DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70302#0293
LIFE OF JOHN ELWES, ESQ. 259
hundred thousand pounds by her husband, it is said that
she starved herself to death. Another cause, which will
presently be noticed, doubtless contributed to instil into
the mind of Mr. Elwes that saving principle by which he
was so eminently distinguished.
At an early period of life he was sent to Westminster
school, where he remained ten or twelve years, and be-
came a good classical scholar; yet it is not a little extra-
ordinary, that at no future period of his life was he ever
seen with a book, nor did he leave behind him, at all his
different houses, two pounds worth of literary furniture.
Of accounts he had no knowledge whatever, and this may
perhaps have been, in part, the cause of his total igno-
rance of his own concerns. From Westminster school
he removed to Geneva, to complete his education, and
after an absence of two or three years, returned to
England.
At this time his uncle, Sir Harvey Elwes, resided at
Stoke, in Suffolk, the most perfect picture of penury that
perhaps ever existed. To this gentleman he was intro-
duced, and as he was to be his heir, it was of course
policy to endeavour to please him. A little disguise was
now sometimes necessary even in Mr. Elwes, who, as he
mingled with the gay world, dressed like other people.
This, however, would not have gained him the favor of
Sir Harvey : his hopeful nephew used, therefore, when he
visited him, to stop at a little inn at Chelmsford, where
he dressed in a manner more likely to ensure his uncle’s
approbation. He made his appearance at Stoke in a pair
of small iron buckles, darned worsted stockings, an old
worn-out coat, and tattered waistcoat, and was contem-
plated with a miserable satisfaction by Sir Harvey, who
was delighted to see his heir bidding fair to rival him in
the accumulation of useless wealth. There they would sit
with a single stick on the fire, and indulge occasionally
l l 2 with
hundred thousand pounds by her husband, it is said that
she starved herself to death. Another cause, which will
presently be noticed, doubtless contributed to instil into
the mind of Mr. Elwes that saving principle by which he
was so eminently distinguished.
At an early period of life he was sent to Westminster
school, where he remained ten or twelve years, and be-
came a good classical scholar; yet it is not a little extra-
ordinary, that at no future period of his life was he ever
seen with a book, nor did he leave behind him, at all his
different houses, two pounds worth of literary furniture.
Of accounts he had no knowledge whatever, and this may
perhaps have been, in part, the cause of his total igno-
rance of his own concerns. From Westminster school
he removed to Geneva, to complete his education, and
after an absence of two or three years, returned to
England.
At this time his uncle, Sir Harvey Elwes, resided at
Stoke, in Suffolk, the most perfect picture of penury that
perhaps ever existed. To this gentleman he was intro-
duced, and as he was to be his heir, it was of course
policy to endeavour to please him. A little disguise was
now sometimes necessary even in Mr. Elwes, who, as he
mingled with the gay world, dressed like other people.
This, however, would not have gained him the favor of
Sir Harvey : his hopeful nephew used, therefore, when he
visited him, to stop at a little inn at Chelmsford, where
he dressed in a manner more likely to ensure his uncle’s
approbation. He made his appearance at Stoke in a pair
of small iron buckles, darned worsted stockings, an old
worn-out coat, and tattered waistcoat, and was contem-
plated with a miserable satisfaction by Sir Harvey, who
was delighted to see his heir bidding fair to rival him in
the accumulation of useless wealth. There they would sit
with a single stick on the fire, and indulge occasionally
l l 2 with