1829.) Travelsof Dr. Miller in Greece and the lonian Islunds, Sc. 
appeared. had been applied to by the 
same. chevalier d’industrie, and had 
paid him his retaining fee,) made ap- 
plication to one of the proprietors of 
the paper in question; and, on paying 
241. was permitted to insert his own re- 
port, which blackened my friend from 
head to foot. He now brought his ac- 
tion for-defamation, but withdrew it on 
the proprietor giving up the names of 
the author, whenthey proved to be the 
very parties with whom he bad had the 
suit. Against these scoundrels, who 
were bankers of fair reputation, he now 
re-commeneed his action; but, owing 
to various circumstances and techni- 
ealities of lengthened detail, the ques- 
tion was never brought to trial, and 
finally he had his own expences to pay. 
On anothex occasion, a noted courte- 
zan pleaded her coverture as a defence 
against some debts of her own, by 
which several unsuspecting tradesmen 
suffered then and afterwards ; and, on 
my expressing my surprise that the 
circumstance never transpired in the 
papers, she replied, ‘‘ I contrived bet- 
ter, I insured my character.” “Aye, 
(said I,) where is the office, and what 
is the premium?” ‘ Why, (said she,) 
429 
the office wasin the box of a coffee-house 
near Westminster-Hall, and the pre- 
mium 251. tobe distributed among seve- 
ral gentlemen of the press for the benefit 
of their wives and children, and you 
know I love tobe charitable.” “Gra- 
cious Heaven, (said I,)andisthis the use 
and abuse of the press, and are these 
the persons who inveigh with such elo- 
quence against corruption !” 
On subsequently mentioning this ne- 
farious system in different circles, I was 
told, in parliamentary phraseology, 
that it is as notorious as the sun at 
noon-day, and that the Courts of law are 
beset by needy scribblers, some ofwhom . 
are not even connected with any news- 
paper, but represent themselves as re- 
porters, or as having interest with 
these protectors of character, or whole- 
sale dealers in defamation. Hence, 
however, it is that few men have the 
hardihood to defend their property in 
a court of law, at the double hazard 
of losing, not only their property, by 
the manoeuvres of the profession, but 
their character also, by the manoeuvres 
of the press. I have been told that 
even members of parliament, and all 
public men, pay tribute. 
NOVELTIES OF FOREIGN LITERATURE. 
2 : 
Travels of Dr. Ch. Muller in Greece 
and the Ionian Islands.—Leipsic: 
Brockhaus and Co. 1822, 
E have selected from these 
Travels the author’s Letter 
which relates to the condition and 
mal-administration of the Ionian Is- 
lands. It confirms the statements of 
Mr. Tiume in his late admirable 
speech on the subject, and merits the 
attentive perusal of the British nation. 
On our parts no apology can be requi- 
site for translating, with good faith, 
the accounts given to the European 
world of the false policy and abuses 
which have attended the British pro- 
tection of these islands. We shall be 
happy te find that Dr. Miiller has ex- 
aggerated, and to be the means of 
refuting his assertions on better au- 
thority. But, in any case, the honour 
of the nation is concerned in our not 
withholding these statements, that, if 
not true, they may be refuted; and 
that; if true, the abuses themselves 
may be corrected. We are of opinion 
that a free and liberal government is 
always the strongest, that their civil 
government ought to be left to the 
Tonians, and that the best interests of 
Britain will be permanentiy served 
only through their affections. 
Of the IONIKON KPATOX, inscribed 
on the new coin of the republic, the 
Britannia, which is seated on the re- 
verse, has left nothing, and the once 
furious lion of St. Mare tamely 
crouches under the feet of the fair vir- 
gin with Poseidon’s trident. 
Before I proceed inmy remarks, says 
Dr. Muller, I must premise, that I by 
nomeans mistake the distinction which 
ought to be made between that which 
the British government wishes to 
have done for the Lfonian Islands, over 
which she has received the protecto- 
rate and executive power, and. that 
which the local goyernment at Corfu 
actually does. I here only speak of 
the latter. The possession. of the 
Jonian islands is always a financial loss 
to their possessor, since, even if abso- 
lutely subjected, they do not yield so 
much as they cost, if they are to be 
properly supported. Their possession 
can, therefore, be important only in a 
political, military, and mercantile point 
of view, 
For 
