Roger Kyffin's Ward Read online

tell, at this moment. The Irish are inrebellion, and are certain to join them and cut all our throats."

  "Terrible, if true," answered Mr. Coppinger, with a smile, which hecould afford to bestow on his excitable friend; "but I think, my dearalderman, I can correct you. The crews of the Channel fleet haveundoubtedly refused to proceed to sea unless their very reasonabledemands are agreed to, and I know for certain that they have treated theadmiral and their officers with every respect. They will, I have nofear, therefore, when their petition is granted, return to their duty.If the French come we will give them a warm reception. In the meantime,however, I acknowledge we are likely to suffer by having our merchantmenexposed to the depredations of the enemy's ships, and this is about theworst danger I apprehend."

  "You take things too calmly, my friend!" exclaimed the alderman."Suppose the fleet refuses to obey orders, what are we to do? There'sthe question. I am of opinion that we should call out the train-bands,the volunteers, and the militia, and man every vessel in the Thames, andsail down and capture the mutineers."

  "I suspect, my friend, that your proposed flotilla would very soon besent to the right-about, if not to the bottom. It would be wiser toinquire into the complaints of the seamen, and to redress theirgrievances. Their pay was small enough at first during Charles theSecond's reign, and since then all necessary articles of subsistencehave advanced fully fifty per cent, and all the men require is, thattheir wages may be proportionably increased. They ask also that thenaval pensions may be augmented, as have those of Chelsea, to 13 poundsa year. The Greenwich pensions still remain at 7 pounds. They also begthat while in harbour they may have more liberty to go on shore, andthat when seamen are wounded they may receive their pay till cured ordischarged. Their other requests are really as moderate, and though I,for one, would never countenance mutiny, from my heart I believe thattheir demands are just."

  "Can't see that," answered the alderman. "In my opinion the country isgoing to rack and ruin. What are we to do without gold? Then we are tohave more loans. We have already lent Prussia, Sardinia, and theEmperor of Austria some seven or eight millions, and are now going tomake a further loan to Portugal, and for all I know to the contrary weshall soon be subsidising all the rest of Europe."

  "If this war with France is to continue, I, for my part, shall be gladif we have so many friends on our side," observed Mr. Coppinger, whosegreat object at the moment was to tranquillise the minds of his Cityfriends. "We are not likely to pay money away without getting somethingfor it."

  "Not so sure of that," replied the alderman; "John Bull is apt to throwhis cash away with his eyes shut, and that is what we have been doingfor some time past. Had Lord Malmesbury been successful in hisnegotiation for peace, things might have been different, but what can beworse with consols down to fifty-seven, a fearful run on the Bank ofEngland, and now a suspension of payment in specie altogether, with thisdangerous mutiny of the fleet as a climax! Then look at Ireland--halfthe country in a state of rebellion; the people shrieking out for theassistance of the French, and cutting each other's throats in themeantime. Then these Jacobin clubs in London and throughout all ourlarge towns, doing their utmost to bring about a republic in England.If they could imitate the French and cut off our king's head, they woulddo it. And as to the army, I am not certain that we can put confidencein it. Ah! my dear sir, the sun of England's glory has set; that is myopinion. I may be wrong--I hope so--but that is my opinion."

  "You take too gloomy a view of the state of affairs, alderman," said Mr.Coppinger. "Things are very bad, I'll own, but they may improve. LordDuncan's late victory should give us confidence. The fate of the Frenchwho landed in Pembrokeshire the other day, shows that even though ourenemies may set foot on our shores, they may not gain much by theirimpudence. No fear about our army, that is staunch, and the navy willsoon return to its duty, and then Old England will be well able to holdher own against all her enemies."

  Stephen Coppinger was anxious to get rid of the alderman withoutrudeness, and that worthy finding he could not frighten his friend, soonbustled off to communicate his alarm to some more excitable listener.

  The merchant, however, was very far from feeling the tranquillity heexhibited. He well knew the desperate state of affairs, but at the sametime it was important that the public mind should be tranquillised. Hehad also several bills to negotiate and other business to transact,which required his own mind to be peculiarly calm and collected. Manyother persons addressed him, most of them as agitated as AldermanBycroft. He had to get rid of them one after the other, and havingdespatched his own business, maintaining his usual composed manner, hequitted the Exchange.

  He proceeded along Cornhill to the narrow passage which led into ChangeAlley, and with deliberate steps entered Jonathan's. Every room in thatonce celebrated coffee-house was full. Some persons were transactingprivate business in the smaller rooms, while in the larger, stood eagergroups of brokers and dealers, with their books in their hands, notingthe various transactions in which they were engaged.

  The news flying about had caused the funds to fall yet lower than on theprevious day, and brokers were hurrying to and fro, receiving ordersfrom their various constituents, some to buy, others to sell forthwith.Stephen Coppinger gave certain directions to his broker in a subduedtone. It was even with greater difficulty than in the morning that hecould command his voice, then bowing to his acquaintance as he passed,he took his way back to Idol Lane.

  He preserved his calm and dignified air, during his walk to hiscounting-house. Passing through the public office to his private room,he closed the door, and throwing himself back into his arm-chair,pressed his hands on his brow for some minutes, lost in thought. Atlength turning round towards his large black writing-table, andreferring to some letters and other papers, he seized a pen which hemechanically mended, almost in so doing cutting through his thumb nail,and made some rapid calculations. They were not apparentlysatisfactory. He rang sharply a hand-bell by his side. Scarcely hadthe silvery sounds died away when the heavy door of the oak-panelledroom slowly opened, and a clerk, with a ponderous volume under his arm,entered. He was dressed as became the managing clerk of a largeestablishment, with great neatness and precision, his hair beingcarefully powdered, though his side curls were somewhat smaller thanthose of his employer. His complexion was clear, with a good colour onhis cheeks, which betokened sound health, while his countenance wore apeculiarly calm expression, calculated to gain the confidence of thosewith whom he had dealings. Roger Kyffin was highly esteemed by hisprincipal as well as by all his subordinates. His word was, in truth,as good as Stephen Coppinger's bond. What Roger Kyffin said StephenCoppinger would do, was done. On the day and hour Roger Kyffin promisedthat cash should be paid, it was paid without fail. Stephen Coppingerhad no partner. He scorned to throw responsibility on an unknowncompany, while, with only one exception, to no other breast than his ownwould he confide the secrets of his transactions. That exception wasthe breast of Roger Kyffin. Roger Kyffin placed the open folio beforehis principal, and produced a paper with the remarks he had maderespecting certain entries.

  "Bad!" observed Stephen Coppinger, as he ran his eye over the book andpaper; "but see, these letters bring worse news. The `Belmont Castle'has been taken by the enemy. The `Tiger' has foundered during ahurricane in the West Indies. Jecks Tarbett and Simmons have failed;their debt is a large one. Hunter and Dove's affairs are in anunsatisfactory condition. I don't like Joseph Hudson's proceedings inChange Alley; he yesterday begged that I would renew his bill. Intruth, Roger Kyffin, unless matters improve..." A groan escaped fromStephen Coppinger's bosom.

  "The amount you require must be raised," observed Roger Kyffin, takinghalf a turn across the room. "Leave that to me. You have so oftenaided friends in need, that I anticipate no difficulty in obtaininghelp."

  "It will be from no want of exertion on your part if you fail," saidStephen Coppinger, brightening up slightly.

  "Keep up
your spirits, sir," said Roger Kyffin. "The credit of yourfirm will not suffer, depend on that. I will now set out and see whatcan be done. I hope to bring satisfactory intelligence before evening."

  Saying this, Roger Kyffin left the room, carefully closing the doorbehind him. While putting on his spencer and hat, he intimated to hisprincipal subordinate, Mr. Silas Sleech, that he should probably beabsent for some hours. Mr. Sleech glanced after him with a pair ofmeaningless eyes, set in an immovable countenance, and saying, "Oh, verywell," went on with his work.

  More respecting Mr. Silas Sleech and his doings may possibly bementioned.

  CHAPTER TWO.

  IN WHICH SEVERAL PERSONAGES ARE INTRODUCED.

  Roger Kyffin took his way