Illustrations of Human Life (Volume 3) (Paperback)

Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1837. Excerpt: ... SECTION XXII. "There is a sickness Which puts some of us in distemper, but I cannot name the disease." Winter's Talk. "Quel grand homme Rien ne peut lui plaire." Candidb. How poor Yawn became so irritable, if ever he had been otherwise, was now a curious question; for, from all I could gather from many at Bath who knew his history, though much respected for integrity and abilities, and therefore with many friends, he had few companions. Of this he was himself sensible, and that very sense of it only irritated him more. Blame was laid upon his health, which was certainly not good, but made infinitely worse by his discontents. I wondered at myself, therefore, in persevering to cultivate him; but his conversation when in tolerable temper, and the confidence that seemed, as he said, due to me for being the only person who, for a long time, could bear with him, gave me hopes that I might, in the end, find out the real cause of his malady. My patience was rewarded, if not by discovering the cause, yet, at DEGREESast, by a short history of its rise and progress. This he once, in a favourable interval, gave me from his own mouth. "Yes " said he, "I confess I am what everybody calls me, blase; for-every source I ever had of interest or pleasure is dried up. I have been so regularly disappointed in everything I undertook, that I can undertake no more. The elasticity of mind which I believe I once had, is gone, I fear, for ever; and my body being bloated, as I feel, with constitutional. ill-health, my existence is a burthen to me." Yet you seem," said I, " to know the world so well, that I should have hoped some, if not many things, would have rewarded you for living in it. With not half your experience, I should be sorry to have met with universal disappointment." "Your feelings,"' said he, "thou...