284- Notes for the Month,' [MARCH, 



same time it is considered, that the fortunes of the c/uffonniers, or rag 

 gatherers, will be increased : as every man, instead of sending his 

 handkerchief to the washerwoman, will now (when a change is required) 

 throw it out of the window. We doubt that the washerwomen, as well 

 as the pickpockets, are likely to be dissatisfied with this arrangement. 



An Old Grudge. In wine there is piety as well as truth. Cassio, 

 before running a man through the body for doubting his discipline, calls 

 upon heaven to " forgive the company their sins !" And we were 

 acquainted with a very eminent actor, who always read prayers to his; 

 family at the close of the third bottle. Sometimes the memory, too, is 

 revived, as well as the devotion excited at such moments : and then we over- 

 flow in a whole "Christian Remembrancer" full of spiritual apothegms and 

 pathetic recollections. As an Irish bricklayer was standing, very drunk, 

 the other morning, in Norfolk- street in the Strand, a Jew, crying "old 

 clothes," passed on the opposite side the way. The sound struck on a 

 responsive chord attuned by beer, but silent till thus awakened in the 

 drinker's soul. He listened one moment for the second cry ; raised his 

 eyes reverently, and repressed a half-uttered hiccup. And then turning 

 slowly round after the Israelite, pointing with the right arm extended, 

 while the left clung to an area-rails, in order to effect the movement 

 more securely and easily, he said half in ejaculation, half addressing 

 the bystanders " There goes one of the thieves that murdered our 

 Saviour !" 



The system of compromise in cases of robbery (which produced so 

 much discussion in the affairs of Mr. Grimaldi the watchmaker, and of 

 the Warwick bank) a propos to which half a dozen more banks have 

 been robbed since our last has recently been carried to a very singular 

 extent. The Morning Herald newspaper of the 12th of February, gives 

 the story of a transaction between a notorious " Resurrection man" and 

 a person of respectability named " Cuthbert ;" in which the latter paid 

 " eight guineas" " commutation money" for the restoration of the body 

 of his own wife ! If this hint should be acted upon by other speculators 

 in the persons of their fellow-creatures (and Sir George Mackenzie's 

 " import trade" should fail), it will become necessary to do that which 

 the law at present abstains from doing to punish the violators of graves 

 constantly and severely. Because the supply of the anatomical schools 

 would soon be abandoned for a more profitable trade : many a man in 

 Mr. Cuthbert's situation would not hesitate to submit to the exaction of 

 fifty, or even of a hundred guineas/if it were required. The general 

 " compromise" system, however as " there is nothing new under the 

 sun" is only a revival of the practice of a century past. The news- 

 papers of 1700 to 1750 are filled with advertisements offering " rewards 

 for the return of stolen property," and " no questions asked." And, at 

 that time, as in the recent instances, the thieves had always sufficient 

 prudence to keep faith with those who dealt with them, so as not to spoil 

 the market. The "Monthly Chronicle" of January, 1728, contains one 

 very curious transaction of this kind, in which a famous highway 

 robber, named Stephen Burnham, appears as the hero. A gentleman 

 of fortune, who lost a watch, upon which he set considerable price, 

 beyond the pecuniary value, advertised that he had been robbed at 

 the theatre ; and received a note, intimating that, if he was inclined to 

 give 10/. for the article, it might be recovered. If he was disposed t9 

 accept this offer, he should go, on the next afternoon, to a particular 



