70 THE LIFE OF SIR JOSEPH BANKS 



Banks. "... The songs in ' Gretna Green ' are now 

 published, and I shall send a copy of them by the Horn- 

 castle coach next Monday Morning. Most of them, I see, 

 are old. Whether the newer ones have any merit the 

 ladies must decide. I add the last collection of Vauxhall 

 songs, as the first air in it is said to be a great favourite/* 

 ". . . . The ladies do me too much honour in condescend- 

 ing to take notice of any poor attempts of mine for their 

 amusement. The music went on Monday.'* "... I have 

 just seen your coachman ; who says he is now well, 

 and seems so. Your own hurt, though I hope from the 

 free intervals it leaves you all bad consequences will be 

 averted, yet is sufficiently alarming to render caution very 

 necessary. The intensity of exercise is undoubtedly of 

 more consequence than the quantity, though it is very 

 possible for you to exceed even in the latter respect." 



Then there was a sad tragedy of a turtle, which seems 

 to have weighed upon the Doctor's mind. He feared it 

 could not be saved for a feast, at the head of which Sir 

 Joseph would preside. 



" At the Crown and Sceptre, Thursday, I asked advice 

 of Simpkin the landlord, relative to your turtle, and begged 

 him to call and see it. He gave but a bad report, being 

 of opinion that it was not likely to live many days, and 

 the weather was much too cold for keeping it in water, 

 at least above half an hour in the day ; and that it should 

 be suffered to travel about the kitchen, and be wrapped 

 up in a blanket at night." In this condition Mr. Simpkin 

 offered five guineas for it. But it was determined by the 

 Club to have it killed. " Your turtle was dressed this 

 day at the Crown and Anchor. Simpkin, having cut 

 away all the suspicious parts, made three tureens of soup, 

 and no other dish. It was very good, and well cooked ; 

 but not to be compared with a plain turtle steak or cutlet. 

 There was but a small company ; all who were present, 

 however, expressed much obligation to you for sending it." 



