where sixpence is beyond reason too much, or to horse-holders in the streets; and here those employed are either paid extravagantly, or not at all, or their services are refused. Every one must have experienced again and again the annoyance of applications for gratuities, which it is difficult equitably to make payment of, and the consequent dissatisfaction of one party or the other, or perhaps of both. The instances I have given of the inconvenience of the want of small coins are only by way of specimens, but others will easily suggest themselves. In conclusion, I am of opinion that an abundant supply of silver threepences or fourpences would materially increase the profits of many small branches of trade, and of various humble callings-that it would contribute much to the convenience and contentment of those who have purchases to make, or services to requite, and that any expense of coinage would be far more than counterbalanced by an increase of revenue, from an increase of traffic. I say nothing of the effect it would have upon casual charity, because I am decidedly opposed to the practice; but its greatest merit in my eyes is, that it would improve the market for honest industry.

The following table will show, that by means of a supply of threepenny and fourpenny pieces, any sum, not involving the fraction of a penny, might be paid without the intervention of copper. For the information of those unacquainted with algebraical signs, the sign + signifies with the addition of; signifies less by; and, equal to. Thus, 8+ 2

37 signifies 8, with

the addition of 2, and less by 3, is equal to 7.

People are generally very ready to put up with even intentional injury, when neither preceded nor followed by insult. I recollect a strong instance of this. A man applied to me for a warrant against another for knocking out one of his front teeth, which he up before me. On my remarking upon his loss, he replied, "Oh! I should not have come for that, only he called me a thief." It is useful in going through life to bear in mind that

held

courtesy to, and sympathy with, those we have accidentally injured, ordinarily diminish greatly the amount of reparation required, and sometimes even inspire as much good-will as a benefit conferred.

COUNTRY HOUSES.

When I used to frequent country houses, I often heard complaints made of the difficulty of getting down London society, especially in parts remote from the metropolis. Invitations for a short period, it was said, are not worth accepting, and for a long one, except in particular cases, not desirable. The easiest remedy for this dilemma seems to be for persons acquainted with each other, who reside in the same part of the country, or on the same route, to make out lists of those they would wish to invite, and for what periods and at what times. Then, by a comparison, arrangements might often be made, holding out sufficient inducements, and satisfactory to all parties.

MARRIAGE IN LOW LIFE.

If

A few days since when sitting on the bench, I received the following note from a clergyman:-" W. B. is in custody on a charge of drunkenness. He is wanted here to be married. his case will allow, discharge him, that he may be at church before twelve o'clock." It then only wanted a quarter, so I had the prisoner brought up immediately, and finding his offence was not of a very grave nature, in consideration of the feelings of his intended, I let him go, under a promise that he would return to be judged. He was as good as his word; indeed I am not sure that the police did not keep an eye upon him. It appeared that in order to make the most of his last moments of bachelorship, he had gone with three companions to Astley's Theatre, thence to supper, and was finishing his amusements with knocking at doors and ringing bells, when he was captured at three o'clock in the morning after an assault upon a policeman. From church his wife attended him to the office, and waited, I suppose with anxiety, the result of my decision, which was a fine of five shillings. This is rather an extreme case; but I am afraid that marriage amongst the very lowest classes is in general a very thoughtless, joyless affair from beginning to end. Why it is so, I may on some future occasion endeavour to show.

Now I am on the subject of low life, which may have some interest with those of my readers who know nothing of it but by report, I will here mention a scene I witnessed in one of my rounds alluded to in my last number. On entering an obscure

and dirty court about two o'clock in the morning, we heard a loud laugh from a room in which there were lights. We were informed by the officer who accompanied us, that it was called the painted chamber, from the walls being covered with rude drawings, principally, as I recollect, of ships and portraits. In the room were about eight beds, in each of which was a man with a lighted candle over his head, and a pipe in his mouth, enjoying and contributing to the wit of the party. After talking with them for some time we left them to their mirth. These men were by profession beggars, and were the choice spirits of their order-no doubt as much exclusives as the most select circles in the west. It can only be in a neglected state of society that talent can be so degraded.

SAYINGS.

Many people are dreadfully shocked at anything like insolence. It does not affect me at all; but I have a horror of servility. The former often partakes of the nature of independence; the latter always of that of meanness. I do not mind a man not

ness.

taking off his hat to me; but one that will not put it on, in spite of all I can say, is a great annoyance. I do not dislike a little vanity; it is ever an ingredient in the composition of agreeableBut humility makes me shudder, as being a sort of reptile that I am always afraid of treading upon; besides, like many other reptiles, it is very venomous at times. There is a sweetish, pulpy manner, which I have observed uniformly covers, both in men and women, a bitter kernel. What I most depend upon is a sort of slow, substantial, John Bullish civility.

Few men ever enjoyed marked popular favour for their own merits, but out of opposition to others. The English ladies, who during the war had the bad taste to place Bonaparte's bust in their houses, did it not out of admiration for him, but out of hatred to those who were opposing him.

6

HORRORS OF WAR.

The letter from which the annexed extract is made came accidentally into my hands. It is from an officer to his brother-inlaw. Having shown it to a friend of mine, it appeared in the Times' newspaper, in 1830, with the following preface:— "Though the following extract refers to an event of no very recent date, yet there is something so characteristic in its military bluntness and simplicity, and so impressive in its powerful but unaffected description of the horrors of war, that our readers will, we dare say, not think their time wasted in perusing it."

Camp near Bhurtpore, Feb. 7, 1826. "The Jauts profess to neither give nor receive quarter, and the most horrible sight I ever saw was the following day of the storm: I went round the walls, and found five or six thousand of the garrison lying dead-the artillery-men under their guns, which they had never thought of quitting-the sepoys strewed in every direction, so as to make it difficult to pass without treading on a body. A soldier's blood by this time is as cool as yours, Jack, and you may judge of my feelings by your own, when I tell you that at each gateway there were five or six hundred carcasses, lying one upon another in all the attitudes of death you can imagine a human being to exhibit on such an occasion; and as in sudden death the countenance retains the expression of the last moments of feeling, you might read defiance, fear, resignation, and fury in the same assemblage. The expression of agony and pain was beyond description. These gallant soldiers wore a dress made like an Englishwoman's warm winter pelisse, of two pieces of coloured calico, and stuffed with raw cotton and quilted, which garment was intended to serve the double purpose of warmth and armour, as a sword would not cut through. In consequence, when our people came in close contact with them at those gateways where the enemy could retreat no further, their dress caught fire, and as hundreds fell one upon the other many were burnt both of the wounded and the dead. I was so horror-struck that I could have knelt down, resigned my commnission, and forsworn war in all its circumstances; and I am not very squeamish either, for I have seen many horrible sights in my time, but none like this."

ADDRESS TO LABOURERS.

The following address to a number of pauperised labourers (taken from the Appendix to my pamphlet on Pauperism) was written with a view to particular application, but owing to circumstances was never made use of. It was intended for the commencement of an improvement of system. I insert it here principally for the purpose of inculcating what I conceive to be right notions into the minds of those who, with the best intentions, are apt to mislead the labouring classes, and to uphold them in courses most detrimental to their welfare.

I wish to talk to you a little about your condition, which I would willingly help you to mend.

You ought to be better fed, better clothed, and better lodged. Every labourer in the land should be able to earn sufficient

wages to procure himself a constant supply of comfortable clothing and nourishing food; he ought to have the means of bringing up his children decently, and of teaching them what is suitable to their condition; he should be able to provide against the common accidents and sicknesses of life, and also to lay by a sufficient store to maintain his old age in comfort.

All this he should be able to do by his own industry. There are many things to be considered, and many things to be done, in order to bring about this change. Let us begin with considering parish relief, what it is, and what effect it produces. There is nothing which concerns you more. I dare say you think parish relief is something in addition to wages. You are mistaken-it is chiefly a part of wages, but given in a manner most hurtful to those who receive and those who pay. I will try to make this matter plain to you. Let us suppose there to be two parishes, each containing twenty farms and one hundred labourers, and suppose the labour of each man to cost the farmer 2s. a-day; but that in one parish the labourer only receives 1s. 6d., the 6d. being kept back and put into a fund, to be paid to him upon certain conditions. Suppose, also, that in the other parish at the end of each week each man receives for each day he has worked his full wages of 2s., and suppose that he has nothing farther to look to. You understand, as he does his work, he receives the whole of his wages of 2s. a-day; and upon his wages alone he is to depend in sickness and in health, whether he has work or whether he has none, and for the maintenance of his family, whether large or small, and in his old age he is to have nothing to look to but the savings of his youth. Let us see how it is likely he will conduct himself. As he has good wages he will be able to live well and to work hard;* now, as there is nothing so good for health as hard work with good living, he will seldom lose any time from sickness, or be at any expense for the doctor. As he will have no pay if he cannot get work, he will take care to keep a good character and satisfy his employer. As he will have no allowance for a large family, he will not marry till a reasonable time, and will most likely look out for a wife like himself, who can work hard and manage well. As he knows the comforts of his old age must depend entirely upon the prudence of his early years, he will constantly be laying by part of his wages; and as a steady man generally keeps his strength long, he will be able to save enough to spend his latter days in ease and independence. In such a parish is not this the way that people would generally go on?

* This was written in a country where living is very cheap and wages low.