DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70302#0294
260 LIFE OF JOHN ELWES, ESQ.
with one glass of wine between them, while they inveighed
against the extravagance of the times ; and when night
approached, they retired to bed because they thus saved
the expence of a candle-light. The nephew, however, had
then, what he never lost, a very keen appetite, and this
in the opinion of his uncle, would have been an unpar-
donable offence. He therefore first partook of a dinner
with some country neighbour, and then returned to his
uncle with a little diminutive appetite, which quite charmed
the old gentleman.
Sir Harvey died at the age of between eighty and ninety,
leaving his name and his whole property, amounting to
at least two hundred and fifty thousand pounds, to his ne-
phew, who at the time possessed a fortune very little infe-
rior. For many years, Mr. Elwes was known in all the
fashionable circles of the metropolis. His numerous ac-
quaintance and large fortune conspired to introduce him
into every society; he was admitted a member of a club
at Arthur’s, and various other clubs of that period. His
passion for play was only exceeded by his avarice, and it
was not till late in life that he was cured of the inclina-
tion. Few men, according to his own acknowledgment,
had played deeper and with more varied success. He
once played two days and a night without intermission,
and the room being small, the party, one of whom was
the late Duke of Northumberland, were nearly up to their
knees in cards. At this sitting Mr. Elwes lost some
thousands.
No one will be disposed to deny that avarice is a base
passion. It will therefore be the more difficult to con-
ceive bow a mind organized like that of Mr. Elwes, could
be swayed by principles of such peculiar honour and deli-
cacy as often influenced his conduct; the theory which he
professed, that it was impossible to ask a gentleman for
money, he adhered to in practice, and this feeling he
never
with one glass of wine between them, while they inveighed
against the extravagance of the times ; and when night
approached, they retired to bed because they thus saved
the expence of a candle-light. The nephew, however, had
then, what he never lost, a very keen appetite, and this
in the opinion of his uncle, would have been an unpar-
donable offence. He therefore first partook of a dinner
with some country neighbour, and then returned to his
uncle with a little diminutive appetite, which quite charmed
the old gentleman.
Sir Harvey died at the age of between eighty and ninety,
leaving his name and his whole property, amounting to
at least two hundred and fifty thousand pounds, to his ne-
phew, who at the time possessed a fortune very little infe-
rior. For many years, Mr. Elwes was known in all the
fashionable circles of the metropolis. His numerous ac-
quaintance and large fortune conspired to introduce him
into every society; he was admitted a member of a club
at Arthur’s, and various other clubs of that period. His
passion for play was only exceeded by his avarice, and it
was not till late in life that he was cured of the inclina-
tion. Few men, according to his own acknowledgment,
had played deeper and with more varied success. He
once played two days and a night without intermission,
and the room being small, the party, one of whom was
the late Duke of Northumberland, were nearly up to their
knees in cards. At this sitting Mr. Elwes lost some
thousands.
No one will be disposed to deny that avarice is a base
passion. It will therefore be the more difficult to con-
ceive bow a mind organized like that of Mr. Elwes, could
be swayed by principles of such peculiar honour and deli-
cacy as often influenced his conduct; the theory which he
professed, that it was impossible to ask a gentleman for
money, he adhered to in practice, and this feeling he
never