At Ashford, my sympathy was strongly excited by the procession of a village funeral, in which the affections of the people seemed concerned. I found on inquiry, that the corpse was the wife of the schoolmaster, who, in her prime, and in the enjoyment of general esteem, had been cut off in childbirth. The clergyman headed the procession. The coffin was borne by eight females, in white hoods and scarfs, and was followed by the unhappy husband, who conferred great effect, in the display of his grief, by carrying in his arms two young children, the offspring of the deceased. A long train of mourners followed, and I question whether more tears are shed, or more sensibility exhausted, at funerals accompanied with heraldic pomp, than in this simple display of natural affection. I drew up my horse as the procession passed, and the affair threw a gloom over my spirits, in which it seemed as though the village at large partook. The funeral group, with the father and his children, and the sorrowful countenances of the well disposed population, would have made a beautiful subject for a sentimental painter. _Leicester, Derby, and Nottingham_. The present population of these triangular midland towns, are, Leicester, 35,000; Derby, 22,000; and Nottingham, 50,000, in round numbers, and this adds sufficiently to the last population returns. The proportional comfort in each, respectively is 8, 10, and 5--the good taste, 6, 7, and 4--the manners, 5, 8, and 4--the wealth, 4, 6, and 5--the style of the towns, 4, 8, and 2--the industry, 6, 5, and 8--the political spirit, 4, 3, and 10--the religious fervour, 5, 4, and 10--the returns in trade, 5, 6, and 10--the superfices, 6, 4, and 6--the poverty, 6, 2, and 10--the literature, 4, 5, and 4--the musical taste, 5, 3, and 2. Of course, in assigning these numbers, I may err in a fraction; but I make my determinations on my own observations and personal impressions, after diligently observing each place. * * * * * SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. * * * * * THE FIRST AND LAST APPEARANCE.