nditional mood, the man of
verse, staring abstractedly upon the man of tense, would thrust his hand
under his peruke, and rub, rub, rub his polished scalp, which all the
while effused a divine ichor--(poets never perspire)--and, when he was
gently reminded that his wig was a little awry towards the left side, he
would pluck it, resentfully, equally as much awry on the right; and
then, to punish the offending and displacing hand, he would commence
gnawing off the nails of his fingers, rich with the moisture from above.
We have recorded this little personal trait, because it may be valuable
to the gentleman's future biographers; and also because it is a
convincing proof to the illiterate and the leveller, that head-work is
not such easy, sofa-enjoyed labour, as is commonly supposed; and,
finally, that the great writer's habit, _vivos ungues rodere_, proves
him to be, tooth and nail, _homo ad unguem factus_.

I feel, also, that there are many other persons to whom I ought to pay a
passing tribute of gratitude for much kindness shown to me; but as my
first duty is to my readers, I must not run the risk of wearying them
even by the performance of a virtue. But there was one, to omit the
mention of whom would be, on my part, the height of ingratitude, and, as
concerns the public, something very like approaching to a fraud; for by
the implied contract between it and me, I am, in this my autobiography,
bound to supply them with the very best materials, served up to them in
my very best manner. The gentleman whom I am going to introduce to the
notice of my readers was the purest personation of benevolence that
perhaps ever existed. His countenance was a glowing index of peace with
himself, good-will to man, and confidence in the love of God. There was
within him that divine sympathy for all around him, that brings man, in
what man can alone emulate the angels, so near to his Creator. But with
all this goodness of soul there was nothing approaching to weakness, or
even misjudging softness; he had seen, had known, and had struggled with
the world. He left the sordid strife triumphantly, and bore away with
him, if not a large fortune, a competence; and what also was of
infinitely more value; that "peace of mind which passeth all
understanding."

Mr R--- was, in his person, stout, tall, florid in his countenance,
and, for a man past fifty, the handsomest that I have ever beheld. I do
not mean to say that his features possess