Curiosity.

Shark, without being very amusing, witty, and romantic.

Spruce. Romantic! ah! we have enough of that.

Cuisinier. What is the story, pray; I am quite ignorant of it.

Valet. By J, Mr. Spruce, tell us the whole of that; for, before I hear it, I am bound it must be very funny.

Spruce. Mr. Weston, an eminent brewer, in London, has by the help and kind assistance of his father (a man truly beloved by all who know him) as well as by his own industry, realized a princely fortune; in fact, and to shorten the business, he has bought up, and paid for, an immense number of licensed public-houses, which he lets to no one but those who buy and sell his porter: as far, it is all right. But Mr. Weston has a certain

The Brewer and Mrs. Shark.

number of partners who claim also a right to dispose of those places, and it appears that they could never have any share in this part of the business, as Mr. Weston used to leave the matter to a Mrs. Shark, his chere amie, who was cunning enough to make a good thing of it, by receiving premium from those whom, by her influence, she promoted to these several stations. Now there has been a montrous row in the firm, and indeed the whole came before the public in some of the principal courts of justice. Mrs. Shark appeared at the hall as a witness, and in a spiteful speech impeached the brewer, and disclosed his correspondence with her. Several letters were produced and read, and among them, this, of which the following is a copy, excited the laughter of some and the indignation of others.

Mrs. Blump. I dare say it is very

clever. Read it, pray ?

Princely Style.

Spruce. Reads.

"Tunbridge, Nov. 15, 1808.

My lovely dear, and dearest of all that's dear. Not all the hops in the kingdom, were I possessor of them would, in my mind and most loving heart, be of any value, compared to the possession of one hour of your sweet presence! your kisses stick to my lips sweeter than liquorice, and sugar is a sour stuff, if,—”

Betty. Hold! hold! Sir. This cannot be genuine, it is too foolish to have been penned by a man so polished, so well educated, as he is-and a married man too.

Mrs. Blump. of the business.

And that is the worst Why do not those mar

ried men keep to their own wives; it is a shame that such practices should be allowed in a well-regulated society.

Conclusion.

Betty. It is so, Mrs. Blump!

All agreed on the point, but on a sudden a most desperate pull at the bell from above, and a second rap at the door, put an end to the committee, and every one ran to answer the call, except Mrs. Blump, who, leaning back on her arm-chair, ruminated in her mind upon what had been said, and, with a gapish" heighho," went gently off in a sound nap.

END OF THE FIRST VOLUME.