TWO DAYS FLY-FISHING 



arm, had aided and abetted in the violence. The 

 policeman confirmed their statement, and as I had 

 no witnesses to confute the charge, I was locked up 

 in the station-house, with the fair partner of my 

 misfortune, till the sitting magistrate should exa- 

 mine the case next day. 



The morning at length dawned on our sleepless 

 and haggard faces, and in our turn we were brought 

 forward to answer this most unfounded of charges. 

 The worthy magistrate on hearing my statement, 

 and referring to the paper which contained my ill- 

 judged advertisement, at once ordered me to be re- 

 leased, more especially as the three perjured females 

 had thought fit to absent themselves from this exa- 

 mination. But my woes did not end here, for on 

 reaching my hotel, and taking up a newspaper, I 

 found under the head of horrible outrage/ an 

 exaggerated and unfair statement of what had taken 

 place. My name was mentioned, and my behaviour 

 misrepresented, by some printer's devil, who was too 

 hungry to wait to hear the circumstances of the case, 

 but had rushed from the police office to dine, and 

 write this calumniating account of me. I was obliged 

 in consequence of this enormous falsehood to write 

 a long statement in the papers the next day, in ex- 

 planation, accompanied with a copy of my advertise- 

 ment. This, added to my annoyance, as it made 

 me an object of public curiosity and amusement. 

 I must add that the police reports are a disgrace to 



