A home tour through the manufacturing districts of England, in the summer of 1835, etc

Front matter

CONTINUATION OF A HOME TOUK, etc. G. WOODFALL, angel cojibi»_SS"-_j__" street, London. A HOME TOUR THROUGH THE MANUFACTURING DISTRICTS AND OTHER PARTS Of ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, AND IRELAND, INCLUDING THE CHANNEL ISLANDS AND THE ISLE OF MAN. BY SIR GEORGE HEAD, Author os " Forest Scenes and Incidents in the Wilds of North Araorica." NEW EDITION. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL II. LONDON: JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET MPCCCXs,. > TO HIS EXCELLENCY SIR FRANCIS BOND HEAD, BART., K.C.H LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF UPPER CANADA, etc., etc., etc., I DEDICATE THIS SMALL VOLUME,— INSIGNIFICANT INDEED AS A TRIBUTE OF KESPECT BUT A SINCERE TESTIMONY OF A BROTHER'S REGARD. GEORGE HEAD Athenæum Club, Pall Mall, 29th June, 1837- Page .1 CONTENTS.

Chapter I. Isle Of Man

The Mona's Isle Steamer— Rough Music— A Ventriloquist — Douglas Head — Extreme Clearness ofthe Water — The Pier — Porters — Hotel Agents — Castle Mona — Mode of conveyance thither — British Hotel — The Town of Douglas.

Chapter II

Douglas during the Cholera — Church of Kirkbraddan — A Funeral— Another Funeral — A Visit to the South — Derby Haven — Castleton — Poolvash — Marble Quarries — A Mis understanding — A vicious Pony — Salt Water Spring — Port le Murray — Sullen demeanour of Females — Spanish Head — Sea Birds — Further Misunderstanding — An Eclaircissement H

Chapter III

A Ride to Peel Town — Agriculture — St. John's^- Tynwald Mount — The Ceremony of Tynwald — The Fair — Peel Town — Fishermen — The Quay — Peel Castle — Old Tom — An ingenious Experiment — The Cavern . . .31

Chapter IV

A Benefit Society — A Manx Peasant — Waterfall of Glen maye—Church and Church-yard of Kirk Patrick — Slate CONTENTS. Page iLi;t- 6 Tomb-stones— Waterfall of Foxdale— Foxdale Lead Mines —Slate Quarries at Barrule— Mills — Indigenous Mill-stone —Improved Aspect of the Country — Kirk Christ Rushen —Port Iron — A Night's Lodging in a Public-house— A rough Landing-place — Gulls protected — Brada Head — Lead Mines — Their extraordinary Position — Calf of Man — Beautiful Natural Quay — Rats and Rat-catchers — As pect of the Island — Rabbits — Boswell's House

Chapter V

A Ride to Ramsey — Laxey — Lead Mines — Maughold Head "—Cliffs — Their extraordinary Character — The Village — The Well — Tradition — Town of Ramsey — Bay —Singular Jetty — A Manx Wedding Party — The Earl Grey Stage Coach — A talkative Lady — Benevolence ill rewarded

Chapter VI

A Ride from Ramsey to the Point of Ayre — The Horse Paddy — The Garden of the Island — Fine Crops — Ex treme Fertility of Soil — Luxuriant Furze — Bruising Mills — ■ Kirkbride — The Point of Ayre — Jurby Point— The Village —The Church and Church-yard — A Man of Leisure — The Minister's Grave— The Bishop's Residence — The Curragh — Turf — Fossil Remains — Kirkmichael — Glen willan — Beautiful Glen — Rivulet — Iron Spring — Ride across the Mountains to Douglas, by Kirkbraddan — An ill-placed Residence .........

Chapter VII. Scotland

Steam Communication from Liverpool to Glasgow Packet Agent at Ramsey— Departure — Boarding a Steamer at Night— Sickness— Mull of Galloway— Ailsa Craig— The Clyde — The Broomielaw— Inland Navigation — The Maid CONTENTS. Page 92 109 140 of Morven Steamer — The Vessel en Deshabille — Voyage to Greenock — The Kyles of Bute — Lochgoilhead — Creenin Canal — Korryvrekan — Island of Eisdale — 'Arrive at Oban.

Chapter VIII

Go on board the Highland Steamer — Dunolly Castle — Bay of Tobermory — A kind Landlady — Expedition in the High lander — Departure — Calliach Head — Treshanish Islands — First View of Staffa — The Buchaille — Inconvenient Landing at Iona — Pebbles — The Ruins — Their desecration — A civil Scotsman — Embarkation — Landing at Staffa —Fingall's Cave — Ascent on the Island — Delightful Pro spect — A Herd of Seals — Anecdote of a Tame Seal — Its resemblance to the Mermaid — Dr. Taylor's Museum of comparative Anatomy at Manchester — Anecdote of a Boa Constrictor at Derby — Re-embarkation — The Cotton Um brella — A black Cook — Return to Tobermory

Chapter IX

A Mull Pony — Path round the Bay — Domain of the Laird of Col — A native Eagle — Mode of preparing Salmon for long Voyages — Establishment of a Lincolnshire Poulterer .—Return in the Highlander to Oban — Re-embark on board the Maid of Morven — Tedious Passage to Fitzwilliam — A Handicap in the Dark— Bad Night's Lodging — Fall of Foyers — Royalty in an Omnibus

Chapter X. Island Of Guernsey

Landing at St. Peter's Port — Yacht Club Hotel— Inns in general— A Pair of Hostesses— A President of a Table X CONTENTS. Page 170 d'HSte_The Fish Market— The Shambles— Woodcocks — Wines, Fruits, and Flowers— Gardens— Frugality of the Inhabitants— Female Servants 158

Chapter XI

Environs of St. Peter's Port — Farm-houses— Aspect of the Country Varech — Regulations relating to the gathering thereof— Roads — Bridle path round the Island— The Cliffs -^"lat Shores at the Northern extremity — Land reclaimed from the Sea — Naturalization of Sea Fish to fresh Water

Chapter XII

Laws relating to the Descent of Property— Registration of Estates — Formalities relating thereto — Curious Documents in the Greffier's Office — The Elizabeth College — Course of Instruction — An Infant School , 177

Chapter XIII. Ireland

An Interruption — An Irish Crowd — A cheap Evening's Entertainment— The poor Equestrians . . .187

Chapter XIV

Preparations for Departure — Mail Coach Guard — Starting of a Mail Coach — Energy of Coachman — A Mail Guards man — Rumination — Wonderful Effect of the Horn — Merit self-rewarded — An Exotic Refreshment — A Roadside Inn — A rural Hebe — A thrifty Precaution— A Flirtation — Light Hearts and Thin Breeches — Ringing a Pig — Happy Slum bers — The poor Equestrians CONTENTS. XI

Chapter XV

Page A Coffee-room — A Dinner in Galway — A Bacchanalian Party — An accomplished Waiter — Personal Appearance- Moral Qualities — Evening Capability — Nightly Festivity- Morning Graces — Departure from Galway Page CONTENTS OF MEMOIRS, etc.

Chapter I

Land at Lisbon — Appointed Clerk in the Commissariat- Arrive at Badajoz — Experimental Duty — First Start on Field Service — Depot at Coimbra — My Duties — Daily Fare and Dessert — Aspect ofthe Town — Female Water-carriers — A Night Funeral — Put in charge of an Artillery Brigade — Latin a Key to the Portuguese Language — Busacos — A Night March — Service of Artillery Brigade — Communi cation among the Army 217

Chapter II

Arrive at Coimbra — Inhabitants flying before the Enemy — A Female rescued — Manner of Life during the Retreat of the British Army — Description of two different Nights' Lodging — The Duke in Adversity — Artillery Brigade quartered at Zibreira — Advance in Pursuit of Massena — The French hard pressed — More than 200 hamstrung Donkeys — Battle-field of Sabugal— Implacable Revenge of the Peasantry on their Enemies — General Henry Mackinnon — Spanish Oxen — Battle of Fuentes d'Onor . . .239

Chapter III

Receive promotion — Appointed to Sir Brent Spencer's Portion of/the Army — Wine destroyed — Commence the March to the Alemtejo — Cattle swimming across the Tagus at Villa Velha — Forty-eight successive Hours on horse back—Put in charge of a Depot at Alto da Chao— Ordered CONTENTS OF MEMOIRS, ETC. XIII Page 302 thence to take charge of the Depot at Celorico — Manner of Life and Duties — Infested by Rats — Pithing Cattle — A Tame Wolf — Oxcart Transport — Misery ofthe indigent Inhabitants — Descent of Marmont on the Frontier of Beira — Magazines destroyed ...... 262

Chapter IV

Put in charge ofthe Third Division ofthe Army — Report myself to Sir Thomas Picton — Arduous Duties with the Third Division — Absurd Anecdote related of a Commissary bya Contemporary — Observations thereon — General Picton —Battle of Vittoria 281

Chapter V

A Night Adventure — Valley of Bastan — Roncesvalles — A Hail-storm — A Thunder-storm and Cannonade before Pampeluna — Third Division quartered at Ollaque — Pic ton's Junction with Sir Lowry Cole — A Night March — Picton foils Soult — Picton on the Morning of a Battle — Battle ofthe Pyrenees — Picton returns to England — Com parison of Picton with Wellington — Picton reproved by Wellington — The Third Division encamp on the Pyrenees — Manner of Life under Canvass — Battle ofthe Nivelle .

Chapter VI

Winter Quarters at Hasparren — An Alert: — A Practical Joke — Foraging in the Neighbourhood of an Enemy — The Gave d'Oleron — A Rencontre — Spanish Muleteers — An Anecdote of their Energy — Battle of Orthez — Extra ordinary Course — Battle of Vie Bigorre — Critical Position of the Third Division on the Garonne — Battle of Toulouse — Liberal Mind of Picton — Parting of the English and Portuguese — Third Division embark for England at Pouillac — Conclusion . ■ 327 VOL. II. b

ADVERTISEMENT.

TO THE READER. The present Continuation ofthe " Home Tour" em braces a period antecedent to that of the volume of last year. Of this fact, unimportant with reference to the matter contained in the pages, it is sufficient simply to acquaint the reader. While preparing for the press, I determined, for more reasons than one, to change my original plan of introducing at the end, a brief ramble in England of the current year. I have accordingly appended the " Memoirs of an Assistant-Commissary General" instead. The latter production, referring to an early date, conceived off hand, and unpremeditatedly put forth to the public, being explicit, needs little preface. Yet if it were at all necessary to delineate those causes or influences, whether springing from duty or inclination, that allured or compelled me to the somewhat erratic course described now and here tofore in the present and two former volumes, I have thereby at any rate, now in part supplied that deficiency. GEORGE HEAD. Athenæum Club, Pall Mall, 29th June, 1837- A HOME TOUR CONTINUED, THROUGH VARIOUS PARTS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM.

Chapter I. Isle Of Man

The Mona's Isle Steamer — Rough Music — A Ventriloquist — Douglas Head — Extreme Clearness of the Water — The Pier — Porters — Hotel Agents — Castle Mona — Mode of conveyance thither — British Hotel — The Town of Douglas. The sun shone bright, and music played gaily on board as the " Mona's Isle" steamer, one fine morning, bound to Douglas in the Isle of Man, weighed an chor, set steam, and made the best of her way from Liverpool out of the harbour. Whether or not it be right to use the expression the music played, as we say the wind blowed, it were at all events wrong to dignify the present three or four musicians by the name of a band, they being in fact sailors be longing to the vessel, owners of a set of extremely discordant instruments, and the leader a hard featured pock-marked man, who squared his elbows, stood bolt upright in a military posture, pointed the cla rionet downwards in a direct line with his toes, and signalized himself by playing a great deal louder VOL. II.

B [CH. 2 A VENTRILOQCJIST. than all the rest together. The paddles meanwhile of the " Mona's Isle " steamer continued to beat time differ ent from that of the melody as we proceeded down the river, till we were at the mouth of the Mersey ; when, being in the open sea, the instruments were laid aside, the men betook themselves to their several oc cupations, and the paddles now drummed on by themselves in their own measure. In the space of an hour we were comfortably gliding across the unruffled channel, each passenger rejoicing in newly acquired freedom from the smoky confines ofthe city, inhaling a pure atmosphere, and above all well pleased to behold now securely ar ranged on the deck in decent order, all those identical packages and portmanteaus, that only a short time before he was following through narrow streets and by-ways with overheated solicitude, like a cow her devoted offspring in a butcher's cart, in the wake of the porter's barrow.

Of the crew, one swept anew the clean white deck, another rubbed salient knobs of brass with a piece of shamoy leather, and a third devoted the whole of his care to restoring stray articles to their proper places. One of the performers, to the science of music added that of ventriloquism, and afforded by his skill, really rational delight to a numerous group both of quarter deck and steerage passengers, who were attracted to the forecastle by a performance which, though here presented to the public in humble guise, afforded nevertheless no mean specimen of a dramatic entertainment. Besides the mechanical process of his craft, the artist also exercised the functions of improvisatore, and with ready wit, good feeling, and tact, and a memory richly stored with the pleasantries i-J A VENTRILOQUIST. 3 of the ancient Punch, continued to keep the laughter of his hearers continually on the wing; so that it were pity to reflect, witnessing the present display of native talent, on the light of the needy dramatist thus hidden under a bushel, and extinguished by the via inertiœ of poverty, that weighs merit down.

What reference the word ventriloquist can possibly bear to a faculty whereby the whole mystery is per formed by the muscles of the throat, I am at a loss to know, whereas by the etymology, one might fairly presume that that indolent organ the belly, whose province proverbially is to do nothing but eat, were now about to assume a new privilege, break silence, and talk. At all events, no matter how the sound be generated, the artist has positively no control over its transmission, and although indistinctness of utter ance may create a sort of impression of distance, yet for the rest of the deception, the hie et ubique sensation of a voice proceeding down the chimney, or upwards through the window, such fantasies exist, even to their unlimited extent, solely in the imagi nation of the hearer.

A familiar or doll is an indis pensable member of a ventriloquist's establishment, and for aught we know to the contrary, the Grecian sage with his demon, was merely a ventriloquist ; or at all events an autoloquist, or thinker aloud. On the present occasion, the office was performed by a small wooden effigy, in likeness of an old man with a wig, whose lips, when supposed to speak, moved extremely naturally, so as by alluring the eye to a definite point, effectually to imbue every spectator with a notion of reality. The entertainment in the way of dialogue was sustained between the ventriloquist and those of thc b2 [CH. 4 A VENTRILOQUIST. various persons present who felt inclined to enter the list, and propose to "Tommy," for such was the doll's name, an argument or a question ; to all which the latter retorted with infinite success upon his antagonists, and at the close of each sally, pro claimed by a curiously comical laugh, a consciousness of success ; and having moreover the infinite advan tage of never changing countenance or colour, he floored his assailants as they came to the charge, one after another.

Tommy, in motley company, and of such the present group consisted, evinced propriety of sentiment, discreet phrase, and extreme good humour, and, by no means a contemptible moralist, promptly held in awe the intruder, giving people at once to understand, that though it were his vocation to keep fun for ever alive, yet he knew how to stifle at its first gasp, the breath of ribaldry. Wherefore, every female on board, feeling herself securely posted within the Rubicon of delicacy, witnessed without the slightest apprehension of offence, these amusing colloquies. A child three years old, a bold little boy, now stepped in among the rest to the foreground, and there alone commenced, without preface or fear, an earnest conversation with Tommy. By common consent all others drew back, and left a clear stage to the juvenile performer; and in the course of this dialogue, well maintained on both sides, the scene created a powerful impression ; for the understanding of the child and its feelings to boot, were played upon in such a ludicrous degree, that it evidently entertained no manner of doubt that Tommy was a rational, living creature.

To the new wooden ac quaintance, in the artlessness of infancy, it dedicated i.l 5 DOUGLAS HEAD. the pure first fruits of early friendship, and with sympathies increasing more aud more every moment, proposed innumerable questions relating to his his tory. The growing illusion at last became perfect, and after entreaties repeated in the course of the dialogue, the child finally possessed itself of the friend of his heart, and carrying away the diminutive idol, returned in a couple of minutes drowned in tears and sobs, because Tommy declined to answer any more questions. At three o'clock, the passengers partook of an ex cellent dinner below ; after which, returning upon deck, we performed the remainder of the voyage in calm, delightful weather ; the shores of England fading meanwhile fast away, and the Isle of Man in the distance rising from the sea in a straight line from end to end, although the land in the middle is so low as to create the appearance of two separate islands distinct from each other.

As we neared the port, the sun, on a clear autumnal evening, sank behind the island, and as we approached the pier, we fell within the shadow of the bluff rock, called Douglas Head, whose black craggy summit, gilded by his rays, was beautifully contrasted with the pecu liarly light green of the verdure on the hills, and the more than ordinary transparency of the water below. In no other part of the world, I really believe, is the sea more pellucid than on the coast of the Isle of Man, where the rivers, proportionate always in extent to the parent land, are mere brooks, and these even less charged than is usual with alluvial soil. I am quite sure it were easy at this spot, at a depth of forty feet, to count the sixty-four squares of a moderate sized chess-board. [CH- 6 THE PIER. A dense cluster of the inhabitants crowded op the pier head, as is the daily custom among the town's people, to greet the arrival ofthe "Mona's Isle"; and we were making, as I expected, a prosperous land ing, when the steam was suddenly let off, and the anchor dropped within an hundred and fifty yards of the point of disembarkation ; creating thus the necessity of stepping down from the vessel bag and baggage into a boat, and landing once more from thence on the broad stone steps of the pier.

It is well that measures are already in progress to remedy the evil, but, taking the pier at Douglas in its present state, there is no other I believe within the British dominions, where a large sum of money has been expended to so little purpose. Accessible, unless at the top of a tide, to no vessels larger than small fishing craft, the chief purpose to which the Douglas Pier has been hitherto applied, is that of a promenade, while the lighthouse erected at the ex tremity, is intercepted towards several points of the compass on the south-east by Douglas Head; on the summit of which rock, another lighthouse, elevated a considerable height above the other, and visible, as a lighthouse ought to be, from all parts of the hori zon, in order to remedy the former defect, has since been built. As the pier stretches into the sea to the eastward, the south side is washed by the Douglas river, a narrow stream, mid-leg deep at its mouth at low tide; and parallel on the north side is a reef of rocks, which, as they enclose a considerably greater depth of water, it seems strange were not accordingly chosen as the site and foundation.

Nevertheless, with regard to the said pier and lighthouse, whatever in future time may be the TORTERS— 'HOTEL AGENTS. 7 improvement, when the coast of the Tsle of Man be comes resorted to for the purposes of sea bathing, at all events, even at present a gallant steamer carries the mail from England and returns every day. Not many more than fifty years ago, a lanthorn elevated on a long pole on the beach, was the only winter beacon for the poor fishermen, and a severe tempest, one dreary night, that struck with terror their little squadron, extinguished the light, and drove many boats in confusion upon the rocks, whereby the shore was strewed with those who miserably perished, and many wives next morning were there seen bewailing their husband's corpses, caused a degree of universal sympathy, that, with the aid of Parliament, set on foot the plan of the structure, and effected its com pletion.

A traveller ascending the steps of Douglas Pier, might reasonably fancy he was about to enter the extensive precincts of a metropolis of note, such are the number of eager faces that direct their looks towards him, and such the number of obtrusive agents from the inns, of which there are six or eight at least in the town, who after the manner of " touters" belonging to stage-coaches, stand like a swarm of horse-flies in his way, each holding the respective card of the establishment obstinately under his nose. I know of no municipal regulations of more charitable purpose than such as, on occasions like these, serve to protect the sea-sick and the stranger; and such have performed wonders of late years at the port of Douglas. The above cited remnant of barbarous custom, bears slight comparison with the truly out rageous conduct permitted among the porters, at a [CH. 8 CASTLEMONA. period only four or five years ago.

These fellows, now subjected to proper control, and a decent, orderly class of men, then provincially called hobblers, were of manners mitigated by no sort of discipline what ever. It was then impracticable without an effort of strength, and coming to personal issue with the of fender, to prevent luggage and parcels being forcibly carried away, one knew not by whom or whither; and I have formerly seen, in the case of a person unable to take his own part, an extended line of neutral faces quietly looking on over the rails at the passing scene ; namely, the owner hustled above, and half a dozen boisterous hobblers fighting for his luggage below. Notwithstanding the laudable anxiety ofthe agents of the several inns in the cause of the landlords, so as with equal diligence, whether the hostelry be good or bad, at all events to conduct the traveller to it; the proprietors of the Castlemona Hotel have the additional advantage of a carriage which waits upon the arrival of the steamer to enforce persuasion.

This hotel was originally built for the residence of the late Duke of Athol, though some time since converted to the purposes of an inn. Its situation, a mile from the town, fronts the sea, in the centre of a fine bay, that affords an agreeable ride or drive across sands all the way from the town. A table d'hote is here provided regularly during the summer, and well attended, chiefly by residents of Whitehaven, Liverpool, and Manchester. It is curious to observe, on the arrival ofthe steamer, with what dispatch a full complement of passengers are acquired, and so soon as selected, how triumph antly they are driven away. As the luggage is dis- '■] BRITISH HOTEL. 9 patched by another conveyance, a few minutes are amply sufficient for the above Operation ; and as the carriage is an open one, the candidates have in fact nothing else to do but to make up their minds to go, previous to departure.

The vehicle is a sort of high narrow waggon, shaped like a hearse, and so confined in dimensions, that the convenience of those who travel therein is evidently purchased at the expense of ease and grace of attitude ; the passengers in fact, although probably utter strangers to each other, sitting vis-a-vis, like onions in a string, and in a row so closely packed, that they seem pinioned, or hand cuffed. In the meantime so little space is afforded between the two rows, that one man without leaning forward may readily light a cigar from the mouth of his opposite neighbour. Altogether, as I saw a dozen people crammed together in a heap, and thus whisked away from the pier-head on a party of pleasure, I could not help comparing them, owing to their ludicrous appearance, for the moment, to a set of convicts, on their way from a county gaol to the hulks, or Newgate.

For my own part, during my short stay at Douglas, I found excellent entertainment at the British Hotel within the town, kept by the worthy Mrs. Dixon. At this house I was furnished with good apartments, and, with regard to fare, such was the liberality and good will of my hostess, as well as the re dundancy of provisions at her command, in con sequence of a four o'clock ordinary included in the manage, that my table was crowded with viands actually in despite of my own remonstrances, in a degree of profusion quite incompatible with the reasonable charges in the bill. Well housed and b3 [CH. I. 10 TOWN OF DOUGLAS. provided, with good saddle-horses to be hired, and macadamized roads to ride upon all over the island, a person not over fastidious, and desirous of a central point from whence to make rural excursions, will not in this hotel have just cause to complain either of comfortable sojourn, or the means of peregrination.

There is little inducement, I think, as a permanent residence to remain in the town, for the site is low ; nevertheless, although the adjacent country abounds in beautiful, picturesque spots of rural habitation, by far the greater proportion of persons, who, attracted to the island by the prospect jof cheap wines and provisions, have taken up their abode therein, reside at Douglas. One very long, narrow street, forms the principal part of the old town, and contains curious specimens of the primitive, unadorned dwellings of English fishermen. The houses, mostly unequal, some large, some small, are built of rough blocks of stone ; the street is passable with difficulty from its con vexity, and the inconvenient manner wherewith it is pitched with irregular and acute boulders. On the elevated land, immediately contiguous and above the buildings, many new houses and villas have been recently erected, besides a handsome and spacious church below, whereof, by the way, the clerk has the sweetest tenor voice I ever heard.

He was assisted by a group of young men aud women under his direction, and the performance, which, without any musical accompaniment whatever, consisted of psalms adapted to ancient rural church tunes, assorted with taste and simplicity, displayed to my mind an exqui site specimen of pure English psalmody.

Chapter II. Isle Of Man

Douglas during the Cholera — Church of Kirkbraddan — A Funeral—Another Funeral — A Visit to the South— Derby Haven — Castleton — Poolvash;— Marble Quarries — A Misunderstanding — A vicious Pony — Salt Water Spring — Port le Murray — Sullen demeanour of Females — Spanish Head — Sea Birds — Further Misunderstanding — An Eclaircissement. I visited the Isle of Man in the summer of that year, when the cholera made its first appearance in England ; which disease had hitherto con stantly hovered on my route, spreading its ra vages in every town through which I happened to pass ; but Douglas, on my arrival, was reported by all its inhabitants, free. There was, no doubt, an anxious and interested desire on the part of the townspeople to suppress, even the most remote hint of apprehension on the subject ; for not only were paragraphs bandied about on sanatory regulations in the Manx newspapers, but the doctors fell to logger heads in print with each other on the same theme.

After all, I placed little faith and credence on these learned discussions, neither troubling myself on the theories of infection nor contagion, nor imagining that I received, whatever people might say, on the score of security, any additional assurance. Epidemic diseases, in my humble opinion, as the wind, that travels on sightless pinions, move whither they list, and like other metaphysical essences, are not to be made sub- [CH. 12 DOUGLAS DURING THE CHOLERA. ject to physical laws. The terms infection and con tagion, so long as matter be infinitely divisible, evidently mean nothing at all ; for who can predicate of the mote that floats in the sunbeam, were it reduced to a millionth degree below mortal ken, that even so diminutive a portion of matter might not communicate by actual contact, by its very tangibility, a contagious disease; or that all those diseases known by the name of infectious, be not actually communicated by physical contagion or contact in the same manner.

Of those epidemics, that during their visitations from time to time, sweep the land of the young together with the old, it were better at once to confess that we know no more after all of the abstruse principles of nature, that guide their origin, determine their properties, and provide for their creation or generation, than as to all such matters, we are able to determine with regard to our own existence. It is certainly to be lamented, that the predominance of men's worldly interests, always defeats the pursuit of truth in matters of investigation, and in the present instance, when reports of the cholera at last began to arise, it was judged expedient rather to smother them at their birth, than repel, from an impression of fear, the usual concourse of summer visitants, and thence lose a source of annual profit to the in habitants of the island.