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 after the usual meteorological preliminaries had been settled by a resolution, ''nem. con''., that it was a fine day but very hot, the chief commissioner stated, that in virtue of the commission of Parliament, which they had the honor to hold, they were now to inquire into the state of the public charities of this village.

The state of the public charities, sir, is exceedingly simple. There are none. The charities here are all private, and so private, that I for one know nothing of them.

We have been informed, sir, that there is an annual rent charged on the land of Hautbois, for the endowment and repair of an almshouse.

Hautbois! Hautbois!