Page:Remarkable history of the miser of Berkshire.pdf/3

( 3 ) the father of the late Colonel Timms; and from thence came the intail of some part of his estate.

Mr., at an early period of life, was sent to Westminster School, where he remained ten or twelve years. He certainly during that time, had not misapplied his talents; for he was a good classical scholar to the last; and it is a circumstance very remarkable, yet well authenticated, that he never read afterwards. Never, at any period of his future life, was he seen with a book; nor had he, in all his different houses, left behind him two pounds worth of literary furniture. His knowledge in accounts was little; and, in sore measure, may account for his toral ignorance as to his own concerns. The contemporaries of Mr. Elwes, at Westminster, were Mr Worsley, late Master of the Board of Works, and the late Lord Manfield; who, at that time, borrowed all that yourg Elwes would lend. His Lord hip, however, afterwards changed his disposition.

Mr from Westminster School removed to Geneva, where he shortly after entered upon parsuits more congenial to his temper than study. The riding master of the academy had then three of the best horsemen in Europe for his pupils; viz. Mr. Worsley, Mr Elwes, and Sir Sidney Meadows. Elwes of the three was accounted the most desperate: the young horses were put into his hands always; and he was, in fact the rough-rider of the other two He was introduced, during this period, to Voltaire, whom, in point of appearance, he somewhat