1811.

A

CONVERSATION Which I overheard, a few days ago, between two servant girls, in a common stair, leads me, in this week's paper, to consider the duties of masters and servants. You are a a comical pair said the one, who was a young modest looking girl; aye, replied the other, I'll be revenged on her, does she think to domineer over me; I am as good as she is, let me tell her that; my cousin is a lawyer, and she had better let me alone! OI had famous fun last night; I did every thing I could to put her in a passion; had you only seen how she stormed and raved, you would have split your sides with laughing, I cannot help laughing when I think of it yet, said she, raising a diabolical laugh; she threatened to turn me out of doors, but that is all I want, I will get my wages and boardwages,-I am sure of being scolded, let me do my best, and that makes me careless how ill I use her; but I must go at present, said she, lifting her waterpitcher, it is already past nine, and we shall have rare doings when I go in ;you're a sad quean, said the other, as they parted.

to

This dialogue, which I have related exactly as I heard it, affords matter for serious reflection, on the relative duties

No. XXI.

I.

of masters and servants. Surely, said I to myself, that is either an unprincipled woman, or there must be great mismanagement on the part of her mistress.

Being myself neither servant nor master, I shall be free from all suspicion of partiality in this question, and that I may treat it the more fully, I will take a short view of the condition of slaves among the ancient Greeks and Romans, and of servants among and of servants among the present inhabitants of the Continent of Europe and Britain, particularly this city.

Among the states of Greece, and in the Republic of Rome, so much boasted of as the favourite abodes of liberty, only a small portion of mankind enjoyed · freedom; a great majority were actually in a state of slavery. In Athens, there were not above twenty thousand citizens, while the population amounted to eight or ten times that number, at a moderate calculation, and all the rest were slaves; these slaves were partly born in a state of servitude, partly prisoners taken in war, and were often treated with extreme rigour and cruelty. For the slightest offence, their masters could punish them with stripes, send them to the workhouse, where they were doomed to confinement and scvere labour; and, among the Romans at one period, they could even put them to death. The most disgusting scenes of domestic cruelty and tyranny are of

ten described by the ancient authors. The sound of the lash, and the cries of the sufferers are so often alluded to, as to give reason to believe that these were things of common occurrence. In the same degree, indeed, as the high minded Greek and Roman valued himself for the possession of freedom, he despised this unfortunate class of men, who, he seemed to forget, partook of the same common nature with himself. In the Greek language, one word that signifies a slave, denotes properly what is trodden under foot by men. The barbarous manner in which the Lacedemonian Helots were treated, is known to every one. Besides being daily subjected to severe labour, and to every indignity that could quell the spirit of man, they were often for mere amusement waylaid, attacked by superior numbers and beat, bruised, and mangled in a shocking manner. Sometimes they were compelled to drink to intoxication, to inspire the noble youths with an abhorrence of this degrading vice. We are not to suppose, however, that all slaves were treated in this brutal manner, their treatment as of servants, among ourselves, would depend on the character and temper of their masters. Such of them as displayed any superiority of talent, were often educated, and to their care the tuition of youth was committed. They were likewise taught medicine, and practised this most important of all arts. For faithful services, they sometimes obtained their liberty, and were employed by their masters in situations of great trust.

The mild and benevolent maxims of Christianity, and the gradual refinement of society, have abolished the practice

of slavery in almost all the countries of modern Europe. Russia is one of the few countries where it still exists; a Scotch lady who had resided long in that country, being about to leave it, was anxious to bring along with her a young woman, a slave, to whom she was much attached, for she had served her with the affection of a child, rather than the fidelity of a servant. The poor girl would have followed her mistress to the end of the world; but she was in love with a young man, a fellow servant, who was to be left behind, and though she did not confess the cause, displayed great reluctance to leave Russia. The Lady, who was unacquainted with her passion, urged her earnestly to accompany her, and was surprised at her hesitation. The young woman could not bear the thoughts of being for ever separated from her lover, who was dearer to her than life and liberty, and though she knew, that if she went to Scotland, she became free; yet, she preferred staying in Russia, where she expected to be sold to another master, with the chance of occasionally meeting him. But what was her astonishment, when her mistress, after having used every argument with her in vain, instead of frowning on her, as she expected, told her she was free! she fell upon her knees, seized her hands, bathed them with her tears, and blessed her a thousand times. Tell me, ye slaveowners, is the wealth which you acquire by the unfeeling tasks of your slaves, once to be compared to a moment like this. The lady mingled tears with those of the young woman, and still boasts of this as the moment of her life, that yielded her the most delicious

enjoyment. To make her completely happy, she gave his freedom to the lover, saw them married and comfortably settled before she left Russia. In a world of folly, knavery, cruelty, and hard-hearted avarice, the Spy glories in recording a fact so honourable to hu

man nature.

In the southern parts of Europe, particularly France, servants live on a footing of familiarity with their masters. unknown in England. It is no unusual thing to see the servants who wait at table, mixing in the conversation with a degree of naiveté, a delicacy of humour or a poignancy of wit, that force a smile often from their masters, who do not seem to be in the least offended at this liberty. In this country, such freedoms would be looked upon as the greatest breach of decorum, and would not even be tolerated.

No complaint is so common as the difficulty of managing servants, and, I have no doubt, in the kitchen and servants' hall, the theme is as often of bad masters and mistresses. Mrs. Peevish is particularly unfortunate in her servants; to hear her, they are all negligent dirty slatterns, insolent scolds, thieves, drunkards, or something worse, and it must be confessed, she is unfortunate: she not unfrequently has two or three changes of servants in six months, and twelve months, seldom pass, that she is not in court with some one or other of them; but Mrs. Peevish never forgives a fault, how slight soever; all degrees of offence are equally heinous in her eyes. If a servant fall accidently as she descends the stair-case, and break a plate of twopence value, she bursts out into a violent fit of scolding that

throws her into a fever, from which she does not recover for the wle evening, and, if the poor girl, dare to utter a single word in extenuation, it is unpardonable insolence. She never ceases to entertain her visitors with her complaints on this subject. One morning lately, I found her alone bathed in tears, I was afraid that some family misfortune had happened, the sickness of a favourite child, or the death of some near relation; I did not dare to ask the cause of her affliction, when raising her head, she addressed me thus: "Could you believe it, the worthless woman has overthrown that pot," pointing to the fragments of a flower-pot," and crushed in pieces my beautiful China rose, of which you know. I. was so proud!" This was an agreeable relief from the painful situation in which I was, before she spoke, and, though I had some difficulty in smothering a laugh, I said, I was sorry for the accident, but it was well it was no worse. What call you worse, said she, colouring, it was the most elegant thing I ever saw; I had it from Lady Flora, who selected it from a number of others of the same kind in Rose Gardens. But the impudent wretch shall not remain another night in my house, that I am determined on. Never was woman so unfortunate, continued she, every thing I engage in goes wrong, and all from the carelessness of servants. Only three days ago, Mr. Peevish asked a large party to dinner, though he knows I hate dinner-parties above all things; I gave strict charge that dinner should be on the table exactly at six, well, six came, no word of dinner, the guests all assembled, for they were invited at half