“An Opening Nut.”
This is the age of popular delusions! Everybody endeavours to be
somebody else, and everything is made to resemble something it is not.
Every class and section of society seeks to mystify the other, and the
whole world is masquerading it, very much it would seem to the whole
world's delight. There are people who think the Tories consistent--the
Whigs honest--and the Repealers respectable. Nothing too palpable in
absurdity not to have its followers; nor does the ridicule cease with
ourselves; but all who visit us catch the malady--witness the Indian
Chiefs, who called on Ben. D'Israeli, to see the style of life and
habits of the English Aristocracy.
These things after all are but poor delusions--little better than what
the Wizard of the North calls “Parlour Magic,” and might be left to
time, to be laughed at, just like the French war clamour--the O'Connell
denunciation--or the Young England discovery of the “pure 'Cocktailian'
race.” There are, however, other fallacies which from age and habit have
gradually associated themselves with our social existence, and become,
as it were, national. To disabuse the world of some of these, has been
my object in the present little volume. To endeavour not only to show
that we often
“Compound for sins we are inclined to,
By damning those we have no mind to;”
but also, that our laws and institutions--our manners and customs--are
based less upon principles of justice, than mere convenience and social
advantage.
That such an undertaking will be graciously received or kindly
acknowledged, I have never been able to persuade myself; no more than I
feel disposed to believe, that hunger can be fed by Acts of Parliament;
or starvation alleviated by Cricket or Jack in the bowl; however, it is
_my_ way of regenerating the land, and why should n't I “roll my tub”
as well as my neighbours. Why I have given the volume its present
title, would be perhaps more difficult to account for, save, that I
have remarked on so many classes and gradations of people; and that,
“Knocks” at our neighbours are generally “Nuts” to ourselves.
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