imrosy hedges! Farewell to the breezy common, with its islands
of cottages and cottage-gardens; its oaken avenues, populous with rooks;
its clear waters fringed with gorse, where lambs are straying; its
cricket-ground where children already linger, anticipating their summer
revelry; its pretty boundary of field and woodland, and distant farms;
and latest and best of its ornaments, the dear and pleasant mansion
where dwelt the neighbours, the friends of friends; farewell to ye all!
Ye will easily dispense with me, but what I shall do without you, I
cannot imagine. Mine own dear village, farewell!"

* * * * *

SMOLLETT'S "HUGH STRAP."

In the year 1809 was interred, in the churchyard of St. Martin's in the
Fields, the body of one Hew Hewson, who died at the age of 85. He was
the original of Hugh Strap, in Smollett's _Roderick Random_. Upwards of
forty years he kept a hair-dresser's shop in St. Martin's parish; the
walls were hung round with Latin quotations, and he would frequently
point out to his customers and acquaintances the several scenes in
_Roderick Random_ pertaining to himself, which had their origin, not in
Smollett's inventive fancy, but in truth and reality. The meeting in a
barber's shop at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, the subsequent mistake at the inn,
their arrival together in London, and the assistance they experienced
from Strap's friend, are all facts. The barber left behind an annotated
copy of _Roderick Random_, showing how far we are indebted to the genius
of the author, and to what extent the incidents are founded in reality.

* * * * *

COLLINS'S POEMS.

Mr. John Ragsdale, of Richmond, in Surrey, who was the intimate friend
of Collins, states that some of his Odes were written while on a visit
at his, Mr. Ragsdale's house. The poet, however, had such a poor opinion
of his own productions, that after showing them to Mr. Ragsdale, he
would snatch them from him, and throw them into the fire; and in this
way, it is believed, many of Collins's finest pieces were destroyed.
Such of his Odes as were published, on his own account in 1746, were not
popular; and, disappointed at the slowness of the sale, the poet burnt
the remaining copies with his own hands.

* * * * *

CAPTAIN MORRIS'S SONGS.

Alas! poor Morris--writes one--we knew him well. Who that has once read
or heard his songs, can forget their rich a