When in
London he had modest housing in the Temple. But the acquisition of 500
pounds for 'The Good Natur'd Man' seemed to warrant a change of
residence, and he accordingly expended four-fifths of that sum for the
lease of three rooms on the second floor of No. 2 Brick Court, which he
straightway proceeded to decorate sumptuously with mirrors, Wilton
carpets, moreen curtains, and Pembroke tables. It was an unfortunate
step; and he would have done well to remember the 'Nil te quaesiveris
extra' with which his inflexible monitor, Johnson, had greeted his
apologies for the shortcomings of some earlier lodgings. One of its
natural results was to involve him in a new sequence of task-work, from
which he never afterwards shook himself free. Hence, following hard upon
a 'Roman History' which he had already engaged to write for Davies of
Russell Street, came a more ambitious project for Griffin, 'A History of
Animated Nature'; and after this again, another 'History of England' for
Davies.
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