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perſuaded to take no notice of them; but, on the contrary, to inſiſt the more ſtrenuouſly upon the right his wife claimed of marking their ſpoons, knives and forks, plates and porringers.

The new ſettlers obſerving how matters were conducted in their father’s family became exceedingly diſtreſſed and mortified. They met together and agreed one and all that they would no longer ſubmit to the arbitrary impoſitions of their mother-in-law, and their enemy the ſteward. They determined to pay no manner of regard to the new decree, conſidering it as a violation of the Great Paper. But to go on and eat their broth and pudding as uſual. The cooks alſo and butlers ſerved up their ſpoons, knives and forks, plates and porringers without having them marked by the new officers.

The Nobleman at length thought fit to reverſe the order[1] which had been made reſpecting the ſpoons, knives and forks, plates and porringers of the new ſettlers. But he did this with a very ill grace: for he, at the ſame time avowed and declared[2] that he and his wife had a right to mark all their furniture, if they pleaſed, from the ſilver tankard down to the very chamber pots: that as he was their father he had an abſo-

lute
  1. Repeal of Stamp Act
  2. The Declaratory Act