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York, at which place he resided. He was reckoned one of the most eminent civilians of his day; and it was in a great measure owing to the number of unfortunate cases that came before him as a judge, which he so strongly represented in a phamphlet addressed to the then Lord Hardwicke, that the act which put an end to the Fleet marriages passed.

Major Topham passed eleven years at Eton, where he was fortunate enough to be distinguish ed by frequently having his verses publicly read by the master in school, or, as it is there termed, by being "sent up for good."

After leaving Eton, Major Topham went as a fellow-commoner to Trinity College, Cambridge, where he remained four years, long enough to put on what is there called "an Harry Soph's gown," which many people would think was exchanging a good for a bad gown; that of the fellow-commoner being purple and silver, and the Harry Soph black silk.

From Cambridge he went abroad for a year and a half, and afterwards travelled through Scotland. This little tour became better known, as he afterwards gave an account of it in "Letters from Edinburgh," published by Dodsley. As the work of a stripling, they were so well received, that the first edition was soon out of print. Thence he removed to the seat of all human joy, in the eyes of a young

man, London, and entered into the first regiment of life-guards. He was soon appointed adjutant of that corps, and shortly after exhibited as a character in the windows of all the print shops, under the title of "The Tip-top Adjutant," In truth, he was a Martinette of his day, and shortly converted a very heavy ill disciplined regiment into a very good one. In consequence of this he received several commendatory notices from the King, and the old general officers of the time.

The Major, however, was not so absolutely absorbed in military tactics, as even then totally to estrange himself from literary pursuits. In the midst of his various avocations, he wrote many prologues and epilogues, to the dramatic pieces of his friends. To some of Mr. Cumberland's dramatic pieces, and to all those composed by his friend Mr. Andrews, he gave the last word in the shape of an epilogue. Amongst those that produced the greatest applause on the stage, was a prologue spoken by Mr. Lee Lewis, in the character of Moliere's old woman, which had the effect of bringing for many nights together a full house before the beginning of the play-a circumstance in dramatic story somewhat singular.

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The managers of Drury-lane, who had protracted their season to a great length, at the close of it, to add to their profits, let their theatre for a few nights to a party, collected, hea

ven knows how! of people who fancied they had great stage talents. Hamlet's advice to actors formed no part of their tragedy. Amongst the rest was the father of Lawrence the painter, who having been unsuccessful in the wine trade, as an innkeeper, fancied that he had, at least, all the spirit necessary for a tragedian.

It was this subject, luckily occurring at the time, that Major Topham selected for an epilogue, which was most admirably delivered by Miss Farren. The effect was such, that the elder Colman often declared that it brought five hundred pounds to the Haymarket theatre du ring that season.

Major Topham remained adjutant of the first life-guards about seven years, during which pe riod he succeeded in making it the pattern regiment of the kingdom, and therefore, in some measure, actually merited the appellation of the Tip-top Adjutant. After this, in the regular course of purchase and promotion, he rose to be a captain.

At this time he first became aequainted with old Mr. Elwes, who frequently used to dine with him on guard, when he was not engaged in the House of Commons. The son of Mr. Elwes was at that time in the same regiment; and it was from this circumstance that Major Topham became enabled to confer on that son those, essential benefits which he afterwards perform

ed. Having great influence with old Elwes, he had often been solicited by his friend to take an opportunity of speaking to the father on the subject of making a will, as, from being a natural son he could not have inherited without it. The repugnance to talking about his property much more to disposing of it, was in Mr. Elwes inconceivable; and therefore it was a matter of the utmost delicacy and difficulty. Major Topham, however, was fortunate enough to choose a moment, and to find a way to overcome this difficulty, and the two sons owe entirely to him the whole of the immense property they now pcssess, and when perhaps this property may be estimated at seven hundred thousand pounds, it must be considered as a service, in point of importance, that has seldom been performed by one person to another.

From being more of a literary man than in general falls to the lot of officers, he had frequently at his dinner parties on guard, men not usually seen in a military mess. Horne Tooke, the elder Colman, M. P. Andrews, John Wilkes and many other characters then well known, were in the habit of visiting him there.

The life of a captain of horse-guards, except when on duty, which was only four days in every month, was, at that time, a life of perfect inactivity, and therefore soon became irksome to Major Topham. ›

A circumstance happened about this time to

the Major, which, as has been said, gave a sort of distinguishing colour to his future life. Mrs. Wells, of Drury-lane theatre, confessedly one of the most beautiful women of the day in which she lived, through the medium of a friend, sent to request him to write her an epilogue for her benefit. He naturally did not deny her request; and of course the reading and instructing her in the delivery, produced interviews, which the company of a woman so beautiful must always make dangerous. There are, as Sterne says, "certain chords, and vibrations, and notes, that are correspondent in the human feelings, which frequent interviews awaken into harmony," and--if puns did not require spelling -frequently produce a consort.

It may also be naturally supposed, that in re-. turn for the greatest gift a man can receive, the heart of a most beautiful woman, he would devise every method to become serviceable to her interests and dramatic character, and think his time and talents never better employed than in advancing the reputation of her he loved. This desire, indeed, gave a new spur to his mind, and a fresh activity to his genius. It was this idea that first inspired the thought of establishing a public print. It has been said, more than metaphorically, that: "Love first created the world." Here it was realized. Gallantry began what literature supported, and politics finished. It was thus, as we understand, from a

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