The Fixed Period

moment, is to be violently dispelled because my own son and Sir Kennington Oval have settled between them that a pretty girl is to have her own way." As I thought of it, there seemed to b

nt out by a British Cabinet Minister,-the so-called Minister of Benevolence, by a bitter chance,-at the instance of that Minister's nephew, to put down by brute fo

ot succeeded in stopping my carriage on the hill,-should I have succeeded in arranging for the final departure of my old friend? That was the question which I ought to ask myself. And even had I succeeded in carrying my success so far as that, should I not have appeared a murderer to my fellow-citizens had not his de

in due order, I could see that my memory would have been embalmed with those who had done great things for their fellow-citizens. Columbus, and Galileo, and Newton, and Harvey, and Wilberforce, and Cobden, and that great Banting who has preserved us all so completely from the horrors of obesity, would not have been named with honour more resplendent than that paid to the name of Neverbend. Such had been

rsation, and went in. There was Captain Battleax seated there, beautiful with a cocked-hat, and an epaulet, and gold braid. He rose to meet me, and I saw that he was a handsome tall man ab

with other of our fair citizens, I saw Eva. As I spoke I made him a gracious bow, and I thin

th the purpose of seeing how things are progr

e have our little struggles here as elsewhere, and all things cannot be done b

ied now, Captain Bat

tisfied,"

so pleasant a manner," said First-Lieutenant Crosstrees, an

show in such company as was now present the strong feeling which pervaded my own mind. "You will perceive, Captain Battleax, that there is a little difference of opinion between us all here as to the ceremony which was to have been accompli

en it is only ourselves that we have to sacrifice, but never whe

my respects as a messenger from Great Britain to Britannula, to congratulate you all on your late victory at cricket, and to say how loud are the praises bestowed on Mr John Neverbend, junior, for his skill and gallantry. The power

er of the room talking to Eva, and was

l is a very fine pl

id the wife of the Mayor of Gladstonopolis,-a lady whom he had married

my ordinary life. My wife, on the spur of the moment, managed to give the gentlemen a very good dinner. Including the chaplain and the surgeon, there were twelve of them, and she asked twelve of the prettiest girls in Gladstonopolis to meet them. This, she said, was true hospitality; and I am not sure that I did not agree with her. Then there were three or four leading men of the community, with their wives, who were for the most part the fathers and mothers of the young ladies. We sat down thirty-six to dinner; and I think that we showed a great divergence from those usual colonial banquets, at which the

her own way," said Captain Battleax to J

'm nowhere. But I mean to h

ny idea; but it must be admitted that she accomplished her task with thorough success. I was told, too, that after the invitations had been written, no milliner in Brita

dency; and he ended by saying, that though he had, as a matter of courtesy, and with the greatest possible alacrity, proposed my health, he would not call upon me for any reply. And immediately on his sitting down, there got up a gentleman to whom I had not been introduced before this day, and gave the health of Mrs Neverbend and the ladies of Britannula. Now in spite of what the captain said, I undoubtedly had intended to make a speech. When the President of the republic has his health drunk, it is, I conceive, his duty to do so. But here the gentleman rose with a rapidity which did at the moment seem to have been premeditated. At any rate, my eloquence was altogether stopped. The gentleman was named Sir Ferdinando Brown. He was

ll our thoughts. To die would be as nothing; but to live as the late President of the republic who had fixed his aspirations so high, would indeed be very melancholy. As President I had still two years to run, but it occurred to me now that I could not possibly endure those two years of prolonged nominal power. I should be the laughing-stock of the people; and as such, it would become me to hide my head. When this captain should have taken himself and his vessel back to England, I would retire to a small farm which I possessed at the farthest side of the island, and there in seclusion would

at he was the greater man of the two on the occasion,-or perhaps I should say of the three. And yet he had not before come on shore to visit me, nor had he made one at our little dinner-party. "Mr Neverbend," began the captain,-and I observed that up to that moment he had generally addressed me as President,-

ourteous while we submit. Not a doubt but had your force been only double or treble our own, I should have found it my duty to struggle with you. But how can a little State

e, Mr Neverbend," said

atter in which the progress of the world is concerned, I, or rather we, have been put down by brute force. Yo

loaded," said C

d be made to go off when wanted. To speak the truth, Captain Battleax, I do not think that you excel us more in courage than you do in thought and pract

simply bowed to him. "And now," he conti

it suits you

can assure you he has not even allowed me to see the trigger since I have been on board. But 250-ton swivellers do cost money, and the John Bri

I paused only for a moment or two. "I shall proceed at once to carry out the Fixed Peri

hes, as I understand, of a large p

ens have been declared by repea

se in your Constitutio

old to be quit

me. "At any rate, you will admit that a second Chamber is not there to guard against the sudden action of the first. But we ne

tain

iciently popular with the peop

ence in an assertion which I felt to be so muc

there is nothing for it but th

looking at the matter from my own point of view, was a husband, the head of a family, a man largely concerned in business,-I was to be carried away in bondage-I, who had done no wrong, had disobeyed no law, who had indeed been conspicuous for my adherence to my duties! No opposition ever shown to Columbus and Galileo had come near to this in audacity and oppression. I, the President of a free republic,

annot believe that you, as an officer in the British navy, will commit any act of tyra

nando Brown has said," r

introduced to him at your hospitable table. Sir Fe

f people.' He has now been sent here on this delicate mission, and to no one could it be intrusted by whom it would be performed with more s

he delicate mi

d to England or elsewhere,-or drowned upon the voyage, it mattered not which. That was the first step to be taken towards carrying out the tyrannical, illegal, and altogether injurious intention of the British Governm

instrument which you have hidden in your cabin makes you the master of us all. It has been prepared by the ingenuity of men, able to dominate matter though altogether powerless over mind. On myself, I need hardly say that it would be i

leax, "and that I can so use it as to half obliterate

said. "What would become of

he gun. Lieutenant Crosstrees is a very gallant officer. One of us always remains on board whil

the exercise of it betrays not only tyranny of disposition, but poorness and meanness of spirit." I here bowed fi

," said Sir Ferdinando, "you will generally find that

hem both by my words had it been possible, my dislike centred itself on Sir Ferdinando. He was a man who looked as though everything were

th two of the ship's cutters. Everything that can be there done for your accommodation and comfort,-every luxury which can be provided to solace the President of this late republic,-shall be afforded. But, Mr Neve

ur country in this matter. Were I to comply with your orders without expressing my own opinion, I should seem to have done so willingly her

nt by which this duty has been placed in my hands." He then took out of his pocket a letter addressed to him by

ffice, Cro

May

no grounds for regret. But in their selection of a Constitution the Britannulists have unfortunately allowed themselves but one deliberative assembly, and hence have sprung their present difficulties. It must be, that in such circumstances crude councils should be passed as laws without the safeguard coming from further discussion and thought. At the present moment a law has been passed which, if carried into action, would become abhorrent to mankind at large. It is contemplated to destroy all those who shall have r

ime to prevent the first bloodshed. But it is surmised that you will find difficulties in the way of your entering at once upon your government. So great is the popularity of their President, Mr Neverbend, that, if he be left on the island, your Excellency will find a dangerous rival. It is

power, against which it is impossible that the people of Britannula should prevail. You will carry out with you 100 men of the North-north-west Birmingham regiment,

low himself to make an enforced visit to England without some opposition; but it is considered in the interests of humanity to be so essential that this scheme of the Fixed Period shall not be carried out, that H.M. Government consider that his absence from Brit

he First Lord of the Admiralty, and you will find him ready to co-operate with your Excelle

fie

erstand it; and that is all, I suppose, that I need say upon th

and our sailors are weighing the anc

y!" I

must move to-day,

nt to take my dead body.

aid the captain, l

o whom I can give up the a

take charge of them,"

thing of the forms of

rse, must all

e, and my wife and son to leave though I would not for a moment be supposed to put these private matters forward when the

of what you may do if you escape us. I should not consider my head to be safe on my own shoulders were

ngest evidence against my own philosophy. And yet it was necessary that I should say something to make him understand that this sudden deportation was not necessary. And then during that moment there came to me suddenly an idea that it might be well that I should take this journey to England, and there begin again my career,-as

is suffici

d Sir Ferdinando. "It is alway

ou with your 250-ton swivellers, and your guard of ma

"We do not wish to make ourselves disagreeable to you, Mr Neverbend." I shrugged my shoulders. "Unnecessarily disagreeable, I should have said. You are a man of your word." Here I bowed to him. "If you will give us your promise to meet Captain B

ir anchors, in order that their operations might be visible, and that I might suppose that I had received a great favour from my enemies' hands. And this plan was adopted, too, in order to extract from me a promise th

to the Fixed Period,-my wife and children could not, I am sure, endure to see me led away when a certain day should come,-but I can understand that much may be said on the point, and I admire greatly the eloquence and energy

tri? Ciceronem

two gentlemen