Pearce, not Percy, who ran
up the burning stairs. Did ever one of those glittering ones save a
fainting female from the libidinous rage of six ruffians? The writer
believes not. A woman was rescued from the libidinous fury of six
monsters on . . . Down; but the man who rescued her was no aristocrat; it
was Pearce, not Paulet, who rescued the woman, and thrashed my lord's six
gamekeepers--Pearce, whose equal never was, and probably never will be,
found in sturdy combat. Are there any of the aristocracy of whom it can
be said that they never did a cowardly, cruel, or mean action, and that
they invariably took the part of the unfortunate and weak against cruelty
and oppression? As much can be said of Cribb, of Spring, and the other;
but where is the aristocrat of whom as much can be said? Wellington?
Wellington, indeed! a skilful general, and a good man of valour, it is
true, but with that cant word of "duty" continually on his lips, did he
rescue Ney from his butchers? Did he lend a helping hand to Warner?

In conclusion, the writer would strongly advise those of his
country-folks who may read his book to have nothing to do with the two
kinds of canting nonsense described above, but in their progress through
life to enjoy as well as they can, but always with moderation, the good
things of this world, to put confidence in God, to be as independent as
possible, and to take their own parts. If they are low-spirited, let
them not make themselves foolish by putting on sackcloth, drinking water,
or chewing ashes, but let them take wholesome exercise, and eat the most
generous food they can get, taking up and reading occasionally, not the
lives of Ignatius Loyola and Francis Spira, but something more agreeable;
for example, the life and adventures of Mr. Duncan Campbell, the deaf and
dumb gentleman; the travels of Captain Falconer in America, and the
Journal of John Randall, who went to Virginia and married an Indian wife;
not forgetting, amidst their eating and drinking, their walks over
heaths, and by the sea-side, and their agreeable literature, to be
charitable to the poor, to read the Psalms, and to go to church twice on
a Sunday. In their dealings with people, to be courteous to everybody,
as Lavengro was, but always independent like him; and if people meddle
with them, to give them as good as they bring, even as he and Isopel
Berners were in the habit of doing; and it will be as well for him to
observe that he by