ESSAY I. ON FORTUNE. Fortune, the wanton fickle dame, Plays on, and cheats us in the game; Now gives, and the next moment takes away- It is wonderful to observe the various changes of fortune in human life. How frequently do we see men raised from the lowest stations to the highest rank in society, and, in the course of a few years, reduced to their former level? In like manner, how often do we see men born to splendid fortunes reduced, in a short space, to beggary? men in the most flourishing business brought to absolute poverty? Does it not often happen, that those who are possessed of great riches are frequently borne down by bodily pain and sickness, and rendered objects of pity for life; those in the greatest opulence suffering under the B smartest family calamities, from death, and other distressing circumstances? On the other hand, it often turns out that those who have ample fortunes are deprived of the happiness of children to enjoy their riches. It also not unfrequently happens, that those who, at their commencement in business, had but a very ordinary share of education or interest, have, notwithstanding, arrived ultimately at ease and opulence; and, although most fortunate in every other undertaking, have yet failed in the chief desire of their heart-that of having heirs of their own to enjoy their fortune; and who, after toiling for many years, nay through a long life, in amassing riches, have had the mortification to see that same fortune descend to distant connections.-Such are too often the effects of fickle fortune. It is, no doubt, true, that many of the misfortunes that befall mankind proceed directly from their own conduct; and it will be shewn, in the course of these Essays, that many of the disasters which men encounter are occasioned by their own act and deed : yet it will be granted, that many unpleasant things fall out, which no human wisdom could foresee or prevent. In corroboration of what has been already said of the success of those who, in the commencement of their intercourse with the world, have shared but sparingly of the gifts requisite to their success, such as birth, education, interest, and money, it is proposed to insert the Memoirs of WILLIAM FILLPURSE, a man of uncommon good fortune in amassing riches, although he may have been said to have wanted all the requisites above-mentioned. This gentleman is also an instance, out of the many to whom fortune has been liberal in bestowing her golden gifts, but from whom she withheld the felicity of heirs, of his own body, to enjoy her good things; and who had the misfortune to see his handsome fortune descend to a more distant branch of his connections. WILLIAM FILLPURSE was born about the beginning of the last century, in a part of Scotland bordering on the German ocean. His father was a decent husbandman, who lived by the culture of the ground: he had several children, of whom our hero was the youngest. William received the rudiments of his education at a country school, ac cording to the usual practice of these seminaries at that period, which consisted in reading and writing English, Arithmetic, and a very slight knowledge of the Latin tongue but as William never had the good fortune to shine as a classical scholar, it is more than probable he had not prosecuted his studies beyond the first principles. Experience has long proved, that shining abilities are by no means necessary to the acquirement of riches; as it frequently happens that persons of inferior abilities, but of steady conduct, have been more successful in the acquisition of wealth than men of genius and the most splendid ta lents. It was not, therefore, expressly necessary that William Fillpurse should shine in the literary world to enable him to attain to the affluent circumstances which ultimately fell to his lot. According to tradition, then, our hero, after acquiring a moderate share of learning, like many of his northern neighbours, who wished to launch into the great world all at once, took his departure to the capital of the kingdom, and, by the interest of good friends, procured a situation as Clerk in an eminent house of busi ness. In his new situation, our hero la boured, with the utmost assiduity, through all the subordinate gradations connected with that establishment, until he was promoted, not only to the honour of being a partner, but to have a principal management in the concern. During his long service in the house, he lived frugally, and by that means saved part of his earnings, (for in those days L.30 or L.40 per annum would have paid the same services which now require from L.150 to L.200); so that by the time William arrived at the pinnacle of his glory, he was enabled to purchase an interest in the business. Indeed, not many years after his promotion, William purchased a small property, sometime thereafter built a handsome addition to the original mansion, and ultimately started his carriage, and lived in a genteel but unaffected style of grandeur. Riches, although they can purchase not only the necessaries but luxuries of life, yet they cannot procure all that the heart of man desires; and such was exemplified in the subject of these Memoirs-for, although he had been married early in life to an accomplished young woman, still he was dis |