Oldalképek
PDF
ePub

and at the conclusion of the year 1813, Newark suffered a similar calamity at the hands of General M'Clure, who pretended that he was merely taking justifiable measures to secure the American frontier.

The author's opinion respecting the state of the inhabitants of Washington as regards their commercial prosperity, is very unfavourable. It presented none of that bustle which is always so characteristic of an active state of trade; but, on the contrary, the quiet appearance of the streets, through which a few idle persons only were seen to stroll, indicated the fatal truth that Washington was doomed to a speedy decay.

From this city Leiutenant Coke directed his route to New York, and during the journey had an opportunity of making himself better acquainted with the character of the Americans. He performed this tour just at the critical moment when the whole reading world in the states was up in arms against Mrs. Trollope's work, which had but recently made its appearance in the new continent. The resentment against this lady, as also against Captain Hall, which has manifested itself amongst the most intelligent portion of the Americans, appear to us utterly unworthy of a sensible and considerate community. Our author, to show the extent of the spite which has agitated every class against these writers, quotes a passage from a recent novel pubished by a literary gentleman named Pauling, in which a character is assigned to Captain Hall, that is rendered despicable by the grossest personality. Surely those persons must be exceedingly blind to the commonest springs of human action, who, complaining of the injustice of the accusations made against them, yet sedulously walk in the footsteps of their calumniator.

From New York, where he found nothing worthy of mention beyond what previous travellers had amply described, Mr. Coke proceeded to Boston, the chief objects of which are noticed by him. Advancing northwards he came to a famous watering place, the Lebanon Springs, where he found the company composed of as nearly as possible the same assortment of human materials as is annually found combined at Cheltenham and Bath. The great attraction of the neighbourhood, the Shakers' Village, about two miles from the Springs, was not lost on our active traveller, and he availed himself of the very first Sunday of his sojourn to have a sight of this strange population. He proceeded thither accordingly, and was fortunate enough to obtain a visitor's seat in the large chapel of the society. The members when they were assembled in their proper places in the edifice, occupied two rows of benches facing each other, a slight opening between two boards in the floor forming the boundary line. The men were dressed in drab coats, quaker fashion, but with a rolling collar, old-fashioned dark waistcoats reaching as low as the hips, and gray trowsers of striped cotton or linen, the hair cut short in front, and allowed to grow a consider

able length at the back of the head; the women in white gowns, with large muslin caps which concealed their profile, and highheeled shoes. Both sexes entered with a singular kind of springing step, as if walking upon the toes. The service commenced by the whole society rising and removing the benches to the side of the room. Both sexes then advanced towarks the line of demarcation in a a close column, showing a front of 16 by 8 deep, but in oblique lines, so that the feet of the two people on the inner flank were within a few inches of the boundary line, while those on the outer were six paces apart. An elder, stepping out, addressed them in a few words, standing with his back to the wall, his feet upon the line, and fronting the open space between the two parties.

[ocr errors]

The elder told them that they were assembled to pray, and that they were to adopt some "suitable exercise accordingly." The members then sang a hymn, and moved their feet in time with the air, which was a strange composition, and not unlike one of the wild chaunts of the Indians at the feast of the Mohorum, or the strains of a Burman boat crew, as Mr. Coke had heard them on the Irawaddi. After this the rest of the men threw off their coats, hanging them on pegs inserted in the wall, and each of the females laid down her white handkerchief on one of the benches-indications, observes the Lieutenant, that they were about to set too in good earnest. Two rows of about forty persons now stood with their backs to the walls opposite, whilst the remaining persons formed a sort of column, which fronted them at some distance. We give the further proceedings in the language of the Lieutenant :

The former party struck up a lively air with some words attached to it (all that I could distinguish were, "I will be truly good," frequently repeated), and the latter commenced dancing in correct time, advancing three steps; then balancing three, and retiring again, advanced as before, turning round at intervals in the tune, in a style which a quadrille dancer might even be proud of. The singers throughout the time kept their arms close to their bodies, with the lower part of them projecting out, and moving their hands up and down (I hope I shall be excused for making an absurd but striking simile) like so many kangaroos standing upon their hind legs. Upon the whole, it was a most singular scene: old and young were dancing away without their coats, as if it had been a matter of life and death; while the room, containing no fewer than six or seven hundred people, was hot to suffocation. Though the women exerted themselves most laboriously, they were (owing to their dress, I presume) as pale and ghastly as so many shrouded bodies or living corpses,- —an appearance they wished to assume, I should imagine, as not being very inviting to the eyes of "the world's people," as they term us old-fashioned folks. I overheard one of a party of young men sitting in rear of me, who could not at all contain themselves, say, 'he had seen an Egyptian mummy look handsomer than any of them." I could not, however, agree with him upon that score; for there were two or three pair of very pretty dark eyes, with some finely-formed features. One young girl, in particular, about eighteen or twenty years of age, who paid much more attention to the specta

[ocr errors]

*

*

*

*

*

*

tors than to her devotions, would doubtless have been well pleased to regain her former place in the world. She was in the last row of females, so that no one could overlook her motions; and all the young people were similarly disposed of. Those who formed the first row, and who were confronted face to face with the men, were the oldest and ugliest of the party : a dangerous post like this was not assigned to young people, with such eyes as interpreters, an elopement having occasionally taken place, much to the dismay of the elders. The society afterwards formed a column of five in front, with fourteen members in the centre of the room, who sang some words to a tune like "Yankee doodle," the column stepping off at quick time, and marching round the room as correctly as any well-drilled battalion, changing step when necessary, and, if any one fell out in front, his place was immediately occupied by some one from the rear. They beat time by moving their hands up and down as before described, clapping them in certain parts of the tune. After thus marching round several times, they halted, and, the inner files of two facing about, a brisk air was struck up, and they moved off again in different directions, circling round the room, halting and singing in the slow parts of the air: then quickening their pace almost to a run at the more lively parts. Altogether, I scarcely ever saw so difficult or so well-performed a field-day. They had been evidently well drilled, or they could not have acquired such skill in manoeuvring; for there was such a series of marching and counter-marching, slow step, quick step, and doublequick step, advancing and retiring, forming open column and close column, perpendicular lines and oblique lines, that it was sufficient to puzzle and confound the clearest head of the lookers on.-pp. 228-230.

The society, it seems, consists of about 600 persons, and the regulations for admission appear to be founded on a just calculation of the happy mean between liberality and restriction. They do not seem to be anxious for proselytes, but even require a considerable time for every candidate for admission to their number, in order to perform a probation. The principal rules are celibacy, non-interference with politics, peace with all mankind, and paying their lawful debts. They have 3000 acres of well cultivated land adjoining the village, which supplies the means of a considerable income, particularly of seeds, which are in great demand throughout the United States. It seems that on a more particular inquiry into the state of the society, Mr. Coke found that it was separated into three great divisions-1st, those who do not assent to the rules of celibacy, but reside at a distance from the village with their own families, attending worship, and otherwise conforming to the rules; 2dly, those who are members, but can return to the world's society whenever they think fit; and, 3dly, those who, vowing to remain members in perpetuum, have entirely given themselves up as followers of the faith.

The number of shakers throughout the whole of the United States cannot, in Mr. Coke's estimate, be less than 5000, and he adds that they were on the increase.

A very pleasant account of the recreations of Lebanon Springs

is given by the author; but the reader will, we are sure, forgive us if we abstain from more copious details of these recreations, when he is assured that one of the most interesting amongst them is the noble game of nine pins.

Proceeding on his tour in the northern part of the States, Mr. Coke took in his route the town of Auburn, now so celebrated for its penitentiary. A summary of the system adopted is given by the author; but having very recently gone over the same ground, we must be content with merely recommending the description, and accompanying remarks in its favour, to the careful perusal of the reader.

At a place called Rapely's Ferry, situated a few miles down the western bank of Seneca Lake, Lieutenant Coke found the remains of a pier, which was connected with a personal history of no small degree of interest. A celebrated lady named Jemima Wilkinson, a native of Rhode Island, became enamoured of a British officer who was stationed there; but being deserted by her lover, she was attacked with fever and lay in a trance for some days. When she awoke she announced that, Jemima Wilkinson having died, the angels in heaven had disputed who should enter her body, and visit the earth as the Universal Friend of Mankind,-as the Saviour of the World; that she (now calling herself an angel in Jemima's body) had been appointed to fill the body of the deceased, and was come upon earth to preach salvation to all!

She had numerous disciples, and quitting Rhode Island, she settled near Crooked Island, not far from Seneca Lake. Here some of those disciples, men of fortune and consideration, purchased for her a considerable tract of land, and she lived in high style. On her plate, carriage &c. the letters U. F. for universal friend, were inscribed. She observed the Jewish Sabbath, but preached on the Sundays. Her creed seems to have been something like the doctrine of the Metempsychosis, or the continued transfer of the same soul to different bodies in succession. On the pier already mentioned she once made her appearance in the presence of a great multitude, having promised them that she should walk on the water "across the lake, and addressing them, while one foot touched the water, inquired if they had faith in her, and believed she could reach the opposite shore in safety; for, if they had not faith, the attempt would be vain. Upon receiving the most earnest assurances of their belief that she could pass over, she replied that there was no occasion then to make a display of her power, as they believed in it; and turning round, re-entered her carriage, and drove off, to the chagrin of thousands of idle spectators, and to the astonishment of her numerous disciples. Captain Rumney, who was acquainted with her during her lifetime, described her as a tall, stately, and handsome woman; but of rather a masculine appearance. In her costume she much resembled a clergyman, having

[ocr errors]

her hair brushed back, wearing a surplice and bands, with a Quaker's hat."

Subsequently to his visit to the northern part of the United States, Lieutenant Coke continued his journey into Canada, a territory which, in our humble judgment, has already been explored absolutely ad nauseam. At all events, we have devoted of late too many of our pages to the description of Canadian society, Canadian produce, and Canadian capabilites, not forgetting the beaten subject of Canadian emigration; and we fear that our readers would take it very ill of us to continue the monotonous theme, until at least something worthy of attention starts up in its progress.

A map, a large sheet of fac-similes, the signatures to the Declaration of American Independence, with [twelve admirably drawn lithographs of scenery, decorate this volume, which, in every qualification that can render a book of travels instructive and entertaining, may be justly said to be entitled to an exalted rank.

ART. III.-Memoirs of Mrs. Inchbald; including her Correspondence with the most Distinguished Persons of her Time. To which are added, The Massacre, and A Case of Conscience; now first published from her Autograph Copies. Edited by JAMES BOADEN, Esq. In 2 vols. 8vo. London: R. Bentley. 1833.

THESE memoirs are drawn from the autograph journals which were kept during a period of fifty years by Mrs. Inchbald, and also from at least two hundred letters written by that lady under circumstances when the greatest confidence would be expected from her. This is a circumstance in which we take leave to say, that we exceedingly delight in, and that for no better reason, than because it is a guarantee against the possibility of any corruptions of the true text, so that Mr. Boaden's imagination, for this time at least, will be compelled to the observance of a very strict forbearance.

Mrs. Inchbald was born on the 15th October, 1753, at Standingfield, near Bury St. Edmunds. She early showed a passion for literature, which appeared to owe its force to the unhappy situation in which she was placed by a defect of utterance, and which withheld her from the sources of amusement that are usually resorted to by persons of her age. Nearly cotemporarily with the manifestation of this predilection, did she display an equally strong partiality for the stage. We find her arrived in London, at length, in the sixteenth year of her age, on a visit to her sister, Mrs. Hunt, where she met with Mr. Inchbald. After a short intercourse, he declared a passion for her, and from the manner in which she, young as she really was, corresponded to it, we conclude that she was altogether indifferent to the gentleman. The young lady returned to her

« ElőzőTovább »