_How Mrs. =Bull= sat still and heard a great deal more on this
subject._
We cannot well tell how it happened, that although Mrs. Bull was
considering only, what answer should be given to sister Peg’s letter,
yet John’s own affairs were brought in head and shoulders, and it
seemed as if people were afraid to hurt Peg, except through John’s
sides. The truth was, that though some people did not like to see the
humour spreading, they did not chuse to stop it by objections peculiar
to Peg, in which they could have been contradicted; and as the state of
disparity to her brother, in which she was put, could by no means be
glossed over, they chose to keep away from it as far as possible, and
speak only in general terms, Peg’s clerks found themselves obliged to
do the same thing. One of them told Mrs. Bull, that he came there to
sollicite a piece of justice for an aged parent, and was surprized to
find so many people ready to dissuade her from granting it.
If there are, says he, sufficient objections to the use of arms in a
family, discontinue it in your own; if there are not, why disgrace one
part of your house, by refusing what all mankind know to be the great
distinction between masters and slaves?
I am surprized, however, to hear so much concerning the absolute
inconveniencies of this measure. It may be inconvenient for a man to do
any thing at all for his own defence; but if it be necessary for his
preservation, to what purpose talk of inconveniencies? It is certainly
meant by people who speak in this strain, that the method now in
question is more inconvenient than that by game-keepers, which is the
only other one that I have heard of. If this is their opinion, they
should have entered somewhat farther into the question, than at present
they appear to have done.
This family has been for some time in the practice of committing
their defence intirely to a certain class of people, whom they call
game-keepers. Those are the only persons about the house, supposed to
know any thing at all of the use of arms; they are set apart from the
rest of the family, and by their manner of life, are made to shake off
all connection with them as much as possible; and this, I suppose,
that they may be at all times ready to go any where, or do any thing
that their profession may require, without any regret of their own, or
incumbrance from other people.
They are taught, for the same reason, to obey their leader implicitly,
and to know no law but his commands; to all which conditions they
bind themselves for life; and in the mean time, do no work either in
seed-time or harvest, but are fed at the expence of the family.
This, I apprehend, to be a very fair description of a game-keeper,
as that profession is now maintained. Every body knows that Mr.
Bull has chosen this expedient with great reluctance. He was always
apprehensive, that whoever was master of the only arms in a house,
might soon become master of the house itself. The practice, however,
stole upon him, and for ought I know he might have gone all lengths
in the use of it, if he had not been ashamed of a sudden, to find
himself and all his family afraid to look any enemy in the face. He
bethought himself of the wretched condition he must be in, either if
his game-keepers should turn against him, should desert him, or even
be out of the way at an unlucky time. And to fortify himself against
those calamities, he has distributed a certain quantity of arms among
his children; a certain number are to be named in their turns; to learn
the use of those arms, under the direction of a person, to whom all
his other affairs are so happily intrusted. The people who receive
this instruction live in the family, and mind their business, with the
single interruption, which some days of practice, or necessary service
may occasion. When they have taken their turn, they leave that station
to others, and live as before; with this only difference, that if the
house is alarmed, they are readier to act a part, in which they have
already had some practice.
We have heard enough of the impossibility of putting this scheme in
execution; but, I think, it is found sufficiently practicable, when we
want to have somebody in place of the game-keepers, whom we employ so
liberally elsewhere; and therefore, I shall not now say any thing at
all upon that point.
Has it then any inconveniencies which do not attend every other method
of self-defence? The expence, the interruption of business, the trouble
attending it, do certainly not exceed what is found of the same kind,
in maintaining the profession of game-keepers. In point of expence, it
is evident we can afford a much more numerous body of men in this way
than in any other, if instead of augmenting our game-keepers without
end, to vie with our neighbours, we are satisfied with a moderate
number in ordinary times, and prepare this resource for ourselves,
against any sudden alarm.
With respect to the interruption of work, it must be allowed, that
nobody can possibly work less than a game-keeper. To have so many
people idle in succession, or the same number of individuals idle for
their whole lives, appears to me precisely the same thing, with this
only difference, that a game-keeper is idle, whether there be occasion
to employ him in his profession or no, the other is not.
As for the trouble, I do not know any body who can have cause to
complain of it, except Mr. Bull and his sister; and when they are
tired, they will probably let it alone, without troubling your ladyship
for any orders about the matter.
But I find people of very solemn authority, who tell us that it is
dangerous to trust the youth of a family with arms. That besides
quarrelling among themselves, they will fly in the face of every body
else. That they may even drag your ladyship off that couch where you
sit, and kick us your clerks down stairs. I should be glad to know
from whom it is you are to fear these outrages; or if any body in
reality was to offer them, to whom would you apply for protection,
but to those who call you their lawful superior and their parent. It
is strange, that a parent should be supposed to have no hold in the
affections of her own children, or that they who stand first in point
of esteem and respect in the family, should be in danger of being
maltreated by those with whom they are so nearly connected. For my
part, if the children of this family improve in their courage, their
vigour, and their spirit, I expert to improve with them, and should
be ashamed to own, that I fear losing, in that case, the respect and
affection, with which I am now received among my companions.
At any rate it seems it is owned, that we may quarrel among ourselves;
and pray who is it we would have to be worsted, in case of such a
quarrel? Can we foresee who will be in the right, that we may arm them,
and nobody else? It seems, we are sure, the game-keeper, at least, will
be always in the right, since we are for keeping him perpetually armed,
and for rendering all the rest as tame and helpless as possible, that
he may have the less trouble, or find them ready subdued to his hand.
Or do those who alarm us with the fear of domestic quarrels, pretend
that the game-keeper will never quarrel with any body? I would gladly
avoid this subject, but the question is forced upon us. I honour the
profession of which I speak, and would often in my life have gladly
embraced it. But when I was describing it to you, I thought that I was
pointing out the most dangerous quarter, into which the spirit of
domestic faction can come. Here is an order of men, who are always in
readiness to act, whose leader is always prepared; in possession at all
times of great power, and at all times desirous of more. Other factions
may lurk under-ground in the seed, or spring into view to be crushed as
they appear. But this is at all times a full grown plant. There needs
no giant to tear it from the roots, nor is there any great address
required, with the help of this weapon, to confound and destroy all the
civil and domestic institutions of men.
I speak not with a view to excite groundless jealousies; I speak in
behalf of an institution, which is now compleated in one part of the
family, and which, if carried to the other, must prove our best
security against ill-designing men, from within, or from without, in
either house. If it be an advantage where it is already established,
I hope that your ladyship will not refuse to share it with an only
sister, who would be glad to employ all her force in your service, and
now only claims her privilege as a piece of justice, from a person to
whom she has intrusted the management of her affairs.