
 
        
         
		which  her  new  fituation  obliged  her  to  relinquiih.  Some  
 changes,  however,  of.fuch  fentiments  were  faid to  have  taken  
 place, on  the part  of the ladies,  with the change of their former  
 Government,  and  that  whatever  might  ftill  be  the opinion  of  
 theorems,  they  began  to  doubt  whether  the  eafy arid  unre-  
 ftramed  gaiety of  a red  coat  might  not  be  equally produdiveof  
 happinefs with  the gravity of a black one. 
 But  the  introduction  of  new  manners  and  new  fentiments  
 produced  no  direlidion  in  the  pious  deportment  of  the  clergy  
 and-their  families;  nor was  there  any  change  in  the  exterior  
 marks  of  devotion among the  laity.  The  former are  fcrupu-  
 loufly. exa£t  in  the  obfervance  of  the  feveral  duties of  their  
 office,  and  the  latter  equally  fo  in  their  attendance  of  public  
 worlhip.  In  the  country  the boors  carry their  devotion  to  an  
 excefs  ©f  inconvenience  that  looks  very like  hypocrify.  From  
 fome parts of  the  colony  it  requires  a  journey  of  a week  or  
 ten days  to  go  to  the  neareil  church,  yet  the  whole family  fel-  
 dom fails-in their attendance twice  or thrice in  a  year. 
 The  duties  of  the  clergy  are  not  very  laborious,  though  
 pretty much the fame  as in  Europe.  They  attend church  twice  
 on Sundays,  vifit  the  fick  when fent  for,  and  bellow  one morning  
 in the week  to  examine  young  perfons  in  the  confeffion  of  
 faith^  They mull  alfo  compofe  their  fermon  for Sunday,  and  
 learn it by  heart.  Their congregation  would  have little  refped,  
 for  their  talents  if  it  was  read  to  them,  though  of  their- own  
 c»mpoling.  Nothing  will  do  in a  Dutch  church  but  an  extemporary 
 temporary  rant;  and  they all  go  to  church  in  expectation  of  
 fome glance belftg made  at the prevailing  topic o f  the day,  and  
 return  fatisfied  or  difpleafed  according  as  the  preacher  has  
 coincided with  or oppofed  their fentiments on  the fubjed of his  
 difcourfe.  •-  ! 
 The clergy have alfo the diredion  of the  funds .raifed  for  the  
 relief  of the  poor.  Thefe  funds  are  eftablilhed  from  weekly  
 donations, made by all  fuch.as  attend divine fervice,  from  legacies, 
   and from the  fums demanded by the  church  on  the  emancipation  
 of Haves.  The  intereft  is  applied  towards  the  fuccour  
 and fupport  of  thofe  whom  old  age,  infirmities, accident,  or the  
 common  misfortunes  of  life,  may  have  rendered  incapable  of  
 affifting themfelves.  This  clafs  is  not  very  numerous  in  the  
 Cape,  and  is  compofed moilly of  fuch  as hive been  denied,  in  
 their early  days,  the means  of making any  provifion agafnft old  
 age ;  chiefly  emancipated  Haves,  whofe  bell  part  of  their  life  
 has-been  dedicated entirely  to  the  fervice of their owners. 
 An unfuccefsful  attempt was made fome years  ago  to eftablilh  
 a public grammar-fchool  at  the  Cape,  and  the clergymen  were  
 nominated  as  curators.  A  fund  for  this  purpofe  was  intended  
 to be  raifed  by  fubfcription,  and  every  one  was  ready  to put  
 down his  name,  but  very  few  -came  forwards  with  the money.  
 After  the purchafe of a fuitable  houfe,  they found there was  nothing 
 left  to  afford  even:a moderate  falary  for  a  Latin  mailer;  
 and  the  clergy  of the Cape, who'are the  only  fit perfons to  take  
 upon  them the important  talk of  inflrmting youth,  are already 
 too