Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1827-11-29
ADVENTURES OF A BAsuTuL MAN.

property, ana WIN 40 OtuSt icai "''s
tina what he acquired al a charity
school; bu; my mother being dead, and
/ an onl chId, he determined TO give
me that advantage which he tancied
would have made him happy, viz. a
learned education-I was sent 10
country grammar school, and from
thence to Inc university with view OF
gratifying for holy orders. Here hav
Ing but a small allowance from my I'd
ther. aud being naturally of timed
aud bashlul disposition, | had no OPP
poriunity Of rubbing off that native awk
wardness, which is the fatal cause oil
all my unhappiness, and which | now
began to fear can never be amended
You must know that in my person
am tall aud thin, with q fair complex
ion, and light haxen hair; but OF such
extreme susceptibility of shame, that
on the smalles. subject Of confusion, my
blood all rushes into my cheeks, and
! appear perfectly full blown rose. The
consciousness Of this unhappy failing,
made me avoid society and l became
enamoured of college life; particularly
when reflected, that the uncouth man
ners Of my fathers family were little
calculated TO improve my outward con
duct; | therefore had resolved on liv
ing at he university and taking pupils,
when two unexpected events greatly
altered the posture of my affairs, viz:
my fathers death and the arriva! of an
uncle from the Indies
Tnis uncle | had very rarely heard
my father mention, and ii was gneraliy
believed that he was long since dead;
when he arrived in England only
week too late to close his brothers
eyes. | an ashamed TO confess, what
| believed has been often experienced
BY those whose education has been
better than their parents, that my poor
fathers ignorance and vulgar language,
had often made me blush to think |
was his son; and AT his death | was no.
for the loss of that, which
/ was not unfrequently ashamed to
own. My uncle was bot little affected
for he had been separated from his bro
Their more than thirty years, aud in that
lime he had acquired fortune which |
he used to brsg would make nabob |
happy; in short, he had brought over
with him the enormous sum OF thirty
thousand pounds, and upon this DC built
his hopes of never ending happiness
While he was planning schemes of
greatness and delight, whether the
change OF climate might affect him, or
what Other cause know not, but he
was sna,ched from all his dreams of
Joy ny short illness, of which he died
leaving me heir to all his property |
And now, behold me at the age oil 25 |
we'll stocked vi lh Latin, Greek, and
Mathematics, possessed OF an ample |
fortune, but so awkward and unver>ed |
III every genslemanlike accomplish |
ment, that | am pointed at by all who
see me. as the 1UeGlthy learned cloaun |
| have lately purchased an estate, in
the country, which abounds in (whst
IS called fashionable neighbourhood; |
and when you reflect on my parentage
and uncoolh manners, you will hardly
think how much my company is court
ed By the surrounding families, (espe-
cially By those who have manageable
daugh,ers,) from these gentlemen
have received familiar calls. end the
most pressing invitations, and though !
have repeatedly excused my self under
the prelence OF not belng quite settled;
for the truth is that when | have rode
or walked, with full intention to return
their several visits my heart has failed
me as approached their gates, and ]
have frequently returned homeward,
resolving TO Try il again TO morrow
However, | at length determined to
conquer my timiduy, and, three days
ago. accepted Of an invitation 10 dine
this day with one whose open easy
manner left ne no room to doubt a
cordial welcome. Sir Thomas Friend
", who lives about two miles distant
is a baronei, with about two thousand
pounds year estate, joining to that
purchased; he has two sons and five
daughters all grown up. and living
with their mother and a maiden sister
Uf SIR Thomas's at Friendly Hall.
dependent on their father Conscious
Of my unpublished gait, ! have for some
time past taken private lessons Of pro
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