tl2 PARTIES 



LETTER XXVi: 



July, 182b: 

 Mr Dear Sir, 



The laws of Athens inflicted death on a foreign- 

 er who should attempt to speak in the assemblies 

 of the people, and I think that such an unwarran- 

 laLle interference with the sovereign authority 

 deserved punishment. As a stranger and an 

 alien, receiving the hospitalities and protection of 

 ihis people, I do not consider myself authorised 

 to meddle with their politics ; but it is impossible 

 to seal hermetically your ears against the noise 

 and turbulence of political contention. Every 

 village has its political generals, who convert the 

 bar room of the inn into an arena of controversy, 

 and sometimes, seated in a corner, 1 have been 

 compelled to hear the accusations, the grievances 

 and the vindications of the belligerent parties ; and 

 amidst the persiflage or jargon of the times, I can 

 easily perceive that the whole controversy is 

 about the offices of the country. After listening 

 to a philippic of great virulence for some time, 

 clothed in terms of general reprobation, I asked 

 the orator to point out the reprehensible measures 

 o^ the government. He approved of every thing 



