

ENGLAND AND HER CRITICS *. 



Splendide mendax." Hon. Od. iii. 11. 35. 



" Velus unda supervenit undam." Id. Epl. ii. 2. 176. 



IT is rarely that we take the trouble to condemn a work of uniform 

 unworthiness, or offend so far against the reason and good sense of 

 criticism as to bring before its chastening tribunal a culprit of per- 

 verse and irreclaimable depravity. On this occasion, though we 

 obviously depart from ordinary usage, in examining as unmixed a 

 morsel of absurdity as ever issued from the brain of maudlin fretful- 

 ness, we consider it sufficient for our vindication to observe, that the 

 hexameters of Count Achilles are the very type of numerous effusions 

 of a kind of wandering, scribbling clique, who feel themselves at per- 

 fect liberty to use the hospitality of foreign nations for malignant 

 purposes, and afterwards repay it by inventions and mis-statements 

 of the meanest and most rancorous untruth. We have therefore 

 chosen, at our leisure, to estimate the merits of one sole production, 

 indiscriminately taken from a mass of envious and rude invective, to 

 let our readers see with what a patriotic sensibility to fame and dig- 

 nity the indiscriminate affection for foreigners is cherished by certain 

 classes of our countrymen, on the principles of general philanthropy, 

 and how generously their idols respond to the expression of their dis- 

 interested homage. Far be it from us to undervalue the friendship 

 that at present exists between ourselves and our enlightened neigh- 

 bours, or to despise the criticism of an unprejudiced and conscientious 

 foreigner ; but we have no courtesy for slanderers these claqueurs 

 of a most disgusting school. We propose, therefore, in the person of 

 my lord Jouffroy, to demolish a whole host of scandalmongers and 

 retailers of slip-slop, who have lately abused the press with their 

 libellous profligacy whose most elevated ambition appears to be that 

 of procureur, or pander, to the diseased appetites of the most con- 

 temptible of creation. 



There are certain points on which the wisest minds may differ ; 

 there are manners, customs, habits, climes, and countries, which may 

 variously affect the moral sense and temperament of various indi- 

 viduals ; the propensity of one nation may be repugnant to the taste 

 and genius of its neighbour ; every people has, in short, its imper- 

 fections to a greater or a less degree. It is for these especial reasons 

 that we view with satisfaction the frank and frequent intercourse of 

 intellectual foreigners, as being calculated to ^.rnend the more objec- 

 tionable habits inherent in the lands of one another. A philosopher 

 will exemplify as well as praise the wholesome fruit of his researches ; 

 he will reprove with truth, with temper, and good faith the vices he 

 has found no matter with what virtues they are linked; he will 

 analyze and specify, combine and generalize, always with a view to 



* Adieux d PAngleterre. Far le Comte Achille de Jouffroy. 

 M.M. No. 95. 3 T 



