THE MEMOIRS OF PERCIVAL STOCKDALE. I HAVE, hitherto, adhered to the extensive plan, by which these memoirs were to have been directed, from their beginning, to their end. I have hitherto given a detail; a minute account of my life; not, I hope, from a propensity to egotism; and less, from vanity, and ostentation; because far the greater part of the objects, and scenes, of that life, are so strongly marked with misconduct, and misfortunes, that I never can recollect them, without extreme regret, and mortification. But my constitution, and my situations, as they related to me; and the surrounding externals, were of a peculiar nature, 10 connexion ;-my sufferings, too, which were the effects of my unguarded actions, and of my strong passions, were various, and exquisite; as they were the workings of great sensibility. Hence, I thought, that a full, and impartially explicit account of myself; of the exercise, and productions of my mind in the closet; and of my intercourse, and adventures with the world, might make an interesting narrative; though it would be the history of a private man; that it would, in some degree, enlarge the knowledge of human nature; and afford useful instructions to our rising youth. Agreeably, likewise, to this plan, as I had formed it, I frequently digressed into copious reflexions, literary, moral, political, and religious. I hope, however, it will appear, that my digressions are not impertinent, and obtrusive; but that they easily flow from the immediate substance, and tenour of my work. They will certainly relieve the attention of the reader, from perhaps, less important matter; and I trust, that they will vary his entertainment, and the interest which he may be so generous as to take in my narrative. My observance of this plan, I have been ged to relinquish; not from my absolute lassitude over my task (though no man has less encouragement than myself, to preserve the fortitude of an authour) nor from a timidity to pronounce, at any juncture of my life, my own condemnation: this, I hope, is evident from what I have already related. I depart from my original plan; because now, with the revolution. of every year, I more sensibly feel the infirmities of old age. Therefore I must contract my views, and abridge my labours, which relate to this world:-consistently with this new arrange ment of my memoirs, the continuation of them, must principally comprehend my own history, as an authour; and an account of my connexions with some very eminent men of genius; which I hope, will prove entertaining, and interesting to every reader of learning, and taste. Towards the close of november, in the year 1757, I left BIGGLESWADE, with an intention to accept the affectionate invitation of my mother (who then lived at BERWICK upon TWEED) till I should have it in my power to do something for myself. In my way northward, I visited the reverend Mr. SALKELD, who had the livings of CAWOOD, and Wisтow, near YORK. He obtained those livings, by the interest of Dr. Tнo MAS SHARP, the archdeacon of NORTHUMBER LAND, and prebendary of DURHAM; and the son of the excellent archbishop, who intrepidly asserted the cause of the church of ENGLAND, in the gloomy, and dangerous reign of JAMES the second. Mr. SALKELD, and my dearest father had been old, and intimate friends; and I think that I have already observed, that the latter owed the small preferment which he enjoyed, to the benevolence, and friendship of Dr. SHARP. I stayed with Mr. SALKELD more than a month. My finances were now extremely low. Fortunately for me, at this alarming crisis, the regimentals of officers, in many corps, were, at the time of which I am writing, very expensive, by a profusion of lace. Our full uniform, in the welsh fuzileers, was adorned, or loaded with a gold lace, which was rather broad. Before I was to sally forth in quest of adventures, I thought that it would be prudent, to avail myself of what little strength I could collect, that I might, with the more alacrity, face the winter, and the greater inclemency of the world. Ere I took my leave of Mr. SALKELD, I stripped my scarlet of it's splendour; which I melted, and exchanged for two or three guineas (I have |