[21]
Bath and Tunbridge--for he had annexed that lesser kingdom to his
own--had reason to mourn him, for he had almost made them what they
were; but the country has not much cause to thank the upholder of
gaming, the institutor of silly fashion, and the high-priest of folly.
Yet Nash was free from many vices we should expect to find in such a
man. He did not drink, for instance; one glass of wine, and a moderate
quantity of small beer, being his allowance for dinner. He was early in
his hours, and made others sensible in theirs. He was generous and
charitable when he had the money; and when he had not he took care to
make his subjects subscribe it. In a word, there have been worse men and
greater fools; and we may again ask whether those who obeyed and
flattered him were not more contemptible than Beau Nash himself.
So much for the powers of impudence and a fine coat!
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 19: Warner ('History of Bath,' p. 366), says, 'Nash was
removed from Oxford by his friends.']
[Footnote 20: A full-length statue of Nash was placed between busts of
Newton and Pope.]
[Footnote 21: In the 'Annual Register,' (vol. v. p. 37), it is stated
that a pension of ten guineas a month was paid to Nash during the latter
years of his life by the Corporation of Bath.
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