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royal manner in advance. Besides, his travels in Europe have made him much the superior of those country-bred youths and damsels. He has seen life and is a deep philosopher. He has long since learned to look upon human life as a comedy where A.'s business is to make love to the wife of B., and where clearing out the pockets of C. at cards, is the most rational employment to which D. can dedicate his time and talents. His religious opinions are not decided in their character, but he is rather inclined to think the Established Church what we moderns call a humbug-an opinion, however, which, be it said to the credit of his common sense, he has far too much tact to advance in the presence of his Church of England sire. He has not yet forgotten the unpleasant feelings he experienced some years since when the gold-headed cane was applied vigorously to his shoulders by the irate Squire. He preserves, therefore, a politic silence on the subject of religion, and goes willingly to church, where, lounging in the velvet-cushioned pew, he amuses himself by staring out of countenance the young damsels from the neighborhood who are criticising under cover of their silken hoods, the returned traveller's appearance:-or, tired of this, composes himself in a graceful attitude to quiet sleep, lulled pleasantly by Parson Ty the tobacco's drowsy homilies.

But if Master Hopeful's opinions on Religion were undefined, which sprung naturally from his never having thought upon the subject, his criticisms on dress and fashion, literature and art, displayed the knowledge of a master. In art, he was an adept: he could talk of "coloring" and "effect," "interiors" and "perspective" by the hour: he approved unconditionally of Sir Godfrey Kneller's style in portrait-painting, and was reported to have once descended to a favorable criticism of some comic sketches shown to him privately by a young painter of the name of Hogarth. If you could believe him, he had been hand in glove with all the literary men of the Town, and he threw out at times mysterious intimations that the finest papers in the "Spectator" were by no less a personage than himself. Joe Addison, and Dick Steele, as he called them with an easy, careless familiarity, were his fast friends; the three were inseparable night and morning, he said, and this was so far true that they met often in the Play-house, where jovial Sir Richard had once borrowed ten guineas of him, and serene Mr. Joseph Addison had said on one occasion to him: "From Virginia, VOL. III.-18

sir? 'tis doubtless a fair land to live in: commend me to your worthy father, whose relatives in England here have done me many gracious acts of kindness." But if again in art and literature his parts shone with great brilliance, in all matters connected with dress his merits entitled him to the praise due to a great genius. Here he was Sir Oracle: when he opened his mouth, no one could speak, much less controvert him. He was learned in costume, as a great scholar is in languages or philosophy. He would hold forth on the subject to admiring audiences for hoursflowing on serenely master of his subject and triumphing in the superiority his knowledge of the subject gave him over the barbarian inhabitants of the Colony. What a barbarous place Virginia was! The men still wore the sword-belt over the coat, and hanging down on the left side instead of underneath, and covered up from view. Unfortunate provincials! he felt no contempt for one guilty of such a thing: he pitied him! Some of the women still raised those preposterous towers of curls upon their heads gone out of fashion at least a month ago, and wore no hoops, now universally used by the fair dames of London. Poor country girls!-they would be the laughter and ironical delight of London gallants and beauties. If ever Master Hopeful dedicates himself to a great object in life it will be reform in the barbarian costume of his countrymen and women:-and as the first step in this elevated enterprise, he shows them in his own person what a gentleman of fashion and distinction looks like. He is a model worthy of imitation. Look at him! He wears a powdered peruke which falls down in a queue behind, two feet long, and is tied with a long orange-colored ribbon. His cheeks, gently rubbed by the "drop curls" of the wig, are slightly rouged, a fashion just imported, and are as rosy and femininelooking, contrasted with the aristocratic whiteness of the forehead, as those of a young girl. His lace is Flanders or Point de Venise, of marvellous fineness and as yellow as saffron: his vest is gold-flowered velvet: his coat heavy with embroidery and with ample cuffs which turn back to the elbow, and are stiff with ornaments all worked in silver thread: his hands are cased in delicate fringed gloves, and not seldom hold a small fashionable muff of leopard skin: his pantaloons are of blue satin, and his scarlet silk stockings are held up by red velvet garters, clasped with diamond buckles. Add Spanish leather shoes with heels two or three inches.

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their manhood with those curls, and cheek doubtful so completely had they disguised Able bi to assume easily ing from the cariest ages of the world: Astable attitude and the once fairy scattered, these youths were

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places as sturdy country gentlemen; Be babits of the young squire passed away soon, and they took their www.smble very closely that colorings and ladies' muffs; pairs rarely visits the digestions; ruddy faces, not red with sking He does not attend planters with hard muscles and strong an amusment only fit for country gentle talk" in abundance, when their neighbors amaty arts and considers fox-hunting rouge but exercise; unskilled in the pursuits and igno- came to chat with them over their wine;

with " plantation

and a decided propensity for sitting in their

and committing trespassers or other male

dandles in bed in the morning, takes great dining rooms as solemn Justices, pearance at the breakfast-table when the factors; and presiding "with beard of

formal cut" at county courts, and laying down the law there dictatorially; their

ful snuff-box with a picture on the lid, pompous, wordy discourses "full of wise

saws and modern instances." Alas! the young blade soon became recreant to that

him forth like a missionary, to make civilized Christians of the barbarians of

trils with a delicate grace, which displays splendid London circle, which had sent

the diamond rings upon his fingers to the best advantage: he does not like snuff, with such violence that his peruke be the London gallants and literary men, to comes awry. But it is the fashion among cal and knowing. He never visits Middle smear the upper lip with it-it looks critiPlantation without his snuff-box and narther, and small muff such as the ladies joyously; and nourished, in full force and row-edged cocked hat, with its bright fea

and never partakes of it without sneezing Virginia. He took off deliberately his

Spanish leather slippers, and donned his father's old serviceable shoes, which he "stood in" thenceforth as the head of the house. Abjuring his former skepticism, he became an intolerant advocate and upholder of the union between Church and State; rode, to cover with his neighbors

vigor, that good old English contempt for common people which had been taught him as an article of his Creed of Gentle

Master Hopeful in the third generation runs the same course, except that Virginia has now a college of its own, and he does not visit England. He is quite as extravagant, however, as his father was; and if the old gentleman, with fatherly seriousness, takes him to task for the heavy drains on the paternal purse his losses at cards oc

with much grace and ease, as he handles gracefully and with ease the small sword. These things are a part of his superior tions and accomplishments, the youthful casion, the young man points to the poreducation. In addition to all these attracoften sitting up all night at tictac with hope of his house plays well-and deep; his admiring friends, and rising next morning or afternoon with empty or full pockets, and that buzzing in the cars and swimming of the head which even the best Rhenish and Claret, taken in excess, are apt to visit on their votaries.

trait of a gay gallant on the wall, whose elderly original now stands before him, and asks with great interest the names of the chief wits and beauties of the time of. good Queen Anne. But he, in turn, forswears his old companions, and horseracing and revelling, and settles down the same sturdy planter, with the same creed of gentleman but now spoken of. Then comes the Revolution, and the brave worthies rising everywhere like a single man against the oppression of England." These were the men who set in motion the ball of the Revolution, and ever propelled it onward with their stalwart shoulders, who poured out their blood as

freely as they gave their means; who, throwing aside all affection, as all fear for England, risked every thing in life, and gained by that devotion-what?

For us many things; and for themselves-what for their great self-sacrificing patriotism they deserve-a charitable view of their faults and failings. Not a concealment of their faults-not silence when after speaking of the bright portions of the picture, the shadows come to be adverted to in their turn. History based upon such theory were a mere party pamphlet, a mockery of what it should be. But at least we need not dwell bitterly on that conspicuous weakness, any more than on their religious intolerance, and

other narrow views of life and government. It was the fault as much of their fathers and the times, as of themselves. Dead and gone long ago, they may stiil speak to us from the dust, and teach us many noble precepts-as fidelity to the land, self-sacrificing patriotism, honesty in all things. Americans of the present day and hour are not pure enough to turn from such precepts, thanking God they are not as those men. Let the world take the lesson which those dead lives give it, thankfully; let it admire that great vigorous past wherever it is possible -not seek to drag it down, rather endeavor to rise up superior to it.

MEN OF CHARACTER.

THERE is nothing we more quickly recog

nize in an individual than character; and we hardly know of any thing, so palpable to the senses, that is so hard to define clearly. It is much easier to tell who have, and who have it not, than what it is. Great intellect alone, does not give it, nor great intellect combined with great moral worth. Goldsmith was almost wholly devoid of it; Bacon, Rousseau, and Sheridan, had but very little of it; Bolingbroke, Burke, and Pitt, a good deal. Chesterfield, the "perfect gentleman," and Dr. Johnson, the "respectable Hottentot," both had a large share of it. Bonaparte had much more genius than Frederick the Great; but, as we think, less character. The Duke of Marlborough had a fair share of it, but very much less than his extraordinary wife. The Tudors all had a good deal of it; the Stuarts were all wanting in it. Cæsar had it in an almost unprecedented degree; Brutus and Cicero had but little, especially the latter. The words Shakspeare puts into the mouth of Cæsar, give an imperfect idea of it.

"I could be well moved, if I were as you:

If I could pray to move, prayers would move me;
But I am constant as the Northern Star,
Of whose true fixed and resting quality,
There is no fellow in the firmament.
The skies are painted with unnumbered sparks;
They are all fire, and every one doth shine;
But there's but one in all doth hold his place:
So in the world. 'Tis furnished well with men,
And men are flesh and blood, and apprehensive;
Yet, in the number, I do know but one
That unassailable holds on his rank
Unshaked of motion."

Character is what involuntarily commands respect. It implies something more than great capacity and great learning. It is what makes itself felt, whether its owner be clothed in rags, or in purple and fine linen. It is sometimes associated with vanity, but generally separated from it. Pride and self-reliance almost always accompany it. Its possessor is not easily moved by either censure or applause, and is utterly indifferent to what Mrs. Grundy will say. He is not elated by little distinctions and honors that may be conferred upon him, and cares nothing for the loss of them: Character must be associated with great firmness and decision, and the man who has it will not be turned from his course by any amount of abuse, ridicule, or 6: paper bullets of the brain.". "My people and I," said Frederick the Great, "have come to an agreement which satisfies us both. They are to say what they please, and I am to do what I please." And he suffered all sorts of lampoons and satires to be written upon him. Even the terrible sneers of Voltaire, when directed against him after their quarrel, he suffered to be sold by the booksellers, in his own city, with impunity. Bonaparte, on the contrary, was cut to the quick by the newspaper attacks of the English press upon him, and would suffer no jest at his expense to be published in his own kingdom.

The man who has character must be independent, fearless, and discriminating in his judgment. He is not influenced by the position a man holds, or the clothes

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high, which enable him to assume easily the fashionable tiptoe attitude, and the social Adonis of the Eighteenth Century is before you.

His costume, it is very plain from this sketch, does not resemble very closely that of his father; the habits of the young squire Idiffer from those of his father in a manner no less striking. He does not attend to plantation affairs, rarely visits the county courts, and considers fox-hunting an amusement only fit for country gentlemen, unskilled in the pursuits, and ignorant of the delights of good society. He dawdles in bed in the morning, takes three hours to dress, and makes his appearance at the breakfast-table when the rest of the world are getting ready to go to dinner. He takes snuff from a beautiful snuff-box with a picture on the lid, which had better not be spoken of further, and applies the aromatic dust to his nostrils with a delicate grace, which displays the diamond rings upon his fingers to the best advantage: he does not like snuff, and never partakes of it without sneezing with such violence that his peruke be comes awry. But it is the fashion among the London gallants and literary men, to smear the upper lip with it-it looks critical and knowing. He never visits Middle Plantation without his snuff-box and narrow-edged cocked hat, with its bright feather, and small muff such as the ladies used. He salutes his Lordship the Governor with ease and politeness, and will even dance a gavotte or minuet if he meets with some young damsel whose dress and style of conversation please his critical taste; though his oft-expressed opinion of the minuet is not favorable to the claims of that divertisement. Still he dances with much grace and ease, as he handles gracefully and with ease the small sword. These things are a part of his superior education. In addition to all these attractions and accomplishments, the youthful hope of his house plays well-and deep; often sitting up all night at tictac with his admiring friends, and rising next morning or afternoon with empty or full pockets, and that buzzing in the ears and swimming of the head which even the best Rhenish and Claret, taken in excess, are apt to visit on their votaries.

But enough of young Master Hopeful: the difference between himself and his sturdy sire is very plain. It remains, however, to be said, that these follies did not very long survive the return of the English-educated youths to their colonial homes. They were mere wild oats, such as young men have been engaged in sow

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ing from the earliest ages of the world: once fairly scattered, these youths were men again." Before, their very sex was doubtful, so completely had they disguised their manhood with those curls, and cheek colorings, and ladies' muffs; that all passed away soon, and they took their places as sturdy country gentlemen; honest planters with hard muscles and strong digestions; ruddy faces, not red with rouge but exercise; with plantation talk" in abundance, when their neighbors came to chat with them over their wine; and a decided propensity for sitting in their great dining rooms as solemn Justices, and committing trespassers or other malefactors; and presiding "with beard of formal cut" at county courts, and laying down the law there dictatorially; their pompous, wordy discourses "full of wise saws and modern instances." Alas! the young blade soon became recreant to that splendid London circle, which had sent him forth like a missionary, to make civilized Christians of the barbarians of Virginia. He took off deliberately his Spanish leather slippers, and donned his father's old serviceable shoes, which he "stood in" thenceforth as the head of the house. Abjuring his former skepticism, he became an intolerant advocate and upholder of the union between Church and State; rode, to cover with his neighbors joyously; and nourished, in full force and vigor, that good old English contempt for common people which had been taught him as an article of his Creed of Gentle

man.

Master Hopeful in the third generation runs the same course, except that Virginia has now a college of its own, and he does not visit England. He is quite as extravagant, however, as his father was; and if the old gentleman, with fatherly seriousness, takes him to task for the heavy drains on the paternal purse his losses at cards occasion, the young man points to the portrait of a gay gallant on the wall, whose elderly original now stands before him, and asks with great interest the names of the chief wits and beauties of the time of good Queen Anne. But he, in turn, forswears his old companions, and horseracing and revelling, and settles down the same sturdy planter, with the same creed of gentleman but now spoken of. Then comes the Revolution, and the brave worthies rising everywhere like a single man against the oppression of England." These were the men who set in motion the ball of the Revolution, and ever propelled it onward with their stalwart shoulders, who poured out their blood as

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freely as they gave their means; who, throwing aside all affection, as all fear for England, risked every thing in life, and gained by that devotion-what?

For us many things; and for themselves-what for their great self-sacrificing patriotism they deserve-a charitable view of their faults and failings. Not a concealment of their faults-not silence when after speaking of the bright portions of the picture, the shadows come to be adverted to in their turn. History based upon such theory were a mere party pamphlet, a mockery of what it should be. But at least we need not dwell bitterly on that conspicuous weakness, any more than on their religious intolerance, and

other narrow views of life and government. It was the fault as much of their fathers and the times, as of themselves. Dead and gone long ago, they may stiil speak to us from the dust, and teach us many noble precepts-as fidelity to the land, self-sacrificing patriotism, honesty in all things. Americans of the present day and hour are not pure enough to turn from such precepts, thanking God they are not as those men. Let the world take the lesson which those dead lives give it, thankfully; let it admire that great vigorous past wherever it is possible -not seek to drag it down, rather endeavor to rise up superior to it.

MEN OF CHARACTER.

HERE is nothing we more quickly recogTHERE nize in an individual than character; and we hardly know of any thing, so palpable to the senses, that is so hard to define clearly. It is much easier to tell who have, and who have it not, than what it is. Great intellect alone, does not give it, nor great intellect combined with great moral worth. Goldsmith was almost wholly devoid of it; Bacon, Rousseau, and Sheridan, had but very little of it; Bolingbroke, Burke, and Pitt, a good deal. Chesterfield, the "perfect gentleman," and Dr. Johnson, the "respectable Hottentot," both had a large share of it.

Character is what involuntarily commands respect. It implies something more than great capacity and great learning. It is what makes itself felt, whether its owner be clothed in rags, or in purple and fine linen. It is sometimes associated with vanity, but generally separated from it. Pride and self-reliance almost always accompany it. Its possessor is not easily moved by either censure or applause, and is utterly indifferent to what Mrs. Grundy will say. He is not elated by little distinctions and honors that may be conferred upon him, and cares nothing for the loss of them: Character must be associated with great firmness and decision, and the man who has it will not be turned from his course by any amount of abuse, ridicule, or paper bullets of the brain.". "My people and I," said Frederick the Great, "have come to an agreement which satisfies us both. They are to say what they please, and I am to do what I please." And he suffered all sorts of lampoons and satires to be written upon him. Even the terrible sneers of Voltaire, when directed against him after their quarrel, he suffered to be sold by the booksellers, in his own city, with impunity. Bonaparte, on the contrary, was cut to the quick by the newspaper attacks of the English press upon him, and would suffer no jest at his expense to be published in his own kingdom.

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