composure took the lady out of the swing, and conducted her to her apartment.  When she had reposed some time, a servant came to inform her that tea was ready.  Fear of what might be the consequence of a refusal prevented her from declining to appear.  No notice was taken of what had happened, and the evening and the next day passed without any attack of her disorder.  On the third day the vapours returned—­the mutes reappeared—­the menacing flagellants again affrighted her, and again she enjoyed a remission of her complaints.  By degrees the fits of her disorder became less frequent, the ministration of her tormentors less necessary, and in time the habits of hypochondriacism were so often interrupted, and such a new series of ideas was introduced into her mind, that she recovered perfect health, and preserved to the end of her life sincere gratitude for her adventurous physician.’

Three years were spent by Richard at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, while his vacations were often passed at Bath by the wish of his father, who was anxious that his son should be introduced to good society at an early age.  It was there that Richard saw Beau Nash,’ the popular monarch of Bath,’ and also ’the remains of the celebrated Lord Chesterfield.  I looked in vain for that fire, which we expect to see in the eye of a man of wit and genius.  He was obviously unhappy, and a melancholy spectacle.’  Of the young ladies he says:  ’I soon perceived that those who made the best figure in the ballroom were not always qualified to please in conversation; I saw that beauty and grace were sometimes accompanied by a frivolous character, by disgusting envy, or despicable vanity.  All this I had read of in poetry and prose, but there is a wide difference, especially among young people, between what is read and related, and what is actually seen.  Books and advice make much more impression in proportion as we grow older.  We find by degrees that those who lived before us have recorded as the result of their experience the very things that we observe to be true.’

It was while still at college that he married Miss Elers without waiting for his father’s consent; he soon found that his young wife did not sympathise with his pursuits; but he adds, ’Though I heartily repented my folly, I determined to bear with firmness and temper the evil, which I had brought upon myself.  Perhaps pride had some share in my resolution.’

He had a son before he was twenty, and soon afterwards took his wife to Edgeworth Town to introduce her to his parents; but a few days after his arrival his mother, who had long been an invalid, felt that her end was approaching, and calling him to her bedside, told him, with a sort of pleasure, that she felt she should die before night.  She added:  ’If there is a state of just retribution in another world, I must be happy, for I have suffered during the greatest part of my life, and I know that I did not deserve it by my thoughts or actions.’