MEMOIR OF DRURY. 



shire, and Middlesex, which yielded an annual 

 income of between 250 and 300. 



He carried on the business in Wood Street for 

 many years, it would appear with considerable 

 success at first, although it ultimately began to fall 

 off, and he became desirous to effect some change. 

 " When my father resigned his business to me," we 

 find him writing to one of his correspondents, " it 

 was sufficient for a man to live on, but. not to lay 

 up any great sum. The industry I constantly exer- 

 cised enabled me to live for about eighteen years 

 with much happiness and satisfaction, at which 

 time, rinding my trade gradually diminish, I was 

 determined to embrace the first opportunity of en- 

 gaging in some other that was more likely to reward 

 my labour. I already mentioned that I have had 

 seventeen children, besides nine miscarriages, the 

 heavy expense of which, together with some severe 

 blows of fortune, had prevented me acquiring that 

 wealth I probably might otherwise have done, and 

 therefore my resolution of pursuing some other 

 trade every day increased. About that time Mr. 

 Jeffreys, my predecessor, wanted to retire from 

 business, and applying to me for a person to suc- 

 ceed him, I embraced the opportunity, and have the 

 honour of being made Goldsmith to the Queen and 

 also Cutler to the King, a feather I would at any 

 time resign, if no advantage arose from it, for I 

 have lived long enough to be able to laugh most 

 heartily at the fools that can think happiness de- 

 pendent on titles, or content flourishing amidst 



