te to
Mr. Spalding, of Woodbridge: "At eight or half-past I go to have a pipe
at Posh's, if he isn't half-drunk with his Friends" (_Two Suffolk
Friends_, p. 107).

On January 5th, 1867, he wrote to the same correspondent (_Two Suffolk
Friends_, p. 108) referring to Posh: "This very day he signs an Agreement
for a new Herring-lugger, of which he is to be Captain, and to which he
will contribute some Nets and Gear. . . . I believe I have smoked my
pipe every evening but one with Posh at his house, which his quiet little
Wife keeps tidy and pleasant. The Man is, I do think, of a Royal Nature.
I have told him he is liable to one Danger (the Hare with many
Friends)--so many wanting him _to drink_. He says it's quite true and
that he is often obliged to run away: as I believe he does: for his House
shows all Temperance and Order. This little lecture I give him--to go
the way, I suppose, of all such Advice. . . ."

I fear that poor Posh's limbs soon grew too stiff to permit him to run
away from the good brown "bare." But the lecture which FitzGerald
mentions so casually was surely one of the most delicately written
warnings ever penned. The sterling kindness of the writer is as
transparent in it as is his tenderness to an inferior's feelings. No one
but a very paragon of a gentleman would have taken the trouble to write
so wisely, so kindly, so tenderly, and so earnestly. The appeal must
surely have moved Posh, for the pathos of the reference to his patron's
loneliness could not but have its effect.

But to touch on the sacred "bare" of a Lowestoft fisherman is always
dangerous. There are many teetotallers among them now, and they would
resent any imputation on their temperance. But those who are not
teetotallers would resent it much more. FitzGerald warned his friend in
as beautiful a letter as was ever written. But Posh could never regard
the "mild bare," the "twopenny" of the district, as an enemy. He rarely
touched spirits. Now, at the age of sixty-nine, he enjoys his mild beer
more than anything and cares little for stronger stuff. But there is no
doubt that this same mild beer inserted the edge of the adze which was to
split the partnership in a little more than three years' time--this and
the "interfarin' parties," whom Posh blames for all the misunderstandings
which were to come.

"MARKETHILL, WOODBRIDGE, _Thursday_.

"MY DEAR POSHY,

"My Lawyer can easily manage the Assignment of the Lug