and the bill produced, the farmer instantly raised an objection to take such a piece of paper for money, but an appeal to custom soon decided against him. However, not being perfectly satisfied, he applied to a shopkeeper to have it put into cash, and was told it might be done for ten shillings, which he at length agreed to give, but was again astonished to find the cash was likewise composed of paper, commonly called young Newlands. An appeal a second time to custom obliged him to submit; but still unwilling to be disappointed, he applied to another person to know if he could get these scraps of paper put into King GEORGE'S guineas, and was told, that by paying two-pence each for them that it might be done. A third bargain was struck at the expence of eight shillings and four-pence; but just before he left the town, it came into his head that some of these guineas might be light, and that possibly they might not do so well for hoarding, he therefore had them tried in a balance, and, unfortunately for him, twenty-three were found wanting. Here it was in vain urged by his friends that custom had rendered the weighing of gold quite useless in that neighbourhood, and he positively gave eleven shillings and sixpence in exchange for twenty-three that were full weight, and went home after all these deductions with more than four times the sum the same quantity of that article would have produced to him two years ago.

A young clergyman, of great modesty, preaching before Charles II. took for his text the 13th verse of the 139th Psalm-" I am fearfully and wonderfully made." Apprehension, rather than the warmth of the weather, having caused him to perspire, he had, just before naming the text,

wiped his face with one of his hands, on which was a new black glove, and the consequence may easily be imagined. The Duke of Buckingham, one of his audience, on comparing the words of the text with the figure of the preacher, was seized with a fit of laughter, in which he was joined by Sir Henry Bennet, and several of the courtiers, nor was the king, who loved a jest, to the great dis comfiture of the preacher, able to resist the contagion,

Dr. Resbury, a divine in the same reign, while walking in the streets of Windsor, observed a person pass him, and turn frequently, to consider him with attention. Offended at length by an observation so pointed, he roughly reproved the stranger for his impertinence, who bowing, and civilly asking pardon, informed the Doctor, that he was a painter, and was then engaged in designing a picture of Nathan reproving David, and never had he seen a face so reproving as that of his reverend antagonist. The Doctor, enraged, used still harsher language." It is enough, sir," replied the artist, "I have got as much as I desire, and am greatly indebted to you"-saying which, he coolly walked away.

Mr. Maundy, of Canterbury, Dr. Radcliffe, and Dr. Case, spending an evening together, were very jovial. Here, brother Case," says Dr. Radcliffe, is a health to all the fools, your patients."

"I thank you, good brother," replied Case, let me have all the fools, and you are heartily welcome to the rest of the practice.

Gregorio Leti, a native of Milan, came into England in the reign of Charles II. and received a promise of being made historiographer to the king, but, not giving satisfaction, had orders to retire. Being one day at the levee, Charles, turning towards him, said, "Leti, I hear you are writing the history of the English Court?" "Sire," replied Leti, "I have been for some time preparing materials for such a history." "Take care," retorted the king, "that your work give no offence.""I will do what I can, sire, but if a man were as wise as Solomon, he would scarce be able to avoid giving offence to some." "Why then," rejoined the monarch, "be as wise as Solomon; write proverbs, but histories."

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AN EXTRAORDINARY INSTANCE OF THE FLEX IBILITY OF THE HUMAN FRAME.

Joseph Clark, a well-made man, and rather stout, exhibited, in the most natural manner, every species of deformity and dislocation to which the human form is liable. He frequently diverted himself with the taylors, who came to measure him for cloaths, by changing his posture, and apparently his shape, when the cloaths were brought home. He could dislocate the vertebræ of his back, and other parts of his body, and resume their proper form, at his pleasure. He once presented himself, in this situation, as a patient, before Molins, a famous surgeon, who, shocked at his appearance, refused to attempt the cure. He often passed for a cripple with persons, who but a few minutes before had been conversing with him. Upon these occasions he would not only change the position of his limbs, but alter his features and countenance. He could assume all the professional, characteristic, and singular faces which he had observed at

the theatre, at the Quakers-meeting, or any other place of public resort. He was by profession a posture master, and died about the commencement of the reign of King William.

EXAMPLE OF THE POWER OF IMAGINATION OVER THE BODY.

In 1751 the waters of Glastonbury were at the height of their reputation. The virtues of the spring were supposed to be supernatural, and to have been discovered by a revelation made in a dream to a person named Matthew Chancellor. The credulous expected, not merely to be cured of incurable distempers, but to recover lost faculties and mutilated limbs. An old woman, in the workhouse at Yeovil, who had long been a cripple, and used crutches, was strongly tempted to drink of Glastonbury waters, with a firm persuasion of be ing cured of her lameness. Several bottles of wa ter were procured for her by the master of the workhouse, and such was the effect of the miraculous draught, that first one crutch, and, soon. after, the other, was laid aside. The wonder was extolled, the fame of the miracle spread, when the cheat was discovered. The master of the workhouse protested to his friends, that he had fetched the water from an ordinary (and neighbouring) spring. It need scarcely be added, the force of the woman's imagination had exhausted itself, her infirmity returned, and the crutches were resumed. This story may afford an admonition to the modern, disciples of mineral magnetism.

When the Earl of Stair was ambassador at the: court of France, immediately after the accession of his late majesty to the crown, his excellency made,

a most splendid appearance, and being naturally inclined to gallantry and expence, soon became a great favourite with the ladies there, by whose intrigues he was enabled to discover secrets which otherwise might have escaped the penetration of the most vigilant and sagacious minister. In the management of the ladies, whose favour he courted, he was forced to observe the greatest delicacy; play, he perceived, was their predominant passion, and as he was equally inclined to that amusement, he easily obtained, by means of cards, many private amusements, in which he could not have indulged on any other pretence. The Dutchess of Maine was one of those illustrious personages whom the earl took most pains to engage in his interest. She was passionately fond of play; of an inquisitive and busy temper; of vast capacity, and of a discernment so quick, that it was no easy matter to impose upon her; she was among the number of ladies too that affected to pry into the affairs of the cabinet, and who had gained an ascendancy over the then regent, so far as not to be altogether ignorant of the most secret transactions of state. His excellency, by losing large sums with this lady, and paying her the most particular respect, had insensibly worked upon her affections, but had not reaped the least advantage from her in point of politics, till an accident happened that brought about in an instant what he had long laboured at in vain. Being engaged as her partner in play, the run of luck turned against them, and the dutchess in the end was obliged to borrow of the earl a thousand pistoles. His excellency told her, he had yet twice that sum at her highness's service, and pressed her to continue to play, which she absolutely refused. Next morning early, she sent a message to the earl, desiring instantly to speak