The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 333: what you’re looking at

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

302 REYNOLDS’ WORKS a speech as shall neutralize the evil effect of the one you delivered the other day to my voters at Viviandale? ”’ ‘Oh, certainly, my lord,’’ cried the honourable gentleman. ‘J will make a speech that shall put matters all to rights, ‘pon my honour.” “And J, Mr. Hyde, shall send you in good time a few strong sentences which you will take care to deliver against the Ministry. When | have leisure I will write down what I think you ought to say on the occasion — ”’ ‘Pray do so, my lord; I shall be delighted to profit by your Grace’s inspirations. It is astonishing how keen is your Grace’s perception, how shrewd your Grace’s judgment in respect to the leading topics of the day, — astonishing, ’pon my honour.”’ Hereupon Mr. Fenwick Finnikin Hyde rose from his seat; the duke’s hand was now stretched out to him, the honour- able gentleman pressed it with every appearance of enthu- slastic devotion, and obsequiously bowed himself out. ‘‘ You will note down the heads of this conversation,” said the Duke of Marchmont to Christian, when the door had closed behind the Member for Viviandale. ‘‘ ] am now going out, and when you have taken the notes I speak of, the re- mainder of the day is at your own disposal.” With these words the Duke of Marchmont quitted the library, leaving Christian in a state of no ordinary amaze- ment at the scene which he had just 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 set of men, honestly, fairly, and impartially representing the whole people. He had now learned a lesson to the contrary, and he was aston- ished 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 abject servility with which one of those creatures had just abnegated all political independence, though faintly making a 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 upon Christina. He was proceeding through Hyde Park on his way toward Regent’s Park, pondering on the character of the Duke of CORNICLIIOOKS (EO)