“By the way, do you understand the manufacture of forty shilling free-holders in an economical way, because if you do, it would be a desideratum.  Parliament, it is said, will be dissolved in June, and I want, as well as I can remember, nearly two hundred votes.  My brother lost the last election by something about that number, and I know he feels very anxious to get into parliament for many reasons.  He is now on the continent, where he has been for the last three years.”

Valentine M’Clutchy, Esq., to the Right Hon. Lord Viscount Cumber:—­

“My Lord: 

“I have had the honor of receiving your Lordship’s kind communication, to which I hasten to make the earliest possible reply.  And first, my Lord, allow me to return sincere thanks for your warm kindness, in promising to appoint me your agent.  You may rest assured, my Lord, that I will go through my duties as such without favor or affection to any one, barring your lordship, whose interests it will night and day become my duty to study.  With, respect to the loan your lordship makes allusion to, I fear it will be out of my power to raise it—­that is to the full amount; but if one-half would do, I might by the aid of friends get it together.  As for security, I trust it is only necessary to say, that Randal Deaker and Cadwallader Tullywagger, Esqrs., are ready to give it to any amount, so that there is no difficulty there at all events.

“On looking again at your lordship’s kind letter, it appears possible that I made a mistake in considering the two thousand as a loan; but on the other hand, there is not a man living, who respects the high principles and delicate feelings of our aristocracy more than I do, and the consequence was, that I feared in supposing it otherwise than a loan, I might offend your lordship’s keen sense of honor, which I pledge my credit and reputation would grieve my heart even to think of.  Under this impression, then, I shall continue to believe it a loan, until I have the honor of hearing from your lordship again.

“Your anxiety, my Lord, to ascertain the state of your property and the condition of your tenantry is certainly honorable to yourself, as being a direct proof of the generous interest you feel in their welfare.  It is fortunate in this instance, that your lordship should apply to a man who has had the opportunities of becoming acquainted with both.  True, I am a simple-minded man, my Lord, and if I possess one quality more than another it is a love of truth, and a slow, but straightforward perseverance in whatever is right.  It is to this, always under Providence, that I owe everything.  I grant indeed, that it ill becomes me to speak in this manner of myself, but my object in doing so is, that as I am about to enter into communications touching your lordship’s tenants and property, you may be induced to place the fullest confidence in whatever I shall say.  Many a time, indeed, my excellent and worthy friend, Mr.