of too serious a magnitude,
the rumour unchecked seemed daily to increase in strength. Mr. Falkland appeared
sometimes inclined to adopt such steps as might have been best calculated to
bring the imputation to a speedy trial. But he probably feared, by too direct an
appeal to judicature to render more precise an imputation, the memory of which
he deprecated; at the same time that he was sufficiently willing to meet the
severest scrutiny, and, if he could not hope to have it forgotten that he had
ever been accused, to prove in the most satisfactory manner that the accusation
was unjust.
    The neighbouring magistrates at length conceived it necessary to take some
steps upon the subject. Without causing Mr. Falkland to be apprehended, they
sent to desire he would appear before them at one of their meetings. The
proceeding being thus opened, Mr. Falkland expressed his hope that, if the
business were likely to stop there, their investigation might at least be
rendered as solemn as possible. The meeting was numerous; every person of a
respectable class in society, was admitted to be an auditor; the whole town, one
of the most considerable in the county, was apprised of the nature of the
business. Few trials, invested with all the forms of judgment, have excited so
general an interest. A trial, under the present circumstances, was scarcely
attainable; and it seemed to be the wish both of principal and umpires, to give
to this transaction all the momentary notoriety and decisiveness of a trial.
    The magistrates investigated the particulars of the story. Mr. Falkland, it
appeared, had left the rooms immediately after his assailant; and, though he had
been attended by one or two of the gentlemen to his inn, it was proved that he
had left them upon some slight occasion, as soon as he arrived at it, and that,
when they enquired for him of the waiters, he had already mounted his horse and
rode home.
    By the nature of the case, no particular facts could be stated in balance
against these. As soon as they had been sufficiently detailed, Mr. Falkland
therefore proceeded to his defence. Several copies of this defence were made,
and Mr. Falkland seemed for a short time to have had the idea of sending it to
the press, though for some reason or other he afterwards suppressed it. I have
one of the copies in my possession, and I will read it to you.«
    Saying this, Mr. Collins rose, and took it from a private drawer in his
escritoire. During this action he appeared to recollect himself. He did