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imprisonment denounced against those who educated children in
that persuasion； and the disqualification of all members of the
Romish church to inherit real property in the United Kingdom by
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right of purchase or descent；—matters so far removed from the
business and bosoms of the mass； might perhaps have called
together a hundred people。 But when vague rumours got abroad；
that in this Protestant association a secret power was mustering
against the government for undefined and mighty purposes； when
the air was filled with whispers of a confederacy among the Popish
powers to degrade and enslave England； establish an inquisition
in London； and turn the pens of Smithfield market into stakes and
cauldrons； when terrors and alarms which no man understood
were perpetually broached； both in and out of Parliament； by one
enthusiast who did not understand himself； and bygone bugbears
which had lain quietly in their graves for centuries； were raised
again to haunt the ignorant and credulous； when all this was done；
as it were； in the dark； and secret invitations to join the Great
Protestant Association in defence of religion； life； and liberty； were
dropped in the public ways； thrust under the house…doors； tossed
in at windows； and pressed into the hands of those who trod the
streets by night； when they glared from every wall； and shone on
every post and pillar； so that stocks and stones appeared infected
with the common fear； urging all men to join together blindfold in
resistance of they knew not what； they knew not why；—then the
mania spread indeed； and the body； still increasing every day；
grew forty thousand strong。
So said； at least； in this month of March； 1780； Lord George
Gordon； the Association’s president。 Whether it was the fact or
otherwise； few men knew or cared to ascertain。 It had never made
any public demonstration； had scarcely ever been heard of； save
through him； had never been seen； and was supposed by many to
be the mere creature of his disordered brain。 He was accustomed
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to talk largely about numbers of men—stimulated； as it was
inferred； by certain successful disturbances； arising out of the
same subject； which had occurred in Scotland in the previous
year； was looked upon as a cracked…brained member of the lower
house； who attacked all parties and sided with none； and was very
little regarded。 It was known that there was discontent abroad—
there always is； he had been accustomed to address the people by
placard； speech； and pamphlet； upon other questions； nothing had
come； in England； of his past exertions； and nothing was
apprehended from his present。 Just as he has come upon the
reader； he had come； from time to time； upon the public； and been
forgotten in a day； as suddenly as he appears in these pages； after
a blank of five long years； did he and his proceedings begin to
force themselves； about this period； upon the notice of thousands
of people； who had mingled in active life during the whole interval；
and who； without being deaf or blind to passing events； had
scarcely ever thought of him before。
‘My lord；’ said Gashford in his ear； as he drew the curtains of
his bed betimes； ‘my lord！’
‘Yes—who’s that？ What is it？’
‘The clock has struck nine；’ returned the secretary； with meekly
folded hands。 ‘You have slept well？ I hope you have slept well？ If
my prayers are heard； you are refreshed indeed。’
‘To say the truth； I have slept so soundly；’ said Lord George；
rubbing his eyes and looking round the room； ‘that I don’t
remember quite—what place is this？’
‘My lord！’ cried Gashford； with a smile。
‘Oh！’ returned his superior。 ‘Yes。 You’re not a Jew then？’
‘A Jew！’ exclaimed the pious secretary； recoiling。
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‘I dreamed that we were Jews； Gashford。 You and I—both of
us—Jews with long beards。’
‘Heaven forbid； my lord！ We might as well be Papists。’
‘I suppose we might；’ returned the other； very quickly。 ‘Eh？ You
really think so； Gashford？’
‘Surely I do；’ the secretary cried； with looks of great surprise。
‘Humph！’ he muttered。 ‘Yes； that seems reasonable。’
‘I hope my lord—’ the secretary began。
‘Hope！’ he echoed； interrupting him。 ‘Why do you say； you
hope？ There’s no harm in thinking of such things。’
‘Not in dreams；’ returned the Secretary。
‘In dreams！ No； nor waking either。’
—‘“Called； and chosen； and faithful；”’ said Gashford； taking up
Lord George’s watch which lay upon a chair； and seeming to read
the inscription on the seal； abstractedly。
It was the slightest action possible； not obtruded on his notice；
and apparently the result of a moment’s absence of mind； not
worth remark。 But as the words were uttered； Lord George； who
had been going on impetuously； stopped short； reddened； and was
silent。 Apparently quite unconscious of this change in his
demeanour； the wily Secretary stepped a little apart； under
pretence of pulling up the window…blind； and returning when the
other had had time to recover； said：
‘The holy cause goes bravely on； my lord。 I was not idle； even
last night。 I dropped two of the handbills before I went to bed； and
both are gone this morning。 Nobody in the house has mentioned
the circumstance of finding them； though I have been downstairs
full half…an…hour。 One or two recruits will be their first fruit； I
predict； and who shall say how many more； with Heaven’s blessing
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