OOOOOOOOOO HOSE who dwelt in the ancient manfions of England were a clafs of men proverbial for their hofpitality. The finest sketch we have of an old English gen 00000 tleman is that which Chaucer has drawn of the Franklin who formed one of the troop of Canterbury pilgrims. The Franklin was one who ufually held the office of fheriff and knight of the fhire; he difpenfed gratuitously among the people on his estate a rude patriarchal juftice; he was ever hofpitable, and gave a generous and cordial welcome to all who approached him. When he appeared in public, he wore a furcoat of red lined with blue, with bars or ftripes of fringe or lace, a small blue hat, turned up at the edges, and black boots; and-but Chaucer muft himself introduce his inimitable type of an old English gentleman White was his beard as is the daièsy, Of his complexion he was sanguíne; Well lov'd he by the morrow a sop in wine. For he was Epicurus' owen son; That held opinion that plain delight Was verily felicity parfite. A householder, and that a great was he; His bread, his ale was always after one: At sessions there was he lord and sire; In Knight's "Cabinet Pictures of English Life," the Franklin is thus drawn : "Over all the perfons on his eftate,-harvest-men, ploughdrivers, fhepherds, carters, fwineherds, labourers of all claffes, * Custom. Pike. + Good store of wine. § A knife worn at the belt. || A purse. the Franklin fwayed a mild and affectionate defpotifm. No one upon his estate who was in health wanted employ and ample maintenance; none who were ill, failed to receive attentions and medicine, and generous and suitable food, from his lady or other members of his family. It was neceffary this system should be exchanged; but we are now finding, by painful experience, that it was not neceffary that all fhould be fwept away; not at least till fome equivalent had been found for the better part. In the nineteenth century, alas! these equivalents have yet to be dif covered." Descending a little later in the hiftoric age of England, we ftill find the fame pleafing idea prefented of the ancestor of the "John Bull" of the prefent day. In the time of the Stuarts people recounted in their ballads the jovial merits and rare household virtues of the fine old English gentlemen, fome of whofe fons fhowed, however, a difpofition not to walk in the good old ways; and the people then mourned over the change, as they "faw a new fashioned hall built where the old one stood, and new fancies and whims introduced by young gallants, which their fathers knew not of." But the hearty old gentleman of Elizabeth's days was ever a popular favourite, and the people then fang, as modern folks love to do, An old song made by an aged old pate, Of an old worshipful gentleman, who had a greate estate, That kept a brave old house at a bountiful rate, And an old porter to relieve the poor at his gate; Like an old courtier of the queen's, And the queen's old courtier. 1 |