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to stagger under the weight of intelligence of such magnitude; and it was some time before he recovered calmness of feeling sufficient to appreciate the nature and consequences of the meditated step, viz., a direct and immediate attempt to replace him in the possession of the estates from which he had been some two years before displaced. But all other considerations were speedily absorbed in one which most profoundly affected him-the princely conduct of his friend Lord de la Zouch. Mr Aubrey said scarce any thing upon this topic for some time; but Mr Runnington perceived how powerfully his feelings were excited. And will it occasion surprise when I say, that this feeling of gratitude towards the creature towards the noble instrument-was presently itself merged into another, that of gratitude towards God, whose mysterious and beneficent purpose concerning him he contemplated with a holy awe? Mr Runnington was himself greatly moved by the spectacle before him; but desirous of relieving the increasing excitement under which he perceived Mr Aubrey labouring, he kindly turned the conversation towards the practical details, and apprised him of the consultation he had had with the Attorney-General-to all of which Mr Aubrey listened with intense interest, and thoroughly appreciated the value of the admirable suggestion upon which they were acting. But Lord de la Zouch had, with a most delicate consideration, peremptorily enjoined Mr Runnington not to acquaint Mr Aubrey with the circumstance either of his lordship's having come over from France solely on his affairs, or of his meditated project of summarily releasing Mr Aubrey from all his embarrassments. As soon as Mr Runnington had informed Mr Aubrey that he would find his lordship then at Dover Street, and in readiness to receive him, that closed their interview; and Mr Aubrey, in a state of extraordinary exhilaration of spirits, instantly set off to see his munificent benefactor, and pour out before him the homage of a long oppressed and grateful heart. After a long interview, the character of which the reader may easily imagine, Lord de la Zouch insisted on setting out for Vivian Street, for he declared he could not let another hour pass without seeing those in whose

welfare he felt so tender an interest: so, arm in arm, they walked towards Vivian Street; and it would have made any one's heart thrill with satisfaction to see the brightened countenance of poor Aubrey, as he walked along, full of joyful excitement, which was visible even in the elasticity and vigour of his step. It seemed as though a millstone had been taken from his neck; for though he was, indeed, of a somewhat sanguine temperament, yet had he not, in what had happened, solid ground to sustain the strongest and brightest hopes? Whether he was right, or whether he was wrong, still he entertained a confidence that it was God's good providence to which he was indebted for what had happened-and that He would bring it to a successful issue. They agreed together, as they neared Vivian Street, to be guided by circumstances, in communicating or withholding information of the glorious interference in their favour which was at that moment in active operation. Mr Aubrey's knock-so vastly sharper and more energetic than was his wont-brought two fair faces to the window in a trice, and faces pale with apprehension; but who shall tell the agitation they experienced on seeing Lord de la Zouch and Mr Aubrey? 'Twas an affecting interview; here was their princely deliverer-the very soul of delicacy and generosity-for as such, indeed, they regarded him, though as yet ignorant of his last noble act of munificence! His lordship's quick and affectionate eye detected, with much pain, on first seeing them, the ravages of the cankering anxiety which had been so long their lot; how much thinner were both of them, and was more especially Mr Aubrey, than when he had last seen them! And the mourning which they wore for Lady Stratton made their delicate figures appear slighter than even they really were. Their countenances, also, bore the traces of sorrow and suffering—but the expression was, if possible, lovelier than ever. The fire and spirit of Kate's blue eyes was subdued into an exquisite expression of serenity and pensiveness; but on the present occasion her bosom was agitated by so many conflicting feelings-she felt conscious that her very sense of em. barrassment was a delicious one-as gave a surprising variety of expression

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to her features. Lord de la Zouch's heart melted within him, as he looked at them, and reflected on the sufferings through which they had passed, and felt a delighted consciousness of the pleasure which his appearance occasioned that virtuous but long oppressed and harassed family; and in the scene of their grace ful and honourable poverty and devout and earnest were his wish and his hope, that providence would be pleased to crown with success his in terference in their behalf. His lordship would not be denied on one matter, upon which he declared that he had made up his mind-that they should all of them return with him to dinner in Dover Street ;-and, to be sure, the sight of his carriage, which he had ordered to follow him within an hour's time, gave them to understand that he really was in earnest-and they both hastened up to dress, oh, with what bounding hearts, and elastic steps!-Lord de la Zouch felt, as they all sat together in his carriage, as though he were a fond father restored to the presence of long afflicted children; and his courtesy was touched with an exquisite tenderness. When they entered the spacious and lofty drawing-rooms, which, though then wearing the deserted appearance incident to the season, reminded them of many former hours of splendid enjoyment, they felt a flutter of spirits, which it required a little effort to overcome. The drawing room and the dining room struck them as quite prodigious, from their contrast to the little rooms to which they had been so long accustomed in Vivian Street: and several other little incidents revived recollections and associations of a painfully interesting nature: but as their spirits grew more exhilarated, they felt a sense of real enjoyment to which all of them had long been strangers. One or two sly allusions made by his lordship to the probable future occupants of the house, and the more modern air they might choose, perhaps, to give it, brought as bright a bloom into Miss Aubrey's fair cheek, as ever had mantled there! When they had returned home, it was impossible to think of bed-all of them had so much to say, and were in so joyous an excitement; and before they had parted

for the night, Aubrey, unable any longer to keep to himself the true source of his enjoyment, electrified them by a frank and full disclosure of the great event of the day!

A day or two afterwards, Lord de la Zouch, having accomplished his benevolent purposes, returned to the Continent, having pledged Mr Aubrey to communicate with him frequently, and particularly with reference to the progress of the important proceedings which he had caused to be set on foot. The splendid chance which now existed of retrieving his former position, was not allowed by Mr Aubrey to interfere with his close attention to his professional studies, to which he might yet have to look for the only source of his future subsistence; and he continued his attendance at Mr Mansfield's chambers with exemplary punctuality and energy. It was not long after Lord de la Zouch's return to the Continent, that the melancholy events occurred which have been narrated in the present part of this history-I mean the serious illness of Lord Dreddlington, and the untimely death of Lady Cecilia. The Aubreys had no other intimation of those events but such as they derived from the public papers-from which it appeared that his lordship's illness had occasioned the fright which had ended in so sad a catastrophe with Lady Cecilia; and that his lordship's illness had originated in agitation and distress occasioned by the failure of extensive mercantile speculations into which he had allowed himself to be betrayed by designing persons. In passing down Park Lane, Mr and Mrs Aubrey, and Kate, saw a hatchment suspended from the house of Mr Titmouse; and, some short time afterwards, they saw that gentleman himself, in the park, driving a beautiful dark blue cab, his tiger and he both in mourning. Black greatly changes most people's appearance; but it effected a peculiar change in Mr Titmouse; the fact being that, desirous of exhibiting even extra marks of respect for the memory of the deceased, Lady Cecilia, he had put his sandy moustaches and imperial into mourn. ing, by carefully dressing them with Indian ink, which gave a very touching and pensive character to his fea

tures.

INDEX.

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AFRICA, strictures on the proposed ex-
pedition to that country to civilize it,
109.
Asia, the origin of the secret societies
of that country -the Assassins and
Thugs traced, 229.

Banking and Currency, 550.
Bopp's Vocalismus, reviewed, 199.

Carracci, Caravaggio, and Monachism,
371.
Chew Tragedy, the, being a faithful
account of the doings of John Meek's
magpie, a tale, in verse, 83.
City Visiter, the, 488.
Conservative Prospects-Ten years of
the Reform movement having proved
that it was undertaken with the view
of only strengthening the Whig party,
and the evident policy of that party
being the yielding up all the institu-
tions of the country to uphold the
revolutionay movement, the desire
gains ground for a Conservative Go-
vernment, 406-the reasonableness of
this expectation may be shown by
a consideration of these two particu-
lars, 1st, the reality and the urgent form
of that public necessity which at
present calls for the return of a Con-

servative Government, may be seen,
first, in the public danger of the con-
nexion between Mr O'Connell and the
Ministry, 407-regarding which there
are strong arguments for rejecting his
co-operation; 1, in his power over the
government existing in defiance of
that general horror lurking through-
out the public mind; 2, in his power
existing in defiance of the most solemn
records, emanating from the Whigs
themselves, in denunciation of its cha-

racter and its application; 3, in his
project of the repeal having now be-
come seditious; and 4, in his agitation
having hitherto operated upon Ire-
land pacific, but in the probability of
its operating soon on Ireland bellige-
rent, 412.-and, secondly, in the elec-
toral innovation of Lord Morpeth's
Irish Registration Bill, 414.-Sir Ro-
bert Peel will resume office amidst

difficulties, both foreign and domestic,
420.-but to him the nation looks to
manifest the true liberality, and the
ample sufficiency of our national
grandeur, in every direction, and for
all good interests alike, by Conserva-
tive principles, when rightly under-
stood, and when honestly applied,
422.

Currency and Banking, 550.

De Lamartine, a review of his work,
entitled, "La Question d'Orient," 97.
De Lammenais, a review of his work,
entitled, "Le Pays et le Gouverne-
ment, 97.

Delta, Scottish Melodies by him, 124,
Disinterment, the, by B. Simmons, 245.
Dourraunee Empire, its boundaries de-
fined, with a map, 281.

Ebn Batuta, the travels of, reviewed,

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97.

Gleig, the Rev. G. R., his Memoir of

Warren Hastings reviewed, 423, 638.
Hastings, Warren, Memoir of his Life
by the Rev. G. R. Gleig, reviewed,

No. I., 423-No. II., 638.
Hints to Authors, Second Series. No.
I. On the Impressive, 56-No. II. On
the Original, 154-No. III. On the
Dramatic, 330-No. IV. On the Bio-
graphical, 757.

Holocaust, an Episode of the Peninsular

war, 475.

yet felt they all in the deep waters. The generous and timely interference of Mr Runnington had secured them, indeed, a few months' respite from the harassing and tormenting attacks of those who seemed bent upon their destruction; but what was to become of them all when the arrival of the next term should have again set into motion against them the dismal machinery of the law? None of them could foresee any mode of exit from their troubles; speculation was idle: yet lost they not an humble but trembling hope, that Providence would yet make a way for their escape.

The one of all the recent occurrences which had most shocked and disheartened Mr Aubrey, and driven him nearest to the verge of downright despair, was that of Lady Stratton's death, and its afflicting concomitants. How powerfully and perseveringly did the Arch-enemy of mankind represent this circumstance to him-especially in those moods of depression which are incident to all of us in this fluctuating scene of trial and suffering-as proof that he was the sport of chance, the victim of evil destiny! What had he, his wife, his sister, done to deserve it? But, thank God! in vain were these suggestions from beneath; totally ineffectual

"To shake his trust in God!"

Certainly, the event alluded to baffled all his calculations, long, and deep. ly, and anxiously as he reflected upon it, in all its bearings-and his only refuge lay in the simple reference of it to the all-wise providence of God. Oh, foolish fiend! and didst thou really think this little matter was sufficient to make him doubt or deny God's moral government of the world?-Far otherwise, indeed, was it with him, enlight. ened by intelligence from on high; and which satisfied Aubrey, that it was but reasonable to expect, while there was so much that was utterly incomprehensible and inexplicable in God's own character, in his physical and natural government of the world, corres. ponding mystery and incomprehensibility in his moral government of the world. We are permitted to obtain a few occasional glimpses into the one, as well as into the other-and they should satisfy us of the reality of the sublime and awful system which is in existence around us. What know we of the ultimate scope and end of His

working? What seeming good shall we be sure will not produce evil? What seeming evil shall we be sure will not produce, and is not designed to produce, good? And may not our ignorance in these respects be specially ordained to test the faith of manto check presumptuous confidenceto repel palsying despair; in a word, to make man walk humbly with his God, in constant and implicit dependence upon Him? Oh, blessed is the man of true devoutness of mind, and protected from innumerable troubles and perils that assail and overpower those who choose to live without God in the world! Thus was it that Aubrey, as he had not presumed in his prosperity, so despaired not in his adversity.

He had commenced a sedulous attendance at the chambers of Mr Mansfield, within a few days after the delicate kindness of Mr Runnington had afforded him the means of doing so. He already knew sufficient to charm him with the intricate but exquisite system of the law of real property; and the immediate practical operation of its principles, which he witnessed in his new scene of study, served to enhance his estimate of its importance and value. Mr Mansfield had recommended him to address his early and close attention to the incomparable essay of Mr Fearne, upon Contingent Remainders. He did so, and was soon enchanted with the simplicity, subtlety, and comprehensiveness of the system developed in that masterly performance. In addition to his absorbing professional labours, he continued his occasional contributions to substantial literature; but Mr Runnington's generosity had enabled him to dispense with that severe and incessant exertion to which he had been till then accustomed, and enabled him to address himself to his difficult yet delightful studies with unimpaired energy.

Some short time after he had commenced his attendance at Mr Mansfield's chambers, Mr Aubrey was, one morning about ten o'clock, on his way down to Lincoln's Inn, and when about to cross Oxford Street, paused to let pass him a dusty post-chaise and four; and as it went close and rapidly by him, he quite started with astonishment, for, unless his eye had extraordinarily deceived him, he had seen in the chaise no other than Lord de la Zouch, who, however, if it were he, had not appeared to see Mr Aubrey,

and probably had really not observed him.

"Why, how can this be?" thought Aubrey, standing and gazing for a moment in astonishment after the postchaise. "The letter which Agnes had the other day from Lady de la Zouch, did not say a word about Lord de la Zouch's intention to return to England! And alone! And in a post-chaiseand travelling all night, as he evidently has, from Dover! 'Tis strange! What can be the matter?"-And he stood for a moment irresolute whether or not he should retrace his step3, and satisfy his curiosity by calling at the house of Lord de la Zouch, in Dover Street. On consideration, however, he determined not to do so. He might be mistaken; but if not, Lord de la Zouch might have been called back to England on a matter of special urgency, and possibly deem a call from any one, except those he expected to see, intrusive. Aubrey, therefore, continued his way on to Lincoln's Inn; and was very soon engrossed with the matters there requiring his attention. But it really was Lord de la Zouch whom he had seen; and it was solely on Aubrey's own account that his lordship, leaving Lady de la Zouch at Paris, had taken this sudden journey to Englandnot intending Aubrey, however, at all events at present, to be apprized of the fact. Twas entirely owing to the unconscious Gammon that Lord de la Zouch thus made his appearance in England; for, had that gentleman not taken such special pains to have inserted in the Morning Growl, the full and accurate account of the proceedings which he had caused to be instituted against himself, which the reader has had laid before him, and which his lordship in due course read at Paris, with infinite anxiety and alarm on the score of its possible hearing upon Mr Aubrey, his lordship would in all probability have continued at Paris for several months longer, in total ignorance of the thraldom of the unfortunate Aubreys. The moment that his lordship had read over the report in question, he wrote off to Mr Runnington a strictly confidential letter, begging an immediate answer, with as full and exact an account of Mr Aubrey's circumstances as Mr Runnington could give. By the very next post, that gentleman wrote off to his lordship a long letter, acquainting him with what had befallen the persecuted Aubrey, viz.-his double arrest, and in

respect of so terrible a liability. Mr Runnington spoke, in very glowing and feeling terms, of the manly fortitude of Mr Aubrey under his accumulated misfortunes; and, in short, drew so moving a picture of the deplorable circumstances in which Mr Aubrey and his family were plunged, that his lordship the next day wrote off to inform Mr Runnington, in confidence, that he might expect to see his lordship in London within a day or two-for that he was coming over solely on the affairs of the Aubreys-and was, in fact, resolved upon bringing about, cost what it might, either alone, or in conjunction with such other friends of Mr Aubrey as his lordship might think proper to take into his counsels, a complete and final settlement of Mr Aubrey's affairs, and so place him at once and for ever out of the reach of all his enemies; to set him once more straight and free in the world, and give him a fair chance of securing, by the successful practice of the profession of the bar, that independence, affluence, and distinction, to which his great talents, learning, industry, and unconquerable energy warranted him in aspiring to. As soon as his lordship had recovered from the fatigues of his journey, he sent off a servant to request the immediate attendance of Mr Runnington - who was overjoyed at receiving the summons, and could hardly refrain from stepping over to Mr Mansfield's, in order to apprise Mr Aubrey of the arrival of Lord de la Zouch. He abstained, however, from doing so, on recollecting the strict injunctions of Lord de la Zouch; and immediately set off for Dover Street. But before they met, let me take the opportunity of mentioning one or two little matters, connected with the previous movements of Mr Runnington. was a very able man; clear-headed, cautious, experienced, and singularly prompt and determined, when once he had resolved on any course of proceeding: in short, he was quite capable of contending against even such a formidable opponent as Gammon, subtle, tortuous, and unscrupulous as he might be.

He

"Let me once get hold of Master Gammon-that's all!"-thought, very frequently, Mr Runnington. Now, the astounding avowal which Miss Aubrey represented Mr Gammon as having made to her, in his insane attempt to prevail upon her to entertain his addresses-viz. that he possessed the

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