IN AND ABOUT BATH 287 



broom, which can make as brave a show now 

 and stand three times as much frost as can furze 

 in winter. 



Admiral Nelson, K.C.B., he stayed in Bath 

 once — there is the house, and there is the tablet 

 on it, alive to witness. Fossicking in Bath's 

 ancient crony, Bradford-on-Avon, I very nearly 

 bought Lord Nelson for a dollar. He was on 

 offer at the price. Now, I ought to have made 

 more than five shillings out of faking up a yarn 

 with the purchaser of the relic (made while you 

 wait) — not your humble servant, but a British 

 Jack Tar all *'belayings" and ''avastings" and 

 *' slack hoistings " with a pigtail at the back of 

 his head, a quid of pigtail baccy in the front of 

 it, a rolling gait, and breeches a foot wider over 

 the toes than on the knee. Jack, naturally, 

 seeing Admiral No. ''one hundred and eleven" 

 on sale in Staffordshire ware for a crown, with a 

 beautiful blue uniform, a sprigged satin waistcoat, 

 white silk stockings, three-cornered hat, and wig, 

 also the regulation number of ones — one eye, one 

 arm and one telescope under the surviving wing — 

 must in the story to be written be indignant. 

 Then would he proceed to terrify the shopkeeper 

 with strong salt-sea-seasoned oaths into charging 

 him a guinea — not a farthing less — for the 

 Admiral's effigy in Staffordshire ware, a really 

 excellent fairing, and convoy him off to partake 

 of much punch and toast drinking. There is the 

 scheme all ready. I am too truthful. I couldn't 

 ''make up" like that. So also is Mr Pyke, of 

 Bradford-on-Avon, furniture dealer, too truthful — 

 at least, for the second-hand branch of that trade. 

 " The Admiral seems very cheap at five shillings," 

 said I. "I am not selling you this except as 



