But our friend adds drily, that if a treatise were to be elaborately written on “Memory,” and the vicissitudes it undergoes, its degrees of strength or weakness, as things turn out prosperous or adverse, he thinks it will appear, that it is apt to grow progressively weaker and more uncertain in those, whose elevation in life has exceeded their early prospects and expectations, than in those who have passed quietly and soberly along the middle path, neither drawn aside by ambition, nor thrust down by misfortune. Whether there is any physical reason which will account for this phœnomenon, it is not pretended to conjecture; perhaps rapidity of ascent may have some effect in confusing the intellect; perhaps glittering scenes, constantly succeeded by still more gaudy and fascinating spectacles, may dazzle the imagination. Be this as it may, the gentleman before us, certainly laboured under the suspicion of being liable to this infirmity. Indeed, with respect to him, there was some aggravation in the circumstances, for it has been said, that when he was most positive, and vehement, and determined in his assertions, then it was that his accuracy was most doubted. One example occurred to our Sexagenarian of this great man’s being occasionally at least, subject to this infirmity, and he has recorded it. He made our friend, it seems, a promise positive and unequivocal, clogged by no qualifications, and subject to no incidental occurrences. Alas! a walk of about two miles dispelled every trace of the fabric in his mind, nor did any image of it ever again appear to present itself to his recollection. Honest pride prevented his being reminded of it by the individual concerned, and so the matter passed away; indeed so effectually, that the great man, at a subsequent period of no great distance, had no remembrance even of the person of him, whose hopes had been so agreeably, but so unfortunately raised, only to be disappointed. The next personage who became of very great consequence from the meanest origin, and whose fall was not less extraordinary than his rise, was neither Right Honourable nor Honourable, but he did arrive at the distinction of knighthood, and probably had yet higher titles in contemplation. His first appearance was as a common shop-boy to a retail grocer. He remained in this situation for some years. Whilst in this employment, he scraped an acquaintance with the niece of a decent man, who kept a respectable inn in a provincial town. Allured by the encouragement of his dulcinea, and probably with the prospect of ultimately bettering himself, he became a waiter at this inn. He finally married the niece, became master of the inn, and inherited from his wife considerable property.