IMPERFECT SYMPATHIES
ThattheauthoroftheReligioMedici,mountedupontheairystiltsofabstraction,conversantaboutnotionalandconjecturalessences;inwhosecategoriesofBeingthepossibletooktheupperhandoftheactual;shouldhaveoverlookedtheimpertinentindividualitiesofsuchpoorconcretionsasmankind,isnotmuchtobeadmired.Itisrathertobewonderedat,thatinthegenusofanimalsheshouldhavecondescendedtodistinguishthatspeciesatall.Formyself-earth.houndandfetteredtothesceneofmyactivities,——
Standingonearth,notraptabovethesky,
IconfessthatIdofeelthedifferencesofmankind,nationalorindividual,toanunhealthyexcess.Icanlookwithnoindifferenteyeuponthingsorpersons.Whateveris,istomeamatteroftasteordistaste;orwhenonceitbeesindifferent,itbeginstobedisrelishing.Iam,inplainerwords,abundleofprejudices——madeupoflikingsanddislikings——veriestthralltosympathies,apathies,antipathies.Inacertainsense,IhopeitmaybesaidofmethatIamaloverofmyspecies.Icanfeelforallindifferently,butIcannotfeeltowardsallequally.Themorepurely-Englishwontthatexpressessympathywillbetterexplainmymeaning.Icanbeafriendtoaworthyman,whouponanotheraccountcannotbemymateorfellow.Icannotlikeallpeoplealike.*
[Footnote]*IwouldbeunderstoodasconfiningmyselftothesubjectofimperfectsympathiesTonationsorclassesofmentherecanbenodirectantipathy.Theremay*beindividualsbornandconstellatedsooppositetoanotherindividualnature,thatthesamespherecannotholdthem.Ihavemetwithmymoralantipodes,andcanbelievethestoryoftwopersonsmeeting(whoneversawoneanotherbeforeintheirlives)andinstantlyfighting——
Webyprooffindthereshouldbe
`Twixtmanandmansuchanantipathy,
Thatthoughhecanshownojustreasonwhy
Foranyformerwrongorinjury,
Canneitherfindablemishinhisfame,
Noraughtinfaceorfeaturejustlyblame,
Canchallengeoraccusehimofnoevil,
Yetnotwithstandinghateshimasadevil.
ThelinesarefromoldHeywoods"HierarchieofAngels,"andhesubjoinsacuriousstoryinconfirmation,ofaSpaniardwhoattemptedtoassassinateaKingFerdinandofSpain,andbeingputtotherackcouldgivenootherreasonforthedeedbutaninveterateantipathywhichhehadtakentothefirstsightoftheKing——
Thecausewhichtothatactpelldhim
Was,heneerlovedhimsincehefirstbeheldhim.
IhavebeentryingallmylifetolikeScotchmen,andamobligedtodesistfromtheexperimentindespair.Theycannotlikeme——andintruth,Ineverknewoneofthatnationwhoattemptedtodoit.Thereissomethingmoreplainandingenuousintheirmodeofproceeding.Weknowoneanotheratfirstsight.Thereisanorderofimperfectintellects(underwhichminemustbecontenttorank)whichinitsconstitutionisessentiallyanti-Caledonian.TheownersofthesortoffacultiesIalludeto,havemindsrathersuggestivethanprehensive.Theyhavenopretencestomuchclearnessorprecisionintheirideas,orintheirmannerofexpressingthem.Theirintellectualwardrobe(toconfessfairly)hasfewwholepiecesinit.TheyarecontentwithfragmentsandscatteredpiecesofTruth.Shepresentsnofullfronttothem——afeatureorside-faceatthemost.Hintsandglimpses,germsandcrudeessaysatasystem,istheutmosttheypretendto.Theybeatupalittlegameperadventure——andleaveittoknottierheads,morerobustconstitutions,torunitdown.Thelightthatlightsthemisnotsteadyandpolar,butmutableandshifting:waxing,andagainwaning.Theirconversationisaccordingly.Theywillthrowoutarandomwordinoroutofseason,andbecontenttoletitpassforwhatitisworth.Theycannotspeakalwaysasiftheywereupontheiroath——butmustbeunderstood,speakingorwriting,withsomeabatement.Theseldomwaittomatureaproposition,buteenbringittomarketinthegreenear.Theydelighttoimparttheirdefectivediscoveriesastheyarise,withoutwaitingfortheirfulldevelopement.Theyarenosystematizers,andwouldbuterrmorebyattemptingit.Theirminds,asIsaidbefore,aresuggestivemerely.ThebrainofatrueCaledonian(ifIamnotmistaken)isconstituteduponquiteadifferentplan.HisMinervaisborninpanoply.Youareneveradmittedtoseehisideasintheirgrowth——if,indeed,theydogrow,andarenotratherputtogetheruponprinciplesofclock-work.Younevercatchhismindinanundress.Heneverhintsorsuggestsanything,hutunladeshisstockofideasinperfectorderandpleteness.Hebringshistotalwealthintopany,andgravelyunpacksit.Hisrichesarealwaysabouthim.Heneverstoopstocatchaglitteringsomethinginyourpresence,toshareitwithyou,beforehequiteknowswhetheritbetruetouchornot.Youcannotcryhalvestoanythingthathefinds.Hedoesnotfind,butbring.Youneverwitnesshisfirstapprehensionofathing.Hisunderstandingisalwaysatitsmeridian——youneverseethefirstdawn,theearlystreaks——Hehasnofalteringsofself-suspicion.Surmises,guesses,misgivings,half-intuitions,semi-consciousnesses,partialilluminations,diminstincts,embryoconceptions,havenoplaceinhisbrain,orvocabulary.Thetwilightofdubietyneverfallsuponhim.Isheorthodox——hehasnodoubts.Isheaninfidel——hehasnoneeither.Betweentheaffirmativeandthenegativethereisnoborder-landwithhim.Youcannothoverwithhimupontheconfinesoftruth,orwanderinthemazeofaprobableargument.Healwayskeepsthepath.Youcannotmakeexcursionswithhim——forhesetsyouright.Histasteneverfluctuates.Hismoralityneverabates.Hecannotpromise,orunderstandmiddleactions.Therecanbebutarightandawrong.Hisconversationisasabook.Hisaffirmationshavethesanctityofanoath.Youmustspeakuponthesquarewithhim.Hestopsametaphorlikeasuspectedpersoninanenemyscountry."Ahealthybook"——saidoneofhiscountrymentome,whohadventuredtogivethatappellationtoJohnBuncle,——"didIcatchrightlywhatyousaid?Ihaveheardofamaninhealth,andofahealthystateofbody,butIdonotseehowthatepithetcanbeproperlyappliedtoabook."Aboveall,youmustbewareofindirectexpressionsbeforeaCaledonian.Clapanextinguisheruponyourirony,ifyouareunhappilyblestwithaveinofit.Rememberyouareuponyouroath.IhaveaprintofagracefulfemaleafterLeonardodaVinci,whichIwasshowingofftoMr.****.Afterhehadexamineditminutely,IventuredtoaskhimhowhelikedMYBEAUTY(afoolishnameitgoesbyamongmyfriends)——whenheverygravelyassuredme,that"hehadconsiderablerespectformycharacterandtalents"(sohewaspleasedtosay),"buthadnotgivenhimselfmuchthoughtaboutthedegreeofmypersonalpretensions."Themisconceptionstaggeredme,butdidnotseemmuchtodisconcerthim——Personsofthisnationareparticularlybondofaffirmingatruth——whichnobodydoubts.Theydonotsoproperlyaffirm,asannunciateit.Theydoindeedappeartohavesuchaloveoftruth(asif,likevirtue,itwerevaluableforitself)thatalltruthbeesequallyvaluable,whetherthepropositionthatcontainsitbeneworold,disputed,orsuchasisimpossibletobeeasubjectofdisputation.IwaspresentnotlongsinceatapartyofNorthBritons,whereasonofBurnswasexpected;andhappenedtodropasillyexpression(inmySouthBritishway),thatIwisheditwerethefatherinsteadoftheson——whenfourofthemstartedupatoncetoinformme,that"thatwasimpossible,becausehewasdead."Animpracticablewish,itseems,wasmorethantheycouldconceive.Swifthashitoffthispartoftheircharacter,namelytheirloveoftruth,inhisbitingway,butwithanilliberalitythatnecessarilyconfinesthepassagetothemargin.Thetediousnessofthesepeopleiscertainlyprovoking.Iwonderiftheyevertireoneanother!——InmyearlylifeIhadapassionatefondnessforthepoetryofBurns.Ihavesometimesfoolishlyhopedtoingratiatemyselfwithhiscountrymenbyexpressingit.ButIhavealwaysfoundthatatrueScotresentsyouradmirationofhispatriot,evenmorethanhewouldyourcontemptofhim.Thelatterheimputestoyour"imperfectacquaintancewithmanyofthewordswhichheuses;"andthesameobjectionmakesitapresumptioninyoutosupposethatyoucanadmirehim——Thomsontheyseemtohaveforgotten.SmolletttheyhaveneitherforgottennorforgivenforhisdelineationofRoryandhispanion,upontheirfirstintroductiontoourmetropolis——SpeakofSmollettasagreatgenius,andtheywillretortuponyouHumesHistoryparedwithhisContinuationofit.WhatifthehistorianhadcontinuedHumphreyClinker?
[Footnote]*Therearesomepeoplewhothinktheysufficientlyacquitthemselves,andentertaintheirpany,withrelatingfactsofnoconsequence,notatalloutoftheroadofsuchmonincidentsashappeneveryday;andthisIhaveobservedmorefrequentlyamongtheScotsthananyothernation,whoareverycarefulnottoomittheminutestcircumstancesoftimeorplace;whichkindofdiscourse,ifitwerenotalittlerelievedbytheuncouthtermsandphrases,aswellasaccentandgesturepeculiartothatcountry,wouldbehardlytolerable——HintstowardsanEssayonConversation.
Ihave,intheabstract,nodisrespectforJews.Theyareapieceofstubbornantiquity,paredwithwhichStonehengeisinitsnonage.Theydatebeyondthepyramids.ButIshouldnotcaretobeinhabitsoffamiliarintercoursewithanyofthatnation.IconfessthatIhavenotthenervestoentertheirsynagogues.Oldprejudicesclingaboutme.IcannotshakeoffthestoryofHughofLincoln.Centuriesofinjury,contempt,andhate,ontheoneside,——ofcloakedrevenge,dissimulation,andhate,ontheother,betweenourandtheirfathers,must,andought,toaffectthebloodofthechildren.Icannotbelieveitcanrunclearandkindlyyet;orthatafewfinewords,suchascandour,liberality,thelightofanineteenthcentury,cancloseupthebreachesofsodeadlyadisunion.AHebrewisnowherecongenialtome.Heisleastdistastefulon`Change——forthemercantilespiritlevelsalldistinctions,asallarebeautiesinthedark.IboldlyconfessthatIdonotrelishtheapproximationofJewandChristian,whichhasbeesofashionable.Thereciprocalendearmentshave,tome,somethinghypocriticalandunnaturalinthem.IdonotliketoseetheChurchandSynagoguekissingandcongeeinginawkwardposturesofanaffectedcivility.Iftheyareconverted,whydotheynoteovertousaltogether?Whykeepupaformofseparation,whenthelifeofitisfled?Iftheycansitwithusattable,whydotheykeckatourcookery?Idonotunderstandthesehalfconvertites.Jewschristianizing——Christiansjudaizing——puzzleme.Ilikefishorflesh.AmoderateJewisamoreconfoundingpieceofanomalythanawetQuaker.Thespiritofthesynagogueisessentiallyseparative.B——wouldhavebeenmoreinkeepingifhehadabidedbythefaithofhisforefathers.Thereisafinescorninhisface,whichnaturemeanttobeof——Christians.TheHebrewspiritisstronginhim,inspiteofhisproselytism.HecannotconquertheShibboleth.Howitbreaksout,whenhesings,"TheChildrenofIsraelpassedthroughtheRedSea!"Theauditors,forthemoment,areasEgyptianstohim,andheridesoverournecksintriumph.Thereisnomistakinghim——hasastrongexpressionofsenseinhiscountenance,anditisconfirmedbyhissinging.Thefoundationofhisvocalexcellenceisuse.Hesingswithunderstanding,asKembledelivereddialogue.HewouldsingtheCommandments,andgiveanappropriatecharactertoeachprohibition.Hisnation,ingeneral,havenotever-sensiblecountenances.Howshouldthey?——butyouseldomseeasillyexpressionamongthem.Gain,andthepursuitofgain,sharpenamansvisage.Ineverheardofanidiotbeinghornamongthem——SomeadmiretheJewishfemale-physiognomy.Iadmireit——butwithtrembling.Jaelhadthosefulldarkinscrutableeyes.
IntheNegrocountenanceyouwilloftenmeetwithstrongtraitsofbenignity.Ihavefeltyearningsoftendernesstowardssomeofthesefaces——orrathermasks——thathavelookedoutkindlyupononeincasualencountersinthestreetsandhighways.IlovewhatFullerbeautifullycalls——these"imagesofGodcutinebony."ButIshouldnotliketoassociatewiththem,tosharemymealsandmygood-nightswiththem——becausetheyareblack.
IloveQuakerways,andQuakerworship.IveneratetheQuakerprinciples.ItdoesmegoodfortherestofthedaywhenImeetanyoftheirpeopleinmypath.WhenIamruffledordisturbedbyanyoccurrence,thesight,orquietvoiceofaQuaker,actsuponmeasaventilator,lighteningtheair,andtakingoffaloadfromthebosom.ButIcannotliketheQuakers(asDesdemonawouldsay)"tolivewiththem."Iamalloversophisticated——withhumours,fancies,cravinghourlysympathy.Imusthavebooks,pictures,theatres,chit-chat,scandal,jokes,ambiguities,andathousandwhim-whams,whichtheirsimplertastecandowithout.Ishouldstarveattheirprimitivebanquet.Myappetitesaretoohighforthesaladswhich(accordingtoEvelyn)Evedressedfortheangel,mygustotooexcited
TositaguestwithDanielathispulse.
TheindirectanswerswhichQuakersareoftenfoundtoreturntoaquestionputtothemmaybeexplained,Ithink,withoutthevulgarassumption,thattheyaremoregiventoevasionandequivocatingthanotherpeople.Theynaturallylooktotheirwordsmorecarefully,andaremorecautiousofmittingthemselves.Theyhaveapeculiarcharactertokeepuponthishead.Theystandinamannerupontheirveracity.AQuakerisbylawexemptedfromtakinganoath.Thecustomofresortingtoanoathinextremecases,sanctifiedasitisbyallreligiousantiquity,isapt(itmustbeconfessed)tointroduceintothelaxersortofmindsthenotionoftwokindsoftruth——theoneapplicabletothesolemnaffairsofjustice,andtheothertothemonproceedingsofdailyintercourse.Astruthboundupontheconsciencebyanoathcanbebuttruth,sointhemonaffirmationsoftheshopandthemarket-placealatitudeisexpected,andconcededuponquestionswantingthissolemncovenant.Somethinglessthantruthsatisfies.Itismontohearapersonsay,"YoudonotexpectmetospeakasifIwereuponmyoath."Henceagreatdealofincorrectnessandinadvertency,shortoffalsehood,creepsintoordinaryconversation;andakindofsecondaryorlaic-truthistolerated,whereclergy-truth——oath-truth,bythenatureofthecircumstances,isnotrequired.AQuakerknowsnoneofthisdistinction.Hissimpleaffirmationbeingreceived,uponthemostsacredoccasions,withoutanyfurthertest,stampsavalueuponthewordswhichheistouseuponthemostindifferenttopicsoflife.Helookstothem,naturally,withmoreseverity.Youcanhaveofhimnomorethanhisword.Heknows,ifheiscaughttrippinginacasualexpression,beforfeits,forhimself,atleast,hisclaimtotheinvidiousexemption.Heknowsthathissyllablesareweighed——andhowfaraconsciousnessofthisparticularwatchfulness,exertedagainstaperson,hasatendencytoproduceindirectanswers,andadivertingofthequestionbyhonestmeans,mightbeillustrated,andthepracticejustified,byamoresacredexamplethanispropertobeadduceduponthisoccasion.Theadmirablepresenceofmind,whichisnotoriousinQuakersuponallcontingencies,mightbetracedtothisimposedself-watchfulness——ifitdidnotseemratheranhumbleandsecularscionofthatoldstockofreligiousconstancy,whichneverbentorfaltered,inthePrimitiveFriends,orgavewaytothewindsofpersecution,totheviolenceofjudgeoraccuser,undertrialsandrackingexaminations."Youwillneverbethewiser,ifIsithereansweringyourquestionstillmidnight,"saidoneofthoseuprightJusticerstoPenn,whohadbeenputtinglaw-caseswithapuzzlingsubtlety."Thereafterastheanswersmaybe,"retortedtheQuaker.Theastonishingposureofthispeopleissometimesludicrouslydisplayedinlighterinstances——Iwastravellinginastage-coachwiththreemaleQuakers,buttonedupinthestraitestnon-conformityoftheirsect.WestoppedtobaitatAndover,whereameal,partlyteaapparatus,partlysupper,wassetbeforeus.Myfriendsconfinedthemselvestothetea-table.Iinmywaytooksupper.Whenthelandladybroughtinthebill,theeldestofmypanionsdiscoveredthatshehadchargedforbothmeals.Thiswasresisted.Minehostesswasveryclamorousandpositive.SomemildargumentswereusedonthepartoftheQuakers,forwhichtheheatedmindofthegoodladyseemedbynomeansafitrecipient.Theguardcameinwithhisusualperemptorynotice.TheQuakerspulledouttheirmoney,andformallytenderedit——somuchfortea——I,inhumbleimitation,tenderingmine——forthesupperwhichIhadtaken.Shewouldnotrelaxinherdemand.Sotheyallthreequietlyputuptheirsilverasdidmyself,andmarchedoutoftheroom,theeldestandgravestgoingfirst,withmyselfclosinguptherear,whothoughtIcouldnotdobetterthanfollowtheexampleofsuchgraveandwarrantablepersonages.Wegotin.Thestepswentup.Thecoachdroveoff.Themurmursofminehostess,notveryindistinctlyorambiguouslypronounced,becameafteratimeinaudible——andnowmyconscience,whichthewhimsicalscenehadforawhilesuspended,beginningtogivesometwitches,Iwaited,inthehopethatsomejustificationwouldbeofferedbytheseseriouspersonsfortheseeminginjusticeoftheirconduct.Tomygreatsurprise,notasyllablewasdroppedonthesubject.Theysateasmuteasatameeting.Atlengththeeldestofthembrokesilence,byinquiringofhisnextneighbour,"HasttheeheardhowindigosgoattheIndiaHouse?"andthequestionoperatedasasoporificonmymoralfeelingasfarasExeter.