20th October 1837

Stamford Mercury

Mr. Editor.— the quarter sessions held at Bourn on Monday last, a case which had excited considerable interest, and which was expected to have been heard on that day, was abruptly dismissed by announcement from the bench that the plaintiff (good pious soul!) had felt it to be his duty to press for an amicable termination of the business, and thus prevent the awkward formality of an investigation into it: this request being conceded, the Chairman, on discharging the parties, remarked that the Reverend Plaintiff had adopted this course of proceeding from a sense of duty, and from a desire to cultivate feeling of kindness and benevolence towards the defendant, and towards his parishioners generally.—Query ! had he not saddled the wrong horse? And was it not rather from desire to escape the odium consequent upon defeat, and to evade the categorical scrutiny of the defendant's counsel which when placed in the witness box he might have found to be particularly inconvenient. Had this conciliatory deportment, so highly becoming a Minister of the Gospel of Peace, manifested itself an earlier period, much bitter feeling would have been avoided, and much of the Magistrates' valuable time, which has lately been occupied in the investigation of numberless Game Informations, would have been saved.—However, I am not unmindful of the old adage, "Better late than never:" neither am I without hope that better days await, and brighter prospects are already dawning upon, the antique village of Langtoft.— The venerable and pious John Wesley remarked, that man, if he would be useful, must study to be respected ; and the realisation of this delightful sentiment confers a boon as valuable as it is enviable.—Yours, Veritas.