"[T]he fumes of faction not only disturb the faculty of reason, but also pervert the organs of sense"
— Smollett, Tobias (1721-1777)
Author
Work Title
Place of Publication
Dublin
Publisher
Printed for A. Leathley, J. Exshaw, H. Saunders
Date
1771
Metaphor
"[T]he fumes of faction not only disturb the faculty of reason, but also pervert the organs of sense"
Metaphor in Context
DEAR PHILLIPS,
I SEND you this letter, franked by our old friend Barton; who is as much altered as it was possible for a man of his kidney to be--Instead of the careless, indolent sloven we knew at Oxford, I found him a busy talkative politician; a petre-maitre in his dress, and a ceremonious courtier in his manners. He has not gall enough in his constitution to be inflamed with the rancour of party, so as to deal in scurrilous invectives; but, since he obtained a place, he is become a warm partizan of the ministry, and sees every thing through such an exaggerating medium, as to me, who are happily of no party, is altogether incomprehensible-- Without all doubt, the fumes of faction not only disturb the faculty of reason, but also pervert the organs of sense; and I would lay an hundred guineas to ten, that if Barton on one side, and the most consciencious patriot in the opposition on the other, were to draw, upon honour, the picture of the k--- or m---, you and I, who are still uninfected, and unbiased, would find both painters equally distant from the truth. One thing, however, must be allowed for the honour of Barton, he never breaks out into illiberal abuse, far less endeavours, by infamous calumnies, to blast the moral character of any individual, on the other side.
I SEND you this letter, franked by our old friend Barton; who is as much altered as it was possible for a man of his kidney to be--Instead of the careless, indolent sloven we knew at Oxford, I found him a busy talkative politician; a petre-maitre in his dress, and a ceremonious courtier in his manners. He has not gall enough in his constitution to be inflamed with the rancour of party, so as to deal in scurrilous invectives; but, since he obtained a place, he is become a warm partizan of the ministry, and sees every thing through such an exaggerating medium, as to me, who are happily of no party, is altogether incomprehensible-- Without all doubt, the fumes of faction not only disturb the faculty of reason, but also pervert the organs of sense; and I would lay an hundred guineas to ten, that if Barton on one side, and the most consciencious patriot in the opposition on the other, were to draw, upon honour, the picture of the k--- or m---, you and I, who are still uninfected, and unbiased, would find both painters equally distant from the truth. One thing, however, must be allowed for the honour of Barton, he never breaks out into illiberal abuse, far less endeavours, by infamous calumnies, to blast the moral character of any individual, on the other side.
Categories
Provenance
Searching "faction" and "reason" in HDIS (Prose)
Citation
At least 29 entries in the ESTC (1771, 1772, 1774, 1775, 1776, 1779, 1781, 1783, 1784, 1785, 1788, 1790, 1792, 1793, 1794, 1795, 1799, 1800).
See The Expedition of Humphry Clinker. By the Author of Roderick Random. In Two Volumes. (Dublin: Printed for A. Leathley, J. Exshaw, H. Saunders, 1771).
See The Expedition of Humphry Clinker. By the Author of Roderick Random. In Two Volumes. (Dublin: Printed for A. Leathley, J. Exshaw, H. Saunders, 1771).
Date of Entry
08/24/2004
