The Governing Classes of Great Britain; Political Portraits (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1854 edition. Excerpt: ... 142 XIV.--MARQUIS OF LANSDOWNE, K.G. When Napoleon asked Cambaceres whether a certain man could be trusted, Cambaceres answered, " Why, --really--his linen is remarkably white, --and--I believe he is gourmet." The first impression about that illustirious statesman, the Marquis of Lansdowne, is, that he is very clean, and is a great patron of the Arts and Belles Lettres. Particularly he is very clean: and only that Robespierre, who never soiled his boots, was partial to tbe guillotine, one would judge of the Marquis of Lansdowne's character by the consistent purity of the Marquis of Lansdowne's dress. He would attract your attention, any pleasant Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Friday evening, during the " season," when he is picking his way up Parliament Street at about seven, on his way from legislation to dinner, is the cleanest old gentleman you had ever beheld. The specklessness of the costume is that of Sevres ornament: and the cold, calm face increases the effect of the clean glitter--dazzling in a dirty town, street, and among soiled Londoners, as a meteor--iced. It is a great thing to fix, without offending, attention; and though the Marquis of Lansdowne is not noble in aspect, is only plain and gentlemanly, yet most people turn, pleased, to look at him as he passes in a crowd. And they are not surprised when they find that is the great Marquis of Lansdowne: he fulfils, in air, dress, and manner, the public notion of the man. Chief in precedence, and last in fact, of the Whigs--that is precisely the sort of man such a man should be. The Whigs were always famous for neat dressing: and the Marquis wears what might once have been the common/lress of the party. You see he is clothed in a cover of the Edinburgh--buff and blue. As to the...