Mower County transcript., 1871-06-29
CIPHER CORRESPONDENCE.

The story am about to tell, relates to
an incident in the history of England
which is but little known, and which you
will not find in books, hut one which,
nevertheless. had great effect on her dcs-
tinics
About the beginning of this century,
while the revolutionary wars were raging,
communication in cipher was naturally
very prevalent; aud ingenuity was taxed
to the utmost, on one hand to invent, and
the other to detect the medium used in Sc
cret correspondence As rule the deci-
pherer had beaten the cipherer; and no
known method was secure of detection. Ii
recurrence of the different symbols gave a
key easily followed out Some ingenious
spirits corresponded by reference to
the pages and lines of particular books !;
others by an agreed vocabulary. But these
last methods, although they might pre-
serve the secret, disclosed, what was
often quite az dam gerous, that there was a
secret. 4 am about TO tell you Of a>plan
which for long years was not only unde-
tected, but unsupported.
1t was at the time when the first Napo
leon had assembled his fleets and trans
ports at Brest, with the ostensible, and as
is generally believed, the real view of max
ing descent on this island The greatest
precautions were obser-ed by this govern
ment in regard to correspondence from
France, and an amount Of espionage was
practiced at the postottice which left sub
seQuent performances in that line far be-
hind. The national excitement was in
tense, and the political departments of the
government were administered with an
iron sway.
My uncle, Sir George Trevor, was, as all
the world knew, high in the Admiralty
and as it was from him that l heard this
anecdote. its veracity may of course be
depended on.
The dispatches to and from the Admi-
rality were the subject of the greatest vigi-
lance, and the most stringent regulations
The clerks were not permitted to send or
receive any letters which were not first
submitted to the chief clerk; and it was
believed that letters addressed even to
their residences were frequently opened at
the post-ot1ce.
At the time speak of, the chief clerk
was an elderly man of the name Of Park
era wizened, wiry, dapper individual, so
imbucd with the official tincture Of White
hall that it had become second nature to
him He lived and breathtd, and thought
and slept solely for the Admiralty, and
knew no other pleasure or care. He was,
withal, genial and kindly soul. keen and
energetic in the affairs Of his Office, and in
all Others a mere child.
He had engaged as his private secretary
a young fellow by the name of Beaumont,
who was one of the most promising sub
ordinatcs in the establishment. He was a
modest, unassuming man, very cookbook
ing, with countenance and air suggestive
of depression and melancholy He was
evidently of good education, and probably
was well born also, for his manner was
easy and indicated good breeding. He was
a native Of Jersey, and had been introduc.
ed TO the notice of the Admiralty authori-
ties bY some influential member of Parlia-
ment. He was much liked in the Office
and discharged his duties to perfection.
One morning Parker presented himself
before my uncle with visage pale with
woe, and trembling with excitement
"Why, what is the matter, Parker
Has Bonaparte Gomez"
He may have, for what | know" said
Parker. "Things are all wrong, Sir
George!
"What is wrong?"
"The letters are wrong. There is spy
among us. / have known it for long; now
am quite sure; but I cannot find him
Parker went on to explain that he had
for some time suspected that some one in
the Office communicated their private in.
formation and dispatches outside. He had
redoubled his precautions, but, more than
ever confirmed in his suspicious, was en-
tirely baffied in his endeavors to detect the
culprit.
"But, Parker" said my uncle, show dc
you come to be so sure that your secrets
have transpired?"
"By the funds, Sir George. They an.
swer to the news as surely as the bell down
stairs does to the bcll.rope. I find them
going up and down as if they were sitting
in the Office" said Parker, personifying
the stock exchange for the moment.
"Have all the letters to the clerks been
examined strictly?"
"Yes; read them all myself"
"Find nothing in them?'
"Mighty little. Some are from home
and some from friends, and most of them
from sweethearts," said Parker, twisting
his face into grim smile" "and queer
things they say in them"
The young mems letters, are they
queer too?"
"They are more careful like, as they
know am to see them: but, Lord save
you, sir, they are all stuff; not a ha'porth
of harm IN theM."
"Thfs matter must be seen to-" said my
uncle; II have had my own misgivings
ON the same subject. Bring me all the
letters which come to and are sent by the
clerks for the next week. There is no
reason why you should have all the queer
things to YOURSELF
So my uncle had the letters for week,
and found them very much as Parker had
described.
The suspicious symptoms increased; the
stock exchange responded more sensitive
ly than ever; but not tho slightest ground
for suspecting any one transpired. My
uncle was bcwildered, and Parker was
rapidly verging to insanity. 1t is GER.
tainly not the clerks" said my uncle.
There is not reason there" said he, push
ing back the 1ettersOf the day. "By the
way, how does young Beaumont get on
She seem nice creature, that sister of his,
to Judge by her letters"
He is the best hand in the office, long
sight; and his sister is very sweet, lady
like creature. They are orphans, poor
things; and he supports her out of his
salary She called at the Office two months
ago, and gave him leave to see her for a
few minutes in my room. But he knew
it was against the rules, and has not seen
her here again"
"But what are we to do?" said my
uncle. II think will speak to the First
Lord"
So he spoke to the First Lord, who
thought the affair serious enough.
ut must be in the letters" said he.
"It cannot be in the letters" said my
uncle.
Gas you please" said the chief; "but
although you cannot find it there, perhaps
another can. / would try an expert"
My uncle had no faith in experts, or
Bow street runners and mistrusted them.
But he could not refuse to try the expert
ment suggested. So the most experienced
deciphrrer in London was summoned in
to council, and to him the letters of the
day were secretly submitted.
He read them all carefully, looked at
them in the light and looked at the light
through them. At last he put them all
aside excepting one from Elinor Beau
mont
"Who is the lady who writes this -
said the tsciturn man of skill, at last.
"A very sweet young woman" said
Parker, smartly; sister of my private
S.< S.s<:'
"Docs she write oftcn?''
Eyes; she is his only correspondent,
and writes about twice week"
"Where does she live?'
"She lives in Jersey. beaumont told