You must be deeply skilled in them indeed, if you can draw any parallel betwixt those and the present evil days,--davs which I am ready to maintain are the most gloomy that ever darkened the prospects of Britain." "God forbid, Doctor, that I should draw a comparison between the present times and those you mention; I am too sensible of the advantages we enjoy over our ancestors.

Faction and ambition have introduced division among us; but we are still free from the guilt of civil bloodshed, and from all the evils which flow from it.

Our foes, sir, are not those of our own household; and while we continue united and firm, from the attacks of a foreign enemy, however artful, or however inveterate, we have, I hope, little to dread." "Have you found anything curious, Mr.Maxwell, among the dusty papers ?" said Sir Henry, who seemed to dread a revival of political discussion.
"My investigation amongst them led to reflection's which I have just now hinted," said Maxwell; "and I think they are pretty strongly exemplified by a story which I have been endeavouring to arrange from some of your family manuscripts." "You are welcome to make what use of them you please," said Sir Henry; "they have been undisturbed for many a day, and I have often wished for some person as well skilled as you in these old pothooks, to tell me their meaning." "Those I just mentioned," answered Maxwell, "relate to a piece of private history savouring not a little of the marvellous, and intimately connected with your family; if it is agreeable, I can read to you the anecdotes in the modern shape into which I have been endeavouring to throw them, and you can then judge of the value of the originals." There was something in this proposal agreeable to all parties.

Sir Henry had family pride, which prepared him to take an interest in whatever related to his ancestors.

The ladies had dipped deeply into the fashionable reading of the present day.