[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 147 



at first gained a livelihood by scraping together the ashes which he gath- 

 ered from the different farms on the Estate. Of these he manufactured 

 a commodity which he exported abroad — and by imposing upon the 

 ignorant Tenantry he by degrees acquired enough to establish a small 

 Grocery exactly upon the plan of many which are kept in the United 

 States — Thus by selling Whiskey and Spirits under the name of '' Gro- 

 ceries " and by taking advantage of the necessities of the poor tenantry 

 he in time acquired a good deel of property and among other things 

 the very distinguished Cognomen of " man skinner." 



Thomas Tough as we have before hinted was a very close observer 

 of human nature and of the actions of men, and therefore it is not to 

 be supposed that he was ignorant all this while of the tricks and carry- 

 ings on of old Bilge, who became more and more mercenary and grind- 

 ing every day, and was constantly playing the Yankee with the Tenants 

 — Yet Thomas was fain willing to let things proceed as they did ; know- 

 ing that the good sense of the Tenantry would of itself in time afford 

 a cure and he was more confirmed in this opinion from a circumstance 

 which shortly after occurred, and which shall be related in its proper 

 place. 



It seems that Bilge had got over from the State of Vermont a 

 number of minions and poor relatives, to help him in prosecuting his 

 nefarious schemes upon the poor Tenantry — There was one Billy a 

 smooth faced smiling fellow who was an excellent adept at wheedling 

 and coaxing folks, and was therefore considered by Bilge the more fit for 

 his purpose. 



Old Bilge had two sons one of whom was named Lucifer, whom 

 he took care to train up in the way he should go, and who it will be 

 found makes a considerable figure in this History — There were also two 

 iVephews of old Bilge whose names were Badshade,^ they came in as 

 adventurers and having the vanity to suppose themselves possessed of a 

 deal of address; thought that they might in time ingratiate themselves 

 with the old Steward. Now these men were Vermonters — and although 

 among the Tenantry they talked of nothing but the United States and 

 how things were managed there; they pretended to the old Steward that 

 they were regenerate and good subjects of King George; and even did 

 succeed in obtaining some favours from Thomas Tough. 



About those days a little village began to spring up in- the neigh- 

 bourhood of where old Bilge lived and Bilge, who was always more fond 

 of Yankees than any other people, induced as many as he could to con- 

 gregate there — By this means a pretty considerable Yankee association 



1 Badshade evidently stands for Goodhue. 



