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dandified tail。 Don't let us be too angry； my dear； with the
useless； haughty； insolent creature； because he despises us。
SOMETHING is there about Peacock that we don't possess。 Strain your
neck ever so； you can't make it as long or as blue as hiscock your
tail as much as you please； and it will never be half so fine to
look at。 But the most absurd； disgusting； contemptible sight in the
world would you and I be； leaving the barn…door for my lady's
flower…garden； forsaking our natural sturdy walk for the peacock's
genteel rickety stride； and adopting the squeak of his voice in the
place of our gallant lusty cock…a…doodle…dooing。
Do you take the allegory？ I love to speak in such； and the above
types have been presented to my mind while sitting opposite a
gimcrack coat…of…arms and coronet that are painted in the Invalides
Church； and assigned to one of the Emperor's Generals。
Ventrebleu！ Madam； what need have THEY of coats…of…arms and
coronets； and wretched imitations of old exploded aristocratic
gewgaws that they had flung out of the countrywith the heads of
the owners in them sometimes； for indeed they were not particulara
score of years before？ What business； forsooth； had they to be
meddling with gentility and aping its ways； who had courage； merit；
daring； genius sometimes； and a pride of their own to support； if
proud they were inclined to be？ A clever young man （who was not of
high family himself； but had been bred up genteelly at Eton and the
university）young Mr。 George Canning； at the commencement of the
French Revolution； sneered at 〃Roland the Just； with ribbons in his
shoes；〃 and the dandies； who then wore buckles； voted the sarcasm
monstrous killing。 It was a joke； my dear； worthy of a lackey； or
of a silly smart parvenu； not knowing the society into which his
luck had cast him （God help him！ in later years； they taught him
what they were！）； and fancying in his silly intoxication that
simplicity was ludicrous and fashion respectable。 See； now； fifty
years are gone； and where are shoebuckles？ Extinct； defunct； kicked
into the irrevocable past off the toes of all Europe！
How fatal to the parvenu； throughout history； has been this respect
for shoebuckles。 Where； for instance； would the Empire of Napoleon
have been； if Ney and Lannes had never sported such a thing as a
coat…of…arms； and had only written their simple names on their
shields； after the fashion of Desaix's scutcheon yonder？the bold
Republican who led the crowning charge at Marengo； and sent the best
blood of the Holy Roman Empire to the right…about； before the
wretched misbegotten imperial heraldry was born； that was to prove
so disastrous to the father of it。 It has always been so。 They
won't amalgamate。 A country must be governed by the one principle
or the other。 But give； in a republic； an aristocracy ever so
little chance； and it works and plots and sneaks and bullies and
sneers itself into place； and you find democracy out of doors。 Is
it good that the aristocracy should so triumph？that is a question
that you may settle according to your own notions and taste； and
permit me to say； I do not care twopence how you settle it。 Large
books have been written upon the subject in a variety of languages；
and coming to a variety of conclusions。 Great statesmen are there
in our country； from Lord Londonderry down to Mr。 Vincent； each in
his degree maintaining his different opinion。 But here； in the
matter of Napoleon； is a simple fact： he founded a great； glorious；
strong； potent republic； able to cope with the best aristocracies in
the world； and perhaps to beat them all； he converts his republic
into a monarchy； and surrounds his monarchy with what he calls
aristocratic institutions； and you know what becomes of him。 The
people estranged； the aristocracy faithless （when did they ever
pardon one who was not of themselves？）the imperial fabric tumbles
to the ground。 If it teaches nothing else； my dear； it teaches one
a great point of policynamely； to stick by one's party。
While these thoughts （and sundry others relative to the horrible
cold of the place； the intense dulness of delay； the stupidity of
leaving a warm bed and a breakfast in order to witness a procession
that is much better performed at a theatre）while these thoughts
were passing in the mind； the church began to fill apace； and you
saw that the hour of the ceremony was drawing near。
Imprimis； came men with lighted staves； and set fire to at least ten
thousand wax…candles that were hanging in brilliant chandeliers in
various parts of the chapel。 Curtains were dropped over the upper
windows as these illuminations were effected； and the church was
left only to the funereal light of the spermaceti。 To the right was
the dome； round the cavity of which sparkling lamps were set； that
designed the shape of it brilliantly against the darkness。 In the
midst； and where the altar used to stand； rose the catafalque。 And
why not？ Who is God here but Napoleon？ and in him the sceptics have
already ceased to believe； but the people does still somewhat。 He
and Louis XIV。 divide the worship of the place between them。
As for the catafalque； the best that I can say for it is that it is
really a noble and imposing…looking edifice； with tall pillars
supporting a grand dome； with innumerable escutcheons； standards；
and allusions military and funereal。 A great eagle of course tops
the whole： tripods burning spirits of wine stand round this kind of
dead man's throne； and as we saw it （by peering over the heads of
our neighbors in the front rank）； it looked； in the midst of the
black concave； and under the effect of half a thousand flashing
cross…lights； properly grand and tall。 The effect of the whole
chapel； however （to speak the jargon of the painting…room）； was
spoiled by being CUT UP： there were too many objects for the eye to
rest upon： the ten thousand wax…candles； for instance； in their
numberless twinkling chandeliers； the raw tranchant colors of the
new banners； wreaths； bees； N's； and other emblems dotting the place
all over； and incessantly puzzling； or rather BOTHERING the beholder。
High overhead； in a sort of mist； with the glare of their original
colors worn down by dust and time； hung long rows of dim ghostly…
looking standards； captured in old days from the enemy。 They were；
I thought； the best and most solemn part of the show。
To suppose that the people were bound to be solemn during the
ceremony is to exact from them something quite needless and
unnatural。 The very fact of a squeeze dissipates all solemnity。
One great crowd is always； as I imagine； pretty much like another。
In the course of the last few years I have seen three： that
attending the coronation of our present sovereign； that which went
to see Courvoisier hanged； and this which witnessed the Napoleon
ceremony。 The people so assembled for hours together are jocular
rather tha