flavour. Gentlemen also resort from every part of the kingdou, in the months of May and June, to shoot these birds, and they generally meet with excellent diversion, for there are such quantities that a boat-full may be shot in half a day, by a select party, who usually hire a small vessel for that purpose, taking sufficient ainmunition and provision on board; and, while some are shooting, others em ploy themselves in fishing; so that, upon the whole, a more captivating day's pleasure is scarcely to be enjoyed on the surface of the globe.

The manner of catching birds, and taking their eggs from among the rocks, is so very strange and hazardous, that the description must by no means be omitted. The cliffs which contain the eggs and young, are of most tre mendous height, and access to them is gained from above and below. In the first case, the fowlers provide themselves with a rope, from eighty to a hundred fathoms in length. The fowler fastens one end about his waist and between his legs, recommends himself to the protection of the Almighty, and is lowered down by several others, who place a piece of timber on the margin of the rock, to preserve the rope from wearing against the sharp edge. They have besides, a small line, fastened to the body of the adventurer, by which he gives siguals, that they may lower or raise him, or shift him from place to place. The last operation is attended with great danger, by the loosening of the stones, which often fall on his head, and would infallibly destroy him, were it not protected by a strong thick cap; but even that is found insufficient to secure him against the weight of the larger fragments of rock. The dexterity of the fowlers is amazing; they will place their feet against the front of the precipice, and by a sudden spring project themselves to a distance from it; with a cool eye survey the places where the birds nestle, and shoot into their haunts. In some places the birds lodge in deep recesses. fowler will alight there, disengage himself from the rope, fix it to a stone, and at his leisure, collect the booty,

The

fasten it to his girdle, and resume hi pendulous seat. At times he wil again spring from the rock, and, in that situation, with a fowling-net placed at the end of a staff, catch the old birds, which are flying to and from their retreats. From these rocks also they gather samphire, which makes a most delicious pickle, highly esteemed in this part of England.

When the adventurer has finished his dreadful employ, he gives a signal to his friends above, who pull him up, and share the hard-earned profit.

The fowling from below has also its share of danger. The party go on the expedition in a boat; and, when they have attained the base of the precipice, one of the most daring, having fastened a rope about his waist, and furnished himself with a long 'pole, with an iron hook at one end, either climbs, or is thrust up by his companions, to the first footing-spot he can reach, He, by means of the rope, brings up one of the boat's crew; the rest are drawn up in the same way, and each is furnished with his rope and fowling-staff. They then continue their progress upwards in this manner, till they arrive at the region of birds, and wander about the face of the cliff in search of their eggs, &c. They then act in pairs; one fastens himself to the end of his associate's rope, and, in places where birds have nestled beneath his footing, he permits himself to be lowered down, depending for bis security on the strength of his companion, who has to haul him up again.

The Needle-rocks are a little separated from each other by a raging sea, so that the intervening chasm is of matchless horror. Some adventurous climbers have gained the height, and fastened several stakes on the small portion of earth which is to be found on the top; correspondent stakes are placed on the edge of the correspondent cliffs. A rope is fixed to the stakes on both sides, along which a machine, called a cradle, or basket, is contrived to slide; and, by the help of a small parallel cord, fastened in like manner, the adven

with his booty.

CHARACTERISTICS.

BY BISHOP HALL.

(Resumed from page 179.)

J. B.

2. THE BUSIE-BODIE.-His estate is too narrow for his minde, and therefore he is faine to make himselfe roome in others' affaires; yet euer in pretence of loue. No newes can stir but by his doore; neither can he know that which he must not tell. What euery man ventures in Guiana voyage, and what they gained, he knowes to a haire. Whether Holland will haue peace he knowes; and on what conditions, and with what successe, is familiar to him ere it be concluded. No post can passe him without a question, and rather then he will loose the newes, he rides back with him to appose him of tidings; and then to the next man he meets, he supplies the wants of his hasty intelligence, and makes vp a perfect tale, where with he so haunteth the patient auditor, that after many excuses, he is faine to endure rather the censure of his manners in running away, than the tediousnesse of an impertinent discourse. His speech is oft broken off with a succession of long parentheses, which he euer vowes to fill vp ere the conclusion, and perhaps would effect it, if the other's eare were as vnweariable as his tongue. If he sec but two men talke and reade a letter in the street, he runnes to them, and askes if he may not be partner of that secret relation; and if they deny it, he offers to tell (since he may not heare), wonders: and then falls vpon the report of the Scottish mine, or of the great fish taken vp at Linne, or of the freezing of the Thames; and after many thankes and dismissions, s hardly intreated silence. He vndertakes as much as he performes little: this man will thrust himselfe forward to bee the guide of the way he knowes not; and calle at his neighbour's window, and aske why his seruants are not at worke. The market hath no commoditie which he prizeth not, and which the next table shall not

taile of Sampson's foxes, carries firebrands, and is enough to set the whole field of the world on a flame. Himselfe begins table-talke of his neighbour at another's boord; to whom he beares the first newes, and adiures him to conceale the reporter: whose cholericke answer he returns to his first hoast,inlarged with a second edition; so, as it vses to be done in the fight of vnwilling mastiues, he claps each on the side apart, and prouokes them to an eager conflict. There can no act passe without his comment, which is farre-fetcht, rash, suspicious, delatorie. His eares are long, and his eies quicke, but most of all to imperfections; which as he easily sees, so he increases with intermeddling. He harbours another man's seruant, and amid his entertainment askes what fare is vsuall at home, what houres are kept, what talke passeth their meales, what his master's disposition is, what his gouernment, what his guests? and when he hath by curious inquiries extracted all the juice and spirit of hoped intelligence, turnes him off whence he came, and workes on a new. He hates constancie as au earthen dulnesse, vnfit for men of spirit; and loues to change his worke and his place; neither yet can he be so soone wearie of any place, as euery place is wearie of him; for as he sets himself on worke, so others pay him with hatred, and looke how many masters he hath, so many enemies: neither is it possible that any should not hate him, but who know him not. So then hee labours without thankes, talkes without credit, liues without loue, dies without teares, without pitie; saue that some say it was pity he died no sooner. Resumed at page 203.)

GHOST STORIES, No. 5. [Resumed from page 181.] On the Monday I went and paid my promised devoir, and met with, entertaininent as free and plentiful as the invitation was importunate. There also I found a neighbouring minister, Mr. Williams, who pretended to call in accidentally, but by the

sequel suppose it was otherwise. After dinner, this brother of the coat undertook to shew me the gardens, where as we were walking, he gave me the first discovery of what was mainly intended in all this treat and compliment.

First he began to inform me of the infelicity of the family in general, and then gave instance in the youngest son. He related what a hopeful, sprightly lad he lately was, and how melancholic and sottish he was now grown. Then did he with much passion lament that his humour should so incredibly subdue his reason. "The poor boy," said he " believes himself to be haunted with ghosts, and is confident that he meets with an evil spirit in a certain field about half a mile from this place, as often as he goes that way to school." In the midst of our discourse, the old gentleman and his lady, as observing their cue most exactly, came up to us. Upon their approach, and pointing me to the arbour, the parson renews his relation to me, and they confirmed what he said, and added many minute circumstances, in a long narrative of. the whole. In fine, they all three desired my thoughts and advice in the affair.

I was not able to collect my thoughts enough on the sudden, to frame a judgment upon what they had said. Only I answered, that the thing which the youth reported to them was strange, yet not incredible, and that I knew not then what to think or say of it, but if the lad would be free to me in talk, and trust me with his counsels, I had hopes to give them a better account of my opinion the next day.

I had no sooner spoken so much, but I perceived myself in the springe their courtship had laid for me; for the old lady was not able to hide her impatience, but her son must be called immediately; this I was forced to comply with, and consent to, so that drawing off from the company to an orchard hard by, she went herself and brought him to me, and left him with me.

It was the main drift of all these three to persuade me, that either the boy was lazy, and glad of any excuse to keep from the school, or that he was in love with some wench, and ashamed to confess it, or that he had a fetch upon his father to get money and new clothes, that he might range to London after a brother he had there; and therefore they begged of me to discover the root of the matter, and accordingly to dissuade, advise, or reprove him; but chiefly by all meaus to undeceive him as to the fancy of ghosts and spirits.

I soon entered into a close conference with the youth, and at first was very cautions not to displease him, but by smooth words to ingratiate myself and get within him, for I doubted he would be too distrustful, or too reserved. But we had scarce passed the first situation, and began to speak to the business, before I found that there needed no policy to screw myself into his heart, for he most openly, and with all obliging candour did aver that he loved his book, and desired nothing more than to be bred a scholar; that he had not the least respect for any of womankind, as his mother gave out, and that the only request he would make to his parents was, that they would believe his constant assertions concerning the woman he was disturbed with in the field called the Higher Broom Quartils. He told me with all naked freedom, and a flood of tears, that his friends were unkind and unjust to him, neither to believe nor pity him; and that if any man (making a bow to me) would but go with him to the place, he might be convinced that the thing was real, &c. By this time he found me apt to compassionate his condition,, and to be attentive to his relation of it; and therefore he went on in this manner:

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"This woman which appears to me," said he, lived a neighbour here to my father, and died about eight years since; her name, Dorothy Dingley, of such a stature, such age, and such complexion. She never speaks to me, and always leaves the

foot-path to me, and she commonly meets me twice or three times in the breadth of the field.

"It was about two months before I took any notice of it, and though the shape of the face was in my memory, yet I could not recall the name of the person; but without more thoughtfulness, I supposed it was some woman who lived thereabout, and had frequent occasion that way; nor did I imagine any thing to the contrary, before she began to meet me constantly morning and evening, and always in the same field, and sometimes twice or thrice in the breadth of it.

"The first time I took notice of her was about a year since; and when I first began to suspect and believe it to be a ghost, I had courage enough not to be afraid, but kept it to myself a good while, and only wondered very much at it. I did often speak to it, but never had a word in answer. Then I changed my way, and went to school the under horseroad, and then she always met me in the narrow lane, between the Quarry Park and the nursery, which was

worse.

"At length I began to be terrified it, and prayed continually that God would either free me from it, or let me know the meaning of it. Night and day, sleeping and waking, the shape was ever running in my mind; and I often did repeat these places of Scripture (with that he takes a small bible out of his pocket) 'Job 7, 14, Thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions; and Duet. 28, 67. In the morning thou shalt say, Would God it were even; and at even thou shalt say, Would God it were morning; for the fear of thine heart, wherewith thou shalt fear, and for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see.' I was very much pleased with the lad's ingenuity in the application of these pertinent scriptures to his condition, and desired him to proceed. "Thus," said he, "by degrees I grew very pensive, insomuch that it was taken notice of by all our family; whereupon being urged to it, I told my brother Wil

liam of it; and he privately acquainted my father and mother; and they kept it to themselves for some time.

"The success of this discovery was only this; they sometimes laughed at me, sometimes chid me, but still commanded me to keep my school, and put such fopperies out of my head.

"I did accordingly go to school often, but always met the same woman in the way."

This, and much more to the same purpose, yea, as much as held a dialogue of near two hours, was our conference in the orchard; which ended with my proffer to him, that (without making any privy to our intents) I would next morning walk with him to the place, about six o'clock. He was even transported with joy at the mention of it, and replied, "But will you, sure, sir? Will you really, sir? thank God! now I hope I shall be believed." From this conclusion we retired into the house. The gentleman, his wife, and Mr. Williams, were impatient to know the event, insomuch that they came out of the parlour into the hall to meet us; and seeing the lad look cheerfully, the first compliment from the old man was Come, Mr. Ruddle, you have talked with Sam, I hope now he will have more wit; an idle boy, an idle boy." At these words the lad ran up stairs to his chamber without replying; and I soon stopped the curiosity of the three expectants, by telling them, I had promised silence, and was resolved to be as good as my word; but when things were riper they might know all; at present I desired them to rest in my faithful promise, that I would do my utmost in their service, and for the good of their son. With this they were silenced, I cannot say satisfied.-(Resumed at page 193.)

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LYING AND LAYING. SIR,-Your brother of the MIRROR evidently does not know the distinction between the neuter verb To LIE, and the active verb To LAY, for in his Number of this morning he has given what he is pleased to call a