Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1879-02-21
THE CIPHER.
A STORY Of England in the Days of Ma

St0rf OF England IN the DaYe OIL Ma"
pOleon.
About the beginning of this century,
while the revolutionary wars were rag
ing, communication by 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 secret correspondence.
As rule the decipherer had beaten
the cipher, and no known method was
sure against detection. If Unconventional
signs merely were used, the recurrence
of the different symbols gave q key
easily followed out Some ingenious
spirits corresponded by reference &c the
pages and lines of particular editions
of particular books, others by an
agreed-on 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
plan which for long time was not
only undetected, but unsuspected.
1t 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 precautions were observed
by the English Government in regard
to correspondence with France, and an
amornt Of espionage was practiced at
the Postzof1ice which left Sir James
Graham subsequent performances in
thst line far behind. The national exs
citepent was intense, and the political
department. was administered with an
iron ,swav. a. H.
My uncle, Sir George Trevor, was, all
the world then knew, high in the Ad-
miralty; and, as it was from him that |
heard this anecdote, its veraeity may
be depended on.
The dispatches to and from the Ad-
miraity were the subject of the greatest
vigilance and the most stringent regu-
lations, The clerkswere not permitted
tosepd or receive letters which were
not first submitted to the chief, and it
was believed that letters addressed even
to their private residences were fire.
duently opened at the Post-oflice.
At the time speak of the chief clerk
was an elderly man by the name of
ParRer-a wlzened, wiry, dapper indi-
vidual, so imbued with the official tinct-
ure of Whitehall that it had become
second nature to him. He was a genial
and kindly soul, keen and energetic in
the afairs of his office, and in all other
things,a mere child. s.
He had engaged as his private Secre-
tary a young fellow by the name of
Beaumont, who was one of the most
prominent subordinates in the estab-
lishment. He was q modest, unassum-
ing man, very good-looking, with a
eountenance and' an air suggestive of
depression and melancholy. He was
evidently of good education, and prob
ably well-born also, for his manners
were easy, and indicated good breed
ing. He was a native of Jersey, and
had been introduced to the notice of
the Admiralty authorities by some influ-
ential member of Parliament. He was
much liked in the Office, and discharged
his duties to perfection.
One morning Parker presented him
self before my uncle with a visage pale
as woe, and trembling with excitement.
"Why, what is the matter, ParkerP
Has Bonaparte comeP'
"He may have, for aught 1 know
said Parker. Things are all wrong,
Sir Georgen'4 &isT8Et
"What are wrongP"
"The letters are wrong. There is a
spy among us; / have known it for long;
now | am quite sure; but can not find
him out.'' fN
Parker went on to explain that he
had for some time suspected that some
one in the Office communicated theiI
tariy to inf, Naft nd a tab
side. He had redoubled his precau.
tions; but, more than ever confirmed
in his suspicious, was entirely baffied
in his endeavors to detect the culprit.
but. Parker" said my uncle, how
do you come tO be sure that your Sc
crets have ranspired"
by the funds, Sir George. They
answer to the news as surely as the bell
down stairs does to the bell-rope.
find them going up and down as if they
were sitting in the Office" said Parker,
personifying the stock exchange for q
moment.
''Have all the letters to the clerks
been examined strictlyP"
Yes; | read them all myself"
Find nothing in themP''
Mighty little. Some are from home,
some from friends, and most o. them
from sweethearts,n said Parker, twist
ing his face into a grim smile, land
rum things they say in them"
land the young mems letters-are
they rum toop'
"They are more careful like, as they
know | am TO see them; but, Lord save
you. sir, they are all stuff; not ha-
pprth of harm IN them"
"This matter must be seen to-" said
my uncle; 4" 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 run on things to yourself"
So my uncle had the letters for q
week, and found them very much as
Parker had described them. The sus-
picious symptoms Increased; the Stock
Exchange responded more sensibly than
ever; but not the slightest ground for
suspecting anyone transpired. NV
uncle was bewildered, and Parker was
rapidly verging into insanity.
"a is certainly not the clerk" said
my uncle. There's no reason there y
said he, pushing back the letters of the
day. "By the way how does young
Beaumont get onP She seems nice
creature, that sister of his, 70 Judge by
her letters.n ir
"He is the best hand in the office, q
long sight, and hiss sister is very
sweet, ladylike creature, They are
orphans, poor things, said' ne suppOrt.
her ont Ofhis salary. She called at tht
office two months ago, and j gave hin
leave TO see her in my own room. Bu
he knew il was against the rules, anC
has not seen herhere again" -'' ~
but what are we 70 doPn said my
uncle: ~ think i win speak to the
first Lord"
So he spoke to the FIRST Lord. who
thought the affair serious enough.
II must be in the letters, said he.