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and want of refinement in every useful art.

While the parents were both alive, the mother could give little attention to her girls,-domestick affairs, and amusing her husband, was the business of a good wife. Those who could afford governesses for their children, had them, but all they could learn from them was to read English, and plain work: the chief thing required was to hear them repeat psalms, and long catechisms, in which they were employed an hour or more every day, and almost the whole day on Sunday. If there was no governess to perform this, it was done by the chaplain, of which there were one in every family. No attention was given to what we call accomplishments; reading or writing well, or even spelling, were never thought of; musick, drawing, or French, were seldom taught the girls. They were allowed to run about, and amuse themselves in the way they chose, even to womanhood, at which time they were generally sent to Edinburgh a winter or two to learn to dress themselves, to dance, and to see a little of the world. This world was only to be seen at church, at marriages, burials, and baptisms. These were the only public places where the ladies went in full dress, and as they walked the streets, they were seen by every body; but it was the fashion in undress always to be masked. When in the country, their employment was in coloured work, beds, tapestry, and other pieces of furniture, imitations of fruits and flowers, with very little taste. If they read any, it was either books of devotion, or long romances, and sometimes both. They never ate a full meal at table, it was thought very indelicate; but they took care to have something before dinner, that they might behave with propriety in company.

From the accounts given by old people who lived in this time, we have reason to believe there was as little care taken of the young men's education as that of women, excepting those who were intended for learned professions, who got a regular education at schools and colleges; but the generality of country gentlemen, and even noblemen, were contented with the instruction given by the chaplain to their sons.

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That the manners of the times I write of may be shewn in a fuller light, I shall give Mr Barclay's relation of the most memorable things that passed in his father's house, from the beginning of the century to the year 14, in which his father died. "My brother," says he, married in the year 4, at the age of 21; few men were unmarried after this time of life. I myself was married by my friends at 18, which was thought a proper age. Sir James Stuart's marriage with President Dalrymple's second daughter brought together a number of people related to both families. At the signing of the eldest Miss Dalrymple's contract the year before, there was an entire hogshead of wine drank that night, and the number of people at Sir James Stuart's was little less. The marriage was in the President's house, with as many of the relations as it would hold. The bride's favours were all sewed on her gown, from top to bottom, and round the neck and sleeves. The moment the ceremony was performed, the whole company ran to her, and pulled off the favours; in an instant she was stript of them all. The next ceremony was the garter, which the bridegroom's man attempted to pull from her leg, but she dropt it on the floor; it was a white and silver ribbon, which was cut in small morsels to every one in company. The bride's mother then came in with a basket of favours belonging to the bridegroom; those and the bride's were the same with the bearings of their families; her's pink and white, his blue and gold colour." *

The indelicate custom of seizing the bride's garter is thus commemorated in noble, illustrious, and excellent Princesse, "The Bridals, a play written by the thrice the Duchess of Newcastle," and printed 1668.

[Enter the Brides and Bridegrooms, and all the Bridal Guests, Sir Mercury Poet, one of the Bride-men, and the Lady Fancy, one of the Bride-maids, that helps to lead one of the Brides to the church.]

Adviser. Gentlemen bridegrooms, we must rifle your brides of their bride-gar

ters.

Sir J. Amorous. If it be the custom, I submit.

Sage. But I will not agree to such ap

The company dined and supped together, and had a ball in the evening; the same next day at Sir James Stuart's. On Sunday there went from the President's house to church three and twenty couple, all in high dress; Mr Barclay, then a boy, led the youngest Miss Dalrymple, who was the last of them. They filled the galereys of the church from the King's seat to the wing loft. The feasting continued till they had gone through all the friends of the family, with a ball every night.

As the baptisms was another public place, he goes on to describe it

thus:

"On the fourth week after the lady's delivery, she was set on her bed, on a low footstool, the bed covered with some neat piece of sewed work, or white satin, with three pillows at her back, covered with the same, she in full dress, with a lappit head-dress, and a fan in her hand. Having informed her acquaintance what day she is to see company, they all come and pay their respects to her, standing or walking a little through the room, for there are no chairs; they drink a glass of wine, and eat a piece of cake, and then give place to others. Towards the end of the week all the friends were asked to what was called the Cummerfalls; this was a supper where every gentleman brought a pint of wine to be drunk by him and his wife. The supper was, a ham at the head, and a pyramid of fowls at the bottom, hens and ducks below, partridges at top; there was an eating posset in the middle of the table, with dried fruits and sweet

uncivil custom, for no man shall pull off my wife's garters, unless it be myself.

Vertue. We have pulled off our garters already, and therefore if these batchellorgentlemen will have them, we will send for them.

Facil. Pray ladies let us have them, for the bride-garters are the young batchellors' fees.

Courtly. Since we must not rifle for their garters, let us cast dice for them. Takepleasure. Content. Madam Mediator. The bridegroom's points being our fees, therefore we must rifle for the points.

Sir W. Sage. If you please, ladies, we are ready to be rifled.

[The women offer to take off the points, but Lady Vertue hinders them.]

meats at the sides.

When they had finished their supper, the meat was removed, and in an instant every one flies to the sweetmeats to pocket them, on which a scramble ensued, chairs overturned, and every thing on the table, wrestling and pulling at one another with the utmost noise and violence. When all was quiet, they went to the stoups, (for there was no bottles for wine,) of which the women had a good share; for, though it was a disgrace to be scen drunk, yet it was none to be a little intoxicated in good company.* A few days after this, the same company were asked to the christening, which was always in the church, all in high dress, a number of them young ladies, who were called maiden cimmers; one of them presented the child to the father. After the ceremony, they dined and supped together, and the night often concluded by a ball."

The burials are the only solemnities now to be taken notice of. It was always on foot. The magistrates and town-council were always invited to that of every person of any consideration. "1500 burial-letters were wrote," says Mr Barclay, "at my father's death; the General Assembly was sitting at the time, and all the clergy were asked; and so great was the crowd, that the magistrates were at the grave in the Grey Friars churchyard, before the corpse was taken out of the house in the foot of the Advocates' Close. A few years before this, it had ceased to be the fashion for ladies to walk behind the corpse, in full dress, with coloured clothes; but formerly the chesting was at the same time, and all the female relations asked, which made part of the procession."

At this time acts of devotion employed much of their time; see the same gentleman's accounts of a Sunday past at his father's house. Prayers by the chaplain at nine o'clock,all went regularly to church at ten, the women in high dress; he himself was employed to give the collection,

If we ought to yield any credit to a French author, the English ladies, during the reign of King Charles the First, went a step beyond this in the liberal use of wine.-La Courtisanne Dechifrée, dediće aux Dames Vertueuses de ce temps. à Par ris, 1642. 8vo.

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for the family, which consisted of a crown,-half after twelve they came home, at one had prayers again by the chaplain, after which they had a bit of cold meat or eggs, and returned to church at two. At four every one retired to their private devotions, except the children and servants, who were convened by the chaplain, and examined; this continued till five, when supper was served up, or rather dinner; a few male friends generally partook of this meal, and sat till eight, after which psalm-singing, reading, and prayers, was performed by the old gentleman himself, after which they all retired.

Whether the genius of a people forms their religious sentiments, or if religion forms, in some measure, the manners of a people, I shall leave the wise to decide. I shall only observe, that while that reverènce remained in the minds of men for masters, fathers, and heads of clans, it was then that the dread of Deity was most powerful; this will appear from the superstitious writings of the times. The fear of hell, and deceitful power of the devil, was at the bottom of all their religious sentiments. The established belief in witchcraft, for which many suffered, prevailed much at this time; ghosts too, and apparitions of various kinds; few old houses were without a ghostchamber, that few had courage to sleep in; omens and dreams were much regarded even by people of the best education. These were the manners of the last century, and remained in part for thirty years in this.

(To be concluded in our next.)

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.
PAUL JONES.

ALL our readers must have heard of this daring naval adventurer, and many of them are old enough to recollect the alarm and terror which the name of Paul Jones spread along our coasts during the war with America. This distinguished person was the son of a small farmer a few miles from Dumfries, and, impelled by that love of enterprise which is so frequently to be met with among the peasantry of Scotland, seems to have eagerly embarked in the cause of the colonies against the mother country. Whether he was actuated in any degree by a sense of the injustice

of Britain towards America, at the outset of his career, or merely availed himself of the opportunities in which revolutionary warfare so greatly abounds to rise from his original obscurity, it is now perhaps impossible to determine, and unnecessary to inquire. But it will be seen from the letters we are going to lay before our readers, that, in the progress of his adventurous life, he well knew how to employ the language of men inspired with the love of liberty; and that he was honoured by some of its warmest friends in both hemispheres. It is far from our intention to offer any thing in justification of the very conspicuous part he acted against this, his native country; yet it is impossible not to admire the gentle and kindly feelings which directed his conduct towards Lady Selkirk, so opposite to the character of a pirate as he was represented to be, and the very handsome manner in which he repaired the injury which policy perhaps compelled him to inflict. There are probably few instances, especially among adventurers who have risen from the condition in which Paul Jones was originally placed,-of more enlarged views, more generous feelings,-and a more disinterested conduct, than the following letters exhibit, combined as these are with sentiments of relentless hostility towards the claims of his native country. Such a picture, of which the view is at all times refreshing, ought to be held up to the eyes of those who are now engaged in similar struggles in another quarter of the world. Good policy, in the absence of higher motives, may induce those who direct and regulate the movements of revolutionary warfare, as well as those who are impelled by the storm, to atone, in some measure, by acts of forbearance and generosity, for the injuries to which the helpless and the innocent are peculiarly exposed in the infuriate contests between a people and their rulers.

In the progress of the revolutionary war, Paul Jones obtained the command of a squadron, with which, in 1778, he undertook to annoy the coasts of Great Britain. On the 2d December 1777, he arrived at Nantes, and in January repaired to Paris, with the view of making arrangements with the American ministers and the French government. In February he conveyed

some American vessels to the Bay of Quiberon; and, on his return to Brest, communicated his plan to Admiral D'Aruilliers, who afforded him every means of forwarding it. He accordingly left Brest, and sailed through the Bristol Channel, without giving any alarm. Early in the morning of the 23d April he made an attack on the harbour of Whitehaven, in which there were about 400 sail. He succeeded in setting fire to several vessels, but was not able to effect any thing decisive before day-light, when he was obliged to retire.

The next exploit, which took place on the same day, was the plunder of Lord Selkirk's house, in St Mary's Isle, near the town of Kirkcudbright. The particulars of this event, and of the action which succeeded, as well as the motives upon which Jones acted, are well given in the following letter, which he addressed to Lady Selkirk:

Ranger, Brest, 8th May 1778. MADAM, It cannot be too much lamented, that, in the profession of arms, the officer of fine feeling, and of real sensibility, should be under the necessity of winking at any action of persons under his command which his heart cannot approve; but the reflection is doubly severe, when he finds himself obliged, in appearance, to countenance such action by his authority.

This hard case was mine, when, on the 23d of April last, I landed on St Mary's Isle. Knowing Lord Selkirk's interest with his king, and esteeming, as I do, his private character, I wished to make him the happy instrument of alleviating the horrors of hopeless captivity, when the brave are overpowered and made prisoners of war It was, perhaps, fortunate for you, Madam, that he was from home, for it was my intention to have taken him on board the Ranger, and to have detained him until, through his means, a general and fair exchange of prisoners, as well in Europe as in America, had been effected.

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When I was informed by some men whom I met at landing, that his lordship was absent, I walked back to my boat, determined to leave the island. By the way, however, some officers who were with me could not forbear expressing their discontent, observing, that, in America, no delicacy was shewn by the English, who took away all sorts of moveable property, setting fire not only to towns, and to the houses of the rich without distinction, but not even sparing the wretched hamlets and milch cows of the poor and helpless, at the approach of an inclement winter. That party had been with me as volunteers the same morning at Whitehaven; some complaisance, therefore, was their due. I had but a moment to think how I might gratify them, and at the same time do your ladyship the least injury. I charged the two officers to permit none of the seamen to enter the house, or to hurt any thing about it; to treat you, Madam, with the utmost respect; to accept of the plate which was offered; and to come away without making a search, or demanding any thing else. I am induced to believe that I was punctually obeyed, since I am informed that the plate which they brought away is far short of the quantity expressed in the inventory which accompanied it. I have gratified my men; and, when the plate is sold, I shall become the purchaser, and will gratify my own feelings, by restoring it to you by such conveyance as you shall please to direct.

Had the earl been on board the Ranger the following evening, he would have seen the awful pomp and dreadful carnage of a sea engagement; both affording ample subject for the pencil, as well as melancholy reflection for the contemplative mind. Humanity starts back at such scenes of horror, and cannot but execrate the vile promoters of this detested war,

For they, 'twas they, unsheathed the ruthless blade,

And heaven shall ask the havock it has made.

The British ship of war Drake, her full complement of officers and mounting 20 guns, with more than men, besides a number of volunteers, came out from Carrickfergus, in order to attack and take the American continental ship of war Ranger, of 18 guns, and short of her complement

of officers and men. The ships met, and the advantage was disputed with great fortitude on each side for an hour and five minutes, when the gallant communder of the Drake fell, and victory declared in favour of the Ranger. His amiable lieutenant lay mortally wounded, besides near forty of the inferior officers and crew killed and wounded.

A melancholy demonstration of the uncertainty of human prospects, buried them in a spacious grave, with the honours due to the memory of the brave.

Though I have drawn my sword in the present generous struggle for the rights of men, yet I am not in arms merely as an American, nor am I in pursuit of riches. My fortune is liberal enough, having no wife nor family, and having lived long enough to know that riches cannot ensure happiness. I profess myself a citizen of the world, totally unfettered by the little mean distinctions of climate or of country, which diminish the benevolence of the heart, and set bounds to philanthropy. Before this war began, I had, at an early time of life, withdrawn from the sea-service, in favour of "calm contemplation and poetic ease." I have sacrificed, not only my favourite scheme of life, but the softer affections of the heart, and my prospects of domestic happiness; and I am ready to sacrifice my life also with cheerfulness, if that forfeiture would restore peace and goodwill among mankind.

As the feelings of your gentle bosom cannot, in that respect, but be congenial with mine, let me intreat you, Madam, to use your soft persuasive arts with your husband, to endeavour to stop this cruel and destructive war, in which Britain never can succeed. Heaven can never countenance the barbarous and unmanly practices of the Britons in America, which savages would blush at, and which, if not discontinued, will soon be retaliated in Britain by a justly enraged people. Should you fail in this, (for I am persuaded that you will attempt it, and who can resist the power of such an advocate?) your endeavours to effect a general exchange of prisoners will be an act of humanity, which will afford you golden feelings on a death-bed.

I hope this cruel contest will soon

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be closed,-but, should it continue, I wage no war with the fair!-I acknowledge their power, and bend before it with profound submission! Let not, therefore, the amiable Countess of Selkirk regard me as an enemy,-I am ambitious of her esteem and friendship, and would do any thing consistent with my duty to merit it.

The honour of a line from your hand, in answer to this, will lay me under a very singular obligation; and if I can render you any acceptable service, in France or elsewhere, I hope you see into my character so far, as to command me without the least grain. of reserve. I wish to know exactly the behaviour of my people, as I determine to punish them if they have exceeded their liberty.

I have the honour to be, with much esteem, and with profound respect, Madam, your most obedient, and most humble servant,

(Signed) PAUL JONES.

To the Right Honourable the Countess of Selkirk, St Mary's Isle, Scotland.

The correctness of the facts here stated is confirmed by the following account given at the time in the Scots Magazine :

"Between ten and eleven, a servant brought word, that a press-gang had landed near the house. This the party from the privateer had given out, in order, as was supposed, to get out of the way all the servants and others who might oppose them. Presently between thirty and forty armed men came up; all of whom planted themselves round the house, except three, who entered, each with two horse-pistols at his side; and, with bayonets fixed, they demanded to see the lady of the house; and, upon her appearing, told her, with a mixture of rudeness and civility, who they were, and that all the plate must be delivered to them. Lady Selkirk be-. haved with great composure and presence of mind. She soon directed her plate to be delivered; with which, without doing any other damage, or asking for watches, jewels, or any thing else, (which is odd,) the gentlemen made off. There is reason to think that there were some people among them acquainted with persons and places, and, in particular, one fel

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