THE HANOVERIAN LADIES.
A MORNING Paper observes, with reference to the case of these lathes- " If there ever has been an instance that laid claim to the benevolent and humane dispositions of Englishmen, it is that of these unfortunate young
ladies. Well educated, accustomed to the best society, and posseSsing minds of extraordinary sensibility, they are now left to the indeterminate compas- sion of parochial officers. Strange as it may appear, scarce a solitary offer has as yet been made for their relief; and, with the exception of a charitable visit from the Honourable Mr. and Mrs. Gambier, and a gentleman from the Earl of Dudley, we have heard of none in the elevated classes of society, who have interested themselves in their favour. Now that their case is known, and stands forth in naked truth in sworn testimony, we hope that British benevolence will not be wanting to place them in a situation befitting their habits, and contributing to their comforts." ladies. Well educated, accustomed to the best society, and posseSsing minds of extraordinary sensibility, they are now left to the indeterminate compas- sion of parochial officers. Strange as it may appear, scarce a solitary offer has as yet been made for their relief; and, with the exception of a charitable visit from the Honourable Mr. and Mrs. Gambier, and a gentleman from the Earl of Dudley, we have heard of none in the elevated classes of society, who have interested themselves in their favour. Now that their case is known, and stands forth in naked truth in sworn testimony, we hope that British benevolence will not be wanting to place them in a situation befitting their habits, and contributing to their comforts."
To analyse claims on benevolence, is always an ungracious and in- vidious task; but regard for truth, and correct judgments, compels us to express our dissent from this exaggerated statement. We see in the case of the Miss BOTHS no stronger claims to aid than the too common ones of the distress of unprotected females. There are hundreds of the sex of our own nation possessed of sensibility, well-educated, once ac- customed to genteel society, and reduced by misfortune to want and repulsive associations. The unmanageable pride of the Hanoverian Ladies, which mainly renders them interesting in the minds of some of our contemporaries, has not that effect upon us ; for we consider it as going far beyond, and indeed beside the point of honour, and wan- dering to perversity with a morbid degree of ,intensity. They have re- jected relief, insisting on their rank in life. The pride may be allow- able, nay honourable,—we care not to decide the degree of credit be- lowing to it in the abstract : but we would inquire into a distinction of morals which is observable in this instance and in many other cases of distressed gentility. To receive pecuniary aid from an equal, or supe- rior, is spurned as a degradation, at the same time that no hesitation is felt to incur a debt with a tradesman which may probably never be discharged. Now we would ask, why is it more honourable to affect a man with a loss who calculates on a profit, and lives by his profits, than to take money from one who is willing and happy to afford it? To be under an obligation to an equal or superior, may naturally be distressing ; but is it more agreeable to do an injury to one of an inferior condition ? We should like to see these practical points of morals fairly stated and understood. Why is it that pride spurns money tendered on conditions involving no unforeseen damage to the benevolent party ; and has little scruple about taking goods to the probable disadvantage of the creditor who relies on his profit? Is it a question of the currency ? Has honour only an antipathy to hard cash? The whole bearing attributed to the eldest Miss BOTH, we must ho. nestly confess, has had any effect but that of calling forth our sym- pathies. It seems to us that her conduct has been the very sublimate of German. heroics.
When required to attend the Inquest on the body of the sister, the two snrviving ladies. declared their greater readiness to die than to y
compl.with-the laws and customs of the country in which they are guests :—there is at least inordinate folly in this high-sketched conduct. Front the bottom of our hearts sve wish they may be forwarded comfortably to their homes ; and, in common with every one else, we feel surprised and provoked at the strange punctilio, or whatever it was, which caused Count MUNSTER to withhold the means to carry them to their destination. His Excellency is said to have declared, that having given them 20/. out of the 50/. placed in his hands for the purpose of enabling them to reach Germany, and that 20/. having been spent here, he would not advance the remaining 30/. till he heard of their arrival in Paris ; but how, in the name of all that is ingenious, were they to get to Paris without the money to take them to Paris ?
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