Transcriber's Notes:
1. Page scan source: https://books.google.com/books/about/
The_Forgery.html?id=vZAVAAAAYAAJ
(Harvard College)
2. The diphthong oe is represented by [oe].
One of the finest characters in the world was the old Englishmerchant. We may and have improved upon many things, but not uponthat. A different spirit reigns in commerce from that which ruled itlong ago, and not a better one. We are more the shopkeeper, as acelebrated but not a great man called us, and less the merchant. As apeople, our commerce is more extended, but the separate transactionsare smaller; and minute dealings almost always produce paltry minds.Not at all do I mean to say that the old English merchant is withouthis representatives; but they are fewer than in other times, both withreference to our numbers and to our extended trade.
There are many still, however, whose notions are as vast and as justas those of any of our ancestors; and amongst them, not very long ago,was a gentleman of the name of Humphrey Scriven. He was ahighly-educated and naturally-gifted man, the son of wealthy andrespectable parents in a class of society peculiar to England--theuntitled country gentry; and he had been originally intended for thechurch. Circumstances, however, are to most men fate. He becameacquainted, by some mere accident, with the only daughter of a richmerchant--admired, loved her, and won her love in return. He was ayounger son; but, nevertheless, her father was a kind and liberal man,and he consented to their marriage upon one condition: that Mr.Scriven should abandon his intention of entering the church, andbecome a merchant like himself. He fancied that he had perceived inthe young man a peculiar aptitude for business, and he was notmistaken. Mr. Scriven became his son-in-law, his partner, and hissuccessor; and well did he bear up the name and honour of the house.
It was a fine thing to see him, some twenty years after his marriage,when, with the business of the day over, he sat in his splendid housein St. James's Square, surrounded by his family, and often associatedwith the noblest and the proudest of the land. His wife was no longerliving, but she had left him four very handsome children. She hadherself been remarkably beautiful, and her husband was as fine alooking man as eye could see--tall, graceful, vigorous, and possessingthat air of dignity which springs from dignity of mind. From themoment that five o'clock struck, Mr. Scriven cast off all thought andcare of business; for, though there were, of course, with him as withother men engaged in similar pursuits, fluctuations and changes, badspeculations, failing debtors, and wrecked ships, still histransactions were too extensive for the loss of a few thousand poundshere or there to weigh upon his mind; and, being of a cheerful andhappy disposition, he spread sunshine through his dwelling.
His family, at the time of which I speak, consisted of three daughtersand one son, who was born some four or five years after the youngestsister. The daughters were all lovely, kind, affectio