Pelham — Complete
Page 60
CHAPTER LX.
Charge, Chester, charge!--Marmion.
Though this was one of the first mercantile transactions of my life,I had no doubt about acquitting myself with reputation.--Vicar ofWakefield.
The next morning I was at breakfast, when a packet was brought me fromTyrrell; it contained a sealed letter to Glanville, and a brief note tomyself. The latter I transcribe:--
"My Dear Sir,
"The enclosed letter to Sir Reginald Glanville will explain my reasonsfor not keeping my pledge: suffice it to state to you, that they aresuch as wholly to exonerate me, and fairly to satisfy Sir Reginald. Itwill be useless to call upon me; I leave town before you will receivethis. Respect for myself obliges me to add that, although there arecircumstances to forbid my meeting Sir Reginald Glanville, there arenone to prevent my demanding satisfaction of any one, whoever he may be,who shall deem himself authorized to call my motives into question,
"I have the honour,
"John Tyrrell."
It was not till I had thrice read this letter that I could credit itscontents. From all I had seen of Tyrrell's character, I had no reasonto suspect him to be less courageous than the generality of worldly men;and the conclusion of his letter, evidently pointed at myself, shouldI venture to impugn his conduct, seemed by no means favourable to anysuspicion of his cowardice. And yet, when I considered the violentlanguage of Glanville's letter, and Tyrrell's apparent resolutionthe night before, I scarcely knew to what more honourable motive toattribute his conduct. However, I lost no time in despatching the wholepacket to Glanville, with a few lines from myself, saying I should callin an hour.
When I fulfilled this promise, Glanville's servant told me his masterhad gone out immediately on reading the letters I had sent, and hadmerely left word that he should not return home the whole day. Thatnight he was to have brought an important motion before the House. Amessage from him, pleading sudden and alarming illness, devolved thisduty upon another member of our party. Lord Dawton was in despair; themotion was lost by a great majority; the papers, the whole of that week,were filled with the most triumphant abuse and ridicule of the Whigs.Never was that unhappy and persecuted party reduced to so low an ebb:never did there seem a fainter probability of their coming into power.They appeared almost annihilated--a mere nominis umbra.
On the eighth day from Glanville's disappearance, a sudden event in thecabinet threw the whole country into confusion; the Tories trembled tothe very soles of their easy slippers of sinecure and office; the eyesof the public were turned to the Whigs; and chance seemed to effect inan instant that change in their favour, which all their toil, trouble,eloquence, and art, had been unable for so many years to render even aremote probability.
But there was a strong though secret party in the state, which remindedme of the independents in the reign of Charles the First, that,concealed under a general name, worked only for a private end, and madea progress in number and respectability, not the less sure for beingbut little suspected. Foremost among the leaders of this party was LordVincent. Dawton, who knew of their existence, and regarded them withfear and jealousy, considered the struggle rather between them andhimself, than any longer between himself and the Tories; and strove,while it was yet time, to reinforce himself by a body of allies, which,should the contest really take place, might be certain of giving him thesuperiority. The Marquis of Chester was among the most powerful of theneutral noblemen: it was of the greatest importance to gain him to thecause. He was a sturdy, sporting, independent man, who lived chieflyin the country, and turned his ambition rather towards promotingthe excellence of quadrupeds, than the bad passions of men. To thispersonage Lord Dawton implored me to be the bearer of a letter, and toaid, with all the dexterity in my power, the purpose it was intended toeffect. It was the most consequential mission yet entrusted to me, andI felt eager to turn my diplomatic energies to so good an account.Accordingly, one bright morning I wrapped myself carefully in my cloak,placed my invaluable person safely in my carriage, and set off toChester Park, in the county of Suffolk.