"Occasionally when there was some more than usually interesting inquest upon a parish child who had been overlooked in turning up a bedstead or inadvertently scalded to death when there happened to be a washing though the latter accident was very scarce anything approaching to a washing being of rare occurrence in the farm the jury would take it into their heads to ask troublesome questions or the parishioners would rebelliously affix their signatures to a remonstrance. But these impertinences were speedily checked by the evidence of the surgeon and the testimony of the beadle; the former of whom had always opened the body and found nothing inside (which was very probable indeed) and the latter of whom invariably swore whatever the parish wanted; which was very self-devotional. Besides the board made periodical pilgrimages to the farm and always sent the beadle the day before to say they were going. The children were neat and clean to behold when they went; and what more would the people have!"