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SINGULARITIES FROM BOYHOOD TO AGE. BY A SeptuagenariAN CORRESPONDENT, LATELY DECEASED. No. I.

My father and mother were marr

ried when neither was older than 19, at the parish church, Kingstou, near Portsmouth. Some property possessed by my mother made their circumstances, from the first, comfortable. They had three sons and two daughters; the latter died in infancy; the sons were all designed by my father to be brought up to the church. The reason of this plan I never was able to determine; he had not the least interest; but, as he was a man of the most virtuous integrity, I have supposed that he considered the clerical profession as the best passage through this life to a better.

For himself, he declined an offer of the office of Naval Storekeeper at Antigua. His death was sudden, at the early age of 40. A gentleman (to whom I afterwards served my apprenticeship) and his two nieces had been on a visit to our house; and on the third day after their return home received intelligence of my father's decease. There were four persons on the Dock-yard establishment at that period, who have never been surpassed for integrity, application, and neat penmanship. My father, one of these four, for three years had not a Sunday to himself. Another was Mr. Russel, the Clerk of the Rope-yard, who prevented the fatal effects threatened by the fire which originated with the incendiary Jack the Painter, and for which that culprit suffered. Russel was introduced to his Majesty at a levee held in the Commissioner's House, and received the Royal thanks for his attention. Many years after he carried his grandson to Eton College, and went on the Terrace of Windsor Castle when the King was there on a Sunday evening; his Majesty recognized him in the crowd, stopt and spoke to him, asked his business from home, and wished his grandson might become a good man.

At the time of my father's death my elder brother was on the foundation at Winchester. As soon as the messenger of evil tidings entered his chamber, he said, "Charles, my father is dead; he died at four this morning." He afterwards used to say that he awoke with this remarkable, though

[Aug.

not unexampled, impression. Dr. Warton shook my brother's hand with af fection as he departed for Trinity College, Oxford; for he lost his election to New College. My younger brother was also a faithful priest; so that two out of three became what their good father wished,—I should think in every respect.

Left orphans at an early age, an excellent mother redoubled her attention to us. She taught me to write, and her "copies" were all aphorisms. One under the letter B was: "Be timely wise rather than wise in time." How often have I had to regret want of attention to this!

My mother's character possessed some singularities. On the 30th of January she would come down to breakfast dressed in a black sack with long ruffles broadly hemmed at the elbows, black gloves, and black fan; she allowed us but a single cup of tea and a single slice of bread and butter, and when a little murmuring on the subject took place with myself and younger brother, said: "Children, do you know what day it is?—when you come from church you shall have more to eat. You will thank me when you become men for formning this impression on your minds. Your family has been reduced, and your country placed un der great sufferings by the events of this day."-Again, when speaking of the Revolution, she would say, "Ah! William was only a Dutch Presbyterian!" Time has since in a great measure dispensed with the commemoration of these events. The Houses of Parliament now adjourn to avoid keeping the 30th of January;—and black sacks are forgotten to be worn by gentlewomen!

I was sent to Ruben Burrow's school, where Ware the oculist (the elder of that name) was my schoolfellow; he was a clever fellow at Algebra.

I played at Portsmouth on the pooproyal of the old Royal Ann, a first rate; and when she was broken up, collected a phial of quicksilver from her keels. Query. How came it there?

I went into the head of the old Britannia, a group or complication of figures, and large enough inside for a table to stand, at which six persons might sit. What a difference has since taken place in the construction of ships! Heads are now only busts. The Guadaloupe Frigate, Capt. (after

wards

1825.]

wards Admiral) Cornwallis, was the first that had a painted side, and the figure head of various colours. We called her the Nancy Dawson. Turpentine sides and yellow heads were the general costume..

I saw the Princess Dowager of Wales walking through Portsmouth, leaning on the arm of Commissioner Hughes; she, in a close black hood, as a covering for the head, like a modern quakeress; he in full uniform, and a Ramilies wig, covering his shoulder with abundance of flowing curls; her head the size of a cocoa-nut, his like an owl in an ivy-bush. At an early age I received an impression of the absurdity of fashions, and considered the best covering for the human body was, that which was most easy,-a jacket and trowsers. I would not use pantaloons, thinking they were a French fashion, till, at the repairs of Worcester Cathedral, the body of King John was discovered in a pair, and then I adopted them as an old English fashion.

The chimes of Portsmouth Church used to play: "The world, my dear Mira, is full of deceit!"-a truism I experienced many years afterwards.

The coach from Portsmouth to London carried 26 sailors "on the deck" and in the large square basket behind; it started 4 A. M. and arrived at 8 P. M. Fifty times since I have travelled the distance by the coach between 8 a. M. and 5 P. M.

At 14 I was offered to the Storekeeper of the Dockyard with a premium of 1501. for a Clerkship of 301. per ann. That place I could have well filled, having been for some months in the office during the day, and to school at night (for I ever kept close to work); but I was rejected as too young. Two lads of bad character were, however, about the same time admitted; and it was for want of proper attention to this that the Navy Board ultimately took from the Storekeeper the privilege of filling the vacancies, and retained it under its own control.

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The junior clerk, whom I accompanied to learn my way about town, was a long-legged thoughtful Scotchman; he walked as Londoners do quick, the head a spur to the heels. One thing he did tell me, and only one: "that's the Monument;" and he was off in the twinkling of an eye, whilst I had to twist through twenty persons to overtake him. These perambulations often repeated soon taught me to take my bearings and distances; and a few weeks enabled me to be despatched alone with the banker's book and other papers. I bought a map, and occupied a post at the corner of some lane to acquire information by examining it. And now no twopenny postman knows the town better, or where to cross with more advantage to save two yards of ground. Saturday at last became heavy days for these undertakings; I used to be out from 10 to 3, and had upwards of 20 places to call at; nor did I quit lettercopying till 10 at night, at which hour the post used in those days to call for inland letters.

A youth, and a stranger, when the Counting House business was over, I found my best companions in the contents of Lane's Circulating Library, and never had a lonely hour. I never broke the Sabbath but once, when I went to Kensington Gardens with my Master's footman out of livery. He was the son of a decent tradesman of Sudbury, and in 1815 published a volume of serious poetry. He also played admirably on the flute, and composed some duets that I might join him. His family were weavers, all musical, and a band of themselves.

(To be continued.)

Mr.

tion." P. 96. They were bought, sold, and conveyed and bequeathed, and are often enumerated by name with their posterity; and a late law enjoined that no Christian, or innocent man should be sold from them.-Laud. Wilk. Leg. Sax. p. 107. Malms. 1. 3. Personal slavery at Bristol abolished by the preaching of Wultstan. Ibid. 99. Manumission, both by gift and by will, to slaves, was frequent, and is traced up to Edgar's time. Sometimes absolutely, sometimes on a condition annexed. Documents of this kind are in preservation, where the freedom was purchased as a charitable act by some patron for five shillings, or two shillings, signed and duly attested (p. 101), and sometimes the slaves purchased their freedom with their own savings. They were sometimes declared free at the altar; and the synod in 816 enjoined that at the death of a Bishop his English slaves, who had been reduced to slavery in his life-time, should be freed. Spel. Conc. 330.

Without the possession of a certain quantity of landed property, the dignity of sitting in the wittena-gemot could not be enjoyed, not even by a person who was of distinguished or noble birth, p. 92. Honour might be acquired by descent, by property, by office, by freedom; but the distinction of property was a still higher qualification for the gemot. This is a very high authority against the arguments for universal suffrage.

HYDE OF LAND.-Hynde of Land gave distinction to their owners as Twyhyndum, Syxhyndum, and Twelfhyndum. This also shews that not only the Hyde of Land, but the numbers in common use at this time are the same as those in the Saxon æra.

HOCUS-FOCUS.-There were two personages feared in the North of Europe in Saxon times; from whose names words have become very familiar to ourselves! one was OchusBochus, a magician and demon; the other was Neccus, a malign deity, who frequented the waters. If any perished in whirlpools, or by cramp, or by bad swimming, he was thought to be seized by Neccus. Steel was supposed to expel him, and therefore all who bathed threw some little pieces of steel into the water for that purpose. It is probable that we see here the origin of Hocus-pocus and Old Nick. 2 Turner, 17.

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The sun was addressed as a female, and the moon as a male.

MILK.-Tri-milchi, the month of May; so called, because their cattle were then milked three times a day; which also proves the Saxon origin of the word.

Book-Boc.-Beech, bark wood; on which letters were either cut or impressed. So the same word in Welch, gwydd, is a tree or wood, used to denote a book for the same reason. P. 30.

MORGEN, or Marriage-gift, a present to the Bride by the Husband on the day after their marriage; intended, says Mr. Turner, 2. 83, as a compliment to the ladies for honouring a suitor with their preference, and for submitting to the duties of wedlock. If she survived him, having children, she had half his property if she chose to live with them; but if she was childless, his paternal relations took his possessions and the morgen gift; also if she chose another husband. This morgen gift laid the foundation of modern settlements and trusts. Wilk. Leg. Sax. p. 7.

STOOL.-On the death of the father, the child (cild) was ordered to remain under the mother's care, who was to provide it with sustenance; for this she was to be allowed six shillings, a cow in summer, and an ox in winter; but his relations were to occupy the frum- stol, the head seat, until the boy came of age. Wilk. 20.

TUMBLE.-Tumbling and dancing seem to have been synonimous, as they are both represented by the verb tumbian. The Anglo-Saxon version of the Gospel mentions that the daugh

ter

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ter of Herodias tumbude before Herod ; and the word for dancing is tumbere. It is probable that the mode of dancing included much tumbling. 2 Turn. 76. Probably the morris-dancing, and those on the summer theatres, used in pantomimes, and in the theatrical booths at fairs, take their origin from this ancient date of more than 1000 years.

These instances are sufficient to remind the inquirer of the object stated at the beginning of this letter; many more selections might of course have been made, but these will excite his interest, and, without fatiguing his attention, afford him some amusement in his present recreation. A. H.

Charles the First, over the Chimney, whole-length, in white Sattin, very fine, by Vandyke. (The same as Strange's print.)

Sir James, father of Viscount Scudamore, whole-length, in black and gold armour; very large, tilting spear in his right hand; white laced apron, flying sash over his shoulder, black boots

Lady Digby, whole-length, leaning ou a pedestal; by Sir Godfrey Kneller, very fine.

Sir John Packington, whole-length, with an immense ruff; white and black dress reaching half-way down his thighs; white breeches and stockings in one.

Unknown whole-length, full front; small falling ruff, red sash and gloves, staff in his right hand, and buttons all down the front of his black doublet.

(Aug.

hair, ruff and farthingale, white dress, embroidered with flowers, and puffed

arms.

The Duchess of Norfolk's mother when young, and her Grandmother, wholelength, in green blue mantle; her mother is sitting by the side of a fout. Three figures, whole-length, in Vandyke dresses, called the three Penderils. By the style of the picture, I should think it foreign; one of them is playing on a Spanish guitar. "Lewis XIII. aged 38, 1639, Beaubours fecit;" whole-length; pearl and white slashed dress; trunk hose, breeches and stockings; staff in his right hand; robe of France. Anne of Austria, grosse de huit mois, 1638, aged 27, "Beaubrun fecit," in black dress, with lace.

DRAWING ROOM. Charles II. when a boy, a long green

robe, capped red table, over the door. Earl and Countess of Southampton, by

Sir Peter Lely, a fine double-portrait; the Earl sitting; black cloak, with a very large star on it; white sleeves; white staff in his hand; blue ribbon; and long hair; his lady is in yellow, standing.

Charles I. in black and white slashed; ribbon round his neck; taggs; ruff; left hand negligently holding the handle of his sword; star on his cloak.

Heurietta-Maria, in black, hands across James II. in armour, with long wig, laced cravat, and ribbon across; an oval painting.

Anne of Austria, in yellow, sitting with Lewis XIV. when a baby, swaddled up, a blue ribbon on her lap; a curious picture.

A nost elegant beautiful portrait of a lady sitting in an elbow chair, dressed in white, with a brown and flowered robe loose, which her arms pass through; a red and black flowered petticoat; the cap, &c. like those of Mary Queen of Scots; she has a ruff; her right hand with a glove on, and a glove belonging to the other hand in it, negligently falls over the corner of a table by her; her left is in her dress; red chair, table, and curtain, within a garland of flowers, is inscribed 12 March, 1614," under it "no spring till now;' she has a bracelet of pearl on her left

wrist.

torious