 fall into an Acquaintance and Intimacy with this
Gentleman. My Reputation of Diligence in my Studies made me a desirable Object
of his mischievous Intention; and my own Inclination made it sufficiently easy
for him to effect his Purpose; for tho' I had applied myself with much Industry
to Books, in which I took great Delight, there were other Pleasures in which I
was capable of taking much greater; for I was high-mettled, had a violent Flow
of animal Spirits, was a little ambitious, and extremely amorous.
    I had not long contracted an Intimacy with Sir George, before I became a
Partaker of all his Pleasures; and when I was once entered on that Scene,
neither my Inclination, nor my Spirit, would suffer me to play an Under-Part. I
was second to none of the Company in any Acts of Debauchery; nay, I soon
distinguished myself so notably in all Riots and Disorders, that my Name
generally stood first in the Roll of Delinquents, and instead of being lamented
as the unfortunate Pupil of Sir George, I was now accused as the Person who had
misled and debauched that hopeful young Gentleman; for tho' he was the
Ring-leader and Promoter of all the Mischief, he was never so considered. I fell
at last under the Censure of the Vice-Chancellor, and very narrowly escaped
Expulsion.
    You will easily believe, Sir, that such a Life as I am now describing must
be incompatible with my further Progress in Learning; and that in Proportion as
I addicted myself more and more to loose Pleasure, I must grow more and more
remiss in Application to my Studies. This was truly the Consequence; but this
was not all. My Expences now greatly exceeded not only my former Income, but
those Additions which I extorted from my poor generous Father, on Pretences of
Sums being necessary for preparing for my approaching Degree of Batchelor of
Arts. These Demands, however, grew at last so frequent and exorbitant, that my
Father, by slow Degrees, opened his Ears to the Accounts which he received from
many Quarters of my present Behaviour, and which my Mother failed not to eccho
very faithfully and loudly; adding, Ay, this is the fine Gentleman, the Scholar
who doth so much Honour to his Family, and is to be the Making of it. I thought
what all this Learning would come to. He is to be the Ruin of us all, I find,
after his elder Brother hath been denied Necessaries for his Sake, to perfect
his Education forsooth, for which he was to pay us such Interest; I thought
