A NOVEL.

"Nothing extenuate, nor set down aught in malice."

IN THREE VOLUMES.

SECOND EDITION,

VOL III.

LONDON:

SAUNDERS AND OTLEY,

PUBLIC LIBRARY, CONDUIT STREET.

1827.

ALMACK'S.

CHAPTER I.

THE OFFICIAL APPOINTMENT.

Leicester. Then are we all resolved?

All. We are all resolved.

Leicester. All?

All. All.

Dangle. Nem. con. egad!

Puff. Oh! yes, when Patronesses do agree, their unanimity is wonderful.

CRITIC.

AFTER all, there certainly is nothing like the heroic comical style! it is so convenient; exalting what is humble, and giving consequence to what is very common. And is not this, good reader, what we are all trying to do every hour of our lives? To begin, then, sublimely

"Sol through wide curtains shot a timorous ray ;"

which is simply to tell you, that the sun, like a true London sun, shone faintly.

"Those eyes were ope'd which would eclipse the day.” Either the Baroness de Wallestein's, or Miss Louisa Mildmay's eyes are here meant, or both if it please you.

"Now sleepless lovers just at twelve awoke."

Lord George Fitzallan perhaps, or Colonel Montague, for the ladies in Portland-place had been up, nay and had even breakfasted, some time ago. "It will soon be the hour when the committee are to meet," said Louisa: "my dear Caroline, your fate will then be decided."

"I wish it were all settled," said Madame de Wallestein," and that I had spoken to the Baron. It is the first time I ever did

i.

any thing without consulting him. I trust he will not be displeased.

"Here he comes," said Louisa; " and such a quidnunc I do think I never saw; always the

newspaper in his hand for an hour after break

fast! I suppose it is to perfect himself in the English language.'

"Je tremble," said the Baroness, "car, après

tout, les hommes sont les maitres.

positively object, what shall I do?

If he should

And then Lionel, I am sure he will not approve.— Qu'est-ce que c'est donc, mon ami?" to M. de Wallestein, " you seem deeply engaged with that folio of four pages, which not e'en critics criticise. Qu'y a-t-il de nouveau ce matin? what's the matter?

"I announce a revolution in the State," said the Baron; " and I come to you, ladies, for an explanation of what this mighty mystery means. Hear what my oracle, mon prophète, the always wise and correct Morning Post, prognosticates

to us:

'It is our duty to announce a great change likely to take place in the administration of A-m-k's. It has already been hinted in several of the public papers, that discontents of a serious nature, have long existed among the