Republished by Mr. W. C. Hazlitt in his edition of The Round Table (Bohn, 1871). Nos. I.–X. appeared in The Atlas on Sept. 27, 1829; Nos. XI.–XVII. on Oct. 4, 1829. The following additional ‘Trifle’ (XVIII.) appeared in Bohn’s Library, though not in the Magazine: ‘The French Revolutionists in the “Reign of Terror,” with Robespierre at their head, made one grand mistake. They really thought that by getting rid of the patrons and abettors of the ancient régime they should put an end to the breed of tyrants and slaves; whereas in order to do this it would be necessary to put an end to the whole human race.’
PAGE [372]. It was merely a fashion, etc. See Byron’s letter to Murray on Bowles and Pope (Letters, etc., ed. Prothero, V. 553 and note). ‘Procrastination,’ etc. Young, Night Thoughts, I. 393. [375]. ‘Ears polite.’ Pope, Moral Essays, IV. 150. ‘Inconstant moon.’ Romeo and Juliet, II. 2.
COMMON SENSE
Now republished for the first time.
PAGE [377]. ‘Its price,’ etc. Cf. Job xxviii. 18. ‘Fairly worth the seven.’ Pope, Moral Essays, IV. 44. ‘Comes home,’ etc. Bacon, Essays, Dedication. [378]. ‘Fear,’ etc. Cowper, The Task, II. 325. Commodore Trunnion, etc. See Peregrine Pickle, Chap. viii. [379]. ‘They have,’ etc. Cf. Julius Cæsar, Act II. Sc. 1. [380]. ‘Crack,’ etc. ‘The father cracks of horses, pleughs, and kye.’ Burns, Cotter’s Saturday Night, St. VIII. Phlegmatic C——. Hazlitt probably refers to Cobbett. Cf. a passage in Table-Talk (vol. VI. p. 102).
THE SPIRIT OF CONTROVERSY
Now republished for the first time.
[381]. ‘Envy,’ etc. Cf. ‘From envy, hatred, and malice, and all uncharitableness.’ The Litany. [383]. ‘Root of the matter.’ Job xix. 28. ‘Their hearts,’ etc. Cf. S. Luke xxiv. 32. ‘A coil and pudder.’ See ante, notes to pp. 309 and 335. Mr. Taylor’s discourses. Robert Taylor (1784–1844), the notorious deistical clergyman, who, early in 1828, had been sentenced to a year’s imprisonment for a blasphemous discourse. The Duke of Newcastle. The fourth Duke (1785–1851), a violent opponent of Catholic Emancipation passed by Wellington’s ministry in 1829. ‘Strange,’ etc. Byrom, On the Feuds between Handel and Bononcini. [384]. ‘Like a thick scarf,’ etc. See ante, note to p. 82. ‘Whose edge,’ etc. Cymbeline, Act III. Sc. 4. ‘Of whatsoe’er descent,’ etc. Dryden, Absalom and Achitophel, I. 100–3.
ENVY
Republished in Sketches and Essays.