THE TOURIST AND THE TUTOR
Andrews's "Letters to a Young Gentleman":[1] "In order to render yourself acceptable to French companies, you must assume something of their manners and endeavor to put on some appearance of their vivacity. Their chief complaint respecting us is a defect of liveliness and a taciturnity which they suspect sometimes of being rather affected. … In the mean time, that you may fill your place with propriety in French companies, furnish your memory with as many anecdotes as you can procure concerning the people of high rank and fashion in England."
In the thirty years just preceding the French Revolution, Englishmen of high birth or distinguished for achievement of some sort had as a rule only to decide which social invitations to refuse. In Lady Mary Wortley Montagu's day, however, — if we may trust her sweeping generalization, — the English had won no marked social recognition in Italy, though perhaps they had had as much as they cared for. She says: "To say truth, they (Mr. Mackenzie and Lord Bristol) are the only young men I have seen abroad, that have found the secret of introducing themselves into the best company. All the others now living here (however dignified and distinguished) by herding together and throwing away their money on worthless objects, have only acquired the glorious title of Golden Asses; and since the birth of the Italian drama, Goldoni has adorned his scenes with gli Milordi Inglesi, in the same manner as Molière represented his Parisian marquises."[2]
Dr. Moore sums up the whole case in some very sensible remarks, which without much question contain a large amount of truth:—
"Of all travellers, the young English nobility and gentry have the least right to find fault with their entertainment, while on their tours abroad; for such of them as show a desire of forming a connexion with the inhabitants, by even a moderate degree of attention, are received upon easier terms than the travellers from any other country. But a very considerable number of our countrymen have not the smallest desire of that nature: They seem rather
133
