l'ordre social. Well, then, small-souls! little-wits! short-sights! learn that the art of contracting debts, and never paying them, is one of the elements of the Social System! And this," he adds, ❝is no contre sens, unless to my grocer -a truth which I am now to demonstrate. The subject is brilliant and abstract. I shall endeavour to be, if possible, less pompous than M. de Chateaubriand, and more clear than

M. Bantam."

Much thought and great turning hither and thither among dictionaries, artistic, scientific, and biographical, has it cost us to discover who the lastnamed gentleman may be; but unless the author rudely and irreverently, under such fowl and dunghill cognomen, designates the late Jeremy, we confess ourselves in a state of ignorance, which is not bliss. What, then, some person may say, are we in this pure Maga-field sowing seeds of iniquity, nay, swindling? Or are we rather in her rich soil planting trees which shall spread their thick leaves to heaven, and shelter unnumbered myriads of men, and women, and children, who, from their pressed-down branches, shall pluck golden fruit? In truth we know not, yet have we vague suspicions that there are honesty and good intention hid beneath all this word-covering, which the clearsighted will perceive; and only do we suspect that the whole volume may be a phrase-quiz, a sham, and not a reality, when we meet with such worldwisdom as the following

"In a great state where laws and rulers were perfectly just, every thing would be in its place-property of what nature soever would be inviolable-commerce and industry would go on their way rejoicing-public employments (say rather state offices called shortlyplace,') would be given to merit only-and the government and the governed would present the image of a family, whereof the first should be the parent, and the second the children. But nowhere, alas! is this chimera endowed with real existence, and the reason of it is clear: Boast as we like of electors and representatives-let us make finest laws, raise armies, create prefects, mayors, and even justices of the peace-nay, let us give Orders, Hanoverian-Guelphic or otherwise, to whom we please -red gowns to our judges and blue

uniforms to the police-we cannot, with all these palisadoes and cheveuxde-frise, keep out the assaults of ambition, intrigue, cupidity, which shiver to pieces this pretended equilibrium, and kick its fragments into limbo. No! while the earth shall continue earth, this Cerberus will turn all things topsy-turvy, will excite warsthe unjust against the just-anarchy against order-people against kingskings against people. Such is the eternal cause of all revolutions and all upsets. Hence it will follow that in the best of countries, under the best of governments, a nation is always divided into injurers and injured—( Une nation se partage toujours en invidus Lesans, et en leses.') But at the same time we may remark, that, spite of so many causes of disorder, there does always exist an absolute equilibrium of justice, which every effort tends to re-establish. The injured has ever a lively recollection of his injury, and the right (if not legal, yet natural), to be on the look-out for compensations. We perceive, then, that Ambition, Intrigue, Cupidity, are constantly destroying the social balance, and that those monsters must be struggled against-yea, subdued. Hereto have we come in this logical sequence, and we may assume that changes inseparable from all conditions, fluctuations in trade, uncertainty in governments, and other incidents, leave in every great public a body of (say, for argument's sake), a hundred thousand individuals, who, under an order of things perfectly just, would enjoy the fortunes or the places to which they are entitled by their good qualities, whether innate or acquired. These hundred thousand men,' continues Count Hypolite, in frenzy sublime, with true French-say rather Parisrefined modesty, These hundred thousand men are necessarily the elite of the nation. Would not this descendant of time-honoured ancestors -of whom the De' that marshals his name is least of his nobility ensigns, if property had been regularly transmitted from sire to son, by primogeniture fixed law-would he not have had thousands of rent-roll, and the axle of his chariot of gold? This other-would he not have been counsellor of state, if we had had one government more; this other, would he not have been Marshal of France

if we had had one government less? One has scattered his patrimony on the road to Coblentz; another on the highway to Ghent; another still amid the byways of Cannes. Most believed there would be no return from Hartwell; no re-apparition from Elba isle. They made proclamations, speeches, oaths-signed parchments and state declarations, without considering that such formalities meant any thing real;-and, finally, stocks fell, and speculative men were ruined. Have not all these things produced crashes, evanishing of goods, falls, and lastly, a multitude of Injured? Doubt not that society owes these men compensation. Society must provide for these hundred thousand victims whom she has disinherited."

Thus, in this strict logical induction, not without glimmerings here and there of a high-hearted philosophy, does the young Count proceed in what may be considered his epistle introductory. What in this clear statement surprises us most is the universal truthfulness of his premises assumed namely, the fact that society, from its artificial subdivisions into men with property, men with no property, men who had property and have lost it, men who were without property and have gained it, has so taken Man out of his natural sphere as to make him entirely forgetful of his original destination, instincts, feelings. Can dream suggest more utterly unnatural association of ideas than of man, earth's lord, heaven's heir, and of signboard on every side, "Tres. passes will be prosecuted with utmost rigour of law?" What trespass? what law? What makes it one man's trespass and another man's law? Certain parchment skins, written over in strange hand, with seals and signatures, kept in green tin box. 'Tis this that gives right to say to fellowmen, "Thus far, and no farther." What mystic power is this, that to old sheep-skin gives virtue greater than ring of Solomon? that throws gyves round free men's limbs, and leads them, if refractory, to pillory or treadmill ? Morally considered, these are only infringements on the dignity of our nature, which it were well to abolish. But how is such feat to be performed? Let us listen to the eloquent exposition of the Count.

"It is a long time since M. J. B.

Say, celebrated economist, has demonstrated that society divides itself into Producers and Consumers. Now, whenever in society a person acts as a producer, he is entitled to the equivalent of the thing produced. I know not if I make myself understood, but to me it appears plain that if I prove that I-or any other man, comme il faut-produce, then society becomes my debtor. But what do I produce? Question fit only for a fool to askyet deign I to answer it. Thus, granted you never see me bending over a loom, or bustling in a market,. carrying in crops in autumn, or putting in seed in spring. I have no thousand infants struggling sixteen hours a-day, elevating me into a cotton lord on a throne of human skeletons, nor do I import shawls or tallow

but because I have no counter, and employ no shipping, it would be a capital error to suppose that I do not produce. I stir not from bed till noon, and by that considerate indolence diminish the number of idlers who encumber the busy population of our towns. I tie my neckcloth my own tie-and give an impulse to the manufacture of muslin or the importation of Bandanas. I breakfast at Tortoni's, and by the delicacy of my choice produce an enlarged consumption. I bring Ortolans a la Provencale into fashion-or give a run to Truffes à l'Italienne.' Thus a whole province is enriched by that one breakfast; the population of Perigord, which had long languished in idleness, is occupied at full wages in digging trifles. I have made equipages my study, and, as they flit by me, can annihilate or exalt with a wrinkle of my brow. No one has such an eye for the hang of a Phæton, the sweep of a Tolento. A judgment delivered in ten words is a source of incalculable riches to saddlers and coach-builders. I approve a certain style of harness, and, behold! leather becomes dear-the breeders of Poissy double their stock, and the tanners are worked to death.

"I dine in the city," he continues, "and hum a new air of Boieldieu or Bellini-a new ballad of Desangiers or Beranger. The copies are exhausted next day, and the Muses themselves are included among the producers in the drawingroom. I am a grower of bon mots; a manufacturer of repar

tees. I repeat the witticisms of Brunet, the absurdities of Potier. We must go and see them,' says all the world. The boxes of the theatre, which would have remained empty, are full to overflow-and the benefit is a bumper. If this is not to produce, I don't know what is. If this is not to produce, political economy is a humbug, Adam Smith a ninny, and Malthus a spoon. Society ought surely to pay such producers-such models of civilisation, who, by their manners and bon ton, are the ornaments of a coffeeroom-bring tailors into vogue, embellish the Boulevards or Bond Street -and supply the attentions which so many husbands are too much occupied to afford. Yes-'tis as an equivalent for these services, as compensation for the places we don't possess the fortunes we have lost-the opportunities we have missed-that we practise the art which will be detailed to you in this volume. And observe, sir, and through you let the British public observe, that here we make no mention of such low and contemptible branches of the study as getting into debt for a

week's rolls at the bakers, a pair of shoes, or a new hat. Whoso does'nt lift his soul above such pettinesses is unworthy to peruse my book."

So with a loud tap on the drum, and a big trumpet-blow of self-triumph, does the Count conclude the paragraph. Sundry matters are afterwards detailed, to which these few pages will serve as note of preparation. What, indeed, he in bodily shape may be, is to us unknown. Yet have we heard from those who have sojourned in Paris that he is exceeding comely, like a French angel, endowed with chin-forest and broad shoulders, and a profuse show of chains. Some, also, have lamented that in this instance, nature did not depart from her usual niggardliness in the article of fingers and thumbs, as from being limited to merely ten, he is forced to crowd each of them with three rings, which would be somewhat more tastefully arranged if he had had thirty fingers, and one ring only on each. But with these high mysteries we meddle not, and proceed to the next chapter.

Corsican Bonaparte, say rather the Emperor Napoleon, war-comet glaring through yon murky atmosphere, and 'mid the death-darkness casting a light, which, though dreadful, was a beacon to the voyagers over yon Anarch sea, was watched on his first appearing with dread, and fear, and terror; by fewest, with love or hope. But soon in the cloudy firmament appeared other stars red-hued like Mars, and Soult, and Massena, and Ney, were the planets of that new heaven. Fiery meteors, swamp-born, flitted over stagnant blood-pools, and among these, drummer Langlet, called familiarly Tigre de l'Enfer, or helltiger, was famous in his humbler sphere. What on great scale was performed in unkinged Portugal, double-kinged Spain, by marshals and heroes; when pictures and jewels and (whisper it not loudly in ear of crowdhuzzaed veteran) uncounted vulgar coin were transferred from orphan Lisbon, or dark-roomed Escurial, to modern Paris dwellings of Junots and

or

the rest-what in this wholesale and magnanimous manner was practised by great and noble, was at long distance imitated by hell-tiger Langlet of the guards. For him Murillos, nor Claudes, nor Titians had any charms; national treasuries were what he did not dream of; yet, what little was within his power he did. Fowis and pigs were the utmost of his exactions in the Commissariat Department,- nor were peasant's ear-rings, nor hardwon earnings left unadmired; and with gallant playfulness (which had earned for him his pet appellation of tiger), not loath was he with sword or musket to maintain the glory of the grande nation, by hewing down, or else shooting through the head, whosoever, and of what sex soever, resisted his commands. There is something so inspiring of military ardour in the sound of a drum, that we need not wonder to find drummer Langlet so heroic. Pity that Napoleon grudged such delectations to less men than the marshals; and pity also that

cord in French armies is plentiful, and trees in Spain fertile in strong branches; for the combination of these three things-Napoleon, rope, tree-cut off heroic Langlet in the full march of his fame. No history contains any record of what his last thoughts were fixed on, as he rapidly ascended the Gallican oak, with hempen cravat; and we will, therefore, guess that they reverted to his brave boy, whom, with his mother, he had left behind him in the Faubourg de St Antoine. Brave boy! bright mother! whose admiration of Paris architecture and general philanthropy were so great, that she did nothing but walk the streets, seeking whom she might overwhelm with hospitality. But she also became displeasing to certain ill-natured functionaries, who treated her with a harshness unworthy of a nation famed for its politeness, and in short time the boy was an orphan. He grew up; and many who remember the hell-tiger of the guards, with his bushy beard and thick mustachios, his broad shoulders, and his peculiar taste in rings, are somewhat incredulous about the nobility of Monsieur Le Compte Hypolite Montmorenci de St Leon. With this affair of genealogy, however, we have little to do. Our correspondent is, of course, the best judge on such subjects, and we are satisfied that he is what he has told us. With what high morality, nor less wisdom, worthy of one who is under the presidency of magnanimous Pasquier, does he open!

Property has been hitherto but carelessly defined by the laws, and is much more extensive in its signification than is supposed. Lawyers will tell you that they distinguish property into movable and immovable (mobiliere et immobiliere); hence, the miserable prejudice that makes it depend on certain quantities, more or less, of acres of land, pieces of plate, sumptuous furniture, or bags full of gold; so that, under this pitiful system, character, talent, education, are considered infinitely inferior to a landmeasuring chain, a silver-weighing scale, and an inventory. Nothing than this theory is so incomplete. The fact is, that independently of these elements of property (which, we grant, are of some value in their way), there are many more real and more incontestible. For instance

From twenty-five to thirty-five years of age

Thirty-two teeth the colour of snowA constitution of iron

A stomach of bronze

Broad chest and strong arms-
Whiskers, black and bushy-
And a calf seven inches in diameter.

The philosophic English, who have preceded us by many centuries in the science of legislation, have adopted this idea. They recognise personal property in their statute books, and consider it on a perfect equality with real or immovable property. That this system is the true one-the only one sanctioned by virtue and religion, this one argument will suffice to prove," It is Nature herself that bestows this property-are we to go against Nature and make her legacy useless? to deny the value of her gift? to dishonour her bills, as if we doubted her handwriting or the solvency of her affairs?" Never! never! Yet is not Nature a mother kind alike to all,— she has her favourites, and makes heirs of the sons she likes best. In this design she calls society to her aid, for it would be absurd to suppose that to the whole number we have statednamely, a hundred thousand souls in France alone-she gives equal fortunes.

To some she gives a draft on society, who is her banker, for one amount; to another, for a different one. We regard, in this disquisition, only the more highly favoured, on whom she settles an amount yielding an annuity of ten thousand francs. The tables will be equally applicable to those who have only half that sum, or a quarter of it, in the proportion of ten to five; or ten to two and a half. In England, a richer country, the documents will be equally available, understanding by francs guineas or sovereigns. Taking it for granted, then, that society will be willing to pay at the rate of five per cent on the original capital, we perceive that the fortune of the man, comme il faut, must be estimated at two hundred

thousand francs. This is made up of the following funds :

1. His physical qualities.
2. His education.

3. His disposition or character.

In pursuance of the first branch of the subject we can't go wrong in estimat

No political economist can dispute these valuations. Every one who possesses the above items should, therefore, consider himself in the possession of a capital of from thirty to thirtyfive thousand francs, and entitled to live at the rate (in so far as they are concerned) of somewhere about fifteen huudred francs a-year. I put a most moderate value on these noble properties, and I know they would be snapt up" by many an old banker and vieille marquise if they could get them at double the price." And so for many more pages does the young count take notice of his inheritance, as some of earth's more fortunate children look over their estates. By fewest will it be thought that his estimate is exorbitant, for have there not been in our own land Hertfords and Queensberrys who would have given the thirty-two thousand pounds (at which such properties are estimated in England) for the loan of them for a single year? What marchionesses, whether old or young, might consider them worth in our moral and delicateminded country, far be it from us to guess. Yet if, as Count Hypolite supposes, the vieilles marquises desire such things for their own personal improvement, our notions of female beauty must be different from the Paris standard. For, though we can appreciate, even in the softer sex, the advantages of a constitution of iron and stomach of bronze, we are puzzled what is to be done with the black and bushy whiskers, the broad shoulders, or even the calf seven inches in diameter. Such are the obscurities that arise from international ignorance; for who, in this sea-surrounded island

almost divided from the whole world -can solemnly predicate that French marchionesses (especially of the old régime) did not sport whiskers and glorify themselves in gigantic legs?

After sundry deep observations, which, for brevity's sake, we pretermit, gay Hypolite, not without deep yearnings after the intellectual advancement of the species, gives his notions on the great subject of education. This he divides into two sorts: 1. Education by books. 2. Education by the eyes.

Of these he gives greatly the preference to the last.

"Book education," he says, "furnishes but few recruits to the class of men comme il faut-(parenthetically let us translate this phrase in the language of Hibernian Curran, the Clean Potato,')—for book education supposes a degree of knowledge incompatible with genteel life-an acquaintance with our own language deep and searching as Voltaire's or Southey's-of Greek like Thucydides's, or the Bishop of Lichfield's-of Latin like Cicero's or Niebuhr's. They are not content with mathematics unless they know as much of them as Babbage-of astronomy, unless they are as familiar in the milky way as Herschel or Arago. What use can be made of such impracticable spoons ? They lodge in a triangle, dine on an experiment, and sup on a problem; glass in hand they gaze round the theatre, where all the performers are stars; attend soirees among the constellations; have Jupiter for their friend and Venus for their mistress. A pair of stout shoes and a biscuit is ample provision for such mortals. But the Eye education is the proper system for the Clean Potato, and is already far more generally cultivated than the other. Nor do a few terms spent at college materially interfere with it; for a sprinkling of such scholastic phrases as 'gyp,'scout,' 'chum,' 'procter,'' oak,' 'commons,'

6

battels,' does, indeed, rather tend to place the eye education in a better light, and give an air of high scholarship to one's discourse. You know, vaguely enough (yet still you know), that Cicero is an orator, Virgil a poet, and Horace a wag. The name of Seneca has become so tiresome to you in the mouth of your tutor that you remember without difficulty he is a moralist; Perseus and Juvenal (whom you have never