_Lincolnshire, -- June, 1815._
Dear Charles,--You remember our meeting the other day--I shall.--It’s a
long time since we ran riot, and got into mischief together--trundled
our hoops, gathered flowers in summer, and rolled in the snow in winter.
There is a dim pleasure in the remembrance of our late interview, and
that of these isolated scenes of our childhood: they are as faint gleams
of sunshine in a gloomy day. I don’t like, however, to reflect upon
being handwhipped, and put into the corner: the fears of that age are
dreadful--I see my aunt’s frown now, and hear her snap at me. But then
again, it was over _her_ grounds that we chased the hours away as
heedlessly as the butterflies. The homeclose-yard and kitchen
garden--how pleasant to remember _them_! The buzzard, you know, guarded
the fruit-garden, and kept us from the gooseberry-trees and
strawberry-beds; but in the others what a thousand frolics have we
sported in, and in what a thousand contrivances exercised our infant
minds. Every joy comes to my mind--I forget every hardship. The
coachman!--what would he not do for us! Bethink yourself--he had been in
the family a quarter of a century. How proud he was of it; how fussy and
fond of his favourite horses; how he used to pat them when out with the
carriage. You don’t forget that the old people continued the fashion of
postilions very long--but there is no end to remembrance.--I’ll stop----
You say in my behaviour the other day you saw the traces of my boyhood.
You compliment me. Children are selfish; they perhaps may have but
little to call their young feelings forth; for feelings must be met
half-way. I remember some _young_ feelings with delight still. I fancy I
have not that ecstasy now that the mind was tuned to then. Children have
but few friendships: the reason may be, that they have few objects to
engage them. This observation is vain--elder people have but few
friendships, and for the same reason. I had been more correct if I had
said, they are but little capable of a friendly disposition. The former
is a fact--this a speculation. You saw at the party wherein we last met,
how eager all the youngsters were to have their gallop in what they
considered their proper turn round the large close. This is a fair
sample of mankind in all their pursuits--of every age, old or young. I
waved my turn for you; and though I had a joyous idea of flying round
the course, I had more pleasure in seeing you gratified. It is well I
hit upon my old friend in my politeness; the others would have laughed
at me. The upper part of society profess more politeness than the lower;
the human heart is the same in both. The upper classes have more forms,
and the lower may say they are fools for their pains:--the upper bow
slavishly to each other; the lower do not. With the former it is of
service, but of none among the latter. For if among the ambitious and
supercilious of mankind it were not a matter of pride to know and do
this homage, one half of them would be turning up their noses, and
tossing their heads at the other. When I see a great man bow, I always
think he wants to creep into a greater man’s esteem.----
Excuse this wandering. I like to generalize mankind, and cast up the
proper value of every thing around me--the use is immense: hence flows
philosophy. I decide between grovelling and glorious ambition; and,
clearing myself of the former, am eased of impediment in the pursuit of
the latter. The consequence is, that I care nothing for wealth, provided
I have competence; that I can take up my abode with pleasure among poor
people, and not turn squeamish at sight of a fustian jacket; that I like
the humour of farm-houses, and would dine with a couple of vagabonds,
without fear of infection, amply compensated by the observation of their
vein; and looking upon the beauty of nature as the source of all
pleasure, far and wide as she extends, in this hole and cabin, my own
appropriate spot, my aim is to keep my health as the furtherance of a
superior object.
My maxim is--_necessaries_; that is, outward comfort and health. Observe
it.
Your affectionate friend,