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DRESS OF THE CLERGY—Temp. EDWARD III. 301

him something god-like, and only prays to be admitted to lie at his feet. When he went back to Ireland, this Ariadne, not content to remain in her isle, pursued the fugitive Dean. In vain he protested, he vowed, he soothed, and bullied; the news of the Dean's marriage with Stella at last came to her, and it killed her she died of that passion. And when she died, and Stella heard that Swift had written beautifully regarding her, "That does not surprise me,” said Mrs Stella, “for we all know the Dean could write beautifully about a broomstick."

A PACIFIC CONVERSION.

MONG the savages of the Pacific Ocean, Jorgensen, in his "Account of the State of Christianity in Otaheite," speaks of Otoo, king of Ulitecah, who came on board the ship in which the missionary travelled, and, putting on a most sanctified face, said: "Master, Christ very good, very fine fellow, me love him like my own brother; give me one glass brandy." His majesty's desires, however, increased glass after glass; till, at length, he became noisy, and swore he would recant all he had said, if they did not give him more brandy. He was refused, and then, breaking out into the most horrid imprecations, he jumped swearing overboard, and swam to the shore.

DRESS OF THE CLERGY-Temp. EDWARD III.

HE best writers have recognised the clerical tone of manners as significant of the social condition of each period. Fielding's parsons, Sir Roger's chaplain in the Spectator, the Stiggins of Dickens, and Honeyman of Thackeray, are but a popular reflex of the abuses of the profession prevalent at the times of these respective writings. In

Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales" we find the two extremes, the saint-like parish priest, and the gay worldly monk. Unfortunately this last type was much more general than the former. Extravagance of dress, in the reign of the Third Edward, was by no means confined to the laity: the prevailing excesses of the clergy as to garments and trappings gave great scandal to the people. Men holding ecclesiastical dignities, parsonages, prebends, benefices with cure of souls, thought scorn of tonsure, which was considered a mark of separation from the laity and of dedication to the service of religion; so they allowed their hair to hang down on their shoulders. They loved to apparel themselves like soldiers rather than clerics, with an upper jump remarkably short and wide; they had long hanging sleeves not covering the elbows; their hair was curled and powdered; they wore caps with tippets of a wonderful length; many rings on their fingers; had long beards; were girt with costly girdles, to which were attached embroidered and otherwise ornamented purses; they had knives hanging at their sides, to look like swords. Their shoes were chequered with red and green, exceedingly long and pointed, and variously painted; they had, moreover, ornamental cruppers to their saddles, and baubles hanging from their horses' necks, and their cloaks were furred at the edge, contrary to canonical sanction. In short, the clergy kept pace with the laity, and these extravagances of churchmen were but the true reflection of those wildly-dressing times.

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JUST IN TIME.

HEN Dr Paley had finished his "Moral Philosophy," the manuscript was offered to Mr Faulder, of Bond Street, for one hundred guineas, but that bookseller declined the risk of publishing it on his own account. When it was published, and the success of the work had been in some degree ascertained, the author again offered it to the same bibliopole

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for £300, but he refused to give more than £250. While this negotiation was pending, a bookseller from Carlisle happening to call on an eminent publisher in Paternoster Row, was commissioned by him to offer Dr Paley £1000 for the copyright of his work. The bookseller, on his return to Carlisle, duly executed his commission, which, as there were no electric telegraphs in those days, was communicated without delay, by letter, to the Bishop of Clonfert, who being just then in London, had undertaken the management of the affair. "Never did I suffer so much anxious fear," said Dr Paley, in relating the circumstance, "as on this occasion, lest my friend should have concluded the bargain with Mr Faulder before my letter could reach him." Luckily he had not; but, on receiving the letter went immediately into Bond Street, and made his new demand. Mr Faulder, though in no small degree surprised and astonished at the advance, agreed for the sum required before the bishop left the house.

BASHFUL COURTSHIP.

HE Rev. John Brown, of Haddington, the well-known author of the "Self-Interpreting Bible," was a man of singular bashfulness. In proof of the truth of this statement I need only state that his courtship lasted seven years. Six years and a half had passed away, and the reverend gentleman had got no further than he had been the first six days. This state of things became intolerable; a step in advance must be made, and Mr Brown summoned all his courage for the deed. "Janet," said he one day, as they sat in solemn silence, "we've been acquainted now six years an' mair, and I 've ne'er gotten a kiss yet. D'ye think I might take one, my bonnie lass? "Just as you like, John; only be becoming and proper wi' it." "Surely, Janet; we 'll ask a blessing." The blessing was asked, the kiss was taken, and the worthy divine, perfectly overpowered

with the blissful sensation, most rapturously exclaimed, "Heigh! lass, but it is gude. We'll return thanks." Six months after, the pious couple were made one flesh, and, added his descendant, who humorously told the tale, "a happier couple never spent a long and useful life together."

"LE PAUVRE HOMME!"

HE Venerable James Croft, Archdeacon and Canon and Residentiary of Canterbury, whose death, at the advanced age of eighty-five, was recently announced, has received, according to computation, no less than £160,000, besides windfalls, from the church during the sixty years since he became a clergyman. In addition to his archdeaconry, which was worth £1000 a year, he held two of the best livings in the province of Canterbury, namely, that of Saltwood, near Hythe, valued at £784 per annum, and that of Cliffe-at-Hoo, near Rochester, valued at £1297 per annum. He was the son of a cathedral dignitary, and married the daughter of the late Archbishop Sutton.

PERSEVERANCE.

HE Rev. William Cary, curate of Lastleigh, in Devonshire, completed in the year 1809 a work entitled "A System of Divinity," which extends to twenty-six volumes. He first attempted to publish it by subscription, but not succeeding, he formed the singular resolution of printing it by his own hand-labour. To effect this he purchased as many worn-out types of a country printer as were sufficient to set up two pages, and made a printing-press. With these materials he went to work in 1795, performing every operation himself, and working off page by page. He struck off forty copies of the first three hundred pages, twenty six of which he distributed

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among the Universities, the bishops, the Royal Society, and the reviewers. Disappointed at not receiving the encouragement he expected from this proceeding, he resolved to spare himself any further expense of paper upon those before whom he had thrown pearls in vain; and as he had only reserved fourteen copies of the forty with which he had commenced, fourteen only he continued to print, and at the end of twelve years of unremitting toil, he finished the whole twenty-six volumes; a rare morceau for the bibliomaniacs of future centuries! A parallel to this thankless perseverance is to be found in Fransham, the Norwich Pagan, who died in 1811. He one day made this remark: "Every man has some great object which he wishes to accomplish, and why should not I have mine? I will choose such a one as no mortal being ever yet chose! I will get a cup and ball, and I will catch the ball on the spiked end, 666,666 times." And this he is said to have actually accomplished.

TRANSLATION.

WELSH curate having preached several sermons which were considered superior to his own powers of composition, was asked by a friend how he managed? He replied: "Do you see, I have got a volume of sermons by one Tillotson, and a very good book it is; so I translate one of the sermons into Welsh, and then back again into English; after which the devil himself would not know it again."

RUNNING FOR A LIVING

SPORTING clergyman, at a coursing meeting in Wiltshire, produced a greyhound that beat the whole county. The dog was much admired, and a nobleman who was present expressed a violent desire to have him. This

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