contributions to-all the year round(一年到头)-第4节
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Mi manca la voce。 Our success was splendid； our good…humoured；
unaffected； and modest bearing； a pattern。 As to the audience； they were
far more polite and far more pleased than at the Opera； they were faultless。
Thus for barely an hour the concert lasted； with thousands of great bottles
looking on from the walls； containing the results of Friar Bacon's Million
and one experiments in agricultural chemistry； and containing too； no
doubt； a variety of materials with which the Friar could have blown us all
through the roof at five minutes' notice。
God save the Queen being done； the good Friar stepped forward and
said a few words； more particularly concerning two points； firstly； that
Saturday half…holiday； which it would be kind in farmers to grant；
secondly； the additional Allotment…grounds we were going to establish； in
consequence of the happy success of the system； but which we could not
guarantee should entitle the holders to be members of the club； because
the present members must consider and settle that question for themselves：
a bargain between man and man being always a bargain； and we having
made over the club to them as the original Allotment…men。 This was
loudly applauded； and so； with contented and affectionate cheering； it was
all over。
As Philosewers； and I the Dreary； posted back to London； looking up
at the moon and discussing it as a world preparing for the habitation of
responsible creatures； we expatiated on the honour due to men in this
world of ours who try to prepare it for a higher course； and to leave the
race who live and die upon it better than they found them。
FIVE NEW POINTS OF CRIMINAL LAW
The existing Criminal Law has been found in trials for Murder； to be
so exceedingly hasty； unfair； and oppressivein a word； to be so very
objectionable to the amiable persons accused of that thoughtless actthat
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it is； we understand； the intention of the Government to bring in a Bill for
its amendment。 We have been favoured with an outline of its probable
provisions。
It will be grounded on the profound principle that the real offender is
the Murdered Person； but for whose obstinate persistency in being
murdered； the interesting fellow…creature to be tried could not have got
into trouble。
Its leading enactments may be expected to resolve themselves under
the following heads：
1。 There shall be no judge。 Strong representations have been made
by highly popular culprits that the presence of this obtrusive character is
prejudicial to their best interests。 The Court will be composed of a
political gentleman； sitting in a secluded room commanding a view of St。
James's Park； who has already more to do than any human creature can； by
any stretch of the human imagination； be supposed capable of doing。
2。 The jury to consist of Five Thousand Five Hundred and Fifty…five
Volunteers。
3。 The jury to be strictly prohibited from seeing either the accused or
the witnesses。 They are not to be sworn。 They are on no account to
hear the evidence。 They are to receive it； or such representations of it； as
may happen to fall in their way； and they will constantly write letters
about it to all the Papers。
4。 Supposing the trial to be a trial for Murder by poisoning； and
supposing the hypothetical case； or the evidence； for the prosecution to
charge the administration of two poisons； say Arsenic and Antimony； and
supposing the taint of Arsenic in the body to be possible but not probable；
and the presence of Antimony in the body； to be an absolute certainty； it
will then become the duty of the jury to confine their attention solely to
the Arsenic； and entirely to dismiss the Antimony from their minds。
5。 The symptoms preceding the death of the real offender （or
Murdered Person） being described in evidence by medical practitioners
who saw them； other medical practitioners who never saw them shall be
required to state whether they are inconsistent with certain known
diseasesbut； THEY SHALL NEVER BE ASKED WHETHER THEY
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ARE NOT EXACTLY CONSISTENT WITH THE ADMINISTRATION
OF POISON。 To illustrate this enactment in the proposed Bill by a case：…
A raging mad dog is seen to run into the house where Z lives alone；
foaming at the mouth。 Z and the mad dog are for some time left together
in that house under proved circumstances； irresistibly leading to the
conclusion that Z has been bitten by the dog。 Z is afterwards found lying
on his bed in a state of hydrophobia； and with the marks of the dog's teeth。
Now； the symptoms of that disease being identical with those of another
disease called Tetanus； which might supervene on Z's running a rusty nail
into a certain part of his foot； medical practitioners who never saw Z； shall
bear testimony to that abstract fact； and it shall then be incumbent on the
Registrar…General to certify that Z died of a rusty nail。
It is hoped that these alterations in the present mode of procedure will
not only be quite satisfactory to the accused person （which is the first great
consideration）； but will also tend； in a tolerable degree； to the welfare and
safety of society。 For it is not sought in this moderate and prudent
measure to be wholly denied that it is an inconvenience to Society to be
poisoned overmuch。
LEIGH HUNT： A REMONSTRANCE
〃The sense of beauty and gentleness； of moral beauty and faithful
gentleness； grew upon him as the clear evening closed in。 When he went
to visit his relative at Putney； he still carried with him his work； and the
books he more immediately wanted。 Although his bodily powers had
been giving way； his most conspicuous qualities； his memory for books；
and his affection remained； and when his hair was white； when his ample
chest had grown slender； when the very proportion of his height had
visibly lessened； his step was still ready； and his dark eyes brightened at
every happy expression； and at every thought of kindness。 His death was
simply exhaustion； he broke off his work to lie down and repose。 So
gentle was the final approach； that he scarcely recognised it till the very
last； and then it came without terrors。 His physical suffering had not
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been severe； at the latest hour he said that his only uneasiness was failing
breath。 And that failing breath was used to express his sense of the
inexhaustible kindness he had received from the family who had been so
unexpectedly made his nurses；to draw from one of his sons； by minute；
eager； and searching questions； all that he could learn about the latest
vicissitudes and growing hopes of Italy；to ask the friends and children
around him for news of those whom he loved；and to send love and
messages to the absent who loved him。〃
Thus； with a manly simplicity and filial affection； writes the eldest
son of Leigh Hunt in recording his father's death。 These are the closing
words of a new edition of The Autobiography of Leigh Hunt； published by
Messrs。 Smith and Elder； of Cornhill； revised by that son； and enriched
with an introductory chapter of remarkable beauty and tenderness。 The
son's first presentation of his father to the reader； 〃rather tall； straight as an
arrow； looking slenderer than he really was； his hair black and shining； and
slightly inclined to wave； his head high； his forehead straight and white；
his eyes black and sparkling； his general complexion dark； in his whole
carriage and manner an extraordinary degree of l
