LIFE OF MYTTON. 147 



mankind. It is the voice of custom echoed by the 

 voice of reason. 



I have but Httle to say of Mr. Mytton as a father, 

 but that little is in his favour. He was very fond of 

 his children, although, as may be expected, he had a 

 peculiar way of showing his affection for them ; such 

 as tossing them in the air as he did the lap-dog, 

 giving view-holloas in their ears at a very tender age, 

 throwing oranges at their heads, and indulging in all 

 such practical jokes ; but as the brute said of the eels 

 he was skinning, it was " nothing when they were 

 used to it," and I think his conduct towards them 

 was nearly sans reprocJie. He often spoke of them in 

 his exile ; and when he came in contact with other 

 persons' children about the age of his own, a close 

 observer would detect the workingrs of a stroncr in- 

 ward feeling which it was not in his power to conceal. 

 But why should he wish to conceal it ? There is a 

 chord in the breast of a savage that responds to the 

 voice of nature! John Mytton himself could alone 

 answer this question ; but as a celebrated character in 

 antiquity wished for a window in his breast that every 

 one might see into it, a peep into that of this man 

 would have exhibited qualities and virtues which 

 not only the world refused to give him credit for, 



