h he refers to, is still in
existence, and reads as follows:--

"LOWESTOFT, _January_ 20_th_, 1870.

"I hereby desire my Heirs executors and Assigns not to call in the
Principal of any Mortgage by which Joseph Fletcher the younger of
Lowestoft stands indebted to me; provided he duly pays the Interest
thereon; does his best to pay off the Principal; and does his best
also to keep up the value of the Property so mortgaged until he pays
it off.

"This I hereby desire and enjoin on my heirs executors or assigns
solemnly as any provision made by Word or Deed while . . . [word
missing] any other legal document.

"EDWARD FITZGERALD."

This solemn injunction was written on a sheet of note-paper, and in the
fold, over a sixpenny stamp, FitzGerald wrote: "This paper I now endorse
again on legal stamp, so as to give it the authority I can. Edward
FitzGerald, July 31, 1870."

Surely never man had so kind and considerate a friend as Posh had in
FitzGerald!

CHAPTER XVI
THE SALE OF THE _SCANDAL_

Though the partnership was over, FitzGerald by no means gave up his
friendship for Posh. From time to time he saw him, and from time to time
he wrote to him, and always he retained the affection for the
longshoreman which had sprung up in him so suddenly and (I fear) so
unaccountably.

On February 5th, 1871, FitzGerald wrote to Mr. Spalding (_Two Suffolk
Friends_, p. 121):--

". . . Posh and his Father are very busy getting the _Meum and Tuum_
ready for the West; Jemmy, who goes Captain, is just now in France
with a _Cargoe_ of salt Herrings. I suppose the Lugger will start in
a fortnight or so. . . . All-fours at night."

In April of the same year FitzGerald wrote to Posh:--

"WOODBRIDGE, _Monday_.

"DEAR POSH,

"Come any day you please. The Horse Fair is on Friday, you had better
come, at any rate; by Thursday, so as to catch the Market. For I
think your Lugger must have got away before that.

"A letter written by Ablett Pasefield [otherwise called Percival]
yesterday tells me there are four Lowestoft Luggers in Weymouth. I
fancy that even if they were on the Fishing ground, the wind must be
too strong to be at work.

"It was Mr. Kerrich who died suddenly this day week--and I suppose is
being buried this very day.

"Yours, E. FG.

"Mr. Berry tells me that the Poultry Show here is on Thursday. You
can, as I say,