descended to a falsehood, to relieve the oppression I felt at the moment: but truth served the purpose better, by presenting me a scene I should have lost had I departed unknown.

A rapid survey of the countenance of the Jones's convinced me that the vicar's partiality had carried him a great length in his character of them: not a face in the group but was distinguished by traits of sourness; and indeed the children would have greatly belied their parents had this not been the case. The repetion of Mr. Jones's bow seeming to ask the nature of my visit, I collected all my courage to stand the result of my confession, and, before I gave the vicar's letter, endeavoured to soften the impres sion of its contents, by making the best excuse I could for my abrupt appearance; "Sir," I said, " Ï blush for the mistake, I have occasioned-"” " pray make no apology, Sir;" cried Mrs. Jones with a smirking air-"won't you take a seat?" this misplaced civility was like a clap of thunder on my ears, I could have sunk into the floor-I wished my mourning suit at Jericho. "Madam," said I, "I am more and more confounded by your condescension, and scarcely, now, can bring myself to tell you that I come recommended to you a servant."

The electric fluid itself is not more rapid in communication, than the fire of low pride. The change of countenance was instantaneous through the whole circle; Mrs. Jones plumped herself down on her seat, the eldest daughters followed their mamma's example, whispering and giggling; a younger

daughter about fourteen, stooped as if to pick up something off the carpet, and in rising, slid herself on her chair as if ashamed that she had quitted it; and the father, knitting his brows, continued surveying me from head to foot, while I strove to extricate myself from my embarrassment as well as I could; and I thought the best way was to present Mr. Whitaker's letter at once. Before I could get it out of my pocket, however, Mr. Jones vociferated;

upon my word, Sir, your presuming to thrust yourself into the room is no great recommendation." I declared it was accidental. "It cannot be," said Mrs. Jones, "there are people enough about the house. My dear Mr. Jones, this fellow is an imposture; he neither looks nor speaks like a servant." I appealed to the letter which I now gave to Mr. Jones, to remove the lady's suspicion of imposture, but far from having that effect, it served only to confirm it.

The gentleman having jerked my letter out of my hand as I presented it, and read the direction, passed it unopened to his lady, eyeing me at the same time: "I would open it, if I was you, my dear ;" said she, "by no means, I could not answer doing that," "I would commit him then," replied she, "for depend upon it, there's something we do not understand at the bottom of this."—" Young man," said the magistrate, "you must give a good account of yourself, or I shall send you to prison. Who is this letter from?" I replied, from Mr. Whitaker. "What Mr. Whitaker?" I said the vicar of

Holcomb.

"Very well, I know him; I see him sometimes at the sessions and meetings. Now for whom is this letter?"" That, Sir," said I," the direction will show; I presumed it was for you." "Yes, I find," cried he, "you are a very presuming fellow." At this Mrs. Jones and the young ladies laughed heartily, conceiving it to be wit. After several renewed bursts of Ha! ha! ha! they composed their features into their usual state of solemn ugliness, and Mr. Jones proceeded thus:-" Now Sir, this letter is not for me, and coupling this circumstance with the odd and suspicious way in which you have stolen into my house, I am fully warranted to take you for a thief, till you prove yourself not to be one."

This ill language, so ill suited to raise respect, roused me in all the feelings with which the sense of honour inspire a gentleman. I was no longer abashed; but frowning in my turn, said, "I was sorry to find any portion of the administration of justice confided in one capable of so illiberal and immoral a sentiment, that the maxim of reason and religion was to believe men innocent till they were proved to be guilty; nay, though he seemed not to know it, it was the maxim of the law." Mr. Jones surveyed me with mixed indignation and surprise, and, without saying another word opened the door of an inner room and went in. As he left the door open, I heard him, though not distinctly, talking with anowords, he is some attorney's

ther person; but the

and a minute after, a man

· clerk, caught my ear;

coming to the door desired me to walk that way, I went forward with a firm step, and shut the door after me, but it was soon gently opened on the other side, and left a little a-jar.

I

"You talk mighty fine, young man," said Mr. Jones, who was sitting at a desk-table, "but notwithstanding what you said there about reason and religion, it is a very different thing as to law, and you may find it so to your cost; howsomever, I have consulted Mr. Jonathan here, and I find that though you may be a thief. Now this letter is directed to a gentleman who lives on the other side of Exeter, as suppose, for there may be a hundred John Joneses; but, in the spirit of the laws of this land to give you a fair chance of escaping, I shall send it over to him along with you; and if you really be what you say, this letter is written by the vicar of Holcomb, you may go about your business; if not, you will be taken to the house of correction. Mr. Jonathan, here is the letter, you will drive him over to Affington, in your gig, and I shall order Thomas to ride behind you for greater safety; see Mr. John Jones yourself, and deliver the letter into his own hands.”

This was a most unexpected adventure. At first I was not much inclined to submit to the coercive measure proposed by this magistrate, but recollecting the determination I had repeatedly made, to preserve an even mind in the trials to which my singular fate had doomed me, I was silent, certain of being otected by the Jones of Affington, and happy to be quit of the Jones of Pinhoe.

Y

BON MOTS, PUNS, ODDITIES, &c. &c.

Collected from various sources.— — The following are most from the daily newspapers for 1806.

TO A FRIEND.

Of two illustrious Statesmen dead,
You ask, dear Friend what may be said
Of either's memory?

For once, I answer you in rhyme,

That Fox may be compar'd to TIME,-
PITT, to ETERNITY.

Item in a Bookseller's catalogue:-A parcel of loose papers bound in one volume.

From BONAPARTE's enmity to the Press it is supposed that he is a friend to Locke on the Human Understanding.

OBJECTS OF PITY.

SIR JOHN SUCKLING used to say

I pity the Poet who is obliged to write for bread. I pity the man who has fallen into the hands of a petty-fogging Attorney.