b for
want of that characteristic, remembering that,--

"'Tween man and man, they weight not every stamp;
Though light, take pieces for the _figure's_ sake."

And that the mere _form_ of a proverb often affords some indication of its
age and climate, even where the _matter_ is spurious. I have a large MS.
collection of English proverbs by me, from which I doubt not I shall be
able to extract some few which have never yet been admitted into any
published collection. Of these at some future time.

C. MANSFIELD INGLEBY.

Birmingham.

[We shall be happy to do all in our power to carry out this very
excellent suggestion.--Ed. "N. & Q."]

* * * * *

MR. JUSTICE TALFOURD.

The noble sentiments uttered by Justice Talfourd in his last moments gave a
charm to his sudden death, and shed a hallowed beauty about the painfully
closing scenes of this great man. I want them to have a niche in "N. & Q.,"
and along with them a passage from his beautiful tragedy of _Ion_, which
may be considered as a transcript of those thoughts which filled his mind
on the very eve of quitting the high and honourable duties of his earthly
course. It forcibly illustrates the loving soul, the kind heart, and the
amiable character of this deeply lamented judge.

After speaking of the peculiar aspect of crime in that part of the country
where he delivered his last charge, he goes on to say:

"I cannot help myself thinking it may be in no small degree
attributable to that separation between class and class, which is the
great curse of British society, and for which we are all, more or less,
in our respective spheres, in some degree responsible, and which is
more complete in these districts than in agricultural districts, where
the resident gentry are enabled to shed around them the blessings
resulting from the exercise of benevolence, and the influence and
example of active kindness. I am afraid we all of us keep too much
aloof from those beneath us, and whom we thus encourage to look upon us
with suspicion and dislike. Even to our servants we think, perhaps, we
fulfil our duty when we perform our contract with them--when we pay
them their wages, and treat then with the civility consistent with our
habits and feelings--when we curb our temper, and use no violent
expressions towards them. But how painful is the thought, that there
are men and women