to find No. 3, (for this is the simple, business-like style of the office) not a grand hall, with an ostentatious front, guarded by centinels and buffetiers. It is no way different from any other part of the street. I reconnoitred the door at some distance. There was no bustle : occasionally a clever looking man of an officer departed on some mission. I took pleasure in tracing the countenances of these agile redressers of the rights of the injured public, of whose feats of celerity and sagacity we hear so much. Methought I discovered in their visage both generous uprightness and piercing penetra tion, mingled with unrivalled foresight and promptitude. Perhaps the adage, "set a thief to catch a thief," is not sound doctrine: and honesty may be, after all, the best policy, in this as in other departments of life.

With these officials, as compared with the judges, there seemed in their alert faces a sort of projectile intelligence and force; while the magistrates, with a similar cast of feature, appeared to preserve more reservedness and self-possession. In this place there is always to be had a great treat of human countenances, one of the most rational of feasts. I entered the passage, and was directed into a small room, divided with rails and docks. There were about fifteen people in it : and I was surprised at the smallness of this court-hall. The magistrates, instead of being buried in wigs and gowns, and delivering the legal thunder from lofty

benches, were sitting in a corner, at a sort of low counter; the witnesses clustering round them, and all speaking low, as if at a consultation rather than at public judicial procedure. The physiognomy of these respectable functionaries was worth contemplating. I would walk thirty miles any day to see their faces: so much veteran wisdom and expertness dwell in their looks. Amid the confusion of witnesses, contrary testimony, prevarication, concealment and lies: what with the disorder of mingled merchandize tumbled on the floor before them; silk handkerchiefs, shirts and other stolen goods; any one of His Majesty's provincial justices of the peace would have soon been utterly at fault, and perhaps forced in despair to abandon all rule in the investigation. On the contrary it was satisfactory to observe the dexterity with which these discordant elements were here met, arranged, and finally settled, each in its proper order and place. At the first opening of a case, one of the parties concerned would begin to colour his tale wonderfully, to suppress hostile facts, and give a bold relief to all that that made for himself: sometimes bouncing outright with such asseverations as caused the adversary, with upthrown optics, to hope vehemently that Heaven would forgive such unheard of falsehood. During all this the eyes of the staunch magistrate, while he continued listening, would for some time turn and roll round and round; as if his

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ideas were yet tumbling about unsettled, in a circle of doubt and deliberation: then gleaming on the prevaricating story-teller, and alternately retiring within himself; as if he would pick up bit by bit every particle of true evidence that was in him: in short it was no tedious matter till this acute intellect had fully comprehended the merits of the case, and acted accordingly with equal despatch and decision. I felt a sort of confidence in the whole affair, and thought I could have, nothing loath, hazarded my fortune in the accuracy and honesty of this tribunal.

In the corner of the apartment sat a young gentleman, pencil in hand, who seemed a pleasant looking person, but the very genius of impudence and risibility. I took him for the reporter for the public prints. His face and demeanour was one continued sneer; the corners of his eyes and mouth appeared to have acquired a mechanical conformation of jocularity and impertinence. One would have thought from his looks, that culprits, witnesses, innocent parties, officers, judges and all, were to be equally victims of his privileged ridicule.— Methought it was unfair that his Majesty's loyal and swindled subjects, seeking for the relief that the civil magistrate is bound to afford, should be permitted to be held up in print by a sauce-box like this, to public laughter that their name and surname, personal oddities and private misfortunes, should parade the

extent of the British empire, as the daily theme of con tempt and merriment. Notwithstanding, I presumed there might be some reason of state, which maintains this diverting but inequitable arrangement; but though I confess I could regard it in no other light than that of a public nuisance.

In the middle of all this, a case was adjusted and brought forward, which from its sad and momentous complexion, seemed not likely to remain for adjudication within the walls of Bow-street. An unfortunate young woman was placed, to stand at the bar; and bundles of purloined gear, and a decisive array of witnesses, seemed too clearly to demonstrate the extent of her crime. It appeared in evidence afterwards, that a worthless male friend had instigated her to put her hand to this dangerous business. During the delay that took place in arranging the articles that were to prove the burglary, the poor thing seemed to droop, and hang on the front part of the iron-railing that surrounded her she was standing; for the accommodation of a seat is withheld in this stern scene, that has nothing in common with the comforts of life. The intelligent officer who had charge of her, shook her up a little abruptly, being perhaps but too well accustomed with the feigned sickness of persons in her situation. By and bye, however, this same reporter, who sat in a situation where her face, somewhat concealed to others,

was apparent to him, came forward to her custodier, and with a look of unfeigned kindness and seriousness (I liked the man for it) certified that the girl was really ill, and requested a chair might be brought for her. Before it could arrive, however, the unfortunate victim of guilt and terror had slowly sunk down to the floor: and upon examination, her blanched cheeks, and livid lips pressed up and then convulsed outwards, indicated that she was under a violent fit of hysterics. The inagistrate ordered her to the open air, and she was carried by the officers to the court-yard behind; where water, vinegar, and every restorative that could be hastily ob tained, were administered, and the most compassionate language adopted towards her by those austere persons, whose benevolent commiseration of this sad case commanded my respect and admiration. Leaving this scene, where a contemplative observer may detect much of reality beneath the outward cloak of human life, I took my way somewhat pensively to West's Picture Gallery; and buried my reflections on human character and present things, in the study of those objects, which the Pale Horse and his Rider, and their accompanying ter rors, are fitted to inspire.

But my reader must not expect that I am qualified to give an adequate delineation of this great effort of human genius, which it is a high national honour to pos sess. He must rest satisfied with an imperfect account,