ENGLAND. 



549 



sufficient stimulus for exertion and genius in the approval of public opinion. The praise of the 

 enlightened is belter than titles, and history is more just than heraldry. 



Though there are many grades of dignity in England, there is a certain arena in society in 

 which all gentlemen are equal. The title of a gentleman is not to be defined ; yet it is under- 

 stood in England even by the vulgar.* No rank, under that of Majesty, has been held sacred 

 enough in England, to take away the accountability of an insult ; and a son of the king has 

 been held by a subject answerable in the field. The nobility of England are not, generally, 

 ostentatious. They dress more plainly than the tradesmen, and their houses in town are ex- 

 ternally neither showy nor grand. They are like the houses of the thriving merchants of Bos- 

 ton or Philadelphia, and not like the palaces of the bankers at Rome and Naples. In the 

 country, however, the mansions are often more costly, and here is the place to test the boast- 

 ed, but decaying "old English hospitality."! 



* The original signification of the word gentleman, was, 

 one of gentle blood. In later times, it seems to imply a 

 character worthy of higli descent. Yet it has a technical 

 sense, which embraces not only persons of rank, but offi- 

 cers in the army and navy, and, generally, tliose wlio are 

 able to meet the expenses of fashionable life, without en- 

 gaging in any gainful emploj'ment. In this sense, the 

 term rather indicates a man's condition ; while in Ameri- 

 ca, we use it rather as applying to character. 



t We subjoin an account of the manner in which an 

 English nobleman usuallj' passes his time. Owing to the 

 meeting of Parliament, the London season, as it is called, 

 takes place during the finest months in the year. IN'o sooner 

 has the spring begun to put forth her blossoms, than car- 

 riages and four may be seen hastening in every direction 

 towards the metropolis. Green fields are exchanged for 

 smoky streets, the lowing of cattle for the voices of 

 .statesmen, and the song of the lark for the warbling of 

 I'asta or Sontag. The noble mansions in Cavendish or 

 Grosvenor Square, and the elegant fabrics of Park-Lane 

 find Way-Fair, which all winter have looked forlorn and 

 deserted, now begin to assume an appearance of business 

 and g-ayety. The unmarried nobleman usually hastens to 

 his favorite hotel, in Berkeley or St. James's Square, 

 Albemarle street or Piccadilly. The bowing waiters wel- 

 come tlie arrival of the cnroneted britschka. The Morning 

 Post announces his Lordship's arrival, and his fashionable 

 friends hasten to welcome his return to the metropolis. 

 In an incredibly short period, his table is covered with 

 petitions from authors who request the permission of ded- 

 icating their works to him ; from actresses who request 

 his patronage on a benefit night ; from half-starved 

 younger sons wishing for promotion in the army or nav}' ; 

 from men out of place who are desirous of preferment ; 

 tickets for Alinacks, tradesmen's bills, showers of invita- 

 tions, letters from his asrents, from his steward, &c. It 

 is seldom, that the noble lord has either time or inclina- 

 tion to attend to these multifarious matters. While tak- 

 ing his chocolate in dressing-gown and slippers, he opens 

 p, few, answers those from ladies, commits a portion to 

 the flames, and intrusts the rest to the discretion of his 

 secretary or confidential valet. 



If he is a man of political consequence,' his society is 

 courted by men in pov.'er, by ministers to whom his vote 

 may be of service, and v.'ho endeavor by invitations to 

 their select dinners, and other marks of attention, to draw 

 him over to their party. If Parliament has met, his lord- 

 siiip drives to tlie House of Lords, and takes his seat 

 among liis Peers. When the debate is over, he mounts 

 his horse, ajid gallops to the Park; renews his acquaint- 

 ance with the ladies of his own circle ; makes his appear- 

 ance at the n indows of the most fashionable club ; chooses 

 his bo.x at the opera; patronizes the new singer, or ballet 

 dancer, and repairs from thence to a select supper at lady 



i y's, or perhaps terminates the evening by disposing 



of some f>f his loose cash at Crockford's. A soivce at 



H House, is one which his lordship would by no 



means omit. This splendid mansion is situated in Park 

 Lane. On festive occasions nothing can be more brilliant 

 than the appearance it presents. The stair is an inclined 

 plane, winding through the house by a gentle ascent, 

 and richly covered with turkey carpet. The light is en- 



closed in pillars of crystal, which have a very brilliant 

 and novel efl'ect. The rooms are magnificently furnish 

 ed ; and even the diessing-room and boudoir of the 3!ar 

 chioness are thrown f>pen on gala nights for the inspec- 

 tion of the curious. The furniture of the boudoir is com- 

 posed entirely of Indian shawls of immense value. The 

 chairs and sofis are covered v;ith the borders of these 

 shawls. All the toilet ornaments are massive gold ; and 

 pages dressed in pink and silver are in constant attend 

 ance. If the nobleman is married, he prefers his family 

 mansion to an hotel. His society is more exten.sive, yet 

 more recliercliif. The duke of D., though an unmarried 

 nobleman, yet being of a certain age, and possessed of a 

 stupendous fortune, is in the habit of giving balls, sup- 

 pers, and private theatricals, to which ladies of the high 

 est rank consider it a distinction to be invited. They do 

 not even expect his grace to exert his memory so far as 

 to call upon them, but leave their cards with his porter, 

 who inscribes their names in his book. It is also the 

 duty of a nobleman to attend the levees and drawing 

 rooms at court, on w'hich occasions he displays every 

 possible magnificence in dress, equipage, and liveries. 

 But Parliament at length is up, London gayety ends, 



" And tradesmen, with long bills, and longer faces, 

 Sigh as the post-boy fastens on the traces." 



Every one who has the least pretensions to fashion 

 hastens from town, as if the plague or cholera morbus had 

 suddenly made their appearance in its populous streets. 

 As Lord Byron says, 



" The English winter, — ending in July 

 To recommence in August, — now is done, 

 'T is the postilions paradise ; wheels fly ; 

 On roads, east, south, north, west, there is a run.' 



The Morning Post announces the departure of the 

 noble lord and his family for his seat in the county ol 



, as the shooting season is about to commence. His 



lordship, however numerous his estates, gives the prefer- 

 ence to that where the best sport can be furnished. But 

 to enliven the solitude of the counh^-, a select and nu- 

 merous party of his fashionable and sporting friends are 

 invited to join him Dukes and Duchesses, Earls and 

 Countesses, foreigners of distinction, Greek Counts, and 

 Polish Princes, sporting characters, men of talent and lite- 

 rature, or who wish lo pass for such; wits, poets, and 

 hangers on, of every description, and frequently the last 

 celebrated actress or singer, who has consented to warble 

 a few notes at an enormous expense, all follow in his 

 train; some to amuse, and some to be amused, some to 

 kill time, and others lo kill birds ; fortune-hunters and 

 fox-hunters, some from the love of gaming, and others 

 from tlie love of game. A Frencli cor>k, an Italian con- 

 fectioner, and a German courier have been sent down to 

 piepare for the reception of the guests. The country 

 squires and their wives look out anxif u^ly for the arrival 

 of the nobleman and his London train ; the ladies in the 

 hopes of seeing the last London fasliion.s and London airs, 

 gay breakfasts and county balls ; the gentlemen in the 

 more substantial ctpectation of good dinner? nnd choice 



