NOTES OF THE MONTH. 159 



softened his disposition, however severe naturally, to a greater extent 

 than we have yet seen any indications of ; but we were not before aware 

 that he carried his anti -musical disUkes so very far as it now appears 

 he does. It is fortunate for Orpheus that he did not hve in these days, 

 and within the magisterial jurisdiction of Mr. Laing. Whatever effect 

 his melody might have had on the stones of the field, it would have liad a 

 most awkward effect, for the musician, on Mr. Laing. The music, 

 which, in this case, called forth so fearful a burst of this gentleman's 

 magisterial ire, is said to have been exquisitely beautiful, and such as 

 might have softened and subdued the most unfeeling soul — always, of 

 course, excepting Mr. Laing's — in Chri--tendom it has happily been 

 decided at head quarters, that to treat the lieges to a little music in the 

 streets, is no offence cognizable by law, however annoying it may be to 

 the tympanum of the Hatton-Garden Solon. The three poor fellows 

 have consequently been set at liberty. For this consummation, they and 

 the public are indebted to the benevolent and spirited exertions of Mr. 

 Barber Beaumont, who brought the case under the consideration of the 

 Home Secretary. If Mr. Laing could not endure the charming music 

 of these foreigners, we wonder how he would relish the Scotch bagpipes ? 

 We know that Donald, on one occasion, when travelling in Spain, was 

 attacked by a wolf; which, after eating the dinner to which he had sat 

 down by the road-side, threatened to masticate himself — and that he 

 only escaped the animal's devouring jaws, by causing his bagpipes to 

 emit some of their most discordant and snorting sounds, which made the 

 wolf immediately take to its heels. We should not be surprised, now 

 that to play the musician in the street is declared to be no offence against 

 the law, if some kilted Highlandman should occasionally station himself 

 opposite Mr. Laing's house, and serenade him, with his bagpipes, for 

 some two or three hours at a time. This, to a person like Mr. Laing, 

 would be much more intolerable, than was the House of Correction to 

 the three unfortunate foreigners alluded to. 



Compliment to the Electors of Westminster. — " Old Glory," as 

 Cobbett used to call him, has addressed another epistle to the electors of 

 Westminster, in reply to Mr. O'Connell's " last" from Derrynane Abbey. 

 A more wishv-washv, milk-and-water affair never emanated from the 

 quill of any goose. In sheer stupidity it outdoes all that even Sir Francis 

 himself has done of late. The epistolian, however, if he does nothing 

 else to the purpose, takes care to give the electors of Westminster a ra- 

 ther broad hint as to the measure of respect in which he holds them, 

 and the gratitude he feels towards them for their past services to him. 

 If Mr. O'Connell escapes, they do not. Indeed, it may be more than sus- 

 pected that, though the professed object of the letter was to chastise the 

 member for Ireland, the real one was to express, by means of ironical 

 language, the most sovereign contempt for his representatives. He com- 

 mences his epistle thus: — " Gentlemen, — A frost having interrupted the 

 sports of the field, I take up my pen to perform a work of supereroga- 

 tion in noticing the last drowsy, feeble, Alexandrian epistle from Derry- 

 nane," &c. We are sure the electors of Westminster cannot fail duly to 

 appreciate the high compliment thus paid them by implication : Sir 

 Francis here very candidly admits that he infinitely prefers the sports of 

 the field to his duties as representative of Westminster, and that he 



