their understandings, and its size to their inclination. He
profited but little by the perusal; but it was not without its use
in the family: for his maiden aunt applied it commonly to the
laudable purpose of pressing her rebellious linens to the folds she
had allotted them.

There were particularly two ways of increasing his fortune, which
might have occurred to people of less foresight than the counsellors
we have mentioned. One of these was, the prospect of his succeeding
to an old lady, a distant relation, who was known to be possessed of
a very large sum in the stocks: but in this their hopes were
disappointed; for the young man was so untoward in his disposition,
that, notwithstanding the instructions he daily received, his visits
rather tended to alienate than gain the good-will of his kinswoman.
He sometimes looked grave when the old lady told the jokes of her
youth; he often refused to eat when she pressed him, and was seldom
or never provided with sugar-candy or liquorice when she was seized
with a fit of coughing: nay, he had once the rudeness to fall
asleep while she was describing the composition and virtues of her
favourite cholic-water. In short, be accommodated himself so ill to
her humour, that she died, and did not leave him a farthing.

The other method pointed out to him was an endeavour to get a lease
of some crown-lands, which lay contiguous to his little paternal
estate. This, it was imagined, might be easily procured, as the
crown did not draw so much rent as Harley could afford to give, with
very considerable profit to himself; and the then lessee had
rendered himself so obnoxious to the ministry, by the disposal of
his vote at an election, that he could not expect a renewal. This,
however, needed some interest with the great, which Harley or his