As I Am Mentioning The Army, I Cannot Help Observing, That I Saw Nothing Here
To Confirm The Remark Of
Mr. Cook, that the inhabitants of the place,
whenever they meet an officer of the garrison, bow to him with
The greatest
obsequiousness; and by omitting such a ceremony, would subject themselves
to be knocked down, though the other seldom deigns to return the compliment.
The interchange of civilities is general between them, and seems
by no means extorted. The people who could submit to such insolent
superiority, would, indeed, deserve to be treated as slaves.
The police of the city is very good. Soldiers patrole the streets frequently,
and riots are seldom heard of. The dreadful custom of stabbing, from motives
of private resentment, is nearly at an end, since the church has ceased
to afford an asylum to murderers. In other respects, the progress
of improvement appears slow, and fettered by obstacles almost insurmountable,
whose baneful influence will continue, until a more enlightened system
of policy shall be adopted. From morning to night the ears of a stranger
are greeted by the tinkling of the convent bells, and his eyes saluted
by processions of devotees, whose adoration and levity seem to keep equal pace,
and succeed each other in turns. "Do you want to make your son sick
of soldiering? Shew him the Trainbands of London on a field-day."
Let him who would wish to give his son a distaste to Popery, point out to him
the sloth, the ignorance, and the bigotry of this place.
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