table and passed out of the house, leaving his host to muse, as was
his custom on Sunday afternoons, "on the magnificence of nature and
the moral dignity of man."

For the next few weeks Borrow was occupied in searching in out-of-
the-way corners for criminal biography. If he flagged, a visit from
his philosopher-publisher spurred him on to fresh effort. He
received a copy of Proximate Causes, with an injunction that he
should review it in The Universal Review, as well as translate it
into German. He was taken to and introduced to the working editor
{45a} of the new publication, which was only ostensibly under the
control of young Phillips.

In the provision that he should purchase at his own expense all the
necessary materials for Celebrated Trials, Borrow found a serious tax
upon his resources; but a harder thing to bear with patience and
good-humour were the frequent visits he received from Sir Richard
himself, who showed the keenest possible interest in the progress of
the compilation. He had already caused a preliminary announcement to
be made {45b} to the effect that:


"A Selection of the most remarkable Trials and Criminal Causes is
printing, in five volumes. {46a} It will include all famous cases,
from that of Lord Cobham, in the reign of Henry the Fifth, to that of
John Thurtell: and those connected with foreign as well as English
jurisprudence. Mr Borrow, the editor, has availed himself of all the
resources of the English, German, French, and Italian languages; and
his work, including from 150 to 200 {46b} of the most interesting
cases on record, will appear in October next." {46c}