raveller. The dinner was good, though plain,
consisting of boiled mackerel--rather a rarity in those parts at that
time--with fennel sauce, a prime baron of roast beef after the mackerel,
then a tart and noble Cheshire cheese; we had prime sherry at dinner, and
whilst eating the cheese prime porter, that of Barclay, the only good
porter in the world. After the cloth was removed we had a bottle of very
good port; and whilst partaking of the port I had an argument with the
commercial traveller on the subject of the corn-laws.

The commercial traveller, having worsted me in the argument on the
subject of the corn-laws, got up in great glee, saying that he must order
his gig, as business must be attended to. Before leaving the room,
however, he shook me patronizingly by the hand, and said something to the
master of the house, but in so low a tone that it escaped my ear.

No sooner had he departed than the master of the house told me that his
friend the traveller had just said that I was a confounded sensible young
fellow, and not at all opinionated, a sentiment in which he himself
perfectly agreed--then hemming once or twice, he said that as I was going
on a journey he hoped I was tolerably well provided with money, adding
that travelling was rather expensive, especially on horseback, the manner
in which he supposed, as I had a horse in the stable, I intended to
travel. I told him that though I was not particularly well supplied with
money, I had sufficient for the expenses of my journey, at the end of
which I hoped to procure more. He then hemmed again, and said that since
I had been at the inn I had rendered him a great deal of service in more
ways than one, and that he should not think of permitting me to depart
without making me some remuneration; then putting his hand into his
waistcoat pocket, he handed me a cheque for ten pounds, which he had
prepared beforehand, the value of which he said I could receive at the
next town, or that, if I wished it, any waiter in the house would cash it
for me. I thanked him for his generosity in the best terms I could
select, but, handing him back the cheque, I told him that I could not
accept it, saying, that, so far from his being my debtor, I believed
myself to be indebted to him, as not only myself but my horse had been
living at his house for several weeks. He replied, that as for my board
at a house like his it amounted to nothing, and as for the little corn
and hay which