SPECTATOR'S LIBRARY.

Journal and Letters of the late Samuel Curwen, Judge of Admiralty, Sec., an American Refugee iu England from 1775 to 1784; comprising remarks ou the pro- minent men and measures of that period. To which are added, Biographical Notices of many American Loyalists, and other eminent persons. By George Atkinson Ward, member of the New York Historical Society, and Honorary Mem- ber of the Massachusetts Historical Society Wiley awl Putnam. Tasvms,

Letters oo South America ; comprising Travels on the Banks of the Parana and Rio de la Plata. By J. P. and W. P. Robertson, Authors of " Letters on Paraguay,"

and " Francis's Reign." lu three volumes Murray. MEDICINE,

Methodus Medendi; or the Description and Treatment of the Principal Diseases in. cident to the Human Frame. By Henry M'Cormac, M.D., Consulting Physician

to the Belfast Hospital Longman and Co.

JOURNAL AND LETTERS OF SAMUEL CUEWEN.

SAMUEL CURWEN was an American merchant and Loyalist, of Salem, who found himself compelled to leave his home and pro- perty through the violence of the Independent party on the breaking out of the quarrel between the Colonies and Great Bri- tain, in 1775. At first he went to Philadelphia ; but discovered that a Loyalist, or Tory, was equally unacceptable to the Friends of Pennsylvania as to the Puritans of Massachusetts. He therefore departed for England : in 1784 he returned to Salem ; where he died, in 1802, at the age of eighty-six. During his earlier sojourn in England, Mr. CURWEN lived upon the wreck of his property. When this began to run short, he made (through Judge SEWALL, another Loyalist) an application to Go- vernment ; who granted him a donation of 1001. and a pension of 1001. a year. As long as circumstances compelled him to remain in Eng- land, he sojourned variously in London, Exeter, Bristol, and other places. On his first arrival, the sights of London, and its public at- tractions of every kind, excited his attention. Subsequently, he ran through most of the Southern and Northern parts of England, either to find a cheap and social place of residence, or from the mere American love of locomotion. An exile, he watched very keenly the events of the war and the course of public opinion; as a man of some standing, he had access to the leading American Loyalists and persons connected with the Colonies ; as a Unitarian, he had no Puritanical objections to public amusements or gayeties, and was willing to attend any worship that possessed any kind of attraction ; whilst his interests rendered it necessary for him to carry on a correspondence with the Colonies, though the jealousies of both the belligerents prevented it from being an extensive one. Of his principal letters he inserted copies in his journal; in which he also recorded the pith of what he saw, heard, or thought ; and it is of selections from this journal that the volume before us chiefly consists.

In point of character, Mr. CURWEN appears to have been a re- spectable and gentlemanly man ; and the volume presents himself and the other expatriated American Loyalists in a very favourable point of view,—firm in principle, without regard to interest, yet tolerant of differences both in religion and politics, and rather wishing the restoration of peace than the subjugation of the revolters. They also seem to have had a quiet and somewhat formal good breeding, with more of classical scholarship and liberal curiosity than appear to belong to the present race of Americans—at least of such as put themselves most conspicuously forward. In point of prejudices, as regarded France and the Continent generally, they were " truly British," and probably something more. Individually, CnawEis himself was rather a Conservative than what he was called, a Tory ; caring little about mere party, and being chiefly desirous of upholding order and government, which he seemed to think endangered when power was suddenly thrown into the hands of the people. In acquirements and tastes our Loyalist was respectable, without the provincialism and inflation which cha- racterize the present American character : his disposition was mild and patient in the main, though occasionally querulous : his intellect was above the average, his sense considerable, his judgment sound, and his criticism, although brief and un- taught, not devoid of acumen. Prejudices of course he had; and allowance must he made for them in considering the pictures be draws of his antagonists. Judged sixty or seventy years after the event, his anticipations of the coming downfal of Great Britain, and his fears that the assistance which France rendered to the United States was to subdue them to her own yoke, seem purely chimerical. The dread of our impending ruin towards the close of the American war, was not, however, limited to Mr. CURWEN; and it may be remarked as a proof of his sagacity, that in despite of any temporary successes or transient appearances, he steadily held to the impossibility of conquering America by arms,—an idea which was entertained throughout Britain by a majority of all ranks.

The useful and valuable points of the book are several. First and foremost, it presents a better view than we have yet met with of the character and feelings of the American Loyalists ; secondly, it gives us glimpses of the reverse side of the American Revolu- tion ; and, after every allowance is made for the writer's partiality, indicates that no small portion of self-interest and other ignoble motives stimulated many of the patriots : it also brings before ns some of the London characters and amusements of the period, as well as furnishes descriptions of the country of Eng- land seventy years ago. In some sense the work of CURWEN bears a resemblance to that of PREYS; but there is a great difference be- tween the authors. PEERS dealt in gossip, and was the facile erinceps of gossips : Cuitwaw often considers much larger things in a larger spirit, but is not so equal to his theme : in the notice of PREYS'S peculiar topics, CURWEN, however, exhibits more acumen and less littleness.

As a pictufe of the mind and manners of an interesting class and a bygone period, the Journal and Letters of Samuel Curwen well deserve publication. Taken as a whole, however, the book is some- what heavy and monotonous--better suited for dipping into than for continued perusal. Even that mode of reading must presuppose a certain amount of knowledge in the reader. Unless by the tradition or the perusal of contemporary works he has acquired some acquaintance with the events and persons of the time, he will miss the interest derived from association, and not be able to relish the passages in which they are alluded to, if indeed he can fully under- stand them. For this reason, we think the book more likely to be appreciated in England than in America, where it is published ; the task of editor being undertaken by a member of the New York Historical Society.

Owing to these circumstances, we shall draw pretty freely upon this volume ; taking passages indicative of its various contents.

THE BEGINNING : "FRIENDS" AT PHILADELPHIA.

I left my late peaceful home, in my sixtieth year, in search of personal security and those rights which by the laws of God I ought to have enjoyed undisturbed there ; and embarked at Beverly, on board the schooner Lively, Captain Johnson, bound hither, on Sunday the 23d ultimo, and have just ar- rived. Hoping to find an asylum among Quakers and Dutchmen, who, I pre- sume from former experience, have too great a regard for ease and property to sacrifice either at this time of doubtful disputation on the altar of an unknown goddess, or rather doubtful divinity.

My fellow-passengers were Andrew Cabot, his wife and child, and Andrew Dodge. My townsman, Benjamin Goodhue, was kind enough to come on board; and having made my kinsman and correspondent, Samuel Smith, ac- quainted with my arrival, be was pleased to come on board also ; and his first salutation, ' We will protect you, though a Tory,' embarrassed me not a little : but scion recovering my surprise, we fell into a friendly conversation ; and he, taking me to his house, 1 dined with his family and their minister, Mr. Sprost, suffering some mortification in the cause of truth. After an in- vitation to make his house my home during my stay here, which I did not ac- cept, I took leave, and went in pursuit of lodgings ; and on inquiring at several houses, ascertained they were full, or for particular reasons would not take me; and so many refused as made it fearful whether, like Cain, I had not a dis- couraging mark upon me, or a strong feature of Toryism. The whole city appears to be deep in Congressional principles, and inveterate against • Hutchin- sonian Addressers.'

May 5, 1775.—I find drums beating, colours flying, and detachments of newly-raised militia parading the streets: the whole country appears deter- mined to assume a military character; and this city, throwing off her paella aspect, is forming military companies, a plan being laid for thirty-three : com- posed of all ranks and nations, uniting shoulder to shoulder, they form so many patriotic bands to oppose, like the invincible Macedonian phalanx, the progress and increase of Parliamentary authority. The Quakers, not to be behind in manifesting their aversion, have obtained permission of the city com- mittee to make up two companies of Friends exclusively; and they are to be commanded by Samuel Marshall and Thomas Mifflin, both of that persuasion.

POLITICAL FEELINGS IN LONDON, 1775.

As far as my experience reaches, I have observed that the upper ranks, most of the capital stockholders, and, I am told, the principal nobility, are for forcing supremacy of Parliament over the Colonies ; and from the middle ranks down are opposed to it. America furnishes matter for disputes in coffee- houses, sometimes warm, but without abuse or ill.nature, and there it ends. It is unfashionable and even disreputable to look askew on one another for difference of opinion in political matters : the doctrine of toleration, if not better understood, is, thank God, better practised here than in America; otherwise there would not be such numbers of unhappy exiles suffering every disadvantage.

DOINGS OF THE "SONS OF LIBERTY."

Thence to Herald's office, where Parson Peters, with his friend Mr. Pun- derson lodges : the latter has lately arrived from Boston, having escaped by rowing himself in a cockboat eighteen miles into the sound from his native place, Norwich, Connecticut, and being taken up by a vessel and pot on board the Rose man-of-war, Captain Wallace, and conveyed to Boston. It seems he was harshly dealt with by the " Sons of Liberty," being obliged to make two confessions to save his life ; notwithstandinf which, he was hunted, pursued, and threatened, and narrowly escaped death, (or the Simsbury mines, to which he was finally adjudged, and he thinks with the loss of his eyes,) which would have been his fate but for his seasonable and providential retreat.

STATE OF ENGLAND IN 1776.

It is surprising what little seeming effect the loss of American orders has on the manufactories ; they have been in full employ ever since the dispute arose; stocks are not one jot lessened ; the people in general little moved by it : busi- ness and amusements so totally engross all ranks and orders here that Admi- nistration finds no difficulty on that score to pursue their plans. The general disapprobation of that folly of independence which America now evidently aims at, makes it a difficult part for her friends to act. • • I It is my earnest wish the despised Americans may convince these conceited islanders, that without regular standing armies our continent can furnish brave soldiers and judicious and expert commanders, by some knock-down, irrefraga- ble argument ; for then, and not till then, may we expect generous or fir treat- ment. It piques my pride ;1 confess, to hear us called " our colonies—our plan- tations "—in such terms and with such airs as if our property and persons were absolutely theirs, like the " villains " and their cottages in the old feudal system, so long since abolished, though the spirit or leaven is not totally gone, it seems.

A LOYALIST AT noun, 1779.

In answer to a letter of mine some time ago, mentioning the evils of exile at my time of life, he (Mr. Pynchon) says—" What would your feelings have been, my good friend, if while here you had lost your business, all your debts, the fruits of many years' labour ; Lad been driven to sell your house and land for the payment of debts and expenses, and the remainder had sunk in your hands fifty per cent; and that though thus reduced, you could not freely nor safely walk the streets by reason of party rage and malevolence, and the uncontrolled rancour of some men." A wretched and truly pitiable condition this t Oust picture, I fear, of American popular liberty.

AN AMERICAN LOYALIST ON THE FRENCH ALLIANCE.

To Richard Ward, Esq., Salem. Loudon, llth May 1782.

Dear Sir—Should your great and good ally obtain the two only very probable objects of her American alliance, the impoverishment of Great Britain and the consequent seizure of the late English Colonies, which she seems at present in a fair way for, no man on this side the Atlantic in his wits would, 1 think, whatever regard he may feel for his native country, willingly forego a bare subsistence here for French domination and wooden shoes there. I would just suggest to you, should America in this hour refuse the offers Great Britain may make of a separate peace, or France refuse to suffer her, (for we well know here the power she has acquired over her,) and no partition-treaty take place, (being in the present situation the best to be expected,) depend upon it, your fathers of the present age will have it in their power ere many revolutions of the sun, to tell their children the inestimable civil, religious, and political privileges you of this generation have wantoned away, and with sad regret re- count the happy condition of former days; nor will the comparison with those you will then mournfully experience between English protection and French

oppression fail to enhance your misery.: You will then find the little finger of French power heavier than the loin of the English Government, with all its apprehended train of evils. As a proof of my needless fears or right judgment, convey my kind love to your wife and children. Your friend, S. Cuitsmv.

Our Loyalist's accounts of the sights of London are fuller than his notices of persons ; which last are indeed curt, though they generally contain some characteristic point which conveys an idea of' the man, or at least of part of him. We take a few relating to well-known names.

PERSONS.

Mansfield.—At Common Pleas saw Judge Blackstone and Sergeant Glynn; and the King's Bench, Lord Mansfield and Mr. Sergeant Wedderburne. Lord Mansfield's manner is like the late Judge Dudley's of Massachusetts. His peering eyes denote a penetration and comprehension peculiarly his own. Garrick in Hamlet.—Saw Mr. Garrick in Hamlet at Drury Lane. In my eye more perfect in the expression of his face than in the accent and pronunciation of his voice, which, however, was much beyond the standard of his fellow actors. Dr. Dodd in the Pulpit.—To Magdalen Hospital : heard the Rev. Dr. Dodd

preach from John xv. 17, "These things I command you, that ye love one another." A most elegant, sensible, serious, and pathetic discourse, enough to have warmed a heart not callous to the impressions of pity. I own my eyes flowed with tears of compassion.

Dr. Dodd in Prison.—A reverend, known by the name of the Macaroni

Doctor, is in Poultry Compter for forgery, and has confessed to the sum of 4,200/. sterling: his real name Dodd : he figures in the tete-a-tetes in the magazines, and unless defamed, is a worthless character, though noted for some serious publications in the common routine. He has two chapels and the Mag- dalen under his care.

Bishop Watson.—Attended service at Limehouse Church : Dr. Watson, Bishop of Llandaff, preached a most excellent charity-sermon to a crowded assembly. Bidding prayer was long, catholic, and charmingly delivered ; con- cluding sentence was, " Now to the King eternal," &c., instead of the usual one, "Now to God the Father, God the Son," &c. His enunciation is loud, sonorous, and manly ; his person robust and tall. Mrs. Cowley : November 22.—Mrs. Cowley, a celebrated playwright, dined with us; she is a small, sprightly body. Evening at a new play called " Gene- rous Impostor."

Let us turn to things.

A WELL-BITTEN TRANSLATOR.

Through uncommon good fortune 1 have, without the customary delay of two or three weeks, been admitted into the British Museum, Montague House; a truly royal institution for the preservation of the productions of nature and art. Saw the first Bible printed by authority on vellum ; and turning to the 91st Psalm, 5th verse, instead of "Thou shalt not be afraid of the terrors by night," &c., I saw the following, "Thou shalt not fear the bugs and vermin by night," &c. There are many other as remarkable differences, but had not time to examine many texts.

RAPID CHANGES IN MAR YLEBONE, 1775-1780.

The different views and appearances that are daily arising in and about

London, are as great and almost as frequent as the different phases of the moon in one of its revolutions, and render many spots and places a mere terra in- cognita, that to 'those who have been absent a few years were well known. For, having about ten days since wandered to the further end of Mary le Bone, being designed to a distant quarter, on finding myself there, I inquired for the Gardens, which you remember to have been resorted to by company, and where fireworks were exhibited : to my surprise, the whole ground is laid out in streets, and covered with grand and elegant houses, and even beyond it. In this ramble accident revealed a secret that has puzzled you and the wise men of Cow- bridge, that probably I should otherwise never have possessed. Some months since, a letter was addressed to me by James Russell, dated Manchester Square, the location of which was beyond the reach of my knowledge, or any of those I had consulted, having never before heard of it : chance, however, in this ramble directing my steps among rows of new buildings, and directing also my eye to a corner-house in an unfinished square of noble structures, inscribed " Man- chester Square," this unimportant secret was thereby revealed.

MANCHESTER IN 1777.

The centre of this town of Manchester consists principally of old buildings ;

its streets narrow, irregularly built, with many capital houses interspersed. By act of Parliament old buildings are taken down to enlarge the streets. It has a few good ones : King Street as the best-built, is long, and sufficiently wide ; most of its houses noble. Great additions of buildings and streets are daily making, and of a larger size than at Birmingham; nor have all the new ones so dusky a face as in that town, and in that respect are fairer and better : for ex- tent of ground whereon it stands, nor number of inhabitants, does the latter exceed, or, in my opinion, come up to it. The disposition and manners of this people, as given by themselves, are inhospitable and boorish. I have seen nothing to contradict this assertion, though my slender acquaintance will not justify me in giving that character. In all the manufacturing towns there is a jealousy and suspicion of strangers ; an acquaintance with one manufacturer effectually debars one from connexion with a second in the same business. It is with difficulty one is admitted to see their works, and in many cases it is impracticable, express prohibitions being given by the masters. The Dissenters are sense of the most wealthy merchants and manufactures here, but mortally abhorred by the Jacobites. The dress of the people here savours not much of the London mode in general : the people are remarkable for coarseness of fea- tare, and the language is unintelligible.

LONDON SUNDAY EVENING AMUSEMENTS, 1780.

After tea, called on Mr. Dalglish ; whom, with his friend, I accompanied in a

coach to " Carlisle House," at a Sunday evening entertainment, called the Promenade, instituted in lieu of public amusement ; and to compensate for twelve tedious hours interval laid under an interdict by the laws of the country, yet nnrepealed formally by the Legislature, though effectually so in the houses of the great and wealthy, from whence religion and charity are but too ge- nerally banished. The employment of the company is simply walking through the rooms; being allowed tea, coffee, chocolate, lemonade, orgeat, negns, milk, &c. ; admission by ticket, cost 3s. ; dress, decent, full not required : some in boots ; one carelessly in spurs happening to catch a lady's flounce, he was obliged to apologize and take them off. The ladies were rigged out in gaudy attire, attended by bucks, bloods, and macaronies, though it is also resorted to by persons of irreproachable character : among the wheat will be tares. • • • So far for my imperfect description of this house, wherein the well-known Mrs. Cornelly used to accommodate the nobility, &c. with masquerades and coteries. Dress of the ladies differed widely ; one part swept their track by long trails, the other by an enormous size of hoops and petticoats. The com- pany usually resorting there about seven hundred, as the ticket-receiver told me ; this evening the house was thronged with a good thousand. The rooms were filled, so that we could scarce pass without jostling, interfering, and elbow- ing: for my own part, being old, small, and infirm, I received more than a score of full butt rencounters with females : whether provision was not made fur so large a company, or whatever the cause may be, it was full two hours before I could procure a dish of tea, after fifteen vain attempts; nor was I sin- gular; and when screed, it was in a slovenly manner on a dirty tea-stand. I never saw a place of public resort where the company was treated with so little respect by servants; even common tea-houses, whose character is far humbler, as " Bagnigge Wells," " White Conduit House," " Dog and Duck," &c., are in this respect preferable. It would be treating " Ranelagh " with great in- dignity to bring it into comparison with this, which is designed to supply its place during the long vacation of that fashionable resort ; nor are Vauxhall Gardens less than a thousand times beyond this in every eligible circumstance, unless I saw it under peculiar disadvantages.

Met Peter Frye and young William Eppes there; also saw the Duke of Queensbury ; who, 1 was told, is a never-failing attendant on places of dissipa- tion : which his seeming age should, one might think, restrain him from such juvenile amusements ; but old habits are strong, and too powerful to be re- sisted when long indulged.

The lecture of one female Chartist, the other day, caused quite a sensation in town ; but Mr. CURWEN more than once attended a regular ladies debating society.

FEMALE ORATORS, 1780.

November 4. Accompanied Mr. Dalglish to La Belle Assemblde, or Ladies' Disputing Society. The question proposed was, " Would it not be prudent and proper, considering the great demand for public supplies, and the difficulty of raising them, to lay a tax on old bachelors ? " The lady who first spoke, moved to alter the question and include old maids; which was objected to by a fine young lady, who answered in a lively, pleasing manner : her objection was, however, overruled by a vote put by the President. Question then stood as including old maids. Twelve female speakers stood forth in succession, and the question was carried in the affirmative. There were many excellent thoughts expressed and some witty ones ; some acquitted themselves to the ap- probation of the company. A few, through diffidence or forgetfulness, stopped short in mid-race, and sat down, unable to proceed : these met with polite and kind indulgence, and were clapped by way of encouragement.

From the statements of the work it appears, that the absence of an upper class in America is not solely traceable to the Revolu- tion and the final triumph of the Democratical principles under JEFFERSON, but to the destruction of the gentry during the Revo- lutionary war, either by banishment or the loss of their pro- perty ; the position they occupied through their material means be- ing taken by pushing and not over-scrupulous adventurers. Accord- ing to the editor of this work, of the two hundred persons banished by Massachusetts, sixty were graduates of Harvard College, then the only University in America ; and it would seem that throughout the States only the more active and ambitious of the Colonial aris- tocracy remained,—a class of men the best qualified to succeed in war and politics, but not to give a tone of mildness and modera- tion to society, or even of very rigid principle. Here is Mr. Con- WEN'S picture.

PRICES AND PERSONS 111 MASSACHUSETTS.

From him and young Gardner, only son of Jonathan Gardner junior, I have obtained the annexed list of prices; which, instead of a score of arguments, may prove the low condition of Congressional credit, and show the exorbitant rate of the useful articles of life, and perhaps their scarcity. It is a melancholy truth, that while some are wallowing in undeserved wealth that plunder and rapine have thrown into their hands, the wisest, most peaceable, and most de- serving, such as you and I know. are now suffering want, accompanied by many indignities that a licentious, lawless people can pour forth upon them.

Those who five years ago were the "meaner people," are now, by a strange revolution, become almost the only men of power, riches, and influence; those who, on the contrary, were leaders, and in the highest line of life, are glad at this time to be unknown and unnoticed, to escape insult and plunder—the wretched condition of all who are not violent, and adopters of Republican prin- ciples. The Cabots of Beverly who, you know, had but five years ago a very moderate share of property, are now said to be by far the most wealthy in New England; Hesketh Derby clai.r s the second place in the list, and puts in for a place among the first three ; Mr. Goodale, by agency concerns in privateers and buying shares, counts almost as many pounds as moat of his neighbours. The following are persons of the moat eminence for business in Salem, as far as my memory serves ; viz. Hasket Derby, William Pickman, George Crowinahield, William Vans, Captain Harraden a brave and notable privateer captain, Joseph Henfield, Captain Silsbee, Samuel Gardner, Joseph and Joshua Grafton's sons, Francis Clarke, Captain George Dodge's youngest sons, Joseph Orne. E. H. Derby's province-tax is 11,00W., and his neighbours complain that he is not half taxed. The immensely large nominal sums which some are said to be worth, shrink into diminutive bulk when measured by the European standard of gold and silver. In New England, a dollar-bill is worth only 2§ of an English halfpenny. Pins at Is. a-piece, needles at 2s., beef 2s. 6d., veal 2s., mutton and lamb Is. 6d., butter 6s. per pound, rum 8 dollars per gallon, molasses 2 dollars, brown sugar 108. per pound, loaf sugar 15s., Bohea tea 7 dollars per pound, coffee 5 dollars, Irish pork 60 dollars per barrel, lemons 3s. a-piece, wood 20 dollars a cord, ordinary French cloth 22 dollars a yard, hose 9 dollars a pair. A suit of clothes, which cost 5 guineas here, [in England,) would cost 500 dollars in Boston.

Some parts of the following gossip touching GEORGE the Good are new to us.

RAGE OF THE RING AT AMERICAN SUCCESS.

December 4.—Called on Mr. Heard at Herald's Office : there learned, in a conversation with a Mr. Webb, of seeming great political knowledge, that at the time the House of Commons left the late Administration in a minority, or in other words refused to support Lord North's measures, the King took it to heart, and resented it so far as to declare he would leave them (as he expressed it) to themselves, and go over to Hanover, from whence his family came; and proceeded so far as to order the Administra- tion to provide two yachts to transport himself there; whereupon the Queen interfered, and remonstrated against such a desperate measure, so fatal to her and his family, as well as his own personal interest. Others, too, represented the distressful condition to which the nation would be reduced by the absence and want of royal authority ; though it seemed to little effect, so sadly cha- grined and provoked was he.

Lord Rockingham also joined the remonstrants, and showed the necessity of . i a change of men and measures, with no better success : so naturally obstinate ••• and pertinaciously bent was be on his favourite plan of subjugating his (here called) rebellious subjects in America, and bringing them to his feet, till he was told, that as sure as he set his foot out of the kingdom, the Parliament would declare the crown abdicated and the throne vacant, nor would he ever be per- mitted to reenter the kingdom again • which argument, it seems, brought him to a more cool and juster sight of the folly of such a step, and the absolute necessity of stooping to a compliance with the requisitions of the public.

REGAL HYPOCRISY.

December 5.—The King delivered his speech from the throne. I went to see him robe and sit on the throne in the House of Lords : be was clothed in green lace:1 with gold when he came, and when he went in red laced; it being the custom to change his garments. The tail of his wig was in a broad, flowing, loose manner, called the coronation-tail. His abode in the Lords' Chamber scarce exceeded half an hour, in which he read his speech of eleven pages.

As one proof among many that might be given of the restraint and disguise of real sentiments on the part of courtiers, from the highest character in the presence-chamber to the lowest lounger and attendant at Ministerial levees, take the following: When the King found himself obliged to take new Minis- ters and give up Lord North and his associates, it is notorious that it was ab- horrent to the Royal mind; and being naturally of a pertinacious, obstinate temper, was with the utmost difficulty brought to yield a reluctant consent. On the first court-day after the appointment, when he was in a manner forced out of his closet into the room of audience, he received his new servants with a smile, and transacted business with them afterwards with as much seeming cordiality and openness as if they bad been in his favour and in his most inti- mate conceits : so seemingly satisfied and so serene was the Royal counte- nance, that all the newspapers sounded forth the gracious Monarch's obliging, condescending goodness to the public wishes, though nothing was farther from his heart, had not the necessity of his affairs impelled him thereto. At the same time, coming up to Mr. IN ilkes, be said he was glad of the opportunity to thank him for his very proper and laudable behaviour in the late riot ; took notice of his looks, which indicated a want of health, advised him to a country air and exercise, which, said his Majesty, I find by experience an excellent ex- pedient to procure and preserve health : all this with the same apparent sincerity as if they had been in a continued course of paying and receiving compliments, congratulations, and acknowledgments for mutual kindnesses and good offices; though all the world knows there was not a man in the Three Kingdoms more thoroughly hated, nor whom he had taken more foolish and unnecessary pains to ruin. The above-mentioned interview being told of in company, Mr. Wilkes took occasion to remark in the following words—" To have beard the King, one would have thought I was consulting a quack on the score of my health.'

A RETURN HOME AT SIXTY-NINE.

To Captain Michael Coombs, London.

Salem, Massachusetts, 9th October 1784.

Dear Sir—This day fortnight, at half-past three p.m., I landed on the head of the Long Wharf in Boston ; being the first American ground 1 had touched since 12th May 1775, when I departed from Philadelphia. It is no less strange than unaccountable how low, mean, and diminutive, every thing on shore appeared to me. On Sunday, being the day following, I left for this place, where I alighted at the house of my former residence; and not a man, woman, or child, but expressed a satisfaction at seeing me, and welcomed me back. Thus much for myself.

A CONCLUDING VIEW AND PRAYER.

To Captain Michael Coombs, London.

Salem, 15th November 1784.

Dear Sir—I have waited on Mr. Sewall, a lawyer of your town : from him -Deana he has undertaken to procure the necessary papers, and will, at my pressing instance, set about it immediately ; my argument being constantly, ' delay is almost as fatal to my friend as total neglect.' I am now to congratulate you on the salvation of your wharf and ware- house from the villanous hands of the rapacious harpies the Commissioners : that part of your real estate, by great luck, was neglected in the libel by which your other was seized and confiscated, and therefore it still remains your pro- perty. What debts are claimed and proved, must, by the law that confiscates, be levied on and taken out of the estate sold ; the remainder escheats to the public treasury. But so infamously knavish has been the conduct of the Com- missioners, that, though frequent attempts have been made to bring them to justice, and respond for the produce of the funds resting in their hands, so numerous are the defaulters in that august body the General Court, that all efforts have hitherto proved vain. Not twopence in the pound have arrived to the public treasury of all the confiscations. Mr. Sewall says, were you disposed, he would advise you not to come here, until the act respecting refugees or absentees be passed ; which will be, it is thought, this session.

The triumphant here look down with contempt on the vanquished : their little minds are not equal to the astonishing success of their feeble arms. God bless the worthy and blast the villanous of every party.

Very truly yours, S. CURWEN.

Besides a brief memoir of CURWEN prefixed to the "Journal and Letters," with short illustrative notes to the text, the editor has added a series of biographical notices of some of the leading Loy- alists, and a few other persons connected with the Revolutionary war; so that the work contains a pretty good view of the senti- ments, character, feelings, and fate of the Loyalists of New Eng- land.