Ills acquittal, besides the reputation which it brought him, was followed by the subscription of a considerable sum of money for his use, which enabled him to remove from Fleet-street to a large house on Ludgate-bill. But when he attempted to resume the business of a book auctioneer, he was even less successful than before. In 1823 he published the results of researches to which he had been originally directed with a view to his defence, in an octavo volume, entitled 'Ancient Mysteries Described, especially the English Miracle Plays founded on the Apocryphal New Testament Story, extant among the unpublished MSS. in the British Museum.' This is a curious work, not at all addressed to the multitude, or chargeable with any irreve rence of design or manner, but treating an interesting antiquarian subject in the dispassionate style of a studious inquirer. It has now been nearly superseded by more elaborate works that have since appeared; but when it was produced it was by far the fullest account of our old miracle plays that had been given to the public. In 1826 Hone began the publication, in weekly numbers, of his Every Day Book.' The sale was large, but his family lied now increased to ten children, and he again got into difficultie's ; the end of which was that ho was arrested by a creditor and thrown into the King's Bench prison. Here he remained for about three years, during which time he finished his Every Day Book,' in 2 vols., and began and finished his Table Book,' in 1 vol., and also his 'Year Book,' in 1 vol. These three works, which may be considered as forming properly so many series of the same undertaking, are full of curious information, and will probably preserve the name of their compiler after everything else be did shall be forgotten.
The rest of Hone's life was a continuation of vicissitudes such as those to which he had been all his days accustomed. Sometime after he got out of prison a number of his friends attempted once more to establish him in the world as landlord of the Grasshopper coffee-house in Gracechurch-street; but after a few years this speculation also failed. He then having formed some acquaintances among members of the Independent connection, became impressed with religious views, united himself to an Independent church, and was persuaded to try his talents as a preacher : he appeared indeed frequently in the pulpit of the Weigh Houso Chapel in East Cheap. He had had an attack of apoplexy eo long ago as in 1815; in 1835 he was struck by paralysis at this chapel; in 1837 he was again similarly attacked at the office of tho 'Patriot ' newspaper, of which he was then sub-editor • soon after he suffered another attack, from which he never recovered; and he died at Tottenham on the 6th of November 1842. We have men tioned his principal works, but he was the author of a good many more. His last publication was, wo believe, an edition of Strutt's 'Sports and Pastimes of the English,' in I vol. 8vo, which appeared in 1838. But shortly after death there was published a work entitled 'Early Life and Conversion of William Hone, a narrative written by himself, edited by his son, William Hone.' Hone was a warm-hearted but mild-tempered man, much misconceived by those to whom he was known only through his parodies, which he probably produced in mere thoughtlessness and innocence of heart. It is evident from the above sketch of his history that the unworldliness of his nature was such as is rarely met with.