about a place like London on foot, or in a
paltry hackney coach.'

'But,' said I, 'will not the pursuit of politics prevent your devoting
much time to this fair lady?'

'It will prevent me devoting all my time,' said Francis Ardry, 'as I
gladly would; but what can I do? My guardians wish me to qualify myself
for a political orator, and I dare not offend them by a refusal. If I
offend my guardians, I should find it impossible--unless I have recourse
to Jews and money-lenders--to support Annette; present her with articles
of dress and jewellery, and purchase a horse and cabriolet worthy of
conveying her angelic person through the streets of London.'

After a pause, in which Francis Ardry appeared lost in thought, his mind
being probably occupied with the subject of Annette, I broke silence by
observing, 'So your fellow-religionists are really going to make a
serious attempt to procure their emancipation?'

'Yes,' said Francis Ardry, starting from his reverie; 'everything has
been arranged; even a leader has been chosen, at least for us of Ireland,
upon the whole the most suitable man in the world for the occasion--a
barrister of considerable talent, mighty voice, and magnificent
impudence. With emancipation, liberty, and redress for the wrongs of
Ireland in his mouth, he is to force his way into the British House of
Commons, dragging myself and others behind him--he will succeed, and when
he is in he will cut a figure; I have heard--himself, who has heard him
speak, say that he will cut a figure.'

'And is--competent to judge?' I demanded.

'Who but he?' said Francis Ardry; 'no one questions his judgment
concerning what relates to elocution. His fame on that point is so well
established, that the greatest orators do not disdain occasionally to
consult him; C--- himself, as I have been told, when anxious to produce
any particular effect in the House, is in the habit of calling in--for a
consultation.'

'As to matter, or manner?' said I.

'Chiefly the latter,' said Francis Ardry, 'though he is competent to give
advice as to both, for he has been an orator in his day, and a leader of
the people; though he confessed to me that he was not exactly qualified
to play the latter part--"I want paunch," said he.'

'It is not always indispensable,' said I; 'there is an orator in my town,
a hunchback and watchmaker, without it, who not only leads the people,
but the mayor too; perhaps he has a succedaneum in his hunch: