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at once declined the pursuit, which a recommendation so flattering might have induced him to have accepted.

Two years had not elapsed when a second time he was urged to offer himself a candidate for a seat in the common council, and by one whose character raised him above the possibility of the charge of insincerity. The Author replied to this suggestion, by referring to the short time he had lived within the borough, and by observing that there being no vacancy, an intimation of an intention of offering himself might, by some, be deemed indelicate. He then adverted to the former recommendation, and parted, under an understanding that he was to see his first adviser on the subject. Soon afterwards, he had this interview, and with every kind assurance, an immediate application was again urged. "There is one thing, (said this worthy man) it will be, perhaps, proper to apprize you of, Mr.object to your intimacy with and I know they

and Mr.

Mr.

and Mr.

notice with suspicion your attendance at the

mayor's court on the tuesday: but let not that disturb you, their influence is not worth a thought; write without delay to every member thus,

The Author avowed, at this time, his great disgust at the base insinuations of these persons, who, to please a party, and to answer interested purposes, it would appear, expected him to sacrifice, upon the altar of politics, the more amiable gratifications of private friendship.

Once more recommended to make his intentions known, and assured there were not many in the common council who were governed by principles so paltry and contemptible, he signified his determination to present himself as a candidate on the first vacancy, although many, very many respectable inhabitants predicted he would be made "the cat's paw," as others before him had been, of a party, whose object it was to keep the corporate offices among their own relatives and connexions.

On the first vacancy, from a conversation he had with who candidly and plainly asked him, "as a man of the world, DO YOU NOT

THINK WE SHOULD DO WRONG TO LET THESE OFFICES

GO FROM US?"—-from the trifling and evasive replies of some,-from the indirect declarations of others, which were easily enough to be understood -the Author was soon convinced of the truth, as to the result he had been told he was to expect.

Struck with the inconsistency of the observation

above referred to, (for he wishes to speak of it in the mildest terms) and still urged by his friend, to continue his applications, even though his first request should not succeed, the writer was fortunate enough, in the mean while, to obtain copies of such documents, as afforded him an insight into the constitution of the borough; and being friendly to local jurisdictions, he commenced his inquiries under circumstances, by no means inimical to the real constituted authorities of Tiverton: in the course of which investigation, he has been more than once honored by the thanks of some members of the common council, who possess education and discernment in an eminent degree, for the frank and candid communication of his opinions. The late election of an inmate in a father's family to be an assistant, and of the resident Rector of Broad Hempston, (a place thirty miles distant from Tiverton,) to be one of those inhabitants, "who shall be called capital burgesses," at once determined him to appeal thus publicly to his fellow townsmen, feeling confident the perversions of our chartered rights might very soon, and without great expence, be corrected under the sanction of the law.

Lex Angliæ non patitur absurdum. Equitate gaudet:-Appetit perfectum :-est norma recti.

The Author has pursued these inquiries

under very adverse circumstances. As he aims not, however, at literary fame, but has solely in view the promotion of peace and good will, and the furtherance of that proper feeling towards the government of his country, to which the present conduct of our corporate concerns, it is thought by many, is much opposed, he feels it unnecessary to lay any claim to the reader's indulgence.

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