vent to her emotion in the loud and thrilling anthem, 'God save great George our King !'—the fair American waited impatiently for the concluding bar, and with no less enthusiasm, and certainly no less sincerity of delight, gave as a response, Hail Columbia, happy land!' On the following Sabbath, the voice of praise and thanksgiving was heard in every church. How the author of the war sermons acted, I have not heard; but the minister who had so conspicuously distinguished himself by his opposition to the war, concluded an animated call to gratitude, for the return of tranquillity, with Cowper's immortal line— 66 England, with all thy faults I love thee still !" 25th. Christmas. The stores almost all shut. Episcopalians at church, and other people amusing themselves. Went in the forenoon to a Romish chapel, or rather cathedral, which has lately been erected at the upper extremity of the city. The interior is a kind of attempt at Gothic, and the wall at the upper end, behind the altar, is covered with an effort at perspective in sized colours, intended to deceive the eye by the appearance of long withdrawing aisles and arches; the effect however is miserable. There were three priests mumbling Latin in the usual style; one of them was the Bishop, and the other two had a prodigious deal of trouble in getting him ensconced in a kind of arm chair, under a canopy, and sticking 1818.] TEA PARTY. 279 on his head a paper mitre covered with tinsel. The priests and their decorations wanted sadly the substantial splendour of their brethren in Fayal and Canada, and the whole establishment was evidently no way in danger from repletion. At a tea party last night. A tea party is a serious thing in this country, and some of those at which I have been present in New York and elsewhere, have been on a very large scale. In the modern houses the two principal apartments are on the first floor, and communicate by large folding doors, which on gala days throw wide their ample portals, converting the two apartments into one. At the largest party which I have seen, there were about thirty young ladies present, and more than as many gentlemen. Every sofa, chair and footstool, were occupied by the ladies, and little enough room some of them appeared to have after all. The gentlemen were obliged to be content with walking up and down, talking now with one lady, now with another. Tea was brought in by a couple of blacks, carrying large trays, one covered with cups, the other with cake. Slowly making the round, and retiring at intervals for additional supplies, the ladies were gradually gone over; and after much patience the gentlemen began to enjoy the beverage which cheers but not inebriates;' still walking about, or leaning against the wall, with the cup and saucer in their hand. 6 As soon as the first course was over, the hospitable trays again entered bearing a chaos of preserves-peaches, pine apples, ginger, oranges, citrons, pears, &c. in tempting display. A few of the young gentlemen now accompanied the revolution of the trays, and sedulously attended to the pleasure of the ladies. The party was so numerous that the period between the commencement and the termination of the round, was sufficient to justify a new solicitation; and so the ceremony continued, with very little intermission during the whole evening. Wine succeeded the preserves, and dried fruit followed the wine; which in its turn was supported by sandwiches in name of supper, and a forlorn hope of confectionary and frost work. I pitied the poor blacks who, like Tantalus, had such a profusion of dainties the whole evening at their finger ends, without the possibility of partaking of them. A little music and dancing gave variety to the scene; which to some of us was a source of considerable satisfaction, for when a number of ladies were on the floor, those who cared not for the dance had the pleasure of getting a seat. About eleven o'clock I did myself the honour of escorting a lady home, and was well pleased to have an excuse for escaping. At one occasion of this kind a Romish priest was of the party; and his vows of celibacy were no obstacle to his warbling, con molto espressione, Jessie the flower of Dumblane,' Said a smile to a tear,' and sundry other erotic ditties. 6 |