Now, mark the sequel of this Barrister’s most eventful history. Some years since, the Sexagenarian being, by accidental circumstances, on the spot which had been the scene of his varied and multiplied performances, made enquiry after him. He had witnessed his progress from obscurity to distinction—from ignorance to no inconsiderable knowledge—and felt both curiosity and a portion of friendly interest concerning him: indeed, he acknowledged obligations to him. Judge of his astonishment and regret, on receiving the information that the Barrister was in prison—his lucrative office filled by another—his library dispersed by a public auction—his bronzes, drawings, antiques, scattered among collectors and amateurs.
That he subsequently found ways and means to extricate himself from his bonds—to obtain a second time, under extraordinary difficulties, no contemptible portion of employment in his profession; that he a second time laid the foundation of a valuable library, and again got together many curiosities of antiquity and specimens of art; is an evident demonstration of no common abilities—of a mind, which, properly directed and exercised, must, by an undeviating path, have conducted him to affluence and honour.
Adde repertores doctrinarum, atque leporum
Adde Helicomadum comites, quorum unus Homerus
Sceptra potitus, eâdem aliis sopitu, quiete est.
CHAPTER XXVII.
From this long list of contemporaries, our Manuscript once more changes the scene, and turns back to college concerns. Here, the sameness of each passing day may easily excuse our proceeding, almost at once, to the last great catastrophe of—the taking the degree. It may just be related in the interval, that a personage occurred, with whom the writer of these notes formed an intimacy, and the recollection of whom, seems to have excited a mixture of satisfaction and melancholy. It was again the turn of our Sexagenarian to pronounce a declamation in the chapel; and having been honourably distinguished with the prize, on a preceding occasion, an anxiety was naturally induced not to appear altogether undeserving of what had been conferred. In the interval of preparation for this great event, for such it then appeared, chance brought him into the society of a young Welch clergyman, from whose conversation so much satisfaction was derived, that the subject of the proposed declamation was introduced, and underwent much discussion. So many new ideas were in consequence communicated on the subject, so much knowledge, and extensive reading displayed, that the greatest advantages were experienced, and an intimacy formed, which was only dissolved by that irresistible power, which separates all human connections.
Grateful recollection (says our MS.) most willingly pays the tribute which follows, to this same Welch clergyman.
“His birth and parentage were as obscure as any Welchman can be induced to allow his genealogical table to be; but the opportunities of education and learning were easy of access, and he availed himself of them to the utmost. The means of going to the university were not afforded, but the facility of obtaining orders was greater at that time than at present; and even now, in that part of the kingdom, where benefices are at the same time numerous and small, the circumstance of a periodical residence at the university is often dispensed with.—Having procured ordination, his ardour and ambition soon ascended beyond the summits of his native mountains, and earnestly spread their wings towards the south. There is an interval in his life, which memory at this time is not qualified to supply; but at the time when accident formed the friendship which is here commemorated, he was second master of a Foundation School, well endowed and numerously filled. With the emoluments of this, added to a curacy, he lived very respectably, and was well received in the first society of the town and neighbourhood.