550 



ENGLAND. 



The nobility are, generally, on more familiar terms with the tenantry and the poor, who 

 find them more easy of access, than retired merchants or manufacturers. The servants of a 

 household are frequently born, and often die, in the house. The coachman, like Sir Roger 

 de Coverly's, is gray-headed, and the butler's son is often the companion or tutor of the young 

 heir. 



Much has been said of the English phlegm, yet this is not so much a want of feeling, as a 

 suppression of the marks of feeling. Besides, it is now the fashion to aft'ect an utter nonchal- 

 ance. An English fashionable would feel shame if any exclamation of passion should escape 

 him ; everything is transacted with the most imperturbable coolness, whether a duel or a dance. 

 This frigid demeanor would have little favor at Pans, where everything is carried by enthusi- 

 asm, or the affectation of it. It is said, that an English lady of rank asked one of these stoics 



wines. The villagers rejoice at seeing the curlinir smoke 

 once more ascend Ironi the chimneys of the great house. 

 The ga lekeepers clean their rusty firelocks and shot 

 belts. The grooms look well to the condition ot" their 

 stud, and the gardeners arrange their hot-houses, con- 

 servatories, and pineries for my lady's approbation. The 

 family seat of an English nobleman usually combines 

 ancient grandeur with modern elegance. 



The principal entries are guarded by gates of solid iron, 

 with porter's I'ldges constructed with much taste; some- 

 times castellated to suit tlie architecture of the iiouse 

 itself, or low Grecian buildings with rows of marble 

 pillars, entwined with jasmine and roses. The avenue 

 winds through the park, which is a vast inclosure, fre- 

 QUPntlv 20 miles in circumference, and adorned with 

 scattered clumps of noble trees, oaks which are the 

 growth of centuries, 



" And oaks, as olden as their pedigree, 

 Told of their sires, a tomb in every tree." 



Suimmer-houses, cottage-ornees, and temples are scat- 

 tered in ever^ direction. I'erhaps a noble river winds its 

 course through the grounds, with wooded banks sloping 

 downwards to its brink ; or a broad, transparent lake with 

 islands and pleasure-boats, adds to the variety of the 

 scenery. Numerous herds of deer may be seen lying un- 

 der the forest-trees, staitling at the slightest sound, and 

 sweeping by to hide themselves in the thickest shade. 

 Then there are gardens with heated-walls, shrubberies 

 and plantations of vast extent, green-houses and hot- 

 houses, graperies, pineries, and aviaries. But little rural 

 beauty is enjoyed by the proprietor of the estate. The 

 flowers have faded, and the leaves grown yellow with the 

 autumnal tii ', before fashion permit him to pay any 

 lengthened visit to his country seat. Within the mansicm 

 there are long suites of rooms, furnished with all the re- 

 finement of modern luxury, turkey carpets, low ottomans, 

 damask hangings, and walls draped with silk, and pan- 

 neled with mirrors ; statues, vases, and candelabras, ta- 

 bles of mosaic and or-molu ; long galleries, and huge 

 halls which retain a more ancient and feudal taste ; the 

 walls hung with family-portraits, descending from gen- 

 erations long since passed away, barons in steel, and 

 ladies in antique court-dresses ; judges in erniii!.e, and 

 generals in armor; beauties from the pencil of Vandyke 

 and Sir Peter Leiy ; frequently mingled with paintings 

 from still greater masters ; Claude Lorraiiies, Titians, and 

 Salvators. It might be thought, from the heterogeneous 

 mixture of guests assembled at the nobleman's villa, that 

 little harmony would subsist among them. But there is 

 one rule observed by the host which is seldom broken in 

 upon. He never interferes with the pursuits of his guests, 

 but leaves them to follow the bent of their own inclina- 

 tions, whether grave or gay. 



The man of literature and the sportsman, follow their 

 respectlves tastes undisturbed. Here is a library for the 

 studious, music rooms for the lover of harmony ; for the 

 connoisseur there is a gallery of paintings, and billiards 

 for those who prefer that amusement. Itorses read}' sad- 

 dled are at the disposal of all who wish for exercise ; and 

 numerous servants are ready to attend the call of those 

 whc remain in their a|)arlments, and prefer their own 



society to that of others. If the morning is fine, and 

 fitted for the enjoyment of the chace, his lordship rises 

 betimes and joins the sportsmen. The court now pre- 

 sents an animated scene; there are game-keepers, gen- 

 tlemen in shooting-jackets or hunting-coats ; grooms 

 giving gentle exercise to the hunters; greyhounds in 

 leashes; pointers, &c. A substantial breaklasl is spread 

 for the keen appetite of the sportsmen The side-tables 

 are covered with game, cold meat, and wine. A hasty 

 breakfast is interrupted by the shrill blast of the horn. 

 The huntsman rides round at the head of his yelling pack 

 of fox-hounds, cracks his whip, and calls each dog to or- 

 der by name. The nobleman and his sporting guests 

 hurry out, mount their hunters, and gallop after the 

 hounds. But, if the morning is dark and rainy, and no 

 sport can be enjoj'ed out of doors, other amusements are 

 resorted to. The breakfast-room is filled with idlers and 

 loungers The first interesting moment is the arrival of 

 the newspapers and letters. The eagerness with which 

 the bag is opened, and the avidity with which its con- 

 tents are received, would lead one to suspect, that wher- 

 ever the guests may have strayed, their thoughts are in 

 London. As his lordship enjoys the same liberty that he 

 leaves to his guests, he probably passes the morning in 

 his apartment, receives his steward, looks over his bills, 

 listens to the complaints of his tenantry, or consults with 

 his architect in regard to the repairing or embellishing 

 his mansion. Perhaps an hour at billiards, or a visit to 

 the stables, passes away the time till luncheon, where 

 the ladies meet to eat, and the gentlemen to look at them, 

 for no true gourmand will spoil his dinner by an inter- 

 vening lueal. liut the dinner hour in the country is the 

 time for sociability, when English reserve thaws, when 

 the company meet together probably for the first time in 

 the day, and the courteous host presides at his table with 

 the cares of the morning erased from his brow. 



The large hall is brilliantly lighted up, and a cheeiful 

 fire blazes in the grate. The tables and sideboard shine 

 in all the luxury of massive gold plate, with the family 

 arms emblazoned in every direction. The refined French 

 cookery is mingled with more solid fare for the hungry 

 sportsman and the country squire The conversation 

 sparkles like the champaigne ; and brilliant wit, which 

 had been corked up all day, now flows unchecked. In 

 the evening, the long suite of rooms are in a blaze of 

 light, and the delicate ex'otics of the conservatory shining 

 in the light of the lamps produce a kind of artificial sum- 

 mer. Music and dancing, cards and conversation are 

 resorted to bv ttirns. The sportsmen recount their feats; 

 the gourmand discusses the merits of his dinner; the pol 

 iticians sit in a nook apart, calculating upon the prob- 

 abilities of a continental war. The company usually dis- 

 perse by midnight, the ladies to recruit their looks for the 

 next London season, the gentlemen to recruit their 

 strength tor the next pheasant battue, or fox-chase. 

 When the sporting season is over, the guests disperse, 

 and his lordship is left at liberty to dispose of his time, 

 either in remaining to cultivate the acquaintance of his 

 country neighbors, or in visiting his other estates. The 

 Christmas festivities bring a renewal of country gayety. 

 A tour to the continent frequently disposes of the lemain- 

 ing months till politics and pleasure recall the noble lord 

 to London. 



