464 NOTES OF THE MONTH. 



fair tradesman ; nevertheless, she desired to see some narrow ribbon, 

 of the same pattern, which the man-milliner admitted he could not 

 produce. The lady then desired that the quantity she required should 

 be cut from the piece, at the price marked ; but, in defiance of all 

 expostulation, her request was refused, and impertinence was added 

 to deception !" 



We remember another instance, and had the satifaction of hearing 

 it related by the chief actor, who chuckled over this chef-d 'ceuvre 

 with all the pride of interest. A lady passing by a shop in the bo- 

 rough, observed some stockings ticketed in a shop window, which she 

 thought worth the money, and went into the shop to purchase ; but 

 being rather suspicious of our honest tradesman, she insisted upon 

 having the very stockings she pointed out, and taking them home. 

 This was a puzzler for our honest tradesman. In vain did he shew 

 other stockings : in vain did he offer to send them any distance it 

 was diamond cut diamond j the lady was as keen as he. At last a 

 luminous idea of roguery was made manifest to him he was instantly 

 all acquiescence. He folded up the identicalhose, and giving them to 

 his boy, Rees, desired him to accompany the lady he could not think 

 of her carrying a parcel, he would rather accompany her himself. 

 His politeness was quite overwhelming. Away went the lady, 

 delighted with her bargain, and followed by the obsequious Rees. 

 No sooner had they crossed the threshold, than calling to other 

 assistants, the honest tradesman made the following disposition to re- 

 trieve his character as a tradesman, and his stockings : " Here, 

 Jones, do you follow the customer ; and if she turns any where, place 

 yourself at the corner of the street, and keep her in sight : you Ap 

 'Griffiths, follow Jones, and keep him in sight ; and you Howell, stand 

 at the door, and keep a sharp look out on Ap Griffiths/' The honest 

 man, delighted with his invention, " put up" a remarkably inferior 

 pair of stockings, folding them in a similar manner, and away went 

 Howell with the parcel after Ap Griffiths ; Ap Griffiths relieving him 

 of the treasure, soon overtook Jones, and Jones taking the parcel, 

 flew after the lady, whom, after dexterously exchanging parcels with 

 her attendant, Rees, he left on her way rejoicing. 



SENATORS ANCIENT AND MODERN. The aristocracy of all countries 

 is vastly inferior to the mass of the people, in general intelligence, 

 activity of mind, and in all that relates to the improvement of the 

 social condition of mankind. Is any national benefit suggested? it 

 takes years before the legislature will make it a law see the slow 

 progress of rail-ways and steam-carriages, solely because of the 

 obstructions created by the legislature. The Birmingham rail-way is 

 a grand national work involving the interests of millions, yet it was 

 thrown out of the House of Lords last session in consequence of its 

 touching upon some " noble lord's" estates ; and a toll was actually 

 imposed upon steam carriages amounting to their prohibition, by the 

 House of Commons ! This scandalous law, however, was rescinded, 

 though after great delay and disappointment, by some enlightened 

 member shewing the barbarian, the heathen folly of such a check to 

 science. Every improvement is considered by a great proportion of 



