_Mr. P._ The men are all standing still, Sir, just now If you have any matter which you intend to use a week hence, they may as well be going on with it. _Editor. (Rummages among his papers.)_ Here, take this “Romantic suicide.” It will do for any day when you want half a column for the back page. _[Exit Mr. Pica; and a minute after, enter reading boy, in a hurry._ _Boy._ Copy--if you please, Sir! _Editor_. I have just given Mr. Pica half a column. _Boy_. Oh--I beg your pardon, Sir--I did not see Mr. Pica--I came from down stairs. _[Exit._ _Editor: (Puts his hands into his breeches’ pockets again, and begins to whistle a tune.)_ This will not do---I must write something--but what it is to be about I know no more than the monument. _(Nibs his pen--settles his inkstand--and gets his paper ready)_. The parliament is up--the law courts have adjourned for the long vacation--the Opera House and the Winter Theatres have closed--and at the Haymarket and English Opera House, they have both brought out pieces which are having a run--nothing stirring--not even a case of decent oppression in a night constable--or of tyranny in a police magistrate. Whigs and Tories have shaken hands, and political delinquencies are too common to be either new or scandalous. The editor of a daily paper may be aptly compared to a galley slave. When the winds roar, and the tempest is abroad, and the waves swell, his bark moves along swiftly; but when the calm comes, and the sky is serene, and the breeze is hushed, and the sea is smooth, it is then he must ply the oar, and tug, and pull, and toil, to give the vessel motion.--_( Takes his pen and writes furiously.)_ That will do for one of those short leaders * about nothing--. which look very much as if they alluded to something that could not be mentioned, _(Reads.)_--“There are certain rumours afloat--upon a delicate subject which has lately occasioned a great sensation in particular quarters. We are in possession of facts connected with this extraordinary affair, which we may perhaps feel ourselves at liberty to mention in a few days. Meanwhile, all we can say at present is, that disclosures _must_ take place, however painful they may be to _more than one distinguished_ individual. We shall only add, that the Duke of Wellington left town yesterday in his travelling chariot, with four horses, for Windsor, after a private interview of nearly three hours with an Illustrious Personage; and that it is reported his Grace ordered summonses for a cabinet council this day, before his departure from London. We shall not lose sight of this business.” _(Rings the Printer’s bell--Mr. Pica enters.)_ Make this the first leader, and you may as well put it in double leads. ** * “Leaders”, are those important articles in a paper, which are printed in large letters, and wherein the editorial _We_ is supposed to utter oracles _de omnibus rebus_.