That he had faults, it is not pretended to deny; but they inflicted no wounds. A sort of coldness and reserve of manner was frequently considered as the result of pride, and sometimes excited unfavourable impressions; but it was not pride, and very soon melted into familiarity. Among his intimate friends it was impossible to be more communicative, facetious, and agreeable. But it is time to have done?
The above tribute is paid from a full and warm heart. It is the result of long, very long attachment, esteem, and gratitude; of a friendship never interrupted; of an intercourse which a continued series of years cemented. Can it be necessary to say more?
Peering in maps, for ports, and piers, and roads.
CHAPTER VI.
The plane of the Sexagenarian’s literary horizon became much extended, in consequence of this connection, and much “terra incognita” was discovered and explored. Several planets also in the literary system, were by the aid communicated from this source, contemplated with greater accuracy and precision; the plains of the Muses were traversed with congenial ardour, each deriving similar gratification from the same sources. Much has already been said, and indeed there seems hardly any limit to what might be said, on the talents, characters, performances, and fortunes, of their various associates.
Memoranda of a great many personages still remain more or less detailed in our manuscript; but the work appears already extended beyond perhaps the patience of many readers, and the task of selecting and arranging from a crude mass, is not the most satisfactory that can be imagined.
The Sexagenarian appears to have had from his childhood a remarkable partiality for books of voyages and travels, and sought after them with the extremest eagerness, from the ingenious and imaginary adventures of Robinson Crusoe, to those more important works of authentic discovery, and actual description, which have for the last century, and indeed much before, obtained the sanction of public approbation and esteem. This feeling naturally led him to seek the personal acquaintance of all those among his contemporaries, who had made themselves eminent, either by their geographical knowledge, or their actual visits to remote regions and countries, less perfectly known.
Of many of these personages he has left notes, which induce the disposition to believe, that he had, at one time, entertained the intention of writing something in a connected form, on the subject of the value of their different observations and discoveries. This, however, he did not do; but from the remarks which he had made, the reader may perhaps find some transient amusement in the selection which succeeds.