New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-09-08
Authors In England-by willis.

We cut the following statement, by one who
has had every opportunity to know, of the posi-
ton of Literary Men in England, from The New
Mirror of Saturday:
The fact is, that the position of a mere literary
man in England, in any circle above that to
which he is born, Is that Of a Jacket. He is IN
vted for what he contributes to the entertainment
of the aristocratic lions and lionesscs who feed
him. He has neither power nor privilege in their
sphere He dare not introduce friend except
as another jackall, and it would be for very OK
traordinary reasons that he would ever name at
the tables where he is most intimate, his father
or mother, wife, sister, or brother The footman,
who sometimes comes to him with note or book,
knows the difference between him and the other
guests of his master, and by an unpunishablc
difference of manner makes the distinction in his
service. The abandon which they feel in his
presence, lie never feels In theirs; and we doubt
whether Thomas Moore himself, the pet of the
English arlstocracy for forty years, ever forgot,
IN their company, that he was in the presence of
his supcriors and an object of condescension.
Now we have many people in this country,
Americans born, who are monarchlsts and who
make no scrupie IN private conversation OF wish
ing for defined aristocracy, and other inirang
bic distinctions between the different classes of
society. In the picture they draw, however,
they themselves figure as the arlstocrats; and we
must take the liberty for tho moment, of putting
them below the salt,' and setting forth few OF
their annoyances. Take the best received Amc-
rican in London-yourscf, for example, Mr..
Reader! You have no fixed rank, and therefore
you have nothing to keep you down, and can
rise to any position in the gift of your noble en-
tertainer. AS foreigner, you circulate freely
(as many well-introduced Americans do) through
all the porcelain penetralia of the West End.
You are invited to dine we will say, with his
grace, the Duke OF Devonshire. There are ten
or twelve guests, all noble except yourself; and
when you look around upon the five other gentle
men, 1t is possible that, without vanity, you may
come to the conclusion, that in dress, address.
spirit and natural gifts, you at least the equal
of those around you. Dinner is late in being an
nouneed, and meantime, you know all the
ladies, and arc particularly acquainted with the
youngest and prettieSt you SIT down by the latter
and promise yourself the pleasure of giving her
an arm when the doors are thrown open and
sitting by her at dinner. The butler makes his
appearance at last, and the lady willingly takes
your arm--when in steps mv Lord Flu!nme-y,
who is a terrible SPOON but undoubtedly NV
Lord !" takes the lady from you and makes his
way to the dinner-tablc. Your first thought is to
follow and secure place on the other side of her,
but still another couple or two are to take prcce-
dence. and you arc left at last to walk in alone
and take the seat that Is left-perhaps between
two men who have a lady on the other side
Pleasant--is MT it?
Again. You are strollng in Regent.street or
the Park with an Englishman, whose acouaint-
ance you made on your travels. He is u man of
fortune, and as Independent in his character as
any man in England. On the Continent he
struck you us particularly high-mindcd and free
from prejudice. You are chatting with him very
intimately when young nobleman, not remaska-
bic for any thing but his nobility, slips his arm
into your trends and Joins the promenade. From
that moment, your friend gives you about as
much of his attention as he does to his walking
stick, lets your questions 60 unanswered, let
them be never so clever, and enjoys with the high
est zest the most remote spoonyoS,tles OF my lord
You, perhaps, as stranger, visit In my lords
circle of society, and your friend does not; but
he would as soon think of picking my lords
pocket as of introducing you to him, and, If you
begin to think you are Monsieur de 1rop and
say good morning." your friend, who never
parted from you before without making an engage
ment to see you again, gives you nod without
turning his head from his lordship, and very drlly
echoes your $ good morning. And this, we re-
peat, the most independent man In England will
do, for he Is brought up to fear God and honor
lord, and ii is bred in his bone and brain.
VIC could give thousand similar instances,
but the reader can easily imagine them. The
life OF commoner in England is one Of incvita-
BILE and daily eclipse and morti6caton--nothing
but the force of early habits and education making
It tolerabe to the Enghshman himself, and no