This defect was however so deplorable that we had consumed our whole dish before we had visibly lessened our hunger.We now waited with impatience the arrival of our second course,which necessity,and not luxury,had dictated.This was a joint of mutton which Mrs.Francis had been ordered to provide;but when,being tired with expectation,we ordered our servants TO SEE FORSOMETHING ELSE,we were informed that there was nothing else;on which Mrs.Francis,being summoned,declared there was no such thing as mutton to be had at Ryde.When I expressed some astonishment at their having no butcher in a village so situated,she answered they had a very good one,and one that killed all sorts of meat in season,beef two or three times a year,and mutton the whole year round;but that,it being then beans and peas time,he killed no meat,by reason he was not sure of selling it.This she had not thought worthy of communication,any more than that there lived a fisherman at next door,who was then provided with plenty of soles,and whitings,and lobsters,far superior to those which adorn a city feast.This discovery being made by accident,we completed the best,the pleasantest,and the merriest meal,with more appetite,more real solid luxury,and more festivity,than was ever seen in an entertainment at White's.
It may be wondered at,perhaps,that Mrs.Francis should be so negligent of providing for her guests,as she may seem to be thus inattentive to her own interest;but this was not the case;for,having clapped a poll-tax on our heads at our arrival,and determined at what price to discharge our bodies from her house,the less she suffered any other to share in the levy the clearer it came into her own pocket;and that it was better to get twelve pence in a shilling than ten pence,which latter would be the case if she afforded us fish at any rate.
Thus we passed a most agreeable day owing to good appetites and good humor;two hearty feeders which will devour with satisfaction whatever food you place before them;whereas,without these,the elegance of St.James's,the charde,the perigord-pie,or the ortolan,the venison,the turtle,or the custard,may titillate the throat,but will never convey happiness to the heart or cheerfulness to the countenance.
As the wind appeared still immovable,my wife proposed my lying on shore.I presently agreed,though in defiance of an act of parliament,by which persons wandering abroad and lodging in ale-houses are decreed to be rogues and vagabonds;and this too after having been very singularly officious in putting that law in execution.My wife,having reconnoitered the house,reported that there was one room in which were two beds.It was concluded,therefore,that she and Harriot should occupy one and myself take possession of the other.She added likewise an ingenious recommendation of this room to one who had so long been in a cabin,which it exactly resembled,as it was sunk down with age on one side,and was in the form of a ship with gunwales too.
For my own part,I make little doubt but this apartment was an ancient temple,built with the materials of a wreck,and probably dedicated to Neptune in honor of THE BLESSING sent by him to the inhabitants;such blessings having in all ages been very common to them.The timber employed in it confirms this opinion,being such as is seldom used by ally but ship-builders.I do not find indeed any mention of this matter in Hearn;but perhaps its antiquity was too modern to deserve his notice.Certain it is that this island of Wight was not an early convert to Christianity;nay,there is some reason to doubt whether it was ever entirely converted.But I have only time to touch slightly on things of this kind,which,luckily for us,we have a society whose peculiar profession it is to discuss and develop.
Sunday,July 19.--This morning early I summoned Mrs.Francis,in order to pay her the preceding day's account.As I could recollect only two or three articles I thought there was no necessity of pen and ink.In a single instance only we had exceeded what the law allows gratis to a foot-soldier on his march,viz.vinegar,salt,etc.and dressing his meat.I found,however,I was mistaken in my calculation;for when the good woman attended with her bill it contained as follows.
Now that five people and two servants should live a day and night at a public-house for so small a sum will appear incredible to any person in London above the degree of a chimney-sweeper;but more astonishing will it seem that these people should remain so long at such a house without tasting any other delicacy than bread,small beer,a teacupful of milk called cream,a glass of rum converted into punch by their own materials,and one bottle of wind,of which we only tasted a single glass though possibly,indeed,our servants drank the remainder of the bottle.
This wind is a liquor of English manufacture,and its flavor is thought very delicious by the generality of the English,who drink it in great quantities.Every seventh year is thought to produce as much as the other six.It is then drank so plentifully that the whole nation are in a manner intoxicated by it;and consequently very little business is carried on at that season.It resembles in color the red wine which is imported from Portugal,as it doth in its intoxicating quality;hence,and from this agreement in the orthography,the one is often confounded with the other,though both are seldom esteemed by the same person.It is to be had in every parish of the kingdom,and a pretty large quantity is consumed in the metropolis,where several taverns are set apart solely for the vendition of this liquor,the masters never dealing in any other.The disagreement in our computation produced some small remonstrance to Mrs.
