312 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1800. 



by which others raise estates, and 

 become glorious in villainy. Yet, 

 while he did it, he scorned and 

 hated himself; and resolved to be 

 rich, that he might be honest. But 

 still, the want of money returned, 

 and with it all the mean shifts to 

 extricate himself from the fatigue of 

 lying to his creditors. 



Thus he went on, in a continual 

 round of self-dislike, and doing 

 actions which produced new self- 

 dislike : hut he had this to say for 

 his worst conduct, that his vices 

 were always rencounters, and never 

 meditated wickedness. 



He was a pleasant companion, a 

 generous enemy, and a zealous 

 friend. His company was courted 

 by every body, as more entertain- 

 ing than a comedy: he never refused 

 to forgive, and then forget, the in- 

 juries that had been done hira by 

 those, who desired they should be 

 forgiven; and all his fortune was at 

 the command of his friends, as well 

 as his labour and reputation. He 

 seemed to want gold only to give it 

 away : his busy mind pursued pro- 

 ject after project, in hopes to be 

 rich ; that by it he might be more 

 eminently serviceable to his friends, 

 and his country. He embraced 

 every appearance that flattered this 

 public-spirited avarice, though the 

 proposal were ever so wanton and 

 improbable. In hopes of getting 

 immense wealth, he ran after every 

 \vhim, and so first aimed at the 

 philosopher's stone; and when that 

 would not do, he could condescend 

 to be thought the author of the 

 humble discovery of a new-fashioned 

 hoop-petticoat: but still, it was 

 with the sacred view of serving his 

 country by his riches. 



This briskness and quicksighted- 

 ness, to find out ciiaes of treasurQ 



in a notion, made him inquire out 

 great numbers of men of abilities, 

 who were obscured by poverty ; 

 and animated them to exert their 

 inventive talents, by high promises. 

 When any of them had contrived a 

 handsome scheme, he would, in the 

 hurry of his approbation, expend 

 his whole cash to promote it : and 

 at last, when the project was almost 

 ready to repay with interest his 

 trouble and charges, the hopes 

 would be blasted, for want of ano- 

 ther ten pounds to complete the 

 undertaking. Thus he rid hard, 

 continually coursing after trea- 

 sure ; and, when his dog bore at 

 the game, by a nimble unexpected 

 turn, it always escaped from its 

 mouth, and he returned empty : 

 however, he comforted himself that 

 he had brave sport, and went out 

 again the next day, fresh and eager 

 to the field. Thus, constantly, with 

 high hopes and self-complacency, 

 he renewed his project, as warm in 

 expectation of success, as if he had 

 met with no disappointment. He 

 was often within a day of being the 

 richest, and tlierefore the honestest 

 man in England : but, before that 

 ill-natured to-morrow came, he 

 died ! much lamented by all who 

 value wit and good sense ; and he 

 must be owned to be, if not virtuous, 

 yet a lover of virtue. 



His writings will make him be- 

 loved by all, in ages to come, when 

 his follies are forgot, or softened by 

 time. To him we owe not only 

 his own performances, but those of 

 others likewise ; and he was pro- 

 perly the man-midwife to aU the 

 children of the muses born in his 

 own time, and was suspected veiy 

 often to be their father also. 



He would have been what he 

 was, had Addison never been born ; 



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