Records of my life / By the late John Taylor, esq. Complete in one volume.

  • Taylor, John, 1757-1832
Date:
1833
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Records of my life / By the late John Taylor, esq. Complete in one volume. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    great fortune, after he had been pouring forth vows of eternal attach¬ ment, like Prior’s Celadon to his Celia, Lucy Cooper thought it a good opportunity for her to try to induce him to settle upon her some permanent provision, and with a melancholy softness, adverting to the uncertainty of her situation, she asked him, if, after such an avowal of his fondness and unalterable constancy, he could bear to see her sink into poverty in age. The romance of the lover was over in a moment, and he coolly answered, “ No, for by G— I would not then see you at all.” Lucy used to relate this incident with a smile, and with a sarcastic compliment to the fidelity of man. During her residence at Turnham Green, a young good-looking man lived in the house with her, whose name was Richardson. He assumed the appearance of a clergyman, and being inoffensive in his manners, and considered as her relation, he was admitted into a club at the Packhorse, opposite to Mr. Donaldson’s house. Dr. Wolcot, Mr. Jerningham, Mr. Jesse Foot, and myself, were afterward mem¬ bers of the same club, and also Dr. Griffith, the founder of “ The Monthly Review.” Lucy Cooper died after a lingering illness of some years. Richardson was then thrown upon the world, and soon after left the place. What became of him was not known, but having a good memory, I many years after recognised him in the capacity of a foreman at a woollen-draper’s on Snow-hill. Not long after, f saw him at the head of a cook’s shop in Newgate-street, slicing the beef for casual customers. His next transformation was into a butcher, opposite to Gray’s-inndane, Holborn; and finally, I saw him with a basket, lined with a clean napkin, parading the streets with country pork and poultry. I heard that he afterward became a baker, in King-street, Seven Dials. The last time I ever saw him was under the gateway leading from Henrietta-street, Covent Garden, to the churchyard, where we had both sought shelter from the rain. I saw evidently that he had recognised me through all his vicissitudes, as the juvenile visiter to Mr. Donaldson ; and as he stood near me, and looked at me writh the utmost diffidence, as if subdued by misfortune, though decently attired, I entered into, conversation with him, and he reminded me that he had often seen me since what he styled his happier days. I then observed that I had formerly supposed him to be a clergyman, and asked him if he had ever been a member of the church, merely to make him think that I viewed him with respect. He seemed gratified to talk with one who had seen him in better times, and told me that he came from a good family, that he was once a linen-draper, with a prosperous business in the neighbourhood of Grosvenor-square, but that keeping a saddle-horse, and aspiring beyond the rank of a tradesman, he had become a bankrupt, and, to secure himself from, actual want, had formed a connexion with Lucy Cooper, who could leave him nothing at her death but good-will and kind wishes. He was obviously much affected when he spoke of the lady. He made no application for pecuniary assistance, nor, by his appearance at that time, did he seem to require it. It is probable, however, that