were once placed statues of the Virgin Mary, estate, he determined to shew no partiality to and twelve Apostles, of solid silver, gilt. These either. He repaired to York, taking with him have been taken away; and, had the whole the horn, out of which he usually drank, and cathedral been built of the same materials, filling it with wine, he knelt down before the not one ounce would have remained upon an- altar, drank it off, and piously defrauded them other. The other seven sides are alike. They both, by giving the horn, with all his posseseach contain six marble seats, arched over the sions, to God and St. Peter; and leaving, as top. Above these runs a gallery of stone, so was customary in these cases, the dignitaries exquisitely carved, that to have an idea of it, of the church executors and residuary legatees. it must be seen. The sculptor's workmanship, They have found this summary way of conveywas formerly covered with painting aud gild-ing an estate as good as twenty skins of parching, now almost obliterated by time. Above the gallery each of the seven sides contains a noble window. In this room the business of the church should be transacted; but, on account of the damp, its commanding officers adjourn to the council-room, or inner vestry, and this is only used on great occasions. What that business is, is unknown to the prophane. The attendants are sworn to secrecy, and the guide looked as if it was not his place to conjecture.

`In the vestry I was shewn a thread-bare pall of gold tissue, which was carried over James 1. when at York; a pastoral staff of silver, intended to decorate a Catholic Archbishop, in the reign of James II. and several rings, taken from the fingers of different Archbishops, when their tombs were opened in the year 1736 The dates of the reigns are 1259, 1315, 1423, 1476, and 1544. Two of them have each a single ruby.

But, above all, I was shewn the famous horn of Ulphus, King of the western part of Divra; the title-deed by which the church holds lands of great value to this day. The two sons of Ulphus quarrelling about the succession to his

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ment and forty thousand words. The horn is made of an elephant's tooth, and has a broad band of metal round it, on which different figures are rudely engraved. Its original ornaments were of gold; but they shared the fate of the Virgin Mary and the twelve Apostles.

In a room leading to the vestry, I saw two ancient half-circular chests, whose iron hinges spread over the lids, like stalks and flowers. I inquired their use; and was told they had formerly contained the treasure and valuable utensils of the church. They are now said to be empty; or filled only with rubbish. The sacred chalices, mitres, and copes, having perhaps been plundered by infidels, and some other place found for the money.

If the revenues of the Cathedral make rich clergymen, the number of other churches in York make poor. The Rectory of St. Dennis, Walmgate, is only twenty-three pounds a year; and a part of it arises from the rents of small houses, torn from the bowels of the poor, and half swallowed up in repairs.

(To be continued.)

THE SPEAKING COMB.

TRANSLATED FROM THE NEW FRENCH PUBLICATION OF M. BAILLIE, ENTITLED "CONTES A MA FILLE

(Concluded from Vol. II. Page 310.)

THIS new scene overpowered our young satirist with remorse and confusion. The expression which the noble stranger had thrown into his last words, the tears which fell from the eyes of his daughter, who was as lovely as she was modest, drew the attention of every one, and excited the curiosity of all who were near them. All loudly approved of the remonstrance of the stranger, pitied the daughter for the insult she had received, and murmured against the impertinent young person, who appeared scarce arrived at her first bloom. No. XV. Vol. III.-N. S.

The public disapprobation was so general and so strong, that Madame St. Maréel fearing to excite disturbance, and willing to profit by this occasion, to make her daughter sensible of all the danger of this fatal habit, went sud. denly out of the garden of the Thuilleries, inwardly protesting that she would never again take her there, and no more expose herself to see her driven out with ignominy.

This adventure made a deep impression upon Caroline; a dead silence and a deep reverie succeeded. to her brilliant sallies, and

D

to the cutting and malicious words with which | her speech was wont to abound. She felt, for the first time, how dangerous it is to laugh at others, and that self-love, once offended, never forgives. Madame St. Mareel perceived with joy, that her daughter began to commune with herself, but well convinced that she needed some keener punishment to cure her entirely, she profited by a favourable opportunity that presented itself, to execute the plan she bad formed.

decency of deportment becoming your age and sex, aud that you will not expose me to those humiliations which already, so often you have made me endure."

"O mamma,” replied Caroline, “I have suffered too much myself, that I should again hazard the least expression to wound another; the adventure of the concert and the old man at the Thuilleries, will never be effaced from my memory. I will not dissemble so far, however, as to say, that the habit of criticising M. St. Marcel had been for several mouths every thing which presents itself to my eyes, at Vienna; he had saved the life of an Archis yet entirely destroyed; and I often check a duchess, who had fallen from her horse in a thousand pleasantries, which are ready to bunting party, and had received a deep wound escape me, in spite of myself; but I hope that in her head. This celebrated surgeon being time, your counsels, and the firm resolution I present at the chace, with the French Amhave taken, will entirely destroy that cruel bassador, had the happiness to raise up the mania, which I am sensible will, in the end, young Archduchess; and gave a fresh proof of || render me odious to every one, and unworthy his rare talents, by avoiding the painful opera- the title of your daughter." tion of trepanning, to which she seemed doomed. At the time the Archduchess fell, a golden comb, enriched with diamonds, became unfastened from her long fair hair; and being picked up by M. St. Mareel, he was desirous of restoring it to her :-" Keep it," said the Archduchess," as a mark of my acknowledgement; and permit me to add to it the set to which this comb belongs. In offering a part of my diamonds to your lady, of whom I have often heard you speak in such high terms, desire her, Sir, never to wear them without thinking on her whom you have so ably succoured, and who owes her life to your skill.”

M. St. Mareel lost no time in sending his wife this rich set of jewels; which consisted of earrings, a necklace, and the above mentioned comb. Madame St. Mareel, who, for sometime, had worn her hair cropt, kept for herself the earrings and necklace, and offered the comb to Carolione; saying to her, " Although this present is unsuitable to your years, yet I hope you will often wear it, and procure me the pleasure of fastening up your long tresses, which you know I have always taken care of myself."

Caroline, delighted to possess so precious and brilliant a jewel, did not fail to adorn herself with it when she went out with her mother. What especially flattered her vanity, was to see the eyes of every one fixed on this splendid comb, and admiring its elegance and lustre. Madame St. Marcel whose head was always occupied in giving her daughter a lesson of the highest importance, which every circumstance rendered now indispensible, proposed one day to go to the Opera, to see a new ballet of Gardel's-which drew together all Paris, "I hope," said she, "that you will observe that

ter.

Madame St. Mareel made no reply to this effusion of her daughter, otherwise than by pressing her to her bosom, aud giving her a thousand kisses. She then began herself to fasten up the tresses of her fine hair; but instead of the rich comb that her husband had sent her, she substituted another, somewhat like it, and placed it on the head of her daughInstead of the row of diamonds on the former, might be read on the top, in diamonds also, very distinctly traced out on a black ground -"Wicked tongue!" Soon after, they got into their carriage, and went to the Opera; where they placed themselves in the middle of the orchestra. No sooner was Caroline seated, than she remarked she drew the eyes of several persons towards her; she thought immediately, that it was the usual effect of the richness and splendour of her comb; but she soon heard repeated from all sides, "wicked tongue!"-She looked around her, not being able to divine that it was herself who was spoken of. The more she turned her head, the more she heard repeated, from She every part, what had first struck her ear. now no longer doubted but that she was the object of the public scorn: she blushed, the tears started into her eyes, and not being able to stay where she was, she proposed to her mother to go into a box; pretending that she did not feel the orchestra comfortable, and they should see much better. They both went out; Caroline gave her arm to her mother, and sought out a box. As she passed through the lobbies, she had the anguish of hearing several young people of most elegant appearance repeat, as they looked at her, the fatal inscription, which they read on her head: she traversed the tyring rooms,-ike

same punishment every where.—At length she sheltered herself in a box, where thinking her self secure from farther humiliation, and finding herself alone with her mother, she gave || herself up to despair. "I must then," said she, bursting into tears, "have drawn on myself the hatred and contempt of every one. Oh! how I repent my foolish raillery! and how severely am I punished!"

her daughter had made her order her coach to be drawn up. The moment that they were stepping into it, Caroline again heard repeated, “wicked tongue !"

During their ride her grief knew no bounds: she never ceased imploring the pardon, the clemency of her mother, and confessing thatshe was unworthy of her care and tenderness: then throwing herself on her bosom, she let

was at that moment going to confess to her daughter the stratagem that she had employ-

Madame St. Marcel, prodigal of her kindness || fall a shower of tears. Madame St. Marecl and condolements, inwardly enjoyed the sucress of her enterprise. As they both conversed on the fatal effects of satire, and on the|ed; but fearing to destroy its salutary effect, inevitable chagrin it gives to those who exer- she feigned to approve her resolutions, and cise it, a lady, whose outward appearance an- profiting by the moment when the fine hair of nounced opulence and the first fashion, came Caroline was in disorder from her extreme and placed herself in the same box, with two agitation, she took out the speaking comb and young persons whose superior manners were adroitly substituted that which M. St. Mareel proof of a finished education. Caroline, for had sent her, and which she had kept envelopthe first time in her life, found nothing to ed in her handkerchief. By these means the criticise in these three ladies. The mother young satirist, in taking out the rich comb, appeared as gentle as she was well informed, which was so dear to her, was far from sus-. and her two daughters seemed amiable and pecting the effect which the other had promodest. Already the incorrigible satirist found duced. Faithful to the resolution she had how much sweeter it was to praise than to formed, she was a long time before she appearblame; already she had praised these three ed again in any circle; and occupied herself unknown persons to Madame St. Mareel; only in correcting her habits and reforming : already she expressed a desire to enter into her character: in a word, she became as mild conversation with them; when she heard the and good-natured as she had hitherto been eldest of the two sisters say in a low voice to satirical and formidable. It was near a year the other, "wicked tongue!" jogging her after, that Madame St. Mareel, secure in, as elbow at the same time. Caroline, as if stun- much as she was rejoiced at, the conquest: ued by this last blow, which she was far from Caroline had gained over herself, shewed her expecting, and not being able any longer to the happy instrument of so desired a change, stay in the box, where she was quite overcome and confessed to her all the chagrin she had. with shame and grief, went out with her mo- the fortitude to support and endure herself, to ther, without daring to lift her eyes towards crush and destroy for ever so fatal a propenthe young people, who looking at her again, sity, which would have been the misery of her. made their mother read the inscription, who life. repeated in her turn those two heart-rending words which Caroline heard from all sides.

"I see plainly," said she to Madame St. Marcel," that I have lost the public esteem, and that every one points at me. Let us retire, mamma; let me save myself from this insupportable torture.-Oh! how the words which issued from the lips of those charming persons have afflicted me!-It is over with me, I never can appear again in company: I must quit the world for ever! Come, mamma, let us regain our carriage; languish to be at home-I cannot breathe-1 am in agony."

Madame St. Mareel, sustaining Caroline,|| overpowered by the restraint that she experienced, and by the tears she was obliged to suppress, descended the grand stair-case of the Opera House, pretending to the people who surrounded her, that a sudden indisposition of

Caroline, so far from reproaching her mo ther with the bumiliations which the speaking comb had caused her to suffer, promised to preserve it always, pledging herself, that she would put it on her head the first time the least malice or sarcasm escaped her. But this promise was needless: Caroline, who had enjoyed the charms of mildness and moderation for one year, contracted the precious habit ; : she appeared again in the world more witty, and more amiable than before. Instead of hearing repeated, as she was followed, the cruel-device of the speaking comb, she receiv.. ed from every quarter, felicitations of the flattering kind; and whether she appeared in crowded parties, or at the public spectacles, the concerts or public walks, she was only pointed out by the appellation of the beautiful and excellent.

DELIA DOLEFUL.-OR AN OLD MAID'S FRUITLESS SEARCH AFTER A HUSBAND.

MR. EDITOR,

You must know that I am one of those ill-starred beings whom the world styles old maids; and for the last ten years my temper has been gradually soured by the various mortifications that odious appellation has exposed me to. Heaven knows it is not my fault that I am stigmatized with it; I have tried every possible means to get rid of it; from the age of sixteen to the present hour, I have been constantly engaged in some matrimonial speculation or other; but alas! Mr. Editor, I was doomed to find your sex "Blind, insensible, and blind" to my many perfections. Egotism apart, I have been thought handsome (Oh! how mortifying it is to speak in the past tense on such an occasion), and I was universally allowed to possess sense, and good-humour; yet, amongst my numerous admirers, I never met with one generous enough to disregard my want of fortune. Though several have acknowledged that that was the only reason that induced them to decline leading me to the altar of Hymen.

From

My father, the Hon. Doolittle Doleful, was the youngest son of Lord Viscount Nevermove. The family of Doleful is one of the most ancient and restpectable in England; but Lord Nevermove was not rich, and at an early age, my father was obliged to make choice of either the law or the gospel. an hereditary indolence of temper, Mr. Doleful felt inclined to give the preference to the church; but just before he was ordained, an offer was made him of a place under government; the salary indeed was small, but then he had only to attend to the duties of his situation about two hours in the year. Lord Nevermove had in his gift high ecclesiastical preferment, but as it could not be obtained || on quite such easy terms, Mr. Doleful gave up the hopes of a mitre, aud accepted the post offered him.

Shortly after he had done so, he married, and never surely was there a greater contrast in temper and disposition, than my father and mother. Quiet was, in bis opinion, the sum mum bonum of human happiness, and in her's, it was the bane of every joy; not a moment's respite from dissipation could she allow berself, and her active course of life soon plunged her husband into pecuniary difficulties. My

birth, however, made her more prudent; the Viscount paid my father's debts, and my mother, from that time, confined herself to such amusements as her husband's moderate fortune enabled her to procure.

But Mrs. Doleful took care literally to follow the ironical advice of a celebrated writer, "Never to submit with a good grace, for she took sufficient care to make my father sensible of the value of those sacrifices that she made to prudence, since she reminded him of them every hour in the day. For a short time, her querulous temper was a great annoyance to Mr. Doleful, but he soon got accustomed to it, and, "it is a great pity, to be sure my dear; I am sensible of your prudence, my love," were the only replies that be ever made to her incessaut complaints.

My mother had been very pretty, and she was sensible of the value of beauty, for in her days it was not estimated so lightly as at present. I resembled her in person, and she frequently declared, that I should not be thrown away as she had been, for that she had no doubt, with a little management, of seeing me splendidly married. What management might have done for me, I know not, as my mother did not live to try the effects of it, for I was but little turned of fifteen when I had the misfortne to lose her.

From the description I have given you of my father's temper, you may naturally suppose, that his house was not a very pleasant residence for a gay giddy girl; and whew my grief for my mother began to subside, I resolved to get married as soon as I could; but it was, in my opinion, indispensably necessary that the man whom I honoured with my hand, should be possessed both of rank and wealth, for I had a great inclination to fulfil my mother's predictions, and to marry splendidly if I could; but before I had quite attained my sixteenth year, I had (as I conceived) a fair chance of becoming a Countess. The Earl of Delborough visited my father ou business, I was present, and I saw with pleasure that his Lordsip regarded me with particular attention, and when I afterwards learned from my father that he had invited himself to take a friendly dinner with us, very soon my heart brobbed with the idea that I was the magnet that drew him to our house; nor was