186 Letter *n A fairs in general [FEB. 



generally in the larger towns of Lancashire ; and in some in Manchester 

 tor instance very rigidly ; although I am not quite sure that the devotion 

 so forced is of a very valuable character or that the law enacting it, is 

 carried quite impartially into effect. I recollect I was on a visit once r at 

 Manchester at the house of the borough-reeve, or mayor; and, being 

 at church on the Sunday, with my host, was honoured with the carrying 

 of a wand, and invited to take a place in his magisterial procession* 

 About the middle of the service, accordingly, we sallied forth ; and 

 presently met with two pigs, whom we apprehended, and sent to the 

 green-yard. Shortly after, we met a man in the street, who looked like 

 a labourer; and my friend immediately accosted him, with an air of 

 authority ; asking " why he was not at church ?'* The fellow tried to 

 excuse himself, by saying that he was " going on a journey ;" 

 but this plea was not admitted ; and he was threatened with a fine, and 

 sent to church in the charge of a constable. By and bye, we met 

 another labourer, who was asked " why he was not at church ?" And 

 the man answered " that his wife was ill, and he was going to fetch a 

 midwife;'* and even this excuse had some trouble to prevail. And in the. 

 same way, going on, we met five or six more poor looking people, in the 

 course of our round, of all whom my friend asked the same question, and 

 with some severity, " why they were not at church ?" But presently 

 when we met a well-dressed gentleman, in boots and spurs, who appeared 

 to be making ready to go out for a morning's ride, I observed then, that 

 my friend only nodded, and asked him " what was the news ?" 



IMPORTANT WORKS IN PREPARATION. Proposals have been issued, 

 for " publishing by subscription a " series of BUSTS" of the " principal 

 THEATRICAL PERFORMERS, whose talent has rendered them the admi- 

 ration of their country !" It would be superfluous to say any thing in 

 furtherance of this important object ; and among the names of the distin- 

 guished individuals thus already immortal, and to be further immortalised, 

 appear those of " Mr. Cooper, Mr. Wallack, Mr. Browne, Mr. Bennett, 

 Mr. J. Russell, Mr. Gattie, Mr. Reeve, Mr. Penson, &c. &c. ; Miss 

 Love, Miss Graddon, Mrs. West, Mrs. Orger, Mrs. Bunn, &c. &c." 

 People cannot make too much haste in contributing to this very laudable, 

 and indeed nationally indispensable public undertaking. But what has 

 Mr. Claremont done, that his bust is not to be taken ? 



It is a particularly needless fulsomeness, I think, that whenever any 

 member of the royal family is dead of cramming every newspaper and 

 periodical publication, for the three months next ensuing, with dull stories 

 of his life and private conversation. My only consolation, every time I 

 have taken up a newspaper for the last three weeks, has been that the 

 Duke of York in his life was not a WIT. Anecdotes, which end in 

 nothing, are bad enough in .conscience ! but posthumous JOKES those, 

 for instance, which were (most treasonably) imputed to the late King 

 after his death the little paragraphs that used to be headed, in the Post 

 and Courier, " ROYAL BON-MOT!" it makes one's blood run cold to 

 recollect them ! 



Letters from the peninsula, up to this day, bring nothing important or 

 decisive ; but the aspect of our foreign affairs, in the main, is pacific. 

 France does not appear anxious to go to war ; and we need not give our- 

 selves a great deal of uneasiness as to any very trying contest with Spain. 

 In Portugal itself, neither of the native parties seems inclined to measures 

 of great activity : probably the soldiers, on both sides, feel that it would 



