THE DEMEANOUR OF ENGLAND. 221 his fingers is a ' proof ' of the ' leading article ' CHAP. — one perhaps of great moment — for which he ' gave his brief order some three or four hours before. For the delicate task then awaiting him any other than he would require to be in a state of tranquillity, would require to have ample time. But for him there are no such in- dulgences. Whilst seizing the import and range of the new creation, and bringing it into smooth harmony with his general design— nay, even into conformity with his standard of literary excel- lence {^^) — he sees the hand of the clock grow- ing more and more peremptory, and the time drawing nearer and nearer when his paper must, must be ' made up.' It was only after hard throes that, emerging, as it were, from a tumult of swiftly exerted brain-power, the journal of the awaiting day could quicken, could burst into life ; and one hardly sees how the great company were able to believe that their editor, in the midst of toils so engrossing, in the midst of that storm of energy which he had to evoke and direct, would coldly bend his mind to the question whether this or that phrase, whether this or that statement of fact, might not do harm to the country. It would have been hard to expect such a feat from any editor busied in racing thus against time, even if he had been a man armoured against counter impulses by the qualities and the temperament of a tranquil, resolute judge ; but much less was there room for supposing that any such guardianship of State interests could be
