"Mr. Bernard.-I can assure the honourable member it does not. "Mr. King wished that the Bill had been introduced by a committee.

"Mr. Berry rose and said-Mr. Speaker, at this period such a constitutional law as is this, is called for by the exigency of the times. What, sir, is dearer to man than his property? Are we to submit to have our possessions torn from us whenever the elements chose to pour upon us? No, sir, my sacred duty to my constituents forbids. The Emperor Tacitus has wisely told us to resist disorder, and follow the example of Quantus Cunkus* : let us leap into the gulph rather than lead our constituents to suffer. (Cheers.)

"Mr. Kelly.-Sar, if suchn a Bill no pass, I says my friends and brothers make we go through the window arter it. Sar, de light is come over we eyes, and de horizon of ignorance is darken by de ray of philosophers. (Hear, hear.)

If we

"Mr. Manderson.-Sir, I look upon this Bill as practical. passes the Bill, I says hurrah for the smugglers. If we want rain we can import it from Cuba, and I mean to move a bounty upon it. Cuba rain is better than that of Jamaica. I trades there, and know well, sir.

"Mr. Campbell (of Hanover) said-Sir, having seen the mischief resulting from fire, I should propose that a clause be enacted to restrict its operations. Sir, I get three hundred pounds from the parish of Hanover for being their representative, and I must oppose the Bill unless this clause be introduced.

"Mr. Watt-Sir, I do consider that the Bill against rain will be most useful; my estate at Lacovia is little better than a swamp. "Mr. Robertson-It is the rain which has prevented the Dickenson Charity estates from being productive.

"Mr. Hyslop-It will be necessary to have a clause authorising the appointment of Commissioners to carry this act into effect.

"[At the mention of Commissioners, Mr. Bernard and Mr. Robertson galloped off to the Governor's-Mr. Speaker Barrett previously whispering, Mr. Bernard, 'shares.'

"Mr. Hyslop, with his usual wit, remarked that the two hon. members, in hopes to be Commissioners on the RAIN BILL, had

RUNNED away.

"Mr. Townshend opposed the Bill because it was not practical. "Mr. Mais-Thus, sir, it is when the refulgency of man's intellect is corruscating the dangers which deprive frail humanity of benefits awarded it by the Divine hand; thus it is that those who understand freedom, as that of the wild antelope on the hills, seek to enervate the energies, and destroy the resources of the laws-the best frame for man in his vain and sublunary state. Because they cannot obtain all, they will take nothing-forgetting that half a loaf is better than no bread.

"Mr. Lowndes asked if it was to be an annual Bill.

“Mr. Frater said he hoped so. He did not expect to see it work any more than he did the apprenticeship system. (Cries of question, question.)

*The honourable member means Quintus Curtius.

"Mr. Collman asked if the parish of Clarendon was included in the Bill.

Mr. Panton-I can answer the hon. member most satisfactorily. Sir, the whole island is to be benefited. I support this Bill because, sir, it is beneficial-because, sir, it is useful-because, sir, it is advantageous-because, sir, it is serviceable. Let me not hear, sir, that this Bill will fail of its purpose. Is not an overflow of rain injurious? Is not a storm ruinous? Do not lightning and thunder blast the fair deeds of Heaven? And are not mountains shaken by earthquakes? Sir, the existence of these evils we all know; we must apply a remedy; it is our duty to do so-we are bound to this; we are required to perform it as incumbent upon us by our obligations as men, our duty as members, and our loyalty to our king and country, and to the Saint Thomas in the East Colonial Union. (Cheers.) "The Bill was then read a first time.

"On the motion for its second reading, the house divided.

"For the Bill.
"Against it

21

1

"The announcement of the division was received with cheers and laughing.

"Mr. Townshend said he withdrew all further opposition.

"The Bill was then committed.

"Mr. Panton in the chair.

"The following clauses were introduced in committee, and adopted as a part of the Bill.

By Mr. Lowndes, to restrain pistols from going off (against slaves) when their triggers are pulled.

"By Mr. Collman, to prohibit thunder and lightning in Clarendon. "By Mr. Grosset, to restrain hurricanes within constitutional bounds, and prohibit earthquakes altogether, with power to call in the military.

"By Mr. Dallas, for the limitation of whirlwinds and water-spouts. "Mr. Grosset moved to add these words-unless compensation be awarded.

"Mr. Barclay said it was all very well on paper, but he doubted how it was to be reduced to practice.

-

"Mr. Brown. You might as well make a law for my bulls, how many blades of grass they might eat. (Order, order-chair, chair, from Panton.)

"Mr. Whittaker said, that as gaols were places for surgical experiment, he thought they should be excepted also from the provisions of this Bill. He could not see upon what principle a person in gaol, who was the proper subject of the surgeon's experiments, should be protected from those of the elements.

"Mr. Shenton considered the exclusion unnecessary; it would be letting people understand the truth, that the assembly legislated for itself and not for the people. He fully recognized the principle, but considered the more secret it was kept the better. He approved of the Bill; it was consonant to Magna Charta and the Bill of Rights. "The Bill was then reported, and ordered to be engrossed.

P

"Its title, on motion of Mr. Grosset, was amended thus:

"A BILL to regulate the rain, and for ascertaining the quantity to fall in each month; also for regulating hurricanes, prohibiting earthquakes, and restricting water-spouts and whirlwinds, and setting bounds to the power of fire, and for other purposes.'

Here follows a notice from a provision merchant, containing a strong hint to his debtors-an example we recommend to London tradesmen :

"The subscriber feels himself bound to give this as his last notice to those whose accounts are long over-due, and begs to intimate that unless they come forward and arrange the same, to enable him to meet his engagements, that he will sue indiscriminately.—A. H. QUELLO."

Two advertisements are characteristic of the dark days before the Emancipation Bill had passed.

"EIGHT DOLLARS REWARD for the apprehension of a Negro woman, name Elizabeth Lindsy, well known in Spanish Town. She was the property of Mrs. Ireland, of Ireland Pen; of a yellow complexion, tall, with a large nose. She has been away for the last month."

Query, was the slave, or the owner, of the saffron hue and large nasal organ?

"SIX DOLLARS for the apprehension of that well-known runaway William French. Calls himself Britten, is very black, with thick lips and white eyes, and is very plausible, and likely to pass as free. Deserted the last time on Friday last. He has on a blue jacket and a black silk hat.-A. WILLOCK.

Our sketches are now brought to a close; but before I finally take leave of the subject, it may not be presumptuous in me to express a hope that the author will consent to publish in a separate volume the vivid descriptions he has given of Life and Character in the West Indies, many of which have been kept back as not suiting the character of sporting works. The writer is a distinguished officer, who has served his country well and faithfully at home and abroad, and whose exertions at Aldershot to produce amusement in the club balls and theatricals is fully known and appreciated. He possesses an intelligent, quick, and talented mind, with literary powers of no ordinary ability, stating his views and impressions in a firm and candid manner, and exhibiting a truthfulness in his narrative which at once stamps authenticity. The MS. from which I have already extracted fourteen chapters, still retains much valuable and important information, calculated more for the pages of a standard work than the ephemeral articles of a magazine; and trusting that ere long they will appear in that form, I resign the task of editorship, with many thanks to the writer for having allowed me to be the medium of introducing his work to the public.

FRANK WELTON.

A FANCY SKETCH.

BY CECIL.

In my last communication Mr. Francis Welton was introduced as a performer of great excellence in the cricket-field, and a gentleman of considerable repute in the sporting world. As the life and adventures of a sportsman generally comprise subjects of interest, I have endeavoured to collect such incidents connected with his career as may serve to illustrate the character; premising that, although this little history is announced as a "fancy sketch," every event has a foundation in reality. The juvenile days of our friend may be passed over with very few remarks-none, excepting those which appertain to the establishment of sporting acquirements. It was his misfortune to be deprived of a father's care at an early age; thus did his education and introduction into the world devolve principally on his mother, a most affectionate and kind-hearted lady, but very deficient of that resolution necessary for the successful management of a resolute and somewhat headstrong boy. Two maiden aunts, who were most sincerely attached to the father of our hero, contributed their services on many occasions to "spoil the child ;" and as he had, exclusively of a fair independence, what are commonly termed good expectations-in which, however, he was most painfully deceivedthe difficulties he had to encounter on his first appearance on the stage of life were much increased by the very means which his relatives vainly hoped would tend to avert them. It seldom happens that sporting pursuits are sanctioned by the female portion of the creation; and, anomalous as it may appear, Frank Welton was inculcated with a love for them by those aunts who in after-years censured him for following the amusements to which they had introduced him. How often it occurs that a trifling incident becomes the foundation of subsequent important events, quite beyond the glance of human penetration, in amanner which can only be attributed to fate! When quite a boy, not more than 13 years of age, it was arranged that Frank Welton should spend his summer holidays with his aunts, who resided in one of the midland counties celebrated for field sports; and as the distance was considerable, one of the good ladies met him midway between her home and the school. Nothing is more certain than that all things must have a beginning, and this was the commencement of our hero's sporting career. It happened the races were being held at the town in which the aunt and her nephew met; they had to remain in the town for the night, and it is but natural to suppose a schoolboy would be anxious to witness the sport. His solicitations were importunate: his relative urged the impropriety of a single lady going to a race, unless with a party; but that difficulty was overcome

by accidentally observing a family with whom the lady was acquainted drive up to the hotel, and with them they proceeded to the course. The circumstance of one gentleman of the party having a horse engaged, which he rode himself, increased the interest in the mind of our young hero, who felt that the height of his ambition would be completed if at a future time he could become a gentleman-jockey and owner of race-horses. From that moment his fondness for racing was established.

Subjected to less restraint under the care of his indulgent aunts, Frank was delighted to pass as much as possible of his time under their roof, and the succeeding winter a pony was procured for him to ride with a pack of barriers kept in the neighbourhood; and whenever the foxhounds met within reach, one, and sometimes both, of his aunts accompanied him to see them throw off; for it must not be denied that they were great admirers of the noble sport, and, doubtless, the propensity was hereditary. There could be no reason why these good ladies should not have promoted their nephew's amusements in participating in field sports; but it was unkind, ungenerous, and inconsistent, to censure him in after-life as they did, when his taste became matured to the food which they had provided.

In

However flattering any young man's prospects may be, it is imperatively necessary that he should be brought up to some profession. Such are the vicissitudes of life and fortune connected with this and all the civilized countries in Europe, that every man ought to be provided with a means of gaining a living, in the event of casualties, against which no other security can be devised. When we look around and behold the extent to which the ravages of unavoidable litigations, improvident extravagancies, and divers other agents of demolition, have recklessly levied their contributions on paternal acres, the man must be void of intellect, or totally wanting of parental affection, who does not give his sons the advantages of professions as sheet-anchors in the tempestuous sea of adverse circumstances. the case of Frank Welton this was overlooked; and having completed his scholastic studies, his time was divided between the residences of his mother and aunt, but principally at the latter, where, before he had passed the days of his minority, two hunters and a hack were provided for his use. Thus an appetite for the chase was, to all intents and purposes, assiduously cultivated, and early practice rendered him an accomplished horseman: though here, again, a great mistake was perpetrated. His horses were, like himself, young and inexperienced, and he had to make hunters of them as best he could. This occasioned falls innumerable, which no doubt led to a system of cautious riding; for, although he eventually rode well to hounds, and could always give a good account of a run, it was evident that he did not ride with that reckless daring which the high character of his stud subsequently might have inculcated. For a youth to become a shining performer with hounds, a horse of the steadiest and most tractable disposition, perfectly accomplished in all kinds of fencing, is the most suitable animal for his early probation; thus mounted he will gain confidence, and at a future period be able to ride hunters of more difficult tempers.

Having attained his majority, Frank Welton established himself in