1828.] 



Biographical Memoirs of Emiiiant 'Persons. 



209 



It is singular, if this be true, that he made 

 the attempt to return to that very city again 

 before American vessels were finally detained, 

 a few weeks after his arrival, as has been al- 

 ready observed. Still more so, that, when he 

 finally left England, he should have gone 

 back to his native city, where the law (se- 

 vere enough, though not demanding blood) 

 must still have hung over him. His moral 

 character, for many years after his residence 

 here, was exemplary. Step by step he ac- 

 quired his vicious -habits, as those who knew 

 him during the whole of his career can well 

 show ; and it was not until he became deep- 

 ly involved by gambling (a more neck-and- 

 nothing, open, or unskilful player, or less of 

 an adept, never , habituated himself to this 

 execrable vice) that, with a sort of reckless- 

 ness of every obligation, of every friendly 

 remonstrance, even of his own personal 

 safety, he plunged head-over-ears in irre- 

 claimable profligacy. This worst period 

 might be said to have extended to about a 

 year and a half or two years only before he 

 consummated his own ruin. With him the 

 excitement of gaming was irresistible. He 

 took no heed of chances ; and once speaking 

 of it, said, that the incertitude of winning 

 or losing while he played was the most de- 

 licious feeling he could experience; but I 

 shall return to this subject again. 



All who saw Graham at Plymouth, and 

 knew his story there, felt an interest in his 

 fate. Hints were soon given that he must 

 be taken to prison, though in London, or 

 in any town where he chose to keep his own 

 counsel, he would have been perfectly safe, 

 as he could not otherwise have been distin- 

 guished from a British subject. The supe- 

 rior authorities at Plymouth knew him well, 

 but liberally and reasonably thinking there 

 could be no danger in leaving him at large, 

 were satisfied he should thus remain. A 

 vagabond constable, however, who hoped to 

 receive a reward for detaining him, deter- 

 mined to act. A knowledge of the circum- 

 stance was conveyed to the editor of the 

 before-mentioned newspaper, who managed 

 to get Graham sent to London, in the hope of 

 his finding employment, even in the hum- 

 blest avocation in which his pen could be 

 made available. With a few pounds Gra- 

 ham started for the metropolis : thus escap- 

 ing the fangs of his persecutor. The law- 

 fulness of his arrest might have been du- 

 bious, if, as he said, his father was a British 

 subject ; but money and proofs unattainable 

 would liave been required for his enlarge- 

 ment. 



The young American was now upon a 

 new scene. His efforts to obtain employ- 

 ment were futile ; a little additional cash, 

 sent by his friends from Plymouth, was soon 

 -exhausted, and still no chance appeared of 

 his obtaining any labour which promised 

 him the means even of a scanty existence. 

 He declared he could do with the least that 

 would support life, but even that little he could 

 not obtain. His habits were singularly 

 M.M. New Series VOL. V. No. 26, 



temperate, his manners highly agreeable, 

 his disposition to work, and his capacity to 

 earn some little at the worst, were undoubted, 

 yet he was reduced to the brink of despair. 

 He applied at every place that seemed to 

 offer a glimpse of hope, in vain. At length, 

 having called at the "Statesman" news- 

 paper office unsuccessfully, he ventured a 

 second time, almost in despair, and then 

 saw Mr. Lovell, the editor, since dead, who 

 was so moved by the plain unvarnished tale 

 of his singular situation and necessities, that 

 he put an advertisement into his newspaper, 

 gratis, to call attention to Graham's hope- 

 less situation. This was in the year 1813. 

 I think the notice was addressed to Ameri- 

 cans generally. Graham had previously left 

 his address (it was at an obscure garret in 

 Holborn) with Mr. Lovell. Only two 

 Americans called upon him, but did not 

 afford him any aid. This was not surpris- 

 ing, when it is considered that the indi- 

 viduals of their nation in London ran great 

 personal risk during war by avowing them- 

 selves. Among others who noticed the ad- 

 vertisement, was that excellent man and 

 scholar (well known by his " Materials for 

 Thinking," and other writings) William 

 Burdon, Esq., of Welbeck Street, London, 

 and Hartford House, near Morpeth. Mr. 

 Burdon knew Lovell, and called upon him 

 immediately, for no well substantiated tale 

 of distress came to his ears, that he did not, 

 if within his power, do something to alle- 

 viate.* He obtained Graham's address, 

 went to see him, gave him money, and 

 desired he would call in Welbeck Street, 

 when what he gave him was expended, 

 promising to use his interest to obtain him 

 a situation, by which in all events he might 

 obtain a present subsistence. Mr. Burdon 

 was intimate with that indefatigable travel- 

 ler in the footsteps of old Gough and Dods- 

 worth, and the preserver and elucidator of 

 our " Cathedral Antiquities," Mr. Britton. 

 The latter gentleman accordingly took Gra- 

 ham, at a small salary, into his employment. 

 It cannot be supposed that the young Ame- 

 rican was aufait at his new employ. He 

 had every thing to learn, but he soon shewed 

 that his natural talents were then equal to 

 the rapid attainment of any literary acquire- 

 ments. About this time he was attacked 

 with a typhus fever, the effect of his former 

 low living, if not of absolute want. He lay 

 in a very small lodging in Shepherd Street, 

 Oxford Street, for a long time in a doubtful 

 state. Mr. Burdon no sooner heard of his 

 illness than he sent him medical advice, and 

 ordered every thing which could contribute 

 to his reinstatement in health. His reco- 

 very was slow, and though ultimately re- 

 stored, he never appeared afterwards either 

 as strong or well looking as he had been 

 previously to the attack. After Graham's 



* He possessed an income of, according to Re- 

 port, .6,0(K> a year, hut lived the lif of a philo- 

 sonher and sr.ho'lar. 



'2 E 



