Keeping a poet is a luxury enjoyed by many, from the Queen down to
Messrs. Moses, Hyam and Co.; but the refinement of keeping an hermit
would appear to be a more _recherché_ and less ordinary appendage of
wealth and taste.
I send you an advertisement _for_, and two actual instances of _going a
hermiting_, from my scrapbook:
"A young man, who wishes to retire from the world and live as an
hermit in some convenient spot in England, is willing to engage
with any nobleman or gentleman who may be desirous of having one.
Any letter directed to S. Lawrence (post paid) to be left at Mr.
Otton's, No. 6. Colman's Lane, Plymouth, mentioning what gratuity
will be given, and all other particulars, will be duly attended
to."--_Courier_, Jan. 11th, 1810.
Can any one tell me whether this retiring young man was engaged in the
above capacity? I do not think so: for soon after an advertisement
appeared in the papers which I have reasons for thinking was by the same
hand.
"Wants a situation in a pious regular family, in a place where the
Gospel is preached, a young man of serious mind, who can wait at
table and milk a cow."