berries 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