20 THE LIFE OF PHILIP HENRY GOSSE. 



Next year, in July, 1820, the boys had another brief 

 outing, this time by sea to Swanage. It was haymaking 

 time, and they were playing in the hayfield, whence the 

 crop was being carried until pretty late in the evening. It 

 was quite dark, when Philip found, moving rapidly through 

 the short mown grass, already wet with dew, a half-grown 

 conger eel, though the field was a long way, perhaps half 

 a mile, from the seashore. The incident was a decidedly 

 curious one ; though far from unprecedented, and, in fact, 

 mentioned by Yarrell as having occurred within his experi- 

 ence. About the end of this same year, Poole, like other 

 country towns, was almost universally illuminated on 

 occasion of the termination of the trial of Queen Caroline 

 in accordance with popular sympathy. The house of the 

 Gosses became, on this occasion, the cynosure of Skinner 

 Street, for while neighbours were content with a candle 

 or two in each window, the Gosse boys adorned their front 

 with heads and figures borrowed from out of the paternal 

 portfolio — the queen at full length, a dark bandit who did 

 duty for "Non mi ricordo" Majocchi, a priest, a scara- 

 mouch, and other vaguely effective personalities, handsomely 

 illuminated from behind. 



The first incident which could be called a landmark in 

 this uneventful career was the departure of the elder 

 brother to make his way in the world. Early in 1822, 

 William, being fourteen years old, sailed from Poole for 

 service in the firm of his uncle, in the port of Carbonear, 

 Newfoundland. Philip accompanied him on board the 

 ship, returning in the pilot's boat, and William's last act 

 was to tie a comforter round his brother's throat just as 

 the latter was leaving the ship. This mark of brotherly 

 care would bring tears into the younger boy's eyes for 

 months afterwards, whenever he thought of it. It 

 appears that the departure of William drew more 



