CHAPTER X 



Our siiorlsm.-ui lias now entered in oiunesL upon his life. He refuses ;i seat in 

 I'arJiainent, and stuilies liis craft with enthusiasm, opening liis lirst 

 regular hunting campaign with the Warwickshire, under tlie celebrated 

 Mr. Corbet, and tlie Pytchley, under tlie gTcat Joiin Warde. 



On liis return to the Abbey, after a week's absence on a visit to 

 his friend Lord Dauntley, lie found tlie following lettt^r from his 

 uncle : — 



' Harley Street, January 10, 1S02. 



'Dear Frank, — 



' As I do not expect to see you in town till the hunting 

 season closes, I write to inform you, that a friend of mine and 

 your father has intimated to me his intention of retiring from 

 the fatigues of parliamentary life in consequence of ill-health, 

 and made an offer of the borough to me, which, being a close 

 one, he has, of course, the power to do. My taking it is out of 

 the question ; but, as you are aware it was very much my wish 

 that your poor brother should have been in the House, and the 

 voice of a Raby once more listened to with attention within its 

 walls — which would certainly have been the case if that wish 

 had been granted me — I am particularly desirous that you 

 should accept the proffered boon. It will be an excellent intro- 

 duction into life, and, situated as you now are, I consider it 

 little short of a point of duty that you should avail yourself of 

 this offer. 



' I fancy that I may be met with some objeetions from 

 yourself ; indeed, I will at once anticipate them, at the same 

 time endeavour to remove them. You may tell me, you have 

 no oratorical talent, but you must allow me to tell you what 

 you have been before told {nasclmur poetce, fi'mns oratores), 

 that eveiy highly-educated man has it in his power to speak 

 well. To become a perfect orator, perhaps, one must be endued 

 by nature with a genius superior to the bulk of mankind ; 

 yet pains and industry may make any person possessing' a 



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