The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1822-09-20
A SKETCH OF OLD ENGLAND,
nY \ NEM lNuLANn MAN.

/ ~ NEW ENGLAND MAN.
Dear Brother,
The love of distinction is inherent in
human nature. As wa ascend in thr
scale of society, this desire becomes the
stronger, aud IL Is on the direction given 10
1t that that the character of every man in
a great measure depends. II il be turned
towards noble objects, i becomes n low.
of hon0rahle fame if towards fri, ools
pursuits and fashionable eecentricies, il
dMindlcs into mere passion for notorlety,
a desire TO be- distinguished for something
or other, no matter what.
The yotalies of this latter spurious god
dess, are AT present, exceedingly numerous
here, especially among the young nobility,
who, very early in life, begin To labor un.
der an cxllaustation of heart, and IN eva
poratlou Of soul, altogether deplorablc.
! by tho time they become men, they are for
the most part, superannuated in desires, &
in the capacity for enjoyment; and their
onl, resource seems To be, the indulgence
OF degenerate appetite, for that vulgar
and momeniary wonder, which is awaken
ed by the display OF some fashionable ac-
coinpshment, or some ridiculous crren-
trcity. Horses and dogs, liveried SER
wants, and splendid equipages, the skill of
the tailor, the hair dresser, and the Jewel
Ter, are impressed into the service of this
passion for notoriety. No amusement or
luxury can be too expensive, if il only be-
fashionable; hundreds are gwen for Il
dog, or hoisc, because none are 10 -
found in England like il, aud thousands are
sqaandered upon themselves and their at
PENDANTS, with the indscrininate prodiga-
lily OF n thoughtless sprcndlhrif. They
drive on in the career ol dissi patton aud ca
trayagnnee, unmindiul of the suffering tc-
naatry, who support them, and never enter
The cottage oi the poor man, except To
sport with hIs weirhsdncss, or 10 rob his
daughter OF Der virtue. Man is an imita-
tive being the inferior catches The tone OF
hls superior, and initiates his dress, his
manners, ami his amusements. Not only
young noblemen Of inferior genius, but
young commoners, willing and able to pay
any price for notoriety, lie their cravats
curl their whiskcrs as they do, and study IL
look AS much like them as possible. These
commOncrs are however considered an in
lerlor cast, only tolerated IN the ranks 81
nobility on the score of spending or losing
their money with good grace. The prin.
| ciple claim they have to mobility consists in
certain rcscmbances, which may be sum
med up IN the following quaint lines:
"Why surely my blood misgiYes me.
am OF noble kind. for find myself pos
sesscd with all their qualities; love dogs,
dice and drahs ; scorn wit in stuff clothes,
as do handsome lee in a wollcn stocking,
except ii be "A woman's have beat my
shoemaker buiiied my seainsrebs won
my friends money, attempted his wife,
and nndone my tailor. Why look you, il
this is not nobility, impure Of you what il
IS. may be the son of a duke, for the
present times make nobility rather doubt
ful.n
Upon the strength Of these aiiintles he
claims sort ofequality, whiclclamis allow
ed while his money lasts, Which is not quite
forever. lie sticks to the trunk of decay
ed mobility like the rotten wood and often
before he is quite ruined, marrcs the daugIl-
ter Of some noble house, who assists him
in getting rid of the remainder, aud then
not Ia be an incumbrance 10 the poor man,
runs away, belize, with one of the heroes
of Waterloo.
| would not have you suppose, that all
the Young and middc-aged nobility of this
country are like those have uft desert
bed. There are among them IL" young
men of promise, who may possibly become
useful to the country. But they are rare
birds, more 50 than the black swans No
one accustomed to hear them talk, and see
them act, who has witnessed their strange
follies, ridiculous Inconsistencies, aud un-
| A..
below them, can, with any regard To truth,
deny, that he ever saw, among an equal
number of well educated young men. 50
many ridiculous blockhcads, who neither
know what to do with their time or money.
| Stated with leisure they know not how TO
! ENJOY, aud fired of pleasures they have
worn out, or which have worn out them,
| they one day descend to the level Ola box
or, the next to that of stage coaehman,
thus preparing for becoming the herodita-
ry legislators of their country by deba3ng
themselves 10 the level Of ignorance and
brutality. At present, the aldermanlc gus
TO, the noble science Of eating, seems to bid
far 10 carry the day amidst the elevated
pursuits and enjoyment Of these mobiles
| and among them are many very common
! dable profeienls Of the Apieil. This AMI
NAL propensity seems one of the few natu-
raj characteristics left unimpaircd aud all
the morning, which lasts tai seven or sight
in the evening here, is spent in going
| through certain exercises, or swallowing
certain stimulants, 10 prepare them for the
noble soIeninlty Of dinner. say solemn
ty, because funeral is sort Of merry ma
king, compared with au English FEAST
Nothing can equal it, except the sublime
horrors of dipiomatique' dinner at,
The natural effects Of hereditary honors,
and hereditary wealth, upon the human
character, are "A curious subject ofinquiry.
In feudal times, the nobility nere pot cor