Life of John Claudius Loudon his wife
Early life London
Country Residences Ferm
ornee Russia Loss of
fortune Hothouses France and Italy Gardeners
Magazine Marriage Birmingham Scotland Arboretum Suburban
Gardener Cemeteries Last illness Death Anecdotes Elegy
Loss of first fortune
I have already mentioned that when Mr. Loudon went abroad he had
a large sum of money lying unemployed in his banker's hands; and
with this he was induced, I know not how, to embark in mercantile
speculations, and underwriting ships at Lloyd's. As he knew nothing
of business of this nature, it is not surprising that his
speculations turned out badly; and for more than twelve months he
was involved in pecuniary difficulties. I am unable to give all the
details of his sufferings during this period, as it was a subject
he never spoke of, and the allusions to it in his memorandum books
are by no means explicit. It appears, however, that, after having
made several fruitless journeys (including one to Paris in 1815) in
the hope of recovering some part of the property, he was compelled
to submit to the loss of nearly the whole; and that his health was
very seriously injured by the anxieties he underwent.
About this time (1816) his mother and sisters left the country;
and he, having determined that in future they should reside with
him, took a house at Bayswater called the Hermitage, which had a
large garden annexed. His health was now seriously impaired, but
his mind always seemed to acquire additional vigour from the
feebleness of his body; and, as he was unable to use so much
exertion as he had formerly done in landscape gardening, he amused
himself by trying experiments relating to the construction of
hothouses, and by having several of different kinds erected in his
garden.
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