end of each pin, she places the latter, with the head upon it, in a kind of springing vice, which, by repeated compressions, gives the head and pin that degree of mutual adhesion, which prevents them from separating. The pins go next to be whitened, which is done by covering the surface of the brass wire with a film of metallic tin, that is, common block-tin,

Last of all, they are stuck in rows upon the pin-paper. This is performed by little girls, who sit at a table with their laps full of pins. Each has, before her, a kind of hand-vice, in which she fixes the paper in such a manner, that, by a single movement, the ridge of paper through which the pins are to be thrust, is formed, and made to rise a little above the upper part of the vice. The little girl then takes up with a comb a number of pins, in such a manner, that they hang between the teeth perpendicularly; a convenient number of them are then placed between a thumb and finger, and laid in such a manner, that each pin rests in a little channel or groove, prepared for it, in the top of the vice; the right thumb is covered with a thick cot of leather, and by means of this the pins are thrust through the paper, and they are sure to perforate it regularly, because the grooves keep them from deviating. One more movement of the vice brings the heads of the pins quite home to the paper, and then, after being rolled, they are fit for sale.

It is surprising, that even in so simple a business as pin-making, there should be so many facilities to insure accuracy and expedition. This is one of the great secrets of manufactures, which is well understood in this country, and but little in ours. A man who perfectly comprehends all the principles of a particular business, whether mechanical or chemical, may nevertheless fail of success from ignorance of some apparently trivial circumstances, or from inattention to them.

LESSON LXXIII.

Shepherds and their Flocks.

WHILE passing over the plain, I saw great numbers of sheep going to a grand sheep fair, about to be held at Salisbury. On this plain are fed the South Down sheep, without horns, with black legs and faces, and producing three or four pounds of fine wool per head; there is also the Leicestershire breed, small, but making fine mutton, and the Wiltshire breed, large, and affording a great quantity of wool.

Salisbury-plain appears to be very well adapted to the raising of sheep, and accordingly, shepherds and flocks are frequent upon it. I conversed with the shepherds, and found them intelligent and civil; they are always attended by a dog, without whose assistance they could not manage their flocks, and it is astonishing how easily this little animal commands them; when the course of the flock is to be turned, the dog runs along the ranks, with great zeal, and much barking, nor does he stop till he has headed them, when they wheel as readily as an army at the word of command; in the same manner the shepherd's dog reclaims a straggler, whom he never leaves till he has brought him back to the flock. I know these are common facts, but I could not help standing with admiration, to see how intelligently the dogs planned and executed their measures upon the slightest intimation from the master, or even without. You will not think it surprising that, under these circumstances, the interesting story of The Shepherd of Salisbury Plain, should have recurred to my thoughts;-I could easily imagine that I saw, among the shepherds, the good man whose history Mrs. More has told with a degree of simplicity

which might delight a child, and yet, with such dignity, elegance, and interest, as would entertain and instruct the most enlightened understanding.

LESSON LXXIV.

Carisbrooke Castle.

THE first excursion which I made from Newport was on foot to Carisbrooke Castle, situated on a lofty hill, nearly a mile west of the town. I have always been strongly interested in the fate and sufferings of Charles I. partly from respect for his private character, which was certainly much better than that of the average of kings, and first magistrates, of whatever name, and partly from that strong sympathy which we always feel for the sufferings of people of elevated stations. I was therefore particularly gratified with the sight of Carisbrooke Castle, which, you know, opened its gates, with seeming hospitality, to receive the royal fugitive, and then treacherously closed them on the royal prisoner. I allude to King Charles' taking refuge here, after his flight from the palace of Hampton-Court. The governor of Carisbrooke Castle pretended to be his friend, and received him with apparent kindness; but the unhappy monarch had only fallen into a snare, for the governor detained him a prisoner, till he could deliver him into the hands of his enemies. I am not disposed, however, to defend the tyranny and want of good faith which brought on the ruin of Charles, any more than I am inclined to admire the malignant cunning and canting hypocrisy of the usurper.

Carisbrooke Castle is, independently of this historical association, a very interesting ruin, and is the fair est

specimen of the ancient castles of England which I have had an opportunity to examine. The whole fortification covers several acres of ground. It is surrounded by a broad and deep ditch, which was, probably, once filled with water next come the walls, enclosing the whole of the defensible part; they are of stone; they are very high and were repaired completely, and I believe for the last time, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. I crossed a bridge which is laid over the ditch, and entered the castle beneath a massy arch in the wall, formerly furnished with a portcullis.-The doors are of oak and very ancient ; some say that they are coeval with the Saxons, or at least as old as the Norman age. Immediately after entering the gate, the remains of the apartments in which King Charles was confined were pointed out to me. Only the wall is now standing, but the fire places mark the situation of the apartments, and the window from which it is said he intended to make his escape, remains entire with its iron grates. But this part of the fortification is now a mere ruin. The walls are overgrown with ivy, and the stones which once witnessed the sighs of the devoted royal victim, now echo only to the croaking of numerous jackdaws that build in the crevices of the tottering wall, and to the sullen murmur of the winds, which hum through the grates, with a peculiarly melancholy sound.

Near this place, within the walls of the castle, they shewed me the room where the Princess Elizabeth, second daughter of Charles, after his execution, expired a prisoner, and probably a victim to grief.

Proceeding into the interior of the castle, we saw the chapel, and the governor's house, for a governor is still maintained here, although there is neither a gun nor a soldier.

The citadel stands on an eminence in the middle of the works. I ascended to its top by more than seventy

stone steps, and had an extensive view of the island. This citadel is supposed to be a Saxon work, of perhaps a thousand or twelve hundred years standing. It is now a venerable ruin.

As we were descending, my guide pointed out a well three hundred feet deep, which was dug by the Normans. He let down a lamp by means of a line, and it illuminated the walls so far that I' could see them distinctly, while it continued to burn perfectly well at the surface of the water two hundred and twenty feet down. When water is dropped into this astonishing pit, it occupies about five seconds in descending, and the length of the tube produces a very distinct and pleasing echo.

The water is uncommonly fine, and is raised by means of a donkey, turning a great wheel, as a dog does a spit, or a squirrel a wire-cage. It is no fiction; the animal is actually enclosed in a wheel and travels around in it, without making any progress forward. "One of these animals died in the year 1771, after having performed this service forty-five years; another which was kept for the same purpose twenty-six years, died in 1798, being thirty-two years old. His royal highness the Duke of Gloucester on a visit to this island, seeing the extreme docility of the animal, was so well pleased that he ordered him a penny loaf per day, during his life. A young one has since been taught to perform this business."

Leaving Carisbrooke Castle, I returned to Newport, and at 4 o'clock mounted a white horse as gigantic as the one which I rode at Salisbury was diminutive. I travelled slowly across the island, by the way of Gods-hill. The country is every where varied with hills and dales; the valleys are beautiful, and the hills productive either of grass or corn. I passed by several little hamlets and numerous private seats, the most remarkable of which was Appuldurcombe, the ancient seat of the Worsley