husband was for ever transgressing. He cut off the tail of her lap-dog, to discover if the component parts were bone or cartilage; plucked and singed her favorite parrot, to compare the skin and pen-feathers with those of a chicken; and, finally, filled her snuff-box with ground coffee, to learn what might be its effects upon the nasal organs. These, and many similar experiments, embittered the union of Jedediah and Belinda, and she soon sunk under her troubles. The husband was quite disconsolate at her loss, and wondered what could have carried her off so soon.

Mr. Eversearch is now thirty-eight years of age, and as industrious and pertinacious as in his youthful days. I perceived him, a few weeks since, dodging an elderly gentleman in Washington-street, who wore a pair of antique silven buckles upon the knees of his velvet breeches; these symbols of the olden time had attracted the falcon glance of Jedediah, who, doubtless, had

determined to ascertain their antiquity ; and I left him in full chase after their owner, whose uncomfortable elongation of countenance too plainly betrayed his suspicion that his pursuer had a design upon him.

may

Perhaps it may be a philanthropic act to describe the apparel of this person, that the community may not be alarmed at any demonstration he make towards their pockets, as he frequently endeavours to ascertain the name of a passenger who interests him, by abstracting the corner of a handkerchief from its resting-place, that he may obtain a glimpse of the mark upon its corner.

His hat is of a very dubious and suspicious character, varying between the Jackson broadbrim, and the English conical; and proving a complete poser to the prying politician. Its crown is low, and bears indubitable marks of having seen hard service; the rim is of the width of an apple-peel, and is worn down in front

nearly to the crown, which defect was caused by the laborious burrowing of its owner into odd holes and corners.

The body of his coat is of faded blue broad cloth; but the arms have been so often worn out by a thrusting into deep crevices, and so often replaced by new ones, that there is no congruity in colour between them, and the main part aforesaid. Most of the buttons upon this garment are wanting, Jedediah having twisted them off to ascertain the name of the maker; consequently, the coat continually flies open, disclosing a vest resembling a patchwork bed quilt. This article he succeeded in rescuing from his irreconcileable enemies, the rats, after a long and dubious struggle with them in their very dens. It was immediately repaired with great care, and it is now worn by him as a memento of a great and glorious victory.

The small clothes of this eccentric gentleman are of the stoutest buckskin, and have suffered

great and frequent decay at the knees, from the crawling habits of the owner; they are now patched and stuffed, and covered over with jointed copper plates, which Jedediah has informed me effectually resist friction.

In direct opposition to the fashion of the times, Mr. Eversearch indulges in long boots and tassels. The threads of these ornamental appendages he takes much delight in counting daily; indeed it is his favourite amusement, save that of enumerating the hairs upon the back of a dingy cat, which prowls about his paternal dwelling. The accomplishment of this latter feat appeared to me incredible; but he assured me, that, by perseverance, he had accomplished it several times; twice having shaved the back of the veteran mouser, to ascertain if the hairs would be renewed in equal number.

I have thus endeavoured to give a feeble delineation of the exterior of this inquisitive gentleman. His moral and intellectual qualifications

entitle him to the sincere good will of his fellow sinners, but his prying propensity renders him a bugbear and a nuisance.

I know, indeed, of no greater pest, except it be a person I meet at a certain literary institution in this city, who reads one morning paper with his eyes, a second with his elbows, holding a third in his hand, to the utter discomfiture and perplexity of his civil co-frequenters.