I have frequently thought that if he had made out what the
French call une catalogue raisonnee of all the people who had passed
under his observation, it would have afforded a very rich fund of
instruction and entertainment. The suddenness with which his accounts
of some of them started out in conversation, was not less pleasing than
surprizing. I remember he once observed to me, 'It is wonderful, Sir,
what is to be found in London. The most literary conversation that I
ever enjoyed, was at the table of Jack Ellis, a money-scrivener behind
the Royal Exchange, with whom I at one period used to dine generally
once a week.'
Volumes would be required to contain a list of his numerous and various
acquaintance, none of whom he ever forgot; and could describe and
discriminate them all with precision and vivacity. He associated with
persons the most widely different in manners, abilities, rank, and
accomplishments. He was at once the companion of the brilliant Colonel
Forrester of the Guards, who wrote The Polite Philosopher, and of the
aukward and uncouth Robert Levet; of Lord Thurlow, and Mr.
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