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Thus ended the history of Mrs Malcolm； as connected with our Parish
Annals。 Her house was sold； and is the same now inhabited by the
millwright； Mr Periffery； and a neat house it still is； for the possessor is an
Englishman； and the English have an uncommon taste for snod houses and
trim gardens； but at the time it was built； there was not a better in the town；
though it's now but of the second class。 Yearly we hear both from Mrs
Macadam and her sister； with a five…pound note from each to the poor of
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the parish； as a token of their remembrance； but they are far off； and； were
any thing ailing me； I suppose the gift will not be continued。 As for
Captain Malcolm； he has proved； in many ways； a friend to such of our
young men as have gone to sea。 He has now left it off himself； and
settled at London； where he latterly sailed from； and； I understand； is in a
great way as a shipowner。 These things I have thought it fitting to record；
and will now resume my historical narration。
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CHAPTER XLI YEAR 1800
The same quietude and regularity that marked the progress of the last
year； continued throughout the whole of this。 We sowed and reaped in
tranquillity； though the sough of distant war came heavily from a distance。
The cotton…mill did well for the company； and there was a sobriety in the
minds of the spinners and weavers； which showed that the crisis of their
political distemperature was over； there was something more of the old
prudence in men's reflections； and it was plain to see that the elements of
reconciliation were coming together throughout the world。 The
conflagration of the French Revolution was indeed not extinguished； but it
was evidently burning out； and their old reverence for the Grand
Monarque was beginning to revive among them； though they only called
him a consul。 Upon the king's fast I preached on this subject； and when
the peace was concluded； I got great credit for my foresight； but there was
no merit in't。 I had only lived longer than the most of those around me；
and had been all my days a close observer of the signs of the times； so that
what was lightly called prophecy and prediction； were but a probability
that experience had taught me to discern。
In the affairs of the parish； the most remarkable generality （for we had
no particular catastrophe） was a great death of old people in the spring。
Among others； Miss Sabrina； the school mistress； paid the debt of nature；
but we could now better spare her than we did her predecessor； for at
Cayenneville there was a broken manufacturer's wife； an excellent teacher；
and a genteel and modernised woman； who took the better order of
children； and Miss Sabrina having been long frail （for she was never stout）；
a decent and discreet carlin； Mrs M'Caffie； the widow of a custom…house
officer； that was a native of the parish； set up another for plainer work。
Her opposition Miss Sabrina did not mind； but she was sorely displeased
at the interloping of Mrs Pirn at Cayenneville； and some said it helped to
kill herof that； however； I am not so certain； for Dr。 Tanzey had told me
in the winter； that he thought the sharp winds in March would blow out her
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ANNALS OF THE PARISH
candle； as it was burnt to the snuff； accordingly； she took her departure
from this life； on the twenty…fifth day of that month； after there had； for
some days prior； been a most cold and piercing east wind。
Miss Sabrina； who was always an oddity and aping grandeur； it was
found； had made a will； leaving her gatherings to her favourites； with all
regular formality。 To one she bequeathed a gown； to another this； and a
third that； and to me a pair of black silk stockings。 I was amazed when I
heard this； but judge what I felt； when a pair of old marrowless stockings；
darned in the heel； and not whole enough in the legs to make a pair of
mittens to Mrs Balwhidder； were delivered to me by her executor； Mr
Caption； the lawyer。 Saving； however； this kind of flummery； Miss
Sabrina was a harmless creature； and could quote poetry in discourse more
glibly than texts of Scriptureher father having spared no pains on her
mind： as for her body； it could not be mended； but that was not her fault。
After her death； the session held a consultation； and we agreed to give
the same salary that Miss Sabrina enjoyed to Mrs M'Caffie； which angered
Mr Cayenne； who thought it should have been given to the head mistress；
and it made him give Mrs Pirn； out of his own pocket； double the sum。
But we considered that the parish funds were for the poor of the parish；
and therefore it was our duty to provide for the instruction of the poor
children。 Saving； therefore； those few notations； I have nothing further to
say concerning the topics and progress of this Ann。 Dom。
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CHAPTER XLII YEAR 1801
It is often to me very curious food for meditation； that as the parish
increased in population； there should have been less cause for matter to
record。 Things that in former days would have occasioned great
discourse and cogitation； are forgotten with the day in which they happen；
and there is no longer that searching into personalities which was so much
in vogue during the first epoch of my ministry； which I reckon the period
before the American war； nor has there been any such germinal changes
among us； as those which took place in the second epoch； counting
backward from the building of the cotton…mill that gave rise to the town of
Cayenneville。 But still we were not； even at this era； of which this Ann。
Dom。 is the beginning； without occasional personality； or an event that
deserved to be called a germinal。
Some years before； I had noted among the callans at Mr