On the 24th of February, 1809, died Mr. Jennings of Galley-lane, near
Barnet, Herts. A few days previous to his decease he called on Mr. Wm.
Salmon, his carpenter, at Shenley-hill, to go with him and fix upon a
spot for his vault. On the Sunday before his death he went on horseback
to Shenley-hill, and stopped at the White Horse to have a glass of warm
wine, with the same intention of going to Ridge; and afterwards, seeing
the rev. Mr. Jefferson, endeavoured to buy the ground, but differed with
him for two guineas. On the Monday, he applied to Mr. Mars, of Barnet,
for a vault there, but Mr. Jefferson sending him a note acceding to his
terms, he opened it before Mr. Salmon and Dr. Booth, and after he had
read it, showed it them, with this exclamation--“There, see what these
fellows will do!” The day before he died he played at whist with Dr.
Rumball, Dr. Booth, and his son, in bed: in the course of the evening he
said, “The game is almost up.” He afterwards informed his son, he had
lent a person some money that morning, and desired him to see it repaid.
To some friends he observed, that he should not be long with them, and
desiring them to leave the room he called back his son, for the purpose
of saying to him, “I gave William money for coals this morning;
deducting the turnpike, mind he gives you eleven and eightpence in
change when he comes home. Your mother always dines at three o’clock,
get your dinner with her, I shall be gone before that time--and don’t
make any stir about me.” He died at half-past two. This account is from
the manuscript papers of the late Mr. John Almon, in possession of the
editor.
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Regarding the season, there is an old proverb worthy noticing:
February fill dike, be it black or be it white:
But if it be white, it’s the better to like.
_Old Proverb._
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