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subject; among which not the least wonderment was that which was
awakened by the genius and information of Mr。 Robert Bolton; who;
after a glowing eulogium on himself; and his unspeakable influence
with the daily press; was proceeding; with a most solemn
countenance; to hear the pros and cons of the Pope autograph
question; when I took up my hat; and left。
FAMILIAR EPISTLE FROM A PARENT TO A CHILD
AGED TWO YEARS AND TWO MONTHS
MY CHILD;
To recount with what trouble I have brought you up … with what an
anxious eye I have regarded your progress; … how late and how often
I have sat up at night working for you; … and how many thousand
letters I have received from; and written to your various relations
and friends; many of whom have been of a querulous and irritable
turn; … to dwell on the anxiety and tenderness with which I have
(as far as I possessed the power) inspected and chosen your food;
rejecting the indigestible and heavy matter which some injudicious
but well…meaning old ladies would have had you swallow; and
retaining only those light and pleasant articles which I deemed
calculated to keep you free from all gross humours; and to render
you an agreeable child; and one who might be popular with society
in general; … to dilate on the steadiness with which I have
prevented your annoying any company by talking politics … always
assuring you that you would thank me for it yourself some day when
you grew older; … to expatiate; in short; upon my own assiduity as
a parent; is beside my present purpose; though I cannot but
contemplate your fair appearance … your robust health; and
unimpeded circulation (which I take to be the great secret of your
good looks) without the liveliest satisfaction and delight。
It is a trite observation; and one which; young as you are; I have
no doubt you have often heard repeated; that we have fallen upon
strange times; and live in days of constant shiftings and changes。
I had a melancholy instance of this only a week or two since。 I
was returning from Manchester to London by the Mail Train; when I
suddenly fell into another train … a mixed train … of reflection;
occasioned by the dejected and disconsolate demeanour of the Post…
Office Guard。 We were stopping at some station where they take in
water; when he dismounted slowly from the little box in which he
sits in ghastly mockery of his old condition with pistol and
blunderbuss beside him; ready to shoot the first highwayman (or
railwayman) who shall attempt to stop the horses; which now travel
(when they travel at all) INSIDE and in a portable stable invented
for the purpose; … he dismounted; I say; slowly and sadly; from his
post; and looking mournfully about him as if in dismal recollection
of the old roadside public…house the blazing fire … the glass of
foaming ale … the buxom handmaid and admiring hangers…on of tap…
room and stable; all honoured by his notice; and; retiring a little
apart; stood leaning against a signal…post; surveying the engine
with a look of combined affliction and disgust which no words can
describe。 His scarlet coat and golden lace were tarnished with
ignoble smoke; flakes of soot had fallen on his bright green shawl
… his pride in days of yore … the steam condensed in the tunnel
from which we had just emerged; shone upon his hat like rain。 His
eye betokened that he was thinking of the coachman; and as it
wandered to his own seat and his own fast…fading garb; it was plain
to see that he felt his office and himself had alike no business
there; and were nothing but an elaborate practical joke。
As we whirled away; I was led insensibly into an anticipation of
those days to come; when mail…coach guards shall no longer be
judges of horse…flesh … when a mail…coach guard shall never even
have seen a horse … when stations shall have superseded stables;
and corn shall have given place to coke。 'In those dawning times;'
thought I; 'exhibition…rooms shall teem with portraits of Her
Majesty's favourite engine; with boilers after Nature by future
Landseers。 Some Amburgh; yet unborn; shall break wild horses by
his magic power; and in the dress of a mail…coach guard exhibit his
TRAINED ANIMALS in a mock mail…coach。 Then; shall wondering crowds
observe how that; with the exception of his whip; it is all his
eye; and crowned heads shall see them fed on oats; and stand alone
unmoved and undismayed; while counters flee affrighted when the
coursers neigh!'
Such; my child; were the reflections from which I was only awakened
then; as I am now; by the necessity of attending to matters of
present though minor importance。 I offer no apology to you for the
digression; for it brings me very naturally to the subject of
change; which is the very subject of which I desire to treat。
In fact; my child; you have changed hands。 Henceforth I resign you
to the guardianship and protection of one of my most intimate and
valued friends; Mr。 Ainsworth; with whom; and with you; my best
wishes and warmest feelings will ever remain。 I reap no gain or
profit by parting from you; nor will any conveyance of your
property be required; for; in this respect; you have always been
literally 'Bentley's' Miscellany; and never mine。
Unlike the driver of the old Manchester mail; I regard this altered
state of things with feelings of unmingled pleasure and
satisfaction。
Unlike the guard of the new Manchester mail; YOUR guard is at home
in his new place; and has roystering highwaymen and gallant
desperadoes ever within call。 And if I might compare you; my
child; to an engine; (not a Tory engine; nor a Whig engine; but a
brisk and rapid locomotive;) your friends and patrons to
passengers; and he who now stands towards you IN LOCO PARENTIS as
the skilful engineer and supervisor of the whole; I would humbly
crave leave to postpone the departure of the train on its new and
auspicious course for one brief instant; while; with hat in hand; I
approach side by side with the friend who travelled with me on the
old road; and presume to solicit favour and kindness in behalf of
him and his new charge; both for their sakes and that of the old
coachman;
Boz。
End