meantime he had won new fame both as a debater and poet. In the "Union" he became the rival of Macau'ay, who was two years senior to him in standing; "Lillian," his best known fairy tale, was written in his freshman's year; and his contributions to "Knight's Quarterly Magazine," a maturer revival of the scheme of "The Etonian," now carried his praises beyond the limits of the University.

He adopted the law for his profession, not without some private desire for a parliamentary career, but content rather to abide his opportunity than to seek it. After two years of retirement in the position of a private tutor, he betook himself in 1827 to London, and was called in due course to the bar at the Middle Temple. During this period of his life his pen was frequently employed. It was the age of Annuals; the arts of elegant publication were practised for the bene fit of a large and sympathising circle of purchasers, whose appetite for smooth poetry and sentimental story-telling seems to have been almost insatiable. The author of "Lillian" among others found a ready welcome; a large number of his best pieces were thus scattered abroad in various disguises, to illustrate the engravings in Souvenirs and enliven the pages of Magazines. Campbell, Hood, Alaric A. Watts, and Mr. Charles Knight were the editors for whom he

wrote most regularly. At this time, too, a political satire or burlesque from his pen would occasionally appear, but anonymously, in the newspapers. These generally bore upon the Catholic question, in which he took the Liberal side. The Emancipation Act was succeeded by a reconstruction of parties, and by the commencement of the Reform epoch of 18301833. Praed, like many others of the younger Liberals, mistrusted the ability and discretion of the Whigs, and believed that the convictions of statesmen working under no pressure from without would suffice to the amendment of the representation. In this way he

became associated with the followers of Sir Robert Peel. Before long an intimation was conveyed to him, that his services would be welcome in the arena of Parliament. The great founder of the Conservative party was eager to recruit his forces, especially with young men uncompromised by resistance to the Catholic Bill. As a speaker, also, he was too much alone; the accession of Macaulay to the Opposition ranks, suggested an offer to Macaulay's rival. Old friendship hindered Praed from accepting the first overture that was made to him, "to pit himself in the House against the new Member for Calne." His increasing fame, however, and the increasing difficulties of the Ministry, soon brought him a more welcome opportunity.

Before any step had actually been taken to provide him with a seat, the Wellington administration fell. Nevertheless, during the pause of expectation that followed upon Earl Grey's accession to power, he was invited to become the purchaser of a seat for St. Germains, the property of a follower of the late government; and after much hesitation he consented. He was partly influenced by the chivalrous resolve not to refuse the fallen Minister that support which he had been willing to give him when in power. But besides this, he saw the shadow of a coming struggle, in which to take a part was an object worth sacrificing something, and risking much. He entered Parliament, therefore, as a poor man, in a comparatively independent position; fettered by one drawback, his nominal change of side; but with the firmest conviction of his real consistency, and the determination to hold all party ties subordinate to public honesty.

The ensuing Sessions of 1831 and 1832 were en tirely occupied with the great struggles of the Reform Bill. It was not a happy time for the development of a young man's political creed, or for the moulding of abstract views into the practical philosophy of a statesman. Under the stress of public excitement, the two great parties of Reformers and Conservatives were forced to postpone all minor shades of opinion

to the present object of carrying or defeating the Bill. The praise of success was reserved for the most successful gladiator in the long combats of debate by which the one party might find themselves reassured, and the other consoled, in the prospect of an inevitable issue. As a skilful word combatant, Praed's reputation stood high; his first essays therefore excited considerable anticipations, which they seem not altogether to have fulfilled. He could speak with force and liveliness; but his efforts in these party battles had something of constraint and unreality about them, showing them to be rather a tribute to his convictions than an adequate expression of his mind. From his first entry into public life he had resolved to qualify himself for a position of high public trust; and his most hearty and successful speech during the session of 1831 was his thoughtful defence of a scheme proposed by himself, to improve the representation in the general interest of minorities, by giving two votes only to each elector in those counties where three members were to be returned. This proposal earned for its author some credit, though, from its novelty and speculative character, it received little notice from the public. It may, however, still deserve consideration, as the first practical step which it would be possible to take, in the direction of that philosophical

theory since embodied in the scheme of Mr. Thomas Hare.

In the next year he delivered the only other speech he ever corrected for publication, on moving the amendment, "that freeholds situated in boroughs should confer votes for the boroughs in all cases, and not for the county." This motion, avowedly intended to strengthen the agricultural interest in the county constituencies, gives evidence by the tone in which it was advocated, of the increased heat which eleven distracted months had generated. At the same time the opposition of its proposer to the measure under discussion is devoid alike of faction and alarmist despondency. It is worth while to observe how the same attempt, renewed thirty-seven years after, became the ostensible means of destroying the Conservative Ministry, which attempted to settle the reopened question of Reform. The same arguments on this topic which found utterance in the oratorical battle of 1859, may be found stated with wit and logic, in Praed's brilliant speech of the 1st of February, 1832.

But in spite of blemishes and logical inconsistencies, the Reform Bill passed, and St. Germains was despoiled of its members. Praed thereupon entered on an unsuccessful contest for the borough of St. Ives.