charming companions for a time. At all events
his personality magnetised the poet, then a man of fifty-six, already a
trifle weary of the inanities of life.

FitzGerald must have been tolerably conversant with the Harwich and
Felixstowe mariners--with the "salwagers" of the "Ship-wash"--and the
characters of the pilots and fishermen of the east coast. But Posh seems
to have come to him as something new. How it happened it is impossible
to guess. Posh has no idea. He has a more or less contemptuous
appreciation of FitzGerald's great affection for him. But he cannot help
any one to get to the root of the question why FitzGerald should have
singled him out and set him above all other living men, as, for a brief
period of exaltation, he certainly did.

From the first meeting to the inevitable disillusionment FitzGerald
delighted in the company of the illiterate fisherman. Whether he took
his protege cruising with him on the _Scandal_, or sat with him in his
favourite corner of the kitchen of the old Suffolk Inn at Lowestoft, or
played "all-fours" with him, or sat and "mardled" with him and his wife
in the little cottage (8 Strand Cottages, Lowestoft) where Posh reared
his brood, FitzGerald was fond even to jealousy of his new friend. The
least disrespect shown to Posh by any one less appreciative of his merits
FitzGerald would treat as an insult personal to himself. On one occasion
when he was walking with Posh on the pier some stranger hazarded a casual
word or two to the fisherman. "Mr. Fletcher is _my_ guest," said
FitzGerald at once, and drew away his "guest" by the arm.

It must have been soon after their first meeting that FitzGerald wrote to
Fletcher senior, Posh's father:--

"MARKETHILL, WOODBRIDGE,
"March 1.

"MR. FLETCHER,

"Your little boy Posh came here yesterday, and is going to-morrow with
Newson to Felixtow Ferry, for a day or two.

"In case he is wanted at Lowestoft to attend a _Summons_, or for any
other purpose, please to write him a line, directing to him at

"Thomas Newson's,
"Pilot,
"Felixtow Ferry,
"_Ipswich_.

"Yours truly,
"EDWARD FITZGERALD."

{11 Market Hill, Woodbridge (showing tablet outside FitzGerald's old
rooms): p36.jpg}

At this time Posh was earning his living as the proprietor of a longshore
"punt," or beach lugger. In those days there were good catches of fish
to be made inshore, and it was not unusual for a good da