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Article THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF PETER PORCUPINE; ← Page 2 of 4 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Life And Adventures Of Peter Porcupine;
church in a halter , to be tied to a giv ! I did not like , than to be tied to the gangway , eras the sailors call it , married to Miss Roper . From the conclusion of this wholesome counsel , I perceived that the Captain thought I had eloped on account of a bastard . I blushed , and that confirmed him in his opinion ; but I declare to the reader , that I was no more guilty of such an offence than Mr . Swanwick , or any other gentleman who is constitutionally virtuous . No ; thank heaven , I
have none of the Fnuiklintoniau crimes to accuse myself of ; 1113-children do not hang their hats up in other men ' s houses : I am neither patriot , nor philosopher . I in vain attempted to convince Captain Berkeley that choice alone had led me to the sea : he sent me on shore , and I at last quitted Portsmouth ; butnot before I had applied to Port-Admiral Evans to get
my name enrolled among those who were destined for the service . I was , iu some sort , obliged to acquaint the Admiral with what had passed on board the Pegasus , in consequence of which my request was refused , and I happily escaped , sorely against my will , from the most toilsome and perilous profession in the world . I returned once more tothe ploughbut 1 was spoiled for a farmer ,
, I had , before my Portsmouth adventure , never known any other ambition than that of surpassing my brothers in the different labours of the field : but it was quite otherwise now ; I si ghed for a sight of the worltl ; the little Island ol' Britain seemed too small a compass for me . The tilings in which I had taken the most delight were neglected ;
the singing "of the birds grew insipid , and even the heart-cheering cry of the hounds , after which I formerly used to fly from my work , bound over the fields , and dash through the brakes and coppices , was heard with the most torpid indifference . Still , however , I remained at home till the following spring , when I quitted it , perhaps , for ever . It was on the sixth of May , 1783 that I , like Don Quixottesallied
, , forth to seek adventures . I was dressed in my holiday clothes , in orderto accompany two or three lasses to Guildford fair . They were to assemble at a house about three miles from my home , where I was to attend them ; but , unfortunately for me , I had to cross the London turnpike road . The stagecoach had just turned the summit of a hill , and was rattling down towards me at a merr 3 ' rate . The notion of
going to London never entered 1113 ' mind till this very moment ; yet the step was completely determined on before the coach came to the spot where I stood . Up J got , and was in London about . nine o ' clock in the evening . It was by mere accident that I had money eno ' . igh to defray the expences of this day . Being rigged out for the fair , I had three or
four crown aud half crown pieces ( which most certainly I did not intend to spend ) besides a few shillings and half-pence . This my little all , which 1 had been years in amassing , melted away like snow .before the sun , when touched by the fingers of the innkeepers and their waiters . In short , when I arrived at Ludgate-Hi !! , and had paid my fare , I had but about half a crown in my pocket
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Life And Adventures Of Peter Porcupine;
church in a halter , to be tied to a giv ! I did not like , than to be tied to the gangway , eras the sailors call it , married to Miss Roper . From the conclusion of this wholesome counsel , I perceived that the Captain thought I had eloped on account of a bastard . I blushed , and that confirmed him in his opinion ; but I declare to the reader , that I was no more guilty of such an offence than Mr . Swanwick , or any other gentleman who is constitutionally virtuous . No ; thank heaven , I
have none of the Fnuiklintoniau crimes to accuse myself of ; 1113-children do not hang their hats up in other men ' s houses : I am neither patriot , nor philosopher . I in vain attempted to convince Captain Berkeley that choice alone had led me to the sea : he sent me on shore , and I at last quitted Portsmouth ; butnot before I had applied to Port-Admiral Evans to get
my name enrolled among those who were destined for the service . I was , iu some sort , obliged to acquaint the Admiral with what had passed on board the Pegasus , in consequence of which my request was refused , and I happily escaped , sorely against my will , from the most toilsome and perilous profession in the world . I returned once more tothe ploughbut 1 was spoiled for a farmer ,
, I had , before my Portsmouth adventure , never known any other ambition than that of surpassing my brothers in the different labours of the field : but it was quite otherwise now ; I si ghed for a sight of the worltl ; the little Island ol' Britain seemed too small a compass for me . The tilings in which I had taken the most delight were neglected ;
the singing "of the birds grew insipid , and even the heart-cheering cry of the hounds , after which I formerly used to fly from my work , bound over the fields , and dash through the brakes and coppices , was heard with the most torpid indifference . Still , however , I remained at home till the following spring , when I quitted it , perhaps , for ever . It was on the sixth of May , 1783 that I , like Don Quixottesallied
, , forth to seek adventures . I was dressed in my holiday clothes , in orderto accompany two or three lasses to Guildford fair . They were to assemble at a house about three miles from my home , where I was to attend them ; but , unfortunately for me , I had to cross the London turnpike road . The stagecoach had just turned the summit of a hill , and was rattling down towards me at a merr 3 ' rate . The notion of
going to London never entered 1113 ' mind till this very moment ; yet the step was completely determined on before the coach came to the spot where I stood . Up J got , and was in London about . nine o ' clock in the evening . It was by mere accident that I had money eno ' . igh to defray the expences of this day . Being rigged out for the fair , I had three or
four crown aud half crown pieces ( which most certainly I did not intend to spend ) besides a few shillings and half-pence . This my little all , which 1 had been years in amassing , melted away like snow .before the sun , when touched by the fingers of the innkeepers and their waiters . In short , when I arrived at Ludgate-Hi !! , and had paid my fare , I had but about half a crown in my pocket