Neither Ward nor Brown viewed the Lambeth gardeners in such a _couleur-de-rose_ aspect; and haply they described the scene more accurately. The former says: 'A scoundrel crew of _Lambeth_ Gardeners attacked us with such a Volley of saucy Nonsence, that it made my Eyes stare, my Head ake, my Tongue run, and my Ears tingle.' Brown tells us that 'the next diverting Scene that the River afforded us, was a very warm Engagement between a Western Barge, and a Boat full of _Lambeth_ Gardeners, by whom _Billingsgate_ was much outdone in stupendious Obscenity, tonitrous Verbosity, and malicious Scurrility, as if one side had been _Daniel D--f--'s_[267] Party, and the other the _Observator's_.' And they both give examples of this bargee slang, which, it is needless to say, are utterly unfit for reproduction. [Footnote 267: Daniel Defoe.] From these market gardens came the 'Asparagrass' and 'Sallary,'[268] the 'Apricocks' and those melons which the _Spectator_ noted were consigned by Mr. Cuffe of Nine Elms to Sarah Sewell and Company, at their stall in Covent Garden. [Footnote 268: Potatoes in any large quantity were 1/2_d._ per lb.] Misson says, 'Fruit is brought only to the Tables of the Great, and of a small number even among them. The Desert they never dream of, unless it be a Piece of Cheese.' That possibly was correct, but still a great deal of fruit was eaten. The _Daily Courant_ of Feb. 20, 1714, mentions the following--Pears: 'Bon chrestien,' 'Mesir jean,' 'Beuré.' Apples: 'Pomme Royal,' 'Pomme Dâpy,' 'Reinette Grise,' and the 'Magdelaine' peach. We also see that Wallnutts the Fruit'rer's Hand, in Autumn stain, Blue Plumbs, and juicy Pears augment his Gain; Next Oranges the longing Boys entice, To trust their Copper Fortunes to the Dice. 'Lisbon, China Oranges, and Sower Oranges' were sold in Love Lane, near Billingsgate; as were also 'a Parcel of Pot China Oranges, of a pleasant taste and flavour, landed out of the Lisbon Fleet, now a delivering.' Oranges were favourite trees to grow here, and one advertisement mentions 7,000 of them for sale. The retail price of oranges was not excessive, considering the restricted commerce, and the small tonnage of the shipping. 'We have the finest oranges for two pence a piece,' writes Swift. The foreign fruit market was, as now, near Billingsgate, and here were sold olives, raisins, currants, French 'Pruants,' and the choicer sorts of French dry fruits, 'Pears of Rousselet, of Champagne, Prunes of Tours, and Muscadine Grapes,' 'Candid Maderas Citrons, and Sweet Barbary Almonds.' CHAPTER XVI. FOOD. (LIQUID.) Beer -- Hard drinking -- 'Whetters' -- Wines -- List of French and Spanish wines -- Wines of other countries -- Duties on wines -- Spirits -- Liqueurs -- Homemade wines -- Prices of tea -- Adulteration -- Price of coffee -- Chocolate -- Its price -- Duty on.