178 NEXT YEAR. 



studying an account of the Carib Islands, and so engrossed was he 

 with some important scheme to result therefrom, that he was not 

 aware of my entrance. His grand project was, to form a settlement 

 on one of these islands for the fishery of turtles, which he said were 

 in such numbers, and the flesh was discovered to be so wholesome, that 

 he proposed to freight annually a certain number of ships with them, 

 and to bring them to England as food for the poor ! This he was 

 convinced would be a sure fortune to the speculator, and a national 

 blessing. I inquired when this great design was to commence ? he 

 thought about next year ! 



He accompanied me one day to a chalybeate spring, in the fields 

 to the north of London, when I accidentally remarked that the nature 

 of the water indicated extensive strata of metallic ore in the vicinity. 

 <f Hush ! my dear friend," said Will ; " never let that secret escape 

 you. I intend to make a national concern of it. I shall petition Go- 

 vernment for the grant get an Act of Parliament for the charter 

 raise a company with 500,000/. capital,;and then erect works that will 

 supply all England with iron aye, perhaps all Europe." On the 

 usual inquiry of when ? te My dear fellow/' said he, " always do 

 one thing at a time, that's my maxim. I shall be ready next year !" 



To enumerate all poor Will's absurdities would be an endless 

 task. At one time he talked of illuminating London with inflam- 

 mable air propelling carriages by machinery recomposing cooper's 

 chips into staves, and all these fine things were to be done next 

 year ! 



I have known Hopeful now more than ten years, and he is still the 

 same both in body and mind. He has the same dark, wandering, 

 speculative eye, the same long, spare figure. He is one of a class of 

 persons that is said never to die, but that dries up, and is blown 

 away. The last time I saw Hopeful, he accosted me with " Well, 

 what do you think I am going to do ?" " What you have been going 

 to do all your life, I suppose nothing !" " Your reproach is just," 

 said he, " but I was about to tell you that I see my errors that I will 

 plan no more, but execute ; think of my own affairs, instead of those 

 of the whole human race ; pay my own debts, instead of those of the 

 nation : in short, instead of amassing imaginary fortunes by chime- 

 rical schemes, I will make a real one by the good old-fashioned mode 

 of honest industry. What do you think of that, my friend?" I 

 cordially shook him by the hand, and most sincerely delighted 

 was I to congratulate him on such a resolution. " And when do you 

 intend to commence this reform, Will ?" I inquired. His reply was, 

 "J0h! next year!" 



