CALAMITIES OF LIVING MEN OF GENIUS. 221 



attendant on the life of one whose mind is the " source from which 

 his wealth is drawn/' has nevertheless, occasionally continued to 

 employ his wit to some purpose. He is a dramatist of no little 

 fame ; and the sentiments embodied in a tragedy of his writing 

 cannot be surpassed in elevation and purity. They do honour to 

 the head and heart of " genius." Churchill's character will however, 

 be better understood by the relation of one of the many interesting 

 passages of his life. 



He was in the habit of making frequent trips to Paris for the 

 purpose of watching the progress of the French drama. His pleas- 

 ing manners and reputed talent gained him an admission into excel- 

 lent society there, and if the common place ideas of finance had not 

 intervened he would certainly have determined on an abode in the 

 Parisian capital. One day, when at dinner with a large party, a 

 lady complained bitterly of the dishonesty of tradesmen and of jewel- 

 lers particularly numerous anecdotes were instantly related of gold 

 alloyed, diamonds changed, and pearls divided, by this most rapa- 

 cious class. The lady further remarked, that she was the more con- 

 cerned at this notorious breach of faith in the fraternity, as she had 

 a very valuable set of cameos sent her from Italy, but dared not 

 entrust them into the hands of any tradesman to set. 



" My dear madam," said Churchill in his most insinuating tone ; 

 for the lady was a beauty, and the bard was kindness and amiability 

 itself" I am delighted, my dear madam," said he, " that it is in my 

 power to relieve you from this difficulty I have lately taken under 

 my protection a young artist, who promises to be really wonderful. 

 In the setting of the higher description of jewellery he really gives a 

 beauty to gems beyond their value ; and as to his probity." 



" Oh ! Mr. Churchill, you delight me ;" returned the fair owner 

 of the cameos, " You will so much oblige me by making an arrange- 

 ment with your protege I will send him the cameos immediately 

 with instructions." 



" He will come to me in the morning/' observed the bard, as I 

 have a trifling commission for him, and if you send them to my 

 rooms, I will take care he shall attend to them." Many thanks on the 

 part of the lady, and protestations of delight at serving her, on the 

 part of Churchill, followed ; and after dinner the lady's brother with 

 great consideration for the young tradesman, begged Mr. Churchill 

 to give the young man some 201. in advance as gold for setting, he 

 knew was expensive, and the work was to be done in the most costly 

 manner. Some time elapsed, and the lady waited patiently to see her 

 cameos ; but they were not finished. " Cameos take a long time 

 setting," Mr. Churchill observed. 



A longer time crept on, and the lady was dying with impatience 

 to see her darling treasure, still the artist was most provokingly dila- 

 tory. At length the lady began to labour under considerable an- 

 noyance, in which many of her friends participated. " It's quite 

 cruel!" she said. " It is very strange !" echoed her friends. At 

 last somebody hinted one morning, that Mr. Churchill had been at 

 the Diligence office to take his place for Calais on the following day. 

 This piece of intelligence on being confirmed pretty nearly sent the 



