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never afterwards regained his former strength. With 

 bodily infirmity, irritability of temper and all its sad 

 consequences became painfully prominent in his 

 character ; so much so that (to use the words of one 

 well acquainted with him) if you did anything to 

 offend him there was nothing but to get out of his 

 way as fast as possible — whatever was near him was 

 sure to be dashed at the offender. 



' A gentleman who travelled with him not long 

 before his fatal sickness says : " He was commonly 

 called by his companions 'Fred.' He was indeed 

 extensively known, and his liberality and generosity 

 had gained him many friends. Fond of gay and 

 merry company, able to sing a good song, and 

 possessing a fund of good-humoured jokes, he was a 

 general favourite, though at times his language was 

 such as to shock the ears even of his most intimate 

 acquaintances. It is now somewhere about three 

 years since, seated by his side on the coach-box, I 

 took a journey with him along the road from Exeter 

 to Sidmouth ; and as the horses toiled up a tedious 

 hill, I was obliged to listen to his oft-repeated curses 

 upon them, and to witness the severe way in which 

 he punished the poor animals in order to quicken their 

 speed, wearied as they were with their long pull. I 

 could not refrain from seriously remonstrating with 

 him upon his conduct. He seemed to pay but little 



