Russia in 1839 -Empire of the Czar: A Journey Through Eternal Russia

has ceased also. It is this of which the English are ignorant."

" It is true," I answered, " that though still preserving much feudal pride, they have lost the spirit of feudal institutions. In England, chivalry has ceded to industry, which has readily consented to take Tip its abode in a baronial constitution, on condition that the ancient privileges attached to names should be placed within reach of newly founded families.

" By this social revolution, the result of a succession of political changes, hereditary rights are no longer attached to a class, but are transferred to individuals, to offices, and to estates. Formerly the warrior ennobled the land that he won ; now it is the possession of the land which constitutes the noble; and what is called a nobility in England, appears to me to be nothing more than a class that is rich enough to pay for wearing a certain dress. This monied aristoeracv differs, no doubt, very greatly from the aristocracy of blood. Rank that has been bought, is an evidence of the intelligence and activity of the man ; rank that has been inherited is an evidence of the favour of Providence. *

" The confusion of ideas respecting the two kinds of aristocracy, that of money and that of birth, is such in England, that the descendants of a family, whose name belongs to the history of the country, if they happen to be poor and are without title, will tell you

they are not noble; while my Lord(grandson of

a tailor), forms, as member of the house of peers, a part of the high aristocracy of the land."

* Atteste la faveur de la Providence