Each of them apart, in succeeding conferences,
expatiated upon his own particular grievances; and they were all
malcontents at bottom -- Over and above their personal disasters,
they thought themselves unfortunate in the lottery of life.
Balderick complained, that all the recompence he had received for
his long and hard service, was the half-pay of a rear-admiral.
The colonel was mortified to see himself over-topped by upstart
generals, some of whom he had once commanded; and, being a man of
a liberal turn, could ill put up with a moderate annuity, for
which he had sold his commission. As for the baronet, having run
himself considerably in debt, on a contested election, he has
been obliged to relinquish his seat in parliament, and his seat
in the country at the same time, and put his estate to nurse; but
his chagrin, which is the effect of his own misconduct, does not
affect me half so much as that of the other two, who have acted
honourable and distinguished parts on the great theatre, and are
now reduced to lead a weary life in this stew-pan of idleness and
insignificance. They have long left off using the waters, after
having experienced their inefficacy.
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