314 FACT AGAINST FICTION. 



CHAPTER XIII. 



ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS. 



Demolition and its Consequences — Agitation — Cobden's Prognos- 

 tications, and what they have come to — Peace and War — ■ 

 Increasing Supply of the ]\Iaterials of War — Crime on the 

 Increase — Justices of the Peace and Rural Criminals — Uncer- 

 tainty of Conviction, 



It is very curious^ in this world of change, self- 

 seeking, and sedition, to watch, from the retirement 

 of private life, the throes of the disaffected in their 

 endeavours to pull down the temple, which when, 

 if ever, it falls, is sure to crush them in its ruin, 

 — to crush the demaoroo^ue and self-asserted Man of 

 tlie People out of all shape and feature, while at 

 the same time tliere will arise from the debris of 

 destruction the honest and capable politician. 

 Like the growth of some sylvan shruh beneatli 

 an avalanche from tlie hill-side, the really useful 

 patriot will rise again and ascend above the shape- 

 less mass, his stepping-stone the skeleton of decay. 



