Augustine Pentheny, Esq. who died on the 23d of November, 1810, in the
eighty-third year of his age, at an obscure lodging in Leeson-street,
Dublin, was a miser of the most perfect drawing that nature ever gave to
the world. He was born in the village of Longwood, county of Meath, and
became a journeyman-cooper. Very early in life he was encouraged to make
a voyage to the West Indies, to follow his trade, under the patronage of
his maternal uncle, another adventurer of the name of Gaynor, better
known among his neighbours by the name of “Peter Big Brogues,” from the
enormous shoes he was mounted in on the day he set out on his travels.
Peter acquired an immense fortune, and lived to see his only child
married to sir G. Colebrook, chairman to the East India Company, and a
banker in London, to whom Peter gave with his daughter two hundred
thousand pounds. His nephew, Anthony, acquired the enormous sum of three
hundred thousand pounds in the islands of Antigua and Santa Cruz.
Anthony Pentheny saw mankind only through one medium--money. His vital
powers were so diverted from generous or social objects by the
prevailing passion of gold, that he could discover no trait in any
character, however venerable or respectable, that was not seconded by
riches; in fact, any one that was not rich he considered as an inferior
animal, neither worthy of notice, nor safe to be admitted into society.
This feeling he extended to female society, and, if possible, with a
greater degree of disgust. A woman he considered only as an incumbrance
on a man of property, and therefore he could never be prevailed upon to
admit one into his confidence. Wedlock he utterly and uniformly
rejected. His wife was the public funds, and his children dividends; and
no parent or husband ever paid more deference or care to the objects of
his affection. He was never known to diminish his immense hoard, by
rewarding a generous action; or to alleviate distress, or accidental
misfortune, by the application of a single shilling. It could scarcely
be expected that a man would give gifts or bestow gratuities, who was a
niggard of comforts to himself. The evening before he died, some busy
friend sent a respectable physician to him. The old miser evinced no
dislike, until he recollected the doctor might expect a fee; this
alarmed him, and immediately raising himself in the bed, he addressed
his “medical friend” in the following words: “Doctor, I am a strong man,
and know my disorder, and could cure myself, but as Mr. Nangle has sent
you to my assistance, I shall not exchange you for any other person, if
we can come to an understanding; in fact, I wish to know what you will
charge for your attendance until I am recovered.” The doctor answered
“eight guineas.” “Ah! sir,” said the old man, “if you knew my disorder
you would not be exorbitant; but to put an end to this discussion, I
will give you six guineas and a half.” The doctor assented, and the
patient held out his arm with the fee, to have his pulse considered, and
laid himself down again.
Old Pentheny’s relations were numerous, but, in his opinion, wholly
unqualified, by want of experience in the management of money, to nurse
his wealth, and therefore he bequeathed the entire of it to a rich
family in the West Indies, with the generous exception of four pounds
annually to a faithful servant, who had lived with him twenty-four
years. In his will he expresses great kindness for “poor John,” and says
he bequeaths the four pounds for his kind services, that his latter days
might be spent in comfortable independence! He appointed Waller Nangle,
Esq. and major O’Farrell, his executors, and the right hon. David La
Touche and lord Fingal, trustees. Like Thellusson, he would not allow
his fortune to pass to his heirs immediately, as he directed that the
entire should be funded for fourteen years, and then, “in its improved
state,” be at the disposal of the heirs he had chosen.
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