That correspondence is now known to be an invention of Croft's.

Borrow accepted it as genuine, and incorporated the whole of it in his story of the Hackman trial.
But after all, the trial which we read with greatest interest in these six volumes is that of John Thurtell, because Borrow had known Thurtell in his youth, and gives us more than one glimpse of him in _Lavengro_ and _The Romany Rye_.

We recall, for example, Lavengro's interview with the magistrate when a visitor is announced: 'In what can I oblige you, sir ?' said the magistrate.
'Well, sir; the soul of wit is brevity; we want a place for an approaching combat between my friend here and a brave from town.

Passing by your broad acres this fine morning we saw a pightle, which we deemed would suit.

Lend us that pightle, and receive our thanks; 'twould be a favour, though not much to grant: we neither ask for Stonehenge nor for Tempe.' My friend looked somewhat perplexed; after a moment, however, he said, with a firm but gentlemanly air, 'Sir, I am sorry that I cannot comply with your request.' 'Not comply!' said the man, his brow becoming dark as midnight; and with a hoarse and savage tone, 'Not comply! why not ?' 'It is impossible, sir--utterly impossible!' 'Why so ?' 'I am not compelled to give my reasons to you, sir, nor to any man.' 'Let me beg of you to alter your decision,' said the man, in a tone of profound respect.
'Utterly impossible, sir; I am a magistrate.' 'Magistrate! then fare-ye-well, for a green-coated buffer and a Harmanbeck.' 'Sir,' said the magistrate, springing up with a face fiery with wrath.
But, with a surly nod to me, the man left the apartment; and in a moment more the heavy footsteps of himself and his companion were heard descending the staircase.
'Who is that man ?' said my friend, turning towards me.
'A sporting gentleman, well known in the place from which I come.' 'He appeared to know you.' 'I have occasionally put on the gloves with him.' 'What is his name ?' In the original manuscript in my possession the name 'John Thurtell' is given as the answer to that inquiry.