Why does Sir Walter Elliott at first look coldly on renting Kellynch Hall to a navy man--what specific objections does he make? How does Mr. Shepherd bring him around to an agreement with Admiral Croft?
From the text:
"Yes; it is in two points offensive to me; I have two strong grounds of objection to it. First, as being the means of bringing persons of obscure birth into undue distinction, and raising men to honours which their fathers and grandfathers never dreamt of; and secondly, as it cuts up a man's youth and vigour most horribly; a sailor grows old sooner than any other man. I have observed it all my life. A man is in greater danger in the navy of being insulted by the rise of one whose father, his father might have disdained to speak to, and of becoming prematurely an object of disgust himself, than in any other line.
Mr. Shepherd manages to convince him of their general respectability. He also tells Sir Walter that one Admiral Croft, in particular, appears immediately afterwards as a promising candidate for tenant of Kellynch Hall. Mr. Shepherd assures Sir Walter that Admiral Croft is of a “gentleman’s family” and an important admiral with a considerable fortune (16). He is also married and without children, thus fulfilling the conditions for a good tenant.
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