1528, we find mention made of this ale; and what is elsewhere called ale is here denominated beer; and the term ale is applied to this beverage, which is "par excellence" the ale of this part of the world. In the parish of Dodbrooke, which is noticed as the first place where this white ale was brewed, closely adjoining the town of Kingsbridge, a tithe, strangely established in former times, is paid by all inkeepers who brew this beverage to the Rector. It has been gradually raised from tenpence, until it has reached the sum of £1. 1s. The bread made with the yeast which works off this white ale, is most excellent, and is not to be equalled in any part of England. It is never bitter, and will keep a long time without becoming dry.

Within a few miles round Salcombe are some of the finest orchards in the world; and from this place many hundred pipes of excellent cider are annually exported to London, Bristol, Liverpool, and other large towns; what becomes of it when there would be very difficult to say, for I have tried nearly every place in London where cider is sold to obtain some at all resembling that which leaves Salcombe-always without success; though possibly the various wine merchants who sell champagne could throw a little light on the subject, if they were so disposed.

There are six handsome smacks belonging to this place, which are constantly employed in supplying the London markets with lobsters and crayfish, obtained from the west coast of France. They are chiefly owned by two brothers, whose industry and perseverance are repaid by a great demand for their fish, and a rapidly increasing trade.

Leaving the town and harbour (which latter is here about a mile in width), the estuary takes a sharp bend round some high land to the northward; and thence continues, in nearly a straight line, to within a mile of the town of Kingsbridge, which is situated about five miles from Salcombe. A mile above the bend just mentioned, is an extensive sand-bank, called the "Dentridge," which is only uncovered at the ebb, when extraordinarily low. This occurs about once a year. Sometimes it is not uncovered for several years; and then only remains dry a few minutes. On this bank are found the Solen Ensis and Vagina, and many rare and

valuable shells.

A few hundred yards to the eastward, and further up the estuary, is a large islet or rock called the Saltstone, which is barely covered at high water. The late Colonel Montague, F.L.S. and F.W.S., the naturalist (author of the "Ornithological Dictionary," Testacea Britannica," &c. &c.), in digging on this islet, discovered the Amphitrite Infundibulum, which he fully described in the ninth volume of the "Transactions of the Linnean Society."

In the same volume, he mentions some interesting additions he made to the British Fauna. Among the crustacea, he particularises Cancer Astacus Subterraneus, a new and curious species, discovered in digging for Solen Vagina, at a depth of two feet below the surface. This gentleman resided at Kingsbridge for nearly sixteen years, and made the greatest part of his collection of valuable and rare birds, and other animals, in this estuary. On his death (which was caused by lockjaw, produced from stepping on a rusty nail in 1815), his collection was purchased for upwards of eleven hundred pounds, by W. E. Leach, Esq., M.D. and F.R.S., for the British Museum, where it very properly now forms part of that extensive national assemblage of curiosities.

In this part of the estuary, many rare and valuable birds are frequently met with; and a gentleman residing in Kingsbridge has made a very good collection of the most rare.

Proceeding up the estuary, we arrive at the town of Kingsbridge, which is clean and tolerably well built. In the parish of Dodbrooke, which is only separated from Kingsbridge by a small stream of water that flows beneath the pavement, was born John Wolcot, Esq., M.D., the celebrated satiric 66 Peter and lyrical poet (better known as Pindar "). He received his education at the grammar school at Kingsbridge, and became an M.D. at the University of Aberdeen. He has the merit of having brought into notice John Opie, R.A., the celebrated portrait painter. In the town of Kingsbridge is the well-known Free Grammar School, founded in 1670 by John Crispin, who was In the year 1691, born there in 1607-8. Mr. William Duncombe, the first master of this school, appointed by Crispin himself, left fifty pounds per annum to a lecturer, who was to preach once on a Sunday, as once a month on a week day in the parish church. He also left ten pounds a year to three poor scholars, who should be educated at the free school in this town; to be enjoyed by them for four years, and help to maintain them whilst at Oxford or Cambridge. The school has been lately rebuilt. There is a shipwrights' yard belonging to some of the inhabitants; but it is not much employed. The scenery here is very inferior to that round Salcombe and the seacoast. Salcombe and Kingsbridge are reached from the Kingsbridge Road Station, on the South Devon Railway; and the scenery, &c., will repay the tourist for the trouble of a visit. C. F. T. Y. Stockleigh Pomeroy, Crediton, Devon, February 20.

well as

TRUE FRIENDSHIP. BY ELIZA COOK.

How many lovely things we find
In earth, and air, and sea,-
The distant bells upon the wind,
The blossom on the tree!

But lovelier far than chime or flower
A valued friend in sorrow's hour.

Sweet is the carol of a bird

When warbling on the spray, And beautiful the moon's pale beam

That lights us on our way;

Yet lovelier Friendship's look and word
Than moonlight, or than warbling bird.

How prized the coral and the shell,
And valued too the pearl;
Who can the hidden treasures tell
O'er which the soft waves curl?
Yet dearer still a friend to me
Than all in earth, or air, or sea.

THE JAY AND THE MAGPIE,

IT IS REMARKABLE how exactly similar are the habits and propensities of birds of the same tribe or family, though of a different species. Thus the Jays of North America are of various sorts, entirely differing from our English Jays in parts, or the whole of their plumage; and yet in their manners scarcely a difference is observable. It is a curious fact, that these and some other birds will just keep out of the range of gun-shot, as if they had learned, either from experience, or by some unknown mode of communication from their older companions, that, provided they never allowed a shooter to come within a given distance, they were quite safe. But the American Jays we are speaking of, have no such knowledge, founded upon experience; as is fully proved by the account of an English officer, who was travelling in a very wild, unfrequented part of North America, where no gunners had ever gone before him, and no Jay could therefore have ever learned the proper distance to keep, in order to ensure its safety. Yet there they were, exactly like our common English Jays; shy and cautious, as if they had been hunted by sportsmen every day of their lives; keeping at a certain distance, with that occasional clatter and chattering so well known to those who have patiently and perseveringly pursued from copse to copse, or tree to tree, a disturbed party of these cunning birds.

At the same time, certain birds of similar habits will naturally, under peculiar circumstances, act very differently; we have an instance of this, in the singular departure of the Magpie from its usual custom of building its nest. Everybody knows that where trees abound, that which is loftiest, or most difficult of access, is chosen; but in parts

where there are no trees, instead of retiring to high rocks, and choosing places not easily approached, they will take possession of bushes close to ne very doors of houses,particularly in those countries where, instead of being persecuted, they are preserved, from an opinion that it is unlucky to kill them. Accordingly, in Sweden and Norway, travel lers are struck by their surprising numbers and tameness; their nests being built in some low bushy tree close to the cottage doors, where they are never disturbed.

The following instance, which fell under the observation of a gentleman when making an excursion in a remote and barren part of the north of Scotland, not only corroborates the statement from Norway and Sweden, but is attended with many other interesting particulars of the sagacity shown by a pair of Magpies. Observing them hopping round a gooseberry-bush, and flying in and out of it in an extraordinary manner, he noticed the circumstance to the owners of the house in which he was, who informed him that as there were no trees in the neighborhood, they had for several years built their nest, and brought up their young in that bush. And that foxes, cats, hawks, &c., might not interrupt them, they had barricaded not only the nest, but the bush itself all round, with briars aud thorns, in a formidable manner. The materials in the inside of the nest were soft, warm, and comfortable to the touch; but all round on the outside, so rough, strong, and firmly entwined with the bush, that, without a hedge-knife, or something of the kind, even a man could not, without much pain and trouble, get at their young; the barrier from the outer to the inner edge being above a foot in breadth. Frogs, mice, worms, or anything living, were plentifully brought to their young.

One day, one of the parent-birds attacked a rat; but not being able to kill it, one of the young ones came out of the nest and assisted in its destruction, which was not finally accomplished till the other old one, arriving with a dead mouse, also lent its aid. The female was observed to be the most active and thievish, and withal very ungrateful; for although the children about the house had often frightened cats and hawks from the spot, yet she one day seized a chicken and carried it to the top of the house to eat it, where the hen immediately followed, and having rescued the chicken, brought it safely down in her beak; and it was remarked that the poor little bird, though it made a great neise while the Magpie was carrying it up, was quite quiet, and seemed to feel no pain, while its mother was carrying it down. These Magpies were supposed to have been the very same pair which had built there for several years; never suffering either the

young, when grown up, or anything else, to take possession of their bush. The nest they carefully fortified afresh every Spring, with rough, strong, prickly sticks, which they sometimes drew in with their united forces, if unable to effect the object alone.

To this tameness and familiarity the Magpie will sometimes add a considerable degree of courage; and not satisfied with driving away intruders from its premises, has been known to attack animals much its superior in size. One of them was seen pursuing a full-grown hare, making frequent and furious pounces upon it; from which the animal at last escaped only by making for a thick hedge, at the other side of which it ran off to some distance from the place where it had entered, without being observed by its pursuer. No cause could be assigned for this

assault.

A favorable trait in their character occurred in Essex, where some boys, having taken four young ones from a Raven's nest, placed them in a wagon in a cart-shed. About the same time, they happened to destroy the young of a Magpie, which had built its nest near the cart-shed; when the old Magpie, hearing the young Ravens cry for food, brought some, and constantly fed them till they were given away by the boys.

Generally speaking, says Dr. Stanley, these birds prefer our northern climates, though they are plentifully spread over the world. In some spots they are, however, very scarce, without any apparent reason. Thus, a traveller, who had been through Turkey, remarked that he never saw a single bird of this species, and had seen very few indeed in the adjoining countries.

PITY, DEAR MAID,-PITY!

TAKE back, dear maid! the blushing flowers
Thy gentle fingers placed in mine,
Ere they recall the vanished hours

When I was cheered by smiles of thine.
Take back-take back thy only gitt

From which my memory ne'er shall part,
For, oh! believe me, it hath left

A lasting impress on my heart.
Take back, dear maid! the fatal prize

That still reminds my heart of thee,
And bids me love those searching eyes,
Mine own, perhaps, no more may see.
Still, let no other fingers press

The gift, thine pressing, made their own,
And I in after years will bless

The love that leaves me now alone.

Take back thy gift, and if, dear maid!
Thou wouldst one rapture still bestow,-
Then let that rapture be conveyed

In bidding Hope's sweet waters flow.
Whate'er my fate in after years,
Though scathed by stern Misfortune's blast,
My heart, enbalmed in hidden tears,
Shall be thy monument at last.

THE PATCHWORK QUILT.

A TRUE TALE OF GRATITUDE.

"Why do you take so much care of that old patchwork quilt, mamma?" said Julia Y- to her mother, as they sat at work together one afternoon.

"Because, my dear, I value it highly. It proves that there is still some gratitude left in the world," replied Mrs. Y ;" and if. you will listen to me, I will tell you the history of it.

"In the town of S- --, in the county of Devon (where you know we resided for many years), lived an old woman, who had once seen better days; but her husband had dropped down dead on board the small vessel he was master of, and she was left entirely dependant on her own exertions for support. Her two children were both fortunately grown up. The son was a sailor; and the daughter had married a carpenter, who lived in town, and had a young and rapidly increasing family to provide for.

"Poor Sally S (for that was her name) had been post-woman for some years; and regularly carried the letters between the town of S and the post town of K——, daily; but for a few years she had used a boat. She managed this so skilfully, and was such an excellent sailor, that she not only conveyed the letters, but also passengers and parcels daily between the two towns; and so great was their confidence in her integrity and skill, that she used to take large sums of money to and from the banks in the market town, for many of the inhabitants of S--; and many persons preferred going in her boat to any of the others that daily plied between S-- and K.

"It happened that a very old acquaintance of Sally's, who had shared her small cottage for some years, died, and left her the little trifle she possessed. To obtain this, advice and assistance were of course necessary; and in all her difficulties your papa was the person she applied to. As clergyman of the parish he was happy and ready to give his assistance to all who solicited it. The present case was attended with a good deal of trouble. Documents were to be procured, copied, and forwarded to various parties; and ultimately the will had to be "proved." All this was satisfactorily managed. The little money was obtained, and put into Sally's possession; your papa of course positively refusing to accept any fee or remuneration for what had been to him a pleasure. This made poor Sally feel very uncomfortable. She could not reconcile to herself the idea of not paying for what had been done for her.

"One evening, a short time after this event, I was informed by one of the servants