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68 impudence and truth, gave way; a constable came up—took part with the friend of two gentlemen so unexceptionaby drest—our friends walked off—the crowd repented of their precipitation, and, by way of amends, ducked the gentleman whose pockets had been picked. It was in vain for him to defend himself, for he had an impediment in his speech; and Messieurs the mob, having ducked him once for his guilt, ducked him a second time for his embarrassment.

In the interim, Clifford had withdrawn his quondam Mentor to the asylum of a coffee-house; and while Mac Grawler's soul expanded itself by wine, he narrated the causes of his dilemma. It seems that that incomparable journal the Asinæum, despite a series of most popular articles upon the writings of "Aulus Prudentius," to which were added an exquisite string of dialogues, written in a tone of broad humour,—viz. broad Scotch, (with Scotchmen it is all the same thing,) called—perhaps in remembrance of that illustrious knave, Ambrose Lamela—Noctes Ambrosianæ;" despite of these invaluable miscellanies, to say nothing of some glorious political articles, in which it was