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throw a difficulty in the way, if they were required to take a larger quantity, and to save their money in proportion.

At the approach of New-year's day, tickets are issued, entitling the bearers to receive the Coals, which they have thus so cheaply earned by their own foresight and frugality. In this manner were 250 families secured, during the severity of the last winter, against all the distress, which was felt by others less provident than themselves; and they were afterwards presented by the Gentry with the gift of another bushel to each family as a further reward and encouragement.

It is plain, that upon this system, the Vicar always sustains a loss, greater or less; but this loss as he says himself, is not, upon the whole, so great as the calculation might seem to make it; there being generally a very considerable ingrain, or excess in the measure beyond the 40 chaldrons, which produces at least enough to pay all the expences of the delivery. But, be this as it may, it is probable that there are in most parishes, as there are here, some richer inhabitants, glad to lend their aid to the Clergyman, or any other person, who may be able to afford time and labour only, without. money, for so excellent a charity; but, if not, the Coals might be sold at the cost-price, which will be a sufficient advantage of itself; and if there be any difficulty in raising the money to make the purchase of the stock at the most favourable period, this might be done by the Parish-Officers upon an understanding that they will be repaid in the winter.

I am,

Sir,

A CONSTANT READER.

GAMBLING, OR “A WORD TO THE WISE."

SIR,

I wish to tell you a little affair that happened to me when I was a boy, and it may perhaps be of use to some of your readers.

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I was playing at pitch-halfpenny in the road with some other poor boys like myself; and a gentleman happened to come by and see us; and he asked us whether we had more money than we knew what to do with, as we seemed so fond of gambling it away. We told him, "that we had but little, and to be sure that was the reason why we played to win more.' "But" said he, "you can't all win; and besides, you would be sorry to win your play-fellows' money, should not you?" I did not quite understand the gentleman, for I knew that I had always wished to win, and that I did not at all like to lose. But, it did strike me then, that there was something wrong in being pleased with winning, because it was making the boy that lost unhappy. The gentleman then said, "Let me give you a piece of advice." "Never play at any game for money." There was something so good-natured in the gentleman's manner, that I never could forget the words he spoke, and I have kept to them ever since. I have been in places where I have seen labourers and servants, playing at cards, or skittles, or chuck-farthing, but I never risked a single halfpenny, or laid a single wager. I have, by remembering the gentleman's advice, kept out of many a quarrel, and seen many a man reduced to great distress and misery, whilst I have been all along saving money, and am now worth a very pretty little property, for a man in my station. I have found the Savings'-Bank a great help to me in adding to my little store ;-but I need say nothing about that, as all prudent men know the advantage

of it. I should not forget to tell you that when the gentleman first gave us the advice, all the rest of the boys laughed at him: and I can tell you, for a fact, Sir, that every one of those boys is now a very poor man; and they grumble and growl at their miseries, when they have nobody to thank for them but themselves. The habit of playing for halfpence led by degrees to playing for more, and this brought them into bad company, and into drinking, and so they became very poor and miserable; just as one should expect.

I am, Sir,

Your Constant Reader,
THOMAS SAUNDERSON.

EXTRACTS FROM THE PUBLIC NEWSPAPERS, &c.

66

Cruelty to Animals.-In a case of alleged cruelty to a dog, at the Public-Office, Bow-street, a few days ago, the Magistrates would have punished the offender, but, upon perusing the preamble of the act of parliament, a doubt arose as to whether cruelty to dogs came within its enactments: thé words being any horse, gelding, mare, ox, heifer, steer, sheep, or other cattle," no mention of dogs being made throughout the act. After a deliberation of some length, and after consulting with Mr. Stafford the chief clerk, Mr. Minshull said, that however strongly disposed the magis. strates might be to visit an offence like the present with punishment, yet, in acting upon a penal statute, which gave no appeal to the sessions, it was necessary to construe its provisions strictly, and indeed literally, or great injustice might be done. He and his brother magistrate were of opinion that this case did not come within the statute. Whatever might have been the intention of the legislature, they (the magistrates) could not consider dogs as contemplated in the words " other cattle."-New Times.

Cruelty to Dogs, &c.-Bow-street. A few days ago a person was summoned under Mr. Martin's act, for cruelty to a dog, in throwing hot water over him; but the magistrate could not interfere, as the act extended only to cattle.-Sun.

Another application was made for proceedings against the serant of a poulterer, of Tottenham-court Road, by a gentleman, of the name of Gardiner, who was passing by the shop,

and stated that he saw one of the poulterer's men take a live fowl, and, after slightly twisting its neck, barely sufficient to stun it, placed it between his knees, and began to pluck the large feathers from the wings. The excessive pain caused the poor thing to writhe so violently, that he could with great difficulty hold it: he, however, continued this species of torture until the feathers were off, when he threw it forcibly upon the ground, and it still possessed so much life as to get upon its legs, and attempted to walk. Mr. Gardiner was determined to see the master; who, on the affair being related to him, coolly remarked, that the man had done very properly, as the general practice in the trade was to pluck the fowls in a similar manner, as they had a much better appearance for sale than if plucked after they were dead.. The magistrate, for the same reason as in the preceding case, declined interfering.-Sun.

We had no conception that such a horrible barbarity could be the practice of any trade. If such cruelty is necessary to give to fowls a good appearance,—it is much better that they should have a bad appearance. We believe that persons who buy fowls at a poulterer's are not in the least aware that any such cruel attempts to gratify them are practised. If the appearance of any dish at table is to be improved by the increased misery of the poor animals we are allowed to feed on, this is a wretched temptation, which it would be the pleasure of every humane person to withstand. As our little Work is read by many persons whose stations allow them the luxuries of the table, and as such persons, from their superior education, have been generally taught to abhor such dreadful barbarities, we are sure they will take in good part a hint, to be very particular in their orders, that no needless cruelty should be practised from a false notion of pleasing them. But there cannot be any necessity for this horrible cruelty to fowls:-we country people have seen as good looking chickens at table as can be produced by the London poulterers, where we are sure that no such art has been practised as that which the newspapers record. We sincerely hope, however, and believe, that such cruelty is not the general practice of the trade.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

We have received L.; C. P. F.; U.Y.; J. C.; Literary notice of the third Edition of a "Dictionary of all Religions." A Friend. A Constant Reader, G. H. *D* and S. M.

We are much obliged to *D*, but are supplied with the very thing which he offers us.

THE

Cottager's Monthly Visitor.

AUGUST, 1823.

ACQUAINT YOURSELVES WITH GOD. So fearfully and wonderfully are we made, that it is matter of infinite surprise that our bodies should hold together, and that every part should retain its proper vigour for any length of time. For to what accidents are we not subject both from within and from without? Within,-our bones, sinews, muscles, veins, arteries, flesh, and blood, may at any time be put out of order. Without, the dangers which surround us are innumerable; nay, the very elements neces< sary to our existence may destroy that existence. The air we breathe may freeze us with cold, stifle us with heat, or suffocate us with impurity: fire, so necessary for our comfort, may consume us in its flames: the very meat, which nourishes, may choke us, or create disease; and there is nothing in nature which may not become the means of destroying our frail being. When we think upon these things, how can we account for the health and strength which we actually enjoy? Acquaint yourselves with God," and know that it is His providence which sustains us. "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.” He restrains the evil, and draws forth the better properties of his creatures for their use and comfort.

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And, if the body is thus fearfully beset, how much more fatal are the dangers which encompass the soul. So deadly is the enmity which still exists, NO. 32.-VOL. III. Q

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