When the mind contemplates a number of young men assembled at the
University, with various talents, propensities, and pursuits, upon a
footing of local equality, and communicating with one another on terms
of greater or less familiarity; and again, after an interval of half a
century, makes enquiry into their relative condition and connections; how
wonderful a contrast is exhibited, and what food is administered for deep
and serious reflection!
These pages have already detailed some, it is to be hoped, not
uninteresting examples of unexpected elevation, as well as of
extraordinary and melancholy depression, to say nothing of the diminution
of the long, long catalogue, by the resistless ravages of death. One
splendid instance of success and temporal prosperity has already been
detailed. Here, however, was nothing to shock probability. The advantages
of birth and splendid connection accompany a man through life, and he
must be eminently deficient in talent, sagacity, or prudence, who does
not in his progress through the world, turn them to adequate account. One
favourite of fortune remains to be introduced to notice, who possessed no
hereditary advantages, but who, meeting with a ladder placed against the
Temple of Greatness, boldly ascended step by step, till he triumphantly
reached, and remained enthroned, at the summit.
It is sometimes exceedingly convenient to deal in the article of
“Supposes.” It is a very useful word to a lively fancy, and supplies many
a chasm in an imaginary structure, which would seem mutilated, imperfect,
and deformed, without it. It is adopted on the present occasion, because
it will appear to many the most suitable.—The facts are so contrary to
the ordinary chances of life, that they who are not in _the secret_, may
be inclined to believe them “suppositions” altogether.
_Suppose_, therefore, good and gentle reader, a schoolmaster, established
in a country town of no great celebrity, but which still furnished him
with so much employment, that attention to his business enabled him
to educate his two sons at a public school. Suppose this good man to
die, and his widow again to marry respectably, and settle finally in
the metropolis. Suppose the elder son, though of infirm health, to
marry a woman of large fortune, a valetudinarian like himself.—It is no
extravagant effort of imagination to conceive both of these personages to
pay the debt of nature, and the surviving brother to become the inheritor
of the possessions of them both. Here we appear to have advanced a few
steps up the ladder.
Now then, let us suppose the surviving brother called to the bar, and, by
abilities and assiduity to which the bar has affixed a jocular name, to
obtain progressively a considerable practice.—Are we not mounting still
higher? Now, then, let us picture to ourselves a great, a very great
man, possessing the disposal of seats in a certain assembly, usually
understood to display the most inviting avenues to fame and fortune.
Fancy this great man, in perplexity from some unexpected accident how
to supply the loss of a _friend_, vacating one of these seats, with
an individual, who by no means must be inferior to his predecessor in
obsequious attention to his patron’s political interests, his intentions,
and injunctions. Accident, the veriest accident, might introduce the
practitioner of the law to _huggery_ of another kind.—What think you now,
good people? are we not in a fair way to get to the top of the ladder?
Conceive us, then, permanently fixed in this same honourable assembly;
and a combination of talent and diligence, a proper degree of well-timed
flexibility, with a due proportion of smiles and bows, may easily be
supposed to accomplish all the rest.
But that which is to succeed can surely never be _supposed_. Can it
be _supposed_, that one so favoured by a concurrence of fortunate
events, should treat with neglect those to whose interposition and
recommendation, he immediately owed his greatness? Can it be _supposed_,
that he was detested by his dependants, for the most unrestrained
insolence and intolerable arrogance? Can it be believed, that the friends
and play-mates of his boyish days, equals to him in ability, far,
very far superior in merit, should be contumeliously kept at an awful
distance, sometimes oppressed with an assumed condescension, at others
disgusted at unconcealed haughtiness? Can it be imagined, that when local
circumstances assigned to him a division of influence and authority, in
conjunction with individuals of high hereditary rank, he should proudly
assume a pre-eminence; should direct, dictate, issue his imperial fiats,
mandates, and decrees, and make all bow before his golden image?
Will it be believed, that, as the Chinese ceremonial requires, the head
of him admitted to the Royal presence to be knocked nine times against
the floor, and were this obeisance once, and once only, omitted, it is
deemed high treason, and requires the utmost severity of punishment; so
from the lack of some such attentions to this high and mighty person,
there are many individuals who have reason to deplore, in bitterness
of sorrow, their unpardoned inconsiderateness; and can ascribe their
ruin to nothing, but the seeming want of reverence to his consequential
importance?
No, no, no, none of these things can possibly be within the reach of the
wildest suppositions; they can only have existence in the chimerical
dreams of the most extravagant fancy. Nor will it ever obtain a moment’s
credit, except indeed a similar representation should be made from ⸺.
But here prudence bids pause—
Securus licet Æneam rutulumque ferocem
Committas: nulli gravis est percussus Achilles.
Tollimur in cœlum curvato gurgite, et idem
Subducta ad manes imos desidimus unda.