ps of the metropolis. The truth is, laver is
a kind of reddish sea-weed, forming a jelly when boiled, which is eaten
by some of the poor people in Angus with bread instead of butter; but
which the rich have elevated into one of the greatest dainties of their
tables. In Scotland, laver is called _slake_; and Dr. Clarke mentions
that it is used with the fulmar to make a kind of broth, which
constitutes the first and principal meal of the inhabitants. It is
curious to know that what is eaten at a duchess's table in Piccadilly as
a first-rate luxury, is used by the poor people of Scotland twice or
thrice a day. It is an expensive dish; but knowledge of this fact may
perhaps abate its cost.

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GARDENS.

Ferdinand I. of Naples prided himself upon the variety and excellence of
the fruit produced in his royal gardens, one of which was called
Paradise. Duke Hercules, of Ferrara, had a garden celebrated for its
fruits in one of the islands of the Po. The Duke of Milan, Ludovico,
carried this kind of luxury so far, that he had a travelling
fruit-garden; and the trees were brought to his table, or into his
chamber, that he might with his own hands gather the living fruit.

* * * * *

SNUFF.

Even among the rudest and poorest of the inhabitants of Scotland, and at
a period when their daily meal must have been always scanty, and
frequently precarious, one luxury seems to have established itself,
which has unaccountably found its way into every part of the world. We
mean tobacco. The inhabitants of Scotland, and especially of the
Highlands, are notorious for their fondness for snuff; and many were the
contrivances by which they formerly reduced the tobacco into powder. Dr.
Jamieson, the etymologist, defines a _mill_ to be the vulgar name for a
snuff-box, one especially of a cylindrical form, or resembling an
inverted cone. "No other name," says he, "was formerly in use. The
reason assigned for this designation is, that when tobacco was
introduced into this country, those who wished to have snuff were wont
to toast the leaves before the fire, and then bruise them with a bit of
wood in the box; which was therefore called a _mill_, from the snuff
being _ground_ in it." This, however, is said to be not quite correct;
the old snuff-machine being like a nutmeg-grater, which made snuff as
often as a pinch was required.

* * * * *