Star.
London, England, 1829-10-19 00:00:00

ASSECA'S FAMILIAR.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR.
Sia,—As you on Saturday anticipated, that impure Fleet &rest
Prostitute--so notorious for hideoulprednections,was yesterday, as

to duty hired, once more damning himself in aeventh•day pollutions.
His loathsome task, however, he performed with the uneasy

effrontery of detected guilt; and, trying .to laugh at the hissing
finger, would have sculked away from scorn by invidious
recrimination on your contemporary "The Times," thrown
villainously out to divert public indignation from his own enormous
shame. But who cook' be duped by this paltry Newgate tactic ?
To detect the bribe, examine the sentiment detente of justice
and of freedom is the fullest demonstration of purity and disinter-
estedness. A virtuous duty rewards itself ; but it is the advocacy
of crime which betrays the mercenary and corrupt. To virtue,
wickedness at least pays homage of hypocrisy ; and when
the miscreant spurns at once the mask to brave opinion,
and incur obloquy, it is obvious that his rashness must be bought
with some guilty recompense. Who could believe that the unhappy
wretch exists, who could advocate usurpation, despotism, spoliation
and blood, from honest convictions? Let us then, for the sake of
English character—for we believe the prostitute journalist, not-
withstanding his anti-national sentiments, its native of this
couniry—Let us therefore, I my, try to persuade ourselves
that his cupidity rather than 'his will has consented to
this degradation of mind,—that it is the Mikes, and not
altogether the atrocity of his tastes, abousissabk as some of
them are known to be—that have overcome the scruples of a weak
cunsciente, pirsued perhaps by secret remorse fox his hired at-
tempts to pervert public principle. We must, in humanity, there-
lore, refuse to believe his strenuous paw-paw denial of bribery
" He is anxious" he expresses "distinctly to declare that let'
who may have received the 5613,600," which it is stated
figures in his Ilanziaxscr's accounts, as bribes to the
rascally Editors (hem ! —that's rade) " not sae shilling
of the Viscoures money has found its way to his
Now, we readily believe his anxiety on this score to be truly
sincere; for, however accustomed to labour under foul imputations,
one would not like to sit down contentedly, branded with the epi-
thet of " Reveal." Is there a delinquent caught filching from a
ben-coop that would willingly plead guilty, when there was a chance
of escape? Then, what should we think of any Editor's
criminal who could unblushingly step forward at once, and
say " Yes—English readers ! I am justly suspected of being
a rascal / I have outraged the public by falsehood ; I have
promoted cholas and violence ; I have abetted tymny in '
deeds which caused to flow an ocean of tears and blood ; and this I
have done under the temptations of a bribe:" Why, we should
only then observe with Ilicsiams, that he was fool as well as
villain." But we might reconcile suspicions with the declarations
of the accused by admitting that not we shilling of the Imre-
cogniesd Ministers—his Ezcztamecis—the Vneolner's—money bad
ever reached his office in Fleet Street." But then might not the
bribe have been offered—aye, and accepted too--in the original
shape of milieu. or in any other medium ; and that in what-
ever place of secret rendezvous the worthy Editor found his
opportunity of judging "the high rank and connectlons!—the
amiable manners and disposition !! of the Diunsems—his Ex-
cm.t.incY, the Yncousr!! !"—for the latter might be, "and yet
his assertions at yesterday be literally correct. We should la-
dst upon his gables& ; and in corroboration of the mme,
the attested oath of the Usurper's Endssary ; who, not being a
patron of mine, I must differ from the grateful language .of his
Sunday Satellite, to call him simply—the Miguelite Spy; Agana.
With tears in his eyes be thus further remarks In reference loth*
Times and his worthy Patna :—" With the way in which
this Nobleman is spoken of In this paragraph, the English
public may appreciate the scurrility/ and MULLASITY I with
which the Nobility of Portugal are treated by the ad•
herents to the Constitution." Unexampled impudence !
A Journalist who has for years subsisted by catering food for
the malignant, who like a viper has fastened his venomed fang
upon all that is respectable in public and private Ufe,--the weekly
fabricator of falsehood and slander„—and yet, this Vituperator,
after althea become an enemy to scurrility !!! Marvellous alum.
sion. fjat where was the respect of this inhospitable slave
for Portuguese Nobility, when, week after week, he. cow.
ardly attacked the flower and pride of that nobility, who
victims to patriotism, have sought an asylum on our
shores?—Wbere was it when be heartlessly insulted their
very Qszsat—an unprotected child, refused in our arms? Has he
not glutted in their misfortunes, belied their honour, and de.
nounced them, all and singly, to the executioner ? And yet,' for.
sooth, he will not permit us to treat a Portuguese apostolical ad.
venturer,deputed by tyranny and jesuitism, withfanaliarity,merety,
beaus.—Goo bless us !—he brings a bribe of 68,000 milrees! If
portions of that spoil has, in him, indeed, purchased a tool,he might
not—ascot not, be familiar with his master. But what does the Tuns
owe to this despicable intriguer? and what free English gentleman
would nut conceive himself dishonoured by any familiarity with
the lacquey of a bloody Despot—sent hither to beg chains
for his country, to purvey for the scaffolds, and bribe mer-
cenary Newspapers? Familiar, indeed! I thank him for
the word, and shall henceforth designate him " the Fa-
miliar of Amiga," St, in all conscience, for a Familiar of
the Holy Inquisition. He moreover, Sir—mark it well—
sneeringly employs the words "adherents to the constitution"
as a term of reproach; as if an Englishman's non-adherence to
that principle did not constitute a traitor. Let the strong
tyrannize the weak; power encroach upon the people;
the scourge of the slave-driver mat tyrize the bodies et
human victims; deny hospitality ; persecute misfortune;•'
league against the freedoms of nations, the liberties of
England,—and this Familiar of Asszca will advocate it all!
Long divorced from natural and manly inclinations, his impudence
is equal to his perversions, that he can thus presume to publish sen-
timents which, if uttered at our private tables would enforce the
ejectment of the unworthy guest, In punishment of his audacity.
—As his neighbour Casing has raised his engine against
religion, so does A•saca's Familiar work his against society.
He would destroy the love of freedom in the ignorant
and youthful reader; he would have slave written on oar fore-
heads; and with him, prostrating us in the dust, would ezuk to
see us lick the foot of tyranny, while be sneered at the wreck of
British Institutions. There is something too rigid, too pure, too
mare, in constitutional Government. Corruption flourishes under
despotism, and be is its friend. Nero was not odious to all;
Caligula and Nehogabishis had their partisans ; Sordampoless
was both envied and advocated; Jialespies-re and Masai•—nay
Burke and Hare, were defended ; and like these, Don Moon.
has the worth of his milreas—ln this Sunday Champion.--Assecit's
Amine.