CONTRACT. 35 



knew nothing, and perhaps considered 

 as little, as I was too glad to entertain 

 a project that, if well carried out, 

 would make up for that deficiency 

 in my revenue likely to accrue from 

 a too speedy falling off in my own 

 legitimate business, which the peace and 

 the competition for public favour, in 

 establishing faster and more expensive 

 conveyances, was likely to bring about. 

 The escape of the ex-Emperor from 

 Elba had renewed the war, and raised 

 the hopes of those who, like myself, 

 anticipated a further benefit from it, but 

 these the decisive battle of Waterloo 

 now rendered illusory ; and 1 thought 

 I was taking a step in the right direc- 

 tion when I acceded to the proposal 

 made me, which was to put in a tender 

 at the Navy-office, Somerset House, for 

 the supply of 140 horses, to do the 

 work in the dockyard, at a certain sum 



D2 



