The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-04-30
THE PRIVATE SECRETARY.


About the beginning of this century,
when the revolutionary wars We're rag
ing, communication in cypher was nat
urallv very prevalent; and ingenuity was
taxed to the utmost on the one hand to
invent, and on the other to detect the
medium used in secret correspondence.
As rule the decipherer had beaten the
cipher, and no known method was Sc
cure from detection. If conventional
signs merely were used, the 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 agreed vocabulary. But
these last methods, although they might
preserve the secret, disclosed what was
often quite as dangerous, that there was
a secret. | am about to tell you of a
plan which for Il long time was not on
ly detected but unsupported.
1t was at that time when the first
Napoleon had assembled his fleets and
transports at Brest, with the ostensible,
and as is generally believed the real,
view of making a descent on England.
by the English Government in regard
to correspondence from France, and an
amount of espionage was practised at
the postoffice which left Sir James
Graham's subsequent performances in
that line far behind The national ex-
citement was intense, and the political
department was administered with iron
sway.
My uncle, Sir George Trevor, was, as
all the world knew, high in the admit
raltv, and as it was from him | heard
this anecdote, its veracity may be de-
pended upon.
The dispatches to and from the admi-
ralty were the subject of the greatest
vigilance and the most stringent regu-
lations The clerks were not permitted
to send or receive letters which were
not submitted to the chief clerk, and it
was believed the letters addressed even
to their private residences were frequent
" opened in the postoffice.
At the time | speak Of, the chief
clerk was an elderly man Of the name Of
Parker, wizened, wiry, dapper indi-
vidual, so imbued with the official tine
ture of Whitehall that it had become
second nature to him. He was genial
and kindly soul, keen and energetic in
the affairs of his office, and in all others
a mere child.
He had engaged at his private secre-
tary a young fellow by the name Of
Beaumont, who was one of the most
promising suhordinates in the establish
ment He was modest, unassuming
man, very good looking, with a counte-
nance and an air suggestive of depres-
sion and melancholy He was evident
" of good education, and probably we'll
born also, for his manners were easy and
indicated good breeding. He was ma
tive of Jersey, and had been introduced
to the notice of the admiralty authori
ties by some influential member of Par
lament He was much liked in the
office and discharged his duties to per-
lection.
One morning Parker presented him
self before my uncle with visage pale
with woe, and trembling with excite
ment.
'Why, what is is the matter, Parker?
Has Bonaparte Gomez
He may have, for aught [ know"
said Parker. Things are all wrong,
Sir George"
''What are wrong?"
The letters are wrong. There is a
spy among US. | have knownit for long;
now | am quite sure but | cannot find
him out. Parker went on to explain
that he had for some time suspected
that some one in the Office eommunica-
ted their private information and dis
patches outside. He had redoubled his
precautions; but more than ever con-
firmed in his suspicion, was entirely
baffled in his endeavors to detect the
culprit
but, Parker" said my uncle, chow
do you come to be sure that your secret
has transpired ?"
by the funds, Sir George. They
answer to the news as surely as the bell
down stairs does TO the rope [ find
them going up and down as if they were
sitting in the office" said Parker, per-
sonating the stock exchange for the
moment.
''Have all the letters to the clerks
been strictly examined?"
eyes, / examined them all myself.
Find nothing in them2"
mighty little COule are IToHI NOME,
and some from sweethearts, said Parker,
twisting his face into a grim smile, land
rum things they say in them"
And the young mems letters. Are
they rum too p
They are more careful, like as they
know | am to see them; but Lord save
you, sir, they call stuff; not ha'porth
of harm in them.
This matter must be seen to-" said
my uncle 81 have had my own mis-
givings 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 rum things to yourself"
So my uncle had the letters for week,
and found them very much as Parker
had described them. The suspicious
symptoms increased the stock exchange
responded more sensitively than ever /;
but not the slightest ground for sus-
pecting any one transpired. My uncle
was hevildered, and Parker was rapidly
verging on insanity.