suffering from my organ of
benevolence being too large; I must reduce it, and then I shall be
capable of greater things, shall not be so terrified by difficulties,
shall overlook trifles, and only carry on great schemes for universal
equality and the supreme rights of man. I have put myself into that
machine every morning for two hours, for these last three months, and I
feel now that I am daily losing a great portion."

"Will you do me the favour to explain an invention so extraordinary,
sir," said our hero.

"Most willingly, my boy. You observe that in the centre there is a
frame to confine the human head, somewhat larger than the head itself,
and that the head rests upon the iron collar beneath. When the head is
thus firmly fixed, suppose I want to reduce the size of any particular
organ, I take the boss corresponding to where that organ is situated in
the cranium, and fix it on it. For you will observe that all the bosses
inside of the top of the frame correspond to the organs as described in
this plaster-cast on the table. I then screw down pretty tight, and
increase the pressure daily, until the organ disappears altogether, or
is reduced to the size required."

"I comprehend that part perfectly, sir," replied Jack; "but now explain
to me by what method you contrive to raise an organ which does not
previously exist."

"That," replied Mr Easy, "is the greatest perfection of the whole
invention, for without I could do that, I could have done little. I
feel convinced that this invention of mine will immortalise me. Observe
all these little bell-glasses which communicate with the air-pump. I
shave my patient's head, grease it a little, and fix on the bell-glass,
which is exactly shaped to fit the organ in length and breadth. I work
the air-pump, and raise the organ by an exhausted receiver. It cannot
fail. There is my butler, now; a man who escaped hanging last spring
assizes on an undoubted charge of murder. I selected him on purpose; I
have flattened down murder to nothing, and I have raised benevolence
till it's like a wen."

"I am afraid my poor father's head is an exhausted receiver," thought
Jack, who then replied, "Well, sir, if it succeeds it will be a good
invention."

"If it succeeds!--why, it has succeeded!--it cannot fail. It has cost
me near two thousand pounds. By-the-bye, Jack, you have drawn very
liberally lately, and I had some trouble, with my own expenses, to meet
your bills; no