PERSIAN BARBER.

The Khas-terash (literally, personal shaver) of the present sovereign has, in the abundance of his wealth, built a palace for himself close to the royal bath at Teheran.  And he is entitled to riches, for he is a man of pre-eminent excellence in his art, and has had for a long period, under his especial care, the magnificent beard of his majesty, which is at this moment, and has been for years, the pride of Persia.—­Persian Sketches.

LIVING IN GENEVA.

The vicinity of Geneva appears peculiarly eligible for the permanent residence of an English family.  There is perhaps no town on the continent where greater facilities are afforded for a man of literary and scientific pursuits to indulge his taste or to increase his knowledge.  The city is close built, and consequently not an agreeable place to live in; but its immediate environs abound with delightful spots.

The costume of the Genevese assimilates much with that of the French; but the better class of females are partial to the English fashions.  The language of the country is French, but its habits and religion are widely different.  Not only does the Protestant faith find here the salutary prevalence of a kindred faith, but the members of our own ecclesiastical establishment are enabled to join each other every Sabbath day in the worship of God, and at stated seasons to receive the holy sacrament according to the pure and apostolic ritual of the church of England.

The expense of a house, with a garden and piece of land, within a mile of the gates, including also the keeping of a caleche and pair of horses, for a gentleman, his lady, two children, and three servants, does not exceed 300 l. a year; and with this he is enabled to receive his friends occasionally, and in a respectable style.  To proceed from a family establishment to a bachelor’s pension, “I,” says Mr. Seth Stevenson, in his Continental Travels, “was told that a person at Petit Saconnex has a sleeping-room to himself, and his breakfast, dinner, tea, and supper with the family, for 500 francs (20 l. 16 s. 8 d.) per annum.”

The taxation of Geneva is described as very trifling.  There is a sort of income-tax, to which every man of property contributes, on his honour, as to the amount of that property.  The whole tax for horses and carriages amounts to about 18 d. for each person; the richest it seems pays no more, and the others pay no less.  “My friend assures me,” continues Mr. S. “that his fellow citizens approve of their annexation to Switzerland, and also of the union of the Valais with the Helvetic confederation—­that the people of this little republic are flourishing again, contented with their government; and as the best proof of their returning prosperity since the peace, he adverted to the comparatively few indigent or distressed persons among them, and to the fact of there being only forty-five persons in the poor’s hospital, besides those admitted under the head of casualties.”