affording a fair hint of the high estimation in which they were held by their husbands—for instance, Wynfreda means the peace of man; Addele is the noble wife; Deorwyn, dear to man; Deorswythe, very dear; Winnefride, a winner or gainer of peace.

Saxon women might, until they were fifteen years of age, be married, by their father, to whomsoever he pleased; but after that period their destiny was in their own hands. Wives could be associated with their husbands in law-suits; were possessors of land, of slaves, and of other property; they might make wills; and assumed the guardianship of their children upon the death of their husbands; and the respect paid to them, and the position they occupied, appear to have been greater, among our Anglo-Saxon ancestors, than some of the general characteristics of their state of society might have led us to expect. Women mingled indiscriminately with men at the dining-table. It was a customary and laudable practice for water to be brought to a stranger on entering any house, to wash his hands and feet; indeed, their habits of personal cleanliness deserve to be especially noted, for the advantages arising from frequent ablutions were well known-warm baths being constantly used, and held in such estimation, that the deprivation of them was inflicted by the Church as a penance, and cold bathing imposed as a mortification.

With regard to their coinage, a Saxon pound was nearly three times the weight of our present money, and there were forty-eight shillings in a pound, and five pence made a shilling; consequently, a Saxon shilling was nearly a fifth heavier than ours, and a penny three times as heavy. A sheep, by the laws of Athelstan, was estimated at 1s.—i. e., 1s. 3d. of our money. The fleece was two-fifths of the value of the whole sheep-much above its present estimation; and the reason probably was, that the Saxons, like the ancients, were little acquainted with any clothing but what was made of wool. An ox was computed at six times the value of a sheep; a cow, at four. If we suppose that, from the defects in husbandry and pasturage, cattle were not so fine, or so large, as they are at present in England, we may compute that money was then of ten times greater value than it is now. A man was valued at 31.; and a father, when compelled by necessity, might deliver up his son to a state of servitude, i. e., slavery, without the child's consent; but a child above fifteen might evade this power by choosing a religious life.

A horse was valued at about 36s. of our present money, or thirty Saxon shillings; a mare at a third less. In Athelstan's time a ram was valued at a shilling, or fourpence Saxon; and tenants of Shireburn paid, according to choice, sixpence or five fat hens. From one of the Saxon chronicles we learn that, in the reign of Edward the Confessor, there was so terrible a famine that a quarter of wheat rose to sixty pennies, or 15s. of our present money; consequently it was as dear as if it cost 71. 10s. Between the years 900 and 1000, Edwith bought a hide of land for about 118 shillings of our present money. This was little more than an acre, which appears to have been the usual price, as we may learn from other accounts. A hide was a common measure of land, and contained about 120 acres.

The progress of the Anglo-Saxons in the arts of design and painting was very limited. The talents of the artists varied, but none bear the impress of genius, and few even of correctness; what little art was exercised was chiefly employed in illuminating manuscripts. That the art of engraving on metals was not unknown, is proved by a jewel found in the Isle of Athelney, in Somersetshire, bearing the

inscription in Saxon letters, "Alfred commanded me to be made." This jewel is of pure gold enamelled, and on one side partly faced by crystal; the weight is somewhat more than an ounce, and the length about two inches and a half. It is of an oval form, but at the lower end is a projecting head of some sea-monster, from whose jaws issues a small tube, within which is fixed a pin of gold, intended, probably, to connect this ornament with a band or collar, when worn pendent from the neck. The edge has a purple border of a rich net or filagree work; at the inner side of the inscription is a narrow border of gold, edged with small leaves or escalops, which fasten down a thin plate of crystal. This covers a kind of outline representation of a half-length male figure, with a grave countenance, wrought upon the area within. His head is somewhat inclined to the right, and in each hand is a sceptre, or rather lily, the flowers of which rise above the shoulders, but are joined at the bottom. On the reverse of the jewel, upon a thin plate of gold (retained in its place by the purple border), on a matted ground, is a larger lily, the stalk and leaves rising from a bulbous root, and the upper part expanding into three flowers, not ungracefully disposed. The reader may be surprised at so curious a specimen of art in these early times; but it must be recollected that Asser, in his life of that King, states that, when Alfred had secured peace to his subjects, he resolved to extend among them a knowledge of the arts, for which purpose he collected, "from many nations, an almost innumerable multitude of artificers, many of them the most expert in their respective trades."

The art of making glass was also brought into this country from the Continent (France). The founder of the Abbey of Wearmouth requiring the monastery windows glazed, caused cunning workmen to come over to Britain, and instruct his countrymen, who were, according to Bede, "helpless and ignorant" of the manufacture of glass. So much for the state of art.

We cannot leave the Anglo-Saxons, however, without a tribute of admiration for their many and great virtues. Their talents were, by nature, far from despicable, their industry was real, and their ingenuity progressive. Their laws betray a spirit of natural equity, and their institutions were founded on notions of freedom and justice; women were respected, and children carefully educated. As a whole, their kings were brave and honest, their nobles hospitable, their women chaste, and their peasantry industrious. How many advantages we enjoy that are traceable to their influence and institutions! and probably we are not very far wrong when we say that this nation owes more to the Anglo-Saxons than to any of its other rulers and governors; for it was through their influence that the foundation was laid of nearly all that is great and honourable in the English character.

M. S. R.

AMONGST THE AMERICANS.

BY F. GERSTACKER.

IN EIGHT PARTS.-PART I.

"ON the 31st of July, at 10 A.M., the fast and splendid steamer, the Oceanic, G. Wilkins, master, will leave the Levee for St. Louis. For freight or passage apply on board, or to Smith and Richfield, agents, No. 52, Custom House-street."

This announcement might be seen in the New Orleans Commercial Times on the 29th of July, 184-, along with twenty similar ones of as many various boats, bound for the Mississippi, Red River, Missouri, Ohio, Illinois, or for the Gulf of Mexico.

The Levee was all alive, and boxes and portmanteaus, hat-boxes, beds, and all sorts of furniture were being carried in a great hurry to the steamer, from whose two immense chimneys thick clouds of smoke had been pouring out during the last half hour; for the first bell had been rung, and the Oceanic would start before the hour, as the captain assured several passengers while walking up and down before the cabin.

Fresh drays, however, still poured in-laden with sugar, coffee, molasses, cotton, and coarse salt-whose burthen disappeared, almost as soon as it arrived, in the immense hold of the vessel, by the aid of some thirty firemen and sailors. A number of little wherries tossed and glided among the steamers, stopping chiefly near those that were just ready to start, in order to sell the fruit that was piled up in them to the passengers, partly to cat, and partly to carry with them into a more northern climate. These little gaily-painted boats presented a pleasing sight. One

was pulled by a sun-burnt Spaniard, with a broad-leaved straw hat and black beard, at whose feet lay, in picturesque confusion, pine-apples, oranges, figs, pomegranates, bananas, cocoa-nuts, &c., on which a parrot was constantly moving about, and appearing to invite the travellers to purchase by his noisy chattering; while, in the stern of the little boat, fastened by a thin chain, a monkey was playing all sorts of antics, and showing his teeth at the passengers of the various vessels past which his master pulled, and who tormented him by throwing peel and shells at him.

The bell had been rung for the second time, and passengers hurried up from all sides in order to reach it before its immediate departure, as they fancied. Many of them bore heavy burdens, and groaned along beneath them with the exertion of their utmost strength, while one even waved his handkerchief as a signal that he was coming. The captain turned away with a smile. Loaded drays still arrived with more freight for the vessel, and two-thirds of the hold were not yet filled, but the smoke rose thicker and blacker from the chimney, and that must be the surest sign of immediate departure.

Three boats had already left the Levee, also bound for St. Louis; but the Oceanic was notoriously a quick vessel, and many of the passengers preferred waiting half an hour to going on board another which they expected to be passed by her in a short time. The third bell was now rung, long and loudly— almost always the sure signal for departure-and again fresh passengers flocked in, but at the same time fresh freight, and the chains were still fastened to the Levee.

"Captain, when do you start ?" a Mississippi planter asked, who had just sent a nigger up into town for something.

Well, sir," he replied, "hardly before evening-your freight is not arrived yet."

"Good, good!" he said. "It's all the same to me. I only wanted to know. Then I can go up to the St. Charles, and dine there ?"

"Of course," the captain said politely. "If the boat starts before night, I will send one of my people up to you."

The planter lounged on shore, and went quietly up to the hotel.

He had scarcely left the captain, when a poor emigrant, a German-who, with his family, were 'tween-deck passengers-walked up to him, and asked timidly, in very broken English, whether he could go on shore, if he made haste, to buy some things absolutely necessary for his family, as he had heard the bell ring in the morning, and, for fear of being too late, had come on board without them.

"Good, good!" the captain replied, tired with the long address; "but make haste; the boat starts in half an hour, and I can't wait for you."

The man flew into the town-ran from one shop to the other-gave the price demanded, for there was no time for bargaining—and returned, fatigued to death, at the expiration of half an hour, to find the vessel in the same state of rest as when he had left it.

Thus the afternoon arrived, and the last boat bound for St. Louis, except the Oceanic, had just left the quay, in which many of the passengers would, undoubtedly, have sailed, had they not had their luggage on board the latter. So they were forced to stay; and the chief mate now informed all who asked him

when the boat would really start, that the captain was on shore, but that their departure would hardly take place before morning.

Many of the passengers swore and abused, but to the majority it was a matter of indifference, as they now knew, for certain, that they would pass another night in New Orleans.

The heat was oppressive, and every one, whom business did not force to go out, remained in the cool of the houses; but those who had to attend to the shipping or unshipping of merchandise, lounged along the Levee, with their umbrellas up, to ward off the burning sunbeams.

Among the numerous bales piled up on the Levee, were hundreds of coffeebags, waiting for vessels to carry them to Cincinnati, St. Louis, and Pittsburg. Around them a throng of women and girls were collected, busily engaged, as it appeared, in picking up the berries that had fallen out, and placing them in their little baskets; but, in reality, the majority of them had sharp little knives in their hands, with which they cut holes in the bags, when they fancied themselves unnoticed, and so filled their baskets! These were mostly Germans and Irish.

The people on the vessels, however, for which the coffee had been brought down, were well acquainted with the tricks of these vagabonds, and attacked them now and then with whips, to drive them away; but, if scattered ten times in succession, they always returned, like vultures to their prey, and surrounded the wounded coffee-bags.

"Drat the Dutch !" the mate of the Oceanic at last growled, as he returned on board, bathed in perspiration, and quite worn out, after his sixth unsuccessful attempt to rout the feminine band. "I should like to know why Dutch, Irish, and musquitos were created? They're only sent to plague us !"

"And isn't it us who do all your work, honey?" an Irishman asked in his brogue, from another vessel. "Tell me, isn't it the Irish and Dutch who make your roads and canals, till your land, and build your houses? Now, sir-r, what have ye to say to dat?"

"Go on with your work, Pat!" said the mate of his vessel, interrupting the scarcely-commenced discussion. "Don't stand there arguing. Work, boys, work! and get the bales aboard."

The sun was now setting, and the streets, which till then had been deserted, became suddenly full of life. People flocked in, in picturesque groups, to enjoy the coolness of the evening on the Levee. The ice and sherbet-booths were filled with guests; crowds of coloured and remarkably handsome flower-girls traversed the throng, or seated themselves at the door-ways of the hotels; and the whole city seemed suddenly aroused from a deep and unconscious sleep.

On the vessel itself, it seemed that the quiet, which had deserted the city, had taken up its abode. After the decks had been washed, the sailors and firemen went ashore, and the watch walked slowly up and down the forecastle, busily engaged in repulsing the attacks of the furious musquitos.

Gradually, deep silence again lay over the town; the lights were extinguished, the coffee-houses and hotels were closed, and only on the lower market, close to the Levee, the lamps of the coffee and chocolate-stands still glistened, which were attended by pretty young girls-nearly all of them Germans-who sold, through the whole night, hot coffee, tea, and chocolate, and some iced soda-water; and their bright coffee-cans, which glistened in the darkness-their clean stands,