Page:Remarkable history of the miser of Berkshire.pdf/10

( 10 ) annual expenditure was about one hundred and ten pounds! — Tho' the robbery before mentioned probably did not accelerate his death, yet it lay heavy on his pirits; but more particularly when employed in the delightful talk of counting his gol'. However incredible this may appear, yet it is trictly true, that his cloaths cost him nothing, for he took them out of an old chet, where they had lain ince the gay days of Sir Jervaie. — He kept his houehold chiefly upon game, and fih from his own pond. The cows, which grazed before his own door, furnihed milk, cheee, and butter, for his little economical household; and what fuel he did burn, his woods upplied — To thoe who cannot exit out of the butle of ociety, and the fever of public cenes, it may be curious to know, that he was a man who had the courage to live, as it were, nearly eventy years alone!

To the whole of his uncle's property Mr. Elwes succeeded; and it was imagined, that his own was not at the time very inferior—He got, too, an additional seat; but he got it, as it had been, most religiously delivered down for ages past. — The furniture was most sacredly antique!—Not a room was painted, nor a window repaired! — The beds above stairs, were all in canopy and state; where the worms and maths held undisturbed possesion!

Mr. Elwes had now advanced beyond the 40th year of his age; and for 15 years previous to this period it was that he was known in all the fashionable circles of London — He had always a turn for play; and it was only late in life, and