THE BASKET-MAKER.

The ancient Britons have been celebrated for their skill in the manufacture of baskets, from the time of the Romans ; and so much were the baskets of this country valued by that people, that immense quantities of them were exported to Rome, where they were held in great estimation, and bore so high a price, that they are mentioned by Juvenal, among the extravagant and expensive furniture of the Roman tables of bis time.

Baskets are made either of rushes, splinters, or willows, which last are, according to their growth, called osiers or sallows. They thrive best in moist places ; and the proprietors of such marsh lands generally let what they call the willow-beds to persons who cut them at certain seasons, and prepare them for basket makers. To form an osier bed, the land should be divided into plots six, eight, or ten feet broad, by narrow ditches, and if there is a power of keeping water in these cuts, at pleasure, by means of a sluice, it is highly advantageous in many seasons. Osiers planted in small spots, and along hedges, will supply a farmer with hurdle stuff, as well as with a profusion of all sorts of baskets. The common osier is cut at three years, but that with yellow bark is permitted to remain a year longer.

When the osiers are cut down, those that are intended for white-work, such as baskets used in washing, are to be stripped of their
bark or rinds while green. This is done by means of a sharp instrument fixed into a firm block: the osiers are passed ov«r this, and
stripped of their covering with great velocity. They are then dried and put in bundles for sale. Before they are worked up, they must
be previously soaked in water, which gives them flexibility. The basket- maker usually sits on the ground to his business, unless when the baskets are too large for him to reach their upper parts in that position.

Hampers and other coarse work are made of osiers without any previous preparation except soaking.. Some expert workmen make a variety of articles of wicker manufacture, as work-baskets of different descriptions, table mats, fruit baskets for desserts, &c. Even in the coarser articles, a man well skilled in his trade, will earn three or four shillings a day.

By some accident it once happened that a rich man and a poor pennyless basket-maker were thrown on a distant island, inhabited only by a savage race of men The former seeing himself exposed to apparent danger, without the means of assistance or defence, and ignorant of the language of the people in whose power he was, began to cry and wring his hands in a piteous manner : but the poor man, ever accustomed to labour, made signs to the people, that he was desirous of becoming useful to them ; on which account they treated him with kindness, but the other they regarded with contempt.

One of the savages found something like a fillet, with which he adorned his forehead, and seemed to think himself extremely fine, the basket-maker, taking advantage of bis vanity pulled up some reeds, and, sitting down to work, in a short time finished a very elegant wreath, which he placed upon the bead of the first inhabitant he chanced to meet. This man was so pleased with his new acquisition, that he danced and capered about for joy, and ran to seek his companions, who were all struck with astonishment at this new and elegant piece of finery. It was not long before another came to the basket-maker, making signs that he also wanted to be ornamented like his companion, and with such pleasure were these chaplets received by the whole tribe, that the basket-maker was continually employed in weaving them. In return for the pleasure which he conferred upon them, the grateful savages brought him every kind of food which their country afforded, built him a hut, and showed him every demonstration of gratitude and kindness. But the rich, man, who posessed neither talents to please, nor strength to labour, was condemned to be the basket maker's servant and cut him reeds to supply the continual demand for chaplets. Such are the advantages of industry and ingenuity.

The business of a basket-maker requires but a small capital, either of money or ingenuity, in consequence of which, it has been fixed upon as one of the most proper occupations for that class of our suffering fellow-creatures, the indigent blind, for whom asylums are established in different cities of the empire, and where the art of basket-making is carried to a surprising degree of perfection. Besides affording the pupils instruction gratis, these asylums allow them a weekly sum, proportioned to the nature of their work, and the proficiency made by them, thereby relieving them, in some degree at least, from the painful idea of absolute dependence on the bounty of others ; and, which is of scarcely less importance, affording them an active employment for those hours which would be otherwise spent in despondency and gloom.

Baskets have, of late years, been introduced by coach-makers, to form the bodies of gigs, for which purpose they are particularly well calculated, as we know of no other means, whereby to much strength can be obtained with so little weight. The mail carts in London are baskets, and many of the stage coaches have baskets placed behind them, for the purpose of carrying parcels; and we are convinced that the principle of basket-making might be extended with good effect, to many other purposes, where the three qualities of strength, lightness, and elasticity are required.

On the shores of North America, is found a .remarkable fish, called tbe basket-fish. Its body resembles that of a star-fish, and it is furnished with numerous arms to catch its prey. When caught with a hook, it clasps the bait, and encircles it with its many arms,
coming up in the form of a wicker basket whence it has its name.