He sometimes looked grave when the old lady told the jokes of her
youth; he often refused to eat when she pressed him, and was seldom
or never provided with sugar-candy or liquorice when she was seized
with a fit of coughing: nay, he had once the rudeness to fall
asleep while she was describing the composition and virtues of her
favourite cholic-water. In short, be accommodated himself so ill to
her humour, that she died, and did not leave him a farthing.
The other method pointed out to him was an endeavour to get a lease
of some crown-lands, which lay contiguous to his little paternal
estate. This, it was imagined, might be easily procured, as the
crown did not draw so much rent as Harley could afford to give, with
very considerable profit to himself; and the then lessee had
rendered himself so obnoxious to the ministry, by the disposal of
his vote at an election, that he could not expect a renewal. This,
however, needed some interest with the great, which Harley or his
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.
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