56 LIFE OF MYTTON. 



vice even when given him by his sinccrest friends, 

 and with the purest and most disinterested motiv'es. 

 He always considered it an impeachment of his 

 understanding, generally exclaiming to those who 

 offered it, " What the d — 1 is the use of my having 

 a head on my own shoulders, if I am obliged to make 

 use of yours ? " But, unfortunately, at times his ears 

 were deaf to the voice of reason, as the following- 

 anecdote will show : — Previously to the disposal of 

 the first property that he sold, I happened to be at 

 Halston, and was about to accompany him to Lichfield 

 races, where each had horses to run. Just before we 

 set out, his aorent, the late Mr. Lono-ueville, of 

 Oswestry, arrived at the house, and wished to speak 

 to me. As nearly as I can recollect, the following 

 were his exact words : " I have reason to believe 

 you can say as much to Mr. Mytton as any man can ; 

 will you have the goodness to tell him you heard me 

 say, that if he will be content to live on 6000/. per 

 annum for the next six years, he need not sell the fine 

 old Shrewsbury estate that has been so many years 

 in his family, and at the end of that period he shall 

 not owe a guinea to any man ? " I fancy I see the 

 form and features of my old friend, with the manner in 

 which he received and replied to the flattering pro- 



