第 12 节
作者:
西门在线 更新:2021-02-20 18:43 字数:9321
the mouth of the haven; is fair to the very seas of Greenland。
I could say much more to this point if it were needful; and in few
words could easily prove; that Ipswich must have the preference of
all the port towns of Britain; for being the best centre of the
Greenland trade; if ever that trade fall into the management of
such a people as perfectly understand; and have a due honest regard
to its being managed with the best husbandry; and to the prosperity
of the undertaking in general。 But whether we shall ever arrive at
so happy a time as to recover so useful a trade to our country;
which our ancestors had the honour to be the first undertakers of;
and which has been lost only through the indolence of others; and
the increasing vigilance of our neighbours; that is not my business
here to dispute。
What I have said is only to let the world see what improvement this
town and port is capable of; I cannot think but that Providence;
which made nothing in vain; cannot have reserved so useful; so
convenient a port to lie vacant in the world; but that the time
will some time or other come (especially considering the improving
temper of the present age) when some peculiar beneficial business
may be found out; to make the port of Ipswich as useful to the
world; and the town as flourishing; as Nature has made it proper
and capable to be。
As for the town; it is true; it is but thinly inhabited; in
comparison of the extent of it; but to say there are hardly any
people to be seen there; is far from being true in fact; and
whoever thinks fit to look into the churches and meeting…houses on
a Sunday; or other public days; will find there are very great
numbers of people there。 Or if he thinks fit to view the market;
and see how the large shambles; called Cardinal Wolsey's Butchery;
are furnished with meat; and the rest of the market stocked with
other provisions; must acknowledge that it is not for a few people
that all those things are provided。 A person very curious; and on
whose veracity I think I may depend; going through the market in
this town; told me; that he reckoned upwards of six hundred country
people on horseback and on foot; with baskets and other carriage;
who had all of them brought something or other to town to sell;
besides the butchers; and what came in carts and waggons。
It happened to be my lot to be once at this town at the time when a
very fine new ship; which was built there for some merchants of
London; was to be launched; and if I may give my guess at the
numbers of people which appeared on the shore; in the houses; and
on the river; I believe I am much within compass if I say there
were 20;000 people to see it; but this is only a guess; or they
might come a great way to see the sight; or the town may be
declined farther since that。 But a view of the town is one of the
surest rules for a gross estimate。
It is true here is no settled manufacture。 The French refugees
when they first came over to England began a little to take to this
place; and some merchants attempted to set up a linen manufacture
in their favour; but it has not met with so much success as was
expected; and at present I find very little of it。 The poor people
are; however; employed; as they are all over these counties; in
spinning wool for other towns where manufactures are settled。
The country round Ipswich; as are all the counties so near the
coast; is applied chiefly to corn; of which a very great quantity
is continually shipped off for London; and sometimes they load corn
here for Holland; especially if the market abroad is encouraging。
They have twelve parish churches in this town; with three or four
meetings; but there are not so many Quakers here as at Colchester;
and no Anabaptists or Antipoedo Baptists; that I could hear of … at
least; there is no meeting…house of that denomination。 There is
one meeting…house for the Presbyterians; one for the Independents
and one for the Quakers; the first is as large and as fine a
building of that kind as most on this side of England; and the
inside the best finished of any I have seen; London not excepted;
that for the Independents is a handsome new…built building; but not
so gay or so large as the other。
There is a great deal of very good company in this town; and though
there are not so many of the gentry here as at Bury; yet there are
more here than in any other town in the county; and I observed
particularly that the company you meet with here are generally
persons well informed of the world; and who have something very
solid and entertaining in their society。 This may happen; perhaps;
by their frequent conversing with those who have been abroad; and
by their having a remnant of gentlemen and masters of ships among
them who have seen more of the world than the people of an inland
town are likely to have seen。 I take this town to be one of the
most agreeable places in England for families who have lived well;
but may have suffered in our late calamities of stocks and bubbles;
to retreat to; where they may live within their own compass; and
several things indeed recommend it to such:…
1。 Good houses at very easy rents。
2。 An airy; clean; and well…governed town。
3。 Very agreeable and improving company almost of every kind。
4。 A wonderful plenty of all manner of provisions; whether flesh
or fish; and very good of the kind。
5。 Those provisions very cheap; so that a family may live cheaper
here than in any town in England of its bigness within such a small
distance from London。
6。 Easy passage to London; either by land or water; the coach
going through to London in a day。
The Lord Viscount Hereford has a very fine seat and park in this
town; the house indeed is old built; but very commodious; it is
called Christ Church; having been; as it is said; a priory or
religious house in former times。 The green and park is a great
addition to the pleasantness of this town; the inhabitants being
allowed to divert themselves there with walking; bowling; etc。
The large spire steeple; which formerly stood upon that they call
the tower church; was blown down by a great storm of wind many
years ago; and in its a fall did much damage to the church。
The government of this town is by two bailiffs; as at Yarmouth。
Mr。 Camden says they are chosen out of twelve burgesses called
portmen; and two justices out of twenty…four more。 There has been
lately a very great struggle between the two parties for the choice
of these two magistrates; which had this amicable conclusion …
namely; that they chose one of either side; so that neither party
having the victory; it is to be hoped it may be a means to allay
the heats and unneighbourly feuds which such things breed in towns
so large as this is。 They send two members to Parliament; whereof
those at this time are Sir William Thompson; Recorder of London;
and Colonel Negus; Deputy Master of the Horse to the king。
There are some things very curious to be seen here; however some
superficial writers have been ignorant of them。 Dr。 Beeston; an
eminent physician; began a few years ago a physic garden adjoining
to his house in this town; and as he is particularly curious; and;
as I was told; exquisitely skilled in botanic knowledge; so he has
been not only very diligent; but successful too; in making a
collection of rare and exotic plants; such as are scarce to be
equalled in England。
One Mr。 White; a surgeon; resides also in this town。 But before I
speak of this gentleman; I must observe that I say nothing from
personal knowledge; though if I did; I have too good an opinion of
his sense to believe he would be pleased with being flattered or
complimented in print。 But I must be true to matter of fact。 This
gentleman has begun a collection or chamber of rarities; and with
good success too。 I acknowledge I had not the opportunity of
seeing them; but I was told there are some things very curious in
it; as particularly a sea…horse carefully preserved; and perfect in
all its parts; two Roman urns full of ashes of human bodies; and
supposed to be above 1;700 years old; besides a great many valuable
medals and ancient coins。 My friend who gave me this account; and
of whom I think I may say he speaks without bias; mentions this
gentleman; Mr。 White; with some warmth as a very valuable person in
his particular employ of a surgeon。 I only repeat his words。 〃Mr。
White;〃 says he; 〃to whom the whole town and country are greatly
indebted and obliged to pray for his life; is our most skilful
surgeon。〃 These; I say; are his own words; and I add nothing to
them but this; that it is happy for a town to have such a surgeon;
as it is for a surgeon to have such a character。
The country round Ipswich; as if qualified on purpose to
accommodate the town for building of ships; is an inexhaustible
store…house of