legible characters, encircling his stern counte nance. He takes possession of the big easy chair, with ——, on one side, and the greatly detested ferula, with his companion birch on the other. The boys enter, cap in hand, and make their salams with a good morning, Sir, pronounced in plaintive and faultering voice; and with their task-books in their hands they cluster about their preceptor; much in the same manner, as the bees (in Æsop's fables) surrounded the bear, when he had overturned their hives; their little hearts panting with fear, but not through motives of revenge. When the tasks were all repeated, the examination of the hands, face, &c. is next attended to, which by the bye are oftener dirty than clean; to the no small trouble of the monitor, an officer of no mean distinction, being next in power to the master, and who was honoured in having the fires to make, during the winter season, to clear the school-room, to keep a watch upon the boys, &c. &c. who, you will be aware, has not a sweet time of it; and who is generally commissioned to take him or them to the beck, and with sand and straw to scour them clean. any one has been negligent, in performing his school-duties, he is sentenced to stand upon one leg, for the space of half an hour, in order to make him more attentive hereafter; and he is attended by Mr. Monitor, and his assistant Mr. Birch, which penance, in this pillory, is deemed by Mr. Trasham to be an almost equivalent to the offence.

If

At the hour of twelve, Mr. T. pronounces (reading, writing, ciphering, &c. being finished) with an audible voice, the words go to dinner,

when all march out, regularly, and in their turns, the smallest first, and with a good morning, Sir, proceed to their respective homes.

After dinner, their happiness commences; and when they are all assembled on the schoolground, they then divide, to play at -, (see p. 75.) and various other amusements, which I cannot remember.

When they re-enter the school, they again make their obeisance, with a good afternoon, Sir, instead of morning; then the lessons are got off, and the biggest boys make to their slates; when in general Mr. T. takes his afternoon's nap, of which the boys take advantage, by looking off, whispering, telling lies, making bargains, &c. Sometimes they ask out, and one of them, being previously provided with a tin-bottle, get it filled with pump-water, and enjoy themselves, in drinking it, during their leisure. Upon a certain time, when regaling themselves, according to custom, over this Adam's Ale, Mr. Trasham suddenly awoke, and catched them, to their no small terror; when he issued out his mandate, which is similar to the laws of the Medes and Persians; it altereth not, that no more water be brought into the school, on pain of being hung up by the thumbs, for the space of one half hour!

When the evening's tasks are concluded, they sit in suspense for a few minutes; then an order is given to Mr. Monitor, to take the ashes off, i. e. to demolish the fire; (in winter) after which, he repeats the well-known and pleasing words, Ite domum, when they all, as at noon, march out, with a good night, Sir, and scamper

off.

Such is the simple, but accurate account I received from Jemmy. I might have said more upon the subject, but must be as laconic as possible. The words of the poet are very applicable to Jemmy:

"For chiefly of himself his converse ran,

A No mem'ry well supplied the narrative old man,
His youthful feats with guiltless pride he told,
In rural game, what honours erst he won;
How on the green he threw the wrestler bold;
How high he leap'd, and oh! how swift he'd run ;
Then with a sigh, he fondly turn'd his praise,
To rivals now no more and friends of former days.
VERNON'S PARISH CLERK.

However, Jemmy left school, when about nine or ten years of age; he had not got much advanced in arithmetic, I believe he was, according to his own words, "nobbet ea compound multiplication, en as for grammar, (scratching his head) I hed gitten varra little on't," so he was, in a measure, deprived of that great blessing, education.

Nevertheless, Jem. was determined, at all events, if he was denied education, i. e. schoollearning, he would acquire, by private reading, as much knowledge as he could; for at the age of ten years, he had almost read all the books in the village, in which were, in the year 1821, 193 resident inhabitants.

As I possess the means, I will inform you, Augustus, of this little, yet pleasant village. The parish of which, consists of two detached townships, lying on each side of the chapelry of Say, and betwixt the river Eden and Cy Fell, a lofty green eminence, at the south-west end of the parish, below which, the soil is a fertile loam, resting on clay

The commons here are not as yet enclosed, they
afford good pastureage. C-y G-t, is a neat
little village, lying in a deep secluded vale, at
the foot of C-y Fell, five and a half miles west
of Kay S. The church, dedicated to St.
Andrew, stands on a steep eminence, on the
north side of the village; it is an ancient gothic
building, with a nave, side aisles, and chancel,
the latter of which, is kept in repair by the
successive lords of the manor, who have been
patrons of the rectory, which is valued in the
king's books, at £19. 4s. 44d; and is now in
the incumbency of the Rev. Thomas Bird. The
living was certified at £47. 2s. 6d. to the go-
vernors of Queen Ann's bounty, who for its
augmentation, gave £200; which, with £200
given by the Rev. James Bird, were expended
in the purchase of lands near unto the church.
A modus of twelve guineas per annum is paid
in lieu of the hay and corn tithes of C-y G-d,
being formerly so named, after an ancient own-
er; and was held during many ages, by the
Souleby and Musgrave families; from which it
passed to the Davison's, Gate's and Birds.
The late Rev. William Bird, sold the manor
and advowson for a term of three lives. Within
the manor are about forty tenements, and the
seat of
Jemmy has styled him.
Kindly Squire. I have since found that the
above names, as well as others, are all Fictious.
A few of the tenements are freehold; some
customary; some by indenture, at an eighteen-
penny fine; and others, arbitrary. The endow-
ment of the school is near ten pounds per
annum, arising from various benefactions.

Esq

I think I have taken a great deal of trouble, in order to amuse you, and you will have some in the perusal of it. Nevertheless, having thus given you a correct account, as I have found it, and as a fair exchange is no robbery; I will, with your leave, Augustus, lay down my pen, as it has tolled ten, P. M. by the great bell, and quietly resign myself to rest; after just inserting a few lines concerning a, or my night cap! which I had sent me by a certain respected friend, residing in the town of; who has had the misfortune to break his leg, while running after a hare, at the great Jaune hunt; as all fools must follow the fashion, and imitate their betters; so that to employ himself and have his humour, like your officious and humble servant, took up his pen, in order to dispel the ennui, which employ, fools are so often subject to; though I believe, nay I am sure, that the composition is not his own,* it is as follows.

"How oft with satisfaction's smile,

When tir'd with wandering many a mile,
I've welcom'd thee with pleasure;
And when fatigu'd with life's rough storm,
Thy friendly solace oft would warm,
And prove a Poet's treasure.

Thy form shall clasp my aching head,
When Anguish hovers round my bed,
And bids my sorrows slumber :
But virtue, must preside within,
For sleep avoids the soul, where sin,
The conscience doth encumber.

* I believe it is by one J. M., a few years ago, a correspondent

to the Ladies Magazine.