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A HPAB W4DYI Kr Nea 
as they pafs the road, and even in towns, to the great terror and 
danger of the inhabitants. I determined to put a ftop to thefe 
exceffes, and foon had an opportunity. 
A NEIGHBORING gate-keeper laid before me a complaint, that 
one of the guards had threatened to blow his brains out; and haa 
actually fhot a dog that had offended him by his barking. I 
iffued out my warrant, had the guard feized, and brought before 
me. He was a man who, for his great beauty and elegant per- 
fon, was called the Prince of Vales. 1 did not hefitate to play 
the Judge Gafcoigne; but from the goodnefs of his appearance, 
and the propriety of his behaviour, I did not go quite the length 
that famous magiftrate did. 1 took bail for his appearance at our 
quarter feffions. He appeared before us, when, by the permiffion 
of the chairman, I took the lead in fpeaking. I reprefented to the 
audience, that the guards were intrufted with arms merely for the 
protection of the mail and the paffengers, not for the terror of his 
Majefty’s fubjeéts; that a mail-coach was no fanctuary; thatthe 
bailiff might drag the debtor out of it; the conftable, the felon; 
the excifeman might rummage it for contraband goods, and that 
with as little ceremony as if it had been a higler’s cart. I far- 
ther added, had the driver been the offender, as the guard was, 
he fhould have been taken into cuftody, and the poft- mafter of 
the diftri€t left to provide another to convey the, mail to the next 
ftage. The behaviour of the delinquent was fo becoming his 
fituation, that by the leave of the court I difmified the offender 
with fuch a reprimand as became the high ftation of a Britifh 
juftice of the peace : an office in dignity and conftitutional utility 
inferior to none in the land. Young men of the age, early 
initiate yourfelves into that great character! 
z ; I BEG 
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