their business to the satisfaction of themselves and their masters, are never in debt, seldom without money, and though laughed at by some in public, are sure to be respected by every body in private.-Far inferior to these, but not altogether dissimilar, are the Steadies :-they can always tell you what the words of Theme are, but never the meaning of it :-they are sure to know where their lesson begins and ends, but this is nearly all they comprehend of it:-their chief notoriety consists in having their locks and keys in perfect repair, and their books and clothes in the best order their motto is, "Fast bind, fast find."-It is really a pity that commerce should be deprived of such valuable clerks and warehousemen.

:

But I had almost forgotten a class which is, or ought to be, the most important in a great public seminary, the Literati, in which very laudable set, though 1 know no members that are absolute pedants,there are however many who read dili

gently without relish, and are in a manner Amateurs without being Connoisseurs.

I have no particular objections to the Sporting Gentlemen, but must take the liberty of reminding them, that the deficiency of wit in their conversation is very ill supplied by boasting and lying.-There is, by the bye, a particular set of these persons, whose highest ambition it is by their quaint sayings and peculiar methods of emphasis and pronunciation to obtain the reputation of wit, and that of common sense in a superior degree, by their utter contempt of the abilities, industry, and all natural qualifications both mental and corporeal, of those who do not belong to their party, and more particularly of such as either neglect sporting, or hold it in contempt. They sometimes amuse, and have at least the merit of originality ;their society may truly be called the school for scandal; the best name I know for them is the canters. Their terms it is impossible to give with justice to them, as

heir merit in great measure consists in the oddity of gesture, and peculiar alterations of accent with which they are delivered I have taken the more notice of these, as at one time they had set the fashion to most part of College at least.

The last I shall notice, are a set which I shall distinguish by the name of Wouldbes;-they are vile imitations of a not ever-good original-the Canter-set-the style of whose conversation they imitate, but without any success. The sayings they intend to be quaint are either of a date dismally antique, and thoroughly hackneyed, or are so clumsily introduced, that if I may use the expression, they are thrust in head and shoulders on their hearers. It seems as if these would-be sprightly fellows had said to themselves, "That is a good thing, I will introduce it the first opportunity," and kept their word. They verify an old adage, “that there are but few men who can be trusted with carrying a joke.”

The abovementioned sects appear to me most worthy of notice, inasmuch as ever since I have had the opportunity of observing the various divisions of Westminster society, I have remarked such characters as these have always more or less prevailed in every successive generation. Those of my readers who have not been already prejudiced in favour of one of these divisions will, I think, agree that a mixture between the Worthies and Literati, would be the most desirable, as the first will always obtain friendship and respect; and, with regard to the second, I need not tell them that Knowledge is the mother of riches, fame, and honour, and in short, to use the expressive language of Lord Bacon, it is Power.

My advice has been requested on the following case, which I lay before my

readers.

SIR,

I am a boy in the under school: in the form with myself is a boy, with whom I was once very intimate, until unfortunately I lent him a shilling; the consequence of which was, that ever since he has avoided me, and seems afraid of me. Pray give me your advice on the best plan of recovering his friendship, and you will &c. &c. &c.

oblige,

PICCOLINO.

ASK HIM FOR THE MONEY.

X. and Q.