24 MEMOIR OF 



might not some horrible misfortune have as pro- 

 bably gravitated towards my head, and struck 

 me to the ground. Moreover, the girl is far from 

 being in my situation. She has many good rela- 

 tions, to whom I have been introduced, and by 

 whom I am not only well received, but loved 

 and caressed. And over and above, she has a 

 business which, without any chance of loss, 

 brings in between twenty and thirty pounds 

 yearly. This, added to my present pittance of 

 L.42, will not come far short of a country par- 

 sonage. Wonder not when I tell you, that the 

 love of virtue is a strong stimulus to matrimony. 

 I need scarcely mention how hard it is for a 

 young man living singly in a room to be virtuous : 

 having no spur to prick him home but affection 

 for books and literary speculation, he is con- 

 stantly dragged along by his thoughtless com- 

 panions, and his no less thoughtless self, to foolish, 

 and frequently to sinful irregularities. Every 

 other evening he is obliged to crawl to his bed 

 with his body steaming with liquor, or his mind 

 dissipated by nonsensical conversation. It has 

 been a frequent wish of mine to be in a situation 

 which would enable me to banish fools and syco- 

 phants from my dwelling-place ; to be oftek 

 serious, and seldom giddy. Experience teaches 

 me, however, that my wish can never be gratified 

 so long as I dine in a tavern, live in a hired room, 

 &c. A society, consisting of a very few mem- 

 bers, has always the best chance of being sober 

 and virtuous. A crowd, for what reason I at 



