“Public rumor has already exonerated us from the delicacy which would otherwise have restrained our pen from alluding to a feat of gallantry and courage performed by a young gentleman who does not live a hundred miles from Constitution Cottage.  It seems that a laison once subsisted between him and a young lady of great personal attractions, and, at that time, supposed (erroneously) to be entitled to a handsome dowry, considering that the fair creature worships at the Mallet Office, and bestows, in the exercise of her usual devotion, some soft blows upon her fair, but not insensible bosom.  Our readers will understand us.  The young gentleman in question, however, hearing that the lady had been recently betrothed to a partner of her father’s, prompted by that spirit of gallant mischief or dare-devilism for which he is so remarkable, did, under very dangerous circumstances, actually renew his intimacy, and had several stolen, and, consequently, sweet meetings with the charming creature.  This, however, reached his father’s ears, who, on proper information, despatched a troop of his own cavalry to bring the young gentleman home—­and so accurate was the intelligence received, that, on reaching her father’s house, they went directly to the young lady’s chamber, from which they led out the object of their search, after several vain but resolute attempts to exclude them from his bower of love.  This unfortunate discovery has occasioned a great deal of embarrassment in the family, and broken up the lady’s intended marriage with her father’s partner.  But what strikes us, is the daring courage of the hero who thus gallantly risked life and limb, rather than that the lady of his love should pine in vain.  Except Leander’s, of old, we know of no such feat of love and gallantry in these degenerate days.’

“This other is equally malignant and vindictive

“’Messrs. Harman and M’Loughlin.

“’We shall be very happy, indeed exceedingly so, to contradict an unpleasing rumor, affecting the solvency of our respected fellow-townsmen, Messrs. Harman and M’Loughlin.  We. do not ourselves give any credit to such rumors; but how strange, by the way, that such an expression should drop from our pen on such a subject?  No, we believe them to be perfectly solvent; or, if we err in supposing so, we certainly err in the company of those on whose opinions, we, in general, are disposed to rely.  We are inclined to believe, and we think, that for the credit of so respectable a firm, it is our duty to state it, that the rumor affecting their solvency has been mistaken for another of an almost equally painful character connected with domestic life, which, by the unhappy attachment of ****** to a young gentleman of a different creed, and proverbially loyal principles, has thrown the whole family into confusion and distress.’