This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1830 edition. Excerpt: ...August, 1817, Mrs. Nollekens was relieved from all her sufferings, in the seventyfourth year of her age. The change which the death of this jealous and penurious lady wrought on Nollekens was not uninoticed, it seems, by his household. He received the common condolences of friends---looked doleful--paced up and down his room, and glanced frequently at the empty chair in which his wife had rested for many years. He felt the want of her oompany, and for some time maintained the establishment of his household as she had left it. But old and sinking as he was, his heart, no longer curbed and rebuked in its likings by his sordid partner, began to expa.nd--two moulded candles appeared on his table in room of one--he paid more attention to his dress---drank more wine at table---sat up later at night--lay longer in the morning, and even invited friends to breakfast, dine and sup. He grew more liberal every way--would treat his assistants to a coach into the country' and a dinner--was hospitable to those who had acted as his models---asked them sometimes if a banknote would be useful, and sent them home rejoicing ten pounds richer than they came. All this showed a man not naturally sordid--nor had his decision entirely forsaken him. A servant maid, called. Mary, presuming on her good looks and on the epithet of pretty, which the sculptor gave her in a moment of forgetfulness, ventured, it seems, tn assume haughty airs, and even treat her master roughly. The old man kindled up, turned her unceremoniously away, and declared his determi-nation to be ruler of his own house. His biogra-1 pher alleges that Pretty Mary had a secret attachment to the artist's person or purse, and aspired to be his wife--if so, her way of wooing was as original as...