them.  Nothing  in  so  con- 
tenieot  as  to  begin  with  gravely  aMuming  our  own  infallibility,  and 
we  can  then  utter  nothing  but  oracles,  of  course. 

R.  What  is  it^r^u  understand  by  Reason  ? 

S.  It  is  your  husincu  to  answer  the  question ;  but  still.  If  you 
cboote,  I  will  take  the  wnu  upon  myself,  and  interpret  for  you. 

'  One  of  ihcin  hat  frinleri  ■  pcxm  cniiilH  '  RHOKira  j'  whith,  howrwr,  iIms 
nol  (hev  thr  Iritl  l»t*  in  aptcitj  for  fotiry,  or  any  iitt  comifoti-lmi  lo  K. 
B*J  ftttrj  Mtvti  toptovt  tht  tii»«iiC(  ol  pti.  If  lit  pocliy  otcr  like  RhoJopc, 
Ihs  uiiliMaphic  luthor  might  (ulminiic  hii  lottbEroai  •f>iai(  >l  [lloO'li  ot  i^t%i\y, 
livid  ire)  M  loag  ii  h:  pleueil :  bu[  if  thu  were  fxtty,  there  would  be  nu  otcition 
kt  l«  much  sngir  i  no  one  would  resd  it  or  ihioh  my  thinf  ef  it  I 

187 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 


Jt.  I  have  BO  objccnoiit  if  j<m  6q  k  hklj. 

5.  You  (tuU  youriclf  be  jnlgc.  RcaJOOi  with  moa  people,  mean* 
their  own  opcnioo;  ami  I  do  mx  find  yovt  fricod*  *  ponicvlaT 
exception  to  tbc  rule.  Their  dogmatical  toer,  thrir  anogaacr,  ihnr 
lapetciliou)  tteatmeot  of  tlie  pmenaoot  of  otbcrii  their  nljf;ar  conceit 
and  Mtitfactioo  b  their  own  peculiar  ceoeta,  »o  far  frotn  coavtaciag 
me  (hat  they  are  tight,  cODvince  hm  that  they  bubK  be  wrong  (except 
by  accidcci,  or  by  mechanically  parrotiiiig  othcn)  i  (or  no  one  erer 
tlM<r^i  fot  htniadf,  oc  looked  atteoiireiy  at  truth  and  oaiute,  (hat  did 
•et  ttd  bci  own  iBaalScicciqr  and  the  dificvky  aod  delicacy  of  bia 
ta«k.  Self-kDovlcdgc  i*  the  fiiK  atrp  to  wttaJom.  Tbc  ^ariwMt 
Didttium  (who  took  thit  title  at  a  charactetiuic  dHtinctioDt aad  who 
ptofeaied  aa  entire  tuperioriiy  oi-et  |RJKUce  and  aaperMilioo  of  all 
aom,)  were  a*  little  ditpascd  to  have  tlvir  opkiioM  called  ia  <|veMioa 
■•  any  people  I  ever  knew.  Ooc  of  their  prcachcri  thanked  God 
pnblicly  for  bariog  ^vcn  thctn  a  UeraJ  rtugien.  So  was  School 
tkmk  God  in  their  heaita  for  banog  giwo  tbcm  a  SitrM  fhitiitftty  t 
tfamsh  what  with  tbMB  pane*  for  l£eral  it  cooadered  by  tbe  (c«t  of 
the  wwld  I*  Tcry  much  akin  to  iUiberality. 

Jt.  May  I  beteech  yon  to  oome  to  the  point  at  ooce  i 

S.  We  (hall  be  there  ioob  enoogh,  wiifaoat  hurrying.  Reaaofit 
I  concetTC,  in  the  aenae  that  yon  woold  appeal  lo  it,  may  Mgntfy  any 
see  «f  three  ibiaga,  all  of  tbem  tniuflicittit  aa  tetta  mmI  toodanli  of 
moral  aeotimcM,  or  (if  thtt  word  diapleues)  of  moral  condoa : — 
I.  Abairact  trotbi  aa  dixinct  (rom  local  impreauont  or  iodiTiduai 
|tartiaIiM»t  >•  Calm,  inScxihIe  tdf-wiU,  aa  dnttitct  from  paanoat 
3-  Dry  matter  of  bet  or  reality,  aa  dSatna  from  aeDtiiaentality  or 
poetry. 

Ji.  Let  me  hear  yoar  objectioot;  bat  do  for  oooe  adhere  to  the 
track  you  ha*c  chalked  oat. 

S.  'Tberea&ei  aa  it  hapwna.'  You  may  drag  yoar  grautv  tf>'^'^ 
of  crude  a«i>n|idoot  atid  heaTy  paraloeiiini  aloog  yoor  tutrow  iron 
rail-way,  if  yon  pleaae :  hot  let  me  diretge  down  ■  primraae  patha,'  or 
break  my  neck  over  precip«cc«,  aa  I  think  proper. 

R.  Take  your  owa  coorw.  yt  vriifiri  ■on  mma  lavr  tii  wf. 
You  demtff,  if  1  ap^facod  you  right,  to  founding  moral  reccitode  on 
the  men  dictatei  of  the  UoderaiaAding.  Thia  I  grant  to  be  ibr  graitd 
artaHtm  of  the  doariue  of  Utility.  I  deaire  to  know  what  other 
finiadatioii  for  morala  yoa  will  6oa  w  aoltd  i 

S.  1  know  of  Done  ao  flimsy.  What !  would  you  •napend  all  tbe 
natnral  and  prmte  aSecdoBa  oo  the  mere  loocal  deductiimt  of  tbe 
Uaderatandu^  aDd  exomrste  tbc  fbriMT  of  ^  tbe  force,  icsdcfnca^ 
■ad  Gooaiaiicy  tbey  detiie  from  babtt,  local  Bcarscta  or  immediace 

1 86 


THE  NEW  SCHOOL  OF  REFORM 

tjMfaAj,  brciHM  tfa«  bat  ore  ooMnry  to  the  ^lecnUtne  rcMoa  of 
the  ihiogf  I  an  afmi  «ocb  a  tfteculuife  moraliiy  will  ntd  ia 
•wctUatioa,  or  in  •onwthiDg  wont.  An  I  to  ftt\  do  nxNc  for  a 
fnewi  or  a  tdative  («ay)  ihu  for  aa  iahabkaot  of  China  or  of  tfae 
Moon,  be«atue,  aa  a  wXUt  of  argwneoi,  or  Mttinx  atide  that  coo- 
iwctiaD  with  iMt  and  conwdwcd  dwolotely  in  tbenadTca,  the  object* 
arc,  pcrhapi,  of  mmI  nhc?  Or  am  I  to  (crcw  mytclf  op  to  feel  aa 
much  foi  the  AotipodM  (or  God  knowa  who)  a*  for  my  next-door 
Mgbboora,  by  Mcb  a  forctd  iattUccRtal  teak!  The  lut  ia  »■ 
poMbfef  >od  the  raaak  of  Uw  tuenpt  will  be  to  Eoakc  the  bdaoce 
emby  adinnautaoBofeat  luiani  aenaihility,  imtead  of  ao  wareml 
and  mbnited  enlatjenieiit  of  Mr  phHoaefhic  beaetiiteDce.  The 
ftclngi  cnaoi  be  nude  to  keep  pace  with  onr  bare  koowln%e  of 
cxMKBCc  or  of  tnith ;  oor  can  the  affrcticaa  be  diajoiaed  from  the 
unprtwNns  of  tisK,  place,  aad  drcumttacc,  wiihoai  deatroyieg  their 
ntal  prisciple.  Ym,  witlMMi  the  teoic  of  pkatorv  aad  pain,  I  do 
not  ace  what  becoraci  of  the  theory  of  Utility,  vdiich  firat  redncea 
evcfythiofi  to  pleaauic  and  poio,  and  then  tramfJea  vfoo  and  crwbea 
tbeae  by  iti  own  aotereigti  will.  The  cflect  of  thit  iy«tem  it,  tike 
the  tovch  of  the  torpedo,  to  chill  and  poralyae.  We,  notwiihttanding, 
find  pcraooa  scttag  npoo  it  wHh  exemplary  oooJseaa  aod  aclf-coai- 
■laemcy.  One  of  ihcae  'inbciliacd  aarages'  iafomta  aoochcr  who 
orepa  into  hia  ahop  that  new*  ia  come  of  the  death  of  bU  cideat 
daagbter,  adding;,  a  raauer  of  boon — *  I  am  the  only  perton  ia  the 
heoaewhowin  raiany  dinorr  lo^la^  :  ihij di mit mad»tlmd At  Jnuim 
af  Utl&ij ! '  I  percriTc  t)ti(  illuuriuoo  it  not  quite  to  yovr  taate. 
R.  U  it  asy  thing  cnorc  than  the  old  doctrine  of  the  Stoic*  \ 
S.  1  thought  the  ayfiefli  had  been  whoUy  new — the  notable  project 
of  a  'few  and  recent  writera.'  I  could  firaiah  jroa  with  aoo^ier 
parallel  paM^>e  in  the  HTrocairx.' 

R.  I*  it  not  a*  well,  on  any  aytiem,  to  rappreM  tbe  inda^ence  of 
ittordiBate  grief  aod  riolcnt  puuoo,  that  it  u  luelcM  to  the  dead  aa 
it  ia  bnrtfol  to  the  Knog  i 

>  •0!JUi,Umt€n.  c:omc,aiw)  I  wMl  yon  maid  Mlaw  Dr.  CaotacUT* 
fKAtftt,  wbow  |*B(titt  h  iiaiti«an>li  M  wkat  be  tcacba.  VirtaoM  ma  I — 
tbon  all  naawt  nprJi,  IM  eooiUtn  the  •arid  mcnij  ■•  •  esUcetioo  o(  dirt  and 
pbtli  <ont».  How  lua  he  xaoid  oi«  tnm  tonMnl  eaaamioni  t  Mj  heart  it 
BOW  Ml  apM  Dothinc  M^lanary  \  amt,  1  Ihuk  Ncan*,  I  im  «  huaiaii  u 
•«n  tbia(  !■  tUi  *4t  wsrld,  twt  I  m^  ue  yaa,  n,y  too,  mt  '••chlcni  my 
ktathoi,  ny  tns4diUa>cn,  all  cayarc  Mm  mt,  aod  miod  it  do  more  ^a  the 
(olaf  ast  of  *a  WDt»j  loaA  of  a  cislk. 

*  Ciarttat.  Vpoa  nj  ircr<  m«)ini,  K  k  >  very  Irnnu  dkaMhioa  y»t  lu*e 
Wa  able  to  arriw  at,  aad  joar  hnBgr  a  niad  aUi|td  to  thr  Doctor  fat  kii 
■Wfactioaa.' — Act  iu  Scene  i. 

189 


THE   PLAIN   SPEAKER 


S.  If  we  cooJd  indulge  ow  aStctioo*  whiic  they  nu  on  MnoothlT, 
■ad  duord  tbetn  ftom  oui  breacU  tbe  inauni  tbey  &i]  of  tbetr 
objccUi  il  might  be  well,  fitu  ihc  fedittg*,  ibc  habitial  aod  rooted 
■tndaiaiu  of  tl>c  tool,  ue  not  the  creatnm  of  choice  or  of  a  bncifnl 
ibeofy.  To  ulce  the  tiuooit  poMible  intereM  in  ut  object,  and  be 
nuef  ly  aod  ioMiiMueouily  iadijTeieat  to  the  loti  of  it,  m  Dot  exactly 
In  the  order  of  hanun  utive.  We  nay  blvat  or  extirfoie  oof 
fcctiogi  altogether  with  proper  Mndy  and  paini,  by  tU-hamout,  aon> 
ceit,  and  aiTectatioa,  but  not  make  them  die  plaything*  of  a  verbal 

paradox.     I  fancy  if  Mr. had  Ion  a  haBored  pcondt  bv  a  bad 

debt,  or  if  a  lump  of  nxx  had  fallrn  into  hit  broth,  it  woold  bare 
tpoiled  hit  dinner.  The  doctiine  of  Utility  would  not  have  cocne  to 
lui  lid  here.  It  ia  re«cr*ed  for  great  and  irybg  occacioM :  or  aervet 
a«  an  excuae  for  not  affecting  grief  which  Ju  profenor*  do  not  Icel. 
So  nwcfa  ibr  raMo  againu  paaaioo. 

Jt.  But  if  ihcy  do  not  poueat  all  the  aoiineM  and  endeariag 
charttiea  of  prime  lifie,  tbey  bate  the  fittnncu  and  nalUncbifig  hardi- 
hood of  pauiottam  and  devotion  lo  tbc  public  cautt. 

S,  That  i*  what  I  have  yet  to  team.  Thiey  are  a  kind  of 
lahmaeUiea,  whote  hand  u  i^amii  others— iritxt  or  who  tbey  are  for 

J  except  tbenMeWet]  I  do  not  know.  They  do  not  willingly  come 
orward  into  the  nool  nor  eten  abow  tliiero«etve«  in  the  rear  of 
the  battle,  but  are  rrry  ready  to  denounce  and  diublc  thotc  who  arc 
bducrect  cnoagh  (O  do  »o.  They  are  not  for  prtcipitatin^t  a  crifii, 
bat  for  laying  down  certain  general  ptiociplea,  wiuch  will  do  pocteriiy 
a  world  M  good  itnd  [hcmaelre*  no  barm.  They  are  i  ton  of  ottml 
reformer*,  and  patriot*  iiKegmt».  Tbey  get  inug  placet  under 
Government,  and  mar  popolar  Etcctioiia— but  it  ii  to  ndvance  the 
good  of  tbc  CRUae.  Their  tbeorin  ue  u  whole  and  at  alcek  aa 
their  *kin«,  but  thai  there  is  a  certain  jejuncoeH  and  poverty  in 
botli  which  ptercnta  thtu  ever  putting  on  a  wboletonc  or  comfortabk 
appearance. 

R.  Bui  at  leMt  yoa  will  oot  pretend  to  tlenv  tbe  difdnction  (you 
juu  now  hinted  at)  between  thing*  of  real  Utibly  and  merely  fanciltil 
mtereit  ? 

S.  No,  I  idmh  that  dittinctioa  to  tbc  full.  I  only  wiah  yoa  and 
Othera  not  ro  miaiake  it. 

R.  I  hare  not  the  ^tghtcit  gucM  at  what  you  nean. 

S.  1«  there  any  ponible  view  of  the  nibject  (bat  haa  not  been 
canvaated  orer  and  over  again  in  the  Stioc/!  Or  do  you  poc*  over 
■0  poMJUc  objection*  ai  tbc  dream*  of  idle  cmhouiit*?  Let  me 
aik,  hsK  you  not  a  current  diilike  to  any  thing  in  the  (bape  of 
•cBliment  or  in/mmlaSlj  i  for  with  you  they  arc  tbc  same.     Yet 

190 


THE  NEW  SCHOOL  OF  REFORM 


a  thing  and  thr  tMi  about  h  are  not  ibe  cum.  The  oat  about 
Utiliiy  does  sot  detttojr  it*  etteact.  Wbat  <lo  jou  mtaa  by 
taamtHta&ij  i 

R.  I  do  not  know. 

^.  Well :  yon  complain,  howcvec,  (bat  ihbg*  of  ihc  giratcK  ok 
ia  rrality  arc  not  always  of  the  grcaiMt  importance  in  an  imaginary 
and  romantic  point  of  view  ? 

R.  Ccruialy;  thit  it  the  very  jhtoc  of  all  our  weU-groutided 
ceniure  and  diMutiifaction  with  poetry,  ooreJ- writing,  and  other  thing* 
of  that  flimayi  uninr^ning  (tamp. 

S.  It  appcart,  then,  that  there  arc  two  Mindard*  of  Ta)u«  and 
iDodet  of  appreciation  in  human  life,  the  one  practical,  the  oilier 
ideal, — that  that  which  ie  of  the  greatest  moment  to  the  Under- 
tuodin]:  it  often  of  little  or  none  at  all  to  the  Pancyi  and  vKe  vtrui. 
Why  then  force  then  two  ttaodardi  into  oaet  Or  make  the 
UnderMandioj;  judge  of  what  belonga  to  the  Fancy,  any  more  than 
the  Fancy  judge  of  what  belongs  to  the  Underttanding  i  Poetry 
would  make  bad  nuchematicR,  mathematic*  bad  poetry :  why  jumble 
them  together?  LeaTc  things,  that  ace  lo,  icparatc.  Ctaytu  Iribuiu 
jumm. 

R.  I  do  not  yet  comprehend  your  ptcciie  drift. 

5.  Nay,  then,  vou  will  not.  It  it  granted  that  a  certain  thing,  in 
iiacif  highly  useful,  docn  not  alTonl  a*  much  pleaaurc  to  the  imagina- 
tion, or  excite  aa  much  intcrctt  a«  it  ought  to  do,  or  at  some  oilier 
thing  which  is  of  leu  real  and  practical  value.  Uut  why  oushi  it  to 
excite  tliib  degree  of  interest,  if  it  ii  not  its  nature  to  do  lo  ?  Why 
not  set  il  down  to  ixa  proper  account  of  Utility  in  any  philosophical 
eitinute — let  it  go  for  what  it  is  worth  there,  vaUal  ijuanlum  valtl — 
and  let  the  other  Icsa  worthy  and  (if  you  will)  more  mcreiticioua 
object  be  left  free  to  produce  all  the  aeniimeni  and  emotion  it  is 
capable  of,  and  which  the  former  is  iiudetjuatc  to,  and  ita  raluc  be 
estimated  accordingly ! 

R.  Will  you  favour  rae  with  an  illuHratioi^with  any  thing  like 
common  tense  I 

S.  A  table,  a  chair,  a  (ire-«hovel,  a  Dutch-stove  are  useful  things, 
but  they  do  not  exdlc  much  sentiment — they  arc  not  confettedly  the 
poetry  of  human  life. 

R.  No. 

S.  Why  then  endeavour  to  make  them  so ;  OT  in  other  wordai  to 
make  them  more  than  they  are  or  can  become  i  A  lute,  a  tonnet,  a 
picture,  the  tound  of  disunt  belli  can  and  do  excite  an  emotion,  do 
•IJKal  to  the  fancy  and  the  heart  (excuse  this  antiquated  phraseology ! ) 
—why  then  grudge  them  the  pleaauic  they  give  to  the  human  mind, 

191 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 


I  whicb  il  wens  oa  fbe  nry  bee  «f  ihe  argsocM,  jnv^  dbmcm 
— » <liw%hi  Utaky  (whkfa  p»  apt  Ao  cbjeOM  vflrnng/tmom) 
Why  BRK  I  come  u>  joar  ibop,  dwogh  yrte  nywdy  tcfl 
nc  yim  tore  dm  tbc  vtkir  1  «sb>  ?  Or  vby  t««ar,  «k&  L«rd 
PcKf  ■  the  Ttte  €f  a  Tit^  tkH  yaw  leaf  «f  farawa  bread  Motmut 
■U  ^  pvpMcs  of  MMosf  Wlqr  <lepfne  ife  of  «kat  dRB*  aad 
■damn  noK  ikaaof  wbci^fncttk}  A  cUr  i*  food  U  rit  ia  (m 
■  BMtcr  of  bd),  a  tabk  to  wmt  on,  ■  ire  to  «m  om's  tdt  by- 
No  one  dfar«M  it ;  botattbe  MBotiM  I  «aM  wwHti^  «l»  id 
and  occwy  my  niad,  nsMduag  that  ion  dw  Ictsk  of  fmcf, 
jihat  nai  to  think  of  i*  to  M  aaiMim  is.     Baidti  ay 

bo  soofiihod  ooo  Mdnfied  with  pfopCT  MOd*  I'Mi  csd  the  nov 
dreiBMiBCC  of  pnctKal  or  mlUtiEitydoaflata^MtHdlhadare 
b  ao  &r  good  for  aothiBg. 

A.  Bat  ■«  K  tm  to  bo  fared  that  tfcjt  prrfacacc  ihoald  be 
carried  to  ezccM,  and  that  the  caacstial  AoM  be  BCglacttd  fee 
the  Union! 

^.  I  Me  oo  difpomoa  in  mntiBd  to  Deflect  the  eweatkL 
NeoeaWT  haa  do  choke.  They  parwe  the  —  *-'-i^''  aechaincaDy, 
aa/wf  pfacCi  hcTKlf  by  the  Heride,  mi  aaA  m  At  ■amnh: — 
iBOy  drtan  over  the  rotoaotic!  aod  whea  ibeir  uicaiua  are  goidea 
aaei,it  hutj  to  (fi«sfb  theaa.  There  iaaafiidc  ilia^ii  ai  pawiilt 
ef  nocMhcrei  for  the  iaicnai  ii  lUop  amrdf  i^ml  as  be  only  ia 
ba  to  the  pleanre*  thai  it,  the  teal  baaefit  which  atiadt 
A  faKatattfa  of  GaBae<|BeBoea  my  deont^  the  n^ahVi  of 
■ay  bwry  na  away :    tntimm  alone  ■■  JaftlBde,  tiaoe  k 


aod  repatea  oa  iudf.  Like  nercy,  *«  ^oaiiiy  k  aoc 
wabtd:  k  dr^ficth  ai  the  gentle  dew  frota  bene*  tfO*  the  fket 
beneath!' — 

k.  Yoa  hafv  ailtod  me  what  RcaMS  fa :  may  I  adt  yna  what  k 

S.  I  have  toid  yoa  what  Reaaon  n:  mn  AtmU  tel  ne  what 
Beatkaeat  ia.  Or  I  will  ^ve  yonr  leanMcl  profeawci  and  fufuaaJ 
EwtftkfiAmi,  who  lay  dova  Inn  far  the  haaaa  and  wnhoot 
fcjUMM  ajr  «f  the  iprk^  by  which  'a  acta,  five  yMta  m  make  em 
a  wleiaMe  gtem  »  what  k  ■  in  objrcta  that  prodacca  the  fiac  Aowci 
oTSettiBent,  aad  what  k  it  that  leatea  only  die  botk  aad  «alk  of 
Uiitit;  befatnd  h. 

H.  I'bey  are  mocb  obliged  to  you,  but  I  hticj  Uicir  tiiae  fa  better 
amiBOTcd. 

a.  What  I  ia  riagiag  the  chaagca  en  the  ttnc  eaai-ffatwn,  oae 
after  the  otberg  m  oewipapeni  fiiknii  lectarea,  octavo  nunm^ 

191 


THE   NEW  SCHOOL  OF  REFORM 


f 


examitutioot,  *ncl  ptmptAea,  and  KCtng  ao  more  of  the  nuucr  tU  the 
while  thxa  i  blind  hone  in  a  miU  ? 

R.  I  have  alicadj  pnxcRed  agaion  th!*  penooality.  fiat  lurely 
jroa  would  nat  out  boioo  on  a  pu  with  tcality  J 

S.  My  good  fiifod,  let  me  give  yo<a  an  ioMincc  of  my  way  of 
ihiolufig  oQ  thii  putut.  I  met  IJigoum  fthe  wager)  in  tht  sircct  the 
otber  day :  be  wa*  hommiag  n  tune ;  and  hti  ^Ci  thougb  qurached, 
waa  aniliiig.  I  could  Kaccely  (osbeu  fftio$  up  to  apeak  to  bim. 
Why  toi  I  bad  seen  him  in  the  year  1793  ftbe  Grat  tiinc  I  Kttt 
waa  at  a  plav),  with  Suett  and  Miu  Roman/ini  aad  (ome  othen,  in 
No  SoHO  No  Su?PEft  ;  and  ever  «tncc,  tlut  bngbi  * ition  of  my  child- 
hood hat  played  rouxKl  my  fascy  with  unabated,  vivid  delight.  Yet 
the  whole  waa  rictittoutt  your  cynic  pbiloMmbera  will  *aj.  I  wiah 
there  were  bat  a  few  tealitici  that  laMed  ao  fooK,  and  were  followed 
with  ao  little  diuppobuneitt.  The  imagmaFy  ia  what  we  coocetve 
to  be:  it  i«  reality  that  taotalizca  tit  and  tofiM  oat  a  firrinn  ihv  ■• 
the  falac  Florintel! 

R.  Bot  the  Politkal  Economma,  io  dircctme  the  atteatjon  to 
'the  greatest  happiocai  of  the  grcateat  aumbcra,  with  to  provide 
fb(  the  M>lid  coouotu  and  ajueliotatioo  of  human  life. 

S.  Ye*,  tn  a  very  notable  way,  after  their  ^uhioo.  I  tbould  not 
expect  (i<m  men  who  are  jalovt  of  the  mcotion  of  aoy  thing  like 
eajoymcnt,  any  great  anxiety  about  iu  tolid  conaforo.  Tbciri  i«  a 
n-ry  conifortaMe  theory  indeed  1  Tbcy  would  Karve  the  poor  odi- 
ri^lit,  reduce  tbeir  wa^e*  to  what  ii  barely  oecciaary  to  keep  tbcm 
alive,  ifid  if  they  catuiot  work,  refute  them  a  moraet  for  charity.  If 
yoa  hun  at  any  other  remedy  bot  'the  grinding  law  of  oeceMky' 
Mipended  in  urrvrtm  over  the  poor,  they  arc  m  agooiea  and  ibiak 
Ihew  victusi  aje  cicapisg  tbem :  if  yov  talk  of  the  picisurc  of  Debt 
nd  Taxca,  they  regard  yon  u  a  ««ry  commoa'pUcc  penon  indeed, 
Md  aay  they  can  thow  you  catet  is  the  reiga  of  Edward  in.  where, 
wilhovt  any  refereoce  to  Dtbt  or  Taxea,  the  price  of  labour  wa« 
tripled — after  a  plague !  So  tvU  ia  tbeir  inugioaaoa  of  thi*  deaolatiag 
doctriae,  that  aeei  no  hope  of  good  bnl  in  cutting  off  the  cpeeteat  that 
tber  Ay  to  a  peadlenee  m  a  leMyorce  againat  all  our  dificnJtien  -  if  we 
had  bot  a  pewileBae,  k  wooJd  denooMraie  all  tbeir  theoriea  ■ 

R.  Leave  PoJitica]  Ecooony  to  tboae  who  profts*  it,  and  cooie 
back  to  yo«r  myadcil  atet^bynca.  Do  yoa  not  place  actual  acnaa- 
tiOM  before  Katimcstal  refincwwtn  aad  think  the  fonner  the  fine 
dug*  to  be  attended  10  in  a  tooad  foen)  ayKein  i 

$.  I  place  the  heart  is  the  ceeire  of  my  moral  tyKem,  and  the 
acDKa  a»d  the  uixleraBiiding  are  ita  two  extremiiic*.  You  leave 
milling  but  groat,  material  objfca  at  the  eedt  of  puwiil,  and  the  dry, 

nu  TO. :  M  195 


THE   PLAIN  SPEAKER 


formal  calcvtatiatw  of  tbe  aadataadiag  ai  the  meuti  of  eniuring 
tbcai.  [*  ihM  coough  ?  I*  sub  i  mere  aciitMl,  or  a  laere  nuchise 
■or  ptuloiontikal  cxpcrimciia?  All  Out  t«  intenoeiiuic  bermvai 
tbeK  two  I*  *ntimcat!  I  do  noc  woodn  yoa  iMBttiaw  Ad  a 
9aamm,  <MA  you  mleiTour  to  fill  ap  with  tplwa  tod  mmmhnfj. 
Caa  jou  diTm  the  miad  of  tubit,  memory,  imagicunoo,  fomi^Mt 
villi  Can  yoD  make  it  go  ob  ptiyucal  acwationt,  oc  on  tbttna 
RHOo  liooe!  Not  witbooi  nulusg  it  over  aptn.  A*  it  ii  coo- 
ililiHT'*,  KAecboo  recall  wbat  «eoie  haa  once  embodied ;  inuginatiaa 
wvsm  s  thoOTand  ataoctatioDi  round  it,  time  eadcan,  regret,  hope, 
Kesr,  iiMiwmi  ilili  )faapc«  of  Bncenaiii  good  adU  kvnt  acar  iu  I  hear 
the  MOod  rfnihgc  mU* — it  'openau  the  cdbltbm  memory  *lnt' 
— I  tee  a  weU-knowti  proipcct>  my  cyca  are  dim  with  manifold 
recollectioQa.  What  uy  you?  Am  1  only  a*  a  rational  being  to 
bear  the  louod.  to  see  the  obJFCt  with  my  Midily  teiue  !  I«  all  the 
rc«t  to  be  diiaolrcd  ai  an  empty  deliuioo,  by  tbe  potent  (pell  of 
nmariag  pbiloaophy  ?  Or  rather,  hare  not  a  tboaiMj  red  Icclii^ 
■M  iBdocDta  hug  npoB  the«c  impremooa,  of  wtikb  Mch  dim  traces 
aad  doubtivl  raggcaiiaM  we  all  that  i*  W^  i  And  u  it  oot  bencr 
that  tniib  asd  naore  ahoold  apeali  thi*  impcricct  bat  heaitfielt  language, 
than  be  eotirrly  dumb  ?  Aod  thould  wt  not  pmer*c  aad  cfacrith 
tliu  wecioua  luUl  that  coancct*  together  the  finer  CMCOce  of  out  put 
aad  ntme  being  by  tome  cxpremiTe  tymbol,  rather  dun  tuHcr  all  that 
dweri  and  nutaiiM  life  to  fill  imo  the  <lre»  of  nuienai  icnmiou  and 
blmdfeld  igoonBce  i  There,  ncrw,  it  half  a  AAaaoa  of  SeaiiaicK  i 
for  the  othcf  balf  wv  muH  w^t  till  wc  tec  ifac  anicW  ia  cbr  Scotch 
Encyclopedia  ob  tbe  tubjcct.  To  dcprtTc  iim  of  WMimaK,  ii  to 
dqirive  him  of  all  that  ii  intefCMog  to  hinaelf  or  odMn.  except  the 
pceatnt  object  and  a  loocioe  of  caM-phraaea,  aad  to  ttmi  him  uico  a 
•arage,  an  aatomaton,  oe  a  Political  EcooomiK.  Nay  more,  if  we 
arc  to  feel  or  do  nothing  for  which  we  cannot  aidgn  a  preciae  rratrmi 
why  wc  cannot  ao  mndi  a*  walk,  (peak,  hear,  oc  ace,  without  tbe 
•UDC  imcoaacioii%  toqificit  faith— not  a  word,  twt  a  artticocc  but 
haagt  logrthcf  by  a  Bmbcr  of  imperceptible  link*,  and  if  a  bundle  «l 
pre  nd  ice*  and  abMractiooa. 

R.  I  can  make  nothing  of  you  or  yoa  argnncau. 

S.  All  I  would  tay  ia,  thai  yoo  camwt  take  the  meann  of  hanm 
nainre  with  a  pair  of  compaHc*  or  a  Uip  of  parchment :  nor  do  I 
think  it  an  anapicious  opening  to  the  new  PaHlitiJ  MiUramum  to  begin 
with  aetting  our  face*  againtt  all  that  hu  hitherto  kindled  the 
eatbnaiasm,  or  ahmting  the  door  againal  ail  that  may  in  fi>tu.-c  give 
pkaanrc  to  the  world.  Yonr  Elywua  memblea  Daotc'i  Itfrrm — 
*  Who  cnten  tbere  mun  leave  all  hope  bchjad  1  * 

'9* 


QUALIFICATIONS  NECESSARY  TO  SUCCESS 

R.  Tbe  pcKti  baTc  «poiled  you  for  all  radood  »k1  wber  view*  of 
men  ind  today, 

S.  I  had  rMher  be  wrong  wiib  them,  ihao  righ:  with  tatac  othtt 
pcnoM  that  I  codM  itKMion.  I  do  Doe  think  joa  harr  *facwn  much 
tact  Of  coaiccalimKii  of  rcMOoing  in  your  dmnoe  of  the  tyMcia ; 
but  you  hare  only  to  tnnacribe  the  (rit«  arfturaeats  on  the  nbieci,  Kt 
yoor  own  aad  a  bookaellct'a  naioc  to  tben,  and  paia  olT  lor  the  bcMl 
of  a  achool  and  ooe  of  tbc  great  lif^tt  of  the  age ! 


ESSAY  XVIIJ 


ON  THE  QUAUFICATIOKS  KECESSARY  TO  SUCCESS  IM  LIFE 


It  i>  cncioM  to  cooMd^r  the  dirersiiy  of  mcn'a  talents,  aod  the 
cauei  of  their  faiJaie  oi  lucceat,  which  aie  oot  km  Dutnerou*  and 
amradictoey  tlua  their  parioita  in  life.  Poctuxic  doe*  not  always 
amile  oo  laem:^-'  ibc  race  u  not  to  the  nrili,  nor  tbc  battle  lo  the 
Nroog ' :  and  ereo  where  the  caodidacc  for  wealth  or  hoeoort 
ncceeds,  it  i«  aa  o^a,  perhapa,  frooi  the  qualificatioM  which  he 
«UM>  M  from  thote  whkh  be  ptmoKt  [  or  the  emiocDce  which  be  ia 
lucky  etKmgh  to  attain,  h  owing  to  aome  &co]ty  or  ac<iiiueineat, 
which  odtfaer  be  nor  any  body  elce  m|iecicd.  There  ii  a  balance  of 
in  tbc  fatmaa  laiod,  by  which  dcfecia  fre^ocotly  aauit  in 
'  onr  newt,  at  Mficrfliioua  cxccUeooe*  are  coB*erted  into  the 
impcdimeDta ;  aad  apin,  there  ia  a  couaanal  lahMtaMa  of 
owe  taltot  for  sBotberi  throagh  which  we  niNike  the  appearanoe  for 
the  reality,  aod  jadfe  (by  impUcatioo)  of  the  meant  (rotn  the  end. 
So  a  Himtter  of  State  wield*  the  Hoiue  of  Connoooi  by  Irit  matmtr 
alone  J  while  hia  friend*  tnd  hii  foei  are  equally  at  a  )««  to  account 
lot  hi*  inflneace,  lookinj;  for  ii  in  rain  in  the  maner  or  nyle  of  hii 
ipeechea.  So  dw  aii  with  which  a  celebrated  barriater  waved  a 
while  caobtick  haadkcrcbirf  paMcd  for  doqnence.  So  the  buffoon 
ia  taken  for  a  wit.  To  be  thought  viae,  it  i*  fer  the  mott  part  only 
oeceasary  to  aeen  «e ;  aad  the  ooiay  dcfflafogiK  ia  eaMly  traailated, 
by  the  popvlat  voice,  into  the  orator  »d  patriot.  Qnalitiea  lake 
their  coloer  from  thoae  that  are  next  thetn,  aa  the  camelcoD  borrowa 
ita  fane  from  the  nearcM  object  %  and  unable  othrrwiie  to  graap  the 
pbamom  of  oor  choice  or  our  ambttioo,  we  do  well  to  by  noleot 
handa  oa  lORicthiog  ejae  within  oor  reach,  which  bear*  a  gneral 
teaeibhnce  to  it ;  aad  the  imprcMioa  of  which,  in  proportion  aa  the 
thiof  ittelf  t*  cheap  and  wonblcaa,  ia  Ukely  to  be  groaa,  obriona, 

»95 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

Mrikiof,  and  dTectusl.  The  way  to  secure  (uccot,  b  to  be  laore 
■■TJfiM  kboul  obtninioji  than  about  dcterving  it  i  the  tuieol  hiodtance 
to  it  U  to  have  too  hi^b  i  Mandard  ui*  tefincroent  id  our  own  miiid&, 
or  too  high  ao  opinign  ot'  the  ditccramcDi  of  the  public.  He  who  it 
dctcimined  not  to  be  tatUltcd  with  any  tiling  thort  of  perfection,  will 
Dcver  do  anjr  thing  at  all,  cither  to  pIcMc  hinieelf  or  others.  The 
auntioD  it  not  what  we  ought  to  do,  but  what  wc  em  do  fof  the  bcM. 
An  exireM  of  modeaty  i>  m  fact  an  exceu  of  pride,  and  mote  hvniial 
to  the  individuaJ,  and  let*  ^uivaotageout  to  todety,  than  the  giottect 
and  mott  unbluchiog  vaaity — 

Atjuring  to  bt  Godi,  if  aagtU  fell, 
Aspiring  to  be  angtis  men  rebel. 

If  a  celebrated  artitt  in  our  own  day  had  ttald  to  do  juttice  to  bu 
princiaal  figure  in  a  generally  adniircil  paintinci  before  he  bad 
exhibited  it,  it  would  never  have  teen  the  light.  He  hat  pMtcd  on 
to  othfT  thingi  mote  within  hit  pow«r  to  accomplish,  and  more  within 
the  corojwtrncc  of  the  ipcctaior*  to  undcTKand.  They  lee  what  he 
baa  doac,  which  it  a  grcnt  deal — tliey  could  not  haie  judged  of,  or 
f[ivea  hitu  credit  for  the  infjfailt  iJtit  tn  hit  own  mind,  which  he 
might  rainly  have  dcroted  hit  whole  life  tn  endeavouring  to  embody. 
The  picture,  as  it  ia,  it  good  enough  for  the  age  and  foi  the  public 
If  it  had  been  ten  tiraet  better,  ilt  mctiit  would  hare  been  ibrowa 
away :  if  it  had  bren  ton  time*  better  in  the  more  refined  and  lofty 
eODCcpiion  of  characTer  and  Motimcot,  and  had  &iled  ia  the  moee 
palpable  appeal  to  the  icoae«  and  prcjudicea  of  the  vulgar,  in  the  utual 
'appliance*  and  meant  to  boot,'  it  would  never  have  done.  The 
work  might  hive  been  praiwd  by  a  few,  a  tcrjr  few,  and  the  artist 
himself  have  pined  in  penury  and  neglect. — Mr.  Wofdawonh  ha» 
given  u*  the  uitntt  oS  poetry  in  his  wotka,  wiihonl  the  machinery, 
the  ap^uaiut  of  poetical  diction,  the  theatrical  pomp,  tlie  conventional 
ornament*  ;  and  we  icc  what  he  ha4  niade  of  it.  The  way  to  Eainei 
through  merit  alone,  if  the  narroweit,  the  sieepeat,  the  longettt  tba  1 
hardest  of  all  otiiers — (that  it  i*  the  nwst  certain  and  laHing,  l(  even 
a  doubt) — the  mo«t  sterling  reputation  ii,  after  all,  but  a  apecaeiof] 
impotture.  Aa  for  ordinary  ca-tei  of  nicceM  and  failure,  tbcy  depend 
on  the  (lightest  ihade*  of  character  or  turn  of  8cddeo^— *  tome  trick 
not  worth  an  egg ' — 

There'*  hut  the  tvrinkltng  of  a  «ar 
Betwixt  a  man  of  peace  and  war) 
A  thief  and  hitiicc,  fool  and  knave, 
A  huffing  ofticer  and  a  ibvc ; 
196 


^  ■  ft 


QUALIFICATIONS  NECESSARY  TO  SUCCESS 

A  crafty  l3T«i  and  pick-pocket, 
A  gmt  i>hiIi»oph«t  and  «  blockhead  ; 
A  forniJ  preichef  and  a  pbyer, 
A  Irara'd  phyiician  and  manihycr. 

McD  arc  in  numberlcM  iiiMuic««  qualilied  for  certain  things,  for  no 
Other  rca«on  ttuo  bccsiuc  they  ire  qulificd  for  DOthing  rUc.  Nc^tc 
RHrit  ii  tbe  paupon  to  MgattTc  wKce«).  In  cosunoa  life,  the 
narrownm  of  our  Heat  and  appetttr*  i*  more  favourable  to  the  k- 
compluhment  of  onr  dciijtrit,  by  coblifliflu  our  atteMioo  aod  arobmon 
to  one  (iogle  object,  than  a  f;reater  enlargeraent  of  comprehenwon  or 
naoeptibiKt^  of  tarte,  which  (a*  far  u  the  inuiuDel*  of  cnitoin  aad 
rouiiiK  of  boaDCM  are  oonccnwd)  only  operate  m  divenkiai  to  our 
CMOriDg  the  maiMtitntt ;  awl,  even  la  the  punuil  of  aiu  and  aCKece, 
a  dull  pkNJdtns  fellow  will  often  do  better  than  one  of  a  more 
nwTCwia)  and  fiery  can — tlie  mere  uBConaciovmeM  of  hn  own 
deticiendec,  or  of  any  ihtnf>  heyood  what  he  hiniielf  can  do,  recoo- 
diet  him  lo  bi4  mccbanicil  pro^ri^ni,  and  enablei  htm  to  perform  all 
that  It*-*  in  hit  power  with  labour  and  [MiJence.  By  being  cooirnt 
with  mediocrity,  he  ndrancet  beyond  tt ;  whereat  ihe  mao  of  greater 
uai«  or  gcdiaa  may  be  mppoted  to  fling  down  hit  pen  or  pencil  in 
diMpur,  haunted  with  tbe  idea  of  unattainable  excellence,  aaa  tads  in 
being  nothing,  becauae  be  caaoot  be  erery  thing  at  once.  Those 
«»B0  who  hare  tlooe  the  greatnt  thing*,  wwc  not  alwnyi  perhap«  the 
greatevt  men.  To  do  any  gi««n  work,  a  man  ibould  not  be  greater 
in  htmnelf  than  the  work  he  baa  to  do  i  the  facultie*  which  he  hat 
beyond  thit,  will  be  fteMii  to  In,  cither  not  usmI,  or  ated  idly  and 
nnprofttably,  to  hinder,  ikm  to  help.  To  do  anr  ooe  thing  beu,  there 
■boold  be  an  exdwiTcncM,  a  cooceotratioo,  a  ojgotry,  a  olindneM  of 
aitachiDem  to  that  one  object )  *o  chat  the  widcM  range  of  knowledge 
snd  iMMt  diJFusive  tubtlety  of  inirlleci  will  not  uaifbraily  produce  the 
moat  beaefteial  rcanha ;— -aod  the  ptrfomWMr  i*  tcry  frei^oenily  in 
the  inTerte  ratio,  mx  ooly  of  the  pnttenoai,  aa  we  niighi  luperficially 
conclude,  but  of  tbe  real  opacity.  A  fori  it  grraler  flrnn  At  vtrhtU:  \ 
and  this  old  aayioK  KeaM  to  hold  true  in  moral  and  iotellectnal  i 
^nealion*  alao — in  nearly  all  that  relate*  to  the  mind  of  man,  which^' 
cannot  embrace  the  whole,  but  only  a  part. 

I  do  not  think  (to  give  an  tntiance  or  two  of  what  I  mean)  that 
Milton' > .mind  waa  (to  to  (peak)  greater  than  tbe  Pandiic  Lott;  it 
wu  juit  bi{>  enough  to  lill  that  mighty  mould ;  tbe  ahrine  contained 
the  Godhead.  Shaietpear's  jtcniua  wat,  I  ihould  lay,  greater  than 
any  thing  he  has  done,  became  it  (till  toared  free  and  unconfined 
beyond  wbatcTcr  be  undertook — ran  over,  end  could  not  be  '  con- 
itnmed  by  mutcry '  of  hit  tnbjcct.     Goldamith,  in  hi*  Retaliation, 

197 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 


OcMnm  Bmkcaa  out  «bo  wa«  ke|<  ba^  b  bn  dazzKa^  ■*}»«>! 
oner,  bj  ^  npavragRtM  of  fan  ulnwi — 

TiKMwh  eqml  u  alldiM^  fat  all  dMog*  MBfitf 
Too  aiee  tor  a  kM^mm,  Mo  pnaJ  Coc  ■  wit. 

Dr.  JobatoB,  b  Bocv«ll*i  Ufc,  ull*  nt  that  tlie  oaiy  penea 

Pi^ni 


GeoTvmbon  he  mt  tt^ht  far  inf«o*cBamt  wu  Gc«xe  i 
]M  who  koDv*  anj  tUa^  of  thii  extnordiaary  taan  now,  ba  llat  he 
WAUlE  ^"i'*'  twcs^  TDnBDBa  (■  toe  UoiTcnai  "*^'"tt — TP*^itT^i  ft 
FwBHNiH  alpfaabet  anl  wyahniary — hebg  a  nsllj  leaned  nam,  ca»- 
trircd  topua  ibr  aa  la^omr* and  died  m>  oae  kaewi  bovor  «tercl 
TbewcU  kaowaaadiorefthe'EaqwyceaccniDgPolibcalJMbee,* 
n  caatmmoa  hM  bm  a  «onl  t«  ihRw  at  a  dof :  aB  the  •tocea  of 
Btf  BDoemiDBipg  or  cuioa  acrcarrw  lor  hit  boofct^aod  be  oaa  need 
of  tbem,  othcrvnc  vixn  woold  be  tiatm*  im  ^mtutriftit.  He  My* 
(Ht}f,  and  that  Ettk  were  beltei  lefi  alooe^  betnc  both  dolt  and  noo- 
acaacal  t  bit  talk  ••  at  flat  u  a  pncake,  then  U  no  leaven  b  h,  be 
baa  not  d<nf^  eaoegb  to  nuke  a  loaf  and  a  oke ;  be  ha«  mo  ida  of 
■Of  thwg  tiU  be  u  wooad  i^  like  a  dock,  not  lo  tfak,  Ehb  to  write, 
aad  thro  he  teeini  tike  a  pettoo  riwo  froca  ilcep  or  frooi  (be  dead. 
The  author  of  the  Dhirnemi  rf  Pmri^,  oe  the  othet  hand,  bendea 
bemg  the  inTeocor  of  the  theory  of  gmntatx,  was  a  r^*-""',  a  vi^ 
■  maacr  of  cooverotioa,  and  OTcriowbg  with  aa  tuUrabdUr  latffr 
rhir  feOow  had  cm  aad  oooie  agab  b  him,  and 

■  ToogBC  with  a  pi^*h  «f  bnbi  I  * 

bvt  it  ooly  wned  at  an  cxcnae  to  cbeai  pocteritj  of  the  defiuMB  of 
a  verb)  bjr  one  of  thoM  eoarrraaboea]  ma  di  imwn  by  which  he 
pot  off  bu  {oetta  at  WiraUedon  with  tone  leaziag  equToaoe  riidi 
be  wooid  explab  the  aext  tine  tbey  net—and  nnde  him  die  at  lajt 
with  a  watumm  b  bia  nmith!  The  late  Profenot  Ponon  waa  taid 
U  be  a  natch  br  the  Menbet  for  Old  Sanm  b  ifgumeat  aad 
niltcry : — be  wai  a  onhaai  tchobr,  and  had  wit  at  will — yvt  what 
did  it  coBe  to  i  nb  JHU  have  evaporated  «rith  the  nkaiki  of  tbc 
wioe  00  the  tareni  laUc ;  tbr  page  of  Tlmcydidea  or  jEtchyUu* 
which  wai  ■tainpcd  oo  hii  btaici,  md  which  he  cosld  nad  there  with 
equal  facility  bftckvarda  or  Itirwai'df,  ii  codaiool,  after  hj(  death,  aa 
it  wat  whik  he  {i*ed,  jnn  a*  well  ia  the  Toluine  oo  the  lihraiy  ahelf. 
The  HUB  of  perh^  the  groten  abi&ty  bow  living  ii  the  oee  who  haa 
sot  odjT  dooe  the  Imt,  bn  who  it  actaaUy  iac^able  of  ever  doing 
any  tlMft  wncilty  of  Un — nkat  he  had  a  handnd  baodi  to  write 
withf  and  a  hnsdred  novoii  to  utter  all  thM  it  hatB  entered  into  hit , 
ban  to  onceive,  and  centuriei  before  him  to  embody  the  endleM  | 
1^8 


QUALIFICATIONS  NECESSARY  TO  SUCCESS 

Toliune  of  bU  wskui;;  drtaini.  Cloud  rolU  otct  cloud  ;  one  train  oT 
thought  tugKctti  ind  is  drireo  away  by  another ;  theory  after  ihcofjr 
i«  spun  out  of  the  bowels  of  hit  brain,  not  like  the  tpidcr't  web,  com- 

fact  snd  lound,  a  citadel  and  a  in:tre,  built  for  miidiicf  and  for  Met 
ut,  like  the  gossamer,  itrctchcd  out  and  cotangled  without  end, 
c!inKinj{  to  every  casual  object,  Hilling  in  the  idle  aJr,  and  glittering 
only  in  tlie  ray  of  faocy.  No  subject  cm  come  amits  to  him,  and  he 
ji  alcke  attracted  and  alike  iadiffeient  to  all — he  is  not  tied  down  to 
any  one  in  particiUar — but  iioam  from  one  to  another,  hit  mind  crety 
where  finding  it*  lerel,  and  feeling  no  limit  but  thai  of  thonghi — now 
toactng  wiih  its  head  above  the  stars,  now  treading  with  fairy  feet 
among  flowers,  now  winnowing  the  air  with  winged  wordi — paaaing 
from  Duds  Scoius  to  Jacob  Behmen,  from  the  Kantean  philosophy  to 
a  conundrum,  and  from  the  Apocalypie  to  an  acrostic^uking  in  the 
whole  range  of  poeiryt  painting,  wit,  history,  politics,  meiaphytic*, 
criiiciim,  and  private  scandal — every  question  giving  birth  to  aome 
new  thought,  and  evetv  thought  '  ditcoursed  in  eloquent  muRC,'  that 
lives  only  in  the  ear  of  foots,  or  in  the  report  of  abtent  friends.  Set 
him  to  write  a  book,  and  he  belies  all  that  h^  been  ever  said  about 
him— 

Ten  ihoiitanil  great  ideas  filled  his  mind. 

But  with  the  clouds  they  fled,  and  left  no  trace  behind. 

Now  there  is  ,  who  never  had  an  idea  in  his  life,  and  who 

therefore  hat  never  been  prevented  by  the  fastidiout  refinements  of 
self-knowledge,  or  the  dangerous  leduciioni  of  the  Mute,  from  suc- 
ceeding in  a  number  of  things  which  he  ha«  attempted,  to  the  utmost 
extent  of  his  dulnesi,  and  conirary  to  the  advice  and  opinion  of  all  his 
friends.  He  has  written  a  book  without  being  able  to  spell,  by  dint 
of  asking  questions — baa  painted  draperies  with  great  exactness, 
which  have  pasoed  for  finished  portraits — daubi  in  an  unaccountable 
figure  or  two,  with  a  hack-ground,  and  on  due  deliberation  calls  ii 
hiitory — he  it  dubbed  an  Associate  after  being  twenty  times  black- 
bailed,  wini  his  way  to  the  highest  honours  of  the  Academy,  through 
all  the  gradations  of  discomfiture  and  disgrace,  and  may  end  in  being 
loade  a  foreign  Count  I  And  yet  (such  is  the  princigile  of  distributive 
justice  in  matters  of  taste)  he  ii  just  where  lie  was.  We  judge  of 
men  not  by  what  they  do,  but  by  what  they  are,     Ken  ex  qu^i 

Bgnojil  Mtrearjas.     Having  once  got  an  idea  of ,  it  is  impossible 

that  any  thing  he  can  do  should  ercr  alter  it — though  he  were  to 
paint  like  Raphael  and  Michael  Angelo,  no  one  !a  the  secret  would 
give  him  crtidii  for  it,  and  '  though  he  had  all  knowledge,  and  could 
speak  with  the  tongues  of  angels,'  yet  without  genius  be  would  he 

'99 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 


r?. 


9t  tboTM,  act  figi  of 
f  <M  look  at ,  M  j%u  4b  K  a 

ether  f««m  «ycfc  yw 

Fii  TJff.  it  ■  Ik  ■  ■mlibr  will  i  the 

the  poirde  to  al  pnctiol  pvi^b:  lo 
JowBcy'*  cad,  we  ihooid  bek  ink  u  the  rigk  «m  the  Idt ; 
the  kaa«kd{c  e/  escdeaee  m  o6(b  dacta  wd  dimnat,  m  k 
hanAsaiBd  tocxstiea;  aad  hnetwtimftm 
ihagtatiy  itiffaiiiiiiof  tatewrf  Bheci]  an*  i»  — 
wiih  an  iBcnvae  oTindiridMl  piiM. 

A*  there  m  a  degree  of  difaeH  mA  fhkfpa,  wUch,  ■■  the  loa( 
uetlii  thas  the  bmr  ■ofale  ^ad  BMnai 
lef  ODrsMve  (aa  the  bca^  by  ka  lare  tndaf  ovstah**  the 
ag),  »  tfarre  it  ■  iiepve  of  wivai  iptni*  aad  ihciwy 
iln  ki  powfw on  'to  gn  Ae  or  cf  the 
mjta^  vorid,'  aad  bar  the  patai  akae.  How  oAta  do  ««  aw 
viffsckr  wd  mpaftkifBce  micakcA  fo'  vk  i  pbcbcj  mt  arjnomi 
adoadlbr  MMet  alowlac  ■■•calvoiccibr  doqasaeel  lapadoce 
agab  k  aa  eqainl^  &»  oovMe  (  aad  the  aaaaHplaaB  of  makaad 
l£e  poHTMMM  of  k  art  too  oraa  oaaaikwd  aa  ooe  aad  the  Mse 
lMfl|^  (/■  the  fiOBO  htwdi  OMpicXf  9t  nMMV  tedocti  the  pafaott 
who  CMMC  ao  nr  fOfCfo  hk  ofluvo  oipoaaaoa  aa  by  aoj  cioct  vo 
rink*  k  off,  to  peiliKi  hiriyiitcMnn.  ia  the  cyn  of  the  riipg,  who»  if 
ya*  do  not  leeai  todeate  yoor  owa  pnteaacaa,  «iO  Be««r^w«ioa 
iheaii  aodoB  the  nne  priocipie,  if  yaa  do  aot  try  to  pahi  joanelf 
oa  thcB  ftr  arfaat  3KM  an  not,  aill  never  be  pennaded  jon  can  be 
wmf  thiag.  Adainboa,  bice  mocking,  ii  oechiac:  aad  the  food 
eiMMM  vhaeh  gtta  abroad  of  at  bc{ttM  at  ho«Be.  If  a  HMa  n  aet  aa 
aach  iiraiiiih»d  m  bia  o«b  ac^Bir»ala — aa  praad  of  aad  aa  diligbuJ 
vkh  the  baMl^  aa  uuwit  voaU  be  a  pat  Mto  aaaatB  iVfaaMoa  of 
i^ihcjr  hold  that  tne  deast  ad  be  ■■«  bo 
if  he  eatenan  v  Uea  bejaad  bk  on 
prak,  they  ttaak  ««ry  wkdjr  be  can  luov  aotbiag  at  all  i  if  be 
docBaotp%  ofthet^Mci  or  the  ouuotab  ayca  thcai  at  ewgy  Wp» 
thejp  are  coaMww  he  »  a  daace  aad  a  feOew  of  oo  yettf  ioei,  It 
baa  beea  lotaedBiea  Bade  a  natter  of  auprite  that  Mr.  Pin  did  dm 
talk  pobSca  oat  of  the  Hoaw  t  or  that  Vu.  Fo*  oattrcrMd  like  any 
ooe  eke  oo  fxmmin  ad>jecti  i  or  due  WaHcr  Scott  n  loader  of  wa 
old  Seotcb  diiqr  or  aati^oaiMB  record,  tfcaa  of  Kneaiag  W  the  praites 
of  the  Author  of  Wavcrley.     Oo  the  cootrary,  I  caBot  cooceiw 

too 


QUALIFICATIONS  NECESSARY  TO  SUCCESS 

how  x»f  one  who  (edi  conscioiu  of  ceruio  power«i  ihoold  alwayt  be 
labouriiig  to  convince  otlicrt  of  the  fact ;  or  how  a  penon,  to  whom 
their  cxcrciec  it  u  familiar  an  the  btcath  he  drawn,  thould  think  it 
worth  bis  white  to  connnoc  lh*ni  of  what  to  him  must  iwm  »o  very 
limplc,  and  at  the  uinic  time,  ro  very  evident.  I  «hould  not  wonder, 
however,  if  the  author  of  the  Scotch  Novels  laid  as  undue  ttreai  on 
the  prai»ct  of  the  Muuattery.  We  ourie  the  ricketty  child)  and 
prop  up  our  want  of  »elfconlidence  by  the  opinion  of  friends.  A 
man  (unlets  he  it  a  fool)  it  never  vtm,  but  when  he  ttands  in  need 
of  the  tribute  of  adulation  to  strengthen  the  hoUownesi  of  hit  pre- 
tensions ;  nor  tonceiitA,  but  when  he  can  find  do  one  to  flatter  him, 
and  is  obliged  secretly  to  pamper  his  good  opinion  of  liimtelf,  to  make 
up  for  the  want  of  tympnthy  in  others.  A  Jamntd  author  hat  the 
highest  sense  of  hit  own  merits,  and  an  incxpr(«t«ble  contempt  for 
the  judgment  of  hit  coniemuoraiies )  in  the  tame  muaner  that  an 
actor  who  it  biued  or  hooted  from  the  stage,  creeps  into  exuuiiite 
favour  with  himself,  in  proportion  to  the  blindnciis  and  injuttice  of 
the  public.  A  prote-writer,  who  has  beet)  severely  handled  in  the 
Reviews,  will  try  to  persuade  himself  that  there  is  nobody  else  who 
can  write  a  word  of  E!n][lish  :  and  we  have  seen  a  poet  of  our  timci 
whose  works  have  been  much,  but  not  (as  he  thought)  tulficiently 
admired,  undertake  Ibrmally  to  prove,  that  no  poet,  who  deserved 
the  name  of  ooe,  was  ever  popular  io  his  life-time,  or  scarcely  after 
his  death  I 

There  is  notliinjt  that  floats  a  man  sooner  into  the  tide  of  reputa- 
tion, or  ofiencr  passes  current  for  geniui,  than  what  might  be  called 
teatiitulianal  laJtni.  A  man  without  thii,  whatever  may  lie  his  worth 
or  real  powers,  will  no  more  get  on  in  the  world  than  a  leaden 
Mercury  will  fly  into  the  air ;  as  any  pretender  with  it,  and  with  no 
one  (]Uftlity  beside  to  recommend  him,  will  be  sure  either  to  blunder 
upon  luccess,  or  will  let  foilure  at  defiance.  By  coDititutiooal  talent 
I  meant  in  geoeral,  the  waimih  and  vigour  given  to  >  man's  idea*  tod 
pursuita  by  hit  bodily  tiamina,  by  mere  physical  organtution.  A 
weak  mind  io  a  sound  body  is  better,  or  at  least  more  profitable,  than 
■  Muiid  mind  in  a  weak  and  crazy  conformation.  How  many 
innances  might  I  quote  I  I.ct  a  man  have  a  <]uick  circulation,  a 
good  digeilioa,  the  bulk,  nnd  thews,  and  sincvt  of  a  man,  and 
the  alacrity,  the  unthinking  confidence  inspired  by  these  i  and 
without  an  atom,  a  shadow  of  the  mm/  Jrvmivr,  he  shall  tuui 
and  swaK;per  and  vapour  and  jostle  his  way  through  life,  and 
have  the  upper-hand  of  those  who  arc  hit  belters  in  every  thing 
bin  health  and  strength.  His  jests  shall  be  echoed  with  loud  laughter, 
because  bis  own  lungs  begin  to  crow  like  chanticleer,  before  he  hM 

SOI 


THE   PLAIN  SPEAKER 


dM«M 


m 


vith  bB  aa  iadiffcr caE  newpdoB  ia  tfac  woHd — ud  that 
'  by  a  csifkaf  aindfeibsitlLtaad  a  voi  koibmIi,  ia 

>  PrII  Sk.  na  ilMMil  tbfic  wotriMppm.' 


Hracc  tba  ■KCMW  of  (och  pcnoM  did  cot  cormfood  witb  tlKcr 
dcwna.  Tier*  vac  a  Bacanl  eoatn&ctioB  between  tfce  phjiaogaomy 
of  their  miDdi  asd  bodiea!  The  plrnae,  *s  goed4«>okin(  mm,' 
Bcasa  diOtfcut  thii^a  n  tovo  aod  coudCfT  t  and  artMta  have  a 
Kpantc  ^**"*^*  n  ocBttT  iiuui  fKhff  pcoMe*  ^L  ooaatftr^vBii'c  la 
tboH^  cmdJaohiDf!,  «b«  ia  >■  good  coodnion  like  hia  hone:  a 
cooatry-nnKT,  to  take  ibc  Kigbbova'  cyca,  smtt  aeea  Kaltfcd,  Bke 
the  pri»-«  i  ihcy  aak.  •  how  bt  csa  op  b  the  ad*  how  he  t^lowa 
m  the  kidacfi.'  The  iMtr-rf-raetammdttim  btxt  b  gMcnl,  ii  oot 
oov  that  cxprewca  toe  6mt  akovciucnta  of  tboayht  or  of  the  iooli  wi 
that  make*  pan  of  a  ngoroM  and  heakhy  fociB.  It  ia  one  ia  wUA 
Cupid    and   Mara   take  sp   tbar  4]ttartera,   nibef   litan   Saturn   ot 

tot 


QUALIFICATIONS  NECESSARY  TO  SUCCESS 

Hercury.  It  nay  be  objected  here  that  mok  of  the  fftaum 
litimilM  of  fortune  bare  bwD  little  men.  '  A  little  nun,  but  of  high 
£uicy,'  i*  Steroe'i  deKription  of  Mr.  Hamnwod  Skuwly.  But  then 
ihey  ha*e  bc«i  poKCttcd  of  (trong  fibre*  and  an  iron  comaiiinion.  The 
late  Mr.  Wc»t  ukl,  that  Buooapane  was  llic  bcat-nudc  nun  he  ever 
law  in  hii  life.  Id  other  caaet.  the  gantlet  of  cooiempt  which  a 
pMiy  body  and  a  &tij  tpirit  are  forced  to  run,  may  determine  the 
peuetsor*  to  aim  at  great  actiooa ;  indignation  may  make  men  heroea 
at  well  at  poet*,  and  thut  retenge  them  oo  the  BigprdliocM  of  DSton 
and  the  prejodicei  of  the  world.  I  rcmember^(r>  Wordtworth'a 
tapDg,  that  he  tboQght  iogerioua  poeta  had  bera  of  toiall  a»d  delicate 
frames,  like  Pope;  but  that  the  g'eateal  (luch  aa  Shakupeir  and 
Milton)  had  been  healthy,  and  caat  in  a  larger  and  haadmner  mosld. 
So  were  Titian,  Raphael,  and  Miduel  Ai^Io.  Thii  ia  one  of  the 
kw  obaerratkmi  of  Mr.  Wordrworth'a  I  recollect  worth  <)UOting,  and 
I  accordin^y  aet  it  down  aa  hit,  becatMC  I  underttaod  be  it  tenactona 
OS  that  foinc 

In  lore,  in  war,  in  conreraadoot  is  bwioeM,  coniidcnw  and  reaolu- 
tioa  arc  the  principal  thiogi.    Hence  the  poet'a  tcaaoMg : 

'  For  women,  been  to  be  controU'd, 
Afftct  the  loud,  the  rain,  the  bold.' 

Nor  ia  thit  peculiar  to  them,  bat  ran*  all  through  life.  It  ia  the 
opnuon  we  appear  to  coeertain  of  onrKlTn,  from  which  (thiakiag  wt 
aww  be  the  ben  jndgca  of  oor  own  inerita)  odbcn  accept  their  ida  of 
e*  on  trwt.  It  ia  taken  Ibr  granted  that  ereiy  one  pretcoda  to  the 
■ciiioat  be  can  do,  and  he  who  pretend*  to  little,  it  tuppoacd  capable 
of  nothing.  The  humility  of  our  approacbea  to  power  at  bcanCf 
CHoret  a  repnlte,  and  tbe  repnlae  maJiea  ua  ODWiUing  to  renew  the 
a|iplicaiioa ;  for  there  ia  prioe  at  well  aa  fanmility  in  tfaii  babitoal 
hackwardoea*  and  reaerve.  If  yon  do  oot  baity  tbe  world,  ibcy  will 
be  tore  to  iDank  orer  yov,  becaitte  ihcy  think  they  can  do  it  with 
■BtpOBity.  Tbey  inaiK  spon  the  arrogant  aMimptioB  of  a^crioncf 
aomewWe,  and  if  yon  do  om  ptevcM  them,  tbey  will  ptacttae  k  OB 
yov.  Socne  one  raoat  top  tbe  part  of  Captain  in  the  play.  Senilitj' 
bowcrer  cbimea  in,  and  paya  Scrub  in  the  &rce.  Men  patraniae  the 
bwmig  and  obaeqnioui,  aa  they  •oboiit  to  the  vain  and  noaatfiiL  It 
b  tbe  air  of  nooieaty  and  indepefaleiKe,  which  will  ndtber  be  put 

ro  itaelf,  Bor  p«tnaootbir>,tbK  tbey  caMOl  «odwe — that  excite* 
the  indixnaoon  tbey  ibaiild  feel  li>r  pompona  aA^tation,  and  all 
the  contempt  they  do  not  ibow  to  meanne**  and  dnpltciiy.  Our 
indolence,  and  perhapa  our  en*y  take  part  with  our  cowardice  and 
Tanitf  to  all  thit.     The  obtnuifc  claim*  of  empty  oaientatioo,  played 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKEA 


off  Gke  the  liag  <h  the  iofo,  tmaaia%  ^A  t-t*'-'^  ib  ok  m^, 
rrlicT*  M  tnm  tfac  irfcHBc  oiA  of  icekiaf  a«  eWiR  acric  i  the 
MnB  at  viracs  «naia  «■  dtc  bold  froat,  «  triiBjttBt  in  ikc 

H(  ovnctvvi!  onnBib  ov  mIMovb  reocrw  ft  mm  ccmhm 
froM  wcBittrkg  dK  flKcc  teaMMtK  tbH  ibe  mU  iJwute  af 
MTlkt  fall;  cAkUm  w  fad  the  UocL^  M  iNCT  tW  WW  m** 
had,  ad  cvMc  wMka  M  «e  the  kw*^  bf  Id*  ova  good  kne^ 


•DoafatleiHthe, 


baBoMik  then  leeini  a  ton  ot  eampnama^  a  friadftt  wi  t 
Dctweoi  tMfoHMiv  lou  oquuCt-  it  JIM  Mft  vha  ton  oa  a 
iMK  •wiw&d  tnttfif  <tf  Ihar  (wid^  j«a  wiO  fad  the;  «  aU 
BMf  am,  with  plaaribie  aHaen  or  ahaadnae  cqapgcw  hind  «■ 
ptfftMr :— ^  jrea  mk  w4ui  lort  of  pIbMi  hate  rabbad  woon  af 
thtir  honmFoawai  fad  ^c;  an  dkOMwho  h»«  jSad  hwdiadt 
btiaw^  Ban  awith  vha  wulia|  air  caaoowv  tw  pfojccc  of  kxia^  tha 
bMHt  la  ouMJf"— tt>  QK  bira  flantfii  tfi  idle  wiap  n  the  ^w>  of 

it  I  TXirv  a  wm  lemilitg  tt  afftatamta,  wc  arc  told ;  bat  thii  aaxin 
is  of  ao  and,  far  mim  stv  the  ock  depn  at  thtB.  Lifr,  it  baa 
bHB  miA,  ii  'the  ui  of  bnag  mffl  deodwdt'  Md  accotifiai^, 
hyfocriw  ■wi  to  be  the  great  bMaewof  aaaiaad.  Tbeomeof 
Mftaae  ^  fae  tha  laoM  fan^  tet  wn  with  miiauisi  lo  thx  ho  wha 
wB  BOt  cat  k  beOBK  he  faM  po  gold  ia  hiiBOckct,aa«flt  «■  ilio«« 

k>lfhi*t>me.Ml  leaUac^Kagf  MC^Mgi^t^'M-  l>dmaef 
'»,iM  aiaciT-aiae  ca«i  o«  of  a  haadrad,  ooaiMitad  » laHsdn  t  aad 
aaocn^  at  pv|H3a  m  tha  ^faatoii  iffiPQat  that  caa  ba  ^hcivq  to 
caoctj*  iQ  >DMt oa  aapie trvht  tt  to  atKfunn  TOarwtf  vm  plaoe 
or  pmoon£e  the  lea  yoa  deaene,  tfae  note  lacta  u  iheu  eocoaa^ 
i^yoat  and  he  who,  n  the  Knggle  far  disiacliaa,  tnMB  to  leafiiiei 
aad  not  to  anearacc«,  will  io  the  end  fad  Unidf  the  object  of 
aavcnalbaOM  sd  aoon.    A  aaa  who  iliaka  <a  gra  aad  km  the 

pribGcawbrthrfaraaafirrl^wSifaditvvryapUl  wotkt  <}«■ 
~  I  ID  \am  far  a  paat  a«hor,  ^oa  oQ|ht  aat  to  look  » if  yoa  wen 
lur  yoa  had  ctcr  vtittai  a  aeacesoa  or  dacoeeml  a  na^e 
msh.  If  yon  kcrp  fov  owB  aecret,  be  iMatcd  the  world  wdl  keep 
it  far  joa.  A  aniier,  when  I  koow  aery  wcB^  oaaot  pfa  aa 
adawaioa  ID  Drwy-laae  Tbeaii^  bacMK  ht  data  aat  bBage  iaao  the 
Inhbita,  or  Mp  m  the  .Shitryar-  aay,  tha  aiae  poaoa  baviag 
wniMa  Bpaaiila  ol  aucty  ooMam  oi  onjiaal  laattef  oo  politicly 
S04 


QUALIFICATIONS  NECESSARY  TO  SUCCESS 

criticUm,  bclles-Ictuc^i  and  virii  in  a  rrtpecublc  Maioiag  Piper,  ia 
a  ungl«  iLiif-ytai,  wan,  at  die  tad  of  that  period,  oa  applyiu];  for  a 
icQCwaJ  of  hia  cojiagemeat,  lold  by  tlic  Editor  '  he  might  give  in  a 
spccimra  of  what  he  could  do! '  One  would  dunk  itxty  culuniiii  of 
the  MotnioK  Chronicle  were  i  lulHcicnc  (pecimen  of  what  a  man 
could  do.  But  while  this  {icrton  wm  thinking  of  hia  next  answer  to 
Vclus,  ot  hi»  account  of  Mr.  Kcan't  performance  of  Hanikt,  he  had 
ocglccitd  ■  to  point  the  toct'  to  hold  up  his  head  lusher  than  usual 
(bavioi;  acquired  a  habit  of  poring  over  book*  when  jrouofl},  and  ta 
get  4  ni-w  velvet  collar  to  on  oldf^ultioned  grtat  coot.  The»e  arc 
'  the  graceful  ornament*  to  the  columnt  of  a  newtpaper — the  Corin- 
thian capital)  of  a  poliihed  (tyle ! '  Thii  unprolitablc  tcrvant  of  the 
pret*  found  no  dUfcrcnce  io  hinuetf  before  or  after  he  became  known 
to  the  readers  of  the  Morning  Qironiclc,  and  ii  accordingly  nude  no 
diifcrcDce  in  hit  appearance  or  ptetcnaians.     *  Don't  yon  remember,* 

tayt  Gray,  in  one  of  hia  leiiecs,  '  Lord  C and  Lord  M — 

who  are  now  great  atateimen,  Uttle  dirty  bovt  playing  at  cricket! 
For  my  own  part,  I  don'l  tcel  mytielf  a  bit  taller,  or  older,  or  wiwr, 
than  I  did  then.'  It  ia  no  wonder  that  a  poet,  who  thonght  in  thia 
manner  of  himiicif,  wai  hunted  from  college  to  college, — has  lelt  ua 
to  few  precious  tpccimens  of  hia  fine  powers,  and  shrunk  from  hit 
reputation  into  a  tilent  grave  ! 

'  I  never  knew  a  man  of  geniua  a  coxcomb  in  dreat,'  aaid  a 
man  of  geniui  and  a  sloven  in  drc«s.  I  da  know  a  man  of  geniua 
who  is  a  coxcomb  ia  hii  dress,  and  in  every  thing  else.  But 
let  that  pus. 

'  C'tn  on  mauvaii  mfticr  que  eelui  de  mfdire.' 

I  alao  know  an  anist  who  has  at  least  the  ambition  and  the  boldnen 
of  geniua,  who  has  been  reproached  with  being  a  coxcomb,  and  with 
affecting  aingularity  in  hit  dreti  and  demeanour.  If  he  ii  a  coxcomb 
that  way,  he  ia  not  to  io  himself,  but  a  rattling  hair-brained  fellow, 
with  a  great  deal  of  unconstrained  gaiety,  and  inipciuous  (not  to  tay 
turbulent)  life  of  mind!  Hafrpy  it  ia  when  j  man'a  exuberance  m 
aclf-love  Hies  olf  to  the  circumfereoce  of  a  broad -brimmed  hat, 
dcKends  to  the  toea  of  hia  sboe>,  or  carriei  ittelf  olf  with  the 
peculiarity  of  fail  gait,  or  even  vents  itself  in  a  little  professional 
quackery  ; — ud  when  he  tcemi  to  think  sometimes  of  you,  sometimet 
m  himaelf,  and  sometimes  of  others,  and  yoo  do  not  feci  it  nece»ary 
to  pay  to  him  all  the  finical  devotion,  or  to  submit  to  be  treated  with 
the  Rcocnful  neglect  of  a  proud  beauty,  or  some  Prince  Prettyman. 
It  is  well  to  be  aomethiog  besidca  tlw  coxcomb,  for  our  own  sake  u 
well  aa  that  of  others  i  but  to  be  bom  wholly  without  thia  fiiculty  or 

MS 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 


ffh  of  ProrUean)  a  nun  had  better  hiTC  bod  a  ttaot  lied  about  hi* 
neck,  xad  beco  cait  into  the  tea. 

1b  geacral,  the  con*ciou«n«u  of  internal  power  leada  ratber  to  a 
diw^rd  of,  than  a  utiKtted  aticoiioD  to  cxtcftul  appearance  The 
wear  and  tear  of  the  mind  doct  dm  improTc  the  (Icek&CM  of  the  Ala, 
or  the  daKicity  of  the  iuiiacle«.  Tbc  bunbrn  of  thought  weigh*  down 
the  body  like  a  porter't  botihm,  A  nuo  caanot  Maad  lo  upright  or 
more  lo  britUy  uoder  it  ai  if  he  had  nothiitg  to  carry  in  bii  bead  or 
on  hit  ibonlden.  TIk  ro»c  oo  the  cheek  aad  tbe  canker  at  the 
heart  do  not  flourish  at  the  tame  time ;  and  be  wbo  liu  much  to 
thiak  of,  tnuu  take  mitoy  thing*  to  heart ;  for  thoi^bt  and  feeling  are 
ooe.  He  who  can  tnily  uy,  A'iiH  inMoi  a  mt  aEaaim  fulo,  hat  a 
world  of  caret  oo  hii  haodB,  which  nobody  knows  any  thing  of  but 
himaelf.  This  ii  not  one  of  tbc  Icait  nuwrie*  of  a  atudtout  life.  Tbc 
comiuoo  herd  do  not  by  aoy  meas)  gire  htm  full  credit  for  hli 

Eatnitooi  tyinpalhv  with  tfaetr  coocemit  but  ate  (truck  with  lua 
;k4ustre  eye  aoo  watted  appearance.  Tbtry  cannot  traatbte  the 
expreMioD  of  lut  couiKctiance  out  of  tbe  rulgate  i  they  mittake  tbe 
knitting  of  hi*  brow*  for  the  frown  of  ditpteantrc,  the  patencM  of 
ftady  fet  the  bagnor  of  dckneM,  the  forrowi  ot  thought  foe  tbe 
ngaur  amroKbea  of  old  age.  Tbey  read  hii  look*,  not  bis  book* ; 
hare  Kt  cfoe  to  penetrate  ibe  last  recctaet  of  the  niiiidt  and  attiibate 
ibe  height  of  abctraction  to  more  than  an  ordinary  share  of  tCupidity. 

'  Mf. ncret  srenw  to  ukc  the  ilightctt  iat«re«  in  any  tbtng,*  i* 

a  tctnark  I  bare  often  he«rd  nude  io  a  whisper.  People  do  OM  like 
your  pbilotoptief  at  tit,  for  he  doe*  not  look,  say,  or  think  as  tbey 
do  I  aod  tbey  respect  btm  still  less.  Tbe  na'ptny  go  by  person^ 
appearaocet,  not  by  prool^  of  intellectu:il  power  t  and  tbey  are  quite 
nght  to  this,  for  they  are  better  judges  of  tbe  one  than  of  the  oUier. 
There  is  a  large  party  wbo  anderralue  Mr.  Kean'*  acting,  (and  Tcry 
properly,  i*  fu-  at  tbey  are  coocctDcd,)  for  ibcy  can  see  that  he  is  a 
tittle  ill-rnade  man,  but  they  arc  incapable  of  rnicring  into  the  depth 
and  height  of  the  jMision  in  hi*  Oihelto.  A  nobleman  of  high  rank, 
■ciMe,  and  merit,  who  had  accepted  an  order  of  knighthood,  on  being 
dialleoged  for  ao  doing  by  a  friend,  at  a  thing  rather  degrading  to  him 
than  ouerwise,  made  answer — •  What  you  say,  may  be  rery  trve ) 
but  I  am  a  little  man,  and  am  •onvtiiDe*  jostled,  and  treated  with  TCry 
tilttc  ceremony  in  walking  along  the  Mieetst  now  the  advantage  of 
this  new  honour  will  be  thui  when  people  wc  the  star  at  my  breast, 
tbey  will  erery  one  make  way  for  me  with  tbe  greatest  rcifieet.' 
Pope  beot  himself  double  and  rvined  hi*  coBttituiioa  by  Ot«f-«nidy 
wben  yoaog.  He  was  hartilv  indemnSed  by  all  hii  pottuiinous  Gune, 
<tbe  Battery  that  soothes  the  dtiU  cold  ear  of  death,'  nor  by  the 
xo6 


QUALIFICATIONS  NECESSARY  TO  SUCCESS 

admiraiioD  of  hii  frienilK,  not  the  friendahip  of  the  j^reac,  for  the  dis* 
lortioD  of  hit  perion,  the  want  of  rubuit  health,  and  the  iatieniiicant 
figwe  he  made  in  the  eye*  of  sttangeri,  and  of  Lady  Mary  Wonley 
Montague.  Not  only  wat  hit  diminutive  and  mif^thapen  forni  agaiast 
him  JD  such  trivial  toys  bot  it  waf  made  a  wt-otf  Aiid  a  bar  to  big 
pociidl  nrctcniiioos  by  hii  brother -poets,  who  ingeiiiou«ly  coDvcried 
ibe  inniaJ  and  final  leltcra  of  lila  name  into  the  invidioiu  appellation 
A.  P.  E.  He  protMbly  had  the  putage  made  under-ground  from  hti 
guden  to  hit  grotto,  that  be  might  not  be  rudely  gazed  ai  in  crotting 
the  road  by  wmc  untutored  clcwn ;  and  perhapi  nanod  lo  ste  the 
worm  he  trod  upon  wrtlhed  into  hi*  own  form,  like  BIshic  the  BUck 
Dwarf.  Let  tho«e  who  think  the  mind  everything  and  ifac  body 
nothing,  'ere  we  have  thuffled  oiT  thia  mortal  coil,*  read  that  fine 
moral  fiction,  or  the  real  Hory  of  Uatid  Rhcbie — beUerc  and 
tremble ! ' 

It  may  be  urged  that  there  ii  a  remedy  for  all  thii  in  the  appeal 
from  the  ignorant  many  to  the  cnligbiencd  few.  But  the  few  who 
tre  judge*  of  what  it  called  real  and  tolid  merit,  axe  not  forward  lo 
comoiDnicatc  their  occult  dticoTerica  to  othen;  they  arc  wtthbcUl 
nttly  by  enry,  and  partly  by  puiiilanlmity.  The  strongest  minda  are 
by  right!  the  mo«t  iadrpeodcnt  and  iogenioua;  btit  then  they  are 
competitor*  in  ibe  titta,  aiid  jealous  of  the  prize.  The  prudent  (and 
the  wiic  arc  prudent ! )  only  add  their  hearty  applauK  to  the  accuma- 
tiooi  of  the  multitude,  which  they  can  neither  titencc  nor  dtipulc. 
So  Mr.  Giffbrd  dedicated  thow  v«r»ci  to  Mr.  Hoppner,  when 
Kcurely  leated  on  the  heights  of  lame  and  fortune,  whidi  before  he 
thought  might  hiTC  taroured  too  much  of  flatietT  or  friccdship. 
Tho«e  even  who  have  the  sagacity  to  dtscorer  it,  seldom  volunteer  to 
introduce  obscure  merit  into  publicity,  so  aa  to  endanger  their  own 
pretension* :  they  praioc  the  world's  idotii,  and  bow  down  at  the  altars 
which  they  cannot  overturn  by  violeocc  or  undermine  by  Mealth ! 
Suppose  literary  men  to  be  the  judges  and  vouchers  for  literary  merit : 

>  It  is  more  dcsinblc  lo  be  the  hia<Uamat  than  ihc  wimt  man  in  hii  Mijcslf's 
Haminiont,  for  (hen  «rc  nor*  pcapk  who  havi  cjn  than  aDdcntsodiogi.  Sir 
J  aha  SucUinf  tdl*  oi  that 

H«  piiiH  black  tyr*  lail  ■  lurkjr  kit 
At  bowls,  ibon  lU  tile  (lophic*  of  wil, 

la  l!k<  msBticr,  I  wimtil  be  ftnanicn  lu  ny,  that  I  un  lonicwbit  tick  of  this 
trsiie  of  4u(honhip,  where  fhr  (r^iU-t  luak  ivluocg  it  ont't  bot-mr^nt  fffnrtt,  but 
im  Mill  land  of  tboK  alhlclic  cKrtixt,  irhfti  thrjr  do  aoi  k«r)i  \wo  koco  eo 
mark  tht  tfit,  with  Whii  snil  Tor;  nvtchci.  The  Ktomplithnunit  of  Ihc  bdJjp 
irc  obTioai  ia<l  (\fu  to  ill  i  thon  of  tb<  mini  ue  recoBilit*  ud  iloubcful,  mbA 
Ihtrcfore  padgioglf  ickoowltdpd,  or  hcl<l  up  m  iht  ipotc  of  prcjadic«,  if  lie,  and 
felly. 

107 


THE   PLAIN  SPEAKKH 


Eamei 


a  (however  bisb  ^ 


er  in  fane]  ha*  no  piwioa  bat  the  love  ot  dwtiaciio*,  Md 
I  enrf  penoa  or  thing  uat  intetferCT  vkh  hi*  ianinBiwibte  iwl 
ntartuaoC  cUiou.  £>cad  to  every  other  intnot,  he  i*  iliic  lo 
Om,  aad  Man*  up,  Iik«  a  •etpcmt  when  irod  npo^  ont  of  the  dvabcf 
of  ■'OipJcd  {ndc.  The  ooU  iGbc  of  ia£Cnncc  b  nned  two 
nak  poiNo  k  the  tight  of  yov  tfontA  to  M  awlity  or  uwwwutiua 
«itfa  hiwKir.  If  be  u  ■■  old  iii|iiiMMii.  W  wild  hxf  joa 
•Imp  where  jrao  ivck^  aader  hit  ieet  to  be  ttamfJed  oa :  if  a  oew 
oaSf  he  voDoefv  of  oevtf  beara  ov  toq  before*  Am  too  becotoe 
knowB,  he  cxprcHea  a  grcaiB  cootempt  br  foo,  and  grow*  otore 
captMM*  aod  uneaty.  The  more  yoo  arive  lo  ncrii  hi*  good  word, 
the  fanbcr  jfoa  ar*  from  it.     Soch  character*  viU  aet  odjr  Metr  K 

Cr  weU-aesM  Mtdcavoors  aod  keep  Miew  M  (o  row  good  qoalMn. 
arc  on  of  cooMcmacet '  <)uit<  ctM>iyliIkn,'  if  they  find  yo«  have 
a  cap  of  water,  or  acnM  of  biread.  It  u  only  wbeo  yoo  are  io  a  jail, 
atarred  or  dead,  that  their  exduaive  ptetentioat  are  nfe,  or  their 
ArpH-eyed  cotpiciooi  bid  atlccp.  Thit  U  a  trae  copy,  oor  i«  it 
taken  from  ooc  nttiag,  or  a  tiagle  tabJKU — Ao  amhor  now-a^yv, 
lo  niccecd,  muM  be  MiaethiDg  more  than  an  author, — a  ooblcisai],  or 
rich  plcbrias :  the  timpk  liicnry  character  it  oot  cooogh.  ■  Socb  a 
poor  forked  antmal,'  ai  a  tatn  poet  or  phtlotopfaer  tvnicd  looae  npoa 
ptUic  opiaioD,  hat  oo  cbaace  ofpanM  ihc  docka  of  hua  aod  owla  that 
laiMtiy  atmSi  him.  It  ii  nanc,  it  i*  wealth,  it  it  title  aod  isdncace 
thai  Biollifiea  (be  leader-hcitced  Cethctw  of  criticiaiD— fini,  bjr 
placiBg  the  booocwy  ctJidwa  tot  bmc  out  of  the  reach  of  Gt«b> 
ttntl  oaalicc  i  iMOMljr,  b*  holdiag  oat  the  voiprct  of  a  dioaer  or  a 
faeaat  ofioe  lo  ncccMra  lycoohoacy.  1  his  it  the  rcatoa  why  a 
eertaiD  Mana^ae  praiiea  Percy  oynbe  Shelley,  and  villifie*  *  Jofauiy 
KeaUi'l  ihey  know  very  well  that  they  cannot  rain  the  ooe  in 
lortnae  aa  wdl  at  in  fanie,  but  they  raajt  nia  the  other  in  boilii 
dcpmv  him  of  a  livelihood  t(«cihcr  with  hit  good  luine,  tend  him 
to  CvptMrj,  and  into  the  Rufet  of  a  ptiion ;  and  thU  it  a  double 
■MttemeBt  to  the  rxefciic  of  their  bodablc  and  legitimate  vocauoo. 
We  do  Dot  heai  that  they  plead  the  good-Bttured  motive  of  the 
Editor  of  the  yaarterly  Review,  that  'they  did  it  for  hU  good,* 
becauae  aoroe  one,  m  coaaeqtKDce  of  that  critic'i  abuae,  had  cent  tbe 
author  a  preaent  of  five-and^twcfity  poundt !  Ooe  of  tfacic  writcra 
W«at  ao  Wf  ia  a  tort  of  gcncrAl  profmion  of  literary  tcrrility,  u  to 
declMt  broadly  that  there  had  bcco  no  great  l^ogliib  poet,  aad  that 
BO  ons  bad  a  right  to  pretend  to  the  character  of  a  nun  of  gmiiu  ia 


108 


I  WiittcD  io  Jaat  lllo. 


ON  THE  LOOK  OF   A   GENTLEMAN 

Uii>  country,  who  wu  oot  of  patridan  l»rtli->or  coDDCctioaa  by 
inarrbge !     This  book  wai  well  baited. 

ThcMT  art  (he  ileclrtjui  ihac  enrich  lh<  ihopt, 
Thit  pau  with  reputatiDn  ihrougli  chf  land, 
And  bring  their  authan  an  iminunal  name. 

It  i«  ihc  (yni[uthy  of  ihc  public  with  th«  apite,  jnlouty,  and 
irritable  humourt  of  the  wriwrt,  that  oouriahcN  this  diKaw  in  tbc 
public  niind:  thii,  this  'cmbalnia  and  niicct  to  the  April  day  again,' 
what  otherwioc  'the  vfitd  and  the  lazar-houie  would  heave  the 
gorge  at ! ' 


ESSAV    XIX 


OH   THE    LOOK    OP   A    GENTLEMAN 


'Tht  Dobltman-loak  }  Yo,  1  konw  what  jiou  mrin  very  mil  t  that  look 
wbidi  ■  nobltman  ahnuld  have,  ralhrr  (hin  what  ihtjr  have  itmerallT  now.  The 
Dulu  of  Buckiagham  [ShrllicM '}  »■>  a  cinml  mm,  tnil  hi<1  ■  pen  itnl  the 
look  you  tpeik  of.  WjrchRl^  wii  ■  very  ftDI«l  nuo,  Ud  bad  ibc  oobleman- 
look  *■  Biudi  u  the  Duk«  ol  Buckingiitm. — Port. 

He  initAOErd  it  too  in  Lor^l  Pelerboronfh,  Lord  Botingbrolic,  Loti  Hinchin- 
broke,  the  Duke  of  Bolton,  inrt  two  or  three  more.' — Snnci'i  jl^tiJmi  tJPrft, 

I  HAvt  cboKK  the  above  motto  to  a  very  delicate  nibject,  which  in 
prudence  [  might  In  aJonc.  I,  however,  like  the  title  i  aod  will  try, 
at  Icaet,  to  make  a  sketch  of  it. 

What  it  is  that  constitute*  the  look  of  a  gestlemao  is  more  easily 
felt  than  described.  We  all  know  it  when  we  see  it ;  but  we  do 
not  know  how  to  uccouti:  tor  it,  or  to  explain  in  what  it  contiut. 
Caiua  laitt,  rtt  ipia  naiiiiima.  Ea*c,  (irace,  dignity  have  been  given 
aa  the  exponents  and  expressive  symbols  of  this  look ;  but  1  would 
rather  say,  that  an  habitual  self-pouc*(ion  determines  the  appearance 
of  a  gentleman.  He  should  have  the  complete  command,  not  only 
over  hi*  countenance,  but  oivr  hi*  limbs  and  motions.  In  other 
words,  he  should  discover  in  his  air  and  manner  a  voluntary  power 
over  his  whole  body,  which  with  every  iolleaioa  of  it,  should  be 
under  the  contioul  of  his  will.  It  must  be  evident  that  he  looks  and 
doc*  as  be  like*,  without  any  rettraint,  confusion,  or  awkwaidoesi. 
He  it,  in  fact,  master  of  his  person,  as  the  professor  of  any  art  or 

'  Queit,  Villirn,  bcduK  in  aoollicr  plic*  it  it  niit,  lliii  'wbca  the  tatter 
•ntere-l  the.  pKu-nn.ch>inbei,  lie  attracteil  all  ejrt*  by  the  hanitlomfMM  t4  bis 
peson,  snn  the  (^oefiiliKsa  of  bit  demeanoar.' 

VOL.  Til.  I  Q  209 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 


it  «f  »  jamca\ax  UMtraantt  be  directi  it  lo  «4m  ae  he 
pIcMc*  sad  iatend*.  Wberevef  tkb  po««r  aad  fadfity  ffBB,  «r 
wcog«i»c  tlK  look  lad  ilct>oraM*t  of  tbc  gcniltiiMn, — tfcai  M^of  • 
wrioa  vhe  faj  bU  habiu  wd  itiimUia  is  lifie^iBd  ia  Im  ordaufy 
latcfcOBnr  with  locKty,  kw  had  Eialc  tUt  to  do  dun  U>  «ad;  Aom 
aotwnatto,  lad  that  cvrt^  of  tbc  bodvi  vUcIi  wtre  Kcnnpaaied  - 
«itb  khM  —••■*"-•—  to  himttif,  md  wetv  okaiMrd  la  exote  the 
■ppnsoBtna  n  ue  bcnDidcr*  cmc^  it  '"'f*  ov  obccrmif  n  oot 
tsngb  i  £ffitf  y  coo  hb^  Tbcic  mwi  be  a  eeraaa  rctara,  a 
eoaadooa  dceoroBt  added  to  the  first, — aod  acenais  'battBancy  of 
npti,  qfching  tfae  aMtcn  cdiiarinaBtr  of  caatrod,*  id  ibr  otbcr, 
n  iMwer  to  am  coBCepioa  of  thai  ch»ieia'.  PcxlUfa  fcopow]i  ia 
u  Mv  a  word  at  my  to  deooic  the  ■mdo*  of  the  geaiitattn 
cJegace  ia  mawary  to  ibe  fiae  genti^Mat  <fifiiity  it  proper  to 
Bchkiacn ;  aod  ma jeaty  to  kian  I 

Wberew  thia  conacaot  aad  decent  aabjectiaa  of  the  body  to  tfaa 
■and  ia  nnblc  ia  the  cDataaaary  aoioaa  of  walkiab  cutiog,  ridbg, 
■aadlaK,  peaking,  &c.  «t  drav  d»c  wae  eoediMioa  a*  to  tbc 
iadrridalr— vfaatetcT  may  be  tbr  iiRp<ilini«iu  ot  uuToidafcle  defccia 
m  the  laachiD^  of  ivbkb  he  ha*  the  lauugesxet.  A  naa  taay 
bave  a  meaD  or  dwatreeabk  weiiot,  may  haJt  in  hii  gait,  or  have 
lq«  the  aw  of  half  hia  boiba  t  aod  j«  lie  Bar  Onew  tfaia  babieaal . 
rnmaJOB  w  vbai  it  graeefal  aad  faecoauag  ta  tbt  nae  bt  laakaa  of  | 
an  the  pawn  he  bat  Mt, — ia  the  ■  eice  coadoci '  of  the  moat  aapo- 
ttiiitg  lad  uupvacticablt  sgifi'  A  boat^owtad  oc  dcvoc  avd  oaaa 
doea  oot  nKcManly  look  tike  a  cknra  or  a  ntecbaaic  i  oo  tbe  coairary, 
from  fait  care  io  the  ad  junmcnl  of  bia  appearaace,  aad  hit  dcairv  to 
miKxIf  hia  defecta,  he  for  the  laott  part  acqwret  ■"■^'''■t  of  tba 
kwk  of  a  {cotienaa.  The  coaMaoe  nkk-aane  of  Mj  t»ri,  allied 
to  toch  pertoiM.  haa  aUaMoa  to  that— to  tbctr  cirtvBipea  deport- 
Bieau  awl  tacit  reaiataace  to  nlsar  prcjndice.  Lord  OgMy,  in 
tbe  Cbsdcatiee  Marriagei  it  a*  crazj  a  piece  of  etejcuce  and  refiae- 
aieat,  erea  after  be  it  'wonad  up  for  the  day,'  at  caa  ynSl  be 
wwmgin*^ ;  jret  IB  the  baadi  of  a  geaaiae  actoTi  hit  toocrtog  tcep, 
hit  twiicbea  of  the  goat,  hia  anaacowtfal  attcaipu  at  yo«h  aad  gaiety, 
take  aodkiog  froai  tbe  aobkaaa.  He  haa  tbe  lid  model  in  m  • 
atiMf  leaeata  hia  deviaiioaa  fvov  k  wita  pcoper  horrof,  recoven 
Untelf  frooi  tay  tracefiJ  actioa  at  tooo  at  poaiftle  (  don  ^  be 
cu  with  bit  Uaated  mean*,  aad  ftili  in  his  icM  preKBooaa,  iMt  fran 
iiudTmrace,  bat  aecctuty.  Sir  Joaeph  Baaks,  who  waa  afaaott 
beM  double,  retiiocd  to  the  bat  the  look  of  a  prtrycoaaittUor, 
There  wa*  tU  the  firataeta  aad  dignity  that  coold  be  grvea  by  the 
■BMC  of  hit  own  imporruce  to  to  diatoncd  sad  ditafaltd  a  tnmk.    Sir 

SIO 


ON  THE  LOOK  OF  A  GENTLEMAN 

Chailn  B-Db-ry,  m  ht  tauoieri  dowo  St.  Jamet's-nrcct,  with  a  large 
itonchcd  hit,  a  Uclc-luttir  ejv,  and  aquiline  titne,  an  old  (iiabb<f 
clnb«ilou(c(l  coat,  bntuned  aero**  hi*  brcatt  wiihoci  a  cape, — with 
old  lop-^wou,  and  bit  bandt  in  hi*  waittcoat  or  brtvcbc*  pockeia, 
u  if  he  wrrc  *[rolliag  along  hi*  otd  gardra-wslkit  or  orrr  the  tuif 
at  Newmarket,  after  hanog  made  hi*  bet*  *ecure,— f>re«eDti  noihing 
Tcry  dittliag,  or  jcraceful,  or  dignified  to  the  imagioation  ]  though 
you  can  tell  infallibly  at  the  fine  glance,  or  cten  a  bow-*hot  o^,  ihat 
he  i*  a  gcndcman  of  the  fim  water  (the  tame  thai  rixiy  year*  ago 
married  the  beautiful  Lady  Sarah  L-nn-x,  with  wbom  the  king  waa 
in  lore).  What  it  tbc  clw  to  thi*  mystery  i  It  i*  eiideat  that  hi* 
petKia  cott*  him  no  more  trouble  than  ao  old  gknv.  Hi*  limb*  are, 
aa  it  were,  left  to  take  care  of  themaelvesi  they  more  of  their  own 
accord )  he  doe*  ooi  ttmt  or  tumd  oa  tip-toe  to  abow 

how  ull 

Hi*  penon  tt  above  ihcm  allj  . 

but  Ite  Kcna  to  find  bt*  own  lerel,  and  whecevcr  he  '%*,  to  tlide  into 
hit  pbcc  Datnrally  t  he  i«  eaually  at  home  among  lord*  or  gambler* ; 
nothiog  can  ditcompoac  hi*  bxetl  serenity  of  look  aad  {ntr|io*e ;  there 
if  no  mark  of  tuperciliouane**  about  him,  nor  doe*  it  appear  a*  if  aoy 
thing  could  meet  hit  eye  10  lurtle  or  throw  bim  o<f  hii  goard ;  he 
nenhcr  aroidt  nor  court*  notice  i  but  the  arthaiim  of  hii  drcM  may 
be  uaderttood  to  denote  »  liDgering  partiality  for  the  co*tuine  of  the 
lift  age,  and  MMnefhiog  Bke  a  pretcriptiTe  contempt  for  the  finery  of 
^t.  The  old  oi>»^cd  Duke  of  yM^Mbury  i*  another  exaanb 
that  I  might  ^ooce.  A«  he  tat  ia  hi«  bow-wbdow  in  PiccadiOr, 
erect  and  enuctsted,  he  teemed  like  a  DoUenun  framed  and  gtazedf 
or  a  well-dreMcd  mummy  of  the  court  of  George  ti. 

We  haTc  few  of  theae  pnciona  ifteciaaeoa  of  the  gentknao  or 
DoUciDaB-look  DOW  remaining ;  other  coouderatioiu  hare  tet  aiide 
the  cxdnnvc  inponaiKe  of  the  character,  and  of  course,  the  jcalooa 
aitenttoo  to  the  oatward  exffetaion  of  it.  Where  we  ofteticat  RM«t 
with  it  Dow-a-day>,  ia,  ptrbipa,  io  the  batler*  in  old  familtei,  or  tlie 
laleu,  and  *  genucmen'*  geotlemca  *  of  the  yownscr  hraochei.  The 
tieek  pvray  gnf{ty  of  the  one  a&twen  to  the  ttaiely  air  of  »ome  of 
their  t/auidam  nuuten;  aod  the  6)i>pai>cy  and  finery  of  our  old- 
£Hh*oocd  beaux,  having  been  diicuoed  by  the  heir*  to  the  title  aod 
•ttate,  have  been  retained  by  their  tacqueya.     Tlie  late  Admiral 

Byron  (I  have  heard  N tay)  had  a  butler,  or  «eward,  who, 

firom  coBUaotly  obaerviog  hia  master,  had  *o  learned  to  mimic  him — 
tbc  look,  the  manner,  the  voice,  the  bow  were  to  alike — he  wat  to 
'nbdned  to  the  very  (Quality  of  hia  lord'— that  it  waa  diAcuk  to 

an 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKKR 

dhtingiiiib  tb«n  apart.  Our  modem  fiwQnen,  a*  we  aee  ibem  flntwr* 
ing  uxl  loonging  in  lobfaie*,  <m  at  the  door*  of  laiiict'  carriagct, 
hi4t7TW^  in  bee  and  fowSa,  with  itorj^iradvd  caar  ind  cm- 
bcoidtrcd  glorn,  giTc  oar  ibe  only  idn  of  the  fine  f^otlcni^  of 
forniM  periudi,  ai  tKe<r  arc  ttill  occasionally  rcpreteoted  on  the  «uge  i 
aod  iadecd  our  ibeairical  heroes,  who  top  nich  pam,  might  be 
■ippoied  to  have  copied,  a*  a  laM  teiource,  from  the  hcfoe*  of  the 
■Kwder-^DOU  We  sIm  (omeiima  meet  with  a  nraggling  pcf«ona- 
tioe  of  ibia  cfaanctctt  got  op  in  commoo  life  frona  pure  romantic 
taAbiwism,  and  od  abMlucely  ideal  jirinciplcf.  I  recollect  a  well- 
grown  cocnely  haberdtibcr,  who  made  a  jiracucc  of  walkinft  etery 
dajr  (mm  Bishop'«gate-«reet  to  PaU-maU  and  Boiid-«Ueet  with  the 
uodawUMl  air  and  airat  of  a  seoeral-olicer  i  ud  alao  a  prim  wider- 
taker,  wbi>  repilarly  tendered  hi*  peiion,  whenever  uie  weather 
would  permit,  from  the  neij^hbourhood  of  Cambcrwcll  imo  the 
fiTouriic  proRKDadei  of  the  city,  with  a  miacing  nit  that  would 
hive  became  a  geatletnan-nihcr  of  the  black-rod.  What  a  ttraage 
infatuation  to  live  to  i  dream  of  being  taken  for  what  ooe  is  not,— 
in  deceiving  others,  and  at  the  *amc  tinte  ourscli-ei  i  for  no  doubt 
tbeie  MTwai  believed  that  they  tht»  appeared  to  the  world  in  their 
trae  caaracter a,  ;uid  that  their  aanuDcd  preteniiooi  did  do  more  than 
jiunicc  to  their  real  merits. 

Drrii  makct  (h*  mm,  and  want  of  It  the  fellow ! 
The  reil  ii  all  but  leather  and  prtmella. 

I  confcci,  however,  that  I  admire  this  look  of  a  seotlenun,  more 
when  it  riK-i  from  the  level  of  conunon  life,  and  bnn  the  ttamp  of 
iMellect,  tliao  when  it  h  formed  ont  of  the  mould  of  advetKitious 
circviaiuocea.  I  think  more  highly  of  Wycbcrley  than  I  do  of 
Lord  Hiacbinbroke,  for  looking  tike  a  lord.  In  the  one,  it  war  the 
clTect  of  native  genius,  grace,  and  ipirti  i  in  the  other,  comparaiivcty 
■peaking,  of  prkle  ot  cnsiom.  A  viiitoc  comptimcnting  Voltaire  on 
the  growth  and  flourishing  condition  of  some  trees  in  his  grounds, 
'Aye,*  said  the  French  wit,  '  they  have  nothing  else  to  do!'  A 
lonj  has  oothbg  to  do  but  to  look  like  a  lord :  our  comic  poet  had 
tonxthing  else  to  do,  aad  did  it  I  > 

Tbovgh  the  disadvantages  of  natvre  or  accident  do  not  aa  u 
obttaclei  to  the  look  of  a  gentleman,  tbooe  of  education  and  ctnploy- 
ment  do.  A  shoe-maker,  who  is  bent  id  two  over  hit  daily  taik  t  a 
t;iylor  who  sits  cross>legged  all  day ;  a  ploughiniD,  who  wears  clog- 
shoes  over  the  fairowed  niry  soil,  «od  can  hoidly  dng  his  tiM  after 


31Z 


Wychttley  mm  s  grtM  Cinurltc  with  tlw  Dacbcst  of  Cltvtbad. 


ON  THE  LOOK  OF  A  GENTLEMAN 


him ;  a  tcholar  wbu  bai  puceJ  all  hu  lUc  om  boolui — are  eat  likely 
to  pOHnt  thai  lutural  freedom  and  ca>c,  or  lo  paj  that  nrict  atteo* 
tioD  lo  pcrtonot  ippcannce*,  ihni  (be  look  of  a  gentleman  tmplict.  I 
might  add,  t)iii[  a  miD^raillinn'  behind  a  counicr,  wito  »  compelled  lo 
thaw  tvety  markof  cun])>IaUancc  to  his  custoniet*,  but  hardly  ex|>cci4 
common  ci*i!ity  from  tliem  in  ffiuro  ;  or  a  tlictiff'*  oiKc«,  who  has 
»  coMciou»ne»»  of  power,  but  none  of  Kood-will  to  or  from  any  body, 
— arc  ei|ually  remote  from  the  itau  ideal  of  thia  cbancter.  A  man 
who  \»  awkward  from  bMhfulnn»  in  a  clown,— u  one  who  i*  thcwing 
off*  a  Dumber  of  inipcRiocDt  airt  and  gracc«  at  crrry  tun),  ii  i  cox- 
comb, or  an  ttpsuit.  Merc  awkwardno*  or  nnticiiy  of  behatiour 
may  arite,  either  from  want  of  pmence  of  mind  to  tli«  company  of 
our  iattri,  (the  commoneM  hind  f{o«  about  hi)  regular  busioen 
without  any  of  the  ntitwaiit  hatte, )  fiom  a  deficiency  oif  breedii)|i,  a* 
it  it  called,  in  not  haTing  been  taught  certain  faihionable  accomplwh* 
mcnts — or  from  unremitting  application  to  cmain  wru  of  mechanical 
labour,  unfitting  the  body  for  general  or  indiifercni  u*ei.  (That 
Tulgariiy  which  proceeds  from  a  total  ditrcgaid  of  decorum,  and  waM 
of  carctul  coatroul  oTcr  the  different  action!  of  the  body — luch  at 
loud  ipeaking,  boisterous  f;e«ticubtiori«,  3cc. — ii  rather  TudencM  and 
violence,  than  awkwardneo  or  cneaiy  rettraini.)  Now  the  gentle- 
man it  tree  from  all  thcK  cauacf  of  nugraceful  demeanour.  He  ii 
independent  in  his  circumttances,  and  is  uaed  to  enter  into  tocieiy  on 
equal  tcroM;  he  U  taught  the  modevof  addreu  and  forms  of  courteay, 
raoM  commonly  practised  and  most  proper  to  ingratiate  him  into  the 
jood  opiniofl  of  those  he  oxociates  with ;  and  he  it  relieved  tram 
the  DCCGMity  of  following  any  of  those  laborioaa  trade*  or  callingi 
which  cramp,  strain,  and  distort  tlic  human  frame.  He  is  ntn  bousd 
10  do  any  ose  eartlily  thtng ;  to  use  any  exertioo,  or  pul  biiBiclf  iB 
Uj  pOMtire,  that  ii  not  pertecily  easy  and  graceful,  agreeable  and 
becomiiig.  Neither  i*  he  (at  the  present  dav)  retfuircd  to  excel  ia 
any  an  or  science,  game  or  excrcite.  He  ii  supposed  qualified  to 
(]aace  a  minuet,  not  to  dance  oo  the  tight  rope — to  tund  apright,  not 
to  ttand  oo  hit  head.  He  ha*  only  to  lacriJicc  to  the  Grace*. 
Aldbudet  threw  away  a  flute,  became  the  pUying  on  it  diacompoted 
fail  feature*.  Take  the  fine  geniteraaD  out  of  tlie  common  boarduij- 
•cbool  or  drairiDg.room  accompliahmenta,  and  »et  him  to  any  rtulcr 
or  more  difficdi  task,  and  he  will  make  but  a  sorry  figure.  Ferdinand 
b  the  Tempest,  when  he  b  put  by  Fro«pero  to  carry  logi  of  wood, 
doca  not  strike  a*  as  a  very  bcrokal  character,  tfaoa^  he  loaea 
nothing  of  the  king's  too.  If  a  young  gallant  oif  the  fim  fashion 
were  ukcd  to  ahoe  a  borse,  or  hold  a  pjoagb,  or  fell  t  tree,  he  would 
nuke  a  very  ridicsloui  budaett  of  the  firat  expctimeoi.     I  taw  a  set 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 


rithm*^  not  Ibbc  ^BCS  *Bd  k  it  laMKMMUe  to  dticiibt  tbe  ■HOMkam 
of  ifacir  noboH  awl  aaaccoMMw  coMnnaoei  far  UOBg  ibe  boD. 

^e  ooiVOHtiaB  of  tbi  gmkati:  be  it  abac  of  i^  fnk-mti/rr  ia 
U*  prWCTiiaw.  He  b  oak  fftati  wd  KdwyEihtJ  b  tfaoM 
tbiap  M  wbkb  be  b»  and  unMt  Ui  wbofe  wwcioi^  Pich  ■*  the 
cuiiafc  of  hji  body,  ml  adjatmeat  of  bn*  drcM  i  Md  to  which  be  b 
of  — ftf^— »  inpoRance  in  tbe  *^e  of  moetr  la  aiuact  ibc  idlo 
MMMtiM  of  otbcn. 

A  BiB*i  DMBcr  of  pfCMadag  hiaiftf  in  oofay  »  bn  a  aipa- 
Seial  tcM  of  Ui  ical  uwlificaiiew  Sfrjcaoi  AiloMaB,  ««  are 
wwd  by  Fiddnfr  woold  haw  marebcd,  at  ibc  bead  of  hia  iteoea, 
op  t»  a  Hmked  faaturf ,  with  Itm  iffithiamoB  tbM  he  enac  iaa»  a 
roan  Ul  of  petty  «DaieK.  So  se  may  OMMnBe*  Me  penoM  took 
RMbbi  fiNWgh  OM  eattnog  a  |wtyt  oe  lateivHf  a  wntatioOi  who 
iMUmlf  fad  riiiBM,hti  «  fao<K,  aad  recover  aO  tbeir  telf-i 
■i  aooB  a*  mj  e£  Aat  MCtof  ooanenaaa  begiw  frotnarlucbi 
icMba  of  the  conyaay  mire  ia  ibe  >«we«  trrpidjooo.  tntibey 
MOWS  octnj  Ibcv  iptt^nc  oe  mjyacjlyi  A  iii^  ^ina  wA 
Dnde  are  oAtt  accovyaBiBa  viib  as  aspepoMeaMf  wA 
tammtaee.  Tbe  gtettett  hiiiri  do  oot  ibcw  k  bf 
(heir  bob.  There  are  ladindinli  of  a  Mn«>a  habk,  who  mi^  be 
■aid  to  abhor  their  ovn  peraoa%  aad  n  taxdt  u  (hdr  own  ly- 
•■ce,  a«  iba  peacodt  tries  to  hide  ka  lege.  They  are  al«^  ihjr. 
iMMdbrafale^  reRkwt  toA  aQ  tbeir  aetiod*  atc^  ia  a  auBet,  at 
enmfmfomM  with  tbeawhe*.  TUa,  of  coanc*  deatrojra  the  look 
we  are  •peaking  oCfnin  tbcwoMof  cMe  ndaelf-«aa£dace.  There 
■I  Modin  tortwJtohaToi^oiBchBegEgeoceof  ipanacrMdcoptewpt 
far  brviaJ  piactilioa.  Tbrf  akc  tbeir  fvU  iwtsg  in  wbatercr  tfaey 
are  aboot,  aad  BMke  it  nen  ahaoot  aeoemiy  to  pt  oat  of  ifaeir  way. 
Pcrtupi  ■omwhim  of  tUa  hold,  lif  <  laiiwi.  rieiie^,  I— pag  char- 
acter naj  be  objtcied  by  a  &<iitlioai  eye  ta  the  af|»Maaee  w  Lord 

C .     h  alght  be  nid  of  bim,  witboot  dMianftMeat,  lb«  he 

looha  aMce  like  a  lord  tbaa  like  a  ceaeksan.     We  Me  nochinK  P™T 


or  fiakalf  ■wwirtdly, — aotbiac  hard-baMd  arreiard-ia, — bat  a  Aowing 
,  a  broad  fne  ityle.    He  nti  is  tbe  Hamt  of  CtoawaoBii  wiib 


hit  hat  doocbod  oier  h»  farehod.  aad  aMrtof  MOopiahMihoaldcni 
aa  if  be  cowend  oier  Ua  aacafDaisu,  like  a  bird  of  ptcy  oftr  ict 
ewartr,.— '  hwchiag  vaia  ^nptre^*  Tbcre  ia  an  irrctaUr  pandeaf 
aboat  hiai,  >b  niwiddy  power,  loo«r,  dujotottd,  *wh<aiMoaa  aad 
aaM,'— coSed  op  ia  tbe  fakb  of  iu  own  pwrpoiei,  cotdj  dcatb4ike^ 
■aaotb  and  Maibog, — that  ia  oatbn  <jBtic  at  caw  with  iiaeK  nor  aafa 


ON  THE  LOOK  OF  A  GENTLEMAN 

for  other*  lo  approach !  Oa  the  othei  hand,  there  it  the  MucjuU 
Wellwl^,  »  jcwfl  of  a  man.  He  adraiee*  inio  hi"  place  in  the 
Houic  of  LokIs,  with  head  erect,  and  hi*  bctt  foot  forcmoit.  The 
itar  Bparldet  on  hU  hrciut,  and  the  gantr  it  seen  bound  tight  below 
hia  knee.  It  mighl  be  thought  th»l  he  atiil  irod  a  meMurc  on  «oft 
ovpet*,  and  wa*  nuruucdcd,  not  only  by  apiHtuol  and  temporal  lords, 

Stores  of  IbiUm,  «rh«nc  bright  eyet 
Rain  Influence,  and  judge  the  ptiu. 

The  chltalroiu  tpirit  th^t  •hinet  through  him,  the  air  of  galtaniry  !d 
his  periona!  ai  well  at  rhetorical  .ippcali  to  the  HouK,  glance)  a 
partial  luntie  on  the  Wooltack  ai  he  addreiaea  it ;  and  make*  Lord 
citkinc  r>i*e  hi*  funken  head  from  a  dream  of  trannicnt  popularity. 
Hix  hccdlcM  Taniiy  throw*  ittelf  unbluthingly  oa  the  unnutprcting 
candour  of  hU  hearers,  and  ravishes  mute  admiucion.  You  would 
■ImOBt  itucn  of  thii  nobleman  beforehand  that  he  wa«  a  Marquii — 
•oracthinK  higher  than  an  carl,  and  le«»  important  than  a  duke. 
Nature  has  ju«t  6lted  him  for  the  niche  he  filli  in  the  acalc  of  rank 
or  title.     He  tt  a  finished  miniature-picture  *et  in  brilliaou :  Lord 

C might  be  compared  to  a  loote  ikctch  in  oil,  not  properly 

hung.  The  character  of  the  one  is  ease,  of  the  other,  elegance. 
Elegance  is  something  more  than  csk;  it  is  more  than  a  freedom 
from  awkwardncta  or  resuabt.  It  impliet,  I  conceive,  a  precision, 
a  polish,  a  sparkling  elTcct,  spirited  yet  delicate,  which  is  perlectly 
exemplilicd  in  Lord  Wdletlcy'i  face  and  figure. 

The  grealc^t  conirut  to  thii  little  lirely  nobleman  wu  the  late 
Lord  Sunbopc.  Tall  above  hia  peers,  he  preseoted  in  appearance 
somcthioK  between  a  Patagoniao  chief  and  one  of  Uic  Long  Parlia- 
ment. With  hit  long  black  hair,  '  unkempt  and  wild ' — his  black 
clothe),  kuk  features,  atraojc  antics,  and  screaming  roice,  he  was  the 
Orson  ot  debate. 

A  Satyr  that  eoBiH  staring  ffom  the  woods. 
Cannot  at  lint  speak  like  n  aaUor. 

Yet  he  was  both  an  orator  and  a  wit  in  his  way.  His  harangues 
were  an  odd  jumble  of  logic  and  mechanic*,  of  the  Statutes  at  large 
and  Joe  Miller  jesis,  of  stem  principle  and  sly  humour,  of  shrewdness 
and  absurdity,  of  method  and  madncM.  What  is  more  extraordinary, 
he  was  an  honest  man.  He  whs  out  of  his  place  iu  ihc  House  of 
Lords.  He  particularly  delighted  in  his  eccentric  onsets,  to  make 
havoc  of  the  bench  of  biihop*.  ■  I  like,'  said  he, '  to  argue  with  one 
of  my  lords  the  btshops)  and  the  reason  why  I  do  so  is,  that  I 

«'5 


THE  PLAIX  SFEAEEK 


*Tdl 


■."^ 


«*«fTa 


^21 


m  far  dw»  jiaaw  w^rgw  ite 

food  Mr.  T  ir— 1 ,  mtui  vm  < 
bot.'  i^  tfe  AtiliiiMi'.  wifc.  ■  Fmw'* 
pwbMMBK  by  lookii(  IK  ifatnMbfs  ■  1 
W  Md  CTywwioB  rf  ^ 

So  cbv  nvQsnm  of  loctBBC  hma  ncBMsnci  M  nc  fl^n  df 
Md  the  tect^  aiMM  flfiMbSc  <ip»».    A^^tfe 
cf  boe  »  tte  J,  I  r  or  dMni^^tetd  bm  of  tfcc 

wMiit^trf  fi  II  iiwMcfcwrffcMtibri  ofKMftBtr 
OT  cKhMOia,  «  aach  «  af  Utfcmoe: — it  atpsi  woncc  ef 
■ind,  ncbcT  tfaa  alnoHBH  of  ideal.     !■  lUi  it  dfen  &«• 

*i I  --  *    -■  ■■  ■       T  T_.i    t. >.         *     -       *    _*■   ^     *  -  '- 

IBC    ■IfiQlC    am    pMMMafnCD     IO0K>         MiMtBO    of     SI     BBEB^    BUCf 

tf   pVpOKp    VOIBO    np   to   WHV   pVK  OCSMMBt    V    M   OWI^Wl]    ^tD 

xMOtno  down  bbo  b  hbdct  of  ciuuccbc  expniMiMf  Mttd  Uf 
rwrrj  rtnrtj  of  VH^OVtMi  ocotflcaco :  tSKcad  of  chrcxpMMtt  ov 
^cBCfB  faM^ttOf  fllcDKitt^v  cnoc  cfaic^ylBC  utatf  tTMt^  csnofl^ 
■oiPctDH  HBiB  of  ooncHnut  nt  coBonkd  kIkobmIscesct*  If 
Rqlad  Ind  a^Mid  St.  PmI  »  a  ecndniM,  whK  a  figoR  he  «e^ 


ike  ptat  ApcMde  oftbe  Grnrilce  ocripirrl  wkk  liiv 
■dt  BM  carried  away,  niatd,  imprad  vUi  his  aDbjeo — iB«aa«ii( 
Ui  doctraet  iaiB  Ui  wdicace,  BM  latMag  ihei  6bm  Ub  witfa  tb« 
iBpf^Bi  of  the  Holjr  Spirit,  and  with  looks  of  fiery  acorchiag  ml  I 
CcsdoBca  hekBf  an  afford  to  at  for  their  owsMrtrait* :  punccia 
do  MX  trouble  ifccaa  to  M  aa  iivdiea  far  hiKcry.  Wlut  a  ditferaier  n 
there  in  tUt  reaped  betww  a  Hadoona  of  Raphael,  nd  a  bdy  of 
fahion,  eren  bjr  Vandjrke :  the  fomer  reCaed  and  elenaed,  the  latter 
B](bt  and  liiSiog,  with  do  enaootioo  of  aoal.  k>  depth  of  feelugf — 
each  arcb  cxpreanoa  pUyioj  oa  the  aarfaeCi  aad  paanng  toto  any 
si6 


ON  THE   LOOK  OF  A   GENTLEMAN 


'  u  plcuorCi — DO  ooe  (hoasbt  knbg  its  full  «copr,  but  checked 
br  tome  other,— 4oft,  caitlru,  iotittcttr,  ple-ased,  effected,  atnuble  I 
The  French  physiognomy  i>  more  rat  up  and  (ubdivided  iato  pretty 
line*  u>d  (hup  aog)»  Uuti  any  other :  it  doe*  dM  waol  for  xiiiOety, 
or  an  air  of  gectiliiy,  whkh  Utt  it  often  ha*  in  a  remarkable  degiee, 
^-bot  it  is  the  hhmi  uspoetical  and  the  lean  piciumqac  of  all  otben. 
I  cinflot  explain  what  1  mean  by  thii  tariabtc  telegraphic  nuchincry 
of  polite  exprewKHi  better  than  by  an  obvioui  atlttiioa.  Eiery  otw 
by  walking  the  Hfccu  of  London  (or  any  other  popdoiu  dly) 
ac<)vife*  a  walk  which  i>  easily  diitbignithed  from  that  of  mtapni 
aquickflexibiiicyof  morc>ncot,a(nMnjcrk,  asMpringaDd  coofideiA 
trod)  and  an  air,  u  if  oo  the  alert  to  keiep  the  liac  of  march  ;  but  for 
all  Uut,  there  i*  not  awcfa  gf*ce  or  maatrnt  ia  thii  Iocs]  vtrui :  yon 
Me  the  per*ofl  ii  not  I  COUDtrr  barapuD,  bat  yM  woold  not  ny,  he  h 
a  hero  o*  a  tajte — became  be  i*  a  cockney.  So  h  ia  in  paaaiag 
throogb  the  artiUcial  aod  thickly  peopled  tccnea  of  life.  Yoo  get  the 
look  of  a  man  of  the  world  :  yon  mb  off  the  pedant  and  the  down  ; 
but  yov  do  iMt  make  much  progrcM  ia  wtidoai  a  vinoe,  or  ia  the 
characteristic  exprc««*oa  of  either. 

The  character  of  a  gcntlcmas  (I  take  it)  may  be  explained  neariy 
that ; — A  Uackgnard  (mm  vatainj  ■*  a  fellow  who  doe«  not  care 
whom  he  offend*:— a  clown  it  a  btockhtad  who  doc«  mt  kmrw 
when  be  ofTcodt: — a  gcntlcnuD  U  one  «4io  onderNaiKU  and  aliewa 
every  mark  of  deference  to  the  cUuai  of  Klf-lore  in  other*,  and 
cxacu  ii  in  return  frtm  tiMni.  PoliteoeH  and  the  preteofion*  to  the 
chtnetcr  in  ybon  hare  reference  almusi  enitrely  to  thi*  reciprocal 
llWiilfemtiBtt  of  nod-will  aod  good  opinion  toward*  each  other  in 
c»Mul  tociety.  Morality  regnbtea  oar  tentimenH  and  coadnct  at 
they  have  a  connection  «ntfa  smmate  and  unportaiw  cooKqacncea  ^— 
Hannerii  properly  ipcaking,  rcgnlaie  our  word*  and  action*  in  the 
routine  of  pcrMtul  totercourtc.  They  haic  little  to  do  with  real 
kindaeu  of  iaiefitioa,  or  practical  terriceti  or  ditintemted  tacrilicct ; 
but  they  pot  on  the  garb,  and  mock  the  appearance  of  thete,  in  order 
to  prevent  a  breach  oif  the  peace,  and  to  imootb  and  raraish  otrr  the 
diacordant  naicriaU,  when  any  number  of  bdindaala  are  faroo^  ia 
contact  laMlier.  Tbe  oODventioaal  oocnpct  of  good  nnoBcn  iloea 
not  reach  beyond  the  iBoaNM  and  the  company.  Say,  for  iattasce, 
that  the  nUie,  tbe  laboiriog  and  iDdMttioai  part  of  the  comniBaiiy, 
are  taken  op  with  ifplwog  ibeir  own  waata,  and  piaiDg  over  tktk 
own  hardahips  icrwiiMiag  for  wbat  they  can  get,  aad  aot  refaiof 
OS  aay  of  their  fleaaarea,  or  tronbliag  tbemMlfea  idwnt  tbe  &itidioM 
fRteniioQt  of  olhen :  again,  there  arc  pbilotopbcn  who  are  btwed  in 
the  panuii  of  trath,— or  patriota  who  arc  active  (or  the  good  of  thdr 

■  17 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 


coMtrr  I  h»  bare, ««  «iU  tuppoK,  are  a  kaot  of  pcofitc  got  togtthcr. 
who,  bariai  no  whou*  «uu  of  tbdr  owl^  viiii  JeuBre  and  nd^ 
pencleDce,  ud  carisg  littl«  aboitt  abwrad  tmJi  or  practical  (Cilkyt  ire 
met  lor  oo  raorul  piupo«c  bni  to  uy  aad  to  io  all  nunner  of  ofaligMg 
tbio^  to  pay  the  greateai  poMtbic  mpoct,  and  ifaew  the  moM  ddicate 
aad  iatttnng  amaiiow  to  «*r  laothcf .  The  poiitc«t  an  of  gretle> 
ms  Md  ladies  ia  the  world  cu  do  ao  nore  than  chi*.  Tha  law* 
tkn  (cgaiair  thii  ^icdea  of  lelrct  and  fanawic  (odety  are  codbtmabk 
IB  ha  «ds  aad  origiti.  The  fine  gcDtlcnaa  or  lady  mut  nod  on  aay 
aecoanit  aay  a  rude  thins  to  ^^  peraooa  preaent,  bn  yoa  oiay  tnra 
dicni  iwo  UW  OMOK  ridicttlc  the  itutim  they  ue  goot :  nay,  not  to 
do  ao  ia  laattimw  cootidered  ai  aa  iadiicct  (light  to  ihc  forty  that 
mMiM.  Yoo  naai  wBliitar  you  (Mwreac  foe  to  hia  faoc.  aad 
■sf  ilaaitt  jam  deuMt  nitad  behiad  lua  l»clt.  The  laa  may  be 
iaaioral,  bat  it  b  not  WMnaaitrty.  Tht  gaUaat  —■"■■—  hi*  title 
to  ihia  dttracter  by  treadng  »ery  wooian  be  meeia  with  the  tame 
marked  and  uarcoiittiog  atteodoo  aa  if  «bc  waa  hit  mtstreaa :  the 
connier  treat*  erety  mao  with  the  tame  prafctuoot  of  esteem  aad 
kindncaa  aa  if  be  were  an  accooiplicc  with  him  in  «amc  plot  agaioK 
waakipd.  Of  cowact  tbeac  ^raeawoM,  made  ooly  to  ple4*e.  go  for 
MMltiD(  in  praoice.  To  tnaiat  oo  than  afterward*  a*  literal  obliga- 
ikma,  woold  be  to  betray  aa  ieoorance  of  tbii  Itind  of  tnterlode,  or 
■Miai|iiiiiiiiiiijt  in  real  lilc.  To  niin  yovr  Mend  at  ptay  it  not 
Jacooaiattt  with  the  character  of  a  gentlanaa  aod  a  nua  of  hoDOori  if 
it  it  doM  with  cirtlity  j  though  to  wan  him  of  hit  daagcri  ao  a«  to 
ia^y  a  doobc  of  hia  judgaieBt,  or  iatetf«reac«  with  bia  wiU,  would 
be  to  aubjea  yoonelf  to  be  ma  tbroagb  the  body  with  a  fword.  It 
i*  that  which  woonda  the  aetf-lore  of  the  todiiiilual  that  b  oficauve 
— that  which  flatter*  it  that  ia  welcome — howerer  salutary  the  ooe, 
or  bowrtCT  ftai  tbe  other  nuv  be.  A  habit  of  pbin-ipcaiiafr 
b  locally  contrary  to  the  tone  of  good-breeding.  You  mau  prefer 
the  opinioa  of  the  compaay  to  your  own,  aad  eren  to  innb.  I 
doafat  whether  a  gentlcmaa  muat  not  be  of  the  l^aiabUthed  Chorcb, 
and  a  Tory.  A  true  canliet  caa  ooly  be  a  martyr  to  pre- 
judice or  babioo.  A  Whig  lord  appear*  to  me  a*  jttcat  aa 
aaoaialy  aa  a  patriot  king.  A  sectary  u  toor  aad  tmaocubJe.  A 
pfailoaoplMr  b  quite  oat  of  the  qocatioB.  He  ii  ia  U>e  doodt,  and 
bad  brttcf  not  be  let  down  oa  tbe  door  ia  a  boaket,  to  play  the 
blockhead.  He  i*  aiue  to  commit  himiclf  in  good  company— aad  fay 
daabag  alwayi  b  abatractiooa,  aad  drifing  at  geaeraKnea,  to  oifted 
againit  the  tliree  proprieciei  of  time,  place,  aod  perton.  Author*  are 
aagry,  loud,  aod  Tcbemeot  in  argumeoi :  the  man  of  more  re€aed 
breeding,  who  hai  been  *  all  ttaoiiuiliity  aod  Rmle*,*  goe*  away,  and 


ON  THE  LOOK  OF  A  GENTLEMAN 


triti  to  nun  tlie  anugonitt,  whonn  be  could  aot  mqutth  in  a  diapuv. 
The  iDUioera  of  a  court  aod  of  poliihcd  life  ue  by  do  ntrins  dowo- 
light,  Kraigh^fo4rwar(l,  but  the  cottltaij.  The/  tun  tomcthing 
df  aniatic  id  them  i  eacli  p«rton  play*  lo  aanuned  part  {  tbe  afiec(c<lt 
OvertuatDcd  potitene**  and  fupprenHn  of  real  •entirDcot  lead  to 
cooceaicd  irony,  and  the  tpirit  of  ndrc  ntd  raillery  ;  and  hence  we 
xtaj  accQuni  for  the  pctfeaion  of  the  gcmcrl  comedy  of  the  century 
before  tbe  lati.  wlicii  poct*  Wtn  allowed  to  mingle  in  the  couii-ciiclc^ 
and  took  thdi  eve  from  the  ipleadid  ring 

Of  minic  tnteraen  and  their  mtnj  king. 
The  CMence  of  thJi  mR  of  canremdoa  and  tnterooorK,  both  oo  and 
ojf  the  Rage,  hat  nme  how  tince  evaporated  ;  the  dltguuet  of  royalty, 
nobility,  gentry  hare  been  ia  »on)e  meuure  leen  through :  we  hare 
beooBie  tDdividuaily  of  little  importaDCc,  compared  with  greater 
objectt,  in  the  eyes  of  oar  nrighboun,  and  even  ia  our  own :  aburaci 
no,  not  peraoeal  pretennon*,  ate  the  order  of  tbe  day ;  to  that 
IWbM  mnaiot  of  tbe  character  we  have  been  talkiog  of,  i*  chiefly 
[exotic  aod  pcovincia!,  and  may  be  teen  (till  flourishing  in  countr^ 
'  placet,  in  a  wholMOOic  itatc  ofvegeuble  decay  I 

A  man  may  have  (he  maaneri  of  a  gcRdernaii  without  having  the 

look,  and  he   may  haic   the  character  of  a  geotlcman,  in  a  mote 

abursctcd  point  of  view,  without  the  maonen.     The  feelings  of  a 

gentleman,  in  thit  higher  tcnte,  ooly  denote  a  mote  rcAned  buroanity 

— a  tpirit  delicate  in  itfctf,  and  unwilling  to  offend,  either  in  tbe 

greuetl  or  the  traalleat  thing*.     Thit  ntay  he  coupled  with  absence 

of  mind,  with  ignorance  of  fonm,  and  frequent  blnadrri.     fi«t  tbe 

will    it   good.     The  spring  of  gentle  offices  and    true   regardt   ia 

tmiainied.     A  perton  of  tbi*  itamp  blnihet  at  an  impropriety  he  waa 

.gml^-  of  tweoty  ycart  before,  though  he  ik,  pcrhapt,  liable  to  repeat  Jt 

[lo-moirow.     He  ncrcr  forgive*  hiroadf  for  even  a  dip  of  tbe  tongue, 

1  that  implta  ■■  Bwumptioo  of  mperiority  ovei  any  one.     In  pfoportiai 

to  tbe  conoCMtoa*  made  to  him,  he  lowers  hit  demand*.     He  eivet 

the  wall  to  a  beggar  :  >  but  does  not  »liMyi  bow  to  great  men.     This 

clau  of  character  have  been  called  '  God  Almighty's  gentlemcB.' 

I  The  writer  of  thit  Etnjr  oaov  nw  i  Prion  «{  tht  Btood  jhiII  off  bii  lul  (o 
**n7  ont  in  lb«  itiMt,  tiU  ht  ctnw  to  lb*  Ububi*  ihtt  tw«ft  Ih*  croMint. 
Ta'a  wii  t  nice  dlKfanioa.  firtbcr,  It  wi*  ■  dit(iii<tls«  ibit  ifce  wriur  at  ihii 
Eui;  would  aot  BWkc  to  bt  t  fiiaa  «(  the  Blood.  Pcchapt,  himmr,  ■  qoMtion 
nlthl  bt  lUrted  In  the  moaer  of  HodruieiK,  wtictbcr  the  bcQcr  did  not  piU  «' 
hb  hit  in  f  uililf  of  ukiac  dutity,  and  sot  »  i  nuik  e(  mpccl.  Kow  t  Prloo 
tB*j  decline  iWiBj  duiiiji,  ihoa(b  he  ■  obU|cd  to  ntnm  a  civiliiy.  If  hr  iloci 
not,  hi  BUj  t*  trtalcd  wdji  dkrMptct  ftthtr  (iota,  tui  thit  it  in  itumilitv  he 
It  bnod  to  imvrnt.  Aaj  other  pmaa  fiu|ht  let  if  tvcb  ■  pka,  boi  the  pertoo  to 
wboto  ■  wbole  itrcet  hid  been  bowing  J*M  betm. 


n-&nc  STEAKEB 


te' 


-Tfei 


L^^-^tel 


ft.    A  Wc4r 


«  te««»  tf ' 


.■Ji=s." 


^Arl 


Es: 


^& 


I  taae  iHKr 


Cm- 


Ok' 


Istfw 


ON   READING  OLD  BOOKS 


of  our  rcAectioM.  If  you  want  to  know  what  my  of  the  utbon 
were  who  Itrvd  b«fote  D«ir  lime,  tod  are  nill  object*  of  aaxioai 
b^uiry,  you  lure  only  to  look  into  thdr  work*.  But  the  dust  ud 
HDoke  aod  noiv  of  modern  titeratuic  hare  DOthiog  la  oonunon  with 
the  pure,  tUent  aii  of  immonality. 

When  I  take  op  a  vofk  that  I  have  read  before  (the  oAeocr  the 
better)  I  know  w^tst  I  have  to  exf«ct.  The  taiidaction  »  not 
leuened  by  being  anticipated.  When  the  entertaiotncu  i*  altogether 
Dew,  I  ait  down  to  it  aa  I  ibodd  to  a  Mnn]^  dith, — tnra  aod  pick 
ODt  a  bit  here  and  there,  and  am  in  doubt  what  to  think  of  the 
cocnpocitioo.  There  it  a  want  of  coolidrtice  and  tecttrity  to  lecood 
appr.itc.  Ncvfutgled  book*  arc  alao  tike  madc-diihea  is  ihi>  rccpect, 
that  ihey  arc  geoeraily  little  elte  than  haahc*  and  rifactimiaiu  of  what 
has  been  aervKl  ap  entire  and  in  a  more  oatsta]  Mair  at  other  timet. 
Bcvidea,  io  tboa  nniio|  to  a  well-knowD  author,  there  it  not  oaty  aa 
BMarance  that  n^  time  will  not  be  thrown  away,  or  my  palate 
naoMaied  with  the  moit  imiptd  or  rileu  traih, — but  I  ihake  haadi 
with,  and  look  an  old,  tried,  and  rained  friend  in  the  &ce, — compare 
iMtet,  and  chai  the  houri  away.  It  i«  tme,  we  form  dear  fricndijiip* 
with  tuch  idea]  gucKa  deafer,  alaa  I  and  more  btting,  than  thote 
with  oar  moM  latinaic  act)uaint>Dce.  In  reading  a  book  which  it 
an  old  faTOsrite  with  rae  (lay  the  Gm  noeel  I  ever  read)  I  not 
only  hate  the  pJeaaore  of  inugmattoa  and  of  a  entical  relitb  of  the 
work,  but  the  pkwrct  of  cncniiory  added  to  it.  It  rccalt  the  tame 
fiidinga  oad  aaaodatiooa  which  I  had  in  firtt  reading  it,  tad  whtch  I 
CM  Mver  hate  again  io  any  other  way.  Staadard  peodnctioM  of 
lliia  kiod  are  linka  ia  the  chain  c>f  our  coatcioea  being.  They  bind 
to:;eiher  the  difierani  acattercd  dirisioaa  of  ottr  pertooal  ideotity. 
They  are  landmarka  and  {oide*  in  our  jovDCy  tbroMb  VSt.  They 
are  pe^t  and  loop*  on  which  we  can  hang  Dp«  or  from  wUch  we 
can  take  down,  at  pleaattre,  the  wardrobe  of  a  moral  im^BatiMi, 
the  relica  of  our  boi  alTeciioos  the  token*  and  record*  of  onr 
bappiett  bov*.  They  arc  *  fiv  tbotighti  and  for  remeBibraBce ! ' 
Tbey  arc  like  FomBatu***  Wiahtag-Cap— they  gife  w  the  beat 
richc* — tboee  of  Fancy :  and  traaapoR  ua,  not  orer  half  the  globe* 
but  (which  ii  better)  over  half  oor  Iteea,  at  a  word'*  iMXice  I 

My  bthcr  Shaody  aolaoed  himaelf  with  Bniacambille.  Give  me 
for  thii  purpoae  a  Tolanie  of  Peregrine  Pickle  or  Tom  Jooe*.  Opea 
either  d  them  any  where — at  Utt  Memoiri  of  Lady  Vane,  or  the 
adTt-nmre*  at  tbe  maa^ocrade  with  Lady  Bclbnon,  or  the  dicpttfn 
bctwmi  Thwackan  aad  Square,  or  tbe  eacape  of  Molly  Sagnn),  or 
the  incident  of  Sofdiia  and  ber  mufT,  or  tbe  edi^ag  prolixity  of  her 
Mat'*  lecture — aad  there  1  find  the  ame  deligh^tC  buay,  buatling 

121 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

KCDc  a*  ever,  nod  feci  mytcU'thc  nine  u  when  I  wm  firtt  tntroiluced 
into  tbe  mtdii  of  it.  Nay,  sometime*  the  *ighi  of  an  odd  Tolumc  of 
then  good  old  Eogluli  juihori  on  a  auili  or  the  name  lettered  on 
tbc  back  amoog  otheu  oa  the  tbelrea  of  a  library,  aoiwcri  ibe 

Owe,  revK-ei  the  whole  traia  of  ideas,  and  Kit  'the  puppet* 
yiag.'  Twenty  year*  are  Hnick  off  the  liat,  aod  I  am  a  child 
again.  A  age  philosophcri  who  wn*  not  a  very  wi>c  man,  taid,  that 
be  should  like  very  well  to  be  yoang  tigain,  if  he  could  take  hii 
experience  along  with  him.  1''his  ingcoious  pcrton  did  not  sK-m  lo 
be  awoie,  by  the  gravity  of  his  rcniatk,  that  die  great  sdvtnoge  of 
being  young  it  to  be  without  tiiis  wMght  of  experience,  which  be 
would  ^n  place  upon  the  bhoddets  of  youth,  and  which  oeTei  comet 
too  laie  with  year*.  Oh  1  what  a  privilege  to  be  able  to  let  t2ut 
fanmp.  like  Christian'i  buiihcn,  drop  from  otT  one'*  back,  and  trail*- 
port  onc't  iclf,  by  the  help  of  a  little  oiuiiy  duodecimo,  to  ihc  time 
whcD  '  ij^oorancc  was  bliis,'  and  when  wc  6rat  got  a  peep  at  tbe 
rarce-thow  of  the  world,  tlirough  the  gku  of  fiction — gazing  u 
mankind,  aa  we  do  at  wild  bcaatt  in  a  menuK<^riet  through  the  bam  of 
their  cages, — or  at  cur iotitiet  in  a  muieum,  that  we  mutt  not  touch ! 
For  mytelf,  not  only  arc  the  old  ideal  of  the  conteotn  of  the  work 
brought  b«ck  to  my  mind  in  all  their  viTidncis,  but  the  old  acMcia- 
lioQs  of  the  face*  and  pcraont  of  ihonc  I  then  knew,  at  they  were  ia 
their  life-time — the  place  where  I  sat  to  read  the  volume,  the  day 
when  I  got  it,  the  feeling  of  tlie  air,  the  Gelds,  the  tky — return,  and 
all  my  early  intpreuioac  with  them.  This  is  better  to  me — tbote 
places,  those  times,  those  persons,  uid  those  frclingi  that  come  acron 
roe  a*  I  retrace  the  itory  and  devour  the  pngc,  arc  to  me  better  far 
than  the  wet  sheets  of  the  last  new  novel  from  the  Ballantyne  prcsa, 
to  tay  nothing  of  ilic  Minerva  press  iu  Lcadcaliall-«treet.  It  is  like 
visiting  the  scenet  of  early  youtli.  1  think  of  the  time  '  when  I  was 
in  my  fnthcr'i  house,  and  my  path  ran  down  with  butter  and  honey,' 
— when  I  vat  a  little,  thoughtlcsi  child,  and  had  no  other  with  or 
care  bat  to  con  my  daily  ta^k,  and  be  happy! — Tom  Jonct,  I 
remember,  was  the  first  work  that  broke  the  spell.  It  came 
down  in  numbers  once  a  fortnight,  in  Cookc't  pocket-edition,  eta* 
belliibed  witli  cuts.  I  had  hitherto  read  only  ia  school-books,  aod 
B  tiresome  ecclesiattical  hitiory  ( with  the  exception  ofMrt.  Kaddilfe't 
Romance  of  the  Forest) :  but  this  had  a  dilTerent  relish  with 
it, — ■iwcci  in  the  mouth,'  though  not  'bitter  in  the  belly.'  It 
■inacked  of  the  world  I  lived  in,  and  b  which  I  was  to  live — and 
•hewed  me  groupt,  *  gay  creatures '  not  '  oi  the  element,'  but  of  the 
earth  i  not  '  living  in  the  clouds,'  but  travelling  the  tame  road  that 
I  did  I — some  that  had  piued  on  before  me,  and  othcrv  ihil  might 
lai 


ON  READING  OLD  BOOKS 

•eon  otenake  me.  My  heart  had  Ml]HUtM]  at  the  thoashts  of  ft 
boxrdiag-tichaol  bill,  or  gala-daj'  ai  Midsummer  or  Chriitmu :  but 
Uie  world  [  had  found  out  in  Cooke'*  edition  of  the  Britiih  Novelittt 
vu  to  mc  B  dance  through  life,  a  perpetual  gala^ay.  The  tis- 
pensy  number*  of  this  work  resulnrly  contrircd  w  Icstc  off  put  in 
the  middle  of  a  teoiCDcc,  and  in  the  nick  of  b  story,  where  I'om 
Jonei  di&cciTtrt  Souare  behind  the  liknkec ;  or  where  Parton  Adam*, 
in  the  incxiricable  confusion  of  evcnu,  »cry  undesignedly  get*  to 
bed  to  Mr*.  Slip-tloo,  Let  me  cauttoa  the  reader  aeaic&t  thin 
imprrtnion  of  Joseph  Andrew* ;  for  there  it  a  picture  oi  Fanny  in 
it  which  he  *houid  not  »ct  hi*  hean  on,  Ictt  he  should  ocrer  meet 
with  any  thing  like  it;  or  if  he  tbould,  it  would,  perhap*,  be  belter 

for  him  that  he  had  aot.     It  wa*  juit  like !     With  what 

ea^roen*  I  uted  to  look  forward  to  the  next  number,  and  open  the 
prinui  Ah!  never  again  ihall  I  leel  the  enthuiiasiic  delight  with 
which  I  g37.cd  at  the  (igure*,  and  anticipated  the  >tary  and  adrentur«* 
of  Major  Bath  and  Commodore  Trunnion,  of  Trim  and  niy  Uncle 
Toby,  of  Don  Quixote  and  Sancho  and  Dapple,  of  Gil  Bla*  and 
Dame  Lorenza  Sephora,  of  Laura  and  die  fair  Lucretia,  who»e 
lip*  open  and  ihut  like  buds  of  ro«c*.  To  what  oamele**  idea*  did 
thty  giTe  rise, — with  what  airy  delight*  I  filled  up  the  outline*,  at 
I  hung  in  silence  over  the  page! — Let  me  still  recal  them,  that  they 
may  breathe  fresh  life  into  me,  and  thai  I  may  lire  that  birthday  of 
thought  and  romantic  pleasure  over  again  !  Talk  of  the  iiua/l 
Thii  is  the  only  true  ideal — the  heavenly  tint*  of  Fancy  reflected 
in  the  bubble*  that  float  upon  the  apring-tide  of  human  ltl«. 

Oh  !   Memory  1  thiflJ  mc  from  the  world'*  poor  itiife, 
And  gire  thote  acenn  thine  errrlaiting  life  I 

Iht  paradox  with  which  I  vn  out  !*,  I  hope,  le*<  startling  than 
H  wat  i  tiie  reader  will,  by  ibi*  time,  have  been  let  into  my  aecrck 
Much  about  tbc  same  time,  or  I   believe  rather  earlier,  I  took  a 

rniculat  *ati*facttoD  in  reading  Chubb'*  Tract*,  and  1  often  ihtnk 
will  get  them  aj;ain  to  wade  through.  There  i*  a  high  guno  of 
polemical  divinity  in  them  i  and  you  fancy  that  you  hear  a  club  of 
«hocmaker>  at  Salitbury,  debating  a  dinputable  text  from  one  of  St. 
rattl'ii  Rpiitlct  in  a  workmanlike  style,  with  equal  shrewdness  and 
pertinacity.  I  ctnnot  say  much  for  my  metaphysical  studiet,  into 
which  I  launched  shortly  after  with  great  aidour,  so  as  to  make  a 
toil  of  a  pleasure.  I  was  presently  entangled  in  the  briar*  and 
thorn*  of  *ubtle  distinctions, — of  'fate,  free-will,  fore- knowledge 
absolute,'  though  I  cannot  add  that  *  b  their  wandering  maie*  1 
(band   no  end ; '   for   I   did  arricc  ai  aome  nrj  ••tiaractofy  and 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

potent  conclunon*)  nor  will  I  go  to  far,  however  uogratefiil  the 
eubjcct  might  tcein,  »*  to  excl;uni  with  Mirlowe't  Fauctiu— '  Would 
I  had  neier  wen  Wittenberg,  never  read  book' — that  i«,  nciier 
nndied  (uch  authors  an  H»tlry,  Hume,  Berkeley,  Sec.  Lockc't 
Euaj  on  th«  Himian  Understanding  is,  however,  ■  work  from  which 
I  Dcvet  derived  either  pitararc  or  profit ;  and  Hobbe»,  dry  and 
paweriul  at  he  it,  I  did  Dot  read  till  long  dteiward*.  I  read  a  few 
poett,  which  did  not  much  hit  my  tiute, — for  I  would  have  the 
RiHer  UDdccttaod,  I  am  deficient  in  the  faculty  of  imagination ;  but 
I  fell  early  upon  French  ramanccs  and  philosophy,  and  devoured 
them  tooih- and  ■nail.  Many  a  dainty  repast  have  I  made  of  the 
New  Eloiae  t — the  dc«criptioD  of  the  kiw ;  the  excutiion  on  the 
water  ;  the  letter  of  St.  Preux,  lecalling  the  time  of  their  fir«  loves ; 
and  the  account  of  Julia's  death ;  tbeK  I  rejid  over  and  over  again 
with  untpeakable  delight  and  wonder.  Some  yean  after,  when  I 
met  with  thin  work  again,  I  found  I  had  lott  nearly  my  whole  rclith 
for  it  (except  fome  lew  parts)  and  waji,  [  remember,  vety  much 
motttiicd  with  the  change  in  my  tattc,  which  I  »oaght  to  attribute 
to  the  tmallncM  and  gilt  edgcf  of  the  edition  I  had  bought,  and  iu 
being  perfumed  with  to*r-lca*et.  Nothing  could  exceed  the  gravity, 
the  ■olemaity  with  which  I  carried  home  and  read  the  Dedicatioo 
to  the  Social  Contract,  with  some  other  pieces  of  the  tame  author, 
which  E  had  picked  up  at  a  iiall  in  a  coame  leathern  cover.  Of  the 
CoofcsaoDB  1  have  apoken  elKwherc,  and  may  repeat  what  1  have 
■aid — <  Sweet  ii  the  dew  i>f  their  memory,  and  pleaaant  the  balm  of 
their  recollection !  '  Their  beauties  are  not  '  scattered  tike  stray- 
rift*  o'er  the  earth,'  hut  sown  thick  on  tlie  page,  rich  and  rare.  I 
wish  I  had  never  read  the  Emilius,  or  read  it  with  less  irnplicit  faith. 
I  had  no  occasion  to  pamper  my  natural  aversion  to  affectation  or 
pretence,  by  romantic  and  artificial  means.  I  had  better  have  formed 
myself  on  the  model  of  Sir  Fopling  Flutter.  There  it  >  clau  of 
personn  who*e  virtues  and  most  shining  qualities  sink  in,  and  are 
concealed  by,  on  absorbent  ground  of  iiiodwty  and  reserve  ;  and  tuch 
a  one  1  do,  without  vanity,  profeta  myself.'  Now  these  are  the  very 
persons  who  are  likely  to  attach  themxlveo  to  Uie  character  of  Bmitiua, 
and  of  whom  it  is  sure  to  be  the  bane.  This  dull,  phlcpnaiict 
retiring  humour  is  not  in  a  lair  way  to  be  corrected,  but  conlirmcd 
and  rendered  desperate,  by  being  in  that  work  held  up  ai  an  object 
i>f  imitation,  as  an  example  of  simplicity  and  magnanimity—by  coming 

'  Nraily  thr  lam'  Knilincn!  w«  wittily  md  liippily  ttfNmil  by  a  fricml,  irho 
had  fomc  lottery  fatft,  which  he  luil  b«fn  (mployr.l  to  write,  rFiuracd  on  bit 
hands  (at  their  too  pnl  lovrciiy  nf  ihoucbl  4iid  clmicil  UrKDtw  of  Kyle,  aod 
who  oUervcd  on  tbit  occaiion,  that  'Modnt  msrii  otvet  cui  mectcd  I* 

an 


ON  READINO  OLD  BOOKS 


upon  01  vilh  all  the  recommcDdationt  of  nordty,  nirpriae,  and 
■uperioricy  to  the  prejudice*  of  the  world — by  being  ituck  upon  a 
pecetiial,  made  amiable,  dazzling,  a  karrt  dt  dap* !  The  reliance 
on  solid  wotih  which  it  inculeaicn,  the  preference  of  sober  truth  lo 
gaudy  lintel,  hangc  like  a  mill-uone  louiid  the  necit  of  the  imaf^ina- 
tioD — 'a  load  to  lialc  a  navy' — impcdet  our  progrem,  and  klocki  up 
e»cfy  projpeet  in  life.  A  man,  (o  Rel  od,  to  be  lucceuful,  eon- 
cpicuoiu,  applauded,  should  not  retiie  upon  the  centre  of  hit  conscious 
resources,  but  be  always  at  the  circumference  of  appearances.  He 
must  envelop  himself  in  a  halo  of  mystery — he  must  ride  in  an 
c<]uipAge  of  opinion — he  must  walk  with  a  train  of  scIf-coDCeit 
following  him — he  mutt  not  atrip  himaclf  to  >  huffjerkin,  to  the 
doublet  and  hose  of  his  real  merits,  bat  must  surround  himself  with 
a  rorff^f  of  prejudices,  bke  (he  signa  of  the  Zodiac — he  must  seem 
any  thing  but  what  he  is,  and  then  he  may  pais  for  any  thing  be 
pleases.  The  wotid  lore  to  be  amuaed  by  hollow  professions,  to 
be  deceived  by  flattering  appearances,  to  live  io  a  scate  of  hallucina- 
tion ;  and  can  forgive  every  thing  but  the  plun,  downright,  simple 
honest  truth — such  as  we  sec  it  chalked  out  in  the  character  of 
Ecniliui. — To  recuro  from  this  digrccaioni  which  is  a  Utile  out  of 
place  here. 

Books  have  in  a  great  measure  lost  their  power  over  me;  nor  cao 
I  revive  the  tame  interest  in  them  m  formerly.  I  perceive  when  a 
thing  it  good,  rather  than  feel  it.     It  is  true, 

Mareian  Colonna  is  a  dainty  book  ( 

and  the  reading  of  Mr.  Keau't  Eve  of  Saint  Agnes  lately  made  me 
regret  that  I  was  not  young  again.  The  beautiful  and  tender  image* 
there  conjured  up,  'come  like  shadows — so  depirt.'  The  'tiger- 
moth's  wings,*  which  he  has  spread  over  hia  rich  poetic  blazonry, 
{'usi  flit  across  my  fancy ;  the  gorgeous  twilight  window  which  he 
iSR  painted  over  a^in  ia  hit  verse,  to  me  *  blushes '  almost  in  vain 
■with  blood  of  <)uccns  and  kings.'  I  know  bow  I  should  have  felt 
at  one  time  in  reading  such  passages ;  and  that  is  a!).  The  sharp 
luscious  Havour,  the  fine  arvma  is  fled,  and  nothing  but  the  tulk,  the 
bran,  the  husk  of  literature  ia  left.  If  any  one  were  to  ask  rat  what 
I  read  now,  I  might  answer  with  mv  Lord  Hanilet  in  tlie  play — 
•Words,  words,  words," — 'What  is  the  matter?' — Noiliiaf^' — 
They  have  scarce  a  meaning.  But  it  was  not  always  so.  There 
waa  a  time  when  to  my  thinking,  every  word  was  a  flower  or  a 
pearl,  like  those  which  dropped  from  the  mouth  of  the  little  pcasant- 
^rl  ia  the  Fairy  tale,  or  like  those  that  fall  from  the  great  preacher 
IB  the  Caledonian  Chapel !  I  drank  of  the  (Ueam  of  knowledge 
Tou  Fit. :  r  uj 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

thnt  trmpted.  but  did  not  mock  mj  Itpa,  lu  of  tbf  river  of  lif»,  frttif. 
How  ragcrly  1  tkkod  roy  thinc  of  German  tenbnmt,  '  u  tbc  hart 
ih*t  p«nuth  for  ibc  waur-apring*  ;  '  how  I  bathed  and  rctetltd,  and 
added  m]r  floodt  of  tears  to  Goc'ihc'*  Sorrow*  of  Wetter,  sod  to 
Schiltct'i  Robbers- 
Giving  m^  Korlt  of  more  to  that  nkich  had  too  much  I 

I  re*d,  and  mctttcd  with  all  my  tottl  to  Colcfidge's  (ine  Sonoet* 
begianing— 

Rchiller  t  that  hour  I  would  have  with*d  to  die. 
If  thr«ijj;h  the  shuddrring  midnight  I  had  M(it, 
From  ih«  dark  dunitran  of  (he  to>**T  time-rmt. 
That  fearful  voice,  a  famiih'd  father**  ay  I 

I  believe  I  may  date  my  insight  bio  the  mywetiea  of  poetry  from 
tbc'comroeDcement  of  my  aci^uamunce  with  the  ;Lu>bor>  of  the 
Lyrical  Balladi ;  at  leatt,  my  discrimination  of  the  higher  aorta — 
BOt  iny  predPection  for  luch  writer*  at  Ooldnmith  or  Pope :  nor  do 
I  imagine  tbcy  will  uy  I  got  my  likinx  for  the  Noveliui,  or  the 
comic  vrriier*. — for  the  character*  of  Vslentme,  Tattle,  or  MU* 
Prue,  from  them.  If  so,  I  mutt  have  got  from  them  what  ihey 
Be*er  bad  iheouelref.  Id  pi»ou  where  poetic  diction  ind  conception 
■re  concenwd,  I  may  be  at  a  Iom,  and  liable  lo  be  impOKd  upon : 
but  in  fbrnuDg  am  ewimate  of  psuugr*  relating  to  common  life  and 
muiBcra,  I  cannot  think  I  am  i  pligiiriit  from  any  man.  I  there 
'know  my  cue  without  a  prompter.'  I  may  say  of  such  studies — ■ 
/nttu  rt  in  nU.  I  am  juai  able  to  admire  those  literal  touches  of 
abaemtkio  utd  detcripuom,  which  petioiu  of  loftier  pretenaiom 
DTet-locA  and  dcspiic.  1  think  I  comprehend  soiitethiDg  of  tht 
characterittic  part  of  Shal^ipeare  \  and  in  him  indeed,  all  is  character- 
istic, eren  the  oontcnK  and  poetry.  I  believe  it  was  the  celebrated 
Six  Humphrey  Davy  who  iwcd  to  *ay,  that  Shakspeare  wai  rather 
■  metaphyaician  than  a  poet.  At  any  rate,  it  wm  not  ill  said.  I 
wiib  that  I  had  looaet  known  the  drusatic  writers  contemporary 
with  Shakspeare  [  Iot  in  lookiag  ifaem  over  abont  a  ytv  ago,  I 
almost  rcviTcd  my  old  passioo  for  reading,  ud  my  oU  ddight  in 
books,  ihongh  they  were  very  nearly  new  to  rat.  The  Periodical 
Essayiits  I  read  long  ago.  The  Spectator  I  liked  extremely  i  but 
the  Tatler  took  my  fancy  most.  I  read  the  other*  toon  after,  the 
Rmbler,  the  Adventver,  the  World,  the  ConniNsaeur  t  I  was  not 
(orry  to  get  to  the  end  of  them,  and  have  no  desire  to  go  regularly 
through  them  wain.  1  coonder  myself  a  tboroo^  adept  in 
Richardson.     I  lilie  the  loogen  of  hit  novels  best,  and  think  ito  put 

ai6 


ON  READING  OLD  BOOKS 

4>r  tiffin  tnlioos ;  nor  should  I  s(k  to  hive  aoy  tlittig  bttttr  to  do 
Uian  to  read  ihem  from  bcgioninx  to  tod,  to  Like  them  up  when  I 
chose,  and  by  than  down  wWn  I  wa>  tired,  to  loroe  old  fnmily 
IDMiiion  in  the  country,  till  et«ry  word  and  tylkblc  relating  to  the 
bright  Clarioa,  the  divine  CIcRimlina,  the  beautiful  Pamela,  'with 
every  trick  and  line  of  their  iiwcct  favotir,'  were  cmcc  more  'griTea 
in  my  hcait'i  ublc.''  I  have  a  ineaking  kindncM  for  Macken/ie'i 
Julia  de  Roubigoi — for  the  detcrted  nianuoo,  and  atrajtjling  gilli- 
llowers  on  the  mouldering  gatden-walJ  t  and  >ti!l  more  for  hit  Man 
of  Peeling  I  not  that  it  ii  better,  nor  to  good  i  but  at  the  time  I 
read  it,  I  lometimet  thought  of  the  heroine,  MiM  Walton,  and  of 

MiM togethcf,  and  '  that  ligament,  fine  at  h  vrit,  waa  never 

broken .' '—One  of  the  poets  that  I  have  always  read  with  moat 
picMure,  and  can  wander  about  in  for  ever  with  a  sort  of  voluptuous 
iDdakncc,  is  Sptmscr ;  and  1  like  Chaucer  even  better.  The  only 
wrtiet  among  the  Italiann  ]  can  pretend  to  any  knowledge  of,  i* 
BoGCacio,  and  of  him  I  cannot  express  half  my  admiration.  His 
tury  of  the  Hawk  1  could  read  and  think  of  from  day  to  day,  just 
M  I  would  look  at  a  picture  of  Titian's ! — 

I  remember,  ss  long  ago  as  rhe  year  1 798,  going  lo  a  neighbotuing 
town  (Shrewtbufy,  where  Fat^uhar  hat  laid  the  plot  of  his 
Recruiting  Otliccr)  and  bringing  borne  with  me,  'at  one  proud 
•woop,*  a  copy  of  Milton's  Paradise  Lost,  and  another  of  Burke's 
RcHectioDs  on  the  French  Rcrolutioo — both  which  I  bare  still  i 
and  1  still  recollect,  when  [  sec  the  covers,  the  pleasure  with  which 
I  dipped  into  them  as  1  returned  witli  my  double  prize.  I  was  set 
up  for  one  while.  That  time  is  post  ■  with  all  its  giddy  raptures  : ' 
but  1  am  Biill  anxious  to  preserve  its  memory,  '  embalmed  with 
odour*.* — With  respect  to  the  first  of  these  work*,  I  would  be 
permitted  to  remark  here  in  passing,  that  it  is  a  sufHcient  answer  to 
the  German  criticism  which  has  since  been  started  againtt  the 
character  of  Satan  (vit.,  that  it  is  not  one  of  disgusting  deformity,  or 
pure,  defecated  malice)  to  say  that  Milton  has  there  drawn,  not  the 
abstract  principle  of  evil,  not  a  deiil  incarnate,  but  a  fallen  angel. 
This  is  the  scriptural  account,  and  the  noet  has  followed  iu  We 
may  safely  retain  such  passages  a*  that  well-known  one^ 

His  fiirm  had  not  yet  Ion 

AH  her  original  brightness ;  nor  snpear'd 
Ltts  than  irchangel  tuin'd  j  and  trie  exocit 
Of  glory  obKur'd 

'  Duriog  the  pc>ct  o(  Aniieiu,  s  jouaf  Ea;li(h  afictr,  of  ibc  asmc  of  LoieUcr, 
was   priMUU^i  si   fiuoniparlc's  lc*tc     Instcxl   uf  (be  uiuij   qucstioa,  'Wktrt 

"7 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

ibr  tbe  theory,  which  i*  oppotctl  to  then.  <  £dU  Hu  apoa  the  Kraotel 
edge,  sad  thtm«a  iu  woivhippera.'  Let  «  bear  do  mofc  th«n  of 
ihi*  monkith  cut,  and  bif>oit«d  oMcry  fot  the  rMtamioa  of  ihc 
bora*  and  ail  of  the  devil ! — A^ain,  u  to  the  other  work,  Bnrke'i 
ReJlccdon*,  1  took  a  pajticdai  pride  and  pleanm  in  h,  and  r^  it 
to  m]r«elf  aod  othcn  for  iDoath*  aficniMrds.  I  had  rruoQ  (or  ray 
pcejodicc  id  favour  of  this  author.  I'o  undcntud  tn  wlTcisuy  u 
Mine  praite:  to  admire  htm  i*  ntore.  I  thought  I  Si  bothi  I 
knew  t  did  one.  From  the  fint  time  I  ever  cast  my  eye*  on  any 
thing  ot  Buikc'i  (which  was  an  exuact  from  hi*  Letter  to  a  NoUe 
Lord  in  a  thre«-t>me«  a  week  paper,  The  St.  Jamci't  Chrooiclc, 
in  1796},  1  »cid  to  myself,  'Thi«  it  troe  eloquence:  thit  it  a  man 
^poitfiag  out  hit  mind  on  paper.'  All  other  >tylc  aeented  to  me 
pedantic  and  impertineot.  Dr.  Johotoo't  wai  walking  00  «ttll«; 
and  e*eo  Juniai't  [who  wa*  at  that  time  a  favonrite  widi  me)  with 
■II  hit  terKoe«t,  (hrunk  up  into  Itule  latilheiic  poinu  and  well- 
trimmed  teotcocci.  But  Bnrke'i  ctyle  wai  forked  aod  playM  a*  the 
■  .  lightning,  creited  like  the  serpent.  He  delircred  plain  ihiogt  on  a 
p£iin  ground  ;  bul  when  he  ro«e,  there  wan  no  end  of  hti  flighia  and 
drcwngyraiiona — and  in  thit  very  Letter,  ■  he,  like  an  eagle  in  a 
doTe<ot,  fluttered  iu  VoUciant'  (the  Unke  of  Bedford  and  the 
Earl  of  Lauderdale)  <  '  in  CorioU.'  I  did  not  care  for  hit  doctiina. 
I  wa*  tbcD,  tad  ita  ttill,  proof  againu  their  contagion  ;  but  I  admired 
tbe  amlKir,  and  wa*  coaudcred  ai  not  a  very  luuocb  partiian  of  the 
Oppodte  aide,  though  I  thought  mytclf  that  an  abitract  pco{KMituiB 
was  one  thiag — a  manerljr  trantition,  3  btillimt  metaphor,  another. 
1  conceived  too  that  be  might  be  wrong  in  bit  mun  argmnent,  and 
yet  deliver  Itlty  initha  in  arriving  at  a  &lte  concluiioo.  I  remember 
Coleridge  ai0uricg  me,  as  a  poetical  and  political  tet-ofF  to  ray 
ueptical  admiration,  that  Wordiworih  had  written  an  Enay  od 
Marriage,  which,  for  manly  thought  and  ntfTout  expietaioa,  be 
deeraed  incomparabty  auperior.  At  I  had  not,  at  that  time,  feen 
iny  ipeciraeot  of  Mr.  Wotdaworth't  prose  style,  I  could  iMt  exprea 
ny  donbta  on  the  subject.  If  there  are  greater  proa^wriiert  than 
Burke,  they  cither  lie  out  of  my  courte  of  study,  0*  are  bcyood  my 
•phcrc  of  comprchcniion.     I  aai  too  old  to  be  a  conTcrt  to  a  new 


h««e  700  KiveiiSirl'  tht  Pint  Connl  immeJutelr  ttitrtKt  hUo,  'I  perceive 
jreui  Binw,  Sir,  ■■  lti«  nme  n  tksi  0/  ihe  haa  at  Ri(tiiri)t»B'<  Romsna  I ' 
H<ri  wu  1  ConiuL  Tbe  youDt  mia't  unik,  wha  h-o  ollcil  Lavtiut,  loU  nv 
thit  fatcialK  while  wc  Wffc  aluppinf  tofrlbcr  kl  CalAiL  1  ht4  «lso  bem  thinkinc 
thii  hit  an  thr  tim*  nimr  it  ihit  o(  tbt  hrro  Ol  R  ichir<)tan*i  Ronunn.  Thii 
IS  oDi  of  ray  mMoi  Cot  Hking  Busaspttw. 
■  H«uthucnlkd<Ciiui*Uud(Htie.'  I*  this  tlKprncot  BMlf 
ai8 


ON  HEADING  OLD  BOOKS 

iiiytliology  of  gtfiiiu.  1'hc  oiches  arc  occupied,  the  tabic*  arc  Ril). 
If  nich  i*  (till  my  iidniitatiun  of  this  man**  mmpplicd  powcts,  what 
must  it  bare  been  at  a  time  when  I  myiclf  was  in  vain  Cryiog,  year 
after  year,  to  write  a  linglc  E*ny,  nay,  a  *ingle  page  or  xratence ; 
whea  I  (cgardcd  the  wondcrt  of  hii  pen  with  the  longing  cyei  of 
one  who  was  damh  and  a  changrhng  ;  and  when,  to  he  able  lo  convey 
the  xlightnt  cooceptioo  of  my  meaning  (o  other*  in  words,  was  the 
height  of  an  alniott  hopelna  ambition !  But  I  oevcr  measured  other*' 
excellences  by  my  own  defects :  though  a  scnac  of  my  own  incapacity, 
and  of  the  tteep,  impa«iablc  accent  from  me  to  them,  made  me  regard 
then  with  grt-ater  awe  and  fondneu.  I  hare  thua  run  through  mo«t 
of  my  early  studies  and  favourite  authors,  some  of  whom  1  have 
uncc  criticited  more  at  large.  Whether  thoM  obiemiions  will 
survive  rae,  I  neither  know  nor  do  I  much  care :  but  to  the  work* 
themselves,  'worthy  of  all  acceptation,'  and  to  tlie  feelings  they  have 
always  excited  in  me  since  I  could  dintingoith  a  meaning  in  language, 
nothing  shall  ever  prevent  rac  from  looking  back  with  gratitude  and 
triumph.  To  hare  lived  in  the  cultivation  of  an  intimacy  with  such 
works,  and  to  have  familiarly  relished  such  names,  is  not  la  have 
lived  quite  in  vain. 

There  are  other  authors  whom  I  have  never  read,  and  yet  whom 
I  have  fre<|uently  had  a  great  dciirc  to  read,  from  lome  circumstance 
relating  to  them.  Among  ihete  i*  Lord  Clarendon'i  History  of  the 
Grand  Rebellion,  after  which  I  have  a  hankering,  from  hearing  it 
spoken  of  by  good  judges — from  my  interest  in  the  event*,  and 
knowledge  of  the  characters  ftom  other  soutcet,  and  from  having 
•eeo  line  portrait*  of  most  of  them.  I  like  to  read  a  well-penned 
character,  and  Clarendon  ii  nid  to  have  been  a  master  in  this  way. 
I  theuld  like  to  read  Froitnrt'a  Chronicle*,  Hollingihed  and  Stowe, 
nd  Puller's  Worthies.  I  intend,  whenever  I  can,  to  read  Beaumont 
and  Fletcher  all  through.  ITiere  arc  fifty-two  of  their  plays,  and 
1  have  only  read  a  dozen  or  fouticen  of  them.  A  Wife  fora  Month, 
and  Thierry  and  Theudoret,  are,  I  am  told,  delicious,  and  1  can 
bciicTc  it.  1  should  like  to  read  the  speeches  in  Thucydides,  and 
Guicciardim's  History  of  Florence,  and  Don  Quixote  in  the 
original.  1  have  often  thought  of  reading  the  Love*  of  Peniles 
and  Sigitmunda,  and  the  Galatea  of  the  fttmc  author.  But  I  some- 
how reserve  them  like  'another  Yarrow.'  1  should  also  like  to 
read  the  tail  new  novel  (if  I  could  be  sure  ic  waa  to)  of  the  author 
of  Waierley: — oo  one  would  be  more  glad  tbaa  I  to  find  it  the 
best! — 


119 


THE   PLAIN  SPEAKER 


ESSAY  XXI 

OH    PtRSONAL    CHAKACTER 

'  Mm  pllicte  aaJ  axionl  Ibf ir  arj^iiil  ^uiliti**,  bM  do  art  ntirnle  thcH** 

MoKTAKMi  •  £1191. 

No  oae  mr  chm^t  hia  chancer  from  the  time  he  ia  tvo  jtut  oId| 
luy,  I  Blight  aajr,  from  the  lime  be  ii  two  hoiu*  old.  We  mar,  with 
inunictioa  and  oppuftunttv,  mend  our  manner*,  or  elte  alter  for  the 
woiK, — '  a«  the  neih  and  fonune  thRll  scrrc ; '  but  the  character, 
the  mtcraal,  original  bias,  renuiiu  aiwtjs  tbe  *ame,  tnc  to  ilfelf  to 
the  »ery  Utt — 

'  And  feelf  the  ruling  ;iai*i(iQ  Hrotig  in  dtaih  t  * 

A  verv  grarc  and  ditpataioiute  philoaophcr  (the  late  cclcbrued 
chcmiai,  Mr.  Nicholaon)  wa«  »o  impreHcd  with  the  conTictton  of  the 
iDttanCAneoua  commcDcemeDt  and  derelopment  of  tbe  character  with 
the  birth,  that  he  publt«lied  a  long  aad  aniuaing  article  in  the  Monthly 
MagauDC,  fWing  a  detailed  accoust  of  the  progresi,  bi)tory,  educa- 
tion, and  tcnijicrB  of  two  twins,  up  to  the  penod  of  their  being  flrvai 
dajii  olJ.  Thii  ia,  perhapa,  conaidcting  the  matter  too  curioualy,  and 
would  amount  to  ■  sptcici  of  hototcopy,  if  wc  were  to  build  on  auch 
premature  iodicatioDa ;  but  the  y.erin  no  doubt  1*  there,  though  we 
must  wait  a  little  longer  to  tec  what  form  it  take«.  Wc  need  not  ia 
general  wait  long.  The  Deril  loon  betraya  the  cloven  foot  t  or 
a  milder  and  better  ipirii  appear*  in  it*  stead.  A  temper  niltcn  or 
active,  tby  or  bold,  grave  or  lively,  aelfiah  or  romaniic,  (to  tay 
nothing  of  qutckocH  or  dulncM  of  apprehennon)  i«  manifctt  very 
early ;  and  imperceptibly,  but  irrcHatibty  moulds  our  iDcIinallooa, 
babit*,  aad  puxauit*  through  life.  The  greater  or  leu  degree  of 
aninai  «ptriu,^^f  acrvoua  irritability,— the  complexion  of  the  blood, 
^the  pTOportioa  of  *  hot,  cold,  moist,  and  dry,  ibui  chamjuont  fierce 
that  atrire  for  nuitery,' — the  Saturnine  or  tbe  Mercurial, — the 
ditpoiiition  to  be  affected  by  object*  near,  or  at  a  diatancr,  or  not 
at  all, — to  be  *truck  with  novelty,  or  to  brood  over  dee)>-rDOlcd 
■mpreMioo*, — to  indulge  in  laughter  or  in  leara,  the  leaven  of  pawiiM 
or  of  prudence  i)iat  temper*  thit  frail  clay,  i*  bora  with  us,  and 
never  quits  ti*.  'It  is  not  in  our  ttors,' in  planetary  in lluence,  but 
neither  ti  it  owing  *to  ourielve*,  that  we  aie  thus  or  thu*.'  The 
acceaaion  of  knowledge,  ihc  preuure  of  circumiixnircii,  favourable  or 
■n&vourable,  doct  little  more  than  miniilcr  occatioo  to  tbe  firtt 
prcdispoiing  bia* — than  assiit,  like  the  dcwi  of  heaven,  or  retard, 

•JO 


ON  PERSONAL  CHARACTER 

like  the  nipping  nonh,  the  growth  of  ihe  seed  originally  iown  in 
out  coDslicution — than  f;ivc  s  more  or  Icm  decided  exprewion  to  that 

rrsaoal  character,  the  outline*  of  which  oothinf;  can  alter.  What 
mean  is,  thai  Blifil  and  Tom  Joneo,  for  inilance,  by  changing 
placcii,  would  never  hate  changed  charactcrt.  Tbc  one  might,  from 
drcumM^nces,  itnd  from  the  notions  iniiilird  into  him,  hare  become 
a  little  leu  Belfith,  and  the  other  a  Itiile  legs  extravagant ;  but  with 
a  ttijliog  ^illowaQce  of  this  lort,  taking  the  proposition  ctim  grano  ntSi, 
ihey  would  have  been  just  where  ihey  wt  out.  Blifii  would  have  been 
Blifil  ttiil,  and  Jonee  what  nature  intended  hint  to  be.  1  luvc  niade 
UK  of  ihia  example  without  any  apology  for  iu  being  a  fictitiou*  one, 
becauie  I  chink  good  novcU  are  the  most  authentic  ai  well  a*  mott  acoeu- 
ible  rcpoiitoriet  of  the  natural  hittory  and  philosophy  of  the  *pocie«. 

I  ihall  not  borrow  aisinaAce  or  illustraiton  from  the  organic  (ystem 
of  Doctor*  Gall  and  Spurxhcini,  which  reduces  this  quetiion  to  x 
smalt  compaM  and  very  diitbct  limits,  becaose  1  do  not  undeiitaod 
or  bcltcne  m  it:  but  I  think  those  who  put  faith  in  physiognomy  at 
all,  or  imagine  that  the  mind  i*  scamped  upon  the  countenance,  must 
bclicTe  that  there  i«  mich  a  thing  at  an  esacntial  dilTefcace  of  character 
in  ditTeient  individual*.  We  do  not  change  our  features  with  our 
Mtuations;  neither  do  we  change  the  capacities  or  inclinationa  which 
lurk  beneath  them.  A  flat  face  docs  not  become  an  oval  one,  nor  a 
pug  nose  a  Romao  one,  with  the  acquisition  of  an  office,  or  the 
addition  of  a  title.  So  neither  i*  the  pen,  hard,  unfeeling  iiutline 
of  character  lumcd  from  scKithncis  and  cunning  co  opcnncs*  and 
guwroiityt  by  tuiy  softening  of  circumitance«.  If  the  face  puna  oo 
U  hibilual  Mule  in  the  sunshine  of  fortune,  or  if  it  suddenly  lowrta 
in  the  sconiu  of  adversity,  do  not  trutt  too  implicitly  to  appearaocca; 
the  man  is  die  same  at  bottom.  The  deiigning  knave  may  aomebraei 
wear  a  vixor,  or,  *  co  beguile  the  time,  look  like  the  time ; '  but 
watch  him  oartowly,  and  you  will  detect  him  behind  bis  mask  I 
We  recognise,  after  a  length  of  year*,  the  same  well-known  face 
that  wc  were  formerly  aC()uaioicd  with,  changed  by  time,  but  the 
aame  tn  itself  i  and  can  trace  the  feature*  of  the  boy  in  the  full-grown 
man.  Can  we  duubt  tliat  the  character  and  thoughts  have  remained 
aa  much  the  lame  all  that  time  )  have  bome  the  came  image  and 
■upericription  t  have  grown  with  the  growth,  and  strenjtthened  with 
the  iirengtb?  In  thii  Brnac,  and  in  Mr.  Wordiworth's  phrave,  'the 
child 't  the  father  of  the  man '  purely  enough.  The  tame  tcodenciea 
may  not  always  be  ec|ua!ly  viuble,  but  ihey  arc  xill  in  exincnce,  and 
break  out,  whenever  they  dare  and  can,  the  more  for  being  checked. 
Again,  wc  often  dittinctly  ooiicc  the  same  features,  the  wmc  bodily 
peculiarities,  the  same  look  and  gettures,  m  different  persons  of  ibc 

»5i 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 


nmc  faoulft  *Bd  6od  thk  rcwmbbncc  exttading  to  coQittnl 
braacbet  mi  tfaroaKh  tcierat  oeoRMiaas  riiPWMg  bow  ■truDily 
ROMK  iBMt  hiTc  bera  warped  and  hnMcd  !■  tint  jMiticKlai  ianeaoa 
at  fim.  Tbii  prtsdncrmuutioo  !n  the  Uood  hu  ki  caprice*  too, 
and  wafwd  at  wdl  w  obctixMre  fiu.  The  faa^Skatat  totat- 
Oian  ikip*  o«cT  tbc  next  of  kia  or  the  DcarcK  bnach,  wd  n-tffon 
IB  all  iu  tiagdariiy  m  a  KCood  or  third  coawa,  or  pa«M«  otcr  the 
Ka  10  the  ^raod-^uld.  Where  the  fdctvrea  of  the  bar*  aad  wc- 
MMor«  to  1  thk  or  atue  bare  be^  prcurwd  for  aa^  ^'"P^  <*^  >**>" 
■a  Gothic  hall*  and  old-faihioaed  aHawona,  the  preratjaig  obiImk 
aad  chanciar  does  aot  wear  out,  bat  nuy  be  traced  throagfi  n> 
■umtTow  iitflectioM  md  iaetatt,  like  cbc  wiading  o(  t  rirer  throu^ 
U  expaate  of  eoaairy,  for  ctaturie*.  The  aaocttor  of  naay  a  DoUc 
beiue  hie  sat  for  (he  portruu  of  hti  yoalhAI  ittuadmtu ;  aad  «d& 
the  Mcl  of  '  Fiifikx  lad  the  Karry  V«e,'  cootKrated  la  Harrd'e 
venc,  may  be  teen  nuetling  in  the  atiSnted  ieaiore*  of  lome  yooag 
coort-JKaatj  of  the  pretrai  day.  The  portrait  of  Judge  Jcnrie*t 
a^ridi  wae  cxUhited  lately  in  the  GaUery  to  Pall  M2JI — yooag, 
hindMtne,  rpintcd,  good-hanMmrKl,  and  totally  unlike,  M  lif«t  liev, 
whu  yoa  would  expect  from  the  chancter,  wa*  la  exact  likeaew  of 
two  fOm^  nea  whom  I  koew  Miae  yean  ago,  the  Itviag  repre- 
■eata&TCB  of  that  limily.  It  i*  curioot  that,  coanffciitly  coough 
with  the  deltneaiioD  in  the  portrait,  old  Erelyn  thoold  have  recorded 
in  hi*  Mcfflottt,  that  'he  taw  the  Chief-Jiuticc  Jcd'rirt  ia  a  Urge 
comjany  the  night  before,  aad  that  be  thooght  he  Uagbcd,  drank. 
and  daaoad  too  omch  for  a  nan  who  had  that  day  coodcmned 
AlgenKm  Sidoey  10  the  Mock.'  It  it  not  alwan  POMibJe  to  (entee 
the  tyger'*  tptin^  till  we  are  in  hi*  crasp ;  the  fawmof^,  croel  eye 
doom*  tt«  ptey,  while  it  glitter* !  Feaiure*  alone  do  not  ran  in  the 
Mood  t  vice*  and  firtoct,  gcnia*  and  folly  are  ttao«ntittrd  through 
the  Mjoc  tore,  bat  aMcen  cluooct.  There  ii  an  iorotuntary,  an- 
aceooMaUe  family  character,  as  well  a*  family  lace;  aad  we  ate  it 
maaijntiag  icfelf  in  tbe  tame  way,  with  unbrokca  cotittiwity,  or  by 
&i  ukI  ttsru.  There  *hall  be  a  regular  breed  of  ouaert,  of  incor- 
rigible old  bmitu  va  a  &mily,  lime  out  of  mind :  or  the  ihame  of 
tbe  thing,  and  the  hardifaip*  and  rettraint  impoied  ttpoo  bim  white 
youag,  ihall  arge  tome  deapetate  (pendthritt  to  wipe  out  the  reproach 
Bpoo  hi*  name  by  a  coane  of  exiraTagance  and  dcbancberf ;  and  hit 
iauacdiite  tacccwon  ahall  make  bit  example  aa  excsM  lor  rclapaing 
iaw  ifc*  old  JoyWOC  ioeanUe  ia&rnuty,  tbe  gtatpiog  acKl  pDching 
diMaie  of  tbe  family  again.'     A  peraoo  nay  be  indebted  for  a  noae 

1  'I  kavK  (I  ihi*  tii»e  *  ptTwn  n(  Twt ttnut, »bo h tbe Imtat Jttt  Je««nd«at of 
a  toe  ["''*—- "i  bst  the  tfe«t-trtB*«oa  o(  ■  trolur,  oi  ■bom  hi*  iscam  ii  now 


ON  PERSONAL  CHAKACIER 


or  ID  ryt,  (at  »  gjuceful  carriage  or  il  Tolubic  discourse,  to  3  grrst-aant 
or  uacie,  whose  exisicnce  he  has  scarcely  heard  or;  lod  distant 
relations  are  (urpriscd,  on  rome  cxiia\  iDUoduciion.  to  find  each  other 
an  aller  iAem.  Cauntty  couiins,  who  meet  after  they  are  grown  Dp 
for  the  liriii  time  in  London,  oiicn  start  at  the  likencM, — it  ii  like 
looking  at  themseUc*  in  the  gl*ss — nay,  ihcy  shall  sot,  almost  before 
thry  exchange  a  word,  their  own  thoughtn  (as  it  were)  staring  them 
in  the  face,  the  same  ideas,  feelings,  opinions  passions,  prejudices, 
likings  and  antipathies  t  the  same  (urn  uf  mind  and  aeautncDt,  the 
same  foibles,  pcculiaritiet,  faults,  follies,  miifortunet,  conaclationa, 
the  aame  self,  the  tame  cTcry  thing !  And  farther,  this  coincidence 
shall  take  place  and  be  most  rcn»ikab!e,  where  not  only  no  iDter* 
course  ha«  previously  been  kept  up,  not  even  by  letter  or  by  commoa 
friends,  but  where  the  different  branches  of  a  family  have  been 
cnxingcd  for  long  years,  and  where  the  younger  part  in  each  have 
been  btoughl  up  in  toudly  JitTerenl  »ituatioo«,  witJi  diffeteot  itudies, 
pursuits,  expectationt  and  opportunities.  To  atsure  nie  (hat  ihii  is 
owing  to  ciicumitanccs,  i>  to  assure  me  of  a  gratuitous  abaurOity, 
which  you  cannot  know,  and  which  I  ihall  not  hclicTe.  It  it  owing, 
not  to  circumitanccs,  but  to  the  force  of  kind,  lo  the  itulf  of  which 
our  blood  and  humours  are  compounded  being  the  tame.  Why  should 
I  and  Tea  old  haii-brained  uncle  of  mine  fasten  upon  the  tame  picture 
in  a  Collection,  and  talk  of  it  for  rears  after,  though  one  of  no 
particular  '  mark  or  likcUhood  '  in  it»clf,  but  for  something  congenial 
in  the  look  to  our  own  humour  and  way  of  teeing  natare?     Why 

should  my  cousin  L and  I  fix  upon  the  same  book,  Triiirara 

Shandy, — without  comparing  notes,  hare  it  'doubled  down  aikd  dog- 
cared  '  in  the  tanie  places,  and  live  upoo  it  at  a  son  of  food  that 
uaimilated  with  our  natural  diipotitiont  ? — '  Instinct,  Hal,  inttinci ! ' 
They  are  foolt  who  say  otherwise,  and  have  never  studied  nature  or 
raankifid,  but  in  hooka  and  syatcmi  of  philosophy,  iiut,  indeed,  the 
colour  of  our  lives  n  woven  into  the  faul  thread  at  our  binhi :  our 
otigbal  una,  and  our  redeeming  graces  arc  infused  into  us ;  no«  it  the 
bond,  that  confirms  our  deitiny,  ever  cancelled. 

Smoalh  (he  hilli,  amid  the  fluwvry  grove*, 
'Tbc  tmcratioti*  arc  prcpAr'd  |  the  panp. 
The  internal  pangs,  vt  reaily  t  (he  drvM  strife 
Of  poor  huinantiy'i  afflicteil  will 
Struggling  in  vam  nith  nith1e«  ttntiny. 

revived.  He  li  a  wry  huncM  [cntlimin  In  hit  principal,  b^I  onnol  for  bit  blooil 
Calk  fairly  :  he  b  htvl\\y  tartj  Tor  U  ^  but  he  chcifi  by  eoo*lict]tion,knil  ovrr-rHchsS 
by  iiMiacl.' — S<«  (hit  tubjra  (frlighlfully  trtilcil  in  the  7;(h  Nnmbcc  of  the  Tatltr, 
b  u  locoaai  «f  Mi.  BidurstaS't  ptdifrce,  on  occasMn  of  his  siilei'*  mur>sc«. 

133 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 


Tbc  *  wiagcd  wound* '  thxt  nnUe  la  our  brmU  to  our  laU«t  day, 
were  pluud  there  1odj{  lioce,  tickcUtl  and  latxUcd  on  the  outside  ia 
null  but  indelible  dunctcti,  written  in  our  blood,  'like  tbu 
etuaaffnincd  Sow«(  inKribnl  with  woe : '  wc  arc  in  the  toils  from  tbe 
rery  ittt,  hemmed  in  by  the  huntcri ;  md  thete  are  our  ovm  p*Mioat, 
bred  of  OUT  biaio  and  bumouri,  ud  that  ncTct  leave  u»,  but  coofume  uid 
guw  tbc  heart  in  our  thort  life-iime,  m  wormt  wail  tor  ot  in  the  grive  I 

Critics  lod  author*,  who  conitegate  b  large  ciuc«,  and  »h  nothtog 
of  the  world  but  a  wit  of  pbastasnufioria,  to  whom  the  oiunbeiless 
cbanctcrs  they  meet  in  the  coutie  i>f  a  tew  buur*  ate  fbgitiTC  >  i*  the 
Aiet  of  a  aummer,'  eraccicent  as  the  figuro  in  a  ttm»a  cttcara,  may 
talk  Tcry  learnedly,  and  attribute  the  motions  of  the  puppet*  to  circuro- 
staoces  o!'  which  they  are  confcHcdly  in  total  i^otancc.  They  see 
character  only  in  the  butt,  ud  have  not  room  (for  the  crowd)  to 
study  it  as  a  whole-lenjjth,  that  is  as  it  exists  io  reality.  But  thoac 
who  trace  things  to  their  source,  and  proceed  from  individuals  to 
Mnervls,  know  better.  Schoolboys,  for  example,  who  arc  early  let 
mto  the  secret,  and  see  the  seed*  growing,  arc  isot  ocJy  touDd  jisdgea, 
but  trur  propbeU  of  character ;  so  that  the  aick-oames  they  give  their 
pUy-frlbws  usually  nick  by  them  ever  after.  The  gouips  in  country- 
towns,  also,  who  study  humu  nature,  ikx  mncly  in  the  hJaiory  of  the 
indiridual,  but  in  the  gotetlogy  of  tlic  race,  know  the  cosnparailTfl 
anatomy  of  the  micdi  of  a  whole  oeiglibouihood  to  a  tittle.  wber<  to 
look  for  marks  and  defects, — eX[>Uiii  a  vulgarity  by  a  croH  io  the 
breed,  or  a  foppish  air  in  a  yoang  iiadcsman  by  has  graodmotfaer's 
narriage  with  a  dancing-ouster,  and  arc  the  only  practical  conjarori 
and  expert  decypherer*  of  the  determinate  lines  of  true  or  svpposititioiii 
character. 

The  character  of  women  (I  should  think  it  wtll  at  this  time  of  day 
be  granted)  differ*  essentially  from  that  of  men,  not  less  >o  than  their 
shape  or  the  texture  of  their  skin.  It  has  been  said  indeed,  *  Most 
women  have  no  character  at  all,' — and  on  the  other  hand,  the  fair 
and  cloajueni  autboreis  of  the  Rights  of  Won>rn  wa<  for  eoublishieg 
the  masculine  pretCDsions  and  privileges  of  her  mx  on  a  perfect 
cqttality  with  ours.  I  shall  leave  Pope  iind  Mary  Wolttonccraft  to 
■rttle  that  point  between  them.  I  should  laugh  at  any  one  who  told 
me  that  the  Gnropean,  the  Aiiatic,  and  the  African  character  were 
the  same.  I  no  more  believe  it  than  I  do  that  tiLack  ii  tbc  same 
colour  as  white,  or  that  a  straight  line  is  a  crooked  one.  We  sec  in 
whole  nations  and  large  claases  the  physiognomic*,  and  I  should 
•uppose  {'not  to  speak  it  profanely')  the  general  chsncter*  of 
dil»tcnt  animal*  with  which  wc  arc  acquainted,  a*  of  the  fox,  the 
wolf,  the  hog,  the  goat,  the  dog,  the  monkey  ;  and  I  suspect  tbia 

»34 


ON  PERSONAL  CHARACTER 


lYt  whether  pcrceii^  or  not,  lus  as  prevailing;  an  inflccoce  od 
hor  hlbiu  uid  actional  an  any  theory  of  moral  tcDttmcnu  caught  in 
the  Kboolii.  Rulei  and  poKautiona  may,  no  lioubt,  \x  applied  to 
counteract  the  exceuo  and  overt  ilcmODBUationii  of  any  such  chaiac- 
tetiatic  infirmity;  but  nil!  ihe  diiicate  will  be  in  the  miud,  aa 
impediment,  not  a  help  lo  virtue.  An  exception  i»  uiually  taken  to 
all  national  or  grneraJ  tcBectiocii,  aa  uojuit  and  ilHbctal,  bKauic  they 
cannot  be  true  of  cvcty  individual.  It  u  not  locant  that  they  are ; 
and  bctidet,  the  nme  captious  objection  ig  not  made  to  the  haodtomc 
thing*  that  arc  taid  of  whole  budiea  and  cla*»e«  of  oii.'n.  A  tofty 
panegyric*  a  boaated  virtue  will  fit  tbc  inhabitanu  of  an  entire  diattict 
to  a  hair  i  the  want  of  atrict  univcraaliiyi  of  philotophical  .ind  abiltact 
truth,  ia  no  difficulty  hercj  but  tf  you  hint  at  ao  obvioui  rice  or 
defect,  ihia  is  iaBiaotly  conMiutd  into  a  moit  unfair  and  partial  view 
of  the  caae,  and  each  defaulter  throwi  the  imputatioo  from  himwlf 
and  hie  country  with  icorn.  Thus  you  may  prai»e  the  generosity  of 
the  Engliab,  the  prudence  of  the  Scotch,  Uie  huipitality  of  the  I  riah, 
■i  long  aa  you  pleaie,  and  not  a  (yllabic  ia  whimpered  againiit  thcM 
iwccfang  expteuiona  of  admitarion;  but  reverac  tbc  picture,  hold  up 
to  ccnaure,  or  only  glance  at  the  unfavourable  aide  of  each  character 
{and  Oiey  themaclvrt  admit  tJiat  they  have  a  <li«tingui«hing  and 
generic  character  aa  a  people),  and  you  ate  aatailed  by  the  looit 
violent  clamoutv,  and  a  confuted  Babel  of  noiaet,  aa  a  ditMrninator  of 
unfounded  prejudices,  or  a  libeller  of  human  nature.  I  am  sure  theie 
is  nothing  reasonable  in  this. — Harsh  and  ditagrccable  qualities  wear 
out  in  nations,  a*  to  individuals,  from  time  and  intercourse  with  the 
world ;  but  it  ia  at  the  expente  of  their  intrinsic  excellences.  The 
vices  of  softneM  and  etfeminacy  unk  deeper  with  age,  like  thoraa  in 
the  Hesh.  Single  acts  or  event*  often  determine  the  fate  of  mortals, 
yet  may  have  nathing  to  do  with  their  general  deserts  or  failiofi, 
ric  who  is  nid  to  be  cured  of  any  glaring  infirmity  may  be  suspected 
never  lo  have  bad  it ;  and  lastly,  it  may  be  laid  down  at  a  general 
rule,  that  mankind  improie,  by  means  of  luxury  and  civilitation,  in 
lodal  waBOCra,  aad  become  more  depraved  in  what  relates  to  personal 
haUu  and  ehvacter.  There  are  few  tuiions,  as  well  as  few  men 
(with  the  exception  of  tyrants)  that  are  cruel  and  votuptuoua, 
imnterH-d  in  pleasure,  and  bent  on  inflicting  pain  on  otiieis,  at  the 
same  time.  Fcrociouxnci*  is  the  chaiacteriatic  of  barbarous  agMp 
liccniiouaoeM  of  more  celined  periods.' 

I  Pirfrlitn  dirlkiiw  iopmut  arm 
EfDoLlii  raortt,  ace  tlnit  eitc  ffroi^ 
itMi  Dot  etiiliih  the  pshC]r  o(  menli  thai  infet*  tfaiii 


TIm  nme 
nildAoa. 


»3S 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

I  iluU  Dot  undertake  to  decide  exactly  bcnr  &r  tbe  otiffaai 
ckaractcr  ouf  be  modified  by  the  general  progrc**  of  wciety,  or  by 
parocBlar  circBiiuuikcct  haffetuag  lo  tbe  iadindnl ;  but  1  think  the 
almmoti  (be  it  what  it  may)  ii  more  appamt  than  real,  more  in 
coodaa  tfajw  in  feeltog.  I  will  not  deny,  (hat  an  estrenr  and  nolcM 
diiTerence  of  circnoHtaace*  (xi  that  bctwnn  the  tangt  and  ciriliud 
itaie)  will  nperaede  tbe  oofmnoa  diattnctiaM  of  cbancter,  aad 
prereoi  ccnain  ditpocitioai  and  aeniimenti  (ram  erer  deTetoytiig 
UMnurivca.  Vet  with  refereocc  to  ibi*,  I  wo«*ld  obtcrret  in  the  fim 
placci  that  in  tbe  mott  oppontc  noki  and  coeditiou  of  life,  we  find 
^uGtin  ihewiaj  tbcmatket,  which  we  ihouM  bl*t  IcMi  expected, — 
(MM  in  a  cottage,  huminity  ia  a  b«adit,  siacerity  b  count;  and 
tecoodly,  b  ordinary  caaet,  and  in  tbe  mixed  maai  of  luunan  a&in^ 
the  mind  oootriref  to  lay  bold  of  tboae  drcamnance*  aad  moiivea 
which  luh  it*  own  bia*  aod  confirm  in  natsral  diKponiHin,  wbacerer 
■I  may  be,  gentle  or  rough,  ralgar  ot  refiord,  Dpiriml  of  cowardly, 
opcn-beartcd  or  evening-  The  will  i«  not  blindly  impelled  by  out- 
ward acodenta,  bat  teleets  the  impmiioo*  by  which  it  cbooies  to  be 
Xorerned,  with  great  dextefiiy  and  pertereraace.  Or  the  macbiBe 
may  be  at  the  dtipoaal  of  Ibrtune  :  tbe  man  it  «ill  hti  own  ouiMeT. 
The  MMil,  mder  the  prewire  of  cbcnraaancet,  doe*  not  lose  ita 
original  tpring,  bot,  a»  toon  at  the  pretrare  i*  removed,  recoiU  with 
double  nole&ce  to  iu  fint  poiitioD.  That  whtcb  aoy  one  hu  been 
loH  Icaninff  unwilKoKly,  be  nokam*  with  profortioriabic  tagenem 
aaahame.  Kiap  faa*e  been  taid  to  be  iocomgtble  to  cxpoieooe. 
The  maxim  mi^  be  extended,  witbomt  injury,  to  tbe  bene£t  of  their 
■object*;  for  every  nua  >•  a  kiag  (with  afl  tbe  pride  and  obftioacy 
of  one)  in  hi*  own  little  world.  It  if  only  Iccky  that  the  rcu  of  the 
■pecie*  are  not  anawer^4e  for  hi*  caprice*  t  We  hugb  at  the 
waminga  and  advice  of  otber* ;  we  re»eiu  the  letaoo*  of  advmity, 
■ad  kwe  no  time  b  letting  it  appear  that  we  have  eacaped  from  its 
iroeortBoate  bold.  I  do  aot  ibinic,  trith  every  airitiance  from  rcMon 
aad  circamKance*,  that  tbe  •lothlnl  ever  beomnea  active,  tbe  coward 
brave,  the  headttrong  prudent,  the  lickle  *teady,  the  mean  generoos,  the 
coarse  delicate,  (he  illtcmpcred  amiable,  or  tbe  knave  boneft ;  bat  that 
the  rcMrabt  of  tkccniity  and  appearance*  onc«  taken  away,  they  would 
relapic  into  thdr  former  and  real  character  again  i—CiittiSiii  imtftek 
mtnailnm.  Manner*,  (ttuation,  example,  fashion,  have  a  prodigtou 
bfloence  on  exterior  deportment.  But  do  tbey  peDCtrate  mnch 
deeper  ?  The  thief  will  not  »tcal  by  day  j  but  hii  having  thi*  com- 
naad  over  himaclf  doe*  not  do  away  hit  characicr  or  calling.  The 
print  cannot  indulge  in  ccftuo  irregBlaritiei ;  but  unlrta  hi*  pulte 
beats  temperately  from  tbe  6m,  be  wiU  only  be  plsybg  a  part  through 

136 


ON  PERSONAL  CHARACTER 


life.  Agsin,  the  toldier  ciDnot  ahriok  from  hit  duty  in  a  dutandly 
cnanDcr ;  but  if  be  has  not  naiuially  iieady  nervn  and  iirong  motu- 
tiOD, — except  in  the  field  of  battle,  he  may  be  fearful  as  *  woman, 
though  covrrcd  with  8catt  and  honour.  The  Judge  muat  be 
ditlnterettcd  kod  above  sutpicion  ;  yet  thould  he  have  from  nature 
an  itching  palm*  an  eye  ierrile  and  greedy  of  oflice,  he  will  tome- 
how  contrive  to  indemnily  hi)  private  conidence  out  of  hii 
public  principle,  and  husband  a  reputation  for  legal  integrity,  at 
a  stake  to  play  the  game  of  politica]  profligacy  with  more  advan- 
tage t  There  i*  often  a  contradiction  in  character,  which  U  com- 
poied  of  lariout  and  unequal  parts ;  and  hence  there  will  arise 
an  appearance  of  tickleneu  ud  inconaiuteDcy.  A  man  may  be 
ilug^ish  by  the  faiher'a  aide,  and  of  a  rentlcn  and  uneaay  temper  by 
die  mother'* ;  and  he  may  favour  either  of  these  inherent  diipoiiliona 
according  to  circumnancci.  But  he  will  not  have  changed  hit 
character,  any  more  than  a  man  who  someiiraet  live*  in  one  apait* 
mcDt  of  a  house  and  then  takes  poitcstion  of  another,  according  to 
whim  or  convenience,  changes  his  habitation.  The  simply  phlegmatic 
never  turns  to  the  truly  '  fiery  quality.'  So,  the  really  gay  or  trilling 
never  become  ihoughthil  and  Krious.  The  Ught-hearted  wretch  take* 
nothing  to  heart.  He,  on  whom  (from  natural  carelesonesa  of  dii- 
pOBtion)  '  the  nhot  of  accident  and  dart  of  chance '  fall  like  drops  of 
oU  on  water,  to  that  he  brushes  them  aside  wttii  heedless  hand  and 
smiling  Eice,  will  never  be  roused  from  his  volatile  indiAerence  to 
meet  inevitable  calamities.  He  may  try  to  laugh  them  off,  but  will 
not  put  himielf  to  any  inconvenience  ti>  prevent  them.  I  know  a 
man  that,  if  a  tiger  were  to  jump  into  hi*  room,  would  only  play  off 
some  joke,  some  'quip,  or  cntnk,  or  wanton  wile'  upon  htm. 
Morttfi cations  and  disappointments  may  break  such  a  person's  heart ; 
hut  they  will  be  the  death  of  him  ere  tliey  will  make  him  provident 
of  the  future,  oc  willinj;  to  forego  one  idle  gratification  of  the  pasting 
moment  for  any  cooMdciation  whatever.  The  dilatory  roan  never 
becomes  punctual.  Retolution  it  of  no  avail  i  for  ibe  very  eweoce 
of  the  character  contiiis  in  thin,  that  the  pretent  imprcwion  is  of  more 
efficacy  than  any  prcvioua  rcMbtioa.  I  have  heard  it  said  of  ■  cele- 
brated writer,  that  if  be  had  to  get  a  reprieve  from  the  gallowi  for 
him»elf  or  a  friend  (with  leave  be  it  tpokcn),  and  was  to  be  at  a 
certain  place  at  a  given  time  for  this  purtxine,  he  would  be  a  quarter 
of  an  hour  behiod-band.  What  ii  to  be  done  in  this  caie !  Can  you 
talk  or  argue  a  man  out  of  his  humour  i  You  might  at  well  attempt 
to  talk  or  argue  him  out  of  a  lethargy,  or  a  fever.  The  disease  is  in 
the  blood  :  you  may  tee  it  (if  you  are  a  curious  observer)  meandering 
in  hi«  *aa%,  and  reposing  oa  his  ej-e-lida !     Some  of  our  foibles  are 

»37 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 


laid  is  titt  caB*itu(iOB  of  out  bodin ;  txheri  to  the  miuctan  of  ou 
BBil%  tad  both  m  trmiKdubk.  Tbr  *ain  n»B,  who  it  full  of  htm- 
•etf,  hi  acmr  nrtd  of  hi*  vaattyt  bvt  tooki  for  admirtiioD  to  the  lut, 
vith  a  rcitlew,  Mipptiut  eye,  in  the  midx  of  cononBeljr  and  cooietnpt; 
the   tnodcw   imn   neter   grow*   rm  from   flatterr,   or   uoexpectcd 

Spbuac,  for  he  tee*  hinndf  io  tbt  dmnaubcd  ictM  of  oUict  ^ifi|;a. 
r  will  DOC  '  hivc  bi«  nothuigi  DKMMtertd.*  He  know*  how  imich 
be  hinitelf  wiau,  how  iDodt  otbcn  hare ;  ■nd  itU  you  cia  alter  thit 
coorictioo  io  him,  or  raike  him  drunk  hy  iniiaiiig  »ooie  new  poiaoo, 
tome  celealial  itiar  into  hii  vecos,  you  caaoot  make  a  coxcomb  of 
htm.  He  i«  too  well  aware  of  the  troth  of  what  bat  bees  Mid,  thtt 
*  the  witc«c  amoogn  o*  i*  a  fool  io  ROtne  thioga,  a*  the  lowett  omottgat 
■Mil  bu  Mme  fut  ootiam,  mm)  tbereb  ii  >*  wise  m  SoctKtt ;  m  that 
«TCfy  maa  reienblc«  a  (tame  made  to  ftand  agBinit  a  wall,  or  to  a 
mche  I  OD  ooe  aide  it  ia  a  Plato,  an  Apcrito,  a  Demouheoca  i  oa  the 
ether,  h  it  a  roa{h,  trnformed  piece  of  ttooe.'  ■  Some  perioai  of  mv 
aci^uaintance,  who  thtDk  tbemielTn  itrrt  a  raiat^t,  tnd  armed  at  aU 
porau  with  perfectiona,  would  not  be  much  iocUocd  to  gire  in  to  tbb 
•cMimcot,  the  modeatj  of  which  it  oeif  e^insDed  bj  itt  «tur  aad 
IngiBuitT.  The  mait  of  aat^gvioe  mnperameni  it  tetdotn  wnaed  from 
hit  oaot*  ia  the  air ;  bot  eaa  yon,  by  rinuc  of  aay  theory,  coevett 
Iho  cold,  carrful  calculator  ioto  a  wild  nuhmiait.  A  tcEf-lonnetitar 
it  twTcr  lattilied,  come  whM  will.  He  ^ways  apprcbcDdt  the  wont, 
and  ii  indefatigable  in  conjnring  op  the  apparician  of  dan^.  He  it 
Bii«a(y  at  hit  own  good  fortune,  at  it  tAet  from  hioi  hit  &Tourite 
topic  of  repining  aod  complaint.  Let  him  tocceed  to  hit  hetrt'i 
content  in  ail  that  ti  rcaionable  or  important,  y*t  if  there  i*  any  ooe 
thiag  (and  l^  he  it  «ure  to  liad  out)  in  wluch  be  doei  not  get  on, 
thjt  emUtten  all  the  rett.  1  know  an  nwtance.  Perhaps  it  it  myadf. 
Again,  a  aurly  man,  in  ipite  of  warning,  neglecti  bit  owd  iatemt, 
and  will  do  ao,  bccaoae  be  hat  more  pleawre  in  ditoUigiog  yoo  than 
is  terving  himtclf.  'A  friendly  man  will  (hew  himaelf  friendly,'  to 
the  lut ;  for  those  who  arc  uid  to  have  been  foiled  by  prosperity 
were  oe»er  really  good  for  any  thing.  A  good-Daiurcd  man  nerer 
loiet  hit  aatiTe  happinm  of  ditpontioo :  good  temper  it  an  eitaie 
for  life;  and  >  niHi  bora  with  common  aente  rarely  tonM  otM  a 
very  egre^ona  fool.  It  it  nwre  contmoo  to  aee  a  fool  become  wite, 
that  it.  Ml  op  lor  witdom,  and  be  taken  at  hi*  word  by  foolf.  We 
fte<|oentIy  judge  of  a  nun'*  intellectual  pfeteotioM  by  the  number  of 
book*  be  write*-,  of  hit  cloooence  by  the  number  of  raeecbea  he 
maltea  [  of  bis  capacity  for  botiRea*,  by  the  ntunbef  of  ol&on  he 


»S8 


t  RielurdMa'i  Workt,  Oa  (be  Sckacc  ot  s  CaoMinror,  p.  a  la. 


ON  PERSONAL  CHARACTER 

holds.  Thcae  arc  not  tnie  tciu.  Many  a  cdcbrated  author  ii  a 
koown  blockhead  (bctwtm  fiicndt]  i  snd  maoy  a  laiDwtcr  of  taa, 
wboM  gravity  and  wlf-imporUDCc  pas*  with  the  world  for  dtpth  of 
thought  and  weight  of  public  care,  ia  a  lau|thin);-MiKk  to  hit  very 
lerruita  and  d«p«ndinu.'  The  taleoti  of  tome  men,  todeed,  which 
might  ooi  otherwiae  have  had  a  field  to  display  themicln*,  ate  called 
out  by  exiraordinaty  lituationi,  and  ti*e  with  ibc  oocaiKio  ;  but  for  all 
the  routine  and  mcchaoical  preparatioo,  the  pomp  and  parade  and  big 
look)  of  gic;it  HiaieimeD,  or  what  ii  culled  merely  Jliling  «fift,  a  very 
ahallow  capacity,  with  a  certain  iiuinoveablenen  of  countenance,  it,  I 
ahould  luppoie,  tuDtcieot,  from  whac  1  have  leen.  Such  political 
machine*  aie  not  bo  good  aa  the  Mock-Dukc  in  the  Honey-Moon. 
A*  to  genius  and  capacity  for  the  work*  of  an  and  tcicncc,  all  thai  a 
man  really  excels  in,  i*  bit  own  and  incommunicable;  what  he 
borrows  from  others  he  has  in  an  inicrior  degree,  and  it  i(  nerer  what 
his  fame  rest*  on.  Sir  Joshua  abarrvctt  that  Raphael,  in  his  tatter 
^cturei,  ahewed  tliac  he  had  learnt  in  some  measure  the  colouring  of 
Titian.  If  he  had  learnt  it  auite,  the  merit  would  atill  have  been 
Titian's  i  but  be  did  not  learn  it,  and  never  would.  But  hii  expres- 
•ioD  (hi*  glory  and  hi*  ckccIIcticc)  wat  what  he  had  within  himtelf, 
lim  and  last ;  and  this  it  was  that  seated  him  on  the  pinnacle  of 
fiime,  a  pre-eminence  that  no  artist,  without  an  equal  warrant  from 
nature  and  geniu*,  will  ever  deprive  him  of.  With  respect  to  indica- 
tiODi  of  early  genius  for  particular  things,  I  will  jait  mentian,  that  I 
myself  koinir  an  instance  of  a  jinic  boy,  who  could  catch  the  hardest 
tunes,  when  between  two  and  three  years  old,  without  any  asaBtance 
but  hearing  them  played  on  a  band-oigan  in  the  street ;  and  who 
followed  the  cxtjuiaite  piecei  of  Mozan,  played  to  him  for  the  first 
time,  *o  OS  to  fall  in  like  an  echo  at  the  dote.  Wat  this  accident,  or 
education,  or  natural  aptitude  !  I  think  the  last.  All  the  presump- 
tion) arc  for  it,  and  there  arc  none  against  ic 

In  line,  do  vc  not  tec  how  hard  certain  early  impreation*,  or 
prejudices  ac<]uired  later,  are  to  overcome !  Do  we  not  say,  liabit  ia 
>  second  nature?     And  shall  we  not  allow  the  force  of  nature  itMtf^ 

I  Ths  rcpulstioa  It  doI  the  nsB.  Yet  til  tru<  rcpslalioa  bc|int  aad  cadi  ia 
the  oplnlaa  of  s  ntjin'i  iaiinisle  fiicndt.  He  ii  what  Ihegp  think  him,  anrl  in  tbf 
Ittt  r«uU  will  be  thought  to  by  ocbrn.  Where  (here  it  no  lojiit  mtrit  to  bear 
the  pmture  of  penonil  tonliet,  fame  it  bnl  i  nfnur  ftitrd  by  »<ti<lrnt  ot  ftrja- 
diet,  anil  tvitl  loott  vsnith  Ilk*  s  vsfODt  or  *  aaitoDK  (lench.  Dul  hi!  vho  appnr* 
te  ihoie  sbout  bim  nhit  be  would  ban  the  worW  think  him,  ffuni  "luim  every 
MK  thit  apptoKhei  him  in  wbiltnr  clrcumiuncei  bfinii  luiTiciblni;  awajr  lu  con- 
im  ihe  lou.1  rumour  uf  ihe  popular  nice,  it  slan*  peat  in  if  lit  nl  fuilunt.  The 
UallM  et  trienriihip,  [he  IIieIeqcm  of  cvrioiity,  is  at  tarcn  s  test  ti  tht  inparliililf 
Md  anhrlwl  vitw*  of  lutrarjF. 

»J9 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

If  the  real  diapotitton  i*  concnied  (or  a  time  and  tampered  whhi  how 
readily  it  break)  out  with  tlie  Grat  «xctite  Or  opfwrttiaity  1  Hov 
aoon  doe*  tbe  druakard  forget  hit  reaohitiOD  sad  conatraiaed  tobriety, 
at  tight  of  tbe  fbaratog  tankard  and  blaxioji  heanh  !  Doe*  not  tbe 
patcion  fW  gamine,  in  which  there  bad  been  an  inroluntary  pmM» . 
fctuni  like  a  nM>dne«  all  at  oacc^  It  would  be  oeedlcM  to  oSh 
iuunce*  of  to  obriovt  a  tnuh.  But  if  thii  wpefiodocvd  naiurc  !■ 
Bot  to  be  got  tbe  better  of  by  teatoo  or  prwlcncei  who  thall  preieud 
to  let  aude  tbe  origiaal  ooe  bjr  tfetciipiioD  aod  nudagemeflt  f  Tbua, 
if  we  turn  to  tbe  character*  of  womco,  we  find  that  the  thiew,  tbe 

I 'lit,  the  coquette,  tbe  wamoa,  the  tiXiigner,  the  liar,  cootioue  all  their 
iivi  the  same.  Meet  tbem  after  the  bp«e  of  a  qoatter  or  half  a 
ceaniry,  and  they  arc  titll  ia&Uibly  at  their  old  woik.  No  rebuke 
from  expctirnce,  do  Icmooi  of  mufOTiiniei  nuke  tbe  lean  tmprewion 
on  tbem.  Oo  the)'  go  i  aod,  id  fact,  tbey  cao  go  on  in  no  other 
wajr.  They  try  other  thing*,  but  it  will  not  do.  Tbcy  are  like  6ah 
o«tt  of  water,  except  in  the  elerncni  of  their  faroutite  vicet.  Tbey 
might  a*  wtII  not  be,  aa  ccaie  to  be  what  tbey  ate  by  nature  and 
ciHtocn.  '  Can  the  Ethiopian  change  hit  ikio,  or  the  leopard  hit 
ipott  i '  Neither  do  ihete  wretched  penonii  find  any  tatisfactioQ  or 
eonaciouanetEi  of  their  power,  but  tn  being  a  plague  and  a  tormcm  to 
tbciBwivea  and  every  ooe  elte  as  kmg  aa  they  can.  A  good  wrt  of 
woman  it  a  character  tnore  rare  than  any  of  thete,  but  it  it  equally 
dnraUc.  Look  at  the  head  of  Hogartb't  Idle  Amrentke  en  the 
boat,  holding  up  hit  fingcri  at  homt  at  CuckoM't  Point,  sod  aak 
whet  ptttitenttary,  wbM  priaofrditdpliae,  wosU  chug*  the  ftrm  of 
hia  fbrdiead,  < rillaiaoot  low.'  or  the  conceptna*  miag  widm  it? 
Notfabgi — no  mothex't  fearful  waniingt. — nor  the  fiunidaUe  pre- 
cautiont  of  that  wikt  aod  more  loviog  mother,  hit  conotry !  That 
fellow  it  Mill  to  be  met  with  tomewherc  in  otir  time.  It  be  a  ipy, 
a  jack-ketch,  or  an  underline  of  office  t  In  truth,  almoit  all  the 
charactert  in  Hogarth  are  of  tbe  claai  of  incorrigible* ;  lo  that  I 
often  woodcr  what  hat  become  of  tome  of  them.  Hate  the  worn 
of  them  been  cleared  out,  like  tlie  breed  of  noxiont  snimalij 
Or  bare  they  been  twept  away,  like  loctiua,  in  the  whirlwind 
of  the  French  Reroludoo?  Or  hat  Mr.  Bentham  put  them  into 
bii  Panopticon  t  from  which  ihcy  have  come  oot,  to  that  nobody 
koowi  tbem,  like  tbe  chimney-t weeper  boy  at  Sadler't  Wella, 
thai  wa*  thrown  into  a  cauldron  and  came  out  a  littk  dapper 
vohwteer  i  I  will  not  deny  that  tooic  of  them  may,  like  Chaucer't 
cbamcte.i,  bare  been  tnodemiaed  a  tittle  j  boi  I  think  I  could 
re-tractUte  a  few  of  them  into  their  mother-tongue,  the  original 
hooett  blactJettrr.  We  may  refiac,  we  may  dltguite,  we  may  eqni- 
140 


d 


ON  PERSONAL  CHARACTEK 

vocittct  we  may  compound  for  our  vices,  wiihout  getting  rid  of  clicm  i 
m  we  change  our  liquw*,  but  do  not  luve  olf  drinking.  Wc  may,  b 
this  mpect,  look  forward  to  a  decent  and  moderate,  rather  than  a 
tboroDgh  and  radical  reform.  Or  (without  going  deep  into  the 
political  <)uc4lioD)  I  conc«iiv  wc  may  improve  the  mechacJMi,  if  not 
the  lexiute  of  lociety ;  thai  is,  we  may  tmpro»e  die  phyncal  circum- 
ftance*  of  indindual*  and  their  general  relation!  to  the  nate,  (hough 
the  inicroal  character,  like  the  grain  in  wood,  or  the  tap  in  tree*,  that 
(till  riMi,  bend  them  how  you  will,  may  remain  ncirly  the  lame. 
The  clay  that  the  potter  u»ct  may  be  of  the  same  (juality,  coarte  or 
fine  in  ttielf,  though  he  may  mould  it  iDIo  retacla  of  very  different 
ahape  or  beauty.  Who  thall  aJtcr  the  stamina  of  national  characcei 
by  any  syiieraaiic  procen  i  Who  dull  make  the  French  re»peciab!e, 
or  the  Engli«h  amiable?  Yet  the  Author  of  tiii:  v«*«  ijoo'^'" 
done  it!  Suppoac  public  ipirit  to  become  the  general  principle  of 
sction  in  the  community — how  would  it  shew  it»elf .'  Would  it  not 
then  become  the  faihion,  like  loyalty,  and  have  it»  apei  and  parrou, 
like  loyalty?  The  man  of  principle  would  no  longer  bcdiBtioguiihed 
j  from  the  crowd,  the  lervum  ^cmi  itnUaterum.  There  ti  a  cant  of 
democracy  aa  well  as  of  aristocracy  \  and  we  have  aeen  botli  tiium- 

^01  in  our  day.  The  Jacobin  of  1 794  wax  the  Anti-Jacobin  of  1 8 1 4. 
e  loude«t  chauntert  of  the  Pzant  of  liberty  were  the  loudeK 
■pplauders  of  the  restored  doctrine  of  divine  right.  They  drifted 
with  the  Btreani,  tliey  tailed  before  tlie  breeze  in  either  cam.  The 
politician  was  changed;  the  man  wiu  the  tame,  the  very  tame! — But 
enough  of  thi*. 

I  do  not  know  any  moral  to  be  deduced  from  thit  view  of  the 
(abject  but  one,  namely,  that  we  ibould  mind  our  own  bunineu, 
cuhiraie  our  good  qualities,  if  we  have  any,  and  irritate  our«etve«  leu 
[.ftbout  the  abiurdiiie*  of  other  people,  which  neither  we  nor  they  can 
.lulp>  I  grut  there  U  sometliiDg  in  what  I  have  taid,  which  might 
be  flude  to  glaoce  toward)  the  doctrinea  of  original  lin,  grace,  election, 
reprobation,  or  the  Gnoatic  principle  chat  act*  did  noi  determine  the 
virtue  or  vice  of  the  character ;  and  in  Ibote  doctrinei,  to  far  as  they 
ore  deducible  from  what  I  hat«  taid,  I  agree — but  alwayt  with  a 
uJto. 

*  Merdcr. 


«0U  vn. :  Q 


»4< 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

a  work,  of  lime  to  wtna  them  from  thdf  ffloruiroui  infaEtutioo.*     We 
may  trace  »  tpeculatife  abmrdity  or  practicat  cnonniiy  of  ihif  kiod 
JMo  its  tenth  at  Gfieencb  ccncory,  tupponcd  tcory  above  tntj,  gloM^ 
npoB  gloM,  dU  it  mock*  at  Hcarcn,  and  irample*  upon  ttnh,  _ 
Up  ra  decree*  and  cou&cilt  and  (yDods,  aod  appnia  to  popei  aitdl 
cwdiuU  aod  fatbcra  of  the  church  (all  Rixft,  ^vctcnd  men  I ) 
the  tep.ular  clem  ud  people  at  tbeii  nde  baiUiof  fot  it,  and  othert'^ 
below  (KhiimattM  and  beretica)  oppusntng  it;  till  ra  the  djn  an  ~ 
commotion  and  coUUioo  of  diy  rubi  and  hard  blow*,  it  loeea  i 
aa  k  rote,  century  by  century;  ti  taken  to  piece*  by  trtnid  frienda  : 
determined  foca ;  toticri  and  fallt,  and  not  a  fragment  of  it  *•  l«f 
BpOD  another.     A  text  of  Scnpcurc  or  a  pu«age  in  ecctesiauical 
hiMory,  ta  fot  one  whole  ccotury  ■  torn  to  Uttera.  to  very  raga,'  and 
wrangled  and  fought  (w,  ai  maiDtaining  the  doctrine  of  the  troe  and 
Catholic  church  i  in  the  next  centur*  after  that,  the  whole  body  of 
the  Reformed  clergy,  Lutheiani,  Cafvintata,  Arminiana,  get  boid  ofj 
it,  wmi  it  out  of  the  baodi  of  their  adrer»xie«,  and  twiat  and  tor 
it  in  a  thouiund  different  wiya,  to  OTettum  the  abomiiutiona  of  An 
Chrift  i  in  the  third  a  great  cabal,  a  clamour,  a  noite  like  the  con-^ 
fusion  of  Babel,  jcaloctiet,  feudt,  heart- bumioga,  wart  in  coanttiea, 
diriiioQi  in  familiea,  Khiims  in  the  church  aiiie,  becauae  ihlt  text  hat 
been  thought  to  futour  a  lax  inieip relation  of  an  article  of  faith. 
Decenary  to  talvation  ;  and  in  the  fourth  century  from  the  lime  the 

3qc«tion  began  to  be  agitated  with  »o  much  heat  and  fury,  it  ia 
iicoTcred  that  no  luch  text  cxitted  in  the  genuine  copie*.  Yet 
^I  and  each  of  thcte,  Popc«,  councils,  father*  of  the  church, 
reformed  leader*.  Lutheraoi,  CaUinut*,  lodepcndenta,  Pietbyteriaaitj 
tecta,  tchiinia,  clcrity,  people,  >U  believe  that  their  own  interpre 
ia  the  true  acnie )  that,  compared  with  thii  fabricated  and  apurioni 
laith  of  theirt,  ■  the  pillar'd  fimument  ii  rottenneta,  and  earth  a  bate 
built  on  aiubUe ; '  and  are  to  tar  from  being  ditposcd  to  treat  the 
matter  lightly,  or  to  nippotc  it  postible  that  they  do  not  proceed  on 
tolid  and  indutntsble  grounda  io  every  contradiction  they  mo  into, 
that  they  would  hand  over  to  the  civil  power,  to  be  coD*q;Ded  to  a 
priaoD,  the  galleya,  or  the  stake  (aa  it  happened),  any  one  who 
demurred  for  a  nngle  inaunt  to  their  bnng  people  of  aeote,  gravity, 
and  wiidom.  Sense  (that  u,  that  ton  of  tenae  wbtch  conaisu  in  pre- 
tention )tnd  a  cbim  to  auperiority)  ia  thewn,  not  in  thbga  that  arc 

*  It  Jppcui,  ootwiihiiandini,  thai  thi*  (ophiMicil  spolofy  for  the  niloniioD  of 
■be  Spioiih  iDqiiitilfoa,  nith  iht  rrvcnion  of  tovtrcitn  fovcr  Into  kingly  baniii, 
wu  filic  ud  ipuiioui.  Th(  fowr  bi>  one*  more  reverted  Into  the  btndi  of  an 
ibuKd  fKOfle,  lad  the  Ia<|uiiitlaQ  hu  been  ibcliahci). — S1ik«  thit  ■*■  vriucn, 
Itwtc  hu  been  aaolhet  lum  of  the  icrtw*,  tai But  no  more  «o  that  hct'l. 

»44 


ON  PEOPLE  OF  SENSE 


fiuB  a&d  deu,  bat  m  deciding  uimd  doubta  aad  dilfieulde*;  tb« 
gceater  the  douU,  cheicforC)  the  greater  mutt  b«  the  dofpnatitm  *ai 
the  contcquetiiul  airs  of  tbote  who  profcw  to  lettle  poittti  beyond 
the  mch  of  the  lulgar ;  nay,  to  incrcate  the  authority  of  luch 
pcriQDs,  ibc  utmost  utrcait  miuc  be  laid  on  the  tDoai  frivolonn  m  vtU 
u  ticklish  quntions,  and  the  mote  uncon«c)ODabtc  absurdities  have 
alwayu  hid  liie  itoutcst  iticklcrs,  aad  the  most  numerous  tictimi. 
The  alfectatioo  of  »cn»e  lo  far,  then,  ha»  p'mt  birth  to  more  folly 
and  done  more  miscbief  than  any  one  thing  cl«e. 

Hence  we  may,  perhaps  be  able  to  aMign  one  reaton,  whv  tboae 
arts  which  do  not  tmdcnalce  to  nnlbld  myttcrics  and  tociilcate  dogmat, 
generally  shine  out  at  first  with  Ail)  lustre,  bccaiuc  ihcy  start  trom 
the  'vintage  grousd  of  natore,  and  arc  not  buried  under  the  dust  and 
rubbiah  of  ages  of  perrerte  prejudice.  Biblical  critics  u-crc  a  long 
lime  at  work  to  strip  Popery  of  her  linery,  muffled  up  a  ihe  wat  io 
the  ibrmal  disguise*  of  intertat,  pride,  and  bigotry.  It  wm  like  peel- 
ing off  the  coats  of  an  onion,  which  it  a  work  of  lime  and  patience. 
Titian,  on  the  other  hand,  (which  our  protemant  painter*  are  some- 
times ama/cd  at)  »w  the  colour  of  the  «kin  at  once,  without  any 
inttllectuat  ^Im  spread  over  it;  Raphael  piinicd  the  actions  and 
ninODs  of  men,  without  any  indirect  proccM,  as  he  found  them. 
The  6oe  ans,  auch  as  painting,  which  rcveili  the  face  of  nature,  aod 
poetry,  which  paints  the  heart  of  man,  arc  true  and  uiuophiilicaecd, 
because  they  arc  convcuttnt  with  real  objccu,  and  became  they  arc 
Cultiiatcd  for  aRiBsemrnt  without  any  further  view  or  inference ;  and 
picue  by  the  truth  of  imitauon  only.  Yet  your  AkjP/i  «f  tmjt,  to  all 
igct,  have  tnade  a  point  of  scouting  the  arts  of  painting,  music,  ami 
poetry,  M  frivoloua,  effeminate,  and  worthiest,  as  appealing  to  tenti- 
ment  and  fancy  alone,  and  involTtng  no  useful  theory  or  principle, 
bccaute  they  adordcd  them  no  icope,  no  opportunity  for  darieiiiiig 
iaovJa/ge,  and  setting  up  their  own  blindncM  and  frailty  ai  the 
meaisre  of  abairact  truth,  and  the  standard  of  oniveral  propriety. 
Poetry  acts  hy  sympathy  with  nature,  that  ia,  with  the  natural 
impulses,  customs,  and  imaginaiioaa  of  men,  aod  ia,  on  that  account, 
always  popular,  delightfcl,  and  at  the  tame  lime  instructive.  It  ia 
nature  moraIi:ftng  and  idtol'ning  for  tti ;  inasmuch  as,  by  shewing  us 
things  aa  they  are,  it  implicitly  teaches  <a%  what  ihcy  ought  to  be ; 
and  the  grosser  feeling*,  by  passing  through  the  ttrainer*  of  this 
imaginary,  wide-extended  experience,  ac(]uire  an  involunury  tendency 
to  higher  objccia.  Shakevpcar  waa,  in  this  senae,  not  only  one  of 
the  greateat  poets,  but  one  of  the  greatest  moralists  that  we  have. 
Thoae  who  read  hno  are  the  happier,  better,  and  wiser  for  it.  No 
oise  (that  I  know  of)  ia  the  happier,  better,  or  wiser,  for  reading 


THE   PLAIN  SPEAKER 


Mr.  Shcllev't  Prooietbew  Uobouod.'      Ou  tblsg  ii  thai  nobody 
read*  it.     And  the  reuco  for  one  m  both  i*  tli«  tamt,  that  ht  i*  sot 

■  poet,  biH  a  (opbitt,  B  thcorifi,  »  coatraTntul  writer  in  rcric  He 
gi*«*  us,  fot  TTfrrteWMoo*  of  thb^  rlupMdkt  of  word*.  He 
doM  not  lend  the  coloor*  of  iiiMguuuon  tad  ibe  ornuncRtt  of  (tyle 
to  the  objecu  of  natuie,  but  ptint*  gaudy,  tbatj,  allc^ictl  piatirc* 
on  gauze,  oo  the  cobwebt  of  bu  own  braio, '  Gorgaoa  aod  njdm* 
and  Chimera*  dire.'  He  aMume*  ceftaki  doubtfal  apeculatire  DOtiofUf 
and  proceed*  to  prove  tbcir  Iruih  by  detcribiog  them  in  dct^  aa , 
HMttcra  of  lacL  Thic  mixiurc  of  fanuic  zai  with  poetical  Ucenliou 
DM*  i*  not  quite  ihc  thing.  The  poet  dmcribe*  what  be  pleatei  at 
be  plca«(s — if  be  ii  not  tied  down  to  certain  gircn  jiriociple*,  if  b«  i( 
not  to  plead  pccjudicc  aod  opinioo  aa  his  wursnt  or  excuse,  we  are 
left  OM  at  sea,  at  ibc  meicy  of  every  reckkw  bii«y-Bioo£er,  wIm  may 
be  tempted  to  erect  ao  ipjr  Jital  of  fau  own,  by  tbe  help  of  a  few 
iiUe  flonrishos  and  extraragant  epithetis  into  an  exclunre  lyften  of 
moral*  and  pbtlosopbjr.  The  poet  dncribc*  riTidly  nnd  indiiidually, 
*o  thai  any  general  remit*  from  what  he  writes  ttnut  be  from  the 
aggregate  of  well-founded  particulars :  lo  embody  an  aburact  iheorjTi 
aa  if  It  were  a  given  part  of  actual  nature,  b  an  impertinence  and 
indecorwn.  Tbe  charm  of  poetry,  however,  depend*  on  the  usioa  ' 
of  fancy  with  reality,  on  its  fiodbg  a  tally  m  the  hwaua  breast  t  and 
without  this  all  iu  tumid  cifort*  will  be  lc«a  petoicMM*  than  Tain  and 
abortive.     Plato  thcwcd  bimarif  to  be  a  person  of  frigid  apprchcsMMbJ 

■  will)  eye  severe  and  beard  of  formal  cuii'  when  be  bamshcd  the* 
pocta  from  hU   Republic^  «  oonvpcen  of  morals,  becauae  they 
dcacribcd  the  various  paawoni  ind  affectiotia  of  the  miod.     This  did 
DM  ntit  with  that  Frocniaiei*  bed  of  critictim  on  which  he  wished  laJ 
arretfh  and  lop  them  j   but  Homer's  imhatiooi  of  nature  have  bees] 
more  popular  than  Plato's  inTctuooK  of  her ;  and  bis  morality  ii 
Icut  M  aomd.     The  error*  of  nature  are  accidental  and  pudotMbfe  | 
tho«c  of  scieDCe  are  systetnailc  and  bcorrigtUe.     The 
iog,  or  reasontDX  &culty  presume*  loo  moch  over  ber  yoaii|>er  **>tcra| 
■ad  yet  play*  a*  &ntutic  trick*  a*  any  of  them,  only  with  mor' 
aotemnity,  which  enhance*  the  evil.     We  have  partly  seen  what  rigli 
she  baa,  oo  the  ccoirc  of  past  behaviovt,  to  act  up  fiu'  a  strict 
uoctTiog  guide.     The  haughtisesa  of  her  pretensioiM  at  prcacol,  *  fiill ' 
of  wiw  saws  and   modern   inatucc*,'  is  not  the  most  «D«|l^T«cal 
plcdga  of  bir  abaodooiiMat  of  h«r  oU  error*.    To  bring  down  this 
accooM  then  btm  ibe  ancaent*  to  tbe  modenw. 

People  of  aensc,  the  aelf-coiweiied  tviie,  are  at  all  titne*  at  i* 


h6 


t  T^  WM  MTfUo  ia  Mr,  SliclkT')  ll(e.liaM. 


ON   PEOPLE  OF  SENSE 

wiih  comiDOQ  tatse  and  fcdiaj.  Tbe;  formerly  dagmutiMtl  o* 
ipecul.itive  matierK,  out  of  the  rtach  of  cominon  apprehcoiion  :  thcjr 
now  liijgmattK  with  the  ame  headitcong  ielf-«u/Itcicncy  on  practical 

?ucition«,  raotc  within  the  prorincc  of  4Ctu»l  inquiry  and  obKrvation. 
n  ihia  new  and  more  circumicribed  career,  they  set  out  with 
exploding  the  icdm:  of  ill  tho«c  who  have  gooc  before  ihem,  u  of  too 
light  and  fanciful  a  texture.  They  make  a  cleir  Mage  of  all  former 
opinioos — get  lid  of  the  mhitj  medet  urprejudice.aulhoritytSUggeittoD 
— ^nd  begin  tie  novo,  with  reaaoo  for  thetr  rule,  certainty  for  tlieir 

?iide,  and  the  greateit  pa*iible  good  at  a  tint  ^im  hm.  The  modem 
inopcic  and  Chrcsiomathic  School  of  reformcri  and  reconttrudor* 
of  eociciy  propote  to  do  it  upon  entirely  mechanical  and  tcicntific 
priociplea.  Nothing  ihort  of  that  will  tatiafy  tlieir  icrupulonc  pte- 
teniiiont  lo  wiadom  and  gravity.  They  proceed  by  the  role  and 
ComtaM,  by  logical  diigramt,  and  with  none  but  demonBtribIc  con- 
duaioiM,  and  leave  all  the  taate,  fancy,  and  hentinienE  of  the  thing  to 
the  admirer*  of  Mr.  Butke'a  Reflections  on  the  French  RctoIuuod. 
That  work  ia  to  them  a  very  Aimiy  and  »upcrlicial  performance, 
beuute  it  in  rhetorical  and  flgurauTe,  and  they  judge  of  tolidiiy  by 
burenncM,  of  depth  by  dryneu.  Tilt  they  kc  a  Titite  farther  into 
it,  they  will  not  be  able  to  antwer  it,  or  counteract  ita  inllueacc;  and 
yet  that  were  a  task  of  fomc  importance  to  atchicrc.  They  say 
that  the  pToportioos  are  hint,  becauie  the  colouring  u  line,  which  is 
bad  logic.  If  they  do  not  like  a  painted  statue,  a  florid  argument, 
that  i*  a  matter  of  taste  and  not  oi  teaaoQing.  Some  may  conceive 
that  the  gold,  the  sterling  bullion  of  thought,  is  the  belter  for  being 
wrought  into  rich  and  elegant  iigurei(  tiny  are  the  only  people  who 
contend  that  it  is  tbe  wofm  on  tliat  account.  TheK  crude  pro- 
jectors give,  in  their  new  plan  and  elevation  of  tociety,  neither 
*  princes'  palaces  nor  poor  men's  cDtta;;es,'  but  a  sort  of  log-hauMrs 
and  gable-cndt,  in  which  the  solid  contcnta  aitd  square  dimensions 
arc  to  be  aicertained  and  parcelled  out  to  a  nicety  ;  they  employ  the 
carpenter,  joiner,  and  bricklayer,  but  will  have  nothing  to  sar  to 
the  plasterer,  painter,  paper-hanger,  upbolalercr,  carrer  and  gilder, 
&c.  t  so  that  1  am  afraid,  in  ibis  faaiidious  snd  luxurious  age,  they 
will  hardly  Und  toosnta  for  their  bare  walls  and  skeletou  of  bOMM. 
run  up  in  haste  and  by  the  job,  Tbeir  system  want*  heiuf-^aarwiing  \ 
il  is  destitute  of  comfort  as  of  outside  shew  i  it  has  nothing  U 
recommend  it  but  its  poverty  and  nakedness.  They  proltss  to  set 
aside  and  reject  all  compromitc  with  the  prejudices  of  authority, 
the  allurenienti  of  sense,  tbe  customs  of  the  world,  and  the  instincts 
of  nature.  They  will  make  a  man  with  a  <juadrant,  as  the  tailors 
at  Laputa  made  a  siut  of  clotiies.     They  put  tbe  mind   into  a 

»47 


THE   PLAIN  SPEAKER 


Bi«ct»ii^,  u  the  DOttet  pau  &  hunp  of  cky  into  i  aoaid,  aad  ««t  k 
coma  m  amy  chn*)'  or  dingrceabfe  tlupe  thM  dwy  vedd  have 
tb  Thc]r  hue  all  gnce,  onumeDt,  Apoot.  Thtj  an  addicted  to 
ihanm  KitiKC,  bn  (worn  cncnia  lo  the  fine  ana.  Thejr  vrv  ■ 
kiad  of  fntiiaM  is  atonk.  Do  yov  amaw  that  the  ncc  of  ihe 
leOBodMla  u  dead  wkh  the  dbpotc  m  Land'*  time  abooc  tsuge- 
woritaft  We  have  juft  the  nme  tet  of  mooa-eycd  philomiben  n 
oar  dafit  who  cannot  bear  to  b«  dazzled  with  the  lan  of  haatj. 
Thtf  are  oely  balf-altve.  Thej  can  dutmsnuh  the  hard  edge*  and 
deterininate  ootUoe  of  thing* ;  Un  ait  alike  ioieaaUe  to  the  (trooger 
iiwiiit*  of  poanoot  to  the  finer  ewence*  of  thoaght.  Their  ia- 
'HM*'™''  (boo  doe*  IMM  aMimilate  mh  the  jnicc*  of  the  niod, 
or  iwa  to  ittbcic  iftrit,  bat  lie*  a  crade,  iH)d^e*ied  heap  of 
naiefial  ufcatanc*,  bcjectiag  only  the  wiadj  iaipenioe»ce  of 
word*.  Tbej  are  Kqiuimed  with  the  fom,  not  the  ^onttt  of  mih  i 
diev  tonK  on  what  U  oecMury,  and  oeref  amre  ax  what  is 
deanbk.  They  refer  ef  etr  tfaiiw  to  MiUty,  and  jet  bunk  iJmuh. 
with  itoic  pride  and  cynic  tlDmilHies*.  They  talk  big  of  ncrewing 
ihc  Mim  of  hmn  b^piacM,  and  yet  in  the  aichty  graiy  nd  czKaiiaa 
of  their  vinra,  Itvrt  bardJy  aoy  one  (oorcc  fton  wfaicb  the  ■naltin 
ray  of  tatufactioo  can  be  «lctiTed.  They  bare  u)  iaitactive  aTerwon 
to  play*,  ootck,  amuaemeota  of  crcry  kind ;  and  thia  ink  w  moch 
from  afectJUOB  or  want  of  knowledge,  a*  fioca  abeer  incapacity  and 
■■Bt  of  ta«e.  Shew  one  of  theae  men  of  sarrow  cooifrefaeiuaoa  a 
bcndfitl  proipcct,  sad  be  wooden  you  can  uke  dctighi  in  whai  t*  of 
as  me  :  yoa  wooid  hardly  (uppOK  that  ihii  very  psMB  bad  wriiMB 
■  book,  aod  wm  ftAmft  at  the  Bomenc  holdiBg  m  argnmem,  to 
prarethK  aotfang  —  nielul  but  what  pleaan.  Siivak  of  Shakespear, 
aad  aaotber  of  the  tune  imtpnuuic  school  will  lell  you  he  bu  read 
Urn,  bat  conld  find  nothtng  to  him.  Point  to  Hogarth,  and  they 
do  oovfca*  there  i*  aonething  in  hi*  prints  that,  by  cootiut,  throw* 
a  ptcaiing  light  oa  ibcir  Utopn  *chcBic«,  and  the  fntirc  progrcM  of 
•octety.  Oae  of  tbeae  patado-pliiloaeplwr*  would  think  it  a  diifvtgc- 
ment  to  eonpan  him  to  AriMolIc :  he  faooet  hioMelf  u  great  a  man 
aa  Arutotle  waa  m  h>i  day,  and  that  the  world  ti  Enoch  wiier  now 
than  it  wai  in  the  time  of  AriRoUe.  He  woald  be  glad  lo  lire  the 
ten  remaining  year*  of  hit  life,  a  year  at  a  time  at  the  eod  of  the 
next  tea  ccniitrtcs,  to  tee  the  effect  of  hit  writingt  on  tocial  inaka- 
tioat,  ifaoagb  pocterity  will  know  oo  more  than  hit  cootemporaric* 
that  to  great  a  man  erer  exitiod.  So  little  doe*  he  know  of  himaelf 
or  the  world !  Peraooa  of  hit  clata,  indeed,  caniiowtly  alwt  them* 
■rira  up  from  lociety,  and  take  oo  more  notioe  of  mea  than  of 
aatmabi  and  from  their  ignorance  of  what  inaakind  are,  can  tdl 
148 


ON  PEOPLE  OF  SENSE 

exactly  wliat  they  will  be.  '  What  cm  we  rcMon  but  from  wbit 
we  know  J' — U  not  their  maxim.  Reation  with  them  U  a  mathe- 
maiical  force  that  acu  with  mo«t  certainly  in  ihc  ab«cDcc  of  cxperieoce, 
ia  tlic  vacuum  of  pure  ipecutAiion.  T1ie»r  Mctirc  abrmiat*  ami 
dreaming  ^lurdiaoi  of  the  «tatc  are  Hke  luperanouiiied  watchmen 
cncloied  in  a  »entry-box,  thai  never  hear  '  when  ihievei  break  through 
and  iteal.*  They  put  an  oil-ikin  over  their  hcodi,  that  the  diut 
raiaed  by  the  [>ai>ion«  and  inicrcits  of  the  countlctii,  rTer-moiing 
mvltitude,  may  not  annoy  or  diiturb  the  ctcarneai  of  their  li^ion. 
They  build  a  Pcottcotiary,  and  are  tati^liod  that  Dyot-nrrei,  Bloomt- 
bury-*quare.  will  oo  lonjer  send  forth  iu  horde*  of  younf;  delinquenu, 
'aa  aerie  of  children,'  the  embryo  petformeti  on  locki  and  fockeu 
for  the  next  generation.     They  put  men  into  a  Panopticon,  like  a 

glai*  hive*  to  carry  oo  all  lort*  of  handicraft*  (■ So  work  the 

honey-beet ' — )  under  the  omnipreaent  eye  of  the  invmior,  and  want 
and  idlcnew  are  haDiihcd  from  the  world.  They  propose  lo  erect  a 
Cbrtftomsthic  tchool,  by  cutting  down  aomc  fine  old  trees  on  the 
clatsic  ground  where  Milton  thought  and  wrote,  to  introduce  a  rabble 
of  children,  who  for  the  Greek  and  Latin  languaj;et,  poetry,  and 
history,  that  fine  pabulum  of  lueful  enthusiasm,  that  breath  of  immor- 
tality infuted  into  our  youthful  blood,  thai  balm  and  cordial  of  our 
future  ycarii,  are  to  be  drugged  with  chcminiry  and  apothccarict' 
receipt!,  are  to  be  taught  to  do  every  thing,  and  to  tee  and  feel 
nothing : — thai  the  grubbing  up  of  elegant  aril  and  polite  literature 
may  be  lollowed  by  the  syttematic  introduction  of  accompliihed 
barlxiritm  and  mechanical  quackery-  Such  enlightened  genituet 
would  pull  down  Stonehenge  to  build  pig-atiet,  and  would  cooven 
We«tminitcr  Abbey  into  a  central  House  of  Correction.  It  would 
be  in  vaia  to  point  to  the  arched  windows, 

'Sh«dding  a  dim,  religious  tight,* 

to  touch  the  detf,  lolemn  organ-stop  in  their  ears,  to  tuni  to  the 
(Ulue  of  Newton,  to  f,aze  upon  the  sculptured  marble  on  the  walls, 
to  call  back  the  hupei  and  fears  that  lie  buried  there,  to  cant  a  wistful 
look  at  Poet'*  Comer  (they  scorn  the  Muse!)— all  thii  would  not 
itund  one  moment  in  the  way  of  any  of  the  tchemn  of  these  retro- 
grade reformer! ;  who,  instead  of  being  legitlators  for  the  world, 
and  steward*  to  the  inicllcctual  inheritance  of  naiiont,  arc  hardly  fit 
to  be  pariiih-beadles,  or  pettifogging  aitorneyn  to  a  litigated  estate! 
'  Their  speech  bewraycth  theni.'  The  leader  of  this  class  of 
reasoners  does  not  write  to  be  understood,  because  he  would  make 
fewer  conrerti,  if  he  did.  The  language  be  adopts  is  his  own — a 
word  to  the  wise — a  technical  and  conirntional  jargon,  unintelligible 

H9 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 


to  odier*,  uxi  cooTryiDg  do  idea  to  hiouelf  in  coauiiea  with  the  raM 
of  Oiaaknid,  pnrpo«ef«  cut  off  from  hunun  tjtnpaihy  aod  otdiury 
apprffcOMMo-     Mr.  Brnthun't  vmiogi  tet{iurc  to  be  trutlttcd  into 
■  fotdgn  C0Q£Dc  or  hit  own,  before  the^  cut  be  read  u  all,  except  by 
the  tdrpu.     Thu  i«  not  ■  rcry  fair  or  very  triw  proctvtliGK.     No 
man  who  nTcota  wocdt  vbittirilVf  csa  be  Mtc  thtt  be  ntca  tbm 
eoMcieMiovdjr.    There  U  do  check  upon  lum  ia  the  popdu  criuciMi 
exercMed  bj  the  ibim  of  reader*— there  t)  no  doe  to  proprienr  !■  ibc 
habitoal  MaociatioDi  of  hia  ovn  nind.     He  who  prctcnda  to  Bt  vorda 
to  Uiiogi,  will  moch  oficccr  acconunodaie  thiaga  to  wocdi^  to  tmmtt 
aiiicory.    Worda  are  a  toriKrc  of  inith.    Tbef  aaocnaia  (iflMatwelj) 
the  d«gr<«*,  JuJoctioM,  tod  powtf a  of  tbioxa  in  a  wvaikml  ■upb  % 
ud  be  who  voloDuril^  drp(i*c«  hinuelf  of  their  MMitaaw,  ion  Mt 
go  the  way  to  arrire  at  aoif  very  nice  or  tore  re«oJu.     Laagvate  ia 
the  medUin  of  ovr  conunuoicatioa  with  the  thoughu  of  othefa.     Bot 
whoever   become*  wiv,   become*   wiie   by   tympoihy ;    whoever   it 
powcijnl,  become!  k>  by  nuking  other*  lympuhitc  with  him.     To 
Oaak  jiuily.  wc  moat  uadcntaod  wh«  otbert  oicao:    lo  kaow  the 
value  of  oar  tboaebtt,   wc  moat  try  thdr  eilcct  on  other  Baiada. 
Tberc  it  thia  prrnlcgc  in  the  iwe  of  a  coBTCstional  Kyle,  u  there 
waa  in  that  of  the  leaf  mtd  Uognagca— ■  man  nay  be  m  ibiwd  >a  be 
plcMcs  without  heiog  ridJcdbua.      Hia  IbQy  and  hia  vlados  m 
alike  a  aecret  to  the  geaerality.     If  it  weie  poiaible  to  coMrttc  a 
perfect  laaguge,  coowient  wfth  itaaVr  and  aoawcriag  to  the  cooh 
pluti^gf  bnnMa  affain,ihcrc  would  bt  aoaM  cxcuaa  far  tbt  anenptt 
M  b*  who  know*  aay  thing  of  tba  aaturt  of  laagnagB,  ot  of  tbe 
eoMfkxity  of  hunua  thooght,  kaowa  that  tbia  ii  impotinbk.     What 
la  gaiacd  in  ibmaltty,  i«  ararc  than  lo«  b  fiwcet  enae,  aad  perapcaity. 
Mt.   Bectham'a  laiq[Bage,  in  rfiortt  <■  like  hit  reaaooing,  a  logteil 
^paiatu,  which  wtll  work  infallibly  and  perform  wonder*,  taking 
it  for  granted  that  hit  principlei  aikd  dciimiioni  are  uaircmlly  true 
iad  iMelligibic ;    but  at  ihit  la  aoi  exactly  tbe  caae,  neither  the  ooe 
■or  the  other  t*  of  moch  u*e  or  aotbarity.     Tbuai  the  maxim  that 
*  — — ^"^  ma  frosi  calcalatioB '  may  be,  ia  a  gcocral  acaoci  true : 
bat  tbi  atetnent  yoa  affiy  dua  maun  to  (abject  aD  their  actioaa« 
lyMefflatieally  aad  denoDMiahly  lo  reatoo,  and  to  exclude  foanmi 
both  to  coaMMo  aad  in  extreme  caaea,  you  give  ii  a  acoae  in  whicb  \ 
tbe  prisdsle  i*  falic,  and  in  which  all  the  iatereacoa  fatak  apoa  it  j 
(nay  aaa  aiighty,  ludoobt)  fall  to  tbe  ground,    *Madflica  reaaoa.*' 
Bat  in  what  pcopoctiaa  doca  thit  hold  good  i     How  fu  doe*  wain« 
gnidc  thcnit  or  tbeir  audaew  err  ?    There  i*  a  diifcmice  becwcta 
teswo  u>d  Biadneaa  in  tbi*  respect  i  bat  according  to  Mr.  Beotham, 
there  can  be  aone  t  for  aU  men  act  front  calcnlatioo,  and  equally  to> 
a$o 


ON  PEOPLE  OP  SENSE 


*  So  niai  the  bond.'  Pxiioa  h  liable  to  b*  rcttraiaKl  by  resMXit  M 
dntnkraiKU  may  be  cluagcd  to  tobriety  by  tome  tuooj^  s)oti*«  i  but 
ftmiaa  ia  oot  rcuoa,  i.r.  do«a  not  act  by  the  (tnoe  rule  or  law  i  ami 
tberdbre  ill  ihat  follows  U.  that  mea  act  (aocordioji  to  the  common- 
•CDK  of  the  thing)  either  from  pa*«ion  or  rcuon,  from  impultc  or 
olcullliB^  iBOfg  or  leaif  u  circumttancc*  lead.  But  no  n-ccptog, 
tMUpbydcd  coacluuoa  caa  be  drawn  irom  hence,  a«  if  reuon  were 
abwIsK,  tod  pawioa  a  HMre  MMKilj  )■  the  gamtvatm  of  the  world. 
People  in  geocral,  or  writen  •peeuMiDf  on  buona  ■etioai^  fans 
wmas  iadjiiiiefilt  cooocrniBg  them,  becMiae  they  decide  tttolty,  and 
at  a  cUMance,  on  what  it  done  in  beat  and  on  the  ipui  of  the  occaaion. 
Man  ii  not  a  nucbiae  ]  nor  ia  be  to  be  meaaorcd  by  mechankal  rale*. 
The  dcciikmt  of  abMract  rcMOO  wonM  apply  to  wbal  mcii  might  do 
if  all  tncn  were  philocophen:  but  if  all  men  were  pbiloMphertt  there 
would  be  BO  need  of  «y«tcn»  of  philoaophy ! 

The  race  of  aicbemitti  and  vinonariea  ia  not  yet  extinct  i  and| 

I,  what  ia  remarkable,  we   Giid   them  exittiog  in  iJm  ahape  of  deep 

gjciaoa  and  eoligblened  le]^»Utor«.     They  hare  got  a  menttnuD 

l4br  diaM^viog  the  lead  and  coDpcr  of  tocaety,  and  tnraing  !(  to  pore 

" ,  at  the  adepta  of  old  had  a  trick  for  tiiMtiog  the  phikMOplMr'a 

I.    The  aothor  of  St.  Leon  hat  tcpreMwed  hia  hero  ■■  poMeaaed 

^•f  the  «£■»■  *iu  and  AwrtM  f^aUf.     The  attthor  of  the  Political 

Junice  bai  aiIo]itrd  one   half  of  thia  iwnaottc  falloa  aa  a  aerioua 

hyputhcsii,  and   nuintain*  the  natural   immortality  of  man,  widiout 

M  wurc.     The  truth  ia,  that  pcraont  of  the  most  precise  aad  formal 

I  BD^ritandinga   are   prtMM   of    the   looaeat   aad   moat   cxtravagaiK 

iffiaginationa.     Take  from   them   their  merma  Uqtiradi,  their  literal 

doe,  afid  there  ta  no  abmrdity  into  which  they  will  eot  &II  with 

pleawre.     They  hare  ao  nteans  or  principle  of  judgiag  of  that  which 

doca  Dot  admit  of  abaolute  proof-,  and  between  thia  and  the  idleK 

fiction,  they  perceive  no  medium : — a«  thoae  aitiata  who  take  like. 

with   a  machine,  are  quite  thrown  out  in  tbeir  calcnlationa 

vhen  they  hate  lo  rely  on  the  eye  or  hand  aloDc.     People  wbo  are 

lenMomcd  to  tnut  lo  their  imaginatioot  of  feclinga,  know  how  far 

lo  go,  and   how  to  keep  within  cenaia  limita :   thoae  wbo  aeldom 

exert  thcae  EacvUie*  are  all  abcoad*  ia  a  wide  tea  of  tpeculaiioa 

without  rudder  or  canpaa,  the  inttacit  they  leave  the  thore  of  matter- 

of'&ct  or  dry  teaaoeiag,  and  never  atop  ihon  of  the  laai  abturdity. 

They  go  all  lengtha,  or  none.     They  laugh  ai  pocta,  and  are  ihem- 

I  jwl*et  lunatica.     They  a/e  the  dupe*  of  all  totta  of  proircton  and 

t.     Being  of  a  baty,  meddleaone  turo,  they  are  foe  reducing 

whaterer   con>ra  into  their  headt  (aod  cacmot  be  detoonatrated  by 

mood  and  figure  to  amount  to  a  contradiction  in  terma)  to  practice. 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

Whic  xbey  wouU  (Coot  ia  a  fiction,  tlxy  wonid  act  about  rcaSztDg  ia 
tobet  udocM,  aod  rodt  thnr   fottuaet  in  comtMODg  whu  oiben 
coumla-  u  the  amoMOem  of  id  idle  bocr.     Auolpfao'i  Toyage  to 
the  nooD  in  Arw«io,  tbey  criticize  ibirply  at  a  qaaiM  aod  ridiciloBi , 
burio^  :  bat  if  xny  ooc  had  the  face  terieud;  to  anderttkc  ancb  a  i 
tkiog,  they  would    immMJiAtcl];  pitrooiie  a,  and  dcifr  aajr  ooe  to 
prove  by  a  logical  dilemma  tku  the  attempt  wat  phyacaJly  inpoaiSife. 
Soi  agHB,  we  lisd  tbai  paiBtcn  rad  engraven,  wfaoae  attcMioo  it 
coofiaed  aad  rivetced  to  a  miDUte  iBVtttigatioa  of  actual  objecti,  or  of ' 
Tiubie  lines  ud  (urfacec,  are  apt  lo  fly  oat  into  all  the  extravagance 
aod  tbaptodin  of  the   moff   unbridled  {aaaudtm.     Sereral  odT  tbe 
moM  etniDeni  are  at  ibis  moment  Swedenborgbni,  xahtal  magnetttts, 
&C.     Tbe  mind   (a*  tt  ^lould   aeem),  loo  loog  tied  down  to  the 
eridcocc  of  aettw  and  a  number  of  trifling  ponicttlan,  i*  wearied  of 
tbe  bondage,  revolts  at  it,  and  tnidnctiTcIy  laket  refiigc  in  tbe  wilde« 
acbemea  and  moit  nu£ni6ccDl  cootradtnioM  of  aa  nnlimited  (aid). 
Poeta,  on  tbe  contrary^  wbo  are  coBtinnally  tbrowing  oS  the  nnCN  I 
floitica  of  (ecUng  or  bicj  in  little  tporuve  awiea  aad  Aon  cxcttmoM  ' 
with  tbe  Mute,  do  not  find  the  want  of  any  greater  or  more  pntnliil 
effort  of  tbougbi ;  learc  tbe  aaoeni  of  tbe  *  highctt  Heaven  of  Inven- 
tion  '  aa  a  holiday  taik  to  pcrioiw  of  nMwe  mecfaanical  babita  aad  vai% 
of  mind  t  aad  tbe  ch^actcn  of  poet  aad  •ccptk  are  now  often  naitcd 
b  the  tame  iadividsal,  aa  tbote  of  poet  and  peophei  were  Rppowd  to 
be  of  old. 


ESSAY  XXI II 


ON   AHTIQOITY 


Thxu  it  tw  tuch  thing  u  Amiqdly  b  tbe  ordloiy  ■eoepauM  *e 
M&x  lo  the  terra.  Whatmf  u  or  bai  been,  wUk  it  ii  poMang,  ■■« 
be  modem.  The  early  aget  may  have  been  barbarooa  ta  iIn  iiwliii  t 
b«  they  have  becoct>c  lauieai  with  the  alow  and  alent  lapae  of  no- 
cettivc  seaentioM.  Tbe  *  olden  timci  *  are  ooly  ench  in  tefetcac*  to 
Bt.  Tbe  poat  it  rendered  atxasge,  myoerionai  viaonryr  awfiila 
fnm  tbe  great  gap  in  time  that  pvta  at  fron  iti  and  ibe  loa( 
pervpectTTc  of  waning  yearik  Tbiaga  gone  by  and  ^***^  uMgDUea^ 
look  dim  aad  doUt  -i*^^^^  and  onaintf  &nn  onr  iguutaacc  of  thna- 
aad  tbe  mutability  of  ctocoiBa.  Bat  in  their  day— they  were  frcah, 
miiapaind,  m  ftill  vicoiu,  bmiliar,  and  glony.  TheCUklna  m  the 
Wood,  aad  Pcrcy'a  Rclica,  were  oooe  receat  prodactioat  j  aad  Aald 


I 


ON  ANTIQUITY 

Robin  Gray  wa*,  in  hit  iitae,  a  nrj  commoti-pUcr  old  frilow  I 
Tht  war*  of  Yotk  and  LaacaaKti  while  ihey  lasted,  vttte  '  lircljr, 
audible,  and  full  of  Teat,'  as  frmb  and  lutty  a*  the  while  and  red  ro<e« 
that  distinguished  their  dilFcrtnt  bonnetB,  though  Uiejr  iaxt  natx 
became  a  bye-word  uid  a  toleciim  in  histor^r. 

The  *va  ibone  in  Juliiu  Cscac't  lime  just  ai  it  doc*  now.  On  the 
road-tide  bciwcco  Winchntcr  and  Salisbury  arc  »omc  remains  of  old 
Roman  encampmrnts,  with  their  double  line*  of  cir  cum  Tall  at  ion  (now 
turned  into  paaturaj^e  for  sheep),  which  answer  exactly  to  the 
descriptions  of  this  kind  in  Ciriar's  Coromentartes.  In  a  dull  and 
cloudy  atmosphere,  I  can  conceive  that  this  is  the  identical  spot,  that 
the  £nit  Czur  trod, — and  figure  to  myielf  the  deliberate  moTemeots 
and  icarce  perceptible  march  of  closc^mbodied  legions.  Bat  if  the 
tun  brcako  out,  making  its  way  through  dazaling,  Heccy  clouds,  lighu 
up  the  blue  serene,  and  gilds  the  sombie  earth,  1  can  no  longer 
pertuade  myself  that  it  is  the  tame  scene  as  fornterly,  or  transfer  the 
actoftl  image  before  me  so  far  back.  The  brightocu  of  nature  is  not 
CMily  reduced  to  the  low,  twilip.ht  tone  of  hiituiy ;  and  the  imprrs- 
tioai  of  seme  defeat  and  ditsipate  the  taint  traces  of  learning  and 
tradition.  It  ii  only  by  an  dfott  of  rcaton,  to  which  fancy  is  averse, 
that  I  bring  myself  to  bclicTe  that  the  sun  shone  as  bright,  that  the 
sky  was  as  blue,  and  the  earth  as  green,  two  thousar^d  years  ago  at  it 
it  at  present.    How  ridiculoua  this  wans ;  yet  so  it  it  I 

The  Jari  or  middle  ages,  when  every  thing  wat  hid  in  the  fog  and 
baxe  of  confusion  and  ignorance,  seem,  to  the  same  involuntary  kind 
of  prejudice,  older  and  farther  oif,  and  mote  inaccessible  to  the 
imagination,  than  the  brilliant  and  well-defined  periods  of  Greece  and 
Rome.  A  Gothic  ruin  appears  buried  in  a  greater  drpih  of  obscurity, 
to  be  weighed  down  and  rendered  renerskic  with  the  hoar  of  more 
distant  ages,  to  have  been  longer  mouldering  into  neglect  and  oblivion, 
to  be  a  record  and  memento  of  events  more  wild  and  alien  to  our 
own  times,  than  a  Grecian  temple.'  Amadis  de  Gaul,  and  the  serea 
Champions  of  Chrisirndom,  with  me  [honestly  speaking)  rank  as 
cuntempraries  with  Theseus,  Pirilhous,  and  the  heroes  of  the 
fabulous  ages.  My  imagination  will  stretch  no  fanher  back  into  the 
commencement   of  time   than   the    first   traces  aod   rude  dawn  of 

'  'The  Gotbic  irthiicctuR.llioiifh  not  M  sncieal  II  ihr  Gr«(lsn,  it  mois  10  lo 
our  iniiElnilioD,  with  which  the  sititt  Is  moic  concemeil  dun  with  sbsolot* 
truth.' — ■Sir  yoiiha  ftt^tliii  Dasmriii,  vol.  ii.  p.  tjl. 

Till  I  Riei  wilh  Ihli  remirk  in  n  circumipni  >nil  gosfdcd  •  wiilti  SI  Sir 
Jdihui,  t  wu  titaid  of  brins  charfrH  with  rxinvigance  In  wcne  of  iht  ibovc 
ISStttions.  Ptrttai  hti  jut  ma  in  fixn-a  Jliirtmi.  It  n  thai  that  nur  fivnuiiti 
•fecnbtioni  are  «ft«a  acoouiM«d  pirsdgits  by  the  ifnoriat,— wbils  hy  ihs  InratA 
TtsAsr  thty  are  set  down  *s  pUfisrlinu. 

»S3 


TBB  FLAIIS  SFEAKEB 


I 


ON  ANTIQUITY 


yc&rt  before  them,  (bine  in  gloiiy,  andiminiahed  ■pleiulour,  >nd 
lloiiriih  in  immona]  youth  and  beauty.  The  Utter  Grecian  Cod*, 
M  wc  find  them  there  rqirescnted,  arc  to  atl  appMtance  a  taec  of 
modern  tine  geotlemcDt  who  led  tht  Bft  «/  honour  with  their  favourite 
mistretw)  of  mortal  or  immortal  mould, — were  gaiiaot,  gracdrit, 
w^Il-drctged,  and  well-npoken  :  ivlwma  Uie  Gothic  dcitiet  long  after, 
carved  in  horrid  wood  or  miishapen  Mone.  and  wutihippcd  in  dreary 
wane  or  tangled  fornt,  belong,  id  the  mind'ii  heraldry,  to  aliiiosi  ai 
ancient  a  date  a)  th<»c  elder  and  dincardcd  Godi  of  the  Pa^an 
mythology.  Ops  and  Rhea  and  old  Snium,— tho»c  stiange  anomalic* 
of  earth  and  cloudy  tpiiit,  born  of  the  elementt  and  comcioun  will, 
and  clothing  tliemwivct  and  all  (hieft*  with  ihape  and  formal  being. 
The  Chronicle  of  Drulc,  in  Speater'*  Fairy  ^ucen,  ha*  a  tolerable 
air  of  antiquity  in  it ;  to  in  the  dtamitic  line,  the  Glio«i  of  one  of  the 
old  king!  of  Ormu*,  introduced  i«  Prolopie  to  Fulke  CrcTillc't  play 
of  Mu*tapha,  i«  reaionably  fai-fctched,  and  palpably  obacure.  A 
monk  in  the  Po|>ii>h  Calendar,  or  crcn  in  the  Canterbury  Tales,  la  a 
more  cjuettionable  and  oat-of-the-way  pcrionage  than  the  Chiron  of 
AchiUea,  or  the  priest  in  Homer.  When  Cbsucer,  in  hi*  Troilui 
ind  Cremida,  makn  the  Trojaa  hero  invoke  the  absence  of  light,  in 
these  two  lines — 

Why  uiullci'tt  tliou  iiglit  me  for  (o  ull  1 
Co  ull  it  ihctn  that  imallc  kIcb  grave  I 

he  it  guHty  of  on  laacbronitm ;  or  at  least  I  mnch  doubt  whether 
there  wss  soch  a  profnsion  as  that  of  seal-engraver  in  the  I'rojao 
war.  But  the  difflneis  of  the  objccia  and  the  quaintnet)  of  the 
allusion  throw  us  farther  back  into  the  ni];hi  of  tinie,  than  the  f;olden, 
giittering  ima;;es  of  the  Itiad.  The  Travels  of  Anncbariis  are  less 
obsolete  at  this  time  of  day,  than  Coryate's  Crudities,  or  Puller's 
Worthies,  *  Here  is  some  of  the  ancient  city,'  said  a  Romani  taking 
up  a  handful  of  dust  from  beneath  his  feet.  Tlie  ground  we  tread  on 
is  as  old  a*  the  creation,  though  it  does  not  seem  so,  except  wheo 
collected  into  gigantic  msssrs,  or  separated  by  gloomy  solitudes  from 
modern  uses  and  the  purposes  of  common  life.  The  lone  Helvellyn 
and  the  silent  Andes  arc  in  thought  coeval  with  the  Globe  itself,  and 
Cin  only  perisli  with  it.  The  Pyramids  of  Egypt  are  eait,  sublHne, 
old,  eternal ;  bat  Stonehenge,  built  no  doubt  in  a  later  day,  satisfies 
my  capacity  for  the  seote  of  antiquity ;  it  seems  a<  if  as  much  rain 
had  dtixzleij  on  its  grey,  witherecT  hesd,  and  it  had  watched  out  as 
fflMiy  winter-nights  i  the  hftnd  of  time  is  apoo  it,  and  it  has  wmiDed 
the  Mrdeti  of  years  upon  its  back,  s  wonder  and  a  pooderous 
riddle,  time  o«t  of  mind,  without    known  origin   or    use,  bafltijtg 

»5S 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

fable  or  coojectwct  the  credulity  of  ibe  igooraat,  of  viae  mm'a 
March. 

Tliou  noblett  moaumcnt  of  Albioo'i  !*lr, 
Whcthrr  hj  Mrrlia'f  atd,  froni  ScTthi*')  ihorr 
'I'u  Ambcr'a  fatal  pbin  Pmiingam  bon, 
Hu^  frame  of  Ki*nt  ban4t,  (br  m^hty  pale, 
T'ttitomb  hi«  BritOB't  t\tia  by  Hcn};Ltt't  gmk  •■ 
Or  Dtuiil  pricMik,  (piinklnl  vfiih  human  gore, 
Tiiight  mid  thy  aitaiy  mnt  thru  m^lic  lore  i 
Or  Daniih  chiefs  corich'd  Ktih  ut-agr  ipoil, 
To  viclory's  idol  titt,  an  unhcmi  ilirinc, 
Rear'd  the  rude  htio,  or  in  thy  hallow 'd  grvund 
Rcpotc  the  kingi  of  Bnitui'  gcnuiiit  lin«  ; 
Or  hrr*  (hou  kingi  in  lolenui  ttatc  wrrt  cromiVI  ^ 
Siudioiu  to  tract  my  nondroui  origin, 
Wc  muK  on  niny  «n  ancienl  (ale  renomi'd. 

JV'ortos. 

So  it  it  with  tetpect  to  outkItc*  abo ;  it  ia  the  kdk  of  chaagc 
Of  decay  that  nuirk*  the  differrace  between  the  red  and  apparent 
progcetK  of  lime,  both  in  the  ettnu  of  our  own  li«c«  and  the  hiclory 
of  the  world  we  live  in. 

ImprcMioni  of  a  peculiar  and  accidental  oaiure,  of  which  few 
trace*  are  kfi,  sod  which  return  Mldam  or  ncTcr,  fade  in  the 
diataocei  and  arc  coDatKoed  to  obtcuiity,— while  those  that  beluog 
to  aj^fcn  and  definite  clam  arc  kept  up,  and  M«ume  a  ooiMtant  and 
tan^Ue  form,  from  fimilixtiiy  and  habit.  That  which  wa*  percoaal 
to  m^tf  merely,  it  lo«i  and  coafoundcd  with  other  thing*,  like  a 
drop  in  the  ocean ;  it  wa*  but  a  poioi  at  lirit,  which  by  ita  neaiDCW 
affected  me,  and  by  iti  removal  becomea  nothing ;  while  cixcum- 
ffancca  of  a  general  iotereit  and  aburact  importance  preMot  the  tame 
diitiDCt,  well-known  aipect  aa  crer,  aod  are  durable  in  proportion  to 
the  extern  of  their  influence.  Our  own  idle  feeling*  and  fooltab 
fanciea  we  get  tired  or  grow  aahamed  of,  a*  their  noiclty  wear*  out  t 
'  when  we  become  men,  wc  put  away  childi*h  thing* ; '  but  the 
imprcMioot  we  derive  from  the  exercise  of  oar  higher  facdtie*  Ian  ai 
long  aa  the  Ixculiiea  ibcouelvca.  They  haic  ootliiog  to  do  with 
time,  place,  and  circunuUmoc ;  aod  are  of  univcrKtl  ap|jicabiliiy  and 
lectiTieoce.  Ao  incident  in  my  own  history,  that  delighted  or , 
tormented  me  very  much  at  the  time,  1  may  hare  long  lince  blotted 
from  my  memory, — or  have  great  difficulty  in  calling  to  miod  after  a  ■ 
cctuio  period  i  but  I  can  never  forget  the  firtt  time  of  my  teeing 
Mr*.  Siddooi  act ; — which  t«  a*  if  it  happened  ye«ierday  ;  and  the 
rcaaoD  i«  becauw  ti  ba*  been  tomething  for  me  to  think  of  ever  tiacc. 

1(6 


ON  ANTIQUITY 

The  p«ly  and  th«  pereonat,  that  which  appnia  to  aui  tttuet  «ul  our 
appetite*,  paiact  away  witli  ilic  uccation  tliat  Rire*  it  birth.  The 
gtand  sad  the  idcul,  that  which  appeals  (o  the  imagination,  can  only 
beiiib  with  ii,  and  icnuina  with  us,  unimpaired  in  ti*  lofty  abiirnciiont 
from  youth  to  age ;  a*  whcreicr  wc  go,  wp  nill  »cr  ihc  Mine 
heavenly  bodies  shining  over  our  headE  !  An  old  familiar  face,  the 
houae  that  we  wi-re  brought  up  in,  wmetimes  tlie  Kenei  and  places 
that  wc  formerly  Vocw  and  loved,  may  be  changed,  ao  tliat  we 
hardly  know  them  aeain  i  the  cliaracicrg  in  books,  the  facei  in  old 
piciurcK,  the  propMiiion*  in  Euclid,  remain  the  tame  a«  when  they 
were  (irii  pointed  out  to  u«.  There  i»  a  continual  alternation  of 
grncration  and  decay  in  individual  forme  and  Ireltngt,  ibit  marks 
the  progrcM  of  existence,  and  the  ccsicletR  current  of  our  livei, 
borne  along  with  it :  but  this  doet  not  extend  to  our  love  of  art 
or  knowledge  of  nature.  It  leemt  a  loos  time  ago  mot  tomt  of  the 
dm  cTenu  of  the  French  Revolution  |  the  promineot  cbiractcts  that 
6gured  then  hare  been  iwepc  away  and  luccccdeil  by  other* ;  yet  I 
cannot  say  that  this  ciicumitince  ha*  in  any  way  abated  my  hatred 
of  iy(anny,or  reconciled  my  undentwiding  to  the  fathiooable  doctrine 
of  Divine  Right.  Tbc  tight  of  an  old  oewtpapcr  of  (bat  date  would 
give  one  a  fit  of  the  aplecn  for  half  an  hour ;  on  the  otlier  h^nd,  it 
mum  be  confes«cd,  Mi.  Burke's  Reileciions  on  this  subject  are  at 
freih  and  dav.rMog  aa  in  the  year  1791  ;  and  his  Letter  to  a  Noble 
Lord  h  even  now  a«  intcretting  a*  Lord  John  Ruescll't  Letter  to 
Mr.  Wilbcrforcc, which  appeared  onlyi  few  weeks  back.  Ephemeral 
polilio  and  ttUI-burn  pioductiont  ate  speedily  connigned  to  oblivion ; 
great  principtei  and  originul  work*  >re  a  match  even  for  time 
iuelf! 

Wc  may,  by  following  up  ibis  train  of  tdeat,  give  some  account 
why  time  ruoe  biter  a*  our  year*  increaac.  We  gain  by  habit  and 
experience  a  more  determinate  and  nettled,  th^c  it,  a  more  uniibrtn 
notion  of  things.  We  refer  each  particular  to  a  given  standard. 
Our  impressions  acquire  the  character  of  identical  propositions.  Our 
mo«l  striking  ihoushts  ate  turned  into  truisms.  One  observation  is 
like  another,  that  1  made  formerly.  The  idea  I  have  of  a  certaia 
character  or  nibject  it  iuit  the  same  as  I  had  ten  year*  ago.  I  have 
learnt  nothing  since.  There  I*  no  alterauon  perceptible,  no  advance 
made ;  so  thnt  the  two  point*  of  time  nxm  to  touch  and  coincide.  I 
get  from  the  one  to  the  other  immediately  by  the  familiarity  of 
babit,  by  tlie  undisiinguishing  iirocesa  of  abstraction.  What  I  can 
recal  »o  easily  and  mechanically  doea  not  *eem  far  offi  it  is  com- 
pJetely  within  my  reach,  and  consequently  close  to  me  in  apprehenuon. 
I  have  no  intricate  web  of  curious  (peculation  to  wind  or  unwind,  to 

vot-ni. :  R  IJ7 


h 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

paM  from  oor  «(*tc  of  feetiag  aad  opinioa  to  the  other  i  no  com* 
plicated  train  of  u»odatioot,  wblcb  pbce  ui  inuiMMimble  barrier 
Detwem  taj  knowledge  of  my  ignorance  at  difierent  epoch*.  There 
it  no  coDtraM,  no  repugiuoce  to  widen  the  interval ;  no  new  icntinicni 
iofwcd,  like  another  umMBhere,  to  lcn|thcn  the  pcnpeciire.  i  am 
but  where  I  wai.  I  ece  the  object  before  me  juK  a*  I  have  beco 
acciutomed  to  do.  TIk  idea*  arc  written  down  in  tlK  brain  aa  ia 
the  |>3j^  of  a  book— ^MiAiii  vrrUi  tt  Fittru.  The  mind  become* 
ilereoljfitJ.  By  not  goioD  forward  to  explore  new  region*,  or  break 
vf  new  gtoundt,  we  are  thrown  back  more  and  more  upon  ow  p«at 
»CQui*it!oBi ;  and  thit  habitual  recurrence  increaact  the  facility  and 
indmereocc  with  which  we  make  the  imaginary  iranttiioa.  By 
tltiakiiig  of  what  ha«  been,  wc  change  places  with  ounelres,  and 
lllll[Mlii  our  pcrtonal  identity  at  will ;  lo  at  to  fix  the  alidet  of  our 
improgrcMitre  ooatiaiunce  at  whatever  point  we  ptcate.  Thl*  ii  an 
advaatafce  or  x  ^tadfanta^e.  which  we  have  out  in  youth.  A^er  a 
certain  period,  we  neither  loae  nor  gain,  neither  add  to*  ner  digimth 
our  Kock  i  Dp  to  thai  period  we  do  nothing  cite  but  kiae  onr  famn 
ootiooi  and  being,  asa  gain  a  new  one  every  imiani.  Ovr  liie  ia 
like  the  birth  of  a  aew  day ;  the  dawn  break*  apace,  and  the  cloud* 
clear  away.  A  new  worM  of  thought  and  obaervauon  ia  opeaed  to 
our  aearch.  A  year  maket  the  difference  of  an  age.  A  totd 
■heratjon  lake*  place  in  oar  ideu,  feelings,  habit*,  look*.  Wc  out- 
grow onnclvca.  A  tcparatc  tet  of  objccu,  of  the  cxiatence  of  wlucb 
we  had  not  a  mtpiaon,  engage*  and  occnpic*  oar  whole  aotils. 
Shape*  and  colourt  of  all  varietin,  and  of  gorgeoni  tint,  intercept  our 
view  of  what  we  were.  Life  thicken*.  Time  glow*  on  it*  axle. 
Every  revohition  of  the  wheel  giret  on  tmaettled  aipect  to  thinga. 
The  world  and  iia  inhabitant*  turn  round,  and  we  forgcc  one  change 
of  tcene  in  another.  Art  wooi  u«;  adeocc  tcmpu  u«  ioio  h«r 
intricate  lobyiiiMlui  cacb  *iepprc«caK  uolookod-for  vitut,  and  cloae* 
upon  M  oor  backward  path.  Our  onward  road  is  atrange,  obacure, 
and  infinite.  We  arc  bewildered  in  a  ihadow,  loM  b  a  drcaro. 
Onr  pemptioot  have  the  brightte**  and  the  indininctnet*  of  a  trance. 
Our  ooobDuiiy  uf  cooaciounMat  b  farakeo,  crumble*,  and  lall*  in 
piece*.  We  go  on,  learning  and  fbr];ettiiig  every  hour.  Oor  fediogi 
are  chjMtic,  coniiited,  nrange  to  each  other  and  to  ouratJvc*.  Our 
Bfe  doc*  not  hang  together, — hot  airaggllng,  ditjointcd.  wioda  itt 
•low  length  along,  itretchiog  out  to  the  endlcia  future — unmindful  of 
tbe  ifioorant  patt.  We  teem  many  bebj;*  in  one,  and  ca*t  the 
*iough  of  ovr  exiateocc  daily.  The  birth  of  knowledge  it  the 
generatJon  of  time.  Tbe  uniblding  of  our  experience  i*  long  and 
voluminou* ;  nor  do  we  all  at  ooce  recover  from  oor  lurpiite  at  the 
258 


ON   ANTIQUITY 

number  of  objects  that  di$traa  our  aticntion.  Ercry  new  itudy  is 
a  separatf,  aiduou*,  and  iniurmounUbtc  undetuking.  Wc  arc  loR 
in  wonder  at  the  magnitTide.  the  dit&culiy,  and  the  inierniiaable 
pronpcct.  Wc  spell  out  the  (itit  yean  of  our  eKittence,  like  iearaiug 
a  IcKon  for  the  tint  time,  where  eiery  advance  i>  *low,  doubtliil, 
iDiere«[ing ;  atterwardt  wc  rcbcaric  our  part*  by  rote,  and  arc  hardly 
coDiciou*  of  the  meaning.  A  very  ahort  period  (from  liftcra  to 
tweaty-fiTc  or  thirty)  include*  the  whole  map  and  table  of  cootcnta 
of  human  life.  From  that  time  wc  may  be  laid  to  lite  our  livet  over 
^ab,  repeat  ourieNes, — tlie  name  thouii^htJ  return  at  itatctl  inierTali, 
like  the  tunc*  of  a  barrel-organ  i  and  the  volume  of  the  uoiTcrie  ti  no 
more  than  a  form  of  word*  and  book  of  reference. 

Time  in  gcoeril  ii  (upposed  to  mort  fniter  or  slower,  a*  wc  atictHl 
more  or  lem  to  the  8uccc«Hon  of  our  idest,  ia  the  lame  manocr  a* 
dittaoce  ia  increaacd  or  lenened  by  the  greater  or  leu  nriety  of 
tnterreniflg  objecte.  There  i»,  however,  a  difference  in  thia  refpect. 
Satpente,  where  the  mind  i«  engroijcd  with  one  idea,  and  kcOT  from 
Amuiing  itaelf  with  any  other,  ia  not  only  the  mo«  uDcomlurtable, 
but  the  mon  tiretome  of  all  things.  The  ^xing  our  attention  on  a 
tingle  point  malcc*  at  more  aennble  of  the  delay,  and  hang*  an 
additional  weight  of  fretful  impatience  on  every  moment  of  expecta- 
tion. People  in  coumryplacci,  without  employment  or  artificial 
reaourcet,  complain  that  tmie  lies  heavy  on  their  hands.  Ita  leaden 
pace  !■  not  occanioned  by  the  quantity  of  thought,  but  by  vacancy, 
aod  the  continual  languid  craving  after  excitement.  It  wanta  spirit 
and  vivacity  to  give  it  motion.  We  arc  on  the  watch  to  »ee  how 
time  goes  i  and  it  appears  to  lag  behind,  because,  in  the  absence  of 
objects  to  arrctii  our  immediate  attention,  we  are  always  getting  on 
before  it.  We  do  not  see  ita  divisions,  but  we  feel  tite  galling 
prcHure  of  each  creeping  sand  that  measures  out  our  hours.  Again, 
a  rapid  racceuion  of  external  objects  and  amiuements,  which  leave 
no  room  for  reflection,  and  where  one  gratilicition  is  forgotten  in 
the  next,  makes  time  pass  quickly,  at  well  as  delightfully.  We  do 
not  perceive  an  extent  of  surface,  but  only  a  succenioo  of  points. 
We  are  whirled  swiftly  along  by  the  hand  of  dissipation,  but  cannot 
ttay  to  look  behind  us.  On  the  contrary,  change  of  scene,  itavelliog 
through  a  foreign  country,  or  the  meeting  with  a  variety  of  striking 
adventures  that  lay  hold  of  the  imagination,  and  continue  to  haunt  it 
in  a  waking  dream,  will  make  days  seem  weeks.  From  the  crowd 
of  events,  the  number  of  di«linct  points  of  view,  brought  into  a  small 
compass,  we  seem  to  have  passed  through  a  great  length  of  time, 
when  it  is  no  such  thing,  to  traversing  a  flat,  batren  country,  the 
moBOtony  of  our  ideas  fatigues,  and  maket  the  way  longer)  whereas, 

259 


THE   PLAIN  SPEAKER 


if  ik  prMptct  ii  diwwijed  aad  pki^wy*,  «c  gd  one  ike  ohIm 
iJks.  la  vuaung  ec  wridab  boat*  m  adted 
the  iBHd,  ifaofbed  m  tbc  LifLi  i »  of  ita 
.  fergra  tfce  tinw  BeceMuy  la  accoBfiith  k :  and,  todtrd,  the 
clock  «An  fiad*  at  iiBfilajid  oa  the  ■««  (hcM^  or  put  of  a 
pictvr  tltM  u^ciipiJ  B  atea  it  Miad  las.  It  «aai,  ihcs,  tbm 
are  wvsil  otba  ckc^m^bom  beadw  ibe  aaAcr  mJ  ^hwcwm  of 
•V  kleM(  la  be  tikca  liM  the  BOBoaa  in  d»  mamn  of  >»«(  or  ra 
caa«dswg  *  wfatMB  tne  ^nfale*  aitli^  vhoai  tine  pUop  withal, 
aad  wbov  he  tamA»  tdtl  aitbaL'  >  Time  wan  awaj  dovlj  arkh  a 
■■a  in  aolkary  coaSa^Dcat  t  bm  ftaaibe  Nmbs  or  variety  of  hit 
iitm,  bat  froa  ibcir  VMfy  aacaeM,  ftanaas  Ike  drap  of  water. 
The  imniaiiioa  B»y  di«ai(«ib  the  b^  «  ttMeb^  tbe  bnlfiaai 
tMktf  cf  it*  liDti,  lad  the  nHty  ioft»c  Ai^  it  aMaatc*:  tbe 
heart  6el«  it  by  tbe  wc^htef  eadaeM,  aad  '  giot-wfed,  awnlbnlew 
de«ir<* 

t  will  c«achide  ihii  (object  with  rctpaduD^  that  tbe  fiaicied  ibort- 
acM  of  life  b  aided  by  ibe  •pprebaMtoa  of  a  fntare  Male.  Tbe 
ooaKaatly  dkeciiag  our  bopa  md  fear*  to  a  bi^er  acaie  of  beiag 
bcyoad  tbe  jmnt,  aecewanly  briap  death  babatwly  beftn  na,  and 
dctao  the  Kutaw  fiaiiu  erittun  which  we  bold  oar  fraS  csuMtocct  la 
Bo^aaiaa  boaod  tbe  boriaon,  and  taiamidibly  dnv  oar  aneotkia  to 
it.  Tfaia  nay  be  oee  rcaaoe  aawag  oditn  why  tbe  fcsr  of  death 
vaa  ■  IcM  proaaacot  fcatare  ia  aacictt  tJaiM  diaa  it  i*  at  preacat  t 
bacMae  tbe  ihoagbta  of  it,  ud  of  a  fcmt  (oae,  were  k*t  m^amdy 
inprcMcd  oo  the  miad  by  ieli£ioa  aad  nonlity.  The  graaier 
ftogrcaa  of  crriltiatioa  and  aecatity  is  modem  fioiei  baa  dao  eoa. 

*  '  JbMlW.  Timt  nveli  b  <ll*m  pwx*  vitb  Omti  rotaet  :  1 11  tell  rn  «>» 
Hw  MUc*  vUd,  ■hB  linw  tnM  wkhil,  >li»  tbM  (^Oef*  «llh>l.  ukt  -fco  bt 
waa*  «Ut  wkhd. 

MbA.  IpittM,«b>doihhetm«Wi4ir 

JEm,  Uwit,  h*  lr«M  b«<  ulib  *  r«wi(  nuM  kl»uii  tbe  aetnct  ti  be* 
mirrini  aM  the  dM  it  ii  Mknalnd  :  U  the  mcrla  be  bM  •  (c'sHtbt,  tfanCi 
fci  m  M  htri  tbil  it  Men*  the  Icaatk  of  K«ca  jcan. 

Or/.  WboMBblMtkuwiihdf 

Mm.  Wkfc  I  jikti  Ami  befc*  Litin,  lai  a  lidi  ■■■  ibM  hMh  nat  tk  loat  \ 
far  ibe  «ac  •kept  cMflri  keoMt  b(  oaact  Madjri  m4  dbt  Mbir  lioi  mwrilir, 
kastc  hi  Utit  DO  pib  t  ike  «•«  bckia(  tbt  tm4e»  ti  leu  «•<  wiMcAil 
haennt  |  tbt  other  boovinc  oa  bw*B  of  baij  Mlou  feavtjr.  Thne  dale 
iBhIawiih. 

<M.  Wh*  Mb  he  lillop  >khatf 

ito.  With  ■  thief  t»  the  pUon  |  (cc  tbsoth  br  (o  «i  tsAljr  n  foot  «aa  Ul,  he 
tfafaiki  hlmntf  IM  MOB  ihm. 

Or/.  Whs  aura  ii  wHIUl  t 

<■■  With  liwfn*  >■  tbe  vacillan  ;  be  ihej  abef  betim  term  uul  Krm,  tat 
thM  the;  pemrae  aw  bow  tiaic  B«iin.'— Wi  Tm  LA 


I 


sfio 


I  ZjIi  b,  Act  111.  Sccae  ib 


ON  ANTIQUITY 

■iiJerjbly  to  do  witli  our  practical  c^cminacy }  for  though  the  old 
Pagani  wetc  not  bound  to  ihinli  of  dc.ich  u  a  teligioui  duty,  they 
ncTcr  could  forctce  when  they  should  be  compelled  to  submit  to  i^ 
ai  >  natatRl  nccctuiy,  or  accident  of  war,  &c.  l^y  viewed  death, 
therefore,  with  an  eye  of  apeculauve  indilTercDCC  and  practicAl 
resolution.  That  the  idea  of  aoniliilation  did  not  impreH  llieni  with 
tlie  mme  horror  and  repugnuncc  ai  it  doe*  the  modem  believer,  or 
even  infidel,  i*  easily  accounted  foi  fthough  a  writer  in  the  Edinburgh 
Rcriew  ihinkii  the  qucfliion  imolublc) '  from  ihi«  plain  rcacon,  wi. 
thxt  not  being  taught  from  childhood  a  belief  in  a  future  state  of 
citittcocc  as  a  part  of  tlic  creed  of  their  country,  the  supposition  that 
there  was  no  such  itate  in  store  for  them,  could  not  thock  their 
fectin;>(i,  or  confound  their  imagination,  in  the  same  manner  as  it  docs 
with  ui,  who  have  been  brought  up  in  such  a  beliefi  and  who  Htc 
with  thoie  who  deeply  cheriih,  nnd  would  be  unhappy  without  ■ 
full  conviction  of  tl.  It  h  ihc  Chtiniian  religion  alone  thai  take*  ni 
to  the  highest  pinnacle  of  the  Temple,  to  point  out  to  ut  '  the  glory 
hereafter  to  be  loealed,'  and  that  makes  us  shrink  back  with  anrtghi 
from  (he  precipice  of  annihilation  that  yawns  below.  Those  who 
have  never  entertAined  a  hope,  cannot  be  greatly  staggered  by  haviag 
it  struck  from  under  their  feet;  tho«e  who  have  never  been  led 
to  expect  the  rewTMon  oif  an  e*tate,  will  not  be  excenively 
diiRppointcd  at  finding  that  the  inheritance  has  descended  to  others. 

^  '  On  Ihc  othrr  pnini,  ninvly,  iJitf  dark  And  ic4pticil  apiril  pttwilettt  through 
the  worki  nf  liiit  porl  (IrfjM  BTion],  we  thall  nat  now  nttrr  all  that  m  fnl,  hal 
cathtt  dirtct  ibr  nolicf  of  our  rnd«n  to  it  ■<  »  lingular  pbcuomenon  ia  the  pottiy 
*f  thr  ijje.  WhMTtr  hj>  itu(lie<l  llw  spirit  of  Grttli  loii  Romia  IlKrtturt,  must 
b»w  b«n  itiuck  ^lih  ihc  (ompmtivc  JlirtjirJ  saJ  indifltftnce.  wLtrewiih  the 
thinking  men  u(  Ihoe  tiquiiilcly  poltihcil  nationi  eonUmplitid  thow  •Bbjccti  of 
dvluKM  and  mytUTj  which  tttatd  it  lomc  period  or  other  of  hit  Ufc,  to  much 
diiquiM^wc  hiri  ilmiHl  (airi  to  much  inony,  lo  ihe  mind  of  tmy  HA(ciin{ 
modsm.  It  it  liillimit  to  aecoonl  (oi  (hit  id  any  vrry  >iiiifi<tor},  in<t  n  tutpcct 
ilto|«tht(  impossibU  to  do  to  in  uiy  iDlc<l;r  logiul,  mkunct.  In  rra<lioR  lh< 
■rorki  of  PUlo  uti  his  Inltrpnttr  Ciccfo,  we  find  the  germt  of  ill  the  itoubl*  inil 
■lUkliM  to  which  we  faiK  lUudci,  to  f*i  u  ihcK  irc  connected  with  the  work- 
lots  of  our  reswa.  The  trngultrily  it,  lh><  thuiecloudt  of  flicVncu,  which  hang 
QTfr  the  intellret,  Ao  not  apprir,  10  far  ai  we  cm  pfrniv^,  to  hava  thrown  at  any 
time  any  Trry  ilarming  ihadt  upon  ihe  (Mliri(t  or  temper  of  the  •Dcicnt  K«plie. 
We  thmilil  think  a  nty  trr4t  d»l  of  thii  nil  owinn  lo  the  brilUsacy  tad  activity 
of  hit  touthem  fancy.  The  Lighter  ipiriti  of  ao[iquit;r,  tike  the  more  tnernriaJ  of 
our  modern*.  10 ughl  relact  in  mere  ea/r// A  fir«r  and  dcriilon.  The  giaw  poets 
aod  philotophrii — and  poetry  ini!  pTiUoiophy  were  in  ihote  dayt  Mldiiin  diauoited 
^buill  tip  tonie  airy  and  beautiful  ayitem  of  myiticitin,  each  following  hit  own 
dtticM,  and  luiiing  the  rttition  to  hii  own  ptcoliiriliet  of  hops  uil  inclination  ; 
■od  thii  bein;  onte  iccompliihcd,  the  miad  appcaii  lo  have  Ml  quit*  Klitfied  with 
what  it  had  (lone,  an-i  lo  have  repoKd  ainidtt  the  ipleodoiir*  of  ill  iind-bnilt 
(aaliiltc  ediKoc,  with  u  math  Kcorily  m  if  it  hid  bc«n  fmoved  iixl  itvellHt  iDlq 

361 


k 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 


ESSAY  XXIV 

ON    THE    DirFBRENCE    BETWEEN    WRITING    AND 
SPEAKING 


'  loiiw  mindi  m  prcporlkwil  te  tint  whkh  miy  be  -litpttchcd  ii  osec,  or 
■illltB  •  ihon  rrcurn  of  timt  i  otiun  l«  that  which  bfgin*  a^r  aS,  iwJ  ii  to  bi 
WM  wllh  IfBgth  (rf  punuii.'  Lo«n  Baoom. 

It  ii  ■  ccmmoo  obKrnuoa,  tlat  few  pertons  can  be  Tound  who  speak 
md  write  e<iually  well.  Not  onl^  U  it  obviou«  that  Uic  two  facultie* 
<lo  not  alwAjrt  f>a  logetlier  in  the  tame  progmniona :  bat  they  are  not 
uniuually  in  direct  oppotition  to  each  other.  We  find  tbii  the 
gtcxteW  authnri  often  make  the  wont  company  in  the  world ;  uul 
Igitn,  tome  of  the  livelieit  fellow*  imaginable  in  coDveruiioa,  or 
extempore  (peeking,  leeni  to  lote  all  their  nfacity  and  tpiril  the 
moment  iliey  tet  jwo  to  paper.  For  tlii>  t  f^teiter  degree  of  <fukktim 
or  ilowneu  of  pam,  edueation,  habit,  temper,  ttun  of  nind,  ud 
■  variety  of  collatertt  and  prcdUpoatDg  cauien  are  ixcetary  to 
accoant.  The  lubject  it  at  lean  curinut,  atid  worthy  of  an  attempt 
to  explain  it.  I  thall  endeavour  to  itlustratc  the  diifercnce  by 
futiiiiaf  cxjmplet  rather  than  by  analytical  mtofoingt.  Tbe 
philtMopbcr  of  old  wm  not  nnwite,  who  defined  inotioo  by  eettiag 
np  and  walkinc. 

The  fnU  lekditie  dittincikm  betwem  writing  and  (peaking  ■*, 
duU  more  lime  b  aliowcd  for  the  one  tlun  the  other:  uid  hence 
diffrreni  facuW*  arc  rei^uited  for,  and  different  object!  anained  by, 
each.  He  i*  prtipcriy  the  bc«i  ipeikcr  who  can  collect  together  the 
greateii  ituRiber  of  apposite  ideis  at  a  iBomrnt's  warnins :  he  u 
ftoptily  the  best  writer  who  can  gire  utterance  to  the  greaiett 
<|uiuily  of  valuable  knuwledjite  in  tbe  courte  of  hii  whole  life.  The 
chief  retjuiute  fer  the  ooe,  then,  .-ippeari  to  be  qnickttew  and  bciKij 
of  uerceptioa— for  the  other,  patimce  of  wtil,  md  a  power  iacrrawig 
vita  the  dilGciiltiei  it  bas  to  iBUttt.  He  cannot  be  denied  to  be  an 
expert  apeakcr,  a  liTcty  cOMpMtioo,  who  is  itcrcf  at  a  Ion  for  aonae- 

thc  rMk  irf  tea.  The  aire  bbkih  s(  iagniutj  m  ill  i  Mi  ■  ij^wi  heakhal 
onidMif  la  iu  aWor*,  m  im^nmn.  Ukottiu  m  a  Mtikinf  caaairl'  •'  aU 
tU*  I  uU  It  mtj  W  avtrrtd  tbu  **wa  m  the  tJRM  W  CmJiaa,  wha  tin*  in  tW 

«f  mhtA  mttirm  umtrmtM  bf  the  re«<kwani  «o4  *»eamdan  W  ■atettalaty,  u  u 
llw  lommacal  tt  tlw  wvci^  aod  the  (uem  Jutialta  •(■■ 
Ml.  lu.  p.  te,  97,  ^rAi^,  CWi.  HirtU,  Caon  4. 

i6a 


ON  WRITING  AND  SPEAKING 

thing  to  uy  on  every  occaiioo  or  nibject  that  olfers :  be,  by  the  nme 
rale,  will  make  a  rripccnble  writer,  who,  by  dint  oi  itudy,  can  find 
oal  any  thing  good  to  luy  upon  iny  one  point  that  hai  not  been 
toachod  upon  before,  or  who,  by  aelting  for  time,  can  ^ive  the  mo«t 
complete  and  comprehensive  view  of  any  quc»tioD.  The  one  mutt 
be  done  otT-haod,  at  a  tingle  blow :  the  other  can  only  be  done 
by  a  repetition  of  blow*,  by  having  time  to  think  atid  do  better.  In 
Kptralting,  In*  ii  required  of  you,  if  yoa  only  do  h  at  onoe,  vrith 
grace  and  iipirit :  in  writing,  you  itipulaic  for  all  that  you  are  capable 
of,  bat  you  have  the  choice  of  your  own  time  and  aubjccu  You  do 
Bot  expect  from  the  manufacturer  the  ume  diapaich  in  cxccutiog  an 
order  that  you  do  from  the  shopkeeper  or  warchouMrniaD.  The 
dilTirrence  of  quichr  and  ilo^uer,  howercr,  ia  not  all :  that  it  merely 
a  difference  of  compariion  in  doing  the  janie  thing.  Bui  the  writer 
and  Epcalcer  hare  to  do  thing*  etsentinlly  dilFercni.  Beiidei  habit, 
and  greater  or  Icm  facility,  there  i*  alio  a  certain  reach  of  capacity, 
a  certain  depth  or  ihallownciin,  groMne«  or  refinement  of  intellect, 
which  marks  out  the  distinction  between  those  whoto  chief 
ambition  ia  to  ahinr  by  producing  an  immediate  elfecl>  or  who  afc 
thrown  hacki  by  a  natural  biaa,  on  the  aeveicr  leaearchci  of  thought 
■nd  study. 

We  ace  peraon*  of  that  atandard  or  textare  of  mind  that  they  can 
do  nothing,  but  on  the  tpur  of  the  occatioD :  if  they  have  time  lo 
deliberate,  they  are  lo(t>  There  are  others  who  have  so  resource, 
who  cannot  advance  a  step  by  any  etforu  or  auistancci  beyond  a 
tucccinful  arrangement  of  common -places :  but  these  they  bare  always 

at  command,  -it  etery  body'*  setricc.     There  ia  F ;  meet  him 

where  you  will  in  the  Ktrcei,  he  has  hi*  topic  ready  to  discharge  in 
the  ume  breath  with  the  customary  forms  of  salutation;  he  is  hand 
and  glove  with  it;  on  it  goes  and  otf,  and  he  manages  it  like  Wart 
his  caliver. 

Hear  liim  but  reaicin  in  divinity, 

And,  aUodmiring,  nith  an  inn-ud  wiih 

Yoii  would  dctirt  that  he  ncrc  made  a  prelate. 

Let  him  but  talk  of  any  ntate-affair, 

You  'd  lay  it  had  bt«n  ait  in  all  hi*  study. 

Turn  him  to  any  eauu  of  policy. 

The  Gordian  knot  of  it  he  will  unlooie, 

FamiJiaf  an  his  garter.     When  he  ipraks, 

Tlie  air,  a  chaner'd  libenlne,  itandi  siitl— 

but,  ere  you  have  time  to  nnswer  him,  he  it  off  like  a  shot,  lo  repeat 
the  same  rounded,  fluent  obserTation*  to  others : — a  perfect  master  of 
the  scoienccs,  a  walking  polemic  wound  up  for  the  day,  a  smartly 

163 


THE  PLAIX  SrEAC£B 


ON  WRITING  AND  SPEAKING 

die  onior  iiirDa  out  a  mere  dralxoloaied  tint  ia  the  perton  of  tlic 
pro«-wrii«t.  Wc  wonder  at  the  change,  and  think  there  must  be 
>ome  miiulce,  lomc  Icgcr-de-main  trick  played  olf  upon  ua,  by  wliich 
what  bcfotc  appeared  (O  fide  now  appeal*  to  be  W  worthlcu.  The 
deception  look  place  ifforf ;  now  it  h  removed.  '  Bottom  !  thou  art 
translated!'  might  be  placed  as  a  motto  under  mo»i  colleciioa*  of 
printed  speeches  that  1  have  had  the  f>uod  foitunc  to  meet  with, 
whether  originally  addreued  to  the  people,  the  iwoate,  or  the  bar. 
Burke'c  and  Windham'i  form  an  exception :  Mr.  Coleridge's 
Cancienet  ad  Populam  do  not,  any  mote  than  Mr.  ThclwaH'a  Trt/wne. 
What  we  read  ia  the  same :  what  we  hear  and  »ee  i«  different — •  the 
•clf-*anie  words  but  aM  to  the  lelf-tamc  moc/  The  orator** 
vehemence  of  gctture,  the  loudneM  of  the  voice,  the  tpcaking  cyCi 
the  conscious  attitude,  the  ioexplieable  dumb  ibew  and  noiec, — ^1 
*tboK  brave  sublunary  things  that  made  his  ruptures  clear,' — are  no 
loager  there,  and  without  these  he  is  nothing)— hit  *  fire  and  air* 
turn  to  puddle  and  ditcb-wntcr,  and  the  God  of  clociuencc  and  of  our 
idolatry  (ink*  into  a  common  mortal,  or  an  image  of  lead,  with  a  few 
labels,  nicknamea,  and  party  watch-words  stuck  in  his  mouth.  The 
truth  ie,  that  these  always  made  up  the  stock  of  his  iotellcciual 
wealth ;  but  a  certain  exaugcratioo  and  extrataRance  of  manner 
covered  the  nakedness,  and  iwrlled  out  the  cmptinwi  of  the  maiiert 
the  sympathy  of  angry  multitudes  with  an  impassioned  theatrical 
dcclaimct  supplied  the  place  of  argument  or  wit ;  while  the  phynca] 
animation  and  ardour  of  the  speaker  evaporated  id  ■  sound  and  fury, 
agnifyiDg  nothing,'  and  leaving  no  trace  behind  it.  A  popular 
speaker  (such  as  1  hare  been  here  dcKribing)  it  like  a  vulgar  actor 
off  the  stage — take  away  his  cue,  and  he  has  nothing  to  My  for  him- 
lelf.  Or  he  it  so  accutiomcd  to  the  intoxication  of  popular  applause, 
that  without  that  stimulus  he  has  no  motiTc  or  power  of  exertion  left 
— ndthct  imagination,  understanding,  liveliness,  common  sense,  words 
or  idca»— he  is  tAitly  cleared  out  [  and  in  the  intervals  of  sober 
reason,  is  the  dullest  and  most  imbecil  of  atl  mortal*. 

An  orator  can  hardly  p.el  beyond  commeap/aca :  if  he  doei,  he  gets 
beyond  hin  hearers.  The  moit  tucceiiful  speakers,  ei'en  b  tbe 
House  of  Commons,  have  not  been  the  best  scholars  or  the  ftnett 
writers — neither  thoie  who  took  the  most  profound  views  of  ibeif 
tubjeci,  nor  who  adorned  ii  with  the  moit  original  fancy,  or  the 
richest  combinations  of  language.  Those  speeches  that  in  general 
told  best  at  the  time,  are  not  now  readable.  What  were  the  material* 
of  which  they  were  chiefly  comooted  I  An  imporing  detail  of 
patnng  events,  a  formal  display  of  ofliciaJ  documents,  an  appeal  to 
eitablished   maxims,  an   echo  of  popular  clamour,  some  worn-out 

z6s 


THE  PLADC  SPKACES 


ON   WRITING  AND  SPEAKING 

•peak  in  con)|)aM)  that  ever  wnt  delivered  tn  tbai  Hoiuc,  they 
walked  out.  not  as  the  be-.uu  came  out  of  the  uk,  b^r  two«  and  by 
tbteei,  but  in  diovet  and  conipatues  of  teni,  of  doxcna,  and  icore*  1 
Oh  !  it  it  ■  the  bcavicH  ncone  which  melacchuly  can  throw  at  a  man,' 
when  you  arc  in  the  middle  of  a  delicate  tpcculation  to  tee  '  a 
robuiEeoui,  periwigjMKcd  fellow '  deliberately  take  up  bit  hat  and  walk 
out.  But  what  effect  could  Burke**  finest  obwrmtiona  be  expected 
to  have  oo  tbe  Hou«e  of  Conuuoo*  io  their  corporate  capacity  i  On 
the  tuppontioD  that  they  were  ofigiiul,  refined,  compreheDiiTc.  hit 
auditors  had  never  heard,  and  asturcdly  they  had  never  thought  of 
them  before :  how  then  (honld  they  know  that  they  were  good  or 
bad,  till  they  had  lime  lo  codiider  better  of  it,  or  till  they  were  told 
what  to  thinks  In  the  mean  time,  their  elfect  vrould  be  to  ttop 
the  auettion :  they  weie  blanka  in  the  debate :  they  could  nt  best 
only  oe  laid  aude  and  left  aJ  nfirtnium.  What  woald  it  ligoify  if 
four  or  five  peraoai,  at  the  utmoil,  felt  their  (iill  force  and  fascinating 
power  the  mitant  they  were  delivered  ?  They  would  be  utterly 
unintelligible  to  nine-tenthn  of  the  perioni  pre»ent,  and  their  impre*tion 
upon  any  particular  individual,  mote  knowing  than  the  rett,  would  be 
involuntarily  paralysed  by  the  torpedo  touch  of  the  elbow  of  a  country- 
gentleman  or  city-orator.  1'herc  it  a  reaction  in  intentibilily  m  well 
M  in  enthuiiatm  \  and  inco  in  society  judge  not  by  their  own  coa- 
vicdons,  but  by  lympathy  with  other*.  In  reading,  we  may  f!0  over 
the  page  again,  whenerer  any  thing  new  or  (questionable  'sivei  ui 
pfiutc:^  be«ide«,  we  are  by  oor»elTe»,  and  it  ia  a  viard  to  tie  wiie. 
We  arc  not  afraid  of  understanding  too  much,  and  being  called  upon 
to  unriddle.  In  hearing  we  are  (saving  the  mark  !)  in  the  company 
of  fooU  ;  and  time  pretBct.  Was  the  debate  to  be  suipeoded  while  Mr. 
FoK  or  Mr.  Windham  look  thii  or  thai  Honourable  Member  aside, 
to  explain  to  them  tbalfou  obirrvalna  of  Mr.  Biuke'*,  and  to  watch 
over  the  new  birth  of  their  nndernandingt,  the  dawn  of  thii  new  light  I 
If  we  were  lo  wait  till  Noble  J.orili  and  Honourable  Gentlemen  were 
inipircd  with  a  relish  for  sbttruse  thinking,  and  a  taste  for  the  loftier 
flights  of  fancy,  the  buune»  of  this  great  nation  would  shortly  be  at  > 
(land.  No :  it  ii  too  much  to  aak  that  our  good  tilings  should  be  duly 
wprcciated  by  the  firtt  pcnoo  we  meet,  or  in  the  next  minute  after 
their  ditdosuie ;  if  the  workl  are  a  little,  a  very  little,  the  wiser  or 
belter  for  them  a  century  hence,  it  is  liill  as  mnch  as  can  be  modestly 
expected  1 — The  impression  of  any  thing  delivered  io  a  large  assembly 
must  be  comparatively  null  and  void,  unleia  you  not  only  understand 
■nd  feel  its  value  yourself,  but  arc  conscious  that  it  ia  felt  and  under- 
stood by  the  meanest  capacity  present.  Till  that  i*  the  case,  the 
tpeaker  ia  in  your  power,  not  you  in  hi*.     The  eloquence  that  i« 

a6; 


THE   PLAIN  SPEAKEB 

dtcctml  and  irrewitiHe  niut  Kit  the  iDcrt  num  of  pcvjndioe,  JMid' 
[McTCc  tbe  opaqout  (ludow*  of  ignonDce.     Corporate  bodte*  aww 
•low  in  tbc  ptogrcH  of  iatctlect,  for  thit  rcuon,  ibu  tbcjr  mua, 
keep  t»ck,  like  cooro^  for  tbc  boncit  uiling  vcmcI*  tiodct  tbcir] 
charge.     The  itnewi  «  the  wmck  coodcUi  ore,  after  all,  impodwicc 
aod  uBtereM :  the  Boit  eaUgbteaed  bodtei  are  oftea  bat  tlana  of  the 
weakett  iatdlecia  tbej  redUM  aaioog  tfaeaii  aod  tbc  beit-amnt»oned  ^ 
are  but  tool*  of  the  greatest  hypooMc*  and  kaaicK. — To  ooBcli 
trhat  1  had  to  ny  od  the  chwactet  of  Mr.  Borke't  faAaatetnaij 
tiflc,  I  will  joa  giTc  ao  iMtaDce  of  wbu  1  n>c«n  in  aAraiBig  that  « 
wai  too  racoodkc  foe  hia  bearer* ;  aad  ii  ahall  be  eree  in  ao  obriowJ 
a  thing  ai  a  cjnottlioa.     Speaking  of  the  nrw-raaglcd  Fmcfa  Coa^^ 
■utuuon,  aod  in  partictilu  of  the  King  (Loui*  m.)  aa  the  chief 
power  in  fomi  ana  appeirioce  oaky,  be  repeated  the  nmoo*  Imea  in 
Milton  dncribuig  D«^th,  and  coaanded  with  pe<niltar  erapfaiM, 

.-^What  tenu'J  iti  btadt 
The  Sintii  of  a  kingly  anwn  had  oo. 

The  penoB  who  heard  him  make  the  speech  aaid,  that,  U  ever  a 
poet'*  UDguage  lud  been  Gnelf  applied  bjr  an  otator  to  expreet  hi* 
thoggbta  and  nuke  out  hi*  ptupoae,  it  wu  la  ibU  iciUDcc.     The 
puaage,  I  believe,  ii  not  in  hU  repotted  cpecche* ;    and  I  (he 
think,  b  all  likelihood,  it  ■  fell  (till-born '  from  hi*  lip* ;  while 
of  Nfr.    Cinniog'*    well-thumbed   ^uotatioM  o«k   of  VirgiJ    woold'l 
elccutfy  tlie  Treanry  Benchee,  aad  be  echoed  hy  all  the  poluianu 
of  bi>  own  ttandio*,  aikd  the  tyro*  of  bit  own  tcbool,  from  Lord] 
Liverpool  in  the  Upper  down  to  Mr.  William  Ward  b  the  Lower 
Hoote. 

Mr.  Biukc  wa«  an  author  before  he  waa  »  Member  of  Puliamemi 
b*  flMCadcd  to  that  peactical  crniaeixe  from  <thc  platform'  of  hii^ 
literary  purmita.  He  walked  out  of  hi*  itudy  iato  the  Hotue.  BoE 
he  neirer  became  a  thorough-bred  debater.  He  wat  not '  nxtire  to 
that  dement,'  nor  wa«  he  ever  'lubdaed  to  the  qnality'  of  that 
iBotky  crew  of  knighis,  citiieni,  aod  burgeitcK.  The  late  Lord 
Outham  wu  made  for,  and  by  it.  He  »cemcd  to  niih  into  hia 
•cat  there,  like  Houpur,  with  ilic  exclamation  in  hia  taooih — *thK 
Roaa  ahall  be  my  throne.'  Or  he  *pcang  out  of  the  geniiw  of  the 
Howe  of  Commooi,  like  P.-ilIu  from  the  bead  of  Jupiter,  con^iktcly 
armed.  He  nnumed  an  atccndincy  there  from  the  very  pott  aod 
aiature  of  hit  miod — from  hi»  upiring  and  bcry  tonperamenl.  He 
nB^dillMd  bccauae  he  could  not  yield.  He  controlled  the  pnrpoaet 
of  Otben,  becaiue  he  was  utroog  in  hia  own  obdurate  tdf-wUl.  He 
connBeed  hia  follower*,  by  never  doubting  him*elf.     He  did  not 


ON  WHITING   AND  SPEAKING 

ugar,  but  awerti  he  took  what  he  cho«c  for  grsnicd,  instead  of 
making  a  quwiion  of  it.  He  wa«  not  a  dealer  in  moot-fointi.  He 
wized  on  tome  >irong-hol(l  in  the  arf;uraent,  and  held  it  Taut  with  a 
CodvuIhtc  grasp — or  wrettcd  the  weapom  out  of  his  advcnariet' 
baodt  by  RiiiQ  foroe.  He  entered  the  Uku  like  a  gladiator.  He  made 
political  coDtrovcrsy  a  combat  of  pertooal  (kill  .ind  courage.  He  wa> 
not  for  waiting  time  in  long-winded  diicumtons  with  hi*  opponcou, 
but  tried  to  dinrm  them  by  a  word,  by  a  glance  of  hta  ryci  so  that 
they  ihould  not  dare  to  contradict  or  confront  him  again.  He  did 
Dot  wheedle,  or  palliate,  or  ciicumvent,  or  make  a  ttudied  appeal  to 
the  reason  or  the  patnoni — he  £eiaird  hix  opinion*  to  the  Ho«i«e 
of  Commons.  '  He  (poke  as  one  hiring  authority,  and  not  at  the 
SciibeE.* — But  if  he  did  not  produce  such  an  effect  either  by  reason 
or  iroaginatiovi,  how  did  he  produce  it  ?  The  priodpte  by  which  he 
exerted  hia  influence  orer  otnera  (and  it  is  a  principle  of  which  tome 
ipcakert  that  1  might  mention  aeem  not  to  have  an  idea,  cten  b 
poxitMlity)  wai  lyropathy.  He  hirotelf  evidently  had  a  strong 
pouestioo  nf  hit  tubjccc,  a  thorough  conviction,  an  intense  intereu ) 
and  this  commonicBtcd  itself  from  his  mmner,  from  the  tones  of  his 
TiMCCi  from  his  commanding  attitudes,  and  eager  gestures,  in>tinctively 
and  unavoidably  to  his  hearcrt.  His  will  was  lutchirged  with 
electrical  matter  like  a  Voltaic  battery  t  and  all  who  iiood  within 
hs  reach  felt  the  full  force  of  the  thock.  Zeal  will  do  more  ihxn 
knowledge.  To  wy  the  truth,  iherc  it  little  knowledge, — no 
ingenuity,  no  parade  of  individual  details,  not  much  attempt  at 
general  argument,  neither  wit  nor  fancy  in  hia  tpecchet — but  there 
■re  a  few  plun  truths  told  home :  whatever  he  layt,  he  does  not 
mince  the  matter,  but  clenches  it  in  the  most  une<]uivocal  manner, 
and  with  the  fuUett  lenie  of  its  importance,  in  clear,  (hort,  pithy, 
old  Fnglish  lentenoet.  The  most  obvious  things,  as  he  puts  them, 
lead  like  axioms— lo  that  be  appcara,  ss  it  were,  the  genius  of 
common  sense  pcrtonilied ;  and  la  turning  to  his  tpeechei  you 
fancy  that  you  have  met  with  (at  leaat)  one  honest  statetnian ! — 
Lord  Chatham  commenced  his  career  in  the  intrigues  of  a  camp  and 
the  buttle  of  a  mew'room  ;  where  he  probably  learnt  that  the  way  to 

f'overn  others,  is  to  make  your  will  your  warrant,  and  your  word  a 
aw.  If  he  had  spent  the  early  part  of  hi*  life,  like  Mr.  Burke, 
in  writing  a  treatise  on  the  SuHmf  aitJ  Htauiiful,  and  in  dreaming 
over  the  abstract  nature  and  causes  of  things,  he  uould  never  have 
taken  the  lead  he  did  in  the  British  Senate. 

Both  Mr.  Fox  aad  Mr.  Pitt  [though  ai  oppotite  to  each  other  as 
ponible)  were  eHentially  speakers,  not  authors,  in  their  mode  of 
oratory.      Beyottd  the  moment,  beyond  the  occasion,  beyond  tbc 

169 


THE   PLAIN  SPEAKER 


of  L«M  ^«B  b   te  MM^  pMed   far  k 


Afc-t 


:be.t-*«i 


M»i 


Try  tfaca  es  ley  otho  whlig  b>  y  4brK  mJ  mk  horn  Mga 
»iiiiil|ili«rit»dw«dg»'<»a  Wtfar  k.'     See  ba«  fe«^ 

S]0 


ON  WRITING  AND  SPEAKING 


k 


kave  <lone  any  thing  vU  cf  ii\  how  few  that  have,  ahine  thrrt\ 
Read  OTei  the  collection*  of  old  Debate),  cweniy,  foriy,  eighty, 
a  hundred  years  ago ;  ihcy  are  the  tame  mutalii  moiaaiiit,  ae  thoae  of 
ycMcfday.  Yoa  wonder  to  »rc  how  little  ha*  been  added ;  yoo 
piere  that  to  Utile  hua  been  lo«i.  Mtta  ia  their  own  faTouritc 
to[HCt,  how  much  ate  they  to  «eek  I  They  Btill  talk  gravely  of  the 
Sinking  Fund  in  St.  Stephen')  Chapel,  which  hia  been  for  eonie 
time  exploded  at  a  juggle  bv  Mr.  Place  of  Cbaring'CroM ;  and  a 
few  of  the  principle)  of  Aoam  Smith,  which  every  one  else  had 
been  ac<iuainte<d  with  long  tince,  are  juit  now  begioninf;  to  dawa 
00  the  collectire  understanding  of  the  two  House*  of  I'ailiamcnt. 
Itittead  of  an  cxoberancc  of  lumptuou)  matter,  you  hare  the  lanM 
ro«Krc  ttanding  di)h(i  for  every  day  in  the  year.  You  must  serve 
an  apDrenticeahiii  to  a  want  of  originality,  to  a  suipentioa  of  thought 
and  feeling.  You  are  in  a  go-cart  of  prejudicet,  in  a  regularly 
constrvcted  machbe  of  pretexts  and  precedent*  i  you  are  not  only  to 
wear  the  livery  of  other  men's  thoughts,  but  there  it  a  Hous<H»f- 
Conimons  jargon  which  must  be  used  for  every  thing.  A  man  of 
simplicity  and  independence  of  mind  cannot  esiily  reconcile  himself  to 
all  this  foimoliiy  and  mummery;  yet  woe  to  him  th^it  shall  attempt  to 
discard  it!  You  can  oo  mure  move  against  the  stream  of  custom, 
than  you  can  make  bead  agauut  »  crowd  of  people  ;  the  mob  of  lords 
ud  gcDtlcmen  will  not  let  you  speak  or  think  but  as  they  do.  You 
are  hemmed  in,  milled,  pinioned,  presied  to  death, — and  if  you  make 
one  false  step,  arc  '  trampled  under  the  hoofs  of  a  twintsb  multitude  I ' 
Talk  of  mol» !  Is  there  any  body  of  people  that  has  this  character 
in  a  more  consummate  degree  than  the  House  of  Common*  ?  Is  there 
my  set  of  men  that  determines  more  W  acclamation,  and  lest  by 
dtufaeralion  iuhJ  individual  conviction  i  That  is  moved  more  m  nuuir, 
in  it*  aggregate  capacity,  as  brute  force  and  physical  number  i  That 
judges  with  more  Midas  cart,  blind  and  sordid,  without  dticrimtna- 
tioo  of  right  and  wrong  ?  The  greatest  te«  of  courage  I  can  conceive, 
is  to  spnk  uuth  in  the  House  of  Comffions.  I  have  heard  Sir 
Francis  Burcleii  lay  things  there  which  I  could  not  enough  admire  ; 
and  which  he  cotdd  not  have  ventured  upon  uying,  if,  oeiidcs  hia 
honesty,  he  had  not  been  a  man  of  fortune,  of  family,  of  character, — 
aye,  and  a  very  good-tooking  man  into  the  bargais  I  Dr.  John*oa 
had  a  with  to  try  his  hand  in  the  House  oi'  Commons.  An  elephant 
might  at  well  have  been  introduced  there,  ia  all  the  formi:  Sir 
Wtiltam  Curt!)  makes  a  better  ligute.  Either  be  or  the  Speaker 
(Ontlowl  must  have  reHgned.  The  orbit  of  hi)  intellect  was  not  ibe 
one  in  which  the  intellect  of  the  bouse  moved  by  ancient  privilege. 
H'u  common-place*  were  not  ihtir  commoD-placc*. — Even  Home 

271 


ON   WRITING   ANIJ  SPEAKING 

ftist  old  viotiutD  you  met  her  opinion  oo  uiiy  lubji-cc,  lad  you  could 
g«t  at  the  mietman's ;  for  hi*  would  be  just  the  contnuy.  He 
would  be  wiicr  than  the  old  womao  at  any  rate.  If  a  thing  had  been 
thought  cruel,  he  would  prove  iiiu  it  waa  humane ;  if  bvbaroui, 
nualy;  if  wik,  foolith -,  if  gcnaci  Qon«eD«c.  Hii  creed  wa*  the 
aocitheua  of  cotnmoa  kiuo,  loyalty  excepted.  Ecoaomy  he  could 
tuTD  into  ridicule,  '  a.»  a  *aiiii|[  of  chccac-^iarinjii  and  caadle^odt '  [— 
and  total  failure  wai  with  him  'negative  lucceaa.'  He  hiid  oo 
occanon,  in  thut  tctting  up  for  original  thinking,  to  iniguire  into 
the  truth  or  £ilsebood  of  any  proponition,  but  to  ascertain  whether  it 
wat  currently  bcIicTod  io,  and  then  to  contradict  it  point-blank.  He 
made  the  rulgac  prejudice*  of  othett  '  tcrvile  miniftiett '  to  hi»  own 
wlecimii.  It  wat  not  ca<y  alwaya  to  My  whether  he  waa  in  jnt  or 
carnett — but  he  contrived  to  bitch  hit  cxiiaiagancct  into  the  midst  of 
(ome  uravc  debate;  the  House  had  ibeir  laugh  for  notliiog;  the 
qucation  got  into  ihape  again,  and  Mr.  Windham  waa  allowed  to 
hare  been  more  bnliaat  than  ever.* 

Mr.  Windham  wat,  I  have  heard,  a  dlcnt  man  in  company. 
Indeed  hii  whole  *tylc  wa*  an  artificial  and  (ludicd  imitaiion,  or 
capricioua  caricature  of  Butke't  bald,  natural,  ditcurtivc  manner. 
This  did  not  imply  much  apontaneoua  power  or  fertility  of  invcotion  ; 
he  waa  an  intellectual  pott  arc- maatcr,  rather  than  a  man  of  real 
elatticity  and  vigour  of  mind.  Mr.  Pitt  was  al»o,  1  believe,  tome- 
whai  taciturn  and  reserved.  There  wa>  nothing  clearly  in  the 
aubject  matter  of  his  specchci  to  connect  with  the  ordinary  topic*  of 
dHCOuiKi  or  with  any  given  aapeci  of  human  life.  One  would  expect 
hin  to  be  quite  aa  much  in  the  cloud*  a*  the  automaton  cho*-playcf, 
or  the  1»*t  new  Opeta-iinger.  Mr.  Fox  *aid  little  in  priruc,  asd 
con^lained  that  in  writing  he  had  no  Kyle.  So  (to  compare  great 
than^  with  imall}  Jack  Davict,  the  uoriraUed  rackei-idayeri  nevet 
aaid  any  thing  at  ail  in  company,  and  wm  what  !•  underttood  by  a 
raodext  man.  When  the  racket  waa  out  of  hi*  hand,  hi*  occupation, 
hii  delight,  hit  glory,  (that  which  he  excelled  all  mankind  in)  wa« 
gone !  So  when  Mr.  i''ox  had  no  longer  to  keep  up  the  ball  of 
debate,  with  the  floor  of  Saint  Stephen'*  for  a  atagc,  and  the  world 
for  ipectatort  of  the  game,  it  b  hardly  to  be  wondeicid  at  that  be  fdt 
a  little  at  a  lou — without  hit  utual  train  of  tiibject»,  the  lame  crowd 

'  It  ngM  bi  ptauA,  bowcirtt,  ihil  Iherc  wat  umclhini  fiif^att  u4  frDvekiaf 
in  hi*  OMDOcr  of  'nuking  tht  wottf  'ppm  the  bdirr  tcaten.'  la  kttfiixf  off  the 
ill  odour  of  a  bad  ciuK,  b;  appllfl  harlthota  and  burnt  (nihtn  t»  th*  oSta4a4 
Kdie  ;  tai  <llii  ant,  like  M:.  Canaioi;,  tr«M  w  with  (be  f»M  flowm  of  Ui 
eriietT,  likt  the  faiot  imeli  of  t  perfimut**  tbsfi  at  try  la  nak*  Covcnmaat 
*  iDW'lodB  *  a(  itaad  ma'i  bail  I 

VOI~  Til.  :  I  173 


J 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

of  aMiciatioiw,  ibe  nme  ipiiit  of  contpctitioo,  ot  idmatat  to  extia- 
ordioBiy  exertion.  The  cxcUrawtit  of  leading  in  the  Hook  of 
CommoM  (wtiich,  in  addilioo  to  tbc  immediate  anratkia  ud  ipplauWj 
tittt  followt,  ii  a  ton  of  whupcriag  ^kry  to  ill  I£iirope)  muK  n 
upon  the  bnia  like  braacfy  or  tiudaBUffi  ttpoo  the  atomach  j  >od  moic, 
in  mo*t  ci»»,  {irodoce  ibr  ume  debilitating  rlFeai  afierwsFdt.  A 
nua'i  &cultie*  moM  be  quite  exIuuMed,  hit  virtae  gone  out  of  httD. 
That  iaj  oae  acnutoiBed  all  hit  life  to  the  tribtttary  roir  of  tcffiaaae 
from  the  great  coaoci)  of  the  BUioiti  iboold  think  of  dieting  bimtelf 
with  the  prot]>cct  of  potUiBinov  &nM  u  u  author,  it  like  olfertng  a 
coofinnca  dram-drinker  a  gbatof  Edrimer  for  hiaBnonuiig'tdrauf[ht.J 
Chariea  Fox  it  not  to  be  hboied  (u  baiini  wriocii  an  iodifferettt* 
hiitory  of  Jame*  ii.  but  for  hafing  wntten  a  hinory  at  all.  It  wat 
not  hit  boiincM  to  write  a  hijtory — hia  btutneM  wa*  nor  r«  have  maJt 
anj  mart  CmSmoi  !  Bat  he  fonnd  writing  m>  dull,  be  thought  it 
better  to  be  a  collesgne  of  Lord  GreoTillc  t     He  did  not  wuii  ttyle 

iio  uf  to  it  noniente,  becjote  the  Myle  of  his  ^lecchct  wu  just  sad^ 
ine)— he  waatcd  a  touodiDg'^XMrd  in  the  car  of  poiterity  to  try  hia 
periodt  opoo.     If  he  hid  gone  to  the  Houae  of  Commoiu  in  the 
iDonung,  and  tried  to  make  a  ipeech  fattioB,  when  there  was  nobody 
to  bear  him,  he  might  have  been  e<|ua]ly  diKoncened  at  hit  wsnt  of] 
ftyle.     The  habit  of  (peaking  it  the  habit  of  being  heard,  and  of 
wanting  to  be  hejtd ;  the  habit  of  wiiting  m  (he  lubtt  of  thinking 
aloud,  but  without  the  help  uf  aa  echo.     The  orator  tees  hit  subject  j 
in  tlie  eager  lookt  uf  hit  audiion  i  and  feeli  doubly  cootcious,  doublyl 
impcetied  with  ii  in  the  glow  of  their  lyropathy  )  the  author  can  only  j 
look  for  encouragement  in  a  blank  piece  of  paper.     The  orator  iecui 
the  impulse  of  popular  cnthutiatm, 

like  proud  icai  under  him ; 

the  only  Pcgoaus  the  writer  hat  to  boati,  it  the  hobby-horse  of  bit 
own  thoughts  and  fanciet.  How  is  he  to  get  on  then^  From  the 
lash  of  necettiiy.  Wr  accordingly  tee  pcttont  of  rank  and  fortune 
continually  Tolunteer  into  the  service  of  oratory— and  the  State-,  but 
we  hare  few  author*  who  arc  not  paid  by  the  ^«t !— 1  myacif  hare 
beard  Charles  Fox  engaged  in  tLiniliar  contertation.  It  wu  in  the 
Louvre.  He  wat  deccribing  the  pictures  to  two  peniont  that  were 
with  bim.  He  ipoke  rapidly,  but  very  uaaiTcctedly.  I  remember 
luf  saying — <  Alt  thotc  blucv  and  green*  and  reds  arc  the  Guercinoi ; 
you  may  know  ihcm  by  the  colourt.'  He  set  Opie  right  at  to 
Donienichtno'i  Saint  Jerome.  'You  will  find,'  he  S»d(  '  though  ■ 
you  may  nut  be  struck  with  it  at  lirsi,  that  there  is  a  great  deal  vt\ 
truth  and  good  lente  in  that  picture.'  There  wat  a  person  at  one 
>74 


ON  WRITING   AND  SPEAKING 


rlime  a  good  deal  with  Mr.  Fox,  who,  whco  the  opioioa  of  (he  latter 
waa  asked  on  any  tubjccii  very  frcquenily  interpoacd  to  give  the 
aoawer.  Thi»  surt  uf  taniali^mg  inietruutioD  w«*  ingeniouily  eooogh 
compared  by  tome  one,  lo  wilkinft  up  Ludgate-hill,  and  hiring  the 
spire  of  Si.  M.irtin't  comtaotly  gelling  in  your  way,  when  ynu  with 
10  «ee  ihc  dome  of  St.  Paul'* ! — Burke,  it  is  *aid,  conversed  at  he 
■poke  in  public,  and  as  he  wrote.  He  was  communicative,  dilTuse, 
DUgDtliccDt.  '  What  is  the  use,'  uid  Mr.  Fox  to  a  ftleod,  '  of 
Sheridan's  trying  to  swell  hiniacif  out  in  this  manner,  lite  tlie  frog  b 
the  fable .'  '—alluding  lo  hit  ipeech  on  Warren  Ha«ing«'»  lti*l. 
'  It  is  very  well  fur  Burke  to  exprta*  himtcif  in  th^it  ligur.itive  way. 
It  is  natut.il  lo  him  ;  he  talks  to  to  his  wife,  to  bii  trrianls,  to  his 
children  ;  but  M  for  Sheridan,  be  either  ncTer  opens  his  mouth  at  all, 
or  if  he  docs,  it  ie  to  utter  some  joke.  It  is  out  of  the  question  for 
him  to  alfect  these  Orimtaliiim.'  Burke  once  can)e  into  Sir  Jo«hua 
Reynolds's  painting-room,  when  one  of  his  pupilt  wa»  uiiing  for  one  of 
the  BOD*  of  Count  Ugolioo ;  this  geotlemaQ  was  pertonally  introduced 

to  him  ; — '  Ah  !  Uiot,'  said  Burke,  *  I  IJnd  thai  Mr.  N bai  not 

only  a  bead  that  would  do  for  Titian  to  paint,  but  is  himself  a  painter.* 
At  another  time,  be  came  in  when  Goldsmith  was  there,  and  poured 
forth  such  a  torrent  of  violent  personal  abuse  againHt  the  King,  that 
ibcy  got  to  high  words,  and  Goldsmith  threatened  to  leave  the 
room  if  he  did  not  delist.  Goldsmith  bore  testimony  to  hit  power* 
of  conrertatian.  Speaking  of  Johnson,  he  said,  *  Docs  he  wind  into 
a  subject  like  a  scqicni,M  Burke  docs .' '  With  respect  to  hit  facility 
in  composition,  there  are  contradictory  accounts,  it  has  been  stated 
by  some,  that  he  wrote  out  a  plain  sketch  first,  like  a  tort  of  dead 
colouring,  and  added  the  ornaments  and  tropes  atwrwards.  i  have 
been  a»uied  by  a  pcmon  who  had  (he  beit  means  of  knowing,  that 
I  the  Lciier  lo  a  Naift  LcrJ  (the  moit  rapid,  impetuous,  glancing,  and 
•partivc  of  all  hit  workt)  was  printed  on,  and  the  proof  tent  to  him : 
and  that  it  wati  returned  to  the  printing  otiicc  with  to  many  alterations 
and  patuges  inicrlinod,  that  the  compositor*  refused  to  correct  it  as  it 
was— took  the  whole  matter  in  pieces,  and  re-set  the  copy.  'I'hia 
looks  like  elaboration  and  after- thought.  It  was  also  one  of  Burke's 
latest  composiuons.)  A  regularly  bred  speaker  would  have  made  up 
fail  mind  oeforcfaand  i  but  Burke's  mind  being,  aa  originally  cooiti- 
luted  and  by  it*  first  biai,  that  of  an  author,  never  became  set.  It 
was  in  funhcr  search  and  progress.     It  bad  an  internal  spring  left. 

'  Tom  riiDC,  while  he  n>  baty  ahoM  iny  cf  hit  works,  UKil  la  wslk  out, 
MmpoK  1  KnitnM  or  piripiph  in  hit  hrxl,  come  honw  soil  wiiu  it  down, 
ifld  oevtr  illcrcrf  it  •ftttwtr'lt.  He  then  idikil  snctbcr,  toA  WMi,  till  the  wbole 
«ru  cemplcted. 

«7S 


IVm  b  a  d^n>  of  faMMg  «  wfi  «  af  1 
I  Ml  w  be  pt  »  etan^Kf, 


hi 


a  ■■(  X  vriogai  cte^np  to  w«cr  ■  ^i^^vy  V  1^ 

lilhll.  ll%|M,Mlliril    '.      Illmil   illlllMIMlllllh  -fcii 


»76 


W« 


ON   WRITING   AND  SPEAKING 


have  a  rif^t  to  expect  from  him  ptofoandcr  *iew«  ofthing*;  Inier 
fliMCrrnion* ;  morv  iBgraiotu  UlomatioDi ;  happier  and  bolder  «xprc»- 
tiooM.  He  it  to  girr  the  choice  and  pckcd  rc«iha  of  a  whole  iife  of 
Vfidj  ;  what  he  liaa  urack  out  in  his  niott  lelicitout  moodt,  ha* 
tmsured  up  with  nioit  pride,  hui  bboured  to  bring  to  light  with  mott 
anxiety  and  coniideDCe  of  succeM.  He  may  turn  a  period  in  hi* 
head  nfiy  diffcrcat  wayt,  ao  that  it  come*  out  unooth  and  round  at 
Uit.  He  may  bare  caught  a  glimptc  of  a  timilc,  and  it  muv  hare 
f Ulithed  agnin :  let  him  be  oo  ihc  watch  for  it,  aa  the  idle  boy 
vuchrt  for  the  luiktDg-placc  of  the  adder.  We  can  wait.  He  ia 
not  ntiilied  with  a  reaion  he  has  offered  for  MMnetbiog  i  let  him  wait 
titl  he  find*  a  better  reaaoa.  There  ii  Miae  word,  tome  phraae,  tome 
idiom  that  cxptewci  a  particular  idea  better  than  any  other,  but  he 
cannot  for  the  life  of  him  recollect  it :  let  him  wait  till  he  doc*.  Ii 
k  urugc  thu  tiDODg  twenty  thoiuaiNl  wordi  io  the  liitiglith  language, 
tbe  OH  of  all  othen  that  he  most  ncrdi  nhovld  hai-e  cKapcd  him  i 
There  are  mott  tbinga  in  nature  than  there  are  word*  in  the  Cngliah 
bnguage,  lad  be  muff  not  expect  to  lay  raah  haodi  on  them  all  M 
Odce. 

Lram  to  ^oriu  »lofr :  all  ochn  gncet 

Will  fallow  in  their  proper  pbcci. 

You  allow  a  writer  a  year  to  ihink  of  a  tubjcct ;  be  should  not  put 
you  off  with  a  tniiim  at  laM.  You  allow  him  a  year  mote  to 
find  oat  words  for  hi*  ihoughti ;  be  ibould  not  give  u*  an  echo  of  all 
the  fine  thingi  (bat  have  beeo  tatd  a  hundred  timet.'  All  aathon, 
howcTer,  are  not  to  aqucamiih  ;  but  take  tm  with  wordi  and  idea*  a* 
tbcy  find  ihem  dcliTcred  down  to  tbem.  Happy  are  they  who  write 
LatiDtrenMl  Wbocopy  the  ityleof  Dr.  Joiinton!  WIio  hold  up 
tlw  fttme  of  *acWM  ^moI  I  I'hey  do  not  trouble  tfaemselvet  with 
iboie  hail-breadth  ditiioctioM  of  tbooght  or  meanii^  that  puziJe nicer 
head* — kt  u*  leave  them  to  tbeir  Kpote !  A  perton  to  habit*  of 
eORiponiion  ojten  heaiiate*  in  converMImo  for  a  ftuticular  word  ;  it  i* 
bec«u*e  be  i»  in  aearcfa  of  the  bett  word,  and  tbai  he  cannoi  hit  upon. 
In  writing  he  would  nop  till  it  came'  It  i«  not  (rue,  howettr,  that 
the  tcholar  could  avail  hinHelf  of  a  more  ordinary  word  if  be  chote, 
or  readily  acquire  a  comnund  of  ordinary  langiugci  for  hi*  attoci*' 
lion*  are  habitnaiUjt  iatenie,  not  vagtie  and  ihallow :  and  word*  occvr 
to  faim  ooly  a*  MGrr  to  certain  modiEcatiooi  of  feeling.     They  are 

>  Jan  M  *  fo«  o^ht  sol  to  chcM  «*  wiA  faatt  mctte  *»4  ^KMiivt  rbyaiH, 
whkb  Dii^ht  U  cmuUi  b  u  iaBfrmwKoti  vertlfar. 

*  Thit  >■  tHentUUr  i  btA  nylt  vhicli  KCnu  u  If  the  pnvni  •rillni  It  mtirt 
Mapped  la  Wtnth,  b«  give  bioMcIt  i  niaiiul'i  paMT,  hi  *lr«m  to  tatkt  op  ij 
vnluWadcy  aad  lltaicj  for  «nl  of  choice  *n4  corrtetam  e(  tiprfim. 

37; 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 


Ta  cwdidt  duk  aeoMBt  with  vfac  p«faa^  I  ogghl  u  !■««  ■( 


but  wlio,  vben  left  jboe,  eta  luh  tbcaadm  Imd  a  fiua.  T^e; 
an  imer  leM  aloae  thiB  wben  alone.  Moot  d^  on  ■  AiBcr- 
uUe,  >ad  thty  hm  widuiag  to  uj:  tbnt  tbem  «p  n  a  tdob  ^ 
tbMMclna,  aad  ibey  an  iMptfcd.  Thrf  ai«  •  aade  fierce  mfe  <laik 
kccBMi^  IB  fa  HUM  roe  wsv  toBCB^^TVdi  a  uhtiai  ot  wda  flowa 
li«n  tbea  pent,  and  xhe  ttorm  wUch  waa  m  long  ceUccdag  oooan 
^aee.  It  Mter  nina  bu  it  pow*.  I*  tMit  Om  itnaie, 
"  t  f  Not  ai  all  M.  Tbrj  baic  a  real  tntcma,  a  Kal 
«78 


ON  WRITING   AND  SPEAKING 


knowledge  of  tbc  (object,  and  they  cuioot  (oramon  np  tU  tlut 
imerett,  ot  briog  aJl  that  knowledge  to  bur,  while  they  bare  any 
tbiag  dte  to  aiteod  to.  Tiil  they  can  do  ioKicc  to  the  fcclicg  they 
ha*Ci  they  an  do  nothing.  For  ihi«  ibey  look  into  their  own  mindii 
not  is  tbc  l«cct  of  >  giping  multitDdc.  Whu  they  would  tay  (if 
tbeyooald)doc*Bot  lie  at  ibeonficnof  th«  mouth  ready  for  ddtTcry, 
but  i*  vrapoed  in  the  foldi  of  the  heart  asd  rejtiatcred  in  tbc  chamber* 
of  the  bcaiD.  tn  tbe  ucred  etaue  of  truth  that  ttira  tbein,  th«y 
would  piM  their  iriMte  ftreoKth,  their  whole  being  into  reaiiititioo ; 
and  a*  it  implica  a  gnattr  emn  to  drag  thdr  wordt  aad  idcai  fron 
dttir  lurkiAg-plaoct.  to  tberr  i*  ao  ead  when  tbn  arc  oacc  tet  ia 
noiiOD.  Tbt  whole  of  a  man'*  ifcon^m  aad  titrngt  aaaa  lie  on 
the  nrltct,  made  up  for  uae;  bnt  the  wbok  omm  be  a  gmter 
^■nlity,  a  miduier  power,  if  ihey  could  be  jot  al*  byer  nder  layert 
■kI  brought  into  puy  by  tbe  leren  of  imagination  and  reilectioo. 
Svch  a  pcraon  then  tea  &nber  aod  (eeU  deeper  than  moM  other*. 
He  pbut  up  an  argmneet  by  the  root*,  he  tear*  ooi  the  vny  heart 
of  Ua  nbject.  He  ha*  more  pride  ia  GOtu)uerin|  the  ditfcnkiM  of  a 
qomioa,  than  vamty  in  conrtiag  tbc  favooi  of  an  audience.  He 
wnbn  to  wu$fy  hinudf  before  he  pretend*  to  enlighten  the  public. 
He  take*  an  ieumi  in  thiagt  ia  tbe  abttrvt  more  than  by  common 
cocuent.  Nature  i*  hi*  mirtrea*,  truth  hi*  idoL  Tbe  cootem^acioD 
of  a  pure  idea  is  tbe  mliog  poanoo  of  hia  breatt.  Tbe  iuerTeetion  of 
other  peopic'i  iwtioil^  tbc  being  tbc  iauncdiaic  object  of  their  ceaaoic 
or  thetr  praiie,  ftu  Un  oat.  What  wid  tdU  what  will  produce  an 
effect,  he  caret  Gitle  about ;  and  iherefwe  be  pndacea  tbe  greaieat. 
Tbc  ftrn*^  it  to  bim  an  impertineBce ;  to  be  cowceala  hinadf  and 
write*.  Soiitodc  '  bccotnci  hit  glittering  bride,  and  airy  tfaoi^bta  lut 
children.'  Such  a  oac  ic  a  tme  aothor ;  and  not  a  member  of  any 
Dcbatiag  dub,  or  Dilettanii  Society  wfaatercr !  > 

>  lhniMUlMdta4wtU«BHaMMb(rdii(rtMna(bo4TaaJaiaitlMoftn 
leewat  the  (mw  mtm*  (i«m  Jilnit  ia  bMh  cafadtk*  of  tfeakn  larf  vrHer. 
Thfre  ut  aaaml  M|i<Iblmi  i*  |aUk  yifclng,  hkIi  m  the  wmt  of  i  Mnag 
Mke  tmi  MM*r  acr«c«.  A  y^  amkMkjtt  tht  frntnt  ^  (Mi.  Ciaaiai)  ha* 
ttwtlii  iMi  *  wirtrt  tt »  wmA  Impartaat^  tfai  he gtn  ■>  I*r  ■■  cxa  la  letk 
■Cbct  th(  rMMiftiiw  s(  PvliBHBt,  ta4  wt«iw»  that  |tWni«a  wfc*  ba*t  not 
b»U  fankodi  «Bd  knMB  la^h  bM  ns4M  riMonao*  m4  pMiiaticirkws  ibouU 
k  iDowW  to  cntp  ioU  tbt  pot  MoaUy  ol  the  •«»••  ibaa^  dM  wwa*  of 
daw  bemttm,  anJ  dm  be  alM  apoa  'M  bet  the  ■oraH  of  the  hMtlack'  la 
<htifeiw«(<Tew,tnalWMfM«fn«lw,»n4*aokT>Jif  Hliiwy*^ 
■  Wilfcntlr  IfMc  ta  Ik  •Pdllkal  Uaae  ihit  jKk  ballu'  I  tocy  Mr. 
C.  Wjaai  k  tbe  aaly  fcnec  b  the  Vrngiaia  whs  hit  tttlj  a%it  if  kit  miod 
that  1  total  ilcCKt  of  i«icc  n  (be  Boat  nactwaiy  ontificilMO  lor  i  5pcal«r  t(  Ihc 
H— aarfCtmBCPit 


a79 


ON   A    PORTRAIT  OF  AN   ENGLISH   LADV 

poMcnort  of  then  wDl  be  conicioiu  of  it.  There  nujr  be  Mfoal 
tltpuiix,  bat  DM  the  nme  ewe ;  there  taajr  be  even  greatee 
intelligence,  but  without  the  innoccoce;  more  iiTicity,  but  ihet)  ri 
will  no  ioM  petalance  or  cw^vttty ;  in  tbort,  there  may  be  evefv 
Othcf  good  quiity  but  a  toutl  abvciKc  o(  all  preteniion  to  or  wiih 
to  nuke  a  ditfiay  of  it,  but  the  ume  unaffected  nwdeity  and 
nmplicity.  Id  French  face*  (and  I  have  »een  lome  that  were 
charming  both  for  the  feature*  and  exprcMion}  there  •>  ■  varnwh  of 
iiMincerity,  a  KKnethine  theatrical  or  mnetridouii  but  here,  every 
particle  it  pure  to  the  '  uit  teceMe«  of  the  mind.'  The  face  (tuch 
M  It  i*,  lad  it  has  a  comsderable  ihare  both  of  beauty  and  meaning) 
i*  without  the  Miiatlcac  aDoyof  afTccuiion.  There  i«  ao  blae  glitter 
in  the  eye*  to  make  them  look  brighter;  no  little  wrinkle*  about 
the  Goroera  of  the  eye-lids,  the  efi'ect  of  Klf-cooceil ;  no  putting 
Oft  of  the  mooth,  do  tigniCcam  leer,  do  priraMi>t  do  extravagance, 
no  ataumed  levity  or  gravity.  You  have  the  gentdae  text  of  nature 
without  glo«*  or  comment.  There  i«  do  heighteuBg  of  ConMiow 
charnu  to  ptodoce  greater  eileci,  no  ttndying  of  airt  and  graieea  in 
the  ^aia  of  vanity.  You  have  not  the  remotett  hint  of  the  milliner, 
the  dancing-muter,  the  dealer  in  painia  and  paichr*.  Yoo  have 
before  you  a  real  Eaglith  lady  of  the  aeventcenth  ccetuiy,  who  look* 
like  one,  becauae  the  caonot  look  otberwitei  whote  exprcwioo  of 
(weetnea*,  intelligence,  or  concern  i*  juti  what  t*  natural  to  her,  and 
what  the  occaiion  revjmre* ;  whoac  entire  demeanour  ii  the  emanation 
of  her  habittial  •eniimcou  and  diapotiooa,  and  who  la  a*  free  from 
guile  or  alTectatioo  at  the  little  child  by  her  tide.  I  repeat  that 
thii  i*  not  the  diatiDgniahi&g  character  of  the  French  pbytiognoray, 
whkh,  at  ha  beat,  ia  often  ipoiled  by  a  conacioueoeai  of  what  it  ia, 
■od  a  reatlaa  iemtt  to  be  ■omething  more. 

Goodneta  of  dltpontion,  with  a  clear  complexion  and  haodiome 
feacurci,  i*  the  chief  ingredieot  in  Englith  beauty.  There  i*  a 
grcaa  diflerence  in  ihi*  retpcct  between  Vandv-ke'*  portraita  of 
wvMnca  and  Titian'*,  of  which  we  may  find  cxanipie*  in  the  Louvre. 
The  pictcrr,  which  goea  by  the  ouoe  of  bii  Miitmi,  it  one  of  the 
moat  celebrated  of  the  latter.  The  Deck  of  ihi*  picture  ia  like  a 
bratd  Cfyatal  norrot  i  and  the  hair  which  the  hold*  ao  cateleatty  in 
her  hand  i*  ttke  methea  of  beaten  gold.  The  eye*  which  roll  in 
their  ample  (ocket*,  like  two  ahining  orba,  and  which  are  niroed 
sway  mm  the  ipectator,  only  dart  their  glancca  the  more  powerfully 
into  the  tou] ;  and  the  whole  picture  it  a  paragon  of  frank  cordial 
grace,  and  traniparenc  brilliancy  of  colouring.  Her  li^i  boddice 
COnprcMea  her  fall  but  &idy  proportioned  waitt  [  while  the  tucker 
in  pan  cooccala  and  almoit  daip*  the  tnowy  boaom.     But  you  never 

181 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 


tlunk  of  ay  tfaiog  twToad  the  penoeal  MtncMM,  mJ  «  Mcuio 
tparkJaig  ioteUiseoce.  She  b  dm  nvble,  bat  k  iae  neee  of 
lynmH  cliy>  There  m  nme  of  that  retiml  mm]  dniUns  charactcTi 
that  modetn  of  Jcmcaoow,  ihtt  muidrc  delicacy,  that  tiaru  ercn 
■c  the  tbadow  of  nil — ^K  are  to  cridcutlj  to  be  traced  ia  the 
portrait  bj  Vaod^kr.  SdD  there  ii  W  pD«m  ncc,  00  imiBBfWt 
DO  hywXTi*T,  but  an  iincoiwcTiiMd  elaK»c  qwit  of  tU-ea'jojmaK, 
BOK  best  OB  the  end  ibaa  acnipvloat  aboot  the  meaiu ;  wh  finnly 
braced  nerret,  aod  a  tiocuBe  of  Tolgarity.  She  i«  DOt  like  aa 
Eogliih  lady,  Dor  like  a  lady  at  all  i  but  *he  it  a  very  6ae  •errant- 
girt  cooicioiu  of  hcT  adTiniaga,  and  willing  10  nukc  the  mow  of 
then.  In  fno.  Tiuan'i  Urutmi  laiwcr*  ex*ctty,  I  codocitc,  to  (be 
(da  «c«nty«d  by  the  Eo^iifa  word,  twtriiran. — The  MarchioacM 
Of  GttKo  M  a  Hirer  cooMpuMOtu  f>he  tt  by  the  wopoMtioB  d  ttuyt 
bat  mU  as  Italbn  one.  There  b  a  honeyed  tichaen  about  tht 
textore  of  the  tkin,  and  her  air  ii  languid  mm  a  awiC  of  pleaMtre. 
Her  drev,  thoogh  niodcn,  fau  the  nurk*  of  mdied  ooqactfy  abou 
it ;  (I  toodkca  the  very  limiu  which  it  dare*  nt  fSM ;  uA  bcr  eye« 
which  arc  bohfial  and  dowacaM^  do  am  Men  10  droop  mkr  the 
tear  ov  ovtcrratioDt  but  to  retin  tron  the  ffuf  of  ■witlfri  MimiBiyfiif 

—^  Ai  if  tbty  thriird 
Frail  hcsnt,  y«t  qixacbed  sM  I ' 

Ooe  nigfat  *ay,  with  Othello,  of  the  hand  with  which  abc  hoUs 
the  globe  that  it  oSmd  to  her  accrfKanc 

'  Thti  hand  of  youn  teqaim 


A  tt^ftttut  fracn  Ebetty,  faain^  and  pny'r. 
Mud)  ^otiptiaa,  caerdM  dmul ; 
For  beic't  a  yoiuig  and  wrffl'y  devil  bar, 
Xhat  conocedy  tebeh. 

The  handi  of  Vaadykc'a  portraii  have  the  pvitT  and  eoldaeM  at 
marble.  The  colour  of  the  bee  i>  wch  aa  nught  w  brNibed  spoD 
it  by  the  refreatuDg  breeze  ;  (hat  of  the  MvdwDaeM  of  GvMta't  b 
like  the  ^ov  it  mi|;ht  imbibe  from  a  golden  RnMci.  The  exprfrioat 
n  the  Engliab  lady  iprio^  from  bet  dotie*  aod  her  affeokxii ;  that 
of  the  Itaiian  Conntea  tDclioet  more  to  her  ea*e  and  pleamm.  The 
Marchioneu  of  Ctuno  war  one  of  three  *iitcn,  to  whom,  it  it  aid, 
the  inhabitanu  of  Piu  propoted  to  pay  divine  hoooua,  in  the  ntBaocr 
that  beauty  wa«  worthippcd  by  the  fUMilooa  cathuiaK*  of  oM.  Her 
b»iri»i»d  MOM  to  have  partic^ted  b  the  common  tnfwiilion,  from 
the  hadhl  hoooge  that  ti  pud  to  her  in  thia  aDegorical  eaM|>oaitioo  t 
and  if  •he  wu  at  all  toloxicalcd  by  the  ioccnte  oacred  to  hcu*  vanity. 


ON  A  PORTRAIT  OP  AN  ENGLISH  LADY 

xke  pointer  mwt  be  ijlowcd  to  have  '  ijiulilicd  '  the  exprctiioa  of  h 
*  rery  CT»ftUy.' 

I  psM  OB  to  aaothn  r«n»le  face  and  RffiM,  ihu  of  the  Virpo, 
in  the  bemtifvl  picture  of  the  PrtirBladvn  in  tin  Tim^,  by  Gnido. 
Th«  expreMwa  here  u  idmi,  and  iiai  a  relerence  to  nnoaarf  object! 
and  feeling*.  It  it  marked  by  an  abttraaioo  ffom  outward  im- 
preidon«,  a  doimcan  look,  an  elevated  brow,  aa  abcorption  aS 
pvpoM,  a  ililliMst  and  rctigiuuoi),  that  bccoiac  tbc  perun  and  the 
icene  in  which  she  it  engaged.  The  c«tour  i*  pak  or  gone ;  m> 
that  purified  from  every  grweneat,  dead  to  wofldly  poMMOii  the 
alrooat  •eemi  like  a  sutue  kfieelin£.  With  kseei  bent,  and  hand* 
uplifted,  her  nmlMaleM  figure  appcara  mpportcd  by  a  muI  wtUuo, 
■II  whote  thonghta,  from  the  low  ground  of  hvnulily,  teiNl  beaten> 
ward.  We  find  Done  of  tbe  triumphaat  bvoyaBcy  of  health  and 
t(nnl  a»  In  tbc  TiMun'j  Aflilrtii,  nor  tbe  Iqxwxmb  tofcncxt  of  the 
ptmrut  of  the  Marchioscs)  of  Guaito,  nor  tbe  Aexible,  trctnaloua 
Rfuibtlity,  nor  the  anxion*  attcaiioa  to  psHing  circsmMancca,  nor  the 
funiliar  look  of  tbe  lady  by  Vandyke!  ob  the  contrary,  there  ia  a 
COBplete  unity  and  coDccatration  of  exMCUMXi,  the  whole  i«  wrought 
■p  and  moulded  into  otx  ioteoK  feefin^  bvt  that  feeling  fixed  on 
objecu  remote,  rctincd,  ind  ethciUl  a*  tbe  form  of  (he  fair  rapplicasi. 
A  Hili  greyer  contrail  to  thii  intetnal,  or  a*  it  were,  ialrmtrirJ 
exprctsioo,  i«  to  be  found  in  tbe  group  of  fenak  heads  by  ihc  umc 
artut,  Guiido,  m  hit  pctare  of  the  Fight  o/*  Parii  and  Httm.  They 
are  the  three  latt  bead*  oo  the  leil-baod  nde  of  the  picture.  They 
arc  throws  into  etery  variety  of  attitude,  a*  if  to  take  the  bean  by 
turpriae  at  erery  avcoue.  A  tender  wanntb  ii  niifuaed  over  tbeir 
&ora;  their  head^drettc*  ue  siry  and  faacifal,  ibeir  complexjon 
(prkiiBg  and  glouy;  tbeir  feature*  iccni  to  catch  pleaairc  from 
every  ramModiog  ob|ect,  and  to  reSect  it  back  agate.  Vanity, 
beatuy^  1>)^  glaace  from  tbeir  conaciotM  looki  and  wreathed  smile*. 
Hke  the  chaBgwg  coloura  iTotn  tbe  itng-dore'i  aeck.  To  sbirpen 
tbe  dfect  and  ponnt  the  moral,  they  are  accompanied  by  a  little 
negro-boy,  who  hold*  up  the  train  of  elegance,  tathtoo,  and  rohiptuou* 
grace! 

Guido  was  tbc  '  gentccleit '  of  painters ;  be  wa*  a  poetical 
Vandyke.  Tbe  latter  could  give,  with  inimitable  and  perfect  skill, 
the  air*  and  grace*  of  pe<^e  of  fuhton  under  their  daily  and  habatuat 
atpecU,  or  a*  be  might  *ee  tbem  in  a  looking-glaia.  The  former 
Bw  tbem  in  hii  'mind's  eye,'  and  ooold  tranaionn  tbem  into  nippoaed 
cbaraciera  and  imagiiuty  siinatioiM.  Still  the  element*  were  tbc 
HIM.  Vandyke  gare  ihetn  with  the  mmMflnim  of  hibn  and  tbc 
indindual  details;   Guido,  a*   they   were  rounded   into  grace  and 

183 


L 


frwt 


THE  PLAIX  SPEAKER 


MTj  iMt^  tod  «r  >  pri,  »d  bd^ 


fink' 


He  Mba  boK 

>)  hwaagriBO* 

rl' 


He  aw 
A 

dtolfi«M«fe«b>ta4 

Tki>  B  aw  Miblr.     I 
'  (deep  Coocapv)  *^ 

JmmIibi  .^rfi 
■  iMbna^  faiab 
wo«n,aadkB««MMHvii!  IfkkaU 
■irMei£ea*MdlMfMHd  bo»  nanr 
Icanwlf  MrnanPR,'Waali  fce  lad  ■liiiii  nn 
If  G«d»  Mted  CBH|a«  aad  nrieCy  b  fek  vi,  il  afMici  Itf^ 
tmoe  «tat  be«Hnl  ■  rfiM^riy  iif^hiJ  by  «fen^  Efe  ^ 
wftsn^  defidcf  JMd  UW  pan  «»«fnaM  dtpcc^  wA  h»  6ae 
ma  w  Anc  »  dw  dottd  as  iW  rack,  li  b  M  tW  k^fhtM  paiK 
if  oedkMe  is  m^  "  «r  dtpviMs  tte  «r  bdk  fc«fc  mli 
■taciaB.  ja  it  n  tbc  Ughot  ■aaBM'pnft  ifca  «c 
1  •  ifce  Anacc^  Md  la«agbiof  oel^  wksii  tra  war. 
I  fcaov  of  ao  odwr  Ain^Kc  b«»«-tu  Raphad  tad  Cdd*,  tfcoa 
fka  ike  oae  «M  twice  ik  ■>■  tke  Mfaer  «■>.    Rjffael  wa  »  taUa 

dar  ha  owB  diipoMCias  tad  dencac    Tbm  ii  ■  oaaaeB  ok  «f 
CfiiidH  wUcfc  ai^n  Tien  owriy  e  catowae.    Wkc  he 

«Mi^wwfap«M:  helad n|iiwiiii  a  tfe     ^ 


rt 


ON   A   PORTRAIT  OF  AN  ENGLISH   LADY 


of  RipiiMr*.  But  be  tdl  tbort  of  Raphael  is  tbU,  that  (except  in 
<ia»  or  two  imonea)  he  oooM  boc  bci^ilM  Md  ada|it  the  «xpreMi<n 
that  he  tm  to  dtSmat  tod  mora  ttrilusii  dreoBitaDco.  He  gare 
more  of  what  be  taw  than  any  other  painter  that  ever  Urcd,  and  is 
the  iBHtxivc  put  of  hit  an  had  a  more  biutccbI  j;caja*  than  Raphael 
had  ia  c«aipMiiion  and  inTcntioa.  Beyond  the  aciul  and  hahhaal 
toot  of  uiarr.  bowcTcr,  *  the  demon  thai  he  Ki^cd  '  dcwrtcd  him, 
or  became  a  very  tame  oat.  Vandyke  givv  more  of  the  geoeral  air 
sod  ■taanert  of  faahiotiablc  litie  than  of  todividoal  characttt ;  and  the 
■objtct*  Uut  be  treated  arc  nehber  retnarkaUe  for  iotcUcct  ooi 
paaion.  They  are  peoeJc  ol  pohAed  mamen,  and  placid  ooaKkn- 
ttoM  t  and  many  of  the  *cry  bat  of  them  are  '  mpMlIy  good.' 
Titian**  portraita,  on  the  other  hand,  freqwltrprwcot  a  nncfa  more 
(omudablc  tbaa  istiung  appcarasoe.  Yon  wowa  hardly  una  joontif 
n  a  raom  with  thcnt.  Yon  do  doc  beatov  »  cold,  ki«ircly  approho- 
lioa  on  dvin,  bat  look  to  tee  what  they  nuy  be  thinking  of  yoo,  not 
«Umk  mmbc  apprclKanoo  for  the  fcwu  Thev  have  sot  dkc  dear 
HMOtfc  iltiM  or  the  erea  ptdae  that  Vandykc^a  Men  to  powew. 
Thev  are,  fbc  ibe  moat  part,  fierce,  mry,  Toluptnoiw,  Mbtie,  haaghty. 
**1*"*  painted  Italian  face*  a»  well  aa  Tkiao.  Boi  he  thiew  into 
than  a  character  of  jnCeUcci  raiber  than  of  lempcramcot.  In  Tiiiui 
the  irriability  takec  the  lead,  (ha/peat  aad  girct  direction  to  the 
udeiauadiDg.  There  Kena  to  be  a  penonal  comrorcny  between 
dw  apectator  aad  the  iodtridaal  wfaoK  portrait  be  oootemplaies, 
which  (ball  be  master  of  the  other.  I  may  refer  to  two  portraita  in 
the  Loarrc,  the  ooc  by  Rnbael,  the  other  by  Titian  (No*,  i  ■$] 
■od  mo),  ia  illutratioo  of  tfacae  rcmarka.  I  do  aot  know  two 
finer  or  ntore  charactcrixic  ipaCMWaa  «f  tlMK  aaawn,  each  im  iu 
way.  llie  ooc  i*  of  a  Kaifeot  dwnJ  Ml  bbckt  ibaofhed  ia  tbo^lK, 
iaacat  eo  lene  probleiQ,  with  the  hand*  ooatcd  aad  leaaiag  oa  a 
t^lc  ht  aonert,  as  it  were  to  pte  freer  acope  to  the  labour  of  the 
bnia,  aad  thoi^h  the  eyea  are  dtreded  toward*  you,  it  ii  with 
cvideot  diaence  cf  oaad.  Not  *o  the  other  ponnit.  No.  mo. 
AH  ici  &cBltie«  are  collected  to  ace  what  it  can  nuke  of  yoo,  at  if 
yoa  had  intruded  upoa  it  with  *ome  hostile  dengo,  it  take*  a  defeiiBTc 
aitilMfIc,  aad  ihew*  a*  tnoch  v^;ilaacc  aa  digaity.  It  draw*  ttaelf  ap^ 
a*  if  to  tay,  •  Weti,  artut  do  yoo  thu^  of  me  ?'  aad  exerciac*  a 
diacretiooary  power  orcr  yon.  It  ha*  'u  eye  to  threateti  and 
qwiMnwd,'  aot  to  be  loat  in  idle  thought,  or  ia  niminatiag  orer  lome 
ifaaiiaae,  ^lecalatnre  pfopoiition.  It  la  thia  inietuc  penonal  character 
which,  I  ihiak,  give*  the  lopcrionty  to  Tiiiu't  poimiu  over  all 
other*,  aad  warnpa  then  with  a  Unog  and  pemunrnt  iiiceroi.  Of 
other  pioarca  yoa  tire,  if  you  have  them  cooitaatly  before  you ;  of 

185 


THE   PLAIN  SPEAKER 

his,  ntrtr.  For  otitev  pictures  btxe  t'nhrt  sa  alMtnctcd  look 
jrou  dUmiu  tbem,  when  yuiit  hare  madi-  up  ;rour  nuod  oa  the  tub)tct 
M  a  Runcr  of  ctiiicibni :  or  an  heroic  look,  and  you  caBnot  be  alway* 
Mraining  youT  entbuMim  t  or  ao  iniipid  look,  and  jrou  ncken  of  it. 
But  whenCTer  yoa  turn  to  look  hi  Titian '«  panraiu,  they  appear  to 
be  looking  at  yon  i  there  tccma  to  be  tome  qucMion  peodiog  between 
jnt,  «  though  an  intimate  rricnd  or  tavrtcrve  foe  wrrc  in  the  room 
witb  you  j  they  exert  a  kind  of  fuoiiuting  power  i  and  there  h  that 
euct  reaeiDblancc  of  individual  nature  which  i«  alwiyi  new  sod 
always  tmercaiuag,  becauie  yo<i  canaot  carry  away  a  iDeniid  ab«nction 
of  it,  aod  yoo  miMt  recnr  to  the  object  to  rerire  it  b  iu  fiill  force 
and  integrity.  I  would  a*  coon  have  Raphael'i  or  moat  other 
picture*  hangnig  up  in  a  Collection,  that  I  might  pay  an  occaaonal 
vint  to  ihetn :  Titian'*  are  the  only  one*  that  I  should  with  to  have 
hautng  in  the  nroe  room  with  rae  for  company ! 

Titiau  in  hit  portrait*  appear*  to  liavc  uodentood  the  principle  of 
luMorical  deu;;n  hetier  than  any  body.  Erery  pan  lelU,  and  baa  a 
bearing  on  the  whole.  There  i*  no  one  who  hli  nich  timplicity  and 
repMe— DO  violence,  no  affectation,  no  attempt  at  forcing  an  edect ; 
iiiMmuch  that  by  ibc  tminitiaicd  be  i*  often  condemned  a*  unmeaning 
and  iiUEpid.  A  turn  of  the  c^-c,  a  cooiprcttion  of  the  lip  dccidr*  the 
point.  He  just  drawi  the  face  out  of  its  most  ordiauy  state,  and 
pjt*  it  the  direction  he  would  baie  it  laket  but  then  every  pan 
take*  ibe  ume  direction,  and  the  effect  of  thii  united  impression 

i which  i*  absolutely  momentary  and  all  but  habitual)  is  wonderful, 
t  i«  that  which  make*  his  portrait*  the  most  natural  aod  the  most 
Mriking  in  the  world.  It  may  be  compared  to  tbc  effect  of  a  Dumber 
of  small  loadstones,  that  by  acting  together  lilt  tbe  jtrcatcM  weight*. 
Titian  «eizcd  upon  the  hnet  of  chancier  in  the  mott  orinoa)  and 
conoecied  point  of  view.  Thus  in  hb  celebrated  portrait  of  Hippotko 
de  Medici,  there  ii  a  keen,  iharpcncd  expreuioo  that  strikes  yoo, 
like  a  blow  from  the  spear  that  he  lioidt  in  hie  hand.  The  look  goe* 
through  you;  yet  it  ha*  no  frown,  no  sianling  gesticulation,  no 
affected  penetration.  It  is  (juict,  simple,  hut  it  atmml  withers  you. 
I'lte  whole  face  and  each  separate  feature  t*  cast  in  the  same  acute 
or  wedge-like  form.  The  forehead  it  high  and  lurrow,  the  cye^brows 
ratted  and  coming;  to  a  point  in  the  tniddJe,  the  note  straight  and 
peaked,  the  mouth  contracted  aod  drawn  up  at  the  oomert,  tfae  cbtn 
acute,  and  the  two  sides  of  tbe  face  slanting  to  a  point.  The  number 
of  acute  Bi>gles  which  the  lines  of  the  fitce  form,  are,  ta  fact,  a  net 
entangling  the  attention  and  subduing  the  will.  The  effect  t*  felt  M 
oaat,  though  it  asks  time  and  consideratioo  to  undertund  tbc  cause. 
It  ia  a  liice  which  you  would  beware  of  routing  into  anger  or  boitiliiy, 
286 


ON  A  PORTRAIT  OF  AN   ENGLISH  LADY 


u  yoa  would  beware  of  Ktling  in  cnoiioo  lomc  complicated  and 
dinfieroiu  luacli'mrry.  The  posKStor  of  it,  you  may  be  eure,  >b  no 
triflcr.  Such,  indeed,  was  tlic  clutacirr  of  the  man.  This  is  to 
paint  true  purttait  and  true  history.  So  if  our  artiat  painted  a  mild 
and  thoughtful  exprcnion,  all  the  Itnet  of  the  countcnaoce  were 
loflcocd  and  relaxed.  If  the  mouth  wa*  goine  to  ipcak,  the  whole 
face  was  going  to  speak.  It  wa«  the  «amc  in  colour.  The  gradations 
are  infinite,  and  yet  so  blended  a*  to  be  imperceptible.  No  two  tints 
are  the  same,  though  they  produce  the  grcatett  harmony  and  simplicity 
of  torn;,  like  flesh  iiaclf.  •  If,'  said  a  person,  jwintiag  to  the  shaded 
side  of  a  portrait  of  Titi:m,  '  you  could  turn  this  round  to  the  tight, 

Jou  would  find  it  would  be  of  the  ume  colour  ai  the  other  lide! ' 
n  nhort,  there  i«  manifest  in  his  portraits  a  greater  icnaciouanew  and 
identity  of  iniprcssion  than  in  those  of  nny  other  paiitMr.  Form, 
colour,  feeling,  character,  srrrard  to  adhere  to  his  eye,  and  to  become 
put  of  himsclfi  and  his  pictures  on  chit  account,  'leave  stings'  in 
ihe  minds  of  tlie  spectators !  'I'here  is,  1  grant,  the  same  personal 
appeal,  the  same  point-blank  look  in  some  of  Raphael's  portraits  (see 
those  of  a  Prinoesi  of  Arragon  and  of  Count  Casiiglione,  No.  1 1  jo 
and  1 1 5 1 )  as  in  Titian :  but  they  want  the  texture  of  Uie  skin  and 
the  minute  indiTidual  details  to  stamp  them  with  the  same  reality. 
And  again,  as  to  the  uniformity  of  outline  in  the  features,  this  principle 
has  been  acted  upon  and  carried  to  exceit  by  Kneller  and  other 
anises.  The  eyes,  the  cye-browi,  the  note,  the  mouth,  the  chin,  are 
founded  off  at  if  they  were  turned  in  a  /aibe,  or  an  a  peruke-maker 
arranges  the  curls  of  a  wig.  In  them  it  is  vile  and  mechanical,  with- 
one  any  reference  to  truth  of  character  or  nature ;  and  instead  of 
bnng  pregnant  with  nieaotng  and  originality  of  expretaioo,  produce* 
only  insipidity  and  monotony. 

Perhaps  what  is  otTered  above  as  a  kev  to  the  peculiar  expression 
of  Titian's  he-ads  may  alio  scrre  to  explain  the  dilfetence  between 
painting  or  copying  a  portrait.  As  the  perfection  of  hit  facet  consims 
m  the  entire  unity  and  coincidence  of  all  the  parts,  so  ihe  dillicnity 
of  ordinary  portrait- painting  is  lo  bring  them  to  bear  at  all,  or  to  piece 
I  one  feature,  or  one  day's  labour  on  to  another.     In  copying,  this 

I  dilliculty  doc*  not  occur  at  all.     The  human  face  is  not  one  thing,  as 

^^-  the  vulgar  suppOKf  nor  does  it  remain  always  the  tame,     it  has 

^^ft  bfinite  varieties,  which  tlie  artist  U  obliged  to  notice  and  to  reconcile, 

^^H  or  he  will  make  strange  work.  Not  only  the  light  and  shade  npon  ii 
^^H  do  not  continue  for  two  minutct  the  same :  the  posttioa  of  the  head 
^^m  constantly  varies  (or  if  you  are  stria  with  a  titter,  he  grows  sullen 
^^m  and  stupid),  each  feature  is  in  motion  every  moment,  even  while  the 

^^1  trust  is  working  at  it,  and  in  the  course  of  a  day  ihe  whole  expression 
^^^  as; 


THE   PLAIN  SPEAKER 


of  tbt  couotnaace  uDdcrgoc*  »  change,  to  tbit  the  cxprmioa  which 
you  f;iic  to  tht  forchtMd  or  ryn  jcturdqr  ■•  totally  uKoaijiMtible 
with  that  whkb  you  have  to  girt  to  the  aoath  t<Mlay.  Von  caa 
only  bring  it  bocjc  iKain  to  the  tacne  poiiK  ot  give  it  a  coMJKcat 
cooairucHoa  bj  >■>  ctmt  ol  iiiiaj[iiutioa,  or  a  auong  fccliog  of  chu- 
iicter]  and  jva  muM  cooaect  the  feature*  togctbct  lea*  bf  the  c^ 
thao  by  the  miod.  The  mere  (etting  down  what  jrou  tec  ia  this 
medley  of  luccewie^  tcaziag,  contradictory  isiprtniocui  wMikl  oeTcr 
do;  cither  you  nnitt  cootiaitally  cfiaoc  wlut  you  baie  dotie  the 
ifiMant  bdorci  or  if  you  rctaio  it,  yoa  will  prodsce  a  pece  of 
fMchwork,  wone  than  any  caricature.  There  ntoK  be  a  coiii> 
ptehwwoa  of  the  vhole,  ami  to  truth  a  imraJ  taut  (a*  well  ax  a 
literal  one)  to  miravd  (he  cooludoa,  aod  euidc  you  throogh  the 
bbytiuh  m  >hiltiog  muicln  ud  features.  You  inu«t  feci  wb^t  liii 
mtu»,  aad  di«c  into  the  hiddca  Mol)  ia  order  to  kMw  wfactbcr  rj&M 
il  ■•  it  osghi  to  be  i  for  yoa  cuioot  be  Mrc  that  it  mutM  m  It  wu. 
Pot  If  ait- [lUQ  ling  it,  thea.  pisting  from  lecoUection  aod  from  i  coo* 
cepcioo  of  duracter,  with  the  object  before  u*  to  atnn  the  roemoiy 
and  uoderMudiBg.  In  ooniBb  od  the  contrary,  one  part  doe*  not 
run  away  and  leave  yoa  la  toe  lurch,  while  yon  are  blcM  npoa 
another.  You  hate  only  to  attend  to  what  ia  before  you,  and  £nuh 
it  CAtefiJIy  a  bit  at  a  time,  and  yoa  are  ure  that  the  whole  will 
come  right.  One  might  parcel  it  out  into  iquaret,  xt  in  eognvine, 
aad  copy  one  at  a  time,  wuhoot  Mcing  or  ihiaVing  oi  the  re*c.  I  do 
not  My  that  a  coaceptioD  of  the  whole,  and  a  feeling  of  the  an  will 
not  abeidge  the  labour  of  oooringi  or  produce  a  truer  likcno*;  but 
it  ia  the  changcaUeiKW  or  KKnuty  of  the  object  ilut  chiefly  coo- 
■titute*  the  dimcnity  or  &citiiy  of  iniitatiag  it,  and,  in  ihc  Utter  caie, 
rednon  it  nearly  to  a  incchaflical  operuioo.  It  ia  the  tame  to  the 
imiiaboa  of  //itM/r,  where  real  object*  have  not  a  principle  of  nMtioa 
in  tbeiB.  It  it  a*  eaay  to  produce  »,/<n-mmlt  Oi  a  laUe  or  >  chair  at 
to  copy  a  ptcture,  becaate  ibeee  thing*  do  noc  ttir  from  their  place* 
any  more  than  the  featnre*  of  a  ponrait  >tir  from  thcin.  You  may 
therefore  botow  any  given  degree  of  minute  aad  conunued  atlcoikxi 
OD  liniahing  any  givm  part  without  being  afraid  that  whea  finiabed 
it  will  not  corrct^>ond  with  the  rcK.  Nay,  it  requires  more  talcat  to 
cop^  a  fine  portrait  than  to  paint  an  original  picture  of  a  table  or  a 
chair,  for  the  picture  ha*  a  toul  in  it,  and  the  table  has  nou — It  haa 
been  made  an  objection  (and  I  think  a  juki  one)  agaiait  the  extreme 
high-6nithing  of  the  drapery  and  back-grounds  in  portrait*  (to  which 
WMDC  (Choolt,  particularly  the  French,  ate  adtticicd),  that  it  giret  an 
na&MlMd  look  10  the  >acc,  the  laott  important  part  of  the  pictorc. 
A  lady  or  a  geotlcman  cannot  (it  quite  to  loDg  or  «>  (till  u  a  lay- 
s88 


ON  A   PORTRAIT  OP  AN  ENGLISH   LADY 


lieurc,  and  if  you  lini«b  op  each  pan  according  to  the  length  <^  time 
it  will  remain  in  one  poaition,  the  face  will  seem  to  have  l>ecn  painted 
for  the  kiike  of  the  drapery,  Dot  tlie  drapery  to  set  off  the  face.  There 
ii  in  obviou*  limit  to  erecy  thinXi  if  we  attend  to  common  icnoc  and 
feeling.  If  a  caqxt  or  a  curtain  will  admit  of  being  finished  more 
Ui^in  the  living  face,  we  liniih  them  leitt  bccniitc  they  excite  IcM 
interest,  and  we  arc  lem  willing  to  throw  away  our  linic  and  pains 
upon  them.  Thi*  ia  the  anavoidable  result  in  a  naiuraJ  and  well 
regulated  style  of  art  i  but  what  if  to  he  said  of  a  school  where  no 
interest  i»  Celt  id  any  thmg,  where  nothing  is  known  of  any  object 
but  that  it  u  there,  and  where  superlicia)  and  petty  dclailt  which 
the  eye  can  explore,  and  the  hand  execute,  with  persevering  and 
■yntemaiic  indiffctcncc,  constitute  the  soul  of  art ! 

The  cxpretkion  is  the  great  difficulty  in  hinory  or  portrait-painting, 
and  yet  it  is  the  great  clue  to  both.  It  renders  foctns  doubly  impre«- 
sive  from  the  interest  and  signification  attached  to  them,  and  at  the 
same  time  reodeis  tlie  imitation  of  them  critically  nice,  by  making 
any  depariute  from  the  line  of  truth  doubly  lensible.  Mr.  Coleridge 
used  to  say,  that  what  gare  the  romantic  and  myiteriouii  interest  to 
Salvator's  landsca|xs  waa  their  containing  some  implicit  analogy  to 
human  or  other  living  forms.  His  rocks  had  a  latent  resemblance 
to  the  outline  of  a  human  face ;  his  trees  had  the  distorted  jagged 
shape  of  a  vatyr's  bonis  and  grotesque  features.  I  do  not  think  this 
is  the  case ;  but  it  may  serve  to  supply  ua  with  an  illustration  of  the 
present  question.  Sunpouc  a  given  outline  to  represent  a  human  (ace, 
but  to  be  so  disguiMd  by  circumstances  and  little  inierrupcions  as  to 
be  mistaken  for  a  projecting  fragment  of  a  rock  in  a  natural  scenery. 
At  lonj',  as  we  conceive  of  this  outline  merely  as  a  repreteniatioD  of'^a 
lock  or  other  iaanimate  substance,  any  copy  of  it,  however  rode, 
will  seem  the  taroc  and  as  };ood  as  the  origioat.  Now  let  the 
disf^uise  be  removed  and  the  general  resemblance  to  a  human  face 
pointed  out,  and  what  before  teemed  perfect,  trill  be  found  lo  he 
deficient  in  the  roost  cMcntial  fintnres.  Lei  it  be  further  understood 
to  be  a  proiile  of  a  particular  lace  that  we  know,  and  all  likeness  will 
ranish  fronn  the  want  of  the  individual  expression,  which  can  only 
be  given  by  being  felt.  That  is,  the  imitation  of  external  aod  visible 
form  is  only  coricct  or  nearly  perfect,  when  the  information  of  the 
eye  and  the  direction  of  the  hand  arc  aided  and  confirmed  by  the 
previous  knowledge  and  actual  feeling  of  cbaraaer  in  the  ooject 
reprcienicd.  The  more  there  is  of  character  and  feeling  tn  any 
object,  and  the  greater  sympathy  there  is  with  it  in  the  mind  of  the 
artist,  the  closer  will  be  the  affinity  between  the  imitation  and  the 
thing  inutated ;  ai  tlie  norc  there  ia  of  character  and  expreuion  in 

VOL.  VII. :  r  .  aS^ 


ON  A  PORTBAIT  OF  AN  ENGLISH   LADY 


or  a  •bon  chin  puU  a  coMtcatat  on  huBMir  la  p«n(ta|;  a  bigli 
Iweluail  or  a  loog  chin.  So  raoch  ha*  (ympMhy  to  do  with  whtt 
i*  sDppMcd  to  be  a  mere  act  of  wnilc  imiuooo  I — To  pwoc  ifait 
atpiBietti  one  «cp  farther.  People  tometimr*  woodcr  what  difr 
culty  there  can  be  in  pnirW'Tjfc  >od  sik  what  yon  bate  to  do  bat 
to  *et  dovD  what  jrou  lee?  TbU  it  true,  but  the  difictdtjt  u  to 
KB  what  ia  before  jwa.  Tlui  i>  at  IcaK  a«  dilficali  at  u  Icatii 
aoy  trade  or  bogaage.  Wc  inuginc  that  we  tec  the  whole  of 
oannc^  becauK  wc  arc  aware  of  ao  more  than  wc  xe  of  it.  We 
abo  wppote  thai  any  gtien  object,  i  head,  a  hand,  u  one  thing, 
b*caMe  wc  tec  it  at  uoct,  aad  all  it  by  one  naox.  But  how 
Gttk  «re  tee  or  know,  evea  of  the  noM  fasMliar  face,  beyoed 
a  nme  absractioa,  will  be  evident  to  crery  one  who  triei  to 
recollect  dJatiBctly  all  iu  coaqwoen  pant,  or  j  draw  the  inott 
rude  outline  of  it  ibr  the  firit  tirae  i  or  who  ootidert  the  variety 
of  iBi^ce,  the  ntunbeilett  lights  and  chadct,  the  tinu  of  the  tkia, 
every  punch  aed  pore  of  which  vane*,  the  fonru  aod  markiagi  of 
the  feaiarc*,  the  combined  cxpreMioc,  and  all  tbetc  ca&ght  (a*  &r 
a*  oosiooft  Bte  it  coocerncd)  by  i  tudom  glaoce,  aad  comsnucsted 
by  a  paattDg  word.  A  tndeat,  wbeti  he  £rM  copic*  a  bead*  mob 
come*  to  a  ttaad.  or  it  at  a  Iom  to  proceed  Iron  teeing  Dothing 
more  la  the  face  than  there  ii  in  hi*  copy.  After  a  year  or  two'i 
pndicc  he  ocicr  koow*  wbrti  to  hare  dooc,  aod  the  unger  he  hai 
btM  occupied  la  copying  a  face  or  any  panicttlar  feature,  kci  mere 
nd  note  ia  it,  that  be  bat  left  uadvne  aad  caa  never  hope  to  do. 
Tbcre  have  been  only  lout  or  £ve  paioteri  w)io  could  ever  produce 
a  copy  of  the  kmaa  eownteaaac-  really  Gi  to  be  teen  :  and  evoi  of 
the*e  lew  oooe  wat  ever  perfect,  eiiccpt  in  giving  Nine  tingle  (|uUqr 
or  pattial  Mpcct  of  oaurc,  which  b^pencd  to  fall  ia  with  hi*  owa 
Bwticubf  itndics  and  tbe  bia*  of  hi*  gcnia*,  a*  Raphad  the  drawing, 
Rwbnadt  tbe  IMit  asd  tbade,  Vaadyke  eatc  aad  dehcacy  of 
tf|tifnact.  &C.  "Htiaa  gaw  more  ihaa  any  ooe  dae,  and  yet  be 
had  bii  dcfccta.  AAer  thia.  thai]  wc  tay  that  any,  tbe  commooctt 
aad  moM  nalBMracTcd  tpectaior  Kct  the  whole  of  oatme  at  a 
«n^  tbDC«,  and  woald  be  abk  to  Kamp  a  peilea  reprcKMtfioq 
of  M  00  tbe  cattraN,  if  be  oooM  embody  the  image  m  hi*  mkid'* 


«y*. 


I  hate  in  tfati  Rany  ncmioMd  one  or  two  of  the  portraJu  ia  the 
Lonrc  dut  I  tike  hex.  TV  two  laMbespa  vUcb  I  iIknM  noM 
com,  are  the  MM  wttb  «  Ratabow  by  Rofaeoa,  and  tbe  Adam  and 
Eve  ia  Paradiie  by  Powm.  Is  the  KrM,  rfie|riierda  are  rtiiBiiig 
with  their  flockt  itndci  tbe  theher  of  a  breezy  grave,  tbe  dbtancea 
are  of  air,  aod  the  whole   badtcapc  tccma  jut   watbcd  with  the 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 


lookal 


twTk(>a»«Wioi 


I  kn  (not  te  tk  nkv  «( 


ta  M  cnlifa  wj  ■iiiinj  Ifr.  MMtia'k  mem*  at  A*a  n<  l«e  Mkn  fa 
lte>«k.    likMiUttaiiidMfac^ihM  tkMi*Mi^9Mita  to.    " 


rf  tJaJhl*  «w.loaki«t  Ana. 


fi?? 


Ml^  M  wen  b««  kta  nrnMMl  OS  Ae  4 


Mp  •(  (hi  HBKk  it  d>  TkBpb,  skk  ih(  ««U  mJ  lO  At  (Isrin  thmoT 
•ficirf  Mt  Umi  tbMi.  Tbrjr  «i^  M  hn*  Smb  paM  imtMJail  tm  Mb 
MBlhir'i  inni,  ihat  af  u  mmmlm  ««ntiD«,  viA  Urn"*  fbaiww  h— w 
dailat  rvH4  tbon,  ui  Na«n  waafiac  to  dMbt  than  vU  wraal  iaam. 
H«<kiBf  ceaU  k  Me  cecirel.  Me  voUftMM,  tM  «MieJ  ft««  '*/*  ffriA  c|i  |' 
tha  <tatJTf,  jm  hi<c  ■  pa47  p«a«Ti»le  view,  ■  tlkming  larm  wl.  • 


gjpli  row  «<<toBdi^  a<  TvAa,  tad  ■niMiiiiat,  fflcd 

kM^Htiaa  »fMm4f  hM  in  Mk  (im  am  dat  wUa  wwtd  ■Wdi  mi  w  um  w 
le  MW  flw  o(  cdb,  ad  tka  ■du^mtkn  iforit  o(  tbc  vtiN  waa  acmU  ia 
battM^  ■  MMtb  trwM  te  oar  ini  tanau^  ioiMd  <tt  MduH  ihdr  Mtel  bH, 

and  n^f^  tlHM  k  I  Avt-lircJ  4mm  •(  Um. 
]9> 


ON   A   PORTRAIT  OF   AN   ENGLISH   LADY 


toU*  bowner,  bjr  way  of  coMolacioa,^*  To  be  mit.  tbeie  ii  Lord 
Carlide  Ukn  m  Ib&an  pcnrc — Mt.  Holwell  Cur  Gkea  la  lulUo 
nctare — eh«  Marqiw  of  Stadixd  i*  bad  of  so  Itaiua  pctare — Sir 
George  BcaomoM  likes  aa  luQaa  pictvc ! '  Tbe«^  notwithaaading, 
ue  Kgitdcd  u  qnaiM  ud  duiiu  exeepboa*  CO  tbc  etbbliihcil  rule :  inJ 
their  preficreBce  U  a  ipccic*  of  iw  m^iti  ia  the  Fiae  Aru,  at  great 
an  eccencrictly  ud  want  of  &ahioaabte  et^iKUe,  at  if  uy  fwakaiaa 
or  oofaleman  Kill  preferred  old  claret  to  new,  when  the  King  la  koown 
to  bare  char-ged  hit  mind  oa  thit  nbjecit  or  wa*  Eualty  of  the 
otfcncc  of  dippiag  hi*  ferc-fi^et  aod  thumb  ia  the  middte  of  a  touff- 
box,  iauead  «  gradoally  affraximatiag  the  cooBetKi  to  the  edge  of 
the  box,  accordiajt  eo  the  mnc  ^prewd  Boddb.  One  wodd  ima^se 
that  the  great  aad  exceed  ia  ttKtoa  would  like  lofty  Mibjccta  b  worka 
of  art,  wbereaa  they  Meia  to  bare  an  alnott  exdwiTC  predUvctioa  fee 
the  raean  md  mcchaoical.  One  would  tfaiaktboaewhote  word  waabw. 
woold  beptaNdwith  tbe  {teat  and  Mnkiag  cAcctaof  tbe  pcDcilf*  ob 
the  cootiajT,  tke«  admire  ~?**'-"t  but  the  btk  aad  elaborate.  Tfaey 
ban  afoodDCW  m  cAkuanaAfmwimrt  pcttrtti  aod  a  proportionable 
aodpMhr  to  work*  of  paint.  E*n  an  with  tfccxn  ntoK  be  (cnrile, 
(o  DC  Eoktaccd.  Pcrfaapa  the  wmiiBt  comradtctioo  may  be  cxplaiaed 
thua.  Soch  pcnoaa  are  ratted  ao  high  aboTe  the  reat  of  the  tpecMii 
that  the  more  lioletu  and  agitatiag  pnnoiu  of  """^■"^  'Ppc  ^  ^aia 
like  the  mrmoU  of  aou  on  a  mole-Ull.  Nothiog  iateretta  tbcm  boa 
their  owtt  pride  aad  lelf-uBponaacc.  Our  pwwoa*  arc  to  tbeia  an 
napettiocBCe :  an  exprcauoa  of  h^  atabaicnt  they  rather  ihrialL 
(ran  aa  a  tadicrooi  xad  opatatt  aMnapbiMi  of  e<]iialiiy.  They  then- 
lore  like  what  (littera  to  the  eye,  wkat  ia  enaootb  to  the  touch  t  bat 
ibey  ahtu^  by  an  ■-^i— •*  of  aovcre^  taice,  wbaterer  baa  a  tool  in  it, 
or  iBipUea  a  tcdpradty  of  ^ling.  The  Goda  of  the  earth  can  hare 
no  intcreat  ia  aay  thing  human ;  ibey  are  en  off  ftom  all  aympaihy 
with  the  ■  boaoia*  aad  buatnctacs  of  mob*  laMcad  of  rcqdriag  to  be 
wonad  up  beytmd  tbdr  habinal  fnttlg  «f  alMdy  dignity,  they  with 
to  hare  the  miagt  of  oier -itnined  pretCBMOO  let  down,  ;o  be  relaxed 
with  *  triaea  fight  ai  air,'  to  be  amiucd  with  the  faioilur  and  (f  irotow, 
wd  (Q  haie  the  world  a|ipeaT  a  cccoe  of  ni^/e.,  except  aa  they 
diatvib  it !  The  tiuie  in  iboaghi  sod  istemal  teotioKSt  it  a  oanml 
relief  aad  tet  off  to  the  oppreawn  aeaac  of  cxtcraol  nagnificeacc. 


'  TW  Dak*  af  WiMiinii  m_  k  ■>  aid,  caanat  eawt  iatD  ike  nwHti  of  RapfaMl  | 
>theailM«a*th>ip«innJfae'WTw«B«w.  Ha  tc  w^fct t  thi« km.  A 
MadMcac  ariWtli  aeier  Jawacd  afoa  Ml  OncA  miai  (  bM  he  May  ke  mffmet 
<•  mHA  am  aaihiag  oceBtlea  aad  lir  v  «■  aanan  •(  the  VoMlu  antat. 
Oh,  Itaphwt  I  «<UiikilH(il>»cw»bodir<BM  maaWMul  ihac,  that 
MB  tba  4a«raaiaD  af  bawaailyr 

>9} 


TBE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

Hfkc  Lbgi  l»bUc  i&d  rcpm  tbtf  know  not  what.  A  chUaJnli 
iloagc  oma  ocooRipuiin  th«  coMcioaocM  of  »b«ohitr  {x>w«r. 
RcpOK  »  MnBCWberr  oeccMiry,  and  the  nal  dnw  wbilr  thr  Knan 
gloMtfoMd!  Bcudc*,  tbe  acGhanka)  ni  lugMlubtd  itytc  ofkn 
ml)'  he  eoonlCTed  as  ■"i™**"'^  Am  M  on^.  It  b  i  utk  to  he 
exe<ruted  iiMire  w  ten  pafec&f,  according  to  the  price  given,  uid  the 
indiuuy  of  the  wiist.  We  ttaai  by,  m  it  wen,  to  «ee  tlie  wock 
dooc,  innM  opoo  ■  gnuet  degree  of  puimm  wd  Ktvnej,  ud 
cxrrctK  a  wrt  of  petty,  jcalou  jvriidknoa  om  CKk  pu^ctdar. 
We  UT  judf^  of  Uk  raiontcMW  m'  iIk  itoik,  ud  tbongb  ctvr  m 
nicdr  executed,  a  tbcy  five  b«  do  Oat  berood  wbst  we  had  bdocc. 
we  do  not  fed  bumbteo  in  the  oomMricoa.  The  artizan  scarcely 
ricn  bto  the  artiM  ;  and  the  aaiae  of  gesiiv  t*  degraded  mher  than 
cxakcd  in  bis  pefton.  The  petfornaAcc  >«  *o  &r  oar*  that  wr  have 
paid  for  k,  and  the  highest  jirice  a  all  that  i*  arccvaarj  lo  frodace 
the  higjbcat  fauituBg.  But  it  it  not  ao  in  work*  of  geaioa  aitd 
ionagiaatMMi.  Their  price  !■  shore  xMet.  The  toapiratioa  of  the 
Hum  come*  Dot  with  the_^  of  a  monarch,  with  the  dooadon  of  a 
natron;  and,  thcnfore,  the  Great  tnra  with  JimM  or  cAsninte 
BidiSeraKC  fnm  the  laighqr  naawra  of  the  Italiao  tcbml,  bccauae 
■Kb  vorkf  bafle  and  cooMoad  ibcir  actf-kiTc,  abd  tatkc  them  fc«l 
that  there  ia  aonanhing  b  the  nund  of  maa  which  tbej  can  oeitber 
^f*  mr  take  away. 

'  Qoans  oihtl  ad  twna,  PynJMte,  ingniiiiai  I  * 


ESSAY  XXV! 


ON  NOVELTT  AND  FAUlLIARtTV 


*  ttamm,  CnMaa  balh  nadi  it  n  Um  a  fOfinj  of  mincM. 

ILmbt.  Tb  ^(o  w  t  the  hi»l  of  thtk  Hnflifaurt  hub  the  auaticf  tttm.' 

SKAOffua  repmenu  bti  Gravrjfgpr  aa  afaigiog  wb3e  be  la 
ucoifiaJ  U  hi*  oaaal  taak  of  fiiogiDX  the  *kaU«  ooi  of  the  eanb  with 
Ih*  ifadb  On  thii  he  take*  occanon  to  remark,  ihtongh  one  of  hta 
ape^eia,  the  eflect  of  habit  in  blunuiig  our  aeMibiliiy  to  what  it 
painAd  or  diagwODg  in  itaelf.  <  Cuaiotn  haib  made  it  a  pweity  of 
Bcaa  ia  bim.*  To  which  ibc  other  ii  made  to  rtphr  VI  aabataacei 
'.  iboac  who  haTc  the  leaat  to  do  bate  the  finen  (eelinga  genetattj. 
nainda  and  bodiea  of  tboae  who  arc  dxmud  by  luxnry  sad 


ON  NOVELTY   AND  FAMILIARITY 

catCi  and  who  have  doi  hml  to  encounter  the  wcar-and-iur  of  life, 
prrteni  n  io(^  unmiflting  wrr^ce  lo  oniward  impresfionn,  and  in 
endued  with  a  greater  dcgtce  of  sutceptibility  to  pleasure  and  pain. 
Habit  in  mofi  caan  hudeoB  and  cncrusUt  by  taUog  away  the  kM-n« 
cd)te  of  our  «eD«atiooa :  but  dots  it  not  b  othera  qtiicken  nnd  retine, 
by  giving  a  rnechanica!  &cility,  and  by  enjtiftinfi  an  acquired  »enfcr? 
Habit  nuy  be  laid  in  lechnicai  taDgu;igc  to  add  to  our  irritability  and 
leMcn  our  gcniibiliiy,  or  to  xhArprn  our  active  pcrcepiioni,  and  deaden 
our  ptusivc  one*.  Practice  makes  jierfcct — experience  makei  us 
wiK.  The  one  refers  to  what  we  have  to  do,  the  other  to  what  we 
feel.  I  will  endeavour  to  expluD  the  dininction,  and  to  ^*e  *onie 
examptc«  in  each  kind. 

Clownn,  lerranti,  and  common  labourer!  hare,  it  i>  true,  hard  and 
coanc  haoda,  bccauie  they  are  accuitomed  to  hard  and  coarH 
employment* ;  but  mechanic*,  artizant,  and  ariiais  of  variooi  dexcrip- 
tioDS,  who  are  »■  conBlJintly  employed,  though  on  worlcs  demanding 
CKSier  »lci]l  and  exactneis  acquire  a  proportionable  nicely  and 
diuriminatioo  of  tact  with  practice  and  unremitted  application. 
A  working  jeweller  can  perceive  slijtht  dietinctioni  of  (urfaor, 
and  make  the  smalletl  inciaiona  in  the  hardeiE  aubntances  from 
mere  practice:  a  woollen -draper  perceives  the  different  dCKrcet 
of  the  fineness  in  cloth,  on  the  same  principle ;  a  watchmaker 
will  insert  a  great  bony  tin,  and  perform  the  nicest  operation* 
among  the  Eprin^*  and  wheels  of  a  complicated  and  curious 
machinery,  where  the  toft  delicate  hand  of  a  woman  or  a  clutd 
would  make  nothing  but  blunder*.  Again,  a  blind  man  shew*  a 
prodigiou*  sagacity  in  hcnring  and  aJmoit  fitUng  object*  at  a  diitance 
from  him.  Hi*  other  sense*  acquire  an  almost  pretcmntural  quick- 
net*  from  the  nec^wjty  of  recurring  to  them  ol'icner,  and  relying  on 
them  mote  implictly,  in  consequence  of  the  privation  of  sight.  The 
musician  diitioguithc*  lone*  and  notes,  the  painter  cxprn*iODi  and 
colours,  from  constant  habit  and  unwearied  uiteniioD,  Uiat  are  tj^uite 
lost  upon  the  common  observer.  The  critic  ditcaver*  beauties  in  a 
poem,  the  poet  features  in  nature,  that  sre  generally  overlooked  by 
thoic  who  have  not  employed  their  imaginations  or  undentandingi  on 
these  particular  *ludii;s.  Whaic»er  an  or  science  we  devote  ourselves 
to,  we  grow  more  perfect  in  with  time  and  practice.  The  range  of 
our  perceptions  is  at  once  ealatged  and  refined.  But — there  lie*  ibc 
question  that  most  '  give  us  ottute ' — is  the  pleasure  increased  in  pro- 
Dortion  to  our  habitual  and  critical  discernment,  or  doc*  not  our 
familiarity  with  nature,  with  science,  and  with  an,  breed  an  in<lilfer> 
encc  for  those  object*  wc  arc  most  conrcrsant  with  and  most  nusteti 
off      I  am  afraid  the  answer,  if  an  honest  one,  must  be  on  the 

»9S 


TBE  FLAIN  SPEAKER 


ON  NOVELTY  AND  FAMILIARITY 


ledge  i*  power;  but  a  m  not  pleaiure,  txotm  wbeo  it  (prtngt 
immcdiaidy  out  of  ignorance  and  iacapactty.  An  actot,  who  play* 
a  character  lor  the  hundred  and  fortieth  time,  undcruanH*  2nd 
perhup»  performs  it  better ;  but  doci  he  feel  the  part,  lias  he  the  Mine 
pleasure  in  it  aa  he  had  the  lir»i  linjc  ?  The  wonder  is  how  he  can 
pi  through  with  it  at  all  t  not  could  he,  were  he  not  supponed  by 
the  pl.iuditii  of  the  audience,  who  seem  hke  new  friendi  to  him,  or 
urged  on  by  ihc  fear  of  diKgracc,  to  which  no  mnn  ia  cTcr  reconciled. 
I  will  here  take  occanion  to  luggcii  what  appears  to  tnc  the  true 
■cate  of  the  quettion,  whether  a  great  actor  ia  enabled  to  embody 
his  part  from  feeling  or  from  ttudy.  1  think  at  the  time  from 
ocithcf ;  but  merely  (or  chicfiy  at  lean)  fruni  hilrit.  But  1  think 
he  munt  hare  felt  the  character  in  the  &rit  inttance  with  al]  the 
enthaiium  of  nature  and  geniiu,  or  be  oever  would  have  dittio' 
gaiahtd  himwlf  in  it.  To  say  that  the  intellect  alone  can  determine 
or  supply  the  movements  or  the  language  of  paction,  it  Utile  ihort  of 
a  contradiction  in  terms.  Substituting  the  head  for  the  heart  ii  tike 
taying  tbat  the  eye  ia  a  judge  of  toaadi  or  the  car  of  colours.  If  a 
man  m  cold  blood  knows  liow  another  feels  in  a  fit  of  passion,  it  is 
ftom  haying  been  in  a  paaiion  himself  before.  Nor  can  the  indilfetcnt 
obier\aiion  of  ihc  outward  ugni  attain  to  the  truth  of  nature,  without 
the  inward  sympathy  10  impel  ue  forward,  and  to  tell  ut  wliere  to 
Stop.  Without  that  living  criterion,  wc  shall  be  either  tame  and 
mechanical,  or  turgid  and  extravagant.  The  study  of  individual 
modclo  produce*  imitalon  and  mannerists :  the  ttudy  of  general 
principles  produces  pedants.  It  it  feeling  alone  that  makes  up  for 
the  deficiencies  of  either  mode  of  study  s  that  cxpandu  the  meagre- 
nets  of  the  one,  that  unbends  the  ligidity  of  the  other,  that  floats  a 
man  into  the  tide  of  popularity,  and  electrifies  an  audience.  It  if 
feeling,  or  it  is  hope  and  fear,  joy  and  aortow,  lore  and  hatred,  that 
U  due  original  source  of  the  e6ect)  in  nature  which  are  brouglit 
forward  00  the  Huge ;  and  awuredly  it  is  a  sympathy  wiiJi  this  feel- 
ing, that  muiI  dictate  the  trucm  and  mon  natut^  imitationt  of  them. 
To  suppofc  that  a  person  altogether  dead  to  theie  primary  paisiont  of 
the  human  breast  can  make  a  great  actor,  or  feign  the  effects  while  he 
is  entirely  ignorant  of  the  cause,  is  no  less  abturd  than  to  suppose 
I  that  I  can  deKTtbe  a  place  which  I  never  taw,  or  niimtc  a  tmcc 

I  which  I  never  heard,  or  speak  a  language  which  I  never  learnt.     An 

^^_  actor  void  of  genius  and  passion  may  be  taught  to  strut  about  the 

^^t  alage,  and  mouth  out  hi*  words  with  mock-solemnicy,  and  give  him- 
^H  wlf  the  airs  of  a  great  actor,  but  he  will  never  le  one.  He  may 
^^1  express  his  own  emplioess  and  vanity,  and  make  pcmilc  sure,  but  he 
^^^         wiU  not  '  send  the  bearera  weeping  to  their  beds.'    The  true,  original 


I 


ON  NOVELTY   AND   FAMILIARITY 


part  of  Mn>  Bervrley  in  the  Ga.mt*tct,  und  on  Stuktiy**  Abnipi 
dedantion  uf  hu  uupHnciplml  pauiun  m  ilie  moniFni  of  Kcr  liutludd'i 
impriK>nm«Dt,  threw  Into  bcr  face  th:ii  noble  lucceMJao  of  Ttrving 
emotions  ^r(t  oeetning  not  to  uncteriiund  hitn,  tbcn,  m  her  doubt  it 
removed,  riting  into  tadden  indignation,  then  turning  to  pity,  and 
rndtng  in  a  bunt  of  hytttric  scorn  and  Isaghirr,  wa«  thia  the  e^rct  ot 
ftratagem  or  forethought  ai  ■  painlcr  arrange*  a  number  of  colour*  oo 
his  palette  i  No — but  by  placing  lierielf  amply  in  the  tituation  ot 
her  heroine,  and  enterinjt  into  all  the  circumatances,  and  feelinjt  the 
dignity  of  insulted  virtue  and  mitibrtune,  that  wonderlul  diapliiy  ol 
keen  and  high-wiou^ht  expretaioni  buret  from  ber  iiiToluntarily  at  the 
same  momeni,  and  kindled  her  face  almost  iato  a  blaxc  of  lightning. 
Yet  Mrs.  Siddoos  ia  (omciimn  accused  of  being  cold  and  insensible. 
I  do  not  wonder  that  she  may  aeecn  so  alter  exertions  such  .u  these; 
as  the  Sybils  of  old  after  their  iotpited  prophetic  fury  sunk  upon  iht 
;;rouDd,  brcaihles*  and  exhausted.  But  that  any  one  can  einbodr 
high  thoughlt  and  puuonk  without  baring  the  protolyiiei  in  their 
own  breaii,  ii  wh:it  I  dull  not  believe  upon  hearsay,  ami  what  I  am 
turc  cannot  be  proved  bv  argument. 

It  is  a  common  comprint,  U>at  actors  and  actresses  arv  dull  when 
otT  the  Riagc.  t  do  not  know  that  it  is  the  case ;  but  I  own  I  should 
be  surprised  if  it  were  othtrwiae.  Many  persons  expect  from  the 
itJai  with  which  ibey  appear  in  certain  choractera  to  find  them 
equally  brilliant  in  company,  not  considering  that  the  effect  they 
produce  in  their  artificial  chsrncteri  is  the  VC17  circumstance  ibai 
muat  diHqualtfy  them  for  producing  any  in  ordinary  case*.  They 
who  have  intoxicated  nnd  maddened  multitude*  by  tlieir  public  display 
of  talent,  can  rarely  be  nuppoiied  to  (eel  much  stimulus  in  entertaining 
one  or  two  friends,  or  in  being  the  life  of  a  dinner-party.  She  who 
perished  over-night  by  the  dagger  or  the  bowl  as  Casaandra  or 
Cleopatra,  may  be  alloved  to  sip  her  ten  in  silence,  and  not  to  be 
heraelf  again,  till  she  renvei  in  Aspnsia.  A  tragic  tone  does  not 
become  hmiliar  conversation,  and  any  other  must  come  *cry 
awkwardly  and  reluctantly  frona  a  great  tragic  actress.  At  least,  m 
the  intervals  of  her  protessional  fOioxjm;  ahe  will  hardly  an  up  for 
a  verbal  critic  01  i/ut^tecimg.  Comic  actors  again  have  tlieir 
repartees  put  into  tlieir  mouths,  tuid  rmiM  feel  considerably  at  u  los* 
when  ilicir  cue  is  taken  from  them.  The  most  sensible  among  them 
are  modest  and  silent.  It  is  only  those  of  aecood-ratc  pretensions 
who  think  to  make  up  lor  the  want  of  original  wit  by  practical  jokes 
and  /long  phrases.  'Itftitritiil  fflanaers  atCt  I  think,  the  moat  re|>ulsiTv 
of  all  others. — Actor*  live  on  applause,  and  drag  on  a  laborioua 
•rtJIicial  existence  by  the  administration  of  perpetual  provocative*  to 

199 


TH£  PLAIN  SPEAKER 


tbcir  fjmfaibj  witb  ibc  public  erau&ciooii — I  wiU  not  caU  it 
•UogMbcf  •mIQ'  in  tbcn  vbo  d(£{bi  to  ooU  otbrra  liuBh,  tof 
more  tliM  in  aa  wbo  delist  to  Uagft  whh  tbem.  l^ier  turc  a 
•ipuficaM  fbiMc  to  exprcM  ibe  abteocc  ot  a  proper  mum  ui  tbt 
audience — *  timi;  wai  nM  a  hand  in  the  hoMc.'  1  faaie  beard  ooe 
of  tbc  moic  modcR  uid  meriloriona  of  tbcra  dcdarc,  thai  if  tbere  wh 
nobody  dw  to  appUnl,  be  *bould  like  to  tec  ■  dog  <rag  hit  tail  is. 
mrautioB.  There  caoaot  be  a  grratci  mituke  than  to  aoppote  that 
MOgen  dblike  to  be  racornL  There  it  oit«s  a  violnit  oppoaiixio  oat 
of  coBipawoD,  with  criee  of  ■  tbimc.  ihame  I '  wbea  a  jroooj  feanle 
^***—"—  ii  abooi  to  be  aietrtj  twice  in  a  &nNtrite  aifi  a*  if  i:  were 
taluDj  a  cruel  advantage  of  her — inalead  of  the  third,  the  would  be 
glad  to  ling  ii  for  tbc  ihitiicth  lime,  and  '  die  of  an  nrarr  in  vftrait 
pain  ! '  Tbc  excitement  of  pobiic  applause  at  laat  bccorae*  a  cainfid 
habit,  asd  either  in  iadotent  or  orcr-aciivc  teittperancnta  ptoclacc*  a 
COtTctpoedieg  craving  after  priiacy  and  leinire.  Mr.  L— —  a  than 
ttiiM  ago  «*•  b  treaty  for  a  Koug  little  place  near  hit  fficnd  Mr. 

M at  Hif>hgaie,  on  which  be  bad  ao  tet  bia  bean,  that  when  the 

bargain  failed,  he  ictiully  ihed  tear*  like  a  child.  He  haa  a  right  to 
blubber  like  a  Kbool-bny  whcoercr  he  pleawa,  wbo  almott  every  lugbt 
of  hi*  Uk  make*  hundrnit  of  people  laugh  till  they  forget  tbcy  are  no 
loager  acbool-boyt.  I  hope,  it  thii  ibovld  proie  a  haidwinter,  he  will 
RgiUB  wrap  bimtelf  up  in  HoddfI  aod  iani'KmtJ,  take  to  hit  iirc-aide, 
and  read  the  Ij^ngtiih  Kuvelisti  once  taore  fairly  through.  Let  him 
have  tbeae  lying  on  liii  table,  Hogarth'*  print*  bung  round  the  room, 
and  with  hi>  own  Ricr  to  boot,  1  defy  the  world  to  match  them  againi 
There  ii  tomcthing  very  amiable  nod  praiK-worthy  in  the  fricndthiM 
of  the  two  ingcnioui  actor*  I  bare  juit  alluded  to  :  from  the  exainpM 
of  coDtraai  and  diainierettedneM  it  aflordt,  it  puts  mc  in  mind  of  that 
of  Roainaoie  and  Dapple.  Tlicw  Arcadian  reti/cmeeu  and  oru- 
rocnted  retreat*  ate,  1  *u«pecl,  laotaJiaing  and  unaatiafactory  remurcci 
to  the  favourite*  of  the  town.  The  conctant  fever  of  appluite,  and  of  ^ 
anxiety  to  dcacrvc  it,  which  produce*  the  wiah  for  repoac,  diiablct 
them  from  enjoying  il.  Let  the  eaitnlure  be  aa  strong  ai  it  will,  the 
eye  of  the  pit  it  upon  then)  in  the  midat  of  it :  the  amtic  of  the  boxea, 
ilie  roar  of  the  gallery,  pierces  through  their  holly-hedgei,  and  over- 
tlirowi  all  their  pottoral  iheorie*.  Of  the  public  aa  of  the  *ex  it  may 
be  aaid,  wbeo  one  haa  once  been  a  candidate  for  thnr  favours, 

'There  i%  no  living  with  them,  nor  wiihout  them  I* 

I  wbb  the  late  Mr.  Kemble  had  cot  written  that  atuiiid  hook  about 
Richard  iii.  and  doted  a  proud  theatrical  career  with  a  piece  of 
literary  fo]>peiy.     Yei  why  do  1  with  it  if  it  pleated  him,  linoe  it 

JOO 


ON  NOVELTY  AND  FAMILIARITY 

made  no  iltoaiian  in  my  opinion  rctpcciing  him  i  Its  dry  dcUila,  iu 
little  tonuou*  Riugele*  after  contradiction,  nay,  it«  fultamt  pra)«M  of 
a  kindred  critic,  Mr.  Gilford  (what  will  not  a  retired  tragedian  do 
Ibr  a  niche  in  the  (iuarifrJjf  Rrvittvi)  did  not  blui  from  niy  mcmon 
hit  stately  form,  hii  noble  fcaturet,  in  which  old  Rome  law  hertelT 
Krived,  hii  manly  scdm  and  plaintive  tones,  that  were  an  echo  to 
deep-fraughc  ■entiraent  i  nor  make  me  forget  another  rolnme  publiahcd 
and  supprcmied  long  before,  a  volume  of  poem*  addrct^ed  to  Mr*. 
Inchbald,  *  ihc  MUcr-voiccd  Anno.'  Both  are  dead.  Such  is  the 
■tulT  of  which  our  lim  arc  tnadc — bubbles  tfiat  reil«ct  tlie  glorious 
inturcs  of  the  uni<rerW|  snd  that  glance  a  paisiag  shadow,  a  feeble 
gleam,  on  thote  around  Oiem  I 

Mn.  Siddoni  waa  in  th«  meridian  of  her  rcput.-ition  when  I  Crsi 
becune  Bc<juainted  with  the  itage.  She  was  an  e(t:ibliihcd  veteran, 
when  I  was  an  unfledged  noricc ;  and,  perhaps,  p]ay«l  iho«e  scenes 
without  emotion,  which  filled  me,  and  »o  many  other«,  with  delight 
sod  awe.  So  far  I  had  the  adrantage  of  her,  and  of  myself  too.  I 
did  not  then  analyse  her  excellences  as  I  thould  now,  or  diride  hti 
merits  into  physical  snd  intellectual  adTantagei,  or  see  that  her  majettic 
tbmi  rose  up  aj^ainH  misfortune  in  equal  sublimity,  art  antagoniii 
power  to  it — but  the  total  impruBon  f  unquestioned,  unrefined  upon) 
overwhelmed  and  drowned  me  in  a  flood  of  tears,  I  was  stunned 
and  torpid  after  seeing  her  in  any  of  her  i^eat  parts.  I  was  tineaiyt 
and  hardly  myself,  but  I  felt  {more  than  ever)  that  human  life  was 
iomething  very  far  from  being  indilferent,  and  I  sccrned  to  have  got  a 
key  to  unlock  the  tprin;;!  of  joy  and  sorrow  in  the  human  heart. 
This  was  no  mean  po«»c»«ion,  and  1  availed  myself  of  it  with  no 
(paring  hand.  The  pleasure  I  anticipated  at  thai  time  in  witnessing 
her  dallcst  performance,  was  certainly  greater  than  I  sliould  have  now 
in  Mting  her  in  the  mtut  brilliant.  The  very  sight  of  her  name  in 
the  jday-bills  in  Tamerlane,  or  Alexander  the  Great,  threw  a  light 
upon  the  day,  and  drew  after  it  a  long  trail  of  Eastern  glory,  a  joy 
and  felicity  unuttenblc,  that  has  since  vanished  in  the  miiti  of 
criticism  and  the  glitter  of  idle  distinctions.  I  wu  in  a  trance,  and 
my  dreams  were  of  mighty  crapim  fallen,  of  vast  burning  zones,  of 
waning  time,  of  Perrian  thrones  and  them  that  sat  on  them,  of 
lovereigo  be^niy,  and  of  vktors  vanqoished  by  love.  Death  and 
Lilc  played  their  pageant  before  me.  The  sates  w«e  unbarred,  the 
folding  doors  of  fancy  were  thrown  open,  and  I  saw  all  thai  mankind 
bad  been,  or  that  I  mytelf  could  conceive,  pass  in  sudden  and 
gorgeous  review  before  me.  No  wonder  that  the  huge,  dim,  disjointed 
vision  should  enchant  and  Martle  me.  One  reason  why  our  6r« 
impressions  arc  so  strong  and  lasting  is  that  they  arc  wiaMri^ib  onea. 


ON  NOVELTY  AND  FAMILIARITY 

coDiinue  «o  tn  tpitc  of  warning  t  wc  hcMkco  to  no  voice  but  that  of 
our  tecitt  iDclmatioD«  Md  native  bias.  Mr.  Wurdiwurtii  being 
atkcvl  why  he  admired  the  tlcep  of  infancy,  *aid  he  thought  'there 
wan  a  grandeur  in  it ;  *  the  rcanon  of  which  it  portly  owtog  to  the 
comraot  of  total  uncoimcioiuneM  to  all  the  ilU  nf  life,  and  partly  that 
it  i«  the  gcrn)  implying  all  the  future  good ;  an  uniouclied,  untold 
tr«uure.  In  the  ouuet  of  life,  all  that  it  to  conic  of  it  tccmt  to 
preu  with  double  force  upoo  the  heart,  and  our  yearaiug*  after  good 
and  dread  of  evil  are  in  proportion  to  the  little  we  have  koowD  of 
dthet.  Th«  lir«t  ebullitions  of  hope  and  fear  in  the  human  heart  lift 
ui  to  heaven,  or  (ink  u»  to  the  abyM ;  but  when  tcrred  out  to  u(  in 
dribblets  and  palled  by  repetition,  they  lo«e  their  intemt  and  elfcct. 
Or  the  dawn  of  experience,  like  thai  of  day,  thews  the  wide  prospect 
stretched  out  before  us,  and  drcstcd  in  its  liTcJicK  colours ;  u  wc 
proceed,  we  tire  of  the  length  of  the  way  and  cofflpbin  of  tu  tame* 
nes*.  Thi.-  path  of  life  is  Mtipped  of  its  fteahaem  and  beauty  i  and 
at  we  grow  acquainted  with  them,  we  become  bdilferent  to  w«al 
or  wne. 

The  beti  pan  of  our  lives  we  pas*  in  counting  on  what  it  to  come ) 
,  or  in  fanning  what  may  have  happened  in  real  or  fiaitious  siory  to 
tr*.  I  have  had  more  pleasure  in  reading  tlic  adventures  of  a 
foonl  (aod  perhaps  changing  situations  witli  tlie  Ikeco)  than  I  ever 
had  in  my  own.  1  do  out  think  any  one  can  feel  much  hajmier^^ 
greater  degree  of  heart's  cat« — than  I  used  to  feel  in  reading  Tristram 
Shaody,  and  Peregrine  Pickle,  and  Tom  Joiies,  and  the  Tadcr,  and 
Gil  Bias  of  Santillane,  aad  Wertcr,  and  Boccacio.  It  wat  some 
years  after  that  I  read  the  last,  but  liit  tales 

■Daltihi  vTJih  (he  innocence  of  love. 
Like  the  old  Time.' 

Tbe  nory  of  Fredciigo  Alberigi  affected  me  aa  if  it  bad  been 
my  own  cate,  ud  I  raw  hi*  bawk  upon  her  perch  in  the  clear,  cold 
air,  'and  how  lat  and  ha  a  bird  the  was,'  at  plain  at  ever  I  saw 
a  picture  of  Titian's;  and  felt  that  I  should  have  served  her  up  at 
he  did,  as  a  banquet  for  his  mistress,  who  came  to  visit  liini  at  hit 
own  poor  farm.  I  could  wish  thai  Lord  Byron  had  employed  him- 
•elf  while  in  Italy  in  rescuing  tuch  a  writer  at  Boccacio  from 
unmerited  obloquy,  instead  of  making  ilioie  notable  diicovcrie*,  ihax 
Pope  was  a  poet,  and  that  Shaketpear  was  not  one  I  Mrs.  Inchbatd 
was  alwayi  a  great  favourite  wiiii  me.  There  it  ibc  true  soul  of 
woman  breathing  firom  what  she  write*,  aa  much  aa  if  ygu  heard  her 
voice.  It  it  as  if  Vcnua  had  written  book*.  I  first  read  her  Smplt 
Siery  (of  all  place*  in  the  world)  at  M'  No  matter  where  it 


ru.»  * 


;^:^ 


■■ki^  ftiM  tfe  Mke  «r  eoS.  «M  drev 
Inc.    B«b«'*yUBi^lHHlUifara«i,»dhBcfca 
k.    ll««thrpOTM»«dlh««t>aBr^&Mk«>hat,a 


»ir 


|a* 


'A»lb«diA«Ia«dri 


ON  NOVELTY   AND  FAMILIARITY 


I  ucd  10  tppljr  Uiit  Udc  to  tbc  dittaK  range  of  faUli  ia  a  foitrj 
\aai»aft,  wbich  bowcnr  h»A  a  tesdcr  venul  umc  and  a  dewy 
frathoNt.  I  could  look  (U  them  till  my  cyn  £IIcd  with  tean,  aod 
M  hcait  ditwiwd  in  ftiatocM.  Wbjr  do  I  recal  the  drcmnttsDce 
after  a  Ia|Me  of  years  witK  to  much  iDletctt  *  BecasM  I  Celt  it  tbeo. 
Tho«e  feeble  ovtlioci  were  linked  in  mjr  miod  to  the  pome,  foodeM 
yeanuDgi  after  good,  thai  dim,  airy  space  coMaioed  ray  little  all  of 
h^t^  buoyed  of  by  cbarrautg  fears  i  the  ddtghi  wkb  which  I 
dvdi  Bpoa  it,  MhMocd  by  ny  igjtouaen  of  what  wai  in  note  br 
(DC,  wa*  6«c  (mm  mona  gnwaai,  ftmiliirity  or  diiawoioMwat, 
mi  1  dnak  fkmtn  out  of  (he  botem  of  tbc  aileu  bilU  >sa  glearang 
nOia  u  ften  a  cop  iDed  to  the  briai  with  lore-philtrea  aod  pouoaooa 
lauLtiiHi  by  the  MreereM,  Fancy ! 

Mr.  Opic  uied  to  conaidet  it  a*  an  error  to  tuppote  that  as  artiat't 
int  work*  w«rc  Dccenarily  cnidc  and  raw,  and  thai  be  we«  oo 
fcgolarly  impronng  oo  them  afterward*.  On  the  cootrary,  be 
flninT*'"~*  tiut  tbry  bad  tbc  advantage  of  bring  done  *  with  all  hit 
heart,  and  tod,  aad  night ; '  that  they  oontaiBcd  hit  beat  thoughta, 
tboae  which  bii  gaam  mott  caf£erly  protnpted,  and  which  bt  bad 
mitured  aod  trcMnd  i^  loogeu,  Irom  the  fini  dawn  of  an  and 
aauutt  on  hi*  imndt  and  that  hU  iubaegocnt  woika  were  rather 
after-bought*,  and  the  leanngi  and  male-ihifti  of  hi*  iavcntioo. 
There  ia  a  great  deal  of  truth  in  thit  Tiew  of  the  nutter.  Pttu 
r,  mamju;    tliai  ia,  it  u  the  atroog  character  aad  itnpwLte  of 


the  Buod  that  force*  out  ita  war  aad  atamp  iudf  upon  outward 
abjecti,  oot  tlnl  ia  cUciied  and  bbotiooily  niaed  inta  arti&cUl 
inponance  by  cascriraiioe  and  aady.  An  imfnvUg  actor,  artiat, 
or  poet  ncTcr  bccoioct  a  great  one.  1  have  known  tnch  in  my  tirae, 
who  were  alwayt  adraidog  by  alow  aod  nue  itep*  to  tbc  bcigbt  of 
thor  (fofcMM  \  but  ia  the  mean  time,  «0(ne  tMa  of  eF&ia«  roac, 
and  pMNDg  thesi,  at  once  aeizcd  oa  the  top-moa  rottod  of  amlMtioo'l 
ladder,  to  that  tlvy  ittll  remained  in  the  aecoBd  claia.  A  tolcaao 
doca  not  ptt  waraiag  when  it  will  break  out,  iter  a  tbnader-faolt  tend 
word  of  ita  approach.  Mr.  Keao  ctampcd  hinaMtr  the  int  aigbt  in 
Shylock  {  he  never  did  any  better.  Mr.  Kentbte  i>  tbe  only  great 
and  truly  imprcsiiTc  actor  I  rctnctnbrr,  who  rote  to  hii  atatcly  height 
by  tbe  iaicrpMitiaa  of  art  aad  gradadona  of  laarii.  A  man  of 
gtaiua  ia  m  gmmit — to  be  kaowa,  he  aaad  only  to  be  aeea — yov 
caa  BO  iDore  diipMe  wbether  be  b  oae,  than  yoo  aa  diipote  triwtlin' 
k  is  a  faacbcr  that  it  abcwa  you  ia  a  cage.  Mx>.  Siddooa  did  tax 
Mcceed  the  firK  tunc  the  amared  oa  the  Loadoa  board*,  bui  then 
it  wa*  ia  Garrick'*  tine,  who  aent  bei  bock  to  the  country.  He 
■mled  aad  pot  bcr  oat  ia  aome  part  the  bad  to  pfay  with  hoa,  by 
«Dum.:  0  305 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKEB 


tbe  amaaiBg  ymiaem  tad  iautjivikf  of  bb  ityle  of  aaatg.     Yet  oU-i 
Dr.  Outmctf  vbo  (r«(iicnic(i  Sir  Jokhna  RcToolda'*,  wid  UiK 
wu  not  hisnelf  tn  tui  btter  day*,  that  he  got  to  fitf  fauleqwol^ 
tncki,  aad  mt  too  tnoch  ia  the  trimiaeU  of  ih«  nsgr^  ud 
MUM  diffnirat  from  wfcat  he  waa  wbm  he  came  am  at  Goodnaa'i 
ridd*!,  when    he  surncued   the  town   ta    Rklutrd,  at   if  he 
diwytd  from  the  clooaa*  and  hit  actios  ***  *"  ^  ■"d  air-     Mubj 
SiXCmt  ma  hardlv  aalufied  vitfi  llie  admitatioB  of  riinar  who 
ooly  •een  ber  latter  perfaraiaacea,  which  were  diwiagniihed 
bf  ibeir  towemg  hei^  aod  oufble  ovdioe.    She  ho*  beca  heard  i 
exclaim,  *  Yoo  hare  Ken  itir  ooljr  ia  Lady  Macbeth  md 
Knfaerioet  and   Belvidcra  aad   Jaae  Shore— yoa  ihoM  htn 
ne  witai   I   played  then  character*  alternately  with  Jaliet, 
Deadeinoaa,  aad  CaBtcat  aod  the  Monrntog  Bride,  nwht  aAer  night,' 
when  I   Sttt  came  Irotn  Bath !  '     If  die  indeed  filled  tbcK  pana 
with  a  beauty   and  tenderaeat  e^oal  to  tbe  •oblimity  of  her  othctj 
performance*,  ooc  had  ooly  to  ace  her   in  them  and  die!      L«    ~ 
Bjroo  aayt,  that  Lady  Macbeth  died  when  Mr*.  Siddoo*  kfi 
■ta«e.     Couid  not  even  her  acting  help  him  to  uadcntaad  SbaJuafcarPl 
-~^  Joahai  Re^noM*  at  a  Itte  period  saw  aonte  portnita  be 
done  in  early  life,  and   bmeiMed  the  little   pcogreaa  be  had 
Yet   he   belonged   to   tbe   bboriona   and   aiiiiwy   claaa.      No 
gcDcration  tnpn>*c«  much  upoo  another ;  no  one  iadtvidoal 
innch  apoo  hiraieir.     Wlut  we  impart  to  othen  we  han  wkbOB 
aad  we  hare  it  almoM  from  the  tint.      The  Krongeat   kM| 
obtain  into  nature  it  Uuc   which  we  receive  from  tbe  broad  Egh 
thrown  upoo  it  by  tbe  toddcn  dcvetopemeot  of  osr  own  facnkic*  aad^ 
feeliDgt. 

Evm  in  ideace  the  ereatcat  ditcoverica  have  been  made  at   aa 
early  age.     Sir  iuac   Newton   wu  not  twetiiy   when   he   nw   tbe 
apple  fall  to  the  ground,     tlarvey,  I  bcbeve,  discovered  tbe  circula- i 
tion  of  the  Uood  at  eif>hicen.     Berkeley  wat  ooly  dx  and  twenty  j 
when  he  puUitfaed  hi*  tiuay  on  Vidon.     Hartley's  great  priocipJal 
was  devcMped  in  an  inaugunJ  diMcriatioci  at  College.     Home  wronl 
bi«  Trcatiie  oo  Human  Natore  while  be  wa*  yet  quite  a  yoeog  enaa. 
Hobbn  put  forth  hi*  otctaphyucal  tyitem  very  aooa  after  be  Quitted 
the  aervice  of  Lord  Bacon.     1  believe  alto  lha.i  Galileo,  Leflnic 
aod   Ealcr  comawDOcd   their  career  of  diKovery  qoitc  young  i  aa4^ 
I  think  it  b  only  then,  before  the  mind   become*  tet  in  itt  own 
opiaiotu  or  the  dogma*  of  other*,  that  it  cao  have  Hgovr  or  claatincr 
to  throw  olT  the  bad  of  prejudice  aod  arize  on  new  aad  cxteiuif 
combiaatiooi  of  tliiaj;*.     In  exploring  new  and   doubtful  tncta 
^culaiton,  tbe  mind  ttrike*  o«(  true  aad  ori^oal  view*  i  a*  a  i 

306 


ON  NOVELTY  AND  FAMILIARITY 


of  waMT  hcMUCet  at  fim  what  directioo  it  thall  ukc,  but  ajtcrwanls 
folfowi  in*  own  coarv.  The  toj  oacilladoa  of  the  mind  id  iu 
firtc  pcriloua  and  rnggcHng  mrch  after  tnitli,  btiost  togrtlwr 
maiDMU  aad  illuotratiuoi,  that  would  Jtent  occur  m  a 
id  and  iBWhodwtd  ttace  ofopicioD,  ind  fdticUoaa  iqscttioa* 
op  when  wc  are  trying  cxprrimcnis  oo  the  uoderatanaing,  of 
which  wc  can  kite  no  hope  when  we  hare  ooce  nude  op  oor  miodi 
to  a  ooochuioa,  ud  ail]f  ga  over  ihe  previou*  itept  thai  ted  lo  k. 
So  that  the  gmccr  onmber  of  opoioob  ue  hare  foriaed,  wc  are  I<m 
capable  of  formiiig  new  oBe«,  and  tlide  into  connnoD' places,  according 
ai  we  bare  tbem  at  band  to  tewn  to.  It  U  eaaiei  ukinjz  the  beitcn 
nth  than  nuking  ota  wsy  over  bog*  and  precipice*.  Tbe  great 
dilBctdiy  in  philosophy  i*  to  come  to  every  <{ae«(iaa  with  a  mind 
freth  aad  unihacklcd  by  fonacr  tfaeorie*,  tboogh  ttmglbcMd  by 
exetdM  aad  iafomuiion ;  ai  in  the  practice  of  an,  ibe  gft»  thing 
n  to  retain  our  admiration  of  the  beauifitl  in  nature,  together  with 
the  power  to  imitate  it,  and  not,  from  a  want  of  tbia  on«Ml  feeling, 
to  be  etuhvcd  by  formal  rulea,  or  dauled  by  ibe  mm  oiftcultie*  of 
cxecndon.  Habit  it  nraewiry  to  give  power  :  bat  with  tbe  ttimulM 
of  itOTeltj,  the  lore  of  trath  and  nmre  cea*e«  throagh  indolenoe 
or  ioMimfaiiity.  Hence  wicdom  too  connnooly  degcncram  into 
pKlidicc  t  uid  skill  into  pedantry.  Atk.  a  mctaphyucian  what 
■ubject  be  oademaods  beat  i  and  he  will  icll  you  that  which  be 
knows  tbe  Init  about.  Aik  a  muncian  to  fky  a  &roorite  tune,  aod 
be  will  telect  ao  air  the  moit  di^culi  of  cxecntiaii.  If  you  a*k  an 
nriat  hit  opinion  of  a  picxurc,  he  will  point  to  «o<ne  defect  is 
pcnpcctiTc  or  anatomy.  If  an  open-dmcer  wiibrt  to  impmt  yoa 
with  an  idea  of  hi*  grace  and  accorapUtfamctUs  be  will  throw  himfcir 
into  the  must  dtiturted  attiiade  povttile.  Who  would  not  rather  tee 
■  daiKC  n  tbe  fbreu  of  Moatmoreoci  oo  a  aununer't  evemog  by  a 
bttodred  1»«g^iTig  peacaot-girli  and  ihetr  partner*,  who  come  to  llti* 
tcene  for  KreraJ  mile*  rooDd,  roihing  through  tbe  forcit.gbde*,  aa 
tbe  hart  pomctfa  foe  ibc  watct'btook*,  than  all  the  firouMa,  fud^ 
f/omif,  and  tatrttkau,  pctforncd  at  the  French  Opera  by  the  whole 
tpr*t  Jt  Ulri  i  Vet  the  6ni  only  joat  contrne  to  exert  their  beck, 
and  Ml  p«  their  partnen  out,  wbiitt  the  Um  perform  nothing  b« 
fcata  of  dexterity  aod  mirackt  of  tkill — not  ooe  of  which  ibey  conld 
cTcr  perfonn,  if  they  had  ooi  loM  ncty  idea  of  natural  grace,  ease, 
or  dKonun  in  hahitul  caOowBen  or  proEewicnal  vaoity,  or  had  one 
Cnliiig  left  which  prompt!  ihdr  mtic  rinli  to  r«a  through  tbe  mam 

ofdHdMKC 


'  Willi  bceJltw  kaHc  and  giddy  cunmng,' 


J"*? 


TBE  PLAIN  SPEAKEB 


>!— TVn 

nvsy  a^t.     I 
I  Old  ariv  «  cxcm  fa  ik«  I 
itmckOUi.     Tec  I  cnM  M  kM  n^  I 

it  Iks  k  iMt  ae  11  ami  of  my  irtodbf  dij*,  ai^  of  tW  Wgr' 
liBCfcsf  Bk  (kx  I  Med  te  Mod  si  a  ff^™^  *  "T  parne  >     Or 
•f  !■■»  «S   loiiB^  p««,  tW  cowt  at  ham   zn.  the  Daks  6t 
Hummt  t^  tbe  PriacM  ef  CkfaJ     Or  tf  ^r  one  wtes  Ar 
«ia«wdl  pm  MBfcd  is  111  id  isp  More  ■ 
■eoMEirwBf     1  kaow  ax  tew  s  vwt  h«  it 


•likciWi 


istMfc^nitei, 


tiicvc  liuu^  to 


<  I  tfaiak«  tfajt 


'Likci 

Voy  KIM  Ike  b^  dif  Um»  b  AbI, 
Or  Kke  tfce  BMT,  Mi  ia  ifae  ms, 
A  mtmOt  ■!■»      ih  ■  *dc>  fat  cmti 
Or  fike  the  honaSi  lacc, 
Hm  flit  (R  foa  can  painC  llMir  ffaor  t 
Or  like  Ik  nittbo>-i  Wh  fan-. 


Ob  the  coamnr*  1  think  they  lore  traces  of  thanelrc*  behind 
aWBK  md  urii£PMWi  even  u  |nf)ortioB  to  toe  rnrcci  ai 
Aoi^  nd  wlacb  «e  refaaqoHli  oaljr  with  an  oriog.     The 
{rmokwcmw  Wi^yoiBtinptfi  tn  perhap*  thotc  which  ariae  &mi1 
sw  ofaoiang  dl  «t  wiih. 

The  Oftntg^nmt  Jtipiiei  th«  petaBt-sirl  tb«t  daacn  en  the  ] 
flrcoif  howCTCf  — ich  Bipywr  ne  bct  w  or  mj  be  thoochi 
the  fint.  The  ooe  caa  iId  vbtt  the  other  mmcit.  Piidcbl 
DOtao  the  aeaae  of  haMJneM,  bt  od  the  aeaie  of  mcr;  aad  lht*| 
fa  oae  great  MMiroe  oT  wtf-coiyatwlatiop,  if  dm  01  •clf-fuk&ctMXu] 
Thi*,  however,  u  cootiBBtlly  uicrcMin^  or  ti  Icatl  rcocwiac  wkki 
ostadvaixn  is  tktU  and  iheooa^vAof  dificttltini  aDd,accotdtng|^,j 
there  U  00  cod  of  it  while  we  bte  or  till  our  facnltk*  decaj.  He 
who  aBdertake*  to  ouHcr  aay  an  or  idcBCe  ba«  cut  hhnaelf  o«t 
work  enoogfi  to  la«  the  tieit  of  bW  lile,  and  aiaj  proonae  himw^lf  < 


ON  NOVELTY   AND  FAMILIARITY 


sU  (he  enjoyment  that  i*  ta  be  found  in  looVing  down  with  tdT- 
compUccnt  crium[>h  on  the  inferiority  of  othert,  or  all  the  torment 
thflt  there  it  in  envying  iheir  aucccis.  There  in  no  danger  chat 
the  machine  will  ever  *land  tiill  stterwards.  Mandn'ille  hna 
endeavoured  to  iliew  that  if  it  were  not  for  envy,  malice,  and  all 
unchoritablecctt,  mankind  wuuld  perish  of  pure  chagrin  and  rnnm') 
and  1  am  not  in  the  humour  to  contradict  him. — The  aame  Bpirit  of 
emulation  that  urge>  ut  on  to  aurpMi  other*,  supplies  u*  with  a  new 
source  of  saiitlaction  (of  norocihmg  which  is  at  least  the  reverte  of 
indifference  and  apathy)  in  the  indefatigable  exertion  of  out  £tcullie« 
and  the  perception  of  new  and  minor  shade*  of  distinction.  These, 
if  not  to  delightful,  are  more  nibtlcp  and  niay  be  multiplied  indclinttcly. 
They  borrow  something  of  taaie  and  pleasure  from  ihcir  first  ociDD, 
till  they  dwindli:  away  into  mete  absiractiont.  The  «xerdM^ 
whether  of  our  mind*  or  bodict,  Eharpena  and  j;i*ci  additional  alactitj 
to  our  RCtivc  imptcmionii,  as  the  indulgence  of  our  sensibility,  whether 
to  pleasure  or  pain,  blunts  our  passive  ones.  The  will  to  do,  the 
power  to  think,  is  a  progressive  faculty,  though  not  the  capacity  lo 
feel.  Otherwise,  the  business  of  life  c«uld  not  go  on.  If  it  were 
tiecessity  alone  that  oiled  the  tprtnjts  of  society,  people  would  grow 
tired  and  realive,  they  would  lie  down  and  die.  But  wii)i  use  there 
comes  a  babii,  a  potitive  need  uf  lomething  to  keep  oif  the  horror 
of  vacancy.  The  sense  of  power  has  a  sense  of  pleuurc  annexed 
to  it,  or  what  is  practically  tantamount,  an  impulse,  an  cndearour, 
that  carries  us  thiuugh  the  most  tiresome  drudgery  or  the  hardest 
tasks.  Indolence  is  a  part  of  our  nature  too.  There  is  a  vit  ituriia 
at  first,  a  difficulty  in  beginning  or  in  leaving  oC  1  have  spun  out 
this  Eway  in  a  good  measure  from  the  dread  I  feel  of  eoterin^  upon 
new  mbjccts. — ^omc  such  reasoning  is  necetsary  to  account  tor  the 
headstrong  and  incorrigible  violence  of  the  passions  when  the  will  is 
once  implicated.  So  in  ambition,  in  avarice,  in  the  love  of  gaming 
and  of  drinking  (where  the  strong  stimulus  ii  the  chief  excitement), 
there  is  no  hope  of  any  termination,  of  any  puie  or  relaxation  ;  but 
we  are  hurriea  tbrwatd,  as  by  a  fever,  when  all  H-nse  of  pleasure  is 
dead,  and  wc  only  persevere  as  it  w«te  out  of  contradiction,  and  in 
defiance  of  the  obsUclr*,  the  mortifications  and  privations  we  have 
to  encounter.  The  rcsisiaacc  of  the  wilt  to  outward  ciicumstaaccs, 
its  determination  to  create  its  own  good  or  evil,  is  also  a  pait  of  the 
same  constitution  of  the  mtnd.  The  solitary  captive  can  make  a 
companion  of  the  spider  that  straggles  into  his  cell,  or  find  amusement 
in  counting  the  nails  in  hit  dun;i;con-door ;  while  the  proud  lord  that 
placed  him  there  feels  the  depth  of  solitude  in  crowded  ball'rooms 
and  boi  theatres,  and  turns  with  weariness  from  the  scenes  of  luxury 

J09 


OLD  ENGLISH   WRITERS  AND  SPEAKERS 

ii  over  I  health,  a  walk  and  the  appetite  it  create*,  »  book,  the  doing 
a  good-natured  or  hkodly  action,  are  tatiaTactiooa  that  hold  out  to 
the  lait ;  and  with  theic,  and  any  otheri  to  aid  ua  that  foil  harm- 
tctily  in  our  way,  wc  may  make  a  ihift  for  a  few  veasons,  after 
having  exhausted  the  *h<irt-liTcd  trampoita  of  an  eager  and 
CDthuiiaetic  imagination,  and  without  being  under  the  ncccuity  of 
hanging  or  diowniog  oiuwivet  as  toon  as  wc  come  to  ycart  of 
diacrelioo. 


ESSAY  XXVI  r 


ON    OLD    ENGLISH    WRITERS    AND    SPEAKERS 

Wken  1  sec  a  whole  tow  of  nandaid  French  author*  piled  up  on  .1 
FaiJB  book-itall,  to  the  height  of  twenty  or  thirty  Tolnmcs,  ahcwing 
their  mealy  coata  to  the  sun.  pink,  blue,  and  yellow,  they  aeem  to  me 
a  wall  buiJt  up  to  keep  out  the  intiuiion  of  foreign  letters.  There  i* 
acarccly  nch  a  thing  at  ao  Engliah  book  to  be  met  with,  tinlcu, 
perhap*,  a  dt)«ty  edition  of  Clariua  Harlowe  lurka  in  an  obtcurc 
cornet,  or  a  «olume  of  the  Sentimental  Journey  perkt  itt  well-known 
title  in  your  face.'  Cut  there  i«  a  huge  column  of  Voltaire'*  worka 
complete  m  aixty  volumea,  another  (not  so  frequent)  of  Rouweau's  in 
fifty,  Racine  in  ten  volumei,  Moliere  in  about  the  same  nuniber.  La 
Fontaine,  Marmontcl,  Gil  Blaii,  for  ever  j  Madame  Sevigni-'a  Letter*, 
Pascal,  Montesquieu,  Crclwllon,  Marifaux,  with  Montaigne,  Rabclaia, 
and  the  grand  Comcille  more  rate ;  and  eighteen  full-aized  lolume* 
of  La  Harpc't  criticiun,  towering  vaio-gloriouily  in  the  mid*t  of 
them,  fumtthing  the  aireeta  of  Pari*  with  a  graduated  scale  of  merit 
for  all  the  test,  and  teaching  the  very  xarfsiu  pirnitfKim  how  10 
mearare  the  length  of  i»ch  act  of  each  play  by  a  utop-waicb,  and  to 
nacertatn  whether  the  angle*  at  the  four  comer*  of  each  claitic  volume 
arc  right  one*.  How  climb  over  thipi  lofty  pie  of  uiitc  and  elegance 
to  wander  down  into  the  boga  and  waste*  of  Cngliah  or  of  any  other 
literature,  'to  this  obscure  and  wild  J'  Muat  they  'on  that  fair 
mountain  leave  to  feed,  to  batten  on  thia  moor  i '  Or  why  should 
tbcyf  Hare  they  not  literature  enough  of  their  own,  and  to  apare, 
without  coming  to  u) .'     la  not  the  public  mind  crammed,  choaked 

I  A  •ptcn'llil  dtiliOB  of  Caliliiniit)  liii  been  Ulcly  gol  up  aaitt  the  iDperiotcti-I- 
antc  o(  Mi.  Wuhlogton  Iivint,  h  i<h  a  prrfice  ind  i  portraU  of  ach  (Ulhoi.  Rj 
vrhil  concilenttjun  of  Ucu  ihoF  frntlrman  srriveri  at  (be  n<cn*iCy  of  placing  hii 
own^iti'it  tafoic  s  colltction  ef  ColHimith'i  worka,  oat  muu  hivt  tmn  tsrijr 
iinpruaiKtl  in  traoulbncic  MlitDilta  In  oniJcriUnd, 

3'> 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

wnh  FmKh  books  FWtsm,  tutnn,  plaj^  opcnib  nnnpifcnw  p«(M*( 
Mid  Ml  JKCtudc  hangi  of  wordi,  M  tlw  h  hu  not  ■  aumtm  left  to 
look  at  bone  itito  iticTf,  or  abroad  into  aatun  ?  MnR  they  cn>M  the 
Cbanod  to  bcceaw  the  TftR  MOck  of  imjifttioencc,  lo  u<]tiiTe  foreign 
UMct,  n^rcM  iuiiT«  Mcjodicea,  «nd  recoocilc  ibe  opjmoa*  of  die 
EdiBbnrgh  aad  Qiurtctiy  Re*iew«  ?  It  U  ijiute  needlcn.  There  U 
a  proJKt  «  pmmi  ceicnaincd  in  cenun  cvdcs  to  ^rc  tbc  Frokcb 
■  tMtc  for  Sh«kapnr.  Tbey  rfiouM  rtail^  begin  with  tbe  Engliah.* 
Muy  of  thcii  own  beat  luthon  are  oc^rctnl ;  oihrra,  of  whom  nev 
Edittoiu  hue  been  prioted,  lie  hcary  on  ibe  booktcllen'  b^ad*.  It 
b  by  IS  etpeciil  ditpentatiod  of  Prondence  ibit  tangnaxet  weai  ant ; 
u  o(bcrwii«  we  tboold  be  bnticd  aliTe  ooder  a  load  of  booki  tmi 
koowled^.  People  talk  of  a  philoaopUcal  and  oifcml  laaguage- 
We  have  voough  i«  do  to  oodentand  onr  own,  and  to  ntd  ■ 
thn— ■iih  put  (perhftpt  not  ibc  bc«i]  of  what  ii  ifittca  in  it.  It 
m  fkBcaloM  ud  moonrou*  Tamt;.  We  wobU  set  tp  a  Kaadard  of 
gtoeral  taite  and  of  iminonal  renown  j  we  would  bare  tbc  beocfita 
of  tcience  and  of  art  uairetul,  becauie  we  uppote  our  own  capacity 
to  receive  thetn  opboundedt  <nd  we  would  hare  tbe  iboMgbu  id 
otfaert  ociet  die,  becauae  we  flatter  o«ir«cl*e*  that  oar  own  will  Uk 
for  etei ;  and  like  the  frog  nnitanng  tbe  ox  in  tbe  fiblr,  wc  bnnt  in 
tlie  vaia  anempi.  Man,  whatercr  be  may  tbink,  ii  a  Tefy  linuced 
bcint  t  tbe  world  i*  a  narrow  circle  drawn  above  bim ;  tbe  horizon 
linuu  oar  rmiaetfate  liewi  iannortality  neaa*  a  ceomry  or  two. 
Lngaagfi  happily  teatrict  the  ninf  to  vdut  k  of  ita  own  natire 
Bowdt  wd  fitted  for  it,  u  rivet*  and  momtaina  boood  oomcrica  t  ot 
Uw  empire  of  leaMiing,  u  well  u  itaict,  would  bcoNne  nowiddy  >ad 
orergrowa.  A  IttUc  imporiatioo  from  foreign  naikeU  nay  be  good  ; 
but  the  bone  produdion  is  the  chief  thing  to  be  looked  to. 

'The  propn  Uudy  of  tbt  FriwA  i*  /VmcA  I ' 

No  PMpk  can  act  hmtc  unifornly  upon  a  oooviction  of  thif  maxiat, 
tad  in  that  rcwect  I  think  they  are  much  to  be  coramended. 

Mr.  Lamb  ha*  lately  taken  il  into  hi*  bead  to  read  St.  ETremoni, 
and  woelu  of  that  ttamp.     I  neilber  praue  dot  blame  bbn  (at  it. 

'  I  waclil  u  mta  try  lo  rtmon  one  iiM  at  tlw  Sriiw  or  «r  lk(  Ttauon  u  the 
otbrr.  ttj  tbe  lisic  ta  lalber  htfiat  lo  be  mimA  alkei  of  atnivJ,  be  U 1 1  lin  oac 
<rf  (ukloa  >l  hoiDc.  Wc  lu*e  mtey  little  L*r<l  Bfroaa  hdooc  BMWitwn,  who 
Ihiak  ihcj  ctn  vrilc  nculr,  H  aot  ^/Ktt  u  weU.  I  tni  ml  tuXiam  M  iptad 
SbU«vnt\  fans  or  lo  iDcnMc  the  ouaber  of  hk  oAnim^  •WW*  h*  thM 
■MMfbt  Ksn  nn  Aon  tntlmJ  I'  *c.  Il  ■•  Mifh  H  hit  a  lAmkti  by  itl 
ihMe  who  waimami  Um.  He  aajr  bt  •mrj  nltrior  to  oiaajr  Fnach  wtittn,  fer 
what  I  know ;  b«  I  Mn  ^alle  nm  h«  ii  mpwiar  ta  «U  Ba(IMi  MCk  We  may 
uy  ilui,  wiilwM  MMioool  frtjftMee  or  vwAr. 

3" 


OLD  ENGLISH   WRITERS  AND  SPEAKERS 

He  obtcrved,  that  Sc  EnemoM  wts  r  writer  hajf-way  belween 
MoniAtenc  and  Voltaire,  with  n  ipicc  a{  the  wit  of  ibc  one  and  the 
(cnie  of  the  other.  I  naid  1  wm  always  of  opinion  that  there  had 
been  a  great  maoy  clever  people  in  the  world,  both  in  Krancc  and 
England,  but  I  had  bets  Rometimc*  icbuked  for  it.  Lamb  took  ihig 
SI  a  slifiht  reproach :  for  he  ha«  been  a  little  exclusive  and  naiional 
in  hit  tuites.  He  laid  that  Coleridge  hud  lately  given  up  all  \m 
opininriE  mpcciing  German  literature,  that  :ill  their  high'Hown  pre- 
lenoionii  were  in  bit  present  enimaic  ihccr  cant  and  atfeciation,  and 
that  none  of  their  works  were  worth  any  thing  but  Schiller's  and  the 
early  ones  of  Gocthi.  '  What,'  I  said,  ■  my  old  friend  Wertcr ! 
How  many  bailies  have  I  had  in  my  own  mind,  and  compunctious 
riiidngs  of  criticiiro  to  stick  to  my  old  fs*outiie,  because  Coleridge 
thought  nothing  of  it !  It  is  hard  to  find  one's-scif  rifjhi  at  lost  I ' 
I  found  ibey  were  of  my  mind  with  respect  to  the  celebrated  Fjiust 
—that  it  is  A  mere  piece  of  abortive  pcrversenctB,  a  willitl  c*uion  of 
the  subject  and  omission  of  the  characiets;  that  it  is  written  on  the 
absurd  principle  thst  as  to  produce  a  popular  and  powetlui  etfect  is 
not  a  proof  of  the  highest  genius,  so  to  produce  no  effect  ai  all  is  an 
evidence  of  the  highest  poetry— and  in  hoe,  that  the  German  play  is 
not  to  be  named  in  a  day  with  Marlowe's.  Poor  Kit !  How  Lord 
Byron  would  hare  sneered  at  this  comparison  between  the  boasted 
modern  and  a  contemporary  of  Shakc^pcar's !  Captain  Medwin  or 
his  Lordship  must  have  made  a  mistake  in  the  enumctation  of  playB 
of  that  per:ud  still  acted.  There  is  one  of  Ben  Jonson's,  '  Every 
Man  in  his  Humour ; '  and  one  of  Miusinj^er's,  '  A  new  Way  to  Pay 
old  Debin  ; '  but  there  is  none  of  Ford'i  either  acted  or  worth  acting, 
except  *'Ti*  Pity  She's  a  Whore,'  and  thai  would  no  mote  bear 
sciing  thun  Lord  Byron  and  Goeth^  together  could  hare  written  it. 

This  account  of  Coleridge's  vacillationi  of  opinion  on  such  subjects 
might  be  adduced  to  shew  that  our  love  for  foreign  literature  is  an 
acquired  or  rather  an  aMunied  taste  ;  that  it  is,  like  a  foreign  religion, 
adopted  lor  the  moment,  to  answer  a  pun>ose  or  to  please  an  idle 
humour ;  that  we  da  not  enter  into  the  drafcci  of  truth  and  nature  in 
their  works  as  we  do  in  our  own  ;  and  that  conscqucndy  our  laate  for 
them  seldom  becomes  a  pan  of  ourselves,  that  'grows  with  our 
growth,  and  strengthens  with  our  strength,'  and  only  quits  us  when 
we  die.  Probably  it  is  this  acquaintance  with,  and  pretended  admire 
tion  of,  extfODeoiis  models,  tliat  adulterates  and  spoils  our  native 
literature,  that  polisliet  the  surface  but  undermines  its  bans,  and  by 
taking  aw.iy  its  original  cimplicity,  character,  and  force,  niukes  it  just 
lolciablr  to  others,  and  a  matter  of  much  indifference  to  auriclvei. 
When  I  sec  Lord  Byron's  poems  stuck  all  over  Paris,  it  strikes  me 

3'3 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 


at  ominoot  of  Ihe  dcdioe  of  Hngltih  geniat :  on  tbe  coouary,  when  I 
lind  the  Scotch  NoT«U  in  uiti  greater  re4|i>cM,  I  thiok  it  aapm  well 
fur  the  improvcneat  of  Frcocli  tMtc.* 

There  wm  adveniMd  not  long  *jto  in  Paru  ■&  Elegy  on  the  Dc«h 
of  Lord  Byron,  by  his  (ricnd  Sir  Tbomu  Morei^-erideBtly  con- 
fonnding  tbe  ImnK  bard  «-ith  the  old  Matemun.  It  is  thiM  tbe 
l-rcncb  in  their  lisht,  ulieoi  way  trantpow  erery  thing.  The 
iniitake  ii  naniculany  lodicrou*  to  ihoie  who  have  eret  leen  Mr, 
Mooic,  M  Mr.  Shec's  potirait  of  him  in  Mr.  Hookhsira'i!  (hop,  aitd 
who  chance  to  »ee  Holbeia'a  head  of  Sii  Thooia*  More  in  the 
Louvie.  There  it  the  aame  dtfferaioe  that  there  ia  between  a  nrly 
Engliih  mMtiiTand  a  little  lirely  PreiKb  pug.    Mr.  Moore'*  face  u 

fay  and  uniting  enough,  old  Sir  Thoraai'i  it  aevere,  not  to  lay  touri 
t  tceoiR  twitted  awry  with  dii^cali  quc*tioiu,  and  bunting  atonder 
with  >  ponderouR  load  of  fnesming,  Mr.  Moore  haa  nothing  of  thta 
painfbl  and  poritanical  ca«t.  m  float*  idly  aad  faoumically  on  the 
tap  of  tbe  literature  o(  hit  age ;  his  renowned  and  almou  forgotten 
luuncMke  ba*  neatly  niok  to  the  bottom  of  hit.  The  avtbnr  of 
Utopia  wai  no  ftincbec,  he  waa  a  martyr  to  hit  OMnioiUi  and  wan 
burnt  to  death  for  them— the  most  heroic  action  of  Mr.  Moore't  life 
m,  the  having  burnt  the  Mcmoirt  of  hit  friend ! 

"Hic  cxpreMion  in  Holbein'*  pictnrc*  cootcyi  a  faithfiit  but  not 
very  favourable  notion  of  tbe  Utenry  character  of  thai  period.  It  it 
pabfult  dry,  and  laboured.  Learning  wu  then  an  aacclic.  but  recluae 
and  profound.  You  tee  a  weight  of  thought  and  care  in  the  itudiona 
head*  of  the  time  of  the  Reformation,  a  nncetiiy,  an  integrity,  a 
MBCtity  of  purpow,  like  that  of  a  forioal  dedication  to  a  rdigiout  lifc) 
or  the  invtoIalMltty  of  monasuc  vowi.  They  bad  tbcii  work  to  do  t 
we  reap  tbe  beeefiu  of  it.  We  tkim  the  Ktmct,  and  traiel  along  the 
high  road.      They  had   to  explore  dark  receuct,  to  dig  ihroitgb 

I  I  hire  htui  tbe  populatil)-  u(  Sit  Wtiin  Scott  ia  rrinct  Idftsiaviljp,  aad  , 
Mmnrhit  shimticitly  trttri  to  Buontpirte.  Ht  Hi  nol  ISkt  ibc  <iwif»tfa«  *b4  < 
trimlit;  n(  Pits,  no!  rdcgilrfi  Ihf  toanlry.ctntIcinra  to  their  leiU  for  (i^A] 
■MOthi  in  thr  ]wh.  Hfrr  lliry  yiwn  in<l  r>tp  (•"  Wrath,  *n<l  onaU  oot  kww-] 
*lut  to  do  wiHMBt  the  ai4  of  iht  Mtbot  at  wmtitj.  Thif  «k  imfMitMhrl 
wbcD  the  'Tilri  of  the  Cmudcn'  h itl  be  oiti ;  u il  wlui  »u  ibiak  af 'Ke4U| 
jniBtlct!'  To  (be  mow  ook  ii  io  be  itL-ibutrd  (he  Oaagt  •(  mttau 
Maiiuri.,  ft  wKi  <f»  amrt,  au  utatUoilj  ia  (he  Fnsth  Rnltr**  mna>h.  ] 
MucUT),  urocding  Is  taj  iafannMl,  wire  necauiy  la  ronwlidilc  hb  plan*  of  j 
\ynaay  \ — how,  I  do  not  know.    Fortj  vnn  (fo  do  man  «M  tm  •««  io  coa>  ] 

Cn]r  wilh  Mt^itu  ufrmwu.  A  Cmntij  ni  wnltni  on  the  riirnXr  of  a  mtm 
ing  in  lote  with  ha  Mift,  Kow  he  mvu  be  villi  her  thr«-anH.<«ienty  boar* 
out  of  th«  r«ur-aD<t.t««nty  ;  it  h  ricaii  ihii  (hit  lliey  Mt  (be  <Jecliae  ti  faifftnei* 
In  Fraatc  ;  *n<  tbe  unfartBiutt  cnnple  endnveur  to  pi«  thr  tiuK  iM  fct  rM  of 
n  u  irtll  11  (bey  (In,  by  tnding  the  Scotch  Novell  I4(elhn. 

3'4 


r 


OLD  ENGLISH   WRITERS  AND  SPEAKERS 

iDOUQiaiDa,  sod  make  iheir  woy  through  pathlcM  wUdcrnnm.  It  it 
no  woadcT  thry  looktd  grarc  ugjon  it.  The  MrioutocM,  bdwd, 
amounu  to  an  air  of  derotion;  and  it  hat  to  me  tomethbg  fine, 
manly,  and  elJ  Eug^th  about  it.  There  it  a  heanincs  and  dcier- 
Diincd  resolution ;  a  willingncst  to  contend  with  oj)|>oiiition ;  a 
(Uperiofity  to  case  and  pleiture;  Eome  sullen  pride,  bin  no  itifting 
TRoity.  They  nddresKd  tbemtelTcs  to  «tudy  a«  to  a  duty,  aiid  were 
ready  to  '  leave  all  and  follow  it.'  In  the  beginning  of  tuch  aa  era, 
tlie  difference  between  ignorance  and  learning,  between  what  wai 
cummonly  known  and  what  wai  posiiblc  to  be  known,  would  appear 
immcnic ;  and  no  pains  or  time  would  be  thought  too  gicat  to  nuiter 
the  difficulty.  Conacioui  of  their  own  deticicncics  and  the  icaoty 
information  of  th<we  about  them,  ihcy  would  be  glad  to  look  out  for 
aidi  and  lupport,  and  to  put  tbcni«clvea  appicoticra  to  time  and  Datorc. 
Thia  temper  would  lead  them  to  exag^ate  rather  than  to  make 
light  of  tbe  difficulciet  of  their  undcrtakbg ;  at)d  would  call  forth 
•urificm  ia  prooortion.  Feeling  how  little  tliey  knew,  they  wouM 
be  anxioui  to  oiicover  all  that  other*  had  known,  and  inatcad  of 
making  a  display  of  thcniKlvca,  their  firat  object  would  be  to  ditpcl 
the  mill  and  dxrkneis  that  nurroundcri  them.  They  did  not  cull  the 
flowers  of  learning,  or  plnck  a  leaf  of  laurel  for  their  own  heada,  but 
togged  at  the  loott  and  very  heart  of  their  aubjeci,  aa  the  woodman 
tun  at  (he  toota  of  the  gnarled  oak.  The  tenic  of  the  arduouineat 
of  their  enterpriie  braced  their  courage,  *o  that  ibcy  left  nothing  half 
done.  They  inquired  de  enrnt  leiHle  <t  qmhmdjim  iiHit.  They  tan- 
■ackcd  librariea,  fliey  exhauaied  authorities.  Thcv acciuired  language*, 
eonaultcd  book*,  and  decyphered  manuacripts.  They  devoured  learn- 
bg.  and  iwailowed  antiiiuity  whole,  and  (what  ia  muire)  digeucd  it. 
They  read  incewanily,  and  remembered  what  ibey  read,  from  the 
Ze^oui  ictetcit  they  took  in  iL  Repletion  i«  only  bad,  when  it  i* 
accompanied  with  apathy  and  wini  of  cxcrciae.  They  laboured 
hard,  and  <hewed  great  activity  both  of  maaoning  and  apccutation. 
Their  fault  waa  thai  they  were  too  prone  to  unlock  the  tecreta  of 
nature  with  the  key  of  teaming,  and  often  to  aubititute  authority  in 
the  place  of  argummt.  They  were  also  too  polemical ;  as  waa  but 
naiuially  to  be  expected  in  the  firtt  breaking  up  of  cuablithed  preju- 
diced and  opinion!.  It  ia  curiou«  to  objerre  the  alow  progre*i  of  the 
human  mind  in  touaening  and  geitinc  rid  of  iu  tramnieii,  link  hy  link, 
and  how  it  crept  on  itt  handa  and  feet,  and  with  ita  cyct  bent  on  the 
ground,  out  of  the  cave  of  Bigotry,  making  ita  way  through  one  dark 
pUMge  after  another ;  those  who  gave  up  one  half  of  an  abcurdhy 
COMending  aa  ttreououaly  for  the  rciuaining  half,  tbc  lazy  current  of 
tradition  atemroiitg  the  tide  of  boovation,  and  making  an  eodleaa 

3'S 


THE  PLAIN   SPEAKER 

nniggle  bctirwD  the  two.     Bnt  in  die  dulkM  oiiiida  oS  ihii  period- 
there  wa*  a  Aehttoct  to  the  opioiou  of  tbcii:  leaden ;  an  impotiiijrl 
■CMC  oi  the  importance  of  the  nibjecc,  of  the  neceuilf  of  briasuig  aS 
(he  &culde*  to  beat  upon  it ;  a  wrif^hi  cither  of  anaour  or  of  uKema] 
ainngth,  a  ml  cithei  fir  or  t^aitui  ;  a  bead,  a  hean,  and  a  hand,  i 
boldiQg  out  to  the  death  for  conscience  ukr,  a  ttrong  tpiiit  of  pni*-] 
eiytimi — do  llippaacy,  no  indtlference,  no  compTonusiB^  M>  fUtl 
^iallav  sceptkiBia,  btit  truth  wu  luppotcd  indiMolublj  Icnit  to  goodtl 
knowledge  to  inefuhxM,  and  the  innporal  and  eternal  trel&re 
Biankmd  to  hang  in  the  balance.     Tbe  pure  >priagt  of  a  loity  bub  I 
(mi  to  (peak)  had  not  then  descended  by  varioua  nadaliau  ftocn  their 
*kycy  rcgioD*  and  cloudy  height,  to  find  their  Iml  to  the  unoocht 
glittering  cxpaoK  of  modem  philowphy,  or  to  tctilc  in  ibc  itaguai 
pool  of  Male  hypocriiyl      A  learned  man  of  that  day,  if  he  knew  do 
better  thait  other*,  at  Iraat  knew  all  that  they  did.     He  did  not  come 
to  hti  Eubject,  like  tttvat  dapper  haniitcr  who  has  never  looked  at  bit 
brief,  and  iruM*  to  tlie  unartaeM  of  bla  wit  and  pertoa  for  the  >|iree- 
able  elTect  he  meant   to  produce,  but  Uke  an  old   and   practiaed 
coucifeilor,  covered  orer  with  the  diut  and  cobwcbi  of  tbe  law.      If 
it  wH  a  Rpcaker  in  Parliament,  he  came  prepared  to  handle  hi*  nib-j 

fct,  armed  wiib  caaet  and  precedent!,  the  cooxitutioo  and  hiitory  ' 
■rliament  from  the  earliest  period,  a  knowledge  of  tbe  ddaiU  of 
burioeu  and  the  local  interett*  of  the  country  t  in  (borT,  be  had  taken 
up  lie  frtiHam  of  ibt  Haiitt  and  did  nut  treat  tbe  queatioa  like  a 
cotmopoliic,  or  a  writer  in  n  Ma^udnc.  If  it  were  a  dirine,  be 
knew  the  Scripture*  and  the  l-'aihcra,  and  tbe  Councik  and  the  Con*  j 
mcntxtor*  by  hcaft,  and  thundered  them  in  the  ear*  of  bb  stiorutbed 
audience.  Not  a  trim  eatay  or  a  lumid  oration,  pattoniitng  religion 
by  modern  tophitma,  but  the  Law  and  tbe  Pr«ph«t«(  tbe  chapter  and 
the  tef»e.  If  it  wa«  a  pbilosophcr,  Annotle  and  tbe  Scbooknen 
were  drawn  out  in  battle-array  agaioat  you : — if  an  antiquarian,  the 
Lord  bleia  at !  There  ii  a  paauge  in  Selden'*  note*  on  Drayton'i 
Poly-Olbion,  in  which  be  elucidate*  tome  point  of  topography  by  a 
reference  not  only  to  Stowe  and  Holinthcd  and  Cimdcn  and  Saxo- 
Grammaticus  and  Dugdale  and  tcvcral  other  author*  that  we  arc 
ac<]uaiDicd  with,  but  to  twenty  obtcure  oaniei,  ibat  no  modern  reader 
e¥er  beard  oft  and  to  on  ihroucb  the  note*  to  a  fobo  volvme,  written 
apparently  (or  relaxation.  Sucii  were  the  intellectual  amutementa  of' 
our  ancesion!  Learning  then  ordinarily  lay-in  of  folio  volumet: 
now  ihc  litlera  octavo*  sod  duodecimo*,  and  will  *ooo,  ai  in  France, 
miacatry  of  half  theett !  Poor  Job  Orion !  why  thould  I  not  record 
a  jeit  (^  lut  (pcrhapa  tbe  only  one  he  ever  made)  emblematic  aa  it 
ia  of  tbe  living  atu  the  learning  of  the  good  old  timet  f  The 
316 


OLD  ENGLISH   WHITEBS  AND  SPEAKERS 


Rev.  Job  OrtOD  vm  a  DiiMniing  Miniitcf  io  th«  middle  of  the  lul 
century,  anO  h;id  ^ruwQ  heavy  and  fOMy  by  siitinj;  lonjt  at  dinoer  and 
at  hit  mtidie*.  He  could  only  get  down  »lair»  ut  iutt  by  apriMding  the 
folio  rolumei  of  Caryl'i  Commcntviei  upon  Job  on  the  *tep»  and 
(tiding  down  ihem.  Surprised  one  day  in  bin  dcicent,  he  exclaimed, 
*  Yoo  have  often  heard  of  Caryl  upon  Job— now  you  sec  Job  upon 
Caryl  I '  This  tame  quaioc-witted  jouty  old  gentleinan  teems  to  hm 
been  oae  of  thoae  'luperior,  happy  spiritti'  who  ilid  through  life  on 
the  rotlera  of  learning,  enjoyiog  the  good  thing*  of  the  world  and 
bughing  at  them,  and  turning  bi»  inlirmitien  to  a  livelier  account  than 
hU  patriarchal  name-sake.  Reader,  didst  ihou  ever  hear  cither  of 
Job  Orton  or  of  Caryl  on  Job?  1  darctay  not.  Yet  the  one  did 
cot  therefore  slide  dowa  his  theological  itaircaw  the  leu  plcasanity  t 
Dor  did  the  other  compile  bit  Commeoiarie*  in  vain !  For  myxlf, 
I  should  like  to  brovrze  on  folios,  and  have  to  de^  chiefly  vfith 
author*  that  I  have  scarcely  streagtli  to  lift,  that  ate  aa  solid  as  they 
are  heavy,  and  if  dull,  are  full  of  matter.  It  is  delightful  to  repose 
on  the  witdom  of  the  ancients ;  to  have  some  great  OAmc  at  hand, 
besides  one's  own  irticials  always  staring  one  in  the  face :  to  travel 
oot  of  oncVsclf  into  the  Chaldcc,  Hebrew,  and  Egyptian  chancier* ; 
to  have  the  palm-trees  waving  mystically  in  the  margin  of  the  page, 
and  the  camels  moving  dowly  on  in  the  diitancc  of  three  thousand 
years.  In  that  dry  detcri  of  learnine,  we  gather  strength  and  patience, 
and  a  strange  and  inHuiablc  thirst  of  knowledge.  The  ruined  monu- 
ments of  antiquity  are  also  there,  and  the  fragments  of  buried  cities 
(under  which  the  adder  lurks)  and  cool  springs  ^nd  green  sunny 
apots,  and  tlie  whirlwind  and  the  lion's  roar,  and  the  shadow  of 
angeliC  wings.  To  those  who  luro  with  superciboui  ditguat  from  the 
ponderous  tomes  of  scholastic  learning,  who  never  felt  the  witchery 
of  the  Talmuds  and  the  Cabbala,  of  the  Commentators  and  the 
Schoolmen,  of  tcxtt  and  auihoriiien,  of  lypet  and  anii.typct,  hicro- 
glypjiics  and  mysteries,  dogmas  and  contradictionti,  and  endless  con- 
troversies and  doubtful  labyrinths,  and  quaint  ttadiiioos,  I  would 
recommend  the  lines  of  Warton  written  in  a  Blank  Leaf  of  Dugdale't 
MonasUcon : 

■Deem  not  devuid  of  elegance  the  nge. 
By  fancy's  genuine  flings  unbteuiied, 
Of  painhil  pedantry  (he  poring  child. 
Who  iiim*  of  ilieM  proud  domn  ilie  hiuoric  pagC) 
Now  lunk  hy  time  and  Henry's  licrcer  rage. 
Thinkti  thou  the  warbling  Miik>  never  smiled 
On  his  lone  houn  !     Ingenuous  vkvn  engage 
H'ls  thoughts,  on  tbemfi  (unclauic  faluly  ityled) 
Intent.    While  clmsier'd  piety  ditplayt 

3'7 


wrmia   »  a 


OLD  ENGLISH   WRITERS  AND  SPEAKERS 


Lord  Bjrroo  appeart  to  mc  to  luvt  fittly  ran  hinurti  onl  in  bb 
defatlkitiag  ■aterctxiriic  with  the  wuton  Mum>  He  lud  no  other 
idea  left  hot  that  o(  liiniself  md  the  [nibltc — he  wai  uncity  Daln*  he 
wu  occQpicil  ia  adminutcrine  repeated  ptovocatWei  to  idle  curiotity, 
and  recet»ii»g  ttrong  do«»  of  prutr  «  cctmre  ia  retuin :  the  irtiu- 
lioQ  at  lut  btcame  w  nolcnt  and  impotiiuiaic,  thai  be  could  ocither 
ke«p  00  with  it  nor  take  »aj  rcpotc  from  it.  The  gliKcri&g  ofl>  of 
heated  popuktity 

'  Glared  miod  hit  tout  aad  mocked  hii  elMtng  ejre-lidik  * 

The  nccemrt  eodlcw  CimM  of  Don  Joas  were  (be  (juoUdiaa 
that  killed  him  ! — Old  Sir  Walter  w3l  laA  Icng  enoogb,  RuSag  lu* 
vaUet  aod  bu  '  wvne,'  at  he  doe*,  trith  iDMldy  fragmenti  aad 
crrabi  of  oomibn.  He  do««  not  '  ipia  hi)  bratoa,'  b«t  •oiaeihing 
RMcb  better.  The  cunniDg  tiitU,  the  old  etaty  gabtrlmnie  baa  got 
hoJd  of  aaother  cloc — ihu  of  name  and  hiitoty — and  long  tnay  he 
•pin  it,  'ercn  to  the  cnck  of  doom/  vatcfaing  tbc  ihrcada  at  thejr 
are  about  to  bmk  through  hi*  friaged  cjv-Eda,  catching  a  ttadttioo  in 
hit  mcniih  like  a  trap,  aod  beaptag  fail  (bfehead  with  facta,  till  it 
ihorei  up  the  Barooct'i  blae  boonet  inio  a  Baroo'a  crown,  and  tltcn 
wilt  the  old  boy  (urn  in  hit  chair,  rctt  bit  chin  npoo  hi*  cratch*  jpre 
a  Ian  look  to  the  Higlitandt,  and  witb  hit  btett  breath,  thank  Cod 
that  be  leafM  tbc  woild  a«  be  fonsd  it  I  Aod  to  he  will  pretty 
oearty  with  one  exception,  the  Scotch  Novdt.  Tbey  are  a  imaLI 
addition  to  tbi*  round  world  of  oora.  We  aad  tbey  thall  jog  oo 
raerrity  together  ibr  a  oentory  or  two,  I  hope,  till  toiae  fnture  Lord 
Byron  aaU,  *  Who  reada  Sir  Walter  Scon  now  > '  There  ia  the 
ktt  aad  abnoK  worat  of  them.  I  woold  take  it  with  nae  tnu  ■ 
wgJannai.  IVec  paget  of  poor  I'eter  PccUci  will  at  an^  tuna 
redeem  three  *ol«Bca  of  lUd-GttMJct.  Aad  Naoty  tiwart  ia  ena 
belter  with  hit  ttcady  walk  tqion  the  deck  of  the  Jumping  Jenny  and 
hit  Kory  of  hinuclf,  *  aod  her  wboae  foot  ( whether  he  came  in  or 
went  ont)  wa«  Dcret  off  tbc  tiair.'  There  yon  cante  near  mC|  there 
yon  toacbed  aw,  old  uiK-peaay !  And  then  again  the  calcb  that 
blind  Willie  aad  Ua  wife  aad  tbc  boy  ong  ia  the  hollow  of  the 
beatb — there  i*  more  nnrtb  aod  bean  *  eaae  ia  tt  than  b  all  Lord 
Byron't  Doa  Juan,  or  Mr.  Moore'*  Lyric*.  And  why  >.  Becaaie 
the  aathor  ia  thtDkioe  of  beggar*  aad  a  beggar'*  brat,  and  not  of 
btmtclf  wh3e  he  write*  h.  He  look*  at  oaure,  aeea  it,  bean 
it,  fcela  it,  aitd  hdiefet  that  it  exitC*,  bcbre  it  '»  printed,  hot- 
ftnKA,  Mid  labelled  oa  the  back.  By  iht  Amiht  ^ffavtrlcj.  He 
dOM  not  bacy,  aor  vonld  be  for  oee  otooMtK  hate  it  wypoatd,  that 
hi*  name  aad  fame  compote  all  that  ia  worth  a  moaieat  ■  coaitdera- 

5'9 


I 

I 


OLD  ENGLISH  WRITERS  AND  SPEAKERS 


which  we  have  Mr.  Southev's  Book  of  the  Church,  and  »  whole  hoM 
of  rcneg.idci !  Fcrha[it  Jeremy  Taylor  and  iIm  Beaumont  and 
Fletcher  msty  be  mcDlionctl  «*  rather  exccptioiw  lo  ihe  gravity  unil 
Kvcrity  I  have  epolcen  of  an  characterittic  of  our  eulirr  lltctatare. 
it  »  true,  tliey  axe  ilorid  and  voluptuous  in  their  nyle,  but  they  itUl 
keep  (heir  »tatc  apirt,  and  there  ia  ao  eloquence  of  the  heart  uboat 
them,  which  ivtan  to  guih  from  the  *  jiure  wcti  of  EiiKlith  uodefiled.* 
The  one  treat*  of  ucred  thing*  with  a  vivktneM  and  ti:r*ouf  a*  if  he 
had  a  icTclation  of  them ;  the  nihcm  tpeak  of  human  iotemu  with 
a  trnHcmMii  M  if  man's  naturr  were  dieine.  Jeremy  Taylor's  pen 
tecmt  to  have  been  guided  by  the  very  ifiirit  of  joy  and  youth,  out 
yet  with  a  letise  uf  what  wat  due  to  the  reiereocc  of  af^>  and  ■  icara 
of  pioua  awe,  that  feared  to  hare  offended,'  Beaumont  and  Fletcher'i 
loveacenes  are  like  the  mectinn  of  heart*  in  E!ly<iam.  Let  any  uae 
have  dwelt  on  any  object  w!ih  the  jireateci  fondnen,  let  him  have 
cherimhed  the  ferhng  to  the  utmoti  height,  and  hare  it  put  to  the  ecu 
in  the  most  trj'ing  circunutancet,  and  he  will  lind  ii  detcribrd  to  the 
life  in  Be.iumont  and  Fletcher.  Our  modern  dramniisu  (with  one 
exception  '),  appeal  not  to  natuic  or  the  heart,  but — to  the  readers  of 
modern  poetry.  Worda  and  paper,  each  toutnir  di  roir,  are  the  two 
re<juiiite8  of  a  fashionable  style.  But  the  glossy  (plendour,  the 
voluptuous  j;Iow  of  the  obsolete,  old-fashioned  writers  juM  nieniiuned 
bas  nothing  xnilicial,  nothing  meretricious  in  it.  It  is  the  liutmiaiict 
of  natural  feeling  and  fancy.  1  should  as  soon  think  of  accunng  the 
summer-rose  of  vanity  for  unfolding  its  leaves  to  the  dawn,  or  the 
hawihom  that  put4  forth  its  blouonis  in  the  genial  warmth  of  kprinj, 
of  affecting  to  be  fine.  We  hare  heard  a  good  deal  of  the  pulpil- 
eloqumce  of  Do«i>uei  and  other  celebrated  preachers  of  the  time  of 
Fenclon ;  but  1  doubt  much  whether  all  of  them  together  could 

ftoduce  any  number  of  pasMgcs  in  match  the  best  of  those  in  the 
loly  Living  and  Dying,  or  even  haxier's  severe  but  thril^ji^ 
dcniinciaiions  of  the  insiffoificance  and  notliingnets  of  life  and'  the 
certainty  of  a  judgment  to  come.  There  is  a  line  pottrait  of  this  last- 
named  powetfii)  controversial itt,  with  hi,  high  forehead  and  black 
velvet  cap,  to  Calamy's  Non- Con  form!  it's  Mcmoiial,  cootatning  an 
account  of  the  Two  Thousand  Ejected  Ministers  at  the  Reiioration 
of  Charles  it.  This  waa  a  proud  lint  for  Old  Fn;;bnd ;  and  the 
account  of  iheir  lives,  ihcir  yeal,  their  clo<{uencc  and  suffering*  lor 
consdcncc  sake,  is  one  of  the  most  interesting  chapters  in  the  history 
of  the  human  mind.  How  high  it  can  soar  in  faiih  I  How  nobly  it 
can  arm  itself  with  resolution  and  fertilude  !  How  far  it  can  surpati 
itself  in  cruelty  and  (rand  !  How  incapable  it  seemi  to  be  of  ^oaA, 
'  Tht  sullwr  of  Vir^inius, 


OLD  ENGLISH   WRITERS   AND  SPEAKERS 


of  exurnal  obterrauon  with  Kreiigili  of  intcniaJ  metniog.  Th« 
Dutch  are  pacieot  obtcircrt  of  natutc,  l>ui  winc  chacaaci  ind  f««lmji. 
The  French,  as  tai  on  we  bare  iiiiitate<l  then,  aim  onljr  at  the 
_,  and  glance  over  the  wirfacct  of  word*  and  thtRf;*.     Thui 

i  our  liteiaturc  dcccendetl  (accoitling  lo  the  fore^ng  icalc)  from 
the  tone  of  tbc  pulpit  to  that  of  the  coart  or  drawing-room,  from  the 
drawing-room  into  the  parlour,  and  from  thence,  if  rarne  critics  *siy 
true,  into  the  kiicheo  and  ate-housc.  It  may  do  rvco  worw  than 
that! 

Freocb  Itleraiure  has  undergone  {feat  changes  in  like  maonefi  lod 
vai  ouppotcd  to  be  at  it*  height  in  the  lime  of  LouU  iiv.  We 
cympiiihiw  leu,  howerer,  with  the  pompom  and  tet  upecchcj  in  the 
iragediM  of  Racine  and  CotDeillc,  or  in  the  Krimii  comcdtct  of 
Molicre,  than  we  do  with  the  grotct^oc  farce*  of  the  latter,  with  the 
exaggerated  dcMriptioot  and  humour  of  Kabelatf  (wbofc  wit  wai  a 
madnexi  a.  dmnkciioeas),  or  with  the  accompliabcd  hnniBiiitjr,  the 
eaiy  «tyle,  and  ^eotlnnaaly  and  tcholaflike  teooe  of  Montaigne. 
But  these  we  coDiideT  aa  in  a  great  mcaiute  b!ngli»h,  ot  at  what  the 
old  French  character  inclined  to,  before  it  wa>  corrupted  by  courti 
aad  academie*  of  criticiam.  The  exijutnic  gracci  of  La  Fooiainc, 
tbc  inditferctit  Micaslic  tone  of  Voltaire  and  Lc  Sage,  who  make 
light  of  every  thing,  and  wlio  produce  their  greatcu  effecia  with  the 
mott  imperceptible  and  rapid  louchea,  we  give  wholiv  to  the  con. 
ititutiooal  geniuN  of  the  French,  and  de*iair  of  imitating.  Perhapt 
in  all  ihia  we  proceed  by  guew-work  at  beet.  Nations  (particularly 
rival  nations}  are  bad  judges  of  one  anoihcr't  literature  or  phyiiogDomy. 
Tlie  French  certainly  do  not  underiiand  m:  it  i«  moil  probable  we 
do  not  underttand  litn.  How  slowly  great  works,  great  aamet  make 
their  way  aaots  the  Channel!  M.  Traccy's  'Ideologie'  liaa  not 
yet  been  beard  of  among  ta*,  and  a  FrcQchmao  who  jwks  tf  you  have 
read  it,  almost  subjecti  bimtelf  lo  the  suspicion  of  bdog  the  author. 
They  hare  also  thejr  little  ■ecta  and  portic*  in  literature,  and  though 
they  do  not  nickname  and  riliiy  their  rivals,  at  is  done  with  ut 
( [hankt  to  the  national  poliieont)  ;  yet  if  you  do  not  belong  to  the 
prevailing  patty,  they  very  civilly  suppct«s  all  mention  of  you,  your 
name  is  not  noticed  b  the  Jouraala,  not  your  work  inquired  for  at  the 
shops.) 

Those  who  explain  every  thing  by  6nal  causes  (that  ii,  who  deduce 

'  la  Paris,  lo  be  popnlir.  7011  didm  wch  out,  ibtj  *i|r<  loenly  ptc  a(  pnnpt 
*n<l  twenty  pair  ol  ulk  iiockinj*,  ia  oil*  upon  Ik  diflneol  Ncwsfsper  EAhon. 
Ib  EalUnrl,  jvn  hirt  osljr  to  am  in  jonr  raipiiliaa  al  the  Treasury,  and  yoa 
(cciiw  your  paupon  to  the  Jano  Bat)  PimoslBi  |  MhtrwiH  ]»>  are  thai  oal  anc 
OHdt  ■  bye  irsT'J.  Liltrary  jsslosty  lad  liUkocM  it  ttiU  the  mMtvti  potitjcs  the 
fceleat,  and  bl«(k|«arditai  the  mode. 

S'3 


THE   PLAIN  SPEASXB 

CTf&w  rftmJM^wigHiwil  II  rf«>«kfroiy<»tW 

MdAHC  MOT  pCCVIQOi^  W  VV  VCMB  DC  C^BVMtaol  b^  It;   VH 

dMT  "E  niMny  HWM  Ml  iIk  cswJi  dnao^  jjRjmoSt  XM  Tacitv  of 
■Mtiil  WUe«c  tUak«c«e«ci|^tfeKri(iarnMk«, 
«■  jfc  iaddpig  OT^  on  s^MlpnC^  MnJwoi,  wr  ill  ^uw.  hf 

The  Fvnck  ndKC  d  |kaBH|ty  »  a 
dK  GnaaM  ndac*  ikr  rBiMBiiw  thi 
The  oac  SR  a  B|<iial,  tlH  o^cr  •  I 
Scy  peopk.  Bodi  prooecd  by  tbc  ««crs  iofk  i  ta  the  fed 
la  thar  cDBclwiBiM  ■  the  fttfunicm  of  lUegB  or  iubmjii  i 
JwpoMtionfc  Wbea  we  affoi  W  »  mam'%  namm  a^^thm  i 
lieiut  ■«  (fnk  ■  liBgwgr  wiAiW  iTeqhig,j«J  wUch  be«3i 
flMencttd*  XyiflcfCflC  ssdom  uve  nvoviK  wodtf  ot  frriiiij  j 
accoradDi  fer  tiaagt  to  aleMe  tlm»wlm  aad  &B  i>  vMi 
onudftfy  huiiA  ^  a90  our  oiutfciit  AjruroM  cf  piwiotOBgyt  oEcfMi 
and  Mt  neet,  cootend,  ■nd  repd  oae  aeocher  oa  tlte  tarfuei 
opinkiOi  becauK  tbeir  elemetiu  will  not  aaulpBott  with  omt  leve 
haaioun,  ud  all  the  while  we  &ocy  ««  teak  tfae  qutadoa  by  mi 
ihtnci  exrrcUc  of  rtatoo,  and  b;  laying  <lo>»a  totat  refiatd  axtd 
cxflativc  Randard  at  taXc.  Tbctc  u  oo  gresi  bann  m  tUt  dria 
nor  can  there  be  much  to  leeifig  ihroogh  il|  farire  ihil  mSI  (a  aaj 
JMt  at  wc  did  before.' 


ESSAY  XXVI II 
MADAUE   PASTA   AND   HADEUOISELLK   UARS 

I    ui.m  MadoBoiatUe  Mart  exoeediBgly  well,  tiU  1  taw  MadMse] 

Patia  whotn  I  liked  to  much  beiier.     The  rcatoe  ia,  ibc  one  U 
Mrfcction  of  French,  the  other  of  Datunl  acting.    Madame  Paac 
ItaliaDf  and   ahc    might    be    Eoj^Inb' — MadctnolteUe   Man   beloa| 
ffBi|ihtticaQy  to  her  coontiy;  the  Kene  of  her  triurapha  it   V 
She  elaya  oaisrally  too,  but  it  it  French  oatare.     Let  me  cxpliitu^ 
She  DM,  ii  u  mte,  dodc  of  the  vkca  of  the  Freocb  tbeatret  it* 

'  Bwnaf«nt  aM  a  Mamktn  of  tbt  FrnKh  loMitntt  («  itrt*  vf  ■  rryott  of 
th(  Kanitaa  PhflMiBhy;  k«  ai^i  ■■  veil  have  or^rreit  tbtm  is  dnv  sp  ■  Rpon 
of  Uk  iM^nflijr  of  (be  moc*.  It  ■•  diftMtt  br  m  Ba^Unun  m  u4cntaM 
KMt|  far  *  Ft*B<)inMs  bytwihle.  The  ItDer  ku  ■  ccrtkia  ivmIm  of  {'■nan 
l«to  whkh  hi*  Unt  ran  baWuUjr  n  bi«  ■  aBSBliI,  lad  j»t  OMtaot  |ct  fan  om 
of  them. 

3»4 


m  m 


MvVDASfE  PASTA    AND   MADEMOISELLE   MAHS 

cxtrangancct  it*  flutcr,  iu  {[ritnac^,  and  aiRcctatton,  biM  ber  merit  in 
ihcw  rnpecti  ii  at  it  were  ttcgatirc,  and  die  teemi  to  put  an  artificial 
rtHraint  upott  henclf.  Tbne  U  ttill  a  pttdimt,  ao  aitmuoo  to 
mimitit,  an  eiiouMie,  a  inanaerHin  aboot  her  acting :  the  dor*  not 
pTc  an  entire  iooK  to  her  fedb|i,  or  tnut  to  tbe  UDpiemcdiutcd 
U)d  habitoal  impolae  of  ber  Mtoatioa.  She  hai  greater  rlegaoer, 
Mriiapa  and  precUUio  of  uylc  than  Madanie  PnUt  but  not  half  ber 
eoldiwH  or  grace.  In  short,  every  thtiw  ihe  doe*  a  TolantarjTi 
iBMead  of  betD£  sponiaoeou*.  It  aeeiiu  a*  if  tbe  migtht  be  acting  tnwi 
margioal  directions  to  her  part.  When  not  ipeaking,  «be  ttaiMit  m 
general  ^uitc  uill.  When  abe  ^leakc,  ibc  exicadt  firn  ooe  band  and 
then  the  other,  in  a  way  dux  yom  can  foretee  every  time  ibe  doe*  to, 
or  in  which  a  tnaduac  Btght  be  eUboratcly  coMtrDdcd  to  derdop* 
did'ereo;  luccctnTc  raoveacBtt.  Wbcn  the  entera,  tbe  advancet  in  a 
tttaight  line  from  tbe  (Mber  end  to  tbe  middle  of  tbe  mMge  wish  ibe 
•light  tictaryiog  trip  of  ber  country- women,  and  then  Kop«  thott,  w 
if  under  tbe  dnti  of  a  fwg^-mMi.  When  tbe  tpeakt,  tbe  anjcolate* 
with  perfect  cleamctt  and  propriety,  but  it  it  the  facility  of  a  tinger 
excoKing  a  difficult  putagc.  Tbe  catc  it  that  of  habit,  doc  of  lutnre. 
Whaterer  the  doe*,  it  right  in  the  inteotioo,  and  tbe  take*  care  not 
to  carry  it  too  far ;  but  the  apptart  to  tay  beforehand,  ■  Thii  I  will 
dO(  I  moft  not  do  tbai.'  Her  ictiog  it  an  iaimitable  Kudv  or  co»- 
■uniiuMC  rebeana!  of  the  pan  at  a  preparatory  peribrmaDcc ;  tbe  hardly 
yet  appear*  to  bate  awomed  the  character;  lomething  more  it  wautiog, 
and  that  tontetlung  you  find  in  Madinie  Paua.  If  Madettioitetle 
Mara  hM  to  imile,  ■  tligbt  and  evaneicnu  exprctaioa  of  pleattire 
MWM  «cron  ibe  inrface  of  ber  face ;  twinkle*  b  her  cydidi,  liimplct 
KT  dut^  cotBprtmt  her  lipt,  and  playt  oo  each  feMnre;  when 
Madame  Patta  miilet,  a  beam  of  joy  •eem*  to  hare  ttruck  upon  ber 
bean,  and  to  irradiate  her  cooDtniaiKe.  Her  whole  &ce  it  bathed 
and  meked  in  exprcttioa,  instead  of  iit  glancing  from  particular  pointa. 
When  tbe  ipcakt,  it  it  in  muaic.  Wbcn  the  more*,  it  it  without 
tfamking  whether  the  it  graceful  or  not.  When  the  wccpt,  it  it  a 
tboKairi  of  teatt,  dm  a  few  trickliog  drop*,  that  gKtter  and  *anttb 
tbe  iuant  after.  Tbe  French  tbenite)*ea  admifc  Madame  Patu'a 
acting,  (who  indeed  can  betp  it?)  but  they  go  away  thinking  bow 
much  one  of  ber  timple  morementi  woald  be  improved  by  their 
extTira^ant  geaicilatioac,  and  that  ber  noble,  oKnraJ  expreiMon 
would  be  tbe  bene*  fer  barii^  twenty  airt  of  iWBCtog  a^ctatioa 
added  to  it.  Id  her  Ni&a  there  it  a  Ititlcst  ncaocy,  an  a  wit  wait! 
grace,  a  want  of  iiintMMrr.  that  t«  like  a  child  or  a  changefing,  asd 
tbat  oa  French  actrcM  would  venture  upon  (be  a  momeni,  leM  tbe 
■bovld  be  ttatpected  of  a  want  of  tifrit  or  of  ioa  aiflt.     A  French 


THE   PLAIN  SPEAKER 

kctrcH  alway*  pUyt  before  ibc  court ;  tihc  is  »lir»j*  in  the  pmcivcc  of 
an  andimcc,  witli  whom  «hc  lirti  eenlc*  her  penonat  pretcntioM  by 
atigailicant  hint  or  (Ktc'glancc,  lod  thra  3«muchDuturc  Bod  umplictty 
t»  you  please.  Poor  Maiiame  Paitu  (hinkii  oo  laort  of  the  «iKlkncc 
thaa  Nina  hnwlf  would,  if  ilie  codii  be  obierved  bjr  Uealth,  or  ttuu 
the  &wn  thai  wounded  comes  to  driak,  or  the  flower  that  droopa  in 
the  aufl  or  wagi  iti  «weet  bend  in  the  gile.  She  giro  berHlf  entirely 
up  to  the  imnreuioo  nf  th<r  pan,  lotc>  her  power  over  hericir,  in  led 
away  by  her  frelingn  either  to  an  cxprcHion  of  KUpoi  or  of  artless  joy, 
borrow!  be-tuty  from  deformity,  chamu  unoontdoutlyi  and  it  iraos- 
lormed  iato  the  very  bcioj;  »lie  repreaenu.  She  doea  not  act  the 
character — the  ii  Ji,  looks  it,  breathe*  it.  She  doea  not  Mudv  fat  an 
elTccc,  but  Ktrireii  to  posteta  beraelf  of  the  feeling  which  ■houla  dictate 
what  ahe  ii  to  do,  and  which  giTci  birth  to  the  proper  degree  of 
firace,  dignity,  ea»e,  or  force.  She  maket  do  point  all  the  way 
through,  but  her  whole  «yle  and  manner  ii  in  perfifct  keeping,  at  if 
the  were  really  a  lore-mck,  care-ctazcd  maiden,  occupied  with  one 
deep  aoirow,  and  who  had  no  other  idea  or  intereat  tn  the  world. 
This  alone  i»  true  nature  and  true  art.  The  reat  ii  aophUtical  i  and 
French  art  it  not  free  from  the  imputation  t  it  ne*-er  place*  an  implicit 
faith  in  nature  but  alwayi  mixct  up  a  certain  portion  of  art,  that  it, 
of  conacioutneat  and  Affectation  with  it.  I  thai]  illutlraie  this  tubject 
from  a  peuuige  in  Shakcspear. 

'  /'s/ijYw/,— Shepherden, 
(A  fail  one  are  you)  will  you  lit  our  agti 
Wiih  flow'ri  of  wintn  i 

PfrJiia,^$it,  liic  year  growing  ancinil. 
Not  yd  on  tummer't  deani,  nor  on  the  birth 
Of  itcnihling  vtintri,  (he  faimt  Ao>vrr>  o*  th'  teaion 
Arc  our  eamaliont  Mid  itrcak'd  gillillawen. 
Which  tome  f^ll  naiiirc't  baitardt;  of  (hat  kind 
Our  niitic  ganlcn'i  barren,  and  I  care  not 
To  get  thpt  of  (hrm. 

PaUx. — WherefDce.  gentle  maiden, 
Po  you  neglect  them ' 

PfrJiia. —  For  I  have  heard  it  Mud, 
There  it  an  ait  n1ii<h  in  ihcii  piednct*  tharc* 
With  great  cicatlng  nnluie. 

Pttix. — Say,  (here  be, 
Vet  nature  ii  made  better  by  no  mean. 
But  nature  makes  (hal  mean ;  sa  o'er  that  art. 
Which  you  tajr  adili  to  natuic,  it  an  art. 
That  nature  inakei ;  you  tte,  twc«(  maid,  we  luny 
A  gentle  tcyon  to  the  nildctt  itork, 
And  make  conceive  a  baik  of  battr  kind 
3^6 


MADAME   PASTA   AND    MADEMOISKLLK  MARS 

By  bud  of  nobler  net.    Thii  it  an  art, 
which  doc*  mcni]  naiurc,  chanp  it  raUici)  but 
The  art  iltclf  ii  natiirt. 

Ptrdila, — So  ii  \%. 

Polix.—Thun  make  your  garden  rich  in  gilliDowcft, 
And  do  not  call  them  hutirdt. 

PrrJita, — I'll  not  pin 
A  dibble  in  eirlh,  to  lei  one  ilip  of  them  ; 
No  more  than,  mrc  I  painted,  I  should  wjsh 
Tlii)  youth  lo  lay,  'twere  well  ^  and  uuly  theieforc 
Detire  to  breed  by  mc.—H'itilfr'i  laU,  Ael  ty. 

Madame  Pata  appears  to  be  of  Pcrdiu'*  mind  in  rctprcc  to  hcv 
RCting,  »Dd  [  applaud  hrr  molutiot)  heartily.  We  Lng]i«h  arc 
charged  unjastly  with  wishing  to  ditparag«  thr  Firnch :  we  canoot 
help  it  i  therrr  ia  a  natural  antipathy  between  the  two  nations.  Thus 
unable  to  deny  their  theatrical  merit,  we  are  *aid  inridioualy  to  have 
invented  the  appellation,  Frtnth  naliire,  to  explain  away  or  throw  a 
Biigma  on  their  mou  nicceicful  exertiont : 

'  Though  that  their  art  be  nature, 

We  throw  *iich  enaiiget  of  vexation  on  it, 
A»  it  may  lo*e  lome  colour,' 

The  Engli&h  are  a  heavy  people,  and  the  mom  like  a  none  of  all 
Olhera.  1  he  French  are  a  lively  people,  and  more  like  a  feather. 
They  are  easily  moved  and  by  abght  causes,  and  each  part  of  the 
imptcssioD  lias  its  separate  eifecl:  the  Enelish,  if  they  are  moved  at 
all  (which  is  a  work  of  time  and  ditSculty),  arc  moved  altogether.  Of 
m  roa«K,  and  the  imprettion,  if  it  take«  root,  ttrikci  deep  and  (preadt 
wide,  involving  a  iiumbct  of  other  impression*  in  it.  If  a  fragment 
of  a  rock  wrenched  Irom  it«  place  toil*  slowly  at  lirst,  gathers 
•treogth  atid  lury  at  it  procccdi,  tears  up  everything  in  its  way,  and 
ihuoden  u>  the  plain  below,  there  is  soniethinf;  noble  and  imposing  in 
the  tight,  for  it  ia  an  image  of  our  own  lieadlon;;  pnstions  and  the 
incrcaung  vehemence  of  our  desirei.  Bui  we  bate  to  we  a  feather 
launched  bto  tlie  air  and  driven  back  on  the  hand  that  throwa  it, 
tbifting  it*  courie  with  ereiy  putf  of  wind,  and  carried  no  farther  by 
the  strongest  than  by  the  iJighiein  impulse.  It  i«  provoking  (it  it 
not  i)  to  tee  the  nrcngth  of  the  blow  always  defeated  by  tbc  rcry 
intignificancc  and  want  of  rctittance  in  the  object,  and  the  impaltc 
received  never  answering  to  the  impulse  given.  It  it  the  very  same 
fluttering,  Adgetting,  lantalijiiug.  tnconseijueiitia],  ridiculous  procc-st 
that  annoy*  us  in  the  French  character.  There  seems  no  natural 
correipoodence  between  objects  and  feelings,  between  thinga  and 
wotdi.     By  yielding  to  every  impulse  at  once,  nothing   producer 

3'7 


MADAME   PASTA    AND   MADEMOISELLE  MARS 


Gefmaa,  ikA  becutc  it  «m  Genua,  bat  bvuuw  i:  wm  htarj ;  ibK 
ti,  tiinii  tb*  watffBaaoa  md  tbe  ban  ife  bm  act  like  a  Ruchiar, 
w  w  to  be  wtMDd  op  or  kc  dovn  by  the  vaOtjt  of  the  will  ?  Do 
not  tlw  Fmch  cowyaip  (aad  eoBi|ilaiD  jomIt),  that  a  pictutc  i* 
Englitb,  whcti  it  it  coone  aoi  va&mAtd,  nd  imtt  out  ibc  dcuiU 
wfa*ch  are  one  part  of  samv?  Do  not  tbe  EsgUdi  mnonKiitc 
agaiiut  iliu  defect  too,  mi  cndcaTOsr  to  cure  it  ?  Bat  it  ou;  be 
lad  wc  rcliih  Scbiller,  becuuc  be  is  barbaroM,  violeM,  asd  like 
Sbakcfprv.  We  bare  tbc  canoooi  of  Rafhad  tben,  tad  tbc  Llgin 
tnaibte* ;  aad  wt  pf  oCn*  to  tdaan  and  undetimd  dieae  lod  asd  I 
tbiiik  witboM  an  aAectalaon.  Tbe  rcMOo  U  that  there  ia  ao  afiecta- 
lion  in  tbeiB.  We  like  thoae  ooUe  oalinea  of  the  hnaao  &ce  M 
Hxi^aoe  Coort ;  tbe  — ^Hnr*  dig/utf  of  the  expfeMwa ;  tbe  broad, 
anIebUaof  tbednpcry ;  the  boU.  naaarvc  limbai  there  it  breath 
■Ml  noboo  u  tbeiB,  asd  we  would  williagljp  be  lo  traaafcriMd  ami 
yriwJiatd :  bu  we  do  dm  waat  to  ha?e  ow  bcwT,  mpid  &cn 
fliittTnl  awi;  ioiB  a  aoabar  of  |Ktiering  pMoia  or  trwaliKad  iMe 
■  aoiootb  pctniacDM  oa  Frcacfa  casvaa.  Ov  ba%,  if  waanog  b 
mpnaakm,  bate  a  aettled  purpoae  in  them  t  are  u  lolid  a*  ibey  are 
an^ ;  and  we  are  at  tea«  Bc«b  and  blood.  We  alio  like  tbc  tway 
of  dtr  limba  and  negligent  grandeur  of  tbc  El^  narhica ;  in  apte  of 
tbctr  bage  weight  and  uaalj  Krength,  tbcy  faaTt  ibe  boopscy  of  > 
wsrr  of  tbe  tn,  with  all  tbe  eme  and  aojtneu  of  Acab  :  tbcy  Bdl  into 
attitndc*  of  tbenaelve* :  but  if  tbey  were  pot  iuo  aititiidea  by  the 
gentua  of  Opera^aadn^  we  abovld  feel  no  ditponckiB  is  indtatt  or 
cary  than,  aiv  more  than  we  do  tbe  Zeebyr  and  Flora  grace*  of  French 
Kaouiy.  WefvdttaaiB^  bead  of  Cbaany'a  to  a  quarry  of  French 
wifiare.  Tbe  Ei^Sib  arc  t  iftoda*  pcme,  ococfa  in  coi^ariag 
■bcBachaa  with  tbctr  neu  acigbboan,  aaa  oeihiag  nrovokca  their 
Lfride  in  tbia  caac,  ao  ancb  ■■  tbe  actfaaJBdeacy  of  tbe  latter.  When 
I  MarJiiai  PMia  a^Uca  b  noa  tbe  ttagi^  and  look*  ^levt  ber  with  ibe 
■flM  MCOaacioaaBeta  or  baad  wonder  aa  iheyDnnc  Mag  in  the  foreiti 
wbea  riwaaown  ba  liaba  aa  careletaly  aa  a  tree  Ka  brancbet;  wfacn 
4ie  aafclda  one  of  ber  divine  cxpreaaiont  of  ooaattaaaoe,  which 
reiect  the  inmoai  fceiing*  of  the  tonl,  b»  tfac  cafaai  deep  lake  rrAccta 
tbe  hat  of  bcaTtn  ;  do  we  aoc  mAaitaij  admire  ber,  do  we  not  with 
her  oon,  asd  fed,  with  the  aaoae  cam.  of  tbo«|ht  and  cbaractcr, 
a  waai  of  glow,  of  graces  and  aae  in  tbe  expretboa  of  what  we  fixl  i 
We  bow,  like  Gwderiaa  and  Arriragna  in  the  caie  when  they 
mw  IflKgen,  ai  to  a  thanjg  ^erior.  On  tbe  other  band,  when 
MadeHoiaeUe  Mara  cooea  oa  the  aOK  taoMtbi^g  in  tbe  aiaaner  of 
a&Mocdni  figare  iGd  akageaa  a>oodei  frMM,  a«M  Making  directly 
fat  tbe  potBt  81  which  ber  offidal  opmcioea  fnwmrnrr'     whin  bH 

3»9 


Madame  pasta  and  mademoiseixe  mahs 


great  wit  awl  eloqocncr,  and  pntciuly  afur  changed  udet,  without 
knowiflg  that  tbr  had  done  h>  ;  who  ioTcittcd  a  nory  sad  brlicrcd 
it  00  th«  (pot  [  who  wept  bcraclf  and  nude  you  wm|>  with  the  (otet 
of  her  dMcripttoM.  and  niddraly  dryioj;  her  tjt*,  iaiaxbcd  at  jrou 
for  looking  grave.  U  not  thii  tike  actiof;  {  Yet  it  wa*  aot  aiFected 
in  her,  hot  naturaE,  inTohintary,  iDcorrigible.  The  hurry  and 
excttement  of  her  oaturat  (piriu  wat  tike  a  tpecim  of  intoxication, 
or  the  rcieinbUd  a  cluld  in  tboo^idcHoeM  md  bioohercnce.  She 
wa*  a  Prenchwomaa.  It  wm  UOn«i  hot  natarc  tliai  had  nothing 
to  do  with  truth  or  eoamiuaej. 

Id  one  of  the  Pari*  JosTMH  holy,  there  wu  a  criticiMn  on  two 
Msure*  bjr  Girodct  of  Bonchanipt  and  Cathelioean,  Veodean  chid*. 
The  pmr  ia  well  written,  and  pointi  out  the  delecu  of  the  portraits 
Tcry  fairly  and  jodiciouily.  Theic  pcrtoo*  are  there  called 
■lUiutrioui  Veotiean*.'  The  dead  dog*  of  1811  are  the  illiutriotu 
Vendea»  of  1814.  Monawr  ChMcnbriand  will  bare  it  w,  and 
the  French  arc  too  polite  s  raiioa  to  oootradict  hini.  They  iplh  on 
thif  rock  of  cotnptaiaance,  wrrendMing  every  principle  to  the  ftat 
of  giving  olTeDce,  at  we  do  on  the  oppoaiic  one  of  pctrty-tpint  and 
rancorous  bociility,  nctificiog  the  beat  of  canaei^  and  oar  bew  friend* 
to  the  desire  of  giving  oAence,  to  the  indnlgcnoe  of  oar  tpleen,  and 
of  >D  ill-tongue.  We  apply  a  degrading  amlUitioa,  or  briog  an 
npprohtiov  charge  agaiait  aa  indin£ial  1  ana  Nch  ia  oor  tcoaoow- 
Bca*  of  the  imobM  aid  dlMgNeahk^  an  bad  are  wc  of  broo^pg  over 
grietaacei^  ao  incapable  are  our  imaginatioM  of  raiting  ibemadvea 
above  the  Iowcm  tcBnilttjr  or  the  ifittieat  abine,  that  iboald  tbe 
penoo  aUacktd  come  one  an  angel  (tota  tbe  eonte«t,  the  prejndice 
apiDM  faao)  rcmatiM  nearly  tbe  aunc  a«  if  tbe  charge  had  been  fnlljr 
prowd.  Aa  oopieaiaat  awociaaOB  hat  been  created,  and  thit  it  too 
dcfi^KM  aa  ciercite  of  the  aadcnuadiag  with  the  Englith  public 
caiily  to  be  parted  with.  John  BaQ  woold  a*  toon  give  up  an  e«ta<c 
a*  a  bi^-bear.  Harmg  been  once  gnOed,  they  are  not  aoon  uagitBni. 
They  are  too  knowing  for  thai.  Nay,  they  retent  the  attempt  to 
aodcceive  thetn  at  an  tnjory.  Tbe  French  apply  a  brilliant  cpitbet 
to  the  BKMC  vnberable  character*;  and  that  glott  ov«r  a  life  of 
Ueachcry  or  infamy.  WiU)  them  the  ioimediaic  or  lajt  imprettion 
it  every  thing:  with  ut,  the  firtt,  if  it  it  tujticiently  ttroog  and 
doomy,  nerer  wear*  out !  The  French  critic  obwrvea  that  M. 
Girodet  hu  giveo  General  Boochampa,  thooKb  in  a  atmaoa  o( 
great  dit^culiy  and  danger,  a  calm  and  even  Hnilin;;  air,  lod  that  the 
portrait  of  Catbclincaa,  iattcad  of  a  hero,  look*  oolv  like  aa  mpj 
irrnaanr  la  iiact,  tbe  ^  in  the  fint  ponrak  an  laaile  of  narmalade, 
tht  tonfkxioc  u  cowwtic,  and  tbt  taik  lodMIr  cagagiog ;  while 

S3< 


tutted    t^t^-  uSHtflBB^IflHfe  D^BC  S  BH 

MV   ******!    hOUb  OTt    M 

I  far  mob  ad  annc,  ifce  Vuoe»  far 
^  4ni  bw^  far  te  biBf  Bst  of  «t.    tVr  edov  « 
««K  M  aai  aU  k  a  potare:   tftey  |K^in>K  a  Crwfc  tBgrf^ 


'bwr-i 


mnai 

[tk««afb  •cpekoK 

■Md  OB7  dMM:  K 

MiycMiydnc  Oc 

B.     Ofc.  P^!    >  ««  aM  «  ^~*9 


MADAME  PASTA   AND   MADEMOISELLE  MARS 

cs&not  bear  to  wppotr  Tor  >  mometti  ihcre  ihould  be  any  Uung  thty 
do  not  UDd^rsuiid :  thcjr  arc  shockingly  afraid  of  being  mjitiftd. 
Hence  ihey  hare  do  idea  cithet  of  mental  or  aerial  peispeciivc. 
Every  thing  muit  be  di*tti>ctly  made  out  and  to  the  loregiouod  ;  for 
if  it  ii  not  (o  cicir  tbat  they  can  take  it  up  bn  by  bit,  it  ia  wholly 
itm  upon  ihcfn,  and  tticy  turn  away  as  from  an  unmeaning  blank. 
Thii  is  the  caiac  of  tbc  iliff,  uanaiuial  look  of  ibeit  poiiraiti.  No 
■llowaacc  it  made  for  the  Tcil  that  shade  as  wdl  as  an  oblique 
posilioD  cau*  over  the  ditfcrent  psria  of  the  lace ;  ercry  feature,  and 
erery  part  of  erery  feature  b  gitea  wtlh  the  uroe  flat  effect*  and  it 
»  owing  to  thia  |>en«r*e  fidelity  of  d«uil,  that  thai  which  ia  literally 
true,  it  naturally  falic.  The  ndc  of  a  face  teen  in  perspective  doca 
Dot  pretetit  *o  many  marking*  ai  tbc  one  that  meet)  your  eye  fiill : 
but  if  it  t*  pat  toto  tbc  vitt  of  French  portrait,  wrcncbed  roand  by 
incorrigible  aifecutioa  ai»d  conceit  (that  iaiiat  upon  kBOWtD|  all  tbat 
i*  there,  and  »tt  it  down  fofmally,  though  it  it  not  to  be  aocn),  what 
caa  be  the  result,  but  that  the  portrait  will  look  like  a  head  RKk  iD 
a  vice,  will  be  flat,  hatd,  and  finithed,  will  have  the  appearue*  of 
reality  and  at  the  auue  time  look  like  paint  i  b  short,  irill  \k  t 
French  portrait  ?  That  it,  the  artiit,  from  a  petdoeM  of  *iew  and 
want  of  more  enlarged  and  liberal  notion*  of  art,  cotne*  forward  not 
to  reprecent  nature,  but  like  an  imprrtineni  commeniaior  to  explain 
what  she  hat  left  in  doubt,  to  iomt  on  that  which  she  passes  over 
or  touches  only  s%htly,  lo  throw  a  critical  light  on  what  she  ca«a 
into  shade,  and  to  pick  out  the  detaila  of  what  the  blends  into  masse*. 
I  wvodcr  they  allow  the  exidence  of  the  term  tlar-attair  at  all,  bui 
il  IS  a  word  ;  aad  a  word  is  a  thing  tbey  can  repeat  and  remember. 
A  French  gentleman  formerly  asked  lac  what  I  thought  of  a  land- 
•cape  in  their  Exhibition.  I  aaid  1  thought  it  toe  clear.  He  made 
answer  that  he  shonld  have  conceited  that  to  be  impoisibte.  I 
replied,  that  what  I  intaM  wat,  that  the  pons  of  the  several  objcdi 
w«ie  made  out  with  toe  nearly  equal  disttnctnes*  all  over  the  picture ; 
that  the  leaves  of  the  trees  in  shadow  were  ai  diainct  as  those  In 
ligbt,  the  branches  of  the  trees  at  a  distance  at  plain  at  of  those  near. 
The  perspectiTe  arose  oi>ly  from  the  dimiutioD  of  objcctSi  and  there 
vaa  no  iUemtitioD  of  air.  I  taid,  one  codd  not  tec  the  leave*  of 
a  tree  a  mile  otf,  but  thit,  I  added,  a|ipcnaiMd  M>  a  ^MMioo  Id 
metaphysics.  He  shook  hii  head,  thialiiDf  tlat  a  youag  EngliA- 
man  could  know  as  little  of  abitrvte  phOotopfay  at  a  fiiw  art,  and 
BO  more  waa  said.  I  owe  to  tbii  gcntleinaD  (wbo*e  name  was 
Mcrrnoce,  and  who  I  tmdeTttand  it  lull  living,)  a  gratejitl  sense  of 
many  ftictidly  attentioas  and  many  nsefil  suggestions,  and  I  take  thia 
OffOftuaiiy  of  acknowledging  my  obligations. 

333 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 


r 


MADAME  PASTA   AND   MADEMOISELLE  MARS 

thu  hct  taiod  hat  bttn  tStcud  in  lik«  ina&Der,  that  the  rntcra  deeply 
ioio  tht  reioaieet  of  niturr,  aa<l  undcrsucdt  (he  Ticheti  uf  the  huiuio 
heart.      For  nothing  elie  caa  impel  und  «ir  h^  up  to  the  imililton  of 
the  truth.     The  my  in  which  mJ  cauw*  uri  upott  ibe  fci^ling*  ii 
t)ot   itrbitrary,  is  not  lanciful ;    it  i<   if   true   aa   il   u   powcrfil   and 
iiflfoirw«n  ;  the  eliccu  can  only  be  similar  when  ihc  rxcfting  cau*c» 
bare  a  coimpoodence  with  each  oihcr,  and  (here  i*  nothing  like 
feeling  tat  feeling.     The  tcnte  of  joy  caa  alone  produce  tbe  smile  of 
joyi   and  in  pioportion  to  tlie  (weetoet*,  the  UDconaciouaneM,  and 
the  expaotion  of  the  laat,  we  may  be  mre  i*  the  (ulneaa  and  aincerity 
of  the  hcatt  from  which  it  proceeda.     The  elcmcfita  of  joy  at  teaat 
arc  thcic,  in  ihdr  integrity  and  peticctioci.     The  death  o>r  abwncc 
of  a  betoTcd  object  it  nothing  aa  a  word,  »a  a  mere  pOMing  ibooght, 
till  it  conie*  to  be  dwelt  upon,  and  we  begin  to  feel  tbc  reralaion,  the 
long  dreary  aeparation,  the  stunning  aeMC  of  the  blow  to  ow  happi- 
nett,  M  we  ahoiild  in  reality.     The  power  of  giiinji  thia  tad  and 
bewildering  cficct  of  aorrow  on  ihe  aiage  is  derived  from  tbe  force  of 
■ympathy  wkh  wha.i  we  ihould  feel  in  reality.     Tliat  il^  a  great 
watnanic  geniu*  a  ooc  that  approximaic*  the  eiFccta  of  words,  or  of 
tupptwed  iimitiona  on  the  mind,  most  nearly  to  the  deep  and  Titrid 
cBcct  of  real  and  ineritahle  ones.     Joy  produce*  teari :  the  violence 
oTpMHon  turn)  to  childiah  wnkncsi ;  but  thia  could  not  be  ibrcwcn 
by  Rudv,  not  taught  by  nilei,  nor  mimicked  by  obtcriation.    Natunl 
acting  u  ibetefore  fine,  becauae  it  im^ics  and  calli  forth  the  tnoM 
varied  and  acrongeti  feclbgs  that  the  tupposed  charactera  and  circarn- 
iuncea  can  pooibly  give  binh  to:    it  reaches  the  height  of  the 
aubject.     Th«  conceiting  or  cotertng  into  a  pan  in  this  sense  i* 
every  thing:    tbe  acting   follows  easily  and   of  course.      But   an 
wiihout  nature  it  a  nick  oamc,  a  word  without  meaning,  a  concliuioii 
Without  any  premiftet  to  go  upon.     The  beauty  of  Madame  Paata'a 
acting  in  Nini  proceeds  upon  this  principle.     It  it  not  what  ibc  doe* 
at  any  ponicnlar  jonctare,  but  tbe  aeems  to  be  tbc  character,  and  to 
be  incapable  of  divesting  herself  of  ii.     This  is  troc  acting :  any 
thing  else  it  playing  tricks,  may  be  clever  and  ingenious,  is  French 
Oper»dBDciog,  rccitadoo,  heroica  or  hytKrica— bw  it  is  doc  true 
ouw*  or  tne  wt. 


33! 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 


ESSAY  XXIX 


sift    WALTtS    SCOTT,    ftACIHZ,    AXD    SBAKE5PEAK 

Tm  «iDMai  B  ife  a^  of  ih* 

nOfC   pKMBR    bwi 

Cmvof  ifar  Opm  ow  the  cfcrncw  liar  1m  Im  «idr  ii  Ui  cttef 
or  iirlMii  wcmj.  Bn  I  bsiv  bard  lonr  bnry  pnoai  4o  ite 
i^BC  I  iBd  m  tBw  K  ipptin  to  bc  to  bt  nora  tkc  iHrtimop  n 

lb  fntBtmaei  far  bowtcr  U^  of  mpatik^  tfe  cfes  if 
■■ie  am  be  tf  Ife  OHK,  «e  lava  ts  nMve  ■  b«t  < 
CidnidHr  mmI  rcpoK^aHl  ia  m  fton  ika  tta  dx 
.'  1  tB  pie  m  aatoBf  rate.    ladnd  tkcre  ii  >  mh»  if  i 
I  a  MTi  «f  oibcal  rcnonr  a  iW  opfwn  covit  m  kgirsigaiM  i 
Ml  prajBOCv  oc  i  liiuu  to  wnooi  wi  ks  isdif  toBMMxnbfe  oofi^^  j 
DOM  I  Dvt  tluf  very  wwnft^  oi  iMcoooBnt  ov  Mcnftoe  cf  a  pfnwnce 
i«  a  Ocii  proof  dut  wb  are  ■inw^t  fa  it  ame*  ealf  ea  of  tbe 
«MBf  iMoa*  cxckad  is  ife  OMne  of  tiBe,  aad  istehcd  b  t&c 
MBHc  a>d  panople  m  ifaeoiMB- 

Wofdi  a»  die  «|w  «hiA  poiaa  a«  ad  Mbe  Ae  et^jecta  of  lie 
Ii^Mac  iipoct  to  tae  MBan  win  i  v^  tfttoi  tt  iw  oaCMMal*  and 
M  It  «m  ne«  mt^rtr  aude  oif  '■[■■'^-g  ikow  <^a,  tk  oav 
with  wUcb  ow  praebca]  nd  wrioa*  MMXiativa  are 
To  gm  a  ddibmce  icrdicc  oe  the  otfaa  ade  of  the 
dMmerc^  cfcuMr  aad  aajBac  ft  rnir  Ji  ifaliihifal  in  iIn  ■wII,  ■ 
fhiapflf  »  ^  gMtfc  Im  DOW  aod  tbc  lauat,  if  ihdr 
wcf6  uudg  Mptf  ^V7  Biny  pvt  it  9  nratf  oi  tbcve 
nvalaeadncM;  b«  the  head  and  the  btan  caasot  be 
wcuMt?  accoBfMCea  ajpUMt  thcnMTca*  ^vc  tf  jbbu(  aoy  a  v 
tn  By  pttMatc  or  na»i  tbaa  to  wmeoflgr  the 
>  of  Hoe  other  to  it.     Every  thii^  naada  beta 

A  tooad  exfreaMi^  fa  Uw  RMMt  pan,  asduagbai  ioeirf 
a  «a(d  c^rcaaea  a  miHioa  efMoad^  ThcihaogbB  of  iatyitaaaB  afi 
the  ffloawat  m  ooe  thtttg,  aad  a  aiay  be  noee  or  Icm  dcnprtnpi  hat 
beyood  ihk,  tt  nuy  relate  to  the  hie  or  errau  of  a  vhok  Ue,  tmd  it 
■a  tUi  noral  and  inleUectaai  penpecti*e  tlui  word*  coofey  !■  ita  fid 
wtfjHBCMMm  and  f  ttf  iJi  mkI  that  gtm  a  propottinpahle  anenomy  tt 
weqthii  ia  coapaa^  aad  tfigaity  to  the  d^aaoKiaea  of^ihe  irai 


l«^ 


336 


tn|>c 


» 


sm   WALTER  SCOTT,  RACINE,  SHAKESPEAR 

Mmc.  Tbc  bagua^  of  tbe  Bitdcrauadttig  u  occnury  to  a  raiioul 
bciBg.  Mia  i*  dumb  i&d  prooe  to  tbe  onb  wkIkkr  it.  It  it  thai 
whi5t  opKos  tbe  Ttita  of  oat  jam  or  fswre  yttn.  Otberwbe  a  clood 
■(  apOD  it,  like  tbe  niiu  of  tbe  monusKt  like  a  veil  of  rote*,  sn 
exbabboa  of  iweet  lound*,  or  licb  dualled  perfumer ;  do  nutter 
what— k  U  the  nerre  at  organ  that  u  chiedy  toncbed,  the  Ktwc  that 
M  vt»f\ftii  n  tctucj  or  waked  to  maaaan  tbc  inu  [emaiiu 
aoawTcd,  torpid,  aad  InttcM,  blind  to  caaxi  and  coaie<|aracc«,  wluch 
he  can  arm  reania  nwAed  witboot  fcaowtaf,  b«  kvm  itua  up  in 
a  ccO  of  igBonaec^baflcd  and  coafouaded.  Sonad*  aritbiMt  tiNanins 
■n  like  a  gbre  of  lijbt  witboot  object*  i  or,  an  Opera  U  to  a 
Twagedj  what  a  traarpoKncy  ia  to  a  pictMre.  We  arc  delighted 
bccaiiie  wc  are  dazileo.  Bin  wotda  are  a  key  to  the  alTcciMaa, 
Tbry  oot  only  exdte  fediagi,  bat  ihey  point  to  the  ortj  aod 
vibfrrfori.  CuMea  aurch  before  iben,  lad  cotMcqaeocet  follow 
after  them.  They  are  bak*  in  rhe  cbaio  of  the  aoircnc,  aad  the 
grupGdgriroM  ihn  biod  m  to  it.  They  opco  the  gate*  of  Paradi«c, 
aad  nveal  tbcabjMof  bnBua  woe 

'  Foot  bgging  winim  and  foor  Haaton  ^irin(> 
Die  IB  a  wonl  [  nxh  ii  tht  breath  of  kinga.' 

Bat  to  ibii  reapect,  all  coen  who  hare  the  lue  of  tpeecfa  ue  kioga.  It 
ii  wnrdi  that  coottitote  all  but  the  preaent  raoineot,  bat  the  present 
object.  They  may  not  and  they  do  oot  give  the  whale  of  any  train 
of  impretoona  which  they  raggnt ;  bat  ihcy  alooe  amwrr  in  »y 
degree  10  tbe  tnub  of  thing*,  unfold  tbc  dark  bbyriatb  of  fate, 
or  Mcavel  the  web  of  the  benan  hean ;  for  they  aloac  dcaoibe 
tluofi  ia  the  ordar  aod  Kbtioa  to  which  they  happen  ia  bnmaB 
liiiB.  Men  do  aoi  daoa  or  ang  throogh  life  t  or  aa  Open  or  a 
(■Dn  woold  *  came  borne  to  the  boaoota  aod  bonacaaea  of  aiai,' 
ia  ^  naK  "■»'""  that  a  Tragedy  or  Comedy  doet.  Aa  it  ia, 
they  do  not  piece  oo  to  oar  ordinan  exittc&cc,  nor  go  to  enrich 
oar  hahitaa]  rcflectioaa.  We  wake  from  them  at  froai  a  drvnkcn 
dream,  or  a  bat  ugbl*a  detuoch ;  jod  think  of  them  no  more,  till  tbc 
acfual  aapeeirion  b  rvpeated.^ — On  the  other  hand,  pantomime  aaion 
(a«  an  exclonreand  new  tpecicaof  tbe  drama)  it  like  tragedy  obtnm- 
cated  aod  thrown  oa  the  grouad,  gaaping  for  utterance  and  «ing)rBog 
Cbr  breath.  It  u  a  diapUy  of  tbe  powen  of  an,  I  ahould  think  more 
wonderful  than  aatia&ctory.  There  i«  a  ctiAiag  teaniioa  abou  iL 
It  doe*  Dot  throw  aS  *  tbe  pertloua  noS  that  weigbt  vpoa  tbc  beartf* 
but  mutt  rather  aggravate  aod  tighten  the  preaoire. 

'Gin  lonoH  ■rordi;  the  giief  that  doonoc  ipcak, 
Whupen  the  o'er-fraugbt  btan,  and  bidt  it  brtak.* 
WM-  TO.  !  T  S  57 


^ 


THE   PLATS  SP£.\E£ft 


be  kepi  ^oed*     Eicn  ia 


■  diack.      Bmt 
,  iFwK  by  avdc  upBxlt  (ok  AufnAoqi  &ca^J 

Bk  0  Qwp  Itt  fliwdt  Bov  itots  111  tfl^  jffco  oty  ftfowi.tg  vc  or 

•  flM<  oxHciM  far  dinr  iayuumy,  if  bok  jhr  Awt  mh—bmh^  ■ 

b  beVMmu  the  ^afrtrtP  nf  Sir  WtbKT  Si:i>Cq  J^^npf-  aad 
Zne  MDiBcc  oonmn  m  nc  puiii 

r  m  FcaacB.    Am  I  dniBMitotfaR|nfaiWif^af  dkifti 

[  iijUii  iwiui  tftHg  tnem  ww  4  cirBrary  flsa  &  htux  -o  bv 
h  ttdiq^x  ton  uif  t  ^m^'  *"''^  **p^i^  |if^if  tfes  vifinstt  n 
bof  cbe  tvo  vTVBtv  fnsi  a  cftaBge  B  tse  tBBB  of  as  wnuu^ 

OMi  ^asHt  h».  Tke  aalj  iili  iiiriii  job  base  in  :1m  caie  ■■  ifaK 
yiB  OB  ^Ind  ioBbiic;  u  cxprea  jwirwlf  pnipB^y.  jol  OBiy  W 
■■ponn  CO  Bsfv  a  nsMUig  wti0v  yott  8M  BJBg  As  o^vf  '  'i  1 1 1 ' 
wB  'miHf  ttepbawi&uuLiHi^BiBd  jaafesMtaB^MKiB^mBritr 

worn  V  saw  <iihgi*  wnBnBMM  bb^  IWMvn^Hvi^mB  mtf  Bfln  mb^b*- 
KHMUif  Bnei^  ana  1  w^  Of  wt  ihsh>  miitii  t  wisSi  tiw  raMOBft 
1  aUKffd  B  tiie  pvoaiK  n^3nce»  t  UmiiE  to  — niii  tBEni  qa  mx 
imf,  nd  the  EaflMriag  ii  tte  mnfc. — It  «h  «no«d  v  oov  on* 
Aac  At  MM*  of  At  AKbor  af  WsMriir  «M  odaid  o  Scadnd  E 
dM  b«  Nstdli  Md  T4ln  w«ic  a  bndlr  tf  Hiaul  ptjrftBw  nd 
nol  trxuBBOB^  jDo  h8C  hti  Auyeriof^r  wows  dncrt  nMBt  cse  ibbok 

BB  ^^B^DIOBBA  BD  ^IQBB  ^De   ^3QCl^^^r«       fjff   BIB^pe    tOe   ^b^BBDBKb  Bd^BBVBF  _ 

JBB  CQBinrf  VB  Mie>e  vBVBviDie  ^mponc^  OTCOBsiBiL     (ibddbBv 
if  BBi  t^nl  »  ths  vtry  bcKflf  i1k  Scotch  Novdiv  «  wy  Bocfy  la  i 
JJ8 


I 


SIR  WALTER  SOOTT,  RACINE,  SHAKESPEAR 

and  the  Kencrjr  and  maaneri  are  truly  English.  Is  Queotin  Dorwirdf 
iig»\n,  he  mode  a  descent  upon  Prtince,  >nd  gained  new  laurels,  insteid 
of  lo»ing  hit  forincr  ooet.  This  teemed  to  bespeak  >  versatility  of 
uleot  and  a  ptaatic  power,  which  in  the  iirst  tnttsnce  had  be«n  called 
to  ^uesdoD.  A  Scotch  mist  had  been  suipected  to  bang  its  myttery 
orer  the  page  i  hit  imigination  was  borne  up  on  Highland  super- 
stitions and  oboolete  traditions,  '  tailing  with  supreme  dominion ' 
through  the  murky  regions  of  ignorance  sod  tutbuisra ;  and  if  cm 
at  a  loss,  hit  invention  wm  eked  out  and  goi  it  (jH  by  meaos  of  ancient 
documents  and  the  tecordt  of  crimioal  jurisprudence  or  fanatic  rage. 
The  Black  Dwarf  wit  a  pianphrate  of  the  current  aoeccioies  of 
David  Ritchie,  without  any  additional  point  oi  interest,  and  the  iincT 
of  ElBe  Deans  had  slept  for  a  century  m  the  law  reports  and  depoa* 
tions  relatire  to  the  Heart  o^  Mid-Lothian.  To  be  sure,  nothing 
could  be  finer  or  truer  to  nature ;  for  the  human  heart,  whenever  or 
however  it  w  wakened,  ha*  a  stirring  power  in  it,  and  as  to  the  irath 
of  nature,  nothing  can  be  more  like  nature  than  facts,  tf  jrou  know 
where  to  find  them.  But  at  to  sheer  invention,  there  appeared  to  be 
about  at  much  as  there  is  in  the  getting  tip  the  melo-dmnaiic  iepre> 
icnutioo  of  the  Ntaid  and  the  Magpye  from  the  Cauiei  Cttebrti. 
The  invention  is  much  greater  and  the  eAcci  is  not  lets  in  Mr*. 
Inchbald's  NATVsr  and  Akt,  where  there  is  nothing  that  can  hare 
been  given  in  rvuim^r  but  the  TfiaJ-^cene  near  the  end,  and  even  that 
ia  not  a  lef>al  anecdote,  but  a  pure  drainuiic  fiction.  Before  I  pto- 
ceed,  I  may  ai  well  dwell  on  thii  point  a  little.  The  heroine  of  the 
story,  the  once  innocent  and  beautiful  Hannah,  is  brought  by  a  series 
of  mitfortunct  and  crimes  (the  clTect  of  a  misplaced  attachment)  to 
be  tried  for  ber  lifi;  at  the  Old  Bailey,  and  as  her  Judge,  her  former 
lover  and  seducer,  it  about  to  proooancc  sentence  upon  het,  she  calls 
out  in  an  agony — '  Oh !  not  from  vou  ! '  and  as  tbc  Hon.  Mt. 
Noewynoe  proceeds  to  finish  his  solemn  address,  falls  in  a  swooa, 
and  is  taken  letweless  from  the  bar.  1  know  nothing  b  the  world  so 
affecting  as  this.  Now  if  Mrs.  Incbbald  had  merely  found  thia 
ktoty  in  ibe  Newgate- Calendar,  and  transnlanicd  it  into  a  novel,  I 
conoeiTe  that  her  merit  in  point  of  genius  (not  to  say  feeling)  wonkt 
be  less  than  if  having  all  the  other  circaniMaaces  giien,  and  the 
apparatu)  ready,  and  thin  exctanuooa  alooe  kft  Uaok,  ibc  bad  filled 
it  op  from  ber  own  heart,  that  is,  from  U  iMetise  concepdoa  of  tbc 
•itaataoD  of  the  panics,  so  that  &o«t  the  harrowing  recollections 
pOMing  thnragh  the  mind  of  the  poor  giirl  so  circumstanced,  this 
unooottotahle  gush  of  feelmg  would  burst  Irom  her  lips.  Just  such 
I  apprehend,  generally  speaking,  is  the  amount  of  tbc  ditfercncc 
between  the  geiuua  of  Sbakespear  and  ibat  of  Sir  Walter  Scott.     It 

339 


SIR  WALTER  SCOTT,  RACINE,  SIIAKESPEAR 

mding  Sluke*[)«flr  would  know  (cxccpi  from  the  Dramat'u  Ptrmt*) 
thai  Lear  wat  so  l^i>gli»li  king.  H«  is  merely  a  kiog  and  a  fadiei. 
The  ground  U  coounoD  :  but  wliat  a  wril  of  tcu*  has  he  dag  out  of 
it !  The  traditioa  i«  nothiog.  or  a  fooliab  one.  There  are  no  <Uu 
in  binory  U)  go  upoQ  i  no  ad<rantaj(e  it  taken  of  cuaiume,  oo 
acqtuintaooe  with  gcognpby  or  architecture  or  dialect  ia  neoeauty : 
biK  there  i«  an  old  tradition,  human  nature — an  old  lemplc,  the  humm 
mind— and  Shiknpeiir  witks  into  it  and  look*  about  him  viUi  « 
lordly  eye,  and  ceizes  oo  the  (acred  tpoila  as  his  own.  The  story  it 
a  ihouMnd  or  two  year«  old,  and  yet  iJie  tragedy  liu  no  smack  of 
antiijiuutanitm  in  it.  I  should  like  rery  well  lo  Bee  Sir  Walter 
giving  us  u  tragedy  of  thii  kind,  a  huje  '  globose  *  of  sorrow,  swinging 
round  in  mid-air,  independent  of  Uiae,  place,  and  drcumcUncCi 
suiuincd  by  its  own  weight  and  moiioa,  ana  not  propped  np  by  the 
[even  of  cuuom,  or  picbcd  op  witb  quaint,  old-fuhioned  drc«tes  or 
let  off*  by  grotesque  backgrounds  or  rusty  armow,  but  in  which  the 
mer«  pan^fentalia  ud  acceaaories  were  left  out  of  the  qucttion,  ind 
DOthing  but  tbe  soul  of  pasaion  artd  ihe  pitli  of  imagination  wan  to  be 
found.  *A  Dukedom  to  a  beggarly  Jaiitr,'  be  would  make  nothing 
of  it.  Does  this  prove  be  hai  done  nothing,  or  that  be  has  not  done 
the  grratnt  thtnge  i  No,  but  that  he  is  not  like  .Sh4keiipear.  For 
tnatance,  when  Lear  tayt,  'The  little  dog*  and  ti\.  Tray,  Blanche, 
Mtd  Sweetheart,  tee  tliey  bark  at  me  ! '  there  is  no  old  Chronicle  of 
the  line  of  Brute,  no  linct-ittirr  broadndc,  no  ucieced  ballad,  no  vague 
rumour,  in  which  thi*  exclamation  it  rcgiitercd ;  there  is  nothing 
romanlic,  quaint,  myateriou*  in  the  objects  iniroduced  :  the  illuttialino 
is  borrowed  from  the  commonest  and  most  casual  imagct  in  nature, 
and  yet  it  is  this  very  circumnmoe  tlMt  lends  its  extreme  force  to 
Iha  axpreuioD  of  hit  grief  by  ihewiojt  that  even  the  lowest  thing*  in 
enttion  and  the  labt  you  would  think  of  had  in  his  inugioatioo  turned 
against  him.  All  nature  was,  aa  he  luppowd,  in  a  coaajnracy  against 
him,  and  the  most  trivial  and  insignilicatit  creatures  concerned  in  it 
were  the  mod  striking  prooft  of  it»  malignity  and  extent.  It  is  tbe 
depth  of  pnwion,  however,  or  of  the  poet's  sympathy  with  it,  that 
diitingnisbe*  thi*  character  of  torturing  familiarity  in  them,  inveata 
them  with  corresponding  importance,  and  suggests  them  by  tlie  force 
of  contrast.  It  is  not  that  certain  images  are  surcharged  with  a 
preKriptive  inllueoce  over  the  imagination  from  known  and  exiaiing 
prejudices,  so  that  lo  approach  or  even  mention  them  it  sure  to  excite 
a  picaiing  awe  and  honor  in  the  mind  (tbe  effect  in  thit  ca*e  ia 
mostly  mechanical] — the  «4iole  sublimity  of  the  patRagc  is  from  the 
weight  of  passion  thrown  into  tl,  and  this  is  the  poet  t  own  doing. 
This  it  not  irick,  but  genius.     Meg  MerKlies  on  her  death-bed  says, 

341 


sin  WALTER  SCOTT,  RACINE,  SHAKESI'EAR 


^ 


of  Micklnune  Muir  (the  couairy-womas  and  hrr  flock  of  gcc*e 
tsmed  bto  none)  m  the  Black  Dwarf,  irc  i  dtif  and  petrifying 
inManMqibMU ;  but  it  i*  the  tradition  of  the  country  asd  no  more. 
Sir  WahcT  hat  told  v*  oothtog  farther  of  it  than  the  Gr«  clown  whom 
«rc  might  uk  concerning  it.     I  do  not  blame  him  for  thai,  though  1 
C3DDOI  pn  him  credit  for  what  he  hu  doc  doDc.     Tb«  poetry  of  the 
novel  ia  tjixturt  of  the  ipou     Meg  Merrilte*  I  alw  allow,  with  all 
pOMJUe  {ood-will,  to  be  a  mott  romantic  and  auouadiiig  petWiMge  i 
yet  ibc   ii  a  tittle  me]o<lr3natk.     Her  cxita  and  eatraace*  are 
puHomimic,  and  ber  long  red  doak,  her  elf-locks,  the  rock  on  which 
•be  Muidi,  and  the  while  cloud  behind  bcr  arc,  or  might  be  made  the 
property  of  a  theatre.     Shakctf>cat'(  witchei  aic  neatly  exploded  on 
the  Rage.     1'bcif  bnomnddkt  an  left;  their  meuphyHC*  are  gooc, 
borted  fire  editioDa  deep  in  Captata  Mcdwin'a  ConvcrMtioiM !     The 
putioo  m  Othello  i*  made  out  of  auhiag  bw  Maelf;  dure  ia  no 
external  Duchioery  to  help  it  on  i  ita  ia^bat  totemediite  agent  ii  ao 
old-faihiooed  pocket-handefcbief.     Yet  *  there  '■  magic  ia  the  web  * 
of  thooehta  and  fcclinga,  dooe  after  the  oomnoncM  pattern  of  hnman 
Itlc.     The  power  diiptaycd  in  it  ii  ihaE  of  intctiie  paoioo  and  powerful 
ioicilccti  wielding  cicry-day  eretiti,  and  imparting  iu  btce  to  tbcm, 
not  flwayed  or  carried  alon^  by  them  »  tn  a  gKXart.     The  ipintdoiu 
ia  that  of  eenin*  darttoc  out  itt  forked  flame  on  whatever  comet  m  ilt 
way,  and  kiodliDg  ana  mddiig  it  in  the  furnace  of  afccdon,  whether 
it  be  flax  or  iron.    The  colouring,  the  form,  the  motioo,  the  com- 
btutioo  of  objocu  depend  on  the  prc-diipo«iiion  of  the  miad,  nKMldtiig 
aaiuf  c  to  iu  own  purpoae* ;  in  Sir  Walter  the  mind  it  a*  wax  to 
circumitancea,  and  own*  do  other  impreM.     Shakeipcar  ia  a  half' 
worker  wiih  mttire.    Sir  Walter  ia  like  a  maa  who  baa  got  a  rotaaatk 
winning- jeooy,  which  he  haa  on)y  to  let  a  going,  and  tl  doet  hit  work 
Mr  him  much  better  and  &atcr  than  he  can  do  it  for  himaelf.     He 
layt  an  embargo  on  'all  appliancci  and  meant  to  boot,'  on  hinory. 
tradition,  local  tccitery,  cottumc  and  manneti,  and  nukct  bit  char- 
Ktnv  chiefly  up  of  tbeae.     Shaketpeat   ■eizet  only  on  the  ruling 
paiMOM,  aid  iDtraculoutly  ciiol*e«  all  the  real  front  it.     The  eagemeta 
of  dnire  asggcffa  every  potaible  ereoi  that  can  irritate  or  thwart  it, 
farewca  all  ofaatadea,   catchet  at   every   trifle,  clntbea  itadf  with 
inaginatioB,  and  tantalite*  ittelf  with  hope;  'teca  Hdcn't  beaaty  in 
a  brow  oi  Hgypt,'  ttartt  at  a  pbaatom,  and  make*  the  oniTerte 
iribvtary  to  it,  and  the  ^y^hiag  of  iu  bncy.     There  it  none  of  thii 
tntr-weenicg  inmnoaty  of  the  inaginatioe  io  the  Author  of  Wavcrley, 
be  doet  hit  wotx  wdl,  bat  in  another-gueu  nunner.    Hia  imapoatJon 
it  a  natter-of-foct  im^icatioti.     To  retom  to  Othello.     Take  the 
celebrated  dialogue  in  the  third  acL     *  'Tia  coaiiBOfi.'     There  ia 

343 


SIR  WALTER  SCOTT,  RACINE,  SHAKESPEAR 

Sir  Walter  is  diitinguished  by  the  most  ktmiing  rctcnli^'cneM  of 
memory,  asd  vividncM  of  coDccpcion  of  what  would  hitppen,  be  KMit 
and  felt  by  every  body  in  fiiTen  cirtuniMance* ;  a«  Shakcipcar  if  by 
invcntiTeneM  of  ^niiu,  by  «  faculty  of  tracioft  and  unfolding  the 
ino*t  hidden  yet  poweifuf  cpringi  of  action,  «carce  recogniiicd  by 
ourKlvc*,  and  by  an  endlcti  and  fclicitoui  range  of  poetical  illustra- 
tion, added  to  a  wide  scope  of  reading  and  of  knowledge.  One 
proof  of  the  justice  of  theie  remarks  is,  that  whenever  Sir  Walter 
comes  to  a  truly  dramatic  situation,  he  decline*  it  or  fails.  Th«s  in 
ihe  Black  Dwarf,  all  that  relate*  to  the  traditions  respecting  this 
mysterious  per»onaee,  to  the  niperstitious  «orie«  founded  on  it,  is 
admirably  done  and  to  the  life,  with  all  the  spirit  and  freedom  of 
originality :  but  when  he  comes  to  the  lint  scene  for  which  all  the 
rem  is  a  preporuion,  nod  which  is  full  of  the  hicheii  btcrest  and 
UMioit,  nothing  is  done  i  instead  of  an  addreM  from  Sir  Edward 
Maufey,  recounting  the  miseries  of  his  whole  life,  and  withering  vp 
bis  guilty  rival  with  the  teciial,  the  Dwarf  enters  with  a  strange 
niKtIing  noise,  the  opposite  door*  fly  open,  and  the  afTrighted  spectators 
rush  out  like  the  u^ure*  in  »  pantomime.  This  is  not  arumatic, 
but  melo^dramatic.  There  it  a  jalpablc  disappointment  and  falling- 
off,  where  the  interest  had  been  worked  up  to  the  highest  pitch  of 
expectation.  The  gratifying  of  this  appalling  curiosity  and  intcrtat 
was  all  that  was  not  done  to  Sir  Walter's  hand ;  and  this  he  has 
failed  to  do.  All  that  was  known  aioai  the  Black  Dwarf,  his  ligure, 
his  desolate  habitation,  hit  unaccountable  way  of  life,  his  wrongs,  his 
bitter  cxecmtiont  against  intruder*  on  hi*  privacy,  the  floating  and 
exaggerated  accounts  of  him,  all  these  are  given  with  a  mastrdy  and 
faithful  hand,  this  is  matter  of  description  and  niirrative:  but  when 
the  true  tmigiaative  and  dramatic  part  comes,  when  the  subject  of 
this  disastrous  lale  ia  to  pour  out  the  accuniulated  and  agonising 
cfTecta  of  all  this  series  of  wretchedness  and  torture  upoo  his  own 
mind,  that  is,  when  the  penon  Ls  to  speak  from  himself  and  to  ttua 
us  with  the  recoil  of  passion  upon  external  agents  or  circumstances 
that  have  caused  it,  we  find  that  it  is  Sir  Walter  Scott  and  not 
Shaketpear  that  is  hi*  counsel-keeper,  that  the  author  is  a  novelist 
and  not  a  pocL  All  that  is  gosnpped  in  the  neighbourhood,  all  that 
is  handed  down  in  print,  all  of  which  a  drawing  or  an  etchiog  might 
be  procured,  is  gathered  together  and  communicated  to  the  public : 
what  the  heart  whisper*  to  itself  in  secret,  what  the  imagioatioti  tells 
in  thunder,  this  alone  is  wanting,  and  this  is  the  great  thing  required 
to  make  good  the  compatison  in  queslitm.  Sir  Walter  has  not  then 
imitated  Shakespcar,  but  he  has  given  us  nature,  such  as  he  found 
and  could  best  describe  it  t  and  he  reecniblc*  him  only  in  this,  that 

345 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

he  iUbIu  of  hi*  chmcter*  and  oem  et  hiaatli,  and  pom  oat  I 
vorkt  wiib  Mcb  uacootcioiM  cmc  asd  ftoiipXtj  of  rewurcf  tfau 
be  thiolu  BOtfabg  of  tbns,  aed  U  mn  greater  dm  hit  o*n  &n>e. 

The  MUM  oi  SfaiknjJOT  ■»  drmuuc,  that  of  Scott  nvntifc  or 
<lcaen|*iK,  thai  of  Racine  ii  d>dac6c.     He  pn»,  m  I  coocetic,  the 
tmmi^iata  of  the  bcumn  heut  better  thaa  Hiy  one,  hot  Bathing 
nn  hole  iBMC.     He  enlaiget  oo  a  let  a£  obriooi  tentkiMnn  ud ' 
WcN-biovn  topic*  with  contideniblr  elegance  of  laaguge  and  copton*- 
MMof(lecUnutioa,bu(  there  i*  Karcely  ooe  anoke  of  gtig>Dal  ^ 
DOT  aay  thiag  Bke  tnuginaiioa  in  his  mitingi.     He  Hringt  KigMhu  i 
Bumbef  of  mora]  rcflectioei,  lod  iauead  i)i  rcchJag  them  bnMclf,  J 
tlmn  into  the  nioutha  uf  bii  dramssii  peri^n^,  who  talk  «dl 
ifacir  own  tituatioiw  and  Ibe  general  relKiona  of  hisnaii  life. 
of  lafiog  bve  the  heait  of  the  loficrer  with  all  it*  bleeding  wonotk^ 
md  pdpiatJBg  fibre*,  be  pat*  into  hit  hand  a  comown-pJace  book, 
aod  DC  rod*  m  a  Iccmtc  (ram  thb.    Thia  i*  imx  ihc  ctaetkce  of  the 
draou,  whole  object  aod  pn<|]c;;c  it  ii  to  pn  m  the  extione 
■nhtle  working*  of  the  htunan  mind  in  iodtvidiul  cucwnManees  toJ 
make  na  ■ympatldM  with  the  tutferer,  or  feel  a*  we  ihouU  (eel  b  hm 
CJicomataoce*,  not  to  tell  the  iodilfereoi  ^lectaior  what  the  iadifferem 
qtrm*^  ootdd  jut  u  well  ictl  him.     Tragedy  i*  bunun  nature  tried 
ra  the  cncihle  of  afflictioo,  not  exhibited  in  the  vsgoe  theorems  of 
cpccslttioa.     The  poet'*  pen  that  painU  all  this  ia  word*  of  &e  and 
inagn  of  fold  it  lotall*  wanting   ia   ftacine.      He  gtTe*  neither 
external  iraMn  He  the  imcroal  and  Kcrvt  woekmg*  lif  the  hnmoa] 
btcatt.    Sir  WakcT  Scott  girc*  the  extertu)  imagery  or  machic 
of  punon  i  Sb^c*pcaf  the  tool ;  and  Radix  the  moeal  or  argtunniC^ 
of  it.     The  Frcoch  ob}tct  to  Sbakeipear  for  hi*  breach  of  the 
Unttiet,  and  hold  op  Racioe  a*  a  mode)  of  claMJcal  propriety,  who 
make*  a  Greek  hero  addrcii  a  Grecian  hetoioe  a*  M>^/mi.     Y« 
tbi*  i«  OM  barboroui— Why  ?     Bccauac  it  i*   French,  and  becau 
nothing  that  i*  Freoch  can  be  baiberoua  in  the  eye*  of  ihi*  friTolooa 
and  pedantic  nation,  who  would  prefer  a  peruke  of  the  age   of 
Lonii  zi*.  to  a  rimple  Greek  head-die**  I 


ESSAY    XXX 


ON    DEPTH    AND    SUPERFICIALITT 

I  WISH  10  make  thw  E*uy  a  ton  of  Hody  of  the  meaaiog  of  leveral 
word*,   which  have    at   different    (imr*   a   good   deal  pnuled    me. 
Among  tbcK  are  the  words,  vmktJ,  Jaht  aod  mv,  a*  applied  to 
3*6 


ON  DEPTH   AND  SUPERFICIALITY 


feeling ;  and  lastly,  Jtplh  and  itaifevintti.  It  may  amu»e  ihc  reader 
Co  ect-  tlic  way  tn  which  I  work  out  lome  of  my  coactusions  nudcr- 
grouiiil.  bt'furc  ihtowin;;  (hem  up  on  the  aurrace. 

A  great  but  uwlcsi  thinlccf  onw  aiked  mc,  if  I  had  ever  known  a 
child  of  a  naturally  wicked  ditpooition?  and  t  aniwered, '  Yci,  that 
there  VM  one  in  the  house  with  mc  that  cried  from  morning  to 
night, /#r  tpUi.'  1  WM  laughed  at  for  ihi»  annwer,  but  itUl  1  do  not 
repent  ti.  It  appeared  to  mc  that  this  child  took  a  delight  in  torment- 
ins  itiejf  and  otlict*;  that  the  love  of  tyrannising  over  other*  and 
tubjeciinji  them  to  Ju  caprice*  vraa  a  full  compenaaiion  for  the  beating 
it  received,  that  the  tcreamt  it  uttered  toothed  it*  pceviah,  turbulent 
■pirtt,  and  that  it  had  a  positive  pleasure  in  pain  from  the  teiue  of 
power  accompanying  it.  ffti  frhtiifi'u  luuetmwr  l</raim,  his  tamiftx 
animui,  I  was  »uppo(ed  to  magnify  and  oTcr-ratc  the  symptom*  of 
the  diacase,  and  to  make  a  childish  humour  into  a  bugbear ;  but, 
indeed,  I  have  no  other  idea  of  what  i*  commonly  nndcrstood  by 
wiekedneiB  than  that  pervertion  of  the  will  or  love  of  mischief  for 
iu  own  aake,  which  constantly  disuhy*  itself  (though  in  irilles  and 
on  a  ludicrously  small  scale)  in  early  childhood.  I  have  olten  been 
reproached  with  extravagance  for  coiiaideiing  thingi  only  in  ihdr 
ract  principle!,  and  with  hcai  and  ill-temper,  for  getting  into  a 
pauion  about  what  no  ways  concerned  me.  If  any  one  wisliet  to  see 
me  quite  calmi  they  may  cheat  me  in  a  bargain,  or  tread  upon  my 
toea ;  but  a  truth  repelled,  a  sopbttm  repealed,  totally  diaconcerts  roe, 
and  I  lo«c  all  patience.  I  am  not,  in  the  ordinary  acceptation  of  the 
term,  a  good-nalurid  man  ;  that  it,  many  thing*  annoy  mc  bcoide*  what 
interferes  with  my  own  cane  and  intcreti.  I  hate  a  lie ;  a  piece  of 
injustice  wound*  me  to  the  quick,  though  nothing  but  the  report  of  it 
reach  nie.  'I'herelbre  I  have  made  many  enemies  and  few  friend*; 
for  ilie  public  know  nothing;  of  well-withers,  and  keep  a  wary  eye  on 
thote  that  would  reform  them.  Coleridge  u»ed  to  complain  of  my 
ifaKibility  in  thi>  rcrpect,  and  not  without  rea*on.  Would  that  he 
had  poiacticd  a  little  of  my  tcnacioumeai  and  jealouiy  of  temper ; 
and  then,  with  hit  eloquence  to  paint  the  wrong,  and  acutenes*  to 
detect  it,  his  country  and  the  cautc  of  liberty  might  not  have  fallen 
without  a  struggle  I  The  craniotogitts  give  me  lie  trgait  tf  htot 
mtmorj.  of  which  faculty  1  have  not  a  paiticle,  though  tbey  may  uy 
that  oiy  frequent  allu»ions  to  conrersationa  that  occurred  maov  yeir* 
ago  prove  the  contrary.  1  once  tpent  a  whole  evening  with  Dr. 
Spuriheim,  and  I  utterly  forget  all  that  naised,  except  that  the 
Doctor  vuilt±td  before  we  parted  !  The  only  faculty  [  do  pouew, 
it  that  of  B  certain  morbid  interest  in  things,  which  makes  mc  equally 
remember  or  anticipate  by  ncrvoua  anaJogy  whatever  touches  it ;  aod 

3*7 


THE  VLAT* 


ON   DEPTH   AND  SUPERFICIALITY 


iBoaoUNWBi  and  ianpidi  bot  it  it  che  btnLene|t  afvr  miKkKvoai 
M>d  tioleat  excilcamt  that  lodi  to  thu  rc*nk,  that  ljuki  dat 
iadifertace  to  gDdd  and  vnoaxm  to  eril,  vUch  U  tbe  tctj  tln^ 
f  <— riiBiwI  o£  ThegricA  we  RifleTwefiirilieiBiMiwtefoar  (nn 
MdoBg  aod  inakng ;  or  ve  iacor  or  iaSict  tbca,  not  to  jvcn  otho' 
n^cadiog  nik,  bitt  lo  dmc  oiT  nm.  Tbcrc  awit  bt  >  f^cc  of 
■Mchicf  nd  wilMacn  tfarown  iau  tbc  c«p  of  o«r  watoer  to  gt*« 
it  ttt  itep  a«e  »d  ifmUiDg  ookmr.  I  Aall  eoi  {o  into  a  fomul 
on  dM  MbJKl,  for  fear  of  bang  ttdiooa,  dot  rodaramt  lo 
it  by  estntne  ca*e«  for  fear  of  being  duguniof; ;  bu  aball 
nyiclf  witii  aotnc  deioliory  aad  familia.-  illiuaabaat  of  ii- 
I  la^gb  «  iboac  wbo  deny  that  vc  crrr  vantody  or  UBCCtaMrtiy 
tiSici  pUB  ifoo  oibcn,  wben  I  mc  how  fond  we  arr  of  lOgcoaaatly 
toroKUiac  oaradvct.  Wbat  it  winnMnai  ia  cbadm  or  grow* 
ftofkt  btt  fwcsp  s^nBff  OTfittvca  f  ^nP  (  had  tvbcr  be  tfac  TKttt 
of  tail  abiHo  asd  JKSdMraAf  koia^b  tbao  pw  9  aa  isvticfJtt 
pwyoae,  retract  an  error,  or  rdax  froei  the  ntcDBty  of  our  will, 
■Iwli  III  ii  nn  ca«  M.  A  •■Hy  nua  ii  hi*  own  enemy,  and 
kaowia^  wcriaoet  hit  interest  to  faii  iU-buBMiir,  became  be  would 
at  aoj  tne  ntbcr  faoblige  yon  tban  terrc  himacir,  w  I  believe  I 
kcK  dready  Aewa  m  aaoAer  pbce.  The  rtaccm  it,  be  bat  a 
aanral  a*er«an  to  evcrytliiQC  aptcable  or  hMyy— be  tvTu  with 
£igHt  from  erery  rach  (ee&^  at  Dot  aeoord^  with  tbe  were 
tone  of  hit  minrl  ind  it  it  in  cxdndiBg  afl  mterchange  of  ineodly 
■fectiopaor  kiod  ofioea  ifaat  tbe  rvEog  biat  tod  tbe  cbief  aantiac- 
tioQ  of  hi*  IHe  eoiMtt.  li  aoc  every  coomry^towD  nmlkd  with  ttt 
BcoUt  and  tcaadal-Aioatert  •  The  firtt  cannoc  ceaac  own  phganf 
thegitfi^ta  and  every  body  aboot  thcfli  witb  tfaev  madaaa  danovr, 
the  race  of  wordi  baa  bttd«L  by  habit  and  hAigeaot  a 
dnctt,  a  (me  on  llteir  paeched  tongaei  ud  the  othera  coMioBe  W 
make  *— p'^  by  aonc  ^aatt  m  or  dy  ■■nnation  at  eacry  thini 
wotd  they  ifKak.  becaate  with  every  oew  eoany  there  ii  an  additional 
acnae  of  power.  Oae  mm  will  tooscr  jmt  vMi  Ut  &iead  thui  bii 
jafce,  hcoaar  the  KimnlBt  of  aayiog  a  good  lUag  it  irritated,  inneid 
at  baMg  tepeetiodt  by  the  leaf  or  ginns  ooesoa,  aad  b^  the  m^ 
ptadtnM'  ac  anfairBeta  of  the  rcnaifc.  Halioe  oAn  take*  tbe  faib 
of  mth.  Wc  find  a  «et  of  poaoot  arho  pride  tbatilm  on  bong 
fltm-^tim  ff/le,  iba  m,  who  bJwt  oat  every  tbtoc  dingreeable  to 
^oar  me,  l^  wayof  woiaidiu  yonr  firJiigr  and  rcJaefiag  their  owa, 
and  cbi*  tbey  caU  booaay.  Eves  aauag  fbiVtta^bgn  we  ■»  have 
Botiotd  tiKMc  aiboarcnot  conerated  to  iidorB  the  andtrataadaga  of 
thdr  ^eader^  aakat  they  can  dwck  their  prcjadieca;  and  aMwg 
paect  tbote  who  tanpee  with  the  rettCB  parta  of^thcir  tabject,  adding 

3+9 


THE   PLAIN  SPEAKER 

to  their  faocied  pmm«aai  bjr  trampltog  on  the  mum  of  *hu»e. 
There  ue  rigid  roMmen  vbo  wtU  doc  be  tarned  Mide  Gron  follow- 
ing  ty  a  logical  argtanent  by  anv  regard  to  co«e<|iiesces,  or  the 
'  amfimenoot  nmaagit  at  unrCf  (Mcb  ■•  theu  Iok  of  tnth)— I 
acwor  knew  ooe  of  thtw  icnyiooi  id  haid-neoihed  logaciaa*  who 
veoU  Ml  ftitiff  the  &e»  and  diNon  ihr  taferciKe  ia  or&  to  imrt 
«  •  diwrewing  tad  repobtre  cBwcloiioa.  Soch  it  the  ^tdmioo  of 
«lm  felcMBi  o«r  own  mil  from  thraldom*  md  coaipeli  ihii  of  others 
niaaaatly  to  Mbout  to  tern*  of  oar  dt^aiiDg !  Wc  fed  our  ova 
power,  and  diwe^rd  their  wedcDcw  aod  cAcminacy  wtth  prodipooa 
tclf-complaceflcy.  Lord  Clite,  when  i  boy,  mw  a  botcher  patewg 
wnfa  a  calf  in  a  ort.  A  coono&ion  wbom  he  had  with  hint  nid, 
'  I  abodd  Dot  like  to  be  thai  botcher  ! ' — '  I  ihodd  ooi  Itlte  to  be 
thai  cdA'  replitd  the  fwwe  Goveroor  of  India,  laughing  at  all 
mapathy  b«t  Uut  with  hb  own  wttSttiafrt.  The  'wicked'  Lord 
Lyttlewa  (at  be  wai  called)  dmmt  a  little  before  bis  death  that  be 
Waa  cooGtwd  io  a  bu;;e  lubtemncaa  vault  (the  ioiide  of  thii  toand 
{lobe)  where  a>  far  aa  eye  coold  lee,  be  codd  diicem  no  livine 
object,  till  at  bK  he  nw  a  fieoule  ifvn  coouag  towudi  hiiBt  aad 
who  fhould  it  turn  oat  to  be,  but  Modkr  Browarigg.  whom  of 
all  people  be  laoft  hated !  That  wat  the  vcty  rcMOa  why  he 
dreaint  of  ber. 

'  Yoo  aak  brr  aimc :  (ht  obipp'd  two  *prcotion  to  dtail^ 
And  hid  ibem  in  the  coaMwk.' 

Porrar  or  ma  AmtnJacobiii. 

I  do  DO!  know  that  her*  i>  exactly  a  caae  in  point ;  bat  I  coocetTC 
that  in  the  well-known  cManrophe  here  alluded  to,  wordi  led  to 
blow*,  bad  uage  brought  oo  worie  Iroai  mere  irritation  and  oppoti- 
tioo,  aod  that,  probably,  even  remorae  lod  piiy  urged  on  to  aggravated 
acta  of  cruelty  and  opfrcMioa,  m  the  only  mnn*  of  drowning  rettcc- 
tioo  oo  the  pa«  in  the  fiiry  of  prc«M  Maiioa.  1  bcliere  tbK 
rcmoTM  for  pa«  offeaoei  haa  aomctiaM*  made  die  greatot  crintiaab, 
M  the  being  aoable  to  ifpewe  a  woanded  cotncience  rcaden  meo 
dapeiMei  and  if  1  bear  a  peTtoo  exprcM  great  impatience  artd 
uoeuinen  at  tome  error  that  he  i>  liable  to,  I  am  tolenbJy  care 
that  the  cooHict  will  end  in  a  repcdtioo  of  the  oifcocc.  If  a  miia 
who  got  dnuik  oTer-night,  rcprnu  biitcrty  oext  ntoming,  be  will  get 
dnicik  »gua  ai  nighl ;  for  both  in  hit  rcpcntaocc  sad  hia  trlf-gratil>ca- 
tion  he  U  led  away  by  the  feeliog  of  ilic  motneat.  fioi  thii  ia  not 
wickcdaeM,  but  deapoodency  and  want  of  itrcngih  of  mind  t  aod  I 
only  attribute  wickedoeM  to  tboae  wbo  carry  their  willa  in  their 
haiidt,  and  wbo  wantonly  and  deliberately  luncr  theta  to  tyraaniae 

35° 


ON   DEPTH   AND  SUPERFICIALITY 


orcr  coQacicncCt  mum,  and  Immaaity,  and  who  trtn  dnw  an 
additional  triumph  fiom  chit  dcgradiog  cooquest.  The  war*.  per«e- 
cucioni,  and  bloodshed,  occa«ianed  by  religion,  have  generally  turned 
on  liic  nio«t  trifling  diiFerencet  in  forma  and  ceremonicn ;  which 
ahcwt  that  it  was  not  the  vital  intereit*  of  ibc  aucucions  that  were  at 
Kike,  but  thill  (hc*r  were  made  a  handle  and  pretext  to  cxerctK 
cnielty  and  tyranny  on  the  «coie  of  the  most  trivial  and  doubtful 
pointt  of  faith.  There  leenia  to  be  a  love  of  abiurdiiy  utd  falKhood 
a«  well  ai  mischief  in  the  human  mind,  and  the  mott  ridiculoiu  ai 
well  ai  barbarou*  aupcrititions  have  on  tliii  account  been  the  moit 
acceptable  to  iu  A  Me  it  welcome  in  it,  for  ii  !i,  at  it  weie,  iu 
own  ofTgpring ;  and  it  lilcc*  to  believe,  as  well  at  act,  whatever  it 
pleasci,  and  in  the  pure  spirit  of  contradiction.  The  old  idolatry 
look  vast  hold  of  the  eaxlictt  aget ;  for  to  believe  that  a  piece  of 
painted  Mone  or  wood  wat  a  God  (in  the  teeth  of  (he  fact)  was 
a  fine  exerciae  of  (be  imagination ;  and  moderD  fitaaticitm  thrivet 
in  proportion  to  the  quantity  of  contract Jctiont  and  noniente  tt  pour* 
down  the  throats  of  the  gaping  multitude,  and  the  j:4rgon  and 
mysticism  ii  offers  to  their  wonder  and  credulity.  CrtJo  quia  imfitu- 
tiiilt  til,  is  the  standing  motto  of  bigotry  and  superstition  ;  that  Is, 
I  believe,  because  to  do  w  is  a  favourite  act  of  the  will,  and  to  do 
■o  in  defiance  of  coninion  neniic  and  reason  enhance*  the  plcaiurc  and 
the  merit  (ten-fold)  of  this  indulgence  of  blind  faith  and  headstrong 
imagination.  Methodism,  in  particular,  which  at  once  absolves  the 
nodCTfUiidiag  from  the  rules  of  reasoning,  and  the  cotucicncc  from 
the  rettfaints  of  morality,  throwing  the  whole  respoosibiltty  upon  a 
vicarious  righteousness  and  an  abstract  belief,  must,  besidei  iu  rant, 
its  vulgarity,  and  its  amatory  style,  have  a  double  charm  both  for 
taints  and  (inner*.  I  have  alto  observed  a  sort  of fonatj,  ao  indolence 
or  indoctlity  of  the  will  to  drcamttance*,  which  I  think  has  a  cod- 
mdetablc  share  in  the  common  affairs  of  life.  I  would  willingly 
compound  for  all  the  n^ischiefs  that  are  done  me  voluntarily,  if  I 
could  escape  those  which  arc  done  me  witliout  any  motive  at  a]l, 
or  even  with  the  best  intentions.  Fur  tnstinoe,  if  !  go  to  a  distance 
where  I  am  anxious  to  receive  an  answer  to  my  letters,  I  am  sure  to 
be  kept  in  tuspense.  My  friends  are  aware  of  this,  as  alto  of  my 
impatience  and  irritabality ;  and  they  cannot  prevail  on  thenuctvct  to 
put  an  <vd  to  this  dramatic  situation  of  the  panics.  There  is  pleasure 
(an  innocent  and  well-meaning  one)  in  keeping  a  friend  in  suspeoK, 
in  not  putting  one's-self  out  of  one's  way  for  his  ill  humous  and 
appreheotiont  (though  one  would  not  for  ibc  world  do  him  a  serious 
injury).  a«  there  is  in  dangling  the  (inny  prey  at  the  end  of  a  hook, 
or  in  twirling  round  a  cock^haffcr  after  sticking  a  pin  through  him 

35' 


THE   PLAIN  SPEAKER 


at  the  ml  of  a  itriog, — ibere  ii  oo  malice  in  the  cue,  no  tkliberate 
cruelty,  but  the  buziiog  ooiic  and  the  aecrtt  coMdouaneM  of  MDCfiority 
■o  ioy  atuiOfuice  or  iocoii*eni«nM  oiuielTn  lull  the  miiM  ioto  4 
delightful  Mate  of  littlcM  torpor  aoA  inditfcTcacc.  If  a  letter  tecjaircc 
aa  immcdiair  aiuwcr,  wod  it  by  a  private  hand  to  uvc  poiiagc.  If 
our  mcsieogn  Uit  Ncit  or  brcaka  a  kg  and  bcga  ua  to  forward  it  by 
aome  mIici  OMtai,  icturn  it  himaguat*'''!  ■■*'*t(">  "*  being  connyed 
according  to  iu  i!m  dMtinatton.  Hii  curt  may  be  slow  but  aure. 
In  the  mean  time  our  fricod  con  wiii.  We  have  done  our  d«ty  in 
writing  the  letter,  and  ore  in  no  hurry  to  raav^  it !  We  Itoow  the 
content^  and  they  are  rnatteri  of  perfect  iodillerence  to  lu.  No 
bann  ii  meant  by  all  thia,  but  a  great  deal  of  mitchief  may  accrue. 
There  is,  in  thon,  a  Elaggiahnest  and  imtractablencw  about  the  will, 
thai  docs  not  cuily  put  itvlf  in  the  utualion  of  others  and  that 
coonults  iu  own  t^«  best  by  gJTiog  itKlf  00  trouble  about  them> 
Humaa  life  is  to  &r  a  game  of  crots-purpotes.  If  we  with  a  thing 
to  be  kent  secret,  it  is  sure  to  transpire ;  if  we  wish  it  to  be  known, 
not  a  syllable  ia  breathed  about  it.  Tbti  in  not  meant  [  but  it 
happens  so  from  mere  simplicity  and  thoughtlessocts.  No  one  hat 
ettf  yet  tern  through  all  the  intricate  fold*  and  delicate  involntKMS 
of  our  Bclf-lore,  which  it  wrwpcd  up  in  a  net  of  smooth  flimsy 
pretexts  like  tome  precious  jewel  in  covert  of  silver  Mper. 

I  proceed  to  say  something  of  the  words /i/k  and  rrur,  aa  applied 
to  moral  feelines.  It  may  be  argued  that  tliit  it  a  dittiaction  without 
a  difference ;  for  that  as  feelings  only  exist  by  being  frit,  whcrercr, 
and  ia  to  far  as  they  cxitt,  they  muK  be  imr,  luid  thai  there  can  bo 
no  falscbood  or  decrpiton  in  the  question.  The  distinction  between 
UiK  and  fallc  jilejsurc,  between  real  and  seeming  good,  would  be 
thus  done  away  with ;  for  the  reality  and  the  appearance  are  here 
the  lanie.  And  this  would  be  the  cue  if  our  tentations  wetc  simple 
and  detached,  and  one  bad  no  inllucocc  on  another.  But  it  is  ia 
their  secret  and  close  dependence  one  on  another,  that  the  dirtioctioQ 
here  spoken  of  take*  iu  rite.  That  then  i»  Irtit  or  fiurt  plcamre 
iJiat  lias  no  alloy  or  drawback  in  some  other  consideration ;  that  it 
free  front  remorse  and  alarm  -,  and  that  will  bear  the  soberest  rcAcc- 
tion  (  because  theiv  is  nothing  Uiai,  upon  examination,  can  be  found 
acliDg  indirectly  to  check  and  throw  a  dump  upon  it.  On  the  other 
hand,  we  jiutly  call  thote  pleasures  /lilir  and  holleto,  not  merely 
which  arc  momentary  and  ready  to  dude  our  grasp,  but  which,  even 
U  the  time,  are  acconi;»nicd  with  luch  a  contciounnets  of  other 
dretunstaoccs  as  must  embitiet  and  undermine  them.  For  instance, 
puttina  morality  quite  out  of  the  question  ;  is  ihere  not  an  undeniable 
and  wide  diffcmice  between  tbe  gatety  and  animal  tpirits  of  one  who 


ON   DEPTH   AND  SUPERFICIALITY 


rtnddgn  in  a  drunken  deluucb  to  celebrate  tome  unexpected  txzoix 
ef  goad  fomine,  and  hi»  who  doeii  the  umc  thing  to  drown  care  Tor 
the  loH  of  2II  he  U  worth  i  The  ouiw^rd  objects,  the  imnicdiatc 
and  more  obvtou)  Knuiionn  arc,  perhaps,  very  much  the  tame 
in  the  latter  case  as  id  the  former, — the  rich  viands,  die  aparlding 
wines,  the  social  merrimeat,  the  wit,  the  loud  l^uKhler,  und  the 
Diaddcniait  brain,  but  the  ilill  »malt  voice  is  wantinji,  there  U  a 
rvlleccioD  at  bottom,  that  however  (liflcd  ind  kepi  down,  poison*  Jnd 
•poils  all,  even  by  the  violent  effort  to  ke«p  it  from  intruding ;  the 
minh  in  the  one  caie  is  forced,  in  the  other  is  natural;  the  one 
reveller  it  (we  all  know  by  experience)  a  gay,  laugbtng  wretch,  the 
other  a  happy  man.  I  profcts  to  speak  of  human  nature  at  I  find  it ; 
and  the  circumstance  that  aoy  distioctioa  1  cin  muke  may  be  lavouritblf 
to  the  theories  of  virtue,  will  not  ptevcnt  me  from  Kiting  it  down, 
from  the  fear  of  being  charged  wito  cani  and  prejudice.  Ereo  in  a 
caie  leit  palpable  than  the  one  nippofcd,  where  tome  '(Weet  obliviout 
antidote '  has  been  applied  10  the  mind,  and  it  i*  lulled  to  tem|>otary 
foTgetfulnew  of  its  immediate  cause  of  «oftow,  does  it  therefore  c«atc 
to  gnaw  the  heart  by  stealth ;  are  do  trace*  of  it  left  in  tlic  care- 
worn brow  or  face;  is  (he  state  of  mind  the  same  us  it  was;  or  is 
there  the  tame  buoyancy,  freedom,  and  erectnci*  of  spirit  ai  in  more 

^  prosperous  circum>tjnccs  ^  On  vhe  contrary,  it  is  torpid,  vexed,  and 
sad,  enfeebled  or  harassed,  and  weighed  down  by  the  corroding 
pressure  of  care,  whether  it  think*  of  it  or  not.  The  pulse  beat* 
■low  and  languid*  the  eye  ia  dead  i  no  object  strikes  us  with  the  same 
alacrity  ;  the  avenues  10  joy  or  content  are  shutt  and  life  becomew  a 
burthen  and  a  perplexing  mystery.  Even  in  (leqi,  we  ;ire  haunted 
with  the  broken  imacci  of  distreu  or  the  mockery  of  blitJi,  and  we  in 
vain  try  to  still  the  idle  tumult  of  the  heart.  The  constantly  tampering 
with  the  troth,  the  putting  off  ehe  day  of  reckoning,  the  fear  of 
looking  our  situation  in  the  face,  give*  the  mind  a  wandering  and 
noMttled  turn,  makes  out  waking  thoughts  a  troubled  dream,  or 
aoinctiaiei  endt  in  madnesa,  without  any  violent  paroxysm,  without 
any  severe  panj;,  without  any  evfri  act,  but  from  tliac  silent  opciatiou 
of  ilie  mtrid  which  preys  internally  upon  itself,  and  worki  the  decuy 
of  its  power*  the  more  fatally,  because  we  dare  not  give  it  open  and 
avowed  scope.  Do  we  not,  in  case  of  any  untoward  accident  or 
event,  know,  when  we  wake  in  the  moinirig,  that  something  is  tlie 
snatter,  before  we  recollea  what  it  is  i  The  miad  no  more  recover* 
its  coutidence  and  tcreoiiy  after  a  staggering  blow,  than  the  haggard 
cheek  and  sleepless  eye  dicir  colour  and  vivacity,  because  we  do  not 
lee  them  in  the  glass.  Ia  it  to  be  supposed  that  there  is  not  a  firm 
and  healthy  lone  of  the  mind  a*  well  as  of  the  body ;  or  that  when 
sou  vii.:  1  353 


5 


OiN   DEPTH   AND  SUPERFICIALITY 

they  talk  of  the  *  uoquencluble  fire,  aad  Uw  worm  ihM  die*  not.' 
Tlw  biunaa  toal  it  not  an  inrmtioa  of  ptiesU,  whacem  hhln  tbey 
hart  Mgnficd  oo  it ;  nor  it  there  an  end  of  ill  out  DMural  Kotiinrau 
bccaoK  French  phtlotopherf  hai-c  not  been  able  to  accooM  kt  them  I 
— Hume,  I  think,  toiaewhere  contend*  that  sll  ntiifiKdaoi  lire 
etnul,'  becaux  the  cup  can  be  no  more  than  fttll.  But  «vrcly,  though 
thix  it  the  caK,  one  cup  bold*  orare  tbui  aitotber.  Aa  to  mere 
ncgtitiTC  ntJiAction,  the  argunieiK  may  be  Une.  fiiN  ■•  to  potiiive 
udaEictioa  or  enjcmnent,  I  •ee'  no  more  how  thii  mu«  be  e<)iial,  than 
how  the  heat  of  ■  fumacv  mun  in  aU  ca*ci  br  rifiully  inten«c.  Thua, 
for  bMaace,  there  arc  many  thing*  with  which  we  are  contented,  «o 
at  not  to  feel  ao  uatuy  detire  aiter  more,  but  yet  we  hare  a  much 
higher  reliih  of  other*.  We  may  e«  a  miMtoo-chop  witbonl  con*- 
plaining,  ^ough  we  ahodd  cotwder  a  hauncb  of  vcniton  at  a  jtreatet 
luxury  if  we  had  ii.  Agaio,  in  traTclling  abrcud,  the  mind  acijuiic* 
a  reatle**  and  vagabond  habit.  There  i*  nMte  of  huny  aod  novcliv, 
but  1e*a  of  nnccnty  and  certainly  in  our  punuiti  than  Rt  hone.  We 
•UMch  hasty  f>lance«  of  a  great  variety  of  thbg*,  bat  want  aocne 
central  point  of  view.  After  makinfi  tlie  grand  tour,  and  •reia|[  the 
finen  «iehti  in  tlie  vrorld,  we  aic  glad  to  come  hack  at  la«t  lo  our 
native  pUce  and  our  own  fitctide.  Our  auociation*  witli  it  are  the 
noet  (tcdfatt  and  habitnal,  we  there  feel  mom  at  home  and  at  our 
OM,  we  have  a  retting  place  for  the  tole  of  our  foot,  the  fiuttn  of 
hope,  inxiciy,  and  dUapMMOimcnt  i*  at  an  end,  ami  wliairrer  our 
aatM&ction*  mny  be,  we  leel  moM  coaUence  in  tlicni,  and  have  ihc 
KTODgeat  conviction  of  their  truth  and  reality.  Their  ia  iben  a  true 
and  a  falic  or  ipariout  in  tcntimont  a*  well  a*  in  reatoning,  and 
I  hope  the  train  of  thought  1  have  here  gone  into  may  aervc  in  (OIIh: 
retpects  at  a  cloc  to  explain  it. 

The  hardett  quenioa  remaim  behind.  What  i*  iliftb,  and  what 
i«  tuptrfiaaR^  }  It  i*  eaty  to  aiMwer  that  the  one  it  what  ia  obvioo*, 
familiar,  and  lie*  on  the  (urface,  aod  that  the  other  it  recondite  aad 
bid  at  the  bottom  of  a  (ubjcct.  The  dilficvlty  recuit^Whai  i* 
meant  by  lying  oo  the  turface,  or  being  cooccaled  bekne  it,  in  moral 
and  metapiiyRical  tjueitiont?  Let  ti*  try  for  aa  analogy.  Drflb 
conii«ta  then  in  tracing  any  number  of  pnrticalar  elTeeit  to  a  genera) 
principle,  or  in  diatingniahbg  aa  uokoowo  cauie  from  the  individual 
and  varying  circunmanoea  with  which  it  it  implicated,  and  under 
which  it  lurk*  uniuipectcd.  It  i*  in  fact  retolring  ilie  concrete  into 
the  abtuaci.  Now  thi*  i*  a  tuk  of  difliculty,  not  only  becauac  the 
abttract  naiurally  merge*  io  the  coocrete,  and  we  do  ooc  welt  know 

*  itr  *lto  StMch't  *  Li(bt  ot  Nilun  PutuKil,*  In  wbkli  tba  tuiig  tupkitm  h 
in«i«tt<  OD, 

355 


THE  rtAIS  SPEAEEB 


httWMI  *M 


ituln  tuadf  ar  rmomk  ■■  HEfc  cas  Bar  hr 

I  of  being  U  swBj  by  Ae  bM  or  ifsotjcaari 
mw  <rf  ihr  Mbjcca  tk«  aecwv,  caven  afl  doe  into  k  < 
dM  tof  u  iW  bdiiaB,aBd  by  in  iMinaK  ira) 
afacan  aad  nadoB  iB^tnMM  ite  md  t0  the  1 
•  friaofkofateacttndt.     Two  dreaaMaaaei 

'  '  dfeta  M  aradaec  s  |TR«  cfca :  hew  AiH  I 
>CMB.bMbrfi«fi^i<»aaoifaeTa«an>    B«  d>e  i 
;  (•  pradaeed  in  >  ilurd  oojcct,  vkidi  m  wilbav  ifcc  i 
drcBHtaaca  af  the  fif  it  or  Mcoad  gm«.     I  bib  ibcB  leak,  i 

tOttf    OUlfff    WCBI   CMK    tt   toe  flOMC  Qi    COtftWuCmrf 

liaddM  tomahat  vUcb  I  had  net  oobrad  brfoR,  aad  id  vUck  I ! 
mimmBf  U  bjr  fiadiog  a  actaaky  lor  it.     Bai  if  vy  : 
■•fOr  I  do  OM  Miic  OB  tbe  tne  character  of  dtfcrat  ftdiaf^i 
rfuj]  BMfce  Iktle  fnptm,  or  be  4|aite  thran  gM  ia  sjr  i 
iaiawatfi  ihai  ac«onSa(  to  ibc  (taoal  dUwea  of  aay  i 
iboai^  or  (aeUa^  and  iu  flcaoac  thfooch  ifce  Mixed  Bait  of 
aAirt,  do  we  tuad  ia  aacd  of  a  ptMet  qsaatiijr  of  that 
exjKtinkCc   I   have  afokea  el,  aod  ^  a  <|atcker  aad  fi/aer  tact 
canaecthii  or  dUMaMuag  ita  reaalta.     Hoavrer,  I 
a  lawnatian  hare.    Both  fcoowkdge  aad  macity  ue  re<{Bnd,  1 
Bgacit*  abridaw  aad  aatkijaira  the  Uwor  of  ka0wledgt«  aad 
tinea  pim  HueinetiTcly  ai  a  eoacUaoa ;  that  ia,  the  Mtt^ih 
beMN  a  the  fietla^  by  aaaocialioa  or  tnakn,  loaoer  cfioaa  the 
rrcoBectuMi  of  a  prevMna  aad  Forgotten  ooe  tn  diDercst  cvco8Httacc%ij 
■mJ  the  two  logtther,  by  a  ton  of  tnterul  erideoce  aod 
force,  tuaof  aay  propoaed  toluiMxi  with  the  character  of  troth 
fihitinnd      Origiial  ttxeagiUiof  io^ireMioo  uoftca(io  u«ali 

t)  a  iwhatinitc  for  occuawUtcd  weiglit  of  exprr icace  i  aad ' 


ON   DEPTH   AND  SUPERFICIALITY 

iDtrnsity  of  feeling  it  to  &r  fynooimout  with  depth  of  undcnuodii^. 
It  it  that  which  here  gives  ut  a  contentiou*  ind  palpable  conicioiuocu 
of  whatevtr  alTrcu  it  in  the  mtuillnt  or  rcmomt  muiocr,  xnd  Icare*  to 
u  the  hidden  apringA  of  ihought  and  action  ilirougb  Our  «en*ibilit]p 
•od  jeB]ou*y  of  vrliaterer  couchc*  them. — To  gire  mi  illiMtration  or 
two  of  tfan  very  abnriue  lutijecl. 

Etegaiuv  i*  a  word  that  means  sometbiog  diAercM  from  cue,  ftrKc, 
beauty,  dignity;  yet  it  it  akin  to  all  thete;  but  it  Mcm*  mote 
particularly  to  imply  a  *parkling  brilliancy  of  effect  with  (ioith  and 
precision.  Wc  do  not  apply  the  term  to  great  ihiagi;  weibouJd  not 
cull  atx  «[»c  poeni  or  a  head  of  Jufutcf  t/igani,  but  wc  (peak  of  ui 
«1«}!U)I  copy  of  vettc«,  an  elccaot  head-drewi  an  elcssat  fan,  an 
elegant  diamond  btoodi,  or  buoch  of  flowers.  In  all  thew  €Met 
(and  other*  where  the  same  epithet  i*  used)  there  i»  somethiag  little 
and  comparaiiTely  trifling  in  the  objecti  and  the  intcrcit  they  inspire. 
So  far  1  deal  chiefly  lo  exompln,  conjecture!,  and  ncgaiiTct.  But 
this  i*  fat  from  a  dcnnilioR.  I  think  I  know  what  personal  beautjr  it, 
because  1  can  tay  in  one  word  what  1  nieio  by  it,  riz.  Itarmt^  of 
form  1  and  this  idea  Bccma  to  me  to  antwer  to  all  the  cam  to  which 
the  term  pemooal  beauiv,  is  cTer  applied.  Let  us  see  if  we  c*oooi 
come  to  Kimcthing  equally  dcfinitiTc  with  rctpect  to  the  other  phrue. 
Sparkling  rlTcct,  finish,  and  precition,  arc  characicrisiic,  at  I  think, 
of  elegancci  but  u  yet  I  tec  oo  rcaion  why  tliey  thould  be  to,  any 
more  than  why  blue,  red.  and  yellow,  should  form  the  colours  of  thie 
rainbow.  I  want  a  common  idea  a*  a  link  to  connect  them,  or  to 
terve  as  a  subftratum  for  the  others.  Now  luppote  I  say  that 
elegance  it  beauty,  or  al  least  iht  pleantrMe  in  little  thing* ;  w«  then 
have  a  ground  to  reM  upon  at  once.  For  elegance  being  beauty  or 
pleature  in  little  or  dtght  imprcMioDs,  precition,  lini>h,  and  politbcd 
■moothoett  follow  from  iliii  dclinttion  u  matters  of  course.  In  oilier 
words,  for  a  thing  that  ii  little  to  be  brauuful,  or  at  aey  rate  to 
please.'  it  muat  have  prednon  of  outline,  which  in  larger  ibmm>  and 
j;igancic  forma  !■  not  to  indispensable.  In  what  ii  small,  the  pans 
mutt  be  Cniihcd,  or  they  will  offend.  Lastly,  in  what  it  momentary 
and  cTanetccnt,  as  in  drest,  fashiont,  &c.  there  mutt  be  >  gtowy  aad 
sparkling  eEFect,  for  brilliancy  is  the  only  tirwc  of  oovcliy.  That  U 
to  say,  by  getting  the  primary  cooditiooa  or  CMentia]  qualitiet  of 
elegance  to  all  circumstances  whatcTer.  we  tee  how  these  branch  off 
bio  minor  divtiiooi  in  relation  to  form,  details,  colour,  lurfaoe,  &c. 
and  rise  from  a  common  j;rouod  of  abstraction  into  all  the  variety  of 
ccnsecguencci  and    exAmptes.     The  Herculet   is    not  elegant ;    the 

'  I  hi tr  uiil  before  thM  liii«  it  t  ttiitiy,  not  t  ptrfcct  dcnonttnliaii.     I  sm  e»o 
mmhanl  io  tntttphytict. 

357 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

Vcflw  b  au^  beiKtilwl.     The  French,  vbow  tdeu  o(  beancy  owi 
Enodcw  sever  aaomt  u  mdre  thu  w  elepace,  haw  no  rdMb  for 
lubnia,  Bor  will  thty  Mdentand  thi»  A-famon. 

Whea  Sir  Isnc  Newtsa  nw  the  wffte  Ul,  it  «m  a  vert  mmi^i 
mi  fffWh*f  obtcrrKioa,  boi  it  iiimwml  ts  lui  niad  c^  b«  tutt] 
hoUi d»  vatvmr  tofttbtT.     WhM  dwn  wm  dtr  proccM  m  thiacMe?' 
la  oenertl,  when  wt  we  ray  ttnai  &U|  we  ban  the  idea  of  a 
Iknr  Section,  flf  ^  nd  A  aw  aMDcated  whh   the 
infHahle  mkI  evety  dav**  experience.     The  earth  i*  ahraT*  {a>  «•) 
coocnw)   Btidci  OUT  u*%  and   the  *kj  ahovr  Diff  hcadi.  n  thift] 
■coordiDg  to  this  lociJ  and  Kabesil  feeling,  all  Ikkvj  bodica 
cvcriasiiislii  &U  in  the  nsic  tfinoiaa  iliiaaaaiili.  or  fooU  W  dK 
Kbt^euioaBrow  faodie*.     Sir  Ink  Ncwmb  by  a  bare  rfen  < 
nctsoat  or  vy  a  {nap  of  tdind  comiiffiinwLag  au  the 
feutioBa  CM  tBDcat  nat  rio  ca  tana  pvejodio^  liu  at'u  nie  ^ 
ware  oa  itt  ba^  aad  ««  ihc  anw  U  aot  Jiaaiaa  A,  bat  M^ly , 
Waif  A  the  eatth,  ao  thai  it  woan  &I  y«aar^  ««  ibe  i 
if  tbe  «Rb  were  above  il,  or  tmnraa  it  at  aaj  nta 
k  hf.    Tim  UgUr  rfwuociad  virw  of  the  ■ 
ibe  pbeaoaNaa  of  aaua^  aad  na  odMr  Si  i  aad  ihia  new  he,] 

tba  cwafapoBfT!  fBsaascia  €t  ibe  aanene  ***t  oae  lavf 
_  naai  aaa  wubq  tbs  wiaa^  iBviuulae  < 
I  ef  ipaad  A«aH  it  refaaea  to  the 
oar  pwa  bedka  aad  ibe  yaeiaiua  id*  aH  ocben  to  tbe  evib  ■■ 
^aae  dvecticaip     rnaa  a  cnMMctibcd  kmI  j    '    ^ 
tB^^   wBich  V   aca0ala  iiai  I  a  laar '    the   vpeM 
lyoaea  o^  dob  a  vidr  aad  oaoaatbeawe  aaca  nade  a 
beycrceivrd  the  eMonJ  *T''"*n'  ar  caae  tf  a 
-  -  ""'bdli 


ON  DKPTH   AND  SUPERFICIALITY 

Juving  them  conttaotly  before  it*  eye«,  goawtd  itacIT  to  death  u|>oa 
them.  I  aaienied  to  thii  remaik.  and  I  confes*  it  struck,  me  a* 
thewing  a  deep  intinht  into  hiunan  n&ture.  Here  was  a  tiiter  enrjrtng 
a  uMcr,  and  that  not  lor  objects  that  provoke  *troog  pastion,  but  for 
common  and  conteationid  advanuf>e*,  tit!  it  end*  in  her  death.  They 
were  also  represented  «*  good  and  retprcublr  people.  How  then  tt 
this  extraordinary  developemem  of  sn  ordinary  human  frailty  to  be 
accounted  for  i  From  the  peculiar  circtmisiiincci  ?  These  were  the 
country  and  state  of  Bocieiy.  It  wai  id  America  that  it  happened. 
The  dcmocr.itic  level,  the  flacneis  of  imagery,  the  abience  of  those 
lowering  and  artificial  h-ighti  that  in  old  ,->nd  monarchical  statct  act 
t»  conductor*  to  atiraci  and  cany  olf  the  splenetic  humour>  and 
rucorous  liostiltties  of  a  whole  people,  and  to  make  common  and 
petty  advantajtcs  sink  into  perfect  in«igniticance,  were  full  in  the  mind 
of  the  person  who  suggeunl  the  solution ;  and  in  thia  dearth  of  e*ery 
other  mark  or  vent  foe  it,  it  was  felt  miuitively,  that  the  oaiural 
spirit  of  envy  and  discontent  would  fasten  upon  those  that  were  next 
to  it,  and  whole  advantage*,  there  being  no  great  difference  in  point 
of  elevation,  would  gall  in  proportion  to  their  proximity  and  repeated 
recurrence.  The  remote  and  exalted  advantage*  of  birth  and  station 
io  countries  where  the  «ocijl  fabric  is  connructed  uf  lofty  and  unecjual 
matcria.lt,  neceuarily  carry  the  mind  out  of  its  immediate  and  domestic 
circle ;  whereas,  take  away  those  object*  of  imaginary  tpleeti  and 
moody  speculation,  and  they  leave,  ai  the  incviiahle  alternative,  the 
eavy  and  hatred  of  our  friend*  and  neighbour*  at  every  advantage  we 
pOKsesii,  as  to  many  eye-tore*  and  gtumbling-block*  in  tlieir  way, 
where  the*c  selfish  principles  have  not  betn  curbed  or  given  way 
altogether  to  charity  and  benevolence.  The  fact,  it  stated  in  il«ctf,  is 
an  anomaly  :  a*  ibu*  explained,  by  combining  it  with  a  general  *tatc 
of  feeling  in  a  counuy,  it  (ecmt  to  point  out  .1  great  principle  in 
society.  Now  thi*  toludon  would  not  luve  been  attained  but  for  the 
deep  imprewion  which  the  operation  of  certain  general  cause*  of 
moral  character  had  recently  made,  and  the  ^uicknest  with  which  the 
consequence*  of  its  removal  were  felt.  I  might  give  other  ioMancei, 
but  them-  will  be  tufficient  to  explain  the  argument,  or  *et  other*  upon 
elucidating  it  more  clearly. 

Acutcnes*  ii  depth,  or  sagacity  in  connecting  individual  cFect*  with 
individual  caute*,  or  vuf  vmd,  a*  in  wratagcm*  of  war,  policy,  and 
a  knowledge  of  character  and  the  world.  Comprchensioo  t*  the 
power  of  combining  ■  vast  number  of  particular*  in  some  one  t-iew, 
a*  in  mechanic*,  or  the  jpme  of  ches*,  but  without  referring  ihem  to 
any  abstract  or  general  principle.  A  tommon-pliut  difTen  from  an 
abstract  discourse  in  thi*,  that  it  is  trite  and  Taguc,  instead  of  being 

319 


THE   PLAIN  SPEAKEK 

new  and  profemtd.  it  it  a  conamoo-fiUoe  at  preaeu  to  ny  that 
beny  bodiM  fall  bjr  Mtractioa.  It  would  alway*  have  beeo  one  to 
uy  that  thii  fallictft  >>  <bc  tStct  of  a  Uw  of  natnrv,  or  the  will  of 
God.     Tbi*  i*  umpuof  a  jteoetal  but  ooi  adequate  caair. 

The  depth  of  paMMo  i*  wbete  it  lake*  hold  of  cir cunwancea  too 
rtnote  ot  iodificrtqt  lor  notice  from  the  force  of  aMOCtttioD  or 
teaiogjt  and  ninit  the  current  of  other  foHioo)  by  ita  own.  Draimtic 
power  hi  the  depth  of  the  knowledge  of  the  human  heart,  m  chiefly 
ibcwo  ia  traci&g  thi*  effect.  For  inttancc,  the  (ondoei*  diiptand 
by  a  fluK/eta  for  a  lorer  (aa  At  it  about  to  dncn  him  for  a  rival)  is 
not  mere  hypocrity  or  an  to  deceive  ham,  but  nature,  or  the  readioa 
of  ber  pity,  or  pwttnf;  teadenacM  towarda  a  penoo  the  i«  about  to 
injure,  bM  doe*  not  abtohitely  bate.  Shakeipear  ii  ilie  uoly  dramatic 
Mthor  who  ha*  liuA  open  thi«  reactioti  or  ioTolution  of  the  nauaona  in 
a  maoDer  worth  ipeakiog  of.  The  rcn  are  commoa  place  declaimcra, 
aad  may  be  eery  line  pocti,  but  twc  deep  philotophcn. — There  ta 
a  depth  even  in  wpcrliciality,  that  ii,  the  aifrction*  cling  round 
oiniou*  and  familiar  objccia,  not  recondite  and  remote  one*  i  and  the 
tiiteoM  ociodouity  of  feeling  thus  obtainedt  forma  the  depth  of  aemi- 
mcM.  It  i*  that  that  redeema  poetry  and  romance  from  the  charge 
of  aaperlicialiiy.  The  habitoal  imprcsiioo*  of  thin^i  are,  aa  to  feeling, 
the  moit  refined  one*.  Tbe  painter  alio  in  hi*  miod'c  c}c  penetrate* 
beyond  the  nrface  or  hu«k  of  the  object,  and  icct  into  a  b^rinth  of 
fornia.  an  abyai  of  colour.  My  head  ha*  grown  ^ddy  in  fidlowing 
the  windiD{;«  uf  the  diawifijt  in  Rapliael,  itid  I  )ia*e  gazed  on  the 
bnndth  of  Titian,  where  infiniie  imperceptible  gradations  were 
blended  in  a  conunon  mata,  a*  into  a  dazzling  mirror.  Thii  idea 
in  more  eaaily  tranajerrtd  to  Rembrandt'*  duaro-icura,  where  the 
gieueat  ctnrotaa  and  the  niceat  di*iina>on»  are  obtetied  in  the  midat 
of  ofaacotity.  In  a  word.  I  »u»pcci  depth  to  be  ihai  strength,  and  at 
the  aame  time  rabtlety  of  inprcuioat  which  will  not  fulfer  the  dighteat 
indication  of  thought  or  feeling  to  be  loai,  and  gives  warning  of  themt 
oier  whaterer  extent  of  aur^e  tbey  are  dtiluMd,  or  under  whaterer 
ditguiaea  of  circumKancea  they  lurk. 


ESSAY  XXXI 
ON    RI8PZCTABLE    PEOPLE 


Tkiu  it  not  any  term  thai  ia  oftcoer  mtupplied,  or  that  ia  a  ttronnr 
JBitttKe  of  the  abuK  of  Unguage,  than  thii  aame  word  mfni^ilf. 
By  a  rtiftttoUi  wum  ia  generally  iceani  a  per  ton  whom  iheic  ia  ik> 
360 


k 


ON  RESPECTABLE  PEOPLE 

RUOD  for  rcipectingi  or  none  that  we  cfaoow  to  name  :  far  if  there 
ii  any  good  rcaaoo  for  the  upioioa  we  vith  to  exprcia,  w«  naturally 
latipkh  at  the  ground  of  hii  rctpecubiiity.  If  the  perion  whom  you 
are  deciruu*  to  diaractcrinc  fitvouiabiy,  in  diiURguiKhcd  for  hii  good- 
nature, you  ny  that  he  in  a  ^ood-naiured  m.-tn ;  if  by  hU  zcfti  ta  (crre 
hii  fricndt,  you  cull  him  a  friendly  man  ;  if  by  his  writ  or  icnRe,  you 
*ay  that  he  ia  witty  or  icntible;  if  by  hit  honcfty  or  learning,  you 
uy  to  at  oQce ;  but  if  he  it  none  of  ihcM:,  jnd  there  J«  no  one  quality 
which  you  can  bring  forward  to  juutliy  the  high  opinion  you  would 
be  thought  to  enceitain  of  him,  you  then  t^ike  the  que«tioo  for  granted, 
and  jump  at  a  coDcIution,  by  obteriing  gravely,  that  '  he  ii  a  rery 
reipcccable  man.'  It  ia  clear,  indeed,  that  where  we  have  any 
(triking  and  generally  admitted  reaaao*  for  rc»prciing  a  man,  the 
mo«t  obvious  way  to  ensure  the  respect  of  otheri,  will  be  to  mention 
his  estimable  qualiiict;  where  iheic  are  wanting,  the  wiscat  course 
must  be  to  ny  nothing  about  them,  but  to  tamt  on  the  general  infer- 
eoce  which  we  bare  our  panicujar  reasons  for  drawioK,  only  vouching 
for  its  autheniicity.  If,  for  instance,  the  only  motive  we  have  for 
thinking  or  speaking  well  of  another  is,  that  he  give*  u*  good  dinner*, 
a«  this  is  not  a  valid  reason  to  those  who  do  not,  like  us,  pariake  of 
his  hoEpitalicy,  we  may  (without  going  into  particulars)  content  our- 
selves with  assuring  them,  ibai  he  is  a  moat  respectable  man  :  if  he  is 
a  altve  tu  those  above  him,  and  an  oppmior  iif^  those  below  him,  btit 
•omelinm  makes  ua  the  channels  oi  bin  bounty  or  the  cools  of  his 
caprice,  it  will  be  as  well  to  say  nothing  of  the  matter,  hut  to  confine 
ourselves  to  the  safer  generality,  that  he  is  a  person  of  the  highest 
respectability :  if  lie  is  a  low  dirty  fellow,  who  has  amassed  an 
innnense  fortune,  which  he  does  not  know  what  to  do  with,  the 
poucMioD  of  it  alone  will  guarantee  hi*  respectability,  if  we  say 
nothing  of  the  manner  in  which  he  has  come  by  it,  or  in  which  be 
•pcods  it.  A  man  may  be  a  ktuve  or  a  fool,  or  both  (as  it  may 
happen)  and  yet  be  a  moM  respectable  man,  in  the  common  and 
authorized  scnae  of  the  term,  ptvnded  he  saves  appearances,  and  does 
not  give  common  fame  a  handle  for  no  longer  keeping  up  the  imposture. 
The  bcji  title  to  tbc  character  of  respectability  lie*  In  the  convenience 
of  those  who  echo  the  cheat,  and  in  the  conventional  hypocrisy  of  the 
world.  Any  one  tnay  lay  claim  to  it  who  is  willing  to  give  himcelf 
ain  of  importance,  and  can  find  means  to  divert  othcn  from  inquiring 
too  Krictly  into  his  pretensioini>.  It  is  a  disposable  commodity, — not 
i  a  part  of  the  man,  that  sticks  to  him  like  his  skis,  but  an  appurtenance, 

[  like  hit  goods  and  chattels.     It  is  meat,  drink,  and  clothing  to  those 

I  who  take  the  benefit  of  it  by  allowing  others  the  credit.     It  ts  the 

J  current  coin,  the  circulating  medium,  in  which  the  factitious  inter- 

1  36' 


k 


V  ■)  "tfaf  wcida  wMfiti  sQiB>  insi  i 
^i^K  n,  ami  m  ^fcnl  ii> 

^■i   ilimI      Tg  «f9«r  tiw  V  m   a.   m  s 
siaMriac  iwii     wiiit  lean  lir  panw- 

«r  <pMC^     VihK  »m  kk:  tar  mni   ■  fLpJiin 

■m>  mm^t  ikK  c  nnwlBo  mr  t^  ^/^i^iS  BiMi  a; 
amy  ^k  'OwellaKK  ■ri'lai^  nt  sBKLai^  ^k  fM£  acH^'tv] 

tmt  of  lit>  KTir^     He  tncn  kic  the  yiiiam^iBv  ib  -t 
liBBMit,  iMi  t)  iw  «  >k1i  Or  no,  Md  «■>  ^HT  «BR  of  taw  • 

ttPdn!  rt^ut^B^     sly  i:  ivr  '^■■pe  Ji*  f**'^t  sm!   frgi.*  tvr 

tiw£b-b«£««aiai  tfaw  AMBUBMBriiuid'BF-aiAc.    Wr^ife^Hi 
^  ^glf^^hit  «mn!  ms  fiaK  ydc  w  a  f*^  -pHn*  ■'*"'**■" 

vr  s  vH^c^ni  nr*  am  odt  ik}  |vqsm1  tP'tiK  OHnSI 
Jh*  >  dtaiM^  aoK  ID  1»  !■=!«  Min  pm -wittHK  ft  daiBst.  «r  1 
s  pftud  A^^  «iv  Alt  ft^L     Sr  ate  Jim  adiaid  inmel'^  m  tte 


Ibp  pnMoist  n  *is  wd  uli^  m  jvciHt- 

^p^K  MBBf  'iwiiin.  fffnBEEC  *  *^ennzF  rii^Br*^.  'Art  i^k  i 

biflcw  tD  ^nvvAr  tfae  ^^ea  of  tkr  "Vi^  '■fen  vHtfkcl  ^Mr  tai 


ON   RESPECTABLE  PEOPLE 

^1^  M  the  mortificauoQ  of  his  atuatioo  t  bat  the  ftMoniBB  nenr 
f^lt  >ny  diminution  of  hit  SoTcrrigo'i  regard  in  coD»c<]ueticc  of  it. 
Charki  the  Sectind't  neglect  of  hi>  favourite  poet  Butler  did  not  make 
him  look  Im»  eracioiu  in  the  tyvs  of  hii  counien,  or  of  the  wtti  utA 
ctiiica  of  the  time.  Qurna'a  cmWtasimcDU,  and  the  teropta(ion«  to 
which  he  was  exposed  bv  hi«  ntuacion,  dcgiadcd  him ;  but  left  no  nigms 
OD  his  patrons,  who  »til]  meet  to  celebrate  hi*  memory,  and  conwlt 
ibout  hiE  niooumcDt,  in  the  face  of  day.  'I'o  enrich  the  mtnd  of  a 
country  by  works  of  art  or  science,  and  leave  yourself  poor,  is  not  the 
way  for  any  one  to  rank  u  respeciaUe,  at  least  in  hts  life-time : — to 
opprcts,  to  enslavCf  to  cheat,  iad  jphinder  it,  is  a  much  better  way. 
<  The  time  give*  evidence  of  it.'     But  the  iRRtance*  are  common. 

Respectability  mean*  a  man's  situation  and  aucocs*  in  life,  not  his 
character  or  conduct.  The  city  merchant  never  lores  his  tcipecta- 
bility  till  he  becomes  i  baakropt.  After  that,  we  heat  no  more  of  it 
or  him.  The  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  the  Parson  of  tlic  parish,  the 
Lord  and  the  Si^uire,  are  allowed,  by  immemorial  uauj^,  to  be  very 
retpecuble  people,  though  do  one  ever  thinks  of  asking  why.  They 
arc  a  son  of  fixtures  in  this  way.  To  take  an  example  from  one  of 
them.  The  Country  Parson  may  past  hit  whole  time,  when  he  it  not 
employed  in  the  cute  of  soul*,  in  flattering  his  rich  neighbours,  and 
leaguing  with  them  to  iimi  hit  poor  ones,  in  seizing  ponchers,  and 
encouraging  infonneta  ;  he  may  be  exorbitant  in  exacting  hii  tithes, 
harsh  to  his  Bervsni*,  the  dread  and  bye-word  of  the  village  where  he 
resides,  and  yet  all  this,  though  it  may  be  notorious,  shall  abate 
nothing  of  his  respectability.  It  will  not  hinder  his  patron  from 
giiiog  him  another  living  to  play  the  petty  tyrant  in,  or  preivnc  him 
from  riding  oi-er  to  the  Squire's  in  his  carriage  and  being  well 
received,  or  from  sitting  on  the  bench  of  Justices  with  due  decorum 
and  with  clerical  dignity.  The  poor  Curate,  in  the  mean  time,  who 
may  be  a  real  comfort  to  the  bodies  and  minds  of  hii  parishioners, 
will  be  passed  by  without  notice.  Parson  Adams,  drinking  his  ale 
in  Sir  Thomas  Booby's  kitchen,  makes  no  very  respectable  figure; 
but  Sir  Thomas  himself  was  right  woishipfiil,  and  hi*  widow  a  person 
of  honouT ! — A  few  such  historiographers  as  Fielding  would  put  aa 
end  to  the  farce  of  respectability,  with  several  others  like  it.  Peter 
Pounce,  in  t)ie  same  author,  was  a  conaummation  of  this  character, 
translated  into  the  most  vulgar  English.  The  character  of  Captain 
Blilil,  his  epitaph,  and  funeral  sermon,  are  worth  tome*  of  casuistry 
and  patchrdup  theories  of  morjd  fcntiments.  Pope  somewhere 
exclaims,  in  his  line  indignant  way. 


•  What  can  ennoble  soti,  or  knaves,  or  cowards  ! 
Alat  ■  not  all  the  blood  of  all  the  Howard*.' 


363 


ON  JEALOUSY   AND  SPLEEN  OF  PARTY 

tbd  good  manner*  Into  mixed  lociety,  it  U  cot  ultrd,  when  h«  lean* 
it,  whether  be  a  rich  or  Dot.  Lord*  and  £ddlcn,  auihort  and 
conunoQ  councilmen,  editon  of  newipapetc  and  parbamcnUry  apealcer* 
meet  logcthcr,  and  the  difctcDcc  U  pot  to  much  marked  u  one  would 
fuppOK.  To  be  an  Edinburgh  Reriewcr  i«,  1  suspect,  the  highest 
rank  in  inodeio  literary  tociety. 


ESSAY  XXXI 1 


OH   THE   JEALOUSY    AND   THE    SPLEEN    OF   PARTY 

*ll  I*  michin-mtlleo,  ud  mcuii  miMhief.'— HauIiXT. 

I  WAi  «orry  to  6Dd  the  other  day,  on  coming  to  Vevey,  and  lookiag 
into  tome  I^nglish  book*  at  a  library  dicre,  thai  Mr.  Moore  had 
taken  ao  opportunity,  in  hia  '  Khymet  on  the  Road,'  of  abuainn 
Madante  Warens,  Rouuieau,  and  men  of  ;;eniua  in  general,  /t'l  an 
m  bird,  3K  the  proverb  uy»-  Tbii  appear*  to  me,  1  confeu,  to  be 
ficl-lhani  work,  an  ncedlcM  ai  it  i«  ill-timed,  and,  conHidcring  from 
whom  it  comcR,  particularly  unplea»ant.  In  conclu>ion,  he  th»nk» 
God  with  the  Lcvite,  that  ■  he  'i»  not  one  of  tfao«e,'  aod  would  rather 
be  any  thlnj;,  a  worm,  the  meaneal  ihinf.  that  trawls,  than  numbered 
among  thoic  who  gi*e  lic.ht  and  law  to  the  world  by  an  cxce4»  of 
&ncy  and  iniclleet.'  Perhajw  Pontctity  may  take  him  at  hi*  word, 
and  no  more  trace  be  found  of  bia  *  Rhymct'  upon  the  onward  tide 
of  time  thin  of 

•  the  »now-fa]|i  In  the  rirer, 
A  moment  white,  then  mclw  for  ercr ! ' 

It  niiglit  be  lomc  iocrcaning  conaciouinc**  of  the  (rail  tenure  by  which 
lie  hoick  hit  tank  among  the  great  heir*  of  Fame,  that  urged  our 
Bard  to  pawn  bis  reversion  of  immortality  for  so  indulgent  amile  of 
patrician  approbatioot  at  he  raited  hit  puny  ami  againtt  'the  mighty 
dead,'  to  wwer  by  a  flouriih  of  hi*  pea  the  otntocracy  of  tetter* 

'  '  Out  00  (h«  end— I  M  ratlut  bt 

One  of  thoM  hiarti  ihit  touoil  me  trnd. 

With  juil  FDODnh  of  MUK  In  ICC 

Th«  BBaO'ity  iud  tlut  '•  o'ei  dip  het^, 
Thiin  Ihui  wilh  high-buitt  (cniui  cunM, 
Tlul  h»th  no  hcirl  for  ica  fiiuncjaiian. 
Be  all  It  oo«  that'i  brifhlrat — wortl— 
Sublimed — metnnt  in  cmljon.' 

RsTMU  «*■  ni  Road. 

36s 


ON  JEALOUSY  AND  SPLEEN  OF  PAUTY 

uttnr  to  ibe  (uadcnl  of  grcanxst,  thai  ia,  of  MmnUitg  mM  h  tKm 
wf,  exittiag  in  ibe  ■uthor'a  own  miad. 

■  This  t^"  >)  *^  unkindnt  cut  of  all.* 

Mr.  Moore  take*  the  iafcmce  which  he  chtwts  to  attribute  to  the 
DcighbouriBg  teauy  coKcrning  'the  pauper  Ud,'  namely,  that  'be 
waa  mad '  becaaiie  he  wai  poor,  and  fltnei  it  to  the  pauenger*  out  of 
a  Undau  and  four  ai  the  trae  vernoa  of  hit  character  oj  the  fiuhtooabte 
and  local  luihoritic*  of  the  time.  He  need  ao(  hate  loae  oni  of  hn 
way  to  Channcttet  merely  to  drag  the  repatation*  of  Jna  Jac<]uc« 
and  hit  tniitrtas  after  him,  chaiaed  to  the  cor  of  atiatocracy,  m 
*  peo[»le  low  ukI  bad,'  on  the  lUength  of  hia  coemtcd  lynipaihy  with 
tbe  genteel  ooaJKiivei  of  the  day  aa  to  what  and  who  they  were — 
wc  hiTC  btxter  and  more  aatbeMk  erideoce.  What  would  he  uy  if 
tbi«  method  of  oeiuraliuiie  the  roke  of  tbe  paUic  were  applied  to 
himiclf,  0(  to  hi*  fiicod  Mr.  Chantry ;  if  we  were  to  deny  Uiat  the 
one  ever  rode  ia  aa  open  carriage  liit-a^iiu  with  a  lord,  becauac  hit 
Etther  itood  behind  a  counter,  or  were  to  a*k  the  tculpto^a  cuatooicn 
wbeo  he  drove  a  milk-can  what  we  are  to  think  of  his  bu«  of  Sir 
Walter  *.  h  wS  nevtr  Ja.  It  it  the  peculiar  hardship  of  genioi  not 
to  be  recogniietl  with  the  Erai  breath  it  drawi — oncn  not  to  be 
admitted  even  daring  il*  lifc-tinte — to  nuke  its  way  tlow  aad  late, 
tbiot^hgood  report  and  cril  rcpon,  'through  clouds  of  dcfraciioa. 
of  envv  and  lie*  ^o  hare  to  contend  with  the  iaju(ti«e  of  ibnuac, 
with  the  prejudices  of  the  world, 

■  Raah  judgments  uul  tbe  incen  of  wlli^  mm  * — 

to  be  shamed  by  personal  defects,  to  pine  in  obsctirityi  to  be  the  butt 
of  pride,  the  jest  of  fools,  the  bye-word  of  ignoraoce  and  malice — to 
carry  on  a  cciiselcts  wufare  between  (he  conscioiiaaesa  of  inward 
worth  and  the  sligbt*  and  neglect  of  others,  and  to  hope  only  for  its 
reward  in  the  grave  and  in  the  undying  voice  of  fitinr : — arid  when, 
a*  in  the  prcseni  nwtance,  that  end  has  brni  marvellously  atuined  aad 
a  tinal  scntcDCc  has  bten  paswd,  would  any  ooc  but  Mr.  Moore  wish 
to  shrink  from  it,  to  leviic  the  injustice  of  bruoe  and  the  world,  aad 
to  abide  by  the  idle  conjectures  of  a  fashionabte  nttrit  empaonelted 
on  the  *pot,  who  would  come  to  the  same  shallow  conclusion  whether 
the  indiTidual  in  tjuettioo  were  an  idiot  or  a  Cod  \  There  is  a  degree 
ofgrataitous  impctlinence  and  frivolout  scrritity  in  all  this  not  easily 
to  be  accounted  for  or  forgiven. 

There  t(  lomeiliing  more  particularly  oiTcntivc  in  tbe  cant  about 
■  Moptc  low  and  bad '  applied  to  the  iotimacy  between  Rouiseau  and 
Madame  Warcns,  inaamuch  a*  the  volume  containiog  this  nice  strain 

567 


Mihevny 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

IB  Loo  Byi^Bt  who  ' 


o  vMStbavn  I 

OK  of  r^H  w  kb  L««d^*«  Amtaa  tad  to  ihat  ctf 
ttewkk  Mr.  llaMce»Kn«Hnm«rdifaf 


xptrrsr^slirjr 


ON  JEALOUSY   AND  SPLEEN  OF  PARTY 

initiguing.  and  the  Platonic  acuchmcnu  of  I^ngliih  ladin  of  the 
hip^liFK  quiliiy  and  lt;klLiii  Opeia-UDgers.  He  must  know  what 
lutLtn  luiiniicri  arc — wluii  tlii'y  vitsK  a  hundred  ycam  iffl,  at 
Fiorente  or  at  Turin,'  butter  than  I  cm  lell  him.  Not  a  word  doet 
he  hint  on  the  lubject.  No :  the  elcntion  and  upleoduur  of  the 
eximplcH  daixic  him ;  the  exicnt  of  the  c»il  orerpoweta  him  (  and  he 
choose*  u>  make  Madame  Wnrcns  the  scape-goat  of  hi(  little  budget 
of  querulous  caiuiitiyi  as  if  her  eirois  sod  icregularilici  were  to  be 
Mt  dowD  lo  the  account  of  the  geniut  of  Rouunu  and  of  modem 
philoaojihy,  inntead  of  being  the  re»ult  of  tlie  example  of  the 
priTilcgcd  cloti  to  which  (he  bclon^icd,  and  of  the  UceniiouancM  of 
the  age  and  country  id  which  the  lii-ed.  She  appears  to  have  been 
a  handsome,  well-bml,  fascinaiing,  condesccmttng  lirrniref  of  that 
day,  like  any  of  the  authot'i  fa^ihionahle  aci^uaintanceii  in  the  picicnt, 
but  the  cl(X)ucoce  of  her  youthful  praie^r  ha»  embalmed  her  memory, 
and  thrown  the  illmion  of  fancied  perfections  and  of  hsUowcd  rcgrew 
over  her  frailtie*;  and  it  ii  this  that  Mr.  Muure  canooi  cxcuv,  and 
that  tlrawi  down  upon  her  hii  pointed  hostility  of  attack,  and  rouwi 
all  the  Tenom  of  hi«  moral  indignation.  Why  doet  he  not,  in  tike 
manner,  pick  »  quarrel  with  that  celebrated  monument  in  the  Ptrt  hi 
Ciaite,  brought  tliecc 

•From  PancltteV  white  walls  and  tilvei  jprinjpj' 

or  why  doci  he  not  leave  a  lampoon,  iniiead  of  an  elegy,  on  Laufa'l 
tomb  J  The  tcaioo  i*,  he  dart  not.  The  cant  of  morality  ii  not 
here  itrong  eoough  to  stem  the  opposing  curtcitt  of  the  cant  of 
Kntimntt)  to  which  be  by  turn*  commits  the  socccw  of  hii  votiTe 
rhyme*. 

Not  content  with  stripping  off  the  false  colours  from  the  frail  ^r 
(one  of  whose  crime«  it  it  not  to  have  been  youo);]  the  poet  raakea  a 
*awaii-bkc  end,*  and  falls  foul  of  men  of  K^nius,  fancy,  and  sentiment 
ID  general,  as  impostors  and  mountebank*,  who  feel  the  lea*l  them- 
(«tfea  of  what  they  deicribe  and  make  other*  feel.  1  beg  leave  to 
enter  my  flat  and  peremptory  protest  againat  thi*  view  of  the  matter, 
81  an  impossibility.  I  am  not  abaolutcly  blind  to  the  weak  lidrt  of 
authors,  poeu,  and  phitoMpher*  (for''iiii  my  vice  to  spy  into  abuact') 
but  that  they  arc  not  generally  in  eamett  b  what  they  write,  that  they 
are  not  the  dupe*  of  their  own  imagination*  and  feeling*,  before  they 
turn  the  bead*  of  the  world  at  large,  i*  what  I  must  utterly  deny- 
So  far  from  the  likelihood  of  any  such  antipathy  between  their 
•cntiment*  and  their  profcMions,  from  their  being  rccmnts  lo  truth 

*  Mailsme  Wircni  rt«i<lttl  (or  sonu  lime  at  Turin,  and  wu  pentiontri  bir  the 
Coon. 

TOt.  VII. :  ^  i^  J69 


tdw 


mti  IBS ;  end  asSheb  Abjt 

l;  M  M  ac  *cry  nwniiiiwi  dn  ^■MD^m^x  ^f 

JHcii  c  d  «he  nam.     li  a  kvi^^  i^hb  ton  at  $■* 
e -aolr  ^Hft  lia «k^  .bc- liao^    Hai 
it  it  bwfl  w  at  iv  ^a*  ■*  iMHiK  i>  «Ab  k  «■     Sb 


< 


W» 


>»fjm^ 


ON  JEALOUSY  AND  SPLEEN  OF  PARTY 


he  ma^  be  full  of  incoDiUtcncin  clBrwhcn*,  but  he  is  bim»clf  Jo  hii 
book* :  he  may  be  ignotaot  of  the  world  we  b've  !n,  but  tlut  he  it 
not  at  home  and  cnchaoied  with  that  fairy-world  which  hanEn  upon 
hi»  ptn,  that  lie  does  not  reign  and  revel  in  the  creaiiom  of  hi»  own 
fancy,  or  tiead  with  awe  and  delight  the  ntatcly  domM  and  empyrean 

r laces  of  elctnal  truth,  the  portal*  of  which  he  opens  to  un,  is  what 
cannot  take  Mr.  Moore's  word  for.  He  does  noi  'give  us  reason 
with  his  rhyme.'  An  aaihor's  appearance  or  his  actions  may  not 
square  with  his  theories  or  his  desctiptiont.  but  his  mind  is  seen  in 
hit  writiogt,  it  bit  face  is  in  the  glass.  All  the  laults  of  the  literary 
character,  in  abort,  arise  out  of  the  predominance  of  the  profectiooal 
oMiiia  of  such  perion«,  aiKl  their  ab«orption  in  [hose  uiiiJ  studies  and 
punuits,  their  olTccted  regard  to  which  the  poet  tells  u«  is  a  mere 
mockery,  and  a  bare-faced  insult  lo  people  of  plain,  strait-forward, 

ftacticu  aense  and  unadorned  pretensions,  like  himself.  Once  more, 
cannot  bcliere  it.  I  think  that  Milton  did  not  dictate  '  Paradise 
Lost  *  ly  reir  (ai  a  moucliinft  plaj^r  repeats  his  part)  that  Shakeipcar 
worked  hinmelf  up  with  a  certain  warmth  to  exprcis  the  paition  in 
Othello,  that  Sterne  had  some  alfection  for  My  ITnclc  Toby,  Rouucau 
a  hmJuring  after  his  dear  Charmcttcs,  that  Sir  Isaac  Newton  really 
fcffgot  his  dinner  in  hi)  fondnets  for  fluxions,  and  that  Mr.  Locke 

fro»cd  in  »obcr  tadness  about  the  malleability  of  gold,  Fardier, 
have  DO  doubt  that  Mr.  Moore  liimself  is  not  an  exception  to  thia 
theory' — that  he  has  infinite  aaticlaction  in  tho«e  dokling  rhymes  and 
those  glittering  conceit!  with  which  the  world  arc  so  taken,  and  that 
he  had  Tery  much  the  same  sense  of  mawkish  sentiment  and  flimsy 
reasoning  in  inditing  thcRanzas  in  question  that  many  of  his  admirers 
must  have  experienced  in  reading  them  ! — ^In  turning  to  the  'Castle 
oT  Indolence  for  the  linn  quoted  a  little  way  back,  I  chanced  to 
light  upon  another  paaiage  which  I  cannot  help  irantcribing : 

*  I  can  not,  Fortune,  what  you  mc  dcnyt 
You  canaoi  rob  me  of  free  Nature'i  ffrace ; 
You  cannot  ihut  the  wjndom  of  the  tky, 
Through  whieh  Aurora  ihem  her  brightening  face; 
You  cannot  bar  my  cottitaiit  feet  to  trace 
The  woods  and  lawns  by  Hiring  stream  at  (ve  i 
Let  health  my  ncrre*  and  finer  fibre*  brace. 
And  I  their  loyt  to  the  great  childn;n  leave  i 
Of  fancy,  reason,  vitrue  nought  can  me  brrtavc." 

Were  the  tentimeott  here  so  beautifully  expreiied  mere  afTcctatian  in 
Thornton  i  or  are  we  to  make  it  a  rule  that  a*  a  writer  impart*  to  ai 
a  acniuition  of  didntereited  delight,  he  himoelf  has  none  of  the  feeling 
be  excites  in  us  i     This  is  one  way  of  shewing  our  gratitude,  and  being 

$7" 


THE   PLAIN  SPEAKER 


td  Mr.  Moore't  MBOsna.  m  tfcn 
I'a)  t%di^tA  (nm  ife  lifeitkm  of  Ei^  "  '  'i     i 

Bui*  I,  d»a«>  M>  each  a  •vrM,  a4  books,  <*c  fcaov. 
Aw*Mb«atiaJ  avcU,  baih  pate  Md  (004; 


(Gb 


Ow 


Le 


fCUCTf  WDO  BM  ever  MR  S 


■e  then  coa^tre  ibe 

to  books.  Dot  hMi^  to  fivorcr  tkm  &m  tlieir 
Whttrrvf  lo*c  or  mertocc  suy  be  <lae  to  the  odc,  n  cipaDj 
owing  to  tbe  o(lm>  The  *olatae  mt  prize  imy  bt  Sttic,  oU, 
■habbiljr  boootJ,  aa  imperfect  copjr.  doe*  not  ttep  don  fn^  the 
•hdf  to  give  m  a  (racebl  wdcame,  aor  caa  it  extend  a  haod  to 
•me  o»  ta  exircmin,  aad  lo  &r  nqr  be  Bke  the  aothoci  ba 
whatcTCT  there  it  of  tmb  or  good  or  of  prood  nnwnfiiMm  or  of 
cbeeiiat  hope  id  the  out^  all  thii  exiiced  in  a  iroor  dqne  fa  th« 
ir'l.'"**"  and  the  bean  aad  braia  of  the  other.  To  cbetiih  the 
wonnd  damm  the  aodiot  ii  a*  if  the  L'aTclkv  who  (lain  hi*  thint 
at  the  TwaaAag  noa^iboald  rcrtle  the  nring-hcad  from  vhich  k 
{(■bet.  I  do  Boc  (peak  of  dte  itfftt  of  pawioa  felt  by  HooaaeM 
tmwda  Madame  Warcof,  nor  of  haa  umimui  of  ha,  Bor  har'a  of 
hia:  botthu  be  tboagbt  of  her  for  yean  with  the  tcadmat  yeiuBBigi 
of  aftoioo  Bsd  regret,  aad  feh  toward*  her  all  that  he  hu  atade  hv 
rcaden  fed,  ihU  I  caaaot  for  a  noouu  doiifct.i  So  fax,  then,  be 
U  00  inipoator  or  joggler.  Still  le«t  could  he  bare  gimi  a  new  aad 
pcnonal  character  to  ihe  literature  of  Europe,  aad  changed  ihc  toae 
of  wMaiest  and  the  &ce  of  mtaeej,  if  be  had  ooi  feh  the  itrot^en 
JHMOt  b  penona  aad  thiagt,  or  hid  been  the  heanlcM  pretender  be 
Imwtti**'"*'  bddoM  tooa. 

Tbe  toae  of  po&tic*  and  of  pablic  opaaoa  haa  uadergoee  a  cott- 
wleraUe  aad  cviooa  change,  cm  ia  the  few  abort  jean  1  can 
remember.  Id  taj  nae,  that  it,  in  tbe  early  part  of  it,  the  lore  of 
Ebcrir  (at  leatl  by  all  thooe  whom  I  came  duiJ  wat  regarded  at 
(ha  (uctate  t£  comn>oo  tenae  and  cocmnoo  booetty.  Il  waa  oot  a 
qocatioa  of  depth  or  leamiag,  bat  an  ioatisctite  foefi^  prompted  by 
a  cettaiD  gcneroiu  warmth  of  bJood  ia  every  oae  worthy  tbe  aaroe  of 


■  What  the  nttvi  tf  hii  MuduatM  wu  ■  ^oiaM|  bewapUlia  k*  bkay, 
•  Ak  r  mU*  tt  b  amBcta  t '  with  whicii  lU  luofe  hi*  nw  j  «  W  tfai  b^wiat 
•M  or  Ik  •  EeieriM  ol  •  SalkMT  Wilkn.- « A^MAai  JOK  4>>l^ 
a  y  a  urf rtrfwf at  cla^alt  lai  *t  ■«  premiBT  cada  liMo  otw  ' ' 
iM.'    M  It  (t  i«ry  taiMt  m>  KoIt  AnKnoa  «nm  art  M«erH 


rf  iIn  bM  oT  the  '^ 

4t  Wainu.'    %«  It  (a  i«ry  faaiMt  m>  Stmtj  AnKnoa  Aoaa  aal  M«ermad  ifcaa 
iMC-vIn**^  Wroapccu  t  and  i«n«  with  hia  ftita*  Urf  Bjroa,  who 
arvct  ta  fed  aaj  thini  miaaaly  (d>  nort  than  a  4ay  1 

13» 


I 


ON  JEALOUSY  AND  SPLEEN  OF  PARTY 


llf  iion.  A  maa  wovld  u  toon  avow  hintKir  to  be  a  pimp  or  a  pich- 
poclcet  u  a  tool  or  a  paadtt  to  corrupcioo.  Thia  wa«  thr  lUtunJ 
utA  U  the  •arae  time  the  umIoiuI  ftcliog.  Pairiotiun  vim  not  at 
nraaoe  with  |ihiluthro|]y.  To  uke  aa  iaiercM  ia  hamaoity,  it  wm 
only  thought  Dccmary  lo  have  the  form  of  a  man :  to  eipouie  it* 
cauce,  nothing  wat  wanting  bat  to  be  able  to  arttcubte  the  name. 
It  wai  not  inquimi  what  cost  a  Biao  wore,  where  he  wu  bora  or 
bred,  what  wa*  his  partly  or  hit  profcMJoo,  to  qualify  him  to  lotc 
on  this  broad  and  nM  qwttkn — to  take  his  share  in  advaodog  it, 
wH  the  unditfraEed  tnrtb-right  of  every  ficc-nun.  No  one  was  too 
high  or  too  low,  no  one  wu  too  wise  or  too  aiin|Jc  to  job  in  the 
cenunoo  catue.  It  would  have  been  coottrued  into  lukewumneia 
and  cowardice  not  to  have  done  to>  Tbc  roice  ai  of  o«)e  crying  in 
the  wildcroew  had  gone  forth — ■  Peace  on  earth,  and  good^will 
towards  men ! '  The  daws  of  a  new  era  was  at  hand.  Might 
was  DO  longer  to  lord  it  onr  right,  opinion  to  march  hattd  in  hand 
with  faltehood.  Tie  hnit  swelled  at  tlie  mcntioo  of  a  poblk  as  of 
■  ptiTate  wTOog— the  brain  teemed  witli  projects  for  the  benc&t  of 
maolciiKl.  Hiatoey,  pJuloaophy,  all  wcU-iotcDUoncd  and  weil-toformed 
men  agreed  in  the  same  condiuioo.  If  a  good  was  to  be  done,  let  it 
— if  a  tmth  was  to  be  told,  let  it !  There  could  be  oo  harm  ia 
that :  it  was  only  aeeemty  to  distiogmsli  right  from  wioog,  milfa 
from  lies  to  know  to  which  wc  should  gi>e  the  preference.  A  rote 
•ma  (heo  doubly  sweet,  the  note*  of  a  thrush  went  to  the  heart,  thete 
wad  'a  witchery  in  tbc  toft  bloc  sky'  because  we  could  Jce)  and 
enny  tach  thiogt  by  the  privilege  of  our  comnton  nattire,  *  not  by  the 
wneraDoe  of  npcmal  power,'  and  beeauK  ihc  common  feelings  of 
o«r  nacare  were  not  trampled  upon  aod  sacrificed  in  scorn  to  shew 
tod  external  magBificence.  Homaniiy  was  tx>  longer  to  be  crushed 
like  a  won&i  at  it  bad  hitherto  been — power  was  to  be  struck  at, 
whcTcrer  it  reared  its  terpent  creat.  It  had  already  roamed  too  long 
unchecked.  Kiogi  and  prieiu  had  played  the  game  of  violence  aod 
fraud  for  thouaands  of  years  into  each  Mher's  hands,  on  pretences 
thai  were  now  teen  through,  and  were  ao  brther  fcatable.  The 
despot's  crown  appeared  lareishcd  and  Uood«atned :  the  cowl  of 
rapentiiioo  fell  on,  that  had  been  to  often  made  ■  cloak  for  tyranny. 
The  docuine  of  the  Jut  Drvumm  'squeaked  lod  gibbered  in  oat 
■tmu,'  Mhamed  to  shew  its  bead :  Holy  Oil  had  lo«  its  clficacy, 
and  was  laughed  at  as  an  exploded  mimuBcry.  Mr.  Locke  had  long 
aj£o  (in  hii  Treante  cf  Gtperament,  written  at  the  expten  desire  of 
King  Willutm)  ictiled  the  question  at  it  afTectcd  our  own  Revolution 
(and  naturally  every  other)  in  favour  of  tibcraJ  prtftciples  as  a  part  of 
the  law  of  the  land  aod  aa  idcniilied  with  the  existing  tucceiiioa. 

J7S 


THE   PLAIN  SPEAKER 


BIwkMOorind  DcLolfnr  fthcloudeKpSBrgyrisUol'thc  EogliihCea- 
fmmeo)  foutxkd  thtir  praiw  oa  the  gmter  ailoy  of  Lifacnj  implied 
in  ii.  TyraaDj  «»  oa  the  iniie,  >t  least  ia  theory :  pubic  opaiiea 
might  be  uid  to  rni  oo  4n  incliixd  pbne,  tnrding  more  and  more  froia 
the  bei^ta  of  vbimry  power  and  iixli*idul  pretauioa  to  tlic  \erei  of 
pobGc  good  I  and  no  man  of  commoa  nrofc  oi  reading  would  hire  had 
the  laoe  to  object  m  a  bar  to  ibe  nurcb  of  irvih  and  freedom — 

•  The  right  diriat  nf  King»  to  g«wni  irrong '  * 

No  OK  bad  ibea  dared  lo  answer  the  cbim  of  a  whole  natioe  to  the 
choice  of  a  firec  govcnmcai  with  the  iatpadrm  tMmt,  *  Year  KiBg  it 
at  haod  !  *  Mr.  Daike  had  ta  Tain  mug  hii  rr^mrw  oter  the  *  age  of 
chivalrjr : '  Mr.  Pni  mouthed  out  hii  tpeeche*  on  the  exiAeaoe  of 
aocbl  order  to  iw  pvrpow  ;  Mr.  Malthoi  bad  oot  cut  np  Liberty  by 
tbe  rooCt  by  pamine  'the  grindinf;  Uw  of  necentty *  over  it,  ana 
entailing  vice  and  imtcry  oa  all  fiicurc  generation*  at  their  lappicM 
lot :  Mr.  Ricardo  had  not  pared  down  the  nchcme*  of  litioaary 
prejccton  and  idle  talkcn  into  the  form  of  Rent :  Mr.  Soothey 
had  not  iBRnounted  bit  cap  of  Liberty  with  the  laurel  wreath  ;  nor 
Mr.  Wonbworth  prt>claiffled  Cuiujite  u 'Cod's  Daughter i'  oorMr. 
Coleri^e,  to  patch  vp  a  rotten  came,  written  the  Fkixxd.  Every 
thing  baA  not  then  beeo  done  (or  had,  '  like  a  deiili»h  eogine,  back 
recoiled  upon  itarlf)  la  Rop  the  progreu  of  truth,  to  EttHc  (he  roiec 
of  humanity,  to  break  ia  pieora  and  defeat  opinion  by  aophiitryi  calmnny, 
intimidacioa,  by  tampetinK  with  tbe  intercita  of  the  prood  and  aelfi«fa,  the 
prcjudicee  oif  tbe  ijtDoram,  the  fear*  of  tbe  ttmid,  the  Ktvdet  of  the 
good,  and  by  retorting  to  erery  tnbterfogc  which  art  ooola  derite  to 
perpetuate  die  abotei  of  power.  Freedom  then  ttood  erect,  crowned 
with  orient  tight,  'with  look*  cominerctng  with  the  ik>n : '^-aincc 
thco,«bc  hu  fallen  by  the  twoid  and  by  slaadcr,  wbooc  edge  it  (harper 
than  the  tword ;  by  her  own  headlong  ital  or  the  waKbfti)  oafice 
of  her  foca,  and  through  that  one  anmeotiog  V'V^*'  *■>  ^  henna 
of  SovereigM  to  boAe,  degrade,  and  destioy  tbe  People,  whom  they 
had  hithmto  contidered  a*  ihdr  propeny,  and  whom  they  onw  taw 
(oh!  uobcard-of preRimption)  letting  up  a  claim  to  be  free.  Thia 
cbim  hat  been  once  naorc  let  andr,  annulled,  OTerihrowa,  trampled 
upon  with  every  mark  of  imult  and  igoontiny,  in  word  or  deed  ;  and 
the  coMcquence  hat  beeo  tl<at  all  ihote  who  had  Rood  forward  to 
advocate  it  have  been  hurled  into  the  air  with  it,  icatlered,  Mutned, 
and  have  never  yet  recovered  from  their  coofiuion  and  ditmay.  The 
•bock  wu  great,  at  it  wa*  micxpccted ;  the  oarprite  extretnc : 
Liberty  bccaroc  a  sort  of  bye-word ;  and  such  was  the  violence  of 
party-apirit  and  the  deairc  lo  retaliate  former  indi^itiea,  that  all 
ST4 


I 
I 


m  m 


ON  JEALOUSY  AND  SPLEEN  OF  PARTY 

thoK  who  had  ever  bctrn  attached  to  the  fallen  cauve  wcmed  (o 
have  tufFemJ  contamioation  and  to  labour  under  a  nii^.nin.      The 
Party  (both  of  Whig*  and  Rcformeri)  were  left  completely  In  the 
Jurch;   and  {what  may  appear  cxitaordinaty  at  fiw  night)  instead 
of  wishing  to  ttreogtheii  thcii  cau«c,  took  every  method  to  thin  their 
ranlt«  and  make  the  terms  of  admimioo  to  them  more  diilicult.     In 
proportion  as  thcjf  were  scouted  by  the  re«t  of  the  world*  they  grew 
more   caption*,  irritable,  and  jealous   of  each   other's  pretensloiu. 
The  general  obloquy  wa»  to  great  that  every  one  wat  willing  to 
escape  from  it  in  the  crowd,  or  to  curry  fa?our  with  the  victor*  b^ 
denouncing  the  exce««cs  or  picking   holes   in   the  conduct  of  h» 
seighboufj.     While  the  victimn  of  popular  prejudice  and  ministerial 
pcrtecution  were  eagerly  sought  for,  no  one  wu  ready  to  own  that 
he   wai   one   of  the  set.      Unpopularity   *doth    pan   the   6ux   of 
company.'     Each  claimed  an  exception  for  himself  or  party,   waa 
glad    to   hare  any  toop-holc  to  hide  himacif  from  thii  'open  and 
apparent  shame,'  and  to  shift  the   blame  from  his  own  thouldett) 
and  would  by  no  means  be  mixed  up  with  .lacobinit  and  I.cTcUcts — 
the  terms  with   which  their  triumphant  opponents  qualilied    indi»> 
criminatcly  ail  thoie  who  dilTered  with  them  in  any  degree.     Where 
the  cauK  was  lo  disreputable,  the  company  should  i>e  select.     Ai 
the  Hood-gate*  of  Billingsgate  abuse  and  courtly    malice   were    let 
looM,  each  coltrit  drew  itKlf  up  in  a  narrower  circle :    the  louder 
and  more  sweeping  was  the  itorm  of  Tory  spite  without,  the  liner 
weie  the  ditiiinctioni,  the  mote  fattidious  the  precaucione  used  within. 
The  Whigs,  completely  cowed  by  the  Tone*,  threw  all  the  odium 
on  the  Reformer* ;    who  in  letum  with  equal  magnanimity  rented 
ihcii  (lock  of  spleen  and  viijipetativc  rage  on   the  Whigs.     The 
common  cause  was  forgot  in  each  man't  anxiety  for  his  own  safety 
tvx)  character.     If  any  one,  bolder  than  the  rett,  wanted  to  ward 
olFtbc  blows  that  fell  in  showers,  ot  to  retaliate  on  the  assailants, 
he  was  held  back  or  turned  out  as  one  who  longed  to  bring  an  old 
house  about  tlior  ears.     One  obiea  was  to  give  a*  little  onence  as 
possible  to  '  the  power*  that  be  — to  lie  by,  to  trim,  to  shuffle,  to 
wait  for  events,  to  be  tcrcre  on  our  own  error*,  just  to  the  merits 
of  a  prospcTOO*  adTcnary,  and  not  to  throw  away  the  scabbard  or 
make  reconciliation  hopeless.     Just  a»  all  was  hushed  up,  and  the 
'chop-fallen'  Whi^s  were  about  to  be  sent  for  to  Court,  a  great 
doutering  blow  from  an  incorrigible  Jacobin  might  spoil  all,  and 
put  off  the  least  chance  of  anything  being  done  'for  tlie  good  of 
he  country,'  till  another  reign  or  the  next  century.     But  the  great 
thing  wa*  to  be  genteel,  and  keep  out  the  rabble.     They  that  touch 
pitch  arc  defiled.     '  No  connection  with  the  mob,'  vas  labelled  on 

37  S 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKEtt 

the  back  oi  rvcry  fncnd  of  thr  Pco(4r.  pTcry  pitifiil  reniner  of 
Oppoaitioo  took  catc  to  dMcliim  &1I  aiTuitty  with  uKb  Mlow*  a* 
Huntt  Cariutr.  or  Cobbeti.'  Ai  it  wm  the  oooiinual  <lnE^  of 
the  Miniucria]  wiitcri  la  coniouod  ibc  diffcreDt  ;ni^«  of  their 
anu;>omiu,  bo  the  chief  dmd  of  the  Minority  wa*  to  be  ooafooBded 
with  the  ptniulucc,  the  CanaUU,  tie.  Tbej  wottid  be  thoiqbt  neither 
ruilh  the  GoTcnuncnt  or  of  the  People.  They  are  an  awkward 
noatt  to  hit  al.  It  ■»  true  ihcy  hare  no  uipCTfluou*  popularity  to 
throw  away  upon  othcn,  and  ihey  may  be  »o  far  right  la  bciog  shy 
to  the  choice  of  their  awociatct.  They  ate  critical  in  rx-unining 
voUuiteera  into  the  lerrice.  It  i*  necewary  to  »k  leave  of  a  oumber 
of  circiuniiancet  eqitally  fnvoloa*  and  vexation*,  before  you  can 
cntiit  in  their  tkcleton^ccgimnit.  Tbui  you  muct  have  a  Rood  com 
to  your  back ;  for  they  haic  no  noiforai  to  pre  you.  You  nni>t 
briog  a  character  in  yoor  pocket ;  for  they  hare  no  retpcctability  to 
low.  If  you  have  any  uart  to  «hrw,  you  had  bc4t  hide  them,  or 
|irocure  a  certificate  for  your  jaciiic  behaviour  from  the  opposite  tide, 
vrith  whom  they  wiih  to  itand  well,  and  not  to  be  alwayi  wouDcling 
the  feclingt  of  diitinj'.aisbcd  indiriduali.  You  mutt  have  voucher* 
that  you  were  neiiber  born,  bred,  nor  retidc  within  the  BUU  of 
Mortality,  or  Mr,  Theodore  Hook  will  <rj  •Cockney  '  t  You  mnat 
have  studied  at  one  or  other  of  (he  Engliih  Univer«itie«,  or  Mr. 
Croker  will  prove  every  third  word  to  be  a  BulL  If  you  arc  a 
patriot  iind  a  manyt  to  <x>ur  principle*,  this  it  a  paioful  condideratioo, 
and  mutt  act  at  a  draw-back  to  your  preteniaonB,  which  would  have 
A  more  gluaty  and  creditable  appearance,  if  they  had  never  been 
tried.  It  you  nrc  a  lord  or  a  luoglcr  after  lord*,  it  it  welt:  the 
glittering  tiar  hide*  the  plebeian  ttains,  the  obedient  «mile  and  habitual 
cringe  of  approbation  are  always  welcome.  A  courtier  abute*  courts 
with  a  better  fiACV ;  for  one  who  haa  held  a  place  to  ntit  at  place- 
men and  pcn»iooet(  ibewa  candour  and  a  disregard  to  wlf.  There 
If  nothing  low,  vulf^ar,  or  ditreputable  in  it  I— I  doubt  urtiether  thn 
mdrtiui  diicipline  and  tprucencM  of  demeanour  i*  &vourable  to  the 
popidar  tide.  The  Tories  are  not  lo  ttjueamiah  in  their  choice  of 
loola.  If  a  writer  comn  up  to  a  certain  standard  of  dulncsa, 
impudence,  and  waat  of  principle,  oochiag  mote  is  expected.     There 

ii  fat   M ,  lean   J ,  black   C ,   Bisiay   H ,    lame 

G ,  and  one-eyed  M :  do  they  not  (arm  an  impeoetraUe 

phalanx  round  the  throne,  and  worthy  of  it !  Who  eier  tbonjtht 
of  inquiring  into  the  lalcniR,  qualificationt,  birth,  or  breeding  of  a 
Covemmcnt-scMbbler  f     If  ibc  workman  it  fitted  to  the  work,  they 

'  Mr.  Pilt  ini]  Mr.  Winrlhim  writ  nol  to  ajn.    They  <m«  intimilc  <iM«ch 
with  (uch  a  (cUow  u  Cdbticit,  while  he  choK  lo  ttind  hy  them. 

3-6 


ON  JEALOUSY   AND  SPLEEN  OF  PAIITY 


care  not  one  utrnw  what  vou  or  I  ny  aboul  him.  Tbii  thewi  b  cob* 
fidcticc  in  thcm»clvct,  and  it  the  my  ta  aMurc  other*.  The  Whign, 
who  do  not  feel  their  ground  so  well,  make  upfor  their  want  ot'«ticngth 
by  i  proi>ortioDiible  wint  of  spirit.  Their  ciiue  ta  ticklinh,  and  they 
(upport  it  by  the  leaat  hazaidout  nienoi.  Any  riol«M  or  <le«paate 
meuuTH  on  thdr  part  might  recoil  upon  themMlvM. 

•When  ihcy  cmwifc  ihe  «gf. 
They  are  <auliou(  and  u^, 

Lett  the  tDtittim  oAendcd  thoiild  be' 

Whilst  they  arc  pelted  with  the  tnoat  icunitou*  epithet*  and  uniparing 
abu*e,  they  itiiin  on  language  the  most  clatiical  and  poltihed  in 
return  i  and  if  any  asfortunaic  dcTil  letR  an  exprcmon  or  alliuioo 
escape  that  utngSt  or  jart  the  tone  of  good  company,  he  ia  given  iip 
without  rcmorae  to  the  tender  merctca  of  hia  foes  for  thia  ioJVactioa 
of  good  mannera  and  breach  of  treaty.  Tbe  envy  or  cowardice  of 
tbi-K  half-iaced  friendi  of  liberty  regularly  sacrilicci  it*  warmen 
defender*  to  the  hatred  of  ita  enemies — muck-paitiotitm  and  cfTcminRte 
telf-Iovc  ratifying  the  liit*  of  proscription  m.ide  out  by  icrvility  and 
JRioIetance.  Thia  if  btuc,  and  contrary  to  all  the  iuIcr  of  political 
warfare.  What  I  if  the  Tories  give  a  man  a  bad  name,  tnutt  the 
Whigt  bang  bim !  If  a  writer  annoys  tlie  limt,  muat  he  alarm  the 
lost?  Or  when  they  lind  he  baa  irritated  hia  and  their  opponent* 
beyond  all  forgitcneai  and  endurance,  innead  of  concluding  from  the 
ibutc  heaped  upon  him  that  he  ha*  'done  the  State  aome  aerricei' 
niuat  they  act  him  aside  a*  an  improper  person  merely  for  the  odium 
which  he  haa  incurred  by  hi*  efToru  in  the  conimoo  cauae,  which. 
t  bad  they  been  of  no  cfiect,  would  have  ttft  him  still  fit  for  their 
purpoie*  of  negative  Bucceu  and  harmlcsn  opposition  i  Their  ambition 
■eemi  to  be  to  cxiai  by  lufrcrance ;  to  be  t;ilc  in  a  lort  of  conventional 
inaignilicance ;  and  in  their  dread  of  exciting  the  notice  ot  hoatility 
of  the  lord*  of  tlic  eattb,  they  arc  like  the  man  in  the  *tOiim  who 
ailenced  the  appeal  of  hia  companion  to  the  Gods — 'Call  not  >o  loud* 
or  they  will  hear  u*  I '  One  would  think  that  in  all  ordinary  caaea 
honesty  to  feel  for  a  lotin;:  cause,  caducity  to  uadcrstund  it,  and 
courage  to  defend  it,  would  be  *uflicicnt  introduction  and  recom- 
rocndation  to  ligbt  the  battles  of  a  party,  and  acrrc  at  lean  in  the 
rank*.  But  thii  of  Whig  Oppotition  i«,  it  teem*,  a  peculiar  caae. 
There  is  more  in  it  than  meet*  the  eye.  The  evrf*  may  one  day 
be  summoned  to  paia  muster  before  Majcfty,  and  in  that  case  it  will 
be  expected  that  tbey  ihould  be  of  trad  maieriali,  without  a  «tain 
and  without  a  flaw.  Nothing  can  be  too  elegant,  too  immaculate 
and  reliocd  for  their  imaginary  return  to  office.     They  are  in  a 

377 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

ptuUc  dilonnu  —  hi*in(>   to   reoMcilc   the    Iwfielcw   remaon    of 
court-faTOur  witb  die  laosi  dUuiu  asit  (Iclicatc  attemfU  at  populuity. 
Tlicy  ate  Mixnficly  puzzloi  in  the  choice  and  imaagemcM  of  tbeir 
MMciatet.     Some  of  them  tnoK  undMso  a  thorough  Tcntilatioti  and 
perfiifniiig,  tike  poor  Morgan,  before  C^tain  Whiffle  would  raJTer 
him  to  come  into  hi«  prcKOCc.     Neither  cui  any  tiling  bA*e  and 
plobeim  be  nipposed  to  'come  betwixt  die  wind  and  tbcU  nobiliiy.' 
Aailldr  dengu  are  douUtful,  tlieir  friends  qibm  oot  be  (iup«cccd : 
M  their  prbciplct  are  popular,  their  preteoiciofiii  muit  be  proportion- 
abljr  aritcocratic.     The  reputation  of  Whi^itm,  tike  that  of  womeot 
it  a  delicate  thing,  and  will  bear  neither  to  be  blown  upon  or  haodled. 
It  ha>  an  ill  odour,  which  recjuirc*  the  aid  of  lai^hionable  eMcnoea 
and  court-powdeti  to  carry  tt  olT.     It  bboufi  under  the  frovn  of 
the  Soveretgo  :  and  swoons  at  the  ihout  aad  prciaurc  of  the  People. 
Eren  in  it«  preaent  forlorn  and  abject  «ate,  it  relaptet  into  «w- 
vuliiona  if  any  low  fellow  ofFcn  to  lend  it  a  helping  hand  :  tbow 
who  would  have  their  oferturca  of  tcrricc  accepted  mun  be  bedizened 
and  sparkling  all  over  with  titles,  wealth,  place,  connection*,  faahioa 
fio  lieu  of  zeal  and  talent),  tu  a  tet-off  to  the  iinputatioo  of  low 
aeiigps  and  radical  origin ;    for  there  it  nothing  that  the  patron*  of 
the  People  dread  to  much  ai  being  identified  with  them,  and  of  ill 
thing!  the  patriotic  party  abhor  (eren  in  their  dreamt)  a  muaSiaitt . 
with  the  rabble  I  • 

Why  must  1  nicniion  the  innances,  in  order  to  make  the  forcgtnitg 
ttatement  intelligible  or  credible  t     1  would  noi>  but  that  I  and  other* 
have  suffered  by  the  wcakncM  her*  pointed  out ;  and  1  think  ibc 
caute  roun  ultimately  lutTer  by  it,  nnlew  tome  antidote  be  ap^Ued  by 
reaioo  or  ridicule.     Let  one  example  terve  for  all.    At  the  time  that 
Lord  Byron  thought  proper  to  join  with  Mr.  Leigh  Huat  and 
Mr.  Shelley  in   the  publication  called   the  Lisixal,  Blackwood's 
Magiziae  orerflowed,  aa  miKbt  be  expecwd,  with  tenfold  gall  aod 
biitemeM  t  the  John  Bull  was  outrs^eoui  j  and  Mr.  Jerdas  black  in 
die  lace  at  thii  unheard-of  and  diwracefui  union.     But  who  would 
have  lupiiotcd  that  Mr.  Tbomat  Moore  and  Mr.  Hobbouw,  tboMi 
ttaunch  friend*  and  partiuin*  of  the  people,  ahould  alw  be  thrown  iotol 
aJmoit  bytterical  agooiea  of  well-bred  horror  at  the  coftltttoa  betwcefl| 
their  ooUe  and  ignoble  ac<|uaintaace,  between  tlie  Patrician  and  '  the 
NewtMper-Man  i '    Mr.  Moore  darted  baclcwarda  and  forwardi  from 
Cold-Batb-FieMi'  Priion  to  the  Examiner*Odiceri  from  Mr.  Long-I 
man'*  to  Mr.  Murray'i  khop,  in  a  ttate  of  rldiculou*  trepsdation,  tof 
tee  what  W3«  to  be  done  to  prevat  thii  ileeradation  of  the  ariuoaac^ 
of  letters,  thit  indecent  encrtMchmeat  of  plebeian  pretensions,  this 
nodtic  exteouon  of  patronage  and  conprDtniw  of  pnvilegc.     The 
378 


ON  JEALOUSY   AND  SPLEEN   OF  PARTY 


P 


Tories  wwe  »hock«l  that  Lord  Byitrn  should  grace  (he  popular  aide 
by  h»  direct  countenance  and  asaidanee — the  Whijii  were  shocked 
that  he  should  «harc  hii  confictcnGc  and  couciaeU  with  any  one  who 
did  not  unite  the  double  lecornnicndation*  of  biith  Jind  gcniun — but 
ihemflekct !  Mt.  Mootc  h»d  li»cd  so  long  among  the  Grew  that  he 
fiDcied  himself  one  of  them,  nnd  rcjjaidrd  ihe  indignity  as  done  to 
himself.  Mr.  Hobhouie  had  lately  been  bUck-balled  by  the  Clubs, 
and  miut  feel  particularly  sore  and  icnaciuuB  on  the  score  of  public 
opinion.  Mr.  Shelley'i  father,  however,  wai  an  older  Baronet  than 
Mr.  Hobhouie' 1 — Mr.  Leigh  Hunt  wan  *to  the  fall  ai  genteel  a 
man  '  m  Mr.  Moore  in  birth,  appearance,  and  education — the  puT«uit( 
of  all  fout  were  the  same,  the  Muse,  the  public  &vour,  and  the  public 
good  !  Mr.  Moore  wai  hini»elf  invited  to  assist  in  tlie  undertaking, 
hut  he  profedtcd  an  utter  aversion  to,  and  wacoed  Lord  Uyton  against 
hating  any  concern  iu\\\\,  jnint-pubrKMioni,  as  of  a  rtty  ncutraJiiinj; 
and  levellinf;  description.  He  might  ipeak  from  experience.  He 
had  tried  his  hand  in  that  Ulyates'  bow  of  critic*  and  poliiidani,  the 
F.dinburgh  Review,  though  his  secret  had  never  transpired.  Mr. 
Hobhouse  too  had  written  IliosltationB  of  Childc  Harold  (a  «ort  of 
partnership  concern) — yet  to  ooaah  the  publicition  of  the  Liseru^ 
he  Kriouely  proposed  that  his  Noble  Friend  should  write  once  a  week 
in  hit  own  namt  tn  the  Examiner — the  Liberal  scheme,  he  was  afraid, 
might  succeed ;  the  NeWAoapcr  one,  he  knew,  could  not.  I  hare 
bc«i  whispered  that  the  ^Icmbct  for  Wesiminstcr  ffor  whom  I  once 
gave  an  inclfectual  vote)  hat  also  conceived  some  aistastc  fot  me — I 
do  not  know  why,  except  that  I  waB  at  one  time  named  i»  the  writer 
of  the  famous  TrtenUi  Jartrvimtit  Letter  to  Mr.  Canning,  which 
appeared  in  the  Examiner  and  was  afterwards  suppretsed.  He  cnight 
feel  the  disgrace  of  such  a  sapposiiion :  I  confcti  I  did  not  feel  the 
honour.  The  cabal,  the  bustle,  the  tigntlicant  hints,  the  confidential 
rumouri  were  at  the  height  whco,  after  Mr.  Shelley'*  death,  1  was 
invited  to  lake  part  in  this  obnoxiou*  poblication  (obnoxious  alike  to 
friend  and  foe) — and  when  the  Eimj  on  ihr  Spiril  of  Moaarthj 
appeared,  (which  must  indeed  have  operated  tike  a  bomb-shell 
thrown  into  the  oitriei  that  Mr.  Moore  frequented,  la  well  a«  tboM 
that  he  had  left,)  this  gentleman  wrote  otT  to  Lord  Byron,  to  say 
that  'there  was  a  taint  in  the  Liberal,  and  that  he  should  lose  no 
time  in  getting  out  of  it.'  And  this  from  Mr.  Moore  to  Lord  Byron 
— the  last  of  whom  had  just  involved  the  publication,  against  which 
he  was  cautioned  as  having  a  taint  in  it,  in  a  piotccution  for  libel  by 
his  yiiion  of  Judgmrni,  and  the  firtt  of  whom  had  scarcely  written 
any  thing  all  his  life  that  had  not  a  latnt  in  xu  It  it  true,  the 
Holland-HouK  party  might  be  somewhat  staggered  by  a  jev-J'afirit 

379 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKEB 


that  Ml  tbnr  Bbctanme  nd  De  Lobne  thrann  at  Jefiiaee,  aoA  that 
tbry  conU  u  Imle  write  at  aurra.  Bo  it  wm  dm  thji.  Mr.  Hootw 
d«o  coapUuKd  iku  •  1  had  wpokta  agaion  Lalla  Rookb,*  tbo»gh  br 
bad  JBK  brfofc  mk  «c  Iti*  *  Fudge  Faailjr.*  Scfll  it  wh  not  th«c 
Bflt  at  DW  tiflw  be  WBI  nt  tiiat  itry  ocppMnl  and  Kf  ino  pvhlic^ 
taeo*  lay  fink  bvli  wu  kco  '  hulGsf  oo  tfce  flood  ia  a  kiad  oC 
oaoiooa  twwffM^  and  tt  wva  oM  kHMn  ^atOwf  1  Bv^bt  not  ifOM  s 
Tcaad  of  gpH»'"  nim.  Mi>  Blackwooil  had  aot  theo  JiiaJett  Ua 
Grab^tnet  baacry  agaiwt  ne:  but  u  moq  aa  tbia  «aa  tbe  caav, 
Mr.  Moon  waa  wilBag  to  *  «4mJe  me  doara  the  wind,  aad  let  s»r 
act])  at  fiBRoae t '  not  that  I  'anmi  hmpid,'  bet  the  cootnrj.  It 
■  anttcf  cowardice  afid  wut  of  bnft>  'Its  $ow  oojrct  oi  tbe  tet  la 
not  to  aetn  the  tide  of  arejodke  aad  Mwhood,  bat  to  get  a«  of  the 
way  thauaelieo.    The  aiataat  anotbcr  ia  aiaaiJeil  (huwem  aajoatly), 

powibte,  aad  waaioa  by  tacif  Bleoce  aad  reaene  the  accoaatioaa  tber 
00^  10  rrpd.  Saint  ^w  fna  ertrf  oae  hat  eaoo^  la  do  to  tool 
amr  h»  own  teyuatioa  or  wfrty  withoot  rcacuaag  a  fneed  or  ftop- 
fiag  «|>  •  bUias  caoie.  Il  ia  oely  by  kecptog  in  the  back-grooad  oa 
MCfa  oeeiiioaa  (Ifte  Gil  Biaa  wbea  bat  fricod  Aariitoae  I.aawli  waa 
led  by  in  trianiph  to  the  awtiJmfe)  that  they  caa  «aom  the  Ifte 
hoBOig*  and  ■  wiuaary  ynmiaaeat.  A  ahowcr  t£  aad*  a  ^i^  of 
akk-tunei  (glancing  a  ImJr  out  of  their  oHgiBal  <facccioa)  mtffm 
ebacBR  the  tan  gltBpae  of  Royal  favonr,  or  aCoB  the  taai  gaip  aC 
popriarity.  Nor  cnud  they  aaawcr  it  to  their  Noble  fiiewla  aad 
BOta  '"^flf— *  panaita  to  be  leeii  m  aoch  coaMoayf  or  to  hata  tacv 
aaaKa  coaplea  with  smilsr  ootnaes.  Thetr  aledt,  ^oaay,  aafUa^ 
pnteBMOoi  ihoold  not  be  rxpoied  to  «a)RV  coacaminatian,  or  to  be 
trodden  aader  loot  of  ■  iwiRufa  tunihiiiiilg.  Their  birth'^day  mdia 
(aaMd)  ahonld  oot  be  dragged  ibro«|h  the  ktaad,  aor  ihcir 
'trkkiy'  lanrel-vrcatha  ttack  in  the  pBofT.  Tfaaa  watdd  nafcc 
then  KjiuUy  uiGi  to  be  ukeo  iato  die  Bakcca  of  pciaeca  or  the 
carriage*  of  peer*.  If  exchaled  frera  both,  what  woold  become  of 
them  ?  The  only  way,  ibere&R,  to  avoid  bciag  implicated  ia  tbe 
abtiae  ponrcd  upon  otbm  la  to  pretend  th«  it  ia  ■■ — the  way  oot  to 
be  made  the  object  of  the  W  amii  ay  niaed  agaatt  a  friend  u  n>  tad 
ii  by  aaderhasd  whiaperi.  It  ia  pkataat  anther  to  aankipate  in 
dilgrace  nor  to  have  boooart  tSeided.  The  ffiorc  Lord  Brroa  eoa- 
Cned  ha  isiinucy  aad  frieadthip  to  a  few  peraooa  of  middling  rank, 
bat  of  cxirurdinanr  merit,  the  axxe  it  moN  redoood  lo  bk  and  their 
credit — the  Unci  of  Pope, 


l«o 


'  To  view  with  teomful,  ytt  widi  )nlau«  rye*, 
Aad  hate  br  an*  whkh  caattd  Mmielf  to  rite,* — 


ON  JEALOUSY   AND  SPLEEN  OF  PAHTY 

nii((ht  (till  fiod  a  copy  io  the  brcMt  of  more  ihao  one  scribbler  of 
|ioliticii  and  faahioo.  Mr.  Moore  mighi  not  think  vrithoui  a  pang 
of  the  atithoc  of  Rimini  sitlin;;  at  hj*  eate  with  the  author  of  Childe 
Harold  i  Mr.  Hobhuute  might  be  aver»e  to  kc  my  doKRed  proie 
bound  U|>  in  ihc  amc  rolume  with  hit  Lordshi]>'>  iplcndid  vcne,  and 
sinitedljr  it  would  not  faciliuilc  bin  admiinon  to  the  Club«,  that  hit 
inend  Lord  fiyroa  had  iskrn  the  I^dito^  of  the  Examiner  by  the 
hand,  and  that  their  coramon  friend  Mr.  Moor«  had  takeo  no  active 
•tepi  to  prevent  it ! 

TboBt  who  have  the  lea«  charitter  to  «paie,  can  the  least  aiTord  to 
pari  with  their  good  word  to  other* :  n  loting  cauK  ii  atm-ayn  inoKt 
divided  againtt  ittclf.  If  the  Whign  arc  fastidious,  the  Kct'orraerl 
are  «our.  If  the  liret  are  frightened  ai  the  IcMt  breath  of  tcandal, 
the  last  arc  disgusted  with  the  snullett  approach  to  popularity.  The 
one  deMR  youi  if  all  men  do  not  speak  well  of  you:  tbe  other  never 
fer^e  your  having  tliaktn  off  the  nwpitre  which  tliey  aRiume  so 
■ucceMfullyt  or  your  having  escaped  from  the  Grub  into  the  Butterfly 
ttaie.  The  one  require  that  you  should  enjoy  the  public  favour  in 
tta  neweit  gloM  :  with  the  other  let,  tbe  tmalleat  elegance  of  pretennon 
or  accompliihmeni  is  fatal.  The  Whi^  never  itomached  the  account 
of  the  *Ch3ract«s  of  Shakespear's  Plays'  in  the  Quarterly:  the 
Reformer*  never  forg>*e  me  for  writing  them  at  all,  or  for  being 
tuipected  of  an  inclination  to  the  htUeiUlim.  •  The  Godt,'  they 
feared,  '  bad  made  me  poetical ' ;  and  poetry  with  them  it '  not  a  true 
thing.'  To  please  the  one,  you  niiut  be  a  ^Im^  :  not  to  incur  the 
censure  of  the  other,  you  must  turn  cynic.  The  one  arc  on  the  alert 
to  know  what  the  world  think  or  tay  of  you:  the  others  make  it 
a  condition  that  you  shall  fly  in  the  face  of  all  the  world,  to  think  and 
My  exactly  a»  they  do.  The  fir«  thing  the  Westmintitr  Review 
did  was  to  attack  tbe  Edinburgh.  The  fault  of  the  one  it  too  great 
a  deference  for  cttabliahed  and  prevailing  opinions  :  that  of  the  other 
i*  a  natural  antipathy  to  every  thing  with  which  any  one  el>e 
tympaihise*.  They  do  not  uim,  but  they  are  livetted  to  their  owd 
sullen  and  violent  piejudicea.  They  think  to  attract  by  repuluon, 
to  force  others  to  yielcf  to  their  opinion  by  never  giving  up  an  inch  of 
gronnd,  and  to  cram  the  truth  (Town  the  throata  of  their  itarveling 
reader*,  as  you  cram  turkeys  with  gravel  and  «aw-du*t.  They  would 
gain  nroitefytei  by  proicribiog  all  those  who  do  not  take  their 
Shiboleth,  and  advance  a  cause  by  shutting  out  all  that  can  adoro  or 
strengthen  it.  They  would  exercise  a  monitrous  ostractam  on  cvtry 
ornament  of  style  or  blandishment  of  acniimcnt ;  and  unless  they  can 
allure  by  btrrtaptw  ui  deformity,  and  convince  you  againit  ihe  x""'"* 
think  they  have  done  nothing.     They  abjure  Sir  Walter's  noreU  nrtd 

S8i 


THE  PLAIN  SPEACEa 


P* 


AN  ESSAY  ON  THE  PRINCIPLES  OF 
HUMAN   ACTION 

TO    WHICH    ARE    ADDED 

SOME   REMARKS  ON  THE  SYSTEMS  OF 
HARTLEY  AND  HELVETIUS 


BIBLIOGRAPHICAL    NOTE 


hitifttrit  MtayniiilT  1>  itoj  hi  one  toL  Im  (>64  rp-)  ''■^  '*'* 
liUt-f*(r  1  'An  EHi;r  ■"■  ^  PriBcifhi  of  H«sus  ActJss  t  Btia(  lo  Ar; 
ia  famot  of  Iht  Natanl  DiiikUnicelMM  cf  the  Haau  MiX.  To  nhkk  i 
a44f<  Sana  Rcoark*  oa  the  Sfatcm*  «(  Hinlcy  ibJ  HcWmIm. 
PrlMcrf  IM  J.  |«lutMa,  No.  71  Sc  Paul'i  Cbaftb-VM^.  itos.'  Tbe  voImmI 
WM  *f(BLe<l  bjr  £.  Ilcmncl,  Niw-atnci,  Ffcur-Unc*  Tbc  lut  pgc  iiMHiiwll 
■  liK  of  <rr«(4.  TVtm  tunc  bna  conrctr^  in  the  yromt  eriicud,  which  ii  ■ 
rtpnt  iwjtjfM  a(  the  firaL  A  Mcea4  cditks  m  pabliahcd  in  iSjS  hj  (be 
MflbM'«Ma,ii  OBC  vol.  tro  (176  fftj,  ifae  liilr-pict  of  <rbi<h  nuu  M  fell««^— 
*  Enajn  on  (he  Principln  a(  Hubid  A<tian ;  on  lie  SyMnM  a(  Hanlty  and 
Hclxtnw  I  u4  00  Aiacracl  Ha*,  Bjr  (h«  bli  WiUiaa  Hadill.  £datd  fy  Mi 
Sn.  "A  *ofk  full  at  ctigxul  tesuiki,  uiri  sortliy  ■  dilifcM  jMiinl"  IhLfw.  'j 
Jtufb*^  Mi  il(  EiyAd.  Lsote) :  jo^  MiOcr,  404  Oif«H  Stit«t.*  Tbe 
vbIuik  wm  ptintd  by  WiMn  Spkn,  J99  OiTmiI  Sircu  The  Ctfltae  mud  in 
■a  Advenuemoil  tktt  (he  new  edition  had  l«*a  '  coneiJeeahlji  imfme^*  (rat* j 
marcind  eomciioai  in  the  luchor't  <t>fy.  The  nuy  on  Ahinct  Ueaa^  < 
had  Be<rn  before  been  pahlitlKd,  ulU  be  loehidei  ia  a  inttt  rolaoM  of  the  Mtteoil 
(ilition. 


A 


AN   ARGUMENT 


IN    DEFENCE   OF   THE 


NATURAL    DISINTERESTEDNESS    OF   THE 
HUMAN   MIND 

It  ii  the  dengn  of  th«  follawinf;  Essay  to  shew  that  the  human  mind 
U  naturally  dUintcwsled,  or  that  it  is  naturally  inttrtCHtecl  in  the 
welCire  of  other*  in  the  same  way,  and  from  the  ume  direct  tnotirca, 
by  which  wc  arc  impelled  to  the  puriuit  of  our  own  intctcit. 

The  abj«ct«  in  which  the  mind  is  intcrcitcd  may  be  cither  fan  or 
prc«cnt,  or  future.  The«c  last  alone  can  be  the  object!  of  raiiooaj  or 
voluntary  puriuit ;  for  neither  the  past,  nor  present  can  be  altered  for 
the  better,  or  worie  by  any  etforis  of  the  will.  It  ii  only  from  the 
interett  excited  in  him  by  future  objecta  that  m.in  becomci  a  moral 
agent,  or  is  denomioaicd  tclltsh,  or  the  contrary,  according  to  the 
rruuinet  in  which  be  i«  atfectml  by  what  rclair*  to  his  own  faiurt 
iniercic,  or  that  of  other*.  1  propone  then  to  shew  that  the  mind  is 
naturally  interested  in  it's  own  welfare  in  s  peculiar  mechanical 
nunoer,  only  an  fn  oa  relates  to  it's  past,  or  present  impresiions. 
1  have  an  mlerevi  in  my  own  actual  feeling;!  or  impressions  by  meant 
of  coQKiouniesa,  and  in  ray  past  feeUnKS  by  n)caa>  of  memory,  which 
1  cannot  have  in  the  pait,  or  present  feclin^n  of  others,  because  thetc 
faculties  can  only  be  exerted  upon  thotc  thingt  which  immediately  and 
properly  aifect  myself.  As  an  affair  of  sensation,  or  memory,  1  can 
feel  no  ifltercn  in  any  thing  bat  what  relates  to  rnvMlf  in  the  stiicieit 
sense.  But  thit  dininciion  doc«  not  apply  to  future  objects,  of  to 
those  iiDpresNoni,  which  dctcimine  my  xiluntary  actions.  1  have 
not  the  same  sort  of  excluaive,  or  mechanical  self-btertsi  in  my 
future  beinp,  or  welfitre,  becauae  I  have  no  distinct  faculty  givine  mc 
a  direct  present  intCRtt  in  my  future  senntiont,  and  none  at  all  in 
»i*»^j^  .  those  nf  others.  The  imagination,  by  me-ans  of  which  Minor  I  can 
'anticipate  future  ohjccia,  or  be  interested  in  them,  niusi  carry  me  out 
of  myself  into  the  leclings  of  others  by  one  and  iJie  same  process  by 
vou  VII. :  1  a  }85 


t*c     I 


•  mt:». 


^^•. 


>«  OTritf  k1»; 


;«>c»^. 


1*1 


Lfex'* 


TW 


<vf  fe 


r^^«<^ 


*lfaMS 


AontfMMC    TWhw 


t»lm 


ICi^W 


>«r0««i.  .       .      .        _ 

Im  ffcr  «kr  «f  MsdMr.  m  iE  voaU  hr  ■» 
ikiM  W  ami  VMS  i»  aM^B  t»  4nL 

oil  I    ir    ft— »fcBtf»oh»  ill  III      BkIc^ 

nfaui  M  htedi;  «  b  hi.  ««■  ihiiMii   «d  piH, 
tfMkiM,  vImAm  hr  Mi  tko.  at  aaa.    Tk^  Had  at 


ON  THE   PHIxNCIPLES  OF  HUMAN  ACTION 


which  in  itMlf  is  all  ilon^,  founilMl  on  a  tncri*  )iUy  of  word*,  could 
BOt  liSTC  gained  ihe  aucnt  of  tliinkinx  men  but  for  the  force  with 
which  the  idea  of  nclf  habitiuilly  cVtngt  to  the  mind  of  erciy  tnan, 
binding  it  u  with  i  spcU,  deadening  it'*  diicdmiokdng  [lowcri,  nrid 
■prcading  the  confused  .uiociiiionii  which  hclong  only  to  {iam  and 
pmcnt  imprcuions  oret  the  whole  of  our  inuginuy  exinencc>  It 
therefore  brconics  ditlicult  to  Kparate  ideal  which  haie  been  thu* 
knit  togeiher  by  ciutuni,  of  '  by  u  long  tract  of  time,  by  the  use  of 
language,  and  want  uf  rcllection.'  II  it  were  powible  for  a  ranti'a 
particuUr  nuccetnfc  intcreit*  to  be  ill  bound  up  in  one  general  feeling 
of  iclf-iniercst  ai  they  arc  all  comprehended  under  the  lame  word, 
ttif,  or  if  Ji  mao  on  the  rack  really  felt  no  more  than  he  niuit  have 
done  from  the  appreheation  of  the  tame  punishmcDt  a  year  bcforci 
there  would  be  aome  foundation  for  thia  rcaaoniogi  which  luppotm 
the  mind  to  hare  the  unie  alMoluie  ioteretl  in  it'a  own  feclingi  both 
fUt,  prcient,  and  lu  come.  I  Kay  the  •ophiini  hirrc  employed 
cODibta  in  comparing  the  motite*  by  which  we  nre  interested  in  the 
welfare  of  otheta  with  the  mechanical  impulte*  of  telf-love,  a*  if 
bccauae  we  are  mcchnnically  alfccied  by  tbc  actuJ  IntprcHJon  of 
object*  on  our  «enM'«  in  a  manner  in  which  we  canflot  be  affeaed  by' 
the  rcelingt  of  othert,  all  our  feelings  with  rc«pcct  to  ourttlve*  must 
be  of  the  aame  kind,  and  we  could  Ivel  no  inlercat  in  any  thing  but 
what  wSK  excited  in  the  aame  way.  It  in  plain  wc  are  not  inicmicd 
in  our  general,  rcnwtc  wrifare  in  the  Mtnc  manner,  or  by  the  aunt 
BCCcaritjr  that  we  are  alfecied  by  the  actual  *m*c  of  pleaaure,  or  paia. 
We  hsTe  no  inaiinctive  accret  tympaihy  with  our  future  ariiiiationa  by 
which  we  arc  attracted  either  conacioutly  or  unconicioualy  to  our 
greatect  gcood  i  we  arc  for  the  moat  part  indilferent  to  if,  ignoraoi  of 
tt.  We  certainly  do  not  know,  aod  we  lery  often  care  aa  little  wint 
b  to  happen  to  <Kir>el«ci  in  fiutire ;  it  baa  im)  more  effect  upon  im  ia 
any  way,  than  if  it  were  never  to  happen.  Were  it  not  for  ihia 
ihorttigbtedDUf,  and  ttMciuibllily,  where  would  be  the  lue,  or  what 
woald  becorrw  of  the  ralea  of  peraooal  ptudvnce  f 

[t  will  be  istd,  I  know,  that  this  ia  foreign  to  the  futfote  i  for 
thai  whcihei  he  feela  tt,  or  not,  every  man  Jtat  a  real  miercM  in  hia 
own  welfare  which  he  cannot  have  in  that  of  another  perion.  Firat, 
ibia  H  to  ihili  the  ground  of  the  argument ;  for  it  re<|uiret  to  be  made 
otit  bow  a  nun  can  be  laid  to  bare  an  iatcreK  in  whM  be  dooa  not 
feel.  There  ia  not  evidrnily  the  tame  coottadiction  In  auppoting  him 
not  to  be  pankdar^y  intercKcd  ia  feefinga  which  he  haa  not,  aa  lliere 
it  in  aappoMBg  him  ncK  to  be  latcrected  bi  hit  actual,  aeniitilc  picaaurea 
and  paini.  Secondly,  I  ahall  eery  readily  graoi  that  /p  lavt  and 
lo/nf  an  intcreK  in  any  thing  arc  out  alwaya  ctmtertiblc  terma,  Uiai 

J»7 


ON  THE  PRLNCIPLES  OF  HUMAX  ACTION 

«dKr  tba^|k  he  dan  ■«  fcd  e  s  ^  tintL     My  Ivray  a 
tnupw*  ia  aay  abjtici  n^  tAt  u  ibt  ■Mna'  af  an  iks  Mui 
pbjpg  «3M^nM(ff4idiKa9H2  asw  ibc  (cab^  «' «**  i 
dM»  HI  flSBKO^  4an£  «•  wigd«t  an  ■■««■  in  s 

aoi faA^t  MI& a Monai is dMM n  X  Mgte  »  dft.  TkcT 
rfdliBiBRccidB^M  saLoi  »  auck  OHttn  of  6ia  is 
■iw^iiifarftf  cMtawlfc.    Tl^. 

aAnA  «  Bar  aid  ' 

iA,  ^Hs  an  AodiR  1*  fat  ^1^  M  dK  ^MnoK,  s  »  «  n^  i 

ir  «■■■  dv  vAbA  ari^  «  a  aarf  lAgi^  snr  c  at^fn^s  Ais] 

ataB  vaialyo  dasaff  ^x^ir  s^  tfam^MMf  v  rau  luii'TiiC  ai 

■aaA.     *■■—*—  *^-— ■■'  iko:  tia^  fac  ammti  m  w  ihit^  ilis  1 1 

Man  Mar  a  nd  asanv  iihiii  i  f  ai  wj  ^mia  fiBBPr  iKaQp  ariaLSt  K  ' 

omatt  immU^  hai*  b  ik^  dT^faow    I  tann  *"'^'~  ai  dr  i 

iiMliiahiiHiaii  flm  aiiw   wiiwa j  iiaiiiiai  In  ikm  ■  jiiiaai       X^ik 

ai^  riAdr  laaogad  oa  il*  «g|MHaaB  4B  Ar  abai'Wrt.,  i 

Ab  ywa^Mr<8M|y  wk  anR  k 

a  awo  VBan^aa  aona&i  at  s  i 

aq  pm^at  aH  suanr  adCi 
«f  vlach  3  mm  mnmm^mA  atdr  ■lai  I  wfc Atd 

will  bsti^iK  Iww  a  1^  II""—*    a  n. 

wdiniaci  iAb  ^f  tfCMaA^  aoanaa^Bi^  aad  c 

k:  enable  af 


ON  THK   PRINCIPLES   OF  HUMAN   ACTION 


in  a  proper  auacliment  to  our  own  pcraoos  instead  of  icfcrr!n)t  to  tht 
feclinj;!  of  dnirv  und  averaioD,  hope,  and  fear,  &c.  excited  id  \u  by 
thote  thiols  which  diber  do,  or  may  immcdiaidy  aileci  uuridve*. 
In  conse(]uenc<^  of  the  impreiiioD  of  muttj  oocb  objectt  on  the  thinking 
being,  we  ihall  come  no  doubt  to  coDiieci  ft  snie  of  telf-inierevl  with 
this  very  Ix-tng,  with  the  motiom  of  our  blood,  and  whh  life  itself, 
and  «hali  by  degre«t  tiantfei  the  emotioiu  of  ioterett  excited  by 
particular  positire  feelingt  to  the  idei  of  our  own  intereH  generally 
■peaking.  Thit  however  must  be  the  work  of  time,  the  gradual 
tetult  of  habit,  and  reflection,  and  cannot  be  the  natural  reatoo  why  a 
man  puriueii  hi*  owo  welfare,  or  it  iDterested  io  hi«  own  ^lingn. 
I  think  therefore  that  in  the  fimt  insrance  the  idea  of  penonat  pleasure 
or  pain  can  only  alfect  the  mind  as  a  diitinct  idea  of  that  which  ia  in 
itKlf  the  object  of  dc«irci  or  aversion,  and  that  the  idea  of  lelf  it 
Dothing  more  than  ilie  Urtt  and  mo»t  distinct  idea  we  hare  of  a  being 
capable  of  receiving  pleaiure  and  pain.  It  will  lie  the  buiineai  of  the 
grcateit  part  of  the  folluwing  esuy  to  make  out  theic  teveral  point* 
more  distinctly. 

There  i*  apother  hypotheniii  which  I  shall  juat  mention,  (hat  hoM< 
a  ion  q{  middle  place  between  the  two  op{io«itc  oaa  already  iiaied. 
The  ]i«niit3nt>  of  this  mote  liberal  philo«ophy,  who  could  not  luppmt 
the  conbcioutnesD  of  humane  and  benevolent  diiporitioni  in  thertiiwlec*, 
or  the  proofs  of  them  in  othcrti,  but  yet  knew  not  how  lo  reconcile 
these  helings  with  the  rapposed  teihuhness  of  human  nature,  have 
endeavoured  lo  account  for  the  ditTercni  impulse*  of  genctous  alfcctioa 
from  habit,  or  the  constant  conocctioo  between  the  pleauiren  and  pains 
of  othcri,  and  our  own,  by  which  means  we  come  at  hut  ti>  confound 
our  own  bteresti  with  theirs,  and  to  feel  the  ume  anxiety  for  their 
welfare  without  any  view  to  our  own  advantage.  A  man  according 
to  this  bypotbesi*  become*  attached  to  Albert  a*  he  becomei  attached 
to  any  odter  indiAcrent  object,  to  a  tree,  or  a  (tone,  from  familiarity, 
and  the  frequnK  association  of  hi*  immediate  gratilication  with  the 
indtfTeTent  idea ;  and  thii^  attachment  once  formed,  he  must  after- 
waidl  be  irtterevted  in  their  welfaie  whether  he  will  ur  no.  An 
example  of  thtt  may  he  given  in  boys  at  tcliool.  A  boy  is  conlined 
to  his  laak  at  the  same  time  with  his  school-fellows;  he  tcels  the 
efTecTs  of  the  fiood,  or  ill  humour  of  the  master  in  common  with  the 
rest;  when  the  tchool-hour  is  over,  they  are  all  let  loote  to  play 
together ;  he  will  in  general  like  the  (wne  garnet  that  other*  do,  and 
be  moKt  delighted  when  they  are  noiaiesti  when  they  happen  to  be  in 
the  bc«t  humour,  in  the  hottest  part  of  the  ganie,  on  tlie  finest  days, 
or  in  the  pleasaniest  places :  they  will  have  the  lame  joyous  breakings- 
up  for  (he  holidays,  and  will  often  on  some  bright  morning  itroU  out 

389 


n  ■ 


ON  THE  PRINCIPLES  OF  HUMAN   ACTION 

bit  nature  ii  origrnally  and  MMHtudly  dittnte retted  ;  thai  ai  i  r<^unUry 
agent,  he  muil  be  a  ditintereated  one;  that  he  could  ncitbcr  dccire', 
nor  will,  nor  ptimie  h»  own  bi|i[)ineH  but  for  the  poncMion  of 
fncultica  which  nccewanly  gire  him  an  inictni  out  of  himaclf  in  tlw 
hapnineu  of  other* ;  that  penonal  identity  neither  does  nor  can 
imply  any  positive  eomniunicntioe  between  a  man's  fututc,  and  prMcot 
self,  thui  It  doeii  nut  f>,ii-c  him  a  mechanical  intereit  in  bis  future 
being,  that  nun  wben  he  mli  it  alwayn  ainoluiely  independent  of, 
uninttucnced  by  the  feeling*  of  the  being  /or  fi/imm  bt  atti,  whether 
thi«  be  bimtelf,  or  nootheti  hntly,  thai  ail  morality,  all  ratioiul,  and 
ToluDtKfy  action,  ercry  thing  undertaken  with  a  diitinci  refercDCe  lo 
OVndfCa  or  oihera  mtitt  relate  to  the  future,  that  ii,  muit  have  iliti«e 
thinitt  for  it'a  object  which  an  oolv  act  upon  the  mind  by  means  of 
the  imaKinatioa,  and  must  natvrally  alfeci  it  in  the  i.ime  manner, 
whether  they  ate  thought  of  in  connectioo  with  our  own  future  being, 
or  tbai  of  other*. 

I  hnvr  thought  upon  ihia  aubject  to  long,  and  it  ha*  sunk  into  my 
mind  1  may  aay  no  deeply  in  the  tingle  abstract  fomi  which  Rppean 
to  me  to  expUin  almost  every  other  ticw  which  can  be  taken  of  it, 

IhtinwiTT*  >nil  ihr  nrangni  prindpki  of  iction.  The  iileai  [»nc(tniiiE  rcUttm 
UP  of  1  «iifficiral!]r  Hbllracl  namrv  t  SD'I  jrrl  il  will  not  bt  tiiipiilc'l  lliAl  cirly 
tmpnnioni  of  thii  kind  have  tonw  inRucnct  on  ■  m^n't  fulurr  ccindud  in  lid, 
T*rn  pfnoni  icciilfntiUf  nir«tiii(  tofethsr,  *n>l  who  hail  iMTrr  Mra  ono  anolhir 
before  tball  eonTvivr  a  more  violent  anti^Mhy  (o  ttAi  olbct  in  conRi|iifa<(  of  i 
■llipiilc  on  tr1i|;inn  or  (lolilii*  thtn  ihry  niifbl  hm  donf  rioai  honng  beta 
pertoniily  il  Tiiiim*  half  iheir  livn.  Ii  ii  uhjcdcl  thai  thia  pnxMil*  thMI 
wnuii'lciJ  vanity.  8ul  wh>  il  oui  vgnlly  moti  ettilf  irtitatH  upon  theae  «ib]cet* 
than  upon  asy  Athcr  but  frani  the  importaDCc  altachcd  tn  ihem  by  thf  uttrlrt- 
ttanilint }  Qmatisna  of  moralitjr  Aa  nol  ilnajri  f  icite  tht  mnc  Violcnl  aniiiinaity  ) 
>n>l  Ibi*  1  think  ii  bccaaK  tht;  do  not  to  prap«(l)  clmil  of  diapnlt  in  thcmarlitt, 
>Im  Wcaase  tbcy  an  not  to  oftea  msilf  ih(  initmiiKnla  of  ciMi,  •nil  povrti,  )n<t 
tbrrrfwe  dfpen<l  Ifm  on  opinioD,  oi  Ihc  numbci  ai  latta,  anl  bccauar  rvcry  nnc 
appMtlog  to  hia  own  bruit  for  ihf  (rulh  of  bia  opmitrn  attribijtFi  ibt  continuance 
of  (he  fontul  not  to  an)r  want  uf  forte  in  hia  awn  ■([uminti,  but  !u  a  nael  u( 
propct  falinp  in  bb  opponent. — I  will  iilil  her<  a  ramaik  in  lomc  ncitorc  con- 
nccleel  with  ihe  Uil-nKmionrit  obwenlion,  lhi(  the  iraaon  why  moi  tir  fenrrally 
more  annoua  about  tht  opinion  rntartaimri  of  ihcit  Dn-lirilinriinK  than  ihrit 
honiiiy  la  nol  lo  much  that  they  realty  think  thia  lail  of  lot  i«nae<]D«n(r  at  thai 
a  man  alwap  btlievit  himaclf  to  be  tht  bcal  judn  •(  what  piiiea  in  hia  own 
brcui.  lie  tbrrcfore  thiaka  ri;  hiilr  ibc  better  of  binuel/  for  the  luoit  opinion 
of  othcra,  IntlHrf  he  coniideri  their  n,9n^f»  in  ibit  retptet  sa  a  lorl  of 
inpeniaence  at  beat,  at  iniptyiac  tome  ilouhl  upon  the  wMett  i  anil  aa  tu  iheir 
ilirccl  ctnaorea,  he  will  atwaja  And  aonu  f^etinfti  or  motjvra  in  hit  own  minil, 
or  sane  ciicvmtlanMi  wiili  which  they  are  not  M^aainled,  which  will  in  hit 
apmion  make  ■  inlal  dilTtrfnct  in  the  catt.  With  reipcil  la  mtnnert.  and  Ihoat 
HMral  qulilin  which  are  ilenomioBted  ^rtatf,  iheae  i^aia  depecil  on  the  juitf 
ment  of  oihera  ;  aB'l  wc  liod  ibt  aamc  JMlouay  of  the  opinloai  of  ollicri  ffltnifated 
with  ictftct  to  these  is  with  retpcet  lo  «iit  tense,  wit,  kt, 

39' 


OS  THE  PBISCirLES  OP  HTMAX  ACTION 


iMiirfns 


EW^l 


VUI 


af  Mb  a  ntw  to  ifaar  fradaointo  or  tk  a 
itfiian.  arfcidi  dan  net  yd  OM  CM  cxdtt  ae  iaoBa  ia  indC  ^ 
aa  ipM  tkc  aiad  ii  nf  wiy  b«  by  inaw  af  tkr  iaa^Biaa.  Tlir 
dvaiOMfT  Mcmv.  vr  taariOT  «Uck  dooaaaa  ikc  Had  ta  tke 
vatdoa  ti  auf  ^amg  wmm  ttadi»*  ia  Jt  aim  dcy«ad  oa  Aradlia 
af  ik«  tbiac  »  coeccmd  of  by  tbe  im^aMo^ad  «■  tfe  idei 
hMjt.  Fv  dK  (Ua^itadf  a  a  aev-cati^.  Bf  tke  my  la  of  ■■*■ 
Ikm  «A4  k  k  Mffwed  aoi  lo  aim.  It  notbcr  it  mj  tfai^  aot 
eMScdccBaaefMy  tUaf>  Wy  an  nCTtr  iatawwd  ia  ribt  Uaay 
tMSMPra^  ^wca  tfv  UK  nal«  vBaHi^  fiasvcv  objects  oi  voiitsaBi 
pw  Mcfiap  01  ocsrCf  wcniOBi  oCc*  ooaaoOad  vita  volaatji^  kobo 

Mn  tiwMJt  t%/OMta  Vf  OK  idcti  Of  tlWiC  Bnaff  Ptttrt  tlKT  *'^1^i 

'no  irac  lamdK  to  >ohnmji  actian  an  oatf  exMt  in  the  ppnd  of  a 
ba(  gyblc  of  toitMamf  tbc  caaM^OBxa  of  >Uo^  af  btiag 
lia  tbqn  frow  the  iwMBOT  i^wBaioa  thafidey  fcfa 
■aad(Mil  of  nakiM  dwico  aTtfir  meaaa  ntoMMy  to  prcAwc,  or 
pfCtciK  vhH  be  ilca/n  or  dtoda.  Tbi*  dMOactioo  awt  be  abMlMo 
•ad  nirtnafljr  ^pttoUr,  if  it  ■•  m  u  tH.  Tbe  aadna  bj  which  1 
an  iiapgUwl  to  tbe  pnmoi  of  lay  ova  wd&re  on  no  man  be  ibo 
rMah  of  4  direct  tmpretiioa  of  ibe  tUi^  wbicb  k  the  object  of  de«irc> 
Of  amiMivif  of  laj  poMtjve  tfotniminaritwo  bdwveo  my  fnttnL^  vad 
IIkbc  ftdii^  or  oTa  ton  of  bjrpoiabal  aaiao  bmrma  ifcc  iaionMl 
of  tbo  being  aoing,  aad  the  beiog  acted  ofoa,  tbaa  tbe  aiotnet  by 
arbkb  1  aoi  JBlcmwd  io  the  weUue  of  Otfatn  caa  be  «o.  It  ia  tnK 
I  bifc  a  real.  poMiivc  iatcmt  ia  mj  aowJ  ftetiDti  vbkb  t  ba*e  not 
ia  iboie  of  otiiera.  Bm  actaaJ  nleiauK,  aod  puo  are  pot  the  objectt 
of  yntauLuj  action.  It  can  be  u  ao  iniTttoK,  k  b  downrigbf 
BfliwfMP  to  wW  that  wbicb  actaaBy  firitfft  wtudi  u  inpreiBed  oa  toy 
aeaaea  to  exiA,  ot  not  to  exut,  tiscc  it  «^  cxi«  BdlW  awfr  doc 
Icai  fo(  niy  wilBog  ttf  or  dm  triUiag  it.  Onr  ikrtfltim  6an  that 
S9« 


ON  THE   PRINCIPLES  OF  HUMAN   ACTION 


which  J>>*e>  us  paio  could  not  io  aoy  mpeci  he  contiderMt  a*  an  act 
of  Totition,  or  reaitOD.  if  w«  did  not  know  that  the  cuiie  object  which 
gnn  at  pain  will  continue  to  give  ui  pain  while  we  reniaio  in  cODtJKt 
with  it.  The  mere  mechanical  moTcmcnt  which  generally  acconi- 
paoiet  much  pain  doe*  not  appear  to  me  to  have  any  thing  more  to 
do  with  Relf-loTe  properly  no  called  thnn  the  convuluTe  motioni  or 
disiortJooB  of  the  muaclet  earned  by  bodily  ditcace. — In  other  wonU 
the  object  of  volition  i»  oevcr  the  ciuse  of  volition.  The  motive,  or 
intern^  impreiiion  impelling  me  to  the  pursuit  of  any  object  ii  by  the 
(uppoiition  incotnpatiblc  with  any  «uch  intereit  aa  belongs  to  (be 
actual  enjoyment  ot  any  good,  oi  to  the  idea  of  fatiiiiiiM.  The  real 
object  of^any  particular  volition  ia  always  a  mere  physical  contcquencc  - 
of  that  volition,  (incc  it  i»  willed  for  that  very  reason  that  othenrife 
it  would  not  exiit  at  all,  and  nncc  the  cfftct  which  the  mind  deures 
to  produce  by  any  voluntary  aaion  must  be  «ubi«(]ueot  to  that  action. 
It  cannot  therefore  exert  any  pow«r  over  my  pietent  volition*,  and 
actional  unlei*  we  nippote  it  to  act  before  it  exiiti,  which  ia  abturd. 
For  there  i«  no  facul^  in  the  mind  by  which  future  inipreuiont  can 
excite  in  it  a  presentiment  of  themaetve*  in  the  tnmc  way  that  pan 
impreuiona  act  upon  ii  by  meana  of  memory.  When  we  ».iy  that 
future  objects  act  upon  the  mind  by  means  of  the  imagination,  it  it  not 
meant  (hat  >uch  objects  exerciic  a  real  power  over  the  imagiiuiion, 
but  nictcly  that  it  ii  by  mean*  of  thiii  taculty  that  we  can  foresee  the 
probable  or  occcsssry  conaeilucncei  of  (hingt,  and  are  intereiled  in  them. 
I  hardly  know  how  to  insist  on  a  point  so  plain  in  itself  that  it 
cannot  be  made  plainer  by  any  kind  of  reasoning.  1  only  with  to 
define  the  acne  of  the  general  position  ai  strictly  aa  I  can,  and  to 
gnard  if  potdUe  a^nst  any  mistake  arising  from  ambiguity  of  i 
exptcMiion.  For  nuihiog  but  the  certainty  of  absolute  proof,  and  of 
having  avoided  every  error  of  thia  sort  can  overcome  the  reluctance 
of  the  miod  (o  admit  fully  and  in  all  it's  con»c<|uences  a  distinction, 
which  howevci  simple  in  the  abttract  goes  to  the  direct  subversion  of 
one  of  the  Rio«t  dceply-roo(ed  feelings  of  the  human  mind,  namely 
that  of  the  eaaeotial  dilfercnce  between  the  interest  we  have  in  pro- 
moting our  own  weifire  by  all  the  means  in  our  power,  and  tlat 
which  we  take  b  ptomotiog  the  welfare  of  others.  Almost  every 
oae  has  a  feeling  that  he  ha*  a  real  interevt  in  the  one,  but  that  hi* 
ioierett  in  the  other  is  merely  imaginary ;  that  his  intereat  in  (he 
one  i*  absolute  and  independent  oi  himceif,  that  it  exist*  with  the 
tame  force  whether  he  feels  it,  or  not,  whether  he  pursues,  or  neglects 
it,  that  it  le  a  pan  of  himself,  a  bond  from  which  he  cannot  ftee  him- 
•df  wiUiout  changing  hii  being,  whereas  the  interest  which  he  take* 
in  the  welfare  of  other*  is  a  voluntary  iaterett,  taken  up  and  diimiated 

393 


•  *• 


ON  THE   PRINCIPLES   OF  HUMAN   ACTION 

at  pkanirc.  tad  whkK  cxiiu  no  hnwer  tfau  be  fccli  it ;  ihnt  his 
iiucmt  ID  hit  own  wctfarr,  howvttt  iMUat,  muil  afTcct  him  n^ualljr 
St  prcfcat,  liaec  he  u  mlly  ihc  tame  bring  who  ia  to  fit'py,  or  miStt  i 
henaiter,  but  that  with  ittpta  to  the  feeliogt  of  pleswrc,  oc  pain 
which  aaothcf  U  to  enjoT  at  ntSa,  be  aeitber  hu  any  direct  pTcteoi 
inierett,  oor  cun  hat«  an  iodirect  tiiuire  tnterCK  in  them ;  ih«y  are 
nothing  U)  liim.  ThU  it  the  cotnmon  fM-ling ;  and  it  ia  perhipa  not 
leM  common  to  the  mo«i  gcncrout  than  to  the  moM  naftow  and 
Bclfiah  mindE :  for  a  nun  of  a  generooa  ditpoaitioo  will  take  ptcaoute 
to  aacn&cing  hi*  own  immrdiate  inteicit  conodcring  it  aa  a  ml 
sacrifice,  and  will  be  iood  of  exultioft  >b  Im  tuperiority  to  the  gnm  \ 
inlhiei>ce  of  selfith  modvea.  If  bower^r  the  distinctioD  above  initiated 
OB  with  teapect  to  vduotarv  acrioo  be  any  thing  mote  than  a  play  of 
worda  wttbciW  meudng,  the  whole  of  this  (Vein);;  mint  be  utterly 
^sc^  and  grouadleaa.  roe  the  nund  can  take,  it  can  hate  no  intcrert 
ia  any  thing,  that  ia  on  object  of  pnciical  pvraiit,  but  wbat  ia  auictly 
inuf^nary :  it  ia  abaurd  to  auppoae  that  it  on  hare  a  not  imereK 
in  any  nich  object  directly  wiiethet  relating  to  oaredrea,  or  other* 
(thia  haa  been  1  trust  aitlbcieDitly  fcbewn  already) :  nettber  ota  the 
reality  of  toy  htiat  interest  to  any  object  girc  me  a  real  btefect  ia 
that  object  at  pretent,  noleB  it  could  be  (hewn  that  in  conoequence  of 
my  bcbg  the  nme  individual  I  ha«<e  a  necestary  aympctthy  with  my 
fviuin  acaiacions  of  pleaaurc  or  patai  by  which  mcaaa  they  produce  in 
me  tbe  laaic  mechanical  imnuiet  aa  if  thdr  objecta  were  really 
pre»eoi.  The  punctore  of  a  pin  canting  ao  irritation  in  tbe  extremity  . 
of  one  of  tbe  nervet  ia  tenaibljr  (A  along  tbe  whole  extent  of  that ' 
ocrrc ;  a  riolent  pain  in  any  of  the  bmba  diaordcr*  the  whole  fmat  t 
I  feel  at  the  uune  moment  the  impreaaioM  nude  no  oppoaite  raru  ot 
my  body  ;  the  umc  cnntciona  principle  pcrtadea  every  part  of  me,  it 
it  io  my  handt,  my  feet,  my  cyca,  my  eara  at  the  tame  time,  or  at  any 
rate  it  immediately  atfectea  by  whatever  ti  impre»»cd  on  all  thetc,  it 
ia  not  conlined  to  thit.  or  that  organ  ior  a  certain  time,  it  lu*  an  ci]ual 
inteieti  in  the  whole  lectieTti  ayatero,  nothing  that  paiaet  in  any  part  | 
of  it  c«i  be  indilTereot  to  roe.  Here  we  have  a  dittinci  idea  of  a  real ' 
indiriduality  of  pcnon,  and  a  consctjocm  identity  of  iatereau.  TUl 
aonc  auch  dtffuHve  conacioua  principle  can  be  ahcwn  to  exiat,  pR>- 
ducinj*  3  real  connection  between  my  future  tenaaiiona  and  pretcot 
impultea,  coUectiDgi  and  unilinit  the  dilTerent  auccetaive  moraenia  of 
my  being  in  one  getieral  repretentatire  fireling  of  telf-tntercat  aa  the 
impreauona  made  on  diAierent  partt  of  my  body  are  all  coovered  to : 
one  ooounoo  principle  of  thon^t,  it  ia  in  vain  to  icll  me  that  1  bivvj 
the  tame  interen  in  my  future  acaaationa  a*  if  tbey  were  pmcat«j 
becauae  1  am  tbe  aamc  individul.  Howcrcf  nearly  allied,  bo 
394 


OV  THE   PRINCIPLES  OF  HUMAN   ACTION 

rimilar  I  may  be  10  my  future  i<If,  whatever  otber  tclaiion  I  may 
bear  to  thai  te\(,  ao  lone  :ii  tbete  in  not  thU  intcrcoinm unity  of  I 
Uiongbtt  and  feeling*,  lo  long  as  there  it  an  ab«olutc  nrparation,  an  { 
iuunnounublc  harrier  fixed  between  the  ptcwnt,  and  the  iiiture,  m> 
that  1  neither  am,  nor  can  possibly  be  aficcicd  at  preNrnt  by  what 
I  um  to  fed  bccealier,  I  urn  not  to  any  moral  or  practical  purpote  the 
tame  being.  Nutuial  impouibilities  cannot  be  made  to  give  way  to  A 
mere  courtcty  of  expreition.  *  hut  I  Itnuw  thai  I  ihall  become  that 
being.'  Then  my  intereit  in  it  b  founded  on  that  knowledge,  and 
not  on  an  event  which  not  only  i«  not  felt  by  my  mind,  but  »  tuelf 
yet  to  come,  vix.  the  traniiiion  of  my  present  into  my  future  being. 
How  does  it  tignify  to  me  what  I  thall  hereafter  feel,  or  how  can 
it  influence  niy  present  conduct,  or  how  ought  it  to  do  so  but  becauMr, 
and  in  a»  f;ir  an,  I  have  some  idea  of  it  beforehand?'  The  injury 
that  I  niay  do  to  roy  future  interest  will  not  ccitaialy  by  any  kind  of 
reaction  return  to  puniih  me  for  my  neglect  of  my  own  happincM. 
In  this  tense,  I  am  alwayi  free  from  the  coniie(|ucnccs  of  my  actions. 
— The  iQtcre«tt  of  the  ticing  who  acts,  and  of  the  being  who  suffers 
are  never  one.  They  are  not  swayed  by  the  intiucncc  of  the  same 
causes  eitJier  directly,  oc  by  mechanical  sympathy.  The  good  which  i 
is  the  objea  of  pursuit  can  never  coexist  with  the  moiivej  which 
make  it  an  object  of  pursuit.  The  good  which  any  being  puiiuet  is  ( 
always  at  a  distance  from  him.  Hit  wishes,  his  exertions  arc  always 
excited  by  *  an  airy,  notional  good,'  by  the  idea  of  good,  not  the 
reality.  But  for  tiis  there  could  be  no  desire,  no  pursuit  of  any 
thing.  We  cannot  strive  to  obtain  what  we  already  possess:  we 
cannot  give  to  that  which  already  cxiata  a  double  reality.  My  teal 
interest  is  not  therefore  nomething  which  I  can  handle,  which  it  to  be 
fell,  or  seen,  it  is  not  lodged  'in  the  organs  of  hearing,  or  taste,  of 
Eoiell,  it  is  not  the  subicct  of  any  of  the  tentes,  it  is  not  in  any  respect 
what  is  commonly  uooersiood  by  a  real,  subtiantial  interest.  On  the 
contrary,  it  ii  fundamentally,  and  in  it's  origin  And  by  ti's  *ay  nature 
,  the  creature  of  rdleaion,  and  iniagin^tion  ;  and  whatever  can  be  made  | 
the  subject  of  ihew,  whether  lelaliQg  to  ourselves  or  others,  may  alto  , 
he  the  object  of  an  interest  powerful  enough  to  become  the  motive  of 
volition  and  action.  I  If  it  should  be  asked  then  what  difference  it  can 
make  to  me  whetRet  I  pursue  my  o»-n  welfare,  or  entirely  neglect  it, 

'  The  ■liilintlion  bcl«"«n  tlir  mollwi  la  aciioa  ind  the  r«u«u  tot  it  cinnol 
■fleet  the  iti^mtal  tun  InaiitH  an.  When  it  it  islil,  thai  thoufh  I  sm  not  rtslty 
govcrnrH  by  aaih  an'I  tuch  motivn,  I  DU|tbl  to  be  govcmrH  by  thrm,  this  mutt 
mean  (nr  ll  mnni  nothinv}  ihil  tuch  would  bt  ihc  rllbct  of  >  piuprt  cirrllon  iiF 
my  r*ciillicf.  The  obliption  (n  Kt  In  this  or  that  manner  mutt  therefore  be 
rfeduted  from  the  oiinrf  ef  those  ficaltii*.  sail  the  futHiliy  of  (hen  bemt 
Imprtsstil  In  s  eertaln  minner  by  cmtin  objects. 

S9S 


ON  THE  PRINCIPLES  OF  HUMAN   ACTION 

There  »  a  great  diffetntce  beiveeo  the  general  tove  of  good  which 
implic*  St  knowledge  of  it,  tad  a  general  ditpodtion  to  the  lore  of 
good,  which  doe*  ooc  imply  Any  Mich  thing.  It  it  acccHiry  to  keep 
Uii«  diffiDciioa  in  our  mitKl*,  or  the  grraieU  con^iuMH  will  cniw.  It 
it  the  Kcnml  property  of  iron  to  be  utncted  by  ih*  iMdMOoe,  lfaoii|li 
tUs  enect  u&  only  ukc  place  in  conwqtience  of  the  loadstOM**  being 
bfought  near  enough  to  it,  nor  it  aoy  thing  loon  OMUt  by  the 
asaertion.  The  ictiui  desire  of  good  ii  not  inlierent  tn  (he  mwd  of 
nuD,  beciutc  it  requires  tu  be  brought  out  by  certain  acccMory  obftct* 
or  tkic-u,  hut  the  ditpoMttoo  itaeli,  or  property  of  tbr  mtnd  which 
makci  him  liable  lo  be  K>  tffttMA  by  cetuin  objects  is  tnhcrcM  ia  htm 
and  a  prt  of  hit  nature,  at  sentibitity  to  plnsure  sod  piiin  will  not  be 
denied  U>  be  natural  to  man,  though  the  actual  ic«Uags  of  plmurc  aod 
pain  can  only  be  excited  in  him  by  the  inprcsiiDO  of  certain  external 
^ject*.  <  Tbe  lore  of  my  own  particular  good  mutt  precede  that  of 
i^  particular  good  of  others,  beciuic  1  am  actjuainted  with  it  brat  t  ' 
the  lore  of  particular  mutt  precede  that  of  general  good  whether  my 
own,  or  another's,  or  tbe  general  good  of  maokmd  for  the  aune 
rcuoo.  I  do  not  therefore  originally  tore  my  own  panicuUr  pocitivc 
good  as  a  portion  of  general  good,  or  with  a  diMinci  rtlcrence  in  my 
mind  to  the  good  of  the  whole ;  for  1  have  as  yet  no  idea  of  nor  any 
concern  about  the  whole.  But  I  love  oiy  own  particular  good  aa 
Goansting  in  the  fnt  conception  1  have  of  lomc  one  detirable  object 
for  the  tame  reason,  for  which  I  afterwards  loie  any  other  known 
good  whether  my  own,  or  anoiher'i,  whether  conceived  of  as  con- 
ttiiinK  in  one  or  more  thiogt,  that  is  because  it  po«iet«et  that  esteniial 
property  coanon  to  all  good,  without  wluch  it  would  ceane  to  be 
good  at  all,  aod  which  bat  a  general  tendency  to  excite  certain  given 
alfectiont  in  my  miiKl.  1  concdte  that  the  koowledge  of  many 
different  toru  of  good  muit  lead  to  the  love  or  dciirc  of  all  these, 
and  thai  this  knowledge  of  various  good  matt  be  accompanied  with  an 
intermediate,  composite,  or  indefinite  ide«  of  good,  itself  the  object  of 
detirc,  because  rcuioing  the  same  general  nature :  ih>w  this  is  an 
abstract  idra.  Tliit  idea  will  no  doubt  admit  of  endlew  degteee  of 
indefinilcneM  according  to  ibc  number  of  thiDgii  from  which  it  is 
taken,  or  lo  wbicii  it  u  applied,  and  will  be  refined  at  laat  into  a  mere 
word,  or  logical  definition.  In  tbii  ca^  it  will  owe  all  it's  power  as 
a  motive  to  action  to  habit,  or  atoociation :  lor  it  it  so  immediately 
or  in  iticlf  no  longer  than  while  it  implic*  a  sentimvnc,  or  teal  feeling 
representative  of  good,  and  only  in  proponioo'to  ihe  degree  of  force 
acid  depth  which  this  feeling  hu.^  ' 

*  Similarity  hsi  btvn  rlefiaed  id  be  f-fiitl  nmrncu.   Car<«  li'net  h<v*  *  (cncrsl 
KKmblann,  n  uialO(]r  lo  one  anotba  at  IM^    Dott  ibit  rnenihlince  then 

J97 


OS  THE   PRINCIPLES  OF  HUMAN   ACTION 


The  laair  objrcuoo  vTidoily  *pf6e*  te  lite  ■yyuMiiw  aiher  of  ui 
or^nl  faadfk  of  g»ml  tompebttmn  buMmucx,  or  of  feaenl 
aid  tamftAtmcwt  ttK-lon.  The;  both  nppo*'  t^  >a>ul  to  bm 
attaiwd  >n  iodcfimte  paver  of  abRnctioa  waidt  b  noc  tt** 
«Ke.  Boch  (be  oae  and  the  otber  nMt  be  Made  u^  of  i 
|ics4>m  sod  pjKiti  Of  rnujr  vorgoCtm  fecRBji  sod 
of  bo^aod  tern  and  itMeonUe  deam :  the  one.  thtf  h,  a  i 

(^gnenlbcarvolcecccui  oalyarae  iroa  an  bi 

ibe  aaunl  (S^aviioa  of  ibc  loiDd  to  eymyathJae  with  the  leefinga 
othcn  bjr  coawiBlly  talung  id  iatecnc  'm  tboae  which  we  koow. : 
■naipBaai  otben  tlui  we  do  not  know,  a*  the  other  Mb^  of  i  * 
•elZ-intf fnt,  thit  ii  in  the  degree  in  wbkh  k  femtnUj  labwaa,  i 
be  ejaued  bf  i  loeg  oarrowiog  of  tlie  mtfid  to  oar  own 

taatim  b  ihn  btiac  prtallj  iIh  Mar  )    Tbi*  aaji  ^  ■■■^  vhs*  iIk  < 
nan  ftoa  <lrai>M(  ool  tb(  na»  nn  al  anm  tn  ■  i^nccr  oicai  btei—  ' 
■4<lfa*|  M  tb*  Awtcf  nn«  I  oa  aoke  it  cfMl  to  At  oclwr.    B>1  1  caaaBC 
■4dlBt  uy  uUkt  Uae  le  ib  dtiI  OMtcn  it  iaM  ■  tittle,  >irMir  thm  l*o  Mt 
carm  uo  acnr  cniuBtc  tva  a  ihdr  n^AMl  MaKBriblc  l>"k    It  ifcaiH  I 
Ikn  Uul  chn  liaiilarit^  ■  not  (a  be  *dttce<  bom  fortikl  »OK*W> 
lun^  »oaw  oo*  Abf  uactlr  tbc  nnc,  cnnuaea  la  ikoo  bddk,    Bkt 
Ika  miM  fcwnl  natan  h  tana-     Tnc  i  birt  io  ii^m  *en  tUt  jlauiu 
comiMf    U  k  oat  iIh  natt  with  lanibrilvr    So  tlut  w<  nlBni  to  the 
poaM  (ran  vhich  we  Kt  oat.     I  ctmltm  aa  U^  ■ff"  'o  *'  >'  ^  ibrow*  < 
the  MMtct  hf  tjiat  tkn  •*  i*  pulial  UcaOtj.    The  Mine  wtt  a(  femolt  li 
ifaliaNe  la  the  qaotioB  wkctlkB  lU  (dad  b  aol  Is  be  rautteJ  «M  anc  ihoille 
prbdolc,  «e  I— ere,  or  sfaetbae  all  tbal  i*  rali]>  fawl  ar  pIcMMUte  In  Ml  I 
iwMHiai  k  not  tk  nae  idntieU  (Mine,  *a  Wawoo  af  Iba  hbk  leaca  of  ftM, 
ibJ  that  *U  the  ml  ■■  Hflndjr  fae«i(>  t»  the  aalan  of  foaJ  aad  ii  merely  iW 
tHM  ar  nhkic  in  whldl  h  M  tMnjfl  Is  Che  mia4.     t  osDOt  bomaw  fUtimU 
ot^f  Uul  oar  KMMiMe  U(kr  oaij  u  lo  aisn,  «e  le* ;  or  tbat  tbi  pttHsra 
irtirttbtm  Keiuft  fiae  fKt«re,«(  bearioca  loeaieoeaf  none,  ibat  iba  cradfi- 
taiioa  4crl«e4eram<loiatigaa4aet!oa*adibai*hieh*ee«aip*aJathe*nUowiaf 
tt  an  otMb  in  ia  twMtHj  ami  at  bonont  tbc  mnt  pIcMatc.    The  tiqon  mia  af 
tbt  amml  Ibro^  wbidi  k  pnN.    ll  memi  moot  roaevUc  ts  Mpaoe  ihM  mtf  \ 
bdioBi  diffitr  ib  ihair  ntart  kmt^i  to  tb«  utarc  at  tbt  otjccu  if  abkh  (bay 
aa  cuiud,  tboa^  not  aectw  icily  ia  tbt  tame  fropotioOf  w  otfrctl  imj  rack* 
•<t7  dlMiact  Uem  wbldb  haw  liiUe  cr  oothiaf  ta  do  wiU  Ce«lia(.    Wb*  >hoaU 
there  beoaljiMw  wni  of  feetiof,  pltiMire  b4  peJef    t  «m  ammeH  Bi>'    < 
one  vbolttiRAeeWit  mueb  so  lu*  awn  teelfay  maw  here  faM4  ll  iMfoyn  - 
ufal  tii'm  aTTU  tba  m»c  6«  Jminr^tV'  fy'-'^-H  iff  Iff*  jnWttTw  kJiluB-  <»( 
— jy  IM  BR  a»fc  M]  I  illbW  WMoiaToebc  aay  Aiof  eiESna  lo  tbe  fealiof  M 
■niac  U  Nat  ant  nmp l«  priaciple ,  lb*  uaM  lo  >ll  cwn^  *a4  which  Attcrmlam  hy 
Vt  fMUitp  iloac  ibe  preCK  itfttt  el  not  m  evil  in  aop  eenwlign.    Saoai 
■laiatJBUi  •>«  Hi*  ocbeni  tbi*  it  lU  we  hnow  •<  ibe  outttr,  tmt  M  thai 
atce— rj  te  form  ■  (law,  or  gmi.    The  taaawj  melboit  of  ftxoriioa  ippeir*  1 
|moac4  OB  *  lunMitioB  ibal  ibingt  Mttaiat  it  all  In  ku»l  nwM  Jllfo  *• 
auNi  he  ^ila  tlAtrOt  ttnat  nctt  etbrr  t  » tM>  ■  rotmUeacx  la  bia4  nael  Map  , 
•a  ibwlnti  coincUenc*  a  pan,  at  in  ai  Ar  m  iht  tbiap  rMOHUi  ottt  lootbar^ 
Sm  DtMMi  «B  Uk  IImom  MiM. 
J98 


ON   THE  PRINCIPLES  OF  HUMAN   ACTION 

fMlingt  and  btcmu,  and  a  voluntary  inKotiblltty  to  tnty  thing 
which  dott  not  imiiwliately  cooccra  outselre*.     It  U  this  excMUTe 
ait;ichniciti  to  uui  own  good  beoutc  it  i»  our),  or  for  the  Hake  of  the 
itbiiraci  idea,  which  hai  no  immediate  connection  with  a  teal  imagina- 
tion of  our  own  plcaxarct  and  paini,  tliai   I   coniider  an  a  purely 
artificial  feeling  and  a«  proper  tclliihncus ;  not  that  lore  of  Mif  which 
Gr*t  ot  last  ii  dctircd  from  a  more  imniedi.tie  knowledge  of  our  own 
good  and  in  a  natural  connequeuce  of  (he  general  love  of  goud  a*  such. 
So  of  out  attachment  to  otheri ;  for  tlie  general  principle  ii  exerted 
with  respect  to  othen  admiti  of  the  wme  modilicittioni  from  habit  as 
when  it  ha*  a  merely  «cl6ih  direction.     Our  afTectioni  leittc  upon 
othcra  u  they  do  upon  ourMlvc*:  they  poai  from  the  thing  ro  the 
person.    '  I  hate  to  ml  i  book  with  thing*  that  all  the  world  Icnowi; ' 
or  I  might  here  give  a  very  cbbonitc  and  exact  account  taken  from 
twenty  ditfcreat  autliora  of  the  manner  in  which  this  iransitioD  take* 
place.    I  do  DOC  tee  how  ideas  are  ihe  belter  for  being  often  repeated. 
Sofltcc  it  to  wy  that  in  all  these  case*  of  habitual  atuchmcnt  the 
moCivct  to  action  do  not  depend  *o  much  on  a  real  intercut  in  the 
thing  which  it  the  object  of  pumit  as  on  a  general  dispooition  to 
HfTC  thai  prticular  pcrton  occimoaed  by  a  previous  habit  of  kind 
otficet  and  by  transterring  the  feeling  of  a  real  interest  in  a  number  of 
things  conducive  to  that  person's  welfare  to  the  abstract  idea  of  his 
good   in   gcntral.      I   leave  it  with   the  reader  to  apply  this  to  the 
cuei  of  fricndahip,  family  allachmcnti,  the  erfecti  at  neighbourhood, 
Sec.  and  to  contidrr  the  feuds,  the  pariialiticf,  the  antipathies  produced 
by  the»e  attachments,  and  the  consequent  unwilltDgoeu  to  attend  to 
the  natural  fillings  of  compaMion,  hununity,  and  the  love  of  justice : 
>nd  then  let  him  »ee  if  the  same  process,  that  is  the  bgrafting  a  \ 
general,  ot  ab«ttact  interest  on  ao  habitual  positire  feeling  will  not  I 
account  is  the  same  way  for  the  effect*  of  kIi-Iotc,  without  suppoting 
this  laat  a«  an  excluaivc  principle  to  be  natural  to  the  human  mind. 
For  my  own  part,  1  bclicrc  that  the  cases  are  exactly  parallel.    Thus 
we  may  coDtidcr  sclf-tovr  as  bearing  the  same  relation  to  family 
Bifection  as  this  docs  to  the  more  general  love  of  our  neighbour,  a* 
the  love  of  our  neighbour  duea  to  that  of  our  country,  or  a*  the  love 
of  OUT  country  dun  to  that  of  mankind.     The  love  of  mankind  » 
here  to  be  taken  fur  an  already  given,  dcliniic,  and  to  a  certain  degree 
tuiucialed  feeling.     The  compacisoo  might  be  ioitituicd  with  a  slight 
shade  ot  ditTcrcnce  between  iclf*lovc,  the  love  of  a  relative  or  friend, 
of  a  neighlwur,  and  of  an  entire  stranger.     It  a  in  proportion inj;  our 
anxiety  to  promote  the  welface  of  any  of  these  to  our  senie  of  the 
UK  our  assistance  may  be  of,  to  tuc  a  well-known  phrase,  wiihoui 
rttftti  nf  firioas,  that  what  iruy  be  called  the  ikiturai  balance  of  our 

399 


ON  THE  PRINCIPLES  OF  HUMAN  ACTION 

aifectKMM  KCini  to  cootiM.  By  the  bye,  thii  wppoM*  thn  cNir 
■OKniibility  to  the  feelingi  of  otben  doc*  dw  ari*e  fram  ta 
UBwtllJBgDCM  to  wjtayahiK  with  them,  of  a  habit  of  being  Kupidljr 
cngrowod  by  out  own  intcreatt.  Whether  ihccv  may  not  be  kwdc 
bibber  principle  of  our  general  aaturc  in  coaiornuty  U>  which  our 
KBtunenu  >od  actiona  with  mpcct  to  otfaen  ahoulil  be  volnstarily 
ngubtett,  acGonliag  to  the  umc  rule  by  which  grois  amnul  appetite 
il  tubjected  to  rattonaJ  tdf-iBtcreM,  may  be  made  the  Hbject  of  a 
fiiivre  ioquiry.  All  tUit  ia  Mcewary  (o  my  pretctM  porpoee  u  to  haw 
■lad*  il  appear  that  the  nriodplc*  of  mtoral  mImotc  ami  natural 
benevotciKc,  o(  niaed  Mlf-loTe  and  rcruied  beorTolcnce  arc  the  ume ; 
that  if  we  admit  the  one,  we  miM  admit  ibc  other ;  aad  that  whatever 
otiter  principl«*  nuy  be  corabiocd  with  tlicni,  they  mud  atamd.  ot  fall 
togetber. 

Il  ia  oot  therefore  my  intcudon  to  pazzle  myself  or  my  reader* 
wkh  the  intiicaciei  of  a  debtor  and  creditor  account  between  future 
aad  habit.  Whatever  the  force  of  hafaii  may  be,  howvvct  wbtlc  and 
DOinnBl  it's  influence,  it  is  not  ncry  thing,  mm  even  the  princtpal 
thing.  Before  we  pUot,  i;  ia  proper  to  know  the  nature  of  the  nil, 
lirat  that  we  may  know  whether  it  t»  good  for  any  thtngi  aecwtdly 
iIlK  we  may  know  what  it  ia  food  lor.  On  theae  two  quetuooa  will 
depend  the  sort  of  cnldTitioo  we  bestow  ttpon  it.  After  tbia  ia 
acttled,  ii  ia  idle  lo  diapwc  how  mach  of  the  pcodnce  ia  owing  to 
cultivation,  and  how  much  to  the  nature  of  the  aoil.  We  tboaild  only 
be  aure  of  hating  made  the  beat  uae  of  it  we  can.  But  we  cannot  be 
aure  of  thit  till  we  know  what  it  it  oatu/alJy  capable  of.  I  will 
however  lay  down  two  general  maxima  on  tliit  nubject  which  will  not 
admit  of  mncb  controvenyi  Fitct,  when  there  ii  no  natural  coo- 
(lection  between  any  two  thing*  which  yet  have  been  lu^^ioaed 
intcpdrabte  from  a  confuted  aaaociatton  of  idcaa,  il  ia  pouible  to 
dettroy  ihti  illuaioo  of  the  imagination  by  rational  distinctioa,  and 
contequently  u>  weaken  the  force  of  the  habatual  feeliDC  wbtch.  ia 
confirmc-d  aud  tendered  permanent  hr  the  conviction  of  the  under- 
aiandiog.  Thua,  a  principle  of  gencfal  •clf.inteiett  hat  been  tuppoacd 
tnicparable  from  inJitiduality,  becauae  a  feeling  of  immediate  coai- 
Kioutoeaa  doea  eaaoitially  belong  to  certain  indjrictiul  impreMiona,  aad 
thialcding  of  coaaciouanent,  of  intimate  tjmpatby,  or  ofabioUnc  tti(- 
intcrcai  haa  been  trsDaferred  by  cuMom  and  faacy  together  to  the 
abatract  idea  of  telf.  It  ii  therefore  of  aonie  uae  to  ac}>arau  iheac 
ideaa,  oi  to  ahcw  that  t)icrc  i»  no  foundation  in  rcaton  or  the  nuurc 
of  thing!  for  a  tery  itroog  prejudice  which  Itaa  been  concdvcd  to 
ariae  immcdi;ue!y  out  of  them.  The  mind  muat  be  drawn  toj^her, 
men  be  coBUactcd  aad  ahrunk  up  within  itadf  by  the  ntoe  Mppocitioa 

400 


ON  THE   PRINCIPLES  OF  HUMAN   ACTION 


of  thia  ptrpetual  uoity  with  iuelf  and  inCcnK  concentration  of  (df 
intcre*!.  ^occondly,  wh«c  thi«  natural  connection  it  wanting,  that 
h,  where  the  hAkito.il  canocction  of  ccniin  fcclingi  with  certain  id«u 
doe»  not  Brier  from  a  picditponlion  in  the  mind  to  be  ntFccted  by 
certain  objects  more  than  other*,  bot  from  the  particular  direction 
which  bjd  hm  ^Tcn  to  the  mind  or  a  more  fit^umt  uasociation 
between  those  (celing*  and  ideaa,  a  contrary  habit  may  be  produced 
by  ginn)!  the  mind  a  diffciCDt  direction,  anil  bcituwin^  a  peatet 
■h»te  of  attention  on  other  objeclt.  It  cannot  be  a  matter  of  iodinerencc 
then  whether  the  faculty  by  which  I  am  originally  inlctcalcd  in  the 
welfare  of  other*  i*  the  umc  as  that  by  which  I  am  intemied  in  my 
own  welfare)  or  whether  I  am  naturally  incapable  of  feeling  the  lean 
iotcrem  in  die  welfare  of  other*  except  ftoni  it'*  indirect  connection 
with  my  own.  Habit  ti  by  it's  nature  to  a  certain  degree  arbitrary, 
and  variable,  the  orij)ina]  di*po*ition  of  tlie  mind,  it'i  tendency  to 
acquire  or  pertevere  in  ihia  or  that  habit  i*  alone  fixed  and  invariable.' 
A*  howcrer  the  force  of  previoui  habit  it  and  alway*  rnunt  be  on  the 
ude  of  selfiah  fixlingt,  it  i*  tome  conM>lation  to  think  th.-ti  the  force  of 
the  habit  wc  may  oppose  to  thi«  i«  leconded  by  reason,  and  the 
natural  diapoMtioo  of  tee  mind,  and  that  we  are  not  obliged  at  laat  to 
Mtablish  generotity  and  rirtuc  *  Icsa  peoaionert'  on  Belf-intemt.* 

I  hare  tbua  far  attempted  to  shew  by  a  logical  deduction  that  the 
human  mind  i*  naturally  dinintereiied  :  I  ihall  at  present  try  to  *bew 
the  aame  thing  lomewhat  ditfercntly,  and  more  in  det^l. 

*  It  i*  a  fiDH  mittikr  to  conaldor  «ll  hibit  m  ntctuirily  ilFpendtng  on  iHodl- 
lion  ef  uIhi.  Wc  mi^l  ai  wtU  coniiiirr  xkt  itrrnilh  which  ii  pien  to  ■  muiclf 
lijr  hibltuil  ticnion  ■•  i  €in  of  Iki  iMoCMIion  oi  ideu.  The  lUvnElh,  dclicBt;, 
tec.  pvcn  to  my  fccliag  by  (lojucni  cMntit  a  awing  to  habit.    When  toy  tm 

Ebcliagi,  or  idcM  art  uflcn  trpctud  in  conucclloa,  ind  tlic  propMlic*  belan|iiig  U 

'ika  one  in  by  thit  nw*ni  kibituilly  trsniftrrcd  to  Uie  othrr,  lhi>  i>  tmocimtna. 

'  *Ainii  tt  formtnt  in  pKfnim  licni  qn!  I'Dnaicrnt '  [It  jrune  hommc]  '^  toa 

Mpkr.     Ea    iiirifciBl   tut   rile  u  HOtibiliU   oaiutato    ni   cnignrt   pat   qaVllr 

i  tiTibiUKTa  il'ibnrt  lout  lc>  homou*,  ti  4M  a  mot  -it  giwi-iimm  ligai^ttt  posr 

[  Uii  ^urlqDC  chow.     Nnn,  (citi  MOtibilite  le  bomcii  pnniicrcineQl  i  KiKmbbblv, 

ft  K«  xmblibln  oc  Mronl  point  ponr  lai  ilci  inconaui,  niiii  (cui  i>t<  Im^ucU  il  * 

dct  liaiaoDi,  ccua  qnr  rhitxlu'lc  lui  ■  noilui  chcri,  uu  nctnurrii,  ccua  ^u'il  *oIt 

CviilcoifDcnl  iHtii  iw(  lui  dct  manlcirt  <l(  pcnict  li  ilr  tcniir  CBmnmnci,  ceui 

qu'il  volt  cjtpoitt  •»<  peine*  qu*ll  a  louflertc*,  Sc  tcntible*  lui  pUitin  qu'il  > 

goutis  ;  ccui,  CB  un  mot,  en  qui  I'iilentiU  de  lutnrf  plui  manifctlM  lai  douM  nno 

pint  fraa'tt  rfitpoiiiion  i  almrr,     C«  ne  ttta  ()n*aprii  avoir  cultiie  ton  attiiirt  ta 

millci  Rianittn,  ipri*  bkn  in  TvflKliont  rar  tn  propTc*  lefiliineB*,!;  tor  (nil 

!u'il  obtftTtti  dsnt  Ici  milrr*,  qn'il  pmirra  Baivenlr  I  gfnctiliatr  «•  nolloot 
iili<ii)iiell«  tout  I'idn  ■tMriilC  il^nmiDlt^  ft  Jolodn  lb  ft*  aAcelioDi  ptrticulicm 
cclict  ijui  pruvcni  ridcnlifitc  am  uia  tipicc'  Entile,  t.  a,  p.  191. — Il  it  nocilli** 
10  add  iny  (hiag  on  ibii  piwigc.     Il  ipctki  for  itidf, 

*  L'lmour  ilu  p^ie-huRijiin  n'e*l  ntri  thou  in  nou*  <fat  I'amonr  ^e  I)  juttief.' 
Ibid.  p.  141. 

VOL.  VU,  :  a  C  ^1 


H»>qr>«» 


dKbtc«fGfe 


tUmkk 


!?5L 


v/ 


Mm*  bK  ■««  «  dBHR  < 
Ao.  «  ■  4m«  of  «r  M 

iha  vcUKins  f    It  ii  pbsi  tbn  ama 
■  ifci  MB^i  rfih  iifijriii  itmMili  I  if II  1i  if  JTiilf 

■fid  nit  ftybti^iBjrmnIoB  s«:sBiidl^hBJfe^j&aMr 
a  a  uTuiB  BMoncr  beciii  tbcj  m  omdaBf .ftpd^or  n^ 
dufl  wt  wcoadh  tUi  viib  wffwwm  tfaai  the  wsn  of  tkow  6bjt 
or  dbdr  eicci  oa  the  mai  b  cotirriy  dusfed  hj  Aat  haag,  i 
WtUacr  tk^pona?     I  repai  it  that  wlf^accTeat  npGet 
Ovjvcti  Hn  tcnafi  lor  the  niM  to  be  iBUraicd  hi:  to  wwb 
it  caa  nitt  ttfumdj  from  all  neb  objeca.  or  tbc  ovr  artidift  to 
CMtM  obitet*  ■  mIcIj  <lr^ctd  fren,  lad  rtgahwd  by  o«  MttA- 
mm  to  kV  m  fUm,  fahitAt  hook  an. 

Tsk*  (lie  nunple  m  *  cluld  tfan  haa  bcca  bam  bf  ifcr  Sn,  aadj 
poMtHinBily  eoaceim  i  dtnd  of  iu    Tint  dread  «c  v3l  nj  i ' 
moteomim  raply  in  the  apprebeoKM  of  the  pain  inelf  .' 
COlMncrcdi  bnc  togftlieT  wtto  taia  apprcnrnauwi  of  paia  he 
tiM  idea  (tlten^  bm  a  tcry  dirtiact  ose)  of  htBieiru  afaoui  to 
it.     Ltt  oa  ajtUa  ia  wim  way  die  iMttrcnaca  of  (Ut  idea  can  I 
ippoaed  to  caarr  or  iacRaac  bk  dnad  of  the  pda  ioelf.    Ia  ttic  f 
placa  ibea  it  b  erideat  that  the  Kre  aciaalljr  bena  the  cbUd, 

401 


ON  THE  PRINCIPLES  OF  HUMAN   ACTION 


brcAunc  he  ut  thinking  of  himKlf,  or  of  it'*  burning  him,  but  becautc 
it  if  the  natuic  of  lire  to  burn  and  of  the  child'*  hand  to  feel  ptin, 
and  hi»  dislike  of  the  pain  while  ii  actually  exint*  i«  the  immediate, 
BtKvmty  aod  phjFMcat  coD»e<^uence  of  liic  trim  of  pain,  luccly  not  an 
iodirccE  and  tcflcx  (e*u)t  of  the  child's  lovt  to  htm*elfi  or  after- 
contideration  that  pain  is  an  evil  as  it  affect*  hlmketf.  Again  I 
apprehend  that  after  the  actual  pain  bai  ceased,  it  continuci  to  be 
ihought  of  acid  it  aficrwardt  recollected  an  pin,  or  in  other  wordi, 
the  feeling  or  scBiie  of  pain  IcaTc*  a  correspondent  imprwiion  in  the 
memory  which  adhere*  to  the  rccolleaion  of  the  object,  and  makes 
the  child  isroluntaiily  shrink  from  it  by  the  aamc  tort  of  necesiitjr, 
that  ia  from  the  natuie  of  the  hunmn  nuod  and  the  recollccied 
imprcMion,  and  not  from  his  referring  it  bistoricilly  to  bii  own  p« 
exiiicnce.  In  like  manner  I  ooDceivc  that  this  idea  of  pain  when 
combined  by  the  imagination  with  other  drcumttancei  and  traotfcrred 
to  the  child  (  fiiture  being  will  ttill  retain  it*  original  tendency  lo  give 
pais,  and  that  the  recurrence  of  the  tame  painful  *en«aiion  is  neceaiarily 
regarded  with  terror  and  avetMon  by  the  child,  oot  from  it's  being 
CODceiTed  of  in  connection  with  his  own  idea,  but  because  it  is  con- 
trived of  aa  pain.'  It  should  alto  be  tcnietnbcted  as  the  conictanc 
principle  of  all  our  teasunin;;s,  that  tlie  imjireiiMun  which  the  child 
has  of  himself  a*  the  nibjecl  of  future  pain  is  neier  any  thing  more 
than  an  idea  of  imaginniion,  and  that  he  cannot  possibly  by  any  kind 
of  aniicipation  feel  thai  pdJn  as  a  real  senuiion  a  single  momeot  before 
it  exiiti.  How  then  are  we  to  account  for  his  guppoied  exclutite 
attachment  to  thii  ideal  iielf  lo  an  to  make  tliat  the  ted  source  of  the 
dislike  and  dread  which  the  apprehension  of  any  particular  pain  to  be 
indicted  on  himself  cauics  in  the  mind !  There  are  two  way*  in 
vhicb  ihi*  may  at  lirst  tight  appear  to  be  utiifacioriiy  made  out. 
Thr  6fa  it  from  the  notion  of  pergonal  identity :  this  bat  been  coo- 
aidercd  already  and  will  be  again  considered  by  and  by.  The  other 
it  sometliliig  aa  follows.  The  child  having  been  burned  by  the  fire 
and  odIv  Uowing  what  the  pain  of  a  burn  it  from  hi*  recollecting  to 
have  felt  it  himself,  a  soon  as  be  fiiult  himttlf  in  danger  of  ii  again, 
bai  a  very  virid  recollection  of  ifae  pain  it  formerly  gave  him  excited 
in  hi*  mind ;  and  hy  a  kind  of  sudden  trantpocition  tubtiituting  this 
idea  in  the  place  of  his  imnicdiatc  apprehennon,  in  thinking  of  the 

'  TU*  MCoanl  h  laat  enough. '  I  ihili  Mi'lnmir  to  five  a  tcltei,  it  Id  ihc 
Buaner  la  whtcb  Utat  nuy  be  (DppoH.I  ta  be  coiiiietI«il  h  ith  Mlitian,  m  ihe  end 
Cff  ihit  eVMy.  tn  the  mnn  lime  I  iriih  the  rri'ter  U  be  appriteil,  Ihal  I  ^a  not 
-  UM  the  word  hnignuiim  u  contiidiiiingaitbtJ  from  nr  u^owl  Id  niion,  it  the 
hca\tj  by  which  m  reflMt  ufon  and  oompatr  oar  i-)<»,  but  tt  appnwil  to  w nulion, 
or  memory.  It  lui  bero  (hem  sbove  that  by  the  wor it  l,ht  u  aol  meinl  ■  merely 
•hlncl  i<le*. 

403 


ON  THE   PRINCIPLES  OF  HUMAN  ACTION 


V 


iBBicdiatt  evenioa  of  njluoury  pcnref,  laakc*  a  tuddcn  aad  age 
effort  to  avoid  it  bjr  the  fint  mouu  be  caa  thiak  oT.  vhy  ire  we  ' 
■oppote  that  (be  apprelwiMioD  of  the  attte  potD  ts  be  injicced 
oiuxhrr  wbocn  be  cniut  believe  to  be  cndiwd  witfa  tbe  lame  feelincM 
and  wki)  whoK  feciingi  he  nnua  be  capaUe  of  lympMbiziBg  in  oe| 
tamr  muocr  u  with  hii  own  itiafftarf  fedjogt.  ibonM  not  affect 
him  with  the  ume  tort  of  totereM,  tbc  (uae  ton  of  tcrrour,  aad 
impel  him  to  the  tame  exeniom  for  hit  rcfief?' 

Bec4uie,  it  ii  latd,  io  bit  own  cue  there  i*  a  lutunU  deceptMo,  by 
which  he  coofoiwdt  hii  fvtiut  betac  with  hit  pan  being,  and  the  kT 
of  a  ^ore  imaginary  |>aiD  with  the  cecoUectioa  of  a  eait  co 
pain.      At  toy  rate,  tbii  nnut  be  uncoiMcioiHljr :    if  tbe  m 
prcKtH  danger  acu  to  powerfally  oo  hit  mind  a*  lo  bring  back  tb«J 
fccollectioo  of  a  patt  «enuiion,  and  tet  ibat  before  bun  ia  the    ' 
of  tbc  real  object  of  hit  fear,  w  that,  while  he  ii  ctMkavoaring  (ol 
aToid  aa  unmediaic  dani^r,  be  !■  tn  bet  thtnkinjt  only  of  paat  miFcr-J 
iqt  witliool  hit  perceiving  ihii  conftiMOn  of  ideai,  *«rcly  the  aaroe 
lhii)|t  mnat  take  ptacc  in  a  Icm  degree  with  re«pect  to  other*.     If  it 
be  thongbi  nece«Mry  for  him,  bctore  he  can  ccek  hi«  own  foiur*! 
intcreat,  to  conrouod  it  with  hit  put  inicrat  by  the  viotent  traadtioaj 
of  «i  iniaediitc  apprchcrwion  isto  the  ftionger  recollection  of  aai 
actual  traprtauon,  then  [  ny  that  by  the  unte  ann  of  tulmitutioo  be 
witl  identify  hit  own  tnteteM  viib  that  of  othert,  wbenewr  a  like 
otnioui  danger  recall*  forcibly  to  bit  mind  hit  Ibnner  ainiaiiua  and , 
^bngi,  the  Icnoct  of  tnetnory  being  applied  b  tbc  one  caw  to  exdt 
h!«  tympaihy  and  in  the  other  to  excite  pertonal  fear,  tbc  object*  < 
both  being  in  iltcmtelve*  equally  imaginary  and  according  to  thia 
bypothetia  both  perfectly  indificrent.      But  I  tfaonld  cooteod  thaAj 
tbc  aaiamption  here  made  that  (be  direct  and  proper  lafluenoe  _ 
the  unagination  ■>  inauAicicnt  to  account  for  the  enectt  of  penooa 
feaT)  or  of  no  force  at  all  in  itself  it  without  any  loimdatiun.     Fc 
there  it  no  r^-aton  to  be  thewn  why  the  idea*  of  the  imagioatic 
ihontd  not  be  eflicietit,  operaiivc,  a*  well  a*  tbow  of  cnenMcy, 
which  they  are  encotially  compounded.      Their  lubctance  is  ihr 

>  I  ttkt  ll  for  (ruled  tluc  the  only  itiy  la  eitabtbh  Ihc  Mltib  hypMhelh  i* 
•hcwlnj  ititt  uui  own  inicnti  it  in  rciii()f  btoughl  home  to  the  nuad  u  •  MM 
to  action  by  tinne  mom  gr  otlwr  ij  wbicti  thai  »r  Mhcn  caanvt  pSMitljr  iflcvt  it.' 
Thia  ia  unavoidiblr,  unltaa  *«  lacribc  a  particular  (tntui  of  itlfiihiwM  lo  neb 
in^tvidiial  which  niTtr  anffm  hit  afftct'oaa  tonndtrfrom  hnnail/fora  anament; 
«r  ahitt  W(  loppoae  llial  a  mari'i  aiiachniMii  to  hliDKlf  >•  fcMaiMC  he  baa  a  loaf 
Daae  ot  a  tlwrl  one,  brciuw  hii  hair  it  t>li<k  or  red,  or  from  aa  aruccMuitablc 
(uCf  lor  bia  own  oanw,  fur  alt  thru  make  ■  pifl  of  the  inrtiviiluit,  aaiil  Biutl  b« 
if  out  veiy  wfifhiy  m»ni  by  thoac  who  think  it  •clf-cvi'lmi  ihit  a  eiin  nMiat 
low  hiiatilf  btcaaat  hr  ii  hiaaKlff 
406 


ON  THE  PRINCIPLES  OF   HUMAN   ACTION 


•umc.  They  an  of  one  fleih  «nd  blood.  The  tatne  rital  tpirit 
aniniAic*  them  both.  To  nipposc  that  the  imsginniion  doei  not 
rxrrt  a  direct  inilucncc  ovor  human  HCtioai  »  to  ccjrct  the  plain 
inference  from  the  mott  undoubted  fitcta  withoui  any  motive  for  w 
doiaj;  from  the  nature  and  rciBoo  of  thinjiii.  Thin  nution  could 
nut  hare  filmed  f^round  3>  an  article  of  philoiophital  faith  but  from 
a  pervcfK  rettricciun  of  The  uk  of  the  word  idta  to.  abiinict  ideat) 
£cxtcnigJ.i(iniia>  ai  if  the  cucntial  (Quality  in  the  feelings  of  plcaiure, 
or  coin,  mutt  entirely  etaporaic  in  pimag  through  the  imagicuion  ; 
ancf,  again,  from  atsociatiog  the  word  ima^iii'imn  with  merely  lictitioiu 
(itiMliona  and  ri'cQts,  that  ti^  «uch  u  ocvcr  will  luce  a  ical  uuttcnce, 
and  a*  it  U  Huppotcd  never  wilt,  and  which  consequently  do  not 
itdmii  of  action.*  Beudv*,  though  it  ifr  certain  that  the  imagination 
i«  streriKtheiied  in  its  operation  bv  the  indirect  auistancc  of  our 
other  facultic*,  vet  at  it  i4  this  faculty  which  muii  be  the  immediate 
ipring  and  guiae  of  actiDn,,'unletii  wc  acitibuic  to  it  an  inherent, 
independent  power  oret  the  will,  «o  a*  to  make  it  bend  to  ctcry 
change  of  circumstance*  or  probability  of  adTaoiage,  and  a  power 
at  the  tame  time  of  controuling  thv  blind  impulics  of  aMociatod 
mechanical  f«cliiigi,  and  of  making  them  tuWrvieot  to  tlie  accom- 
pliihmeni  of  Kiiae  particular  puipote.'in  oibcr  word*  without  a  power 
of  willipjj  t_  _jiven  tnJ  for  iticlf^'  and  of  employing  the  meana 
imronliately  nccewary  to  the  production  of  that  end,  bccauac  Ihcy 
are  perceived  to  be  (o,  there  coutd  be  neither  volition,  nor  action, 
neither  rational  fear  nor  «tcady  purtuit^of  aov  object,  neiibcr 
wifldom  nor  folly,  gcDcrmity  or  nelfitltneM  jjall  would  be  left  to  the 
accidental  coticurrence  of  lome  mechaiucal  Impulse  with  the  immediate 
detire  to  obtain  tome  Tcry  limple  object,  for  in  no  other  caie  can 
either  accident  or  habit  be  tuppotcd  likely  to  carry  any  rational 
purpoic  into  effect.  To  return  however  to  wh.it  I  have  uid  above 
in  aniwer  to  ihi>  objection,  it  it  evident  that  all  person*  are  more 
inclined  to  cDm|iaGMonate  thow  paint  and  calamiliet  in  other*  by 
which  they  have  been  affected  tbcmtelveti  which  proven  that  the 
operation  of  that  principle)  eitn  supposing  it  to  be  the  true  one,  it 
not  conlined  lo  selfiiih  object*.  Our  lympaiby  it  always  directly 
excited  in  proportion  to  our  knowledge  of  the  pain,  and  of  the  di»> 
positton  asa  feeling*  of  the  tuAcrcr.  ThtM  with  rctpcct  to  ourtelvet 
vrc  are  little  affected  by  the  apprchention  of  phytical  pain  which  we 
have  never  felt  and  therefore  can  know  little  of:  and  wc  have  ttill 
lest  lyaipathy  with  others  in  this  cue.  Our  incrtdulity  and  insen- 
libiltiy  with  tctpect  to  what  others  frequently  tuffer  from  the  tooth- 
ache  and  other  iocidental  dttordert  rou«  have  been  reniaiked   hf 

'  Set  Ili«  ImI  iuK  bal  atit. 


lAj!? 


V*.. 


^/ 


ON  THE   PniNCIPLES  OP  HUMAN  ACTION 

rvcry  one,  and  are  cvm  ludicrow  from  die  exccM  to  wbicb  ibty 
ate  cuiied.  Give  whit  accouu  yon  will  of  ti,  ilic  <Sra  it  tint 
■aiDc;^-our  idf-lofc  uti  tjmpaihy  depend  upon  the  unc  c»Moi, 
and  mnKaady  bear  >  dctenntiutc  proponion  to  cadi  «hei,  at  IcMt 
(B  tbc  mnc  iadividiuL  The  ttme  knowledf^e  of  aw  puo,  which 
iocnaao  our  dmd  of  It,  nnke»  oi  nxxe  tndy  to  feel  (w  other* 
wlio  are  cxpoted  to  K.     When  a  boy  I  had  mj  arm  put  oat  of 

rat,  and  I  feel  a  Itiod  of  aarom  twiKhtng  in  it  to  tbi«  day  wlKfmer 
■ee  any  one  with  hi*  irm  bound  sp  ia  coaM^ocnce  of  a  nnhf 
Mcideot.  Thit  pan  of  my  iobjtct  ha«  bceo  w  well  detailed  by 
SoBtb  and  other*  tJiat  it  ia  iMrdleM  to  iasist  un  it  fanher.  There 
are  certain  diaorden  which  have  a  diagutiog  appeuancci  that  thocL 
and  force  atteotioa  by  their  noieJlyj  but  they  do  not  ptopcrly 
cxcitv  our  lymputhy,  or  compawiaa,  a»  they  would  do  if  we  had 
ever  beeo  Hibjcct  to  them  ouxidw*.  Children  term  to  ayrapathixc 
more  naturally  wiih  the  outwaid  «i£iM  of  p^Mion  in  others  witbooi 
iiHuriag  inio  ihr  patiicular  caucs  by  which  it  it  exciied,  wbcthet 
h  u  that  ihieif  ideas  of  pain  are  aiore  grost  and  lunple,  therefore 
more  uniform  and  more  easily  subititvtcd  for  each  Mher,  or  that 
grown-up  peiioru,  hiring  a  grtaiei  number  of  ideu  and  beiog  ofieocr 
able  to  lympitliiu  with  otbcn  from  knowing  what  they  feel, 
habinully  nuke  this  knowledge  tbc  flDoadation  of  their  sympathy.' 

'  The  c*ntnl  due  l«  ihal  jcnitiat,  (he  chmtttr  of  (he  Frtntb,  letmt  to  ke 
tliM  ibaa  ficlinp  ite  vrty  JmpcrfNilf  motliflc-l  fcj  Ihr  objctu  cuitinc  them. 
Thai  is,  the  difference  belween  the  Kmtl  Acfnet  la-l  kln<lt  ot  trtVaf  »  them 
docs  oat  carrapoad  m  randi  ii  II  doei  in  mou  c4her  mple  vilh  ibc  dlReerot 
dcgreci  tad  kinili  of  pu<«r  in  (he  ciUrnU  abjecU.  They  vmnl  nesdwr  (vcliof 
not  Idea  in  the  sbilrid  ;  bnl  there  Kenii  In  be  nu  coDiMclian  in  (her  Riiii4i 
bttwwa  the  one  and  the  older.  Cdaie^atntly  (hrii  ftelin|>  mnl  ceaipw  lod 
nritty,  sod  whstewrelM  matt  dtpcnd  an  the  'bnildingup  of  our  fedinn  thtoagh 
the  fmsflaatloa.'  The  feeling*  of  ■  Prenchrau  teem  to  he  sUone  Ifeebni:.  Tae 
moment  my  thlnn  [aodum  •  (Iii»cc  in  him,  he  Is  thrown  completely  «at  of  hit 
thirseler,  he  Is  ijuite  bcti^ii  IiimKlf.  I'bii  »  peihtft  in  t  grest  meiiure  owing  to 
their  qDiekjtnt  nf  pcrcrftioR-  They  do  not  ^ive  the  object  time  to  be  r^tuj^^ 
Imprnwd  on  their  mirntt,  thrii  (relmpnemiiHd  at  the  lint  nolic*  of  its  appcsacil, 
and  if  I  msy  m  espno  myKlf.  fairly  run  away  from  the  dijict.  TWir  fnlinii  4a 
not  ftapple  with  the  object.  The  lust  tiimului  ii  laScicni  to  ticile  ihsm  sad 
mote  i*  lupeifluoui,  for  (hey  do  not  wait  lor  the  impienon,  or  mob  m  ioqulre 
whit  derree  of  kind  It  it  of.  There  it  not  reiiitance  lulficleni  in  the  maltet  ta 
reetlre  thoac  th«p  inciiioni.  ihuK  >)ccp.  diirkol,  and  itiongly  rooteil  Impcenbaa, 
the  Crj«i  of  which  remain  for  cvrr.  From  whatever  emte  k  proeee^,  tlw 
tenaiiivc  principJe  in  them  doe«  not  mcri  Io  bt  auaceptlble  at  the  latne  Biodi£ca- 
lion  and  nriety  of  iction  la  it  doei  in  otbcta  |  lid  certainly  Ihr  oatwaid  fom* 
of  things  do  not  adhere  to,  do  oot  wind  ihemcelTrf  t>>Dni  their  feetinct  ia  the 
nme  manner.  Far  any  thing  ilid  appcui  to  the  contrary,  akJMts  mj^t  be 
tnppeoed  to  have  bo  direct  caminunictiiuD  with  the  internal  Mflte  of  fhasft  nr 
pain,  but  to  act  upon  it  (hcontb  loine  iDtcrnicdiiC(,HTy  confaxd  oejia,  capable  gf 


ON  THE   PKINCIFLES   OF   HUMAN   ACTION 

In  gcorral  it  seem*  that  tfaosc  physical  criU,  which  wc  hare  aciiully 
experienced,  and  which  ftam  their  nature  must  prtxlucc  nearly  the 
MAW  effect  upon  every  one,  mi»t  cxcice  a  mote  tmniediale  aod  luiutal 

tnwinittinK  little  marc  than  thr  (implc  impalK.  Bnt  the  uirif  thini  will  foUov, 
if  Wt  inppoK  ike  prisoplF  iiicK  to  be  thlt  Verv  otpa,  that  ii.  So  *snE  cocnprc' 
hentlTieiiai,  cliiitif ity,  Mil  pluiic  hta.  (It  it  <lfin<ult  lottpnn  ibit  ia  Bnfliih  t 
bnt  there  It  ■  French  wncil,  rtiitri,  wbicti  uprriHi  it  unclly.  Thii  >i  posibly 
owing  li>  rheir  fefling  the  want  of  it  f  aa  Ihrrd  ia  nn  woni  in  ady  utKrr  lan^fui^ 
Id  antwTi  tn  th«  Bn|;li*h  woril,  flf^Jtrj^  1  tDpiioir,  btctiiK  lh«  Eat'i>l>  *"  f^  mott 
uncnRifortible  of  ill  people).  It  will  nthet  follow  frooi  what  ba>  been  here  mU 
(had  be  incontitlcni  wilh  u  that  ibc  Frenih  miut  be  more  Mntibic  of  minute 
hnpttnloat  iDft  ili{lit  iludca  of  <lllfo<a»  ia  their  (eeliap  ihia  oltitrt,  bKii'K 
haviog,  >•  !•  here  luppoaeil,  tat  ml  nrletj,  a  nanower  ranfx  of  fe*lini;.  ihey 
u-ill  aticnil  ninrr  to  ihf  ilifrcrencei  <onl3ineil  within  that  narrow  cilcle.  anri  to 
produce  an  artiricial  variety-  In  thort  their  tfcelinfa  arc  very  cuity  act  in  motioo 
and  by  ilij-ht  caute*,  but  they  <la  oni  go  tht  whole  Imitth  of  (he  itnprtMion,  nor 
are  thiy  capable  of  combininit  ■  ureal  lariety  of  complicitrd  iciinni  lu  curmpond 
with  the  diilincl  iWieti^Ti  ind  complu  form!  of  thine*.  Htncc  itwy  haw  no 
mcb  ibiaj  aa  f  uctry.  Tlii>  hawnrr  mini  not  be  miauni1eritor)>l.  t  mean  then 
that  I  never  nut  with  any  thing  in  ticnch  thai  producei  the  iime  kind  if  feeling 
in  the  mind  at  the  folloviin£  panip.  If  there  >>  any  thing  that  bcloD|(  oven  to 
the  umc  cla»  with  it,  I  am  rnily  to  give  the  point  up. 

Aitifuy.  Srtif  thou  jTt  behold'at  me. 

Srw,  Ay,  Boblr  Lord, 

ttei.  Somctlmet  we  aec  a  elond  that 'a  Drafonlib, 
A  vapour  tomelimei  lilu  a  Bear,  or  Lion, 
A  Inwpr'il  Citidel,  a  pcnrlinl  Rock, 
A  forketi  Moumaio,  or  blue  Pfoiuootofr 
Wiih  Tim  upon  't.  (hil  noil  uaio  the  World 
Ao<l  muek  oar  Eyca  with  Air.     Thou  had  aecn  theie  SIgni, 
They  tre  black  Vnper'l  Plgcanta, 

Kni.  Ay,  my  Lord. 

.dUr.  Tlul  which  ii  now  a  Horte,  even  with  a  Thought 
The  rack  illallmD*,  and  make*  it  injiitinct 
Aa  Water  it  in  Wtler. 

Xroi.  li  doe*,  my  Lord, 

<f>f.  My  gao<)  Knave,  Bm,  now  thy  Captain  It 
Even  tuch  a  bo^y,  Acc^ 

It  It  renuilubic  that  the  French,  whn  ate  ■  lively  people  and  fond  of  ihew  and 
itrikJng  image*,  tliould  be  able  to  read  and  heat  with  tuch  delitbt  their  own 
dranulic  piecei,  ahL-h  abound  in  nathiag  bul  geneeil  maainit,and  vague  declama- 
tion, never  embodyinj  any  thing,  and  which  irauld  appcii  auite  tedinui  tn  in 
Engliih  audience,  who  ire  gmcnlty  eoiuiitrred  at  a  dry,  duit,  ploridinK  r<opt«, 
much  more  likely  to  be  aititiicd  with  formal  deMripllont  and  pave  rrHeclJoni. 
Thlt  ippeitt  lo  me  to  come  to  the  umc  thing  that  I  have  iil'l  befotr,  namely, 
that  ii  la  chaiactcritlic  of  ibe  French  that  iheit  feclin|;>  let  ;i>  ilior  hul.1  nf  (hingt 
alaoat  a*  toon  at  the  imprtatirm  ia  made-,  £a<rpt  aentiblc  impretuunt  there- 
fore (which  have  on  that  account  more  force,  and  carry  theni  away  without 
apportion  while  they  lait)  all  their  Irelinga  art  general  |  lai  being  general,  not 
being  marked  by  any  attong  itlitinclioDt,  nor  bnlli  vn  any  dtep  foundation  of 

4O9 


ON  THE  PRINCIPLES  OF   HUMAN  ACTION 


WfWKfutMf  torn  OKMc  vincli  ilipfnn  on  tesnovnt  oc 
It  m  hOBim  odtbrt  wo  enw|im  nor  SiMbU,  m  tbor' lurbnas 
the  anKBm  a(  imieni'Bii^iyiKa]  nwrc  oroe^lj  la  —*  'r'|l"*Ti  I 
■hidi  b  iucir  la  Kt^  ihr  biMptatioe.  tbta  owt  phiytd  cA  ob 
flCfdo,  •BeiTie  tliey  njue  to  ovrKlm  cw  ocbCT.  Oar  lymfidij  , 
■itfc  phyacU  evil  a  alio  a  nofe  uatlfiMnT  fediB^  ad  tkeiuue 
■hwkted  to  whh  more  ■'»*■■" '-"^  So  ilat  it  u  oeceisuy  to  tale 
aoodwr  drcnnutaace  into  tfar  accoost  ia  jvJga^  of  tbe  ({laatky  of 
ov  $jmfashj,  facndn  ib*  two  abon  lataaoBeJ,  BAtaely,  the  aaiSK 
«f  the  fma  or  it*«  ftacw  to  cxcw  ovr  ■apathy.    Th^  make*  ao 

To  njr  that  tbe  cbiU  KcoUeca  the  paia  of  bdag  iMrat  ooljr  ia 
coanectioD  with  his  own  idea,  and  can  ttewfere  toacciw  of  it  aa 
an  cril  only  with  rapect  to  hiiaatif,  it  in  eSecx  to  deny  tlw  ^^^^""^ 
of  any  nach  power  ai  the  in^iaKioe.  By  ibe  mac  power  of  aiad 
miadt  aiabfai  him  to  coecofr  of  a  eaat  unit  inn  m  ahoat  to  be 
n-ntcitcd  ia  tbe  urot  bcia^  aanwly,  nuicIF,  br  auat  be  enable  of 
marfiiiing  (be  tMie  ides  of  pais  to  i  diifmot  perwB.  He  fntta 
tbe  object*  be  patfaea  bii  ideaa  beyond  the  boima  of  im  mtmatj 

ia*eMiM>  meciia'Mi,  mt  thiac  wnv  u  cadta  d^m  a*  mtl  w  •nathn,  tk 

aaiBe«lilW|ftf«l«l»wwWA«ayfadiHfc'>»aff»'h"w^f^'— ^|*'"<^to 
AaMai,*c,(M«nrjaM  the nne mcmI^, m4 CBac ifct MaM  lifa'  rf  iiagifan  ' 
in  dwniolar  •  FnackMa,iBd  m  tht  bbc  (iac  4o  ihii  bkc  N»«lf,4bB< 
■he  OWN  roKiUe  d(«(rir«ioa  of  nsl  &Elt>|i,  i^J  ttvcti.    tit  Ea^kh  mi  tha 
raainfTiriBot  •aeaOjDioocdvjthinri^tKaMa  itiat  a  tls  hiMt  «(  rttaht- i 
tai  ndiriilul  inapi  nd  af  br«ada«  wtr  tht  fMliap  caan»t»iJ  wilfa  itlwi,  iha  | 
mm  oamn  of  n—rri  ctMM^  or  (wh*d  ■•  ihc  nw  tbiac}  «^|a>  ud  aaacaalaff  i 
JHtriatio  or  «eeri— bm  niMt  (Moir  Mtfeotr  bJiAftot  n  thtok    HoMe  the 
rte»di  «fc  MI^M  with  Ra«iar,tk  Eo^  (1  mam  Mac  if  lhta4  stelra  i 

nahnttn.    fmiii  h  ih tj  T h  mirii   1  iipiha  t  hMi  (rtm^h 

he  by  the  bft  wu  not  ■  PnnchBun}  ohs  fram  the  ^cp(h  of  hi*  lc(Bd(s  MlthnW 
■MBf  4ktaKt   inafNi  pvdacn  lb  bod*  ksd  of  iaemu  in  ihc  mM  that 
■I  Bcitad  by  iht  cvtMi  aod  ncoUKtiMi*  of  oar  ara  liin.     If  h*  had  aot 
Irac  finwfc  be  barf  at  kait  »atthiac  vhich  vu  ■  tcry  (o»4  «bRie««  far  k. 
It*  fteach  inertlw  f«rpmull«,  Wt  MUaaa  «ooipc«h«B«mly  r  thty  noLc  aa 
ialnlK  — aittr  af  ibii  »«iluin^  mi  baic  aeicf  An«crt4  mit  |Nil  piincipk. 
'Thay  liaiilL  IfaHly  fcradvc  the  laabgy  bctwcea  a  aawWf  of  am  W  ik  maa 
ebai,  lad   aukc  a  fmcnl  arfcrnin,  whkh  ■  Jooe  (he  dhtc  eatilj,  the  faBcr 
Mtkabn  yaa  (roaftle  mntlf  irkh  |  it  i>  ia  >  (oed  amart  (ke  st  of  furiallJBy, 
nc  diScolt  pan  of  philaMfhy  m,  when  a  aanbs  of  fonintsr  abtmatiuw  aoJ  I 
MMra^inaiT  hcB  haw  bets  tme*.  to  weiacilt  them  loftthw  by  fiaiHaa  oat  j 
M«K  Mho  ahrinct  vkw  of  tbe  Mbicei,  er  catMtnl  eitoMMaaee,  amUcMt  M  ■ 
aU  tha  riUmal  fan*  w  afpanaoa,  irhkh  iilht  tw  piadrle  froa  wUdv, 
whca  wbintt  with  prticalat  circuniUMc^  ihey  «rc  all  ilctne^     Opfwte  ' 
MfianuhLi  ire  almy*  iauonllatcly  ini  iiiipartbli    with  »ch  ather,  aoJ   cawDat , 
tbtrtfgn  b«  ritrincail  fivm  th*  am*  onnHiUc  tamr,  bat  moit  he  iRsvMal  fae  , 
bon  I  cawbiajtioB  af  dftmt  uwtfc  the  4wc«ii«ry  of  >hich  it  m  a&fe  of 
caf  nJwaiian,  aaJ  ool  of  aNae  ibMiactiM. 
410 


^ 


ON  THE   PRINCIPLES  OF  HUMAN   ACTION 


and  *ea*m  in  the  first  iiuunce,  «od  he  <lo«a  no  more  ia  the  second. 
If  hi*  mind  were  merely  josMve  in  the  (^nition,  be  iB«uld  dm  be 
bu^  in  anticipating  a  dcw  imprciHon,  but  would  *till  be  dreaminf;  of 
tbe  oM  one.  Il  i*  o(  ihc  Tcry  nature  of  the  iirmgiiulioo  to  cbingc 
the  order  in  whkb  tbingt  hate  been  tinprcMed  on  the  tenKi,  and  to 
connect  the  umc  propectie*  with  dj^cnt  objects,  «nd  dilTccyiit 
prc^nirt  with  the  tanve  objcctt;  to  combine  oar  origml  iamteMJOW 
in  all  poaiible  Toriim  lod  to  nxNiify  iheic  impreuioQB  tbcBuafca  to  > 
itty  21'eit  debtee.  Man  witbont  this  WMild  not  be  »  ntional  ascnt : 
be  would  be  bctow  the  dulleil  and  moat  MUfad  bnile.  tt  niuit  tlWT^ 
fiorc  be  peoTcd  in  Mine  other  way  that  tbe  hutnsa  nitod  cannot  coocem 
of  or  be  tntereited  in  the  pleasBre»  or  ymat  of  oibcr*  becau«e  it  has 
ncTcr  Celt  them. 

The  inoM  tubtic  way  of  puttiog  thit  objection  ■■  to  repreaeot  the 
tendency  of  tbe  cbild  t  i{ipf«hendon  of  danger  to  deter  him  from 
mine  nesT  the  fire  m  cau*ed  not  nmjiy  by  the  apprebenwon  or  idea 
itiel^  which  they  uy  woold  imcr  Iwrc  KKngth  enongh  for  a  inuiirc 
to  KtioQ,  but  ky  hii  being  able  to  refer  that  idea  to  mi  actual  lenn- 
tion  io  hi*  own  miod,  and  knowing  thH  with  rctpect  to  himtelf  it 
wm  paat  into  the  Kune  nate  of  •erioni  reality  ajtaio,  if  be  expoce* 
hilMetf  to  the  nine  danger.  Now  here  we  hate  nothbg  but  a 
reftectioo  on  a  reflection.  It  i«  tnffwaed  that  the  direct  idea  of 
a  tcrtible  and  well-known  pain  haa  no  eflcci  at  all  upoo  the  miodi 
but  that  the  idea  of  ihia  idea  ■■  aboot  to  be  convened  inlOt  or 
tuccerded  by  the  psin  iucif  in  the  aame  cooacious  being  will 
immedtjtely  excite  (he  uroogett  elTorts  to  pteTent  it.  Certainly 
the  itear  expectation  of  tbe  object  of  yoor  dread  actualtjr  realized  ** 
to  tbe  leDae)  strcnglheni  the  fear  of  it ;  but  it  niengtbeoa  tt  throogh 
the  imaginatioT).  Jtut  at  the  knowing  that  a  perton  whom  you 
wiibed  anxioualy  to  tee  and  had  not  teen  for  many  yeara  wu  in 
the  next  room  woiJd  make  you  recal  the  imprcMion  of  their  face 
or  figure  almotf  with  the  ume  rieidncn  and  reality  at  if  they  were 
actually  |vcieBt.  Tbe  force  then  with  which  tbe  mind  anncipatei 
liituic  pun  in  cooneciioa  with  tbe  idea  of  continued  cooKiowne** 
can  ondy  tend  to  prodacc  Tolwuary  action  by  making  the  idea 
■tronger :  b«t  it  could  not  ba*e  thit  eticct  at  all  if  it  were  oot  of 
tbe  nature  of  all  pain  when  forcteen  by  the  mind  to  produce  a 
tendency  thai  way,  that  it  to  cvcilc  iTerHon,  and  a  will  to  prevent 
it,  howceer  ttight  ibit  may  »omeiime«  be.  Tbe  aophitm  vtuch 
larks  at  tbe  bottom  of  iliit  latt  objection  Kcina  to  be  the  confounding 
the  idea  of  Rilure  pain  a«  tbe  cauie  or  fflotire  of  acuoo  with  the 
after -rellectioo  on  that  idea  aa  a  po<ati«c  thia;i,  itKlf  tbe  object  of 
action.      Finding  in    many  caaet  that   the   fitit   apprehention  aixl 


ON  THE  PfilNClPLBS  OF  HUMAN   ACTION 


RiomcBUry  fetr  of  danger  vnu  gtiee  bjr.  bm  that  the  reaM>n  for  avoid- 
ing it  «tUI  rtnuiitnl  the  umc,  the  mind  would  be  Ruily  led  to  (cek  for 
tbc  tnw  caoM  of  actioa  in  Mamhiag  inoTe  fixed  and  pennuKttt  thao 
flic  ftMtiag  idea*  of  mnotc  object!,  and  to  reqoire  thai  every  object 
whether  of  deaire  uc  arrraon  ahottld  have  totat  airaogef  birid  ob  the 
individiul  than  it'«  momeoiarjr  effect  oa  hit  imagisation  befcrc  it 
becarae  m  object  ai  tetimii  [>iirauit,  or  the  coainry.  B«  in  reject- 
ing the  ideas  cf  thingi  a>  tfacnucire*  the  nkiinate  groondl  and  {iropcr 
objecu  of  actioa,  and  rdrning  the  mind  to  the  tfainga  tbetnaelrcs 
a*  the  only  tolid  ba«ia  of  a  ratiooal  and  durable  intereat,  what  do 
w«  do  bat  go  back  to  the  lint  direct  idea  of  the  object,  which  aa  it 
rcftneota  thzt  object  it  aa  diatinct  Itori  any  accoadarf  retlectioD  o<i( 
or  oblique  coBtciotuocaa  of|  itaelf  aa  an  abaolute  thing,  the  object  of 
tbooght,  aa  a  aenaatioD  can  be  diiTertot  from  an  idea,  or  a  prcaeot 
imprctaicin  fhm  a  futeic  one.  There  it  nothing  in  the  forcgomg 
theory  which  bai  aay  tendency  to  oTettum  the  fundameotal  dia- 
tinctioof  between  truth  and  blaebood,  or  the  conunoo  metboda  of 
judging  whit  ihctc  arc:  all  the  old  bovndariea  and  bnd-marka 
rcmab  jwa  where  they  were.  It  doei  dm  aurcly  by  any  mewu 
follow  because  the  reality  of  future  objccu  can  only  -bc-jaiigHi .  of 
b]r  tbc  aiiod,  that  Uierefocc  it  kia  no  power  of  disdaguaifailicJlfiS^ca 
the  probtble  cooiequcncei  of  tbingi.  ami  whxi  g:io  octct  bapqicii, 
that  It  i*  to  take  ciciy  impuUe  of  will  or  fancy,  for  truth,  or  becaaae 
faure  obfect*.CMact.Mtjauna-llifcjaiad-ttniii  idifaout,  that  therefore 
our  ideaa  caaiiot  have  ai^  re&rcacc  to,  or  properly  rcpreMot  ^we 
plijcct*,  or  anyitiiag  cxtcrsal  to  tbc  Blind,  hut  muat  couiat  entirely  in 
the  Gon»cioua  cootemplaiion  of  thefiweliva. 

There  i*  atKMhcr  feeling  in  a  great  meaaure  the  lame  with  ihc 
Ibrmer,  but  diaiinguiiihtble  from  it  and  nill  mora  Urongly  connected 
wkh  n  lenae  of  iclf-iRtrrcn,  lumely,  that  of  cootuMed  peraoBal 
identiiy.  Thi*  hai  been  already  iteucd  of:  I  thall  here  reanme 
the  cjocatioD  once  for  dl,  aa  it  ti  on  thii  that  the  chief  tUVM  of  the 
argnment  lie*.  The  child  M«io£  hirawlf  in  dasher  of  the  file  doea 
not  think  of  hia  pr»cM  aod  future  self  as  two  dittinci  bcingi,  but  aa 
one  and  the  tame  being;  he  ii*  it  were /rsff^i  himwlf  forward 
into  the  future,  and  i<I^ntiliei  himKlf  with  hi*  future  being.  He 
know*  that  he  ihall  feel  hi*  own  future  pleaaurct  ukI  paios,  and 
that  he  muR  therefore  be  m  much  intcreatcd  in  ihcm  aa  if  they  were 
prrtont.  I  n  thinking  of  the  fiturv.  be  dora  not  conceive  of  any  change 
aa  really  taking  jixce  in  himwif,  or  of  any  thing  imcrmcduRe  hrtweea 
hit  preaent  and  ititure  being,  but  consider*  lii)  future  tenuiiooi  aa 
affecting  that  very  nme  conaciout  being  in  which  he  imw  fcela  such 
an  anxiout  and  unavoidable  inierect.     Wc  aay  that  the  hand  which 

412 


ON  THE   PRINCIPLES  OP  HUMAN   ACTION 

th«  child  matche*  bnck  from  the  lite  U  the  unie  hood  which  but  for 
hit  doine  bo  would  the  next  mument  be  exposed  to  the  non  exceiufe 
pitio.  But  ibit  i*  much  more  true  of  that  tnwud  coDsciouR  principle 
which  ilonc  connccK  ihc  iuccomtc  momenu  of  our  being  together. 
Hid  of  which  all  our  outward  orgnn*  arc  but  iDitrumcnU,  iiulijcci  to 
perpetual  changrH  both  of  aciiort  and  nitTcring-  'I'o  make  the 
oiAprcnce  of  time  the  roundation  of  aa  eMcntial  distinctton  snd 
complete  separation  between  hi>  presem  and  future  briag  as  if  ihia 
were  the  only  thinR  to  be  uitcnded  to,  it  to  oppOK  an  unmcaoiDg 
sophiim  to  plain  nutter  of  fact,  since  raetc  dinance  of  time  doei 
nof  dcHroy  indiriduality  of  coniciouincni.  He  i*  the  s»me  conicioui 
being  now  that  he  will  be  the  next  momeDt,  or  the  next  hour,  or  « 
month  or  a  ytnf  hence.  Hia  interctt*  at  an  individual  M  well  u  hit 
being  muBt  tlierefore  be  the  Mtnc.  Ai  teatt  tfaif  must  be  the  case  M 
lonft  Hi  he  retaiot  the  conBcioumcBB  of  hi*  past  impreagions  connect' 
iag  tbcm  tofcether  in  one  uoiform  or  regular  train  of  leelinjt :  for  the 
iiiicrruptioD  of  thit  ttax  of  continued  identity  by  ilevp,  iDattention 
or  oiberwite  Beem*  from  it**  being  afterward*  renewed  to  proie 
the  point  more  clearly,  af  it  *ccmB  to  ihcw  that  there  ia  tome  deep 
iowud  principle  which  icniaiiu  the  same  in  tpite  of  nil  particular 
tcddentjl  changeB. 

The  child  doei  no  doubt  consider  himtelf  a*  the  same  bein^,  or 
aa  directly  and  alxolutely  intereited  in  hit  own  welfare,  as  iar  xt  he 
can  diitinctly  fomce  the  cont>e^uencc«  of  thing*  to  himielf.  But 
this  very  circumwancc  of  his  identiiying  himself  with  his  future 
being,  of  Feeling  for  this  imaginary  self  as  if  it  were  incorporated 
with  his  actual  Bub^iaoce,  and  weighed  upon  the  pulses  of  his  blood, 
is  itBcIf  the  itrongett  iniiancc  that  can  be  girea  of  the  force  of  the 
inuginatioD,  which  the  advocaiet  of  the  Klliih  hypotheti*  would 
repreient  as  a  faculty  entirely  powerless. 

No  one,  I  should  think,  will  be  ditposed  Krioutly  to  maintain  ihst 
this  future  imaginary  Bclf  it,  by  a  kind  of  mciaphy*ical  transubitaD- 
tiatton,  virtually  embodied  in  hi«  present  bciag,  so  that  hit  future  im- 
prettiont  are  indirectly  communicated  to  him  befotc^hand.  For 
whalcter  wc  may  imagine,  or  believe  concerning  the  BuhsULnce  itself, 
or  elemenuiy  principle  in  which  thought  it  aupno«ed  to  reside,  it  i* 

Elaiu  that  that  principle  at  acted  upon  oy  external  objects,  or  modified 
y  particular  uctmil  thoughts  and  feelings  (which  alone  can  be  the 
motive)  of  action,  or  can  impel  the  mind  in  ihit,  or  that  direction) 
it  perpetually  changing ;  and  it  it  also  plain  that  the  change*  which 
it  has  to  undergo  at  any  time  c^n  have  no  pottible  effect  on  thote 
which  it  has  previously  undergone,  which  may  be  the  cause  indeed 
but  cannot  be  the  tfftet  of  nbacquent  cbqiijM.     luthii  Bcntejthe 

419 


/ 


on  THE  PK1>CIPLE»  OF  BC3IA3(  ACTIOX 


ON  THE  PRINCIPLES  OF  HUMAN   ACTION 


or  imjr  inaoDCT  :  and  I  conceive  ttut  h  U  do  (treat  ureuh  of 
necuUtirc  refinemcBt  to  in*M  that  wjthoui  ioioe  nuch  oiigiml 
ncaity  of  bebg  tmmediateiy  ai^Ktecl  by  h»  ftntirc  icnutionj  more 
|}un  by  ifiotc  of  athm,  hu  tclaiioo  to  hi*  fatnrc  iclf^  whaicvef 
tlui  nay  be,  cutMX  be  ctucte  the  Cout^xiioti  of  hit  luTing  a  real 
poutJTC  iatrrevi  in  hi*  fuiare  welfare  which  he  hai  not  in  that  of 
otfaen.  A  gcDcral,  or  abttraci,  of  reflex  iaiercat  in  any  olijectt 
'  itApliei  either  a  pte*iout  pmitive  interest  b  that  object,  or  a  natural 
capacity  in  the  miml  to  be  affected  by  it  in  the  nunner  Ri»en.  Thu« 
I  may  be  taid  to  pursue  anjr  object  from  a  ^eocral  ioteicst  in  it, 
thougb  it  excite*  no  interest  oc  cinolioo  in  my  miod  at  the  litoe, 
when  I  do  thix  from  habii,  or  when  the  impretMoo  hai  been  (o  often 
repeauo  a«  to  liare  p.'ovi'jrcd  a  niccluniu]  tendency  to  the  pnrwat 
of  the  object,  which  hat  do  need  of  any  new  impiiuc  to  rxdte'it. 
Or  the  tame  thing  may  be  nid  with  refrrcoce  to  my  geoeral  anuie 
a*  a  voluntary  aseni.  Thii  implies  that  the  obiect,  in  which  1  am 
mppoted  to  be  inceretted  without  being  lenDble  of  tt,  !«  b  iuelf 
inlertitiar  to  tne,  that  it  i*  an  objeel  in  whtcfa  I  can  and  mun 
flcce«urily  be  iniercRcd,  the  nKXnent  it  it  Itnown  to  roc ;  that  I  am 
imerewed  generally  io  that  wbok  cUu  of  objectt,  and  noay  be  uid 
tu  be  inietcMcd  in  thit  inchiiieely.  To  so  farther  than  thii,  and 
•ay  that  the  mind  as  the  repreaeoutiTe  of  truth  ii  or  ooji^t  to  be 
tntcFefted  in  things  u  they  are  really  and  trulv  iotcreuin^  in  ibcro- 
felrcs  without  an;  reference  to  the  muioci  in  wbich  they  immcdiatety 
alTect  t!>c  individual,  ii  to  de«roy  at  once  the  foundation  of  c»eey 
pindple  of  Kl£ahacHi  which  uappotct  that  all  objects  arc  good  ot 
bad,  desirable  or  tlie  cootrary,  aolely  from  their  cooaection  with 
•elf.  But  I  am  tired  of  repeatieg  the  ume  thing  to  often  :  for  *  aa 
to  thoae  that  will  not  be  at  the  pdat  of  a  little  ihoufiht,  do  muhiplica- 
lion  of  woedi  will  eeer  suffice  to  make  them  understand  the  truifa  oe 
rightly  conceive  my  meaning.' ' 

To  return.  Eeeo  if  it  were  possible  to  establish  *ome  mch  pre- 
ponoMW  coaiKctioo  between  the  uunc  indindnal,  as  thai,  by  lirtae 
of  thi^  coonccuoB.  his  future  »enuiians  abonld  be  capable  of  traas- 
mtuaa  tfadr  wliefe  m^glli  and  efficacy  to  hit  prneiM  in^»e«. 
•Dd  of  elothiq|  ideal  mxivc*  with  a  borrowed  reality,  yet  tKh  ia 
the  oaMK  of  aO  icDHiiDB,  of  afaadmc  exiweoce  aa  to  be  boompatihle 
with  nlnMary  actaon.  How  (bould  the  reality  of  my  fiKnre  inlereat 
in  any  object  be  (by  antidpatioD)  the  reason  of  my  hariog  a  real 
ioicecst  ID  the  purrait  of  that  object  at  Bretent,  when  if  it  really 
existed  i  could  no  lon^t  poriuc  it.  The  feelings  of  detire,  a*ei«ion, 
&c.  comiecied  with  Toliuuary  aciioa  rouai  always  be  excited  by  the 
>  Bekcle/i  Esujr  aa  Viii«& 

4'S 


t\-a-f^ 


I    frJIt 


««< 


3 


ON  THE   PRINCIPLES  OF  HUMAN   ACTION 


^. 


v^/ 


idn  of  tlw  object  bdore  it  eu«»,  vxl  nun  be  touily  incoiMiacnc  with 
any  luch  itiiefeM  a*  betoa)tt  to  actual  laJFeHng  or  cojofincQi.'  The 
iatemi  beloogmg  U>  any  woaaiioa  or  ml  object  ai  «uch(  or  which  ariKi 
ai  ooc  may  uy  from  the  6aai  abaondon  of  the  idea  in  the  object 
caaiMK  have  any  relatloD  to  an  actjre  ta  Toluoary  interest  which 
aecMnrily  impliei  the  diijaoction  of  these  two  ihingc  it  cannot 
therefofc  be  the  originaJ,  the  pireet-Mock,  tiK  mIc  aad  abtolute 
fouodaiica  of  ao  tnterctc  which  it  tlefiocd  by  it'a  coftoectioo  wilb 
vokotary  actiua. — Stjil  it  will  be  nokl  tliat  however  dillkult  it  may 
be  to  cxpbin  ia  what  thii  cooiitit,  ihefc  is  a  jitinciple  of  Mrac  sort 
or  other  which  coostamlj  connect*  ut  with  ourKire),  and  make* 
each  indindual  tfae  nine  perton  diadnct  fioro  etery  one  cite.  Aad 
certainly  if  I  did  mc  tbinfc  it  poKiihtc  to  account  Ratiificiorily  for 
the  otigia  of  the  idea  ofaelf,  aod  the  infliience  which  that  idea  hat 

00  oar  actioM  wttboot  Ioo«rnins  the  foundation  of  the  roregoing 
Raaooin{[it  I  thould  give  them  up  without  a  quettiooi  m  thetc  i«  no 
ieaM>niȣ  which  can  be  uTdy  oppotcd  agaioat  a  commoQ  feeling  of 
Lumu  nature  left  unexplained,  and  without  abewiag  in  the  cleareK 
mauMi  the  ground*  ftoni  which  it  nuy  have  ari»cn.  I  «hall  pTOceo3~ 
to  (talc  (r«  far  hi  !«  n«ccMary  to  the  pmciu  arguiDcnt)  io  what  the 
Une.Dptioo  of  perHMiat  idestity  appeu*  to  me  to  codHK;    and  thi> 

1  belieru  it  will  be  eaiy  to  shew  dependb  entirely  on  the  cuntinucd 
^conocction  which  lubstus  between  a  man'i  puA  aotl  pmeot  feetioja 
-Ud-BMi  vif-e  vtriii,  on  any  preiioui  connectkm  between  his  (inure 

radJua  preMOI  fcelingi,  which  in  abiurd  and  impowble. 

Every  humatt  being  ia  distinigintiied  from  every  other  human  being, 
ixith  numerically,  and  cfaaracicriitkally.  He  mutt  be  numerically 
distinct  by  the  nppoaitioo:  oiherwiae  he  would  not  be  another 
indiriduol,  but  the  same.  There  ii  however  so  contradictioa  in 
•uppocing  two  individnab  to  potaeaa  the  lame  absolute  wopcttiea: 
but  then  ihcae  original  prapertie*  must  be  diSereotly  modified  after- 
ward* from  the  nectiMy  difference  of  their  (ituattoot,  or  we  rouM 
ttpnoac  them  both  to  occupy  the  tame  relative  utuatkw  in  two 
diffwci  »y«eni*  correapondtng  exactly  with  each  other.  In  bci 
CTcry  Ode  b  found  to  differ  eMcntially  from  every  one  eltc,  if  not 
in  ori^oal  properties,  in  the  circumnances  and  eventa  of  their  liTc« 
and  GoaaeqacM  ideaa.  In  thinking  of  a  number  of  iadiiidnalt,  I 
cooceivc  of  them  all  at  diiTcring  in  vanooi  way*  from  one  aiMdier 
aa  well  a«  from  myaelf.  They  differ  io  •tie,  in  complexion,  in 
femuca,  in  the  expreatioo  of  their  cocotenaiKe*,  in  af>c,  in  the  ercnta 
and  actiona  of  their  liret,  in  aiiuatioQ,  in  knawlcdj<r,  io  temper,  in 
power.  It  it  ihii  perception  or  apprchention  of  their  real  diffcrcncet 
Sec  pace  ]9i,  »m4  the  roUe*iat  f^V- 

4l« 


ON  THE  PRINCIPLES  OF   HUMAN   ACTION 


that  flm  «t»blci  rae  to  diuisguUh  xht  M*enl  individual*  of  thir 
apecin  ^m  each  other,  and  chat  icemi  to  give  riie  to  the  mow 
gKwtal  idea  of  indiridualicy,  at  mirctcnting  lirit  poiitire  ouinber, 
and  secondly  ihc  >um  of  the  dif!c(cace«  between  one  being  and 
another  as  they  craily  cxiai  in  a  greater  or  Icm  degree  in  luiurct 
or  at  tbey  would  appear  to  exiti  to  an  inipattial  spectator,  or  to 
a  pcrftcily  intelligent  being.  But  /am  not  in  reality  more  dilfcrcn< 
from  (ithiTD  thai)  any  one  individual  is  from  any  oilier  individual  j 
Deither  do  I  in  fact  suppose  myself  to  diifer  really  fioni  them  othet- 
wrisc  than  a«  they  diaer  from  eucb  other.  ^Vhat  ii  it  then  that 
nukci  the  difference  greater  iv  mt,  or  that  makes  me  feel  a  greater 
dilTerencc  in  passing  from  my  own  idea  to  that  of  any  one  else  ihan  in 
paadog  from  the  idea  of  an  indilfercnt  person  lo  that  of  any  one  ciac  ? 
Nather  my  exifting  as  a  separate  being,  nor  my  dinering  front 
others  is  of  itself  luiiicient  to  constitute  pcrsooaltty,  or  give  me  the 
idea  of  self*  since  1  might  perceive  others  to  exist,  and  compare  their 
actual  differences  without  ever  having  thii  idca^ 

Farther,  individuality  expresses  not  merely  the  absolute  difTerence, 
or  distinction  betweeo  one  indlridual  and  another,  but  alio  a  relation, 
ot  comparison  of  that  indlridual  with  itself,  whereby  wc  affirm  that  it 
is  in  some  way  or  other  tlie  same  with  itacif  or  one  ihinx-  In  one 
sente  it  it  true  of  all  existences  whatever  that  they  ate  the  tome 
with  tbemselvea,  that  is  they  ate  what  they  are  and  not  something 
else.  Each  thing  is  itself,  it  is  that  individual  thing  and  no  other)  i 
and  each  combinniion  of  things  is  that  combinaiion  arul  no  other^  | 
So  alto  each  individual  is  ncce«sarily  the  same  with  himself,  or  in 
other  words  tliat  combination  of  ideas  whicl)  represents  any  individual 
pciM>o  in  that  combination  of  ideas  and  not  a  diiferent  one.  This  is 
^  the  only  true  and  absolute  identity  which  can  be  affirmed  of  any 
being )  which  it  is  plain  docs  not  arise  from  a  compariion  of  tbc 
diSiereoI  porta  compoting  the  general  idea  one  itith  another,  but 
each  with  itself,  or  all  of  them  taken  together  with  the  whole.  1 
canoot  help  ihinlcbg  that  some  idea  of  this  kind  is  frci}uently  at 
tbc  bonom  of  the  perplexity  which  is  felt  by  most  people  who 
are  not  metaphysicians  (not  to  mention  those  who  are}  when  they 
arc  told  that  the  man  is  not  the  same  with  himself,  their  ootioo  of 
(dentity  being  ibat  be  ts  the  same  with  himictr  in  as  far  as  he  is 
pontively  difFereot  from  every  one  else.  They  compare  bis  present 
L  existence  with  the  present  existence  of  othen,  and  his  continued 
existence  with  the  continued  existence  of  others.  Thui  when  (bey 
say  that  the  nuui  is  the  same  t>cing  in  general,  they  do  not  mean 
that  he  is  the  same  at  twenty  that  he  is  at  sixty,  but  theii  general 
idea  of  him  includes  both  these  extremes,  and  therefore  the  same 

VOL.  rii. :  1  D  41 7 


.1 


'.*, 


..v>^ 


5 


»  m 


ON  THE   PRINCIPLES  OF  HUMAN   ACTION 

afring  «nj  rp^ct^p^  on  cac.b  other,  of  Kting  Conjointly  upon  othct 
tEiDgi  or  of  bebg  aciixl  upon  by  them.  To  ptc  an  uuunce 
which  juat  occuii  to  aic.  Su|>]hmc  there  *rc  two  ftold-^cadcd  onei 
tuniiinj;  logciher  io  the  comer  of  the  room.  1  i>(  couiitc  conudet 
each  ol'  tbciti  a  the  ume  caoe.  Thit  it  not  Iram  the  limilarity  of 
the  gold  to  the  wood.  But  the  two  gold-head*  together  woakl 
not  if  taken  olf  At  all  aniwrr  the  purpo«e  of  a  cane,  and  the  iuro 
CAne»  together  would  be  inorc  than  I  should  want.  Nor  is  it  umply 
from  the  contiguity  of  the  parts,  (for  the  cAoe^  thcniteltn  ar« 
SiqipOKd  to  touch  one  uiothcr)  but  from  their  beiDjt  no  united 
thit  by  mottof[  Any  part  of  one  of  tliem,  1  of  neceMity  more  the 
whole.  The  cUweit  coanectioo  between  roy  idea*  t*  formed  by 
that  relation  of  things  among  themiiclvcii,  which  i*  moat  neccaaiy 
to  be  aiicndol  to  in  making  lue  of  them,  the  common  coocurrtnoe 
of  many  things  to  tome  gircn  end :  for  example,  my  idea  of  the 
waJking-MJcIt  it  dciincd  by  ihc  timplicicy  of  the  action  neceuary  to 
wield  it  for  that  particular  purpow.  Howet-cr,  it  »ccn)»  hardly 
poMiblc  to  ddinc  the  dilTcmit  degree*  or  kind*  of  id«)C)iy  in  tJie 
the  t^inie  thinj;  by  iny  gcecril  rule.  Thus  wc  lay  the  uioe  Uec, 
the  Kaine  fore«1,  the  nnie  riTci,  the  tame  field,  the  nmc  countrv, 
the  lame  world,  the  Mme  man,  Sec.  The  nature  of  the  thing  will. 
be*l  point  out  the  ncnw  in  which  it  it  uid  to  be  the  aame.'  I  am 
not  the  «ame  thing,  but  many  different  thingi.  ']*o  intitt  on  abwluir 
limplicity  of  nature  u  CMentia]  to  individuality  would  be  to  destroy 
all  iodi (id uglily :  for  it  would  leid  to  the  luppoMlioo  of  aa  many 
diatinct  indJTiaualt,  at  there  are  thonghls,  filing*,  action*,  and 
'  The  mm  of  iht  nutirr  i>  ihw.  .Iii-liii-lualiiy  niiy  nlite  tiihcr  lo  ibtoliiu 
'  y,to  the.  i'lenlity,  ot  ■ini)i«u>  nf  ihr  piri)  nt  iny  ihini;,  or  tn  *ii  fitnoi-liiHrjr 
[  of  <aaiMctian  b«»««i  loinp_  n*'ih(t  thf_«ime  nor  (rmiltr.  Thi«  Ittt 
'SrtHi^iiitiia'iait  iTie  pwill't  at  ftf  ih*  yaiA,  ii  Irail  ullh  rnpcci  to 
iDkn,  ■ml  ulhei  arnolit-l  bcint;!.  [Id<i«-<  Ihc  (nin  ii  hai-llf  cvtr  ipplini  to  other 
thingt  in  eummnn  linrua|[r.)  When  I  ipcik  of  ihc  •Maroit  between  one  inill- 
viftiial  ind  inolhrT,  rbi>  mull  rrtfcr  ukiitutelj  to  l)je  #jnt  of  tuefa  conne<l>on 
brtwtm  lh«m,  or  to  (n)>  percHvinf  that  ■  nomber  of  thinfit  tr«  to  eAnneclr.i  m 
it  have  *  tnuluil  mil  iotitnil*  depntdenc*  on  one  mother,  making  one  iniliviilRil, 
anit  (hit  thty  ire  to  dnoMHriW  with  a  nnmbtr  of  other  ihinft  »  not  to  hive  the 
Iron  habhual  -lepaidence  upon  or  inllDence  onr  them,  which  mikn  them  two 
'Ijitmct  tn<liti<JijAli.  A>  to  the  other  iliitincEioDi  between  oqc  Lndividiki]  mil 
tnolhcr,  Damrly  thoM  of  aDmlwr  anil  propcriiei,  the  6iu  of  ibnc  luteitu  m 
nrccmtlly  bclwtin  ihe  prt*  of  the  IndivUtuI,  t*  between  one  iniliviitual  iml 
inodirr^  mil  the  veconH  frequcally  labi^vBi  io  i  much  ^tttr  degrre  bciwecn 
Ihote  patlt,  thin  belivMn  riiflnrnl  iadiviiluili.  Two  -tiitintt  itxtividoila  an 
cnlaioly  oevtr  be  the  «m«  i  thtt  ■•,  lUfipoainK  the  number  of  ptrta  in  eoch 
ip-liviiJual  lo  be  U  10,  10  tan  never  make  lo.  Bui  neilhtr  (in  lo  cvor  be  dikIc 
into  an  unit ;  ao  that  wc  ahonl'l  hax  leo  ui<llviiluili  iDite.nl  of  one  by  Inaiating 
on  the  ibtolute  JiillnctioD  of  numbtri.  When  I  My  thetcforc  ihti  one  ioril- 
viihial  dilFtn  ftoni  inuther,  I  muit  be  uri'lcTttaO'l  by  implidliiin  to  mean,  in  Miae 

4 '9 


ON  THE   PRINCIPLES  OF  HUMAN   ACTION 


propenin  id  tbe  rnne  being.  Each  tfaoagki  wQutd  be  a  cqnrate 
cooaciowans  ^'^^  organ  a  ililfnviii  (pKm.  [Uch  tfaongbt  it  « 
diltiiKl  tliiag  in  nuure  ;  >nd  maay  of  my  thougbca  imut  more  ttnrljr 
nimble  tbe  tbongba  of  othcra  thaa  tbcjr  do  my  own  WBaiioaat 
for  iHUBoei  whicfa  sercnbdn*  aw  coatiiatd  at  a  uut  of  tbe  Mme  - 
being.  A<  to  tbe  cootiaued  itleatity  of  the  wboK  being,  that  ii 
tbe  coaUBued  KKntbUnoe  of  my  tbongfatu  to  my  prmow  tboughta, 
of  my  KDUUoot  to  my  pienoat  ■cnubocu  u>d  to  oo,  thit  don  oot 
by  any  meanE  define  or  circvm«cnbr  (he  iodmdiul,  for  we  may  aay' 
in  tbe  none  manner  that  the  Rpccics  also  is  going  oa  u  the  uaw  time, 
and  eoatiMie*  tbe  lanic  tbit  i;  wu.  It  it  occtMsry  to  determine 
what  coottiurtet  tbe  bame  iodividoal  at  wne  ^tea  moment  of  tinie 
before  we  cut  say  ibai  he  t-sMonw/  the  lame.  Neither  don  the 
rclatjoo  of  cxate  and  cSect  detennme  the  puiot :  the  father  of  the 
cbiiA  it  oot  the  child,  nor  the  child  the  father.  In  iht«  caae  tbcrc 
it  an  obvioM  rcawo  to  the  contrary  ;  but  wc  make  the  »me  dixinc- 
tion  where  a  ])ropec  tuccctaion  take*  pUce  and  the  craac  it  ectirtly 
__lo»  in  the  ctTect.  We  thoidd  hardly  extend  tbe  idea  of  klcBtity 
to  tbe  child  before  h  liaa  life,  nor  i«  the  By  the  tame  with  tbe 
catcrpittar.  Here  vrf  a^ain  recur  to  likcneu  as  nsratial  to  idcniitv. 
But  to  proceed  to  a  more  particular  account  of  the  ori^o  of  our  idea 
of  self,  which  it  thit  rctatioa  of  a  tbUktng  being  to  ittclf.  Thit 
CM  only  he  known  in  the  firat  iaMance  by  a  cooadooancat  of  what 
pMSet  in  oar  own  miodt.  I  tbotdd  lay  then  that  penonality  doc* 
cot  ariae  cither  from  the  being  this  o^  <bat,  &ora  tbe  ideatitv  of 
the  lhiIIktI^;  being  with  iiaelf  at  different  ttmca  or  at  the  lanie  time, 
or  (till  led  Irotn  neing  unlike  othert,  which  it  not  at  all  neceuary  to 
it,  but  from  the  peculiar  connection  which  nbaiti*  betwccti  the 
dilTercai  faculiir*  and  perception!  of  the  tame  contciou*  being,  con* 
nituted  at  man  it,  to  thai  at  the  •ubjcci  of  liic  own  relle<nion  or 
cootcioutneM  the  tame  thingt  imprtMcd  oo  any  of  htt  facultte* 
nroditce  a  quite  dtScmt  eflcct  upon  bim  frum  what  they  would  do 
if  tbey  were  impreaKd  in  tbe  tame  way  oo  any  other  being.  Pcrnn- 
,j^JQ  teem t^  to  oc  nothing  more  than  contcioiu  individoalit*  ;  it  Tt 
the  power  of  percciting  that  you  arc  and  wliai  yon  are'Irom   the 

wf  la  which  ihi  putt  tl  ihit  tn^JTH— I  do  mi  «iftc(  (toot  etch  other  at  Mct  bjr 
tmf  mnmt  io  (Ik  tiiac  dcgm.    Tbo  atiad  it  homtcr  titrandy  tpl  t«  faiHa  ■■ 
Ifct  4iil»iti«t  of  onoikT  tmA  pBfwtit  wlon  thty  co^aM  with  thi  laLi  1 
^iWiftiwi,  and  tlontl  lotM  m|^I  of  ibttt  daliiKlMat  batmn  tliui(>  that  hnv ' 
t  lerjp  clnac  connccliMi  with  Mth  othtr.     Whta  ihtrtfart  wt  in  rla  tr   ih* 
dliOKtiDiu  of  BrnDbcf  u<t  fnpcitin  la  «(r  MEtaat  of  the  diffnvnoe  bctwaoa 
ooc  ladJ»iaMl  iiul  BioitHr,  tkii  ua  aalj  he  true  in  oa  tloaUte  tcalc^  tad  mi   K  , 
k  kc  BBBI  ta  impl;  ilui  itic  wne  iliatoMiluiu  os  not  raiM  !■  iht  mmt  iDdntaaaL^ 
— Tbs  aGCOOBl  it  ilUfttliR  ««iy  crole  ind  muitiibctory. 
4X0 


ON  THE  PRINCIPLES  OF  HUMAN   ACTION 

tmmcdiaic  reflection  of  the  mtoil  on  it'i  own  operations,  icnutiona, 
tx  idcAs.  It  cannot  be  alfected  in  tlie  tame  direct  maoner  by  the 
im|)reMiont  and  ideal  exUib£  tn  the  minds  of  other* :  otherwiie 
they  would  not  be  w  many  distioct  mtndi,  but  one  and  the  ume 
mind  ;  for  in  this  tence  the  nunc  mind  will  be  that  in  which  dilfcrenf 
idea*  and  facultic*  hare  ihU  immediate  comffiUQicMion  witb  or  power 
of  acting  aod  telling  upon  each  other.  If  to  thiiwradd  the  tclatioii 
of  (sch  as  inward  conscious  principle  tu  a  certain  material  subBt>iicc> 
with  wtdcb  it  has  the  same  peculiar  connection  ind  intimate  sympathy, 
this  combination  will  be  tlie  tame  perwn. 

The  fiiible  irapremon  of  a  mnn'i  own  form  doe*  not  convev  to 
him  the  idea  of  pc/ionaliiy  any  more  than  that  of  any  one  cue; 
bccauv  ai  objects  of  nighi  they  arc  both  equally  obviou*  and  male* 
the  Mmc  diiect  impreMiOB  on  the  eye ;  and  the  tntemal  perception 
is  in  both  case*  equally  incotnmuDicable  to  any  other  being,  it  is 
the  impinging  of  Oihtr  object*  ag^osi  the  different  parts  of  our 
bodieit  or  of  the  bodv  agiintt  itself  so  ai  to  alTect  the  seoic  of 
touch,  that  extend*  (though  perhaps  somewhnt  indirectly)  the 
feeling  of  perMnal  identity  to  our  external  form.  The  rciison  of 
which  is  that  the  whole  c!ai*  of  tangible  imprcwionsi  or  the  feelingt 
of  heat  and  cold,  of  hard  and  soft,  &c.  connected  with  the  applica- 
tion of  other  material  substance*  to  our  own  bodies  can  only  be 
produced  by  our  immediate  contact  with  them,  that  is,  the  bodv  is 
necessarily  the  instrument  by  which  thrtc  scnuaiion*  arc  conveyco  to 
the  mind,  for  they  cannot  be  conveyed  to  it  by  any  impression  made 
on  the  bodiei  of  others ;  whereas,  u  an  object  of  sight  or  where  the 
body  in  general  acts  from  without  on  that  particular  organ,  the  eye, 
the  impression  which  it  excites  io  the  mind  can  affect  it  no  otherwise 
than  any  similar  impresiioo  produced  by  any  other  body  must  do. 
Afterwards  no  doubt  the  visible  image  comen  in  to  confirm  and  ^ve 
ditfinctnes*  to  the  imperfect  conclusion*  of  the  other  aenae.' 
,  It  is  by  comjaring  the  knowledge  that  I  hare  of  my  own  ilDpCO- 
■ion*,  idu«,  feelings,  powers,  Sec.  with  my  knowledge  of  the  same 

I  1  rtnwmbcT  >  uetj  wnMwhere  in  the  Aribiin  Nighu  of  s  man  «j(h  s  sllvtr 
(hi(h.  Why  (SI17  ODi  *  fsblc  ttm  for  id  illuilralian  at  w<U  U  any  lhiii|  cist  I 
Mftiphyiics  thcmteltc*  ^rc  boi  >  'frif  romance.  N&w  suppoM  this  tni|h  ta  hivv 
bnti  fndurJ  wilh  ■  power  of  tcnulTOo  and  to  haws  antwnv4  mrj  oltm  pdtpew 
of  >  real  thijih.  Whit  ilil^rraco  <*«ul<l  this  make  in  its  oulwiH  sfifrusDn 
either  Id  tii«  mio  himiclf  or  to  my  mm  tlK  f  Or  haw  by  ntuif  of  tight  wouU 
be  kauw  it  to  U  Hi  thigh,  more  ihan  it  wi*  i  tl  VDiiU  icill  took  juH  tikt  what 
it  diJ,  t  lilvrr  thigh  inil  oolhlng  more.  Il't  impnttlon  on  the  ejr  wcutd  not 
Acftd  on  il'a  being  a  tamttt  labaUner,  on  k*i  hanng  ti^  to  it,  or  bring  connrelcd 
irilh  lh<  aimt  conicioDi  principlt  la  lli(  ejpr,  but  on  il'a  bcia(  i  liublc  tobalancr, 
that  it  hariag  taiinstap,  l!(arc,  and  colour, 

4>' 


k 


05  THE  rmtss€trhMs  or  hitmax  achoss 


K    i 


♦M 


ON  THE  PRINCIPLES  OF  HUMAN  ACTION 

or  conununtcaud  to  any  other  bcbg.  The  umc  Mtuaiion  nuy 
inJefd  be  excited  in  mother  by  the  lamc  rocanf,  but  thin  tentation 
iloes  not  imply  any  reference  to,  or  contciousoeai  cf  mine:  there  it 
no  ctimmunication  between  tuy  nerve*,  and  another**  brain,  by  meant 
of  which  he  e»tt  be  aHectcd  with  my  teniaiiooi  at  I  am  mytclf. 
The  only  notice  or  perceplioD  which  another  can  hate  o\  thit 
Knsation  in  nic  or  which  I  can  hnrc  of  4  fimilar  tentaiion  in 
another  it  by  means  of  the  imagination.  I  caa  form  bd  imagioary 
idea  of  that  pain  aa  existing  out  of  myteif:  but  I  can  only  feel  it  ai 
a  KQiaiion  when  it  it  actually  impreued  on  myielf.  Any  inipreMion 
made  on  another  can  neither  be  the  cauae  nor  object  of  Bcnsitioa  to 
me.  The  impreMioo  or  idea  left  in  my  mind  by  this  tentatton,  aod 
afterward*  excited  either  by  teeing  iron  in  the  tame  itale,  or  by 
any  other  means  in  properly  an  idea  of  memory.  Thit  idea  necei- 
aarily  refert  to  tome  prrvioue  imprcsiion  in  my  own  mind,  and  can 
only  exist  in  conteqtience  of  that  imprc«aioo :  it  cunnot  be  dcrircd 
from  any  imprcinon  made  od  another.  I  do  not  rrmrmirr  (he  fectifigt 
afany  one  but  mytelf.  I  may  remeriiTJcr  the  objccui  which  mutt 
liairc  cauted  tuch  or  tuch  fcehnga  in  oihert,  or  the  outward  tigni 
of  patiion  which  accompanied  them :  these  however  are  but  the 
recollection  of  my  own  immediate  iraprnnonE,  of  what  I  taw  or 
heard;  and  I  can  only  form  an  idea  of  the  fcclingt  themtclTcs 
after  they  ha*c  ceased,  at  I  mutt  do  at  the  time  by  meant  of  the 
imagination.  But  ihouj-.h  we  ahimld  take  away  all  power  of  imagina- 
tion from  the  human  mind,  my  own  frehngt  mutt  learc  behind  them 
cenAio  trace*,  or  rcpretentaiiont  of  ihemnclTet  reuioing  the  tame 
properties,  and  baring  the  Ktrac  immediate  connection  with  the 
contcioua  principle.  On  the  other  hand  if  1  with  to  anticipate 
ay  own  future  feelio^a,  whitercr  thete  may~Be,  I  must  do  so  by 
meana^^the  tame  faculty,  by  which  I  conceive  of  those  of  others 
wEether  pact  or  future.  I  have  no  dicdoct  or  separate  faculty  00 
which  the  events  and  feetingt  of  my  iiituTe  beinc;  are  imprened 
beforehand,  and  which  ihewt  a*  in  an  inchanted  mirror  to  me 
snd  me  alone  the  rcrerscd  picture  of  my  future  life.  It  it  abnird 
to  suppose  that  the  fcclingK  which  I  am  to  bate  hereafter  should 
excite  cenun  correspondent  impretsiona,  or  nreaentimentt  of  them- 
selves  before  they  exttt,  or  act  mechanicaUy  upon  my  mind  by 
a  secfet  sympathy.  I  can  only  abstract  myieJf  from  my  present 
being  and  take  an  isleteti  in  my  future  being  in  the  tanic  sente 
and  manner,  in  which  I  can  go  out  of  roytcif  entirely  and  enter  into 
the  minds  and  feelingi  of  others.  In  short  there  neither  it  nor  can 
be  any  principle  betanging  to  the  individual  which  antecedently  gives 
bim  titc  same  sort  of  connection  with  his  future  being  that  he  has 

4*3 


ON  THE  PRINCIPLES  OP  HUMAN  ACTION 


alrrady  tx'mt  u  »o  object  of  nente,  nor  t)u«  to  hare  beeo  whlcb  hu 
alrtady  vxUtcd,  and  U  become  an  object  of  oicmory.  NcKhci  can  1 
will  a  tbiog  Doi  to  be  which  actually  «xisth  or  that  wbich  haa  really 
exiated  not  to  _have_  been.  The  only  proper  object*  of  loluntary 
action  arc  (b}-  Dccctiiiy]  foiun.'  eientt:  trie«e  can  excite  no  |>ouibl« 
iDterctt  m  the  nticd  lim  by  meant  of  the  intagioatton ;  aod  tbeae 
nuke  the  «anic  direct  appeal  to  that  faculty  whether  ihcy  relate  lo 
ourtclrcs,  or  othcm,  u  the  eye  rKeiivi  with  e<|uat  directne*t  the 
imprewiion  of  our  own  cxiemal  form,  or  tlmt  of  otheri. 

It  will  be  easy  to  pecceiTc  id  th'it  niafiocr  how  D0iwitIi4UDdi^g. 
the  coQlrndiclioa  involved  in  the  Buppoiitlun  of  a  )^cii<.'ral,  abtolutc 
self-iotercit,  the  mind  comei  to  feel  4  deep  und  habitual  coDviciioii 
of  the  truth  of  ibU  opinion.  Feeling  in  hielf  a  continued  conKioua- 
neM  of  it't  jiut  imprctsiont,  it  ii  naiuiatly  ditpoicd  to  tronufcr  the 
»ame  »ott  of  identity  and  consciousnn*  to  the  whole  of  k't  bcine, 
as  if  whatever  !*  nid  generally  to  belong  to  itit//  mutt  b«  innejarehTe 
from  it'i  very  exialence.  A*  our  actual  bring  if  constantly  paiwing 
into  OUT  future  being,  and  carriet  (hit  internal  feeling  of  contcioufneu 
along  with  itt  we  teem  to  be  already  identified  with  our  future  being 
in  that  permanent  part  of  our  nature,  and  to  feel  by  anticipation  the 
lame  *ort  of  neceuary  lympathy  with  our  future  aelvea,  that  we 
know  we  ihall  have  with  our  put  tclve*.  Wc  take  the  tablctn  of 
memory,  [CTer»e  them,  and  stamp  the  image  of  wlf  oo  that,  which 
aa  yet  poueues  nothing  but  the  name.  Ii  it  no  wonder  tlien  that 
iheimaginaiion  conttantlv  outsirippin]{  the  pro/tew  of  time,  when 
it*i  cnune  ii  marked  out  along  the  strait  unbroken  line  of  individuality, 
should  confound  the  necestarv  differences  of  thin|;s,  and  confer  on  my 
future  inierctts  a  reality,  and  n  connection  with  my  ptctent  tcclinga 
which  they  can  never  have.  The  interest  which  is  hereafter  to  be' 
felt  by  ihtt  continued  conscious  being,  this  indefinite  unit,  called  mf, 
teemt  oecnMrily  to  alTect  me  in  every  part  of  my  exiitcncc.  In  the 
firii  place,  we  abstract  the  succesaive  modilicationt  of  our  being,  and 
particular  temporary  intecetia  into  oik  simple  nature,  and  general 
principle  of  self-interest,  and  then  make  use  of  this  nominal  abstraction 
u  an  attificial  medium  to  compel  ihooc  particular  actual  interest*  into 
the  same  clow  affinity  and  union  with  each  other,  ai  dilTerent  lines 
meeting  in  the  umc  centre  mutt  have  a  mutual  cammunicaiion  with 
nch  other — On  the  other  hand,  an  I  always  remain  perfectly  disiinct 
from  others,  the  interest  which  1  take  in  their  past  or  pretent  feelings 
bein/  (like  that  which  I  lake  in  their  future  feelbgg)  never  any  thing 
mole  th.in  the  e^ect  of  imagiaatioD  and  sympathy,  the  tanie  illuiion 
and  prcpottetouB  tranapostlion  of  ideari  cannot  take  place  with  regard 
10  them,  namely  the  confounding  a  physical  impolte  with  the  rational 

4*5 


uO.* 


ON  THE  PKINCIPLES  OP  HUMAN  ACTION 


ID  propottioB  u  we  Icdow  from  long  ■cqaiiBaocc  wtui  ihr  tuotrc  af 
that  irrVui^t  h,  ud  that  arxt  to  OttrsrlTn  we  luvc  tbe  sraqgnl 
■Uadbmcnc  to  our  inmedutr  rtliurrt  and  friead*.  wtio  from  thb 
ittCKOauuMty  of  feelinit*  and  ntuatjooa  may  note  truly  b«  aatd 
U>  be  a  part  of  antnclre*  thao  from  tbe  tie*  of  blood.  Moreover 
a  ntao  rnsit  be  employed  more  coatmBally  in  prondiog  for  hi*  own 
waaci  ar>d  pleatnrca  than  thoic  of  ocbrn.  In  like  maanet  be  ta 
employed  in  {irondiag  for  the  uniacdUse  welfare  of  hU  family  and 
ccaacccioiia  much  nwrc  ihaa  in  ponding  for  the  wcUare  of  tbotet 
who  arc  not  bound  to  hin  by  any  |xmi*e  tiea.  And  we  coaaeqocsily 
^nd  that  iheHtenbODt^^ae  aad  foias  beMowed  oo  thcte  xmral  objecta 
mir  bim  a  ptoportiaoaUe  decree  of  anxiety  about,  and  attachment  to 
St  own  istcreat  aad  that  of  iboae  coBSccied  with  him,  but  it  wopld 
be  abcnrd  to  cooclndc  thai  hit  affraiotu  arc  thrrcfiMc  drcuiruicnbcd 
by  a  utBfal  ncccHtty  wtthb)  cxttaio  limu*  which  they  catuwt  psia*, 
aSitt  ID  tbe  one  caac,  or  b  the  other.  Thia  general  cooaectioa 
between  the  pnxaiiit  of  any  obicct  aad  our  habiRial  intereat  in  il 
will  ako  acotNCDC  for  tbe  w«t]-lu>own  obaenatioa  that  tbe  affection 
of  pamu  to  cbildrcD  i>  tbe  itrotigeK  of  all  other*,  frequently  even 
ovrrpovTting  aelf'taee  iueif.  Thia  fad  t«  bowcter  iacaonatent  ] 
with  the  nippotnaoD  that  tbe  social  affection*  are  all  of  ibem  nkimately  > 
to  be  dednced  from  awociatioa,  or  tbe  repeated  coasection  of  the 
idea  of  iome  other  pcraon  with  iininediate  wlfiah  graiificatiofl.  If 
thii  were  the  csk,  we  lanai  feel  tbe  Mroogtst  attachment  to  tboae 
from  w^KMi  we  bad  receJTed,  ioatead  of  ihoae  to  whom  we  had  done 
the  greatot  nmnAer  of  kindnetaea,  or  where  tbe  greaiett  quantiiy  of 
acKo  cojoymeoa  bad  been  ataociwed  with  aa  iadinefent  idea.  Jufiina 
hM  remarked,  thai  frieadabip  ■  not  eoocBiated  'by  tbe  power  at 
conferring  beoe^  bw  tbe  e^vality  wth  which  tb^  arc  ttccieed, 
aad  nay  be  rettimed.' 

I  hare  fattberto  fonottiy  avoided  aayisg  any  duog  oa  tbe  anbjtct 
of  our  pbyiical  netitea,  aid  the  maaioer  in  which  they  nay  be 
tlm^ht  to  aCect  the  principle  of  the  foregoing  ""ling*.  They 
cndaKiy  aeen  at  firrt  aigbt  to  contradict  the  general  wcliion 
wbidi  I  bate  eodcnonred  to  eaiablidi,  aa  they  aO  of  then  tend 
cilfcer  exclDMtdy  or  priacipnlly  to  the  pauficaiiaa  of  tbe  indieidnaJ, 
aad  at  the  noH  tioM  rdct  to  aoane  finwe  or  ioupnary  object  a*  tbe 
aosrce  of  thia  grarificirioo.  The  unpnlae  which  they  ^i*e  to  the 
wiQ  it  mechanicrit  and  yet  ibii  impulte,  blind  »%  it  ■*,  conatamly 
teodi  to,  aad  eoalcacea  with  tbe  pomnt  <if  *otnc  rational  cad.  Thx 
ia,  here  ia  an  end  aimed  a:,  the  deaire  and  regnlar  MrMat  of  a  known 
good,  and  aB  thii  prodoccd  by  tnotivct  endca^  necbnical,  aed 
which  BCfcr  impel  tbe  miad  bat  id  a  aclfiih  dirKnOB.     It  make*  no 

♦»7 


'•'-^- 


0%  THE  FBDCCirLES  OF  HrXA3K  ACTT09 


t 


■•"»_' 


R  ft  «^  «•  I 

rfiirrrfcjipjyw, 


ON  THE  PRINCIPLES  OF  HUMAN   ACTION 


I  mean  tbe  textul,  where  the  cntilication  of  the  ume  poMion  in 
another  u  the  mctin*  of  gnufyiog  our  own,  that  oar  phydco) 
KOiibility  stimulate*  our  »ym[Mlhy  with  the  dcure*  of  the  other 
KX,  and  OD  the  other  hand  this  feeling  of  mutual  fiympathy  tncrtJtea 
tbe  physical  dc«irct  of  both.  Thi«  is  iodccd  the  chief  foundntkio 
of  the  lexual  [nUNon,  tbou;;h  I  believe  that  it'*  immediate  and 
ilnerminiog  cauw  depend*  upon  other  principle*  not  to  be  here 
lightly  touched  on.'  It  wotiul  be  easy  to  shew  from  many  things 
that  meic  appetite  (generally  at  least  in  reasonable  beings)  is  hut 
the  fragment  of  a  self-moving  machine,  but  a  sort  of  half-organ,  a 
suboidiiuitc  iDfttiamcnt  ei'cn  in  the  accomplish nieot  of  it's  own 
purposes  i  tluit  it  docs  little  or  nothing  without  ilie  lid  of  another 
bculty  to  inform  and  direct  ii,  I'here  an  tereral  ttiiking  eximplea 
of  thii  giren  by  Rousseau  'ai  relaiiog  tbe  progress  of  his  own 
passions.  (Sec  (he  fint  volume  of  his  Confcsiioni. )  Before  th« 
impulie*  of  appetite  can  be  converted  into  the  regular  pursuit  of  a 
given  object,  thcj'  must  first  be  communicated  to  the  under tianding, 
ud  modify  the  will  thioutb  that.  Consequently  as  the  desire  of 
the  ultimate  gratification  of  the  appetitt  it  not  &e  nmc  with  the 
appetite  itself,  that  is  mere  physical  nocuinaw,  but  IB  bdircct  result 
of  its  conimunicaiioo  to  the  thinking  or  imaginative  principle,  tbe 
influence  of  appetite  over  the  will  must  depend  on  the  extraordinary 
degree  of  force  and  vividness  which  it  gives  to  the  idea  of  a  particuw 
object ;  and  accordingly  we  find  that  the  same  cauie,  which  irriutct 
the  desire  of  selfish  gratification,  increases  our  sensibility  to  the  same 
desires  aud  gratification  in  oilicrs,  where  they  are  coniistcnt  with  our 
own,  and  where  tlie  violence  of  the  pJiysicaJ  impulse  docs  not  over- 
power  every  other  consideration- 
Make  the  most  of  the  objection, — it  can  only  aj^ly  to  the 
dnerminations  of  the  will  while  it  is  subject  to  (be  groat  inB««ae« 
of  another  faculty,  with  which  it  has  neither  ilic  same  nataral  ditec* 
lion,  nor  is  it  in  general  at  all  controuled  by  it.  Xbc^ ^ucition  which 
1  have  proposed  to  examine  is  whether  there  is  any  general  principle 
of  sclfishnvsa  in  the  human  mind,  ur  whether  it  is  not  (uturally  ais- 
btcrcsted.  Now  the  effects  of  appetite  are  so  far  from  being  any 
confirmation  of  the  first  supposition,  that  we  are  even  oftener  betrayed 
by  them  into  actions  contrary  to  our  own  weJl-knowo,  clear,  and 
lasting  interest  than  into  those  which  are  injurious  to  others.  The 
* iJiott -lived  pleasure'  and  tlic  'lastin;;  woe'  fall  to  tbe  lot  of  the 
sume  being.  —  I  will  {rite  one  more  example  and  then  have  done. 
A  man  addicted  to  the  pleasurei  of  the  bottle  it  lets  able  to  govern 
this  propensity  after  drinking  a  certain  quantity  and  feeling  the  actual 

'  %€*  Pr«&«  to  Woritiworlh't  Po»mi. 

+a9 


oat  THE  TUsmanM^  or  arMAX  Ai 


4»  M  taa  to 

4»  M  oi^  n*  1«  JM.  yet  Ad  kM 
flf  U>  ^>rjc  *e  £»  (MM.  A>     ~ 

«f  wisMt,  or  ife  WM  (bea  of  hif  ova  < 

flf  UMl^ind  ■  hope  iif  MiiiiBn,  !■  !!■  i1iiiB|JiIi  miiI  flusdsaf  ad«T 
MB.    InHadbcrIk>dka9nadi4*Me(A«bcihHn&M»(dK 

Sf  Ifat  Smv  of  Nmmk)  bM  pot  iM0  lie  MOMll  ^  a  MfpOMd 

iW  La«  JadfMtoii  aad  «nt  abammAt  led  on  bf  mmt[ 

MOM  M  odwr  (0  eoMider  tfae  ^aesiaB  wtehg  it  eanU  |nperif , 

he  mid  to  be  M  act  of  Wnae  in  asjr  ooe  to  na&oe  hi>  «wii  fiul 

10  tb«  of  any  «bcf  pen**  or  naMbw  of  [— "— t  tf  in 

ponible  fer  tbr  mw  rm  to  br  aadr  At  price  of  ihcodMCi 

wifymt  tf  vcw  My  ows  citr    t bif  it  wot  la  oy  paver  to  nac^ 

Ivmiy  oilkcf  pcTiow  by  folMUfuy  cociirtiuii^  to  nflcr  tor  Thtm  t 

450 


ON  THE  PRINCIPLES  OF   HUMAN   ACTION 

why  aboold  I  Dot  do  1  gettcnm  thing,  Acd  ncrrr  trouble  nyKlf 
about  what  migbt  br  the  coOK4ittn*.-«  to  m^r^^lf  the  Lord  koowB 
when  i — The  mMO  why  a  nun  should  prefer  hU  own  future  wcl&re 
to  that  of  olhere  is  tkil  he  haa  a  neccsuty,  abaohite  intnctt  in  the 
one  which  he  cannot  hjve  in  the  other,  and  uutMaiii  is  a  conirqueacc 
of  hit  being  alwiys  the  ume  inditidual,  of  hia  continued  identity 
with  him»cir.  The  dilTcrence  I  ihought  waa  thit,  thai  however 
inBniiblc  I  may  be  to  my  own  intercut  at  any  fuinrc  period,  yi-t  when 
the  time  comcii  1  shall  feel  differently  sboui  it.  1  shall  then  judge 
of  it  from  the  actual  impreasioo  of  the  object,  diat  is  truly  and 
certainly ;  and  as  I  shall  still  be  conscious  of  mv  past  liKlinga  arid 
ihall  bitterly  regret  my  own  folly  and  intetuibiuty,  I  ought  as  a 
rational  agent  to  be  deicmuncd  now  by  what  I  ahall  then  with  I  had 
done  when  1  (hall  feci  the  conae<|ucnccs  of  my  Ktioox  moat  deeply 
and  teotibly.  It  i*  this  continued  consciousneaa  of  my  own  feelinip 
which  i^ves  me  an  immediate  iniereai  in  whatcter  relate*  to  my  future 
welfitfc,  and  makes  me  at  all  times  accountable  to  myself  ftw  niv  own 
conduct.  As  therefore  llus  coDsctouscets  will  be  renewed  m  me 
after  death,  if  I  exist  a^ain  at  all  — But  nop — At  I  mmt  br  comcioua 
of  my  past  feelings  to  be  myself,  and  as  this  cooaciout  being  will  be 
myself,  how  if  that  con>ciouir>eu  should  be  tranofrtrcd  lo  some  other 
beinf;.'  How  am  I  lo  know  that  I  am  not  impotcd  u|>on  by  a  false 
claim  of  identity  ? — But  that  ii  ridiculous  because  you  will  have  no 
ether  self  than  that  which  arises  frum  (hit  rery  conKiouanei*.  Why 
then  thi*  self  may  be  multiplied  in  at  many  dilfcrcnt  bciogi  a*  tbe 
Dciiy  may  think  proper  to  endue  with  the  same  contciontnets,  which 
if  it  can  be  renewed  at  will  in  any  one  innance,  may  clearly  be  so  in 
an  hundred  others.  Am  I  lo  regard  all  these  as  c<]U3]|y  mytelf? 
Am  I  equally  intereitcd  in  the  fate  of  idl  ?  Or  if  I  must  £x  upon 
•ome  one  of  tliem  in  particular  at  my  reprcacncatiie  and  other  self, 
how  am  I  to  be  determined  in  my  choice? — Here  tlien  I  taw  an 
end  put  to  my  ipcculaiions  about  atwolute  telf-interctt,  .-ind  personal 
identicy.  I  taw  plainly  that  the  oanKiootncH  of  my  own  feeling* 
which  it  made  the  foundation  of  my  continued  interest  in  them 
could  not  extend  to  wh.ii  hnd  never  been,  and  might  never  be, 
th.tt  my  identity  with  mytrit  must  be  confined  to  the  connection 
between  my  patt  and  present  bein^,  tliat  witli  respect  to  my  future 
feelings  or  iotetcstk,  they  could  have  no  communic;iiion  with,  oi 
inlluence  otcr  my  present  feelings  and  intercstJi  merely  bccauw  they 
were  future,  that  I  shatl  be  heieafier  affected  by  the  recollection  oif 
my  past  fKlingi  and  action*,  and  my  remorse  be  et^ually  heightened 
by  rcRectaog  on  my  pMt  finlly  and  laic-«arncd  wisdom  whether  I  am 
really  the  same  being,  or  have  only  the  eamc  consciousness  renewed 

43' 


^ 


ON  THE   PRINCIPLES  OF   HUMAN   ACTION 


I. 


in  rae,  bat  tfau  to  MpytMe  thM  tku  rcmarie  can  react  m  tbe  rrvcne 
order  on  ny  praot  fcrfiogt,  or  {ire  ne  »  iaanedine  iatcfwtt 
Ht  my  fvure  fcringi,  beSon  a  cxi«»,  it  aa  cxp(««  coocradictaoo 
to  urmt.  It  can  ooij  ilfcct  nw  4«  as  iaugiaary  idea,  or  an  Uea 
of  trath.  Bet  to  may  the  iatemta  o^  others;  and  tbe  qocKua 
propoaed  wa*  whviha  1  have  not  tome  real,  oecearafyt  abaolnte 
uuntt  ia  «hair*er  relAm  to  my  fiinirc  bang  in  cODaetjiKiKe  of  tny 
immediate  oouKCtioa  wiifa  myaelf,  independeotly  of  the  genrtal 
iMfteatioa  which  all  poatifv  ideaa  have  on  my  miad.  How  then 
CHI  thia  prateoded  oaitf  of  ooMcinowieM  which  i*  only  rafleoed 
froan  the  pax,  which  make*  me  m>  little  acquainted  with  the  fmatc 
that  I  cannK  etea  tdl  fer  a  momeiii  bow  long  it  will  be  coaciiMwd. 
whether  it  will  bt  cfttirtly  iatcmipced  by  or  reaewed  ia  me  aftar 
death,  aad  whidl  ni^  he  mvlttplted  Jo  I  doo't  knew  how  ^aoy 
ditfereoi  beings  uul  ^roIoa;«ed  by  cootplicated  aaflcnnga  withooa  my 
betog  any  the  wiKr  tor  it,  how  I  ay  cao  a  principle  of  this  aort 
ideotify  my  pmcnt  wkh  my  fiitcrc  intcrcui,  aad  make  mc  aa  tsoch 
a  pantcipator  in  what  doe*  not  ai  all  affect  mc  u  il*  it  vcfr  actually 
iaipteMcd  oo  my  aeoK*^  It  i*  plaia  aa  thta  coaaciona  betajc  may 
be  decompounded,  eotireiy  dcatroyedi  renewed  again,  or  multiplied 
in  a  great  oumber  of  beiagi,  aad  aa.  whacbcrer  of  iheae  taJie*  place, 
it  caoaot  produce  the  leaM  alteration  b  my  feeient  bcin^  that  what 
I  am  doci  not  depend  oo  what  I  ten  to  op,  and  that  there  it  ao 
commuDic^on  between  my  hiivre  interest*,  uid  ibe  raodic*  by 
which  my  peetent  coadoct  mait  be  gorcTDcd.  Thit  can  do  more 
be  iitfleenccd  by  what  may  be  my  future  feeliaga  with  reapeci  to  it 
than  it  will  then  be  poaaible  for  me  to  alter  ray  part  condHci  by 
triihiBg  that  I  had  acted  difleraitly.  I  cannot  therefore  have  a 
princniw  of  active  aelf-iMcrett  arnmg  ou  of  the  immediate  cooncc- 
doo  between  my  preaent  aad  lunirc  lelf,  for  no  aach  ceoaectioa 
cxitta,  or  ia  poanbte.  I  am  what  I  am  in  apite  of  the  lutuv.  My 
feclingf,  action*,  and  iotemu  imm  be  dctcnniord  by  came*  alreacly 
exiuing  and  acting,  aod  ate  abvolutdy  iedcpendcoi  of  the  fiitBre. 
Where  (here  i«  not  an  iDterconiTtraaiiy  of  fcelin;;!!,  there  can  be  oe 
ideotity  of  bteretta.  My  perwaal  btereai  in  any  thing  muat  refer 
dtber  to  the  interett  excited  by  the  acnaal  imprtwioa  of  the  obloct 
which  cannot  be  feh  before  it  exiatt,  and  caa  taat  no  looyr  tarn 
while  the  impcctnon  lattc,  or  it  nay  refer  to  the  particular  aaaaet 
ia  which  I  tm  mechanically  a0ected  by  the  Uut  of  my  own  tmpmaiaaa 
ia  the  flhtcncc  of  the  object.  I  can  therefore  have  ao  proper  peratwal 
iatereai  in  my  loturc  impreuions,  liace  neither  my  idns  ^  foture 
object*,  not  my  fcdiagi  with  reaped  to  them  cui  be  exdtcd  cither 
directly  or  indirectly  by  the  imprcinona  ibemtelfc*,  or  by  aay  ideu 
4J* 


4 


ON  THE  PRINCIPLES  OP  HUMAN   ACTION 

^jg  fcdingi  KcoinpainriDg  them,  wilbiMit  a  complete  tnn^)o«itM»i  of 
the  order  in  whkh  cnVcu  follow  ot»c  another  in  lutvrc. — The  only 
KMoa  Tor  mj  prrfrmng  siy  Ivturc  intctm  to  lh«l  of  other*  nwit 
ariM  from  my  antidptiag  it  with  greater  waimth  of  p(c*c&[  iaugini- 
tion.  It  \»  tliii  greater  livdlDets  and  force  with  which  1  can  eot«r 
into  my  (iniire  feelifl|p,  that  in  a  maoDcr  i(l«ntilie«  thetii  with  my 
prcMot  betDji  and  thit  ootMo  of  identity  bang  aaoe  formed,  ibc 
mind  make*  n*c  of  it  to  cireqgtben  n't  habotna]  pcopensity,  by  giving 
to  pertoiul  motive*  a  reality  aod  abaolote  truth  which  they  can  ocTct 
have.  Hence  it  hat  been  inleTred  that  my  real,  luWanml  interott  in 
any  thiM  molt  be  derivrd  in  *ome  indirect  manner  from  the  impreMioo 
of  the  object  itself,  a»  if  that  could  bare  any  Mtrt  of  conunuaicatioo 
with  my  pr«*eM  fecliag»i  or  excite  any  iniereu  to  my  mind  bat  by 
mean*  of  the  imacinataoo,  which  is  naturally  adccted  in  a  certain 
manDcr  by  the  prot^cct  of  futore  good  or  erQ. 


foi-  vn.  I  s  ■ 


431 


fi 


REMARKS 


ON 


IE  SYSTEMS   OF    HARTLEY  AND   HELVETIUS 

I  FiHb  I  owe  the  rradrt  two  cxpUnstiont,  onr  r«lBtiiij[  to  the  u*ocia- 
tion  of  ideas,  from  which  Hartley  tad  other  writer*  hjtve  deduced  the 
origin  of  all  wur  affcctioos,  even  of  telMovt  iuelf,  the  other  relating 
to  the  tnecL-iDJcal  iiriociple  of  Klf-inierest  itated  by  HeNctiua.'  It 
vu  my  firn  inicntion  to  hate  f;ivcD  at  the  eod  of  the  preceding  emy 
a  geticra!  account  of  the  nature  of  the  will,  and  to  hart  tritd  at  leatt 
to  dig  down  a  little  deeper  into  the  (bundation  of  human  thoughu  tad 
action*  thun  I  have  hitherto  done.  At  preteni  I  have  laid  ande  all 
thought*  of  thii  kind  a*  I  have  neither  time  nor  ttrength  for  n:ch  an 
undertakiaf;  i  ind  the  most  that  I  *h*1I  attempt  i*  to  poim  out  *uch 
contradiction!  and  dilliculties  in  boUi  thetc  lyxtemt  a*  may  leiwfi  the 
weight  of  any  objcetioni  drawn  from  ihem  against  ihe  ooe  I  hare 
Btated,  and  leave  the  atgumrnt  a>  aboTc  explained  in  it'*  original  force. 

To  begin  with  the  doatinc  of  Rinnciation. 

The  general  principle  of  astociation  a*  bid  down  by  Hanley  ii  ihiai 
that  if  any  given  *en*a(ioo,  idea,  or  nioiion  be  for  a  number  of  limn 
cither  accompanied,  or  immediately  followed  by  any  other  KTi*aiioB» 
idea,  or  muBCuIar  motion,  the  recurrence  of  the  one  will  atrcrwaid* 
ncchiinically  give  riae  tci  that  of  the  other.  By  nmrrLiifff /e/hnMd 
I  mean  tlettly  folhu'id :  for  luppooc  A  to  be  auociated  with  B,  and 
B  with  C,  A  will  not  only  produce  B  and  C  iDtermcdiately,  but  will 

I  I  do  not  mnn  ihti  tldvfijni  wii  ihr  Am  who  csneeivrd  thi  hfpotbMh  htre 
tpukcn  of  (Fat  t  i\o  doi  think  he  hiil  wil  enough  to  fiitrnl  rrcn  *a  inttftwa* 
■titurlilji)  but  It  wM  lliiough  Iiim  1  bcllex  ihsl  thi>  notion  hii  ittaloH  I*** 
pmrat  popuUiily,  tnd  in  Ttiate  purlicularly  il  hai  harl,  t  im  ntUin,  ■  wrry 
grnrtil  infliicncr  on  (he  nalionsl  chsnclar.  Ii  wm  broufhl  forwiirt  in  the  otoii 
forciblr  manner  by  ihr  uiitrn  of  ihe  l»t  ctntory.  an-l  ii  i>  cipteMly  (UttJ,  ind 
cl»rty  iniwrmi  by  Biihnp  Bulirr  in  ibc  Preface  lo  hii  Strtnoni  >■  iht  Ralli* 
Chi|*l.  Alter  Berkeley'!  Emy  on  Viiion,  I  <Jo  not  koow  o[  my  wnrk  bttm 
uaith  <he  itlenliua  of  iboie  who  wuuM  lejin  to  think  itiin  iheie  uKU  roeta- 
phyiicil  Dlacounei  fiei<hcil  at  the  RvtLt'  Chapel. 

43+ 


SYSTEMS  OF  HARTLEY   AND  HELVETIUS 


in  time  produce  C  immnliMdy  without  ibc  intcrvcnuon  of  B.  A 
math  etna  Qci  an  would  [Mrthsp  hcrr  ask  how  tliii  can  ever  be  actually 
proved  :  Tor  though  it  teciiiH  rcaioiuble  to  «uppo«e  that  the  bflumce 
of  A  if  it  vxtcod  to  D  should  alto  g,o  a  little  farlber  to  the  next  idea, 
ind  join  iodirectly  and  tccreily  with  B  io  producing  C,  yet  u  the 
connection  between  A  and  B  muK  be  luonger  than  Jiat  betwcea  A 
and  C,  if  in  any  cane  the  connection  between  the  fo(mer  become 
gradually  to  weakened  an  to  dissolve  of  iltelf,  the  latter  muu  fail  of 
courae,  and  therefore  C  can  never  follow  A.  except  whco  B  itandt 
equirocalty  betweeti  them.  Thi»  question  would  go  upon  the  *up- 
jiotiition,  tnat  B  und  C  muit  alway*  be  impreariont  of  exactly  the 
same  kind  and  degree  of  siiengib,  which  ii  not  the  ca«e.  A,  though 
more  remote  from  C,  may  yet  be  more  intimately  connected  with  it 
than  with  B  from  letera!  other  causes  from  the  greater  «renBth  of 
the  impresoion,  from  t-imilarity,  Stc.  (Thia  implici  by  the  bye  thai 
the  etiect  of  associatioD  depends  on  the  conjuociioa  of  many  ciicum- 
it3Dce»,  and  principles  of  aciion,  and  is  not  simply  determined  by  the 
relation  of  proximity  or  remoteness  between  our  ideas  with  reipeci  to 
dme  or  place.)  Thus  if  a  pcrion  hai  done  a  number  of  good  ■ 
action),  which  have  been  ob»ervcd  with  pleasure  by  another,  thi» 
approbation  will  be  afterward*  a«tociatc\l  with  the  idea  of  the  person, 
and  the  recollection  of  the  benevolent  disposition  which  gave  birth  to 
those  actions  remains  when  the  particular  manner  in  which  it  wai 
exerted  is  forROtten.  Fit*t,  becau»e  the  frelitie  is  the  principal  ' 
or  strongest  circumstance.  Secondly,  the  atcocution  of  our  idea*  ■ 
with  moral  qualities  is  evidently  auistcd,  and  forced  into  the  same 
eenerat  direction  by  the  simplkity  and  uniform  character  of  our 
feelings  compared  with  the  great  variety  of  things  and  actions,  which 
makes  it  impossible  to  combine  such  a  number  of  distinct  forin^  under 
the  same  geneial  notion. 

What  I  hare  here  stated  is  I  beliere  the  whole  extent  and  compass  j 
of  the  law  of  association.     It  ba>  been  said  thai  thii  principle  is  of' 
itself  sufficient  to  account  for  all  the  phenomnu  of  the  human  mind, ' 
and  is  the  foundation  of  every  rule  of  morality.     My  dc«igo  ia  to 
shew  that  both  these  assertionK  are  abooluiely  faUe,  or  (bat  it  is  an  ^ 
absurdity,  and  an  express  contradiction  to  aupposc  that  sMOctaiion  it 
either  the  only  mode  of  operation  of  the  human  mind,  or  that  it  i< 
the  primary  and  most  general  principle  of  thoujtlit  and  action. — But 
first  of  all  it  will  be  necessary  to  consider  the  account  which  Hartley 
himself  ba*  gieen  of  this  principle  as  depending  on  the  mechanical 
communication  of  motion  from  the  icat  of  one  idea  to  that  of  tbe 
next  and  to  on,  according  lo  a  certain  local  arrangement  of  ihne 
<  kUaa  ia  the  brain,  u   certainly  if  thought    ia  c^ried  on  in    this 


HEMv\RKS  ON  THE 

nuooer,  ihtt  i«,  by  mcafla  of  fibtaiioof,  h  u  dJiBcdt  to  conceits  of 
it**  being  prodiKtd  by  iny  other  mcaoi  thu  the  accidental  juiiling  of  J 
thew  one  ai^aiait  the  other,  which  it  wkM  it  meant  by  auocinitoo. 

There  are  two  or  tlitcc  gcivctiJ  obtcrrvioni  which  will  be  of  usci 
ia  cooductioji  at  tbrou{;li  ihii  ini^uiry.     In  the  titic  place  it  appnr«* 
H>  me  certain  that  every  impresnon  or  idea  it  uioduced  to  auch  « 
taaaaa  at  to  ilTect  or  be  perceived  by  the  whole  brain  at  ooce,  or  is 
innsciliaie  tucoewion,  that  is,  before  the  actioo  cca«ea.     Foi  if  we 
■Dppow  ■  certain  degree  of  retembliDcc  to  wbiiBt  between  two  ideaa, 
the  pcrceptioo  of  the  one  will  always  be  rare  to  exdtc  a  recollectiooj 
of  the  other,  if  it  ut  at  all  worth  rememberbg.     I  mean  for  innaiicc  ] 
if  a  perton  »houtd  in  totuc  cirange  place  nidJcoly  tev  ui  exccUcnC 
picture  of  (heir  dead  father  or  motber,  I  tuppoK  there  can  be  fw 
doubt  but  the  picture  would  call  up  the  memory  of  the  perton  wboml 
it  reienibled  with  an  initintAneau*  and  ifrcHtttble  force.     Now  thisj 
could  not  alwayn  happen  but  on  the  tuppotition    that  the  vinblei 
impreMioo  of  the  picture  waa  conveyed  to  every  part  of  the  btain,  an 
otherwise  it  muat  be  a  mric  accidcoi  whether  it  would  ever  come  to 
contact  with  that  part  of  it*  where  that  dii>tinct  tet  of  rvcollcctioMj 
wat  lodged  which  it  wan  calculaied  to  excite.     Ii  h  evident  that  thi 
force  with  which  the  imprewion  of  the  picture  acu  upon  the  mind  it] 
tuUequmt  to  the  recollection  of  the  likcnetii  and  not  the  cauK  of  iM^A 
tiacc  the  picture  of  any  other  pcifion  would  act  phynically  upoa  my] 
mind  in  the  same  muBoet.     It  may  be  worth  tenurking  here  that 
the  itrcneth,  or  habitual  or  recent  recurrence  of  any  ideii  nuke*  it 
more  eaaily  recollected.     I  might  tec  a  picture  of  a  perton  whom  I 
had  not  oncn  iren  and  whoac  lace  did  not  nt  atl  tntereit  me  at  tlie 
time  without  recollecting  whotc  it  was  though  the  likencM  thoaU  be 
never  to  great.     The  frequent  recurrence  of  the  inutstion  on  the 
othei  hand  if  Jthu  bad  Tt'«  usual  effect  rcndcrt  the  recollection  of  the 
object  lew  certain  or  at  any  me  Ictii  vivid  etery  time,  till  at  latt  what 
remain*  of  it  it  entirely  loat,  and  coofuundcd  with  the  imitation.' 
Again,  it  it  alto  certain  thai  the  proximity  of  the  pad*  of  an  object 
10   one   aoothcri  or  of  one   object  to  another   object   ia   of  itcelf  a 
sufficieot  and  necc*«nry  rea»oci  tor  their  recollection  to  tucce«ioa  or 
toftether,  in  the  tame  order  in  which  they  were  actually  perccifecl. 
Unlet*  (hi*  were  ilie  caac.  we  could  never  rccollea  any  thmjt  at  a)l«  , 
at  every  object  la  neceatarily  compoacd  of  prta,  and  thote  again  of 
othera  without  end.     Now  how  are  we  to  reconcile  this  with  th«l 
first-mentioned  inference  thnt  thought  it  uniformly  and  neceuarilyj 

'  No  iloubl  thr  pictntt  ii  itwayi  lookcil  al  wiih  ■  very  •IIITcrcM  (tcltoc  ftaalt 
what  It  wuuld  liave  been,  if  tbe  jilej  o(  the  pertoD  hid  otvef  becD  4intMtly 
aaucialdl  ailh  IL 

436 


SYSTEMS  OF  HARTLEY   AND   HELVETIUS 

communicaMd  to  twy  pan  of  Uie  thinkby;  nubitancc  i  If  thought 
ii  [iroduced  in  such  a  maoner,  that  the  ihock  it  jfnmediaieljr  felt  in 
(hoac  paitm  neatctt  the  teat  of  the  individual  impre«*ion,  and  i«  indeed 
■ute  to  cxdic  thought  in  ihem  without  c<rer  alFcciing  the  remote  putt 
of  the  biain  in  the  nine  manncf,  it  teemt  itrnngc  that  it'*  own  com- 
munication over  the  whole  brain  should  be  m  rapid  and  cert^o,  while 
the  force  with  which  it  is  sent  along  (ib  implied  tn  its  conlinMl  power 
of  produdog  other  ihoujthis  by  simple  impulae)  it  lo  unctiua). 

The  reader  will  I  hope  bsTe  the  good-nature  to  pardon  some  iocon- 
nitencies  of  exprewion  in  Irestiiig  of  thi«  tubject.  In  order  to 
ditprovc  the  theory  which  I  am  combating  I  matt  firit  astume  it's 
truth,  and  00  on  talking  of  tit  itali  of  our  Lkai,  ilie  £fimi  fartj  af 
lit  irain,  lie  tcmmimiration  of  ihoughl  by  mpuUt,  tUL,  till  it  is  clearly 
■hewn  that  the  hypothesis  to  which  all  thcK  expressions  refer  it  in 
reality  good  Ibr  noihinj;. 

Though  I  do  not  see  my  way  out  of  tlie  dilemma  here  stated,  and  I 
find  I  have  eogagetl  in  an  uadiTT^kinj;  1  im  nut  equal  to,  I  think  I 
have  seen  enough  of  the  difficultiei  belonging  to  it  to  be  able  to  reject 
the  Hanldan  hypothctis  ai  directly  incompatible  with  a  fair  and 
compreheniive  ricw  of  the  subject.  For,  first,  it  hu  been  shewn 
above  that  every  ides,  or  perception  is  commnnicated  to  all  the  pan* 
of  the  brain,  or  to  the  whole  sentient  principle,  whatever  this  i* 
smiposed  to  be.  Or  the  same  thinf;  might  be  shewn  ftom  the  oaturc 
of  conscionsnetc.'  That  there  t«  some  faculty  of  tbia  sort  which 
open*  a  direct  communication  between  our  ideas,  so  that  the  tame 
thinking  principle  is  at  the  same  time  consciout  of  differcDt  impressions, 
and  of  their  relations  to  each  other,  i*  what  hardly  any  person  who 
attends  in  the  least  to  what  passes  in  his  own  niind  and  is  not 
detcrmiBcd  to  reason  himself  out  of  his  tenses  will  I  should  think 
^  deny.  In  other  wordi,  when  any  two  ideas  or  parti  of  an  idea  (for 
there  it  do  JitTereoce  in  iliit  respect)  as  ihote  of  two  li;;hted  candles, 
or  the  top  and  bottom  of  the  lame  candle  are  impietied  at  the  same 
time  on  oilfcrcnt  part*  of  the  brain,  before  these  ideas  cm  be  perceived 
ID  cooiKCtioo  a*  making  parts  of  .1  whole,  or  can  be  accompanied  with 
a  coMCtoaaneti  of  each  other's  existence,  we  must  suppose  them 
mutually  to  affect  the  scats  of  action  belonging  to  each  other,  or  else 
to  be  uoiied  ia  tome  commoD  principle  of  though,  the  same  compring 
Bowcr  being  exerted  upon  botli.  Witbont  tuppoting  tbeir  dutiact 
unpresnons  thus  to  meet  in  the  same  poi  Dt,  il  seems  a  thing  impostibte 
to  conceirc  how  any  comparison  can  take  place  between  different 

'  ConKiouinn*  u  here  ind  ill  ilant  (wlien  snj  p*rli<ul>t  lUcM  11  Isiil  upon 
it]  used  in  it't  Tl^olotiol  trnS),  a*  litsnlly  Uic  umc  willi  feuttraiM,  the  knawinf 
at  perceiving  nun;  ihinp  by  ■  simpla  set. 

437 


REMARKS  ON  THE 

inipmiHMw  cxtuiDg  M  the  ttiac  lime,  or  between  onr  pant,  sad 
jirtM^nt  rmprcniodtt  '^  c*cr  to  cxplaio  what  ii  mrini  by  nyingt 
/  ftrttnut  nub  and  tilth  etfftti,  I  rtmtntkfr  tuth  and  tittk  rvenlj,  linCC 
these  diAercDi  impmHont  are  evidemlv  tcferreil  to  the  ume  cooKiou 
being,  which  idea  of  tndividiuiity  could  ncTct  have  been  to  macb 
coQCcitcd  of  if  there  were  no  other  conncctioA  between  our  idea*  thaa. 
that  whkb  ftrites  lVon>  (be  juxupo«itioD  of  the  pittkle*  of  msRer  on  < 
whkh  ihcf  Are  wverally  imprcwtd.  The  mere  juxtajiowtioa  of  the 
parts  of  ilic  thinking  tub«ivic«  on  whtcb  diSeicot  ideaa  are  tiapreMcd 
will  DCTCr  produce  any  thing  nwre  than  the  actsal  juxupotiiioo  of 
the  ideu  tbcmtelvct,  unaccom panted  by  any  conKioiumcn  of  their 
having  thii  reUtiim  to  each  other :  for  the  mind  in  thti  ca*e  coo- 
•ining  of  Dothing  mote  than  a  lacceiuion  of  matetial  point*,  each  part 
will  be  tenuble  of  the  corretponding  part  of  any  object  which  i* 
imprc*aed  upon  it,  but  can  know  Dothin)t  of  the  impreMion  which  ja 
muc  OD  any  other  lun  of  the  >anie  >ubtiance>  except  from  it'* 
reaction  tm  the  «eat  of  the  6ttt,  which  h  coatruy  to  the  nppontioa. 
In  ahort,  to  attempt  accounting  at  all  for  the  nature  of  contcioumeM 
from  the  prnximtty  of  ditTcrcni  imprcuiona,  or  of  their  6uxioaal  porta 
to  each  other  in  the  brain  Kerns  no  leu  absurd  than  it  wodd  be  ta 
itnagiDC  that  by  placing  a  number  of  perion*  together  in  a  line  we 
ibowd  prodiice  in  them  an  immediate  conacioumeH  ud  perfect 
knowlcdfic  of  what  was  caaMiig  in  each  other'a  mioda.  If  cooKiouwcM 
ia  to  be  deduced  at  all  from  the  circumatance  of  place,  it  noM  be  thU 
dideient  impreHions  occupy  exactly  the  tarae  place.  Ooe  place  bai 
no  identity  with  another :  however  thin  the  partition  between  one 
idea  and  another,  the  disiinciion  rouai  be  aiabiolutc  and  complete,  and 
miut  confine  each  idea  at  effectually  within  ii't  own  bouadi  in  thii 
Euita«tical  motaic-work  of  the  brato,  u  if  the  aoltd  ^kulU  oi  ten 
pJiilotopher*  were  interpoted  between  each.  'Hiere  i*  flaochcr  cob< 
nderatioo  to  be  attended  to,  which  ti  thai  teniible  imprcwiona  appear 
to  be  contbually  made  on  the  Kxme  port  o{  the  brain  lo  auccenion  :— 
with  reipect  to  thoae  received  by  the  eye,  a  new  set  of  objects  b 
almost  cvpiy  moment  tmpteitcd  ua  the  whole  organ,  and  con>et{acotly 
traiumilled  along  the  nen-ct  to  the  uroe  receptacle  in  the  brain.'  It 
fbllowi  Irom  thit  la«t  obacrvntian  in  particular  (which  it  not  a 
■peculative  refinement  but  a  plain  matter  of  fact)  thsi  the  cphcre 

*  ThoM  or  cht  Uruch  nlmii  o(  the  Kruwil  viiirty  in  ihi*  ropecl  hom  ibt 
pnfral  ililTuiioa  of  ch>l  kuu  over  (he  whale  bod},  mil  Ihine  u-hith  ^eptorl  oa 
htarinc  from  ttK  *fniU  piit  of  the  ear  which  It  in  general  dalinctly  irTKt«<l  hf  1 
(Dunit  tc  the  HRit  (imc.  A>  la  rhe  tattc  ami  imtll,  the  •(kniiUnti  tapbcd  la  | 
lh<M  ttnitt  in  toth  m  for  the  mail  pan  In  icl  on  •  Jirft  profKirliDn  tt  the  OTfifl  ' 
It  oatt,  (liauch  only  ■■  inlcrvab.  The  tlinclion  of  tmelli  n  huilly  diMintvltbaUa] 
like  that  of  loun^tt. 


SYSTEMS  OF  HARTLEY    AND  HELVETIUS 


occupied  by  diflcrtDt  vibntioos  la  cooaundy  the  aunc,  or  thu  Uiv 
ume  Kjion  of  the  bnio  belong*  cqaally  lo  a  ihouund  ililTercnt 
imnrctnona,  >nd  cotwequcotly  that  the  mete  circunutxicc  of  liiuaiion 
it  miut^cient  to  account  for  that  complete  dittinciDefa,  of  which  oar 
iilcai  arc  c.ipable< 

1-rom  all  thr»c  con nidrra lion*  taken  together  I  cannot  help 
infcrrbg  the  fallacy  of  the  HartlciaD  doctiinc  of  vibrational  vrliich  ill 
alODD  goe*  on  the  tuupotition  of  the  moat  exact  diMinciioa  and 
rvjuFu  arrangement  of  the  ptaett  of  our  ideaa,  sad  which  therefore 
cannot  be  elfectually  tccoacOed  with  any  reusoning  that  exclude*  all 
local  diitinction  from  having  a  *hare  in  the  mechanical  operation* 
of  the  human  mind.  For  it  we  tuppouc  the  (UCccMion  of  our  ideal 
to  be  cairied  on  by  ibc  communication  of  the  impultc  belonging  to 
one  idea  to  the  contiguous  cell,  or  dormitory  of  aoothcr  idea  foimerly 
aiaociaird  witJi  it,  and  if  we  at  the  taint  time  cuppote  each  idea  to 
occupy  a  lepataie  cell  which  ix  iniiolablci  and  which  it  h.u  entirely 
to  ttaelf,  then  undoubtedly  the  ideai  thiu  called  up  will  follow  one 
another  in  the  lame  order  in  which  they  were  ori{(inally  exdtcd. 
But  if  we  take  away  thii  imaginary  allotment  of  leparali-  parcel*  of 
the  brain  to  different  idea*  and  iuppo«e  the  »3mc  lubtiancc  or  principle 
to  be  coiutantly  impiestcd  with  d  succewon  of  dilferent  ideai,  then 
there  aeem*  to  be  no  afsignable  teaton  why  a  viliratoiy  motion 
accompanied  with  thought  tn  patsing  front  one  part  of  the  thinking 
»ub«tance  to  the  next  ^ould  not  excite  any  other  idea  which  had 
been  impreued  there,  a*  well  ai  the  one  with  which  that  particular 
vibration  had  been  otiginally  aMOciated,  or  why  it  ihould  not  by  one 
general  impul*c  equally  excite  them  all.  It  i«  like  nuppotiog  that  yoo 
might  tread  on  a  oett  of  addcri  twined  together,  and  provoke  only 
one  of  them  to  ttbg  you.  On  the  other  hand  to  aay  that  ihie 
tpeciet  of  elective  utKui^y  ii  determined  in  it'i  operation  by  the 
greater  readineu  with  which  the  idea  of  a  particular  irapreasion  recall* 
the  memory  of  another  impreitioo  which  co-exitted  with  it  in  a  nCate 
of  aeniible  excitement  i*  to  repeat  the  fact  but  not  {that  1  can 
perccin)  in  any  manner  to  account  for  ii.  Let  nny  one  compare 
ihi*  account  with  the  one  gii«'n  by  Hartley  of  hta  own  piinciple,  and 
he  will  be  able  to  jud^> 

But  farther,  eren  if  it  could  be  thewn  that  the  duarine  of  vibrauoaa 
account!  utiifactorily  for  the  aaaociation  of  the  idea*  of  any  one 
sente,  (a*  thoK  of  the  tight  for  example)  yet  nirely  the  very  nature 
i>f  that  principle  mu»t  cut  olf  every  tort  W  communication  between 
the  ideal  of  different  Kmae*,  (a*  thoK  of  tight  and  hearing)  which 
may  h.ive  been  aisocisted  in  the  order  of  time,  but  which  with  rcipeci 
to  actual  lituation  must  be  farther  removed  from  one  another  than 

439 


REMARKS  ON  THE 

»aj  idtM  of  (he  laatt  aeiuc,  lU  wbaicver  dinaacc  of  tme  thty  tatf 
hart  been  wT«ially  imptmed.    If  from  the  toj>  of  ■  long  CoM  banco 
hill  I  beat  the  dmaat  whiAle  of  a  tfanuh  which  Mcrai  to  cook  op 
froin  tome  warm  woody  theliR'  bcyood  the  edge  of  the  tiill,  thu 
•Ottnd  coming  fiint  oi'ct  ihc  rocki  whh  a  mingled  fe«Ui)g  of  Kran^^PU 
and  jar,  the  idea  of  the  pUc«  aboni  me,  and  the  iroajjiiBry  one  brjrond 
will  all  be  comlnned  together  in  Rch  n  maaner  in  mjr  mud  u  ta_ 
becotne  iniepirable.    Now  the  doctnoc  of  vOtratwo  appear*  ab«ok 
to  exclude  the  ponibility  of  the  union  of  all  thMc  into  one  lut 
idea,  becauK  aa  tlie  whoit  of  tluU  principle  it  tbgadcd  on  the  grcaiet 
caM  and  certainly  with  whkb  one  local  trnprcMion  it  fuppoaed  to 
pa«  into  the  aeai  of  the  next,  and  the  greater  force  with  which  it 
act*  there  than  it  can  do  farther  olf,  the  idea  of  a  ncible  object  caoi 
nerer  run  into  the  notion  of  n  tound,  nor  vice  *mJ,  thete  imFradood 
bring  of  courK  cooTeyed  along  diifcreni  nerret  to  different  and  vcryj 
remote  parts  of  tlie  brain.      Perhap*  it  will  be  wd  that  all  itf 
impreaMd  at  the  tame  moment  of  time  may  be  snppoacd  to  be  a«rig 
to  particuUt  cvmpaitmenU  of  the  brain  ai  well  at  wfaefc  the  cxt 
object*  arc  cootiguou*.     To  thti  1  ihould  antwer  that  nich  a  rap|MMi^i 
tion  doc(  not  at  all  account  for  what  I  hate  uid  above  with  re«pect  tal 
ooBfCioiuneM  and  the  .iMociacion  of  idea*  from  (imilarit)-,  &c.  and] 
wcondlyt  tht*  fuppo«itioD  it  neither  included  in  Hartley'*  theory,  nor' 
doe*  it  aeem  to  be  comMiiblr  with  it,  at  there  it  no  other  reaion  on 
the  common  material  hypoihetii  fur  tnfening  the  conliguity  of  ouf 
ideal  in  the  hcAin  than  the  contiguity  of  their  exwrnal  objecu,  and 
the  imprei»ion  of  ihoM  objects  on  corieipooding  pans  of  the  external 
»cQtible  organ. 

The  whole  of  Hartley'*  tyaicm  i*  (bunded  on  what  teem*  an 
entirely  gratuitoun  tuppotition,  riz.  the  imaginary  communicaiion  of 
our  ideajt  to  particular  place*  in  the  brain  to  corrcapood  not  only  with 
the  relation!  of  external  object*,  but  with  the  order  of  time.  Thii 
vuppoKiiian  can  never  be  reconciled  with  the  inference  meatioDcd 
tboTc  (to  go  no  fiinhef )  that  thought  in  communicated  lo  every  part 
of  the  thinking  lubntance  by  an  immediate  and  uniform  impolM. 
For  though  we  ihoulit  suppoic  that  it  ii  communicated  in  one  manner 
to  what  may  be  called  ii  i  primary  jtaJ,  and  in  a  diluent  manacf 
orer  the  rest  of  the  brain,  yet  wc  shall  otill  be  a*  much  at  a  Iota  aa 
CTer  to  thew  a  reoaon  why  it's  primary  naion  Rhould  always  excite 
the  aniociatcd  or  contiguous  ideas,  while  it's  indirect  or  eccondwy 
action  haii  no  power  at  alt  to  excite  any  of  the  idea*,  with  the  (pbetea 
of  which  it  oecciEuily  comc»  in  conuct  in  it'*  general  diffuaion  ever 
the  whole  brain,  that  ia  by  it'i  liniple  impulw.  Thia  it  not  all. 
There  is  another  circumatance  which  mu«t  entirely  prerent  the  Icau 
440 


SYSTEMS  OF  HARTLEY   AND  HELVETIUS 


tue  being  madt  of  thii  dHiinction.  which  i*  th»  auociatcd  idn*  »n 
not  prOMrlj  luch  a«  ur  cooiiguout  id  placci  but  nil  mich  u  axe  coo* 
nected  in  (mmm  of  time,  the  reUtion  of  place  not  being  M  all  MMntial 
in  the  quemon,  for  idem  thai   ha»e   been  inipretsed  togethet  «rc 
atwnyi  recoUected  u  parti  o(  the  >.ime  complex  im])retui)i),  without 
any  ref;ar<l  to  the  proximity  or  rrmoteneu  of  (heir  direct,  primary 
•eats  in  the  bruin,  considered  as  distinct  locul  imprcMiot>ii,     A«  hu 
been  explained  above  with  retpect   to  tounds  and  TJnihle  objedt) 
where  the  a«tociation  mutt  ciidentlf  sriu  from  what  1  have  called 
their  accondary,  or  relitite  action*,  or,  if  yoo  will,  their  najeiout 
ii&iu,  that  ii  thoie  which  are  not  confined  to  a  particular  apot  in  the 
circumference  of  the  brain,  but  affect  the  ([enersl  principle  of  thoti]tht| 
whatever  thii  may  be,  whether  compotcd  of  extended,  material  patta, 
or  indiviiibic.     Now  if  thc»e  Kcondary  or  conaciout  idea>  which  we 
may  represent  a»  coniinualTy  poating  backwarda  and  fnrwardi  like 
couriers  in  all  direction*  through  all  quarters  of  the  brain  to  meet  each 
other  and  exchange  accounri  are  io  fact  the  only  inMroment*  of 
UMciation,  it  ie  plain  that  the  accouat  given  by  Hartley  of  that 
principle  lalU  to  the  gtouod  at  once,  6rat  becauw  that  account  affordi 
no  explanation  of  any  of  the  Mtociatian*  which  take  place  in  the 
mind,  excepi  when  there  ii  an  immediate  communication  between  ihe 
primary  lotD  of  the  aiBociatcdidrai;  secondly,  becau*ethe*e  •ccondary 
or  contciouf  ideas  bcbg  tpread  over  the  whole  brain,  or  rather  being 
imprened  on  ilie  tame  thinking  principle  cannot  have  any  particular 
connection  with  or  power  to  call  up  one  another  or  the  contniy  frotn 
any  circuniaiances  of  local  diitinction,  which  is  thus  completely  done 
away. — The  doctrine  of  vibrations  suppose*  the  order  of  place  and 
the  order  of  time  to  correspond  exactly  in  all  combinationt  of  out 
ideas,  and  that  it  ii^  owing  to  this  circumnance  entirely  that  tho«e 
idcaa  which  have  been  impreued  nearly  at  the  tame  time  have  after- 
ward* a  power  to  call  up  one  another  from  the  facility  with  which 
they  must  bo  auppoied  to  pats  from  thei(  own  primary  seat*  into  the 
coDtij^uous  ones  of  the  associated  ideas.     I  have  endeavoured  to  shew 
00  Ibe  contrary  not  only  that  there  it  no  regular  local  arrangement  of 
our  ideas  to  corrctpond  exactly  with  thr  order  in  which  they  cohere 
together  in  the  mind,  but  that  there  appcara  to  be  no  diitinciion 
whatever  io  this  reiipect,  that  they  all  bcloog  abtolutely  to  the  same 
place  or  JDternal  teal  of  coDSCtotisneat,  tliat  tlit*  want  of  ditunctien  is 
u  CTidcDi  fact  with  respect  to  the  luccetatve  irapresaions  which  are 
nade  on  the  tame  pans  of  the  body,  and  coniequently  on  tlie  same 
part*  of  the  thinking  substance,  and  that  it  may  be  deduced  generally 
from  the  nature  of  thought  itself,  and  the  aasociaiions  which  arise 
from  timilarity,  &c.  that  this  principle  most  be  entirely  nugatory  with 

44  > 


REMARKS  ON  THE 

Kcpect  to  the  aMociationt  of  the  icteu  oS  different  ksm).  cvcr  though 
it  (houM  bold  true  with  reapect  la  thote  of  anjr  ooc  *en«e,'  lastly  tbu 
■U  idcM  impreoed  at  the  tame  tiine  acauire  a  power  of  exciiiog  OOA 
another  ctcc  after  withoiit  any  rceaid  to  the  colncideiice  of  tbeir 
imaginary  (cat*  in  ibc  brain  (according  to  the  material  hypotheth) 
Mtd  that  therefore  the  true  account  of  the  principle  of  laaociauon 
NUul  be  dctircd  from  the  tint  cauK*  vii.  the  coinctdcKe  of  tJOK, 
and  not  from  the  latter  which  bean  so  macuer  of  |ffoponion  to  tbe 
etTecti  produced. 

The  account  indeed  which  Hartley  bat  in  one  pbce  gi<'en  of 
■UCCcf*ive  nuociation  a*  dittinct  from  (yncbronoui  seeait  to  have  no 
nccCMary  connectioo  with  ihi«  Uat-nientkiiictl  fnindplc.  He  taya, 
P>ge  69,  ■  If  A  and  B  be  vibration*  imptsMcd  ncceMivelyi  then  will 
■  the  latter  part  of  A,  viz.  that  port  which  remuM  after  the  impTCMioD 
■of  the  object  ceatea,  be  modified  and  altered  by  B,  at  the  ume  tiinc 
'that  it  will  a  little  modify  and  alter  it,  till  at  laot  it  be  quite  over- 

*  powered  by  it,  and  end  in  it.    It  foUows  therefore  that  the  uccnaiTc 

*  mipreiuioa  of  A   and    B    niAicicntly   repeated    will   to  alter    the 

*  mnJulisry  *«bat<tncc,  m  that  when  A  :*  imprettcd  alone,  it't  latter 

*  part  ahall  not  be  lucb  a*  the  «ole  impre(i)DD  of  A  re<iuire«i  but  lean 
■towards  B,  and  end  in  /  at  Uit.  But  B  will  ooc  excite  «  in  a 
'  retrograde  order,  tiiDce,  by  iu[>pi>tiuon,  the  latter  pan  of  B  wa»  not 
'  modified  and  altered  by  A,  but  by  lonie  other  vibration,  luch  a*  C 
'or  D.'  Firii  of  all,  thin  account  wrni*  to  imply  that  the  ataocJated 
imprc*tion>  A  and  B  arc  the  only  oact  made  oo  the  raiod,  and  that 
they  extend  over  the  whole  medullary  nbuancc.  In  chi>  cmc  when 
the  action  of  A  cease*  or  grow*  very  weak,  we  may  foppotc  that  the 
tendency  to  B  will  be  gradually  revired,  and  U  Uu  completely  over- 
power that  of  A,  becaute  the*e  are  the  only  impreuioni  exiiting  in 
the  mind,  and  it  mu*t  contcqucntly  incline  to  one  or  other  of  them, 
which  would  be  equally  the  co*e,  whether  they  had  been  imprcMcd 
together,  or  not.  Otherwise  we  miwi  iiuiipo»e  the  impretaioo*  thiu 
innde  *uccetf<i«ely  to  have  a  dininct  local  communication  vrith  each 
otlier,  or  there  u  no  ccason  given  why  A  ahouid  excite  6  more  ibao 
juiy  other  vibrntioa  iinpietsed  on  the  brain  in  general,  or  on  the  teat 
of  i  in  pitriicular.  Vve  muM  beside*  thi»  suppose  the  vibration*  A 
and  B  to  have  a  particular  line  of  direction,  as  well  a>  primary  tphere 
of  action  in  the  brain  to  account  for  B'l  not  excitiaE  a  in  the  reverse 
order,  tie.     The  quettion  i*  how  the  impreMion  ot  different  object* 

'  Tbc  nKthod  tikrn  hy  HiiliFy  in  ilitallini  the  siMcitltooi,  which  uke  place 
bclwno  iht  i<f«it  of  each  ot  the  hhk*  one  by  onr,  urn  him  the  tiaublc  al 
cipliininE  thote  whicJi  take  pUc<  bclwcen  iht  idtii  of  ilifTTTvitt  icnici  at  ihr  ttait 
time. 

44> 


SYSTEMS  OF  HARTLEY   AND  HELVETIUS 


at  the  Kimc  time,  or  in  (|uick  «ucc«MioD  give*  the  idea  i>f  one  of  tboac 
objecK  >  power  to  excite  the  idet  of  tlic  other,  though  the  object  it 
ttbwot  i  and  it  i*  no  iniwcr  to  thi«  juration  to  uy,  tiat  A  being  oftea 
rqicated  in  connection  with  B,  when  it  i*  aftetwirdi  excited,  '  le»na 
toward)  B,  and  cnd>  in  it.'  Hartley  njt  by  way  of  breaking  the 
dilKculty,  that  the  lauer  part  of  A  i*  altered  and  modilied  by  B. 
Thi«  it  erident  enough  while  B  really  act*  upoa  the  khic*  :  but  why 
thould  it  be  modified  by  it  in  the  absence  of  B  ^  Thit  modiiicaiion 
of  the  latter  nan  of  A  by  B  is  not  the  iniertnediate  csuic  of  the 
excitement  of  i,  for  i,  'he  rejircienuiive  of  B,  ntiut  be  excited,  nt 
leuT  imgieffcctly,  before  it  can  modify  A  ( B  iiicif  beinj;  nothing)  and 
the  point  it  bow  A,  or  a  excite*  the  moTeinent  connected  with  B  and 
that  only,  not  bow,  auppoiing  thii  coancctiua  between  thcni  to  be 
e«ubli)hcd,  the  one  gradually  naue*  ioto  the  other,  and  end*  in  it. 
I  think  Hartley  constantly  minakei  tracing  the  order  of  palpable 
elFccta,  or  overt  acu  of  the  mind  for  explaining  the  cauic*  of  the 
cooiMCtion  bciwccD  there,  which  he  hardly  ever  doc*  with  a  true 
nMtaphjTMca]  feeling.  Kvcn  whcic  he  ii  greateat,  he  i«  always  the 
phytiologttt  rather  than  the  melapbyiician.' 

Perbapa  a  better  way  tu  let  about  diicovering  the  due  to  the 
principle  of  aHOciation,  letting  atide  all  idea*  of  cxteniion,  coniiguiiy. 
Sec.  would  be  by  contidering  the  manner  in  which  the  lame  contcioua 
principle  may  be  «nppOKd  to  adapt  it»elf  to,  to  combine,  and  aa  it 
were  Tccoocilc  together  ihc  actiuni  of  different  objecta  inipresied  on  it 
at  once,  and  lo  all  of  which  it  ii  forced  to  attend  at  the  lame  time ; 
by  which  means  tbeie  acreral  imprcsuon*  thui  compelled  into  agree- 
ment,  and  a  kind  of  mutual  undcriuoding  one  with  aaother  afterwards 

'  I  have  ttwiyi  hiii  the  iime  ftcl^Qf  with  ft*pc<l  la  Hirtlfy  (iilil  grinlinj  hit 
pOH-er  10  tke  utmuti]  whith  >■  plraiuitljr  uprtueil  a  in  aid  luthoi,  Roger  Eicon, 
quoUil  by  Sii  KcneliTi  Digby  iu  hii  aniwci  to  BiDwii.     'Tbotc  iluilcnu,'  hr  >tyi, 

*  who  buiy  Ihemvlvrt  much  *ilU  tiah  noli^in*  '■  nUl«  wholly  ra  tht  f>nls»ir,  do 
*h>rilli' ever  txc<^mc  Monenui  for  ■bttnctrd  mrtiphyiicil  tpKuljiinnt  ^  tlv  one 

*  having  bulky  fnunililion  n(  mitKt  or  ol  Ihc  atci'lcDO  of  <I  la  mIIIc  upon,  (it  iht 
*iri«t  with  one  foot  i)  thr  other  flyin|  coiiiioDiLJj,  tvm  lo  *  IfiKninj:  piicl^  in 

*  lh«  Mlbtil  ait.  And  i«ot«intty,  it  hith  leee  (uunlly  doifiI,  thit  xhe  ttttun 
'  DHkcmukltiw.  vho  coQvcriE  tttogciticF  with  Imo,  Apiret,  »nd  othci  JiiTirRiicci 
'of  quulity,  hiH  Klriom  provri  (niiacnl  in  nctiphyiiclu  or  ipMuUlrvc  'livisily. 

*  Nor  ■fiin,  the  prafcHim  ol  Ihrie  icienca  in  IW  olhci  »l>,  Mutfa  kn  cm  It 
'b«  (iptctcd,  that  in  uctllcnt  phytrcian,  whoM  fancy  ■•  slwiyt  fnutlil  with  the 
'  matdiil  drop  Ihil  h*  pretcribnh  hii  ipolhrciTy  to  oompouo'l  hii  oii-licino  of, 
'and  whoM  lunt<)  ut  inunl  to  th<  <uttinf   wf,  and  «]ki  to  ihr   intftction   of 

*  ■niiomiHtt  boiliei,  ihonld  euily  ind  ititb  inccnai,  flic  \m  ihoughii  it  <o  (oHniii 

*  1  fiBtt,  II  ■  pan  i&teUecl,  i  wpmtcd  and  nnbudied  muI.' — I  lonlcii  I  fetl  in 
teaain);  Hiitlry  lonuthint  <<>  the  nay  id  which  ihi  Diy><(i  niuit  hive  done  ihut 

'  Df  in  (heir  old  oak  Ircct.  I  fttl  nay  tidra  pr«a<d  hari],  and  bored  with  pointi  of 
natty  inftnncti  pild  up  on*  upon  anotbrr  arithout  bcinf  ibl«  tvct  to  tmolint 

443 


REMARKS  ON  THE 


^^ 


retain  a  paninlw  tendency  or  ditpMUiaa  to  unite  logetlicr,  ih^t  is  to 
Mv,  the  nuod  when  thfown  back  into  the  tune  note  by  tbt  recurrraec 
of  any  one  of  tbete  idnt  it  of  couiw  put  ioto  the  way  of  adnittiiog 
or  IitwiBg  ntOTC  mdily  to  my  othn  of  the  istnr  tct  of  idou  tlua  ts 
aitf  other  idna  of  a  dtffemi  t«t  not  m>  hhadtd  ind  hannoaized  with 
k.    It  Kvmi  u  if  th«  miiul  wu  laid  open  to  all  ibe  impictdotu  which 
bad  be«n  made  upon  it  at  any  girea  time,  the  monent  aoy  one  of 
thcTn  tccalli  a  itatr  or  feeling  habitually  in  i]ni*on  with  the  reK.       By 
touching  a  certain  *p<<n]^  all  obitaclcs  arc  rcntovcdi  the  doon  fly 
Open,  and  the  whole  gi>Uery  ■■  mcd  at  a  tingle  gtance. — The  mind  haa 
a   capacity  to  pnform  any  eotnalrx  action   the   eaiier   fof   having 
perfotmrd    the    tame   action   befora.     It   will   cosmittnitly   have   a 
ditpoaitioQ  to  perfomi  thai  action  rather  than  any  other,  the  other 
cimmttaDces  beio;;  the  tame.     I  imafioe  that  attociaiioo  i«  to  be 
accounted  for  on  the  rety  tame  principle  at  a  man**  being  able  to 
compfchcnd  or  laie  m  a  matbenudcal  dcmoaHratioa  the  better  for 
going   over  it  a  number  of  time*,  or  to  recogiute  any  well-koown 
object,  a«  the  figure  of  a  mm  fof  instance  ia  the  middle  of  a  common, 
looner  than  a  ttunp  of  a  tree,  or  piece  of  a  rock  of  twice  tbc  tize, 
and  of  jutt  at  remarkable  a  tbape. — In  like  maflMT.  or  at  leait  coo- 
riiiently  with  thia,  u-e  nay  nippose,  if  one  imprcnion  it  rery  bkc 
another,  though  noi  m/cciiUeJ  with  it,  that  the  mind  wiD  in  that  case 
ttide  more  naturally,  will  feet  lets  repugnance  in  putti^  from  the 
recollection  of  the  one  to  that  of  the  other,  that  ii  from  it'*  actual 
Ustc  into  a  itate  very  little  dilferent  ftom  it  thao  into  one  of  a  totally 
diHereot  kind.     When  any  particular  idea  becoract  pfedominani,  the 
tun   which   it   thua  given   to  the  mind  must  be  favoufable~to  the 
reception  or  recollection  of  any  othei  idea,  which  require*  but  little  , 

lB)wd(,  or  cslch  •  gtimpac  of  tbc  KtutI  woilil  wilhout  rae.  I  an  tamchow  ' 
Wcdgtd  in  bclimn  ililTcrcnt  rottt  of  mMeiiit  abjcctt,  om^werlut  nc  bjr  Ihrir 
lhran(,  ind  (tom  which  t  ha*«  no  power  la  ttctft,  bol  at  which  I  naithn  know 
nor  unri)rtl>n<l  iny  Itiinc.  I  enniunlly  ut  nbjrctt  mslliflinl  ifts  nie,  nvt 
powm  It  work,  I  linow  no  (ntnn  why  onr  lhin(  (ellowi  ■DOtbcr  M  that  Mnw- 
ihing  rile  ii  (onjunMl  up  bflwHo  ihcm.  which  h«  »  liltb  tfftitat  CMtneclMB 
w^lh  «f<h«  Ai  thty  htvr  with  or»  ucthrr  ; — he  ilwin  reiioat  from  the  eoocfvtf 
object,  aol  Uata  the  tbaliMI  in  eucnlial  pntperiin  a(  thiBt«.  mi  >a  hu  whole  booli 
I  do  not  believe  thai  ihnc  b  one  (ooJ  ddailiun.  It  wssld  be  ■  ba4  mjr  to 
<1e«rib«  a  nian*t  character  to  a^y  that  he  bail  a  wiie  Dihcr  e«  a  fo^ljah  too,  aod 
yn  ihii  ia  tho  way  in  which  Mmlty  itcline*  idrat  by  atalini  what  pmvdn  then  la 
the  miii'l,  •nH  whM  rOTnrt  aftrt  Ihrni.  Thua  he  rfrfmo  th(  will  la  ht  'that  Idea, 
'or  nuiv  ifmni  which  rreceiJei  ittioD,'  at  'i  diaire,  ot  avcnion  tuficitMly  ttroof 
'  to  produce  ■ctloo,'  tic.  lie  gi*«  you  the  outwaid  fi^a  at  thhigi  in  ibc  ordo'  m 
which  he  eooeeive*  ihefn  <o  follow  one  aDother,  neva  the  dcmontttMiaa  of 
Rrliin  conaequrncn  frum  Ihe  known  nature  of  their  auaa,  which  alone  it  true 
rcunnlnj.  Nri-nlhejru,  it  i*  noi  la  be  (orfottin,  that  he  wti  aloo  ■  frtat  nio. 
Sea  hia  Chafitcr  on  Memory,  Ac. 
444 


SYSTEMS  OF  HARTLEY  AND  HELVETIUS 


alteration  io  ilic  entc  of  tbc  mbil  to  admit  it.  A  ilight  mra  of  the 
ictvvn  on  vrliich  tht  tcosion  of  ih«  mind  depend*  will  Kt  it  lifiht  to 
ihe  fom  iriiuitrd.  Whrn  the  Jicttial  Stale  of  the  nuod  agree*,  or 
falls  in  wiib  Bonie  prCTiuui  icniicacyi  (he  c0b(t  which  tbc  Utcot  idea 
makea  to  pj»  into  a  state  uf  excitement  must  be  mace  powcfluJ  ihaa 
it  would  tic  without  this  co-opcratiuD,  and  where  the  other  cimm- 
stancei  arc  indilfcrem  miun  olwayt  \k  ctfeciual.  Thtit  the  actnal 
feeling  of  warmth  must  have  a  tendency  to  call  up  any  old  ideaa  of 
the  utne  kind :  r.  g.  tO'day  being  a  ?cry  warm  day  put  me  in  roiad 
of  a  walk  1  took  iD  a  hot  day  last  dummcr.  Here  however  another 
dil!iculty  occun :  foiT  the  very  oppotiiioo  of  our  feelings  u  of  heat 
and  cald  frequently  produce*  a  transition  in  the  mind  from  the  one  to 
the  other.  This  may  be  accounted  for  io  a  loose  way  by  luppoiing, 
that  the  Ktiuggic  between  very  opposite  feelings  producing  a  lioleot 
and  perturbed  state  of  mind  excites  attention,  and  make*  the  raind 
more  sensible  to  the  shock  of  the  contrary  impression  to  that  by  which 
it  it  prcoccupiied,  as  we  find  that  the  body  is  more  liable  to  be  afTcctcd 
by  any  uppoiire  exirtmes,  as  of  heat  and  cold,  immediately  ■ucceediog, 
and  counteract  in  It  each  other.  De  tliit  aa  it  may,  all  chincB  natuialiy 
put  us  in  mind  of  their  conirarieM,  cold  of  beat,  day  of  night,  Scc. 
These  tbice,  tit,  atauciatiuo,  similarity,  and  contrast  I  bclicTc  indiule 
all  the  general  sources  of  connection  between  our  ideas,  for  as  to  thai 
of  cauae  and  effect,  it  seems  to  be  referable  (a*  faurlld  fay  Pticstley) 
or  at  leatl  chiefly  so  to  the  first  clasa,  that  of  CommOB  Msuciation. — 
I  hope  no  one  will  think  mi-  weak  enouf(h  to  imagine  that  what  1 
have  here  stated  is  eren  a  remote  and  faint  approach  to  a  satial'actory 
account  of  the  matter.  Every  attempt  of  thm  son  must  be  light  and 
inelfeciuni  without  lirit  ascertaining  (if  that  were  posublc)  the  roanocr 
io  which  our  idea*  are  produced,  and  the  nature  of  conic iousnca*, 
both  of  which  I  am  utterly  imable  to  comprehend.  1  have  endeavoured 
simply  to  point  out  what  it  ia  that  i*  to  be  accounted  for,  the  general 
feeling  with  which  a  reflecting  man  should  *et  out  in  search  of  the 
truth,  and  the  impowbility  of  ever  arriving  at  'n,  if  at  the  outset  we 
completely  cover  over  our  own  feelings  with  maps  of  the  hrain,  dry 
akulls,  musical  chords,  pendulums,  and  compauct,  or  chink  of  looking 
into  the  bottom  of  out  own  mind*  by  mean*  of  any  other  inatrument 
than  a  sharpened  intellect. 

What  I  at  first  ptopo*ed  was  lo  shew,  that  auociaiion,  however 
we  may  mip|)0»c  it  to  be  carried  on,  is  not  the  only  source  of  con- 
nection between  our  ideas,  or  mode  of  ojieraiioo  of  the  human  mind. 
This  bai  been  ataumed  iodirccdy,  and  1  think  proved  with  respect  u> 
similarity,  &c.  Here  however  a  shrewd  torn  naa  been  given  to  the 
vgumeni  by  the  Hanleiani,  who,  admitting  vimilarily  among  the 

4*5 


REMARKS  ON   THE 


CMuei  of  connecuon  between  our  ideai,  deny  that  it  ii  aay  objectioa 
to  their  doctrine,  (on  ttuit  thii  tery  exani]ilc  b  euUy  retolred  into  aJ 
caic  of  meic  aMociatuw.     Simibrity  thtj  ny  ii  nothing  but  paitialj 
uaimeM,and  thtt  where  pan  of  a  thing  hu  been  tint  iwociMcd  wUfa] 
cetttts  ctrciHiMixncn.   n&d    it    aftcrwardi    conjoined   with    othen^j 
mikin;;  in  Tuct  two  dilfrrenc  objectt,  ti't  recurrence  in  the   iccood] 
intunce  will  i]eceM:irity  rccull  the  circuiattancc*  vntk  which  it 
aiiodited  in  the  fitM.' — In  general  we  luppow  that  if  we  meet  ■ 
perKin  in  the  ttreet  with  x  lace  reiembUng  some  other  face  with  which 
wc  arc  welt  nc^ukintcd,  the  rcuon  why  the  one  put*  lu  in  mind  of 
ihc  other  it  ibia  iki  me  u  Sir  lit  alher ;  and  wc  ihould  he  little  di*- 

Ctcd  to  bclieTe  any  one  who  lold  aa  Krioiuly  that  in  reilhy  we  had 
fore  KCf  D  the  one  nun't  noae  u]ion  the  othcr'i  fnce,  and  that  thia  old 
impTCMioa  or  very  identical  objea  brought  along  with  it  tli«  other 
idMu  with  which  it  had  been  formerly  anociated.  Thit  accoimtj 
would  be  fuActcaily  cootrary  to  common  »enae  and  feding,  and  I) 
hope  to  ahcw  ih;ii  it  ha*  as  little  connection  with  any  true  n^tlety 
thinking.  No  mrtaphyncian  will  I  im  nurc  be  diipooed  to  controrcftl 
this  who  uk<-(  the  iroable  accuntrly  to  compare  the  meaning  of  the 
rxjiknatioD  with  the  terms  and  tiecc«*ary  import  i>f  the  law  of  MaoctK* 
tioit.  For  let  an  impranoa  which  I  received  ycaterday  be  in  crery  i 
potdble  rctpect  the  nme  with  the  one  which  I  rcceired  to-day,  nill , 
the  one  impresiion  is  not  the  other ;  they  are  two  ditlinci  imprenioaa  j 
cxiecing  at  di^ercni  time*,  and  by  the  tuppocition  tiMOciaied  with  verw 
dilTerciit  circumatancet.  The  one  from  having  been  coexiitcnt  with 
certain  circunutJiDce*  haa  a  power  by  the  law  c^aMociatkioof  exdiing 
the  recollection  ofthote  ctrcumsiaDcei  whenever  it  is  ittelf  recollected : 
the  other  hai  the  time  power  OTCt  that  particular  combinaiiaa  of 
circumctancct  with  which  it  wan  utociatcd,  merely  because  they  were 
10  impmicd  together  on  the  mind  at  the  tame  mometit  of  lime.  To 
(ay  therefore  that  a  pircicular  property  of  sn  object  hai  a  power  of 
exciting  the  ideas  of  aevcril  other  jiroperties  of  another  object,  of 
which  it  never  made  a  part,  on  the  principle  of  aMuciation,  ii  a  con- 
tradiction  in  terms.  It'a  being  cMentially  or  comparatively  llie  nmc 
with  another  property  which  did  actually  make  part  of  lucb  an  object 
no  more  prorrt  the  conKqucnce*  which  fairly  result  from  the  principle 
of  ataocifliion  tli;in  it  would  follow  from  my  looking  at  the  lane 
objea  at  which  another  hi*  been  looking,  that  I  must  forthwith  be 
imprciaed  with  all  the  ideas,  feelings  and  imaginationa  which  ba*e 
been  passing  in  his  mind  at  the  time.  Tliis  laat  ohheiration  has  beco 
objected  to  on  the  ground  that  there  ii  no  cooneaion  whatever 
between  one  man'*  ideas,  and  another's.     No  doubt :  but  then  it 


4-.6 


'  S(c  Priollry's  Letters  to  a  Pliilusaphitsl  Untvlicver. 


SYSTEMS   OF   HARTLEY    AND   HELVETIU8 

fpllowi  iLB  clearly  (and  that  ii  all  I  Rieani  to  «bcw)  that  ibc  abiiract 
identity  of  the  objccii  or  inipmiiom  Aoet  not  of  iuclT  produce  thi* 
connrciion,  *o  thui  the  perception  of  the  one  mu«t  needs  bring  along 
with  it  the  aMOcintol  ideaa  belooging  to  ihc  other.  The  object*  or 
idea*  are  the  «arn«  in  both  caae*,  it'  that  wrcc  all:  but  ihia  is  not 
I  mlScieDt  to  prove  thai  they  niusi  have  the  lame  accompaninieniK,  or 
IMOciations,  becjiute  in  the  one  cate  they  are  imprested  on  dilfcrent 
minds,  and  in  the  other  on  the  aamc  tnind  at  dilfcrent  times,  which  i« 
cxpreitly  cooirary  to  the  principle  of  aatociaiion,  unlets  we  uiaame 
by  the  help  of  a  verhaJ  sophifm  that  the  tame  generical  idea  it  the 
lame  aiaociaied  idea,  and  thin  again  would  lead  to  the  ab«urd  coo- 
■equenoc  above  staled.  It  it  not  here  ncceuary  to  give  a  tcgubr 
definition  or  account  of  what  in  general  conHlitaiet  nmencM,  or  to 
inquire  whether  strictly  speaking  «uch  a  relaiion  can  ever  he  said  to 
■ubitit  between  any  two  nitignabic  object*.  Such  an  iacjuiry  would 
be  i^utte  foieixn  to  the  purpote.  and  I  wish  to  avoid  as  much  U 
poMible  all  uwles)  common-place  tubcletiet,  all  such  a*  whichever 
way  they  are  determined  can  make  no  alteration  in  the  state  of  the 
ai^mcDt.  It  i*  plain  in  the  preacnt  inirtancc  for  example  that  when 
it  )t  stated  that  a  particular  idea  hating  bcrn  once  auociaied  with 
^Tvn  citcumstu)ce«,  the  tamf  idea  will  ever  afietwirds  excite  the 
recollection  of  those  circum stance*,  all  thai  is  meant  is  that  the  idea 
in  the  latter  ci»c  must  be  a  fraJuclian,  coniinualion,  or  properly  a 
recollection  of  the  former  one,  lo  as  to  retain  the  impression  of  the 
accidental  modifications  by  which  ihnt  idcji  was  originally  affected. 
It  muit  be  *o  far  the  same  as  to  bear  the  same  relation  to  the 
surrounding  ideas,  as  to  depend  for  what  it  ts  on  what  it  bat  been. 
Rtid  ooQoect  the  pre«cnt  with  the  mm.  It  ninst  be  the  old  idea 
lurking  in  tlie  mind  with  all  It's  old  stsocialiona  hanging  about  it, 
and  not  an  entirely  new  impression  with  entirely  new  auociations. 
Thia  idea  must  therefore  be  originally  derived  from  an  individual 
impmtioo  in  conindiitinction  to  half  a  dozen  different  one*  potMMang 
the  same  absolute  properties:  for  the  whole  point  tursi  upon  this, 
that  such  and  such  idea*  have  not  aaturally  any  sort  of  connection 
with  certain  other  ideas,  but  that  any  one  of  tbeie  ideas  having  been 
actually  associated  with  any  of  the  others,  tU*  occidenul  lelatioii 
begets  a  peculiar  and  arcilicial  connection  between  them  which  is 
continued  along  with  the  remenibnoce  of  the  idea*  themselve*. 

Mr.  Mac-lototb.  I  remember,  explained  this  principle  in  his 
lecturci  in  the  following  manner.  I^  says  be,  any  geademan  who 
baa  beard  me  in  this  place  tCMJay  should  by  chance  pass  by  iliit  way 
to-morrow,  the  sight  of  Lincoln's-Inn  Hall  will  upon  the  principle  we 
•re  BOW  examiotng  bring  along  with  it  the  recollection  of  some  of 

■M7 


REMARKS  ON  THE 

the  pcrwos  he  hM  met  with  the  day  before,  perbap*  of  tome  of  the 
reaMiuBlt*  which  I  have  the  hooogx  to  deliver  to  this  udieoce,  ot  io 
abort  any  of  iboae  concomitaot  circiuiMtaDce*  with  which  the  Hgtat| 
of  LiDColoVlnn  Hilt  has  been  pnriootlv  auociitcd  io  hia  la'tad, 
1'hu  it  a  correct  verbal  ttutemmt,  but  h  ia  liable  to  be  miiundetatood. 
Mr.  Mac-Iatoih  i*  no  doubt  a  nun  of  a  very  clear  uoderiuadiag,  c(  > 
u  irapoHDg  elocatkiD,  a  very  able  ditputaoi,  and  a  lery  metapbyuall 
Uwycr,  but  by  no  meant  a  profound   nwtaptiyucun,  not   quite   a 
BerketcT  >n  mblJety  of  dittinction.     1  will  iry  a*  well  ai  I  un  able 
K>  help  him  out  in  his  explaaaiion.     It  ia  dear  that  the  nnble  ima^c . 
of  LincolD's-lDn  Hal!  which  any  one  haa  prMcoud  lo  hia  aeotea  m' 
any  gives  monwot  of  time  cannot  have  been  frevioatfy  aMociatcd  witk  ^ 
Other  imagca  and  perccjrtiont.     Neither  i*  a  renewed  acnaible  impre*- 
•ion  of  a  paniciilar  object  the  wtnc  with  or  in  any  manner  related  to 
a  forrotr  recollected  impfcaHOD  of  the  umc  abject  except  from  the 
rcaemblance  of  the  one  to  t)ie  other.     There  can  be  no  duubi  then  of 
tbe  oaonection  between  my  idea  or  recollection  of  LiocolnVInn  H^l 
yeiierday,  and  the  aModated  ideas  of  tbe  peraona  whom  1  law  there. 
Of  the  thing!  which  I  beard,  the  question  i*  how  do  I  get  thU  idea 
of  ycBiefday'*  imprcMion  from  teeing  Lincoln'«-Inn    Hall  to-dsy. 
The  dtfficalty  )  aay  ia  aoC  in  connecting  ilic  link*  in  tbe  chain  of 
previously  auociatcd    idea*,  but  io  airivinc    at   the  firu  link, — io 
paaam^  from  a  ))re»ent  tcosation  <o  the  iccolTcction  of  a  paai  object. 
Now  ihi*  can  never  be  by  an  act  of  uuociatioo,  became  it  h  aeU*. 
evident  that  the  present  can  never  hare  been  previoualy  aaioaated 
with  the  paac.     t.vcry  beginning  of  a  ccric*  of  aMociations,  that  U 
every  departure  from  the  continued  beaten  truck  of  old  imprcaMona  or 
ideaa  remembered  in  regular  luccewion  therefore  impliet  und  mtut  be 
accounted  for  from  tome  act  of  the  mind  which  does  not  depend  od 
UMcUlion. 

Aaaodation  ia  an  habitual  relation  between  continuationa  of  the 
•ame  idea*  which  act  upon  one  another  in  a  certain  manner  aimply 
becauac  the  original  imprewions  were  excited  together.  Let  ABC 
repreaent  any  Miociated  impraiiion«.  Let  o  it  bt  tbe  idca«  leit  in 
the  mind  by  these  imprc»«ona,  and  then  let  A  M  N  repreaent  a 
repetition  of  A  in  conjunction  witli  a  different  ict  of  objecta.  Now 
a  the  idea  of  A  when  excited  will  excite  6  c  ot  the  ideas  of  B  C 
by  iusociaiion,  but  A  an  piirt  of  the  lenuible  imptcision  A  M  N 
cannot  excite  i  i  by  atrociation,  because  it  hai  never  been  aaaociatcd 
vitb  fi  C,  because  it  it  not,  like  n,  the  production  of  the  fetmci 
impreaiiOB  A,  but  an  entirely  new  imnresnion  made  from  without^ 
totally  unconnected  with  the  <ii^i.  l  undertUDd  then  from  the 
nature  of  usMiciatiau  liow  <i  will  excite  b  t,  but  not  how  A  excitev  a. 


SYSTEMS  OF  HARTLEY  AND  HELVETIUS 


^ 


I  undcrtund  how  my  thinkiDg  of  Ltncoln't-Ino  Hull,  the  imprMiioa 
or  jrnicrdiiy,  ^udd  aI*o  lead  me  to  ihink  of  oilier  things  coonecled 
with  that  imprcKion  according  to  (he  principle  of  uwcution :  but 
I  cannot  tec  how,  according  to  thu  principle,  there  it  any  more 
connection  between  my  Keing  L.incolnVInn  Hall  lo-day,  and 
recollcctiDg  my  hating  seen  it  yctterday  t)ian  iherc  it  between  (he 
palace  of  ii(.  Cloud,  and  the  hovel  in  which  Jack  Shepherd  htd 
himtcif  when  he  etcaved  out  of  Ncwgute.  Certainly  the  &ew 
impretsioQ  ia  nut  the  old  one,  oor  the  idea  of  the  old  one.  Wtut  n 
it  then  that  when  thit  second  impTea»ion  it  made  op  the  miixl 
detcrminei  it  to  connect  it*elf  with  the  iarst  more  thin  with  any  other 
indilTcfeai  impreuion,  what  cairieii  it  forward  in  that  particular 
direction  which  it  occctury  to  it't  linding  out  ii't  fellow,  or  letting 
atidc  thii  geographical  reaaoning,  what  it  (here  in  (he  action  of  the 
one  00  the  mind  that  ticcctsarily  revive*  that  of  the  othn  !  All  tbia 
hai  clearly  nothing  to  do  with  auociition. 
A  nuesiion  however  occurs  here  whkh  pcrplexci  the  lubiect  a 

rid  deal,  and  which  I  (hall  Mate  and  aniwer  am  concisely  a«  I  can. 
have  hitherto  endeavoured  to  shew  that  a  particulai'  prewin 
ImprrMTon  unnot  cxcicc  the  recollection  of  a  put  imprewiOD  by 
aawciation,  that  i*,  that  idcai-  caEioot  be  aald  to  cxcile  one  another  by. 
wociation  whicb  luivc  ncvci  bccD  auodLttcd.  Hut  will  ii  may  be 
aaked  whether  a  prcaeni  impresiicD  may  not  excite  the  idea»  aatociated 
with  any  limilar  impression,  without  Gmt  exciting  a  dininct  recollec- 
tion of  the  nimitor  impresaion  vrith  which  tbry  were  aikociatcd.  Now, 
however  we  may  reconcile  it  with  the  loregoing  tcaioning,  it  it 
certainly  a  fact  thai  it  does  do  to.  And  I  conceive  it  will  not  be 
diffictilt  to  account  for  thb,  according  to  the  explanation  above  hinted 
at  of  the  principle  of  anaociatioa :  for  wc  may  in  general  auppote 
any  similar  state  of  mind  to  be  fiavourable  to  (be  readmiuion,  or 
recollection  of  the  idean  already  aisociated  willi  such  a  sate  of  mind, 
whether  the  similariiy  is  produced  bv  a  revival  of  the  old  idea,  or  by 
ihe  recurrence  of  a  Mmilar  external  object.  In  this  cane  however 
we  mutt  tuppote  that  atwciation  i*  only  a  particular  and  accidental 
ef!ecl  of  lome  more  jcneril  prinetpte,  not  the  wle-moviog  «pting  in" 
all  combinations  which  take  iilace  between  our  idea* :  and  trill  more, 
(bat  nmilarity  itself  niunt  be  directly  a  very  strong  source  of  conQCCtion 
between  them,  sbce  it  extends  beyond  Ox  nmilai  ideas  themselvca  to 
any  ideas  attociated  with  them.  On  (he  other  hand  according  to  the 
Harileian  theory  of  UMxJation  as  carried  on  by  the  connection  of 
different  local  imprctaion*,  which  alone  makea  it  difficult  fo  admit 
umilatity  m  a  distinct  source  of  connection  between  our  ideas,  I  am 
utterly  unaUe  to  conceive  how  this  elTect  csn  ever  take  place,  (hat  ia, 
VOL.  vu. :  1  r  449 


REMARKS  ON  THE 


I  coDtcod  thai  there  mun  be  in  thii  cue  a  ditcct  comtDunicauon 
between  the  ocw  trapreauuo,  aad  the  timtlar  oid  one  before  tbetc  can 
be  any  ponihtc  rciioti  fiic  the  revival  of  the  aitwaiid  idea*,  aod  then 
the  Mmc  dit^culty  will  return  at  before^  why  one  limibr  impreMion 
iboald  tuvr  a  natural  tendency  to  CXCitc  aoothcr,  which  lendcncy 
cannot  be  accounted  for  front  anociitioQi  for  it  goe*  before  it.  aod  on 
lhi»  hypotheua  i»  abioluiely  occctMry  to  account  ^w  it. — Whatem 
relate*  to  local  cODoection  must  be  coniioed  to  the  radividiul 
impreMion  and  cannot  poioibly  extend  to  the  claM  or  gttaii,  Suppote 
usociation  to  depend  on  the  actual  juxiapoiition  of  two,  or  more  local 
ini]ire»iont  which  being  lhu>  accidentally  brought  together  bare 
thrown  a  sort  of  grappling  ironx  ocer  one  another,  and  cootinoc  to  act 
in  concert  in  consequence  of  this  intniediaic  local  commiiiucuioci.  It 
is  clear  thai  in  thie  caae  none  but  the  individual,  or  numerical 
imprttuons  so  united  can  have  any  power  over  each  other.  No 
matter  how  like  any  other  intprcKiion  tnay  be  to  any  of  the  anociated 
ortca, — if  it  doe4  not  agree  in  place  at  well  aa  kind,  it  might  m  well 
not  exiat  at  all ;  it't  inlluence  cat)  no  more  be  felt  in  the  acM  of  the 
lirsi,  than  if  it  were  farcel  of  another  iatcllect,  or  Hoatcd  in  the 
regions  oi'  the  moon.  Again  auppoae  aatociatioa  lo  connitt  not  in 
coDneciing  dilTerent  local  !mpreMion«,  but  in  reconciling  diffcreDt 
heterogeneous  actions  of  the  taroe  thinking  principle,  ■  in  irobdutng  the 
*  one  even  to  the  very  quality  of  the  other,'  here  the  diipoaiiioo  tij'  the 
raind  being  the  chief  thing  concerned,  not  only  ihote  very  identical 
imprettiona  will  coalesce  together  which  have  been  previoaily 
aBsuciaied,  but  any  other  very  similar  iniprenion*  to  these  will  have 
a  iiicility  in  cxciiinji  one  another,  that  ii  in  acting  upon  the  mind  at 
the  aame  time,  their  ainociation  depending  solely  on  the  habitual  die- 
poiition  of  the  mind  to  receive  nich  and  luch  impressiona  when 
preoccupied  by  certain  other*,  their  local  relation  to  each  other  being 
the  lame  in  all  caaet. — The  moment  it  ii  adiititted  not  to  be  aece«tary 
to  association  that  the  very  individual  imprtuions  should  be  actually 
revived,  the  foundation  of  all  the  bferencea  which  have  been  built  on 
this  principle  is  completely  done  awav. 

Aiaociution  ii  then  only  one  of  the  ways  in  which  ideas  arc 
rccollecicd  or  brought  back  into  the  mind.  Another  view  of  the 
subject  remains  which  is  to  coofidct  their  cffi^cis  after  they  get  there 
as  well  BR  how  they  are  introduced,  why  certain  ideas  alTect  the  mtod 
dilfcreatly  from  others,  and  by  what  mean*  tvc  are  enabled  to  fonn 
compariaoQs  and  draw  inferences. 

It  aasocialiun  were  every  thing,  and  the  cause  ot  every  tbiagf  then 
could  be  no  compariion  of  one  idea  with  another,  no  retttoaing,  no 
abstraction,  no  regular  conirivsocc,  no  witdom,  no  general  mwc  of 

45*> 


I 


I 
I 


SYSTEMS  OF  HARTLKY    AND  HELVETIUS 


right  intl  wfODf;,  no  tyiiipathy,  du  roK»ighi  of  any  thiojc,  ia  tiuirt 
nothing  thai  i*  aKtituI,  or  honounUe  to  ibe  human  mind  would  be 
left  to  it.  Accordingly  the  ubcttors  of  thi*  theory  have  aei  themtclfes 
to  shew,  thai  juJgmtal,  imiigm.ilnn,  he.  arc  mere  wordii  (liat  really 
signify  nocliinj;  but  ccrt;iin  aitoctationt  of  iitcat  following  one  another 
in  the  Mine  mechanical  order  in  which  they  were  originally  inijireiaed, 
and  that  all  our  feelingt,  t.istet,  habiu  and  actioat  apring  from  the 
Kinic  Jource.  A»  I  know  of  no  proof  whaleviT  iliat  him,  or  can  be 
gircn  of  either  of  these  pii[:iduxe*  but  that  many  of  our  opinion*  are< 
prejudice*,  and  thxi  many  »f  our  feelings  ariK  from  babii,  1  ahill 
state  ai  concisely  ai!  I  c^  rav  reatoni  for  thinking  that  usociatioo 
alone  docs  not  account  either  (or  the  proper  ojicrationa  of  tlic  under^ 
Biiudingi  or  for  our  moral  feelinga,  and  voluntary  actioM,  or  that 
there  are  other  general,  original,  independent  faculties  ecjually  necenarjr 
and  more  important  in  ihc  *  building  up  of  the  human  mind.'  In 
every  companion  made  by  ilic  mind  of  one  idea  with  another,  that  U 
perception  of  ngrcemeot,  or  disagreement,  or  of  any  kind  of  relation 
between  them,  I  conceive  thai  there  in  wmetbing  implied  which  is 
eucmially  different  from  any  utociaiion  of  idea*.  Bctore  I  proceed, 
howercf,  I  mutt  repeat  that  in  this  question  I  stand  merely  on  the 
defeniive.  1  have  no  poiitive  tnfercnces  to  make,  nor  any  noreltie* 
to  bring  forward,  and  I  have  only  to  defend  a  comnioDKnae  feeling 
agaioU  the  refinements  of  a  false  philosophy.  I  understand  by 
aasociation  of  ideas  the  recollecting  or  perceiving  any  two  or  more 
ideas  together,  or  immediately  one  after  the  other.  Now  it  is  cvotended 
that  this  immediate  succession,  coexistence  or  juxtaposition  of  our 
ideal  b  all  that  can  be  meant  by  their  compariion.  It  is  therefore  a 
qucMion  in  this  cue  what  becomes  of  the  ideas  of  likeness,  ei^ualityi 
&c.  for  if  there  is  tto  other  connection  between  our  ideas  than  what 
Brines  from  potitire  association,  it  seem*  to  fallow  that  all  object* 
KVn,  or  if  yon  pleate  thought  of  together  niuil  be  ecjunlly  like,  and 
that  the  likeness  is  completely  done  away  by  separating  the  object*  or 
■uppuing  thecn  to  be  separated.  As  these  idea*  are  lomc  of  the 
clearest  and  most  important  we  hare,  it  may  be  reasonably  demanded 
that  any  attempt  to  account  for  them  by  remlving  them  into  other 
idea*  with  which  ibey  have  not  at  (irtt  sight  the  leui  connection 
■hould  be  perfectly  clear  and  satitfactory.  Let  un  lee  how  far  thia 
baa  been  done.  It  has  been  contended  then  that  tlie  only  idea  of 
C4]uality  which  ibc  mind  can  posiibly  hare  ia  the  recollection  of  the 
tnttiUr  mfrttthn  made  by  the  meeting  of  the  coDliguoui  pojnt*,  or 
end*  of  two  urait  lines  for  example.^      Here  two  <]ue«tioni  will 

*  Sm  Etsayi  by  T.  Cooptr  of  Miaclxsut.    Thb  very  CMiout  anilpi*  mi  atM 
lcliTen<l  irilS  pnt  t'sviiy  by  Mr.  Mu-lntiMh  to  the  awtifhyiial  lUMltat)  of 

♦S" 


REMARKS  ON  THE 


ante.  The  (iitt  i*  whtther  ibc  idra  of  d^uatity  i«  merely  a  particuhr 
way  of  cflondcriog  contiguity.  Secondly,  vrltethcr  aisociation,  that 
it  the  lucceMioti  ot  ^xtapMiition  of  o«r  itJe«i  can  cTct  of  itself' 
iiTDtliice  (he  idei  o(  thi*  relatioo  between  tbcni.  Mj  firit  ob)rci  will 
be  to  inquite  whetlict  ilie  perccpliaa  of  the  cqualuy  of  two  line*  U 
tlie  tame  wilh  the  perccplioa  of  the  contiguiiy  of  their  cxtfemiiiea, 
whether  the  one  idea  oeceaiarily  iochidet  every  thing  tliat  tt  contaioed 
in  the  other. 

1  we  two  point*  touch  one  anothcfi  Ot  thai  then  i*  ao  Mnribk 
iotenml  between  them.  What  poMtbte  connection  ii  there  between 
Ibis  idea,  and  that  of  their  beinjt  the  bouodariea  of  two  line*  of  rc|ua] 
length  i  It  i(  only  by  drawing  a«i  tbote  point*  to  a  cenaio  diatance 
tfaat  I  ^t  the  idea  of  any  line*  at  all ;  tbey  matt  be  drawn  out  to  the 
Mine  di«unce  before  they  can  be  e<|Dal ;  and  I  can  hare  do  idea  of 
their  being  equal  without  dividing  that  e<)ttal  dinance  inio  two  diaiinct 
part*  or  linct,  both  of  which  I  moit  contider  at  the  ume  time  si 
Gouuned  with  the  tame  limrta.  If  ihc  idea*  merely  tocceeded  oae 
aaothcTt  or  even  coextiied  at  diitinct  image*,  they  would  itiJI  be 
perfectly  unconnected  wiih  each  other,  each  being  abaoJutcly  con- 
tained within  itself,  and  there  brioK  ''o  coounao  act  Oif  attCMioa  to 
both  to  uniic  them  tojcethcr.  Now  the  qucction  i*  whether  thu 
■  perccplino  of  the  e<|ualiiy  of  thete  two  line*  u  not  profietly  an  idea 
I  of  conijiariton,  (in  the  »en«e  in  which  every  one  utc*  aod  fed*  ibeae 
wortli)  which  idea  ouiQot  pouibly  be  expreated  or  defined  by  any 
other  retaiion  between  our  ideat,  or  whether  it  it  oaty  a  roaod-aboal 
way  of  getting  at  [be  old  idea  of  tbe  coincidence  of  their  ]ioiaia  or 
ends  which  ccri^tinly  ii  nut  an  idea  of  compariton,  or  of  the  rctatkn 
between  equal  quantiiict  simply  becaune  there  arc  no  qianttliea  to  bv 
GOiDporcd.  The  one  rclatet  to  tlic  agreen>ent  of  tlie  tiling*  thest> 
«clv<«  one  with  another,  the  other  to  their  local  titiuuoc.  There  i* 
DO  proving  any  farther  that  ibete  idea*  are  dilTetent,  but  by  appealing 
to  every  man'i  own  hrcait.  If  any  one  thould  choo*e  to  autrn  that 
two  and  two  make  tix,  or  thai  the  ran  it  the  moon,  I  can  only  aotwcf 
by  taying  that  thetc  idciiR  as  they  exiit  in  my  mind  are  toully  difTemii. 
Id  like  manner  I  am  conncioiu  of  certain  o{)crationt  in  my  own  mind 
in  comparing  two  c^iual  linct  together  eatcntially  dtHcreni  from  the 
perception  of  the  coDtiguity  of  ibeir  extremitiet,  and  I  therefore  con- 
clude that  the  tdeat  of  equality  and  contiguity  are  not  the  tame. 

LldcuIaVlnu.  I  confrH  1  Like  injrraultj,  bovtwr  Rii»pplie<l,  it  SnU  but  ■  Dian't 
awD  :  but  (he  <luU,  incclcil,  potnpcraa  rcprtiiioo  al  eunienic  ii  DM  lo  be  ni>«uRd 
with  pitiencc.  In  tettitrng  what  la  aot  our  own,  the  only  inctii  miMt  be  ia  the 
choict,  or  juilfinrnl.  A  nun,  hu<Kvcr,  wilbont  orijjiniiliiy  may  ft!  hive  cominoa 
•cnw  inri  comnMn  honnly.  To  be  ■  hawker  of  worn-oui  ptr4<)(>tet,  tad  i  Mndcr 
to  tDphittrji  dcnotct  in-l<cH  i  AeipttiU  imhilion. 

45" 


4 


SYSTEMS  OF  HAHTLEY  AND  HELVETIUS 


N 


TIk  icCDiid  ({uctuoa  it  whethct  the  idn  of  cootiguiiy  iuclf  i«  ait 
Idea  of  mere  Maocuaoti,  that  i*  whether  it  ii  nothing  more  th^m  the 
recollection  of  a  compoiuid  •ctiBaiiun.  I  f  by  «eauiioa  ii  to  be  undcf  • 
nooil  tlic  direct  intpreuion  ot  (be  partu  of  any  outvraid  object  on 
cortcbponding  parti  of  in  cxtrniled  living  nibiiancc,  by  which  means 
the  general  miH  i*  conrerted  from  n  dead  inio  a  living  thing,  and 
that  this  is  the  only  diffetcrice  that  lake*  [ilnce,  then  I  deny  that  ihii 
CombiDMioa  of  lirin{|  atoms,  thU  dilFusioa  of  animal  senubiliiy, 
however  exquintc  or  ihrillia^t  (o  the  tlightnt  touch,  will  ever  ];i*e 
tlie  iilca  ofjvJa/iaa.  of  any  kind  whether  of  contiguity,  coexiwcnce,  or 
any  thing  eUc  either  immediately  at  the  time  or  by  recollection  after- 
ward*. It  hat  been  nid  that  to  Jiel  ii  to  lUnli,  '  imlir  nl  pmjtr.' 
I  believe  ihsi  this  is  true  of  the  human  mind,  bvciute  the  human 
mind  is  a  thinking  principle,  it  ii  nstural  to  it  to  think,  it  canaot  foci  ^ 
^viih^ul  thitiking :  bat  this  maxim  wouM  not  be  at  nil  true  of  tuch  a 
human  mind  ai  a  detcribcd  by  iheie  philuiaj'liers,  which  would  be 
equally  incapable  both  of  thouj^ht,  and  feeling  at  it  exuti  in  us.  A* 
thu  dutincttoo  is  very  difficult  to  be  cxprcised,  I  hope  I  may  be 
allowed  to  express  it  in  the  beet  way  that  I  am  able.  Sunpote  a 
Dumber  of  animslcultc  as  a  heap  of  mile*  in  a  rotten  cli«t«c  lying  as 
dote  logclhei  ai  they  can  stick  (though  the  example  sliould  be  ot 
something  'more  drossy  and  divisible,'  of  something  leu  reasonable, 
xpproaching  never  to  pure  MTitttion  than  we  can  conceive  of  any 
crcatuic  ilutt  cxercites  the  (unctionn  of  the  meanest  inniinct.)  No 
one  will  contend  thai  in  thi»  heap  of  living  matter  there  it  any  idea  of 
the  number,  position,  ot  intricate  involutions  of  that  little,  lively, 
re«Ieu  tribe.  This  idea  is  evidcatly  not  contained  in  any  of  the 
paru  tcpariiely,  nor  ii  it  contained  in  all  of  them  put  together.  Thai 
is,  the  ag^^rej^ate  of  many  actual  (eDuiions  is,  we  here  plainly  sec,  a 
totally  dillerent  thbg  from  the  collective  idea,  comprehension,  or 
raa/ciniiwii  of  those  tentaiioa*  as  many  things,  or  of  any  of  their 
relation)  to  each  other.  We  may  go  on  multiplying  and  corabaning 
•entation*  to  the  cad  of  time  without  ever  advanci&g  one  step  in  the 
other  proce«(,  or  producing  one  single  tliought.  But  to  what  1  would 
ask  docs  this  supposition  dilfcr  from  that  of  many  distinct  particles  of 
matter,  full  of  aniination,  tunibliog  about,  and  preaiin;>  againtt  each 
other  in  the  same  brain,  except  that  we  make  u>e  of  thti  brain  as  a 
common  medium  to  unite  their  dilTereoi  dcvuhoiy  action*  in  the  same 
general  principle  of  thought,  or  coo*doun»eM  i  Therefore  if  there  is 
no  power  in  this  principle  bni  to  repeat  the  old  itory  of  Kosattoo  over 
agua,  if  the  mind  is  but  a  sort  of  inner  room  where  the  iraagea  of 
exwnial  tbiogs  like  pictures  in  a  g^lery  are  lodged  tafe,  and  dry  ont 
of  the  reach  of  the  turbulence  of  the  aenaes,  but  remaining  a*  distinct 

453 


REMARKS  ON  THE 


iron,  Mil  if  I  m»j  *d  «y  u  petfectlj  unlLaowa  tu  ooc  aaothn-  u  tbe 
pidutei  on  a  wall,  there  being  no  general  (acuity  to  orerlook  uid  gin 
ooticc  of  iKcir  »cicta!  imprcwoiK,  thii  mcdnim  i*  without  any  uar, 
Ui«  hypothMJs  ii  to  fu  an  cncucnbrancc,  not  an  adrantage.  To 
pcrcrifc  lli«  Tclauon  of  one  thing  to  another  tt  it  aot  only  ncce«ury 
thai  the  idna  of  the  thing*  tbeniKlvci  tbould  co-exist  (which  would 
tigcify  nothing)  but  tlut  tbcy  (hould  be  [iercd««d  to  co-exi«i  by  tbe 
Mme  coniciou*  uodcrtunding,  or  that  th«ii  diflercnt  akctioM  iliould  be 
Ml  at  the  name  inHaoi  by  the  umc  being  in  tbe  ttrictcn  bcOM.  If 
I  ant  a»ked  if  I  conceive  clearly  how  thia  n  pomblc.  I  aai««r  no:— 
perhapi  uo  one  ever  will,  or  can.  But  [  do  undentand  ck-arly,  that 
tbe  other  aupjioMtion  it  an  abiutdity,  and  can  never  be  reconcilra  whb 
the  naiure  of  thought,  or  cuntciouineu,  of  thnt  power  of  which  I  have 
an  abaolute  certainty  in  my  own  mind.  If  any  one  who  still  doobls 
of  thii  will  gire  roc  a  itati»faciory  rcaion  why  be  dcnie*  (be  ntiM 
cooKioiunrM  to  dilferenc  minds,  or  thinkn  it  neccitary  to  ciicuniKribe 
thii  principle  within  the  limit*  of  the  *nnie  brain  boi  upon  the  ni[^MMi- 
(ion  chat  one  brain  it  one  power,  in  tome  tort  modifying  and  reacting 
upon  all  tlie  ideaji  contained  in  it,  I  thall  then  be  ready  lo  give  up  my 
dull,  cluudy,  Engliib  myitidnn  for  ihe  clear  aky  of  French  meia- 
phytic*.  Till  then  it  it  in  vain  to  [ell  me  that  the  mind  think*  by 
•cntation*,  that  it  tbca  think*  moiL  caipluticall]'i  then  ool)'  truly  when 
by  decompounding  it's  essence  it  come*  at  lui  to  rcdcci  the  naked 
impression  of  roaietial  object*.  It  !*  eaty  to  make  a  bold  aMcrtioiif 
and  jual  at  eaiy  to  deny  it  i  and  I  do  not  know  that  there  ta  any 
authority  yet  citabliihcd  by  which  I  am  bound  to  yield  an  implicit 
a»cnt  to  every  extravagant  opinion  which  some  man  of  celebrity  hu 
been  hardy  enough  to  adopt,  and  make  othcr»  believe.  It  doe*  not 
lurcly  follow  that  a  thing  i*  in  be  dialielievcd,  the  moment  any  one 
thinks  proper  to  deny  it,  merdy  because  it  has  been  gencfaJly  bclicrcd, 
as  if  truth  were  one  entire  paradox,  and  tingularity  the  only  claim  to 
authoriqF.' 

'  Thii  lu^j'^  "^  cuQiciouiDeu,  Iht  most  ttatnu«,lhr  motl  impotlant  of  alt 
olhrn,  the  nioii  lillrti  uiib  tnminc  in(ipliat)le<«nlTailicliDnt,lhit  which  bM>  tht 
(omjilticfl  dtriiiir*  (0  ilw  mutttr-of-fxt  philanphy  ■nd  tan  01117  he  Mmlaptd  bjr 
the  patient  •dUcUiiiK  of  0  n»n*>  own  ipiiil  hii  been  iccotdlaglf  piucil  otti  by  tat 
hrrd  of  ptiiluiophcn  from  I.ockc  ilnwDwiiilt.  Then  11  ■  *tiott  uatt  ibout  it  In 
HarlUy  in  which  h«  ftitlf  itnitt  the  potiibilily  <>(  sny  luch  ihinf.  Lot  n^l  I 
htv«  glrridy  uiH  >)iouli>  Ihmforc  tu  iritut]i<irnt  lo  fi(  tht  atunlion  tt  tht  rn<lcr 
on  I  luliJFCi  whith  he  may  ihiak  (jiiiit  rinloitcd,  I  will  tM  tht  iccounl  whicb 
Rouiieau  hii  fivtti  of  the  urrie  ii]t>ject,  whoir  mlhorily  doe*  not  w<i|ll  the  Ina 
with  uc  bcciuac  h  i>  uniuppoiicil  by  tht  Logic  of  CDotllUic,  or  the  book  De 
I'Elpril. 

*Mc  vgki  d»a  lout  aimi  ifir  dc  I'taiittiKe  4i  I'onhrn,  qut  de  Ii  (nkWM, 
Eniuitf  je  reflechia  tur  U*  objcli  dc  met  aenattioDa,  et  trounot  en  niei  U  lb(«tl£ 

4S4 


I 


SYSTEMS  OF  HARTLEY   AND  HELVETIUS 


I 

■ 


1  nerer  could  male?  much  of  the  tvbjcct  of  rral  rcUtioni  i&  nauire. 
But  in  whaterer  vny  we  dctrrminc  wiili  mpcct  lo  ihcm,  whctlicr 
ihcy  lie  absolutely  true  in  [laturcp  or  are  only  the  creatuics  of  the 
mind,  ihcy  cannot  exist  io  nature  afier  the  tune  manner  that  thcjr 
exist  in  the  human  mind.  The  fonni  of  thingi  la  iiaiur«  at« 
Aianifold  i  they  only  become  one  by  beinfi  united  io  the  ictmc  common 
principle  of  thought.  The  rcUtion*  of  the  thinci  thcmMlvet  u  they 
exiit  wpirately  and   by  thcmHlve«  must  ihctefore  be  very  different 

lie  In  cnmpir«r,jc  mt  tent  dauc  d'uoe  (arte  letliK  que  jc  ne  WToit  pu  ■volt 

'Appircevoir,  c'mI  HOlir  |  tomprcr,  cW  jii|n  :  juirr  cl  KDllr  nc  loot  p»  Ii 
njnw  tboK.  Ptr  ti  •tiHlion,  U*  o(ij«It  *'offreni  ■  tnni  lipiih,  <t<iln,  teli  ^u'ilt 
•anf  iiat  li  Nitun  ;  pir  Is  compiraiion,  jt  It*  t«ina(,  jc  lc>  Inntpgtit,  poui  linii 
riirr.  j«  lei  fan  I'lin  aai  I'lulrc,  par  prononcrt  lur  Itur  dtlf&ciut  ou  car  kur 
■lm>l>luilc,e(  Etnciilcmcntiur  loui  Icun  rappona.  Sdon  moi,  U  (mbIU  diatinttlvt 
lie  I'hn  ttltl,  an  inlellifcnl  «l  rie  pauix>ir  -leaner  ua  kth  i  <r  loot,  or.  Je 
chtrcht  en  nln  ilina  I'lIH  purrmcnl  tcniitif  MItc  fcir«  IntrlligeDU,  qui  aupcrpsw, 
ft  pLji»  qui  prnnoncr  i  j'  nr  la  tauroia  voir  Hana  ta  nalorv,  C<i  itit  ptnH  irntira 
cb>i|ur  objfl  Kpari^nKnt,  ini  memc  il  aentira  Vvtijal  total  forme  'lt>  <lFi>a,  miia 
a'ajFint  autuae  lor«  pgut  In  ttpUtr  I'us  iDC  I'autrt,  il  nc  ka  canipatara  jimaia,  il 
ne  ha  jugen  polnl. 

'  Voir  <leui  olijeu  i  ti  fola,  n'eit  fta  voir  Irura  rappoita,  oi  jumr  it<  leur* 
dllTcTTDcca;  (ppcitcvoir  ptuaieura  objeta  lei  uoi  bora  itt)  aatrea,  n'tal  fn  lea 
nonibin.  ]e  puia  aroir  au  mcme  ioaunt  I'lilee  d'oa  t>ind  bilon  tt  d'un  petit 
b^ion  aula  lea  companrt  aani  Ju^r  que  I'un  cat  plm  petit  qae  Ttutre,  cornmc  }e 
puii  \-oir  )  la  foil  nu  main  rntiirr  nni  dirt  It  compta  ric  mti  rioi(ta.  Cri  iictt 
Compiraiivea,  fjm  [tMiJ,  f.'ti  frr.i,  ile  mfm*  que  lea  idee*  Dumalquea  li'aa,  de 
irur,  Ik.  nc  torn  ceriaineinenl  pi  ilea  aeniaiioaa,  ^unique  mon  taprii  ne  lea 
produlae,  qu'l  roctuion  dc  mci  icnutiuna. 

'On  nova  dit  que  )*al»  lenaitif  diatingue  lea  MniatiDni  lea  unea  dct  autna  par 
In  difffrtncaa  qa'ont  cnlr'ellea  era  memei  aeaaaliona  ;  ctci  demand*  ripUcition. 
Onud  In  wiUMioat  lont  rlitTirinlra,  I'etre  ataiilif  In  ■liMiniur  par  Ifuta 
olffibcMnt  qiuad  elle*  aoni  tembUbln,  il  lea  diitinfui  p>Ke  qu'il  icnl  Ira  unea 
hort  det  aulfca.  Autremenl,  conunent  dial  uiw  ttaulion  ilmulliaei!  dlalinfiu- 
roit-il  deal  oljeta  efauiF  tl  (aad[«tt  n&MMlNBtDl  qu'll  conlondit  en  deui 
objua,  et  le*  prit  pour  It  mfme,  tur-taut  d*Dl  an  Ijntfine  ou  I'on  pretend  que  In 
lenaallona  rcpreacntititti  de  I'ltcnrfue  ne  aoat  polnc  clendues. 

'Quand  lea  deua  arnaationa  i  comparer  aont  apper^ura,  laur  rmpreaaion  rat  tt^tt 
dtaquf  objfl  cat  Hnti,  In  dtui  annt  amlia  i  mail  tanr  rappnri  n>at  pu  aenii  pour 
ctU.  Si  Ui  ja|«iD«nt  dt  e*  rapport  aitoit  qyone  atnaation,  &  me  venoil 
uni<|vem»nt  -te  t'objet,  mta  jii|:*meni  oc  me  tromperoient  junaia,  paliqu'il  n'at 
jamsit  faul  que  je  lente  ce  que  je  aena. 

*PDU(quai  •loflc  eai.ee  que  ]e  me  trompc  nir  le  lepport  de  ce*  deni  balonai 
*ur-tout  t'lli  ne  tont  pu  paralletca  I  Povtquoi,  di*-Je,  par  anrnple,  que  k  petit 
baton  eat  le  liera  du  irand,  tandia  qu'il  A*cii  eat  que  ke  quart  f  Ppurquni  I'lmafC, 
qui  nt  la  aenaation,  n*«*t  tlk  paa  cDnfgrnx  i  *oa  morltk,  qui  til  I'objit  I  Ceat 
qna  j*  auil  ictifqiitnd  i«  ja|f,  qnt  roHtatim  qui  compart  tat  fautivt,  tl  qut  mun 
Bltadtmtiu,  qui  joir  le*  nppMt*,  mel*  wa  trrvura  i  U  m'ai  dn  lenutloai  qui 
M  montrenl  que  lea  ubjeia. 

*A}oulet  i  tela  use  t^Deiuui  qui  von  fr*pper«,  je  m'aaaurc,  qsind  tou(  y  ram 
fcaat ;  c'nt  ^u  »1  noui  elloaa  purement  pnatfa  dan*  t'«a*|(  dc  n«a  moi,  U  afif 

4SS 


REMARKS  ON  THE 

from  their  relaiionis  u  perceived  by  ihc  raisd  where  tfaey  have  to 
imncdiiuc  comtnuoicsuoa  with  each  other.  The  thinet  thcnuclfva 
can  only  han  ihr  ume  rL-laiioe  to  each  athcf  that  the  ideu  of  tbingc 
haee  in  dilfcrrnt  mioAt,  at  that  our  Hnublc  impircutons  raiuc  h^vc  to 
one  loutlict  brfurc  vre  lefef  them  to  wiDG  inward  coivkhku  [irinciptr. 
Without  thii  coancctjoo  between  our  idn>  in  tbc  miod  there  could 
be  no  pci'rercncc  of  one  thing  to  asMher,  do  choice  of  mraai  to  codi, 
that  i«,  no  roluntJtry  actioa.  Snppote  the  idcu  or  imprctMons  of  any 
two  objrcu  to  he  jirrlrctly  dittiaci  and  rind,  mpjioee  tbem  moreover 
lo  he  mcchaoically  oiioeialtd  logtther  in  my  mind,  and  that  thejr  bear 
in  fact  just  the  ume  proportion  to  each  other  that  the  object*  do  in 
ntlure,  that  the  one  i*  attended  with  ju«t  h>  mach  more  pleanrc  thaa 
tbc  other,  and  t*  to  much  more  detirable,  what  efieci  can  iht*  of 
itaelf  have  but  to  produce  a  proportionable  deigree  of  unthinkin]t  com- 
pJaceocy  in  thcdtncrent  feeticgt  belonging  to  each,  and  a  propottiofiBUe 
liegrce  of  tchcmcncc  in  the  blind  imputtc,  by  which  1  am  attached  to 
each  of  them  leparaiely  and  for  the  moment^     If  there  it  no  per- 

Zion  of  the  relation  between  difTercot  feelings,  no  proper  companion 
he  one  with  tlie  other,  there  may  indeed  be  a  monger  impulav 
toward)  the  one  than  there  is  towards  the  other  to  the  dinercnt  «eal« 
of  perception  which  they  teverully  atTect,  bm  there  can  be  bo 
reaiooable  attachment,  no  preference  of  the  one  to  tlie  other  in  (he 
•ame  genrral  principle  of  tlioughi  and  action.  And  conac^ui^ntly  on 
thi»  xupgioHtion  if  the  objecta  or  feeling*  are  iocoinpatiblc  with  »cb 
other,  I,  or  rather  the  di^reot  aenMUc  beingi  witliin  me  will  be 
drawn  diifiercDt  way*,  each  according  to  it'i  own  pariicular  bUa> 
blindly  pcrtliting  in  it's  own  choice  without  crer  thinking  of  any 
other  interen  than  it'*  own,  or  being  in  the  lea*l  affected  by  anv  idea 
of  tbc  general  good  of  the  whole  wntient  being,  which  would  be  a 
thing  utterly  incomprehensible. — To  {wrccive  icUiiodi,  if  not  to 
chooac  between  good  and  evil,  to  prefer  a  grcBlcr  good  to  a  }c»«  a 
luting  to  a  tranaiciW  enjoyment  belong*  only  to  one  mind,  or  tpitit, 

aiil«it  tatt'cut  lucun  comniunicstain  t  il  noni  nana  impeMiblc  ilo  cunnuilre  IVSj 
le  COTM  que  naD*  louthoni,  ti  I'obJFi  ijuc  uuim  voyoai  loni  le  ni(in<.    Ou  noin  i 
•entmoM  Jarnali  licn  hoo   ilc  nuui,  ou  il  y  auroii  poor  noui  cinq  iuIuim 
KDiiblti,  ilonc  noui  n'miiiuni  nul  moy«D  dVppetcCTOir  riileniili. 

'Qu'fln  ilonnc  ttl  ou  lei  ttom  a  CMt«  fom  dc  mon  nprit  qui  rtpprotbe  M  i 
pan  mt*  •caasiinot  |  qn'on  I'appeUt  attnilion,  mcditcilon,  tcAunai,  mi  ca 
on  voudra  )  loujouit  cd-il  vrai  qu'clle  ax  en  moi  tt  non  lUni  lc»  tlw«M^  qut  e** 
moi  t(ul  ijiii  11  produii,  quoi^  je  nc  li  prD^M  qu^  I'octMua  ilt  I'lmfnMioa 
qu«  /a»t  lUT  nioi  Ic)  ol^el*.  S«iu  ecrc  mutrc  ile  Kniir  au  ile  ne  pM  icntirt  j>  le 
>uli  'rciamincr  plot  ou  nula*  cc  que  Je  leni. 

*  Ic  n«  mil  clone  pt  •implement  un  etic  tenillif  et  piuif,  mail  bo  etre  iclif  ct 
inlollipni,  «t  quoi  qv'cn  dac  la  Bhiloaopbic,  J'oietai  ftittoin  t  rhunaeur  <lc 
pentir,  Jtc' — Ehiu,  beginning  of  the  ihiH,  or  tod  of  tat  MMDd  Tolome. 


1 


l^--^' 

^'0.. 


SYSTEMS  OF  HARTLEY  AND  HELVETIUS 

the  mtad  tlui  is  m  uurit  wbJdi  is  ibe  ccouc  ta  wJucii  aU  hi*  tbotighu 
nK«t,  and  die  (n.utcrfprinx  by  which  all  hit  Mriiooa  Ara  gotcriKd. 
Every  thing  ii  one  in  taiaic,  and  govcrnnl  by  un  abtolute  tin[iulM>  < 
The  mind  of  man  atoac  ii  lelative  to  other  ibin^s  ■<  rcprMcnu  OM 
it«clt'  but  ni«ny  ihiap  cxticing  out  of  iitelf,  i(  doci  dm  therefore 
rcpfe'ttlt  tlie  trulb  by  being  wniibic  of  one  thing  but  many  tluojf 
(for  nature,  it*»  object,  in  nunifoM)  and  though  the  thingt  tbcnuclvc* 
Mb  ibcy  really  cxiii  oinnot  go  out  of  thcniiclve«  into  other  thingi,  or 
•:om)>ioni!te  their  natures  there  !>  no  reaton  why  the  ininJ  wliich  if 
meiely  rcpresentuiive  tbould  be  confined  to  iny  ooe  of  then  more 
ihxn  to  any  other,  and  a  perfect  unJer&tinilin^  thuultl  coniprebead 
''•ihem  ^I  M  they  irc  all  cimtalneil  iii  nuiure,  or  in  a/l.  No  une  oliject 
or  idea  therefore  ought  to  imfel  ibc  mind  (at  ii't  own  cake  but  a*  it  i* 
rcialiiY  to  other  thing*,  nor  ic  a  moiirc  true  or  natnral  in  reference  to 
the  human  mind  nictely  bccaute  it  exist*,  uolew  we  at  the  Mine  time 
aujmoie  it  to  be  sirutiitei  than  all  oiltcrs. 

But  to  rcttini.  I  conceive  timi  that  taKtioo  necesMrtiy  implies 
thought  or  foreiigbt,  that  is,  tlut  it  is  Dot  sccountcd  for  fium  mere 
aasociatioo.  All  (oluntAry  tictiun  intplici  a  view  to  coeiicquencea,  a 
peroeptioQ  of  the  analogy  between  certiia  action*  alre^idy  jtiveo,  and 
the  particular  action  then  to  be  employed,  also  a  knowledge  of  the 
connection  between  certain  actions  and  the  clfecti  to  be  prnducnl  by 
ihco  i  and  lastly,  s  Acuity  of  conitHiUDC  all  ibcK  with  paiticulat 
circumstances  so  is  to  be  nble  to  judge  bow  far  they  -.ut  likely  to 
impede  or  aisin  the  accoraplishiDent  of  our  purposes,  in  what  manner 
it  may  be  necesinry  lo  vary  our  cxctlioni  according  to  the  luturc  of 
the  case,  whether  a  greater  or  less  degree  of  force  is  rc^joircd  to 
produce  the  effect,  &c.  Without  thik  'discourse  of  reason,'  this 
ctrcumipeeiion  and  conipariton.  it  seems  to  be  »s  impossible  for  the 
bunun  niiml  to  minuc  any  regular  object  u  it  would  be  for  a  man 
hemmed  in  nn  all  tides  by  the  walls  01  bouaet  and  bbod  alleys  to  sec 
his  way  clearly  before  bim  from  one  end  of  London  to  the  other,  or 
lo  go  IB  1  straight  line  from  WeMtninstcr  to  Wappiog.  One  would 
think  it  would  be  sufHcicnt  to  Mate  the  quettion  in  order  to  shew  that 
mere  aiKtciation  or  the  mechanical  rccturence  of  any  old  inijireHiioiu 
in  I  oettain  order,  wliich  can  never  exactly  correspond  with  the  given 
drcunstuice*.  would  never  tatUfactorily  accoum  ( withont  the  aid  of 
some  oUief  (aculiv)  for  the  complexity  and  nibtle  windings  and 
perpetual  changes  tn  the  motifea  of  human  action.  On  the  hypotbesit 
nere  spoken  w,  I  could  have  no  curaprehennfe  idea  of  things  to 
check  any  immodiate,  paaning  impulse,  nor  should  1  be  ;^Ie  to  make 
any  inference  with  respect  to  the  coitsrqiacnce*  of  my  actions  whenerer 
there  was  ibc  Icatt  alteration  to  the  circunwtancn  in  which  I  must 

457 


a    1. 


*.r- 


REMARKS  ON  THE 


■ct.  If  however  thU  itcoeral  itatcment  dot*  not  convioct  thotr  who 
iit«  unwilline  to  be  convinced  on  the  nibject,  I  hope  the  nattre  of  the 
objection  wil!  be  made  tnfliciently  clear  in  the  courte  of  the  ■rgnmcot. 

SccoodJy,  it  i*  necnury  to  Tolilioo  that  we  ihould  nippotc  the 
ima^Btry  o^  £ctirral  idcut  of  thing*  to  be  cfficieot  onaact  ot  action. 
Il  ia  implied  in  the  theory  wc  are  combaiisg  Uut  *onw  ion  of  idctu 
are  elficieot  motives  to  action,  becatue  sMociation  ittetf  conain*  of 
Idea*.  HaUt  can  be  noihioE  but  ilie  impulsive  force  of  certkia 
pby^cal  impremiuDi  nurvinng  in  their  idea*,  and  productnf;  tlte  aunc 
clfecta  M  the  original  impreMion*  lhem»clTei.  Why  (hen  ihoold  we 
Ttfiue  to  admit  the  mme,  or  a  limilnr  t>owcf  in  any  idcai  of  the  naiDc 
kind,  twcauw  they  have  been  combined  by  the  imagination  with 
different  circumtuncea,  or  because  a  great  many  ditferent  ideu  have 
gone  to  make  up  one  general  feeling  ?  Why,  if  the  inherent  tiualitiea 
of  the  ideal  arc  not  changed,  abould  not  the  etfecia  which  dcpnid  on 
ihote  i^u-iliiict  be  the  tame  alia!  It  cannot  be  pretended  that  ibere 
ia  something  in  the  nature  of  all  idea*  which  renders  them  inadequate 
to  the  production  of  muscular  nction,  the  one  being  a  mental,  the  other 
a  physical  eiaence.  !''or  ideas  arc  evidently  the  inRTumcat*  of 
aaiociatJoni  and  Rku«i  therefore  one  way  or  other  be  the  efficient 
cauiea  of  voluntary  action.  The  ideaa  of  iniaginatiQii  and  rtaaoa  nuiat 
be  analogous  to  those  of  memory  and  association,  or  they  could  not 
represent  their  Kvcral  ohjccta,  which  ia  abaiud. —  It  la  to  be 
remembered  that  the  tendency  of  any  idcaa  to  produce  action  cannot 
be  aacribcd  in  the  lirtt  instance  to  the  accidcntu  association  between 
the  original  tmpreaBioo  and  some  particular  aaion,  for  the  action  ia  an 
inmediatie  and  natural  connequence  of  the  impreuioo.  and  would 
equally  follovf  from  the  same  imprearion  in  any  other  circumttaaces, 
and  ought  to  follow  from  any  other  idea  partaking  of  the  same  general 
nature  and  [Topcnics.  The  proper  effects  of  auociition  can  only 
apply  to  tliote  cases,  where  an  impression  or  idea  by  being  utoctated 
with  another  has  acquired  a  power  of  exciting  actions  to  which  il  waa 
inelf  perfectly  indiflerent.  But  this  power  cannot  always  be  trana- 
(crred  from  one  imprestion  to  another,  for  there  must  be  some  original 
impression  which  has  an  inherent  independent  powet  to  prodoce 
action. 

I  do  not  know  how  far  the  rulea  of  phi loaophi zing  laid  down  bjr 
Sir  Isaac  Newton  apply  to  the  question,  but  it  appears  to  me  an 
evident  concluuon  of  conution  aeose  not  to  seek  for  a  remote  and 
bditect  cause  of  any  effect  where  there  it  a  direct  and  obvious  one. 
Whenever  therefore  a  particular  action  fbllowi  a  eii^n  inipienioiii 
if  there  is  nothing  in  the  imprcnion  itself  incompauble  with  such  an 
effect,  it  seems  an  absurdity  to  go  about  to  deduce  that  action  iroro 

4S» 


SYSTEMS  OF  HARTLEY   AND  HELVETIUS 


lome  otbet  Uiipretdon,  which  liai  no  au>tt  riftlit  to  it's  production 
than  that  which  it  immnliately  ;ind  obviotuly  connected  with  it.  In 
general  it  may  be  Inid  il»wn  .-u  -.i  prin<tple  of  al)  sound  icamning  that 
whcfr  thcie  arc  many  thingt  actiially  cxitting  which  may  be  autjttwd 
ii*  (he  C3u»eii  of  Revei;il  known  c^ecl*,  it  ia  best  to  divide  thoK  cflecti 
among  them,  not  aibitracily  to  by  the  whole  weight  of  >  complicated 
■erics  of  effect*  on  the  Bitouldcn  of  tionie  one  of  them,  generally 
singled  out  for  no  other  reaton  than  bccauae  it  is  the  most  remote  and 
theidbre  the  least  probable.  For  ihii  there  can  be  no  more  rcaton 
than  (or  tuppcMing  when  I  i«e  a  large  building  Handing  on  a  number 
of  pillars,  toai  the  whole  of  it  is  secretly  upheld  by  some  main  ^Uar 
in  (he  drntrc,  and  that  all  ihc  other  pill.irt  stand  there  for  shew,  not 
IMC.  The  principle  that  ihe  fewest  causes  [lossible  are  to  be  admitted 
is  certainly  not  troe  in  the  abstract;  and  the  injudicious  upplic^lion  of 
it  has  I  think  been  pfuducEivc  of  a  greM  deal  t>(  labc  reuoniDf. 
TTnqucstion.iUy,  where  there  i»  do  appearance  of  the  exisicocc  of 
certain  cauiiei,  they  are  to  be  admitted  with  caution :  «re  ate  not 
fancifully  lo  multiply  them  aJ  /it/turn  merely  because  we  are  not 
satiifipd  with  thouc  that  do  appear,  much  less  are  wc  (o  multiply  tbem 
gratuitously,  without  any  reason  at  all.  But  where  the  supposed 
cum  BCtudly  exist,  where  they  ate  known  to  exist,  and  hare  an 
obtioua  connection  with  certain  ifTeciE,  why  deprive  any  of  ihctc 
UUSC9  of  the  ml  ictivity  wbich  they  wein  to  possess  to  make  some 
one  of  tbem  tee)  and  stageer  under  a  weight  of  coosetjucnces  which 
nature  nerei  meant  loTay  upon  it?  Thi«  misuken  notion  of 
lirnplicity  has  been  the  general  fault  of  all  syitcm-mikers,  who  are  so 
wholly  taken  up  with  some  favourite  hypothesis  or  principle,  that 
they  make  that  tlie  eole  bioge  on  which  every  thing  else  turns,  and 
forget  that  there  is  any  other  jiower  really  at  work  in  the  universe, 
all  other  cauaet  1>eing  set  aside  as  (alie  and  nugatory,  or  elte  ri^tolred 
into  that  one. — There  it  another  princijilc  which  has  a  deep  foundation 
in  nature  that  bas  also  served  to  iirenetben  the  same  feeling,  which 
is,  that  things  never  act  alone,  tliat  almost  every  effect  that  can  be 
mentioned  is  a  compound  remit  of  a  series  of  causes  modifying  one 
another,  and  that  iht  true  cause  of  anything  is  therefore  seldom 
to  be  looked  for  on  the  surface,  or  in  the  fint  diiiinct  agent  that 

Ereseou  itself.  This  principle  consistently  followed  up  doe*  not 
Dwe^<r  lead  to  the  auppotilioo  that  the  immediate  and  natural  cause* 
of  ibingi  are  nothing,  but  that  the  moK  infliru  and  remote  are 
something,  it  proves  that  the  accumulated  weight  of  a  long  succcition 
of  real,  rfltcicnt  ciuks  it  generally  far  greyer  than  tliat  of  any  one 
of  them  separately,  not  that  the  operation  of  the  whole  series  is  in 
itaelf  mill  asd  void  but  aa  tlie  efficacy  of  the  fittt  sensible  cause  ii 

4S9 


HEMARKS  ON  THE 

Uanunittcil  downwBfda  bjr  sHOCUtion  (hiougb  ihc  whole  chain. 
AiuiciMiou  hii  bem  nuutatd  m  the  Iculiag  principle  in  ihr  opera- 
tioQB  uf  the  hunun  mind,  ind  tbca  maile  ihe  only  one,  foigettJng  dm 
thai  nature  miut  be  the  fi>und*lion  a{  CTCcy  milicial  pnDci])I«i  and 
»ccnndly  that  with  reipcct  to  the  mult,  cfcn  where  attoduioti  bu 
faxd  the  gTMtctt  influence,  hihil  in  ai  bcij  Ixit  a  hnif-woiker  with 
nilure,  (or  in  proportion  at  ilie  hxHi  becoraca  inveu'niie,  we  nun 
tU]ipOK  a.  greater  ni*mbn  ot  aaual  iotprcMioaf  id  bivc  CoiKUffvd  ia 
pfodiKing  it.' 

AMOciatioo  may  relate  only  to  feeling*,  luhii  tmplic*  scuiMi  k  dii-  ^ 
pooiiioo  to  <lo  tonwtluttg.  Let  lu  tuppote  then  that  it  wetv  ponible 
to  account  in  tfaii  way  for  all  thone  jlTcaiorK  which  rchte  to  old 
object*,  and  idnu,  which  depend  on  lecallinj  put  fccliagt  by  looking 
Ixick  inio  our  mrnioricR.  But  ibc  moiucni  you  introduce  actkn  (if  it 
i$  liny  ihiug  more  tiun  an  inioluntary  repetition  of  cenxin  modoaa 
without  cichei  end  or  object>  a  meie  trick,  and  ibtcnL'c  of  mind^  thii 
principle  C4n  be  of  no  ute  without  the  aid  of  aome  other  faculty  to 
cnxble  ua  to  nppty  old  auociaced  feelingi  to  new  circumuaiKC*,  and  to 
give  the  will  n  new  direction. 

Mr.  Mac-lnto(h  in  hi*  nublic  lecturea  lued  to  deny  the  exiitence 
of  luch  a  ferling  an  general  bcnc»o!e«ce  or  humantiyt  on  the  ground 
that  all  our  aifcciion*  necctMrily  owe  their  fi*e  lo  |>anicnlar  previous 
■tMciatioDS,  and  that  they  cannot  exiit  at  all  unWt  iltey  have  been 
excited  b«fore  in  the  aame  mantier  by  the  sunc  objccia.  If  I  were 
diapoted  to  enter  farticalarly  into  thii  ijuciiian,  1  might  mv  in  the 
Grn  place  that  luch  a  feeling  at  general  bencTolence  or  kioaneM  (o 
perMn)  whom  we  have  ncTer  icco  or  heard  of  before  doei  cvint.  I 
(houtd  not  scruple  to  charge  any  one  who  should  deny  ihii  with  the 
ai'ilti  JUft,  with  prevaricating  either  to  hinitclf,  oi  others.  It  it  a 
nuxim  which  thcic  gentlemen  seen)  to  be  unaequaiotcd  with  thai  it  ia 
ncccMary  to  strain  an  hypotheiii  to  make  it  lit  the  facta,  doc  to  deny 
ihe  facts  becaute  they  do  not  square  with  the  hypotbetit.  It  generdly 
hJippens,  that,  when  a  mctaphy«ical  naradox  is  firtt  started,  it  is 
thought  tulhcicnt  by  a  vague  and  plausiote  explanation  to  reconcile  it 
tolerably  well  with  known  facts :  afterwards  it  is  found  to  be  a  sbotttr 
way  and  saTours  more  of  a  certain  agreeable  daring  in  maiter*  ot 
philosophy  and  dashea  the  spirit  of  oppocitioa  sooner  to  deny  tite  facta 
on  the  strength  of  the  hypothesis. —Indepcml en Oy  lio«e*et  of  all 
exjierinieDtal  proof,  the  ccaioning  as  it  is  applie,!  confuiet  iiMlf.  It 
is  said  that  habit  is  necessary  to  produce  affection.  Now  suppose 
this,  in  what  Miuc  i*  the  principle  true  i     If  the  pcrtont,  feelitigt  asd 

'  [  ben  ipeak  of  ■uociseiaa  •■  dtitfsct  fr««  luutlaatiM  or  the  rlltcu  ut 
aovclir. 
460 


SYSTEMS  OF  HARTLEV  AND  HELVETIUS 


actions  must  be  rxacily  and  litrrnlly  the  umr  in  both  cutt,  there  mi 
be  DO  luch  tiling  »*  hubtt ;  the  »imc  objcctR  uid  ciicumMances  that 
influmved  me  ti>day  caoDot  |>otaibly  inHueocc  me  to-raotraw.  Take 
the  exunple  of  a  child  to  whose  welfatc  the  attenitun  of  the  parent  u 
coQftantly  directed.  The  timp]e  wuctta  of  the  child  are  never  exnctly 
■he  umc  in  tlieowclvc*,  the  accidental  circtimit.'incec  wiih  which  iliey 
are  combined  arc  nccc»tarily  trying  every  moment,  nor  arc  the 
aentiincnts  and  temper  of  the  nther  lew  liable  to  constant  and 
imperceptible  ttuciuationk  Tbcie  aubclc  ckanget,  however,  and  lhi« 
ditriniilarity  in  tubordtnaie  circumAanCH  do  not  prcveni  the  tiither'* 
aflection  for  the  child  from  becomiDJi  U  iBvetcrate  habit.  I  f  there- 
fore it  ii  iticrely  an  extnioidinary  degree  of  reaetnblance  in  the  objecia 
which  produce*  an  extt^iordiniiry  deErce  of  ttrengih  id  the  habitual 
sfTection,  a  more  remote  and  imperfect  reanoblaDCc  in  the  object* 
ought  to  produce  propariioiiihlc  cRect«.  i'or  example,  the  criet  of  ■ 
■traDger'i  child  in  want  of  food  arc  timilar  to  thoK  of  hit  own  when 
hungry,  the  cxprcniooi  of  their  countenRocet  are  limilui  it  ia  alio 
deruin  that  wholesome  food  will  prodace  ainulur  elFecta  ujkiu  both, 
&c.  I  am  DOt  here  inquiiinf;  into  the  degree  of  iaierest  which  the 
mind  will  feel  for  an  entire  stranger  (though  that  qnettioo  ww  well 
SMWcred  long  ago  by  the  iiory  of  the  fianuritao.)  My  object  ii  to 
•hew  that  aa  lo  mere  theory  there  it  no  eitcniiJ  difference  between 
the  two  caaea;  that  a  loniiiuKJ  h.-ibit  of  kindneu  lo  the  tame  perKin 
tmpliet  the  lame  power  in  the  niiod  a  a  general  dispoiiiion  to  (eel  for 
other*  in  the  lurae  aituiition  j  :in>i  iliit  the  at[cm]ii  to  reuon  un  utn  of 
a  acnte  of  right  ind  wrong  and  make  men  believe  that  ihey  can  only 
feel  for  thcmictvec,  ur  ihcir  immediate  connectiont  i*  not  only  an 
indecent  but  a  very  bungling  piece  of  aopbistry.— The  child'*  bci&g 
peraonally  the  umc  has  nothing  to  do  with  the  education.  The  idea 
of  peraonal  identity  i«  a  perleclJy  gcnerical  And  aburjci  idea,  altogether 
dattlnct  frotn  aitociation.  Any  other  atiifictal,  and  general  connection 
between  our  ideas  (aa  that  of  the  tame  apedci)  might  as  well  poM  for 
aatociatioo. 

The  commentators  on  Hartley  have  either  not  studied  or  not 
nndcrtiood  him.  Otberwiee  his  lyiteni  could  not  hnve  heen  supposed 
to  favour  the  doctrine  of  •elfishnes*.  My  quarrel  with  h  is  not  that 
it  ptovM  my  Uiiag  aeainn  the  noiioa  of  dnintereMednesK,  but  that  it 
proves  nothing.  He  luppofen  that  the  human  mind  is  neither 
naturally  stilish,  ttor  naturally  benevolent ;  that  vie  are  e(]uatly 
indiScCeot  lo  our  own  future  tuppiocs*  or  that  of  other*,  and  eijually 
capable  of  becoming  inietevitd  in  eitbef  according  to  circunutancr*. 
rS<-e  hU  account  of  the  origin  of  telf-love,  page  J70.)    The  difference 

tureen  ibt*  account,  and  the  ooe  I  have  endeavoured  to  defend  ia 

461 


BEMABKS  OS  THE 
■  ^■91 


Mi 

ocnvod  Dov 

'iavUcb  it  is  ■«— i  fcr 
•  nrwiD  ■  gnK  bbAo  «f : 
ToMffOKltedte; 
SB   ^  MMdn  b*  «r  fumcAr  taet  ti  faat  ofaiaas  can  a^ 

.  dw  ■  luBd'orsH  ^?b^  ■<>  w  pl^*' 
tk  MBV  tyyo  «iM  Mfve  liifciw  mndaam^  w  yriM  ■  oelaHa  of 
»  M^ip^M  Md  »  put  nf  TriTMa  Stoad^  A  rMM  fnr  iiMriiin  iu 
gniMiBM*  mint  ha«c  mob  a&tr  fce  hid  latntd  u  walk  »(mU 
■M  tt  lUe  M  |p>  froa  OBC  raon  t»  miwIiu  &iim  dtr  mere  fotte  of 
U^  (te  M  fro*  Tiddinf  n,  or  nko- baag  Uidlir  Gvried  Arvirl 
hj  the  imftif^  Ut  foat  aaaoamtmtmA  mfiU  to  mikiig  «Im 
Mbaac  He »asU  na apa«  thr docn, gK  canaiM  WBQ^ the 
clwi»,&Bo>vf  tkntroM;  he  wooid  oas^  imr  Umdcn  vU 
hb  m*  wide  opcailM  he  veoU  odMnte  do  tfiad-iaU^    Be 


SYSTEMS  OF  HARTLEY  AND   HEI.VETIUS 

1  would  be  worw  off  without  hia  undcnunding  th*n  witfacnii  hit  Mcht. 

I  He  misht  feci  his  way  without  hu  eyct.  but  without  hit  undcntaMiHK 
neither  hii  handi  nor  eye*  would  be  of  any  ua«  lo  hi(u.  He  wuuM 
be  iocorrigible  to  (aU*  and  bniite*.  Whoei-er  bu  •ccd  a  blind  hane 
MUgrr  against  a  wall  and  then  dart  back  from  il  awkwan)  ioA 
^ffigfaccil,  may  hai«  »ome  idea  of  the  mt^tUe  whkb  wc  tbould  con- 
ttaoily  ferl  »t  ihc  rlFccta  of  out  own  actiortfi,  bot  oot  of  the  obaii&ttc 
■tupidiiy  with  which  wc  «houId  pcr«iK  in  them. 

To  lhi»  it  i»  rejilicd.  thai  the  account  here  pwn  doet  noi  tndiide 

'all  the  ■tcociarioiu  which  mlly  take  place :  that  the  wkocialions  are 
general  at  well  at  pciiticukr,  that  there  i«  the  aiiociation  o(  the  gcorral 
idea  or  a  futfoie,  o(  the  wordi  lo  wt!i,  M  ga  JortoM-iit,  &c.  and  that 
ihcK  general  gxiociatcd  idcai,  and  the  teelingi  connected  with  theni 
>re  aiillicient  to  carry  the  child  lorward  to  the  pl»cc  he  hu  in  Ttew 
■ccordiDg  to  it'»  prticular  »ituaiion.      A»iociation  they  uy  doct  not 

L^ply  that  the  very  tame  iDcchaaicol  moiionir  should  be  ax'>>"  excited 

'!d  the  lamc  order  b  which  tbey  were  oti£iiijlly  txcitcd,  foi  that  loni; 
iraint  of  active  a«ocialioDS  may  be  ttantferred  from  one  object  to 
another  from  the  accidental  coincidence  of  a  tingle  cimimitance,  Irotu 
a  vague  abttraction,  from  a  mere  name.  Thi*  principle  doei  not 
theicfoTc  r<«eit)ble  a  book,  but  an  alphabet,  the  lootc  chords  from 
which  the  hand  of  a  master  draws  their  accustomed  sounds  in  what 
order  he  plcme*,  not  the  machinery  by  which  an  inttnimeni  it  made 
to  play  whole  lunei  of  it*eU  in  a  let  order. 

1  have  no  objection  to  make  to  thia  account  of  nHodalion  but  that 
nothing  will  follow  from  it,  and  that  nothing  it  explained  by  it.  Let 
us  tee  how  it  will  affect  the  question  in  dispute. — ^'c  will  therefore 
letura  once  more  to  the  c^c  of  the  child  learning  to  wulk.  How 
then  doei  thi*  exDlanaiion  account  for  his  not  ruanine  againU  any 

I  object  which  ttaiHu  in  his  way  in  the  pursuit  of  a  favourite  play-thiog, 
if  he  hai  not  been  used  to  meet  with  the  tame  interruption  before? 
Why  doc*  he  not  QO  straight  on  in  the  old  direction  in  which  he  ha* 

I  alway*  followed  it? — Became  he  i*  oinid  of  the  blow,  which  would 
be  the  consequence  of  his  doing  so,  and  he  thetefwe  goes  out  of  hi* 
way  to  avoid  it.  This  suppose*  lliat  he  has  met  with  blow*  before, 
though  not  in  running  aitcr  his  ball,  nor  from  llut  particular  object 
which  be  dreads,  nor  fiom  one  situated  in  the  same  way,  or  connected 
with  the  same  aHOciatiun*.  But  this  ditTcrcnce  in  of  no  importance 
according  to  the  elan :  lor  it  it  not  neceiury  that  his  fear  or  the 
effort  which  it  leads  him  to  make  should  proceed  from  the  recollection 
of  a  former  blow  recurring  in  it's  proper  place,  and  stopping  him  by 
mechanical  tympathy,  as  it  had  actually  done  before,  in  the  midst  of 
hi*  career.     He  is  atopped  by  t)ie  idea  of  a  pain  which  he  hit  not 

463 


SYSTEMS  OF  HARTLEY   AND   HELVETIUS 

if  I  could  DOC  avoid  an  object  in  the  amc  way  ih»  I  had  formnly 
done  I  fhould  not  uicmpt  to  avmd  it  at  &I1,  but  remain  cguitc  licl|ilca*. 
Tliirdlyt  beouw  the  ideu  of  future  objecta  baiins  ""  ciTcct  jt  all  oo 
mjr  Ming*  or  actiona,  and  the  conaectioa  between  the  original 
asioctaled  imprcHiooa  bein^  the  ttrongen  and  tnoit  certain  of  all 
othcn,  any  particulai  train  of  mechanical  impul>e*  bring  once  >ct  in 
motion  would  necefsarily  go  on  in  the  old  way  norcurained  by  any 
idea  of  conaeqacncrt  till  cbcy  were  Mopped  again  by  actual  piia. — It 
it  plain  how«rcr  that  die  activity  of  the  undemaodiflg  prevent*  ihia 
rough  rebuke  of  experiencet  ihAt  the  will  (and  our  acUona  with  it) 
beads  and  turai  and  winda  according  to  evcty  cbanj;e  of  citcunwtanoe* 
ami  impulse  of  imaeination,  that  we  need  only  foretee  certain  eril*  aa 
the  cDMcqacncet  ol  our  actiont  in  order  to  a\oid  them.  The  tap- 
poailion  tbat  the  idea  of  any  particular  motion  necetaaty  to  a  ^vcn 
end,  or  of  the  different  motion*  which  combined  cogeihcr  con«titutc 
aome  regular  action  i*  auilicirnt  to  prodnce  that  action  by  a  aubtle  law 
of  aatociation  can  only  apply  to  thoae  difetcnt  motiona  after  they  are 
willed,  not  to  llie  willing  them.  That  ia,  tlierc  mutt  be  a  pteviuui 
delcrnuaatiuD  of  the  wiit,  or  feeling  of  remote  good  connected  itith 
the  idea  of  the  action  before  ic  can  hivc  any  elTect.  The  i<tca  of  any 
action  mutt  be  in  itaclf  perfectly  iDdirTetcot,  being  always  adranugcoua, 
uieleM,  or  niiachievous  according  to  circutnatancca.  I  cannot  there- 
fore ace  any  reaaoo  accordinj;  to  thia  hypotheaia  why  I  ahould  will  or 
be  tDclined  to  make  any  exeittooi  not  originating  tn  tome  raechaoical 
impulie  that  happcna  to  be  atrongcat  at  the  time,  merely  becauac  liiey 
may  be  nccc4*ary  to  avoid  an  imaginary  evil  which  of  it»clf  doct  not 
cauae  the  ilightcoi  emotion  in  my  mind  :  on  the  contnry,  if  the 
barely  thinking  of  any  external  action  i*  alway*  immediately  to  be 
followed  by  that  actnin  without  a  particular  warrant  from  the  vrill, 
there  could  be  no  auch  thing  at  reaaonable  action  among  men,  our 
■Ctioas  would  be  more  tidiculoua  thin  iboK  of  a  monkey,  or  of  a 
man  pOMcnaed  with  St.  Viiui'a  <lance  i  they  would  resemble  the 
diaeaaed  ttarta  and  lit*  of  a  madman,  not  the  action*  of  a  reaaonable 
being.  We  ihould  thrutc  our  handa  into  the  fire,  daih  our  hcadt 
agains  the  watt,  leap  down  precipice*,  and  commit  more  abturditie* 
every  moment  of  our  live*  than  were  performed  by  Don  Quixote  with 
ao  much  labour  and  atudy  by  way  of  penance  tn  the  heart  of  the 
Brown  Mountain.  The  mommiytn  o(  ibe  will  i*  necetaary  to  ptt 
direction  and  conataiicy  to  any  of  our  ucttoni  i  and  thia  again  can 
only  be  determined  by  the  idea*  of  future  good  and  evit,  and  the 
connection  which  the  mind  perceive)  between  certain  action*,  and  the 
attainment  of  the  one  or  the  prcrention  of  the  other.  If  our  action*  | 
did  not  naturally  alide  into  thia  track,  if  they  did  not  follow  the  I 
VOL.  til. :  1  a  46$ 


SYSTEMS  OF  HARTLEY   AND  HELVETIUS 

productjoiii  of  a  fpteo  rod  are  irilled,  not  becaoic  tho*e  ten  mean* 
have  been  alreadjr  utsociated  vitli  that  parucuUr  end  (fbc  thtt  doe« 
Dot  happen  once  in  a  thouiand  timea)  but  because  (ho*c  ntMnti  are 
known  to  be  ioteparablc  fiom  the  attainment  of  that  end  io  ibc  given 
circuniBtaDcee. 

There  ia  however  aootbcr  objection  to  tbc  diiintemted  hypothesis, 
which  was  loDK  ago  stated  hy  Hobbcih  RuchefocauJt,  ud  the  iuatbor 
of  the  Fable  of  the  Beet,  and  hat  been  nnce  adopted  and  gloMcd  over 
by  Helrciiui.  It  ii  preinided  that  in  wiihing  to  rclictc  the  di>tce«*M 
of  other*  we  on];  viih  to  rcmoic  the  uncaaicett  which  phy  creates  in 
our  own  minds,  that  all  our  action*  ate  DcccuatiJy  adifh,  at  ihcy 
all  afiie  from  aontc  feeling  of  pleasure  or  pain  exttiing  in  the  mind 

rof  the  iodiridual,  and  that  whether  we  intmd  our  owb  good  or 
lKS~  of  oUien,  tlie  immediate  gtaiificatton  connected  mrith  the  idea 
of  any  object  U  the  aole  moiire  which  dctcimineii  lu  in  the  puriuit 
fifii. 

Fim,  thia  objection  doei  not  at  all  affect  the  queiiion  in  dispute. 
For  if  it  is  allowed  that  the  idea  of  the  pleasure*  or  paint  of  othert 
excite*  an  iramcdiaic  iaietcti  in  the  mind.  If  we  feel  sorrow  and 
■DXicty  foe  their  tnuginary  di«tic»cs  exactly  in  the  same  way  that 
we  do  for  our  own,  and  arc  impelled  to  action  by  tlie  tane  motives, 
whether  the  action  has  for  it'i  object  our  own  go«xl  or  that  of  others, 
the  nnturc  of  man  at  a  roluotary  agent  must  be  the  same,  the  ctfect  of 
the  principle  imjiclling  him  must  be  the  Rsme,  whether  we  call  thii 
pttnciple  self'lote,  or  bcnevolcocc,  or  whatever  rclinenients  we  may 
intioduce  into  our  manner  of  cxplaiaiog  it.  The  celation  of  man  to 
himself  and  others  as  a  moral  beinjt  it  plunly  determined,  fur  wbcUier 

•t  re^rd  to  the  future  welfare  of  himself  and  uUien  ii  the  real,  or 
only  the  ostensible  motive  of  hi*  actions,  they  all  tend  to  one  or  other 
of  thece  objects,  and  to  one  as  directly  ;i>  the  other,  which  is  the  only 
thing  worth  inquiring  about.  All  that  can  be  meant  by  the  moti 
disinteretted  benevolence  must  be  tbi»  immediate  sympathy  with  the 
Geclinu  of  others,  and  it  could  never  be  supposed  that  mao  is  more 
imme&Mcly  aflecicd  by  the  interests  of  oiliers  than  he  can  be  even  by 
hit  own.  If  by  self-love  we  understand  any  tiling  beyond  ilie  impulse 
of  the  present  moment,  it  cm  be  no  more  a  medianical  thing  lluin  the 
mott  refined  and  comprcheoiivc  benevolence.  I  only  contend  then 
that  we  are  naturally  intcrettcd  in  the  weliatc  of  others  in  the  same 
sense  in  which  we  are  «aid  to  be  tntereilcd  in  our  own  future 
welfare.  Self-love  used  in  the  sense  which  the  above  objection 
implies  mutt  therefore  mean  tomethin);  i-cry  dillercat  from  an  exclusive 
principle  of  deliberatCt  calculating  telfidioett,  which  must  render  ua 
mdifieccDt  to  every  thing  but  out  own  adrantage,  or  from  the  lore  of 

467 


REMARKS  ON  THE 


pkjual  plcMnre  ud  arcraon  to  phyKcal  foia,  wbich  would  produce 
DO  jotemt  ia  toy  tMt  tnuiUe  inifceMWiiit. 

.SupjKwioji  thcTcfurc  that  oar  mOK  gnierou*  feelings  and  actMMU 
acre  e^Bivocal,  the  object  onltr  bearing  a  ihcw  of  disintercucdncMf 
the  motive  being  alwayi  *cllnh,  thii  would  be  no  rcasuo  for  Kjecaa^ 
Um  cooimun  u*c  of  the  term  dumtrrrilrtl  trruvtlnve,  wbicb  i.j.jirLUti 
BOtliiog  mote  tluin  an  immedtBtc  rcfcrrDcr  of  otir  a«tiotM  to  the  good 
of  othtrif  at  Mlf-totc  exprcMc*  a  cootcioui  reference  of  them  ut  oar 
owo  Kood,  It  niean«  to  an  end.  Tbit  it  ibe  proper  mraotog  of  the 
terroi.  If  there  ii  anr  impropriety  in  the  one,  the  other  nttMt  be 
ojiully  obiectiottablcf  tbc  ume  dUacy  lutkt  uodcr  bodi. 

Scconjf}',  the  ob^ctioD  it  not  trae  in  luclf,  th«  it,  I  see  no  reasos 
Ibr  rctolriag  the  Irclinc*  of  compaMioo,  Jcc.  into  a    priocipic  ot 
HKCfaaaicaJ  Mlf-tovc.     '1  hat  tlic  tiwtivc  to  iction  exina  in  the  ouad 
of  the  pct«ao  wlio  KU  U  what  no  one  can  deny.      The   poMioa 
excited  and  the  imprewioa  fffoducii^  it  muk-.  oece«nrily  alTVct  iJke 
lodividtul.     There  lawt  Rltnys  be  lonK  one  to  feel  and  act,  or  there 
could  be  no  (ucb  ihing  lu  feeling  or  actloa.'     It  cannot  ihcreibre  be 
implied  a«  a  condition  in  the  love  of  oihcrt,  thai  Ibii  love  iJiould  aoi 
bc/r/i  by  the  perion  who  luvet  them,  for  thia  would  be  to  uy  tJut  be 
mutt  love  them  and  not  tore  tbrm  at  tiie  umc  timer  wl>ich  Ik  palpabJe 
■unmiie.    Thi«  abwrd  infeience.  I  uti  could  nn-er  be  implied  ia 
tbe  common  use  of  ibc  lerma,  as  tt  coiud  nei«r  be  imagined  that  io 
order  to  feel  for  otbert,  we  mun  xa  reality  feel  tioibing-      Tbii 
diatinction  prove*  clearly  that  it  it  nlwayx  the  iodividual  who  iWwr, 
but  no)  that  he  olwayt  tovu  himitl/;  for  it  i»  lo  be  pmumcd  that  the 
word  ulfhM  lomc  meaning  in  it.  and  it  would  h.iie  abtolutdy  none 
U  all,  if  nothing  more  were  intended    by  it  tlijn    any  object  or 
imfim»oa  exiatisg  io  tbe  mind.     Self-love  would  merely  tigoify  the 
lots  of  aomethiog,  and  the  diatJBClion  between  our»elve«  arid  Mhera 
be  quite  confounded.     It  therefore  become*  nctxtaary  to  tet  limits  to 
the  mcaoinit  of  the  term. 

Fint,  it  may  Mgnily,  ai  explained  above,  tbe  love  or  afleciioa 
excited  by  tbc  idea  of  our  own  good,  and  tbe  conBcioua  purMtit  of  it 
S»  a  gcticra),  remote,  ideal  thing.  In  thit  acnse,  tJiat  if  cooiidrred 
with  rcuwct  lo  the  |iropoiei1  end  of  our  actions,  1  have  ibcwm 
Mllicientfy  that  there  i«  no  exclusive  principle  of  nelf-love  in  tbc 
human  nuod  which  contiantly  impel*  uk  to  ptttme  our  own  advantage 
and  nothing  but  that,  and  that  it  mutt  be  equally  abrard  to  coiiMdcr 
either  (cirTovc  or  benevolence  a*  a  physical  operation. 

Another  udm  of  the  term  may  be,  that  the  indulgcDce  of  certain 
affections  ncemsuily  tends  wilhcut  our  thinUng  of  it  to  our  immediate 
■  Sn  BMraei  to  Butkr't  SctwcM. 

468 


I 


4 

1 


SYSTEMS  OP  HARTLEY   AND  HELVETIUS 


gratificAtioD,  aad  that  ihc  impulic  to  prolong  a  state  of  pltitun-  and 
put  a  itop  to  whatever  gi«ei  the  mind  the  lean  uncaMne»  i>  the  rul 
ipring  and  over-ruling  [irincipte  of  our  RCtionii.  No  m.iitcr  whether 
the  tmpre»*ion  exiiting  in  my  mind  i*  a  KD8»tion  or  in  irfca,  whether 
h  i»  an  idn  of  my  own  good  or  that  of  another,  it'*  efi'cct  od  ibe 
mind  h  entirely  owing  to  thtt  involuntary  attachment  to  whatcrer 
contribute*  to  my  own  gratjlieation.  and  avcnioa  from  actual  pain. 
Or  the  mind  i*  *o  conttructed  that  without  fbtethougbt  or  sny 
reKectioD  on  itnlf  it  hu  a  natural  tendency  to  prolong  and  heighten 
n  ttacc  of  pleasurable  feeling,  and  indtanily  remove  every  painful 
feeling.  This  tendency  mnrt  be  wholly  uncoo*ciou«i  the  moment 
my  own  grstilicarion  i*  indirectly  adrerted  to  by  the  mind  aa  the 
eonw<)lKiicv  of  iadulgiag  certain  feelings,  and  lo  become*  a  distinct 
motive  to  action,  it  rciura*  back  toto  the  limit*  of  dclibctwc^ 
calcuhttnx  lellishneia ;  and  it  has  been  shewn  that  there  is  notliiag  in 
the  idea  of  our  own  good  which  raaLen  it  a  proper  molire  of  action 
more  than  that  of  other*.  There  appear*  to  be  ai  tittle  propriety  in 
makiog  the  mechanical  tendency  to  our  own  good  the  foundation  of 
humaa  actions.  In  the  finti  pl.icr,  ic  maybe  mfficicni  to  deny  the 
mere  matter  of  fact,  that  such  is  tlic  natural  diipoution  of  the  hurnaB 
miod.  We  do  not  ou  every  occasion  blindly  consult  the  interett  of 
the  moment,  there  is  no  instincliTe,  unerring  bias  to  our  own  good, 
controuling  all  other  impu!»cs,  and  guiding  them  to  it's  own  purposes. 
It  ii  not  true  that  in  giving  way  to  the  feelings  either  of  sympathy  or 
ntioDftl  self'intcicst  (by  one  or  other  of  which  feelings  my  actions 
Vut  coaMamly  jtovemedM  I  alwavt  yield  to  that  impulie  which  ia 
accon>p.-inied  With  mo»t  pleasure  at  the  time.  It  is  true  that  I  yield 
to  the  stronKeiC  inclin.itiun,  but  not  that  my  ttrongett  inclination  is  to 
pleasure.  The  idea  of  the  relief  I  may  atlord  to  a  peiMio  in  extreme 
dintrcts  in  not  necessarily  accompanied  l>y  a  correspondent  degree  of 
plt«surable  sensa^on  to  counterbalance  the  painful  feeling  his  immcdi^e 
distress  occations  in  my  mind.  It  ii  ceruin  that  «onietimei  tlie  one 
and  someiimes  the  other  mxy  j^eiail  without  alcetin^  my  purpow  in 
the  least :  I  am  held  to  my  jHitpuw  by  the  idea  (which  1  cannot  get 
lid  of^^of  what  aootlier  sutlers,  and  that  it  it  in  my  power  to  allevbt« 
bia  surFering,  not  that  that  idea  is  always  the  mo«t  agreeaUe  contero- 


'  Ai  {ar  i>  the  lore  of  pio'l  at  htffiatt*  ofentti  ■•  a  jrrneral  (>rinc>i>[e  of  ictioD) 
it  it  in  ihii  wiy.  t  hin  tuppoiril  thii  frinttple  ta  be  i(  the  bortom  of  sll  ont 
•cllou*.  bfciuK  I  Ai'l  nu  ilniic  lo  rstcr  inis  the  quciiuia.  If  I  ihaulil  erce 
tnUi  the  fill)  whiib  1  hsve  befsa,  1  ihill  endoTDBr  l«  thtw  that  llit  lovt  uf 
ls|iplQE»  tvcn  ia  (lie  mo>t  ttrncnl  ksk  iti>n  n«l  account  far  ihc  pMtlae*  ef  dmb. 
Idc  love  of  tfutK,  snO  thf  lo-rc  of  pomr  tn  I  Ihink  <1iitinct  principln  of  nttitm^ 
lod  mix  Hith,  uiil  ouiiiity  ill  ovr  pumiils.    Set  Butler  m  quiMri  swn. 

469 


J 


REMARKS  ON  THE 

piwiofl  I  conU  have  i'lw  Btna  ■  onm  wiiwd  by  omiHl 
ad  rcoaOectMMiw  "M  *^  **  cov^  ^^^  cofaay,  W  om  «* 
ilnk«  them  o^  mo  i&o^h  «c  «n«T  to  do  it.  Wky  don  a 
of  the  !ova  ilvifi  tarn  noad  to  took  «  taoiba  ur  t&aa  betxtf  { 
Wbj  doa  tbe  aniom  bm  unae«  UoMtlf  bv  d«cffiD(  •■  tfe 
■tiMHii  of  bii  tml  ?  Not  &wn  tbe  iiIbmow  k  afticd*  te^  Wkj 
tlm  ■^jM'li^  it  be  **'*"***^''"  ^  **■**  the  &dnci  of  aNnoMoot  Bencfoiicy* 
Ac  cutaec  pairtly  Knate  tbe  vtad,  tw  hccane  nd  is  ao  br  m 
.  diM  ooMrifaoBe  to  ov  own  wwftttioB?  ThoK  vho  «{DB|fj 
^pcnbm  ibt  atoK  pttfnl  dsix*  of  &icadih%  ot  lanuaiiy  do  «M  4s 
tftu  from  tbc  iittwWMPt  ^mficsiovi  tfnsdtt^  tf «  x  ■  as  owp  to  ton 
■way  &on  i  wyjif  st  to  fiuevc  faioit  aod  ti  nt  nnad  wvtc  oat 
aoTBMcd  hf  a  mbm  of  tntk,  sad  of  tlw  teal  coa«e^og«>eei  of  k'fl 
>ctioo^  we  itwld  not  the  dittnna  of  ethen  with  tbe  uiseaanof 
IfiMfiag  ai  «c  go  to  K«  a  mgcd*  becaxne  we  kaow  that  tfar  ; 
adi  be  gmnr  than  tbe  pais.  Tbrtr  it  iadccd  a  £d«  aad 
kiod  of  fceliog  wbkh  m  goatratd  diognber  by  a  raped  to  tUt 
mctioa  of  Mty  oo  oar  ows  anda,  aad  whkb  tbctelaR 
Mroaglj  10  oiattasniib  tbe  trae.  So  then  a  a  &be  (or,  : 
tvaacd  acll-iatcitA*  Wc  vevy  onteu  inttfik  noai 
tfaon^  we  know  thai  n  it  aetxMMj  to  oor  ■*"'?'tt  H 
dbJKt;  aod  u  other  nam  nadergo  tbe  auM  jnM 
j  ordt;  to  BTOid  Kuae  greater  enl  *t  a  '^'-nrrr — In  tbc  teBae  wbicb 
I  ibe  oojectHia  iinptiati  imj  love  oi  aiirtfbef  v  aot  tbe  lotw  of  uijhJT 
J  bat  aa  it  opcratea  to  pcoduce  mj  owa  good,  loe  aaoo  a  i 
'  ID  be  BecnamcaDy  attaened  tOt  or  to  Itj  &on>  every  idea  or  n 
vmfh  aa  it  aCecta  it  witb  picanie.  or  pna.  And  tf  ibaa ' 
Ta*T^  It  'p'ffn*  wall  iooic  ■eoprvty  be  bjo  to  be  actuated  by  a  i 
of  ■eriuwtcil  or  praciicsl  aetfjove.  If  bowcver  ibcie 
iciicipk  rmlattqg  aqr  aBacbatsi  lo  etbcn  by  nj  ewa  ooa*  _ 
very  Enlc  waarhrinn  vriU  be  left  Iw  ^  aNchaaical  tbeacy. 
tecoodlyt  tbe  ml  queMioa  w.  why  do  we  Mimtbiir  wwfc 
iBi  It  aecma  w«  ate  €m  DnpeQcd  by  lelHove  IS  frel  I 
tbe  peonect  of  aaother  >  atDcTBigf  la  order  tbat  tbc  moe  ptiBuufe  aa 
'^I'T***  *****  ^fn  fog  pundvca  Bay  ailei aaiiu  '*"f**  aa  to  w^  fid  ai 
dm  BneawBWi  by  eadeavoariag  to  pRvcoe  tbc  arifisiag  wlKb  ia  Ar 
caate  of  it.  It  ia  abnrd  to  ny  ibat  ia  aatpaMiaaaiiBg  tbe 
of  oihert  we  are  only  affected  by  oar  ova  pais  or 
thia  very  paia  ariari  troo  oor  cotapaiaMo^  It  la  yaijia^  tne  ciSeci 
beiorc  tbe  eaaae.  Brrore  1  caa  be  aflccccu  by  aty  ova  paB^  I  ans 
onL  be  pet  b  poB.  u  1  aan  aflecsed  by«  or  fed  pais  and  aBeeov  at 
aa  idea  f  yjariiit  b  aiy  migf^  wbicK  idea  n  afitbrr  dob  ttadf  sacaA 
idea  ofay  own  pain,  I  woader  ia  what  teaie  tbai  caa  bw  caBid  tk 
470 


I 


I 


SYSTEMS  OF  HARTLEY   AND  HELVETIUS 


love  of  siyKlf.  A^d,  I  am  ef]tially  at  a  Im*  to  concrifc  how  if 
the  pain  which  thU  idea  girt*  me  don  not  impel  me  to  get  rid  of  il 
i>  k  iprci  Mf  pain  or  a*  it  actually  aflcctt  myself  a«  a  diitinct, 
■nomeotary  impreHioa,  bat  a«  it  ii  conmcted  with  onhtr  nlm,  that  ia, 
i«  nipfwced  to  alTcct  aao(h«r,  bow  I  aay  thia  on  be  cooiidered  as  the 
effect  of  •elf-loTT.  The  objectt  tSon  or  straQk  of  the  miod  b  not 
to  remove  the  idea  or  immedBte  feeling  of  potn  from  the  iodiridiul 
or  10  pot  a  uop  to  that  liceliog  a*  it  alliKU  hu  temporary  intcrcK,  but 
to  produce  a  disconnection  (whatever  it  tiuy  co«t  him)  between 
certain  ideas  of  other  things  exiHiag  in  his  mind,  namely  the  idea  of 
pain,  and  the  idea  of  a&ochcr  Dcraoo.  Self,  mere  phyncal  telft  it 
entirely  forgotten  both  practically  3ImI  conacioualy.  My  own  good  !> 
kneitber  the  cxciiing  cause  tior  the  immediate  retult  of  the  feeJrog  by 
^ which  I  am  actuated.  I  do  not  ihrink  from  ihc  idea  of  the  pain 
which  another  feci*  ai  it  affcctt  myacif,  but  it  excitei  rcpugoance, 
uneaHoets,  or  actitv  aTcrboo  in  my  mind  as  it  slTecia,  or  it  connected 
with  the  idea  of  another ;  and  it  it  because  I  know  that  ccrtaia 
actiont  will  preTtnt  or  remove  that  pain  from  that  other  pcrwc 
'soDordiog  to  the  manner  in  which  I  hare  perceived  effects  to  be 
cmnecied  together  in  nature,  that  I  mtf  tbote  action*  for  that 
purpote,  or  that  thcit  ideas  take  hold  of  my  Blind,  and  a.Teci  it  in  tocb 
■  maimer  at  to  prodace  tbeir  volition.  In  ihort,  the  change  which 
the  mind  endeavonra  to  produce  it  not  in  the  relatioa  of  a  certain 
I  painliil  idea  to  itself  as  perceiving  it,  but  in  the  relatioa  of  certain 
'  idea*  of  external  thingt  to  one  another.  If  this  is  not  tuflicient  to 
naakc  the  dittinctiixt  intelligible,  t  cannot  express  it  any  better. 
'Oh,  bnt '  (it  will  be  said)  ■  I  cannot  help  feeling  pain  when  I  tee 
another  in  actual  pain,  or  get  rid  of  the  idea  by  any  other  means  than 
by  relieting  the  person,  and  knowing  that  it  cxius  do  longer.'  Bm  i 
will  thii  prove  that  my  love  of  others  is  regulated  by  my  love  of 
myself,  or  that  my  self-love  is  lulMervient  to  my  love  of  others  i 
What  hinders  me  from  immediately  Ternoving  the  painliil  idea  front; 
my  mind  but  that  my  sympathy  with  others  stands  in  the  way  of  it.'' 
liiat  thtc  iadepeadcnt  attachment  to  the  good  of  othns  is  a  lainral,' 
unavoidable  feeling  of  the  human  mind  is  what  I  do  not  wish  to  deny.  | 
It  is  also,  if  you  will,  a  mechanical  feeling;  but  then  it  is  odther  a  i 
pbytscal,  nor  a  aelfiili  mechaniun.  I  see  colours,  hear  soanda,  feci  \ 
beat,  and  cold,  and  bdieve  that  two  and  two  make  four  by  a  certain 
mechaoiim,  or  from  the  necessary  structure  of  the  human  mind ;  but 
it  does  DOC  follow  that  all  this  has  any  thing  to  do  with  self  love..^ 
One  half  of  theproceas,  nainely  the  coenccting  the  sense  of  pain  wiili 
the  idea  of  it,  is  evidently  contrary  to  self-love;  nor  do  1  see  any 
more  reason  for  aKribing  the  uneasiness  or  active  impulte  which 

47' 


REMARKS  ON  THE 

fblloiH  ID  that  principle,  since  my  own  )[ood  ti  neiUKr  (lioaght  of  ia 
it,  DOT  doct  it  follow  from  it  exc«^  indiiYClly,  dowly  ^ind  con- 
ditionally.  The  roecbanicul  tcoJeocy  lo  my  owo  cmc  of  grAtifiCiiuua 
i>  >o  &r  from  bebg;  the  real  ipcioe  or  noiural  motive  of  mm[i«Miiin 
(hu  ii  it  cooUMttry  overruled  and  ddnied  bjr  tt.  If  it  abould  be 
answered  that  tliMc  restriction*  and  modilicjttions  of  tlic  principle  of 
•eir4ot«  arc  a  neccMary  conseqncDcc  of  the  nature  of  4  tbtokiog  bctqg, 
then  I  uy  that  it  it  oonKote  10  talk  of  ntecbanicsl  telf-lo«c  to  coa- 
nectioo  with  a  power  of  rellection,  that  ia,  a  mind  c^nble  of  p«rc«ra>g 
the  coa(e<|acnce«  of  things  beyond  itself,  and  of  being  ameted  bf 
tbcin>  To  Ilk  therefore  whether  if  it  were  possible  to  get  rid  of  my 
own  nncuincu  without  wpposing  the  unraaineu  of  aoothcr  to  be 
removed  I  should  wish  to  remore  it,  U  foreign  to  tlw  purpo«e  ;  for  it 
is  to  suppose  thai  the  idea  of  another's  uneasineu  is  not  an  immedUtr 
object  of  uceuineM  to  me,  or  ihst  by  making  a  diiliaecioa  of  rcAcctian 
between  the  idea  of  wh:it  uoihef  tuStn,  and  tlie  oneMSDess  it  caissc* 
in  me,  the  former  will  ceur  to  give  me  any  uoeaaineu,  which  ia  a 
cootradiction.  A  quesboo  might  as  well  be  put  whether  if  pleann 
gave  me  pain,  and  pain  pleasure,  I  ihould  not  like  pain,  aad  dislike 
pleasure.  So  long  as  the  idea  of  what  another  mlTcr*  is  a  oecesaary 
'source  of  uneasiness  to  mc,  and  the  inotiTc  and  guide  of  my  actions, 
it  is  DOC  true  that  my  only  concern  it  for  myself,  or  that  I  am  governed 
aolely  by  a  principle  of  self-interest. — The  body  has  a  mcchaaicsl 
tendency  to  shrink  from  phydcaJ  noio :  this  may  be  called  niechanicaJ 
self-love,  because,  though  ihc  good  of  the  indivkluBl  is  not  die  object 
of  the  Action,  it  is  the  immediate  and  natural  rifect  of  it.  The  laon- 
menl  which  is  dictated  by  nature  is  directly  followred  by  the  cesauioa 
of  the  psin  by  which  the  iodividuitl  was  annoyed.  The  evil  is  com- 
ttletely  removed  with  reipeci  to  the  individual,  the  moment  the  object 
■a  at  a  diiia,nce  firom  him  1  but  it  only  exists  at  it  aiTects  the  individual, 
it  ia  therefore  completely  at  an  end  when  it  cease*  to  nifect  him. 
The  only  thing  tieccuary  therefore  is  to  produce  this  chan^  in  the 
relation  of  the  body  to  the  object ;  now  ihis  is  the  exact  tendency  of 
the  impulse  produced  by  bodily  pain,  tliat  is,  tt  shrinks  ai  the  piain  aad 
/r«n  the  object.  The  beinp  does  not  suifct  a  moment  longer  than  he 
lean  Ixlpit :  for  there  in  noticing  that  thoold  induce  him  to  remain  in 
'pain.  Tlie  body  it  not  tied  down  to  do  penance  under  the  discipline 
of  exteroAl  objects,  till  by  iiilfilling  certain  conditioot,  Ironi  which  it 
reap*  no  beneht,  it  obtnint  a  release;  all  it's excrrioni  tend  imrttediatety 
to  it's  own  relief.  The  body  (at  least  according  to  the  account  licre 
spoken  of)  is  a  machine  so  contrived,  that,  at  fui  as  depends  00  itcelft 
it  always  tends  to  it's  own  good,  in  the  mind,  on  the  contrary,  iber« 
are  oumberlest  lets  and  irapedimcBta  that  interfere  with  this  object 
471 


SYSTEMS  OF  HARTLEY  AND  HELVETIUS 


iiueparabte  from  it's  very  Harare ;  the  body  nrivc*  lo  produce  ntch 
ahcrations  in  it's  rclstton  to  oihri  thing*  at  conduce  to  it'i  owo 
advaou/r,  the  iiiiod  Ktkt  to  alter  tbc  rckiiona  of  otlirr  thingt  lo  one 
uoother  i  the  body  io^^ei  it's  own  good,  for  it  tends  to  it,  ilic  under-  , 
Btandtng  i*  not  govvcned  tolely  by  thii  principle,  for  it  it  coiuiMDtly 
aiming  ni  other  object*.  To  make  the  two  caie*  of  physiciil 
uneasinesK,  and  oompaiuoD  psrallel,  it  would  be  nccctM-ty  to  *ii]>poM 
either  on  in*oliiiiury  tendency  in  the  mutclei  to  remove  ei-ery  painful 
object  front  another  tlirough  mcchanicjil  sympstby,  or  that  the  real 
object  of  coinpa&iioo  vat,  to  remove  tbc  ocitoui  uneasiness,  occasioned 
by  the  idea  of  ancicber's  pain,  u  an  :LtMitract  icnsatioa  exiiiing  tn  my 
nund,  totally  unconnected  with  the  idea  which  gave  r»c  to  it. 

Laatly,  should  any  desperate  meta]ibyiiGb.n  periist  in  adinning  that 
my  love  of  other*  is  still  the  love  of  myself  because  the  iropreMiaD 
exciting  my  sympathy  must  exist  in  my  mind  and  so  be  a  part  of 
myself,  I  should  answer  that  this  is  using  words  without  affixing  any 
dtstioct  meaning  to  thetn.  The  love  or  alfectioD  excited  by  any  | 
general  idea  exbting  in  my  mind  can  no  more  be  said  to  be  the  love ' 
of  mynelf  than  the  idc.i  of  another  person  is  the  idea  of  myself 
because  it  ii  I  who  perceive  it.  This  method  of  reasoninii,  however, 
will  not  go  a  gieJt  way  to  prove  the  doctrine  of  an  abstract  principle 
of  self- i merest ,  for  by  the  same  rale  it  would  follow  chat  I  bate  myself 
in  hstiog  any  other  |>ersoQ.  Indeed  upon  this  principle  the  whole 
structure  of  language  is  a  continued  absurdity.  Whatever  can  be 
made  the  object  of  our  thoughts  must  be  a  part  uf  our»el»es,  the  whole 
world  ii  contained  within  ut,  1  am  no  longer  -Inhn  or  James,  but 
every  one  that  I  know  or  can  think  of,  I  am  the  least  part  of  myself, 
my  sclf-intnest  is  extended  as  far  as  my  thought*  can  reach,  I  can 
love  no  one  but  I  must  love  myself  in  him,  in  hating  others  1  also 
bate  myself.  In  this  sense  no  one  can  to  much  as  think  of,  much  lesa 
love  any  one  bendc*  himself,  (or  he  can  only  think  of  hit  own  ihuuglits. 
If  our  generous  feelings  are  thui  to  be  construed  into  sellithncte,  our 
malevolent  onet  must  at  least  be  allowwl  to  be  diiinietcined,  for  they 
are  direttcd  again«t  ourselves,  that  is  against  the  ideai  of  ceilain 
pertons  in  our  minds.  If  1  can  have  no  feeling  for  any  one  but 
myi«If,  I  can  have  no  feeling  oiitui  any  one  but  myself.  Suppose 
I  am  seized  wiili  a  fit  of  rage  against  a  man»  and  lake  up  a  knife  to 
stab  him,  the  quantity  of  malice,  which  according  to  the  common 
niitipn  is  here  directed  against  another,  must  according  to  thii  lyttem 
fall  upon  myself.  1  tee  a  man  sitting  on  the  opponitc  aide  of  a  table, 
towards  whom  1  think  i  feel  the  greatest  rancour,  but  in  liict  I  only 
feel  ii  againhi  myself.  For  what  is  this  man  whom  t  think  I  ace 
before  me  but  an  object  existing  io  my  mind,  and  therefore  a  prt  of 

473 


a£MARKS  ON  THE 

mjtM!  Tfcr  iviwd  vlndt  I  mc  ii  aot  ■  nal  wmvrd,  box  as  iaagt 
'm^nmtd  sb  aijr  nad ;  md  tlw  acaul  hlow  wbcfa  I  «rikc  vnh  it 
bdag  cat  flf  mjmU,  (Cor  tkat  ■•  igifaiMLle) 
bM  M  auks  ef  Dj swa, « iW bcag ■ham  I  lutt mUa mkIC « 
■jpmIC  If  I  ■■  Mwy»  MCfiril)!  tlv  objea  of  ay  own  tbeo^u 
aad  actioai,  I  ■■«  hitc,  lorc^  aen^  or  tub  ojaett  a*  it  haiyn*. 
It  k  ffrwlrrf  br  a  no)^  aaaa^Ctoa  thm  iKoevokscc  if  oaJya 
doitc u  fntomg  ae  idea  of  aoothcf'a  fitwart  n  amt'*  own  niDd, 
bacaaae  tluc  iika  exnia  tLcre:  aalrnkacc  nnat  tfaCTcfate  be  a 
diifaairiBa  to  pfolaeg  ibc  idea  of  |Mia  a  oar**  9*s  aiad  (at  Ak 
ame  naaoa,  dnc  it.  to  iajora  oor'Mdf,  far  hf  iU(  pMoanphy  m  one 
ea  ban  a  mm^  idea  wlncb  doe*  noi  reftt  to.  aoe  any  iwiialar  wfaicb 
doet  not  lai^wm  ia  wlE — If  by  telTlove  be  meaot  -"'"-g  man 
than  tbe  attadnwU  of  tbc  mind  to  ay  object  or  idea  "p^Tfg  io  id 
or  the  cooscctioe  bfiwwn  aay  objrct  ot  ida  pcodadag  ^IftnJna  ami 
tbr  «atr  of  miiKl  prodoctd  by  ii.  ibii  ii  mcrriy  tbc  i  iiiibihiii  eoBuettioo 
|j«iaieen  caaw  and  cAct,  and  tbe  lotv  of  rrery  thng  nas  be  tbe  love 
of  myaelf,  (ot  tbe  lore  of  tntj  tbint  bnmi  be  tbe  lore  of  tbe  object 
exdug  it.  On  tbc  contrary,  if  by  idf-tove  be  meaM  my  i^irhnatpn 
to  or  tamcK  to  lay  object  ia  oooKqaoia  of  ii'a  iffrrriin  me 
pctmnaHy  or  6ob  die  mrooger  aad  bwr  iaimrdiatr  anooer  ia  «lncb 
fitttiM  objects  tad  aapvMMBa  act  apoa  mot  taen  it  canaot  be 
ifimed  without  m  abasrfty  that  all  aiectioo  whatercr  *■  adUorb 
So  if  I  aee  a  naa  wonoded,  lad  ibii  li^ht  occanon*  io  lae  a  pio&l 
(eeliag  of  tymMthy,  I  do  otic  in  thit  cue  led  fee  myactf,  Nciaa 
bttween  that  idea  ot  object  impreaacd  on  aiy  mind  aad  ibc  MiaM 
tccBag  wfaicb  feUowt  tbnc  U  w>  racb  poMtne  ceoacction  aa  then  ii 
between  the  iafiictiOB  of  tbc  maie  wound  on  my  owa  body  ;  and  tbe 
phyaical  pain  wUch  fellowt  it.  WU  it  be  preteaded  by  aey  ooe,  oa 
wboae  brain  the  totncaciet  of  BKtaphymci  have  not  bad  tbe  sme 
efieci  u  the  rcadinx  of  roauuce*  bad  on  the  renowned  kmebi  of 
La  Maocba,  that  a  piece  of  wood  which  I  tee  a  man  cutuBg  ie 
piece*,  and  §0  ia  an  object  exiding  ia  my  miod,  i*  a  pan  of  rayvlf  ifi 
ibc  ame  aeaae  aa  a  leg  or  an  arm  i  For  my  owa  pan,  at  1  am  not 
at  all  alTectcd  by  tbc  hackiog  aad  bewiag  which  tbii  piece  of  wood 
fcceiTca,  or  all  tbc  blow*  wuh  w4iich  it  tiap,  wUch  are  to  me  mere 
banalem  Boambe*  in  tbc  air,  it  aeemi  to  me  a  very  diflerem  thing. 
Tbe  ooe  idea  it  myaelf  in  a  noiple,  venr  abetract  amtt  indeed,  tbe 
other  idea  ii  mytclf  in  the  common  emphaucal  kmc,  it  i*  a  teduplicalioo 
or  aggraration  of  tbe  idea.  The  obJKt  become*  myvlf  by  a  doiMc 
tif^t,  I  am  Kntible  n  (he  object  a*  well  a*  <b  iL  I  ihouk!  aay,  then, 
that  when  tbc  tight  of  aaothcr  peraon  wonDdcd  excitca  a  feeUn|(  ot 
compauion  ia  my  mtnd,  thi*  ia  not  1  aclfiah  ficclit^  In  aoy  narrow  or 
♦7+ 


^STEMS  OF  HARTLEY   AND   HELVETIUS 

degrading  «rn»c  of  the  word,  which  b  the  only  thin^  in  dispute.  (If 
tdfi»hnn*  is  to  mean  gcot-roiiiy,  there  is  an  end  at  once  of  the 
dispute.)  And  thui  fur  thi>  nluin  reason,  tliat  the  conncctionl 
between  the  viiiilile  impreiiion  and  the  feeling  of  pain  it  nf  a  toiallyi 
different  kind  from  the  connection  between  the  iVelinc  of  pain,  anal 
the  wme  wound  when  inflicted  on  my  own  body.  The  one  n  att 
affair  of  tcneation,  the  other  it  entirely  an  aflfair  of  imaginatioD.  My. 
love  of  other*  cannot  therefore  be  huilt  upoe  ilie  lore  of  myKlf, 
conaidering  ihia  laat  aa  the  elfect  of  '  phyiical  Hoaibitity,'  and  the 
mometit  we  resolve  self-love  into  the  rational  purniit  of  a  remote 
object,  it  has  been  tJiewn  that  the  lamc  remaning  applies  to  both,  and 
that  the  love  of  otbcrt  has  the  lamc  necctMf y  foundaiioD  in  the  human 
mind  a»  the  Iotc  of  ourtclvcR. 


475 


NOTES 


NOTES 
"THE   PLAIN    SPEAKER 


ESIAY  I.    ON  THE  PROSE  STYLE  OP  POETS 
I.  Dtjtii  rijJ,  cu.    S«  vol.  viii.  f.  ]tg  (*f  ymi  t/it^  EtjfUit  li^). 

'Tint  unfcilhct'il  two-leggtd  tUag,  i  too.' 

Drydca't  M—ltm  tad  Atiucfitl,  i.  170. 
Urflumr  JItn  e»J  titrfi.     C(.   '  Striininf  hsnh  •1Ik«<I>  ho'I  nnplcaiini 

ihiifi?  ffoiKo  stU  y^iai.  111.  (. 
tbi  Mmu  tji  tm  lilm.  t>'j*vliy  wn  pabliihcri  in  iSlfi  Iht  LcJ  tf  ikt 
t$lii  in  iti|;  I  othtr  novcU  (allawc>l.  ui<l,  niih  the  tinfirsn  of  Ht'Jj  ilm 
OjmM/iii,  publltbtJ  b  1I17,  Sir  Wiltcr*!  work  «v»  confined  to  aonlt 
until  ibt  Ehuc  at  UaltJtm  Hill  \a  itll.  SioH  publicljr  ickoawlcrffcd  kli 
tuthotihip  of  lb«  the  Iftvitity  Nevth  on  Feb.  i],  xixf. 

6.  rif  tramitadm  tf  Oiatn'i  ftmi,    ^mrt  Micphtnon'i  (i7}G'iT96)  to-nlled 

mntlattooa  wck  publiibed  in  1741-176;. 

Sttfiniiuj'i  CkarjtUrliati.  Citrtilfiuia  tf  Mm,  Attuun,  Ofuitmi  md 
Tittn  (1711),  ■  coltMlion  uf  tht  ooilu  of  Aolhony  AtkXty  Coop«r  (li7t> 
171})  third  Earl  of  Shiftethury,  who,  U)>i  Siiigwiili,  wo  '(Ik  lirtl  U 
mikr  i»ychi>lot<c4l  tipcricnir  Ihc  bnaia  of  ilklti.'  Mr.  W.  C  Hiililt 
uyi  Itiil  Hiitili'i  ilUnlioa  wit  >l[avm  to  (hi*  <*«rk  in  BukriviUt'i 
tditiont  whith  bii  fithcr  i>  nffuwuttil  u  it*din(  in  Ihc  oil  ptintinf 
««tCBled  m  1I04. 

Ffr£fu  ntUtim.    OittUt,  at. ). 

Ittmi  Tnii.  Min  Hornc  Tuokc  (t?]6-i  111)  vr*l  dectcd  Member  fat  Old 
Suum  in  iSoi,  iflet  uatucccofuUir  con.leriing  Wtttminilei  in  1790  and 
•7«- 

Tif  PfiTtia  if  Kiullit,  JtkUnlHii,  —d  lAm.  Sir  Godfrey  Kntlirr  (i64t> 
■  71}),  painur  of  the  Kil-C>l  CInb  Portniti,  and  Joaarhtn  RkhudMD 
(c  iiiyi74i],  *'">•  ■'^"*  KncUir'i  tlcath,  su  (oaaidacd  (hr  bead  of  bia 
prDfcaaion. 

7.  Ill  mrmiri  if  lit  'VHi*/  ^kJi.     Wordawonh')  '  A  Poel't  Epilaph,' 
CjUt/u  fa*.     Chailn  Jamc*  Fo>  (l749'illo6). 

LrJ  Stontimi.     Diiid  Murray  ( 1 7t7-i79i}.>lip)aRiaIiil  anil  ttalatnan,  wcnnd 
Earl  of  Miaafitld  (179;)  anil  tldMtwn  of  D)vid,iinh  Viacount  Stonnonl, 
who  difit  in  174S. 
S.  Ti  ttmt  tr^rfh  ifflU  tmpt.     Hjmtu,  ill.  1. 

luma  M^ini.    'Tu  nihil  lovlti  dica  fntinv*  MiottTi,'  Horace,  Di  Atu 
/«,  \t%. 
jAh  dUatiit . .  .  t  HMt  ua.    Priot,isUiItAa/C*Mai(i,ii.rp.66-«S, 

479 


THE  PULtfi  ^PEA£E& 


r~  ■    ,    -,  f  "        Tiii  Hill 

Mtffmd  immt.    Cf. '  A*  mmk  «  *«t.-    .Jin  »*•« 
l|.  n«   MtMkr'i  Win.     lUt   •  J  OiMW  ^Hfn  ^  «>av 

n>  ■  ••■■<*  j*Mrrf  AuMHMik    l|*>dk  aa  !&■  ^HiBa  MBita  fcw  ■■am 

afdw  C«nB>cfc.r<toar]ii«lh.  (?«{. 


4 


Til  ,0mf^fm^m  D^^  tiljri.     A. 
T^mrt^n.     r»«Ai  f  iit.  i    Bin  I 

rra(k  tTji*,  Mrf  WW*  Mbhm  •(  tjii  la  terry  Uji,      Sw  mL  mJ 

MM«(9SBMiMa^tk    B«  wnalMBCkifcht  ■  fc  af  J— '^^^ 

ITM-  **^  (4liM  a  Hril  ill}, 

lUMtitiM  m  w»fif»4  wtt  >^  piiign'r  —  CM— »«&■ 

it.  OU  FMr,  fd  Bmrrm,  mi  Ltmir.     TbaM  r«U(T  (l4ol-»Ui)  ■«  (k 
«r»Mw>  (i«6i)  I  Rakn  tolen  (i;7;-l&«o)  W  t>w  .  ~ 


fiftiilt»iMlHilliLnh»w(i4)i-i}tS),8iilwt.»a<wn*»Ta< 
(•M9). 


Mj»0iitftm  mi  trr'  ~     ' 

EfflSt  u  Dr.  jlrtailmf,  I.  ]4 


made  poet-lmmn 


IM  Moop'*  to  TMfc,  lal  naaU^ri  Ui 
mi,  I.  141. 


I 

1 


n>  «r^  tfMtrtwy.     Ltw/t  t^mr  'i  £1*0,  ■. 
Tit  Amtl»  tf  KimU^mi  E£it  ^  tit  Rutmhtr.    Uifb  H>nl**  mib,  riri 
~  -     ■      -         m  e>6tia,  AmmIc  I<mmj.  mU  TtmttH^mk, 


•7. 


Krmdmir,  s  AmJtff  FinN> 

fill  iffMimi  h  lif  UduMitr. 
Mir 


Arth  II,  ilii. 


A  wca»4  una 


ftfa  IhC(J   rma   0«u    1*,  tii,  la 


♦«0 


NOTES 


ESSAY  II.     ON  DXBAMS 

*Aet 

Pram   Vk  ^'<w  Mtvtfy  M^mi-h,  *T>hlt  Talk.  >iV Drna^ai,'  Ko.  17, 
V0L7,  ill  J. 

I  17,  Dr.  Sfmrmiiim.      t.  G.   Sputheim,   phmologiil   (r776-rt]i).     Set    TJ« 

Pl^iiinmitmi  ^lum  «/  Dri.  CoiV  «■/  J^ovArni.^M^'rf  «  «  A»attnt*l 
L  ahT  J^riMl^ful  Ar«Bna(na  {^  tli  Nirtmrn  ^nUm  m  lettrtl,  mi  ^  Air 

^H  Brmm  ptr6nU',  ili$.    Sm  *1m  iIw  EtMf  on  f,  ij7,tf  nf.,Mn,*Oa 

^H  Dr.  Spnrihtiin*!  Thior;.' 

^H         iS.  tmfarlHS  nt  Jiit^/itS  iKriy.     Htmitt,  >.  I. 

^H  11.  HtM-tffrauJ iriim.     Macttli,tu 

^H  14.  AMaf   jtiliriwy.      Tnati*    Allcrhiir]!   (i66i-i7}i],   Biihop    of    RschnHr, 

^H  JiMbiti  inil  cantiDvertiiliti,  an-l  caTr«>fan>lmt  of  Pope  *i>4  Svvifl.      Sec 

^^M  alM  *dI.  tin.  l^ifTti  m  lit  MmgM  C*mit  tfrnttt,  f,  14, 

^^1  Iiai  n  in  cui.     Pntiut,  Sti.  in.  ya. 

^M  Tit    Nnm   Ehru.      KouMtiaV    A'umW//    IMait  (17(0),  SIx»ae   Pinlc, 

^H  Lam  xu. 


ESSAY  IlL    ON  TUB  CONVBRSATION  OP  AUTHORS 


Prom  Tit  UttJm  Mdf««v,  'Table  Talk,  iti.,'  Sep.  10,  llio,  iipied 
'T..  WlourilDW  Hut,'  ml.  >.  The  (oatBolc  whicli  folloui  vat  not  rrpiinlcd 
tnra  llw  Mifuiac.  T)w  E*ur  wat  *1h  poblxho!  ■•  'Tabic  Talk,  *.*  Tii 
Nttt  M*"*fy  M^t^im,tiv.  14,  Vol.  f,  I  tit.  Stt  ihe  EaMfOn  Pcnoni  enc 
WDuU  wiah  10  havr  mD.' 

*or  (ll  pcrioiu  ipoaicn  ti  DebaiJBg  Societin  are  ibe  tnon  iBtoleFible  anil  itouble- 
Mmc  a)  a(.|uain(UKe.  Ttwy  tuw  a  («ut>nl  t'eaire  Le  heai  thenuclvn  ulk,  ted 
ilevtt  ItaBv  whal  tay  one  tiac  wiabei  la  heir.  Tbty  ulk  iixnunllf,  ami  aif 
nothin;.  They  ire  loud,  olfinaiR,  in.i  mnmoD-pIaa.  They  try  lo  pi  (hr  rat 
of  Ihr  campnf  ■■  ih<7  fcl  Ihr  nr  ot  ibe  Chaii,  which,  havin(  got,  Ihf7  will  not 
1(1  go.  They  biil  ioni«  gnrrrl(n.ling  in'livirlual  (ii  if  ii  vat  1  oar-harifeneJ 
■nlanonxt}  with  poM  anil  vtfiA  jHutancf,  an<l  turn  «  .InwinK-tDoni  inio  a  brar- 
fudtn.  Tbtj  haw  atl  (he  ptoliiily  iml  unwidflinta  of  aulbcaihipi  wiihoul  my 
itt  tbe  loLiilil^,  aad  bdtf  alj  the  ambition  of  oraton  to  ihtne,  without  (he  ability, 
ibc  (icuie,  »r  the  iDdlnaiioii  oa  the  pirt  of  othen  to  atunrt  (o  (hun.  I  Laaw  one 
of  (lii*  elan  in  piiliiubf  who  hai  oo  more  buiinna  in  tay  party  of  bilk*  and 
tcalltnwn,  with  hia  apUy.fool  nusnen  inJ  lanii  train  of  awkward  aptechn,  Ihas 
ihc  Drafftn  of  WaatJey.' 

i{.  /U4  ffiu  p»rr.    Pnltta*  te  Hit  CMiiittrj  Ttitt,  6a. 

H*  II  Mr  Atl  mhM  iHJr  s  guJ  lir.     flu  Kitv  n/rtm  F^tmama,  u.  i.     See 

vol.  T..  Litltru  m  lite  DumuU  Tj»iCfr  J  ili  Ap  tf£&*tittk.  p.  184. 
Ih/Ti  H»iiti^.    New  U»nfMiig  Umitnirj,  h-  ja  Eiuy  «  (<W  Prmeifla  ^ 

Ctb  fifiA,  H  fiir  i«  neruu  itiir  PrtJtti,  amJ  Jaimiii  de  daoM  Eifttr 
if  luirtmnn /ntriitJ  m  itiCui.  By  Jcihra  Tull  (irjl).  Th*  Feuith 
iiitioa  coBlainH  in  Inlrariuaina  by  WitluiD  CcbUU.  St« 
TMi  Tia.V.  p.  lot  aiul  noir. 
Tir  FMtKfttr  ^  SnJtf  WJIUm  C*bbelt  (i7(i-ill>}.  "bo  MtU^I  at 
BMky,  HuDptlUre^  la  the  utiy  ycari  of  (be  Dineltealb  ceotuiy. 


VOL.  VU.  I  2  H 


alio  vol,  VI., 


481 


^iV"^  J 

r^-mm  -mm,  ^t>     -.-..-    »    j  ^-     -^      '  111.  ^M 


lY  dr. 


T»^ 


i»«rlH|<l— H  i»-«Mlfciy  «  ■■MiJapt.  ^^ 

■twrrfcHliiiiffciUi'  ^^. 


^■ilh»-  a  ikir  ^i^te  <■  taaadaM'«u-  ' 
■■IB  (her  III  I  III!  ^  frntl)  H^whi 

et*-'--  '    ■.  ».- 

fl»«— n»«ii|iiiCi    It  3wBMlR%Miriv*'nkPlctiin»u 

Can.* 
JHii^p  Mil.  1»  itw  iMi  f  I  wiiliit  'Ob  IH]  i—i  iiiw  ii1»  i»wh  i» 

+»» 


NOTES 


Cnlcridgt,  hcrt  4nil  thronthaul  (he  enay. 
NiJ  P .     edniil  PhiUipi,  Kcrinry  lo  Charli*  Abbott,  S^kn  of  t)w 

HouM  of  Commont.    St*  Ltaib't  £<iwri,  H.  Hiiliti,  i.  pp.  76,  4i9,eie> 
Ct/MiW ■    Rcir-A-lmiFil  Jimei  Bsmty  (i7;o-iKii},  btMhtr  of  Fanny 

Barney  ifli!  iiitbur  of  ihc  (unoii*  CinWonnrf  ltiu*rft/itt  fiytga  md 

IXitttmtt  m  til  Strlk  Sia  er  hiijit  Oaam  (iSoj-ld;},  {  *oU.     He  uiltrf 

■ilh  CapCiin  Cnok  in  twu  of  hit  loyfet. 
ytm  WHn,  lit  nficr  tf  Tahttft  Ltiuri.     OrtfottI  Liiifi,  tu^  ef  Sir  Jtit 

T^t^mi  Ui  f Vfcufi,  VHU  firii  K^ii  frilii  hj  a  Gmlimtm,  t  diKinJtnt  *f 

SiMklffa^i^  trtr /iv  ttmJ'iJ  jtsfi  (1796).      S(c   Linib't  Lirrirt,  t4. 
utilt,  1.  IP,  90,  tif.  and  Tit  Ljmii,  iSg7,  pp.  i«-6. 
Tuntiiif  hit  lit  Uiiir  nJ  if  a  Imr'i  lin.     LiHi-i  of  &r  Jtk»  TiSaaf,  tic. 

(k<  iWvc),  in  >  Icller  Uia\  *  D>iy  la  Shillow.'     Still  of  Muitcc  Abism, 

who  ditt  frf  lovr  for  iwHC  Annt  Pi^e.     See  L«mb'*  review  of  ibf  tjnatt 

in  r^  Eramittr,  Sep.  ;,  iRig,  >n<l  Leigh   Hunl'a  rrprinl  of  il   in  Tit 

ItJiattf,  Jia.  1^  itii.    Lamb  w>i  tutpccltri  of  havin(  ha>l  a  ihara  in  hia 

fiienii  diiif  ichooiniile'i  book. 
A .    WiUUm  A)Tton  (1777-tSst},  mnaiol  critic  ind  «ilitOT  of  Chtrlea 

Knlfhl'i  Mxaitl  Liir-iry. 

Alt.  ft .     Mr>.  Reynolili,  Limb'a  '  ugt  womtn.' 

Af.  B>     Maftin  Cbvrlrt  Unmet,  Latnb*i  frieti'i,  ihe  Ion  of  Admini  0Dnwy« 
Tit'itiir'f'itflluJnK^a.'  Thomai  HdIccoFi,  See  Vol.  tl.  p.  tll  ffMf. 
Ttf  Crsifm  fjTParf  Amm*.    tmoianuel  Kint'i  vcotk  wm  pnbtiihcd  in  17(1, 
Mift-nun.     In  the  Tempi*,  irberr  the  Limba  ricirlerl  for  «i(hl  ycaii  it  ihe 

beebmiD^  of  the  n^fidccnih  «al4T7h 
jt.  Tit  BiipMAU  LtirtttM.    CoUiitlft'i  buck  wti  publiiheil  in  ill?. 

Liit  A»ri!%'  ciiin,    *  Like  ihoM  of  mi'tlt,  (hurl  and  tit  btlween.'    Blait't 

r*r  Cr»vt,  j)i.    Cf,  Vol.  V.  U<tvii  F*  rir  Hm^iii  ArA,  p.  1  }o. 
Ur,  Diitct  *f  lit  M*mm,    Fiancii  Douce  (d.  i8;4},ant)^i/ian,3hikr>pnriui 

»^bt,  tnd  keeper  of  minuictipu  in  ihe  Ktitiih  Muatum. 
L.  Il .  .  .  Irtfiul  Ufd.     Lclfb   HuDt'l  fiilier,  luic   Hunt,  ■•-■■  ■ 

fiirhadiao. 
j11ifiu»la  in^innoAi  irsi.    Probably  quoted  fiam  Ben  lantan'i  Dimrvtriit, 

LxiT^  Dc  Sbakciprare  NMtrati.    See  Vnl.  iv.  Tii  Sfait  tf  tii  Aii,  nou 

10  p.  J 16. 
J9.  !Ar ,  tivikittt,     lame*  Nonhcote  (ly^t-itji), 

40.  Ittar  ■  ittni  mj(w.     Jamei  Sheiidas  Kooirlte'i  fitgiMu  (iBlo],  *.  1. 

41.  Fmli.     Hciniich  Fueuty  or  Henry  PomII,  poiiiait-pilatti  tai  art  cilllc 
(1741-1  Kit).     l-'<''  Vol.i^-Tii  S^it^iir  Agi,p.t}}. 

tkrrdfl.     John  Pbilpol  Ciirrin(i*(i>-iSi7j,  the  Iriih  advncile, 

Mri,   ImiUtiJ.      Eliubtlh    Inthbild    (irjj-itll},   oateliil,  Jramaliat  and 

^^^K  AOrj  Iftt/mmffifi.      Miiy   WoUaloneeiart   Godwin  (lySf-lTtrJt  of  &e 

^^^y  PMlMhit  tfiit  ti'[ka  tfWami  {tjfl). 

^^^^^  Frfm  mt»  n  dntj  rw.     Purtdiu  Lm,  i.  74). 

^^1  A  TaUi  Ttit.    See  nole  00  aourcc  o(  tbit  cMty,  above. 

^H  nrw  ftn/dr.     John  Wolcot, 'Fctcr  fio'Ur*  (l7]>-ili9),  phyainan,  tiliriH 

^^H  and  poti. 

^^^^^  Mtn.  M .    Mit.  Monlatu,  BmiI  Moala|v'i  third  nifr,  (he  widow  of 

^^^^ft  Tbomal  Skmtt  anrt  moJier  |liy  Skeppei)  of  Mn.  Btjin  Willa  Procler, 

^^^^f  She  mairM  HMMatu  about  tlo6, 

^^^^il-  tt—i't.    Huul'i. 


4«3 


THE   PLAIN  SPEAKER 


H 'i.    NMibcMiV 

H-y—^t.    lUjiloa'*. 

A  Dum  TrvKtim.     'Thto6tn  Tl— rhii  (■7oy-i7)i], 

frimil  at  R<'»nc»u. 
Sr  ftfUf  rUiw.    taSaCfortr  E4htft|(**<«w4]rrbACM*/Jtf*^ 
for  wtf  It  Utt  t  rni.     Minn  Fnocii  BaBMMiA  \jeaa  M  Bta    \im*m. 

r«iMe4  te  keuMMt  aari  Ffaukt**  C«Mf  i(a  (1647)  [iV  bcM  cMMtnL 
£ Mfir  MM  A««.    TaWbMtilMr.    Set  VoL  11.  7.iiJ^  K^nota* 

rr.9oiM  ist. 

nil  Itn  mtl  Mtiiitn  pttl  thtoal]  OvU.     Ai  r<b  U<  fr.  Ilk  }. 
WtUai pmntti.     Liiub'i  Jvn*^  mklra  M  Cambriiltt^  Avon  Ij,  iSltt. 
n«  Mrn*  r  mM.     Ua4«vbU4)«  Ctorft  D*tr.    Sn  Lamb'i  -kMrlMiaa 
him  in  •O>(or4  ia  iW  VmiUm '  (£u9>  ^<A«). 


w 


ESSAY  V.    ON  REASON  AMD  IMAGINATION 

44.  nil  tnartwiPVrtf.     Kiwg  H^it^i  Ul^  \.  \. 
4$,  A>  <i<  smtM^  Wmw.    QniMiii^  III.  4.     'Skb*  M  oT  ic' 

4&.  TV)  iJU/«n  it<  r'ji'/i  im.     r^i  JEmMk,  BiMk  til. 

..41  B^  !■  «•  ti'-fvf.    Burlu,  if  Mw  «  J  MUi  £.*"'  (I^vli,  B«li^  >, 
».  141).     Cf.  *Im  Youbc,  Ltirf/rtmi,t.  I7T,  lad  Tit  jiWtMtBr,  Ho,  it., 

rif  Z^u  M««n  tfJUr.  Fa.  Crtmm.uiaiai  dii^  tf  lii  Utf  Bim*  ««/ 1 
till  mtmnti  tf  iki  Si.  Hta.  Ckiriii  Jjmn  ft*,  fgittrr  vMi  Mtr  urtt^rw*  I 
«■  til  Ptilk  ami  FriwMr  Ltji,  iRsh.  Th*  naitk  ibont  Buikc*)  MJpk  T 
B«(  Htm  to  )u*>  bMB  nadi  hy  Lorrt  HoUaM. 

l.*^  HtilamJ.    HtorrRklurd  VuuUFu.lliitd  Lord  H<)Uw4{l77}.tS4o). 

ji^ir^  «Uf  x'™^    '  TkDu(ht(  lint  koiht  lai  worili  tlui  UiiB.*    Gny** 
Fngnii  t/Pti^  tto. 

45.  Orm<^  Sktp.    Tha  ahalitiomM  (i71S-iSij),  whow  Memoin  by  PriMa 

HMre  wtrt  publiihtil  in  iSio. 
49.  JUr.  BiiUm.    Sec  VoU  tr.  7ht  Sfirit  »f  iti  ^^  pp.  il«,(ruf, 

JW'  Aftraf  nifMiflr-     WlUivD  Paley'i  (l74]-iS05]  1/ird/  m^  PUHit^ 

fuUirf^f  wu  psblitlwd  la  ijUj. 
Ttthr'i  tj/ir  efNitv.     Abrabim  'Hittti"!  (iro(-i774)  Ttt  LMi  t/Nsl^» 
FvujS (j  ¥!>:■.,  t76t-l77t)  *u  ibrinfdt  b]i  Hailitt.    Sn  VoL  tv,  of  Uh 


prcxnl  cdiiion,  u,  ]7i>}t$. 
Til  Hrm/tfit*.     ttradiu  LtM.  ir.  )9J. 
CfUi  la  ihtirur  Ufir:    CamFtvll'i  IwUc/'j  fTtfl^. 


J  I.  TtitUuiut  t^miniiuaiitit  i/M'.  Cteawf.    The  oioiory  of  Oessv  CaMiJn| 
(1770-1817)  Hit  noted  for  lu  <liuicil  turn. 

Em  imnmnt.     Ct,  *ib  unu  iliKt  omnn,'  Viitil'i  yCantf,  IL  6{-C 

yifat Ml  aw  rnim.    Poft't  Emi^  nt  Mtn,  Kf.  t,  it. 
{■■  <f  intit  MB  MTf  [nuktj  (Am.     Colilaoiitli'i  Dttrrttd  fill*/!,  ^4. 

MhAMCiurtii.     Publiihcl  1761. 
14.  *i)aictni)  ^M«/$>,'    Webnci'i  iiaccly  (i6i;>. 

Cfw  iJit  mimj  f^ir,     Cf. '  Give  ui  piov.'     Hamlit,  iii.  I. 

Ow  fwiA  t/mtmn.     TrMti  a*J  Criuiia,  111.  3. 

nea  ioir  m  ifitaiaiiH.     Macirtk,  m.  4. 
j;.  5erJ  ■/  tin  f'»i  tnd  nmr.     Htmlii,  in.  i. 

Tt  fill  viisi  U^t  urt.     Gray,  0.^r  r>  ^Airrrfiy, 

484 


NOTES 


BiSAV  Vr.   ON  APPLICATION  TO  STUDY 


iM»g»t 


,  VoLi 


,  111),* Table TilL,! 


Hunt 

5(.  M'<t»t  lit  Ptkttr.    Kicbird  Wilun  (1714- lyti), 'The  Enflith  Cbudr.* 
ji.  Mirii^J.      C«OT|c   MatUnil  (■76i-iIOi4],  pftlnlet  of  Muntrjr  m«m(  lad 
hnmUr  IMc. 

&«iM  MiamH.     See  mfr,  note  lo  p.  t. 

Tit  M*ar  m  Jilifh  if,     Mtthi*,  u,  t. 

Dimir.     Ballhitu  Dennrr,  t  Gtitnan  porlriit  pBintir  (t6t{-ir49). 

n  in  *  l>ii)p<»M  •■■■    CI. '  Ky  minil  la  me  a  liint^ain  ■>,'  bf  Sir  BdwaM 
D]wr, 

A  Uui  mirrtr,    Omw,  T*f  Tjit,  1.  7«i<a. 

A/M  iirWifu.     Woiiliueith'i  KtmJuihii  anJ  liidifrmJtit,^^.  t. 

T*r  ChUrrm  ia  tit  Vmj  >'utt»U,     DtmM,  IlL  6. 

1<rt*  fhi.     Cf.  I'cniui,  &f.  Ti.  {9,  '  Tens  eti  JBm  fillut,' 

^Hh^U•'  [bri|(b[rtl]  Htevn  tfi*vmitt,     Kr*£  Hiirj  f,  Prolofut. 
58.  W«» 
-*; 


57- 


Vlf  iKimu  nrf«|F.      XW  HnrpF  f  .  *.  t. 

'  Hi/i  nrMMrrli.     Lt*fl  Ifttiir  '1  1,411,  (,  S. 

■  Strike  in  tbt  ilsrk,  off«ndin|  byt  by  chioo, 
Sncb  m  ibc  bliaijfald  bloat  of  Itaoont*,' 

Ui)>ilen,  Tit  H:itJ  jm^  lU  PtfJktr,  1.  ]1|^ 

Hat  drtmi  it  Mr  tnaik  tmJfu£iJitfirA  af»h. 

'At  lit 

A)  I  hnil  pu(f«i|  it  forth  iii'l  tncktd  it  an 
Lilu  bnaih.' 

DcaaiiMBt  and  Flttcher**  PUttitr,  t.  5, 

T*i  ftJmr  mrnaa.     ff  ordnrorlb,  TUlfn  AUtf. 
Co.  Fnf<iliwtf»t€4.    a. 

'lAkt  to  the  Pontic  k* 
W1i«4c  icjr  curtcnt  inij  (ompuliivc  mutm 
Ne'tr  fecU  retltlDt  ebb,  etc.  0*kA^  ei.  J. 

GrMn  nut  Mr  frmni.    Pi)(c'«  Siuy  «•  Mt*,  Epa.  11.  ttA. 
6t.  Tlk  Prmt  tf  F»airri.     'The  title  la  gtneraLI/ i;iwn  10  PurhHiut,  the  Oittk 
HlntM  (c.  40a  B^.},  but  Hiililt  rc(«t  to  Ripliael. 
Stirtltf.   SiItdIm  H«),  Nr^paliUn  piinlrr,  muticiin  and  poci  (t6t{-lfi7j), 
Sr  JtiHt  KtymtUi'i  Duavm.     VtMohti  1771,  (Ic. 

TM  Rt^.  W.  SttfiirJ.    Hia   Lifi  e/  P»gpi  Brtnaliti  wa*  pnbliabtd   at 
Lmnool  in  itoi. 
6).  ViffrUiiiUi*.     UmA/,!.;. 

r.  Ctiitit,     Stc  Vol,  IV.,  Tit  &trii  tf  lit  jlp,  pp.  3)4  M  Mf. 
6),  Ptritvtrtmit,  Jttr  mf  JttJ,     TrtiJmt  dvj  C'nii4a^  III.  3. 
64.  NeJ  Stfilj,m  dit  Tttlf.     Sta  No,  163,  April  1;,  I7I0. 
6j.  tU*tr  <"^>a{r(  "■"  ttt?"^'     Drvdan,  AhimJtr'i  Ftm,  loi,     Abo  ef. 
'  Stal  taSmt  and  btfiiutiot  Mill,'  Owptr^  Tit  r<a>,  lu.  617. 
Ptfiiiuw,  iW  ilfir//'.     £  tiJi,  jv.  1}. 
(6.  Dr.  Bimrtj.    Cbtrlea  Burnejr  (be  elder  [(7ifr-i$i4},  biatorlan  ot  muaic. 

4»5 


THE   PLAIN   SPEAKER 


ESSAY  Vn.    ON  LONDONERS  AND  COUNTRY  PEOPLE 


From  Tk  tttm  Mmtify  Matfim,  Na.  i*,  voL  nii.  itaj,  'TibU  Talk,  vn.* 

66.  Mr.  Bladnmti  .  .  .  CatU^.     Sa  Vol.  vi.  TsUi  TaO,  Dole  10  p.  yt. 

67.  «9M^  Hj^  Ptrt.     EthRCfc'a  Tit  Mjm  i/JliiJr,  *.  i. 
CI.  Hi  it  iwp  •/  «U  ii  u>-f^t.     *  I  *Ri  iBanarch  of  all  t  awvcy.'      Cowprf '• 

I'ttta  iiiff»ui  It  ii  tfarim  fy  ^Unmltr  SiUrrk. 
C9.  A  itrkir  n  ilfiimi  (J  jiuwi.     A  *b«y~tort  or  (him  aoctionMr,    $e«  voL  n> 

Jlfr.  Sfihtf^t  Cmtmtikmt  tmu  to  f.  459. 
jI  ikfuUir  iM  K^Jttifi  ififiMf,    ll  will  bt  toanobend  ikit  iIk  Morn  kc«l 

■  bee  104  fclinc  wmfaMiM,  19  Ratdllfc  Mijhwi)'.    See  De  Qmlacey* 

NvrfrpcfunAritf  «H»  t/ri*  Fm  Ami. 
Pfmml.    &■(  ^ftnaar  ^  Lmdm,  17^    fts.    A  mil-known  and    nnch 

■Mreciaud  top«cnphk>l  iccoant  tlu(  fUMil  throofh  imni  c4kloM  id 

(he  uriy  ycm  of  liM  (calury. 
m*r,  lt,a/>  IU!lfi'm,rlr  imW.    Hldu'i  Hill,  fotmitlT  in  S4.  Jolia  Scrcct. 

Clerkrnmll.    The  inilciloBti  on  ihe  Crett  Nixlh  KotJ  wen  meuBreil 

from  hcti. 
TO,  Qdir-CiUtr.     The  liwtn  >l  ttt,  Miiilcn  L>n(,  •  faVDorilf  ruorl  D(  Parwo*! 

irlio  (Bcnahci!  the  Litin  molto  evrr  ihc  <loar,  'Hunoi  ttil  buic  fao 

homo.' 

Uvwr  wartiiiN  fffri.     Pope,  An  Eimj  m  Ouitum,  737-8. 
tfUkttfdtit  HwK.     For  Uil>  (Peataovillc)  ia-1  BafBioe  VOlt  (Klag'i 

CroM)  lee  VoL  11.  oMc  lu  p.  lot. 
Stiaur*  Rrattk.     Al  PecUiam.     Sec  Vol-  »-  7dM>  TaA,  Dole  to  p.  II. 
Ctth  mtrtnj  mr.     Woriliwenh,  '  Linci  wrilttn  in  Euly  Ssrini'  ILyrittt 

B*tl*il,  1791}. 
TAvf '1  ■M^ib  i*iw»  *i  *4»f*.     One  of  Mogrc'i  "Iiiili  McMici.' 
Bnlltmt.      toba  Abriluni,  Uiiur  uigcr  (i7T4-lt)6].     'He  wu,*  *uJ    Sb 

WaKer  Molt,  *g  bciil  of  sn  acior,  but  an  anEcl  of  a  tXttfa'     He 

lifr  by  Hllinf  Lriil  prncdi  in  London  iCrretB  u  %  boy,  tnidc  aa  enorm< 

fortvnt  at  ihr  gtiiinl  Icnnr  Mafer  of  hii  day,  anil  a^uandrtrd  il  in  bullilin 

St.  fimci't  Thfitir  init  buylii(  the  C»la»eum  id  Reitoc'i  Park  (Sec  Vo 

VI.  M'.  Ni-iintiii  CtuvrminUf  note  u  p.  419). 

J>iriiirR.     J.  B.  DuruMt,  abi(a  ^te  the  Ultrrrj  Gmnt  of  Jane  16   ia4 
July  ],  ili4). 
71.  Aa  itar  tj  Si,  0wirde'r  etut,     Cf.  *  We  roae  both  al  an  inuint,ui4  fou^t  a 
litnf  hour  by  Shrfwrtury  clock.'     I  ATm*  Hi*ry  If.  ».  ^ 
Caf iwygw- iturf.    A  tivcrn  ami  ira-giTntn  in  Nnrlh  London  bc(w««i  Maiilcn 
Ldoe  and  Hocbuih  Lane.    Stt  Vol.  ti.  r<lA  7WH,  p.  I6-39. 
71.  fir  lewtiWilJf  wk/«/&r«fti.    7*(  ftW  r>  ffO*,  Act  in.  1. 

Iff/i  M  dt  JtTatf.    In  Chancery  Lane,  kepi  by  RndtU  the  pujlUaL 

Vol.  (I.  Tatti  TiUt,  noie  (o  p.  lot. 
Tin  f—i  Jm.     Rithar-1  ]*tft  (i;i(-l7l«),aulhor  of  £J^  Hitt. 
AmiktijCMia,    The  ilMil  (1671-171^], auibor  of  a  iNKWif  yPw/luifi^  ' 
(17 1  j). 
7J.  Mr.  Omtur   ,    .   ,    lit /ilMtmgtr  !■  lit  Ptulf^.      Sec  Mimtrn  */"  W.  M«aJia 

It.  )I0.    Ha  re<l  name  wBi,ip|iiTeniIy,  Fiihc[,of  DukeSuecl,Sl.Ja 
74.  T4>  A>>7  i/l^l  Kimr  tfBelumm.     T'utrMt  SitiiJy,  vUi.  19. 
ji~  Stt  KawJ  Ttili,  f3.  tl.  ^  I  tfi.     Sec  VoL  I.  pp.  Ill,  il  Uf. 

Tia  italt  '1  ii<  (a*  y <Hr  («<//.     R.  B.  Sbeiidio'a  Tin  Dtnaa,  m.  f. 

486 


NOTES 

j6.  Saimiiitr,  Kini.    joho  Binniiicr  (i7(o-tl]6},  Thomii  King  Ci7]»-ito5). 

Mr.  Jtuia  S^llstu.     I  Kill  HiU'j  ly.,  u\.  1. 
77>  A  tfttmalf.    'The  Phonii  Pimlir  !•  i  vul  ipcCiei  tlonc'     Cowley,  Tint 


KSSAY  VIII.    ON  THE  SPIRIT  OP  OBLIGATIONS 
Prom  Tlu  ffra  MuuMj  Mcfauw,  ■  Tibh  Tkllc,  xi.J  Na  ];,  Vol.  i.  iSm- 

L  ^Irf  iflfftdffj.     Terence,  HtavJanlmorMmmsty  1.  I. 
1-  Afdi'  »-iirAi  jr  rji«  iwi^j^/f  ixvul.     Hamtti^  iv.  4. 
Btnifti  iluir  ■«,  'f(.    YoBn('»  Ti«  Rrvrnft,  ».  *. 
I.  M'lif  ifTvi.     Wi  }ur  Utr  //,  11.  7. 

1.  jMt.   ifiOtf/va.     Williim    Wilbcrfarw    (i7S9-i8;i)i   the    prliunentMy 
letiki  of  the  iDlL^Uvcry  «*ii)c.     Sec  Vol.  ir.  7it  ijUr^f  tj  tt>  A^i,  pp. 

tj.  ^n  (in>  (ilaw.     Papc^  Thi  Rafi  tf  lla  Led,  a.,  If-ll. 

'  If  10  her  th>:«  •Dine  (rmilt  rrrort  (ill. 
Look  oa  her  dec, lad  you'll  far^rl  'on  alL' 

A  Htmv4.     John  Hawii-I  (1716-1790),  piiioa  phiUnlliroput, 

A  Sir  Hidttn  L»tft.    I76g-ii(4.    At  j*tIor  ot  Nkpatron  In  St.  Httuu  be 

cnduTCd  much  ub]<H]u^. 
Charity  o^fft  m  miblitiidt  ofa^u     I  Ptirr,  iv.  1, 
T*i  mraMit  frj-exi  en  fir  lliaitii  mtmxiM.     Sbroc**  Stnlimmitl  Itrmj.    The 

Bourbonnoii. 
Ttlit.    Fnn;ou  JoKph  Tilmi  (t76]-iSi6J,  one  of  ibc  greitNt  of  Frtncb 

ti*tic  iclorl. 
S4.  Mr,  JmiiUt  FuUint.    WilUim,  eldcii  (on  of  ibi  novtliit  (tfiS-lSto).     H« 

WW  ini>[i>tr>l(  (or  Witiminitcr. 
Ctltnl  Bttk.     In  .jw.'u. 
A^nliiiur  16  J  aunJ  liiieditjt     MtKhtik,  v.  ), 
fi{.  ^  llilli  Iniiir  ihtn  lit  *■;'/'-     Putlti  viii.  (. 

..An/  ti-iia  I  iMiitt  itji  ia  imwriaf  viingi,    Hiet-in  *iiJ  EArti,  Pirl  t.  Scene  1. 
Tit  f/rm  ^ektit  Jo»i  I  ntltr  mik  men  p/toArr,     I  NoithcoteV 
(6.  Star  [Oprn]  .Viuki.    Th«  worrit  ibic  optnol  ibe  on  <loor  in  AH  Bak»  aad 

lit  Firta  Tlimi. 
%j.  Til  lau  M'.  jJkoMtw.     Rjcharil  Briatlry  Sberiilui  died  in  iflit. 

CaMia  imiUfir  iinlmn,    ■!  hi<l  riihti  coia  my  hurt,  ■nd  rirop  my  blooil 

for  drachnu*.*    JuStn  Crior,  it.  j. 


ESSAY  IX.    ON  THE  OLD  ACS  OF  ARTISTS 

From  Til  Ntm  Mctklj  M*i4*ini,  No.  jj.  Vol.  >iiLv  itl), 'Ttble  Talk,  nit.' 

■  I.  Mr.  NiUttin.     Jaicph  Nollekeni,  dieil  in  iS)}. 

A  mu't  a  mt»fit  t'  liii.'     Bumi,'  l«  tbere  for  hnneit  poverty.' 
I9.  Cianlrj.    Sir  Fr*n<ii  LtitiK  Chinlny  [xyti-ii^t).    The  weilih  he  iccumu- 
liled  by  meini  of  hi(  art  wif  itiven  to  tb«  Royil  Aciiltiny  lor  (he  purcluie 
of  m>rifi  of  in  cjKColed  ia  Greil  Dnlalii. 
llmt  virtmiii  iimtrlft»  Hut,      Cf.  '  I  luve  not  yet  forfot  mytdf  to  •lone.' 

Pofc,  KJiuu  fi  AbilarJ,  X^. 
Ai  vfi/t  a  vWrttri  n>  Imtui  hrd,     PartAhi  Ltd,  in.  411. 

487 


NOTES 


107. 

loS. 

■  Of. 

III. 


MI. 


Bfftr.    John  Hopfacr  (ij'ff-iIioJifortntl  «*4  iMlwft  faiatfr,whe 

CDOtUcil  la  ^ir Jili  «f  irctn  >a4  dilUrea. 

.     Mi.  W.  C.  HailitI  n|c«ti  tbat  Codwia  it  ncani. 

Th-v.  J.  M.  W.  Turn<i,llKpn(rnE^Bdili»*cipcpiio(cr  (it7!-*I{<)- 
Fir  wiBir,  iwjHir  i/mj*iim/.     Poft't  Eltf  m  Mm,  Bp.  I*.  *Si,ipplie4  M 

Bkod. 
**".     WtlUactdb 
l!>irtf  CorJrru^it.     Set  oiMi,  aolc  to  p.  I). 
7>  /{rsD  atrmil  oauiimi  tm  fial.     Ansultcmtt  Tti  Ari  tf  PfamMMg  Ht»lit, 

Book  IT. 
Til  ACh  Hrmiii.    Sh  nl.  n.  TjliSr  TM,  net*  m  ;<.  9}. 

Mr.C .    Crokc*. 

Noit.    RKhuJ  Cua»l(TlM<(iT)i-iSii),lkt  ilrvaatkt, ittaibt* by  OoU- 

UDUb  I*  '  ibc  Tcnnec  ct  B>|bnd.' 
Urrtdiimi  idi,     Htpncf,  IV  ^a  Pul^  lit. 
JtmatdC^m*.     A  •ninm  bf  John  G*;  (i6M-i7]>K  F^Me'  ■*  (>» 

Hi7(a>rk«t  wirh  lliaJTri  mutic,  i'}!.    Sn  iW  IM  cWv*  •>  ft  u. 
M'.  Cn^,     Gc«ae  C10I7  (i7So~ig6oK  Mtbc*  of  the  rom«nc«  tA  S^tiUti 

(ttif  I,  ud  ■wncrmi  atbn  *Mk(. 
n*  £9^  ikd^  t/Attttn.    PloUUf  [he  R»t>I  SMMy  for  tht  i4nK>. 

llM*l  of  Otnewl  LiMiUBH,  fodnJcJ  ilij.    Ciolr  »i  ao  the  (oannL 
Sir  jhJrtm  tTjtu.     Tofai  Odfi  (i779-itM)  oowl,  A"  'fWrm  «>a>  >/ 

fil.w  iit,  WH  rabWwd  (■  •!». 
CtlMihtitt.    HtmUl,i.  r. 
Sf   rrv   iMlf.     Pkirt  Van  itct  Fia  (i6i(.|Mo),  «bsM  (Mkn  cb^H 

(he  (imily  uiw  to  Uly ;  piimct  (o'  WmplMilM  lirtb)  of  ihc  BciiKNi  vf 

ibeCoMtWCbnlau. 

ESSAY  XI.    ON  SlTTtNO  FUR  ONE'S  PICTURB 
»(  MmMMl^  M4r«>AiH,  No.  j{.  Vol  nil,  il*h 'T>bl>  Talk,  a.' 

T>>  ii>zf*r  i<  til  tirtti.  Tlx  Antbv  Umicir  poiaicd  ■  wul)  fOftriil  in  «Ui 
of  ■  poM  ol4  WDiain  wbam  he  atit  nor  Maathglcf  la  ilo],  fW.  C  H.] 

Ifkn  ti  tti  m  m,  tn  lt»|,  vka  tht  iklfr  w»  a  Vu  67111  rWi  ■"d 
Uailarua  MiaiMn  at  Wen  id  SkraoAn  .  .  .  Tit  pittsrt  ii  Hill  in  a 
fair  MaM  «<M>au  ration.    HT.  C.  U.] 

TUUu  Mr.  Cfk.    joha  Opic  (t7*t-l*07)>  bialark*!  painur. 

AioJuWi  (T  ihv^  MH.    FpMIk  £«><,  r.  1 57. 

T^  Bwttirft.     Sr  >eL  n.  Jtf'.  Kftcin't  Cwmnrtiw,  oou  U  p.  4J4. 

Htfft  ^itmj  if  mtti.    C(.ni.r,IJ<larHmiit  Xmjliii  Ffi,  aMt  lop.  I«7. 

ftaifii  msititi  <  ^^^w  tf  SmtI  Gnrf,  Ht  marrital,  abeat  i6j^Matia 
Rolitvfii,  Ennil-4i«()ita'  of  Ibt  firit  Karl  cf  Cowiic.  Sw  CtawMTiai  gf 
/.HI  AMm^  jr.A  «**  J<w>  i»V<  f.  91,  arficfc  NacdNOte  It  nportad 
aa  arodi  lailfc  HmBu  for  U*i*(  (Ivui  ihe  B«l*i  BMBt  m  Oafcr.  The 
thangr  froai  Cowper  I*  Com,  m  (iveo  •>  ika  fnwni  text,  b  te(»»M 
of  SB  <rr>tiuB.dinctioB  to  that  clftrt  bcfcia4  iLc'CoalCDU  af  Ika  fim 
VolaiBi,'  in  Ibi  oripnl  xtitkn. 

jI  ftivf  */  Or  ■<«  ^  .AJta  .  .  .  l^;f  .      lata  AMbv.  PMniU 

p*>aHr[ri7}o-i7S7)<BuH*«l^rI>*oKU.    S«  Ifc4(wn^* DkUaony. 

nU  rnrtrOjaimd  ia  X^va^  m. 

'TMak  }o«,  if  Laon  bad  ben  Penircfa'a  witc, 
H«  maid  b«ic  wrtaaa  aoiiaeti  all  hia  lift  f ' 

Dtm  Jum,  Canto  in.  SUMa  I, 

489 


THE   PLAIN   SPEAKEH 


H^.  Si.  Frnt.     in  Roannu't  Jmlk  M  /d  KmvtUt  i/Aor  (1760). 

■  I  J.  TiO  iti  tnit  diiii  ai  II.     OfitAb,  IT,  ). 

>  Ll|hl-wla|'J  toy  at  (euhtr'd  Capld.' 

OiiiiU,  t.  J. 
Ctuitm.    AMonSo  C«n«M  (i;f7-itit),VcaMi»B<cslpU(. 
Iti-   Ti4  tiMrU/riitrk£.     Popt'a  £Jb>u  »  ^UUrJy  io(. 

Or  iiwl.iW(  /^ia  Amtf  (4(  ,^ir  (bf^    TbamiBB,  n>  CufA  a^  JmdUtma, 

Timt  ffia  pimtt.    TbofDMA,  A  Ar**  m  Ma4t, 

■  If.  I<«J  Krfftl.    AufaMiu  VtKmial  %*ffe\  (iTi{>iTS(),«<ie  of  the  En| 

AAmltilt.      He  M)d   Ul   mtoai   in   cOwniM I,  Sir   H«gh    PiUoer, 
<oiitl-surlialkd    fo    acmiitlini    (k     Pnoch    Dot    to   etuac    aflcr 
iniJcciiiTt  battlt  olf  ItihJnt,  3*ih  Julj  177K.     Roiti  nrRC  sciiaitUd. 

Mr.  C r  .  ,  .  maJt  i*r  Mmh  uvi.     S<*  lUmnrd,  K.  S^  IK,,  1*11.  June 

i},  ill},  for  Croktf'a  nnnrki, 
116.  Tp  at  Ui  IfUi/M.     WMl&eM  wu  bvitd  in  1770.     WWn  the  cafBn  wu 
optotd  in  I7i4>  ikc  body  wu  fouari  U  be  pttfleo.    Sec  L.  TjpctOMB'i  i-^r, 
u.  6oi-].     PonUy  it  •■  to  ihii  tktt  Hulitt  rtfan. 
V«ra,  *«W>^  MdrM  r*  «  <Ax. 

Thia  KMiUe  wknn  mat  ion  (a  btmoie 
A  kaoAtA  clO'l. 


ES3AV  XII.   WHETHER  GENIUS  IS  CONSCIOUS  OF  ITS  POWERS 


"•»■ 


117.  AxWirtb.    Henry  St.  Jaha,ViKoaat  Balin|t*«kc|l^>-t7J<)i  *(*'**dub, 
writtr  tod  (rtcixl  o(  l^pc 

£r  M'MI/iia  '1"£'r-     Diplomaiiit  and  cu>riil  (■6i<-l7««>). 

&»  aw  inijf.     Tabu  &»",  i.  1. 

A  fiamix  gtstJiy  sll.     Ftrt£ti  Lett,  1,  47a. 
iiS.  Mtttritm  imftrttal  tf*i.     Ovid,  Mil-,  u.  5. 

Oar^niia^BM  ti>lM4iijiM^[D<iu].     niwa  i/j4ilau,i.  i, 

foiw  ACavW.    Stc  iitir,  noic  (0  p.  t. 
tM.  7^  fJt^,  (b  iilHiiita,  fir  .nvK^.     Lraih't  ' Lino  on  ibe  Cckkrued   Pictura 
by  Llontrda  d*  Vioci,  tailed  "The  Virgin  of  Uic  Rociu.'" 

Tittifi  itffanai  »'  fJtni.     Topc'i  EfniU  n  Mr.Tfmti,  I,  U. 

Iwnt4  Ml  ii  tfatmUui.     St*  toL  vi.  TaMr  Tdii,  BMt  lo  p.  90. 

Mf  mirnt  t*  iw  ■  H'ldtm  ii.  From  Sir  Edward  Dm'*  iTiic  ia  Bjrd**  Pimtmt 
«iiJ  Oaarn  (MSi). 

Tllar  i^ttB  t/MJltimit.    Set  voL  nit,  X^cnm  h  >fe  £<t{AU  CJaJt  Ifrittri, 

Sipiv  OrlmJi  Fr>V>ia.<J>.  In  Dckkrr'i  Ti>  Hwtf  JTIm,  Part  II.  S«« 
vol.  *.  Lttnm  m  (it  Lit4riiairr  tfdu  Agr  tf  F.H**iilk,  pp.  ]]{,  rr  w. 

VMiWr  ir  X)r<t<*.  John  WttHin  (f  -t.  i6lj)  and  Thomu  Dtkk« 
(t.  1574-1.  i6jt).     Sec  vol.  V.  Ijilnrti  n  (t(  DraoalH  Z,rlirrdnr(  t/ikt  Att 

Siili^      In   hi)  Ltriva   «   Ihtmtiu  An  *aJ  Uitnitrt,      See  *a1.   a. 

tUaranrri  tf  Xttiiifut'i  PUyi,  note  Co  p.  171. 
T'f  iJii.nc  o/"  IJitrn.     Lrigh  Hunt'i  Matk,  with  ■  didieatlon  (ratn  Suirey 

Jiil  waa  pubtitbed  in  iSij. 

490 


IK. 


NOTES 


ma 

III. 
113. 


Iftim  itt  mi^tly  fill.     Kipnlcon. 

Criii  «<'  ofi*  "•  It"  l>f  '/dH  ttmf*tu    Cf.  H*mlH,  iii.  a. 

'  Vau  wauU  nuaA  ate  fiom  my  loiml  note  10  <6xt  lop  of  my  compui.' 

ao'l  n.  1. 
'  An  ejTie  of  diildrtn,  llltit  cy»«»,  lint  ejy  out  on  iht  lop  of  qucnioo.' 

Mr.  Irrd,im  rtctmrnndi  iki  vtlumi  i/Cit'aiuriHiti.    S«  lol.  til.  of  the  fictent 

(dilinn    foi    Hatlilt't  Citrtfiirnrki,  ind   piniciitari  of  iheir  publiolion. 

The  book  wit  fivaunbty  rtvicwcJ  in  the  Liiira'j  G*WH  for  Jaly  11, 

tii%. 
Til  Siaj  i/Rimini.    Publt>lu<l  in  1816,  toi  »ni|cly  rericwiH  In  BlmrhtHtifi 

MagttiT*,  May  itiK. 
^  ^JiMii  i/fif'f.     Stc  vol.  tr,  n*  Sfiril  ^iti  ^r,  doIe  M  p.  Jj). 

Lsfi  tiris.1  nui  nmivirufirf.     Bacon,  /Uvdiict»H»i  ffLtfrnmg,  B«ok  1. 
114,  <4.  P.  £.     Alinndtr  Pm,  Etqnitt. 
Tirji  nir  II  win.     S*tdm,  xx.  7. 

II{.  F4if.diic<lgi>n/  !■  Atr  Jitfrniyn  a/lmt  [ipaccl.     Cowpci,  ftnirrmiH,  L  84. 
Til  _fiut  a/ *a<m  M  tri[tl.     sit  RimitaidlmiHr,  11,  1,10-1. 
Strilimf-Fair.    A  r»nai»  fiir  wii  htlil  at  Weil  Smiihlirlri,  tt}j-if  J5  about 

th*  lime  of  thr  fnliral  of  Si.  BiitholomcK,  Aui[utt  14. 
Til  Ufi  nUinttr  a»d  t^i  rlsJ  uiiiiu.     Cowfri,  Ttn  Tut,  v.  901. 

116,  Bii  nfmuirmii.     'UccSilii  miKroi  cnmbc  icpeiiia  niafiinoa,'  JuvtnkI, 

¥11.  154. 
jtmilnl  CvaL     Annlbalc  Cancci  (i;6o.i6q91,  painlei  of  the  FainMt 
CiUciy.  in  Komc. 

117.  '  IjrviftT  L*vi.'    Con^vc't  conu'ly,  169;. 
Mai  MrlUr.     Hirnrt  Mellon  (177^-11)7),  laler,  DuchMi  of  St.  Albia'i. 

Stir  bcfin  an  the  ilage  ti  a  ehilU  In  boyi'  punt,  vat  iatiorfund  by 
ShfTirlan  to  l.on'lun,  where  the  playe4  '  Lydia  Lanyuikh  '  In  Tii  R/^ttli^ 
at  Ofory  Lanr,  January  >79S,  in^i  became  a  popular  hoyH^n.  Mr.  Coutia, 
ihe  Irniktt,  fril  in  love  wiih  hcf,  am)  tnarfi«i|  bet  aoon  aft«  Ihe  death  of 
hia  uife  in  1814,  an>l  O'ben  be  die.)  m  i^ii  bit  wraith  paiK-i  to  her.  Ib 
iSj?  ahc  maiiiti!  WiUiam,  Dulie  of  St.  Albin'i,  whoae  age  wii  17,  Afta 
providiajf  hanilaametv  for  him,  the  kit  l)ie  bulk  of  bet  property  Co  H>. 
CootU'  gtanddaughlit,  MiM  Angela  Bur<letl. 

BU  Pj/wc.     (i7{7.fiSo{.) 

Stwuiiifr,     John  Bannriter  (i7(o-il]6]. 


ESSAY  Xllt.    ON  THE  PLEASURE  OF  HATING 

Lima  »  «  ^Jir.    Probably  thon  in  Tii  Uipti  (Byron,  Shelley  in-J  Hant'i 
Quirldl)^,  (ol.  11.  177. 
tlS.  T»i  rtilJt  f/timdm  Undmni.     Muhft,  1.  5. 

Wi  M'.  6<L'ii  iiitr%t:    StUtiu  tnJ  BnMi/^1,  Pari  1. 1  I  j. 
Latt  line  but  one^  lufKr,  1 1  ilip  for  *  Dttur*.* 
119.  Ifi  luiairiii  M  iTRB  ftfiiJMi  •/  Fai*!  But  tf  Marijt.     A  folio  edition  wu 
pnbtiahed  by  •otacriplion  by  Thomai  Kelly,  Lonrion,  iSll. 
Cffi/f  litii^p  I     ttdr.  III.  4. 

Pmtftittmi.    Jereiny  Beaiham'i  nimt  for  hit  method  of  priion  (optrviiion. 
See  vol.  IT.  Tite  S^irtr  1/1*1  ^,  note  10  p,  197. 

49» 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 

rAsr 

119.  Mr.  Om^t  imfmiMi  FntiUap^u.       CL  nL  u.  FtEait»l  Enffi 

121-7, 
Mr,  Iromi  .   .   .    CtltJmiMa  CiafiL     Sk  *aL  n.  T^  ^irit  y  lb 

p.  Ill,  a  itf. 
'  fu  prtaj,  ilKmik  a  fUpt.    AO  '■  Win  tUl  Emit  Wdi,  1.  1. 
Ufm  lUi  tani  and  tIaJ  ^  amt.    Mtdrtli,  1.  7. 
I  ]o.  Oai^  [o'b  <laia(]  (m*<jr«r.     Htmlti,  m.  X. 
A  wtHI,     t  A  mjaprmt  for  'Aloust*' 
n«r  wiKi  «M(  /bkmm  <i  Ikuii.     OitdU,  I.  )- 
1)1.  Efktlr  It  RiirriSmiluj.Eij.     5a  tlw  Letter  of  Elia  to  Robot  Suvtbey, 
'.  id  Tlu  L—dam  M»i*timi,Qet.  lilj. 

TUr  /  ^uif  ka™  ciUi'atiJ,     See  dao,  tbc  E«7  *  Oa  the  rmiw  iiil 
U    'I,  AMiion.- 

li    '  '  l]l.  tf f  loMpb    Hnmcof  the  Pipe   Office,  oot  (he    RuTical    M.P: 

I  Limb'i  Ltrrin,  cd.  W.  C.  Hiilit^  i.  ]6i,  Dotc  ■]. 

I  Cartn  lAaa  ai  a  diiijiijQr  At  Cedt.     JJha  C^iar,  a.  i. 

f  £ H Lcifb  Hunt. 

Jtim  Scon,  f  John  Scott  (■7S]-ilii),  Editor  of  T/tt  LomJmm  Mn 
who  died  from  ■  wonsd  recej*ed  in  ■  dacl  (rum  CbriMic,  Lou 
friend. 

Mri.  •      MoDtlgs. 

I  B t  Burney. 

Sam  imttmiitiaiiifir  kmrt  tf  ihrjial.     At  Yt*  Liii  It,  a.  7. 

Ftlirwi  of  no  mark.     I  ATm^  Henry  J/'p,  ul*  t. 
't     t  Hume. 
I    ''  1^1.  Mr.  ICaikmgan  ^vhu  avtryfianriur.     Cf. -nl,  f.  TMt  Spirit  cf  iJU  . 

•  Mr.  Liim.     Jnhn  LiiloD  (1776-1S46). 

1 34.  Gone  into  ike  ^vailet  of  limt.     *  But  thou  unonp  the  wattcm  of  tiue  mm 
ShjktipfJFr'l  Sortruli,  111. 
I  Mr.  Msort' I  Lc^iei  tf  i*e  An£e/i.   Of  Mr.  Moon't  poem,pDbliiheil  fni  J; 

1S23,  five  cditioni  were  exhaulled  in  one  yoir. 
Sitlinjr  in  my  tpivlrw.     Bemmont  aad  F[eLcher't  FkiUiltr^  V.  5. 

[Heired  from  i  theeptoie]. 
The  mne  of  poetry  it  drank. 

'  The  wine  of  life  ii  drawn,  and  tbe  rocrc  lee* 
I   ,  It  left  thi*  vault  10  brag  of.' 

I    '  Macitlif  II. 

J  135.  Play  [ipon]iuyrA  Amarylliim  the  tkaJe.     LynJaj^  6j. 

I  FoKtkill.     The  reiidence  of  '  Valhek "  Beckford, 

V  To  every  good  vjork  rtprobtile.     Efiith  10  Tifui,  i.  16. 

'  136.  Of  ivkom  ike  iBor/d  vtai  net  ivirtiy.     Epittle  to  tke  Heiretot^  x'u  j3. 

'i  Thii  ■uiai  imxe  limr  a  mjutry.     '  Thii  w«  tome  time  a  paradox,  but  noi 

time  give)  i(  ptoof.'     Hamlet,  iii.  i. 
The  rati  flueked from  tke  forekead  of  a  virtuait  love. 

It     '  ■  '  Tjkei  off  the  roK 

f  From  the  fair  foreheid  of  in  inaacent  love 

I  And  teU  ■  bliiler  there.' 

Hamt/it,  ni. 

j  137.  Kole.  Tie  Seniinel.    See  vol.  Vl.  Converialioni  ofyiuwel  Nitlitolt,  p,  f  ig 

'  footnote. 

Daddy  Rallon,     III  Scotl'l  Hear!  o/Midloliian, 

493 

■s 


NOTES 

ESSAY  XIV.    ON  DR.  SPURZHEIMS  THEORY 

Dri.  Gdll  tti^  Sfinrtiim.     S«  dBir,  Ciaiy  On  Urnisi. 

/f  tat  miirt  mm  lao  'uJ  ifaigi  mtiuri.     tdaihlkf  I,  {. 

Drmui  lit  ainaim.     Tvt^ii  f/i^it,  i.  ;■ 

W»tH  i/ndi  di  [nmi  itmali  (ilrlr  limlilri.     OlMh.  I.  ]. 

HtTt  tr  irxii  .  .  .  iLutiJ  j»J  ttfOffJ  wiik  On.      Dnden,  AiuUtm   lurf 

jtikiivflkl,  1. 1 14.   Cf.  ilw  ■  ilmilir  ptwcfc  in  AiAinn  {Tit  SfitiM-n,  ;to). 
Ifiii  ceiir  witiiirt  if  li*t  filt  aaJ  maru.     CL  'cnierpiiKi  ol  gnu  pitb  *iu> 

monwiiE.*    ffcnAr,  iit.  i, 
^ItiH  ititgi  ari  Jan  it  tlU  grtnurtt.    S.  Ltilt,*xiii.  j: 
Tlr  /Uciimnl.     By  B«n  Jodmh,  liio. 
MalihtMli.    NitoUt  Nftlcbnaclu  {i6]S-i7i;],bIhm Di^KMinvi*  A  Jt( 

fi^iV  mi  pul>liihfil  in  1674. 
Cnkim  Caila.     •Cooil  LtuncelOl  Oobb*,' ^l"^"  V ''"■'"i  "•  >- 
Tlir,  »,iJ,  ■)  rAiii  '0  'ill  H  ite.    Hamin,  1. ;. 
T*i  l*-inJtr/ml  Maiariw.    TU  IfsKirrfil  Ma^*tm,c  MarvtlUmOrMitltytr 

Niw  lfi*Uf  fiiarunvr,  a  jouinil  of  the  liiUr  half  uf  l)ic  r)(;lilw  nih  cntiny, 

Willi  viryini  lillc*. 
KiBg  FfjMtaJ.     PoMibly  Ibt  ttlrrrnn  ii  i«  ihc  Cortn  havinit  In  fttAitttnt 

Itavc  Cariii  (whichci  ihey  tu<l  citricil  him}  ituring  the  (icfc  by  llu  PrciKb 

on  0<t.  I,  ■■[],  in  oi-lcr  10  make  tn-mi  will)  the  Pruch. 
hfeUfm,  «  ric  nfA'  'if  ^•^.     llemlil,  I.  J. 

Notr.     Dr.  Cnn^  d/"  EJsnturgi,     The  pbnnotogifaJ  Cnmbei  wcrr  CmvfV 
(irBB-iSsS),  W,S.  •o<!  moral  phili.%anphtr,  anil  hit  brother,  Anilrtw  {179?- 
it47},diKtor  of  mcilitinr- 
fW)'  n  hmitlf.     'I  am  no)  auJy  witty  lnmyMl(,bul  Ihc  cibk  thM  wit  k  in 

tKaa  men.'     i  Ki*i  IIibiji  IK,  1.  t. 
Not*-     SfinuJrrmg  i^aticf.     At  Tm  LUt  tr,  n.  J. 

ESSAY  XV.     ON  BGOTISM 

ij!.  Jtn>j  Ca^tyin'  vth.     1  *"•<  Htm'j  If.,  ii.  4. 

^«M  anJ  itl/-tv*trii.    *S«lf  and  viin  concril,'  Km£  Riitirtl  IL,  m,  ■• 
Gtirir^  iti'iU'l  ffiit  »^mt  trtrid.     ynJin  Cmi't  1.  », 

160,  Mr, Mil]',    itr  iult  aatt  ta  f.  rSj. 

Til  fratui  Lt'J  CIahVv.    John  Scoti,  Laid  Eldoo  t*7;t-iSjS),  who  h» 

■ID  lave  loi  llurilurt  or  irl. 
Madami  Caialani.     AagctinC(UU(il{l77i|-il49)  the  popular  Itslitn  linirr. 
Sb*  mailc  ^10,000  in  fonr  montht  in  London* 
til.  Til  lart  Ci^iKtlltr  (F.rdi:*t).     Thomia  Eciklnc,  ir$0-lSl). 
itl.  El  frafiir  vh^m  vivn£  pir^irt  laaui.     Jonnil,  viu.  Sj. 
16}.  tKitJiK  li  }*ui/M4  rf  ii' tiiUrtm,     S.MaMiew,ii.  If. 
IVcw  nf  hrtad  *f»  lit  Vattri,     Bala^  li.  1 . 
fftn  (hUmiih  «u>  lalUt  ft  i&f.     S«<  Botwcll't  JiUum  {c.l.  C  B.  HUl], 

ii.iji. 
Hirmfi  MiJiigiiaa.    Tlic  Rcv.Jimo  Heivry'i  (1714-175!)  MtJ'aaiiiiti  a»J 
Ctarimfiarifu  wrrc  high!}-  ctlecmrd  in  (heir  flay. 
1(4.  »Viw//.    RichaH  Wnti[l(i76s-it]6]. 

Aftllia  KatMrntK.     Miria  Anna  Ancflica  KiiiffnianD  (1741-1(07),  a  S»tM 

Saialcr  of  (chkfly)  fcmak  chuicLetl,  maay  of  which  wm  cngnvcd  by 
larulcui. 


FAGI 

"17. 
Ijl. 

IJ9. 
140. 


141. 
"M- 

146. 

'47- 
U9- 


'51- 
.5«. 


'57. 


49S 


Mm 

:SJ: 


THE   PLAIN  SPEAKER 

jfthfirii.    ih  R(tluri4  Alkwrifkc  (l7)t-<79l>- 

A  till  ^  IpnrtiKt.     CjmiiBattUu  ). 

Tit  utifpiM  wnK  la  mdtf  imti.    Nifolmo,  o(  tomt.     He  ilM  oa  May  j 

«"■  (lyu). 

AiiX"  "^  '''V  '*"  *"'  '>*"*'-     PUUffimt,  ■li.  «). 

ffwlll*/  '<  inif  «>*«>  il  HI.     JUdittiA,  t.  |, 

OtUntAt  «Mi  nf  JmIuh  •/ttjait  In  'tf  ii'/'  ix,     Srr  ••»,  p.  too. 

Hun  *  I'tifttg  [nMtaftim]  H*Mtt.     t'oft'i  Mini  HiHjift,  iS4'{. 


tSSAV  XVI.     HOT  AND  COLt) 


|4«.  /iW,  nU,  milii,  mJ  Jrj.    F*'*iiu  Liu,  ti.  i«t. 

Nttkt  tai  miti  uw  f*<i  ^tmm.    Hamit,  vt,  7. 
171,  imw(  ruw  tipi/Cn  Ini. 

•Il  !•  ■  (utlllar  Uanio  dim,  «id  (IfMlAn  lov*,'  ^^ 

n  fc  i>y^  if*^    C(.  /r«/(>,  (T.  in,  It, 

//«>.  Not  otwTc  btcM),  fc«t  whttt  be  liMtcB,* 
17].  Uirt  4II  ImtHittn,     Ch«»Mf.  frttrm,  ijo. 

Hf  Mi/^  1^^  iW  .A'U^'  ftrnfit.     Hm^,  1.  {. 

VttuMi  irtmStr.    U*  lliutin  da  fyspi  it  Sitrmtmait. 

Km*.  M'.  .^MrAir.  litoUUx  J*n>e«  Scittnt,  \UxtytttH  LmiI  AUnfeq 
»lia  piactiwit  in  th*  Norlhtm  Circuii  •ml  Lsnmkirc  S*«*lacw  till  tlojl 
lliillii  n«i*ftl  (  rampIinMnlir)'  iMWr  (ram  SnrMl  oa  iIk  patillcalaMi  ol 
Ftimiftn  tf  Htmm  Atii—.  (>R  Fnr  CrofMhai  tft  Llur^tj  Famllr^ 
I.  9I'},  iii'l  Mimnrt,  I,  111,  Md/<ir,  Htt  t*  friniifUt  if  Hn 

amm  a*%wlH«  ntwJ.     Trf ifM  £*Wr,  ik.  ik.  cfaip.  j  ]. 

Nat*.     Mr.  SlufiirJ.     itt  *mU,  •««  1«  p.  4i. 

n«  wtv'Wfu'tr  fU>{  M  iwik     I  JCnf  J/rw^  /f .,  i.  }• 

JM<Jar  flf  Mttlltrt*.     Mmnthr  Mti^tt  in.  t. 

ffiHtaH'i  TrMlli  h  C^faiba.     btthMir  I1m^>u4*«  (1740-111  j)  book  WH 
pBblliM  in  iffo-A  •(  KUnibtri. 
76.  JW(  ntf  wiUhr  Jhi  iat^tit  ift.    *  Bm  dtdJ-raU  wiotti  mMt  iokabil  1 
nrlWtMMf  Xj*n«r>,A(t  II.  1. 

L»tt  fmtfM.    Iltmbi,  I*.  J. 

Tj**  lii  it»J  lit  Ghdi  frmJi  tkm.     Dndm,  Abwaniir't  ftaUy  laj. 

Afftumiii  **i  iriMiii  r«  Awl.    1  Ti*f  fiV*-f  IV^  III.  I. 

•  A  mmi  up  Tiriitf'/aJi  f  iffli'     Trmr^m  Sia»Jf,tu.  )4. 


•:<• 


»;* 


SSSAY  KVn.   THE  NEW  SCHOOL  OF  RKFORM 


ll«.  CW  !«>«■  Mr*.  Pkad,  la  hn  Amtdta  tf  lit  tit  fr»»i/  %toH 
pW»«M  atattttnin.  r4.  O.  8.  Hitt,  >.  104),  -riiM  >  •  Dctf  rildnu^ 
mU  he  t*  «t  «Nt  itj)  «u  «  man  to  my  nrj  hmn't  c«tteni  1  Im  iMua  | 
r«ol,  imi  hi  iHtd  1  r«cw,  i»*  h»  hiwJ  •  ''^  1  h*  wa*  ■  ««.  gg^ 
ittr.'    Sm  »1m  (oI.  '.  Tit  KtuJ  TiUt,  f.  loj.  , 


49* 


NOTES 

if  I.  tlifii^wd  Jtjitiiiiif,    Scott'i  Htfi  tf  MiiUitum,  voL  t.  chip,  xii, 

jt  (MiionwmH.     *  Dcvoutl)r  to  be  wiihc'l.'     lUmkt,  in.  I. 

tfkii  mtrt filitslj  caa Jail  i»  erulvtt     Spentu'i  Attu^rmi,  c  iht  FtU  tf 
lit  Buinrfiu,  17. 
iS}.  Getd^Uladri,     Ct.  Mtrrj  Ifttntt  ■•  3i  'judiciaui  oillailo,'  in-l  Kn[  l,4«r, 
IV.  c,  <>lnnj;r  sillailrt. 

Mr,  lltUfti.     John  Cicn  HobhouM  (ijtb-itfq),  Byton'i  fritnil. 

Oni  !/'*'«  't"  J  />'■*"  «  '•'  Afc''*  M«u<.  Jinifi  Mill  (l77J-lS}6),  who,  in 
■pile  of  hii  riiiital  bpdioRi,  wit  appuimc^  Auuunt'Eumiiici  of  InillKR 
CoiT*ipDniienff  m  ttiq, 

Tkiir  ^iijtit  ciT  iki  Kdmt^irgi  ^rt'inp.  TAr  tP'riimiuutr  K£9JfWt  Itnancvd  by 
Bcnlliiai  in>)  t'liM  ti)r  ftiwtin;,  wit  foundoil  in  tgnuarv  iRif.  Ill  firtt 
nDmberi  conliiaot  ■  itripi  of  iiuulii  on  the  EJinitrrl  (cl.  ft",f-  jSi)  ) 
JUJ^tuniltl  vi%  HjiinD«'l  In  the  rhir-l  number  (JuLy  idJ4,  voL  lu  p.  17^1  ] 
■□d  the  grtldc  on  Moort')  Lift  >/  iJirrida»  appennd  in  the  Buinber  ror 
Oclobrr,  1II15,  vol.  iv.  pp.  ]?i.407.  The  jlluilei)  10  Shttidan  1*  la 
unmCffUfuT  jdvcnnLrrr  will  br  fnunil  on  p,  404. 

Bxon'i  Ki>i)t,  Of  ftfania^i  i%J  CivU  L'/i. 


l%^.  A  Jisiiflinffianuniij. 

'  "     Biuki       _ 
e>Iibl»hei<  It  CalcutU  in  1S18 


Tin  I'ttimni  tf  Mr.  Butkint^m.  Jjnirt  Silk  BnckinEhim  (irSe-llf^l 
e>Iibl»hei<  11  CilcutU  in  1118  1  papei  olltil  IW  Ca<'»n-i  ^tvi*!,  which 
ceniureil  the  tbuie*  of  the  Intlian  GoverfuncaU  in-l  t*Af  luppretieii  by  Joha 


Ailinii,  teinponry  Govefoor-Oeneril,  in  April,  i8lj. 

Mr.  Hall.  HnbrrI  Halt,  (be  cclcbralcd  Bsplitt  pmther  [1764-1(11).  Hi* 
rrmcival  from  Lcicntrr,  wherr  he  had  irrvcd  aa  paator  nf  the  Bapliat 
conifrrEaiinn  fni  iweniy  yort,  la  Briatnl,  look  pU<t  in  1II16,  when  be 
•nciec'lei)  Di.  Kylaail  it  head  of  th<  Biptiil  Collffr  al  Briitol  ind  p4itai 
of  Bcaailinead  Chape  L 
i%%.  Sir  Kiiia/J  Bittlmiirt.     Caurl  phy«i({>n  10  Willlim  and  Anae.     He  illol  in 

1719,  after  hivtnf  wrilten  lii  epica  in  aiity  book*. 
it6.  Sr  Rtifl  fill  .  .  .  ithit  frinitg.     i7;o.iS;o.     He  carried  on  ■  coltm 
factory  al  Butv  with  great  (ucceM,  and  devoUd  much  lime  to  the  lmpro*«- 
fnent  of  machinery. 

E/rmaai  t/  PUmcal  £cwwiy,  If  ytmn  MHI.  Jomct  Mill'i  work  w*t 
publiahed  in  ill). 

Priiuifia  sf  FtUiitnl  Eeinmf.  By  John  Rimiay  M'Culloch  (t7l9-tllfi4). 
rubiithed  itio. 

Srrjiiff  It^l  Htf;!  difima  dirt  ifavU  it.  John  Byrom,  On  IM  FnJi 
hrMvrt^  llanJil  jnd  BtmiMitJ, 

M,.  M ,     >  Jomci  Mill  (i77!-i<J«). 

M'.  P.  t>  ThuniDi  Love  Pcacoeli  it  ninfll !  He  wit  Ihs  aulhoi  at 
SiaJtJafAni  (iKiX),  the  poem  pctaibly  refcrnd  lo  a>  JtMepe  in  H»litl'« 
nole  to  f,  1S7.  Pfscock  allackeil  po4tr)r  in  bit  ftf  Agn  tf  PttfJ,  con- 
tiibuled  to  Ollier't  Littrarj  Pitlti  Bxi  in  igi«,  and  irii  antwererl  by 
Shelley  in  hit  Dr/rnti  ifPtify,  TfaouRh  Peacock  hat  not  beeJi  ■HDCiated 
with  Utilicariia^iiRi,  yel  hit  place  at  tlie  Itxlia-ltoute,  where  he  wi)  a 
felluw.flcili  u)  Jimci  Mill'i,  may  have  lent  colour  lo  ihe  tituniplinn  thai 
he  wu  'one  of  ibtm.' 

Mr.  Pi .     Franii*  Place,  eaitical  reformn  (l77i-i(;4). 

Til  Leu  Mn.     Thomat  Campbell'i  (Kwin  Tii  Ijii  Maa  wm  prinltil  in 
ihe  iVen>  MiniHy  Magamifi,  voL  I,  No.  }j,  ill].     Perhapt  Uailill  hid 
iti  title  in  mind. 
lis.  Ttitrtafitr  ti  ii  iaffva.     a  K'mgUmry  /f .,  iti.  t.    'Theteiflct  %t  they  be.' 

Prmria  paiki,     Hamliifi.  ^, 

♦9J 


49' 


i^^is!t^ 


in.  ham 


ttmmt.    fc-  I  kwi  1  in    Tl»il«-  ■    >     lubi 


zbra 


.M.^»L 


'tJijfi'^m.t.^ 


tr  xvttt.  OK  Tta  sc*unc«iHBis 
succmm  un 


T  TO 


rTiA,..* 


»«. 


rwin. 


itoW 


■TM-tSof.; 


19I,  Cam  A^wMw.    TW  liti  ii|  I 

Jhwu-H  yM?.   J-*--  "  —  -  ^--  ■— >    —  p-g^ ,  I  ■    ^ 
Sv  tid.  I*.  Tit  Iftm  if  fit  Ap,  f.  111. 

imrrmtmUi UMt.    -   -    '     '^  ■  '"l'  1  il  1  Yji   li 

OWWrfu^    «i>«n  M«M  Tdoki  l«c4. 

Ifuitmm^i'Utmmii     Sec  "-  - '- "  j*^  --*- 'f  imi  1    j  J_u  J 

r<i^,  £>f ,  "4.  n  ».  44t.*WUe  }«  w  polrxt  pManaiaa  of 'faa  m 

■■4  Mcniwa  W  bl*  (irtiM^wt  Mt,  dAp^  PiMtiuw  it  ca«u  Mt  1*1 
tmmt  r<«w*^  <)»'  r^w  o^r  iainvd'  (U  W   Freack  IvMll 
'sMMratof  cht  •&«  !--■--■    -  --^-r^  -1-    "-I  ■mill,  h*  tW  aotij  ' 
MlulMli«lU/w«BlnarWMlJ«nr  .  .  . 
'A*  W  Iu4  «Ka  Mcn  h»M  «(■>•*«  b«  oNikki  —"fa"— ^m,  )„  ^^ 

tiM  wiUi  hb  ■>■  luMi.    Htwtaf  kadi  Ih  iUi  |«»tmi,  iW  JiIm 

IMM4  bk  <M  (of  Ihc  UM  tUM,  SMi  MilH  *Im  (>  •••  ttu<    fftKOtod 


I 


akk. 


<l7{f  ltot),OTMk    MfeUw 


1 


49<5 


NOTES 


n>  AtmUrJit  OUSvtm.     Sa  t—r,  note  Ur  p.  6. 

r^  iHi  tffrrktfi  lii  [rami  ■lUtij  SMr  Im^.    CokridK*.    Ci.  Til  ^trit  tf 

Dmn  Smu  »  TW»*  Bi  Iwn.  lohaDBa(,tkt*»ibUc<lo<tM'|  JjoobBabaKii 
lii'i-iiuih  CtrauB  caytcic 

uuctviuJ  I*  it'tyiatnt  mmit,    Hamttif  In,  1. 

Tin  titiM^  frul  i<Mt.    Tlu>nnoa*(  Ciutfi  i/ItJiima,  I.  lis. 

JVfli  (jr  f  KKW  f((iM  jtr  JUivnrin.  BraiiiM*,  A/s^imm  CUI^^Jn^  *  MaBM 
ipcum. 

7itM|^  y  JtU  all  bKntlr^tt.     ■  CwiaMtin,  liii.  1 , 1. 
»oo>  7m  I'wmf^^ilip-  yyi  tfiifKi.    5.  Muttrtu,  vti.  ■(. 

Uafia fimm.     See  nL  n.  TdtiV  7*0,  sou  to  p.  17. 

Tt  [II  lii  ttt't  rf  iki  tujiois  vvU.     JmlauCtur,!.  i. 
loi.  Mni^inwir.     Hotir.Sm.  I.  r*.  4]. 
i»x.  ftx/Matti  lUnit.     Vngil,  XvJ,  II.  774. 

Ifni*  h^Jhu  trtw.     I  Ki*[  llm'jr  tl'^  11.  i. 

Tm  i<^fi'  ka  tai€'i.    GtAitmak'*  AmMmw)  h. 

^  mkI  n/air.    Tliomton.  CmU  t/liMfa,  n.  xy 

FdlJlM,  mi  iJiamti  itrir  wrMffm,    f^aiui  IaH,  i.  461. 

Htw  U  n,,  Mf  M  tU  nml.     BuAu,  ^  iMir  »  <  AUli  1>^  <i»Vii,  Boh*, 
V,  t4sJ. 
!«].  afi'i  intriftitJt  rf  Ml.  H*mi\fd  SifJf.     Triititm  SktiJj,  lu.  \a. 

0*  liM  fmu    Tbc  nOra^m  a«it  '  IVliil*nI  Ml  hu  mark.'     Conptvt,  Tit 

F*r  «vM«l^  itrm  n  fa  nm^M'J.    Wallet  ■  O/Lm,  !%•>(• : 

*  For  waman  (bora  lo  bt  rantrol'il} 
Stoop  l»  tbt  forwuil  «n<J  Ui«  bol'l  1 
Aden  ihe  luggh(7  lOii  ibc  prouil, 
The  gxj,  tiie  ftolic,  *nU  the  loud,* 

104.  Douliliit,  lif  firtn't  a  ai  pm.     Bullvt'i  HmM^ti,  Pitt  II.  Canto  lUi  1. 
7i<>  ari  i/ia-l  *h'/  Juifvij.     Set  mL  1.  Titr  A»W  7«M,  p.  $4. 
W  wkir  nium  1  iurw  vary  ti/tii,     llinudf. 

8a»  ar  lii  Sk**nffarr.  The  eott'l  thctulul  lavcrn  in  llw  Pkua,  Cavtnt 
Garden.      Ste  Tiaibt'  Hiarj  if  C'lJi  ami  Cti-U/i  tn  LmJf,  cil.  itib, 

p.  417. 
10;.  ffii  «jir  nnwr  »  firai.     S«*  vol.  111,  PeSikal  Rtujt,  p.  f  7  ui<l  nMo. 

Tir  traafiJ  griuonri,  <r<.  Cf.  Butkr,  Jtifiiitimi  ta  air  AnvAifilH  M  fVawf 
(Silici  ifi/ti,  k\.  Piynt,  II.  164). 

'Ihi^ijv*  'iHMkr,'  ii^i  Om.     Lctttr  l»  Riduiit  Wui,  May  17,  174). 

W  ma  1/  X"""  '  Htxtmi  IS  i^Mt.     Cr.  nl.  1.  Tik  K>w(^  TjUt,  f.  95. 

>ViiTcr  fV</.;/««s.     In  ihi  Duke  of  SuckiDghaiu't  KtiitruHtijt). 

Niiii  laiiiuau     Ttttncr,  WmiMmmi'—hj,  i.  i. 

rugaiirry  tiai  iHiiit  lUdmUt^dtMtf  ittiM.     Cny'*  iTAxh  I  ■  ■ 

L^Jy  M*ry  Ifntlty  MimmpH.  {<,lliqo-ijtt),  Ihe  coitnpon'rinl  of  Popt 
hn<f  Ad4iioa, 

ji.  P.  E.    AlcitnJti  Pope,  G»)iiit(. 

Bft  MM  iavi  litfiM  iff  itil  mirral  ml.     Ihmlll,  III.  t. 

Til  'uS  Miy  if  Dant  Siiriu.  Oavlit  Rllcbie,  a  ilnrf,  of  Uaoor,  PnUet- 
■hiTC,  w»  Iht  0Tl(>n>t  of  KUhcnilu,  lh(  niatk  l>wMf,  In  Scolt'i  novel  M 
a\UA.  S«  7*1  Li/i  trJ  Aitiim  tf  iti  S&ft  Omar/,!,  DfvU  Riitiw, 
nmmmlj  lalliJ  BtmJ  Dtvw,  byWiUam  Chamban,  Bdinbnr|b^  tiao. 


106. 
107. 


TOL.  VII. :  1 1 


497 


r  '..  =  .£ t- 


"_:?_ 


^      V 


•,  '  f  ^  - 


NOTES 


at  J.  FmBumJ  m  lii  Tttntii.     Act  m.  t. 
114.  Stritml  jtil tM»«.     In  FxIJia^'i  Awnli*,  Bsok  v.  dup.  1, 
Lt^  C .    CMtlnnth. 

Filamimai  tut  tr*a.     Ft'tHu  Ltil,  11.  6fl. 
ai;.  McrfHi   WiSi^ij.      Eticbard  Ovtey,    Mirtjiit    WrlIc«I«y    (i7fio-i844]i 
Oaitrnor'0«Dtnl  at  Iii'lii.     Ht  «(■  iiU'lt  ■  Kni{fai  of  the  Gitwr  lad 
fanlpi  Minkler  ou  hit  rclurn  Tram  Madrid  itUllicr  he  wtalu  AinkMUddr 
In  ito^. 

Zttru  t/Mki.     Millon't  J-'AlSitn,  110. 

lutrj  K'Uiat.   ThoniH  Cnkinr  [i7fo-itij},  A^nialt  m-l  t.oiil  Clunallor. 

LtrJ  Sumift.    Charkv,  Earl  SlMihopc  (i?^]-!!!*].    Ht  mi  «  ilrtnuoui 

Til  Orua  iftMtM,    Tile  Itar-nthled  km  af  the  ifticnib  <«Btur]>  romiiic*, 

ftuWin  tad  Ortt*,  Dihrraiie  itu  IfiU  Mtti  sf  t'tmm. 
A  Stijr  til  nw3  lUritif-tm  lit  vjttdt.     Es>l  of  RoKumnioil,  iraniUumtif 

Honcc't^i  P*idt*,  ili-i.    Cf.  Wri  ftfiKd,  t4«>"  "T- 
LarJ  EUta,     Sn  iibis  no'*  t«  p.  i((. 
116.  Grr-i  ^im  gttit  mKsAi,    Sn  dM>,  nou  to  p.  it}. 

Ffiii'i  Ft'iitfTmar,      I751. 
Xi%.   AUira»jii\khy*miunlti.     CairpcT,  T*i  T<«ii,  t*.  49. 
119.  O/mimu  uuitmm,     P*pt,  Mtr*l  £■•«)•<  iil.  jo^-io. 


GsJ  Alnlgiiy'i  gnttm^.     Drjiltti'*  AMtrn  tij  AtMnfM,  I'tn  1.  ifj. 

C D— — .      OtOTfc  Dyer   (■7{5-il4i),  KiitclUoniu*  wriUr. 

LamVt  Amiai  XullHvni.  C'ii«,<H.  Ainftr,  ^  all. 


Sm 


ESSAY  XX.    ON  RKADINO  OLD  HOOKS 

From  Tit  Lmitm  Mti—ha,  Feb.  it»\,  nX,  in.  p.  tiS,  'Tabic  Talki  vliV 
titntd  T, 

t%a.  LtJj   Mr[m.     (i?!)?-!!^;)      A   wriin   of  Iritti  (totiM  mil  of  nihrr 

muMlUiMoua  waik  »  ihr  nilf  yrsn  of  thr  itis(U<nih  cantury.    B«for< 

bar  Durriait  in  1 1 1 1  hr c  irorki  bort  btr  maiikn  iiinif,  Syloty  Unrtnion. 

Hotury,  Tit  tf'U  Imt  Girl,  ■  noiioail  uli,  publiiked  b  ilo6,pia*c.< 

thfaU(li  Mwn  (ititiaiii  in  lin>  y«*n. 
,<4uffaiiw.    Thoniai  H*pc't  {i77ft-ilit)  IfMtcrn  ronunoc  pubUalud  iSi). 

■nd  wimly  praiKd  by  itir  tJait'fi  Xnvrv. 
0f4M"".     (bduiM  d(  Statl'i  nonl  nu  publiihc4  ia  itoi. 
/•  litir  unom  x&w.      tdaittii,  I.  7. 
A»i>m  MrlUr.      TbODMaTl  »il   Fitldinf*)   publiihrt    (17D7-17M]       *t 

rrapMt  Millar,  •ic.'uid  Dr.  JahoaMi  |  'he  hat  railed  ibt  price  of  liuraliwc ' 

(BoawtU't  JU»m,  td.  O.  R.  Kill,  1.  iSy).     lie  vat  fuececdcd  by  hii 

paitaer,  Thosui  CkIcU  ihe  eldct. 
TttfUi  Suti  F*ftf%.    A  Cdlitiim  if  Suu  ftjtri  (mwii  rala.  folio,  1741) 

by  Jaha  Tkwlte  (i(r6-lA«t}.     He  ■••  S«(ie1ary  of  StMe  duriac  ik 

PrMi«taral*. 
5frjm&mlhy<i'r£u«ri'     PuhUabadaa Jtfii»(ilb*f«in  litoaBd  |6«I.    He 

wai  tbt  IhM  (vrilar,  nyi  Dr.  Jahnoni.  who  fa*c  todenee  M  Ea|llali  rrole. 
HI.  Fv  ttmtku tmd/v  'tmtmtrtKi.     IUmSt\it.  {. 

B'titimMi.     ^one'i  Tnit'tm  SKitUf,  Baok  ill.  cbip.  }{. 

TttMtmun  tflMf  f*t.    In  P"'["i  fittlt. 

Tirm/vmUra  M  tH  Mtfatrub.     7W  yfvi,  Hotk  xiil.  char-  7. 

499 


"! 


tX4 


Sec  *oL 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 


HI.  T^  Jiifmiii  tatMn  THiatfan  tnJ  Jjikt.     XM.  Book  ill. ctaa.  1. 

fffr  .lAMr*!  Utnrt.     Iti4.  B«vk  ni.  chiy .  j. 
HI.  Tin  ftffm  Jtlki^.     lUmlHfUi,  t. 

ItiHtmn  Hua  JAh,     Grmy  On  *  Oium  Finfti  t/El*m  CUtpt  lO. 
TtiMitn-^foi.    A  pnUiihtaf  houK  ia  LtMeahill  Strtel,  wbkh 

fai  the  tn4  «  Uk  <i(hM(ath  and  Ikr  kcfiadld|  of  ihc  alnelecnth  cvSlMfw*, 

popular  bij|hl]r.CD]ourc4  rvRiisca. 
Ctit'i  f*cltl^iiin.    Stc  roit.  t.-n.ti(Cotki'tStlKi  BMlKti  tf  Br'auk  tfmwb 

{174*).    Mr.  W.  C.  HatlillM}*  Hulni  btaam  ■ci|ii>in{t.r  wiili  lU*  bosk 

(hroBfli  bu  fatbcr  btlof  an  oiifiiut  tnUttlkr  to  tbc  Htm. 
M',.  lUikl,^!  nmtittf  t*i Frat.   AaoRadcllfft't (1764-1  tij]  bo«k< 

fshlUKd  in  17^1. 
9bmH  i»  lit  HMDl.     KntUiJim,  i,  9. 

Tn  Jm>i  lAnfwri  &u.(  JrAM  df  i/tfitff.     Boole  (.  ch*p>  {. 

/*«•!•■  ..l^biai  .  .  .  M'l.  Slif-SJf,    Book  IT.  thap.  14.  

CimU-i  T'Sin.    Thonui  Chabb'i  (I&79-I747]  !''«"  ■•'  fwtl— aj  WV«i 

mrt  publiihtil  in  lii  vgl*.  gfo.,  i;;^.     Ht  ww«itelii. 
F*lt,/'it'^il,  tu.    ttrtdht  Imi,  u,  {6a. 

'  la  miidaloi  miati  la«t.' 
Note.    .4  /'HiW,  wta  iatf  uw  hntrjfiift.    Cbuki  Lamb. 

TM.  ra/i,  p.  141. 
^niiif  /  itJ  irvt'  ut*  tt^nimtt^.     Dr.  Faasu,  Sant  19. 
lUrilij,  Ikmi,  Btrtritj,     Divjil  Hmlcv  {■79{->7!7)  vhow  O^vn^fHsi  m 

Ml*  were  publiihtd  ia  1749  ;  Dtvl'J  Hune  (171 1-1776)  ;  Ceorge  Bnkalay, 

BUiopaf  Clayoc  (lbi{-i  r;})- 
l^tl^i  XuM  M  (^  //»*ja  (/•JtriupJof.     iGfO. 
ffiMn.    Tbomii  Hobbri  (i;ll-t679]  »<  ibc  LrcMtldi  (i65i). 
Til  Sendl  Ctr'tii.     Publitbed  176a. 
/AaH  I  fin  limektfi.     S«  vol.  i,  Tir  JliaaJ  raUr,  'Oo  the  CbaracH(«r 

RoiIHCill.* 

Suiurtd  tiU  ttrijpfn.    Wofdwartb,  Atay  PlHum. 
Tlf  £iBi;iu.     Publiihct!  176^ 

Sir  F»ffm£  Finirr .   In  Si"  C<or|f  Etifertrt'i  tmnflj  TiU  Ma* r/MtJt  {t^ji). 
»if.  LmrtiUJiift!     An  cipTTiiinn  of  RantKiiiX  CtyViiiMi,  Li*.  I*. 
^  /pai  r«  I'ff'  a  twi^.     Kmm  Urnrj  yilUi  111-  1. 
MaritM  CtiiitiM  II J  jMtry  tnl,     Lamb't  &«■«  W  iW  •ntiar  i/ftwu  faUlti 

naJi'  itt  matn  •/  llar'y  CtrwtvtlL 
Mr.  Ktatt'i  £vr  1/ Saiv  .Igati.     Publtthcd  iSlo, 
C^mt  liii  litf^Rcri.     Matktti,  iv.  1, 
T^fr-mtei'i  mtft.     Ktttt,  Evi  i/Saii  Ai*n, 
BUiifi  .  .  .  •mikUcitJtfqii'uMtilmii.     lUJ. 
tftrdlfVHrJlfWudl.     lUmill,  II.  2, 
TA(  piM  frMiiir  ia  rA>  Ca/id'aaua  Cttftl.     Iniaf.     Sm  aair,  p.  1 19. 
t!6.  Wi  Mi  >dr/ >il"^aairil/tr '^  warir-(^i*{i  [W«olu1.     ^lab  ilii.  1, 

Gmkit  Sfrmii  tf  tfaiir.    Finkhcd  in  1774.    Ct,  vol,  v,  Ltsiam  tm  ttt 

DrtmtiM  UurmJuntfiM  Ati  9f  EhnaUti,  o.  j6l. 
StUIn',  KMm.     t7$i.     SuAU. 
Giving  mjf  iittt  [fum] yiwrr.     ^  l^t*  Liii  It,  ii.  i. 
y»iiJtitii  Tilth  a'  M'u  F'l.     Cbatattni   in   Conprw'i  LnH  fir    Lrrf 

{169J].    Vilenlloc  WM  Uciwtoo'i  ftcal  pari,  aad  F.  lUjmoldi  declared 

|O0 


NOTES 


thn  the  love  iMot  betwMD  Jick  Buiniiur  ■■  Tallle  tad  Mn.  Jm-Im  t) 
Mbt  Prui  wji  <  pr<itublf  ocnrr  lurpsMcl  in  rich  nalunl  tomeij.' 
iti,  Kaaw  ivr  <w. 

'Were  it  my  cue  la  ftthl,  I  ahould  hive  knawn  il 
Without  )  ptompm.' 

Ofir/fs,  a.  ». 

Jifm  ti  I*  fsrr.     Sec  t*tt,  nott  la  p.  14. 

r^   alttrMii  Sr    Huttfhrij   Drvj.        Sli    Humphry    D117   (l^rS-illf), 
njttf  1  philuiophcr, 
117.  Thi  dniau  ClrmnlMt,     In  Riehitdion't  Sir  Cti'Ul  draUitm  (1755). 

W7fi  fvm  fist  tmJ  tin.     •  line  *n<l  Kkh.'    All\  ITtH  lisi  E1J1  ma,  1.  t. 

Gt*vt*\iti'm  .  .  ,]  in  ay  ^•vi'i  u^r.     Hi^/. 

Mirinsif.  Hmry  Micktntie'i  (i74t' lip  )7>'i«i'(  <<■%■/»■•  poblilhtd 
in  1777,  lii  7t»<  >(lcr  the  Mit»  b/  FeiiH[. 

Mill .     Probably  the  Udy  o(  Liiir  Amirii. 

Tiai  &gamntt,JSiH  at  II  vui,  TViirrdu  £i«iyi  Book  TI.  chap.  io(Th(  Slorj 
of  Le  rnrer), 

M(  mr^  «f  thi  Havik.  BoccKcia'i  limmirM,  }lh  J*)),  qth  Morjr.  Sn  v«l. 
V.  Lnluru  git  rir  DrmmMic  Liwarw/  tfiki  Aft  if  SHatiitk,  note  l«  p,  147, 

Fv^vht'  .  .  .  ItetTWHfi^  OStrr.     1706. 

^  our  ^(Ht/  ['*"]  'ivj:     lUMiiriA,  11.  J. 

Emitimtd  villi  o-JSBri.      Ptrediu  /.All,  II.  K4]. 

H'ttfirm  ta^ntiya  leil.     Itid.  1.  (91. 
lit.  f'MjIiil  nftii  lii  irwmulniii,     liiJ.  I.  ^i^i. 

Hi,  hti  an  mrlt.    Ccn/^mi,  *.  6. 

At  Eiitjf  (■  Mjrriagt.  No  (uch  cwit  by  Wor>i(wnnh  ii  it  pmcnt  kaown 
lo  «iii(.  ItWDiild  tetmeithtrth^i  *  MiTrlA);F  '  ii  1  miieiinl  (01  lomr  other 
word,  01  that  HitlllC  vni  mituki n  in  ihe  aulijci:!  iif  iht  ouy  nftrtril  to 
by  Coli^rjil^.  Haxlite  it  probably  rrcallinf  ■  cnnvcmiion  wiih  Colrri^lKT 
In  Sh>npihi((  It  the  btfinniiit  oC  179S  (cf.  *My  Fiitl  Aci|aiintintc  oilh 
Poctt'),  Il  which  time  j4  Lrnp  it  lit  Baitf  af  I.lti.Uf  (i79l)  wu  the 
only  nouMe  protir  uitrk  which  Wordiworth  hid  pulliihfil. 

Note,     h  iii>  tit  frtwrl  E^l  t     Jim»  MiitliniJ,  eighth  Earl  of  LaudErrialg 
(i7{9-ili;ij),  lUccccJcil  hii  fither  in  Augutl  ITJ^. 
119.  IVtnki  tf  ^1  eatfuatn.     1  'Awnir,  i.  15. 

Cteriftitmt  Hiify  tflirO'anJ  Ritti^jett.     1704.7. 

fl«iIn£iitJ.  Rilpn  Hnlinthcii't  CirMiV'ii  tf  EKgltnit,  Siulsinli,  til 
JriiM*dt,  IJ77,  anil  lattr  tnui*. 

Sr^vr.  John  Siow'i  (i5ij!-i6o;}  Ergfyti  CtrM^fri,  i56i,aail  Uler  inuo, 
and  it  Shrt^t  tf  Ltnbt,  1  f 9S.  and  lietr  iNuea. 

rmV'f'i  Wirtkui.  Thomu  fuUer"!  (l6oS>lA6i)  Tii  Hiiurj  a/*  iki  Wcfint 
^Eiritnil,  1661. 

>yt  tfififi'  a  JUfit:     161]. 

*  T*urrj  and  TinJarti.'     ibti, 

G'kr'MrJmi.  Francnca  Guiccianlioi  [i4Sj-tJ4o},  mtlior  of  1  Hfnory  ol 
Italy  from  1494  10  i;|i. 

Til  Lvtm  t/Pi'iiiii  aa/Sifim^i.  Ceivinln'  lait  irarh,  the  •teilicatioa  of 
which  mu  wriiien  loui  rliyi  Ufotc  hii  ilcilh.  A  traaalalion  from  ibt 
Pleach  trai  priatcfl  in  Lonrlaa  in  1619,  in<l  from  ihc  Spinith  in  il;*. 

GaSaiM.     Ceivasta'  (iiu  work,  a  pjtlonl  lomancr,  prinlcd   at  AInU  in 

■S'i- 

Aauktr  Tltrrfu,     WoritiWDitb'a  Ttnm  VmmmJl. 


-  -^  •■•^       ^i 


-.3.--1   ■      M 


J1—      .  J-  _ 


if      _  tJ^ 


T     -^^- 


rz.         ^_- 


NOTES 


essAV  rxii.   on  nioPLi!  of  sfnse 


From  TU  LmJim  Md^vciw,  April  illl,  iroL  III.  p.  %it,  *1^hlc  TiUl,  lE^' 

141,  CjU^.    Tbeanlhworiht  Icwt. 

rA>  ^(iBirr,  grmitJtMig.    'Thi  |n<it,  jnnurr,  iaiidioiM,  )ptin|t-«iUtil, 

fclTCt';«uc4,  gnta-tyti  pkiloMpkax'     Bnrkr,  ^  Liatr  It  «  AUlb  LtrJ 

(W^Ji,  Bohii,  T.  141). 
94).  B^itir.    RicluH    lUito,  (be   NosconromiiM    Diviae  (l&t;-l^i).     Ste 

vol  K.  iff'.  Si^ient'i  C—wiatMM,  p.  ](,^ 
Hji  Ten  ft  iMwi,  It  virj  wi.    Htmki,  in.  a. 

Note,     nc  Sffhi  hpMtIm,    See  *oL  nt.  Ptlaital  Mn»fi,  nMc  (0  r>  ]]t 
•Eld  *dL  VI.  r>M  r^,  noU  tn  f.  I  st. 
jfG.  Mr.  Sitll^'i  Pnmaiai  UatmU.     PaUyxd  in  itM.     Shtltey  «U  droncil 
ia  illl  (Sr  fnetiMtr], 
G*-/**!  '«^  Hjdrtt.     Pa'aiif  Lttl,  II,  6U. 
Ifai  lyt  HViri.     yti  Tcf  Ijl4  ft,  ti.  J. 

/('In  *t  imuiJkJ  lii  ^tni.     Til  KtfMt.  Book  I. 

Fuji  i/wiK  umi,     jti  I'm  iilt  ftj  It.  7. 
147.  CIrntcKcilii  $iie«/.     Sec  vol.  iv.  nt  Sfifii  i/'itt  Agt,  BMe  U  p.  t90> 

Pr'ataf  f^lttn.    '  P»er  mca')  eoutfo,  [vlnce*'  pUoe*,*  Meni^M  tfl^tmiit, 
I.  a. 

lb  Uiknl  I^futs.     Ca/Jnvr'i  Trtvli,  A  Voyji;*  lo  LifUi,  chiptrr  1, 
14^  VSiM  «a  *(  rMM>.     P»f<'t  fun  n  Mta,  1.  iS. 

W>>  [wlKtt]  nUrwi  «ml  ibw^    &  Mair4m,  vi.  19. 

iVi'trntr,  flli—i<«iy^»Mrt.     Set  vol.  n.  TMi  Ttlt,  Note  to  f.  IIA. 

Aa  tirit  tfehiUrt*.    Hamlit,  11.  I. 

>f  Ps—fotm.    Sm  «■»!  nott  Is  p.  114. 

St -^Btri  til  ituf-lm.     Ki*r  Hr*n  f.,  1. 1. 

SMimi  [cMti*t]<  ^M,  nSgHt*  ligki.     U  fmrrtx,  lio, 

Tlra'  t^Mcl  <w»»iijtrf  ririB.    S.  M^ntm,  uti.  7j. 
3(«.  Mtittiad  atifr^K  ttloMf.    Btotktm't  Prr*<iftrt  tf  Mttlt  mi  Lifi'ibrita, 

(tup.  iW.  I  xX.     Sec  vol.  rv.  Hit  J^ni  t^  Mi  ,.^,  p.  196  lod  nMe. 
tjl.  &  r»i  (aya}  lit  h^     MirnUMt/f'nRfr,  iv.  i. 

7if  nritv  1^  St.  tmm,     Ooilwin'>  Tab  t/df  SUttmk  Crmtr^  ipporad  in 

•799- 
Tii  »MUr  ^  itt  eUiiktl  Jt,ii(r.     Godni. 
AVaw  iif mA.    Herao,  Or  Af  Pan.,  7U 
iji.  jLtUfit'i  v^*[t.    O'lt^  Piftait,  Book  tnii. 

Hgckm  {IritlMnt]  Autvx  t/  imfM*.     /rii){  Hntj  X.,  Prolofiie. 


ESSAY  xxtit.   ON  A-vncurrv 

FfOB  nr  LtmJm  M^awt,  M*r  •>»,  Vol.  tii.  ^  $17.  *Tible  Talk  i^ 
lilDcd  T. 

vfaU  Xef n  Grtf.    Btlkird  **  6nt  lo  b*  a  *  nltqut/    L»d;  A«n  Beraifd 
(i7;o-iti;)  xtaiowle^toJ  iIm  lolbonhjo  10  Sir  Wthrr  Seati  ■■  itij. 
153.  £>w^,  tuUiil,  jmi  /Ul  */  «nt.      •WeVinr.  »>«iUe   >Dd   fuU   of  *CBt.' 
QritUmi,  f».  5. 

5«>5 


THE   PLAIN 


II- 


7V 


M* 


»H 


IVW*  *<    MPT.       At 

Omt^mi,  Own,  «■ 

n>(!^i>/^>fi»,Mtimi'fOrmm.    Talk  Gmlat'*  , 
7tt Cttrmtf  Atmn.    A^m.MI.>*<  nL  ifSb 
fU  ftmt  m  Himt.    ik^\.%,m  im. 

ipn«  W  knawWgE,  i«  tkr  tinwi  M  SoIm. 

(t*l  I).  I7  TtwniM  CarjtW  <•  nrx-til  jj. 
(TMii  «w  htmt  an,  I  GnMjlMn,  jKi.  •■. 
IttfiU  i*mt  ^m)  wtf^  M'f.  ShMiw  iBT.     S«f  *«L  I.  rir  JtwW  ' 

Uf.  Ifti  Ct*MWn^M<4fly«r'i  Fl^ft.f.  ittMriaMs  ;  ka4  Rail 

Dtimttli  Mtint. 
Mr.  BtrVt  KiJlHikm.    ThcM  «*te  paUiiAH  b  1790,  nM  1791.  < 

l^^  JUm  Kmmlfl  IjOir.     Scr   Tb  TlMr,  Aa^MI   t>  ■>><>•       ll  «« 

tffral  la  Wilhn^arH  lo  ••«  hb  irtd  JbAmm*  to  sitniitc  ibe  tittim  t» 

by  tl»  *pf(«aa(t  at  rhr  {JaMB. 
t6o.  Ori»-vtiapJ,nmJiriliu  dnfMr.     Cmy'*  Oil  tm  4  0rHn(  Prnftrt  ^f 

attlft.     Sm  >IM  ml.  *I.  Ltnmti  H  lb  Prmmttn  LitrrMttt  «f  Ut     ' 

X4uIm1,  BMt  r*  p.  tfi. 
l6t.  Ttt  gUrf  kirt^ur  m  tt 'nttlU.    itNMat,  *fU.  ll, 


»)» 


»(r 


] 


"(/■ 

4 


RSSAY  XXtV.     ON  THB  DIPrSRENCE  BRTWIiE>f  WRITINO 
AND  SPEAKING 

fnm   Tit  larndm  Mtt^umt,  July  itio,  V«L  u.  f.  H,  *TiUa 
ttfiwil  T. 

t6i.  •  S^n  mtUt;  m.    Bacnn,  T*»  jj^iww— *  ^Lmmiuu  Boufc  ti^ 
l(|.  r Mr.  W.  C.  Htilllt  lUM*  (hi*  <•■■  Ceortc  FlMchrr,  who, 

liriiihr  J*«T^  Mino  u»  from  Notiinthun  aliMit  tJi6,  ■n>l    bcEU 

(iMMilbuM  I*  ptr!oi(lMl  ll(*r«lurt. 

n*0  Urn  im  nJiH  Im  Jtvitkji,     Ximr  Uiury  ^.,1.  t.     ["I*  Mill'] 
■^4.  MtvJ  lU  titiy  urmi  t/Rtmt.    J  Jin  C^t^,  lU.  t. 


rrm 


OftelCli 


Frumki  tfiufi^t  Mpwi.     WttOt,  iti.  j. 

tt-ttQiJ  0  «nV/  rJ*  >Cnv  JmNOMf .     P^tJiu  tttjamd,  IT.  1(9. 


bcEU 

I 


lin|i,'  IImM.  III.  1 1  ■ndAMMKM'  Kgifi  Dnam 


}Dnam,Ut. 


504 


NOTES 

Crww  J  nal.     Milton't  Chmi,  ;6i. 
l6j.  BMItml  lim  jri  rrtmtlntr^ f     MlJlimmtr  fflrtl'l  Drt^m,  til,  I. 

tt^ftdham.     William  Witntham  (■^{O'lXio]'.      S««tur;  at  SUM  (or  Wit 

under  Piti,  mi  tgtua  iltcf  I>>tt'>  dolk. 
Mr.  Ciiirul[/i  CtKinHi  ad  Pifmltm.      Two  ai)<ln*Ni   apioM    Pill,  i;qj, 

nputil  illicit  in  Miuy  mAii  Ovht  Tmn. 
M'.  rM«MJ*(  TVi^Mi.     Tin  Tritm  .  .  .  amkiif  cUuKr  f/"!!!  ftliiii^ 

lt$¥'„  ^y.  TUhMl/,  iMf  I*  •  »■•  ri<W  i»  Jir.  JUm9,  »t4  nvittJ  if  iM 

inimrir,  }  vail.  ■795'6.   ThcloiU  Ci7t4-iSi4}  wm  *  ImIvrt  on  clontlon 

■■  well  u  «  reformer. 
Tit  iilf-iaimi  v»nli.     Mthttk,  t.  J. 
Tiw  irmv€  atlmt^  [imulmury]  fii'itfi.    Driytan,  Eitjj  fa  HAn7  StywaUt, 

Eif. 
Firt  aaJ  sir.     Amnjaai  Onftifa,  ■••»  \  ttti  Kiai  Unry  V^  ui.  7. 
StmJawJfiry.     Maiinli,y.  ^. 
tit,  A  Cmmta^aa,  tit.     Ci.  Buikc,  Kt/tnmi  ta  Ut  Ktvtlaltm  »  F'taa  (&i'«r 

Wit,  04.  ]**]«(,  a.  io|). 
tfi.i  J..J  _j>i—-.  _/ j-p——    cf_  ■  trithtODii  Kont  and  (Dod  dlMntlon,' 

Hamlit,  II.  1. 
^  mtai  a^vtd  4imitt.    M«ta4,  in.  4. 
iJ«r  ihtfiattmxg  vKtim.     Hamtii,  m.  4, 

'  1  lud  nlhcr  bt  ■  kitttD  iml  try  mew  .  .  . 
Or  1  ilry  wherl  (nw  on  ihe  ule-tFec' 

1.  X^Awj/f.  MI.  I. 

t/tt  iant  »ti  naUi4.    Cww,  47  ■;, 
167.  ■!<  niniWIni,  ftriniif-fattJ fillvwt.     Hamlit,  iii.  J. 

OhmMpaWi  Hamlti,ia.t. 
lU.  fllf  rtffMJ  lit  famtui  Imti  n  Milit*.  Tbough  [h«e  »«iit  «n  rtfrnei  » 
■dmirhvly  b]p  Burlu  io  Tikr  StUimt  autl  Beaa/ijtl  be  iloc)  not  tceRi  to  httc 
quoted  them  xa  the  Houte  of  Commoat.  It  not  Hitliil  thinking  of  tlic 
ouvion  upon  which  BTOa|liam  iiif^l  the  quofalion  with  jmmoiM  ciTcct  at 
the  <j,iiccn'>  trial,  itio  t     (Sn  Gtriillr't  Mtmnri,  11(99  ">*■•  ■■  *^} 

KHiai  •HtfJ  ia  itaJ.     Ptndin  Ui',  ir.  <ri. 

FM  aill-tm.     Cf.  vol.  n,  T«i>'r  T'Wl,  p.  6;  inr]  oole . 

L^JUnfel.     Rotcrt  Baaki  Jcnkmian,  Eirl  of  Liverpool  {tTTO-tilS], 
Preoiifr  of  En|;liD<l  1(11-1^17. 

Mr.  in/iiam   IfarJ.     >  WiUuim    Wu4,   fiaineler    (i7l7-iS49},  »ho    «U 
rccuraeil  to  Ptiliament  »>  iTory  in  ilti6  for  1)1*  eily  of  LoDiioa. 

Munv  M  ['and  cadaeil  uolo']  fidri>'iH<ar.     Hamltt,  i*.  7. 

Satdanl  tt  rAt  {'ntti  (o  the  ttir ']  fM.Vij.     OlJffA,  i.  ]. 

T^i  Uir  LtrJ  Ciatiam  (iTol-i;?!).    He  btfin  life  u  *  ooroel  of  drafooai 
<S«  p.  169). 

r^r  Ktaii  iKall  ht  w^  linw.     1  Kr*t  Hiwrj  ly^  11.  J. 

169.  tli  ifiii  [tt'igkt]  ji  an  lavng  amitrily.     £■  AfeTtlew,  v>i.  19. 

170.  Afivitrmti  ttaJr  Hii\,lc)  it.     Tit  IVg/tfu,  6J9.      But  the  linn  >re  Mid  of 

ibc  Somnour  nol  thi  Monk. 
mlHaUffil.     Hamltl,ii.i. 
■7i>  Mt.  Piatt  tfCitif  Crti'.    Frincii  Place  (i77i-il!4)  the  ndinl  uUw. 
TramflfJ  a<«Cr  rir  Uffi,     Borke'a  KiJIiiiuia  h  lit  Frnni  JIhWhIm. 
Sit  e^amlt  BirJai  (i770.it44).     He  wu  the  tnoM  populu  politician  of  bli 

SOS 


»7(. 


THE  FLAIH  SPEAXEfi 

Dr.Jti^mUJM^tiA.    S(cBa«Eir*£iAnLG^m.HiII.(ii.i3i^ 


Tbe' 


»7»- 


■tukr'  ef  Oe  «.fi«tif  <<  Law 

dty  be  «•  M.P.  for  thirtr-thnc  ^on^    tb  b*^  Ub 

Cncnlmil  Uierk*,  aoJ  ibcn  bmnc  ■ 

Rsbvt^  CBrtit  nil  Co.  {ijjl-illf). 
Tir  Sfudm  [OmUw).     Artbsr  Onriow  (iHi-ItA)  wm  decud  Sfcdv  rf 

the  Hook  of  Cfninn—  ia  1711  *aA  rc-dtcttil  w  17]$,  1741,  1747  tat 

(754-     Hi  RtiRii  in  1761  with  ihe  n^BtxtioD  o(  bai|  the  inoc  ^ 

nMM  difBilicd  hoUn  of  bi*  oAce  md  aathnrny. 
(7nv  iii  nn  /ira!r  &adn  /fsi.     Popc'i  Prelope  10  Mr.  Aildaaa**  Cm  >a4 

alio  Ej^uli  It  Dr.  Ari^kKi,  109. 
Tl^  leak  mSj  titit  af-ntaA.    Stnac'i  Irun-dB  jko^.  Book  m.  cbi{k.  1 1. 
Hil  tkt  imat  trrwttm  mnd  amdmMir.     Sec  voL  t*.,  Tlv  S/vrt  sy^ifc  .^p^  2x7. 
t7].  SovUi  mimatri.     Xing  Lar,  iii.  *. 

^«i  Dafwi.     See  *eL  ti.  TiU^  ^uU,  p.  S9. 
Ml.     Making  ikt  nvH  afftar  lit  itmr  taum.     Faradat  Lait,  t1.1i]. 
174.  jI*  imJifirtm  Hiuiy  tj  Jaaia  U.     Cfairlo  Jama  Fox*i  A  ^tarf  tf  dii 
tarlj  Pari  if  tit  Kt^m  ^Jami  du  Saemd  «*•  pablbhril  \j  Ijttd  HoUnd 
io  I  lot. 
A  itllta[m  ef  Lri  GrtmvUli.     Fox  wu   Fgrdfo  Secretmwy  to  tfar  *  bnd- 
bottomed'ar'All  tbe  TilraU' mmatrj,  formed  by  Lord  GmTiUe  on  the 
deilh  of  Pitt  in  1S06. 
LUa  prni  u*i  tmdtr  Mm.     Ttsc  Nitb  Kiaimtti,  it.  I. 
Ilmai  in  tin  Lotvri.     Id  iloi.     Sec  Mtmtrn  «/*  fnUioi  H«Win,  t.  91.  mJ 

voL  III.  of  tbe  praenl  edition.  Tit  Eltfutmct  if  ib  BriiiiA  Stm^ti^  p.  411. 
Gurrm:     GiinfrinccKO  Birbieii   or    CnercuiD  da  Cento,  because  of   hii 

•quint  {]  190-1666],  of  Boli^ni. 
Dtnimiiini.     Domenicho  Zimpieri  (1  jSi-1641),  alio  of  Bologna. 
Di*i  it  viiaJ  ifio  a  lubjici  Hit  a  ttrfmt  t     BdhrII'i  yaiiaeii,  ed.  G.  B.  HiU 

{...  160). 

iMiir  u  a  NMi  Lord.     Borke  died  two  yein  after  the  pnblicitioa  of  bit 
LrlUr^  hii  only  important  further  writing  being  the   Ltrtrr-M  at  ta  Rttiiidt 
Piatt,  1796. 
Note.     Tom  Paha.     Thomii  Piiae  {i7]7-i8o9)  the  deitt. 
176.  Til  Ltviaiian.     A  Ltiitr  10  a  NthU  Lb-J  (Bohn,  v.  119). 
Tit  Atke'Siiyii'ifiptm-ialii.     Ibid.,  p.  14Z. 
Tit  priud  kitptf  h'iadHr.     ItU~,  p.  137. 
Skill  lit  gaui  ofgnrim  [mercy]  dii  maakiai,    Gray'i  Eltgy^  17. 
Tt  tttvt  rmmbt  or  bolclUi.      Mathni^  III.  I. 
Lturn  19  ivriii  ilffw.     Cf. 

'Take  time  enough— 4II  other  ^ce> 
Will  toon  fill  np  their  proper  pUeei." 
Byron'i '  Advice  to  the  Meur*.  H and  H to  preach  alow,'  8.    And 

llH) 

*  Learn  to  read  ilaw  ;  all  other  grace* 
Will  (bllDW  in  (beir  proper  plicei.' 

Williim  Walker'*  An  ef  RtaJiwi. 
Til  fkraH  if  A*drml  PiOil.     T.  King  Himtj  IF.,  and  King  Hiwry  Z'. 
I7S.  Faiiili  and  gaaJ  night.     I  King  Htmy  IF.,  iii.  1. 

Dull  ai  lit  tail liai  ilimttrt.     Goldimith,  Tit  Ttavrlltr,  Jjx. 
'  SfaJi  fitr,t   milt   Jark  kiifin/t.'     BacoD,    Til   AJvaactmtia    ijf   Ltjtm^r, 
Book  I.,  iv.  ;, 

S06 


»7i- 


»77- 


i      I 


NOTES 

>79-  BKtmt  iiitllturiii  tn^.     Woomntth,  Til  Exitrptm,  u\.  7];-£. 

Dilttuao  £<i*rr.  Ad  MMiiiian  faun-lcil  in  ijn  lo  promow  ttic  miy  of 
wulqac  in  In  Bn|l*ii<l. 

NMe.     Annr.     ASa^.  >.  ;l). 

Kale  PaBliaU  Htmtt  lit!  yttt  BkIi.  A  i^iiibor  Wiltlim  Hore'i,  pobtliheJ 
in  ttiQ. 

Nov.  Mr.  CWywi.  Chirlct  Wilkin  WilliiiniWyDnc  (17;  j-liso).  He 
**l  prafowd  tor  Sptikcc  Jum  z,  tSi7>  but  Manaert-Sutton  <•-■(  pnftrrM 
Vt  him.  Ciiiniag  iiid  thil  llic  ontjr  abjection  tn  bim  n>  ihit '  one  woiiM 
be  iCMnetimei  trmpld  to  uj  Mi.  S^ueilur,'  (lladiDS  10  hit  tuioc.  Sec 
vol.  III.  Ptlkitt!  Eiiafi,  QOtc  In  p.  iij. 


ESSAY  XXV. 


ON  A  PORTRAtT  OF  AN  ENGLISH  LADY, 
BY  VANDYKE 


ito.  Wi0v  «7  {f  ameliaa.    Ouaat'*  Pnt^nt,  1  to. 

Int  IJJ. 
ill.  THi  imidt/^mri  rffvnvi,     OiiiiU,  m.  4.     [■SwdEini  divil.'] 
tl}.  Kf^iJ  .  ,  .  vty  t't/iify.    CiMli,!!.  y 

MlKft  rpr.    BasAr,  1.  ». 
184.  Tnd a* frimrtiijtii.     Htmln.t.  1. 
tt}.  ShifUlfgtJ.     rsradiif  Ltu,  IK.  46f. 

^  ^  N  ttrram  aai  ttmrntrnJ.     Htitltt,  tit.  4. 
at;.  /.Miw  on^i.     Cf. 

'17ha,  for  llit  poor  nnnwn  of  bting  (mart. 
Wtwid  iMvt  s  itin(  within  i  brotkn't  heart  F ' 

Ymidi^)  Ion  t/FMit,  a.  ■■  J. 

190.  A>'Wr  l)P  ikiftm'.     WordMOTtli**  riMmt  AU^. 

Cm  rir<i  w  nlnri  mJ  ikt  [rmnj  frturi.     Pope,  Mt'tl  Eiml,  Ep.  ti. 

191.  Tir  vtiuli  itliifj  M  FtniAill.     '  Vithik '  Bcckfor  J'l  pli«.      See  tJw  "wliime 

of  llulllt'i  wiiiisfi  on  art. 
Til  laat  •/  lii  fell  m  fitnrii.     The  ml  a(  the  atxy  tnm  ibit  poiM 

apptireii  in  Htdill'i  CimmiwfJjtii,  lakes  fnnn  ^ii  £j:«iHr,  iStj. 
Koic.     Diffi  Mfiik  tji,     U  PimtixH^  ifr. 
19].  Mr.  Ht/tBiU  Cirr.     WilUim  Holwtll  Cart  (i7;S-itio),  art  cansointHr. 

fit  (ihibittd  at  iht  Koyal  AaAtmy  from  i7f7.|lM  m  m  bmuitirf 

tihibitor. 
Sir  Cettii  Maimtmt.    Sir  Gcorjc  Koviril  Scauouat,  Bart.  (l7{J-ltl7), 

imittur  piinler  iod  ulroa  of  iiliMi. 
Bbmw  «aif  taiwim  tfttn.     Bacon,  DtdlcMton  to  Eanj), 
Trifia  lijit  *t  air.     OiiiJSt,  111.  ]. 
n«>r».    Juopo  Roboali  at  Tinlorftlo  (from  hit  fatbei'i  tntilt,  4)tili|}, 

{t{iS*iS94),  on*  of  Ruikio'f  'fiw  lUpRSK  piotcr*.' 


ESSAY  XXVI.    ON  NOVELTY  AND  FAMILIARITY 
From  Tin  Ntw  UmiUj  Atajtum,  v«l.  iiii.,  No.  ;o,  1B15,  hiiIi  k^diElan*. 

194.  Cmtltm  ijf  1  m*ii  U  »  Urn.    Ujimlti.,  *.  I, 

19;.  Givt  la  ftnit.     Htmki,m.  1. 

197,  StKt  iti  ktariri  vnrfit.     Kini  RitlitrJ  11^  t.  t> 


THE   PLAIN  SPEAKER 

I.  n^  it»  tm  fulm  1m.    Ptm^»  MUm ^»d Miltrd. 

I,  •  Tti  Utm,ta-:     ftf  Mnrtf  MmTv  (l7{|). 
IM,  Aw  •/  V  n<  rri   la  tfuMH  ftm.      ■  iW  «f  •  MH  )■  ■TBOMlic  faio.* 
tu^m  Mm*.  ■*■  1.  MO. 

I..  .  .  .  M.    T1aMUMk*M««lMla-UMa'aD4*kiUtb>«i*kylfr.1 

CHmUH. 
Umi'tw^    A  ti»WMi  «<  ■Ml*  Jriw  iM  iftor*  ite. 
f MUwnv  aW  IhffJh    Dm  t^'iavw'i  M***  "  ludw  Ftuus'a  dMhcr. 
flir*  It  H  yMt(  «M  'J**.     M«nl«l,  Kfp^n,  Bk.   an.    Ep<.  70.     Set 

A-tillwn't  Sfttmw,  Kv.  61. 
n>  Am*  Mt.  KtmUi  .  .  .  MklitM  til.     Mmhtii  mi  Kimg  Kitted  Ul.,  M 


tliT),     Im   nl.   I.    OdrfH-ifi  t/  Slttitiftti'i   Ftfjrt,   immc    to    |k    ift] 
MibltilMU  111). 
Mt,  n>  ,i^-fviml  ^i-u.     L'f.J.r.Kmhlf'irivU'iH  fJnei,  Yarlt,i7la,ili 
•0<(t  KilMUfnMMraf  Mn.li>(hUU'iHiHAu>J.'tl»ea  t4,  i(, 

'•  ■  1  wlilaw'j  A>B***  *«ki, 
K««rt  « Ih*  kaqa  or  Hm*^  .  . 

r— «>fa«».     IlinH'i  itH'iir  (•7«*)-    M'*-  iHJao*  ictarf    in    ii   m 

■<lir«i^w  i*>  Onwi.     TIm  mkmiI  dtk  of  Lm\  Inii^rt  T^  JEhmI  4m« 

)•»,  Mf^i>Manb«wlP«hM«»ill»n.     Pope**  JU**  «•  Mm,  Ir.  a.  «^H 
n.*Mii/'M.     Dryfai.  Ariw  ■*.. r*   i.  ^H 

(.WwWt/'L^lM>U    JHUUh*.  A-ft/i  0mm,  <■.  I.     'OtlwuliitTii 
•tl  OMIpU*.' 

fcaiM  (Mk*  *•«>;    NnlN,Bi.4. 
1*1.  tWIi/wMMtlMMMr/^M.^  T^/ltMitk,a.t._ 

riM*  sMmM  iM«««te  it«  IV  «>■  '  |M.     Sk  ML  I*.  tKi  J^rat  (/ 1 


I 


iM*  SIMM  iM«««te  ite  Aff  WW  a  |>M.     Sk  ML  I*,  mi  Wat  ,/  Ji 
iiwl.  ti.  foM  rJ^  BMN  w  ff.  tio  mJ  u^.  _!•■  tiM  Uuut^  Ba^ 


IToWouv  iliL 

U^  3ami  s^.    

■jl>lL.I»»T^t.    GLkMMt 


ir,r*«. 


« 


ikOiMr 


NOTB& 

)04.  y—iStirt.     In  N.  RdWi  tnix'ljr  {I7i0. 

CJiUd.    la  N.  Rowc'i  ric  Tur  Pm^w  (1703). 

J^tn  /j(rir  itm/rum  Btit.    Mn.S>drloni  wit  *  mcmlxtof  Uk  Chclttohiin 

Compiay  whtn  ttK  wu  ncomairailad  (0  the  nolitc  *f  Carrlck,  ind  thtn 

obuiiuti  in  enciRtment  it  Dryty  Ltat  (>7T^> 
i.*rj  ir^r«i  i«ri.     S«  MdwiD,  Cmvtrttiitm  *fLtd  BjfMi,  lSl«  (v.  lei). 
Sr  iuw  Mwfn  VI  tii  nontij.     He  K«nu  U  bavt  beta  tmnty-Hfaat.    S« 

Valuit«'*  Litrtt  IV  /ii  jliifltn. 
Htrvty  .  .  .  dr  lifAiiim.     Tbc  finl  IcctDH)  lo  whkh  be  Mt  forib  bll  VMW* 

wtr*  dclivtiTil  in  i6)4,  in  hb  jSlh  yt*t. 
BttMtj  .  .  .  SttJ   f    ymf.      Biibap    BerkclCT't  Kiu*  iraiardi   a  AVw 

Ttiiij  tf  Fitii^  wu  publithd  in  1709-     Hr  wu  born  ia  ifiKf. 
lUnlty'  I  ['i*t  fuKlfli.     DavM   llirtltji't  (>7oj-)7;7)  imt  worki  Ottirtra. 

am  lit  Mai  (1749),  wii  bc|tuQ  when  b«  m*  aboDt  (wrnty-liTt. 
i/n>(  .  .  .  Tn^iu  <»  Iltmtt  Ntimn.    Divid  Hume'i  (i7it-i77A)  TrediM 

•u  publitbcd  in  17)9. 
CaSltt.    Oalilvo  Gililei  (■564-1641)  wti  ippolnMil  nultienuillc^  prafeiuf 

a(  Piw  when  Iw  hii  twtnljr-fout. 
LtAuin.     Gollfricil  Wilhtim   LaibniH   (1G46-1716).     He  wu  nfutA  ( 

Donnr't  Dtgsve  11  Ltipiig  in  hit  twtntittb  year  on  the  frvund  of  hit 

youth. 
£u'ir.  LeoDii-l  EiilFr  ^l^<i^^t■;%^),ol  BucL    Al  ihe  ig«  of  ninptnn  he  wi* 

M(oii<l  ia  1  campelilion  projetuil  bjr  the  Va\»  Aadeniy  (er  the  bat  traliM 

on  the  muting  of  thipt. 
\Q7.  M^itX  indltu  ijitf,    *  Wilh  wsninn  heel  in  J  jfidify  cunniuf/   I^AOrgrtf  141, 
30S.  £.ii>  lit  nam  mri.     Twil/i*  iViitt,  i.  i. 

Litf  fapfiii  ifri^J  ['ihr  inow  drii'].     Burnt,  Tm  1*  Slwtr. 

MtnJrvilir.    Bcmir't  M>n<!cvUIe  (i670?M7)3).  lulhor  of  TU  FtUt  tf  lit 

Bai  (1714). 

RHmd  tiiiiti,  ««'«  iro^i/i.     Wetiiturotlh,  Pliritiul  Tail,  ni. 


ESSAY  XXVII.    ON  OLD  ENOLISH  WRITERS  AND  SPEAKEftS 

From  Tit  Aim-  MsniUj  Magxaint,  vol.  xiii^  No.  49,  iti;,  wilh  iHrlilian*. 

)il.  Afji-aHa/f/.    J»n   FrtnjDii  MsrmontiL  (i7i]'i799),  •nthor  o(  the  Ctnin 

MVMIM  (1761). 

Crtlilki.    Protpcr  Jolyol  ile  Cr«blUoa  (1674-17411,  drimiUc  poci, 
Aliriiuar.    Pierre  Cailel  ile  Chtmbinn  ile  Mirrinii  (iftlJ-i'^;).  lufhei 

of  Afariinr  (i7]i-i74i),a  tamfscc  and  many  coined let.     Voluire  Hid 

he  knew  ill  (he  byr-paiha  of  llie  humin  bcmrt,  bat  not  tbc  hiuhway. 
Lm  Ht'ft.    Jtin  Frinjnit  'lo  li  HH|)e  (i739-i80]}>  whoK  workt  bivt  TCtid 

It  ■  iitndird  of  tileriiy  crTiicitm. 
Tt  iiHi  liiitift  tad  a/tU.     fVrf^in  £«r,  n.  iS4> 
0*  tluijiirfmnuin.     HtttlH,  ili.  4. 
Note,  jt  iflmiiJ  rdtiram  i/CeUtmiiA.     Wiihiaglon  Irving  c-litrd  •  4.valume 

edition  of  Tti  AtuiiiUTini  U^vli  tfOtititr  CMtrnwlk  in  itl}  (Pun). 
3 11-  Ti*  frtffr  ituJy  sftkt  Fit*<i.    *The  pF«frr  itutfy  nf  minkinii  i*  mtn,*  J'cpe'l 

£iMy  M  Mm,  Ep.  ii. 
jr.  fvtwuMi.   Cbirln  Mtriottel  ne  Saint-Dwnii  StifMar  ile  SiiM-Bmmoad 


s«? 


THE   I'LAIN   SPEAKER 


pti)-i70)},  OM  el  the  iDOM  krillant  at  Fnsch  latiriNa.     H*   m  bvietf 
in  WcHKioticf  Abbtjr. 

I..). 
Jl].  MfUnafi.     OiriMOfhci  Miilaw«'t  /h.  r«i>i  (i(«4). 

C^ttm  Mtdva  •'  iri  LvdUif  mttl  A*h  niA/r  «  rniult.     Sea  CocMrMtaai 
^Lati  Byrm,  f.  \o%. 

SMM'i'ifivFj  IUmi  m  *ri  ll^tmr.'     Aclrrf  i$46. 
wwrr'i  '*f  ««■  Z***!  It  F^M  Dttn.'    (l»jj.) 
FirJ't...'Tii  FItf  S*r'i  t  M'imt.'     PrinUil  t()l. 

CmnWiiHu-rrvuvl.     Pofc't  £iMr  «■  M<s  Epiitk  ii.  Ij4.  _ 

JI4.  Mr,  Sin.     Sir  M«ftln  Artkir  Sbce  (i7;o-il{o),  forliiu  paialn   from   tfa> 
■(V  of  16  onwirdi.     He  irflt  kal^ed  (yon  Mia(  lUilc  PrwUml   of  the 
lUysl  AcadtMjp  ia  itjo. 
AarW  fir  MnMvi.     Moon  *aU  ihc  Bjrrofi  M«nMan  In  Mnmy,  Nowembcf 

ttii,  ind  in  Mar  1814 Kboa^  t»4  bninid  ihrm. 
Note.  Taia  t/iM  &*>^ir$.     u.  Tit  BuruM  —J  ib  TtSimM,  publlahcJ  in 
illj. 
JIJ.  Ltmmattt^Ulrwk.     Ct.  X  AlMlikw,  xlx.  11, 

DtununiUiiilaMiHitmmllb.    St*  vol.  11.  TaMi  TaJII,  Mtc  to  ».  314. 

316.  SM&^i  mm  <■  DririWi  Ptfy-Oaim.    •  Tlic  lofnrd  J«ta  SUdui*  c4ked 

Dnylan'*  Botk  la  the  fnlin  of  161  j-ii. 
Smw.    8m  «Mr,  nole  la  f.  alf . 
i/iAailA/.     Set  titti,  flOlc  In  p.  Jif . 
(^■Jn.     Williun  Cimilen  (isjl-lbljj,  wboie  Briunma  WM  fHbtiiheil  in 

ijl6. 
^(n-Cr«nHfl<u.     The  pealal  of  the  Mil;  Dxiiib  chiDajclsn  (fl.  end  «l 

lllh  ctDtury}. 
C)i{[i(h.    Sir  Willijim  Du|<l(l«  (i6o;-t«S6>,  anliqiuriiii,  whote  Mtminiiim 

A^tktmm  <ni  publiihcii  i6{;'i67i. 
ygj  v>n*-     (i7iT-l7tS}>    HI*  rcpuulion  rcMi  on  hit  Ldwn  nlfaet  Uun 

m  hi>  prnchiDj. 

317.  Cin^i'  Cuf"'!"'!!  f"  Jii'    Probably  the  folio  (dil ion  t4  i£76-7  of  jtm 

StfrurifM  tPiM   Praitit^  Obui^mhit  «■  tkt  BtU  «/  ^ti.       Bf   J«aafli 

CanL  a  vsl>.  1  ihf  i(<4K-i66ti  ^utito  tdiiion  «r»  in  la  toU, 
rir  CM4U.     S»  ii*v,  note  to  p.  141. 
Wwa.     Thamu  Wiiton  (17*8-1790},  luibor  of  TAt  Hbnry  a/"  B^lt^ 

Pwn  (t?f4-i7li).    The  uiae  iQiisFi  It  i|aon<l  In  voL  t.  iJccvn  «■  m^ 

£a{£i4  Pmi,  p.  izo. 
Jit.  MVa-CnniM*.     Sec  t>oL  >.  LttUun  an  lit  F.i^M  ^itt,  aot<  lo  p,  14S. 
CMW  fttnmi  lirri  atiJt,  mijtuit  p^iti.     Wdtdivonh't  f  ii/a«ia 
farni  Jiartfi  litu  rtfBrti.     JM, 
}I9.  BvtH  n  lit  ow'  t/Mim.    AtMiut,  it.  1. 

Air  finr  Fnilti.    Thr  litiftiovi  drunlurd  in  Bi4[fMiu. 

T*t  Uil  m»J  *!■>»  nvi/  ^  M«a.    itr^panirf  wa>  publkhed  in  ■  {14. 

Namiy  E^H'I.     Cipliin  of  ihc  imuniler't  brig  in  kti.i[tmilti, 

/l/ti  ttr  viitufttl.     Ri^gtvulit,  Hook  it.  chip.  viii. 

OU  iriM-pinj.     Cf. '  An  (liou  Ihctc,  lTuc-pran|rr' etc.     IhmUl,  %.  j, 

Ai  lit  iifii  if»Mvi.     Pi'adui  Lmi,  tii.  toi. 

FmHMt  It  iti/ra.     PsrtdiM  l.nl,  iii.  464. 

ffimitdy  maurtVMi.    Pope**  £ua)i  m  Aba,  Ep.  I.  lU  (•  and  Ooi!  the  »mi1  ■] 

Sio 


NOTES 


j»i. 


3" 


3*3 


Pfm,  Htmfdtn,  S)d'^.  John  Pfin  (b.  15>4).  one  of  ihc  'rt*e  tntraben'  ; 
Jolin  llunjiilcn  (i:94-i643],tlK  opjuotnt  af  thip-nioncy  )  utd  AlfcrBcm 
Sidocy  (i6ll-i68i!|,  uccutH  fat  hit  than  in  fhit  RjW'houM  Plot. 

.Mr.  JMuifr''  ""'  •/">'  CIvii.     PublulLCO  |SI4. 

PvmH  if  E*xl>U  M^tfiltd.    *U«D  OuuMi.wtU  of  Edtlkh  undtlylcd ' 

Mariir.     S«*  inir,  notr  In  p.  t^j. 

Ctitm/i   ftm-C—Jirmitt't   Mmmal.      S«   vol.   itl.   KSriitl    tuf^  noH 

[«  p.  lA;. 
Noll.    TAr  tuiihr   e/  fVj[iuH.       J)ni(t   SbFtiilto   Knowlt*  (17S4-1R61). 

MacKtily  prviluMil  /'r/iMi,  hli  b«l  pliy,  in  ttio,  ii  Coviol  Guidrn, 

■ftcc  it  bil  ■ppettnl  in  UK  provinoea. 
Afr.  Imimr.     Edwiiil  ltvin(|. 
Prjik^ariJ.    Cf.  *  prick^meil  cur  of  Icrlin'l,'  Kia[  Hi*ry  f^  1,.  1.    Tbi  votJ 

wu  cammnnl)'  applir'l  to  R4an><)iri'lt  bccmtr  of  iIk  lijfhi  Mick  iLull-cip 

drivrn  ont  Iht  nMil,  which  left  the  rirt  opMcn. 
iiir  J.  &ibU[.     (t6ag-i64r.) 
tfyeitrUy,  Cmpnt,  Swtetir-,Mj  WtlUr.    See  v*U  1,  Lftartt  M  Atr  S^M 

Pit'i  and  Drttjlii  Liitrtari  tf  itt  Aff  i/'Mu/mI. 
Hftr.  Tfttn'f  '  MiA^n.'      Antoinr  Louii  CUude  Cumtc  Daluti  de  Tticy 

(r7(4-iS)6),  vhoM  B/fmtm  rT  idiui^'n  wit  pub[jth<d  \zi  1H17-1S1I. 


ESSAY  XXVJtI.    MADAME  PASTA  AND  MADKMOISBLLB  MARS 


From  the  Ntw  MimUj  MtgrnJit,  vdL  iiii.  No,  49,  ilij. 

314.  MjidmtiiuIIi  Mt't.    Aunt  FianjoiM  DouttC-Monvd  [1779-1147},  the  cbvir 

loiptriaailui  of  Molittc'i  htroinct  it  llic  'Iticjln  I''T4»{iI>.     Htt  fUlRr, 

Mouut,  wii  tn  ictor,  ntfi  lier  TnoCher,  Mtf>,  tn  jctrci*. 
JUnfiuit  Paw,      Ciuditli  Puii,  1    Irwiih  npcra.iinjet  of  Milinew   birth 

{i79S-iS6;]i.     HfT  pnttil  triumpni  vrcit  in  I'ltii  inrl  Loixlon  bttirnn 

1815  id.l  li}]. 
1:5.  ATm.    An  luliia  opcia,  proilutcd  it  Niplri,  Miy  I787,uid  ptaycd  ■(  the 

Kiag'i  Thealtc,  LonJoo,  May  16,  1(15,  wllb  Put*  at 'Nioi.' 
]*e,  Siifitriba.     Til  trnUtr't  Tttr,  iv.  %. 

liy.  Tiiarii  itai  ihirjiiii  naiwt.    ■  Though  that  hit  joy  bt  joy,  clc'    OiUii,i,l. 
]iS.  &hlif'i  RMin.     ijSt, 

Klifiiut'i  MiuLii,    Prirdricb  GoUIirb  Klopitock'i  (■714'ifoj]  potm  «m 

publithcd  in  I74t.i77i. 
]I9.  TUtr  mtlt  miimti  .  .  .  «i  Itamfttit  Cmrt.     The  Ciitaocl  of  Ripb«cl. 
Citnfj.     S«  .iiif,  iiott  to  p.  89. 
CtMcriiu  oni  jirvtrtgn.     (^Mi*r,  la.  b,  sad  iv.  1. 
]}«.  Note,     ftttrit.     A  comcily  of  Sollx't,  prodacei  in  till  with  Mile.  Mua 

in  the  lUU-rfile^ 
]}i.  Cirtin.    Anne  t.ouii  (?iru>l(l'D<-Rouny-Trioton,  French  hii(orictl  piintcr 

inil  wtitir  (1 '67.1X14),  I  pupil  of  Divid. 
Almitiv  CJuuakiiiit.1.     Fianjoii  Rene,  Vicamic  ile  Chitcaubiiiuii  {fjit- 

184:1},  of  noble  Dkioq  titrKllcn,  Roy*llil  ind  arllei  of  perfe«  pT«*e. 
IJ],  Mtrrimu.     J.  P.  L.  M^imce.      itt  MaiUrtaf  tf^btm  Hntai,i.X-},\^. 

.See  iliD  lui.  v(.  TMi  Taik,  note  ta  p.  Jig. 
JJ4.  Firtftm  ttnlmitii.    OiUIf,  uu  j. 

5" 


) 


THE  PLAIN  SPEAKER 


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tSSAV  <"gTT    sDt  VALTXK  SCOTT,  KAdX^  AKD  SHAKISPEAl 

jj^  "aiH  ■!  i  III  !■   I   II  !■!       Gn».  ^.;c«:  f  .^b™,  ^   ;. 
n»i  II  *•— ■»     Sec  «i«.  9ja  a  ^  :=-. 

Tit    H--  mi  tm  Mjffm-     Sa  <?i.  <:£.  ^  ''aw    t_f  ^   £i^=m  S^ 
P-^^4- 

Dn-je.  .Aa-ib  «^  Air  jfa.:- t;t. 
J4I.  GJMr.     C  "--m^  Ijfc  ".  -fj  lo:  »=-  1—. 

Cf'^Kjj  ■'■^  -»  r-'S-^     Sobkt'i  J.*-*  .^ers.  Bdvk  :;.  -■  — ■  m. 
}^  La  n  ut  =  :«  £*e.     '  Nl  at       Sx  :±ic  «i>,  :ae  i^-:  ^  =;  -^ 

.V;.:t^  .•».-  iz  »-»c  «  iiift.z-1      Cj^  I^r.  =.  *_ 
f  I  MK.-^  Jtfc^    ^'iit-r  «t-=i.       r»    Sept    »■" 

ii«    I    17:  ■-. 
Tin  ir.-...- 1b  cm.     K.  C:^  i--.  -  4. 
Tar  ^m  ^ei  j^^vul     JUjJr^t.  ^  ^- 

Jmi  »n  nn  >e9j  k:  ret  f. 


r-;i^-in  ■.-j-»?^  =?;-*.  *it»  Y.-rt  c: 


:»^:ti-  j    j 


NOTES 

)«4-  '/  y—  ••^iJ'  trnrm.     OiWIi,  lit.  j, 
lOi  lit  Prtfmtk.    tUd. 

T*t  imitpe  fcnrH>  Hiiitrt  ami  Arrtir,     JCi^  7*^>  "'■  *■ 
Titi  ttrwm  SrMH  miU  CbkIb.     Jaina  C^—r,  1. 1. 
Mrtr^t.     tn  Cm/  M^KKnmg. 


ESSAY  X3CX.    ON  DEPTH  AND  SUPERFICIALITY 

]47-  A  Z"—  i"  —dm  limktr.     t  C*krU|C. 
Dr.  ^mrtiam.     Sn  ma,  not*  lo  p.  t-. 

t4'-  %•  'vm'  fiat^  Mill.    'Sj^ntBf  di^  eo  bn  Mft  *xk,'  Ptr^dht  £«•>, 
vnt.  l6j. 

n(*«v(M*£<rrfJ^I«B.    Ttimi.Lorit  Lytieltoo  ( 1 744- ijjj),  read— ri 
for  fci*  firortifKT.    He  HSU  (9  bttc  iliot  ihrtc  4tfi  aOBr  >  aoctonul 
wtnlat    Sec  Ou-ribm')  Sni  '/'Vr'i  ■>•  ^*S> 
Mtliir   fclw^J^^.     Bliabcth   Brotmriai,  wbn  mi  cncatrJ  in   I7t;  for 
wUffSof  u  (ppmitiCB  IB  dcBth.    5m  ii»I.  ni.  PiSiittI  Ewjft  ■<*(•  ta 
rf.  110  wl  ajl. 
jjl.  C>Mb  fH*  ni^iiiltJrnr,    A  flanK  of  TotnUiui'l. 
;;j.  9Mwr*Mawi  twUm.    MtdnK  >.  1. 
JS*.  VtamUMtfri.    S.  MmK  1*.  44- 

N«M.     SettWi'LitilifNtmfmruiJ:     Sec  *«l.  ■•.  71l>  ^tfrrr  /  (ti  w^^ 
B..«tt8p.  171. 


ESSAY  XXJtI.    ON  RESPECTABLE  PEOPLE 

36s,  BwftrMm  tfmma.     AUrirtt,  1.  7. 

TV  Gtrmtdfta  J^ii  It  III  rMnfptl.     Tmh  {/"vAbe,  iv.  ;. 

Onc^  mu  Jr^  ■  tmr.    TbofBai  Olwty.  r-ar  of  iIk  rrulnc  vf  EofUtb 

tntiiliani,  wm  choknl  bj  tMioi  too  riKsvul^  leci>l  beo^  kftcr  •  loa| 

(ul. 
^mter,  hft  mtiil^.     Stt  Pulkr'i  Wtntln.     Tl>c  ttnrj  U  thai  SpcaKr 

pctldncd  Elkibcth  lliu  >— 

*  1  ni  prsBii'il  oa  •  tim* 
To  hiie  MMa«  Id  oqr  Ayme; 
Pnm  ibu  Umc  bbm  thfa  nma, 
I  rtwlv'4  Bor  ifcjmc  nor  renoo.' 

j(j.  Mil  fewiaj—i  BuHir.    Sawiml  BMkr  (i6ia-iUQ}.    Ht  vai  karM  ia 
Si.  Panl'i  CbBtcfc]>i(<i,  Covtst  GcrJen, « 1^  tMfmm  ef  hJi  Inciiri  Wmkn 
LontMiillc  «f  ibf  Tnupk. 
Tlttmtgrratwtdrmer^u,     See  «M#,  ««te  te  p.  Ijft. 
f ^ w  Mmm  ^Imti^  Mi  tk.    Jmft  Aadrmu,  KoA  1. 1. 
ftmr  ftma.     I«  Jutf*  Amirnat. 
TUc  oUrMV  </C^ji>  2;.:^.     Tm  7wt,  Boa  II.  9. 
ffy  IMjIirt  rxeUimi.    ['Or  ilivn  o(  ca*M4i'].     Peft*>  £a«^  m  Mm, 


1**.^ 


*Xia 


■n.    J'aAu  C«iw,  uk  i. 


fOL.  til,  :  3  K 


S'S 


THr  ri-AiN  *r3iAE3:ii 


f 


Es:--i  rrr::     -y  tili  n,jj.:>Tn  ^ki  thi  stuiiif'  lit  s^j.: 


^ti-fc    J    ;   T    ■:-'-*ii;;-,       r^^K    i:.    - 


^.     lit     IM^     3      Et     Pi^J 


ftl*:-,^^-    .'-HTr^        Jx^UTK     iC^-C     It.  l.":rri.      i    ^     ^loUC      iuT^i,   ;*- 

.V.-B    .T   -.-. 


m    J-  -t   >.-v.ji     =■  :.   =--... 


i! 


/ 


Jj.  '"f».   sr-    Zt    — -^"^s        r<r    "^I.jie    r_i_i^,Ttt       -"^r-    -|.-       f 


---z,--r..v. 


NOTES 


];4.  Cva^si'CWiAuifixr.'    S**  tti.  I.  Citrmun  ^lUtmf^i't  Fl^/S  ■"" 

Wrirm  >4i  F'inJ.    Colrridct'*  Scrki  of  Kwn*  (lto9-ttio),'la  (M  >•  ihc 
formaiiM  of  imH  rrincifilM  in  foUtici^  Mkcnb  Mtf  tditiM.' 

Lfir  a  rfrvibiil  fa^imt.     FattAit  Lt%  it,  17. 

Mb*  /hIi  mameriit^.    B  Fnitnm,  J9. 
175.  Dtri/^ri  liijUic.    At  7W  Lib  /r,  a.  i. 

Tfa  fttct^t  titt  tt.     Kimm,  liii.  I. 

0^>Ura.     ««ll>r,T.  I. 

fir  litgnJa/lii  aumoj.     CI-  'Twai  (or  Uw  foo4  «f  n7  csaaVf  that  I 
AbdU  bf  ibrMd.'     f  jranhiT,  Tlr  &au*  Sntiftm,  ni.  x, 
j;6.  Tlr  Aif/i  t/MtnMy.    W«cUr  hirial  reports  Ann  (oppllH  iij  pnbh  (iHtu 

"  '59*-J- 
Mr.  rirtrftrr  i/rci  wrf/  1.7  'Cxb^j.'     Sec  nL  *i.  T^iU  Tttt,  tMtt  m 

Omi-tfiJ  JU .    ProUUy  Jchm  Uamj,  wtw  tail  la«  Uk  tifbl  ettanij^ 

lkni|li  m  iccitaM. 
37;.  Iflra  (2ffr  mnrr  ilr  tgt.     TU  Btggar^i  Oftrt,  Ait  Kit. 

Dmw  rir  Sm"  nw  Mnwr.     Ottti*,  1. 1. 
J7S.  Litr  fmr  liitrgm.     Sitdiruk  Xiariiit,  f hak  uij*. 

Omi  knrtn  litivlmit-4  Uiir  mMlkj.     1  Kmg  Hmy  ir.,  1.  J. 
Til  LiltttL    IVqwrtcilf  revkw  *hMh  Ubu4  to  Ipv  nnbcn  (iSii-j). 
See  «oL  ir.  Til  i^i'  :/  lit  j^,  the  E«iy  on  Lof  d  B)n»,  *a4  »s(«  to 

rr  »5<  »•*  H9- 

n>  7*b  Xbff.    Tbtoilnrt  KMlt't  Terj  nptr. 

Mr.Jtritm.    WiUiu   krdw  (i7t>-lU4}.«iitat  of  Ibt  Toiy  &a(ttl3< 

1 7),  iBil  iIkd  irtrMified  for  thoty-tluM  jmn  viib  ibt  Liivtrj  Gtmmt, 
nr  i»mkir4)fittr.    ?  ■  miipiBil  for  Emmnn  Office. 
J79.  Af/.  SUIi/i/tili'.    Hulkeutt't  father,  Sii  BrsJMniB,  wm  mi4e  ■  fcarooet 
In  itii,     TV  Shtllcy  Varonrti  (f  bilJe  Oanab  SaMtx,  mn  creaM  in 

£&«ff«n«i  •/"  Cii/ii  HtrtU.     ICmthW  A«ir«fMar  y  lir  ^1*  «■»  •/ 

CiSdt  HnUf  tfuimg  Dimrtinm  mitt  Haim  fMtmf,titit»  Xatf  m 

Jua«IUfe-«rrr(lllt). 
Tir  mtmttr  fr  JWVtmanv.    HsUmom  wm  ricCTpi   to  tSto  br  a  bf 

aajaritj. 
Tb  £1117  «  ill  Sfifit  ff  MimtriJtj.     HaiJiR'i  mij  •■•  [  itlllhr  f  in  (be 

team*  nmaha  of  Tb  LJtn^. 
nil  gniUmam  inm  rf't*  £*r^  fo^M,     Stt  Bnoo'i  i-MMn  aarf  ymn»lt 

Ifli.  Pr«tbrT«},  Tt.  167.     Ct  *«£  ».  rit  ^^  */  lir  ^,  ^  JM  "^ 

now. 
Hk  Piiiim  tf  JmifmiM.      B|Taii^  poon  •*■  fobliihril   ni  Ko,  1   o(  Tc 

•iVi.  Ika^iktttMiulMiUtiU.    PnblbbH  in  1I17.    Sec  *oL  *.  Innrri  <■ 

^tt^rmm^:     PubUdadBlllt. 
HadSav  h  tit/ni.     Fvs£m  l*U,  u.  l«o. 
ttViA  m  4*mm  fir  (via/,     OlUU.  nr.  3. 
FnttJU^d.    mi. 

l^kttj.    Cr.  *M7  ttkkit  (pirit.'     n>  rnyrii.  *.  t. 
T»miwwhk  frwfil.    Pope, fJMMilr  N  i>-.  Arhitllmtt  tff-ieo. 
jti.  Rr  MVMM  ^  (ir  ■  CtartcUri  ^Stohyw^'i  f JI91.'  See  »L  t.  BMw(r*rl>'ol 
Nate  m  p.  t66. 

5M 


ON  THE  PRINCIPLES  OF  HUMAN    ACTION 


ftt. 


Nti «  (r«f  iliitg.    JM. 

TAi  fira  fiag  lit  tfiumimut  Rrtiirm  JhI-    S«*miDaie  id  p.  iSi.    lock* 

nrj  ttn  noabo  (Jta.  iS>4)(  ibe  *nkk  kbg  wriiua  by  Jiian  MA. 

•MMtd  bjr  hit  •••  JoU  Sduui  MUL    Stc  &  Lolie  Strplicii't  Tt,  X^t 

IMBiarUMi,  nl.  in.  p.  »i, 
Jk  Mr.  PUa  hu  Mr.  HMmt  Idt  frU  tlttilim.      Hobhoiac  ' 

noiaitil  WtMminiui  *•  sa  i4vin<xd  Lilmt  iR  1818. 
KoH.     Bm  mt  rill  ittr,     Fcr  Ikk  re mrk  ot  Ponom't  tee  Tot.  «tLq  Ltlwm 

m  Ui  E^^iA  CmiV  H'riun,  p.  IJ, 


AN  ESSAY  ON  THE  PRINCIPLES  OF   HUMAN 
ACTION 


Hutltl  ha>t  Bu-le  thi'HiKOwry'irt  (anh  in  ibitanjr  aad  had  bf^na  is  wtiit 
Ikt  tHif  iMif  ••  ruty  »  iTfli  wbcB  hs  b*4  kii  nmnarabU  nuciou  *iii 
CtiXtriitt.  Sr«  lb*  nnj  '  Hj  FirM  AcfMiolMN*  wkh  Poelt.'  He  4U  aM, 
bMrtnr,  wc(«4  in  awlant  hawlt  ndfritaol  brtht  p«ei,  )in<l  when  thi  k>«k 
«Mnc  to  Ic  r«Ui>be<l,  iu  Mk  <*«  dov  ni  Huall,  lhso(ti  Mr.  W.  C.  Hutie 
(4f(B*»i,  I.  Ill)  reUla  tlul  •CONdtoc  to  ■  ndllioa  )a  ttic  fsnily  it  won  te 
■itmlriilun  e<  Mr.  S<«tMl,  (fterwirili  Lord  Abiagn.  Hsilitt  klnualf  m-x  ^„i 
W  (W  tarny,  tad  (sniiaiHlly  (cfm  to  It  la  bn  iMct  wTttiag*.  Sm  imiiimIIi 
>l  t«a>F  |»  JVTAm*  C>J^>^,  i«L  i.  pp.  403  M  »}.,  wlicirB  W  txftMiat  t^  oatut  ■< 
Iht  ircamML  Cf.  *Im  tlwMUjoa'StU-Lowt'MidilM  fragnenM  «r  kctanoa 
Racliih  PWIoNfhy  fiiM  p^*^^  ^  ^^f^  Itimam,  Ttw  varUtiom  maft  to 
Uk  (((ond  edlthm  from  mnlnil  bmh  to  iV  MilMt**  cop*  face  IHilaiiia^fMl 
No(«)  m  ttm  m4  triUbc.  '    " 


-(■(iliH  Ihemc 


or  «)r  punoinc  nr«c*  Mnl  iha*r. 
Notional  coo<  fcf  h»cy  oalp  aa^a.' 

Prka,  aJbw,  v  ih  y^mj  tffit  t$^»rU,  u  1  ;^, 
toS.  Natr,    t/Uo.    J*m«  Utbtr'*  (iTtft-iiii)  jJa  AvsAmih  ■■  t^  T^m^  U 
rlfl/>i>aMia4>MpaUi*kediBi77l.  ^' 

40«.  K*tt.     'If*.,  liM  jw  Mtfw  -r,*  «.     A«aijr  nrf  Chafm-m,  Act  ml 

Sccac  14. 
410.  Kmc     fciMa  ...Ma   Frttdmm,     RoMaMa  vat    bora    ai    Oown, 
wUlhw  Ui  tacnttn  had  noond  &«ai  hrii  m  Ko  bade  ■■  ■  eta 

J»mm  tai  rmmtid,  tti,    l>  U*  leoer  W  Gcorti  m.  (Dec  1^  )7«f ), 
'  JhW-fllrf  fill  ft'  •'r.    cr. 

XlicMliv}*T> 


or  PMibe,  lictf  boo^  with  1 


.K.74)--i. 


KoM.  Sai  I'teba  to  n>  Ljnn'  JtalUt  (aiti  attjata,  itai).  npriaM 
with  <r*HMMw  in  tbt  lafrMliM  c4itiaa>  a(  th«  pMt**  warkk  (Kialiy 
Vf  !>.  M.  T.  HMdii>«oa»  ^  f4»J  ' 

5i« 


m  m 


NOTES 
raea 

4]0.  Tt  ail/,  at.    Thia  mmbicc,  which  K*nn  ab«nK,  ihoulil  pcrhif*  b((!a  <  I 
nuy  idd  ihit,'  tU. 
Til*  Aii^  OT  (4r  Imfnaliif  ^Mftttti.    RouMnu'i  Akhvi  M'  Fttigmi  u  in 
/ni/n*nn  jlr  fimifditt  fanti  In  ii— w,  17;;. 

r*(  S|i»ai  ■/*  AWi'f.  Hidlit  wtoktl]!  mtltaiM  (o  Jnn  Bteiiale  « 
Mlitbau'l  (itr{-i76o]  the  ^irjiw  A^  Satan  at  BarMi  d'Halb*<h  (ifij- 
i7t9),publiilMil  la  1770. 


REMARKS  ON  THE  SYSTEMS  OF  HARTLEY  AND 
HELVETIUS 

4]4>  H»ilff.    Djvid  Hirlley  (i7oj-i7(7),whoM  (Uwwoiwn  c«  Moa,  cnntainiiic 

bii  funoui  ptiaciple  «rtbs  AHDciilion  of  Idtat,  sppnrcri  in  1744. 
Hihtiin.      Clinic    Ariran    Hclvttiui   (I7i!'l770i   •rhoM'    fimoui   wwk 

Or  l.'Eifrimffatt4  in  17J8. 
VMr.     ilMlrr  M  i*r  Piv^  |«  *u  Srrmtm.     Tbi  ^^  S/nmm  fttitld  M 

lit  KtHi  Citffi  vtn  fMuhtd  ia  I7»6. 
441.  jIi  ItiiHi  nifldnwj,trt.    An  inipcrfcci  KDUnM.     Piubably  HiiliK  vraie, 

'Thii  h«  t>c«D  opliioc'l,' (ic. 
443.  Kolc    Sir  Kenilm  Di|b)-'t  (i6aj-i66;]  Oiumaiititi  tfat  XiNrtt  MtAii 

irtrr  publiahcrl  in  164},  Jin<l  w^rc  ifUrwarilt  frc^uni I tjr  reprinted  in  rtljtioni 

oi  (hit  u  ork.. 
44t.  NolF.     PLibli(h*<t  in  I7£a. 
447.  Mr.  Mji-httii,    Sir  Jimfi  Miclkiaia*h*>  iMiuni  ca  'Tht  La*  «t  N«tM« 

nil  Nitiont'  were  rielli>e[t-l  ti  Lliiuln'i  Inn  HiU  in  1799. 
4;o.  *  A  tkUang,'  lit.     OMI^  Ae(  1.  Scene  j. 
4JJ.  *&iMtr  tU  fintr.'     Thii  Hretl-ltnowD  aphciriim  af  tlie  Scnutionil  School  ii 

allrlbnteil  to  Doluti  dt  Tracy.     Sn  4*ir,  noM  to  p.  ]!]■ 
Mirt  imtf  nJ  SviiMi.    Drydfo,  Tlr  Hnd  »tj  lU  Pmllif,i.  319. 
4J4.  N«4p.     CmiHUc.     Biwnna  <H   CondilUt  fi7i$<i7>o},  vhoM   7*mU  in 

SitwinH  >ppnr«il  in  17^4. 
Km*.     TitiatI  Dt  r^ifrii.     See  ttt,  nctc  ta  ^  434. 

Nate.     'Mtmtlf'tx.    £kM(,  Liv.  i<r.(^(f(ii^ir  rVltfa  fnviri&MjHrd). 
4!T-  'Ofhiwir  f/'ruMa.*     Uamtn,  Act  1.  Soenc  11. 
404.  'Titrj  r/Miral  Simtimtml^'     PnUilbcd  in  I-;). 
44{,  lM^*UtM.    Sm  Put  U  Book  III, clufL*;*nd  iG. 


Edinbur|b  ■  Pristid  by  T,  rad  A.  Cohitmli 


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