324 RECOLLECTIONS OF A FREE TRADER. 



put an end to all practice in this neighbourhood, for a consider- 

 able time. We had descended into the vault, and disinterred four 

 subjects, which had been recently deposited there, and which, in 

 consequence of my excellent watchmanship, were considered secure : 

 these were removed into the vestry, and nothing now remained 

 but their immediate conveyance to the adjoining warehouse, and 

 the closing of the vault. As ill luck would have it, one of our 

 party, " Lushing Miles," as we called him, discovered a key, in the 

 door of the vestry closet: curiosity (it could be nothing worse) 

 induced him to take a peep at the contents, and there his eyes were 

 rivetted on a tolerable store of spirits and wine. With our friend., 

 the sight of these goodly things was an irresistible temptation ; 

 and before any of the party were conscious of his proceedings, he 

 had ascertained the quality of nearly a pint of brandy. We all 

 then, in turn, helped ourselves, and the night proving bitterly cold, 

 the cordials were acceptable ; but one bottle begot a second, a 

 second a third, and so on, until, after the directions of Shakspeare, 

 who says wisely, " mingle, mingle, mingle ; ye who mingle may," 

 we mingled the wine and spirits, to our own utter confusion. As 

 our senses began to give way, riotous mirth became predominant. 

 After several foolish freaks, we arrayed ourselves in the sacerdotal 

 attire, which hung in the vestry. Thus metamorphosed, did they 

 continue their potations, until they all sank down, with little remain- 

 ing symptoms of life. They had, however, while some glimmer- 

 ings of sense yet remained, directed me to close the vault, and to 

 remove every thing which might, on the following morning, which 

 happened to be Sunday, give any intimation of our visit. Had I 

 done as directed, a few minutes earlier, I might have avoided the 

 appalling consequences which ensued ; but it was too late. I had 

 no longer the power to close the vault but the vault, in a few mi- 

 nutes, enclosed me ! As, bending forwards, to see all clear below, I 

 rolled down headforemost ; and the stupefying effects of the spirit, 

 together with a violent blow on the head, which I received in the 

 fall, rendered me as perfectly insensible, as the most ancient tenant 

 of that gloomy tomb. Of the scenes next ensuing, I was not an eye- 

 witness : I heard, however, that my companions remained sound 

 asleep, until after the chapel had been opened for divine service, and 

 that the beadle, looking into the vestry, and observing all the officia- 

 ting officers there, in full canonicals, did not venture to interrupt 

 them, until the bell gave notice, that the hour for the commence- 

 ment of divine service had nearly arrived. Awakened, for the first 

 time, by an admonitory tap on the door, by the beadle, my compa- 

 nions became suddenly startled into a fall sense of the painfully ridi- 

 culous and dangerous dilemma in which they were placed. There 

 was no time for reflection no opportunity of searching for me no 

 means of rescuing me from my subterranean abode, even had they 

 known it. In an instant, the various disguises were thrown off, and 

 placed on the exhumed bodies ; the vestry-door was locked inside, 

 to give the chance of time for escape ; and assuming the air and, 

 appearance of quiet and orderly workmen, my companions escaped 

 through a back door in the vestry (which opened on the burial- 



