House, who, I could say, emphatically, spoke with the tongue of a statesman, while this Lord M. was, perhaps, the most offensive specimen of that class of members whom Burke described as being "nursed and dandled into legislators;" a young man possessed of that sort of farthing rushlight glimmering of talent, which, when it exists in plebeian minds, rarely sheds its rays beyond the poet's corner of a provincial newspaper. But being found in the heir of a noble house, is fanned, and coaxed, and nourished, and then worshipped as a star of the light of Heaven. This Lord M. was, in fact, one of my especial disgusts the most nauseous of all the "talented youth"-a creature trained to come down to the House and thrust out his arm, spout like a parrot, and play monkey tricks of rhetoric. And then the complacency of the animal! The ape's imitations of humanity are the only comparison I can find for M.'s caricatures of eloquence, and self-pride in his exhibitions. Not content with aspiring to the honours of a statesman, this genius must needs be an author likewise. Nothing less must serve his turn but tragedy, forsooth! and a sad affair it was, indeed-too dull even for mirth! In his lighter moods, however, he would condescend to indite rhymes, which were the veritable eau sucré of poesy. But the ladies, I believe, in general, thought very highly of him, and even my dear little friend, Lady Jane, who was by no means a fool, was likewise disposed to be one of his admirers. "And are you also enchanted with Lord M.'s eloquence?" inquired I somewhat anxiously of Alice.

"On the contrary," answered she, "Jane and I do not agree with respect to him. Lord M.'s object seemed to be to make a speech. Now I preferred those who appeared to address themselves earnestly to the question, with the view to persuade their audience. Lord M. gave me the idea of a forward school-boy, who came forth with an oration in which he had perfected himself by frequent rehearsals."

"Well, I give him up," said Jane, "only I am sure it was intended to be all very fine, and so it imposed upon my ignorance."

"And what is your opinion of us upon the whole? Do you think we want reforming?"

"Indeed, I don't pretend to say," answered Alice; "that, perhaps, is best known to yourselves. But I should suppose that there is not, nor ever was, an assembly of the same size which included so much wisdom, information, and eloquence,

with so small an average of ignorance and folly, as the English House of Commons. It is very imposing to witness almost every side of every question so powerfully advocated. Such spirit, such enthusiasm, such brilliant collisions of talent, form a noble spectacle to my eyes. I confess I did not like the assertion of that member, who, in replying to an argument, that the proposed measure would exclude talent from the House, said, that such an effect would be a recommendation to him, because he thought that the description of persons alluded to, so far from being an acquisition, were well got rid of, for they only obstructed the public business."

"That member," I replied, "was the organ of his party; the drones and bores who make the longest speeches, and are the real impediments to the public business. It is very natural that they should wish to be free of their enemies and tyrants, of whom they stand in awe. If the House were not illumined by eloquence, it would be deprived of the essential part of that splendour and dignity, which excites the admiration, and preserves the respect of the nation; it would subside into a mere committee for the transaction of public affairs. But I utterly deny that men of great talent are merely ornaments of the House. Because their eloquence does not appear immediately to influence its decisions, shallow people cry out, What is the use of all this speaking? it is a waste of the public time.' These blockheads are incapable of reflecting that every view of every question is exhibited in the most forcible light to the people of England, by the efforts of the leading members, who, through the medium of the press, are the source of public opinion, which is thus no other than their own wisdom reacting upon, and governing the legislature in a new form. Very few indeed are the minds capable of comprehending great questions, and were these left to be dealt with by ordinary intellects, what contempt would be excited by their feeble attempts to reach such inaccessible topics! What a mass of temerity and prejudice would our legislature be, were not these besetting sins of ignorance and mediocrity counteracted by the light of genius and knowledge! I do not hesitate to say, that no House of Commons would preserve the respect and confidence of the country many years, after being deprived of those lights, which all experience proves, can be safely and securely admitted only by means of the close boroughs. But this is no argument to the symmetry-mongers and noisy declaimers about the rights of man, who regard political institutions in

much the same manner, as your sex generally estimate ours -more studious of external grace and proportion, than intrinsic and practical worth."

It must not be supposed that these remarks were addressed exclusively to the ladies, although I knew that they were of a description not uninteresting to Alice, who, however, had always the good taste to withdraw from all share in the conversation, when it grew decidedly political and argumentative. But, in fact, I was speaking rather to Paulet and Trefusis, who had just entered the room. The last-mentioned person had lately come into Parliament, having filled up the vacancy in Lord Truro's borough, occasioned by the death of Cheselden. I shall not detail any part of the conversation that followed; for political disquisitions are not the province of a work of this kind, and I fear that I have already trespassed too far beyond what can be properly considered legitimate ground.

Griffes & Gates

CHAPTER XL.

DIVIDED as my thoughts and time were just now between love and politics, nothing passed particularly worthy of record. It appeared, however, that I had not yet exhausted the world of absurdities; for, calling in Grosvenor-street one morning, Lady Jane informed me, with a countenance full of humour, that if my propensities for ridicule were languishing for want of a subject, they might meet with one if I would dine there that day. Before I could make any inquiry as to these promised lions, Alice, though not altogether able herself to suppress a smile, gently reproved her lively sister for stimulating my expectations on such a subject, and gave me to understand, that she alluded to Lord Truro, his wife, and her family, who had just come to town, and were to dine with them that day.

"I would rather," said she, "that you never saw them at all, but as that is scarcely possible, you may as well meet them to-day as any other time. The truth must be owned, that my uncle has made a very unsuitable match. Lady Truro and her family have, in fact, exceeded our expectations, which you know were not very favourable; but I am sure I need not remind you that St. Leger would be annoyed by your appearing to notice their failings, upon which he has never made any remark even to us.'

"I'm so glad, Alice, he was not in the room yesterday when they called," said Jane, "for I really could hardly keep my countenance. I'm afraid they must have observed the restraint I put upon myself."

"I don't think you need suffer much remorse on that aecount," answered her sister; "for fortunately, or unfortunately, I don't know which to call it, persons whose defects are very gross are seldom conscious of them, I believe; but pray, my dear, be guarded for St. Leger's sake."

"Indeed, I'll do my best, Alice, to be composed, but Mrs. Cleghorn is almost too much for human gravity. I only

implore you, Sydenham, not to look towards me while they are here, for if you do I shall be quite overpowered."

You teach me to anticipate something very delightful," said I. "Is there any other besides My Lady and her

mamma?"

“O yes!” cried Jane, with a look and tone of humorous horror; "worse, if possible, remains behind; there's a brother and sister."

"Indeed! and what are they all like, in Heaven's name ?” "Oh, I can give you no idea of them; they must be seen and heard. But the mother is the best, or the worst, as I suppose Alice would say. They are all excellent and differShe is a perfect monster of vulgarity; and my aunt is fine; the sister servile, and the brother-I'm sure I hardly know what-a sort of dandy-savage."

ent.

"This is a rich treat indeed; but Alice may be assured that I will enjoy it in silence."

"Do, pray. It is useless to defend them, for they are utterly absurd; but St. Leger, you know, cannot pass them off as a jest."

Time was when I should have anticipated the exhibition of these originals with exquisite goût; nor will I affect to say that my relish for such entertainments was materially diminished; but I can safely assert, that I no longer permitted myself recklessly to inflict pain upon persons who were unfortunate by nature or education. In baiting folly or affectation, however, I had as keen an enjoyment as ever.

With the lively expectation, therefore, of being a good deal amused, from the description that Jane had given me of these people, I returned to dinner in Grosvenor-street. I found the Truro party already in the drawing-room, and it was with obvious difficulty that Lady Jane could summon sufficient self-command to introduce me to them. They were indeed a deplorable set. The Marchioness herself was distinguished from the other members of her family by the extra richness of her dress. She evidently did not sit easy under her new honours, not indeed from want of self-confidence, but because she had just discrimination enough to perceive that the sphere of society into which she had been raised was exceedingly different from that which she had quitted. The mother was indeed a monster-a huge mass of disgusting mortality, so gross as to be beyond ridicule, and to turn one's stomach. The sister, Miss Penelope Cleghorn, was a good