The American Senator · Chapter
The Senator's Lecture.—No. II explained
Senator Gotobed continues his lecture, criticizing British institutions including the House of Lords, primogeniture, hunting laws, church patronage, and military promotion.
What happens
Senator Gotobed continues his lecture, criticizing British institutions including the House of Lords, primogeniture, hunting laws, church patronage, and military promotion. He defends his right to speak frankly, faces interruptions from the audience, and illustrates his points with the story of Lord Rufford, Goarly, and Scrobby.
Themes in this chapter
American vs. British Values
Senator Gotobed contrasts American democratic ideals with British aristocratic traditions, criticizing primogeniture, hereditary legislature, and irrational customs.
Tradition vs. Reform
The Senator argues that British institutions resist necessary reforms, citing the army, church, and hunting laws as examples of irrational attachment to tradition.
Justice and Class Bias
The Senator highlights class bias in the legal system, particularly regarding hunting rights and the inability to stop aristocrats from destroying property.
Characters to notice
- Senator Gotobed
Delivers the lecture, defending his views and criticizing British aristocracy, primogeniture, hunting, church patronage, and military purchase.
- Lord Rufford
Mentioned in the Senator's story about Goarly and Scrobby as an example of aristocratic generosity and the absurdity of British hunting.
- Goarly
Referenced in the Senator's anecdote about the hunting incident and Mrs. Goarly's goose.
- Scrobby
Mentioned alongside Goarly in the Senator's story about the hunting affair.
- Lord Lambswool
Used as an example by the Senator to discuss primogeniture and life interests in land.
- Lord Drummond
Intervenes to request silence from the audience during the Senator's lecture.
Key passages
“If I see a man hungry in the street, and give him a bit of bread, I don't do it for my own sake but for his.”
The Senator explains that his advice is offered altruistically, not for personal gain.
Opens the chapter, responding to a prior question.
“Would any man think of doing so, by the light of his own reason—out of his own head as we say? Would any man be so unjust to those who are equal in his love, were he not constrained by law, and by custom more iron-handed even than the law?”
The Senator argues that no rational person would leave all property to one child unless forced by law and custom.
Critique of primogeniture.
“An American will believe much about the wonderful ways of his British cousin, but no American will be got to believe that till he sees it.”
The Senator says Americans cannot conceive of the unchecked freedom of British hunters to ride over private land.
End of the hunting anecdote.