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
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