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person upon the little aide…de…camp at the end of a fortnight's wooing。 In
the course of time their mutual fathers died； the Gorgon estates were
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unencumbered： patron of both the seats in the borough of Oldborough；
and occupant of one； Sir George Grimsby Gorgon； Baronet； was a
personage of no small importance。
He was； it scarcely need to be said； a Tory； and this was the reason
why William Pitt Scully； Esquire； of the firm of Perkins and Scully；
deserted those principles in which he had been bred and christened；
deserted that church which he had frequented； for he could not bear to see
Sir George and my Lady flaunting in their grand pew；deserted； I say； the
church； adopted the conventicle； and became one of the most zealous and
eloquent supporters that Freedom has known in our time。 Scully； of the
house of Scully and Perkins； was a dangerous enemy。 In five years from
that marriage； which snatched from the jilted solicitor his heart's young
affections； Sir George Gorgon found that he must actually spend seven
hundred pounds to keep his two seats。 At the next election； a Liberal was
set up against his man； and actually ran him hard； and finally； at the end of
eighteen years； the rejected Scullythe mean attorneywas actually the
FIRST Member for Oldborough； Sir George Grimsby Gorgon； Baronet；
being only the second！
The agony of that day cannot be imaginedthe dreadful curses of Sir
George； who saw fifteen hundred a year robbed from under his very nose
the religious resignation of my Ladythe hideous window…smashing that
took place at the 〃Gorgon Arms；〃 and the discomfiture of the pelted Mayor
and Corporation。 The very next Sunday； Scully was reconciled to the
church （or attended it in the morning； and the meeting twice in the
afternoon）； and as Doctor Snorter uttered the prayer for the High Court of
Parliament； his eye； the eye of his whole partyturned towards Lady
Gorgon and Sir George in a most unholy triumph。 Sir George （who
always stood during prayers； like a military man） fairly sank down among
the hassocks； and Lady Gorgon was heard to sob as audibly as ever did
little beadle…belaboured urchin。
Scully； when at Oldborough； came from that day forth to church。
〃What；〃 said he； 〃was it to him？ were we not all brethren？〃 Old Perkins；
however； kept religiously to the Squaretoes congregation。 In fact； to tell
the truth； this subject had been debated between the partners； who saw the
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advantage of courting both the Establishment and the Dissentersa
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
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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 interestOUR DEAR NATIVE
TOWN。
〃There is； however； another occasion at hand； in which I shall be proud
to meet him。 Your ball is on the night of the 6th。 Party forgotten
brotherly unioninnocent mirthbeauty； OUR DEAR TOWN'S BEAUTY；
our daughters in the joy of their expanding loveliness； our matrons in the
exquisite contemplation of their children's bliss can you； can I； can Whig
or Tory； can any Briton be indifferent to a scene like this； or refuse to join
in this heart…stirring festival？ If there BE such let them pardon meI； for
one； my dear Heeltap； will be among you on Friday nightay； and hereby
invite all pretty Tory Misses； who are in want of a partner。
〃I am here in the very midst of good things； you know； and we old
folks like A SUPPER after a dance。 Please to accept a brace of bucks and
a turtle； which come