LIFE OF MYTTON. 55 



chief concern, after the last estates he could sell were 

 disposed of, was not whether he himself might be 

 left destitute, but whether there would be enough to 

 pay his creditors in full. As a master he was kindest 

 of the kind, and a liberal and most considerate 

 landlord. Surely, then, this man must have been 

 either counterfeitinof a nature not his own, * or he 

 must have been, to a certain extent and on certain 

 points, a madman! No doubt he did the one ; and no 

 doubt he was the other ! 



The worst feature in poor Mytton's disposition-,, 

 and what may be termed the reigning error of his. 

 life, was, not only that he would not bow to reproof,, 

 much less kiss the rod, but he would suffer no maa 

 either to counsel or advise him. There was, how- 

 ever, none of " obsequmni ainicos, Veritas odium, 

 parit" that Terence speaks of, about him, for he 

 always received it in good part, being neither 

 flattered nor offended ; but he would not take ad- 



* The following was related to me by the medical gentleman at 

 Oswestry who attended the accouchement of the first Mrs. Mytton : 

 — "Mr Mytton,'' said he, " w.is in the billiard room when I went to 

 inform him of the birth. ' What is it?' he inquired. On my telling 

 him it was a girl, he swore he would have it smothered ; but, throwing 

 himself on a sofa, gave vent to his feelings in a flood of tears, and his 

 anxiety for the well-doing of his wife would have done honour to any 

 man." 



