every good action, to give themselves no concern about this old man. They would doubtless only spoil his pleasure, for they have already seen that he has no wish to be called an angel of God. thing of his benefactor. Four days || pains to spy out and trumpet abroad afterwards he received, by coach, 365 four-groschen pieces, and the following year, on the same day, the like sum. It has now been regularly transmitted for seven successive years. Metal buttons are still in fashion; the old man is not discovered; and as he has so well contrived to remain concealed, and consequently wishes to be so, I would earnestly entreat our collectors of anecdotes, who take such This story is related by the German poet Gleim, and, to his honour, we are enabled to add, that he was himself the old man who figures in ita fact that was not known till after his death. PLATE 3. THE NEW CUSTOM-HOUSE. So early as the year 979 the | them, at the period of the Restoraking's customs were principally tion, about 110,000l. yearly. The collected at Billingsgate, and then average nett customs paid into the to no considerable amount; as even Exchequer in the last years of in 1268, the half-year's customs for William III. was 417,4867.; during foreign merchandize in the city of the wars of Anne 1,257,3327.; the London came only to 75l. 6s. 10d. first of George I. 1,588,1627.; of In the year 1383 a custom-house George II. 1,621,7317.; the first was built by John Churchman on year of George III. 1,969,9347.; in the site of the late edifice, though 1784, 2,745,2807.; and in four years, at that time, and long after, the from 1802 to 1805, both inclusive, customs were collected in different the real annual average value of parts of the city. About 1559, the imports was 53,240,000l. The real loss to the revenue being discover- annual average of foreign goods ed, an act was passed to compel and British manufactures exported persons to land their goods in such in four years, from 1802 to 1805, places as were appointed by the was 56,611,0007. In the year 1784, commissioners of revenue; and a the shipping in the merchants' sernew Custom-House was erected. vice belonging to Great Britain In 1590, towards the close of the and her colonies, not including reign of Elizabeth, the customs Ireland, was 1,301,000 tons, naviamounted to 50,000/.: at first they gated by 101,870 seamen. In 1805 had been farmed to Sir Thomas it had increased to 2,226,000 tons, Smith at 14,0007. a year; after-navigated by 152,612 seamen ; and wards at 42,000/.; and finally at the real value of the exports of 50,0007. In 1641, just before the beginning of the civil troubles of the country, the customs brought in 500,000l. a year; but the broils in which it was involved, had reduced British manufactures, which were in 1781 18,603,000/. had in 1805 increased to 41,068,000. The produce of our fisheries, which in 1784 was of the value of 129,0007. had in 1805 increased to 484,000%. The Custom-House erected at the commencement of Queen Elizabeth's reign having been de- || stroyed by the great conflagration in 1666, another fabric rose in its place, at an expense of 10,0007. This structure was also burned down on the 13th January, 1715, together with 120 houses in Thamesstreet; on which occasion fifty persons perished in the flames. It was again rebuilt in a substantial manper of brick and stone, and upon a noble scale, the whole edifice being 189 feet in length; but this, like its predecessors, was destined to become a prey to the flames, by which it was totally consumed on the 12th of February, 1814. in genuine taste with which the south front in particular is designed, is highly honourable to the abilities of Mr. Laing, the architect: but, unfortunately, the situation is not favourable to a display or to an inspection of its merits; for the grandeur of the outline cannot be sufficiently seen, owing to the comparatively confined terrace or quay front of it, to the crowd of shipping that of necessity intervenes between this and the opposite shore, from which it could best be viewed; while this shore affords no further temptation, were it otherwise, to induce the visit of the architectural amateur. The front is of Portland stone, and consists of an Prior to this event, the Custom-Ionic superstructure, supported by House was found to be inadequate a basement, and finished by an at tic. The centre of the building contains the great room, which is lighted by nine large arched windows; the central entrance beneath is by flights of steps on each side; and a projecting portion of the basement sustains recumbent fi The attic of the centre is decorated by a fine bas-relief 200 feet long, with figures 5 feet 6 inches high, representing our commercial alliances, and executed by Mr. Bubb. Above this is a group of figures representing Industry and Ingenuity, supporting a dial. to the vast increase of commercial business; and as the term of its investment in trustees for the crown, at a rent of 19607. per annum, was about to expire, the government, at the suggestion of the Board of Customs, abandoned the idea of making additions to the old build-gures of Ocean and Commerce. ing, and directed a new CustomHouse to be erected on a piece of ground adjoining to the former, between it and Billingsgate. This ground had become, in great part, vacant by a fire in May, 1808, and for this purpose an act of parliament was passed in 1812: accordingly plans were prepared for a The wings, if they may so be building on a magnificent scale, called, being symmetrical comand of a very classic design, the partments of the front, to which all first stone of which was laid, with the above forms a centre, contains the usual ceremonies, at the south-each a centre of insulated columns. east corner of the proposed build- of the Ionic order; and in its height ing, on the 25th of October, 1813. an additional story is introduced, This building is great in its fea-without injury to the continuity of tures of design, and substantial in the lines of the cornices and imthe dimensions of its parts, and the posts, which are here essential fea great care has been taken to guard against a recurrence of those destructive accidents, which have given so many awful warnings to the commissioners. tures of the composition: and || pected, from its crowded situation, yet its effect from the entrance of the metropolis over London bridge is very striking; and foreigners, who visit the port of London, on viewing it, must speak with respect of our architectural talent, and of the magnificence of this national edifice. Though all the desired results of so fine a building towards establishing the architectural reputation of the country, cannot be ex THE FEMALE TATTLER. No. VII. Felices ter, et amplius, Quos irrupta teuet copula; nec malis Suprema citius solvet amor die.Hor. lib. i. od. 13. Thus happy they in pure delights Whom love with equal bonds unites; HAVING received Cornelia's permission to make such use of the communications I mentioned in my last paper, as may suit my purpose, I proceed to give an extract, which will, I flatter myself, be considered as containing very useful instructions to such of my female readers be in the situation to which as may they appear very forcibly to apply. TO THE FEMALE TATTLER. Madam, porting any notion that may have atendency to diminish the influence of the first of duties, that which we owe to our parents, I am convinced, the more the mind is cultivated and improved, the more susceptible it will become of all its obligations, and especially of this most sacred of them. A child is certainly most undutiful, when she rashly and precipitately forms a connection with any one of the other sex which has not received the sanction of parental approbation; and it may be suspected, without any prejudging severity, that she who has failed in her duty as a daughter, may not prove altogether amiable in the discharge of her duties as a wife. Romantic ideas, and the absence of due reflection which they generally produce, are as apt to mislead the young, as too great an attention to interest is to govern the old. Innumerable are the evils which result from that want of fortitude and strength of mind, which the generality of the female sex appear more disposed to enervate and destroy, than to cherish and cultivate. A rational being ought surely to be capable of thinking, judging, and acting for herself: she ought to understand the full force and circumference of her duties; and knowing them, to prefer to every other consideration, the dictates of reason and the sugges. After representing the misery tions of conscience. Far from sup-and, it may surely be added, the bonds for lasting attachment. With these, though the charms of the person may fade, though sickness and age may diminish and in time destroy the exteriors of loveliness and grace, affection will continue warm and faithful, till the heart that feels it beats no more. Romantic, novel-reading young women may, unfortunately for themselves, think otherwise; but the truth is, and a woful experience may bring it home to their conviction when it is too late, that the man who makes a sacrifice of duty and prudence, and consequently reason, to what he terms a violent and irresistible attachment, gives but a transient promise of that solid and permanent regard, without which Hymen's torch emits but a glaring light to decorate a ceremony, and then is extinguished. wickedness of a young woman accompanying a man to the altar who does not possess her affections, that I may not add to the illusions of sentiment, it becomes me to observe the folly of a romantic attachment which too many misses profess to feel for their future husbands. Esteem, founded on the knowledge of a man's character and qualifications, and gratitude for his decided preference, will be sufficient to ensure happiness, as such principles will promote the performance of every requisite duty with alacrity and pleasure. Such a rational affection must ever be more consistent, because it will be more permanent, than a violent passion, which, while it promises so much delight, affords so little, or, at most, so short a continuance of it. At the same time, to suffer pecuniary advantages to dazzle But to come to the more partiwith their fallacious glare, is to vio-cular object of this paper, and late every generous feeling of the which the narrative that follows is heart for what motive can be so intended to illustrate. It is among base and so abject, as to sacrifice the nearest and dearest interests. the purest of our affections, and of female life, to cultivate right to yield up the most delicious pro- notions as to the proportionate sispect of life and happiness, to the tuations of those who accompany demon of wealth? each other to the altar. Unequal matches seldom are found to answer, in point of happiness, to the expectations which a sordid interest holds forth as the probable re External circumstances also have their allurements; the charms of wit and the fascination of manners, will sometimes turn the attention from more solid qualities: this de-sult of them; for it is too often ception is a game which is every found, in examining the result of day playing in the world, and too marriages where beauty, personal often succeeds; but they who trust accomplishments, and the extravato their imagination, instead of their gant passion of the lover, have reason, will never fail to be losers produced such an union as is here in it. Good sense and right prin- understood, that the want of dociples in a husband will form the mestic union is not compensated best security of the real happiness by the luxuries of fortune and the of matrimonial life. Virtue, piety, || splendour of station. The followand benevolence, are the firmesting story, that is unhappily found |