Roundabout Papers - Penn State University

Thackerayto say that I informed him (being in hopes that he wasabout to write some papers regarding the manners andcustoms of this country) that all the statues he saw representedthe Duke of Wellington. That on the arch oppositeApsley House? the Duke in a cloak, and cocked hat,on horseback. That behind Apsley House in an airy figleafcostume? the Duke again. That in Cockspur Street?the Duke with a pigtail—and so on. I showed him anarmy of Dukes. There are many bronze heroes who after afew years look already as foolish, awkward, and out ofplace as a man, say at Shoolbred’s or Swan and Edgar’s.For example, those three Grenadiers in Pall Mall, whohave been up only a few months, don’t you pity thoseunhappy household troops, who have to stand frowningand looking fierce there; and think they would like tostep down and go to barracks? That they fought verybravely there is no doubt; but so did the Russians fightvery bravely; and the French fight very bravely; and sodid Colonel Jones and the 99th, and Colonel Brown andthe 100th; and I say again that ordinaire should not giveitself port airs, and that an honest ordinaire would blushto be found swaggering so. I am sure if you could consultthe Duke of York, who is impaled on his column betweenthe two clubs, and ask his late Royal Highness whetherhe thought he ought to remain there, he would say no. Abrave, worthy man, not a braggart or boaster, to be putupon that heroic perch must be painful to him. LordGeorge Bentinck, I suppose, being in the midst of thefamily park in Cavendish Square, may conceive that hehas a right to remain in his place. But look at William ofCumberland, with his hat cocked over his eye, prancingbehind Lord George on his Roman-nosed charger; he, dependon it, would be for getting off his horse if he hadthe permission. He did not hesitate about trifles, as weknow; but he was a very truth-telling and honorable soldier:and as for heroic rank and statuesque dignity, Iwould wager a dozen of ’20 port against a bottle of pureand sound Bordeaux, at 18s. per dozen (bottles included),that he never would think of claiming any such absurddistinction. They have got a statue of Thomas Moore atDublin, I hear. Is he on horseback? Some men shouldhave, say, a fifty years’ lease of glory. After a while some129