THE THIEF AND POACHEE. 0'> 



pliilantliroplst, wlilcli is decidedly against 

 liim." 



I wisli every lawyer was as wise and honest as 

 Mr. Bruff, for philosophers and philanthropists 

 not only very frequently make egregious mistakes, 

 but the latter, in the most uncharitable opinions 

 which they obviously form of all their neigh- 

 bours, forget that it must be decidedly wrong to 

 let boasted religion be a cloak for cruelty, and 

 detraction of character the main staple of all 

 their proceedings. The slap which Wilkie Collins 

 gives to the innumerable ^^ Clacks" and ^'Able- 

 twhytes" that labour to make j^eople miserable, 

 while in the gloomy-looking cells of their own 

 souls they frisk about and kiss each other in all 

 secret levity, is well deserved, and I commend its 

 perusal to a secret Clack and Abletwhyte Society, 

 who at one time used to post to me from South- 

 ampton every month pink salvations in the shape 

 of little books. As long as the papers of these 

 imiDudent intrusions lasted, however, they made, 

 when torn up. and tied to lines, very good '^stojis" 

 for running game. 



The plan for the owner of a country house and 

 manor, I suggest, is this : it has been my custom 



