Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub

Conclusion.

The allusions of his Grace, unobserv. ing of the noble females who were present, becoming rather indecorous, they quitted the apartment to dress for dinner. The Duchess, though she still hated solitude, was not sorry when her boisterous guest, accompanied by his delicate companion, "who shivered at a breeze," concluded the visit. She listened with much more pleasure to sketches of fashionable characters, than to the very common-place topics of tonish dissipation, especially when given in the coarse language of so disgusting an orator as the Duke of Westbury.

[blocks in formation]

SIR EDWARD MORETON.

"Nobilitas sola est atque unica virtus. " JUVENAL.

HERE, no City addresses, no congratulations on a beloved Sovereign's recovery from severe indisposition, invested the noble ancestors of this worthy young Baronet, Sir Edward Moreton, with the title his family, almost as ancient as Baronetage, were distinguished in several reigns for their valour and their public virtues.

To .go back as far only as the present Sir Edward Moreton's grandfather, we shall find him enjoying his immense wealth during a long peace; and having sufficient to bequeath his son to live independent of all parties in the cabinet or the field, he left him the sole male heir to his riches, without bringing him up to any of those public professions so

A Character

many of the nobility embrace from choice.

The late Sir Edward Moreton did not live to a very advanced age, and left this present Sir Edward, his eldest son, in possession of the title and chief estates.

This extraordinary and amiable young man, appearing eccentric only to those votaries of fashion who plunge into every species of dissipation and extravagance, is now about twenty-three years of age; a love of study has imparted a seriousness and precision to his thoughts, and has caused him to investigate the characters of mankind with scrupulous care. As his chief society is confined to high and fashionable life, he is sensibly shocked at the conduct of most of the young men of the present age: but he beholds their follies without any degree of puritanism, and he only makes use of his observations to bring home to his

A Man of Economy and Prudence.

own mind an useful guide, to steer and regulate his own conduct by.

In all the ardour of uncontaminated youth, with an admiration of all that he finds lovely in the female sex, he yet retains that purity of conduct, so little known, so little thought of, even by the fashionable world: as the adorning of his person takes up but a very little portion of his time or attention, his intellectual ornaments are of the highest value; he is generous where he knows generosity will be acceptable, where it will be well bestowed and gratefully acknowledged by the silent thanks of the heart; but he lavishes not his money away in a ridiculous and prodigal manner, nor ever suffers himself to be duped, and imposed upon because he is a wealthy man. Thus he looks into and inspects his own affairs, and, trusting not wholly to his steward, knows the extent

« ПредишнаНапред »