Thenstandsitatriumphalmark！ThenmenObservethestrength，theheight，thewhyandwhenItwaserected；andstillwalkingunder，Meetsomenewmattertolookup，andwonder。
Butreason，notemployedtointerpretnature，andtoimproveandperfectcommonsenseandexperience，is，forthemostpart，abuildingwithoutafoundation。Thecriticismexercisedbyreason，then，oncommonsensemaybeassevereasitpleases，butitmustbeaspatientasitissevere。Hasty，dogmatical，self-satisfiedreasonisworsethanidlefancyorbigotedprejudice。Itissystematic，ostentatiousinerror，closesuptheavenuesofknowledge，and”shutsthegatesofwisdomonmankind。”Itisnotenoughtoshowthatthereisnoreasonforathingthatwedonotseethereasonofit：ifthecommonfeeling，iftheinvoluntaryprejudicesetsinstronginfavourofit，if，inspiteofallwecando，thereisalurkingsuspiciononthesideofourfirstimpressions，wemusttryagain，andbelievethattruthismightierthanwe。So，inorderingadefinitionofanysubject，ifwefeelamisgivingthatthereisanyfactorcircumstanceemitted，butofwhichwehaveonlyavagueapprehension，likeanamewecannotrecollect，wemustaskformoretime，andnotcutthemattershortbyanarrogantassumptionofthepointindispute。Commonsensethusactsasacheck-weightonsophistry，andsuspendsourrashandsuperficialjudgments。Ontheotherhand，ifnotonlynoreasoncanbegivenforathing，buteveryreasonisclearagainstit，andwecanaccountfromignorance，fromauthority，frominterest，fromdifferentcauses，fortheprevalenceofanopinionorsentiment，thenwehavearighttoconcludethatwehavemistakenaprejudiceforaninstinct，orhaveconfoundedafalseandpartialimpressionwiththefairandunavoidableinferencefromgeneralobservation。Mr。Burkesaidthatweoughtnottorejecteveryprejudice，butshouldseparatethehuskofprejudicefromthetruthitencloses，andsotrytogetatthekernelwithin；andthusfarhewasright。Buthewaswrongininsistingthatwearetocherishourprejudices”becausetheyareprejudices”：forifallarewellfounded，thereisnooccasiontoinquireintotheiroriginoruse；andhewhosetsouttophilosophiseuponthem，ormaketheseparationMr。Burketalksofinthisspiritandwiththispreviousdetermination，willbeverylikelytomistakeamaggotorarottencankerforthepreciouskerneloftruth，aswasindeedthecasewithourPoliticalsophist。
Thereisnothingmoredistinctthancommonsenseandvulgaropinion。
Commonsenseisonlyajudgeofthingsthatfallundercommonobservation，orimmediatelycomehometothebusinessandbosomsofmen。
Thisisoftheveryessenceofitsprinciple，thebasisofitspretensions。Itrestsuponthesimpleprocessoffeeling，——itanchorsinexperience。Itisnot，noritcannotbe，thetestofabstract，speculativeopinions。Buthalftheopinionsandprejudicesofmankind，thosewhichtheyholdinthemostunqualifiedapprobationandwhichhavebeeninstilledintothemunderthestrongestsanctions，areofthislatterkind，thatis，opinionsnotwhichtheyhaveeverthought，known，orfeltonetittleabout，butwhichtheyhavetakenupontrustfromothers，whichhavebeenpalmedontheirunderstandingsbyfraudorforce，andwhichtheycontinuetoholdattheperiloflife，limb，property，andcharacter，withaslittlewarrantfromcommonsenseinthefirstinstanceasappealtoreasoninthelast。The_ultimaratioregum_proceedsuponaverydifferentplea。Commonsenseisneitherpriestcraftnorstate-policy。Yet”there”stherubthatmakesabsurdityofsolonglife”and，atthesametime，givesthescepticalphilosopherstheadvantageoverus。Tillnaturehasfairplayallowedit，andisnotadulteratedbypoliticalandpolemicalquacks(asitsooftenhasbeen)，itisimpossibletoappealtoitasadefenceagainsttheerrorsandextravagancesofmerereason。Ifwetalkofcommonsense，wearetwittedwithvulgarprejudice，andaskedhowwedistinguishtheonefromtheother；butcommonandreceivedopinionisindeed”acompostheap”ofcrudenotions，gottogetherbytheprideandpassionsofindividuals，andreasonisitselfthethrallormanumittedslaveofthesamelordlyandbesottedmasters，draggingitsservilechain，orcommittingallsortsofSaturnalianlicenses，themomentitfeelsitselffreedfromit——IftenmillionsofEnglishmenarefuriousinthinkingthemselvesrightinmakingwaruponthirtymillionsofFrenchmen，andifthelastareequallybentuponthinkingtheothersalwaysinthewrong，thoughitisacommonandnationalprejudice，bothopinionscannotbethedictateofgoodsense；butitmaybetheinfatuatedpolicyofoneorbothgovernmentstokeeptheirsubjectsalwaysatvariance。IfafewcenturiesagoallEuropebelievedintheinfallibilityofthePope，thiswasnotanopinionderivedfromtheproperexerciseorerroneousdirectionofthecommonsenseofthepeople；commonsensehadnothingtodowithit——theybelievedwhatevertheirprieststoldthem。EnglandatpresentisdividedintoWhigsandTories，ChurchmenandDissenters；bothpartieshavenumbersontheirside；butcommonsenseandpartyspiritaretwodifferentthings。Sectsandheresiesareupheldpartlybysympathy，andpartlybytheloveofcontradiction；iftherewasnobodyofadifferentwayofthinking，theywouldfalltopiecesofthemselves。Ifawholecourtsaythesamething，thisisnoproofthattheythinkit，butthattheindividualattheheadofthecourthassaidit；ifamobagreeforawhileinshoutingthesamewatchword，thisisnottomeanexampleofthe_sensuscommunis_，theyonlyrepeatwhattheyhaveheardrepeatedbyothers。Ifindeedalargeproportionofthepeopleareinwantoffood，ofclothing，ofshelter——iftheyaresick，miserable，scorned，oppressed——andifeachfeelingitinhimself，theyallsaysowithonevoiceandoneheart，andliftuptheirhandstosecondtheirappeal，thisIshouldsaywasbutthedictateofcommonsense，thecryofnature。Buttowaivethispartoftheargument，whichitisneedlesstopushfarther，——lbelievethatthebestwaytoinstructmankindisnotbypointingouttothemtheirmutualerrors，butbyteachingthemtothinkrightlyonindifferentmatters，wheretheywilllistenwithpatienceinordertobeamused，andwheretheydonotconsideradefinitionorasyllogismasthegreatestinjuryyoucanofferthem。
Thereisnoruleforexpression。Itisgotatsolelyby_feeling_，thatis，ontheprincipleoftheassociationofideas，andbytransferringwhathasbeenfoundtoholdgoodinonecase(withthenecessarymodifications)toothers。Acertainlookhasbeenremarkedstronglyindicativeofacertainpassionortraitofcharacter，andweattachthesamemeaningtoitorareaffectedinthesamepleasurableorpainfulmannerbyit，whereitexistsinalessdegree，thoughwecandefineneitherthelookitselfnorthemodificationofit。Havinggotthegeneralclue，theexactresultmaybelefttotheimaginationtovary，toextenuateoraggravateitaccordingtocircumstances。IntheadmirableprofileofOliverCromwellafter——，thedroopingeyelids，asifdrawingaveiloverthefixed，penetratingglance，thenostrilssomewhatdistended，andlipscompressedsoashardlytoletthebreathescapehim，denotethecharacterofthemanforhigh-reachingpolicyanddeepdesignsasplainlyastheycanbewritten。Howisitthatwedecipherthisexpressionintheface？First，byfeelingit。Andhowisitthatwefeelit？Notbyre-establishedrules，butbytheinstinctofanalogy，bytheprincipleofassociation，whichissubtleandsureinproportionasitisvariableandindefinite。Acircumstance，apparentlyofnovalue，shallalterthewholeinterpretationtobeputuponanexpressionoractionanditshallalteritthuspowerfullybecauseinproportiontoitsveryinsignificanceitshowsastronggeneralprincipleatworkthatextendsinitsramificationstothesmallestthings。Thisinfactwillmakeallthedifferencebetweenminutenessandsubtletyorrefinement；forasmallortrivialeffectmayingivencircumstancesimplytheoperationofagreatpower。Stillnessmaybetheresultofablowtoopowerfultoberesisted；silencemaybeimposedbyfeelingstooagonisingforutterance。Theminute，thetriflingandinsipidisthatwhichislittleinitself，initscausesanditsconsequences；thesubtleandrefinedisthatwhichisslightandevanescentatfirstsight，butwhichmountsuptoamightysumintheend，whichisanessentialpartofanimportantwhole，whichhasconsequencesgreaterthanitself，andwheremoreismeantthanmeetstheeyeorear。WecomplainsometimesoflittlenessinaDutchpicture，wherethereareavastnumberofdistinctpartsandobjects，eachsmallinitself，andleadingtonothingelse。AskyofClaude”scannotfallunderthiscensure，whereoneimperceptiblegradationisasitwerethescaletoanother，wherethebroadarchofheavenispiledupofendlesslyintermediategoldandazuretints，andwhereaninfinitenumberofminute，scarcenoticedparticularsblendandmeltintouniversalharmony。ThesubtletyinShakespear，ofwhichthereisanimmensedealscatteredeverywhereupanddown，isalwaystheinstrumentofpassion，thevehicleofcharacter。Theactionofamanpullinghishatoverhisforeheadisindifferentenoughinitself，andgenerallyspeaking，maymeananythingornothing；butinthecircumstancesinwhichMacduffisplaced，itisneitherinsignificantnorequivocal。
What！man，ne”erpullyourhatuponyourbrows，etc。
Itadmitsbutofoneinterpretationorinference，thatwhichfollowsit：——
Givesorrowwords：thegriefthatdoesnotspeak，Whisperstheo”er-fraughtheart，andbidsitbreak。
Thepassageinthesameplay，inwhichDuncanandhisattendantsareintroduced，commentingonthebeautyandsituationofMacbeth”scastle，thoughfamiliarinitself，hasbeenoftenpraisedforthestrikingcontrastitpresentstothesceneswhichfollow——Thesamelookindifferentcircumstancesmayconveyatotallydifferentexpression。Thustheeyeturnedroundtolookatyouwithoutturningtheheadindicatesgenerallyslynessorsuspicion；butifthisiscombinedwithlargeexpandedeyelidsorfixedeyebrows，asweseeitinTitian”spictures，itwilldenotecalmcontemplationorpiercingsagacity，withoutanythingofmeannessorfearofbeingobserved。Inothercasesitmayimplymerelyindolent，enticingvoluptuousness，asinLely”sportraitsofwomen。Thelanguorandweaknessoftheeyelidsgivetheamorousturntotheexpression。Howshouldtherebearuleforallthisbeforehand，seeingitdependsoncircumstancesevervarying，andscarcediscerniblebutbytheireffectonthemind？Rulesareapplicabletoabstractions，butexpressionisconcreteandindividual。Weknowthemeaningofcertainlooks，andwefeelhowtheymodifyoneanotherinconjunction。
Butwecannothaveaseparateruletojudgeofalltheircombinationsindifferentdegreesandcircumstances，withoutforeseeingallthosecombinations，whichisimpossible；orifwedidforeseethem，weshouldonlybewhereweare，thatis，wecouldonlymaketheruleaswenowjudgewithoutit，fromimaginationandthefeelingofthemoment。TheabsurdityofreducingexpressiontoapreconcertedsystemwasperhapsnevermoreevidentlyshownthaninapictureoftheJudgmentofSolomonbysogreatamanasN。Poussin，whichIonceheardadmiredfortheskillanddiscriminationoftheartistinmakingallthewomen，whoarerangedononeside，inthegreatestalarmatthesentenceofthejudge，whileallthemenontheoppositesideseethroughthedesignofit。
Naturedoesnotgotoworkorcastthingsinaregularmouldinthissortofway。Ionceheardapersonremarkofanother，”Hehasaneyelikeavicioushorse。”Thiswasafairanalogy。Weall，Ibelieve，havenoticedthelookofahorse”seyejustbeforeheisgoingtobiteorkick。Butwillanyone，therefore，describetomeexactlywhatthatlookis？Itwasthesameacuteobserverthatsaidofaself-sufficient。，pratingmusic-master，”Hetalksonallsubjects_atsight_”——whichexpressedthemanatoncebyanallusiontohisprofession。thecoincidencewasindeedperfect。Nothingelsecouldcomparewiththeeasyassurancewithwhichthisgentlemanwouldvolunteeranexplanationofthingsofwhichhewasmostignorant，butthe_nonchalance_withwhichamusiciansitsdowntoaharpsichordtoplayapiecehehasneverseenbefore。Myphysiognomicalfriendwouldnothavehitonthismodeofillustrationwithoutknowingtheprofessionofthesubjectofhiscriticism；buthavingthishintgivenhim，itinstantlysuggesteditselftohis”suretrailing。”Themannerofthespeakerwasevident；andtheassociationofthemusic-mastersittingdowntoplayatsight，lurkinginhismind，wasimmediatelycalledoutbythestrengthofhisimpressionofthecharacter。Thefeelingofcharacterandthefelicityofinventioninexplainingitwerenearlyalliedtoeachother。Thefirstwassowroughtupandrunningoverthatthetransitiontothelastwasveryeasyandunavoidable。WhenMr。KeanwassomuchpraisedfortheactionofRichardinhislaststrugglewithhistriumphantantagonist，wherehestands，afterhisswordiswrestedfromhim，withhishandsstretchedout，”asifhiswillcouldnotbedisarmed，andtheveryphantomsofhisdespairhadawitheringpower”
hesaidthatheborroweditfromseeingthelasteffortsofPainterinhisfightwithOliver。Thisassuredlydidnotlessenthemeritofit。
Thusiteveriswiththemanofrealgenius。Hehasthefeelingoftruthalreadyshrinedinhisownbreast，andhiseyeisstillbentonNaturetoseehowsheexpressesherself。Whenwethoroughlyunderstandthesubjectitiseasytotranslatefromonelanguageintoanother。
Raphael，inmufflingupthefigureofElymastheSorcererinhisgarments，appearstohaveextendedtheideaofblindnesseventohisclothes。Wasthisdesign？Probablynot；butmerelythefeelingofanalogythoughtlesslysuggestingthisdevice，whichbeingsosuggestedwasretainedandcarriedon，becauseitflatteredorfellinwiththeoriginalfeeling。Thetideofpassion，whenstrong，overflowsandgraduallyinsinuatesitselfintoallnooksandcornersofthemind。
Invention(ofthebestkind)Ithereforedonotthinksodistinctathingfromfeelingassomeareapttoimagine。Thespringsofpurefeelingwillriseandfillthemouldsoffancythatarefittoreceiveit。Therearesomestrikingcoincidencesofcolourinwell-composedpictures，asinastragglingweedintheforegroundstreakedwithblueorredtoanswertoablueorreddrapery，tothetoneofthefleshoranopeninginthesky：——notthatthiswasintended，ordonebytherule(forthenitwouldpresentlybecomeaffectedandridiculous)，buttheeye，beingimbuedwithacertaincolour，repeatsandvariesitfromanaturalsenseofharmony，asecretcravingandappetiteforbeauty，whichinthesamemannersoothesandgratifiestheeyeoftaste，thoughthecauseisnotunderstood。_Tact，finesse_，isnothingbutthebeingcompletelyawareofthefeelingbelongingtocertainsituations，passions，etc。，andthebeingconsequentlysensibletotheirslightestindicationsormovementsinothers。Oneofthemostremarkableinstancesofthissortoffacultyisthefollowingstory，toldofLordShaftesbury，thegrandfatheroftheauthorofthe_Characteristics_。HehadbeentodinewithLadyClarendonandherdaughter，whowasatthattimeprivatelymarriedtotheDukeofYork(afterwardsJamesII。)，andashereturnedhomewithanothernoblemanwhohadaccompaniedhim，hesuddenlyturnedtohim，andsaid，”Dependuponit，theDukehasmarriedHyde”sdaughter。”Hiscompanioncouldnotcomprehendwhathemeant；butonexplaininghimself，hesaid，”Hermotherbehavedtoherwithanattentionandamarkedrespectthatitisimpossibletoaccountforinanyotherway；andIamsureofit。”Hisconjectureshortlyafterwardsprovedtobethetruth。Thiswascarryingthepropheticspiritofcommonsenseasfarasitcouldgo。
NOTEStoESSAYIV
[1]DiscourseXIII。vol。ii。pp。113-117。
[2]Sentimenthasthesamesourceasthatherepointedout。Thusthe_RanzdesVaches_，whichhassuchaneffectonthemindsoftheSwisspeasantry，whenitswell-knownsoundisheard，doesnotmerelyrecalltothemtheideaoftheircountry，buthasassociatedwithitathousandnamelessideas，numberlesstouchesofprivateaffection，ofearlyhope，romanticadventureandnationalpride，allwhichrushin(withmingledcurrents)toswellthetideoffondremembrance，andmakethemlanguishordieforhome。Whatafineinstrumentthehumanheartis！Whoshalltouchit？Whoshallfathomit？Whoshall”sounditfromItslowestnotetothetopofitscompass？”Whoshallputhishandamongthestrings，andexplaintheirwaywardmusic？Theheartalone，whentouchedbysympathy，tremblesandrespondstotheirhiddenmeaning！
ESSAYV
THESAMESUBJECTCONTINUED
Geniusororiginalityis，forthemostpart，_somestrongqualityinthemind，answeringtoandbringingoutsomenewandstrikingqualityinnature。_
Imaginationis，moreproperly，thepowerofcarryingonagivenfeelingintoothersituations，whichmustbedonebestaccordingtotheholdwhichthefeelingitselfhastakenofthemind。[1]Innewandunknowncombinationstheimpressionmustactbysympathy，andnotbyrule，buttherecanbenosympathywherethereisnopassion，nooriginalinterest。Thepersonalinterestmayinsomecasesoppressandcircumscribetheimaginativefaculty，asintheinstanceofRousseau：
butingeneralthestrengthandconsistencyoftheimaginationwillbeinproportiontothestrengthanddepthoffeeling；anditisrarelythatamanevenofloftygeniuswillbeabletodomorethancarryonhisownfeelingsandcharacter，orsomeprominentandrulingpassion，intofictitiousanduncommonsituations。Miltonhasbyallusionembodiedagreatpartofhispoliticalandpersonalhistoryinthechiefcharactersandincidentsof_ParadiseLost_。Hehas，nodoubt，wonderfullyadaptedandheightenedthem，buttheelementsarethesame；
youtracethebiasandopinionsofthemaninthecreationsofthepoet。
Shakespear(almostalone)seemstohavebeenamanofgeniusraisedabovethedefinitionofgenius。”Bornuniversalheirtoallhumanity”
hewas”asone，insufferingallwhosufferednothing”；withaperfectsympathywithallthings，yetalikeindifferenttoall：whodidnottamperwithNatureorwarphertohisownpurposes；who”knewallqualitieswithalearnedspirit”insteadofjudgingofthembyhisownpredilections；andwasrather”apipefortheMuse”sfingertoplaywhatstopshepleasd”thananxioustosetupanycharacterorpretensionsofhisown。Hisgeniusconsistedinthefacultyoftransforminghimselfatwillintowhateverhechose：hisoriginalitywasthepowerofseeingeveryobjectfromtheexactpointofviewinwhichotherswouldseeit。
HewastheProteusofhumanintellect。Geniusinordinaryisamoreobstinateandlessversatilething。Itissufficientlyexclusiveandself-willed，quaintandpeculiar。Itdoessomeonethingbyvirtueofdoingnothingelse：itexcelsinsomeonepursuitbybeingblindtoallexcellencebutitsown。Itisjustthereverseofthecameleon；foritdoesnotborrow，butlendsitscolourtoallaboutit；orliketheglow-worm，disclosesalittlecircleofgorgeouslightinthetwilightofobscurity，inthenightofintellectthatsurroundsit。SodidRembrandt。Ifevertherewasamanofgenius，hewasone，inthepropersenseoftheterm。Helivedinandrevealedtoottersaworldofhisown，andmightbesaidtohaveinventedanewviewofnature。Hedidnotdiscoverthings_outof_nature，infictionorfairyland，ormakeavoyagetothemoon”todescrynewlands，riversormountainsinherspottyglobe”butsawthings_in_naturethateveryonehadmissedbeforehimandgaveotherseyestoseethemwith。Thisisthetestandtriumphoforiginality，nottoshowuswhathasneverbeen，andwhatwemaythereforeveryeasilyneverhavedreamtof，buttopointouttouswhatisbeforeoureyesandunderourfeet，thoughwehavehadnosuspicionofitsexistence，forwantofsufficientstrengthofintuition，ofdeterminedgraspofmind，toseizeandretainit。
Rembrandt”sconquestswerenotoverthe_ideal_，butthereal。Hedidnotcontriveanewstoryorcharacter，butwenearlyowetohimafifthpartofpainting，theknowledgeof_chiaroscuro_——adistinctpowerandelementinartandnature。Hehadasteadiness，afirmkeepingofmindandeye，thatfirststoodtheshockof”fierceextremes”inlightandshade，orreconciledthegreatestobscurityandthegreatestbrilliancyintoperfectharmony；andhethereforewasthefirsttohazardthisappearanceuponcanvas，andgivefulleffecttowhathesawanddelightedin。Hewasledtoadoptthisstyleofbroadandstartlingcontrastfromitscongenialitytohisownfeelings：hismindgrappledwiththatwhichaffordedthebestexercisetoitsmaster-powers：hewasboldinact，becausehewasurgedonbyastrongnativeimpulse。
Originalityisthennothingbutnatureandfeelingworkinginthemind。
Amandoesnotaffecttobeoriginal：heisso，becausehecannothelpit，andoftenwithoutknowingit。Thisextraordinaryartistindeedmightbesaidtohavehadaparticularorganforcolour。Hiseyeseemedtocomeincontactwithitasafeeling，tolayholdofitasasubstance，ratherthantocontemplateitasavisualobject。Thetextureofhislandscapesis”oftheearth，earthy”——hiscloudsarehumid，heavy，slow；hisshadowsare”darknessthatmaybefelt”a”palpableobscure”；hislightsarelumpsofliquidsplendour！Thereissomethingmoreinthisthancanbeaccountedforfromdesignoraccident：Rembrandtwasnotamanmadeupoftwoorthreerulesanddirectionsforacquiringgenius。
IamafraidIshallhardlywritesosatisfactoryacharacterofMr。
Wordsworth，thoughhetoo，likeRembrandt，hasafacultyofmakingsomethingoutofnothing，thatis，outofhimself，bythemediumthroughwhichheseesandwithwhichheclothesthebarrenestsubject。Mr。
Wordsworthisthelastmanto”lookabroadintouniversality”ifthataloneconstitutedgenius：helooksathomeintohimself，andis”contentwithrichesfineless。”Hewouldintheothercasebe”pooraswinter”
ifhehadnothingbutgeneralcapacitytotrustto。Heisthegreatest，thatis，themostoriginalpoetofthepresentday，onlybecauseheisthegreatestegotist。Heis”self-involved，notdark。”Hesitsinthecentreofhisownbeing，andthere”enjoysbrightday。”Hedoesnotwasteathoughtonothers。Whateverdoesnotrelateexclusivelyandwhollytohimselfisforeigntohisviews。Hecontemplatesawhole-lengthfigureofhimself，helooksalongtheunbrokenlineofhispersonalidentity。Hethrustsasideallotherobjects，allotherinterests，withscornandimpatience，thathemayreposeonhisownbeing，thathemaydigoutthetreasuresofthoughtcontainedinit，thathemayunfoldthepreciousstoresofamindforeverbroodingoveritself。Hisgeniusistheeffectofhisindividualcharacter。Hestampsthatcharacter，thatdeepindividualinterest，onwhateverhemeets。Theobjectisnothingbutasitfurnishesfoodforinternalmeditation，foroldassociations。Iftherehadbeennootherbeingintheuniverse，Mr。Wordsworth”spoetrywouldhavebeenjustwhatitis。
Iftherehadbeenneitherlovenorfriendship，neitherambitionnorpleasurenorbusinessintheWorld，theauthorofthe_LyricalBallads_
neednothavebeengreatlychangedfromwhatheis——mightstillhave”keptthenoiselesstenourofhisway”retiredinthesanctuaryofhisownheart，hallowingtheSabbathofhisownthoughts。Withthepassions，thepursuits，andimaginationsofothermenhedoesnotprofesstosympathise，but”findstonguesinthetrees，booksintherunningbrooks，sermonsinstones，andgoodineverything。”Withamindaversefromoutwardobjects，buteverintentuponitsownworkings，hehangsaweightofthoughtandfeelinguponeverytriflingcircumstanceconnectedwithhispasthistory。Thenoteofthecuckoosoundsinhisearlikethevoiceofotheryears；thedaisyspreadsitsleavesintheraysofboyishdelightthatstreamfromhisthoughtfuleyes；therainbowliftsitsproudarchinheavenbuttomarkhisprogressfrominfancytomanhood；anoldthornisburied，boweddownunderthemassofassociationshehaswoundaboutit；andtohim，ashehimselfbeautifullysays，Themeanestflow”rthatblowscangiveThoughtsthatdooftenlietoodeepfortears。
Itisthispowerofhabitualsentiment，oroftransferringtheinterestofourconsciousexistencetowhatevergentlysolicitsattention，andisalinkinthechainofassociationwithoutrousingourpassionsorhurtingourpride，thatisthestrikingfeatureinMr。Wordsworth”smindandpoetry。Othershaveleftandshownthispowerbefore，asWither，Burns，etc。，butnonehavefeltitsointenselyandabsolutelyastolendtoitthevoiceofinspiration，astomakeitthefoundationofanewstyleandschoolinpoetry。Hisstrength，asitsooftenhappens，arisesfromtheexcessofhisweakness。Buthehasopenedanewavenuetothehumanheart，hasexploredanothersecrethauntandnookofnature，”sacredtoverse，andsureofeverlastingfame。”Comparedwithhislines，LordByron”sstanzasarebutexaggeratedcommon-place，andWalterScott”spoetry(nothisprose)oldwives”fables。[2]ThereisnooneinwhomIhavebeenmoredisappointedthaninthewriterherespokenof，norwithwhomIammoredisposedoncertainpointstoquarrel；buttheloveoftruthandjusticewhichobligesmetodothis，willnotsuffermetoblenchhismerits。Dowhathecan，hecannothelpbeinganoriginal-mindedman。Hispoetryisnotservile。Whilethecuckooreturnsinthespring，whilethedaisylooksbrightinthesun，whiletherainbowliftsitsheadabovethestorm——
YetI”llrememberthee，Glencairn，Andallthatthouhastdoneforme！
SirJoshuaReynolds，inendeavouringtoshowthatthereisnosuchthingasproperoriginality，aspiritemanatingfromthemindoftheartistandshiningthroughhisworks，hastracedRaphaelthroughanumberoffigureswhichhehasborrowedfromMasaccioandothers。Thisisabadcalculation。IfRaphaelhadonlyborrowedthosefiguresfromothers，wouldhe，eveninSirJoshua”ssense，havebeenentitledtothepraiseoforiginality？Plagiarism，insofarasitisplagiarism，isnotoriginality。Salvatorisconsideredbymanyasagreatgenius。Heiswhattheycallanirregulargenius。Mynotionofgeniusisnotexactlythesameastheirs。Ithasalsobeenmadeaquestion；whetherthereisnotmoregeniusinRembrandt”sThreeTreesthaninallClaudeLorraine”slandscapes。Idonotknowhowthatmaybe；butitwasenoughforClaudetohavebeenaperfectlandscape-painter。
Capacityisnotthesamethingasgenius。Capacitymaybedescribedtorelatetothequantityofknowledge，howeveracquired；genius，toitsqualityandthemodeofacquiringit。Capacityispowerovergivenideascombinationsofideas；geniusisthepoweroverthosewhicharenotgiven，andforwhichnoobviousorpreciserulecanbelaiddown。
Orcapacityispowerofanysort；geniusispowerofadifferentsortfromwhathasyetbeenshown。Aretentivememory，aclearunderstanding，iscapacity，butitisnotgenius。TheadmirableCrichtonwasapersonofprodigiouscapacity；butthereisnoproof(thatIknow)thathehadanatomofgenius。Hisversesthatremainaredullandsterile。Hecouldlearnallthatwasknownofanysubject；hecoulddoanythingifotherscouldshowhimthewaytodoit。Thiswasverywonderful；butthatisallyoucansayofit。Itrequiresagoodcapacitytoplaywellatchess；but，afterall，itisagameofskill，andnotofgenius。Knowwhatyouwillofit，theunderstandingstillmovesincertaintracksinwhichothershavetroditbefore，quickerorslower，withmoreorlesscomprehensionandpresenceofmind。Thegreatestskillstrikesoutnothingforitself，fromitsownpeculiarresources；thenatureofthegameisathingdeterminateandfixed：
thereisnoroyalorpoeticalroadtocheckmateyouradversary。Thereisnoplaceforgeniusbutintheindefiniteandunknown。Thediscoveryofthebinomialtheoremwasaneffortofgenius；buttherewasnoneshowninJedediahBuxton”sbeingabletomultiply9figuresby9inhishead。Ifhecouldhavemultiplied90figuresby90insteadof9，itwouldhavebeenequallyuselesstoilandtrouble。[3]Heisamanofcapacitywhopossessesconsiderableintellectualriches：heisamanofgeniuswhofindsoutaveinofnewore。Originalityistheseeingnaturedifferentlyfromothers，andyetasitisinitself。Itisnotsingularityoraffectation，butthediscoveryofnewandvaluabletruth。
Alltheworlddonotseethewholemeaningofanyobjecttheyhavebeenlookingat。Habitblindsthemtosomethings；short-sightednesstoothers。Everymindisnotagaugeandmeasureoftruth。Naturehashersurfaceandherdarkrecesses。Sheisdeep，obscure，andinfinite。Itisonlymindsonwhomshemakesherfullestimpressionsthatcanpenetratehershrineorunveilher_HolyofHolies_。Itisonlythosewhomshehasfilledwithherspiritthathavetheboldnessorthepowertorevealhermysteriestoothers。ButNaturehasathousandaspects，andonemancanonlydrawoutoneofthem。Whoeverdoesthisisamanofgenius。Onedisplaysherforce，anotherherrefinement；oneherpowerofharmony，anotherhersuddennessofcontrast；oneherbeautyofform，anotherhersplendourofcolour。Eachdoesthatforwhichheisbastfittedbyhisparticulargenius，thatistosay，bysomequalityofmindintowhichthequalityoftheobjectsinksdeepest，whereitfindsthemostcordialwelcome，isperceivedtoitsutmostextent，andwhereagainitforcesitswayoutfromthefulnesswithwhichithastakenpossessionofthemindofthestudent。Theimaginationgivesoutwhatithasfirstabsorbedbycongenialityoftemperament，whatithasattractedandmouldedintoitselfbyelectiveaffinity，astheloadstonedrawsandimpregnatesiron。Alittleoriginalityismoreesteemedandsoughtforthanthegreatestacquiredtalent，becauseitthrowsanewlightuponthings，andispeculiartotheindividual。Theotheriscommon；andmaybehadfortheasking，toanyamount。
Thevalueofanyworkistobejudgedofbythequantityoforiginalitycontainedinit。Averylittleofthiswillgoagreatway。IfGoldsmithhadneverwrittenanythingbutthetwoorthreefirstchaptersofthe_VicarofWakefield_orthecharacterofaVillageSchoolmaster，theywouldhavestampedhimamanofgenius。TheeditorsofEncyclopediasarenotusuallyreckonedthefirstliterarycharactersoftheage。Theworksofwhichtheyhavethemanagementcontainagreatdealofknowledge，likechestsorwarehouses，butthegoodsarenottheirown。Weshouldassoonthinkofadmiringtheshelvesofalibrary；buttheshelvesofalibraryareusefulandrespectable。Iwasonceappliedto，inadelicateemergency，towriteanarticleonadifficultsubjectforanEncyclopedia，andwasadvisedtotaketimeandgiveitasystematicandscientificform，toavailmyselfofalltheknowledgethatwastobeobtainedonthesubject，andarrangeitwithclearnessandmethod。Imadeanswerthatastothefirst，IhadtakentimetodoallthatIeverpretendedtodo，asIhadthoughtincessantlyondifferentmattersfortwentyyearsofmylife；[4]thatIhadnoparticularknowledgeofthesubjectinquestion，andnoheadforarrangement；andthattheutmostIcoulddoinsuchacasewouldbe，whenasystematicandscientificarticlewasprepared，towritemarginalnotesuponit，toinsertaremarkorillustrationofmyown(nottobefoundinformerEncyclopedias)，ortosuggestabetterdefinitionthanhadbeenofferedinthetext。Therearetwosortsofwriting。Thefirstiscompilation；andconsistsincollectingandstatingallthatisalreadyknownofanyquestioninthebestpossiblemanner，forthebenefitoftheuninformedreader。Anauthorofthisclassisaverylearnedamanuensisofotherpeople”sthoughts。Thesecondsortproceedsonanentirelydifferentprinciple：insteadofbringingdowntheaccountofknowledgetothepointatwhichithasalreadyarrived，itprofessestostartfromthatpointonthestrengthofthewriter”sindividualreflections；andsupposingthereaderinpossessionofwhatisalreadyknown，suppliesdeficiencies，fillsupcertainblanks，andquitsthebeatenroadinsearchofnewtractsofobservationorsourcesoffeeling。Itisinvaintoobjecttothislaststylethatitisdisjointed，disproportioned，andirregular。Itismerelyasetofadditionsandcorrectionstoothermen”sworks，ortothecommonstockofhumanknowledge，printedseparately。Youmightaswellexpectacontinuedchainofreasoninginthenotestoabook。Itskipsallthetrite，intermediate，levelcommon-placesofthesubject，andonlystopsatthedifficultpassagesofthehumanmind，ortouchesonsomestrikingpointthathasbeenoverlookedinpreviouseditions。Aviewofasubject，tobeconnectedandregular，cannotbeallnew。Awriterwillalwaysbeliabletobechargedeitherwithparadoxorcommon-place，eitherwithdulnessoraffectation。Butwehavenorighttodemandfromanyonemorethanhepretendsto。Thereisindeedamediuminallthings，buttouniteoppositeexcellenciesisataskordinarilytoohardformortality。Hewhosucceedsinwhatheaimsat，orwhotakestheleadinanyonemodeorpathofexcellence，maythinkhimselfverywelloff。ItwouldnotbefairtocomplainofthestyleofanEncyclopediaasdull，aswantingvolatilesalt；norofthestyleofanEssaybecauseitistoolightandsparkling，becauseitisnota_caputmortuum_。Soitisratheranoddobjectiontoaworkthatitismadeupentirelyof”brilliantpassages”——atleastitisafaultthatcanbefoundwithfewworks，andthebookmightbepardonedforitssingularity。Thecensuremightindeedseemlikeadroitflattery，ifitwerenotpassedonanauthorwhomanyobjectionissufficienttorenderunpopularandridiculous。Igrantitisbesttounitesoliditywithshow，generalinformationwithparticularingenuity。Thisisthepatternofaperfectstyle；butImyselfdonotpretendtobeaperfectwriter。Infine，wedonotbanishlightFrenchwinesfromourtables，orrefusetotastesparklingChampagnewhenwecangetitbecauseithasnotthebodyofOldPort。Besides，Idonotknowthatdulnessisstrength，orthatanobservationisslightbecauseitisstriking。Mediocrity，insipidity，wantofcharacteristhegreatfault。
MediocribusessepoetisNonDii，nonhomines，nonconcesserecolumnae。
Neitheristhisprivilegeallowedtoprose-writersinourtimeanymorethantopoetsformerly。
Itisnotthenacutenessoforgansorextentofcapacitythatconstitutesraregeniusorproducesthemostexquisitemodelsofart，butanintensesympathywithsomeonebeautyordistinguishingcharacteristicinnature。Irritabilityalone，ortheinteresttakenincertainthings，maysupplytheplaceofgeniusinweakandotherwiseordinaryminds。Astherearecertaininstrumentsfittedtoperformcertainkindsoflabour，therearecertainmindssoframedastoproducecertain_chef-d”oeuvres_inartandliterature，whichissurelythebestusetheycanbeputto。Ifamanhadallsortsofinstrumentsinhisshopandwantedone，hewouldratherhavethatonethanbesuppliedwithadoublesetofalltheothers。Ifhehadthemtwiceover，hecouldonlydowhathecandoasitis，whereaswithoutthatoneheperhapscannotfinishanyoneworkhehasinhand。Soifamancandoonethingbetterthananybodyelse，thevalueofthisonethingiswhathemuststandorfallby，andhisbeingabletodoahundredotherthingsmerely_aswell_asanybodyelsewouldnotalterthesentenceoraddtohisrespectability；onthecontrary，hisbeingabletodosomanyotherthingswellwouldprobablyinterferewithandencumberhimintheexecutionoftheonlythingthatotherscannotdoaswellashe，andsofarbeadrawbackandadisadvantage。Morepeople，infact，failfromamultiplicityoftalentsandpretensionsthanfromanabsolutepovertyofresources。Ihavegiveninstancesofthiselsewhere。PerhapsShakespear”stragedieswouldinsomerespectshavebeenbetterifhehadneverwrittencomediesatall；andinthatcasehiscomediesmightwellhavebeenspared，thoughtheymusthavecostussomeregret。Racine，itissaid，mighthaverivalledMoliereincomedy；buthegaveupthecultivationofhiscomictalentstodevotehimselfwhollytothetragicMuse。If，astheFrenchtellus，heinconsequenceattainedtotheperfectionoftragiccomposition，thiswasbetterthanwritingcomediesaswellasMoliereandtragediesaswellasCrebillon。YetIcountthosepersonsfoolswhothinkitapityHogarthdidnotsucceedbetterinserioussubjects。Thedivisionoflabourisanexcellentprincipleintasteaswellasinmechanics。Withoutthis，IfindfromAdamSmith，wecouldnothaveapinmadetothedegreeofperfectionitis。Wedonot，onanyrationalschemeofcriticism，inquireintothevarietyofaman”sexcellences，orthenumberofhisworks，orhisfacilityofproduction。_VenicePreserved_issufficientforOtway”sfame。IhateallthosenonsensicalstoriesaboutLopedeVegaandhiswritingaplayinamorningbeforebreakfast。Hehadtimeenoughtodoitafter。Ifamanleavesbehindhimanyworkwhichisamodelinitskind，wehavenorighttoaskwhetherhecoulddoanythingelse，orhowhedidit，orhowlonghewasaboutit。Allthattalentwhichisnotnecessarytotheactualquantityofexcellenceexistingintheworld，losesitsobject，issomuchwastetalentor_talenttolet_。Iheardasensiblemansayheshouldliketodosomeonethingbetterthanalltherestoftheworld，andineverythingelsetobelikealltherestoftheworld。Whyshouldamandomorethanhispart？Therestisvanityandvexationofspirit。Welookwithjealousandgrudgingeyesatallthosequalificationswhicharenotessential；first，becausetheyaresuperfluous，andnext，becausewesuspecttheywillbeprejudicial。WhydoesMr。Keanplayallthoseharlequintricksofsinging，dancing，fencing，etc。？Theysay，”Itisforhisbenefit。”Itisnotforhisreputation。Garrickindeedshoneequallyincomedyandtragedy。Buthewasfirst，notsecond-rateinboth。Thereisnotagreaterimpertinencethantoask，ifamaniscleveroutofhisprofession。Ihaveheardofpeopletryingtocross-examineMrs。Siddons。IwouldassoontrytoentraponeoftheElginMarblesintoanargument。Goodnatureandcommonsensearerequiredfromallpeople；butoneprouddistinctionisenoughforanyoneindividualtopossessortoaspireto。
NOTEStoESSAYV
[1]Idonotherespeakofthefigurativeorfancifulexerciseoftheimagination，whichconsistsinfindingoutsomestrikingobjectorimagetoillustrateanother。
[2]Mr。Wordsworthhimselfshouldnotsaythis，andyetIamnotsurehewouldnot。
[3]TheonlygoodthingIhaveeverheardcomeofthisman”ssingularfacultyofmemorywasthefollowing。AgentlemanwasmentioninghishavingbeensentuptoLondonfromtheplacewherehelivedtoseeGarrickact。Whenhewentbackintothecountryhewasaskedwhathethoughtoftheplayerandtheplay。”Oh！”hesaid，”hedidnotknow：hehadonlyseenalittlemanstrutaboutthestageandrepeat7956words。”
Wealllaughedatthis；butapersoninonecorneroftheroom，holdingonehandtohisforehead，andseemingmightilydelighted，calledout，”Ay，indeed！Andpray，washefoundtobecorrect？”Thiswasthesupererogationofliteralmatter-of-factcuriosity。JedediahBuxton”scountingthenumberofwordswasidleenough；butherewasafellowwhowantedsomeonetocountthemoveragaintoseeifhewascorrect。
Theforceof_dulness_couldnofarthergo！
[4]SirJoshuaReynolds，beingaskedhowlongithadtakenhimtodoacertainpicture，madeanswer，”Allmylife！。”
ESSAYVI
CHARACTEROFCOBBETT
PeoplehaveaboutassubstantialanideaofCobbettastheyhaveofCribb。Hisblowsareashard，andhehimselfisasimpenetrable。Onehasnonotionofhimasmakinguseofafinepen，butagreatmutton-fist；hisstylestunshisreaders，andhe”fillipstheearofthepublicwithathree-manbeetle。”Heistoomuchforanysinglenewspaperantagonist；”layswaste”acityoratororMemberofParliament，andbearshardupontheGovernmentitself。Heisakindof_fourthestate_inthepoliticsofthecountry。Heisnotonlyunquestionablythemostpowerfulpoliticalwriterofthepresentday，butoneofthebestwritersinthelanguage。Hespeaksandthinksplain，broad，downrightEnglish。HemightbesaidtohavetheclearnessofSwift，thenaturalnessofDefoe，andthepicturesquesatiricaldescriptionofMandeville；ifallsuchcomparisonswerenotimpertinent。
Areallygreatandoriginalwriterislikenobodybuthimself。Inonesense，Sternewasnotawit，norShakespearapoet。Itiseasytodescribesecond-ratetalents，becausetheyfallintoaclassandenlistunderastandard；butfirst-ratepowersdefycalculationorcomparison，andcanbedefinedonlybythemselves。Theyare_suigeneris_，andmaketheclasstowhichtheybelong。IhavetriedhalfadozentimestodescribeBurke”sstylewithouteversucceeding，——itssevereextravagance；itsliteralboldness；itsmatter-of-facthyperboles；itsrunningawaywithasubject，andfromitatthesametime，——butthereisnomakingitout，forthereisnoexampleofthesamethinganywhereelse。Wehavenocommonmeasuretoreferto；andhisqualitiescontradicteventhemselves。
Cobbettisnotsodifficult。HehasbeencomparedtoPaine；andsofaritistruetherearenotwowriterswhocomemoreintojuxtapositionfromthenatureoftheirsubjects，fromtheinternalresourcesonwhichtheydraw，andfromthepopulareffectoftheirwritingsandtheiradaptation(thoughthatisabadwordinthepresentcase)tothecapacityofeveryreader。ButstillifweturntoavolumeofPaine”s(his_CommonSense_or_RightsofMan_)wearestruck(nottosaysomewhatrefreshed)bythedifference。PaineisamuchmoresententiouswriterthanCobbett。Youcannotopenapageinanyofhisbestandearlierworkswithoutmeetingwithsomemaxim，someantitheticalandmemorablesaying，whichisasortofstarting-placefortheargument，andthegoaltowhichitreturns。Thereisnotasingle_bonmot_，asinglesentenceinCobbettthathaseverbeenquotedagain。Ifanythingiseverquotedfromhim，itisanepithetofabuseoranickname。Heisanexcellenthandatinventioninthatway，andhas”damnableiteration”
inhim。WhatcouldbebetterthanhispesteringErskineyearafteryearwithhissecondtitleofBaronClackmannan？Heisrathertoofondof_theSonsandDaughtersofCorruption_。Paineaffectedtoreducethingstofirstprinciples，toannounceself-evidenttruths。Cobbetttroubleshimselfaboutlittlebutthedetailsandlocalcircumstances。Thefirstappearedtohavemadeuphismindbeforehandtocertainopinions，andtotrytofindthemostcompendiousandpointedexpressionsforthem：hissuccessorappearstohavenoclue，nofixedorleadingprinciples，norevertohavethoughtonaquestiontillhesitsdowntowriteaboutit；
butthenthereseemsnoendofhismattersoffactandrawmaterials，whicharebroughtoutinalltheirstrengthandsharpnessfromnothavingbeensquaredorfrittereddownorvampeduptosuitatheory——hegoesonwithhisdescriptionsandillustrationsasifhewouldnevercometoastop；theyhavealltheforceofnoveltywithallthefamiliarityofoldacquaintance；hisknowledgegrowsoutofthesubject，andhisstyleisthatofamanwhohasanabsoluteintuitionofwhatheistalkingabout，andneverthinksofanythingelse。Hedealsinpremisesandspeakstoevidence——thecomingtoaconclusionandsummingup(whichwasPaine”s_forte_)liesinasmallercompass。Theonecouldnotcomposeanelementarytreatiseonpoliticstobecomeamanualforthepopularreader，norcouldtheotherinallprobabilityhavekeptupaweeklyjournalforthesamenumberofyearswiththesamespirit，interest，anduntiredperseverance。Paine”swritingsareasortofintroductiontopoliticalarithmeticonanewplan：Cobbettkeepsaday-book，andmakesanentryatfullofalltheoccurrencesandtroublesomequestionsthatstartupthroughouttheyear。Cobbett，withvastindustry，vastinformation，andtheutmostpowerofmakingwhathesaysintelligible，neverseemstogetatthebeginningorcometotheendofanyquestion：Paineinafewshortsentencesseemsbyhisperemptorymanner”toclearitfromallcontroversy，past，present，andtocome。”Painetakesabird”s-eyeviewofthings。Cobbettsticksclosetothem，inspectsthecomponentparts，andkeepsfastholdofthesmallestadvantagestheyaffordhim。Or，ifImightherebeindulgedinapastoralallusion，Painetriestoenclosehisideasinafoldforsecurityandrepose；Cobbettlets_his_pouroutupontheplainlikeaflockofsheeptofeedandbatten。Cobbettisapleasanterwriterforthosetoreadwhodonotagreewithhim；forheislessdogmatical，goesmoreintothecommongroundsoffactandargumenttowhichallappeal，ismoredesultoryandvarious，andappearslesstobedrivingatapresentconclusionthanurgedonbytheforceofpresentconviction。Heisthereforetoleratedbyallparties，thoughhehasmadehimselfbyturnsobnoxioustoall；andeventhoseheabusesreadhim。TheReformersreadhimwhenhewasaTory，andtheToriesreadhimnowthatheisaReformer。Hemust，Ithink，however，be_caviare_totheWhigs。[1]
Ifheislessmetaphysicalandpoeticalthanhiscelebratedprototype，heismorepicturesqueanddramatic。Hisepisodes，whicharenumerousastheyarepertinent，arestriking，interesting，fulloflifeand_naivete_，minute，doublemeasurerunningover，butnevertedious——_nunquamsufflaminanduserat_。Heisoneofthosewriterswhocannevertireus，notevenofhimself；andthereasonis，heisalways”fullofmatter。”Heneverrunstolees，nevergivesusthevapidleavingsofhimself，isnever”weary，stale，andunprofitable”butalwayssettingoutafreshonhisjourney，clearingawaysomeoldnuisance，andturningupnewmould。Hisegotismisdelightful，forthereisnoaffectationinit。Hedoesnottalkofhimselfforlackofsomethingtowriteabout，butbecausesomecircumstancethathashappenedtohimselfisthebestpossibleillustrationofthesubject，andheisnotthemantoshrinkfromgivingthebestpossibleillustrationofthesubjectfromasqueamishdelicacy。Helikesbothhimselfandhissubjecttoowell。Hedoesnotputhimselfbeforeit，andsay，”Admiremefirst”butplacesusinthesamesituationwithhimself，andmakesusseeallthathedoes。Thereisnoblindman”s-buff，noconscioushints，noawkwardventriloquism，notestimoniesofapplause，noabstract，senselessself-complacency，nosmuggledadmirationofhisownpersonbyproxy：itisallplainandabove-board。HewriteshimselfplainWilliamCobbett，stripshimselfquiteasnakedasanybodywouldwish——inaword，hisegotismisfullofindividuality，andhasroomforverylittlevanityinit。Wefeeldelighted，rubourhands，anddrawourchairtothefire，whenwecometoapassageofthissort：weknowitwillbesomethingnewandgood，manlyandsimple，notthesameinsipidstoryofselfoveragain。Wesitdownattablewiththewriter，butitistoacourseofrichviands，flesh，fish，andwild-fowl，andnottoanominalentertainment，likethatgivenbytheBarmecideinthe_ArabianNights_，whoputoffhisvisitorswithcallingforanumberofexquisitethingsthatneverappeared，andwiththehonourofhiscompany。Mr。Cobbettisnota_make-believe_writer：hisworstenemycannotsaythatofhim。Stilllessisheavulgarone：hemustbeapuny，common-placecriticindeedwhothinkshimso。HowfinewerethegraphicaldescriptionshesentusfromAmerica：whataTransatlanticflavour，whatanativegusto，whatafine_saucepiquante_ofcontempttheywereseasonedwith！Ifhehadsatdowntolookathimselfintheglass，insteadoflookingabouthimlikeAdaminParadise，hewouldnothavegotupthesearticlesinsocapitalastyle。WhatanobleaccountofhisfirstbreakfastafterhisarrivalinAmerica！Itmightserveforamonth。Thereisnosceneonthestagemoreamusing。HowwellhepaintsthegoldandscarletplumageoftheAmericanbirds，onlytolamentmorepatheticallythewantofthewildwood-notesofhisnativeland！ThegrovesoftheOhiothathadjustfallenbeneaththeaxe”sstroke”liveinhisdescription”andtheturnipsthathetransplantedfromBotley”lookgreen”inprose！Howwellatanothertimehedescribesthepoorsheepthathadgotthetickandhadbleddownintheagoniesofdeath！ItisaportraitinthemannerofBewick，withthestrength，thesimplicity，andfeelingofthatgreatnaturalist。Whathavocbemakes，whenhepleases，ofthecurlsofDr。Parr”swigandoftheWhigconsistencyofMr。[Coleridge？]！His_Grammar_，too，isasentertainingasastory-book。Heistooharduponthestyleofothers，andnotenough(sometimes)onhisown。
Asapoliticalpartisannoonecanstandagainsthim。Withhisbrandishedclub，likeGiantDespairinthe_Pilgrim”sProgress_，heknocksouttheirbrains；andnotonlynoindividualbutnocorruptsystemcouldholdoutagainsthispowerfulandrepeatedattacks，butwiththesameweapon，swungroundlikeaflail，thathelevelshisantagonists，helayshisfriendslow，andputshisownparty_horsdecombat_。Thisisabadpropensity。，andaworseprincipleinpoliticaltactics，thoughacommonone。Ifhisblowswerestraightforwardandsteadilydirectedtothesameobject，nounpopularministercouldlivebeforehim；insteadofwhichhelaysaboutrightandleft，impartiallyandremorselessly，makesaclearstage，hasalltheringtohimself，andthenrunsoutofit，justwhenheshouldstandhisground。Hethrowshisheadintohisadversary”sstomach，andtakesawayfromhimallinclinationforthefight，hitsfairorfoul，strikesateverything，andasyoucomeuptohisaidorstandreadytopursuehisadvantage，tripsupyourheelsorlaysyousprawling，andpummelsyouwhendownasmuchtohisheart”scontentasevertheYanguesiancarriersbelabouredRosinantewiththeirpack-staves。”Hehastheback-tricksimplythebestofanymaninIllyria。”Hepaysoffbothscoresofoldfriendshipandnew-acquiredenmityinabreath，inoneperpetualvolley，onerakingfireof”arrowysleet”shotfromhispen。Howeverhisownreputationorthecausemaysufferinconsequence，hecaresnotonepinaboutthat，sothathedisablesallwhooppose，orwhopretendtohelphim。Infact，hecannotbearsuccessofanykind，notevenofhisownviewsorparty；
andifanyprinciplewerelikelytobecomepopular，wouldturnroundagainstittoshowhispowerinshoulderingitononeside。Inshort，whereverpoweris，thereheisagainstit：henaturallybuttsatallobstacles，asunicornsareattractedtooaktrees，andfeelshisownstrengthonlybyresistancetotheopinionsandwishesoftherestoftheworld。Tosailwiththestream，toagreewiththecompany，isnothishumour。IfhecouldbringaboutaReforminParliament，theoddsarethathewouldinstantlyfallfoulofandtrytomarhisownhandiwork；andhequarrelswithhisowncreaturesassoonashehaswrittenthemintoalittlevogue——andaprison。Idonotthinkthisisvanityorficklenesssomuchasapugnaciousdisposition，thatmusthaveanantagonisticpowertocontendwith，andonlyfindsitselfateaseinsystematicopposition。Ifitwerenotforthis，thehightowersandrottenplacesoftheworldwouldfallbeforethebattering-ramofhishard-headedreasoning；butifheoncefoundthemtottering，hewouldapplyhisstrengthtopropthemup，anddisappointtheexpectationsofhisfollowers。Hecannotagreetoanythingestablished，nortosetupanythingelseinitsstead。Whileitisestablished，hepresseshardagainstit，becauseitpressesuponhim，atleastinimagination。Letitcrumbleunderhisgrasp，andthemotivetoresistanceisgone。Hethenrequiressomeothergrievancetosethisfaceagainst。Hisprincipleisrepulsion，hisnaturecontradiction：heismadeupofmereantipathies，anIshmaeliteindeedwithoutafellow。Heisalwaysplayingathunt-the-slipperinpolitics。Heturnsrounduponwhoeverisnexthim。Thewaytoweanhimfromanyopinion，andmakehimconceiveanintolerablehatredagainstit，wouldbetoplacesomebodynearhimwhowasperpetuallydinningitinhisears。WhenheisinEnglandhedoesnothingbutabusetheBoroughmongersandlaughatthewholesystem；
whenheisinAmericahegrowsimpatientoffreedomandarepublic。IfhehadstayedtherealittlelongerhewouldhavebecomealoyalandalovingsubjectofHisMajestyKingGeorgeIV。HelampoonedtheFrenchRevolutionwhenitwashailedasthedawnoflibertybymillions：bythetimeitwasbroughtintoalmostuniversalill-odourbysomemeansorother(partlynodoubtbyhimself)，hehadturned，withoneortwoorthreeothers，staunchBuonapartist。Heisalwaysofthemilitant，notofthetriumphantparty：sofarhebearsagallantshowofmagnanimity。
Buthisgallantryishardlyoftherightstamp。Itwantsprinciple；forthoughheisnotservileormercenary，heisthevictimofself-will。
Hemustpulldownandpullinpieces：itisnotinhisdispositiontodootherwise。Itisapity；forwithhisgreattalentshemightdogreatthings，ifhewouldgorightforwardtoanyusefulobject，makethoroughstitch-workofanyquestion，orjoinhandandheartwithanyprinciple。
Hechangeshisopinionsashedoeshisfriends，andmuchonthesameaccount。Hehasnocomfortinfixedprinciples；assoonasanythingissettledinhisownmind，hequarrelswithit。Hehasnosatisfactionbutthechaseaftertruth，runsaquestiondown，worriesandkillsit，thenquitsitlikeavermin，andstartssomenewgame，toleadhimanewdance，andgivehimafreshbreathingthroughbogandbrake，withtherabbleyelpingathisheelsandtheleadersperpetuallyatfault。Thishecallssport-royal。Hethinksitasgoodascudgel-playingorsingle-stick，oranythingelsethathaslifeinit。Helikesthecutandthrust，thefalls，bruises，anddryblowsofanargument：astoanygoodorusefulresultsthatmaycomeoftheamicablesettlingofit，anyoneiswelcometothemforhim。Theamusementisoverwhenthematterisoncefairlydecided。
Thereisanotherpointofviewinwhichthismaybeput。ImightsaythatMr。Cobbettisaveryhonestmanwithatotalwantofprinciple，andImightexplainthisparadoxthus：——Imeanthatheis，Ithink，indownrightearnestinwhathesays，intheparthetakesatthetime；butintakingthatpart，heisledentirelybyheadstrongobstinacy，caprice，novelty”pique，orpersonalmotiveofsomesort，andnotbyasteadfastregardfortruthorhabitualanxietyforwhatisrightuppermostinhismind。Heisnotafee”d，time-serving，shufflingadvocate(nomancouldwriteashedoeswhodidnotbelievehimselfsincere)；buthisunderstandingisthedupeandslaveofhismomentary，violent，andirritablehumours。Hedoesnotadoptanopinion”deliberatelyorformoney”yethisconscienceisatthemercyofthefirstprovocationhereceives，ofthefirstwhimhetakesinhishead：
heseesthingsthroughthemediumofheatandpassion，notwithreferencetoanygeneralprinciples，andhiswholesystemofthinkingisderangedbythefirstobjectthatstrikeshisfancyorsourshistemper。
Onecauseofthisphenomenonisperhapshiswantofaregulareducation。Heisaself-taughtman，andhasthefaultsaswellasexcellencesofthatclassofpersonsintheirmoststrikingandglaringexcess。Itmustbeacknowledgedthattheeditorofthe_PoliticalRegister_(the_twopennytrash_，asitwascalled，tillabillpassedtheHousetoraisethepricetosixpence)isnot”thegentlemanandscholar”thoughhehasqualitiesthat，withalittlebettermanagement，wouldbeworth(tothepublic)boththosetitles。Forwantofknowingwhathasbeendiscoveredbeforehim，hehasnotcertaingenerallandmarkstoreferto，orageneralstandardofthoughttoapplytoindividualcases。Hereliesonhisownacutenessandtheimmediateevidence，withoutbeingacquaintedwiththecomparativeanatomyorphilosophicalstructureofopinion。Hedoesnotviewthingsonalargescaleoratthehorizon(dimandairyenough，perhaps)——butastheyaffecthimself，close，palpable，tangible。Whateverhefindsoutishisown，andheonlyknowswhathefindsout。Heisintheconstanthurryandfeverofgestation；hisbrainteemsincessantlywithsomefreshproject。Everynewlightisthebirthofanewsystem，thedawnofanewworldoutstrippingandoverreachinghimself。Thelastopinionistheonlytrueone。Heiswiserto-daythanhewasyesterday。Whyshouldhenotbewiserto-morrowthanhewasto-day？——Menofalearnededucationarenotsosharp-wittedasclevermenwithoutit；buttheyknowthebalanceofthehumanintellectbetter；iftheyaremorestupid，theyaremoresteady，andarelessliabletobeledastraybytheirownsagacityandtheoverweeningpetulanceofhard-earnedandlate-acquiredwisdom。Theydonotfallinlovewitheverymeretriciousextravaganceatfirstsight，ormistakeanoldbatteredhypothesisforavestal，becausetheyarenewtothewaysofthisoldworld。Theydonotseizeuponitasaprize，butaresafefromgrossimpositionbybeingaswiseandnowiserthanthosewhowentbeforethem。
Painesaidonsomeoccasion，”WhatIhavewritten，Ihavewritten”——asrenderinganyfurtherdeclarationofhisprinciplesunnecessary。NotsoMr。Cobbett。Whathehaswrittenisnoruletohimwhatheistowrite。
Helearnssomethingeveryday，andeveryweekhetakesthefieldtomaintaintheopinionsofthelastsixdaysagainstfriendorfoe。I
doubtwhetherthisoutrageousinconsistency，thisheadstrongfickleness，thisunderstoodwantofallruleandmethod，doesnotenablehimtogoonwiththespirit，vigour，andvarietythathedoes。Heisnotpledgedtorepeathimself。Everynew_Register_isakindofnewProspectus。
Heblesseshimselffromalltiesandshacklesonhisunderstanding；hehasnomortgagesonhisbrain；hisnotionsarefreeandunencumbered。
Ifhewasputintrammels，hemightbecomeavilehacklikesomanymore。Buthegiveshimself”amplescopeandvergeenough。”Hetakesbothsidesofaquestion，andmaintainsoneassturdilyastheother。
Ifnobodyelsecanargueagainsthim，heisaverygoodmatchforhimself。HewritesbetterinfavourofReformthananybodyelse；heusedtowritebetteragainstit。Whereverheis，thereisthetugofwar，theweightoftheargument，thestrengthofabuse。Heisnotlikeamanindangerofbeing_bed-rid_inhisfaculties——hetossesandtumblesabouthisunwieldybulk，andwhenheistiredoflyingononeside，relieveshimselfbyturningontheother。Hisshiftinghispointofviewfromtimetotimenotmerelyaddsvarietyandgreatercompasstohistopics(sothatthe_PoliticalRegister_isanarmouryandmagazineforallthematerialsandweaponsofpoliticalwarfare)，butitgivesagreaterzestandlivelinesstohismanneroftreatingthem。Mr。Cobbetttakesnothingforgrantedaswhathehasprovedbefore；hedoesnotwriteabookofreference。Weseehisideasintheirfirstconcoction，fermentingandoverflowingwiththeebullitionsofalivelyconception。
Welookonattheactualprocess，andareputinimmediatepossessionofthegroundsandmaterialsonwhichheformshissanguine，unsettledconclusions。Hedoesnotgiveussamplesofreasoning，butthewholesolidmass，refuseandall。
HepoursoutallasplainAsdownrightShippenorasoldMontaigne。
Thisisonecauseoftheclearnessandforceofhiswritings。Anargumentdoesnotstoptostagnateandmuddleinhisbrain，butpassesatoncetohispaper。Hisideasareservedup，likepancakes，hotandhot。Freshtheoriesgivehimfreshcourage。Heislikeayoungandlustybridegroomthatdivorcesafavouritespeculationeverymorning，andmarriesanewoneeverynight。Heisnotweddedtohisnotions，nothe。HehasnotoneMrs。Cobbettamongallhisopinions。Hemakesthemostofthelastthoughtthathascomeinhisway，seizesfastholdofit，rumblesitaboutinalldirectionswithroughstronghands，hashiswickedwillofit，takesasurfeit，andthrowsitaway——Ourauthor”schanginghisopinionsfornewonesisnotsowonderful；whatismoreremarkableishisfacilityinforgettinghisoldones。Hedoesnotpretendtoconsistency(likeMr。Coleridge)；hefranklydisavowsallconnectionwithhimself。Hefeelsnopersonalresponsibilityinthisway，andcutsafriendorprinciplewiththesamedecidedindifferencethatAntipholisofEphesuscutsAEgeonofSyracuse。Itisahollowthing。TheonlytimeheevergrewromanticwasinbringingovertherelicsofMr。ThomasPainewithhimfromAmericatogoaprogresswiththemthroughthedisaffecteddistricts。ScarcehadhelandedinLiverpoolwhenheleftthebonesofagreatmantoshiftforthemselves；
andnosoonerdidhearriveinLondonthanhemadeaspeechtodisclaimallparticipationinthepoliticalandtheologicalsentimentsofhislateidol，andtoplacethewholestockofhisadmirationandenthusiasmtowardshimtotheaccountofhisfinancialspeculations，andofhishavingpredictedthefateofpaper-money。Ifhehaderectedalittlegoldstatuetohim，itmighthaveprovedthesincerityofthisassertion；buttomakeamartyrandapatronsaintofaman，andtodigup”hiscanonisedbones”inordertoexposethemasobjectsofdevotiontotherabble”sgaze，askssomethingthathasmorelifeandspiritinit，moremindandvivifyingsoul，thanhastodowithanycalculationofpounds，shillings，andpence！Thefactis，he_ratted_fromhisownproject。Hefoundthethingnotsoripeashehadexpected。Hisheartfailedhim；hisenthusiasmfled，andhemadehisretractation。Hisadmirationisshort-lived；hiscontemptonlyisrooted，andhisresentmentlasting——Theabovewasonlyoneinstanceofhisbuildingtoomuchonpractical_data_。Hehasanillhabitofprophesying，andgoeson，thoughstilldecieved。TheartofprophesyingdoesnotsuitMr。
Cobbett”sstyle。Hehasaknackoffixingnamesandtimesandplaces。
Accordingtohim，theReformedParliamentwastomeetinMarch1818——itdidnot，andweheardnomoreofthematter。Whenhispredictionsfail，hetakesnofurthernoticeofthem，butapplieshimselftonewones——likethecountrypeoplewhoturntoseewhatweatherthereisinthealmanacforthenextweek，thoughithasbeenoutinitsreckoningeverydayofthelast。
Mr。Cobbettisgreatinattack，notindefence；becannotfightanup-hillbattle。Hewillnotbeartheleastpunishing。Ifanyoneturnsuponhim(whichfewpeopleliketodo)heimmediatelyturnstail。Likeanovergrownschoolboy，heissousedtohaveitallhisownway，thathecannotsubmittoanythinglikecompetitionorastruggleforthemastery；hemustlayonalltheblows，andtakenone。Heisbullyingandcowardly；aBigBeninpolitics，whowillfalluponothersandcrushthembyhisweight，butisnotpreparedforresistance，andissoonstaggeredbyafewsmartblows。Wheneverhehasbeensetupon，hehasslunkoutofthecontroversy。The_EdinburghReview_made(whatiscalled)adeadsetathimsomeyearsago，towhichheonlyretortedbyaneulogyonthesuperiorneatnessofanEnglishkitchen-gardentoaScotchone。Iremembergoingonedayintoabookseller”sshopinFleetStreettoaskforthe_Review_，andonmyexpressingmyopiniontoayoungScotchman，whostoodbehindthecounter，thatMr。Cobbettmighthitashardinhisreply，theNorthBritonsaidwithsomealarm，”Butyoudon”tthink，sir，Mr。CobbettwillbeabletoinjuretheScottishnation？”IsaidIcouldnotspeaktothatpoint，butIthoughthewasverywellabletodefendhimself。He，however，didnot，buthasborneagrudgetothe_EdinburghReview_eversince，whichhehatesworsethanthe_Quarterly_。IcannotsayIdo。[2]
NOTEStoESSAYVI
[1]ThelateLordThurlowusedtosaythatCobbettwastheonlywriterthatdeservedthenameofapoliticalreasoner。
[2]Mr。Cobbettspeaksalmostaswellashewrites。Theonlytimeleversawhimheseemedtomeaverypleasantman——easyofaccess，affable，clear-headed，simpleandmildinhismanner，deliberateandunruffledinhisspeech，thoughsomeofhisexpressionswerenotveryqualified。Hisfigureistallandportly。Hehasagood，sensibleface——ratherfull，withlittlegreyeyes，ahard，squareforehead，aruddycomplexion，withhairgreyorpowdered；andhadonascarletbroadclothwaistcoatwiththeflapsofthepocketshangingdown，aswasthecustomforgentlemen-farmersinthelastcentury，orasweseeitinthepicturesofMembersofParliamentinthereignofGeorgeI。I
certainlydidnotthinklessfavourablyofhimforseeinghim。
ESSAYVII
ONPEOPLEWITHONEIDEA
Therearepeoplewhohavebutoneidea：atleast，iftheyhavemore，theykeepitasecret，fortheynevertalkbutofonesubject。
ThereisMajorCartwright：hehasbutoneideaorsubjectofdiscourse，ParliamentaryReform。NowParliamentaryReformis(asfarasIknow)averygoodsubjecttotalkabout；butwhyshoulditbetheonlyone？ToheartheworthyandgallantMajorresumehisfavouritetopic，islikelaw-business，orapersonwhohasasuitinChancerygoingon。Nothingcanbeattendedto，nothingcanbetalkedofbutthat。Nowitisgettingon，nowagainitisstandingstill；atonetimetheMasterhaspromisedtopassjudgmentbyacertainday，atanotherhehasputitoffagainandcalledformorepapers，andbothareequallyreasonsforspeakingofit。Likethepieceofpackthreadinthebarrister”shands，heturnsandtwistsitallways，andcannotproceedastepwithoutit。
Someschoolboyscannotreadbutintheirownbook；andthemanofoneideacannotconverseoutofhisownsubject。Conversationitisnot；
butasortofrecitalofthepreambleofabill，oracollectionofgraveargumentsforaman”sbeingofopinionwithhimself。Itwouldbewelliftherewasanythingofcharacter，ofeccentricityinallthis；
butthatisnotthecase。Itisapoliticalhomilypersonified，awalkingcommon-placewehavetoencounterandlistento。ItisjustasifamanwastoinsistonyourhearinghimgothroughthefifthchapteroftheBookofJudgeseverytimeyoumeet，orlikethestoryoftheCosmogonyinthe_VicarofWakefield。_Itisatineplayedonabarrel-organ。Itisacommonvehicleofdiscourseintowhichtheygetandaresetdownwhentheyplease，withoutanypainortroubletothemselves。Neitherisitprofessionalpedantryortradingquackery：ithasnoexcuse。Themanhasnomoretodowiththequestionwhichhesaddlesonallhishearersthanyouhave。Thisiswhatmakesthematterhopeless。Ifafarmertalkstoyouabouthispigsorhispoultry，oraphysicianabouthispatients，oralawyerabouthisbriefs，oramerchantaboutstock，oranauthorabouthimself，youknowhowtoaccountforthis，itisacommoninfirmity，youhavealaughathisexpenseandthereisnomoretobesaid。Buthereisamanwhogoesoutofhiswaytobeabsurd，andistroublesomebyaromanticeffortofgenerosity。Youcannotsaytohim，”Allthismaybeinterestingtoyou，butIhavenoconcerninit”：youcannotputhimoffinthatway。HeretortstheLatinadageuponyou-_Nihilhumaniamealienumputo。_Hehasgotpossessionofasubjectwhichisofuniversalandparamountinterest(not”afee-grief，duetosomesinglebreast”)，andonthatpleamayholdyoubythebuttonaslongasbechooses。Hisdelightistoharangueonwhatnowiseregardshimself：howthencanyourefusetolistentowhataslittleamusesyou？Timeandtidewaitfornoman。
Thebusinessofthestateadmitsofnodelay。ThequestionofUniversalSuffrageandAnnualParliamentsstandsfirstontheorderoftheday——takesprecedenceinitsownrightofeveryotherquestion。Anyothertopic，graveorgay，islookeduponinthelightofimpertinence，andsent_toCoventry。_Businessisaninterruption；pleasureadigressionfromit。ItisthequestionbeforeeverycompanywheretheMajorcomes，whichimmediatelyresolvesitselfintoacommitteeofthewholeuponit，iscarriedonbymeansofaperpetualvirtualadjournment，anditispresumedthatnootherisentertainedwhilethisispending——adeterminationwhichgivesitsperseveringadvocateafairprospectofexpatiatingonittohisdyingday。AsCicerosaysofstudy，itfollowshimintothecountry，itstayswithhimathome：itsitswithhimatbreakfast，andgoesoutwithhimtodinner。Itislikeapartofhisdress，ofthecostumeofhisperson，withoutwhichhewouldbeatalosswhattodo。Ifhemeetsyouinthestreet，heaccostsyouwithitasaformofsalutation：ifyouseehimathisownhouse，itissupposedyoucomeuponthat。Ifyouhappentoremark，”Itisafineday”or”Thetownisfull”itisconsideredasatemporarycompromiseofthequestion；youaresuspectedofnotgoingthewholelengthoftheprinciple。AsSancho，whenreprimandedformentioninghishomelyfavouriteintheDuke”skitchen，defendedhimselfbysaying，”ThereIthoughtofDapple，andthereIspokeofhim”sothetruesticklerforReformneglectsnoopportunityofintroducingthesubjectwhereverheis。Placeitsveteranchampionunderthefrozennorth，andhewillcelebratesweetsmilingReform；placehimunderthemid-dayAfricsuns，andhewilltalkofnothingbutReform——Reformsosweetlysmilingandsosweetlypromisingforthelastfortyyears——
DulceridentemLalagen，Dulceloquentem！
Atopicofthissortofwhichthepersonhimselfmaybeconsideredasalmostsoleproprietorandpatenteeisanestateforlife，freefromallencumbranceofwit，thought，orstudy，youliveuponitasasettledincome；andothersmightaswellthinktoejectyououtofacapitalfreeholdhouseandestateasthinktodriveyououtofitintothewideworldofcommonsenseandargument。Everyman”shouseishiscastle；
andeveryman”scommon-placeishisstronghold，fromwhichhelooksoutandsmilesatthedustandheatofcontroversy，raisedbyanumberoffrivolousandvexatiousquestions——”Ringstheworldwiththevainstir！”
AcureforthisandeveryotherevilwouldbeaParliamentaryReform；
andsowereturninaperpetualcircletothepointfromwhichwesetout。Isnotthisaspeciesofsobermadnessmoreprovokingthanthereal？Hasnotthetheoreticalenthusiasthismindasmuchwarped，asmuchenslavedbyoneideaastheacknowledgedlunatic，onlythattheformerhasnolucidintervals？Ifyouseeavisionaryofthisclassgoingalongthestreet，youcantellaswellwhatheisthinkingofandwillsaynextasthemanthatfancieshimselfateapotortheCzarofMuscovy。Theoneisasinaccessibletoreasonastheother：iftheoneraves，theotherdotes！
TherearesomewhofancytheCornBilltherootofallevil，andotherswhotraceallthemiseriesoflifetothepracticeofmufflingupchildreninnight-clotheswhentheysleeportravel。Theywilldeclaimbythehourtogetheronthefirst，andarguethemselvesblackinthefaceonthelast。Itisinvainthatyougiveupthepoint。Theypersistinthedebate，andbeginagain——”Butdon”tyousee——？”Thesesortofpartialobliquities，astheyaremoreentertainingandoriginal，arealsobytheirnatureintermittent。Theyholdamanbutforaseason。Hemayhaveoneayearoreverytwoyears；andthough，whileheisintheheatofanynewdiscovery，hewillletyouhearofnothingelse，hevariesfromhimself，andisamusingundesignedly。Heisnotlikethechimesatmidnight。
Peopleofthecharacterherespokenof，thatis，whoteaseyoutodeathwithsomeoneidea，generallydifferintheirfavouritenotionfromtherestoftheworld；andindeeditistheloveofdistinctionwhichismostlyatthebottomofthispeculiarity。Thusonepersonisremarkableforlivingonavegetablediet，andneverfailstoentertainyoualldinner-timewithaninvectiveagainstanimalfood。Oneofthisself-denyingclass，whoaddstotheprimitivesimplicityofthissortoffoodtherecommendationofhavingitinarawstate，lamentingthedeathofapatientwhomhehadauguredtobeinagoodwayasaconverttohissystem，atlastaccountedforhisdisappointmentinawhisper——”Butsheatemeatprivately，dependuponit。”Itisnotpleasant，thoughitiswhatonesubmitstowillinglyfromsomepeople，tobeaskedeverytimeyoumeet，whetheryouhavequiteleftoffdrinkingwine，andtobecomplimentedorcondoledwithonyourlooksaccordingasyouanswerinthenegativeoraffirmative。Abernethythinkshispillaninfalliblecureforalldisorders。Apersononcecomplainingtohisphysicianthathethoughthismodeoftreatmenthadnotanswered，heassuredhimitwasthebestintheworld，——”andasaproofofit”sayshe，”Ihavehadonegentleman，apatientwithyourdisorder，underthesameregimenforthelastsixteenyears！”——lhaveknownpersonswhosemindswereentirelytakenupatalltimesandonalloccasionswithsuchquestionsastheAbolitionoftheSlaveTrade，theRestorationoftheJews，ortheprogressofUnitarianism。ImyselfatoneperiodtookaprettystrongturntoinveighingagainstthedoctrineofDivineRight，andamnotyetcuredofmyprejudiceonthatsubject。Howmanyprojectorshavegonemadingoodearnestfromincessantlyharpingononeidea：thediscoveryofthephilosopher”sstone，thefindingoutthelongitude，orpayingoffthenationaldebt！Thedisorderatlengthcomestoafatalcrisis；butlongbeforethis，andwhiletheywerewalkingaboutandtalkingasusual，thederangementofthefancy，thelossofallvoluntarypowertocontroloralienatetheirideasfromthesinglesubjectthatoccupiedthem，wasgraduallytakingplace，andoverturningthefabricoftheunderstandingbywrenchingitallononeside。AldermanWoodhas，I
shouldsuppose，talkedofnothingbuttheQueeninallcompaniesforthelastsixmonths。HappyAldermanWood！Somepersonshavegotadefinitionoftheverb，othersasystemofshort-hand，othersacurefortyphusfever，othersamethodforpreventingthecounterfeitingofbank-notes，whichtheythinkthebestpossible，andindeedtheonlyone。
Othersinsisttherehavebeenonlythreegreatmenintheworld，leavingyoutoaddafourth。AmanwhohasbeeninGermanywillsometimestalkofnothingbutwhatisGerman：aScotchmanalwaysleadsthediscoursetohisowncountry。SomedescantontheKanteanphilosophy。Thereisaconceitedfellowabouttownwhotalksalwaysandeverywhereonthissubject。HewearstheCategoriesroundhisnecklikeapearl-chain：heplaysoffthenamesoftheprimaryandtranscendentalqualitieslikeringsonhisfingers。HetalksoftheKanteansystemwhilehedances；hetalksofitwhilehedines；hetalksofittohischildren，tohisapprentices，tohiscustomers。Hecalledonmetoconvincemeofit，andsaidIwasonlypreventedfrombecomingacompleteconvertbyoneortwoprejudices。Heknowsnomoreaboutitthanapikestaff。Whythendoeshemakesomuchridiculousfussaboutit？Itisnotthathehasgotthisoneideainhishead，butthathehasgotnoother。AduncemaytalkonthesubjectoftheKanteanphilosophywithgreatimpunity：ifheopenedhislipsonanyotherhemightbefoundout。AFrenchladywhohadmarriedanEnglishmanwhosaidlittle，excusedhimbysaying，”HeisalwaysthinkingofLockeandNewton。”Thisisonewayofpassingmusterbyfollowinginthesuiteofgreatnames！——Afriendofmine，whomImetonedayinthestreet，accostedmewithmorethanusualvivacity，andsaid，”Well，we”reselling，we”reselling！”Ithoughthemeantahouse。”No”hesaid，”haven”tyouseentheadvertisementinthenewspapers？ImeanfiveandtwentycopiesoftheEssay。”Thiswork，acomely，capaciousquartoonthemostabstrusemetaphysics，hadoccupiedhissolethoughtsforseveralyears，andheconcludedthatImustbethinkingofwhathewas。
Ibelieve，however，ImaysayIamnearlytheonlypersonthateverread，certainlythateverpretendedtounderstandit。Itisanoriginalandmostingeniouswork，nearlyasincomprehensibleasitisoriginal，andasquaintasitisingenious。Iftheauthoristakenupwiththeideasinhisownheadandnoothers，hehasaright；forhehasideastherethataretobemetwithnowhereelse，andwhichoccasionallywouldnotdisgraceaBerkeley。Adextrousplagiaristmightgethimselfanimmensereputationbyputtingtheminapopulardress。Oh！howlittledotheyknow，whohaveneverdoneanythingbutrepeatafterothersbyrote，thepangs，thelabour，theyearningsandmisgivingsofminditcoststogetatthegermofanoriginalidea——todigitoutofthehiddenrecessesofthoughtandnature，andbringithalf-ashamed，struggling，anddeformedintotheday——togivewordsandintelligiblesymbolstothatwhichwasneverimaginedorexpressedbefore！Itisasifthedumbshouldspeakforthefirsttime，asifthingsshouldstammerouttheirownmeaningthroughtheimperfectorgansofmeresense。I
wishthatsomeofourfluent，plausibledeclaimers，whohavesuchstoreofwordstocoverthewantofideas，couldlendtheirarttothiswriter。Ifhe，”poor，unfledged”inthisrespect，”whohasscarcewingedfromviewo”th”nest”couldfindalanguageforhisideas，truthwouldfindalanguageforsomeofhersecrets。Mr。FearnwasburiedinthewoodsofIndostan。Inhisleisurefrombusinessandfromtiger-shooting，hetookitintohisheadtolookintohisownmind。A
whimortwo，anoddfancy，likeafilmbeforetheeye，nowandthencrossedit：itstruckhimassomethingcurious，buttheimpressionatfirstdisappearedlikebreathuponglass。Hethoughtnomoreofit；yetstillthesameconsciousfeelingsreturned，andwhatatfirstwaschanceorinstinctbecameahabit。Severalnotionshadtakenpossessionofhisbrainrelatingtomentalprocesseswhichhehadneverheardalludedtoinconversation，butnotbeingwellversedinsuchmatters，hedidnotknowwhethertheyweretobefoundinlearnedauthorsornot。HetookajourneytothecapitalofthePeninsulaonpurpose，boutLocke，Reid，Stewart，andBerkeley，whomheconsultedwitheagercuriositywhenhegothome，butdidnotfindwhathelookedfor。Hesettoworkhimself，andinafewweekssketchedoutaroughdraftofhisthoughtsandobservationsonbamboopaper。Theeagernessofhisnewpursuit，togetherwiththediseasesoftheclimate，provedtoomuchforhisconstitution，andhewasforcedtoreturntothiscountry。Heputhismetaphysics，hisbamboomanuscript，intotheboatwithhim，andashefloateddowntheGanges，saidtohimself，”IfIlive，thiswilllive；ifIdie，itwillnotbeheardof。”Whatisfametothisfeeling？Thebabblingofanidiot！Hebroughttheworkhomewithhimandtwicehaditstereotyped。Thefirstsketchheallowedwasobscure，buttheimprovedcopyhethoughtcouldnotfailtostrike。Itdidnotsucceed。
Theworld，asGoldsmithsaidofhimself，madeapointoftakingnonoticeofit。Eversincehehashadnothingbutdisappointmentandvexation，——thegreatestandmostheart-breakingofallothers——thatofnotbeingabletomakeyourselfunderstood。Mr。Fearntellsmethereisasensiblewriterinthe_MonthlyReview_whoseesthethinginitsproperlight，andsaysso。ButIhaveheardofnootherinstance。
Thereare，notwithstanding，ideasinthiswork，neglectedandill-treatedasithasbeen，thatleadtomorecuriousandsubtlespeculationsonsomeofthemostdisputedanddifficultpointsofthephilosophyofthehumanmind(suchas_relation_，_abstraction_，etc。)
thanhavebeenthrownoutinanyworkforthelastsixtyyears，ImeansinceHume；forsincehistimetherehasbeennometaphysicianinthiscountryworththename。Yethis_TreatiseonHumanNature_，hetellsus，”fellstill-bornfromthepress。”Soitisthatknowledgeworksitsway，andreputationlingersfarbehindit。Buttruthisbetterthanopinion，Imaintainit；andastothetwostereotypedandunsoldeditionsoftheEssayonConsciousness，Isay，_Honisoitquimalypense！”[1]——MyUncleTobyhadoneideainhishead，thatofhisbowling-green，andanother，thatoftheWidowWadman。Oh，sparethemboth！Iwillonlyaddonemoreanecdoteinillustrationofthistheoryofthemind”sbeingoccupiedwithoneidea，whichismostfrequentlyofaman”sself。Acelebratedlyricalwriterhappenedtodropintoasmallpartywheretheyhadjustgotthenovelof_RobRoy，_bytheauthorof_Waverley_。Themottointhetitle-pagewastakenfromapoemofhis。
Thiswasahintsufficient，awordtothewise。Heinstantlywenttothebook-shelfinthenextroom，tookdownthevolumeofhisownpoems，readthewholeofthatinquestionaloudwithmanifestcomplacency，replaceditontheshelf，andwalkedaway，takingnomorenoticeofRobRoythaniftherehadbeennosuchperson，norofthenewnovelthanifithadnotbeenwrittenbyitsrenownedauthor。Therewasnoreciprocityinthis。Butthewriterinquestiondoesnotadmitofanymeritsecondtohisown。[2]
Mr。Owenisamanremarkableforoneidea。ItisthatofhimselfandtheLanarkcotton-mills。HecarriesthisideabackwardsandforwardswithhimfromGlasgowtoLondon，withoutallowinganythingforattrition，andexpectstofinditinthesamestateofpurityandperfectioninthelatterplaceasattheformer。Heacquiresawonderfulvelocityandimpenetrabilityinhisundauntedtransit。
Resistancetohimisvain，whilethewhirlingmotionofthemail-coachremainsinhishead。
NorAlpsnorApenninescankeephimout，Norfortifiedredoubt。
Heevengotpossession，inthesuddennessofhisonset，ofthesteam-engineofthe_Times_newspaper，andstruckofftenthousandwoodcutsoftheProjectedVillages，whichaffordedanoculardemonstrationtoallwhosawthemofthepracticabilityofMr。Owen”swholescheme。Hecomesintoaroomwithoneofthesedocumentsinhishand，withtheairofaschoolmasterandaquackdoctormixed，asksverykindlyhowyoudo，andonhearingyouarestillinanindifferentstateofhealthowingtobaddigestion，instantlyturnsroundandobservesthat”Allthatwillberemediedinhisplan；thatindeedhethinkstoomuchattentionhasbeenpaidtothemind，andnotenoughtothebody；
thatinhissystem，whichhehasnowperfectedandwhichwillshortlybegenerallyadopted，hehasprovidedeffectuallyforboth；thathehasbeenlongofopinionthattheminddependsaltogetheronthephysicalorganisation，andwherethelatterisneglectedordisorderedtheformermustlanguishandwantitsduevigour；thatexerciseisthereforeapartofhissystem，withfulllibertytodevelopeveryfacultyofmindandbody；thattwoObjectionshadbeenmadetohis_NewViewofSociety_，viz。itswantofrelaxationfromlabour，anditswantofvariety；butthefirstofthese，thetoogreatrestraint，hetrustedhehadalreadyanswered，forwherethepowersofmindandbodywerefreelyexercisedandbroughtout，surelylibertymustbeallowedtoexistinthehighestdegree；andastothesecond，themonotonywhichwouldbeproducedbyaregularandgeneralplanofco-operation，heconceivedhehadprovedinhis_NewView_and_AddressestotheHigherClasses_，thattheco-operationhehadrecommendedwasnecessarilyconducivetothemostextensiveimprovementoftheideasandfaculties，andwherethiswasthecasetheremustbethegreatestpossiblevarietyinsteadofawantofit。”Andhavingsaidthis，thisexpertandsweepingoratortakesuphishatandwalksdownstairsafterreadinghislectureoftruismslikeaplaybilloranapothecary”sadvertisement；andshouldyoustophimatthedoortosay，bywayofputtinginawordincommon，thatMr。SoutheyseemssomewhatfavourabletohisplaninhislateLettertoMr。WilliamSmith，helooksatyouwithasmileofpityatthefutilityofalloppositionandtheidlenessofallencouragement。Peoplewhothusswelloutsomevapidschemeoftheirownintoundueimportanceseemtometolabourunderwaterinthehead——toexhibitahugehydrocephalus！Theymaybeveryworthypeopleforallthat，buttheyarebadcompanionsandveryindifferentreasoners。TomMooresaysofsomeonesomewhere，”thatheputshishandinhisbreechespocketlikeacrocodile。”Thephraseishieroglyphical；butMr。Owenandothersmightbesaidtoputtheirfootinthequestionofsocialimprovementandreformmuchinthesameunaccountablemanner。
Ihatetobesurfeitedwithanything，howeversweet。Idonotwanttobealwaystiedtothesamequestion，asiftherewerenootherintheworld。IlikeamindmoreCatholic。
Ilovetotalkwithmariners，Thatcomefromafarcountree。
Iamnotfor”acollusion”but”anexchange”ofideas。Itiswelltohearwhatotherpeoplehavetosayonanumberofsubjects。Idonotwishtobealwaysrespiringthesameconfinedatmosphere，buttovarythescene，andgetalittlereliefandfreshairoutofdoors。Doallwecantoshakeitoff，thereisalwaysenoughpedantry，egotism，andself-conceitleftlurkingbehind；weneednotsealourselvesuphermeticallyinthesepreciousqualities，soastothinkofnothingbutourownwonderfuldiscoveries，andhearnothingbutthesoundofourownvoice。Scholars，likeprinces，maylearnsomethingbybeingincognito。
Yetweseethosewhocannotgointoabookseller”sshop，orbeartobefiveminutesinastage-coach，withoutlettingyouknowwhotheyare。
Theycarrytheirreputationaboutwiththemasthesnaildoesitsshell，andsitunderitscanopy，liketheladyinthelobster。Icannotunderstandthisatall。Whatistheuseofaman”salwaysrevolvingroundhisownlittlecircle？Hemust，oneshouldthink，betiredofithimself，aswellastireotherpeople。Awell-knownwritersayswithmuchboldness，bothinthethoughtandexpression，that”aLordisimprisonedintheBastilleofaname，andcannotenlargehimselfintoman”；andIhaveknownmenofgeniusinthesamepredicament。Whymustamanbeforevermouthingouthisownpoetry，comparinghimselfwithMilton，passagebypassage，andweighingeverylineinabalanceofposthumousfamewhichheholdsinhisownhands？Itarguesawantofimaginationaswellascommonsense。Hashenoideasbutwhathehasputintoverse；ornoneincommonwithhishearers？Whyshouldhethinkittheonlyscholar-likething，theonly”virtueextant”toseethemeritofhiswritings，andthat”menwerebruteswithoutthem”？Whyshouldhebearagrudgetoallart，toallbeauty，toallwisdom，thatdoesnotspringfromhisownbrain？Orwhyshouldhefondlyimaginethatthereisbutonefinethingintheworld，namely，poetry，andthatheistheonlypoetinit？Itwillneverdo。Poetryisaveryfinething；butthereareotherthingsbesidesit。Everythingmusthaveitsturn。Doesawisemanthinktoenlargehiscomprehensionbyturninghiseyesonlyonhimself，orhopetoconciliatetheadmirationofothersbyscouting，proscribing，andloathingallthattheydelightin？Hemusteitherhaveadisproportionateideaofhimself，orbeignorantoftheworldinwhichhelives。Itisquiteenoughtohaveoneclassofpeopleborntothinktheuniversemadeforthem！——Itseemsalsotoargueawantofrepose，ofconfidence，andfirmfaithinaman”srealpretensions，tobealwaysdraggingthemforwardintotheforeground，asiftheproverbheldhere——_Outofsightoutofmind。_Doeshe，forinstance，conceivethatnoonewouldeverthinkofhispoetryunlessheforcedituponthembyrepeatingithimself？Doeshebelieveallcompetition，allallowanceofanother”smerit，fataltohim？Musthe，likeMoodyinthe_CountryGirl_，lockupthefacultiesofhisadmirersinignoranceofallotherfinethings，painting，music，theantique，lesttheyshouldplaytruanttohim？Methinkssuchaproceedingimpliesnogoodopinionofhisowngeniusortheirtaste：itisdeficientindignityandindecorum。
Surelyifanyoneisconvincedoftherealityofanacquisition，hecanbearnottohaveitspokenofeveryminute。Ifheknowshehasanundoubtedsuperiorityinanyrespect，hewillnotbeuneasybecauseeveryonehemeetsisnotinthesecret，norstaggeredbythereportofrivalexcellence。Oneofthefirstmathematiciansandclassicalscholarsofthedaywasmentioningitasacomplimenttohimselfthatacousinofhis，agirlfromschool，hadsaidtohim，”Youknow[Manning]
isaveryplaingoodsortofayoungman，butheisnotanythingatalloutofthecommon。”LeighHuntoncesaidtome，”IwonderIneverheardyouspeakuponthissubjectbefore，whichyouseemtohavestudiedagooddeal。”Ianswered，”Why，wewerenotreducedtothat，thatIknowof！”——
Therearepersonswho，withoutbeingchargeablewiththeviceherespokenof，yet”standaccountantforasgreatasin”；thoughnotdullandmonotonous，theyarevivaciousmanneristsintheirconversation，andexcessiveegotists。Thoughtheyrunoverathousandsubjectsinmeregaietyofheart，theirdelightstillflowsfromoneidea，namely，themselves。Openthebookinwhatpageyouwill，thereisafrontispieceofthemselvesstaringyouintheface。TheyareasortofJackso”theGreen，withasprigoflaurel，alittletinsel，andalittlesmut，butstillplayinganticsandkeepinginincessantmotion，toattractattentionandextortyourpittanceofapprobation。Whethertheytalkofthetownorthecountry，poetryorpolitics，itcomestomuchthesamething。Iftheytalktoyouofthetown，itsdiversions，”itspalaces，itsladies，anditsstreets”theyarethedelight，thegrace，andornamentofit。Iftheyaredescribingthecharmsofthecountry，theygivenoaccountofanyindividualspotorobjectorsourceofpleasurebutthecircumstanceoftheirbeingthere。”Withthemconversing，weforgetallplace，allseasons，andtheirchange。”Theyperhapspluckaleaforaflower，patroniseit，andhandityoutoadmire，butselectnoonefeatureofbeautyorgrandeurtodisputethepalmofperfectionwiththeirownpersons。Theirruraldescriptionsaremerelandscapebackgroundswiththeirownportraitsinanengagingattitudeinfront。Theyarenotobservingorenjoyingthescene，butdoingthehonoursasmastersoftheceremoniestonature，andarbitersofelegancetoallhumanity。 Iftheytellalove-taleofenamouredprincesses，itisplaintheyfancythemselvestheheroofthepiece。Iftheydiscusspoetry，theirencomiumsstillturnon somethinggenialandunsophisticated，meaningtheirownstyle。Iftheyenterintopolitics，itisunderstoodthatahintfromthemtothepotentatesofEuropeissufficient。Inshort，asalover(talkofwhatyouwill)
bringsinhismistressateveryturn，sothesepersonscontrivetodivertyourattentiontothesamedarlingobject——theyare，infact，inlovewiththemselves，and，likelovers，shouldbelefttokeeptheirowncompany。
