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he would stand for ten minutes in the lobby, disputing with the servants, whether or not he would enter the room. When, at length, he did enter, his face would be as red as fire, with the perspiration running, in streams, down his cheeks, and his hair standing on end, with perfect fear. In his way to his chair, he would almost knock over the servants, and he'd rush past the landlord, (who kindly rose to welcome him,) so great was his anxiety to reach his seat. If, at last, he settled himself on his chair, without any accident, he was sure to spill a tumbler of beer, or to break a wine glass, which would draw all eyes upon him, and, amongst them, the vigilant ones of the hostess, who would half kill him with a frown. His first words, if he sat next a lady, were, here's a fine d-d-day, m-mem, and, after a pause of about half an hour-w-w-will d-do me the honour to-to d-drink a glass of w-wine with me? Having done that, he would relapse into silence, and seldom open his mouth the whole night. These discouragements oblige our friend to quit society, but, after putting himself under the training of a dancing master, he supposes himself sufficiently improved to venture again into a dinner party. We shall let our correspondent detail the sequel of his own adventure.

ye

There being a fine neighbouring estate, belonging to my Lord D--, in the market, I made up my mind to purchase it; and, now, gentle reader, behold me, John Elliot, Esq. of Mannershall. Being a county gentleman, I kept my horses, my carriages, and my dogs, and received visits and invitations from the surrounding proprietors. Amongst these was the Marquis of who, one morning, sent me a note, requesting the pleasure of my company to dinner that day. Thinking that now I was able to trust myself in company, I accepted the invitation, and, at the time appointed, set off in my gig. Unfortunately, for me, the horse was a young one, and something having frightened him, he set off at full gallop, and, as fortune would have it, overturned me in a ditch, at the entrance gate to the Castle Comfit. Fortunately, I escaped unhurt, and, being so near the castle, I was prevailed upon to enter it. The servants ushered me into the drawing room, a splendid room, blazing with lights; but, I had no sooner stepped in, than I started back I thought I saw a vision-I rubbed my eyes; when, oh, heavens, to my horror, it was my own figure I saw, reflected in a mirror, at the opposite side of the room; and, what a figure? There I was, my white pantaloons covered with mud, my face black with dirt, and, in fact, more like a chimney sweeper than a gentleman. I gave a loud shriek, and sunk down, senseless, on the floor. When I recovered, I found myself lying on a splendid ottoman, in the room, with one or two gentlemen standing round me; I started up, and said to my host, whom I recognised, goo-goo-goo-good evening, m-m-m-my Lord Ma-ma-marquis; and, notwithstanding his remonstrances, I sallied out of the house, and pursued my comfortless way home. Next morning I resolved on quitting Scotland, and, accordingly, in the space of two days, I was on my way to England. Having been told that the only method, of getting into good society, was purchasing an estate. I immediately secured the first that offered, and soon had plenty of acquaintances. Among others, was the old Earl of V, who called on me, and stated that he was proud of the acquisition which the county had gained, in having me as a landholder. To all this, I made no other reply, than with bows and grimaces. But, upon his at length saying, Mr. Elliot, as colonel of the troop of yeomanry, I shall be proud if you will permit me to present you with a captain's commission, my gratitude burst out with, m-m-my Lord, accept th-th-th the th-thanks of But, before I could conclude, he interposed, and, laughingly, said, Captain Elliot, you are a mimic, I perceive. Not understanding him rightly, I merely bowed, and replied, m-m-m-my Lord you A-fl-flater m-me, and, soon after,

he took his leave. Without any delay, I ordered my uniform, and, with what pride it was, that I surveyed myself, in the well polished mirror-I thought myself the handsomest of the handsome, and the bravest of the brave. Next day was the first drill day of the regiment, and I, as Captain, was obliged to take the command of my troop, for the first and last time. In giving the word of command, I, unfortunately, could not speak quick enough, and, when the whole regiment were going on with the drill, I was mouthing out, d-d-draw s-sh-swords. Again, when I was going through the sword exercise, on account of my awkwardness, in making cut, No. 3, I nearly severed one of my brother officer's legs, with a blow of my sabre, and, not content with that, as the word charge was given, not being fully up to the management of my horse, he set off with me, and, forgetting my spurs, I clung the closer with my heels, which made the unruly animal fly the faster, till, at length, making a leap over a hedge, I lost my hold, and fell into the midst of it; whilst, I heard, at a distance, the cheers and laughter of my companions. This was the climax of my misfortunes-I left the yeomanry next day-I sold my estates, and retired from the world, a melancholy misanthrope.

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It is a singular fact in the literary history of this city that, during the last twelve months, there have been more books and reprints published in Glasgow than in the modern Athens. One publisher alone, here, has, in fact, sent forth no less than seventeen books, ten of which, have been written by Glasgow pens, and printed by Glasgow printers. Since the commencement even of this year, a considerable number of very respectable volumes have issued from our press, and here comes another, which, in point of appearance, at least, does the greatest credit to publisher and printer, and, what is more to the purpose, to the talents of its author.

The characteristics of Mr. Norval's poetry seem to be simplicity, sweetness and good taste. There is a fine moral feeling generally found to pervade the whole of the poems before us, while, in many of them, there is exhibited a warmth and tenderness of expression, which indicate a kindly and well-constituted heart. There is none of that straining after effect which, we regret to think, is the prevailing vice of the poets of the age.

We observe Mr. Norval has one or two imitations of Scottish poetry, but he has followed a bad model, though a friend of our's, namely, the Ettrick Shepherd. Had he been a constant reader of The Day, he would have avoided this error.

As a key to the style and feeling of the volume, we select the following poem, which, although not the best, is best fitted for our limits.

WELCOME TO THE SWALLOW.

Thou art come from a land that is brightening all the year,
Where the stream is never bound, where the leaf is never sere,
Thou art come, thou art come, with thy sail before the wind;
Through the howling of the storm, from the wilderness behind.
I have seen thee on the land, and thy flight across the sea;
When the leaf was on the wind, that was nourish'd on the tree :
But, sullen as the blast was the song that now is gay;
And hurried was thy wing as the forked lightning's way.
Now the winter storm is gone, thou art welcome back again;
For the bud is on the branch, and the gowan on the plain;
Thou art sailing through the lift, thou art skimming o'er the lea,
Thou art welcome back again, thou art welcome back to me !

I HOLD that whatever cheers us in the arduous path of life, and flings a flower over its dreariness, whatever innocently employs and safely recreates, whatever gives an object or an amusement, 66 soberly," is worth cultivating, even although it be but a taste for toys.-Lady Morgan.

"Whenever," said Madame de Stäel, "I see Mr. S., I feel the same pleasure that I receive from looking at a fond couple; he and his self-love live so happily together."

GLASGOW GOSSIP.

THIS is to be a day of bustle in Glasgow, and the evening will be one of high spirits and light heels. This is the day for haberdashers and peruquiers, milliners and tailors, shoemakers and glovers. How many French kids will be torn on dainty hands, revealing through their rents a skin of snow-white pureness! How many frills of Brussels lace will be divided asunder by negligent ladies' maids! How many satin gowns will be spoiled in the hurry of preparation! And, alas! how many Fanny curls will be rudely dishevelled by low-roofed sedans! How many Denmark satins will be too tight! How many stay laces too frail! How many mantua-makers too late! Misery of all miseries! Joy of all joys! An assembly is to be prepared for. An assembly is to be attended. And, before Glasgow is a day older, the ranks of her belles will be increased by young and beautiful debutantes.

WEST-COUNTRY REMINISENCES.

Her

ASSEMBLIES are of old date in Glasgow; but the fashionable dances and the fashionable dresses were, long ago, very different from those now in vogue. Upon one occasion, when all the élite of the city had come together to turn out their toes, under the direction of the Duchess of D, the room happened to be so crowded, that sufficient space could not be got for dancing a minuet. Grace, upon perceiving the gentleman and lady in the middle of the floor vainly endeavouring to perform their graceful motions, immediately resolved to free them from the incumbrance of the bye-standers. It was at that time the custom for ladies to wear large hoops, and that of the noble directress was so amazingly fashionable, that it occupied no inconsiderable portion of the room. Indeed, one who saw her bustling through the saloon, might have been tempted to exclaim, with the monarch of Peter Pindar's fable, "how did she get in." With great presence of mind, her Grace thought of a method for turning this rather unwieldy ornament to account. Turning from the gentleman whom she was addressing, she backed into the middle of the room, obliging every body to give way to her, till she had fairly established her hoop in the place she desired; and when this was accomplished, she walked off with all her native majesty, desiring the minuet dancers to seize the space which she had vacated.

LITERARY INTELLIGENCE.

MEMOIRS Of William Sampson, an Irish Exile, written by himself, is in the press.

T. KEYWORTH is preparing for publication "The Juvenile Philosopher.

Filial Solicitude, a Mezzotint, by S. EUGELL, from a painting by LESCOT, is forthcoming.

THE PLAY-GOER.

WE seldom visit the Theatre except upon extraordinary occasions. We were induced, however, to go the other evening to see our old friend Mr. Weekes.

On entering, we were gratified to find the house so respectably filled. The drama of Henri Quatre was well got up, and the addition of several new and splendid dresses, for this piece, which the Manager has made to his wardrobe, is a great improvement. We are inclined to think from this, that he is bestirring himself to meet the approbation of the public, and that our suggestions have been attended with a favourable result. The character of Captain O'Donnell was most ably sustained by Mr. Weekes, whose delineation of Irish character is a rich treat to the connoisseur. Of his singing we could say much, but it is already well known to most of our readers. The other characters were kept up with much spirit. We have seldom seen Mr Alexander, himself, to better advantage, than last night, in Moustache.

In the after-piece of English, Irish, and Scotch, Mr Weekes, in the character of Patrick O'Shocknessey, kept the house in a roar of laughter, and delighted us with the song of Paddy Carey, which he gave with his usual taste and feeling. It is needless to say, that he was loudly encored.

We were, also, much pleased with Misses Mason and Philips, in their respective characters, which they performed with great vivacity, especially the former. We would, therefore, recommend, to such of our readers as are admirers of true Irish character and music to pay an early visit to Dunlop Street, as we learn Mr. Weekes's engagement closes on Saturday.

MADAME ROLAND.

THE following sketch of this remarkable woman, who was sacrificed during the Reign of Terror, is extracted from a posthumous work of Etienne Dumont of Geneva, lately published in Paris.

"Madame Roland, to a very beautiful person, united great powers of intellect; her reputation stood very high, and her friends never spoke of her but with the most profound respect. She was in character a Cornelia, and, if she had had sons, would have brought them up in the same manner as the Gracchi. I saw, at her house, several committees of ministers and the principal Girondists. A female at such meetings appeared rather out of place, but she took no part in the discussions. She was generally at her desk, writing letters, and seemed not to notice what was going on, of which, however, she did not lose a word. The simplicity of her dress did not detract from her natural grace and elegance, and, though her pursuits were more adapted to the other sex, she adorned them with all the charms of her own. I reproach myself with not having personally known all her good qualities; but I had imbibed a prejudice against female politicians; and I found in her, besides, too much of that tendency to mistrust which results from ignorance of the world.

"Clavière and Roland, after seeing the King, had abandoned their prejudices, and gave him credit for sincerity; but she did not cease warning them against the illusions of the court; she could not believe in the good faith of a prince educated with the opinion that he was superior to other men. She maintained that they were dupes, and the most satisfactory assurances were, with her, only snares. Servan, who had a sombre character, and the most splenetic pride, appeared to her energetic and incorruptible; she mistook his passions for elevation of mind, and his hatred of the court for republican virtue. Louvet, who had the same prejudices, became her hero. He had, it is, true, wit, courage, and vivacity; but I am surprised how a virtuous woman could look upon the author of Faublas' as a severe republican. Madame Roland excused every fault in those who declaimed against courtiers, and believed that virtue was confined to hovels. She exalted very mediocre personages, such as Lanthenas and Pache, merely because they were of this opinion. I confess that all this was any. thing but attractive in my estimation; and it prevented me from cultivating an intimacy, which I should have sought with eager. ness, had I then known her as well as I did after her death.

"Her personal memoirs are admirable. They are an imitation of Rousseau's Confessions, and often worthy of the original. She exposes her innermost thoughts, and describes herself with a truth and force not to be found in any other work of the same description. A more extensive knowledge of the world was wanting to her intellectual developement, and perhaps a more intimate acquaintance with men of sounder judgment than her own. None of those who visited her were raised above vulgar prejudices; she was always, therefore, encouraged in a disbelief of the possibility of an alliance between monarchy and freedom. She looked upon

a king with the same horror as Mrs. Macaulay, whom she considered as being superior to her sex. Had Madame Roland been able to communicate to her party her own intrepidity and strength of mind, royalty would have been overthrown, but the jacobins would not have triumphed."

RECOVERY OF LANDER'S PRAYER BOOKS.-It is a curious fact, that two prayer books, belonging to the enterprising travellers who lately discovered the source of the Niger, and lost by them in the interior of Africa, at which they always had expressed much regret, have within these few days found their way to England.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

"SIGMA" is sent to our poetical critic.

"M. R.'s" communication, we regret, wants point for our columns. It also might give our detractors a plea for supposing, that we had only one string to harp upon.

We are always happy to find that our contemporaries of the Press pay us the compliment of making extracts from our columns. Last week The Scotsman, The Glasgow Courier, Herald, and Scots Times, enriched their columns with "Love's Diet," but it is generally the custom to pay the courtesy of saying whence they draw their nourishment.

All communications for the Editor of "THE DAY" are requested to be left with the Publisher, MR. JOHN FINLAY, No. 9, Miller Street.

PUBLISHED, every Morning, Sunday excepted, by JOHN FINLAY, at No. 9, Miller Street; and Sold by JOHN WYLIE, 97, Argyle Street; DAVID ROBERTSON, and W. R. M'PHUN, Glasgow ; THOMAS STEVENSON, and the other Booksellers, Edinburgh: DaVID DICK, and A. GARDNER, Booksellers, Paisley: A. LAING, Greenock; and J. GLASS, Bookseller, Rothsay.

PRINTED BY JOHN GRAHAM, MELVILLE PLACE.

THE DAY.

A MORNING JOURNAL OF LITERATURE, FINE ARTS, FASHION, &c.

CARPE DIEM.

GLASGOW, FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 1832.

ON THE HIGHLAND CHARACTER.

NOTWITHSTANDING the thirst for emigration, which is almost universal throughout the Highlands, perhaps there does not exist, any class of people, who hold, in higher estimation, the customs, pursuits and localities of their ancestors. Every hill has some favourite charm-every glen, some peculiar attraction. The bleak heath, on which they were wont to tend their fleecy treasures, or chase the antlered stag-the crystal fount from which they drew the wholesome draught the hillocks around which they gamboled in their childhood-the music to which they were accustomed to listen in their youth-the games which they contested in their riper years-the language which they were taught to believe could only be uttered by a hero or a bard, and the sepulchre in which they had hoped to mingle with the dust of their fathers; these, and such as these, are the objects which bind the Highlander to his country; these are the associations from which he parts with regret.

Of late, this interesting portion of our country has acquired very general notice. Who are they who had it in their power and have failed to visit its romantic valleys, its alpine hills, its picturesque lakes and its projecting shores? The gallant conduct which our Highlanders manifested in the late wars has raised them to an eminence which may be looked to with pride. Courage has ever been their distinguishing trait, as appears by the annals of their country, hospitality is stamped upon every threshold, honour on every bosom, freedom has planted her standard on every hill, patriotism and friendship hold a banquet at every hearth, benevolence and generosity beam in every eye, while religion and morality smile approbation on the whole.

Where is the country to which the Mistress of the world did not send her conquering legions? Spain bent her neck to the galling yoke. France steeped her lilies in the best blood of her nobles. Even Britain quailed before the foe, the eagle, flapped her wings over the mangled corpses of the heroes of the south, and soared aloft with piercing eye, to discover a sanctuary among the hills of the north in which she might foster her rapacious brood; but her highest flight was to the rocky fastnesses of our intrepid Highlanders, who met the enemy with their claymores unsheathed, nor returned them to their scabbards till their country was free, and their invaders repelled.

But, too long have the Highlanders passively worn the shackles of tyranny, though not from a foreign enslaver. Ruled by the iron sceptre of domestic faction, prostrate beneath the despotic sway of feudal chieftainship, their energies were cramped, their minds were enshrouded, submission and devotion to their ceann cinneadh were the lessons inculcated from their birth. The talents which they possessed were wasted in a life of indolence and inertion, and, although at times their souls could not brook the inglorious thraldom, but burst the net which policy had woven around them, it was like the electric flash which, for a moment, dazzles the benighted, or the meteor which startles the wanderer on his way.

* Chieftain.

The early part of the history of the Highlands is vague and uncertain, which may be easily accounted for, when we consider their limited intercourse with their more civilized neighbours, and the small attention which was paid to the cultivation and acquisition of literary attainments. Every clan had its bard, who rehearsed the deeds of their ancestors, the success of their arms, the power of their chief and the strength of his clan; and, finding it their interest to conciliate the favour of those whose protection they enjoyed, it is no wonder that their details are not always characterized by a strict and stedfast adherence to truth. Independent of the privilege which the poet enjoys of taking an occasional flight into the world of fiction, the petty jealousies which were nurtured and observed among the Highland clans, with the most scrupulous prejudices, prevented them from saying any thing favourable of the foe of their patron; and, while we admire the genuine spirit of poetry attendant on the Celtic Muse, which, in some instances, may yet faintly be traced, we feel a degree of pity and abhorrence when we consider the sycophantish servility to which that spirit sometimes pandered.

Since the dispersion of the clans, in 1746, the features of this country have assumed a very different aspect. Few who will read of the treatment, to which they were at that period subjected, but will censure, in the severest terms, the measures which were used to enforce their obedience. The same degree of leniency was shewn to the misguided vassal and his ambitious leader. The purest blood of the Highlands manured the field on which they fell, or stained the ignominious scaffold. The unhallowed conflagration which consumed the cottage of the peasant, and the palace of his lord, caused the heavens to blush at the inhuman transactions. Rapine, plunder and bloodshed, followed the steps of the persecuting barbarians, while mercy and humanity hid their faces in dismay.

Much as we may regret the severity of the antidote, it may be safely allowed, that to it, may, in a great measure, be ascribed the advanced scale to which this portion of our country has now attained. The act, which forced the Highlanders to discontinue their native costume, did away with part of the prejudice with which they viewed the less hardy Lowlander. From an assimilation, and, even, partiality to their dress, they became converts to their enterprise and industry. English manners were imbibed with avidity, and cultivated with success: knowledge of the world, and the pleasures of a refined education, opened up to them a new source of enjoyment. A taste and opportunity to learn are now diffused amongst every class. The darkness of ignorance, which, for many years, brooded over their native hills, is, now, to a great degree, removed. The shepherd, in the most remote glen, may now be found, not only studying the volume of nature, but weighing the various grades of degeneracy and dissention which contributed to the fall of Athens and of Rome. The display, which we daily behold, of the successful energies of our Highland youth, when divested of their native rust, are proofs which substantiate our statement. Their honesty and fidelity have become proverbial. We find them shine in the pulpit, in the senate, and at the bar; and, if the day comes, when the lion shall again be forced to raise

his mane, and Britain be called upon to sustain, by her arms, the rank she holds in the eyes of nations, the bonnet and the plaid shall again wave victorious over the fields of the dead, and prove the folly of resistance, to the mistress of the ocean, when supported by Clann nan gael a gualibh a chiele.*

The children of the Gael-shoulder to shoulder.

THE ROSE.

(From the German.)

THERE'S not a flower that blooms around, but I see wither and die, and yet men will continue to call me, -me alone-the "light, the delicate, the quicklyfading Rose." Ungrateful men! my short existence do I not devote entirely to your gratification, and, when I fade and wither, do I not, even in death, afford to you a supply of the sweetest perfumes, and give to your cordials and your balsams their most refreshing odour and most healing virtue? and yet ye will continue to exclaim-" Ah! the light, the frail, the delicate and quickly-fading Rose !"

So, from her highly perfumed throne, sighed the queen of flowers, already, perhaps, feeling the first slight warnings of incipient decay.

A maiden, who was standing nigh, overheard the complaint and thus she made reply. Nay, little sweet one, fret not thus, and term not ingratitude that, which is but the expression of the warmest love, the most endearing affection. There's not a flower that blooms around us but we are doomed to behold wither and fade away, and yet we murmur not; for we know that 'tis but the fate that nature hath decreed: but to thee, the queen of them all, to thee alone, we wish and we hope immortality; when, therefore, we see our wishes wither, and our hopes decay, O, then, suffer us to lament the fate which we would, but which, alas! we cannot avert. All the beauty, the youth, the pleasure of our own existence, we compare to thee, and when these, as thou dost, fade, and fade for ever, O, then, deeply do we mourn and sadly do we sing "Ah! the light and graceful, but frail and fading Rose!"

LITERARY CRITICISM.

BRITISH AMERICA. BY JOHN MACGREGOR. 2 Vols. Edinburgh, 1832.

WE have had many books, lately, written on British America, but we are inclined to say that this work contains a great fund of most useful information, connected with our Northern possessions, in the Western world. Mr. M'Gregor is no idolater of the Yankees, and, perhaps, although he occasionally looks at men and things, through the medium of Highland prejudices, yet, upon the whole, his opinions are well entitled to the consideration of all, who wish to obtain an accurate knowledge, especially of the Canadas, and Nova Scotia. In the preface to this work, Mr. MacGregor gives a graphic sketch of the general state of our transatlantic possessions, of their value, of the treatment which they have received at the hands of the mother country, and of the connexion which they hold with neighbouring states. As an instance of the great importance to Great Britain, of our American Colonies, the author states that "the province of Nova Scotia alone, if possessed by the United States, would render that republic independent of all Europe; and, in the event of another war, when steam-ships will become terrible to all others, the Americans would be enabled, by possessing the exhaustless coal and iron mines of Nova Scotia and Cape Breton, to defy the united naval force of all Europe on the shores of the western world. At present the Americans have no coal within themselves that we know of, except the

remarkably slow kindling anthracite, which is useless for the immediate fire required in the furnaces of steam-engines, while Great Britain now possesses the most valuable treasures of the most useful of all minerals, coal and iron, in the parts most convenient for immediate use, both in her home and colonial dominions."

Throughout the work there is much useful information conveyed to the reader with regard to the subject of emigration, much to shew that it is no "common-day business, but a most serious consideration for a man with his family to remove from the place in which he was born and brought up, and from occupations to which he has been trained and habituated from his childhood, to a country far distant, and in many respects different from his own, and in which he must assume pursuits and acquire ideas to which he is a perfect stranger."

We have, also, an excellent account of the Fisheries in Newfoundland, with some most interesting sketches of the Red Indians. Some of these we had marked for extract, but we prefer presenting our readers with the following amusing account of the

STATE OF SOCIETY AT HALIFAX.

"The state of society in Halifax is highly respectable. The officers of the civil government, and of the army and navy, mix very generally with the merchants and gentlemen of the learned professions; and most of the leading residents, whether engaged in commercial or other pursuits, are men of genteel education and intelligence. These circumstances impart to the first class of society in Halifax, more refinement, more elegance and fashion,; than is to be met with probably in any town in America. I will not except even Quebec and Montreal: certainly no town in the United States.

"The style of living, hours of entertainment, fashions, manners, dress, are all English. Dress is fully as much attended to as in London; and many of the fashionable sprigs who exhibit themselves in the streets and lounging-places of Halifax, and indeed in lesser towns in British America, might even in Regent Street be said to have attained the ne plus ultra of 'dandyism.'

"The amusements of Halifax are principally such as are usual in the other North American provinces; in all of which, assemblies, pic-nic parties, and amateur theatricals, form leading sources of pleasure. Annual horse races, on a respectable scale, have for some time been established; and it is remarkable, that all over America there is a general passion for this kind of diversion or amusement. Regattas, for which Halifax harbour is one of the finest in the world, have been conducted with great spirit and splendour, annually, for a few years past. Riding, fishing, and shooting in summer, skating and driving about cabriolets or sledges in winter, are other pleasures which are delighted in; and, when the streets are covered with ice, there is not a small share of exulting pride enjoyed by him who can drive with the greatest impetuosity round a corner.

"The troops, generally once a-year, afford the inhabitants the imposing spectacle of a sham battle.

"Excursions are also frequently made during summer, by those who can afford the time and expense, to different parts of the country.

"The balls, soirées, and dinners at Government House, and the assemblies, are conducted in the same manner and style as English etiquette and fashion have established. Those who are admitted to these, (for although private feeling may sometimes be unavoidably and unintentionally lacerated, it is necessary to mark a line of demarcation somewhere,) are the officers of the civil government, those of three regiments, artillery and staff, and gentlemen of respectability and education from among the merchants and resident inhabitants. Fancy balls, but confined to the same circles, have also been introduced

"Those delightful sources of social pleasure-small evening parties at the houses of private families—which we enjoy in England with probably much greater satisfaction and happiness than any of our various public amusements, are, as respects America, more perfectly the property of Halifax. I believe there are few, who, having visited Halifax, and who have been at these small parties,

but will say that they have insensibly forgot that they were not in England, the language, the manners of the ladies and gentlemen, the style of dress, the dancing, the entregent or small talk, the apartments, the furniture, the refreshments, are all so truly alike, so much akin to England.

"It would be ungallant to take leave of Halifax without mentioning what none but those whose hearts are indeed cold, if they have visited the place, can forget-I mean the ladies. Along with my own admiration of their beanty, accomplishments, amiability, and excellence of character, I must add, that several English gentlemen, who were at Halifax while I was there, have frequently remarked to me their admiration of the beauty, genteel manners, and intelligence of the ladies. These gentlemen, I may also observe, were men of liberal education, well acquainted with the world, and in the habit of mixing with fashionable society in Europe. It may appear presumptuous to add farther, that in the small but neat theatre at Halifax, more genteel and beautiful ladies may be seen, than among the same number in the boxes of any of the London or provincial theatres. We may account for it from their being in reality a greater number of respectable inhabitants in Halifax, according to its population, than in the towns of this country. In Halifax there are few labourers or manufacturers, and even the labouring people, by having greater means, are always better dressed than in England. In regard to the gentlemen of Halifax, and particularly those who have been born and educated in the province, I only record the opinion of other travellers, as well as my own, when I state, that, at the bar and in the pulpit, as merchants and as private gentlemen, we discover the natives of Nova Scotia, with few exceptions, to be men of superior attainments; and we must ascribe this principally to the careful provision that has been long made for the education of youth. Many circumstances also cherish and maintain among them endearments and associations connected with the mother country. The anniversaries of the titular saints of each of the three kingdoms are also celebrated at Halifax, with much spirit and cordiality; and, let indifferent spirits or cold hearts say what they may, there are but few indeed of those born in the British Isles, or of their offspring, who, when abroad, forget the associations and warm feelings of the heart, which filial regard and a lingering fondness for the United Kingdom, in spite of circumstances, inevitably nourish and preserve.

"The officers of his Majesty's civil list, and those of the army and navy, prefer Halifax, I believe, to any other town in America, They soon find themselves at home among the kind and hospitable inhabitants of the place; and I have never met an officer elsewhere, who was at Halifax for any time, who did not speak with enthusiasm of the place. The excellent library established by the Earl of Dalhousie, affords also to the military a variety of standard and popular works, which, at such a distance from England, to gentlemen whose profession can barely allow them to carry along their necessary luggage when travelling, must be considered a great advantage.

"There are six or seven weekly papers and a monthly magazine, and one or two circulating libraries; and also one or two booksellers, the principal one of whom imports from England and the United States the most approved new publications. There is also a livery-stable or two, the best of which is kept by a negro.

"It is in the streets of Halifax that we most forcibly feel that we are not in Europe. In place of the huge horses and carts and frocked carters of England, we observe a thing, convenient enough in its way, called a truck, which forms a kind of inclined plane to roll puncheons of rum and molasses on it, with a half-starved horse, and generally a negro driver. We see few four-wheeled carriages no hackney coaches; but many drive their own gigs in summer, and almost every one has a horse and sledge, or cabriolet, for winter amusement; waggons coming in with hay from the country, driven by the tall lank sons of the farmers, clad in short light-blue jackets, grey or blue trowsers, and straw hats; a parcel of lazy, miserable negroes, with some wild fruits or brooms to sell, from Hammond's plains; the proud strut of the well-fed and well-dressed negro servant; a group of Micmac Indians, probably drunk, with their squaws and children; here and there an Acadian Frenchman and his wife, decently and simply dressed, the latter much in the same fashion as that of her ancestors a century and a half past; all these, in contrast with brilliantly dressed

military officers, on horseback or on foot, the golden epaulets, cocked hats, and blue uniform of the navy, and fashionably dressed resident gentlemen and strangers, the exquisite dandy, groups of soldiers, and sailors belonging to the men-of-war, or to the merchant ships, may give some idea of the population that animate the streets of Halifax."

In conclusion, we have only room to say, that whoever wishes to obtain information about North America, cannot do better than study Mr. M'Gregor's couple of volumes.

CHARITABLE LOTTERIES.

To the Editor of THE DAY.

SIR, AS in The Day of this morning you state that the French ladies "assist the poor occasionally by lotteries," I am of opinion that the models borne in the Glasgow Reform Processions might, at the present moment, be disposed of for the purpose of benefitting the Royal Infirmary or some of the other Charitable Institutions. Those of the cabinet-makers as well as some others were particularly beautiful; and, when every class of society is doing so much to alleviate the distress of the poor, the miserable, and the diseased, it is certainly not an unreasonable matter, to call on the trades people to assist in the good work, and as to the models they could never be applied to a better use.-) -I am, &c. J. G. P. Glasgow, 14th March, 1832.

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