dread
remnants of former felicities, which constituted what was called his
mannerism. Nor must we omit to remark also, that in passages where
higher feeling is called into play, Mr. Dickens's style always rises
into greater purity and vigor, the weakness and the superfluity
disappearing before the concentrating force of passion, and the language
often pouring itself forth in a clear and flowing song. This, in fact,
is according to the nature of the luxuriant or poetical genius, which
never expresses itself in its best or most concise manner unless the
mood be high as well as the meaning clear,--for maintaining the
excellence of the style of a terse and highly reflective writer, such as
Thackeray, on the other hand, the presence of a clear meaning is at all
times sufficient, though, of course, here also the pitch and melody will
depend on the mood....

There is one piece of positive doctrine, however, in which both Pen and
Warrington agree, and of which Mr. Thackeray's writings are decidedly
the exponents in the present day, as Mr. Dickens's are of the doctrine
of kindliness. This doctrine may be called the doctrine of
anti-snobbism. Singular fact! in the great city of London, where higher
and more ancient faiths seem to have all but perished, and where men
bustle in myriads, scarce restrained by any spiritual law, there has
arisen of late years, as there arose in Mecca of old, a native form of
ethical belief, by which its inhabitants are tried and try each other.
"Thou shall not be a snob;" such is the first principle at present of
Cockney ethics. And observe how much real sincerity there is in this
principle, how it really addresses itself to facts, and only to facts,
known and admitted. It is not the major morals of human nature, but what
are called the minor morals of society, and these chiefly in their
aesthetic aspect, as modes of pleasant breeding, that the Cockney system
of ethics recognizes. Its maxims and commands are not "Thou shalt do no
wrong," "Thou shalt have no other gods before me," "Thou shalt not
covet,"--but, "Thou shalt pronounce thy H's," "Thou shalt not abuse
waiters as if they were dogs," "Thou shalt not falsely make a boast of
dining with peers and members of Parliament." He who offends in these
respects is a snob. Thus, at least, the Cockney moralist professes no
more than he really believes. The real species of moral evil recognized
in London, the real kind of offence which the moral sentiment