steward, and is very characteristic. Perhaps you know his temperament, as well as his principles(prejudices, you will call them). You are aware how utterly he detests the new order of things; at the same time, how infinitely more he despises a compromise with principles, if sincere. He is, indeed, caustic in detecting and exposing them, if the

reverse.

He is a compound too of benevolence and waspishness; boundless in generosity, and in kindly feelings where he esteems; quarrelling à l'outrance where he despises, or feels ill-used.

Though aristocratic in his feelings, in his fortune, in his connexions, he treats his dependants, and almost his servants, as if they were his equals. His butler, who is lame, he always makes to sit down, if he has to confer with him for any time. Yet he will scold unmercifully, if any thing goes wrong. He has, in fact, lived so long out of the world, or at least the London world, yet without adopting mere provincial manners, that he seems to have formed himself on a model of his own. Moreover, he is a reading man, as far as the literature of the day and politics are concerned, and quite au courant both as to the country business, and what is passing in other circles. So that, what with his blunt manners, and his real cultivation, he is by no means an uninteresting object of observation.

He is now in the acmé of passion and indignation with his steward; who, indeed, considering all he owes him,—education, rescue from beggary, and comparative power and a happy marriage,―might have deferred the manifestation of his principles, as he calls them, which he knew would be so grating to his master, till that master (worn out), should have left him free scope, by having gone to his grave.

It seems Sir Philip Manstein, the oldest friend Oldacre has in the world, was a candidate for a neighbouring borough, where Watkins, the steward, and to whom he writes, and many of his fellow-tenants, had votes. These he naturally applied to, and expected to succeed. What was his surprise to find himself refused; and that all he could obtain was neutrality! As Sir Philip was not only unblemished, but excellent in every respect, and known to be so, while his opponent was known no where but as a radical, you may guess the resentment of our friend,-whom I fear nothing will cure but a large dose of my panacea; and that he will not take. "Tis thus he wrote:

"WATKINS:

"I have received your letter with the accounts. The accounts are right: would I could say that every thing else is so. Every one of you, then, it seems, decline voting for Sir Philip, but, out of

your amazing regard for your landlord, whom you condescend to believe to be your friend, you do him the honour to say you will not vote at all, though your principles would lead you to favour Mr. Figgins, because he is a better representative of the farming interest.

"If this were really so, I might let it pass. But I am bound to tell you, Watkins, it is a lie; for Sir Philip, you know to have a large landed estate, and Mr. Figgins is a mere scrivener. The true secret is, he is a known radical and leveller; Sir Philip a loyal gentleman. You would have been an honester man if you had stated this as the truth.

"But if you act upon principles (even these principles), more fools, as well as cowards you, for sneaking into neutrality. Why mince the matter? Why stop short? Why not go the whole hog,' and fly in your landlord's face at once? What has your regard for him to do with your duty to your country, which you say, but for this regard, would compel you to vote for Figgins?

"As you are all so honest, and prefer him to Sir Philip, (no doubt because he has no title, and his father was a steward who got rich under a confiding master, who trusted him with his all, and lost it) why, out of compliment to me, sacrifice your virtue? Think you I will accept it? No!

You may vote for your new idol; or you may vote for the devil; only don't haggle about it; do it openly. It will raise your virtue fifty per cent., besides releasing you from the inconvenience of shamming, if you abandon at once, without any compounding, an old friend and landlord, who, with his fathers for two hundred and fifty years before him, has studied your interest and happiness. This would really be a sacrifice to duty; for every body knows how much it would cost your generous and grateful feelings to refuse such a man the boon he asks. You would also have an opportunity of practically enlightening your inferiors in the art of governing, by proving that we oppressors of the land have no right to our estates ourselves, but are only trustees, for real patriots, such as you and Figgins!

"You have therefore done wrong, my good Watkins, in not giving yourself wholly up to him, and will, I fear, be thought a contemptible patriot, in attempting to compound with an old Put, during the few years he has to live.

"I have heard men complain, that it was a bad thing to be but half a rascal. To be but half a patriot is worse. I therefore advise you all, for your own sakes, to reconsider your proposal of neutrality; for I had rather Sir Philip was defeated, than that such honest men should tamper

with their consciences. Go to the poll, therefore, or go to the devil, for any thing your landlord cares; and so, my patriotic, straight-forward, most grateful, most enlightened, and most dear Watkins, farewell.

"Your old employer,

66

(I must not say master),

"OLIVER Oldacre."

Had this ebullition been the only proof of his master's resentment, it is possible the patriotic Watkins would have easily consoled himself, under a sense of his virtue. But friend Oldacre did not stop here; for, doubting, as we have seen, the sincerity of the man, hating lies, and stung with the unwillingness shown to wait the little time that remained to him in this world, the Squire resolved to keep no measures with this rural Brutus, and called upon him immediately to deliver up his books, and quit his service.

This was a sad blow to poor Watkins, who in vain endeavoured to appease his patron, for more reasons than one; for, at that moment, he stood indebted to him in some hundreds of pounds, to say nothing of a comfortable steward's house. Finding, however, his attempts of no avail, his patriotism caught fresh fire, and he consented to the proposal of a brother patriot, to commence a series