Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1834-09-04
Interesting Miscellany.
From the London Metropolitan.
THE WAY TO BE HAPPY.

u
people will only square their IDEAS ac-
cording to their circumstances, how much
happier might we all be-! If we only
would come down peg or two in our
notions, in accordance with our reach.
II is not what we have, or what we have
not, which adds or subtracts from our
felicity. 1t is the longing for more than
we have, the envying Of those who pos
sess that more, and the wish to appear
in the world of more consequence than
we really are, which destroy our4cace
of mind, and eventually lead to rum.
never witnessed man submitting to
circumstances with good humor and good
sense, so remarkably as in my friend
Alexander Wliomott. When l first met
him, since our school days, it was at the
close Of the war /: he had been large
contractor with Government, for army
clothing and accoutrements, and was
said to have realized an immense for
tune, although his accounts were not yet
settled. Indeed, it was said that they
were so vast, that it would employ the
time of six clerks, for two years, TO ex-
anime them, previous TO the balance
sheet being struck. AS observed, he
had been at school with me, and, OH NV
return from the East Indies, called up
on him to renew our old acquaintance,
and congratulate him upon his success.
"My dear Reynolds, / am delighted
to see you. You must come down to
Belem Castle; Mrs. Willemott will re-
ceive you with pleasure, Pm sure. You
shall see my two girls"
1 consented. The chaise stopped at
splendid mansion, and | was ushered
in by crowd Of liveried servants. Eve
ry thing was on the most sumptuous and
magnificent scale. Having paid my re-
spects to the lady Of the house, retired
to dress, as dinner was nearly ready, it
being then half-past seven O'Clock. 1t
was eight before we sat down. To an
observation that l made, expressing a
hope that l had not occasioned the din
ner to be put off. Willemott replied,
"On the contrary, my dear Reynolds,
we never sit down until about this hour.
How people can dine at four or five o.
clock, cannot conceive. could not
touch q mouthful."
The dinner was excellent, and paid
it the encOmiums which were its due.
'Do not be afraid, my dear fellow
my cook is an artiste ertraordinaire-a
regular Gordon Bleu. You may eat
any thing without fear of Indigestion.
How people can live upon the English
cookery OF the present day, / cannot
conceive. l seldom dine out, for fear
of beng poisoned. Depend upon it, a
good cook lengthens your days, and no
price Is too great to insure one."
/ "When the ladies' retired, being alone,
we entered into friendly conve rsation,
expressed my admiration of his daugh-
ters, who certainly were very handsome
and elegant girls"
every true; they are more than pas
sable," replied he. "We have had
many offers, but not such as como up to
my expectations. Baronets are chear
now-a-days, and Irish lords are nothing;
l hope 10 settle them comfortably. We
shall see. Try this claret; you will find
it excellent, not headache in hogs
head oft. How people can drink port,
L cannot imagine"
/ The next morning, he proposed that
should rattle round the park with him.
l acceded, and we set Off in handsome
open carriage, with four greys, ridden
by postillions at rapid pace. AS we
were whirling along, he observed, "n
town we must, of course, drive but a
pair, but in the country, never 20 out
without four horses There is a spring
in four horses, which is delightful it
makes your spirit elastic, and you feel
that the poor animals are not at hard la
Dor. Rather than not drive four, would
prefer to stay at home"
| Our ride was very leasant, and, in
such amusements, passed away one of
the most pleasant weeks, that ever re-
membered. Willemott was not the least
altered-he was as friendly, as sincere,
as open hearted, as when boy at school.
left him, pleased with his prosperity,
and acknowledged that he was well de-
serving Of it, although his ideas had as
sumed such scale Of magnifcence.
! l went to India when my leave expir.
ed, and was absent about four years -
On my return, enquired after my friend
Willemott, and was told that his circum.
stances and expectations had been great
ly altered. From many causes, such as
a change in the Government. demand
for economy, and the wording of his con-
tracts having been differently rendered d
from what Willemott had supposed their
meaning to be, large items had been
struck out Of his balance sheet, and, in
stead of being millionaire, he was now
| a gentleman with n hondso,na ,ronar,,,