Sketches of Character.

(For the Casket.)

THE TAX GATHERER.

No. XXIV.

doomed to bear all the ill-humours and upbraidings of the populace; none of which of right belong to him.'

Tax gatherers are of all shapes and sizes; tall and awkward, short set and lusty, plump, meagre, corpulent, or thin as square built as a Dutch fishing boat, or shaped as handsomely as a Thames galley; their behaviour is as various as their appearance, being either boorish or polite, feeling or indifferent, according to the peculiar bent of their characters or dispositions; their dress is varied according to their peculiar tastes. and their demeanour savours of their habits and education.

But, although differing one from the other in so many, and so important particulars, there is enough about every tax-gatherer,' to mark him out at first sight to the observing eye, without fear of error or mistake, in his proper, his peculiar character. He has his book in his hand, and pen and ink may be seen, in half concealment, in one of his waistcoat pockets; or should he not be collecting,' and these indispensable appendages to his employment be left in safe custody in his writing desk, there is a something in his very appearance which cannot be mistaken; this je ne scai quois, as the French term it, reigns triumphantly upon his visage, the deep laid furrows of which seem to be the channels of calculation and perseverance; his eyes, rolling in vacancy, seem to require a receipt to steady them, and he seems ever ready to call in' upon

a defaulter;' offer him your hand, he will seize it as though it was your moiety of the poor's rate;' and should you ask him what news?' he will answer, that be cannot get any money in;' his look tells of assessments,' his speech of difficulties and seizures,' and the very cut of his coat points out' per centage."

The tax-gatherer,' as his receipts proclaim, is at home' till ten or eleven in the morning, up to which time he re

ceives arrears, which are due, and hears and determines all suits, &c. relating to an inability to pay on the part *of some, and a fear of paying too much on the part of others; he then sallies forth, his legs in muddy weather duly fortified by spatterdashes or boots; and his whole self defended in winter by a great coat,' which, whatever be his size, is a great coat. House after house, street after street, is visited by this indefatigable searcher after the things that are Cæsar's, Some pay him readily, some begrudgingly, and some never! How many put them off with promises, which they are continually unable to perform! How many vent the indignation which they feel against the tax, upon the agent who had neither part nor lot' in its infliction, upon the innocent collector of it, the tax-gatherer!'

Rainy days are devoted by the taxgatherer,' to arranging his books,' and making out his receipts;' these, trifling as they may appear to some, are no easy tasks; his district' contains some hundreds of tax payers, and to take out from the ' collecting book,' the several items due from each, in the various ramifications of assess, or land tax, poor, church, or four rate, is a work of care and time; and as it sometimes happens, that the tax gatherer' is not the best accountant in the world, occupies to the full as many wet' days, as even our rainy climate can produce,

'The tax-gatherer' is blamed for all the evils which follow him; if he' seizes,' which he is frequently obliged to do, the curses of the unfortunate beings to whom he is the instrument of distress, are poured out upon him without discrimination, and almost without end; he must bear all this with patience, or if he cannot do this, he must bear it without; his days must be devoted to 'collecting,' and his mind must, if he would ever enjoy peace, aid him in the painful, but (to him) necessary duties, which at times devolve upon him.

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'The tax-gatherer' lives and dies in one unchanging course; he collects money, pays it in,' and accounts for it at the audit.' His gossip is of commissioners,'' returned,' and collectors ;' and his time is fully occupied in his calling, which is neither very profitable, nor very desirable. R. J.

iginal Poetry.

HOPE.

As safety, when at distance seen,

As sun, by mist obscured,

As break of day, to those who've been
By night born vapours lured,
As summer show'rs, that bless the
ground,

Which, else would barren prove;
So, the bright beam of Hope is found
Each happier thought to move.
Sorrow, and Care, and Grief, in vain
Their torturing fancies bring,

To rack the heart, where, blithe her strain,

Hope, lovely nymph! can sing; The sleep, her lay to mis'ry gives, Destroys their magic pow'r;

Tho' strong their spell, if Hope but lives,

It lasts but for an hour.

As down life's track the trav'ller hies,
Full oft a flow'ret gay,
Fragrant and blooming, tempting lies
Just in the beaten way;

But there that flow'r would spoilt remain,

Its beauteous texture hid,
Its fragrance trodden on the plains,
If Hope did not forbid.

Dull would the warbling murmurs round
Fall on his listless ear,

Tho' Orpheus' lyre should lend the sound

It would not enter there;

Nor could the welcome smile of Peace

Light in his bosom joy,

If his fond mistress Hope should cease
With each new thought to toy.

Or should a cloud of sorrows, break
O'er his defenceless head,

Or pale faced Sickness rise, to take
Him pris'ner to her bed;
Where could he fly to 'scape from
harm,

If Hope her gate should close?
Or how escape the sadd'ning charm,
If Hope did not oppose?

'Tis on Hope's rock, that frail man builds

His expectation high;

The gaudiest thought that fancy gilds, Will thither eager fly.

'Tis there, alone, the future smiles,
Or bright the present seems,
Fair Hope, alone, from woe beguiles
And through misfortune gleams.
R. J.

Varieties.

ON THE ORIGIN OF WRITING AMONG THE ANCIENTS-AND THE MATERIALS USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. S. Cassiæu was a Christian school. master, and taught children to read or write, at Imala, a city 27 miles from Ravenna, in Italy. A violent persecution being raised among the Christians, probably that of Decius or Valerian, or according to some, that of Julian, he was taken up, and interrogated by the governor of the province. As he constantly refused to sacrifice to the gods, it was commanded that his own scholars should stab him to death with their iron writing pencils, called styles; for at that time it was the custom of scholars to write upon wax, laid on a board of boxen wood, in which they formed the letters with an iron style, or pencil, shaped at one end, but blunt and smooth at the other, to erase what was to be effaced or corrected. They also after wrote on boxen wood itself, as St. Ambrose mentions. As to the above mode of writing, see Casauban in Suet. Echard in Symbolis. p. 536, &c. from Cicero, &c.

Indeed the most ancient manner of writing was a kind of engraving, whereby the letters were formed in tablets of lead, wood, wax, or like materials This was done by styles, made of iron, brass, or bone. Instead of such tablets, leaves of papyrus, a weed which grew on the banks of the Nile, as also on the Ganges, were used first in Egypt; afterwards parchment, made of fine skins of beasts, was invented at Parganum: lastly, paper was invented, which is made of linen cloth. Books anciently writ only on one side, were done up in rolls, and when opened or unfolded, filled a whole room, as Martial complains; but when writ on both sides, on square leaves, were reduced to narrow bounds, as the' same poet observes.

H. M. LANDer.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR INEXPERIENCED

SPORTSMBN IN SHOOTING.

Let your gun be stocked to the muzzle, and as heavy as possible; the first will prevent its easily breaking, and the latter convince your companions of your bodily strength in being able to carry it.

Observe in particular, that the touchhole is large enough; a large touch-. hole has many advantages; in the first place as to the point of communication, and should you happen to lose your priming, a good sound knock on the other side will fill your pan in an instant. If it is apt to go off at half-cock, so much the better; it saves trouble, and you are always prepared.

Let your barrel be kept as bright as possible, and the rays of the sun reflecting from it will dazzle the eyes of your game, and prevent their seeing you; and when placed in a conspicuous part at home will make a much better appearance than one of your dull brown or dark blue pieces.

Let your shooting belts be very large, and that for the shot capable of holding twenty or thirty pounds; it is impossible for you to define what quantity you may want; and besides, when well filled and crossed on your breast, they will have a very handsome appearance, and convince people you intend to kill something.

As to the article of dress, there are various opinions concerning it; some represent boots as absolutely necessary; I think otherwise: get a pair of light thin pumps, with fine cotton or silk stockings; the advantages of being light about the heels are obvious; you will be able to pursue your game, jump over ditches, &c. with much greater ease then in a pair of heavy thick-soled boots; a few thorns running into your feet or legs are trifles not to be regarded by true sportsmen. Be sure you wear a cocked hat in preference to a round one, as it has a more martial appearance, and will not so much obstruct your sight as the latter. The other parts of your dress is immaterial; but at any rate let your coat have long full skirts, this will enable you to cover your gun, and save your priming, if it rains; as to the colour, white, or a good crimson, is, in my opinion, preferable.

In your equipment, do not forget a

game-bag.; as for myself, being like my uncle Geoffry, a plain man, I have generally substituted a large cabbage net, or a pillow-case; let your's be strong and capacious, and capable of carrying three or four pounds of bread and cheese, with a reasonable portion of gin or brandy, or any other liquor you like best.

The next thing to be considered is the choice of dogs; and here again there are various opinions; however, that you may not be at a loss, I advise you to take two or three of each species with you on all occasions; prefer those which bark most, and have the strongest tones, a few half grown puppies will also be serviceable; they will not keep sneaking at your heels like an old dog, but, by their continually frisking and yelping, they will assuredly raise all the game around you.

Some people are apt to despise that useful species of dogs, called curs. But this is an error; for as they are generally a mixture of two or three distinct kinds, it is more than probable they also inherit the respective qualities of their relations and ancestors.

Many sportsmen think a shooting poney a necessary appendage, but if your circumstances will not permit you to purchase one, borrow a Jerusalem hobby, vulgarly called a jack-ass, of some costermonger who has worked I him hard, which, with the hard beating he may have had, will prevent him from being restive; another advantage attending this animal, will be: his occasional braying, which will, very likely, put the birds on the wing.

All I shall say on the article of shot is, that as you are uncertain what kind of game you may meet with, be prepared for all, by loading with a mixture of the different kinds, from Bristol-drop to snipe-shot.

Never go out till the sun has been up some time; this will give you an opportunity of eating a good breakfast, and the dew being off the grass, will prevent your catching cold in your feet.

As you are going to the ground where you expect to meet with game, you may exercise yourself by shooting at crows, cats, or tame fowls; this will bring your hand in, and prevent your startling at the first report of your gun -a thing not unusual to young sportsmen. You may likewise train your

dogs by setting them at the flock of sheep or geese in your way; and your water-spaniels at any pond you may pass, where there are a few tame ducks.

The moment you draw your trigger, be sure you shut both your eyes; this will prevent the priming from hurting them, and you can open them time enough to see where the game falls.

Always carry your piece full cocked with the muzzle parallel with the horizon, you are then ready for any thing, and should you chance by this to lodge a few shot in your companion's breech or body, it is an accident so often happens to sportsmen, it will not be regarded.

Be sure to put powder enough in your gun; and let your wadding be of the strongest and thickest paper you can get; this will prevent the shot from mixing with it; nor be sparing of the latter, as from the quantity, you are less liable to miss your object.

Ram your shot down for at least five minutes, your gun will make the better report, and the execution be more certain.

Always get the wind at your back, if possible; it will hinder the smoke from flying in your eyes, and if the weather be dry, the dust also.

Hammer your flint well with the back of your knife after every discharge, this will give it a fine edge, and prevent your missing fire.

On coming to a bush or copse, beat it with the muzzle of your gun, and shout lustily, this will put your dogs in spirits, and if there is any game, you will be sure to put it up.

On stopping to rest yourself, always put the muzzle of your gun under one arm: it will serve to support you, and prevent any wet or rain from getting down the barrel.

After you have killed all you can, if you should refresh at a hedge-alehouse, assume airs of consequence, curse the practice, and offer a reward for the apprehension of poachers; threaten to discharge your game-keeper, talk of intimacy with great and noble sportsmen, and this will make you appear somebody, and the ignorant rustics will perhaps say you are a gemmun.

When you return home let your game bag be full, if it is only grass; splash yourselves as much as possible,

the dirtier you are, will prove you have been indefatigable in your pursuit; and when you join your associates, give an exaggerated account of your day's sport and what great quantities of game you have distributed to very particular friends on your way home.

SINGULAR CUSTOMS IN SEVERAL PARTS OF ENGLAND.

(For the Casket.)

DEVONSHIRE.- -A superstitious no tion prevails in the western parts of Devonshire, that at twelve o'clock at night on Christmas eve, the oxen in the stalls are always found on their knees, as in attitude of devotion, and that since the alteration of the old style they continue to do this only on the eve of old Christmas day.

An honest countryman being on the edge of St. Stephen's Down, near Launceston, Cornwall, informed me that he once made a trial of the truth of the practice, and watching several oxen in their stalls at the above time, at twelve o'clock at night, they observed the two eldest oxen only fall upon their knees, and, as he expressed it in the idiom of the country, make a cruel moan like Christian creatures.

Hoxton.

T. WARD.

LINES ON A FAIRY.

That little nymph who glides
In air so gracefully;
And on the breezes rides
So light and silently.
With step so soft and light,
And form so thin and airy,
And silken hair so bright;
What is she?she's a fairy.
FRANK.

TO CORRESPONDENTS. A comprehensive Index, Title page, &c. will be given at the end of the volume.

Many interesting communications are unavoidably delayed for want of room. Unpaid letters are uniformly returned to the post office.

Printed and published by CowIE and STRANGE, 60, Paternoster-row and 24, Fetter-lane.

ABOUT thirty years ago, some labouring mechanics met one Saturday evening, after receiving their wages, at a publichouse, near Rippon, in Yorkshire, for the purpose of enjoying themselves convivially, after the cares and fatigues of the week. The glass circulated freely: every man told his story, or sung a song; and various were the subjects of conversation. At length that of courage was introduced; every man now considered himself a hero, as is generally the case when liquor begins to operate. One boasted his skill as a pugilist, and related how many battles he had fought,

and came off victorious; another related a dreadful encounter he had lately had with a mad dog, whom he overpowered and left dead on the field; a third told a story of his sleeping in a haunted house, and his conversation with a dreadful ghost. In short, various and extravagant were the various tales they told; until one, who had hitherto remained silent, arose, and told them that, notwithstanding their boasted courage, he would wager a bet of five guineas, that not one of the company had resolution sufficient to go to the bone-house, in the parish church-yard