We have seen how, under a name borrowed from the Tory party, the _Examiner_ was established, with little premeditation, a literary ambition, and the hope of realizing a modest wage for the work done. It found literature, poetry especially, sunk to the feeblest, tamest, and most artificial of graces,--the reaction upon the long-felt influence left by the debauchery of the Stuarts and the vulgarer coarseness of the early Georges. It found English monarchs and statesmen again forgetting the great lessons of the British constitution, with the press slavishly acquiescing. In 1808, an Irish Major had a “case” against the Horse Guards, of most corrupt and illicit favouritism: the _Examiner_ published the case, and sustained it. In 1809, a change of ministry was announced: the _Examiner_ hailed “the crowd of blessings that might be involved in such a change;” adding, “Of all monarchs, indeed, since the Revolution, the successor of George the Third will have the finest opportunity of becoming nobly popular.” In 1812, on St. Patrick’s day, a loyal band of guests significantly abstained from paying the usual courtesy to the toast of the Prince Regent, and coughed down Mr. Sheridan, who tried to speak up for his royal and forgetful friend. A writer in a morning paper supplied the omitted homage in a poem more ludicrous for its wretched verse than for the fulsome strain in which it called the Prince the “Protector of the Arts,” the “Mæcenas of the Age,” the “Glory of the People,” a “Great Prince,” attended by Pleasure, Honour, Virtue, Truth, and other illustrious vassals. The _Examiner_ showed up this folly by simply turning it into English, and in plain language describing the position and popular estimate of the Prince. For all these various acts the _Examiner_ was prosecuted, with various fortunes; but in the last case it was fined 1,000_l._, and its editor and publisher, the brothers Leigh and John Hunt, were sentenced to two years’ imprisonment. The _Examiner_ was no extravagant or violent paper; its writing was pretty nearly of the standard that would be required now for style, tone, and sentiment; but what would now be a matter of course in cultivated style, elevated tone, and independent sentiment, was then supposed to be not open to writers unprotected by privilege of Parliament. Not that the paper stood alone. Other writers, both in town and country, vied with it in independence; it excelled chiefly, perhaps, in the literary finish which Leigh Hunt imparted to journalism; but it was the more conspicuous for that finish. Its boldness won it high esteem. Offers came from “distinguished” quarters, on the one side, to bribe its silence for the Royal Horse Guards and its peccadilloes; on the other, to supply the proprietors with subscription, support, and retaliatory evidence. The _Examiner_ equally declined all encroachments on its complete independence, which was carried to a pitch of exclusiveness. This conduct told.