TRUE RESPECTABILITY. 11 



must confess that / was that third person, 

 and must leave it to you to question, par- 

 don, or condemn, the humorous vanity which 

 induced me thus to provoke the curiosity 

 of a simple and inquisitive mind. Yes, on 

 the 22nd of January, in the year 179 , in 

 the ancient and renowned city of Win- 

 chester, I first made my appearance on this 

 world's stage, the third of a family that in 

 due time amounted to thirteen. 



Should the reader's curiosity be further 

 aroused to wish to know anything of the 

 parentage or genealogy of the humble indi- 

 vidual who has thus obtruded himself on his 

 notice, little can be said to gratify it, for 

 little is known to himself. My father, I al- 

 ways understood, was left a penniless orphan 

 when very young. To whose care he was 

 entrusted in his infancy, or how his youth 

 was passed, I never correctly knew ; but in 

 mature life, by dint of industry and perse- 

 verance, aided by fortuitous circumstances, 

 he had amassed considerable wealth, and 



