The service in the episcopal churches of the United States is the same as that of England, except in such parts as have been accommodated to the reigning government. Instead of His Majesty, the Royal Family, the Nobility, and Parliament; they pray for the President, the Senate, and House of Representatives of the United States. St. Athanasius's creed is omitted; and some slight alterations have been made in the text of the common prayer. The churches, chapels, and meet'ings of Charleston are, in general, well attended; and during divine service few people are seen in the streets. The young men, however, are fond of posting themselves near a church porch, before and after service, in order to admire the girls, who afford the amorous youths few opportunities of seeing their elegant forms in the street on other days.

Some of the methodists are in the habit of having meetings twice a-week at their own houses. In the street where I resided for some time a methodist woman lived within a few doors of our house; and twice a-week, from six to nine o'clock in the evening, she used to collect a small congregation, for the purpose of praying and singing. There would have been nothing irregular or improper in such meetings, had they confined their devotion to themselves; but they actually disturbed the neighbourhood: for according as

150

MARRIAGES AND FUNERALS.

they happened to be inspired, they would rise. up and bellow out such thundering imprecations upon their own wickedness, that a mob usually collected round the house. They took care, however, to have the window-shutters closed. I have frequently heard the woman of the house uttering the most blasphemous language, crying, howling, and groaning, while one of the brethren continued praying; and as the man increased his voice, she increased her howlings, in which the rest of the company frequently joined. When that was over, they would grow a little calmer, and sing hymns; after which they would finish their evening's devotion with a fulminating threat against all who refused to participate in the doctrine of faith without works. The woman of the house, however, was determined that works should precede faith; for she frequently flogged her slaves before she went to prayers, as a kind of prologue to the evening's entertainments.

Marriages are solemnized by clergymen of all persuasions; as they are, also, by justices of the peace. The latter incur a fine of 100l. currency for so doing; but it has never been enforced against them. Licenses for marriage are more formal than necessary; for, as there is no law directing such a license to be first obtained, a marriage is equally lawful without it.

Funerals are conducted much in the same style

as at New York, except that in Charleston the women attend. I have seen two or three hundred men, women, and children, walking arm in arm, in pairs. The corpse is placed on a sort of hearse, or rather cart, and covered with a pall, above which is a roof supported by four pillars; the whole is very mean, and drawn by only one horse, driven by a negro shabbily dressed. The relations, or particular friends, wear mourning, with crape hatbands and scarfs; the rest of the company are in coloured clothes. Previous to setting out, refreshment is served round, and sprigs of rosemary or lavender are given to each. The negroes imitate the whites in their funerals, and it is curious to see a negro parson and clerk attending them. The bells never toll in Charleston at funerals. A few months before the yellow fever raged in that city, in 1807, an undertaker made his appearance, which was so great a novelty to the inhabitants that he was obliged to explain what was meant by the term undertaker in an advertisement. Before this carpenters were employed to knock up a coffin, and the deceased's friends were obliged to provide every necessary for the funeral, either at their own houses or at different shops. Military funerals are conducted with much parade and ceremony.

The charitable societies in Charleston, besides the Orphan-house, are the South Carolina Society, St. Andrew's, Fellowship, German Friendly, Me

chanic, Mount Sion, Hibernian, Gemiloth Hasa din, and Free Masons. The grand lodge of the latter is self-constituted, and threw off the yoke of the grand lodge of England. It does not possess a fund of more than a thousand dollars, and its charitable donations are but small. A remarkable proposition was once made in this lodge, that all its members should profess Christianity; it was, however, over-ruled; nor indeed could it have been admitted, as free-masonry was established with a view to embrace every denomination of religion in the world. Several of the new lodges in the United States are said to have degenerated from the pure principles of free-masonry, and are too apt to be influenced by politics,

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LEGISLATURE OF SOUTH CAROLINA. 183

CHAPTER XXXIII.

Legislature of South Carolina-City of Columbia -Revenue Expenses of the City of Charleston Taxes-Courts of Law-Curious Trial-· Portraits of Washington and Hamilton more , saleable than those of Jefferson- Review on Charleston Race Ground--Militia of South Carolina-Volunteer Corps of Charleston Field-day-Military Force of the United States badly disciplined-Satire upon American Discipline-A Militia Muster.

THE legislative authority of South Carolina is vested in a general assembly, consisting of a senate and house of representatives. The executive authority is vested in a governor and lieutenantgovernor, who are chosen by the general assembly to continue in office for two years; and they are not eligible again until the term of four years after they have served in that capacity. The judi cial power is vested in such superior and inferior courts of law and equity as the legislature may from time to time direct and establish. At present the courts of this state consist of a court of sessions and common pleas for each district in the state,