your friendship for me, that I do not once doubt of your kind intentions.

"You have taken the best method possible on such an occasion, not to hurt my spirits; for had you suspected me to be insane, or even nervous, you would have mentioned the subject with more caution, and by so doing, might have given me alarm.

"That the world should say I have lost my senses, I can readily forgive, when I recollect that a few years ago it said the same of Mrs. Siddons.

"I am now fifty-two years old, and yet if I were to dress, paint, and visit, no one would call my understanding in question; or if I were to beg from all my acquaintance a guinea or two, as subscription for a foolish book, no one would accuse me of avarice. But because I choose that retirement suitable to my years, and think it my duty to support two sisters, instead of one servant, I am accused of madness. I might plunge in debt, be confined in prison, a pensioner on 'The Literary Fund,' or be gay as a girl of eighteen, and yet be considered as perfectly in my senses; but because I choose to live in independence, affluence to me, with a mind serene and prospects unclouded, I am supposed to be mad. In making use of the word affluence, I do not mean to exclude some inconveniences annexed, but this is the case in every state. I wish for more suitable lodgings, but I am unfortunately averse to a street, after living so long in a square; but with all my labour to find one, I cannot fix on a spot such as I wish to make my residence for life, and till I do, and am confined to London, the beautiful view from my present apartment of the Surrey hills and the Thames, invites me to remain here, for I believe that there is neither such fine air nor so fine a prospect, in all the town. I am, besides, near my sisters here; and the time when they are not with me is so wholly engrossed in writing, that I want leisure for the convenience of walking out. Retirement in the country would, perhaps, have been more advisable than in London, but my sisters did not like to accompany me, and I did not like to leave them behind. There is, besides, something animating in the reflection that I am in London, though partaking of none of its festivities."

John Wilkes.-On one occasion when Mr. Palmer, the member for Bath, was dining with Wilkes, he commended some pigeons on the table.

"Wilkes gave the following account of them. I was particularly fond of pigeons,' said he, 'and wanted to encourage a fine breed. I procured some from France and other places on the continent, but, having taken all possible pains to render their reception agreeable, after a short time they returned to their native place. At length I despaired of ever possessing a breed of my favourite bird, when a friend advised me to try Scotland. I did so, and the pigeons that you admire, of which I procured a large stock, have never returned to their own country.'

to take a pinch, he said, 'No, sir, I thank you, I have no small vices.'"

Mr. Pitt." Mr. Pitt went one evening into the late Duchess of Gordon's box at the Operahouse. Not having seen him for some time, she addressed him with her usual blunt familiarity, 'Well, Mr. Pitt, do you talk as much nonsense as you did when I last saw you?'-'I know not that,' said Mr. Pitt, but I have certainly not heard so much nonsense since I had last the pleasure of seeing your grace.'

"During war-time a member of parliament arose in the House of Commons, and proposed that the militia should not be ordered out of the kingdom. Mr. Pitt immediately arose, and with sarcastic smile said, Except in case of invasion.''

George Bodens and the Chairman.-" George Bodens, a well-known character of the time, was enormously bulky, and on leaving one of the clubs in St. James's Street, he had called a sedan-chair, and just as he was entering it a nobleman who was getting into his carriage, seeing him, called to him, and said he would give him a cast home. Bodens then left the chair, and gave the chairman a shilling. What! no more, your honour?' said the chairman. 'Why,' said Bodens, 'I did not enter your chair.' Ah! but consider the fright, please your honour.'

The Pinchbecks.-" Of these there were three

brothers, all of whom were acquainted with my father. They had invented the metal which went by their name, and to attract public attention they pretended to quarrel, and advertised against each other, all claiming the invention, and proclaiming the superiority of the article in which each of them dealt. They were, however, upon the most amiable footing in reality, and used to meet every night and divide the profits of the day."

The King of Grief-The following is infinitely better than a mere anecdote; it is Lewis, a provincial actor,

full of nature.

66

was generally known by the title of The King of Grief,' as he had watery eyes, which made him always appear to be weeping, and as he was continually predicting misery to himself. As he was a harmless man and possessed of professional brethren, and had some share in au literary talents, he was treated kindly by his annual benefit.

"On one occasion, when the benefit had been very productive to him, he was congratulated

on his success.

Instead of evincing his own satisfaction, he began crying, and said, 'Ah! I shall not be so lucky next year.' Mr. Younger, who was a very friendly man, invited old Lewis to dine with him at Liverpool. Lewis declined the invitation, alleging the indifferent state of his attire. Mr. Younger desired him to into go the wardrobe of the theatre, and gave orders that he should receive any suit of clothes that fitted him. As soon as he was properly accommodated, he rejoined Mr. Younger at dinner. After a few glasses of wine, which instead of

prompt him, and he told the following story nearly as I shall give it.

"Sir, I remember I once played the character of the boy who wears the red breeches and offends his mother.' 'Jerry Blackaire, in "The Plain Dealer," I suppose,' said I. 'Yes, sir, that was the part. Well, sir, I played a great number of tricks to divert the audience; and the chief part was played by the surly, fat fellow, whose name I have forgot.' 'Probably Quin, sir.' 'Ay, sir, that was the man. Well, sir, when I went into the green-room, the surly fat man began to scold me, and told me that while I played my tricks, it was impossible to have a chaste scene with me. I told him that, different as our cast was, I had the public to please as well as himself. But, sir,' said he, you must get rid of your tricks.' I said I could not. But, sir,' said he, you shall.' By this time I was provoked, and said, 'You lie.'** At the end of the play he sent me a challenge, and said he should wait for me at the pillar in Covent Garden. But, sir, I was a pantomime cullin those days, and I sent word that I would come to him when the entertainment was over. But, sir, the manager, a sweet man, who was my great friend, resolved that nothing fatal should take place-I forget his name.' Probably Fleetwood, sir.' 'Ay, that was the man,-sent a message to the surly fellow at the pillar, and would make up a bed for me at the theatre for fear of consequences, and so the matter ended.'"

A Necessitous Author." A lieutenant in the royal navy had written a political pamphlet, but being called to his duty, was not able to see it through the press. He therefore placed it in the hands of a bookseller, desiring that he would give it to some literary man, who, for duly preparing it for publication, should have half the profits. The bookseller gave it Mr. Cooke, who soon discharged his duty. The work was published, and the profits were thirty pounds, all of which was given to Mr. Cooke, who took his portion, and reserved the other half for the author whenever he should call for it. Many years elapsed and he heard nothing of him. At length a gentleman called on him, told his name, and declared himself to be the author of the

pamphlet, telling him, he knew that fifteen pounds were due to him on account of the pamphlet, and adding, he was ashamed to take it, but that his poverty and not his will' consented, as he had a wife and an increasing family, Mr. Cooke had the money ready for him, which the stranger took, and expressed his gratitude at parting. The necessitous author was the late Lord Erskine."

Bibb, the Engraver.-"How Bibb supported himself, having relinquished engraving, it would be difficult to conceive, if he had not levied taxes upon all whom he knew, insomuch that, besides his title of Count, he acquired that of 'Half-crown Bibb,' by which appellation he was generally distinguished, and according to a rough, and, perhaps, fanciful estimate, he had borrowed at least 2,0001. in half-crowns.

which are too well known to be introduced in this place. The following, however, I believe, have not publicly appeared. A lady once asked him to take a hand at whist, but he declined in the following terms, 'Dear lady, do not ask me, for I am so ignorant that I cannot distinguish the difference between a king and a knave?'

"In a dispute between Sir Watkin Lewes and himself, the former said, 'I'll be your butt no longer. With all my heart, said Wilkes,' I never like an empty one.'

Upon another occasion he displayed his sarcastic humour on royalty, for he said 'he loved the King (George the Third) so much, that he hoped never to see another.'

Upon having a snuff-box presented to him

weeping. Mr. Younger, with great kindness; asked him the cause of his sudden grief; 'Why,' said he, is it not lamentable to think that such a man of genius as myself, should be obliged to such a stupid fellow as you are for a suit of clothes and a dinner?'"

Macklin. The following is equally excellent in the same way. The failing memory of age is admirably depicted. Taylor and Dr. Wolcot were together one evening, in the Rainbow Coffee-House, when Macklin came in.

"I found his memory (says Mr. Taylor,) much impaired, but he recollected facts, though he forgot names. My little acquaintance with theatrical history, however, enabled me

to

"I remember to have met him on the day in the newspapers, and expressed my regret at the loss of so great a man, Bibb interrupted me, and spoke of him as a man of no genius, whose mind contained nothing but the lumber of learning. I was modestly beginning a panegyric upon the doctor, when he again interrupted me

with, Oh! never mind that old blockhead, Luckily for him, I had a little more. Have you such a thing as ninepence about you?'

"There was something so whimsical in this incident, that I mentioned it to some friends, and that and others of the same kind, doubtless, induced Mr. Kenny to make him the hero of his diverting farce, called Raising the Wind,' already mentioned. Another circumstance of a similar nature was told me by Mr. Morton,

the Bishop, and a great retinue along with him; and there was Mr. Carson ready to receive him. I hear,' says the Bishop, mighty stately, that you have no congregation.' In faith, your Holiness,' says he, you'll be soon able to tell that,'-and in he walks him to the church, and there were sitting threescore well-dressed men and women, and all of them as devout as if they were going to be anointed; for that blessed morning, Father Patt whipped mass over before ye had time to bless yourself, and the clanest of the flock was before the Bishop in the church, and ready for his Holiness. To see that all behaved properly, Father Patt had hardly put off the vestment, till he slipped on a cota more,† and there he sat in a back sate like any other of the congregation. I was near the Bishop's reverence; he was seated in an arm-chair belonging to the priest-Come here, Mr. Carson,' says he; 'some enemy of your's,' says the sweet old gentleman, wanted to injure you with me. But I am now fully satisfied.' And turning to the Dane, By this book!' says he, I didn't see a claner congregation this month of Sundays!"

The jokes told against the Achil islanders are beyond number. We have heard the following related, but no author could supply the loss of the mountaineer, full of humour, mirth, and mischief, who told us the tale with all the pride of conscious superiority. The Mare's Egg.

"An islander was once obliged to go into the town of Castlebar upon business; and among other marvellous things which there met his sight, he was particularly struck with the appearance of an earthen jar in a shopwindow. Ile inquired what this unknown article might be, and was informed that it was a mare's egg, which, if placed beside the fire during the winter, would infallibly produce a foal the ensuing spring. The price was moderate, and the Achil man determined to possess the treasure, and thus become master of a horse. Having effected the purchase, he set out on his way rejoicing-and before evening fell, came within view of his own home, and sat down upon a heathy bank to rest himself. He placed his recent acquisition beside himbut alas! from its spherical form, it rolled down the hill, and striking against a rock at the bottom, was shivered by the blow. A hare, which had couched beneath the stone, startled at the crash, sprang from her form and went off at speed. The unhappy Achil man gazed, in an agony of despair, after what he believed the emancipated quadruped- and then exclaimed with a bitter groan, Mona mon diaoul! What a horse he would have been.'" With the following definition we shall conclude our extracts:

Impudence.

6

I remember hearing the word used in a court of justice in a curious sense. A man was on trial, capitally indicted for murder. The chief witness on his examination detailed the leading incidents-his being awakened by cries for help-his rising, striking a light, opening his door, and finding a man dead upon the threshold. And what did you do next, my friend?' interrogated the Crown lawyer. 'Why,' replied the witness, with amazing sang froid, I called out, Are any of ye there that kilt the boy? By J-s, I'll give a thirteen to him who'll tell me who it was that had the

impudence to murder a man at my door!'" The work might have been easily compressed into a pleasant duodecimo. The

+ Anglice, a great coat.

dilating it into two awkward octavos, is a mere bookselling speculation, and the illustrative plates are absolutely disgraceful.

Elements of Music. Part I., Melody, containing an explanation of the Simpler Principles of the Science. By James Fairbairn. Edinburgh, Paterson & Roy; London, Goulding & D'Almaine.

THIS work is avowedly published to facilitate the acquiring of a thorough knowledge of the science of music, from its most simple, to its most abstruse principles. But so far from affording facilities to the student, it seems calculated rather to increase his difficulties. Mr. Fairbairn has touched on many points of abstract theory, which he does not himself seem to understand; and besides propagating many old errors, has added some new ones of his own. What does he mean by stating, that there are eight clefs in music, when every tyro knows that there are only three? He calls the chromatic, the artificial scale, which proves that he is unacquainted with its formation. We could show him that the chromatic and enharmonic scales are as natural as the diatonic. It is singular, that a little further on he should have hit upon the progression by which these scales are formed, without knowing its application. His theory of the semitones, is erroneous and absurd. He says, that the diatonic semitones are theoretically larger than the chromatic, generally in the proportion of 5 to 3. How happens it, then, that the sensible note or sharp seventh of the diatonic scale, forms with the tonic the smallest of all possible semitones? And yet this is a diatonic semitone. His doctrine of what he terms the enharmonic diesis, is equally wrong. In a word, wherever the author attempts to treat of abstract theory, (and this constitutes a considerable portion of his work,) he shows an evident want of the requisite knowledge.

The K'haunie Kineh-Walla; or, Eastern Story-teller: a Collection of Indian Tales. By John Shipp. London: Longman & Co. THIS is a very unpretending production, and coming, as it does, from one who has borne so many of the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, whose life has been devoted to the arduous duties of the profession of arms, even were the volume distinguished by fewer literary merits, it would disarm criticism. Mr. Shipp is already favourably known to the public as the author of 'Memoirs' and the Military Bijou'; and the work before us has many claims to our notice,--not the least of which is, that it gives a true picture of a people about whose domestic manners, and customs, and habits, we know little.

The Hindoostance is a hybrid-a sort of 'patois,' in which are become naturalized a vast number of Greek, Persian, Portuguese, French, and English words, and may be considered, till of late years, almost an oral language. Nor are we aware, that in the dialects spoken in our widely-extended empire, there exist any story books, properly so called; for the Totee-nama, or Parrot's Tales, (which it is surprising no oriental scholar has translated,) are only known to the learned, being written in Persian. Yet, though there are no novelists in India, con

teurs or improvisatori are not wanting: some exercise story-telling as a profession. These, though fluent, are far inferior in their art to the Arabs; nor are the Hindoos less fond than they, after the toils and heats of the march, of wiling away their lovely and serene star-lit nights, by making a circle round the K'haunie-Walla, and listening to love adventures, to the legends of the devout lives, austere practices, and instructive discourses of celebrated Durweish, or Fakirs, or the narrative of the exploits of the most remarkable personages, rulers, warriors, and statesmen, who figure in their annals. Inartificial and undramatic as these fables for the most part are, they serve, however, to entertain this peculiar and simple race.

The tales composing this volume are nine in number; and some of the events described in them came under the author's own observation. He possessed also the advantage of visiting the most romantic and beautiful parts of India, particularly the lower range of the Himalayas.

We were most pleased with the last of these tales, The Deserter,' and least with the first, 'The Foresters of Nepaul'-not but the legend bears evident marks of being genuine. The domestication of monkeys, by the wild men of the woods, is only a tradition of Hanuman, the Monkey-god, and his army of apes, that figured in the Ramagana, the war carried on by Rama, for the recovery of his bride Sita-the Helen of the Hindoo Iliad. Lillee, or, the Fair of Hurdwar,' and "The Rose of Hurdwar,' will be read with much interest; and if we had not had a particular account, in some late travels, of that place, we should have been tempted to extract Mr. Shipp's description. By way of a fair specimen of his qualifications as a novelist, we might, if we had space, present our readers with 'The Fakir,' or mendicant priest, who, maddened by the consciousness of his crimes and his severe penances, imagined himself transformed into a demon, and was found in a fort of Muckwanpoor. But perhaps a most temple abandoned by the enemy, near the characteristic portrait of one of those bandits by profession, common in India, and seen by Mr. Shipp at Loodeanna, the frontier station of our empire, in the Upper Provinces, may not be unacceptable; and we give it in the words of the intelligent author.

'My ancestors were of undoubted rank and consequence. The father of my father, for instance, held the distinguished appointment of leader of one of the most extensive and best organized bands of itinerant robbers that ever subsisted by plunder. My mother, too, was the daughter of a noble fellow, who commanded no less than a hundred vagrant followers, the terror of the country for as many miles round. Of the whole of these my tutor was his especial favourite. There was not a spot upon the head of this my venerable instructor, when he wore the grey hairs of eighty, on which you could place a rupee without its touching a brace of sabrescars. In short, he had received more cuts than

there are days in the year, and prided himself highly on these numerous marks of gallantry and honourable achievement. He had been for nearly seventy years faithful to the society to period had brought many a man to an unexwhich he belonged, and in the course of that pected end. His boasted trophy was a strange one-the tips of the noses of those who had fallen beneath his arm; these he carefully preserved, and he would occasionally exhibit them as proofs of his valour. In skill and agility he was with

out equal in the troop: he was as active as the monkey, as cunning as the fox, and as coldblooded as the gaunt wolf. Under the tuition of this accomplished master, (who was well known at Loodeanna by the name of Bollicadassas, from his frequent robberies in that neighbourhood,) I had every reason to hope, by common application, to become a distinguished practitioner in the same line."

"True," said I, interrupting my informant, "and yet it would appear, from the iron fetters which you now wear, that you did not profit much by your superior education."

"Why, as to that," replied he, "if you have an hour to spare, I will tell you how it happened," and he continued as follows:

was

if

"Having acquired the rudiments of my profession, under my experienced teacher, I at length pronounced by him fully competent to undertake a job at my own risk, and for my own benefit. As this, my first commission, was rather adroitly performed, the particulars of the affair may perhaps serve to amuse you. We had received information that a young British officer, who had recently arrived from England, was on his way to join the force then lying at Loodeanna. The plucking of this bird was entrusted entirely to my management, and I therefore started to meet him. At about thirty miles from the station of Loodeanna, I found him snugly encamped in a small and solitary toop on the margin of a village. When I spied him he was puffing away at a most beautiful hookah, with a silver mouth-piece and surpoose. 'Lah kho cah,' -thought I to myself, 'it shall not be long before -that fine smoking apparatus changes owners, no better luck await me.' Thus laudably resolved, I hovered about the tent, and reconnoitred its localities, when the smooth-faced boy observing me, exclaimed, 'Holloa! you black rascal! what the devil do you do here? come this way.'-'Yes, massa,' I answered; at the same time advancing towards him.' Then you understand English do you?' said he.-'Oh, yes,' replied I, as well as you do.'-' I dare say you do,' said the young wiseacre, with a knowing air,-(you must doubtless have observed, Sahib, that your raw travellers, and especially the beardless youngsters who come to India as cadets, always think themselves gifted with extraordinary penetration and wit, which confer on them, as they suppose, the privilege of treating all whom they consider their inferiors as knaves and fools. It makes me chuckle when I reflect how often this self-complacency and ill-timed insolence have facilitated my views upon their purses and property-but to preceed:) I dare say you do,' said he; and thieving too to perfection; but what do you want prying about my tent here?' I told him that I wanted employment. 'Good,' said he; but what can you do? Can you steal a horse?'— 'Ah, no, Massa,' answered I, 'you are too hard on your poor servant.'- In what then do you excel?' asked he: can you run?'—' Run !' said I; 'yes-like a buck:'- whereupon, making a sudden snatch at his silver surpoose, arrackdar, and mouth-piece, of which I possessed myself in an instant, I took to my heels, and was out of sight in the twinkling of an eye. Horses were soon saddled, and in pursuit of me. I had worn until this time a large beard, and the dress of an old man; but finding myself too closely followed by the enemy I threw my disguise as well as my booty into a dry well, and then, retracing my steps with great deliberation, I met my pursuers with apparent unconcern. The young Sub, almost mad with rage that he should have been so completely outwitted, eyeing me as I came up, without recognizing me, asked, with breathless anxiety, if I had seen a person running in that direction. What! the fellow with a long beard?' replied I: 'yes, I met him about five hundred yards off, and saw him take

horse by the tree which you see yonder.' This was enough: off went the whole party helter skelter in the direction I had pointed out to them, while I, intent on more certain game, made with rapid strides towards young master's tent. Here I found a single bearer only, and him I desired to take some ropes to his master without delay, to bind the thief, whom I had seen him catch. Off started the bearer, leaving me to keep watch over his employer's property. This I did with great caution until he was fairly out of sight, and then, breaking open Massa's camel trunks, I extracted therefrom a hundred and fifty rupees, (which, I need scarcely observe, were all that I could find,) and a few other trifles not worth mentioning—such as a watch, a silver snuff-box, two gold rings, and the like. All these I arranged in a very snug and portable little dressing-case, and scampered off towards Loodeanna, with my prize, as fast as my legs would carry me.

are not held in much estimation by those who know the use of their fingers at meals. When melted down, however, they served to make bangles for my children, and, as one cannot in this world always expect the full completion of one's wishes, I was obliged to be contented.

"Having quitted Loodeanna, and having been concerned in innumerable adventures similar to these which I have related, in other places, with varied success, my cast of features, however skilfully disguised, became at length a little too well known in the different cantonments; so, as I had now a numerous family, for whose maintenance it was absolutely necessary that I should be industriously occupied, and had acquired a high reputation among my comrades for courage and craft, I resolved on taking entirely to the road for the future, not only as relieving me, for the time, from the fear of detection and apprehension, respecting which I began to entertain some qualms, but also as presenting the advantage of a more extensive sphere of action, in which my comprehensive and enterprising genius might be adequately employed."

part of the world, and as one reason, out of many, why we always prefer robbing them in preference to our countrymen. One morning, at a very early hour, I was on the scout, and met an old officer riding towards Loodeanna. I liked the looks of this grey-headed veteran, as well as the splendid appearance of his retinue. There were no half-clad, half-starved followers, such as your poor devils of lieutenants hire, but pampered, well-dressed menials, who did credit to their keep and clothes. Before this cavalcade reached me I turned towards Loodeanna, and

“Thus ended, to my credit as well as profit, my first business transaction. But I had not yet fully accomplished my designs on this pert and conceited stripling, who, as I had reason to believe, had still in his possession numerous little My first adventure on the road," continued articles which might be useful to myself or my the grinning convict, " you may perhaps think friends. The next morning, therefore, I repaired worthy of relation, as it will serve at once as a to the station of Loodeanna, and had the satis-proof how easily the English are gulled in this faction of seeing my victim enter, with dejected countenance, into the cantonments. I passed him without being recognized, and gave him one of my best salaams. Shortly after this I sported a fine pair of red whiskers, with moustachios of the same colour, and tendered my services as a chokeydar (watchman), to guard his property and person against the tricks of the petty cantonment pilferers. I was fortunate enough to be accepted, and the very following night, when he was boozing with his new companions at the mess, I took a fancy to his double-barrelled gun and a pair of beautiful pistols, which were nicely packed together in a case. I wish all officers would be equally careful, it would save poor thieves a vast deal of trouble; and I really must say, in favour of the young gentleman of whom I am speaking, that he certainly kept his little valuables in very neat and portable order. But I am straying from my story, and I fear shall exhaust your patience.

"I took a fancy, as I said before, to the gun and pistols, and of course, therefore, did not hesitate to take them into my own keeping without delay. Having deposited my new acquisition in a place of safety, I began to reflect on the best way of disposing of myself; and it very naturally occurred to me that it would not be particularly desirable to show my face again at my new master's; indeed, it seemed pretty obvious, that if I had anything further to do at Loodeanna, it should be accomplished with all practicable despatch. I therefore left the station at once, and went, with two of my companions, and drew up the silver surpoose, clothes, &c. from the well where they were deposited; but, about midnight, as I knew that the general had invited a large party, I returned to Loodeanna by bye-roads, and assuming the dress of a Khitmutgar, I made direct for the general's cook-house, and mixed, without suspicion, with the servants engaged for the occasion. Here, before I took my leave, I managed to increase my possessions by the addition of a tolerably good-looking camel-hair cloak, belonging to one of the party, and a few silver spoons, &c. which were lying about as though in want of a proprietor. But to say the truth, I was greatly disappointed in this affair, for I had expected a much richer booty, and this, I was well aware, was my last chance in Loodeanna. The cloak, to be sure, was a decided prize, it being an article which I absolutely stood in need of for my own personal comfort, for the winter season was fast approaching; but as to spoons, they

walked slowly on. I was in the disguise of a mendicant priest, with two baskets tied on the end of two sticks, such as pilgrims here carry on their journies. On the old general's passing me, I gave him the usual greeting, and asked for alms, but not a single pice could I extract from him, and I was told, by an impudent fellow of a chupprassee to furruck, (get out of the way.) This order I obeyed with seeming respect, and, drawing back a short distance to let the old curmudgeon pass, I joined in with the servants in the rear, from whom I learnt that their master was a general. So much the better,' thought I; I may have a rare haul here, if I manage matters well. Resolved to take active measures immediately I slunk behind, and withdrew to a spot where I knew I should find a party of my own tribe. Here I changed my dress, and instantly started again to overtake the noble general, carrying on my head some fowls and chickens for sale. I found the old gentleman seated at breakfast under a tree; but it was some time before I could strike a bargain with him. At last, however, I agreed to let him have my whole stock for a rupee, which he told me to get from the sirdar-bearer. Thus commissioned, I went to a large double pole-tent to demand my money, and imagine my delight, Sahib, when the incautious bearer pulled out a huge bag of rupees! This was no doubt intended to impress me with a high idea of his consequence. Some delay now occurred, in consequence of this trusty treasurer's claiming, as his own perquisite, four anas as dustooree (custom,) which he insisted on being deducted from the rupee that he was to pay me. This imposition I affected to resist, in order to gain time; and during the interval thus afforded me, I availed myself of the opportunity of examining how every thing was arranged in the tent, with a view to future operations. The negoci ation concluded, I went and salaamed the general, who told me I might call again when I had