38: FARMERS. ^; 



Thus the clergj', and thofe men of fmall 

 income who fall under the denomination of 

 country-'fquireSj arc in moft places looked up 

 to by farmers ; while in Norfolk they are con- 

 fidered, by the principal farmers at leaft, as be- 

 longing to the fame order of fociety^. 



The 



* As an inilance of the ccvplacetu y. and r^oJ-hr ceding (I 

 do not mean complaifance ox polite nefs) of the fupcrior chifs 

 of Norfolk farmers, I will relate the ctrcumflances of 

 dicportment which occurred to myfelf, at a farm-houfc, at 

 which I flept accidentally. 



Our hoft having given ftrict orders, and fome perfonal 

 attenion, r^fpefting cur hories, the company were led 

 into a fpaclous kitchen, characterized by cleanlinefs and a 

 ohearful fire. A deeent upper-fervant prefcn'ed herfelf. 

 Supper was ordered, and a bottle of wine, ia a neat fafliion- 

 able decanter, fct upon the table, A fmart, but not 

 extravagant, fupper foon naade its appearance. The 

 houfekeeper waited in an adjoining room, and a maid- 

 fervantat the table, with a degree of propriety and deco- 

 rum frequently unfeen in the houfes of thofe who call 

 themfelves gentlemen. A trifling incident proved the 

 good-fenfe, if not the good-breeding, of our hoft and his 

 family. Forgetting that I was at the table of a Norfolk 

 farmer^ I alked for an article cf the fide-board which was 

 not at hand. The fervant went out of the room as if to 

 fetch it ; but inilead of returning, the houfekeeper came 

 in to make an apology for not happening to have it in the 

 houfe : flie withdrew : the maid-fcrvant returned ; while 

 the converfation went on \\*ithout any notice being taken, 



9^: 



