206 MEMOIR OF DR. HARVEY. 



mother's— Mrs. M— 's? "Yes." "Well, don't go, we's full. 

 Missus has no room ; go to Captain F — 's." We went on, how» 

 ever, to Mrs. M — 's (which I was told was the fashionable esta- 

 blishment) ; but, sure enough, on routing up the house, we 

 were sent off — no room ! It still rained while we went to knock 

 up the Captain ; which we accomplished by entering his yard, 

 climbing uj) the verandah, and tapping at his chamber window. 

 He soon came out in his shirt ; but he was full also, and could 

 give us no room, not so much as to stay till morning. It was 

 now past one, and he told us to try " Key West House." So 

 off we set in quest thereof, but had not gone far when a man 

 (the owner of said house, as it proved) hailed the guide, and 

 called out to go no further ; he had closed his house and retired 

 from the business ! no lodging — no — none from him. As a last 

 resource, the guide proposed I should step into a coffee-house 

 or grog-shop, the only place open at that hour, and try for a 

 bed. As it was better than the street and the rain, I consented ; 

 but they also were full. The proprietor, however, handed me 

 a chair ; which I gladly accepted, as it was now nearly two 

 o'clock, and I had been standing and walking for two hours. 

 Here my luck began to mend ; for the bar-keeper remembered 

 a certain Mr. McCarthy, who had not yet been . knocked up, 

 and who took in boarders. So the guide was despatched to him 

 while I remained resting. In about half an hour he returned, 

 saying Mr. McCarthy was dressing, and would soon follow, and 

 had got room for a lodger. He soon after arrived, and I was 

 quickly in his house. Immediately I said to myself, as I passed 

 through a neat little parlour on my way to the staircase, " All 

 right, this will do." Up I mounted, found the boards clean, 

 and a small bed, which was soon re-sheeted ; and before three 

 o'clock I was lying therein, listening to a mosquito which would 

 not let me sleep till near morning. I was housed, however, 

 and comfortably so, and at breakfast intimated that I wished 

 to remain till the steamer should next come by (eighteen days 

 hence), and was graciously permitted. I soon found myself quite 

 at home, the host being a very obliging person, and his house, 

 though small, very snug and clean, with humble fare — turtle 

 being the chief meat. There are only four other boarders ; so 

 we are quiet, and I have room to make as much of a mess as I 

 please. 



