father never possessed.

His neighbour, Mr. Walton, having heard of this affair, generously
offered his assistance to accomplish it. He told him, that though
he had long been a stranger to courtiers, yet he believed there were
some of them who might pay regard to his recommendation; and that,
if he thought it worth the while to take a London journey upon the
business, he would furnish him with a letter of introduction to a
baronet of his acquaintance, who had a great deal to say with the
first lord of the treasury.

When his friends heard of this offer, they pressed him with the
utmost earnestness to accept of it.

They did not fail to enumerate the many advantages which a certain
degree of spirit and assurance gives a man who would make a figure
in the world: they repeated their instances of good fortune in
others, ascribed them all to a happy forwardness of disposition; and
made so copious a recital of the disadvantages which attend the
opposite weakness, that a stranger, who had heard them, would have
been led to imagine, that in the British code there was some
disqualifying statute against any citizen who should be convicted
of--modesty.

Harley, though he had no great relish for the attempt, yet could not
resist the torrent of motives that assaulted him; and as he needed
but little preparation for his journey, a day, not very distant, was
fixed for his departure.