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with expressions of cordial regard. The year in which they were born was that which put an end to the last attempt made by the grandson of James II. to obtain the crown; and Mr. Bowdler used frequently to express his gratitude for being permitted to live in a time of great prosperity for this country, when, instead of a disputed crown and a divided people, the title of the house of Hanover was universally acknowledged, and the hearts of all good subjects paid a willing homage to the best of kings.

The care of Mr. Bowdler's education, during his early years, was, like that of most children, chiefly committed to his mother, who was in every respect peculiarly qualified to perform the important task. It is, indeed, generally a fortunate circumstance when boys are subjected to much of maternal care. The gentleness of disposition, the delicacy of taste, and refinement of manners, which distinguish the female sex, are calculated to produce a very beneficial effect on the natural impetuosity of the boyish temper. At least it will be admitted to be highly important that a son should regard his mother not less with respect than with fond affection. Many a headstrong youth probably has been checked in the indulgence of evil propensities by a recollection of the tender charge which he had formerly received, and by a thought of the pain which his excesses would give to her who guided his infant steps. A mother is, moreover,

peculiarly formed to give instruction. Her gentleness, her patient endurance of waywardness and petulance, her simple unpretending manner, her familiar explanations, and condescension to all the ignorance and slowness of childhood, win an easy way to the infant mind; and the precepts which are to be given, and the knowledge which is to be conveyed, assume a pleasing and attractive form when they are tenderly inculcated and mildly enforced. But Mr. Bowdler's mother possessed advantages which fall to the lot of few. Her mind was naturally powerful and comprehensive, her talents highly cultivated, her reading very extensive, her manners elegant. She had, also, a peculiar turn for conveying instruction, a peculiar art in gaining the attention of children, and making knowledge pleasing, which some of those who were trained under her care now remember with gratitude and delight. She applied herself to this important task with great diligence, and being in the habit of reflecting deeply on every topic which came before her, and of committing her thoughts to paper, she entered thoroughly and philosophically into those subjects which she communicated familiarly to her scholars. Her chief labour in the instructing of her children was to give them a thorough knowledge of the Bible, and of every part of Christianity, and to fix in their hearts sound and steady principles. For this purpose she drew up an explanation of the church catechism,

so comprehensive and yet so plain, that there is scarce any point of doctrine, of duty, or of the discipline of our church, which may not be easily learned from it.

To the instruction thus given by an excellent mother, was added that of a father, so well informed, so well read, particularly on religious subjects, so pious, and at the same time so gentle and affectionate, that his teaching, whether delivered in the way of precept, or in the more familiar form of conversation, while it was valuable beyond what most men are capable of giving, won an easy way to the hearts of his children, and left there a deep impression of reverence love and gratitude.

Thus trained in the good and the right way, from which, under the directing grace of God, he was never to depart, the son of these excellent parents acquired a knowledge of religion beyond his years, and firm principles of action, which gave him, while yet a boy, the fixed and steady character of a man. At eight years old he went to school to Mr. Graves, at Claverton, near Bath. An anecdote, almost too insignificant to be related, may serve to mark the strictness of his principles. Having incurred a debt to a schoolfellow of a trifling amount, his conscience sadly misgave him when he went home as usual on the Sunday. An error of this amount having occurred in some settlement between his parents, the difference was

given to him. The largest inheritor of this world's wealth never probably was so happy as he was at that moment. The money was paid immediately on his return to school; and if there was one thing which through life he dreaded more than another, as unjust and disgraceful, it was the being in debt.

Mr. Graves was well known in his day as an elegant scholar and a pleasing poet, the friend of the simple and pathetic Shenstone. His name, it is hoped, still lives in the groves of the Leasowes, and he is known to the present generation as the author of the Spiritual Quixote. Here Mr. Bowdler might have made rapid progress in classical knowledge, and have cultivated to great advantage his taste for poetic beauty; but for some reason not now known he was removed to an academy at Brompton, where he mourned over his hard fate, and a Scotch grammar, which, by multiplying difficulties instead of unravelling them, detained him in the rudiments of Greek long after the time when he ought to have been tasting its beauties, and enriching his mind with some of its exhaustless stores. It will, perhaps, be thought but a poor compensation, that he learned writing and arithmetic, and the whole art and mystery of keeping accounts, in which he greatly excelled. The disadvantages and disappointments which he suffered, did not, however, seduce him into a neglect of his studies: his sound principles and good conduct gained the approbation of his master, who

wrote to his father, "My ever dear pupil has just carried off his books: very good use (thank God) has he made of them; and good use will he make hope) of his future, as he has done of past opportunities: with joy do I own his uncommon good behaviour, &c."

In the spring of 1762, Mr. Bowdler quitted Kensington, and was placed under the private tuition of the Rev. Nicholas Brett, at Spring-Grove, in the county of Kent; a person of talents and acquirements, very different from those of his former preceptors. Mr. Brett was the representative of a family which had been settled in that part of Kent for many generations, and the only surviving son of the Rev. Dr. Brett, the author of many valuable works respecting Church government, and the nature of the Eucharist, particularly a Collection of the Ancient Liturgies used by the Christian Church in the celebration of that holy ordinance, and a Dissertation upon their usefulness and authority. The learning of this excellent and orthodox divine was very extensive and recondite; and those qualities which are of more value than much learning, mildness of temper, candour, and self-command, showed themselves to great advantage in his replies to several calumnious attacks which were made upon him. His son was like him, well versed in literature and theology, and added thereto an intimate acquaintance with almost every branch of useful knowledge, which made his in

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