spring, and yet dreadfully susceptible of suffering. The 29th of September was the last day on which he made any memorandum. We regret that no dissection was made.

The Gatherer.

sale of the handsome served as a portion to those who were either of disagreeable looks, or that had any other imperfection."-This custom prevailed about 500 years before Christ.

A GOOD CHARACTER. A person of Plymouth wishing to be informed of

other men's stuff."-WOTTON. GROG.-Until the time of Admiral Vernon, the British sailors had their allowance of brandy or rum served out to them unmixed with water. This plan was found to be attended with inconvenience on some occasions; and the Admiral, therefore, ordered that in the fleet he commanded, the spirit should be mixed with water before it was given to the men. This innovation, at first, gave great offence to the sailors, and rendered the commander very unpopular. The Admiral, at that time, wore a grogram coat, and was nick-named Old Grog.' This name was afterwards given to the mixed liquer he compelled them to take; and it has hence universally obtained the name of grog.

SINGULAR NOTICE.-There is painted on a board near Middleton, Lancashire, the following emphatic and peremptory caution:-"Whoever is found trespassing in these grounds will be shot dead without further notice."

AUCTION OF LADIES.-An auction of unmarried ladies used to take place annually in Babylon. “ In every district," says the historian, "they assemble on a certain day of every year, all the virgins of marriageable age.' The most beautiful were first put up, and the man who bid the largest sum of money, gained possession of her. The second in personal appearance followed, and the bidders gratified themselves with handsome wives according to the depth of their purses. But alas! it seems that there were in Babylon some ladies for which no money was likely to be offered, yet these also were disposed of-so provident were the Babylonians. "When all the beautiful virgins," says the historian, "were sold, the crier ordered the most deformed to stand up; and after he had openly demanded who would marry her with a small sum, she was at length adjudged to the man who would be satisfied with the least; and in th's manner the money arising from the

he intended to employ, wrote to a respectable inhabitant to whom he was referred, and from whom he received the following note, the pith of which we have printed in Italics :-"Mr.begs to inform Mr. that he has known for a number of years, and never knew anything wrong of him but that of being an honest and industrious young man.'

SALUTES.-Salutes were formerly fired with the guns shotted, and sometimes not without danger to the persons so honoured. M. le de Montpeusier tells us of an instance in which she was so saluted, to the great discomfort of her attendants, both men and women; and she gives a remarkable one, in which the Forte de la Scarpe, at Douai, fired ball in honour of the passage of Louis XIV., and some of the shot passed near his coach. Whitelocke, in giving an account of some rejoicing for one of Cromwell's victories, tells us, the ships at Portsmouth fired great and small shot on the occasion.

SECRETARIES OF STATE.--Up to James's reign there was but one Secretary of State; but on the death of Cecil, Earl of Salisbury, there were two created, as if no man could supply the place of that able Minister. This reminds one of the promotion of eight Marshals of France on the death of Turenne-a great compliment to his memory, which Madame de Cornuel pleasantly explained by calling the eight new Marshals-Change for M. de Turenne.

THE LATE MR. CURRAN.-Upon one occasion, alluding in Parliament to the general apathy of the Ministry to the condition of the great bulk of the Irish people, he observed, "I am sorry to see that the rays of the Honourable Member's panegyric are not vertical; like the beams of the morning, they count the mountain tops, and leave the vallies unilluminated they fall upon the great, while the miserable poor are left in the shade."

MACHIAVEL'S CHOICE. When Machiavel lay at the point of death he was seized with the following phrenzy. He saw a small company of poor, halfstarved, ragged, ill-favoured wretches, who, he was told, were the inhabitants of Paradise, of whom it is written “Beati pauperes spiritu, quoniam ipsorum est regnum cælorum. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven." After these had retired an infinite number of grave majestic personages appeared, who seemed as sitting in council, and debating upon important affairs of state. There he saw Plato, Seneca, Plutarch, Tacitus, with many others of the like character. And when he asked who those venerable persons were, he was informed they were the damned, the souls of the reprobated" Sapientia hujus sæculi inimica est Dei-The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God." After this, being asked to which of those companies he would choose to belong, he answered, he had much rather go to hell, where he might converse with those great geniuses about state affairs, than be condemned to the company of such lousy scoundrels as had been presented to him before-he would rather be sent to Hell after his death, than go to Paradise, because he should find nobody in Heaven but a parcel of beggars, monks, hermits, and apostles; but in Hell, he should live with Cardinals, Popes, and Kings." Many such stories are falsely told of Machiavel; the oddity of this alone recommends it to notice.

IRISH BULLS.-The Irish papers, in describing a late duel at Waterford, say, that one of the combatants was shot through the fleshy-part of the thigh bone! But this is nothing to the real Irish bull of a man named Hendrick, who, a short time ago, lodged a complaint at the Dublin police office against a comrade named Lawless, for cheating him out of his share of the produce of a set of harness which they had stolen out of a coach-house that morning! Hendrick told his story with great naivette, and mentioned where the harness had been sold, but was quite astonished when the Magistrate ordered him to Newgate. Search was immiediately made for Lawless.

The Rev. Dr. P. visiting a country Clergyman, requested permission to preach to his congregation, which his friend consented to, en condition that

he adapted the language of his sermon to the illiterate capacities of his parishioners, and that he used no hard words. After the sermon was over Dr. P. asked his friend whether he had not strictly observed his conditions? The other replied that he had used several words beyond the comprehension of his hearers, and instanced the word felicity, for which he should have substituted happiness. Dr. P. contended that one word was as plain as the other; and to prove it, proposed calling in "the ploughman, and putting it to him, which was done. Well, Robin, do you know the meaning of the word felicity?" "Ees, Sir," said Robin (scratching his head, and endeavouring to look wise), "ees, Sir, I thinks as how I does." "Well, Robin, speak up." Wy, Sir, I doesn't know disactly, but I thinks it's some’at inside of a pig!"

66

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LIFE IN PARIS: comprising the Rambles, Sprees, and Amours of DICK WILDFIRE, of Corinthian Celebrity, and his bang-up fleton; with the Whimsical Adventures of the Companions, 'Squire Jenkins and Capt. O'ShufHalibut Family; including Sketches of a variety of other Eccentric Characters, in the French

Metropolis. By DAVID CAREY.

representing Scenes from Real Life, designed Embellished by Twenty-one Coloured Plates.

and engraved by Mr. GEORGE CRUIKSHANK. Enriched also with Twenty-two Engravings on Wood, drawn by the same Artist, and executed by Mr. WHITE.

Printed for John Fairburn, Broadway, Ludgate Hill; sold by Sherwood, Neely and Jones; Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown; and Baldwin, Cradock, and Joy, Paternoster Row; Simpkin and Marshall, Stationers' Court; whittakers, Ave-Maria Lane; Humphrey, St. James's Street; and Wilson, Royal Exchange.

PARISIAN ENGLISH. Our old Poet Chaucer laughs at the French spoken, in his days, in London, "After the school of Stratford at the Bow."

The Parisians have probably some such school in their neighbourhood for teaching a peculiar dialect of the English language; and the abundant influx of our countrymen into the French metropolis of late years has brought this dialect into much repute. One often sees emblazoned in large letters, over a shop window, meant probably as a decoy, but more likely, one would think, to operate as a warning to English travellers

"Here they spike the English ;" Which (being translated) does not at all intimate any blood-thirsty intention of impaling our poor countrymen alive, but merely declares that the English language is spoken in the house.

A lady from London, perceiving this inscription over a milliner's door, its import being explained to her, she went in, when having with some difficulty found out which of the Demoisellers it was that was skilled in spiking the English, she attempted to converse with her about a hat which she was trying on. After many vain attempts on both sides, the young French woman at last, observing that the hat was too small, brought out this accurate phrase:

"Is, Matame, he is too little big." In the Rue St. Honorè, a hairdresser has the following captivating invitation :

"Hear to cut off hares in English fashion."

In the Rue du Faubourg Poissonniére dwells a lady named Canraiz, who tells the world, by means of her sign-board, that she is a

"Washerwoman and wash embroideries, lace, gazes, silk-stockings, also household's furniture's in linen table cloths, napkins, and calenders all at one's desire; she will also charge herself of the entertaining the works that is to be done to all sorts of linen for the body, and will be exactly delivered at one's desire."

At the Montesquieu Baths the Englishmen who frequent the place are informed, by a neat card, that

"As for the brothes, liquid or any breakfast, and, in one word, all other things relatives to the services of the bathes, the Persons will be so good as to direct themselves to the servant bathers, who will satisfy them with the greatest attention."

"The Public is invited not to search to displace the suckets and the swan necks, in order to forbear the accidents which may result of is. in not calling the servants bathers to his aid."

"The servant bathers, in consequence of having no wages desire the bathers do not forget them."

The invitations to the minor theatres have generally something to captivate the English, and M. Oliver's bill is remarkable for the style in which he notifies his wonderful performances:

"He shall begin with the cut and burnt handkerchieves, who shall take their primitive forms. The watch thrown up et nailed against the wall by a pistol shot--the enchanted glass wine. The flying piece of money and an infinity of Legerdemains worthy to excite the curiosity of spectators.The handsome Elisina in her trunck&c.-There are to be seen low Automatons, who will dance up on a rope and sall do the most difficul tricks. The Spectacle will be ended with a Pantasmagory who sall be disposed in a manner as not to frighten the ladies."

In books of travels, the same accurate acquaintance with our language is often to be found. General Pillet learnedly remarks, that the lowest. class of our Attorneys are the Petty Fogey. However, this Gentleman's misrepresentation of our language is nothing to his misrepresentation of our manners. He gravely assures his readers, that the Archbishop of Canterbury ordered the following Prayer against the French to be used in all churches (p. 371):

"O Lord all mighty, give us the power to destroy even unto the last man this perfidious people, who have sworn to devour us alive, us thy faithful servants."

But to return to language- -an English epicure is very likely to be disappointed at a Restaurateur's, if he order a beef-steak. Ten to one but the waiter will bring him a bifstick de mouton or a bifstick de vean; for these are dishes common in all the bills of fare; and the fact is, that the French understand by bifstick nothing but a slice of meat, whether beef, mutton, or veal. Of the words roast beef, too, they have an equally vague idea. In Fouret's (a very excellent) Cookery Book, directions are given how to dress a "Ros bif de Mouton." The French bills of fare aro at first sight quite astonishing, from the number of dishes they contain, but the charm in a great measure vanishes when they

are put (as some of them now are) into English. The following items, translated from a bill in the Palais Royal, display a sad lack of the sublime in cookery :

"Pease soup, with some fried bread cut into dice-pigs' foot, crumbled and boiled-young artichokes served raw with oil and vinegar-cold sliced beef and potatoes served with oil and vinegar-a duck's quarter with turnipsfried bits of fowl-picked fowl-cod mashed with oil and garlic-Macaroni not baked sooner ready."

To make up for this, however, in the list of liqueurs to be taken after dinner are the following exquisite compounds: Oil of roses! and perfect love!

CENTENARIANS OF YORKSHIRE. Yorkshire has produced more instances of longevity than any county in England; the cause of which is probably to be ascribed to the salubrity of the air, and sobriety of its inhabitants. The following list of persons who resided in Yorkshire, and attained the age of a century and upwards, is copied from a very interesting and amusing work by Mr. Smeeton, entitled Biographia Curiosa, or Remarkable Characters. We have added the names of two or three Centenarians who have died since Mr. S.'s work was published.

Alice Atkinson, of the city of York, aged 109: died 1749.

Jane Atkins, of the city of York100: died 1761

Ann Armstrong, of Aldborough114: died 1765.

Jane Blake, of North Leeds-114: died 1763.

Margaret Bartlemer, of Leeds-102; died 1765.

Robert Butterfield, of Halifax-102. Who from 40 years industry as a wool stapler, acquired a fortune of 40,000l.; he died in 1781..

S. Brigg, of Hooper Hall, near Craven-100: died 1782.

William Birkhead, of Broock House, near Clackheaton-100: died 1797. Francis Consit,* of Burythorpe, near Malton-150: died 1768. Ralph Coulson, of Grimstone-107 : died 1771.

Margaret Champney, of Carlton102: died 1782.

*He was very temperate in his living, and used great exercise, which, together with his occasionally eating a raw new-laid egg, enabled him to obtain so extraordinary an age.

Mary Cousen, of Wakefield-103: died 1790.

Peter Delme, Esq. of Leeds-104: died 1773.

Mrs. Dawson, of Wakefield-101: died 1798.

Mr. John Demaine, of West-End, Fewstone, Yorkshire-110: died 1820. Mrs, Anne Dawson, of Colin's Cottage, Harrogate-101: died 1818. Mr. Frank, of Pontefract-109: died 1782.

Mary Gummersell, near Wakefield -107. She was mother of 14 children; grandmother to 33; great grandmother to 84; and great great grandmother to 25; in all 156 descendants: she died 1763.

Thomas Garbut, of Hurworth-101: died 1773.

William Gibson, farmer, of Hutton Bush-102: died 1796. Ann Hatfield, of Tinsley-105:5 died 1770.

*

Mary Hall, of Bishop Hill, of which place she was sexton-105: died 1759. Elizabeth Hodgson, of Scampston110: died 1759.

William Hughes, of Tadcaster-127: died 1769.

William Harwick, of Leeds-100: died 1772.

John Houseman, of Sessays, near Trisk-111: died 1777.

Jonathan Hartop,t of Aldborough, near Boroughbridge-138: died 1791.

*James Hatfield died in the same year, at the same age. He was formerly a soldier. When on duty as a sentinel at Windsor, one night, at the expiration of his guard, he heard St. Paul's clock in London strike 13 strokes instead of 12, and not being relieved as he expected, he fell asleep; in which situation he was found by the succeeding guard, who soon after came to relieve him: for such neglect he was tried by a court martial, but pleading that he was on duty his legal time, and asserting, as a proof, the singular circumstance of hearing St. Paul's clock strike 13 strokes, which, upon inquiry, proving true, he was in consequence acquitted.

+ His father and mother died of the plague in their house in the Minories in 1666; and he perfectly well remembered the great fire of London. He was short in stature; had been married five times; and left seven children, 26 grand children, 74 great grand children, and 140 great great grand children. He could read to the last without spectacles, and play at