HAMPDEN AND THE FLAT EARTH 389 



them ; and I promise that I will not repeat the offence. — 

 John Hampden." 



This was published in several of the London daily papers 

 and in various country papers in which any of his letters had 

 appeared, and the judge gave him a serious warning that if 

 brought up again he would be imprisoned. 



Some months afterwards, however, he began again with 

 equally foul libels, and I had him brought up under his 

 recognizances, when he was sentenced to two months' im- 

 prisonment in Newgate. 



But within a year he began again as violently as ever, 

 and on March 6, 1875, he was indicted at Chelmsford Assizes 

 for fresh libels, and on proof of his previous convictions and 

 apologies, he was sentenced to one year's imprisonment and 

 to keep the peace, under heavy recognizances and sureties, for 

 two years more. (A full report is given in the Chelmsford 

 Chronicle, March 12, 1875.) 



Through the interest of his friends, however, he was 

 liberated in about six months; and thereupon, in January, 

 1876, he brought an action against Mr. Walsh to recover his 

 deposit of £500, and this action he won, on the grounds 

 already stated; and as I had signed an indemnity to Mr. 

 Walsh, I had to pay back the money, and also pay all the 

 costs of the action, about £200 more. But as I had a judg- 

 ment for £687 damages and costs in my libel suit against 

 Hampden, I transferred this claim to Mr. Walsh as a set-off 

 against the amount due by him. Hampden, however, had 

 already made himself a bankrupt to prevent this claim being 

 enforced, and had assigned all his actual or future assets to 

 his son-in-law. 



There were now legal difficulties on both sides. I was 

 advised that the bankruptcy was fraudulent, and could be 

 annulled; but to attempt this would be costly, and the result 

 uncertain. On the other hand, it was doubtful whether my 

 claim against Hampden would not be treated as an ordinary 

 creditor's claim in the bankruptcy. There was, therefore, a 

 consultation of the solicitors, and a voluntary arrangement 



