Some days after this affair, Mr. G---- being grossly insulted by another French gentleman--a notorious duellist, and, if we mistake not, an ally of the deceased--felt himself obliged to notice the affront in a similar manner. Monsieur ---- treated the challenge with supreme contempt, begged to assure Mr. G---- that he was a dead man if they met, but professed himself much at his service if he was really bent on quitting this world, and thought the most appropriate spot for so doing would be the _Champs d'Elysees_. Thither next morning the parties repaired. Mr. G---- found his antagonist already on the ground, and amusing himself by firing at a mark: viz.--his glove, attached to the branch of a tree, which he shot at with such precision as to send his bullet, at every successive trial, through the aperture in the glove made by the first. Monsieur was, in truth, a splendid and formidable marksman. Mr. G----, in preparing for the duel, happening to cast his eyes on his adversary, perceived that he had slily placed his arm in such a position, as must ensure, on the _honourable_ gentleman's fire, the fulfilment of his vaunt to make him "a dead man." No time was to be lost; the young Englishman's life depended upon dispatch; and, instantly firing, he proved himself as good a marksman as Monsieur ----, by sending his ball, with the utmost precision, through the wily manoeuvrer's elbow, from whence it passed into his side; and he dropped down, disabled, if not dead. Thus did British spirit twice humble, in a remarkable manner, French insolence and presumption! * * * * * A DISTINCTION. "La-a-dy * *," exclaimed a certain Colonel, in that very original Scotch brogue which a long acquaintance with the world has not tended in any degree to diminish, "alloo me to introduce you to my brother, Carnal M---- ----." "What!" asked the lady, "are you both Colonels?" "Oo--ay--La-a-dy * *, that are we, in troth; but the daff'rence is this, my brother, you see, is _Carnal_" (Lieutenant-colonel he intended to express), "and _I_--am _fool_ Carnal!" M.L.B. * * * * * MANNERS AND CUSTOMS. PETER PENCE Were an ancient levy, or tax, of a penny on each house throughout England, paid to the Pope. It was called _Peter-pence_ because collected on the day of _St. Peter ad vincula_. By the Saxons it was called _Rome-feoh_--_i.e._ the fee of Rome; and also _Rome-scot_, and _Rome-pennying_, because collected and sent to Rome;--and lastly, it was called _Hearth-money_, because every dwelling-house was liable to it, provided there were thirty-pence _vivae pecuniae_ belonging to it;--nay, and every religious house, the Abbey of St. Alban's alone excepted.