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Extracts From The Memoirs Of The Life And Writings Of Edward Gibbon, Esq.
eleven and twelve , that I wrote the last lines of the last page , 'in a summer-house in my garden : After laying down my pen , I took several turns in a berceau , or covered walk of acacias , which-commands a prospect of the country , the lake , and the mountains . The air was temperate , the sky was serene , the silver orb of the moon was reflected from the waters , and all nature was silent . I will not dissemble the first emotions of joy on the recovery of my freedom
, and , perhaps , the establishment of my fame . But my pride was soon humbled , and a sober melancholy was spread over my mind , by the idea that I had taken an everlasting leave of an old and agreeable companion , and that whatsoever mi g ht be the future date of my History , the life of the historian must be short and precarious . I will add two facts , which have seldom occurred in the composition of
six , or at least of five , quartos . I . My first rough manuscript , without any intermediate copy , has been sent to the press . 2 . Not a sheet has been seen by any human eyes , excepting those of the author and the printer : the faults and the merits are exclusivel y ray own . " I cannot help recollecting a much more extraordinary factwhich
, is affirmed of himself by Retif de la Bretorme , a voluminous aud original writer of French novels . He laboured , and may still labour , in the humble office of corrector to a printing-house ; but this office enabled him to transport an entire volume from his mind to the press ; and his work was given to the public without ever having been written with a pen . " .
When the first volume of the work was put to press , Mr . CADELL ( as our author informs us ) wished the number printed to be 500 ; but STRAHAN interfered , ancl the edition was made 1000 . Which of the two was ri g ht , time has determined : nearfour editions of it were sold in a few weeks . Mr . Gibbon continues his Memoirs as far as the year 1788 . Some general observations on human life and manners , and a . sketch of his own character and sentiments , conclude them .
" When I contemplate the common lot of mortality , I must acknowledge that I have drawn a hi gh prize in the lottery of life .- The far greater part of the globe is overspread with barbarism or slavery ; in the civilized world , the most numerous class is condemned to ignorance and poverty ; and the double fortune of my birth , in a free and enli ghtened country , and in an honourable and weal thy family , is the lucky chance of an unit against millions . The general probability is
about three to one , that a new-born infant will not live to complete his fiftieth year . I have now passed that age , and may fairly estimate the present value of my existence in the three-fold division of mind , body , and estate . " 1 . The first ancl indispensable requisite of happiness is a clear conscienceunsullied bthe reproach or remembrance of an
unwor-, y thy action . Hie munis aheneus esto , Nil conscire sibi , nulla patiescere culpa . VOL , VI . T t
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Extracts From The Memoirs Of The Life And Writings Of Edward Gibbon, Esq.
eleven and twelve , that I wrote the last lines of the last page , 'in a summer-house in my garden : After laying down my pen , I took several turns in a berceau , or covered walk of acacias , which-commands a prospect of the country , the lake , and the mountains . The air was temperate , the sky was serene , the silver orb of the moon was reflected from the waters , and all nature was silent . I will not dissemble the first emotions of joy on the recovery of my freedom
, and , perhaps , the establishment of my fame . But my pride was soon humbled , and a sober melancholy was spread over my mind , by the idea that I had taken an everlasting leave of an old and agreeable companion , and that whatsoever mi g ht be the future date of my History , the life of the historian must be short and precarious . I will add two facts , which have seldom occurred in the composition of
six , or at least of five , quartos . I . My first rough manuscript , without any intermediate copy , has been sent to the press . 2 . Not a sheet has been seen by any human eyes , excepting those of the author and the printer : the faults and the merits are exclusivel y ray own . " I cannot help recollecting a much more extraordinary factwhich
, is affirmed of himself by Retif de la Bretorme , a voluminous aud original writer of French novels . He laboured , and may still labour , in the humble office of corrector to a printing-house ; but this office enabled him to transport an entire volume from his mind to the press ; and his work was given to the public without ever having been written with a pen . " .
When the first volume of the work was put to press , Mr . CADELL ( as our author informs us ) wished the number printed to be 500 ; but STRAHAN interfered , ancl the edition was made 1000 . Which of the two was ri g ht , time has determined : nearfour editions of it were sold in a few weeks . Mr . Gibbon continues his Memoirs as far as the year 1788 . Some general observations on human life and manners , and a . sketch of his own character and sentiments , conclude them .
" When I contemplate the common lot of mortality , I must acknowledge that I have drawn a hi gh prize in the lottery of life .- The far greater part of the globe is overspread with barbarism or slavery ; in the civilized world , the most numerous class is condemned to ignorance and poverty ; and the double fortune of my birth , in a free and enli ghtened country , and in an honourable and weal thy family , is the lucky chance of an unit against millions . The general probability is
about three to one , that a new-born infant will not live to complete his fiftieth year . I have now passed that age , and may fairly estimate the present value of my existence in the three-fold division of mind , body , and estate . " 1 . The first ancl indispensable requisite of happiness is a clear conscienceunsullied bthe reproach or remembrance of an
unwor-, y thy action . Hie munis aheneus esto , Nil conscire sibi , nulla patiescere culpa . VOL , VI . T t