Newspaper and public turned against the
victim, scouted him, apologized for the--what should they be
called?--who were not only admitted into the most respectable
society, but courted to come, the spots not merely of wine on their
military clothes, giving them a kind of poignancy. But there is a
God in heaven; the British glories are tarnished--Providence has
never smiled on British arms since that case--oh! Balaklava! thy
name interpreted is net of fishes, and well dost thou deserve that
name. How many a scarlet golden fish has of late perished in the
mud amidst thee, cursing the genteel service, and the genteel
leader which brought him to such a doom.
Whether the rage for gentility is most prevalent amongst the upper,
middle, or lower classes it is difficult to say; the priest in the
text seems to think that it is exhibited in the most decided manner
in the middle class; it is the writer's opinion, however, that in
no class is it more strongly developed than in the lower: what
they call being well-born goes a great way amongst them, but the
possession of money much farther, whence Mr. Flamson's influence
over them. Their rage against, and scorn for, any person who by
his courage and talents has advanced himself in life, and still
remains poor, are indescribable; "he is no better than ourselves,"
they say, "why should he be above us?"--for they have no conception
that anybody has a right to ascendency over themselves except by
birth or money.
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