Self Help
by Mark Zimmerman
By Samuel Smiles
CHAPTER XIII. - CHARACTER - THE TRUE GENTLEMAN
"For who can always act? but he,
To whom a thousand memories call,
Not being less
but more than all
The gentleness he seemed to be,
But seemed the thing he was, and joined
Each office of the social hour
To noble manners,
as the flower
And thus he bore without abuse
The grand old name of Gentleman." - Tennyson.
"Es bildet ein Talent sich in der Stille, Sich ein Charakter in
dem Strom der Welt." - Goethe.
"That which raises a country, that which strengthens a country,
and that which dignifies a country, - that which spreads her power, creates her
moral influence,
and makes her respected and submitted to, bends the hearts of millions, and
bows down the pride of
nations to her - the instrument of obedience, the fountain of supremacy, the true throne, crown, and sceptre of a nation; - this aristocracy is not an aristocracy of blood, not an aristocracy of fashion, not an aristocracy of talent only; it is an aristocracy of Character. That is the true heraldry of man." - The Times.
nations to her - the instrument of obedience, the fountain of supremacy, the true throne, crown, and sceptre of a nation; - this aristocracy is not an aristocracy of blood, not an aristocracy of fashion, not an aristocracy of talent only; it is an aristocracy of Character. That is the true heraldry of man." - The Times.
The crown and glory of life is Character. It
is the noblest
possession of a man, constituting a rank in itself, and an estate in the
general goodwill;
dignifying every station, and exalting every position in society. It exercises
a greater power than wealth, and secures all the honour without the jealousies of
fame.
It carries with it an influence which
always tells; for it is the result of proved honour, rectitude, and consistency
– qualities which, perhaps more than any other, command the general confidence and
respect of mankind.
Character is
human nature in its best form. It is moral order embodied in the individual. Men
of character are
not only the conscience of
society, but in every well-governed State they are its best motive power; for
it is moral qualities in the main which rule the world.
Even in war, Napoleon said the moral is to the physical as ten to one.
The strength, the industry, and the civilisation of nations - all depend upon
individual character;
and the very foundations of civil security rest upon
it. Laws and institutions are but its outgrowth. In the just balance of nature,
individuals, nations, and races, will obtain just so much as they deserve, and
no more. And as effect finds its cause, so surely does quality
of character amongst
a people produce its befitting results.
Though a man have comparatively little culture, slender abilities, and
but small wealth, yet, if his character be
of sterling worth, he will always command an influence,
whether it be in the workshop, the counting-house, the mart, or the senate.
Canning wisely wrote
in 1801, "My road must be through Character to power; I will try no other course; and I am sanguine enough to believe that this course, though not perhaps the quickest, is the surest." You may admire men of intellect; but something more is necessary before you will trust them. Hence Lord John Russell once observed in a sentence full of truth, "It is the nature of party inEngland Edinburgh
very little pay. By talents? His were not splendid, and he had no genius. Cautious and slow, his only ambition was to be right. By eloquence? He spoke in calm, good taste, without any of the oratory that either terrifies or seduces. By any fascination of manner?
in 1801, "My road must be through Character to power; I will try no other course; and I am sanguine enough to believe that this course, though not perhaps the quickest, is the surest." You may admire men of intellect; but something more is necessary before you will trust them. Hence Lord John Russell once observed in a sentence full of truth, "It is the nature of party in
very little pay. By talents? His were not splendid, and he had no genius. Cautious and slow, his only ambition was to be right. By eloquence? He spoke in calm, good taste, without any of the oratory that either terrifies or seduces. By any fascination of manner?
His was only correct and agreeable. By what, then, was it? Merely by
sense, industry, good principles, and a good heart
- qualities which no well-constituted mind need
ever despair of
attaining.
It was the force of his character that raised him; and this character not
impressed upon him by nature, but formed, out of
no peculiarly fine elements, by himself. There were many in the House of Commons of far greater ability and eloquence. But no one surpassed him in the combination of an adequate portion of these with moral worth. Horner was born to show what moderate powers, unaided by anything whatever except culture and goodness, may achieve, even when these powers are displayed amidst the competition and jealousy of public life."
no peculiarly fine elements, by himself. There were many in the House of Commons of far greater ability and eloquence. But no one surpassed him in the combination of an adequate portion of these with moral worth. Horner was born to show what moderate powers, unaided by anything whatever except culture and goodness, may achieve, even when these powers are displayed amidst the competition and jealousy of public life."
Franklin, also, attributed his success as a public man, not to his talents
or his powers of speaking - for these were but moderate - but to his known integrity
of character.
Hence it was, he says, "that I had so much weight with my fellow citizens.
I was but a bad speaker, never eloquent, subject to much hesitation in my choice
of words, hardly correct in language, and yet I generally carried my
point." Character creates confidence in men in high station as
well as in humble life. It was said of the first Emperor Alexander of Russia
That character is power, is true in
a much higher sense than that knowledge is power. Mind without
heart, intelligence without conduct, cleverness without goodness, are
powers in their way, but they may be powers only for mischief. We may be
instructed or amused by them; but it is sometimes as difficult to admire them
as it would be to admire the dexterity of a pickpocket or the horsemanship of a
highwayman.
Truthfulness,
integrity, and goodness - qualities that hang not on any man's breath
- form the
essence of manly character, or, as one of our old writers has it, "that
inbred loyalty unto Virtue which can serve her without a
livery." He who possesses these qualities, united with strength
of purpose, carries with him a power which is irresistible.
He is strong to do good, strong to resist evil, and strong to bear up under
difficulty and misfortune. When Stephen of Colonna fell into the hands of his
base assailants, and they asked him in derision, "Where is now your
fortress?" "Here," was his bold reply, placing his
hand upon his heart. It is in misfortune that the character of
the upright man shines forth with the greatest lustre; and when all else fails,
he takes stand upon his integrity and his courage.
The rules of conduct followed by Lord Erskine - a man of sterling independence
of principle and scrupulous adherence to truth –
are worthy of being engraven on every young man's heart. "It
was a first command and counsel of my earliest youth," he said,
"always to do what my conscience told me to be a duty, and to leave the consequence
to God. I shall carry with me the memory, and I
trust the practice, of this parental lesson to the grave. I have hitherto
followed it, and I have no reason to complain that my
obedience to it has been a temporal sacrifice. I have found it, on the contrary, the road to prosperity and wealth, and I shall point out the same path to my children for their pursuit."
obedience to it has been a temporal sacrifice. I have found it, on the contrary, the road to prosperity and wealth, and I shall point out the same path to my children for their pursuit."
Every man is bound to aim at the possession of a good character as
one of the highest objects of life. The very effort to secure it by
worthy means will furnish him with a motive for exertion; and his idea of
manhood, in proportion as it is elevated, will steady
and animate his motive. It is well to have a high standard of life, even though we may not be able altogether to realize it.
and animate his motive. It is well to have a high standard of life, even though we may not be able altogether to realize it.
"The youth," says Mr. Disraeli, "who does not look up will look down; and the spirit that does not soar is destined perhaps to grovel." George Herbert wisely writes, "Pitch thy behaviour low, thy projects high, So shall thou humble and magnanimous be.
Sink not in spirit; who aimeth at the sky Shoots higher much than he that means a tree."
He who has a high standard of living and thinking will
certainly do better than he who has none at all. "Pluck at a gown of
gold," says the Scotch proverb, "and you may get a sleeve
o't." Whoever tries for the highest results cannot fail to
reach a point far in advance of that from which he started; and though the
end attained
may fall short of that proposed, still, the very effort to rise, of itself
cannot fail to prove permanently beneficial.
There are many counterfeits of character,
but the genuine article is difficult to be mistaken. Some, knowing its
money value, would assume its disguise for the purpose of imposing upon the
unwary.
Colonel Charteris said to a man distinguished for his honesty, "I would give a thousand pounds for your good name." "Why?" "Because I could make ten thousand by it," was the knave's reply.
Integrity in word and deed is the backbone of character; and
loyal adherence to veracity its most prominent characteristic.
One of the finest testimonies to the character of
the late Sir Robert Peel was that borne by the Duke of Wellington
There is a truthfulness in action as well as in words, which is essential
to uprightness of character. A man must really be
what he seems or purposes to be. When an American gentleman wrote to Granville
Sharp, that from respect for his great virtues he
had named one of his sons after him, Sharp replied: "I must request you to
teach him a favourite maxim of the family whose name you have given him -
ALWAYS ENDEAVOUR TO BE REALLY WHAT YOU WOULD WISH TO APPEAR. This maxim, as my
father informed me, was carefully and humbly practised by HIS father, whose
sincerity, as a plain and
honest man, thereby became the principal feature of his character, both in public and private life." Every man who respects himself, and values the respect of others, will carry out the maxim in act - doing honestly what he proposes to do - putting the highest
character into his work, scamping nothing, but priding himself upon his integrity and conscientiousness. Once Cromwell said to Bernard, - a clever but somewhat unscrupulous lawyer, "I understand that you have lately been vastly wary in your conduct; do not be too confident of this; subtlety may deceive you, integrity never
will." Men whose acts are at direct variance with their words, command no respect, and what they say has but little weight; even truths, when uttered by them, seem to come blasted from their lips.
honest man, thereby became the principal feature of his character, both in public and private life." Every man who respects himself, and values the respect of others, will carry out the maxim in act - doing honestly what he proposes to do - putting the highest
character into his work, scamping nothing, but priding himself upon his integrity and conscientiousness. Once Cromwell said to Bernard, - a clever but somewhat unscrupulous lawyer, "I understand that you have lately been vastly wary in your conduct; do not be too confident of this; subtlety may deceive you, integrity never
will." Men whose acts are at direct variance with their words, command no respect, and what they say has but little weight; even truths, when uttered by them, seem to come blasted from their lips.
The true character acts rightly, whether in secret or in
the sight
of men. That boy was well trained who, when asked why he did not pocket some
pears, for nobody was there to see, replied,
"Yes, there was: I was there to see myself; and I
don't intend ever to
see myself do a dishonest thing." - This is a simple but not inappropriate illustration of principle, or conscience, dominating in the character, and exercising a noble protectorate over it; not merely a passive influence, but an active power regulating the life. Such a principle goes on moulding the character hourly and
daily, growing with a force that operates every moment. Without this dominating influence, character has no protection, but is constantly liable to fall away before temptation; and every such temptation succumbed to, every act of meanness or dishonesty, however slight, causes self-degradation. It matters not whether the act be successful or not, discovered or concealed; the culprit is no longer the same, but another person; and he is pursued by a secret uneasiness, by self-reproach, or the workings of what we call conscience, which is the inevitable doom of the guilty.
see myself do a dishonest thing." - This is a simple but not inappropriate illustration of principle, or conscience, dominating in the character, and exercising a noble protectorate over it; not merely a passive influence, but an active power regulating the life. Such a principle goes on moulding the character hourly and
daily, growing with a force that operates every moment. Without this dominating influence, character has no protection, but is constantly liable to fall away before temptation; and every such temptation succumbed to, every act of meanness or dishonesty, however slight, causes self-degradation. It matters not whether the act be successful or not, discovered or concealed; the culprit is no longer the same, but another person; and he is pursued by a secret uneasiness, by self-reproach, or the workings of what we call conscience, which is the inevitable doom of the guilty.
And here it may be observed how greatly the character may
be strengthened and supported by the cultivation of good habits.
Man, it has been said, is a bundle of habits; and habit is second nature.
Metastasio entertained so strong an opinion as to the power of repetition in
act and thought,
that he said, "All is habit in mankind, even virtue itself." Butler,
in his 'Analogy,' impresses the importance of careful self-discipline and
firm resistance to temptation, as tending to make virtue habitual,
so that at length it may become more easy to be good than
to give way to sin. "As habits belonging to the body," he says,
"are produced by external acts, so habits of the mind are
produced by the execution of inward practical purposes, i.e., carrying them
into act, or acting upon them - the principles of obedience, veracity, justice,
and charity." And again, Lord Brougham says, when enforcing the
immense importance of training and example in youth, "I trust everything
under God to habit, on which, in all ages, the lawgiver, as well as the
schoolmaster, has mainly placed his reliance; habit, which makes everything
easy, and casts the difficulties upon the deviation from a wonted
course." Thus, make sobriety a habit, and intemperance will
be hateful;
make prudence a
habit, and reckless profligacy will become revolting to every principle of
conduct which regulates the life of the individual.
Hence the necessity for the greatest care and watchfulness against the inroad of any evil habit; for the character is always weakest at that point at which it has once given way; and it is long before a principle restored can become so firm as one that has never been
moved. It is a fine remark of a Russian writer, that "Habits are a necklace of pearls: untie the knot, and the whole unthreads."
Wherever formed, habit acts involuntarily, and without effort; and, it
is only when you oppose it, that you find how powerful it has become. What is
done once and again, soon gives facility and proneness. The habit at first may
seem to have no more strength than a spider's web; but, once formed, it binds
as with a chain of iron. The small events of life, taken singly, may seem
exceedingly unimportant, like snow that falls silently, flake by flake; yet accumulated,
these snow-flakes form the avalanche.
Self-respect, self-help,
application, industry, integrity - all are of the nature of habits, not
beliefs. Principles, in fact, are but the names which we assign to habits; for
the principles are words, but the habits are the things themselves:
benefactors or tyrants, according as they are good or
evil. It thus happens that as we grow older,
a portion of our free activity and individuality becomes suspended in habit;
our actions become of the nature of fate; and we are bound by the chains which
we have woven around ourselves.
It is indeed scarcely possible to over-estimate the importance of training
the young to virtuous habits. In them they are the easiest formed,
and when formed they last for life; like letters cut on the bark of a tree
they grow and
widen with age. "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is
old he will not depart from it." The beginning holds within it
the end; the first start on the road of life determines the direction and the destination
of the journey; CE N'EST QUE LE PREMIER PAS QUI COUTE.
"Remember," said Lord Collingwood to a young man whom he loved, "before you are five-and-twenty you must establish a character that will serve you all your life." As habit strengthens with age, and character becomes formed, any turning into a new path becomes more and more difficult. Hence, it is often harder to unlearn than to learn; and for this reason the Grecian flute-player was justified who charged double fees to those pupils who had been taught by an inferior master. To uproot an old habit is sometimes a more painful thing, and vastly more difficult, than to wrench out a tooth. Try and reform a habitually indolent, or improvident, or drunken person, and in a large majority of cases you will fail.
For the habit in each case has wound itself in and through the life until
it has become an integral part of it, and cannot be uprooted. Hence, as Mr.
Lynch observes, the wisest habit of all is the habit of care in the formation of good habits."
Even happiness itself may become habitual. There is a habit
of looking at the bright side of things, and also of looking at the dark side.
Dr. Johnson has said that the habit of looking at the best side of a thing is
worth more to a man than a thousand pounds a year.
And we possess the power, to a great extent, of so exercising the will
as to direct the thoughts upon objects calculated
to yield happiness and
improvement rather than their opposites. In this way the habit of happy thought may
be made to spring up like any other habit. And to bring up men or women with a
genial nature of this sort, good temper,
and a happy frame
of mind,
is perhaps of even more importance, in many cases, than to perfect them in much knowledge and
many accomplishments.
As daylight can be seen through very small holes, so little things will
illustrate a person's character. Indeed character consists
in little acts, well and honourably performed; daily life being the
quarry from which we build it up, and rough-hew the habits which form it.
One of the most marked tests of character is
the manner in which we conduct ourselves towards
others. A graceful behaviour towards superiors, inferiors, and equals, is a
constant source of pleasure. It pleases others
because it indicates respect for their personality; but it gives tenfold
more pleasure to ourselves.
Every man may to a large extent be a self-educator in good behaviour, as in everything else; he can be civil and kind, if he will, though he have not a penny in his purse. Gentleness in society is like the silent influence of light, which gives colour to all nature; it is far more powerful than loudness or force, and far more fruitful. It pushes its way quietly and persistently, like the tiniest daffodil in spring, which raises the clod and
thrusts it aside by the simple persistency of growing.
Even a kind look will give pleasure and
confer happiness.
In one of Robertson of Brighton 's letters, he
tells of a lady who related to him "the delight, the tears of gratitude,
which she had witnessed in a poor girl to whom, in passing, I gave a kind look
on going out of church on Sunday. What a lesson! How cheaply happiness can
be given! What opportunities we miss of doing an angel's work! I remember doing
it, full of sad feelings, passing on, and thinking no
more about it; and it gave an hour's sunshine to a human life, and lightened
the load of life to a human heart for a time!" (35)
Morals and manners, which give colour to life, are of much greater importance
than laws, which are but their manifestations. The law touches us
here and there, but manners are about us everywhere, pervading society like the
air we breathe. Good manners, as we
call them, are neither more nor less than good behaviour; consisting of courtesy and kindness; benevolence being the preponderating element in all kinds of mutually beneficial and pleasant intercourse amongst human beings. "Civility," said Lady Montague, "costs nothing and buys everything." The cheapest of all things is kindness, its exercise requiring the least possible trouble and self-sacrifice. "Win hearts," said Burleigh to Queen Elizabeth, "and you have all men's hearts and purses." If we would only let nature act kindly, free from affectation and artifice, the results on social good humour and happiness would be incalculable.
call them, are neither more nor less than good behaviour; consisting of courtesy and kindness; benevolence being the preponderating element in all kinds of mutually beneficial and pleasant intercourse amongst human beings. "Civility," said Lady Montague, "costs nothing and buys everything." The cheapest of all things is kindness, its exercise requiring the least possible trouble and self-sacrifice. "Win hearts," said Burleigh to Queen Elizabeth, "and you have all men's hearts and purses." If we would only let nature act kindly, free from affectation and artifice, the results on social good humour and happiness would be incalculable.
The little courtesies which form the small change of life, may separately appear of little intrinsic value, but they acquire their importance from repetition and accumulation. They are like the spare minutes, or the groat a day, which proverbially produce such momentous results in the course of a twelvemonth, or in a lifetime.
Manners are the ornament of action; and there is a way of speaking a
kind word, or of doing a kind thing, which greatly enhances their value. What
seems to be done with a grudge, or as an act of condescension, is
scarcely accepted as
a favour. Yet there are men who pride themselves upon
their gruffness; and though they may possess virtue and
capacity, their manner is often such as to render them almost insupportable. It
is difficult to like a man who, though he may not pull your nose, habitually
wounds your self-respect, and takes a pride in saying disagreeable things to
you. There are others who are dreadfully condescending, and cannot avoid seizing
upon every small opportunity of making their greatness felt. When
Abernethy was canvassing for the office of surgeon to
St. Bartholomew
Hospital
Abernethy, who hated humbugs, and felt nettled at the tone, replied: "No, I don't: I want a pennyworth of figs; come, look sharp and wrap them up; I want to be off!"
The cultivation of manner - though in excess it is foppish and foolish
- is highly necessary in a person who has occasion to negociate with others in
matters of business. Affability and good breeding
may even be regarded as essential to the success of a man in any eminent
station and enlarged sphere of life; for the want of it has not unfrequently
been found in a great measure to neutralize the results of much industry,
integrity, and honesty of character. There are, no doubt, a few
strong tolerant minds which can bear with defects and angularities of
manner, and look only to the more genuine qualities; but the world at large is
not so forbearant,
and cannot help forming its
judgments and likings mainly according to outward conduct.
Another mode of displaying true politeness
is consideration for the opinions of others. It has been said of dogmatism,
that it is only puppyism come to its full growth; and
certainly the worst form this quality can assume, is that of
opinionativeness and arrogance. Let
men agree to differ, and, when they do differ, bear and forbear.
Principles and opinions may be maintained with perfect suavity, without coming to blows or uttering hard words; and there are circumstances in which words are blows, and inflict wounds far less easy to heal. As bearing upon this point, we quote an instructive
little parable spoken some time since by an itinerant preacher of the Evangelical
The inbred politeness which springs from right-heartedness and kindly feelings, is
of no exclusive rank or station. The mechanic who works at the bench may
possess it, as well as the clergyman or the peer. It is by no means a
necessary condition of
labour that it should, in any respect, be either rough or coarse. The politeness
and refinement which distinguish all classes of the people in many continental countries
show that those qualities might become ours too - as doubtless they will become
with increased culture and more general social intercourse – without sacrificing
any of our more genuine qualities as men. From the highest to the lowest, the
richest to the poorest, to no rank or
condition in life has nature denied her highest boon - the great heart. There never yet existed a gentleman but was lord of a great heart. And this may exhibit itself under the hodden grey of the peasant as well as under the laced coat of the noble. Robert Burns
was once taken to task by a youngEdinburgh
condition in life has nature denied her highest boon - the great heart. There never yet existed a gentleman but was lord of a great heart. And this may exhibit itself under the hodden grey of the peasant as well as under the laced coat of the noble. Robert Burns
was once taken to task by a young
William and Charles Grant were the sons of a farmer in Inverness- shire,
whom a sudden flood stripped of everything, even to the very soil which he
tilled. The farmer and his sons, with the world before them where to choose,
made their way southward in search of
employment until they arrived in the neighbourhood of Bury inLancashire .
From the crown of the hill near Walmesley they surveyed the wide extent of
country which lay before them, the river Irwell making its circuitous course
through the valley. They were utter strangers in the neighbourhood, and knew not
which way to turn. To decide their course they put up a stick, and agreed to pursue
the direction in which it fell. Thus their decision was made, and they
journeyed on accordingly until they reached the village of Ramsbotham
became widely celebrated for their benevolence and their various goodness, and it is said that Mr. Dickens had them in his mind's eye when delineating the character of the brothers Cheeryble. One amongst many anecdotes of a similar kind may be cited to show that the character was by no means exaggerated. AManchester
employment until they arrived in the neighbourhood of Bury in
became widely celebrated for their benevolence and their various goodness, and it is said that Mr. Dickens had them in his mind's eye when delineating the character of the brothers Cheeryble. One amongst many anecdotes of a similar kind may be cited to show that the character was by no means exaggerated. A
"Oh!" said the
libeller, when informed of the remark, "he thinks that
some time or other I shall be in his debt; but I will take good care
of that." It happens, however, that men in business do not
always foresee who
shall be their creditor, and it so turned out that the Grants' libeller became
a bankrupt, and could not complete his certificate and begin business again
without obtaining their signature. It seemed to him a hopeless case to call
upon that firm for any favour, but the pressing claims of his family forced him
to make the application.
He appeared before the man whom he had ridiculed as "Billy Button" accordingly. He told his tale and produced his certificate. "You wrote a pamphlet against us once?" said Mr. Grant. The supplicant expected to see his document thrown into the fire; instead of which Grant signed the name of the firm, and thus completed the necessary certificate.
"We make it a rule," said he, handing it back, "never to
refuse signing the certificate of an honest tradesman, and we have never heard that
you were anything else." The tears started into the man's eyes.
"Ah," continued Mr. Grant, "you see my
saying was true, that you would live to repent writing that pamphlet.
I did not mean it as a threat - I only meant that some day you would know us
better, and repent having tried to injure us." "I do, I do,
indeed, repent it." "Well, well, you know us
now. But how do you get on - what are you going to do?" The
poor man stated that he had friends who would assist him when his certificate
was obtained. "But how are you off in the mean time?" The
answer was, that, having given up every farthing to his creditors, he had been compelled
to stint his family in even the common necessaries of life, that he might be
enabled to pay for his certificate. "My good fellow,
this will never do; your wife and family must not suffer in this way; be kind
enough to take this ten-pound note to your wife from me: there, there, now -
don't cry, it will be all well with you yet; keep up your spirits, set
to work like a man, and you will raise your head among the best of us
yet." The overpowered man endeavoured with choking utterance to
express his gratitude, but in vain; and putting his hand to his face, he went out
of the room sobbing like a child.
The True Gentleman is one whose nature has been fashioned
after the highest models. It is a grand old name, that of Gentleman, and has been
recognized as a rank and power in all stages of society. "The Gentleman is
always the Gentleman," said the old French General to his regiment of
Scottish gentry at Rousillon, "and invariably proves himself such
in need and in danger." To possess this character is
a dignity of itself, commanding the instinctive homage of every generous mind, and
those who will not bow to titular rank, will yet do homage to the gentleman.
His qualities depend not upon fashion or manners, but upon moral worth - not on
personal possessions, but on personal qualities. The Psalmist briefly describes
him as one "that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and
speaketh the truth in his heart."
The gentleman is eminently distinguished for his self-respect.
He values his character, - not so much of it only as can be seen of others,
but as he sees it himself;
having regard for the approval of his inward monitor. And, as he respects himself, so,
by the
same law, does he respect others. Humanity is sacred in his eyes: and thence proceed politeness and forbearance, kindness and charity. It is related of Lord Edward Fitzgerald that, while travelling in Canada, in company with the Indians, he was shocked by the sight of a poor squaw trudging along laden with her husband's trappings, while the chief himself walked on unencumbered. Lord Edward at once relieved the squaw of her pack by placing it upon his own shoulders, - a beautiful instance of what the French call POLITESSE DE COEUR - the inbred politeness of the true gentleman.
same law, does he respect others. Humanity is sacred in his eyes: and thence proceed politeness and forbearance, kindness and charity. It is related of Lord Edward Fitzgerald that, while travelling in Canada, in company with the Indians, he was shocked by the sight of a poor squaw trudging along laden with her husband's trappings, while the chief himself walked on unencumbered. Lord Edward at once relieved the squaw of her pack by placing it upon his own shoulders, - a beautiful instance of what the French call POLITESSE DE COEUR - the inbred politeness of the true gentleman.
The true gentleman has a keen sense of honour, -
scrupulously avoiding mean actions. His standard of probity in word and action is
high. He does not shuffle or prevaricate, dodge or skulk; but is honest,
upright, and straightforward. His law is rectitude -
action in right lines. When he says YES, it is a law: and he dares to say the valiant NO at the fitting season. The gentleman will not be bribed; only the low-minded and unprincipled will sell themselves to those who are interested in buying them. When the upright Jonas Hanway officiated as commissioner in the victualling department, he declined to receive a present of any kind from a contractor; refusing thus to be biassed in the performance of his public duty. A fine trait of the same kind is to be noted in the life of the Duke ofWellington
the treaty of peace between the Mahratta princes and the Nizam. To obtain this information the minister offered the general a very large sum - considerably above 100,000L. Looking at him quietly for a few seconds, Sir Arthur said, "It appears, then, that you are capable of keeping a secret?" "Yes, certainly," replied the minister. "THEN SO AM I," said the English general, smiling, and bowed the minister out. It was toWellington 's great
honour, that though uniformly successful in India ,
and with the power of earning in such modes as this enormous wealth, he did not
add a farthing to his fortune, and returned to England
action in right lines. When he says YES, it is a law: and he dares to say the valiant NO at the fitting season. The gentleman will not be bribed; only the low-minded and unprincipled will sell themselves to those who are interested in buying them. When the upright Jonas Hanway officiated as commissioner in the victualling department, he declined to receive a present of any kind from a contractor; refusing thus to be biassed in the performance of his public duty. A fine trait of the same kind is to be noted in the life of the Duke of
the treaty of peace between the Mahratta princes and the Nizam. To obtain this information the minister offered the general a very large sum - considerably above 100,000L. Looking at him quietly for a few seconds, Sir Arthur said, "It appears, then, that you are capable of keeping a secret?" "Yes, certainly," replied the minister. "THEN SO AM I," said the English general, smiling, and bowed the minister out. It was to
A similar sensitiveness and high-mindedness characterised his noble relative, the
Marquis of Wellesley
Mysore
THINK OF NOTHING BUT OUR ARMY. I should be much distressed to curtail the share of those brave soldiers." And the Marquis's resolution to refuse the present remained unalterable.
THINK OF NOTHING BUT OUR ARMY. I should be much distressed to curtail the share of those brave soldiers." And the Marquis's resolution to refuse the present remained unalterable.
Sir Charles Napier exhibited the same noble self-denial in
the course of his Indian career. He rejected all the costly gifts which
barbaric princes were ready to lay at his feet, and said with truth,
"Certainly I could have got 30,000L. since my coming to Scinde, but my
hands do not want washing yet. Our dear father's sword which I wore in both
battles (Meanee and Hyderabad
Riches and rank have no necessary connexion with genuine gentlemanly
qualities. The poor man may be a true gentleman,
- in spirit and
in daily life. He may be honest, truthful,
upright, polite, temperate, courageous, self-respecting, and self-helping, - that
is, be a true gentleman.
The poor man with a rich spirit is in all ways superior to the rich man with a
poor spirit.
To borrow St. Paul
nothing. The first hopes everything, and fears nothing; the last hopes nothing, and fears everything. Only the poor in spirit are really poor. He who has lost all, but retains his courage, cheerfulness, hope, virtue, and self-respect, is still rich. For
such a man, the world is, as it were, held in trust; his spirit dominating over its grosser cares, he can still walk erect, a true gentleman.
nothing. The first hopes everything, and fears nothing; the last hopes nothing, and fears everything. Only the poor in spirit are really poor. He who has lost all, but retains his courage, cheerfulness, hope, virtue, and self-respect, is still rich. For
such a man, the world is, as it were, held in trust; his spirit dominating over its grosser cares, he can still walk erect, a true gentleman.
Occasionally, the brave and gentle character may
be found under the humblest garb. Here is an old illustration, but a fine one.
Once on a time, when the Adige suddenly overflowed its banks, the bridge of Verona was carried away, with the
exception of the centre arch, on which stood a house, whose inhabitants
supplicated help from the windows, while the foundations were
visibly giving way. "I will give a hundred French louis," said the
Count Spolverini, who stood by, "to any person who will venture to deliver
these unfortunate people." A young peasant came forth from the
crowd, seized a boat, and pushed into the stream. He gained the pier, received
the whole family into the boat, and made for the shore, where he landed them in
safety. "Here is your money, my brave young fellow," said the count.
"No," was the answer of the young man, "I do not sell my life;
give the money to this poor family, who have need of it."
Not less touching was the heroic conduct of a party of Deal
boatmen in rescuing the crew of a collier-brig in the Downs
but a short time ago. (36) A sudden storm which set in from the
north-east drove several ships from their anchors, and it being low
water, one
of them struck the ground at a considerable distance from the shore, when the sea made a clean breach over her. There was not a vestige of hope for the vessel, such was the fury of the wind and the violence of the waves. There was nothing to tempt the boatmen on shore to risk their lives in saving either ship or crew, for not a farthing of salvage was to be looked for. But the daring intrepidity of the Deal boatmen was not wanting at this critical
moment. No sooner had the brig grounded than Simon Pritchard, one of the many persons assembled along the beach, threw off his coat and called out, "Who will come with me and try to save that crew?"
of them struck the ground at a considerable distance from the shore, when the sea made a clean breach over her. There was not a vestige of hope for the vessel, such was the fury of the wind and the violence of the waves. There was nothing to tempt the boatmen on shore to risk their lives in saving either ship or crew, for not a farthing of salvage was to be looked for. But the daring intrepidity of the Deal boatmen was not wanting at this critical
moment. No sooner had the brig grounded than Simon Pritchard, one of the many persons assembled along the beach, threw off his coat and called out, "Who will come with me and try to save that crew?"
Instantly twenty men sprang forward, with "I will," "and I." But seven only were wanted; and running down a galley punt into the surf, they leaped in and dashed through the breakers, amidst the cheers of those on shore. How the boat lived in such a sea seemed
a miracle; but in a few minutes, impelled by the strong arms of these gallant men, she flew on and reached the stranded ship, "catching her on the top of a wave"; and in less than a quarter of an hour from the time the boat left the shore, the six men who composed the crew of the collier were landed safe on Walmer Beach.
A nobler instance of indomitable courage and disinterested heroism on the part of the Deal boatmen - brave though they are always known to be - perhaps cannot be cited; and we have pleasure in here placing it on record.
Mr. Turnbull, in his work on 'Austria
Fine though this illustration may be of the qualities of the gentleman,
we can match it by another equally good, of two
English navvies in Paris Montmartre ,
bearing a coffin of poplar wood with its cold corpse. Not a soul followed
- not even the living dog of the dead man, if he had one. The day was rainy and
dismal; passers by lifted the hat as is usual when a funeral passes, and that
was all.
At length it passed two English navvies, who found themselves in
Paris on their way from Spain cemetery of Montmartre
Above all, the gentleman is truthful.
He feels that truth is
the "summit of being," and the soul of
rectitude in human affairs.
Lord Chesterfield declared that Truth made the success of a gentleman. The Duke of Wellington, writing to Kellerman, on the subject of prisoners on parole, when opposed to that general in the peninsula, told him that if there was one thing on which an English officer prided himself more than another, excepting his courage, it was his truthfulness. "When English officers," said he, "have given their parole of honour not to escape, be sure they will not break it. Believe me - trust to their word; the word of an English officer is a surer guarantee than the vigilance of sentinels."
True courage
and gentleness go hand in hand. The brave man is generous and forbearant,
never unforgiving and cruel. It was finely said of Sir John Franklin by his
friend Parry, that "he was a man who never turned his back upon a danger,
yet of that tenderness that he would not brush away a
mosquito." A fine trait
of character - truly gentle, and worthy of the spirit of Bayard - was displayed by a French officer in the cavalry combat of El Bodon inSpain England
of character - truly gentle, and worthy of the spirit of Bayard - was displayed by a French officer in the cavalry combat of El Bodon in
Notwithstanding the wail which we occasionally hear for
the chivalry that is gone, our own age has witnessed deeds of bravery and
gentleness - of heroic self-denial and manly tenderness – which are
unsurpassed in history. The events of the last few years have shown that our
countrymen are as yet an undegenerate race. On the bleak plateau of Sebastopol,
in the dripping perilous trenches of that twelvemonth's leaguer, men of all
classes proved themselves worthy of the noble inheritance
of character which
their forefathers have bequeathed to them. But it was in the hour of the great
trial in India Havelock on Lucknow
alone justifies the title which has been awarded to him of, "the Bayard of India." The death of Henry Lawrence - that brave and gentle spirit - his last words before dying, "Let there be no fuss about me; let me be buried WITH THE MEN," - the anxious solicitude
of Sir Colin Campbell to rescue the beleaguered of Lucknow, and to conduct his long train of women and children by night from thence to Cawnpore, which he reached amidst the all but overpowering assault of the enemy, - the care with which he led them across the perilous bridge, never ceasing his charge over them until he had seen the precious convoy safe on the road to Allahabad, and then burst upon the Gwalior contingent like a thunder-clap; - such things make us feel proud of our countrymen and inspire the conviction that the best and purest glow of chivalry is not dead, but vigorously lives among us yet.
alone justifies the title which has been awarded to him of, "the Bayard of India." The death of Henry Lawrence - that brave and gentle spirit - his last words before dying, "Let there be no fuss about me; let me be buried WITH THE MEN," - the anxious solicitude
of Sir Colin Campbell to rescue the beleaguered of Lucknow, and to conduct his long train of women and children by night from thence to Cawnpore, which he reached amidst the all but overpowering assault of the enemy, - the care with which he led them across the perilous bridge, never ceasing his charge over them until he had seen the precious convoy safe on the road to Allahabad, and then burst upon the Gwalior contingent like a thunder-clap; - such things make us feel proud of our countrymen and inspire the conviction that the best and purest glow of chivalry is not dead, but vigorously lives among us yet.
Even the common soldiers proved themselves gentlemen
under their trials. At Agra
The wreck of the BIRKENHEAD off the coast of Africa
on the 27th of February, 1852, affords another memorable illustration
of the chivalrous spirit of common men acting in this nineteenth
century, of which any age might be proud. The vessel was steaming along the African
coast with 472 men and 166 women and children on board.
The men belonged to several regiments then serving at the
When they had all left the ship's side, the commander of the
vessel thoughtlessly called
out, "All those that can swim, jump overboard and make for the
boats." But Captain Wright, of the 91st Highlanders, said,
"No! if you do that, THE BOATS WITH THE
WOMEN MUST BE SWAMPED;" and the brave men stood motionless. There was no boat remaining, and no hope of safety; but not a heart quailed; no one flinched from his duty in that trying moment.
WOMEN MUST BE SWAMPED;" and the brave men stood motionless. There was no boat remaining, and no hope of safety; but not a heart quailed; no one flinched from his duty in that trying moment.
"There was not a murmur nor a cry amongst them," said Captain Wright, a survivor, "until the vessel made her final plunge." Down went the ship, and down went the heroic band, firing A FEU DE JOIE as they sank beneath the waves. Glory and honour to the gentle and the brave! The examples of such men never die, but, like their memories, are immortal.
There are many tests by which a gentleman may be known; but
there is one that never fails - How does he EXERCISE POWER over those subordinate
to him? How does he conduct himself towards
women and children? How does the officer treat his men, the employer his servants,
the master his pupils, and man in every station those who are weaker than himself? The
discretion, forbearance, and kindliness, with which power in such cases
is used, may indeed be regarded as the crucial test of gentlemanly character.
When La Motte was one day passing through a crowd, he accidentally trod upon
the foot of a young fellow, who forthwith struck him on the face: "Ah,
sire," said La Motte, "you will surely be sorry for
what you have done, when you know that
I AM BLIND." He who bullies those who are not in a position to
resist may be a snob, but cannot be a gentleman. He who tyrannizes over the
weak and helpless may be a coward, but no true man.
The tyrant, it has been said, is but a slave turned inside out. Strength, and
the consciousness of
strength, in a right-hearted man, imparts a nobleness to
his character;
but he will be most careful how he uses it; for
"It is excellent To have a giant's strength; but it is tyrannous To
use it like a giant."
Gentleness is indeed the best test of gentlemanliness. A consideration
for the feelings of
others, for his inferiors and dependants as well as his equals, and respect for
their self-
respect, will pervade the true gentleman's whole conduct. He will rather himself suffer a small injury, than by an uncharitable construction of another's behaviour, incur the risk of committing a great wrong. He will be forbearant of the weaknesses, the failings, and the errors, of those whose advantages in life have not been equal to his own. He will be merciful even to his beast. He will not boast of his wealth, or his strength, or his gifts.
respect, will pervade the true gentleman's whole conduct. He will rather himself suffer a small injury, than by an uncharitable construction of another's behaviour, incur the risk of committing a great wrong. He will be forbearant of the weaknesses, the failings, and the errors, of those whose advantages in life have not been equal to his own. He will be merciful even to his beast. He will not boast of his wealth, or his strength, or his gifts.
He will not obtrude his views on others, but speak his mind freely when occasion calls for it. He will not confer favours with a patronizing air. Sir Walter Scott once said of Lord Lothian, "He is a man from whom one may receive a favour, and that's saying a
great deal in these days."
Lord Chatham has said that the gentleman is characterised by his sacrifice
of self and
preference of others to himself in the little daily occurrences of life. In
illustration of this ruling spirit of
considerateness in a noble character, we may cite the anecdote of the gallant Sir
Ralph Abercromby, of whom it is related, that
when mortally wounded in the battle of Aboukir, he was carried in a litter on
board the 'Foudroyant;' and, to ease his pain, a soldier's
blanket was placed under his head, from which he experienced considerable
relief. He asked what it was. "It's only a soldier's blanket," was
the reply. "WHOSE blanket is it?" said he, half lifting himself up.
"Only one of the men's." "I wish to know the
name of the man whose blanket this is." "It is Duncan Roy's,
of the 42nd, Sir Ralph." "Then see that
Duncan Roy gets his blanket this very night." (37)
Even to ease his dying agony the general would not deprive the private
soldier of his blanket for one night. The incident is as good in
its way as that of the dying Sydney
The quaint old Fuller sums up in a few words the character of
the true gentleman
and man of action in describing that of the great admiral, Sir Francis Drake:
"Chaste in his life, just in his dealings, true of
his word; merciful to
those that were under him, and hating nothing
so much as idlenesse; in matters especially of moment, he was never wont to
rely on other men's care, how trusty or skilful soever they might seem to be,
but, always contemning danger, and refusing no toyl, he was wont himself to
be one (whoever was a second) at every turn, where courage, skill, or industry,
was to be employed."
Footnotes:
(1) Napoleon III., 'Life of Caesar.'
(2) Soult received but little education in his youth, and
learnt next to no geography until he became foreign minister of France Paris
(3) 'OEuvres et Correspondance inedite d'Alexis de
Tocqueville. Par Gustave de Beaumont.' I. 398.
(4) "I have seen,"
said he, "a hundred times in the course of my life, a weak man exhibit
genuine public virtue, because supported by a wife who sustained hint in
his course, not so much by advising him to such and such acts, as by exercising
a strengthening influence over
the manner in which duty or even ambition was to be regarded. Much oftener,
however, it must be confessed, have I seen private
and domestic life gradually transform a
man to whom nature had given generosity,
disinterestedness, and even some capacity for greatness, into an ambitious,
mean-spirited, vulgar, and selfish
creature who, in matters relating to his country, ended by considering them only in so far as they rendered his own particular condition more comfortable and easy." - 'OEuvres de Tocqueville.' II. 349.
creature who, in matters relating to his country, ended by considering them only in so far as they rendered his own particular condition more comfortable and easy." - 'OEuvres de Tocqueville.' II. 349.
(5) Since the original publication of this book, the author
has in another work, 'The Lives of Boulton and Watt,' endeavoured to portray in
greater detail the character and achievements of these two remarkable
men.
(6) The following entry, which occurs in the account of
monies disbursed by the burgesses of Sheffield in 1573 [?] is supposed by some
to refer to the inventor of the stocking frame:- "Item given to Willm-Lee,
a poore scholler in Sheafield, towards the setting him to the Universitie of
Chambrydge, and buying him bookes and other furnyture [which money was
afterwards returned] xiii iiii [13s. 4d.]." - Hunter, 'History of
Hallamshire,' 141.
(7) 'History of the Framework Knitters.'
(8) There are, however, other and different accounts. One is
to the effect that
Lee set about studying the contrivance of the stocking-loom for the purpose of
lessening the labour of a young country-girl to whom he was attached, whose
occupation was
knitting; another, that being married and poor, his wife was under the necessity of contributing to their joint support by knitting;and that Lee, while watching the motion of his wife's fingers,conceived the idea of imitating their movements by a machine. The
latter story seems to have been invented by Aaron Hill, Esq., in his 'Account of the Rise and Progress of the Beech Oil manufacture,'London
whereas the invention brought him only a heritage of misery, and he died abroad destitute.
knitting; another, that being married and poor, his wife was under the necessity of contributing to their joint support by knitting;and that Lee, while watching the motion of his wife's fingers,conceived the idea of imitating their movements by a machine. The
latter story seems to have been invented by Aaron Hill, Esq., in his 'Account of the Rise and Progress of the Beech Oil manufacture,'
whereas the invention brought him only a heritage of misery, and he died abroad destitute.
(9) Blackner, 'History of Nottingham .' The
author adds, "We have information, handed down in direct succession from
father to son, that it was not till late in the seventeenth century that one
man could manage the working of a frame. The man who was considered the workman
employed a labourer, who stood behind the frame to work
the slur and pressing motions; but the application of traddles and of the feet eventually rendered the labour unnecessary."
the slur and pressing motions; but the application of traddles and of the feet eventually rendered the labour unnecessary."
(10) Palissy's own words are:- "Le bois m'ayant failli,
je fus contraint brusler les estapes (etaies) qui soustenoyent les tailles de
mon jardin, lesquelles estant bruslees, je fus constraint brusler les tables et
plancher de la maison, afin de faire fonder la seconde composition. J'estois en
une telle angoisse que je ne scaurois dire: car j'estois tout tari et deseche e
cause du labeur et de la chaleur du fourneau; il y avoit plus d'un mois que ma
chemise n'avoit seiche sur moy, encores pour me consoler on se moquoit de moy, et mesme ceux qui me devoient secourir alloient crier par la ville que je faisois brusler le plancher: et par tel moyen l'on me faisoit perdre mon credit et m'estimoit-on estre fol.
Les autres disoient que je cherchois e faire la fausse monnoye, qui estoit un mal qui me faisoit seicher sur les pieds; et m'en allois par les rues tout baisse comme un homme honteux: . . . personne ne me secouroit: Mais au contraire ils se mocquoyent de moy, en
disant: Il luy appartient bien de mourir de faim, par ce qu'il delaisse son mestier. Toutes ces nouvelles venoyent a mes aureilles quand je passois par la rue." 'OEuvres Completes de Palissy. Paris, 1844;' De l'Art de Terre, p. 315.
chemise n'avoit seiche sur moy, encores pour me consoler on se moquoit de moy, et mesme ceux qui me devoient secourir alloient crier par la ville que je faisois brusler le plancher: et par tel moyen l'on me faisoit perdre mon credit et m'estimoit-on estre fol.
Les autres disoient que je cherchois e faire la fausse monnoye, qui estoit un mal qui me faisoit seicher sur les pieds; et m'en allois par les rues tout baisse comme un homme honteux: . . . personne ne me secouroit: Mais au contraire ils se mocquoyent de moy, en
disant: Il luy appartient bien de mourir de faim, par ce qu'il delaisse son mestier. Toutes ces nouvelles venoyent a mes aureilles quand je passois par la rue." 'OEuvres Completes de Palissy. Paris, 1844;' De l'Art de Terre, p. 315.
(11) "Toutes ces fautes m'ont cause un tel lasseur et
tristesse d'esprit, qu'auparavant que j'aye rendu mes emaux fusible e un mesme
degre de feu, j'ay cuide entrer jusques e la porte du sepulchre: aussi en me
travaillant e tels affaires je me suis trouve l'espace de plus se dix ans si fort
escoule en ma personne, qu'il n'y avoit aucune forme ny apparence de bosse aux
bras ny aux jambes: ains estoyent mes dites jambes toutes d'une venue: de
sorte que les liens de quoy j'attachois mes bas de chausses estoyent, soudain que je cheminois, sur les talons avec le residu de mes chausses." - 'OEuvres, 319-20.
sorte que les liens de quoy j'attachois mes bas de chausses estoyent, soudain que je cheminois, sur les talons avec le residu de mes chausses." - 'OEuvres, 319-20.
(12) At the sale of Mr. Bernal's articles of vertu in
London
(13) Within the last few months, Mr. Charles Read, a
gentleman curious in matters of protestant
antiquarianism in France
(14) D'Aubigne, 'Histoire Universelle.' The
historian adds, "Voyez l'impudence de ce bilistre! vous diriez qu'il
auroit lu ce vers de Seneque: 'On ne peut contraindre celui qui sait mourir: QUI
MORI SCIT, cogi nescit.'"
(15) The subject of Palissy's life and labours has been ably
and elaborately treated by Professor Morley in his well-known work. In the
above brief narrative we have for the most part followed Palissy's own account
of his experiments as given in his 'Art de
Terre.'
Terre.'
(16) "Almighty God, the great Creator, Has changed a
goldmaker to a potter."
(17) The whole of the Chinese and Japanese porcelain was
formerlyknown as
Indian porcelain - probably because it was first brought by the Portuguese from
India to Europe, after the
discovery of the Cape of Good Hope
by Vasco da Gama.
(18) 'Wedgwood: an Address delivered at Burslem, Oct.
26th,1863.' By the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, M.P.
(19) It was characteristic of
Mr. Hume, that, during his professional voyages between England and India, he
should diligently apply his spare time to the study of navigation and seamanship;
and many years after, it proved of use to him in a remarkable manner. In 1825,
when on his passage from London to Leith by a sailing smack, the vessel had
scarcely cleared the mouth of the Thames when a sudden storm came on, she was
driven out of her course, and, in the darkness of the night, she struck on the Goodwin
Sands. The captain, losing his presence of mind, seemed incapable
of giving coherent orders, and it is probable that the vessel would have become
a total wreck, had not one of the passengers suddenly taken the command and
directed the working of the ship, himself taking
the helm while the danger lasted. The vessel was saved, and the stranger was
Mr. Hume.
(20) 'Saturday Review,' July 3rd, 1858.
(21) Mrs. Grote's 'Memoir of the Life of Ary Scheffer,' p.
67.
(22) While the sheets of this revised edition are passing
through the press, the announcement appears in the local papers of the death of
Mr. Jackson at the age of fifty. His last work, completed shortly before his death, was a cantata,
entitled 'The Praise of
Music.' The above particulars of his early life were communicated by himself to the author several years since, while he was still carrying on his business of a tallow-chandler at Masham.
Music.' The above particulars of his early life were communicated by himself to the author several years since, while he was still carrying on his business of a tallow-chandler at Masham.
(23) Mansfield Scotland
to London England
performed with unsurpassed ability, justice, and honour.
performed with unsurpassed ability, justice, and honour.
(24) On 'Thought and Action.'
(25) 'Correspondance de Napoleon Ier.,' publiee par ordre de
l'Empereur Napoleon III, Paris
(26) The recently published correspondence of Napoleon with
his brother Joseph, and the Memoirs of the Duke of Ragusa
anything at all, he knew how to feed an army.
anything at all, he knew how to feed an army.
(27) His old gardener. Collingwood's favourite amusement was
gardening. Shortly after the battle of Trafalgar a brother admiral called upon
him, and, after searching for his lordship all over the garden, he at last
discovered him, with old Scott, in the bottom of a deep trench which they were
busily employed in digging.
(28) Article in the 'Times.'
(29) 'Self-Development: an Address to Students,' by George
Ross, M.D., pp. 1-20, reprinted from the 'Medical Circular.' This address,
to which we acknowledge our obligations, contains many admirable thoughts on self-culture,
is thoroughly healthy in its tone, and well deserves republication in an
enlarged form.
(30) 'Saturday Review.'
(32) Late Professor of Moral Philosophy at St. Andrew's.
(33) A writer in the 'Edinburgh French
Military College
of Angers." It
is not improbable that a competitive examination, at this day, might have
excluded him from the army.
(34) Correspondent of 'The Times,' 11th June, 1863.
(35) Robertson's 'Life and Letters,' i. 258.
(36) On the 11th January, 1866.
(37) Brown's 'Horae Subsecivae.'
The End
