“Sir,—In your advertisement of the new tale by Mrs. Linnæus Banks, about to appear in the pages of your journal, you quote some critiques on ‘The Manchester Man,’ by the same author. One of the characters is true to the very life. Hers was the first school I ever attended, and I have a vivid recollection of the venerable, stately, little dame—a rigid martinet, exacting the utmost deference from all who approached her, and invariably addressed as ‘Madam’ Broadbent. I have often since recalled my feelings of delight when for the first time I went with her and my schoolfellows in great state to the theatre, as described in the novel. She educated the daughters of most of the leading Manchester merchants of that day, the wife of a recent mayor being one of them. “Madame Broadbent did not profess the innumerable subjects now required, but all that was attempted was well taught. She inculcated habits of the strictest order, neatness, and regularity. The needlework was very beautiful, and would excite astonishment in these sewing machine days. The punishment for talking was very ludicrous. The delinquent was required to sit with her face to the wall—a hideous contrivance of red cloth called the ‘red tongue’ hanging down her back; it was considered a great disgrace. She succeeded in teaching a deaf and dumb girl to speak—a feat of which she was justly proud. “If you think the above remarks on a character well known in Manchester during the early part of the present century are of interest, they are at your service.” C. B. “Rotherham, March 30th, 1879.” I regret that at the time this letter—of so much interest to me—appeared I was too ill to communicate with the writer through the medium of the newspaper, and so the opportunity for thanks or correspondence was lost. It is also possible that some of those who have followed the Rev. Joshua Brookes through this narrative may be amused by the following category of the Books in his library as advertised for sale after his decease[,] it not only affording some insight into the inner self of the man, but being characteristic of the advertising of the period: “Library of the late Rev. Joshua Brookes, consisting of nearly six thousand volumes. “To be Sold by Auction by Mr. Thomas Dodd, at his Auction Repertory, No. 28. King-street, Manchester, on Monday, May 13th, 1822, and nine following days, Saturday and Sunday excepted. To commence precisely at half-past ten in the forenoon and at three in the afternoon of each day.