144 MEMOIR OF THOMAS BEWICK. 



as comfortable as she could. I remained a day 

 or two at Elwick, and made some visits along 

 with Mr. Younghusband in the neighbourhood. 

 My fellow-traveller had somewhat similar visits 

 to pay, in collecting some debts due to him, which, 

 when done, he met me at Alnwick, where Mr. 

 Younghusband having to attend a meeting of free- 

 holders, on some election business, at the town 

 hall, I accompanied him thither. Never having 

 before heard any speeches, I was much entertained 

 with those now made. This being about the time 

 that Mr. Pitt came into the administration, and 

 being the son of the great Chatham, most people 

 hoped and expected he would follow the bright, 

 the patriotic example that had been set him ; but 

 one gentleman appeared to differ in opinion from 

 the majority, and, in what I conceived to be an 

 eloquent speech, foretold that he would turn out, 

 in character, to be quite a different kind of man. 

 About the year 1790, I became a member of 

 "Swarley's Club/' held in the evenings, at the 

 Black Boy Inn. This was the most rational society 

 or meeting I ever knew. The few rules which 

 bound us together were only verbal. The first was 

 that every member should conduct himself with 

 decorum, and as a gentleman. If any one trans- 

 gressed on this point, he was immediately fined, 

 and if he did not pay, he w r as sent to Coventry, or 

 dismissed. On entering the room, every member 

 paid fourpence, which was to be spent in beer 

 only. Any member might introduce his friend 

 at the same expense. There were no fines for 

 non-attendance and no regular debatings allowed 

 on any subject but such as might occasionally 

 arise out of the passing conversation, and the 



