Penelope, Volume III by William Pitt Scargill

The rector of Smatterton now betook himself to the parsonage-house at Neverden, in order that he might administer to his brother clergyman a word or two of admonition, or, more reverentially speaking, suggestion. This was an exploit by no means disagreeable to Mr Pringle, for it gave him an opportunity to thrust himself more closely in Mr Darnley's way. The two rectors had not been on such very intimate terms as two clerical neighbours ought to be. And Mr Pringle was very desirous of increasing the intimacy, and of subduing his neighbour's haughtiness and coolness. It has been already acknowledged and stated that Mr Darnley, with all his good qualities, his conscientious discharge of his duties, and his strict attention to the morals of his parishioners, was still a proud man. He laid mighty stress on rank, and gave great honor to the great because they were great, and he looked down upon Mr Pringle as a man of no family. He was very civil to Mr Pringle, but he had not yet admitted the young rector to an equality of intimacy. Indeed Mr Darnley had frequently deplored that such great facility of access was given to the church by means of exhibitions at the Universities, so that the sons of very inferior tradesmen might raise themselves, by adopting the clerical profession, into the rank of gentlemen.

Yet this same Mr Darnley made it not an unfrequent subject of boasting, when speaking of the unspeakable excellences of the British constitution, that the highest offices in church and state were open to all classes of British subjects. But there is a wide difference between declamation and real feeling. It would be very amusing to have the use of Ithuriel's spear, and to carry it into some public assemblies, and to touch with it some very eloquent speakers, and perhaps the same spear would afford some little entertainment in a great library; it would be very pretty to see what havoc it would make among dedications and protestations, and all that sort of thing. It is very certain however, by way of bringing back our digression to the point from which it started, that Mr Darnley, under the influence of that revealer of secrets, would be found vituperating that very feature in the British constitution which he so very often professed to admire.