Author Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1800 Excerpt:... CHAP. VII. Biography continued. "During the honey-moon, I would not have exchanged situations with a king. I wished for nothing more; and had not my contracts now and then crossed my mind to mix a little gall with my transports, they would not have been exceeded by the joys of paradise. But who, in the arms of a young and lively wife, can think of saving?--My house was the abode of pleasure; the noise of revelry dissipated thought, and the melody of oaths of unalterable friendship and fraternal love, sworn around the dinner-table, lulled reason and reflection to sleep. c Instead1 of making repayment to others, the good-natured chest was now called upon to advance money to ourselves, while at the fame time charges upon my G 5 benefice benefice daily encreased. Thus my receipts, instead of keeping pace in encrease with my outgoings, constantly diminissied, and my chest manifestly approached every day nearer and nearer to the state of a perfect void. The inevitable consequence of all this was an inquiry into the situation of my affairs. Happily for me, my stipulated protector undertook this commission in person. As he entered my house I perceived his countenance, not as formerly, full of confidence, compassion, and kind participation in my concerns, but proud, cold, contemptuous, and impatient, exactly like that of Lord Bolingbroke in the Fragments. I gave myself over for lost: the fight of features so heterogeneous was perfectly insupportable to me, and I was on the point of running into the open air forrelief, when the appearance of a good angel from the kitchen held me back. "This was my lovely wife, who played the hostess with so much dexterity, that the lightning my formidable guest bore in his eyes, to flash against and overpower me, was dispersed insta...