dram-shop, assuring him that a splendid place would draw customers, and it has succeeded excellently, and for a time it helped us. The private rooms, too, behind the public-houses, so that no noise could be heard in the streets, and from whence, by a back way, they could convey their fuddled customers to our houses, was your -plan, if I mistake not ?"

"Yes, madam," replied Sharkish, elated at the praise poured upon him, "I schemed all that, and I think the union I mention now, would do well too.”

"I think it will, Mr. Sharkish," observed Mrs. Cheatum, " we will consider it; come, let us go in and have a drop of the cream of the valley,' that will brighten our wits, and we need have them sharpened now; come, let's in.'

66

Why, I don't know about 'cream of the valley,"" simpered out Gullum, at the same time thrusting his hands into his pockets, as if to grasp hold on the coin, and to calculate if by any means he could hold fast his money, and at the same time accede to the invitation.

"I don't feel," muttered Gullum, " as how, I can take any thing more; our confounded ill-luck this morning, has almost capsized me."

"Thou gin-loving sot at the expense of another," vociferated the discerning Mrs. Cheatum; "You can't take any more, eh? And do you imagine we are to be so gulled by you, Mr. Gullum? no, no! tricks upon old travellers won't do; I've had my mettle touched to-day already, and I'll not bear another insult and fraud from any one, and from you, Mr. Gullum, least of all. Did'nt I stand the last treat?" roared out the infuriated woman, maddened by the recollection of the loss she had sustained by her lodgers having deserted her "Out of my way;" continued the virago, to Sharkish, as she sprang furiously towards the now trembling Gullum, between whom and the female fury he had dexterously placed himself—“Out of my way, and I'll leave a receipt in full, upon his sponging face, if these good finger nails of mine don't deceive me; or I'll so squeeze his wizzen as to make him long for drink when he won't be able to swallow it-out of my way I say."

"Let's have no fighting in the street," Mrs. Cheatum, rejoined Sharkish, "we know Gullum of old, he is a reg'lar dunghill—a thing that has no pluck. But recol

lect our respectability is at stake; I would not for the price of twenty pints of the 'cream of the valley,' we should lose that-it is indeed the only thing we have now to depend upon. I'll stand treat: let us join and consider what we are to do, and as for Mr. Gullum, as he can't drink any more, why we can do without him, and we shan't require his company any more."

"Mrs. Cheatum," observed Gullum, "you are too hasty; Mr. Sharkish, you wrong me, 'pon my honour you do. I never intended to behave so meanly as you have stated. It is true that I did'nt just then think I could take any more, however, I'll try; our bad success this morning, you know, is discouraging; and I, that is"

The kindling wrath which he saw in the flashing eye, and clenched fist of Mrs. Cheatum, alarmed the stammering creature: to calm down which, he declared altho' he might not be able to drink, he so highly applauded the suggestion of his esteemed friend, Sharkish, in reference to putting down those nuisances to comfort and well-doing, Temperance Societies, that he wished above all things to consider it over a pint of 'cream of the valley,' and he therefore insisted on being allowed to stand treat on this occasion.

The compliment paid to Sharkish acted as he wished and expected: he very warmly defended Gullum, although in his heart he believed him to be an arrant villain; while Mrs. Cheatum, prompted by the advice of Sharkish, passed by the supposed meanness of their gulling friend, and in softened tones observed-"Oh! very well, Mr. Gullum, if that's what you mean, we have no objection. I dare say little or none can exist; but you'll be able to take a small quantity with us; and if you cannot, why Mr. Sharkish and myself will still prove ourselves your firm friends by taking your share for you."

Matters being thus far settled, Mrs. Cheatum's original proposition was acceded to; and the party, entering the house, called for a pint of 'cream of the valley, 'over which they sat deliberating while they had power to think, determining unanimously that they would raise some scheme to put down Temperance Societies, and accommodate as heretofore (that is, rob) sailors, or there were no snakes in Virginia.

A VIEW of the ocean, even when comparatively still, awakens in the mind vivid thoughts of the majesty of the Creator. The vast expanse of waters, and its seemingly unfathomable depth, compel man, however unwillingly, to contemplate his own littleness, and the greatness of that Being who formed the sea as well as the dry land. In a storm, however, this feeling is deepened into awe. The waves, running mountains high, and increasing as they roll onwards to the shore, carry every thing in their progress. Huge masses of rock are dashed from their places with as much ease as the downy feathers from the breast of a bird; and as the water rushes through the different fissures in the rocks, its sound is as the roaring of a thousand beasts of prey.

In no part of the world is the scenery of a more romantic character than on the north-west extremity of England. The rugged cliffs, against which the sea beats incessantly, rear their heads hundreds of feet above its spray, and, apparently, bid defiance to the attacks of time; while the sea-birds which are to be seen in every direction, screaming incessantly, now high in the air, now breasting the waves in their pride, and now alighting on every part of the rocks around them, add considerably to the interest

L

of the scene, which cannot be forgotten by one who has ever witnessed it.

Business, some years ago, called me to a town on the north-west coast of Cornwall; and having settled it without much difficulty, I determined to take a tour round the county, as a relief from the bustle of the metropolis. On the second evening of my departure from the town before alluded to, the darkness had gathered in much earlier than on the preceding day. The clouds were very heavy, and the wind huffling, (to use a western term,) that is, blowing in fitful gusts, which continued to increase, until I experienced the utmost difficulty in making any progress; but having learned from the last person I met that there was a public-house near this spot, I hastened on, and at length found myself close to the place I was seeking, before I was aware, so secluded was it in a hollow. Having opened the door, a motley scene presented itself. About a score of miners and hardy-looking seafaring men were seated on benches, drinking and smoking, but much more orderly than might have been expected from such an assemblage. They were listening to something which an old man on one side of the hearth was relating, which had riveted their attention. My entrance put a stop to the conversation for a time; but having satisfied themselves that I was no exciseman, a visit from whom they seemed to deprecate from some reason or other, which I afterwards learned, the speaker proceeded. I recollect it was a marvellous tale of some one's having thrice dreamed of finding a quantity of money in an old iron pot in the ruins of a castle, and on digging in the place described to some depth, having his dream fulfilled; leaving no doubt on the minds of his hearers as to the truth of the narration, as the identical pot was still to be

seen.

Having dried my clothes and refreshed myself, I was about retiring to rest, when the sound of a gun struck upon our ears. In one minute the house was deserted by all its inmates, including two women, all of whom rushed up the hill at the back of the house, followed by myself, curious to know the meaning of this strange movement.

The wind now blew on shore at the top of its fury, so that it was with great difficulty I reached the hill; however, I still continued to follow, and we struck into a narrow defile, about half a dozen of the party, who had

provided themselves with lanterns, going ahead. In a short time we reached the foot of the cliffs, where we halted on a long beach, it being about half tide, and going out. The guns had not ceased firing; and, by the lightning, which was very vivid, I saw a large three-masted vessel nearing the shore very fast, the attempt to avert the danger being apparently given up by the crew. In about ten minutes from the time of our gaining the beach, she struck on a reef of black rocks, about a pistol-shot from where we were standing; and above the roar of the elements, at times, we could hear the straining of her timbers, as the sea broke over her deck.

Had any attempt been made to save. the wretched crew, no boat could have lived in such a sea; but not a rope was thrown out, not a hand stirred. Indeed, two or three had endeavoured to get to land on spars, and had reached a place where the rocks were not more than two fathoms over their heads, when, if a rope with a running noose had been flung to them, they could have been hauled up without difficulty; but no effort being made, a returning wave washed them into eternity!

I had heard many fearful accounts of the barbarity of the inhabitants of the sea-coast of Cornwall in cases of shipwreck, but such a scene as I witnessed this night I shall never forget. I could not have believed that Englishmen would be guilty of such brutality as I witnessed then, and the following morning. But I proceed.

During the whole night, no one had left the beach, except the two females, who seemed as eagerly watching the destruction of the ship in expectation of booty as the greatest ruffian among them, and only left through the threats of the men, vowing, however, they would return early enough to come in for a share. When the morning dawned, the vessel was discovered on her beam ends, the sea still continuing to run very high, although it had somewhat subsided. Two large boats were then got down the beach and launched; and I went in one, determined, notwithstanding their muttered curses, to go on board, to render what assistance I could. With some difficulty we boarded her on the lee side, and found by her papers she was a Spaniard, bound from Porto Rico to Cadiz, with a cargo of coffee and tobacco, but had been driven thus far from her course. Although a considerable quantity of

L 2