144 PRETENDED FRIENDSHIP 



declinino; state of health. To extricate himself from the 

 one, and recover the other, coukl only be accomplished 

 by the disposal of his very extensive concern. 



The negotiation for carrying out this last resource was 

 left in the hands of the representatives of — at the same 

 time one of the principals in — the firm to which he was so 

 largely indebted. 



This gentleman was a man of very pleasing, I may say 

 insinuating, manners, as well as of good habits of business ; 

 there was rather a benevolent expression in his counte- 

 nance, that would disarm a, man of m}' father's calibre 

 from any suspicion of selfish intrigue or j)ersonal advan- 

 tage — indeed, there was a straightforward, honest 

 simplicity, as we thought, in making my parent the first 

 ofl:er of this extensive and, as he represented, very 

 lucrative concern, that bore the mark of former friendship 

 and a strong desire to serve him ; and it required a man 

 of little more penetration than he possessed, to assure 

 himself that all this kindness of manner and condescen- 

 sion — for he held a high position among the merchants 

 and bankers in the City — proceeded as much, or more, 

 from the prospect he had of securing his debt, should my 

 father fall in with his advice, and become the j^urchaser, 

 as it did from the great desire he professed to have of 

 advancing his fortunes. 



But this is human nature, after all; and £10,000 

 weighs heavy in the scale against the lighter commodities 

 of probity, honour, friendship, or any other good feeling 

 the philanthropist or true Christian may put in against it. 

 Be this as it may, the more difiicult problem to solve is, 

 how a man in my father's position, and with his property — 



