in Comparison to that his former Abundance. This
took away the Vigour of his Mind, and all manner
of Attention to a Fortune, which he now thought
desperate; insomuch that he died without a Will, having
before buried my Mother in the midst of his other Misfortunes.
I was sixteen Years of Age when I lost my Father;
and an Estate of L200 a Year came into my Possession,
without Friend or Guardian to instruct me in the
Management or Enjoyment of it. The natural Consequence
of this was, (though I wanted no Director, and soon
had Fellows who found me out for a smart young Gentleman,
and led me into all the Debaucheries of which I
was capable) that my Companions and I could not
well be supplied without my running in Debt, which
I did very frankly, till I was arrested, and conveyed
with a Guard strong enough for the most desperate
Assassine, to a Bayliff’s House, where I lay
four Days, surrounded with very merry, but not very
agreeable Company. As soon as I had extricated
my self from this shameful Confinement, I reflected
upon it with so much Horror, that I deserted all
my old Acquaintance, and took Chambers in an Inn of
Court, with a Resolution to study the Law with all
possible Application. But I trifled away a
whole Year in looking over a thousand Intricacies,
without Friend to apply to in any Case of Doubt;
so that I only lived there among Men, as little
Children are sent to School before they are capable
of Improvement, only to be out of harms way. In
the midst of this State of Suspence, not knowing
how to dispose of my self, I was sought for by a
Relation of mine, who, upon observing a good Inclination
in me, used me with great Familiarity, and carried
me to his Seat in the Country. When I came
there, he introduced me to all the good Company
in the County; and the great Obligation I have to him
for this kind Notice and Residence with him ever
since, has made so strong an Impression upon me,
that he has an Authority of a Father over me, founded
upon the Love of a Brother. I have a good Study
of Books, a good Stable of Horses always at my command;
and tho I am not now quite eighteen Years of Age,
familiar Converse on his Part, and a strong Inclination
to exert my self on mine, have had an effect upon
me that makes me acceptable wherever I go. Thus,
Mr. SPECTATOR, by this Gentleman’s Favour
and Patronage, it is my own fault if I am not wiser
and richer every day I live. I speak this as well
by subscribing the initial Letters of my Name to
thank him, as to incite others to an Imitation of
his Virtue. It would be a worthy Work to shew
what great Charities are to be done without Expence,
and how many noble Actions are lost, out of Inadvertency
in Persons capable of performing them, if they were
put in mind of it. If a Gentleman of Figure in
a County would make his Family a Pattern of Sobriety,
good Sense, and Breeding, and would kindly endeavour
to influence the Education and growing Prospects
of the younger Gentry about him, I am apt to believe