1826.] Publication of Police Reports. 473 



again, where the fact of proof upon a trial falling short of the stateiDent 

 originally given, has so decidedly influenced the jury In favour of the 

 culprit, that the Judge has found it absolutely necessarj' to call their 

 attention to the case which was remaining. 



We can have no system that will be perfect — none which will not be 

 subject to occasional miscarriage and abuse ; but upon the value of 

 Reporting as a sj'stem generallj', it would be superfluous even to argue ; 

 and it is in vain to attempt to draw a distinction between the publication 

 of police reports and the publication of the proceedingsof any-other open 

 court. For any systematic mis-statement — there can be no temptation to 

 it. For any occasional impropriety, juries will always be ready and 

 competent to give damages: but the newspapers (in point of fact), 

 seldom publish any circumstance which does not take place. It is really 

 too weak even to talk, for the sake of occasionally protecting the 

 delicacy of a kvr laughed-at loungers or escapado swindlers, of abandon- 

 ing, or even limiting, a system, in which all society has an advantage : of 

 shutting the doors, as regards public information, of that particular 

 tribunal, before which the most inmiediate and important domestic busi- 

 ness of the country — the business most necessary to be known and 

 communicated to the public — is every hour in the day being transacted. 



TO GEORGIANA.* 

 On her Departure from England for the Jfest Indies, Fetn-uart/ 17, 1S84. 



Oh, snatrhwl away in beauty's bloom ! 



On thee shall press no i>onderou» tomb.— BjA-«n. 



Oh, she's gone to the home of her native isle, 



And left us to gloom and to sorrow. 

 Like the sun when he sets ; but her beaming smile, 



Like his — will it cheer us to-morrow ? 



Vain hope ! When the laughing morn appears, 



Full many a heart will be bleeding. 

 While the sun, which had dried Affection's tears. 



On its course to the west will be speeding. 



And that voice which we loved so fondly well. 



Each syren note inhaling — 

 It is past for us as a dying knell, 



One last plaintive adieu exhaling. 



Soon its silver tone will plead with the billow 



Which foams o'er the angry main ; 

 Nor till hushed to rest on the soft sweet pillow 



Of home, — will it cease to complain. 



But for us — we shall hear that lov'd music no more. 



And the soul of its melody's fled. 

 Save when Fancy its echo may sometimes restore. 

 Like Memory's dream of the dead. 



And oft shall that syren of deathless power, ^, 



As distant — dead— yet still the nearest. 

 Pencil her image at eve'^ meek hour. 



When those we mourn and love are dearest. C. S. B. 



• These lines were written under the influence of melancholy forebodings, which have been moumfully 

 >nd mysteriously realized by the event. The ship was lost on her passage, and ail on board perished. 



M. M. AVwSmV.?.— Vol. L No. .5. 3P 



