oung Englishman's life depended upon dispatch; and, instantly
firing, he proved himself as good a marksman as Monsieur ----, by
sending his ball, with the utmost precision, through the wily
manoeuvrer's elbow, from whence it passed into his side; and he
dropped down, disabled, if not dead. Thus did British spirit twice
humble, in a remarkable manner, French insolence and presumption!

* * * * *

A DISTINCTION.

"La-a-dy * *," exclaimed a certain Colonel, in that very original Scotch
brogue which a long acquaintance with the world has not tended in any
degree to diminish, "alloo me to introduce you to my brother, Carnal
M---- ----." "What!" asked the lady, "are you both Colonels?"
"Oo--ay--La-a-dy * *, that are we, in troth; but the daff'rence is this,
my brother, you see, is _Carnal_" (Lieutenant-colonel he intended
to express), "and _I_--am _fool_ Carnal!"

M.L.B.

* * * * *

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.

PETER PENCE

Were an ancient levy, or tax, of a penny on each house throughout
England, paid to the Pope. It was called _Peter-pence_ because
collected on the day of _St. Peter ad vincula_. By the Saxons it
was called _Rome-feoh_--_i.e._ the fee of Rome; and also _Rome-scot_,
and _Rome-pennying_, because collected and sent to Rome;--and lastly,
it was called _Hearth-money_, because every dwelling-house was liable
to it, provided there were thirty-pence _vivae pecuniae_ belonging to
it;--nay, and every religious house, the Abbey of St. Alban's alone
excepted.

This Peter-pence was at first given as a pension, or alms, by Ina, king
of the West Saxons, in the year 727, being then in pilgrimage at Rome;
and the like was done by Offa, king of the Mercians, throughout his
dominions, in 794; and afterwards by Ethelwulph, through the whole
kingdom, in the year 855.

It was not intended as a tribute to the Pope, but chiefly for the
support of the English school, or college, at Rome. The popes, however,
shared it with the college, and at length found means, to appropriate
it to themselves.

At first it was only an occasional contribution; but it became at last a
standing tax, being established by the laws of King Canute, Edward the
Confessor, the Conqueror, &c. The bishops, who were charged with the
collecting it, employed the rural deans and archdeacons therein.

Edward III. first forbade the payment; but it soon after returned, and
continued till