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the eye of inquiry to peer into its contents. 

 May it ever be, brother craftsman, as is this 

 glass of Ashborne ale,* which on this cold 

 snowy evening of February, as we are finishing 

 this dry chapter of detail, we cordially quaff to 

 your health and success a brimming bumper ! 



" VIATOR : Believe me, you have good ale in the 

 Morelands, far better than that at Ashborne. 



" PISCATOR : That it may soon be ! for Ashborne has 

 (which is a kind of riddle) always in it, the best malt and 

 the worst ale in England." Cotton. 



Professor Rennie, in a note on this passage, says, 

 " This seems to be something contradictory to what is 

 formerly stated. A friend informs me, that at this time 

 Ashborne ale is quite famous in the northern and inland 

 counties." 



The information of Mr. Rennie's friend is perfectly cor- 

 rect. The ale to be had at the different " hosteleries" of 

 Ashborne is equal, if not superior, in colour, strength, 

 flavour, and purity, to any ale of any town in the kingdom. 

 The famous ale of our favourite old town of Nottingham 

 does not surpass it. E. F. G. 



