des, and reconnoitred them
suspiciously; but gave them no further interruption: and the whole line
moved on as freely as before.

The funeral train now advanced for some time without interruption. The
next disturbance of the general harmony arose in the shape of some
political songs of an inflammatory character: these were sung in a loud
voice which Bertram immediately recognised as that of Mr. Dulberry.
Much it surprised him to find the reformer in a situation of this
character which apparently promised so little fuel to the peculiar
passions which devoured him. However Mr. Dulberry afterwards made it
evident to Bertram that it promised a good deal. For in the first place
he cherished a secret hope that the whole meeting was of an unlawful
character: and in the second place he was sure of being treated to the
consolations of smuggled brandy; in which, besides it's intrinsic
excellence, every glass would derive an additional zest from the
consideration that it had been the honored means of cheating government
out of three pence half-penny.--With all his horror however of regular
government and subordination, Mr. Dulberry was made sensible that on
the present occasion he must submit to some such oppression; for, as he
was wholly unsupported in his annoyance, the managers were determined
to prevent it's spreading by acting with summary vigor: accordingly the
reformer was roughly seized, and made sensible by the determined air of
those about him that this conduct would not be tolerated. Threats
however seldom weighed much with Mr. Dulberry: to all such arguments he
was in the habit of retorting Magna Charta, the Bill of Rights, Habeas
Corpus, &c.: and to the rough gestures of those who had seized him, he
objected actions of assault and battery. Seeing whom they had to deal
with, one of the coolest amongst the managers applied an argument
better suited to his temper: "Are you a spy, Mr. Dulberry, an informer,
a tool of Lord Londonderry?" Mr. Dulberry was dumb with horror.
"Because," continued the other, "you are now abetting the agents of
government, whose active opposition we anticipate (according to some
private information we have received) at the next toll-bar. We are fast
approaching to it. And they will desire no better plea for stopping our
progress than the style and tendency of your songs on so solemn an
occasion."--At this moment in fact a curve in the road brought them in
view of a turnpike gate, the appearance o