228 NOTES OF THE MONTH. 



can only be understood by the principle, that a slavish subservience 

 to an illiberal faction, may chase every generous and soldierlike feel- 

 ing from the heart. However just the principle of a law may be, it 

 is seldom we can find an amateur bourfeau to carry it into effect. 

 By-the-bye, we beg pardon, there is Johnson the patriotic Byers 

 too! 



NICE LITTLE AUTOCRAT. One of those afflicting cases of extreme 

 destitution and misery on the one side, and singular hard-heartedness 

 on the other, which unfortunately are of such frequent occurrence at 

 our police offices, was reported a few days since. 



" A soldier's wife whose covering of tatters bespoke her penury, with an 

 infant in her arras, and three others barefooted and nearly naked, were 

 brought up by a police constable, charged with sleeping in the open air in the 

 the laundry yard Westminster. MAGISTRATE. What have you to say to 

 this ? WOMAN. I am travelling from Deptford, Sir, towards Bristol, and I 

 had no money to procure a lodging, so I and the children huddled close toge- 

 ther to keep ourselves warm. MAGISTRATE. Are you a soldier's wife? 

 WOMAN. Yes Sir, my husband is in the 95th foot, and is now at the Cape, 

 I want to reach the depot of the regiment, that I may remain there till he 

 returns. MAGISTRATE. Aye ; that is all very well. I shall commit you for 

 fourteen days to prison ! WOMAN. Oh ! do not for God's sake ! surely our 

 poverty is no crime! do not send us to prison. MAGISTATE. For fourteen 

 days, woman ! The wretched creature was then removed with her infants 

 sobbing and cling around, to the lock up cells \" 



If any one can read the above account unmoved, we do not envy 

 him his feelings. He can only be fit to superintend a knacker's yard, 

 or be a magistrate at a police office. 



HEAR ! HEAR, It is quite time that we should know the various 

 meanings and modifications of meaning of which the word Hear / is 

 capable. More depends upon it than at first sight seems. Thoroughly 

 to understand the debates, while that little monosyllable retains its 

 present uncertainty, is morally impossible. It is a very Proteus of a 

 verb, and assumes all significations. Most sounds have a definite 

 meaning. The wild Indian does not make love in a war-whoop, nor 

 do turtle-dovers coo No ! when they mean Yes ! But Members of 

 Parliament are not governed by common rules. Let us select two or 

 three examples : 



" The noble Lord concluded by stating that the learned Member for Bother- 

 ton, whose Hear ! he heard, would bear him out in his statement." 



Hence it appears that the word sometimes implies agreement, cor- 

 roboration or assent. 



" Colonel Strutt wished to acquaint the House, that many persons out o 

 doors were dissatisfied with the measures now under consideration (Hear, 

 hear !) Did the honourable member for Fussy ford mean to deny his state- 

 ment ? 



It is very evident, therefore, that the same word also expresses 

 denial, and that it blows hot and cold. 



" Mr. Bothering hardly considered it fair to impute motives to the peti- 



