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press!" replied Lord Cunnington; "the English are so free, so proud of the liberty of the press, that the royal family, the ministers, and all ranks of life are exposed to the remarks of editors. But very little gall is really mixed in the ink, it is generally an open way of showing foreign powers how much liberty is allowed in England; and after all it is a compliment to the English people, as it shows that our kings and ministers have strength of mind to bear, and amiability to laugh at the remarks to which they are subjected."

"It is wonderful," said Anna; “and I have often marvelled at the power of toleration in this country."

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Oh, we English can bear anything, save the remorse of conscience !" said Cunnington: " as far as squibs are concerned, we are perfectly indifferent to them. The Duke of Wellington, though actually wor

shipped, would not be at all astonished if he read some day, We are authorised to state that, in imitation of Napoleon, a certain noble duke, high in favour with the court, entertains serious views of becoming Emperor of England.' Lord Brougham, surrounded by political papers, usefully engaged in his never-pausing endeavours to benefit mankind, might, when thus occupied, find himself aimed at as follows:- We believe it is rumoured upon the best authority, that a lord, equally famous for energy in the House, and kindly feeling at home, is on the eve of addressing a farewell to his brother peers; when he will retire à la Coriolanus, preferring to devote the remainder of his days to agricultural pursuits than to public notoriety.' Mitred heads are not more daintily handled, the Bishop of Exeter is a particular target for the wits of the day to shoot their arrows

against; fancy an on dit thus mysteriously headed: Authorship Extraordinary.—A work is now in the press, which the public will hail as particularly enlightening to mankind, and agreeably suited to the taste of the female sex. We allude to a Treatise on Dancing, showing that the art is perfectly compatible with graver duties, and that the followers of Terpsichore may safely hope they are not endangering their souls. This work is published incog., but we are fortunate enough to have privately ascer tained the name of the author; indeed, from the free and easy style, the readers will instantly recognise the Bishop of Er.' This announcement being rather outré, will, after creating a little sensation, be thus contradicted: We are requested by the learned

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Bishop of Er to state that the Treatise on Dancing is not an effusion of his pen; and we are further requested to say that it

is, in fact, the work of a gentleman of the name of Julien.""

"Ainsi va le monde," said Anna," and as you say Englishmen have a wonderful power of toleration, only think of Charles the Tenth of France."

"But his weakness was his own punishment," replied Cunnington; "depend upon it, however beforehand the French may be with us in the introduction of a fashion, they are ever striving to copy us as a nation; and although many a weekly paper, which is a source of amusement in our country, would perchance cause a revolution in France; still the utter subordination of the press will no more be tolerated there, than a partial restraint would with us. The Bourbon would have done wiser had he preferred being caricatured to being dethroned."

Thus conversed Anna and Cunnington; and thus entertaining each other, they ba

nished personal thoughts; never before had either conceived the usefulness of genius, until serving to allow their imagination to wander upon their unfortunate love, it cemented their minds, and raised their souls in each other's estimation.

The liberty of the press is, perhaps, not more arbitrary than the liberty of opinion; nor is its gall half so bitter as the ill-nature of a coterie bent upon making mischief. The lynx eye of the world's opinion was watching Cunnington; and, although nothing could exceed the decorum of his conduct, or the purity of his conversations, still he was attentive to the baroness; and he was too bon parti for mothers to allow him to devote his attentions to a married lady. Whilst sailing securely down the calm tide of a sunny river there was

"A traitor on land, and a pirate at sea."

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