THE LIFE OP 



of mc than I have of it, I might here produce 

 a long roll of honourable and virtuous anceftry : 

 fuffice it to fay, that my defcent is too well 

 known to every family of diftindtion of my 

 country to render it necefTary to refute the ca- 

 lumnies of anonymous libellers. 



My education was what Jome of my biogra- 

 phers have condefcended to allow, of the gen- 

 teeleft fort ; and my friends gave me that en- 

 couragement which is naturally given to lads of 

 parts, an encouragement that too often leads 

 into unconquerable habits of expence and difli- 

 pation; and a too liberal fupply from my opu- 

 lent^ connexions made me equally carelefs and 

 extravagant. With the advantage of at leaft a 

 tolerable figure, great adivity, and a perfed 

 knowledge of all the polite manly exercifes, I 

 very early was initiated into the gay world. 

 My fkill in arms introduced me to the moft 

 celebrated pfTofeflbrs of that art; as a horfeman, 

 I likewife received the higheft praifes ; and na- 

 turally gay, fiery, and haughty, my vanity was 

 proportionably inflated, till it laid the founda- 

 tion ^f my fubfequent misfortunes and dif- 

 grace* ' 



It would be mere impertinence to take up 

 the time of my readers with details of juvenile 

 amufcments and juvenile amours : and it would 

 be downright cruelty to expofe names yet un- 

 polluted 



