principal would consent to no alteration in the accustomed style of carrying on his business, and could only determine on economy and retrenchment in every available form. Shopman and servant were occasionally discharged, and expenditure cut down wherever possible, but all without eventual success. In fact, the very diminution of display and of labour attracted alike the notice of customers and of creditors, and the one began to forsake the declining shop, and the other to press the falling owner. Mr. Timid did not understand that the world forms its opinion of a tradesman's capabilities by the appearance of success, and that the first step down the hill of fortune has been taken when a man confesses that he does not continue to ascend. He was afraid of his position, and that fear deprived him of the necessary energies to meet his foe, and, by combating, to conquer fortune. Sometimes rashness may command success, where a cautious man will meet with irretrievable ruin. Finding that all his retrenchments were insufficient to overcome the now existing pressures which gradually were exhausting his finances, and having been induced once more to take stock of liabilities and assets, he at last was persuaded to attempt a forced sale of the property which had been long cumbering up his premises, and been periodically valued at its original cost. Having given his consent to this procedure, he forthwith brought to public notice a variety of articles, with the names even of many of which the present race were utterly unacquainted. The accumulations of his father's time, added to those which had accrued from his following up a similar course of trading, would have delighted the eye of an antiquary, or pleased the tastes and suited the idea of customers of a day long gone past, but bid fair in the mind of his shrewder manager to realize but a small proportion of their original cost. That they would replace the same never entered into his contemplation, and that the accumulating interests they should have represented would be utterly lost was now palpable to the eyes of Mr. Timid himself. Yet even now he delayed the evil day as long as possible, till at last, on being refused assistance to meet an acceptance falling due, he, in a moment of despair, gave permission for the long sought-for "sales of stock." His assistant suggested that modern articles should be purchased and mixed with the condemned stock, to force the latter forward. Mr. Timid would not assent to it, and consequently the shop, which, under judicious management, might have rivalled the prosperity of its neighbouring competitors, was at once labelled as the abode of failure, and displayed its stores of poverty to the world. Accustomed as the commercial world is to the notices of "Sales under prime cost," "Enormous sacrifice," "Sold to clear out stock," and other baits which are so frequently held forth to the notice of passers-by, in the hope of tempting their greed, and persuading them to purchase so-called "bargains," which always turn out dear at any price, the large mercantile firms always keep themselves well posted up as to the causes and consequences of these advertisements. No sooner is such a case brought under their notice than the ledger clerk's attention is directed to the state of the customer's account, and some party is deputed to quietly ascertain the nature and extent of the proposed transaction. The class of customers is well investigated, and the previous habits and conduct of the trader become food for consideration and canvassing in the circle whose goods are thus brought into the marked by a species of competition so unusual with the general nature of the trade. Explanations are demanded and given; and according to their satisfactory or other nature, an immediate stop is placed on the trader's career, or otherwise, as the case may be. It is not to be supposed that the sudden change in the mode of transacting business thus adopted by Mr. Timid would form an exception to the above rule, and consequently he was early waited upon by a representative of the firm who happened to be his largest creditors. Hitherto he had managed to keep clear in his engagements with them, but now their drafts had to be provided for, amongst others about to fall due. The father had laid out large sums with the house, before either the present debtor or creditors were in existence, and the connection had been unremittingly continued to the present date. My client's account had gradually diminished; but they placed this to his having opened up connections with other firms, and as hitherto his payments had been regular, had not ascribed the diminution of their respective transactions to any decay in the position of Mr. Timid himself. The party who called on him was a cannie trader, who had originally entered as a servant in the house of which he was now one of the masters, and knew well how to make the best of every position. Armed with a copy of the account current, he wended his way to the abode of suspicion, and called in, as if he had been casually passing by. Jocularly inquiring if Mr. Timid was getting ready to retire into the ease and dignity of private life, his keen eye took in the nature and description of the intended sacrifice, and marked the proportion their own manufactures bore to the bulk of the goods thus displayed. He was struck with the paucity of other houses' wares, and watched narrowly for the answer to be elicited by his previous inquiry. I have mentioned Mr. Timid's peculiar hesitancy in reply to any emergent appeal, and his present manner of speech answered for him, before its substance could be ascertained. The merchant was not long in reckoning up his recusant customer, and determining on the course to be adopted. He quietly continued the conversation, and having elicited the real cause and necessity for the uncommon nature of Mr. Timid's proposed sales, retired with the trader to his sanctum, and requested an inspection of his books, and the necessary explanations which could alone be given by Mr. Timid's foreman. Finding that their own draft was the first in order for payment, and had precedence, by some days, of any other claim, he agreed to take whatever cash could be paid on its account when it fell due, without making any promise as to further proceedings that his firm might deem expedient. Mr. Timid heartily thanked him for his forbearance, and trusted that their confidence would not be withdrawn. On leaving, the merchant said, as if casually, "Well, it is a good thing perhaps that I looked in, for if any other friends should drop in, they may feel satisfied when they know that we have made inquiries." He foresaw that though he was the first he would not be the last, and that his parting observation being misunderstood, or slightly altered, might stall off for a few important hours pressure from any other source. He knew that the running acceptance covered about half of Mr. Timid's remaining debt to his own house, and that its payment would ensure an immediate dividend of ten shillings in the pound on their claim, should the concern be wound up at an eventual loss. On his return, his first instructions were, that any orders from Mr. Timid were to be met with "out of stock, but should be attended to as soon as possible;" so that no unnecessary fear might be shown, or offence given, and that the payment or dishonour of the draft should be immediately reported to himself. Surely enough, other creditors casually looked in, and having been met with the statement that Messrs. Hop, Step, and Jump had been satisfied with Mr. Timid's explanation, felt their minds relieved, and did not doubt the wisdom of the course thus sanctioned by Mr. Jump. The desired delay was thus obtained; and by dint of forced sales, and a little assistance from a friend, Mr. Timid succeeded in honouring his acceptances in favour of Hop, Step, and Jump. That this might be done, not only were the most available portions of the stock sacrificed, but money was borrowed, and that which should have been apportioned amongst the general body of the creditors was diverted into this one channel. Mr. Timid found that the customers who honoured him with their patronage sought the same description of goods as those already sacrificed, and forwarded orders on to his old creditors. To his surprise, he received for a reply a second visit from Mr. Jump, who said that the firm required to be secured in the respect of his present favour, and advised a meeting of his creditors. A recommendation from this source Mr. Timid felt to be a command, and accordingly went to his solicitor, and stated the results of this visit. By his advice, I was directed to call a meeting of all the creditors. I found the stock, though bulky, almost valueless, and that the debtors to the estate had been worked up to the uttermost to provide for Hop, Step, and Jump's draft. Trusting to the influence of the above firm being used in favour of my client, I hoped that the estate might be wound up under inspection, and further pain and disgrace averted from Mr. Timid. The meeting took place, and my client and his manager were both examined about the statements made by them as to the firm of Hop, Step, and Jump having sanctioned the proposed sale, and as to the appropriation of its proceeds. A creditor, whose draft was payable on the day of the meeting, was so incensed at the advantage thus obtained by that firm that he refused all compromise, and insisted that every progress of the affair should be investigated in open court. He demanded a declaration of insolvency, which was then and there executed; and the next day. Mr. Timid found himself bankrupt in name and reality, all arising from his over-cautiousness and indecision, and his having trusted to the broken staff of Mr. Jump's implied support and confidence. The estate paid a first and final dividend of 1s. 6d. in the pound on the balance of Hop, Step, and Jump's account and the other claims proved under this bankruptcy. "HERE'S SPORT INDEED!" SHAKSPEARE, BY LORD WILLIAM LENNOX. CHAP. LXX. Burns proved himself to be fond of sport, when he wrote the following lines: "My heart's in the Highlands-my heart is not here; My heart's in the Highlands, a-chasing the deer; er, as he says in another poem : “Now westlin' winds and slaughtering guns And who is there, who having passed the summer in the heated metropells, with its overcrowded rooms, dusty parks, and fœtid river, is not axious to breathe the mountain air of Scotland, and to trample the ** blooming heather" with a gun in his hand, a brace of well-broke setters or pointers, a gly, and an agreeable companion or two? What can be more exhilarating, more invigorating, than to find oneself on a well-stocked moor soon after daylight, with every prospect of a good day's sport ! How delightful to traverse the uncultivated wastes, or to cross the clear barns or dashing torrent, to ascend the steep, rugged mountain, to watch the staunch dogs as they range through the sequestered places, abounding with brushwood, now indicating the spot where the grouse have sought a temporary shelter! and when we add to these charms of Nature the soul-stirring sport of bagging twenty brace of groase daring the day, or of stalking a deer amidst the wild and majestie hills of the north, the enjoyment is greater than can be described, and it's the mind with gratitude, awe, and veneration. The Highlands of Scotland abund in these birds; they are to be found on the Weish mountains, and in Ireland; in the north of Engand Lancashire, Derbyshire, Stafordshire, and other contiguous places—especially among the moors and mountains of Yorkshire, where grouse are feand in sument numbers to afford excellent sport; they are also to be seen near Sunderland, Stockton, and Darlington. For several days previous to the 19th of August, the day on which this shooting begins, the north-country sportsmen, many of whom are connected with the manufactories of the district, give up their sedentary ecensation for a day with the groase. Spinning-jennies are set aside for shot-beits, factories for fowling-pieces, cotton-prints for pointers machinery for the moors, business for breechloaders, and, instead of washing the rise and fall of the iron and cotton market, the sportsman devotes his attention alone to the rise of the coveted bird." An Bugish atmosphere is generally much more favourable for this diversion than a Septaisà one, as from the innumerable locks and the immediate vicinity of the ocean, the mountains are so concealed in the vapours rising from them as at all times to render a day of sport extremely precarious. A very little wet soon causes a grouse to become wild and unassailable, and the chance of pursuing him to any advantage is very uncertain, until, perhaps, in the middle of the day, when the sun may have established a temporary influence. His habits are extremely regular, always taking his food and water at particular times-the latter at noon; he will then retire to the sunny side of some bank, and beneath the cover of the high furze, bask in all the delight of imagined security. In this situation a good shot will frequently annihilate the whole brood. Two brace of steady dogs are indisputably best calculated for grouse-shooting, and they will work as long as any sportsman ought to continue. The best plan is to shoot with one brace of pointers up to luncheon, and then take a brace of fresh ones for the afternoon, working the four alternately, morning and evening. The above remarks apply to a moderate-sized moor; in larger extents, a greater number of dogs would be required. At the commencement of the season, during a hot August, the grouse lie close, rise near the "gunner," and are easily killed; not so after Michaelmas-day, when the birds, being stronger, swifter on the wing, and wilder, are more difficult to bag. With respect to dogs, much must depend upon circumstances, the nature of the quality of the work required of them, the state of the weather, and the condition of the ground. For example, setters, if they are of the right breed, may be worked nearly double the number of days that pointers can be, for they are much more hardy, less likely to become footsore, and not affected by the cold weather. On very hot dry days, pointers have the advantage on the hills—not so on the moors, with burns and springs at hand. If money is no object, we should venture to recommend a mixture of pointers and setters, working them alternately to the circumstances above related. With regard to the hour for commencing operations, attention must be paid to the extent of the moor, the quantity of grouse upon it, and the strength and energy of the sportsman. If there is a scarcity of birds, it is unwise to disturb them before feeding-time in the morning; and, as nine hours ought to satisfy the keenest "gunner," we should recommend from ten o'clock in the morning to six or seven in the evening. As a matter of course, the above suggestion only applies to the months of August and September, for when the autumnal quarter approaches, it will be wise to take the field at break of day. In wet weather, grouse are so very wild that, not only are they extremely difficult to get at, but, by disturbing the ground, you run the risk of marring your sport on another day. During rain, or heavy Scotch mists, the theory of grousing at home can be better studied than the practice carried on out-of-doors. To obtain good grouseshooting is, however, at all times difficult-we speak of those who have no manors of their own, and who are compelled to hire them for one or two seasons. The daily and weekly newspapers teem with advertisements of mansion houses, shootings, and fishings to be let, which usually run as follows: The mansion is fitted up regardless of expense, possessing, in great perfection, all modern conveniences; capital stabling. The |