132 Etiquette. [FEB. 



or involving the rival cabinets in a dispute. In the old times, the 

 struggles for precedence in the French parliaments, not unfrequently 

 ended in boxing matches not quite as regular, perhaps, but quite as 

 bloody as those of our own " Game Chickens/' our " Champions," and 

 our " Snowballs." Ludicrous arid absurd as the disputed points of these 

 contests may seem, they must, in their origin, have had some solid meaning, 

 not always, indeed, worthy of a quarrel, but at least something in- 

 telligible. The point of precedence involves in it the saving or the loss of 

 time, the avoiding or encountering the annoyance defaire antichambre, of 

 cooling one's heels in the waiting room of the great man. Voltaire deduces 

 the French quarrel for an armed-chair, from the rudeness of ancient times, in 

 which even kings had but one or two such accommodations among the fur- 

 niture of their palaces. Even in our own times, these conveniences in the 

 simple menages of remote farm-houses, retain the appellation of sick-chairs. 

 The haut du pave, and the right to the wall, were likewise points of 

 substantial comfort, when streets were narrow and ill paved; and when, 

 to resign the honourable post, implied being over shoes in wet and mud. 

 The seals of deeds, those important etiquettes which give validity and 

 effect to the parchment, were in the beginning ciphers, cut for the use 

 of those who could not write their names, or badges of cognizance, to 

 identify the unlettered individual, the prototypes of coats of arms, which 

 were but hieroglyphics, standing in the place of cyphers, such as the 

 North American savages still employ for the same purpose. The placing 

 both seal and signature to a deed, is a consequence of that tendency to 

 surplusage which is the besetting sin of lawyers. Robes of state were 

 undoubtedly in their origin mere robes de chambre, comfortable, warm 

 envelopes, for domestic use, of costly and rare materials, and conse- 

 quently within the reach only of the rich. They were, therefore, 

 suitable presents to make; and the oriental kings having acquired the 

 habit of conferring a robe with each honorific appointment, an association 

 of idea was formed, which passing into the west, scarlet and ermine 

 became in time the appropriate distinction of office, applicable alike to 

 the peer, the judge, the alderman, or the doctor of the faculties. So, too, 

 the cowl and frock of the monk, whimsical as they now appear, were 

 originally the dress of the common people, and so too was the quaker's 

 simple vestment, without buttons. Both were continued in use, after the 

 mode had changed with the rest of society, from a spirit of humility and 

 contempt for the vanities of fashion. The tallies still employed as an 

 etiquette of the Exchequer, were once the only mode of book-keeping 

 intelligible to the people. Latin, retained in the service of the catholic 

 mass, was originally adopted as the language best understood by the 

 clergy ; and the use of Norman French, in our law proceedings, derived 

 from the fact of property being vested in Norman proprietors. Many of 

 the absurdities of etiquette, have, therefore, arisen from that dread of 

 innovation which attaches to all establishments, and prevents an aban- 

 donment of practice from following a change in the circumstances 

 which give to a custom utility and meaning. Such is the case with the 

 continued assemblage of convocations, to hear bad sermons in Latin, and 

 to abuse rival sects, after all real business and power have been taken from 

 the clergy so assembled. Such also, is the conge d'elire sent to chapters, 

 with the nomination of bishops, no longer elected by those corporations. 

 Overloaded ceremonies may, on this account, be safely taken as certain 

 indications of a bad government, which learns nothing, and forgets 



