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  • Dec. 1, 1793
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The Freemasons' Magazine, Dec. 1, 1793: Page 38

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    Article ANECDOTES OF THE LATE HUGH KELLY, Esq. ← Page 3 of 6 →
Page 38

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Anecdotes Of The Late Hugh Kelly, Esq.

He still , however , stuck to the Black Lyon , and as he made himself always agreeable in company by a happy facility at narration , and no inconsiderable turn for humour , he soon attached himself to an attorney who frequented the house , who engaged him as a copying Clerk in hit Office . . The manner of his engagement with this attorney , Kelly used often to tell with some leasantry : " I was sitting one evening at the Black

p Lyon , rather a little out of spirits at the gloomy prospect before me , when I was observed by my friend , who asked me what was the matter ? We were alone , and I ingenuously told him ; adding , I was willing to do any thing within the reach of my abilities for an honest livelihood . " " Can you write a good hand' ? " says the Attorney . — " I believe pretty tolerable , Sir , " says Kelly . — " Well , come , let ' s see . Here ( calling

for pen and ink , and a slip of paper ) , write me down the word TRANSUBSTANTIATION . " Kelly instantly complied;—when the other taking it to the light , and looking at it , exclaimed , " Very well indeed , well written and well spelled : come , my Lad , don ' t despond , I'll give you a place in my office directly , till something better turns out , and here ' s a guinea earnest . " Our hero waited on his benefactor next morningand was put on as a

, copying Clerk , at the rate of fifteen shillings per week . It has been said he earned by copying and transcribing in this . Office , about three guineas per week ; but the fact is—and we speak upon his own authority—he never received more from' his Principal than fifteen shillings ; though he

added to his income , otherwise by occasional Essays . and Paragraphs in the Newspapers . He has likewise been often heard to say , in dwelling upon this part of his History , that he was now tolerably happy ; he had enough for his reasonable wants , lived out of the sphere of higher seductions , and felt no small gratification at seeing his writings occasionally in print , and himself frequently appealed to as a judge of Theatrical criticism . The only abatement of his happiness was the daily drudgery of the Desk .

A Poet copying his own works , finds it the most unpleasant part of his profession : how much more irksome then must it be to copy the daily-History of John Doe and Richard Roe ? He therefore , after some months , entirely quitted his profession , and getting engaged as a Paragraph-Writer to one of the Daily Papers , commenced author at large , unconnected with Stay-making , Law , or any other avocation whatever . Kellywhen he made his engagement with the printerwho was

like-, , wise the Editor of his own Paper , had it in his choice to have either a settled salary of a guinea per week , or so much for every paragraph ; but our young author knew the fertility and perseverance of his own talents too well to accept the former ; he therefore took the quantum meruit , and in the capacity of a Paragraph-writer supplied the Paper so plentifully , and with such variety of matterthat he has often acknowledged to earn

, from thirty-fix Shillings to tioo Guineas per week . His Principal , who was a good honest Tradesman of the old stamp , so far from grudg ing this expence , gave every degree of encouragement to his industry , often asked 'him to dinner , and in thejoyousness of his

“The Freemasons' Magazine: 1793-12-01, Page 38” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 26 May 2025, django:8000/periodicals/fmm/issues/fmm_01121793/page/38/.
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Title Category Page
Untitled Article 1
LONDON: Article 1
Untitled Article 2
Untitled Article 2
Untitled Article 2
Untitled Article 3
LONDON : Article 3
ADVERTISEMENT. Article 4
THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE: OR, GENERAL and COMPLETE LIBRARY. Article 5
THE CHARGE Article 19
TO THE PRINTER OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE. Article 23
NARRATIVE OF THE EXTRAORDINARY PROCEEDINGS OF THE INQUISITION OF PORTUGAL, AGAINST THE FREEMASONS. Article 23
NARRATIVE. Article 25
COMMENTS ON STERNE. Article 28
ANECDOTES OF THE LATE HUGH KELLY, Esq. Article 36
A VIEW OF THE PROGRESS OF NAVIGATION. Article 41
LORD BOLINGBROKE. Article 45
SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF THE CHEVALIER RUSPINI, G. S. B. Article 46
CHARITY. Article 49
NOBLE EXAMPLE OF FIDELITY IN A FREE MASON OF VIENNA. Article 52
ON DETRACTION. Article 53
ON MODERATION. Article 54
PRIVATE ANECDOTES. Article 55
ANECDOTE OF O. CROMWEL AND MR. GUNNING. Article 56
ANECDOTES OF THE LONG PARLIAMENT. Article 56
ON RICHES. Article 57
SHOCKING DEATH OF SANTEUIL. Article 59
SELFISHNESS AND BENEVOLENCE COMPARED. Article 60
AN ADDRESS TO YOU TH. Article 62
A PRAYER, Article 66
ON CHRISTMAS-DAY. Article 66
BATTLE BETWEEN A BUFFALO AND SERPENT. Article 68
DOGE'S MARRYING THE SEA AT VENICE. Article 69
TO THE PRINTER OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE. Article 70
TO THE PRINTER OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE. Article 71
AVARICE PROVIDENTIALLY PUNISHED. Article 73
A DOG's WONDERFUL SAGACITY AND AFFECTION. Article 73
VANITY OF A PECULIAR KIND. Article 74
CONTEMPLATIONS OF A PHILOSOPHER. Article 75
NEW THOUGHTS ON CIVILITY. Article 76
STRICTURES ON PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS. Article 78
MASONIC INTELLIGENCE. Article 79
ANECDOTE OF GRAVINA, A CELEBRATED WRITER. Article 80
POETRY. Article 81
AMINTA. Article 82
INJUR'D INNOCENCE. Article 84
SONG. Article 85
MYRA. Article 86
FOREIGN OCCURRENCES. Article 87
MONTHLY CHRONICLE. Article 89
INDEX. Article 91
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Page 38

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Anecdotes Of The Late Hugh Kelly, Esq.

He still , however , stuck to the Black Lyon , and as he made himself always agreeable in company by a happy facility at narration , and no inconsiderable turn for humour , he soon attached himself to an attorney who frequented the house , who engaged him as a copying Clerk in hit Office . . The manner of his engagement with this attorney , Kelly used often to tell with some leasantry : " I was sitting one evening at the Black

p Lyon , rather a little out of spirits at the gloomy prospect before me , when I was observed by my friend , who asked me what was the matter ? We were alone , and I ingenuously told him ; adding , I was willing to do any thing within the reach of my abilities for an honest livelihood . " " Can you write a good hand' ? " says the Attorney . — " I believe pretty tolerable , Sir , " says Kelly . — " Well , come , let ' s see . Here ( calling

for pen and ink , and a slip of paper ) , write me down the word TRANSUBSTANTIATION . " Kelly instantly complied;—when the other taking it to the light , and looking at it , exclaimed , " Very well indeed , well written and well spelled : come , my Lad , don ' t despond , I'll give you a place in my office directly , till something better turns out , and here ' s a guinea earnest . " Our hero waited on his benefactor next morningand was put on as a

, copying Clerk , at the rate of fifteen shillings per week . It has been said he earned by copying and transcribing in this . Office , about three guineas per week ; but the fact is—and we speak upon his own authority—he never received more from' his Principal than fifteen shillings ; though he

added to his income , otherwise by occasional Essays . and Paragraphs in the Newspapers . He has likewise been often heard to say , in dwelling upon this part of his History , that he was now tolerably happy ; he had enough for his reasonable wants , lived out of the sphere of higher seductions , and felt no small gratification at seeing his writings occasionally in print , and himself frequently appealed to as a judge of Theatrical criticism . The only abatement of his happiness was the daily drudgery of the Desk .

A Poet copying his own works , finds it the most unpleasant part of his profession : how much more irksome then must it be to copy the daily-History of John Doe and Richard Roe ? He therefore , after some months , entirely quitted his profession , and getting engaged as a Paragraph-Writer to one of the Daily Papers , commenced author at large , unconnected with Stay-making , Law , or any other avocation whatever . Kellywhen he made his engagement with the printerwho was

like-, , wise the Editor of his own Paper , had it in his choice to have either a settled salary of a guinea per week , or so much for every paragraph ; but our young author knew the fertility and perseverance of his own talents too well to accept the former ; he therefore took the quantum meruit , and in the capacity of a Paragraph-writer supplied the Paper so plentifully , and with such variety of matterthat he has often acknowledged to earn

, from thirty-fix Shillings to tioo Guineas per week . His Principal , who was a good honest Tradesman of the old stamp , so far from grudg ing this expence , gave every degree of encouragement to his industry , often asked 'him to dinner , and in thejoyousness of his

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