of his opponent. In a personal view, the issue of the contest
was likely to produce evil to my own views. I was still a dependent upon
fortune. I had new ties and interests, which made official income more
important to me day by day. In the fall of the administration I must
follow the general fate.--In making my decision with the unsuccessful
candidate for power, I must go down along with him; and the claims of the
competitors were so equally balanced, and both were so distinguished, that
it was beyond all conjecture to calculate the result. I, too, was not
without many a temptation to perplex my judgment. The rivalry had at
length become public, and the friends of each were active in securing
opinions among the holders of office. The whole was a lottery, but with my
political existence dependent on my escaping a blank. In this dilemma I
consulted my oracle, Clotilde. Her quick intelligence decided for me at
once. "You must resign," said she. "You value both; you cannot side with
either without offending their feelings, or, what I more regard,
distressing your own. Both are men of intelligence and honour, and they
will understand your motives and respect them. To retain office is
impossible."

"But, Clotilde, how can I bear the thought of reducing you and my infants
to the discomforts of a narrow income, and the obscurity of a life of
retirement?"

"A thousand times better, than you could endure the thought of retaining
office against your judgment, or taking a part against a friend. Follow
the impressions of your own generous nature, and you will be dearer than
ever to Clotilde--even though it condemned us all to the deepest
obscurity." Tears gushed into her eyes as she spoke the words; and in her
heart she was evidently less of the heroine than in her language: the
children had come playing round her feet at the moment; and the family
picture of the reverse in our fortunes, filled with this cluster of young
faces, unconscious of the chance which lay before them, was too severe a
trial for a mother's feelings. Her tears flowed abundantly, and the
beating of her heart showed the anguish of her sacrifice. But she still
persisted in her determination. As I took leave of her to go down to the
House, her last words, as she pressed my hand, were--"Resign, and leave
the rest to fortune."

A motion on the subject of the rival claims had been appointed for the
evening; and the premier was to open the debate. The House was cr