ra mouth-Lord! to see the impudence means nothing but the Bench of Bishof some women.' ops; when we know that their morals The pith and marrow of the whole consist, for the most part, in a secret work is concentrated in the next pas- and practical contempt of their own sage. It is a compendium of liberal professions, and for the least and best sentiments, as taught in the most ap- part, of a few dull examples of someproved liberal schools, but expressed thing a little more honest, clapped in in terms so mysterious, that we can front to make a show and a screen, and only ascertain its meaning by compa- weak enough to be made tools against ring it with other parts of the work, all mankind; and when we know, to as well as its general tenor, and with crown all, that their legitimacy, as they the avowed and published sentiments call it, is the most unlawful of all lawof the authors, and the objects of their less and impudent things, tending, panegyric, especially the late Mr Shel- under pretence that the whole world ley, whom they call“ one of the noblest is as corrupt and ignorant as themof human beings,” and who appears to selves, to put it at the mercy of the most be the person meant by “ the accom- brute understandings among themplished scholar and friend who was to men, by their very education in these have shared their task.” Some of the pretensions, rendered least fit to symauthor's purposes and principles he pathize with their fellow men, and as first announces as what have been in- unhappy, after all, as the lowest of their puted to him by somebody or another, slaves ;-when we know all this, and he does not say who; and wou see nine-tenths of all the intelligent ther be thought to disclaim than to men in the world alive to it, and as reavow them. Amongst these are " hos- solved as we are to oppose it, then, intility to religion, morals, and every deed, we are willing to accept the title thing that is legitimate.” In these few of enemies to religion, morals, and lewords the sum and substance of all gitimacy, and hope to do our duty with Liberal principles are comprised, and all becoming profaneness according. it was judicious to place them fore- ly.”—This is sad prosing, and if I an most. When he comes to particulars, mistaken in the guess I have hazarded, his riddles become harder to solve. a rigmarole without head or tail. But His meaning must be gathered from let it be granted that the ministers of the enmity he avows against the con- religion are the hypocrites and preduct and sentiments of some nameless tended teachers, and that it is what is parties. Could we guess who they are, taught and practised by them, their the mystery is cleared up. When he “religion, morals, and legitimacy,” of tells us, “ there is not a greater set of which he accepts the title of the enehypocrites in the world than these pre- my, and hopes to combat with all betended teachers of the honest and in- coming profaneness," and then we beexperienced part of our countrymen,” gin to know what to make of a great we are no wiser than before, unless we part of it. Every man can say for himknow who the pretended teachers are; self whether or not this is a just deand this is a mystery involved in stu- scription of his minister's preaching died obscurity. To give meaning to and practice, and I need say nothing what follows, it must be conjectured about it. that the pretended teachers are the mi- It is a remark that should be kept nisters of religion, especially those of in mind on perusing Liberal producthe established church. This may be tions, that in all such compositions, denied-and if the proof rests wholly from the single sheet to the most mason any thing distinctly or directly ex- sy volume, the Bishops, or the “Bench pressed in the passage itself, to deny of Bishops," is a figure of speech meanis to disprove it; but hear and judge ing the Church of which the Bishops for yourselves. I would beg my pu- are the governors, and every thing perpil's pardon for the length of the ex- taining to, or connected with it. Those tract, but it will enable us to get on who aspire to be liberal in the exwithout long quotations afterwards.- treme, extend its meaning to all reli“ When we know that their religion, gion whatever. But what does our when it is in earnest on any point, prefacer mean by “ NINE-TENTHS of (which is very seldom), means the most all the intelligent men in the world?" ridiculous and untenable notions of the The authors of The Liberal must sureDivine Being, and in all other cases ly know that they have a right, sanc 1823.] The Candid. No. I. 113 tioned by universal usage, to claim for structed us to think and believe in His their party (however small, worthless, Holy Word!” and contemptible it may be in reality) Who are the slaves and turn-coats All that is estimable in the world; whose morality our pious and liberal and, since it is necessary to acknow- author deprecates, I pretend not to ledge that it does not include every guess. It may be, that no particular body, to treat the rest as an inconsi. persons are meant; but all independderable party, so dull, so perverse, or ent men who refuse the yoke of a party so wicked, that it is in vain to reason are the slaves, and all who are constant with them. to honest principles are the turn-coats. Is not the party in whose service The But it would be great dulness to find Liberal is written, the same who some any difficulty, and gross affectation to time since styled themselves “ EVERY pretend a doubt, about the “ half-doenlightened man in Europe," and more zen old gentlemen to whom human nalately, “ the liberal party all over the ture is an estate in fee.” I pass over world ?” Why, then, do they give up the nonsense of human nature being an a tithe of them? Methinks if a tenth, estate in fee ; for, as a literary producor a smaller proportion than a tenth, tion, the pages I am searching are far of all the intelligent men in the world below criticism. The first of the lawbelongs to us, we are entitled, for their less old gentlemen, doubtless, is our sakes, to a little more respect than the own good and gracious Sovereign ; for, Liberals usually express for us. What in the eye of sturdy Liberalism, to be proportion of enlightened men, or whe- King of England, both by right and ther any, belong to us, is a question in possession, is of all crimes the most inwhich I am not personally concerned. expiable. The other five are the moI am neither Liberal nor enlightened narchs who evince the most sincere myself. The old light of reason and desire to live in peace and friendship common sense, and the new light of with our King and country; for, to be Liberalism, seem to possess the property a king any where, is a crime only exof extinguishing each other, so that piable by becoming the determined both cannot at one time illuminate the enemy of liberty and Old England. same skull. This, indeed, is a merit that would exThe author proceeds forth with to piate any crime, and make a man a give a specimen of the“ becoming pro- hero with the Liberal party all over faneness which he promised to his the world,” though he were seated on “ intelligent” readers. I feel a repug- the greatest throne of the worldl; nay, nance to the task of transcribing the even though he were the legitimate remaining sentence of the passage last possessor of that throne; but much quoted, for it is not with his blasphemies more if he had waded to it through or his profanities that I venture to med- the blood of slaughtered millions, and dle. It is only his illiberalities or li- raised himself by deeds which men not beralisms, (take which word you like hardened by a course of Liberalism best) that are to my purpose. There shudder to think of. is such a display of both in what fol- The preface thus proceeds: " The - lows, that I cannot pass it over. “ God object of our work is not political," defend us from the piety of thinking [the pleasure conveyed by the informahim a monster !—God defend us from tion in the first clause of the sentence the morality of slaves and turn-coats, was instantly dispelled,]'"except inasand from the legitimacy of half-a-dozen much as all writing now-a-days must lawless old gentlemen, to whom, it involve something to that effect, the seems, human nature is an estate in connexion between politics and all fee.” other subjects of interest to mankind “ God defend us from the piety of having been discovered, never again to thinking him a monster !” Shocking be done away." Having been discoexpression ! Yet, to the matter of this vered! who made the discovery? and, petition, a pious man can say, Amen. who are they that assent to the truth - God defend us from thinking of him of it? Nobody, I believe, but politicas the authors of Cain and Queen Mab struck maniacs, who have been bit by would teach us to think !-May we a mad pamphleteer or news-writer. I ever be enabled to think and to believe might doubt whether I should call of our gracious Creator, as he has in- this a liberal idea, never having before met with it in word or writing, but that I have frequently observed Libe rals to be politic-struck. We have a practical proof of it, in those liberal and enlightened bodies and individuals who ascribe natural calamities, and such moral and physical evils as kings and laws can neither cause nor cure, to political causes. It is the observation of a philosopher whose name is invoked by the author, and with whose writings he may not be wholly unacquainted, that "if a man be given up to the contemplation of one sort of knowledge, that will become every thing. An alchymist shall reduce divinity to the maxims of his laboratory, and explain morality by sal, sulphur, and mercury." What alchymy was to Mr Locke's enthusiast, politics may be to the votary of Liberalism. There is no disputing about tastes, or accounting for them. I have seen a man rub the hot plate which he was to eat his steak off, with assafoetida; and have been reproached for my want of taste in declining to partake of the same delicacy. When wearied by the perusal of a political work, or after being bored by company whose whole conversation smacks of political economy, and the papers of the day, if I turn to an article in a magazine or review that promises relief by its title, and there meet with any thing that shews the author's head so to run over with filthy politics, that it must mingle with every thing that drops from it, I hastily throw it aside and have recourse to a battledor and shuttlecock, as the more rational and polite recreation of the two. I advise this preface-writer not to rub the plates of his readers with the assafoetida of Liberalism on all occasions, for even the few who relish the flavour with a steak, may loathe it in a fricassee or ragout. Let him think of this before he publishes again, if he wishes to be read; for he may be assured that R. S. represents no small or inconsiderable portion of the reading world. After some words about "Poetry, essays, tales, translations, and amenities," that shew the connection between politics and all other subjects to be intimate in the author's brain, he lets his readers into the knowledge of a grand secret another discovery! "There are other things in the world besides kings, or even sycophants." What a happiness it is to the age to possess a genius whose researches bring to light such unthought-of wonders, and who imparts them so freely! And what are the other things in the world besides kings and sycophants? "There is one thing in particular, which is NATURE." Attend, ye liberal and enlightened readers! for liberal and enlightened ye must be, if it has been your fortune to peruse the surprising work, of which it is my pleasing task to display the beauties; and if it has not, liberal and enlightened you shall be made, ere we part, by my quotations; for I pretend not to have any light to dispense but what I borrow from my author. There is NATURE in the world! And what besides Kings, Sycophants, and Nature? We are not told in express terms that there is any thing else. But as the passage which opens with this discovery, proceeds to inform us that the author has also a regard for Daudies who have ideas in their heads, and for certain modern Barons, we may assume that there are Dandies who have ideas in their heads, and certain modern Barons in the world. The world, then, consists of Kings, Sycophants, Nature, Dandies who have ideas in their heads, and certain modern Barons. And now let me ask, who, that is furnished with this circumstantial knowledge of the world, and all that it contains, can lose his way in it? It seems to me to be a blameable omission, though the author doubtless has good reasons for it, that he does not tell us what world it is that he speaks of. It cannot be the wooden world; for he might search many of England's bulwarks without finding one of the elements of which his world is composed. "You talk of the world, sir; the world is in its dotage," says Goldsmith: That must be the learned world. Prior told his readers, that the world "Is a mere farce, an empty show, Prior, as appears by the context, spoke of the fashionable world, or beau monde. "All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players." The great or real is here compared to the mimic, reflected, or theatrical world. I cannot find that it is the learned world, or the fashionable world, or beau monde; neither is it the great 1823.3 Tlee Candid. No. I. world, nor the theatrical world that our an argument, either expressed or inLiberal author speaks of ; nor does his ferred. In this catalogue of worthies, of description exactly suit any of the little different ages, conditions, professions, worlds into which it has been my and principles, whose spirits are invokchance to find admittance. It is true, ed to give life to “The Liberal,” I do I have found a fair share of sycophants spy the name of one, perhaps the in some of them, and of dandies (some names of two, who would not have been with and some without ideas in their much misemployed in such an office. heads) in others. But I cannot say Whilst the conjuror is playing the unthat I have met with kings in any of utterable trade, to call up spirits wlio them, (I may be more fortunate if do not come, others, who seem to have ever I attend the Carnival at Venice,) come uncalled, and offered their serand it is but in few of them that 1 vices unasked, as thinking the task have seen much of nature. It is of better suited to their capacities and some world of his own, then, that the principles, are rejected. Of these I author speaks, and a future Number of shall only name the last group. Abhis Liberal work may make us still bet- scond, then, ye LEGITIMATE PREter acquainted with it. Who is it that TENDERS, ye Titus Oateses, Bedloes, acts the king ? and who are they that Gardiners, Sacheverels, and Southeys." play the sycophants ? and what are The Southeys! Avaunt, ye spirits of the operations of nature in the little the Southeys! Take any shape but world at Pisa, the world with which that! Hence, horrible Southey, dread heisat present most conversant? These Reviewer, hence! The spirit of Mr are among the arcana of state, of which Southey (be it known to whom it conthe reading world must remain in con- cerns) gave the mortal frame of that tented ignorance, till his Liberalship gentleman the slip at his residence in shall see fit to reveal them. Cumberland, and sped its flight to This looks like straying from my Italy, to assist the authors of Cain and purpose; for the relationship between Queen Mab, and the Emperor of CockLiberalism and this world in petto is enzie, who is also an author of somenot very discernible. The connexion thing or other, in giving birth to the between it and the invocation which composition, entitled “ The Liberal.” follows, is more easily traced. As of the long passage that follows, I have already trespassed on the pa- (and it is the last of the Preface but tience of my reader, by one long ex- one,) I shall quote but the first line. tract, I shall give him the names of “ We wish the title of our work to be the spirits invoked by the author, taken in its largest acceptation, old as omitting the fiddle-faddle of words well as new.” It is here acknowwith which he connects and discon- ledged, rather unadvisedly, I think, nects them, and fills up the intervals that the title of the work, that is to between squad and squad. First, the say, the work “ Liberal,” has an old spirits of John of Gaunt, of Wickliffe, and a new signification. Did these and of Chaucer; or, as he calls them, only differ from each other, however in the pamphlet and newspaper style, widely, the wish might not be unrea the John of Gaunts, the Wickliffes, sonable. But as they are the reverse and the Chaucers; then the Henry of each other, it is impossible to reHowards, Surrys, and Wyatts ; next, ceive it in both senses at once. If, the Buchanans and Raleighs; after instead of “ The Candid," I had these, the Herberts, Hutchinsons, named these pages “The Liberal," Lockes, Popes, and Peterboroughs; suggested by the composition so en and, lastly, the Miltons, Marvels, titled, my title would have left it a Hoadleys, Addisons, Steeles, Somerses, question whether I was a member Dorsets, and Priors, are invoked to as- of “The Liberal party all over the sist in giving birth to "The Liberal.” world," or a “ legitimate pretender, Incongruity is a natural source of the the object of their horror and exeludicrous. Incongruous grouping of cration. But although I might have names, persons, and things, when dex- chosen a title that would not have terously managed, is among the efforts decided the question, I want assu of humour that generally please, and rance to desire any one to believ produce a laugh. But though gene- me to be both the one and the other rally fair, and often successful as a joke, if it could be my aim to be so con it is always unfair and disingenuous in sidered. I do not mean to accuse th VOL. XII. P che so coc men in the word;" to those who thought most hardly, as to those who thought most favourably, of this ac complished and highly-gifted noble man. writers of the Liberal, of making a demand so unreasonable; for, although this be the natural and only possible sense of the line I have quoted, every line of the two pages that follow seems intended to shew that it is One charge of a very singular nain the party or new acceptation of the ture asks notice, as it displays the toword only, that they mean to shew lerant spirit of Liberalism, with regard themselves liberal, whatever preten- to what is called the press, or the free sions they may sometimes advance. expression of sentiments not sanctionIndeed, if any thing is plainly and died by the party; and if "The Liberectly intimated in the work, it is that they understand the distinction. That the two meanings of the word are opposite to each other, and that they shall be careful not to confound them by treating any one with fairness and decency who displays any of the liberality in his conduct, or manifests à difference in opinion from themselves. "This would be to confound liberality with illiberality, &c." But I have already adverted to this observation, and have only to say, that I heartily concur in it. The expression would have been less liable to misconstruction, if he had said "confounding liberality with liberalism," but it is very well as it is, and needs no correction. The preface concludes in a delirium of Liberalism, raving against the late Marquis of Londonderry, and the Duke of Wellington. Our Liberal tells us that the Marquis, whom it pleases him to style Lord Castlerea, 66 was one of the most illiberal and vindictive of statesmen." Most of his charges against this distinguished statesman, are but an enumeration of some considerable acts of the government during his administration, on the merits of which every man has long since formed his judgment; and as nobody will think the worse of them for being condemned in The Liberal, or the better of them for being applauded by me, it is useless to waste words upon them. As to the general charges of "coldness of heart," and "fondness for imprisoning," with which he swells his list of particular acts, I shall tell this most liberal of Liberals, in the name of the reading public, that a cant that has been canted over so many thousand times, is equally tiresome to the ears of men of all parties; to those who have been deluded, as to those who from the first were disgusted by it; to the "Libe ral," as to the "legitimate pretender;" to the "nine-tenths," as to the remaining tithe "of all the intelligent ral" any where speaks the universal sentiment of the party whose name it bears, it is here. Lord Castlereagh "patronized such infamous journals as The BEACON." Heavy charge! His Lordship's patronage of the Beacon, I believe, was never before heard of; and I suspect the authors had another journal, "now flourishing," in their thoughts, but which it was not thought prudent to name. To revile a dead nobleman for favouring a defunct paper, was certainly a more liberal course to follow, Whether the charge is founded or not, is of no sort of consequence; it does not in the least affect the tolerant and Liberal character of the spirit which these Liberals evince towards the press, in making it a matter of accusation. Lord Londonderry's patronage of the Beacon, if it was a reality at all, probably consisted in purchasing and reading it; for in the case of another "infamous journal," the John Bull, this was affirmed to constitute patronage, and by the Liberals denounced as bribery and corruption, and an abuse that called out for reform. It will be generally remembered, for it afforded too much fun to be soon forgotten, that some of the King's ministers were charged in open Parliament, with something more than patronising this excellent weekly paper, the John Bull, which I never see without regretting that the day of its publication is Sunday. It is to me matter of wonder that any gentleman gave those who chose to advance this, so much satisfaction as to deny a charge (however unfounded) in which, had it been true, there was nothing illegal or discreditable. But denied it was; and an honourable member, Lord John Russel, if I rightly remember, (I beg his lordship's pardon for mentioning his name on such an occasion, if I am in an error,) but some member of the party with whom he usually acts, stood up and said they patronised the |