Note 24 — HINTS TO PURCHASERS OF HORSES.
Reading edition
To tell the Reader exactly what class of persons was meant to be designated by the word
Gentleman
, in the year 1757, would be as difficult a task as to define it now. The last time we heard it, was on visiting a Stable to look at a Horse, when, on inquiring for the Coachman, his Stable Keeper replied, “He is just stepped to the Public House along with another Gentleman.”
The following is the Negro’s definition of a Gentleman:—“Massa make de black Man workee—make de Horse workee—make de Ox workee—make every ting workee, only de Hog: he, de Hog, no workee; he eat, he drink, he walk about, he go to sleep when he please, he liff like a Gentleman.”—European Mag. January, 1811, p. 17.
I have never forgotten Sir Richard Steele’s Observation, which struck my mind with happy force in my boyish days:—“A Christian and a Gentleman are become inconsistent Appellations of the same person. You cannot expect Eternal Life, if you do not forgive Injuries: the Weak and the Wicked will do their utmost to make your Mortal Life uncomfortable, if you are not ready to commit a Murder in Resentment for an Affront.”—From No. 20 of the Guardian.
Sir Richard has very properly applied to the Duellist what Dr. South has said of the Liar: “He is a Coward to Man, and a Bravo to God!”
The most ridiculous circumstance respecting Duelling, is, that the Man who has suffered the Injury must submit himself to the same Peril with him who inflicted it, so that the Punishment is entirely accidental, and as likely to fall upon the Innocent as the Guilty.