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accomplished by the very offals which fall from a table
moderately plentiful。 That they are enjoyed therefore by so few
arises truly from there being so few who have any such
disposition to gratify； or who aim at any such character。
Wednesday； July 22。This morning； after having been mulcted as
usual； we dispatched a servant with proper acknowledgments of the
lady's goodness； but confined our wants entirely to the
productions of her garden。 He soon returned； in company with the
gardener； both richly laden with almost every particular which a
garden at this most fruitful season of the year produces。 While
we were regaling ourselves with these； towards the close of our
dinner； we received orders from our commander； who had dined that
day with some inferior officers on board a man…of…war； to return
instantly to the ship； for that the wind was become favorable and
he should weigh that evening。 These orders were soon followed by
the captain himself； who was still in the utmost hurry； though
the occasion of it had long since ceased； for the wind had；
indeed； a little shifted that afternoon； but was before this very
quietly set down in its old quarters。
This last was a lucky hit for me； for； as the captain； to whose
orders we resolved to pay no obedience； unless delivered by
himself； did not return till past six； so much time seemed
requisite to put up the furniture of our bed…chamber or
dining…room； for almost every article； even to some of the
chairs； were either our own or the captain's property； so much
more in conveying it as well as myself； as dead a luggage as any；
to the shore； and thence to the ship； that the night threatened
first to overtake us。 A terrible circumstance to me； in my
decayed condition； especially as very heavy showers of rain；
attended with a high wind； continued to fall incessantly； the
being carried through which two miles in the dark； in a wet and
open boat； seemed little less than certain death。 However； as my
commander was absolute； his orders peremptory； and my obedience
necessary； I resolved to avail myself of a philosophy which hath
been of notable use to me in the latter part of my life； and
which is contained in this hemistich of Virgil：
Superanda omnis fortuna ferendo est。
The meaning of which； if Virgil had any； I think I rightly
understood； and rightly applied。 As I was therefore to be
entirely passive in my motion； I resolved to abandon myself to
the conduct of those who were to carry me into a cart when it
returned from unloading the goods。
But before this； the captain； perceiving what had happened in the
clouds； and that the wind remained as much his enemy as ever；
came upstairs to me with a reprieve till the morning。 This was；
I own； very agreeable news； and I little regretted the trouble of
refurnishing my apartment； by sending back for the goods。
Mrs。 Francis was not well pleased with this。
As she understood the reprieve to be only till the morning； she
saw nothing but lodging to be possibly added； out of which she
was to deduct fire and candle； and the remainder； she thought；
would scarce pay her for her trouble。 She exerted therefore all
the ill…humor of which she was mistress； and did all she could to
thwart and perplex everything during the whole evening。
Thursday； July 23。Early in the morning the captain； who had
remained on shore all night； came to visit us； and to press us to
make haste on board。 〃I am resolved；〃 says he； 〃not to lose a
moment now the wind is coming about fair： for my own part； I
never was surer of a wind in all my life。〃 I use his very words；
nor will I presume to interpret or comment upon them farther than
by observing that they were spoke in the utmost hurry。
We promised to be ready as soon as breakfast was over； but this
was not so soon as was expected； for； in removing our goods the
evening before； the tea…chest was unhappily lost。 Every place
was immediately searched； and many where it was impossible for it
to be； for this was a loss of much greater consequence than it
may at first seem to many of my readers。 Ladies and
valetudinarians do not easily dispense with the use of this
sovereign cordial in a single instance； but to undertake a long
voyage； without any probability of being supplied with it the
whole way； was above the reach of patience。 And yet； dreadful as
this calamity was； it seemed unavoidable。 The whole town of Ryde
could not supply a single leaf； for； as to what Mrs。 Francis and
the shop called by that name； it was not of Chinese growth。 It
did not indeed in the least resemble tea； either in smell or
taste； or in any particular； unless in being a leaf； for it was
in truth no other than a tobacco of the mundungus species。 And
as for the hopes of relief in any other port； they were not to be
depended upon； for the captain had positively declared he was
sure of a wind； and would let go his anchor no more till he
arrived in the Tajo。
When a good deal of time had been spent； most of it indeed wasted
on this occasion； a thought occurred which every one wondered at
its not having presented itself the first moment。 This was to
apply to the good lady； who could not fail of pitying and
relieving such distress。 A messenger was immediately despatched
with an account of our misfortune； till whose return we employed
ourselves in preparatives for our departure； that we might have
nothing to do but to swallow our breakfast when it arrived。 The
tea…chest； though of no less consequence to us than the
military…chest to a general； was given up as lost； or rather as
stolen； for though I would not； for the world； mention any
particular name； it is certain we had suspicions； and all； I am
afraid； fell on the same person。
The man returned from the worthy lady with much expedition； and
brought with him a canister of tea； despatched with so true a
generosity； as well as politeness； that if our voyage had been as
long again we should have incurred no danger of being brought to
a short allowance in this most important article。 At the very
same instant likewise arrived William the footman with our own
tea…chest。 It had been； indeed； left in the hoy； when the other
goods were re…landed； as William； when he first heard it was
missing； had suspected； and whence； had not the owner of the hoy
been unluckily out of the way； he had retrieved it soon enough to
have prevented our giving the lady an opportunity of displaying
some part of her goodness。 To search the hoy was； indeed； too
natural a suggestion to have escaped any one； nor did it escape
being mentioned by many of us； but we were dissuaded from it by
my wife's maid； who perfectly well remembered she had left the
chest in the bed…chamber； for that she had never given it out of
her hand in her way to or from the hoy； but William perhaps knew
the maid better； and best understood how far she was to be
believed； for otherwise he would hardly of his own accord； after
hearing her declaration； have hunted out the hoy…man； with much
pains and difficulty。 Thus ended this scene； which began with
such appearance of distress； and ended with becoming the subject
of mirth and laughter。 Nothing now remained but to pay our
taxes； which were indeed laid with inconceivable severity。
Lodging was raised sixpence； fire in the same proportion； and
even candles； which had hitherto escaped； were charged with a
wantonness of imposition； from the beginning； and placed under
the style of oversight。 We were raised a whole pound； whereas we
had only burned ten； in five nights； and the pound consisted of
twenty…four。
Lastly； an attempt was made which almost as far exceeds human
credulity to believe as it did human patience to submit to。 This
was to make us pay as much for existing an hour or two as for
existing a whole day； and dressing dinner was introduced as an
article； though we left the house before either pot or spit had
approached the fire。 Here I own my patience failed me； and I
became an example of the truth of the observation； 〃That all
tyranny and oppression may be carried too far； and that a yoke
may be made too intolerable for the neck of the tamest slave。〃
When I remonstrated； with some warmth； against this grievance；
Mrs。 Francis gave me a look； and left the room without making any
answer。 She returned in a minute； running to me with pen； ink；
and paper； in her hand； and desired me to make my own bill； 〃for
she hoped；〃 she said 〃I did not expect that her house was to be
dirtied； and her goods spoiled and consumed for nothing。 The
whole is but thirteen shillings。 Can gentlefolks lie a whole
night at a public…house for less？ If they can I am sure it is
time to give off being a landlady： but pay me what you please； I
would have people know that I value money as little as other
folks。 But I was always a fool； as I says to my husband； and
never know