e considerable extent. I caught
him. He appealed to my heart, and you know, my dear fellow, that was
irresistible, so I let him off. Who could have thought he would have
turned out so?' And the baronet proceeded to eulogize his own good
nature, by which it is just necessary to remark, that one miscreant
had been saved for a few years from transportation in order to rob and
murder _ad libitum_, and having fulfilled the office of a common pest,
to suffer on the gallows at last. What a fine thing it is to have a
good heart! Both our gentlemen now sunk into a reverie, from which
they were awakened, at the entrance of the park, by a young man in
rags, who, with a piteous tone, supplicated charity. Clarence, who to
his honour be it spoken, spent an allotted and considerable part of
his income in judicious and laborious benevolence, had read a little
of political morals, then beginning to be understood, and walked on.
The good-hearted baronet put his hand in his pocket, and gave the
beggar half-a-guinea, by which a young, strong man, who had only just
commenced the trade, was confirmed in his imposition for the rest of
his life; and instead of the useful support, became the pernicious
incumbrance of society. Sir Christopher had now recovered his spirits.
'What's like a good action?' said he to Clarence, with a swelling
breast. The park was crowded to excess; our loungers were joined by
Lord St. George. His lordship was a staunch Tory. He could not endure
Wilkes, liberty, or general education. He launched out against the
enlightenment of domestics. 'What has made you so bitter?' said Sir
Christopher. 'My valet!' cried Lord St. George; 'he has invented a new
toasting-fork; is going to take out a patent, make his fortune, _and
leave me_; that's what I call ingratitude, Sir Christopher; for I
ordered his wages to be raised five pounds but last year.' 'It _was_
very ungrateful,' said the ironical Clarence. 'Very!' reiterated
the good-hearted Sir Christopher. 'You cannot recommend me a valet,
Findlater,' renewed his lordship; 'a good, honest, sensible fellow,
who can neither read nor write?' 'N--o--o--that is to say, yes! I can;
my old servant, Collard, is out of place, and is as ignorant as--as--'
'I--or you are,' said Lord St. George, with a laugh. 'Precisely,'
replied the baronet. 'Well, then, I take your recommendation: send
him to me to-morrow at twelve.' 'I will,' said Sir Christopher. 'My
dear Findlater,' cried Clarence, when