INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF A RAT. 545 



The beautiful green fields, divided into innumerable shapes by luxuri- 

 ant hedges, formed a prospect which enchanted me : on my left, and 

 behind me, hill overtopped hill, further than " mine " eye could reach, 

 and were lost in the blue mists. At length, however, I thought of pro- 

 ceeding ; and it was here, in getting down to Ilkley, that I first learnt 

 "the principles of descent" (dissent ?) now so much talked about in the va- 

 rious circles in which I have moved ; and ere I had reached Ilkley I became 

 a thorough convert, and a most accomplished dissenter, (descender). 

 On arriving at Ilkley, at the head inn, (a place I will not recommend) 

 I had scarcely time to satisfy the calls of nature (which had grown rather 

 clamorous by reason of the sharp air fron the hills) with " needful grati- 

 fication," when a coach arrived, which I learnt was going to Leeds. At 

 once I determined to avail myself of the opportunity, and insinuating 

 myself into the travelling- coat pocket of a stout old gentleman, I jour- 

 neyed very comfortably to the White Horse, in Boar lane, Leeds, from 

 whence I had first set out, and opposite that very church the rambling 

 up whose steeple had first induced me to travel. You may be sure I was 

 not long in finding out my old domicile, where I appeared to my won- 

 dering relatives, who had given me up as lost, quite an accomplished 

 gentleman ; and I did not fail to give myself all the airs of " the monkey 

 who had seen the world." I did not, however, remain long contented 

 at home : a restless spirit of enterprsie continually urged me on some 

 excursion ; and the Leeds and Selby railway being opened since my re- 

 turn, I resolved to take another trip, and try how I liked steam travelling. 

 Early, therefore, one fine morning, I wended my way into March -lane, 

 from whence the carriages start, and after having many marvellous es- 

 capes, in running through the company's warehouse, of being crushed to 

 death by the unmannerly crowd, who kept continually running to and 

 fro in every direction, I made choice of the Juno, first-class carnage, 

 and snugly deposited myself under one of the seats. Soon, however, we 

 began to move, and, I confess, I was under a little trepidation lest we 

 should get off the rails, or the engine boiler should burst, or some other 

 dreadful catastrophe should happen to us, and put an end to my valuable 

 existence ; but I soon got up my spirits. For a long time the passengers 

 along with me said nothing they seemed lost in wonder, but on enter- 

 ing the tunnel, where all was pitchy darkness, a lady with a lovely look- 

 ing countenance uttered an exclamation of fright, but was restored to 

 calmness by the encouragement of a portly old gentleman, dressed in 

 black, who I undestood was a dissenting minister, and who assured her 

 there was no danger whatever that he had often been before. This 

 was very consoling to me, also, who began to be alarmed at the dreadful 

 clattering the carriage made in running down the inclined plane through 

 the tunnel, superadded to which was the pitchy darkness. It reminded 

 me of an old song, I have heard our stable boy sing, of " Jarvey driving 

 to the devil." On emerging into the light, our party began expressing 

 themselves on the wonderful invention of steam carriages, and wondering 

 what the ingenuity of man would devise next. Our party soon became 

 quite conversational, and the remarks of the stout old gentleman were 

 particularly interesting. He had been a great traveller and described 

 the manners and customs of other countries ; and the dinners he liked best 

 in one nation, and what suited him best in another. And though the 



M. M. 12. 3 X 



