Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1878-12-26
Misfellaneons. q
The Private Secretary.
An ENGLISH STORY.

An ENGLISH STORY.
About the beginning OF this century.
While the revolutionary wars were raging.
communication in cipher was naturally
very prevalent; and ingenuity was taxed 10
the utmost on one hand To invent, and on
the other TO detect the medium used in Sc
cret correspondence. A. rule the dec-
pherer had beaten the cipher. and no known
method was secure of detection. II con-
ventIOnal signs merely were used, the re-
currence of the different symbols gave a
key easily followed out. Some iugeEiulIs
spirits corre>ponded bv reference to the
pages and lines OF particular editions Of
particular boohs-others by AN agreed vo-
cabnIary, But these last methods. a.
though they might preserve the secret. dis
closed what was often quite a. dangerous,
that there was secret. | am about to tell
you OF plan which for II lon. time was
not only uudetected. but unsupported.
II wa, at that time when the first Napo-
leon had assembled hi, fleets and trans
ports at Bresf, with ihr osrcnsIble aud a.
l. generally believed, the real clcw OF max
ing descent on England The greatest
precautions were observed by the English
government IN regard To correspondence
from France, and an auuunt OF espionage
was practiced at the post office which lett
Sir James Graham'> subsequent perform
arces Ia that line far behind The national
excitement was intense. and the political
department was administered with an iron
sway.
My Uncle. Sir George Trevor, was, a.
all the world knew. hign ia the admiralty
and a 1t was from him that | heard this
aheedote' ts veracity may be depended
upon.
lhe dispatches to and from the admir-
atty were the subject OF the greatest ,igIl-
ance, and the most stringent regulations
The clerks were not permitted TO send or
receive letters which "ere not submitted 0
the chief clerk, aud it wa. believed thar
letters addressed even 10 their private resi-
idences were frequently opened at the post
office.
At the time | speak or the chief clcrk
was an elderly man OF the name Of Parker
"a "lZened, wiry, dapper individual. 80
imbued with the official tincture OF White
hall that II had become a second nature to
him. He was genial and kindly soul,
Keen and energetic in the affairs of his
office. and in all other, a mere child
lie had engaged as his private secretary
young fellow Of the name OF Beaumont.
who was one OF the most promising subor-
dinates in the establishment. He was a
modest unassuming man, very good look
ing, with countenance and AN air sugges-
tive of depression and melancholy. He was
evidently of good education. and probably
weIl-0orn also, for his manners were easy,
and indicated good breeding. He was IA
native of jersey, and had been Introduced
TO the notice OF the admiralty authorities
by some influential member OF parliament
he was much liked In the office, and dis
charged 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 aught | know" said
Parker. Things are all wrong, Sir
George."
"What are wrODg?"
The letters are wrong. There is a spy
among us. | have known il for a long
time; bnt now l am quite sure; but can
not find him out" Parker went "n 10 ex-
plain that he had for some time suspected
that some one in the office communicated
their private information aud despatche :
outside. He had redOubled his precautions
but. more than ever confirmed in his sus-
p.cious, was entirely batfied in his endeav-
ors To detect the culprit.
you come TO be so sure that your secrets
have transpired?'
by the funds. Sir George They answer
to the news as surely as the bell down
stairs does to the bell rope. find them
gong up and down as if they We're sittin.
III the office, said Parker. personifyiuy the
stock exchange for the moment
Have all the letters to the clerks been ex
amined strictly?'
Eyes, read them all myself"
Find nothing in them?''
Mighty little. Some are from home
some from friends, and some OF them from
sweet-hearts." said Parker. twisting bis
face into grim smile, land run thing,
they say in them"
And the young mems letters. Are they
run. tooT'
They are more careful like. as the,
know | am to see them; but, Lord saw,
you. sir. they are all stuff; not ha'p'ortt
OF harm in them"
This matter must be seen to- said III,
uncle. Il have had my own misgiving oi
the same subject. Brin. me all the letter,
which come to. aud are sent by. the clerk,
tor the next week. There is no reason viii
you should have all the run things TO your
self"
SO my uncle had the letters for a week
and found them very much as Parker ha'
described them. The suspicious symptom
had Increased. the Stock Exchange re
sponded more sensitively than ever; bu
not The slightest ground for suspecting an,
| one transpired. NY uncle was bewildered
aud Parker was rapidly verging to insan
ity.
IL is certainly not the clerks" said m
uncle. ''Tiere is 10 treason there" sal
he pushing back the letters Of the day. "B