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THE ALMS-HOUSE AND TRUSTEES.
The frugal Merchant - Rivalship in Modes of Frugality - Private Exceptions to the general Manners - Alms-house built - Its Description - Founder dies - Six Trustees - Sir Denys Brand, a Principal - His Eulogium in the Chronicles of the day - Truth reckoned invidious on these Occasions - An explanation of the Magnanimity and Wisdom of Sir Denys - His kinds of Moderation and Humility - Laughton, his Successor, a planning, ambitious, wealthy Man - Advancement in Life his perpetual Object, and all things make the means of it - His Idea of Falsehood - His Resentment dangerous; how removed - Success produces Love of Flattery: his daily Gratification - His Merits and Acts of Kindness - His proper Choice of Almsmen - In this respect meritorious - His Predecessor not so cautious.
LEAVE now our streets, and in yon plain behold
Those pleasant Seats for the reduced and old;
A merchant’s gift, whose wife and children died,
When he to saving all his powers applied;
He wore his coat till bare was every thread,
And with the meanest fare his body fed.
He had a female cousin, who with care