When I told Betty that I wanted to see Hamilton on an affair of great
urgency, she admitted that she knew where he was, and that she had
refused to tell me when I asked her the last time because he had exacted
a promise from her to tell no one.
"But I shall see him," said Betty, "and if you will come back to-morrow,
I'll tell you where he can be found if he consents."
During the last month or two a _News Letter_ had been circulated by
thousands throughout London and Westminster, in which the character of
the king had been assailed with great bitterness. At first Charles paid
no attention to the new journal, but soon its attacks got under his skin.
I was told that efforts had been made to discover the publisher and his
printing shop, but that nothing could be learned save that the sheets
were left at taverns and bookstalls by boys who declared they found them
in bundles in the churchyards.
It was impossible to find even the boys. The bookstalls and taverns were
ordered not to sell the _News Letter_, but the people hated the king so
bitterly that the circulation increased rather than diminished after the
royal interdict, and as the sheets sold for the extravagant price of one
shilling, it was impossible to stop the sale, since every one who handled
them was making a rich profit.
Judging from many articles appearing in the _News Letter_, I suspected
that Hamilton was a contributor, if not the editor.
Pages:
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149