CHAPTER XI.
"Rich in these gifts, why should I wish for more?"
P. Whitehead.
Our readers have received an intimation that Horatio Markham, of whom we think highly and deservedly so, had ere this time returned to England, after a very short stay in that situation to which he had been recommended solely by the respectability of his character and the high reputation which he had so early acquired in his profession. The climate did not agree with him; and foreign climates seldom do agree with those who like better to be at home than abroad. A representation to that effect was made to the authorities at home, and he was recalled. As soon as he came to England he waited on the worthy and kind-hearted nobleman to whom he had been indebted for the situation, and whose patronage had come to him spontaneously and unsolicited. Whether or not there appeared in Markham any very strong symptoms of a constitution injured by foreign climes we know not; this only do we know, that his lordship expressed great concern that Mr. Markham should have suffered so much, and great hopes that his native air would restore and confirm his health.
Lords are generally gracious to those whom they patronise. The nobleman in question was particularly and especially so to such as he patronised voluntarily, and on the pure ground of good desert or good promise. He was compelled, as all men high in office must be, occasionally to give his countenance and patronage to those who deserved it not; but whenever the choice was purely his own, it was from the best of motives and with the kindest spirit. Doubly happy did he feel himself in such patronage as this; he was pleased that he could countenance merit, and he was pleased that the state should be well and honestly served. We cannot withhold such a slight tribute as this from public merit; and at the same time there is another tribute of respect to private merit which we cannot withhold from Horatio Markham. We commend him most cordially and sincerely, that being a man of considerable talent and real independence of mind, he did not affect the absurd priggery and puppyism of refusing a situation, in which he might make himself useful, on the ground of being above patronage, or of despising place. Merit there might be and merit there was under the profligate sway of the later Stuarts in refusing bribes to betray the nation into slavery; ingenious however must be the skill of him who can make the parallel hold good in the present day.
To return to our narrative. The worthy nobleman who had thus taken Markham by the hand, having expressed his regret that circumstances did not allow his young friend to continue in that situation to which he had been appointed, added,
"And I am more especially concerned to think, that in all probability your professional practice has been injured by your absence from England, as your stay has not been long enough to justify any public remuneration. Over the public purse I have not an unlimited command; over my own I have, and if you will suffer me to defray the expenses into which I have led you by sending you out of the country you will make me your debtor."
Markham was perplexed. He was absolutely and decidedly against accepting the offer, but he was not ready with the proper language in which to decline it. After the hesitation of a few seconds, he replied,