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thing it was that free…born Englishmen could not have a hand in the
traffic； seeing that it was forbidden by the laws of their country；
talking fondly of the good old times when their forefathers used to
carry slaves to Jamaica and Barbadoes； realising immense profit；
besides the pleasure of hearing their shrieks on the voyage； and
then the superstitions of the blacks； which my brother used to talk
of； their sharks' teeth； their wisps of fowls' feathers； their
half…baked pots full of burnt bones； of which they used to make
what they called fetish； and bow down to； and ask favours of； and
then； perhaps； abuse and strike； provided the senseless rubbish did
not give them what they asked for； and then； above all； Mumbo
Jumbo； the grand fetish master； who lived somewhere in the woods；
and who used to come out every now and then with his fetish
companions； a monstrous figure； all wound round with leaves and
branches； so as to be quite indistinguishable； and； seating himself
on the high seat in the villages； receive homage from the people；
and also gifts and offerings； the most valuable of which were
pretty damsels； and then betake himself back again； with his
followers； into the woods。 Oh the tales that my brother used to
tell us of the high Barbary shore！ Poor fellow！ what became of him
I can't say； the last time he came back from a voyage； he told us
that his captain； as soon as he had brought his vessel to port and
settled with his owner； drowned himself off the quay； in a fit of
the horrors； which it seems high Barbary captains； after a certain
number of years； are much subject to。 After staying about a month
with us； he went to sea again； with another captain； and； bad as
the old one had been； it appears the new one was worse； for； unable
to bear his treatment； my brother left his ship off the high
Barbary shore； and ran away up the country。 Some of his comrades；
whom we afterwards saw； said that there were various reports about
him on the shore； one that he had taken on with Mumbo Jumbo； and
was serving him in his house in the woods； in the capacity of
swashbuckler； or life…guardsman； another； that he was gone in quest
of a mighty city in the heart of the negro country； another； that
in swimming a stream he had been devoured by an alligator。 Now；
these two last reports were bad enough； the idea of their flesh and
blood being bit asunder by a ravenous fish was sad enough to my
poor parents； and not very comfortable was the thought of his
sweltering over the hot sands in quest of the negro city； but the
idea of their son； their eldest child； serving Mumbo Jumbo as
swashbuckler was worst of all； and caused my poor parents to shed
many a scalding tear。
'I stayed at home with my parents until I was about eighteen；
assisting my father in various ways。 I then went to live at the
Squire's； partly as groom； partly as footman。 After living in the
country some time； I attended the family in a trip of six weeks
which they made to London。 Whilst there； happening to have some
words with an old ill…tempered coachman； who had been for a great
many years in the family； my master advised me to leave； offering
to recommend me to a family of his acquaintance who were in need of
a footman。 I was glad to accept his offer； and in a few days went
to my new place。 My new master was one of the great gentry； a
baronet in Parliament； and possessed of an estate of about twenty
thousand a year； his family consisted of his lady； a son； a fine
young man just coming of age； and two very sweet amiable daughters。
I liked this place much better than my first； there was so much
more pleasant noise and bustle … so much more grand company； and so
many more opportunities of improving myself。 Oh； how I liked to
see the grand coaches drive up to the door； with the grand company；
and though； amidst that company； there were some who did not look
very grand； there were others； and not a few； who did。 Some of the
ladies quite captivated me； there was the Marchioness of … in
particular。 This young lady puts me much in mind of her； it is
true； the Marchioness； as I saw her then； was about fifteen years
older than this young gentlewoman is now； and not so tall by some
inches； but she had the very same hair； and much the same neck and
shoulders … no offence； I hope？ And then some of the young
gentlemen； with their cool； haughty； care…for…nothing looks； struck
me as being very fine fellows。 There was one in particular； whom I
frequently used to stare at； not altogether unlike some one I have
seen hereabouts … he had a slight cast in his eye； and 。 。 。 but I
won't enter into every particular。 And then the footmen！ Oh； how
those footmen helped to improve me with their conversation。 Many
of them could converse much more glibly than their masters； and
appeared to have much better taste。 At any rate； they seldom
approved of what their masters did。 I remember being once with one
in the gallery of the play…house； when something of Shakspeare's
was being performed： some one in the first tier of boxes was
applauding very loudly。 〃That's my fool of a governor；〃 said he；
〃he is weak enough to like Shakspeare … I don't； … he's so
confoundedly low； but he won't last long … going down。 Shakspeare
culminated〃 … I think that was the word … 〃culminated some time
ago。〃
'And then the professor of elocution； of whom my governors used to
take lessons； and of which lessons I had my share； by listening
behind the door； but for that professor of elocution I should not
be able to round my periods … an expression of his … in the manner
I do。
'After I had been three years at this place my mistress died。 Her
death； however； made no great alteration in my way of living； the
family spending their winters in London； and their summers at their
old seat in S… as before。 At last； the young ladies； who had not
yet got husbands； which was strange enough； seeing； as I told you
before； they were very amiable； proposed to our governor a
travelling expedition abroad。 The old baronet consented； though
young master was much against it； saying they would all be much
better at home。 As the girls persisted； however； he at last
withdrew his opposition； and even promised to follow them as soon
as his parliamentary duties would permit； for he was just got into
Parliament； and； like most other young members； thought that
nothing could be done in the House without him。 So the old
gentleman and the two young ladies set off； taking me with them；
and a couple of ladies' maids to wait upon them。 First of all； we
went to Paris； where we continued three months； the old baronet and
the ladies going to see the various sights of the city and the
neighbourhood； and I attending them。 They soon got tired of sight…
seeing； and of Paris too； and so did I。 However； they still
continued there； in order； I believe； that the young ladies might
lay in a store of French finery。 I should have passed my idle time
at Paris； of which I had plenty after the sight…seeing was over；
very unpleasantly； but for Black Jack。 Eh！ did you never hear of
Black Jack？ Ah！ if you had ever been an English servant in Paris；
you would have known Black Jack； not an English gentleman's servant
who has been at Paris for this last ten years but knows Black Jack
and his ordinary。 A strange fellow he was … of what country no one
could exactly say … for as for judging from speech； that was
impossible； Jack speaking all languages equally ill。 Some said he
came direct from Satan's kitchen； and that when he gives up keeping
ordinary； he will return there again； though the generally…received
opinion at Paris was； that he was at one time butler to King
Pharaoh； and that； after lying asleep for four thousand years in a
place called the Kattycombs； he was awaked by the sound of Nelson's
cannon at the battle of the Nile； and going to the shore； took on
with the admiral； and became； in course of time； ship steward； and
that after Nelson's death he was captured by the French； on board
one of whose vessels he served in a somewhat similar capacity till
the peace； when he came to Paris； and set up an ordinary for
servants； sticking the name of Katcomb over the door； in allusion
to the place where he had his long sleep。 But； whatever his origin
was； Jack kept his own counsel； and appeared to care nothing for
what people said about him； or called him。 Yes； I forgot； there
was one name he would not be called； and that was 〃Portuguese。〃 I
once saw Black Jack knock down a coachman； six foot high； who
called him black…faced Portuguese。 〃Any name but dat； you shab；〃
said Black Jack； who was a little round fellow； of about five feet
two； 〃I would not stand to be called Portuguese by Nelson himself。〃
Jack was rather fond o