made by the Right Hon. Fox Wigley, member of her Majesty's most honourable privy council; that gentleman having determined to make another attempt to secure the representation of A, and being anxious to obtain the support of so influential a man as the president of the Socialist lodge. Thus unconsciously was the thoughtless liberal doing the work of Satan, and prostituting his talent and station to the vilest uses. And thus, in the selfish pursuit of power, was he spreading abroad the most pestilent doctrines of anarchy and atheism, and contributing to ruin the souls of hundreds of his fellow-men. CHAPTER XII. The Lectures. Forth steps the spruce philosopher, and tells Of action and reaction: he has found The source of the disease that nature feels, CowPER. In consequence principally of the mayor's exertions, the attendance at the first lecture was tolerably good in point of numbers. As Mr. Gapes had predicted, the Tories and Churchmen set their faces against it, with the exception of a few inconsiderate persons who went from curiosity, forgetting that their presence would contribute to give credit and sanction to the Socialist. But as the Tories generally kept away from the lecture, so the liberals, from partyspirit, took it up more warmly, and attended in considerable numbers. After a good deal of time had been spent in expectation, Mr. Scipio Suttle entered the room through a side-door, accompanied by the mayor and other leading persons of the liberal party, in high good humour, laughing and talking with them in the most friendly manner. The gentlemen having duly disposed themselves on the platform, the lecturer was presented to the company by Mr. Gapes the mayor, who informed them that Mr. Suttle had been very highly recommended to him by a particular friend, in whom he placed the greatest confidence. The gentleman was come, he said, to explain to them the principles of some new discoveries recently made by the philanthropic Mr. Owen in moral and political science. He, for his part, did not profess to be acquainted with the nature of these discoveries, but had no doubt that they would prove highly interesting to the company assembled. Thus, on the authority of this dolt-headed mayor, whose business was "to execute justice and to maintain truth," a person was introduced to Laxington as some lecturer on science, whose true object was to sow the seeds of infidelity, and ruin the souls of those who were unfortunate or imprudent enough to listen to him. Mr. Suttle began by assuring the company how flattered he was by their attendance, and satisfied of their discernment. True it was that in some quarters Socialism had been most uncharitably misrepresented; but he was quite sure that, from the company now assembled, he should meet with an enlightened hearing; and even should they not coincide with his views, still he had no doubt of their kind and candid indulgence. The system of which he was the humble advocate was one which bespoke the favour of all liberal and enlightened persons. He would at once state that its real object was to do all possible good to every man, woman, and child, of whatsoever nation, religion, or colour, in the world. Here the lecturer received, as he had calculated, a round of applause. What truly liberal and charitable sentiments! "every man, woman, and child!" Not even children omitted from his comprehensive scheme! "of every nation, religion, and colour too!" Here was liberality! Mr. Suttle calculated largely on the gullibility of his hearers, and was not disappointed. It did not occur to these candid ladies and gentlemen, that never was scheme, the most absurd and ruinous, concocted by fraud or avarice, which was not intended for the benefit of all who embarked in it: even the SouthSea bubble was to have made the fortune of all those unhappy persons whom it eventually ruined. The lecturer, encouraged by his reception, went on to expatiate on the sad state of society which at present existed; the number of poor who were doomed to workhouses; of criminals torn from their homes, or executed for crimes into which they had been led by circumstances entirely beyond their control. The plan which he advocated was intended peaceably and orderly to change the whole face of human society, to surround the rising generation with a train of circumstances which would develop all the noblest faculties of their mental and physical organization. These hard words, it should be observed, were put in with a view to mystify the hearers, and make them believe that the lecturer was a man of science and philosophy. He went on to say, that the great originator of this scheme, the noble-minded and admirable Robert Owen, had already received the highest encouragement in his philanthropical labours, having been presented by the prime minister himself to her most gracious majesty Queen Victoria. Such were the principal topics of his first lecture; and, amongst much absurdity, it contained also much painful truth. We have no need, however, of the information of Mr. Owen, or any infidel lecturer, to tell us that there is much of sin and misery in the existing state of society; but we do need to have impressed on our minds again and again, that which the lecturer altogether neglected to allude tonamely, that God Himself has provided a scheme whereby all this sin and misery may be remedied even the BLESSED GOSPEL OF HIS SON JESUS CHRIST; and that in just the same proportion as its holy principles are infused into mankind, and by no other means which can be invented, will their moral state be purified and amended. The next lecture was more numerously attended even than the former. For as Mr. Suttle had not broached any thing positively blasphemous or immoral, some who had at first declined, now gave their attendance. Mr. Suttle began, as usual, with high eulogiums on the candour and liberality of his hearers, and assured them, had he not been convinced that they partook of these qualities in an eminent degree, he should not have ventured to state L |