VIVE LE SCRUTINY.

CROSS GOSPEL THE FIRST.

BUT what says my good LORD BISHOP OF LONDON to this same WESTMINSTER SCRUTINY this daily combination of rites, sacred and profane-ceremonies religious and political under his hallowed roof of ST. ANN's CHURCH, SOHO? Should his Lordship be unacquainted with this curious process, let him know it is briefly this:-At ten o'clock the HIGH BAILIFF opens his inquisition in the VESTRY, for the PERDITION OF VOTES, where he never fails to be honoured with a crowded audience. At eleven o'clock the HIGH PRIEST mounts the rostrum in the CHURCH for the SALVATION OF SOULS, without a single body to attend him; even his corpulent worship, the clerk, after the first introductory AMEN, filing off to the Vestry, to lend a hand towards reaping a quicker harvest !—The alternate vociferations from Church to Vestry, during the different SERVICES, were found to cross each other sometimes in responses so apposite, that a gentleman who writes shorthand was induced to take down part of the

Church-medley-dialogue of one day, which he here transcribes for general information, on a subject of such singular importance, viz. HIGH BAILIFF.-I cannot see that this here fellow is a just vote.

CURATE." In thy sight shall no man living be justified."

Mr. Fox.-I despise the pitiful machinations of my opponents, knowing the just cause

of

my electors must in the end prevail. CURATE." And with thy favourable kindness

shalt thou defend him as with a shield." WITNESS.-He swore d-n him if he did not give Fox a plumper!

CLERK " Good Lord! deliver us."

Mr. MORGAN.-I stand here as Counsel for Sir CECIL WRAY.

CURATE." A general pestilence visited the land, serpents and FROGS defiled the holy temple." Mr. PHILLIPS.-Mr. HIGH BAILIFF, the audacity of that fellow opposite to me would almost justify my chastising him in this sacred place; but I will content myself with rolling his heavy head in the neighbouring kennel.

CURATE." Give peace in our time, O Lord!" Sir CECIL WRAY.-I rise only to say thus

much, that is, concerning myselfthough as for the matter of myself, I

don't care, Mr. HIGH BAILIFF, much,

about it

Mr. Fox.-Hear! hear! hear!

CURATE." If thou shalt see the ass of him that

bateth thee lying under his burthen, thou shalt surely help him."

Sir CECIL WRAY.-I trust-I dare say-at least I hope I may venture to thinkthat my Right Hon. friend-I should say enemy-fully comprehends what I have to offer in my own defence,

CURATE." As for me I am a worm, and no man; a very scorn of men, and the outcast of the people !-fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and an horrible dread overwhelmed me !!!"

HIGH BAILIFF.-As that fellow there says he did not vote for Fox, who did he poll for?

CURATE. "BARRABAS!-now Barrabas was

a robber."

1

HIGH BAILIFF.-This here case is, as I may say, rather more muddier than I could wish.

DEPUTY GROJAN.-Ce n'est pas clair- tink, Sir, with you.

CURATE." Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord!"

Mr. Fox. Having thus recapitulated all the points of so contradictory an evidence, I leave you, Mr. High Bailiff, to decide upon its merits.

CURATE. He leadeth Counsellors away spoiled, and maketh Judges fools."

HIGH BAILIFF.-I don't care three brass pins. points about that there-though the poor feller did live in a shed; yet as he says he once boiled a sheep's head under his own roof, which I calls his castbillum -argyle, I declares him a good wote! CLERK." Ob Lord! incline our hearts to keep this law."

BAR-KEEPER.-Make way for the parish

officers, and the other gemmen of the

Westry.

CURATE." I said my house should be called a

bouse of prayer, but ye bave made it a den of thieves !"

Mr. ELCOCK.-Mr. High Bailey! Sir, them there Foxites people are sniggering and tittering on the other side of the table; and from what I can guess I am sure it can be at nobody but you or me. CURATE." Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a

man !"

Sir CECIL WRAY.-I am sure this same SCRUTINY proves sufficiently burthen

some to me.

CURATE." Saddle me an ass, and they saddled bim."

HIGH BAILIFF.-Mr. HARGRAVE here, my counsel, says it is my opinion that this wote is legally substantiated accordimg to law.

CURATE." So MORDECAI did, according to all that JEHOSAPHAT commanded him!" Mr. PHILLIPS.-And now, friend MORGAN, having gone through my list of thirty votes, and struck off twenty-six bad, from that number, I will leave you to make your own comment thereon.