Fanny, the little Milliner; or, the Rich and the Poor

Front matter

i The Begging Leu > r LOJsl I ■ ' i';R£R, M)L'.UA I FANNY, THE LITTLE MILLINER; OR, THE RICH AND THE POOR. BY CHARLES ROWCROFT, Esq. author of " tales of the colonies; OR, THE ADVENTURES of an EMIGRANT." " THE MAN WITHOUT A PROFESSION," &C. &C. LONDON: SMITH, ELDER AND CO., 65, CORNHILL. 1846. London : Printed by Stewart and Murray, Old Bailey. LIST OF PLATES. The Begging Letter Frontispiece. The White Woman's Pit to face page 32 Lord Sarum seized by the Labourers .... „ 54 The Revelation „ 98 Lady Sarum's Message to Fanny „ 120 The Discovery „ 151 Conscience „ 175 The Recognition „ 225 Hunt op the Exquisite „ 261 The Wrongs of Labour . „ OR THE RICH AND THE POOR.

Chapter I

the rich man's table— after-dinner talk — aristocratic notions of marriage — -an embarrassment the begging letter — a few words on charity — a revelation. In a princely mansion in one of the most aristocratic parts of London, about twenty years ago, two noblemen negligently re clined in easy chairs. It was at that hour when a man is apt to be in good humour with all the world, and to wonder that any one can be dissatisfied with tlie lot of man's estate in this sublunary sphere. In short, it was after dinner ; and the two distinguished individuals were pleasantly engaged in discussing their wine. It has been observed by a great writer, that the characteristic distinctions of the two parties which divide the political world are those, on the one side, who have everything to gain, and those, on the other, who have everything to lose.

Of the truth of this political axiom, the daily process of dining forms a homely but forcible illustration: a hungry man is a radical before dinner; after dinner, a conservative. Whether any of these curious ruminations were mentally indulged in by the aristocratic parties in question it is impossible to say ; but it is certain that the elder of the two felt himself, on this occasion, exceedingly comfortable. Outside, the weather was cold and wretched ; and none but the most miserable objects — those who, without a home, were speculating on the means of finding shelter for the night— were visible in the deserted streets. The wintry wind blew keen and cutting; and the rushing of 4S-L49-1U> b which the parties have passed their lives together very happily. It's all use and habit ; a man may become used to anything.

And when he is once married, why he becomes resigned, and submits to it as a duty incidental to his position and rank in society. I was married young myself." (Here the worthy peer sighed, and assumed a sentimental look.) Plis son could not help smiling. " Just so ; that's the way to take it — cheerfully, and with a good grace. And, besides, there's something respectable in being a married man. It is surprising with what authority it invests a man on certain occasions. There's old Lord Multiple ; it's wonderful what an effect he produces on the House, when he appeals to them as the father of a family. And he looks so virtuous, and assumes such an air of merit, that it quite imposes on people; — nothing more effectual at a public meeting. It shews that though he is a lord — one of the order which the people are crying out so much against — that he has done some thing.

Come, my boy, let us say that it is settled ; and I will see Lady Eleanor's father to-morrow, if you don't like to speak first. Upon my word, she is a fine creature — a very fine creature ! Only nineteen ! Good temper — (that's a great point) — family property must all come to her — and the estates join !" " Really," replied his son, in a tone unaccountably cold and hesitating, to this glowing enumeration of the lady's qualifications, " I am surprised that Lady Eleanor, with her beauty and accomplishments, and especially with her money, has not got married already. She must have many admirers." " Plenty, my dear boy, plenty — shoals ! All the men are mad for her — or her money — which is the same thing. But she has waited for you, my boy — waited for you. Such an instance of devoted constancy was never before known in woman.

I remember when the story came over of your saving that poor woman's life at Naples; how you jumped into the sea, and brought her out safe. It was thought very spirited— very. We all felt quite proud of you in London ; only we thought that you might catch cold. It was just what I should have done myself, if I could swim. Why you would have been made quite a lion of, if you had been in town that season ! And the poor little girl praised you more than you can imagine. It is nearly three years ago now, and she was but a young little thing; but she has not forgotten it, I can tell you. What became of the poor woman afterwards ? Was she old or j^oung?" His son made no other reply to this seemingly insignificant question, than by a hasty movement, as if something had touched him to the quick. Filling his glass with a motion wliich caused the wine to overflow upon the table, he swallowed the bumper at a draught.

" Excuse me," observed the dignified nobleman, in a polite tone of gentle expostulation; "but if you drink your wine that way, Augustus, it is impossible for you to taste it. I must say I don't admire that continental fashion, if it is one. This very wine which you are drinking, was laid down before you were born, by your excellent grandfather, to whom we are all so much indebted for his improvements and additions to the family estate. I assure you I never drink it without a certain respect in honour of your grandfather's memory, and of the property in the north, which he secured to us. I thought you would like a glass of real good English port, as a change after your foreign wines. I assure you it is only on particular occasions that Martin allows me a bottle of it ; for it is getting very low in thc bin, he tells me."

" I beg the old butler a great many pardons," said his son, refilling his glass to the brim, and proceeding to dispose of it with more epicurean deliberation ; " and I drink this to the memory of my excellent grandfather, and with especial defer ence to his taste in all matters culinary and gustatory. And to evince my sympathy with his predilections, I will fill my glass again, and drink to the health of — of " " Of Lady Eleanor !" said his father. His son set down his glass, with an abruptness which scattered the fragrant contents over the adjacent dishes of dessert. " The deuce take the wine !" he said, stammering, and in confusion ; "I wish there was some brandy." His noble parent sat aghast ! That his elegant and exclusive son — he, who had been the pride and the envy of the fashionable world — should so far forget himselfj as, in thc same breath, to scatter abroad his venerable grandfather's most cherished wine; manifest an indifference, so unaccountable, for Lady Eleanor ; and express a wish, so vulgar, and at such a moment, for brandy! was utterly beyond his lordship's comprehension.

Notwithstanding his pleasure at seeing him, after his long absence from England, he was about to express to his son, in thc politest possible manner, his surprise and displeasure at such an FANNY, THE LITTLE MILLTNER: 6 unseemly forgetfulness of polite habits in general, and of the respect due to himself in particular, when the entrance ot a servant with a letter turned the expression of his aristocratic wrath in another direction. The servant, in a splendid livery, noiselessly approached. Seeing, at a glance, that his noble master's mind was troubled, his looks assumed an increased expression of humility and deference, as he stood with the letter so opportune for the diver sion of the son's embarrassment, on a silver salver. " A letter, my lord." "I see. How did it come?— not by the post; there is no post at this hour.

What's o'clock ?" " Half-past ten, my lord." " Who does it come from ?" The servant was silent, and looked at the letter, thinking, perhaps, that the shortest way of ascertaining that fact, was to open it. " It came by hand, my lord." The earl examined it — at a safe distance — curiously, through his glasses. The epistle certainly had a most unaristocratic air. It was evident, from a brief glance at its surface, that it was written on common paper, not of the most cleanly hue ; its shape was by no means of the prescribed elegant proportions; and it was crumpled up, as if it had been grasped unceremoniously by an inattentive hand. The superscription, too, was blotted and illegible. Altogether, it was a very suspicious letter. " Who does this come from ?" said the earl, tartly, casting a glance at the man which caused him to shift back his leg one step, still holding the salver, with outstretched arm, in the same position.

" I beUeve, my lord, a poor woman brought it." " A poor woman !" The earl tilted the letter over with the end of his glasses, (carefully wiping them immediately after,) and turned the unsightly paper over on its back. A huge red wafer — its presence glaringly disclosed by the imperfect envelopment of the narrow edge of a rumpled fold, and manifestly wet, as if recently submitted to the moisture of the mouth — met his indignant gaze. His eye fell full and angrily on the abashed menial — " why," said his lordship, pointing with his glasses to the con traband article, " this must be a petition !" The calves of the servant's legs were visibly agitated, and his trembling hand caused the condemned epistle to perform sundry evolutions on the polished salver. " This," repeated his lordship, raising his voice into a still more angry tone, " this must be a petition !

How is it that, after the positive orders which I have given not to admit such things, that I am troubled with this intrusion ? and at such a time, too I This disrespect is monstrous !" The servant looked at the letter fiercely, and at his master deprecatingly, but said nothing. By a motion of his hand, the peer intimated to the attendant that he might leave the room. Placing the salver on which was deposited the unfortunate letter, delicately, on a small round table at his master's elbow, the man, with a submissive air, retired. His lordship, shrinkingly handling the suspicious epistle, through the medium of a napkin, subjected it to the light of the lustre on the chimney-piece, with its outer side towards his son. Reading aloud the words at the commencement — ' I earnestly entreat,' — he threw it down pettishly.

"It is most extraordinary," he exclaimed, glad to find an object on which his anger could find a legitimate vent, " it is most extraordinary how we are beset with these eternal begging letters ! Really, the common people seem to think we are literally made of money, and that we have nothing to do but to put our hands in our pockets and shower it down on whoever asks for it. These begging letters have grown quite into a system ; and the tax on one's time, and one's feelings, and one's money, is become a grievance that is intolerable. Something must be done in parliament to remedy this horrible nuisance, or we shall not be able to live in our own houses, or even sit at dinner in quiet." " It is, indeed, very annoying," replied his son, with ready assent, and glad to turn his father's thoughts into a different channel from the awkward subject which had recently embar rassed him ; " but what are the poor people to do ? — it is natural, in their distress, that they should look for relief to those who have the power to assist them."

" Augustus!" said bis lordship, with much gravity, and uncon sciously assuming the tone and attitude with which he was wont to enlighten the House of Lords on appropriate occasions—" this is a subject to which I have paid particular attention ; I may say, very particular attention. It is a subject which I have investi gated thoroughly ; and I may be permitted to hope that the few observations in which I shall take the opportunity to indulge may not be unworthy of your lordships'— I mean, Augustus, may be useful to you ; for, of course, it cannot be expected, at your time of life, that you have had the leisure to pay it the necessary attention.' Augustus was delighted to see his father mount his hobby horse in this style, and he threw into his look all the respectful deference which the occasion demanded, and remained in an at titude of fixed attention.

" I am aware, sir," he said, " that you have devoted much time and labour to the consideration of the condition of the poor, and that there is no member of either house who could pretend to compete with you in your information on that important sub ject." " That is too much to say, Augustus," returned the peer, not displeased, however, to receive this tribute to his social and sena torial wisdom — " that is too much to say ; though I may be per mitted to hazard the opinion, that no one in the House is listened to with more attention than myself on these subjects ; and, in deed, I may take it on myself to aver that my arguments have made so deep an impression, and have so entirely convinced — or at least silenced my opponents — that their lordships usually pay me the compliment to intimate that it is unnecessary for me to reiterate my statements, inasmuch as they have heard sufficient from me already, to spare me the trouble of addressing them at any length for the future ; a feeling on the part of the House which cannot fail, Augustus, to be particularly gratifying to your father's feelings."

Augustus did not know exactly what reply to make to this complacent self-satisfaction of his worthy parent ; and his countenance assumed a dubious expression. " I fear," said the peer, " that you don't quite go with me on this point ; but you are young, and have not yet got rid of your romance, and generosity, and all that ; but it is nothing but your inexperience that misleads you. I view this question as a great statistical question. It is a question of figures and calculation, not a question of feeling ; it is precisely one in which your feelings would lead you wrong. Now, I divest myself of all feeling, and regard the subject as one of statistical calculation, and of certain mathematical deductions." " If I might be permitted to express my own opinion," said his son, slightly moved, " I should view it as a question of humanity.

One cannot subject the passions and the feelings — and more — the weakness and the errors of mankind, to arithmetical calculations. You cannot deal with breathing, living, moving men, as you can with figures. The human heart does not act from mathematical demonstrations, but from impulse." " My dear Augustus," rejoined the peer, turning round his chair so as better to face his son, and clearing a space on the table so as to have more room for the exercise for his oratory, " you are wrong, quite wrong. Impulse ! That impulse, as you call it, always leads to mischief. The impulse of the poor is to have my estates and my property, and to be on the same footing with us, who are their superiors ; this is the very thing that we must keep down. The lot of the great bulk of mankind," continued his lordship, with much pomposity, " is to earn their bread by thc sweat of their brow ; and anything that tends to put the convic tion of that necessity out of their heads, is mischievous.

There arc two great distinctions in society — the Rich and the Poor ; nature has so ordained it ; it has always been so, and must always be so. It is the part, therefore, of a wise statesman, to repress with a firm hand all attempts on the part of thc labouring classes to be other than what they are ; to keep them in their place, and not to encourage in them false notions about their ' rights' as they term them, and the ' natural equality of man,' and all that nonsense. Don't talk to me about impulse ! Teach the poor to act on system ; make them industrious ; make them acquire provident habits ; and let them receive religious instruc tion to render them obedient to the laws, respectful to their superiors, and content with their condition." " I quite agree," said his son, "that we ought to provide for the poor the means of education, so as to elevate them above the condition of the brutes of the field, which merely eat and sleep."

" Education ! Education !" exclaimed the peer, contemptu ously ; " yes, if it is the right education — the education which : 10 makes them content with their condition, and submissive to their superiors in station ; but not the education which teaches them to read the newspapers, and get crammed with all the abominable notions with which the lower classes are stirred up— the 'rights of the poor,' and the 'rights of labour,' and all that stuff! The rights of the poor ! What do they mean by the rights of the poor? If I employ you, very well ; what right have you to compel me to employ you, or to make me support you, if I don't. The thing is absurd !" " That argument," observed the young nobleman, " may seem philosophic, but it seems to me that the heart and the feelings reject it. When labour fails to support the labouring man, charity must step in to his aid."

" Pooh ! All these sentimental words about the human heart, and the feelings, and all that, only mislead and distract the at tention from the essential point — the great statistical question of the management of the poor. There is nothing more pernicious to the poor themselves than the relief of their wants by public and private charitable institutions, and, indeed, by all private charity in general. It only makes them improvident, and habituates them to depend more on casual bounties than on their own exertions. For this reason, the poor laws have proved the most destructive evil for the poor themselves. See what they have brought the country to ; the poor are actually eating us out of our estates 1" " Surely," observed his son, desirous of provoking his father to continue the discussion, so as to prevent a recurrence to the embarrassing subject of his proposed marriage, and not unwilling to give expression to his own sentiments ; " surely there is some contradiction in admitting the distresses of the poor, and denying the propriety of relieving them.

What is a poor man to do, if he is starving, and with a family of children, perhaps all absolutely wanting food?" "Family of children! my dear Augustus— positively you almost make me angry. You speak of a family of children as a thing of course ; as a sort of natural accompaniment to the con dition of a labourer. What business has he with a family of children ? That's his own fault." " But still," persisted the son, "suppose the case of a family of children — what is to be done, if they are starving ?" « That is just the cry which deceives people," said the peer, impatiently. " What is a poor man to do, if he is starving ? To be sure ; what is he to do ? But why is he starving ? From his own fault — his own improvidence. You must force him to be provident, so as not to be in danger of starving ; and that he will never be, so long as he knows that he has a legal right to demand relief out of your property and mine.

The great point is, to give the poor self-reliance and self-dependence; not to let them trust to a resource against their own improvidence, to public or private charity ; that is, to your savings and mine." "But," observed his son, "you would not condemn entirely all public and private charity ? There is high authority " " Yes, yes, I know what you are going to say ; but you must interpret and apply the Scriptures according to the circumstances of the case. Charity is charity only when properly directed. The Scriptures do not touch the present evil, of the absorbing confiscation of all property to the clamorous exigencies of the poor. Of course it is the duty of the upper classes of society to attend to the condition of the poor ; but the best mode of bene fiting them, is to crush the habit of relying on charity for support, instead of on their own independent exertions; and this you will never do, while you maintain the present system of the poor laws.

The workhouse must be made more distasteful than it is, and the laws more stringent. The poor must be coerced into better habits ; and, especially, there must be a rigid abstaining from the reckless private charity in which some, I am sorry to say, are prone to indulge. It is a maxim with me, never to allow myself to fall into the culpable weakness of fostering distress, by giving it the artificial assistance of what is called charity — that is my rule. Relief with me is the exception." " And I confess," said his son, " that with me, relief is the rule, and denial, the exception. Even supposing the distress to be feigned, which I dare say it often is, I cannot help thinking that it is better to take your chance of doing the good you intend, than, by a too scrupulous exactness, to allow real distress to be unrelieved.

That very letter, now, which is lying on the table, may contain a case of suffering, which a little attention, and some slight assistance, might effectually relieve." " The petition — ah ! I had forgotten it. Not that it matters ; for I can guess its contents without reading it. They all contain the same tale. Widow— sick bed, and an astonishing quantity of children, all of a tender age, but nowhere to be found, except on paper; unless they are hired, which they generally are, for the occasion." So saying, he again took up the obnoxious letter, and testily looked at it. " It is addressed, inside, to you, Augustus—' To Lord Sarum.' Glancing hastily and unwillingly over the contents, the much loathed word, distress, met his eye. With an impatient gesture he cast it from him. The open paper encountering the draught towards the chimney, was drawn to the fire, and kindling under thc grate, became rapidly consumed.

So perish, and so vainly are penned by trembling and feeble hand, many of thc bitter and heart-rending supplications for rclief of the really wretched ! And well would it have been for the peace of the noble family, of which that peer was the head and chief, if on that occasion he had relaxed from his usual rigidity of system, and bestowed on the application more than a brief glance. But the ways of Heaven are inscrutable; and dearly was that neglect punished in after years by bitter and unavailing sorrow. " By the bye," said his lordship, in a tone of strong displeasure, " I intended to speak about that letter." Ringing the bell, which was promptly answered by the footman in waiting — " Tell the porter to come here." " Yes, my lord." Now, it must be observed, that the important and responsible individual who now filled the office of porter at the town man sion of the Earl of Grandborough had assumed his official duties only a fortnight before, his predecessor having died from exces sive fat, and a morbid affection of the nerves caused by reading fashionable novels.

He was well aware, that in addition to his ordinary duties of returning gracious replies to his master's friends, according to their respective ranks and fortunes, he had been rigidly enjoined to act as the Cerberus of thc rich man's mansion, on all occasions of thc presentation of doubtful characters — such as presumptive sailors or soldiers with supposititious wooden legs ; middle-aged women, in widows' caps, and cotton umbrellas worn stumpy at the end ; all persons with yellow and sickly-looking faces, (unless coming in carriages ;) and, generally, to guard against the insidious attempts of all classes and denominations of thc shabby-gentcel to gain furtive admittance within the doorway of the rich man's mansion. This task the vigilant Dennis had sedulously executed, although not always without mistakes.

On one occasion he had the mishap to deny his master to the Lord Chancellor himself; and, on another, he flatly refused admittance to a certain high functionary in the House of Lords, so decidedly seedy was the appearance of those personages. But, on the present occasion, his vigilance had been taken by surprise, and his usual presence of mind had, for once, deserted him. The unusual hour of the night ; the bitter bleakness of the weather ; and the interesting appearance of the " poor woman" had thrown him off his guard ; and he had com mitted the unpardonable indiscretion of admitting, without reference to a superior functionary, that his master was at ' home.' But the evil was done. " You might have been sure it was a begging letter," observed the under-butler, who was standing by ; " didn't you see the wafer ?

Whenever you see a letter with a wafer, depend upon it there's something wrong about it. No person fastens a letter with a wafer; it's quite indecent. Do you suppose that my lord likes to have people's spittle sent to him. It's dis gusting." At that moment the bell was heard to ring with a tremendous crash. " There's no good in that ring," said Thomas ; " my lord's in a towering passion about something. It's all about this letter, I'll swear. Paddy, you'll catch it — that's certain." " The porter?" said his lordship, standing up. " He is here, my lord, at the door." " Why don't he come in ?" This was a question more easily asked than answered ; and it is impossible to say how the scene might have ended, if the good-natured young nobleman, guessing the cause of his hesita tion, had not gone to the door, and smilingly encouraged the terrified culprit to come in.

" Pray," said the earl to the unhappy porter, who, after he had shut the door, remained squeezed up in the farthest possible corner, his head projected towards his master, and with his hand on the handle of the door which he had left a little open so as to secure the means of rapid retreat, " what did you say to the bearer of that letter? Of course you did not say that I was at home ?" " I couldn't help it, my lord— indeed I couldn't ; it shot out of me quite unawares. But the poor cratur looked so badly, my lord, and the little child that she carried looked so cold and shivery, and she was so like a real lady, that I did say, before I could help it, that your lordship's honour was at home ; and so she said she would come back presently for an answer." " Then the person is coming again ? " said his lordship, in a tone of increased anger ; " this is dreadful !

" A trembling rat-tat of a peculiar character, betraying in its timid sound the irresolution of the applicant, was at this moment heard at the hall-door. " By the powers ! there's her knock again ! " exclaimed the agitated Dennis ; " I know it by the shake ! What am I to say to her ? Shall I say that your lordship is gone out ?" " Say anything ; but say I'm not at home : — I'm at my house in the country. And don't let me be troubled again in this way." " Give her this," said the young nobleman, in a whisper, as he followed Dennis to the door, and placed some money in his hand. " Augustus," said his father, who had observed his movement, and guessed the object, " you are wrong. Reheving these people is only encouraging them. This very woman, no doubt, is one of a set; she will tell all her companions of her success, and I shall be besieged night and day by all sorts of persons for relief.