Page:Remarkable history of the miser of Berkshire- John Elwes, Esq..pdf/24

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anxiety, and, as if waking from a troubled dream, again hurry into bed, and ſeem unconſcious of what had happened. At other times, when perfectly awake, he would walk to the ſpot where he had hidden his money, to ſee if it was ſafe.

In the autumn of 1789, his memory was gone entirely; his perception of things was decreaſing very rapidly; and as the mind became unſettled, guſts of the moſt violent paſſion uſurped the place of his former command of temper. For ſix weeks previous to his death, he would go to reſt in his clothes, as perfectly dreſſed as during the day. He was one morning found faſt aſleep betwixt the ſheets, with his ſhoes on his feet, his ſtick in his hand, and an old torn hat upon his head!

Mr. Elwes, on the 18tb of November, 1789 diſcovered ſigns of that utter and total weakneſs which carried him to his grave in eight days On the evening of the firſt day, he was conveyed to bed; from which he roſe no more.His appetite was gone. He had but a faint recollection of anything about him; and his laſt coherent words were addreſſed to his ſon, Mr. John Elwes, in hoping "he had left him what he wiſhed."On the morning of the 26th of November he expired without a ſigh!

Thus died Mr Elwes, the moſt perfect model of human penury which has been preſented to the public for a long ſeries of years.

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