Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-09-19
ENGLISH SOCIETY.

ENGLISH SOCIETY.
Society in England has been likened to a
crowd urging their way up flight OF steps,
where each individual is striving to ascend by
LAYING hold of the coat skirts of one before him,
at the same time that he is kicking out his heels
to keep down those behind him. This charac-
teristic is strongly portrayed, in the following
notice of new work. in the London Examiner
The work is called English Scenes and English
Cirihzation.-BaH american.
This is not novel, though il presents the ac-
tions, sentiments, and Interests OF imaginary
persons We should rather describe it as gal
iery of characters for the illustration OF society
The author is sensible, well-nformed man,
acquainted with the world, and having clear
view Of its besctting faults. He exposes the alb
surd pretensions and the unworthy ambitions
in their various modulations He sees that no
class above labor in England rests satisfied with
the repute proper to it-that each is cambering
into the class above, and spurning the class be-
low He perceives that the national pride is adj
jective, that il leans upon wealth. ancestry, as
sociation, any thing but individual worth, and
that people are valued according to the same
preposterous rule mans acquaintance is
sought and priced, not for any thing that is
in him, but for his estate, his carriages and
horses, his house, and the costumes OF its
furniture; his value is construed by his uphol-
sterer, his coach builder, his wine merchant,
his cook, &C. The foolish pretensions of one
class have miniature copy in another, as in the
Chinese carved ivory balls every ball contains
another within it Of precisely the same pattern,
but degree smaller so one petty set has the
distinction Of carriages, and another Of a man.
servant-conceive the people whom the one or
the other is to make good company"
The leavings of one order will be the pride OF
another; thus the unimportant titled who are re-
jected by the high caste, and also by the people
of fashion, will be the elite, giving the stamp to
a secondary set of pretenders. Compared with
all these wretched mmics, the true arstocracy
appear to great social advantage, for they do
admit the claims of genius and talent to consl-
Iteration. while in the other classes nothing is
recognized but rank or wealth. Many man
of science and letters, who has found himself
person of some mark among the mdgnates of
the land, finds himself mere nobody in his
own sphere; he is not there the MIR. -, who
wrote -, or who painted the -, or model
led the -; but he is Mr.. -, who does not
keep a carriage, or a servant in livery, or who
lives in a poor house. or on slender means.
There are liberal and high-minded people in all
classes above such paltry considerations, and
who look to qualifications and accomplishments,
but the number of exclusive idoators of rank
and wealth far exceeds them, we fear
In point of these remarks we may quote the
following passage from English Scenes, dcs-
crbing an aristocratc family of the best kind,
and the traits which deserve the name OF libe.
rail- not i'm the hacknied, but in the enlarged old
sense of all that becomes gentleman:
"The sons were manly, frank and gentleman
ly in their demeanor--the daughters amiabie,
ingenious, and graceful; and the whole family
would have laughed at the attempt of any one
lfry n affected
decension. They of course understood, and
practically from their position, the distinctions
of decided rank-but without regarding them
farther than as things so established, or as the
concomitans or accidents Of situation, and not
with that "erdctitude pointiIeuse ct pedantes.
que" remarked of the English generally by an
enlightened noble observer; and, like many
others in elevated stations, they never thought
of any idle distinctions beyond those assigned.
All cultivated persons with good manners and
the habits OF good society, without marked rank,
were considered by them in that respect as on
equal ground. They wished to be "obliging
and polite" to all, yet they would have been
amused if expected particularly to distinguish
persons who had no other recommendation than
those ofmcre wealth or family connexions, and
such-ke et ceterd; but, instinctively and ho-
neStly they in some way discrlminatedthe more
or less intelligent or agreeable, the more or less
pleasant or valuable IN themselves; and thought
only of respecting those most who were most
respectable-of liking those most who were
most lkeabe, and most in unison with their own
tastes and character"
lady residing in fashionable street was
asked whether she happened to know her next
door neghbor. She answered, "No; but am
sure theirs must be a very pleasant house,
"Whv sop" Because | observe that they
have great deal of hackney coach company"
She had reasoned that people who came to
fashionable houses in hackney coaches must be
asked for their merits and agreeable accomplish
ments, and not for purses, or in the course OF
dinner exchange so pleasantly explained by
Mrs. Gore.