1784 LETTEE FKOM TIMOTHY 127 



as I lay in the hold. We had a short voyage, and came 

 to anchor on the coast of England in the harbour of 

 Chichester. In that city my kidnapper sold me for half 

 a crown to a country gentleman,* who came up to attend 

 an election. I was immediatety packed in an hand-basket, 

 and carryed, slung by the servant's side, to their place of 

 abode. As they rode very hard for forty miles, and I 

 had never been on horseback before, I found myself some- 

 what giddy from my airy jaunt. My purchaser, who was a 

 great humorist, after shewing me to some of his neighbours 

 and giving me the name of Timothy, took little further 

 notice of me ; so I fell under the care of his lady, a benevo- 

 lent woman, whose humane attention extended to the 

 meanest of her retainers. With this gentlewoman I re- 

 mained almost forty years, living in a little walled-in court 

 in the front of her house, and enjoying much quiet and 

 as much satisfaction as I could expect without society. 

 At last this good old lady dyed in a very advanced age, 

 such as a tortoise would call a good old age; and I then 

 became the property of her nephew. This man, my present 

 master, dug me out of my winter retreat, and, packing me 

 in a deal box, jumbled me eighty miles in post-chaises 

 to my present place of abode. I was sore shaken by this 

 expedition, which was the worst journey I ever experienced. 

 In my present situation I enjoy many advantages — such as 

 the range of an extensive garden, affording a variety of 

 sun and shade, and abounding in lettuces, poppies, kidney 

 beans, and many other salubrious and delectable herbs 

 and plants, and especially with a great choice of delicate 

 gooseberries ! But still at times I miss my good old mistress, 

 whose grave and regular deportment suited best with my 

 disposition. For you must know that my master is what 

 they call a naturalist, and much visited by people of that 



* Mr. Snooke of Ringmer, near Lewes. 



