and I have a lively recollection of the fun and humour with which he bubbled over. Like many men of brilliant parts in conversation, I have been told that he was at times taciturn and reserved. On this occasion he was most animated. The remembrance of past days in the Isle of Wight, the bright and sparkling conversation and demeanour of the charming hostess, Miss Ward, had the effect of kindling up those conversational powers which from their blended seriousness and cheerful mirth were the delight of those who were admitted to his intimacy. He abounded in good stories, some relating to the old days at Whippingham, which I have not forgotten.

Mr. Dale, the eminent Nonconformist minister at Birmingham, has in his Week-day Sermons, pp. 136-137, said: 'I have known many eminent saints, people who loved God with a great love, trusted Him with a perfect faith, and they lived and moved and had their being in the Divine presence... They were brave and hopeful; and heartily enjoyed the pleasures of life, and made light of its sorrows. Some of them had humour and wit, an eye that twinkled merrily, and a laugh that pealed like a bell.' To this class belonged Walter Farquhar Hook, who in his six years' residence at Whippingham laid the foundations of the great work of his life among the sturdy people of the North, as Vicar of Leeds, which has by general acclamation entitled him to be called the most vigorous and successful parochial clergyman of his generation.

May 14, 1892.

SOCIAL LIFE IN NEWPORT, A.D. 1822.

In a paper on 'Jane Austen at Home' Mr. Kebbel writes: 'There was in those days a particular grade of society, now almost extinct, which haunted these large villages and small country towns... families quite unconnected with "trade," with small but sufficient incomes, who did nothing at all in life, and seemed to wish to do nothing. . . . They formed the main ingredient of those card parties and early supper parties

which were the amusement of our grandfathers and grandmothers in these secluded spots, and which imparted a familiar flavour of sociability and gaiety to the country life of the period, which has now long departed from it.'

Now that such people have become scarce, or retreated into watering-places, it may fairly be called a matter of past history to call up some sketches of social life in Newport in 1822, as described in the Vectis Magazine for that year. The first of these sketches will be found in page 18, ‘An Evening Chit-Chat Party,' where the writer meets 'five male and eight female friends,' and gives an account of the way the evening was spent ; the gentlemen and ladies discuss the propriety of playing whist, vingt-un, and three-card loo. After they have settled their debate, the writer contents himself by informing the editor that not half the anxiety is visible in the face of a defaulter on the Stock Exchange as may be discovered by the eyes and lips of these petty Stock Jobbers.' When the cards are put away, supper is announced,

the ladies tript first into the supper-room, without the unnecessary and tiresome forms of being elegantly requested to accept the services of some gentleman. Then in march the beaux, and arrange themselves, like the ministerial members of the House of Commons, facing the Opposition benches. I suppose this is for the convenience of everyone helping themselves, or is it etiquette of the island? (Excuse me, for I am quite a stranger.)'..

In another article of this magazine, page 136, 'My Uncle Jeremiah's Visit to Newport,' we have a glimpse from the left-hand window of the Bugle Inn,' and how some of these gentlemen contrive to while away their leisure in the day. The visitor's attention is drawn to a group of young men 'leaning against the wall of the opposite house, their arms folded on their breast, and their legs crossed over the pavement.' From the account given of their demeanour and bearing, these seem to have belonged to the class of whom the modern Masher' is the survival; and therefore do not afford much of interest, except in their costume, which is more varied than in these days of sombre uniformity. For instance, as the visitor stands by the window, he notices a 'tall thin figure traversing the street on his tiptoes, arrayed

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in a green hunting-coat, jockey hat, and gaiters." Then follows a tall young man with a large ring on his finger, and broad gold lace down his over-alls.' He is a heroThat, sir,' replied my communicant, is the person who taught the Americans the respect due to an Englishman in the celebrated affair of Gibraltar.'

After this manly form'

is seen a 'short stout man, in a loose great coat, which nearly reached the ground his whole appearance such as to excite the curiosity of a his hair extremely long, and stranger.'' He had not long resided here, but spent most of his time in France.' In two other articles, pp. 55 and 176, a lively writer describes how the elder gentlemen amused themselves in more sedate fashion at what he calls the Society House,' to which he is introduced under 'the guidance of Mentor.' 'Look well,' says this friendly guide, at the personage who has now entered, the one with pow dered hair, of low stature, his face of sallow hue... he is the well-known author of "Anonymice" and other unconsidered trifles.... Here we were interrupted by the entrance of a gentleman, who, having made his bow at the door, proceeded to the like office of prostration to every individual.' The Society House has many who drop in; among these is one of a type that never seems to die out, 'loudly descanting on the faults of the Ministers.' 'If he would look a little more to his own,' said Mentor, and pay less attention to politics, it would be an advantage.' The indefatigable Mentor points out to his young friend that 'Religion has also a crowd of singularities.' The 'persuasions,' to use a modern word, of the residents in Newport were sixty years ago very varied, if Mentor is to be believed. little man with white hair and hale face; observe with what 'You see the scorn he looks on the person opposite, whose listless length hangs upon two chairs.' objection to the Prayer Book, and hence his scorn for the The little gentleman' has an occupant of the two chairs, who is 'a true orthodox son of the Church.' The comely personage who so well fills yonder chair is an indulger in the beatific visions of Emanuel Swedenborg; in the room are many sectarians, men of principle and talent; some individuals of no sect at all, who absent themselves from Church service on the plea of being obliged

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to listen to doctrine they may not at the moment comprehend, or to hear truths they may not like.'

Besides these and others we have sketches from the 'Society House' of Captain Vacuum,' Sir Holmby Freeman,' Mr. Supple,' An Esculapius,' who cannot forget his former services when he belonged to the Volunteer Association Corps of Cavalry'; two members of the Arian Church, 'both men of ability, but no two created beings were ever more dissimilar;' also one belonging to 'the profession of the law,' with 'a constant smile upon his face, and whose arms move with the rapidity of the paddles of a steamboat.'

In these sketches' we catch a sight of the gentlemen over 'their rosy wine,'-'The divine filled a bumper and, raising himself from his chair, with due reverence pronounced the words "Church and King," emptying his wine at the sacred pledge.' 'The Doctor' (he is an M.D.), who was on his right hand,' will only have The King. A dispute arises. 'A fig for the Church,' cries out the Doctor, but all ends very pleasantly. There is an account of a more aesthetic dinner party, when the wine cup calls forth the best and most social qualities in man,' and the conversation turns upon the 'fine arts.'

On page 209 are 'Lines on a Pic-nic Party,' written in ‘an idle hour between breakfast and dinner,' in which the poet describes the soft social converse, the kind wish to please.'

To sum up, these sketches in the Vectis Magazine leave upon the mind of the reader a pleasant impression of the social life at Newport sixty years ago. Canon Venables in his Guide Book, 1860, has the following paragraph: The character of the inhabitants has of late years, in common with almost all country towns, greatly changed. A quarter of a century since there was located at Newport and its immediate neighbourhood a considerable number of persons of independent means and high social rank. This class is almost extinct, and if any still remain they can but sigh over the memory of former years, when the state of society was so different.'

I do not see why such a lament should be raised. Many causes are everywhere at work to put a stop to the old social life of provincial towns. More wholesome and rational social

intercourse is taking the place of the somewhat dull frivolity of the past. Quiet reading and household talk at home is better than gossip and 'polite conversation!'

February 14, 1885.

GEORGE CANNING, M.P. FOR NEWPORT,I.W., A.D. 1826.

THE burgesses of what was then the close borough of Newport, I.W., did themselves a great honour when in 1826 they returned the Right Hon. George Canning, H.M. Secretary for Foreign Affairs, as their representative to the Parliament of 1826. The House of Commons which had been elected in 1820, after six sessions was dissolved. That Parliament of 1820, returned amid much turmoil and distress in the country, differed little in its composition from its predecessor. It had done some great things. The work of parliamentary reform was begun, with the enlargement of the representation of Yorkshire, and that of the abolition of slavery with the issue of the celebrated circular to the West India colonies. Our country had been ennobled in the eyes of the world by the foreign policy of Mr. Canning, which was enthusiastically sanctioned by Parliament.

The career of Canning is the most fascinating, romantic, and honourable among the annals of English parliamentary history. Snatched in his boyhood from a career that might have ended in disgrace, he was throughout his life blameless of any act betraying want of moral principle done to assist his rise. Ambition never blinded him to the true interests of his country; both abroad and at home he was a patriotic statesman. He was guilty of no tergiversation, was always loyal to the party he had adopted, and never maligned nor forgot a political friend, however great the temptation. His accomplishments were so brilliant, his graces of manner and bearing so exquisite, and his wit so dazzling, that his contemporaries were so occupied with these that they left out of sight those more sterling qualities which are more impressive to us who