(being the "Three Polar Stars" spoken of in Mr Titmouse's Address,) and the words "PEACE! RETRENCHMENT!! REFORM!!!" in immense gilt letters. The walls and windows of each were, moreover, covered with vari-coloured placards—but I shall not weary the reader by attempting to describe in detail the humours of a country election, which have employed already thousands of able and graphic pens and pencils. Surely, what else are they than the sticks and straws which float along the eddying and roughened surface? The whole mass of water is moving along; and our object should be rather to discover its depth, its force, and direction. Principles are in conflict; the fate of the nation is, in a measure, involved in a popular election, Such matters as I have alluded to, are but the laughable devices resorted to, in order to delude the grinning vulgar, and disguise the movements of those calm and calculating persons who are playing the deep game of politics. Under cover of a ludicrous hubbub, might be observed, for instance, in this little borough-subject to certain petty local disturbing forces-a deadly struggle for ascendency between the monarchical and the democratical principle; between rampant innovation and obstinate immobility! between the wealthy few and the many poor; between property and ability. If any thing like this were the case, how many of the electors-new or old-of Yatton-(who may perhaps be compared to chessmen in the hands of long-headed players)—knew any more about the matter than a private soldier at Waterloo thought of, comprehended, or appreciated, the complicated and mighty schemes of a Wellington or Napoleon, whose bidding he was doing, or of the prodigious consequences attached to the success or failure of either? Some people talk vehemently about the "paramount necessity for educating the lower classes." It is, indeed, of incalculable importance that they should be instructed; but is it not of still greater importance that the UPPER CLASSES should be instructed, if only on account of their being the holders of that PROPERTY, in greater or less proportions, with its inseparable power and influence, which, directly or indirectly, determines all the movements of the state? Could such a state of things as universal suffrage be supposed to exist consistently with the preservation of social order of society-it would still be impossible to extirpate or

effectually to counteract the influence of property, in whose hands soever it may be placed. Pluck out of the vilest of the bellowing bullies surrounding the hustings, him (of course a nonelector) most conspicuous for his insolence and brutality; suppose him suddenly or gradually become the owner of a great, or a small property, with the influence it gives him over customers, tenants, dependents: do you suppose that he will not at once, either gently or roughly, according to his temper, begin to exercise his power, (that which is so dear to the heart of man,) by dictating the exercise of the elective franchise in favour of those political opinions which he may happen to favour? Is not THIS the man to instruct, and the better, in proportion to the extent of his real influence? Except in those brief and horrid intervals of social convulsion, in which δικα και πανία παλιν σrgepla—however popularized and extended may apparently be the system of electing parliamentary representatives, those who really return members to Parliament will—whether themselves actually electors or not, and whether directly or indirectly—be the holders of property, in villages, in towns, in cities, in boroughs and counties. The influence of property is inevitable as that of gravitation: and losing sight of this, people may split their heads in vain, and chatter till the arrival of the Greek kalends, about extending further and further the elective franchise, shortening Parliaments, and voting by ballot. Whether it ought to be so, signifies little, when we know that it is, and will be so :—but now it is time to return to the Yatton election; and if I be but this once forgiven, I will not diverge again in a hurry from the main course of events.

Lord De la Zouch, who resided some eight or ten miles from Yatton, soon discovered, as also did sundry other very able and experienced electioneering friends, taking an interest in his son's success, that the movements of the enemy were directed by a strong and skilful hand; and which never could be that of— Mr Titmouse. However slight and faint may be the hopes of success with which a man enters into an interesting and important undertaking, they very soon begin to increase and brighten with eager action; and it was so with Lord De la Zouch. He was not long in tracing the powerful, but cautiously concealed agency of our friend Mr Gammon. One or two such dangerous

very

and artful snares were detected by the watchful and practised eyes of his lordship and his friends, just in time to prevent Delamere from being seriously compromised, as satisfied them that good Mr Parkinson, with all his bustle, energy, and heartiness, was dreadfully overmatched by his astute opponent, Mr Gammon; and that in the hands of Mr Parkinson, the contest would become, as far as Delamere was concerned, a painful and ridiculous farce. A council of war, therefore, was called at Fotheringham Castle; the result of which was an express being sent off to London, to bring down immediately a first-rate electioneering agent-MR CRAFTY-and place in his hands the entire management of Mr Delamere's cause. Mr Crafty was between forty and forty-five years old. His figure, of middle height, was very spare. He was always dressed in a plain suit of black, with white neck-kerchief, and no collars; yet no one that knew the world could mistake him for a dissenting minister!—He was calm and phlegmatic in his manner and movements—there was not a particle of passion or feeling in his composition. He was a mere thinking machine, in exquisite order. He was of marvellous few words. His face was thin and angular. His chin and temples formed an isosceles triangle; his chin being very peaked, his forehead very broad. His hair was dark, and cut almost as close as that of a foot soldier-and this it was that helped to give his countenance that expression, at once quaint and unaffected, which, once observed, was not likely to be soon forgotten. He eye was blue, and intensely cold and bright-his complexion fresh; he had no whiskers; there was a touch of sarcasm about the corners of his mouth. Every thing about him bespoke a man cold, cautious, acute, matter-of-fact. "Business" was written all over his face. He had devoted himself to electioneering tactics; and he might be said to have reduced them, indeed, to a science. No one could say whether he was of Whig or Tory politics; my impression is, that he cared not a straw for either. This, then, was the man who was to be pitted against Gammon: and these two gentlemen may be perhaps looked upon as the real players, whose backers were— Delamere and Titmouse.

Mr Crafty soon made his appearance at Yatton; and seemed, in a manner, to have dropped into Mr Delamere's committee

room from the clouds. His presence did not appear quite unexpected; yet no one seemed to know why, whence, or at whose instance he had come. He never went near Fotheringham, nor ever mentioned the name of its noble owner, who (between ourselves) contemplated the accession of Crafty with feelings of calm exultation and confidence. Mr Delamere's "committee” was instantly disbanded, and no new one named. In fact, there was to be none at all; and Mr Titmouse's friends were, for a while, led to believe that the enemy were already beginning to beat a retreat. A quiet banker at Grilston, and a hardheaded land-surveyor and agent of the same place, were alone apparently taken into Mr Crafty's confidence. Mr Parkinson, even, was sent to the right about; and his rising pique and anger were suddenly quelled by the steadfast and significant look with which Mr Crafty observed, in dismissing him-" It won't do." Adjoining, and opening into the large room in which, till Mr Crafty's arrival, Mr Delamere's committee had sat, was a very small one; and in it Mr Crafty established his headquarters. He came, accompanied though no one for a while knew it by three of his familiars; right trusty persons, in sooth. One of them always sat on a chair, at the outside of the door leading into Mr Crafty's room, over which he kept guard as a sentinel. The other two disposed themselves according to orders. Mr Gammon soon felt the presence of his secret and formidable opponent, in the total change the quiet system

that became all of a sudden apparent in the enemy's tactics: his watchful eye and quick perception detected, here and there, the faint vanishing traces of a sly and stealthy foot-the evidences of experienced skill; and one morning early he caught a glimpse of Mr Crafty, (with whose name and fame he was familiar,) and returned home with a grave consciousness that the contest had become one exceedingly serious; that--so to speak-he must instantly spread out every stitch of canvass to overtake the enemy. In short, he made up his mind for mischief, as soon as he gave Lord De la Zouch credit for being resolved to win; and felt the necessity for acting with equal caution and decision. During that day he obtained an advance from a neighbouring banker of two thousand pounds, on the security of a deposit of a portion of the title-deeds of the Yatton

property. He had, indeed, occasion for great resources, personal as well as pecuniary; for instance-he had reason to believe that the enemy had already penetrated to his stronghold, the QUAINT CLUB at Grilston, (for that was the name of the club into which the one hundred and nine new voters at Grilston had formed themselves.) Though Gammon had agreed, after much negotiation, to buy them at the very liberal sum of ten pounds a-head, he had reason, shortly after the arrival of Mr Crafty, to believe that they had been tampered with; for, as he was late one evening moodily walking up to the Hall, in the park he overtook a man whose person he did not at first recognise in the darkness, but whose fearfully significant motions soon. ensured him recognition. It was, in fact, the man who had hitherto treated with him on behalf of the Quaint Club; one Benjamin Bran, (commonly called Ben Bran,) a squat, bow-legged baker of Grilston. He uttered not a word, nor did Mr Gammon; but, on being recognized, simply held up to Mr Gammon his two outstretched hands, twice, with a significant and enquiring look. Gammon gazed at him for a moment with fury; and muttering" to-morrow-here-same hour!" hurried on to the Hall in a state of the utmost perplexity and alarm. The dilemma in which he felt himself, kept him awake half the night! When once you come to this sort of work, you are apt to give your opponent credit for deeper manoeuvring than you can at the time fully appreciate; and the fate of the battle may soon be rendered really doubtful. Then, every thing—inclusive of serious consequences, extending far beyond the mere result of the election-depends upon the skill, temper, and experience of the real and responsible directors of the election. Was Ben Bran's appearance a move on the part of Crafty? Had that gentleman bought him over and converted him into a spy-was he now playing the traitor? Or was the purse of Titmouse to be bonâ fide measured against that of Lord De la Zouch?

That would

be dreadful! Gammon felt (to compare him for a moment to an animal with whom he had some kindred qualities) much like a cat on a very high glass wall, afraid to stir in any direction, and yet unable to continue where he was. While the two candidates, attended by their sounding bands, and civil and smiling friends,