The Town: Its Memorable Characters and EventsHunt, Leigh
History
The Town: Its Memorable Characters and Events
Hunt, Leigh
London (England) -- Description and travel; London (England) -- History
We conclude our notice, which, on the subject of so original a man,
has naturally beguiled us into some length, with an interesting
account of his manners and way of life, communicated by one of his
female friends to Mrs. Barbauld. "My first recollection of him," says
she, "was in his house in the centre of Salisbury Square, or Salisbury
Court as it was then called; and of being admitted as a playful child
into his study, where I have often seen Dr. Young and others; and
where I was generally caressed and rewarded with biscuits or _bonbons_
of some kind or other; and sometimes with books, for which he, and
some more of my friends, kindly encouraged a taste, even at that early
age, which has adhered to me all my long life, and continues to be the
solace of many a painful hour. I recollect that he used to drop in at
my father's, for we lived nearly opposite, late in the evening to
supper; when, as he would say, he had worked as long as his eyes and
nerves would let him, and was come to relax with a little friendly and
domestic chat. I even then used to creep to his knee and hang upon his
words, for my whole family doated on him; and once, I recollect that
at one of these evening visits, probably about the year 1753, I was
standing by his knee when my mother's maid came to summon me to bed;
upon which, being unwilling to part from him and manifesting some
reluctance, he begged I might be permitted to stay a little longer;
and, on my mother's objecting that the servant would be wanted to wait
at supper (for, in those days of friendly intercourse and _real_
hospitality, a decent maid-servant was the only attendant at _his own_
and many creditable tables, where, nevertheless, much company was
received), Mr. Richardson said, 'I am sure Miss P. is now so much a
woman, that she does not want anyone to attend her to bed, but will
conduct herself with so much propriety, and put out her own candle so
carefully, that she may henceforward be indulged with remaining with
us till supper is served.' This hint and the confidence it implied,
had such a good effect upon me that I believe I never required the
attendance of a servant afterwards while my mother lived; and by such
sort of ingenious and gentle devices did he use to encourage and draw
in young people to do what was right. I also well remember the happy
days I passed at his house at North End; sometimes with my mother, but
often for weeks without her, domesticated as one of his own children.
He used to pass the greatest part of the week in town; but when he
came down, he used to like to have his family flock around him, when
we all first asked and received his blessing, together with some small
boon from his paternal kindness and attention, for he seldom met us
empty-handed, and was by nature most generous and liberal.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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