第215章

A Radical-Simple-looking man-Church of England-The President-Aristocracy-Gin and water-Mending the roads-Persecuting Church-Simon de Montfort-Broken bells-Get up-Not for the Pope-Quay of New York-Mumpers'Dingle-No wish to fight-First draught-A poor pipe-Half-a-crown broke.

THE individual whom I supposed to be a Radical,after a short pause,again uplifted his voice;he was rather a strong-built fellow of about thirty,with an ill-favoured countenance,a white hat on his head,a snuff-coloured coat on his back,and when he was not speaking,a pipe in his mouth.'Who would live in such a country as England?'he shouted.

'There is no country like America,'said his nearest neighbour,a man also in a white hat,and of a very ill-favoured countenance-'there is no country like America,'said he,withdrawing a pipe from his mouth;'I think I shall-'and here he took a draught from a jug,the contents of which he appeared to have in common with the other,-'go to America one of these days myself.'

'Poor old England is not such a bad country,after all,'said a third,a simple-looking man in a labouring dress,who sat smoking a pipe without anything before him.'If there was but a little more work to be got,I should have nothing to say against her;I hope,however-'

'You hope!who cares what you hope?'interrupted the first,in a savage tone;'you are one of those sneaking hounds who are satisfied with dogs'wages-a bit of bread and a kick.Work,indeed!who,with the spirit of a man,would work for a country where there is neither liberty of speech nor of action?a land full of beggarly aristocracy,hungry borough-mongers,insolent parsons,and "their ...wives and daughters,"as William Cobbett says,in his "Register."'

'Ah,the Church of England has been a source of incalculable mischief to these realms,'said another.

The person who uttered these words sat rather aloof from the rest;he was dressed in a long black surtout.I could not see much of his face,partly owing to his keeping it very much directed to the ground,and partly owing to a large slouched hat which he wore;Iobserved,however,that his hair was of a reddish tinge.On the table near him was a glass and spoon.

'You are quite right,'said the first,alluding to what this last had said,'the Church of England has done incalculable mischief here.I value no religion three halfpence,for I believe in none;but the one that I hate most is the Church of England;so when Iget to New York,after I have shown the fine fellows on the quay a spice of me,by ...the King,I'll toss up my hat again,and ..

.the Church of England too.'

'And suppose the people of New York should clap you in the stocks?'

said I.

These words drew upon me the attention of the whole four.The Radical and his companion stared at me ferociously;the man in black gave me a peculiar glance from under his slouched hat;the simple-looking man in the labouring dress laughed.

'What are you laughing at,you fool?'said the Radical,turning and looking at the other,who appeared to be afraid of him;'hold your noise;and a pretty fellow,you,'said he,looking at me,'to come here,and speak against the great American nation.'

'I speak against the great American nation!'said I;'I rather paid them a compliment.'

'By supposing they would put me in the stocks.Well,I call it abusing them,to suppose they would do any such thing-stocks,indeed!-there are no stocks in all the land.Put me in the stocks!why,the President will come down to the quay,and ask me to dinner,as soon as he hears what I have said about the King and Church.'

'I shouldn't wonder,'said I,'if you go to America you will say of the President and country what now you say of the King and Church,and cry out for somebody to send you back to England.'

The Radical dashed his pipe to pieces against the table.'I tell you what,young fellow,you are a spy of the aristocracy,sent here to kick up a disturbance.'

'Kicking up a disturbance,'said I,'is rather inconsistent with the office of spy.If I were a spy,I should hold my head down,and say nothing.'

The man in black partially raised his head,and gave me another peculiar glance.

'Well,if you aren't sent to spy,you are sent to bully,to prevent people speaking,and to run down the great American nation;but you shan't bully me.I say,down with the aristocracy,the beggarly British aristocracy.Come,what have you to say to that?'

'Nothing,'said I.

'Nothing!'repeated the Radical.

'No,'said I,'down with them as soon as you can.'

'As soon as I can!I wish I could.But I can down with a bully of theirs.Come,will you fight for them?'

'No,'said I.

'You won't?

'No,'said I;'though,from what I have seen of them,I should say they are tolerably able to fight for themselves.'

'You won't fight for them,'said the Radical triumphantly;'Ithought so;all bullies,especially those of the aristocracy,are cowards.Here,landlord,'said he,raising his voice,and striking against the table with the jug,'some more ale-he won't fight for his friends.'

'A white feather,'said his companion.

'He!he!'tittered the man in black.

'Landlord,landlord,'shouted the Radical,striking the table with the jug louder than before.'Who called?'said the landlord,coming in at last.'Fill this jug again,'said the other,'and be quick about it.''Does any one else want anything?'said the landlord.'Yes,'said the man in black;'you may bring me another glass of gin and water.''Cold?'said the landlord.'Yes,'said the man in black,'with a lump of sugar in it.'

'Gin and water cold,with a lump of sugar in it,'said I,and struck the table with my fist.

'Take some?'said the landlord,inquiringly.

'No,'said I,'only something came into my head.'

'He's mad,'said the man in black.