Complete Works of Thomas Carlyle (Volume 18); Critical and Miscellaneous Essays, Collected and Republished (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1901. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... laws " What chancellor, king, senator, begirt with never such sumptuosity, dyed velvet, blaring and celebrity, could you have named in England that was so momentous as that William Burnes? Courage -- We take leave of Varnhagen with true good-will, and heartily thank him for the pleasure and instruction he has given us. CHARTISM. CHAPTER I. CONDITION-OF-ENGLAND QUESTION. A Feeling very generally exists that the condition and disposition of the Working Classes is a rather ominous matter at present; that something ought to be said, something ought to be done, in regard to it. And surely, at an epoch of history when the "National Petition" carts itself in wagons along the streets, and is presented "bound with iron hoops, four men bearing it," to a Reformed House of Commons; and Chartism numbered by the million and half, taking nothing by its ironhooped Petition, breaks out into brickbats, cheap pikes, and even into sputter in gs of conflagration, such very general feeling cannot be considered unnatural To us individually this matter appears, and has for many years appeared, to be the most ominous of all practical matters whatever; a matter in regard to which if something be not done, something will do itself one day, and in a fashion that will please nobody. The time is verily come for acting in it; how much more for consultation about acting in it, for speech and articulate inquiry about it We are aware that, according to the newspapers, Chartism is extinct; that a Reform Ministry has " put down the chimera of Chartism" in the most felicitous effectual manner. So say the newspapers; -- and yet, alas, most readers of newspapers know withal that it is indeed the "chimera" of Chartism, not the reality, which has been put down. The distracted incoherent em...