School-fellow with the above, and afterwards his intimate companion and
friend at college, was an individual of almost similar endowments. They
were certainly, in many instances, of kindred minds. When these notes
were written, he was alive, and may he yet live, the delight of those who
know him, and an ornament to society. Yet there are a few circumstances
concerning him, which appear not unworthy of being recorded. There might,
when a boy, be a certain waywardness of temper, or there might, which is
more probable, have been something in the treatment he received from his
Orbilius, at which his generous and manly mind revolted. Whatever it was,
on some occasion, or some provocation or other, he suddenly disappeared
from school.
In a few days, however, he was again seen in his proper place, and this
is perhaps the only incident of his life, which he remembers with any
thing like self-reproach. On his going to the university, he very soon
distinguished himself by his love of literature, and in truth he was an
admirable scholar. But a few years beyond twenty had passed over his
head, when he superintended a periodical work, in which many illustrious
personages were combined, which was exceedingly well received at the time
of its publication, and even now, whenever it turns up in a catalogue,
which is not often the case, is bought up with eagerness. He afterwards,
to use a provincial phrase with which he is not unacquainted, published
an original volume _on his own account_. This also was well received, and
cannot now be obtained without difficulty. He took part also in some of
the popular periodical works of the day, and was always considered as an
enlightened and valuable correspondent.
One propensity he had, which is seldom, if ever, found connected with
studious pursuits and literary attainments; and what is still more
extraordinary, and still more unlikely to meet with a parallel, the
ardent indulgence of this propensity, led to a situation of honourable
independence. He had an extreme fondness for hunting, and for fox-hunting
in particular. He would at any time be easily prevailed upon to forsake
the bowers of the muses, the repose of study, the charms of classical
allurements, to join in the clamours of the huntsman, and unite with the
merciless hounds in the pursuit of poor Reynard. The indulgence of this
passion, if it may be so called, finally introduced him to the notice and
familiar acquaintance of a nobleman, who, beyond all doubt, on further
knowledge and experience, could not fail to discover that he possessed
other and better qualities, than were displayed and exercised in the
sports of the field. This nobleman presented him to a valuable living,
upon which he has ever since resided, conscientiously discharging the
duties of his function and his station; and by superintending the private
education of a few young men of fortune, contributing much to the benefit
of society.
Of this person’s talents, specimens will also be found in the Appendix,
but the following elegant morsel deserves a place here.
FROM THE ANTHOLOGY.
Why will ye tear me, cruel swains, away
From my dear solitude, the dewy spray,
Me the Cicada, who, in sultry hours,
Chaunt to the nymphs who haunt the hills and bowers.
See how the greedy thrush infests your fields,
He rifles all the stores that autumn yields,
Let this destroyer feel the vengeance due,
But why grudge me a leaf and drop of dew.
Far different in fate and fortune was another school-fellow, who
was also possessed of talents beyond the ordinary level, and whose
family connections necessarily pointed to a path of life, leading to
a termination very opposite to the above. He was an Irishman, and
connected with some of the first families of that country. He possessed
great vivacity of intellect, a considerable desire of information, much
good humour, with all the eccentricity that is generally imputed to the
natives of Erin. He was in due time called to the bar, and ere long
obtained a seat in the Irish House Of Commons, which he retained till the
consummation of the Union between the two countries.
His mind, ever ardent and ever active, was perpetually forming schemes
of wealth and aggrandizement, none of which were found to succeed, and
probably for no other reason, but that his talents were not steadily
directed to any one individual object. At one time he would be a banker,
at another a farmer, at another a grazier. Once he had a magnificent
speculation for supplying Covent Garden with onions; once also, with
still more magnificent ideas, he was to purchase numerous droves of
cattle in the north of Ireland, which were to be imported into England,
for the supply of the metropolis. He accordingly made application to
various noblemen and gentlemen, to obtain the leases of small farms at
regulated distances, between Holyhead and the metropolis.
These were to be stations for the cattle in their progress to the
London market, and selections were to be periodically remitted to
Smithfield. The cattle, however, remained very quietly in Ireland, where
at length Mr. ⸺ purchased for a small sum, in a mountainous district, a
considerable portion of land, which by care and cultivation was to be
made another garden of Eden. Here he had a very large dairy, from which
the neighbouring towns were to be supplied with butter and milk: so for a
long time they actually were, and this seemed the most rational and the
most promising of his various undertakings.
But among all his peculiarities, and in all the busy variety of his
occupations, politics formed the darling object of his thoughts; and his
steady adherence to the cause of government, in the perilous period of
the Irish rebellion, his personal courage, zeal, and activity, will long
be remembered to his honour. He used to relate many curious anecdotes
which occurred to him and his family, at that momentous epoch; one in
particular of his mother, which may be worth commemorating. They had in
their family a gardener, who had been thirty years in their service, and
who was a Roman Catholic. The old lady, who was of a remarkably mild,
amiable, and unsuspicious temper, used to walk without any attendant
about her spacious garden and domain, till some of her neighbours
who had been molested, cautioned her against the danger of walking
without a companion. In consequence of this, she one day called to the
gardener, and reminded him of the great length of time he had lived in
the family, of their kindness to him, and of her own acts of friendship
in particular. She concluded with asking him, whether any influence or
authority could induce him to make any attempt upon her life. “Certainly
not, Madam,” was the reply, “unless my priest should order me.”
When the Union was fully arranged and confirmed, our friend came to
England, where his services, his patriotism, his activity, and abilities,
were acknowledged and rewarded. He was appointed to a highly honourable
situation, the functions of which, for a considerable time—indeed whilst
he retained the office—he duly and faithfully discharged.
In this interval he married; how wisely, it is not here necessary to
pronounce. They who think forty-five, marvellously disproportionate
to twenty, will be of opinion, that he might as well have let it
alone. There was, however, a certain sort of restlessness, which so
characterized this gentleman, that he was perpetually looking about him
for some new scene for the display of his activity. A near relation
was appointed to a high and splendid situation in one of the remote
dependencies of the British Empire. It was proposed to him to accompany
his noble friend in a great and confidential office. He did so, and if
he survives, there he yet remains. Whether he has obtained wealth, or
whether satisfied with his situation, he intends to return to Albion no
more, is still problematical. One of his first acts seemed to indicate
his determination to turn the wilderness into a garden, and make
corn-fields laugh and sing in the African deserts. He ordered ploughs,
harrows, and every kind of agricultural apparatus, to an extent that
alarmed his friends, and were sufficient for a numerous colony.
If he yet breathes the vital air, may all prosperity attend him.
Generous, friendly, amiable, with every social quality, he was much
beloved by all who approached him with claims of intimacy, with as little
of defect and error, as generally falls to the lot of human nature.
Let us smile with the reader at two or three instances of pardonable
inattention to the forms which the rank he held in life, seemed to call
upon him to observe.
He was always remarkable for his slovenly appearance, and disregard
of dress. On one occasion, when he was invited by a noble relative to
meet a person of high official situation in Ireland at dinner, the
nobleman, aware of his nephew’s negligence in this particular, ventured
to hint that he must come dressed. He was in consequence busily employed
at his toilet, when his servant announced that a friend had called in
his carriage to take him whither he was going. He hastened himself
accordingly, but instead of putting on his dress silk stockings, he
stuffed them into his pocket, and hurrying down the stairs, got into his
friend’s carriage. When they arrived at the nobleman’s door, he remarked
that he had been desired to come dressed, and he thought himself very
smart. At this moment one of the silk stockings appeared hanging half way
out of his pocket, and he exhibited the whimsical appearance of being
in a full court dress, with a very dirty pair of worsted stockings.
Fortunately, he had time to repair his inadvertency, by retiring into a
private room, and exchanging the situation of the stockings.
Upon another occasion, no less important than that of attending one of
the state dinners of the Speaker of the House of Commons, our friend,
as was indeed usually the case, finding himself too late, and not being
able to divest himself very easily of his fashionable leather breeches,
drew over them a thin pair of black silk. In the progress of the evening,
however, the _leathers_, determining to preserve their ascendancy, worked
themselves down a considerable way below the black silk, till they
attracted universal notice, and excited general mirth.
At another time he attended a fashionable masquerade, at which most of
the dresses were very costly and splendid: our friend, however, went
only with a mask, which he sometimes applied, and sometimes neglected to
apply to his face. A paragraph accordingly appeared the next morning in
one of the papers, stating that Mr. ⸺ was at the masquerade the preceding
evening, and it was at first supposed that he was in the garb of an old
cloathsman, but on observing him more carefully, it appeared that he was
only in his customary dress.
Adnisi certe sumus, ut quamlibet diversa genera lectorum per
plures dicendi species teneremus.