man he is, or what his personal qualities are.

Suppose he is a young nobleman of a literary turn, and that he published
poems ever so foolish and feeble, the Snobs would purchase thousands
of his volumes: the publishers (who refused my Passion-Flowers, and
my grand Epic at any price) would give him his own. Suppose he is a
nobleman of a jovial turn, and has a fancy for wrenching off knockers,
frequenting ginshops, and half murdering policemen: the public will
sympathize good-naturedly with his amusements, and say he is a hearty,
honest fellow. Suppose he is fond of play and the turf; and has a fancy
to be a blackleg, and occasionally condescends to pluck a pigeon at
cards; the public will pardon him, and many honest people will court
him, as they would court a housebreaker if he happened to be a Lord.
Suppose he is an idiot; yet, by the glorious constitution, he is good
enough to govern US. Suppose he is an honest, highminded gentleman; so
much the better for himself. But he may be an ass, and yet respected; or
a ruffian, and yet be exceedingly popular; or a rogue, and yet excuses
will be found for him. Snobs will still worship him. Male Snobs will do
him honour, and females look kindly upon him, however hideous he may be.



CHAPTER VI--ON SOME RESPECTABLE SNOBS

Having received a great deal of obloquy for dragging monarchs, princes,
and the respected nobility into the Snob category, I trust to please
everybody in the present chapter, by stating my firm opinion that it
is among the RESPECTABLE classes of this vast and happy empire that the
greatest profusion of Snobs is to be found. I pace down my beloved Baker
Street, (I am engaged on a life of Baker, founder of this celebrated