The Memoirs of Mr. Charles J. YellowplushThackeray, William Makepeace
General
The Memoirs of Mr. Charles J. Yellowplush
Thackeray, William Makepeace
Didactic fiction; England -- Fiction; Household employees -- Fiction; Humorous stories; Master and servant -- Fiction
For you see, my dear Mr. Yorke, that in the fust place, that this is
no common catchpny book, like that of most authors and authoresses, who
write for the base looker of gain. Heaven bless you! the Dairy-maid is
above anything musnary. She is a woman of rank, and no mistake; and is
as much above doin a common or vulgar action as I am superaor to taking
beer after dinner with my cheese. She proves that most satisfackarily,
as we see in the following passidge:--
“Her royal highness came to me, and having spoken a few phrases
on different subjects, produced all the papers she wishes to have
published: her whole correspondence with the prince relative to Lady
J---'s dismissal; his subsequent neglect of the princess; and, finally,
the acquittal of her supposed guilt, signed by the Duke of Portland,
&c., at the time of the secret inquiry: when, if proof could have
been brought against her, it certainly would have been done; and which
acquittal, to the disgrace of all parties concerned, as well as to the
justice of the nation in general, was not made public at the time. A
common criminal is publicly condemned or acquitted. Her royal highness
commanded me to have these letters published forthwith, saying, 'You may
sell them for a great sum.' At first (for she had spoken to me
before concerning this business), I thought of availing myself of the
opportunity; but upon second thoughts, I turned from this idea with
detestation: for, if I do wrong by obeying her wishes and endeavoring
to serve her, I will do so at least from good and disinterested motives,
not from any sordid views. The princess commands me, and I will obey
her, whatever may be the issue; but not for fare or fee. I own I
tremble, not so much for myself, as for the idea that she is not taking
the best and most dignified way of having these papers published. Why
make a secret of it at all? If wrong, it should not be done; if right
it should be done openly, and in the face of her enemies. In her royal
highness's case, as in that of wronged princes in general, why do
they shrink from straightforward dealings, and rather have recourse to
crooked policy? I wish, in this particular instance, I could make
her royal highness feel thus: but she is naturally indignant at being
falsely accused, and will not condescend to an avowed explanation.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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