In their haste they took away the Tankard, to which they are heartily welcome; to the Tablespoons and the light Guineas which were in an old red morocco pocket-book, they are also heartily welcome; but in the said Pocket-book there were several loose Papers, which consisted of private Memorandums, Receipts, etc. can be of no use to his kind and friendly Visitors, but are important to him: he therefore hopes and trusts they will be so polite as to take some opportunity of returning them. For an old family Watch, which was in the same Drawer, he cannot ask on the same terms; but if any could be pointed out by which he could replace it with twice as many heavy Guineas as they can get for it, he would gladly be the Purchaser. W. R. A few nights after, a packet, with the following letter enclosed, was dropped into the area of the house: “Sir,--You are quite a gemman. Not being used to your Madeira, it got into our upper works, or we should never have cribbed your papers; they be all marched back again with the red book. Your ale was mortal good; the tankard and spoons were made into a white soup, in Duke’s Place, two hours afore daylite. The old family watch cases were at the same time made into a brown gravy, and the guts, new christened, are on their voyage to Holland. If they had not been transported, you should have them again, for you are quite the gemman; but you know, as they have been christened, and got a new name, they would no longer be of your _old_ family. And soe, sir, we have nothing more to say, but that we are much obligated to you, and shall be glad to sarve and visit you, by nite or by day, and are your humble sarvants to command.” Honour had then, it would appear, not quite departed from among thieves. At the end of last century a provincial attorney advertised an estate for sale, or to be exchanged for another, stating that he was appointed _Plenipotentiary_ to _treat_ in the business; that he had ample _credentials_, and was prepared to _ratify his powers_; that he would enter into _preliminaries_ either upon the principle of the _statu quo_ or _uti possidetis_; that he was ready to receive the _project_ of any person desirous to make the purchase or exchange, and to deliver his _contre projet_ and _sine quâ non_, and, indeed, at once give his _ultimatum_, assuring the public that as soon as a _definitive treaty_ should be _concluded_, it would be _ratified_ by his constituent and duly _guaranteed_. He was evidently astonished at his own unexpected importance.