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280 pleasing in youth, or impairing that habitual and affectionate obedience to his father, which had been implanted from his cradle during his residence at Meersbrook. The quietness and gravity of Eastern, especially Mahommedan manners, fell upon a soil calculated, in his case, to nourish the seed; but this by no means prevented the natural hilarity of youth from constituting a large portion of his existence, and he became to his father the lightener of his many cares, and the dispenser of all his pleasures. His knowledge was of the kind daily called into action, his accomplishments those which could be estimated by all around him; and his affections found their constant exercise in attending to the wishes, or promoting the honour of his beloved father, or in writing to his wandering brother, and contriving the means of enjoying short, but most cordial and happy interviews. The Viscount Meersbrook's fatal illness was short and severe, but it did not affect his senses, and thereby deprive him of knowing that his idolised son watched his pillow day and night, with an anxiety and tenderness which supplied even the wife and daughter he had lost. When able to speak, he gave directions, on many circumstances in public business, in which his son might supply his place to the country, for which he had long and successfully laboured; but, these duties and services carefully performed, he earnestly desired him to return to his own country.