John Deane of Nottingham | Page 6

moors, finds its way through the midst of that vast forest district, with
its heaths and leafy alleys, which was once all included under the name
of Sherwood Forest.
"Well, Neighbour Deane, what news do you bring from the big city of
London?" inquired Mr Samuel Pinkstone, a most respected burgess of
Nottingham, during a pause in the conversation. "I am glad to see that
you and Master Jasper have escaped all the dangers you had to
encounter there and on your way back. They say that housebreakers are
as thick there as gooseberries on a gooseberry-bush; and as for
highwaymen, I wonder any stage escapes being robbed from the
number of them, I am told, who throng the roads."
"Thank you, Master Pinkstone, we met with no accident of any sort or
kind," answered Mr Deane. "I did not set eyes on the muzzle of a pistol
either in London or on our way from it. Some of the young rakes, who
have not forgotten the pranks they played in the last king's reign,
occasionally had a scuffle with the watch, and a few heads were broken
now and then, but no brains were let out--for the best of reasons, that
there were none within. It is proposed, however, to light the city, if our
Greenland whalers would but bring us oil enough; but unless they have
a fortunate fishing season, there is but little chance of their doing that. I
saw some odd sights in the city, I must say; and unless the ladies of
quality mend their manners, I am afraid things will come to a pretty

pass before long."
"But as to public matters, neighbour," said Mr Pinkstone, "what about
them? We do not hear much about them down here. What is our fleet
about?"
"We have as fine a fleet as ever sailed, under Mr Russell," answered Mr
Deane. "All the year he has managed to keep master of the
Mediterranean, and has had the French fleet shut up within their ports,
though contrary winds have prevented him making a descent on
Marseilles or at Toulon, though he has had regiments of soldiers on
board for that purpose. Then we have another fleet in our Channel,
ready to bombard the French coast. They have destroyed Gronville, and
have made an attack upon Dunkirk, but they failed in that, I am sorry to
say. But the worst matter, however, is, that the Marquis of Carmarthen,
with a squadron under him, which lay off the islands of Scilly to protect
our trade, fancying that a superior French fleet was coming out to
attack him, when it was only a fleet of merchant-ships, left his station
and retired into Milford Haven. This mistake has caused a great blow to
our trade. Many of the Barbados ships have been taken by French
cruisers, and two rich ships coming from the East Indies have also been
captured, besides which three other large ships have fallen into the
hands of French privateers off the Irish coast. All the city of London
therefore complains that neither the Admiralty nor the Government take
proper care to preserve the wealth of of the nation."
"Nor are they likely to do so," observed Mr Harwood in an under-tone
to his next neighbour, "while we have men of the present stamp at the
head of affairs. Old England is going to rack and ruin, I see that very
clearly, with all her new-fangled schemes and arrangements. They are
yielding to the cry of the manufacturers, and are about to pass a law to
put a stop to our free trade in wool and corn; and they will soon shut us
up to our home markets, and not allow us to sell where we can get the
best price abroad."
Mr Harwood among country gentlemen was not singular in his
opinions on that subject.

The first course being removed, Mrs Deane folded her arms, to recover
after the fatigue of carving for so many guests; no slight labour,
considering the size of the joints which had been placed before her.
Now, the cloth being removed, and the dessert spread on the shining
mahogany table, came the usual accompaniment of pipes and tobacco,
which Kate and Polly Deane had to prepare with their own pretty
fingers for the use of the gentlemen. This being done, and small pieces
of lighted charcoal being brought from the kitchen, wreaths of smoke
began to ascend round the table.
"There is an important toast to be proposed, Neighbour Deane, is there
not?" said the Worshipful Mr Pinkstone, turning to the host; "but that
should be Dr Nathaniel's task, I opine, should it not?"
"To be sure, certainly," said Cousin Nat, "I will gladly undertake the
honour. Our friends are generally aware of the object