your History, if you please.«
    The Gentleman answered, he could not refuse him what he had so much Right to
insist on; and after some of the common Apologies, which are the usual Preface
to a Story, he thus began.
 

                                  Chapter III

            In which the Gentleman relates the History of his Life.
 
Sir, I am descended of a good Family, and was born a Gentleman. My Education was
liberal, and at a public School, in which I proceeded so far as to become Master
of the Latin, and to be tolerably versed in the Greek Language. My Father died
when I was sixteen, and left me Master of myself. He bequeathed me a moderate
Fortune, which he intended I should not receive till I attained the Age of
twenty-five: For he constantly asserted that was full early enough to give up
any Man entirely to the Guidance of his own Discretion. However, as this
Intention was so obscurely worded in his Will, that the Lawyers advised me to
contest the Point with my Trustees, I own I paid so little Regard to the
Inclinations of my dead Father, which were sufficiently certain to me, that I
followed their Advice, and soon succeeded: For the Trustees did not contest the
Matter very obstinately on their side. »Sir,« said Adams, »May I crave the
Favour of your Name?« The Gentleman answer'd, »his Name was Wilson,« and then
proceeded.
    I stay'd a very little while at School after his Death; for being a forward
Youth, I was extremely impatient to be in the World: For which I thought my
Parts, Knowledge, and Manhood thoroughly qualified me. And to this early
Introduction into Life, without a Guide, I impute all my future Misfortunes; for
besides the obvious Mischiefs which attend this, there is one which hath not
been so generally observed. The first Impression which Mankind receives of you,
will be very difficult to eradicate. How unhappy, therefore, must it be to fix
your Character in Life, before you can possibly know its Value, or weigh the
Consequences of those Actions which are to establish your future Reputation?
    A little under seventeen I left my School and went to London, with no more
than six Pounds in my Pocket. A great Sum as I then conceived; and which I was
afterwards surprized to find so soon consumed.
    The Character I was ambitious of attaining, was that of a fine Gentleman;
the first Requisites to which, I apprehended were to be supplied by a Taylor, a
Periwig-maker, and some