Unluckily, there was a large school of boys in the vicinity of the old gentleman’s residence. There was, of course, an open declaration of hostilities between the “young dogs” and these cats. He was often exasperated almost to frenzy, by what he termed their abominable barbarity, and used to indulge himself in severe reproaches against the master, for not inculcating more forcible lessons of gentleness and humanity. His acquaintances were very few, and his guests fewer. With the exception of one old gentleman, a clergyman, of a character not less whimsical than his own, and occasionally, but very rarely indeed, the son of this friend, his dinners were invariably tête-a-tête. He possessed in manuscript, sermons of his father, and of both his brothers; he had also composed a considerable number himself. The characteristic of them all was sound good sense, very seldom deviating into the subtleties of speculation, but strongly and earnestly enforcing religious and virtuous practice. It occurred to him, that the publication of these discourses might produce a sum of importance to the assistance of a County Hospital, then recently established. They were accordingly printed, and so far succeeded, that the charity was benefited to the amount of three or four hundred pounds. But the work appeared with this peculiarity, that the reader was left to exercise his sagacity in discovering what discourses were the composition of the father, and what of the brothers. In taking leave of this worthy character, it is observed in our “Recollections,” that he was a man of strong mind, and sound judgment, acute, and intelligent. Taste he had none, and indeed despised what is commonly so called. What is more to his honour is, that he was friendly, affectionate, prompt in works of benevolence, and anxious to communicate assistance upon whatever occasion it was required. The old clergyman, his friend, above alluded to, as being of a like eccentric character, was one of those personages who are not often met with in society. He was an excellent scholar, and had much taste and judgment, but he passed the whole of a long life in studied obscurity. He had some paternal fortune, and he married a woman of considerable property. But from the habit of living in a retired village after the death of his wife, with an old crone of a servant, he contracted habits of the extremest parsimony, of which his son experienced the good effects, for he died prodigiously rich. But mark, it was not till after his death. He did indeed send his son to college, but his allowance was so niggardly bestowed, that he was often put to his shifts. After taking his degree, he was obliged to submit to the drudgery of being usher in a large school. He afterwards married respectably, but nothing could he obtain from his father.