ed pounds. The lugger cost 360 pounds to build,
and, in addition, Posh was paid 20 pounds for his services (see
_Letters_, p. 309), and various payments had to be made for "sails,
cables, warps, ballast, etc." Posh brought in what nets and gear he had,
and his services. The first notion was that FitzGerald should be owner
of three-fourths of the concern; but on a valuation being made it was
found that the nets and gear contributed by Posh were of greater value
than had been supposed, and before the _Meum and Tuum_ put to sea it was
understood that Posh should be half owner with his "guvnor." Posh is
very firm in his conviction that up to the return of the boat from her
first cruise there had been no mention of any bill of sale, or mortgage,
of the boat and gear to FitzGerald to secure the money he had found.
According to him his partner was to be a sleeping partner and no more,
and the entire conduct and control of the business were to be vested in
Posh. The quarrels and misunderstandings which subsequently arose on
this point Posh attributes to certain "interfarin' parties" (and
especially to a Lowestoft lawyer), who were under the impression that
FitzGerald had not looked after himself so well as he might have done and
who thought that this omission should be remedied. Possibly they had an
idea that they might "make somethin'" in the course of the remedial
measures.

Early in August Posh sailed north with his crew to meet the herring on
their way down south. His luck was poor, and on August 26th FitzGerald
wrote him from Lowestoft:--

"LOWESTOFT, _Monday_, _August_ 26.

"MY DEAR POSH,

"As we hear nothing of you, we suppose that you have yet caught
nothing worth putting in for. And, as I may be here only a Day
longer, I write again to you: though I do not know if I have anything
to say which needs writing again for. In my former letter, directed
to you as this letter will be, I desired you to get a Life Buoy as
soon as you could. _That_ is for the Good of your People, as well as
of yourself. What I now have to say is wholly on your own Account:
and that is, to beg you to take the Advice given by the Doctor to your
Father: namely, _not_ to drink _Beer_ and _Ale_ more than you can
help: but only _Porter_, and, every day, some Gin and Water. I was
talking to your Father last Saturday; and I am convinced that you
inherit a family complaint: if I had known of this a