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ture, as Mr. Sharp's "Dissertation on the Coventry Mysteries."

"THE THING TO A T."

A young man, brought up in the city of London to the business of an undertaker, went to Jamaica to better his condition. Business flourished, and he wrote to his father in Bishopsgate-street to send him, with a quantity of black and grey cloth, twenty gross of black Tacks. Unfortunately he had omitted the top to his T, and the order stood twenty gross of black Jacks. His correspondent, on receiving the letter, recollected a man, near Fleet-market, who made quart and pint tin pots, ornamented with painting, and which were called black Jacks, and to him he gave the order for the twenty gross of black Jacks. The maker, surprised, said, he had not so many ready, but would endeavour to complete the order; this was done, and the articles were shipped. The undertaker received them with other consignments, and was astonished at the mistake. A friend, fond of speculation, offered consolation, by proposing to purchase the whole at the invoice price. The undertaker, glad to get rid of an article he considered useless in that part of the world, took the offer. His friend immediately advertised for sale a number of fashionable punch vases just arrived from England, and sold the jacks, gaining 200 per cent.!

The young undertaker afterwards discoursing upon his father's blunder, was told by his friend, in a jocose strain, to order a gross of warming -pans, and see whether the well-informed correspondents in London would have the sagacity to consider such articles necessary in the latitude of nine degrees north. The young man laughed at the suggestion, but really put in practice the joke. He desired his father in his next letter to send a gross of warming-pans, which actually, and to the great surprise of the son, reached the island of Jamaica. What to do with this cargo he knew not. His friend again became a purchaser at prime cost, and having knocked off the covers, informed the planters, that he had just imported a number of newlyconstructed sugar ladles. The article under that name sold rapidly, and returned a large profit. The parties returned to EngJand with fortunes, and often told the story of the black jacks and warming-pans over the bottle, adding, that "Nothing is lost in a good market."

Books.

Give me

Leave to enjoy myself. That place, that does
Contain my books, the best companions, is
To me a glorious court, where hourly I
Converse with the old sages and philosophers;
And sometimes for variety, I confer
With kings and emperors, and weigh their counsels;
Calling their victories, if unjustly got,
Unto a strict account; and in my fancy,
Deface their ill-placed statues. Can I then
Part with such constant pleasures, to embrace
Uncertain vanities? No: be it your care
To augment a heap of wealth: it shall be mine
FLETCHER.

To increase in knowledge.

IMAGINATION.

Imagination enriches every thing. A great library contains not only books, but "the assembled souls of all that men held wise." The moon is Homer's and Shakspeare's moon, as well as the one we look

at.

The sun comes out of his chamber in the east, with a sparkling eye, “rejoicing like a bridegroom," The commonest thing becomes like Aaron's rod, that budded. Pope called up the spirits of the Cabala to wait upon a lock of hair, and justly gave it the honours of a constellation; for he has hung it, sparkling for ever, in the eyes of posterity. A common meadow is a sorry thing to a ditcher or a coxcomb; but by the help of its dues from imagination and the love of nature, the grass brightens for us, the air soothes us, we feel as we did in the daisied hours of childhood. Its verdures, its sheep, its hedge-row elms,-all these, and all else which sight, and sound, and association can give it, are made to furnish a treasure of pleasant thoughts. Even brick and mortar are vivified, as of old at the harp of Orpheus. A metropolis becomes no longer a mere collection of houses or of trades. It puts on all the grandeur of its history, and its literature; its towers, and rivers; its art, and jewellery, and foreign wealth; its multitude of human beings all intent upon excitement, wise or yet to learn; the huge and sullen dignity of its canopy of smoke by day; the wide gleam upwards of its lighted lustre at night.. time; and the noise of its many chariots, heard, at the same hour, when the wind sets gently towards some quiet suburb.-Leigh Hunt.

ACTORS.

Madame Rollan, who died in 1785, in the seventy-fifth year of her age, was a principal dancer on Covent-garden stage in

1731, and followed her profession, by private teaching, to the last year of her life. She had so much celebrity in her day, that having one evening sprained her ancle, no less an actor than Quin was ordered by the manager to make an apology to the audience for her not appearing in the dance. Quin, who looked upon all dancers as "the mere garnish of the stage," at first demurred; but being threatened with a forfeiture, he growlingly came forward, and in his coarse way thus addressed the audience: "Ladies and Gentlemen,

"I am desired by the manager to inform you, that the dance intended for this night is obliged to be postponed, on account of mademoiselle Rollan having dislocated her ancle: I wish it had been her neck.”

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some time after the frost has entirely subsided, they will be found not to have sustained the slightest injury. This is on account of their not having been exposed to a sudden change, and thawing gradually.

A person inspecting his potato heap, which had been covered with turf, found them so frozen, that, on being moved, they rattled like stones: he deemed them irtecoverably lost, and, replacing the turf, left them, as he thought, to their fate. He was not less surprised than pleased, a considerable time afterwards, when he discovered that his potatoes, which he had given up for lost, had not suffered the least detriment, but were, in all respects, remarkably fine, except a few near the spot which had been uncovered. If farmers keep their heaps covered till the frost entirely disappears, they will find their patience amply

rewarded.

London.

LOST CHILDREN.

The Gresham committee having humanely provided a means of leading to the discovery of lost or strayed children, the following is a copy of the bill, issued in consequence of their regulation :—

TO THE PUBLIC.

London.

If persons who have lost a child, or may found one, in the streets, will go with a written notice to the Royal Exchange, they will find boards fixed up near the medicine notices, (free of expense.) By fixing their shop, for the purpose of posting up such notice at this place, it is probable the child will be restored to its afflicted parents on the same day it may have been missed. The children, of course, are to be taken care of in the parish where they are found, until their homes are discovered.

From the success which has, within a short time, been found to result from the immediate posting up notices of this sort, there can be little doubt, when the knowledge of the above-mentioned boards is general, but that many children will be speedily restored. It is recommended that a bellman be sent round the neighbourhood, as heretofore has been usually done.

Persons on receiving this paper are requested to fix it up in their shop-window, or other conspicuous place.

The managers of Spa - fields chapel improving upon the above hint, caused

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For every parcel above 14 lbs. which they may have to bring back, they are allowed half the above fares.

A ticket porter not to take more than one ob at a time, penalty 2s. 6d. Seven, or more, rulers of the society, to constitute a court.

The governor of the society, with the court of rulers, to make regulations, and annex reasonable penalties for the breach thereof, not exceeding 20s. for each offence, or three months' suspension. They may discharge porters who persist in breach of their orders.

The court of rulers to hear and determine complaints in absence of the governor. Any porter charging more than his regular fare, finable on conviction to the extent of 20s., by the governor, or the court of rulers.

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Persons employing any one within the city, except their own servants or ticket porters, are liable to be prosecuted.

Manners.

OLIVER CROmwell.

The following is an extract from one of Richard Symons's Pocket-books, preserved amongst the Harleian MSS. in the British Museum, No. 991. "At the marriage of

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mended, by their birth and services, to "2d Class. I am thirty years of age, a

the emperor Maximilian II., both courted his daughter, the fair Helene Scharfequinn, in marriage. This prince, after a long delay, one day informed them, that esteeming them equally, and not being able to bestow a preference, he should leave it to the force and address of the claimants to decide the question. He did not mean, however, to risk the loss of one or the other, or perhaps of both. He could not, therefore, permit them to encounter with offensive weapons, but had ordered a large bag to be produced. It was his decree, that whichever succeeded in putting his rival into this bag should obtain the hand of his daughter. This singular encounter between the two gentlemen took place in the face of the whole court. The contest lasted for more than an hour. At length the Spaniard yielded, and the German, Ehberhard, baron de Talbert, having planted his rival in the bag, took it upon his back, and very gallantly laid it at the feet of his mistress, whom he espoused the next day.

Such is the story, as gravely told by M. de St. Foix. It is impossible to say what the feelings of a successful combatant in a duel may be, on his having passed a small sword through the body, or a bullet through the thorax, of his antagonist; but might he not feel quite as elated, and more consoled, on having put is adversary “into a bag?"

"A NEW MATRIMONIAL PLAN."

This is the title of a bill printed and distributed four or five years ago, and now before me, advertising 66 an establishment where persons of all classes, who are anxious to sweeten life, by repairing to the altar of Hymen, have an opportunity of meeting with proper partners." The "plan" says, "their personal attendance is not absolutely necessary, a statement of facts is ali that is required at first." The method is simply this, for the parties to become subscribers, the amount to be regulated according to circumstances, and that they should be arranged in classes in the following order, viz.

"Ladies.

1st Class. I am twenty years of age, heiress to an estate in the county of Essex of the value of 30,000l., well educated, and of domestic habits; of an agreeable, lively disposition and genteel figure. Religion that of my future husband.

widow, in the grocery line in London-have children; of middle stature, full made, fair complexion and hair, temper agreeable, worth 3,000%.

"3d Class. I am tall and thin, a little lame in the hip, of a lively disposition, conversable, twenty years of age, live with my father, who, if I marry with his consent, will give me 1,0001.

"4th Class. I am twenty years of

age; mild disposition and manners; allowed to be personable. "5th Class. I am sixty years of age; income limited; active, and rather agreeable.

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"4th

of home.

Class. I am fifty-eight years of age; a widower, without incumbrance; retired from business upon a small income; healthy constitution; and of domestic habits. "5th Class. I am twenty-five years of age; a mechanic, of sober habits; industrious, and of respectable connections.

"It is presumed that the public will not find any difficulty in describing themselves; if they should, they will have the assistance. of the managers, who will be in attendance at the office, No. 5, Great St. Helen's, Bishopgate-street, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, between the hours of eleven and three o'clock.-Please to inquire for Mr. Jameson, up one pair of stairs. All letters to be post paid.

"The subscribers are to be furnished

with a list of descriptions, and when one occurs likely to suit, the parties may correspond; and if mutually approved, the interview may be afterwards arranged. Further particulars may be had as above."

Such a strange device in our own time, for catching would-be lovers, seems incredible, and yet here is the printed plan, with the name and address of the match-making gentleman you are to inquire for "up one pair of stairs."

Topographical Memoranda.

CLERICAL LONGEVITY.

The following is an authentic account, from the Antiquarian Repertory," of the incumbents of a vicarage near Bridgenorth in Shropshire. Its annual revenue, till the death of the last incumbent here mentioned, was not more than about seventy pounds per annum, although it is a very large and populous parish, containing at least twenty hamlets or townships, and is scarcely any where less than four or five miles in diameter. By a peculiar idiom in that country, the inhabitants of this large district are said to live "in Worfield-home:" and the adjacent, or not far distant, parishes (each of them containing, in like manner, many townships, or hamlets) are called Claverly, or Clarely-home, Tatnall-home, Womburnhome, or, as the terminating word is every where pronounced in that neighbourhood, "whome."

"A list of the vicars of Worfield in the diocese of Lichfield and Coventry, and in the county of Salop, from 1564 to 1763, viz.

"Demerick, vicar, last popish priest, conformed during the six first years of Elizabeth. He died 1564. Barney, vicar 44 years; died 1608. Barney, vicar 56 years; died 1664. Hancocks, vicar 42 years; died 1707. Adamson, vicar 55 years: died 1763. Only 4 vicars in 199 years."

SPELLING FOR A WAKE. Proclamation was made a few years ago, at Tewkesbury, from a written paper, of which the following is a copy :

"HOBNAIL'S WAKE-This his to give notis on Tusday next-a Hat to be playd at bac sord fore. Two Belts to be tuseld

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To name each beauty in my rhyme
Would prove a vain endeavour,
I'll therefore sing that cloudless clime
Where Summer sets for ever;
Where ever dwells the Age of Gold
In fertile vales and sunny,
Which, like the promis'd land of old,
O'erflows with milk and honey;
O the counties, &c.

But O! to crown my county's worth,
What all the rest surpasses,
There's not a spot in all the earth

Can boast such lovely lasses; There's not a spot beneath the sun Where hearts are open'd wider,

fore. A plum cack to be gump in bags Then let us toast them every one, fowr. A pond of backer to be bold for, and a showl to danc lot by wimen."

In bowls of native cider;

O the counties, &c.

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