through the officious interference of those foes to sentiment, the Fire Brigade. So, with a sigh to the memory of the "good old times," when fire engines were unknown, and folks might die as they pleased, I was obliged to lay aside all thoughts of setting the Mansion House and the world in a blaze.

CHAP. VII.

"Laws bear the name, but money has the pow'r—
The cause is bad whene'er the client's poor."

"Loquacious, loud, and turbulent of tongue,
Aw'd by no shame, by no respect controll'd,
In scandal busy, in reproaches bold;
And chief he gloried with licentious style
To lash the great, and monarchs to revile."

DRYDEN.

POPE'S HOMER.

BEAUTY OF THE LIBEL LAWS-CRIMINAL INFORMATIONTRUE SUN-PROOF OF LOYALTY-PROJECTED TORY NEWSPAPER-MYSELF EDITOR-RADICAL TACT-PROPOSED LAW FOR THE REGULATION OF THE PRESS.

I HAVE before alluded, incidentally, to the case of Winchester, versus Grant and others. I believe it is pretty generally known that I was the plantiff in this most important case,—most vitally important to all who have any regard for their characters, and wish to preserve from vulgar gaze the intricacies of trade, and from impertinent curiosity the private dealings of speculation. It is one of the most excellent features of our libel law that authorizes the jury to judge merely from the outside appearance of the case, and to keep the real matter secret. A criminal information is the thing for a man who

would punish his slanderer. In my opinion, nine libels out of ten are mere baits for catching information. If any one for any particular reason wishes to know the particulars of any affair, he has only to publish a libel upon the parties connected therewith: they bring their action; --he pleads justification-evidence is produced on both sides-the whole matter comes out and the libeller triumphs: he has gained his end-at some expence certainly, but in many cases that would be but a minor consideration. Now how beautifully does a criminal information put an extinguisher on the truth, and enable you to revenge yourself on the scoundrel who shall dare to speak evil of you, without the world being a bit the wiser for it!

But this was not my only reason for proceeding in the case in question by "Information". It was pure patriotism, or rather exalted loyalty that prompted me. I beheld with grief the way in which the King's privy purse was kept low by the scurvy Radical retrenchers, and determined to expose my character to the calumnies of my enemies, that I might put money in the purse of my Sovereign.

How I succeeded, the world knows full well. I would rather that the terms of imprisonment, to which the poor devils were condemned had been transmuted into money-(all for the bene

fit of my King); but some how or other I could not get the judge to take the hints I gave to that effect.

I mentioned these facts to his Majesty when I dined with him at Windsor, as before related; and while he cordially thanked me, squeezing my hand like a smith's vice, he lamented that his legal officers were so blind to their master's wants, and told me not to forget him while performing my judicial functions at the Mansion House.

Another point I had in view was to manœuvre so as to get a mortgage upon the property of the True Sun, when I might easily have managed to foreclose it, and then I would have edited the paper myself. The affairs of the nation would have fared far better under my dictation than under the agitating paragraphs of the vile radical crew, who now possess this organ of public movement. I flatter myself that under my guidance the True Sun of Toryism would have shone always at meridian, and The Times with all its cleverness, would have been secondarywould have followed my leaders, and echoed my nation-guiding articles.

But this hope, like many others of my expectations was found to have its foundation in sand -or to use a classic phrase, I was "building castles in the air." The Radicals were too much

for me this bout; for they found a mortgagee of their own class, into whose hands the property has fallen. I grieve to say it continues as destructive and foul-mouthed as ever. Indeed, if there is any difference it is on the wrong tack for the Tories.

By the by, one of these rascals, Bell, has set up a new Political Register, in which I understand he has set his base clapper ringing against me again. It would seem that these Radicals are almost lusus nature; as the common and very natural proverb that "a burnt cat dreads the fire," does not hold good with respect to them. They flourish under fining and imprisonment, as if it were their meat and drink. This in one respect, imprisonment certainly is; -sending to the treadmill for six months, has saved many a poor devil from starvation; and their fines are all paid by subscription. As the blood of the Martyrs is said to have been the seed of the church-so does persecution seem to be the nutriment of Radicalism.

Say what they like, Toryism will never flourish until we have laws for the regulation of the public press, on the same plan as those lately passed by the "Citizen King" (a genuine chip of the old Bourbon block) in France. If this were done, we should soon have the whole crew under lock and key. Let the punishment for