ce of the world is an obstacle not to be overcome; his calling
is in disrepute, and no personal efforts of his own, no individual
pre-eminence he may arrive at in his walk, will ever redeem it. Other
men's estimation increases as they distinguish themselves in life;
each fresh display of their abilities, each new occasion for the
exercise of their powers, is hailed with renewed favour and increasing
flattery; not so he,--every time he appears on his peculiar stage, the
disgust and detestation is but augmented,--_vires acquirit
eundo_,--his countenance, as it becomes known, is a signal for the
yelling execrations of a mob, and the very dexterity with which he
performs his functions, is made matter of loathing and horror. Were
his duties such as might be carried on in secret, he might do good by
stealth and blush to find it fame; but no, his attributes demand the
noon-day and the multitude--the tragedy he performs in, must be played
before tens of thousands, by whom his every look is scowled at, his
every gesture scrutinized. But to conclude,--this man is a necessity
of our social system. We want him--we require him, and we can't do
without him. Much of the machinery of a trial might be dispensed with
or retrenched. His office, however, has nothing superfluous. He is
part of the machinery of our civilisation, and on what principle do we
hunt him down like a wild beast to his lair?

Men of rank and title are daily to be found in association, and even
intimacy with black legs and bruisers, grooms, jockeys, and swindlers;
yet we never heard that even the Whigs paid any attention to a
hangman, nor is his name to be found even in the list of a Radical
viceroy's levee. However, we do not despair. Many prejudices of this
nature have already given way, and many absurd notions have been
knocked on the head by a wag of great Daniel's tail. And if our friend
of Newgate, who is certainly anti-union in his functions, will only
cry out for Repeal, the justice that is entreated for all Ireland may
include him in the general distribution of its favours. Poor Theodore
Hook used to say, that marriage was like hanging, there being only the
difference of an aspirate between halter and altar.

[Illustration]

A NUT FOR "ENDURING AFFECTION."

[Illustration]

My dear reader, if it does not insult your understanding by the
self-evidence of the query, will you allow me to ask you a
question--which of the two is more culpable, the ma