in ships of war.  Neither were the officers, in general, old or very experienced.  The navy itself dated but fourteen years back, when the war commenced; and some of the commanders began their professional careers several years after the first appointments had been made.  Perhaps one half of the lieutenants in the service at the peace of 1815, had first gone on board ship within six years from the declaration of the war, and very many of them within three or four.  So far from the midshipmen having been masters and mates of merchantmen, as was reported at the time, they were generally youths that first went from the ease and comforts of the paternal home, when they appeared on the quarter-deck of a man-of-war.

* * * * *

=_Catharine M. Sedgwick, 1789-1867._= (Manual, p. 484.)

From “Hope Leslie.”

=_287._= THE MINISTER CONDEMNING VAIN APPAREL.

Mr. Cotton, the regular pastor, rose to remind his brethren of the decree “that private members should be very sparing in their questions and observations after public sermons,” and to say that he should postpone any further discussion of the precious points before them, as it was now near nine o’clock, after which it was not suitable for any Christian family to be unnecessarily abroad.

Hope now, and many others, instinctively rose, in anticipation of the dismissing benediction; but Mr. Cotton waved his hand for them to sit down till he could communicate to the congregation the decision to which the ruling elders and himself had come on the subject of the last Sabbath sermon.  “He would not repeat what he had before said upon that lust of costly apparel which was fast gaining ground, and had already, as was well known, crept into godly families.  He was pleased that there were among them gracious women, ready to turn at a rebuke, as was manifested in many veils being left at home that were floating over the congregation like so many butterflies’ wings in the morning.  Economy,” he justly observed, “was, as well as simplicity, a Christian grace; and, therefore, the rulers had determined that those persons who had run into the excess of immoderate veils and sleeves, embroidered caps, and gold and silver lace, should be permitted to wear them out, but new ones should be forfeited.”

This sumptuary regulation announced, the meeting was dismissed.

Madame Winthrop whispered to Everell that she was going, with his father, to look in upon a sick neighbor, and would thank him to see her niece home.  Everell stole a glance at Hope, and dutifully offered his arm to Miss Downing.

Hope, intent only on one object, was hurrying out of the pew, intending, in the jostling of the crowd, to escape alone; but she was arrested by Madame Winthrop’s saying, “Miss Leslie, Sir Philip offers you his arm;” and at the same moment, her aunt stooped forward to beg her to wait a moment, till she could send a message to Deacon Knowles’ wife, that she might wear her new gown with the Turkish sleeves, the next day....  “It is but doing as a body would be done by, to let Mistress Knowles know she may come out in her new gown to-morrow.”