Memoirs.
"In my 22d Year I found a violent Affection for my Cousin Charles's Wife growing upon me, wherein I was in danger of succeeding, if I had not upon that Account begun my Travels into foreign Countries.
"A little after my Return into England, at a private Meeting with my Uncle Francis, I refused the Offer of his Estate, and prevailed upon him not to disinherit his Son Ned.
"Mem. Never to tell this to Ned, lest he should think hardly of his deceased Father; though he continues to speak ill of me for this very Reason.
"Prevented a scandalous Law-suit betwixt my Nephew Harry and his Mother, by allowing her under-hand, out of my own Pocket, so much Money yearly as the Dispute was about.
"Procured a Benefice for a young Divine, who is Sister's Son to the good Man who was my Tutor, and hath been dead Twenty Years.
"Gave Ten Pounds to poor Mrs.—, my Friend H—'s Widow.
"Mem. To retrench one Dish at my Table, till I have fetched it up again.
"Mem. To repair my House and finish my Gardens in order to employ poor People after Harvest time.
"Ordered John to let out Goodman D—'s Sheep that were pounded, by Night: but not to let his Fellow-Servants know it.
"Prevailed upon M. T. Esq., not to take the Law of the Farmer's Son for shooting a Partridge, and to give him his Gun again.
"Paid the Apothecary for curing an old Woman that confessed her self a Witch.
"Gave away my favourite Dog for biting a Beggar.
"Made the Minister of the Parish and a Whig Justice of one Mind, by putting them upon explaining their Notions to one another.
"Mem, To turn off Peter for shooting a Doe while she was eating Acorns out of his Hand.
"When my Neighbour John, who hath often injured me, comes to make his Request to Morrow:
"Mem. I have forgiven him.
"Laid up my Chariot and sold my Horses, to relieve the Poor in a Scarcity of Corn.
"In the same Year remitted to my Tenants a Fifth Part of their Rents.
"As I was airing to-day, I fell into a Thought that warmed my Heart, and shall, I hope, be the better for it as long as I live.
"Mem. To charge my Son in private to erect no Monument for me; but not to put this in my last Will.
| [No. 623] | Monday, November 22, 1714 | Addison[1] |
Sed mihi vel tellus optem prius ima dehiscat,
Vel pater omnipotens adigat me fulmine ad umbras,
Pallentes umbras Erebi noctemque profundam,
Ante, pudor, quam te violem aut tua jura resolvam.
Ille meos, primos qui me sibi junxit, amores
Abstulit: ille habeat secum, servetque sepulchro.
Virg.
I
obliged to my Friend, the
Love-Casuist