Page:The English humourists of the eighteenth century. A series of lectures, delivered in England, Scotland, and the United States of America (IA englishhumourist00thacrich).pdf/296

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and the year after, having come back to his lodgings in Bond-street, with his "Sentimental Journey" to launch upon the town, eager as ever for praise and pleasure; as vain, as wicked, as witty, as false as he had ever been, death at length seized the feeble wretch, and, on the 18th of March, 1768, that "bale of cadaverous goods," as he calls his body, was consigned to Pluto.^[1] In his last letter there is one sign of grace—the real affection with which he entreats a friend to be a guardian to his daughter Lydia.^[2] All his letters to her are artless, kind, affectionate, and

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my wife (who is come from France), but in fact, I have long been a sentimental being, whatever your Lordship may think to the contrary."

1. "It is known that Sterne died in hired lodgings, and I have been told that his attendants robbed him even of his gold sleeve-buttons while he was expiring."-—Dr. Ferriar.
   He died at No. 41 (now a cheesemonger's), on the west side of Old Bond Street.—Handbook of London.
2. "In February, 1768, Lawrence Sterne, his frame exhausted by long debilitating illness, expired at his lodgings in Bond-street, London. There was something in the manner of his death singularly resembling the particulars detailed by Mrs Quickly, as attending that of Falstaff, the compeer of Yorick for infinite jest, however unlike in other particulars. As he lay on his bed totally exhausted, he complained that his feet were cold, and requested the female attendant to chafe them. She did so, and it seemed to relieve him. He complained that the cold came up higher; and whilst the assistant was in the act of chafing his ancles and legs, he expired without a groan. It was also remarkable that his death took place much in the manner which he himself had wished; and that the last offices were rendered him, not in his own house, or by the hand of kindred affection, but in an inn, and by strangers.
   "We are well acquainted with Sterne's features and personal appearance, to which he himself frequently alludes. He was tall and thin, with a hectic and consumptive appearance."—Sir Walter Scott.