but it is not less your duty to do that little. May that God
        who is the fountain of honour and good, prosper and protect you! The man
        who now stands before you is devoted to perpetual barrenness and blast!
        He has nothing to hope for beyond the feeble consolation of this day!«
 
»You will easily imagine that Mr. Falkland was discharged with every
circumstance of credit. Nothing is more to be deplored in human institutions
than that the ideas of mankind should have annexed a sentiment of disgrace, to a
purgation thus satisfactory and decisive. No one entertained the shadow of a
doubt upon the subject, and yet a mere concurrence of circumstances made it
necessary that the best of men should be publicly put upon his defence, as if
really under suspicion of an atrocious crime. It may be granted indeed that Mr.
Falkland had his faults, but those very faults placed him at a still farther
distance from the criminality in question. He was the fool of honour and fame; a
man whom in the pursuit of reputation nothing could divert; who would have
purchased the character of a true, gallant and undaunted hero at the expence of
worlds, and who thought every calamity nominal but a stain upon his honour. How
atrociously absurd to suppose any motive capable of inducing such a man to play
the part of a lurking assassin? How unfeeling to oblige him to defend himself
from such an imputation? Did any man, and least of all a man of the purest
honour, ever pass in a moment from a life unstained by a single act of injury to
the consummation of human depravity?
    When the decision of the magistrates was declared, a general murmur of
applause and involuntary transport burst forth from every one present. It was at
first low, and gradually became louder. As it was the expression of rapturous
delight and an emotion disinterested and divine, so there was an indescribable
something in the very sound that carried it home to the heart, and convinced
every spectator that there was no merely personal pleasure which ever existed
that would not be foolish and feeble in the comparison. Every one strove who
should most express his esteem of the amiable accused. Mr. Falkland was no
sooner withdrawn, than the gentlemen present determined to give a still further
sanction to the business by their congratulations. They immediately named a
deputation to wait upon him for that purpose. Every one concurred to assist the
general sentiment. It was a sort of sympathetic feeling that took hold upon all
ranks and degrees. The multitude received him with huzzas, they took his horses
from his carriage, dragged him along in triumph,