AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 



applied a candle to the fixed and deadly stare, and then 

 announced that the patient had departed. 



A scene, a disgusting scene ensued ; the attorney, when 

 certified of his client's death, seized my hand and coarsely 

 congratulated me on my good fortune. The doctor abandoned 

 the corpse to join the solicitor in his compliments and be- 

 tween them the truth transpired. I had, indeed, been luckily 

 expeditious in my journey, and the old man's phrase of touch 

 and go, was fully explained. The preceding day he had signed 

 a testament conveying his entire property to a variety of 

 charitable institutions ; and the will which had been originally 

 made in my favour, and been kept over by this singular rela- 

 tive, would have remained imperfect, had I not so providen- 

 tially arrived the evening of his death. 



We left the room while the body was being laid out pre- 

 paratory to interment. What a turn one hour had given to 

 my fortunes ! I entered Lalworth Park at four o'clock, a poor 

 miserable dependant ; at five, I was master of all around me, 

 possessed of twelve thousand pounds a year, owner of a 

 borough, with fifty thousand in the funds and twenty at my 

 banker's. Such a mingled yarn is the web of human life. 



The obsequies of my uncle were duly performed, and for 

 many days I was engaged in examining papers, and taking 

 possession of the plate and valuables of Lalworth Park. The 

 house was sadly out of repair, and the grounds and gardens 

 utterly neglected. The old man had limited the fuel for the 

 mansion to such fallen wood as could be collected throughout 

 the domain ; and the few domestics he employed were scarcely 

 sufficient to ventilate, without attempting to keep in order the 

 numerous and once splendid apartments. For some time I 

 was busily occupied ; I hired additional servants, engaged an 

 architect, fiated my agent's accounts, and started then for 

 London so soon as a decent respect towards the deceased 

 would permit my appearing in the metropolis. Of the rest, 

 my dear Baronet, you know sufficient particulars ; a present- 

 able man, olim in the Blues, and recently succeeding to a large 

 and unencumbered property, would soon " find room in any 

 place." I was speedily admitted to those chosen circles 

 which are impassable to those who want birth, impudence, or 



money. I ran the full round of dissi but, on this head, 



you, my constant companion, require but little information. 

 In human life, George, every thing has its limits. I am 



