INHABITANTS. 41 



a procedure still observed in certain parts of England on Holy Thursday, or 

 Ascension Day, and consists in perambulating the parish boundaries, the boys of 

 the parish school striking the boundary marks with peeled willow wands. The 

 sino-ular expedient of whipping the boys themselves on the spot, in order to more 

 firmly fix the lay of the boundaries in their memories, appears, however, to haA^e 

 been relinquished. "Merry Christmas" plays an important part in the life of 

 Eno-lishmen, and for that festive occasion every good housewife attends to the pre- 

 paration of the traditional fare. On that happy day all Englishmen, from one end 

 of the world to the other, from London to the antipodes, and from the icy North to 

 the burning deserts of Africa, feel in communion with each other. The explorer, 

 if obliged, from the want of porters, to part with some of his most precious 

 stores, nevertheless holds fast to his plum pudding, and, when eating it, exchanges 

 good wishes with his friends at home.* 



In no other country of the world are juridical precedents looked up to with 

 greater respect than in England, and the antiquated legal procedure, that " monster 

 plague of the country," to use an expression of Lord Brougham, is only too often 

 in conflict with our ideas of justice. The judges and barristers still wear wigs, and 

 enjoy an amount of consideration which is not extended to their colleagues on the 

 continent. The judges attending the assizes are looked upon as the direct repre- 

 sentatives of the sovereign, and take precedence before all other Englishmen, 

 including even princes of the blood royal. t 



The Englishman, patient and strong, never in a hurry, but at all times ready 

 to act, is not ordinarily possessed of those high ambitions which sway his neigh- 

 bour on the other side of the Channel. His horizon is more limited, and he 

 conceives no vast general plans, being content with effecting changes by degrees 

 and in detail. He only attends to one thing at a time, but does it thoroughly. 

 His eye is deep-set, and he looks straight before him. He is even said to wear 

 "blinkers," in order that objects lying outside his path may not distract his atten- 

 tion.* Those vast synthetic views and generalisations, which elsewhere divide 

 nations into parties strongly opposed to each other, can hardly be said to exist 

 amongst Englishmen, taking them as a whole. They concern themselves, above all 

 things, with facts, and successively analyze every question as it turns up. The 

 principle of a division of labour is strictly carried out, and those who study have 

 not so much in view the advancement of learning as the practical requirements 

 of their future avocation. This want of a wide comprehension often renders 

 Englishmen intolerant, for they cannot understand how other people can think 

 differently from themselves. It is only rarely that parliamentary speakers 

 enunciate a principle ; they are content to discuss in commonplace language the 

 advantages and disadvantages of the thing proposed, adducing facts in support of 

 their views. They leave " ideas " to others, and prefer large battalions and strong 

 redoubts to the most ingenious plans of battle or the inspiration of the moment.§ 



* Cameron, " Across Africa." 



t N. Hawthorne, " English Note-Books." 



X Emerson, " English Traits." 



§ Henri Heine, " De l'Angleterre." Emerson, " English Traits." 



110 



