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ONE OF HER MAJESTY'S COUNSEL, AND RECORDER OF HULL

"Within, without, and far around he look'd-

How fair! quoth he, how dread."

-THR PILGRIM

SECOND EDITION

WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS
EDINBURGH AND LONDON

MDCCCLIII

The Author of this Work reserves the right of Translating it.

270.0.363.

17

PRINTED BY WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS, EDINBURGH.

PREFACE.

THE origin of this little work is indicated in a passage which may be seen near the commence

ment.

It would be unbecoming in the Author to print a copy of the too flattering Resolution of the President and Council of the Hull Literary and Philosophical Society there referred to, and partly in consequence of which, the paper in question, somewhat modified and amplified, is now presented to the public. It treats of subjects which have occupied his thoughts for many years; and all he begs to be given credit for, is a good intention. For the rest, he must surrender himself to criticism with what fortitude he may.

Two-thirds of the paper were read on the evening of Tuesday, the 28th December 1852, and listened to with an attention amply repaying the Author's efforts to present an extensive and difficult subject, in an acceptable manner, to a mixed and very large audience.

A deputation, in considerable numbers, from the Mechanics' Institute of Hull, formed part of that audience, in pursuance of a liberal and friendly invitation from the President and Council of the

Literary and Philosophical Society: : a circumstance which afforded the Author peculiar gratification.

INNER TEMPLE, LONDON,
January 1853.

MR PRESIDENT,

AND LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

I HOPE that the special relation in which I stand towards this populous borough, and its ancient town and corporation*-a town which has numbered among those of its citizens the noble names of Andrew Marvel, and William Wilberforce—will, together with a fact which I shall presently mention, satisfactorily account for my appearance before you this evening, in a position to myself at once new, and responsible. As a member of the Bar, and also exercising judicial functions among you, such a position as I now occupy is intended,

* The town and county of Kingston-upon-Hull, commonly called Hull, was constituted a free borough, with extensive immunities, under a charter of Edward I., dated the 1st April 1299. For upwards of a century, however, before that time, it had been a seaport of considerable mercantile importance.-See Frost's Notices relative to the early history of the town and port of Hull, [A.D. 1827,] and The Encyclopædia Britannica, tit. “Hull."

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