t the prospect of
honours, which are only honourable when in their transmission they
impart and receive lustre; when they are the meed of public virtue
and public services, and the distinction of worth and of genius. It is
impossible that the system of the thirty can long endure in an age of
inquiry and agitated spirit like the present. Such a system may suit
the balanced interests and the periodical and alternate command of rival
oligarchical connections: but it can subsist only by the subordination
of the sovereign and the degradation of the multitude; and cannot accord
with an age, whose genius will soon confess that Power and the People
are both divine.

"He can't last ten days," said a whig secretary of the treasury with a
triumphant glance at Mr Taper as they met in Pall Mall; "You're out for
our lives."

"Don't you make too sure for yourselves," rejoined in despair the
dismayed Taper. "It does not follow that because we are out, that you
are in."

"How do you mean?"

"There is such a person as Lord Durham in the world," said Mr Taper very
solemnly.

"Pish," said the secretary.

"You may pish," said Mr Taper, "but if we have a radical government, as
I believe and hope, they will not be able to get up the steam as they
did in --31; and what with church and corn together, and the Queen
Dowager, we may go to the country with as good a cry as some other
persons."

"I will back Melbourne against the field, now," said the secretary.

"Lord Durham dined at Kensington on Thursday," said Taper, "and not a
whig present."

"Ay; Durham talks very fine at dinner," said the secretary, "but he has
no real go in him. When there is a Prince of Wales, Lord Melbourne means
to make Durham governor to the heir apparent, and that will keep him
quiet."

"What do you hear?" said Mr Tadpole, joining them; "I am told he has
quite rallied."

"Don't you flatter yourself," said the secretary.

"Well, we shall hear what they say on the hustings," said Tadpole
looking boldly.

"Who's afraid!" said the secretary. "No, no, my dear fellow, you are
dead beat; the stake is worth playing for, and don't suppose we are
such flats as to lose the race for want of jockeying. Your humbugging
registration will never do against a new reign. Our great men mean
to shell out, I tell you; we have got Croucher; we will denounce the
Carlton and corruption all over the kingdom; and if that won't do, we
will swear till we are black in the face, t