Part 44 (2/2)

'Not if I want to sear up a wound'

'You are excellent at a shi+fting blow But ould you apply the cautery? Because principle, guided by experience, has previously told you that to cauterize is in some cases the way to heal'

'But e upon us'

'Were that granted, it is but e under their sufferings for ages; and, since ages have proved that the old prescriptions were insufficient, I can neither see the danger nor the bla new'

'Zeal uillotine: but her neck uillotine athan a halter, an axe, or perhaps even a rack?'

'It will do more work in less time'

'And you suppose it to be principle, or if you please innovation, that has given this machine its momentum?'

'Suppose! Is there any doubt?'

'Infinite I iiven, if we may be allowed to personify, neither by Innovation nor Establishment; but by the rashness and ill temper hich these heroines have mutually maintained their positions Innovation struck the ball at first too impetuously: but Establishment took it at the rebound, and returned it with triple violence Brunswickianwars, were not ill adapted to raise the diabolical spirit of revenge

An endeavour to starve a nation, which it was found difficult to exterminate by fire and sword, was not a very charitable act in Madaeries were little better; and that her turn should coh it is deplorable Heaven avert her claionist had no ie exclaimed, with some satisfaction, 'Why, Trottman, you have met with your match!'

'Not I, indeed,' answered he, peevishly 'I a for Principle to couide But I am afraid she carries a dark lanthorn, which will but blind those that look'

'I suspect, sir,' said I, 'you are less at loss for a joke than an argu For my own part, I love the fair and open field of enquiry'

'As this is a field that has no limits, nor any end to its cross roads, I ae and be quiet'

'No, no; I did not say that: for I see you love to draw a sly bow at passengers'

'I have now and then brought down a gull, or an owl'

'Have you shot any of those birds to-day?'

I felt no co this triuue ended Though it was a kind of declaration of war; I mean a war of words; which, as we becaed with some asperity

But, in one respect, Trottman was my superior To sneer was habitual to him: but it was always done in a manner which seemed to indicate that he himself had no suspicion of any such intent So that he continually appeared to keep his temper; and never triumphed so effectually as when he could provoke me to lose mine On which occasions his additional conciliatory sarcas the enjoyment of his victory, never failed to make me feel my own littleness And this is a lesson for which I consider hly in his debt

I now pursuedto copy the manuscript precedents, that were to capacitate me for the practice of law: for the number of which, that were in his possession, Mr Ventilate was fa abateyric of the law as given by Trott But I had this very powerful consolation: that, as Trottman knew very little of what I supposed to be the true principles of politics, it was highly probable he was no better acquainted with those of law

CHAPTER XV