the party with whom he had always acted; the inconsistency of such conduct would justly draw on him reproach and indignation. His mother said, "For doing that which a parent commands, there can be no justifiable reproach."

I wish, madam," said he, "ever to maintain the character the world has viewed me in; and it has been a subject of the most painful anxiety, to have been obliged to meet under your roof, men to whom I am opposed in the public paths of duty, and to hold a familiarity with them, which, whilst it renders me obnoxious to suspicion, has never given me the slightest pleasure."

His mother, with an air of decision, said, "This house, whilst I am its mistress, shall only receive the friends of the present administration; and if such society is disagreeable to you, however much I might regret the separation, I cannot insist on your remaining here." Cleveland was astonished-he had never heard such language from his mother-he scarcely trusted his senses whilst she continued-" It is the first wish of my heart to see you most closely connected with Lord Bristol, not only in friendship but in relationship. His niece, Miss Mortimer, is one on whom the proudest, and the first of noblemen might cast an anxious eye: heiress to an immense fortune, she may command what she pleases, and may elevate you to rank."

All this," he said, "moves me not. I have high duties to perform, certainly the first is to you. Madam, to a certain extent your wishes must, and shall be obeyed. For you, I would consent to marry a woman for whom this heart can never throb with one sensation of regard or love-for you I would forego all hopes of future domestic joy-all thoughts of private happiness and comfort; but my honour and my truth I can sacrifice to no one; they are pledged to heaven and to my country; they form my only joy-my only delight; these, whilst life is mine, I can never forfeit." This was spoken with a proud consciousness of worth, with temper and with firmness. The dignity with which he spoke, and the coldness of his demeanor, struck his mother, who had never witnessed anything in him but the most submissive gentleness; still she was determined to try how far she might carry her point; she knew not the decisive integrity of the Man of Principle.

"What, then, sir," Lady Mary said, "am I to expect from you do you wish to see my friends-my kindred-those to whom I owe the deepest obligations, trampled beneath your feet-my nearest relation-one who has most honourably preserved his situation, is to be overwhelmed by his enemies, when you, by one word, and that the most grateful word to a mother's ear, can save him."

"Madam," said Cleveland, "I owe you gratitude, the deepest: all of happiness, all of honour I enjoy, have been your gifts; my life can never again offer me one pleasure, if embittered with

the remembrance of saying or thinking one unkind thought of you; but my duty to my king and country is imperative-boldly must I proceed:-I can never swerve from the dictates of truth."

Then, sir," said his mother, "the reward fall upon your own head you must be an alien from my heart-an outcast from my family.'

All," he answered, "I must submit to; but I cannot, must not, lose my honour."

"This obstinancy is as undutiful as disgraceful," she said: "F understand the arts you and your friends," she spoke with a scornful sneer," have long pursued, are likely to undermine the government, and that you have it in your power at this juncture to uphold it; now mark me, sir," and she trembled as she spoke, "support them, or your mother never more—'

"Hold!" Cleveland exclaimed with great agitation. "Oh! ask me nothing, dearest mother, that a son can refuse-let these unfortunate occurrences never again be repeated. I must leave you, leave you for ever, if upon these subjects we are not silent."

His mother said coldly, " Go, sir, when and whither you please; a parent's love will not accompany you: I never have asked but one favour, and that the son who talks so well of love, affection, and of duty, will not grant when a mother implores-well, sir, we part."

Cleveland, in speechless agony, fell into a chair for support: at last he said, “These unfeeling men would torture me and you; they have broken in upon our domestic comforts, they have made me very, very wretched, yet they shall not conquer." He rose, and walked towards his mother, and with an air of solemnity he said, "If, madam, you, regardless of my wish, still dwell upon these unfortunate subjects, we must separate till the hand of time shall have altered your opinion; but my heart must still throb with affection, love, and duty for you."

Lady Mary replied with an unfeeling air of calmness, whilst her heart was torn to pieces, "Spare yourself the fatigue of such language; if your feelings were in unison with your words, your actions would be very different."

Cleveland did not yield to the reproachful manner of his mother; though irritated beyond endurance, his affection was the same. "Vain are all my efforts, and we must part, but not in anger," said he.

His mother replied, "An ungrateful son-"

Cleveland staid to hear no more-he seized her hand with wild emotion, and burning tears fell upon it-he pressed it eagerly to his lips, "Heaven's blessing be upon you-farewell," he said with a voice that spoke the agony of his soul.

Miss Avondale, who had laid down her book during the whole of the conversation, and had sat mute and motionless, now rushed

forward and exclaimed, "For mercy's sake, Henry Cleveland, stay!" But it was too late, he had dropped his mother's hand from his grasp, had gazed with speechless love and silent agony upon her face, and had torn himself away.

His mother stood motionless, pale as marble: her lips had lost their hue, and life seemed gone, yet she stood in an agonizing trance: at last a flood of tears relieved her, she sank in Miss Avondale's arms, and loudly exclaimed, "He is gone-for ever gone; the best the fondest child—and I am left alone to weep my folly and condemn myself." But she soon recovered, and an obduracy took possession of her feelings; she began to think she had acted right, that he had forgotten his duty, and gradually reconciled herself to her fate. Still moments, nay hours of grief, were hers. In vain Miss Avondale attempted to cheer her; it was only in the midst of society that she found comfort, but then she knew she would only still keep up the irritation in her son's mind. Plainly she saw it was, at any rate, impossible to induce her son to change, and the late instance of Miss Mortimer's temper had rather steeled her heart against the marriage for which she had formerly been so anxious, and which indeed had been the cause of her entering so deeply into the foolish plots of Aubrey, from which so much mischief had constantly arisen.

Cleveland's agitation on leaving his mother was excessive. He could not control the thoughts that sprung up within him. It was a relief from the bitter pangs of self-reproach to meet even Lord Egremont, who was on his way to Dover Street, and who was walking in the most careful manner, shunning with the utmost attention the passing coaches which might splash him, and induce him to change too often his clean but well-worn linen. He made very kind enquiries after the ladies, and looking rather earnestly at Cleveland, "Surely, sir, you are unwell, you look as if something had occurred," said the peer. No, no, nothing -I am a little harrassed with business: you know well how much that affects a man." He was in hopes, nor was he disappointed, that the good lord would make a dissertation on himself, and give him some time to recover from the state into which he had been thrown, by the occurrence of the morning.

The peer wished that some person might be taken up for sheep-stealing, as a new idea, a thing of very rare occurrence, had crossed his mind, and he began to explain himself in a very long and tedious harangue, which continued for some time. He was quite delighted with the mute attention of his auditor : had pronounced him in his own mind as one of the most promising young men of the age, and accordingly bestowed upon him many of the hints which his own experience in life had furnished him with. He would have proceeded without interruption no doubt to the end of time, had he not been suddenly left in the very interesting account and at the most interesting

moment of the very celebrated trial, for Cleveland saw on the opposite side of the street, Sir George Burrell, and completely forgetting that he was supposed to be in the midst of a very charming conversation with Lord Egremont, he crossed over the carriage-way, totally unmindful of his lordship, without bidding him even farewell. He linked his arm in that of Burrell, who gave him the warm greeting of an affectionate friend, whilst the peer was obliged to pursue his cautious way, avoiding all the perils and dangers of the dirt and mud of the streets of London, in the most careful and the most pains-taking manner.

What," said Sir George, " was not that the Defender of the sheep-stealers that left you just now?"

"When?" said Cleveland.

"Why, when I joined you?"

"I do not know," said Cleveland, with an air of complete abstraction.

Burrell stared-"Why I thought you knew him very well?" said he.

"Who do you mean?" said Cleveland.

"Why, Lord Egremont to be sure?" said Burrell

Cleveland then remembered he had met him, but seemed in such a state, that Burrell did not know what to make of him. "Where are you going?" asked Burrell.

Any where," was Cleveland's reply.

Burrell thought this odd enough: "I'm going now to the House."

"So am I," answered Cleveland, scarcely conscious of what he said.

Burrell saw from his manner something had occurred, and thought it best to take him with him. "Lord Egremont, they say, is a monstrous pleasant fellow," said Burrell.

"Oh very pleasant," was Cleveland's reply.

"Full of anecdote, and a great deal of wit?" was the query put by Burrell.

"A great deal of every thing," said Cleveland, without the least idea of what he was talking about. At last Burrell determined to hold his tougue, and see what effect that had. Still his friend continued mechanically walking by his side, and apparently unconscious of every object around him. And vain was the attempt Cleveland made to divert his mind from the scene that had so lately taken place. He tried to rally his scattered thoughts, but such agonizing reflections rushed in upon him, that he felt quite heart broken. A number of people met them, with whom they were both acquainted, and after a little time he seemed to have recovered from the stunning blow he had received, and related to his friend Burrell as much as he thought was necessary to explain his situation, and to do Burrell justice, though full of indolence and folly, he was compassionate. He

helped him with all he had to offer-advice-and they proceeded together to the House of Commons, quite unprepared for any thing that might be passing there. Burrell sought it as a

resource from ennui, and Cleveland as a diversion from the current of thought, which would intrude upon him everywhere, he feared, in spite of his efforts to think upon any subject foreign to the one that predominated over every other feeling of his wounded heart.

He took his seat in the House, scarcely attentive to the passing scene; till at length he heard Aubrey, in an insinuating address, attempt to explain the late misfortune by throwing all the blame on Lord Norfolk. To him he ascribed the unfortunate termination of the campaign; he eulogized his friends, and seemed to threaten the commander of the expedition with disgrace. Regardless of all ties of decency, he attacked the conduct of Cleveland on a late occasion, and threw out some hints of his duplicity, (and having just heard from Lady Mary of the unfortunate separation,) he threw off the mask of friendship, and bitterly censured him, as the demagogue who excited the nation to discontent. In a speech replete with taunts, he accused him of associating with both parties of apparently leaning towards the ministry, then publicly attacking them, and pursuing such steps that he apeared in the eyes of all a complete impostor.

Cleveland, stung to the quick with such unmerited reproaches, scarcely waited till his antagonist was seated; when he burst forth into a torrent of masterly argument, that even those who knew him best were amazed; he traced with wonderful accuracy the cause of the failure; he clearly pointed out that the conduct of Lord Norfolk was the result of wisdom and ability; that he in vain had struggled against the blunders of the ministers at home; that he was abandoned by them, and to their ignorance he ascribed every thing like calamity which had taken place. He was enthusiastic; he was unanswerable: his language was like the torrent that sweeps every thing before it: he appeared more like the orator of Rome, denouncing in the midst of the Senate, the conspiracy of Cataline. His opposers trembled before him and when he adverted to the meanness of his accuser, he held him up to the ridicule, to the detestation of every one; and then in a bold and masterly manner, taking advantage of the impression he had made on the House, he moved a vote of censure on the ministry, boldly pourtraying the misery and disgrace they had inflicted on the country; it was seconded immediately by Walsingham, in words, which, though they carried not the force of Cleveland's, greatly added to the effect that had been produced.

:

The ministers taken by surprise, were unable to say a word that could palliate themselves. They were anatomized; their faults laid open, that all the world might see them. A defence lame and impotent was attempted: it failed, and in a few minutes it was