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EDITORIAL COLLOQUY. 



Parliamentary Mirror of Manners Reviewing and Bookselling Novels 

 Literary Pensions Influence of Example, and of Moral Excitements 

 upon Man Taste for the Horrible State of the Poorer Classes. 



" BURKE said, you know, ' that vice loses half its evil by losing 

 all its grossness.' We differ from this dictum, and believe vice to 

 be equally noxious, come in what shape it may. The eye may be 

 less offended by deformity, clothed in an attractive garb, than if it 

 came before it in its native colours, but still the deformity is not less 

 in existence. You have witnessed the moral exhibitions in the 

 House of Commons. Public opinion has in a great measure put 

 down ' the ring ; ' we wish it would force honourable members into 

 something like decorum." 



" What would you have ? It is impossible to sit and listen to 

 charges which amount to absolute dishonour and dishonesty, without 

 the spirit rising indignantly to repel them. 1 candidly own to you 

 that, had not etiquette and parliamentary usage prevented me, I 

 should have horsewhipped more than one ' illustrious obscure. 7 9i 



" Why, the doctrine of peace may not be very acceptable to you, 

 who are ' the very Hotspur of the north ;' but I do not like the 

 philosophy of you men of the sword and the pistol, who are 



' So full of valour that you smite the air 

 For breathing in your faces. 1 " 



" No, no, but flesh and blood can't bear it. The ass may kick 

 the dead lion, but I for one cannot 



' With gentle breath, calm looks, knees humbly bowed,' 



bear taunts and sarcasms most injurious and most undeserved." 



" Well, the influence of example upon public morals and con- 

 versational decency will, it is to be hoped, not extend far. The 

 explanation ' system is the essence of absurdity." 



