and meretricious prude. The means employed to gain this worthless prize corresponds exactly with its worthlessness. Sir Fulke Hildebrand is a strenuous Tory, Alexy, on his arrival in England professes himself inclined to the principles of the Whig party, finding that the Baronet had sworn that his daughter should never marry a Whig, he sacrifices his principles and with inconceivable effrontery thus palliates his apostasy and falsehood.
"The prejudices of the Baronet were strong in proportion as
they were irrational. I resolved rather to humour than to thwart
them. I contrived to be invited to dine in company with him;
I always proposed the health of the minister, I introduced
politics and defended the Tory party in long speeches, I attended
clubs and public dinners of that interest. I do not know whether
this conduct was justifiable; it may certainly be excused when
the circumstances of my case are duly considered. I would tear
myself in pieces if I suspected that I could be guilty of the
slightest falsehood or prevarication; (see Lord Chesterfield's
Letters for the courtier-like distinction between simulation and
dissimulation,) but there was nothing of that sort here. I was
of no party, consequently, I could not be accused of deserting
any one. I did not defend the injustice of any body of men, I
did not detract from the merits of any virtuous character. I
praised what was laudable in the Tory party, and blamed what
was reprehensible in the Whigs: I was silent with regard to
whatever was culpable in the former or praiseworthy in the
latter. The stratagem was innocent which injured no one, and
which promoted the happiness of two individuals, especially of
the most amiable woman the world ever knew."
An instance of more deplorable perversity of the human
understanding we do not recollect ever to have witnessed.
It almost persuades us to believe that scepticism or indifference
concerning certain sacred truths may occasionally
produce a subtlety of sophism, by which the
conscience of the criminal may be bribed to overlook
his crime.
Towards the conclusion of this strange and powerful performance it must be confessed that aliquando bonus
