588 TO THE EDITOR OF THE EXAMINER. 



lertaining these, and many other class notions. It was with reference to 

 such notions, at present predominant amongst them, that I declared 

 myself addicted to the society of sober and experienced laymen, in pre- 

 ference to the society of my class; but the question now before us does 

 not regard the present state of philosophy and masculine opinion 

 amongst the clergy. The moral character of my clients is to be de- 

 fended. I have to make it appear to the jury that the clergy are not 

 hypocritical, quarrelsome, hard-hearted, vindictive, lovers of pleasure 

 themselves, haters of pleasure in others, back-biters, slanderers, a curse 

 to the poor ; in short, both negatively and possitively distinguished from 

 other classes by a laxer morality, for such is one of the comprehensive 

 counts of the indictment ! Now, I maintain, that already such good 

 reason has been offered in support of my preliminary objection to the 

 competency of the Examiner to lay the indictment; and, again, that in 

 the absence of mere formal evidence for the accuser, the total inability 

 to support his allegations by even the most meagre inductions of par- 

 ticulars is more than obvious ; and yet, again, that his accusation is so 

 entirely made up of the most ordinary generalities of vulgar abuse, that 

 I am entitled to request the court to dismiss this case at once, with appro- 

 priate admonition to the accuser, for having wantonly, and, in flagrant 

 breach of common humanity, lodged against a large body of fellow- 

 countrymen a frivolous, vexatious, and, as far as appearances go, mali- 

 cious complaint. 



Taking for granted that the Court has acceded to my request, and 

 that I have carried my clients triumphantly through ; I would fain now, 

 if my opponent be not provoked with me beyond all bounds, as indeed 

 I could well excuse him for being just at present, invite him into a 

 neighbouring tavern, and try to cool his heated imagination, and soften 

 his prejudices, by a little friendly reasoning. Suppose us then seated, 

 like the nocturnal symposiasts of Black wood ; the Examiner and his 

 humble servant, with one or two of the ultra radical friends of the 

 former, and as many thorough radical friends of the latter. Only, as I 

 intend to treat, and have more to say at this sitting than time will suffer 

 me to say, unless I have all the talk to myself; I must beg and entreat, 

 nay, I must insist upon it, that I be allowed to begin, continue, and con- 

 clude this, as it would otherwise be, conversation. 



Away then with bitter sneers, and galling allusions of all sorts ; 

 ft missi hcecfaciamus" I'll do my endeavour henceforth to speak as like 

 a gentleman as for me may be possible. 



Now, my good sir, I used once, d'ye know, when my first youthful 

 veneration for the clergy had subsided ; and grievously dissatisfied with 

 them as well as myself, because in old catechisms, and old fashioned 

 books on theology, we were dubbed spiritual pastors and masters ; 

 stewards of God's mysteries; though I neither myself felt, nor believed 

 my brethren to be a jot more spiritual than other educated men ; and, 

 as for mysteries, why, good lord ! they were mysteries to us, as well as 

 to bumpkins around; when some years back my mind was in this state 

 I felt inclined to be as fierce with the clergy as you are. I had, as the 

 vulgar saying is, a good mind to " cut off my nose to be revenged of my 

 face." I fumed and chafed at the injustice perpetrated by old establishd 

 custom, on a blanc-bec of twenty-three, by ordaining him into sanctified 

 professions, and the official advocacy of a member of metaphysical tenets, 

 of which his immatured mind could not take cognizance, and of the real 



