inventor, according to his own story, had disposed of one-fourth part of
his patent for five hundred pounds, and was willing to accommodate his
countryman with another fourth. After some inquiry into the stranger's
character and the accuracy of his statements, Mr. Fessenden became a
purchaser of the share that was offered him; on what terms is not
stated, but probably such as to involve his whole property in the
adventure. The result was disastrous. The lord-mayor soon withdrew his
countenance from the project. It ultimately appeared that Mr. Fessenden
was the only real purchaser of any part of the patent; and, as the
original patentee shortly afterwards quitted the concern, the former was
left to manage the business as he best could. With a perseverance not
less characteristic than his credulity, he associated himself with four
partners, and undertook to superintend the construction of one of these
patent-mills upon the Thanes. But his associates, who were men of no
respectability, thwarted his plans; and after much toil of body, as well
as distress of mind, he found himself utterly ruined, friendless and
penniless, in the midst of London. No other event could have been
anticipated, when a man so devoid of guile was thrown among a set of
crafty adventurers.

Being now in the situation in which many a literary man before him had
been, he remembered the success of his fugitive poems, and betook
himself to the pen as his most natural resource. A subject was offered
him, in which no other poet would have found a theme for the Muse.
It seemed to be his fatality to form connections with schemers of all
sorts; and he had become acquainted with Benjamin Douglas Perkins, the
patentee of the famous metallic tractors. These implements were then in
great vogue for the cure of inflammatory diseases, by removing the
superfluous electricity. Perkinism, as the doctrine of metallic
tractors was styled, had some converts among scientific men, and many