Biography,' and, knowing that I had lived in Wiltshire, he proposed that I should write the life of Beckford of Fonthill, the author of 'Vathek.' As I knew nothing of this individual except some general reports, of which the less was said the better, I declined the proposal. I then offered some papers on literary subjects to Baldwin's 'Literary Journal,' a magazine which has been long since extinct. These were trumpery enough; nevertheless they were favourably received, and my vanity was soon gratified by seeing myself for the first time in print. The editor wrote to me that he was in my debt, and that I might receive a small sum that was owing to me whenever I could go to New Bridge Street for the purpose. I know not how it was that I never applied for the money. I found that I could not well follow two trades at the same time, and thus my literary adventures soon came to an end.

I have mentioned that when I parted with my father in the previous autumn his health was a good deal failing. It continued to fail through the winter, but he was so anxious not to inter

fere with the studies of my elder brother and myself that he would not allow us to be informed of it. In March an alteration for the worse took place rather suddenly; and before we were aware that his life was in any real danger he was no more. I had never before known what it was to lose any one for whom I had much affection, and I felt the loss most acutely. It dwelt on my mind long afterwards, and I well remember that for some months he was continually present to me in my dreams. My uncle, Charles Collins, who was an unmarried man, invited our whole family to his house at Salisbury, where we remained until after the funeral. I then returned to London forlorn enough, but less so than I should have been if I had not found much kindness and sympathy among some of my relations, especially Dr. and Mrs. Denman, Lady Staunton, and my cousins Mrs. Baillie and the present Sir George Staunton. The latter was two years older than myself, had been my playfellow when we were boys, and has continued my intimate friend, without our friendship having been interrupted for one instant,

even to the present day. He was at this time a writer in the East India Company's factory at Canton, but was in England on leave of absence, and living with his mother.

I must avail myself of this last opportunity of saying a few words more respecting my father. I have already expressed how great our obligations are to him for the pains which he took with the education of my brothers and myself. It is still a matter of surprise with me that he should by himself have been able to do so much for us in the way of instruction as he did. But I owe him much more for the example which he set us as a man of the most strict integrity and honour, with an almost chivalrous notion of independence. He taught us to trust to nothing but our own character and conduct; and to disdain the attaining advantages by any other means. In early life, having lived much with Lord Holland and his friends, he had been what was then called a Foxite, and he continued to be a Liberal in politics to the last. This, in a worldly point of view, was much to his disadvantage, as, for many years

before he died, a violent party spirit prevailed, and the Tory party were predominant. He was a Liberal in other matters also, having no kind of horror of Dissenters. He was a sincerely religious person, but he made no parade of his religion. He made us read Butler's 'Analogy' and Paley's 'Evidences,' but never discussed such abstruse points in theology as those which agitate men's minds in the present contentious age. His great fault, and indeed the only one of which I have any recollection, was a hasty and impetuous temper; but this was combined with great tenderness and kindness of disposition. If he was sometimes wanting in that degree of patience which is essential in a tutor having to deal with his pupils whose wits are not equally bright on all occasions, his affection for us was unvarying. He was always anxious to promote our innocent recreations, and I have no doubt that the great object of his ambition was to qualify us to become happy and useful members of society in after life.

Some time after the loss of my father, my mother removed from Winterslow to a house in

the immediate neighbourhood of Salisbury. The situation was convenient to her, as it brought her near to my grandmother and my uncle Charles Collins. Her income was very limited, being reduced still further by an income-tax of ten per cent.; and being, moreover, rendered less efficient than it would have been at the present day in consequence of the high prices, not only of provisions, but of all other commodities. The dearness of things depended partly on the great demand occasioned by the expensive war in which the country was engaged, partly on increased taxation, partly on the depreciation of bank-notes under Mr. Pitt's Bank Restriction Act. The possessors of real property were flourishing; the income of professional persons kept pace with the times; and the proprietors of Bank of England stock shared large profits at the expense of the community, in the shape of frequent bonuses; but persons of fixed incomes were sadly straitened, and my mother was one of them. She was, however, an excellent manager, prudent, careful, and as free from selfishness as it is possible for any one