278 NOTES OF THE MONTH. 



bound in charitv to do, that his reverence possesses such disposition— 

 almost invariably gives up the unequal contest. It was stated a short 

 lime since, that this riglit reverend gentleman, who by the way. like 

 most of his brethren, is possessed of corporeal proportions which any 

 alderman might envy, always sleeps most soundly when there is a noisy 

 debate. If so— if the Right Reverend Father's slumbers are sound or 

 otherwise, in proportion to the noise which prevails around him, we 

 would advise him, by all means, to take up his residence as near as he 

 can, consistently with the safety of his person, to the falls of Niagara. 

 If noise be the only prescription which can operate a sound slumber, 

 we promise him that, if he adopt our friendly counsel, he will enjoy 

 the most profound repose. In the meantime we put it to our readers 

 whether there would be any harm in relieving such a personage 

 from his arduous legislative duties. 



Economy of the Public Monky. — Economy of the public money, 

 we are happy to perceive, is now the order of the day, in high as well 

 as in low places. Two magistrates, members of one of the reformed town 

 councils in Scotland, some time ago walked on foot a distance of twelve 

 miles on the business of the " gude town," and though they were absent 

 from their homes the whole of the day, they only " consumed" a gill of 

 whiskev, price three-pence half-penny, and masticated two biscuits, price 

 one penny each, which, with a penny to the waiter, amounted altogether 

 to the sum of sixpence-halfpenny. This account against the borough 

 was no sooner presented than the treasurer was authorized by the council 

 to pay it. The payment of the sum so incurred for this specimen of 

 gastronomical moderation, was accompanied by a unanimous vote of 

 thanks. And well might the town council reward the abstinence of the 

 two gentlemen with this assurance of its sense of their rigid economy ; 

 for on every occasion in which a similar visit, under the close burgh 

 regime, was paid to the same place, the expenses, between coach hire, eat- 

 ing, and drinking, and " incidentals," amounted, on an average, to nearly 

 as'many pounds as there were pennies in this case. Whether the economy 

 of the public money, which is now beginning to be manifested in higher 

 places, is to be ascribed to the example of the Scotch Town Council to 

 which'we have referred, — is a point on which we are not in a condition to 

 express an opinion. It sufficeth us, audit ought to suffice the public, to 

 know the fact, that not only a disposition but a determination to econo- 

 mize the public money, is now visible in all quarters. The Morning 

 Herald, which is most exemplary in its attention to all such matters, 

 contained, a few days since, the following paragraph :— 



" The daily papers rear' by llie Judges in Westminster Hall, are now hired out, 

 not purchased, from considerations of economy." 



This is exactly as it should be : we only wish it had been a little sooner : 

 however, better late than never. The same regard for the economical 

 use of the public money is fully entertained by his Majesty's Ministers. 

 It is not long since they unanimously resolved to discontinue taking in, 

 which had been done from time immemorial, the daily papers, with one 

 exception, which it is unnecessary to name. That one, it is understood, 

 serves all' the Members of the Cabinet. Figaro in London, price one 



