And when unable to work, if his life is spared,: after all his toil, he may go to his mistress, and, in the language of King Lear, say to her, "Here I stand, your slave, a poor, infirm, weak, and despised old man." Our cargo being now on board, the ship was dropped down the river, we took a fine south-west wind and run out of the bay in fine style. We had a very pleasant passage and arrived off Hollyhead on the Fourth of July. It being foggy, our number could not be distinguished at the signal station therefore a boat came off to us, for the necessary information.. I gave them half a guinea to take me ashore; as by landing here I should have an opportunity of going through Wales, and of crossing the strait between the Isle of Anglesea and the main land, on the celebrated Menai suspension bridge, under which ships of the largest class could pass with all sail set.
I learned on my arrival ashore that George Fourth had just expired, which caused much excitement throughout the country. I took the coach the same afternoon for Liverpool, 116 miles distant. We rode all night; the weather was remarkably fine and I could see to read most of the time. Arrived early next morning at Chester, a very ancient town, which is on the line of division between England and Wales. Here we took breakfast, changed the coach and started for Liverpool. I had felt for many years a strong desire to see England: And now on Albion's shore, I meant to view the landscape o'er. The railroad between Liverpool and Manchester had just been surveyed, a portion of it graded and the rails laid.
As I had a letter of introduction to a gentleman at St. Helens, twelve miles distant from Liverpool, started one morning for a walk on the track, and if not too much fatigued meant to continue on to St. Helens, which I did, and arrived there at 10 o'clock A. M., found the gentleman to whom I was introduced; and was received with much kindness and attention. As 1 did not intend to remain there but a day, he took me in his chaise for a ride round the country. On our return we stopped at Mr. S 's brewery, said to be one of the largest in England. I was introduced to Mr. S as a gentleman from America; he was a monstrous big man, yet he assured me that before be commenced bis brewery be weigbed but one hundred and fifty-eight pounds, now his weight was over twenty-one stones, about three hundred pounds.
Mr. S of course took it for granted that as we had no such extensive breweries in the United States, a sight of his would be to me interesting. Accordingly we entered the first room, which contained twelve large vats, holding many thousand gallons of beer, of different ages. Frequently turning to me, and asking: " Have you anything like tliis in America?" When about half way through, we were, by his request, seated. He called out: " John, bring me a gill of four year old Porter." Conscience! a gill of Porter among three! but I soon found what a gill meant. John came with a quart measure full and foaming, with three handsomely cut glass goblets.
He filled one and handed it to me, which I just tasted and returned to him. " What!" said he, " is it not good?" " Oh, yes sir, excellent, but my head will not bear it." " Oh, nonsense! 'tis as mild as milk." My friend had tossed his off, and like Oliver Twist, held out his glass for more. He too, assured me how mild it was. So I drank half the contents of the goblet and pronounced it firstrate. We then commenced our walk again, visiting another apartment, where the bottling was done; here were men, women and children, all at work, in every stage of the bottling process And now we must try a bottle of Old Stout.
By this time I began to feel how mild the four years old Porter was. I really felt about half " smothered," but no excuse could prevail, I must try the Stout. So I drank about half a table glass full, which I feared would be the ounce that was to break the camel's back. I now felt intoxicated, and would have given the world to have been clear of this horrid place. We were invited into the house, and when seated in a splendid parlor, Mr. S rang a small hand bell. A plump Irish girl answered the summons. "Mary, bring a jug of the old Burton from the further arch." So Mary brought up a can of old Burton ale.