The Mysteries of London; or, Lights and Shadows of London Life — page 273: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

271 “* Little fear of that,” replied the Statesman; “heja! - rich, I have just heard that his private fortune ex ceeds forty thousand a year in landed property alone: With such an income at his disposal, commanding talent, a seat for life in the house, and the sympathy of a large body of peers, who still regret the fatal necessity which condemned his ancestors to the block; what may he not hope to achieve? He has shown that he is no mean tactician by the manner in which he has contrived to hoodwink both the king and government, I am more enraged with the marquis than the prelate,” added the speaker; “for him to have played his party such a trick is inexcusable, Putting the King’s displeasure aside, I can scarcely regret the bishop’s elevation, It was a sad necessity which condemned the unfortunate Radcliff to the block, But his wealth, religion, and popularity with the northern people condemned him,” “ Would,” said the chancellor, “ we could get rid of his descendant in the same way! I have just recol- lected,” he added, “ the source of the bishop’s wealth ; the old Jacobite, Lord Bamff, disinherited his nephew in his favour. The will was drawn by Lord Selkirk and Judge Burton, and caused much conversation at the time. What on earth has he been doing with himself ever since ?” “ Living at his rectory, near Sourton’s,” “He must have paid smartly for the marquis’s interest 2” “Why, yes,” said the minister ; “we know by ex. perience that the marquis is not apt to underrate his Support. If the debate on the address goes well, perhaps his majesty may be Satisfied. At worst,” continued his lordship, «it can only end in a resig- nation; and that is an event I by no means for I am tired of the cares and trials of office,” “So am not I,” responded his less wealthy and more active colleague. “ Yoy have fortune and LIGHTS AND SHADOWS OF LONDON Lirs, ’s connection with the family of Derwent- water spread like wildfire through the house, and he received the congratulations of many who had been friends of his unfortunate aucestor—men who too selfish to stir themselves to aid the friendless Ones powerful honse by their political who were rejoiced to see ous of the race ordship was taking the oaths, many of | in knots, conversing over the hes with each on the probable events of the “ : EE rere g, F j i H . ” Be voice is that?” demanded our readers’ old Lord Moreton, turning very pale, ._ It was the clear, distinct tone of the prelate taking | the daths, to which he alluded, _ | . “ That?2—Oh, that is Sourton’s intended son-in-law, the now Bishop of Tythetail,” replied Lord Harry, or rather the Earl of Heartley we should have said, since he had succeeded to the peerage by his father’s death. _ | instant. The countenance of the former became almost _ | livid wi Surprise, remorse, and terror. It seemed as | if Heaven, after 80 many years of impunity, was about ' to launch the avenging bolt at last. The prelate re- | ‘garded him with the quiet look which a peaceful con- science ‘towards him, at least, he had nothing to reproach himself. “ By heavens!” exclaimed Lord Heartley, crossing and shaking him warmly by the | hand, “ but it is my old friend and Mentor. Welcome, “my dear lord—a thousand welcomes toa seat in the 4 legisla of your country !” | Lord Moreton, unable to conquer his emotion, im- “ Heaven defend me from my friends!” exclaimed | the premier, haughtily, as he passed from his seat | before the t after assisting to open parliament stipendiary baron with 4 miserable pension of four thousand a-year—no very agreeable prospect,” The premier shrugged his shoulders, and said: “ Why, yes, my lord; I have thought it hard upon Professional men that they should depend on the existence of a cabinet for the continuance of their revenues, In or ont of office, in my Opinion, they should be for life,”’ for the cabinet,” answered the chancellor. The statesman was silent—too to commit himself upon such a delicate subject, 4 “*Tell me, my lord,” he demanded, after a pause— “do you know the reason why his majesty honours the house of Derwen twater wit such peculiar hatred ? Surely the heads of two of the family sufficient to expiate their crime,” “Crime!” repeated the chancellor, “ Well, then,” added the earl, who more than sus- pected the secret leaning of his colleague, “ their want of success.” “They may thank Bute,” replied the man of law; “he hated the Derwentwaters for some injuries, and worked £0 successfally to instil into the mind of his royal pupil his own feelings, that it has become, I fear, impossible now to eradi cate them. Have you never observed,” he added, lowering his of equal defiance, and a brow as haughty as his own. * “We mast to Windsor, my lord,” whispered the lawye to the minister, «to repair this fatal error, I member that the all powerful Chatham failed to “Move his majesty’s resentment towards the Radcliffs, and abandoned the new made bishop, then a young tan of considerable talent, to obscurity. Unfortu- the oaths are administered, and the deed is irrevocable. Better that the king should learn the t uth from as than from some good-natured friend.” Fe “ This will, I fear, prove the wreck of our political xistence,” exclaimed the premier. “The king wil] lever forgive the deception, or believe that we have ot been a party to it.” | “He braves it nobly,” said the chancellor, * Does imagine that the revenues of his bishopric are ‘Maustibie, or that the interest of the marquis is ently strong to procure the reversion of the of nis family? Walpole’s policy in settling ne estates on Greenwich Hospital has, I think, taken Zod care of forbidding all hope of that. He must faw in his love of disp > Or he will soon be a ruined FE OK 0 CO) ee ~.comicls