relieve, it will be easily conjectured, he found numbers disposed
to solicit: his profusions began to impair his fortune, but not
his good-nature; that, indeed, was seen to encrease as the other
seemed to decay: he grew improvident as he grew poor; and though
he talked like a man of sense, his actions were those of a fool.
Still, however, being surrounded with importunity, and no longer
able to satisfy every request that was made him, instead of money
he gave promises. They were all he had to bestow, and he had not
resolution enough to give any man pain by a denial. By this he
drew round him crowds of dependants, whom he was sure to
disappoint; yet wished to relieve. These hung upon him for a
time, and left him with merited reproaches and contempt. But in
proportion as he became contemptable to others, he became
despicable to himself. His mind had leaned upon their adulation,
and that support taken away, he could find no pleasure in the
applause of his heart, which he had never learnt to reverence.
The world now began to wear a different aspect; the flattery of
his friends began to dwindle into simple approbation. Approbation
soon took the more friendly form of advice, and advice when
rejected produced their reproaches. He now, therefore found that
such friends as benefits had gathered round him, were little
estimable: he now found that a man's own heart must be ever given
to gain that of another. I now found, that--that--I forget what I
was going to observe: in short, sir, he resolved to respect
himself, and laid down a plan of restoring his falling fortune.
For this purpose, in his own whimsical manner he travelled
through Europe on foot, and now, though he has scarce attained
the age of thirty, his circumstances are more affluent than ever.
At present, his bounties are more rational and moderate than
before; but still he preserves the character of an humourist, and