12 FISHES AND FISHING. 



many chief and second mates of Indiamen, with whom 

 he had become acquainted, who at that time brought 

 up in the river, on their homeward voyage, my father 

 sent presents of poultry, vegetables, and fruit, on 

 board to his nautical friends ; and my recollection is 

 quite perfect of going on board with both my parents, 

 and being hoisted up on deck in a chair in my mo- 

 ther's lap, and being let down in the same way into 

 the boat on our return. My mother was fond of 

 china, and bought on board at different times enough 

 to fill her large china closet, which was conveyed 

 somehow safely home, and she was much envied by 

 many ladies for having such a collection. 



I knew a Mr. T d, a superior and most acute 



officer of the Customs, the terror of smugglers ; he 

 and my father were intimate, and he often dined at our 

 house. One day, just as our family were setting down 

 to dinner with him, two mercantile gentlemen, whom 

 my father slightly knew arrived, and being, as they 

 said, rambling about the country, they called to visit us. 

 A very pleasant afternoon was spent by all ; the wine 

 circulated, of which I was allowed to partake, as I 

 had a small glass which held about a thimbleful. A 

 postchaise and four had been ordered by these gen- 

 tlemen, to be in waiting, at a certain hour, a little way 

 up the London road. They slipped away from the 

 company under some pretence, reached the chaise, in 



