“Let them build their bastiles, let them tear the wife from her husband, the mother from her child; let them crowd their prison-houses with the honest sons of labour whom their brutality has forced into crime--the poor man need never dread starvation while the hulks hunger and the gallows gapes for him--but a day of retribution is at hand; let the tyrants tremble beneath their gilded roofs--those unjust usurpers of the soil--the poor man’s bitterest foes, the landed gentry, as they arrogantly style themselves, must be cut off and rooted out.” “Pretty strong, that!” observed Bracy, in a whisper. “Ar--this won’t do, you know!” returned Grandeville, in an equally low voice. “I must, really--ar--interfere.” “Better hear him out,” rejoined Bracy, “and then get up and address them yourself.” To which suggestion, after a slight remonstrance, the former agreed; but such a shining light as Mr. Jabez Broadcom was not to be put out as quickly as they desired; he was the great card of the evening, and knew it, and prolonged his speech for a good three-quarters of an hour, during which time he theoretically dethroned the Queen, abolished the Lords and Commons, seated a National Convention in St. Stephen’s, and made all the rich poor, and the poor both rich and happy, whilst he practically rendered himself so hoarse as to be nearly inaudible; for which gallant exertions in the cause of liberty he received the tumultuous applause of the meeting, together with Lieut. McDermott’s expressed conviction that he was “a broth of a boy entirely,” together with an anxious inquiry, “whether his mother had many more like him.” When Broadcom retired from the rostrum there appeared some misunderstanding and confusion as to his successor; taking advantage of which, Grandeville looked at Bracy, who nodded, adding, “Now’s your time! Go in, and win;” then, catching a cadaverous-looking individual who was about to advance by the shoulders, and twisting him round, he exclaimed, “Now, my man, stand out of the way, will you? This gentleman is going to address the company.” He next thrust Grandeville forward, and patting him encouragingly on the back, left him to his own devices. That heroic gentleman, having bowed to his audience with much grace and dignity, waved his hand to command attention, and began as follows:-- “Ar--listen to me, my friends! Ar--hem--I am prepared to admit--that is, it is impossible to deny--that many great and serious evils exist in the complicated social fabric of this glorious country. The vast increase of population----” “Owing to the introduction of chloroform,” suggested Bracy. “Though slightly checked by----” “The alarming consumption of Morrison’s Pills,” interposed the Irishman----