Camperdown; or, News from our neighbourhood

Transcriber's Note:
The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.
THE AUTHOR OF “OUR NEIGHBOURHOOD,” &C.
PHILADELPHIA :
CAREY, LEA & BLANCHARD.
1836.
Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1836, by Carey, Lea & Blanchard, in the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
THIS LITTLE VOLUME IS DEDICATED TO
MRS. WILLIAM MINOT,
A lady distinguished as a writer and an artist; and esteemed by her friends for her domestic virtues. With her accomplishments, and excellence of character, she would be appreciated any where; but it has been her peculiar good fortune to belong to Boston; a place, above all others, wherein a woman receives that high respect and consideration to which she is so justly entitled.
A few years ago a book was published, called “Our Neighbourhood;” and those who read it, will recollect that the author intended, in the second series, to give a short sketch of some of the most conspicuous characters therein mentioned. The second series is now presented to the public, and is called “Camperdown,” the name of our neighbourhood. The work will be continued, under different titles, until the author has accomplished the object stated in the preface to the first series; and which the tenor of the two volumes will more fully explain.
It is seldom that men begin to muse and sit alone in the twilight until they arrive at the age of fifty, for until that period the cares of the world and the education of their young children engross all their thoughts. Edgar Hastings, our hero, at thirty years of age was still unmarried, but he had gone through a vast deal of excitement, and the age of musing had been anticipated by twenty years. He was left an orphan at fourteen, with a large income, and the gentleman who had the management of his estates proved faithful, so that when a person of talents and character was wanted to travel with the young man, a liberal recompense was at hand to secure his services. From the age of fourteen to twenty-one he was therefore travelling over Europe; but his education, instead of receiving a check, went on much more advantageously than if he had remained at home, and he became master of all the modern languages in the very countries where they were spoken. The last twelve months of his seven years’ tour was spent in England, being stationary in London only during the sitting of Parliament.