MR. GLADSTONE'S DICTION.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTLTOR.t'.1
SIR,—In the Spectator of November 7th Mr. Tollemache gives Mr. Gladstone the credit of inventing the phrase "bag and baggage." The phrase is at least as old as Sterne; see "Tristram Shandy," Vol. I., chap. 18, where Mr. Shandy, sen., is delivering himself of his opinions on the distemper in the body national which sent a current of men and money to the Metropolis. "Was I an absolute prince," he would say "I would appoint able men at every avenue of my metropolis who should take cognisance of every fool's business who came there; and if upon a fair and candid hearing it appeared not of weight sufficient to leave his own home and come up
bag and baggage they should all be sent back like vagrants as they were," &c.—I am, Sir, &c., F. B. E.
Previous page
