394 The Golden City. [Ocr. 



inquire after the family of his relative, he learnt, to his surprise, that 

 he had not seen them very lately. To his questions respecting his shop, 

 his gig, and his cottage at Highgate, his answers were very sparing ; 

 and at the end of a certain street he bade him farewell, nor could any 

 persuasion induce him to extend his walk. Maurice observed a change 

 in him, and wondered at the modesty with which so prosperous and 

 wealthy a tradesman spoke of his possessions ; but shortly after, his 

 admiration was removed by learning that he was at that very period 

 enjoying the rules of the Fleet Prison. 



The ensuing week afforded him one of those commercial miracles, a holi- 

 day, of human institution. The great question among his companions 

 was how to make the mos of it ; and it was finally decided that a party 

 should be formed to row up the river, and visit one of the theatres in 

 the evening. He consented to share in the excursion ; and as all the 

 party professed themselves expert rowers, and scoffed at the idea of 

 steering, he anticipated very great pleasure. 



When they were all seated in an eight-oared boat, it was discovered 

 that every oar was in the wrong place, and the act of exchanging pro- 

 duced so much confusion, and so many disasters, that the whole crew 

 were completely out of temper before the voyage was commenced. At 

 length they made way, but they had no idea of keeping time, and per- 

 haps the universe did not afford any thing more ridiculous than the 

 spectacle they exhibited, dipping their oars into the water in regular 

 succession, like the paddles of a steam -packet, and looking all the while 

 exceedingly earnest, and very angry. One accused another of not row- 

 ing, but he insisted upon it that he did, and appealed to his profuse 

 perspiration, and hands already nearly flayed. The steersman, however, 

 bore the blame of all that went wrong, and after undergoing vehement 

 censure from all quarters, surrendered his office to another of the party, 

 who was completely exhausted by ten minutes' labour. 



But his successor was still more ignorant, or more unfortunate, and 

 the numberless directions given him puzzled him infinitely, because 

 those who gave them sometimes remembered, and sometimes forgot, 

 that their right was his left, and the converse. Once he steered them 

 against a barge, then against a bridge, and, finally, having spoilt a 

 wherry match near the Red House, he was so much irritated by the 

 reproaches showered on him, that he insisted on being put on shore. 

 His request was granted with many sneers and much laughter ; but he 

 was not unrevenged, for as his companions were putting off again, a 

 bargeman dashed his enormous pole into the river, and covered them 

 with mud and water, while a rope carried away the hat of one of them ; 

 and he could obtain no other satisfaction for the injury than virulent 

 abuse for being a cockney, and intimations that, one day or another, 

 he would meet with a rope productive of more serious consequences. 



It had been fixed that the party should re-assemble at the lodgings of 

 one of them in the evening. There, in the intervals of smoking, they 

 were occupied in discussing many subjects of the last importance. It 

 was astonishing to perceive how easily they determined questions in 

 politics and religion, on which other wise men had doubted and dis- 

 puted for ages. Occasionally they descended to minor topics : praised an 

 actress to whose " benefit" they had received an order ; spoke of fashions 

 in dress, which they imagined to exist at the other end of the town ; 

 and established doctrines of etiquette they were fortunate enough to 

 overlook in practice. 



