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other, she now hated my sight, and made home so disagreeable to me,that what is called by school-boys Black Monday, was to me the whitestin the whole year."Having at length gone through the school at Taunton, I was thenceremoved to Exeter College in Oxford, where I remained four years; atthe end of which an accident took me off entirely from my studies; andhence, I may truly date the rise of all which happened to meafterwards in life."There was at the same college with myself one Sir George Gresham, ayoung fellow who was intitled to a very considerable fortune, which hewas not, by the will of his father, to come into full possession oftill he arrived at the age of twenty-five. However, the liberality ofhis guardians gave him little cause to regret the abundant caution ofhis father; for they allowed him five hundred pounds a year while heremained at the university, where he kept his horses and his whore,and lived as wicked and as profligate a life as he could have done hadhe been never so entirely master of his fortune; for besides the fivehundred a year which he received from his guardians, he found means tospend a thousand more. He was above the age of twenty-one, and had nodifficulty in gaining what credit he pleased."This young fellow, among many other tolerable bad qualities, had onevery diabolical. He had a great delight in destroying and ruining theyouth of inferior fortune, by drawing them into expenses which theycould not afford so well as himself; and the better, and worthier, andsoberer any young man was, the greater pleasure and triumph had he inhis destruction. Thus acting the character which is recorded of thedevil, and going about seeking whom he might devour."It was my misfortune to fall into an acquaintance and intimacy withthis gentleman. My reputation of diligence in my studies made me adesirable object of his mischievous intention; and my own inclinationmade it sufficiently easy for him to effect his purpose; for though Ihad applied myself with much industry to books, in which I took greatdelight, there were other pleasures in which I was capable of takingmuch greater; for I was high-mettled, had a violent flow of animalspirits, was a little ambitious, and extremely amorous."I had not long contracted an intimacy with Sir George before I becamea partaker of all his pleasures; and when I was once entered on thatscene, neither my inclination nor my spirit would suffer me to play anunder part. I was second to none of the company in any acts ofdebauchery; nay, I soon distinguished myself so notably in all riotsand disorders, that my name generally stood first in the roll ofdelinquents; and instead of being lamented as the unfortunate pupil ofSir George, I was now accused as the person who had misled anddebauched that hopeful young gentleman; for though he was theringleader and promoter of all the mischief, he was never soconsidered. I fell at last under the censure of the vice-chancellor,and very narrowly escaped expulsion."You will easily believe, sir, that such a life as I am now describingmust be incompatible with my further progress in learning; and that inproportion as I addicted myself more and more to loose pleasure, Imust grow more and more remiss in application to my studies. This wastruly the consequence; but this was not all. My expenses now greatlyexceeded not only my former income, but those additions which Iextorted from my poor generous father, on pretences of sums being