THE BURTON BREWERY. . 267 



of a generous disposition. To many of his old 

 ' friends ' in adversity that he had known in better 

 circumstances, he used to allow a pound a week. 

 Meeting one of his impecunious acquaintances stand- 

 ing outside a public-house, he said inquiringly : 



' What's up now, lad ?' 



To which the other wittily replied : 



' I am dining out. I have just had a pork-pie and 

 a quart of beer with my last shilling.' 



' Here is a sovereign,' was the prompt rejoinder. 

 ' Go and rob some one as quick as you can, and bring 

 it me back.' Of course the suggestion was only his 

 fun. 



His investments in the Barton Brewery Company, 

 at Burton-on-Trent, gave him much anxiety at one 

 time, as his capital in it appeared gone, and the 

 speculation a failure. His friends Messrs. Parker, 

 Dale, and Snewing all lost confidence, and sold out 

 at a great sacrifice. But here the common-sense of 

 which he was always proud, if he thought highly of 

 any of his capabilities, did him good service, aided 

 by his shrewd and business-like habits and his inde- 

 fatigable energy. He thought he saw his way clear 

 to advance still more money, but refused to do so 

 unless he was made a director ; and then he added 

 another and last sum of £20,000, in this new 

 capacity. He soon found scope for his ability, and 

 detected the leakage, and remedied it by the removal 

 of the head-brewer and cooper. After this bold 



