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62 misfortune—the treacherous part acted by General Haughton, the result of infamous jealousy, self-love, and sordid ambition. How soon might his son during his appointment in Ireland, without difficulty or labour, have amassed together riches in abundance, and whether attained by just or unjust measures, would have no weight in the general estimate or rather false balance given to such considerations by the infatuated many, those idols of Fortune, ever ready to sacrifice their better feelings at her golden shrine! the truth of which, so candidly and zealously supported by De Brooke, was irresistible to Sir Aubrey, as was also the persuasion of the impossibility, without the eyes of an Argus, of superintending concerns so perplexed and complicated.

From the conviction of his honour, strict integrity, and uprightness of conduct, evidently seen in the distressed but steady bearing of his son in every detail he had afforded him, Sir Aubrey determined to use his endeavours, without at the same time compromising himself where impartiality was essential, to reinstate his unhappy son in the favourable opinion of Government.

As gold from its dross, so De Brooke arose pure and bright from that "fiery ordeal," the investigation of the Court. Nevertheless, how incomplete