526 Letter on Affairs in general. [MAY 



behalf at any public trial. He has escaped repeatedly from the fangs of 

 justice by means of that reluctance ; and he lives in hopes of so escaping 

 from them again. Can there be a stronger reason for altering the law, 

 than this proof of its inefficiency to answer the ends for which it is 

 enacted ? 



There have been many odd edicts made to suppress gaming ; but there 

 is one recorded in Benedictus Abbas so extremely curious, that I cannot 

 refrain from inserting it here. It was issued in the year 1190 to the army 

 of Crusaders, commanded by Richard of England, and Philip of France, 

 and prohibited every person in it from playing at any sort of game for 

 money, except knights and clergymen ! The edict allowed these latter 

 gentry to lose twenty shillings each day, but visited them with a forfeiture 

 of 100 shillings, to the archbishop of the army, in case they ventured to 

 lose more. The two kings were permitted to play for what sums they 

 pleased ; but their attendants were limited, like the knights and clergymen, 

 to a loss of tw r enty shillings. Their fate was, however, a little harder, 

 when they transgressed the law ; for they were to be whipped, naked, 

 through the army for three days. What admirable work would the re- 

 enactment of this law carve out for the ruling pillars of the church, and 

 the final dispensers of the law ! Hangmen and archbishops would have full 

 employment ; and as one would take care of the bodies, and the other of 

 the souls and purses of all offenders, it is possible that they might conjointly 

 work out that reformation, which has hitherto been found impracticable 

 by all who have attempted it. 



I am sorry to learn that the people in Westminster have been so long 

 poisoned with execrable water without knowing why, and glad to find 

 that a Caliban has risen up in the shape of Mr. Wright, to shew them 



" all the qualities o' the isle, 



Its fresh springs, brine-pits, waters sweet and troubled ;" 



but is this Mr. Wright the disinterested person he wishes to be considered ? 

 or is he pursuing his usual system of puffery, and only decrying Westmin- 

 ster water to get off super-excellent Westminster wine ? If he is, I shall 

 not complain for " the jest is laughable," to those who are not com- 

 pelled to gulp down either. 



" The earth hath bubbles, as the water has, 



And these are of them whither are they vanished ? ' 



Taking this opinion of Ban quo for my motto, I proceed to notice the report, 

 which the committee appointed to examine into the Arigna Mining Com- 

 pany has presented to the House, containing a savage flagellation for Sir 

 W. Congreve, but a gentler chastisement for Mr. Brogden. " The Times" 

 says, that the evidence warrants still more cutting language than the report 

 uses ; and rumour adds, that Alderman Waithman intends, after the holi- 

 days, to move for the expulsion of both members, and for the prosecution 

 of the original concoctors of this bubble by the Attorney-General. Mr. 

 Wilks, on a recent occasion, said, that Sir W. Congreve and Mr. Brogden 

 both stood honourably acquitted on the face of that report ; and nobody 

 was surprized, considering the charges, which are pending against Mr. 

 Wilks. that he should say so. 



Qtlis cce'um terris non mf scent f et mare coelo, 

 Si fur displiceat Perrf, homicidn Miloni ? 



I must admit that the member for Sudbury defended himself inge- 

 niously, but yet desperately, against the slashing attack which Waithman 



