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2. But now, since printing came into the world, such is the mischief, that a man cannot write a book but presently he is answered! Could the press at once be conjured to obey only an imprimatur, our author might not disdain, perhaps, to be one of its most zealous patrons. There have been ways found out to banish ministers, to fine not only the people but even the grounds and fields where they assembled in conventicles. But no art yet could prevent these seditious meetings of letters. Two or three brawny fellows in a corner, with mere ink and elbow-grease do more harm than a hundred systematical divines with their sweaty preaching.

3. And, which is a strange thing, the very sponges, which one would think should rather deface and blot out the whole book, and were anciently used for that purpose, are now become the instruments to make things legible. Their ugly printingletters, that look but like so many rotten teeth - how oft have they been pulled out by the public tooth-drawers! And yet these rascally operators of the press have got a trick to fasten them again in a few minutes, that they grow as firm a set, and as biting and talkative as ever. O Printing! how hast thou disturbed the peace of mankind! That lead, when molded into bullets, is not so mortal as when founded into letters. There was a mistake, sure, in the story of Cadmus; and the serpents' teeth which he sowed were nothing else than the letters which he invented.

4. The first essay that was made toward this art was in single characters upon iron, wherewith of old they stigmatized slaves and remarkable offenders; and it was of good use sometimes to brand a schismatic. But a bulky Dutchman diverted it quite from its first institution, and contrived those innumerable conjoinings of alphabets. One would have thought in reason that a Dutchman at least might have contented himself only with the wine-press.

XLV. BARBARA FRIETCHIE.

JOHN G. WHITTIER.

1. Up from the meadows rich with corn, Clear in the cool September morn,

2. The clustered spires of Frederick stand Green-walled by the hills of Maryland.

3. Round about them orchards sweep,
Apple- and peach-tree fruited deep,

4. Fair as a garden of the Lord
To the eyes of the famished rebel horde,

5. On that pleasant morn of the early fall, When Lee marched over the mountain wall,

6. Over the mountains winding down, Horse and foot into Frederick town.

7. Forty flags with their silver stars, Forty flags with their crimson bars,

8. Flapped in the morning wind: the sun Of noon looked down, and saw not one.

9. Up rose old Barbara Frietchie then, Bowed with her fourscore years and ten; 10. Bravest of all in Frederick town, She took up the flag the men hauled down;

11. In her attic window the staff she set, To show that one heart was loyal yet.

12. Up the street came the rebel tread, Stonewall Jackson riding ahead.

13. Under his slouched hat left and right He glanced; the old flag met his sight.

14. "Halt!"-the dust-brown ranks stood fast. Fire!"-out blazed the rifle-blast.

15. It shivered the window, pane and sash; It rent the banner with seam and gash.

16. Quick as it fell from the broken staff, Dame Barbara snatched the silken scarf;

17. She leaned far out on the window sill, And shook it forth with a royal will.

18. "Shoot, if you must, this gray old head, But spare your country's flag!" she said.

19. A shade of sadness, a blush of shame, Over the face of the leader came;

20. The nobler nature within him stirred To life at that woman's deed and word.

21. "Who touches a hair of yon gray head Dies like a dog! March on!" he said.

22. All day long, through Frederick street, Sounded the tread of marching feet;

23. All day long, that free flag tossed Over the heads of the rebel host.

24. Ever its torn folds rose and fell

On the loyal winds that loved it well;

25. And, through the hill-gaps, sunset light Shone over it with a warm good-night.

26. Barbara Frietchie's work is o'er,
And the rebel rides on his raids no more.

27. Honor to her!-and let a tear
Fall, for her sake, on Stonewall's bier.

28. Over Barbara Frietchie's grave,
Flag of Freedom and Union, wave!

29. Peace and order and beauty draw
Round thy symbol of light and law;

30. And ever the stars above look down
On thy stars below in Frederick town!

XLVI.-TRIAL OF WARREN HASTINGS.

T. B. MACAULAY.

1. The place was worthy of such a trial. It was the great hall of William Rufus; the hall which had resounded with acclamations at the inauguration of thirty kings; the hall which had witnessed the just sentence of Bacon, and the just absolution of Somers; the hall where the eloquence of Strafford had for a moment awed and melted a victorious party inflamed with just resentment; the hall where Charles had confronted the high court of justice with the placid courage which has half redeemed his fame.

2. Neither military nor civil pomp was wanting. The avenues were lined with grenadiers. The streets were kept clear by cavalry. The peers, robed in gold and ermine, were marshaled by the heralds under the garter king-at-arms. The judges, in their vestments of state, attended to give advice on points of law. Near a hundred and seventy lords, threefourths of the upper house, as the upper house then was,

walked in solemn order from their usual place of assembling to the tribunal. The junior baron present led the way-Lord Heathfield, recently ennobled for his memorable defense of Gibraltar against the fleets and armies of France and Spain. The long procession was closed by the Duke of Norfolk, earl marshal of the realm, by the great dignitaries, and by the brothers and sons of the king. Last of all came the Prince of Wales, conspicuous by his fine person and noble bearing.

The long

3. The gray old walls were hung with scarlet. galleries were crowded by such an audience as has rarely excited the fears or the emulation of an orator. There were gathered together from all parts of a great, free, enlightened, and prosperous realm, grace and female loveliness, wit and learning, the representatives of every science and of every

art.

4. There were seated around the queen the fair-haired young daughters of the house of Brunswick. There the ambassadors of great kings and commonwealths gazed with admiration on a spectacle which no other country in the world could present. There Siddons, in the prime of her majestic beauty, looked with emotion on a scene surpassing all the imitations of the stage. There the historian of the Roman empire thought of the days when Cicero pleaded the cause of Sicily against Verres; and when, before a senate which had still retained some show of freedom, Tacitus thundered against the oppressor of Africa.

5. There were seen, side by side, the greatest painter and the greatest scholar of the age. The spectacle had allured Reynolds from that easel which has preserved to us the thoughtful foreheads of so many writers and statesmen, and the sweet smiles of so many noble matrons. It had induced Parr to suspend his labors in that dark and profound mine

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