country has let the time pass by, when good might have been effected through the instrumentality of our clergy. The Methodist dissenters have obtained an ascendency over our infant population. Their habits of domiciliary visitation, their acquaintance with the tastes and peculiarities of the Canadians, their readiness to take long and fatiguing rides, in the discharge of their self-imposed labours, render them formidable rivals to our more easy-going clergy. "I repeat, that it is of the utmost importance to send us men of character and high religious attainments, deeply convinced of the responsibility attached to their calling, and determined that every other pursuit, and care, shall be secondary to the great purpose, for which they are designed, and to which they should be principally devoted." Other observations are made by this gentleman which we cannot so entirely approve. It is evident that the good example of the United States, in which provision is always made for education, is not lost upon the Canadian Government, PRECAUTIONS TO BE USED DURING A IT is still to be regretted that, notwithstanding the discoveries of modern philosophy respecting the electric fluid, and the laws of its operation, no thunderguard has yet been invented which, in all situations, whether in the house, in the street, in the open field, in a carriage, or on horseback, shall serve as a complete protection from the ravages of lightning. Till some contrivance of this kind be effected, it is probable that the human race will still be occasionally subjected to accidents from electrical storms. Such accidents are more numerous and fatal, even in our temperate climate, than is generally imagined. From an induction of a variety of facts of this kind, as stated in the public papers and other periodical works, in the year 1811, the author ascertained that more than twenty persons were killed by lightning, (or at the rate of a thousand persons every fifty years,) during the summer months of that year within the limits of our island; besides the violent shocks experienced by others, which did not immediately prove fatal, and the damage occasioned to sheep and cattle, and to public and private edifices; and it is worthy of notice, that most of the individuals who were killed by the lightning had either taken shelter under trees, or were in situations adjacent to bells or bell-wires. The experience of succeeding years proves that a similar number of disasters of this kind annually take place. It is, however, more than probable, that at least half the number of accidents arising from the same cause might have been averted, had the nature of lightning, and the laws which regulate its movements, been generally known. Seldom a year passes but we are informed by the public prints of some person or other having been killed by lightning, when taking shelter under a large tree, of whole families having been struck down when crowding around a fire-place, during a thunder storm,—of one person having been struck when standing beside a bell-wire, and another while standing under a bell connected with the wire, or under a lustre hanging from the ceiling. a recent shower, should be avoided, because water being as be averted. USEFUL HINTS AND RECEIPTS FOR WARM CHEAP COOLING BEVERAGES.-The water in which cucumbers is cooked may have any cucumber parings or scraps put to it, and be boiled up, strained, and sweetened for a cooling draught. Water with melon the same.-Cook and Housewife's Manual. RHUBARB or rhubarb stems yield, at this season, far more acid juice than it is desirable to have in tarts, pies, or stews of this useful spring vegetable. Drain off what is considered superfluous when stewing the stems, preparatory to making your pie, sweeten this, and keep the syrup to mix with water for a refreshing summer drink, which costs nothing save the sugar. The drink is exceedingly pleasant, and, 1 should presume, perfectly wholesome; but, perhaps, se of the Schoolmaster's medical friends may inform him on the latter subject. BLOSSOM OF THE LIME TREE.—I send you another receipt which, though unknown in this country, is of value. The present favourable season promises an abundant crop of this valuable production of nature's laboratory, of which, in France, every family endeavours to keep a store for the purpose of making an infusion, which is administered with great success in cases of colds or feverishness, in which it has a most agreeable and soothing effect. The process of gathering and preserving it is very simple. When the blossom is mature, it should be gathered from the trees, and spread out on linen sheets in the sun until perfectly dry; a portion of the young and tender leaves of the tree There can be little doubt that a considerable number of such accidents would have been prevented had the following facts respecting the nature of lightning been extensively known: That lightning is a fluid of the same nature, and is directed in its motions by the same laws which regulate the motions of the electric fluid in our common clectrical machines;-that it is attracted and conducted by trees, water, moisture, flame, and all kinds of metallic sub-are sometimes plucked and dried along with the blossom; stances; that it is most disposed to strike high and pointed objects; and that, therefore, it must be dangerous to remain connected with or in the immediate neighbourhood of such objects when a thunder-cloud is passing near the earth. Hence the following precautionary maxims have been deduced, by attending to which the personal accidents arising from thunder-storms might be, in a great measure, preFented. In the open air, during a storm, rivers, pools, and *very mass of water, even the streapilets arising from it may be kept in linen or paper bags. To make the infe sion, a large handful of the dried flowers is put into a teapot, and treated as tea, which being sweetened with a little honey or sugar, is taken hot on going to rest. * It has been generally thought that the cellar is the most secure situation during a thunder storm; but this is true only in certain cases. When the lightning proceeds from the clouds, it is unquestionably the most secure position; but in the case of a returning stroke, or when the lightning proceeds from the earth, it is less secure than the bul parts of the building.—Dick's Diffusion of Knowledge, THE STORY-TELLER. A PASSAGE IN THE LIFE OF SIR H. DE GREY. BY MRS. S. C. HALL. BEFORE young ladies had become the scientific and rational beings they are supposed to be in the present day, and before gentlemen deemed it necessary (as a dernier resort to keep their intellectual superiority, I suppose) to discard good manners by being clubbish, political, and argu. mentative when in their presence; in the olden times, I say the times of stiff satins and high-heeled shoes-Lady Olivia Bulwer was considered a perfect pearl-a peerless union of loves, graces, and virtues; such a being as poets dream of; yet in reality a woman, a very woman! possessing all those dear delightful little whims and peculiarities of the sex, which, however much they may be found fault with, constitute, after all, the half of woman's charms. Nobody who knows any thing of human nature will dispute this. Look as grave as you will about it, it is no less true. Let a woman be gentle, affectionate, generous, and sincere let her, above all, have a warm and tender heart; but if she mean either to please in society, or to cage (not net) a heart into herself for life, let her be a little fond of tormenting, and studiously avoid sameness; suiting herself with lady-like demeanour to the society she joins, and yet enlivening withal by sprightliness and good temper. A little gravity-even a pretty pout-is a pleasing variety; but the former must never be of long continuance, nor the latter deepen into a frown. It is credibly asserted that Lady Olivia Bulwer never frowned; and I can believe it, gazing upon her picture as I do now; that noble brow looks as if formed for heaven's own light to rest upon; and the clear blue eye tells of more feeling-ay, and more intellect also-than one would suppose could consistently associate with her laughter-loving mouth. How nobly that gallant hawk sits upon her wrist! But this is nought. It behoves me to tell how, in the end of the month of May, that fair lady leant her head upon her hand, in her own favourite bower, before which sloped a green lawn, studded, according to the fashion of the day, with divers yew trees, cut into the semblance of peacocks, monkeys, and other animals. Beside her sat her youthful cousin, the Lady Janet Melbourne, a gentle girl, who had hardly numbered eighteen summers, and looked upon her kinswoman who, truth to say, was about five-and-twenty -with mingled reverence and affection. Their conversation proceeded as follows: « When you urge me to marry, Janet," said the Lady Olivia, “you speak even as an inexperienced girl; and yet I must, I suppose, sooner or later, resign my liberty to some lordly man, who will not thank me when the deed is done. My estates are more than I can manage; and methinks that attention to matters of pounds, shillings, and pence, almost unsexes a woman; certes, it destroys the finer feelings of her heart, and leaves her what Iago sneered at-a great mathematician !" "Cousin, cousin," interrupted Janet, "you shall not so slander yourself in my presence: but, indeed, 'tis hard to choose from among so many gallant cavaliers as wait your pleasure. Let us canvass their claims to your affections. What say you to the good Colonel Kinlock, with his crabtree emblem and his noble plaid? I pray you be merry, cousin. I will not say a word of Sir Huon de There, do not look angry, but tell me how you are affected to Kinlock ?" Lady Olivia smiled; and then resuming an air of even more than her usual gaiety, replied, "Would'st have me marry mere kail-brose and haggis? His face and his pedigree are both too long for Olivia Bulwer." "What think ye, then, of the young Irish Peer?" persisted Janet; "the gay young Irish Peer ?" "What! he of the long-tailed family! scores of distant cousins dozens of near relations-ever so many fathers and mothers-O's and bogs--feasts and fasts-saints and sinners pride and poverty! I will sing you their delicious melodies, an' ye will; but affirm truly to you, my own Jauet, that I will never be led to the altar by a compound of shillelahs, shamrocks, and whisky." Janet laughingly continued: "Perhaps you will not be so severe to your own countryman; him whom I call the second Falstaff?" "Now out upon thee for a saucy minx!" retorted the lady. "What! the knight of the beetle brow and enormous rotundity, whose eyes wander unceasingly over the crowded board, seeking what they may devour, even while the mouth is employed discussing the contents of a wellfilled trencher! The very king of turtle! the lord of venison! the emperor of high feeding! He told me the other day that I did not look well crammed. Heard ye ever the like to mention him to me—' "See "Hush, Olivia!" exclaimed the younger lady. through yon trees. There are three gentlemen coming this way. If their wit keep pace with their speed, methinks they might soon win a woman's heart. By their dress I can tell them to be, the Baron of Burlybrook, the young poet of Upton Lea, and the gentle Sir Huon de Grey—all suitors for your fair hand, I suppose." Lady Olivia shook her head, and, after a pause, replied :— "I love to tease that young poet; but, indeed, teasing a poet does not give one, even moderately skilled in the art, much trouble, nature baving bestowed upon him a double portion of nerves and spleen; consequently you have only to work upon his infirmities; to cough, or gently sneeze, when he condemns you to a listener's task-or shrug, or move your chair, or pet your dog; when he expects congratulation loud and lengthened, just seem oblivious, smile, and say, 'Surely in some quaint book I read that tale ;' or, -but Janet, here they come en masse; and, by the mass, a goodly looking trio !" The gentlemen entered the presence with courtly grace, and were received with the courtesy which a well-born gentlewoman never fails to bestow even upon disagreeable guests. I trow, however, they were not all disagreeable; for a colour mounted to the lady's brow, lofty as it was, as Sir Huon de Grey, bending lowly on one knee, touched the fingers of her embroidered glove respectfully with his lips. A gentleman, to my taste, never appears to such advantage as upon one knee, in the attitude which Chalon and Leslie alone can paint. It would be much better than the cut-and-dry bow, or attempt at it, which they make nowa-days, when removing that ugly composition of felt or beaver from their odd-looking cropt heads: it would, I think, be better, and more graceful, at all events, whenever they entered into a lady's presence, to prostrate themselves, as in duty bound. I wish the king would be graciously pleased to bring it into fashion. When he does, I am certain it will be universally adopted. For my own part, I conceive it the very height of ill-breeding for a man to treat a woman as his equal. Sir Huon de Grey was a true-born | words, so softly that they could not be heard even by Sir gentleman, and perhaps too proud of being so; he had Huon. Lady Olivia bowed her head, and Janet proceeded. known the Lady Olivia for many years, and, it was con- "Gentles three, proceed to the bottom of the lawn, and jectured, loved her;-nay, it was even said, she loved him, choose, from out the parterre, each a flower. He who brings although he had never declared his passion ;-but be that here Lady Olivia Bulwer's favourite of the garden shall have as it may, he never flattered her vanity, nor praised her her hand, is it not so, cousin ?" follies; he seemed to regard her more as a brother does a Olivia again bowed her head. sister, and even calmly looked on the attentions paid by « Tarry, tarry!” said the Baron of Burlybrook, in his other lovers to the richly-dowered lady. Many called him usual gruff voice, "What mummery is this! How are we fool for this, but he heeded it not. At this meeting, how-to know but you or her ladyship may elect her favourite ever, there was a marked difference in his manner-an agi- flower on the instant?-Lady Janet Melbourne, I am an tation, an earnestness, that the ladies could not account| Englishman." for. The Baron of Burlybrook at length spoke; and while twisting the long feather of his velvet hat carefully around his finger by way of pastime, commenced thus: "My friend of Upton Lea-for friends we are, despite the honourable rivalship which the love (" adoration" interrupted the poet) of you has occasioned has penned some verses to your beauty, and, if it would pleasure you to hear them, will read them now. I cannot woo in verse; yet we both pray you to decide our fate this day, as our affection can no longer brook the delay with which we have been tortured." « Worshipping, as we do!" concluded the poetaster, unfolding the perfumed paper, from which he read the following lines : "Hail, woman, hail! the star of hope, whose rays "Oh, woman! woman!-soul of love and truth! << I pray thee peace!" said the Lady Olivia, laughing. "Dost think, good Sir Poet, that we do not know our excellences already! Entertain us with a song that is new, if it please ye-not with such a strain as that." "Your attention for one moment," interrupted Sir Huon, advancing from a recess in the arbour, from whence he had marked the group-" Gentlemen, I never presumed once to cross your suit; whatever my feelings were, I restrained them within my own breast. Lady Olivia, I was a pennyless Knight, and too proud to trust to a lady's purse for wealth ;—but times are changed: within a week I have been left a splendid fortune, which, together with a heart that has long been yours, I now tender to you openly." "It little needed your telling it, Sir; for no other would be guilty of the rudeness of supposing a lady would change her emblem for the sake of a man. Hie! and do my bid. ding." "It pleaseth me much," said the poet; " and I will gladly submit to such a test, if those gentlemen will also." "I consent,” replied Sir Huon de Grey. "How can I be assured as to the emblem," persisted the burly Baron. "Out, infidel!" laughed lady Janet; "but I can s sure you a wreathe of her favourite flower is painted on the first page of her private tablets, which the eye of man has never yet rested on." "Enough," growled forth the Baron, as with the post of Upton Lea, and Sir Huon de Grey, he departed. "Are you certain that he cannot mistake ?" said Lady Olivia, as she watched their receding figures. "Quite, quite!" replied the Lady Janet." Once, when speaking of your taste, I told him; and his smiles convinced me he has not forgotten; besides I made a V with my fingers; and after that, you know—" “Ay, girl, how my heart beats !_dear Huon !—And yet it is but half a triumph: I should have liked better, if his love had conquered his pride." "You would not have respected him so much, though; and is not that necessary for love's existence ?-But come, are you not grateful to me for getting you breathing time? The power of speech had left you. Good, my cousin, 1 would not be in love for the world! As I live they are coming, but each has encompassed his flower in a broad green leaf of the giant peony, fearful lest the sun should tine its beauty!" It was a quaint sight to behold the three cavaliers present, on bended knee, to that stately lady, the flowers which were to decide their fate. The lady spoke at first in a faltering, but afterwards in a firm, voice. ""Tis beautiful and fragrant," said she to the poet, as he proffered her a white and fresh blown lily; "but mark, it is cold and stately, devoid of feeling; yet it opens its chalice with proud heartLady Olivia looked astonished, gratified, and confused.lessness to the flirting butterfly, as well as to the industrious She could not reply, but sat, the colour now advancing, now fading from her cheek, when Lady Janet, with woman's ready wit, exclaimed, "Let me decide, let me answer for my cousin. Thus, then, gentlemen:-the Lady Olivia cannot marry you all three, that is certain. Seeing, then, that such is the case, she is willing to give you all the same chance of obtaining her hand." "Janet! Janet !" interrupted Lady Olivia. "Hush! do I not know best? be quiet!" continued the lively girl, as she pressed her rosy fingers to the lady's lips; then, in her cousin's ear, she whispered one or two gentle bee, which proves it to be as undiscriminating as it is vain: moreover, even now the canker shelters 'neath its shade: 'tis not my favourite. "Most noble Baron, thy rose is glorious. I have seldom seen so glowing or so beautiful a flower :-but it is gaudy, and courts observation-it receives alike the homage of the wise and foolish, and bestows its perfume on every zephyr that flirts amid its leaves; it may be called the emblem of voluptuousness, and so it cannot be fit for a lady's bosom." The colour on her cheek, as she extended her taper fingers to take the simple offering (it was but à deep-blue violet) of Sir Huon de Grey, blushed to the deepest crimson-and the delicate flower trembled on its stem. There was perfect COMMERCIAL THIEVES. (Concluded.) a new name, to Messrs. Scotch Ale Brewers; or the Offer of a Swindler's Services. stillness for a moment, which afforded time to the Lady Letter 1st from the Old London Commission Agent, with Janet to draw forth from a silver net, that hung upon her cousin's arm, the envied tablets; at her touch they expanded, and on the first page was a violet wreath, encircling the pretty motto of "Il faut me chercher." Sir Huon repeated, in a voice which, however delightfully it sounded upon the ear of Lady Olivia, appeared (as Lady Janet afterwards declared) " queer and nervous enough at the time," these old lines "Violet is for faithfulness, Which in me shall abide; Hoping likewise that from your heart What did Lady Olivia say? Nothing-positively nothing. She blushed, as I have before stated-she let her hand drop into that of Sir Huon-and then (it is really melancholy to think what fools women, and sensible women, too, make of themselves,) she burst into tears. The Baron of Burlybrook started and stormed; and on the instant offered his hand to the Lady Janet Melbourne, who laughed him to scorn. It is said that the poet forswore the sex-for a time, at all events: certainly the following lines were found dangling on the bough of a rose-tree, which breathed a very different spirit from his former enamoured stanzas. Vainly the muse her favoured son inspires, In vain elicits the poetic spark; If fancy breathe not on the latent fires, The light is gone-the glow of thought is dark. Shall blossom, droop, and perish in an hour." "Oh, most lame and impotent conclusion !" exclaimed the Lady Janet, laughing I hope my readers will not say the same! THE COPPER-LEG CONSPIRACY.-We have been more amused by the following ingenious piece of roguery, than anything of the kind that has occurred for a long while. The scene was the neighbourhood of Canterbury, where an old woman was lately rescued from the police by a man with a wooden leg. This fellow was met at Harbledown last Saturday by two of the city police, when he unbuckled his leg, and ran with it under his arm, showing as nimble a pair of heels as ever helped a rogue to turn his back upon the gallows. Finding his pursuers gaining upon him, however, and having good reasons for not wishing to be taken (if taken at all) with that particular leg in his possession, he practised the same trick upon the constables that Hippomanes did upon Atalanta, not indeed by dropping golden apples, but by dropping his leg. The bait took. The constables stopped to pick up the leg, and were so amazed, that while they stood staring and wondering, he continued running and laughing, till he was fairly out of sight; and he has never been heard of since. The leg, having been examined, was found to be hollow, and filled with all sorts of combustibles, detonating balls, &c.; and, in consequence of information received by the Magistrates, a depot of copper legs (resembled in every respect the one described) has been seized at Copperhaus Sole, in Kent; and it is said that the confederacy of the Copper Legs are trained, organized, and bound by illegal oaths, in the same manner as the White Feet! "Cornhill, London 24th September, 1832. "GENTLEMEN,-I am induced to trouble you with the offer of my services as agent for the sale of your ale, from having been in treaty with Mr. of Musty Hall the pressure of the season obliging him to depart for ScotBrewery, who was on the point of engaging with me, but land, on Wednesday last, induced him to close with an other. I am so convinced of the desire Mr. had to obtain my services, which he preferred over those of 100 competitors, that I have no hesitation in referring to him for his opinion, and even recommendation, having now perfected securities to the amount of L.1,000, which were not ready when he left town. Mr. C of Wharf, and it is from the proba"In consequence of this disappointment, I called upon bility that I may suit you, that he has permitted me to use his name in making this application. I have no doubt that I could at first dispose of forty or fifty barrels a-week after having the best grounded expectation, from the success that a short trial; but I by no means confine my views to that, has attended Messrs. Coldstream and Co., with the first of whom I am acquainted, that I can do as much as they can do, from 4,000 to 5,000 barrels per annum, when I have worthy of your consideration, I will be happy to receive your been as long in the business. Should this proposal be idea as to terms; or I will send you those proposed by Mr. of Musty Hall Brewery, with which I am per fectly satisfied, and which Mr. C- thinks fair on both sides. The references I shall give you for my respectability, integrity, and perseverance, are Messrs. ers, also my intimate friend CJ, Esq., M. P., and many other gentlemen, equally respectable, who have known me for upwards of twenty years. my bank "It would be my endeavour, and, in a great degree, my pride, apart from any consideration of gain, if I should enter into an engagement with you, to promote your interest in every possible manner, and in no degree to be outdone by any other agent. After making those due allowances for a commencement, in a market already, in a great degree, pre-occupied, and the disadvantages to which every &c. W- W- A-,' alias the Old Commission Agent new article is at first necessarily exposed, I am, gentlemen, with a new name." The ale brewers to whom this more than unexpected offer of services was made, being intimately connected with the Scotch merchant, handed over to him their London letter; and he, having asked and obtained permission to be the answerer of said letter, wrote as follows: Letter 1st from the Scotch Merchant to his old acquaintance the London Agent, who had changed his name in expectation of procuring a commission. «To W- W- A—. "Scotland, 27th September, 1832. "SIR,-Your letter of the 24th instant, addressed to my young friends the Brewers, has been duly received; and they authorize me to acquaint you, that, as the quality of their ale is fine, they have hitherto had, at home, a suffi cient demand for all they can make, and therefore, have no intention of extending their business to London this season. "The only way you could make a beginning with my young friends would be in the shape of a regular sale, to a moderate extent, allowing you a discount from the price charged equal to a guarantee commission; and this, perhaps, might lead to a more extensive connexion. "If your connexion in London lies amongst the spirit trade, I would be glad to know upon what terms you could undertake to sell spirits for us upon commission. Since whisky was allowed to be exported to England, we, that is the house with which I am connected, have been accustomed to ship extensively to the northern counties of England, and have long had a desire to extend our business to London, where, we understand, a taste for the finest qualities of West Highland whisky is now springing up. By a judicious admixture of the different spirits made in the small distilleries distributed over the West Highlands, we are confident of producing a quality greatly exceeding anything which has yet appeared in London, where a numerous class of Scotch gentlemen would be glad to procure a genuine supply of their own native mountain dew. You would, therefore, oblige us by stating the terms upon which you would undertake to introduce such an article amongst your I am, &c. numerous customers. "Scotch Merchant." The Scotch merchant being somewhat on his guard against the tricks of London agents, and half suspecting that the person who had begun a correspondence with the young ale brewers, was no other than the agent recommended to himself by Patent Schiedam, was determined to be on the outlook, and to be guided by the advice of the members of a society for the protection of trade, who had done so much to punish fraudulent delinquents. I, the writer of this narrative, being the member just alluded to, encouraged the Scotch merchant to continue his investigation, and in due course I was intrusted with the keeping of another London letter. Letter 2d from the London Commission Agent, under a changed name, to the Scotch Merchant and Scotch Ale Brewers; or a Swindler's Whisky Commission. "To Mr. hear is of such an excellent quality. As your supply will be limited, I shall decline the services of a person who has been many years in the trade, and whom I only intended to engage to make it more advantageous to the brewer, and shall confine myself to the supply of my own connexion, which at present is small. Should I require more than you can conveniently supply, I must obtain it of some other house; but I do not doubt that your means of production will keep pace with my moderate wants. The system of purchase, by the London houses, is adopted, I believe, but I know it is the arrangement of Messrs. Younger and Brown, as I have learnt from their respective agents. If you can favour me with a small cask as a sample of your 581, which is the quality most in request, I shall be better able to know to what extent I shall require a supply, and do me the favour of stating the terms on which you are willing to dispose of it. I am, gentlemen, your very obedient ser vant, “W— W— A—” From the style of the letters intrusted to my care by the Scotch merchant, I was convinced that his suspicions were well grounded, and that his new London correspondent was in reality none other than his old acquaintance the London The circumstance of this agent, under a changed name. agent of many names, charging 4s. per gallon commission, proved that he was altogether ignorant respecting the whisky trade, and that it was possession of the goods, under fale pretences, he had in view. I, as a member of a society formed for the express purpose of protecting the fair trader, candidly told the Scotch merchant that his correspondent, W-T and W- W- A-, was, in my opinion, ola and one person, and belonged to a fraternity of fraudulent traders, who have long infested the country, and been but too successful in their numerous attempts to get goods under an almost innumerable variety of false pretences. 1 advised | the Scotch merchant to cease corresponding with such va gabonds; and I am persuaded he would have followed my advice, had not the party sent one of their secret agents for Scotland to the very counting-house of my friend the mer. chant, who has furnished me with the following particulars. An account of a Co-Partner-Seeking Advertiser; or the Whisky Ale-Tun Seasoner. "London, 4th October, 1832. Scotch Merchant. "SIR,-I have to acknowledge the receipt of your favour of the 24th ultimo, and to inform you that, in the interval between its receipt and the one to which it is a reply, I had formed an agency for the sale of British brandy with Messrs. S and W, chiefly with a view of obtaining their friendly introduction for the sale of Scotch ale to some of their numerous connexions, which, I understand, exceed 3,000 in number. I intend to combine ale, brandy, and whisky, which are very successfur united in the establishments east and west of the Royal Exchange. It is my intention to obtain cellarage, and a small counting-house, if possible, in the most striking and eligible situation in the city; and About the middle of November, 1832, there came ore day if I succeed in obtaining it, I shall have a greater advanto our counting-house a strange gentleman, who inquired tage of publicity than any other house can possess; but 1 if we had any grain whisky for sale, and what would be am happy to say that I shall neither depend on that nor on the lowest cash price. A sample of whisky was shown to my own connexion, which is very respectable and extensive, the stranger, and the price asked was a low one. The but greatly on the kind introduction of Mr. C- who stranger said, that although the price might be a low one informs me he is three or four times a-week applied to for for the quality of the spirit, it was too high for the purpose an introduction to good whisky. He will be happy to fa- to which he intended to apply the spirit; that he was Mr. vour me with a recommendation on future occasions, as, of the Brewery, and that he wanted the from long experience, he knows who is safe to be trusted. whisky for seasoning musty ale-tuus. I told him tha: I I consider this an invaluable assistance, which must lead, considered this an expensive mode of seasoning tuns; that when once fairly established, to the most favourable conI had a friend a brewer, and that, if it was of any conse nexion in London; but, I presume, the best Highland quence to him, I would ask my friend's opinion as to the whisky will come too high for the trade, and that a second, best mode of seasoning musty tuns. The Whisky Ale-Tun or even a third quality will be requisite. If I confine my- Seasoner replied, "I feel much obliged to you, Sir; but as self exclusively to the sale of yours, which I have no objec- I have already tried all the usual methods and cannot suctions to, I have no objections to purchase it; but not be- ceed, I am resolved to try whisky, as I have been told that ing able to judge of quality at this distance, shall confine it is the only remaining chance for sweetening the casks myself to your proposition of the terms under which I could which have stood long unused in the Brewery," effect sales for you. I will engage to sell your spirit, of Believing that the stranger was what he represented bumwhatever quality, at the price you may affix to it, for 4s. self to be, I offered to inquire whether a cheaper article per gallon, you paying all charges, duty, and running all of whisky could not be procured, as quality was no object. risks of shipments, and bad debts, and remit you monthly The Tun Seasoner agreed to call again on the morrow. all receipts; or I shall be happy to hear a proposition from When my friend, the brewer, came to dinner, I stated to yourself, being willing to place our connexion on a basis him that I had had in the forenoon a visit from a neighthat shall give satisfaction to both parties. I trouble you bour brewer wishing to buy a quantity of grain whisky with a letter on the other side, to Messrs. Scotch for the purpose of seasoning tuns. My friend replied, ale brewers, and remain your very obedient servant, "A pretty brewer he must be; for, in the first place, the whisky will cost more than the value of the tuns; and, "W-W- A—.” in the next place, were he to attempt seasoning his tuns with whisky, it would at once check fermentation and spoil the ale." This made me doubt if all was right, and my suspicions were confirmed by the following protection of "Finch Lane, 4th October, 1832. 'Scotch Ale Brewers.' The "To Messrs. A swindler as well as a liar requires a good memory; for, in the previous letter, we find this very agent declaring his connexion to be very respectable and extensive. |