146 A YEAR OF LIBERTY ; OR, 



flour, brought the dish to its culminating point. What a first 

 course it was ! Oh, ye sons of hixury, who, after a muttered 

 grace (for the sake of the children), sit down to anathematise 

 the soup, growl at the fishmonger, swear at the butcher, 

 vow vengeance on your poulterer, and consign your particular 

 cook to a place hotter than the kitchen fire ^had you hut 

 been with us at our cheerful meal, would. you have sneered at 

 our grateful acceptance of so many good things? Probably you 

 would. 



Our party consisted of an old man, a gentle lady, a poor angler, 

 and four or five humble followers, whose united dinner costume 

 could not have been worth a pound. Would you have liked the 

 company? I fear your magnificence would have despised our 

 simplicity ; your wisdom, our folly ; so we are better without you, 

 and may proceed with our meal without fear of criticism. Our 

 crockery was not what it ought to have been. The hosts were only 

 allowed a willow-pattern plate each ; but the comfort of the company 

 was carefully attended to every man having a good supply of those 

 necessary articles, green in colour, beautiful in shape, and bearing a 

 strong likeness to the shining leaves of the Rumex aquaticus. After 

 fish came a fore-quarter of kid, a hind one of lamb, a couplo of 

 chickens, tongue, and two mighty tarts, which, being disposed of, 

 the party drank and were merry. The poor angler before mentioned 

 brewed a pint of cofi'ee for his own special use, while John placed 

 two bottles of Bass's India ale within a convenient distance of his 

 master, who, lighting a cigar about five inches long by three in 

 circumference, resigned himself to calm contemplation. Near us 

 were several grassy earthworks known as raths, or Danish camps ; 

 the latter name very probably a misnomer, as they are found in 

 numberless places where those northern rovers are believed never to 

 have penetrated. It is therefore more natural to suppose they were 

 thrown up by each clan round their wigwams, as a defence against 

 any sudden attack from an enemy. Such forts are met with all 

 over the island, near the coast, far from the sea, in valleys and on 

 hills, and were, in all probability, the strongholds of barbarians 



