New-York daily tribune., 1856-08-01

science and habits was graced by = strong turn tor
q,iet humor. Though devoted 10 the tescAiog of
pbosopby, hls clear practics intellect was avcrse
to netsph, ,icsl re6nepens but del GIFTED in ,heelo
qn.p exposition of topics relating the moral en-
dowmeuts and aspirations Of human nature. i" He
lectuIed standing; from notes which, with their
successive additions must at )sst have been nearly
as full as bis spoken words. His lectuting manner
wus profess, rial. but gen,lemaulke calm and e4-
pcsho,y, but rising into greatness, or sOftening
lpto tepoerDess, whenever mis- subject required 1t.
A slight astbmstic tendency made him often clear
biz ost; and such was my admiration, says our
auhor," the hole exhibition, that Macvey Napier
told him, not long ago, that had said there vas
eloquepce in bis very splitting Then, said he,
j am glad iheIe was at least one thing In which
bad no competitor.
The charge from ancient to modern manners in
Edinburgh society was at this period in rapid
progress. Much OF this VAS due to the enlarged
intercourse with England and the world. Bat the
imnt date cause was the growth of the city, which
with ,he OverfowiDg of the population from the
old town 10 the new, altered the style of living,
and DESTROYED numerous local arrangements aud
associations, that had existed almost from time
nmemoral. The dienitaties of the old school
looked upon tie progress OF innovation with terror
They aw in it on,y the desecratlon Of prescrpive
eentiliiies by rude and vulgar touch. Well did
they remember the ancit n glores of Saint Cecilids
| Hall crowded with the brilliant circles Of aristO
| craic fash oL-gentlemen of renowD IN literature
and society, shining with their sde-curls AMI frus
| AID ruhles and silver buckes-stately matrons
1t febtd 10 hoops and gorgeous satia-and tender
beauties with high-hee.d shoes, powdered and
ponaumed hair, and bead dresses lofty and terrible
like the tower of Lebanon. In those days, the
ssee discipline had not yet deserted the ballroom.
Martinez oOwsgers and venerable beauI presided
over the ceremonies with solemn precision. No
couple could dsl ce without tickets assigning their
place in the mysteries, Oh pain OF being expelled
as Inuudtrs The procuring of tickets, before the
day of the ball, was a formidable operation.
Those who were in the favor of the manages
faIed the best, but as much intrigue was often
becessary to secure the prize as to accom-
, plish the election of a Pope. Refreshments If
| the most simple character only were provided.
| Tea was slipped in eide roOms, and at the end of
The dance the lady WIS presented with an orange
by her partner; but the tea and the oranges, ike
everything elfe, were subject to the most severe
regulations. The austenty of tae law, however,
| DID not produce refinement Of manners In this
respect, the formal age was inferior to the freer
| ole. PJofane swearing was common, il not UNI
versal, among the higher ks. Nor was temper
apce iD any degree, the order of the day. II WAS
| by 10 means unusual for gentlemen woo had dined
| with ladies' TO be decidedly the worse for Gq1Or
| before rejolDDg them. To get drunk in tavern
was regarded as rhe natural consequence Of going
| into one. The prevailing dinner hour ~as about
| three o'clock, end if there was no company, teo
| o'clock was quite com non. The procession from
the drawing room to the dining room WAS less for
mic able than at present. There was no such
alarni arrangement as that of each gentleman
| approaching lady, and the two joining arms.
| Ihis would have excited no less horror tlan the
watz did, on its first introduction into Edinburgh
circles all the ladies first took up the line of
march by themselves in regular row, ace )rding
| 70 the established rules of precedence. Then the
gent emen moved off in single file, and, on reach
ing the dniDg.room, found the ladies lingering
about the backs Of the chairs 10 see what would be
| their fate IN tle selection OF partners.
| The dinpers were not very different from modern
dinre ers, except in a less LIBERAL use of Frencs
cookery. Ice was not known exceptin few houses
Of the highest class. There les drinking at
dinners and more after it than now The staple
wines were sherry and port. Champagne was
never seen. Ciaret was the ordinary beverage,
which was exempt from duty, and very cheap.
| Hea)ths and toasts special torn snts oppres-
| sUDs which cannot now be conceived. Every gass
du,pp dinner reaured TO be dedicated 10 the health OF
| some one 1t was thought scottish aud rude to take
vine without this-as il forsOJth there was nobody
prt sent worth drinking with L was present, aDoa'
iaO3 WHEN the late Duke of Buccleuch took glass
OF sh. nv by himself at the table Of Charles Hope,
then LoId Advocate; and this was noticed afterwdrd
AZ a piece of Ducal contempt. And tue person asked
| totake wine vas not invited by anything 80 sloveny
| as slook combined with puttirg of the haud upon
the bottle az is practiced by pear neighoors now IL
| wss uch more serious affair For one thing, the
wine was very rarely on the table 1t hsd to oe called
for AID In OF der to let the servant know to whom be
was TO cary IT, the caller was obliged 10 specify hls
partner aloud Al this required some pfemedliatlon
and courage. Hence tinid men never ventured on 20
bold step at all; but were glad TO escape by only
was maik Of resp. CT the landlord, or eby other pei
sop ho thought b,zasef the great man. was generally
sraciousy pleased to perfom it TO every one present.
| But be ana Others were always at liberty to abrdge
the severity of the du y by performing it bS platoons
Tb,y took brace OF two brace OF ladies' or OF gentle
| men or of both, and got them all engaged at once
and proclaimpg to the sioeboard-"A glass O sherry
| for Ni,e Dupdas Mrs. Murray, and Miss Hope, and
oIas. O, port for Mr. Hume, aud one for me- he slew
them by coveys And all the parties to the contrast
were bound to acknowledge each other distinctly NO
rocs or prips or indifference; but direct look al the
| ~ MITE RD.dS--