A picture of the House of Burgesses of Maryland in 1766.
We have been politely favored with the sight of a letter from _an
illustrious philosopher and statesman_, written at Annapolis on the
25th May, 1766, to his friend in Virginia, from which we make the
subjoined curious extract. It is no less instructive than amusing to
trace the progress of society from its rude and simple beginnings, to
that more perfect form produced by civilization and refinement. It may
be doubted however, whether the degree of decorum prevailing in the
legislative body of a country, furnishes more than an imperfect index
to the state of public manners. We will venture to assert that in 1766,
the very year when the Burgesses of Maryland are represented as no
better than a "mob," the Colonial Assembly of Virginia exhibited as
fine a picture of gravity and dignity as could be well conceived; and
yet we have no reason to believe that the people of Maryland at that
day were less civilized than their brethren south of the Potomac.
Perfectly aware as we are of the faults of our countrymen, we have
nevertheless always contended that the Virginians are the most
remarkable people in the world for the observance of a certain peculiar
affability towards each other, not only in their public bodies, but in
private intercourse. We mean Virginians of the genuine old stock--not
the new race who have sprung up among us like mushrooms, and are trying
to introduce an awkward imitation of European customs. These latter are
some of them weak enough to think that the sudden acquisition of
fortune, without merit on their part, or a voyage or two to London or
Paris, are of themselves sufficient to constitute a finished gentleman.
Real refinement is founded upon good sense, and upon kindness and good
will towards our fellow man, and never can co-exist with purse-proud
arrogance or conceited vanity.
In reference to our public assemblies, it is a common remark, and we
have no doubt a just one, that there is more order, decorum and dignity
in the Virginia Legislature, than in the House of Representatives of
the United States. In the latter body the members sit with their hats
on, write letters and read newspapers, whilst one of their members is
addressing the chair, or the speaker is putting the question. Such
disorder is rarely seen in the Capitol of the Old Dominion.
* * * * *
----"I will now give you some account of what I have seen in this
metropolis. The Assembly happens to be sitting at this time; their
upper and lower house as they call them, sit in different houses. I
went into the lower, sitting in an old courthouse, which judging from
its form and appearance, was built in the year one. I was surprised on
approaching it, to hear as great a noise and hubbub as you will usually
observe at a public meeting of the planters in Virginia. The first
object which struck me after my entrance, was the figure of a little
old man, dressed but indifferently, with a yellow queue wig on, and
mounted in the judge's chair. This, the gentleman who walked with me,
informed me was the speaker, a man of a very fair character, but who,
by the by, has very little the air of a speaker. At one end of the
justices' bench stood a man whom in another place I should, from his
dress and phiz, have taken for Goodall the lawyer in Williamsburg,
reading a bill then before the house with a schoolboy tone, and an
abrupt pause at every half dozen words. This I found to be the clerk of
the Assembly. The mob (for such was their appearance) sat covered on
the justices' and lawyers' benches, and were divided into little clubs,
amusing themselves in the common chitchat way. I was surprised to see
them address the speaker without rising from their seats, and three,
four and five at a time, without being checked. When a motion was made,
the speaker, instead of putting the question in the usual form, only
asked the gentlemen whether they chose that such or such a thing should
be done, and was answered by a yes sir, or no sir; and though the
voices appeared frequently to be divided, they never would go to the
trouble of dividing the house; but the clerk entered the resolutions, I
supposed, as he thought proper. In short, every thing seems to be
carried without the house in general knowing what was proposed."
For the Southern Literary Messenger.