SHOPS. 55 



the colony, or enter an inn or dwelling-house, 

 without seeing this class of birds hung about in 

 cages, and having his ears assailed by the 

 screeching, babbling, and whistling noises 

 which issue from their vocal organs : it is the 

 street music of the colony, and " pretty polly," 

 " sweet polly," are tender sounds which issue from 

 the exterior as well as interior of every dwelling. 

 These birds are evidently gifted with the bump 

 of talkativeness. It was once asserted, that 

 ladies kept the birds to converse with when 

 alone, which served a double purpose — that 

 of being to them both practice and amusement. 

 The best view of the town, shipping, and ad- 

 jacent country is that seen from the "rocks," 

 and the prospect afforded from this elevated 

 situation is very fine. Shops of all kinds are 

 rapidly multiplying; and lately there have been 

 extensive emigrations of artisans of all descrip- 

 tions from every part of the united kingdom ; 

 butchers, bakers, pastrycooks, provision mer- 

 chants, shoemakers, apothecaries, fancy-bread 

 bakers, booksellers, &c. &c. are numerous, and 

 have neat, and some even elegant shops ; the 

 press sends forth their cards and circulars, and 

 large posting bills, printed in a neat and even 

 superior manner, equal to any similar produc- 

 tion in our country towns in England. Circu- 



