and south; and there is scarcely a part of the habitable globe which
I have not visited. After all, I have come to this conclusion, that
there is no country like Britain. Oh! how I could wish my human
existence had been in such happy times and under such glorious
sovereigns as a George the Third, and George the Fourth!!!

For some years I have remained in this country, enjoying (like a
patriarch of old) a quiet, regular life with my family, which now
amounts to above 2,000. I, however, keep very much to my own room,
as I hate bustle, and like to enjoy my own reflections.

The age to which our species can exist is not ascertained, as never
one of us was known to die in his bed, at least a natural death. A
kind of instinct I have always had, has as yet saved me from arsenic,
stewed corks, traps, stamps, &c.; and my great strength, and a
good deal of science, which is of more consequence, have, as yet,
preserved me in many a deadly combat, both with my own species, and
with the dog, the ferret, the weasel, the hawk, and that green-eyed
monster--the cat. But I am now getting somewhat stiffer, and am not
so sharp as I was. I am not--

"--qualis eram, quum primam aciem Præneste sub ipsa
Stravi, scutorumque incendi victor acervos;
Et regem hâc Herilum dextrâ sub Tartara misi!!"

And in some evil hour my time must come.

--I am well aware, indeed, of the fleeting existence even of this
world itself, for I studied astronomy with the celebrated M. Olbers
of Bremen, and assisted him in making many useful observations and