1830.] The Golden City. 397 



To return to Mr. Johnson seemed impossible : every succeeding day 

 added to his despair. At length his feelings became intolerable ; and 

 he had actually repaired to London Bridge with the fixed determination 

 of committing suicide, when he was kindly accosted by a passer-by, 

 who had observed his agitation and suspected his purpose. 



The first words of interest which he had heard for many weeks, 

 deeply affected him j and inquiry easily drew from him the detail of 

 his circumstances. The benevolent stranger listened with attention, and 

 instead of passing on with expressions of pity, seemed bent on befriend- 

 ing him more effectually j gave him a small sum of money for his imme- 

 diate necessities ; and promising, if he found his statement true, to meet 

 him on the ensuing evening, departed. 



At the hour and place agreed upon, both kept the appointment. 



" I have to congratulate you," said Warren (for that was the strang- 

 er's name) ; " I have called on your late master, and have ascertained 

 the removal of all suspicion against you : the offender was his own 

 son." 



" God bless you !" exclaimed Maurice, eagerly ; " then I may yet 

 hope ?" 



" Certainly, if you mean to obtain another situation in London ; but 

 I should rather advise you to return to your relative." 



" It is impossible : he will refuse to receive me." 



ft If he does, you are no worse than at present ; but he may relent ; it 

 is worth the trial." 



" But might I not succeed here ? Surely there have been in- 

 stances " 



" Of splendid success ? Yes ; but, compared with the cases of deplo- 

 rable failure, they have been as one to infinity. To rise unassisted from 

 a subordinate situation, is a miracle ; to remain in it, a better sort of 

 slavery. Take my own case, which is a favourable one : I have been 

 thirty years in a merchant's office ; I labour nearly twelve hours in the 

 day, and receive two hundred a year. As to a week's vacation, I might 

 as well resign as ask for it; and probably the mere mention would lead 

 my employers to exercise that power which they know to be despotic 

 over a man with six children, destitute of all other resource." 



Maurice expressed his acquiescence. 



" Fortunes," continued Warren, " have unquestionably been made 

 suddenly, but generally at an immense risk, and often by disgraceful 

 means." 



" It was not the desire of wealth only that made me leave the coun- 

 try ; I had heard the pleasures of London extolled." 



" The pleasures of London ! What pleasures has it which cannot be 

 better enjoyed elsewhere ? I leave out of the question those persons who 

 spend a few months of the year in the metropolis, for to them change 

 and the power of choice may give enjoyment ; but to those who inhabit 

 it regularly, it is the most miserable place in the creation. Probably, 

 you had heard a great deal of the theatres ; but, as far as my own obser- 

 vation extends, there are very few Londoners who visit them twice a 

 year ; and, for my own part, I have not done so for a quarter of a cen- 

 tury. The only pure pleasures of life are, domestic intercourse, litera- 

 ture, and religion j and what scene can be more unfavourable to either 

 of them, than a noisy mass of crowded buildings ?" 



" But those buildings are beautiful." 



" The beauty of a scene of labour is absolutely nothing to a man's 

 happiness : a gardener is not a whit happier than a collier ; what a man 



