Deprived of Laird Lewis's personal and active superintendence, all his undertakings miscarried, and became either abortive or perilous.

Without a single spark of energy to meet or repel these misfortunes, Godfrey put his faith in the activity of another.

He kept neither hunters nor hounds, nor any other southern preliminaries to ruin; but, as has been observed of his countrymen, he kept a man of business, who answered the purpose equally well.

Under this gentleman's supervision small debts grew into large, interests were accumulated upon capitals, movable bonds became heritable, and law charges were heaped upon all; though Ellangowan possessed so little the spirit of a litigant that he was on two occasions charged to make payment of the expenses of a long lawsuit, although he had never before heard that he had such cases in court.

Meanwhile his neighbours predicted his final ruin.