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156 of moving figures, some flitting along with the velocity of swallows, some sweeping in the most graceful circles, and others deeply interested in a less active pastime, crowding round the spot where the inhabitants of two rural parishes contended for the prize at curling,—an honour of no small importance, if we were to judge from the anxiety expressed both by the players and bye-standers. We walked round the little lake, supported by Hazlewood, who lent us each an arm. He spoke, poor fellow, with great kindness to old and young, and seemed deservingly popular among the assembled crowd. At length we thought of retiring.—

"Why do I mention these trivial occurrences?—not, heaven knows, from the interest I can now attach to them—but because, like a drowning man who catches at a brittle twig, I seize every apology for delaying the subsequent and dreadful part of my narrative. But it must be