to confess to you, declares he has
no interest in politics or desire for public distinction; prefers his own
pursuits - and even these I fear do not absorb him; declines the offer which I
made him, to present himself in opposition to Sir Barnes Newcome. It becomes men
in a certain station, as I think, to assert that station; and though a few years
back I never should have thought of public life at all, and proposed to end my
days in quiet as a retired dragoon officer, since - since it has pleased Heaven
to increase very greatly my pecuniary means, to place me, as a director and
manager of an important banking company, in a station of great public
responsibility, I and my brother directors have thought it but right that one of
us should sit in Parliament, if possible, and I am not a man to shirk from that
or from any other duty.«
    »Colonel, will you attend a meeting of electors which we will call, and say
as much to them and as well?« cries Mr. Potts. »Shall I put an announcement in
my paper to the effect that you are ready to come forward?«
    »I am prepared to do so, my good sir.«
    And presently this solemn palaver ended.
    Besides the critical article upon the Baronet's lecture, of which Mr.
Warrington was the author, there appeared in the leading columns of the ensuing
number of Mr. Potts's Independent some remarks of a very smashing or hostile
nature against the member for Newcome. »This gentleman has shown such talent in
the lecturing business,« the Independent said, »that it is a great pity he
should not withdraw himself from politics, and cultivate what all Newcome knows
are the arts which he understands best - namely, poetry and the domestic
affections. The performance of our talented representative last night was so
pathetic as to bring tears into the eyes of several of our fair friends. We have
heard but never believed until now that Sir Barnes Newcome possessed such a
genius for making women cry. Last week we had the talented Miss Noakes from
Slowcome, reading Milton to us; how far superior was the eloquence of Sir Barnes
Newcome Newcome, Bart., even to that of the celebrated actress! Bets were freely
offered in the room last night that Sir Barnes would beat any woman - bets which
were not taken, as we scarcely need say, so well do our citizens appreciate the
character of our excellent, our admirable representative. Let the Baronet stick
to his lectures, and let Newcome relieve him of his political