t wanting them, we will kick them to a considerable
distance: and then, when toleration is no longer the cry, and the Whigs
are no longer backed by the populace, see whether the editors of the ---
will stand by them; they will prove themselves as expert lick-spittles of
despotism as of liberalism. Don't think they will always bespatter the
Tories and Austria."

"Well," said I, "I am sorry to find that you entertain so low an opinion
of the spirit of English literary men; we will now return, if you please,
to the subject of the middle classes; I think your strictures upon them
in general are rather too sweeping--they are not altogether the foolish
people you have described. Look, for example, at that very powerful and
numerous body the Dissenters, the descendants of those sturdy Patriots
who hurled Charles the Simple from his throne."

"There are some sturdy fellows amongst them, I do not deny," said the man
in black, "especially amongst the preachers, clever withal--two or three
of that class nearly drove Mr. Platitude mad, as perhaps you are aware,
but they are not very numerous; and the old sturdy sort of preachers are
fast dropping off, and, as we observe with pleasure, are generally
succeeded by frothy coxcombs, whom it would not be very difficult to gain
over. But what we most rely upon as an instrument to bring the
Dissenters over to us is the mania for gentility, which amongst them has
of late become as great, and more ridiculous, than amongst the middle
classes belonging to the Church of England. All the plain and simple
fashions of their forefathers they are either about to abandon, or have
already done so. Look at the most part of their chapels, no longer
modest brick edifices, situated in quiet and retired streets, but
lunatic-looking erections, in what the simpletons call the modern Gothic
taste, of Portland-stone, with a cross upon the top, and the site
generally the most conspicuous that can be found, and look at the manner
in which they educate their children, I mean those that are wealthy.
They do not even wish them to be Dissenters, 'the sweet dears shall enjoy
the advantages of good society, of which their parents were debarred.'
So the girls are sent to tip-top boarding schools, where amongst other
trash they read 'Rokeby,' and are taught to sing snatches from that
high-flying ditty, the 'Cavalier ---'

'Would you match the base Skippon, and Massey, and Brown
With the barons of England,