When the day arrived, it was found that never had there been so full an assembly of magistrates for years. It was evident that Sir Roger had mustered all his friends. The man was called up, and charged by Sir Henry Clavering with the menaces already mentioned. He replied, that he had only done as he was ordered by his landlord. Sir Henry looked round, but though Sir Roger’s friends were there in great force, he himself was absent. As the man swore positively that Sir Roger had ordered him to turn everybody back, and, if they would not go, to use force, and had sent the warning-board for him to put up, Sir Henry produced and read Sir Rogers letter, declaring that he had not authorised the farmer to use any menace or violence. This was a poser, and the responsibility of the act was thrown wholly on the man, who was declared by Sir Henry to be perjured. He added, that he should prosecute him for the perjury; but he now demanded that he should be bound to keep the peace towards every one for twelve months, under a very heavy penalty. But here the united power of Sir Henry and Mr. Degge failed against the whole bench, who were unanimous in declaring that it would be quite sufficient if the young man promised that he would not thus offend again. And on a ready promise on his part, he was discharged. Mr. Degge told the magistrates that they had taken a very heavy responsibility upon themselves, as, from what he had seen of the young man’s temperament, he believed him to be so excitable that, under the least provocation, he might do some serious mischief to some one, and that he should, for public security, feel himself compelled to sue for a mandamus requiring them to show cause for neglecting the very necessary precaution of binding the delinquent to keep the peace. This announcement produced an evident damp on the assembled justices; but the man was already discharged, and there was no help for it. But even before Sir Henry could issue a warrant to summon the man to answer the charge of perjury, a fresh encounter had produced a repetition of the very same conduct in him. All the people of the neighbourhood were incensed at the clandestine attempt to stop this road, and made constant use of it, though round about, in going to Rockville; and in a very short time the effect of the reiterated irritation of this popular opposition had produced actual insanity in the young farmer, whose mother, it was found, was already confined in a lunatic asylum, and whither he himself had to be conducted. This melancholy visitation of course stopped all proceedings on the part of Sir Henry and Mr. Degge, even against the magistrates. The road was left peaceably open; but the condition of mind originated by this constant clashing of views betwixt what might be called the Woodburn and Rockville parties, was one very prejudicial to the happiness of the neighbourhood, and ominous of results of no agreeable kind. END OF VOL. II.