Transcription

been for some years) at that nearer Distance from England, where I found so many Resources, and had already so many Acquaintances made, I determined at last to stay out my Pilgrimage in that Place. As I recovered Health I us'd myself to think, and to reflect more seriously again. The Peace and the Conduct in consequence of Peace, reconciled me better to England. I -- consider'd then too again my own Domestick Concerns, And having long since from thorough Reflection in the disposition of my Will, directed the Sale of Cornbury, to acquit a large Remainder of a vast Debt of my Family, which I knew-- could be cleared no other way so beneficially, I began to consider, why I should not give my Father and take myself the Satisfaction which I had proposed by my will to those who should after me inherit the Estates rais'd by my Grand Father Rochester, who purchased (with borrow'd money) this very Estate of Cornbury, To save, if he could, so much of the Possessions of his Father the Chancellor, from whom our younger Branch, now possess'd of the Title, have not [[symbol]] inherited one foot of Land, nor one Shilling of Money. I knew my own Temper so well, that I knew I could neither marry to continue my Family, nor serve my Country in any Office (Even if I could serve my Country by accepting an Office) while I continued loaded (tho' not embarrass'd indeed) with a Debt, so far however embarrass'd too that tho' I could do very well single in that Situation, yet in marrying a Woman of small or moderate Fortune, I should not have been too much at Ease in my Circumstances, and I could not bear the Appearance of selling myself to Matrimony, any more than to a Court, And even an Office in such a Circumstance seem'd to me, to carry too much the Air of a Pension. All [[catchword]] Things [[/catchword]]