Among other judicious measures which Mr. Hoskins early adopted to promote the prosperity of his town, was the erection of a tavern on a handsome scale, nigh to our own premises. Between this building, and the house where Mr. Bell resided, a considerable space was reserved, in case the tavern should require to be enlarged. In the mean time, the increase of the town had been unexampled; and a number of the carpenters and other mechanics, encouraged by that circumstance, had united to build the Eagle Hotel, on the other side of our store, for the site of which they paid the old man a liberal price. This rendered it improbable that the vacant ground adjoining to the Mansion-house, as his tavern was called, would ever be wanted; and, in consequence, he sold it for three steadings, on which brick buildings were to be erected.

It happened, as an accommodation to Mr. Bell, that he had been allowed to take a part of this vacant ground into his garden, without, however, any formal arrangement having been made with him respecting it; and it also happened, on the sale, that by one of those inadvertencies not so rare as to become remarkable, Mr. Hoskins omitted to tell him of the change in the property. Thus it fell out, as the minister lived in a very abstracted way from hearing news, that the purchasers began their preparations for building, before he was aware the ground had been sold. It was also unlucky, that, on the day immediately preceding, his garden had been dressed, and a few rose-bushes and flowering shrubs, which he had procured, had been trimmed and newly fastened to the fence. This was not all; the day fixed for the commencement of the operations was that on which I had accompanied Mr. Herbert to inspect the school at Babel mandel; Mr. Hoskins was also absent on business at Napoleon.

It is unnecessary to inform the courteous reader, that workmen have but little respect to obstacles in their way.