So much, dear reader, for Mr. Briggs, who became from that interview my staunchest supporter. I will not linger longer upon this part of my career; the above conversations may serve as a sufficient sample of my electioneering qualifications: and so I shall merely add, that after the due quantum of dining, drinking, spouting, lying, equivocating, bribing, rioting, head-breaking, promise-breaking, and--thank the god Mercury, who presides over elections--chairing of successful candidateship, I found myself fairly chosen member for the borough of Buyemall. CHAPTER XXXVII. Political education is like the keystone to the arch --the strength of the whole depends upon it. --Encycl. Britt. Sup. Art. "Education." I was sitting in the library of Glenmorris Castle, about a week after all the bustle of contest and the eclat of victory had began to subside, and quietly dallying with the dry toast, which constituted then, and does to this day, my ordinary breakfast, when I was accosted by the following speech from my uncle. "Henry, your success has opened to you a new career: I trust you intend to pursue it?" "Certainly," was my answer. "But you know, my dear Henry, that though you have great talents, which, I confess, I was surprised in the course of the election to discover, yet they want that careful cultivation, which, in order to shine in the House of Commons, they must receive. Entre nous, Henry; a litle reading would do you no harm." "Very well," said I, "suppose I begin with Walter Scott's novels; I am told they are extremely entertaining." "True," answered my uncle, "but they don't contain the most accurate notions of history, or the soundest principles of political philosophy in the world. What did you think of doing to-day, Henry?" "Nothing!" said I very innocently. "I should conceive that to be an usual answer of yours, Henry, to any similar question." "I think it is," replied I, with great naivete. "Well, then, let us have the breakfast things taken away, and do something this morning." "Willingly," said I, ringing the bell. The table was cleared, and my uncle began his examination. Little, poor man, had he thought, from my usual bearing and the character of my education, that in general literature there were few subjects on which I was not to the full as well read as himself. I enjoyed his surprise, when little by little he began to discover the extent of my information, but I was mortified to find it was only surprise, not delight.