Your self-made man, whittled into shape with his own jack-knife, deserves more credit, if that is all, than the regular engine-turned article, shaped by the most approved pattern, and French-polished by society and travel.But as to saying that one is every way the equal of the other, that is another matter.The right of strict social discrimination of all things and persons, according to their merits, native or acquired, is one of the most precious republican privileges.I take the liberty to exercise it, when Isay, that, OTHER THINGS BEING EQUAL, in most relations of life Iprefer a man of family.
What do I mean by a man of family? - O, I'll give you a general idea of what I mean.Let us give him a first-rate fit out; it costs us nothing.
Four or five generations of gentlemen and gentlewomen; among them a member of his Majesty's Council for the Province, a Governor or so, one or two Doctors of Divinity, a member of Congress, not later than the time of top-boots with tassels.
Family portraits.The member of the Council, by Smibert.The great merchant-uncle, by Copley, full length, sitting in his arm-chair, in a velvet cap and flowered robe, with a globe by him, to show the range of his commercial transactions, and letters with large red seals lying round, one directed conspicuously to The Honourable etc.etc.Great-grandmother, by the same artist; brown satin, lace very fine, hands superlative; grand old lady, stiffish, but imposing.Her mother, artist unknown; flat, angular, hanging sleeves; parrot on fist.A pair of Stuarts, viz., 1.A superb full-blown, mediaeval gentleman, with a fiery dash of Tory blood in his veins, tempered down with that of a fine old rebel grandmother, and warmed up with the best of old India Madeira; his face is one flame of ruddy sunshine; his ruffled shirt rushes out of his bosom with an impetuous generosity, as if it would drag his heart after it; and his smile is good for twenty thousand dollars to the Hospital, besides ample bequests to all relatives and dependants.
2.Lady of the same; remarkable cap; high waist, as in time of Empire; bust A LA JOSEPHINE; wisps of curls, like celery-tips, at sides of forehead; complexion clear and warm, like rose-cordial.
As for the miniatures by Malbone, we don't count them in the gallery.
Books, too, with the names of old college-students in them, -family names; - you will find them at the head of their respective classes in the days when students took rank on the catalogue from their parents' condition.Elzevirs, with the Latinized appellations of youthful progenitors, and HIC LIBER EST MEUS on the title-page.A set of Hogarth's original plates.Pope, original edition, 15 volumes, London, 1717.Barrow on the lower shelves, in folio.Tillotson on the upper, in a little dark platoon of octo-decimos.
Some family silver; a string of wedding and funeral rings; the arms of the family curiously blazoned; the same in worsted, by a maiden aunt.
If the man of family has an old place to keep these things in, furnished with claw-footed chairs and black mahogany tables, and tall bevel-edged mirrors, and stately upright cabinets, his outfit is complete.
