by the paging of his book, and so likewise is the paper on which the same is printed.

The manufacture of paper is one of the most interesting processes an amateur may inspect, whilst at the same time it is a most simple one. If we allude more particularly to the making of the coarser papers used for commercial packing purposes, we can speak with personal authority.

The mudlarks on the banks of the Thames at low water, the rag men throughout the United Kingdom, and the gatherers up of unconsidered trifles' have much to do, though may be they scarce know it, with the education of the world and the distribution of its products.

Once privileged to look over a mill for the stouter manufacture, we were surprised to see the nature of the raw commodity made use of in the primary stage.

Bales upon bales of filthy rags, old rope, junk, and such like were piled in the outside yard, where we noted several cats were in attendance, mice as yet comfortably ensconced, perhaps their little families too, within the layers of the accumulated medley, affording fair sport to the feline watchers on the disturbance of their frowsy homes.

Such was the first stage of the process we saw. In the second we found some of the rags and rope within the bonds of a large tubshaped receptacle, wherein when set going by the engineer, a pugmill action was produced, and the tearing process

of numerous spikes rapidly and ruthlessly set in rotatory motion went on, suggesting the gentle means that must have been employed by the Ogre of old, who scenting the "blood of an Englishman declared his intention of "grinding his bones to make his bread!

In the next we saw these now finely stripped up rags in another powerful machine, where a similar rough handling was applied to them, and through them a heavy volume of water rushed with overpowering influence.

Then we were shown the washed rags in a pulpy condition, in a warm state-afterwards we descried the warm pulp led away into trays and from these drawn away again over cylinders, until at the far end of the long room, what was utterly disgusting in the beginning came out in endless sheets of fine stout glossy paper of the most approved make.

Such in general terms, we understand to be the mode in which also the fine machine-made writing papers of the day are produced, though of course the raw material employed in their manufacture is of finer and whiter quality.

CHAPTER VIII.

"See the printer's boy below;

Ye hawkers all, your voices lift."

SWIFT.

"The sweat of industry would dry and die,

But for the end it works to."

SHAKSPEARE.

"It doth make me tremble, there should those spirits yet breathe, that when they cannot live honestly, would rather perish basely."

BEN JONSON.

In treating of the printing press and the distribution of the means of knowledge, we have hitherto referred more particularly to books.

But where should we in our generation be, if we had not for our weekly, nay, diurnal perusal, those fine broad sheets that convey to us the news of the day!

It has been said that half the world knows not the way in which the other half lives, but surely the London and Provincial newspapers, and those of the Continent and America, with the aid of the telegraph, are fast shewing us!

This indeed is another and very important branch of what is called the civilizing process, and here we are led into one of the most difficult topics that can occupy our attention. We pause to consider whether or not it is practicable for us to enter upon the maze before us, and yet the matter is one so essentially bound up with the general proposition we have chosen to take in hand, that we fear if we did not attempt some dissertation however feeble

it may be, we might be charged with trifling and with attempting to play Hamlet with the leading character left out!

In the treatment of a subject so abstruse we must needs go back to first principles, and whilst we view them in the long and expansive distance of the past, must arrogate to ourselves the power and ability of comparison.

We hear of self-righteousness in the matter of religion-want of faith-or the placing of ourselves above faith and adopting that law of nature which gives to us the privilege of the first place amongst numerals, forgetting that such an ordination is limited in its application to the things of the world.

If we look back upon our earliest ancestors some of us are inevitably apt to esteem ourselves better than they!

But what we ask, would their opinion be if perchance they should step upon the present scene and claim to compare notes with us!

We almost think that like one of the celebrated Irish M.P's and land-leaguers of the present session of parliament they might utter exclamations in which, if our senses did not betray us, we might aver that we detected the word 'cheek,' an expression of disdain need it be said, which though found in the slang dictionary, has no place in Johnson-yet not having been disallowed by the Right Honorable The Speaker of the House of Commons has become parliamentary language! Such an ejaculation how

ever after all is but one of the minor evidences of advancement, and must we suppose he associated

with those of civilization!

But revenons à nos moutons, let us get back to our discussion.

Hogarth, a man who felt the impulse of genius' and to whom perhaps no one has a prior right to be called the delineator of life and character-the inventor of those satires on the follies and vices of the period, which though contributing to a fund of amusement carry with them undoubted illustrations of moral teaching, provides us with many pictures, but one in particular much we think to our purpose, and which will assist us in placing before our readers some outlines, brief and indistinct though they may be, of what we conceive to be allegorically the germination, the growth, and the perfection of civilization.

In the representations of the Spitalfields weavers and the course they severally took, we refer, need it be said to the 'industrious' apprentice, and the 'idle' apprentice, we perceive without the necessity for comparison between the two youths, the status quo, that is to say the normal condition of things.

The industrious lad progresses even in the first drawing for he is evidently bent on his own improvement. In the second he appears to be devoutly performing the duties of a christian and offering up praises to Heaven. In the next he is shewn to be the recipient of his master's confidence and the temporary custodian of untold gold. In the