204 OtD BOOT. 



broad, jocular, and good-humoured countenance of the former, it is 

 impossible to believe its possessor to be the great locomotive repository 

 of modern Bogyism. However, his good looks avail him not ; — he is, 

 and has been, the most distinguished representative of the terrible for 

 the last seven or eight years. 



Having thus introduced the chief, let us next bring forward some 

 of the minor contributors of national terrorism. Among these Mr. Att- 

 wood and the Birmingham Union carried on a sort of rivalry for a con- 

 siderable time ; and to speak fairly, without disparagement to others, it 

 must be admitted that their pretensions were very considerable, and 

 also well calculated to make the desired impression on the minds of the 

 timid. Indeed, it was natural to suppose, from their great numbers — 

 their huge threats — their mighty manifestoes — their declared determina- 

 tion to effect England's regeneration, as well as their unquestionable 

 devotion to their chief, that revolution would inevitably result from cir- 

 cumstances so formidable in appearances. Besides all this.^ they were 

 constantly boasting of physical force, and asserting their competency 

 to annihilate not only the household troops, but the whole British army ! 

 Brummagem tinkers, tailors, and door-knocker makers, versus the 

 horse-guards ! — What a choice piece of sublimity would the march of 

 this magnificent corps have appeared, if they had pursued their route to 

 the metropolis, as was threatened, under the direction of their bank-note 

 commander, — the hero, not of Marengo or Waterloo, but of Paper cur- 

 rency ! — Most probably, their enterprise would have met with a repulse 

 that would have induced their gallant marshal to have exclaimed, like 

 Bombastes Furioso, 



" Begone my brave army, and don't kick up a row ! — " 

 Happily, however, things were not brought to so dangerous a crisis — 

 thanks to the wisdom and moderation of all parties ! But though the 

 affair was thus peaceably settled, it had been instrumental in exciting 

 the most fearful apprehensions with regard to the safety of the state. 

 Under such circumstances, then, it may be said to have effected the pur- 

 pose of Bogy for the time being. So much for the Birmingham Union. 



The next instrument of terror of which we shall speak, and one contem- 

 poraneous with the preceding, is the execrable stack-destroying Swing ! 

 or in other words, from the peculiar nature of his occupation, the great 

 agricultural Bogy. This rural incendiary was, doubtless, the most mis- 

 chievous and diabolical character which had been for many years 

 assumed in the masquerade of terrorism. It was, to speak seriously 



