The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 7 — page 128: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

| THE MYETEERIRG OF THE COURT. ite Soe pe TL La EL AT LIE TS I Pa COC TET aes es assem Nees CRON TOTES APSAEON. . Hyde, savoured of treachery, aud there is positively, ‘ Ob, certainly, my lord!" cried the honawreble a | » rumour aflost—I must speak out plainly—that _ you have sold yourself to the Whigs.” “ Astonishing—quite astonishing, *pon my ho- nour!” ejaculated the honourable gentleman. “ Really, my lord, I am surprised that your Grace should give credit to such rumours.” “Take care that they do se¢ prove truc, Mr. Hyde. Remember the understanding on which vou were first brought in for Viviandale—the con- ‘t' pete iaty gentleman. “I will make a speooh thét:,shall put matters all to rights, pon my honour fins. | “ And I,'Mr. Hyde, shall send you in goodie a few strong eentences which you will take came deliver against the Ministry, When I bave tgs. sure I will write down what I think you oughbs¢ esy on the occasion~——” Pray do wo, my lord: I shall be delighted te”: profit by your Graco’s inepirations! 1¢ ig asst ditions on which I"paid your electioneering expenses | tonishing how keen 1s your Grace’s perception” —the terms on’ which for three Parliaments you | how shrewd your Grace's judgment in respect, to have represented my borough. By heaven, sir, if | you deceive me, you shal} be turned out next time; | and I will put in my steward or my butler————aye, | - or even on@of my footmen, rather than stand the | chance of being turned round upon. ‘You solemnly ' pledged yourself to stand by Church and State in all things—to denounce tho people generally as a | base ignorant moh—to hold up the working classes in particular as an unwashed rabble—to oppuse everything in the shape of progress—to support all aristocratic privileges—in a word, to conduct youreelf as a staunch Tory in all questions where there could be no doubt as to the course you were to pursue, while in all dubious matters you wero to vote precisely according to my dictation. Now, Mr. Hyde, during the last session you did not act up entirely to thesa pledges: but I then said no- | just thing on the subject. Your recent speech at Viviandale has however enhanced my misgivings; and the rumoufs which are afloat almost seem to confirm them. What am I to understand, sir ? and what am I to expect P” “Understand, my lord, nothing against me. Expect, my lord, that I shall serve your Grace in all things. But the fact is,” continued Mr. Fen- wick Finnikin Hyde, with a smile half blandly complacent and half smirkingly syoopbantic, “a man must now and then make a show of indepen- dence-———” “ Stuff and nonsense!” excluiined the Duke in- dignantly. ‘The borough of Viviandale is my own —as well as those of Rottentown and Mongerville ; and depend upon it I shall do as I like with my own. Independence indeed—it is ridiculous! The five seate which thoee boroughs have in the House of Commons are mine; and I mean that the occupants of them shall do my bidding. What will become of our blessed Constitution if the pro- prietors of pocket-boroughs were to allow inde- “pendence ? No such thing, sir! But the fact ig you have been coquetting with the Whigs—ycou have been endeavouring to sell yourself—they / would mot buy you at your own price—and now you wish to get back into my favour. yourself that henceforth you will fulfil your com- pacts—and [ will pardon you.” ° “Your Grace is really too hard upon me,” said Mr. Hf¥de, simpering and emiling, but unable to prevent himself from looking foolish. “It is as- wuiog, ing how false rumours do get about—aston- ishing, my honour! However, as your Grace proposes to stretch forth the hand of friend. ahip, pray-suffer me to take it.” “And at the opening of the Session,” observed Marchmont, “ you will take the earliest oppar- tunity to make such @ speech as shall neutralise the evil effect of the qne you delivered the other day to my voters at Viviandale P” the leading topics of the day—astonishing, 'poa my honour!’ Hereupon Mr. Fenwick Finnikin Hyde rose from his seat : the Duko's hand was now stretched out to him—the honourable gentleman pressed it with every appearance of enthusiastic devotion— and obsequiously bowed himself out. “ You will note down the heads of this conver- sation,” said the Duke of Marchmont to Christian, when the door had closed behind the Member for Viviandale. “I am now going out; and when you have taken the notea I speak of, the remainder of | the day is at your own disposal.” With thease words the Duke of Marohmont quitted the Ubrary, leaving Christian in a state of no ordinary amasement at the ecese which he had witnessed. He had hitherto fancied that Great Britain was the freest country on the face of the earth, and that the House of Commons was composed of an independent sot of men, honestly, fairly, and impartially representing the whole people. He had now learnt a lesson to the con- trary; and he was astonished at the corruption of the system which allowed the Duke of Marchmont the control of those boroughs—enabling him to bestow them upon his own creatures, Not less was Christian surprised and disgusted at the abjoot servility with which one of those creatures had just abnegated all political independence, though faintly making « show to the contrary. When the young secretary had committed to paper the notes of the conversation at which he had been present, he issued forth to take a walk,-—intending to call Christina. , He wsa procepding through Hyde Park-on his way towards Regent's Park, pondering on the character of the Duke of Marchmont—and in no very tomfortable mood reflecting on the scene of the preceding night,—when he beheld « tall gantle. man approaching. He was enveloped in @ oloak ; and Christian immediately knew him to be Mr, Redcliffe. The youth was walking slowly in one direction—-ERedcliffe was advancing as slowly from the other. The latter was evidently absorbed in thought, as was the former. The sir was chill: | his mantle was closely wrapped around him—the collar reached high up, indeed almost to his cheek- bones—and his hat was drawn somewhat over the upper part of his countenance. He did not at fSiret sce Christian, and Was about to pase him: but the youth addressed Mr. Redcliffe in cour- teously becoming terms. | “ Ab, I did not percoive you,” said this gentie- man; “and I am giad you spoke :”—ant the same time he proffered the youth bis hand. “I¢isa long while since we last met.” “Tt is nearly ten weeks, air,” replied Christian. “T recolleet,” cbeerved Redcliffe. “li was whan ECONNIC I OOO© ‘ Gen ielpor ine asED, MAE ee ve le a wre phy —enh qT aba ES pth -pe we eRe Res Ga 9 Ee ar -_ SS CO