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from home) and restrained their injurious conduct to their brother, I might have been happy. Had he liberally offered me money, I should have declined acceptance, and imposed willingly upon myself, as a duty, that economy which he forced upon me as a punishment. As it was, I had no opportunity of being actively vir tuous. I could not save, for I had nothing to hoard. I could deserve no praise; could practise no economy, in not spending money, for I had none to spend.

If this was my treatment on my return home after the commission of one folly, what was I to expect after the aggravation given by my abrupt departure but an increase of misery? I therefore declined yielding to all solicitations, and when my dear mother wrote to me the most affectionate letter the tenderest heart could dictate, I could only tell her, that so soon as I should have obtained a reconciliation with my father, and become thoroughly settled, it would be my greatest hap ness to visit her. The reconciliation was soon after effected through the instrumentality of my respected friend Mr. Carr, whose son I had permitted to tell him every thing. My father came to London. We met, shook hands cordially, and a promise of forgiveness on one side, an assurance of repentance and a promise of future amendment on the other, reconciled all former differences.

There still remained, in justice, some pecuniary arrangements to be made, and the affair with McDermot to be settled; I therefore engaged with my father, that when I should be of age, I would sign a receipt for my share of three thousand pounds, left by a relation in trust to my father, and a release of some other pro

perty. Some compromise was made with M'Dermot, I did not understand what, but I was never troubled by him afterwards. A few years had passed over this settlement, when he rendered me an essential service, as an atonement.

I had the pleasure of introducing my father to Mr. Carr, at his house, and left them together. The conversation held on this occasion, determined my father to accede to my wishes, and I was soon afterwards entered on the books of Lincoln's Inn.

It was some time before I could suit myself with chambers; and in the mean time, I lodged at No. 10, Norfolk street, in the Strand. I hired a back parlour for my study, and a bed room; and determined to sit down steadily there, and study law, till I could obtain chambers in the square of Lincoln's Inn. Breakfast was the only meal I engaged for at home: I generally dined at one or other of those numerous coffee-houses and chophouses, which render living in London so accommodating to your purse, and your society; as you may take your choice at all times, from a dinner at threepence, to one at five guineas.

My father had given me money to purchase books, necessary furniture, and clothes, and for some time I felt perfectly at my ease, and was, what a parent would call, a tolerable good boy. I would, occasionally, spend an evening with an old aunt, Lady Brett (widow of sir Piercy Brett, and mother to the lady of admiral Bowyer) and read the Bible to her: she too told me I was a good boy, and that she had remembered me handsomely in her will: whether this last circumstance, or real affection, and a sincere desire to smooth the pillow of decli

ning age, operated principally on my feelings, I leave it to the reader to decide; but I continued my visits and readings to her ladyship, occasionally, during the whole of my stay in London.

While I remained in Norfolk street, I was one day dining with a party of friends, at the Piazza coffeehouse, when a runner to a lottery office sent in a waiter, to know if we would admit him, and to inquire if any of the gentlemen wished to insure tickets for the next day: he was requested to call again in half an hour. In the mean time, our conversation naturally turned on the lottery then drawing, and each related all his win. nings, with, perhaps, some of his losses: I soon perceived that the man who had called, and the office, were well known to the majority at table. The question was put, "who will insure when the man returns?" All agreed that they would insure more or less, according to their respective means. I hesitated, but fearing to ap pear singular, at last consented. The man was punctual, and delivered the insurance tickets. I insured seven numbers, which was all I could effect, for two hundred guineas each: we pocketted our insurances, drank a glass or two of wine, and parted; and I thought no more of the business. The next morning, as I was sitting in my study, very seriously engaged with Blackstone's Commentaries, I heard a rap at the door, and on its being opened, an inquiry for me, and immediately my servant introduced the same man to my study: he advanced towards my table, and emptied on it a bag of gold: while I sat wrapt in surprise, some of the guineas rolled against Blackstone; the law book instinctively closed at the touch, and when the man told me that one of my

seven tickets had been drawn, I as instinctively rose to count the money. He asked me if I would insure again, I told him I would consider of it, and if he would leave the name and place of his office, I would call there: he did so, and departed. I sat some time meditating on my good luck, and ruminating whether I should venture again or not. The point was left undetermined, when it was time to dress for dinner; but I was about reopening Blackstone, to decide the case for me, when two friends of mine, who were of the party the day before, called on me to inquire where I should dine. I told them of my luck: they had lost their money, but advised me to try again. We dined together at the same coffee-house, meeting, as usual, other friends, and so forming a party, who seeming inclined to sit long, I obtained leave of absence for half an hour or so; took a hackney coach, put plenty of money in my pocket, and then drove to the insurance office.

I am about to relate an anecdote, which I am aware will exceed the credulity of most of my readers; it is nevertheless a fact literally and bona fide.

Arrived at the lottery office, I insured forty-two numbers for the next day, and returned to my friends, big with the expectation of making my fortune-I was in such a state of anxious hope, all the next morning, that I could not read-plans upon plans rushed into my head, of this or that, which I would do on the obtainment of such or such sums of money; and my brain was, to use a vulgar expression, all agog. I waited till the lottery was drawn, and then went--not to the office where I had insured, for fear they should conceal part of my winnings from me; but to another, where I had my num

bers examined; and, to my great astonishment, found that not one of them had been drawn. Mortified beyond description, I next went to the former office, where I had them again examined, with the same information; but, three numbers had been drawn before I insured them, and they, consequently, returned the money I had paid on them, which amounted to fifteen guineas. I got into the coach to drive home; and, when in it-what! says I to myself, insure seven numbers and get two hundred guineas, and the next day insure forty-two and get nothing!-this is not reducible to mathematical calculation; it is mere chance; I'll have done with it: so, throwing myself back in the coach, I began to doze, when the hack struck against a post or another coach, and roused me. Looking out to see where I was, I observed No. 131 painted in gold letters on a window in the Strand. A thought immediately struck me that I might be lucky if I insured that one number, and that only, with the fifteen guineas I had received, and venture no farther. I determined; and, accordingly, on my arrival at my lodgings, I sent my servant for the runner: he came: I told him what I wished; and, for my fifteen guineas, he gave me a certificate for three hundred and fifty. The following evening I was drinking tea at a house in the lower part of the street, when I heard a carriage enter it. I instantly put down my cup, and ran out of the house, without hat, gloves, or cane, and arrived at my own, just as the runner had his hand upon the knocker of the door: he brought me information that No. 131 was drawn that day, and what was still better, he brought me three hundred and fifty guineas.

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