appeared. She came at length stealthily up, and admitted, on seeing Charlotte awake, that she had been down stairs, having a drop of punch and a cup of tea with the cook, and one or two "boys," cousins of that personage. Charlotte remonstrated with her friend, saying how angry the lady would be at the children being left. Susan admitted this, but "if she had come up, sure you could tell her I only went down to warm a drop of milk for the child, and that you'd run and

call me."

"I'd run and call you with pleasure, Susan; but as to telling any lies about it, it's what I wouldn't do for my own sister."

"Oh, you are mighty nice, indeed; maybe you'd be glad to tell a white lie for yourself yet." Susan afterwards endeavoured to prevail on Charlotte to take advantage of the casual absence of their mistress, and join a junketting party by night. "I thank you kindly for your good nature, Susan," said Charlotte; but my mother charged me on my duty never on any account to leave the child I had the care of to

66

another."

"Well, you must take your own way-I spoke for the

best."

act unknown to her master and mistress. At the same
time, she had a great desire to see the sport with others.
After being long pressed by Susan, Charlotte retired to
the nursery, and sat down to consider. before the young
beaux came to escort the party. "If I wait for the boys,"
said she, it is all over with me; I she never be able to
resist their persuasions and flattery; I'd best take myself
out of the way before they come. And it's what I'll do,"
said she, starting up and running in search of the old
gardener, a staid, prudent man, and very good-natured.
To him she hastily explained the state of her affairs.
go and hide behind the high yew hedge by the garden
"And now, Thomas," said she, "what I'll do is this-I'll
when you hear them calling for me, do you tell them
gate, till the bustle is over, and they are all gone; and
less to wait for me." The gardener promised to obey
that I went out of the way purposely, and that it's use-
her directions; and she retired to her hiding-place, where
three. She was so tired of waiting, that she said to her-
she waited about an hour, which appeared to her at least
self, "They must have gone by though I did not hear
them, and I may go out;" but just as she was preparing
the harpy party, laughing and talking as they passed.
to emerge from her obscurity, she heard the voices of
the distance; and when they were irrevocably gone, poor
She distinguished Mr Davis's voice, repeating her name
with expressions of regret. Soon the sounds died away in
Charlotte's resolution gave way, and she indulged in a
hearty fit of crying.

Having once resisted the temptation, every succeeding trial became more easy to Charlotte, particularly as her fellow-servants soon gave up as vain the attempt to persuade her to join them. But she had trials of another kind. Those who know any thing of young girls must be aware that it is a serious grievance to them, especially if foolish regrets, sat down with her psalm-book before the She at length dried her eyes, and, angry at her own they be handsome, to be obliged to appear in a dress in-kitchen-fire, where the old gardener was smoking his ferior to that of their companions. Now Charlotte had pipe. A knock came to the door, and she thought some determined in her own mind that she would save out of her wages what would help to pay the rent for her mother, that the old gardener was obliged to open the door; at one had returned for her. She was so much agitated, whom she knew to be hard pushed to make it up. To which appeared, not Mr Davis, but a very different sort effect this, it was absolutely necessary that she should of person-the young sailor whom Charlotte had seen purchase for her own use none but the plainest clothes. Meanwhile Susan, always flauntingly dressed, spent her several times at her mother's. He entered with a smiling time in gaiety. By means of great natural quickness, and air. various expedients, she had contrived to elude detection, Miss Charlotte, who brings you news of your mother and "Will you receive a visiter from your own country, not only with respect to her evening amusements, but to family?" said he, producing a letter. many little absences during the day, which she timed so well, that her mistress never missed her. There was scarcely a party, high or low, from that given in the exalted mansion of the thriving shopkeeper or collector of excise to the more humble festivities of the gardener's cottage, which did not boast of Susan as its greatest ornament. Admirers of all classes swelled her train, and she gave sufficient encouragement to each to retain him in her chains. Yet, with all these advantages, it may be fairly questioned whether Charlotte were not in reality the happier of the two; she enjoyed that constant serenity of mind which the consciousness of having performed our duty to the best of our ability produces, and she had not left it in the power of any one to injure her by reports to her disadvantage; while Susan, on the contrary, lived in constant fear lest any of her manœuvres should be betrayed by some spiteful enemy or treacherous friend.

The long wished-for Easter at length arrived, and Charlotte set out with a light heart to visit her friends, taking with her the small sum which she had accumulated by her industry and self-denial. and her little brother and sister, were watching for her Her mother, at the door; and their joy at seeing her, and the widow's surprise and gratitude at sight of the little sum she had saved, amply repaid her for all her sacrifices. A young sailor, who had come up from the shore, where he occasionally resided, to visit a cousin who lived upon the mountain side, chanced to be in the widow's house at the moment when Charlotte entered; and had not her whole mind been absorbed by the joy of meeting her friends, it is probable that she would have noticed him more than she did, for there was something striking and pleasing in his appearance. He was tall, of a fine figure, and, though but a common sailor, he had, by seeing something of the world, acquired an ease of manner and deportment not usual in his sphere of life, while his open honest countenance had lost nothing of the ingenuous expression it bore when first he left his native village. This young man, who was a good judge of beauty, and did not consider fine clothes necessary to make a fine woman, was attracted by Charlotte's rosy cheeks and soft blue eyes, but he was still more struck by the affectionate pleasure he saw in her countenance at the meeting with her family. And when he heard from his cousin of her dutiful conduct towards her mother, and the selfdenial she had practised in the performance of it, he longed to be better acquainted with her he visited her mother's cottage every evening during her stay, and was more and more pleased with her conversation. Soon after Charlotte returned to her place, she happened to go at an unusually early hour to the breakfastroom to seek for some of the children's things which had been forgotten there the night before. As she approached the door, she thought she heard a key turned in a lock in a hurried manner, and on entering, she saw Susan carrying away something in her apron. A lump of sugar, dropped as she went out, showed what that something was. Charlotte had always wondered how her fellow servant, even with her superior wages, could afford tea morning and night, while she herself took stirabout or porridge. A suspicion arose, in spite of Charlotte's desire to think well of Susan; and when the latter offered some of her tea to her early friend, the offer was not accepted. Charlotte also ventured to remonstrate with Susan on the score of the encouragement given by the latter to a squireen called O'Flaherty, a wild young man, and who was even said to have a wife already, though one deserted by him. But the remonstrance was unheeded.

About this time, a young man of respectable station, named Davis, began to pay some attentions to Charlotte, and on one occasion asked her to go to a sort of fair and dance at some distance, where Susan and others were to be. Mr and Mrs Halford were from home with the children, and there could be no harm," Susan said, "in going." But Charlotte had not asked leave to absent herself, and her well-regulated mind shrunk from any

66

My mother? oh, when did you see her-is she well?"
your own hands, and to bring her an exact account of
"Quite well, and commissioned me to deliver this into
your health and welfare; and I assure you I never received
a commission with greater pleasure in all my life. I met
my inquiring for you, they laughed, and said, they sup-
some of your acquaintances going to a great party; upon
posed you knew what you were about, and waited at
thing of my coming. And now, may I presume to ask
home on purpose to receive me. I told them I was not
so happy as to be able to believe that, as you knew no-
how it happened that you did not accompany them ?"
she preferred her duty to her pleasure."
"I will tell you," said the gardener; it was because
The young man looked at Charlotte with respect and
admiration.

Miss Charlotte would permit me to remain for an hour
"I should count myself very fortunate," said he, "if

or two, to talk to her of her friends."

"And so you shall," said the old gardener.
share of it, whether Charlotte asks you or not."
and I are going to our dish of tea, and 1 invite you to take
"Nurse

contrived to make the evening pass so agreeably, that
Willie Hewson, for that was the young sailor's name,
he told some humorous stories with great effect, sung
Charlotte ceased to regret the amusement she had lost;
which seldom fails in attaining its object. From this
several sea songs, and showed that ardent desire to please
hour, Mr Davis's attentions had no longer any chance
of becoming acceptable to Charlotte; neither could her
fellow-servants, by all their exaggerated descriptions of
pleasures she had missed.
the delights of the show, cause one sigh of regret for the

it was well known, had met Mr O'Flaherty, her daily
From the time of Susan's visit to the show, where she,
absences became so frequent, that her mistress's suspi-
cions were at length awakened, and it was announced to
her that unless she was more careful in her conduct, she
must not expect to retain her situation. This intimation
Mrs Halford inquired for Susan, she was nowhere to be
was received in sullen silence, and the next day, when
found. She had been seen in company with her lover
early in the morning, and it was soon ascertained that
they had gone off together. There were various reports
concerning them for some days. It was at one time as-
serted that they were actually married.

Charlotte was now installed in her old friend's place, but
she did not hold it long. Her mother grew so ill, that the
from home. She went home, and, by her kind tendance,
dutiful daughter found herself incapable of staying away
restored the widow to some degree of health; but, alas!
all her exertions could not keep the farm in their hands.
They fell behind with the rent, and lost the ground. Then
Charlotte was compelled to look for some other means of
supporting her mother and the two younger members of
was that of gathering sea-weed on the beach, about three
the family. The only employment which she could think of
miles from the cottage. This weed was sent to Limerick
to make kelp. She spoke to her mother of the plan.
"Charlotte dear," said she, “you don't know what you
undertake, nor the slavery of it. You must be down upon
stay till nightfall; and you'll have nothing to eat the whole
the beach soon after break of day, and there you must
long day but a few cold potatoes or a bit of bread, for
you must be sensible that I could not spare the little girl
to go with your dinner to you, and then you'll have to
come home in the cold and the wet after a hard day's
work; you don't know what it is."

upon the mountains, and was never the worse for it; and
"Mother dear, have not I been out many a bitter day
sure it's not harder on me than upon others; and wouldn't
mother dear, with the blessing of Heaven, I'll begin on
it be worse to me an hundred times to see you want? So,
Monday morning."

but she was strong and hearty, and her health did not
Charlotte found it, as her mother had said, a hard life,

363

suffer. She pursued her work with diligence, even when
winter made it more severe. Nothing occurred to her
worthy of mention, till, one day, a ship came into the
harbour, and a boat from it put William Hewson ashore.
he was sadly surprised to see her appearance indicating
His eye caught the figure of Charlotte on the beach, and
such extreme poverty.

Charlotte Murray ?"
"Do my eyes deceive me," said he, "or do I really see

deed, Mr Hewson. Our circumstances are much changed
support."
Charlotte, slightly colouring, replied-"You do in-
since you were here, and I am doing my best for our

that has such a daughter, and happy the man who gains
It is like yourself, Miss Charlotte; happy the parent

such a wife."

home, he regularly joined the party on the beach; and During the period that Willie Hewson remained at lady's dressing-room so agreeable an occupation, as that of gathering sea-weed on the beach, when thus accomnever had Charlotte found the most delicate work in her panied. But the day at last arrived when he must deproved prospects, as mate to a small trading vessel bound part upon another voyage; he sailed, however, with iming from the shore wet and weary, she saw her little for Guernsey and the coast of France. About a month after his departure, as Charlotte was one evening returnbrother Dicky running down the mountain path with a face of consternation.

what is the matter?" "What is the matter, Dicky?" said she-" oh, speak! "Charlotte dear," said Dicky, "mammy is very bad, very bad entirely-screeching with her mother very ill. Great was the distress of the daughthe pain. Hurry home!" ter; and it would have been greater had not the stormiCharlotte did hurry home, and sure enough she found shelter. He got a seat by the side of the fire, and there ness of the night brought to the cot a gentleman seeking family had not one penny in the house, excepting a poundoverheard a remarkable discourse for such a place. The note intrusted by a cousin to the widow. This note Charmedicines, hoping to make it up afterwards. The sick lotte wished to use in bringing a surgeon and procuring the scene, the traveller caused the surgeon to be sent for at his own cost. The widow suffered much; but the mewoman would not hear of this for an instant. Struck by dicines given to her brought relief, and on the following veller called to see her; and after learning how she was, day she was pronounced out of danger. The kind traasked Charlotte who the Willie Hewson was, whose nouncing himself as a relation of Hewson, just returned name she had invoked in her distress." Charlotte told with a blush; and the gentleman surprised her by an

full cousin," said Mr Hewson. "I know not what he may
from India. "I must see Willie's father, who is my own
be; many a scrape he got me out of in my wild days."
be now, but he was the best-natured fellow that could

many a year, and has nearly lost the use of his limbs, with
said the widow; but, poor man, he is quite disabled this
"And he is still an excellent, kind-hearted person,"
the hardships he went through at sea. But he has the
he maintains his father and brothers, and portioned his
comfort of as good a son as can be in the world, I believe;
Willie. I'm sorry he's absent at present."
spare the money at the time. I'm sure, sir, you'd like
sister, and had her well married, though he could badly

cottage of Willie's father, and still more with what he
Mr Hewson was much pleased with what he saw at the
Widow Murray or her daughter. He promised to renew
heard of the young man from less partial judges than the
his visit when Willie should return from his voyage. This
happened in the course of a few days: the voyage had
been prosperous-the young sailor was in high favour with
his captain. When Willie learned all that Charlotte had
and that is for us to be married before I depart upon
"There is but one thing to be done, my dear Charlotte,
suffered in consequence of her mother's illness, he said—
another voyage; we have enough Low to maintain the
for them when separate, and you and your mother will
two families when joined, though it would be too little
be the means of making my father comfortable in his old
faithful Willie for your protector for life."
days. So no more objections, my love, but take your own

family-you that are struggling to support your father and
brothers, and find it hard enough to do that?"
"Oh, Willie dear, how could I burden you with another

As

"I shall have double strength and courage, Charlotte, been far away upon the seas, the notion that something when once I have secured you mine; for often, when I have might happen, and I might lose you for ever, would come though it may be surmised, can never be decidedly known, across me, and my very heart would sink within me." for it was interrupted by the arrival of the stranger, who How the debate between the lovers would have ended, declared himself happy in having at length an opportu nity of becoming acquainted with a relation who stood so deservedly high in the esteem of his neighbours. Willie's appearance did not disappoint his cousin, who was pleased with the ingenuous modesty of his look and manner. to question him as to his views and prospects in life; and soon perceived that his surmises were just, and that soon as they were in private together, Mr Hewson began in the Widow Murray's cottage," said Mr Hewson," I do to be united to Charlotte was the wish nearest to Willie's not think that you, my young friend, could choose from a heart. better stock; and I for my part should be glad, while I "From what I observed during the night I passed the self-denying honesty and contented industry of that am assisting my relation, to be the means of rewarding trading vessel ?" ledge of seafaring business to make a fit captain of a small family. Do you think you have acquired sufficient know

cheeks glowed with delight; but checking his transports, At these words, Willie Hewson's eyes sparkled, and his he answered modestly

nautical knowledge, and a close attention to the duties of fer you to my captain; but if an earnest desire to acquire "It is not for me, sir, to judge about myself-I will re

discontent; her figure, once so light and agile, was heavy | sympathy of friend or relation, and sunk into the grave
and unwieldy, and her whole appearance gave too much in the prime of life, with the painful conviction that her
colour to reports which had been spread of her having death would be regarded by her children with indiffer-
acquired a taste for spirituous liquors-reports which ence, and hailed by her husband with undisguised satis-
Charlotte had been unwilling to credit, but which a very faction.
disagreeable smell of whisky which pervaded the house
too strongly confirmed.

"Well, and what will you take after your journey, Mrs Hewson ?" said Susan; "a drop of punch would do no harm, and there's hot water ready," added she, rising to call the maid.

"Not any punch for me, Mrs O'Flaherty, I thank you kindly; but, if it wouldn't be too troublesome, a little tea would be the greatest treat you could give me, for it's a thing I don't very often use.'

“ And is that the case, my poor Charlotte ? Well, I
didn't think Captain Hewson was the sort of man to
scrimp you that way! Why, even the wife of a common
labourer sits down to her tea quite regular now-a-days;
and he, that has such opportunities of getting it cheap,
too, to deny you. Indeed, I'm very angry with him."
"Then you needn't, Mrs O'Flaherty. It isn't Willie's

ENGLISH FARMERS' CLUBS. AMONG the information of various kinds which we were able to pick up during a late visit to England, was the gratifying intelligence that there is an awakening interest in agricultural improvement on something like a general plan.

parents, nor the heartfelt satisfaction of the generous fault, indeed it isn't; for though he wouldn't get it the tural societies, which have in various respects proved

way you mean, for fear it would teach him to be a
smuggler, it's often, from the very first, he pressed me
to take it both morning and evening; but I considered
that we were deeply in debt, and couldn't count any
thing our own till we were clear; so I wouldn't be in-
dulging myself, and I got only just what served the old
people, that hadn't their appetites rightly."
|

“ Well, to be sure, every one knows their own business
best; but, for my part, I'd think myself fairly lost without
my tea. The best I have, both green and black, and
coffee, too-so you may take your choice."
"Coffee is very good, and Willie's always telling me
so, but somehow it comes a little strange to me; so the
black tea, ma'am, if you please, being what I'm used to,

Two or three years ago, a great agricultural society was formed, on the model of the Highland Society of Scotland. This we noticed at the time as a thing auguring much good, and we are glad to find that the prediction is so far proved to have been a true one. For some time there have also existed local agriculadvantageous in their respective districts. Other, and more familiar institutions, have at last sprung These are called farmers' clubs, and consist up. altogether of rent-paying agriculturists, it being essential to their existence and utility that no landed gentry, however much they may aid the exertions of their tenantry, shall belong to them. Composed of a class of men of similar pursuits, education, and ability, farmers' clubs are remarkable for an easy and agreeable sociality, free alike from the envy and the scarcely less mischievous veneration which beset a body composed of unequal classes. The institution of farmers' clubs is not exactly a new thing in Britain, for one has been in existence at Hawick in Roxburghshire for upwards of half a century, and we have heard of one or two more in other parts of Scotland. They are, however, new in England, and have spread chiefly in the last and present year; much of the credit of their origin being due, we believe, to Mr Shaw, the present active and intelligent editor of the Mark Lane Express and Farmer's Magazine. The leading object of these associations of farmers, is the diffusing of practical information on subjects in which all are The club meets once aprofessionally interested. month, on an appointed evening, near the full moon;

most cruel devastations. Some children were playing employments which generally occupy the time of those drinking or smoking, we believe, is not generally

|

allowed; but simple refreshments, such as tea or coffee, may be introduced. A chairman is appointed to preserve order, and lead the conversation or discussion to topics calling for notice. A secretary keeps a journal of transactions and of papers read, and an abstract is periodically furnished for publication in the Farmer's Magazine, whereby the various societies throughout the kingdom obtain some idea of what the others have been engaged upon.

The next morning we mounted our horses at an early hour, and, in company with Dr Dyett and R. V. Shew, an influential planter, visited President Isaacs' principal property. I observed a large company of negroes, male and female, at work on the brow of a lofty hill. I rode up to them, in company with the overseer, and found them heartily at work. They were engaged in the laborious occupation of holingthat is, digging holes with the hoe, for the reception of the canes-and protecting each hole (as was necessary on that steep declivity) with a firm embankment. Those who best understood the subject, freely acMr Gurney adds the following piece of information, knowledged that their work was excellent. We afterwhich suggests a valuable hint:"We were glad to wards witnessed similar scenes, and received accounts be informed of the existence of an institution in the equally satisfactory, on the sugar plantations belonging Danish West Indian islands (derived of course from to R. V. Shew and Judge Wigley. The wages of the parent state), which operates most beneficially in these labourers are small, only sixpence sterling per promoting the peace of the inhabitants. It is the day, with a trifling increase during crop time; but I Court of Reconciliation, in which all disputes and was assured that the privileges which they enjoy, of questions of civil right must be submitted to arbitra- a cottage, with good provision-grounds, rent free, and tion, before they can become the subjects of suits at plenty of pasture for their stock, at least double the law. In this court of amicable adjustment, such amount of their wages. The present condition of the matters are almost universally settled. The conse- planters in Tortola is not very favourable, from longquence is, that the legal profession in Santa Cruz is continued droughts, and a consequent short crop; but nearly a sinecure, and can scarcely be said to exist at I hope that more prosperous seasons will soon lead to all. Such a provision would be invaluable in the an increase of wages. This is obviously the best meBritish West Indies, where proceedings at law are a thod of preventing the migration of the peasantry to perpetual source of irritation and vexation." The Trinidad, to which colony many of them have been writer might have added, that such an institution lured by emissaries sent out for the purpose-under might, with equal propriety, be established in Britain, the hope of larger returns for their labour. In the where the protracted and expensive process of litiga-mean time, I am quite willing to acknowledge, that tion is a disgrace to the country.

Mr Gurney next sailed to St Thomas, another Danish island, where slavery happens to be on a much worse footing, and where he could not hear any favourable accounts of the black and coloured population. "There are but few married couples among them-loose and low habits appear to be general. No one can aver that slavery in St Thomas is attended by any one advantage, temporal, civil, moral, or spiritual." But worse than this can be said against the island. "The Spanish and Portuguese slave vessels frequently come to this port to be fitted up for their nefarious * A Winter in the West Indies, by Joseph John Gurney. adventures on the coast of Africa; here they have Murray: London free ingress and egress, without the smallest interrup

After regaling ourselves with a plentiful breakfast slaves upon it. Now, without a single slave, it is at Judge Wigley's pleasant residence on the top of a worth three times the money. I would not sell it for lofty hill, we pursued our course through scenery of L.6000. This remarkable rise in the value of prouncommon beauty-in parts almost of a Swiss cha-perty, is by no means confined to particular estates. racter. There are no roads on this island for car was assured that, as compared with those times of riages-only rocky and precipitous mountain paths, depression and alarm which preceded the act of emanfor journeys on horseback or foot. The wild flowers cipation, it is at once general and very considerable. I are still more beautiful here than in Santa Cruz. The asked the President Crook, and some other persons, great aloo, called the century plant, abounds, and has whether there was a single individual on the island a very picturesque appearance; and there are many who wished for the restoration of slavery. Answer, prodigious plants of the cactus tribe. Pink, purple, [Certainly not one.' red, and yellow convolvuluses, are seen creeping about in all directions; and the splendid pride of Barbadoes' is common. The white jasmine occurs in the hedges; and a small tree, called the panchupan, bears profuse bunches of large white flowers, of fragrant jasming odour. The brown pelicans float about the coast in great numbers; and we were told that the neighbouring low island of Anegada is frequented by the flamingo. At the distance of many hundred yards, when on the brow of a lofty hill, we distinctly saw a shark playing among the waves-an evidence

of the remarkable clearness both of the air and water. Many of the hills are covered with luxuriant guinea grase, and afford excellent pasture for cattle, sheep, and goats. A large proportion of these animals belong to the negroes. The cows are sleek and beautiful, and the milk excellent.

Another day was spent in a boat excursion to the western extremity of the island, in order to visit some of the estates under the care of our friend Isaac Thomas, another of the principal attorneys. In the course of our voyage, the sailors caught some fish, so curiously striped and spotted as to receive the name of lizard' fish; and, on landing, we observed the shore strewn with handsome specimens of the echinus, or sea egg. We found the sugar plantations, under the care of our friend, in fair order. He employs two hundred and fifty free negroes, and assured us that he had not the slightest complaint to make respecting them.' On the examination of the accounts of two of the properties, it appeared that he was decidedly saving money by the substitution of free labour, on moderate wages, for the dead weight of slavery."

As to the staple article of sugar, we found the island in a condition of prosperity. It was supposed that the crop on the ground, which to us appeared heavy and luxuriant, would produce at least the usual average of 7000 hogsheads; and no difficulty whatever was apprehended in realising it. Wa accompanied our friend Burt to Ottley's a well-managed sugar estate, belonging to himself and Judge Wigley of Tortola-where we again examined the process of sugar-making, and again saw the negroes diligently at work, on the day which they usually reserve for their

own business.

The day's wages, in this island, are from 7d. to 9d. sterling per day, besides the usual privileges; but the negroes have no difficulty in earning from 2s. to 3s. sterling per day by job work. Under this system, particularly, they perform a far greater quantity of work in a given time than could be obtained from them under slavery. When we called on our excellent friend R. Cleghorn, a faithful and intelligent stipendiary magistrate, he summed up his favourable report of the labourers of St Christopher's by the following emphatic_remark-"They will do an infinity of work for wages.'

replied, "Charlotte, a good man seeks his reward in the world to come." Joseph then withdrew. It may here be stated, that every succeeding monarch of England, including her present majesty, has followed George 's example.-Croston's Sketch of Joseph Lancaster's Life.

HAL PIERSON'S HALF-CROWN. HAL PIERSON was an idiot, or innocent, as weak persons are called in Yorkshire, who was benevolent y reared and protected by the family of Sir George Armitage. some eighty or more years ago. Hal, though weak of intellect, was extremely shrewd, and even witty at times. He loved money, as all fools and some wist men do. A casual visiter to the family had given him half-a-crown. Hal was delighted; but he had heard in the servants' hall that money makes money, and a vague wish arose in his mind to multiply, if possible, the coin of which he had become possessed. There was a young carpenter, named Robby, who worked by the year in the family, and who, hearing Hal inquire how he might increase his treasure, told him to put it into a hole in the wall, which Hal imme. diately did. It is to be premised, that this poor innocent knew not the comparative value of silver and copper. Robby, taking advantage of his ignorance, and eager to play a trick upon him, changed the coin for a few coppers, with which Hal was at first much pleased; but, by and bye, one of the under-servants explained the matter, and Hal vowed vengeance against the carpenter. Whether he executed it or not, the reader will presently see.

Hal was always ready to do errands, and sometimes did them well. ́ At all events he was no niggard of his time or trouble, when he liked his employer. His This state of things is accompanied by a vast in- will was good, but his power weak. At one time a crease in their own comforts. Our friend Cadman, young lady, Miss Jenny Ayrton, being on a visit at the Methodist minister, was on this station, during Sir George Armitage's, to her great vexation disslavery, in the year 1826. He has now returned to it covered that she had forgotten a rich pair of ruffies under freedom. The change for the better,' he ob- and lappets. Every body was busy; much company served, 'in the dress, demeanour, and welfare of the was expected, and a splendid toilet necessary. Poor people, is prodigious.' The imports are vastly increased. Miss Jenny, in all the sorrows of beauty and eighteen, The duties on them were L.1000 more in 1838 than in addressed herself in vain to the servants for a trusty 1837; and in 1839 double those of 1838 within L.150. messenger to dispatch four miles for these important This surprising increase is owing to the demand on articles. Not one could be spared, until a good-natured At the different places at which he touched, Mr the part of the free labourers for imported goods, little dairy-maid, a simple cowslip of the north, sugGurney took occasion to exercise his religious voca- especially for articles of dress. The difficulty expe- gested an application to Hal Pierson. He could take tion, though, with becoming modesty and good taste, rienced by the gentry living in the town, in procuring a message; was very fond of Miss Jenny; it was a he says comparatively little on that point. At Tor- fowls, eggs, &c., from the negroes, is considerably in- fine day, and only four miles. But Hal had a dislike tola, he observes that "freedom is working well as a creased. The reason is well known-the labourers to carrying a note or letter, ever since a celebrated handmaid to religion." At one time, the island was make use of them for home consumption. Marriage humourist, in the practical joke line, had given him the seat of a little Society of Friends; there are no is now become frequent amongst them, and a profusion a note, desiring the bearer might be rewarded for his members in the present day, but it is interesting to of eggs is expended on their wedding cakes! Doubt pains with a tumbler of hot salt and water. No-Hal know that the moral worth of these good people has less, they will soon learn to exchange these freaks of would have nothing to say to a note; but undertook left a happy influence on a small community of luxury for the gradual acquisition of wealth. cheerfully to go and fetch the ruffles and lappets. It negroes, who are settled as tenants in common on an We had much pleasure in calling at the Moravian was explained to him by Cowslip what they were, and estate once belonging to Samuel and Mary Notting-establishment at Cayon, under the care of Brother he sapiently replied, "I naw Jenny Ayrton wants ham, Quakers of high character. "About sixty years Münzer. It seemed to be admirably conducted: he her handy-cuffs and pinniers." He repeated this ago they liberated their slaves, from conscientious has three hundred children in his school. Another several times to imprint it on his memory. Cowslip motives, and gave them their estate at Longlook, on of their establishments at Basse-terre is equally pro- thought it would be all right, and Hal started. The the eastern coast. A letter of Christian advice, ad- sperous. We visited the school there, and examined whole way, as he went, he repeated aloud to himself, dressed to their predecessors by these pious persons, the children. Their answers to our questions were "I'se come for Jenny Ayrton's handy-cuffs and then living at Bristol, is still cherished by the negroes lively and correct. Crime and petty offences are pinniers." As his habit was never to walk but to on the property, about sixty in number, and held as a greatly diminished since the date of full freedom. dance along, clapping his hands as he went, this sort of title-deed to the estate. We had great pleasure Education in useful knowledge and religious instruc-formed the burden of the song, which helped him on in visiting them. Their land is on the brow of a tion are rapidly advancing. There are nine churches the way. Arrived at the house, he repeated his lesson; mountain, and a considerable part of it is well cultion the island under the Establishment; six Methodist but no one knew what he meant, and, to his evident vated with yams and other vegetables. We held a chapels, and three Moravian institutions. The Mora- distress, he had to go back without his errand. On religious meeting with them in the largest of their vians have 3000 members by birth and otherwise; the his return, he explained that they would not give him cottages, and were entirely satisfied with their respect Methodists 2899 in church communion, besides at any "handy-cuffs or pinniers." Miss Ayrton then able appearance and orderly behaviour. tenders. These numbers include a vast proportion of tried again to make him understand by showing him the population, which is calculated at 20,000." her every-day ruffles; but said that, being in the This must conclude our extracts from Mr Gurney's country, and company expected, she wished her best work for the present. to be sent. He then willingly undertook to return, though he had already walked or danced eight miles in her service. This time he tried hard, and said "ruffles and lappets" all the way; but he chanced to get a fall, which completed the before muddled state of his brains, and when he rose, he had only a vague recollection of cuffs, and that they should be smarter than usual in the country. So he arrived at Miss Ayrton's house, shouting out, "Ruff cuffs and country cuffs." More puzzled than ever, the servants stood in dismay, until, out of breath and patience with his now twelve miles' walk, Hal insisted upon having various articles of the female wardrobe exhibited to him, when, his desire being complied with, he quickly pounced upon the commodity wanted. Having been allowed to take a pair of ruffles and lappets of rich point-lace, which he triumphantly attached to his walking staff, he set out, puffing and blowing, upon his second return to Sir George Armitage's, where he presented himself to decorate her fair person with the result of his sixteen miles' labour. But he had his reward, for Miss Ayrton smiled, and her smile was at that period of her life witchcraft itself, even to such a being as Hal Pierson.

In the afternoon we crossed the water, on a visit to the African settlement at Kingstown Bay. It consists of several hundred Africans, taken out of captured slave ships, and located on a tract of land allotted them by order of the British government. We had heard reports of their poverty and idleness; but these were belied by their decent and respectable appear

ance.

INTERVIEW BETWEEN GEORGE III. AND JOSEPH
LANCASTER.

A church is now in course of building for their use, under the orders of the Bishop of Barbadoes; and a school has been already formed for the education of their children. About three hundred of them assembled, under the shade of a large tamarind tree, and it has seldom fallen to my lot to address a more feeling, or apparently more intelligent, congregation. One thing is clear and uuestionable that the African mind is abundantly susceptible of instruction in the great doctrines and principles of the Christian religion." From this island Mr Gurney proceeded to St Christopher's, with the social condition of which he expresses a like satisfaction. On the morning after his arrival, "I mounted," says he," one of the governor's finished, his majesty said, “Lancaster, I highly approve the anxiously expecting young lady, just in time to

horses, and enjoyed a solitary ride into the country. Although it was the seventh day of the week, usually applied by the emancipated labourers to their private purposes, I observed many of them diligently at work on the cane grounds, cutting the canes for the mill. Their aspect was that of physical vigour and cheerful contentment; and all my questions, as I passed along, were answered satisfactorily. On my way, I ventured to call at one of the estates, and found it was the home of Robert Claxton, the solicitor-general of the colony, a gentleman of intelligence and respectability. He was kind enough to impart a variety of useful, and, in general, cheering information. One fact mentioned by him is highly encouraging. Speaking of a small property on the island belonging to himself, he said, Six years ago (that is, shortly before the act of emancipation), it was worth only L.2000, with the

caster, I have sent for you to give me an account of your
On entering the royal presence, the king said, "Lan-
system of education, which, I hear, has met with opposi-
tion. One master teach five hundred children at the
same time! How do you keep them in order, Lancaster?"
Lancaster replied, "Please thy majesty, by the same
principle thy majesty's army is kept in order-by the
word of command." His majesty replied, "Good, good;
it does not require an aged general to give the command
-one of younger years can do it." Lancaster observed
that, in his schools, the teaching branch was performed
by youths who acted as monitors. The king assented,
and said. "Good." Lancaster then described his sys
tem; and he informed me that the royal party paid great
attention, and were highly delighted; and when he had
of your system, and it is my wish that every poor child
in my dominions should be taught to read the Bible; I
will do anything you wish to promote this object."
"Please thy majesty," said Lancaster, "if the system
meets thy majesty's approbation, I can go through the
country, and lecture on the system, and have no doubt,
but in a few months I shall be able to give thy majesty
an account where ten thousand poor children are being
educated, and some of my youths instructing them."
His majesty immediately replied," Lancaster, I will sub-
scribe L.100 annually; and," addressing the queen, "you
shall subscribe L.50, Charlotte and the princesses L.25
each ;" and then added, "Lancaster, you may have the
money directly." Lancaster oberved, “Please thy ma
jesty, that will be setting thy nobles a good example."
The royal party appeared to smile at this observation;
but the queen observed to his majesty, "How cruel it is
that enemies should be found who endeavour to hinder
his progress in so good a work!" To which the king

Hal wore Sir George Armitage's livery when he chose, for he never was constrained by his kind benefactor, whose motive for keeping him in his household was pure benevolence. Sauntering, as was his custom, one day by the river side, he saw a young gallant riding on the other bank. Hal owed him a grudge for having once given him a pinch of very strong snuff. The young man had no remembrance of the joke or the person of the fool; and he asked him if the river was fordable there. Hal replied, "Yes," "Are you sure? Have you seen any one pass it to-day?" "Troth and I have a maist respectable family, father, mother, and young ones," replied Hal; "they came over right

merrily this morn's morning." Upon this assurance, the young man put his horse to the stream, and though the animal, with instinctive sagacity, hesitated, whip and spur soon compelled him to go in. It was wonderful that both were not drowned. After a hard struggle, horse and rider gained the bank, which Hal no sooner observed than he ran off, to avoid a resentment expressed by menaces both loud and deep. The cavalier made the best of his way to the great house, to prefer his complaint against one bearing the Armitage livery having endangered his life. All the servants were summoned. He could not identify the mischievous one, until somebody suggested the possibility of its being Hal Pierson. Hal was sought for, and brought into presence; but all he could be got to say in answer to his master's queries and reproaches, was that he had seen a very respectable family pass that morning, the grey drake, his duck, and ducklings, and therefore he guessed a goose might do the same. Here was the pinch of snuff revenged.

Hal had hitherto never done any thing very dan gerous; but Robby was now to reap his reward for the dishonest tricks played with poor Hal's half-crown, as well as for a long course of minor teasings and annoyances. For some time Hal had contented himself with hiding the young carpenter's tools, or telling tales of him to his sweetheart, the pretty young housemaid; but Robby at last provoked him beyond what was safe with a being of his order. Watching his opportunity one day, when, as usual after dinner, he took a short nap in the workshop, Hal entered unperceived, and accomplished his purpose. He then returned to the servant's hall. By his exulting looks, the servants concluded he had been in mischief, but thought no more about the matter. Supper time came, and as Robby was a merry fellow, and the life of the party, his absence was remarked. At length Hal observed, "I've played him a bonny trick this time." "Why, what have you done now?" cried the others, crowding round him; "what have you hid now?" "Oh, I've hid his head under the shavings, and when he wakes, he'll be troubled to find it." Misgivings arose from this declaration, and they went in a body to the workshop to see what he had really done, when, horrible to relate, it was found that the idiot had cut off the unfortunate young man's head while he slept, and hid it under the shavings. Hal, who had accompanied them, seemed quite astonished to find Robby dead. He tried to put on the head again, and, on finding that the effort was of no use, purst into tears. His delinquency of course subjected him to a trial, which took place at York, when, his imbecility being clearly proved, instead of committing him for the remainder of his life to a prison, the judges gave him over to the care of his humane protector, Sir George Armitage, in whose family he remained well watched; but his spirits never afterwards rallied. He was often found sitting by the side of a brook, mingling his tears with the stream. He never spoke a word respecting the melancholy event; but no power could induce him to approach the workshop, or take in his hand any edged tool. He pined, and his weak intellect becoming more and more feeble, his health suffered, and he died a premature old man, grey-headed under thirty years of age. The remembrance of Hal Pierson's half-crown survived him, and has become a by-word to express any futilo and wild scheme for increasing money. Miss Jane Ayrton lived to nearly eighty years of age, and, near the end of her days, communicated these anecdotes to a descendant, the individual who now gives them to the world.

WOUNDING THE BODY AS A RELIGIOUS
EXERCISE.

M.D." Boston: 1835.]

Health and Physical Welfare of Mankind, by Amariah Brigham, From Observations on the Influence of Religion upon the WOUNDING or cutting the body has been often resorted to as a religious exercise. This was the custom of the prophets of Baal; as we read-1st Kings, xviii. 28— "They cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them." It is probable that something like this was practised by the Hebrews, as in Leviticus, xix. 28, it is written-❝ Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you." Plutarch, in his book "De Superstitione," tells us that the priests of Bellona, when they sacrificed to that goddess, were wont to besmear the victim with their own blood. The Persian magi, according to Herodotus, used to appease tempests and allay the winds by making incisions in their flesh. Strabo alludes to the practice of the Etruscan priests tearing their own flesh, and cutting themselves in different parts of the body, and of walking on fire.

Under this head, also, I should place the practices of the Hindoos, and particularly those in honour of Shivu, the destroyer. These are, falling on iron spikes, piercing the tongue and the sides, swinging by hooks fastened into their flesh, &c. The following picture, from Ward,

will suffice.

This god (Shiva) is represented in various ways; sometimes as a silver-coloured man, with five faces; sometimes with three eyes and one face. Another image of this deity is the lingu, which is nothing more than a smooth black stone, in the form of a sugarloaf. This is often made of clay, for extemporaneous

use.

An abominable festival in honour of this god is cele- On the following day, in the afternoon, the cerebrated, when many Hindoos, assuming the name of mony called Churuku, or the swinging by hooks sunyasees, inflict on themselves the greatest cruelties. fastened in the back, is performed. The posts are On the first day of the festival, these sunyasees cast erected in some open place in the town or suburbs. themselves from a bamboo stage, with three resting-They are generally fifteen, twenty, or twenty-five cubits places, the highest about twenty feet from the ground; high. In some places a kind of worship is paid at the from this height these persons cast themselves on iron foot of the tree of Shivu, when two pigeons are let spikes, stuck in bags of straw. These spikes are laid in loose, or slain. In other parts, that is, in the neighboura reclining posture, and when the person falls, they hood of Calcutta, the worship of Shivu is performed at almost constantly fall down, instead of entering his his temple, after which the crowd proceed to the body. There are instances, however, of persons being swinging posts, and commence the horrid work of torkilled, and others wounded, but they are very rare. A ture. The man who is to swing prostrates himself few years ago, a person at Kideerpooru, near Calcutta, before the tree, and a person, with his dusty fingers, cast himself on a knife used in cleaning fish, which makes a mark where the hooks are to be put. Another entered his side and caused his death. He threw himself person immediately gives him a smart slap on the back, from the stage twice on the same day; the second time and pinches up the skin hard with his thumb and (which was fatal) to gratify a woman with whom he fingers, while another thrusts the hook through, taking lived. In some villages, several of these stages are hold of about an inch of the skin. The other hook is erected, and as many as two or three hundred people then in like manner put through the skin of the other cast themselves on these spikes, in one day, in the side of the neck, and the man gets up on his feet. As presence of great crowds of spectators. The worshippers he is rising, some water is thrown in his face. He then of Shivu make a great boast of the power of their god, mounts on a man's back, or is elevated in some other in preserving his followers in circumstances of such way, and the strings which are attached to the hooks in danger. his back are tied to the rope at one end of the horizontal bamboo, and the rope at the other end is held by several men, who drawing it down, raise up the end on which the man swings, and by their running round with the rope, the machine is turned. In swinging, the man describes a circle of about thirty feet diameter. Some swing only a few minutes, others half an hour or more. I have heard of men who continued swinging for hours. In the southern parts of Bengal, a piece of cloth is wrapped round the body underneath the hooks, lest the flesh should tear and the wretch fall and be

|

dashed to pieces, but the whole weight of the body rests on the hooks. Some of these persons take the wooden pipe, and smoke while swinging, as though insensible of the least pain. Others take up fruit in their hands, and either eat it or throw it among the crowd. I have heard of a person having a monkey's collar run through his flank, in which state the man and the monkey whirled round together. On one occasion, in the north of Bengal, a man took a large piece of wood in his mouth, and swung for a considerable time without any cloth round his body to preserve him, should the flesh of his back tear. On some occasions, these sunyasees have hooks run through their thighs as well as backs. About the year 1800, five women swung in this manner, with hooks through their backs and thighs, at Kidurpooru, near Calcutta. It is not very uncommon for the flesh to tear, and the person to fall; instances are related of such persons perishing on the spot. A few years ago a man fell from the post at Kidurpooru, while whirling round with great rapidity; and, falling on a poor woman who was selling parched rice, killed her on the spot: the man died the next day. At a village near Bujbuj, some years since, the swing fell and broke a man's leg. The man who was upon it, as soon as he was loosened, ran to another tree, was drawn up, and whirled round again, as though nothing had happened. I have heard of one man's swinging three times in one day on different trees; and a brahmin assured me that he had seen four men swing on one tree, and while swinging, this tree was carried round the field by the crowd."

In the year 1806, I went to Kaleeghatu, in company with two or three friends, to witness these practices; at which place we arrived about five o'clock in the morning. We overtook numerous companies who were proceeding thither, having with them drums and other instruments of music; also spits, canes, and different articles to pierce their tongues and sides. Some, with tinkling rings on their ankles, were dancing and exhibiting indecent gestures, as they passed along, while others rent the air with the sounds of their filthy songs. As we entered the village where the temple of this great goddess is situated, the crowds were so great that we could with difficulty get our vehicles along, and at last were completely blocked up. We then alighted and went amongst the crowd. But who can describe a scene like this? Here, men of all ages, who intended to have their tongues pierced or their sides bored, were buying garlands of flowers to hang around their necks, or to tie round their heads there, others were carrying offerings to the goddess; above the heads of the crowd were seen nothing but the feathers belonging to the great drums, and the instruments of torture which each victim was carrying in his hand. These wretched slaves of superstition were distinguished from others by the quantity of oil rubbed on their bodies, and by streaks and dots of mud all over them. Some of the chief men belonging to each company were covered with ashes, or dressed in a most fantastic manner, like the fool among mountebanks. For the sake of low sport, some were dressed as English women, and others had on a hat, to excite the crowd to laugh at Europeans. As soon as we could force our way, we proceeded to the ten ple of Kalee, where the crowd, inflamed to madness, almost trampled upon one another, to obtain a sight of the idol. We went up to the doorway, when a brahmin, who was one of the owners of the idol, addressed one of my companions in broken English: Moneymoney-for black mother! My friend, not much liking the looks of his black mother, declared he should give her nothing. From this spot we went into the temple yard, where two or three blacksmiths had begun the work of piercing the tongues and boring the sides of these infatuated disciples of Shivu. The first man seemed reluctant to hold out his tongue, but the blacksmith, rubbing it with something like flour, and having a piece of cloth betwixt his fingers, laid firm hold, dragged it out, and placing his lancet under it in the middle, pierced it through and let the fellow go. The next person whose tongue we saw cut, directed the blacksmith to cut it on the contrary side, as it had been already cut twice. This man seemed to go through the business of having his tongue slit with perfect sang and the blacksmith, pocketing the trifling fee given by froid. The company of natives were entirely unmoved, each for whom he did this favour, laughed at the sport. I could not help asking whether they were not punish-directed to the support of a matrimonial establishment. ing these men for lying. After seeing the operation performed on one or two more, we went to another group, where they were boring the sides. The first we saw undergoing this operation was a boy, who might be twelve or thirteen years old, and who had been brought thither by his elder brother to submit to this cruelty. A thread rubbed with clarified butter was drawn through the skin on each side, with a kind of but hung by his hands over the shoulders of his lancet having an eye like a needle. He did not flinch, brother. I asked a man who had just had his sides bored, why he did this? He said he had made a vow to Kalee at a time of dangerous illness, and was now performing this vow. A bystander added, it was an act of holiness or merit. Passing from this group, we saw a man dancing backwards and forwards, with two canes run through his sides, as thick as a man's little finger. In returning to Calcutta, we saw many with things of different thicknesses thrust through their sides and tongues, and several with the pointed handles of shovels, containing fire, sticking in their sides. Into this fire, every now and then, they threw Indian pitch, which for the moment blazed very high. I saw one man whose singular mode of self-torture struck me much. His breast, arms, and other parts of his body, were entirely covered with pins, as thick as nails or packing needles. This is called vanu-phora (piercing with arrows). The person had made a vow to Shivu thus to pierce his body, praying the god to remove some evil from him.

FASHIONABLE SPORTSMEN.

THE Countess of Blessington, in her "Victims of Society," draws the following picture of this class of persons:

"A young man of fashion, for to such only does my censure apply, thinks that certain expenses are indispensably necessary to his happiness. The cost of a wife, he calculates, must diminish the means of gratifying his personal luxuries; therefore he will not marry until he priated to these expensive pursuits may, he thinks, be shall have lost the taste and activity for shooting, hunting, and yachting. Then, however, the funds appro

shooting place in the country, with a train of keepers to How could a young man of fashion exist without a preserve his game, and dogs to run it down, whatever may be the cost? A moor in the Highlands of Scotland for grouse-shooting, it would be impossible to forego. and a party to partake its amusements must be assembled This gratification is obtained at the sacrifice of several hundreds; but the payer has the pleasure of reading in the papers, that he and his guests shot so many hundred brace of birds on certain days, and he is satisfied.

Many are they who frequent the Highlands with little pursuit, are at a loss to know how to employ the twr or no desire for shooting; but who, having no rational months that intervene between the close of the London quently, at the mandate of fashion, scek this mode of season and the opening of the hunting one; conse getting rid of time.

The young man of fashion must, therefore, hunt at Melton; and to do so with decent dignity,' requires an establishment of grooms and helpers that would astonish Nimrod himself, could he behold them; and the bills for which seldom fail to astonish the purses of their owners.

But it is not the horses and grooms alone that consume cooks alone can produce such banquets as they require thousands at Melton: the chasseurs find that French to recruit their exhausted frames, and collect at thei tables the best society.'

During the interminable evenings, the chase of the each biped arrogating to himself the merit that belongs day furnishes the inexhaustible topic of conversation, solely to his more intelligent quadrupeds. Prolix details of asserted equestrian prowess-each narrator the hero of his own tale-enlivened by episodical histories of their