Page:Remarkable history of the miser of Berkshire- John Elwes, Esq..pdf/9

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at his own village of Stoke; and there were members of it two Baronets beſides himſelf, Sir Cordwell Firebraſs and Sir John Barnardſton The reckoning to theſe congenial ſouls was always an object of investigation. As they were one day ſettling this difficult point, an odd fellow, who was a member, called out to a friend that was paſſing, For heaven's ſake, ſtep upſtairs, and aſſiſt the poor! Here are three Baronets, worth a million of money, quarrelling about a farthing!

After Sir Harvey's death, the only tear dropped upon his grave, fell from the eye of his ſervant, who had long and faithfully attended him. To that ſervant he bequeathed a farm of 50l. per annum, to him and to his heirs.

In the chaſtity and abſtinence of his life, Sir Harvey Elwes was a rival to Sir Iſaac Newton, for he would have held it unpardonable to have giveneven his affections; and, as he ſaw no lady whatever, he had but little chance of bartering matrimonially for money.

When he died, he lay in ſtate, ſuch as it was, at his ſeat at Stoke. Some of the tenants obſeryed, with more humour than decency, That it was well Sir Harry could not ſee it His fortune, which had become immenſe, fell to his nephew Mr. Meggot, who, by will, was ordered to aſume the name and arms of Elwes. Thus lived, and thus died, the uncle of old Mr. Elwes, whoſe poſſeſſions at the time of his death, were ſuppoſed to be at leaſt two hundred and fifty thouſand, pounds; and whoſe