When tranquillity had been again restored, the “Elephant” was called on for his autobiography—which was given nearly as follows:—
“My father is a ‘squatter’ in New South Wales—where I was myself born.
“At the age of seventeen, I was sent to England to be educated; and, being well supplied with money, the design of those who sent me was not defeated: for I did learn a good deal—although the knowledge I obtained, was not exactly of the kind my parents had meant me to acquire.
“I possessed the strength, and soon acquired the skill, to defeat all my fellow students in rowing or sculling a boat. I was also the best hand amongst them with a bat. I became perfect in many other branches of knowledge, of like utility. During my sojourn in Europe, I made several trips to Paris—where I obtained an insight into the manners and customs of that gay capital.
“My father had a sister living in London—a rich widow, who had an only daughter. I called on them two or three times, as I could not well avoid doing so. I was not infatuated with my cousin, nor did my visits beget in my mind any great affection for my aunt.
“Her husband had been dead several years before that time. He had been related to a family of title, and on his death had left a fortune to his widow of about fifty thousand pounds.
“My father considered his sister a person of great consequence in the kingdom; and used to keep up a regular correspondence with her.
“When I was about twenty-two, I received a letter from him, commanding me forthwith to marry my cousin!
“He had made the match with my aunt, without consulting my wishes.
“The deluded man thought the plan he had formed for me, would make me a very great personage. But I could not regard the affair in the same light.