Page:Notes on the Anti-Corn Law Struggle.djvu/256

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248
Notes on the Anti-Corn Law Struggle.

they might show their zeal for the true religion by taking vigorous measures to get the lands out of such hands."

"That," said the Englishman, "is rather a new view of the matter. But as to the change of hands of the Abbey lands. I have my doubts whether a change might not have been made of rather a different kind. But might I ask which of the two seated in the carriage was Lord ———?"

"His Lordship sat with his back to the horses."

"And the other who sat with his face to the horses?"

"Oh, that was the Earl of ———, a rich English nobleman, the eldest son and heir of the great Marquis ———."

The Scotch have generally a vast respect for English noblemen, whom they assume to be all rich, as they have a notion that England is a rich country. And the English return the compliment by the prodigious respect they have for those Scottish magnates who are reported to be the owners of a great extent of country, and in some cases to have a very large rental.

"You seem to think, Sir," said the Englishman, "that the ancestor of this worthy and pious noble- man, the Earl of ———, did well in getting these