ou my lad? well, then I'll just try it over again. You shall be
the speaker--mind you hold your tongue, and don't interrupt me."

The gentleman then began: "Mr Speaker, I should not have ventured to
address the House at this late hour, did I not consider that the
importance of the question now before it is--so important--no, that
won't do--did I not consider that the question now before it is of that,
I may say, paramount importance as to call forth the best energies of
every man who is a well-wisher to his country. With this conviction,
Mr Speaker, humble individual as I am, I feel it my duty, I may say, my
bounden duty, to deliver my sentiments upon the subject. The papers
which I now hold in my hand, Mr Speaker, and to which I shall soon have
to call the attention of the House, will, I trust, fully establish--"

"I say, waterman, be you taking that chap to Bedlam?" cried a shrill
female voice close to us. The speech was stopped; we looked up, and
perceived a wherry with two females passing close to us. A shout of
laughter followed the observation, and my fare looked very much
confused.

I had often read the papers in the public-house, and remembering what
was usual in the house in case of interruption, called out, "Order,
order!" This made the gentleman laugh, and as the other wherry was now
far off, he recommenced his oration, with which I shall not trouble my
readers. It was a very fair speech, I have no doubt, but I forget what
it was about.

I landed him at Westminster Bridge, and received treble my fare.
"Recollect," said he, on paying me, "that I shall look out for you when
I come again, which I do every Monday morning, and sometimes oftener.
What's your name?"

"Jacob, sir."

"Very well; good morning, my lad."

This gentleman became a very regular and excellent customer, and we used
to have a great deal of conversation, independent of debating, in the
wherry; and I must acknowledge that I received from him not only plenty
of money, but a great deal of valuable information.

A few days after this I had an opportunity of ascertaining how far Mary
would keep her promise. I was plying at the river side as usual, when
old Stapleton came up to me, with his pipe in his mouth, and said,
"Jacob, there be that old gentleman up at our house with Mary. Now, I
sees a great deal, but I says nothing. Mary will be her mother over
again, that's sartain. Suppose you go and see your old teacher, and
leave me