devoted to their principles was sedulously circulated among
members of the House. It was called the "Precursor," and systematically
attacked not only every institution, but, it might be said, every
law, and all the manners and customs, of the country. Its style was
remarkable, never excited or impassioned, but frigid, logical, and
incisive, and suggesting appalling revolutions with the calmness with
which one would narrate the ordinary incidents of life. The editor of
the "Precursor" was Mr. Jawett, selected by that great master of human
nature, Mr. Bertie Tremaine. When it got about, that the editor of this
fearful journal was a clerk in a public office, the indignation of the
government, or at least of their supporters, was extreme, and there was
no end to the punishments and disgrace to which he was to be subjected;
but Waldershare, who lived a good deal in Bohemia, was essentially
cosmopolitan, and dabbled in letters, persuaded his colleagues not to
make the editor of the "Precursor" a martyr, and undertook with their
authority to counteract his evil purposes by literary means alone.

Being fully empowered to take all necessary steps for this object,
Waldershare thought that there was no better mode of arresting public
attention to his enterprise than by engaging for its manager the most
renowned pen of the hour, and he opened himself on the subject in the
most sacred confidence to Mr. St. Barbe. That gentleman, invited to call
upon a minister, sworn to secrecy, and brimful of state secrets, could
not long restrain himself, and with admirable discretion consulted on
his views and prospects Mr. Endymion Ferrars.

"But I thought you were one of us," said Endymion; "you asked me to put
you in the way of getting into Brooks'!"

"What of that?" said Mr. St. Barbe; "and when you remember what the
Whigs owe to literary men, they ought to have elected me into Brooks'
without my asking for it."

"Still, if you be on the other side?"

"It is nothing to do with sides," said Mr. St. Barbe; "this affair goes
far beyond sides. The 'Precursor' wants to put down the Crown; I
shall put down the 'Precursor.' It is an affair of the closet, not of
sides--an affair of the royal closet, sir. I am acting for the Crown,
sir; the Crown has appealed to me. I save the Crown, and there must be
personal relations with the highest," and he looked quite fierce.

"Well, you have not written your first article yet," said Endymion. "I
shall l