| Old Hampshire Mapped |
| Cobbett's HampshireTranscription (85) |
|
1826, October |
previous FROM LYNDHURST (NEW FOREST) TO BEAULIEU ABBEY; THENCE TO SOUTHAMPTON AND WESTON; THENCE TO BOTLEY, ALLINGTON, WEST END, NEAR HAMBLEDON; AND THENCE TO PETERSFIELD, THURSLEY, GODALMING. [October 1826] |
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Lyndhurst Weston Grove inn butcher |
YESTERDAY, from Lyndhurst to this place [Weston Grove], was a
ride, including our round-abouts, of more than forty miles; but
the roads the best in the world, one half of the way green turf;
and the day as fine an one as ever came out of the heavens. We
took in a breakfast, calculated for a long day's work, and for
no more eating till night. We had slept in a room, the access
to which was only through another sleeping room, which was also
occupied; and, as I had got up about two o'clock at Andover, we
went to bed, at Lyndhurst, about half past seven o'clock. I was,
of course, awake by three or four; I had eaten little overnight;
so that here lay I, not liking (even after day-light began to
glimmer) to go through a chamber, where, by possibility, there
might be 'a lady' actually in bed; here lay I, my bones aching
with lying in bed, my stomach growling for victuals, imprisoned
by my modesty. But, at last, I grew impatient; for, modesty here
or modesty there, I was not to penned up and starved: so, after
having shaved and dressed and got ready to go down, I thrusted
GEORGE out a little before me into the other room; and, through
we pushed, previously resolving, of course, not to look towards
the bed that was there. But, as the devil would have it, just
as I was about the middle of the room, I, like Lot's wife, turned
my head! All that I shall say is, first, that the consequences
that befell her did not befall me, and, second, that I advise
those, who are likely to be hungry in the morning, not to sleep
in inner rooms; or, if they do, to take some bread and cheese in
their pockets. Having got safe down stairs, I lost no time in
inquiry after the means of obtaining a breakfast to make up for
the bad fare of the previous day; and finding my landlady rather
tardy in the work, and not, seemingly, having a proper notion of
the affair, I went myself, and, having found a butcher's shop,
bought a loin of small, fat, wether mutton, which I saw cut out
of the sheep and cut into chops. These were brought to the inn;
George and I ate about 2lb, out of the 5lb. and, while I was
writing a letter, and making up my packet, to be ready to send
from Southampton, George went out and found a poor woman to come
and take away the rest of the loin of mutton; for, our fastings
of the day before enabled us to do this; and, though we had about
forty miles to go, to get to this place (through the route that
we intended to take), I had resolved, that we would go without
any more purchase of victuals and drink this day also. I beg
leave to suggest to my well-fed readers; I mean, those who have
at their command more victuals and drink than they can possibly
swallow; I beg to suggest to such, whether this would not be a
good way for them all to find a means of bestowing charity? ... next |
 
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