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when I told them I believed it was, you cannot think what satisfaction it gave, and what hopes they expressed that you would stand. Thus far, you see, we are going on swimmingly. But who should I meet coming out of the White Hart just as I was going in, but old Davy himself! Ah, Mr. Nicholls,”says he, is that you?' And then he shook hands with me as cordial as anything. So ho, my Lord,' thought I, 'you 're beginning to funk, are you?' By the by, Mr. Nicholls,' says he, as I was moving away after having paid my respects, 'what is this silly rumour that I hear about Sir Matthew going to stand the county? It is mere idle gossip of course; but still I think it would be better for you to contradict it at once, because it might only create confusion or mistakes.' My lord,' says I, it's no idle gossip, but as true as gospel, that the freeholders intend forthwith inviting Sir Matthew to come forward; and please God he will be persuaded to come to the hustings, for it's his own fault if he a'n't the new member.' I wish you had seen old Davy's countenance, when I spoke in that manner. What! Mr. Nicholls,' cried he, is it possible? really, my good friend, I am surprised to hear a sensible man like you talk so absurdly. Sir Matthew Sydenham is, I dare say, a very worthy young man, and I have always had a high respect for his family; but really, I am utterly at a loss to conceive what are his pretensions to be a candidate for the county.' Then,' answered I, 'I hope your Lordship will very soon be informed upon that point; but I must ask your pardon, my Lord, for I'm in haste;' and so saying I walked away, leaving the old fellow quite knocked of a heap by the morning's news."

Did you hear anything about Jackson?"

"Only that he spoke with undiminished determination of not retiring from the contest, while there was a freeholder unpolled."

"Do you think it possible that I may be defeated by any coalition or arrangement between him and the Havilands?"

"That I think is scarcely possible," said my agent: "I should as soon expect to see fire and water unite, as Lord Daventry and the waggoner; and if the former must be defeated, I think he would rather yield to a gentleman than a plebeian. Besides, Jackson mortally hates the Haviland family, and is as much actuated by animosity towards them in his opposition, as by any other motive, because when he first set up in the county they refused to countenance him, and repelled with contempt his advances. So, if he saw that his own success was hopeless, he would, I am sure, transfer all his interest to you.And now, Sir Matthew, if you please, I will wish you goodnight, as I am rather tired by my day's work. Sir Michael and his party will be here in about twelve hours, I hope. In the mean time, I will draw up a list of the principal people whom

we are to visit. I have given the circulars to the printer, and they will be here to-morrow." And Mr. Nicholls withdrew.

The curtain may now be said to have dropped upon the first act of my life, which was chiefly conversant with human nature, under the influence of vanity. You are now, reader, to be made acquainted with the operations of that mighty machine, as I subsequently observed it, when wound up by ambition or interest.

CHAPTER IV.

SHORTLY after breakfast, on the following morning, a servant entered the library to inform me that a carriage, with Lord Daventry's livery, was driving up the avenue, and to know whether I would be at home?"

"Most certainly," was my answer; and in a few minutes the Earl himself was ushered into the room.

"Sir Matthew," said Lord Daventry, who was a veteran courtier, and a fine-looking, powdered old gentleman, “I am most happy to welcome you back among us; I hope we shall see a great deal of you here. In town, it really is impossible to enjoy the society of one's friends."

"You are very kind, my Lord,” answered I, “and, I assure you, it shall not be my fault if I do not see some of your fami ly at P, every day for a fortnight, though I fear our meeting there must be under circumstances not so agreeable to you, or even to myself, as I could wish."

"I do not affect to misunderstand you," returned the Earl; "and sorry am I to have my doubts dissipated. You purpose receiving and listening to some persons styling themselves a deputation of the county, who have intimated their intention of calling upon you.-Am I not right?"

"As far as I am aware, I believe your Lordship's information is correct."

"It was only yesterday," resumed Lord Daventry, "I heard that ten or a dozen individuals-freeholders, I believe, but of no note-intended assembling at the Inn, at P, and then proceeding to Sydenham Park, to invite you to stand for the county. This project appeared to me to be so absurd, that I could not help laughing at it; though,, at the same time, I felt for you, because I thought you would be annoyed at these silly people involving your name in the ridicule of their proceeding, What then was my astonishment, when, accidentally meeting your agent, Mr. Nicholls, at P, and mentioning the thing to him, I was given to understand, that this nonsense was countenanced by you! However, after turning the matter over in

my mind, I felt convinced that you must have been grossly misinformed; and that the imposing word 'deputation' might have led you to believe, that these good people really had some communication with the county at large, or acquaintance with its sentiments. Now, as I really know the state of the case, I thought it my duty to undeceive you, in order that you might know how to behave when these men did arrive."

"I feel obliged to your Lordship," answered I, "for the friendly office you purpose doing me; but I am inclined to think that you are speaking from imperfect information, in expressing such contempt of the importance and respectability of this meeting it is headed by Sir Michael Hanbury, and includes Mr. Brixton, besides, I understand, several substantial freeholders."

"Sir Michael Hanbury!" exclaimed his Lordship. "You must indeed, my dear Sir Matthew, be ignorant of the county, if you name him as an influential person. Why, he is a perfect fool, an absolute driveller; ask any gentleman in Sshire, and he will tell you the same. If he can command twenty votes, it is the utmost. As to Mr. Brixton, he is a tradesman, a very good sort of person in his line of life, but one who has no more to do with the county than your footman has. -Ha! ha! excuse me, but the idea of Sir Michael Hanbury and Mr. Brixton giving us a member, is too good. But it cannot be expected that you should know anything of the county; for, immediately after you left College, I believe, you went abroad, and remained from home until the death of your good father, my late lamented friend. Almost ever since that event, you have been in town; so, what opportunities have you had of becoming acquainted with these parts? Under these circumstances, if you were to go to the hustings, you would only incur an enormous expense and be laughed at,—for literally you have not the slightest chance of success. Pardon me for speaking so plain, but I am old enough almost to be your grandfather. I have had long experience in these matters, and I know that there are too many designing, unprincipled persons always ready to make a young man of family and fortune the dupe of their sordid views. It is not my wish to insinuate against any individual; but let me caution you, my young friend, for so I cannot help calling you,-because, although we have had little intercourse with each other, I have long felt an interest in your welfare, from hearing your poor father often speak of you. Never, I believe, was a son more beloved and admired by a parent, than you were. Many a time has he spoken to me, with tears in his eyes, of the brilliant prospects which your talents promised, and expressed the most anxious hopes, that he might live to launch you fairly into public life; and I remember the very last conversation we had upon the sub

ject, not three months before his death. We were walking together to the House, and when we parted he squeezed my hand, and said, poor fellow! as if, upon my honour, with a presentiment of his approaching end; If I am taken away before this can take place, do, my dear Daventry, occasionally give my boy the benefit of your experience, in the way of advice.' Let me caution you, therefore, against being led away by flattery, to listen to the representations of agents, who are the greatest scoundrels-I make no exception-upon the face of the earth. You may suspect me of being an interested adviser, but, be lieve me, I am not, for Richard's return is beyond the possibility of doubt. I have now done my duty by the son of my friend, who of course is at liberty to act as he pleases; but I trust he will give me leave to consider his vote and influence, at the approaching election, as engaged to the support of my interest."

"Lord Daventry," answered I, "for your advice, if really well-meant, I heartily thank you; but I will candidly acknowledge that I listen with distrust to counsel upon this subject coming from a person in your situation, and you ought not to feel offended at my want of confidence. Therefore I must still assure you, that if this deputation, which I understand is to wait upon me, holds out a reasonable prospect, I may be induced to accede to their request. The relations of private friendship I should be happy to cultivate with your Lordship; but I will not conceal from you, that, in the event of my becoming a candidate for the county, I shall, however painful it may be, feel myself under the necessity of mentioning your family, in their political character, in no very flattering terms.'

"Indeed!" said Lord Daventry, "your father acted with us during the whole of his public life; his political opinions were ours; our political character was his."

"It is not," I replied, " to a difference of opinion on abstract questions that I allude; I mean, that I shall feel called upon to express my sense of your Lordship's public conduct

"I think I understand you, Sir Matthew," interrupted the Earl; "you mean to take advantage of the circumstance of my having been long in office, and others of my family being in his Majesty's service, to denounce us as courtiers and placemen. In short, you will not scorn to adopt the common cant of Whigism, in order to serve your purpose?"

"I certainly shall, my Lord," returned I, "comment upon the circumstance which you have mentioned; and I think you will find that I express the opinions of a large and influential body of freeholders of the county. My attacks will be open and in the daylight; so that Colonel Haviland will be treated fairly, and will have ample opportunity of giving effect to his vindication, if he can produce it."

"Then I am to understand that you are determined to accept the expected invitation of Sir Michael Hanbury, Mr. Brixton, and the other gentlemen, with whose names I am unacquainted, to offer yourself as a candidate to supply the vacancy in the representation of the county, occasioned by the death of Mr. Sotheby?"

"Exactly so, my Lord."

"Well, Sir Matthew, it is unnecessary to prolong this interview, although the manner in which it has terminated fills me with surprise and regret. Your obstinate determination to undertake an enterprise, which I think I have sufficiently demonstrated to your reason is utterly desperate, must proceed either from infatuation or enmity to my family. If it arises from the latter, I cannot but be deeply hurt, to experience such treatment from the son of my valued friend. Your opposition, I repeat to you, will be rather vexatious than seriously injurious, because it will only make my son's election rather more expensive. As for yourself, you will pay dearly to gratify your animosity toward me. I speak, believe me, more in sorrow than in anger; for your conduct gives me more pain than I am willing either to manifest or express. I wish you good morning."

I made no reply, except a very slight and scarcely perceptible smile of contempt; but, ringing the bell, I ordered Lord Daventry's carriage, and the noble lord took his leave with affected sorrow, but real chagrin.

CHAPTER V.

LORD DAVENTRY had not left the house ten minutes, before Sir Michael Hanbury and his party arrived, so that he must have crossed them before he reached the lodge. The deputation came in four private carriages. They announced themselves and the object of their visit. I received them in the library. They were twenty-two persons.

Sir Michael Hanbury opened the business by an address to the following purpose:

"Sir Matthew Sydenham,—

“At a large meeting of freeholders of this county, convened for the purpose of fixing upon a fit and proper person to be returned to Parliament a Knight of the Shire, in the room of Mr. Sotheby deceased, it was unanimously resolved

"That it is not expedient to entrust the representation of the county to either of the declared candidates, the Honourable Richard Haviland, or Benjamin Jackson, Esquire: