attaining that end, to say nothing of the counteracting inclinations of the seller. If, however, the buyer insists, and agrees to pay for the trial, and the seller refuses, it may fairly be suspected that there is something wrong-just the same as if he declined to let her be proved by a shipwright, or her bottom examined when dry. To the seller let me add one word. Many a yacht remains" on hand," from the fact of the enormous prices that are asked; but that I will pass over, as every one (on the Newcastle principle) has a right to do what he likes with his own; but what I find fault with, is, that in too many cases, a sum is named to the secretaries of clubs and shipbuilders, far above the price the vendor intends to take, and far above what he has previously stated to be his terms; the result is, the agent is blamed, a long correspondence ensues, generally ending in smoke, and an opportunity is thus lost. A written instruction, mentioning the lowest sum, would not prevent a higher being asked and given, and would save an infinity of trouble, by bringing about a sale in a business like manner. Sincerely do I trust that the above remarks may prove of some service to those wanting a yacht. CHAPTER IX. "Vido meliora proboque Detiora sequor." OVID, Met. "But love, resistless love, my soul invades; I MUST hurry over a long space, for this autobiography is growing into unexpected length, although I have endeavoured to curtail as much as possible all detail not absolutely necessary for the development of the story; there is, however, one fatal remembrance, to which I cannot abstain from referring, for the thought still haunts me day and night, like a frightful dream, and brings forth more hideous spectres than those which scared the sleep of the crooked back Richard. No sooner had I become an idle man about town, without a single object to interest or wean my frail nature from an uninterrupted course of folly and dissipation, than I felt careless of public opinion, and having exclaimed with the above mentioned scourge, "Conscience avaunt,' gave myself up to reckless vice; for, however venial such vice may be looked upon, by the young and thoughtless, not even the excuse that "it was none of my own seeking," could remove it from the category of crime of the darkest hue. I had sated myself with the pleasures of the metropolis, in high and low life, for I was equally "used up" in St. James's, as in St. Giles's, having "treaded a measure" at the Palace, dined at the Sovereign's table, subscribed to Almacks, attended the fêtes at Chiswick, breakfasted at Hertford Villa, occupied a seat in the omnibus box at the royal Haymarket opera, promenaded at the Zoological VOL. III. U Gardens, whiled away an hour at Vauxhall, lounged in the parks, ridden up and down Rotten Row, indulged in the luxuries of a Greenwich white bait feast, patronized Rubini's concert, idled my time in White's bay-window, supped at Crockford's, played a game with the marker at the Tennis Court, rattled the dice box at a fashionable pandemonium, cut in for a five pound point rubber at Graham's, practised sparring with Jem Ward, made one of a four oared gig on the Thames, shot pigeon matches with Osbaldiston at the Red House, belonged to the Richmond four in hand club, been a member of Lord's Cricket-ground, yawned over the ancient Musical re-unions at Hanover Square Rooms, supported Duvernay in a new ballet, taken a part in a glee at the Catch Club, sat in Tom Cribb's bar parlour, devoured poached eggs at the Cider Cellar, seen the dog Billy destroy a hundred rats in an incredible brief period, smoked a short pipe at "stunning Joe's" in the Rookery, drank brandy and water at the thieves 'Ken,' Field Lanė, honoured a penny "gaff" with my presence, danced at a |