What they aimed
at was promotion in their order; and promotion to the highest
class. They observed that more than one of the other great
"civil and religious liberty" families,--the families who in
one century plundered the church to gain the property of the
people, and in another century changed the dynasty to gain the
power of the crown,--had their brows circled with the
strawberry leaf. And why should not this distinction be the
high lot also of the descendants of the old gentleman usher of
one of King Henry's plundering vicar-generals? Why not? True
it is, that a grateful sovereign in our days has deemed such
distinction the only reward for half a hundred victories.
True it is, that Nelson, after conquering the Mediterranean,
died only a Viscount! But the house of Marney had risen to
high rank; counted themselves ancient nobility; and turned up
their noses at the Pratts and the Smiths, the Jenkinsons and
the Robinsons of our degenerate days; and never had done
anything for the nation or for their honours. And why should
they now? It was unreasonable to expect it. Civil and
religious liberty, that had given them a broad estate and a
glittering coronet, to say nothing of half-a-dozen close seats
in parliament, ought clearly to make them dukes.
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