"Don't you flatter yourself," said the secretary.

"Well, we shall hear what they say on the hustings," said
Tadpole looking boldly.

"Who's afraid!" said the secretary. "No, no, my dear fellow,
you are dead beat; the stake is worth playing for, and don't
suppose we are such flats as to lose the race for want of
jockeying. Your humbugging registration will never do against
a new reign. Our great men mean to shell out, I tell you; we
have got Croucher; we will denounce the Carlton and corruption
all over the kingdom; and if that won't do, we will swear till
we are black in the face, that the King of Hanover is engaged
in a plot to dethrone our young Queen:" and the triumphant
secretary wished the worthy pair good morning.

"They certainly have a very good cry," said Taper mournfully.

"After all, the registration might be better," said Tadpole,
"but still it is a very good one."

The daily bulletins became more significant; the crisis was
evidently at hand. A dissolution of parliament at any time
must occasion great excitement; combined with a new reign, it
inflames the passions of every class of the community. Even
the poor begin to hope; the old, wholesome superstition still
lingers, that the sovereign can exercise power; and the
suffering multitude are fain to believe that its remedial
character may be about to he revealed in their instance. As
for the aristocracy in a new reign, they are all in a flutter.