in the age, and of petty tyranny in a vicious public over those on whom three-and-sixpence gave them the power of censure.

He had not, however, a complete opportunity of judging on the merits of London theatricals, for while he was almost stunned with the applause lately bestowed on a double entendre, and now given to a sentiment of preposterous national vanity, his arm was seized by a spectator, who, having lost his handkerchief, charged him with the theft, and committed him to the custody of an officer, thus putting a suitable conclusion to the pleasures of the day.

The next morning, Maurice was brought forward in a public character as a prisoner at a police-office, whither he was conveyed in company with the lowest and most abandoned of his species. But it happened that the prosecutor, having discovered that one of his own friends had taken his handkerchief in jest, did not think proper to appear, and he was accordingly dismissed, with an insolent congratulation from the magistrate on his narrow escape from transportation. But though the spectators considered him the more guilty from his happily escaping all proof of his guilt, our noble and excellent law, generously acknowledging his innocence, fined him for it the sum of one shilling, and with reluctance dismissed him from her close embrace.

When, late in the day, he returned home in considerable discomfort, but with some satisfaction at the prospect of relief, he was surprised to find the house completely closed, and impregnable to his attacks. However, the sound he created drew together some of the neighbors, who talked a great deal, and disputed for an hour whether it was a hanging matter to break open a house. In the end, Maurice himself forced an entrance, and was astonished to find no traces of inhabitants or of furniture, nor even a

single relic of his own possessions. It appeared that the tenants had packed up and departed quietly in the night; but the neighbors were too much used to such occurrences to exhibit the smallest surprise or disapprobation; and, with the exception of one man, who loudly execrated their conduct, and carried off two bell ropes, lest they should be stolen by any one else, they all departed in peaceable horror at the idea of interference.

The loss of his wardrobe was of little consequence to Maurice compared with that of his hundred pounds, which he had left, as he thought, perfectly secure in a very curiously constructed drawer of his writing-desk, not at all considering that the desk, drawer and all, might be carried off at one fell swoop. Overwhelmed with distress and perplexity, and knowing of no friend to whom he might apply for counsel, he resolved to have recourse to the advice of his fellow-clerks, but on arriving at the office, he found everything in extreme confusion, and in answer to his oft-repeated inquiries was informed that one of the partners had left the country without notice, that it was up with the concern, and that all connected with it must begin life afresh, each as he could.

This was too much, and Maurice almost sank under a blow, which seemed equivalent to absolute beggary. He advertised in the newspapers, and generally found his half-guinea statement crowded into a supplementary sheet, amidst columns of applications from young men, who seemed to have every possible merit, and yet in many instances were contented with mere nominal salaries, or anxious only for employment. Finding these methods wholly ineffectual, he had recourse to personal applications, but generally met with so much cruelty and ridicule, that he considered himself happy in a civil repulse. At length, however, he was so fortunate as to procure the office

"If he does, you are no worse than at present but he may relent; it is worth the trial."

In this state of things he found, as if by a strange fatality, several situations vacant; but the inquiry as to his character was always fatal. To return to Mr. Johnson seemed impossible every succeeding day added to his despair. At length his feelings became intolerable; and he had actually repaired to London Bridge with the fixed determination of committing suicide, when he was kindly accosted by a passer-by, who had observed his agitation and suspected his purpose.

The first words of interest which he had heard for many weeks, deeply affected him; and inquiry easily drew from him the detail of His viroumstances The benevolent

stranger listened with attention, and instead of passing on with expressions of pity, seemed bent on befriending him more effectually; gave him a small sum of money for his immediate necessities; and promising, if he found his statement true, to meet him on the ensuing evening, departed.

At the hour and place agreed upon, both kept the appointment.

"I have to congratulate you," said Warren (for that was the stranger's name); "I have called on your late master, and have ascertained the removal of all suspicion against you the offender was his own son." ""

"God bless you !" exclaimed Maurice, eagerly; "then I may yet hope?"

Certainly, if you mean to obtain another situation in London; but I should rather advise you to geturn to your relative,"

"But might I not succeed here? Surely, Sir, there have been instances

"Of splendid success? Yes; but, compared with the cases of deplorable failure, they have been as one to infinity. To rise unassisted from a subordinate situation, is a miracle; to remain in it, a better sort of slavery. Take my own case, which is a favorable one I have been thirty years in a merchant's office ; I labor nearly twelve hours in the day, and receive two hundred a year. As to a week's vacation, I might as well resign as ask for it; and probably the mere mention would lead my employers to exercise that power which they know to be despotic over a man with six children, destitute of all other resource."

Maurice expressed his acquiescence.

"Fortunes," continued Warren, "have unquestionably been made suddenly, but generally at an immense risk, and often by disgraceful means.

"It was not the desire of wealth only that made me leave the country; I had heard the pleasures of London extolled."

"The pleasures of London ! What pleasures has it which cannot be better enjoyed elsewhere? I leave out of the question those persons who spend a few months of the year in the metropolis, for to them change and the power of choice may give enjoyment; but to those who inhabit it regularly, it is the most miserable place in the creation. Probably, you had heard a great deal of the theatres; but, as far as my own observation extends, there are very few Londoners who visit them twice a year; and, for my own part, I have not done so for a quarter of a century. The only pure pleasures of life are,

domestic intercourse, literature, and religion; and what scene can be more unfavorable to either of them, than a noisy mass of crowded buildings?"

"But those buildings are beautiful."

"The beauty of a scene of labor is absolutely nothing to a man's happiness a gardener is not a whit happier than a collier; what a man sees every day he thinks nothing of; and millions pass the Monument daily, without more notice than they would bestow on a watch-house."

"I believe you are right; for the inhabitants of London seem to leave it as often as they can. Yet, certainly, all classes of men are richer here than in the country ?"

“A very common mistake: London is the poorest place in England, and half the splendor you see is rotten the pride which goes before destruction. All live up to their income, and thousands beyond it, almost from necessity."

"I will return, certainly, and throw myself on the mercy of Mr. Johnson."

"Do so own that you have been wrong; and when, in future, you see any one dreaming of wealth and grandeur, and quitting certain ty for hope, tell him your own experience if he has nothing, let him come to London; but if he is provided for at home, advise him to stay there; and assure him that, if here he may find a larger carcase, he will also find a far greater number of eagles."

"I will write to Mr. Johnson immediately," said Maurice.

"By no means," replied Warren. "If you have any favor to seek, always make a personal application; it is much more difficult to refuse than a written one, and it must be answered one way or another."

Maurice took, with much gratitude, the advice so kindly offered him, and the same evening set out for his native town. His pride, which had yielded to arguments

enforced by immediate distress, returned as the prospect of humiliation approached more nearly; and when he was set down at the Castle inn, he had almost resolved to return again to the metropolis. But it happened that, in taking up a local newspaper, an advertisement met his eye, which turned his thoughts into another channel. It was one of those extravagant scholastic annunciations which excite at once pity and contempt: the boys were to be taught with miraculous exactness and celerity, and no vacations were given but at the option of the parents. The name of the principal was Merivale; and all doubt as to the identity of the person was removed by his seeing him, shortly afterwards, pass the window, shabbily dressed, and driving before him two or three boys not his superiors in appearance.

It is needless to explain how his feelings were affected by the spectacle of a man, bred up in ease and affluence, reduced to the adoption of a profession than which there was none more laborious, and few for which he could have been more unqualified. He proceeded with humility and alacrity to the house of his relative, freely avowed his circumstances, and met with less severity than he anticipated. The anger of Mr. Johnson could not be very inveterate against a man who came to tell him he was right, and to admit himself a fool in having ever differed from him.

It remained for him to make his peace in another quarter; and when he again saw Juliet, he was enabled, by a more extended knowledge of the world, to do justice to her merits.

If she wanted the refinements, she wanted also the vices of the town. She was not elegant nor fashionable; but neither was she affected and vain, or addicted to filthy and tawdry finery; and her appearance had all those graces which peculiarly belong to health and nature. In short, running, as he was wont, into extremes, he be

gan to admire those very defects he had once despised; and having conceived a strong disgust for the Golden City, he consigned it to ut

ter detestation, hated all that reminded him of it, and was really happy in having escaped the fulfilment of his most anxious wish.

In our two last numbers we gave some amusing extracts from the late John Bernard's "Retrospections of the Stage," the best collection of theatrical anecdotes we have seen since Michael Kelly's volumes. In a literary point of view it is far superior to many of the dull autobiographies which have been lately offered to the public, and the author tells a story passing well. We have served up for our readers another entertainment from its pages, of which we think it will be unnecessary to urge them to partake.

THE SIX-BOTTLE MEN." I visited a 66 six-bottle club" but once, and from the headach it cost me, was wise enough ever afterwards to decline an encore: but I remember very well being invited to one which held its orgies at a seaside hamlet, and was very generally attended, with the following highly cheerful inducements : "Will you come over to us, Mr. Bur-nard, for a wake? You'll be mightily plased with the fillows you'll mate there, and plinty of variety for one Sunday night you'll see as merry a set of divils round the table as your heart could desire; and the nixt, more than half will be under the sod, and a set of frish faces will pop into their places. Will you come, Mr. Bur-nard?"

IRISH CALCULATION.

Bob Bowles' landlady was what was termed a "general dealer," and, among other things, sold bread and whisky. A customer entering her shop, inquired if she had anything to eat and drink. "To be sure," she replied; "I have got a thimbleful of the crature, my darling, that

comes ounly to twopence; and this big little loaf you may have for the same money!"-"Both twopence?"-" Both the same, as I'm a Christian woman, and worth double the sum."-"Fill me the whisky, if you plase."-She did so, and he drank it; then rejoined" It comes to twopence, my jewel; I'm not hungry, take back the loaf," tendering it."Yes, honey, but what pays for the whiskey?". "Why the loaf, to be sure!"-" But you haven't paid for the loaf! "_"Why, you wouldn't have a man pay for a thing he hasn't eat?" A friend going by was called in by the landlady to decide this difficulty, who gave it against her; and from some deficiency in her powers of calculation, she permitted the rogue to escape.

A LONG MEAL.

About half-way between the towns of Chard and Taunton was an inn, where I purposed to stop and refresh myself. A short distance before I reached it, a gentleman passed me on foot, of a very comfortable and clerical appearance: he was dressed in black, with a broad-brimmed hat and a silver-headed cane. Having honored my person with a particular scrutiny as he passed, he halted at a little distance to look back at me. This notice, and a tolerably empty stomach, induced me to indulge in various pleasing speculations as respected his character and motives. He is the parson of the parish, thought I, and, interested by my young and hungry appearance, he feels half inclined to ask me to his house, and satisfy my wants. Fancy needed but little stimulus to carry me to the worthy man's table, and conjure up the apparatus of a gas