_I am taken from School and return to my Grandparents.—Remove
to Cambridgeshire.—From thence again to London.—And a second
time to S⸺shire.—Different Plans proposed for my settlement in
life.—Friendship of the Moultrie Family.—Am sent to Liverpool
on liking._
I continued at Stockwell nearly three years, during which time I acquired
a tolerable knowledge of the classics, and became as perfect in the
French language as I could do without residing in France. It was a custom
at this school to allow of no English being spoken, except in the hours
devoted to instruction, by which means our progress in French was much
facilitated. The scholars had free access to a well-selected library, by
which means I gratified my passion for reading, which increased with my
years. I was particularly fond of plays, and fancying I possessed some
talents for the stage, I actually formed the design, in conjunction with
a youth of good family, to elope from the school and join a company of
strollers, with the manager of whom he had formed an acquaintance in
London; but this hopeful scheme was frustrated by the young gentleman’s
sudden removal to the University. I was now taken from school, the
excessive fondness of my dear parents not being able to brook a longer
separation from me. I found these kind benefactors in private lodgings,
they having quitted my father’s house on account of family disagreements.
The latter had relinquished the hat business, by which he was _minus_
some hundreds of pounds; and after a short lapse of time, he embarked
in a very different trade, that of a tallow-chandler, of which he had
conceived favourable ideas: in this too, he failed of success, and was
equally unfortunate in several subsequent speculations, by which means
he considerably impoverished himself; however he continued to maintain
appearances with tolerable credit until his decease. I shall now take
leave of my father, mother, and sisters, for the present, their history
having no further connexion with my own life, as I never again became an
inmate of their family.
After a short residence in ⸺ square, my grandfather, on account of his
wife’s declining health, and with a view to economy in house-keeping,
that he might be more liberal in his bounty to myself, thought fit to
remove to Wisbeach in Cambridgeshire, where an old schoolfellow of his
resided, who had strongly pressed this measure. Here he took a neat
little house ready furnished, and placed me under the tuition of a
clergyman in the town, whose school I attended daily.
At the end of twelve months, we again returned to London, and soon
afterwards removed once more to S⸺shire, in the 14th year of my age.
I was most affectionately received by all my relations, and it was now
considered time to consult upon my future disposal. My kind grandfather,
who had been at so much care and expense in my education, had always
intended me for one of the liberal professions, and, as was most natural,
he would have preferred his own. I had a great uncle who had been a very
eminent surgeon and apothecary, in which business he was succeeded by his
son, who is still living in credit at S⸺. It was in contemplation to have
me articled to this gentleman, but I wished for a more active employment,
and should have preferred the army or navy. The dangers attending these
honourable professions, were however insuperable bars to the consent of
my fond parents.
At this juncture a most advantageous and unexpected offer of patronage
was extended in my behalf, which but for my unaccountable obstinacy,
would have been thankfully embraced; but my evil genius rendered abortive
a design, which bade fair to procure me an honourable rank in society.
The case was as follows: Within a mile of our little town resided John
Moultrie, Esq., whose father was governor of a British Settlement in
North America, and of whose name frequent mention is made in the history
of the ill-fated war with that country. By his attachment to the cause
of loyalty, this gentleman, as well as his son, suffered considerable
losses in their private property, for which in common with many others,
Governor Moultrie, on his return to England, received a liberal pecuniary
compensation from ministers. The old gentleman was at this period lately
deceased, and his son John succeeded to a large fortune, and a fine
estate and mansion-house called Aston, which his father had purchased
in the situation above described. He had married a very beautiful and
accomplished woman, born in America, by whom he had an only son about
my own age, who was like myself the darling of his parents. This youth
(named Austin) had been my early schoolfellow and playmate; and the
Moultrie family being in the habit of exchanging visits with most of
the respectable inhabitants of S⸺, among which class my relations were
numbered, I became known to them. As they perceived a growing attachment
between myself and the young Austin, and my manners pleased them, my
visits were encouraged, and I was almost a constant guest at Aston
Hall. By the circle of genteel persons of both sexes with whom I there
associated, my address was improved as well as my understanding. Young
Moultrie and myself became inseparable; we were constant companions in
the chase and other rural sports; and when the weather was unfavourable,
Mrs. Moultrie took delight in hearing me read her favourite authors, to
which she obliged her son to attend; and as I had rather the advantage
in mental acquirements, she was pleased to say that I contributed to his
improvement. In a word, I may truly assert that the happiest moments of
my life were spent in this amiable family.
At the period of which I am now writing, the parents of my young friend
had determined on settling him at the University of Oxford, in order to
complete his education: and the regret they felt at parting with their
beloved child, was scarcely more poignant than that of the latter, at his
approaching separation from me, so ardent was our juvenile friendship.
In this state of affairs, his father knowing my situation, and the
circumstances of my grandfather, who by his liberality towards me, had
much impaired his private fortune, which consisted at his retirement, of
but a few thousand pounds stock in the 3 per cent consols, a considerable
part of which he had sold out at a very disadvantageous rate, by reason
of the great depression in stocks at the commencement of the French war:
knowing all this, and that my settlement in life was at this moment
the subject of much perplexity, Mr. Moultrie, with a most unparalleled
generosity, offered to place me at college on the same terms with his
son, and at the end of three years, if he then withdrew the latter, to
take upon himself the charge of my future fortune. Here was an offer from
a gentleman of 2,000_l._ a year! I have always been of Shakspeare’s
opinion, that “There is a tide in the affairs of men,” _&c._, and that
most men have not only one, but several opportunities of attaining honour
and prosperity. I know this has been my own case, but my ill destiny has
hitherto rendered such chances unavailing. I have unhappily neglected
to “take the current while it served.” So, in the present instance,
having foolishly conceived, that to be immured within the walls of a
college for several years, would deprive me for so long a time of the
gratifications I expected, both of mind and body, on making my débût
on the stage of life, when I should be released from the constraint of
parental authority; the idea of losing so much valuable time, which I
fancied I could employ to much more advantage, induced me to protest in
strong terms against the measure proposed; and my too indulgent parents
at last gave way to my puerile remonstrances, and declined with the best
grace they could the kindness intended me. This impolitic step was much
censured by my other relations, particularly two maiden aunts, from whom
I had great pecuniary expectations; however it was soon after, consented
to by all parties, that I should be sent on trial, or as it is called,
on liking, to a respectable mercantile concern at Liverpool. The parties
were Messrs. Swan and Parker, very eminent linen-drapers, who besides
an extensive retail trade, exported very largely to the East and West
Indies, _&c._ A cousin of mine had been placed with these gentlemen a few
years before, but from ill health was obliged to return to his friends
at S⸺. His father, the junior Mr. Yonge I have before mentioned, had
paid one hundred guineas with him as a premium; and as the young man’s
indisposition prevented him from reaping the benefit of his engagement,
Messrs. Swan and Parker very handsomely consented to take me as an
apprentice without any fee, by way of remuneration to the family. My
grandfather indeed did not much relish the idea of a yard and a pair of
scissors; he had fondly hoped to see me profit by the education I had
received, in a very different line of life; but as I seconded the general
wish of my friends on this occasion, and much time had been already lost
in deliberation, all opposition ceased; and I accordingly set out well
equipped with all necessaries, by the stage coach for Liverpool, where,
on my arrival, I was kindly received by my new masters: and the next
day instructed in the nature of my duty, and the economy and rules of
the house. Having now brought the reader to an epoch in my life, which
promised considerable advantage to my future prospects, I shall put an
end to the second Chapter.