iancourt, and La Rochefoucault; the liberal Anglomaniac
Dukes. There is a filially pious Lally; a couple of liberal Lameths.
Above all, there is a Lafayette; whose name shall be Cromwell-Grandison,
and fill the world. Many a 'formula' has this Lafayette too made away
with; yet not all formulas. He sticks by the Washington-formula; and by
that he will stick;--and hang by it, as by sure bower-anchor hangs and
swings the tight war-ship, which, after all changes of wildest weather
and water, is found still hanging. Happy for him; be it glorious or not!
Alone of all Frenchmen he has a theory of the world, and right mind to
conform thereto; he can become a hero and perfect character, were it
but the hero of one idea. Note further our old Parlementary
friend, Crispin-Catiline d'Espremenil. He is returned from the
Mediterranean Islands, a redhot royalist, repentant to the
finger-ends;--unsettled-looking; whose light, dusky-glowing at best, now
flickers foul in the socket; whom the National Assembly will by and by,
to save time, 'regard as in a state of distraction.' Note lastly that
globular Younger Mirabeau; indignant that his elder Brother is among the
Commons: it is Viscomte Mirabeau; named oftener Mirabeau Tonneau (Barrel
Mirabeau), on account of his rotundity, and the quantities of strong
liquor he contains.

There then walks our French Noblesse. All in the old pomp of chivalry:
and yet, alas, how changed from the old position; drifted far down from
their native latitude, like Arctic icebergs got into the Equatorial sea,
and fast thawing there! Once these Chivalry Duces (Dukes, as they
are still named) did actually lead the world,--were it only towards
battle-spoil, where lay the world's best wages then: moreover, being the
ablest Leaders going, they had their lion's share, those Duces;
which none could grudge them. But now, when so many Looms, improved
Ploughshares, Steam-Engines and Bills of Exchange have been invented;
and, for battle-brawling itself, men hire Drill-Sergeants at
eighteen-pence a-day,--what mean these goldmantled Chivalry Figures,
walking there 'in black-velvet cloaks,' in high-plumed 'hats of a feudal
cut'? Reeds shaken in the wind!

The Clergy have got up; with Cahiers for abolishing pluralities,
enforcing residence of bishops, better payment of tithes. (Hist. Parl.
i. 322-27.) The Dignitaries, we can observe, walk stately, apart from
the numerous Undignified,--who indeed are properly little other tha