old curmudgeon by a general subscription, which would presently be filled."

"It is not as if there were no monied people in the neighbourhood," said the elder Mr. Frampton, with a consequential look, evidently meant to restrict that distinction to his own person.

During the latter speeches, Penguin had taken an opportunity of informing Dr. Dotterel in a whisper, that his companion, a distant connexion of his own, and the adopted son of the late Captain Tenby, of the Royal Navy, who had left him a handsome fortune, talked of purchasing an estate and settling in the vicinity of Thaxted, a communication which had such a manifest effect upon the Doctor's estimate of the stranger, that he leaned forward out of the window of his carriage, and said to Henry, with a half bow-" So I find, Mr. Melcomb, that you are likely to become one of our neighbours. Ahem! Well, I protest, it's singular that we should all meet together! And as I may look upon you as one of my future parishioners, and as a gentleman having an undoubted-ahem!-that is to say, about to hold

property in the neighhourhood; I cannot for a moment entertain a question-in fact, a doubt, that you will consider it your duty-yes, Sir, your bounden duty, should you become one of us, to co-operate in putting down this mostahem!-this most abominable nuisance!"

"It is not probable that I shall ever be authorised to interfere in this matter," said Henry; "but if I were, I should most certainly exercise my influence in supporting, not in suppressing the fair, for if it be held by the lord of the manor, as one of these gentlemen has just observed, I doubt whether the magistrates have any legal right to interpose; and even it be not, I am sure there could be neither justice nor right feeling in such a measure."

"I protest, Sir, that I should be glad to hear a reason assigned for such a very-hem! very extraordinary opinion."

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"I think the amusements of the poor, who have most need, of recreation, are already infinitely too much curtailed," continued Henry; "and I have heard no valid reason assigned for still farther limiting them in the present instance. Horse races occasion a much greater

assemblage of rogues, vagabonds, and piepockets, than a fair; and until I see the gentry voluntarily suppressing the sports of the turf, and hunting, and shooting, as well as balls, concerts, and operas, none of which are free from objections, I cannot lend myself to that partial morality, which directs its indignation exclusively against the amusements of the lower orders. Surely the labouring classes require relaxation more than those who never toil; and if the magistrates must interfere at all, I should recommend them to begin with racing, and the sports of the field, which, as they cannot be practised without gambling, wrangling, and wanton cruelty, are infinitely more immoral than the noisy merriment, or even the occasional intemperance of a fair."

"I protest, Sir," said Dr. Dotterel, squeezing himself back into his carriage with some difficulty and a good deal of horror, “I never in all my life heard-hem !—such unprecedented,―revolutionary,—they are, in fact, as I may say, completely so." And turning away his eyes from Henry, as if he considered him unworthy of any farther notice, he continued,

addressing himself to Frank Ringwood, "You cannot surely deny, Mr. Ringwood, the mischiefs that spring from this scene of vice and iniquity-hem!—yes, Sir, iniquity, since only last year there was a case in pint"—

"In point," audibly ejaculated Henry.

"It so happened," pursued the Doctor, not noticing this little interruption-" It so happened, Mr. Ringwood-how it was, I protest, I cannot immediately discover; that is to say, recollect,―hem!—but just at that time my carriage was mending—”

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Being mended," again interposed Henry, as if talking to himself, and yet loud enough to be heard by all the party.

"I cannot submit to this," said the Doctor, reddening; "I protest it is absolutely,-nay, worse! Good evening, Mr. Ringwood,-I will tell you another time what I was about to state. Mr. Frampton, I will do myself the honour of calling at the Hall. Drive on, coachman, drive

on.

Aha!-shocking! shocking!—I hope we are not going to have any radicals in the parish. Drive on-home! home!-hem!"

"If the gentleman held any property in the

neighbourhood," said Mr. Frampton," he would not, probably, entertain such wild and dangerous notions. We, of the landed interest-"

""Pon my honour, Sir," interposed the Captain," the dust of the Doctor's coach is quite intawlerable, ain't it now? Railly, his horses ought not to be allowed to powder gentlemen's trowsers in this shocking manner. Shall I drive on?-Suppress racing and hunting! Never heard such an extror'nary proposition; perfectly redeeculous and laughable, 'pon my honour !" So saying, he nodded to Ringwood, displaying his white teeth in spite of the dust, and drove off, neither himself nor his father taking any farther notice of Henry or Penguin.

"Gadzooks! my young friend,” cried the latter, with a look of chagrin, "how could you think of expressing your opinions so unguardedly? I'm sadly afraid you have offended the worthy Doctor, as well as Mr. Frampton; both of them gentlemen of the first consequer.ce in this neighbourhood."

"My opinion was asked; I spoke what I thought; and I should have done the same had they been emperors. In my estimation, truth