highest parochial clergy, but it had disappeared before the death of the Queen. The metropolitans of all England, the Archbishops of Canterbury, have still the privilege of conferring knighthood, but for a length of time have never used it. The clergy, after the discontinuance of clerking knights, if of the higher gentry, took the degree of Esquire, and added it to their surname; if of the lower gentry, they added Gentleman. Instances of both these. I have seen in Kent, in parish registers, and in sepulchral inscriptions. A clergyman, whose name I cannot recollect, died not many years since in Kent, who always expected that esquire should be used upon the superscription of his letters, because, he remarked, "My being a clergyman does not abate my gentility; my ancestors were Esquires, and so am I." We now see nothing of this, and I think the prefix Reverend, from the office, is amply sufficient: if a clergyman is of an ennobled family, then he has also Honourable, which precedes Reverend; and if he, by succession or creation, obtains any hereditary honour, it is incorporated, as it were, with his clerical distinction; all this is quite proper. Let me remark, Sir, that I greatly wish our Sovereign would institute an order of knighthood, as a distinction to whoever excels in any line of life. Such there are in some of the countries, I think on the Continent. I would have this called The Order of Merit. It might take in officers in the army and navy, the gentlemen of the law and physic; learned men in whatever station, even clergymen-for why not? artists, mechanics of very superior merit; agriculturists, and in fine, whoever greatly excelled in any walk in life. I really think it would do great good; for it would be a powerful stimulus to persons of all orders and situations, to obtain an envied distinction; and whatever tends to promote piety, virtue, and knowledge, will be regarded by the wise as deserving attention. Every Knight of Merit should wear a small medal, with a suitable device, suspended from his neck, button-hole at his breast, or bound round his right arm, that it might be seen by all whom he approaches. I speak as an individual, that, was such an order instituted, I should, if I thought I had merit to deserve it, receive the badge with the utmost respect, and the greatest gratitude. With knighthood, or without, I am ever, Sir,

Barming Parsonage, 1808.

Your most obedient servant,
MARK NOBLE,

IAM not surprised that your correspondent, Clericus, (Aug.) should so zealously recommend Marriage; few Parsons have the least aversion to marrying-their motto being "the more the MERRIER," whether it be marrying or burying! Clergymen are a very facetious and good sort of people-they possess many recommendatory qualities-from them we derive instruction and entertainment-we are benefited, in proportion to our mutual grace, by the admonitions of the pulpit-we are enlivened by the gaiety of their discoursethey ride-they hunt-they sing-they drink the cheerful glass with us they act fully up to the apostolic maxim, and readily "become all things to all men," and, when occasion offers, they also ingratiate themselves with the ladies, by exhorting the sexes to unite in the "silken bands of wedlock," and not to neglect the great injunction "increase and multiply." But, Mr. Editor, marriage is a very solemn step, and should not be taken without mature deliberation; at no period of our life is it more necessary to "look before we LEAP."

Women, much as we love them, are composed of various sorts, ―scolds, gossips, prudes, coquettes, wantons, &c. &c. &c. Iago knew them well :

"They are pictures out of doors, bells in their parlours, wild-cats in their kitchens, saints in their injuries, devils being offended, players in their housewifery, and housewives in their beds.”

Marriage has been very justly compared to a lottery-here and there a capital prize, and many thousand blanks. He, therefore, who marries, is a desperate adventurer-one very uncertain of augmenting his happiness, but quite sure of increasing his cares. No doubt, "poor young damsels are always ready," (as Clericus tells us)" at the risk of various inconveniences, derived from their original ancestress, to undertake the task of being Mothers :" but, whilst nurses, doctors, schoolmasters, pap, pills, rods, and all F F-VOL. IV.*

66

the etcetera of family expences are to be defrayed (in these hard times) by the father, I am apprehensive that reading" ingenious and delightful wedding sermons," such as a Wife MISTAKEN,”"A WEDDING RING FIT FOR THE FINGER," or THE BRIDAL BUSH," will not prove sufficiently cogent to prevent prudent bachelors " LEAVING POPULATION TO OTHERS," as far as it respects matrimony. Still, Shakespeare says, that " the forehead of a mar, ried man is more honourable than the bare brow of a bachelor." -He says this in "As you like it”—I do not.

*

Dr. Johnson has told us, that in marriage there are many inconveniences, and I believe a host of Benedicks might be brought to prove it; but he adds, that a single life has no comforts, which, saving your Reverence's presence, is a thumper, for I am, and as I mean not to change my "curtain'd sleep" for curtain lectures, hope long to continue, a very comfortable

Liberty Hall, Sept. 4.

SINGLE GENTLEMAN.

ON AUTUMN.

Emblem of life! thus chequer'd is its plan;

Thus joy succeeds to grief-thus smiles the varied man,”

AUTUMN is the season for contemplation :-our minds are irresistibly attracted by the scene before us, in which every beauty is beheld in perfection, and where every beauty is also seen in decay. Man no sooner arrives at his prime, than the winter of old age approaches, and a few seasons put him on a level with the faded foliage. Autumn may be compared to one of those calms which precede a storm. A walk in this season creates sensations of an awful nature; we gaze on the lovely varied scene, as one that will shortly be transformed into a desolate wild. The western zephyr, which wantonly plays upon our cheeks, must soon be succeeded by a rude and chilling blast-the sweet warbling of birds must yield to the discordant sounds of the tempest. The trees that boast a garb far more beautiful than the gorgeous attire, that decorates the female for the ball, will, alas! ere long assume the appearance of lifeless branches.

The farmer we behold reaping the long-anticipated products of many a toilsome day, and joyfully filling his barn with provision

for the approaching winter-All Nature seems providing against the storm, that its fury may be exhausted, and her children smile amidst its ravages. This is, indeed, a severe lesson for man.O that when the winter of our lives approaches, we may possess those treasures, which alone can enable us to meet it with fortitude, and calmly smile on all around! Sept. 8, 1808.

T. F.

MR. EDITOR,

was my

SUPERSTITION;
OR,

THE MAIDEN AUNTS.

IT lot about six months ago, on the death of my father, to be placed, according to his will, with two antiquated maiden aunts, whose knowledge of supernatural things was well known in St

-n.

So great is their consternation in matters very trivial, that I have known one of them to sit up the whole night, because the evening before, whilst sitting at the fire, a coal had fallen out towards her, which was a sure sign that something dreadful, and then unknown, was to happen very shortly.

Taking our usual walk the other evening, we were obliged to pass through a farm-yard. Our ears were immediately assailed by the fowls setting up a most hideous noise. The countenances of both my aunts immediately changed; alarm was painted on their furrowed cheeks, and, on my enquiring the cause, I was told, the cackling of chickens was a sure sign that the house would be broke open. Hastening home as fast as their aged legs would carry them, they immediately set about examining the bolts and bars. Thomas, the coachman, was dispatched to summon all the blacksmiths, &c. from the neighbouring village, and in a short time we were so secured, that if it were in ancient days, we might have been thought to be preparing for an enemy about to besiege us. After waiting till the dawn of morning for the expected foe, we began to prepare to retire to our beds, when lo! a violent noise was heard at the door; our pistols cocked, our

selves well-armed with pokers, &c. in case fire-arms should fail, (for in an emergency like that, even Molly the Cook found her courage roused,) in marched Snarl, the great house-dog, with as much gravity as a judge, who, finding his kennel not quite so comfortable as the warm fire-side, came to supplicate Molly to let him occupy, for the remainder of the evening, his old warm

corner.

I had the misfortune to fall up stairs lately, when I heard my aunts exclaim-"Ah! no wife for you, my dear, this year to come!".

My junior aunt consoles herself, although on the verge of four score, she shall yet make a conquest of some amorous youth as young as herself, having on one of her finger-nails a small white speck, which indicates a wedding ring.

Indeed, so much does this ridiculous nonsense, or rather madness, run through the family, that even the servants are as superstitious as their mistresses. Hardly had we sat down to dinner the other day, ere we were alarmed by a great noise in the kitchen, and on enquiry learnt, that the poker had fallen from the fire, which was a sure sign that Molly had a formidable rival. This so alarmed the poor girl that she was obliged to be put to bed, in violent fits.

Even my father's death was long foretold before it happened, as Snarl the dog was observed to be in a weak and low condition. Many more instances of this kind may be brought to prove, that this Maiden family are non compos mentis," but hope the foregoing are sufficient to shew, what wrong ideas many families get from living in the country, without an opportunity of spending their time sociably among their neighbours, from a mistaken opinion that they are too much their inferiors.

Indeed, to such a height are these ridiculous notions arrived, that, Mr. Editor, I am induced to apply to your kind Readers for an antidote to the charm; and should any of them, from having had friends in a like situation, know in what manner this halfcrazed family may be cured, they will, by stating it in your next, confer a lasting obligation on, Sir,

Your obedient servant,

S. P. 5.