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attack on protected monopoly: no invasions to gratify the mere ambition of enlarging the number of subjects, foolishly subject to some literal legitimate; who probably condenses as much foolery in his own royal scull as would suffice for apportionment throughout his dominions, and still leave plenty behind for private use. No palpable contradictions like those of our own times, such as supporting the cross with one hand, the crescent with the other.' No crusading to put down freedom of opinion, to stifle the expression of those feelings with which every ingenuous mind glows. These brave men are for the most part without the slightest cultivation of mind, without the smallest reflection: I pity, from my soul, the untimely fate which awaits most of them; their trade is sickening to philanthropy. Let us change the scene."

LETTER XV.

said,

As we walked from the soldiers, L "We were talking sometime ago of some persons telling other persons constantly, to set no store by this life, but to regard it as vanity and vexation of spirit; as a mere embryo existence, preparatory to bursting the shell, and stepping forth into the next: this puts me in mind of an odd story.

"Some few years back, I went in company with a lively girl to view Windsor Castle, the country box of our beloved monarch. As we went through the apartments, my arch companion whispered; "The next time we are told to observe the paintings on the ceiling, instead of looking up and gaping with the rest of the spectators, amuse yourself with taking a side-glance at their twisted necks and visages, gazing with reverential wonderment at the vile taste exhibited in King Charles being represented in a flowing wig, riding about in a tilbury, as if there was nothing the matter, in spite of the bustle around him.' I did so, and found the different expressions of the various

up-turned, open-mouthed faces, horribly ludicrous. But I observed something more; which was, that the attendant who pointed out the beauties of the place, from habit or indifference, or both, instead of looking up also, was staring in my face, and gaping wide with weariness. The full-bottomed wig of the Second Charles, was no treat to him; his only aim was to hurry us along with all possible dispatch, pocket the fees, and collect a fresh set of starers. I pitied his wearisome routine, and it struck me I had seen something like this man's behaviour somewhere before, and often: but I leave the inference to be drawn at your discretion. I would fain avoid impertinent remarks; thus much however I will add, that I know of no expression more shameless and disgusting than a certain cant saying, "You must do as we say, and not as we do."-"Go to, go to, out upon it."

As L concluded, we entered an immense apartment, down which men in white hair curled in regular rows, and wearing long black garments were stalking, some singly, some two and three together: some were mingled in groups with others, in the common garb worn by the better sort, engaged in earnest conversation: other groups in mean attire were wanting in these singular person

ages, on whom I could see many of the former casting looks of reverence, as they walked hastily past, as if paying homage to superior beings. "What," said I, "is the meaning of this; who are these gaunt spectres, who glide pale and haggard, as if worn with cares not their own?""They are," said L-, "our Lawyers; the other persons here are their inferior brethren, the middle men between them and the litigating parties, (we are vastly fond of middle men on all occasions) and witnesses on both sides, who are to give evidence of the truth as well as they can, or will. The courts are now sitting to decide disputes between man and man, but it would be useless to introduce you there; you would no more catch the meaning, or gain an idea of the proceedings, from the jargon to inexperience unintelligible, than I could seize the innate ideas of a flight of daws, wheeling their airy circle. The prodigious labour of these courts of Law flows as a necessary consequent from the vast discrepancy in enjoyments and possessions, before pointed out. The Text, and Commentaries on the Text, of the English Laws on "Real Property," or surface of earth, and the incidents thereon founded, are become so numerous and intricate, that human life is scarce long enough for the attainment of them pro

perly; the metaphysical subtleties, niceties, and penumbras of decision and interpretation, adduced in their exposition, are so profoundly obscure, that my head aches with the very thought of them. Yours would split at once, on the sudden introduction of a good "property point," as the gentlemen in long robes would call it. So we will depart with the remark, that the best and wisest among the professors of our laws, (and many such there are, men, ornaments to human nature,) are compelled to own their lengthy modes of procedure to be unjust and ridiculous; tending to chicane, to all that civil polity in native purity abominates: and that like almost every thing else in the system of civilization, they need immediate revision and simplifying.

Now let us bend our steps to another side of the town.

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