proved. Honest Solomon defrauded her
out of the money, and had the satisfaction of reflecting that he reduced
her and her family to beggary. Breach of trust it appears is a very
slight thing in the eye of the law, and Solomon, encouraged by this
consideration, ruined the unfortunate widow and her orphans. This act
of gross, unprincipled robbery was, however, not unpunished. In about a
month after he had perpetrated it, the following scene occurred in
the Court of King's Bench, in presence of many who will have little
difficulty in bringing it to their recollection. A thin, pale-faced
man, far gone apparently in serious illness, supported on each side by a
religious friend who had not given him up, one of them by the way was
a Scotchman, and a far greater knave and hypocrite than
himself--approached the table, and requested permission to address the
Court, previous to the exercise of its jurisdiction in striking him off
the Roll of Attornies. This permission was granted, and Solomon, for it
was he, spoke briefly as follows:--

"My Lord, you see before you a frail sinner, who will soon appear before
a greater and more awful tribunal than yours. I am not here, my Lord,
to defend an act to which I was prompted by--may I be permitted to
say so--by my very virtues. Some men, my Lord, we ruined by excellent
qualities, and some by those which are the reverse. As touching mine, my
Lord, and the principles upon which--but an explanation on this subject
would not become me. Oh, no, my Lord; but your lordship sees these
tears; your lordship sees this weak, feeble, and emaciated frame.
You perceive, in fact, my Lord, that I am scarcely a subject for the
severity of this or any other court. In the meantime, may I be prepared
to meet a greater, a more awful one! May that be granted, my Lord! oh,
may He grant it! I am very feeble, my Lord, but still able to entreat
that your lordship will temper justice with mercy. About a month ago, my
Lord, when I little apprehended the occurrence which--but may His will
be done! My honesty is known, my Lord; it is known there, pointing
up--about a month ago, I say, I had my last child baptized by--I am
ashamed to tell your lordship what name, lest you might imagine that I
done so for the purpose of biasing your judgment in the--No, my Lord,
I will add nothing to the simple fact--I had my last child baptized by
the name of Richard Pennywinkle M'Slime--a circumstance which fills my
heart with sentime