INHABITANTS. 43 



drama, the scenes of which succeed each other from generation to generation.* 

 In painting, more especially, England, until recently, was inferior to her neigh- 

 bours. At the time of the revolution in the seventeenth century Parliament 

 ordered the destruction or sale of the most precious Italian masterpieces, and even 

 now it will not allow the paintings belonging to the nation to be looked at on 

 Sunday. Sunday is, indeed, a great institution of the country, more especially in 

 Scotland, where all animation then appears to be suspended. In 1844, when the 

 King of Saxony desired to embark on a Sunday, after he had been feted for a 

 whole week, he was obliged to proceed very cautiously, in order not to expose 

 himself to the insults of an Edinburgh mob,t and quite recently the Queen 

 herself was taken to task for venturing to cross a ferry on the Sabbath-day. 



By a curious contrast, which may also be observed in Holland, the Anglo- 

 Saxon, whenever the moment has come for putting aside, like a borrowed garment, 

 the seriousness of every- day life, suddenly passes from a state of apathy, or even 

 apparent despondency, into one of boisterous hilarity. The enthusiasm exhibited 

 at horse and boat races, and on other occasions, is quite unintelligible to a French- 

 man or Italian, who looks upon it as akin to folly. On holidays everybody spends 

 money without counting the cost, and often it is the wife who is most lavish, and 

 least thoughtful of the future. 



A love of nature somewhat counteracts the influences of the monotonous life 

 passed in counting-houses and factories. Though no adepts in the arrangement 

 of lines or blending of colours. Englishmen love open fields, fine trees, and woods ; 

 they are fond, too, of the sea, and enjoy being in the midst of the agitated waves. 

 This love of nature in its grand and unadulterated aspects is reflected throughout 

 the country in the appearance of the land, which, though carefully cultivated, 

 has not been disfigured by the process.^ Quickset hedges separate meadows and 

 fields, while masses of trees aflford shade near the dwelling-houses, whose red bricks 

 are often half hidden by climbing vines or ivy. Humble cottages on the roadside 

 charm by their air of peaceful beauty. The mansions of the wealthy stand 

 in the midst of wide parks, where oaks, beeches, and ash-trees mingle with the 

 conifers of Europe, the Himalayas, and Oregon ; and these mansions, moreover, 

 are often replete with treasures of art, unfortunately open only to the inspection 

 of privileged visitors. Even under the smoke-laden atmosphere of the manu- 

 facturing districts the country in many places retains its verdure, its copses of 

 wood, its peaceful and smiling aspect, for the manufacturers, as a rule, take much 

 delight in agriculture and gardening. The foliage of their copses hides the 

 chimney of the neighbouring factory, and the rivulet, which only a short distance 

 lower down turns the wheel of a mill, winds peaceably between grass-clad slopes. 

 But a turn of the road, and the scene changes abruptly ; we find ourselves 

 suddenly transported into a region of clatter and activity. 



The love of nature, joined to that of danger, has rendered Englishmen 



* Alfred Dumesnil, "Notes Manuscrites." 



t Carus, " England und Schottland im Jahrc 1844." 



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



