ciety used to meet in a large room, fitted up as much like the
House of Commons as possible, and which was in Freemason's Tavern, in
Great Queen Street. Some hundred and fifty members were present when
Endymion paid his first visit there, and the scene to Endymion was novel
and deeply interesting. Though only a guest, he was permitted to sit in
the body of the chamber, by the side of Trenchard, who kindly gave
him some information, as the proceedings advanced, as to the principal
personages who took part in them.

The question to-night was, whether the decapitation of Charles the First
were a justifiable act, and the debate was opened in the affirmative
by a young man with a singularly sunny face and a voice of music.
His statement was clear and calm. Though nothing could be more
uncompromising than his opinions, it seemed that nothing could be fairer
than his facts.

"That is Hortensius," said Trenchard; "he will be called this term. They
say he did nothing at the university, and is too idle to do anything at
the bar; but I think highly of him. You should hear him in reply."

The opening speech was seconded by a very young man, in a most
artificial style, remarkable for its superfluity of intended sarcasm,
which was delivered in a highly elaborate tone, so that the speaker
seemed severe without being keen.

"'Tis the new Cambridge style," whispered Trenchard, "but it will not go
down here."

The question having been launched, Spruce arose, a very neat speaker;
a little too mechanical, but plausible. Endymion was astonished at
the dexterous turns in his own favour which he gave to many of the
statements of Hortensius, and how he mangled and massacred the seconder,
who had made a mistake in a date.

"He is the Tory leader," said Trenchard. "There are not twenty Tories in
our Union, but we always listen to him. He is sharp, Jawett will answer
him."

And, accordingly, that great man rose. Jawett, in dulcet tones of
philanthropy, intimated that he was not opposed to the decapitation of
kings; on the contrary, if there were no other way of getting rid of
them, he would have recourse to such a method. But he did not think the
case before them was justifiable.

"Always crotchety," whispered Trenchard.

Jawett thought the whole conception of the opening speech erroneous. It
proceeded on the assumption that the execution of Charles was the act of
the people; on the contrary, it was an intrigue of Cromwell, who was the