rer of St. John's in Westminster; he was alfo educated in Westminster-school, and received fome applaufe for his abilities from his tutors in that famous feminary. His capacity however was greater than his application, fo that he received the character of a boy who could do good if he would. As the flightest ac A 5 counts counts of 'perfons fo noted are agreeable, it may not be amiss to obferve, that having one day got an exercife to make, and from idleness or inattention, having failed to bring it at the time appointed, his master thought proper to chastise him with fome severity, and even reproach his stupidity: what the fear of ftripes could not effect, the fear of fhame foon produced, and he brought his exercife the next day finished in fuch a manner, that he received the public thanks of all the maf ters. Still, however, it is to be fuppofed that his progrefs in the learned languages was but flow, nor, is it to be wondered at, if we confider how difficult it was for a ftrong imagination, fuch as he was poffeffed of, to conform and walk tamely forward in the trammels of a fchool education: minds like his are ever starting afide after new pursuits, defirous of embracing a multiplicity of amufing objects, eager to come at the end without the painful investigation of the means; and, if we may borrow a term from the mercantile world, a genius like his difdaining the painful affiduity of |