PARISH REVOLUTION.

"Alarming news from the countryawful insurrection at Stoke Pogisthe military called out-flight of the Mayor.

"We are concerned to state, that ac

counts were received in town, at a late hour last night, of an alarming state of things at Stoke Pogis. Nothing private is yet made public; but report speaks of very serious occurrences. The number of killed is not known, as no despatches have been received.

"Further Particulars. "Nothing is known yet; papers have been received down to the 4th of November, but they are not up to any thing."

Then we have "Another account ". "From another quarter" "A later account" "Fresh intelligence," &c. &c. &c.; from which we take a few of the various particulars.

"From another quarter. "We are all here in the greatest alarm! a general rising of the inhabitants took place this morning, and they have continued in a disturbed state ever since. Every body is in a bustle, and indicating some popular movement. Seditious cries are heard! the bellman is going his rounds, and on repeating God save the King!' is saluted with hang the crier!' Örganised bands of boys are going about collecting sticks, &c.-whether for barricades or bonfires, is not known; many of them singing the famous Gunpowder hymn, 'Pray remember,' &c. These are features that remind us of the most inflammable times. Several strangers of suspicious gentility arrived here last night, and privately engaged a barn; they are now busily distributing handbills amongst the crowd:- surely some horrible tragedy is in preparation!

"Eleven o'clock. "The mob have proceeded to outrage -the poor poor-house has not a whole pane of glass in its whole frame! The magistrates, with Mr. Higginbottom at their head, have agreed to call out the military; and he has sent word that he will come as soon as he has put on his uniform. A terrific column of little boys has just run down the High-street it is said, to see a fight at the Green Dragon. There is an immense crowd in the market-place. Some of the leading shopkeepers have had a conference with the mayor, and the people are now being informed, by a placard, of the result. Gracious heaven! how opposite is it to the hopes of all moderate men

The mare is hobstinate - he is at the

Roes and Crown-but refuses to treat.' "Half-past Three.

"The check sustained by the mob proves to have been a reverse; the constables are the sufferers. The cage is chopped to fagots, we havn't a pound, and the stocks are rapidly falling. Mr. Wigsby has gone again to the mayor with overtures; the people demand the release of Dobbs and Gubbins, and the demolition of the stocks, the pound, and the cage. As these are already destroyed, and Gubbins and Dobbs are at large, it is confidently hoped by all moderate men that his worship will accede to the terms.

"Four o'clock.

"The mayor has rejected the terms. It is confidently affirmed that, after this decision, he secretly ordered a postchaise, and has set off with a pair of post-horses as fast as they can't gallop. A meeting of the principal tradesmen has taken place, and the butcher, the baker, the grocer, the cheesemonger, and the publican, have agreed to compose a provisional government. In the mean time the mob are loud in their joy -they are letting off squibs, and crackers, and rockets, and devils, in all directions, and quiet is completely restored."

Then comes, to "The Narrative."

crown the whole,

"The Narrative of a High Whitness who seed every Think proceed out of a Back-winder up Fore Pears to Mrs. Humphris.”

We

"O Mrs. Humphris! Littel did I Dram, at my Tim of Life, to see Wat is before me. The hole Parrish is Throne into a pannikin! The Revelations has reeched Stock Poggis-and the people is riz agin the Kings rain, and all the pours that be. All this Blessed Mourning Mrs. Griggs and Me as bean siting abscondedly at the tiptop of the Howse crying for lowness. have lockd our too selves in the back Attical Rome, and nothing can come up to our Hanksiety. Some say it is like the Frentch Plot-sum say sum thing moor arter the Dutch Patten is on the car-pit, and if so we shall Be flored like Brussels. Well, I never did like them Brown Holland brum gals! Our Winder overlooks all the High Street, xcept jest ware Mister Higgins jutts out Behind. What a prospectus ! - All riotism and hubbub-There is a lowd speechifying round the Gabble end of the Hows. The Mare is arranging the

Populous from one of his own long winders. Poor Man!--for all his fine goold Cheer, who wood Sit in his shews! I hobserve Mr. Tuder's bauld Hed uncommon hactiv in the Mobb, and so is Mr. Waggstaff the Constable, considering his rummatiz has onely left one Harm disaffected to shew his loyalness with. He and his men are staving the mobbs Heds to make them Suppurate. They are trying to Custardise the Ringleaders But as yet hav Captivated Noboddy. There is no end to accidence. Three unsensible boddis are Carrion over the way on Three Cheers, but weather Neabers or Gyes, is dubbious. Master Gollop too, is jest gon By on one of his Ants Shuters, with a Bunch of exploded Squibs gone off in his Trowsirs. It makes Mrs. G. and Me tremble like Axle-trees, for our Hone nevvies. Wile we ware at the open Winder they sliped out. With sich Broils in the Street who knows what Scraps they may git into. Mister J. is gon off with his muskitry to militate agin the mob; and I fear without anny Sand Witches in his Cartrich Box. Mrs. Griggs is in the Sam state of Singularity as meself. Onely think Mrs. H. of too Loan Wiming looken Down on such a Heifervescence, and as Hignorant as the unbiggoted Babe of the state of our Husbandry! To add to our Convexity, the Botcher has not Bean. No moor as the Backer and We shold here Nothing if Mister Higgins hadn't holloed up Fore Storys. What news he brakes! That wicked Wigsby as reffused to Reed the Riot Ax, and the Town Clark is no Scollard! Isn't that a bad Herring! O Mrs. Humphris! It is unpossible to throe ones hies from one End of Stock Poggis to the other, with out grate Pane. Nothing is seed but Wivs asking for Huzbands-nothing is herd but childerin lookin for Farthers. Mr. Hatband the Undertaker as jist bean squibed and obligated for safeness to inter his own Hows. Mister Higgins blames the unflexable Stubbleness of the Mare, and says a littel timely Concussion wood have bean of Preventive Servis. Haven nose! For my Part I don't believe all the Concussion on Hearth wood hav prevented the Regolater bein scarified by a Squib and runnin agin the Rockit or that it could unshatter Poor Master Gollop, or squentch Wider Welshis rix of Haze witch is now Flamming and smocking in two volumes. The ingins as been, but cold not Play for want of Pips, witch is too often the Case with Parrish inginuity. Wile affairs are in these friteful Posturs, thank

Haven I have one grate comfit. Mr. J. is cum back on his legs from Twelve to won tired in the extreams with Being a Standing Army, and his Uniformity spatterdashed all over. He says his own saveing was onely thro leaving His retrenchments. Poor Mr. Griggs has cum In after his Wif in a state of grate exaggeration. He says the Boys hav maid a Bone Fire of his garden fence and Pales upon Pales cant put it out. Severil Shells of a bombastic nater as been picked up in his Back Yard and the old Cro's nest as bean Perpetrated rite thro by a Rockit. We hav sent out the Def Shopmun to here wat he can and he says their is so Manny Crackers going he dont no witch report to Belive, but the Fishmongerers has Cotchd and with all his Stock compleatly Guttid. The Brazers next Dore is lickwise in Hashes,--but it is hopped he has assurance enuf to cover him All over. They say nothink can save the Dwellins adjourning. O Mrs. H. how greatful ought J and I to bee that our hone Premiss and propperty is next to nothing! The effex of the lit on Bildings is mar vulous. The Turrit of St. Magnum Bonum is quit clear and you can tell wat Time it is by the Clock verry planely only it stands. The noise is enuf to Drive won deleterious! Two Specious Conestabbles is persewing littel Tidmash down the Hi Street and Sho grate fermness, but I tremble for the Pelisse. Peple drops in with New News every Momentum. Sum say All is Lost-and the town Criar is missin. Mrs. Griggs is quite retched at herein five littel Boys is throwd off a spirituous Cob among the Catherend Weals. But I hope it wants cobbobboration. Another Yuth its sed has had his hies Blasted by sum blowd Gun Powder. You Mrs. H. are Patrimonial, and may suppose how these flying rummers Upsetts a Mother's Sperrits. O Mrs. Humphris how I envy you that is not tossing on the raging bellows of these Flatulent Times, but living under a Mild Dispotic Govinment in such Sequestrated spots as Lonnon and Padington. May you never go thro such Transubstantiation as I have bean riting in! Things that stood for Sentries as bean removd in a Minuet--and the verry effigis of wat is venerablest is now burning in Bone Fires. The Worship. full chaer is empty. The Mare as gon off clandestiny with a pare of Hossis, and without his diner. They say he complanes that his Corperation did not stik to him as it shold have dun But went over to the other Side. Pore Sole - in sich a case I dont wunder he lost his

Stommich. Yisterdy he was at the summut of Pour. Them that hours ago ware enjoying parrish officiousness as been turnd out of there Dignittis! Mr. Barber says in futer all the Perukial Authoritis will be Wigs. Pray let me no wat his Magisty and the Prim Minester think of Stock Poggis's constitution, and believe me conclusively my deer Mrs. Humphris most frendly and trully BRIDGET JONES."

The Novelist.

THE WINE CASK. AN INCIDENT OF THE PENINSULAR WAR.

(For the Mirror.)

IT was but a poor place :-the mean and dirty room, still smelling of the blood of the slain, had been almost stripped of every article of furniture it might have heretofore contained: a shell had broken in the roof, and the walls and wooden shutters of the miserable chamber were perforated with various shot, and blackened with powder and smoke; yet, to the party of worn soldiers who were to occupy this delectable apartment for the night, a mere semblance of a roof over their wearied heads was acceptable, after the terrible exposures they had undergone, to heavy rains and severe cold, from which the fine country of Spain, is by no means exempt. Having collected a few empty wine-casks of various dimensions, they made for themselves seats of some, broke up others into firewood, and laying across a couple of them a door, which they had unhinged from a neighbouring apartment, thus readily provided themselves with a table. "And now, comrades," said Meinheim as he placed upon the board the contents of the ample camp-kettle, "let us make merry where's the rum? and, Werner, what did you do with our keg

of accadent ?*

"Prithee, man, don't be alarmed about it; 'tis here quite safe: nor am I a Corporal Howitzer, to make myself drunk with the brandy, and then swear that I staved the cask, according to orders! No, no! I understand points of honour better, believe me !" So saying, Werner drew from beneath the arms and baggage, piled in a corner of the room, the keg in question, and down sat the party to a meal any thing but luxurious; yet with appetites which renderéd the most coarse and ill dressed food

* Aqua-ardente; a light kind of spirit, or weak brandy, much admired by soldiers during the Peninsular campaigns.

a dainty, and with all the buoyant deilma-care spirits, usually appertaining to men of their profession.

"What a cursed country is this!" cried Meinheim to his companions."No glass in the windows of the houses, no fire-places, no chimneys! no."

Nay," rejoined one of the men, "for glass, we've only to cut out the panels of the shutters, and stretch over the apertures some stout paper drenched in oil, of which commodity you will allow there's plenty hereabouts."

"Rather too much," replied Meinheim, "to my thinking; for, upon my soul, we may say of the oil and garlic in this country, what the Frenchman said of the English and their melted butter, These people have no other sauce.'Faugh! did ye ever smell any thing in your lives so rank and unchristian-like as their houses and cookery, oil and garlic, oil and garlic, as they are all

over ?"

"But," continued Herman, the former speaker," respecting windows, those clever Englishmen have often contrived them as I said, and you've no idea how admirably they answer: they've managed chimneys too; and thanks to that lucky shell, I see we've got an out-let for the smoke of our bright wood-fire to-night. The Spaniard and Portuguese, will, I've a notion, after the campaign is over, thank the Britons for giving them some little idea of English comfort."

"Comfort, indeed!" exclaimed Werner, "that word, I take it, is scarcely to be found in their tongues. In fact, Spain and Portugual, with all their vaunted deliciousness of climate, romantic scenery, and abundant natural produce, are cold, stormy countries, deficient in supplies owing to the neglect of agriculture, and horticulture; mean, dirty, and every way disgusting; and there's nothing good in them that I can discover, save their accadent, and wine."

"You're right-quite right!" cried one of the party, thumping the board with his fists, in token of extreme satisfaction, and of an evident desire to be heard the wine is the thing, undoubtedly, which renders either country endurable; spirits, for a mere trifle we may obtain in any land,-not so wine, and here we may drown ourselves in it if we please. Meinheim, why leave we home to-night ?"

"Nay," replied the soldier, "but that I imagined it would be no treat, we might have had plenty; wine-stores are hard by; we've only to open yon door, then, through a breach in the

wall, we're into them immediately, and may help ourselves as we list." "Say you so?" cried a man called Schlegel," then let us do it immediately."

"With all my heart," answered Meinheim, "but as we shall hardly be able to bring hither one of the huge wine tuns, we must take with us somewhat, our canteens, I suppose, they will hold a fair quantity of Spain's prime grape-juice.'

So the canteens were immediately put into requisition, and Meinheim catching up a blazing fagot, in which respect he was followed by others of the party, offered his services as leader on this pleasurable expedition; for this of fice he was indeed well calculated, having by the chances of war, occupied these quarters, to which his companions were strangers, some weeks before. He now led them through a dark, and narrow passage, of which the heat and bad odour were almost insupportable, for it had no apparent means of ventilation, and at the farther end of it, they perceived by the light of their uncouth and dimly burning torches, a considerable breach in the massy wall inclosing the wine-stores, about which laid the stones and bricks that had been battered down. "Take care, my lads!" cried Meinheim, giving his torch into unoccupied hands, and beginning slowly and cautiously to descend, "this is not the regular entrance, but it will do for us I dare say; the other is so blocked up, that 'twould pose the cunningest fox to enter thereby, for I fancy the French, the English, and the Spanish had a desperate affray in this place, and, by my troth, it looks as if sad bloody work had been going on, since last I had the felicity of beholding it. Quick, Schlegel, quick-the torch-there, that will do an officer's sash had entangled my feet, now they are free, and my hands too, so my lads come on! One at a time if you please, and, hold there, Herman, keep yourself steady if you can!"

One by one, the little party descended, stepping upon loose fragments of masonry and casks of all calibres, which were piled, or rather recklessly thrown upon each other, in a style the most disorderly, and in positions the most dangerous and unstable imaginable. An awe, almost approximating to terror, seized the adventurers, when they perceived themselves standing within a vast vaulted chamber or cellar, the far recesses of which were veiled in a darkness impenetrable by the glare of their flaming fagots; a darkness, which pre

venting the actual extent of the storechambers from being detected, impressed the imagination with an idea of their vastness perfectly terrific; nor was the scene which presented itself to the eyes of the party within the space illuminated by their broadly blazing torches, at all calculated to diminish any local sensations of alarm. Soldiers are, it is well known, strangely superstitious, notwithstanding that intimate acquaintance with spectacles of mortality, which should seem (theoretically) to have the effect of rendering them far otherwise. Our friends, be it also remembered, were Germans, and therefore no doubt well versed in the legendary lore of their country, which, it must be confessed, leaves the imagination nothing to wish for on the score of horrors; and these circumstances considered, it is no wonder that the hearts of men, who had dared death itself in a thousand hideous guises, should quail a little, or that they should gaze anxiously and timidly into the "palpable obscure" of the black distance, when strewed at their feet, they beheld the sad wrecks of an obstinate, a fierce, and mortal combat; the remnants of arms, armour, spent ammunition, accoutrements, and the horrible, decaying fragments of humanity! The disorder of the butts, possibly indicated that the affray had concerned the possession of their contents, and the insupportably noisome atmosphere of the vaults as certainly hinted that a little search would, to those who undertook it, present spectacles of the most loathsome description.

"This," cried Meinheim, planting himself in front of an immense hogshead, and rapping upon it with his knuckles, "this, I've no doubt is the tun of which I've heard so much; for 'tis said that the largest cask in these stores contains red wine unequalled in all Spain. Now, if it has not already been let run, I vote that we commence operations upon it immediately."

Meinheim and two or three others, then carefully examining the cask, pronounced it to the satisfaction of all perfectly sound and untapped, and a debate ensued as to the most feasible method of availing themselves of its contents, some proposing to bore the monstrous barrel, filling their canteens with the wine as it ran off, whilst others sensible of the shameful waste attending this mode of procedure, advised that the head of the cask should be knocked out, and the vessels dropped into it.

"That," said Werner, "will be an uncommon trouble; have we nothing

larger than the canteens, two or three replenishings of which would answer a round dozen of these ?-Hold, I have it: what say ye, my lads, to our campkettle? we can let it down, you know, easily enough, and if 'tis heavy when filled, a stout pull or so, from two or three of us, will do the business."

It was

an admirable thought, and forthwith Werner, Schlegel, and Herman were despatched for the kettle, and in case they should be needed, for at least half a dozen canteen-straps. Upon their return they beheld Meinheim mounted upon barrels and peering into the hogshead.

"Faith, comrades," exclaimed he as they approached, "here's a pretty affair! we've been saved the trouble of knocking out or knocking in, may be, the head of our booty, for a large square piece has been sawn from it already. Those cursed cuirassiers or tirailleurs, have been here I'm afraid, and had a taste before us; nay, I'd almost venture a good wager that the dogs have drained this tun dry, as they'd do that of Heidelberg, in five minutes, nobody saying nay. Here my good fellows, Werner, Herman, one of you, hand me something to sound with."

"Throw in a bullet," said one of the men," heaven knows they're lying here as thick as hail." He handed two or three to Meinheim, who dropping one into the barrel, a splash was heard, which agreeably convinced the party that the great body before them still retained no inconsiderable portion of its spirit. The kettle was immediately, with unimaginable alacrity, hoisted up to the adventurous Meinheim, who was by his comrades unanimously pronounced "the very best fellow in the universe, and worthy to cater at head-quarters for the field-marshal, or captain-general, himself."

"Wheugh!" ejaculated Meinheim, "this will never do; our kettle does not touch the wine, though dropped down to it at the whole length of my arm.You brought the straps, my good lads, eh? Well, buckle them together, then I'll fasten them to the handle of our metal punch-bowl, and I warrant we'll soon draft this prime liquor into a better company than did those rascally Frenchmen, who stole the better half of it."

Forthwith the straps were united, and attached to the kettle, it was again let down, drawn up brimming full, and as a portion of the "liquid ruby was distributed to each individual, some praised the dexterity of Meinheim, whilst others pretended to quarrel with

him for his shyness in mentioning the wine-stores, and producing a sample of their excellent contents at supper.

"But, man," cried Schlegel, "you don't drink; or because you can't monopolize the contents of the cask, d'ye scorn to enjoy it with your comrades ?",

"I don't," replied the soldier, "at all admire carousing on the leavings of our enemies."

"Psha! false delicacy," shouted Werner, "you are not so squeamish when you drive them from a bivouac, and dine off the very provisions they were dressing for themselves. Come, no nonsense, your share is in this canteen."

"I can't drink red wine," replied Meinheim, " indeed, indeed, I can't, and I'll tell you honestly the reason why, I've taken a huge disgust to it since I heard a Spaniard, a friend of mine, say, that he knew how it was made, and was resolved whilst blood continued to be spilt in his land, never to touch it."

"Well," rejoined Herman, "if that be all, I'm sure I once heard such a story from an English soldier, as should have given me a distaste to the red wines of this country for ever and ever; and I could sing you too the song he wrote about it, if you please. But, what on earth is the use and wisdom of setting yourself against a thing? So, Meinheim, I've the honour of pledging you, and in your own ration too." He drank off his comrade's portion.

"Poh! I think this wine is rather muddy, and has a queer flavour; 'tis certainly not improved in strength and spirit by standing uncovered."

pre

His companions laughed, and agreeing that he was infected with the imaginary prejudices of Meinheim, vowed that the wine was without its equal in the universe, and sent aloft the kettle for another supply. Meinheim lowered it again, but as he strove this time to heave it up, it seemed to have caught in a something, which not only impeded its progress, but called for that manual exertion on his part, which in his sent position he was utterly incapable of affording. "Bear a hand here, can't ye?" cried he to his companions, who immediately collecting a few of the smaller empty casks, contrived to mount as high as himself, and by their united strength, succeeded in raising with their kettle, about half way up the tun, the substance in which it had become entangled. Curious to ascertain what this might be, a lighted brand or two, and very inquisitive faces were thrust into the aperture of the cask, and as quickly