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he makes wild work with logic; and seems to jump at most admirable conclusions by some process, not at all akin to it. Consonantly enough to this, he hath been heard to deny, upon certain occasions, that there exists such a faculty at all in man as _reason_; and wondereth how man came first to have a conceit of it--enforcing his negation with all the might of _reasoning_ he is master of. He has some speculative notions against laughter, and will maintain that laughing is not natural to _him_--when peradventure the next moment his lungs shall crow like Chanticleer. He says some of the best things in the world--and declareth that wit is his aversion. It was he who said, upon seeing the Eton boys at play in their grounds--_What a pity to think, that these fine ingenuous lads in a few years will all be changed into frivolous Members of Parliament!_ His youth was fiery, glowing, tempestuous--and in age he discovereth no symptom of cooling. This is that which I admire in him. I hate people who meet Time half-way. I am for no compromise with that inevitable spoiler. While he lives, J.E. will take his swing.--It does me good, as I walk towards the street of my daily avocation, on some fine May morning, to meet him marching in a quite opposite direction, with a jolly handsome presence, and shining sanguine face, that indicates some purchase in his eye--a Claude--or a Hobbima--for much of his enviable leisure is consumed at Christie's, and Phillips's--or where not, to pick up pictures, and such gauds. On these occasions he mostly stoppeth me, to read a short lecture on the advantage a person like me possesses above himself, in having his time occupied with business which he _must do_--assureth me that he often feels it hang heavy on his hands--wishes he had fewer holidays--and goes off--Westward Ho!--chanting a tune, to Pall Mall--perfectly convinced that he has convinced me--while I proceed in my opposite direction tuneless. It is pleasant again to see this Professor of Indifference doing the honours of his new purchase, when he has fairly housed it. You must view it in every light, till _he_ has found the best--placing it at this distance, and at that, but always suiting the focus of your sight to his own. You must spy at it through your fingers, to catch the aerial perspective--though you assure him that to you the landscape shows much more agreeable without that artifice. Wo be to the luckless wight, who does not only n
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