82 Notes of the Month on [JAN. 



be of actual use, is converted to use by the national necessity, the fact of 

 a man's being in want of a pension is an evidence of either his being a 

 man of mediocrity in his science, or of his pursuing some fantasies which 

 cannot be converted to human use, or of his being a slave and beggar 

 by nature, and willing to eat the bread of a menial. A man of honour- 

 able spirit, the only spirit for greatness in science as well as in public 

 life, would disdain this palming himself upon the public charity ! 



In the next place, as to knighthood and ribbons, where can be the 

 honour of science in things that every levee-day sees hung over the 

 necks of sheriffs and aldermen, country fellows coming up with an 

 address from a corporation of clowns, the worshipful chairmen of the 

 corporations of barbers, tailors, and music-masters, and the whole crowd 

 ejiisdemfarmce ? When old Herschell first went to court, with the frip- 

 pery of the " Royal Guelphic Order" round his neck, was there any 

 addition in this bauble to the honours of the discoverer of the Georgium 

 Sidus ? Or was he more exalted or abased by finding that this court 

 honour had placed him in the same class of chivalry with the mob of 

 Hanoverian grooms of the bedchamber, secretaries of the stables, tra- 

 velling doctors, and the illustrious obscure of the Royal University of 

 Gottingen ? We have no doubt that the great astronomer would have 

 shewn his good sense in declining this childish reward, and been 

 remembered with more respect in his grave, if he had gone down to it 

 as plain Herschell. 



We entirely deprecate this foolish passion for baubles, which we have 

 borrowed of late years from our giddy neighbours, but which once 

 formed the scorn of the manly mind of Britain. The only instance 

 which can redeem their use, is their being given for some direct service. 

 The Waterloo medal is a trophy, because it was given to none but those 

 brave men who were on the spot, and helped to win the last great day of 

 continental war. But if the Waterloo medal were the badge of an order, 

 given to men of various professions and countries, who " of the division 

 of a battle knew no more than a spinster," the medal would soon sink 

 into a burlesque. The true principle of conferring these honours is 

 specific service. The companionships and knighthoods of the Bath have 

 already become ridiculous from their being lavished on general service, 

 which is equivalent to none. If it were given to no man but him who 

 had captured an enemy's ship, led the assault of a fortress, or performed 

 some one distinct and memorable exploit in the war, the badge would 

 express an actual distinction. But now it is given to one man, for hav- 

 ing been in one quarter of the world for so many years ; to another, for 

 having been lieutenant-colonel for so many more ; to another, because it 

 had been given to somebody else until the badge is worth no more than 

 a button ! 



We see proposals in the newspapers, from old ranters of the military 

 clubs, for an Order " to comprehend all officers of a certain standing ;" 

 so that every fool who may have contrived to sleep through fifteen or 

 twenty years in the army, is to shine forth upon the world a Chevalier ! 

 But this nonsense would only make Orders more empty. In France, 

 every third man has a bit of blue or red ribbon sticking to his button- 

 hole. Who thinks the more of this knightly rabble for it ? The bit of 

 ribbon is nothing but the sign of the wearer's folly. But if these things 

 are ridiculous even among the class of society which has been always led 

 by shew, how infinitely trifling must this be among men of real know- 



