Lord George Gordon took his place behind the table, with one of the clergymen upon his right hand and Reuben on his left. "Friends," he began in a very sweet and modulated tone, "our host, this worthy young man, who is animated by the spirit of God,--our friend Reuben Marsham,--informs me that an indelible memory attaches to this chamber in which we are met. When the impious Charles Stuart remounted the throne of which his father had been deprived by the anger of the Lord, and which the weakness of men had restored to the son, two fugitives were concealed here, and lived for a considerable time in this subterranean hall, existed here until, through the information of a servant, their asylum was discovered. The tyrant's soldiery dragged them forth, and they lost their heads upon the scaffold, praising God, who held their rewards in store for them. Shades of the great dead, martyrs of the holy cause, here do I salute your invisible presence! Be with us! Inspire, protect us!" A tremor passed through the very bones of each auditor. Thereupon the clergyman took up the word. "Since we are assembled for the glory of God and of His Son, let us first invoke his most holy name, my brothers; let us pray!" He fell upon his knees; every man imitated his example with such unanimous precision that the earth gave forth a dull sound, as when at the word of command a company of soldiers grounds arms. The clergyman intoned in a low voice the psalm beginning, "By the rivers of Babylon." To each verse all present murmured a response, toning their rough, harsh voices. When the last _amen_ had been pronounced Lord George remarked, "Friends, none among us is ignorant of our purpose in coming hither to-night. For the sake of those of us who have not been present at our previous reunions, I will in brief rehearse the facts. Aided by a damnable philosophy, impiety has made great progress in our midst, disguised at present under the new name of tolerance. Thanks to these circumstances, Rome has reared her head. The great courtesan seeks to queen it among us with unveiled face and lofty brow. Sons of the saints, will you permit it?" "No!" responded twenty voices. "You are aware that a bill has been presented to the House of Commons annulling the penal laws against the Catholics. I have raised my voice in protest, but my words have been choked in my throat and I have been treated as a fool. Both parties are united against us!" Varied exclamations greeted these words. "Burke is a Jesuit in disguise!" "Fox is a scapegrace, a drunkard, a gambler!" "Lord North's only thought is to fill his pockets and his stomach!" "The Parliament is rotten to the core!" "We must appeal to the king!" cried one. "I have thought of that," said Lord George, "and I brought him one of the pamphlets which I have published on the subject. His Majesty listened to a part of it, and promised to read the rest. That was many months ago, and still I have no response from him."