omantic ruins of Kenilworth Castle.'

"This last sentence is probably only added as a bait to catch
excursionists. It is well, therefore, that such and the public in
general should know that--thanks to the excellent proprietor, the
EARL OF CLARENDON--'the romantic ruins of Kenilworth Castle' are not
open to visitors on the Sabbath--an arrangement, I may add, which
has added much to the morality and proper observance of the Lord's
Day in our parish.

"I remain, your obedient Servant,

"EDWARD R. EARDLEY WILMOT,

Vicar of Kenilworth.

"_Vicarage, Kenilworth, July 18._"

This is no judaising Puritan, this MR. WILMOT. This is no semi-Christian
pharisee, substituting for the broad phylactery the extensive white
choker highly starched; no fanatical sort of hybrid or mule, taking most
after donkey. No; our Reverend gentleman is a genial, kindly priest,
with a turn for playful irony--in the spirit whereof he writes to the
_Times_. He knows well enough--bless him!--that the liberal EARL OF
CLARENDON would never have shut up "Kenilworth Castle" against the busy
people, on the only day when there would be any use in opening it to
them. He, to be sure, is aware that the ungracious deed has been
perpetrated by some underling; some sanctimonious BAREBONES of a
steward, or some methodistical old housekeeper, to whom the "bitter
observance of the Sabbath" is sweeter than fees. Indeed, his use of the
Jewish word Sabbath, in this connexion, for the day which he calls below
by its Christian name, allows his real feeling as regards the matter to
transpire. In feigning to thank the excellent EARL OF CLARENDON for a
miserable act of bigotry, he takes a funny way of letting the noble EARL
know what a sectarian ass some one of his servants has been making
himself in the name, and at the expense, of the reputation of his
Lordship.

The conclusion of our Reverend humourist's epistle is capital. No doubt
such an arrangement as that of shutting up "a romantic ruin," a scene of
picturesque and venerable beauty, replete with historical associations
of famous memory, suggestive of lofty and solemn thought: no doubt the
arrangement of closing such an objectionable place as this on the
Sunday, must have "added much to the morality and proper observance" of
that day in the parish, by tending considerably to increase the
congregation at--the public-house.

* * * * *

THE JOLLY OLD WAT