Pagina-afbeeldingen
PDF
ePub
[graphic]

don't forget that you w to bribe the assessor, taxes for these souls.

"Indeed, patrushka, position of selling dea living ones. Only thr girls to our pope for 1 is very grateful to me industrious, and able to "There is no questi them! I want dead on "Well, I fear I sho thou cheatest me, my fa more."

"Take the most insig instance. Even that ha to the paper maker, but

"Yes, that is true, bu that they are dead."

"Dear me, what a Tachitchikow to himself,

At last by incident purchase of governme skilful play on the st the old lady, Tschite The mode by which ea tries to overreach the c as is the prudent hint guide:

"Then don't forget, I b government supplies." Tschitchikow, stepping ou "You may be sure I w "You wont buy hog's hostess, following him. "Why should I not b

but not now."

"Towards Easter I sha "We will buy some-v "Perhaps bed feather shall have some about Le "Good, very good," said "Thou seest now thy horses are not yet put to old woman, as they arrive "Will soon be here.

to get from here to the hi

"How shall I describe hostess. "It is rather dif are so many cross-ways thee a little girl as guide coach-box; there is room "Why not?"

But don't take her with "I will give thee the g already taken away by th

Techitchikow assured

back the girl, and Mrs. quiet, and began to conten in the court. She cast a s keeper, who had fetched a

* Pri

MODERN RUSSIAN LITERATURE.

m, called to the peasant, who ce at the gate, and so got gradomestic life.

stay so long with Mrs. Korootschka, Manilow, Economy, leave them. There are more he world; pleasure turns in a ss if thou considerest her more strange thoughts arise. Pert even think-does Mrs. Korocupy so low a degree in the man perfection? Is the gulf separates her from her sisters uded in their aristocratic homes and cast-iron staircases inlaid red wood, and tapestry? There at the unread book, in expectavisit, as they call it, and, that liant, repeating the sentiments ntiments, which, according to n, sway the town for a whole which concern not their homes which, thanks to economical isorder, but certainly relate to hrow in France, or the direcsm now becoming so fashionom it! Why do we speak of why is there mixed even in ursuits a gloomy melancholy? yet disappeared from thy lips, ter has not gone, and thou art thy face has assumed another

into the interior of office. en a reformer in his way. s reforms worked :

me bribery was punished most chitchikow was not at all derstood how to manage matntage, proving in this the inthe Russians, who are only ity by the weight which falls This was his plan of action. itioner made his appearance to his pocket to get at the -f recommendation signed by as we jocularly say in Russia), interrupt with a short laugh, he candidate for office. 66 No, perhaps, that I. No, oh we must do it without any rest quite satisfied on this every thing will be arranged.

461

Permit me to ask your address. You need not give yourself the trouble; we will send the papers to your residence."

The delighted petitioner returns home, almost beside himself with joy. "At last we have the man we want. If we only had more of them; he is really a precious jewel."

He waits one day. Two days pass, but no papers. On the third day, the same number came. Calling at the office, his affair had not been mentioned. At last he calls on the priceless jewel.

"Oh, I really hope you will excuse me," says Tschitchikow, politely taking him by both hands. "We have been so overwhelmed with business; but to-morrow, positively, every thing will be prepared. I really am ashamed to see you." All this was accompanied with the most bland behavior. If, for instance, his morning robe was a little out of order, he would immediately arrange it according to the rules of decorum. Nevertheless many more days passed over, and still no papers made their appearance. The petitioner grows thoughtful, and asks advice of a friend. "You must give something to the clerk.

66

Oh, yes; certainly. I will give him a quarter of a rouble.'

"A quarter! Five-and-twenty." "Five-and-twenty roubles to a clerk!" exclaims the expectant, full of amazement.

"What surprises you?" rejoins his friend. "It will only be as you yourself propose a quar ter-rouble to the clerk. The chief receives the balance."

A ray of light at length beams on the mind of the simple petitioner, who rails at new customs in general, and the polite manners of officials particularly. "Some time ago," murmured he, 66 one at least knew what do do. A red paper had to be taken to the principal, and the thing was finished. Now we must take a white paper, and be done. Confound the unselfishness and nobility lose a whole week, till one guesses at what should

of these officers!"

The simple petitioner was not far wrong. So at present there are no servants of the state who allow themselves to be bribed. They are all and the clerks who are rogues. honorable and noble men; it is only the secretary

In this fashion has Nicholas Gogol, a Russian professor, described the manners and customs of his countrymen.

[ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors]
[blocks in formation]

From Colburn's New Monthly.

NEWSPAPERS OF THE EIGHTEENTH CE

WHILST the House of Commons struggled
for its trumpery privilege through the greater
part of the century, the law courts held over
the press their law of libel, with pillories,
fines, imprisonments, and other punishments
in case of an infringement of it. The dis-
tracted publishers were then compelled to
allude to the king only as
66 a certain illustri-
ous personage," or "a great person of state;"
and on the 26th June, 1790, the printer of
the Dublin Morning Post stood in the pillory
on College-green for copying a paragraph
from the London papers which stated that
"The was formerly a very domestic
woman, but now gives up too much of her
time to politics." Nay, even the lists of
bankrupts are simply headed "B-pts,"
lest the full expression of the term might
give offence.

It is curious to observe the love of scandal
struggling with the fear of prosecution.
Here is an extract from the Political Regis-
ter of May, 1758, reflecting on the Duke of
Grafton's connection with Nancy Parsons,
which will convey an idea of the appearance
of the newspapers while under these restric-
tions:

[ocr errors]

in public, and to sho he ever showed his 1

In the November 1 lication is a dialogue an imaginary admir same features:

[ocr errors]

Q. Who made "A. Some little deal of b-gh inte

Having shown why last century ought no pared with those of th out in what respects t the first place, in poin more than an eighth Times in the early pa even in 1777, Lloyd's larger, but most of th period had grown to a usual size of the pres paper was of a coarse larger; but it is of th pose giving a specime department we might graphs worded simila of as much import:

"Last Tuesday nig watchmen, in Sugar street, were sporting unluckily struck the o with his staff, which o a shocking manner! fools." Westminster 1775.

"We hear there is est opposition ever kn man for the choice of parish of St. Peter in

"Towards the close of the last session, the Ft Ld of the T- -y was missing. In a day or two, it came out that his G--e was gone down to the sea-coast with Miss N- --y P--s, to attend her on board a vessel for France. About the end of March an express arrived at Dover, ordering one of the packets to be got ready for the confidential Sy of the T--y. He came in the evening, and embarked for Calais. Various were the speculations of the people of Dover on the purport of this embassy at such a busy time. Lo! the Sy returned with his errand, Miss N-—y P▬▬s in his hand. On Wednesday, the 14th of April, his G-e attended Mrs. H---n, commonly called Miss N-y P----s, to Ranelagh, and the Saturday following he introduced her to the Opera, and sat behind her in wait-contract, and that Fr It is only the prerogative of a the Daily Gazetteer, a r to appear with his mistress assumed name), who

ing...
Ft M

The tone in which d times carried on betw terests, may be fairly tract from the controv tract for circulating the bonds. We must pre vers, of the Craftsma

[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors]

London Journal, but had incorporated his paper with the Gazetteer, were its advocates. We must also add that the editorial style was generally the singular number, and that rival editors addressed each other personally and by name, which would now be considered a breach of etiquette. The Craftsman, then, of August the 23d, 1735, heads its article thus:

"Remarks upon Mother Osborn's account of the Bank Contract."

And commences in this strain : "About two years ago this feminine dotard, through the promptings of her ignorance, with the assistance of her venality, was led into an avowal of doctrines that were perfectly infamous."

And on the sixth of September the same paper-not a scurrilous publication, but the organ of a respectable party-alludes to the editor of the Gazetteer as "that low tool, Walsingham❞—a contemptible fellow, who is retained on purpose to assert falsehoods, and will either disavow or persist in them just as you"-(Sir Robert Walpole)" are pleased to direct and pay him for it." On September the 10th, the editors of the Daily Gazetteer reply on the part of Walpole, denouncing "the authors of the Craftsman" as "grovelling, abandoned, and despicable implements of slander;" and in the same paper of the 30th of August, Osborn had replied to the Craftman's attacks upon him in the following elegant and dignified manner:

"Whereas a certain tall, impudent A--y (eminently distinguished by his villanies in all parts of life), who suborned evidences to hang his benefactor that gave him bread when he was not able to purchase it, and was told in open court by Lord Chief Justice Raymond, in my hearing, that he and his confederates would have been hanged in any other country, is again admitted to be one of the writers of the Craftsman, and has last week thrown together a parcel of Billingsgate words about Mr. Osborn."

This intemperate language was not confined to the two journals in question, for Fog's Journal of July the 19th, in the same year, in a parody on an address of Walsingham's, makes him to say, "We never had any regard to truth," that he "was hired," trimmed in laced livery," and so on. And all this storm was about a simple question of the privileges of the Bank! But it will serve to show how high party feeling ran at the

Fast by, like Niobe, her children gone,
Sits Mother Osborn, stupefied to stone.
Pope's "Dunciad," added to Canto IL, after 1788.

time, and how it washed before it all considerations of propriety, delicacy, or gentlemanly feeling. Well might Pulteney write (1731), "There has been more Billingsgate stuff uttered from the press within these two months than ever was known before." But even then it had not arrived at its height.

We question whether any papers of the present day would venture, or condescend to allow themselves such latitude as the journalists of the eighteenth century sometimes allowed themselves in speaking of the ministers of the day. We select a few choice specimens:

"A correspondent observes that the trad ing part of this nation have great reason to be alarmed at the dismal prospect of the approaching ruin of this once flourishing nation. We who once gave laws to all other kingdoms and powers are now become the scorn of all the world, and it must be so while such men-such wretches as Jemmy Twitcher,* a despicable but arbitrary junto, preside over us! A change of men and a change of measures-oh, how devoutly to be wished for by every lover of religion, trade, and liberty!--Old British Spy, May 22d, 1779.

"A constant reader asks if that kingdom must not become very despicable where land admirals are employed to conduct the navy? where trade and commerce are neglected? where religion and virtue are despised? where a prince, obstinate and self-conceited, spends his hours in looking into watches, making of buttons, and playing with ivory toys; whilst the sound of the trumpet and the alarm of war strikes every thinking man with astonishment and dismay, none knowing where, when destruction and infatuation begin, they will end."-Ibid.

"A lover of morality recommends it to all sorts of people to be righteously, soberly, and godly during the approaching holidays, commonly called Whitsuntide. As our adorable Creator causes his rain to descend and his sun to shine upon us, filling our hearts with food and gladness, let not the blasphemous oath, the obscene jest, nor drunkenness and fornication, which ought not to be known among Christians, be heard or seen amongst us. So shall righteousness exalt our nation, which now groans under the decay of trade, the load of taxes, the prospect of a bloody, tedious, and expensive war, with our Protestant brethren in America and our Popish enemies in France and Spain."—Ibid. "A correspondent asks, if parliament

[ocr errors][merged small]
[graphic]
[ocr errors]

should pass a vote for distributing the widows' and orphans' money entrusted to the Lord Chancellor, towards the support of Britons, to embrue their hands and swords in American blood, good God! what will become of our stocks and funds? Do not men of genius and calculation already fear that our Three per Cents, will be worth no more than fifty pounds for an hundred ? Forbid it, good Lord! that ever England should be so reduced that the widows' and orphans' money, like their tears, should be expended and applied to serve the vile purposes of such men as Jemmy Twitcher, Sir Hugh Paleface, drunken Rigdum, &c., &c. On the contrary, God grant we may see such golden days as when Cumberland, Richmond, Rockingham, and Keppel may have the guide and lead of our Treasury, our army, and navy!"-Old British Spy, Feb. 20th, 1779. "A correspondent observes that, since the days of the great Sir Walter Rawley, per-"that has had the sma haps no man has received so much deserved of a horse being stolen applause as the magnanimous Admiral Kep- with a coarse represent pel: an ornament to society, a real friend to ing the horse to the g his king and country. May those venal min- in pursuit. The proprie isters, who have long made the hungry curse no idea of making the their birth, be driven from before the throne, source of revenue; for and may England once more see a virtuous election of 1774, some o the happy ruler of a free, loyal and trading merely give a list of th ministry restored, that our king may reign announce that they m the separate addresses published all the advert would encroach too mu partment due to their r idea then of colossal

numbers, or of realiz

from advertisements a

were the men who woul

the sun shone!

Such, at this time, procuring news, even s diminutive sheets, that, editor of the Leicester J to fill up his columns w Bible, which he contin Leicester Journal being printed in London, and others of the same peri local printing-presses) t it purported to be the

Another "curiosity" quities was the News troduced by Ichabod part of the seventeenth consisted of the news blank fly-sheet attached tleman may write his o

« VorigeDoorgaan »