ssent; the
proper mode of dealing with the general spirit of Democracy, which was
the epidemic of European monarchies; the relative proportions of the
agricultural and manufacturing population; corn-laws, currency, and the
laws that regulate wages; a criticism on the leading speakers of the
House of Commons, with some discursive observations on the importance of
fattening cattle; the introduction of flax into Ireland; emigration;
the condition of the poor; the doctrines of Mr. Owen; the pathology
of potatoes; the connection between potatoes, pauperism, and
patriotism,--these and suchlike stupendous subjects for reflection, all
branching more or less intricately from the single idea of the Castleton
property, the young lord discussed and disposed of in half-a-dozen prim,
poised sentences; evincing, I must say in justice, no inconsiderable
information, and a mighty solemn turn of mind. The oddity was that the
subjects so selected and treated should not come rather from some young
barrister, or mature political economist, than from so gorgeous a lily
of the field. Of a man less elevated in rank one would certainly
have said, "Cleverish, but a prig;" but there really was something so
respectable in a personage born to such fortunes, and having nothing
to do but to bask in the sunshine, voluntarily taking such pains with
himself and condescending to identify his own interests--the
interests of the Castleton property--with the concerns of his lesser
fellow-mortals that one felt the young marquis had in him the stuff to
become a very considerable man.

Poor Sir Sedley, to whom all these matters were as unfamiliar as
the theology of the Talmud, after some vain efforts to slide
the conversation into easier grooves, fairly gave in, and with a
compassionate smile on his handsome countenance, took refuge in his
easy-chair and the contemplation of his snuff-box.

At last, to our great relief, the servant announced Lord Castleton's
carriage; and with another speech of overpowering affability to me, and
a cold shake of the hand to Sir Sedley, Lord Castleton went his way.

The breakfast-parlor looked on the street, and I turned mechanically
to the window as Sir Sedley followed his guest out of the room. A
travelling carriage with four post-horses was at the door, and a
servant, who looked like a foreigner, was in waiting with his master's
cloak. As I saw Lord Castleton step into the street, and wrap himself in
his costly mantle line