156 RENNIE'S DRAINAGE OF PART VII. 



and a constant succession of visitors came and went, 

 some on pleasure, some on friendship, and some on 

 business. The profuse hospitality of the place was en- 

 joyed not less by the postillions and grooms who drove 

 thither the baronet's guests than by the visitors them- 

 selves ; and it was esteemed by the hotel postboys a great 

 privilege to drive a customer to Eevesby. On one occa- 

 sion, when Mr. Rennie went to dine and sleep at the 

 Lodge, he took an opportunity of saying to the prin- 

 cipal butler that he hoped he would see to his postboy 

 being kept sober, as he wished to leave before breakfast 

 on the following morning. The butler replied, with 

 great gravity, that he was sorry he could not oblige 

 Mr. Rennie, as the same man had left Revesby sober 

 the last time he was there, but only on condition that he 

 might be allowed to get drunk the next time he came. 

 " Therefore," said the butler, " for the honour of the 

 house, I must keep my word ; but I will take care that 

 you are not delayed for the want of horses and a 

 postboy." The butler was as good as his word : the 

 man got drunk, the honour of Revesby was saved, and 

 Mr. Rennie was enabled to set off in due time next 

 morning. 



From an early period Sir Joseph Banks entertained 

 the design of carrying out the drainage of the extensive 

 fen lands lying spread out beneath his hall window, 

 and making them, if possible, a source of profit to the 

 owners, as well as of greater comfort and better sub- 

 sistence for the population. Indeed, the reclamation of 

 these unhealthy wastes became quite a hobby with him ; 

 and when he could lay hold of any agricultural im- 

 prover, he would not let him go until he had dragged him 

 through the Fens, exhibited what they were, and demon- 

 strated what fertile lands they might be made. When 

 Arthur Young visited Revesby about 1799, Sir Joseph 

 immediately started his favourite topic. " He had the 

 goodness," says Young, in his Report on Lincolnshire, 



