ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO
" England " I why, who cares for her—except the Chartists? Perhaps Lord John Russell does ; because the House of Bedford stands upon England, as the world does upon the tortoise in the Hindu cosmogony. But as to any patriotism—it is a schoolboy's virtue, and Englishmen have outgrown it. Are we not " tranquil " at home? Is not trade reviving?— at least the Chancellor of the Exchequer has said so. Does not the tea come up to breakfast every morning ; is not the cream from Richmond punctual ; are there signs of decay about M. Soyer's regime ; does the Carlton pale in its magnificent luxury ; are there not two operas ; have rents fallen in Belgrave Square or in Buckingham? In short, is not the country prosperous? What more then? what next? The Chartists arc quiet. Ireland is put down, even by Lord John and his Cabinet. Possibly, indeed, those who look below the surface may descry in the labour question—Pooh! who talks about that, except Carlyle or the Communists? Leave that subject to them. And as to England—vast abstractionl—never tiOuble your head about her. She is the Toots of nations, and declares of everything, by her Representatives asul their demeanour, that "it's of no consequence."
(From the Spectator of June 23rd, 1849.)
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