"'My example prevailed with several of them to renounce their abominable practice of bread and cheese with beer; and they procured, like me, from a neighbouring house, a good basin of warm gruel, in which was a small slice of butter, with toasted bread and nutmeg. This was a much better breakfast, which did not cost more than a pint of beer, namely, three halfpence, and at the same time preserved the head clearer. Those who continued to gorge themselves with beer, often lost their credit with the publican, from neglecting to pay their score. They had then recourse to me to become security for them, _their light_, as they used to call it, _being out_. I attended at the table every Saturday evening to take up the little sums which I had made myself answerable for, and which sometimes amounted to near thirty shillings a-week. "'This circumstance, added to the reputation of my being a tolerable good _gabber_, or, in other words, skilful in the art of burlesque, kept up my importance in the chapel. I had, besides, recommended myself to the esteem of my master by my assiduous application to business, never observing Saint Monday. My extraordinary quickness in composing always procured me such work as was most urgent, and which is commonly best paid; and thus my time passed away in a very pleasant manner.'"[246] [Illustration: THE PRINTING PRESS AT WHICH FRANKLIN WORKED.] FOOTNOTES: [215] Anecdotes of Painting, in his Works, 4to. vol. iii., p. 364. [216] Walpole's Works, _ut supra_, vol iii., p. 364. [217] Life of Edward Lord Herbert, of Cherbury, in the Autobiography p. 145. It is an honour to Grotius, who wrote a book, De Veritate, on the other side of the question, that he encouraged so renowned an antagonist to publish: though, perhaps, he saw less danger in it than singularity. At all events, he could anticipate no harm from the close. [218] Malcolm's Customs and Manners of London, from the Roman Invasion to the Year 1700, vol. i., p. 318. [219] Poems on Affairs of State, from the Time of Oliver Cromwell to the Abdication of King James the Second, vol. i., p. 147. [220] It is still a phrase with the vulgar to say, a man "shams Abram." [221] Manners and Customs, vol. i., p. 322. [222] Historical Account of the English Stage, p. 320. [223] It has recently been pulled down to make room for the enlargement of the museum of the College of Surgeons. [224] See Malone, pp. 135, 136. [225] Malone, p. 135. [226] Ibid., p. 136. [227] Malone, p. 136. [228] Memoirs, _ut supra_, vol. i., p. 167. [229] Memoirs of the English Court in the Reign of Charles II., &c., by the Countess of Dunois, part ii., p. 71. [230] Memoirs of Count Grammont, 8vo. 1811, vol. ii. p. 142. [231] With whom Charles II. was in love--afterwards Duchess of Richmond. [232] The famous wit and debauchee. [233] Pepys' Memoirs, vol. iii., p. 136.