Occupations > British wine-maker, and domestic brewer

THE BRITISH WINE-MAKER. 17
with this opportunity of pleasing my friend, I
complied with his request, bottled the wine, seal¬
ed it, and sent it to him. Some weeks after, a
very large party dined with him. It is not my
intention here to name the individuals of that
party; suffice it to say, that, amongst others, there
were two present whose judgment in wines was
reckoned unexceptionable. After having enjoyed
Hock and Champagne, and when the parmesan
cheese was brought, my friend requested his ser¬
vant to bring a small bottle which was on the
sideboard. The servant brought it, with a nap¬
kin rolled round it. The liqueur glasses were
all ready on the salver to receive the contents.
The mouths of the guests being in proper trim
to enjoy it after the cheese, it was drawn. The
glasses were filled and handed round; one smacked
his lips, another pronounced it delicious, a third
most delicious, and so on. No one, however,
dared to give it a name. All eyes were now
fixed upon the judges, first on one, then on the
other. One of them confidently asserted that it
was the very best Constantia he had ever tasted.
The second pint was uncorked, and enjoyed to
the same extent as the first. This story I had
from the gentleman himself, as well as from one
of the party, who mentioned it merely to me as a
story, characteristic of my friend’s style in doing
any thing, and who was not aware of its being