time, and as he was beside himself, the charge could not be brought home. Another charge, however, was made against him, for converting to his own use a spade, with which Mr. Wilkinson had tilled his lands—but as Mr. Wilkinson was a gentleman of the Quaker persuasion, he would not appear to swear, and William also escaped on this charge. There were several readers of William's books who were ready to swear, but their oaths could not be taken. The prisoner had several duplicates of little childish poems and toys about him, which he said he obtained from his grandmother. But it appearing that he had often imposed himself off as that old lady, he was remanded to allow of some inquiry. He conducted himself very extravagantly while before the magistrates, so as to give an idea that he was not quite right. He called himself the first man-king of the poets-and wanted to read passages from his own works to prove it. The officers had much difficulty in restraining him from getting out of the dock to beat the magistrates' brains out with a log of the Excursion. Jeffrey, the officer, was obliged to pinion him. SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE was brought up for idling about the suburbs of town, without being able to give a satisfactory account of himself. He was taken up for sleeping at Highgate in the day-time. The magistrates committed him to the Muses' Treadmill for two months, to hard labour. It is supposed his feet will be all the better for this exercise. This is the same person, though much altered, who passed himself off as the Ancient Mariner, at a marriage in the metropolis some time back. The Rev. Mr. BOWLES was charged with stealing fourteen lines from an old gentleman's garden, of the name of Petrarch, at Putney. But he stating that he was not aware of his own dishonesty, and it appearing that the things were of little or no value-he was reproved and discharged. It was supposed that he had stolen these fourteen lines to hang himself with. This is the same person who was taken up on suspicion of being concerned in the attempted murder of Alexander Pope, at Twickenham, some time ago. But it appearing that he had no idea of what he was doing, and was generally reckoned a harmless man-he was not detained. He said he could appear to his own character. O. GILCHRIST gave information of having been shot at while playing a game at Bowles, in his garden at Stamford. It is supposed he would have fallen, but the cloth protected him. Several persons have been apprehended on suspicion-but nothing is to be apprehended from the gentleman who was most talked of as the ruffian in the neighbourhood. JOHN CLARE (a comely country-looking man, in a smock frock, and face to match) appeared to resist an order of filiation, made on the affidavit of one of the Muses with whom he had kept company, and who appeared to have been too liberal of her favours to him. The oath being persisted in, his innocence stood him in no stead; and he was ordered to set apart halfa-crown, out of sixpence a-day, to support the child. He pleaded poverty; but the magistrates explained to him that a poor soldier had been known to have managed such an allowance, and therefore they resisted his plea. Clare is said to have a wife, and ten little children all under the age of four years, which makes his case more reprehensible. TOM MOORE underwent a long examination for picking the pocket of the public of nine shillings, in Paternoster Row, under the pretence of selling a book. But as it was proved that there were five partners concerned in this transaction, and that he was a mere instrument in their hands, he was on this charge discharged. He was, however, put to the bar on several other complaints, one of which was from a pretty looking unfortunate girl, one of the family of the Muses, who stated that she had known him some years ago, when by the most plausible arts he completed her ruin. She had since then been obliged to have recourse to the most distressing means for subsistence. She had been utterly deserted by him lately, and on her applying to him for relief, he had shut the door in her painted face, and informed her through the key-hole that he had mars ried a religious woman out of the Magdalen, and was no longer a dealer in Old Stores. The magistrates could afford this poor unfortunate no relief. Tom was also charged by one Dan Anacreon (a man himself of no very reputable character), for obtaining odes from him under false pretences:-on this charge he was committed. The odes were exhibited in the office, and appeared to be plated goods. SAMUEL ROGERS, a youth of very prepossessing appearance, was placed at the bar on a charge of putting off several forged notes upon a banker in the City. The case involved much difficulty. The banker stated that he was of the same name with the prisoner, and was perpetually subjected to the annoyance of being mistaken for a poet; the notes, however, on being examined, were found to have nothing in them-and the charge of forgery therefore fell to the ground. The prisoner looked very pale throughout his examination, and was observed to conceal something under his coat towards the end of it-on being searched, it was found to be a brace of dedications; which, from a particular mark, were known to have been shot on the banker's grounds. The banker stated that he was compelled to put a cheque to these things, and having suffered much by such depredations, or decidations (we could not catch the precise word) he felt it imperative on him to prosecute. The prosecutor was therefore bound over (in sheepskin), and the prisoner was taken to the strong room. H. SMITH, and JAMES SMITH, two brothers, were put to the bar on a very serious charge of forgery. The office was crowded by those who had suffered from the ingenious arts of these offenders. Some of the papers were produced at the time of examination, and were found to be executed in the most masterly manner. They seemed to be engraved on steel! The Rev. Mr. Crabbe could not swear to his hand-writing-and one or two forgees were dead at the time of the forgeries; upon which the magistrates observed, that post obits of this nature were dangerous cases to commit upon. However, Mr. Fitzgerald swore at the forgery upon him, and the prisoners were committed. One of the brothers has, since his committal to Bridewell, escaped to the Continent. The other is very penitent, and exhibits great cheerfulness in his confinement. He declares that his wife expects to be confined also in a few days, which will prove an increase to his comforts! Jem is a short thin melancholy man, with one eye, which is always bent on a joke. 8 TOM DIBDIN was charged with robbing openly in the day-time, and was sent to the Bench. He sat down with the magistrates. Lord BYRON, a young person, apparently of ferocious habits, was placed at the bar, under the care of Jeffrey and Gifford, two of the officers of the Literary Police, charged with a violent assault upon several literary gentlemen; when taken, he made a determined resistance, and beat the officers dreadfully. Jeffrey had his head bound up, in a blue and yellow handkerchief; and Gifford carried his arms in a sling, like David the giant-killer. The office was filled with bruised poets and broken prosers, all clamorous against the offender. It appeared, that going home on a certain day past, he was accosted by a Muse, and was prevailed upon to take a glass of something at the Flying Horse and Pan-pipes, which, getting into his head, made him unruly. On quitting the place, he was met by the party complaining, who remonstrated with him, and endeavoured to convince him of the badness of the company he was keeping; when, without a word, he began laying about him, mauling, and knocking down all that were far or near. Several men were brained for life, and poor Mr. Fitzgerald got an-ode on his head, which, it is supposed, will never be subdued; indeed, it increases every year. The prisoner, for want of Bayle (which he had lent to Mr. Leigh Hunt, to assist him in his philosophical pursuits), was committed to Cold Bath Fields, where it is feared he will soon put all the convicts into hot water. There was also an information lodged against him, by a lady of title, for keeping unlawful game in his house, without a licence-he was unable to pay the penalties immediately. The prisoner looked scornfully at the Bench; and Southey declared he ought to be hand cuffed, but had not the courage to carry his declaration into effect. The prisoner, seeing one of Messrs. Longman's firm near him, protested, if they published his pal Tom Moore's Loves of the Angels to the world, he would make that deed and Heaven and Earth come together! The Bench shuddered at the thought, and Jeffrey was ordered to look to him. On retiring from the bar, the prisoner was very ferocious, and the officers were compelled to put his crooked spirit into a straight waistcoat. He was scarcely nineteen when he committed the offence for which he was committed. The Rev. Mr. CRABBE, an old man of very venerable appearance, was examined on a charge of having burglariously entered the parish poorhouse, and stolen therefrom a joint stool-a deal table-a wooden spoona smoke jack, and sundry kitchen and washhouse utensils. The case was clearly made out, and the parish was bound over to prosecute. It appeared on examination that this offender had been very hard upon the paupers in the house; and, indeed, while before the magistrates, he made several irreverent jokes upon the occasion. Sir WALTER SCOTT, alias THE GREAT UNKNOWN, alias BILL BRACON, alias CUNNING WALTER, underwent a long private examination, on a sort of novel fraud, which was whispered to be one of a very extensive nature; nothing transpired after the examination, and the prisoner was ordered up for a further hearing. Sir W. S. being a Baronet, and one of the Bench being a Scotchman, the prisoner was allowed to be out on his own recognizance. He is a tall farmer-looking man-something of a Northern Cobbett. He is said to be the same person that was connected with the Longman gang in the great poetical robbery-and that obtained the King's pardon, by turning King's evidence against his companions. SARAH SIDDONS, a person well known about the theatres, was placed at the bar under suspicion of having disinterred the body of John Milton, a respectable scrivener, from the church-yard of Cripplegate. Some of the limbs were found in her possession. She told a very plausible story, and much affected the Bench. But her powers this way were well known-and the magistrates wiped their eyes, and ordered her to find bail. ROBERT SOUTHEY was informed against for sending out his poetical coals to Newcastle, without having the metre's ticket. He offered to take an oath, that he had a right to do as he thought best-but the magistrates would not listen to him. His sack, however, was found to be full measure -which was much in his favour. The officers knew Rob well, and stated that he had often been at that bar before. He is the same person that knocked down Wesley in Paternoster-row, and that took away Lord Nelson's life in Albemarle-street. On being called upon to account for his mode of living-he declared that he lived upon the lives of others--that he was the only man of unimpeachable morals in the world-that he knew and revered the King, Mr. Croker, and the constitution; and that he would, if the magistrates pleased, write an Ode on the Police-office, which might be stuck up in some conspicuous place, to keep respectable people away. He was fined in the mitigated penalty of 11. and was ordered to be confined until the same was paid. He sold some waste paper, which his publishers held, and got out without a rag being left. CHARLES LAMB was brought up, charged with the barbarous murder of the late Mr. Elia. He was taken late in the evening, at a house of resort for characters of his description, in Fleet-street-and he had with him at the time of his caption a crape mask-a phosphorus (or hock) bottlea dark lanthorn-a skeleton key-a centre bit (out of the haunch)—and a large clasp knife (and fork). The evidence was indisputable-and Mr. Lamb was committed. There appears to have been no apparent motive for this horrible murder, unless the prisoner had an eye to poor Mr. Elia's situation in the LONDON MAGAZINE. The prisoner is a large gaunt-looking fellow, with a queer eye, and a broad overhanging brow. If no witnesses had come forward-his looks would have appeared against him! ALLAN CUNNINGHAM, a dwarf, was brought up, under Tom Cribb's care (this is the second act of kindness of the champion), charged with a fraud upon a Mr. Cromek. Being young and little, he was handed over to the Philanthropic, as a fit place for such a heart as his. BARRY CORNWALL was brought up-charged by the officers with having created a crowd, and occasioned a disturbance, at Covent-Garden theatre. On expressing his contrition, and promising to offend again, he was reprimanded and discharged. He seemed to be a young man of very violent habits, and was near flooring the officer that stood by him. THOMAS CAMPBELL, a man well known about town, was charged with keeping a Little-go-for unlawful insurances in the lottery of Fame. It was proved that he had taken in several poor authors to his concern-and he not being able to account for himself, was ordered to a year's hard labour, and to stand in the pillory in Conduit-street the first day of every month. The Hon. Mr. SPENCER-Lord JOHN RUSSELL-Lord and Lady BLESSINGTON-the Duke of RUTLAND-Lord THURLOW, and several others, all persons of no literary repute, were placed at the bar from the St. James's watch-house, charged with frequenting a masquerade at unlicensed rooms. They were brought up in their several motley dresses, and made the Literary Police Officers grin at the ridiculous figures they cut. Mr. Spencer was an Apollo-the wreath round his head was of artificial flowers, and he sang complimentary odes to ladies of fashion, which he accompanied on his lyre! Lord J. Russell was dressed up as Carlos in the Duenna: he supported the part pretty well, but he was obliged to do so, for the part would not support him.-Lord Blessington appeared as Lord Colambre, out of Miss Edgeworth's novel of the Absentee, and did not look well-his lady attempted the character of an authoress, and got some credit by writing on the ready Rhine-0.-The Duke of Rutland made a very indifferent Mungo Park; and Lord Thurlow was a middling Sir Philip Sidney dismounted!— They all pleaded ignorance as an excuse for their bad works, and were fined a shilling each and discharged. Just as the Bench had got through all these charges, and as the magistrates were rising, GEORGE COLMAN was brought in, charged with having attempted to destroy himself with poison. He talked a great deal of skimble skamble stuff-about the Law of Java-and the Upas-tree-but no one could understand him. It appearing, however, that he had formerly been in his senses, and had lived in repute, he was given over to his friends, with strict injunctions, that pen, ink, and paper, and all such dangerous weapons should strictly be kept out of his reach. This was not the first attempt at suicide made by this unfortunate man. There were some other cases of no public interest heard--and the magistrates rose and left the office. Nothing yet has transpired respecting the D'Israeli burglary:-but Mrs. Opie is suspected of knowing something of poor Mrs. Donatty's death! I have scarcely an inch of lappel left to say another word, and indeed my hand is already cramped with copying the report. I sincerely hope, my Dear Russell, that you will relish it, as it is intended;—nought is done in malice, but all in humourand, I trust, in good humour. Your kind mother will think it a pity to expose the names of the parties-but they are all too sensible to be affected by a trifle, which is merrily meant, and must pass away in a moment. Reason with her, Russell! and as she knows Mr. Wordsworth, get her to intercede with him-for he is the only gentleman I fear. Farewell. With love to your sisters, I am, ever and a day, Your friend, Albany, Jan. 1823. EDW. HERBERT. PS. A happy new year to youand to those who see this letter. The Early French Poets. ROBERT GARNIER. (Continued from our last Number.) HIPPOLYTE, LA TROADE, ET ANTIGONE. The subject of these three tragedies being taken chiefly from Sophocles, Euripides, and Seneca, I shall willingly decline the task of being as particular in my account of them as of the rest. In the first, the ghost of Egeus speaks the prologue. Then comes in Hippolytus, who, in a speech of about one hundred and fifty lines, declares his foreboding of some approaching evil. Had Mr. Charles Lamb met with a similar passage in one of our old dramatists, I do not think he would have passed it unnoticed. Jà l'Aurore se leve, et Phœbus qui la suit Mes chiens, bien que hardis, si tost ne l'aviserent, Come un grand chef guerrier qui voit ses gens en fuite, A beau les exhorter, les prier, supplier, De retourner visage, et de se rallier, A beau faire promesse, a beau donner menace, C'est en vain ce qu'il fait, ils ont perdu l'audace. |