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Passage Illustrated: Con Heffernan Makes His Pitch to the Knight for Union

"I have determined not to vote on the measure," said the Knight, solemnly; "my reasons for the course I adopt I hope to be able to justify when the proper time arrives; meanwhile, it will prevent unnecessary speculation, and equally unnecessary solicitation, if I tell you frankly what I mean to do. Such is my present resolve."

The word, solicitation, fell from the Knight's lips with such a peculiar expression, that Heffernan at once saw his own game was detected, and, like a clever tactician, resolved to make the best of his forced position.

"You have been frank with me, Knight; I'll not be less candid with you, I came here to convey to you a distinct offer from the Government, — not of any personal favour or advantage, that, they well knew, you would reject, — but, in the event of your support, to take any suggestion you might make on the new Bill into their serious and favourable consideration; to advise with you how, in short, the measure might be made to meet your views, and, so to say, admit you into conclave with the Cabinet."

"All this is very flattering," said the Knight, with a smile of evident satisfaction, "but I scarcely see how the opinions of a very humble country gentleman can weigh in the grave councils of a Government."

"The best proof is the fact itself," replied Heffernan, artfully. "Were I to tell you of other reasons, you might suspect me of an intention to canvass your support on very different grounds."

"I confess I'm in the dark — explain yourself more fully." [Chapter X, "An Intrigue Detected," pp. 68-69]

Commentary: A Note on the Meaning of the Horses at the Window

The pair of carriage horses at the window underscore the fact that Lord Castlereagh's emissary, Con Heffernan (still in his travelling clothes), has just arrived at the Dublin mansion of the Knight of the Gwynne the morning after interrupting the Knight's card game to reveal that Forester has been shot. Shortly the Irish Parliament will vote on the Act of Union with England, Scotland, and Wales. So influential is the Knight of the Gwynne with other members of the House that Lord Castlereagh has sent Heffernan to offer a pertinent bribe, a promotion for Lionel, the Knight's son, who is an officer in the Guards. Heffernan also brings news that Lionel has been admitted to the Prince Regent's circle at Carlton House in London. Apparently the Knight regards Ireland's having a separate and independent Parliament an "absurdity" (68), especially in light of the terrible events across the Channel, in France, which will almost certainly lead to war. Nevertheless, the Knight of Gwynne (otherwise, Maurice Darcy) has decided to absent himself from party factionalism, and is determined not to vote either way. The bribe that Heffernan implies is an increase in Darcy's political status and influence as Castlereagh is prepared to give him a cabinet post in exchange for his vote.

Phiz's depicting Heffernan as a traveller come in haste from the Knight's estates near Westport is inaccurate. Heffernon had, in fact, arrived the night before at Darcy's club, interrupting his card-game at a crucial point ("I should have won the game. Drogheda saw my advantage. . . ."), and thereby causing Darcy to lose his composure and the high stakes. A second error is the genial and casual demeanour of the Knight in his parlour, for the news about the dual has deeply affected him. Phiz should have taken the following as a cue to Darcy's expression: "The very man I wished to see," cried Darcy, eagerly; "tell me all about this unfortunate business. But, first of all, is he out of danger?" (68). What Phiz seems to have done is combine this scene in Chapter Ten with Heffernan's return to the capital in Chapter Nine, on a cold evening in January of 1800 at Daly's Club House.

Bibliography

Buchanan-Brown, John. Phiz! Illustrator of Dickens' World. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1978.

Lester, Valerie Browne Lester. Chapter 11: "'Give Me Back the Freshness of the Morning!'" Phiz! The Man Who Drew Dickens. London: Chatto and Windus, 2004. Pp. 108-127.

Lever, Charles. The Knight of Gwynne; A Tale of the Time of the Union. London: Chapman and Hall, serialised January 1846 through July 1847.

Lever, Charles. The Knight of Gwynne. Illustrated by Phiz [Hablột Knight Browne]. Novels and Romances of Charles Lever. Vol. I and II. In two volumes. Project Gutenberg. Last Updated: 28 February 2018.

Steig, Michael. Chapter Four: "Dombey and Son: Iconography of Social and Sexual Satire." Dickens and Phiz. Bloomington: Indiana U. P., 1978. Pp. 86-112.

Stevenson, Lionel. Chapter IX, "Nomadic Patriarch, 1845-1847." Dr. Quicksilver: The Life of Charles Lever. London: Chapman and Hall, 1939. Pp. 146-164.

_______. "The Domestic Scene." The English Novel: A Panorama. Cambridge, Mass.: Houghton Mifflin and Riverside, 1960.

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Created 11 July 2023