CONTRACT 191 



place or his bringing up ; for, like his countrymen, he 

 was a man of shrewd intellect and keen perception, my 

 senior in age by eleven or twelve years, and had made 

 his calculations on such a scale as almost to ensure the 

 reception of our tender, as well as to avoid the great 

 error of being below what might be, indeed, what was a 

 remunerative price. 



Accordino'ly we attended at Somerset House on the 

 day and hour appointed, which was two o'clock in the 

 afternoon. We spent the morning, I remember, in going 

 to Whitechapel, and seeking out what was a great object 

 of interest and curiosity — that is, the birth-place of 

 Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, four infants of whom a 

 poor woman had recently been delivered. 



We had not been in attendance a quarter of an hour 

 before my name was called by the messenger, who escorted 

 me to the room where the Commissioners were assembled. 

 After a few questions, which I answered to their satis- 

 faction, I named two bondsmen, of whom my father was 

 one, and the contract was mine, and mine alone ; for they 

 would hear nothing of any second j)erson — I must take 

 it entirely on my own responsibility. 



When I retired, and reported the result of my inter- 

 view to my friend, he was a little disconcerted ; but on 

 my assuring him that I could and should still fulfil my 

 agreement, he professed to be satisfied. 



We afterwards dined Avith my father, who wished us 

 joy of our bargain, and drank success to its result. In 

 about six weeks we entered on our contract, I transact- 

 ing all the business with the dockyard officials, while he 

 superintended the supply of provender for the horses. 



