29^ OBSERVATIONS ON THE 



veral filver flower-pots and rofe-water bottles; and on the 

 left hand flood three fmall urns, which appeared to be 

 copper, furnifhed with notches to receive the donations 

 of the charitable. There ftood alfo near the altar, on a 

 low defk, a great book, of a folio fize, from which fome 

 portions are daily read in their divine fervice. It was 

 covered over with a blue mantle, on which were print- 

 ed, in filver letters, fome felecl paffages of their law. 



After I had had a long converfation with two of the 

 congregation, who had politely feated themfelves on each 

 fide of me on the carpet, and whom I found very intelli- 

 gent, notice was given that it was noon, and the hour of 

 divine fervice. The congregation arranged themfelffcs 

 upon the carpet, on each fide of the hall, fo as to leave 

 a fpace before the altar from end to end. The great 

 book, defk, and all, was brought with fome little cere- 

 mony from the altar, and placed at the oppoiite extre- 

 mity of the hall. An old man, with a reverend filver 

 beard, kneeled down before the defk with his face to- 

 wards the altar ; and on one fide of him fat a man with 

 a fmall drum, and two or three with cymbals. The 

 book was now opened, and the old man began to chant 

 to the time of the drum and the cymbals; and, at the 

 conclufion of every verfe, moft of the congregation 

 joined chorus in a refponfe, with countenances exhibit- - 

 ing great marks of joy. Their tones were by no means 

 harfh ; the time was quick : and I learnt that the fubjecl; 

 was a Hymn in praile of the unity, the omniprefence, 

 and the omnipotence, of the Deity. I was Angu- 

 larly delighted with the geftures of the old man : I 

 never faw a countenance fo expreffive of infelt joy, 

 whilfl he turned about from one to the other, as it 

 were, befpcaking their affents to thofe truths which his 

 very foul feemed to be engaged in chanting forth. The 

 Hymn being concluded, which confifted of about twenty 

 verfesjthe whole congregation got up,and prefented their 



faces 



