The Sun.
London, England, 1866-11-29 00:00:00

AN OLD PROMISE.

The Chancellor was sitting in his study over a table of
papers when a young and lovely girl—slightly rustic in
her attire, slightly embarrassed by the novelty of her posi-
tion, but thoroughly in command of her wits—entered tho
room and walked up to the lawyer's chair. "My dear,"
said the Chancellor, rising and bowing with the old-
world courtesy, " who are you ?" " Lord Eldon,"
answered the blushing maiden, "I am Bessie Bridge of
Weobly, the daughter of the Vicar of • Weobly, and papa
has sent me to remind you of a promise which you made
him when I was a little baby, and you were a guest in his
house on the occasion of your first election as member of
Parliament for Weobly." A promise, my dear young
lady ?" interposed the Chancellor, trying to recall how he
had pledged himself. " Yes, Lord Eldon, a promise.
You were standing over my cradle when papa said to
you, Mr. Scott, promise me that if ever you are Lord
Chancellor when my little girl is a poor clergyman's
wife, you will give her husband a living;' and you
answered, Mr. Bridge, my premise is not worth half-a-
crown, but I give it, wishing it were worth more.' " En-
thusiastically the Chancellor exclaimed, "You are quite
right. I a.dmit the obligation. I remember all about it ;"
and then, after a pause, archly surveying the dams 4
whose graces were the reverse of matronly, he added,
"But surely the time for keeping my promise has not yet
arrived ? You cannot be any one's wife at present ?',
For a few seconds Bessie hesitated for an answer ; and
then, with a blush and a ripple of silver laughter, she re-
plied, "No, but Ido so wish to be somebody's wife. lain
engaged to a young el,m-gymau ; and there's a living in
ILrtfurdsitire near my old home that has recently fallen
vacant, and if you'll give it to Alfred, why then, Lord
Eldon, we shall marry before the end of the year." Is
there need to say that the Chancellor forthwith summoned
his secretary, that the secretary forthwith made out the
presentation to Bessie's lover, and that, having given the
Chancellor a kiss of gratitude, Bessie made good speed
back to Herefordshire, hugging the precious document the
whole way home.

A delightful instance of just retribution is thus re
corded. A clergyman had applied to Lord Thur
low for a living :

TURNING THE TABLES.

Sustained by Queen Charlotte's personal favour and
intercession with Thurlow, the clergyman in question
felt so sure of obtaining the valuable living which
was the object of his ambition, that he regarded his
interview with the Chancellor as a purely formal affair. "I
have, sir," observed Lord Thurlow, " received a letter
from the curate of the parish to which it is my intention to
prefer you, and on inquiry I find him to be a very. worthy
man. The father of a large family, and a priest who has
laboured zealously in the parish for many years, he has
written to me—not asking for the living, but modestly en-
treating me to ask the new rector to retain him as curate.
Now, sir, you would oblige me by promising mo to employ
the poor man in that capacity." "My lord," replied
Queen Charlotte's protege, "it would give me great
pleasure to oblige your lordship in this matter, but un-
fortunately I have arranged to take, a personal friend for
my curate." His eyes flashing angrily, Thurlow answered,
" Sir, I cannot force you to take this worthy man for your '
curate, but I can make him the rector ; and by he
shall have the living, and be in a position to offer you the
curacy." And forthwith, to the applicant's inexpressible
surprise and chagrin, the Chancellor's words were carried
out.

We might add largely to these specimens of legal
" Mirth," but we have said enough to demonstrate
the very attractive character of this Book about
Lawyers, in which our readers will find ample
materials for occupying many a pleasant and not
unprofitable hour.

Archbishop Whateley.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sin,--In the Times of the 27th inst. there was a
long and well- written review of the recent Memoirs
of this deceased prelate ; but the writer inaccurately
stated that the prelate " was a half believer in ani-
mal magnetism," &c. His lordship believed in this
science entirely, and he countenanced it by giving
his support to the London Mesmeric Infirmary, of
which useful society he was the President for many
years. In the year 1836 he signed a certificate, in
company with 80 other persons, which was sent to
Government in favour of a plan for the fair exami-
nation of the science of phrenology. The Arch-
bishop may have been eccentric and rough in his
manner, but he was an honest and an able man ;
and I wish more of our priests of the Reformed
Church were like him, so far as talent and inde-
pendence of thought are concerned.—l am, Sir,
yours obediently, Cart. COOKE.
London, Nov. 28, 1866.

THE POACHER'S DOG.—A dog between a bulldog
and a greyhound, or between a greyhound and a terrier,
makes the best " lurcher" or poacher's dog. You may
generally know a poacher's dog when you see him. He
looks very sleepy in the daytime, and seems stupid for want
of a good night's rest. Moreover, he seems slyer and
subtler than other dogs. There is too much of the Jesuit
about him to enable him to pass for an honest dog, and he
sulkily does the bidding of his master with the air of one
who must either do it or die. He is seldom in good spirits,
and when on some rare occasion ho wags his tail, he does
it as if he were ashamed of himself. Poachers' dogs are
employed, not for catching game, but for running it into
the nets. They are taught to scour a field in the darkest
nights, and work all the hares and rabbits tdtvards the nets
in the gateway, or on the cover sides. Sometimes they are
put to watch their master's net, and will fly at anyone who
attempts to interfere with it. They never give mouth
under any circumstances, being too well trained to fall into
that error. A Shropshire farmer once told us some rather
good stories about a poacher's dog. He had been trained
to run away from his master when called to approach him,
and never to give mouth under any circumstances. Once
upon a time this same poacher was brought before the ma-
gistrates, and the keepers tried to identify him by his dog.
The animal was brought into court as the supposed pro-
perty of the poacher. This he stoutly denied. He was
told to call the dog to him, which he did, and immediately
the terrified dog scampered out of court.—The Argosy.