PORTRAIT-GALLERY OF OLD BACHELORS. 477 



With angels shared, by Alia given, 

 To lift from earth our low desire. 

 Devotion wafts the mind above, 

 But Heaven itself descends in love ; 

 A feeling from the Godhead caught, 

 To wean from self each sordid thought : 

 A ray of Him who formed the whole, 

 A glory circling round the soul." 



" Get along, you impudent scapegrace, or I'll rattle my crutch 

 against your peeping impertinence ! Begone, Sir! I shall be well rid 

 of you : 



* Not with more glee a hen-peck'd husband spies 

 Death shutting up his wife's two cat-like eyes.' " 



" Good morning, Sir. I intend dining with you to-day at four 

 o'clock." 



Such is Jeremiah Context, Esq., an excellent man, and an ad- 

 mirable companion ; with the slight drawback, that he is a pro- 

 fessed woman-hater, and as testy as humanity can well be. 



No. III. THE IRASCIBLE OLD BACHELOR. 



" Patience ! preach it to the winds." OTWAY. 



Our friend Charles Placid we esteem one of the finest specimens 

 living, of an outrageous bachelor. Charles is now about fifty, and a 

 man well to do in the world : he is surrounded with every thing 

 which can minister to his wants or whims nay, it has for many years 

 been his particular vocation to collect and concentrate about him 

 whatever he could fancy would add to his enjoyment. His house is 

 a repertorium of good things ; his cellar well stocked with wine of 

 the best vintages ; his library filled with the choicest works in 

 literature and art; his friends numerous, and men of sense and 

 learning; his station in society highly respectable; his footmen 

 steady; his butler sober and trustworthy; his housekeeper, " fat, 

 fair, and forty," and having an especial regard for him ; his grounds 

 laid out in the most exquisite taste ; and take his condition " all in 

 all," Charles ought to be a happy fellow and would be so, did not 

 his cursed temper spoil him ; for he has many excellent qualities 

 he is liberal even to profuseness, hospitable, well-informed, and 

 anxioHs to serve everybody deserving assistance. 



It is to this hasty and choleric disposition he owes his bachelor- 

 ship, as he has been often in love, and often determined to marry. 

 His first flame was a dashing belle, whom he saw accidentally, when 

 on a visit to London at one of the theatres. Charles was a provincial; 

 but where there's a will there 's a way, and he procured an intro- 

 duction to the lady's family. He was a handsome young fellow, 

 with a moderate fortune, and was well received. The young lady 

 viewed him favourably, for he was an impassioned and downright 



M.M.No. 5. 3 Q 



