human probability, after one or two more days, I should never see him or them again. This is a reflection which not seldom mingles a shade of sadness with the pleasure one derives from meeting agreeable and congenial acquaintances and friends, in our travels through foreign countries and distant parts of our own. I must own that in two or three days I had become strongly attached to every member of the amiable family at Abbotsford. Our whole time was passed together in conversation, reading, or singing on the part of the ladies; at dusk a dance on the lawn; in walks and drives. Sir Walter poured out all the treasures of his memory, in traditions of the border times, anecdotes of celebrated characters, interspersed with constant sallies of quiet pleasantry ;—and Charles contracted so great a fondness for the American guest, that he asked his father's permission to accompany me on my approaching journey to Greece and Constantinople, which, in consideration of his being under thirteen years of age, was withheld. Later in life this interesting young man was attached to the British embassy in Persia. In 1839 he wrote to me from the Foreign Office in London, reminding me of my visit twenty one years before to his father's; but many years since, he, with all the rest of the family, one after another, passed away.

It was with no common regret that I took my leave of the family. I was to go to Selkirk and there be taken up by the Mail coach for London. If the coach was full I was to return to Abbotsford. Mrs. Scott and her daughter took me to Selkirk, and left me there. Although much pressed for time, in reference to the commencement of my tour on the Continent, I could not find it in my heart to grieve, when the Mail coach drove up and was reported "full." It shows the limited amount of travel at that time, that one Mail coach daily was all that passed on that route, between Scotland and England. It was now evening. I made myself as comfortable as I could that night at Selkirk, and early the next morn

ing walked over to Abbotsford to spend the day. I was received there as an old friend. The young ladies said that they were thankful I had come, for now they should have a good excuse for not attending their master upstairs. I inquired of them what they were studying, and they said. "Tasso." I told them I could not encourage truancy and idleness, and, taking the book out of Anne's hand, began to examine them. The parents entered heartily into the humor of this scene, and begged me to be strict with my new scholars. But it ended in a hearty laugh, and that day we made but little progress in Tasso.

At dinner the veteran deer-hound made his appearance, and laid his great nose upon his master's arm. He had already been fed elsewhere, but he received a bonne bouche from Sir Walter's hand. After dinner a favorite cat placed herself upon the table near him. As I sat next he begged me not to be disturbed. He caressed the animal, who was evidently a pet, and said that "if cats were as well treated as dogs they would be as gentle and faithful." This I think somewhat doubtful, since, if the experience of mankind had not shown the contrary to be the case, there is no reason why they should not have secured to themselves that kind treatment which is bestowed on dogs. The habits and instincts of animals were a favorite topic of conversation with Sir Walter. He traced the practice of dogs, in turning themselves once or twice round, before they lie down, to their habit of scooping out, as it were, a bed in the leaves, while in a state of nature.

We were regaled at dinner by the gardener, in the character of piper, dressed in his tartans, and playing national airs on the bagpipe on the little lawn before the house. For this contribution to our entertainment, he was called in by Sir Walter, and rewarded with a glass of whiskey. The bagpipe at the banquet, played by the Chieftain's piper, is a part of the ancient Celtic state, still kept up in the great Scottish

houses. Sir Walter clung with patriotic fondness to these national traditions.

But I must reserve for another paper the rest of these recollections, as well as a brief account,-alas, under a mournful change of circumstances,-of " Abbotsford revisited" after a lapse of twenty six years.

NUMBER FOURTEEN.

THE FOURTH OF MARCH, 1789.

Commencement of the present United States Government in New York, seventy years ago this day-Sketch of the History of the promulgation and ratification of the Constitution-Delay in organizing the new Congress-Arrival of Washington at New York and his inauguration-Question as to the titles to be given to the President and Vice President-Amusing anecdote-Causes of the prevailing apathy-The general languor of the country a circumstance favorable to a peaceful revolution-No such revolution possible in highly prosperous times-Much owing to the disinterested patriotism of the revolutionary and constitutional leaders and especially Washington-Closing reflection.

On this day seventy years ago an event took place, inferior in importance to no other, in the history of the country, if to any other in the political history of the world. On this day seventy years ago, the present Constitution of the United States became "the supreme law of the land," and New York became for a time the seat of the new government. If, as. General Hamilton asserts in the last number of "the Federalist," the "establishment of a Constitution, in time of profound peace, by the voluntary consent of a whole people, is a Prodigy," that prodigy became an historical fact on the fourth of March, 1789. Let us dwell upon it for a moment in reverent contemplation. It is not one of the Prodigies of ancient fable, which told how

A lioness hath whelped in the streets,

And graves have yawned, and yielded up their dead:

Fierce fiery warriors fight upon the clouds,

In ranks and squadrons, and right form of war,
With drizzled blood upon the Capitol:

The noise of battle hurtled in the air,

Horses do neigh, and dying men did groan,

And ghosts did shriek and squeal about the streets.

These were the prodigies which foretold the assassination of Caesar, and the inauguration of a despotism, doomed for fourteen centuries to master and oppress the world. Ours was the auspicious Prodigy of a well-compacted republic, formed by the counsels of unselfish patriots, pure from the stain of blood, destined, let us trust, to be the safe-guard and the blessing of far-distant ages.

The Constitution of the United States was finally proclaimed by the Federal Convention on the 17th of September, 1787, and was on that day, in pursuance of an unanimous vote of its framers, transmitted to the Congress of the Confederation, then sitting at New York, with a letter signed by George Washington, President of the Convention. The Constitution itself fixed no day when it should begin to be of force, as the supreme law of the land. It provided only that when ratified by the Conventions of nine States it should go into operation" between the States ratifying the same."

With this provision it went forth to the States and to the people, to be ratified by their Conventions. It was a season of expectation, of anxiety, and, on the part of many true patriots, of alarm. The people were divided into parties; and a document so extensive and comprehending so many details of course presented many points open to criticism. By many persons, and among them there were tried patriots and good citizens, the proposed new government seemed to be fraught with menace to the hardly-earned, dear-bought rights of the States, and liberties of the people; by others, it was looked upon as the only hope for the salvation of the country. Washington was one of those who regarded it in this light. "There is a tradition," says Mr. Curtis in his valuable Ilistory of the Constitution, (vol. II., p. 487,) " that when Washington was about to sign the instrument, he rose from his seat, and, holding the pen in his hand, after a short pause, pronounced these words :-'Should the States reject this excellent Constitution, the probability is that an opportunity