together with the highly cultivated spots of the adjacent country! It is supposed, by some antiquaries, that Great Britain was at this part once united to the continent of Europe, but has been torn from it by some violent convulsion. History, indeed, is silent on the subject. But the similarity and nearness of the opposite shores may be urged to support the hypothesis with some degree of plausibility. Be this as it may, it ought to be the wish of every real patriot

-That these contending kingdoms, England and France, whose very shores look pale With envy of each other's happiness, May lose their hatred!

SHAKESPEARE.

It must gratify every benevolent mind, to find that the PEACE just commenced, may prove a lasting happiness to both countries. WAR is the bane and destruction of every community.

You'll pardon me, my young friend, for detaining you so long with a description of DOVER and its vicinity. The survey of so romantic a spot was, to me, highly gratifying-it deeply interested my curiosity.

With regret I now bade adieu to my kind friends at this place, particularly to the worthy family at whose house I was entertained-their character has been long maiked by a generous hospitality. an inconsiderable

Passing through Folkstone, town on the sea coast, whose inhabitants are chiefly occupied by their fishery, we reach Hythe, another Cinque Port, entitled to attention. The town stands on a sloping ascent; and the church, a fine structure, is most delightfully situated. The corporation consists of a mayor, twelve jurats, and twenty-four common council men. There are two

good inns. Where the old town of Hythe is supposed to have stood, are parallel streets, the houses

T

of which are pleasant-the principal one has been the seat of the family of the Dedes for several gene

rations.

The most remarkable thing in Hythe may be reckoned the collection of human bones heaped up under the middle chancel of the church. The pile is twenty feet in length and eight feet in heighth and breadth! They are supposed, with great probability, to be the remains of the Britons slain in a bloody battle fought about the year 456 near this place with the Saxons. Their whiteness arises from their having been bleached, by laying for a considerable time on the sea-shore! Several skulls are deeply cut-probably by the heavy weapon of the enemy. Alas! for human nature, that it should ever have been stained by such deeds of ferocity:But

-What is this world?

What but a spacious burial field unwall'd, Strew'd with death's spoils-the spoils of animals, Savage and tame, and full of dead men's bones!

BLAIR.

Before I quit the sea coast, it may be proper, my young friend, to say a few words on the Cinque Ports. The five havens of Hastings, Sandwich, Dover, Romney, and Hythe, lying contiguous to France were thus denominated, on account of the superior importance of their situation. Their in habitants being always on the watch to prevent invasions, were rewarded by the bestowment of certain privileges, and had granted to them a peculiar form of government. Except Dover, these havens are much degenerated-but, in ancient times, the Cinque Ports possessed great celebrity. Almost the whole of the sea coast from the north side of Thanet to Hastings is within their jurisdiction.

(To be concluded in our next. )

A

The Cabinet of Mirth.

"Here let the jest and mirthful tale go round."

JESTS OF HIEROCLES.

THE PEDANTS.

PEDANT having been almost drowned in an attempt to swim, made an oath that he would never enter the water again till he was a complete master of the art.

Another meeting, after a long absence, with an acquaintance, told him that he was surprised to see him, for he had heard that he was dead. "But," the other," you find the report false.” " 'Tis bard to determine," he replies, "for the man that told me, was one whose word I would sooner take than your's."

says

Another having heard that a crow would live two hundred years, procured a young one to try!

Another meeting with a man that had just buried a twin brother, enquired of him, whether it was he or his brother that was lately buried.

Another stood before a looking glass with his eyes shut, to see how handsome he was when he was asleep.

Another walking in his ground till he was very thirsty, enquired for water, and being told that he had good water in his own well, which his ancestors

used to drink, he went therefore to it, and looking down-" The water," says he, " may he good, but my ancestors must have had very long neeks if they were able to get at it.”

THE EXCISEMAN OUTWITTED.

A countryman was lately stopped by a revenueofficer at Bursledon, where he took from him two casks of spirits, which he suspected had been smuggled. After the officer had carried the liquor from Bursledon to Tichfield, a distance of three miles, the man suddenly stopped at a house, saying, "It is to be left there." The officer replied, "No; as I have seized it, it must go to the excise office," and immediately proceeded with the cask. "Not so fast, master," replied the countryman, "I have a little bit of paper here, which, if you will take the time and trouble of reading, you will find it is to be left at this house." The officer having read the paper, exclaimed, "Why, you rascal, this is a permit; why did you not show it me before?" "Because," said he, "if I had, you would not have been so kind as to have carried the liquor so far for me."

QUIN.

This famous epicure had been dining with a rich man, who was sparing with his wine. After they had drank one bottle, his host expressed his concern to Quin that he could offer him no more, for that he had lost the key of his wine cellar. "But come," says he to his guest," and I will shew you, while the coffee is getting ready, some natural curiosities; and among the rest an ostrich -do you know, sir, this bird (going up to him) has one very remarkable property." What's

that?" said Quin. "Why, sir, he swallows iron." "Does he?" replied Quin," then very likely he has swallowed the key of your wine cellar.

A gentleman, on hiring a servant from the country, in the capacity of valet, asked him whether he should be able to undertake the situation for which he intended him ? "O yes," replied the countryman, to be sure I may be a little aukwardish at first, as a body may say, but I thinks as how I shall very soon be able to shoot your honour mortally!”

A NEW WAY OF ROBBING PETER TO PAY PAUL.

A stationer, in the county of Westmorland, lately declared to his customers, that, "owing to the doubled duty upon paper, he must be under the necessity of advancing the price of his slates!" He, probably, suspected that some of the accustomed business of the pen was in danger of being transferred to the pencil.