saw the advantage of courting both the Establishment and the
Dissenters--a manoeuvre which, I need not say, is repeated in almost
every country town in England, where a solicitor's house has this kind
of power and connection.

Three months after this election came the races at Oldborough, and the
race-ball. Gorgon was so infuriated by his defeat, that he gave "the
Gorgon cup and cover," a matter of fifteen pounds. Scully, "although
anxious," as he wrote from town, "anxious beyond measure to preserve
the breed of horses for which our beloved country has ever been famous,
could attend no such sports as these, which but too often degenerated
into vice." It was voted a shabby excuse. Lady Gorgon was radiant in her
barouche and four, and gladly became the patroness of the ball that was
to ensue; and which all the gentry and townspeople, Tory and Whig, were
in the custom of attending. The ball took place on the last day of the
races. On that day, the walls of the market-house, the principal public
buildings, and the "Gorgon Arms Hotel" itself, were plastered with the
following:--

"Letter from our distinguished representative, William P. Scully,
Esquire, etc., etc.

"HOUSE OF COMMONS: June 1, 18--.

"MY DEAR HEELTAP,--You know my opinion about horseracing, and though
I blame neither you nor any brother Englishman who enjoys that manly
sport, you will, I am sure, appreciate the conscientious motives
which induce me not to appear among my friends and constituents on the
festival of the 3rd, 4th, and 5th instant. If _I_, however, cannot
allow my name to appear among your list of stewards, ONE at least of the
representatives of Oldborough has no such scruples. Sir George Gorgon is
among you: and though I differ from that honourable Baronet on more than
ONE VITAL POINT, I am glad to think that he is with you. A gentleman, a
soldier, a man of property in the county, how can he be better employed
than in forwarding the county's amusements, and in forwarding the
happiness of all?

"Had I no such scruples as those to which I have just alluded, I must
still have refrained from coming among you. Your great Oldborough
common-drainage and inclosure bill comes on to-morrow, and I shall be AT
MY POST. I am sure, if Sir George Gorgon were here, he and I should
on this occasion vote side by side, and that party strife would be
forgotten in the object of our common interest--OUR DEAR NATIVE TOWN.

"There is,