Sydney Smith, Volume 1 |
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A. C. BENSON Abraham admirable Ainger Archbishop Archbishop of Canterbury attack believe Bill Bishop called Canon Canterbury Cathedral Catholic Question Christian clergy clergyman Combe Florey common criticism curate death dinner duty Edinburgh Review emancipation English evil feel folly Foston France G. K. CHESTERTON gentleman George give Government happy heart honour House human Ireland Irish Jeffrey jokes justice King Lady Holland lectures Letters liberal live London look Lord Grey Lord John Russell Macaulay mankind mind Ministers Moral Philosophy Netheravon never oath opinions Oxford parish Parliament Paul's peace persecution Peter Plymley political preached present profession Protestant Rector Reform religion religious Roman Catholics sense sermon Sir LESLIE STEPHEN Spencer Perceval spirit Stuart Reid Sydney Smith Sydney Smith wrote Taunton thing thought tion truth Whig writing young
Popular passages
Page 225 - Jonathan what are the inevitable consequences of being too fond of glory ; — taxes upon every article which enters into the mouth, or covers the back, or is placed under the foot — taxes upon everything which it is pleasant to see, hear, feel, smell, or taste— taxes upon warmth, light, and locomotion — taxes on everything on earth, and the waters under the earth...
Page 225 - The schoolboy whips his taxed top; the beardless youth manages his taxed horse, with a taxed bridle, on a taxed road ; and the dying Englishman, pouring his medicine, which has paid...
Page 201 - For God's sake do not drag me into another war. I am worn down and worn out with crusading, and defending Europe and protecting mankind ; I must think a little of myself. I am sorry for the Spaniards ; I am sorry for the Greeks ; I deplore the fate of the Jews ; the people of the Sandwich Islands are groaning under the most detestable tyranny ; Bagdad is oppressed ; I do not like the present state of the Delta ; Thibet is not comfortable.
Page 226 - What would our ancestors say to this, sir ? How does this measure tally with their institutions ? How does it agree with their experience ? Are we to put the wisdom of yesterday in competition with the wisdom of centuries ? (Hear, hear!) Is beardless youth to show no respect for the decisions of mature age ? (Loud cries of hear ! hear...
Page 226 - The proposition is new, sir ; it is the first time it was ever heard in this house. I am not prepared sir — this house is not prepared — to receive it. The measure implies a distrust of his majesty's government ; their disapproval is sufficient to warrant opposition. Precaution only is requisite where danger is apprehended. Here the high character of the individuals in question is a sufficient *From the same. guarantee against any ground of alarm.
Page 146 - I do not mean to be disrespectful, but the attempt of the Lords to stop the progress of reform reminds me very forcibly of the great storm of Sidmouth, and of the conduct of the excellent Mrs. Partington on that occasion. In the winter of 1824 there set in a great flood upon that town ; the...
Page 26 - Scotch fowls did not venture to cross the streets, but sidled along, tails aloft, without venturing to encounter the gale. Jeffrey sticks to his myrtle illusions, and treats my attacks with as much contempt as if I had been a wild visionary, who had never breathed his caller air, nor lived and suffered under the rigour of his climate, nor spent five years in discussing metaphysics and medicine in that garret of the earth — that knuckle-end of England — that land of Calvin, oat-cakes, and sulphur.
Page 8 - A genuine Oxford tutor would shudder to hear his young men disputing upon moral and political truth, forming and pulling down theories, and indulging in all the boldness of youthful discussion. He would augur nothing from it, but impiety to God, and treason to kings.
Page 212 - I am convinced digestion is the great secret of life ; and that character, talents, virtues, and qualities are powerfully affected by beef, mutton, piecrust, and rich soups. I have often thought I could feed or starve men into many virtues and vices, and affect them more powerfully with my instruments of cookery than Timotheus could do formerly with his lyre.
Page 137 - O'Connell was hanged, drawn, and quartered — then a barrister, who has written an article in the Quarterly, and is very likely to speak, and refute M'Culloch ; and these five people, in whose nomination I have no more agency than I have in the nomination of the toll-keepers of the Bosphorus, are to make laws for me and my family — to put their hands in my purse, and to sway the future destinies of this country ; and when the...