l soon be after them: and _that_, by
the way, is the meaning of all these polar voyages.--I see that even
the ministerial gentlemen present cast down their eyes and look
ashamed. No man has a word to say in defence. What I propose therefore
is, that we all unite in an address to the king--testifying our
abhorrence of this last act which has made the cup of our afflictions
run over, and begging that his majesty would dissolve the present
administration, and form a new one on a more patriotic basis."

"But, Mr. Dulberry, who is it that has been arrested?" cried many of
the company.

"That's nothing to the purpose, gentlemen: the man's an Englishman; and
that's enough, I hope."

"But how if he should turn out to be an English lunatic escaped from
his keepers?" said a cynical looking man in the corner.

A laugh followed, and a general cry of--, "Name! name!"

Not to forfeit his hold upon the public attention, Mr. Dulberry found
himself obliged to relax the rigor of his principles, and to descend
from the universal character of Englishman to so impertinent a
consideration as the character of the individual.--"His name,
gentlemen, is Edward Nicholas."

"Nicholas! Edward Nicholas!" said a number of voices at once: "what
_our_ Nicholas?"

"As to _that_, I know not: he was described in the Courier as a bold
adventurer: many honourable traits were recited of his conduct; and in
particular I remember it was said that he had fought on the side of
liberty in South America, and had once commanded a sloop of war--as a
commissioned officer--under Artigas."

"Oh! the same, the same!" exclaimed the greater part of the company:
"our Nicholas, sure enough: but what mad trick has he been playing
now?"

The patriot was evidently uneasy, and reluctant to answer this
question. Being pressed however on all sides, he replied--"I don't
know, gentlemen, that he has been playing any tricks: the Courier
pretends that he is charged with some knowledge of the Cato-street
affair; treason, or misprision of treason, as they call it in their
d---d treasury jargon."

"Oh! Cato-street? Is _that_ it?" cried the whole room with one voice,
"then we'll have no addresses for him: no, no! we'll not address his
Majesty for a Cato-street conspirator."

"But, gentlemen," said the disconcerted patriot--"But gentlemen, I
say----"

"Mr. Dulberry, it won't do," interrupted a grave-looking tradesman:
"Attack the ministers as much as you will. Let every m