ence with the lately deceased Sir Richard Heron was the insertion of a clause of resumption, empowering the donor to revoke his deed at any future time when he should see fit, and this clause I particularly pointed out to my benefactor when he signed the deed.

It was with difficulty I prevailed upon him to admit it, and can witness to the uneasiness it gave him, whilst he prophetically said I had left him exposed to the solicitations and remonstrances of his nephews, and that the time might come, when in the debility of age and irresolution of mind, he might be pressed into a revocation of what he had decided upon as the most deliberate act of his life.

My kind old friend stood a long siege before he suffered his prediction to take place; for it was not till after nearly ten years of uninterrupted cordiality, that, weak and wearied out by importunity, he capitulated with his besiegers, and sending his nephew into my house in Queen-Ann-Street unexpectedly one morning, surprised me with a demand, that I would render back the whole of his title deeds: I delivered them up exactly as I had received them; Y 4

his messenger put them into his hackney coach and departed.

In consequence of this proceeding I addres sed the following letter to the Reverend Mr. Decimus Reynolds at Clophill in Bedfordshire.

"Dear Sir,

"Monday 13th Jan. 1779. "I received your letter by the conveyance of Major George Reynolds, and in "obedience to your commands have resigned "into his hands all your title deeds, entrusted "to my custody. I would have had a sche"dule taken of them by Mr. Kipling for your "better satisfaction and security, but as your "directions were peremptory, and Major Rey

nolds, who was ill, might have been preju"diced by any delay, I thought it best to put "them into his hands without further form, "which be assured I have done without the "omission of one, for they have lain under seal

at my banker's ever since they have been 66 committed to my care.

"Whatever motives may govern you, dear "Sir, for recalling either your confidence, or

and retain my

your bounty, from me and my family, be "assured you will still possess gratitude and esteem.

I have only a second "time lost a father, and I am now too much "in the habit of disappointment and misfor

tune, not to acquiesce with patience under "the dispensation.

"You well can recollect, that your first bounty was unexpected and unsolicited it "would have been absolute, if I had not thought it for my reputation to make it con"ditional, and subject to your revocation: per

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haps I did not believe you would revoke it, "but since you have been induced to wish it, "believe me I rejoice in the reflection, that

every thing has been done by me for your "accommodation, and I had rather my chil"dren should inherit an honourable poverty, "than an ample patrimony, which caused the giver of it one moment of regret.

"I believe I have some few papers still at "Tetworth, which I received from you in the

country. I shall shortly go down thither, "and will wait upon you with them. At the

same time, if you wish to have the original

conveyance of your lands, as drawn up by

"Sir Richard Heron, I shall obey you by re

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turning it: the uses being cancelled, the form can be of little value, and I can bear in me

mory your former goodness without such a "remembrancer.

"Mrs. Cumberland and my daughters join "me in love and respects to you and Mrs. "Reynolds, whom by this occasion I beg to "thank for all her kindness to me and mine. "I spoke yesterday to Sir Richard Heron" [Sir Richard Heron was Chief Secretary in Ireland]" and pressed with more than com

mon earnestness upon him to fulfil your "wishes in favour of Mr. Decimus Reynolds "in Ireland. It would be much satisfaction to

me to hear the deeds came safe to hand, and "I hope you will favour me with a line to say "I am, &c. &c.

So.

"R. C."

I have been the more particular in the detail of this transaction, because I had been unfairly represented by a relation, whom in the former part of these memoirs I have recorded as the friend of my youth; a man, whom I dearly loved, and towards whom I had conducted myself through the whole progress of

this affair with the strictest honour and good faith, voluntarily subjecting myself, the father of six children, to be deprived of a valuable gift, which the bestower of it wished to have been absolute and irrevocable.

That relation is yet living, and by some few years an older man than I am. Though I may have ceased to live in his remembrance, he has not lost his place in my affection and regard. I wish him health and happiness for the remainder of his days, and, in the perfect consciousness of having merited more kindness than I have received, bid him heartily farewel.

There was more celebrity attached to the success of a new play in the days, of which I am speaking, than in the present time, when

Portents and prodigies are grown so frequent,

That they have lost their name.

fa

The happy hit of The West-Indian drew a considerable resort of the friends and followers of the Muses to my house. I was superlatively blest in a wife, who conducted my mily with due attention to my circumstances, yet with every elegance and comfort, that could render it a welcome and agreeable ren