Page:Life of Daniel Dancer Esq..pdf/18

 tility. On another occasion, upon receiving two-pence for a pint of beer from a deputy commissary, who was about to pay him five hundred pounds for hay during the war, and had mistaken him for one of Squire Dancer's servants, he bridled up, and said that he intended soon to become a gentleman himself!

Had it not been for the perpetual exercise of his master-passion, Daniel Dancer might have been a credit to his family, and an ornament to society. He possessed the seeds of many admirable qualities, and exhibited frequent marks of strong, nervous, good sense; unpolished, indeed, by commerce with the world, but at the same time unsophisticated by its vices or its follies.

Both he and his father, during a series of more than sixty years, had allowed themselves two jubilee days in the year, these were their festivals, and they enjoyed them, for there was good cheer to be had without expense. The periods alluded to occurred in April and October, at Sir John Rushout's court-baron for the manor of Harrow. As head tenants, they constantly attended; and it was observed by all the suitors, that, if the Dancers starved at home, they ate most voraciously abroad. On these occasions Daniel distinguished himself by his droll sayings; and, whenever any attempt was made to ridicule, burlesque, or pass a joke upon him (which was invariably the case,) the