108 bacheloe's hall. 



London, that there is very considerable scarcity and 

 distress in the country ? " — (general laughter). This 

 brought up questions of political economy, excess of 

 population, stock-jobbing, usury, gentlemen taking 

 their money out of the country and aping Frenchified, 

 stick-frog fashions on their return. The latter was 

 a favourite subject with the Squire, who could not 

 see, he said, what amusement a gentleman could 

 find out of the country equal to foxhunting, and 

 gave him an opportunity of introducing his favourite 

 theory of taxing heavily those who did so. The 

 discussion had lasted over the fifth course, when more 

 potent liquors were put upon the table, together 

 with Broseley pipes. The production of the latter 

 was a temptation Stephens could not resist of telling 

 the story of the Squire purchasing a box, for which 

 he paid a high price, in London, and finding, on 

 showing them to one of his tenants, as models, that 

 they were made upon his own estate. The laugh 

 went against the Squire, who gave indication, by a 

 merry twinkle in his eye, that he would take an 

 opportunity of being quits. Discussions ensued 

 upon the virtues and evils of tobacco, and the refusal 

 of Parliament to allow a census to be taken ; one of 

 the guests expressing a belief, founded upon a state- 



