The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 7 — page 61: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

ee en ee erent rcs OTT ESAT EN TT SCS Ta OTS AES Ac: THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. ES ayy pen eye oo Ee =e ee a ea a te out,—the door was again opened, and the footman | “the Bankrupt Lord :” the wealthiest of Ais com- announced Lord Octavian Meredith. , panions cut him direct—the poorest looked coldly This wes a young nobleman barcly twenty-two upon him. His situation became intolerable: he years of age—exoeedingly handsorae—and of ele- wrote to his father to beseech that he might be gant appearance. He was not much fbove the , ullowed to choose some other profession than that average height: but his slenderness of shape and , of the Church: the Marquis was obstinate in his perfect symmetry of figure made him lovk taHer : refusel—and Lord Octavian left the University in than he really was. is hair, curlin naturally, i humiliation and disgust. and worn somewhat profuscly-—was br oe ewes «ee wee n, bat by: His father refused to see him for some timo no meonus of the darkest shade: his whiskers and ‘and at last when he consented, ho upbraided the & slight moustache added to the manliness of an' young man so bitterly and treated hime with so otherwise youthful countenance. His features were much harshness that Ocfavian’s home became as in the Grecian style; his eyes, of dark blue, had : intolerable as his situation was at Oxford. Ina all the clearnees and brmghtness proper for the re- ! few months’ time he attained his twenty-first year ; flection of a soul naturally frank, candid, and gene- |; and he then requested his father to make him a rous. His manners were those of the polished ; fixed allowance. The penurious old Marquis sternly gentleman,—with the slightest: possible tincture of refused: his tyranny increased towards Octavian— & dissipated languor—but without a real affecta- : who, it must in justice bo said, did all he possibly tion. Hie voice was singularly pleasing—its tones could to merit a renewal of the paternal confidence. rich and harmonious; and his conversation, which | Hig mother bad long been dead: otherwise he might be intellectual enough whon he thought fit ‘would have found a kind and considerate mediatrix to render it so, received additional attractions from :in her. In short, it became impossible for him to that melody of the voice. He was the youngest of | tarry bencath his father’s roof; and through the the three sons of the Marquis of Penshurst. Marquis himself was vory rich. but excessively , to have some influence with the Marquis, Octavian mean and pardimonious. The estates were strictly | procured an allowance of five hundred a year. entailed upon his eldest son: tho second eon, | Before he left home, he bosought tho Marquis to though only six-aud-twenty years of ape, was a' usc his interest to get him a commission in the Lieutenant Colone] in the Anny : Octavian, the | Army, or to launch him into the sphere of Diplo- youngost of the three, and of whom we are specially , macy: but the old nobleman could not forget that speaking, had been — for the Church: but hia original plans on behalf of his youngest son or reasons which we will proceed tu explain, he | had been thwarted by his withdrawal from the had renou all thought of entering holy ordera University ;—and faithful to his churlish nature, ho —nor had he inased any professica at all. | positively refused to do anything more for him. Lore ortenah moheeerey wae naturally . well- ) petavian scoordingly quitted the paternal home, principled young man, with a high sense of bonour,! and took lodgings. He was but little past his au? endowed with every ennobling sentiment on | majority; and his experiencos of hfo were hitherto well as intellectual quality calculated to make him bitter enough. His spirit had been chafed—his shine in tBe world. But bo had been sent to Col- feelings wounded—his hopes disappointed: he had lege with a limited inegmo; apd yot, as the son of | the will, and ho felt that he had the intelligence, a Marquis, and himeelf beariug 4 patrician title, | to enter upon some carcer in which he might dis- he was expected to keep up a certain appearance. tinguish himself and carve out his own fortunos: All young mea have their pride in these respects; but the opportunity had been denied him. This The intervention of a distant relative, who happened and this pride frequently over-rules their better feelings. to guard against the possibility of their children’s good prinviples being assailed through the weak point of their pride: for no point is more vul- , nerable. Octavian found himsel! at College with- cut adequate yweans to keep up a becoming appearance. He got into debt; and his sense of honour prompted him to meet his engagements according to the puneluality that was promised. plaining his position, The Marquis, instead of treating his son with a kind consideration, sent his lawyer to Osford to offer a composition to the creditors. Thetradesmen remonstrated : the lawver shrugged hie shoulders, and told them they might do as they liked, but that they had bettcr tako what he offered than stand the ghance of getting nothing at @il-—for that the Marguis of Penshuret was determined not to suffer bis son, while a minor, to be fleecod by thase who recklesaly gave him credit. The tradgemen accepted the com- position; and. they were given to understand that no farther debta ‘gontracted by Lord +QOctavian, would be thussettled. Octavian was relieved from “0 wmbarrassments: bat his position was ruined at the University. “He obtained the uick-name of . ee ~The aa ie Parents should be particularly cautiogs | way indeed a bad Leginning for a young man just entering upon the world,—-suificient to deinoralize him completely—vender him indifferent to the ' good principles which had hitherto for the most part guided him—and preparc the way for his eventual ruin. Octavian did not entirely oscape the il effects of those inauspicious circumstances. On taking lodgings, he was launched as it were upon the town; and hia companions were men in ‘his own sphere of life. Ho became a favourite Ho wrote to hie father, frankly and candidly ex-— with them: his obliging disposition, his polished roanners, and his uatural intelligence rendered him a desirable guest at their tables; while his own limited means compelled him to accept ail these hospitatities ag the only condition on whith he could obtpin any society at all. He was in- troduced 49 #he Duke of Marchmont,—who, from the way in which he was situated with his wife, was fond of giving bachelor dinnery-perties and of being surrounded with a number of guy, lively young men, ae the might, have gathered from certain remarks made bg Mr. Armytage. Thrown into the midst af thi. society, Octavian gradually found himeelf bein’? Yrawn deeper and deoper into the vortex of dissipation. He kept out of debt: but he could not avoid keeping lata hours and joining in the pleasures which hie com- shy ELOOO© a ee ne nnnnneemencnnmimnmencane aay | SA eS Pe Sane ee erga eagene pene etiaenteneteasiats — a SS