te, and
sober, are occasionally liable. The defect of speech, accompanied by
a strong tendency to lethargy, we accounted for at the time, by a
transient cessation or paralysis of the tongue, and a congestion of
blood on the brain, all of which frequently attack persons of the
soberest habits. Others might have said it was intoxication, or
drunkenness, and so might his character have been injured; but when his
incapacity to stand was placed upon its proper footing, the matter was
made perfectly clear, and there was, consequently, no doubt about it. So
easy is it to distort a circumstance, that is harmless and indifferent
in itself, into a grievous fault, especially where there is not
Christian charity to throw a cloak over it.'

"'Such is a specimen of two paragraphs--one from each paper; and
considering that the subject was a delicate one, and involving; the
character of a professor, we think it was as delicately handled on both
sides as possible. I am told it is to be publicly alluded to to-morrow
in the congregation of which the subject of it, a Mr. Solomon M'Slime,
an attorney, is an elder--a circumstance which plainly accounts for the
heading of the paragraph in the True Blue.

"There were, however, about a week or ten days ago, a couple of
paragraphs in the _True Blue_--which, by the way, is Mr. M'Clutchy's
favorite paper--of a very painful description. There is a highly
respectable man here, named M'Loughlin--and you will please to observe,
my dear Spinageberd, that this M'Loughlin is respected and well spoken
of by every class and party; remember that, I say. This man is a partner
with a young fellow named Harman, who is also very popular with parties.
Harman, it seems, was present at some scene up in the mountains, where
M'Clutchy's blood-hounds, as they are called, from their ferocity when
on duty, had gone to take a man suspected for murder. At all events, one
of the blood-hounds in the straggle--for they were all armed, as they
usually are--lost his life by the discharge--said to be accidental,
but sworn to be otherwise, before Mr. Magistrate M'Clutchy--of a loaded
carbine. He was to have been tried at the assizes which have just
terminated; but his trial has been postponed until the next assizes,
it is said for want of sufficient evidence. Be this as it may, it seems
that M'Loughlin's beautiful daughter was soon to have been married
to her father's young partner, now in prison. The unfortunate girl,
howeve