"Because there hath been frequent mention of Hobilers in the above said discourse, I shall discover to the reader a brief portraiture of them, as I have copied it by that original which hath been penciled out by the learned industry of Sir Henry Spelman, in his Glossary The word Hobiler, says he, is derived from the French word Hobbill, which imports as much as a light quilted cassock; and, indeed, all the Latin records say, they should be wampasa armati, which denotes a jack; and in some parts, both of Germany and the the low countries, at this day wampass is used to express a doublet, or a short cassock and if you will know with what horse they were equipped or furnished for service, the above-said author will tell you, that every Hobiler should be mediocri equo instructus et ad omnem motum agili, a horse of no great proportions, but light and fitted for all manner and active service."

And here, rather abruptly, ends Philipot's promised 'portraiture'; we were indeed led to expect but a brief sketch of the Hobiler; but no discourse could be well less diffusive, no etymological grounds well more scanty; in fact the conjectural and farfetched etymology from, (as I presume, an antiquated French word,) Hobill indicating the cut of his jacket, added to this, the 'regulation' cut of his horse; and, voila tout!

Though few, however, they are Sir Henry Spelman's words, and therefore to be respected: nay, it were with many, presumption to hesitate, e'er at once adopting the dictum of this eminent antiquary, upon the etymological point, yet must I on this occasion beg to apologise for so doing; regarding also "the make of the jacket as less interesting and instructive that the description of the little horse; for it is from hence that I hope to deduce a most rational solution of our difficulty. Let us scrutinise the matter in this light. Every Hobiler, saith he, should be mediocri equo instructus, et ad omnem motum agili, "furnished with a mode

rately sized horse, fit for any active work." Now, let us suppose the purveyor of horses to one of these old coastguard corps, on visiting an English, Irish, or Scotch market; thus stating the description of horse wanted, his object would be at once clear to the dealer. "The officer," they would say, "wants our Hobbies." In plain English, every Hobiler rides his Hobby, in good horse Latin, ex-Hobby,-‘Hobiler ! ' And much more natural also does it seem that the English Secretary, in the time of Edward III., when translating the record above into Latin, should coin the term for Hobiler from his own English associations with the Hobby (horse) than, (as Spelman suggests), from the French word "Hobill" (a jacket,) "Cavalier" from "Cheval," "Hobiler" from "Hobby."

But it may be asked, was Hobby an old word? was it in use in old times? Undoubtedly, the word is among the oldest in the language, and was quite as much in use in the days of Edward III. as in modern times. I copy the following from our great Lexicographer, (Dr. Johnson):-"Hobby”— hoppe, Gothick, a horse-an Irish or Scottish horse." It is quite probable that the "original" word of all, is the Greek, "hippos." Again Dr. Jonhson writes "Hobbler, n.s. (from Hobby)," adding to this quotation, which is singularly to our purpose, "for twenty Hobblers armed, Irishmen, (so called because they served on hobbies,) he paid sixpence a piece per diem." Lambarde also, the antiquary and historian. Davis in his Preambulation of Kent, when on the subject of "the Beacons in Kent," (page 64, Edit. Chatham, 1826,) writes thus, as no doubt the necessitive of them, (the beacons) is apparent, so were it good that for the more speedie spreading of the knowledge of the enimies comming, they were assisted with some horsemen (ANCIENTLY CALLED OF THEIR HOBBIER OR NAGS HOBELIERS,) that besides the fire, (which in a bright shining day is not so well descried,) might also run

from beacon to beacon, and supply that notice of the danger at hande."

It strikes me that this is enough; is it not so? I feel quite convinced myself.

Yes, often has the question been asked me, (from my known former connection with Deal,) "who are the Hovelers? What does the name mean ?” and but ill did it seem to me to harmonise with the noble character of these daring spirits, to be compelled, as it were so to misrepresent them, (because thus seemingly indicated by the name,) as having been of old, burrowers in underground caves and hovels; and somewhat irreconcileable too, that out of these hovels should issue forth, as we have so often witnessed the devoted crew, gloriously hastening to face death on the raging sea, so that they might snatch from the engulphing sands the souls that were in the very grasp of destruction. Rather shall we not henceforth be proud to regard them as the descendants of that time-honoured race, of which we have heard in the records of Edward III. The children of those gallent men of Kent, by whom in bygone days the Saxon flag was ever borne as their customary privilege in the war of the battle field, and who, now that their arm is no longer needed to resist the invader, still rival their forefather's deeds, in being foremost to battle with the wind and storm, and in bearing the brave old flag triumphant o'er the wave!

CHARLES LANE.

P.S.-Is it not strange, but strongly confirmatory of our opinion, that, in the list of the "Hobilers" in the record of Edward III., as above, (five hundred years and more come and gone,) we should look upon the familiar names of Pettit, Henry Thornton, Soles, Allen, &c., &c.

1823. In the spring of this year a shocking occurrence happened at Middle Deal, near the turnpike road, which

produced the greatest excitement and alarm throughout the parish. A young man, named Bell, in a paroxysm of rage, had killed his father, by discharging his gun, loaded with ball, at him, as he sat in his chair in the kitchen. It appeared the father had somewhat severely punished his son for a fault he had committed, which roused up a spirit of retaliation on the part of the youth. He went out into the garden, loaded the gun, and in revenge perpetrated the deed. Old Mr. Bell lived in a cottage with his wife and son (an only child) to which was attached some land nicely tilled and assiduously cultivated chiefly by the skill and labour of the son; but the soil of his mind had been neglected, and his moral training from infancy had been most criminally disregarded; mental sterility and moral barrenness existed to such a degree that the youth was quite ready to commit any atrocity his malignant disposition prompted him to execute. After being brought before the Magistrates and the case fully gone into, he was sent to Maidstone gaol to have his trial at the Assizes. His trial issued in a conviction of the murder and he was sentenced to be hung, which sentence, notwithstanding the great exertions made to have it commuted into transportation, was carried out in the precincts of the prison.

1826.-A Savings' Bank was founded this year. After a lapse of nearly 40 years it is still in favor with the public. The good this institution has been the means of doing is incalculable. Many persons who otherwise would have been penniless at this day, are now in possession of pounds, and some, by its medium, have secured competency in old age, by the purchase of Government Annuities. A certain number of the managers, the Secretary and Clerk, attend the Bank, in Queen Street, every Saturday, from twelve till one o'clock. There were in November, 1864, one thousand and fifty-five accounts and depositors. The sum invested in the National

Debt Office in November, 1864, amounted to £33,321 1s. 3d. and a surplus fund of £600. The interest allowed on deposit is £2 18s. 4d. per cent.

1826.-This year the Town of Deal was made famous by taking the lead in having a regatta on this south-east coast. No subsequent regatta that has taken place at any of the watering places on the line of coast has ever approached it, for grandeur and display. It being the first of the kind, it attracted hither a numerous fleet of yachts from all parts, and more especially those from Cowes and the Isle of Wight.

1830.-A labouring man, digging for sand in the Sandhills by Sandown Castle, came upon a couple of Roman vases, which the simple man broke; they contained several pounds weight of Roman coins, and not knowing their value, he distributed them far and near to all comers-a small handful for sixpence. After a little while, his discovery got abroad, and reaching the ears of Mr. Roalf, of Sandwich, the well-known antiquary and collector of ancient relics, he set on foot an enquiry as to who had possession of these coins, and succeeded in recovering a large portion, by which he completed his sets of coins for himself and others, who, like himself, were always in pursuit of curiosities of this sort. Some of the coins were silver, but a greater part were a combination of iron and copper. It was the custom of the Romans to place vases containing coin at the head of the coffin when burying any person of distinguished rank: in all probability it was so in this case. The coins distinguished the reign of the Emperors from Claudius to the Emperor who bore sway in Britain when the Romans finally quitted it. Finding coins of so late a date as the fourth century lead us to the conclusion that it was from the shore of Deal some part, if not all, of the Roman army took their departure from its proximity to Belgia and Gaul.

1831.-About the end of March this year, at eight o'clock