Ephraim disapproves of music, from the trumpet to the dulcimer. Pompey is no mean performer on any instrument that will make a noise. Jacob hops not, neither doth he skip. Mungo will caper and jump, "from morn till dewy eve, a summer's day." Tobias is notably taciturn, and hath scarce a word to throw at a dog. Quashy is garrulous as a starling, and has talkee talkee enough to pelt at a pack of hounds. Obadiah affecteth sleek locks. Sambo hath his hair dressed as it were by Nature, for a perpetual party. Nahum is professedly simple in his garb. Lilywhite, as far as his means go, is a desperate dandy. Eleazar hath a horror of all levity. Cæsar grins from ear to ear, and is " a roaring boy" at a laugh. Finally, Zacharias sweareth not at all-whereas Ebony indulges in frequent imprecations; and, according to a West India Proprietor (vide Monk Lewis's Journal) 66 no one can appear to wish more sincerely for his enemy's perdition when he utters it." Verily, such a piebald association, of Black and Drab, is a curious one :-but "Extremes meet," as the whiting said with its tail in its mouth. To return, however, to our stage. The drinking, dancing, dressing, singing, swearing, drumming, grinning, gossipping, and gallivanting Blacks were free! They were no longer slaves, but their own masters. They were no more to be bought and sold, like Scotch cattle of the same colour. Black was admitted into the social firm, like Black and Parry, or Black and Young. Black and White, in fact, were equals, and henceforward met upon the square, like the squares upon a draught-board. It was a morn, to be recorded for ever in Black's Morning Chronicle. On no occasion, past or to come, could Quaker smiles so justifiably be relaxed into broad grins. It was a time for Shakers to shake their sides for Jumpers to jump for joy-for Foxites to snap their fingers, instead of twiddling their |