likely to prove advantageous to my pupils; I therefore read diligently every work that falls in my way, from Doctor Johnson's Dictionary up to the Penny Magazine. And in addition to these sources of useful knowledge—and I hold all other utterly worthless -I take in, as I have already intimated, the morning newspaper; and as I think it a weary, if not a wicked, waste of time to employ myself upon any thing out of my walk of life, I neither trouble my head with politics (as aforesaid) nor fashionable intelligence; for since I closed my ledger, and quitted St. James's, I have cut the Court Circular,—the habits of high life giving me now no greater concern than a casual glance at my book of bad debts is apt to renew.* Therefore, after my paper is delivered, and haply a supplement, by the newsman, and carefully dried, I anxiously turn to the corner wherein the births, deaths, marriages, are usually registered; and on the appointed days, to the list of bankrupts, not always without the flutter of old associations. I then look out, as Yankees say-[a queerish race them Yankees-never wear a well-made coat-but no matter] I look out for horrid murders and extensive robberies, distressing suicides and coroners' inquests, shocking accidents and crim. cons., omnibus

Which book, by the way, I have bequeathed to my friend Inkson (the best tailor, since I have given up business, in town). It will remind him of the good will of a brother snip when he has closed accounts, and dropped from the shop-board of life into his everlasting Sabbath.

nuisances and cruelty to animals. These, with high water at London Bridge and the printer's name, include, I take it, what may be called every body's business, and come home at once to the heart and fireside interests of every man of feeling and understanding. Recently, however, my attention has been attracted to a hitherto neglected column, under the head of the London Markets. My former residence in the heart of the metropolis rendered these details in a manner unnecessary at that period; but they are valuable in my retirement, and form too important a part of the prosperity of my native city to remain as it were a sealed book to me: in short, this portion of my paper has now become subject to my serious attention, and it is upon this varied series of information that I now address you, gentlemen, candidly confessing that the result of my numerous applications to these notices have not been quite so satisfactory as so vital a part of your journal is required to be.

It is true, that in such reports I have often found much to interest and inform; but, at the same time, much more to puzzle and perplex one not duly initiate dinto the mysteries of "The Markets.” The terms employed to describe the existing state of things so essentially important to the country at large should, I opine, be comprehensible to every capacity, so that "all that run may read," and reading, understand; for, to quote a high authority,

Except ye utter words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken ?"

This, under favour, I declare not to be the case, as far as I at least am concerned; and it follows that, in the perusal of these particulars, while my sympathies are often powerfully affected by the evident fluctuations of merchandise, my understanding is apt to remain unsatisfied. Wherefore, let him

that speaketh in an unknown tongue, pray that he may interpret ;" and I am induced to appeal to your known candour and consideration in behalf of what I must think a desideratum-namely (I would suggest), a glossary of terms to be appended to each report, for the enlightenment of the general reader, whose difficulties may be inferred from my particular case, which I will illustrate by a few examples selected from your market columns now upon my file-to which I will occasionally annex observations and conclusions, persuaded that they will be sometimes too vague and indefinite to be found apposite to, or agreeing with, the sense of what they would "interpret.'

By your attention, learned sir, to my suggestion, you will benefit more country gentlemen, I trow, than he who is your obedient Servant and

CONSTANT READER.

August, 1841.

To begin, then, I see by my paper, and I see it

Vide Herald, Times, Post, &c.

with concern, that "the London markets have at this time much to complain of;" inasmuch as "sugar is very heavy and low, and remains in a complete nominal state" [query sugar?]; and to add to this perplexity, it appears that "the Mauritius are quite inconsiderate" (!). Nevertheless "refiners have evinced some disposition to buy low lumps [strange refinement !] at the price of raw; but the fine crushed is reduced to a stand-still" [and to a powder, I should think], "some of it being of a mild greyish yellow, and of a brown ordinary grey" [mixtures which I never saw in any pattern-book since I commenced business]. In another account we are informed that "coffee, at one time quite brisk" [doubtless while roasting], "has had a sad fall [probably out of the frying-pan into the fire], "and the market has been dull in consequence" [how could it be otherwise?]; while "Ceylon coffee, heretofore steady and pressing for immediate sale, is now inactive-did not participate in the prosperity of East Indian, and has declined" (!). The natural result of this, it appears, is, that "East Indian coffee (notwithstanding its alleged prosperity) has been dull, particularly to the unclean qualities" (!) It is also currently reported that "raisins are in a depressed state, and that the market is out of spirits" [with reason, I think]. Added to this very uncomfortable state of things, "the sugar market opened this morning without briskness: sugar evidently affected by the reported crops in the West Indies,

the refined being very heavy, and lumps fell" [this sugar must be double-refined to be "affected" by so distant a report]. We are, however, assured that "rum is very steady, though brandy is heavy, and that a rise has (subsequently) taken place in the commodity" [which surely must have put every body in high spirits]; and, in conclusion, that "about 300 rum puns have changed hands" no uncommon case. Nevertheless it would appear that these wholesale punsters have failed to enliven all things about them; for though "tobacco has appeared in considerable animation [a social plant, that!],"black pepper is half heavy" (!). To which is added, that " treacle is held firmly" (!)" Cocoas are described as rough and dark," and "fair and flinty" [query, fair and forty?]; and that while

brimstone has been more sought after than for some time, cream of tartar is neglected ;" and "there are no new features in wool” (!).

Young singed bacon meets with ready attention as soon as it arrives, but Old bacon moves off but slowly" [rusty, perhaps]. "Tallow, too, has been very heavy, and has received no marked attentions," [enough to make it heavy], and " the wool-market is very bare."

The reports which follow are extremely vague in respect to "the fine down combing sorts," the "first and rubbed " and "sound-heavy; as well as bales and tierce middles;" while they are culpably silent upon the existing state of "tittlers and early