“2. Those numbers of the _Post_ and _Courier_ which, as you told me, contained an exhortation to prosecute me. “Indeed, we should have files of those papers for the last eight months; for I must dwell upon the endeavours to excite prejudice against me.” The same letter proceeds to mention his plans for arranging his pecuniary affairs--a matter of hardly-inferior importance, considering their tangled condition. As soon as possible, he will then go up to London to await events. “… I do not know whether they have given a notice of trial, formally; but I think they will.… They feel the deep wounds I have given them; and they lose sight of everything but revenge. I really do not know which I ought to wish for--a trial or a _nolle prosequi_. My character and fame call for the former; but then, my health and my dearly-beloved family call for the latter, or for anything which shall preclude the chance of a villainous sentence. However, I am rather indifferent about the matter.… “… God send us good luck; but if not, good _heart_, which I trust I, at least, shall not want. My intention is to meet my accusers in a manner worthy of the advocate of truth.” Mr. James Perry was in trouble again, early in 1810. The Attorney-General had filed information against the _Morning Chronicle_ and the _Examiner_, for a paragraph in which the Whig hopes of the day were embodied. These hopes were to be fulfilled when the Prince of Wales succeeded to the throne, and the obnoxious paragraph ended with these words:-- “Of all monarchs, indeed, since the Revolution, the successor of George the Third will have the finest opportunity of becoming nobly popular.” The interpretation put upon this by the “friends of order”[3] was, that the life of George III. stood between his people and the blessings in store for them! Mr. Perry conducted his own defence, and was acquitted; and the record as against the _Examiner_ was forthwith withdrawn. This occurrence was a subject of rejoicing to the whole tribe of scribblers,--at least, of those who were not subsidized; and the failure of the prosecution correspondingly inflamed the minds of the administration. Peter Finnerty was another victim of this year. And, after some further halting, it was determined to bring forward the record against Mr. Cobbett, after his friends had begun to be tranquilized with the hope that he would not be molested.