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Literary
October 7, 1773
The Virginia Gazette
Richmond, Williamsburg, Richmond County, Virginia
What is this article about?
Anecdote recounting John, Duke of Argyle, confiding in Captain Hull his worries over the superficial education of young nobility, foreseeing it will empower the middle class, widen social divides, and lead to political convulsions favoring liberty over tyranny.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
Anecdote of John (the Great) Duke of Argyle, &c. who was then Commanding Officer of the Regiment of Horse, afterwards Montague's, and reduced in George II. Reign to Horse Grenadiers, by the late Duke of Cumberland.
CAPTAIN HULL, one of that Corps, waiting one Morning on the Duke about Business, was shewn into a large Room, where he found his Grace walking about pensively, and so lost in Thought that at first he took no Notice of Hull, but soon after turning his Eyes that Way, apologized for not seeing him sooner; to which Captain Hull answered, "he feared he had interrupted his Grace's Thoughts, about something of more Consequence than his Business," (for the Duke was a real Patriot, virtuous, wise, and valiant). "Not to you and me, Hull, says the Duke. However, I will tell you what I was thinking of; I was considering what will be the Consequence, fifty Years hence, of the bad Education of six Parts out of seven of our young Nobility. They are brought up with a little superficial Learning, introduced early into Company, Pleasure, and Dissipation of all Sorts; then sent to travel, before they know any Thing of their own Country, or Mankind, and the Part they ought to act as Men. Abroad they are Flattered, duped, and laughed at; and return home corrupted, both in Head and Heart. While they are thus employed, all the useful Sense, Learning, and Knowledge, will be possessed by the middling Class of People; who must, of Course, despise a luxurious, idle, gaming Nobility. And as Time and Accident will widen the Breach between them (unless Providence graciously interferes) Confusion in the End must follow; for the Idlers will be for arbitrary Power, that they may set the Tyrant over their Inferiors, not considering that by this Step they are Slaves themselves, and have given up the greatest Blessing in Life. But the Men of Learning and Science will fight under Liberty, knowing Men are by Nature equal, and that all Power is delegated from the People for their Protection and Security; and from hence Convulsions may arise, which scarce you or I will live to see."
CAPTAIN HULL, one of that Corps, waiting one Morning on the Duke about Business, was shewn into a large Room, where he found his Grace walking about pensively, and so lost in Thought that at first he took no Notice of Hull, but soon after turning his Eyes that Way, apologized for not seeing him sooner; to which Captain Hull answered, "he feared he had interrupted his Grace's Thoughts, about something of more Consequence than his Business," (for the Duke was a real Patriot, virtuous, wise, and valiant). "Not to you and me, Hull, says the Duke. However, I will tell you what I was thinking of; I was considering what will be the Consequence, fifty Years hence, of the bad Education of six Parts out of seven of our young Nobility. They are brought up with a little superficial Learning, introduced early into Company, Pleasure, and Dissipation of all Sorts; then sent to travel, before they know any Thing of their own Country, or Mankind, and the Part they ought to act as Men. Abroad they are Flattered, duped, and laughed at; and return home corrupted, both in Head and Heart. While they are thus employed, all the useful Sense, Learning, and Knowledge, will be possessed by the middling Class of People; who must, of Course, despise a luxurious, idle, gaming Nobility. And as Time and Accident will widen the Breach between them (unless Providence graciously interferes) Confusion in the End must follow; for the Idlers will be for arbitrary Power, that they may set the Tyrant over their Inferiors, not considering that by this Step they are Slaves themselves, and have given up the greatest Blessing in Life. But the Men of Learning and Science will fight under Liberty, knowing Men are by Nature equal, and that all Power is delegated from the People for their Protection and Security; and from hence Convulsions may arise, which scarce you or I will live to see."
What sub-type of article is it?
Prose Fiction
Dialogue
What themes does it cover?
Political
Liberty Freedom
Social Manners
What keywords are associated?
Duke Of Argyle
Nobility Education
Social Division
Liberty
Political Convulsions
Middling Class
Literary Details
Title
Anecdote Of John (The Great) Duke Of Argyle, &C.
Key Lines
"Not To You And Me, Hull, Says The Duke. However, I Will Tell You What I Was Thinking Of; I Was Considering What Will Be The Consequence, Fifty Years Hence, Of The Bad Education Of Six Parts Out Of Seven Of Our Young Nobility."
"While They Are Thus Employed, All The Useful Sense, Learning, And Knowledge, Will Be Possessed By The Middling Class Of People; Who Must, Of Course, Despise A Luxurious, Idle, Gaming Nobility."
"But The Men Of Learning And Science Will Fight Under Liberty, Knowing Men Are By Nature Equal, And That All Power Is Delegated From The People For Their Protection And Security; And From Hence Convulsions May Arise, Which Scarce You Or I Will Live To See."