Page:Remarkable history of the miser of Berkshire.pdf/5

( 5 ) immediately retire to rest, as going to bed saved candle-light. — The nephew, however, had then what indeed, he never lost—a very extraordinary appetite — and this would have been an unpardonable offence in the eye of his uncle! Mr Elwes was therefore obliged to partake of a dinner first, with some country neighbour, and then return to his uncle with a little diminutive appetite, that quite engaged the heart of the old gentleman.— A partridge, a small pudding, and one potatoe, did the whole business! and the fire was even suffered to die away while Sir Harvey was at dinner, as eating was a sufficient exercise.

Sir Harvey, in truth, was a most singular character, and the way in which he lived was no less so. His ceclusion from the world nearly reached that of an hermit: and, extreme avarice excepted, a more blameless life was never led by mortal.

SKETCH OF SIR HARVEY ELWES. Sir succeded Sir, a very worthy gentleman, who had involved, as far as they would go, all the estates he received, and left behind him.—Sir Harvey, on his death, found himself possessed nominally of some thousands a-year, but really with an income of one hundred pourds per annum.—On his arrival at Stoke, the family seat, he said, "that never would he leave it till he had entirely cleared the paternal estate."—This he not only  accomplished, but,