But the lining is now no better (oftentimes worse) than the coat. Our principles and our politeness are on a par—at low-water mark. The tradesman lives like the gentleman, and the nobleman steps down a degree to be, like other people, up to all fashionable habits and modern customs; whilst the love for gain, at the clubs, on the turf, in the ring, and in private life, debases one part of society, and puts down the other, which becomes the pigeon to the rook. Whilst all this goes on, the press chronicles and invents follies for us; and there are men stupid enough to glory in their depravity, to be pleased with their own deformity of mind, body, or dress, of their affectations, and their leading of a party. There is something manly in the Yacht Club, in a dexterously driving four fleet horses in hand, in reining in the proud barb, and in gymnastic exercises: but the whole merit of these ceases, when my Lord (like him of carroty beard) becomes the tar without his glory, and wears the check shirt without the heart of oak—when the driver becomes the imitator of the stage and hackney box—when the rider is the unsuccessful rival of the jockey; and the frequenter of the gymnastic arena becomes a bruiser, or one turning strength into money, be the bet or the race what it may.
'Shades of our ancestors! whose fame of old
In ev'ry time the echoing world has told!
Whose dauntless valour and heroic deeds,
Each British bosom yet enraptur'd reads!
Deeds, which in ev'ry country, clime, and age,
Have fill'd the poet's and historian's page;
Of ev'ry muse the theme, and ev'ry pen:
Ye I invoke! and ye, my countrymen,
If British blood yet flows within your veins,
If for your country aught of love remains,
O make your first, your chief, your only care,
That which first rais'd and made you what you were.'"
CHELTONIAN CHARACTERS.
A TRIP TO THE SPAS.
CHAPTER I.
Bernard Blackmantle and Bob Transit pay a Visit to the
Chelts—Privileges of a Spy—Alarm at Chelten-him—The rival
Editors—The setting of a great Son—How to sink in
Popularity and Respect—A noble Title—An old Flame—
Poetical jeu d'esprit, by Vinegar Penn—Muriatic Acid—An
Attorney-General's Opinion on Family Propensities given
without a Fee!!—The Cheltenham Dandy, or the Man in the
Cloak, a Sketch from the Life-Noble Anecdote of the Fox-
hunting Parson—Bury-ing alive at Berkeley—Public
Theatricals in private—"A Michaelmas Preachment," by an
Honest Reviewer—A few Words for Ourselves—The Grand
Marshall—Interesting Story of a former M. C.
"Oh, I've been to countries rare;
Seen such sights, 'twould make you stare."