Mr. H——— is a man in whom great urbanity is blended with strong determination of character. He possesses varied talents, and is no mean disciple of St. Cecilia’s; and although, perhaps, not altogether ranking among the literati in the fuller sense of that term, yet he
“——laughing can instruct Much has he read,
Much more has seen: he studied from the life,
And in the original perused mankind.”
Philosophy to him, however, is no gloomy subject; no solemn stalking about wrapt up in his own stately ideas, and scorning, with cynic’s eye, any harmless mirth. In the words of one of Britain’s poets, I may say of him—
“——nor purpose gay,
Amusement, dance or song, he sternly scorns.”
Nature seems to have intended him for a higher occupation, than to stand behind a counter and sell a few yards of tape, or a paper of pins.
The streets of the capital have all their proper appellations, although no painted board announces such a fact to the traveller. The east and west streets, beginning southerly, are—South-street, Tanner, Nevis, Ratcliff, St. Mary’s, High, Long, Church, Newgate, Wapping, North, Bishopsgate, St. John’s, St. George’s; north and south streets, beginning easterly, are—East-street, Cross, Church-lane, Temple, Steeple-street, Corn, Market, Friendly-alley, Gutter-lane, Newgate-lane, Popeshead, Thames, Coney-Warren-lane, Subscription-alley, Craw-lane, Wilkinson’s-street, and Mariner’s-lane. Some of these lanes and alleys are famous for their grog-shops, particularly that establishment known by the appropriate name of “The Hole-in-the-Wall,” for the only entrance is a low arched door-way scooped out of its massy walls.
One part of the town bears the somewhat lofty title of “The Parade.” In former years it answered as a kind of exchange, where the merchants congregated together during “’Change hours,” and discussed the business of the commercial world. Cargoes of all descriptions were here disposed of; dollars and doubloons in one moment changed owners, and human flesh and blood was openly bartered. For a long period, however, the Parade visibly declined in importance, and became but the shadow of itself; but within these last few years, it has, phœnix like, sprung up with renewed vigour, and presents to the passenger’s eye many good and bustling stores.
St. John’s has, at various times, suffered severely from conflagrations—a circumstance not to be wondered at, when we consider the great number of wooden buildings, and the carelessness of persons in throwing about particles of fire. In 1769, an accident of this nature occurred, which was most direful in its consequence. It arose from the negligence of a woman who was employed in ironing, and who omitted to extinguish the fire in a coal-pot, after finishing her labours.
It may be necessary, perhaps, for the comprehension of some of my readers who may not be conversant with West Indian domestic subjects, to mention more fully the construction of a coal-pot. In some of the islands these utensils are composed of clay, moulded into the form of buckets, and baked in a moderate fire; but the Antiguan coal-pot is nothing more nor less than a deal box, clamped with iron or tin, and lined with bricks plastered over. A few pieces of old iron hoop are placed horizontally across the box at stated intervals about halfway from the bottom, and upon these is placed a layer of charcoal. The irons are arranged upon the top, and the coals ignited; no bellows are used, except what Nature has afforded in the owners’ own lungs; or when their breath fails, and the fuel still proves refractory, their large straw hat is displaced from their heads, and brandished before the mouths of their little stoves, with sundry ejaculations of “Eh! eh! war do de co-als to-day, me b’lieve dem no want to burney.”
But to return to the fire in 1769; it burnt with fearful rapidity. The gaol, custom-house, indeed nearly the whole town, fell a prey to the destructive element, 260 houses being levelled with the ground, and some of the finest stores and richest merchandise destroyed. Government granted 1000l. for the relief of the sufferers; and their kind friends in Liverpool collected, during the following year, the sum of