24 
MEMOIR OF 
might not some horrible misfortune have as pro- 
bably gravitated towards my head, and struck 
me to the ground. Moreover, the girl is far from 
being in my situation. She has many good rela- 
tions, to whom I have been introduced, and by 
whom I am not only well received, but loved 
and caressed. And over and above, she has a 
business which, without any chance of loss, 
brings in between twenty and thirty pounds 
yearly. This, added to my present pittance of 
L.42, will not come far short of a country par- 
sonage. Wonder not when I tell you, that the 
love of virtue is a strong stimulus to matrimony. 
I need scarcely mention how hard it is for a 
young man living singly in a room to be virtuous : 
having no spur to prick him home but affection 
for books and literary speculation, he is con- 
stantly dragged along by his thoughtless com- 
panions, and his no less thoughtless self, to foolish, 
and frequently to sinful irregularities. Every 
other evening he is obliged to crawl to his bed 
with his body steaming with liquor, or his mind 
dissipated by nonsensical conversation. It has 
been a frequent wish of mine to be in a situation 
which would enable me to banish fools and syco- 
phants from my dwelling-place ; to be often 
serious, and seldom giddy. Experience teaches 
me, however, that my wish can never be gratified 
so long as I dine in a tavern, live in a hired room, 
&c. A society, consisting of a very few mem- 
bers, has always the best chance of being sober 
and virtuous. A crowd, for what reason I at 
