Sentence:  “… No rogue e'er felt the halter draw, with a good opinion of the law, and perhaps my own detestation of the law arises from my having frequently broken it. If this long <WSD>diatribe</WSD> bores you, just say so, and I'll cut it short.” 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  An abusive, bitter, attack, or criticism: denunciation.