mistress leaves the whole businefs of the kitchen to an ordinary servant. Here, it is quite otherwise. In every family of moderate rank, the mistrefs is herself often in the kitchen to see that things are quite right. Mrs Drury is more than usually attentive to this department. Whenever the1emarks that a particular kind of seasoning, or mode of drefsing a dish, is relished by her husband, the sees it the next time done under her own eye; remarking, with the nicest distinction, all particulars, and taking care that the servant fhall distinguish them as well as herself. Hence it happens that the victuals are, at this table, always drefsed in the nicest manner that can be conceived; and there is not a single article of provisions ever brought into the family, that is not made to turn out to the greatest account. But it is not in the article of the table, alone, that Mrs D. discovers her attachment to her husband. She is naturally attentive to her family, and economical of every thing; but particularly of time: fhe is never one moment unemployed, nor will suffer one of her children to be so; but as Mr D. is of a studious disposition, and takes no pleasure in relaxation, without the company of some person in whose conversation he is interested; and, as he takes great pleasure in walking, if fhe accompanies him, fhe takes care that he shall never perceive that she is in the least embarrassed about leaving her employment when he seems inclined to walk. I have seen her, when busied about a thing in which she was very much interested, throw it aside with the greatest chearfulness when ever he appeared; so that you would think he had just been waiting on purpos to accompany him. The good man then goes forth to walk with the utmost alacrity in the garden or int the park, where he takes pleasure in pointing out every new improvement he thinks of: nor could he adopt a single plan without her approbation. There also fhe remarks the objects in which he takes pleasure; there is not a stalk of a flower, or a twig of a tree, in which fhe sees he takes an interest, that she does not watch over with a particular care; but she does even this without making any ostentatious parade of it to him. O what a delightful woman she is ! -She takes care to warn the girls not to touch such or such a thing, and to prevent their companions from doing so. The good man sees these attentions, and is highly delighted with them. He is in his turn equally attentive to her; nor does he seem to have any enjoyment in which she does not bear a part. It is these mutual attentions, in matters that too often are thought not to merit attention, which endear this happy pair to each other in such a remarkable manner. I have often observed this my dear Albert. And when I think that these must some time or other be separated, I cannot help even now shedding a tear for the unhappy fate of the survivor. How hard is the lot of humanity, that even our highest enjoyments must be embittered with the recollection that they must some time have an end! Why did this thought obtrude itself at present? It quite overcomes me. I cannot proceed farther. Indeed I can think of no thing else. Forgive me at present dear Albert! I fhall try to difsipate these dismal thoughts, and give you some farther particulars at another time, May you ever be happy! Adieu. ISABELLA. DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATE. CRIPTION THE plate exhibits a view of the ruins of a monastery on a small island in the Frith of Forth, called Inch Colm, and a distant prospect of the city of Edinburgh, with the Pentland hills behind it. This island was originally called EVONIA or ÆMONA. Under the first name it is described by Lesly bishop of Rofs *, and Buchanan distinguishes it by the last name t; both of which historians, with little variation, record the following transactions respecting it. Alexander 1. having been nearly wrecked, had the good fortune to get safe fhelter upon this island, where he was forced to remain for three days that the storm continued. In memory of this event he built a temple here in honour of St Columba, from which the island derives its modern name, and endowed it with lands for the maintenance of canons. It is the ruins of this structure which are represented in the plate. The building is now almost entirely unroofed, and in ruins. It has been of considerable extent, and, besides out-buildings, has consisted of a complete square, inclosing an inner court of no great extent. Most of the apartments have been vaulted. The church is an octagon of small dimensions, and tolerably entire at present. The register of this abbey reports, that Allan Mortimer, laird of Aberdour, gave the half of his lands to *De origine moribus & gestis Scot. Romæ, 4to. 1578, p. 220. Hist. Ultraj. 8vo. 1668 p. 217. |