The remarkable life of John Elwes Esq., member in three successive Parliaments for Berkshire, with singular anecdotes, etc. Supposed to be the greatest instance of penury, that ever existed / [Edward Topham].

  • Edward Topham
Date:
1797
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The remarkable life of John Elwes Esq., member in three successive Parliaments for Berkshire, with singular anecdotes, etc. Supposed to be the greatest instance of penury, that ever existed / [Edward Topham]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    When application was made for the payment of thefe bonds—on moving that questionMr. Elwes flood Angle; not a member faid “ Aye! ” and Mr. Elwes died poflefledof proofs moft un¬ deniable, that, fomehow or other, every man muji pay for coming into Parliament. The temptation of one per cent, more than the funds, or landed property would give, was irre- Aflible with Mr. Elwes. But, amongft the fums he thus injudicioufly verted in other people’s hands, fome Jtray> forlorn inftances of feeling may be remembered; of which the following is an inrtance. When his fon was in the Guards, he was frequently in the habit of dining at the Officer’s table there. The politenefs of his man¬ ner rendered him generally agreeable, and in time he became acquainted with every Officer in the corps ; amongft the reft, with a gentleman of the name of Tempeft, whofe good humour was almoft proverbial. A vacancy happening in a majority, it fell to this gentleman to purchafe ; but as money is not always to be got upon landed property immediately, it was imagined fome officer would have been obliged to purchafe over his head. Old Mr. Elwes hearing of the circ.um- ftance, Cent him the money the next morning, without afkingany fecurity ; he had feen Captain Tempeft, and liked his manners ; and he never once afterwards talked to him about the payment of it. But on the death of Captain Tempeft,which happened fhortly after, the money was replaced. This was an a£t of liberality in Mr. Elwes which ought to atone for many of his failings. But, behold the inequalities which fo ftrongly marked this human being! Mr.
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