set of the melancholy lodgers to the next who occupy their cells.
Some of these, which Dunover mentioned, were interesting, and served to
illustrate the narratives of remarkable trials, which Hardie had at his
finger-ends, and which his companion was also well skilled in. This sort of
conversation passed away the evening till the early hour when Mr. Dunover chose
to retire to rest, and I also retreated to take down memorandums of what I had
learned, in order to add another narrative to those which it had been my chief
amusement to collect, and to write out in detail. The two young men ordered a
broiled bone, Madeira negus, and a pack of cards, and commenced a game at
picquet.
    Next morning the travellers left Gandercleugh. I afterwards learned from the
papers that both have been since engaged in the great political cause of
Bubbleburgh and Bitem, a summary case, and entitled to particular despatch; but
which, it is thought, nevertheless, may outlast the duration of the parliament
to which the contest refers. Mr. Halkit, as the newspapers informed me, acts as
agent or solicitor; and Mr. Hardie opened for Sir Peter Plyem with singular
ability, and to such good purpose, that I understand he has since had fewer
play-bills and more briefs in his pocket. And both the young gentlemen deserve
their good fortune; for I learned from Dunover, who called on me some weeks
afterwards, and communicated the intelligence with tears in his eyes, that their
interest had availed to obtain him a small office for the decent maintenance of
his family; and that, after a train of constant and uninterrupted misfortune, he
could trace a dawn of prosperity to his having the good fortune to be flung from
the top of a mail-coach into the river Gander, in company with an advocate and a
writer to the Signet. The reader will not perhaps deem himself equally obliged
to the accident, since it brings upon him the following narrative, founded upon
the conversation of the evening.
 

                            The Heart of Mid-Lothian

Whoe'er's been at Paris must needs know the Grève,
The fatal retreat of the unfortunate brave,
Where honour and justice most oddly contribute,
To ease heroes' pains by an halter and gibbet.

There death breaks the shackles which force had put on,
And the hangman completes what the judge but began;
There the squire of the pad, and the knight of the post,
Find their pains no more baulked, and their hopes no more crossed.
                                                                          Prior.
 
In former times, England had her Tyburn, to which the devoted