The works of D'Israeli the younger

CHAPTER I. THE COIfSULTATIOir

I AM not aware that the infancy of Vivian Groy was distinguished by any pxtraordinary incident. The solicitude of the most affectionate of mothers, and the care of the most attentive of nurses, did their best to injure an excellent constitution. But Vivian was an only child, and these exertions were therefore excusable. For the first five years of his life. Master Vivian, with his curly locks and his fancy dress, was the pride of his own, and the envy of all neighbouring establishments ; but in process of time the hoiTible spirit of boyism began to develope itself, and Vivian not only would brush his hair "straight," and rebel agai-nst his nurse, but actually insisted upon being — breeched ! At this crisis it was discovered that he had been spoiled, and it was determined that he should be sent to school. Mr. Grey observed, also, that the child was nearly ten years old, and did not know his alphabet, and Mrs. Grey remarked, that he was getting very ugly. The fate of Vivian was decided.

" I am told, my dear," observed Mrs. Grey, one day after dinner to her husband, " I am told, my dear, that Dr. Flummery's would do very well for Vivian. Nothing can exceed the attention which is paid to the pupils. There are sixteen young I^Ues, all the daughters of clergymen, merely to atSend to the morals and the hnen — terms very moderate — one hundred guineas per annum, for all under six years of age, ayd few extras, only for fencing, pure milk, and the guitar. Mrs. Metcalfe has both her boys there, and she says their progress is astonishing, Percy Metcalfe, she assures me, was quite as backward as Vivian. Ah ! indeed, much backwarder; and so was Dudley Metcalfe, who was taught at home on the new system, by a pictorial alphabet, and who persisted to the last, notwithstanding all the exertions of Miss Barrett, in spelling A-P-E — monkey, merely because over the word there was a monster munching an apple."

•' And quite right in the child, my dear — Pictorial alphabet ! — pictorial fool's head !"

'• But what do you say to Flummery's, Grey 1"

" My dear, do what you like. I never trouble

myself, you know, about these matters ;" and Mr.

Grey refreshed himself, after this domestic attack,

witl^ a glass of claret.

Mr. Grey was a gentleman who had succeeded, when die heat of youth was over, to the enjoyment of a life interest in an estate of about 2000/, per annum. He was a man of distinguished literary abilities, and he had hailed with no slight pleasure, his succession to a fortune, which, though limited in its duration, was still a very great thing for a young litterateur about town ; not only with no profession, but with a mind utterly unfitted for every species of business. Grey, to the astonishment of his former friends, the wits, made an excellent domestic match ; and, leaving the whole management of his household to his lady, felt himself as independent in his magnificent library, as if he had never ceased to be that true freeman,

A MAX OF CHAMBEnS.

The young Vivian had not, by the cares which fathers are always heirs to, yet reminded his parent that boys were any thing else but playthings. The intercourse between father and son was, of course, extremely limited ; for Vivian was, as yet, the mother's child; Mr. Grey's parental duties being confined to giving his son a glass of claret per diem, pulling his ears with all the awkwardness of literary aflection, and trusting to God " that the urchin would never scribble."

" I won't go to school, mamma," bawled Vivian.

" But you must, my love," answered Mrs. Grey; " all good boys go to school ;" and in the plenitude of a mother's love, she tried to make her offspring's hair curl.

" I won't have my hair curl, mamma ; the boys will laugh at me," reBawled the beauty.

"Now, who could have told the child thatl" monologized mamma, with all a mamma's admiration.

" Charles Appleyard told me so — his hair curled, and the boys called him girl. Pajja, give me some more claret — I won't go to school."

CHAPTER n.

PROGKESS.

Three or four years passed over, and the mind of Vivian Grey most astonishingly developed itself. He had long ceased to wear frills, had broached the subject of boots three or four times, made a sad inroad during the holidays in Mf . Grey's aforesaid bottle of claret, and was reported as having once sworn at the footman. The young gentleman began also to hint, during every vacation, that the fellows at Flummery's were somewhat too small for his companionship, and (first bud of puppyism !) the former advocate of straight hair, now expended a portion of his infant income in tho purchase of Macassar oil, and began to cultivaia A 2 5

D'ISRAELI'S NOVELS.

his curls. Mrs. Grey could not entertain for a moment, the idea of her son's associating with children, the eldest of whom (to adopt his own account) was not above eight j^ears old ; so Flummery's, it was determined, he should leave. But where to go ] Mr. Grey wished Eton, but his lady was one of those women whom nothing in the world can persuade that a public school is any thing else but a place where boys are roasted alive ; and so with tears, and taunts, and supplications, the point of private education was conceded. As for Vivian himself, he was for Eton, and Winchester, and Harrow, and Westminster, all at once; the only point that he made was, " not Rugby, it was so devilish blackguard."

At length it -was resolved that the only hope. should remain at home a season, until some plan should be devised for the cultivation of his promising understanding. During this year, Vivian became a somewhat more constant intruder into the library than heretofore ; and living so much among books, he was insensibly attached to those silent companions, that speak so eloquently.

How far the character of the parent may influence the character of the child, I leave the metaphysician to decide. Sure I am, that the character of Vivian Grey underwent, at this period of his life, a sensible, a prodigious change. Doubtless, constant communion with a mind highly refined, severely cultivated, and much experienced, cannot but produce a most beneficial impression, even upon a mind formed, and upon principles developed : how infinitely greater must the influence of such communion be upon a youthful heart, ardent, innocent, and inexperienced ! As Vivian was not to figure in the microcosm of a public school, a place for which, from his temper, he was almost better fitted than any young genius Avhom the " playing fields" of Eton, or " the lulls" cf Winton, can remember; there was some difficulty in fixing upon his future academus. Mr. Grey's two axioms were, first, that no one so young as his son should settle in the metropolis, and that Vivian must consequently not have a private tutor ; and, secondly, that all private schools were quite worthless ; and, therefore, there was eveiy probability of Vivian not receiving any education whatever.

At length an exception to axiom second started up in the establishment of the Eeverend Everard Dallas. This gentleman was a clerg^mian of the church of England, a profound Grecian, and a poor man. He had edited the Alcestis. and married his laundress — lost money by his edition, and his fellowship by his match. In a few days, the hall of Mr. Grey's London mansion was filled with all sorts of portmanteaus, trunks, and travelling cases, directed in a boy's sprawling hand to " Vivian Grey, Esquire, at the Reverend Everard Dallas, Burnsley Vicarage, Hants."

" God bless you, my boy ! write to your mother soon, and remember your journal."

CHAPTER m.

PRIVATE EDUCATION,

The rumour of the arrival of " a new fellow," circulated with rapidity through the inmates of Burnsley Vicarage, and about fifty young devils were preparing to quiz the new-comer, when the school-room door opened, and Mr. Dallas, accompanied by Vivian, entered.

" A dandy, by Jove !" whispered St. Leger Smith. " What a knowing set out," squeaked Johnson se.rundus. "Mammy-sick," growled Barlow primus. This last exclamation was, however, a most scandalous libel, for certainly no being ever stood in a pedagogue's presence with more perfect sang froid, and with a bolder front, than did, aw thi.'? moment, Vivian Grey.

One principle in Mr. Dallas' regime, was always to introduce a new-comer in school hours. He was thus carried immediately in medias res, and the curiosity of his comates being in a great degree satisfied, at a time when that curio.sity could not personally annoy him, the new-comer was, of course, much better prepared to make his way, when the absence of the ruler became a signal yijr S07ne oral conversation with " the arrival."

However, in the present instance the young savages at Burnsley Vicarage had caught a tartar ; and in a very few days Vivian Grey was decidedly the most popular fellow in the school. He was " so dashing ! so devilish good-tempered ! so completely up to every thing !" The magnates of the land were certainly rather jealous of his success, but their very sneers bore witness to his popularity. " Cursed puppy," said St. Ledger Smith. " Thinks himself knowing," squeaked Johnson secundus. " Thinks himself witty," growled Barlow primus.

Notwithstanding this cabal, days rolled on at Burnsley Vicarage only to witness the increase of Vivian's popularity. Although more deficient than most of his own age in accurate classical knowledge, he found himself in talents and various acquirements immeasurably their superior. And singular is it, that at school, distinction in such points is ten thou.sand times more admired by the multitude, than the most profound knowledge of Greek metres, or the most accurate acquaintance with the value of Roman coins. Vivian Grey's English verses, and Vivian Grey's English themes, were the subject of universal commendation. Some young lads made copies of these productions, to enrich, at the Christmas holidays, their sisters' albums ; while the whole school were scribbling etnbr3'o prize-poems, epics of tv\'enty lines on '"the ruins of Prestum, ' and " the temple of Minerva ;" " Agrigentum," and "the cascade of Terni." — I suppose that Vivian's productions at this time, would have been rejected by the commonest twopenny publication about town — yet they turned the brain of the whole school ; while fellows who were writing Latin dissertations, and (ireek odes which might have made the fortune of the Classical Journal, were looked on by the multitude as as great dunderheads as themselves : — and such is the advantage which, even in this artificial world, every thing that is genuine has over every thing that is false and forced. The dunderheads who wrote " good Latin," and " Attic Greek," did it by a process, by means of which the youngest fellow in the school was conscious he could, if he chose, attain at the same perfection. Vivian Grey's verses were unlike any tiling which had yet appeared in the literary annals of Burnsley Vicarage, and that which was quite novel was naturally thought quite excellent.

There is no place in the world where greater homage is paid to talent than at an English school.

VIVIAN GRE ^.

At a public school, indeed, if a youth of great talents is blessed with an amiable and generous disposition, he ought not to envy the minister of England. If any captain of Eton, or prefect of Winchester, is reading these pages, I would most earnestly entreat him dispassionately to consider, in what situation of Ufe he can rationally expect that it will be in his power to exercise such influence, to have such opportunities of obliging others, and be so confident of an affedionute and grateful return. Ay, there's the rub ! — Bitter, bitter thought ! that gratitude should cease the moment we become men.

And sure I am, that Vivian Grey was loved as ardently, and as faithfully, as you might expect from innocent young hearts. His slight accomjjlishments were the standard of all perfection ; his sayings were the soul of all good fellowship ; and his opinion the guide in any crisis which occurred in the monotonous existence of the Uttle commonwealth. And time flew gayly on.

One winter evening, as Vivian, with some of his particular cronies, was standing round the school-room fire, they began, as all schoolboys do when it grows rather dark, and they grow rather sentimental — to talk of home.

" Twelve weeks more," said Augustus Etherege, " twelve weeks more, and we are free ! The glorious day shall be celebrated."

" A feast, a feast," exclaimed Poynings.

" A feast is but the work of a night," said Vivian Grey : " something more stirring for me ! What say you to private theatricals 1"

The proposition was, of course, received with enthusiasm, and it was not until they had unanimously agreed to act, that they universally remembered that acting was not allowed. And then they consulted whether they should ask Dallas, and then they remembered that Dallas had been asked fifty times, and then they " supposed thej' must give it up ;" and then Vivian Grey made a proposition which the rest were secretly sighing for, but which they were afraid to make themselves — he proposed that they should act without asliing Dallas — " Well, then, we'll do it without asking him," said Vivian ; — " nothing is allowed in this life, and every thing is done : — in town there's a thing called the French play, and that's not allowed, yet my aunt has got a private box there. Trust me for acting — but what shall we perform 1"

This question was, as usual, the fruitful source of jarring opinions. One proposed Othello, chiefly because it would be so easy to black a face with a burnt cork. Another was for Hamlet solely because he wanted to act the ghost, which he proposed doing in white shorts and a night-cap. A third was for JuHus Gssar, because the murder scene " would be such fun."

" No ! no !" said Vivian, tired at these various and varying proposals, " this will never do. Out upon tragedies ; let's have a comedy !"

" A comedy I a comedy ! — ! how delightful I"

CHAPTER IV.

PRIVATE THEATRICALS.

After an immense number of propositions, &nd an equal number of repetitions, Dr. Hoadley's bustling drama was fixed upon, Vivian was to act Ranger, Augustus Etherege was to personate Clarinda, because he was a fair boy and always blushing ; and the rest of the characters found able representatives. Every half-holiday was devoted to rehearsals, and nothing could exceed the amusement and thorough fun which all the preparations elicited. Every thing went we]l-»- Vivian wrote a most pathetic prologue, and a most witty epilogue. Etherege got on capitally in the mask scene, and Poynings was quite perfect in Jack Meggot. There was, of course, some difficulty in keeping all things in order, but then Vivian Grey was such an excellent manager ! and then, with infinite tact, the said manager conciliated the classiqucft, for he allowed St. Ledger Smith to select a Greek motto — from the Andromache, if I remember right — for the front of the theatre ; and Johnson secundus and Barlow pri- 7nus were complimented by being allowed to act the chairmen.

But, alas ! in the midst of all this sunshine, the seeds of discord and dissension were fast flourishing. Mr. Dallas himself was always so absorbed in some freshly imported German commentator, that it was a fixed principle with him, never to trouble himself with any thing that concerned his pupils, " out of school-hours." The consequence Vi'as, that certain powers were necessarily delegated to a certain set of beings called Ushers. In t!ie necessity of employing this horrible race of human beings, consists, in a great measure, the curse of what is called, private education. Those, who, in all the fulness of parental love, guard their oflspring from the imagined horrors of a public school, forget that, in having recourse to " an academy for young gentlemen," they are nccessarilij placing their children under the influence of blackguards ; it is of no use to mince the phrase — such is the case. And is not the contagion of these fellows' low habits and loose principles much more to be feared and shunned, than a system, in which, certainly, greater temptations are oflfered to an imprudent lad ; but under whose influence boys usually become gentlemanly in their habits and generous in their sentiments 1

The usherian rule had, however, always been comparatively light at Burnsley Vicarage, fir the good Dallas, never for a moment intrusting the duties of tuition to a third person, engaged these deputies merely as a sort of police, to regulate the bodies, rather than the minds of his youthful subjects. One of the first principles of the new theory introduced into the establishment of Burnsley Vicarage by Mr. Vivian Grey, was, that the ushers were to be considered by the boys as a species of upper servants ; were to be treated with civility, certainly, as all servants are by gentlemen ; but that no further attention was to be paid them, and that any fellow voluntarily conversing with an usher, was to be cut dead by the whole school. This pleasant arrangement was no secret to those whom it most immediately concerned, and, of course, rendered Vivian rather a favourite with them. The men, who were sufficiently vulgars, had not the tact to conciliate the boy by a little attention, and were both, notwithstanding, too much afraid of his influence in the school to attack him openly ; so thev waited with that patience which insulted beings can alone endure.

One of the.se creatures must not be forgotten

D'ISRAELI'S NOVELS.

his name was Mallet ; he was a perfect specimen of the genuine usher. The monster wore a black coat and waistcoat ; the residue of his costume was of that mysterious colour known by the name of pepper-and-salt. He was a pallid wretch with a pug nose, white teeth, and marked with the small-pox ; and long, greasy, black hair ; and small, black, beady eyes. I'his demon watched the progress of the theatrical company with eyes gloating with vengeance. No attempt had been made to keep the fact of the rehearsal a secret from the police ; no objection on their part, had as yet been made ; the twelve weeks diminished to six ; Eanger had secretly ordered a dress from town, and was to get a steel handled sword from Fentum's for Jack Meggot ; and every thing was proceeding with unexpected success, when one morning as Mr. Dallas was apparently about to take his departure, with a volume of Becker's Thucydides under his arm, the respected dominie stopped, and thus harangued : " I am informed that a great deal is going on in this family, with which it is intended that I shall be unacquainted. It is not my intention to name any body or any thing at present ; but I must say that of late the temper of this family has sadly changed. Whether there be any seditious stranger among you or not, I shall not at present even endeavour to discover, but I will warn my old friends of their new ones:" and so saying, the dominie withdrew.

All eyes were immediately fixed on Vivian, and tlie faces of the dassiqucs were triumphant with smiles ; those of the manager's particular friends, the romantiqiies, we may call them, were clouded ; but who shall describe the countenance of Mallet 1 In a moment the school broke up with an agitated and tumultuous uproar, " No stranger !" shouted St. Ledger Sniith ; " No stranger," vociferated a prepared gang, Vivian's friends wei-e silent, for they hesitated to accept for their leader the insulting title. Those who were neither Vivian's friends, nor in the secret, weak creatures who side always with the strongest, immediately swelled the insulting chorus of Mr. St. Ledger Smith. That worthy, emboldened by his success and the smiles of Mallet, contained himself no longer : " Down with the manager!" he cried. His satellites chorussed. But now Vivian rushed forward — " Mr. Smith, I thank you for being so definite ; — take that !" and he struck Smith with such force that the Cleon staggered and fell ; but Smith instantly recovered, and a ring was as instantly formed. To a common observer, the combatants were most unequally matched ; for Smith was a burley, big-limbed animal, alike superior to Grey in years and strength. But Vivian, though delicate in frame, and more youthful, was full his match in spirit, and thanks to his being a cockney ! ten times his match in science. He had not built a white great-coat, nor drunk blue ruin at Ben Burns' for nothing.

O ! how beautiful he fought ! how admirably straight he hit ; and his stops quick as lightning ! and his fulloivings up confounding his adversary with their painful celerity ! Smith, alike puzzled and punished, yet proud in his strength, hit round, and wild, and false, and foamed like a furious elephant. For ten successive rounds the result was dubious ; but in the eleventh the strength of Smith began to foil, and the men were more fairly matched. " Go it, Ranger ! — go it, Ranger !" halowed the Greyites. " No stranger ! — no stranger !"

eagerly bawled the more numerous party. " Smith's floored, by Jove !" exclaimed Poynings, who was Grey's second, " At it again ! at it again !" ex claimed all. And now, when Smith must certainly have given in, suddenly stepped forward Mr. Mallet, accompanied by Dallas ! " How, Mr.

Grey ! No answer, sir ; I understand that yoxi have always an answer ready. I do not quote Scripture lightly, Mr. Grey ; but ' Take heed that you offend not, even with your tongue.' Now, sir, to your room."

When Vivian Grey again joined his companions, he found himself almost universally shunned. Etherege and Poynings were the only individuals who met him with their former frankness. " A horrible row. Grey," said the latter. " After you went, the doctor harangued the whole school, and swears you have seduced and ruined us all : — every thing was happiness until you came, &c. Mallet is of course at the bottom of the whole business ; but what can we do 1 Dallas says you have the tongue of a serpent, and that he will not trust liimself to hear your defence. Infamous shame ! I swear ! And now, every fellow has got a story against you : some say you are a dandy — others want to know, whether the next piece performed at your theatre will be ' the Stranger ,-' — as for myself and Etherege, we shall leave in a few weeks, and it does not signify to us ; but what the devil you're to do next half, by Jove, I can't say. — If I were you, I would not return." " Not return, eh 1 but that will I, though; and we shall see who, in future, can complain of the sweetness of my voice ! Ungrateful fools !"

CHAPTER V.

A NEW FRIEND,

The vacation was over, and Vivian returned to Burnslcy Vicarage. He bowed cavalierly to Mr, Dallas on his arrival, and immediately sauntered up into the school-room, where he found a tolerable quantity of wretches, looking as miserable as schoolboys, who have left their pleasant homes, generally do for some four-and-twenty hours. "How jye do, Greyl" "How d'ye do, Greyl" burst from a knot of unhappy fellows, who would have felt quite dehghted, had their newly arrived comate condescended to entertain them, as usual, with some capital good story fresh from town. But they were disappointed,

" We can make room for you at the fire, Grey," said Theophilus King.

" I thank you, I am not cold."

" I suppose you know that Poynings and Etherege don't come back. Grey ?"

" Everybody knew that last half:" and so he walked on.

" Grey, Grey !" halloed King, " don't go in the dining-room ; Mallet's there alone, and told us not to disturb him. By Jove, the fellow's going in : there'll be a greater row this half, between Grey and Mallet, than ever."

Days — the hea^'y first days of the half, rolled i on, and all the citizens of the little commonwealth had returned,

" What a dull half this will be !" said Eardly, " how one misses Grey's set ! — After ail they kept

VIVIAN GREY.

me schoo alive. Poyningswas a first-rate fellow; and Etherege so deused good-natured ! I wonder whom Grey will crony with this half I Have yoii seen him and Dallas speak together yet T He cnt j the doctor quite dead at Greek to-day." \ " Why, Eardly ! Eardly ! there's Grey walking round playing fields with Mallet!" hallooed a sawney who was killing the half holiday by looking out of the window.

" The devil ! I say, Mathews, whose flute is that ? It's a devilish handsome one !"

" It's Grey's ! I clean it for him," squeaked a little boy. '' He gives me sixpence a week !" " 0, you sneak !" said one.

" Gut him over !" said another.

" Roast him !" cried a third.

" Whom are you going to take the flute to ?" asked a fourth.

" To Mallet," squeaked the little fellow ; " Grey lends his flute to Mallet every day."

" Grey lend his flute to ]\Tallet ! the deuse he does ! So Grey and Mallet are going to crony .?"

A wild exclamation burst forth from the little party; and away each of them ran to spread in all directions the astounding intelligence.

If the rule of the ushers had hitherto been light at Burnsley Vicarage, its character was materially changed during this half year. The vexatious and tyrannical influence of Mallet was now experienced in all directions ; meeting and interfering with the comfort of the boys, in every possible manner. His malice accompanied too by a tact, which could not have been expected from his vulgar mind, and wliich, at the sanse time, could not have been produced by the experience of one in his situation. It was quite evident to the whole community that his conduct was dictated by another mind, and that that mind was once versed in all the secrets of a schoolboy's life, and acquainted with all the worlungs of a schoolboy's mind: a species of knowledge wliich no pedagogue in the world ever yet attained. There was no difficulty in discovering whose was the power behind the throne. Vivian Grey was the perpetual companion of Mallet in his walks, and even in the school ; he shunned also the converse of every one of the boys, and did not affect to conceal that his quarrel was universal. Superior power, exercised by a superior mind, was for a long time too much even for the united exertions of the whole school. If any one complained. Mallet's written answer (and such Dallas always required) was immediately ready, explaining every thing in the most .satisfactory manner, and refuting every complaint with the most triumphant spirit. Dallas, of course, supported his deputy, and was soon equally detested. This tjTanny had continued through a great part of the long half year, and the spirit of the school was almost broken, when a fresh outrage occurred, of such a. nature, that the nearly enslaved multitude conspired.

The plot was admirably formed. On the first bell ringing for school, the door was to be immediately barred, to prevent the entrance of Dallas. Instant vengeance was then to be taken on Mallet and his companion — the sneak ! the spy J the traitor .' — The bell rang : the door was barred ; four stoat fellows seized on Mallet,; four rushed to Vivian Grey ; but stop ! he sprang upon his ie.ak, and, placing his back against the wall, held a pistol at the foremost ! " Not an inch nearer, Saiilh, or — I fire. Let me not, however, balk your ven« geance on yonder hound : If I could suggest any refinements in torture, they would be at your service." Vivian Grey smiled, while the horrid cries of Mallet indicated that the boys were " roasting'^ him. He then walked to the door, and admitted the barred-out dominie. Silence was restored. There was an explanation, and no defence : and Vivian Grey was — expelled.

CHAPTER VI.

THE crASSICS.

VrviATf GnET was now seventeen ; and, the system of private education having so decidedly failed, it was resolved that he should spend the years antecedent to his going to Oxford at home. Nothing could be a greater failure than the first weeks of his '^course of study." He was perpetually violating the sanctity of the drawing-room by the presence of scapulas and hederics, and outraging the propriety of morning visiters, by bursting into his mother's boudoir with lexicons and green slippers.

" Vivian, my dear," said his father to him, " this will never do ; you must adopt some system for your studies, and some locality for your reading. Have a room to yourself; set apart certain hours in the day for your books, and allow no consideration on earth to influence you to violate their sacredness ; and above all, my dear boy, keep your papers in order. I find a dissertation on ' the commerce of Carthage,' stuck in my large paper copy of 'Dibdin's Decameron,' and an ' Essay on the Metaphysics of Music' (pray, my dear fellow, beware of magazine scribbling) cracking the back of Montfauccn's Monarchic."