Peter Grievous

“ But now the Nobleman’s wife began to cast an avaricious eye upon the new settlers; saying to herself, if by the natural consequence of their intercourse with us my wealth and power are so much increased, how much more would they accumulate if I can persuade them that all they have belonged to us, and therefore I may at any time demand from them such part of their earnings as I please. At the same time she was fully sensible of the promises and agreements her husband had made when they left the old farm, and the tenor and purport of the great paper. ”

“ Their ears are no longer attentive to the repeated strokes of industrious labour, and the busy hum of men, instead of these, the roaring tempest and incessant howlings of the beasts of prey fill their minds with horror and dismay. The needful comforts of life are no longer in their power—no friendly roof to shelter them from inclement skies; no fortress to protect them from surrounding dangers. Unaccustomed as they were to hardships like these, some were cut off by sickness and disease, and others snatched away by the hands of barbarity. ”

“ On his first arrival in Jack’s family he was received with considerable respect, because he was the delegate of their aged father: for, notwithstanding all that had past, the people of the new settlements loved and revered the old Gentleman with a truly filial attachment: attributing his unkindness entirely to the intrigues of their enemy the steward. But this fair weather did not last long. The new overseer took the first opportunity of shewing that he had no intentions of living in harmony and friendship with the family. ”

“ A book without a preface is like a face without a nose. Let the other features be ever so agreeable and well poportioned, it is looked on with detestation and horror if this material ornament be wanting. ”

“ Now the new settlers had adopted a mode of government in their several families, similar to that their father had established in the old farm; in taking a new wife [11] at the end of certain periods of time; which wife was chosen for them by their children, and without whose consent they could do nothing material in the conduct of their affairs. Under these circumstances they thrived exceedingly, and became very numerous; living in great harmony amongst themselves, and in constitutional obedience to their father and his wife. ”

“ Moreover the old Nobleman had sent amongst then a great number of thieves, ravishers, and murderers, who did a great deal of mischief by practising those crimes for which they had been banished the old farm. But they bore these grievances with as much patience as could be expected; not chosing to trouble their aged father with complaints, unless in cases of important necessity. ”

“ No sooner did tidings of this undue severity reach the new farm, but the people were almost ready to dispair. They were altogether at a loss how to act, or by what means they should avert the vengeance to which they were doomed: but the old Lady and steward soon determined the matter; for the Padlock was sent over, and without ceremony fastened upon Jack’s great gate. They did not wait to know whether he would pay for the Gruel or not, or make the required acknowledgments ”

“ They declared that their master’s trade was declining exceedingly, and that his wife and steward would, by their mischievous machinations, ruin the whole farm; they forth with sharpened their pens and attacked the steward, and even the old Lady herself with great severity. Insomuch that it was thought proper to withdraw this attempt likewise upon the rights and liberties of the new settlers. One part only of the new decree remained unreversed—viz. the tax upon Water Gruel. ”

“ Vast quantities of this Gruel were vended amongst the new settlers; for it became very fashionable for them to use it in their families in great abundance. They did not however trouble themselves much about the tax on Water Gruel: they were well pleased with the reversal of the other parts of the decree, and considering Gruel as not absolutely necessary to the comfort of life, they were determined to endeavour to do without it, and by that means avoid the remaining effects of the new decree.
The steward found his designs once more frustrated ”

“ I therefore enjoyn all persons, of what estate soever they be, that they and every of them, as much as in them is, shall uphold and maintain these articles granted by our Lord and master in all points. ”

“ A very large Padlock was, accordingly, prepared to be fastened upon Jack’s great gate; [31] the key of which was to be given to the old Gentleman; who was not to open it again until he had been paid for the Gruel he had spilt, and resigned all claim to the privileges of the Great Paper: nor then neither unless he thought fit. ”

“ In return for these favours he insisted that they, on their parts, should at all times acknowledge him to be their father; that they should not deal with their neighbours without his leave, but send to his shop only for such merchandize as they should want. But in order to enable them to pay for such goods as they should purchase, they were permitted to sell the produce of their lands to certain of his neighbours. ”