ERROKS OF FRANCE AS TO ENGLISH OATHS. 255 



the custom of my countrymen. None but English 

 kings and princes, that I am aware of, ever swore in 

 the society of ladies, when, as the sovereign is sup- 

 posed to be '^ incapable of doing wrong," such an 

 insane latitude assigned to a human being, albeit 

 anointed, might perhaps excuse, if not the sin, at least 

 a portion of the error. English gentlemen in the 

 best society don't swear. Of course^ when excited, 

 and not governed by that sweet and beautiful soda 

 which for ever corrects the rough acid of male hu- 

 manity — the presence of woman — we all at times 

 rap out an oath. 



Masters of hounds would burst if they had not 

 that safety-valve ; but to swear in society, and «- 

 propos to nothing of an angry or unpleasantly ex- 

 citing nature, is vulgarity itself, as well as a breach 

 of decency ; and a finished gentleman would rather 

 die than do it. To me, in all cool moments, an 

 oath is disgusting, and the taking of " the name in 

 vain " profane. Instead of the Englishman being 

 thus saddled with the name of " Monsieur God- 

 dam," the appellation is a million times more 

 applicable to Frenchmen. They swear in French, 

 and take the Lord's name in vain, in almost 

 every sentence. " Dieu ! " or " Mon Dieu ! " on 

 the most trivial subjects is perpetually on their 

 lips ; and as to the ^^ sacres ! " and the rattled out 



