One of them had only
heard these stories from his minister in the church, not being able
to read them himself.
The one that sat next to him now began to talk about the Jews of the
Old Testament, and assured us that the present race were all
descended from those old ones. "Ay, and they are all damned to all
eternity!" said his companion, as coolly and as confidently as if at
that moment he had seen them burning in the bottomless pit.
We now frequently took up fresh passengers, who only rode a short
distance with us, and then got out again. Among others was a woman
from London, whose business was the making of brandy. She
entertained us with a very circumstantial narrative of all the
shocking scenes during the late riot in that city. What
particularly struck me was her saying that she saw a man, opposite
to her house, who was so furious, that he stood on the wall of a
house that was already half burnt down, and there, like a demon,
with his own hands pulled down and tossed about the bricks which the
fire had spared, till at length he was shot, and fell back among the
flames.
At length we arrived at London without any accident, in a hard rain,
about one o'clock. I had been obliged to pay sixteen shillings
beforehand at Northampton, for the sixty miles to London. This the
coachman seemed not to know for certain, and therefore asked me more
earnestly if I was sure I had paid: I assured him I had, and he
took my word.
I looked like a crazy creature when I arrived in London;
notwithstanding which, Mr. Pointer, with whom I left my trunk,
received me in the most friendly manner, and desired me during
dinner to relate to him my adventures.
The same evening I called on Mr. Leonhardi, who, as I did not wish
to hire a lodging for the few days I might be obliged to wait for a
fair wind, got me into the Freemasons' Tavern. And here I have been
waiting these eight days, and the wind still continues contrary for
Hambro'; though I do now most heartily wish for a fair wind, as I
can no longer make any improvement by my stay, since I must keep
myself in constant readiness to embark whenever the wind changes;
and therefore I dare go no great distance.
Everybody here is now full of the Marquis of Rockingham's death, and
the change of the ministry in consequence of it. They are much
displeased that Fox has given up his seat; and yet it is singular,
they still are much concerned, and interest themselves for him, as
if whatever interested him were the interest of the nation.
