ELY 115 



a large way ; consequently they were unAvilling to concede, 

 thouo'h in a matter that had little or no connection with 

 their other business. 



The shrimps, to my great joy, were to be discarded, 

 the stages to be shortened, the journey to be performed 

 in less time, and — what aifected me most — the London 

 coachman, instead of stopping at Cambridge, was to go 

 on to Ely, thus making the journey for me seventy 

 miles per diem. 



A month was allowed to carry this arrangement into 

 effect, at the end of which time I took up my residence 

 at Ely ; and one of my profession being quite a novelty 

 in this small but ancient citv, it was not Ions; before I 

 made the acquaintance of some of the principal inhabitants. 

 In the settlement of the business I had gained the good 

 opinion of the Ely proprietor, who, as I have said, was an 

 extensive brewer, and he took pleasure in introducing 

 me to the natives, as well as the surrounding yeomen. 

 He gave up part of his time to my society, sometimes 

 coming to my splendid hotel — that is, the one I have 

 before spoken of, for there I took up my temporary abode 

 — where most of the floors were of brick, and a carpet 

 almost unknown, and, with another friend or two, would 

 propose a rubber of whist ; sometimes, on a market-day, 

 I would take wine with him in the farmers' room. 



On one occasion, I remember, two men of this class, 

 well known for their great wealth, their great bulk, and 

 their great powers of imbibing, asked me to join them as 

 soon as I was at liberty, as they wished to speak to me. 



Not at all knowing what the nature of their business 

 might be, I readily complied. The wine being put on 



