Page:Hannah More (1887 Charlotte Mary Yonge British).djvu/120

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
108
HANNAH MORE.

Jack.—"To murder more men in one night than their poor king did in all his life."

Tom.—"And what dost thou take a democrat to be?"

Jack.—"One who likes to be governed by a thousand tyrants and yet can't bear a king."

Tom.—"What is equality?"

Jack.—"For every man to put down everyone that is above him."

Tom.—"What are the rights of man?" (N.B. This was during the Reign of Terror.)

Jack.—"Battle, murder, and sudden death."

Tom.—"What is it to be an enlightened people?"

Jack.—"To put out the light of the Gospel, confound right and wrong, and grope about in pitch darkness."

Hannah published anonymously, and through Rivington, instead of Cadell. In consequence she was inundated with presents and recommendations of "Will Chip," while hundreds of thousands of copies were in circulation. The King was delighted with it, and Bishop Porteous, who was in the secret, wrote this note to Hannah:—

My Dear Mrs. Chip,—I have this moment received your husband's dialogue and it is supremely excellent. I look upon Mr. Chip to be one of the finest writers of the age, this work alone will immortalise him, and, what is better still, I trust it will help to immortalise the Constitution. If the sale is as rapid as the book is good, Mr. Chip will get an immense fortune and completely destroy all equality at