yards) the defensive. He became at once violent and abusive. But, watching my opportunity, I grasped his shrivelled body, which was no more in my arms than that of a newborn infant, carried him, without making a charge, comfortably to the door, which was opened by a bystander of our party, and quietly put him out. He bore the expulsion with resignation, fortitude, and magnanimity, aware of his deserts, neither attempting to oppose, retaliate, or return.

A MOROSE, BIGOTED SPECIMEN-MR. PONTIUS

PILATE.

Saturday, November 18th, 1843.- Horncastle, Bull Inn.-About seven P.M. old friend Pontius Pilate, from Leeds, arrived. When I say old friend, I should add that for years we have met pleasantly; but mine is almost a solitary instance, few men having the inclination to form an acquaintance with a being so awfully pedantic, self-confident, and obstinate, who seldom engages in a general conversa

tion, but usually, from his small stock of learning, imagining himself superior to his fellows, and well versed upon every subject, makes himself disagreeable by misapplied remarks and unseasonable criticisms, which, "ever and anon," he thrusts in, ill timed and uncalled for. His bigotry, indeed, carries him so far as to disdain all established rules for a set of cramped opinions of his own, the produce of many years' growth, and now firmly rooted by habit, but differing entirely in many points from all custom either in individuals or communities. So full of crotchets are all his commercial movements, and so systematically arranged are all his plans, which, with a blind resolution he makes up his mind to carry out before he leaves home, that hardly any circumstance, howsoever advantageous, will induce him to deviate from his accustomed routine of previously digested duties. Not even will he wait an additional hour, to receive from some briefly absent client the very best of orders. "Onward! punctual to my time," is his motto. "My time's too valuable to be trifled with; they knew I was coming, and they ought to have been ready for me." — I think, nevertheless, that from the existing competition, whatever the standing of his house may be, or whatsoever good quality he may himself possess as a salesman, he can

do little more than any other man to bend his customers immediately either to his time or purpose. But, even before his friends, from his very nature it is impossible for him to be otherwise than captious, dictatorial, and peevish.

On arriving to-night, after alighting methodically from his chaise, his first duty was to stand by and watch the removal of his horse, every moment complaining that this was done wrong, and that that was not done right. Then, anxiously following his horse to the stable, he gave there a thousand-and-one directions about chilled water, dry bandages, warm horse-cloths, loose boxes, bran mashes, &c. Then he handled and smelt the hay; inquired for the quartern corn measure, and compared it with his own imperial measure, which he always carries as a check to over-reaching landlords or careless and dishonest ostlers. Finally, when about half-an-hour had elapsed, after grumbling at the quantity and quality of the straw, he made his appearance in the room. When there, the bell was rung, and the chambermaid abruptly inquired for; and, upon learning that the bed-room he usually occupied was engaged, his uncharitable tongue gave vent to its usual censoriousness. Though not less than the seventh party in the house, he uttered audibly his anathema at the maid, because he had not

the best room in the inn. The "boots " next received his accustomed rating, with many warnings to be particularly careful as to how he took the things out of his chaise, and to be sure not to poke the pegs upon which the coats were to be hung through the backs of the said garments; or, to make sure doubly sure, he would hang them up himself; and he ("boots") might but carefully place them over a chair back.

The whip then engaged his attention; and every knot untied, and the thong straightened, it was carefully suspended (there being no proper hook) from the point of the cornice pole to which the window drapery was attached. At length, singly but slowly, each garment found its position upon its respective hook; and immediately over them his stick and umbrella. Then, folding his cravat as though intended to be worn, he encircled the dense mass of woollen cloth-not macintosh, no, he too much valued his health to wear macintosh-and the united garments looked as bulky as though enveloping a human being, wanting only the power of speech to say, as some facetious gentlemen write in their hats, "not yours."

These arrangements complete, his accounts and customers briefly engaged his attention, but merely with the view of announcing his

arrival, and putting his business in train for Monday morning. Then, after taking tea, and entering into a little catch conversation, very dogmatically, his company became irksome and disagreeable; for instead of being instructive, as a senior, his interferences were overbearing and offensive. Finding, however, that there were younger men, better educated, and formidable as antagonists, upon fair ground, in the room, who would not brook an insult, after "blowing a cloud" and drinking his grog, he retired before his usual time for bed, evidently dissatisfied with himself at being foiled in his attempt to reign supreme, the chief amongst us. Every one felt delighted at the riddance of the general pest, disgusted as each and all were by his haughty and ungentlemanly bearing.