Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-01-25

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while the Revolutionary wars were
raging, communication in cipher was
naturally very prevalent; and ingenuity
was taxed to the utmost on one hand to
invent, and on the other to detect, the
medium used in correspondence. AS
rule, the decipherer had beaten the
cipherer; and no known method was Sc
cure of detection. If conventional signs
merely were used, the recurrence of the
different symbols gave key easy fol-
lowed out. Some ingenious spirits cor
responded by reference to the pages and
lines ofparticular editions of particular
books-others by an agreed-on vocab-
ulary. But these last methods, although
they might preserve the secret, dis
closed what was often quite as danger
GUS, that there was secret. am about
to tell you of plan which for long
time was not only undecided, but I'M
suspected.
was at that time, when the first Ma
poleon had assembled his fleets and
transports at Brest, with the ostensible,
and as is generally believed the real
view OF making descent on England.
The greatest precaution was observed
by the English government in regard to
correspondence from France, and an
amount OF espionage was practiced at
the postoffice, which left Sir James Ora
hams subsequent performances in that
line far behind. The national excite
ment was intense, and the political de-
partment was administered with an iron
sway.
My uncle, Sir George Trevor, was, as
all the world knew, high in the Admi-
rally; and as it was from him that I
heard this anecdote, its veracity may be
depended upon.
The dispatches to and from the Admit
rally were the subject of the greatest
vigilance. ana the most stringent regu-
lations. The clerks were not permitted
to send or receive letters which were
not first submitted to the chief clerk.
and it was believed that letters
addressed even to their private resi-
deaces were frequently opened at the
postoffice.
At the time 1 speak of, the chief
clerk Was AN elderly man of the name
OF Parker-a wizened, wiry, dapper in
diyidual, SO imbued with the official
tincture of Whitehall, that it had be-
come second nature to him. He was q
genial and kindly soul, keen and ener-
getic in the affairs of his office, and in
all others mere child.
He had engaged as his private secre-
harry young fellow of the name of
Beaumont, who was one of the most
promising subordinates in the estab-
lishment. He was modest unassum-
ing man, very good.looking, with q
countenance and an air suggestive of
depression and melancholy. He was
evidently OF good education, and pro-
badly well-born also, for his manners
were easy, and indicated good breed
ing. He was native of Jersey, and
had been introduced to the notice of
the Admiralty authorities by some in.
fuential member of Parliament, He
was much liked in the Office, and dis.
charged his duties to perfection,
One morning Parker presented him.
soil before my uncle with visage pale
with woe, and trembling with excite
ment.
Why what is the matter, Parker {?
Has Bonaparte Gomez"
"He may have, for aught I know ~
said Parker. Things are all wrong.
Sir George I"
"What are wrong?"
1.-The letters are wrong. There is a
spy among us. l have known il for
long; now 1 am quite sure, but / can
not find him out" Parker went on To
explain that he had for some time sus.
pected that some one in the Office com.
municated their private information
and dispatches outside. He had re-
doubled his precautions; but. more
than ever confirmed in his suspicious.
was entirely baffied in his endeayors 10
detect the culprit.
But. Parker said my uncle. chow
do you come to be so sure that your
secrets have TRANSFERRED ?"
BY the funds, Sir George. They
answer to the news as surely AS the oeiI
down stairs does TO the bell-rope.
fnd them going up aud 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, l read them all myself.
Find nothing Ia them =