—— Ipse per omnes
Ibit personas, & turbam reddet in unam1
Written in Ireland in the Year 1728
THE Players having now almost done with the Comedy called the Beggar’s Opera, for the Season; it may be no unpleasant Speculation, to reflect a little upon this Dramatick Piece, so singular in the Subject and Manner, so much an Original, and which hath frequently given so very agreeable an Entertainment.
ALTHOUGH an evil Taste be very apt to prevail, both here and in London; yet there is a Point which whoever can rightly touch, will never fail of pleasing a very great Majority; so great, that the Dislikers, out of Dulness or Affectation, will be silent, and forced to fall in with the Herd: The Point I mean, is what we call Humour; which, in its Perfection, is allowed to be much preferable to Wit; if it be not rather the most useful, and agreeable Species of it.2
I AGREE with Sir William Temple, that the Word is peculiar to our English Tongue; but I differ from him in the Opinion, that the Thing it self is peculiar to the English Nation, because the contrary may be found in many Spanish, Italian, and French Productions: And particularly, whoever hath a Taste for true Humour, will find an Hundred Instances of it, in those Volumes printed in France, under the Name of Le Theatre Italien: To say nothing of Rabelais, Cervantes, and many others.3
NOW I take the Comedy, or Farce, (or whatever Name the Criticks will allow it) called the Beggar’s Opera, to excel in this Article of Humour; and upon that Merit to have met with such prodigious Success, both here and in England.
AS to Poetry, Eloquence, and Musick, which are said to have most Power over the Minds of Men; it is certain, that very few have a Taste or Judgment of the Excellencies of the two former; and if a Man succeed in either, it is upon the Authority of those few Judges, that lend their Taste to the Bulk of Readers, who have none of their own. I am told, there are as few good Judges in Musick; and that among those who crowd the Opera’s, Nine in Ten go thither merely out of Curiosity, Fashion, or Affectation.
BUT a Taste for Humour, is in some Manner fixed to the very Nature of Man, and generally obvious to the Vulgar, except upon Subjects too refined, and superior to their Understanding.
AND, as this Taste of Humour is purely natural, so is Humour it self; neither is it a Talent confined to Men of Wit, or Learning; for we observe it sometimes among common Servants, and the meanest of the People, while the very Owners are often ignorant of the Gift they possess.4
I KNOW very well, that this happy Talent is contemptibly treated by Criticks, under the Name of low Humour, or low Comedy; but I know likewise, that the Spaniards and Italians, who are allowed to have the most Wit of any Nation in Europe, do most excel in it, and do most esteem it.
BY what Disposition of the Mind, what Influence of the Stars, or what Situation of the Climate, this Endowment is bestowed upon Mankind, may be a Question fit for Philosophers to discuss. It is certainly the best Ingredient towards that Kind of Satyr, which is most useful, and gives the least Offence; which, instead of lashing, laughs Men out of their Follies, and Vices; and is the Character that gives Horace the Preference to Juvenal.5
AND, although some Things are too serious, solemn, or sacred to be turned into Ridicule, yet the Abuses of them are certainly not; since it is allowed, that Corruptions in Religion, Politicks, and Law, may be proper Topicks for this Kind of Satyr.6
THERE are two Ends that Men propose in writing Satyr; one of them less noble than the other, as regarding nothing further than the private Satisfaction, and Pleasure of the Writer; but without any View towards personal Malice: The other is a publick Spirit, prompting Men of Genius and Virtue, to mend the World as far as they are able. And as both these Ends are innocent, so the latter is highly commendable.7 With regard to the former, I demand, whether I have not as good a Title to laugh, as Men have to be ridiculous; and to expose Vice, as another hath to be vicious. If I ridicule the Follies and Corruptions of a Court, a Ministry, or a Senate, are they not amply paid by Pensions, Titles, and Power; while I expect, and desire, no other Reward, than that of laughing with a few Friends in a Corner? Yet, if those who take Offence, think me in the Wrong, I am ready to change the Scene with them, whenever they please.
BUT, if my Design be to make Mankind better; then I think it is my Duty; at least, I am sure it is the Interest of those very Courts and Ministers, whose Follies or Vices I ridicule, to reward me for my good Intentions: For if it be reckoned a high Point of Wisdom to get the Laughers on our Side; it is much more easy, as well as wise, to get those on our Side, who can make Millions laugh when they please.
MY Reason for mentioning Courts, and Ministers, (whom I never think on, but with the most profound Veneration) is, because an Opinion obtains, that in the Beggar’s Opera, there appears to be some Reflection upon Courtiers and Statesmen, whereof I am by no Means a Judge.
IT is true, indeed, that Mr. GAY, the Author of this Piece, hath been somewhat singular in the Course of his Fortunes; for it hath happened, that after Fourteen Years attending the Court, with a large Stock of real Merit, a modest and agreeable Conversation, a Hundred Promises, and five Hundred Friends, he hath failed of Preferment; and upon a very weighty Reason. He lay under the Suspicion of having written a Libel, or Lampoon against a great Minister.8 It is true, that great Minister was demonstratively convinced, and publickly owned his Conviction, that Mr. GAY was not the Author; but having lain under the Suspicion, it seemed very just, that he should suffer the Punishment; because in this most reformed Age, the Virtues of a Prime Minister are no more to be suspected, than the Chastity of Cæsar’s Wife.9
IT must be allowed, That the Beggar’s Opera is not the first of Mr. GAY’s Works, wherein he hath been faulty, with Regard to Courtiers and Statesmen. For to omit his other Pieces; even in his Fables, published within two Years past, and dedicated to the Duke of CUMBERLAND, for which he was promised a Reward, he hath been thought somewhat too bold upon the Courtiers.10 And although it be highly probable, he meant only the Courtiers of former Times, yet he acted unwarily, by not considering that the Malignity of some People might misinterpret what he said, to the Disadvantage of present Persons and Affairs.
BUT I have now done with Mr. GAY as a Politician; and shall consider him henceforward only as Author of the Beggar’s Opera, wherein he hath by a Turn of Humour, intirely new, placed Vices of all Kinds in the strongest and most odious Light; and thereby, done eminent Service, both to Religion and Morality. This appears from the unparallelled Success he hath met with. All Ranks, Parties, and Denominations of Men, either crowding to see his Opera, or reading it with Delight in their Closets; even Ministers of State, whom he is thought to have most offended (next to those whom the Actors represent) appearing frequently at the Theatre, from a Consciousness of their own Innocence, and to convince the World how unjust a Parallel, Malice, Envy and Disaffection to the Government have made.11
I AM assured that several worthy Clergy-Men in this City, went privately to see the Beggars Opera represented; and that the fleering Coxcombs in the Pit, amused themselves with making Discoveries, and spreading the Names of those Gentlemen round the Audience.
I SHALL not pretend to vindicate a Clergy-Man, who would appear openly in his Habit at a Theatre, with such a vicious Crew, as might probably stand round him, at such Comedies, and profane Tragedies as are often represented. Besides, I know very well, that Persons of their Function are bound to avoid the Appearance of Evil, or of giving Cause of Offence. But when the Lords Chancellors, who are Keepers of the King’s Conscience; when the Judges of the Land, whose Title is Reverend; when Ladies, who are bound by the Rules of their Sex to the strictest Decency, appear in the Theatre without Censure; I cannot understand, why a young Clergy-Man, who comes concealed, out of Curiosity to see an innocent and moral Play, should be so highly condemned: Nor do I much approve the Rigour of a great Prelate, who said, he hoped none of his Clergy were there. I am glad to hear there are no weightier Objections against that Reverend Body planted in this City, and I wish there never may. But I should be very sorry, that any of them should be so weak, as to imitate a Court-Chaplain in ENGLAND, who preached against the Beggar’s Opera; which will probably do more Good, than a thousand Sermons of so stupid, so injudicious, and so prostitute a Divine.12
IN this happy Performance of Mr. GAY’s, all the Characters are just, and none of them carried beyond Nature, or hardly beyond Practice. It discovers the whole System of that Common-Wealth, or that Imperium in Imperio of Iniquity, established among us, by which neither our Lives nor our Properties are secure, either in the High-ways, or in publick Assemblies, or even in our own Houses.13 It shews the miserable Lives and the constant Fate of those abandoned Wretches: For how little they sell their Lives and Souls; betrayed by their Whores, their Comrades, and the Receivers and Purchasers of those Thefts and Robberies. This Comedy contains likewise a Satyr, which, without enquiring whether it affects the present Age, may possibly be useful in Times to come. I mean, where the Author takes the Occasion of comparing those common Robbers of the Publick, and their several Stratagems of betraying, undermining and hanging each other, to the several Arts of Politicians in Times of Corruption.
THIS Comedy likewise exposeth with great Justice, that unnatural Taste for Italian Musick among us, which is wholly unsuitable to our Northern Climate, and the Genius of the People, whereby we are over-run with Italian Effeminacy, and Italian Nonsense.14 An old Gentleman said to me, that many Years ago, when the Practice of an unnatural Vice grew frequent in London, and many were prosecuted for it, he was sure it would be the Fore-runner of Italian Opera’s and Singers; and then we should want nothing but Stabbing or Poisoning, to make us perfect Italians.15
UPON the whole, I deliver my Judgment, That nothing but servile Attachment to a Party, Affectation of Singularity, lamentable Dullness, mistaken Zeal, or studied Hypocrisy, can have the least reasonable Objection against this excellent moral Performance of the Celebrated Mr. GAY.
FROM frequently reflecting upon the Course and Method of educating Youth in this and a neighbouring Kingdom, with the general Success and Consequence thereof, I am come to this Determination; That, Education is always the worse in Proportion to the Wealth and Grandeur of the Parents: Nor do I doubt in the least, that if the whole World were now under the Dominion of one Monarch, (provided I might be allowed to chuse where he should fix the Seat of his Empire) the only Son and Heir of that Monarch, would be the worst educated Mortal that ever was born since the Creation: And I doubt, the same Proportion will hold through all Degrees and Titles, from an Emperor downwards, to the common Gentry.
I DO not say, that this hath been always the Case; for in better Times it was directly otherwise; and a Scholar may fill half his Greek and Roman Shelves with Authors of the noblest Birth, as well as highest Virtue. Nor, do I tax all Nations at present with this Defect; for I know there are some to be excepted, and particularly Scotland, under all the Disadvantages of its Climate and Soil; if that Happiness be not rather owing even to those very Disadvantages. What is then to be done, if this Reflection must fix on two Countries, which will be most ready to take Offence, and which of all others it will be least prudent or safe to offend?
BUT there is one Circumstance yet more dangerous and lamentable: For if, according to the Postulatum already laid down, the higher Quality any Youth is of, he is in greater Likelihood to be worse educated; it behoves me to dread, and keep far from the Verge of Scandalum Magnatum.1
RETRACTING therefore that hazardous Postulatum; I shall venture no further at present, than to say, that perhaps some Care in educating the Sons of Nobility and principal Gentry, might not be ill employed. If this be not delivered with Softness enough, I must for the future be silent.
IN the mean Time, let me ask only two Questions, which relate to England. I ask first, how it comes about, that for above sixty Years past, the chief Conduct of Affairs hath been generally placed in New-men, with few Exceptions?2 The noblest Blood of England having been shed in the grand Rebellion,3 many great Families became extinct, or supplied by Minors. When the King was restored, very few of those Lords remained, who began, or at least had improved their Education, under the happy Reign of King James, or King Charles I. of which Lords the two principal were the Marquis of Ormond, and the Earl of Southampton.4 The Minors having, during the Rebellion and Usurpation, either received too much Tincture of bad Principles from those fanatick Times; or coming to Age at the Restoration, fell into the Vices of that dissolute Reign.5
I DATE from this Æra, the corrupt Method of Education among us, and the Consequence thereof, in the Necessity the Crown lay under of introducing New-men into the highest Employments of State, or to the Office of what we now call Prime Ministers; Men of Art, Knowledge, Application and Insinuation, merely for Want of a Supply among the Nobility. They were generally (though not always) of good Birth, sometimes younger Brothers; at other times such, who although inheriting ample Fortunes, yet happened to be well educated, and provided with Learning. Such under that King, were Hyde, Bridgeman, Clifford, Osborn, Godolphin, Ashley-Cooper:6 Few or none under the short Reign of King James II. Under King William; Sommers, Montague, Churchil, Vernon, Harry Boyle, and many others. Under the Queen; Harley, St. John, Harcourt, Trevor, who indeed were Persons of the best private Families, but unadorned with Titles. So in the last Reign, Mr. Robert Walpole, was for many Years Prime Minister, in which Post he still HAPPILY continues: His Brother Horace is Ambassador Extraordinary to France. Mr. Addison and Mr. Craggs, without the least Alliance to support them, have been Secretaries of State.7
IF the Facts have been thus for above sixty Years past, (whereof I could, with a little further Recollection, produce many more Instances) I would ask again, how it hath happened, that in a Nation plentifully abounding with Nobility, so great a Share in the most important Parts of publick Management, hath been for so long a Period chiefly intrusted to Commoners; unless some Omissions or Defects of the highest Import, may be charged upon those, to whom the Care of educating our noble Youth hath been committed? For, if there be any Difference between human Creatures in the Point of natural Parts, as we usually call them; it should seem, that the Advantage lies on the Side of Children born from noble wealthy Parents; the same traditional Sloth and Luxury, which render their Body weak and effeminate, perhaps refining and giving a freer Motion to the Spirits, beyond what can be expected from the gross, robust Issue of meaner Mortals. Add to this, the peculiar Advantages, which all young Noblemen possess, by the Privileges of their Birth; such as a free Access to Courts, and a Deference paid to their Persons.
BUT as my Lord Bacon chargeth it for a Fault on Princes, that they are impatient to compass Ends, without giving themselves the Trouble of consulting or executing the Means:8 So perhaps it may be the Disposition of young Nobles, either from the Indulgence of Parents, Tutors and Governors, or their own Inactivity, that they expect the Accomplishments of a good Education, without the least Expence of Time or Study, to acquire them.
WHAT I said last, I am ready to retract. For the Case is infinitely worse; and the very Maxims set up to direct modern Education, are enough to destroy all the Seeds of Knowledge, Honour, Wisdom and Virtue among us. The current Opinion prevails, that the Study of Greek and Latin is Loss of Time; that the publick Schools by mingling the Sons of Noblemen with those of the Vulgar, engage the former in bad Company; that Whipping breaks the Spirits of Lads well born; that Universities make young Men Pedants; that to dance, fence, speak French, and know how to behave your self among great Persons of both Sexes, comprehends the whole Duty of a Gentleman.9
I CANNOT but think this wise System of Education, hath been much cultivated among us by those Worthies of the Army, who during the last War, returning from Flanders at the Close of each Campaign, became the Dictators of Behaviour, Dress, and Politeness, to all those Youngsters, who frequent Chocolate-Coffee-Gaming-Houses, Drawing-Rooms, Opera’s, Levees and Assemblies; where a Colonel, by his Pay, Perquisites, and Plunder, was qualified to out-shine many Peers of the Realm; and by the Influence of an exotick Habit and Demeanor, added to other foreign Accomplishments, gave the Law to the whole Town; and was copied as the Standard-Pattern of whatever was refined in Dress, Equipage, Conversation, or Diversions.10
I REMEMBER in those Times, an admired Original of that Vocation, sitting in a Coffee-House near two Gentlemen, whereof one was of the Clergy, who were engaged in some Discourse that savoured of Learning; this Officer thought fit to interpose; and professing to deliver the Sentiments of his Fraternity, as well as his own, (and probably did so of too many among them) turning to the Clergy-Man, spoke in the following Manner. D—n me, Doctor, say what you will, the Army is the only School for Gentlemen. Do you think my Lord Marlborough beat the French with Greek and Latin. D—n me, a Scholar when he comes into good Company, what is he but an Ass? D—n me, I would be be glad, by G—d, to see any of your Scholars with his Nouns, and his Verbs, and his Philosophy, and Trigonometry, what a Figure he would make at a Siege or Blockade, or reconoitring —— D—n me, &c.11 After which he proceeded with a Volley of Military Terms, less significant, sounding worse, and harder to be understood than any that were ever coined by the Commentators upon Aristotle. I would not here be thought to charge the Soldiery with Ignorance and Contempt of Learning, without allowing Exceptions, of which I have known a few: But however, the worse Example, especially in a great Majority, will certainly prevail.
I HAVE heard, that the late Earl of Oxford, in the Time of his Ministry, never passed by White’s Chocolate-House (the common Rendezvous of infamous Sharpers, and noble Cullies) without bestowing a Curse upon that famous Academy, as the Bane of half the English Nobility.12 I have likewise been told another Passage concerning that great Minister; which, because it gives a humorous Idea of one principal Ingredient in modern Education, take as followeth. Le Sac, the famous French Dancing-Master, in great Admiration, asked a Friend, whether it were true, that Mr. Harley was made an Earl and Lord-Treasurer? And finding it confirmed, said, Well, I wonder what the Devil the Queen could see in him; for I attended him two Years, and he was the greatest Dunce that ever I taught.13
ANOTHER Hindrance to good Education, and I think the greatest of any; is that pernicious Custom in rich and noble Families, of entertaining French Tutors in their Houses. These wretched Pedagogues are enjoyned by the Father, to take special Care that the Boy shall be perfect in his French; by the Mother, that Master must not walk till he is hot, nor be suffered to play with other Boys, nor be wet in his Feet, nor daub his Cloaths: And to see that the Dancing-Master attends constantly, and does his Duty: She further insists that the Child be not kept too long poring on his Book, because he is subject to sore Eyes, and of a weakly Constitution.
By these Methods, the young Gentleman is in every Article as fully accomplished at eight Years old, as at eight and twenty; Age adding only to the Growth of his Person and his Vices; so that if you should look at him in his Boyhood through the magnifying End of a Perspective, and in his Manhood through the other, it would be impossible to spy any Difference; the same Airs, the same Strut, the same Cock of his Hat, and the Posture of his Sword, (as far as the Changes of Fashions will allow) the same Understanding, the same Compass of Knowledge, with the very same Absurdity, Impudence, and Impertinence of Tongue.
HE is taught from the Nursery, that he must inherit a great Estate, and hath no Need to mind his Book; which is a Lesson he never forgets to the End of his Life. His chief Solace is to steal down, and play at Span-Farthing with the Page, or young Black-a-moore, or little favourite Foot-boy; one of which is his principal Confident and Bosom-Friend.14
THERE is one young Lord in this Town, who by an unexampled Piece of good Fortune, was miraculously snatched out of the Gulph of Ignorance; confined to a publick School for a due Term of Years; well whipped when he deserved it; clad no better than his Comrades, and always their Play-fellow on the same Foot; had no Precedence in the School, but what was given him by his Merit, and lost it whenever he was negligent.15 It is well known how many Mutinies were bred at this unprecedented Treatment; what Complaints among his Relations, and other Great Ones of both Sexes; that his Stockings with Silver Clocks16 were ravished from him; that he wore his own Hair; that his Dress was undistinguished; that he was not fit to appear at a Ball or Assembly, nor suffered to go to either: And it was with the utmost Difficulty, that he became qualified for his present Removal to the University; where he may probably be farther persecuted, and possibly with Success, if the Firmness of a Governor, and his own good Dispositions will not preserve him. I confess, I cannot but wish he may go on in the Way he began; because, I have a Curiosity to know by so singular an Experiment, whether Truth, Honour, Justice, Temperance, Courage, and good Sense, acquired by a School and College Education, may not produce a very tolerable Lad; although he should happen to fail in one or two of those Accomplishments, which in the general Vogue are held so important to the finishing of a Gentleman.
IT is true, I have known an Academical Education to have been exploded in publick Assemblies; and have heard more than one or two Persons of high Rank declare, they could learn nothing more at Oxford and Cambridge, than to drink Ale, and smoke Tobacco; wherein I firmly believed them, and could have added some Hundred Examples from my own Observation in one of those Universities:17 But they all were of young Heirs sent thither only for Form; either from Schools, where they were not suffered by their careful Parents to stay above three Months in the Year; or from under the Management of French Family-Tutors, who yet often attended them in their College, to prevent all Possibility of their Improvement: But, I never yet knew any one Person of Quality, who followed his Studies at the University, and carried away his just Proportion of Learning, who was not ready upon all Occasions to celebrate and defend that Course of Education, and to prove a Patron of learned Men.
THERE is one Circumstance in a learned Education, which ought to have much Weight, even with those who have no Learning at all. The Books read at Schools and Colleges, are full of Incitements to Virtue, and Discouragements from Vice, drawn from the wisest Reasons, the strongest Motives, and the most influencing Examples. Thus, young Minds are filled early with an Inclination to Good, and an Abhorrence of Evil, both which increase in them, according to the Advances they make in Literature: And, although they may be, and too often are, drawn by the Temptations of Youth, and the Opportunities of a large Fortune, into some Irregularities, when they come forward into the great World; it is ever with Reluctance and Compunction of Mind, because their Byass to Virtue still continues. They may stray sometimes by Infirmity or Complyance, but they will soon return to the right Road, and keep it always in view. I speak only of those Excesses, which are too much the Attendants of Youth and warmer Blood: But, as to the Points of Honour, Truth, Justice, and other noble Gifts of the Mind, wherein the Temperature of the Body hath no Concern, they are seldom or never known to be misled.
I HAVE engaged my self very unwarily in too copious a Subject for so short a Paper. The present Scope I would aim at, is to prove, that some Proportion of human Knowledge appears requisite to those, who, by their Birth or Fortune, are called to the making of Laws, and in a subordinate Way to the Execution of them; and that such Knowledge is not to be obtained without a Miracle; under the frequent, corrupt, and sottish Methods of educating those, who are born to Wealth or Titles. For, I would have it remembered, that I do by no Means confine these Remarks to young Persons of noble Birth; the same Errors running through all Families, where there is Wealth enough to afford, that their Sons (at least the Eldest) may be good for nothing. Why should my Son be a Scholar, when it is not intended that he should live by his Learning? By this Rule, if what is commonly said be true, that Money answereth all Things,18 why should my Son be honest, temperate, just, or charitable, since he hath no Intention to depend upon any of these Qualities for a Maintenance?
WHEN all is done, perhaps upon the whole, the Matter is not so bad as I would make it: And GOD, who worketh Good out of Evil, acting only by the ordinary Course and Rule of Nature, permits this continual Circulation of human Things for his own unsearchable Ends. The Father grows rich by Avarice, Injustice, Oppression; he is a Tyrant in the Neighbourhood over Slaves and Beggars, whom he calleth his Tenants. Why should he desire to have Qualities infused into his Son, which himself never possessed, or knew, or found the Want of in the Acquisition of his Wealth? The Son bred in Sloth and Idleness, becomes a Spendthrift, a Cully, a Profligate; and goes out of the World a Beggar, as his Father came in: Thus the former is punished for his own Sins, as well as for those of the latter. The Dunghil having raised a huge Mushroom of short Duration, is now spread to enrich other Mens Lands. It is, indeed, of worse Consequence, where noble Families are gone to Decay; because their Titles and Privileges outlive their Estates: And, Politicians tell us, that nothing is more dangerous to the Publick, than a numerous Nobility without Merit or Fortune. But even here, GOD hath likewise prescribed some Remedy in the Order of Nature; so many great Families coming to an End by their Sloth, Luxury, and abandoned Lusts, which enervated their Breed through every Succession, producing gradually a more effeminate Race, wholly unfit for Propagation.