As Soon As He Did, He Should Likewise Resign, But Not
Before.
Burke now stood up and made a most elegant though florid speech, in
praise of the late Marquis of Rockingham.
As he did not meet with
sufficient attention, and heard much talking and many murmurs, he
said, with much vehemence and a sense of injured merit, "This is not
treatment for so old a member of Parliament as I am, and I will be
heard!" - on which there was immediately a most profound silence.
After he had said much more in praise of Rockingham, he sub-joined,
that with regard to General Conway's remaining in the ministry, it
reminded him of a fable he had heard in his youth, of a wolf, who,
on having clothed himself as a sheep, was let into the fold by a
lamb, who indeed did say to him, "Where did you get those long
nails, and those sharp teeth, mamma?" But nevertheless let him in;
the consequence of which was he murdered the whole flock. Now with
respect to General Conway, it appeared to him, just as though the
lamb certainly did perceive the nails and teeth of the wolf, but
notwithstanding, was so good-tempered to believe that the wolf would
change his nature, and become a lamb. By this, he did not mean to
reflect on Lord Shelburne: only of this he was certain, that the
present administration was a thousand times worse than that under
Lord North (who was present).
When I heard Mr. Pitt speak for the first time, I was astonished
that a man of so youthful an appearance should stand up at all; but
I was still more astonished to see how, while he spoke, he engaged
universal attention. He seems to me not to be more than one-and-
twenty. This same Pitt is now minister, and even Chancellor of the
Exchequer.
It is shocking to a foreigner, to see what violent satires on men,
rather than on things, daily appear in the newspapers, of which they
tell me there are at least a dozen, if not more, published every
day. Some of them side with the Ministry, and still more I think
with the Opposition. A paper that should be quite impartial, if
that were possible, I apprehend would be deemed so insipid as to
find no readers. No longer ago than yesterday, it was mentioned in
one of these newspapers, that when Fox, who is fallen, saw so young
a man as Pitt made the minister, he exclaimed with Satan, who, in
"Paradise Lost," on perceiving the man approved by God, called out,
"O hateful sight!"
On Thursday the king went with the usual solemnity to prorogue the
Parliament for a stated time. But I pass this over as a matter that
has already been so often described.
I have also, during this period, become acquainted with Baron
Grothaus, the famous walker, to whom I had also a letter of
recommendation from Baron Groote of Hambro'. He lives in
Chesterfield House, not far from General Paoli, to whom he has
promised to introduce me, if I have time to call on him again.
I have suffered much this week from the violent cough I brought with
me from the hole in Derbyshire, so that I could not for some days
stir; during which time Messrs. Schonborn and Leonhardi have visited
me very attentively, and contributed much to my amendment.
I have been obliged to relate as much about my journey out of London
here as I probably shall in Germany of all England in general. To
most people to whom I give an account of my journey, what I have
seen is quite new. I must, however, here insert a few remarks on
the elocution, or manner of speaking, of this country, which I had
forgot before to write to you.
English eloquence appears to me not to be nearly so capable of so
much variety and diffusion as ours is. Add to this, in their
Parliamentary speeches, in sermons in the pulpit, in the dialogues
on the stage; nay, even in common conversation, their periods at the
end of a sentence are always accompanied by a certain singular
uniform fall of the voice, which, notwithstanding its monotony has
in it something so peculiar, and so difficult, that I defy any
foreigner ever completely to acquire it. Mr. Leonhardi in
particular seemed to me, in some passages which he repeated out of
Hamlet, to have learnt to sink his voice in the true English manner;
yet any one might know from his speaking that he is not an
Englishman. The English place the accent oftener on the adjectives
than they do on the substantive, which, though undoubtedly the most
significant word in any sentence, has frequently less stress laid on
it than you hear laid on mere epithets. On the stage they pronounce
the syllables and words extremely distinct, so that at the theatres
you may always gain most instruction in English elocution and
pronunciation.
This kingdom is remarkable for running into dialect: even in London
they are said to have one. They say, for example, "it a'nt" instead
of "it is not;" "I don't know," for "I do not know;" "I don't know
him," for "I do not know him;" the latter of which phrases has often
deceived me, as I mistook a negative for an affirmative.
The word "sir," in English, has a great variety of significations.
With the appellation of "sir," an Englishman addresses his king, his
friend, his foe, his servant, and his dog; he makes use of it when
asking a question politely; and a member of Parliament, merely to
fill up a vacancy, when he happens to be at a loss. "Sir?" in an
inquiring tone of voice, signifies what is your desire? "Sir!" in a
humble tone - gracious Sovereign! - "Sir!" in surly tone, a box on the
ear at your service! To a dog it means a good beating.
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