ng 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: but, tell
me, is the leader of your movement in possession of that which ---
wants?'

'No more deficient in it than in brass,' said Francis Ardry.

'Well,' said I, 'whatever his qualifications may be, I wish him success
in the cause which he has taken up--I love religious liberty.'

'We shall succeed,' said Francis Ardry; 'John Bull upon the whole is
rather indifferent on the subject, and then we are sure to be backed by
the Radical party, who, to gratify their political prejudices, would join
with Satan himself.'

'There is one thing,' said I, 'connected with this matter which surprises
me--your own lukewarmness. Yes, making every allowance for your natural
predilection for dog-fighting, and your present enamoured state of mind,
your apathy at the commencement of such a movement is to me
unaccountable.'

'You would not have cause to complain of my indifference,' said Frank,
'provided I thought my country would be benefited by this movement; but I
happen to know the origin of it. The priests are the originators, 'and
what country was ever benefited by a movement which owed its origin to
them?' so says Voltaire, a page of whom I occasionally read. By the
present move they hope to increase their influence, and to further
certain designs which they entertain both with regard to this country and
Ireland. I do not speak rashly or unadvisedly. A strange fellow--a
half-Italian, half-English priest,--who was recommended to me by my
guardians, partly as a spiritual, partly as a temporal guide, has let me
into a secret or two; he is fond of a glass of gin and water--and over a
glass of gin and water cold, with a lump