information which appears so requisite to the proper appreciation of this rightly named Simple Story, and which, from its very simplicity, might else fail of the attention that its merit, in respect of this self-same quality, would in a great measure justifiably demand. Having, for his own private satisfaction, extracted from the author of the "Young Enthusiast in Humble Life," certain facts relative to his life, and schemes, and hopes, the publisher has had it in his power to put into the hands of an editor documents every way available for this purpose, without making that specific application to the subject of our biography, which might have excited, as it will in the best, more of personal vanity than is either agreeable to the public, or beneficial to the individual.

JAMES JOLLY was born at a small village about thirty-four miles from Liverpool, in which town his father subsequently commenced business as a butcher, having

been unfortunate and unsuccessful as an extensive farmer and grazier. At this period James Jolly was about six years old; and after being at school about two months, during which time he acquired a little knowledge of reading and writing, his father took him from the school and employed him to carry meat to the various customers. He was afterwards apprenticed to a Mr. Taylor, pianofortemaker, of Liverpool, and remained with him three years, when, in consequence of the premises having taken fire, his master gave up business.

It was while in Mr. Taylor's employ that James Jolly began to feel a desire to improve his mind. He had, however, to acquire the very commonest branches of an ordinary education. "I felt ashamed," he says in one of his letters, "of my ignorance-I knew nothing of arithmetic, and I procured a book on the subject." From this period his avidity for knowledge was intense.

Disliking to engage with a new master in Liverpool, James Jolly was desirous of going to London; and Mr. Taylor, in consequence, very kindly gave him his indentures. He came to London in 1829, and procured employment in Messrs. Broadwood's manufactory in Horseferry Road; but remained with them only a few days; and soon after left London. The motives by which he was actuated, his feelings from this period till he became a soldier, are detailed in the " Simple Story."

"I wrote the Story," says the young enthusiast himself, "in the Military Hospital at Enniskillen. Two, to me most powerful motives, induced me to write it, -the hope of realising by its sale a sum sufficient to procure my discharge, and a desire to present a copy to one who has pledged herself to become my wife. With these objects I obtained a furlough, and left Londonderry with 17. 9s. 4d. in my pocket. I spent two days with my brother

in Liverpool; he is a stonemason, has a wife and two children, and he lives in Chisenhall Street, Liverpool.

"I walked to London-a distance of two hundred miles-and lived by the way, in a great measure, on turnips, to save what money I could. I reached London, after six days' march, with about thirteen shillings. I have paid five shillings for lodgings, and I have now two.

"In conclusion, I hope I may be allowed to speak it with modesty, yet with a justifiable pride, that since I have been in the service I have conducted myself as a soldier ought to do. In proof of this I can refer you to no higher authority than the colonel and the adjutant of the regiment to which I belong."

Notwithstanding what James Jolly has said of himself in the above extract as to his soldierly character, it seems that he has conceived sentiments on the subject of war which make the service peculiarly distressing to him. How he came

to enter it does not exactly transpire, but his situation there is clearly enough uncongenial with the tone of his mind and feelings. Love, also, appears to have not a little to do in the matter. The pay of a private soldier is no very splendid income to support a wife withal; and, to judge from some of her letters, the lady— or lady's maid-of his affections has too much merit to be sacrificed in marriage to a destitute lover. With a laudable repugnance to take advantage of her preference for himself, and to reduce her to circumstances so disadvantageous as his own, he seems to have determined on some measures of emancipation from difficulties so distressing. All his hopes of this kind depend on the success of the little work now submitted to the public approbation.

Having been recommended to Mr. Fraser as a bookseller likely to forward his views, James Jolly ventured to address to him his manuscript, accompanied with a