had been happily observed by the gentleman who had so ably proposed him”

[And so on for a column more; in the course of which there were really so many flattering allusions to the opening speech of the proposer of Titmouse, that it has often occurred to me as probable, that the "Reverend" Mr Mudflint had supplied the above report of Mr Titmouse's speech.]

CHAPTER II.

MR TITMOUSE, on concluding, made a great number of very profound bows, and replaced his hat upon his head, amidst prolonged and enthusiastic cheering, which, on Mr Delamere's essaying to address the crowd, was suddenly converted into a perfect hurricane of hissing; like as we now and then find a shower of rain suddenly change into hail. Mr Delamere stood the pitiless pelting of the storm with calmness, resolution, and goodhumour. Ten minutes had elapsed, and he had not been allowed to utter one syllable audible to any one beyond four or five feet from him. Every fresh effort he made to speak caused a renewal of the uproar, and many very offensive and opprobrious epithets were applied to him. Surely this was disgraceful, disgusting! What had he done to deserve such treatment? Had he been guilty of offering some gross indignity and outrage to every person present, individually, could he have fared worse than he did? He had conducted his canvass with scrupulous and exemplary honour and integrity-with the utmost courtesy to all parties, whether adverse or favourable. He was surely not deficient in those qualities of head and of heart-of personal appearance, even, which usually secure man favour with his fellows. Who could lay any thing to his charge-except that he had ventured to solicit the suffrages of the electors of Yatton, in competition with Mr Titmouse? If men of a determined character and of princely means have to calculate upon such brutal usage as this, can those who sanction or perpetrate it wonder at bribery and other undue means being resorted to, in absolute self-defence? Is it meant to deter any one from coming forward that has not a forehead of brass, leathern lungs, and heart of marble? After upwards of a quarter of an hour had been thus consumed, without Mr Delamere's having been permitted to utter two consecutive sentences, though he stood up against it patiently and gallantly, the returning officer, who had often appealed to them in vain, earnestly

besought Mr Titmouse to use his influence with the crowd, in order to secure Mr Delamere a moment's hearing.

"'Pon my life-I-eh?" quoth Titmouse. "A likely thing! He'd do it for me, wouldn't he? Every man for himself—all fair at an election, eh, Gammon?

"Do it, sir!" whispered Gammon indignantly—“ do it, and instantly-or you deserve to be kicked over into the crowd!" Titmouse, on this, took off his hat with a very bad grace, and addressing the crowd, said—“I—I—suppose you'll hear what he's got to say for himself, gents- But all was in vain: "Off! off! No! Go home!-ah!-ah!—a—a-a—h !St-St-Get away home with you, you young boroughmonger! aa -h!" came in louder and fiercer tones from the mob. Yet Mr Delamere did not like to give up without another and a desperate effort to catch the ear of the mob; but while he was in the act of raising his right hand, and exclaiming-" Gentlemen, only a word or two-I pledge my honour that I will not keep you three minutes"-some barbarous miscreant from the body of the crowd aimed at him a stone, not a very large one to be sure, yet flung with very considerable force, and hitting him just about the centre of the upper lip, which it cut open. He instantly turned pale, and applied to it his white pocket-handkerchief, which was speedily stained with blood which issued copiously from the wound, and must have greatly gratified the crowd! Still the gallant young fellow stood his ground with firmness, and the smile which he endeavoured to assume was enough to have brought tears into one's eyes to witness. The instant that Gammon had seen the stone take effect, he rushed over towards where Mr Delamere stood amidst his agitated friends, who were dissuadiug him from persevering in his attempt to address the crowd

"You are severely hurt, sir!" exclaimed Gammon, with much agitation, taking off his hat with an air of earnest and respectful: sympathy. Then he turned with an air of excitement towards the crowd, who seemed shocked into silence by the incident which had taken place, and were uttering increasing cries of "shame! shame!

"Shame ?-shame, shame, indeed, gentlemen"-he exclaimed vehemently" Where is that atrocious miscreant? In the

name of Mr Titmouse, who is too much agitated to address you himself, I conjure you to secure that abominable ruffian, and let him be brought to justice! If not, Mr Titmouse protests solemnly that he will withdraw from the election."

"Bravo, Titmouse! bravo! Spoke like a man!" exclaimed several voices. A desperate struggle was soon perceived about that quarter where the man who flung the stone must have been standing; he had been seized, and being in a trice most severely handled, a couple of men almost throttled him with the tightness of their grasp round his neck-these two the very men who had encouraged him to perpetrate the outrage!--and, amidst a shower of kicks and blows, he was hauled off, and deposited, half dead, in the cage.

"Three cheers for Delamere !" cried a voice from the crowd; and never had a more vehement shout issued from them than in response to that summons.

"Delamere! Delamere!- Hear him!-Speak out!- Delamere! Delamere!" cried a great number of voices, of people growing more and more excited as they beheld his handkerchief becoming suffused with blood. But he was not in a condition then to respond to their call. He was suffering really not a little pain; and moreover, his feelings had for a moment-just for a moment-given way, when he adverted to the possibility that Lady De la Zouch might have witnessed the outrage, or received exaggerated accounts of it. Mr St Aubyn, however, stood forward in Mr Delamere's stead-and in a very feeling and judicious but brief address, roused the feelings of the crowd to a high pitch of sympathy for Mr Delamere, who stood beside him, hat in hand-vehemently, and at length successfully, struggling to repress his rising emotions. If only one out of a hundred of those present had had a vote, this little incident might have changed the fate of the election. The returning officer then proceeded to call for a show of hands, on which a very great number were held up in favour of Mr Titmouse; but when Mr Delamere's name was called, it really seemed as if every one present had extended both his hands-there could be no mistake, no room for doubt. Titmouse turned as pale as a sheet, and gazed with an expression of ludicrous consternation at Gammon, who also looked, in common indeed with his whole party, not a litttle discon