MEETING OF THE DELEGATES. 4Q5 



with red and yellow wood-cuts. Here and there a long ale-score stood 

 shining, like a row of white teeth ; a long rough deal table occupied 

 the length of the room, around which was seated the village poli- 

 ticians, nearly hidden in clouds of tobacco-smoke. 



Before business commenced six pints of ale were called for ; and as 

 every rustic pressed us to drink with them, before spouting took 

 place each gentleman delegate began to see double. The chairman 

 was an old wood-cutter, who had lived in the village for seventy 

 years, and who was to call silence by striking the table with a large 

 stone, which an hour before had lain on the highway. Tap, tap, tap, 

 went the stone " order, order, Mr. Potts," was called ; and up rose 

 the old shoemaker ; but he had scarcely mounted the table, and 

 hemmed out " Gentlemen" than down he came, flat amongst jugs, 

 pipes, and glasses ; a friend rose up and apologized, saying, " Gen- 

 tlemen, our friend Potts often arrives to such a height of excitement 

 in the cause, that he is at times overpowered,, and cannot give utter- 

 ance to the vasty things he feels within him." The apology was ac- 

 cepted, and the blacksmith next arose. " Apostles !" whispered 

 Dick, as we lifted him upon the table, when after giving three hems, 

 he thus commenced : 



ff Fellow-countreymen and bruthers, it is we pleasure as what I 

 look round about me an see so many inlitend men as are here afore 

 me, wot are tied of been slaves ; isn't there now someat in that word 

 slave wot one cant do we ; why are we forced to work and the king 

 not, eh ? (Hear, hear, hear !) Yes, I ask agean why are we forced to 

 work and the king not ? why, my enlitened cuntryrnen, I'll tell you ; 

 it's becoys we're fools to work for him.'' (Hear, hear !) " Apostles !' 

 whispered Dick. "An them parsons, wot rite hey we to pay to em? 

 why the devil don't they take a pot and a scrip and go round frae 

 door to door, same as wot Christ's apostles did, picking up halfpence 

 where they can, an let us live in their fine houses, then I shud call 

 em Christians ; let em come voluiiteary as I've done to night for the 

 good of my country, then I shall call hem Christians ; let em put up 

 we a sup of ale, (just let me wet my throttle, thank you !) ; let em put 

 up we a sup of ale, not their fine wines, but a sup of ale I say and a 

 bit of backer same as I do, then I shall call em Chritsians (hear, 

 hear, 1 hear !) let em wear such like stockings as these, an not silk ens 

 then." But here the uproar became so great, that the climax of the 

 orator was lost in the clouds, and he was obliged to resume his seat 

 beside the old shoemaker, who had so far recovered as to be able to 

 again blow a cloud and uplift a full quart. 



After a short pause, the young stockinger uprose, and when mine 

 host had replenished the glasses and jugs, he thus proceeded : 



" Fellow-labourers ! you will understand that in joining the Union, 

 you are not only doing good for yoursens, but for your childer after 

 you, and when there's no more tyrants upon God's earth for believe 

 me the Unions will cut them all off then think what pride your 

 childer will have when your laid down in the earth, at saying ( My 

 father was one of them men as paid six-pence a month to the Union, 

 and bought a musket to shoot the king, and helped to set his country 

 i'ree, and turned all the rich men out of doors/ think, I say, wot pride 



