Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 1.djvu/224

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BROOKS. 213 might have been highly advantageous to all partie, but owing to the bad management and dissipated conduct of Brooks, it became the principal cause of the ruin of Jansen, who was lord mayor of London at that time; but the com- mission of bankruptey was withheld until bis office was expired, on account of his not wishing to receive the usual annual stipend for his support, which is customary ander such circumstances, and the city manifested their respect for him, by choosing him afterwards into the office of chamberlain, which he held until his decease. At the breaking up of this manufactory, Brooks took up his residence in a place more congenial to his nature, namely, a public-house, situated in Westminster, and kept by one Rose, and so attached was he either to his bost, or the "bosom of his family," that he stirred not out of his apartments for several years. On Rose's quitting this house, Brooks manifested his regard for him by following him to the "White Hart," Bloomsbury, where he re- mained in the same.happy state of seclusion for years, and was at last compelled to leave the house by an event which he, no doubt, feelingly regretted-the decease of his landlord; thus were separated two congenial souls, which nothing in all probability could bave separated, except death, or a bailiff. After this unhappy occurrence, his old friend Hall (who was then very eminent) took him home " from whose house," says his biographer, with an elegant archness, "he never moved until turned out by the underlakers." Although in his latter days he was systeinatically dis- sipated, yet it is recorded of him, that he was possessed of a great share of industry in the early part of his life, and made a copy from the print of Hogarth's Richard III. in pen and ink, which was esteemed a miracle; for when it was shewn to Hogarth, who was desired to view it with attention, he was so far deceived, as to reply, he saw nothing in it remarkable, but that it was a very fine im- pression; and was not convinced until the original was