628 



THE CASTLE-BUILDER. 



Murray appeared to me, and shook his head three times, pointing 

 significantly to me. I was in a very nervous state, aggravated pro- 

 bably by the suicidal appearance of the weather ; it increased so much 

 that at onetime, I could hardly persuade myself that I was not stand- 

 ing on my head ; and was only satisfied as to my perpendicularity, 

 by the appearance of the woman of the house, who, hearing a noise, 

 came up, and found me in the act of attempting to raise myself upon 

 my skull, which I was doing under the impression that I was restor- 

 ing myself again, by that means, to my former upright positiou. To- 

 wards the middle of the day my mind became so disturbed that I 

 rushed forth, with the determination of preventing the publication. I 

 arrived at Albemarle-street flew in oh ! fortunate for the world, I 

 was too late it was out ! 



In a short time it had gone through ten editions ; but I will not de- 

 scribe my intoxication of delight this fulness of my fame I will 

 leave something to the imagination of my readers. 



My life has been somewhat varied, it will be seen, and not the 

 least distinguished part of it is my being returned member of Parlia- 

 ment. My powers were always great as an orator. The effect of my 

 satire was as a thousand darts striking into the brain my irony was 

 ruin to the victim my eloquence either calm as the ocean beneath 

 the moonlight, or furious as when it is tempest-tost, and lashed with 

 impetuous lightning. I possessed the dignity of Pitt the vehemence 

 of Fox the splendour of Burke -and the wit of Sheridan. It was 

 quite impossible to report my speeches, the reporters being so rapt 

 and paralyzed with them, that they forget their duties, lost amid the 

 wonders of my inspiration. I shall never forget, nor will the world, 

 the sensation created by one of my orations. The greatest compli- 

 ment was paid to me upon that occasion by a country member, that 

 ever was paid to man for my arguments having pierced through in- 

 sensibility into his very mind, he absolutely cried, " hear, hear !" in 

 his sleep, and struck the heels of his top-boots so lustily against the 

 floor that he awoke himself. 



In the oration alluded to, I touched affectionately upon the situa- 

 tion of my country, and gave Mr. Pitt such a dressing as made him 

 gasp with agony. Only one part of it unfortunately got into the 

 papers, but so impassioned and glorious was the spirit, and sublime 

 the diction, that a thrill of exultation went through the whole country, 

 and in one day, from being comparatively unknown, I became one of 

 the first statesmen of the land. The English nation is generally 

 exceedingly jealous of superiority, but when once so manifest that it 

 is impossible to mistake its existence, an enthusiasm proportionate 

 to its former apathy bursts from its generous soul, surrounding the 

 fortunate individual with a blaze of glory unextinguishably bright, 

 and heaping upon him honours that he can scarcely bear. He is 

 immortalized in tavern signs, and names of ships and coaches. The 

 Flighty, fast-sailing vessel bound for Hamburgh. The Flighty, fast 

 coach to Brighton in six hours. The Flighty's Head good beds . 

 excellent X, XX and XXX ales, c. Coats, hats, and boats rejoice 

 in the sunshine of his patronage ; while the ladies, not to be back- 

 ward, christen all new discoveries in dress with the name of the 



