which tens of thousands of passengers are daily transported, at a speed varying from thirty to fifty miles an hour, in carriages affording no more inconvenience or discomfort than Mr. Young suffered in 1770, when reposing in his drawingroom in his armchair.

Until the close of the last century, the internal transport of goods in England was performed by waggon, and was not only intolerably slow, but so expensive as to exclude every object except manufactured articles, and such as, being of light weight and small bulk in proportion to their value, would allow a high rate of transport. Thus the charge for carriage by waggon from London to Leeds was at the rate of £13 a ton, being 13 d. per ton per mile. Between Liverpool and Manchester it was 40s. a ton, or 15d. per ton per mile. Heavy articles, such as coals and other materials, could only be available for commerce where their position favoured transport by sea, and, consequently, many of the richest dis tricts of the kingdom remained unproductive, awaiting the tardy advancement of the art of transport. Coals are now carried upon railways at a penny per ton per mile, and, in some places, at even a lower rate. Merchandise, such as that mentioned above, which was transported in 1763 at from 14d. to 15d. per mile, is now carried at from 3d. to 4d., while those sorts which are heavier in proportion to their bulk are transported at 24d. per ton per mile.

But this is not all: the waggon transport formerly practised was limited to a speed which in its most improved state did not exceed twenty-four miles a day, while the present transport by railway is effected at the rate of from twelve to fourteen miles an hour.-From Dr. Lardner's valuable Railway Economy.

ODD FORESIGHT.

Lady Margaret Herbert asked somebody for a pretty pattern for a night-cap. "Well," said the person, "what signifies the pattern of a night-cap?" "Oh! child," said she, "but you know, in case of fire!"

KEEPING HOLIDAYS.

There are many advantages in variety of conditions, one of which is boasted of by a divine, who rejoices that, between both classes, "all the holidays of the church are properly kept, since the rich observe the feasts, and the poor observe the fasts."

UNFAIR ADVANTAGE.

One of the best things lately said upon age-a very ticklish subject, by the waywas the observation of Mr. James Smith to Mr. Thomas Hill. "Hill," said the former gentleman, "you take an unfair advantage f an accident: the register of your birth was burnt in the Great Fire of London, and you avail yourself of the circumstance to give out that you are younger than you are.'

VALUE OF APPLAUSE. Some one remarked to Mrs. Siddons that applause was necessary to actors, as it gave them confidence. "More," replied the actress; "it gives us breath."

PRACTICAL WIT.

Talleyrand not only said, but did many witty things. On the death of Charles X he drove through Paris for a couple of days. wearing a white hat. He carried a crape in his pocket. When he passed through the Faubourg of the Carlists, the crape was instantly twisted round his hat; when he came into the quarter of the Tuileries, the crape was instantly slipt off and put into his pocket again.

HOW TO ENJOY A VENISON FEAST.

At a venison feast, Sir Joshua Reynolds addressed his conversation to one of the company who sat next to him, but, to his great surprise, could not get a single word in answer, until at length his silent neighbour, turning to him, said, "Sir Joshua, whenever you are at a venison feast, I advise you not to speak during dinner-time, as in endeavouring to answer your questions, I have just swallowed a fine piece of fat without tasting its flavour."

CHANGING HATS.

Barry, the painter, was with Nollekens, at Rome, in 1760, and they were extremely intimate. Barry took the liberty one night, when they were about to leave the English coffee-house, to exchange hats with him. Barry's was edged with lace, and Nollekens's was a very shabby, plain one. Upon his returning the hat the next morning, he was asked by Nollekens why he left him his gold-laced hat. "Why, to tell you the truth, my dear Joey," answered Barry, "I fully expected assassination last night; and I was to have been known by my laced hat." Nollekens used to relate the story, adding, "It's what the Old Bailey people would call a true bill against Jem."

EASY CURE.

Dr. Moore, author of "Zeluco," used to say that at least two-thirds of a physician's fees were for imaginary complaints. Among several instances of this nature, he mentions one of a clothier, who, after drinking the Bath waters, took it into his head to try Bristol Hot Wells. Previous, however, to his setting off, he requested his physician to favour him with a letter, stating his case to any brother Galen. This done, the patient got into a chaise, and started. After proceeding half-way, he felt an itch to pry intc the contents of the letter, when the following words presented themselves :-"Dear sir, the bearer is a fat Wiltshire clothier; make the most of him." It is almost unnecessary to add that his cure was from that moment effected, as he ordered the chaise to turn, and immediately proceeded home.

LATE TO DINNER.

The most unpunctual persons ever known were two brothers, celebrated time immemorial in the place-holding world. The late Lord Dudley used to say of them, that if you asked Robert for Wednesday, at seven, you would have Charles on Thursday, at eight.

MAKING CHAMPAGNE.

The knavish hotel-keepers of Nassau mix the mineral water with wine and sugar, and sell the compound for champagne. A recent traveller overheard a waiter at Fachingen ask his master whether he might serve the English gentlemen with the champagne made in the morning!

MISER'S CHARITY.

An illiterate person, who always volunteered to "go round with the hat," but was suspected of sparing his own pocket, overhearing once a hint to that effect, replied, "Other gentlemen puts down what they thinks proper, and so do I. Charity's a private concern, and what I give is nothing to nobody."

PRINCELY "BESPEAK."

When the Marchioness of Yavi, at Potosi, expressed a desire to see a favourite play, it was immediately commanded by the Marquis, who, taking the whole house at his own expense, distributed the tickets among the fashionable world, and had the theatre supplied with refreshments of every kind, as a private party.

PET ANIMALS.

One often sees persons of rough natures and unfeeling hearts bestow extraordinary attention upon favourite animals. The French Revolutionists presented some extraordinary instances of this anomalous affection. Citizen Couthon, a Hercules in crime, fondled and invariably carried in his bosom, even to the Convention, a little spaniel, as a vent for the exuberant sensibilities which overflowed his affectionate heart. This tenderness for some pet animal was by no means peculiar to Couthon: it seemed rather a common fashion with the gentle butchers of the Revolution. M. George Duval informs us that Chaumette had an aviary, to which he devoted his harmless leisure; the murderous Fournier carried on his shoulders a pretty little spaniel, attached by a silver chain; Panis bestowed the simplicity of his affections upon two gold pheasants; and Marat, who would not abate one of the 300,000 heads he demanded, reared doves! Apropos of the spaniel of Couthon, Duval gives us an amusing anecdote of Serjent, not one of the least relentless agents of the massacre of September. A lady came to implore his protection for one of her relations confined in the Abbey. He scarcely deigned to speak to her. As she retired in despair, she trod by accident upon the paw of his favourite spaniel. Serjent, turning round, enraged and furious, exclaimed, Madame, have you no humanity?"

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BENEFIT OF COMPETITION.

Pope, when he first saw Garrick act, observed, "I am afraid that the young man will be spoiled, for he will have no competitor!"

SHERIDAN'S PAYMENT.

Sheridan had a Bardolph countenance, with heavy features, but his eyes po-sessed the most distinguished brilliancy. Mathews said it was very simple in Mr. Moore to admire how Sheridan came by the means of paying the price of Drury-Lane Theatre, when all the world knows that he never paid it at all.

DRINKING.

A drunken fellow, taken home by his friend, was challenged by another: "Who is that? Where are you going?" &c. "Why, I think your friend has had too much; why, I think he had better have divided it fairly, half today and half to-morrow." A watchman came up. "How much has he drunk?" said a bystander. "A gallon at least!" "Then I take him into custody for carrying off a gallon of liquor without a permit!"

RIGHT TO A CRACK.

An English gentleman wanting a dessertservice of porcelain made after a particular pattern, sent over to China a specimen dish, ordering that it should be exactly copied for the whole service. It unfortunately happened that in the di-h so sent over, the Chinese manufacturer discovered a crack; the consequence was, that the entire service sent over to the party ordering it had a crack in each article, carefully copied from the original.

LOSING TIME.

A Welsh rector being on a visit to a neighbouring squire, when a very small glass was set before him after dinner, he pulled the servant by the skirts, and thus expostulated with bim: "What is this glass for? Does your master wish to keep me here all night?" The rector was as famous for eating as for drinking. "This preaching thirty-five minutes," said he, at dinner, on Sunday, to his curate, "will never do: here's a fine goose roasted to a rag, and not a drop of gravy in it."

ACCOMMODATING INADVERTENCE.

Sir James Mackintosh had a very ParsonAdams-like forgetfulness of common things and lesser proprieties, which was very amusing. On his arrival at Bombay, there being no house ready for his reception, the Governor offered his garden-house for the temporary accommodation of Sir James and his family, who were so comfortable in their quarters, that they forgot to quit, month after month, till a year had elapsed, when the Governor took forcible possession of his own property. Again, Sir James and his lady, on requesting to inspect the seat of the late Lord Melville, in Perthshire, were invited to stay two or three days, which were protracted to as many months, till every species of hint was thrown away upon them.

IDEA OF ETERNITY.

An American clergyman, in one of his sermons, exclaimed to his hearers: "Eternity! why, don't you know the mearg of that word? Nor I either, hardly. It is for ever and ever, and five or six everlastings a-top of that. You might place a row of figures from here to sunset, and cipher them all up, and it wouldn't begin to tell how many ages long eternity is. Why, my friends, after millions and trillions of years had rolled away in eternity, it would be a hundred thousand years to breakfast-time."

DRESS AND MERIT.

Girard, the famous French painter, when very young, was the bearer of a letter of introduction to Lanjuinais, then of the Council of Napoleon. The young painter was shabbily attired, and his reception was extremely cold; but Lanjuinais discovered in him such striking proots of talent, good sense, and amiability, that, on Girard's rising to take leave, he rose too, and accompanied his visitor to the ante-chamber. The change was so striking, that Girard could not avoid an express on of surprise. My young friend," said Lanjuinais, anticipating the inquiry, "we receive an unknown person according to his dress-we take leave of him according to his merit."

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WHO'S WHO?

A

Sir Richard Phillips used to relate the following anecdote with great glee. widow kept a public-house near the corner of North-end lane, about two miles from Hyde Park Corner, where she had lived about fifty years; and I wanted to determine the house in which Samuel Richardson, the novelist, had resided in North-end lane. She remembered his person, and described him as "a round, short gentleman, who most days passed her door," and she said she used to serve his family with beer. "He used to live and carry on his business," said I, "in Salisbury-square." "As to that," said she, "I know nothing, for I never was in London." "Never in London!"' said I; "and in health, with the free use of your limbs?" No," replied the woman; 66 I had no business there, and had enough to do at home." "Well, then," I observed, 66 you know your own neighbourhood the better-which was the house of Mr. Richardson, in the next lane?" "I don't know," she replied;

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I am, as I told you, no traveller. I never was up the lane-I only know that he did live somewhere up the lane." "Well," said I, "but living in Fulham parish, you go to church ?" "No," said she, "I never have. time; on a Sunday our house is always full -I never was at Fulham but once, and that was when I was married, and many people say that was once too often, though my husband was as good a man as ever broke bread -God rest his soul."

NOTIONS OF ANTIQUITIES.

An American traveller, returned from Europe, was asked how he liked Rome; to which he replied that Rome was a fine city, but that he must acknowledge he thought the public buildings were very much out of repair.

ORIGIN OF "JIM CROW.

The New Orleans Picayune states that, a few years ago, Thomas D. Rice, now the famous Negro comedian, was an actor in a Western theatre; and though he did some things cleverly, he was particularly remarkable for nothing but being the best dressed man in the company. An original piece was got up, in which Rice was persuaded to do the character of a Negro, much against his will. He consented only under the stipulation that he should have permission to introduce a Negro song of his own.

Rice was fond of riding, and frequently visited a stable in town where there was a very droll Negro ostler, who used to dance grotesquely, and sing odd fragments of a song about one Jim Crow. Very little difficulty was found in transforming the ostler into a tutor, and in half an hour Rice was master of the symphony, melody, and all the steps, words, and drollery of the far-famed and irresistible" Jim Crow!"

The evening for the débût of the new play came on, and never did Kemble or Talma study more intensely over the effect of costume than did Rice in dressing for his Negro part on this occasion. He had easily contrived to throw together a few verses, with witty local allusions, and to heighten the extravagance of the dance to its greatest extent of grotesque absurdity. The play commenced, and went on, dragging heavily and lamely-Rice himself failing to stir up the drowsy audience with his clumsily-written Negro part until the third act, where the song came in.

Utter condemnation was lowering ominously over the piece, and the actors had already pronounced it a dead failure, when the hitherto silent and gloomy green-room was startled by a tumultuous round of cheers breaking out suddenly in " front."

"What can that be?" said the manager, pricking up his ears.

Another verse of the song was sung, with the extravagant dancing accompaniment, and the house shook with still more violent applause.

"What is that?" said the manager. "Who's on the stage?"

"Rice is singing a Negro song," was the reply.

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"Oh, that's it, eh!" said the manager, who was a stickler for the "legitimate," and concluded that an audience which could applaud such a thing would be just as likely to hiss it the next moment.

But the new song continued to call down expressions of pleasure that could not by any means be mistaken; and, at its conclusion, the manager bounced out of the green-room,

Richard Penn, one of the proprietors, and of all the governors of Pennsylvania, probably the most deservedly popular, in the commencement of the revolution (his brother John being at that time governor), was on the most familiar and intimate terms with a number of the most decided and influential Whigs; and, on a certain occasion, being in company with several of them, a member of Congress observed that, such was the crisis, "they must all hang together." "If you do not, gentlemen," said Mr. Penn, "I can tell you that you will be very apt to hang separately."

THE RULING PASSION.

When M. Brillat-Savarin, Judge of the Court of Cassation, and an amateur gastronome, was in America once, on his return from a shooting excursion, in which he shot a wild turkey, he fell into conversation with Jefferson, who began relating some interesting anecdotes about Washington and the war; when, observing the air distrait of M. Brillat-Savarin, he stopped, and was about to go away. "My dear sir," said the gastronomer, "I beg a thousand pardons, but I was thinking how I should dress my wild turkey."

A BROAD HINT.

When Captain Basil Hall and his party landed on the coast of Corea, their visit was not relished by the natives. One man, in particular, expressed the general wish for their departure, by holding up a piece of paper, like a sail, and then blowing upon it in the direction of the wind, at the same time pointing to the ships; thereby denoting that the wind was fair, and that the visitors had only to set sail and leave the island. This is even plainer than the vulgar English hint, "When shall I see you again?"

CURE FOR THE COLIC.

An eminent house-painter in the City, a governor of St. Bartholomew's Hospital, got a recipe for the painter's colic, which contained all sorts of comfortable things, the chief ingredients being Cognac brandy and spices! It did wonders with the first two or three cases; but he found the success of the remedy so increased the frequency of the complaint, that he was compelled to give up his medical treatment; for so long as he had the specific, his men were constantly making wry faces at him.

SCHOOL DISCIPLINE.

In Coleridge's time, the discipline at Christ's Hospital was ultra-Spartan; all domestic ties were to be put aside. "Boy!" Coleridge remembered Bower saying to him once, when he was crying the first day after his return from the holidays. "Boy! the school is your father! Boy! the school is your mother! Boy! the school is your brother! the school is your sister! the school is your first cousin, and your second cousin, and all the rest of your relations! Let's have no more crying."

LAND AND SEA FIGHTS.

An Irish officer in the army, happening to be passenger in an armed vessel during the last war, used frequently to wish that they might fall in with an enemy's ship; because, he said, he had been in many land battles, and there was nothing in the world which he desired more than to see what sort of a thing a sea-fight was. He had his wish; and when, after a smart action, in which he bore his part bravely, an enemy of superior force had been beaten off, he declared, with the customary emphasis of an Irish adjuration, that a sea-fight was a mighty sairious sort of a thing.

SUMMARY DECISION.

Mr. Brougham, when at the bar, opened before Lord Chief Justice Tenterden an action for the amount of a wager laid upon the event of a dog-fight, which, through some unwillingness of dogs or men, had not been brought to an issue. "We, my Lord," said the advocate, "were minded that the dogs should fight."" Then I," replied the Judge, "am minded to hear no more of it:" and he called another cause.

PRUDENTIAL CONSIDERATION.

The lady of a distinguished officer died in one of our colonies, just previous to which she expressed a wish to be buried in England, and was, accordingly, deposited in a cask of rum, for the purpose of transport home, but remained in the cellar after the officer's second marriage; the detention being occasioned by his expectation that the duty on the spirit imported into England, in which the dear departed was preserved, would, in a few years, be either lowered or taken off altogether! Strange as this may seem, it is true.

A SIMILE.

The old Duke of Cumberland was one night playing at hazard at Beauford House, with a great heap of gold before him, when somebody said, "he looked like the prodigal son and the fatted calf both."

FRENCH-ENGLISH.

"What has become of your famous General Eel?" said the Count d'Erleon to Mr. Campbell. "Eel," said a bystander, "that is a military fish I never hear of;" but another at once enlightened his mind by saying to the Count, "General Lord Hill is now Commander-in-Chief of the British forces."

THE PLEASURES OF THE TABLE

Have never been incompatible with the gifts of genius, or the investigations of the understanding. "I cannot conceive," says Dr. Johnson, "the folly of those who, when at table, think of everything but eating; for my part, when I am there, I think of nothing else; and whosoever does not trouble himself with this important affair at dinner, or supper, will do no good at any other time."

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THE LONGEST LAW-SUIT.

In 1842, a paragraph appeared in one or two of the London newspapers, headed the "Longest Law-suit," in which both facts and names are sadly blundered. The famous 'Berkeley suit" lasted upwards of 190 (instead of 120) years; having commenced shortly after the death of Thomas, fourth Lord Berkeley, in the fifth of Henry V. (1416), and terminated in the seventh of James I. (1609). It arose out of the marriage of Elizabeth, only daughter and heiress of the above Baron, with Richard Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, their descendants having continually sought to get possession of the Castle and Lordship of Berkeley, which not only occasioned the famous law-suit in question, but was often attended with the most violent quarrels on both sides, at least during the first fifty years or more. In the year 1469 (tenth of Edward IV.), Thomas Talbot, second Viscount Lisle, great-grandson of the above Elizabeth, residing at Wotton-under-Edge (not Walton under Hedge!), was killed at Nibley Green, in a furious skirmish between some 500 of his own retainers and about as many of those of William (then) Lord Berkeley (whom he had challenged to the field), who likewise headed his men; when, besides the brave but ill-fated young Lisle (scarce of age at that time), about 150 of their followers were slain, and 300 wounded, chiefly of the Wotton party, who fled on the fall of their leader Lord Lisle's sisters were his heirs, and their husbands (one of whom also got the title) followed up the suit, as their descendants did after them, till down to the time of the first James, when Henry, eleventh Lord Berkeley, obtained a decree in favour of his claims, and got full and quiet possession of the lands and manors in dispute.