England and the English, etc

Front matter

ENGLAND AND THE ENGLISH VOL. LONDON 7 PRINTED BY SAMUEL BENTLEY, DORSET STREE1 . ENGLAND AND THE ENGLISH. BY EDWARD LYTTON BULWER, ESQ. M.P. AUTHOR OF " PELHAM," " DEVEREUX," AND "EUGENE ARAM." " Ordine gentis *' Mores, et studia, et populos, et prælia dicam." Virgil. "Every now and then we should examine ourselves; self-amend ment is the offspring of self-knowledge. But foreigners do not examine our condition; they only glance at its surface. Why should we print volumes upon other countries and be silent upon our own ? Why traverse the world and neglect the phenomena around us? Why should the spirit of our researches he a lynx in Africa and a mole in England > Why, in one word, should a nation be never criticised by a native ?" Moktagv. SECOND EDITION. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. II. LONDON : RICHARD BENTLEY, NEW BURLINGTON STREET, 1833.

LONDON : PRINTED BY SAMUEL BENTLEY, DORSET STREET . CONTENTS. BOOK THE FOURTH. VIEW OF THE INTELLECTUAL SPIRIT OF THE TIME. INSCRIBED TO J. D' ISRAELI, ESQ.

Chapter I

The Influence of the Press — Is the Influence rather of Opinion than of Knowledge — Its Voice more true with respect to Things than Persons — The Duke of Wellington's Horse versus Lord Palmerston 's — The Press represents — Whom ! — Those who buy it I Important Deduction from this Fact— Not the Poor, but the Hangers on of the Rich who buy the Scurrilous papers — The Valet and the Mechanic — If one part of the Press represents, another Part originates Opinion — The preservation of the ano nymous in Periodicals— Its effects — Difference between a French Editor and an English — Why is the Press Anti-aristocratic 1 — Effects of removing the Newspaper Duties — The Intellectual Spirit of the Times — Eastern Tradition ... 3 3

Chapter II. Literature

Observation ofa German— Great Writers and no great Works •The Poverty of our present Literature in all Departments, VI CONTENTS. save the Imaginative — History— Political Composition — The Belles Lettres peculiarly barren — Remarks on the Writings of D'lsraeli, Hazlitt, Charles Lamb, and Southey — Causes of the Decline of the Belles Lettres, and the undiminished Eminence of fictitious Literature alone — The Revolution that has been wrought by Periodicals — The Imaginative Faculty has reflected the Philosophy ofthe Age — Why did Scott and Byron represent the mind of their Generation 1 — The Merit of Lord Byron's earlier Poems exaggerated — Want of Grandeur in their Con ception — The Merit of his Tragedies undervalued — Brief analysis in support of these opinions — Why did the Tragedies dis appoint the World . — The assertion that Byron wanted Variety in dramatic Character contradicted — The cause of the public Disappointment — The Age identified itself with him alone — Re collections of the Sensations produced by his Death— tTransition of the Intellectual Spirit of the Period from the ideal to the actual — Cause of the craving for fashionable Novels — Their Influence — Necessity of cultivating the Imagination — Present intellectual Disposition and Tendency of the Age . 51

Chapter III

Cheap Works — Diffusion of Knowledge — Its necessary Consequences — Writers are less profound in proportion as the public are more numerous — Anecdote of Dr. — — Suggestions how to fill the Fountain while we diffuse the Stream — Story of the Italian Master 114

Chapter IV. Style

More clear, natural, and warm than formerly — but less erudite, and polished — More warm hut more liable to extravagance Cause of the success of fiction — Mr. Starch and his dogmas Every great writer corrupts his language — The Classic School and the Romantic — Our writers have united the two . 125 mm SI CONTENTS. VII

Chapter V. The Drama

The Public do not always pay for their Amusement— The State of the French Theatre — The French Drama murders and the English robs — Vulgar Plagiarism from the old Dramatists — Jack Old Crib — The Influence of the Laws — Want of able Dramas, but not of Dramatic Talent — Should Political Allu sions be banished from the Stage 1 — Inquiry into what should be the true Sources of Dramatic Interest — The Simple and the Magnificent — The Simple considered — Kings no longer the fitting agents of the Tragic emotion — Ancient Rules of Tragic Criticism are therefore not applicable to Modern Times — Second Source of Dramatic Interest — The Magnificent considered — In Melo-drame are the Seeds of the new Tragedy, as in Ballads lay the Seeds of Modern Poetry 133

Chapter VI. Moral Philosophy

Each great Movement has its Philosophy — The Philosophy of our time is that of the Economists — Moralists not silenced but affected by the tone of general speculative research — Ours are, therefore, ofthe Material School — Bailey — Mill — Hazlitt — Ben tham — Character of Bentham's Philosophy, &c— Bentham greater as a Legislator than Moralist — Insufficiency of the Great est Happiness Principle — Singular that no Ideal School has sprung up amongst us — Professorships the best means to advance those Studies which the Public cannot reward . . 157

Chapter VII. Patronage

Patronage as influencing Art and Science — Two Sorts of Patronage — that of Individuals, that of the State — Individual Patronage in certain cases pernicious— Individual Patronage is CONTENTS. VIII often subserviency to individual Taste— Domestic Habits in fluence Art— Small Houses— The Nobleman and his two Pic tures—Jobbing—What is the Patronage of a State? That which operates in elevating the People, and so encouraging Genius— The Qualities that obtain Honours are the Barometers of the respect in which Intellect, Virtue, Wealth, or Birth are held The Remark of Helvetius— Story of a Man of Expecta tions — Deductions of the chapter summed up . . 173

Chapter VIII. The State Of Science

The Public only reward in Science that which is addressed to their wants — -The higher Science cannot, therefore, be left to their encouragement — Examples of one man accomplishing the Invention of another, often through want of mechanical means in the Inventor — If the Public cannot reward the higher Sci ences, the State should — -How encouraged here — Comparison between the Continent and England in this respect — Three classes of Scientific Men ; the first nothing can discourage ; the last the Public reward ; the intermediate class disheartened by indifference — Aristocratic influence deleterious by means of the Royal Society — Number of lesser Societies on branches of know ledge — The Nature of Ambition — Its Motives and Objects com mon to Philosophers as to other Men . . . 1 84

Chapter IX. The State Of The Arts

Late rise of the art of Painting in England — Commencement of Royal Academy — Its infidelity to its objects — In two respects, however, it has been serviceable — Pictorial art higher in this country and more generally cultivated than in any other — But there is an absence of sentiment in our painters — The influence of the Material extends from philosophy to art — True cause of the inspiring effect of Religion upon Art — Sculpture — Chantrey — Gibson. — .Historical painting — Haydon, &c Martin — His CONTENTS. IX wonderful genius — New source of religious inspiration from which he draws — His early hardships. — Portrait paintiDg — Its general badness. — Fancy pictures — Wilkie characterized. — Landscape painting — Turner. — Miscellaneous — E. Landseer — Water-colours — Engraving— Arts applied to manufactures — The caprices of Fashion — Silk-working — Anecdote of Court patriotism — Architecture — Introduction of the Greek school — Corrupt ed, not corrected it — The unoriginal always the inappropriate in architecture as in poetry — We must find the first principles in the first monuments — Not of other nations, but our own. — Summing up of the above remarks ..... 203

Chapter X. Supplementary Characters

Lord Plume — Sneak — Mendlehon — St. Malo, the young Poet — His Opposite, Snap, the Philosopherling — Gloss Crimson, the Royal Academician ....... 232 BOOK THE FIFTH. A VIEW OF OUR POLITICAL STATE. INSCRIBED TO THE ENGLISH PEOPLE.

Chapter I

Address to the people — Resume of the principal bearings of former portions of this Work — Our social errors or abuses not attributable either to a Monarchy or an Established Church CONTENTS. X

Chapter II

The King has no interest counter to that of the People- Corruption lucrative only to the Aristocracy— The last scarcely less enemies to the King than to the People — The loyalty of Lord Grey — The assertion, that to weaken the Aristocracy weakens the Crown, contradicted — The assertion, that an Aris tocracy protects the People from the Crown, equally false — Antient dogmas inapplicable to modern times — The Art of Printing divides, with a mighty gulf, the two great periods of civilization — A Republic in this country would be an unrelieved Aristocracy — The feeling of the People is aristocratic — A certain Senator's boast — The destruction of titles would not destroy the aristocratic power — The advantage of Monarchy . . 250

Chapter III

The Monarchy shown to be less expensive than is believed — An excuse for defending what Whigs say no one attacks 265

Chapter IV

The House of Lords not to be confounded with the Aristocracy — Caution against the advice of journalists — Objections to a numerous creation of Peers — The people proved to be less strong than they imagine — The abolition of the House of Lords proved to be dangerous to the safe working of the Commons — A third mode of reforming a second chamber, but the People are not prepared for it . . . . . . . . 269

Chapter V

A reformed code of opinion the best method of reforming the great errors of the legislation . . . . CONTENTS. XI

Chapter VI. The State Of Parties

The Tories ; they are not extinct — Two great Divisions among them— Sir Robert Peel described — His very Merits displease one Division of this Party — That Division characterized — The Ultra Radicals— The Ministerial Party — Unity necessary to Govern ment — The advantage of a new National Party . . 279

Chapter VIII

Who should compose this Party, and what should be its objects. — The advantage and necessity of strong government — Only to be obtained by the corge policy of merging people and Government in the name of State. — The difference hetween the People and the Public. — Obstacles to the formation of a National Party in the perils that threaten the Country . . 302 CHAPTER THE LAST. The Author's Apology 313

Appendix

. Appendix B. — Remarks on Bentham's Philosophy . 321 Appendix C— Mr. Mill, his Mind and Writings . BOOK THE FOURTH. VIEW OF THE INTELLECTUAL SPIRIT OF THE TIME. INSCRIBED TO J. DISRAELI, ESQ. AUTHOR OF "THE CURIOSITIES OF LITERATURE," AND '''THE LITERARY CHARACTER," ETC. " Inter sylvas Academi quærere verum." HoR.Er. VOL. II. B VIEW OF THE INTELLECTUAL SPIRIT OF THE TIME. INSCRIBED TO J. DTSRAELI, ESQ.

Chapter I

The Influence of the Press— Is the Influence rather of Opinion than of Knowledge— Its Voice more true with respect to Things than Persons — The Duke of Wellington's Horse versus Lord Palmerslon's — The Press represents— Whom ? — Those who buy it! — Important Deduction from this Fact — Not the Poor, but the Hangers on of the Rich who buy tbe Scurrilous papers — The Valet and the Mechanic — If one Part of the Press represents, another Part originates Opinion — The preservation of the anonymous in Periodicals — Its effects — Difference between a French Editor and an English — Why is the Press Anti-aristocratic 1 — Effects of Removing the Newspaper Duties— The Intellectual Spirit of the Times — Eastern Tradition. Permit me, my dear sir, to honour with your name that section of my various under taking, which involves an inquiry into the In tellectual Spirit of the Time.

I believe that you employ the hours of a serene and dignified leisure in the composition of a work that, when b THE PERIODICAL PRESS. completed, will fill no inconsiderable vacuum in English Literature; namely, the History of English Literature itself. Of the arrival of that work, you wish us to consider those classical and most charming essays you have already given to the world, merely as precursors — specimens ofa great whole — which ought, in justice to your present reputation, to add a permanent glory to the letters of your country. It will therefore, perhaps, afford to you a pleasurable interest, to survey the literary aspect of these times, into which your chronicle must merge, and to wander, even with an erring guide, beside those Rivers of Light, which you have tracked to their distant source, with all the perseverance of the antiquarian, and all the enthusiasm of the scholar.

Before, however, I can invite you to the more attractive part of my subject ; — before we can rove at will among the gardens of Poesy, or the not less delightful mazes of that Philoso phy, which to see is to adore ; before the do mains of Science and of Art can receive our ex ploring footsteps, we must pause awhile to examine the condition of that mighty, though ambiguous, Power by which the time receives its more vivid impressions, and conveys its more noisy opinions. As a preliminary to our criti- THE PERIODICAL, PRESS. cisms on the productions of the Press, we will survey the nature of its influence ; — and pro pitiate with due reverence the sibyl who too often commits Her prophetic mind To fluttering leaves, the sport of every wind, ere we can gain admittance to the happy souls, Iu groves who live, and lie on mossy beds, By crystal streams that murmur through the meads ■Choro pæana canentes Inter odoratum lauri nemus.

Hitherto I have traced, in the various branches of my inquiry, the latent and pervading influence of an aristocracy. I am now about to ex amine the nature of that antagonist power which is the only formidable check that our moral re lations have yet opposed to it. Much has been said in a desultory manner respecting the in fluence of the Press ; but I am not aware of any essay on the subject which seems written with a view rather to examine than declaim. " Vous Tallez comprendre, j'espere, si vous nfecoutez, — il est fete, et nous avons le temps de causer.1' — I shall go at once to the heart of the question, and with your permission, we will not throw away our time by talking much on the minor considerations. It is the habit of some persons more ardent MORE TRUE AS TO than profound, to lavish indiscriminate praises on the press, and to term its influence, the in fluence of Knowledge— it is rather the influence of Opinion.

Large classes of men entertain certain views on matters of policy, trade, or morals. A newspaper supports itself by ad dressing those classes ; it brings to light all the knowledge requisite to enforce or illustrate the views of its supporters ; it embodies also the prejudice, the passion, and the sectarian bigotry that belong to one body of men engaged in active opposition to another. It is therefore the organ of opinion ; expressing at once the truths and the errors, the good and the bad of the prevalent opinion it represents. Thus it is impossible to expect the newspaper you consider right in regard to sentiments to be fair in regard to persons. Supposing it ex presses the facts which belong to knowledge, they are never stated with the impartiality that belongs to knowledge. — " Heavens ! my dear sir ! have you heard the report ?

The Duke of Wellington's horse has run over a poor boy !" A whig paper seizes on the lamentable story — magnifies, enlarges on it — the Duke of Welling ton is admonished — indifference to human life is insinuated. The tory paper replies : it grants the fact, but interprets it differently : the fool FACTS THAN PERSONS. 7 of a boy was decidedly in the way — the brute of a horse had a mouth notoriously as hard as a brickbat — the rider himself was not to blame — what unheard of malignity, to impute as a reproach to the Duke of Wellington, a misfor tune only to be attributed to the eyes of the boy, and the jaw-bone of the horse. But bless me ! a new report has arisen : — it was not the Duke of Wellington's horse that ran over the boy ; it was Lord Palmerston's. It is now the tory journal's opportunity to triumph.

What perversion in the lying whig paper ! — and what atrocity in Lord Palmerston ! All the insinua tions that were so shameful against the duke are now profusely directed against the viscount. The very same interpretations that the tory paper so magisterially condemned, are now by the tory paper unreservedly applied. The offence of distortion is equally continued — it is only transferred from one person to another. This is a type of the power of the press : its very enforcement of opinions prevents its being just as to persons. Facts, indeed, are stated, but the interpretation of facts is always a matter of dispute. And thus to the last chapter, it is easier to obtain a just criticism of the merits of the drama, than of the qualities of the actors. Long after the public mind has decided unani- OPINIONS REPRESENTED, mously with respect to measures, it remains doubtful and divided with regard to the cha racters of men.

In this the press is still the faithful record of Opinion, and the ephemeral Journal is the type of the everlasting History ! Newspapers being thus the organ of several opinions, the result is, the influence of opinion, because, that newspaper sells the best which addresses itself to the largest class ; it becomes influential in proportion to its sale, and thus, the most popular opinion grows, at last, into the greatest power. But from this arises a profound consideration, not hitherto sufficiently enforced. The newspaper represents opinion ; but the opinion of whom ? — those persons among whom it chiefly circulates. What follows ? — why, that the price of the newspaper must have a considerable in fluence on the expression of opinion : because, according to the price would be the extent of its circulation ; and, according to the opinion of the majority of its supporters, would be the current opinion of the paper.

Supposing it were possible to raise the price of all the daily newspapers to two shillings each, what would be the consequence? — that a vast number of the poorer subscribers would desert the journal, that the circle of its supporters BUT OP WHOM ? 9 would become limited to those who could afford its price. It would then be to the opinions and interests of this small and wealthy class, that it could alone address itself; if it did not meet their approbation, it could not exist ; their opinion would be alone represented, the opinion of the mass would be disregarded ; and a newspaper, instead of being the organ of the pub lic, would be the expression of the oligarchical sentiment. Although the aggregate of property in England is, perhaps, equally di vided among the whigs and tories, the greater number of reading persous, possessing property, is alleged to be tory.

Supposing the calcu lation to be correct, the influence of the press would, by our supposed increase of price, be at once transferred to the tories ; and The Stan dard and The Albion would be the most widely circulated of the daily journals. If this principle be true, with respect to an increased price, the converse must be true if the price were lowered. If the sevenpenny paper were therefore to sell for twopence, what again would be the result ? Why, the sale being ex tended from those who can afford sevenpence to those who can afford twopence, a new majority must be consulted, the sentiments and desires of poorer men than at present must be addressed ; b THE EFFECT OF HIGH AND LOW and thus, a new influence of opinion would be brought to bear on our social relations and our legislative enactments.

As the extension of the electoral franchise gave power to the middle classes, so the ex tended circulation of the press will give power to the operative. To those who uphold the principle, that government is instituted for the good of the greatest number, it is, of course, a matter of triumph, that the interests of the greatest number should thus force themselves into a more immediate voice.* * In removing the stamp duties, which check one part ofthe influence ofthe press, it would however be conserva tive policy to let new sources of enlightenment commence with the new sources of power. At present, what are called the taxes on knowledge are in reality, as we have seen be fore, taxes on opinion. To make opinion knowledge, its foundation must be laid in instruction. The act which opens the press should be immediately followed by an act to organize National Education; and while the people are yet warm with gratitude for the new boon, and full of con fidence to those who give it, care should be taken to secure for the first teachers of political morals, honest and en lightened men ; — men too, who, having the competent knowledge, will have the art to express it popularly ; not mere grinders of saws and aphorisms, the pedants of a system.

By this precaution, the appealers to passion will be met by appealers to interest ; and the people will be in structed as well as warmed. Meanwhile, the system of education once begun, proceeds with wonderful rapidity ; PRICES UPON JOURNALS. 11 It is manifest, that when the eyes of the people are taught steadily to regard their own interests, the class of writing most pleasing to them, will not be that of demagogues ; it is probable indeed, that the cheapest papers will seem to the indolent reader of the higher ranks, the most dry and abstruse. For a knowledge of the principles of trade, and of the truths of political economy, is of so vital an importance to the Poor, that those principles and truths will be the main staple of the journals chiefly dedicated to their use. Not engaged in the career of mere amusement that belongs to the wealthy — frivolity, scandal, and the unsatisfy ing pleasure derived from mere declamation, are not attractive to them.

All the great principles of state morals and state policy are de rived from one foundation, the true direction of labour ; — what theme so interesting and so in exhaustible to those " who by labour live ?" We may perceive already, by The Penny Magazine, what will be the probable character of cheap newspapers addressed to the working classes. The operative finds The Penny Magaand, ere the Operative has lost his confidence in the wise government that has granted him the boon of sifting the thoughts of others, his children will have learned the art of thinking for themselves. THE OPERATIVE AND THE VALET. zine amusing; to the rich man it is the most wearisome of periodicals. So much for the proud cry of the aristocrat, that the papers to please the rabble must de scend to pander the vulgar passions.

No ! this is the vice of the aristocratic journals, that are supported alone by the excrescences of aristocracy, by gambling-houses, demireps,and valets. The industrious poor are not the purchasers of the Age. A nobleman's valet entertained on a visit his brother, who was a mechanic from Sheffield. The nobleman, walking one Sunday by a newspaper office in the Strand, perceived the two brothers gazing on the inviting announcements on the shopboard, that proclaimed the contents of the several journals ; the crowd on the spot delayed him for a moment, and he overheard the following dialogue : " Why, Tom," said the valet, " see what lots of news there is in this paper ! — ' Crim. con. extraordinary between a lord and a parson's wife — Jack s (Jack is one of our men of fashion, you know, Tom) ' Adventure with the widow — Scene at Crocky's.' Oh, what fun !

Tom, have you got sevenpence ? I 've nothing but gold about me ; let's buy this here." " Lots of news !" said Tom, surlily, " D'ye THE PRESS ALSO ORIGINATES OPINION. call that news ? What do I care for your lords and your men of fashion ? Crocky ! What the devil is Crocky to me ? There's much more for my money in this here big sheet : ' Advice to the Operatives — Full report of the debate on the Property Tax — Letter from an emigrant in New South Wales.' That's what I calls news." " Stuff!" cried the valet, astonished. My lord walked on, somewhat edified by what he had heard. The scandal of the saloon is news in the pantry ; but it is the acts of the legislature that constitute news at the loom. But, while the main characteristic of the influence of the press is to represent opinion, it is not to be denied that it possesses also the nobler prerogative of originating it.

When we consider all the great names which shed honour upon periodical literature ; when we consider. that scarcely a single one of our eminent writers has not been actively engaged in one or other of our journals: — when we remember that Scott, Southey, Brougham, Mackintosh, Bentham, Mill, Macculloch, Campbell, Moore, Fonblanque (and I may add Mr. Southern, a principal writer in the excellent Spectator, whose writings obtain a reputation, which, thanks to the cus- BUT THE MOST POPULAR torn of the anonymous, is diverted from the writer himself,) have, year after year, been pouring forth in periodical publications, the rich hoard of their thoughts and knowledge ; it is impossible not to perceive that the press, which they thus adorned, only represented in one part of its power the opinions originated in another.

But it is in very rare instances that a daily paperhasdone more than represent political opinion ; it is the Reviews, quarterly or monthly (and, in two instances, weekly journals) which have aspired to create it. And this for an obvious reason : the daily paper looks only to sale for its influence ; the capital risked is so enormous, the fame acquired by contributions to it so small and evanescent, that it is mostly regarded as a mere mercantile speculation. Now new opinions are not popular ones ; to swim with the tide, is the necessary motto of opinions that desire to sell: while the majority can see in your journal the daily mirror of themselves, their prejudices and their passions, as well as their sober sense and their true interests, they will run to look upon the reflection. Hence it follows, that the journal which most represents, least originates opinion, that the two tasks are performed by two separate agents, and that the more new JOURNALS ONLY REPRESENT IT. 15 doctrines a journal promulgates, the less pro miscuously it circulates among the public.

In this the moral light resembles the physical, and while we gaze with pleasure on the objects which reflect the light, the eye shrinks in pain from the orb which creates it. A type of that truth in the history of letters, which declares that the popularity of a writer consists not in proportion to his superiority over the public, but in proportion to their sympathy with his sentiments, may be found in the story of Dante and the Buffoon ; both were entertained at the court of the pedantic Scaliger, the fool sumptuously, the poet sparely. — " When will you be as well off as I am ?" asked the fuol triumphantly. — " Whenever," was Dante's caustic reply, " I shall find a patron who resembles me as much as Prince Scaliger resembles you." An originator of opinion precedes the time ; you cannot both precede and reflect it.

Thus, the most popular journals are Plagiarists of the Past ; they live on the ideas which their more far-sighted contemporaries propagated ten years before. What then was Philosophy, is now Opinion. A great characteristic of English periodicals is the generally strict preservation of secrecy as to the names of the writers. The principal ad vantages alleged in favour of this regard to the anonymous are three : First, that you can speak of public men with less reserve ; secondly, that you can review books with more attention to their real merits, and without any mixture of the personal feelings that, if you were known to the author, might bias the judgment of im partial criticism ; thirdly, that many opinions you yourself consider it desirable that the public should know, peculiar circumstances of situ ations, or private checks of timidity and caution, might induce you to withhold, if your name were necessarily attached to their publication.

I suspect that these advantages are greatly ex aggerated on the one hand, and that their counterbalancing evils, have been greatly over looked on the other. In regard to the first of these advantages, it is clear that if you can speak of public men with less reserve, you may speak of them also with less regard to truth. In a despotic coun try, where chains are the reward of free senti ments, the use of the anonymous may be a ne cessary precaution ; but what in this country should make a public writer shrink from the open discharge of his duty ? If his writings be within the pale of the laws, he has nothing to fear from an avowal of his name ; if without the law, the use of the anonymous does not skreen him. But were your name acknowledged, you could not speak of public men with the same vehement acerbity ; you could not repeat charges and propagate reports with the same headlong indifference to accuracy or error.