With what sang froid artful trains of corruption
bring lucrative commissions into particular hands, disregarding the
relative situation of different countries, and can much common
honesty be expected in the discharge of trusts obtained by fraud?
But this entre nous.
During my present journey, and whilst residing in France, I have had
an opportunity of peeping behind the scenes of what are vulgarly
termed great affairs, only to discover the mean machinery which has
directed many transactions of moment. The sword has been merciful,
compared with the depredations made on human life by contractors and
by the swarm of locusts who have battened on the pestilence they
spread abroad. These men, like the owners of negro ships, never
smell on their money the blood by which it has been gained, but
sleep quietly in their beds, terming such occupations lawful
callings; yet the lightning marks not their roofs to thunder
conviction on them "and to justify the ways of God to man."
Why should I weep for myself? "Take, O world! thy much indebted
tear!" Adieu!
LETTER XXV.
There is a pretty little French theatre at Altona, and the actors
are much superior to those I saw at Copenhagen. The theatres at
Hamburg are not open yet, but will very shortly, when the shutting
of the gates at seven o'clock forces the citizens to quit their
country houses. But, respecting Hamburg, I shall not be able to
obtain much more information, as I have determined to sail with the
first fair wind for England.
The presence of the French army would have rendered my intended tour
through Germany, in my way to Switzerland, almost impracticable, had
not the advancing season obliged me to alter my plan. Besides,
though Switzerland is the country which for several years I have
been particularly desirous to visit, I do not feel inclined to
ramble any farther this year; nay, I am weary of changing the scene,
and quitting people and places the moment they begin to interest me.
This also is vanity!
DOVER.
I left this letter unfinished, as I was hurried on board, and now I
have only to tell you that, at the sight of Dover cliffs, I wondered
how anybody could term them grand; they appear so insignificant to
me, after those I had seen in Sweden and Norway.
Adieu! My spirit of observation seems to be fled, and I have been
wandering round this dirty place, literally speaking, to kill time,
though the thoughts I would fain fly from lie too close to my heart
to be easily shook off, or even beguiled, by any employment, except
that of preparing for my journey to London.
God bless you!
MARY.
APPENDIX.
Private business and cares have frequently so absorbed me as to
prevent my obtaining all the information during this journey which
the novelty of the scenes would have afforded, had my attention been
continually awake to inquiry. This insensibility to present objects
I have often had occasion to lament since I have been preparing
these letters for the press; but, as a person of any thought
naturally considers the history of a strange country to contrast the
former with the present state of its manners, a conviction of the
increasing knowledge and happiness of the kingdoms I passed through
was perpetually the result of my comparative reflections.
The poverty of the poor in Sweden renders the civilisation very
partial, and slavery has retarded the improvement of every class in
Denmark, yet both are advancing; and the gigantic evils of despotism
and anarchy have in a great measure vanished before the meliorating
manners of Europe. Innumerable evils still remain, it is true, to
afflict the humane investigator, and hurry the benevolent reformer
into a labyrinth of error, who aims at destroying prejudices quickly
which only time can root out, as the public opinion becomes subject
to reason.
An ardent affection for the human race makes enthusiastic characters
eager to produce alteration in laws and governments prematurely. To
render them useful and permanent, they must be the growth of each
particular soil, and the gradual fruit of the ripening understanding
of the nation, matured by time, not forced by an unnatural
fermentation. And, to convince me that such a change is gaining
ground with accelerating pace, the view I have had of society during
my northern journey would have been sufficient had I not previously
considered the grand causes which combine to carry mankind forward
and diminish the sum of human misery.
End of LETTERS ON SWEDEN, NORWAY, AND DENMARK by Wollstonecraft
