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PECULIAR CUSTOMS.

For, if women were allowed to remain, chastity of expression and decorum of behaviour would be more likely to be insured. Their presence, also would operate as a check upon drunkenness. Nor can there be a doubt that women would enliven and give a variety to conversation; and, as they have had a different education from men, that an opportunity of mutual improvement might be afforded by the continuance of the two in the society of one another.

It is also usual with the world in such companies, that the men, when the females have retired, should continue drinking till tea-time. This custom is unknown to the Quakers, even to those few, who allow of a separation of the sexes. It is not unusual with them to propose a walk before tea, if the weather permits. But even in the case where they remain at the table, their time is spent rather in conversing than in drinking. They have no toasts, as I have observed, which should induce them to put the bottle round in a given time, or which should oblige them to take a certain number of glasses. The bottle, however, is usually put round, and each helps himself as he pleases. At length one of the guests, having had sufficient, declines filling his glass. Another in a little time declines also for the same cause. A third, after having taken what he thinks sufficient, follows the example. The wine is soon afterwards taken away, and this mostly long before the hour of drinking tea. Neither drunkenness nor any situation approaching to drunkenness, is known in the Quaker-companies. Excess in drinking is strictly forbidden by the laws of the

Society. It is a subject of one of their Queries. It is of course a subject, that is often brought to their recollection. Whatever may be the faults of the Quakers, they must be acknowledged to be a sober people.

END OF THE FIRST VOLUME.

VOL. I.

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