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"Trade is very dull.-Riots in the manufacturing districts.-Nothing to be done in the money market.-Green peas sold for twenty-five shillings per pint in Covent Garden last week.Something new daily expected from the pen of Lady Morgan.-Duke of Wellington rode through Hyde Park yesterday.-Don Miguel took his departure.-Dinner given to Lord Melville at Portsmouth last week.—”

"Very interesting indeed. I hope the parties had a pleasant ride and a good appetite; and that you will, presently, let me hear something more amusing."

"Patience, Cousin, patience. All in good time; I like to go on regularly. You must learn to take things as you find them; good, bad, or indifferent."

"MARCH OF INTELLECT.-At a dinner lately given to Lord Mildton and his suite at Portsmouth, one of his Lordship's attendants, not remarkable for his diffidence, and seemingly not aware of the respect due to nobility, and more particularly in public, which is the only excuse we can make for him; took up his glass and looking at his Lordship as he held it between his finger and thumb- Mildton, a glass of wine?' said he, with all the familiarity of an equal. His Lordship most condescendingly bowed assentfilled his glass-and drank it off, without betraying any particular symptom of disapprobation. Presently a young Midshipman at the lower end

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of the table, who had observed the countenance of his Lordship, and the presumption of the challenger; taking up his glass, and addressing the Secretary in the same familiar way-Crawley,'* said he, a glass of wine? J. W. Crawley, Esq. M. P. not having that self-possession peculiar to high birth, poured a few drops of wine reluctantly into his glass, with indignation marked upon his brow; which the young Midshipman observing'Come come, Crawley, that will never do,' said he, fill your glass; Secs and Middies, you know, never object to a bumper !' "-Hampshire Chronicle.

"March of intellect, indeed!-It reminds me, Cousin, of a story I have heard of Farinelli, whose presumption was almost equal to this gentleman's, in consequence of his being admitted into the company of his superiors. However, he had a pretty severe reprimand at last.

"Farinelli was a subject of the Duke of Modena. When in London, and the tide of his popularity was at its height, he made no scruple of treating the very first of our Nobility with the most unceremonious rudeness. The Duke of Modena happened to be in England at this period; and being expected one evening at Northumberland House, for the amusement of his Serene Highness, Farinelli was also invited. At the very moment, however, of his expected arrival, he sent a message

*This Gentleman, we understand, is a Member of the Crawley Family so well depicted in Lady Morgan's FLORENCE M'CARTHY.

that he was engaged at Lady Coventry's, and could not come.

"Upon receiving the message, the Duke of Northumberland was much disconcerted, and made many apologies to the Duke of Modena. Upon which His Serene Highness, immediately beckoning to one of his suite,-Go and tell Farinelli to come here immediately,' said he.

"In a short time Farinelli made his appearance; and upon his entrance, all the company, except the Duke of Modena, rose from their seats, and a chair was handed him.

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"What! my Lord Duke,' said His Serene Highness, do you suffer a public Singer to sit in your presence? Go, Farinelli,' continued he, and stand in yonder corner, and sing one of your best songs, and in your best manner.'

Accordingly Farinelli obeyed; and acquitted himself in his very best style. When he had done, the Duke made a motion to him to retire. Upon which Farinelli bowed most respectfully to the company, and withdrew."

"And glad enough to make his escape, I should suppose ;" observed Mr. Classic. "I wonder if His very Serene Highness would allow Christian burial to such an offender upon returning to his native land to rest his bones? A little tyrannical, methinks. That would not exactly suit the independent spirit of a British subject.”

"Perhaps not ;-but if British subjects of no repute will presume upon their good fortune and

the indulgence they meet with from persons of rank, they must expect some time or other to be chastised for their assurance. The growth of insolence, and consequence, and pride, among the purse-proud gentry of the present age, is really appalling. And between you and I,think it is full time that it should be checked a little."

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"And I think it is full time for the breakfast things to be sent away; so I'll ring if you please," returned Mr. Classic, "for I shall not get through the papers till midnight, at this rate. The great Alfred, you may recollect, Cousin, allowed himself but half an hour for his meals. Now, as you seem to have such an aversion from encroachments on the good order of society, I wonder you are not a little more economical of your time. I'm afraid, too, you lavish it away in more instances than one."

"I'm afraid so too, my worthy Cousin. But never mind;-one man's loss is another's gain. So my extravagance may serve to amuse those who want to kill the enemy; and if they should reflect a little on my follies, they may turn them, perhaps, to their own advantage."

"Which paper will you take while I look over the debates? They are very interesting just now; but I suppose you don't care much about them?"

"Not a pin ;-give me the Post, if you please; I shall see something of the fashions and the fashionables there. The scurrility of the Times is

past endurance; and the freedom of the British Press is so tainted with licentiousness, that

"Oh! that's liberty, Cousin! British liberty; the pride and boast of the nation!"

"A mere illusion, Mr. Classic, and a most mischievous evil. I wouldn't spend a sixpence for the purchase of a seditious pamphlet, or a disloyal poem, though replete with wit and humour, were I as rich as Croesus. E'en from Peter Pindar himself should my mite be withheld."

"Hold your tongue, Simpleton, do;-what should you know about such things? The freedom of the British press, as well as the British subject, has been the admiration of all the world for ages!"

"Yes so have our laws and government, Mr. Wiseacre; and they might justly be so, were they properly executed and regulated. But stop a little ;-in all probability we shall soon see things on their old footing. When men of ability and national spirit are placed at the head of affairs, we may reasonably look forward to a general reformation; as well in men and manners, as in the State. The Right Honorable Secretary for the Home Department, for example, is labouring with all his strength, for the good of the community at large. The Duke of Wellington is indefatigable in his exertions; and, according to Mr. Editor's account he acts tho' he leaves others to talk.” "Well, I wish you wouldn't talk quite so much, my dear Cousin; but leave me to go on with this

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