magnificent retreat in the summer, and at the " town-mansion" in the winter.
The sons, meantime, had been disposed of as became the inheritors of fortunes made to their hands. William was for " the ministry," notwithstanding his drawing largely upon the preparatory funds, and his being now and then put in the minus list as the leader of " sprees." There was room to hope for reformation before he " received a call." Thomas would " read law ;" John was " inclined to physic ; " while Harry was to be of the "life mercantile." They all went to college, as a matter of course ; but, like thousands of others, they went through, received their diplomas, and the college-fund, at the countinghouse, showed a suffering of over three thousand pounds, including the " wild oats " paid for by the indulgent father. All save Harry were sent on a continental tour, to finish their education. Harry was received into the house of his father, as a partner, at one third the profits. Few young men ever started life with such brilliant prospects : and beside, he was considered what the world terms a " smart" young man ; held his head high , talked largely of stocks, and had a finger in the prevalent speculations. But for all these, a dissolution took place in about a year, Harry averring that he must remove to a larger theatre for enterprise and business. He accordingly planted himself in the great metropolis, where he could unfold the giant powers of his mercantile mind, and, by a few Herculean strides, leave the old standards far in his wake, in his onward career of mercantile glory. Harry was a bold adventurer. He dipped into the mania for speculation, was made a chief director in one of the largest institutions , and in about four years from the time he started in " a great business," he was confidently written down, in the price-current of estimates, a " millionaire."
The other sons returned home, having expended immense sums in their " Continental tour ; " but they had imbibed the notions of gentlemen abroad , and had no inclination for the dry details of a profession. For several years afterward, they pursued the genteel life of idleness. Thomas finally married Annette Anderson, an heiress, with a West India plantation, and slaves accordingly. John, too , took to wife a lineal descendant of the Stuarts, and they both occupied splendid mansions in the most fashionable quarter of the town, given them by their kind father. Their establishments were kept up with a splendour worthy the distinguished brides of their household.
The lady of John brought not wealth, but greatness, in her