hor. The "incident" is said not to have been circulated _in any
publication by the family_; but "it was one of the secrets which obtain a
wider circulation from the reserve with which one relator invariably
retails it to another." That is exactly my view. Secrecy contributes to
diffusion, but not to accuracy. At the risk of being thought tedious, I
must copy the rest of this statement:

"Soon after the publication of this treatise, _the author took an
opportunity of presenting a copy_ to our late much revered sovereign;
whose ear was always accessible to merit, however obscure the
individual in whom it was found. Contrary to the fate of most
publications laid at the feet of royalty, it was diligently perused and
admired; and a communication of this approbation was afterwards made
known to the author. It happened some time afterwards, a relative of
one of his friends was convicted of a capital crime, for which he was
left for execution. Application was instantly made for an extension of
royal favour in his behalf; and, among others, one was made by Mr.
Fawcett: and his majesty, _no doubt recollecting the pleasure he had
derived from the perusal of his_ Essay on Anger, _and believing that he
would not recommend an improper person to royal favour_, was most
graciously pleased to answer the prayer of the petition; but _as to
precisely how far the name of Mr. Fawcett might have contributed to
this successful application must await the great disclosures of a
future judgment._"

The reader will sift this jumble of inferences and facts, and perhaps will
not go so far as to have "no doubt."

WHUNSIDE tells me, that about 1807 he employed a bookbinder from Halifax;
who, on hearing that he had been a pupil of Mr. Fawcett, said he had seen
two copies of the _Essay on Anger_, most beautifully bound, to be sent to
the king.

The conclusion to which I come is, that Mr. Fawcett sent a copy of the
_Essay on Anger_ to the king; that the receipt of it was acknowledged,
possibly in some way more complimentary than the ordinary circular; that a
young man was convicted of forgery; that Mr. Fawcett and others petitioned
for his pardon, and that he was {575} pardoned. All the rest I hold to be
mere rumours, not countenanced by Mr. Fawcett or his family, and not
_asserted_ by his biographers.

H. B. C.

U. U. Club.

* * * * *

MYTHE VE