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    ^.^o A DPTT Qifl ^ 1 THE LEADEB. 469

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    — - ¦fiflltfi'• 3Lrf fj qgjuu, ^ U3» "

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    from liis bargain. As the painter in que...

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    A Dream Of A Moral Millenium. [From A Co...

    My . wife had still a few acquaintances left who did not ' quite desert her , although they would not tolerate me ; and she was not left altogether without advice as to how she should conduct herself under the trying circumstances in which she was placed ; She was , of course , questioned severely about the infatuation that had led her to marry a man in such an equivocal position ; but the fact that what was done could not be amdone , was generally admitted , and she Avas advised to bear up with fortitude against the virtuous indignation of the world . ¦

    Finding society closed against me and my illgotten wealth , I made a strong effort to set up as a philanthropist and a benefactor of my species . I offered to build a church , to endow an hospital , to organise schools , to improve everybody and everything , even without the small z-eturn of having rny name known in connexion with so much active benevoleuce . Here I was met on the threshold with the same coldness and disdain that checked my well-meant endeavours to obtain the goodwill of my neighbours . My cheque for the ehurehbtiilding scheme was firmly and respectfully declined ; the hospital governors had reasons for rejecting my offer , and the guardians of infant anc adult education bluntly told me they tliough . 1 every school in the kingdom would get on niuct better without me .

    Scorned , rejected , despised , and abused ^— -witr every man ' s Spartan finger pointed at me , anc every man ' s Spartan tongue loud in my condemnation , I did what I imagine every sensible and hones * . citizen would -have done in my position . I tlife ^ v up niy sinecure without . a sigh , and retired upon a small annuity to a continental town that I will not name , where I have brought up my children in eomfort , if not in affiueiiee , and have religiously kept from them all knowledge of their father ' s early disgrace . A Suffering Sinecukist .

    opera-boxes , to make continental tours , andtopay for all these luxuries with money drawn from a notoriously venal and eccentric creation of ancient , unscrupulous patronage . If you are . not required to ffive a shadow of attention or attendance for the rich crop of salary or commission which you reap unfailingly every quarter , the anomaly of your position ? and the unprofitable character of your existence , are rendered thereby so much the more striking and painful . Those superficial , unthinking men who look -with a frowning , one-sided yiew

    down the long list of pensions and compensations that hancr heavily at the rear , and clog the wheels of the chariot of reform wherever and whenever it moves , can know nothing of the iealousies , the professional discontent , the straggles to maintain a position m society , the family disorganisation , the loss of self-respect and of the esteem of friends and acquaintances , the constant fret of mind and body , that , embitter the lives of my unfortunate class , who are objects of envy when they should be objects of pity .

    thief , in the hope of finding some fair creature who would listen tenderly to my pitiful story , and dare the scoffs and jeers of the world , by uniting her fate to mine . I thought that * I had discovered this desired object in the person of a young lady , whom I will , call Thalia , but how bitterly—oh , how bitterly— -was I mistaken ! She Was fair , but not romantic ; cool , sensible , and practical , with an over < msking flow of animal spirits . She had a and

    considerable knowledge of the world , long before I had got to the momentous question , she asked me , in a straig htforward manner , what I was . If I hesitated for a few moments before I entrusted her with the fatal secret , my diffidence was fully justified , for a burst of laughter , that must have startled every house in the square where ' 'Thalia resided , greeted my tardy and unwilling disclosure . " A what ? " she exclaimed , shrieking with merriment , - — " a Patentee of what ? Oh , how funny ! Do , pray , say it again 1 " % I need scarcely state that the . unfortunate Patentee of Bankrupts- did not succeed in his matrimonial designs ' , with Miss Thalia , and that his ardour for domestic felicity was damped for some time by this very unpropitiqus reception . The next lady that I ventured to address upon the subject was a very different character to Miss Thaliay . and-she ' referred me at once to her father , a man of substantial property invested in the funds .

    " Sir , " said lie , " this , is a most remarkable mode of gaining a livelihood ; I can scarcely credit my ears when you tell me you derive upwards of seven thousand pounds a year from such a wonderful sinecure . " I assured him ^ as well as I was able , from my imperfect knowledge of the history of my patenteeship , of the real and solid nature of my income , and of . the perfect security for its continuance during my life . He took three days to consider , at the end of which period , he sent me a short , and , as I considered it , a very severe note , declining my proposals for his daughter ' s hand , and my acquaintance at the same time . .

    I am a sinecurist pensioner . From my earliest years I was taught to look upon work as a punishment only meant for slaves , because I was born into the world as a Patentee of Bankrupts . Wonderful as the title may sound in the ears of those who know nothing of the office , it is equally wonderful in my cars ; for , althoiigh I received for some time an . annual , income of more than 7 , 000 Z ., I never had the courage and the industry to learn the origin . . , of my extraordinary sinecure . All I Was ever taught was , that on the death of a certain

    gentleman- —a reverend gentleman , b y the way— -I should become the possessor for life of this princely property , taken out of the funds of a . commercial court of law , whose uniform practice it is to render half-a-crown to those who have lost a pound , and are looking for five shillings . Without ^ any ill-will towards nij predecessor in office ( a distant relation ) , I waited impatientl y for his decease , and hailed it , when it came , with almost imbecoining satisfaction . - ¦ After a few preliminary formalities , I Was duly installed as Patentee of Bankrupts for the duration of my natural life .

    After this second -rebuff ; I left my native laud for a few months to try and regain my mental composure under the invigorating influences of a German watering-place . There , at tlie roulette table , ' I met with the charming relict of the late Robert Howler , Esq ., M . P ., for many years one of the firmest and most consistent advocates of financial reform . Whether the political views of tho late legislator were unpopular with all Governments , I cannot tell ; but office of any kind never came near his fingers . Whether he had neglected his own affairs in looking after those of the nation , I cannot tell ; but I found his widow far from being well provided for . hand to

    Being of a nervous and imaginative temperament , my new . honours and emoluments did not bring me that placid contentment of mind which many ignorant persons would suppose . I asked myself troublesome questions , which I was not able to answer . What did the world think of such _ a kingly income , drawn from the pockets of victimised creditors ? What was the chance of such a curious and lucrative office lasting even a year under the . pertinacious attacks of determined reformers ? When I read accounts of intended reforms in commercial law , I dreaded lest my

    particular sinecure should be singled out , and held up as a target for parliamentary indignation to shoot at . True , I had been bred up to have a firm faith in the stability of vested interests , but my early teaching failed to impress me with a proper belief in the permanent folly of mankind , and the consequent perpetual existence of flagrant jobs and compensations . I awoke sometimes in the dead of night , hot and feverish , unable to comprehend tho solid reality of my position , and paced my room , asking myself whence came all the luxuries that surrounded me , and whither were they going ? What had I done that all those

    I hesitated for some time to offer my the lonely lady , although I had good reason to believe that , sinecurist as I was , 1 should not be unacceptable to one who had listened for twenty years to the -voice of the ' stern economist . At last , one evening , while drinking the sour hock , and listening to tho fascinating strains of a Launer waltz , I overcame my scruples , and when I returned to England it was with a companion for life . 4 , We startod , an establishment fitted up with care and taste ; and I began once more , with my wif ' s assistance , to try and overcome the prejudices of society . We gave dinners of the most faultless

    things should be lavished upon me r What could I do to enable me to claim them with honest pride as my own , and bid them stay ? In the day-timo I walked about listlessly , like most men with no occupation , and sometimes I fancied people glared dt me in the streets , pierced through my thin disguise of outward respectability , and scorned mo for tho unprofitable character of my life . My efforts to become enrolled a meinbor of one of the clubs—oven tho meanest of tlio number—wore in all cases utterly fruitless . I could not aonceal tho objectionable source of my income , and a shower of virtuous

    kind , as far as tho viands and attendance wore concorned ; but we sat there to do justice to our own hospitality in solitary , melancholy state , for wo could got no one to respond to our warm and pressing invitations . Our very servants , down to tho lowest menial , took advantage of our position , and became extravagant in tlioir demands , and impertinent in their demeanour ' . If wo appeared in publio . places whore wo were known , tho visitors foil off' from us on either aide , and wo heard their

    loud and , scornful whispers hissing m our oars . " A Patentee of Bankrupts , indeed ! why not a Patentee of Swindlers and Paupers P " " What an extraordinary ofhco ! Did ho invont bankrupts P " " That , sir , is tho embodiment of ono of the grossest jobs that was over foisted upon a patient public , " , These wore the remarks wo had to endure ; the carping of envious dowagers , tho small sarcasms of young wits , and tlie Tussy indignation ot middle-aged patriots .

    black-balls effectually closed the doors against me . At times I got low and melancholy , and as I wandered amongst tho unsympathising and hostile ^ crowd , I f'olt like tho common hangman . Money , " it was true , I had in abundance , but it neither bought mo friends , nor peace of mind . As long as I could prosorve my secret all wont well , but tho moxnonfc tho evil knowledge spread of who and what L was , they fled from me as if I had boon plague-stricken—tho heartless throng !— -and dropped my gokl as if it had been molten load . I ventured , or rather slunk , into society , like a

    ^.^O A Dptt Qifl ^ 1 The Leadeb. 469

    ^ . ^ o A DPTT Qifl ^ 1 THE LEADEB . 469

    — - ¦Fiflltfi'• 3lrf Fj Qgjuu, ^ U3» "

    < jfine Jiris ,

    From Liis Bargain. As The Painter In Que...

    from liis bargain . As the painter in quest ot a subject may have selected this one without malice prepense , let his work stand on its merits . It shows considerable power , though tho unfortunate artist looks rather like a self-asserting genius given to small heroics . The boy . who seizes the opportunity of the general pre-occupation to make a lness with the colours , is a touch of comedy that goes far to pu . fi even a critic in good humour ; and the French have a useful saying , " Qui / uit rire , desuriiie " Can we be so near Mr . I ' yne ' a version of Genoa the Proud" ( 1 G 7 ) without remarking on its beauties and shortcomings ? Spotty , dreamy , unreal , yet eubolivo—doing what no one else could do so well , but what few master-minds would bo content tQstop at . Mr . Pvne . in this huce panorama , gives as forms

    EXIIIBITIONT OF THE SOCIETY OF BUiriSH AUTISTS , SUFFOLK-STREET , r . \ t , t , ~ MAJ ^ L . Tjct us begin our notice of this cplleetion with a merciful allusion to a much tulked-of work ,-which we passed over in our . anticipatory remarks , and which has caused some galled jades among our contemporaries to wince somewhat ; There is no sufficient reason why Mr . T . Robert ' s picture— " Tlie Opinion of the Press " C ?^) , representing the desolation of a painter ' s hearth when a customer throws back upon his hands a work that the Art-Critic has rejected— should have excited critical ire or have been viewed as an expression of personal feeling . It seems to us less like a censure on the writer of . a criticism , which might have been deserved , than on the moan and shallow " art-patron , " so easily moved

    that look like shadows ; colours that have tho effect of tints ; art that seems like a dream of nature ? but -withal , a poetry that will ever secure admirers . Truly , might his denouncer , Mr . lluskin , praise him for painting his impressions "—aye , and othor tulJcs , too . His pictures remind ono of Dickens a uosowjption of Venice in his " Pictures of Italy , " for visions of truth , though not truth itsolf , they ttioliko our memories of tfie past . Turn now to tl . o <* " !» " ^ watery effect in " Lyma Cub , PoractHl . lro Coast ( 325 ) , wherein tho wot Is wciitftfuratwi , ho as to SUI & the whole canvas , and to produce on the mind tho impression which the , reality wo . d ay e given us . Tho literal truthfulness , which « ouId bo rsin Kff ^ A- tliVrwiMft offset the

    dell , eatic w Is to bo sought fin- la their on mind of'T » o spectator In tho biwn Samson ,, 1 ho pik and white Dallluh , backed ibr contract , jv mi inkv ilfithion , wo havu a touch of Mr . Lolgh-& JJHt £ wliSra wo formerly alluded to as a rather fanatical devotee to tho old inastorB . The antlquo landscape , In which tho figure are sot , cow-

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), April 9, 1859, page 21, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_09041859/page/21/