together. _Your_ Hen was pronounced a
Beauty by Posh & Co. As for mine, she stood up and crew like a Cock
three times right on end, as Posh reports: a command of Voice in a Hen
reputed so unlucky {122} that Mr and Mrs Fletcher, Senior, who had known
of sad results from such unnatural exhibitions, recommended her being
slain and stewed down forthwith. Posh, however, resolves to abide the
upshot. . . . 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. My Eyes refuse reading here, so I sit looking at the
sea (with shut eyes), or gossiping with the women in the Net-loft. All-
fours at night. Thank you for the speckled Hen; Posh expressed himself
much obliged for his. . . ."

"LOWESTOFT, _Sunday_, _Sept._ 29/72.
['Letters,' p. 345.]

". . . Posh--after no fish caught for 3 weeks--has had his boat come home
with nearly all her fleet of nets torn to pieces in last week's winds. On
Wednesday he had to go 8 miles on the other side of Halesworth after a
runaway--came home, drenched from top to toe, with a great Bulrush in his
hand, which he could not help admiring as he went along: and went with me
to the Theatre afterwards, where he admired the 'Gays,' as he called the
Scenes; but fell asleep before Shylock had whetted his knife in the
Merchant of Venice. . . ."

"LOWESTOFT, _Friday_, _Jan._ 9, 1874.
['Letters, p. 366.]

". . . No doubt Berry thinks that his Month's Notice, which was up last
Monday, was enough. Against that I have to say, that, after giving that
Notice, he told George Moor that I might stay while I pleased; and he
drove me away for a week by having no one but his own blind Aunt to wait
on me. What miserable little things! They do not at all irritate, but
only _bore_ me. I have seen no more of Fletcher since I wrote, though he
called once when I was out. I have left word at his house, that, if he
wishes to see me before I go, here am I to be found at tea-time. I only
hope he has taken no desperate step. I hope so for his Family's sake,
including Father and Mother. People here have asked me if he is not
going to give up the Business, &c. Yet there is Greatness about the Man:
I believe his want of Conscience in some particulars is to be referred to
his _Salwaging_ Ethics; and your Cromwells, Caesars, and Napoleons have
not been mo